NOVEL NEXT Chapter 254
Chapter 254: The Emperor’s Arrangement
Namdae.
In the royal chamber where Crown Princess Juga-yul resides.
There, Juga-yul was receiving a report from Dongchang’s master Jang In-tae.
“The special unit, including Lee Cheol-soo from the Gongdong Sect’s Martial Department and Dojihwisa, departed for the Shandong Sect this morning.”
While Juga-yul was acting as regent from the national seat, she gradually lifted the trade embargo that had been in place throughout the Ming Empire.
Subsequently, limited trade with Joseon was also permitted, much like the traders authorized to engage in trade with the West, specifically the ginseng trade with Joseon.
Thanks to this, shortly after Juga-yul assumed the regency, Shandong Province began to thrive with maritime trade with Joseon. Originally, Shandong was a famous port city but it started to grow rapidly as the embargo was gradually lifted.
With many trading ships passing in and out, it was the perfect location for the special unit to quietly head towards Joseon.
Although land trade connecting Yongning Province and Uiju was quite active, the present conditions of Liaodong had made land routes perilous due to Qing control.
‘Noya…’
Noya had set off to the distant land of Joseon.
And now, she was gone.
Perhaps…
She might have embarked on a journey from which she wouldn’t return.
Juga-yul’s heart raced. Her face turned pale. How could she, who had just reunited with Noya, bear the thought of this…
At that moment, the focus in her eyes faded away.
The feeling of that fleeting kiss with Noya resurfaced on her lips.
Juga-yul rubbed her lips together.
‘That’s right. Noya won’t lose.’
Noya would not be defeated.
As Noya’s official concubine, daughter, disciple, sister, and beloved, she had to believe in him.
If she didn’t believe in him, who else would?
Juga-yul’s heartbeat settled in calm.
The focus returned to her eyes.
She stood up.
“I understand. Then, I will prepare for an expedition.”
“I understand, Your Highness.”
Juga-yul stood up.
For Noya’s sake, it was time to launch an offensive towards Liaodong. Rising from her seat, she exited the royal chamber and arrived at the separate residence where Noya’s women were staying.
As if sensing her presence, everyone was already outside in the yard.
Drrrrrrript!
“Naengmyeon Geomhui Seoharin, Heuksaryong Wi Soryeon, Geombong Seomun Cheong-ha, Goeui Dang Yeong-ryeong, So Cheonma Baek Cheon-hwa, So Geom-hu Cheon Sobin…”
Geumhu, Jeoksawol, Sosumahu, and Geomseong joined the special unit to leave for Joseon with Noya.
The ones present were women who had not yet reached the Stage of Transcendence and thus could not join the special unit.
“You’ve arrived, Your Highness.”
Seoharin bowed as the representative among them, and all the women followed suit.
Juga-yul spoke.
“Today, this lord departed from Beijing.”
Lee Cheol-soo had left today.
Everyone was aware of that. Yet, upon hearing Juga-yul’s words, his absence felt much greater.
Juga-yul added, “I intend to leave for Liaodong today.”
“Are you saying you will lead the expedition, Your Highness?”
“Yes.”
Upon Seoharin’s question, Juga-yul nodded.
“Even though it may not be the main battlefield, facing the Jurchen savages will be no less difficult.”
Juga-yul assured.
The Liaodong frontline was a feint operation to keep the main Jurchen forces occupied, allowing the special unit to infiltrate smoothly.
That said, she couldn’t guarantee it was without danger.
This war was a great battle that entailed the empire’s Heavenly Mandate and destiny.
The side that emerged victorious would seize the mandate. Even if it was a puppet country of the Blood Sect, the Jurchen’s Qing Dynasty claimed to possess Heavenly Mandate, calling themselves Emperor.
The Liaodong front must be equally significant for them.
“Therefore, I give you a choice. You may either follow me to the battlefield or stay behind. It’s your freedom to choose. Remaining to guard the rear is also an important task, as it’s guarding the place where he will return.”
Juga-yul’s gaze shifted among them.
Upon hearing her words, Seoharin stood to express her intent.
“I will go. I am prepared to do anything to assist my master and avenge the sect’s enemies.”
