Chapter 665
Chapter 665
Chapter 665. The Emperor’s Secret Order (6)
The Crown Prince had already come out into the courtyard and was waiting for us.
Taoist Cheongsu approached the Crown Prince and paid his respects politely.
“This humble Taoist greets Your Highness the Crown Prince. Long live! Long live! Long, long live!” (Taoist Cheongsu)
“Rise.” (Crown Prince)
“Your grace is boundless.” (Taoist Cheongsu)
The Crown Prince spoke to the Taoist, who had risen from his place.
“I am glad to meet you like this. Are you the Taoist who will be in charge of this ritual?” (Crown Prince)
“That is correct. I am called Cheongsu of the Mount Mao Sect.” (Taoist Cheongsu)
“I leave it in your hands. These days, I have not been able to sleep at all.” (Crown Prince)
“How difficult it must have been for you. Though my power is meager, I will do my utmost.” (Taoist Cheongsu)
“Thank you.” (Crown Prince)
Taoist Cheongsu once again shook the bell and circled round and round through the courtyard.
Thanks to that, a suitable atmosphere was created.
This is satisfying. He’s acting even better than I expected.
Before long, all four directions had gone completely dark, and the ritual began in earnest.
“Please bring the deceased’s belongings.” (Taoist Cheongsu)
At that, Eunuch Jang came carrying a box and placed it on the table.
Taoist Cheongsu opened the box himself.
Inside it were clothes.
Taoist Cheongsu picked up the bottle prepared beside him and poured its contents over the clothes.
Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle, gurgle.
Originally, it should have been alcohol, but since alcohol could not be used now, it had been replaced with tea.
Then he lit the candles, burned incense and stuck it into the incense burner, then began chanting the scripture in earnest while shaking the bell.
Pretending to concentrate on that sight, I observed the people.
After all, aside from me and my party, the only people gathered here now were people of Jocheon Palace.
Apart from those I had heard about from Eunuch Ajeong, I could see a few more who possessed impure auras.
I’ll have to clean them all out this time too.
How much time had passed?
Jingle, jingle, jing…
Taoist Cheongsu’s hand, which had been shaking the bell, stopped. Everyone looked at him with tense eyes.
“Ajeong… Is the name of the dead eunuch Ajeong?” (Taoist Cheongsu)
At that, I answered.
“That is correct. Taoist, you are truly wondrous. I never told you the name of the deceased eunuch…” (Eun Seoho)
“Right now, he is desperately telling me his name from before me.” (Taoist Cheongsu)
At that, Palgap stuck even closer to my side.
No, Palgap.
Doesn’t this look like our roles have been switched no matter how anyone sees it?
And Palgap should also know that the ritual being performed now is a play… No, he doesn’t.
I didn’t tell him.
I scratched the back of my neck and looked at Taoist Cheongsu again.
Mount Mao is a sect that specializes in corpse arts and sorcery, and among the sorceries they learn is exorcism.
Looking at only things like this, it seems no different from shamanism, but there is a very great difference.
The Mount Mao Sect does not enshrine ghosts, and therefore there is no spirit possession.
Most of the techniques used by the Mount Mao Sect are based on martial arts.
And their purpose is not private profit, but the pursuit of peace in the world.
Returning those who died away from home to their native soil is a part of that purpose.
That was why, even when the country suppressed shamans, the Mount Mao Sect could avoid becoming one of its targets.
Because those circumstances existed, this play must seem real to the people watching the ritual now.
Taoist Cheongsu spoke toward empty air with a sorrowful expression.
“Oh dear! You died after falling from a cliff.” (Taoist Cheongsu)
“That is correct.” (Eun Seoho)
I deliberately put on a grief-stricken expression.
“If only I had not said that the fruit of the spiritual herb was there, he would not have gone to the cliff.” (Eun Seoho)
“But he says he does not resent Young Captain Eun Seoho. He says that his death was his own fate.” (Taoist Cheongsu)
“No! If only my martial arts had been just a little stronger… Kugh!” (Eun Seoho)
I bowed my head in anguish like that.
