Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time Chapter 543

◈ Gangho People’s Book (9)

* * *

The Forbidden City in Beijing.

There was a very quiet air, as if all the palaces were empty.

In fact, it had been a long time since many masters had followed the new emperor to Jongnam Mountain.

But the golden roofs inside the walls were still covered with a translucent layer of glazing, so that every tile seemed to be covered in frost.

It’s not a formula.

The aerodynamic waves of living masters.

Among those who had gone up to the northern rivers to repel the invasion of the Yao tribe, hundreds of royal masters had returned.

The power that preserved the Ming Empire in the land of the powerful gods known as the Murim. Now, the imperial family could truly be called a paradise.

Deep within it is a flower garden in full bloom with colorful flowers.

A scene unfolding as if it were a place unrelated to the famine that was becoming increasingly severe. It was the area near the Jianing Palace in the Forbidden City, the most secret road in the imperial palace.

Because it is connected to the residence of none other than the Empress Dowager of the Ming Dynasty.

Damn it.

The breeze from the two people’s footsteps rustles the flower petals on the path to Jangnyeonggung Palace.

Each of them was wearing a black robe and a blue robe. Among them, a young man wearing a blue robe suddenly opened his mouth.

“It’s so bustling, but strangely lacking in energy. It’s heavy and scary… It’s also strangely disappointing that there aren’t any high-ranking officials walking around with their bellies sticking out.”

The blue warrior Yeon So-ha whispers.

He was a master who took part in the reorganized Shingeomdae, and was the youngest blue swordsman until Jeongyeonshin’s promotion.

As expected from someone born into an aristocratic family in Beijing, he walked very cautiously, but his mouth was constantly moving.

“It’s clear that the Imperial Masters’ arrogance has completely died out. What on earth happened in the North… I want to see at least a trace of it from afar. What kind of a mess the battlefield between His Majesty the Emperor and the leader of the Yo clan is left in.”

“They say that land has now become a magical realm where wind, rain, and sunlight intersect frequently. It will be difficult for you to even set foot on it without any action.”

It was the cold answer of Jin Myeong-jo, the head of the Shingeom Unit.

His gait was proud even in the middle of the Forbidden City. The soles of his leather shoes could almost make a sound.

But the hair was different.

Saaaaa―

Jinmyeongjo’s white hair began to turn black as he got closer to Janyeong Palace. It was a type of transformation that hid his bloodthirsty clan. His pure white hair brought out the color of the night sky.

He rarely uses it unless he is in a situation where he might encounter civilians, but this was a sight that proved that he was extremely wary of what was going to happen.

“Well, I guess it’s a bit much for me to go. Not only will the weather change, but there will also be thunder and lightning.”

“Are you a talkative person by nature?”

“Yes, well. I heard he was strong, but I didn’t know His Majesty the Emperor’s martial arts skills were that great… Didn’t the warrior disappear without leaving a body behind? That’s why the monsters in the north can’t find his traces.”

“It’s beyond you and I to guess. Now shut up.”

Before we knew it, it was a huge palace.

In front of the main gate, there are eight thick red pillars standing like old trees.

Hello, this is Janyeong Palace.

The companion of the Ming Dynasty’s Taizu is inside.

For some reason, he was a person who did not show up even when Emperor Qianling went on a campaign, but it is said that he showed his presence for the first time in a while at his funeral and the new emperor’s coronation ceremony.

As if by a natural disaster, the entire Forbidden City was shaken by a huge flow of energy.

Because of this, rumors were circulating that the Empress Dowager would intervene in state affairs again.

This was the reason why the royal guards were so careful. In fact, it was said that all kinds of letters were flying out of the Jangnyeong Palace every day and being delivered to various parts of the Forbidden City.

No one knew its contents except the officials who received the letter directly.

Because they kept quiet themselves.

Yeah, yeah―

A door that opens by itself.

A loud clang of hinges followed.

I flinched for a moment as I burned. It was because I felt as if the surroundings were filled with something. I was already suspicious because there was no one guarding the area.

Damn it.

The moment when Jin Myeong-jo took the lead.

‘uh?’

Suddenly, I blinked my burning eyes once, and soon I realized that I was standing in the middle of a quiet room.

The memories from when I crossed the threshold to when I reached the inside of Jangnyeong Palace were erased.

It was the price paid for overcoming the absurd presence with difficulty.

“… … .”

I stare blankly ahead.

A wide, tight curtain was drawn.

Beyond that, a shadow was visible, looking like a wooden statue.

Because the dark shadow was wearing an unfamiliar style of clothing, it looked like a palace made of leaves.

‘Or maybe he’s a monster that’s one with the tree… … .’

I thought as I smelled the fragrant burning leaves.

A particularly noble and famous family, like the Lord of Iphwangseong.

He founded the Ming Dynasty together with Taejo, and although he was defeated by Sambongjinin, he has survived to this day.

There is not much difference in age between Taemosanseongju and Amcheonje. Even if you don’t feel any special energy, you can’t help but be overwhelmed.

That was when.

“Meet the founders of the business.”

Jin Myeong-jo gets down on one knee and rests his elbow on it.

