Chapter 198: Emperor Hongrak
As the Emperor’s arrival was proclaid, the imperial garden fell into a silence so deep it seed even breathing had been swallowed.
Amidst the Imperial Army generals clad in thick armor glaring as if to command all gazes downward, Emperor Hongrak, draped in a golden dragon robe, revealed himself.
The absolute ruler of the Central Plains ascended the central platform without a word, under the eyes of all.
“Is that the Emperor? I can’t see his face well because of the Imperial Army.”
“Shh, Harang. Get a grip and lower your head.”
At his appearance, all mbers of the Imperial Family and high officials flattened themselves to the ground at once. At this mont, the differences in power and status ant nothing.
Even the Empress and Imperial Noble Consort showed respectful courtesy to the supre ruler of the Imperial Household.
Jo Harang, whose curiosity had begun to rise, caused no trouble thanks to
pressing her head down.
If one dared to raise their head to look upon the Emperor’s face without permission, their neck could be cleanly severed by the blades of the Imperial Army.
“Raise your heads.”
In the solemn atmosphere, Emperor Hongrak spoke in a low voice. At that single command, everyone rose.
And only then did they finally face the Emperor’s countenance.
Despite being well past sixty, Emperor Hongrak’s presence was overwhelmingly intense.
He was tall, his physique firm, his sharp eyes seeming to pierce through everything beneath the platform, and the dragon robe with a golden dragon ascending enhanced the dignity of the Imperial Court.
However, what stood out most were his eyes. Within the black pupils that seed to absorb the surrounding light, a faint yet violent aura swirled.
“I have gathered you all here after a long ti to restore harmony to the Imperial Palace, which has been unsettled due to the Crown Prince’s illness. So open your hearts and enjoy this banquet.”
Though the Emperor’s tone was benevolent, no one present took his words at face value.
The Empress covered her mouth with a fan, wearing a aningful expression, while the two Imperial Noble Consorts cast uneasy glances between the Emperor and the officials.
The only one enjoying the festive mood as the Emperor intended was the innocent Imperial Noble Consort.
Her children, too, were busy reading the complicated atmosphere with subtle expressions.
“Mujin, that Emperor Hongrak… sothing feels off. Am I the only one sensing this?”
At that mont, Jo Harang of the Purple Star whispered quietly into my ear.
Wondering what she ant, I focused my vision—and then our eyes t.
At that instant, I saw the red Salseong Entity trembling as if issuing a warning. The ominous energy flickering deep within the Emperor’s eyes.
As the fine hairs on my body stood on end, I imdiately realized what it was—the sa strange energy I had felt when facing Jo Harang. The energy of a Calamity Star.
‘……!’
To think that even the Emperor of the Central Plains possessed a Calamity Star like .
“That energy must be… ah, I see. Mujin, you probably can’t feel anything.”
As if it were sothing only soone with the sa Calamity Star could sense, Jo Harang bit her lip.
But even though mine was dormant, the Calamity Star embedded in my mind allowed
to clearly feel that energy as well.
“Uh, he’s looking this way…?”
Jo Harang whispered in a startled voice.
They say that if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes back at you. Emperor Hongrak, too, seed to have pierced through the countless crowd and was sending a piercing gaze in our direction.
The oppressive gaze of the ruler who commanded all the armies of the Central Plains, the Eastern Depot, and the Royal Guards.
Only then did I understand why Hwang Geolgae had warned
to be cautious of the Emperor. Thanks to the Stellar Cloud Cultivation thod, he must have recognized the Calamity Star within the Emperor as well.
“Mujin… but looking closely, I think he’s not looking at , but at you…”
At Jo Harang’s words, I turned my gaze again and saw the Emperor’s lips twitch slightly, as if amused.
What was this? My Heavenly Killing Star was in a dormant state, so its aura should be extrely faint.
Unless one deliberately circulated energy through the body like Hwang Geolgae, it should have been nearly impossible to notice.
Ah… perhaps he recognized the Energy of Stars I had cultivated through the Stellar Cloud Cultivation thod. That seed sowhat plausible.
“A-And he’s smiling…?”
At the Emperor’s inexplicable reaction, Jo Harang stamred in confusion.
Since I was positioned in the center of the Imperial Noble Consort’s formation, the court officials misunderstood the Emperor’s gaze and smile, causing a stir.
“To think His Majesty smiles so brightly…”
“I have not seen his expression change like that in recent tis.”
“Could it be true that he favors the Imperial Noble Consort and intends to depose the Crown Prince?”
“If that’s the case, we should realign ourselves imdiately…”
Unintentionally, I seed to have ignited the wavering hearts of the court officials.
People leaning toward the Imperial Noble Consort’s faction began appearing everywhere.
“…….”
While Imperial Noble Consort Ma Juyoung tilted her head in confusion at the situation, I quietly slipped out of the Emperor’s line of sight amid the attention and commotion shifting toward her.
After Emperor Hongrak took his seat on the platform, the Garden Banquet began in earnest.
Colorful fireworks filled the sky, illuminating the garden brightly, and amid that splendor, the main event of the banquet unfolded.
“Imperial Army Ten-Thousand Commander Jang Sak, step forward!”
