Chapter 259
Chapter 259
-----------------------------------------------------------------
>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 71
>Chapter Title: Mark (5)
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
In one of the offices located in the main headquarters of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
A man in his fifties with drooping eyes and unkempt beard sat with his legs crossed on the desk, puffing on a short pipe and exhaling smoke.
"Hoo."
His name was Sang Ik-seo.
He was the Rank 4 Commanding Deputy Investigator, third in the command hierarchy of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
In his office, besides himself, there was a man in his forties dressed in the uniform of an Embroidered Uniform Guard White Tiger Commander, sitting comfortably in a guest chair and meticulously polishing his sword.
Considering their rank difference, the White Tiger Commander should have stood rigidly at attention, but his relaxed posture suggested their relationship was quite horizontal.
-Swish!
Every time the man in his forties wiped the blade, the surrounding air sharpened subtly in a strange way.
Even from this, one could tell he was no ordinary man.
After a long silence as they each focused on their tasks, Commanding Deputy Investigator Sang Ik-seo, who had been smoking his pipe, spoke up.
"By now, that bastard should be entering the Inner Palace."
At these words, the White Tiger Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard in his forties opened his mouth.
"If it's on the scheduled time."
"Soon the Inner Palace—no, Prince Zong's Direct Manifestation Palace—will be turned upside down."
"If it succeeds properly, it won't just be the Direct Manifestation Palace. The entire Imperial Palace will be thrown into chaos."
It was an incident targeting none other than the Second Imperial Prince, Prince Zong.
If it happened, even the Emperor who cherished Consort Seo would not let it pass quietly.
"This is going to be fun."
The power dynamics accumulated so far would flip in an instant.
Just thinking of that woman in distress made it impossible to hide his inner excitement.
He then drew on his pipe and exhaled smoke before speaking.
"Hoo. But Woo Yun is late."
Thousand Commander Woo Yun.
He was the Embroidered Uniform Guard who assisted him.
By now, he should have delivered orders to 'that guy' and returned.
Yet he had not arrived.
Finding this suspicious, Commanding Deputy Investigator Sang Ik-seo said with doubtful eyes.
"He hasn't defied this official's orders, has he?"
At the question, the middle-aged Embroidered Uniform Guard White Tiger Commander smirked and replied.
"No matter how much they prattle about loyalty and act all noble, when their life is on the line, they'll have no choice but to obey."
"No choice... well, with a worm gripping their life thread in their belly, refusing would mean they're insane enough to crave death."
The worm in the belly.
What they referred to was none other than gu poison.
Laughing thus, Commanding Deputy Investigator Sang Ik-seo tapped the ash from his pipe into an ashtray and said.
"Speaking of which, it's quite convenient, so couldn't you procure a few more gu poisons? Or control more parasitic gu with the Infant Gu..."
"I told you before."
"What did you say?"
"Gu poison comes in pairs, so you can't increase the parasitic ones like that. And creating even one pair requires countless poisons and training—you can't just whip them up on demand."
At these words, Commanding Deputy Investigator Sang Ik-seo smacked his lips in disappointment.
He had been annoyed by the mere Thousand Commander wearing a mask and acting all aloof, but thanks to the gu poison, he had become a faithful slave.
"Then is reusing the one inside possible?"
"The one inside?"
"I mean the parasitic one."
"After the host dies, it bursts and dies soon after. Of course, if you prepare in advance beforehand, reuse isn't impossible."
"That's music to my ears."
He had planned to use him a few more times after this affair and then discard him.
But if the gu poison could be reused, he could create another card.
It was truly invaluable.
"Let me know when the time comes."
"Understood."
"Ah! But how's that matter going for you?"
"What matter are you referring to?"
"The interrogation of that White Lotus Cultist."
"..."
"You're personally going down to the underground Golden Prison every other day for the interrogation, so that thing you're looking for must be quite important, right?"
-Thud!
As soon as he finished speaking, the Embroidered Uniform Guard White Tiger Commander stopped polishing his sword.
He then placed the sword on the table.
At this sight, tension flickered in Commanding Deputy Investigator Sang Ik-seo's eyes.
That was because the White Tiger Commander at the table had vanished in an instant.
-Swish!
Rough hands soon landed on both his shoulders.
As the hands pressed his shoulders, Commanding Deputy Investigator Sang Ik-seo involuntarily swallowed dryly.
Though not from the operations side like the Commanders or Vice Commanders, he had once passed through operations and was an expert at the early Transcendent Realm.
Even he couldn't sense the White Tiger Commander appearing behind him in the blink of an eye—his martial prowess was unfathomably strong.
Commanding Deputy Investigator Sang Ik-seo spoke in a tense voice.
"Heh heh. Look here. Did this official say something wrong?"
At the question, the Embroidered Uniform Guard White Tiger Commander, hands on his shoulders, tightened his grip and said.
