Chapter 188: An Unsatisfactory Act (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 188: An Unsatisfactory Act (3)
The Black Palace.
It was one of the largest organizations within the Unorthodox Faction. Its master was none other than one of the Four Emperors and Five Kings—the absolute pinnacle of the unorthodox world.
Thud.
Thud.
A mysterious sound echoed continuously through a pitch-black corridor, unlit by a single torch.
A man moved through the darkness at a steady, unhurried pace, yet his own footsteps made no sound. It wasn’t that they were drowned out by the strange echoes—rather, it was as though he walked on water itself.
He arrived noiselessly before a massive door, its surface jet black save for a single small violet gem embedded in its center.
“We greet the Palace Lord.”
The figures waiting before the door bowed their heads in unison as the man appeared.
“Any news?”
“None, my lord.”
Receiving the response, the Palace Lord nodded and reached toward the violet gem.
The gem glowed brightly at his touch.
Ddddd—
A low, resonant hum emanated from the door.
Slam!
Despite its immense weight, the massive door swung open effortlessly at his one-handed push.
“Seventh.”
“Yes, Palace Lord.”
“The gem has a crack. Inform the Great Oni later.”
“Understood.”
With that order, the Palace Lord stepped inside.
The hallway beyond was just as dark as the corridor outside. Yet the man walked forward without hesitation, as though he could see everything clearly.
In the absolute blackness, only the faint glow of his light violet eyes was visible.
After a long walk, he finally stopped in a room devoid of any light—yet he could perceive every detail within.
His gaze swept the surroundings before settling on one spot. Slowly, he knelt.
“Have you been comfortable here?”
His words faded into silence, unanswered.
But the Palace Lord didn’t mind. He had come only to deliver his report.
“Much has happened in a short time.”
As if in reply…
Rustle, rustle.
A soft, crumbling sound arose before him—the sound of flowers drying up, turning to dust.
Though the room was shrouded in darkness, the Palace Lord saw everything clearly. Before him lay piles upon piles of flowers, now reduced to fine powder. These were no ordinary blossoms—they had been nurtured with abundant Qi.
“The world outside remains a living hell, but you need not trouble yourself with it.”
The Palace Lord continued speaking softly.
“The heavens watch from above, but you…”
He broke off abruptly.
His Heaven stood before him.
The Palace Lord lifted his head, a trail of cold sweat tracing his cheek.
“Ahh…”
An admiring sigh escaped him as he gazed upon the Heaven before him.
It took the form of a small, frail-looking child—the kind one might see playing innocently in the streets.
But the Palace Lord knew better.
He knew the immense power concealed within that diminutive frame.
In one of the child’s hands was a single withered flower; in the other, a book.
The child’s face was hidden behind long hair that cascaded all the way to the floor, yet the Palace Lord knew the radiance shining from its eyes far surpassed the glow of his own violet gaze.
“…Oh, Heaven.”
Though his eyes saw only pure darkness, the Palace Lord understood: all light around him had been extinguished by the presence of his Heaven.
The fact that his own Qi—which had reached the pinnacle of martial accomplishment—raged uncontrollably simply from standing before the child was proof enough.
The child lifted a small arm, offering the book.
The Palace Lord accepted it carefully.
“Done.”
At the child’s faint utterance, the Palace Lord burned the book to ash. In a way, this was a form of blessing.
“…I will prepare the next one.”
“I’m hungry.”
“I will see to that as well.”
After the Palace Lord responded, the child turned without another word and returned to its original spot.
Somehow, the darkness seemed even deeper where the child stood.
To the Palace Lord, his Heaven was no different from a god bestowing blessings.
He observed the small figure for a moment longer, then rose quietly.
Though the room was enclosed, a faint breeze seemed to drift through the air.
Before leaving, the Palace Lord cast one last look at his Heaven.
I must strengthen the vessel further.
The child’ body was still too small to contain that immense darkness.
To achieve that, more of the special flowers would be needed.
