Scholar Demon Venerable

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting until this late hour."

"No. But you came in earlier today than other times."

It was the beginning of the hour of hai. It wasn't deep into the night, but the surroundings were dark.

Cheongun sat down with Xiaojian Jeong. He poured a cup of tea and moistened his throat.

After Cheongun drank a cup of tea, Xiaojian Jeong spoke with an excited expression.

"I knew you were a great person, benefactor, but I never thought you would be that person."

"Hahaha. What can I do when the circumstances are like that? I have to live too, don't I?"

Cheongun had been winning the favor of the noble consort through Xiaojian Jeong. He had given her his paintings, calligraphy, and silver.

At first, he did not put his seal or signature. Although he did not draw with his own style, it was enough to capture the noble consort's heart.

Xiaojian Jeong also thought that Cheongun was trying to curry favor with the noble consort to achieve something. This was because there were quite a few people who made various requests in this way.

But last night, Cheongun had written a piece of calligraphy for Xiaojian Jeong for the last time.

This time, he had signed the painting and left his name. He also handed over the Samwon Jinshi plaque he had and told him to show it to the Emperor.

Xiaojian Jeong, who had never seen a Samwon Jinshi plaque before, only knew it as a jade plaque. He just thought it was an item with some story.

Cheongun had sealed a letter and given it to him, telling him not to show it to the noble consort.

He had repeatedly asked him to show it to the Emperor if he recognized the jade plaque.

"It has been confirmed that the Samwon Jinshi plaque is genuine. The Emperor recognized it at a glance. After reading the letter you gave him, he was greatly enraged."

"Oh, what disloyalty."

"Yes. Three days from now, at the hour of hai, there is a place you will go with me."

"Thank you. I will not forget this favor."

Xiaojian Jeong smiled brightly at Cheongun's words of thanks.

The difference between having connections in the imperial palace and not having them was too great.

Whether one was an official or a eunuch, it was a long way to be promoted to a good position without money and connections.

But he had caught a thick rope called Cheongun.

A Samwon who had appeared for the first time in hundreds of years.

Cheongun was a pillar of the nation who was receiving the Emperor's favor all at once.

It was clear that many high-ranking officials would also try to make Cheongun one of their own in the future.

"I will take my leave now. I have to return to the palace."

"Really? It's late, so I'll see you off."

"No. There are eyes, so I would appreciate it if you didn't leave the inn for the time being."

It was a word to be careful until he had an audience with the Emperor. Moreover, Xiaojian Jeong knew about Cheongun's eccentric behavior.

"And, I would appreciate it if you didn't fight for the time being."

"I told you it's not a fight, it's training."

"That training, please do it only here. You must endure until you see His Majesty. Your face is already a mess."

Cheongun had no choice but to nod his head. Although his body was itching, he could endure for about three days.

Above all, he also needed to be careful until he had an audience with the Emperor.

"I understand. If you say so, I will follow."

Xiaojian Jeong was useful in many ways.

He didn't know how his life in the imperial palace would proceed in the future. At a time like this, it was obvious that it would be a great help if there was someone to help him.

"Then I will take my leave and return to the palace."

With a short greeting, Xiaojian Jeong left the inn.

Cheongun, who was left alone, looked at the Blood Emperor who was looking at him and opened his mouth.

"Since we've taken care of business, let's go out."

[Huh? Didn't you say you weren't going out?]

The Blood Emperor, who rarely showed any change in expression, made a dumbfounded expression.

Regardless, Cheongun smiled brightly and moved his mouth.

"Hey, why are you being like this? You know."

[...You madman.]

◈ ◈ ◈

There are several palaces in the imperial capital.

There was the imperial palace where the emperor resided, and there were also separate palaces for recuperation or banquets.

Among them, a place called the Summer Palace was famous.

A huge artificial lake was created in the imperial capital, modeled after Hangzhou and Xuzhou. A mountain was made by piling up the earth dug out to make the lake.

That mountain was Longevity Hill, and a palace called the Summer Palace was built on Longevity Hill.

The Tower of Buddhist Incense, built on the stone terrace of Longevity Hill, was fifteen zhang high. Its magnificence was the pride of the Summer Palace.

