Chronicles of the Heavenly Demon

“Is there a chance that the enemy also knows of the passages marked on this map?”

Jo Woo-sang decisively said, “No. I swear on my life.”

“I don’t know how much you think your life is worth to me, considering you’re no longer the chief of the Eastern Depot.”

Jo Woo-sang smiled, “Certainly the value may fall, but it is still my life. I am not stupid enough to make an uncertain wager with my head on the line.”

Woon-seong smiled bitterly. Since Jo Woo-sang said it like that, the man must be truly confident. 

“Don’t play, tell me why. Why won’t the enemy know these passageways?”

Jo Woo-sang looked down at the map when King Jinseong asked this. “Because managing these passageways is the job of a eunuch.”

“The job of the Chief of the Eastern Depot, you mean.”

“The man sitting as the chief of the bureau…”

Jo Woo-sang took a moment before choosing his words carefully. “That fool is just imitating me. He resembles me and mimics my habits somewhat, but he is not me.”

“He would not know what goes on in your head.”

Jo Woo-sang nodded. 

Jegal Sung asked, “Is there any chance that the enemy found them while you were gone?”

Jo Woo-sang resolutely answered: “There is no way.”

The ‘Thousand Paths Disorienting Labyrinth’ (千道迷路陈).

That was the true name of the five passageways joined together. 

“As long as that is true, they will never find the entrances.”

“Just tell me what you mean by ‘it changes regularly’,” King Jinseong insisted. 

As King Jinseong urged him on, Jo Woo-sang wet his lips with his tongue. “The entrance to these passageways, which, by our standards, is the exit…” He pointed at the scorch marks on the map. “It is only the exits that are fixed.”

“Then what of the entrances?”

“The entrances are all inside the Imperial Palace, but they keep changing. The number of entrances is also five, but I cannot say which entrance leads to what exit, my lord.”

King Jinseong made a low sound. 

Five entrances.

Five exits.

In that case, the total number of paths created was twenty-five.

King Jinseong’s gaze turned towards the point outside of Beijing. Originally, it was a place that should have been used as an exit, but was now an entrance.

No matter which entrance we choose, we cannot be certain they will lead to a specific exit.

Jo Woo-sang moved his hand again. The energy wrapped around his hands and five points appeared inside the Imperial Palace. 

“These are the exits.”

“There are two near the throne room.”

“They were designed so that the emperor could quickly escape an incident inside the palace.”

Jo Woo-sang smiled bitterly as he spoke. The secret passageways created to keep the emperor safe were now being used to take the emperor’s head. 

It was a great disservice to the people who designed these passageways and the craftsmen who built them. 

But there was no other choice. 

As if he could read these thoughts, King Jinseong said, “Then the one who enters nearest the throne room should take on the emperor. So what should the people who entered through the other passageways do?”

King Jinseong looked bewildered. 

He was not the only one. 

“Can you tell me how many people can enter the passageways?”

The Justice-Demon Alliance was at least 2,000 men strong. Since there was still the delicate situation with the Beijing Defense Forces, it was difficult for all of them to enter, but it would be alright for only 1,000 to enter. 

Jo Woo-sang shook his head, understanding Jegal Sung’s question. 

“If the weight limit is breached, the passageway will automatically collapse. We can probably get up to five people per corridor, but to be on the safe side, I would recommend two or three each.”

“Hmm.”

In the end, it had to be a small number of people. 

Jo Woo-sang then answered King Jinseong’s question: “Everyone who escapes the passageways has a job to do.”

“What would that be?”

“The first would be to purge the remnants of the Cult of the Inverted Sky.”

“The remnants…”

“Take a good look at where these passageways lead.”

Listening to him, everyone’s focus went back to the map. But there were only two people who understood the actual layout just by looking at the map. 

One was the Chief of the Eastern Depot, the other was King Jinseong. 

King Jinseong spoke with a serious expression, “One leads to Hong Bin’s office inside the palace. The other is Young-gun’s [1]. And lastly, what is this place?”

Woon-seong, who was listening, tilted his head. Hong Bin? 

Somehow, the name ‘Hong Bin’ sounded familiar. It was not a name he heard very often, but he had definitely heard it somewhere before. 

Woon-seong shook his head several times before remembering where he had heard of this ‘Hong Bin’. 

Prime Minister Hong Bin. 

At the top of the officials in the court. 

I heard of him from Un Gwan-gook of the Four Sea Courier Group. 

