“It is His Majesty the Emperor’s command! The poisoner who slew the imperial prince and fled—Blood-King Poison Chor Yeon—has concealed her identity and hidden within the Namgoong Family. Therefore the Lord of the Namgoong estate shall open the manor, cooperate with those who bear the Imperial Decree in their investigation, and ensure there is no hindrance in apprehending the criminal!”

When the official finished speaking, the Namgoong retainers, including Namgoong Cheongun, all raised their hands and bowed at the waist.

“We receive His Majesty’s command!”

Only then did the official dismount and set the scroll bearing the Imperial Decree upon Namgoong Cheongun’s hands.

When Cheongun—having received the decree—rose to his feet, the retainers of the Namgoong household stood as well.

“You have come a long way, Excellency. I am Namgoong Cheongun, Lord of the Namgoong Family.”

Cheongun clasped his fists and offered greetings first.

The official also clasped his fists and accepted the courtesy.

“A pleasure. I am Seomun, Provincial Marshal.”

The Provincial Marshal was the highest official commanding a province’s armies.

There were only sixteen such senior second-rank posts across the Central Plains; yet as a regional, not central, position, it was a curious pick to bear the Emperor’s decree.

Cheongun, however, watched the soldier standing behind him with caution.

He wore an ordinary soldier’s uniform, but the qi he gave off was immense.

‘At least near-Transcendent.’

That one was likely the real power.

Even so, placing the Provincial Marshal in front suggested the other might belong to the Emperor’s secret direct unit—the Brocade-Guard.

“Please, come inside first. I’ve ordered hot water prepared to wash away the road dust, and some food to refresh you.”

“My thanks.”

Cheongun led Seomun and the imperial soldiers into the estate.

The guesthouse was always ready to receive visitors; after instructing Outer Hall Lord Namgoong Yeom to settle the soldiers there, Cheongun personally guided Seomun to the Thousand Guests Hall.

As expected, among the soldiers shadowing Seomun was the very master he had noted earlier.

“Humble though it is, rest at ease. If you need anything, tell the attendants freely.”

“Lord Namgoong.”

Having brought Seomun to the Thousand Guests Hall, Cheongun was about to take his leave.

But Seomun stopped him.

“You have not forgotten His Majesty’s command.”

Cheongun nodded with a gentle smile.

“Do not worry. It would be best, however, that you rest today—the road must have worn on you—and we speak again tomorrow.”

Pressed firmly to take a rest, Seomun let out a short sigh and nodded.

“Very well. Then, tomorrow at first light.”

“Indeed. I will send for you.”

Cheongun bowed and withdrew.

A soldier came up beside Seomun, watching Cheongun recede with the household.

“Looks like we won’t be seeing the Lord of Namgoong for a while.”

Seomun arched a brow and looked back.

“What do you mean, Grand Eunuch Ju? Did you not hear me say we would meet early tomorrow?”

“Do you truly think the Lord of Namgoong will oblige you so meekly tomorrow, Provincial Marshal?”

“What are you....”

“He will likely stall for time with every pretext he can.”

“...Why?”

“I hear Blood-King Poison has long held the post of Medicine Hall chief within the Namgoong estate. The Medicine Hall chief is, in essence, the one who holds that household’s lifeline.”

The one called Grand Eunuch Ju let out a soft chuckle.

“Would they hand over someone so vital so easily?”

“This is His Majesty’s order.”

“Which is precisely why they will stall. They cannot defy an Imperial Decree, but as a clan of great power, they will find an escape hatch somehow.”

Seomun’s face hardened at the eunuch’s words.

He looked with a sharp expression toward the direction Namgoong Cheongun had gone.

“If they try, I will not sit idly by.”

“What can you do—against the Namgoong Family, inside the Namgoong manor?”

“Anything necessary. If it comes to it, blood will be shed. I will not abide anyone making light of an Imperial Decree.”

“Well, do as you please.”

Seomun scowled.

“Aren’t you the one who must seize Blood-King Poison? How are you so unconcerned, Grand Eunuch?”

“If they hide, I need only find. I loved hide-and-seek from childhood.”

“...”

Seomun’s expression grew still harsher.

Grand Eunuch Ju was an eunuch of the Eastern Depot, an organ directly under the Emperor.

Traditionally the most influential of the Emperor’s secret arms had been his personal guards, the Brocade-Guard, but in recent years the tides within the palace had shifted; the Eastern Depot had been newly empowered.

In time the Emperor placed his trust in the Eastern Depot and cut back the Brocade-Guard’s remit; it was, in short, the eunuchs’ world.

“Then I shall go have a look around the manor. When else will I set foot in the Namgoong estate?”

