Chapter 70: Hometown Part 3

It was an act of huge political risk for an upper fifth rank commander to identify the nation’s Under Counsellor as a traitor.

If he made a mistake or failed to prove this accusation properly, he would be the one to lose his head in return.

“……”

Seol Tae Pyeong seemed unaware of the gravity of his words as he stood calmly at the center of the audience chamber.

Cheong Jin Myeong who was rolling on the floor would be the witness to reveal the whole truth of this incident.

He appeared confident in this belief.

“The Under Councilor… you say…?”

Emperor Woon Sung sharply turned his head to look at the place where the three great officials were gathered.

Under Councilor Shim Sang Gon was observing the situation while standing beside the Chief Councilor and the Central Councilor. All eyes focused on him.

Only someone of the rank of the three great officials could execute such a bold plan.

Though Emperor Woon Sung also considered this possibility, he hadn’t expected that the Under Councilor would be pinpointed as the culprit.

“Black Moon leader Cheong Jin Myeong has confessed everything. He was an assassin acting under the orders of Under Councilor Shim Sang Gon.”

“What…! Such groundless accusations…!”

There was no way Shim Sang Gon would remain silent at this.

He dragged his bear-like body to the center of the audience chamber, kneeled before the Emperor, and bowed his head.

“Your Majesty! Please do not listen to the slander of that wicked man! It is nothing but a scheme to frame me as a traitor without any evidence!”

“…….”

“I, your unworthy servant, have devoted my entire life to serving Cheongdo Empire. Since I came to Cheongdo Palace as a civil servant when I was young, I have never abandoned my loyalty.”

Under Councilor Shim Sang Gon had endured in the political arena of Cheongdo Palace for over 40 years.

No one who had served for such a long time could be branded a criminal based on a single statement.

“Surely, that Black Moon leader is making one last desperate move. Whoever truly commands him, he is naming me just to bring me down.”

Emperor Woon Sung also knew well how dirty the politics of Cheongdo Palace were.

Even if a name came from an assassin’s mouth, it couldn’t be easily trusted. Just like what Shim Sang Gon said, this entire situation might be someone’s scheme.

Emperor Woon Sung looked down at Cheong Jin Myeong who was lying on the floor.

“Did you really act on the orders of the Under Councilor? If you do not speak the truth, you will learn what the most painful death is.”

“……”

Cheong Jin Myeong who was still kneeling with his head bowed started to speak.

“I have committed a grave sin worthy of death. I am… indeed an assassin who acted under the orders of Under Councilor Shim Sang Gon.”

“…you….! What are you talking about! Don’t spout such lies!”

Shim Sang Gon had remained in his position for so many years.

He quickly racked his brain to salvage the situation and raised his voice.

“Your Majesty! You must not listen to such ridiculous words!”

“……”

“If you consider it carefully, the situation is too strange. Does it make sense that someone who harbored such great disloyalty to assassinate the Crown Prince would reveal everything so easily?”

His rising voice even conveyed a certain boldness.

“I, Under Councilor Shim Sang Gon, have never once abandoned my loyalty to Your Majesty in my entire life. But even if that were the case, I am not foolish enough to plan such a grand act of disloyalty without even silencing the assassin!”

He implied that no one would commit such a grave act of disloyalty as assassinating the Crown Prince without ensuring the assassin could not speak.

Whether by taking their family hostage or using their comrades as leverage, ensuring that the assassin could not reveal the name of their employer was a basic precaution in such schemes.

It was indeed strange that the truth was so easily confessed without any torture.

Of course, Shim Sang Gon had sufficiently ensured that Cheong Jin Myeong would not speak.

If something happened to Shim Sang Gon, the remaining members of the Black Moon Unit would have no way to escape to a distant foreign land.

This was because the remaining payment and the ship all depended on the Under Councilor. Therefore, it was impossible to think that the Black Moon leader Cheong Jin Myeong would betray the Under Councilor. He cherished the members of the Black Moon Unit too dearly to do that.

However, Cheong Jin Myeong showed no hesitation as he readily mentioned the Under Councilor’s name.

“You must not be swayed by the baseless words of those treacherous rebels who dared to attempt the assassination of the Crown Prince! Please believe in my loyalty, which has been solely dedicated to serving Your Majesty for over forty years…”

“……”

Emperor Woon Sung quietly closed his eyes. He needed to collect his thoughts.

Silence enveloped the audience chamber and everyone waited patiently while Emperor Woon Sung organized his thoughts.

In the end, Emperor Woon Sung was the one who had the final say in this matter. If he did not make a wise decision, the identity of the treacherous rebel who attempted to harm Crown Prince Hyeon Won would remain forever unsolved.

“Commander Seol Tae Pyeong.”

Emperor Woon Sung quietly called Seol Tae Pyeong’s name.

