Chapter 1287
Bu Eun-seol stepped back outside the gate.
Though he had ultimately failed to enter the Gate of Primordial Beginning and see the Primordial Dragon—no, the Creation-Era Martial Artists—he had at least achieved his original goal: obtaining a means to enter the Baekri Clan. That alone was fortunate.
The armored warrior, clad in worn-out armor, still stood alone before the entrance.
Like some mechanical device fused with this secret space, he remained silently guarding this place.
"As you said, I was not yet qualified to enter."
Bu Eun-seol bowed respectfully.
"Thank you."
Had the warrior remained hostile to the very end?
Much more time would have been wasted here, and he might not have even been able to enter the trial gate.
"There's no need for thanks."
The warrior replied indifferently.
"It was beyond my power to stop you anyway."
"But are you truly unconnected to the Sacred Domain?"
Bu Eun-seol asked cautiously.
"Is there a period in your past where your memories are missing?"
"What do you mean?"
"I suspect that you may be a figure from the Sacred Domain, one who has partially lost their memories."
"Even if that were true, what concern is it of yours?"
"I owe a debt to those from the Sacred Domain and those connected to them."
From his time as the Ten Demonic Heir, he had received goodwill from Jin Seol.
During the process of breaking the Covenant, he had received much help from the Old Man of the Sacred Domain.
And Ja Su-ryeon was So-yo's master and adoptive mother... If this warrior was indeed a figure from the Sacred Domain, Bu Eun-seol was obliged to help.
"That has nothing to do with me."
The warrior shook his head.
"Even if my memories were erased, my duty to guard this place remains unchanged."
"What is your position in the Imperial Palace? If even the Emperor is unaware of this place, who gave you your orders?"
"That is none of your concern."
Then he added,
"Judging by your expression, you're thinking of bringing someone connected to me here. Abandon that thought."
"......."
"This place is saturated with dragon energy. An ordinary person would suffer harm if they entered."
He met Bu Eun-seol's gaze directly.
"You are the commander of the Dragon Scale Guard, the man who saved the imperial family from the Empress Dowager's rebellion. For that merit, I will overlook your presence this once... But if you enter here again, only one of us will leave alive."
"You truly have no interest in your own past?"
"I have no lost memories."
"You simply aren't aware of it. I'm certain there must be partial damage."
The warrior was using the power of the Sacred Domain.
What if he relayed this matter to the Old Man of the Sacred Domain?
Even if the warrior wasn't the Sacred Domain's successor, at the very least, his origins could be uncovered.
And if he was the successor, it would mean putting the Old Man of the Sacred Domain in his debt.
"Even if I have partially lost my memories,"
At that moment, the warrior spoke with an expression of pride.
"That, too, would have been my own choice."
From behind his helmet, his eyes gleamed with a light fierce enough to melt steel, brimming with unwavering resolve.
"I see."
Bu Eun-seol nodded unconsciously.
The warrior trusted himself absolutely.
Even if parts of his memory were missing... he was convinced it had been by his own will.
Everyone has their own circumstances.
One cannot force actions upon others under the pretense of helping them.
Besides, Bu Eun-seol had his own urgent matters to attend to.
Unless he retrieved both of the martial world's great treasures, he wouldn't be able to enter the Primordial Gate even if he wanted to.
He needed to hurry to the Baekri Side Family and find a way to enter the Baekri Clan.
"I heard this gate will soon close?"
For a moment, the warrior narrowed his eyes, looking confused.
Either the Gatekeeper Elder lied, or the gate itself isn't closing.
"I'll express my gratitude another time."
Setting aside his thoughts, Bu Eun-seol clasped his hands without hesitation.
"Then, until next time."
And with that, he swiftly exited the Grand Hall.
I've taken too long.
He had spent far more time inside than anticipated, leaving his post unattended for too long.
What if the palace maids sensed something amiss and reported the situation to the Embroidered Uniform Guard?
