Chapter 457 : Royal Queen’s Record, Latter (1)
Chapter 457: Royal Queen’s Record (1)
“Understood. Truthfully, I, too, have felt the need to unleash the immense power of the Heavenly Demon Sect somewhere to keep it in check. When their power grows too strong, the Demonic Path inevitably reveals its desire to dominate Murim. Just as you said, I’ll keep an eye on their movements and handle them myself. Even if they fail to unite the Demonic Path, should the Main Sect attack the Three Demonic Heavens, they’ll suffer a major blow and won’t be able to move for at least ten years.”
I was grateful that Elder Masa had willingly offered his support, aligning with my intentions.
“Thank you, Elder.”
“Think nothing of it. As you know, I also tried to prevent the Great Martial Battle of Moon and Orthodoxy in our previous life. I do not enjoy meaningless bloodshed.”
At that moment, seeing someone hurrying up the stairs of the Silver Fragrance Teahouse, I turned my head.
“Baekseom! What’s the matter?”
Baekseom’s face showed clear signs of distress.
“I was monitoring the palace’s movements, as you instructed earlier, and today, the Martial Flower Lord was struck by an assassin’s sword and is currently unconscious.”
I looked to Elder Masa, sensing that day had arrived sooner than expected, then turned back to Baekseom.
“Have you identified the assassin?”
“Yes. It was Fan Yegok. They say the assassin took his own life on the spot.”
“So, it happened in the end.”
I murmured to myself.
In my past life, Fan Yegok ultimately avenged Chouhui, and now it was no different in reality.
I gave Baekseom another order.
“Then, investigate what’s happening with the Murim Reorganization Tournament. With the Martial Flower Lord down, the event should be canceled.”
Baekseom responded.
“That’s actually why I came to you. Although the Martial Flower Lord has collapsed, the Murim Reorganization Tournament is reportedly proceeding as scheduled.”
“What?”
I couldn’t comprehend it and asked again.
“Are you certain?”
“Yes. That’s what the hosting organization stated. They claim that with so many martial artists having come to Luoyang for the tournament, they can’t cancel it now and plan to move forward.”
I shook my head.
“That likely isn’t the only reason. Find out who made that statement and what kind of response the Three Demonic Heavens is showing.”
Baekseom bowed and disappeared.
Once Baekseom was gone, Elder Masa spoke up.
“Hmph, this is completely unexpected. I thought the Martial Flower Lord was spearheading the tournament, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Otherwise, there’d be no reason to continue. Perhaps the one insisting on going through with the tournament is the person behind the Martial Flower Lord.”
“What could it mean, continuing with the tournament despite the Martial Flower Lord being struck down by Fan Yegok’s ambush?”
“It means they intend to push ahead with her will.”
Already, many martial artists had gathered in Luoyang to participate in and observe the Murim Reorganization Tournament, which made me uneasy.
I had felt relieved when the Martial Flower Lord collapsed, assuming the tournament would be canceled, but now that it was proceeding even without its supposed host, I couldn’t help but feel suspicious.
Elder Masa continued.
“The Heavenly Demon Sect runs fine even without me now. So this time, I’ll join you in attending the Murim Reorganization Tournament. I want to see who’s stirring up this scheme. Also, since you’re well known in Murim, disguise yourself using reversal techniques.”
I was grateful that Elder Masa had offered what I had been about to request.
“There’s no doubt some conspiracy is at play. But as for who could possess the power to orchestrate something like this, including the Three Demonic Heavens… I have no idea. Could it truly be the palace?”
Elder Masa replied.
“We won’t find any answers by pondering here. We must confront it directly. Let’s meet here before the tournament begins and head there together. Until then, I have some things to take care of.”
“Yes, Elder.”
I planned to use the remaining half-month or so to handle some unfinished matters.
Until the Murim Reorganization Tournament began, I decided to stay at the main camp of the Hundred Justice Alliance.
Since I had to meet Elder Masa and join the tournament, I needed a place to stay beforehand.
While I could stay at an inn, I needed a quiet place for training.
Thanks to the permission granted by Alliance Leader Yeo Sanmuhwo, I stayed in a separate residence within the guest quarters, a place reserved for VIPs.
Yeo Sanmuhwo had also arranged for me to stay with the five women.
Although I didn’t know who was pushing ahead with the tournament, I was sure they were closely connected to the Martial Flower Lord.
‘Perhaps, just as Elder Masa said, it’s someone working behind the scenes of the Martial Flower Lord.’
While it was possible that the Martial Flower Lord killed Yong Seollan and was involved in the Great Martial Battle of Moon and Orthodoxy in my past life, it was also likely, as Elder Masa suggested, that there was a true mastermind behind her manipulation.
Had the tournament been canceled after the Martial Flower Lord was ambushed by Fan Yegok, there would have been no room for such doubts.
However, the fact that the tournament continued in her name even after she fell only reinforced my suspicions.
The five women, staying in the main camp of the Hundred Justice Alliance, were often too busy entertaining visitors who came to greet them, leaving little time to spend with me.
Martial households with deep ties to the five clans used them to try and build connections with me.
Even while staying in the Hundred Justice Alliance, I didn’t feel comfortable.
To avoid the fuss, I left the camp.
The moment I stepped out, I sensed someone following me and turned down a secluded path.
“What’s your business here?”
Though the person was in disguise, I recognized them from their presence alone.
“The young lady wishes to see you for a moment.”
If Myeong Gujeong was referring to a "young lady", then it meant my mother’s younger sister, Gun Buyong.
I followed Myeong Gujeong into a teahouse.
Located near the Hundred Justice Alliance’s main camp, its primary patrons were their martial artists.
