Chapter 119: Jeoguk's Supreme Warrior, Cheok Balbu
Jeoguk, Imperial Palace.
Cheok Bal-eon stared at the Great Elder of Daeun's Chang Mok Academy before her, her face betraying no emotion. The black-robed man, meanwhile, fixed his gaze solely on her lips.
A moment later, Cheok Bal-eon tightened her grip on the spirit plaque in her hand, crushing it into fine powder.
"Jeoguk will be no one's slave!"
As her words rang out, over a dozen heavily armored guards clad in helmets and ghost-faced masks materialized in the hall.
Each wielded a broad-bladed backsword, exuding a ferocious aura.
The black-robed man crossed his arms in front of him and spoke calmly.
"Lord Cheok, think this through carefully."
Leaning back against her throne, Cheok Bal-eon waved him off with an irritated expression.
"Get out."
"You will bear the consequences of today's decision yourself."
With a shake of his head, the black-robed man vanished from the spot.
"Your Highness, are you sure it's wise to provoke Daeun Chang Mok Academy?"
An elderly man who had appeared silently behind Cheok Bal-eon asked.
"If we bend to their demands, what will become of my innocent soldiers and people? Do they think the lives of Chang Mok Academy students are precious while my people's lives are worthless? If they believed I'd sell out my subjects for their sake, they've made a grave mistake!"
The elder gave a wry smile.
"Even so, they won't let this slide."
Cheok Bal-eon slowly closed her eyes.
"Send word to Old Lord Cheok Balbu. Those who think might makes right must be crushed under greater might!"
Cheok Balbu!
The elder's expression stiffened for a moment before he nodded.
"As you command!"
Cheok Balbu was Jeoguk's supreme warrior and a living legend.
Once the elder departed, an old woman remaining in the hall approached her.
"Your Highness, corruption in the Daeun Empire grows ever more severe. Even with the Mountain King still holding strong, it won't be long before it erupts. In this old woman's view, peace in Qingzhou is nearing its end. Your Majesty must prepare in advance."
Cheok Bal-eon nodded lightly.
"Jeoguk has already made preparations for that. No need for great worry."
Cheok Bal-eon rose from her throne and walked toward the entrance of the grand hall. A flicker of concern shadowed her gaze as she looked to the sky.
"These otherworldly forces keep meddling in mortal affairs... The lives of ordinary folk are like ants to them..."
The old woman nodded silently.
"Keep an even closer eye on Kanguk from now on."
Kanguk.
The sudden raid by the three nations plunged Kanguk into chaos.
Surrounded on all four sides by enemies, Kanguk was truly in dire straits.
The grand hall of Kanguk's imperial palace was on the verge of explosion. Countless ministers clamored chaotically, creating more disorder than a bustling marketplace.
Gang Won, seated upon the throne, watched them impassively.
As the clamor in the hall began to subside somewhat, an elder stepped forward before Gang Won and bowed.
"Your Highness, the invasion by Cho Nation and the others isn't solely aimed at our Kanguk!"
Gang Won turned his gaze to the elder.
"Do you mean we should hand over the culprit, National Preceptor Yeop, to them right away?"
"Y-Your Highness... The fate of the nation outweighs any single life!"
"The nation matters, yes—but how can a nation exist without its people? Moreover, Yeop Hyeon is Kanguk's National Preceptor. If we betray him to the enemy, what becomes of Kanguk's honor?"
Gang Won lifted his head, addressing the ministers in the hall with a shout.
"Does anyone have a differing opinion?"
At that moment, a towering elder in white robes stepped forward from the side. His hair was fully white, but his eyes still burned with sharp intensity.
He was Im So, the famed former Grand Marshal of Kanguk who had raised Gang Gu—the very warrior who had once dominated battlefields under his command.
Im So's voice echoed coldly through the hall.
"I know not of other matters, but this Yeop Hyeon single-handedly held off three thousand of the enemy's Black Armored Cavalry at Yangjie City. He is Kanguk's true patriot. If we beg for peace with his life, who will step forward to defend the nation henceforth?"
Im So thrust one hand skyward with all his might.
"I have but one thing to say: If they desire war, let us fight them!"
'Fight them?'
His words silenced the hall like a tomb.
No one in Kanguk would oppose his words. Even Country Lord Gang Won treated him with utmost respect. Gang Won himself had swept battlefields under Im So's command.
The bond between Im So and Gang Wol-cheon was that of brothers who had shared life and death.
Gang Won pondered briefly before speaking.
"How many troops do we have?"
Im So replied.