Even if his movements weren't scrutinized, it would only invite endless suspicion from the Emperor.
Tsu-tsu-tsut.
Unfolding his Movement Technique, he swiftly left Jeongang Palace and stealthily made his way toward Gyeongin Palace.
Just as he quietly entered the duty chamber and let out a sigh—
"You've finally returned."
A clear, melodious voice rang out from behind him.
Turning his head, he saw Princess Hui-jeong sitting primly at the desk, as if she had been there all along.
Damn.
He had momentarily forgotten that this was the Imperial Palace.
The entire palace was constantly saturated with powerful dragon energy, making it extremely difficult to detect the movements of the imperial family.
And for those like the Emperor or the Princess, who possessed overwhelming dragon energy,
if they remained still or did not move, sensing their presence was nearly impossible.
"So the reason you entered both the Hall of Literary Profundity and the Grand Cabinet Repository was to obtain the palace blueprints. And even the patrol maps from the duty chamber where the Embroidered Uniform Guard stays?"
Princess Hui-jeong rose slowly as she spoke.
"With that genius mind of yours, you must have memorized the blueprints and patrol routes in an instant."
She hadn't simply permitted him to enter the Hall of Literary Profundity and the Grand Cabinet Repository.
She had been secretly observing his movements the entire time.
"Your Highness."
"Do not think to deceive this palace."
Princess Hui-jeong spoke with a solemn expression.
"From childhood, I survived the Empress Dowager's sinister schemes and the dark intrigues of the Imperial Palace."
"......"
"And I know your temperament all too well. Unless you have a clear purpose, you wouldn't sit still in the Imperial Palace for even an hour."
She had traveled the Martial World with Bu Eun-seol, crossing life and death, and was well aware of his aversion to the imperial family.
For him to voluntarily enter the Imperial Palace and inspect its internal security?
That was absolutely impossible.
"What exactly are you doing here?"
Princess Hui-jeong stared straight at Bu Eun-seol.
"You couldn't possibly mean to harm the Imperial Palace, could you?"
"How could that be?"
"Then why are you sneaking around the palace like a stray cat at night?"
Instead of answering, Bu Eun-seol spread his Extrasensory Perception to its limits.
He was worried that some hidden Master within the palace—someone whose presence he couldn't detect—might be eavesdropping on their conversation.
"Don't worry."
As if reading his thoughts, Princess Hui-jeong gave a faint, enigmatic smile.
"I told the maids beforehand. That I wished to be alone with you, so they should all withdraw beyond a hundred paces."
Then she added,
"If your unauthorized wandering were detected by the palace Masters, it might lead to unnecessary misunderstandings later."
Shockingly, she had already discerned that Bu Eun-seol was secretly investigating the palace.
And to prevent him from being suspected, she had deliberately waited here for him.
"Why are you showing me such kindness?"
That single sentence carried multiple meanings.
"I told you before. Allowing you into the Hall of Literary Profundity and the Grand Archives was repayment for saving me from the Empress Dowager's schemes—from falling into the Mind Seizing Secret Art."
Princess Hui-jeong's lips curled into a faint smile.
"If not for you, I'd still be trapped in the clutches of a man worse than a beast."
"But—"
"You also thwarted the Empress Dowager's rebellion."
"It wasn't for the sake of the Imperial Family."
It was a brutally honest statement—one that bordered on blasphemy and should never have been uttered.
Yet Princess Hui-jeong only smiled softly in response.
"Too much honesty can be poisonous."
Then she stepped closer, locking eyes with him.
"Women sometimes wish to hear sweet words, even if they're lies."
Her pupils, illuminated by candlelight, shimmered like countless stars, and her lips, tinged with soft pink, had darkened to a deep red.
"And I am still a woman."
"Your Highness."
"When I was ensnared by the Soul Subjugation Art, my spirit was trapped in an inescapable darkness."
Taking another step forward, her gaze radiated a bewitching glow.