"Commanding Deputy Investigator."
"..."
"One of the conditions for helping with what you want—what was it?"
"...Not to interfere in your affairs."
"You know well. If someone who knows that so clearly pokes their nose into others' business out of idle curiosity, the outcome won't be good, will it?"
His voice dripped with viscous killing intent.
This was a warning.
A pressure not to interfere or meddle in his affairs.
For ordinary people, such overwhelming power in a warning would make them tremble in fear.
However, Commanding Deputy Investigator Sang Ik-seo hadn't reached this position without guts.
Sang Ik-seo laughed heartily, trying to appear as nonchalant as possible.
"Hahaha. I unintentionally ruffled your feathers."
"..."
"But I'm not interfering or meddling in your affairs. I just asked out of pure curiosity since you've been going back and forth to the underground Golden Prison so often and it seems not to be going well. I haven't forgotten our agreement."
"Is that so? Then put away that pure curiosity."
"I've already done so."
At his brazen response, the Embroidered Uniform Guard White Tiger Commander snorted.
He was the only one who could walk that tightrope, playing the fool even when intimidated.
Of course, it was precisely because he could control his emotions and had such resourcefulness that he had chosen this man.
-Swish!
Soon, the White Tiger Commander's form returned to the chair at the table.
He picked up the sword he had placed on the table and began polishing it meticulously again.
Watching him, Commanding Deputy Investigator Sang Ik-seo inwardly clicked his tongue.
Though they had joined hands because their interests aligned, every time he felt this man's strength, he grew curious about his true identity.
There was no way such a person hadn't made a name for himself until now.
He must have shaken the martial world with fame or infamy.
With his curiosity piqued, the corner of Commanding Deputy Investigator Sang Ik-seo's mouth twitched.
He had never asked outright before, but this man always brimmed with confidence, making him wonder.
'I'll beat around the bush.'
Thus, Sang Ik-seo opened his mouth.
"When I said to pull in that Mara Thousand Commander as a card, you said he could slip away from the Northern Vanguard Guard's grasp easily enough?"
Embroidered Uniform Guard Northern Vanguard Guard Hyeon Sun.
Along with the Southern Vanguard Guard, he stood at the pinnacle of operations in the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Though his fame was less than the Southern Vanguard Guard, called one of the Six Heavens, he was one of the top five experts in the Imperial Palace.
If not for lack of contact with the martial world, with that level of skill, even outside, few sect leaders or clan heads of famed houses could match him—it was even said so.
He brought it up naturally because the one implicitly supporting and protecting this prince, Zong Wang, was Northern Vanguard Guard Hyeon Sun.
-Swish swish!
The White Tiger Commander polished his blade and replied.
"...If they truly clash properly, maybe, but if Mara Hyeon is determined to escape, even the Northern Vanguard Guard would have trouble catching him."
"Hoo. Is that Mara Hyeon fellow that great?"
"In terms of lightness skill alone, few in the Imperial Palace can catch up to him."
"Amazing. Even the Northern Vanguard Guard can't catch him, huh."
"So unless there's some special mistake or variable, Mara Hyeon won't be caught in this incident."
"A variable... like a powerhouse like you appearing?"
"..."
"No, no. Don't look at me like that. I just recalled how you easily subdued that guy."
He had personally witnessed the Embroidered Uniform Guard White Tiger Commander subdue Thousand Commander Mara Hyeon right in front of him.
It had ended in just a few exchanges.
At this question, the White Tiger Commander paused polishing and stared straight at Commanding Deputy Investigator Sang Ik-seo before speaking.
"What are you trying to say?"
"No. I was just thinking, with your ability to easily subdue Mara Hyeon, if you stepped in later, you could measure yourself against the Northern Vanguard Guard."
"..."
"Is it perhaps difficult?"
Commanding Deputy Investigator Sang Ik-seo deliberately prodded his pride.
Martial artists had their unique pride as warriors.
He wasn't sure if it applied to this man, but if he took the bait, he might gauge his level.
At that moment, one of the White Tiger Commander's eyebrows arched upward.
'...Did I say something unnecessary?'
At the sight, Commanding Deputy Investigator Sang Ik-seo flinched, wondering if he should back off slyly.
But then the White Tiger Commander spoke.
"The term 'measure swords' applies only when both sides have equal skill."
Sang Ik-seo, who had been tense inside, inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
He had worried the man would read his intent and get displeased, but fortunately, it had properly stung his pride.
"Then, if you stepped in, you could fully subdue even the Northern Vanguard Guard?"
"It would take some time, but it's not that difficult."
"Heh. Being able to subdue the Northern Vanguard Guard means even the Eastern Depot eunuchs or the Inner Palace Chief Eunuchs wouldn't be your match."
At that, the White Tiger Commander's eyes sharpened.
