Almighty God of War - Chapter 101

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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101

Guyang Cheongang spoke.

His voice echoed low as it struck against the cold stone walls.

“The shadowy forces behind the conspiracy that has tormented Your Majesty for thirty years and those who have now trapped me in this snare share the same roots.”

In an instant, the Crown Prince’s gentle gaze sharpened like a blade.

The air around him settled as cold as ice.

“Arrogant words. What do you know to speak so recklessly?”

Though his voice was quiet, the terrifying pressure contained within eloquently proclaimed that he was the Crown Prince of the Empire.

However, Guyang Cheongang, bound in iron chains, was not intimidated in the slightest.

He met the Crown Prince’s gaze with unwavering eyes.

“Your Majesty’s illness, Princess Myeonghwa’s poison, and the trap aimed at me. Why do you pretend not to know that all of this is threaded together by a single string?”

“….”

The Crown Prince gave no answer.

He slowly gazed at the rough stone walls filled with nail marks left by countless prisoners.

Upon his gaunt shoulders sat deep despair and resignation that he had carried alone for the long years of thirty.

“Could it be that Your Majesty already knew who they were?”

The Crown Prince remained silent.

In his eyes was pain that could not be expressed in words.

Guyang Cheongang’s eyes widened as he realized that this silence was an affirmation.

The Crown Prince opened his mouth.

In his voice, the previous intimidating pressure was nowhere to be found, filled instead with deep fatigue.

“Yes… you are right.”

At his calm admission, this time it was Guyang Cheongang who could not easily speak.

He had not expected the Crown Prince to acknowledge it so readily.

“If you knew, why did you do nothing? Your Majesty’s life has less than a year remaining.”

Despite this shocking fact, the Crown Prince’s expression did not change.

This meant he already knew the details of his own condition.

The Crown Prince spoke with a bitter smile.

“It’s not that I didn’t try to stop it. I couldn’t stop it.”

Guyang Cheongang sensed something strange in the Crown Prince’s expression.

It was not simple anger or desire for revenge, but a deeper and more complex emotion.

The Crown Prince kicked at the damp prison floor with his toe as he spoke.

“Do you know what supports this vast Imperial Palace? It’s the foundation stones buried deep in this earth.”

The Crown Prince’s gaze darkened.

“If… the largest foundation stone supporting the Imperial Court is rotting from within, what should be done? The moment one rashly tries to remove it, the entire Empire might collapse.”

Guyang Cheongang asked with a hardened expression.

“What exactly is the identity of this undercurrent that Your Majesty knew of but could not stop?”

“I cannot say.”

“What is the reason?”

“Haven’t I already said? Because it would endanger the Empire.”

The Crown Prince firmly sealed his lips.

Seeing this, deep furrows formed between Guyang Cheongang’s brows.

The Crown Prince seemed to have no intention of answering his question and spoke of other matters.

“I was just going to die quietly. Though the Second Prince has a domineering nature, he’s not a fool, so I believed the Empire wouldn’t be shaken if he became Crown Prince. I thought that would be better for both the Empire and the Imperial Court…”

Guyang Cheongang sighed inwardly.

‘He’s an outstanding person, but it seems he hasn’t realized what the enemies truly want.’

If he had known that the undercurrent would kill even the Emperor, the Crown Prince would not have tried to accept death so readily.

“Why are you telling me this secret that you’ve kept so thoroughly to yourself until now?”

“You’re asking why my heart has changed?”

“That’s right.”

“If they hadn’t touched you, I wouldn’t have stepped forward like this either.”

“Is it because of Princess Myeonghwa?”

The Crown Prince nodded.

“I thought it didn’t matter if I died. But not Myeonghwa. If you cannot clear yourself of the crime of attempting to assault Sohwa, that child cannot live.”

“That would be the case. That’s why they trapped me.”

“Myeonghwa is a child with a heart as white as snow. I cannot let such a child die without even blooming.”

Guyang Cheongang took a deep breath.

Now he fully understood why the Crown Prince had sought him out.

The Crown Prince continued with a bitter smile.

“I believed I could sever this terrible karmic connection with just my death alone. However… they were ones who wanted to drag Myeonghwa to death as well, not just my life. My silence… only ended up nurturing monsters.”

Guyang Cheongang sighed.

“Huu…”

He asked.

“You said you had something to discuss with me. What is it?”

The Crown Prince’s gaze grew cold as he looked directly at Guyang Cheongang.

He continued in a voice that seemed to suppress something.

“Petitions from the civil and military officials demanding your execution are already pouring in like rain. Left Prime Minister Jo Mungyeong cites ‘the crime of insulting the Imperial Court with wicked medical arts,’ while Minister of War Muk Cheolgang calls you ‘a cunning Jianghu person who abused His Majesty’s trust,’ each holding blades to your neck for different reasons.”

“They’re all living quite diligently.”

Even in a situation that would make even the most bold person’s hands and feet tremble, Guyang Cheongang’s tone remained nonchalant.

An incredulous expression appeared on the Crown Prince’s serious face.

“Huh… They’re denying all the treatment you’ve given Myeonghwa until now, and blaming you for her recent critical condition. Aren’t you nervous?”

“I’m living as diligently as they are, so what is there to be nervous about?”

The Crown Prince clicked his tongue.

“What are you talking about… This isn’t something that can be solved by living diligently.”

“It will be solved, so don’t worry.”

Guyang Cheongang then asked.

