Almighty God of War - Chapter 90

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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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090

Guyang Cheongang greeted them with a gentle smile.

“Please, come in.”

Shangguan Wana’s expression was far from normal.

Deep anguish clouded the face of one usually calm and confident.

Yeom Pung also appeared more rigid than usual.

“Young Master, we have something to tell you.”

Shangguan Wana’s voice carried an uncharacteristic heaviness as she began to speak.

“Has something bad happened?”

Guyang Cheongang asked, gesturing toward chairs.

Shangguan Wana hesitated for a moment before opening her mouth.

“Young Master, I’ve brought both the worst news and the greatest opportunity at the same time.”

“Interesting words. What might that be?”

Shangguan Wana took a deep breath before speaking.

“Yesterday, I met with Hanlin Grand Scholar Moon Hongseo.”

Guyang Cheongang’s eyes instantly sharpened.

The Hanlin Grand Scholar was one of the core figures in the Imperial Palace.

“The reason he sought us out was…”

Shangguan Wana explained everything in detail – from her meeting with Moon Hongseo to Princess Myeonghwa’s strange illness, his interest in the Divine Physician of Life and Death, and finally the deal he had proposed.

Guyang Cheongang’s expression grew increasingly serious as he listened to the story.

“…So the Hanlin Grand Scholar wants to meet the Divine Physician of Life and Death – you – directly. He promised to guarantee a salt business license in exchange for treating the Princess’s illness.”

A heavy silence fell after Shangguan Wana finished her story.

“But getting entangled with the Imperial Palace is like riding on a tiger’s back. Success could bring enormous profits, but if you fall, you won’t even be able to gather your bones.”

She looked directly at Guyang Cheongang as she continued.

“What’s even more problematic is that you would have to reveal your identity, Young Master. The alias Hahou Gang has its limits. The risk of deceiving the Emperor is far too great.”

Yeom Pung interjected.

“That’s the biggest problem. Deceiving His Imperial Majesty is the grave crime of deceiving one’s sovereign. If you disguise your identity with a Human Skin Mask and your true identity is later revealed, it would be enough to be misunderstood as insulting the Emperor. That would mean…”

Guyang Cheongang finished Yeom Pung’s words.

“The downfall of the Guyang Family Estate.”

Shangguan Wana nodded and said.

“Though the government and Murim maintain a tacit non-aggression relationship, erasing one Murim family would be nothing for the Imperial Palace.”

Yeom Pung spoke in a heavy tone.

“While the Hanlin Grand Scholar’s proposal is unlikely to be a trap, treating the Princess could entangle us in the complex political struggles within the Imperial Palace. Considering the Young Lady’s situation, I hope you would accept this proposal, but I cannot bring myself to tell you to do so.”

Shangguan Wana also nodded.

“Uncle Yeom is right. I dare not tell you to take this path, Young Master.”

She continued in a calm tone.

“The decision must be made by you directly, Young Master. But the only advice I can give is this – this is far too dangerous a gamble…”

Guyang Cheongang rose from his seat and looked outside the window.

The bright spring sunlight still shone down warmly, but his heart was complicated.

A moment of silence passed.

Shangguan Wana and Yeom Pung held their breath, waiting for his decision.

Deep furrows appeared on Guyang Cheongang’s brow.

‘Connecting with the Imperial Palace would certainly neutralize much of Golden Tower Manor and Geumsan-ru’s interference. The salt business could also break through its difficulties…’

But at the same time, the danger was enormous.

‘If my identity is revealed, the entire Guyang Family Estate could fall into danger. If I reveal my true identity only to the Emperor, it might be possible to avoid the risk… but would the Emperor really keep my secret?’

After thinking for a long while, Guyang Cheongang slowly turned around.

Looking at Shangguan Wana and Yeom Pung, he actually smiled calmly.

“Young Lady, Uncle Yeom. Let’s take this gamble. The bait is too tempting to give up without even trying, isn’t it? There’s even a saying that if you’re carried off by a tiger, you can survive if you just keep your wits about you.”