Although it was late at night, the lights were on on the third floor, the top floor of the Tower of Buddhist Incense.

Although it was a late hour when no one seemed to come, a group of people were gathered.

The emperor in a dragon robe sat on the dragon throne in the center and looked down at a man.

It was a man in dirty clothes.

A appearance that was too unsuitable to have an audience with the Emperor.

Although the Emperor could have frowned, he had a bright smile on his face.

"Raise your head."

The man's bowed upper body was raised. He sat up straight and faced the Emperor.

"Haha. You are truly a Samwon."

"I am sorry, Your Majesty!"

The man in dirty clothes was Cheongun. He could have changed into his official robe and come, but Xiaojian Jeong had opposed it.

He had said that it was necessary to stimulate the Emperor's emotions and had him come in clothes that were no different from rags.

He had to avoid the eyes of others on his way here. If he had come in an official robe or a neat scholar's robe, someone might have recognized him.

On his way here, he had told the gatekeeper that he was a new eunuch. Then he had passed through a side gate attached to the Shenwu Gate.

An order related to that had already been prepared. Silver was also used for this, but it didn't cost that much money.

The Emperor's face flushed with anger at Cheongun's appearance.

"Who dared to make the Samwon like this?"

Cheongun told the Emperor the whole story in detail.

He told him about the people who had attacked him in the mountains, and he also told him about how the Jinyiwei had risked their lives to save him.

The Emperor turned his head and looked into the darkness.

"Da Yingban!"

"Your subject, Feng Tianhu, is here."

The powerful voice of a middle-aged man with a thick voice rang out. Soon, a figure appeared from the darkness and knelt on one knee.

"I will not leave those bastards alone. How dare they try to kill a great person of the nation and harm my soldiers. I will exterminate their nine generations!"

"Your Majesty's will is the will of heaven!"

Feng Tianhu prostrated himself and said in a loud voice.

Feng Tianhu, the head of the Jinyiwei, was in a bad mood because of Cheongun's incident.

His subordinates had disappeared without a trace. He had conducted a search, but there was no way to find where they had disappeared.

He had been stewing in his own juices, but Cheongun had returned alive.

After hearing the story from Cheongun, he was furious. Like the Emperor, he could only think of killing those bastards right away.

When the Emperor was about to give an order, Cheongun stepped forward and opened his mouth.

"Your Majesty! Please listen to your subject's words for a moment."

The Emperor relaxed his frowning face and looked at Cheongun with a gentle expression.

"Yes, what is it? Whatever it is, speak."

The Emperor cherished Cheongun. The existence of a Samwon who had appeared for the first time in a hundred years was enough to capture the Emperor's heart.

He had fallen for him at their first meeting when he saw him discussing academics with the ministers.

He had overwhelmed the ministers by talking about Confucius and Mencius with eyes full of vitality and a clear voice. He could see at a glance that Cheongun was indeed a genius sent by heaven.

"Your Majesty! Please grant me the grace to avenge my enemies myself."

Thump!

Cheongun bowed, hitting his head on the floor.

The Emperor looked at Cheongun with an interested gaze.

He could read the heart of Cheongun, who had returned in beggar's clothes and secretly sought him out.

"You want to get revenge yourself. Alright! I will give you soldiers, so handle it yourself."

The Emperor readily accepted Cheongun's request.

In any case, it was not Cheongun who would be fighting. It was a matter for the Jinyiwei to step in and handle on Cheongun's orders.

But Cheongun made another request to the Emperor.

"Your Majesty. Among those who attacked me, there were also martial artists. They were people with tremendous skills, so much so that the Jinyiwei could not handle them."

"Martial artists who surpass the Jinyiwei..."

The Emperor trailed off and looked at Feng Tianhu, who was prostrated next to him. Feng Tianhu bowed his head once to the Emperor and then looked at Cheongun and opened his mouth coldly.

"Samwon. Are you looking down on the Jinyiwei?"

"No. They are those who sacrificed their lives for me. How could I think so?"

Da Yingban Feng Tianhu's brow twitched. He swallowed his surging anger and asked quietly.

"Then what is it?"

"I still don't know who those bastards are. If they are a martial arts force with a powerful influence, there may be many sacrifices."

It was a widely known fact that the skills of martial artists were higher than those of the government's martial artists.

