Chapter 129
“Hah! How dare someone deceive His Majesty!”
“That bastard must have a death wish.”
“Your Majesty! You must immediately find whoever spread the false information and punish them severely!”
The adjutant and the officials of Seoju Fortress vented their fury, yet none of them could grasp who might be behind such a scheme.
“The courier was from Seoju. Could it be that the castellan orchestrated this and is now feigning ignorance?”
“What insolence! I never ordered such a thing!”
At last, a heated argument broke out between the men from the capital and those stationed at Seoju Fortress.
“If you confess now, you may yet be spared death! If anything were to happen while the imperial palace stands empty— Your Majesty! Where are you going?!”
The adjutant turned pale when he saw Gyeom suddenly dash out of the fortress.
“I will return to the imperial palace at once. You, take the soldiers and follow as quickly as you can!”
“Your Majesty! At least allow us to accompany you—!”
Ignoring the adjutant’s cries, Gyeom vaulted onto his horse and yanked the reins.
Hiiiin!
Startled, the horse whinnied and shot out of Seoju Fortress like an arrow.
“I have to get there as fast as possible.”
Leaning low over the horse’s neck, Gyeom bit down on his lip. The adjutant’s words echoed relentlessly in his ears—something going wrong while the palace was left unguarded.
Danseol was still there.
“I will guard Lady Uibin with my life. Please go without worry.”
Danho had sworn this before Gyeom left, yet Gyeom could not calm his heart.
He knew all too well how cruel the Empress could be.
If this had all been a trap to lure him out of the palace, then I-hwa would surely be aware of it.
And the one who had laid this trap was none other than Cheon Taesu.
I-hwa would take this opportunity to eliminate Danseol. He had to return to the palace before it was too late.
Fwhoosh—
An arrow suddenly flew in from the side. Gyeom barely ducked in time as masked men in black revealed themselves.
They rode alongside and behind him, loosing arrows without pause. Gyeom deliberately steered his horse toward the thick undergrowth.
As the terrain grew rough and visibility worsened, the pursuers slowed—but soon they split into several groups.
They’re trying to cut off my escape.
Gyeom drew a dagger and hurled it with deadly precision at a man galloping ahead through the brush.
“Ugh!”
The dagger pierced the man’s neck. He toppled from his horse, colliding with another pursuer close behind, and both rolled across the ground.
Using the same tactic, Gyeom took down another attacker riding ahead to the right. Still, more than ten remained in pursuit.
Arrows once again rained down from behind. Frustrated by Gyeom’s fierce resistance, the assailants fired without restraint.
Gyeom wrenched the reins and burst out of the forest. A sheer cliff loomed beside them.
He led the pursuers straight toward it.
At the very edge of the cliff, Gyeom yanked the reins hard and twisted his horse sideways.
Hiiiiiing!
His horse swerved just in time—but the men behind him could not.
“Aaah!”
“It’s a cliff! Watch out!”
Four of the pursuers plunged off the cliff with their horses. The rest barely managed to pull back, then immediately resumed the chase.
“Just a little more. Hang in there.”
Gyeom stroked the horse’s neck as it began to limp. The sudden turn at the cliff had strained it badly.
Thunk!
An arrow struck the limping horse, and it collapsed. Gyeom released the reins and rolled across the ground to land safely.
The remaining attackers dismounted and encircled him.
“Who sent you?”
“You will find out soon enough.”
One man stepped forward as he answered.
“If you do not resist, you will feel no pain. Throw down your sword.”
Gyeom sneered.
“I will never drop my blade unless every one of you loses your head.”
“Then we have no choice but to use force.”
The circle tightened.
“Subdue him! But keep him alive! If he resists too fiercely, you may sever the tendons of his arms and legs!”
The order fell, and the attackers charged all at once.
So they really don’t intend to kill me.
Their attacks were fierce, but they avoided vital points, limiting their movement and reach.
That works in my favor.
Exploiting this, Gyeom fought without guarding his own vital spots. The attackers hesitated, their assaults breaking apart.
In that opening, Gyeom struck swiftly and precisely, cutting off their breath.
Soon, only half of them remained.
Then—
“Ugh!”
An arrow from an unexpected direction buried itself in Gyeom’s back. His movements slowed, and the attackers pressed harder.
Grinding his teeth, Gyeom forced himself forward—but another arrow pierced his arm.
As his body faltered, a cold blade slid against his neck.
“You are defeated.”
The man holding the sword still carried a bow and arrows—the very courier who had delivered the false report of rebellion in Seoju.
“Bind his hands and feet and gag him! We’re taking him to the new emperor!”
* * *
Inside the room, the Taesu slowly rose to his feet.
He removed his plain white hemp robe and donned fine silk garments.
“Who goes there! Identify yourselves!”
“Eek! Please spare us!”
Chaos erupted outside, but the Taesu did not so much as blink. Calmly, he pulled on a leather undergarment meant to be worn beneath armor.
“We—we’re on the same side!”
“Silence.”
“I’ll do anything you ask—just please spare my life!”
Slash—!
A spray of blood splattered across the door. Watching crimson seep beneath it, the Taesu indifferently fastened a gilded breastplate.
A dragon was engraved upon it, alive with motion—as if ready to ascend to the heavens.
He wore the imperial symbol without hesitation, brazen in his arrogance.
“My lord! My lord!”
Just as he reached for his sword, the door rattled violently.
“Please come out! You must stop them!”
It was the voice of the maid who prepared his meals each day.
Fully armed, the Taesu strode forward and opened the door.
Relief flickered across her face.
Thud.
He plunged his sword into her heart. Blood gushed from her mouth as she collapsed.
“Tch. Filthy.”
Annoyed, the Taesu kicked her corpse aside.
“Great General!”
Hwang Un, his adjutant, knelt sharply before him. His armor was splattered with blood.
“Is it done?”
“Yes, sir!”
The Taesu surveyed the area. Several bodies lay scattered around the hut—everyone who had worked there.
“Kill their families as well.”
“Yes! I’ll dispatch men to the village at once!”
“Do it quietly. Leave no traces.”
“Leave it to me!”
All loose ends had to be erased.
Five swift soldiers departed for the village under Hwang Un’s brutal orders.
“What of the Emperor?”
“He received the false report and rushed to Seoju!”
“Hahaha!”
The Taesu laughed heartily.
“So confident, yet in the end he falls neatly into my hands.”
“General Lee Mujin has also departed Seolju and is marching on the capital!”
“Good. Then we must hurry.”
With the Emperor gone, all that remained was to strike the capital and seize the palace.
“Send word to I-hwa. Tell her the time has come.”
“Yes, sir!”
Once Mujin’s army arrived, I-hwa would throw open the palace gates.
And then, the Taesu would successfully usurp the throne.
His steps were light as he departed from his place of exile.
