Emperor Geumsang (金上帝), Juyangseon.
He is the 6th emperor of the Yeon Dynasty.
He was the first emperor since the founding Taizu of the Yeon Dynasty to declare war on the martial world (Murim).
It was considered the worst period in terms of conflict between the imperial government and the martial world.
During Emperor Geumsang's reign, any group even slightly related to Murim was eradicated down to the third generation. This was when, for the first time, orthodox and unorthodox factions joined forces.
Also, during this time, the Bihakwol family, which had long held governmental positions in the royal court, was expelled and entered Musang Fortress, becoming the Biywol Spirit Sect.
In a way, for the maternal side, the imperial family was no different than an enemy.
Of all the possible periods, it had to be this one.
'…So that's why Jakyungjeong hated the imperial family.'
It was the era considered the worst for the martial world.
The Great War between orthodoxy and unorthodoxy during my time was considered the worst, but it was still a war between Murim fighters. At this time, the entire Central Plains was said to have been caught up in the vortex of war.
—So, that Jakyungjeong guy must be trying to kill Emperor Geumsang.
That's the only logical assumption for now.
But it doesn't seem like an easy task.
According to Hojongwon, there are about seventy thousand imperial guards around Emperor Geumsang, and around eight thousand of them are trained in martial arts.
Furthermore, four of the Twelve Supreme Masters of the era—called the "Top Twelve Under Heaven"—serve under Emperor Geumsang.
—No wonder he's being so cautious.
Honestly, I can't accurately gauge their martial level.
But at the very least, I can tell from the one called "Pagung-gwi Chosa."
He shot a target that looked like a dot from over 2 ri (roughly 800 meters) away with perfect accuracy.
It's clear that the martial artists of this era are not to be underestimated.
—What will you do?
First, I need to infiltrate.
My goal isn't to kill Emperor Geumsang.
Even if he has a grudge against my maternal side and is known as a tyrant of this era, it's not my business to interfere.
—Capturing Jakyungjeong is the top priority.
Right.
I need to catch him and retrieve the Dharma Tool.
Only then can I return to where I truly belong.
Now then, should I wake these guys up?
I approached the fallen imperial soldiers and spoke.
"Hey! Pull yourself together!"
The voice that came out of my mouth wasn't mine.
One of the imperial soldiers, who regained consciousness the fastest, looked at me and exclaimed in surprise.
"Ch-Chief Commander?! What on earth happened?!"
Right now, I looked exactly like the Chief Commander.
I had stolen and worn his armor, and my voice was identical, leaving no room for doubt.
Now I need to lead these men and infiltrate the imperial army.
---
---
From not far away, I saw the advancing imperial army.
Even from above it looked impressive, but from the front, it was truly a spectacle.
Every time the cavalry and tens of thousands of soldiers marched in unison, it felt like the earth was trembling.
However, the expressions of the soldiers following behind me weren't good.
They looked terrified.
They'd been like that ever since they heard the news that the prisoners had been taken by an unknown master.
It seemed they feared punishment upon returning to the army.
This alone hinted at how strict the military discipline was.
—Aren't things going to go wrong before we even get close?
Who knows.
It's hard to tell.
By military law, failure in a mission usually comes with disciplinary action.
But surely, a report would come first.
If they handed out punishment without any report of failure, the military wouldn't be sustainable.
That's why I disguised myself as the Chief Commander, even if it's risky.
—We have to hope we can get close to the higher-ups.
The rank of Chief Commander puts one under a General or Division Commander.
At least it should allow access to higher-ups.
It would be great if I could approach those massive wagons being pulled by dozens of horses—but in any case, I'll have to wait for the right chance.
—Time to show off those spy skills.
If I can just avoid suspicion, that's already half the battle.
—We're here. Who's coming out?
Just as Sodamgeom said, as we approached the advancing army, a middle-aged man in splendid yellow armor, with stylishly grown facial hair like a nobleman, rode forward.
Beside him were commanders who looked like aides, flanking him like bodyguards.
"Ah… General Yeom himself has come out."
A soldier beside me said in a worried tone.
It's always best to impersonate someone with a high rank.
People will voluntarily share information that way.
"Everyone, dismount."
I gave the order naturally.
As I got off first, the soldiers—wearing dark expressions—followed suit.
General Yeom, who had been approaching as if to greet us, frowned as I dismounted.
"General!"
I immediately threw myself to the ground.
I made a show of slamming my forehead on the earth and spoke in a fitting tone.
"We were ambushed and lost all the prisoners we had captured."
"What? Is that true?"
General Yeom replied with a troubled voice.
