As the meeting was about to begin, Hwa Jeong’s expression was as if she’d been slapped.
Just as the meeting started, Young Palace Lord Jeok Mumi entered, declaring she had found the Fire Ring Divine Flute, the sacred relic of founder Yeolha Holy Saint, and acquired the martial arts left in the Secret Palace—a shocking revelation.
Our palace’s long-standing aspiration is to recover the Fire Ring Divine Flute and Yeolha Great True Energy of our founder, Yeolha Holy Saint. Whoever achieves this, regardless of who they are, shall become the palace lord.
This was a time-honored decree of Yeolha Holy Palace.
Yet, Jeok Mumi had suddenly accomplished both?
If so, didn’t that mean Hwa Jeong had to step down as palace lord?
“If that’s true, it’s a blessing for our palace. May we see the proof?”
At Hwa Jeong’s question, Jeok Mumi extended her right hand without hesitation.
A red glow emanated from her palm, forming a vermilion flute-shaped staff.
Its mere presence radiated heat that seemed capable of melting the earth.
It was unmistakably the Fire Ring Divine Flute, created with Yeolha Sacred Aura.
The Fire Ring Divine Flute! The return of the Yeolha Holy Saint!
Finally, the sacred relic and martial arts of the Holy Saint!
Witnessing this, the palace’s elders erupted in expressions of joy. Having recovered the lost relic and martial arts, Yeolha Holy Palace would reclaim its past glory.
“Congratulations.” Hwa Jeong nodded with a smile. “Since the Young Palace Lord has recovered the founder’s relic and martial arts, it is only right that she ascends to the palace lord’s position.”
Her voice was calm, her expression sincere.
“With the Fire Ring Divine Flute and Yeolha Great True Energy recovered, our palace’s renown will soon resound throughout the world.”
“Thank you.” As Jeok Mumi smiled and replied, Hwa Jeong clasped her hands.
“Though our relationship hasn’t always been good, I will continue to work for the palace’s sake.”
Even with a long-standing decree, relinquishing the palace lord’s position just for recovering the relic and martial arts was no easy task.
Yet Hwa Jeong showed no greed.
With a magnanimous and resolute attitude, she yielded the position to Jeok Mumi, didn’t she?
The elders in the meeting room were all moved, letting out exclamations of admiration.
“Exactly!”
“Let’s forget the past and create a new history for our palace.”
Nodding with a smile, Hwa Jeong said,
“My final order as palace lord will be to hold a grand banquet.”
The figures in the meeting room all smiled.
With such a smooth transition of power between old and new generations, Yeolha Holy Palace would surely enjoy great prosperity.
But who could have known?
A deep shadow, not easily dispelled, had already fallen over Yeolha Holy Palace.
In front of the Fire Ring Pavilion of Yeolha Holy Palace, a three-day banquet attended by all the palace’s elders was underway.
Having recovered Yeolha Holy Saint’s relic and martial arts, all disciples were unable to contain their excitement. By using the Fire Ring Divine Flute’s power to pierce their meridians, they could instantly clear the Conception Vessel, and with consistent training, they could transform into Sacred Flame Constitutions.
This would drastically elevate their martial prowess, and Yeolha Holy Palace’s influence would soar to the heavens.
Bu Eunseol, in the dungeon, was released with Jeok Mumi’s help. However, the condition was that he leave Yeolha Holy Palace immediately upon release.
With such a grand event occurring and an unsavory incident involved, it was to protect Hwa Jeong’s reputation.
Murmur.
The elders gathered before the Fire Ring Pavilion surrounded Jeok Mumi, who was to become the palace lord, engaging in endless conversations.
Unlike before, they maintained a consistently friendly tone and demeanor. Having recovered the founder’s relic and martial arts and inherited them, she would soon become a second Yeolha Holy Saint.
The future of Yeolha Holy Palace was bright, and in a few years, it would be hard to find a rival in the martial world.
During the height of the banquet,
Whoosh.
A large ship cut through the waters toward Chukyung Island’s dock.
It was the Fire Ring Vessel, the finest of the six ships owned by Yeolha Holy Palace, used by the palace lord.
Inside were about a hundred assassins clad in black, each exuding a sharp aura.
“Hmm?” The guards stationed at the outpost near the dock looked puzzled as they spotted the approaching Fire Ring Vessel.
“Is the palace lord returning only now?”
Since the enthronement ceremony hadn’t yet occurred, Hwa Jeong still held the title of palace lord.
