A Firm Resolve
"H-how... How is this possible?!"
The purple sword qi rising from my blade made the eunuch's eyes bulge so wide they looked ready to pop out.
Even...
"She actually mastered it...!"
Even Ryun, who had just recited the mnemonic to me, looked utterly dumbfounded.
Well, to be fair, mastering a martial art on the spot just by hearing its mnemonic once is completely absurd.
But I have the Heavenly Martial Physique—which is just a fancy way of saying I'm a goddamn genius!
Of course, that very genius constitution was the reason I got kidnapped by a crazy eunuch and had my balls snipped off...
Ryun shook his head, snapping himself out of his daze. After staring blankly for a moment, he quickly regained his senses and shouted,
"Yeonhwa! Next are the forms! From the Nogung acupoint—"
"No, that's enough."
"Huh? What did you just..."
"This is plenty. Don't teach me any more."
The moment the sword qi flared, my instincts told me everything.
This technique was a secret among secrets, a supreme martial art among supreme martial arts.
Even if the son of the household was offering it on a silver platter, greedily gobbling up the forms as well would just be shameless.
I raised my hand to stop him.
"But how do you expect to win without knowing the forms..."
"I told you, this is enough. Trust me."
Besides, the biggest reason I declined was because this purple sword qi alone was more than enough to beat this eunuch.
"You arrogant little bitch, you're all talk! Fine, I will tear you limb from limb today!!!"
"Now that's more like it."
His bloodlust-filled roar was infinitely better than that creepy, high-pitched voice of his that sounded like a half-baked drag queen.
But why is he so pissed off?
Is me learning this sword style really something to throw a tantrum over?
Technically, this is Ryun's family secret. It has absolutely nothing to do with some random eunuch.
"Imperial Palace Severing Sword!"
Once again, the eunuch leaped into the air, raining down a barrage of sword qi.
But from this moment on, I didn't need to desperately scramble to parry them like before.
"Haaah!"
I channeled my inner force and swung, unleashing a wave of purple sword qi.
The moment my strike collided with the eunuch's scattered sword qi, a series of violent explosions erupted in the air.
"Ugh...!"
This time, it was the eunuch who took the brunt of the shockwave.
My concentrated sword qi had completely pierced through his scattered attacks to strike him directly.
"Looks like the tables have turned."
Until now, because I was using the trashy Samjae Sword Style, I couldn't properly convert my inner force into sword qi.
To use a gaming analogy, it was like having a massive mana pool but only being allowed to cast basic magic spells.
But now, I was channeling the sword style Ryun had taught me.
This purple sword qi grew exponentially stronger the more inner force I poured into it.
In other words, I now held the absolute upper hand in sheer destructive power.
"Let's see you block this!"
I was faster, and I was stronger. What could be simpler than that?
Despite being pushed back, the eunuch managed to avoid any fatal blows.
I suppose that was the difference in experience and technique.
He undoubtedly had far more real combat experience than me and knew a wide variety of martial forms.
He was using every trick in his book to cling on.
Wait, then shouldn't I have learned the forms from Ryun? one might ask.
Not at all.
Because I had no intention of finishing this with a sword!
After violently deflecting the eunuch's blade,
I threw my sword aside and lunged forward, locking him in a tight embrace.
"What in the world?!"
The eunuch gasped in shock, but he didn't let go of his sword.
At this rate, he would try to twist his blade and stab me.
That was why I needed to create an opening—just a brief, fleeting second would do.
Fortunately... I knew the perfect way to distract him.
"Yeop Huhu sends his regards."
"W-what?! You bitch, where did you hear that name?!"
Did Yeop Huhu say he used to be the head of the Eastern Depot?
At the sudden mention of their exiled former leader, the eunuch's face went pale with sheer shock.
And taking advantage of this split-second opening—
I successfully guided a thread of his true qi into my own body.
"I wondered what you were up to... trying to siphon my true qi like those whores of the Demonic Cult?! Even if you try—"
Oh?
So the whores of the Demonic Cult siphon true qi? Good to know.
But more importantly—
Accelerate!
