Chapter 261 – Beast Blood Ritual (4)

“Bring the County Princess to me.”

“The blood of the County Princess will serve as the elixir to revive the Heavenly Demon that resides in the Emperor’s blood.”

That was the command given by Yi-ryong.

Among the Seven Great Immortals, the ones tasked with this mission were Chu Yeong-ho and Jeok-woong.

Heuk Seok-gye and Wi Mi-hyeon were to assist Yi-ryong in conducting the ritual, while the youngest, Ye-song, was in no condition to move.

Therefore, those who should have been guarding Huangtian Palace had stepped forward.

-Jeok-woong.

-Yes, brother.

They concealed themselves as they moved through the Forbidden City. This was possible thanks to Chu Yeong-ho’s exceptional stealth spell.

When they first found the Honorable County Princess, she was holding a bow, aiming at a rabbit.

As she pulled the bowstring tight, her hand trembled slightly.

Indeed, aiming at a living creature required courage. Even more so if the person was a young girl.

Her heavily painted face, far too mature for her age, parted slightly with her bright red lips.

Jeok-woong made his move.

His enormous body grew even larger. His upper garment swelled as though it would tear apart, and the fur-covered arm lengthened in a flash.

With the majesty of a red bear, he struck the head of the horse that the Honorable County Princess was riding.

Puh-uck!

The horse died instantly, its skull shattered without even a whimper.

The Honorable County Princess let out a sharp scream as she fell off the horse.

Chu Yeong-ho swiftly grabbed her.

When the Honorable County Princess saw Chu Yeong-ho’s distorted face up close, she screamed once again.

“Shut up!”

Chu Yeong-ho felt the murderous intent rise within him.

“If you keep making noise, I’ll kill you!”

As he tightly grabbed the Honorable County Princess by the throat, tears welled up in her eyes.

Seeing her like that, guilt suddenly surged in him.

“Brother!”

Jeok-woong called out after taking care of the Honorable County Princess’s bodyguards.

Only then did Chu Yeong-ho regain his senses.

“You are the Honorable County Princess, right?”

Unable to speak due to her tightly squeezed throat, she nodded frantically.

The Honorable County Princess had the same appearance as the Crown Prince.

To ensure there was no confusion, Chu Yeong-ho inspected the other items.

The belongings and the horse, all matched what they had heard about Honorable County Princess’s possessions.

“Kehk…”

Her face turned bright red, and she made a choking sound as if she were about to pass out. Chu Yeong-ho quickly released his grip from her neck.

The Honorable County Princess coughed harshly, then glared sharply at Chu Yeong-ho as she lost consciousness.

“It’s commendable that you didn’t scream.”

Chu Yeong-ho said this as he checked her pulse. With her now unconscious, Jeok-woong lifted her limp body onto his back.

They immediately headed toward the Emperor’s garden.

Although only two of the Seven Great Immortals, Jeok-woong and Chu Yeong-ho, were sent, their power was immense.

Their skills were at the level of Peak masters, comparable to an Embroidered Uniform Guard colonel or an Eastern Depot section chief, but they also possessed the added power of sorcery and dark magic.

The return journey was not as difficult as expected, much like their arrival.

They had thoroughly grasped the patrol routines of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and managed to avoid all of them.

The most heavily guarded place was the Shenwu Gate in the northern part of the Forbidden City, leading to the Emperor’s garden.

However, through the Embroidered Uniform Guard Governor, they had arranged for the Shenwu Gate to be temporarily vacant.

After passing through the Shenwu Gate and entering the garden, the atmosphere was more unsettling than ever.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard was on high alert, and even for Jeok-woong and Chu Yeong-ho, breaking through their defense seemed nearly impossible.

As they arrived at the designated location, the Embroidered Uniform Guard commander there pretended not to notice and allowed them to pass.

-It seems the mission was a success.

-It appears so.

The area around the Emperor’s Longevity Hall was even more chaotic.

The pavilion known as the Emperor’s Longevity Hall was originally open on all sides.

However, now it was different. Bright red silk draped down like a shroud.

It was blocking the view of the inside of the Emperor’s Longevity Hall.

Carrying the Honorable County Princess, they climbed the steps to the Emperor’s Longevity Hall.

Wi Mi-hyeon received the Honorable County Princess, and Yi-ryong greeted them.

“You’ve done well.”

“Yes, Eldest Brother.”

Chu Yeong-ho glanced over at the Emperor.

Two imperial physicians were examining the Emperor’s condition.

The Emperor was unconscious.

His plump, flabby body was exposed, as his clothes were loosened, and an arrow was lodged in his right shoulder.

Blood was still trickling down from the wound.

“If you fail to save him, you will surely die.”

“Y-yes.”