She had gone out on the ship to prepare for Jeok Mumi’s enthronement during the banquet.
But to return so late, and so suddenly?
Thud.
As the Fire Ring Vessel docked, Hwa Jeong, dressed in splendid red robes, stepped off.
“Palace Lord.”
She nodded at the guards who emerged from the outpost, bowing.
“You’ve worked hard.”
Suddenly, she extended both hands.
Boom! Boom!
With an explosion, the bowing guards widened their eyes, bleeding from their orifices as they collapsed.
She had unleashed powerful palm force, killing them instantly.
“Palace Lord, what is this!”
As the guards behind shouted in shock,
Swish! Swish!
Assassins from the ship stormed the outpost, cutting down the guards in an instant.
Thud. Thud.
In the blink of an eye, the outpost’s warriors became headless corpses rolling on the ground.
[“Is everything prepared?”]
From among the assassins, a masked figure emitting a mystical glow stepped forward.
It was an Emissary of the Three Realms.
“All the palace’s elders are at the banquet hall, and most of the forces have been sent outside.”
She had arranged a banquet for the elders at the Fire Ring Pavilion and ordered the palace’s forces and commanders to drink outside the palace.
“If we kill and subdue the elders all at once, the disciples will have no choice but to follow.”
Taking a deep breath, she said coldly,
“Sneak in and slaughter them all.”
She planned to send the Three Realms’ assassins into the banquet hall to kill the elders at once and re-seize Yeolha Holy Palace.
The position of Yeolha Holy Palace’s lord was as crucial as the Fire Ring Divine Flute.
Unless they destroyed the palace by force, it would be impossible to install another favorable palace lord.
“Except for one person.”
Having consumed and partially assimilated artificial inner cores, they could handle the task effortlessly.
“Jeok Mumi, who possesses the Fire Ring Divine Flute, must not be killed.”
[“Hmm. To think the Fire Ring Divine Flute isn’t a physical relic but a materialized essence stored in the body.”]
Shaking their head, the Emissary ordered the assassins behind them,
“Jeok Mumi. Spare her, but leave no one else alive in the banquet hall—not even an ant.”
No matter how formidable a force, without its commanding head, it was useless.
Yeolha Holy Palace rarely ventured into the martial world, and its disciples lacked combat experience.
By eliminating the commanding elders, the massive Yeolha Holy Palace could be easily taken over again.
* * *
At the banquet hall, the palace’s elders were drinking and enjoying themselves.
Then, with the sound of pouring sand, about a hundred assassins slipped into the hall like shadows.
“Who are you!” Jeok Mumi shouted upon spotting them, but the assassins only encircled the elders, their red eyes glinting.
“Huff, huff.” The assassins’ eyes glowed red, their rough breathing piercing through their masks.
Their bodies radiated an indescribable, sharp killing intent.
Artificial inner cores.
These hundred assassins had all consumed artificial inner cores, using their remarkable power to flawlessly execute assassinations.
“There’s no banquet in the world that doesn’t end. It’s time to see the conclusion.”
“Palace Lord Hwa Jeong?” The elders in the banquet hall couldn’t hide their confusion.
Why was Hwa Jeong calmly walking out from among the assassins?
“Palace Lord, what are you doing there?”
“Is this some kind of joke?”
As the elders approached, Hwa Jeong scanned the room with a cold smile.
“You’re all lost in sweet dreams, unaware of what’s happening.”
Jeok Mumi glared at Hwa Jeong and said coldly,
“What are you doing?”
“What am I doing?” Hwa Jeong laughed coldly. “To become palace lord and find the sacred relic, I played the role of a lord for over a decade and endured three years with that filthy old man. Do you think I’d stand by and watch his daughter take the lordship?”
Her words left the elders stunned.
Hwa Jeong had always maintained elegance, and even as palace lord, she was benevolent and magnanimous.
But her tone and expression now seemed like a noble saintess had transformed into a wicked witch.
“Hwa Jeong.” Jeok Mumi spoke sternly. “So you admit to being a traitor to this palace.”
“Traitor? Hardly.” Hwa Jeong said coldly, “I seduced that old man Jeok Sa from the start to steal the sacred relic.”
The elders’ expressions hardened at her words.
With her benevolence and elegance, Hwa Jeong had firmly earned the trust and support of the palace’s elders.
Thus, many were dissatisfied with Jeok Mumi, who had been arrogant, becoming the new palace lord just for recovering the sacred relic.