“What is His Majesty’s reaction?”

The Crown Prince’s expression hardened.

“He’s troubled. If he protects you, he becomes a father who ignored Sohwa’s pain to save Myeonghwa…”

His eyes gleamed as he continued.

“First, get out of Thunder Prison.”

“You’re going to help me?”

“Hardly. You can get out of a place like this without much difficulty with your own power, can’t you?”

“This is… the Imperial Palace’s Thunder Prison. Aren’t you speaking too lightly of it?”

“When the incident happened at Sohwa Palace, they say you didn’t bat an eyelash. I thought that was because you were confident you could escape this trap?”

“Even while in seclusion, you seem to grasp what’s necessary.”

“Even if I don’t have much life left, I am still the Crown Prince of this Empire.”

“….”

“You can handle escaping from here on your own. To investigate those bastards, you’ll need freedom of movement within the Imperial Palace. I’ll create that for you.”

“I already received the Nine Dragons Divine Talisman from His Majesty.”

“That’s not very useful for investigating them. You can’t enter the Inner Palace where His Majesty, the Empress, myself, and the Second Prince reside.”

Guyang Cheongang’s eyes flashed.

“Are you saying you’ll allow me to enter even there?”

“That’s right.”

“Understood.”

“When will you leave here?”

“Today.”

The Crown Prince’s mouth fell open behind his face veil.

“This is the Imperial Palace’s Thunder Prison. No matter how capable you are, how could you possibly…”

Guyang Cheongang smiled silently and said.

“I obtained a small ‘seed’ from Sohwa Palace. A seed that grows very well with just darkness and moisture. Once I sprout it, it will be enough to escape from here.”

“…I’ll trust in that.”

“Please do.”

“Come to the Crown Prince’s Palace as soon as you get out.”

“Understood.”

The Crown Prince quietly left Thunder Prison.

Left alone, Guyang Cheongang’s eyes deepened.

‘The Crown Prince never once asked me to treat him until the very end. What a remarkable man…’

* * *

That afternoon, Taehwa Hall.

This place where the Empire’s power gathered was a massive hall built of stacked bricks, displaying its majesty atop a three-tiered white marble platform three zhang high.

Emperor Changseong, wearing his dragon robe, sat upon the Dragon Throne, while hundreds of civil and military officials stood in orderly formation before him according to rank.

The fragrance of white sandalwood incense rising from incense burners filled the massive hall, creating a suffocating solemnity.

Guyang Cheongang, with iron chains on his limbs and a neck shackle, was dragged out by the Imperial Guards.

Clank clank clank- Clank clank clank-

Each time the sound of chains dragging across the floor echoed on the marble, hundreds of gazes focused on him in unison.

Guyang Cheongang was forced to kneel on the floor.

Thud-

However, his face showed no trace of fear or intimidation.

Though he was dressed as a criminal, his back remained straight, and his unfathomable eyes showed not the slightest tremor.

Emperor Changseong looked down from the Dragon Throne and asked in a dignified voice.

“Hahou Gang, is it true that you attempted to assault Princess Sohwa?”

Guyang Cheongang answered with an upright posture.

“That is not true, Your Majesty.”

“If it’s not true, then it’s a false accusation, but you are treating Myeonghwa. At such a time, for what reason would Princess Sohwa falsely accuse you?”

“I do not yet know that reason myself.”

Left Prime Minister Jo Mungyeong shouted in an angry voice.

“It is a lie, Your Majesty! There are numerous witnesses, so how can we believe this man’s words!”

Minister of War Muk Cheolgang stepped forward and shouted.

“We must immediately behead this man, Your Majesty! How can we forgive the crime of insulting the Imperial Court!”

Emperor Changseong raised his hand to silence the ministers, then continued the interrogation.

“The witnesses are not just one or two. Yet you still insist on lying?”

Guyang Cheongang’s voice remained calm.

“Though they say there are dozens of witnesses, none of them saw me lay hands on the Princess’s body. What they saw when they entered the room was only the screaming Princess and me sitting in a chair drinking tea.”

“That must have been an act on your part.”

“Your Majesty knows better than anyone that it wasn’t a situation that could be covered up with acting.”

Emperor Changseong’s eyes sharpened like blades.

“Then are you saying Princess Sohwa is lying?”

All eyes in the hall focused on Guyang Cheongang’s mouth.

His answer completely defied everyone’s expectations.

“I… do not know whether Princess Sohwa’s words are false or not.”

“What did you say!”

“Sophistry!”

The hall instantly became chaotic with the angry shouts of civil and military officials.

His answer that made the situation ambiguous seemed like he was mocking the Emperor.

Emperor Changseong frowned deeply.

“So you’re saying you’re not lying, and Sohwa isn’t lying either?”

“That could be possible, Your Majesty.”

“You scoundrel!”

Finally exploding with rage, Emperor Changseong shot up from the Dragon Throne and shouted.

“What kind of absurd sophistry is that! One of you two must surely be lying, so how can both be telling the truth!”

Before the Emperor’s wrath, everyone in the hall held their breath.

But Guyang Cheongang still looked at the Emperor with unwavering eyes and calmly opened his mouth.

“Your Majesty, on a Go board there exist only black and white stones, but what moves that board is the player’s hand.”

The words that followed could not be heard by the ministers’ ears.

Because Guyang Cheongang used Sound Transmission.

Since he had his head bowed, the civil and military officials could not see his lips.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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