“Young Master…”

“Since it will become known that the Young Lady has the Hanlin Grand Scholar’s protection, at least the other wolves won’t dare to bite recklessly.”

Guyang Cheongang continued, looking at the sky outside the window.

“Until now, we’ve been forced into a defensive position. Golden Tower Manor’s interference, Branch Blood Cave’s attacks, Geumsan-ru’s obstruction… all because we were weak with no power in the Imperial Capital.”

He looked at the two alternately as he continued.

“But if we connect with the Imperial Palace? At that moment, we’re no longer the weak ones. Rather, they won’t be able to touch us carelessly.”

Shangguan Wana’s picture-perfect eyes trembled finely.

Guyang Cheongang spoke in a calm tone.

“Of course it’s dangerous. Both revealing my identity and getting involved in Imperial Palace politics are dangerous.”

His eyes became resolute as he continued.

“But think about it. If we continue as we are now, we’ll have to keep hiding and only defending. We’ll inevitably hit a limit someday.”

He reached his conclusion.

“I’ll go to the Imperial Palace.”

“Young Master!”

Yeom Pung tried to dissuade him again, but Guyang Cheongang raised his hand to stop him.

“Uncle Yeom, thank you for your concern. But I’ve already decided.”

He turned to Shangguan Wana.

“Young Lady, please tell the Hanlin Grand Scholar that the Divine Physician of Life and Death, Hahou Gang, will meet with him.”

Shangguan Wana nodded with a complex expression.

“Understood, Young Master. But…”

“Don’t worry. I’ll prepare thoroughly.”

Guyang Cheongang said confidently.

“I’ll reveal my true identity as Guyang Cheongang only to His Imperial Majesty. To everyone else, I’ll remain Hahou Gang to the end, and please do your best to maintain security as well.”

“Sigh… Understood.”

“Young Lady, please arrange the appointment with the Hanlin Grand Scholar, and gather as much information as possible about the Imperial Palace’s internal situation and power structure before I enter. Since I’m entering the heart of the Empire, I need to know all the information.”

“I will do so.”

[Doctor, are you really sure about this?]

Akasha’s worried voice was heard.

‘It’s fine, Akasha. The game is just getting a little bigger.’

It seemed like Akasha’s sigh could be heard from somewhere.

* * *

Yeom Family Warehouse, as the sunset was setting.

Shangguan Wana took out a thick book from her bosom and placed it on the table.

Inside were detailed records of all the information about the Imperial Palace she had gathered in the Imperial Capital so far.

Shangguan Wana began to speak.

“Young Master, there are things you must know before entering the Imperial Palace.”

Her voice as she continued was more cautious than usual.

“First, let me tell you the most important thing. Currently, the Imperial Palace is divided by fierce power struggles between the Crown Prince and the Second Prince.”

Guyang Cheongang nodded and said.

“I’ve heard of it. But I don’t know the detailed circumstances.”

“Naturally. It’s a power struggle within the Imperial Palace that outsiders would find difficult to understand. The First Prince Han Do and Second Prince Han Seo… they were born as twins, and the First Prince became the elder by just half an hour.”

Shangguan Wana continued her explanation while opening the book.

“Crown Prince Han Do has the support of the noble families. Left Chancellor Jo Mungyeong is his greatest patron. Meanwhile, Second Prince Han Seo has allied with the military, and Minister of War Muk Cheolgang is backing him.”

She continued while turning a page of the book.

“What’s important here is that Golden Tower Manor is supporting Prince Han Do through Left Chancellor Jo Mungyeong, while Geumsan-ru is attached to Prince Han Seo’s side through Minister of War Muk Cheolgang’s connections.”

“It doesn’t seem like such a power struggle would occur simply because they weren’t born that far apart. Is there a reason?”

“Yes. The Crown Prince is known to have been weak from birth. There are even rumors circulating secretly that he has epilepsy.”

Guyang Cheongang’s eyes widened slightly.

Epilepsy is what we call brain epilepsy (seizure disorder) in modern times.

Shangguan Wana continued speaking.

