Chapter 415 – Beijing (7)

Thus, two wine cups were placed facing each other.

One cup reflecting the complete full moon, and another with the full moon split in half by an extremely delicate and refined energy strike.

They belonged to the Chief Ceremonial Eunuch and Jeong Yeon-shin respectively.

Across the simply set drinking table, the Chief Eunuch’s pale face twisted into an indescribable expression.

“…You truly are his grandson.”

She tapped the table lightly with the finger that had touched Jeong Yeon-shin’s cup. The tapping sound echoed slowly under the moonlight.

Her massive physique, born with martial bones, lent weight and dignity to even the slightest gesture.

“Even in the imperial court, I’ve rarely heard such bold words…”

The eunuch seemed to be experiencing a strange emotion.

At her age, which made her a contemporary of the Tyrant Hero Ma Yeon-jeok, with her status above all but one, her eyes that had been looking down at her subordinate were filled with some kind of sentiment.

‘Does she have some connection with my maternal grandfather?’

As Jeong Yeon-shin tried to discern the inner thoughts of the high official, the eunuch’s eyelids, which had been lowered, rose again.

“Judging by your age, you’ve inherited his blood even more deeply than that man.”

“……”

Jeong Yeon-shin was slightly shocked. He had conveyed his sincere thoughts, but received an insult in return. Perhaps he should have been more restrained.

‘Will this delay my promotion even further…?’

Since he was in the presence of an elder who was different from her appearance, it was difficult to openly show his displeasure.

At that moment.

“I loved him. At first we were political enemies, but I was drawn to his personality that valued cooperation and loyalty above all… something I’d never seen in the imperial court. I’d never met a man with such fierce fist techniques.”

“…?”

As Jeong Yeon-shin momentarily lost his words, the eunuch offered some parting advice.

“I know the Divine Sword Group Leader has disappeared to find His Majesty’s whereabouts. If that’s the case, you must be the most powerful figure in Beijing’s streets right now. This place has recently seen frequent incursions by mystical creatures, so please look after the common people for a while. Who knows? Those who have been disrespectful to you out of ignorance of the Divine Sword Group might come begging for your forgiveness.”

Saaaa—

Along with her words, a breeze silently brushed the drinking table. The extremely humid air swirled around the pavilion.

—There might be quite dangerous mystical creatures manifesting.

These were the words Divine Sword Group Leader Yong Hui-myeong had left with Jeong Yeon-shin. He had also heard that this city was already in the purple martial world.

Along with the speculation that the Emperor had confirmed their arrival and then left.

‘Is she telling me to protect Beijing as if I were already purple?’

Jeong Yeon-shin slowly turned his feet.

The quiet night of Beijing swallowed his body.

***

Read only at nineheavens.org

Translated by Nine Heavens!

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***

From the time of his visit to Desolate Fortress’ hall until now.

The Imperial Guard Grand Commander had been bombarded with all sorts of questions.

This was because his subordinate officials, who should have been the most dignified in the Forbidden City, were extremely curious about the Divine Sword Group Leader and the Radiant Demon Wing Leader.

“What was your impression when you saw them in person? Is it true that the Divine Sword Group Leader alone could replace the entire Imperial Guard?”

“In terms of pure martial prowess, he could do that and more. But you should know the reputation of Group Leader Yong better than anyone.”

“What about the Radiant Demon Wing Leader? At his age, not only did he single-handedly slay the Great Radiance Sword Emperor of Liaodong, but even the Ten Perfections Sect Leader… it’s simply unbelievable…”

“Enough. Do you want to end up in the Eastern Depot’s prison as a Imperial Guard? There’s nothing good about bringing up the hottest names in the Forbidden City these days. Everyone should exercise restraint.”

Originally, the nickname “the Emperor’s Sword” belonged to the Imperial Guard, not Desolate Fortress.

It was a relationship where both sides couldn’t help but feel competitive. At least that’s what the military officials thought.

That’s why the Imperial Guard officials wouldn’t let go of their interest in Desolate Fortress. Even at this moment, as they crossed Beijing’s night streets, that was the case.

Despite being told to stop, the conversation about Desolate Fortress personnel continued. The officials freely asked questions of the Grand Commander.

This was because in private matters, the noble clan subordinates were actually the Grand Commander’s seniors.

The Grand Commander, who appeared stern on the outside, was known for being the most generous personality within the Imperial Guard.

Whak—!

About a dozen officials in yellow martial attire leaped across rooftops.

It was a kind of patrol.

But their role was different from that of ordinary soldiers.

That’s the current duty of the Imperial Guard. Directly receiving imperial orders, they thoroughly monitor the appearance of threatening mystical creatures.

Their job extended to capturing and killing such creatures before they could harm civilian homes.

Beijing is the second most mystical land in the world. It’s a place where many of the countless mystical creatures that have emerged since the founding of the country gather.

