Chapter 421 : Sangmu Fortress (2)

Chapter 421: Sangmu Fortress (2)

As I fell into deep thought, Elder Demonic Master checked on the now-conscious Deung Hwaun and then approached me.

“Come with me for a moment.”

Seeing that Elder Demonic Master was calling me aside, I followed him, sensing he had something to say.

Once we were out of the medical quarters, he quietly spoke.

“You probably already heard from Young Master Jong, but those masked individuals saved us. What’s more—besides the Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword, they even displayed the Bamboo Forest Soaring Dragon Steps and the Rising Dragon Movement. Not just one, but all signature techniques of the Heavenly Central Sect.”

The more I heard, the more the suspicion grew. Elder Demonic Master continued.

“But here's the thing. I recognized one of the masked individuals.”

My eyes sparkled at those words.

“Who was it?”

“Their gaze was unique—I couldn’t forget it. It was the owner of Uhak Bookstore.”

Elder Demonic Master and I had visited Uhak Bookstore a few times, and there we had met Myeong Gujeong.

He had remembered the look in Myeong Gujeong’s eyes from back then, and recognized that it matched one of the masked individuals.

‘What a keen eye. To recognize the bookstore owner's gaze even through a mask.’

In truth, when I heard that the masked person had used the Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword, the first person who came to mind was Myeong Gujeong.

Back when I fought him on Mount Goisan, he had clearly known the Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword, pointing out flaws in each of my techniques to help me improve.

‘And the other masked one was said to be a woman... Could it be someone who resembles Mother?’

She too had used the signature techniques of the Heavenly Central Sect, so it was highly likely.

I wanted to make sure this information didn’t leak.

“Please don’t tell anyone else about this.”

“I understand. That’s why I brought it to you quietly.”

“Well done.”

After wrapping up that topic, I asked,

“How is Miss Hong? Has she grown close to Lady Deung?”

“They did grow quite close during the journey, but Lady Deung seemed reluctant to reveal the truth. I got the feeling she might bury that story in her heart forever.”

“In any case, it’s her choice to make.”

“I agree.”

After Elder Demonic Master returned to the medical quarters, I noticed a pair of eyes staring intently at me from atop a tree.

‘Azure Messenger Rat? That means Elder Demonic Master has an urgent message for me…’

As I returned to my quarters, the Azure Messenger Rat discreetly followed me inside.

After reading the message it carried, I sprang to my feet.

There was no time to sit idly by. I needed to start planning how to protect Sangmu Fortress immediately.

Pacing in circles around the table like a madman, I suddenly had an idea and sat down again.

I began sketching something with my finger on the table, formulating a plan.

“Yes, this could work. But it would mean asking her for help again… That feels a bit awkward.”

Still, this wasn’t the time to worry about such things.

If I hesitated out of pride, my mother’s clan, Sangmu Fortress, could be annihilated.

“Now’s not the time to fuss over trivial pride.”

Without delay, I went to see Princess Gyeongseon.

Having barely seen me recently after a few brief visits, Princess Gyeongseon welcomed me with a bright smile as I entered.

Her presence radiated like the fragrance of a blooming flower.

“What brings such a busy man to visit this monarch?”

Smiling slightly at her somewhat coy expression, I greeted her.

Indeed, it had been quite some time since I last saw her.

“I heard from Mu Instructor that Your Grace's martial arts have advanced greatly.”

Although she had claimed to want to learn martial arts, I hadn’t expected her determination to last. Yet she had diligently been practicing the techniques of the Heavenly Central Sect.

“I made a vow to the maid who died. That from now on, I’d protect the people close to me myself. I’m not learning martial arts just to throw tantrums.”

Back when warriors from the Heavenly Demon Sect, led by Elder Demonic Master, had attacked Southern Sky King, one of her maids had died protecting Princess Gyeongseon.

She still carried the weight of that incident in her heart.

The maid had been with her since childhood, practically growing up together. The loss must have been devastating.

It was that grief which now drove her to pursue martial arts.

“I’ve come with a request.”

As she gazed at me intently, I spoke up first.

Princess Gyeongseon smiled softly.

“I am indebted to the Heavenly Central Sect. I could hardly refuse a request from Master Yong, the sect’s Young Lord.”

“I truly hope you’ll agree to this one.”

“Of course. As long as it’s not asking me to leave the sect, I’ll hear you out.”

Ever since she began training, she seemed to have grown a bit bolder.

I shared with her the information I had received from Elder Demonic Master.

With a sigh, I added a little flattery.

“In this situation, there’s no one I can trust but you, Your Grace.”

She chuckled at my honeyed words.

“Let me summarize your plan again, Master Yong. You want to disguise the palace’s warriors and soldiers in Heavenly Central Sect uniforms and move them to Sangmu Fortress, right? That’s to mislead others into thinking the sect’s forces are being relocated.”

“That’s correct. The detailed plan is this: We will secretly hide the palace’s warriors and soldiers in Mount Tianzhong in advance, then have our sect’s warriors pretend to cross Mount Tianzhong to support Sangmu Fortress. At that time—”

The soldiers hidden in the mountain would instead head to Sangmu Fortress. Meanwhile, the warriors of the Heavenly Central Sect would remain hidden in Mount Tianzhong.”

