Chapter 93: Divine Prowess of the Gisaeng (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 93: Divine Prowess of the Gisaeng (3)
“If you want to see what happens when you lower your hand, by all means, go ahead.”
The King of Qin’s raised hand, frozen in place, trembled slightly.
He wouldn't dare lower it to give the signal to fire. If I applied even a fraction more pressure to my grip, his neck would snap.
I suppose I’ve become quite bold. In the past, I wouldn't have even dreamed of grabbing a prince by the throat and threatening him like this. But since he has no idea who I really am, I can afford to be reckless.
Swish!
It happened right then. Something sharp lunged toward my arm—the one holding the King of Qin’s neck—with extreme precision.
It was the blade of the general standing right beside him. This man was far stronger than the Eastern Depot Inspector on the left. It was a sound judgment; a surprise attack without warning was the only way to save the King of Qin.
However...
Clang!
I caught the general’s blade between my index and middle fingers as if I were picking up a pair of chopsticks. The general’s eyes widened in shock.
“...What on earth are you...?”
Prejudice is a funny thing. Because I was displaying such divine prowess while dressed as a gisaeng, they were all the more bewildered.
I gave the general a thin smile.
“It seems you aren't particularly concerned for His Highness’s safety, General.”
“You wench!”
My words must have stung his pride, as his expression hardened and he began to circulate his internal power. But as he realized his efforts were futile, his face grew increasingly dark. To begin with, trying to compete with me in terms of internal power was absurd.
Boom!
The general was sent flying backward, skidding nearly ten paces. I took the sword I had snatched from him and thrust it into the ground like a trophy.
Thud!
Having been stripped of his own weapon, the general bit his lip in humiliation, unable to utter a word. Ignoring him, I tightened my grip on the King of Qin’s neck.
“Your Highness. Order your soldiers to retreat at least one li.”
At my words, the Eastern Depot Inspector on the left barked out, “Impudent girl! Your actions right now are nothing short of rebellion and treason!”
“And what exactly is treason?”
“Threatening His Highness the King of Qin, the eldest son of His Imperial Majesty, is an insult to the Imperial Family and the Great Yan Empire!”
“Is it not also an insult to His Majesty and the Great Yan Empire to attempt to kill King Gyeong, another of His Imperial Majesty’s sons?”
“That is...”
“Every person present here intended to harm His Highness King Gyeong. Therefore, by your logic, every single one of you should be executed for insulting the Imperial Family.”
The Eastern Depot Inspector was rendered speechless. In a struggle between princes, accusations of 'insulting the Imperial Family' were nothing but a contradiction.
The inspector, silent for a moment, tried to retort, but a single gesture from the King of Qin silenced him.
“I thought you were merely skilled in martial arts, but it seems you have quite a talent for rhetoric as well.”
“You flatter me.”
“For the first time, I find myself envious of my younger brother.”
Envious?
Unlike before, his voice no longer trembled; he had regained his composure quickly. Like King Gyeong, these princes certainly possessed a level of boldness far beyond that of ordinary men.
The King of Qin looked toward someone and commanded, “General Mun. Withdraw the troops.”
“But Your Highness!”
“I said withdraw. Do you wish to see my neck snapped here and now?”
General Mun could not contain his fury at the King’s words. “If that happens, I will stake my life to kill this wench.”
“I have acknowledged your loyalty, so withdraw the soldiers.”
“...Understood.”
As General Mun signaled, the officers nearby waved their flags. The archers, who had been aiming at King Gyeong with drawn bows, lowered their weapons and retreated. The other soldiers followed suit.
Once they had retreated one li and were out of sight, I saw the gisaengs and the government troops under King Gyeong heave sighs of relief.
The King of Qin spoke to me. “There, I have done as you wished. Now, will you remove your hand from my throat?”
Despite his life being threatened, his voice was remarkably smooth. It seemed he wanted to demonstrate that his caliber was different, even in this situation.
He’s impressive, in a way.
This bloodline was certainly something else. I felt a sudden urge to reveal my identity, just as I had to King Gyeong. But if I did that, I wouldn't be able to proceed with the original plan.
“I’m afraid I cannot do that just yet.”
“Are you worried I might target your master?”
In response to the King of Qin’s question, I smiled and replied nonchalantly, “I didn't tell them to retreat because I was worried about King Gyeong.”
“What?”
The King of Qin looked puzzled. In response, I opened my Middle and Lower Dantians simultaneously, achieving the harmony of essence and energy.
Without suppressing my aura, I let it surge. The explosive increase in internal power caused a violent pressure to erupt from my body.
“Wh-what?!”
“Gah!”
Rumble!
The generals guarding the King of Qin were pushed back by the wind pressure. Those with weak internal energy would find it impossible to withstand this intentionally released aura.