Seol Tae Pyeong who had been kneeling with his head bowed stood up and responded.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“There is some truth in what the Under Councilor said. It is merely a claim without evidence. Therefore, report more thoroughly on how the Under Councilor’s name came so easily from the mouth of that disloyal Black Moon leader. Explain to us how you coerced him.”

“That is… because doing so was the only way for Cheong Jin Myeong to save his own life.”

“….What?”

At Seol Tae Pyeong’s words, all the high officials widened their eyes in surprise.

Could he really think that committing the grave sin of attempting to harm the Crown Prince would be forgiven simply by sincerely repenting and revealing those behind it?

From the moment he tried to kill the Crown Prince, the death penalty was inevitable. The only difference would be in how painfully he would die.

He must have known this… so why make such a foolish choice?

“Your Majesty, to be precise, Black Moon Leader Cheong Jin Myeong did not participate in the assassination plot led by Under Councilor Shim Sang Gon. In reality, he is just a person who was deceived.”

Indeed.

If he could avoid the death penalty…. then Cheong Jin Myeong’s position could be slightly changed.

Instead of being someone who tried to kill Crown Prince Hyeon Won, he could be portrayed as someone who tried to save him.

He was only deceived by the treacherous Under Councilor Shim Sang Gon.

If they could steer the narrative to show that he did not intend to assassinate Crown Prince Hyeon Won… the Emperor could accuse him of incompetence but not of disloyalty.

Whether he faced flogging, imprisonment, or a severe beating… as long as he could keep his life, it would be enough.

After all, they could slowly pull him out of prison using the influence of the Heavenly Maiden. The main goal was to ensure his survival.

Therefore, Black Moon Leader Cheong Jin Myeong would remain merely as someone who was deceived by the Under Councilor’s schemes.

“Does your Majesty know about the special demonic spirit called Moon Demonic Spirit Yoran?”

Seol Tae Pyeong spoke with his head bowed.

The high officials tilted their heads in confusion at his words.

They knew about the existence of the Moon Demonic Spirit.

Since the unprecedented incident of Crown Prince Hyeon Won’s assassination attempt occurred, they were discussing this matter, but the appearance of a demonic spirit in the Heavenly Dragon Hall was equally serious.

The meeting was to discuss both issues, but they were prioritizing the more pressing matter first.

However, these two incidents were not separate and needed to be addressed together.

“I have heard that demonic spirit is a cruel and evil one. It bewitches people and then eventually impersonates them to take their identity”.

It was a demonic spirit of the worst kind. It replicates not only the appearance but also the strength, abilities, and memories of its victims.

All of those abilities came from the Taoist arts that the Moon Demonic Spirit was born with.

Seol Tae Pyeong spoke in a low voice.

“That Moon Demonic Spirit Yoran impersonated the Crown Prince Hyeon Won and deceived Cheong Jin Myeong.”

“What…?”

At this completely unexpected statement, not only the other high officials but even Shim Sang Gon widened his eyes in shock.

It was an utterly outrageous claim.

….

After a moment of silence, the first to raise his voice was Under Councilor Shim Sang Gon.

“What nonsense are you talking about! How could Moon Demonic Spirit Yoran impersonate the Crown Prince? Even if it were true, I would have reported it to the main palace immediately!”

“That’s correct. Moon Demonic Spirit Yoran did not impersonate the Crown Prince. However, Under Councilor, you told Cheong Jin Myeong otherwise.”

The current Crown Prince Hyeon Won was not the real one. Moon Demonic Spirit Yoran had impersonated him.

So, you told Cheong Jin Myeong to kill the fake Crown Prince.

In this way, you attempted to use Cheong Jin Myeong to kill the real Crown Prince.

“Even though Cheong Jin Myeong has lived a wandering life as a demonic spirit hunter, he would never attempt to assassinate Crown Prince Hyeon Won who possesses the energy of the Heavenly Dragon. So in order to take advantage of his loyalty, you have to use lies like that.”

“Not even a fool…! How can it make sense that Black Moon Leader Cheong Jin Myeong would fall for such vague and unrealistic lies…!”

“It’s not just anyone, but the Under Councilor who said such lies.”

Someone of a high position.

Sometimes, the position itself adds credibility to words. Authority in itself holds great power.

If it were a beggar in the market spreading conspiracy theories, it would be dismissed as nonsense.

But when the Under Councilor who has served the emperor for over 40 years calls you into his office and speaks one-on-one…. you can’t help but narrow your eyebrows and listen intently.

Such is the power of authority and position.

“Nonsense!”

The Under Councilor raised his voice even more and he dismissed Seol Tae Pyeong’s words.

“From the perspective of Black Moon Leader Cheong Jin Myeong, it makes no sense at all! Your Majesty! If he was given orders to kill the current Crown Prince because he is a fake, wouldn’t he first question why such extreme measures are being used?”

