Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 67: The Three Princes (2)

I spoke to King Gyeong, who was staring at me with narrowed eyes.

"I simply put them to sleep."

"Put them to sleep?"

At my words, King Gyeong snorted and pressed the back of his hand to his forehead. His face was still flushed from the alcohol, and he gazed at me with bleary eyes before speaking.

"Did my drunken state cause me to see things? Or was that also a form of martial arts?"

"Let’s just call it a minor trick."

"A minor trick?"

There was no reason to explain the Illusion Eye to him. King Gyeong muttered my words as if chewing on them, then let out a smirk.

"You’re trying to gloss it over, thinking I’m too drunk to notice."

"I called it a trick because it isn't exactly a martial art."

"Putting people to sleep without even touching them is just a 'trick'? It seems the rumors aren't just idle gossip—that unlike the Orthodox Faction, those of the Evil Faction are skilled in miscellaneous arts."

He was a peculiar man. Usually, if someone is told people were simply put to sleep, they would either be on guard against the ability or merely find it fascinating. But this man was interested in the very nature of the power.

Could such a man truly be a mere wastrel?

"Can you put these girls to sleep as well?"

As King Gyeong spread his arms wide, the gisaengs sitting around him gasped in surprise.

"Your Highness!"

"He says he’s only putting you to sleep, so why are you so frightened? Go ahead, try it."

At his command, I looked at the gisaengs. My gaze wasn't fixed on their faces, but on their wrists, the backs of their hands, and their movements.

"I thought you brought gisaengs, but it seems that isn't the case."

At those words, the gisaengs' eyes sharpened. Though they appeared to be lavishly adorned women, their subtle movements resembled those of well-trained assassins.

"You are indeed quite different from how the world perceives you, Your Highness."

"Hmph."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Thud! Thud! Thud!

As soon as I finished speaking, the glaring gisaengs collapsed onto the low tables. Dishes shattered, and wine bottles rolled across the floor, creating a chaotic mess. Since they possessed no internal energy, they wouldn't wake for at least fifteen minutes unless someone forcibly shook them awake.

Indeed. I had grown accustomed to inducing people to look into my eyes naturally, without having to tell them to do so. Someone on guard will instinctively look their opponent in the eye.

"Can we have our conversation now?"

King Gyeong smirked at my question. What did that smile mean? Still grinning, King Gyeong picked up another bottle and began drinking straight from it.

The Lesser Conversation Sword and the Blood Demon Sword clicked their tongues simultaneously. As King Gyeong drank, his pupils moved slowly, glancing toward specific directions.

He was looking toward the south and the northwest of the garden.

'Wait a moment.'

[Are those your subordinates?]

At my secret sound transmission, King Gyeong’s pupils moved up and down. In that case, I had to play along. I looked at King Gyeong, shook my head, then gave a fist-and-palm salute and turned away.

'There are people monitoring King Gyeong.'

I had assumed they were King Gyeong’s subordinates, like the masked men or the gisaengs, but they weren't. His act of drinking and behaving erratically was a signal that I should leave because they were watching.

'No. I can't just leave it at that.'

I have to put them to sleep too.

Leaping over the wall, I moved swiftly. When I consciously deployed the Wind Shadow Step, it was impossible for anyone but an exceptional master to track my form with the naked eye.

At the spots King Gyeong’s eyes had indicated, masked figures were peering around.

'I was just going to put them to sleep, but a better idea occurred to me.'

Barely fifteen minutes later, I reappeared before King Gyeong, who was still drinking at the table. Upon seeing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me, King Gyeong clicked his tongue.

"You certainly are stubborn."

"The watchers have all retreated, so you may speak freely now."

"What?"

King Gyeong furrowed his brows. It had only been long enough to drink a single cup of tea. Was he bewildered that I claimed to have handled the watchers in such a short time?

With a somewhat hardened expression, King Gyeong rebuked me in a low voice.

"You’ve done something foolish."

"And what might that be?"

"You’ve ruined everything I’ve worked for until now. I barely managed to..."

"Are you saying you were acting the part of a debauched drunkard to lower the guard of the other two princes?"

At my words, King Gyeong narrowed his eyes, took a swig of wine, and spoke.

"They say you are the leader of the Blood Cult, and it seems you have a decent head on your shoulders. However, unlike your intellect, your foolish actions have turned all my efforts into naught."

I smiled thinly and replied.

"You needn't worry about that."

"Worry?"

"The reason they retreated was to report different things entirely."

"What does that mean?"

Using the second stage of the Illusion Eye, I had shown the watchers illusions. To the watchers sent by King Yeong, I showed myself meeting with King Qin. To those sent by King Qin, I showed myself with King Yeong.

Thanks to that, both sides now believed King Gyeong was merely a bystander while I conspired with the other prince. Since they had rushed off to report, we would see how they interpreted it by tomorrow.

"I deceived the watchers into thinking I was acting on the orders of the other princes."

"......How?"

King Gyeong’s disappointed expression shifted into one of interest. I answered nonchalantly.

"Let’s just say I performed another 'minor trick,' similar to how I put these people to sleep."

The corners of King Gyeong’s mouth curled upward.

"It seems you’ve employed some sort of evil art."

I didn't deny it. King Gyeong looked at me with intrigue, swept back a stray lock of hair, and set down the bottle he was holding. Perhaps because he was such a peerless beauty, every single movement of his looked like a painting.

King Gyeong stared intently at me and spoke.

"What is your motive for going to such lengths to speak with me?"

"Because I need Your Highness’s help."

"Help?"