The Palace Lord bowed respectfully toward his Heaven—who did not so much as glance his way—then turned and retraced his steps to the entrance.
Slam!
The moment he stepped out, the massive door shut behind him.
The same guards still stood watch… but now, another figure had joined them—one who had not been there before.
“I greet the Palace Lord.”
The elderly man before him held the position of Vice Palace Lord within the Black Palace.
He was known throughout the martial world as one of the Seven Deadly Blades: Seon Cheokmoon.
The Palace Lord regarded the old man with a gaze different from before.
“What brings you here?”
“I have urgent news to deliver. I apologize for my abrupt arrival.”
“Speak.”
“We have found traces of the flame.”
A faintly amused expression touched the Palace Lord’s face.
“Where?”
“In Jeonseon.”
“Jeonseon… that is Orthodox Faction territory.”
Seon Cheokmoon carefully handed a letter to the Palace Lord, who opened and read it swiftly.
His eyes paused at a particular section.
“The Gu Clan.”
The name left the Palace Lord’s lips with difficulty, as though he were swallowing thorns.
“I see. So it’s the Gu Clan.”
He nodded without further questions.
The flame we seek lies with the Gu Clan. How ironic.
“You said Jeonseon.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Jeonseon—a place reduced to ruins by repeated attacks from the demon gate. The foolish Orthodox Faction sent their disciples and bloodlines there under the guise of protection, earning the people’s trust… but it was all meaningless.
After watching his master’s reaction, Seon Cheokmoon cautiously added, “…We are assembling a force, but given the difficulty of the mission, we anticipate heavy losses.”
The Palace Lord burned the letter to ash.
Blaze.
Samadhi True Fire flickered in his palm. Seon Cheokmoon, already bowing, lowered his head even further.
“There is no need for an army.”
Seon Cheokmoon looked up, puzzled. They had finally found what his lord sought—why this reaction?
“I will go myself.”
“…Palace Lord!”
Seon Cheokmoon was shocked. The Palace Lord had not set foot outside the Black Palace in decades. Why now?
“It’s too dangerous! The Flaming Demon himself might be— Ugh!”
His words cut off abruptly as the Palace Lord’s overwhelming aura crushed down on him.
Though the Palace Lord’s expression remained neutral, Seon Cheokmoon knew instinctively that one wrong word could mean his death.
“The Flaming Demon, hmm? Are you afraid of a tiger that has lost its fangs?”
“N-No, my lord! How could I…?”
“Good. That’s how it should be.”
The Palace Lord tapped Seon Cheokmoon’s shoulder lightly, and the oppressive atmosphere vanished instantly.
“The Flaming Demon of the past is gone. Now he’s just an old tiger quietly living out his days in Shanxi.”
The true threat from the Gu Clan was not the Flaming Demon. Besides, there was no reason to fear a martial artist trapped in the past.
“I will handle this matter personally. Relay my orders.”
“…Yes. Understood.”
This concerned the flame his Heaven required. Knowing that, hesitation was not an option.
I would have let it pass if it were anything else…
But the involvement of the Gu Clan had piqued the Palace Lord’s interest. He had also heard that the Gu bloodline was connected to certain rumors.
Gu Yangcheon, was it?
The boy who had killed Giant Oni—a Peak Realm expert—despite his own mediocre talent. He, too, was from the Gu Clan. And the only son of the Flaming Demon, no less.
The Palace Lord also recalled another name from the letter before he burned it.
The Sword Phoenix, Gu Huibi.
A prodigy rising so swiftly she was expected to inherit the title of Sword Queen.
“Vice Palace Lord.”
“Yes, Palace Lord…”
“Prepare more flowers and books.”
“…Understood. I will inform the Great King about the books.”
With his final orders given, the Palace Lord walked past Seon Cheokmoon.
After a few steps, he vanished, leaving only a gentle breeze in his wake.
His destination was Jeonseon, where the Sword Phoenix waited.
It was the first time in ten years that he had left the Black Palace.