It was the martial tournant, prepared long ago as part of the Emperor’s declaration to revive imperial martial arts.
Jang Sak, having removed his shining armor and changed into light martial attire, stood tall upon the arena.
His body, as solid as equipnt under the sunlight, imdiately drew the crowd’s attention.
“Waaaah!”
“Jang Sak! Jang Sak!”
The Imperial Army soldiers stationed throughout roared in unison, heating the air of the arena with fighting spirit.
Opposing him was a middle-aged man in the uniform of the Royal Guards. His wrinkled face calm, he stepped onto the arena.
“Pae Yul! Pae Yul!”
Judging by the aura he emitted, he was a top-tier or even Transcendence Realm expert—Pae Yul of the Royal Guards.
“Begin!”
At the official’s sharp command, the duel comnced.
Jang Sak moved first.
“Eighteen Loyal Nation Fists!”
With a stomp that shook the ground, he montarily disrupted Pae Yul’s balance and instantly closed the distance.
A fierce fist aura surged toward the opponent’s chest.
Boom!
Pae Yul’s sword flux shot out like lightning, clashing violently with the attack.
Though Jang Sak had the advantage in power, Pae Yul skillfully redirected the overwhelming force with experience.
“Nation-Saving Governor Sword!”
Boom! Boom!
Before the Emperor, the two martial artists clashed fiercely, shouting martial art nas filled with loyal devotion.
Jang Sak’s rigid, overwhelming strikes versus Pae Yul’s flowing, flexible counters.
Their intense collision of enhanced qi swept across the arena, cracking the blue stone floor with a ‘crack!’ and drawing gasps from the audience.
“Wow, as expected of Jang Sak of the Imperial Army!”
“Pae Yul is no joke either! Truly the blade of the Imperial Court!”
As the duel heated up, Jang Sak’s expression suddenly changed.
A fierce desire for victory filled his eyes. As if to end it, he revealed his hidden move.
“Huup!”
A massive surge of energy erupted from his body, his muscles swelling, his fist aura becoming clearer than ever.
Boom!
He struck the empty air—
And a ferocious force like a roaring beast surged through space toward Pae Yul.
“Gasp!”
Boom!!
At the mont of impact, light flashed and shockwaves erupted across the arena.
That attack—projecting clearly ford enhanced qi outward—was sothing only achievable upon reaching a certain realm.
“T-Transformation Realm…?”
“To think Jang Sak has reached the Transformation Realm!”
The audience was thrown into shock.
anwhile, Emperor Hongrak watched silently, with only a faint emotion on his lips.
From that mont on, the duel beca one-sided.
Pae Yul was pushed back continuously, blood spilling from his mouth.
Soon after—
“Winner, Jang Sak!”
As expected, victory belonged to Jang Sak of the Imperial Army.
The crowd erupted in cheers at the ergence of a Transformation Realm master.
anwhile, one man sitting within the Imperial Noble Consort’s faction trembled for a different reason, shaking his head.
“The martial art nas are seriously intense.”
Loyal Nation and Saving the Nation—truly clear in intention and tone.
In ancient tis, the Imperial Court had suffered humiliation at the hands of the Murim, leading to the unspoken rule of non-interference between officials and martial artists.
But in Emperor Hongrak’s era, things were changing. With the active spread of martial arts and the developnt of firearms, the Imperial Court was rising once more.
“Next participants, prepare!”
The tournant continued, with imperial martial artists striving to catch the Emperor’s eye.
Yet, as matches went on, the overwhelming favorite remained Jang Sak.
If there had been gambling allowed, the odds would have been brutal.
“Mujin, Lord Cheonsugong says stop watching and do your job.”
While I was absorbed in the matches, Jo Harang relayed a reprimand from the head of the Eastern Depot.
While tasting food, I also kept sensing killing intent around .
The Empress continued to radiate fierce malice—but that was nothing new.
“Don’t draw attention.”
Just as my vigilance loosened, Cheonsugong approached and spoke.
“I didn’t do anything.”
I muttered with a full mouth, chewing what the Imperial Noble Consort had left behind.
“Swallow first before speaking.”
After swallowing, I replied again.
“I really didn’t do anything.”
“Then why was His Majesty staring straight at you earlier?”
“…I wouldn’t know.”
Cheonsugong narrowed his eyes and released pressure.
An invisible force like a storm pressed down on —but I rely frowned.
“Tsk… you really are a strange one.”
“Your Majesty, you have been looking at that young man. Is there a reason?”
A pale eunuch cautiously asked.
“I sense a familiar energy.”
The Emperor replied, picking up a jujube and chewing slowly.
His gaze rested on a young man—
Stuffing his face with leftovers like a starving beggar.
Despite wearing Eastern Depot attire, his behavior was far from proper.
The Emperor smiled faintly.
“The request from Princess Dohwa… was also from a young man about that age.”
His smile deepened.
It felt like casting a fishing rod into a lake idly—only to catch a golden carp.
“How is the tournant?”
“The cheers have lessened, Your Majesty. Jang Sak’s dominance makes it one-sided.”
“I see… then shall we add a variable?”
With a pale smile, the ruler of the Central Plains looked toward Dan Mujin.
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