Before he could pull his energy back, I forced the qi inside my body to accelerate.
Using the exact same method I had used on Yeop Huhu.
"Agh...!"
Since my Guihua Preservation was now at the 7th stage, my body wasn't at risk of exploding like before.
Still, forcing my internal qi to accelerate put a massive strain on my system.
To put it in perspective, it felt like fire-noodles sauce was coursing through my veins instead of blood.
Even so—
"W-what... what is this?!"
"Agh...! W-what are you doing?! Stop!!!"
My situation was still a hundred times better than that of the eunuch currently getting drained dry.
Ugh...
I had been unconscious back then, so I hadn't realized, but watching this happen in real-time was truly a gruesome sight.
A perfectly healthy man was literally shriveling up into a mummy right before my eyes.
"Aaargh! Why! Why can't I stop it?!"
The eunuch didn't know this, but both of us practiced the exact same Guihua Preservation.
Furthermore, the inner force of the Guihua Preservation was uniquely formless and neutral. Mix it with water, it becomes water; mix it with wine, it becomes wine.
Once our energies merged inside my body, it was impossible to separate them, no matter how hard he tried to pull back.
"Aaaaargh! Stop! I said stop!!!"
Ohhh!
And just like that, a hypothesis I had formulated back then was proven correct.
My inner force is actually increasing!
A portion of his siphoned true qi settled into my dantian, seamlessly integrating as if it had been mine all along.
So that meant Yeop Huhu's true qi had also become part of my own back then.
Though, considering it cost a human life, the actual amount gained wasn't overwhelmingly massive.
Even with this eunuch on the verge of death, my Guihua Preservation remained firmly at the 7th stage.
Well, I guess it's still killing two birds with one stone.
I get to eliminate a threat and boost my cultivation at the same time... What could be better?
"Ugh... ah..."
Before long, the shriveled, mummy-like corpse of the eunuch collapsed onto the ground.
It was an incredibly pathetic end for someone who had exuded such an overwhelming presence just moments ago.
I'd better make sure I never end up dying like that.
"Phew..."
Though my inner force had increased as a result,
"I'm exhausted..."
Regardless of my energy levels, my mind and body were completely spent.
Well, I suppose that's only natural after fighting a one-versus-ten battle.
The birth of a one-versus-ten man... wait, no, a one-versus-ten maiden.
That sounds a bit weird when I say it out loud.
"Yeonhwa, are you alright?!"
As I stumbled, Ryun rushed over and supported me.
"...Pfft!"
But his behavior was a bit... off, to say the least.
He was holding his breath, keeping his face turned completely away from me, and his hands were twitching nervously.
"Ryun, do I smell like sweat or something?"
"N-no! Absolutely not! Don't worry about that at all!"
"Then why are you turning your head away? I definitely smell, don't I?"
"Not at all! If anything, your usual scent has just gotten stronger... Anyway! It's not that, so stop asking!"
"Fine."
If he was going to be that defensive about it, there was no point in prying further.
"Ahem. I intend to head into the Provincial Administration Commission now... Will you accompany me?"
"The Provincial Administration Commission?"
"Yes. There are people I agreed to meet there. In fact, the sole reason I came to Gangha was to meet them."
"I see..."
Were those officials the ones who would guarantee Ryun's safety?
"Then of course I'll go. A bodyguard's job is to stick around until their client is safe, right?"
"Thank you."
"For what? Accompanying you?"
"No. Just... for everything."
The transition between dawn and morning. It was the hour when the faint, rising sunlight swept across every corner of the Provincial Administration Commission.
Two men were pacing restlessly back and forth near the main gate of the commission.
One was the Provincial Administration Commissioner of this province, Yi Manyeop. The other was the Regional Military Commissioner, Jo Eunseong.
Though they were the Junior 2nd Rank head of administration and the Senior 2nd Rank military commander respectively... right now, they were biting their nails in sheer anxiety.
After all, the person they were waiting to receive was none other than a direct descendant of the exalted Emperor—the Second Prince of the Great Ming Empire.
The only saving grace was that they had cleared the area beforehand, ensuring none of the lower-ranking officials would witness their undignified state.
