A Man Too Dangerous
The Crown Prince was the son of the Emperor and grandson of the Crown Prince-to-be.
A man destined one day to stand at the pinnacle of the world!
And such a figure had come to visit the Pang Clan!
Oh no! This is no time for that.
Pang Gang-ung quickly pulled himself together.
As the current representative of the Pang Clan, it fell to him to greet the visitor.
He said to receive him according to the customs of the jianghu.
Pang Gang-ung had heard plenty of rumors about Crown Prince Ju Jin-gi.
A man who always kept his word once spoken and held himself to the same standard.
So, they had to do as he wished.
I'll ask later why he came to celebrate in person and what he wants.
Whatever the reason, the Crown Prince's visit to the Pang Clan was an enormous event.
Not only those gathered here, but everyone who heard the news would see the Pang Clan in a new light.
Pang Gang-ung forced a calm expression and cupped his hands politely.
"We welcome Your Highness the Crown Prince. Please, come inside. I will guide you."
"My thanks."
Meanwhile, Jeong Gwang was already heading back to his lodgings.
Pang Man-so, limping along behind him, called out.
"Young man from the Hyul-ryeon Clan."
"Yes?"
"Walk with me a bit."
"Why?"
"......I want to see how Su-bin is training."
"Hmm."
Jeong Gwang eyed him steadily before asking.
"Really?"
"......Isn't it natural for a grandfather to want to see his granddaughter?"
Jeong Gwang chuckled softly.
He's seen her every day—what's this sudden excuse?
A man always so composed wouldn't act like this without reason.
And his tone was unusually urgent, unlike his usual self.
He might hide his expression, but his heart was plain to see.
I can guess roughly.
Unaware of Jeong Gwang's thoughts, Pang Man-so pleaded.
"Will you support me a little?"
"Sure."
As Jeong Gwang lent his arm, Pang Man-so urged him on.
"I want to hurry. Let's go."
"Haha. Why are you running away like this?"
"......What do you mean?"
"You'll get caught eventually—why bother?"
"......You speak as if you know something."
"From the situation, more or less?"
"Sigh. What a monstrous......"
Pang Man-so sighed deeply before murmuring low.
"Just pretend you don't know."
"That's not hard......"
"......?"
"The problem is the Crown Prince won't pretend. He's come looking for you, hasn't he?"
"......!"
They walked in silence for a while before Pang Man-so muttered.
"I cannot meet him."
"Do as you like."
"......"
"If you can keep it up forever."
Pang Man-so fell into thought at Jeong Gwang's words.
By the time they reached Paeng Gang-hwi's pavilion, his expression was so different from usual that even the young Pang Su-bin noticed.
"Grandfather. Is something wrong?"
"No. Focus on your training."
Pang Man-so patted his granddaughter's head before entering his room.
As Pang Su-bin watched her grandfather's back with worry, Jeong Gwang spoke.
"Training ends here for today. Go rest."
"......Already?"
"Yeah. The adults have business."
Pang Su-bin hesitated before leaving, and Jeong Gwang called Baek Seung-mu and Jao inside.
Once in the room, he sent them a transmission, just in case Pang Man-so in the next room overheard.
-The Crown Prince brought the Imperial Guard with him.
-......!
Unlike the shocked pair, Jeong Gwang continued calmly via transmission.
-Jao. Mingle with the guests who've come to the Pang Clan and gather info. What kind of person the Crown Prince is, his standing in the palace. Stay away from the Crown Prince and the Imperial Guard.
-Understood. Shall I find out why he's here too?
-No need. Oh, and don't talk too much.
-......I'll keep that in mind.
Jao slunk away, shoulders slumped, as Baek Seung-mu stepped forward with eager enthusiasm.
-Senior Brother! What should I do?
-You have those things Su-bin's mother gave you, right?
-Yes!
-Think about how to make them grow more.
-......
