The Terminally Ill Young Master of the Baek Clan

When Yi-gang was busily spreading telepathic messages around.

Yi-ryong also sent telepathic messages to others.

-Heuk Seok-gye, continue monitoring by the Emperor’s side. You must carefully remember what King Gye-yeong says. If it seems like their conversation is ending early, stall for as long as possible and give the signal.

He first told those who would stay by King Gye-yeong and the Emperor.

-Wi Mi-hyeon, take the Crown Prince and the County Princess. Use any method to collect their blood, test it with the reagent, and report immediately if there is a reaction.

Bringing the children from King Gye-yeong was not actually the Emperor’s will but rather what the Seven Great Immortals desired.

And finally, he spoke to Yo Myung-sa.

-That Baek Yi-gang, no matter how I look at him, he is suspicious.

Baek Yi-gang, who was brought by King Gye-yeong, was the only variable that had appeared today.

Having stayed in the imperial palace for a long time, the Seven Great Immortals were actually not well-versed in the martial world.

Therefore, they failed to notice that Baek Yi-gang was the eldest son of the Baek Noble Clan and currently a Supreme Peak master renowned in Jianghu.

-Suddenly accepting a teacher like that… He doesn’t seem like just an ordinary bodyguard.

On the surface, he didn’t seem strong. However, seeing that he did not lose his composure even before the Emperor, he was certainly no easy opponent.

Feeling frustrated at his inability to gauge the opponent’s level, Yi-ryong furrowed his brow.

However, more important than identifying his identity was to take action before any issues arose.

-Yo Myung-sa. You should stay close to that Crown Prince’s teacher and guide him separately. In the meantime, observe closely who he really is.

-Yes, Eldest Brother.

Yo Myung-sa accepted the assigned task.

Even in unexpected situations, Yi-ryong’s use of talent was appropriate.

Yo Myung-sa was the person among the Seven Great Immortals with the keenest insight.

She was sensitive to both Qi and spiritual energy, excelling in detecting and discerning things.

She was the first to discover the Guardian.

Her most outstanding skill was her art of the Insight Eye.

It could not be compared, but she prided herself on possessing better insight than even the Taoist priests of the Taoist sects.

As she greeted Yi-gang, she quietly chanted a Taoist incantation.

It served as an incantation used when casting a spell.

As the Innate True Qi of her Middle Dantian slowly flowed out and gathered in her eyes, she looked up to see Yi-gang. If she looked up, she would be able to discern the size of his Qi, spiritual energy, and more.

“I will guide you…”

And when Yo Myung-sa raised her head.

She suddenly froze.

Yi-gang’s face was right in front of her. His face was fair and delicate.

A faint blue light flashed in his eyes. A dizzying aura similar to yokai Qi.

Even with her Insight Eye activated, she could not see through the porcelain-like skin.

But… that was not what mattered.

Beyond where Yi-gang stood… something like a mirage was flickering there.

Was there something there? If so…

At that moment, Yo Myung-sa forgot to breathe.

It was something far beyond her ability to comprehend, something of a higher dimension.

Her diaphragm, which contracted and expanded the thoracic cavity, stopped, and her breathing halted.

Her heartbeat slowed significantly.

Just as her consciousness, which was born the most sensitive among the brothers, was about to become muddled…

Tap.

Yi-gang covered Yo Myung-sa’s eyes.

Thanks to that, Yo Myung-sa quickly regained her composure.

“…What is…”

“Dust got into your eyes.”

“Pardon?”

He didn’t wipe his own eyes, but said dust got into the other person’s eyes.

It was the first time she had heard such an absurd excuse, but Yo Myung-sa quickly rubbed her eyes.

Her eyes felt dry and stung, causing tears to stream down.

She couldn’t see herself, but they were probably bloodshot red.

-What’s happening?

Sensing something unusual, Yi-ryong sent a telepathic message.

Only then did Yo Myung-sa fully regain her senses. Pretending to rub her eyes, she subtly replied.

-It’s nothing. I will investigate further.

-Understood.

It was clear that her Insight Eye technique had failed.

What she had learned was not the genuine spell of the orthodox lineage but a dubious one, so such side effects were common.

Otherwise, how could a human carry something so enormous on their back like that?

“P-please, follow me.”

Yo Myung-sa said this and took the lead, walking ahead.

Yi-gang followed behind her.

The Emperor’s residence wasn’t exactly a sightseeing spot, so there wasn’t much to ‘guide.’

