778 - I Am This Murim’s Crazy B*tch

Subsequent hammering continued for a while. In the past, even during her transcendental peak in Sichuan, Qing had endured blows from extraordinary swords that surged like colossal clubs, benefiting from the grand technique. Even after prolonged hammering, not only did her expression remain unflinching, but instead, a smile of exhilaration couldn’t be suppressed from seeping out. The emperor leaned on the armrest, propping his chin with his elbow, observing the scene with indifferent eyes. Yet, within his mind was a complex weave. Heavenly Endowment Great Technique (天賦受恩大法). A grand technique believed to embody the blessings granted by the heavens. Unlike names such as ‘Imperial Martial Arts,’ which were coined within the imperial court, this name was written in original Sanskrit translated into the Zhongyuan dialect. This was a technique from the celestial realm, a peculiar practice that fortifies the human body through the blood of noble lineage. Those barbaric celestial inhabitants dared to establish hierarchy among themselves, despite acknowledging the heavens, by segregating nobility and inferiority. Thus, this technique was a blessing bestowed by the higher echelons upon the lowly in the celestial realm. However, among the Zhongyuan people, there was no class system. Aside from the emperor, everyone was equal, distinguished only by the rank and esteem of their positions. For the emperor is not human. The emperor is a divine being, the son of heaven. Thus, the power of the Heavenly Endowment Great Technique, which utilized the emperor's heavenly blood, was so significant that even Ahya, who conducted the grand technique, could not hide her astonishment. Moreover, the original technique required using a single cup of precious blood, and the celestial realm’s cup was considerably larger than that of the Zhongyuan. However, extracting such a large volume of the emperor’s blood was implausible. Hence, using less than half of the normally required amount, the outcome was more than twice as remarkable, naturally causing bewilderment. If the Single Wheel True Person were present, he might have explained it as a matter of course. In the celestial realm, the clergy held the highest status. With the term 'clergy' (神官) indicating officials, they managed the affairs attributed to gods. Though they approached divinity, they were not gods; thus, what celestial beings considered noble blood was still confined within human limitations. However, the emperor was a divine being, a direct descendant of the ancient Three Sovereigns who descended from the heavens to look after humanity. One might question how the current Zhu family maintained this bloodline, but the power of the technique derives not from facts or logic but from belief and sentiment. The emperor tapped his fingers on the armrest. This habit surfaced whenever deep in thought. The grand technique was successful. Five new loyalists of the Heavenly Endowment emerged, bound to become unwavering devotees of the emperor, as living testimonies of the miracle. However, the grand technique was not infallible. At least one candidate was expected to fail, coughing up blood and dying from the hammer during the verification process. It wasn’t uncommon for the grand technique to fail on one person or another. They explained such failures as divine retribution for pretending loyalty while secretly defying. To prevent high officials privy to the technique's secret from inserting their subordinates or children, they deliberately used different blood to eliminate those involved. Thus, those granted the powers of the Heavenly Endowment with the emperor’s precious blood would survive, while others, receiving ineffective blood, would perish under the hammer. And in this latest grand technique, among the guards, there was one who received blood not from the emperor but from Ximen Qing. Normally this would have been grounds for immediate death by the hammer, so they inserted someone fated to die. “How is that person? Was the grand technique successful?” A voice asked in the solitary room. Suddenly, from within the shadows behind the emperor, a silent figure emerged, the bodyguard of the emperor. “It wasn’t ordinary. That person was twice as unyielding as the others, making even dealing with the corpse a laborious task for us.” Occasionally, guards who had successfully undergone the grand technique would mysteriously explode at night, discovered as mere fragments of flesh. They were typically people with poor reputations, those disobedient