The Eastern Depot Inspector and the general whose sword I had taken managed to hold their ground thanks to their deep internal power, but the look in their eyes changed completely.
“Th-this is impossible...”
“How can this be...?”
It was as if they were looking at a monster. They possessed Qi Sense, so they could tell clearly—this level of aura meant I had 'broken the wall.' If they had reached the realm of superhumans themselves, they would have realized I had surpassed even that, but at their current level, they couldn't grasp the full extent of it.
I had drawn out my energy to this extent specifically to threaten them openly.
“Just... what is this...?”
As an ordinary man, the King of Qin found it difficult even to endure the pressure. I smiled at him and said, “I asked them to retreat because I was worried I might lose control of my strength and accidentally kill everyone here, including Your Highness.”
“What do you mean by...”
Before the King of Qin could finish his question...
Rumble!
The sword I had thrust into the ground pulled itself out and flew into my hand. The officers were struck with awe at this display of Void Object Retrieval.
Regardless, I gripped the hilt and swung the blade toward the empty tents behind us. Sharp killing intent wrapped around the blade, and the internal power amplified by the harmony of my dantians created a devastating strike.
Flash! BOOM!
A massive roar erupted, as if a storm had swept through. As the rising dust cleared, the Eastern Depot Inspector and the surrounding generals stood with their mouths agape, unable to hide their shock.
“How could they all...?”
The King of Qin seemed curious about their reaction. I loosened my grip on his throat and kindly allowed him to turn his head.
As he slowly looked back, his expression froze as if turned to stone.
!!!
A fan-shaped path of destruction stretched for dozens of yards. Including the central tent, nearly two hundred tents behind it had vanished without a trace.
“...Ha!”
Even King Gyeong, watching from a distance, reacted the same way. He knew I was strong, but he had never dreamed I was at this level. He stood dazed, just like the gisaengs and his subordinate troops.
Pressing down lightly on the shoulder of the King of Qin, who couldn't take his eyes off the destruction, I smiled and said, “Please, Your Highness, do not create a situation where I might lose control of my strength.”
The King of Qin swallowed hard. Then, he nodded instinctively. Now that I had made a proper display of power, it seemed he no longer had any thoughts of making me his concubine.
My part here was finished. When I looked over, King Gyeong seemed to have snapped out of his daze. He nodded and approached the King of Qin and me.
“Brother.”
The King of Qin looked at King Gyeong as if he were looking at a stranger. “...It seems I have misjudged you, brother. To think you were hiding someone like this.”
“She is the woman I favor most.”
“...And what now? Do you intend to do something to me here?”
“Whether I do or not depends on your answer, brother.”
“Ha...”
The King of Qin muttered hollowly and glanced at me. He must have found the situation absurd—that a single gisaeng had brought things to this point.
“I suppose I must endure this humiliation if I wish to keep my life.”
“Do not think of it as humiliation. This could be a great opportunity for you as well, brother.”
“A great opportunity?”
To the puzzled King of Qin, King Gyeong spoke in a grave voice. “Before Yeon-saeng helped me, that man over there threatened my life and said something.”
“...What did he say?”
“He said that if I had been as obedient as you, brother, I would have been chosen by 'that person' to become the Emperor.”
“What?!”
The King of Qin momentarily lost his temper. At that moment, I was watching the generals and officials beside him. Everyone was focused on the conversation between the two princes, but the moment 'that person' was mentioned, two people glanced toward the captive government official.
One was the general whose sword I had taken, and the other was the Eastern Depot Inspector.
...Is it one of those two?
One of them was the Golden Emperor’s person. King Gyeong glanced at me, and I nodded, signaling him to continue.
King Gyeong went on. “I do not know who 'that person' is, but he dares to speak as if he decides who becomes the Emperor of the Great Yan Empire. Will you just stand by and let such insolence pass, brother?”
The King of Qin’s eyes wavered. He likely suspected King Gyeong’s words were a ploy to drive a wedge between them. But there was a definitive way to prove it.
At my gesture, the soldiers brought the captive forward. The man, gagged and unable to speak, trembled violently and kept his eyes cast down. He was trying to avoid looking at his accomplices.
King Gyeong spoke to me as if giving an order. “Question him, Yeon-saeng.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
With those words, I approached the man. “Do not be afraid. As promised, if you reveal the truth here, your life will be spared.”
The man remained still, his head bowed. But you’ll have no choice but to answer.
“Un-gag him so he can speak.”
At my command, the soldiers removed the gag. At that moment, I lightly flicked my finger. The man’s pupils went dull, and he suddenly shouted for all to hear.
“That person ordered the King of Qin to kill King Gyeong! And the King of Qin faithfully followed that order!”
“How dare you!”
The King of Qin exploded in rage. Being called a mere puppet was enough to make anyone furious. Now, for the most important part.
