Chapter 344: The Monk’s Protection
The morning mist clung to the towering peaks of Mount Tianyun, where clouds drifted lazily around ancient pine trees.
Stone steps wound their way up the mountain, leading to a centuries-old monastery hidden among the cliffs.
The silence there was unlike anywhere else.
Only the sound of birds and the distant ringing of temple bells broke the stillness.
General dismounted his horse at the foot of the temple gates.
A young novice monk sweeping the stone courtyard noticed him and placed the broom aside.
He joined his palms respectfully.
"Amitabha."
"Welcome, General."
General returned the greeting with a respectful bow.
"I seek Master Xu."
The young monk smiled apologetically.
"Please forgive us."
"My master is currently performing a seven-day ritual praying for peace and protection over the kingdom."
"He cannot leave the meditation hall."
General’s expression became serious.
"This concerns the Imperial Palace."
"The Emperor himself sent me."
The novice’s smile faded.
He listened quietly as General explained everything.
The crying heard during the night.
The dark shadow witnessed by servants.
The strange incidents that had begun disturbing the palace.
When the General finished speaking, the young monk remained silent for several moments.
Finally he nodded.
"I understand."
He disappeared inside the monastery.
General waited patiently beneath an ancient cedar tree.
The wind carried the scent of incense through the courtyard.
Almost half an hour later, the novice returned carrying a small wooden box.
He carefully opened it.
Inside rested a pouch filled with fine green herbal powder.
"This was prepared by my master before entering seclusion."
General looked at it curiously.
"What should I do with it?"
The novice spoke calmly.
"Scatter the powder across the entrances of the palace."
"Draw an unbroken protective line."
"No corner should be left open."
General listened carefully.
"If there is truly an evil presence..."
"...it will not be able to cross the barrier easily."
The General frowned.
"Will it eliminate the evil?"
The novice slowly shook his head.
"No."
"It is only protection."
"If something already exists within the palace..."
"...this powder cannot destroy it."
"It will merely prevent further disturbance from crossing the protected boundary."
General’s expression became thoughtful.
"So we can only defend."
"For now."
The novice nodded.
"My master also asked me to deliver one message."
General straightened.
"What message?"
The young monk’s usually gentle eyes became unusually serious.
"The darkness surrounding the palace..."
"...did not appear recently."
"It has been growing for a long time."
General felt a chill.
"Master knows this?"
The novice smiled faintly.
"My master sees many things."
"But until his ritual ends..."
"He cannot interfere."
General accepted the pouch respectfully.
"Please thank Master Xu."
"I will."
The novice bowed.
"May the Buddha protect your kingdom."
General mounted his horse once more.
Without wasting another moment, he began the journey back toward the capital.
---
By late afternoon, he entered the Imperial Palace.
The Emperor was already waiting inside the Imperial Study.
General knelt immediately.
"Your Majesty."
The Emperor looked at the pouch in his hands.
"You found the monk?"
General shook his head.
"Master Xu is performing a sacred ritual for the kingdom."
"He cannot leave the monastery."
A shadow of disappointment crossed the Emperor’s face.
"But..."
General carefully presented the wooden box.
"He sent this."
The Emperor opened it.
A faint herbal fragrance drifted into the room.
General explained everything the novice had told him.
The protective line.
The herbal barrier.
The warning.
The Emperor listened without interrupting.
When General repeated the monk’s final message—
"The darkness has existed for a long time..."
—the Emperor slowly closed the wooden box.
His expression became grave.
"So..."
"It truly wasn’t our imagination."
General nodded.
"I believe the monastery is taking this matter seriously."
The Emperor stood.
"Summon the palace guards."
Moments later, several trusted guards entered the study.
The Emperor handed the pouch to the captain.
"Divide this powder equally."
"I want every palace entrance..."
"Every major corridor..."
"And every gate protected."
"Leave no gaps."
The captain accepted the order immediately.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
As evening approached, guards carrying small bowls of the herbal powder spread throughout the palace.
Carefully...
Patiently...
They sprinkled thin lines across gates, doorways, bridges, and courtyards exactly as instructed.
Servants watched curiously from a distance.
Some whispered prayers.
Others silently hoped the strange incidents would finally end.
The sun slowly disappeared beyond the palace walls.
Night returned once again.
The Emperor stood beneath the palace eaves, watching the last guards complete the protective lines.
General stood beside him.
"The preparations are complete."
The Emperor nodded quietly.
"Now..."
He looked toward the dark palace beyond.
"...we wait."
Far away, hidden inside a forgotten corner of the palace grounds...
A shadow paused.
It stopped just before one of the freshly scattered herbal lines.
The darkness rippled silently.
Then slowly withdrew into the deeper shadows.
Somewhere unseen...
A pair of cold eyes opened.