As if he wouldn’t resent me.
He died while being tortured by my hands, so how could there be no way he would resent me?
Well, it’s a play I arranged with Taoist Cheongsu.
“He says he is glad that the Young Captain survived.” (Taoist Cheongsu)
“As expected, Eunuch Ajeong’s nature remains beautiful even after death.” (Eun Seoho)
Taoist Cheongsu turned his body and looked at the Crown Prince.
“He says he is sorry he could not pick the fruit of freedom from illness and long life and offer it to Your Highness the Crown Prince.” (Taoist Cheongsu)
At that, the Crown Prince put on a regretful expression.
“To think he still holds that in his heart! What a foolish man…” (Crown Prince)
Indeed, the Crown Prince’s acting is also excellent.
To the point I wonder if he learned it separately in the imperial family.
“But I am curious why he appears in my dreams and says he is wronged.” (Crown Prince)
At that, Taoist Cheongsu shook the bell a few more times, then answered.
“He says it is because he died without being able to repay the grace Your Highness the Crown Prince bestowed upon him.” (Taoist Cheongsu)
“Oh dear…” (Crown Prince)
At that moment, Taoist Cheongsu’s expression darkened.
“Eunuch Ajeong says there is a fact he wishes to report. In truth, he says he had been receiving separate orders from the Martial Alliance.” (Taoist Cheongsu)
“What? Is that true?” (Crown Prince)
At that, the Crown Prince’s eyes widened. A very surprised face.
Well… It is something to be surprised about.
“Yes. He says it is so.” (Taoist Cheongsu)
Taoist Cheongsu continued speaking.
“He says that apart from himself, there are comrades in this Jocheon Palace who entered under the Martial Alliance’s orders. He says he will repay even a little of the grace he received from Your Highness the Crown Prince by reporting their identities.” (Taoist Cheongsu)
“Tell him to speak, quickly!” (Crown Prince)
The Crown Prince was enraged.
“They dared betray Father and me and act as spies here? Even flaying them alive would not be enough!” (Crown Prince)
Flaying was a punishment that peeled off the skin, and its horror was beyond description.
And the Crown Prince’s current appearance was not acting.
Who would not be angry at that fact?
The reason he had not been angry when he heard that fact from me was because it had been in front of me.
That was why the atmosphere around us now was as if walking on thin ice.
“So who are they?” (Crown Prince)
Well, this should be enough.
I drew up my inner arts and sent wind toward the candle as planned.
Whoosh!
The candle went out, and Taoist Cheongsu let out a sigh and continued speaking.
“Oh no! I am truly sorry, Your Highness. The time for which the soul can be summoned has come to an end.” (Taoist Cheongsu)
“What? Then have another Taoist brought here right now!” (Crown Prince)
“I am sorry, but a soul that has been summoned once can only be summoned again after twelve sijin have passed.” (Taoist Cheongsu)
“Is that so?” (Crown Prince)
“Yes. I will resume the ritual again at this time tomorrow.” (Taoist Cheongsu)
“There is no help for it. Do so.” (Crown Prince)
The Crown Prince glared around him and spat out his words as if chewing them.
“When this time comes tomorrow, we will know clearly who the traitors are.” (Crown Prince)
Thus, today’s ritual came to an end.
And I could see people who were thrown into confusion by the Crown Prince’s words.
There were those who were restless, those who secretly lowered their heads and bit their lips, and those who looked at someone with trembling eyes.
In other words, it meant this play was effective.
Now they would each act according to their own thoughts.
There would be those who would try to kill Taoist Cheongsu, those who would try to run away, and those who would watch the situation while waiting for an opportunity.
Which meant that I would become extremely busy tonight.
---
Deep night.
There was someone moving secretly.
The place he arrived at was a certain storehouse inside Jocheon Palace.
When he entered it, the one waiting there greeted him.
