Almighty God of War - Chapter 97

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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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097

That night, at the Yeom Estate.

Guyang Cheongang told Shangguan Wana and Yeom Pung in detail about everything he had experienced throughout the day.

The Crown Prince’s hidden truth, Princess Myeonghwa’s assassination by poison attempt, and even the death of the palace maid who had fallen under the Soul Absorption Technique.

There was no reason to keep secrets from those who had his back.

Both their faces gradually turned pale.

“His Highness the Crown Prince’s illness… was artificial?”

It was such an unimaginable situation that even the bold Shangguan Wana’s voice trembled.

“Assassination attempts by poison spanning decades… Good heavens, this wasn’t a simple power struggle. This is the work of madmen trying to shake the very foundation of the Empire.”

“What’s certain is that those madmen aren’t on the Second Prince’s side. The conspiracy began too long ago for us to suspect him.”

“That’s right. Just who could these bastards be?”

Yeom Pung said with his brow deeply furrowed.

“To think there’s a method that can gnaw away at someone’s qi and blood for decades while leaving no traces of external injuries or poisoning… This is different from any martial arts of the orthodox or unorthodox sects that this old man knows. If there’s anything similar…”

Guyang Cheongang’s eyes lit up as he asked.

“Do you have any guesses?”

“Hmm… I once heard in passing that there’s something similar among the Demonic Cult’s great techniques.”

“The Demonic Cult… you say?”

Guyang Cheongang’s complexion hardened.

“It’s just something I heard in passing. And regarding them, there are so many things that seem like grasping at clouds that it’s hard to trust.”

In the depths of Yeom Pung’s eyes as he spoke, a subtle fear rippled like waves.

To that extent, the name Demonic Cult was still terror and dread itself to those in Murim.

Shangguan Wana said with regret.

“But in the end, we’ve lost our only witness. Did the forces behind this eliminate the palace maid to destroy evidence?”

Guyang Cheongang nodded and continued.

“That’s highly likely. These are bastards who laid hands on the Princess. They wouldn’t find it difficult to kill a palace maid.”

Heavy silence flowed through the room.

Yeom Pung said.

“Young Master, then there’s a possibility that people from the Yeom Estate could also fall under the Soul Absorption Technique.”

“Don’t worry too much about that. I’ve already secretly examined everyone in the manor. No one has fallen under the Soul Absorption Technique yet.”

Shangguan Wana, who let out a sigh of relief, spoke in a cautious tone.

“We don’t know their identity yet, but their purpose doesn’t seem simple.”

Guyang Cheongang and Yeom Pung focused on her.

“If their purpose was simply to make the Second Prince emperor, it would have been more efficient to kill the Crown Prince long ago.”

“I think the same, Young Lady.”

Guyang Cheongang continued.

“Even if the Crown Prince dies, the Imperial Palace won’t be shaken. Because the Emperor is still healthy. And the Second Prince would just succeed to the crown prince position.”

His gaze sharpened.

“But the fact that the Second Prince is still gathering forces means he doesn’t know that the Crown Prince will die within a year.”

Shangguan Wana’s eyes widened.

“That means… the Second Prince might not know about the conspiracy of the forces behind this?”

“I can’t be certain. But there’s a high possibility he’s being used without knowing what he’s doing.”

“Hah… The fact that the Second Prince isn’t in league with the conspiracy forces is certainly fortunate, but the situation isn’t that simple…”

Shangguan Wana muttered with a quiet sigh, then asked.

“Even if a prince’s rebellion occurs, it will fail if His Majesty remains healthy. Those bastards must know that too, right?”

Guyang Cheongang nodded.

“They know. So they’ll make their move.”

Shangguan Wana’s complexion changed drastically.

“Don’t tell me… when the prince’s rebellion occurs, His Majesty will also fall?”

“Yes. I think that’s what will happen.”

Guyang Cheongang hadn’t mentioned any of this during his private audience with Emperor Changseong.

