Myst, Might, Mayhem (Novel) - Chapter 234 - Imperial Guard Bureau Martial Examination (2)

Chapter 234 – Imperial Guard Bureau Martial Examination (2)

===================

Translated by Jinmu

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

===================

“It is a fight they can never win.” “What?”

At those shocking words from Junior Supervisor Beom of the Western Depot, Reader-in-Attendance Jang Chan of the Hanlin Academy wore an expression that said he simply could not believe it.

He had not served Prince Gyeong for very long, but from what he had heard, Junior Supervisor Beom, Beom Jeung, was a tremendous master who ranked within the top five among all the eunuchs of the Eastern and Western Depots known to have trained in martial arts.

Jang Chan did not know their martial terminology precisely, but he had heard that because Beom’s internal energy had reached the utmost extreme of the Transcendent Peak, there were not many even among martial artists who could match him.

Yet such a man was saying there was an opponent he could not defeat, so what in the world did that mean? And these so-called junior generation fighters were merely young people around twenty, were they not?

“Junior Supervisor Beom.

Could it be that you are mistaken?” “Mistaken?” “Yes. No matter what, they are only young boys. How could people like that possibly be a match for someone as seasoned as Junior Supervisor Beom?” “Hoo.”

At Jang Chan’s attitude of disbelief, Junior Supervisor Beom let out a sigh. Even he, who had experienced it firsthand, found it hard to accept, so it might well be a natural reaction for someone who knew nothing.

But now was no time to explain such things. ‘He has not recognized me yet, so I must leave this place at once.’ And he had to report this fact immediately to Prince Gyeong.

He had hoped never to meet him again, but that demon-like bastard had appeared in the imperial palace, so he had to report it and make some kind of response.

The Princess was still losing sleep because of what had happened that day, and if she saw that man again, she might never escape the shock. So Junior Supervisor Beom said quietly, “I will tell you the details later.

If you truly cannot believe this old man’s words, then let them spar. However, with people like those…” While speaking, Junior Supervisor Beom suddenly stopped. “Why do you not finish what you were saying?”

“This is bad…” “What?”

Seeing the twisted expression on Junior Supervisor Beom’s face, the puzzled Reader-in-Attendance Jang Chan looked in the direction Beom was staring. ‘!?’ Jang Chan frowned.

That was because among the people standing in opposition, only one had turned his head and was looking at them. They were roughly thirty zhang away, so it was far too perfect to be a coincidence.

But for Junior Supervisor Beom, it was no coincidence at all. ‘…A monster of a bastard.’ Even with this much distance between them, he had sensed Junior Supervisor Beom’s presence.

Unless someone drew out his qi, or deliberately focused on it despite there being many people around, it was difficult at this sort of distance to pinpoint and notice someone in particular.

Yet that man was looking exactly at him. Just how sharp and far-reaching were his senses? Was this the difference between one who had crossed the wall and one who had not? ‘…Still, he will not have recognized me.’

There was considerable distance, and under the pouring rain that day in the inn, his appearance had been very different from now.

His clothing was different, and on top of that he was now wearing the distinctive face powder of eunuchs. So if he did not betray himself here, then that man would also not recognize him… ‘!!!!!’

At that moment, Junior Supervisor Beom’s pupils shook wildly. Having lived as a eunuch for many years, he had learned lip-reading and could understand what someone was saying from the shape of their mouth.

Of course, at this distance, he could not read everything precisely, but there was one thing he could clearly make out.

[So you were alive.]

Junior Supervisor Beom felt as though the strength would leave his legs.

That man had recognized him exactly.

* * *

“So you were alive.”

“My lord?”

Because Mok Gyeong-un had suddenly looked somewhere, Seop Chun turned his head in puzzlement to look in the same direction.

Quite some distance away, two officials could be seen, and one of them, seen only from the back, was limping away hurriedly as if fleeing.

He had no idea what was going on, but then,

“So he was a eunuch.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“The official over there, the one limping away.”

“Do you know him?”

“You know him too, Seop Chun.”

“I do?”

“The old master we met at the inn in that village when we tried to borrow a boat.”

