"Descendant of the Sword Sage?"
The moment I heard those words, I couldn't help but be flustered.
I was already surprised when he asked if I was sent from Dohwaseon, but this question felt as though he had foreseen everything.
I looked at the emperor, seated on the dragon throne with a face full of ecstasy.
It seemed he had long awaited this moment.
—How did this happen? I know your identity.
So he does.
In this situation, there's no need for speculation.
From Dohwaseon to the title of Sword Sage's successor—there is only one person who could have leaked such information.
—Ja Gyeongjeong!
I had a hunch ever since he mentioned the elixir of immortality, Yongho Geumdan.
But I never imagined his betrayal would go this far.
He was not the kind of person who cared for the people or had his own sense of justice, as my Sword Sage master believed.
He gave away too much information for it to be just a trick to deceive the emperor.
He allowed them to prepare this much in advance.
—What an infuriating bastard.
I looked around.
As expected, he was nowhere to be found.
More than annoying—he was cunning.
Among all the people I've dealt with so far, he's the first to corner me with strategy, since Jegal Wonmyeong, the Supreme Strategist of the Murim Alliance.
—With strategy?
From the beginning, the compass pointed here because of the artifact.
But the fact that he's not here means he used the sacred artifact—a treasure of the heavens—as bait.
Since he had fled Dohwaseon with it, he assumed someone would pursue him, and thus prepared this trap.
—Truly cunning.
He possesses the ability to construct a plan based solely on prediction.
In his position, sacrificing the artifact to eliminate a pursuer and gain the emperor's favor was a worthwhile trade.
Just then, the Grand General pointed his blade even closer and shouted.
"You insolent wretch! How dare you stare so rudely at His Majesty's noble face? Bow your head at once!"
"It's fine, Grand General. Let it be."
"But, Your Majesty..."
"They say you must look into a person's eyes to see into their heart."
"...As you command."
The Grand General shut his mouth, still displeased.
The emperor, as if bestowing mercy, spoke to me.
"Of all those outside the royal family, only a handful have dared look me straight in the eye."
Was that supposed to make me feel grateful?
To hear this from not even the current emperor, but a tyrant from the past...
Regardless of how I felt, the emperor continued speaking.
"That's how much I expect from you."
"I'm not sure what expectations you speak of, Your Majesty."
"How dare you speak so flippantly to His Majesty!"
General Yeom could not contain his fury this time.
It seemed any discourtesy toward the emperor was intolerable to him.
But even that was silenced with a wave of the emperor's hand.
"Unlike most cultivators who speak in riddles, I like your straightforwardness. I also dislike asking things twice."
Despite the soft tone, this was a warning.
If I did not answer, I'd face consequences.
"Quite the pressure you're putting on me."
I answered honestly.
The emperor laughed heartily.
"Hahaha! The world may say I'm ruthless and cold, but I am a merciful man. Haven't I accepted Commander Cho and Vice-Governor Yang here?"
It sounded like he was telling me to surrender and join his domain.
The emperor took a puff from the ornate pipe on the table beside the throne and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke before continuing.
"Zhongyuan is in utter chaos. So-called martial artists and countless rebels are shaking the foundations of the nation. I intend to set it right."
He was stating his ambitions.
But history has already judged him.
In the end, he remained a tyrant.
"Many dynasties and past emperors tried to fix it, but all failed. Do you know why?"
"...Why is that?"
"They didn't have enough time. It's not that they lacked the power to restore order—it's that they lacked the years to do so."
So that's why he seeks the Yongho Geumdan.
The elixir of immortality—to rule forever.
Though his ambition surpassed other emperors, it was no different from a desire to escape death.
The emperor smiled at me and said,
"But now, I've found the answer. Everything that man said has been proven true."
"Proven? What do you mean?"
"A man who called himself a fallen cultivator told me. He said someone from Dohwaseon would soon come to capture him."
A fallen cultivator?
So he introduced himself that way.
At least he had enough shame not to call himself a true cultivator.
Staring directly at the emperor, I opened my mouth.
"Could that fallen cultivator be Ja Gyeongjeong?"
At that, the corners of the emperor's mouth lifted.
It was affirmation, not denial.
—So it's true.
This was all a trap laid by Ja Gyeongjeong.
Now, how should I respond?
Thinking rapidly, I replied in a voice laced with respect.
