GMLS Ch 31

The 5th Prince who was confined in The North Palace and had his right to live or die taken away is no more. What remains is only the one above ten thousand men in this country, who has inherited the imperial throne through legitimate procedures. He may not be wearing the imperial crown, but Muryun was already no different from an emperor.

To say such a thing as, “Speak to me after you have become emperor,” to a man like that! No matter that he was the Shangshuling, that last statement had crossed the line. Severely crossed it. It was at a level where applying the charge of insulting the imperial family would not be unreasonable in the slightest.

The Imperial Guards hurriedly gripped the spears they had dropped. The Milyeonggun also gathered themselves and placed their hands on the hilts of their swords. They believed without a doubt that a thunderous imperial command would fall from Muryun’s lips.

In contrast to them, the Ammukdan were composed. Most of them were positioned along the travel route as overseers of the trial, and a few had watched the princes from a distance. In other words, it meant they had seen everything that had transpired.

From the start, for those who were connected to the Imperial Palace in any way, or those who worked under high-ranking officials and nobles, being quick-witted was a basic skill. Wi Junghyuk had been a very exceptional case.

In short, they had seen through The 5th Prince’s inner thoughts in an instant. A soundless fanfare rang out among them.

While not to the extent of Heukwol, most of the Ammukdan members liked Yihwa. In their eyes, Yihwa was a scabby, sickly chick brought in by their master, who was like a ruthless white snake. He was so clueless that they wondered how they would ever raise him.

But as they say, a tiger father does not beget a dog son. What the tiger had brought in was unmistakably a tiger cub.

His growth seemed extraordinary, and in his third year, he had already built up skills comparable to Heukwol. The tutors assigned to him were all busy singing the young master’s praises in unison.

The Ammukdan members, while carrying out their missions looking like demons from hell, would smile faintly under their masks whenever they thought of Yihwa. They came to understand why animals engage in communal parenting while taking care of Yihwa. Even after the chick had already become a full-grown rooster, their affection knew no bounds.

It’s fine if you mess with me. The Shangshuling too, well, it’s fine as long as he doesn’t die. He has aspects more monstrous than us. But not our young master. You touch him, you die. And not just die. We’ll meticulously separate your flesh from your bones and kill you.

Of course, Yihwa, who was infatuated with The 5th Prince, had no clue about these inner workings. Conversely, the Ammukdan members knew not only of Yihwa’s pitiful past but also of his tender heart.

Oh, our little chick. We can’t have him getting sick at heart over this!

They hovered around Yihwa like a mother hen protecting her young. When they heard the news that he had become The 5th Prince’s Captain of the Guard, the pitch-black assassins took turns offering up bowls of pure water and praying.

O heavenly gods. And Sangseon, the greatest among them. Please watch over our young master. If you see any wicked men who are not to your liking, Sangseon, we will secretly visit them as night guests and take care of them.

Those who were, objectively speaking, closer to being wicked men, prayed as such.

Did their devotion reach the heavens? When they confirmed he was safely accepted by The 5th Prince, they gathered amongst themselves for a simple toast and even offered alcohol and tributes at the Yeo family’s ancestral shrine.

But as it turned out, he hadn’t just become a companion, but had stolen his heart entirely! Hurray, let’s celebrate!

The Ammukdan members sneered at the murderously stiffened Imperial Guards and Milyeonggun, then briskly left the scene. The Imperial Guards and Milyeonggun fell into confusion. Their wavering eyes followed the retreating figures of the Ammukdan members.

What is this? Is it a trap? Are they pretending to leave, only to gather their comrades and return?

Return, my foot. They were on their way to continue their celebratory drinks. The young master who had been on death’s door had also woken up safely. There was now nothing for them to worry about.

The emperor punishing the insolent Shangshuling? Entirely plausible. But the emperor punishing ‘Yihwa’s adoptive father’? That was something that could not happen even if the heavens were to split in two.

Those who were unaware of such inner workings were anticipating the worst-case scenario: an imperial command to arrest Yeo Yullyeong, and the Ammukdan drawing their swords in response.

Ammukdan (暗黙單). A group of murderers who live their entire lives in Yeo Yullyeong’s shadow. Among the martial artists of The Geum Empire, there was none who did not know of those dark and silent ones. It was said that if you were to welcome them as a night guest, even the messenger from the underworld would write your name in his ledger in advance, and the grim reaper would come to greet you, clicking his tongue at what idiots you were.

A small elite group, yet the martial prowess of each individual surpassed that of the Imperial Guards or Milyeonggun. They who had eyes and ears in every corner of The Yeon Continent, and whose sword tips could reach every place. The shadow of darkness and silence, who lacked nothing to be called the strongest military force in The Geum Empire. That was the Ammukdan.

It would be impossible to subdue such Ammukdan members without any casualties. All the Imperial Guards and Milyeonggun present steeled themselves for a fight to the death. But the Ammukdan members who were supposed to be protecting their master just casually disappeared as if looking at a cow and a chicken.

A thunderous, regal voice flew toward those who were frozen foolishly.

“Is anyone there.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Wi Suhyeok, who had temporarily taken over as commander after Wi Junghyuk resigned from his post as Captain of the Imperial Guard, bowed. As one could tell from his name, he was Wi Junghyuk’s younger brother.

“Pack for travel immediately.”

