987——————==

Soul of the Evil God

I flinched at the Prophet’s words.

‘ I know what a body is…’

The body of a god.

I had once received over half of Amaterasu’s body from Seimei, and that power fused with my Spirit Power allowed me to achieve great heights. Even though it was the body of a dead god, it still contained immense divine power, making it possible.

Knowing such facts, I asked the Prophet.

” So you mean to say that this obsidian is the body of the [Guardian of the Moon Sovereign]?”

[ No… that’s not correct. It just happens to contain it.]

” Just contained? What do you mean?”

[ A more accurate way to say it would be that it is merely holding it. This isn’t the guardian’s body, nor is it the essence of the guardian. It’s the body of an entirely different god.]

” ……?!”

What the heck does that mean?!

I couldn’t help but be taken aback by the Prophet’s unexpected words.

” Why…? If this obsidian is the body of another god, why would the Guardian of the Moon Sovereign hold onto it?”

[ I don’t know that either, but let me tell you the worth of this true body.]

The Prophet continued.

[ Unlike ordinary offerings, merely presenting this would be meaningless. A sacrifice that a god would covet must inherently possess strong spirit energy or divine qi, but this one doesn’t. No matter how you look at it, as it stands, the body is of no use. Generally thinking, its value as an offering is close to zero.]

Then, the Prophet spoke with a bit of arrogance.

[ There are very few across the universe who can recognize the true worth of this item. Our race has had experience handling such items… it was a very rare experience indeed.]

” … So how do I use it properly?”

The Prophet inspected the obsidian for a moment before responding.

[ You need to connect the laws of cause and effect set at the start. If the sequence of linking the causes is correct, only then will it reveal its value. It’s quite tricky… extremely tricky.]

” How do you link the laws of cause and effect?”

[ ……]

The Prophet looked at me with a strange expression. Then he said.

[ Reborn person. How many do you think there are in the entire universe who can read and manipulate the laws of cause and effect…?]

” Hmm… not many, I guess.”

[ That question was not one you should have directed at me. The law of cause and effect is not a concept that our race can handle properly. Go and find a being who could entertain that question…]

” Understood.”

[ We have our own secret teachings, but that’s something only our kind can do… it cannot be taught. It’s a noteworthy offering that is notoriously tricky to handle even across the entire universe.]

Seems like it really is something special.

I looked at the obsidian with renewed interest and said.

” I feel like I’ve sacrificed a lot for emotions, but can’t you at least give me a clue?”

[ A clue… rather than that, I’ll tell you the benefits you could gain if you can truly use that item…]

The Prophet paused in silence before speaking.

[ A choice that didn’t originally exist will emerge… an unseen guide of fate will lead the guest…]

” Huh?”

[ Just as I said… you will know the details once you can start using it yourself.]

A choice that didn’t exist will emerge?

It was such a bizarre statement that I couldn’t quite grasp its meaning.

‘ It’s probably something good…’

Listening to the Prophet made me realize whom to seek next. I felt the situation here was mostly settled and decided to step back.

Pa-at!

I shared the information I got from the Prophet with my companions. Suddenly, Zhuge Sa spoke up.

” There’s no need for a third-person memory inheritance right now.”

” Huh?”

” No, I don’t think it will be of much use in the future either. You can forget about it.”

” Why…?”

Why is Zhuge Sa saying that?

As I puzzled over it, Mangnyang smiled wryly and said.

” Uncle is right. It could be applied in special circumstances, but as it stands now, it’s meaningless. No need to think too deeply about third-person inheritance.”

” Well, if that’s the case…”

” You don’t need to approach the problem of defeating the Joules purely with martial prowess. If it doesn’t work out, you can push through with numbers, so don’t get too fixated on breaking the Heavenly Unrestrained Technique.”

” Understood.”

” More importantly, that obsidian body you got from the Guardian of the Moon Sovereign… it seems like a problem I should consult Master about.”