“Ah.

You mean the old master who was escorting that insolent young lady?

Then that old master was a eunuch of the imperial palace?”

“Since the red official robe was said to belong to the Western Depot, that would be the case.”

Mok Gyeong-un answered as if it were nothing.

Hearing that, Mong Mu-yak frowned and then said in a lowered voice,

“My lord…

If that is true, then the woman he was serving may not have been merely the child of some high minister, but a member of the imperial family.”

“A member of the imperial family?”

“Yes.

Eunuchs serve only the imperial family.

And if she was important enough to be guarded by a master of that level, then her status cannot be ordinary.”

At that, Seop Chun cried out in surprise,

“No.

Then does that mean that young lady might have been a Princess…”

“Quiet.”

Mong Mu-yak raised a hand as though covering his mouth and stopped him before his voice could grow louder.

They were not the only ones here.

After making Seop Chun close his mouth, Mong Mu-yak spoke in a worried tone,

“My lord.

If that woman truly is an imperial relative of high standing, then for the sake of what comes later, I believe we should make some preparations.”

Mong Mu-yak had naturally assumed they had died.

Yet if they had survived even amidst that carnage, their hostility and desire for revenge against Mok Gyeong-un and the rest of them might have reached their peak.

If that happened, it could interfere with their mission in the imperial palace, and furthermore they might become entangled in troublesome matters.

“Preparations…

Well, there is no harm in doing that.

Then, Mong Mu-yak, could you make those preparations?”

“I, my lord?”

“Yes.

You said preparations must be made.”

“…That is true.”

“Then I will leave it to you.”

“I receive your command.”

As he answered, Mong Mu-yak’s eyes filled with resolve.

Surely this was Mok Gyeong-un testing his ability.

Unlike Seop Chun, he had only sworn loyalty later, so if he showed his capability here, he would be able to win his lord’s trust.

As he steeled himself like that, the scar-covered Thousand-Household Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard who had come as the examiner for official certification stepped into the middle.

Then he addressed both sides, who had been waiting at a distance.

“We cannot wait any longer.

Because the observers are late, we will begin the upper-rank promotion sparring without any further delay.”

* * *

The sparring did not last long.

In no more than half a quarter of an hour, all the matches had ended.

The result of the sparring was an overwhelming victory for one side.

The name of the scar-covered Thousand-Household Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was Maek Ha-gyun, a Thousand-Household Commander of the Office of Stealth among the Six Service Offices, the branch that handled the most secret assignments.

Thousand-Household Commander Maek Ha-gyun, who had acted as examiner for certification, clicked his tongue inwardly.

‘…They truly sent them here on purpose.’

He had volunteered for the examiner’s role because he wanted to see with his own eyes what level the Heaven and Earth Society junior generation fighters were, after hearing that the cadets entering under Imperial Noble Consort Seo’s influence were the first juniors ever sent by the Heaven and Earth Society.

But through the sparring, judging their level had become more or less meaningless.

That was because the difference in level was simply too great.

The four people recommended by Prince Gyeong were at best around second-rate to first-rate.

From the outset they were no match at all.

Their limits were no more than those of lower-rank Imperial Guard Bureau cadets.

On the other hand, the junior generation fighters from the Heaven and Earth Society possessed martial skill sufficient to become Embroidered Uniform Guards immediately.

No, in fact, even he himself, a Thousand-Household Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, found it difficult to gauge their martial ability.

By his qi senses, they appeared almost on par with him, or even above him.

Thus Maek Ha-gyun concluded that the Heaven and Earth Society had deliberately sent out its junior generation fighters this time.

‘The Heaven and Earth Society…

As expected of one of the three great powers of the martial world.

Even the weakest of the three has reached the fully mature stage of the Peak Realm.’

Was it Mok Gyeong-un?

His martial level seemed to be the lowest among the three, but his beauty was so striking that his face naturally remained impressed in the memory.

In any case, though the sparring had ended too easily, it instead stirred anticipation.

Among those participating in this Imperial Guard Bureau martial examination for selection into the Embroidered Uniform Guard were junior generation fighters of considerable reputation from the orthodox martial world as well.