If it were known that Crown Prince Hyeon Won was a fake, an ordinary person would try to inform the Emperor of that fact.

And all you have to do is prove that fact and expel the false prince according to legal procedures.

It was about doing what was necessary. There was no need to take the risk of assassination.

From Cheong Jin Myeong’s perspective, he would have had such doubts.

“I heard that the real Crown Prince was taken hostage by the Moon Demonic Spirit.”

At that moment, Cheong Jin Myeong spoke with his head bowed.

“I heard that the Moon Demonic Spirit Yoran has a habit of immediately killing the person it is impersonating and running away when it was discovered.”

Moon Demonic Spirit Yoran had no such habit.

It was just something added to make the situation fit together.

Since there were hardly any people who knew about the abilities of special demons, no one could refute such a claim here.

“So, to rescue the Crown Prince, I heard that he had to be killed quickly in a place where he couldn’t resist.”

At this point, the Under Councilor had completely caught on.

Schemes and conspiracies. These were skills one had to master to survive the political arena of Cheongdo Palace.

Seol Tae Pyeong had tried to win over Cheong Jin Myeong by promising to spare him. If he could win him over, pushing Under Councilor Shim Sang Gon off the cliff would be easy.

Indeed, although he had thought Seol Tae Pyeong was just an upper fifth-rank military officer who wielded a sword well, it turned out he was also a man who knew how to use political tricks.

The Under Councilor ground his teeth in anger but he did not lose his composure.

To exchange blows in the realm of schemes and plots, one must never lose their reason.

Being cornered meant defeat. He had to expose the opponent’s weaknesses, grasp them, and then counterattack.

“Black Moon Leader Cheong Jin Myeong, you’re struggling desperately to survive, aren’t you? Do you think that the world’s great sin of turning a sword on His Highness the Crown Prince will be erased by offering me as a sacrifice?”

Shim Sang Gon raged with a fury that seemed ready to burst into flames. Just by looking at him, one could see the image of a loyal servant enraged at a treacherous criminal.

“These are just baseless claims! Your Majesty! Who wouldn’t be able to fabricate words to fit the situation?”

“Then I will present evidence.”

When Seol Tae Pyeong spoke those words softly, Shim Sang Gon momentarily gasped for breath.

When he thought about it, it was impossible that Seol Tae Pyeong who had taken such extreme measures would have no basis for his actions.

“There is evidence, and there are witnesses.”

“All of it must be fabricated or manipulated! Don’t play tricks! You insolent fool!”

“Wouldn’t it be best if I called someone whom I cannot deceive as a witness? The witness I wish to call is none other than His Highness the Crown Prince himself.”

At that moment, Shim Sang Gon’s expression turned cold.

He was a man of strong will. It seemed he had a grasp of the extent of Seol Tae Pyeong’s plan.

When people of a certain skill level play chess, there comes a moment when they instinctively feel the next move will choke their neck in an inescapable trap.

So, what would Seol Tae Pyeong’s next move be?

“Your Majesty! I heard that Grand General Seong Sa Wook reported what happened in the Imperial Garden!”

Seol Tae Pyeong passed by Shim Sang Gon and kneeled once more in front of Emperor Woon Sung before shouting loudly.

“Black Moon Leader Cheong Jin Myeong who is now captured and bound here may not match General Seong Sa Wook in strength, but it can be said that he is the best in terms of stealth and agility!”

Shim Sang Gon who was standing with his back turned …broke out into a cold sweat.

The opponent was using a huge trick. There were a lot of lies in what he was saying.

Nonetheless, if it couldn’t be refuted, it would be considered the truth. That was the nature of political battles.

“Indeed, he managed to briefly shake off General Seong Sa Wook at the Imperial Garden, break through the guards led by Warrior Commander Jang Rae, and reach Crown Prince Hyeon Won with a sword in hand!”

This had already been reported.

It was said that Maid Seol Ran and White Taoist An Cheon appeared at a critical moment to save the Crown Prince.

But until then, the Crown Prince and Cheong Jin Myeong had been alone together.

“But… was there truly never a chance for Cheong Jin Myeong to kill the Crown Prince?”

Cheong Jin Myeong could have killed the Crown Prince.

He had shaken off Jang Rae and had time before Seol Ran and An Cheon appeared.

He spent a long time alone with the Crown Prince. Time enough to strike with his sword.

But despite this, he had not killed Crown Prince Hyeon Won.

In the “Heavenly Dragon Love Song”, Cheong Seo Rin’s image overlapped with that of Crown Prince Hyeon Won in his head… and he couldn’t bring himself to kill him.

That moment of hesitation led to the failure of the entire plan.