Seoharin’s empty gaze faced Juga-yul.
She did not participate in the special unit.
Yet again, she had no intention of sitting back this time.
She had to be on the battlefield to help her master.
Seoharin thought.
“I will go as well. As the sub-sect leader of the New Religion, I cannot simply sit back in the rear.”
Baek Cheon-hwa’s lips curved upwards. An aura sharp as a sword emanated from her.
The Demon Sect martial arts were practical and aimed at real combat. Thus, the battlefield was an excellent place to hone their martial arts.
Especially since her Heavenly Demonic Destruction Technique was crafted from the experiences of Baek Murang during the Tooma era; it required real combat even more.
Her goal was to become strong enough not to allow Lee Cheol-soo to undress her with her refined martial arts.
“If Sect Master Seo is going, then I will go too! Hmph! I can’t just stay idle while the lord is heading to battle!”
“With my master and this lord in danger, I cannot sit back alone. I will go.”
Following, Seomun Cheong-ha and So Geom-hu Cheon Sobin stated their intentions to join.
“I will join too. I am the leading expert in Post-Stimulation Indicator, Heuksaryong. I will not shy away from a fight. If it’s for Ji-yagi and my brother, even more so.”
Heuksaryong Wi Soryeon fiddled with her sword’s hilt as she spoke.
Everyone’s gaze turned to the highest-ranked one present, Dang Yeong-ryeong, who hadn’t yet spoken.
Receiving the gaze, Dang Yeong-ryeong fidgeted her fingers and exclaimed, “Ugh, fine! I can go too! Hmph! Those Jurchen savages don’t stand a chance against me!”
Reluctantly declaring her participation, Dang Yeong-ryeong drew the attention of Juga-yul.
“Is everyone set on going? Very well. Then, prepare yourselves. We will head to Liaodong together.”
Juga-yul declared, stepping forward as everyone’s cheers echoed after her.
Her eyes turned cold and determined.
‘By now, the Martial Alliance’s leader must have emerged from seclusion.’
Her final arrangements for the conquest of Liaodong.
The last formidable figure of the Blood Sect who has yet to appear but will surely emerge on the Liaodong front.
Gi Hwanmajon.
A hidden card to confront him.
Juga-yul recalled the Martial Alliance leader, Do-hwang.
‘This conquest of Liaodong will end in my victory.’
The so-called Jurchen savages, claiming to be Daiching Gurun, would crumble before her.
*
In Henan Province, Luoyang.
The Martial Alliance Headquarters.
In the exclusive seclusion training hall for the leader of the Martial Alliance, the enormous chamber built using high-quality stone and iron was home to the leader of the Martial Alliance, who was currently seated in meditative posture.
“Huh, hehehehe, hehehehehe.”
Do-hwang sighed, chuckling. A mystical aura swirled in his gaze. Do-hwang put on his previously discarded black sunglasses.
In his view lay a tattered, well-worn book.
Nameless Sword Manual.
A stroke of luck he encountered at the cliff’s edge while executing a solo mission during his days as a lowly Martial Alliance member.
The cover and latter part had been torn away, rendering him unable to discern its martial arts name, therefore he named it the Nameless Sword Manual.
Though incomplete, the foundation of the manual contained unparalleled techniques, leading Do-hwang to interpret the first part and creatively discover the mixed martial arts technique, Heavenly Breakthrough Energy.
However, since the Nameless Sword Manual remained unrefined, the Heavenly Breakthrough Energy was also an unfinished technique.
Despite this incomplete technique, Do-hwang had attained the Stage of Transcendence.
If he had the latter part of the Nameless Sword Manual, perhaps he could reach the Stage of Transcendence. That was his thought process. However, even the Martial Alliance Leader’s power couldn’t locate the latter part. Almost giving up on it.
“Yet, I didn’t expect Your Highness to grant it to me.”
But Do-hwang had managed to procure the latter part of the Nameless Sword Manual.
Crown Princess Juga-yul.
She had bestowed the latter part of the Nameless Sword Manual along with the elixir after her order to summon him!