” I think so too.”

A being capable of reading and manipulating the laws of cause and effect.

There were very few such beings even among those of the [Old Ruler] level, and out of those, there was only one that I could reasonably seek out.

‘ I need to go to Master Mangnyang.’

The Master would likely know how to use the obsidian body. As I realized the steps to finding a solution, I felt a surge of excitement.

Just then.

” Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Emperor…”

” What’s going on?”

” That is…”

A civil servant hurried over to Mangnyang, whispering something, and upon hearing it, his expression slightly changed.

” Understood. You may leave.”

” What happened?”

After the official left, Mangnyang remarked.

” The envoys we sent to Goryeo have arrived. However, their numbers have decreased.”

” ……?!”

” It seems you need to report properly as the Emperor in court, Baek Woong.”

What does this mean?!

” Ah, got it.”

I quickly dressed in my imperial robes and prepared before heading to court with Mangnyang and the others. Once I sat on the throne, the envoy team entered and knelt down together. The deputy leader of the envoy, Ok Dugyeong, spoke with a trembling voice.

” Your Majesty… I bring the Goryeo king’s reply.”

” Ok Dugyeong. Where is the envoy leader, Cheon Gu Byeon?”

Cheon Gu Byeon was the appointed leader of this envoy group and a high-ranking official of the fourth grade.

Ok Dugyeong bit his lip, then slowly pushed a large square box forward, wrapped in cloth, emanating a sense of foreboding. He slowly said, ” Inside is the head of Leader Cheon Gu Byeon… I worried it might disgrace Your Majesty’s appearance, so I wrapped it.”

” ……!!”

What?!

I was taken aback.

” … Open that cloth right now.”

Swoosh.

As the cloth came undone and the seal of the box was opened, there lay the head of Cheon Gu Byeon, twisted in a grotesque expression. The confusion, despair, and fear he felt at the moment of his death were evident. The officials present all hesitated, taken aback by the image.

” Ugh, ugh.”

” No way…”

In contrast, I grew more composed and rested my chin on my throne. I then asked, ” Did the Goryeo king kill Cheon Gu Byeon?”

” Yes, Your Majesty.”

” What was the reason?”

” Cheon Gu Byeon demanded an apology from the Goryeo king for urging the assassination of Your Majesty. However, the Goryeo king, in a fit of rage, sent in warriors clad in purple to have Cheon Gu Byeon executed on the spot… and then…”

Ok Dugyeong hesitated, his voice trembling.

” Your Majesty’s head… will soon be placed in a box as well… as he declared…”

” ……!!”

Murmurs…

Murmurs…!!

Every minister in the court was in a state of utter shock. Even the usually calm and collected General Hwang Yeon and Elder Deung Gwak seemed to show signs of confusion. For some reason, even Deung Gwak, who typically acted slyly in court, was clearly showing his emotions.

” Your Majesty!! This is absolutely intolerable!! How could a mere Goryeo dare…!! Command the conquest of Goryeo!!”

Nearby, Hwang Yeon also stepped forward, kneeling before me and said.

” Your Majesty… please command us to deploy!!”

Annihilate Goryeo!!

Annihilate Goryeo!!!

For a brief moment, all the ministers were caught up in an indescribable fervor and shouted.

‘ Hmm…!!’

It dawned on me why they were so agitated.

The pride and self-esteem of the greatest empire in the East!

No matter how significant Goryeo was among the great powers of the time, the dominance of the Central Plains Empire over thousands of years meant that all the miscellaneous states of the earth were but tributaries to the Central Plains. How could a mere Goryeo, occupying only Liaodong and the Peninsula, come forward without justification? They were likely furious about this while also recognizing the grave crisis it posed.

However, regardless of their agitation, I calmly assessed the situation.