"And when I awoke, I realized something. That this soul of mine—which once believed it could subjugate all men under heaven—had instead become... subservient to you."
It was a shocking statement.
Princess Hui-jeong, favored by the Emperor, was confessing that her very soul had become bound to a mere man of the Martial World?
This was nothing short of a scorching declaration of love.
"Why do you not answer?"
A flicker of fear crossed Princess Hui-jeong's face.
"You wouldn't dare break your oath to me, would you?"
"Your Highness."
Bu Eun-seol chose his words carefully.
"To be honest... I am not worthy of your affection."
One day, he would have to enter the Primordial Gate—and because of that, he might end up opposing the Emperor.
No, the Emperor would never leave him be.
Like all emperors, he would watch, suspect, and endlessly test any potential threat.
And if that continued? Eventually, even Princess Hui-jeong might become his enemy.
"Why would you say such a thing?"
Fear filled Princess Hui-jeong's eyes.
"You couldn't possibly be thinking of becoming an enemy of the Imperial Family?"
"Quite the opposite."
Bu Eun-seol mixed truth with lies.
"Today, I secretly searched the hidden corners of the Imperial Palace. I was worried there might be dangers left behind by the Empress Dowager."
His expression turned bitter.
"But His Majesty either distrusted me... or perhaps the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard suspected me. They set traps near the Western Six Palaces."
Had this been the Princess of the past,
she would have meticulously questioned where Bu Eun-seol had gone and verified his claims.
Having survived countless plots and schemes, she never trusted anyone easily.
"I see."
But now, she believed his words without hesitation.
This was proof that she was no longer the cold, calculating Princess—
but a woman hopelessly in love.
"You must have been disappointed."
"It's fine. To be honest, I did it partly for myself as well."
At least in this, Bu Eun-seol spoke truthfully.
"The Empress Dowager is no ordinary person. She is a master from a legendary faction in the Martial World... If she changes her mind, she could attack His Majesty, or even me and my subordinates."
"So that's what worried you."
Princess Hui-jeong's expression softened with relief.
She believed Bu Eun-seol had only been investigating the palace out of concern for the Empress Dowager's retaliation.
"You needn't worry about that."
For some reason, she spoke with absolute certainty.
"Now that she's been deposed, the Empress Dowager won't act recklessly."
Bu Eun-seol wanted to ask for details—but held back.
Princess Hui-jeong's gaze was so resolute and brimming with affection for him that Bu Eun-seol found himself steering the conversation elsewhere.
"However, this incident has made me realize something. His Majesty is wary of me."
Bu Eun-seol shook his head with a pained expression.
"It was merely an act to protect His Majesty from the Empress Dowager's schemes."
"That is simply the Imperial Family's inherent suspicion at work."
Princess Hui-jeong spoke firmly.
"The Heavenly Emperor Command has already been partially activated. No one can harm His Majesty now. You need not worry on that account."
'So the masters of the Heavenly Emperor Command are already stationed in the Imperial Palace.'
Only then did Bu Eun-seol understand why the princess no longer feared the Empress Dowager.
'Then does that mean the martial expert guarding the hidden Chang'an Palace is also one of the Heavenly Emperor Command's masters?'
He burned with the desire to ask Princess Hui-jeong directly, but what if this conversation reached the Emperor's ears?
The consequences would be unthinkable.
"However—"
Bu Eun-seol, who had been staring blankly into the air, abruptly changed the subject again.
"I have an ominous premonition that something will soon happen in the Imperial Palace."
"Do not worry."
Princess Hui-jeong took a step closer, her expression one of relief.
"Such a thing will never come to pass."
"But what if—"
Bu Eun-seol's eyes, reflecting the candlelight, gleamed like amber.
"—I were to stand against His Majesty? What would Your Highness do then?"
These were words that should never—could never—be uttered before the princess. They bordered on treason.
Princess Hui-jeong stared at him, visibly shocked.