But there had been no problems. That had been the case until now.

This was because the Emperor, as a peerless master, had maintained his position.

Additionally, powerful imperial clan masters had taken the initiative to assist the Imperial Guard, and the Imperial Guard themselves had defended against mystical creature incursions with a presence no less impressive than the Divine Sword Group’s seventeen leaders in Beijing.

The people of Beijing didn’t even know about the existence of mystical creatures. That had been the situation until the northern Yao tribe’s momentum grew stronger.

‘However, with most of the Zhu family masters absent due to the northern campaign, and even His Majesty who oversees all of Beijing and issues sound transmissions…’

A faint concern crossed the Grand Commander’s face.

“There, look at that!”

One of the officials pointed straight ahead. On one side of the firmly built outer city wall. The face of some man was blankly staring at the sky.

It was the features of a middle-aged man. His pale skin stood out in the night air.

There was no body. Only the head was sprawled there.

The officials’ expressions contorted.

“Who would dare commit murder in Beijing…!”

Two of them darted forward. Even in the presence of the Grand Commander, this level of independent action was permissible.

Because they didn’t know what might emerge from the sides or behind, the remaining comrades naturally formed a defensive formation to guard the surroundings.

Suddenly, the middle-aged man’s head swiftly turned toward them. Soon after, the corners of his chalk-white face’s lips stretched widely to the left and right.

It was clearly a smile.

The Grand Commander, who had been watching his subordinates’ backs, had four characters strike his mind.

“Human-faced spider…! It was waiting for us!”

The Grand Commander roughly stamped the ground.

Kuwoong!

The foot energy concentrated at the Yongquan acupoint on his sole left a massive shockwave.

Faint golden light swirled around both his hands as he released the energy waves of the imperial martial art Golden Immortal Eight Methods.

He instantly overtook his subordinates.

At that moment, the middle-aged man’s head was already rising into the void, attached to a dark and massive spider’s body.

The face rose endlessly higher.

Far above the Grand Commander’s head, to a height where no human body could remain.

Rising over three zhang while the face simultaneously grew larger. The sound of skin bulging with a crunch cut through the night air.

By now, the Imperial Guard officials who had gradually stopped their lightness skill sprint had a deep, breath-filled laughter spreading low over their heads.

—Huh… huh, huh…

The night air rippled from six legs covered with endless hair.

The Grand Commander stood motionless, blankly staring upward.

Its body was as massive as a high official’s hall. It appeared like the deep night sky had descended and was undulating right before his eyes.

Human-faced spider. Even in the martial world, where inexplicable events are as numerous as grains of sand, it was a legendary spider with a human face.

No one knows how it came to exist.

A monstrous power of unknown origin.

If such an incomprehensibly mystical creature existed, it might think like a human.

There was a high possibility it had moved as soon as the Emperor, who had long cast a powerful energy wave over Beijing, disappeared.

The Grand Commander slowly opened his mouth. As if that was the only thing to do.

—All of you, go back and request support…!

Suddenly, his sideburns shot up. This was because two thick streams of darkness had brushed past both sides of the Grand Commander.

The sound of bones and flesh separating eerily tore through the midnight stillness.

Kwaddeuk—!

The spider’s front legs had pierced through the abdomens of two Imperial Guard officials. Due to the extreme difference in size, they appeared to be crushed.

The limbs of these men, pressed to the ground along with the human-faced spider’s dark legs, briefly struggled before going limp.

They were once no different from other martial artists who had boasted that they would become even more powerful if they consumed the inner pills of mystical creatures.

“You beast!”

Thunder erupted from the Grand Commander’s right arm. He was operating his form with internal energy raised to the extreme.

The Hand Yang Bright Large Intestine meridian from his shoulder to his index finger was filled with fierce true energy.

He leaped up in one breath and struck the human-faced spider’s lower jaw.

Jjeoeng—!

It was like hitting a city wall. The rebound that came back along with the hard sensation made even his bones feel cold. The Grand Commander gritted his teeth in mid-air.

Then he expelled a storm-like wind through his palm that was pressed against the spider’s jaw. It was the release of internal weight technique.

Several layers of wrinkles formed on the human-faced spider’s chalk-white skin.

There was no other reaction.

“……”

The Imperial Guard Grand Commander, who was emitting propulsive energy waves from his soles to maintain a void-treading-like state.

He sent the resonance of the imperial secret sword song humming through the hand that was touching his sword energy, without any particular destination.

His body wouldn’t move in any other direction. As if wrapped in invisible spider silk.

This too was incomprehensible. How did the human-faced spider operate its energy?

—Huh… huh, huh…

The massive face slowly nodding its head was reflected in the Grand Commander’s pupils.

Their eyes met.

The human-faced spider showed its teeth in a smile as it stretched its lips to the extreme left and right.

Then suddenly, it opened its huge mouth wide and swallowed the Grand Commander in one bite.