Jeong Gwang patted Baek Seung-mu's shoulder a few times and dismissed them.
Lying on the bed with eyes closed, he recalled the earlier events.
First, Pang Gang-ung's shocked face.
He hadn't expected the Crown Prince at all.
Not just him—everyone else was the same.
And why wouldn't they be? Why would someone of the Crown Prince's stature attend a mere jianghu clan's celebration?
The second image was the Crown Prince's eyes.
Someone with such clear eyes is stubborn.
Not one to listen to persuasion.
Even flattery wouldn't sway him; he moved by his own judgment.
So the pig didn't send him as a ploy.
No—if Sima Lian had the power to move the Crown Prince, the jianghu would already be theirs.
An unexpected variable. How will the pig react?
Whatever they'd been plotting, the Crown Prince's arrival forced changes.
Jeong Gwang considered the worst-case scenario.
Then shook his head.
No way. Even a madman wouldn't. Though I might.
But thinking it over, the pig was mad enough.
Will he really? If so......
This was no time to lie around.
Jeong Gwang sat up, crossing his legs in meditation.
He needed his body in peak condition.
Waiting for Jao's return, he circulated the Three Pure Ones United Divine Art.
The info Jao brought wasn't much, but it gave a rough sense of the Crown Prince.
A man who takes responsibility for his words? High praise.
The higher one's position, the harder it is to keep promises.
Their value and weight far exceed those of common folk.
They often must renege for gain or loss, so keeping them shows two qualities.
The judgment to make only unbreakable promises.
The grit to uphold them even if wrong.
If that's true......
The Crown Prince was worth knowing.
Though ignorance was better.
I've seen it all, but the imperial palace is a demon hall among demon halls.
Even history books showed it.
How many intrigues and plots raged there.
Worse than what he'd faced in his past life at the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
I'd rather not get involved.
But his earlier hunch seemed right.
The Crown Prince's visit made avoidance impossible.
Since it's come to this, I should get something out of it. What?
Jeong Gwang pondered despite no one offering rice cakes yet.
Not stopping there, he even asked others.
"Junior Brother. What would be worth getting from the Crown Prince?"
"......Senior Brother. If you mean to...... the Nine Clans' heads will roll."
"Don't worry. I'm an orphan."
"......What about Kunlun?"
"Think he'll come all the way to Qinghai Province?"
"......Limitless is that called the Supreme Virtue. Heaven is long-enduring, and Earth continues long. The reason for the long endurance of Heaven and Earth is that they do not live for themselves; thereby they can continue long......"
Baek Seung-mu recited from the Tao Te Ching to escape reality, and Jeong Gwang praised him.
"Ooh. Junior Brother, your Taoist cultivation has deepened? What do you think, Jao? Any ideas?"
Jao barely pried open his nonstop mouth.
"......Uh, none."
"Hmm. What now?"
"......Th-this time, it might be best to just let it pass."
Jeong Gwang chuckled.
"You're misunderstanding. I'm not planning to extort him by force. If I help, I want fair compensation."
"Wh-what help?"
"Hold on. Better to ask directly."
"......Pardon?"
Baek Seung-mu snapped back to reality at the abrupt words.
Jao gaped, speechless.
Go ask him in person?
He's completely mad!
Fortunately, Jeong Gwang was less crazy than they thought.
He gazed at the closed door with a grin.
His eyes pierced beyond it, to the distance.
"He's coming this way right now."
"......!"
"Hm? Why the faces? Relax. I won't ask right away."
Relax, my foot.
Baek Seung-mu and Jao's stomachs began to ache.
Pang Gang-ung was shocked by the name the Crown Prince mentioned.
Grandfather? Why?
But it was the Crown Prince's request.
He sent men at once, and after some time, learned someone had seen him heading to Paeng Gang-hwi's quarters.
He rushed there with the Crown Prince's group.
"This is the place."
Pang Gang-ung pointed to the pavilion walled by high fences, and the Crown Prince's eyes gleamed.