More than half the establishment was filled with Hundred Justice Alliance warriors.
Following Myeong Gujeong, I approached one of the tables where a middle-aged woman was elegantly sipping tea.
“Have you been well?”
When I greeted her, Gun Buyong gave a gentle smile.
“It’s been a while. Sit down.”
As I sat down, Myeong Gujeong took a seat at the table across from us and scanned the surroundings.
“If this is important, perhaps we should move elsewhere.”
Since Myeong Gujeong was suggesting establishing guard, I figured it must be something important.
“This place is safer. With so many Hundred Justice Alliance warriors around, what is there to worry about? I was just about to call for you, so it’s fortunate you stepped out.”
Gun Buyong had planned to enter the Hundred Justice Alliance camp to meet me upon arrival.
“Since you’ve come all the way here in person, is something urgent going on?”
Sensing that Gun Buyong might try to ease into the topic, I asked directly.
“Yes, there are a few concerning matters I felt you should be informed of.”
After sipping her tea, Gun Buyong placed a book she had on her lap onto the table.
“This is the Azure Dragon Stance Art. Of the martial arts passed down in the Four Great Families, the Azure Dragon Clan’s martial arts have always been preserved by the main family.”
Though I had long known the Azure Dragon Stance Art was a unique martial art of the Azure Dragon Clan, I had no desire to learn it at this point.
The martial arts I had been cultivating from the Heavenly Central Sect were in no way inferior to any others.
Whether it was the Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword, the Azure Bamboo Sword, or the many other arts recently reorganized, our disciples were actively learning them.
These were already advanced-level martial arts, and there was no reason to learn anything else.
Seeing that I showed no interest in the secret manual, Gun Buyong gave a bitter smile and continued.
“This Azure Dragon Stance Art is a technique used to wield the Azure Dragon Three Marbles. It’s a martial art you absolutely need. Without it, you can’t properly harness the Dragon’s energy.”
Only after hearing that did I begin to take interest in the Azure Dragon Stance Art.
“I’ll take a look at it later.”
As I reluctantly accepted the manual, Gun Buyong said,
“In my opinion, you need to learn the Azure Dragon Stance Art as soon as possible.”
“Why is that?”
“So far, the Poison Valley has been trying persistently to enter the Dragon Bone Cavern with no success. Now, masters from the Valley of Hidden Darkness have gathered. Since the leadership of the Valley of Hidden Darkness has joined in, the Dragon Bone Cavern will likely be opened sooner or later. You need to be prepared by then.”
I thought for a moment, then spoke.
“From what I’ve heard, even if they manage to open the Dragon Bone Cavern, it’s meaningless. To awaken the sleeping dragon, they need the Four Great Divine Items and the Dragon Spirit—and I possess all of them.”
Gun Buyong nodded.
“That’s right. That’s why the Heavenly Demon Sect and Eungga have been pouring great effort into obtaining both you and the Four Great Divine Items. But since everything now lies with you, and they can’t touch you, they’re turning their thoughts elsewhere.”
“And what exactly is that?”
When I asked, Gun Buyong took a sip of tea instead of answering right away.
She poured me a cup and spoke.
“Have a sip.”
I took a sip of the offered tea.
The rich fragrance stirred my senses, but my eyes stayed fixed on Gun Buyong’s lips.
“Why do you think the Martial Flower Lord gathered so many scholars to decipher the Royal Queen’s Record?”
I recalled what Chouhui had told me.
“I heard she intended to give me the Royal Queen’s Record to win my favor. That’s what the Martial Flower Lord herself said.”
“Pfft!”
Gun Buyong stifled a laugh mid-sip.
“You don’t really believe that, do you? Do you think she went through all that effort to decode such an important ancient text just to win over one man’s heart?”
Back then, I had assumed it was to recruit me as the Lord of the Martial Flower Unit. But now that I thought about it, the Martial Flower Lord had no real reason to go to such lengths just to decipher a record containing the Four Great Divine Items for my sake.
“So you’re saying there was another reason?”
“You said you obtained the Royal Queen’s Record, right? Did you read it?”
“Yes. Since it contains the method to complete the Dual-Willed Sword, I read it several times and have memorized all of it.”
“How many chapters was it in total?”
“It consisted of six chapters.”
Gun Buyong nodded as if she expected that and tapped her chin.
“As far as I know, the Royal Queen’s Record is composed of seven chapters.”
“Who says that? As far as I know, only a few copies of the original exist, and very few know the full content.”
“I’m certain. I met the person who deciphered it.”
My eyes widened.
“Truly?”
“You’re aware that the Martial Flower Lord mobilized dozens of scholars to decipher the Royal Queen’s Record, yes? Among them, I met the one who deciphered the final chapter. We had a need for the Royal Queen’s Record, too.”
“Then… do you know the content of the seventh chapter?”
Startled, my voice rose, prompting Gun Buyong to signal me to lower my voice.
“My apologies. I got carried away for a moment.”
Once I calmed down, Gun Buyong continued.
“The final seventh chapter is said to be about the Body of the Dragon’s Energy (Yonggijisin).”
“The Body of the Dragon’s Energy?”
“It explains the Dragon’s energy and the method of infusing that energy into the human body. It also details how the Dragon’s energy was divided, how it was used, and who possesses it. The copy you received is missing the most crucial part.”
“Are you saying… someone besides me also possesses the Dragon’s energy?”
Gun Buyong nodded weakly.
“Yes.”
“Can you tell me who?”
Gun Buyong let out a quiet sigh.
“That, I don’t know. But if we piece together the information we’ve gathered so far, there is one thing we can conclude.”