Chapter 200
Chapter 200
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 200
Chapter Title: Entering the Imperial Palace Treasury
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Clunk.
Cheol Mu-ok opened the window of his quarters. He had been about to retire for the night when a faint dying scream drifted in.
Whoosh!
Even in the depths of the palace, the wind blew fiercely.
Piercing through that wind, the sight of warriors racing off somewhere caught his eye first.
'What’s going on?'
Directly across from him, warriors from the Golden Imperial Guards’ hall were hurriedly stepping out.
Clunk!
The window of the next room opened, and Ju Tae poked his head out.
“What’s happening? Why all the commotion?”
“No idea. I think I heard a scream.”
“I heard it clearly too. But what’s with those guys?”
As Ju Tae narrowed his eyes, staring at the Golden Imperial Guards racing off somewhere, Cheol Mu-ok gazed toward Yi Hwan’s quarters.
The darkened window was firmly shut.
‘Is he asleep?’
Go Mi and Hwa Ryeong’s rooms were the same.
Cheol Mu-ok stepped out through the window. He immediately leaped up to the roof of the hall. Ju Tae climbed up beside him.
Flash!
Sparks flared near the palace gate.
Warriors were rushing toward it from all directions.
“Looks like a fight’s broken out.”
“I’ll go check.”
Whoosh!
Cheol Mu-ok shot into the air and vanished toward the gate. Just then, warriors from the Sword King and Blade King lineages emerged.
“Shall we go?”
“Mu-ok’s gone, so we wait for now.”
Ju Tae narrowed his eyes, staring at the flashing lights.
‘Can’t stand not knowing.’
“I’ll go check. You all stay here!”
Whoosh!
* * *
“Stop!”
Several generals and warriors blocked Hwa Ryeong and the assassins’ path.
Hwa Ryeong veered left to avoid them.
She couldn’t ask for their help. The shouting general was one of the Empress’s trusted aides.
“Seize her!”
The warriors gave chase.
Other generals and warriors drew their swords in unison to block Hong Wol’s assassins.
Clang clang clang!
Hong Wol’s assassins hesitated for a moment. But it was extremely brief, and they soon gave up the pursuit, leaping over the palace gate.
Hwa Ryeong glanced back, confirming Hong Wol’s assassins retreating, and inwardly sighed in relief. But with the palace warriors closing in, the crisis wasn’t over.
‘I can’t head to the command post while they’re watching!’
That was the problem.
If she entered the Golden Army command post, an investigation into the incident would begin, potentially harming Yi Hwan.
No matter that Yi Hwan led the Golden Army and had the Crown Prince’s Palace backing him, causing trouble in the Imperial Palace would inevitably lead to serious repercussions.
Whoosh!
‘How do I shake them?’
Hwa Ryeong zigzagged, racking her brain.
But no good plan came to mind. Moreover, her internal injuries were slowing her down noticeably.
That was when warriors appeared ahead. They were the palace guards, their lightness skills exceptional.
Hwa Ryeong grew anxious. With her depleted stamina and inner energy, she wondered how long she could hold out.
In her anxiety, she glanced toward the Golden Army command post. Then her eyes widened.
She spotted Cheol Mu-ok heading for the gate.
Hwa Ryeong turned toward him and sent a transmission infused with her inner energy.
[Over here!]
Did it reach him?
Cheol Mu-ok veered in her direction.
[The Moon Lord is in danger! Right now, the Moon Lord is…]
Hwa Ryeong relayed Go Mi’s location. Blood trickled from her mouth. Transmitting in her injured state had worsened her condition.
[Hurry and save the Moon Lord! Please!]
Expending her last strength, Hwa Ryeong felt it drain from her body. Unable to control her momentum, she crashed into the wall of a hall.
Thud!
In her fading consciousness, she felt someone catch her.
It wasn’t Cheol Mu-ok.
‘Who are you!’
Her cry wouldn’t come out.
* * *
The forbidden Imperial Palace Treasury.
What immediately seized Yi Hwan’s gaze upon entering was a single sword standing vertically beneath a night pearl emitting a bloody glow.
Yi Hwan froze in place.
‘Why is my sword here…?’
His breath caught.
That sword was his beloved blade, his alter ego, with which he had dominated the world and forged an invincible legend two hundred years ago.
Yi Hwan strode forward.
The sword hummed in resonance, as if recognizing him.
Hummm!
Ignoring any traps, Yi Hwan reached out and grasped the sword. Warm energy transmitted through his palm, along with the faint vibration from the resonance.
‘To meet you here…’
Unable to contain his excitement, Yi Hwan drew the sword.
Shing!
A far deeper crimson glow than the night pearl’s erupted from the blade, filling the entire chamber. Yi Hwan’s face flushed red.
It was unmistakably his sword.
Yi Hwan examined where the sword had stood. There was a palm-sized gold plate inscribed clearly with “Daye Fortress’s Treasured Sword.”
‘My sword was buried with me…’
Calming his excitement, a strong doubt followed belatedly.
Had someone excavated his tomb and brought it here?
‘Should I visit the forbidden area again?’
The Emperor might know what happened.