Seeing his gaze subtly glance behind me, he's likely not the highest authority—maybe he's wary of the Emperor himself.
"I'm ashamed. I soiled His Majesty's honor, and wished to commit suicide on the spot, but I dared return like this to fulfill my duty and report as an officer of the army."
Sodamgeom clicked his tongue in amazement at how smoothly the words flowed.
—Man, anyone would think you've served in the army for over ten years.
With my level of spy experience, this level of acting is just basic.
I've been trained to infiltrate any organization.
Thankfully, even though this time period is in the past, it's still the same Yeon Dynasty I came from, so I'm familiar with their hierarchy and customs.
"Sigh… This is troublesome."
I said to General Yeom, who kept sighing.
"My subordinates are blameless. The fault lies entirely with me for poor command. Please be lenient with them."
"Commander Kang!"
"How could you say such a thing…"
The soldiers, who had been dreading punishment, looked at me with grateful expressions.
Some even looked surprised, as if the original Chief Commander I'm impersonating wasn't normally someone with a good reputation.
In any case, this wasn't to win favor with the soldiers, but to impress the higher-ups.
Taking full responsibility looks far more honorable.
"That's not for me to decide. That's for the Grand General to report to His Majesty and decide."
"My apologies for overstepping."
Thud!
I bowed again, slamming my forehead on the ground.
Actually, with a helmet on, it just makes a loud sound.
But these small actions have great effects on superiors.
"Ahem. Stand up. Report the details."
I proceeded to speak as though I had experienced the incident myself.
"We were ambushed by a master who seemed to know our exact route."
"A single master? Just one?"
"Yes! That's correct."
At the mention of "one person," General Yeom's expression turned serious.
He gestured for me to continue.
"He appeared suddenly. I'd never seen his face before, but just by stepping forward, he created wind pressure that knocked down my men. He flicked his fingers lightly, and all of us fainted."
"Everyone fainted from a finger flick?"
General Yeom's eyes widened.
He was clearly shocked—it was no ordinary level of power.
Stroking his long beard, General Yeom muttered.
"Could it be the one Pagung-gwi said he saw…?"
"What do you mean?"
"No matter. The army is still advancing. Have your soldiers move to the rear left wing, and you come with me to report to the Grand General at Central Command."
—Oh!
Things are progressing faster than expected.
I thought, given bureaucracy and military procedure, we'd have to wait.
But it seems the active march sped things up.
'They're not setting up camp?'
Looking up, the sky was red with sunset.
Usually, camps are prepared before this time.
Yet they're still marching—which means they plan to move even through the night.
'…Are they on high alert?'
Could it be because of the master archer—probably Pagungsa—spotting something?
Still, moving at night without clear purpose would only exhaust the entire army.
—Then what's the purpose?
Why else would an army move at night?
—War? But if they keep advancing, it's just forest ahead. And it stretches for dozens of ri.
That's what I found strange.
On the way here, I tested the soldiers for information.
They also had no idea why the Emperor himself had come to lead the army.
But, judging by the army's continuous southern march, many suspect it's to target the heretical sects in Guangxi Province or the Blood Cult.
"What are you doing, Commander Kang? Follow me."
"Yes, General."
In any case, the central command should let me get close to those wagon-sized carriages.
Even before arriving, my needle compass had been trembling.
Once I get closer, I'll be able to locate him.
Clop! Clop!
Following General Yeom upstream through the marching army, I finally saw the three massive carriages.
They looked huge from above, but now they were practically moving palaces.
Dozens of horses pulled large wooden platforms covered with golden-trimmed tents, from which smoke was rising.
—Is the Emperor and Jakyungjeong inside that?
No way to know.
I'll have to figure out how to get in there.
If I had a high enough position like Grand General, I could probably go in naturally—but the level of security here was incomparable to other areas.
'…So many peak-level martial artists here.'
The people around the tent were all wearing the armor of generals — every one of them was a top-tier martial artist. Their number reached nearly one hundred and fifty.
"No wonder they dare to push ahead with the conquest of the martial world."
It was no coincidence that all the sects of the orthodox faction had united their forces.
Even more shocking was that the two people riding on horseback toward the entrance of the central tent were supreme masters, far beyond ordinary experts.
Elders and even heads of major sects were acting as mere guards.
This suggested that the emperor must be inside the central tent.
— "Can you sense any energy inside?"
"No. The flow is blocked by dense internal energy."
The interiors of the central and left tents were brimming with energy.
It seemed this was to prevent any voices from leaking outside, but the energy was so thick that it was impossible to sense what was happening within.
There were undoubtedly experts inside who had surpassed the limits of ordinary martial artists.
