Chapter 874

Perhaps the outcome had been decided long ago.

The imperial palace, a perfect enemy stronghold. A guard so tight that even “ironclad” didn’t do it justice. And the Emperor, ruler of all under heaven.

He had taken charge of the stage, the actors, and the direction himself. Even if a character like me stepped into the scene, it probably wouldn’t change much.

A thought struck me.

Perhaps all of this was a kind of amusement to the Emperor.

Why else summon me along with Prince Shangshan when he had no need to see me? Why brush aside words that could have gotten me branded a traitor on the spot?

And why look at my rigid face now and sneer?

Crack.

A bone shifted with a sound from my tightly clenched fist. I scanned the impassive eyes visible above the assassins’ pitch-black masks, weighing my options.

What do I do?

The Emperor’s little game was daring—and supremely confident.

Naturally, everyone in our party had been forced to surrender their weapons on entering the palace. But beyond that, no restrictions had been placed on me.

Perhaps he was confident that no one under heaven could harm him.

If so, he’d made a clear mistake.

Even barehanded, I was a superhuman who had opened my Middle Dantian, an heir to the Fire Gate Clan who had inherited the Fire King Jeok Cheongang’s fearsome fist and palm techniques.

All I have to do is take their weapons.

With every shift of my gaze, a path invisible to anyone else took shape in my mind.

A path to kill the assassins as quickly and efficiently as possible, then escape with Prince Shangshan.

The fact that the Emperor was a master who had entered the realm of Supreme Peak was unexpected, but that was all.

He’s only just entered Supreme Peak. What if I’m willing to sacrifice an arm to capture him first?

If I took the Emperor hostage, it would all be over. The Great Nation was one enormous mechanism, and the Emperor was both its master and its most important part.

With him in my hands, I could neutralize not only the assassins in here but also the twin masters waiting outside.

Perhaps even Baek Yeon, Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

But… what then? What happens after that?

Once I started, there would be no going back. That would be the beginning of a true rebellion.

If I took the Emperor hostage and fled Qianqing Palace, would the East Depot, led by Ma Sanbao, help us? Were the people who had signed the collective pledge he’d mentioned the night before fully prepared?

As thoughts tangled through my mind—

“Your servant, Prince Shangshan Zhu Bao, will obey the will of my most august elder brother, Your Majesty.”

Prince Shangshan bowed deeply before his one and only elder brother—the Emperor, who stood above all others—and cried out at the top of his voice.

“Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long, long live the Emperor!”

“……!”

My heart lurched.

Was it because Prince Shangshan’s sudden action had broken the tension gripping my whole body?

No.

It was because I could read the desperate plea in that young prince, so small he didn’t even reach my chest.

Don’t step in any further.

It was as if a voice I couldn’t hear, a voice that couldn’t be heard, had sounded in my ear.

Prince Shangshan was trying to stop me. He had stepped forward before I could make a choice that couldn’t be undone.

The Emperor looked down at him with an arrogant gaze.

“……You’ve certainly grown.”

He murmured it with an unreadable expression, then swept his sleeve. Prince Shangshan, who had been crying “Long live” and bowing again and again, understood the gesture and rose.

“Do you truly intend to obey my will?”

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

“That sounds as though it isn’t your own will. You may refuse if you don’t want to.”

That was what he said, but his narrowed eyes suggested otherwise.

Prince Shangshan lowered his head without a word. Unlike before, his answer was perfectly calm.

“It is my will, too.”

“I’m overjoyed that we brothers are of one mind.”

“I am deeply honored.”

Prince Shangshan seemed to have accepted what was happening. At the sight of his calm face, the tension drained out of me. I steadied my breathing.

It’s no good.

Prince Shangshan had made the right choice.

The answer was clear. We had to retreat when we weren’t prepared.

At least for today.

The Emperor watched me and smacked his lips, then suddenly spoke.

“Now that you’ve decided, there’s no need for further discussion. This audience is over. Everyone, withdraw.”

“As Your Majesty commands.”

The assassins hoisted Third Shadow’s body onto their backs and melted into the darkness. Then the Emperor added,

“No Shadow. You too.”

Shff.

The air rippled in answer. I barely held back a groan.

This is insane.

A Supreme Peak master whose presence even I hadn’t sensed.

No—a Supreme Peak assassin.

That was probably why the Emperor had been so untroubled about letting me into his chambers without imposing any serious restrictions.

He’d been testing me to the very end.

I revised my judgment of the Emperor at once.

He wasn’t merely arrogant and daring. He was more meticulous and suspicious than anyone.

If you succeed, you’re the Emperor. If you fail, you’re a traitor.

I hadn’t thought far enough ahead. When he was still known as the Fourth Prince, he had drawn his sword, swung it once, and overturned the Imperial Capital to seize the Great Nation.

Such boldness and decisiveness were beyond anything an ordinary person could dream of.

The thought suddenly crossed my mind: if I’d made a move, I would never have left Qianqing Palace alive.

Damn it.

Was this the power of the Emperor? The power of the Great Nation?

Was my best option really to withdraw so helplessly, unable even to protect a young prince?

“Let’s go.”

At Prince Shangshan’s quiet murmur, I turned away to hide my gritted teeth.

The Emperor had finished his game and vanished behind the fluttering silks.

Rumble.

A massive iron door, out of place in such a splendid chamber, slowly opened. Beyond it stood dozens of palace attendants I hadn’t seen on the way in.

“We greet His Highness Prince Shangshan.”

“We greet His Highness Prince Shangshan.”

They bowed to Prince Shangshan with utmost deference. Every one of them was a striking beauty.

