Princess Hwijeong felt a flurry of complex emotions as a grown man continually stroked her cheeks with soft mud.
"It's done."
Princess Hwijeong, who had bright eyes and fair skin, had become a middle-aged woman with dark skin and wide cheeks.
Drip.
Bu Eunseol also used the secret art of darkness to reshape his face.
"As I thought, you do have internal energy and were lying to me!"
Princess Hwijeong widened her eyes as if she had finally realized she had been fooled.
"No wonder you were boasting about bounding up cliffs or breaking through all by yourself."
She spoke in an annoyed tone.
"This Palace has lost. So hurry up and fly us through the sky to the capital."
Swish.
Instead of answering, Bu Eunseol extended his right hand.
"What is it?"
"Check my pulse. See if I have internal energy."
"You don't? Then how could you change your face?"
"In the martial world, there are secret methods to change one's face without internal energy."
Princess Hwijeong grasped Bu Eunseol's pulse in disbelief.
"You've been talking nonsense for a while, but I won't let you..."
But there wasn't even the slightest reactive force; his internal energy was completely blocked.
"...What a truly marvelous talent!"
Princess Hwijeong coughed dryly and changed the subject.
"I've heard there are as many eccentric masters in the martial world as grains of sand, and it is indeed amazing."
"It looks plausible on the outside, but smearing mud has its limits. This won't deceive the sharp eyes of masters."
"Then?"
"Let's go to the city."
Bu Eunseol entered the city with her, bought a few items, and once again smoothed out their faces naturally.
He also purchased a large amount of fierce hidden weapons and poisons from a place run by the Black Gang in the back alleys.
―'We're in luck.'
Just then, the relay station had acquired Iron Wind Black Steeds, which were said to run a thousand li a day. (1000 li = 390km)
―'These horses are reserved. We are not selling them.'
The relay station firmly refused the sale.
But in this world, there is nothing money cannot buy.
―'Have a joyful and happy journey!'
When paid three times the market price as a premium, they readily handed over the horses and bowed deeply to see them off.
When Bu Eunseol brought the two Iron Wind Black Steeds over, Princess Hwijeong pointed to a large inn.
"Now, let's go to an inn."
"With our faces changed this much, it should be fine, right?"
"Of course."
However, Bu Eunseol didn't enter the place she pointed to, but went into the most run-down inn in the city.
He first ordered dried rations to last for a few days, then ordered a bowl of plain noodles and stir-fried vegetables.
"Are you joking around right now?"
Sitting across from him, Princess Hwijeong glared and whispered.
"Or are you trying to insult this Palace?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why did you pass by all those decent inns and enter this rotting, run-down place?"
"There are many eyes in the city."
Bu Eunseol spoke in a low voice.
"If we order fine cuisine in a VIP room of an inn wearing such worn-out clothes, we'll draw people's attention."
"Hmm."
Having nothing to say, she reluctantly picked up her chopsticks.
It was a plain noodle dish she usually wouldn't eat, but because she was so hungry, she emptied the bowl in an instant.
Meanwhile, Bu Eunseol was lost in deep thought.
'I shouldn't even use the Death Spirit Corps's intelligence network.'
Just as the Princess had acted as bait to expose the Empress Dowager's secret organizations.
The Empress Dowager must also be searching for who the Emperor's secret blade was, and which martial world faction he was connected to without her knowledge.
As if to prove this, she deeply suspected Yoo Unryong and was closely monitoring Majeon's movements, wasn't she?
Fortunately, Seo Jinha was playing his role and handling matters in Majeon.
Otherwise, it would have been a massive headache.
'It feels like I've just debuted in the martial world.'
It felt strange.
To think that he, who operated the largest intelligence organization in the world, had to shake off the pursuit of the Imperial Palace's secret troop, the Heaven-Killer Golden Cavalry, and flee toward the capital.
Nothing could be more absurd than this.
"Do you regret it."
Then, Princess Hwijeong stared at Bu Eunseol and spoke.
"Escorting this Palace."
Bu Eunseol shook his head.
"There are no likes or dislikes about it."
"You mean you had no choice."
"I owe a debt."
"Everyone lives with debts. Many don't pay them back."
Bu Eunseol shook his head from side to side.
"Those of the martial world must always repay the debts they owe."
Princess Hwijeong stared blankly at Bu Eunseol.
He was disguised as an exceedingly plain man, but an inexplicable, cloud-like spirit could be felt from him.
"Is there something on my face?"
"Ahem."
Princess Hwijeong, who had been staring at Bu Eunseol, coughed dryly and changed the subject.
"Then, couldn't you owe a bit of that debt to this Palace as well?"
"What do you mean?"
"Don't you have ambitions too?"
Princess Hwijeong still hadn't given up on winning Bu Eunseol over.
"This Palace has the power to grant everything you desire."
