An imperial edict ordering martial artists to retreat from the border?
It was surprising, yes—but not entirely incomprehensible.
Not long ago, during the Stickyworm incident, the Martial Alliance and the Beast Palace had engaged in a large-scale battle within Daewol’s national borders.
There had even been a chase that crossed boundaries.
That kind of incident could definitely raise international tensions. While efforts were likely made to smooth things over, if those failed, such a command from the imperial court was within reason.
I had submitted reports explaining how dangerous Stickyworms were and the risks of mass outbreaks, but trying to make the general public understand that was next to impossible.
Most people didn’t even know what Stickyworms were.
So the imperial court may have judged that the danger posed by chasing Five Venoms across the border outweighed the threat of a Stickyworm outbreak.
Ji-ryong had even worried about this—saying that if the confrontation escalated at the border, the palace might perceive it as grounds for war and issue a full retreat order to the martial factions. It was within the range of what we expected.
But... a pardon for the Blood Cult and the Five Venoms Sect?
My thoughts came to a screeching halt.
That made no sense at all.
There was absolutely no reason to pardon those two factions.
The Blood Cult and Five Venoms Sect had become criminals because they attempted to assassinate royalty.
Yes, it was all a setup by the princess—but still, they were treated as traitors because of that false accusation.
Granting a pardon to high treason like that? Unthinkable.
Pardons for traitors were almost never granted.
And the Emperor adores the princess. Everyone knows that.
How could he possibly pardon the people who tried to murder his beloved daughter?
I asked, my voice urgent.
『“Tell me everything, Hwa-eun. In detail.”』
“I don’t know the full story yet either. But all the martial-friendly officials are reporting the same thing... Even the Open Sect and the Haho Sect issued identical warnings.
Just as I said—a royal edict pardoning the Blood Cult and Five Venoms Sect has been issued, and a separate decree was sent to the Martial Alliance ordering all martial artists to retreat from the border.
Neither the pardon nor the decree has formally arrived at the Martial Alliance yet, but once they do, we expect a fast horse to deliver copies to our side as well.”
Something felt very, very wrong.
So I asked:
『“Shouldn’t I just come back immediately?”』
You’d think she’d say yes—the risk was growing by the second. But just a moment ago, Hwa-eun had told me to go to the Ten Thousand Great Mountains quickly.
Maybe she figured that even if she told me to come back, I’d keep going with the mission anyway... But no matter how much I loved spirit beasts, this wasn’t worth it.
Given the situation, returning was the right call.
There’s no way this situation isn’t tied to the Five Venoms Sect.
A sudden pardon for the Blood Cult and Five Venoms?
It had to be their doing. Almost a 100% certainty.
We had reduced their numbers during the last chase, but if they were planning anything next, it would be a full-on assault. The smartest move was to head back and help protect the Beast Palace.
Groups with insufficient power often rely on asymmetrical warfare or secret weapons.
The name Myeolse hovered in my mind.
Even with Gun Hye-rin—one of the top-level martial artists—now on our side, the strongest defender of the Beast Palace right now was still Hwa-eun.
Yet, Hwa-eun gave me the same answer as before.
『“No, So-ryong. You still need to go to the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.”』
“Why?”
“I talked it over with Ji-ryong too. The Ten Thousand Great Mountains are close to Daewol’s border. If there really is a spirit beast there, then as soon as the Martial Alliance retreats, the enemy will make a move for it.
That’s why you need to get there first and secure it if it exists.”
“Ah...”
So that was why she told me to go quickly.
If a spirit beast was truly there, whoever found it first would have the advantage.
If I didn’t get it, the Five Venoms would—and that would tip the power balance even more in their favor.
With that logic, going quickly made sense.
Relieved, I replied:
『“I understand. I’ll go as quickly and safely as possible.”』
“Yes, So-ryong. Please be careful. I’ll keep you updated the moment we hear anything new.”
“Thank you, Hwa-eun.”