Yet, to think the trusted Hwa Jeong was a spy who infiltrated to steal the relic?
What in the world…
As the palace’s figures stood frozen in disbelief, Hwa Jeong said coldly,
“No need for long words. Cut their throats at once.”
Clang.
The assassins instantly drew their swords.
The blades, blackened and emitting a foul odor, were clearly coated with deadly poison.
“Hmph.” As they drew their swords, the assassins’ killing intent grew even denser.
Likely due to partially assimilating the inner cores, an explosive killing intent surged.
“You even prepared assassins.”
“If you knew, you should have surrendered.”
“Hmph. Don’t speak so boldly against our palace’s elite.”
“Elite? Do you think these are ordinary assassins?”
“Hmph.” Snorting, Jeok Mumi raised her hand.
Snap.
As she did,
Rush.
Suddenly, over a thousand warriors poured out around the Fire Ring Pavilion where the banquet was held.
Their eyes were filled with vigor, and their bodies radiated extreme yang energy like a volcano.
“What is this?”
Hwa Jeong was greatly shocked.
She had confirmed that the palace’s main forces had left Chukyung Island before entering.
How could a thousand disciples be hiding near the Fire Ring Pavilion?
“I see. You used the Secret Palace’s mechanisms.” Biting her lip, Hwa Jeong realized something. “The Yeolha Thousand Sword Flying Corps…”
“You know well.” As Jeok Mumi smiled coldly, Hwa Jeong swallowed a groan and muttered,
“Gwang Yangja. That old man’s lifelong dream has been realized.” Her eyes narrowed. “You pretended to accept the banquet to buy time and used the Fire Ring Divine Flute in the meantime.”
“Of course. Knowing you’re a spy for a formidable group like the Three Realms, I had to make a final stand.”
Hwa Jeong was stunned.
Until now, the Three Realms’ name was unknown in the martial world, especially to those secluded in Yeolha Holy Palace on Chukyung Island.
Yet Jeok Mumi knew about the Three Realms?
“I see. That Martial Alliance brat tipped you off.” Realizing everything, Hwa Jeong narrowed her eyes.
She wasn’t someone who should know about the Three Realms, nor was she this meticulous.
‘A mere third-rank leader knowing about our organization.’
Swallowing her surprise, Hwa Jeong said,
“Pretending to send him away was part of the scheme.”
“You’re quick to catch on.” Jeok Mumi smirked.
As Hwa Jeong said, everything so far had been orchestrated by Bu Eunseol.
The Three Realms will never let Hwa Jeong relinquish her lordship. However, they can’t mobilize a large force or reveal themselves…
Bu Eunseol had told Jeok Mumi,
They’ll likely use the banquet to eliminate the elders all at once.
In Yeolha Holy Palace’s current state, removing the elders would easily allow them to reclaim the lordship.
During the banquet, Bu Eunseol used the Fire Ring Divine Flute’s power to complete the palace’s elite force, prepared by Gwang Yangja—the Yeolha Thousand Sword Flying Corps.
[“You’ve failed.”]
The Three Realms Emissary, watching from behind, shook their head.
The thousand warriors pouring from the Fire Ring Pavilion had all cleared their Conception Vessels…
And they discerned that Jeok Mumi’s body contained no Yeolha Sacred Aura.
[“She distributed the Fire Ring Divine Flute’s power to her disciples.”]
The Emissary bit their lip.
With this, their plan to obtain the Fire Ring Divine Flute’s power was ruined.
“Have you also mastered extreme yang martial arts?” Hearing the Emissary’s mutter, Jeok Mumi raised an eyebrow. “You can sense Yeolha Sacred Aura.”
[“I’ve searched for the Fire Ring Divine Flute for years. How could I not recognize the power within it?”]
The Emissary’s voice was tinged with desolation.
Having spent years seeking the Yeolha Sacred Aura in the Fire Ring Divine Flute, only to find it taken by another and distributed among a thousand disciples.
“No need to waste time. Sweep them away!”
At Jeok Mumi’s shout, the Yeolha Thousand Sword Flying Corps began subduing the assassins instantly.
Whoosh!
Yeolha Holy Palace’s martial arts were unparalleled due to their incomparable power.
Unblockable by any force, they combined extreme yang energy with powerful vibrations, capable of incinerating anything—human or object—from within.
The assassins, enhanced by artificial inner cores, were formidable, but they couldn’t withstand a thousand elite disciples trained by Gwang Yangja and empowered by Yeolha Sacred Aura, having cleared their Conception Vessels.