"And then cast me aside once everything is over?"
"What does that mean?"
"There's no need to look far for the reason."
Hadn't Princess Hwijeong recently shown no pity for the tragic deaths of the Golden Dragon Guard, wearing instead the expression of someone who had lost useful chess pieces?
"You are a surprisingly affectionate leader."
Princess Hwijeong sighed deeply, realizing that Bu Eunseol was alluding to the recent deaths of the Golden Dragon Guard.
"Living as a ruler is like standing on a battlefield every day. Even loyalty forged in blood, or bonds shared for decades... for the sake of the throne, they must be cut away in an instant."
She spoke in a low voice.
"If one were to shed tears and collapse over every single death, they wouldn't be able to bear the seat of a ruler who must carry the nation."
"..."
"This Palace does not lack pity for their deaths. Completing the great cause by stepping over their sacrifices. That is the only way to honor their spirits."
Bu Eunseol said nothing.
Everyone has their own way of life, and one cannot force what is right or wrong upon another.
"Right. If that's cruel, then it's cruel, and if it's heartless, then it's heartless."
Her voice grew thin.
"It's not as if the ruler's seat hopes for anyone's understanding."
Princess Hwijeong's voice was full of agony and self-reproach.
In truth, it didn't seem like her nature was actually cruel.
"To achieve a great cause, one must not avoid the wind even if it is cold, and must not pluck a flower even if it is beautiful."
Feeling somewhat apologetic, Bu Eunseol comforted her in a low voice.
"It is true that to accomplish great things, one must set aside all personal emotions and desires."
She wore a blank expression for a moment before letting out a small laugh.
"Your current appearance is that of a tofu seller, yet your way of speaking is no different from the world's greatest scholar."
Then, she changed the subject.
"Come to think of it, you're famous for being the most handsome man in the world, so just what..."
Smash!
Just then, Bu Eunseol suddenly kicked the chair she was sitting on, pushing it away.
And he too leaned his head back forcefully.
Swoosh!
Along with the sound of the air tearing, a sharp iron arrow grazed past the space between their foreheads.
The pursuers had caught up in the meantime.
Schwing!
The Silent Tiger Soul Sword was drawn, and soon a fountain of blood erupted from the neck of a middle-aged man sitting at a table across from them.
Bu Eunseol had instantly cut his neck, seeing through the fact that he was the tracker who exposed their location.
"Let's get out of here."
As Bu Eunseol mounted the Iron Wind Black Steed tied outside the inn, she hurriedly followed.
Clatter, clatter.
The two rapidly escaped the city.
"Do we have to run away from such shoddy assassins?"
In fact, the assassins' skills weren't that great, enough that Princess Hwijeong, who had mastered the essence of Imperial Palace martial arts, could handle them alone.
"Most of the people in the inn were commoners who haven't learned martial arts."
Only then did Princess Hwijeong let out an 'Ah'.
She had only paid attention to eating.
But Bu Eunseol had carefully observed the people in the inn from the moment they walked in.
Swish, swish, swish.
Meanwhile, the assassins used their movement techniques to chase after the two.
Pssh, pssh.
Bu Eunseol didn't bother engaging them, instead scattering powders from his pockets.
"Hmph."
The assassins had detoxifying pills with blood-cleansing effects in their mouths.
So they didn't care what Bu Eunseol threw and continued chasing.
"Ugh."
But they suddenly blinked their eyes with pained expressions.
What Bu Eunseol had scattered wasn't poison.
It was a mixture of spicy chili powder and black pepper, commonly used by Hao Sect petty thieves when fleeing.
"The assassins' skills are terrible!"
As Princess Hwijeong shouted gleefully from her horse, Bu Eunseol shook his head.
"They must be the ones who deliver news like carrier pigeons. They simply attacked, blinded by the high bounty."
"There's no need to explain every little thing!"
Princess Hwijeong laughed heartily in delight, then pulled her Iron Wind Black Steed's reins hard and galloped like the wind.
After riding day and night for three days, the two soon reached the border of Sichuan.
Bu Eunseol immediately abandoned the exhausted horses, went back into the city, and bought a small cart pulled by a donkey.
And this time, he bought flamboyant clothes to disguise Princess Hwijeong as a young gisaeng. He disguised himself as a gloomy middle-aged man.
Pursuers tailed them a few times.
But it was beyond imagination that the arrogant Princess would be dressed as a gisaeng, clinging to an old middle-aged man.
So they eventually lost track of them.
"You have good skills."
Every time the pursuers closed in, Princess Hwijeong marveled greatly as she watched Bu Eunseol easily shake them off with unexpected methods and disguises.
"At this rate, we'll arrive safely."
"It would be nice if we did."
Bu Eunseol spoke while looking at the distant sky.
"By now, they must have also guessed that the Princess and I are constantly changing our disguises as we move."
"Then they will..."