That was when Yi Hwan’s eyes flashed.
Beside where the sword had been lay a book. Its worn cover read “Rivers and Lakes Chronicle.”
Yi Hwan immediately opened it.
True to the title, the chronicle began with the history of the martial world.
Yi Hwan skipped ahead to the history from two hundred years ago.
‘Finally…’
The words “Daye Fortress” pierced his eyes like a dagger.
It spanned dozens of pages at least.
‘I’ll take it and read later.’
Tucking the chronicle into his bosom, Yi Hwan slowly toured the Imperial Palace Treasury. He couldn’t help but give a wry smile.
‘The common folk worry about their next three meals, yet who is this built for?’
Everything in sight was gold, silver, and jewels. He hadn’t noticed before, but even the treasury door was made of gold, and the stairs leading further were adorned lavishly with rare gems.
Suppressing his bitterness, Yi Hwan inspected the area. His eyes lit up at one spot on the left.
Beneath a soft glow sat several small vials, with tiny gold plates labeling their contents.
Yi Hwan strode over.
‘Azure Jade Oil, Nine-Zhi Immortal Herb, Millennium Snow Ginseng…’
Items that could upend the entire martial world if even one emerged.
I want to grow stronger.
Go Mi’s desperate face came to mind first.
Yi Hwan’s hand reached for the vial of Azure Jade Oil. After a slight hesitation, he tucked the others into his bosom too.
With no knowing when he’d return, he had no qualms about conscience.
Afterward, Yi Hwan wandered the treasury, taking more items that caught his eye.
Before turning to leave, he vowed firmly. When Yi So ascended the throne, he would distribute this wealth to aid the people’s lives.
‘I’ll come back.’
Yi Hwan turned away without regret.
* * *
Yi Hwan emerged from the Imperial Palace Treasury.
A middle-aged man watched him with a glint of surprise, noting the sword he hadn’t had upon entering.
‘He only took that one sword?’
Unaware of what was in his bosom, such a thought was natural.
The middle-aged man bowed to Yi Hwan.
“Farewell, Great Prince.”
Yi Hwan glanced toward the palace gate and asked.
“What happened in the palace?”
“We do not know.”
“If there’s a disturbance, you should at least check what it is.”
“Our sole duty is to guard this place. It is the Imperial Edict, which we cannot disobey.”
The middle-aged man remained obstinate. Yi Hwan started to say more but stopped. Such men never changed their minds, even with a blade to their throat.
“Good work.”
“Yes, Great Prince.”
Yi Hwan headed for the Golden Army command post but veered toward the gate.
Warriors were everywhere, especially clustered thickly at the gate with several generals.
As Yi Hwan approached, they bowed in unison.
“We see the Great Prince.”
Yi Hwan asked one general.
“What happened?”
“Well…”
The general explained the situation to Yi Hwan. His account went like this.
Mysterious intruders had breached the Imperial Palace. Several fled immediately upon detection, and while pursuing one deep into the palace, some unknown person appeared, took the intruder, and escaped.
Yi Hwan was dumbfounded. Intruders in the Imperial Palace, of all places.
Even more absurd: with all these generals and warriors, not one intruder had been caught; all escaped.
Yi Hwan swept his gaze over the generals and warriors.
“Golden Imperial Guards here too?”
“They arrived late, then left once the situation ended.”
“East Depot?”
“The East Depot does not handle palace security.”
“Then you’re in charge?”
“Yes.”
“Be at the Golden Army command post tomorrow. Come find me when duties begin.”
“…Understood.”
Yi Hwan headed straight for the Golden Army command post.
En route, he recalled the general’s words.
‘The last escaped intruder seemed to be chased by the earlier ones… Then why did the pursued one enter the palace of all places?’
It was puzzling. No matter how desperate, the Imperial Palace was no place one dared enter—or even think of entering.
‘Perhaps someone connected to the palace.’
Moments later, entering the command post, a warrior from the Sword King lineage greeted him.
He spoke in a heavy tone.
“A problem has arisen.”
“What problem?”
“The Moon Lord is in danger in the northern mountain gorge. Everyone has gone there.”
“…!”
“Hwa Ryeong came to the palace to report it but clashed with some people on the way. She’s unconscious in her quarters now.”
Yi Hwan entered Hwa Ryeong’s quarters immediately. Two Moon Pavilion female warriors jumped to their feet.
Yi Hwan stared at Hwa Ryeong lying on the bed.
“Her condition.”
“She’s unconscious but in no danger to her life, fortunately.”
Yi Hwan turned to the warrior who followed him in.
“Was the earlier palace disturbance because of Hwa Ryeong?”
“Yes. Our captain brought her back while she was being chased by palace warriors. Fortunately, no one saw.”
Yi Hwan looked at Hwa Ryeong’s deathly pale face, then stepped out immediately.
The warrior followed.
“Until I return, no one enters the command post—not even from the Crown Prince’s Palace.”
“Understood.”
Yi Hwan leaped onto the roof and raced north at full speed.
Unease washed over him.
What if something happened to Go Mi?
Yi Hwan felt his blood run cold. He had never imagined such a scenario.
‘Hold on.’