Hwarang veered around and proceeded to exit the assassin territory with an unfathomable feeling surging inside of him, all of a sudden he had turned defensive when Master Zhang informed him of the invasion.
"Where are you going Hwarang?" Master Zhang called after him but he didn't respond as he hauled out of the place.
He marched toward the palace. The guards at the entrance didn't react as he flung the double doors open with immense force and emerged inside.
"Take me to King Jingheun." Hwarang ordered with a firm voice to a random guard and he meekly shook his head in affirmation before leading the way toward the King's chambers.
The guard dispersed out of sight as he lead him to the King's chambers. Hwarang didn't waste another second as he slid the hanji screened door open before emerging into the room without approval.
The King was seated on a cushion in front of a low table filled with delicacies of food and a gourd of wine seated atop it.
"I need to speak with you King Jingheun." Hwarang said immediately he went in.
King Jingheun shot his head up with a startled look on his face as his eyes met Hwarang's. A grin split across his lips as he stared at him in perplexity while ignoring the fact that he had just barged in unannounced.
"Of course you can. Please have a seat, I'll poor out some wine for you as we discuss." The King said in a thrilled voice as he motioned for him to seat opposite him.
"I'm not here to seat or drink wine. I'll go straight to the point." Hwarang said with a stoic expression on his face as he peered his hard eyes at him.
"Sure. What is the problem then?" King Jingheun queried with lifted brows in curiosity as he rested one arm atop his knee.
"Why are we invading the Baekje kingdom and desecrating a one hundred and twenty year alliance with the kingdom? I want to understand the wrong they committed against us that lead to the incoming massacre we were assigned to carry out." Hwarang uttered with a blank expression as he retained his unwavering gaze on the king.
The King scoffed and his expression faltered slightly as a grim one washed over his countenance. He took grasp of a gourd and poured out the content of crimson liquid into a tiny cup and gulped it down his throat.
He placed the cup down on the table in a hard manner which made a loud clattering noise before he averted his gaze back on Hwarang.
"Alliance? We don't need Alliance Hwarang. I have prominent purposes for the future of Silla kingdom. Silla kingdom should dominate over the nation of Korea, as the most powerful, it is only logical it does and sometimes, you cannot attain great heights if you don't make sacrifices." King Jingheun stated with a serious expression.
"And the Baekje kingdom is the sacrifice? For your power hungry desires?" Hwarang remarked with narrowed eyes.
"We're elevating the kingdom by acquiring the three kingdoms and merging them as one. And there is no elevation without bloodshed and sacrifices even if it means turning a one hundred and twenty years alliance null." King Jingheun implied.
"The three kingdoms don't need to be merged as one, we're entirely diverse beings and we've been thriving in success. The other kingdoms won't dare attack Silla, its irrational that they would even think of it." Hwarang stated out.
"You are supposed to serve the kingdom and not question my orders. It will be accounted as treason if you don't carry out the mission assigned to you Hwarang." King Jingheun remarked with a slightly raised voice in an air of authority and Hwarang closed his eyes for a split moment, suppressing the anger that engulfed him.
The King was only craving for more power to dominate over the three kingdoms and rule the entire nation, it was obvious he was following his desires, and as a Hwarang, he couldn't question the order and rather carry out the mission assigned to him, although, he couldn't help but go against him as he felt an unnerving feeling knowing Nari would soon cease to exist.
The door abruptly slid open to reveal Master Zhang walking in with a grim expression on his face.
"My apologies for the disturbance King Jingheun." Master Zhang said with a flat tone and King Jingheun nodded.
"Follow me, Hwarang." Master Zhang ordered as he shot him a glare. Hwarang glanced at King Jingheun before exiting the King's chamber with Master Zhang.
"Hwarang. We have been given an order and we shall carry out the mission. Defy the order and I will not hesitate to behead you. Don't devise any foolish plans that would taint the code of honor and Maitreya or you'll face the gruesome consequences of your actions." Master Zhang warned with a stern gaze when they arrived at the assassins territory.
"I will not taint the code of honor or commit treason against the kingdom and Maitreya. I was only being reasonable. The code of honor states that we kill with foresight." Hwarang spoke with a hardened voice. He was a Hwarang and the embodiment of Maitreya after all, so he had no choice but to carry out the mission whether he liked it or not, he had no alternative.
He wouldn't risk his title and life for her, it was an absurd thing to do for a girl he had known for only a short duration of time. He had killed countless of innocents, so it shouldn't be a difficult thing for a heartless monster like him to do.
He comforted himself with those thoughts.
"Good. She's just a girl, it'll be easier to let go if she's dead." Master Zhang said with a slightly softer tone as he patted his shoulder firmly.
"I wasn't hanging on to her. Like I said, I'll kill her without batting an eyelid." Hwarang said with a hard voice as his black eyes swirled with an unfathomable feeling.
"You shouldn't have gotten attached in the first place, but we can't change it, so we'll take care of your mistake." Master Zhang said as he peered into his eyes.
"I'll take care of it." Hwarang said with a dark voice lingering with the wind.
"It would be such a shame if you were to commit treason for a girl who's fate is star crossed with yours." Master Zhang pointed out.
"I won't!" Hwarang snapped with gritted teeth.
"I know you won't." Master Zhang said with a calm composure and silence ensued.
"After the invasion in the Baekje kingdom, we'll proceed to the Goryeo kingdom." Master Zhang informed.
Hwarang nodded thoughtfully and his mind immediately drifted back to the Mage princess who had attempted to murder him with futile efforts which yielded adverse results.
"The Mage princess tried to murder me earlier today when I proceeded to the valley." Hwarang blurted out but Master Zhang didn't seem startled.
"Did you kill her?" Master Zhang queried instead as he crossed his arms behind his back.
"No, she escaped." Hwarang stated and Master Zhang's brows lifted in surprise.
"She escaped? How?" Master Zhang queried with slight disappointment in his voice.
"I got buried under a mountain. It's not entirely unanticipated that she'd escape and also, she was skilled but regardless never a match." Hwarang spike with as whiff of pride coating his words.
"Getting buried under a mountain is not an excuse." Master Zhang snapped and he scoffed.
"The next time I see her, my hands will be drenched with her blood." Hwarang muttered darkly beneath his breath as he vowed.
"Do just that." Master Zhang said with a bored tone and ruffled his hair slightly before retreating from his sight.
-----
Time fleeted in front of his eyes and soon, the day of the invasion finally arrived. Hwarang prepared the assassins for the invasion of the Baekje kingdom, although his stomach tied itself in an unnerving knot, he maintained his composure.
They mounted on their horses as they proceeded to the Baekje kingdom where the Fae kinds inhabited. He had made a resolution that he would take the kill himself, he would end the life of Nari, the Fae princess and remind himself that he was nothing but a monster with a shallow heart encompassed with the thickest of darkness.