“Who is 'that person' that he can give orders to the King of Qin?”
Under the influence of the Transformation Eye Scripture, the man prepared to answer exactly as I expected.
“That person has one eye...”
It happened right then.
Thwack!
A dagger flew toward the man’s chest. But there was no way it would hit its mark with me standing right there. I caught the dagger instantly and looked in the direction it had come from.
There, I saw the general whose sword I had taken in a throwing stance. When our eyes met, he looked panicked and tried to bite down on something.
Flash!
I instantly used my lightness skill to close the distance. Then, I struck his pressure points with lightning speed.
Tap-tap-tap!
I struck his paralysis points to prevent him from committing suicide. I forced open the mouth of the immobilized man and used Void Object Retrieval to pull out a black object near his molars.
It was none other than a poison pill.
“Ha!”
I shook the poison pill at the dumbfounded King of Qin and said, “There is a saying that one should distance oneself from the wicked, Your Highness.”
*
Half a day later, at noon.
As I prepared to leave the encampment, King Gyeong spoke with regret. “If you were to stay by my side and help me, it would be like gaining ten thousand troops.”
I gave him a fist-and-palm salute and replied, “Even without me, Your Highness will do well.”
Even without my help, King Gyeong was someone who had built his own power base while acting like a profligate. With the King of Qin now weakened by this incident, dealing with the other candidate, King Yeong, would be much easier.
“Then how about staying at least until that fellow opens his mouth?”
“I apologize, but he won't talk that easily.”
If he were someone who gave up information easily, I would have made him talk regardless of the means. The Golden Emperor was not that careless. Besides, the two captured men were meant to serve as a warning to the Imperial Family about the Golden Emperor’s existence.
King Gyeong shook his head and then said to me, “If that is your wish, I cannot force you. However, I wish to give you a gift to reward your merit.”
“A gift?”
“If you were truly a woman, I would dearly wish to make you my Empress. Since that is not the case, I intend to appoint Yeon-saeng as my personal Guardian Warrior.”
I frowned at his words. “I am not the real Yeon-saeng.”
“You saved my life. If I let you go without any reward, what would become of my reputation?”
“Even so...”
“I will give the title to Yeon-saeng as well, but isn't the one with the extraordinary martial prowess you?”
It was a strange logic. Though, technically, he wasn't wrong.
King Gyeong pulled a jade token from his robes. The words Imperial Guards were deeply engraved on it, and below that, it read Guardian Warrior, Junior 4th Rank.
!?
I thought he meant a simple bodyguard, but I looked at King Gyeong in surprise at the rank. King Gyeong smiled.
“Princes have the authority to select the Imperial Guards who oversee their protection. Therefore, I grant you the rank of Guardian Warrior, Junior 4th Rank.”
A Junior 4th Rank Guardian Warrior was the rank just below the Northern and Southern Warriors. It was a high-ranking position even within the Imperial Guards, the Emperor’s elite guard and the supreme investigative body. Considering that a provincial governor was a Junior 5th Rank, this was a meteoric rise.
I looked at the jade token he held out and shook my head. “...You are truly cunning.”
King Gyeong chuckled. “Did you catch on?”
It was a classic carrot-and-stick move. By giving me this rank, he was essentially saying he would call on me for help whenever he needed it.
King Gyeong said to me, “Do not refuse.”
“I am a man of the martial world. I cannot accept an official government post.”
“With this, you can travel anywhere with ease, and you can even temporarily mobilize government troops. Does that not appeal to you?”
“........”
“Since no one knows your true face or identity, there is no way for anyone to find out even if I give this to you. So, please accept it as a token of my gratitude.”
I sighed at King Gyeong’s words.
The Lesser Conversation Sword chattered.
True, why refuse a gift? After all, it was 'Yeon-saeng' who was receiving the title, not So Un-hwi or Jin Un-hwi.
I knelt and formally accepted the jade token. “I humbly accept Your Highness’s command.”
“Hahahaha! I have gained the greatest Guardian Warrior in the world!”
King Gyeong was openly delighted. After tucking the jade token away, I asked one last thing out of curiosity before leaving.
“May I ask one thing?”
“What is it?”
“Are you not curious about my true identity?”
King Gyeong smiled at my question. “Yeon-saeng is enough for me.”
...Meaning he wasn't curious about my identity as a man at all.
Clicking my tongue inwardly, I bowed to King Gyeong and leaped toward the southwest.
*
Inside the encampment near the Tomb of King Ping.
The gisaeng Yeon-saeng woke up, completely bewildered.
She had gone to sleep and woken up to find herself appointed as King Gyeong’s Guardian Warrior, and the government troops were cheering and hailing her as a supreme master of martial arts who had protected the prince.
“...What on earth is happening?”
She couldn't tell if she was dreaming or awake.