Chapter 207: I Need to Change the Plan (1)
It was late at night when So-mu and Seol Pung finally walked out of Yanghwa Hall.
Their expressions were anything but bright. Despite the prolonged debate, the State of Po had refused to yield.
“They are truly too much. It seems they are determined not to cooperate, no matter how much the world is ruined.”
So-mu looked at the fuming Seol Pung and wore a bitter smile.
“I won’t have the face to see the Advisor when I return.”
“Must we give up like this? We cannot attack Luoyang on our own.”
“Since they have made their decision, there is nothing we can do, is there?”
Seol Pung’s face was filled with grievance and anger. If he could have had his way, he would have struck the Chancellor’s face during the meeting.
“Sigh. Seeing their petty behavior, they might stab us in the back later. Shouldn’t we deal with them first? If we deploy our elite forces, we could quickly seize the capital. It won’t take long.”
“We cannot wage war. Causing suffering to the common people with another conflict is not our way.”
“The people here will suffer even greater hardships because of this incompetent imperial family. We would merely be saving them, General.”
So-mu patted him on the back and changed the subject.
“Let us head back quickly. I’ve kept my daughter waiting for too long. She probably hasn’t even eaten yet. What a mess.”
“Why don’t we take So-so out to an inn? I will treat you, General.”
Judging by his expression, Seol Pung wanted to drink away his frustration. Knowing that his distress stemmed from his concern for the nation, So-mu didn’t want to chide him.
“That sounds fine. Do you have enough money? My daughter may be small, but she eats quite a lot.”
“I have plenty. I plan to drink to my heart’s content tonight.”
Though Seol Pung spoke that way, So-mu had no intention of letting him pay, as his wife had given him more than enough money.
Ahead of them, several officials led the way to the Guijing Residence.
After walking and chatting for about fifteen minutes, So-mu suddenly looked puzzled.
“It seems something has happened in the palace.”
“Pardon…?”
Seol Pung looked around in confusion. A moment later, his eyes widened.
“Are those the Imperial Guards?”
“Hmm…”
Imperial Guards responsible for defending the capital were running in all directions.
They were organized in squads of fifty, numbering in the hundreds. And their numbers were steadily growing.
“It’s the girl who attacked the Crown Prince! We must capture her!”
“Search everywhere!”
From the soldiers’ shouts, they could immediately gather what was happening.
Seol Pung let out a satisfied laugh and muttered, “It seems someone who suffered under the prince has taken revenge. I knew his wickedness would catch up to him eventually.”
“Every action brings its own consequence. How can a tyrant who harms the world escape the wrath of heaven?”
“Indeed. But with the Imperial Guards deployed like this, she will be caught soon, won’t she?”
So-mu nodded.
“Most likely. Still, having attacked the Emperor’s only son, she will face a terrible end.”
“True. Whoever she is, she is a righteous hero who will go down in history.”
The two continued walking, conversing casually.
Just as their destination, the Guijing Residence, came into view in the distance.
A soldier’s shout erupted from nearby.
“Over here!”
“Send reinforcements immediately!”
Along with the sound of a whistle, soldiers swarmed toward a single location like a cloud of hornets.
Seeing this, Seol Pung frowned in pity.
“It seems she is already surrounded.”
So-mu did not reply. For some reason, he had an uneasy feeling. Judging by the presence, it was not far from where they stood.
Just then, soldiers clad in golden armor appeared from the flank.
“Out of the way!”
At a glance, these soldiers looked far stronger than the Imperial Guards. They were the Golden Dragon Unit, the elite guard of the State of Po.
At the center of the hundred-strong squad, someone was being carried on a litter.
It was an elite carriage lined with golden silk. On it lay the prince, gasping for breath, his appearance utterly ruined.
The prince screamed with a face like a demon, “Do not kill her! Capture her alive! She must be caught alive!”
Looking at the prince, Seol Pung smirked.
“He doesn’t have a single tooth left, does he?”
Not only that, but blood poured from his mouth every time he spoke. Yet, he was more focused on capturing the culprit than his own well-being.
Watching their departing figures, So-mu’s expression hardened further.
About two hundred paces away, amidst the crowd of soldiers, he felt a familiar presence.
“Something feels wrong.”
“What do you mean?”
“We’ll know when we get there.”
So-mu and Seol Pung executed their light movement techniques and rushed toward the source.
When they arrived, their jaws dropped in disbelief.
With their backs against the wall of a pavilion, two girls were surrounded by soldiers.
“G-General, why is your daughter…”
The cute girl with the bowl cut was undoubtedly So-so. Surrounded by about five hundred soldiers, she was clutching her short sword, looking as though she were protecting the girl behind her.
So-mu instantly realized what had happened.
“It seems my daughter was the one who beat the prince into that state.”
He had never imagined she would do something so extreme. So-so herself looked highly panicked, as if she hadn’t expected this situation either.
“Then, what should we…”
“How can I blame her for a righteous heart that cannot tolerate injustice? Even Min-gong said that if everyone possessed such a heart, the world would be a warmer place.”
Taking a deep breath, So-mu pushed past the soldiers and walked inside.
“Who goes there?”
“Back away before you are arrested!”
The Imperial Guards tried to block him, but they could only shout. Oppressed by an invisible pressure, they found themselves backing away.