Maybe if I drew more energy I could gauge the level inside, but doing so would expose my carefully hidden presence.
"Keep riding slowly and wait."
General Yeom entered the right-side tent, which wasn't sealed with internal energy.
There were quite a few people inside the right tent, and strong energies could be sensed among them.
Even two supreme-level martial artists were inside.
"Is this really the government?"
I knew that the imperial court had its own martial experts.
In fact, they had the means to train masters equal to or greater than the martial artists of the rivers and lakes — either through rare elixirs or by recruiting outstanding rogue masters.
But actually being inside their inner circle made their power real.
"...Even a wall-breaking expert would find it hard to escape from here."
— "That serious?"
Now it truly felt like I was in the heart of enemy territory.
The tension rose within me.
If Ja-gyeongjeong currently had the emperor's trust, catching him here wouldn't be easy.
Maybe I'd have to lure him out.
But then, the energy that had filled the left tent suddenly vanished.
I glanced sideways.
Two people stepped out of the tent.
— "Oh? That guy?"
I understood why Sodamgeom was surprised.
The one who emerged first was a large, muscular middle-aged man. He had a huge bow on his back, incomparable to ordinary ones, and a quiver stuffed with long, thick arrows.
— "That's him, right? That... Pa-Gung-Gwi or whatever?"
It seemed so.
His energy clearly surpassed the threshold.
Strangely, his eyes moved independently — probably due to inner training.
— "Creepy."
His eyes moved like those of a reptile, unsettling to anyone who looked.
Behind him walked a woman.
With silver hair cascading down to her waist, she was an extraordinary beauty.
Visually, she looked to be in her mid-twenties at most, but her energy surpassed even the presumed Pa-Gung-Gwi.
"She's a woman?"
That was unexpected.
From the name Seol Baek of the North Sea Ice Palace, I had assumed she was male.
Regardless, I hadn't seen a female expert this powerful since Aksim Papa.
— "She looks very exotic."
Just as Sodamgeom said, she didn't look like someone from the Central Plains.
They said the North Sea Ice Palace was of a northern tribe origin — it seemed to be true.
Her hands, glimpsed from the side, were pure white like jade.
"She's emitting cold energy."
Even though she was controlling her energy, frost-like powder dusted her sleeves. Her cold-based martial arts must have reached a pinnacle.
— "Uh, Unhwi? She's looking at you."
At me?
That can't be.
I've perfectly suppressed my energy.
Right now, unless someone has broken past the wall, they shouldn't be able to detect me.
Then, the one named Pa-Gung-Gwi Chosa shook his head and said,
"Please don't interfere."
"Don't concern yourself with my business."
With that, she approached me on horseback.
Pa-Gung-Gwi Chosa sighed and entered the central tent, presumably where the emperor was.
The ease with which she passed suggested she had the emperor's trust.
— "She's coming to you."
I know. I don't need you to say it.
What should I do?
Could it be that the man I'm impersonating — General Kang Cheoninjang — knows this woman?
She didn't seem to recognize my martial level, though.
What now?
This is a complete wild card.
Should I greet her or not?
Just then, when she was about ten steps away—
"Ahem."
A cough came from the side.
An elderly man with half-white hair walked out of the right tent.
General Yeom followed behind him like an attendant.
I instinctively recognized who he was.
"I greet the Grand General!"
Still mounted, I turned my upper body and bowed with both hands.
The half-white-haired elder nodded lightly.
"So it is him."
I was lucky.
The Grand General came at the perfect moment.
Unlike General Yeom, who had little martial skill, the Grand General was a supreme-level expert.
The calluses and scars on his hands spoke of his vast battlefield experience.
He addressed me:
"Defeated top-tier masters in just two moves?"
General Yeom must've reported what happened.
I answered with a bowed head.
"Yes, Grand General."
"You, who disguised as General Kang Cheoninjang, brought back prisoners without killing any captains? This is no minor matter."
As expected, the Grand General had sharp insight.
He seemed to believe I had survived due to some clever strategy.
"Grand General."
At that moment, the woman behind me spoke.
Her voice was cold, like a windstorm from the north.
The Grand General looked at her and said,
"This is perfect. You, being more skilled than I, might understand better."
"What do you mean?"
"This General Kang Cheoninjang was ambushed while transporting prisoners."
"Ambushed?"
A hint of emotion touched her voice — concern?
I glanced back.
She was looking at me with worried eyes.
What's going on?
As I puzzled over it, the Grand General continued.
"He supposedly created shockwaves with his steps and knocked out top-tier captains. What level of martial artist would it take to do that?"
The woman — presumably Seol Baek — furrowed her brow and answered.
