Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 92: Tomb of King Ping (4)

I had intended to return to my original form anyway.

Staying in King Ping’s body made it feel as though the green military attire I wore was about to burst at the seams.

Crack-crack-crunch!

Gyeongwang clicked his tongue as he watched me revert to the form of the gisaeng, Yeon-saeng, using the Body Transformation Art. Then, he looked at me with a suspicious glint in his eyes.

"You aren't doing this just to deceive me, are you?"

"Regrettably, I am a man."

"Ah..."

Looking at Gyeongwang’s expression, he seemed genuinely disappointed. To think I would hear someone ask me to be their Empress in this lifetime—could anything be more absurd?

Regardless, his proposal was now off the table.

"It seems Your Highness’s proposal cannot be fulfilled."

Gyeongwang smacked his lips with a look of regret before speaking to me again.

"…As you say, an Empress might be out of the question. In that case, could you not become my guard in that form? That way, you can still watch over me to see if I become a tyrant, can you not?"

Gyeongwang was not one to give up easily on the secret of immortality. To be precise, it was likely his desperate desire to escape the agony of the Solar Severed Meridians.

I offered a polite fist-and-palm salute and declined.

"I am honored, but I am afraid that is impossible."

"…Then I shall grant you anything you desire. Will you still not agree?"

Gyeongwang truly wanted to live. Since his motivation wasn't a simple, greedy lust for immortality, I found myself feeling a bit sorry for him.

I stared at him for a moment before asking, "You said anything. Is truly anything possible?"

"Yes. Speak your mind. If it is within my power to grant, I shall do so."

"Then, can you give up the throne?"

"!?"

At my question, Gyeongwang’s expression stiffened. He clearly hadn't expected me to ask him to abandon the seat of the Emperor.

Despite his obsession with survival, he had also harbored enough ambition for the throne to build his strength while acting like a profligate drunkard. I was asking him to give up one of his greatest desires.

After hesitating for a moment as if lost in thought, Gyeongwang muttered with a sigh of regret.

"…It seems my fate cannot be changed after all."

It was an unexpected reaction. I didn't think he would choose the throne over his own life. Was his ambition for power so strong that he would endure even the fear of pain and death?

As I looked at him with curiosity, Gyeongwang let out a long lament.

"Do not look at me like that. Do you think I, who have lived my entire life in agony, would crave power more than a peaceful, long life?"

"Then why refuse to give it up?"

He could escape the illness that had tormented him his whole life and achieve immortality. It was a far better option than a brief period of power. Furthermore, he could have simply accepted the gift of life first and then broken his promise to me later to pursue the throne.

"I made a promise to my late mother. I promised to become Emperor and fulfill her dream."

By mother, did he mean Consort Hyangjeong?

Gyeongwang gave a small, bitter smirk.

"It wasn't some grand dream like bringing about an era of Great Peace. Because my mother started as a mere palace maid, she could never rise above the rank of Consort."

Ah...

So it was for his mother.

—Why is that for his mother?

The Emperor’s primary wife is called the Empress. The rank below Empress is Bi, and the rank directly below that is Consort (Bin). Since she was a former palace maid and her son was not the firstborn legitimate heir, there was no way for Gyeongwang’s mother, Consort Hyangjeong, to rise any higher.

However, there was one way to elevate her status.

—What is it?

If Gyeongwang became the Emperor.

If she became the mother of the Emperor, she could no longer be held at the rank of Consort and would be posthumously elevated to Empress. In a way, Gyeongwang sought the throne not out of a raw lust for power, but for the humble reason of wanting to fulfill his deceased mother’s dream.

"Do I seem unfit for the Dragon Throne now?"

At Gyeongwang’s question, I shook my head.

"You are honest. If you are someone who treasures even the wishes of your late mother, I believe you would not stray ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠from the Righteous Path even if you sat upon the throne."

Gyeongwang smiled at my words. He seemed to be in a better mood.

As if he had cleared his mind of all lingering regrets, he asked me, "There is no point in staying here any longer as it will only breed more attachment. I wish to wake those children and return, but must I wait until you have taken that?"

He truly seemed to have let go of his obsession. His character was much greater than I had anticipated.

I looked at him steadily and said, "I would be grateful if you did, but before that, there is one thing I wish to confirm."

"Confirm?"

"Can Your Highness endure a bit more pain?"

At my question, Gyeongwang shook his head and replied, "My entire life has been pain. Do you think there could be anything worse than what I have already endured?"

"Then that is a relief. Please forgive my rudeness for a moment."

"What?"

I grabbed the questioning Gyeongwang and turned him around. Then, I pressed my finger against his Life Gate Point.

'Snow Drinking Finger.'

A frigid chill flowed from my finger, seeping into Gyeongwang’s body through the Life Gate Point.

"Ugh!"

As the cold energy pierced his meridians, Gyeongwang couldn't hide his shock. I warned him sternly.