Just as I was finishing our call and about to bite into the rabbit leg—
Blood «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» dripped from the meat.
I stared blankly at Gun Hye-rin, who was cooking it, when suddenly Hwa-eun’s hesitant voice came through.
『“Um... So-ryong...”』
“Yes? Do you still have something to say?”
“No, it’s kind of unrelated but... b-by any chance, this morning, were your clothes... um...”
Ah.
So this was that question.
She was asking if the... intense encounter we had in the mindscape last night had caused any... spillover in reality.
I closed my eyes for a moment and quietly sent her the answer through our connection.
I secretly washed my pants this morning.
I... I thought so.
Got caught by Lady Gun, though.
O-oh dear...
From Hwa-eun, I felt a wave of deeply embarrassed energy.
***
After finishing the rabbit meat, we immediately set out for the Ten Thousand Great Mountains. On the way, I shared the new information with Gun Hye-rin.
She reacted just as baffled.
“So the Imperial Court is pardoning those Five Venoms bastards for high treason?”
“Yes, Lady Gun.”
“That’s bizarre.”
“I think so too.”
“What reason did they give, Master?”
“They say they don’t know yet. Hwa-eun said she’d keep me updated as new details come in.”
“Understood.”
And just then, as if things were accelerating faster than expected, Hwa-eun contacted me again—barely a moment after being mentioned—to inform me that the decree had arrived at the Martial Alliance.
『“So-ryong, the decree has just reached the Martial Alliance! We haven’t gotten a fast courier yet, but a messenger bird just arrived at the Beast Palace.”』
Until the official fast courier arrives, it doesn’t count as formally received. So there’s no need to withdraw forces yet—but it seems the Martial Alliance sent an early message bird to keep us informed.
Curious about the added contents, I asked Hwa-eun:
『“Hwa-eun, what does the message say?”』
“It says the danger at the border has increased, and martial artists must restrain themselves and withdraw.”
The updated decree was about pulling martial forces away from the border.
Just as expected.
A brief sentence picking at our recent actions as an excuse to withdraw troops.
Since I had just told Gun Hye-rin I’d relay any updates, I shared the news immediately.
“Hwa-eun says the decree has officially reached the Martial Alliance.”
“I’ve heard already.”
She already knew.
Apparently, she had joined the group conversation and had been listening in the whole time.
Nodding, she turned to address Hwa-eun directly.
『“That part was expected. But what about the pardon for the Five Venoms’ high treason?”』
“It says the misunderstanding has been resolved, so the pardon is being granted. It’s a bit hard to believe, I know.”
“A misunderstanding?”
“Yes. The Five Venoms and Blood Cult were previously treated as traitors, but it has been clarified that this was all a misunderstanding. So their crimes are being pardoned.”
A misunderstanding?
Sure, the Princess did frame them, but calling it a misunderstanding?
What kind of twisted logic was that?
Gun Hye-rin, hearing this, asked with suspicion in her voice:
『“Was that exact phrasing in the edict, Hwa-eun?”』
“Yes, Lady Gun.”
“That’s very strange.”
“What is?”
Hwa-eun asked, and Gun Hye-rin shook her head slowly as she replied:
“It’s the Imperial Court. They used the word misunderstanding, but the Court never uses terms like that.”
“How would you know that, Gun Hye-rin?”
“Because both the Heavenly Demon and the Emperor are rulers. I’ve seen how rulers operate.”
“...Right.”
“What’s that expression for, Master?”
“N-Nothing.”
I had shown a skeptical face and immediately flinched at her sharp tone, adjusting my expression. Gun Hye-rin gave me a serious look and spoke gravely.
“If they admit it was a misunderstanding, the Emperor’s authority takes a huge hit.
The Emperor is the Son of Heaven. How can the Heaven-sent ruler be incapable of discerning truth from falsehood?
So even if it was a misunderstanding, the usual policy is to let those misunderstood individuals die—because then, the Son of Heaven is never wrong.”