“Pardon?”

“We will return to the palace.”

“What?! Ah, no, my apologies… I obey.”

And so, the Imperial Guards and Milyeonggun, leaving only a small number of personnel behind, returned to the palace following their master.

By the time they reached the capital, the season had changed from winter to summer. Lanterns illuminated the surroundings, and palace servants prostrated themselves in deep bows.

Muryun was composed, but the Imperial Guards and Milyeonggun following him felt as if they had been bewitched by a goblin. It wasn’t just because of the change of season they felt on their skin. How could the Emperor, now the one above ten thousand men, overlook the insolent words of a mere Shangshuling? The bizarre behavior of the Ammukdan seemed normal by comparison.

…Surely the jokes exchanged at the shrine weren’t meant seriously. Captain of the Guard… dowry… Ahem, no. It absolutely cannot be.

Regardless of whether the Imperial Guards and Milyeonggun were thrown into confusion, Muryun swiftly became emperor. Yeo Yullyeong, though he might wag his tongue slyly, was never one to make empty promises. Thus, Muryun’s heart was rushed. The ones waiting for him were even more rushed due to the paralyzed state affairs, so they were in perfect sync.

Muryun ascended to the highest position in the country, wore the imperial crown, and proclaimed his name.

“From this moment forth, I shall be the Geonryong Emperor, the emperor of The Geum Empire.”

The coronation ceremony ended with that. All the civil and military officials and nobles prostrated themselves to pay their respects. Among them were supporters of the Crown Prince, and a few who had supported the 2nd and 3rd Princes.

For a moment, Muryun’s eyes narrowed. He knew that these people prostrating themselves now were serving him with sincerity. A very shallow sincerity.

He was sick of it, and so he left the ceremony as it was and headed for his palace. The grand main palace, where the edge of every object was painted with gold, was now Muryun’s palace.

When he said he would retire to bed immediately, incense that calmed the mind and body was lit, and servants arranged the silk bedding. The temperature of the room was always maintained at an appropriate level. The number of maids and eunuchs attending to his needs so that nothing was lacking exceeded ten. It was a world of difference from The North Palace.

Everything was overflowing, yet when he actually lay down, sleep would not come. The insomnia that had plagued him for half his life had latched onto him again.

It was truly strange. It hadn’t been like this during the forced march when he slept two hours a day, or when he dozed off in a damp, dirty cave. Was it because his body was too comfortable? He tried working for a full day, but that only added to his fatigue.

Muryun thought simply. What was there then that is not here now? The answer came quickly.

‘Yihwa.’

He still couldn’t remember exactly what state of mind he was in when he arrived at the shrine with him gravely injured. He just remembered holding onto that cold, limp arm and calling his name until his throat was raw.

‘Yihwa…’

‘Yihwa.’

‘Yihwa!’

If Monghyul hadn’t stopped him, saying he needed to calm down, he probably would have collapsed on that very day, not on the fourth.

Muryun had the physician examine Yihwa’s condition before his own eyes. Every single second felt like an eternity until he heard that although there was a lot of blood loss, the treatment was done well and his life was not in danger.

Paradoxically, Muryun’s eyes, which he had considered the most serious issue apart from Yihwa, needed no separate treatment.

After being prescribed medicine, his vision began to return even before they went to get the medicinal herbs. After washing his eyes with clean water and spending two more days, it was possible to see completely, albeit slightly blurry.

From then on, Muryun stayed by Yihwa’s side the entire time.

He shouldn’t think such thoughts. But Yihwa, lying there with a pale face, truly looked as ephemeral and fragile as a single magnolia blossom. And so, Muryun guarded his bedside until the day of his return, but he couldn’t bring himself to lay a single fingertip on Yihwa.

“Is the Captain of the Imperial Guard there.”

“Yes. Your servant, Wi Suhyeok, is here.”

“Any news from the shrine?”

“Yesterday’s report was the last.”

The Captain of the Guard has awakened and is recovering smoothly. He was said to be returning to the palace as soon as his wounds healed. Muryun raised his arm and covered his eyes.

‘He is safe. Yihwa is safe.’

Behind the deep sense of relief, anger grew vigorously.

‘…What on earth were you thinking!’

Even now, just thinking about that moment made the top of his head burn. He seemed like someone who couldn’t tell a lie at all. How could he have so brazenly deceived him? He was told that if he hadn’t been discovered in time, he would have died just like that. Every time he recalled those words, his blood ran cold.

‘And Monghyul and Wi Junghyuk, too. How dare they deceive their lord? The moment they return, it’s straight to the underground prison for them!’

Wi Suhyeok, prostrate before the emperor’s fury, flinched. He was the second son of the Wi family, famous for their lack of tact, but within the family, he was considered quite brilliant.

The emperor cherished his Captain of the Guard terribly. To a degree that was somehow subtle for affection directed toward a mere Captain of the Guard. Wi Suhyeok desperately suppressed his mind from trying to delve into the nature of that subtlety.

‘The jokes exchanged with the Shangshuling at the shrine, were they truly just jokes?’

Wi Suhyeok’s body shuddered. His instincts as a martial artist screamed at him not to go any further. Just then, the emperor, letting out a heavy sigh, gestured for him to be dismissed. Wi Suhyeok clutched his chest in relief, bowed, and retreated.