“Welcome.” (Imperial Guard)
“I am sorry I am late. It took quite a long time because I came while avoiding others’ eyes.” (Imperial Guard)
“I understand. It was difficult for me to sneak all the way here too.” (Imperial Guard)
“Hoo… I have no idea what on earth is going on.” (Imperial Guard)
“Exactly.” (Imperial Guard)
“Ajeong, that bastard was a nuisance while alive… and even in death, he is a nuisance.” (Imperial Guard)
In truth, Ajeong had not been a very good colleague.
He would snatch away the work that other colleagues were supposed to do, then say that he had done it for them because the others lacked ability, irritating them.
When they heard he had died in an accident this time, they felt relieved.
But then they wondered what on earth was going on when they heard that he had suddenly become a vengeful ghost and was tormenting the Crown Prince… and this was the mess he had caused.
They did not think at all that it was a play arranged by Eun Seoho.
That was only natural, since Mount Mao, the headquarters of the Mount Mao Sect, was close to Nanjing.
Because of that, they inevitably had many opportunities to hear about the exploits of the Mount Mao Sect’s Taoists.
“Anyway, what should we do about this? If that bastard Ajeong reveals everything about us tomorrow…” (Imperial Guard)
“We will be finished.” (Imperial Guard)
He thought for a moment, then opened his mouth again.
“First, we should buy some time. From what I heard, the Taoist of the Mount Mao Sect is staying inside this palace right now.” (Imperial Guard)
“I heard that too.” (Imperial Guard)
“If we kill him, we should be able to buy some time. In that opening, let us try contacting above.” (Imperial Guard)
“Understood.” (Imperial Guard)
They were Imperial Guards belonging to Jocheon Palace.
Because of that, they could carry weapons even inside Jocheon Palace, and their martial arts were fairly good as well.
“But how are the others moving?” (Imperial Guard)
“Hoo, they will handle that on their own. Are they not different groups from ours?” (Imperial Guard)
“That is true.” (Imperial Guard)
They were not the only ones the Martial Alliance had infiltrated into Jocheon Palace.
They knew there were generally several groups, each made up of pairs, but no one knew exactly how many there were.
Because they also had the role of monitoring one another, they could never betray them.
Ajeong, who moved alone, was an unusual case.
They could not help fearing the coldness and thoroughness of the Martial Alliance that had placed them inside Jocheon Palace.
“Then let us move.” (Imperial Guard)
“Yes.” (Imperial Guard)
They moved stealthily as they had decided and went to the place where Taoist Cheongsu was staying.
Jocheon Palace was a place they knew so well it was no different from their own home, so there was no hesitation in their movements.
A short while later.
They stopped at a place where Taoist Cheongsu’s quarters could be seen.
Perhaps he had already fallen asleep, as no light could be seen inside the room.
The problem was the soldier guarding its front.
While they were agonizing over how to deal with him, the soldier’s voice happened to be heard.
“Ah, damn it! Why isn’t this bastard coming? I’m dying to piss!” (Soldier)
He twisted his whole body as if he badly needed to urinate.
“Damn it, I’m going to wet myself at this rate. Can’t be helped.” (Soldier)
Then, as if he could not endure it, he grumbled and left his post.
Seeing that, the two men looked at each other and nodded.
They quickly approached the quarters, quietly opened the door, and went inside.
Then they approached Taoist Cheongsu, who was lying on the bed, and swung their swords toward his neck.
Thud!
At that moment, he sensed something strange.
Not only was the sound strange, it was also because it was not the sensation of cutting through a person’s flesh and bone.
“Damn it! It’s a trap!” (Imperial Guard)
He shouted so and tried to flee, but it was already too late.
Thud!
Thwack!
They were struck by the sudden impact on the backs of their necks and fainted just like that.
---
I looked at the people who had collapsed onto the floor.
“That makes six people.” (Eun Seoho)
“Indeed.” (Seo U Warrior)
“The bait must have been good. Seeing as so many were caught like this.” (Eun Seoho)
At my words, Warrior Seo U gave a faint laugh.