“You’re telling me they’d really let people die just to maintain image?”
It was surprisingly convincing, coming from Gun Hye-rin.
Whether it was a misunderstanding or not, preserving the Emperor’s infallibility mattered more than human lives.
I must’ve shown disbelief on my face, because she calmly added:
“That’s exactly how it works in the Heavenly Demon Cult. Of course the Imperial Court would do the same.”
Gun Hye-rin... I’d thought of her as similar to Gungbong before, but now she seemed a lot more dangerous than I realized.
“I... see.”
I managed an awkward response.
Just then, Hwa-eun’s voice came through again.
『“So-ryong, the Martial Alliance has a request for you.”』
“The Martial Alliance?”
“Yes.”
A request from the Martial Alliance? What could it be?
Maybe they wanted me to recommend a poison that could actually work on those bastards?
While I tilted my head in confusion, Hwa-eun explained.
『“It’s a message directly from the Alliance Leader. He’s asking if you can go and visit the Princess.”』
A request to meet the Princess?
Ah—of course. This was about untangling the mess.
After all, it was my contract with the Princess that had led to the Five Venoms and Blood Cult being branded as traitors.
Now that that agreement had been nullified, it made sense for the parties involved to talk face to face.
Our branding of the Blood Cult and Five Venoms as enemies was part of a deal: if I helped her fake a marriage and get her new “husband” assigned near Mount Putuo, the Princess would move the Court to back the Martial Alliance in crushing those two factions.
She got everything she wanted—she’s been happily training in martial arts ever since.
But on our side, the convenience she offered has been compromised. The value’s gone.
Honestly, I could probably sue her for fraud right now and she wouldn’t even have a counterargument.
Of course.
『“Alright. I’ll stop by after I visit the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.”』
“Oh, it’s definitely faster for you to go from there.”
It wasn’t exactly a short trip—but getting to Mount Putuo from the Ten Thousand Great Mountains would still be faster than going from Sichuan.
I’d send the older kids home and try flying along the coastline.
It had been a while since I last saw that cheerful little troublemaker.
***
Three days later, we arrived at the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.
It was a sprawling range of low peaks, and as we reached the foot of it, Gun Hye-rin made a face of sheer disbelief.
“So this is what they call the Ten Thousand Great Mountains?”
“What about it?”
“In the Heavenly Demon Cult, the Ten Thousand Great Mountains are the massive central peaks of the Tianshan range—towering, jagged, awe-inspiring. But this? This is like a miniature mock-up. What a joke. These Central Plains people...”
Then she turned to me and added with pride:
“Master, someday I’ll take you to see the real Ten Thousand Great Mountains.”
This from someone who said she was exiled from there and lived elsewhere. What kind of pride is that?
Still, for the Heavenly Demon Cult, the name Ten Thousand Great Mountains held deep meaning—so to see a place with the same name looking like this must’ve offended her sense of reverence.
But just because she called it a joke didn’t mean it actually was. From my perspective, the Ten Thousand Great Mountains were massive and impressive.
This was a true mountain range, and from above it looked like it stretched dozens of kilometers.
Searching this whole area was going to be tough.
We were looking for a mountain near a water source.
We had a specific trait in mind, but there were plenty of mountains here that matched it.
And since we were searching for a living spirit beast, one that could move, we might have to search the entire range.
“Either way, let’s start combing the area. This place looks perfect for the World-Ender Golden Toad, so keep your eyes sharp.”
—Sssrrr. 『Got it, Dad.』
—Kishit. 『Yoha will help too!』
This part of the world—the border with Daewol, or modern-day Vietnam in my previous life—was hot and humid.
There was even a long river snaking through the mountain range.
A perfect place for frogs.
Excited at the prospect of finding the World-Ender Golden Toad, I shouted to the kids:
“Alright! Let’s go! Operation Golden Toad search begins!”
At my command, the kids scattered in all directions.