King Gyeong repeated my words, then began to chuckle as if something were hilarious. After laughing for a good while, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠he spoke to me.

"Is this because of the trial tomorrow?"

"It is."

"It seems you’re worried about getting entangled with the authorities."

Even while pretending to be a drunken wastrel, he had a full grasp of the situation. As expected, he was a man deeply hiding his true strength. King Gyeong shook his head and pointed at himself.

"It seems you don't know much about me. What power does a king born of a deposed queen, a man who indulges only in wine and women, possibly have?"

He was self-deprecating.

"I don't know what you expected, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but I have no power to help you."

"You hide yourself well, Your Highness."

"It’s for the sake of survival, so whatever you expect, you will only be disappointed."

It seemed he intended to keep feigning ignorance. In that case, I had no choice.

"The night isn't that long, so I will speak plainly and get straight to the point."

"Straight to the point?"

"Why is it that a man who claims to have no power keeps sending people to contact the three hundred thousand northern defense troops stationed to block the Great Xiong Tribe?"

"!?"

The moment I finished, one of King Gyeong’s thick eyebrows shot upward. Looking at his expression, he seemed significantly more shaken than before. He must have been shocked that I knew this fact.

Before my regression, after the Emperor suddenly passed away, the three hundred thousand northern defense troops and the two hundred thousand troops from the Five Tiger Governor's Office—a combined force of five hundred thousand—had marched on the capital during the funeral proceedings. King Qin and King Yeong had tried to stop them with the capital defense forces and the Imperial Army, but they ultimately failed.

A shadow fell over King Gyeong’s face.

"How did you know that?"

The atmosphere changed completely. His voice was so arrogant and full of majesty that it was startling. He didn't seem like the same person.

'Is this his true self?'

Soon, a faint mist of steam began to rise from King Gyeong’s body.

'He’s purging the alcohol from his system.'

'Yes.'

Like King Yeong, King Gyeong was trained in martial arts. I had recognized it the moment I saw him, due to his well-developed muscles and the aura that stimulated my Qi sense. Even if his martial arts were lower than King Yeong’s, he was at least at the level of a first-rate master.

Having cleared his intoxication with internal energy, King Gyeong’s face looked calm, unlike when it was flushed with wine. He opened his mouth to speak.

"Did I not ask how you knew?"

I replied, maintaining my composure.

"Just as the authorities keep a watchful eye on the martial world, the martial world has no choice but to watch the authorities."

"Watch the authorities?"

"While the current Emperor has faithfully upheld the treaty established after the Golden Emperor, the martial world cannot help but be on edge as the succession draws near."

At my words, King Gyeong snorted and pressed me.

"What ridiculous people. If you’ve gained such freedom, you should mind the business of the martial world. Why do you take an interest in the affairs of the state?"

"I didn't want to take an interest. However, the Martial Alliance—the sworn enemy of my cult—continues to form ties with the authorities and scheme. I simply could not stand by and watch."

"A plausible excuse."

"It is the truth. My cult has no interest in the affairs of the state. However, if Prince Qin ascends the throne, it would be the worst possible situation for us. Naturally, we had no choice but to take an interest in the other two princes."

King Gyeong shook his head at my explanation. In truth, I hadn't revealed everything to avoid provoking his wariness. He likely already had both the northern defense army and the two armies of the Five Tiger Governor's Office in his grasp.

But I deliberately didn't mention that. If he realized I knew all his cards, King Gyeong would view me and the Blood Cult as dangerous entities. That was why I only dropped a hint about his contact with the northern army.

'Of course it is.'

Information is a weapon. But the situation changes depending on how you handle and release that information. I had to release just enough to avoid triggering the alarm of the man who would one day become Emperor.

King Gyeong stared at me and asked, "So, after asking King Yeong for a day's grace, you came to find me."

"You have sharp ears for someone who was just at a tavern."

"I am merely reminding you that I, too, am watching everything."

"I will keep that in mind."

King Gyeong crossed his arms and said, "What is it you want?"

"I want Your Highness to use your influence to ensure tomorrow’s trial ends smoothly."

"You’re asking me to keep King Qin and King Yeong in check."

"Correct. This is not a bad deal for you either, Your Highness. If the trial goes poorly and my cult is affected, the Martial Alliance will only grow more fervent in their support for King Qin."

"Are you saying that protecting you and the Blood Cult is a way to check King Qin and King Yeong?"

"Precisely."

King Gyeong shook his head at my words. Then, he stood up from his seat.

"No matter how I look at it, the math doesn't add up."

"Why is that?"

"If I protect you, I will instead become the target of King Qin and King Yeong’s scrutiny. The loss is too great to justify taking such a risk."

"......"

Was it truly impossible to persuade him? Since he was the man destined to be Emperor, I wanted to maintain a smooth relationship with him if possible. But as expected of someone who could hide himself by pretending to be a drunkard for so long, his wariness was too strong to overcome easily.

"If you are willing to accept King Qin’s power growing even further, then there is nothing more I can do."

I couldn't just keep pushing. Pushing and pulling was the key.

At that moment, the corners of King Gyeong’s mouth turned up.

"However, if the math doesn't add up, one simply needs to fill the deficit."

"What do you mean by that?"

King Gyeong flicked his finger toward the direction of the guest house building. At that signal, someone who had been hiding near the quarters appeared, carrying an old, ornate box.

Judging by its length and thickness, the box was just the right size to hold a sword or a saber. Its surface was covered entirely with yellow talismans, leaving no gaps.

"What is this?"

At my question, King Gyeong spoke in an ominous voice.

"It is a Demon Sword."