Chapter 98 – Returning to the Palace (5)

Ju Yun-hui grew agitated at Eun Seol-rin’s words. Just as the two were about to raise their voices, Yu-jin swiftly pulled both women into his embrace.

“You two need to get closer. And there’s no better way to do that than physically.”

“W-wait a moment, Master. Please, just answer one thing for me.”

“Fine. What is it?”

Eun Seol-rin looked at Yu-jin for a moment before speaking.

“Why did you order me to keep Han Won-ha alive? If you were to command his assassination now, I could take his life in an instant.”

“Ah, I just felt like watching the insect struggle and interfering with it. I want to teach him that just because a person desperately wants something, it doesn’t mean they’ll get it. I want to give him a taste of despair. But that’s enough about him. You two are far more important than some bug’s frantic struggle.”

Yu-jin grasped the two women’s ample breasts. His night had only just begun.

* * *

Yu-jin was happy.

He feasted on dishes prepared by excellent chefs and held Ju Yun-hui whenever he had the time. He even dallied with a few of the palace maids.

Han Won-ha’s threat meant nothing to him. After all, his every move was being monitored by Eun Seol-rin and Ran.

Whether he was aware of it or not, Han Won-ha had yet to make any significant move, and Yu-jin considered himself a very fortunate man.

But that happiness did not last long.

“Why am I doing this?”

Yu-jin was currently organizing documents. An enormous pile of them, at that. The topics were incredibly varied—from the Outlands to the Martial World—but they all concerned powers that could become enemies of the Imperial Family.

The crucial point, however, was that this was originally the Phantom Emperor’s job. In other words, Yu-jin was doing the Phantom Emperor’s work for him.

“Because you are the man who will one day become the Lord of the Phantom Brigade.”

At the words of the Phantom Emperor standing behind him, Yu-jin shot back with an incredulous look. He had been swept up in the atmosphere and ended up here, but he was a man who detested paperwork.

“So why am I becoming the Lord of the Phantom Brigade? I have no intention of doing so.”

“What are you talking about? Members of the Imperial Family who cannot engage in politics have always supported the throne from the shadows like this. And do you not possess a power greater than any other? It would be unthinkable to let such strength lie dormant. I will assist you for the time being, so you’d best familiarize yourself with the duties as quickly as possible.”

Yu-jin briefly considered ditching the whole Imperial Son-in-Law gig and running away, but seeing the Phantom Emperor’s broad grin, he let out a sigh and gave up.

An old man with eyes sparkling like a child’s was not a particularly pleasant sight.

“Ah, that’s enough paperwork for now. There are some kids who want to meet you. The work is important, but getting to know them is even more so.”

With that, the Phantom Emperor led Yu-jin away to another location.

They arrived in a spacious cavern. Inside, twelve warriors stood with calm expressions, their eyes fixed on Yu-jin.

The Phantom Emperor smiled at them and spoke.

“This is Sir Kang Yu-jin, the new Vice-Lord of the Phantom Brigade. He will soon become the Imperial Son-in-Law and, in time, the new Lord of the Phantom Brigade. So, serve him well. Yu-jin, these are the squad leaders of the Phantom Brigade. They are all highly skilled warriors.”

However, the eyes of the twelve men were filled with an unwillingness to acknowledge Yu-jin.

[Did you not tell them about my power?]

[Let them find out for themselves. It’s always best to learn these things firsthand.]

The Phantom Emperor replied to Yu-jin’s telepathic message with one of his own. Yu-jin sighed at the irresponsible answer.

He had first thought the man was dignified and serious, but that was a load of bull. Far from dignified, the Phantom Emperor was a man who would risk his life for retirement.

‘Well, protecting the Imperial Palace for decades is impressive enough. If I had to do that until I died, I’d quit too.’

Thinking this, Yu-jin looked at the twelve warriors. All of them had reached the peak realm, where they could freely manipulate their internal energy.

“Lord, we cannot accept this! This man may have made a name for himself in the Martial World, but that is all. How can we entrust the Phantom Brigade to a young master from a greenhouse, who has only learned what his clan taught him!” shouted the man with the most powerful presence, looking at the Phantom Emperor.

Suddenly, Yu-jin burst into loud laughter.

“Hahahaha! A young master from a greenhouse? Me, of all people!”

But the laughter was short-lived. His face turned expressionless as he began to unleash his aura.

At first, the twelve squad leaders smirked, but as his presence grew stronger and stronger, their faces began to pale.

“What the! The reports never said the Divine Sword Dragon was this strong!”

“Your mistake was trying to size me up in the first place.”

Yu-jin replied coldly, looking at the man who had insulted him. Gritting their teeth at Yu-jin’s complete disregard for them, the squad leaders charged.

The first to attack was a man wielding a longsword. As he swung his blade, a crimson, wheel-shaped energy construct spun at a furious speed and flew toward Yu-jin.

But Yu-jin, employing the Black Heaven Arts, simply swatted his hand as if shooing away a fly.

*CRASH!*

The crimson wheel was instantly deflected, slamming into the wall.

“N-no way!”

The man’s face filled with shock as his ultimate technique was so easily thwarted.

“Tch. Getting surprised over something like this. And I’ll get your names later. First, you’re all getting a beating.”