He thought it wasn’t the right time, and Emperor Changseong wasn’t in a state to completely trust him.

“After the prince’s rebellion occurs, the Crown Prince dies young, and His Majesty falls on top of that…”

As Guyang Cheongang trailed off, Shangguan Wana’s face became haggard.

“If the situation flows as you predict, Young Master, all under heaven will fall into great chaos.”

Guyang Cheongang nodded.

“His Imperial Majesty is a monarch who is neither competent nor incompetent. The Empire is gradually declining. If His Majesty falls at such a time and the succession structure becomes twisted, even if the Second Prince ascends to the throne, great chaos will come as you said, Young Lady.”

Yeom Pung said, turning pale with shock.

“It’s obvious the common people will fall into misery… The bastards who plotted this conspiracy are truly madmen.”

Shangguan Wana asked.

“If the Second Prince also doesn’t know what he’s doing… then who is the one who created this situation?”

Guyang Cheongang, who had been silent for a moment, let out a thin sigh and said.

“I don’t know yet either. But whoever is behind this conspiracy, we’ll be able to find out soon enough.”

Shangguan Wana asked.

“Are you saying he will reveal himself?”

“Yes. I will make it so.”

Guyang Cheongang looked down at the peaceful night view of the Imperial Capital outside the window and continued.

“I only hope that the truth I’ve discovered won’t be the beginning of a disaster covering the Empire.”

He then asked Yeom Pung.

“We need to secretly track the ouroboros tattoo. Is there anywhere we can get help?”

Yeom Pung responded.

“Using the manor’s information network seems dangerous, so I’ll meet with the Hao Gate Imperial Capital Branch Master whom we owe a debt to because of Ya Wol earlier.”

“The Branch Master owes us because of the Intermediary who is my elder brother, so using Hao Gate this time wouldn’t be bad.”

Guyang Cheongang nodded and continued.

“Those bastards will try to make some move before Princess Myeonghwa is completely cured. So we must uncover the identity of those behind this within two weeks at the latest.”

Silence flowed through the room for a moment.

Shangguan Wana asked carefully.

“Could Golden Tower Manor and Geumsan-ru also be related to this incident?”

“Looking at how the situation is unfolding, that doesn’t seem to be the case.”

Guyang Cheongang continued with a bitter smile.

“If I cure the Crown Prince’s illness, the Second Prince’s dream will be frustrated. That’s the same as Geumsan-ru, which has been supporting the Second Prince, becoming like a dog that lost the chicken it was chasing.”

“Hmm…”

“At the same time, since I become the Crown Prince’s benefactor, Golden Tower Manor’s position supporting him will also become very difficult. If the Crown Prince supports you, Young Lady, their salt business will inevitably suffer a fatal blow.”

Guyang Cheongang’s voice grew heavy.

“There’s a high possibility they didn’t know about the conspiracy, but the problem is when they learn the truth.”

Shangguan Wana frowned and said.

“Golden Tower Manor will try to check you, Young Master, who saved the Crown Prince, and Geumsan-ru will be angry that the Second Prince’s hope has disappeared. Perhaps they could become more dangerous enemies than the conspiracy forces.”

“Anyway, Geumsan-ru and Golden Tower Manor won’t move until I finish treating Princess Myeonghwa. They won’t know the truth about the Crown Prince’s illness yet, and they won’t want to rashly move and incur the Emperor’s wrath.”

A faint smile appeared on Shangguan Wana’s lips.

“That’s somewhat reassuring.”

Guyang Cheongang clicked his tongue and said.

“Whatever bastards they are, their way of plotting is tremendous. They’ve put the Imperial Palace, military, noble families, Geumsan-ru, and Golden Tower Manor all on the board.”

Shangguan Wana shuddered lightly and responded.

“Hah… Hearing your words, Young Master, gives me chills.”

Yeom Pung interjected with a worried voice.

“But Young Master, how do you think His Majesty will react when he learns of all this?”

“He’ll be furious. But he won’t move rashly. If the truth becomes known, the entire Empire will fall into chaos.”