"H-he's here!"
At the end of their agonizing wait, they finally spotted the prince approaching from beyond the main gate.
However...
"Huh?"
"Wait a minute..."
The prince's appearance was rather peculiar.
Not only was he supporting an unprecedentedly breathtaking beauty, but
his face was flushed red and his body was twitching nervously. To anyone watching, he looked far from normal.
"Commissioner Yi."
"Mmh. It seems we must adapt to the situation."
Ordinarily, they would have rushed forward, prostrated themselves, and chanted "Long live the Prince!"
But high-ranking officials were masters of political survival—which meant they were exceptionally quick at reading the room.
And so—
"Ahem."
they cautiously approached the prince and the beauty, offering a polite, understated bow.
"Ah, you've come out."
The prince spoke to them using polite, formal language.
"...!"
In that instant, the two officials immediately grasped the situation.
"Welcome, Young Master."
"We have been waiting for you."
They instantly played along with the prince's act.
"And who might this young lady be...?"
"Ah, she is my bodyguard. She protected me from the assassins sent by my mother. Yeonhwa, these two are..."
"I am a humble subordinate of the Provincial Administration Commissioner, surnamed Yi. Please, feel free to call me Old Yi."
"And I am a subordinate of the Regional Military Commissioner, surnamed Jo. You may call me Old Jo."
The two bent their waists even lower than they had when bowing to the prince.
This, too, was a calculated move based on their observation.
The way the prince treated her was, by all accounts, highly unusual.
"I see... Ryun, more importantly—"
"Wait. I have something to say about that as well."
Ryun suddenly cut Yeonhwa off.
"Huh? About what?"
"As you might have guessed, Ryun is not my real name."
"I figured as much."
There's no way a guy who was that obnoxious during our first meeting would have given me his real name, Yeonhwa thought.
Of course, Ryun had no idea she was thinking that, which was probably for the best.
"My real name is Haryun. So please, call me Haryun from now on."
Ju Haryun of the Great Ming Empire's imperial Ju family. That was his true name.
"Haryun?"
T-this is...!
Heavens!
Standing beside them, the Provincial Administration Commissioner and the Regional Military Commissioner were practically having heart attacks.
What was an imperial prince's name?
It was something only his parents could dare to utter. If an outsider spoke it carelessly, they could lose their head.
If he were to become the Crown Prince in the future, the very characters of his name would be banned from public use nationwide.
Yet he was giving her permission to call him by his name so freely? And to a woman, no less?
Like father, like son...
It was a well-known historical fact that the current Emperor had taken the most beautiful woman in the world as his Empress.
It was only natural that watching Ju Haryun brought that legendary romance to their minds.
Yeonhwa, however, was completely oblivious to all of this. A commoner would never have the chance to hear a prince's name in their daily life.
Even in the modern era, most people didn't know that King Sejong's real name was Yi Do, so how could anyone expect her to know imperial naming taboos in the Ming Dynasty?
"Anyway, Yeonhwa. What were you going to say earlier?"
"I'm exhausted. I want to get some sleep. Do you have an empty warehouse or something I can use?"
"A w-warehouse?! How could we possibly put such an esteemed guest in a place like that!"
"We will prepare our finest chamber immediately! Please, right this way!"
If they actually put her in a warehouse just because she asked, they would surely face imperial wrath.
They might end up witnessing the famously mild-mannered Second Prince transform into a bloodthirsty demon.
"Huh? Won't you guys get in trouble with your superiors if you overdo it?"
"Haha, the Provincial Administration Commissioner... is not such a narrow-minded man."
"Of course not! Come, this way."
The two officials practically swept the path ahead of Yeonhwa, even kicking away stray pebbles in her way.
These two were supposed to be incorruptible, high-minded officials admired by all scholars. Seeing them act like this was rather comical and pathetic, but...
They're pretty nice folks.
Yeonhwa, of course, remained oblivious to the reality of the situation.
A luxurious private villa reserved for VIPs, exquisite delicacies, and even personal maids to cater to her every need.