"...That would be difficult for anyone below the Twelve Supreme Masters of the World."
"That was my thought as well. I plan to report this to His Majesty. Will you join me?"
"I have something to attend to first."
The Grand General raised an eyebrow at her reply.
I soon realized why — her gaze was fixed on me.
Wait... does this woman know the real Kang Cheoninjang?
If so, I've picked the wrong person to impersonate.
"Damn it."
What do I do?
While I struggled to decide, the Grand General said,
"His Majesty might summon you after I report. Be sensible."
"..."
She said nothing in reply.
With a scowl, the Grand General coughed and headed toward the central tent with General Yeom.
Yeom remained at the entrance while the Grand General went inside.
Now what?
Should I wait?
Then the woman called out to me.
"Kang... Cheoninjang."
I didn't know our relationship, but since even the Grand General treated her with respect, I had to follow suit.
I bowed with clasped hands.
"Yes, you called?"
She looked surprised for a moment, then motioned for me to follow.
— "Why is she asking you to follow her?"
I don't know either.
If the Grand General is inside with the emperor, they may summon me any moment.
But where is she taking me?
As I hesitated, she said,
"Are you ignoring the command of the Deputy Governor of the Special Forces?"
"Deputy Governor of the Special Forces?"
I'd never heard of such a position before.
But if she was called a deputy governor, she held considerable authority.
I couldn't afford to provoke her.
Quickly, I said,
"No, of course not."
She smiled slightly and replied,
"Then come."
"...Understood."
Why is she taking me with her?
She led the way back to the left tent she had exited.
As we passed the central tent, General Yeom clicked his tongue at me.
I had no idea why he reacted that way.
In any case, I followed her into the left tent.
— Snap!
As we entered, I felt the energy barrier reactivating behind us, sealing the entrance.
"What are you waiting for?"
At her urging, I reluctantly stepped inside.
The tent was large — about 20 pyeong (~66 square meters).
No wonder it needed dozens of horses to transport.
It was cozy and divided into sections for people to live in.
Then—
— Thud!
Suddenly, Seol Baek rushed at me.
I panicked, thinking she meant to subdue me — but she was smiling brightly.
Though normally expressionless, her smile lit up her face.
Then, she hugged me tightly.
"Kang Rang."
"Kang Rang?"
"Rang" was a term used for a lover.
Now it all made sense.
Why she had shown such interest in me.
"Deputy Governor... not now—"
"Don't call me that. It's just the two of us. Call me Seol Mae."
Seol Baek smiled softly at me.
A beauty on par with Sima Yeong was speaking sweetly with a hint of coquettishness.
I didn't know how to respond.
Should I play along, or find an excuse to escape?
— "You in disguise... seriously skilled."
Sodamgeom clicked her tongue in disbelief.
I, too, had similar thoughts.
Although Cheoninjang didn't hold a low position in the military, being a Deputy Governor was a different level altogether.
Besides, this woman was known as one of the Twelve Heavenly Masters in the martial world.
Just as Sodamgeom said—she was highly capable.
'Damn it. What do I do now?'
She was clinging tightly to me, from her chest to her legs.
At this point, we really did look like lovers.
—What do you mean, what do you do? If you don't want to get caught, you better act.
Yeah, that's what I'll do.
Anyway, the Grand General will be looking for me soon. I just have to hold out until then.
I'll play along for now and find a way to escape.
—Swoosh!
Just as I was thinking that, she suddenly touched my cheek with a hand that sent a chill through me.
Then she lifted herself on her toes and went in for a kiss.
'!!!'
For a fleeting moment, I froze in confusion, unsure what to do.
But in the end, I had no choice but to accept her kiss.
As her lips touched mine, I felt a cold chill that made my lips sting.
Of course, a chill like that didn't really affect me.
—Do you like it?
No matter how beautiful she is, there's nothing enjoyable about kissing someone I don't know.
Besides, she may look like she's in her mid-twenties, but if she's a master who's surpassed the limits, she's probably much older.
It was then—
Her soft, cold tongue slipped into my mouth.
In all my years as a spy, I had never encountered such an unexpected situation.
'Ah!'
That's when an idea popped into my head.
The incantation of the secret technique of Hyanghwa Yeollak Palace's mistress, Ju Saryeon.
I immediately invoked Ju Saryeon's energy and began chanting the incantation.
"Mmm."
A moan escaped from her lips.
For a moment, our tongues intertwined in a frenzy, and a faint wrinkle formed between her delicate brows.
—Tap!
She gently pushed me away, then quickly grabbed my wrist.
And she asked:
"Who… are you?"
'!!!'
Did she figure it out?
But then… her face began turning red.