Heuk Seok-gye was threatening the imperial physicians.

The imperial physicians, who had been suddenly summoned, were sweating profusely.

Even so, they did not stop their hands.

If the Emperor truly died, the imperial physicians who failed to save him would undoubtedly be executed.

When struck by an arrow, the muscle gripped the arrowhead tightly, making it difficult to remove.

Using a sharp scalpel, they made a small incision around the wound where the arrow was lodged. Then, they carefully extracted the arrowhead.

Pyoouk!

Blood spurted out, and a yellowish fatty substance oozed from the wound.

After cleaning the wound with fresh water, they stuffed a white cotton cloth into the wound to stop the bleeding.

Fortunately, since the injury was in the shoulder blade, they were able to apply pressure and bandage it tightly.

One of the imperial physicians grimaced.

It had been a long time since he had closely examined the Emperor’s body.

However, the Emperor’s condition was far from ordinary. The skin around his eyes was dark, and his lips were a purplish hue.

It didn’t seem like these symptoms were caused by the arrow wound.

“Is it finished?”

The imperial physician was startled by Yi-ryong’s sudden question and hurriedly nodded.

“Yes, fortunately, the wound is not fatal. He just needs to rest.”

“At least, will he be fine until tonight?”

“…If a fever rises, it could be dangerous. But until tonight?”

“That’s right.”

“Why are you asking that…?”

When Yi-ryong remained silent, the imperial physician cautiously confirmed, “Probably, there won’t be any major issues.”

“I see.”

Yi-ryong nodded in acknowledgment.

Relief spread across the faces of the two imperial physicians.

They must have thought they had passed the crisis.

But reality was the opposite.

Puk- Puk—

In an instant, both imperial physicians collapsed, dead. A dagger was lodged in the back of each of their necks.

Heuk Seok-gye, who had taken their lives, wiped the blood from his hands.

The bodies of the imperial physicians were carelessly discarded into the corner of the pavilion.

By orchestrating the Emperor’s arrow wound, the Seven Great Immortals had completely crossed the line.

Now, nothing could stop them.

The Guardian stood like a scarecrow atop the beams, even though the Emperor had been struck by an arrow.

“The time has finally come.”

All six remaining members of the Seven Great Immortals were gathered here.

Yi-ryong declared, “We will perform the grand spell and revive him.”

Yi-ryong’s body trembled. The moment had finally arrived.

The Emperor lay on a makeshift bed.

Beneath him, a golden bowl was filled with bright red blood.

It was the blood collected from the wound of the Gyeongmun Emperor, struck by the arrow.

They were going to extract a fragment of the Heavenly Demon’s soul.

“Lay Ye-song in the center.”

“Yes.”

Jeok-woong, the strongest among them, approached the youngest member sitting in the corner.

Ye-song was the youngest of the Seven Great Immortals.

Just over 20 years old, he was the most peculiar among the Seven Great Immortals.

Since coming here, he had done absolutely nothing.

All Ye-song could do was sit in the chair, his face pale.

Jeok-woong bitterly patted Ye-song’s head.

Born with the unique constitution of the Divine Spirit Heavenly Meridian, Ye-song was now in a state no different from a corpse.

Originally, he could still move with his willpower, but not long after entering Huangtian Palace, he was attacked by the Guardian.

The thin scar on his neck was the mark left by the Guardian’s willow leaf dagger.

Thanks to that, the Seven Great Immortals had learned the conditions under which the Guardian would act.

In exchange, Ye-song’s body was left in a state between life and death.

“You’ve suffered, Ye-song.”

Jeok-woong lifted Ye-song’s body and placed it in the center of the Emperor’s Longevity Hall.

Even if they gathered the fragments of the Heavenly Demon’s soul and revived him, a vessel was still needed.

From the beginning, Ye-song was meant to play the role of that vessel.

Everything was ready.

The Honorable County Princess, whose blood was to be used as the elixir to compensate for the Emperor’s insufficient blood, was bound to a chair.

Yi-ryong stroked the Honorable County Princess’s neck.

“If I cut here, we can collect the blood.”

“If you perform the ritual while she’s unconscious, the effect will be reduced.”

“Got it.”

Yi-ryong lightly poked the Honorable County Princess’s pulse.

The Honorable County Princess’s eyes shot open.

Surrounded by the Seven Great Immortals, all holding swords, she kept her mouth tightly shut instead of screaming.

“Even if you scream, it’s useless. No one outside will hear anything.”

Yi-ryong quietly explained to the Honorable County Princess.

“We are going to use the blood of the Emperor and yours to revive the Heavenly Demon.”

He explained in detail.

He told her that they would slit her throat to collect the blood, describing the process in full detail.

The Honorable County Princess trembled silently.