“Were you not always good at fishing, Liege?” (Seo U Warrior)
“Was I?” (Eun Seoho)
At that moment, Warrior Yeo Eungam, dressed in soldier’s clothes, approached.
“Then should I continue standing guard?” (Yeo Eungam Warrior)
“Yes. Please go through the trouble.” (Eun Seoho)
A little while ago, Warrior Yeo Eungam noticed that they had come and deliberately pretended he needed to urinate, then avoided his post.
Perhaps because he inherited the talents of his parents, who had belonged to a theater troupe, his acting was truly excellent.
“Then, let us clear them away.” (Seo U Warrior)
“Yes.” (Eun Seoho)
The other warriors hoisted them up and slipped away somewhere.
Taoist Cheongsu is not here now.
The figure lying here is an illusion I created with the Illusory Mirror I possess.
Taoist Cheongsu is safely resting in the room beside His Highness the Crown Prince, receiving ironclad protection.
That escort is none other than Geumryeong and Palgap.
Since Palgap was frightened, I coaxed him by saying that if he escorted Taoist Cheongsu with all his might, the Taoist would give him some sort of gift.
Thus, day broke.
I headed to the Crown Prince.
“This lowly merchant greets Your Highness the Crown Prince…” (Eun Seoho)
“Just sit.” (Crown Prince)
“Yes.” (Eun Seoho)
I sat in front of the tea table and spoke.
“Did you sleep well last night?” (Eun Seoho)
“Are you teasing me? I was so curious about the situation that I could hardly sleep.” (Crown Prince)
“You have suffered. First, I will give a brief report.” (Eun Seoho)
I continued speaking calmly.
“Six people tried to assassinate the Taoist, and eight people fled in the night.” (Eun Seoho)
“There were as many as fourteen? How absurd.” (Crown Prince)
The Crown Prince sighed with a hollow expression.
“I am sorry, but there are more.” (Eun Seoho)
“Those must be the ones who decided to watch how things unfolded.” (Crown Prince)
“That is correct.” (Eun Seoho)
“Then are we offering the ritual again tonight?” (Crown Prince)
“Ah, that is not it.” (Eun Seoho)
“It is not?” (Crown Prince)
“Yes. A play is only entertaining when its contents are dramatic, is it not?” (Eun Seoho)
“That is true.” (Crown Prince)
“At last night’s ritual, Taoist Cheongsu said he would summon Eunuch Ajeong’s soul the next day and reveal who the traitors were. But during the night, he ended up being kidnapped. In that case, who would the culprit be?” (Eun Seoho)
“Those who feared that they would be revealed as traitors.” (Crown Prince)
“Here, Your Highness the Crown Prince will step forward personally and rescue Taoist Cheongsu.” (Eun Seoho)
At my words, the Crown Prince thought for a moment, then smiled brightly.
“Oh ho, you mean to use this matter to turn the feelings toward those who suddenly disappeared in another direction. And as a bonus, create a heroic tale about me?” (Crown Prince)
Currently, Jocheon Palace was in a state of confusion because more than ten people had suddenly disappeared.
Since they could guess why they had disappeared, they would feel betrayed as well.
Here, if a process of running around in all directions to save Taoist Cheongsu was added, they would become angry.
After all, it was only natural for anyone to resent the target who made them go through hellish trouble.
When that irritation reached its peak and the Crown Prince resolved it, anger toward the traitors would become loyalty toward the Crown Prince.
“That is what it is.” (Eun Seoho)
The Crown Prince, who had been looking at me for a moment, spoke.
“I am truly glad you are on my side.” (Crown Prince)
At those words, I smiled and answered.
“You may rest assured. As long as Your Highness the Crown Prince remains on my side, I too am on Your Highness the Crown Prince’s side.” (Eun Seoho)
“My, what a frightening thing to say.” (Crown Prince)