Chapter 343
Chapter 343
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 343
Chapter Title: From Now On, It's Our Counterattack (6)
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His Highness the Prince of Chu's commendations, and the court officials bowing their heads.
My Eon Clan juniors hurriedly gathered their sleeves, and I opened my mouth.
"Your words are too kind. The reason we could thwart this crisis was first due to Your Highness and Her Highness the Princess Consort's bold and steadfast actions. Thanks to that, the army's morale and the people's hearts remained unshaken, allowing us humble ones to steel our resolve."
With those words as an opener, I gazed at the crown prince and continued.
"Second, it was due to His Highness the Crown Prince's quick thinking. In that dire moment, you left a secret code that shook off the enemy while summoning allies."
Finally, I turned toward the court officials who had bowed first, displaying my gathered sleeves as I concluded.
"And there are the loyal retainers who staked their lives to defend the Prince of Chu's residence. We merely lent our meager skills in return for your gracious hospitality. If we're to rank merits, we should be far at the rear."
It was then that the crown prince abruptly shouted.
"That's not true at all! Or is it, Minister Fan?!"
At those words, Minister Fan, who had escorted the crown prince, spoke up.
"Indeed. It pains me to report this in Your Highness's presence, but in truth, our feeble efforts nearly allowed the assassins' blades to reach His Highness the Crown Prince. It was Dragon Eon who threw himself in harm's way to block them."
At that, sighs of admiration arose from the Prince of Chu's retainers.
"Dragon Eon also slew the enemy leader, and it was only thanks to him and the other Righteous Martial Academy cadets that we could drive off the rest of the assassins."
"Yes. When we heard the royal city was under attack, we nearly botched everything in our excitement, but Dragon Eon steadied us."
Then Yang Jin-mu stepped forward and saluted the Prince of Chu.
"...Dragon Eon and the Righteous Martial Academy cadets rushed here without rest the moment they heard the residence was in danger."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, Your Highness. Looking back, even a slight delay would have made us too late. It was that sincerity that allowed us to protect His Highness the Crown Prince."
The Prince of Chu smiled warmly and addressed us.
"Everyone is unanimous in praising your merits. Excessive humility ill befits the occasion. Dragon Eon and the cadets, accept this without reservation."
We bowed once more to receive his praise.
"It humbles us, but we accept."
The Prince of Chu spoke again.
"If this were a celebration of a victory won on the offensive... we would pour the finest liquors and bestow rewards befitting each merit. Alas, this is merely a moment of relief after defending the city. Many loyal souls have fallen, and the residence's people groan and weep everywhere. Such festivities must wait. I seek your understanding, Dragon Eon and fellow contributors."
"Of course, Your Highness!"
As we replied in unison, the Prince of Chu nodded in satisfaction.
For a brief moment.
He then issued stern commands to the civil and military officials.
"Prime Minister!"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Open the royal granaries and medicine stores to tend to and comfort the people."
"As you command."
"Royal City Governor. What of the gates?"
"Yes, Your Highness. We've driven off the assassins for now and are preventing unauthorized passage."
"They couldn't have anticipated this. There must be clues linking to the plotters. Find them. Something will turn up."
As the Prince of Chu's officials received their orders.
I stepped forward and spoke.
"Your Highness. Allow us to assist in uncovering clues tied to the assassins."
"I was about to ask you myself... but are you not overtaxed?"
"I'm fine. I wouldn't offer if it impaired my duties."
"Then I entrust it to you."
* * *
With His Highness the Prince of Chu's permission, we left our inn to search the royal city.
Once only my Eon Clan juniors and I remained, away from the residence's officials, Cheon Jang-ho stuck out his tongue.
"Brother Yong-un never uses sorcery or martial arts much, but that tongue of yours is the real killer! Army morale and people's hearts? Meager skills?! How do those words flow so smoothly like oiled silk? All that ran through my head was 'just nod and get it over with'?"
As my master muttered under his breath at the fool's words.
- That rascal's tongue belongs in court.
Namgung Yun chuckled dryly.
"If you'd been our representative, Cheon Jang-ho, we'd have been in trouble. You can't just gobble up praise like that without losing face. As expected of Eon Yong-un. True to the man I acknowledge."
"I never take rep gigs anyway! And who are you to 'acknowledge' Brother Yong-un!? Geez, that's the most ridiculous thing I've heard since Guangxi."
"......"
Next to speak were Ye Haesu and Eun Ha-seong.
"It's not just the tongue—your guts are unreal. How do you speak so bluntly before His Highness the Prince of Chu amid all those high officials? I thought you'd scripted it."
"Brother Yong-un's got nerves of steel. Makes sense—he bullies ghosts into obedience just to avoid dying. Nothing scares him... But brother, how does a already-dead guy die again?"
"Want me to show you?"
"...I'll shut up."
My Eon Clan juniors were buzzing with excitement.
I couldn't blame them.
The Prince of Chu, esteemed by nobility and commoners alike, had commended us personally, with the court's bows to boot.
It was a sight even lifelong officials rarely witnessed, let alone exam passers.
"I was thrilled too seeing His Highness treat us with such courtesy, and with the crown prince safe, I get the high spirits."
But we couldn't afford laxity.