"I apologize, but it seems Your Majesty may be mistaken."
"Mistaken?"
"I don't know what this 'Dohwaseon' is, but it is true I came to find a man named Ja Gyeongjeong, just as Your Majesty said. However, it's because he betrayed our sect, harmed our brothers, and stole our treasure."
Given the situation, I had to try unsettling them with my silver tongue.
Even though Lord Jonju and the man with golden eyes were here, my current goal was Ja Gyeongjeong.
I needed to apprehend him and retrieve the artifact.
Somehow, I had to steer the situation toward a face-to-face confrontation.
"You came to capture a man who betrayed your sect?"
"Yes. I regret disappointing Your Majesty, but this sudden situation is as troubling to me as it is to you."
The emperor stared at me and asked,
"So you're not the descendant of the Sword Sage?"
As his eyes narrowed, I replied shamelessly,
"The Sword Sage's descendant… that man founded our sect hundreds of years ago. By that logic, all of us disciples are his descendants."
I had told so many lies, it no longer fazed me.
Even when my energy center was destroyed, I had lied to my master Haehakcheon. Surrounded by enemies now—why would I hesitate?
I continued as though nothing were wrong.
"How can mere words explain everything? Please bring Ja Gyeongjeong here and allow us to confront each other. That will clear up Your Majesty's doubts."
"Seeing that man will resolve my doubts?"
"I don't know how Ja Gyeongjeong managed to deceive Your Majesty, but he is wicked enough to betray his master and kidnap his junior sister. I fear what it means if such a man is to be trusted and empowered..."
Before I could finish, I had to stop.
The emperor's mouth twitched, and his face turned red.
Then, he suddenly burst into loud laughter.
"Hahahahahaha!"
The emperor, who had looked puzzled for a moment, suddenly stopped laughing, shook his head, and spoke.
"Truly amusing."
"...What do you mean by that, Your Majesty?"
"You're different from other Taoists. Every word from your mouth has been consistent... consistently false."
"Your Majesty, if we bring Ja-Gyeongjeong here, everything will be—"
Swish!
The emperor raised his hand, signaling me to stop speaking.
Then, with a sneer, he said,
"Enough. I was considering taking you in, impressed by your nerve—but I've changed my mind."
"What do you mean?"
Turning to the others as if he had lost all interest, the emperor said,
"This one is merely a key to lighting the fuse. Seize him, destroy his dantian, and imprison him until we arrive."
"We obey!"
Everyone inside the tent responded in unison.
It seemed talking my way out of this was no longer an option.
—There are times when even a sharp tongue is useless.
A testament, perhaps, to how well Ja-Gyeongjeong laid the groundwork.
The emperor trusts him. Persuasion is futile.
—So what will you do now?
The only solution is right in front of me.
I stared intently at the emperor, who looked as though he'd lost all interest and was about to smoke his golden pipe.
At that moment, Pa-Gung-Gwi Chosa warned me.
"Move even a fingertip, and I will shoot."
He had already drawn three arrows and aimed them at me.
The deadly killing intent radiating from the tips of the arrows made it clear he would fire without hesitation.
Likewise, Myowol Yangmyeongshin warned me while assuming a ready stance.
"You may be the descendant of the Sword Immortal, but surely you know escape is impossible here. If you surrender quietly, your life may be spared."
As the two martial masters known as the Twelve Absolutes of the World summoned their power, the atmosphere filled with intense pressure.
I sighed.
"Hoo..."
This sigh seemed to irk the Grand General, who stepped closer and shouted furiously.
"How dare you! That insolent look and tongue—I'll sever them first—!"
"Your Majesty."
I cut him off and called out to the emperor.
The emperor raised an eyebrow and looked at me.
"If you were trapped deep inside enemy territory, what would be the best strategy?"
"You... don't tell me—"
"Yes. You eliminate the leader."
'!!!'
At my words, both the Grand General and General Yeom, unable to contain their rage, simultaneously swung their swords at me.
"You bastard!"
"How dare you—!"
Clang!
'!?'
In that instant, both their faces changed to one of disbelief.
Their eyes widened, stunned.
Because the blades they swung had broken—caught between my index and middle fingers.
"This can't be!"
The shock only lasted a moment.
As a top-tier master with decades of combat experience, the Grand General quickly discarded his sword and launched a swift kick at my neck.