[“Hmph.”]
The Emissary snorted and shook their head.
If Jeok Mumi still held Yeolha Sacred Aura, they would have captured her, even if it meant annihilating Yeolha Holy Palace.
But with the Yeolha Sacred Aura distributed among a thousand disciples, it was meaningless.
[“The only way to create a perfect artificial inner core without side effects…”]
The Emissary’s goal was solely the Yeolha Sacred Aura in the Fire Ring Divine Flute.
It was essential for creating a flawless inner core without side effects.
But with the Fire Ring Divine Flute gone, even wiping out Yeolha Holy Palace would yield nothing.
And the justification for eliminating the successor of Majeon, who repeatedly opposed the Three Realms, was lost.
‘Is it not yet time?’
With no reason left to prevent the creation of chaos dolls, soon, soulless puppets would sprout across the martial world.
[“Well, this too is fate.”]
As the Emissary muttered calmly,
“I’ll take you down first!” Jeok Mumi charged, unleashing Yeolha Holy Saint’s supreme techniques.
[“Pointless.”]
With a light wave of their sleeve, the envoy dispelled the heat Jeok Mumi unleashed.
It was a remarkable display of prowess.
[“Let’s end this boring fight.”] Staring at Jeok Mumi, the envoy spoke in a disinterested tone. [“If our organization’s assassins fight to the death, Yeolha Holy Palace will be annihilated.”]
“You barge into someone else’s territory, realize you can’t win, and now you want to walk away?”
[“Want to try?”]
In the past, Jeok Mumi’s temperament would have led her to fight to the death to eliminate these assassins.
But through Bu Eunseol, she had learned all about the Three Realms.
Their forces were formidable, but they avoided revealing themselves. If they failed to achieve their goal, they retreated without hesitation.
‘There’s no need to sacrifice my disciples fighting them to the death.’
The Three Realms’ assassins, enhanced by artificial inner cores, were as strong as her disciples who had cleared their Conception Vessels.
Though her side had the numerical advantage, ensuring victory, if the assassins fought to the death, the Yeolha Thousand Sword Flying Corps would suffer losses.
“Fine. But.” Jeok Mumi spoke in a cold, dignified voice, “Tell your leader. No matter how far they extend their claws, this palace will never yield.”
[“Pointless words.”]
The Emissary snorted and raised a hand.
The assassins, as if waiting, stopped their movements simultaneously.
Swish.
As the Emissary turned, the assassins followed, slowly exiting Yeolha Holy Palace.
A deathly silence fell over the banquet hall.
With all the assassins gone, only Hwa Jeong remained, left behind.
“You weren’t a key figure in the Three Realms, were you?”
At Jeok Mumi’s sneer, Hwa Jeong snorted.
“You think you’ve won?” She spoke calmly, as if it were nothing. “They possess infinite power and authority. This victory, this defeat—it’s nothing to them.”
“If they’re so great, why aren’t they saving you?”
At Jeok Mumi’s question, Hwa Jeong looked at the distant sky with a resentful expression.
“They don’t extend a hand to failures.”
Whoosh.
Suddenly, her eyes widened, and blood spurted from near her heart.
With nothing left to say or do, cornered, Hwa Jeong severed her heart meridian and took her own life.
Thud.
Hwa Jeong collapsed, her eyes wide with resentment as she died.
Watching her, Jeok Mumi turned to the elders and declared loudly,
“The traitor Hwa Jeong has been dealt with. No longer will external forces interfere with our palace.”
Jeok Mumi now exuded the calm yet resolute aura of a palace lord.
With the Yeolha Thousand Sword Flying Corps, a force capable of rivaling any sect, at her command.
“Henceforth, our palace will stand tall in the martial world!”
The elders, momentarily stunned, looked at each other.
Jeok Mumi, once known for her difficult and stubborn personality, had recovered the Yeolha Holy Saint’s legacy.
She had preemptively thwarted the traitor Hwa Jeong’s sinister plot.
A leader’s true worth shines in a crisis.
Now, Jeok Mumi displayed the qualities and authority of a Yeolha Holy Palace lord without the slightest flaw.
Bow.
The elders all bowed their heads in respect.
They believed, without doubt, that she would restore the palace’s past glory.
Having concluded everything, Jeok Mumi walked toward the entrance of a secret passage leading out of Yeolha Holy Palace.
