The box given by the Forest Lord was pitch black.

It was small enough to be carried inside a pocket.

The smooth box, which seemed to be lacquered, was sealed with talisman paper.

Talisman paper was not a lock.

It’s merely a device used to determine if the box was opened before reaching the recipient.

Dam Hyun exerted strength in his hands, and the talisman paper should have torn lightly, revealing the contents of the box.

However, Dam Hyun couldn’t open the box.

The moment he tried to open it, the pattern on the talisman paper flashed a bright blue light.

“Ughhh…!”

Dam Hyun made a strange noise and shuddered.

His fingers trembled, and his hair stood on end.

“Ughhh, clack!”

Only after clenching his teeth did he let go of the box.

“Huh, haha. The Forest Lord is unexpectedly intense.”

A bright red lightning-shaped wound appeared on the back of Dam Hyun’s hand. The moment he tried to open the box, the spell on the talisman paper emitted a sharp electric shock.

It was clear that someone had made it so the box could not be opened.

“It’s been set so that only Yi-gang can open it.”

Yi-gang harbored yokai energy within him.

Right now, Cheongho, whose tail was swaying interestingly, possessed the power received from the Heavenly Thunder White-Tailed Fox.

Because of that, he had gained an astonishing body capable of handling and resisting that energy.

Even considering such, the level of the Forest Lord who embedded the technique of lightning in just a small seal was tremendous.

“Hehe, he.”

But Dam Hyun did not give up.

Rather, it was a welcome challenge.

How much had he studied the methods of handling that energy and the techniques of the Thunder God Movement Art to get closer to Cheongho?

Muttering something, he exerted force in his hand once more.

The hot and prickly shock climbed from his fingertips throughout his body.

The more force he applied, the greater the intensity became.

“Uh. He, uhh he.”

Blue sparks flashed between the smiling Dam Hyun’s teeth.

The moment his hair poofed up, a burning smell began somewhere.

Zzzt—

As the seal ripped, the box flung open.

The electric shock assaulting Dam Hyun’s body also disappeared.

He licked his lips and swallowed the taste of blood he felt in his mouth.

Once the pain subsided, only a sense of pride remained.

Dam Hyun, still trembling slightly, stroked Cheongho’s back. Cheongho, perhaps recognizing Dam Hyun’s effort, unusually did not reject the touch.

“Let’s see.”

What kind of item would need such a seal to be passed to Yi-gang?

Dam Hyun examined the contents of the box.

“…What is this?”

However, the contents were more disappointing than expected.

It was just a single metal badge.

It didn’t even feel particularly rich in spiritual energy.

Of course, it was clear it wasn’t an ordinary item. It contained at least a hint of spiritual energy.

“It doesn’t seem like a proper talisman…”

The purple metal looked extraordinary.

Dam Hyun frowned as he examined the engraved characters on the badge.

“The sole sun in the sky…”

There were not two suns in the sky.

He was trying to figure out the identity of the item.

“Dam Hyun!”

It was Jin Mu’s cry filled with astonishment.

Jin Mu and Jin Ri-yeon had come looking for Dam Hyun.

“What were you thinking opening that!”

It was the box the Forest Lord had handed over for Yi-gang. Jin Mu glared at Dam Hyun for opening it.

“No, you forgot to give this to him last time, that’s almost criminal.”

“You were the one keeping it!”

“Anyway, it was the fault of the elder brother who was entrusted with the box by the Forest Lord. I just had it with me.”

Dam Hyun was not one to back down.

“I was supposed to deliver it, but things got busy, right?”

“Yeah, that’s true…”

People everywhere were busily shouting, “Treason!”

As disciples here, they couldn’t be unaware of the seriousness of the situation.

“Which is more important, delivering this item or just doing the given task?”

“…”

“Of course, you wouldn’t know. You don’t know how important this item is. That’s why I opened it. To see how important it was.”

“…”

Jin Mu barely restrained himself from punching Dam Hyun.

It was all the more infuriating because Dam Hyun’s argument made sense.

“So, in your judgment, what kind of item is it? Do you think it needs to be delivered urgently?”

Dam Hyun paused for a moment before speaking, “Yes, immediately.”

“Alright, go.”

Jin Mu nodded without much hesitation.

Dam Hyun also rose without any hesitation.

“You really suit the Eastern Depot guard’s uniform, Dam Hyun.”

“Hehe.”

The sleek, black uniform of the Eastern Depot guard suited Dam Hyun very well.

It made sense since the Eastern Depot guards, compared to the robust Embroidered Uniform Guards, had a sharper and colder impression.