After receiving the most lavish treatment of her entire life, Yeonhwa was
"Phew~!"
completely recovered. In fact, she felt in even better shape than usual.
"Well, Haryun. I guess this is goodbye?"
Her job as a bodyguard was done, and the commission was officially complete.
A heavy pouch containing twenty gold taels rested snugly in Yeonhwa's pocket, boasting its satisfying weight.
Of course, Haryun would have gladly given her a thousand gold taels if he could, but doing so would have given away his identity, so he had to hold back.
"Yes. It was a short time, but I truly enjoyed it. I doubt I will ever forget it for the rest of my life."
"Oh, come on. If fate allows, we'll cross paths again."
"Fate... I suppose so..."
Haryun gazed at Yeonhwa with a complex mixture of emotions in his eyes.
"Take this with you."
He handed Yeonhwa a letter.
"Huh? What's this?"
"It's a letter of introduction. If you ever find a place where you wish to stay as a guest, just show them this."
"Oho..."
Ju Haryun's hand gripped the letter with unconscious strength, reluctant to let go. But even that couldn't delay their parting forever.
"Well, I'm off. Take care of yourself."
Yeonhwa walked away with the same breezy, carefree stride she had when they first met.
Once Yeonhwa had completely vanished from sight,
"Yi Manyeop. Jo Eunseong."
Haryun called out the names of the Provincial Administration Commissioner and the Regional Military Commissioner in a low, commanding voice.
"Yes, Your Highness!"
"We await your commands, Your Highness."
Now that Yeonhwa was gone, there was no longer any need to maintain the charade. The two officials immediately prostrated themselves on the ground, awaiting Haryun's words with absolute reverence.
"It seems I must become the Emperor."
"Finally...!"
"Have you truly made up your mind, Your Highness?!"
These were the words they had yearned to hear for so long. At Haryun's declaration, both men trembled with overwhelming emotion as they lay prostrate.
"Yes. Once I become the Emperor—"
"You can make whoever you desire your Empress! There is already historical precedent, so who would dare oppose you!"
"And what woman in the world would ever refuse such an supreme honor!"
It was glaringly obvious to them what had finally pushed Ju Haryun to make this decision.
Had he not gone so far as to teach her the Purple Forbidden Sword Art, a technique strictly reserved for the imperial family?
Thus, they eagerly pushed him in that direction.
"Ahem! It is not solely for that reason. That woman has extended her reach even to the Eastern Depot to have me killed... If I do not ascend the throne, only death awaits me."
"Even the Eastern Depot..."
"That is indeed a terrifying prospect."
"Once I return to the Forbidden City, you shall support me there. From this day forth, you two shall be my Prime Minister and my Grand Commander."
"We would gladly lay down our lives!"
"We shall serve you until our bones are ground to dust!"
An unexpected promise of the highest promotions.
It was like pouring oil onto their already blazing fire of loyalty.
"Ahem. But tell me..."
"What is on your mind, Your Highness?"
"As you said... there is truly no woman who would refuse the honor of becoming the Empress, correct?"
"Of course, Your Highness! The position of Empress is the absolute pinnacle a woman can achieve in this world! Who could possibly refuse it? If I absolutely had to name an exception..."
"If you absolutely had to?"
"Perhaps... only the greatest female martial artist in the Murim might decline."
After parting ways with Ju Haryun.
With valuable experience under her belt and twenty gold taels jingling in her pocket, Yeonhwa had finally become a respectable wanderer of the Murim.
Watch out, world! Here I come! was her triumphant inner shout...
"Blood washes the world! Long live the Blood Sect!!!"
"Blood washes the world! Long live the Blood Sect!!!"
Oh, for fuck's sake...!
Yeonhwa was currently surrounded by a crowd of incredibly sketchy-looking fanatics.
"Why aren't you chanting, brother? Are you still too shy?"
Goddammit...
The atmosphere left her absolutely no choice. In the end,
"L-long live... the Blood Sect...!"
Yeonhwa raised her arms, her face burning bright red with sheer embarrassment.
How on earth did things turn out like this?
Well, there was a story behind this as well.