Each had the kind of looks said to topple kingdoms.

But one woman standing a step ahead of the rest caught my eye at once.

“Please call me So Gyo.”

So Gyo. That was her name.

Her voice was calm, and her eyes shone like the morning star. Even apart from her beautiful features, there was something unusual about her.

“By His Majesty’s solemn command, we have been assigned to serve His Highness Prince Shangshan. We humble women will attend to you from now on, so please do not worry.”

It was simple enough to understand why none of the people assigned to accompany the prince were heavily armed Embroidered Uniform Guards.

They’ve trained in martial arts. And to a considerable level, too.

Every one of them had the internal energy of a First Rate master.

I also recognized the thin belts at their waists for what they were: flexible swords.

And I couldn’t help guessing that if the Emperor gave the order, they’d be ready to drive those blades into Prince Shangshan’s neck at any moment.

There’s no time.

I was getting anxious. I had to meet Hong Jin as soon as possible and make a plan. I had to see through the Emperor’s hidden intentions, to discern his scheme.

“Your Highness.”

Prince Shangshan lifted his head at my call. He looked at me with calm eyes. Whether that calm came from composure or resignation, I couldn’t tell. Then he turned to So Gyo.

“I’d like you to give us a moment.”

Working as a palace attendant in Qianqing Palace meant that they, too, were among the Emperor’s many loyal servants.

But after a moment’s thought, So Gyo quietly led the others away through the maze of corridors.

Only then did Prince Shangshan manage a smile.

“Speak. Though we may not meet again for some time, understand that the circumstances aren’t right for a long farewell.”

There was something about a child who had grown up too soon that brought a lump to your throat.

But I couldn’t let my emotions take over.

I swallowed the words rising to my throat and held out my hand.

“First, take this.”

“……?”

“Come on. There’s no time.”

Prince Shangshan hesitated, then took what I offered. When he saw the small, glimmering object in his palm, his eyes widened.

“This is…”

“A gift from me.”

He examined it curiously.

“It’s the ring you always wear.”

Prince Shangshan couldn’t know or even guess its proper name: the Myriad-Poison Ring.

A divine artifact of the Sichuan Tang Clan, and one of the divine weapons Dark Heaven had targeted.

Unlike White Flame and Fire Dragon Armor, which I usually kept in my Inventory, this was a ring I always wore, just in case.

“Why would you suddenly give this to me?”

“I thought you might need it, Your Highness. You looked at it with interest several times on the way to the Imperial Capital.”

It was true. We’d spent a long time in the carriage, and Prince Shangshan had taken an interest in everything I owned.

Even this ring, too clunky for the women of this era and awkward for a man to wear.

A few days ago, he’d even pestered me to give it to him.

“About that ring.”

“Hm? Oh, this one?”

“Yes. The one you’re wearing. Would you give it to me?”

“Um, sorry, but that’s a little difficult. Have you always been interested in accessories?”

“No. I just want something of yours.”

“Oh, collecting keepsakes…”

“What was that?”

“Nothing. Just talking to myself.”

“At any rate, I’d like to have it. Of course, I’ll pay you handsomely.”

“I’m sorry. I can’t give this to anyone, and I couldn’t sell it for any amount of money.”

“Why not? Is it so precious that you’d refuse even my request?”

“Well, you see… Right. It was my father’s keepsake.”

“Oh.”

“It means a lot not just to me, but to the whole family. My eldest brother still cries whenever he sees this ring.”

“I believe your father is still alive.”

“……Now that you mention it, I think it was my mother’s keepsake. I was mistaken.”

The Myriad-Poison Ring was never supposed to end up in anyone else’s hands.

In the end, Prince Shangshan had been disappointed, and I’d promised to sign about five thousand autographs when we returned to Shanxi Province.

Back then, I hadn’t had the faintest idea what awaited us in the Imperial Capital.

“Are you really giving this to me?”

“Not for good. You have to return it later.”

“Didn’t you say it was your mother’s keepsake?”

“Uh. Well, you see…”

Just as I ran out of things to say, Prince Shangshan let out a quiet laugh.

“I already know you were lying.”

“Ah.”

“I’m a little disappointed that you’d lie even to me, but it’s all right. You must have had your reasons. It must be that precious.”

I smiled along with him.

“That’s right. It’s very precious, so always keep it where no one else can see it…and make sure you return it.”

He was an old soul in a child’s body. He understood what I meant.

Prince Shangshan hesitated as though he didn’t know what to say, then nodded firmly.

“Mm. I understand. I promise.”

Only then did I feel a little more at ease.

The Emperor had seized the throne through a coup more than a decade ago, earning countless enemies in the shadows and no shortage of condemnation.

The Emperor cared enough about having a legitimate pretext to summon Prince Shangshan to the Imperial Capital before bringing him under his control. If he meant to kill his one and only younger brother, the most likely method was poison.

As long as Prince Shangshan keeps the Myriad-Poison Ring on him, poisoning him won’t be an option.

That would buy me time to find another way.

As I thought it over, I sensed the palace attendants slowly returning from farther down the corridor.

Our brief farewell was almost over.

“It’s time for me to go,” Prince Shangshan murmured, his voice subdued.

I bent down to meet his eyes.

“We’ll meet again soon.”

“I hope so. Then I’ll be able to repay the debt I owe you.”

“Your Highness.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t you know? Friends don’t owe each other anything.”

“……!”

“Still, if you insist on giving me something, I’ll accept it gratefully.”

I grinned and ruffled Prince Shangshan’s hair.

The young prince stared blankly at me with wide eyes, then smiled, too.