There was, for example, Geum Jong-hyeon of the Zhongnan Sect, or Namgung Cheong-hyeon of the Namgung Clan.

That was why Maek Ha-gyun had become curious as to what sort of result would come of it.

* * *

Imperial Guard Bureau training grounds.

There were three hundred cadets in total being trained.

But with so many people, it was naturally difficult for all of them to train at the same time.

So they were divided into three grades of one hundred each for training.

These grades were upper, middle, and lower, and naturally the people in the upper grade consisted of the best among the Imperial Guard Bureau cadets.

Most of them had talent so outstanding that their martial level was first-rate or above.

Most of the Imperial Guard Bureau cadets in this upper rank were aiming for the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

“Hoo.

Hoo.”

Even though it was late afternoon, the upper-rank cadets were still pouring sweat as they trained.

That was because the Imperial Guard Bureau martial examination would take place tomorrow.

Out of a hundred, only eight would be finally selected into the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and because they knew that some of those were already predetermined, they had no choice but to prepare with all their might.

The Imperial Guard Bureau martial examination was that fierce.

As the cadets trained so intensely, all of their eyes suddenly turned in one direction.

That direction was toward the platform by the training grounds.

Hall Master Seok Jeon-ung of the Imperial Guard Bureau training hall was walking in front of the platform, and behind him followed several unfamiliar faces they had never seen before.

‘Ha.

Look at this.’

‘Just what are those people?’

The cadets’ reaction was anything but favorable.

Their displeasure was obvious.

That was because tomorrow the Imperial Guard Bureau martial examination would begin, yet all of a sudden three unfamiliar people had appeared dressed in upper-rank cadet uniforms.

The existing cadets naturally understood what that implied, and resentment was inevitable.

Standing before the platform, Hall Master Seok Jeon-ung opened his mouth.

“Attention.”

He said that, but in fact all the upper-rank cadets were already looking at him.

So Seok Jeon-ung raised his voice and, pointing with his hand to the three standing behind him, said,

“These are the three who were promoted today.

From the left, they are Mok Gyeong-un, Seop Chun, and Mong Mu-yak.”

At that very instant, as soon as he finished speaking, someone raised his hand.

Seeing this, Hall Master Seok Jeon-ung let out a faint sigh, as though he had expected it.

Since many of the upper-rank cadets were the children of high officials, they were the sort to clearly voice their opinions.

“Speak.”

“Cadet Yi Chung.

The last promotions already ended five days ago.

Yet suddenly promoting people like this on the very day before the Imperial Guard Bureau martial examination is an overly deliberate measure.”

Then another cadet rose and shouted,

“Yi Chung is right.

I do not know who they are, but how can it make sense to suddenly raise unverified people like this?

I ask that you please reconsider.”

At those words, people all around murmured in agreement, saying he was right.

At this, Hall Master Seok Jeon-ung drew in a deep breath and shouted,

“Silence.”

At that short, loud cry, the previously murmuring training ground became quiet again.

Then Seok Jeon-ung said to the cadets,

“These men have already passed the promotion test under the certification of a Thousand-Household Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Do you mean to deny that?”

‘A Thousand-Household Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard tested them?’

‘Is that true?’

Once more the cadets stirred.

Ordinarily, promotion tests themselves were conducted under the authority of the Imperial Guard Bureau hall master.

But he had said that a Thousand-Household Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard had directly tested them, so if they now asked him to reconsider, it would amount to denying the decision of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

At this point Hall Master Seok Jeon-ung drove the point home.

“And they are junior generation fighters from the Heaven and Earth Society.

There is absolutely no room to doubt their skill.”

‘The Heaven and Earth Society?’

At those words, several who until now had shown no interest in whether they entered or not turned their eyes toward the platform.

They were junior generation fighters from the orthodox martial world under the Alliance of Justice.

* * *

After introducing the newly promoted cadets in that way, Hall Master Seok Jeon-ung turned back as though his duty was done.

Once he left, the atmosphere turned strange.