“Isn’t it strange? After all those preparations and sacrifices, every moment would have been worth its weight in gold, yet at that crucial moment, Black Moon Leader Cheong Jin Myeong couldn’t drive the sword in!”

The only difference between Seol Tae Pyeong and Shim Sang Gon was just that.

Did he know about the heart demon buried deep in Cheong Jin Myeong’s heart?

Seol Tae Pyeong knew, but Shim Sang Gon did not.

That one difference caused the entire premise to crack.

“Black Moon Leader Cheong Jin Myeong, answer me! At that critical moment where countless interests and fates hinged on a single stroke of the sword, why couldn’t you swing the blade despite having so much time?”

Seol Tae Pyeong shouted at Cheong Jin Myeong who was lying face down with his limbs bound.

Cheong Jin Myeong kept his head bowed before slowly opening his mouth.

– Are you not afraid?

– I am not afraid.

He recalled the moment when he faced Crown Prince Hyeon Won with a sword.

Seeing the Crown Prince calmly looking at him made him reflect on the meaning of his own life.

A life failed both as a father and as the Black Moon Leader.

A life adrift without belonging anywhere, without a hometown.

His daughter Cheong Seo Rin who had to die as the price for that life.

All those memories made Cheong Jin Myeong’s hand tremble on the hilt of his sword. It was truly pathetic.

──Yet, paradoxically, that hesitation became the key to saving his life.

Life was indeed a series of paradoxes.

“Even if it was the Moon Demonic Spirit, it would still resist me in the face of death. However, when I saw someone who doesn’t resist even in the face of death… At that moment when I looked into his eyes up close, I realized something.”

“What… are you saying…”

Cheong Jin Myeong steadied his voice and continued.

“I couldn’t swing the sword because I realized the Crown Prince wasn’t the Moon Demonic Spirit Yoran.”

Shim San Gon trembled and turned his head.

Having experienced countless battles, he instinctively sensed that the situation was turning into a dead end.

It wasn’t just any ordinary situation; it was a crucial moment in which the entire political structure of the empire was at stake.

The fact that Cheong Jin Myeong hadn’t swung his sword at that historical moment meant there had to be a compelling reason.

To refute Cheong Jin Myeong’s words, Shim San Gon needed another plausible reason for why Cheong Jin Myeong didn’t strike.

However, Shim San Gon couldn’t provide that reason.

Just didn’t feel like it? Suddenly got scared? Wanted to betray his employer at that extreme moment? Just hesitated for no reason?

None of those reasons were convincing. No matter how logically Shim San Gon thought about it, he couldn’t come up with a reason why Cheong Jin Myeong didn’t kill Crown Prince Hyeon Won in that situation.

That was why he was inevitably backed into a corner.

“Black Moon Leader Cheong Jin Myeong hesitated and did not strike the Crown Prince. What Cheong Jin Myeong intended to kill was not the Crown Prince but Moon Demonic Spirit Yoran.”

“……”

“And all of this, no one else but the Crown Prince himself, saw clearly.”

More than anyone else, Crown Prince Hyeon Won himself is the witness.

No matter how powerful Shim San Gon might be, he cannot deny the Crown Prince’s testimony.

“Th… This is a conspiracy…!”

Shim San Gon quickly turned his head and shouted at the surrounding crowd.

The numerous high officials watching the scene widened their eyes in shock.

“It’s a conspiracy! Yes, right…! Even if that assassin didn’t kill the Crown Prince! Even if things just happened to come together, are you really going to accuse me of high treason based on this alone?”

Shim San Gon screamed furiously and rushed forward. He started by grabbing Seol Tae Pyeong by the collar.

“So, you’ve played a clever trick! But… you think you can make me a traitor with just this? With just this…! With just this…!”

“Your Majesty!”

At that moment, an eunuch guarding outside the door entered the audience chamber with a respectful gesture.

Interrupting the audience without permission was a grave offense. Yet, the fact that he came in so urgently meant that it was an important matter.

And when they heard his next words, everyone in the audience chamber froze.

“The Heavenly Maiden has arrived at the main palace. She insists on meeting His Majesty…”

“……!!!”

The Heavenly Maiden, a shaman who serves the energy of the Heavenly Dragon.

This woman who stands at the pinnacle of the Cheongdo Palace, and because of her frail body, she never goes out of the Heavenly Dragon Hall.

Yet now, after several years, she has left the Heavenly Dragon Hall and came directly to the main palace.

It was as if the sky had turned upside down.

“……”

Shim San Gon who was clutching Seol Tae Pyeong’s collar suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

Seol Tae Pyeong met his gaze coldly and showed no sign of surprise.

Whatever trick had been played, it was clear that everything in this audience had been anticipated.

There was more to this.

They had prepared everything to corner Shim San Gon and push him off the cliff.