He then lowered his voice softly and said.
"...Are you asking these questions now just to gauge my martial prowess?"
At the question, Commanding Deputy Investigator Sang Ik-seo hurriedly waved his hands in denial.
"No. How could this official try to gauge you with something like that? I just need to know how far you can handle other experts..."
-Thud!
Before he could finish, the White Tiger Commander rose from his seat.
He then extended one hand, drawing in the scabbard on the floor with profound true energy.
Sang Ik-seo couldn't hold back his admiration at the Empty Air Grasping technique.
As if intentional, the White Tiger Commander sheathed the polished sword into the scabbard he had drawn with Empty Air Grasping.
And then he said.
"Let me make this clear."
"What do you mean?"
"In this Imperial Palace, the only one I cannot handle is the Southern Vanguard Guard."
Southern Vanguard Guard Gu Seong-baek.
Known as the Northern Faction Blade King, he was the pinnacle of the current martial world and one of the Six Heavens.
Though the White Tiger Commander took great pride in his own martial arts, the only one in the Imperial Palace he acknowledged as untouchable was that man, one of the Six Heavens.
The wall of the Six Heavens was that solid.
However, he was confident no one else in the Imperial Palace could match him.
That included the Northern Vanguard Guard and the three Inner Palace eunuchs.
"So I hope there are no more attempts to gauge me with such trivial matters."
-Rooooar!
With those words, the White Tiger Commander unleashed his aura toward Commanding Deputy Investigator Sang Ik-seo.
Sang Ik-seo shuddered under the suffocating pressure.
He knew instinctively.
This man was undoubtedly a Wall Transcending Realm expert.
Just as he claimed for himself, aside from the Southern Vanguard Guard Gu Seong-baek, hailed as the Imperial Palace's greatest expert, no one in the palace could subdue this man...
-Thud!
At that moment, the office door suddenly burst open.
Along with it, someone entered with a smiling face.
Seeing the face, Commanding Deputy Investigator Sang Ik-seo furrowed his brow and spoke.
"Eunuch Ho?"
The one who had barged into his office unannounced was none other than Eunuch Ho of the Western Depot.
Sang Ik-seo couldn't hide his bewilderment at the unexpected guest.
There were Imperial Guard warriors standing watch outside the office.
Yet none had reported the Western Depot eunuch's arrival, and they hadn't even noticed until the door opened.
'Did he sneak in here?'
Otherwise, he couldn't have entered someone else's office so casually.
He himself hadn't sensed the presence of Eunuch Ho, one of the top martial artists in the Imperial Palace, but the Embroidered Uniform Guard White Tiger Commander—no, Gyeomchang—must have surely...
-Swish!
At that moment, Gyeomchang the White Tiger Commander's hand was already gripping his sword hilt.
At this sight, a glint appeared in Sang Ik-seo's eyes.
After all, Gyeomchang, who had boasted that no one but the Southern Vanguard Guard could match him, was showing strong wariness toward the Western Depot eunuch.
'Is it because he barged in suddenly?'
But this wasn't the time for that.
No matter how sudden, the opponent was a Western Depot eunuch, a confidant of Prince Jingqin, one of the four powers of the Imperial Palace.
He couldn't be treated roughly.
Thus, Sang Ik-seo tried to make him stand down.
"Gyeom Tiger Commander. Put away the sword..."
"Commanding Deputy Investigator. Step back."
At Embroidered Uniform Guard White Tiger Commander Gyeomchang's words, Commanding Deputy Investigator Sang Ik-seo furrowed his brow.
Gyeomchang's attitude was off.
He had been in the palace long enough to know who stood before him, yet his current demeanor went beyond wariness into outright hostility.
-Thud!
Moreover, Gyeomchang immediately assumed an iai stance.
He then spoke to Eunuch Ho in a low voice.
"Who the hell are you?"
'Who?'
What was this?
Anyone could see it was Western Depot Eunuch Ho.
Yet that Eunuch Ho ignored Gyeomchang, who had taken an iai stance toward him, and looked at Sang Ik-seo as he spoke.
"Judging by the Infant Gu in your body, you must be the Commanding Deputy Investigator."
'!?'
Commanding Deputy Investigator Sang Ik-seo's expression hardened at the completely unexpected words.
At that instant, Gyeomchang's hand on the sword hilt moved.
It was so fast it was like a flash.
-Ching!
The moment he heard of the Infant Gu, deeming him a definite enemy, he unleashed ultra-swift iai to sever the neck of the man before him in one stroke.
No, before the bastard could even react, his sword would have already...
-Thud! Clang!
Something fell to the floor.
It wasn't just one sound.
Something was wrong.
Unconsciously, Gyeomchang's eyes shifted downward.
'This... what the...'
What had fallen to the floor was none other than his own right hand gripping the sword.
[Chapter 71 Mark (5)] End