However, this was Huangtian Palace, a secret palace built by the Emperor for his pleasure and a fortress influenced by the Seven Great Immortals.

Its maze-like structure was so complicated that anyone unfamiliar who tried to intrude would easily get lost.

Contrary to her offer to guide him, Yo Myung-sa showed a rather unenthusiastic attitude.

“What kind of place is this?”

“Haha… This is where His Imperial Majesty rests.”

She would answer vaguely like that.

“There are many precious mirrors in that room.”

“This is for His Imperial Majesty’s enjoyment.”

“What does enjoyment have to do with mirrors?”

“…”

She would simply smile and remain silent.

After wandering inside Huangtian Palace for quite some time, Yo Myung-sa led Yi-gang to a certain room.

“What is this place?”

“This is a space where you can have some tea.”

“Tea?”

It indeed seemed like a suitable space for that.

Despite being indoors, the room was decorated with plants to enhance the atmosphere. However, there were no signs of any tea sets.

“I will bring out some tea, so please wait here for a moment.”

“All right.”

Both were trying to probe each other. From Yi-gang’s perspective, this wasn’t a bad thing.

Of course, Yo Myung-sa was aiming for something more.

‘If his mind gets hazy, he’ll reveal his true identity.’

Even the renowned Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard lost their reason in front of the Dream Soul Drug she concocted, so Yo Myung-sa smiled slightly as she went to fetch the tea.

Since it’s colorless and odorless, she was certain he would drink it unknowingly if mixed in the tea.

Yi-gang was left alone again.

He gently closed his eyes.

「What are you doing?」

‘…’

「Can’t you hear me?」

Zhang Sanfeng had appeared again at some point.

When Yi-gang didn’t respond even after being spoken to, he grumbled in frustration.

Yi-gang opened his eyes.

‘This place… It’s the room just behind where I met the Emperor earlier.’

「Hmm?」

He retraced in his mind the path Yo Myung-sa had guided him through.

Zhang Sanfeng, curious, slipped through the wall to take a look.

Then he suddenly appeared, clapping his hands together.

「Quite a skill you have there. I didn’t know you were capable of this too.」

Yo Myung-sa had deliberately taken a winding path to confuse him and brought him to this place.

The reason was obvious. She could stay close to her allies, and for Yi-gang, who didn’t know the way, it was as if he had been isolated alone.

Yi-gang recalled the recent events.

Yo Myung-sa had certainly used the Insight Eye technique. Even though Yi-gang had hastily covered her eyes, she must have sensed something suspicious.

Fortunately, if Zhang Sanfeng went inside the Divine Demon Disk, he could conceal his presence even if the Insight Eye was used.

The problem was that this would increase their suspicion of Yi-gang.

Yi-gang’s abilities were not limited to mere swordsmanship.

Since he left his weapon behind when coming to Huangtian Palace, his capabilities as a warrior were effectively halved.

This could lead to underestimating him, which might be advantageous when dealing with the Seven Great Immortals…

‘That person named Yi-ryong seemed to be a Supreme Peak master.’

「I thought so too.」

‘The others weren’t unfamiliar with martial arts either.’

While Yi-ryong couldn’t accurately gauge Yi-gang’s level, Yi-gang was different.

When he first met the Seven Great Immortals here, he observed all the members.

It was clear that none of them would be easy to deal with.

‘Indeed, I will need help.’

Today, it seemed best to stop at just assessing the opponent and then withdrawing.

The grand plan had to be carried out after waiting for the reinforcements sent by the Azure Forest.

‘Still, I must try to make contact with the Guardian.’

This was something that weighed on Yi-gang’s mind.

King Gye-yeong was certain that the Guardian had not betrayed the imperial family.

If so, shouldn’t he meet them first to understand their intentions?

Both Seong Yeok-ju and King Gye-yeong agreed, but merely wanting to know the location of the Guardian didn’t make it so.

Even if Yi-gang called out, they would not appear.

However…

“Guardian.”

It was when he murmured this, just in case.

Thududududu—

A loud noise came from the ceiling.

Startled for a moment, Yi-gang soon chuckled.

‘It seems there are rats in the palace as well.’

No matter how he listened, it wasn’t a sound made by a person.

And not only that, but a rat poked its head out from the direction where the sound had passed.

At that moment, Zhang Sanfeng muttered, 「The place where the Guardian could be hiding.」

‘Yes.’