Alertly watching her surroundings, So-so spotted her father and ran to him.
“Dad!”
“I am a bit late.”
So-so buried her face in his waist and burst into tears.
“Dad, I’m sorry. What do I do now…”
So-mu spoke with a voice infused with internal energy, ensuring everyone present could hear him clearly.
“Why should you be sorry for beating a wicked bastard who torments the weak?”
Following behind, Seol Pung was shocked. This was the heart of an enemy nation. Even for the Great General, this was an incredibly provocative statement.
The soldiers of Po closed the perimeter, aiming their swords at So-mu.
“She is my friend. Her mother was killed, and her father is now… Sob…”
A dazed girl was clinging to So-so’s back.
Looking at her features, she bore a strong resemblance to the face reader they had seen earlier. There were bruises all over her face and arms.
Even without hearing the details, So-mu could guess the situation.
“My daughter has hunted a beast today.”
Just then, a roar came from behind them.
“What are you doing, you fools! Capture them immediately!”
It was the prince lying on the litter.
As the soldiers advanced with swords drawn, Seol Pung picked up a sword from the ground.
Since things had come to this, he had no intention of dying quietly.
Recognizing him, a general stepped forward and shouted, “Are you not Seol Pung? Have you betrayed your country and surrendered to the State of So?”
“I choose my own master. Step forward and I will cut you down.”
However, he did not get the chance to swing his sword.
“Take the children and step back.”
So-mu walked forward alone, his hands behind his back. He headed straight toward the litter where Crown Prince Won Jin lay.
“Attack!”
Soldiers began to rush him from all sides. So-mu kept walking, his hands still clasped behind his back.
The moment the frontrunners drew within thirty feet of him, a golden barrier of qi erupted in a circle around him.
It was the Prajna Qigong, a technique superior to deflecting astral qi.
Boom!
The charging soldiers were simultaneously thrown back, crashing to the ground.
“Argh!”
“Urgh!”
In an instant, about fifty soldiers were incapacitated.
Behind them, soldiers armed with trigger crossbows appeared and aimed at So-mu.
Even so, he did not stop walking. His face remained completely relaxed.
“I am So-mu, Great General of the State of So. I ask you one thing: is that tyrant truly the master you would lay down your lives to serve?”
Though he did not raise his voice, everyone heard him clearly.
Overawed by his presence, no one dared to speak.
Seeing the crossbowmen hesitate, the prince fell into another fit of rage.
“Atta…”
The prince could not finish his command, clutching his throat as So-mu directed his killing intent toward him.
Then, So-mu’s voice rang out again.
“I asked if the soldiers of Po are a mere rabble commanded by a beast!”
His roar was like that of a fierce tiger.
Not a single soldier spoke. They only exchanged nervous glances.
“A soldier’s noble pride comes from risking his life to protect the people. But what pride is there for those who oppress the people and harm children at the command of a murderer?”
As he walked, So-mu reached the very front of the crossbowmen. At that moment, an officer gestured to them.
As if they had been waiting for the signal, the crossbowmen parted to the left and right.
Even the elite soldiers of the Golden Dragon Unit stood frozen like ice.
Reaching his destination, So-mu grabbed the terrified prince by his hair.
“How many innocent people have died by your hands?”
Dragged from the litter, the prince was pulled along by So-mu like a sack.
“Urgh!”
No soldier stepped forward to stop him. If anything, their expressions suggested they were glad to see it.
Approaching with the children, Seol Pung whispered with a pale face, “G-General, what is the plan?”
“Since things have turned out this way, I need to change the plan.”
“Pardon…?”
“You are from this place, so you must know the palace of Chengdu well. Lead the way to where the Emperor is at this hour.”
So-mu followed Seol Pung, dragging the prince by his hair.
Eunuchs who arrived late stammered in panic, “Y-Your Highness…”
“Crown Prince… what is happening…”
An unprecedented event was unfolding before their eyes.
The soldiers of Po merely maintained their perimeter from a distance, following silently.
It was hard to imagine how poorly the imperial family must have treated the soldiers for them to react this way.
After a short walk, they arrived at a lavishly decorated pavilion.
Judging by the eunuchs and maids waiting outside, the Emperor was surely inside.
Laughter constantly drifted from the room, indicating a banquet was underway.
Arriving at the entrance, So-mu kicked the door open without hesitation.
Bang!
The scene inside was appalling.
A lavish feast stretched along two rows, and about fifty officials were present. Among them was Chancellor Ha Mun, whom So-mu had met earlier.
And sitting at the seat of honor, embracing palace maids while half-naked, was the Emperor.
At the sudden intrusion, everyone turned toward the entrance. Their mouths slowly fell open in disbelief.
The first thing they saw was a bloodied, unconscious figure being dragged by So-mu. Though his face was unrecognizable, his imperial robes made it clear he was the prince.
Seol Pung whispered into So-mu’s ear, “That naked fellow is the Emperor who was supposedly unwell, and the one to his right is the Prime Minister who was supposedly away.”
“I see. Take the children and wait outside for a moment.”
“Yes, General.”
Seol Pung led the children back.
As So-mu stepped inside, dragging the prince, the door slammed shut on its own.
Bang!
Standing by the entrance, So-mu’s eyes burned like fire. A shocking declaration escaped his lips.
“Today, I must kill you all.”