"Kanguk commands a total of 250,000 soldiers. We must leave 50,000 to maintain domestic security—traitors always stir trouble in times of crisis. Of the remaining 200,000, half should garrison Yangjie City, and I'll take the other 100,000 to hold off Cho Nation and Wol Nation!"
Gang Won shook his head.
"Not enough."
Cho and Wol Nations' forces numbered nearly 200,000. 100,000 wouldn't suffice.
Im So countered.
"It is enough. The Cho army must march far to reach us, suffering attrition. Wol's infantry is strong, but our Kanguk soldiers are no pushovers!"
"What of Jeoguk?"
Someone in the hall asked.
"Grand Marshal Im, what if Jeoguk intervenes?"
Jeoguk...
The hall fell silent once more.
Among neighboring states, Jeoguk was the strongest, and its stance remained unclear. If Jeoguk mobilized, Kanguk's situation would be utterly hopeless.
Even one-on-one without the others, Kanguk couldn't prevail.
After a long silence, Gang Won spoke.
"Then we must send an envoy to Jeoguk..."
"I'll go!"
Someone responded.
Turning, they saw none other than Yeop Hyeon standing there!
With Kanguk in uproar, Yeop Hyeon couldn't be unaware. Besides, he bore some responsibility in this crisis. Through Chwiseonru, he'd learned Daeun Chang Mok Academy and shadowy forces lurked behind it.
Yeop Hyeon strode to the center of the hall.
"I'll go to Jeoguk!"
In the current crisis, Jeoguk posed the greatest threat to Kanguk. As National Preceptor, Yeop Hyeon negotiating as special envoy seemed fitting.
"Hm... We don't know Jeoguk's intentions yet. If you go and something happens..."
"Don't worry, Your Majesty! I have the strength to protect myself at least. And if they kill me, it'll lead to an irreversible disaster—they won't act foolishly."
Gang Won hesitated, then nodded.
"Very well!"
Yeop Hyeon bowed and departed.
As Yeop Hyeon left, Gang Won shouted.
"Court dismissed!"
Once Gang Won departed, the remaining ministers buzzed with heated debate.
Gang Won headed deep into the palace, to Gang Wol-cheon's chambers. Upon arrival, Gang Wol-cheon was playing with a small dog.
"Enemies press from all sides... The whole nation is in turmoil!"
Gang Wol-cheon stroked the dog's head and replied.
"Clashing with the central powers was inevitable. Cho and Wol are mere pawns of Daeun Chang Mok Academy."
"What worries me is Daeun Chang Mok Academy behind them!"
Gang Wol-cheon fell silent for a long while before speaking.
"No matter. Whoever backs Yeop Hyeon has already intimidated them—they can't send anyone beyond Myriad Laws Realm now."
Releasing the dog, Gang Wol-cheon slowly approached the window and gazed at the sky.
"This crisis could be Kanguk's greatest peril—or opportunity. For now, we watch Jeoguk's move..."
Jeoguk was the region's mightiest power, feared by all nations.
Even more terrifying was its unfathomable depth.
After a brief stop at Canglan Academy to handle urgent matters, Yeop Hyeon set off alone for Jeoguk. After all, he was going to negotiate peace, not wage war.
With Canglan Academy now on track, Mu Yun Qi and the others could manage it fine.
Aboard the cloud ship.
Yeop Hyeon pulled a spirit plaque from his bosom—the one granted by Cheok Balbu, Jeoguk's supreme warrior and former master of the secret realm.
Jeoguk National Preceptor!
This title held little personal meaning for Yeop Hyeon, a Kanguk native.
But this time, it would surely carry weight.
Suddenly struck by an idea, Yeop Hyeon stirred his profound qi and infused it into the plaque. Soon, it vibrated faintly, sending a strand of immense energy into his hand. His arm swelled, enveloped in an overwhelming aura reminiscent of earth force dominance.
With it, all his profound qi was sucked into the plaque.
At that instant, the Spirit Water Sword thrashed as if in protest.
Yeop Hyeon swiftly withdrew his qi, and the domineering energy vanished abruptly.
To have left such power dormant all this time!
Recalling the tremendous force, shivers ran through Yeop Hyeon's body.
It was a true treasure.
Unable to contain his excitement, Yeop Hyeon realized it could prove invaluable against future foes—worth studying. The drawback: its voracious qi consumption.
Activating it once would demand vast spirit stones; caution was essential.
Since becoming dean, expenses had piled up. He couldn't squander resources so freely.
Retiring to his cabin, Yeop Hyeon began cultivating in the Gyeok Ok Tower.
Not a single minute or second could be wasted!
Thus, time flowed aboard the cloud ship.