In terms of having a ‘somewhat dangerous appearance,’ there were few who surpassed Dam Hyun.

Unlike other investigators who didn’t even carry a single sword, as Dam Hyun walked towards the door, the investigators blocked him.

“What are you doing!”

The one who shouted this command was none other than Admiral Grand Eunuch Hu Gyeong.

The usual smile that hung over his plump chin had disappeared, and only irritable anger was visible.

“Are you not here to assist me? Hold your positions!”

Originally, Yi-gang’s plan was to ‘capture the Seven Great Immortals staying at Huangtian Palace with the Eastern Depot guards and join the emperor at Jingshan.’

However, Hu Gyeong did not follow the original plan and only tried to defend this place.

Dam Hyun clicked his tongue.

“This eunuch’s noise is unbearable…”

“Wh-what did you say?”

Calling someone a eunuch in that tone could sound like an insult.

“Move aside. I’m not your subordinate.”

“This guy…!”

Where else would a Supreme Peak master and a grand inspector of the heavens, the Eastern Depot Admiral, receive such treatment?

Hu Gyeong’s hand shone brilliantly white. It was clearly the pinnacle of hand-to-hand combat known as Sosuma-gong.

Boom!

Jin Mu blocked the path between Dam Hyun and Hu Gyeong.

“Admiral Grand Eunuch—!”

Jin Mu, with his sword sheath planted in the ground, glared at Hu Gyeong.

In this urgent situation, the Eastern Depot guards surrounded the area, ready to pounce at any moment if Jin Mu were to draw his sword.

“You have no authority to command us!”

“You call yourselves… even if you claim to be Azure Forest Taoists, don’t you know you’re just commoners!”

Under normal circumstances, Hu Gyeong wouldn’t have used such aggressive language, even in this situation.

But now the situation was dire enough.

“Does treason look like a joke to you! How dare these despicable people attack His Highness the Imperial Crown Prince!”

Supporters of the Imperial Crown Prince, including the Commander-in-Chief Bu Yeong-hu from the Embroidered Uniform Guards, had just attacked the Imperial Crown Prince.

Because of that, the foolish-faced Imperial Crown Prince was pale with fear, hiding behind Hu Gyeong.

“Do you see those fireworks?”

Despite it being daytime, grand fireworks were lighting up the sky.

“Soon, the soldiers from the Five Military Commissions and the Embroidered Uniform Guards stationed outside the palace will flood in.”

“And?”

“I don’t know what Bu Yeong-hu was thinking, but surely he wasn’t planning to assassinate His Imperial Majesty. All that needs to happen is for those troops to reach the Forbidden City. Until then, we must protect His Highness the Imperial Crown Prince here!”

It was clear what Hu Gyeong meant.

Rather than dealing with the Seven Great Immortals right now, we need to hold out and wait for the army.

At that, Dam Hyun snorted.

“The Eastern Depot Admiral is so sloppy too.”

“Wh-what did you say!”

“Do you really think that narrowly? Are you certain the Emperor won’t die?”

Dam Hyun’s remarks were utterly irreverent.

Even for the Eastern Depot, who were closest to the shadows of the imperial court, it was uncomfortably bold.

“What if those troops do arrive? The Embroidered Uniform Guards and those guys will want to live too. Who will be branded as traitors? That chubby little kid trembling as the Imperial Crown Prince or the Seven Great Immortals and the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s Commander-in-Chief who serves the Emperor with utmost devotion?”

“…Ugh.”

While it’s correct to protect the Imperial Crown Prince, the point was that one could not be complacent just by being passive.

Jin Mu supported Dam Hyun’s side.

“That’s the word.”

Hu Gyeong growled for a moment then snorted out a breath and said, “Inspector Seo. You take the leaders and help these guys. The goal is to kill all the Seven Great Immortals and secure His Imperial Majesty’s safety. I’ll join later.”

“Yes!”

The Eastern Depot guards stood by the side of the Azure Forest disciples.

But Dam Hyun casually stepped to the side.

“It seems Yi-gang is in another direction. I’ll head there first.”

“Alright. Be careful.”

Dam Hyun did not reply but leaped away.

At this, Hu Gyeong cursed as if in disbelief, “Planning to move alone? He’s crazy.”

The Forbidden City was now nothing short of a cauldron of chaos.

Especially since the Embroidered Uniform Guards were actually stirring up accusations of ‘treason.’

How he intended to break through alone and find Yi-gang and King Gye-yeong was beyond understanding.