With a last languid, lilting laugh, Grand Eunuch Ju swept out of the hall.

Watching him swagger away in a soldier’s garb that did little to conceal his station made Seomun’s head throb.

“Eunuchs.”

And the next day,

Namgoong Cheongun postponed the meeting, citing an urgent family matter.

****

“Go.”

Seop Mugwang turned his head to Namgoong Mucheon.

His face had gone pale ever since hearing from Namgoong Cheonghae about the Namgoong estate.

“What are you doing. Go at once. Cheongun will buy time, but with an Imperial Decree in hand they won’t remain patient for long. So—before it’s too late, go.”

Seop Mugwang dropped his wavering gaze to the floor.

“But...”

The Martial Alliance had declared war on the Blood Cult.

The first step was the extermination of demonic beasts at the boundary between the Heavenly Mountains and the Central Plains—Seop Mugwang knew how vital that was.

As Chief Division Lord of the Alliance, he commanded the beast-extermination force; he had boasted he would see the task done without incident.

“I will send someone else to Mount Kunlun.”

“...!”

“So you go to the Namgoong estate.”

“Brother...”

Namgoong Mucheon’s face was resolute.

He gripped the bewildered Seop Mugwang’s shoulders, met his eyes, and spoke.

“Didn’t Seolhwa tell us—the Blood Cult has begun to move. For the Emperor, quiet these past twenty years, to seek Chor Yeon now—there must be another reason.”

Seop Mugwang’s eyes trembled.

Hearing it put so plainly, it was strange indeed.

Could the Imperial House truly have failed to learn for twenty years that Chor Yeon was hiding within the Namgoong estate?

Even twenty years ago, the Emperor had shown little interest in the prince’s death; that he would now dispatch troops to seize Chor Yeon—this timing was too coincidental.

“It may be the Blood Cult is involved.”

“!”

“Go—protect Chor Yeon and learn the Emperor’s true intent. This is an order—as Lord of the Martial Alliance.”

Seop Mugwang pressed his lips together.

Namgoong Mucheon’s reasoning was sound, but it was also a consideration for Seop Mugwang himself, who held Chor Yeon in his heart.

For a man who might not put Alliance matters aside for his own, the Lord had shifted the balance of urgency.

“...My thanks.”

At Seop Mugwang’s low reply, Namgoong Mucheon nodded.

Seop Mugwang set out for the Namgoong estate at once.

The clear, bead-rolling sound of Chor Yeon’s laugh echoed in his ears.

Her smile flickered before his eyes.

‘Damn it...’

He would not let that smile be taken again.

He would not let her live trembling in fear again.

Even if he was called the sun of the Central Plains, the Emperor—she was his woman.

He would see that no one touched her lightly.

“Stand aside! Do you dare block an envoy bearing His Majesty the Emperor’s decree! I will meet the Lord of the estate this very day—stand aside! If you bar my way any longer, I will cut you down without mercy!”

Before the Clan Lord’s Hall of the Namgoong estate.

After two days without seeing Namgoong Cheongun, Seomun forced his way into the inner court’s Hall of the Clan Lord with his sword drawn.

Ordinarily he might have waited three full days, but as Grand Eunuch Ju had predicted, their stalling made him feel the Namgoong Family was scorning him; his temper flipped.

“Lord Namgoong! If you do not come out now, I will report to His Majesty—that the Namgoong Family has defied the imperial command and conspires at treason!”

The attendants and guards of the Hall of the Clan Lord were at a loss, unable to move one way or the other.

Then, someone emerged from within.

“Provincial Marshal, I must /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ ask you to put aside your anger.”

Seomun fixed him with a hard stare.

“I am Namgoong Mun, Chief Steward of the Namgoong Family.”

Namgoong Mun bowed and continued in a calm voice.

“The truth is, the Lord has been unwell these past few days and is confined to his bed. He told us not to report it, fearing it would cause you concern.”

“Ha! And I am to believe that a man hale as a horse two days ago has suddenly taken to his sickbed?”

“Whether you believe me is your will, Excellency; I merely state the facts.”

“You think I do not see you stalling because you refuse to hand over the criminal!”

Thud—!

Seomun struck the ground with his sheathed sword.

He had infused it with energy; the blow made the earth resonate.

“You may misunderstand so, but the situation is truly—”

“My apologies, Excellency.”

Another figure appeared behind Namgoong Mun.

Over a white inner robe hastily thrown on, he wore a blue long coat—the Lord of the Namgoong Family, Namgoong Cheongun.

With his hair let down in disarray, he looked genuinely more gaunt for the two days.