“Is there really a need to go to such lengths?”

“If our sect’s forces march out to support Sangmu Fortress, the enemy will surely attempt to strike our base in retaliation.”

“So it’s a deception tactic. But are the warriors of the Royal Palace enough? If the force attacking Sangmu Fortress is too powerful, our palace warriors alone won’t be able to stop them.”

I had already taken that into account.

“Don’t worry about that. I have a backup plan.”

“Do you? That’s a relief then. In any case, our palace will support you, Master Yong. I will write a letter and send it to the Royal Palace.”

“We’ll send our sect’s uniforms and gear to the Royal Palace from the Heavenly Sea Trading Company. Once they arrive, move into Mount Tianzhong. But avoid entering in large groups. Moving all at once will draw suspicion—enter gradually and discreetly.”

“Understood.”

Princess Gyeongseon wrote a letter and sent it to the Southern Sky King’s Palace.

I then gathered the uniforms and attire of the Heavenly Central Sect that Hwae Ungyeong had brought and sent them to the Southern Sky King’s Palace.

“I’m sorry to trouble you with this.”

At my words, Hwae Ungyeong shook her head.

“Not at all. I’m just glad to be of help.”

After saying that, Hwae Ungyeong left for the Southern Sky King’s Palace with the escorts from the Heavenly Sea Trading Company.

It was just like her to carry out the task silently and diligently. Watching her brought memories of my past life flooding back.

“What are you staring at so blankly?”

As I watched her vanish into the distance, a voice called out from behind.

There stood Jegal Cheongyeong.

“So, you were captivated.”

She had come outside and, seeing me staring wistfully after Hwae Ungyeong, approached me.

She found it strange—the way I looked at Hwae Ungyeong with longing. In truth, she felt jealous. It was a gaze she had once wished to receive.

But unlike how I looked at Hwae Ungyeong, the way I looked at Jegal Cheongyeong now was calm, without emotion. Seeing that, she was reminded again that she had completely faded from my heart.

“I had a favor to ask her, and I was worried.”

She felt disappointed that I no longer confided in her. When we were young, I used to tell her even the smallest things.

‘A lover who turns away once becomes a stranger forever.’

With that bitter thought, Jegal Cheongyeong’s eyes filled with sadness.

But I didn’t have the luxury to dwell on her expression at the moment.

“Sorry, Cheongyeong. I have something urgent to take care of.”

She looked as though she wanted to say something more but, seeing how rushed I was, she couldn't bring herself to stop me.

After sending Hwae Ungyeong off, a troubling thought crossed my mind.

There were likely spies surveilling the surroundings of the Heavenly Central Sect. I had a bad feeling that they wouldn’t leave her movements alone.

I quickly went to find Namgung Yoo.

“Yoo!”

She greeted me with a radiant smile as I called out to her for the first time in a while.

“Oh, Hwarin! What brings you here?”

“I need a favor.”

“What is it?”

As we spoke with the familiarity of old friends, Jegal Yohye, standing nearby, watched us with envy.

Seeing so many eyes around us, I led Namgung Yoo to a more private spot.

“What’s going on?”

“Lady Hwae is taking some supplies to the Southern Sky King, and I was hoping you could escort her.”

“Really? Got it.”

She readily agreed, and I patted her shoulder.

“Thanks.”

“What are you thanking me for? Just buy me a drink later.”

I asked Namgung Yoo for the escort not only because I trusted her, but also to avoid suspicion from others.

Besides, if I had asked a man to escort her, Hwae Ungyeong would have likely refused. That’s why I chose Namgung Yoo.

She quickly gathered about twenty warriors from the Heavenly Central Sect and set off in pursuit of Hwae Ungyeong.

Although the core of Hwae Ungyeong’s escort team was composed of warriors from the Bloodgreen Battalion, I sent Namgung Yoo to ease my worries.

After informing Yong Kijoong and Yong Biyang of the plan, I headed to Imyeong County.

I was going there to meet Mae Yeongyeong.

At this point, I was even considering mobilizing Muhwa Group.

Just as Princess Gyeongseon had pointed out, the forces of the Southern Sky King’s Palace might not be enough to fend off the assault on Sangmu Fortress.

That’s why I intended to bring in the Muhwa Group to counter them.

With the strength of the Muhwa Group, we should be able to defend Sangmu Fortress.

To contact Chouhui, the quickest way was to meet Mae Yeongyeong first.

Harnessing my Floating Wind Steps, I dashed off like the wind.

Upon reaching the prefecture office in Imyeong County, I infiltrated quietly using Dragon Concealment Heavenly Art, not revealing my identity.

I stealthily made my way to Mae Yeongyeong’s residence, a place I had memorized while tracking Black Kill Sword Wonho.

Upon arrival, I climbed up onto the main beam and observed the area.

Entering a woman’s quarters uninvited would be improper, but sensing that Mae Yeongyeong’s internal energy had completely settled, I quietly moved to the ceiling beam inside the room.

Mae Yeongyeong was seated in meditation, circulating her qi.