“There’s no need to worry about my junior brother,” said Jin Mu, but Hu Gyeong couldn’t quite believe it.

Not until an explosion sounded from the direction Dam Hyun had gone.

Kwaang!

Amid the exploding smoke and building debris, an Embroidered Uniform Guard investigator was tossed about like a leaf before a storm.

Hu Gyeong’s mouth dropped open.

“Did he have explosives?”

“Ha ha…”

Jin Mu just laughed.

Inside, he was not laughing at all.

‘…Could this guy actually have explosives?’

Because even he didn’t know that Dam Hyun was carrying explosives.

Hu Gyeong was raging madly.

“No, does he actually have explosives? Is that guy setting off bombs in the imperial palace now!”

“Ha ha ha…”

“Are you trying to laugh it off!”

Jin Mu just kept laughing.

King Gye-yeong was riding his horse.

He couldn’t believe what had just happened.

He had clearly seen it. An arrow that soared high into the sky then struck down as if still alive.

It was undoubtedly sorcery. A dark magic surely cast by the Seven Great Immortals.

Moreover, how about the Embroidered Uniform Guard investigators who reacted to this unbelievable miracle?

As if waiting, they killed their fellow investigators and then shouted ‘treason.’

It was definitely a trap.

It was likely a trap involving even the Embroidered Uniform Guards.

‘Dangerous.’

If Yi-gang had not been there, he might have been captured by the Embroidered Uniform Guards on the spot.

Then he would have been framed as the traitor who shot the Emperor with an arrow, and without a doubt, his head would have been cut off.

The plan was to frame King Gye-yeong as a traitor from the beginning.

‘The Queen… my children!’

He had dodged the immediate wave of danger, but being targeted had not changed.

Then, his family around the Yongzhao Palace must also be in danger.

His heart grew anxious, and he urged his horse on.

Getting through Shenwu Gate was his first worry.

Surely, there would be Embroidered Uniform Guards there too.

“…!”

It was a stroke of divine luck. Shenwu Gate was empty.

But perhaps it was too soon to hope.

The enemy’s threat was already closing in fast.

Screech—

The sound of the pursuer’s horn blew from the right.

As King Gye-yeong turned around, he saw an Embroidered Uniform Guard sprinting towards him from between the trees of the garden.

“Oh no…!”

Martial artists often accomplished amazing feats.

A Peak master, a colonel, can temporarily run faster than a horse.

The colonel, using his light-footwork skills to the extreme to catch up to the horse, looked monstrous.

Just as he nearly caught up with King Gye-yeong, the colonel crouched and then soared into the air.

Suddenly, a short sword drawn from within his clothes flashed in the light.

“Ugh!”

He came prepared to crash into him.

King Gye-yeong felt a violent shock.

If he hadn’t been so heavy, he might have fallen off his horse.

“Cough, y-you bastard!”

“Die!”

The Embroidered Uniform Guard colonel did not hesitate to drive the short sword into King Gye-yeong’s back.

Clash!

The short sword did not penetrate but deflected off.

Shining armor was visible beneath the torn clothes of King Gye-yeong. Wearing protective armor in advance had saved his life.

“Protective armor!”

“Kuh-ugh!”

However, it only bought him a brief moment.

The colonel adjusted his grip on the short sword and aimed for King Gye-yeong’s exposed neck.

At that moment, pale fingers wrapped around the colonel’s neck.

“Choke!”

The owner of the hand yanked the colonel down from the horse.

No matter how skilled, one could not survive falling under a horse like that.

Moreover, the owner of the hand, Yi-gang, slammed the colonel’s face into the ground.

Kwang, crash—

The colonel died instantly from the neck-breaking impact.

King Gye-yeong cried out as if he was about to weep.

“Crown Prince’s teacher!”

“Your Highness!”

Yi-gang ran at the same speed as King Gye-yeong’s horse.

“We’ve been completely fooled!”

“The Emperor is not dead.”

“Did you see it that way too?”

“Yes, he was definitely hit in the shoulder. It seems that was even aimed for.”

“These crazy kids!”

King Gye-yeong burst out in anger.

There was nothing that could be done about what had already happened.

“Let’s return for now.”

“Yes, to Yongzhao Palace!”

King Gye-yeong, Yi-gang, and their party passed through the empty Shenwu Gate.

Until just recently, the palace had been bustling with a hunting festival.

And upon returning to Yongzhao Palace, King Gye-yeong heard shocking news from the palace eunuch guarding it.

“Her Highness the County Princess has been kidnapped.”

The father who had lost his daughter wore an expression as if the world had crumbled.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep