Book 11: Chapter 12: Destiny

"Why was it the Eldest Young Master of the Sword Family?"

Since that was the deepest question that had existed for Kang Sang from the beginning kang Sang could not help but ask that question.

Why the Eldest Young Master of the Sword Family?

Why Yeon So-hyeon?

"When We heard the news that 'that Eldest Young Master' of the Luoyang Sword Family had ended his seclusion and come out into the world again."

The Emperor facing Kang Sang had definitely said so with his own mouth.

"We realized that it was the last opportunity granted to Us."

The Emperor nodded slowly.

"Indeed… We knew you would ask so."

The trailing end of his words and the bitter smile the Emperor wore on his lips.

The Emperor paused for a long time, as much as he had nodded slowly, but since it was such an important issue, kang Sang waited quietly for the Emperor's mouth to open.

And when the Emperor's mouth opened again.

"…We have, since a long time ago. Before anyone else. The Eldest Young Master of the Luoyang Sword Family."

Kang Sang could hear a story from the Emperor that he had never even imagined.

"We have watched the path of the one named Yeon So-hyeon."

The Emperor added.

"From the very day he was born." "……?!"

Kang Sang forgot even the etiquette he had to observe before the Emperor, and dared to raise his head to look at the Emperor.

Instead of rebuking Kang Sang, the Emperor looked up at the ceiling and said.

"The place with the slowest change in the entire State of Zhongyuan. The place where change arrives last is none other than this Imperial Palace."

The Emperor raised his hand and pointed to himself.

"And even among them, under the pretext of preserving tradition, the place with the slowest change is the Imperial Household."

The Emperor's words led to a story whose meaning was unknown, but Kang Sang accepted it for now.

"…That is so."

In his mind, the scenery of the Imperial Palace he had seen today rose up.

From when he rose to office at a young age and entered the palace for the first time to when he threw off his official robes and left the Imperial Palace, and even today upon his return.

The appearance of the Imperial Palace was consistent down to a single aspect of the ceiling.

Since the Imperial Palace was to such a degree the Imperial Household of the State of Zhongyuan at its center was even further removed from change.

"And that is why, in the Imperial Household, those who observe the changes of the heavens and divine good and bad fortunes from there remain to this day."

In the Imperial Household, there were duties such as presiding over rituals related to heaven, enshrining imperial ancestral tablets, or divining weather and floods.

There were numerous minor organizations related to the realm of superstition, deviating from common sense and reason.

"…Are you speaking of the imperial astronomers?"

"Yes."

Although they were directly under the Imperial Household because they were organizations far removed from advancement or power and no one paid attention to them, only someone of Kang Sang's caliber, who had served as Chancellor, could barely remember their names.

"And seventeen years ago, they submitted a secret report to my father, the late Emperor."

The Emperor's eyes narrowed.

"It was a report on the appearance of the Heavenly Killing Star."

"…The Heavenly Killing Star."

Since it was said that the destiny of one born under the Heavenly Killing Star would dye the world in blood how could Kang Sang, who was well-versed in all kinds of knowledge, not know of the Heavenly Killing Star?

However, someone would point to a spot in the night sky and emphasize its ominous nature, but the absolute majority saw no trace of any star there.

"was that not an imaginary star? I heard that although there are those who claim to have seen it rise, it has never once been proven."

"Indeed. We heard it was the same back then."

"Therefore, it seemed to pass as just a trivial matter."

"…Since the only way for an organization that normally receives no attention to maintain its budget is to make such a fuss occasionally."

"But, Chancellor."

The Emperor lowered his voice.

Inside the room where all external noise was blocked by the old eunuch's martial arts, the Emperor's voice was exceptionally dreary.

"We heard it was different back then."

"Not only the astronomical officials of the Imperial Household, but soon from all over the State of Zhongyuan, warnings from renowned diviners in retirement poured into the Imperial Household." "……?!"

Since that was a unique domain of the Imperial Household, even Kang Sang, who was Chancellor at the time, heard of it for the first time.

"Those who read fortunes, those who read the heavenly secrets, those who peer into the future, those who deal with ghosts, those who communicate with spirits those who serve deities, and so on. Without exception, all of them who made their names known in the shadows."

Even Kang Sang, who was bold enough to hunt tigers, could not help but feel goosebumps at this moment.

"All of them conveyed a warning with the exact same content to the Imperial Household on the same day at the same hour."

The Emperor spoke the warning of that day.

"'The Heavenly Killing Star has risen in the thousand-year-old capital.'" "……."

Although the current capital of the State of Zhongyuan was the Imperial Capital the thousand-year-old capital of the State of Zhongyuan referred to Luoyang.

And seventeen years ago.

Kang Sang was not so dull as to fail to notice how all these stories were connected.

"…Are you saying the Eldest Young Master of the Sword Family was born under the Heavenly Killing Star?"

"Their claim was so."

Kang Sang shook his head.

"…That is absurd. Was there no other possibility in the interpretation?"

"If not that," the Emperor smiled bitterly.

"they said it meant that the new Cult Leader of the destroyed Demonic Cult was born in Luoyang on the same day as the Eldest Young Master of the Luoyang Sword Family."

The new Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult…! "……."

Kang Sang swallowed a groan inwardly and shook his head.

"So was it confirmed that the Eldest Young Master of the Sword Family is the Heavenly Killing Star?"

"No."

The Emperor shook his head.

"Although we do not know how it happened, they said the Heavenly Killing Star hid its trace after that day."

"…Did you say it hid its trace?"

"All kinds of theories were rampant even among the astronomers of the Imperial Household."

The Emperor stroked his beard.

"The child of the Heavenly Killing Star is dead. If he were to die like that in the first place, he could not be born under the Heavenly Killing Star. Someone went against the heavenly secrets and intervened in destiny, or it was not the Heavenly Killing Star from the beginning, and so on."

"…In the end, the truth of it could not be determined."

"However, it was sufficient to keep the Imperial Household paying attention to the Eldest Young Master of the Sword Family."

"Ah…!"

Indeed.

From the very beginning, this story started from: why did the Emperor pay attention to the Eldest Young Master of the Sword Family?

How had the Emperor been keeping a close eye on his existence from the start?

"In the past, there was one who was called the 'Medicine Fairy.'" at the Emperor's words, Kang Sang nodded.

"You are speaking of Yak So-yu, the Eldest Young Master's mother."

"Yes. Her achievements, showing miracle-like events one after another, even led to the creation of a new religion."

"…Regarding whether to recognize the Fairy Cult as an official religious group, all official religious organizations in the State of Zhongyuan gathered to hold a grand conference."

And as a result the Fairy Cult was recognized as an official religious group and began to spread its name to all quarters.

"Indeed. But…"

The Emperor's gaze turned to Kang Sang.

"It must be your first time hearing that nearly half of those achievements known to the world as the miracles of the Medicine Fairy were actually the achievements of that Eldest Young Master." "……!"

"The Medicine Fairy, who received various honorary positions, submitted numerous reports to the Imperial Household during her lifetime."

The Emperor recalled the records of the past and continued.

"Preventing major floods, predicting great droughts, developing new farming methods, and compiling medical books."

It meant that half of those had the touch of the young Eldest Young Master.

"It was a fact that could never have been known if the Imperial Household had not been paying attention to his every single move."

"…That is surprising. However," kang Sang shrugged.

"as an acquaintance of the Eldest Young Master, it is not particularly surprising."

"Is that so?"

The Emperor let out a chuckle.

"But to Us, it was more surprising than anything, and he was an amazing person. Therefore, since the past, We wanted to emulate him more than anyone." "……!"

"Therefore, We made sure to look through all the reports related to him."

That was a story kept inside the Emperor, which no one else knew.

"That child, who is younger than Us, was Our hero, and We wanted to become a person like that Eldest Young Master."

The Emperor, at this moment was more candid than ever.

"If We could become like that boy named Yeon So-hyeon, We felt as if We could remain as the most magnificent Emperor in the history of the State of Zhongyuan—no, in the history of this continent."

"…Your Imperial Majesty!"

At the excessively candid story kang Sang did not know what to do with himself and bowed his head to the floor.

Kang Sang could predict the story that would follow.

But he did not even dare to utter that story, bowing his head even deeper.

The Emperor shook his head.

"But unlike him, We were incompetent." "……."

The late Emperor died suddenly, and he, who was the Crown Prince, inherited the imperial throne in the midst of confusion.

And at the time the patriarchs of the Sixteen Families of the Imperial Capital, who were the greatest loyal subjects, bared their hidden teeth all at once.

The young Emperor became their puppet.

"And even that Eldest Young Master, who was the hero in Our heart…"

The incident called the Blood Incident.

After the mass purge of the Luoyang Sword Family, he entered seclusion.

"Did he eventually yield to the harsh destiny of the Heavenly Killing Star?"

The Emperor muttered as if to himself.

"Or was even that his fate?"

In the end the old demons, who had manipulated his young self at will, stepped down taking responsibility for the Northern War, but that was not the power of the Imperial Household, but merely the product of a political struggle within the Sixteen Families.

The prestige of the Imperial Household had already, a long time ago, fallen to the ground.

He was powerless.

"We… no, I…"

The Emperor smiled self-deprecatingly.

"I was, in fact, giving up on everything…" "……."

"As time flowed helplessly, loyal subjects were swept away, and families all over the State of Zhongyuan became even stronger. And now, even the Min Family, who produced the new Empress…"

The Emperor—no the ordinary young man held up his two hands.

"…I could do nothing."

At the candid confession poured out by the Emperor, Kang Sang's eyes grew red.

"…Your Imperial Majesty."

What could he say here?

However there was no need for Kang Sang to say anything.

"Then not long ago, a shocking piece of news arrived for me."

"What news was it?"

The Emperor's subsequent words were far from self-deprecation it was a report from the astronomers of the Imperial Household who were barely maintaining their existence.

And the Emperor even wore a meaningful smile.

"They said the Heavenly Killing Star rose again."

"…The Heavenly Killing Star, again?"

"And a short while later."

Even without hearing it, Kang Sang could guess the content.

"It was that the Eldest Young Master of the Sword Family ended his seclusion…!"

"Indeed."

The Emperor nodded heavily.

"He has returned."

The Emperor nodded repeatedly, talking to himself as if convincing himself.

"He has finally returned."

Why the Emperor said that Yeon So-hyeon ending his seclusion was his last opportunity, kang Sang could understand.

'Similar age, similar situation.'

The Emperor had identified his own situation of being helpless before destiny with Yeon So-hyeon's situation, empathizing with him.

And with this it was the same as confirming the relationship between Yeon So-hyeon and the Heavenly Killing Star, which had not been proven in the past.

"They said that as soon as he returned, he has been causing major incidents one after another."

The Emperor, who said so, looked pleased.

"…The Eldest Young Master is rapidly securing his position which he had lost."

And everywhere he went blood scattered and screams soared.

'The Heavenly Killing Star…'

In any case, it was a part of superstition.

Although the Emperor's story was mysterious as Confucius said, a gentleman does not speak of extraordinary things, feats of strength, disorder, or spiritual beings.

It had no great meaning to Kang Sang, who had known Yeon So-hyeon directly for a long time.

But they say that when you know, you see new things and Yeon So-hyeon's path felt newly fresh to him.

"Does Your Imperial Majesty…"

Kang Sang carefully opened his mouth.

"find it uncomfortable that the Eldest Young Master is the Heavenly Killing Star?"

"No."

The Emperor immediately shook his head.

"Rather, We think it is well. That is exactly what is needed in this era."

The Emperor smiled, showing his teeth.

"Since ancient times, whenever history changes grandly, a great wind of blood always blows. Resistance follows all change, and even greater resistance must follow a change that changes history."

That appearance was so different from the face of the Emperor who had shown a weak side that Kang Sang felt a shock that was even refreshing.

"…Indeed. That is so."

"So tell Us."

The Emperor spread his hands toward Kang Sang.

"The news you brought."

The Emperor, ignited by the hope in the name of Yeon So-hyeon, was no longer powerless.

"Please let Us also know that Eldest Young Master's strategy."

"Yes, of course, Your Imperial Majesty."

At that appearance, Kang Sang smiled and bowed his head to greet him again.

The ones waiting for Yeon So-hyeon to return were not only Kang Sang and Gong Ryang, the old loyal subjects.

The Emperor, too had been waiting for Yeon So-hyeon that much.

"However, rather than hearing it from me, We believe it would be better to hear it directly from the parties concerned."

"The parties concerned?"

"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty."

Kang Sang reported with his head bowed.

"By now, in this Imperial Capital, those old demons who received the Eldest Young Master's command must have slipped in and are hiding themselves."

It meant that if they sent the promised signal even now, they would enter the palace immediately. "……!"

The Emperor's eyes widened in shock.

"Was that not a rumor spread to hide your entry into the Imperial Palace?!"

The smile on Kang Sang's lips deepened.

"It is truth and falsehood."

Spreading rumors about the old demons to hide Kang Sang's movements.

Kang Sang revealing his movements to hide the movements of the old demons.

"All of this was the Eldest Young Master's strategy."