0039 : Golden Eagle Guards
Following Ryu Cheon-ho, the leader of the Sixth Group, I found myself in an isolated palace among the 99 buildings of the imperial palace. I had a rough understanding of the layout from the palace map that Mangnyang provided me, but as I trailed behind Ryu Cheon-ho, I realized that fully relying on that map was impossible.
I could grasp the major structures, but the intricate details were different. With numerous detours and convoluted pathways, it resembled a maze. Moreover, if such a complex building were to move like a living organism based on the principles of Qimen Dunjia, then any intruder would be utterly helpless.
‘Even if I received the palace map, it would be futile unless I could memorize it all…’
I also felt that learning Qimen Dunjia was a wise decision. Although Ryu Cheon-ho was currently walking only on the main path, just a few steps away, the terrain would shift into a more closed-off shape. While pretending not to notice, I realized that even if I memorized the routes, without knowledge of the Qimen Dunjia principles, I would fall into a double trap of this natural fortress.
Perhaps the warriors or palace maids working here were all required to follow only the designated paths.
Strangely, there were no guards in this palace. Ryu Cheon-ho led me down a staircase to the underground, where ten experts awaited. They were all clad in black attire like Ryu Cheon-ho.
Ryu Cheon-ho introduced me to them.
“This is Baek Woong, a new member of the Golden Eagle Guards. He will be the youngest in the Sixth Group, so you all guide him well.”
“Understood, Commander.”
They were the Sixth Group, and Ryu Cheon-ho was the commander of this group. It was a simple and intuitive organizational structure where one Cheon-ho led one group.
“I look forward to working with you, seniors.”
“Sure.”
I greeted each member of the Sixth Group respectfully. It seemed that the Golden Eagle Guards showed neither particular favor nor animosity towards me. During my greetings, however, I noticed something strange.
“……?”
Something felt off. Typically, the Golden Eagle Guards wear unique martial attire, characterized by a white base intertwined with lustrous golden threads. But here, everyone, including Ryu Cheon-ho, was donned in black attire.
Initially, I thought that the elite could choose their outfits, but that was not the case. The entire Sixth Group was required to wear black.
Moreover, this black attire felt oddly familiar. A terrible thought crossed my mind, but I tried not to show it. Displaying suspicious behavior could turn this place into my grave. After a moment, once the introductions concluded, Ryu Cheon-ho explained our mission.
“Our mission this time is the same as before. We will escort a ritual and prepare in advance. Everyone, are you mentally prepared?”
The members of the Sixth Group responded in a somewhat deflated yet resolute voice.
“Yes!”
“Of course.”
Escort a ritual? Advance preparations?
I stared blankly at them, unable to understand what they were talking about. Then Ryu Cheon-ho spoke to me.
“Our Sixth Group’s mission is somewhat special. Each group takes turns carrying out special missions, and this half-year it is our Sixth Group’s turn. This mission requires strong mental preparation due to its unique nature.”
“I can handle any mission.”
“Hah… Everyone here thought that initially. However, this is truly no ordinary task, so before proceeding, I will provide you with some prior education.”
Ryu Cheon-ho smiled bitterly and then commanded the rest of the Sixth Group.
“Everyone, head to the Imdong region. The target is Cheoljeon Village, so prepare for infiltration as part of our advance preparation.”
“Understood!”
With the command given, the members of the Sixth Group left the palace without looking back. They were confident in the target area, so there was no room for hesitation. As I watched their retreating figures, Ryu Cheon-ho said,
“Sit down over there.”
“Yes.”
It seemed he intended to have a serious discussion. Facing him across a table, Ryu Cheon-ho spoke gravely.
“Baek Woong, what do you hold as the most precious and important thing?”
This was a question I had learned in the earlier training. The Golden Eagle Guards only allow one answer to this question, no matter the circumstance.
“The safety and eternal glory of Your Majesty the Emperor and the imperial family.”
“Good. You’ve learned well.”
Pleased, Ryu Cheon-ho continued.
“Then, what do you believe poses the greatest threat to the safety of the imperial family?”
“Surely, it would be external enemies such as the Northern Barbarians or Eastern Yi?”
“Hmm… That could certainly be the case. The barbarian tribes from the north have been a significant threat since the beginning of the Central Plains’ history. However, they have never truly ruled over the Central. Protecting the imperial family from them is fundamentally the duty of generals leading vast armies. Although we are the Golden Eagle Guards, we do not directly engage in battles against the barbarians.”
“Then it must be the powerful ministers in the imperial court, right?”
“Controlling and managing them is the duty of Your Majesty the Emperor. Of course, keeping them in check is also one of our main missions, but there is something even more important.”