"If you cannot endure the pain from this moment on, you may lose your life right here."

"Wh-what are you trying to..."

"I am going to clear your blocked meridians."

"What did you say?"

"The extent of your recovery will depend on how much you can endure."

"Recovery? You mean..."

"Save your breath and grit your teeth. Endure it."

As soon as I finished speaking, I sent the cold energy generated by the Snow Drinking Finger through his Life Gate Point and sequentially toward his twelve major meridians.

These twelve meridians were linked to one another, forming a single circulatory system. The meridians connected at the tips of the fingers and toes; the Yang meridians connected near the eyes, and the Yin meridians connected within the chest, forming a continuous loop.

This circulatory system was currently being choked off by powerful Yang energy.

Whoosh!

"Gah!"

As the cold energy reached the areas blocked by Yang energy, Gyeongwang could not hold back his agony. Then, remembering what I had said, he gritted his teeth.

I didn't know if this would actually work; it was a gamble for me as well.

'Clear the areas blocked by Yang energy using the Yin energy of the cold, and smooth out the flow.'

This was a direct approach to a fundamental problem that could not be solved with needles, medicine, or spirit drugs. I had heard that the symptoms of Nine Yin Severed Meridians could be alleviated or cured if a master with powerful Yang energy cleared the blockages.

However, there were few masters in the world capable of manipulating internal energy with such precision. Furthermore, masters who reached such a level while wielding cold or Yin energy were almost non-existent.

Sssssss!

Steam began to rise from Gyeongwang’s body. It looked like the reaction that occurs when extreme heat and cold collide.

About an hour passed in this manner. Because it was a process of forcing open meridians blocked by Yang energy, Gyeongwang was drenched in sweat, his body trembling violently with every breakthrough.

What was surprising was that, after the initial outburst, he endured the pain without letting out a single groan.

'I've cleared half.'

However, I wasn't sure if Gyeongwang could hold out for the remaining half. His head was nodding as if he had reached the limit of his physical strength.

The pain resulting from the collision of the Yang energy from the Solar Severed Meridians and my cold energy must have been beyond imagination. Having endured it for nearly an hour, it was a miracle he was still conscious.

"Your Highness, endure just a little longer. I will withdraw the cold energy."

I placed my other hand on Gyeongwang’s Baekhoe Point and injected Innate True Qi. If he were to lose consciousness, it would interfere with my ability to safely withdraw all the cold energy.

"Ah... it feels strange. The pain in my hands and feet seems to have faded far more than when I took the Divine Healer's medicine."

It was a natural result of clearing the major blocked meridians. However, this alone wouldn't be enough. Even as I withdrew the cold energy from the points I had just cleared, the Yang energy was already beginning to rise again, bit by bit.

This meant that even if I cleared everything, he would still require constant management.

"Is it over yet?"

"Just a little more and it will be fin—!?"

Suddenly, I snapped my head toward the entrance of the cavern. I sensed a significant number of presences.

Sure enough, about twenty men who appeared to be government soldiers came rushing in. The three leading them were Supreme Peak Masters, and the rest were a group with formidable martial prowess, reaching the level of First-Rate Masters.

Gyeongwang, assuming they were soldiers under his command, spoke with difficulty.

"Do not misunderstand. He is currently treating me."

Despite Gyeongwang’s words, their attitude was strange. The soldiers looked around and frowned as if they were in a difficult position. Then, the man with the highest martial prowess among them pointed toward the pentagonal stone chamber and ordered the other soldiers.

"Recover everything inside."

Gyeongwang asked in confusion, "...Who are you people?"

"You have no need to know. It's fortunate that you're being treated."

Shring!

The Supreme Peak Master drew a Willow Leaf Saber from his waist. Seeing the killing intent radiating from them, they were definitely not Gyeongwang’s soldiers, but the Golden Emperor’s subordinates.

—What do we do?

There wasn't much left to do. If I let go now, Gyeongwang would suffer not only internal injuries but also Qi Deviation. If he suffered Qi Deviation while already afflicted by the Solar Severed Meridians, he would surely die.

They had appeared at the worst possible moment.

The rest of the soldiers entered the stone chamber.

—Just give up. At this rate, they might steal the secret of immortality.

There wasn't much left. If I gave up now, the future Emperor would change. The key was to finish this faster than they could remove the stone coffins.

At that moment, the Supreme Peak Master approached with his Willow Leaf Saber drawn, speaking to Gyeongwang in a voice laced with killing intent.

"Who made the master of this palace like that?"

"I do not know."

Gyeongwang feigned ignorance. Perhaps because he knew I was trying to save him, he remained loyal.

The Supreme Peak Master snorted.

"You haven't left this place, so how does it make sense that you don't know?"

With those words, he turned his gaze toward me. His expression turned suspicious as he raised his Willow Leaf Saber toward me.

"You wench, what are you doing right now?"

"..."

I didn't answer.

"This bitch must be itching to die."