「Wouldn’t it be above the ceiling over there?」

‘…’

Yi-gang thought for a moment.

The Guardian was not an assassin, but hiding was almost the same as an assassin’s tactic.

In a place as open as the Emperor’s room earlier, the only options were to hide underground or above the ceiling.

「Let me go check it out.」

Without waiting for Yi-gang’s response, Zhang Sanfeng floated upward.

Since he was in a spirit form, there was no way a blocked ceiling could prevent him from passing through.

After disappearing for a moment, he returned through the ceiling just as he had vanished.

Then, with an intrigued expression, he spoke, 「There! Over there!」

The place Zhang Sanfeng pointed to was not where the Emperor was, but the ceiling of the room Yi-gang was in.

‘Over there… is where they are?’

Yi-gang stared at a particular spot on the ceiling Zhang Sanfeng was pointing to.

Unlike Yu Su-rin or Yo Myung-sa, Yi-gang had not mastered the Insight Eye technique. It was a skill that could only be acquired by those with special talents.

Unable to see through the blocked ceiling, Yi-gang focused on his hearing.

However, even with his keen senses, he could not hear a single breath.

No, he could not even feel any trace of living energy.

It seemed that the stealth techniques of the Guardian were indeed extraordinary.

‘Then…’

Although he could not use the Insight Eye, Yi-gang had a secret technique called the Scripture of Inexhaustible Mind and Emotion.

Soon, his eyelids began to warm, and he started to see what was previously invisible.

“…!”

From a spot on the ceiling that Zhang Sanfeng pointed out, something ominous, like a flickering mirage, was flowing down.

All living beings naturally possessed living energy.

By reciting the Scripture of Inexhaustible Mind and Emotion, one could temporarily open their spiritual eyes to see it.

It allowed one to see the natural energy flowing from a person’s Baihui acupoint.

However, from that ceiling, a strange energy, unlike anything he had ever seen before, was billowing down.

It had been quite some time since he began staring intently at the exact spot where the Guardian was located.

Although Yi-gang did not know it, he had satisfied one of the ‘conditions’ for the Guardian to make a move.

Thud—

With that sound, a section of the ceiling swiftly opened.

Swoosh—Thud!

A willow leaf throwing knife flew down and embedded itself precisely at Yi-gang’s feet.

It was a white blade with a small handle made of gold.

It was a remarkably swift throwing technique that sent chills down his spine.

However, Yi-gang did not attempt to dodge.

「A warning.」

From the beginning, it was a warning aimed just in front of Yi-gang’s feet.

And the person who issued that warning…

「Oh…」

Raising his head, Yi-gang saw it, two gleaming eyes shining in the deep darkness of the ceiling.

The Guardian was there.

“Guardian.”

Yi-gang called his name in a low voice.

There was no response. He continued to quietly stare at Yi-gang from within the darkness.

The section of the ceiling that had opened as if by itself remained open.

“Would you come down for a brief conversation?”

Silence again.

Yi-gang tilted his head slightly and then smiled.

“If you don’t want to, I’ll come up.”

“…”

“Alright, then I’m coming up.”

Yi-gang jumped up through the open ceiling.

His expression and actions were calm, but his attitude was not careless.

He maintained a distance that would allow him to defend at any moment.

“So, there was a place like this.”

The space above the ceiling was high enough for a person to stand and walk around comfortably.

However, it was unclear how one would navigate in such a dark place.

Fortunately, the open ceiling allowed for some visibility.

The Guardian was there.

He was crouched, one knee bent, his body hunched.

Ready to scatter the willow leaf throwing knives at any moment, just like before.

If he were to use a killing move, not just one, but dozens of willow leaf throwing knives would fly out from his sleeve.

Despite his crouched posture, his eyes were fixed on Yi-gang.

His face was not visible. It was hidden behind a mask.

It was a peculiar mask. It seemed to be made of metal, with a grim appearance resembling that of a ghost.

From the eye sockets of that mask, a gleam of light was shining through.

“Why are you silent?”

Yi-gang slowly began speaking to the Guardian.

“The reason I sought you out is…”

Yi-gang suddenly stopped mid-sentence.

Then he frowned.

“What is this?”

Without a word from Zhang Sanfeng, he moved closer to the Guardian and examined him closely.

With the room now brighter than before, he could observe more clearly.

Zhang Sanfeng also noticed something odd.

「Could it be…」

There was no trace of living energy coming from the Guardian.

「Is he perhaps a jiangshi?」

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