I found this intriguing. What could pose a greater threat to the imperial family than the invasions of the barbarian tribes or the treachery of powerful ministers? Thus, I inquired,
“Then what is it?”
The answer that followed was shocking.
“The Martial Arts World.”
“……!!”
What does that mean? Is it permitted for a Cheon-ho of the Golden Eagle Guards to have such thoughts? However, Ryu Cheon-ho spoke without any hesitation.
“Do you know the ancient tales of the founder, the Hongwu Emperor, and Zhu Yanzhang?”
I nodded. I was well aware of history from my diligent studies.
“I know that Zhu Yanzhang was the most formidable opponent when the Hongwu Emperor established the Ming Dynasty, and that he eventually defeated Zhu Yanzhang.”
“That’s right. There is a bit of a backstory to that.”
Ryu Cheon-ho poured tea from the teapot into his cup, then poured some into mine as well, which I politely accepted with both hands. He took a sip of the warm tea before continuing.
“The Hongwu Emperor came close to death more than once because of Zhu Yanzhang. The warriors from the Hubei region who followed him were a constant thorn in his side. The Hongwu Emperor originally intended to load all the people from Hubei who followed Zhu Yanzhang onto the Red Boat and prevent them from setting foot on land for the rest of their lives. In that case, the people from Hubei would have lived their entire lives in the lowest of statuses, begging for food, with the men becoming beggars and the women selling themselves as courtesans.
By demonstrating such a powerful example, the foundation of a safe and enormous Ming Empire could be established. It would show that no one should challenge the imperial authority, thereby preventing countless rebellions and ensuring a peace we could rely on.”
“……”
I had much to say, but I kept silent. Because my life was precious. Even if I had knowledge to debate all night, right now, I needed to protect my life.
“However, the Hongwu Emperor was never able to fully implement the Red Boat. The would-be rebels who should have been loaded onto it were soon released and came ashore as commoners, and the majority of them headed south. Do you know why?”
“I don’t know.”
“It was the White Lotus Sect. A mere faction of the Martial Arts World and a religion, they restrained the Hongwu Emperor’s actions and even lured the civilians to their doctrine. What made this possible was that the leader of the White Lotus Sect possessed transcendent martial arts, making even a million troops insignificant to him. The leader of the White Lotus Sect personally approached the Hongwu Emperor and insisted that the Red Boat be released, and the Hongwu Emperor had no choice but to accept that proposal.”
The thought of martial arts that could render a million troops meaningless was unfathomable.
Could such a thing really be human?
The power of the White Lotus Sect seemed far greater than I had imagined.
‘The Thunder God Sect might have reasons to abandon their vengeance against the White Lotus Sect.’
I felt that every word Ryu Cheon-ho spoke could be seen as treason against the imperial family. The idea that the Emperor was swayed by a mere faction of the Martial Arts World was a secret in itself. However, for a Cheon-ho of the Golden Eagle Guards, it might be expected to share such discussions for the sake of educating the guards. To work in the shadows of the imperial family, one must be knowledgeable about such matters.
Ryu Cheon-ho continued,
“It has been about one hundred fifty years since then. During that time, the imperial family, including the Golden Eagle Guards, has consistently expanded military power through Dongchang, Seochang, and the O-Gunyeong, especially in the early days when the Golden Eagle Guards were quite weak. I can confidently say that the current strength of the Golden Eagle Guards rivals the Eight Great Houses.”
I thought that was a reasonable assertion. Essentially, even the lowest-ranking members of the Golden Eagle Guards are first-rate martial artists in the latter stages of the Martial Arts World. Furthermore, if the deputy commanders and Cheon-ho possess peak-level skills, it would be entirely feasible to say so by sheer numbers. The overall strength of the commanding officer might even be expected to be at an unparalleled level. When the average combat power is so high and cohesively bound as a single entity, it is unmatched in the Martial Arts World.
If the Golden Eagle Guards were serious about targeting the Eight Great Houses, they could eliminate two or three of them in an instant. Even the Eight Great Houses could not single-handedly withstand such a colossal military force.
“Are we protecting Your Majesty the Emperor from the White Lotus Sect?”
“That’s right. Regardless of what level of martial arts the current leader of the White Lotus Sect possesses, the mere existence of someone with national-level military power is frightening.”
Somehow, I started to understand.
Even attempting to suppress the White Lotus Sect with a million troops would be futile. If a transcendent being were capable of infiltrating and assassinating the Emperor by breaking through the million troops amassed by the Hongwu Emperor in his prime, what significance would it have? Moreover, if that individual could wantonly kill the Emperor, members of the imperial family, nobility, and powerful ministers, it would create an incomprehensible level of deterrence.