But that didn't mean that martial artists ignored the imperial family.

The imperial family had a million imperial troops. In addition, there were weapons and excellent military strategies that even martial artists feared.

It was a common theory that if the imperial army attacked with determination, even a huge sect would not be able to last a day.

Feng Tianhu nodded his head. But he did not agree with Cheongun's words.

"If the Jinyiwei is not enough, we can mobilize the soldiers. There are not many who can survive a rain of arrows that covers the sky."

"If we mobilize the soldiers of the Five Army Governor's Office, those bastards might notice and hide themselves. Moreover, if they hide, it will be difficult to find them. The world is wide."

That was the problem. If it was a head-on confrontation, he could deal with those bastards anytime. But if they decided to hide, revenge would be a long way off.

"Hmm."

Feng Tianhu let out a groan.

As Cheongun said, the world was wide. If they went into the deep mountains of Mount Shu, it would be virtually impossible to attack.

"We need to mobilize the soldiers, but we need to move secretly. Even if those bastards run away, we must find them to the end and appease the souls of the Jinyiwei."

Feng Tianhu looked at Cheongun and quickly organized his thoughts. He soon nodded his head and looked at the Emperor with a strange glint in his eyes.

He said through his clenched lips.

"Your Majesty. As the Samwon said, it seems we should not attack those bastards right away."

The Emperor, who had been listening to everything, looked at Feng Tianhu with an interested gaze.

The Emperor knew Feng Tianhu's fiery personality well. He had thought that with his personality, he would dismiss Cheongun's request and say to capture those bastards right away.

But surprisingly, he was suppressing his temper.

"Are you saying we should first identify those bastards?"

"That is correct."

When Feng Tianhu, who had been enraged by the deaths of his subordinates, suppressed his anger and took a step back, the Emperor smiled at the corners of his mouth and asked Cheongun.

"Samwon, do you have a plan?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. All plans have already been prepared. The problem is that I am not yet ready."

"Huh? What do you mean by that?"

"I want to face those bastards myself."

"What? Then are you saying you will fight those bastards yourself?"

"That is correct, Your Majesty!"

"Hahaha."

The Emperor burst into a hearty laugh.

A scholar who had only read books his whole life was saying he would take up a sword himself.

His spirit was commendable, but it was a request he could not grant.

But Cheongun said something unexpected.

"Your Majesty. I am actually learning martial arts."

"What?"

"Huh?"

The Emperor and Feng Tianhu were simultaneously surprised.

To think that Cheongun, who they had thought was a pale-faced scholar, was learning martial arts. It was hard to believe. But they thought that Cheongun, who had achieved Samwon, would not lie.

The Emperor looked at Feng Tianhu. He was asking if it was true that Cheongun had learned martial arts.

Feng Tianhu slightly lowered his head and began to examine Cheongun in detail.

At first, he tilted his head. The temples, which would bulge out when one learned martial arts, were flat.

But something was strange.

He soon nodded his head and said to the Emperor.

"Your Majesty. I don't know what martial arts he has learned, but it is true that the Samwon's muscles and bones are outstanding. I'll have to examine him directly to know the details, but it doesn't seem to be a lie."

"Hahaha, so the Samwon is well-versed in both literature and martial arts."

The Emperor burst into a broad smile. If Feng Tianhu said he was outstanding, it was clear that his skills were not just ordinary.

"Samwon, look at me."

Cheongun, who had been prostrated, raised his upper body and looked at the Emperor.

The Emperor opened his mouth with a solemn expression.

"Are you confident?"

"I, your subject, will devote my all to eliminate Your Majesty's worries and will surely appease the souls of the Jinyiwei who gave their lives for me."

Cheongun persuaded the Emperor with a determined expression and voice.

The Emperor quietly looked down at Cheongun.

He had told him to return in glory, but he had appeared in tattered beggar's clothes.

But it wasn't bad. Cheongun still looked lovely.

But he couldn't just grant it. Because it was too dangerous a mission.

As the Emperor was hesitating like that, Cheongun opened his mouth.

"Your Majesty, I have one request."

The Emperor, who had been lost in thought, nodded his head and said.

"What is it?"

"Please allow your subject to enter the Imperial Palace Armory."