But when she saw nothing in his gaze but concern and worry, she slowly shook her head.
"You must never say such things here."
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"And such a thing will never happen. It must not."
"......"
"Yet it pleases me."
She misinterpreted his worry in her own way.
"That you would even consider such a thing means you truly care for this princess."
The aftermath of the broken Mind Seizing Secret Art had changed her.
She had come to understand genuine love, and her pride as a princess was gradually fading.
"If it were up to me, I would immediately petition His Majesty to arrange our marriage... but you still have much to do, do you not?"
'The Emperor and the princess are entirely different.'
Bu Eun-seol could feel it.
The Emperor was the kind of man who would cut down even his own kin without hesitation if he perceived them as a threat.
But Princess Hui-jeong was different.
She was not ruthless. She genuinely cared for him.
The problem was that her fervent love was likely to end in tragedy.
'I have yet to resolve everything in the Imperial Palace.'
Deep within Jeong'an Palace, secretly hidden by the Absolute Boundary, lay the trial gate leading to the Primordial Gate where the Creation-Era Martial Artists resided.
Even if he could handle the martial expert who wielded the Sacred Domain's Absolute Boundary, to thwart the schemes of the Demonic Heavenly Emperor in the future—
He would need to either seal the Primordial Gate or verify the legends of the Creation-Era Martial Artists.
As long as the Emperor remained suspicious and tested him, he could not afford to turn away Princess Hui-jeong, who held deep trust and affection for him.
'How could I ever exploit someone's goodwill?'
"Once these complicated matters are resolved—"
Bu Eun-seol knew these words would betray Princess Hui-jeong's kindness... yet he spoke them anyway.
"—I shall return to the Imperial Palace and pay my respects to Your Highness."
The Emperor's suspicion would not easily fade, and the princess lacked the power to stop it.
Given that Bu Eun-seol's future actions were likely to clash with the Imperial Palace, this was effectively a veiled rejection.
"You need not return."
Then, the princess took another step closer and said something astonishing.
"However, promise me this—when this princess, no, when I call for you in the future, do not turn away."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes widened.
The princess had referred to herself first as royalty, then deliberately corrected herself—as I.
This was a choice to set aside her status as the Emperor's daughter and stand before him as an individual.
An act unforgivable in the Imperial Family, where decorum and order took precedence over emotion.
"Are you truly certain?"
He could not help but ask again.
What the princess demanded was not a promise to obey the Imperial Palace's orders, but to answer her call.
This meant that even if the court opposed it—
Even if the Imperial factions resisted—
Even if it meant standing against the Emperor himself—
She was telling him to come when she called.
Especially since a princess's marriage was little more than a political tool, stripped of all personal sentiment.
Yet Princess Hui-jeong had said, Do not turn away.
It was a plea—even if the Imperial Palace abandoned her, do not turn your back on me.
A confession that transcended status and hierarchy, asking him to stand by her side for life.
"Do not make me repeat myself."
Their faces drew so close they nearly touched.
Princess Hui-jeong, with her straight posture and long neck, possessed a high nose bridge and sharp features—yet she did not seem the least bit severe.
Her clear, deep eyes held a blend of dignity and innocence, a contradictory beauty that drew one in yet dared not be approached.
"Bu Eun-seol."
As her lips, tinged a vivid red, parted, a breath so sweet it made his head spin brushed against him.
Then, her hand lightly grazed his cheek.
In that instant, all sound in the world faded away, leaving only the pounding of two hearts.
And then, soft as falling cherry blossoms, their lips met for the first time.
A kiss that was brief yet felt eternal.
When Bu Eun-seol slowly opened his eyes—
"......"
A faint, moonlit breath escaped between her slightly parted lips, dissipating like mist.
Before him were flushed cheeks and Hui-jeong's glistening eyes, damp with emotion.
Within the quiet guardroom of Gyeongin Palace, only a dreamlike silence filled the space between them.