Wham!
Unfortunately for him, it was too slow.
I caught his leg as if snatching it out of the air.
"Wha—?"
Then, without pause, I hurled him away with a surge of strength.
Right toward the direction where Pa-Gung-Gwi Chosa was positioned.
Thwip! Thwip! Thwip!
"Aaaargh!"
The Grand General screamed.
True to his warning, Chosa had fired the moment I moved—but all three arrows struck the Grand General instead.
Chosa shouted in shock, clearly not expecting this outcome.
"General!"
Unfazed, I turned and kicked General Yeom, who was trying to leap away in panic.
Crunch!
"Guh!"
Even though he wore armor, the impact was brutal, and the sound of bones breaking rang out as he was hurled backward.
He flew straight into Myowol Yangmyeongshin, who had been preparing to strike me.
Yangmyeong couldn't just attack or dodge blindly, so he caught Yeom instinctively—and the force knocked him back too.
"What!?"
Shatter!
It was the technique of the Material Convergence Realm.
Although Yeom took the injury, the shockwave from the blow transferred to Yangmyeong.
That brief moment—no more than a blink—was all I needed.
I lunged at the emperor.
"Protect His Majesty!"
"Stop him!"
Immediately, eunuch guards nearby hurled their daggers and launched themselves at me.
All of them were peak-level martial masters—
But the moment I cast a sweeping gaze at them, they all dropped unconscious.
Thud! Thud!
There was no need to waste time.
"What... is this?"
Even the emperor was visibly shocked as they fell without me laying a finger on them.
Just then, a man with golden eyes hidden behind a black cloth sprang at me in a panic.
"You will not approach His Majesty!"
I sneered.
"Your eyes seem perfectly fine—why pretend to be blind?"
'!?'
The golden-eyed man flinched, caught off guard by my words.
In that instant, I reached for the cloth covering his eyes like lightning.
He instinctively leaned back in surprise.
Now!
That wasn't my real aim.
When we met at Bongnim Valley, I was no match for him in terms of power.
But now? Let's see.
Thud!
My hand, feinting toward the blindfold, instead struck him square in the chest with a punch.
He tried to cross his arms to block, but I was faster.
Wham!
"Guh!"
The punch drove blood from his mouth.
I didn't stop there—I spun and kicked his right shoulder.
He blocked with his forearm, but the impact knocked him flying.
"What?!"
Myowol Yangmyeongshin cried out.
He had just put down General Yeom and rushed to intercept me—only for someone else to crash into him.
Crunch!
"You bastard!"
He dodged the golden-eyed man this time, determined not to fall for it again.
Then he came at me, unleashing dazzling sword techniques.
Swish swish swish!
But it didn't stop there.
Pa-Gung-Gwi Chosa charged with his massive bow like a club instead of firing arrows.
And the emperor's black-masked bodyguard—presumably Jonju—drew his sword and lunged at me.
"Let's subdue him together!"
"Understood!"
The three top-level masters abandoned one-on-one combat and attacked me simultaneously to protect the emperor.
If I face them one by one, I'll waste too much time. In that case...
Clang!
Just as their attacks neared—within three steps—
I drew my Namcheon Iron Sword and raised it high.
Crackle!
Suddenly, blue lightning surged around the sword.
All three attackers' eyes widened.
"The Thunder Sword Technique!"
Infusing lightning energy into the sword to maximize its power—
This was the essence of the Thunder Sword's Ascension.
"Shinro's Life-Naming Sword Technique—Fourth Form: Ascending Dragon Sword!"
Crackle!
The lightning-infused sword swept in all directions, spiraling upward like a whirlwind.
The three masters tried to counter with their ultimate techniques, but—
Crack! Boom!
The combination of sword force and lightning overwhelmed them completely.
Though they tried to endure, they were all thrown backward by the assault.
"Huff!"
"Urgh!"
Sparks!
Crackle!
They were pushed back more than ten steps, blue lightning crackling over their weapons and bodies.
They froze in place from the immense shock.
Crackle!
But as masters who had surpassed limits, they quickly circulated their inner energy to discharge the lightning through the Yongcheon acupoint on the soles of their feet.
Still, by the time they had recovered—
"If you don't want to see your emperor's head fly, I suggest you don't move an inch."
'!!!'
My sword was at the emperor's neck.