to superiors, bullying juniors, excessively accepting bribes, or overly selling the Golden Guard insignia (though the sale itself was legal). Thus, even those faithful and blessed by the grand technique, if greedy or harmful to the nation, would face divine retribution. This way, the Heavenly Endowment could effectively prevent any harm. Of course, there were side effects. Consequently, those blessed by the Heavenly Endowment, albeit harmless, tended to grow increasingly arrogant. This was because surviving the ordeal was almost a divine approval, leading to an overwhelming sense of self-assurance. “Twice, you say?” “Recently, having ingested many elixirs, their essence must have excessively lingered in the blood influencing the result. Such is my belief.” If the Single Wheel True Person had known everything about Qing, he might have offered a different interpretation. As Qing is the current head of the Divine Cult, not only possessing the Heavenly Dynasty’s blood, but also being akin to the sky itself—a remarkable being existing in harmony—possibly even influencing the technique. However, the emperor lacks the same depth of understanding in martial arts as the Single Wheel True Person and is unaware of the current state of the Demonic Cult. Thus, the opinion of the vigilant guard, a master at the Profound Realm, seemed reasonable and understandable to him. The conclusion was unambiguous. In Ximen Qing flowed precious blood. Heavenly Dynasty’s blood. Ximen Qing, indeed, was Yeon Sul, the pillar who shall govern. The emperor gently closed his eyes. The Empress’s insanity wasn’t insanity after all. What was unknown then became apparent; nowadays, Yeon Sul lacked the essence of Yeon Sul, having returned from a near-death experience with lost memories, learning anew to adhere to the palace’s laws and traditions. Tok, tok-tok. Within the quiet room, only the soft tapping of the emperor’s fingers on the armrest reverberated. And shortly thereafter. “Bring Ximen Qing, no, bring Yeon Sul.” --- Bum Yak-gong was the master craftsman of the Huang Jijeon. Originally, leaving the three palatial complexes, including the Huangjijeon, and the two palaces behind it was not permitted. To be precise, it was forbidden to leave the northern region of the palace, where another master of the Profound Realm, the emperor's secret guardian known as the Guardian Knight, resided. For truly, how could one detect the stealthy infiltration of a Profound Realm master without being one themselves? Thus, the Guardian Knight of the emperor functioned like an invisible line that prevented Bum Yak-gong from passing beyond the main three palaces and the eastern and western palaces on either side, forming the northern region of the Forbidden City. However, the Nam Sanso was different. Located on the east side of the Huangjijeon, it was a place where one could dwell year-round without ever encountering the Guardian Knight. Thus, Nam Sanso, or the Lifting Hall. There was no direct evidence proving that the Heavenly Sword Flower dared to impersonate the Dynasty, specifically Princess Yeon Sul. Although she denied the claims, her ambiguous attitude without strong denial kept suspicions in play. If they sought the easiest evidence, finding a witness, it would naturally be Lady Dukseong or Haeryu. Yet both had already recognized Heavenly Sword Flower as the true Yeon Sul, swearing to protect her even at the cost of their lives, so they wouldn't serve as witnesses. So, where could evidence be found? In truth, there was no need to find it! Because they could simply create it! "Do you wish to leave the palace? Presently, there is a great rebel within the palace, and taking credit for eliminating such a foe could grant you extensive lands and an honorable departure." "Gasp. Really?" The palace maidens of the Lifting Hall, those who served the building without a mistress, gulped their saliva. If one were to name the greatest dream for these maidens, naturally, it would be entering the emperor’s harem. But the odds of that are nearly nonexistent. The possibility of the emperor, who found such beauty tiresome, seeking an ordinary face is almost nil, as concubines are already stunning beyond comparison. The second dream varied by individual. To become an influential court lady adored by the Empress or Consort, influential enough to sway the Forbidden City. Or to be recognized for great merit, receive numerous land deeds, and leave the palace to live a prosperous life being addressed as 'Madame.' The offer by Bum Yak-gong was precisely the latter—a