"They will inevitably mobilize their forces to block off the major checkpoints."
Bu Eunseol predicted the future so miraculously that he could have set up a fortune-teller's mat.
As he expected, at every major checkpoint.
The Empress Dowager's forces, including the Heaven-Killer Golden Cavalry, had blocked the paths and were inspecting suspicious people.
"There's nothing we can do now."
Princess Hwijeong secretly hoped Bu Eunseol would call his subordinates.
"Your subordinates are spread all over the Central Plains, right?"
"Are you still hoping for that?"
"You only have one life, don't you?"
Princess Hwijeong spoke in a subtle voice.
"Why don't you stop being stubborn and change your mind even now?"
"Wake up."
"Then what are you going to do?"
Bu Eunseol's eyes flashed.
"We have no choice. We'll have to forcefully break through."
"Break through?"
"That's right."
He spoke in a low voice.
"The fortunate thing is, because they placed troops at every checkpoint, their combat power is scattered."
"Hmm."
"Subduing them in one breath and escaping quickly before they notice this place has been breached will be the best plan."
Soon, it was Bu Eunseol and Princess Hwijeong's turn.
With their black eyes flashing, they carefully examined Bu Eunseol, then fixed their gazes on Princess Hwijeong's face.
"Come here for a moment."
The Heaven-Killer Golden Cavalry gestured toward her.
She hadn't used a disguise art, but she had applied various chemicals to her face for the alteration.
There was no way masters with keen eyes wouldn't recognize that.
Schwing, slash!
Just then, blood spurted from their necks.
Bu Eunseol unleashed a lightning-fast sword strike and cut the Heaven-Killer Golden Cavalry's necks.
―'Aaaagh!'
Upon seeing that, the passing commoners screamed and ran away.
"Let's widen the distance as much as possible."
Bu Eunseol ran with all his might alongside Princess Hwijeong.
But it wasn't long before over a hundred assassins began to surround them.
The Empress Dowager had foreseen this situation. To supplement her scattered forces, she had also deployed assassins bought with large sums of money at checkpoints everywhere.
Pew, pew, pew!
They unleashed bizarre hidden weapons and began to besiege Bu Eunseol and Princess Hwijeong.
Judging by their weapon-throwing techniques alone, it was clear they were not ordinary assassins but outstanding, top-tier assassins.
"Do not step more than three ja away from my body. (3 ja = 90cm)"
For Bu Eunseol, who couldn't release sword aura, three ja was the maximum distance his sword wind could exert its power.
"This Palace will also help."
Princess Hwijeong also drew her dagger and fought the assassins by Bu Eunseol's side.
Papapak!
Bu Eunseol's sword art was monotonous but exquisite, piercing the vital acupoints of a dozen assassins at once with a single strike.
In contrast, Princess Hwijeong's Phoenix Sword Dance continuously poured out brilliant flashes and sword aura.
But in reality, she only barely managed to strike down one or two assassins.
Because the Imperial Palace martial arts insisted on imposing and splendid stances.
There were many unnecessary movements, and the more techniques she unleashed, the more her power diminished.
"Retreat!"
As their comrades fell all at once, the remaining assassins realized Bu Eunseol was a master they couldn't handle, and quickly fled without looking back.
Clatter, clatter.
But in the meantime, the Heaven-Killer Golden Cavalry on horseback swarmed toward Bu Eunseol once again.
'Has our route been exposed?'
A flash went through Bu Eunseol's eyes.
There was no way they could have stationed this many troops at every checkpoint.
It was clear the Empress Dowager's side had somewhat predicted Bu Eunseol's movement path.
'It means she has an outstanding strategist.'
The reason the Empress Dowager wasn't pushed back in her long conflict with the Emperor wasn't just because of her immense power and troops.
It was thanks to having a strategist with brilliant intellect by her side.
"Step back."
Eventually, Bu Eunseol stopped fleeing and drew his sword again.
The attacks unleashed by the Heaven-Killer Golden Cavalry were the pinnacle of Imperial Palace martial arts. Princess Hwijeong could easily be in danger.
Papapapa!
As soon as the Heaven-Killer Golden Cavalry surrounded Bu Eunseol, they sent forth a strange power and continuously wielded their spears.
Normally, Bu Eunseol would have exerted his Beastly Strength, tearing through the battlefield and defeating them one by one.
But to protect Princess Hwijeong, he had to stand firmly in place and receive all their attacks.
Sasasasa.
With a sound like a swarm of pouring insects, the Heaven-Killer Golden Cavalry used their mobility to circle and attack them from a distance.
Thwack!
But every time they touched the sword flowers created by the Silent Tiger Soul Sword, fountains of blood erupted from their mouths with a pssh sound.
Bu Eunseol continuously unleashed the profound mysteries of sword study, reflecting their attacks and inflicting internal injuries upon them.