Thinking back, I recalled hearing about the Holy Lotus from I Gwang, the Third of the Triad. The Holy Lotus was a special elixir uniquely created by the White Lotus Sect, and anyone who consumed it supposedly gained tremendous martial prowess. If there are peak martial artists who have consumed the Holy Lotus within the White Lotus Sect, barring the leader, it could be considered an immensely formidable faction of the Martial Arts World.
Ryu Cheon-ho spoke.
“But at last, our Golden Eagle Guards—no, the Imperial Palace—has found a way to counter the White Lotus Sect. This is a grand plan, and we must pursue it until our lives come to an end. That is the special mission we will undertake.”
“What kind of mission?”
I took a shallow breath at his following words.
“We will summon demon creatures from another realm and ultimately harness the power of the Demon God.”
“Huh?!”
“This plan is made possible thanks to the assistance of a Great Sorcerer.”
I couldn’t help but be astonished.
It was now clear.
‘So… these individuals are the ones leading the human sacrifices! The Golden Eagle Guards, tasked with protecting the imperial family, committed large-scale massacres?!’
As my worst fears were confirmed, everything in front of me grew dark.
I had hoped it wouldn’t be true. I had almost suspected it when speaking with Mangnyang, but I came to Luoyang wishing it wasn’t so, dreaming of a rosy future.
However, the truth was indeed the truth. The imperial family and the Golden Eagle Guards were the very demons leading the human sacrifices.
At the same time, I felt fortunate that I hadn’t acted to prevent a tragedy in this life. If it were truly the Golden Eagle Guards who were the perpetrators of such atrocities, my life would be in constant danger.
“It is shocking, isn’t it? Truly.”
Fortunately, Ryu Cheon-ho seemed to take my surprise as a matter of course. He spoke bitterly.
“There will be some innocent sacrifices along the way, but those are justifiable sacrifices. We must be prepared to go to hell for the imperial family. Our actions will benefit the happiness and well-being of millions in the Ming Empire.”
“Th-that…”
“Now! Steady your heart. I will explain more when we reach the mission site, but you are already a member of the Golden Eagle Guards who dedicates your life for the imperial family. Set aside all the petty ethics and morals of the world if it is for Your Majesty the Emperor.”
I felt a wave of nausea wash over me. Ryu Cheon-ho’s words were indeed nonsensical, and any normal human would be persuaded only to shake their head at such assertions. Yet, there was a strange power emanating from his words, making my head spin and my mind hazy. Though I knew in my head his words were absurd, for some reason, they sounded plausible.
If I hadn’t witnessed the tragedy firsthand, perhaps I would have partially accepted Ryu Cheon-ho’s words by now. However, having directly seen the human sacrifices and demon creatures, I couldn’t possibly agree with those claims. How could I accept the notion of human sacrifice, which was undeniably inhuman?
‘What is this? Something feels off. I sense a strong power in those words.’
I pretended to rise due to dizziness.
“I apologize. I feel lightheaded…”
“Stay seated! My words are not finished. Do you not wish to serve Your Majesty the Emperor? Is it acceptable for enemies to threaten His Majesty? Is that what a Golden Eagle Guardsman should say?”
“……”
Unlike his earlier kindness, his voice now carried a stern tone. It seemed he was about to commence the carrot-and-stick approach.
“Listen closely. Everything is permitted in the name of Your Majesty the Emperor. We are the sword, and the sword does not need to consider anything beyond that. What you need to do is to eliminate harmful individuals and carry out the mission.”
Only then did I understand the source of my dizziness.
It was brainwashing through Word Spirit.
Having studied Qimen Dunjia for a long time, I could tell. Ryu Cheon-ho’s words were flowing with a peculiar intonation, and the entire palace was inscribed with strange patterns here and there.
‘This person can use Word Spirit. Indeed, Word Spirit doesn’t require any special powers to be effective.’
Word Spirit is the power encapsulated in the very words, activated like a formula to grant strength when spoken. Ryu Cheon-ho was employing Word Spirit to weaken my mental fortitude, repeatedly enforcing it in this closed space. It could also be seen as an enhanced form of suggestion.
Experiencing this for an extended period, even the most resilient martial artist could eventually be persuaded. It seemed Cheon-ho and the others had the role of conducting continuous brainwashing education when newcomers joined.
I purposely feigned compliance, allowing my gaze to become glazed.