chance to leave the palace to live as a respected lady. "B-but sir, how could I possibly…" “Do not worry. Would I give you a difficult task? All you need to do is provide a simple testimony, and you won’t be in any danger.” “Testimony, you say...” The maid swallowed her ounce of doubt. Indeed, the Forbidden City was rife with the tales of such plots, and the maid immediately caught on, understanding the weight of such accusations and testimonies as particularly potent weapons in the Forbidden City, where frivolous conjuring was forbidden. With that, Bum Yak-gong offered a benevolent smile. "Moreover, this is in accordance with the Crown Prince's wishes. Even if you’re not interested in leaving the palace, serving His Highness could be a significant opportunity for you." "Gasp." The maid inhaled sharply. ---- On receiving word of the emperor's summons, Qing couldn't help but feel nervous. Indeed, even for Qing, a summons from the emperor was bound to evoke tension. For what greater call than that from the mighty sovereign who held the power over the lives and deaths of innumerable subjects in all Zhongyuan? Moreover, speaking of the emperor’s character, one couldn’t overlook his impressive history. In Sichuan, wasn’t he the ruthless brother who sought to kill his own sibling? On the way to Guangzhou, when his brother resisted, wasn’t his severe anger unchecked, causing a significant toll on lives? And before the Orthodox Martial Academy, wasn’t he the heartless ruler who saw the people not as citizens but merely subjects? Furthermore, the massacre at the last Temple of the Celestial Maiden and the subsequent martial arts demonstrations weren’t favorable to witness, either. Of course, that malevolent art, whatever it was called, using villains and inhuman beasts as materials was quite impressive. Yet, some of the guards supposedly receiving that grand technique were more suited as raw material for their exceeding beastliness beyond a hundred cases. Nevertheless, by some fortune, the emperor’s merits remained ostensibly at zero. In any case. He was certainly an individual with no hesitation in eliminating others for the sake of power. Such a person, plagued by uncontrollable rage? Should you defy him, you might find yourself, "Punish the wench severely and hunt her entire family until doomed," and perhaps even, "Burn the Divine Maiden Sect and Murim Alliance," extending his blade further, and most certainly so, without a doubt. Of course, if things soured, she had the assurance to escape alone. But what of the consequences afterward? Therefore, Qing assumed the utmost caution, employing her full prowess in the demeanor of Ximen Surin’s Beauty Tactics. Thus arriving at the Forbidden City’s main palace, Houzheng Palace. Within which was the emperor’s residence, Geoncheonggung. The Houzheng Palace of the main palace was a sacred male-excluded area. No man, save the emperor, was allowed entry, with perhaps the Crown Prince as the only exception. Though by decree, even the Crown Prince was forbidden entry into the heart of the Forbidden City. Therefore, those permitted to set foot within the Houzheng Palace were individuals exempt from the constraints of manhood—in other words, the palace women and eunuchs. Naturally, ancient Zhongyuan didn’t recognize mental gender, and mentioning such could lead to an untimely death accused of being possessed by a ghost. Ergo, in Zhongyuan, Qing’s gender was considered female. Meaning she could enter the Houzheng Palace. Thus, to Geoncheonggung! Past the doors opened by eunuchs, navigating the complicated, screen-shrouded pathways inside, her journey led her to the emperor's inner quarters, the chamber’s door opening at her arrival. Within Geoncheonggung’s inner sanctum. Over countless eras, the number of individuals who set foot here could be written in large letters on a single sheet of paper. Yet, such knowledge was beyond Qing’s awareness. And she didn’t have the luxury of time to entertain such thoughts. To have anything seized upon was unacceptable, prompting unprecedented caution. Thus, Qing clung to the floor, almost ready to shout a threefold cheer proclaiming eternal life. “Hooooh.” “It suffices.” The emperor waved a hand at Qing, interrupting her as she drew a deep breath for a loud exclamation of cheer. Ah, this was unforeseen. Whether "It suffices" meant she could forgo the threefold cheer entirely or skip her entire greeting, Qing pondered momentarily. As she hesitated, the emperor's voice resonated. "It suffices, so Yeon Sul, you may lift your head now."