It was an unusual behavior to anyone. The way it looked to Yeon-ha was not according to the etiquette of the Ming Dynasty, but the person behind the curtain responded as if it was a natural thing.

“You know the price of my time. Don’t beat around the bush.”

It was the first time I had heard such a low, burning voice. It was clearly a woman’s voice, but it rumbled like the wind in the bark of a huge old tree.

And it weighed heavily on the listener’s head, as if it were trying to block the natural flow of thought.

‘What is this?’

With a burning desire, I began to recite the verse of ‘Shingeomdan Gwangyegyeol’ in my head.

-I was wrong.

A martial art that I recently started practicing. It was left by none other than Jeong Danju in Cheon Geum Mu Go when he left for Mt. Wudang. It was a form that combined the mind and attack techniques, like the Je Cheon Mu Gyeong of the Ip Hwang Shin Ga.

Anyway, why did Baekhoehyeol become slightly feverish at this moment?

‘I feel like I’m coming to my senses a little…?’

It is fast-paced like a sword, but stable like a martial arts sword.

Proof of the divine skill of the absolute. Unlike Daruma and Sambong Mu-maek, he was vulnerable to one-on-one long-term battles, and there was no need to rely on Yong Dae-hyeop, who only made excuses like Yong Hwan-mun’s martial arts were not comparable to humans.

Meanwhile, Jin Myeong-jo was speaking softly with his head bowed obliquely.

“There are many things in this country that restrict the movements of the true nature of the island. That is why I have requested an audience. Please grant me boundless freedom in this world of wind and dust and in the Shingeomdan of Iphwangseong.”

From now on, the imperial family’s orders will be given lower priority.

“… … !”

A burning spirit flashed through me.

I thought it was a mission to liberate the Ruyi Heavenly Pearl and the Heavenly Dragon Pearl from the Brain Prison in Beijing, but now I hear that it wasn’t like that at all.

In that case, the main command of the main headquarters was only to assist the new commander.

He thought to himself in despair. Those damned scribes.

‘It was a mission to die, wasn’t it?’

It was when Yeon-hwa’s complexion turned pale.

The Empress Dowager’s voice leaked out eerily through the curtains.

“Yu Ji is a child hungry for power. The previous emperor reigned for seventy-two years, so even if I gave my permission, Yu Ji would not accept it.”

The power of the fusion agent.

He was the son of Emperor Qianling, the former emperor. He was appointed crown prince at an early age and lived for seventy years. He gradually became a useless person, and was looked down upon by the civil and military officials.

Naturally, he could not help but be extremely sensitive to the current imperial power. He was a being sensitive to everything.

“He is someone who cannot stand alone, relying on legitimacy. He will remain in the shadows forever as long as the Empress Dowager exists. He is different from His Majesty the late Emperor.”

Jin Myeong-jo’s voice was quiet.

Now he was screaming inside as he burned. The Blood Lord he knew was someone who sought his own comfort, but now he seemed to have lost his mind.

‘Isn’t self-preservation a priority over the common people?’

thud!

It was a sound that resonated from Yeon-hwa’s body. The air felt heavy. The Empress Dowager’s power had permeated the palace, and the scent of trees wafted in from all directions.

“I heard that you are the right-hand man of the Shingumdanju, so I agreed to meet you.”

“… … .”

“The spirit is amazing. Is it because the imperial family, having lost their former emperor, appears incompetent?”

“The Imperial Palace is not a place to protect imperial power, but a breakwater that looks at more fundamental things.”

That’s where it started.

The cool voice of the Empress Dowager and Jin Myeong-jo, like the friction of leaves in the dark of dawn, mingled.

It was a story that took everyone’s breath away.

“I understand that the lord is away. Putting everything else aside, do you have the authority to decide on such matters in the first place?”

“There is only one true martial arts unit. Therefore, the leader of the divine sword unit is Ip Hwang Seong.”

“How mad. The royal family cannot help but worry about their overstepping their authority. The Shingeomdan of the Imperial Castle… Will they properly carry out their duties even when the country releases them?”

“I will not ask why the Empress Dowager has neglected her duties as a strong person and is living in seclusion in the palace. However.”

Then, Jin Myeong-jo’s red lips moved slowly.

“Because of the dignity of the royal family, the two great lords have been locked up, and as a result, the black nature of the original has fallen to the ground. Also, the extent of the former emperor’s will is ambiguous, and it is holding back the ankles of the new sword master. The roof of the Forbidden City is something that looks good no matter where it is hung, so it is impossible to know when it will be linked to treason.”

“Your words are excessive. Jeongga Seomye is keeping the Emperor’s will, so it is a matter of gratitude without any need for ankle-biting.”

“I’m sorry, but the royal family is in the way.”

Yeonwoo’s breathing stopped.

Paralock!

Letters were flying in from all over the palace. The moment I woke up, I thought the Empress Dowager was very angry, but the departure of the oldest person in the Ming imperial family was not so easy.

“This is the diary of a scholar.”

The papers floated in the air along with her words. The rough handwriting caught Yeon-hwa’s eyes.