Silence flowed for a moment.

Shangguan Wana asked carefully.

“Young Master, what do you plan to do from now on?”

Guyang Cheongang’s eyes turned cold.

“Now that I know, I must uproot them completely.”

“Won’t that be dangerous?”

“It will be dangerous. But it’s been dangerous enough until now.”

Guyang Cheongang looked at the two people alternately as he continued speaking.

“Young Lady, Hero Yeom, even with the situation being like this, will you stay with me until the end?”

Shangguan Wana answered without hesitation.

“Of course. We’re already in the same boat, so we can’t get off halfway.”

Yeom Pung also nodded.

“We’re in the same predicament… When the young lady says she won’t get off the ship, how could this old man turn tail and run? I’ll share life and death with you, Young Master.”

A smile appeared on Guyang Cheongang’s face.

“Those bastards will soon learn that worldly affairs don’t go according to their will.”

His eyes deepened like a lake.

‘You’ve spent decades setting up the board, running without stopping for even a moment to complete your conspiracy to devour the Imperial Palace. But now you’ll have no choice but to stop. Because I’ll make it so.’

Guyang Cheongang finished the meeting at the Yeom Estate and headed to the warehouse.

Though tasks were piling up like mountains, he couldn’t neglect the imprinting work.

It was a night when thick dark clouds devoured the moon and stars.

The darkness, like spilled black ink, made it difficult to distinguish even an inch ahead, and the humid night air brushed his nose like the metallic scent of iron.

On the deserted official road, only the sound of wind brushing his robes and regular breathing echoed.

Though he hadn’t yet reached the realm of Void-Reality Life Movement, Akasha used a thousand nanobots to clearly draw the outlines of objects in the protagonist’s mental image.

The accuracy was no different from seeing with his eyes.

Guyang Cheongang unleashed the Heavenly Meteor Movement Technique and rushed through the darkness like lightning.

As he was rushing along, Akasha’s warning rang in his mind.

[Doctor, there are people hiding 100 meters ahead. Sixty-seven life signs.]

Guyang Cheongang’s steps stopped.

At the same time, a massive encirclement centered on himself was drawn with red dots in his mental image.

‘They’re fast. I thought there would be an attack soon, but I didn’t know it would be tonight.’

That was the exact moment.

Swoosh—

A sword silently shot up from the ground beneath his feet, aimed at his groin.

At the same time, a huge net densely covered with poison spikes fell from above his head.

Whoooosh—

Guyang Cheongang didn’t dodge.

He stepped on the sword with his nanobot-enhanced foot and broke it, then his right hand unleashed the Gale Chain Palm with the force of a typhoon.

Boom boom boom boom boom—

The sword shattered, and the ground was stained with red blood.

At the same time, the iron net caught in the Gale Chain Palm force was torn to shreds.

Clang—

Bang!

As if they had been waiting, Black-Robed Masked Men appeared around him like ghosts.

They were all marked as red dots in Guyang Cheongang’s mental image, but among them was one being that emitted a particularly deeper and more massive aura.

The man in his mid-forties wore no mask and had a four-foot-long blade slung over his shoulder.

A cruel smile hung on his scarred face, and his eyes held the madness that only someone who had killed countless people could possess.

Seeing the blade slung over his shoulder, Guyang Cheongang muttered in a low tone.

“Blood Sea Heaven Killer… Blood Sea Sect Master?”

After learning that Blood Sea was targeting him, he had investigated many things about them.

Thanks to that, he could recognize Blood Sea Heaven Killer at a glance.

Blood Sea Heaven Killer lowered his blade from his shoulder and spoke.

“You know me. Should I say it’s an honor, Hahou Gang?”

Guyang Cheongang clicked his tongue.

If it was an unavoidable fight, finishing it quickly was the best strategy.

“Shut up. I’m tired of exchanging words, so let’s finish this quickly.”

No more words were needed between them.

The curtain of bloody battle rose.

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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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