―'Widen the distance further!'
As if seeing through the fact that Bu Eunseol couldn't exert his internal energy, the Heaven-Killer Golden Cavalry widened the distance and poured out immense internal force.
Wong.
When dozens of Heaven-Killer Golden Cavalry unleashed their power all at once, the space around Bu Eunseol began to be crushed.
That pressure not only suppressed his movements but was also disrupting the sharp sword techniques he was unleashing.
Rumble! Paaaah!
The spears of the Heaven-Killer Golden Cavalry, bearing all the essence of Imperial Palace martial arts, contained enough power to split mountains.
But it was strange.
The more powerful they became, the more exquisite Bu Eunseol's sword techniques grew.
As he faced strong enemies with nothing but the exquisiteness of martial study, lost in selfless absorption, subtle realizations and insights kept brushing through his mind.
'What I want is not to gain, but to subtract.'
The realm he had consistently pursued was one where he reduced the power of the martial world's supreme masters to nothing and fought with physical strength alone.
Rather than creating a martial art that unleashed immense destructive power, the Imperial Palace martial arts too had chosen a method that blocked the internal force and supernatural powers of martial world practitioners.
In other words, it was perfectly in line with what he was pursuing.
Locked in a fierce deathmatch with the Heaven-Killer Golden Cavalry, who had mastered the essence of Imperial Palace martial arts, and stripped of all his own power, he naturally absorbed the mysteries of the spearmanship they unleashed.
His movements became concise, and his sword art was growing even more profound.
'Perhaps there is a secret art in the Imperial Palace Secret Vault that can replace the Heaven and Earth Divine Energy.'
The Imperial Palace Secret Vault, said to hold an immeasurable trove of profound secret manuals and spiritual medicines, could only be entered by martial officials who had received the Emperor's permission.
Countless Divine Thieves had salivated over it, but because of the mysterious mechanisms that blocked all powers of martial world practitioners, it was said that not a single intrusion had ever succeeded.
Moreover, since one had to abandon any thought of living in the Central Plains if caught, they had to enter with the resolve to throw away their life.
Pssss! Swish, swish, swish!
In the meantime, Bu Eunseol's movements had changed to be smooth and flexible, as if he were dancing.
A sharp aura lingered for a while in the spaces where the trajectory of his sword techniques had passed.
Pssh! Thud, thud, thud.
Before he knew it, the Heaven-Killer Golden Cavalry, which had numbered over a hundred, was reduced to merely thirty.
"Target the Princess!"
They grasped that Bu Eunseol was standing in place to protect Princess Hwijeong while unleashing his sword techniques.
After widening the distance, they unleashed venomous attacks on Princess Hwijeong.
Kwaaaaah!
As if using their full strength, the thirty pitch-black long spears all changed direction at once, pouring spear aura toward the Princess.
It became a transcendent attack, like the unblockable Infinite Reversal Power.
"Ah."
Although she had learned the essence of Imperial Palace martial arts, Princess Hwijeong lacked real combat experience, and above all, the Heaven-Killer Golden Cavalry's attack was the pinnacle of Imperial Palace martial arts.
She froze in an instant, not knowing what to do.
"The... Void."
Just then, Bu Eunseol's eyes blurred as he murmured softly.
And standing tall like a great mountain without moving from the Princess's side, he continuously began to draw circles.
Then, the space within a radius of one jang around him subtly twisted. (1 jang = 3m)
And the thirty fiercely charging spears seemed to visibly slow, as if swimming through a thick river of mercury.
The domain of the Void. Precisely because he had no power in his body, he easily created the domain of the Void, which paradoxically shattered the enemy's power.
Paaaah!
However, he couldn't hold onto time forever.
The rushing spear aura was slow, but clearly, still advancing toward the Princess.
Death had only been slowed down a bit; it had not disappeared.
Swish!
At that moment, Bu Eunseol moved.
Without stepping even half a pace away from the Princess, he completely confined her body within his shadow.
And then, as if dancing a sword dance.
He began to rotate, lingering around her.
Pssss.
The Silent Tiger Soul Sword generated a soft airflow, greatly bending the trajectory of the spear aura.
Ting!
The sound of the spear aura meeting the tip of the sword rang clearly, like the sound of plucking a stringed instrument.
To Princess Hwijeong, who was watching the scene, it felt as if time had stopped.
Amidst the enemies trying to venomously kill her.
A man holding a sword as antique as a faded ink wash painting was wielding it by her side.
His tightly closed lips.
His precise movements, as if not tolerating a single inch of error.
His straight nose bridge. The red glint in his eyes briefly showing through his fluttering black hair.
He was creating a tenacious and desperate barrier aimed solely at protecting her.
Tiiiing!
Finally, the moment the last spear grazed his fingertips, lost its power, and fell to the floor, the time that had stopped began to flow again.
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