"Still, stay sharp. Didn't you hear? The loyalist troops secured the gates first. Some assassins might be hiding. My gut says the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's involved this time. Smells like that sly bastard Song Gil-joon of the Rogue Demon Troops."
With resolve steeled, my Eon Clan juniors and I began scouring the city.
One day.
Two days.
The city was vast.
In my great-uncle's Shanxi, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had marked rally points by etching symbols on building exteriors.
Thus, we meticulously searched every outer and inner surface of buildings from the outskirts inward.
We even intermittently used black magic to probe with spirit familiars, which took time.
Three days.
Four days.
After four days, as Eun Ha-yeon peered at her map crisscrossed with lines.
"Not much left unsearched... but no real traces? At this point, they might've slipped out."
"Even masters can't last without water forever. If nothing suspicious in the rest, we can assume as much."
As our steps reached the final sector.
"Hm?"
Something tugged at my senses.
A dark shadow suddenly darted out.
Whoosh!!!
"Brother Eon!"
"I saw it! Could be bait, so Jeong-hyeon and So-neung stay here! Rest, flank left and right!"
I kicked off the ground, snapping my fingers to divide the group.
We pursued the black-clad figure.
"Got...!"
As my juniors blocked its path and I reached for its collar.
Poison, perhaps—the black-clad foe rolled back its eyes and collapsed.
"Gurgle!"
"Damn."
I'd meant to capture it alive, so a curse slipped out reflexively.
But on second thought, if suicide was the plan, why bolt out?
"Dang Ok-gi. Check it out."
"Got it."
Moments later, after asking Dang Ok-gi to examine the body.
He tilted his head.
"This flame mark behind the ear... Heavenly Demon Divine Cult symbol, right?"
Eun Ha-yeon, peering alongside, spoke up.
"Hmm... It's the symbol, but isn't it too blatant? For Rogue Demon Troops masterminding it..."
"Yeah, pops out screaming 'catch me' then dies. Whether Song Gil-joon or his underlings, they're my meal anyway... but not this stupid?"
Just then, Dang Ok-gi frantically beckoned me.
"Hey, hey. Check this too. Something extra."
Shifting my gaze.
An oracle bone script tattoo: four ancient characters clustered.
"Blood Stain Shocking Heaven?"
This was the motto of the Blood Demon Palace retainers before the Blood Cult's independence.
Realization dawned instantly on the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's scheme.
"...These bastards are using us as a knife to carve out the Blood Cult?"
* * *
Guangdong's capital, Guangzhou.
In a palatial mountain villa at the land's most picturesque spot, amid year-round blooms.
Prince Lian Zhu Hui-deok lounged, plucking grapes.
Kneeling before him, prattling on, was none other than Ha Gwang, Song Gil-joon's intelligence chief.
"...The successor to Giyeom Valley's next valley lord sent word it's proving difficult. With no news of slain or abducted royals from the Prince of Chu's residence since, it seems they've truly failed."
At Ha Gwang's words, the inner attendant fanning Prince Lian nasalized a shout.
"No trouble for His Highness, I trust?"
"Yes. As promised, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult will bear full responsibility."
"How precisely?!"
"Before fleeing the city, we left behind an agent branded with our symbol. Eon Yong-un will recognize it and naturally pin it on us."
The Demon Brain Palace was convinced the Blood Demon's faction posed an internal threat.
It was a sacrificial pawn, but Ha Gwang had no reason to reveal that here.
He stuck to the line of the Cult tearfully assuming blame.
The attendant clicked his tongue.
"Tsk tsk. All pomp, no substance, Your Highness."
Ha Gwang swallowed humiliation to speak.
"One more thing, begging Your Highness's pardon. Best to relocate soon."
Prince Lian paused mid-grape and asked.
"Relocate why?"
"Guangzhou's too close to the Prince of Chu's Guangxi. We tied up loose ends, but an enraged Prince of Chu might seek reprisal. End the respite and head to Yangling..."
The attendant cut Ha Gwang off.
"His Highness came south to rest from Yangling's tedium! Moving now would look suspicious!"
Prince Lian smirked.
"Prince Chu Zhu Hui-shun. That coward can't touch me anyway."
* * *
Amid stacks of intel on the Prince of Chu residence assault, its civil and military officials convened.
My Eon Clan juniors and I, who had taken temporary roles aiding the city search, attended as well.
Bam!
His Highness the Prince of Chu, unusually wrathful, spoke.
"So Prince Lian dares enrage this realm?!"
In truth, no direct evidence linked this to Prince Lian's faction.
Yet their suspiciously spotless tracks paradoxically proved his involvement.
'He views His Highness as arch-rival.'
Had it not been his doing, he'd feign outrage or send mocking condolences.
'Circumstantially, he's the sole gainer and funder.'
The mild-mannered Prince of Chu had patience, not weakness.
'Left unchecked, he'll march on Guangdong forthwith.'
The city had burned, the crown prince nearly slain, countless officials and civilians dead or wounded.
His fury was understandable.
But we couldn't let it lash wildly.
I stepped forward.
Presenting the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult symbol and Blood Demon motto I'd secured.
"During the city search, this humble one uncovered suspicious evidence. I request a private audience with Your Highness."