She understood as well. The reason for the detailed explanation was that they fully intended to kill her.

“You may resent us. But your death will not be the worst.”

“…”

“Your family and relatives will be branded as traitors and won’t escape execution by dismemberment.”

He was saying they would frame King Gye-yeong as a traitor who tried to assassinate the Emperor.

Though now was the moment when she might scream, the Honorable County Princess remained silent until the end.

Perhaps she still held out hope that things wouldn’t turn out that way.

It didn’t matter.

Yi-ryong drew out a pitch-black blade.

It was a special sacrificial blade used for the ritual.

“Well then.”

He placed the blade against the Honorable County Princess’s neck.

With just a bit more pressure, the Honorable County Princess would spill blood, and the ritual would begin.

The remaining members of the Seven Great Immortals were preparing to activate the barrier.

However, Yi-ryong remained still.

The hand holding the blade trembled slightly, and his eyes widened.

Soon, his face twisted in fury.

“Chu Yeong-ho! Jeok-woong!”

“…Yes, Eldest Brother!”

“Damn it!”

Yi-ryong’s body shook with rage and shock.

“What kind of mess have you made?!”

“W-what do you mean…?”

“This is not the Honorable County Princess!”

What caught Yi-ryong’s eye was a barely protruding Adam’s apple.

For some reason, the one pretending to be the Honorable County Princess did not speak, or rather…

“This isn’t the Honorable County Princess! This is the Crown Prince!”

“T-that can’t be!”

Yi-ryong didn’t respond but instead gripped the person’s neck tightly and lifted them up.

With a rough yank of the collar, a flat chest was revealed.

Only then did Chu Yeong-ho and Jeok-woong realize the problem.

“They switched places… Damn it!”

It was strange from the beginning, how the captive had complied without much resistance.

Although they couldn’t understand why, the Crown Prince had been pretending to be the Honorable County Princess from the start.

“Ha, haha…”

Just like how his sister once imitated him to protect her younger brother, this time the Crown Prince had stepped forward for his sister.

“Ptoo!”

The Crown Prince spat in Yi-ryong’s face.

“Insolent and lawless scum.”

“…”

“I’ve heard enough of your mad ravings. You’ll never get what you want!”

Even with a trembling voice full of fear, the Crown Prince spat out his words.

Yi-ryong roughly threw the Crown Prince aside.

“Kraaak!”

The Crown Prince tumbled harshly across the floor, his body shaking.

“Chu Yeong-ho! Jeok-woong! Take responsibility and bring back the Honorable County Princess!”

“Yes!”

Chu Yeong-ho and Jeok-woong, their faces pale as ghosts, left the Emperor’s Longevity Hall once again.

Yi-ryong then ordered Wi Mi-hyeon and Heuk Seok-gye, “You two will stay and check the ritual process with me. If all else fails, we will proceed with the grand spell using that boy.”

By now, there was no turning back.

Yi-ryong’s face twisted into a demonic expression.

The Guardian still stood on the beams, oblivious to everything.

Jeok-woong and Heuk Seok-gye ran with all their might.

The guilt of potentially ruining everything was etched on their faces.

-Jeok-woong, this is our last chance.

-Even without us, can the grand spell still proceed?

-Yes. It will.

They were not essential personnel for the grand spell.

Compared to the other brothers, the weight of their roles was light.

Even so, the fact that they had failed to carry out such a simple task made them feel ashamed.

They passed through the Shenwu Gate once again and re-entered the Forbidden City.

Jeok-woong carefully sent a message through sound transmission.

-By now, the security around the Honorable County Princess may have tightened.

-…I see.

-If the situation gets dire, I will sacrifice myself to draw attention. You should return to Eldest Brother.

Among the martial artists of the Demon Cult, there was a technique called the Explosive Blood Art, where they forcefully expelled their body’s latent energy.

Jeok-woong had made up his mind to do just that.

-…Understood.

Knowing his younger brother’s resolve, Chu Yeong-ho nodded in agreement.

However, if possible, he would ensure that it wouldn’t come to that.

-Wait.

Sensing a presence, Chu Yeong-ho stopped Jeok-woong in his tracks.

In a stationary state, Chu Yeong-ho possessed a stealth technique that could hide him even from the eyes of a supreme martial artist.

-By sacred law, hurry forth!

Upon uttering the incantation, their figures vanished completely.

Someone passed by them.

It seemed to be a sharp-eyed guard from the Eastern Depot.

“…Hmm.”

He stopped abruptly.

The shadows under his eyes made him look extremely fatigued.

Disguised as a guard from the Eastern Depot, Dam Hyun tilted his head.

Then, he looked directly at the spot where Chu Yeong-ho and Jeok-woong were hiding.

“You there. Who are you?”

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