That was because the Heaven and Earth Society was not merely one of the three great powers of the martial world, but was also in hostile relations with the Alliance of Justice, the very center of the orthodox martial world.

Yet among the upper-rank cadets here, there were especially many junior generation fighters from the orthodox sects.

Because the upper-rank class was led by them, the cadets naturally cast covertly wary looks at Mok Gyeong-un and his companions.

‘So this is more or less the atmosphere here.’

Mok Gyeong-un let out a faint laugh.

Because he had remained only within the Heaven and Earth Society, he had not known, but this seemed to be how the orthodox martial world looked upon the Heaven and Earth Society.

Of course, Mok Gyeong-un did not particularly care about such gazes.

These people were not important anyway.

The ones who truly mattered were the names he had received beforehand through Junior Supervisor Jang of the Eastern Depot.

Mok Gyeong-un naturally found them.

‘So that one is Yeom Gyeong?’

His appearance matched exactly what he had memorized.

Yeom Gyeong, a disciple of the Mount Hua Sect and the son of an Assistant Commander of the Left Military Command.

He belonged to Palm King’s faction, and, as expected of someone from one of the great orthodox sects, he looked more capable than the riffraff around him.

‘Hm.’

That youth with narrowed eyes and his arms crossed seemed to be Geum Jong-hyeon, son of a fifth-rank Lecture Scholar of the Hanlin Academy and disciple of the Zhongnan Sect.

He belonged to Prince Gyeong’s faction.

‘Narrowed eyes…’

It was hard to tell whether his eyes were closed or open.

Mok Gyeong-un turned his head and noticed that Mong Mu-yak was locked in an intense staring contest with someone.

The target of that staring contest was a youth with handsome features and thick eyebrows.

‘So that one is Namgung Cheong-hyeon?’

He was the second son of the Namgung Clan, one of the Seven Great Families and an orthodox martial clan.

If memory served, he belonged to the faction of Hang Yun-pa, one of the Three Excellencies and Grand Preceptor who also held the post of Supreme Commander of the Central Military Command, and whose family was tied by marriage to the Namgung Clan.

‘He is the most openly hostile.’

Unlike the others, Namgung Cheong-hyeon was a member of the Namgung Clan, one of the main pillars of the Alliance of Justice, so he was openly glaring at them with hostility.

At this rate, a fight might break out before the Imperial Guard Bureau martial examination even began.

Yet,

‘What is it?’

Ever since entering the upper-rank cadet training grounds, Mok Gyeong-un had been feeling a strange sensation.

It was hard to put into words, but somehow it irritated his senses in a peculiar way.

So Mok Gyeong-un tracked down where that irritating aura was coming from.

And in one corner of the training grounds, he discovered someone doing one-armed handstand push-ups.

‘!?’

Mok Gyeong-un frowned.

The reason was that he could not read any qi from that fellow.

If one had trained in internal energy, there should have been some kind of qi form to read, yet nothing at all could be seen from that person.

It was as though he had not trained in martial arts, no, in internal energy, at all.

‘How strange.’

If he had not trained in internal energy, then why was he in the upper-rank cadet class?

Moreover, for some reason, there was something from him that kept prickling Mok Gyeong-un’s senses.

It seemed Mok Gyeong-un would have to open the demonic power of the Three Eyes and examine him.

At that moment, someone’s voice sounded.

“Hey.

Looks like that fellow bothers you too.”

At that, Mok Gyeong-un turned his head.

Behind him stood a youth with a sharp impression and slitted eyes.

‘Ho.’

A flicker of interest appeared in Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes.

He did not know who it was, but among the upper-rank cadets, the youth’s qi seemed to rank within the top five.

So after looking at him as though to say he was not bad, Mok Gyeong-un asked,

“If you say that, then it seems you know that person well.”

“I do not.”

“You do not?”

“That is right.

But there is no one in the upper-rank class who does not know that fellow.”

“He must be rather famous.”

At that question, the youth with the slitted eyes snorted and said,

“Ha.

Of course he is famous.

That fellow, who had not even properly trained in internal energy, suddenly jumped from the lower-rank class to the upper-rank class in only five days.”