―The sun has set. Huge monsters with distorted faces are dragging people away. The cries of the dying can be heard outside the door. The fire in the castle is coming in through the cracks in the windows along with smoke, making it hard to breathe. I feel like I’m going to sneeze, but I have to hold it in. Even if it means waving my brush like this.

―I saw it through the window. By the afternoon, the corpses had piled up like a mountain. Today, I lost my brother, my sister-in-law, my younger brother, and my nephew. Their faces were torn off raw, and their ribs were piled up in a strange tower shape. And now, only Jang, me, and my wife are left. My heart is empty.

– Jang-ssi. The drinking buddy across from the market stall was a blue-clad warrior of the Iphwangseong Myeongryu-dae. It’s something you’ll see in a long time, but he’s holding his breath now. But that doesn’t mean he’s not worth watching. Jang-ssi had the chance to escape with his nimble legs, but he stayed to protect us.

-Northern tribe. Those distorted beings cannot distinguish our faces. So they killed all the residents, or the old and the children, leaving only the young and healthy men and women.

―A question suddenly occurred to me. Didn’t they say they were the northern strongmen? If so, they must have something called a sense of energy.

―Do the beings slaughtering people outside the door right now know our presence or not?

That was it.

The Empress Dowager’s words fell.

“This is what is happening all over the North, and this is why you must be cautious. The imperial authority must be established first, and the imperial military forces will follow suit. The world is vast, but your imperial power is very small. Therefore, you should not think that the new emperor is too concerned about saving face.”

Suddenly, I smelled the scent of burning ink. It seemed like it had been painted not long ago. If it had been written in the far north, it couldn’t have been like this.

‘what?’

At that moment, Jin Myeong-jo muttered.

“… Some famous masters use the spirituality contained in nature as they wish. It seems that the Empress Dowager has taken the Wind King as her comrade.”

In the presence of such an empress dowager, Yeonhwa whispered cautiously.

“Like Lord Magwangik or Senior Sawolgunggwi?”

“Those two are useful, of course, but their perspectives are different. The wind of Jangnyeong Palace seems to move following the brush strokes of an unknown northern scholar.”

In short, it means that he copied the original written at this time while sitting down. He opened his eyes wide in burning astonishment.

“So you’re saying you’re watching the entire world…?”

The end of his words became slurred, and the Empress Dowager’s voice seeped through the gap.

“It’s just one of the karmas given to me. I can’t keep up with the movements of the elusive masters. Anyway, so… what about the pipes that the generals are using? Would you like to see them?”

One who does not allow his allies to keep secrets.

No need to wait for the connection.

Now I’m completely overwhelmed by the burning sensation. Of course, my eyes are immediately out of focus.

“… … .”

The liveliness that was typical of someone born into an aristocratic family in Beijing has disappeared without a trace.

As a member of the Shingeom Corps, his assigned role is scouting and fighting, but now that fear is on the verge of reaching his heart, he is uncertain what will happen.

Saaaaak—

A brush that draws strokes without hesitation on a blank piece of paper that floats in the air.

In the wide-open hall, an eerie friction sound resonated repeatedly.

In a palace filled with silence, the words are gradually being completed.

Could it be a draft of a report? It was written in cursive script, completely different from the handwriting previously revealed. The writing itself was not organized.

―The Extra Thunder Sword (餘雷劍) owned by the acting head of the Shingeomdanju is dispatched to the north. To repeat, the Extra Thunder Sword is dispatched to the north.

-The Yeolleogeom destroys the Haojunseong Fortress of the Yao tribe. Frees the prisoners from the fortress.

―The Yeoryeogum, the demon lord Mamagwangmyeoldo’s crescent sword, shattered and pushed away over a hundred swords with the Hosin Ganggi. According to the Anbeop masters’ calculations, there were one hundred and twenty-three swords.

―A tribe of three thousand men marched south from the military camp in the hilly area.

-Sudden annihilation. This happened right after the lightning sword deflected the military lord’s crescent sword. The hilly area turned into a basin. Presumed to be a sound hole.

―The Yeolleo Sword passes through Hocheonseong and breaks through Seolhae Pass. It clashes with Hocheonseong Lord Mama Gwangmyeoldo again. A thunderous roar. Mama Gwangmyeoldo falls into a valley 300 steps away. It seems that the Igi Geogeom ignored the repulsive power of Cheondan Gwanggap…

-If the Grand Admiral allows the expedition, a 500-jang radius around Jangseong Seolhaeji will be incorporated into the territory of the home country.

-Jeongga Island, don’t move… … .

The last sentence seemed to have been scribbled unconsciously. Suddenly, Jin Myeong-jo’s voice descended into the palace.

“It seems he is a servant of a nobleman in Beijing who reports on the Grand Admiral’s every move.”

“… … .”

Saaaaa―

In the dark silence, Jin Myeong-jo’s black hair turns white again. It doesn’t take long for his hair to turn back to its original white color.

He said.

“My business remains unchanged.”

Separation of the imperial family and the imperial family.

Complete liberation.

“… … .”

As the silence in Jangnyeong Palace grew thicker, Yeonseoha’s eyes began to regain their clear focus.