“Y-yes… I understand…”
“I will say it again. Listen closely…”
Afterward, I endured Ryu Cheon-ho’s incessant remarks for an entire hour in this confined space, where he aimed to ensnare me in his Word Spirit suggestion. Fortunately, by pretending to be susceptible to brainwashing, I managed to withstand it; once he confirmed that his own form of “education” was complete, Ryu Cheon-ho smiled broadly.
“While I am not entirely satisfied yet, Baek Woong, you will soon come to understand our greater cause. We shall set off to our mission site in Imdong Cheoljeon Village, so follow closely.”
As I followed him, I pondered,
‘Damn it… What am I supposed to do?’
Since I had witnessed the true nature of the tragedies, I was not so easily susceptible to that level of brainwashing. If it were anyone else, they might have fallen victim to the Word Spirit, but I had secretly recited the Brain-Peace Mantra from Qimen Dunjia in order to hold out against it, rendering the Word Spirit ineffective.
What troubled me now was how I should act moving forward. Though Cheon-ho’s words were undoubtedly nonsense, if I were to follow him, I would inevitably become complicit in the periodic massacres and human sacrifices in the villages.
Was that truly the right thing to do?
However, if I did not comply with Ryu Cheon-ho’s words, I would be immediately regarded as a traitor or face summary execution. The plots I had heard regarding human sacrifices and demon creatures were all top secret, and they would not let me off easily.
Perhaps there were other members of the Golden Eagle Guards who, like me, had not fallen victim to the brainwashing but were merely turning a blind eye to it, fearing for their lives and unable to abandon their positions within the guards.
Clop clop clop
“……”
As I rode my horse, following Ryu Cheon-ho, I continued to ponder. Suddenly, I recalled Mangnyang’s words.
“[Baek Woong, the tragedy you witnessed will one day inevitably strike a large number of innocents. It will be on a scale far beyond that village’s tragedy. Will you plan to escape by leaving everything to chance? Or will you instead consider becoming a dog for the powerful, taking on their filthy tasks?]”
A dog for the powerful.
Filthy tasks.
“……”
Clop clop clop
As I rode, the moonlight brushed over the lake. In that moment, Ryu Cheon-ho spoke to me.
“You’re a fortunate man.”
“Huh?”
“To receive a special mission right upon your arrival… Once this mission is complete, the group will be rewarded handsomely. You will receive 20 taels of gold and a fief near Luoyang. Many in the Golden Eagle Guards actually wish to undertake special missions again.”
I was momentarily taken aback and questioned,
“They wish to undertake them again…?”
“After all, it’s not really us who will carry it out; it’s the sorcerer. We mostly just watch and observe.”
Ryu Cheon-ho spoke without a shred of guilt or hesitation. Perhaps those unaware of the details would simply overlook it, but I was acutely aware that the mission involved human sacrifice, fanaticism, heart extraction, cannibalism, and large-scale massacres. The thought that the Golden Eagle Guards would wish to partake in such demonic acts again was chilling.
If this were solely the sorcerer’s doing, then Hyun Cheon would have been able to stop it alongside me. However, with the Golden Eagle Guards secretly watching over it, no one could prevent the village’s massacre. After a moment of thought, I asked,
“Will there not be innocent sacrifices? It seems one might feel guilt.”
Ryu Cheon-ho laughed instead.
“Hahaha! Guilt, you say? Every other member of the Golden Eagle Guards is doing this too. Moreover, this is for the greater cause. They are all making sacrifices deemed necessary for His Majesty.”
“……”
At that moment, Mangnyang’s words flashed through my mind again.
“[No one understands the imperial family’s nature better than I do. I learned this while working as an astronomer. They treat this world as nothing more than a lid. If they preside over it, a nonsensical and terrifying calamity will inevitably come. Isn’t it natural to stop it while we still can?]”
His words were indeed correct.
The dreadful calamity was already approaching.
From earlier when he referred to it as a “half-term,” it was clear that a village had been sacrificed approximately once every six months. Since I had been reincarnated for about five years, that implied that at least ten villages had been burned down during that time. It was a blatant anomaly, yet seeing that the world was entirely unaware of it, meant that the Golden Eagle Guards were actively covering up the situation.
What on earth had I been thinking?
What constitutes a happy life?
“… Haha.”
I let out a low laugh. Ryu Cheon-ho smiled broadly.
“Good! If we’re going to do this, let’s do it positively!”
“Well, I guess I should. Positivity is key.”
I declared with force.
“I’ll try my best, risking my life for a positive outcome.”
Bowing my head on the horse, Ryu Cheon-ho probably couldn’t see my face properly. That was truly fortunate. I could not present him with the twisted expression of determination that resembled a demonic figure.
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