That day, the twelve squad leaders were beaten like dogs, and they came to understand his words perfectly.

* * *

The Divine Sword Emperor, Kang Yu-hyeon. Known as the strongest of the Ten Great Heavenly Masters to hail from the Central Plains. He gazed at the young man before him with a benevolent smile.

The young man was handsome enough to be called beautiful. But the aura emanating from him was the very definition of dominance.

“Secluded training does not always yield results, but it seems you have fortunately achieved something.”

At Kang Yu-hyeon’s words, the young man simply bowed his head without a word. Inwardly, however, he was satisfied with his achievement. Reaching the Transformation Realm at the young age of twenty-four was certainly something worthy of praise.

“It does not seem to be the clan’s martial art. Did you have a fortunate encounter? There are not many arts in our clan that can elevate one to the Transformation Realm.”

Kang Yu-hyeon immediately recognized that the martial art that had brought the young man to the Transformation Realm was not one from the True Dragon Sword Clan.

However, neither Kang Yu-hyeon nor the young man, who had learned an art from outside the clan, thought anything was wrong with it.

The True Dragon Sword Clan was a family with a very open mind regarding martial arts, never hesitating to accept outside techniques and warriors.

“I previously acquired a martial art through a fortunate encounter.”

Kang Yu-hyeon nodded at the young man’s words. He stared at him for a moment before speaking.

“But even though you’ve reached the Transformation Realm, you still seem very incomplete. I suppose that’s to be expected. The internal arts you learned in the clan do not harmonize with it. The only reason you were able to reach the Transformation Realm despite that is because the new art you acquired is truly formidable. Later, hand over the cultivation method you obtained to the Institute of Martial Studies and have your issues corrected. Otherwise, you will not be able to advance any further.”

Kang Yu-hyeon’s words pointed to a limitation that not only the young man but the entire True Dragon Sword Clan possessed. As open as they were to accepting new martial arts, there were definite problems.

Often, internal arts would clash with each other, or the cultivation method and the techniques would be completely at odds.

In such cases, it could not be called a proper martial art, and in fact, the probability of losing one’s life was high.

The Institute of Martial Studies had been established to prevent such tragic ends. The True Dragon Sword Clan had cultivated a great number of martial scholars, who researched and analyzed countless martial arts, transforming them into the arts of the True Dragon Sword Clan.

“I understand, Father.”

The young man was also clearly aware of his own problems. The new martial art he had acquired was so powerful that it was suppressing the one he had previously learned, but it was also just as ferocious.

It wasn’t a problem in normal circumstances, but when he unleashed his full power, it could very well consume him, so it needed to be rectified as soon as possible.

“As long as you understand. Still, Yong-hoon, as your father, I cannot help but praise you. Such an achievement at your age. You are a child who will bring glory to the clan. Continue to strive for more.”

The young man, Kang Yong-hoon, cupped his fists and replied.

“I understand, Father.”

With those words, Kang Yong-hoon exited the room. Left alone, Kang Yu-hyeon let out a small laugh.

“Is it true that blood cannot be denied? To think he would even learn demonic arts to become stronger. Still, he is truly the most talented of all my children. To completely eliminate the demonic energy from a demonic art and extract only the parts that grant great power quickly…”

Kang Yu-hyeon pondered for a moment.

“Judging by that domineering aura, like that which a dragon spews forth, he must have learned the Hellfire Dragon Arts.”

Kang Yu-hyeon grasped everything about Kang Yong-hoon in an instant. His vast experience and knowledge made it possible.

Of all the people he had ever met, only two had ever eluded his discerning eyes.

“My second son is quite pitiful. When you look only at his innate talent and disposition, he is the most outstanding among the children, but in the end, he is fated to be second best. No, perhaps I should say that is a relief?”

Kang Yu-hyeon muttered to himself as he thought of his firstborn, Kang Yu-jin. The only child who had ever deceived his eyes, which could comprehend everything with a single glance.

He had fathered many children, but never one like Yu-jin. Compared to the average member of the younger generation, his talent was certainly excellent, but frankly, it was pathetic compared to Kang Yong-hoon’s.

And yet, Yu-jin had achieved more than any of his other children and was now threatening his own position.

“It seems you are putting up quite a struggle, Yu-jin. Not only making the Namgung Clan and the Cheonsan Lee Clan your allies, but even the Imperial Family.”

Kang Yu-hyeon chuckled as he looked at the imperial missive in his hand. The letter stated that regarding Yu-jin’s marriage, the wedding would be held as soon as an auspicious day was chosen.

After reading the letter, Kang Yu-hyeon burned it with the Samadhi True Flame and looked toward Beijing.

“You truly are a strange child, Yu-jin. I erased every possible path for you to reach the Profound Realm, yet you reached it in your own way. And you even managed to adorably trick me. But if you were going to hide it, you should have hidden it better. Just because you have escaped my grasp does not mean you can escape my sight.”

Yu-jin had used all his abilities to conceal his power, and as a result, he had managed to evade Kang Yu-hyeon’s eyes. But Yu-jin needed to know. The eyes and ears of Kang Yu-hyeon, spread throughout the world, were far more numerous than he could ever imagine.