‘ Those purple-clad warriors must be experts from the National Defense Alliance of the Twelve Joules. They are taken from elite martial artists selected from the Goryeo nobility to protect the royal family… Moreover, the National Defense Alliance, though nominally tasked with protecting the Goryeo king, acts more like the arms of the Twelve Joules. The true master of the alliance is a loyal subordinate of the Master of the Twelve Joules.’

I had roamed Goryeo enough to garner insider knowledge. I tapped the armrest of the throne lightly.

‘ Knowing that the National Defense Alliance experts killed Cheon Gu Byeon doesn’t add up. No matter how much the Goryeo king commanded, the alliance can’t go against the will of the Master of the Twelve Joules. This means that the Goryeo king has proclaimed war… everything indicates that the Master of the Twelve Joules is orchestrating this from behind the scenes, and the Goryeo king is merely a puppet… this incident is a direct challenge from the Master of the Twelve Joules to me!’

I can see it.

In the darkness, I hold the key.

In the shadows, I see the Master of the Twelve Joules slowly make a move, placing a stone on the board.

He is telling me.

With this move, I have invaded your home.

Are you angry?

Now it is your turn.

” ……”

In the past, I would have been enraged, fantasizing about decapitating the Master of the Twelve Joules. But now, after seeing the gruesome severed head of Cheon Gu Byeon, I felt nothing but amusement. Although it was certainly a horrific scene, it felt as if I were engaged in an entertaining game.

Is this how a leader perceives the world?

When a group becomes too large, [individuals] are merely attachments.

A battle of wits and bravery unfolds beyond the invisible boundaries of time and space.

I said with a faint smile.

” It seems we have a coalition forming.”

” Your Majesty…?”

I turned to Mangnyang who was beside me and said.

” Minister. Send a diplomatic delegation to Arasa and Dongyoung. Request 100,000 troops from Arasa and 50,000 from Dongyoung to strike at Goryeo first.”

Mangnyang bowed politely and replied, ” I shall carry out your orders.”

” Deung Gwak. Assist Chancellor Zhuge Hyun in ensuring there are no internal or external troubles.”

As I glanced at Deung Gwak with a somewhat cold expression, he flinched. For a moment, he looked puzzled, but ultimately decided to follow my command.

” I shall obey your orders.”

Deung Gwak is the head of the opposition party and holds significant sway over the Clear Stream Faction. His presence can prevent idealistic scholars or outsiders from criticizing the imperial authority during this war. Having given my order to Deung Gwak, I then addressed Hwang Yeon.

” General Hwang Yeon. I plan to supply the North Dragon Troops with the latest weapons and resources. Go to the field to organize the troops and train them with the new weapons. Furthermore, once support from the Arasa Empire arrives, strike at Liaodong and push south along the Yalu River.”

” Understood.”

” Also, do not hastily attack the Divine City or the Tumen River. I command that we take Gaegyeong in the shortest amount of time.”

” ……!!”

” The enemy’s weakness lies in the Songlin and Goksan areas. Elite troops of the enemy always station there, so crush them first.”

” … Understood!!”

In Songlin, the Twelve Joules’ Wind Family resides, while Goksan is home to the Heo-Geom family. They are tasked with assisting Goryeo’s elite troops in times of war but would be incredibly vulnerable if attacked themselves. If I supply General Hwang Yeon with elite cavalry and gunmen, they can annihilate them overnight. And since Songlin and Goksan are fertile lands and strategic points, holding them would make it impossible for Goryeo to endure.

I concluded with sharp determination.

” This Goryeo invasion will be led by me personally. The National Master and the Dharma Protectors will also participate for victory, so victory is assured!!”

” Long live Your Majesty the Emperor!!”

I will respond to their provocation with a direct confrontation.

‘ You think you can provoke me?’

Did they assume I was weak because I just established the Huang Dynasty?

‘ But… you miscalculated.’

This is my opening move.

There’s no element here that is unfavorable to me.

Because I already know Goryeo better than any spy could, having tussled with the Twelve Joules.

Goryeo, I’ll bring your downfall in just three months.