“Despite taking all kinds of spirit medicines and even learning heart methods from high-powered Taoists of Wudang and Huashan, his condition hasn’t improved.”

Guyang Cheongang frowned slightly and asked.

“But seeing that he became Crown Prince, his daily life must not be problematic.”

“Yes. However, Minister of War Muk Cheolgang, who controls the military, is said to be anxious, claiming the heir to the throne could die at any moment.”

“So he’s the one who fanned the flames of the Second Prince’s ambitions?”

“That’s correct.”

“That’s strange. If the Crown Prince is so frail, shouldn’t the Emperor be seeking me out for his sake rather than the Princess?”

“I also suspect that if Young Master successfully cures Princess Myeonghwa, such an offer will surely come.”

“He’s reluctant to entrust the Crown Prince’s body to me while my medical skills remain unproven.”

“That could be the case.”

Shangguan Wana nodded and continued.

“Princess Myeonghwa is His Imperial Majesty’s youngest daughter who receives his absolute favor. Whoever saves the Princess will monopolize the Emperor’s grace. This means Young Master could become a decisive variable in the succession struggle.”

Guyang Cheongang asked.

“If they discover I’m the Divine Physician of Life and Death, how do you expect the princes to react?”

“The Second Prince and Golden Mountain Tower faction will actively try to support Young Master. They know we’re in conflict with Golden Tower Manor over the salt business.”

“They’ll believe we can’t join hands with the Crown Prince because of Golden Tower Manor.”

“Exactly. And it’s not a wrong assumption either.”

Shangguan Wana pointed to a section of the book and continued.

“The Second Prince’s faction will surely try to draw Young Master, who’s bound to receive His Majesty’s attention, to their side to counter the Crown Prince’s faction backed by the military.”

“Then how do you think the Crown Prince’s faction will respond?”

“They’ll obstruct as much as possible. Since Golden Tower Manor is allied with the Crown Prince through the Left Prime Minister, they’ll view Young Master’s emergence as the most dangerous variable to them.”

After pondering for a moment, Guyang Cheongang asked.

“Young Lady, do you know anything about Princess Myeonghwa’s condition?”

“According to Hanlin Grand Scholar Moon Hongseo, the main symptoms are anemia and weakness of unknown cause, along with intermittent high fevers. The court physicians couldn’t identify the exact cause either, only that there’s something wrong with her heart meridian.”

Guyang Cheongang nodded.

“That’s sufficient. With that much information, I can determine the treatment direction.”

‘Akasha, based on the symptoms, what kind of illness do you think it is?’

[Accurate diagnosis is difficult with symptoms alone, but it’s likely a blood-related disease or immune system disorder. However, precise diagnosis requires meeting the patient directly.]

‘I suppose so. If it’s such a condition, could you treat it?’

[Of course.]

Shangguan Wana asked cautiously.

“Young Master, are you truly confident in the treatment? If you fail…”

“I won’t fail.”

The room fell quiet for a moment at Guyang Cheongang’s resolute answer.

“Young Lady, what I’m worried about isn’t treatment failure. Rather, it’s what comes after successful treatment.”

“What do you mean…?”

Guyang Cheongang looked out the window and said.

“If I perfectly cure Princess Myeonghwa, I’ll gain His Imperial Majesty’s tremendous trust. At that moment, I’ll no longer be just a merchant, but a benefactor of the Imperial Palace.”

Yeom Pung’s eyes sparkled as he said.

“If that happens, not only the salt business but…”

“Everything will change. Neither Golden Tower Manor nor Golden Mountain Tower will be able to touch us carelessly.”

Shangguan Wana’s eyes trembled slightly.

“But if Young Lady’s assessment of the Imperial Palace situation is accurate, the chances of smooth sailing like a ship with favorable winds until I finish treating the Princess are almost zero.”

“That’s probably… true…”

Guyang Cheongang looked at Shangguan Wana and said.

“Young Lady, please tell the Hanlin Grand Scholar that I’m ready to enter the Imperial Palace even tomorrow.”

Shangguan Wana nodded and said.

“Understood.”

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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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