Woon-seong nodded to himself. If the prime minister was still alive, then it was likely that he was in league with the Inverted Sky. 

Then what about this Young-gun?

Woon-seong was not aware that this ‘Young-gun’ was actually an impersonator from the Inverted Sky. But of course, the Inverted Sky wouldn’t have let that slip. 

It must be the same for Young-gun.

By the time Woon-seong had sorted out his thoughts, Jo Woo-sang had answered King Jinseong’s question. 

“Originally, that was where the imperial concubines resided.”

“Ah, the Palace of Eternal Spring. But you said originally. Are you saying it is not right now?”

“That is still the name now,” Jo Woo-sang responded grimly. 

King Jinseong seemed to find that frustrating. “You say it both is and is not. Explain what happened.”

Jo Woo-sang sighed heavily.

And then someone said something ominous: “Divine martial puppets.”

It was Woon-seong that spoke, his eyes slightly trembling. 

“And the Tomb of the Martial Gods. Have you heard of this?”

Woon-seong nodded. 

Jo Woo-sang turned to Woon-seong. “You said you’ve heard of martial puppets and the Tomb of the Martial Gods, Cult Leader?”

“Of course, I’ve fought against them three times.”

“Huh, and you survived against them…” 

Jo Woo-sang trembled as if he was genuinely terrified. 

In response, Woon-seong tilted his head and asked, “What is with the reaction?” 

Jo Woo-sang swallowed. He then walked to the corner and drank some water to settle his heart. As the cool water washed down his throat, his heart seemed to calm down a little. 

“These martial puppets are creatures who have been made from awakened ancient spirits. The tomb is the place where they are created.”

Divine martial puppets. 

And the corpses, vessels to produce them. 

It was unknown how the Cult of the Inverted Sky was making these creatures. 

But one thing was certain: the Cult of the Inverted Sky was confident that each one of these puppets could handle a Semi-Divine Being. 

Jo Woo-sang had never actually encountered one, but he was well aware of their horror. He turned and asked, “The Cult Leader said he fought against these monsters three times. How are you alive?”

Woon-seong snorted. 

“I don’t know who boasted, but the Inverted Sky overestimated their creations. Do you think that just because you can reanimate a corpse and stuff it with energy that it will suddenly regain the understanding and skills of a Semi-Divine master?”

It seemed that the Buddhist and Sword Stars were in agreement, like they had been reminded of something. 

“Amitabha.”

“Maybe that is why they were fighting about in Murim.”

Jo Woo-sang turned to them. “You fought those monsters too?”

“I only fought one. I fought and won.”

“Hurrah,” sighed Jo Woo-sang. The Twin Stars and One Demon are called the best in Murim, but they truly are strong.

While Jo Woo-sang was thinking that, the Buddhist Star said: “Eunuch Jo, there is no need for you to worry as much as you are. Those monsters may be as powerful as the Inverted Sky says, but they are not enough to threaten a living Semi-Divine Being.”

The Sword Star tacked on, “Maybe if two puppets worked together.”

However, these words made Jo Woo-sang’s expression harden. He actually shook, his expression only paling further. 

King Jinseong anxiously asked, “What is it?”

“The tomb, the tomb must be destroyed.”

Jo Woo-sang pointed at the passageway leading to the room with his finger. 

“I don’t know which one of you will make it out this way, but if it is you, you must head towards this room. And you must destroy the tomb.”

Failure to do so would bring about great despair. Maybe it would cause everyone to experience Hell. 

Although he did not say it aloud, his voice conveyed that message. 

“I do not know who will end up here, but you must do it.”

“Of course. I would do it, but you should tell me why.”

Jo Woo-sang seemed to heave a sigh when he heard King Jinseong would do it. 

“There are fifteen additional corpse puppets being made there!”

It was enough to shock everyone. 

“So if you come out this way, you must destroy the place. Before all of those corpse puppets are completed, by all means!” 

.

.

.

And a few days later, the Buddhist Star exited the passage and quietly stood next to the Sword Star. 

“Haha, it seems like we will be the ones to do it.”

“Indeed.”

Near the front of the exit where they were standing. 

The words on the board hanging over the door were clearly visible. 

Palace of Eternal Spring. 

Reading the sign, the Buddist Star muttered a prayer. 

“Namo Amitabhaya Buddhaya. May the Buddha have mercy.”

Above them, the sunset glowed above the Heavens in a blaze of red — red, red as blood. 

“Amitabha.”

[1] to be clear, the ‘gun’ in Young-gun is an honorific