The man moved to bring the Willow Leaf Saber down toward my neck. I focused my mind, preparing to open the power of the Prison Torture. Even though I couldn't move my body, it didn't mean I couldn't use the abilities of the Prison Torture.

It was at that moment.

"Wh-what is this?!"

At the sound of a shout from somewhere, everyone’s gaze shifted. It was coming from the pentagonal stone chamber where the secret of immortality lay.

Then, screams erupted one after another.

"Aaaargh!"

"Gah!"

The Supreme Peak Master, who had been about to strike me, looked toward the entrance with a bewildered expression.

And for good reason—something that had burst out of the stone coffins was slaughtering the soldiers. These bizarre beings had glowing red eyes and muscular, naked bodies. Their skin had a silver and bronze sheen, looking incredibly hard.

"Wh-what on earth are those..."

He said "those," but there wasn't just one. There were five in total. It seemed they had been inside the stone coffins. I hadn't sensed any life from them earlier, so if they were moving now, they weren't normally living beings.

"What are those things?"

At a soldier's question, the man who had been aiming at me muttered, "It seems that's why His Majesty told us not to enter. Are they some kind of Jiangshi?"

"Then what do we do?"

"Withdraw immediately."

"But the others..."

The soldiers were being ruthlessly slaughtered by those bizarre beings. However, realizing that they wouldn't be able ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to buy time to escape if they tried to save the others, the man with the Willow Leaf Saber said, "It's too late."

With those words, he swung his saber, seemingly intent on killing me and Gyeongwang before fleeing.

At that moment—

Clang!

His Willow Leaf ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Saber was stopped mid-air by something. It was none other than my palm.

"Wh-what..."

The man couldn't hide his shock as I blocked the sharp blade with my bare hand. Thanks to the distraction provided by those bizarre beings from the stone coffins, I had narrowly managed to withdraw all the cold energy from Gyeongwang’s body.

Now that his blade was blocked, the man shouted as if he had finally realized something.

"Could it be that you're the one who killed Elder Chosa...?"

"Yes."

Even if he knew, it was too late. I gripped the palm that had blocked the blade.

Snap!

"Gah!"

The blade snapped instantly. I flicked my fingers against the broken shards of the blade, and the pieces, infused with internal power, pierced through the man’s body.

Thud-thud-thud!

"Urgh!"

The shards pierced his neck and chest, killing him instantly. I was about to deal with the person right behind him when he shouted urgently.

"Pr-Prince Gyeong! We were sent by the King of Qin. If you kill us, the King of Qin will be furious!"

"Brother Qin sent you?"

Gyeongwang, who was barely standing and staggering, looked at me at the mention of the King of Qin. He must have been thinking the same thing I was.

"That's perfect."

Tap-tap-tap!

"Wait!"

I immediately struck the man’s pressure points. He collapsed, unconscious. Unlike the dead Ghostly Bow Chosa, these men still didn't know I was the successor of the Sword Immortal. Because they thought I was one of Gyeongwang’s people, they had tried to save their lives by invoking the King of Qin’s name.

I couldn't let this opportunity slip by.

—Woon-hwi. The screaming has stopped.

Just as the Lesser Conversation Sword said, the screams from inside the pentagonal stone chamber had ceased. The reason was that every soldier who had entered had been slaughtered by those bizarre beings.

Thump! Thump!

Having killed all the soldiers, the blood-drenched creatures were now emerging. Gyeongwang pointed toward them and spoke urgently.

"Yeon-saeng! It seems those monsters aren't human. Can you stop th—ugh!"

Whoosh!

Before Gyeongwang could even finish his sentence, the bizarre beings lunged toward us. With their eyes glowing red and their faces devoid of emotion, their charge was incredibly ominous.

One of the monsters lunged at me as I stood in front of Gyeongwang.

Grab!

I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠snatched the monster’s head. The moment I gripped it, I knew for sure. It was hard, nearly reaching the level of the Indestructible Diamond Body.

'I don't need to hold back.'

Since they didn't seem human anyway, I didn't need to conserve my internal power.

Crunch!

The monster’s skull was crushed by the strength of my grip. In that state, I grabbed the monster’s shoulders and tore its head clean off.

Rip!

As the head was torn away, black blood poured out along with a putrid stench. It was the kind of foul odor one would only smell from a corpse.

Flash!

I followed up with a kick aimed at the neck of the next monster lunging at me.

Thwack! Boom!

Struck in the jaw by my leg technique, the monster’s body soared upward, its head slamming into the ceiling. It hung there, dangling and motionless; its head had been crushed, killing it.

'!!!'

Seeing two of their kind dispatched in an instant, the remaining three monsters, who seemed to lack emotion, flinched and stopped their charge.

"Not coming?"

Then I’ll go to you.

I lunged toward the monsters first. The creatures, which I thought were fearless, suddenly turned around and tried to flee all at once as I charged.

At that sight, Gyeongwang clicked his tongue.

"...The real monster is you."