As a result, immediately after issuing the summons, Do-hwang entered seclusion and finally reached the Stage of Transcendence.
“A little more, after experiencing some real combat, then…”
Having attained the Stage of Transcendence, yet the mixed techniques remained incomplete.
He thought it couldn’t be perfected in a place like this.
Therefore, he needed real combat to finalize the technique.
And real combat was soon to be faced against the Blood Sect scum in Liaodong.
“Heh, hehehehe, hehehehehe!”
Do-hwang chuckled thinking this way.
Adjusting his sunglasses, Do-hwang strapped on his sword and exited the tightly sealed training hall.
Creeeak!
As the door opened, the headquarters’ general stood waiting for him.
“Congratulations, Leader.”
“Hehehehe. Thank you, General. I will be sending a message to Your Highness.”
Do-hwang, adjusting his sunglasses, spoke confidently.
“This Do-hwang will head to Liaodong. Hehe, hehehehe!”
“Understood, Leader.”
As Do-hwang glanced at the general, he smiled.
Was it because he had ascended to the absolute stage, his blood was boiling after a long time?
The battlefield of Liaodong was calling to him.
*
In Shandong Province, the Sect Territory.
Located where the modern-day Chinese brewery Qingdao is famous.
In that port city, our group discreetly disguised ourselves and boarded a ship setting sail from Shandong Province’s territory.
The trading vessel that sliced through the currents of the Yellow Sea arrived at Jemulpo, present-day Incheon.
From Incheon, we transferred to another ship and sailed upriver on the Han River heading to Hanyang.
‘This is my first time coming to Joseon.’
In both my past and present lives, I had never set foot in Joseon after falling into this otherworldly medieval martial realm.
Of course, I could have included myself in the envoy if I wanted to visit Joseon, but I felt no need.
After all, even without my intervention, Joseon was peacefully and well managed as it stood. Moreover, my true home was modern Earth, not Joseon. If I needed anything from Joseon, I could easily import it using my power.
Above all, my family, the Emperor, was in the Forbidden City. So there was no reason for me to leave it.
If it were true that, as the legend says, there was an elixir in Joseon, no, in Jeju Island, which Qin Shihuang sought and could regenerate my vitality, I would have gone without hesitation. But regrettably, there was no elixir in this otherworldly medieval Jeju.
Thus, this was my first time stepping into Joseon.
The view of Hanyang, lined with tiled houses and thatched cottages, was indeed refreshing.
[Master, how does it feel to be back in your hometown after so long?]
The familiar voice of my master echoed in my ear.
Did she learn about my true home being Joseon from the Emperor?
I answered my master’s question.
[It’s a bit nostalgic, but I’ve already decided to reside in the Gongdong Sect.]
That’s right.
My chosen new home was the Gongdong Sect.
Upon hearing my words, my master’s face brightened slightly, and she smiled gently.
“This way.”
The operative from Dongchang responsible for translation, disguised as a merchant, guided us to a tiled house in Hanyang.
There, we would meet with the local support troops.
“It is an honor to meet the renowned masters of the Central Plains. I am Han Byeong-joo, holding the position of Byeoljang in the Training Department.”
Dressed in hanbok and armed with a sword, a supremely skilled master stood among a group of Joseon warriors dressed in similarly traditional attire beneath the sun.
Han Byeong-joo bowed in greeting.
The elite warriors of the Training Department led by Byeoljang Han Byeong-joo, who had mastered the Supreme Martial Arts.
He was the support troop assigned by the present-day King of Joseon for our assault against the Blood Demon lurking in Baekdusan.
Baekdusan was a sacred mountain for the Jurchens and Joseon alike.
Naturally, the Blood Demon would not be alone on Baekdusan. Although many would have hastily departed, there had to be a guard force securing Baekdusan and the Blood Demon.
We, the eight masters, had to conserve energy to face the Blood Demon. Thus, a military force to counter the guard troops was needed. However, due to the secret operation, the usage of the empire’s military was limited.
Hence, we received cooperation from Joseon to obtain support troops.
Now that support troops were gathered, we were finally prepared.
The only thing left was to march towards Baekdusan and confront the Blood Demon.