......At last!
Old memories flooded his mind, emotions swirled in his chest.
But he showed none outwardly.
As Crown Prince, he couldn't reveal his inner thoughts.
Instead, he calmly cupped his hands to Pang Gang-ung.
"My thanks for guiding me, Young Lord."
"No need for such words. Please, enter."
As Pang Gang-ung humbly moved forward—
A cold voice halted him.
"Young Lord. Your guidance ends here."
"......!"
Turning slowly, he saw the speaker: a middle-aged man never more than two steps from the Crown Prince.
This insolent—!
Pang Gang-ung burned with inner rage.
This was the Pang Clan, and he the eldest son of the clan head!
To suffer such humiliation in his own home!
But the anger faded quickly.
He couldn't lose face before the Crown Prince.
Calming himself, a suppressed question arose.
The Crown Prince seeks Grandfather secretly? Something's up, but what?
Paeng Gang-hwi, who'd come along, felt it too.
And he had to wait outside his own pavilion.
Wait. Hyul-ok-ryong and his group are inside......
Paeng Gang-hwi pondered briefly, then shook his head.
Jeong Gwang wasn't one to provoke first.
If unprovoked, he'd avoid trouble out of laziness.
The brothers' eyes met briefly, then parted.
They thought the same.
Nothing to do but withdraw for now.
Pang Gang-ung cupped his hands to the Crown Prince.
"Please return safely. We'll await you."
"My thanks."
The Crown Prince and middle-aged man headed to the pavilion.
The Imperial Guard warriors following them swiftly surrounded the walls, forming an ironclad perimeter.
The Pang brothers inwardly marveled.
The Imperial Guard lives up to the name.
Their power shines in formation—impressive!
The Pang Clan had produced many military men, some through the Imperial Guard.
But they'd never seen so many in perfect array; the brothers were duly impressed.
Meanwhile, entering the gate with the middle-aged man, the Crown Prince soon halted.
The man had drawn his sword, blocking his path.
A dangerous presence?
It must be.
The man was trustworthy.
Hiding his tension, the Crown Prince asked calmly.
"Deputy Commander Jeong. What's the matter?"
The middle-aged man wasn't Imperial Guard.
He was from the elite Imperial Forest Army guarding key royals—one of two Deputy Commanders, second-in-command.
A cold transmission came from his lips.
-Your Highness. Retreat slowly.
"......!"
The Crown Prince was startled.
Retreat? An unbeatable master?
For one of the Ten Great Palace Masters to say this!
Shock passed quickly.
The Crown Prince backed away slowly.
Who the foe was, how strong, why here—later issues.
Survival now mattered most!
A lesson from palace life and survival.
Slowly. Don't provoke.
As the Crown Prince retreated, the Deputy backed up too...
One door among many in the pavilion opened.
A clear, pure voice emerged.
"Wow. I haven't done anything—why the fuss? What do you take me for?"
The Deputy and Crown Prince froze.
Moments later, the Deputy replied coldly.
"True, you did nothing—but you're too dangerous."
"What?"
"I can't gauge your level."
"Oh? Sharper eye than you look."
"......Show yourself."
A strikingly handsome young man emerged, looking utterly benign.
The Deputy frowned at him.
Young voice, young face? A rejuvenated elder master?
Focusing his gaze, a subtle incongruity hit him.
......Disguise art? So refined.
Either way, dangerous.
Sweat beaded on his sword-grip hand.
The Deputy transmitted to the Imperial Guard commander to prepare intrusion.
Just stall a little.
"Who are you?"
"Hyul-ryeon Hu."
"......I asked your true identity."
"Hm...... A guest?"
Then, the Guard commander's transmission arrived.
-Deputy! Ready! Give the order!
As the Deputy opened his mouth to shout—
Another door opened, revealing an old man...
The Crown Prince cried out in agitation.
"Master!"