The Falling Star - 2
The opponent who had ordered the men in red was a man who appeared to be in his early twenties, with striking looks and piercing eyes. His white, smooth skin, sharp nose, and slender, beardless jawline gave him an almost feminine appearance, as if he were a woman disguised as a man. Yet, he was one of the top five martial experts in the imperial palace, standing alongside General Ok Yeong-jin.
Despite his youth, he was a eunuch, having lost his masculinity early in life, and had been selected for the Emperor's personal guard, the Imperial Guard. Comprised of about a hundred eunuchs, the Imperial Guard was tasked with guarding the Emperor at close range. In the past, highly skilled martial artists had served as the Emperor's guards, but issues arose as they were men stationed close to the Emperor's quarters, which were surrounded by female palace attendants. When a scandal emerged involving the guards and palace women, resulting in pregnancies, the Emperor reassigned these guards to the outer palace, and eunuchs, albeit with lower martial skills, were trained in martial arts to form a new personal guard.
This was how the Imperial Guard was born. However, due to their lack of physical strength, as conventional wisdom held, eunuchs struggled to master advanced martial arts, and the guard lacked highly skilled fighters. This changed when a martial artist, once condemned to execution for conspiracy, was allowed to live as a eunuch to atone for his crimes. Over fifty years, he honed his skills within the palace and created the Gyuhwa Secret Manual, the crowning jewel of imperial martial arts, solving the Imperial Guard's problem.
The first volume of the Gyuhwa Secret Manual contains training methods for cultivating inner energy specifically for eunuchs, while the second volume details sword techniques. Over time, successors further refined these techniques, making them advanced enough to be counted among the top three martial arts of the palace. However, due to its unique nature and the yin energy that surges in the initial stages, this strange art cannot be learned by typical martial artists.
For men, the yin energy surges abruptly, combining with their innate yang energy to produce an intense desire that leads to uncontrollable obsession, causing them to go mad. For women, the surge of yin energy combines with their innate yin, pushing them to an extreme yin state that their bodies cannot withstand. However, for eunuchs who lack yang energy, the intense yin energy is controlled and balanced, enabling them to master the art fully.
Despite the Gyuhwa Secret Manual being difficult to master and its power formidable, only a select few among the Imperial Guard are permitted to learn it. Generally, about twenty members of the guard are trained in the manual's techniques, and Ok Yeong-jin knew that Haegonggong, the one who had blocked his sword, was one of the few who had mastered it to its peak. While he himself had learned two of the three top martial arts of the palace, after the clash, he realized that Haegonggong's skill was a step above his own. However, Haegonggong lacked real combat experience, whereas Ok Yeong-jin had plenty. The general began to think he might take on Haegonggong, seeing no other choice.
If I can disorient him with a skillful combination of surprise attacks and hidden techniques, I can win, he thought.
Subtly, without alerting his opponent, Ok Yeong-jin used his inner energy to draw a few coins from his robe into his left hand. Since he hadn't had time to grab a weapon, he planned to use these as improvised throwing weapons.
With a slight smile, he addressed his opponent. "Oh… Lord Haegonggong, head of the Imperial Guard, what brings you here rather than staying by the Emperor's side? And bringing only a handful of elites who are rarely seen at that…"
As the fierce exchange continued, the young commander Haegong met each of General Okyeongjin's assaults with skillful deflections, his movements quick and calculated. Okyeongjin noticed Haegong's slight inexperience in live combat and seized every opportunity to press his advantage, launching relentless strikes and aiming to disrupt Haegong's focus. However, despite his calculated attacks, Haegong evaded most of the blows with minimal effort, his agility and precision keeping him just out of reach.
Okyeongjin narrowed his eyes, realizing that Haegong's strategy was deliberate—letting him exhaust his strength while skillfully parrying and avoiding direct confrontation. His mocking laughter only fueled Okyeongjin's determination. In a final attempt to break Haegong's guard, Okyeongjin channeled his energy into his Parhelion Palm, a technique from one of the Imperial Palace's Three Great Martial Arts, aiming for a decisive strike.
Yet, even with his powerful technique, Haegong countered effortlessly, proving that his prowess had grown beyond Okyeongjin's expectations. He could sense the toll his own energy expenditure was taking, while Haegong maintained a steady defense, unaffected and resolute. In those last intense moments, Okyeongjin and his allies realized with dread that, despite their skill and experience, they had underestimated the young but formidable Haegong. They had no choice but to retreat, acknowledging Haegong's mastery as he stood unscathed, a testament to his unyielding discipline and the rigorous training that set him apart in the Imperial Guard.
As General Okyeongjin desperately fought on, he couldn't help but think, "If only Gwanji were here, we might have had a chance against that monster... Heaven has forsaken me." Gwanji, the humble yet highly trusted warrior of the Imperial Palace, held the last seat among its Five Great Masters. If he were there, they could have formed a triad formation to confront Haegong's overwhelming strength. Yet, with only two, even the basic Three-Talents Formation was beyond their reach. For Okyeongjin, it seemed the heavens themselves had turned their backs on them.