A carriage awaited, and before it stood a man in white robes—Bu Eunseol, said to have fled to the Martial Alliance.
“Everything went as expected.”
Jeok Mumi smiled.
Everything thus far had unfolded under Bu Eunseol’s guidance.
“Without your advice, our palace’s elders would have been killed all at once.”
Upon hearing that Hwa Jeong planned a three-day banquet, Bu Eunseol deduced she intended to secretly withdraw the palace’s forces and eliminate the elders in one fell swoop.
He stayed in Yeolha Holy Palace, watching Jeok Mumi handle and resolve the situation.
There were two reasons he couldn’t intervene directly.
First, Jeok Mumi being seen as ascending to the lordship with external help would greatly undermine her authority as the palace’s ruler.
Second, he was merely a third-rank leader of the Martial Alliance.
He must never reveal his true identity or display abilities beyond his station in front of many.
“But will they retreat so easily?”
Yeolha Holy Palace had been on a path of decline, only now recovering Yeolha Holy Saint’s secret techniques and completing the Yeolha Thousand Sword Flying Corps.
It still needed much time to reclaim its past glory.
“It’ll be fine. The Three Realms only wanted the Fire Ring Divine Flute’s power.” Bu Eunseol spoke calmly. “They only desire to obtain or control what they want. If they wanted to dominate a sect, they would have held it in their grasp long ago.”
Bu Eunseol knew the Three Realms’ nature well.
“Because they aim to rule the world forever, they never reveal themselves or directly control sects.”
“Then that masked figure wasn’t a key figure in the Three Realms?”
“Correct. They use envoys called ‘Emissaries’ to convey their orders and manipulate everything.”
Jeok Mumi’s jaw dropped.
The masked figure possessed an aura surpassing even her father, the former lord Jeok Sa.
Yet such masters were mere messengers delivering orders?
“If they knew the Yeolha Sacred Aura was in your body, the Three Realms would have tried to seize it, even at great cost.”
They had spent three years pursuing the Yeolha Sacred Aura.
If it remained in Jeok Mumi’s body, they would never have left her alone.
Thus, instead of infusing all the Fire Ring Divine Flute’s power into Jeok Mumi, Bu Eunseol left only enough to form its shape.
The rest was distributed evenly among the elite warriors of the Yeolha Thousand Sword Flying Corps, prepared with Gwang Yangja’s utmost effort.
“You can rest assured. Knowing the Yeolha Sacred Aura has been distributed among the disciples, they won’t touch Yeolha Holy Palace again.”
“Don’t you regret it?” Jeok Mumi smiled at Bu Eunseol.
Having pierced the meridians of a thousand disciples, all the Yeolha Sacred Aura in his body was gone.
“It wasn’t mine to begin with. I have no need to master extreme yang martial arts.”
“Thank you.” Jeok Mumi smiled. “As promised, we’ll form an alliance with the Martial Alliance.”
“Thank you.”
“And in the future…” Jeok Mumi spoke in a low voice. “If you ever need our palace’s strength, ask for help.”
Bu Eunseol looked puzzled.
“What do you mean?”
“Do I seem that foolish?”
Jeok Mumi smiled.
“I’d bet everything that your true identity isn’t a third-rank Martial Alliance leader.”
Even without considering other factors, the ability to contain Yeolha Sacred Aura capable of awakening a thousand disciples showed his capabilities far exceeded a third-rank leader.
“You’re working on something big, aren’t you?”
Jeok Mumi’s eyes burned like the sun.
Despite her young age, she had consistently opposed Hwa Jeong and possessed the talent and insight to lead Yeolha Holy Palace.
Her remarkable intuition sensed the heroic qualities behind his gentle facade.
“That’s the condition for our alliance with the Martial Alliance.”
Bu Eunseol was moved.
Knowing he had another identity, and that he wasn’t truly with the Martial Alliance, she still showed such deep loyalty.
“Thank you.”
“You don’t think it’s just about loyalty, do you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Our palace has some rules and precepts not known to outsiders.”
“What rules are you referring to?”
Jeok Mumi’s eyes sparkled like gems reflecting radiant light.
“Let’s talk about that the next time we meet.”
For some reason, Bu Eunseol felt a pang. Vowing ‘There won’t be a next time,’ he clasped his hands.
“Understood. Then.”
He quickly boarded the carriage.
Jeok Mumi gazed at the departing carriage with a bright smile.
As if awaiting Bu Eunseol’s return in the future.
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