Despite their wealth of battlefield experience, Okyeongjin and General Magilsu found themselves steadily outmatched. If Haegong were using any other conventional martial arts, Okyeongjin and Magilsu might have been able to exploit his lack of real combat experience. However, Haegong wielded the bizarre techniques of the Guihwa Treasure Blade, an unconventional, lightning-quick swordplay that made him virtually untouchable.
As the skirmish wore on, Okyeongjin and Magilsu began to bear minor wounds from Haegong's swift strikes. In a flash, Haegong's body surged with a sudden burst of energy, moving with the speed of a lightning bolt. Magilsu froze in place, his sword slipping from his grasp, his eyes wide as he toppled backward—his heart pierced by an almost invisible wound. Watching his comrade fall, Okyeongjin cried out in fury.
"Curse your speed! If I don't tear you apart, I am no man!"
With that, Okyeongjin launched into an all-out attack, reckless and unrestrained, prepared to risk his life to take down Haegong. His relentless barrage forced Haegong to step back momentarily. But then, with an ear-splitting cry, Haegong unleashed a strange force that propelled a silver gleam through the air. In an instant, the gleam connected with one of the Imperial Guards, whose shocked expression froze as the blade protruding from his abdomen marked his end.
Almost simultaneously, Okyeongjin's sword shattered, and a blood-red stain blossomed across his chest, mirroring Magilsu's fatal wound. As blood poured from his wound, Okyeongjin chuckled hollowly. "I gave my life... to serve the Emperor…"
Before he could finish, Haegong coldly sliced through his neck, severing his head, which he then raised high.
"Ha! The Five Great Masters of the Imperial Palace—they certainly have a fine name. Well then, submit to me, all of you, if you value your lives! I'm too tired to keep this up," Haegong mocked, laughing harshly.
Yet, despite the futility, none of the Imperial Black Wind Brigade's commanders lowered their swords. They were warriors; surrender was not an option. Even if they escaped death here, a far worse fate awaited—a brutal death by torture that none would escape.
The Aftermath of Delight - 1
Kanji meticulously inspected his post, well aware of the potential for unexpected events in the absence of General Okyeongjin and most of the senior commanders. These officers, including Lieutenant General Magilsoo, had left for a banquet, a rare occasion given the urgency of the current campaign. Normally, it was customary to gather in the barracks for drinks at the end of the day, but Kanji was determined to maintain strict vigilance tonight. He promised his subordinates they would celebrate tomorrow instead and ordered them to stay on alert.
The war with the Yo was nearing its climax, and both sides had committed every resource to the conflict, which had left the imperial forces strained. After this brief respite and resupply, it was likely they would be redeployed to the frontlines. In addition to the mounting toll of the prolonged war, discontent among the people was growing, heightening the risk of rebellion. Standing outside his tent, Kanji reflected on the volatile situation as he stared up at the night sky, until a familiar figure appeared in front of him.
This man, who knelt urgently before Kanji, was a martial artist and trusted guard of General Okyeongjin, renowned for his exceptional swordsmanship and skills in espionage. He was one of Okyeongjin's most loyal subordinates and possessed the general's utmost trust.
"We're in grave danger," he began in a low, urgent tone.
"What's happened?" Kanji asked.
"I came running to seek your assistance after seeing that Gold Guard soldiers have surrounded the general's residence."
"What? The Gold Guard? Why?"
"Recently, Daeyeongban was replaced by Um Seung's men, which suggests there's some hidden scheme at play. We need to act quickly…"
Capturing someone of the general's stature would be impossible without tacit approval from the Emperor. If we move the army, we could save the general, but at the cost of being labeled as traitors. Yet, if we ignore this… it goes against all sense of justice. What should I do?
"How many Gold Guards are involved?"
"Approximately a thousand."
"A thousand… Then it seems they didn't expect much resistance. Even so, they won't be able to capture the general with their strength alone. The real question is, what decision the general will make. We can only wait…"
"But," the subordinate continued, "around ten guards from the Imperial Guard were also present, including Commander Haegong. If they've deployed the Imperial Guard, it's likely they're prepared to eliminate all high-ranking officers if the general resists."
"So, Haegong and the Imperial Guard were there as well?"
"Would I dare lie about such a matter?"
Haegong is one of the top five martial experts in the imperial palace. He wouldn't challenge the general and lieutenant unless he believed he had a chance of victory… In that case…
"Menggak!" Kanji called out.
"Yes, commander!"
"We're going to rescue the general. This is not an imperial order, so I can't issue a deployment command. Instead, gather volunteers."
"Yes, sir!"
"Tell the volunteers to assemble fully armed at the training grounds."
"Yes, sir!"
Is this truly the right thing to do…?
With four thousand soldiers volunteering for the rescue, Kanji led them toward General Okyeongjin's residence. Leading only this small force was risky, but necessary given the precarious nature of their mission. Most of the volunteers were martial artists who valued righteousness, and Kanji had chosen only those without family ties in the capital to minimize the risk of retribution on their families if they were branded traitors.
The sight of four thousand armed soldiers of the Black Wind Brigade in full armor charging forward was a grand spectacle. Yet their advance was soon blocked by eerie figures that emerged at the outskirts of the city. In an instant, Kanji recognized that these men, clad in black, were no ordinary warriors. A sinister energy radiated from them, thick with an unnameable malice that hung oppressively in the air.