Watching.
Waiting.
Patiently.
Night descended over the Imperial Palace.
The moon hid behind thick clouds, leaving the palace grounds dimly lit by rows of lanterns swaying in the cold wind.
Most of the palace had fallen asleep.
Only the guards on night patrol and a few servants remained awake.
Deep inside a secluded courtyard—
Shin Gu sat cross-legged before a small stone altar.
Around her, strange black candles burned with an eerie blue flame.
The air felt unnaturally cold.
A bronze bowl sat before her, filled with dark liquid that reflected no moonlight.
Shin Gu slowly formed hand seals.
Her lips moved silently as she chanted an ancient incantation.
The flames around her grew taller.
A cold wind circled the courtyard.
Her expression remained calm.
"I only need a little more..."
"The portal must reopen..."
Dark mist slowly rose from the bronze bowl.
The black candles flickered violently.
For a brief moment—
A shadow seemed to emerge from the darkness.
Shin Gu smiled.
"It worked..."
But before she could continue—
The mist suddenly trembled.
The blue flames turned bright green.
Then—
Boom!
An invisible force exploded outward.
The candles shattered one after another.
The bronze bowl cracked down the middle.
Shin Gu’s eyes widened.
"No..."
The spiritual energy she had summoned suddenly rushed back toward her instead of entering the ritual circle.
She quickly tried to stop it.
"It can’t be!"
The force struck her chest.
"Pfft—!"
A mouthful of blood sprayed onto the stone floor.
She was thrown backward, crashing into a pillar.
Another mouthful of blood escaped her lips.
Her face instantly turned pale.
She struggled to breathe.
Her entire body trembled violently.
"What..."
"What happened..."
She tried sensing the spiritual flow again.
Then her eyes widened in disbelief.
"...Someone..."
"...Someone has sealed the entrance..."
Her breathing became uneven.
"They’re trying to control the portal..."
"It rejected my ritual..."
Blood continued dripping from the corner of her mouth.
For the first time—
Fear appeared in her eyes.
"If this continues..."
"I won’t survive another attempt."
She staggered to her feet, using the wall for support.
The room spun around her.
Her vision blurred.
She could barely walk.
Step by step—
She pushed open the courtyard door.
The cold night air hit her face.
She only managed a few more steps before another wave of pain surged through her chest.
"Cough...!"
More blood stained the white stone pathway.
At that exact moment—
Two palace guards happened to be passing nearby.
One of them froze.
"Miss Shin!"
The other rushed forward.
"My heavens!"
Shin Gu tried to wave them away.
"I’m... fine..."
But before she finished—
Her knees gave out.
She collapsed.
The guards caught her just in time.
"She’s coughing blood!"
"We must report this immediately!"
One guard ran toward the eastern palace.
The other carefully supported Shin Gu.
---
Not long afterward—
Prince Liang stepped out of his residence after hearing hurried footsteps.
A guard knelt before him.
"Your Highness!"
"Miss Shin has collapsed!"
Prince Liang’s expression changed immediately.
"What happened?"
"We don’t know!"
"She was covered in blood!"
Without another question, Prince Liang hurried after the guard.
When he arrived, he saw Shin Gu leaning weakly against a pillar.
Blood stained the front of her robe.
Her complexion was almost ghostly white.
His heart skipped.
"Shin Gu!"
He knelt beside her.
"What happened to you?"
Shin Gu forced a weak smile.
"...It’s nothing..."
Prince Liang shook his head.
"You’re coughing blood!"
He carefully lifted her into his arms.
"We’re going back."
The nearby servants quickly opened the doors to his residence.
He gently laid her on the bed.
"Summon the Imperial Healer!"
"Hurry!"
Several servants rushed out immediately.
The room became chaotic.
Warm water.
Fresh towels.
Medicine.
Everyone moved quickly.
A few moments later—
The elderly Imperial Healer hurried inside carrying his medical box.
Prince Liang stepped aside.
"Save her."
The healer nodded.
He checked Shin Gu’s pulse.
His expression slowly became grave.
Then he examined her eyes.
Her breathing.
The blood on her robes.
The room fell silent.
Prince Liang waited anxiously.
Finally—
The healer sighed deeply.
"Your Highness..."
Prince Liang looked up.
"...Speak."
The healer lowered his head respectfully.
"Her internal organs have suffered severe damage."
"It appears she suffered an extremely violent internal backlash."
Prince Liang frowned.
"Can you cure her?"
The healer remained silent.
After a long pause—
He answered honestly.
"...I can only stabilize her condition."
Prince Liang’s expression stiffened.
"What do you mean?"
The healer’s voice became heavy.
"If no miracle occurs..."
"...Miss Shin does not have much time left."
Silence filled the chamber.
Prince Liang stared at the healer in disbelief.
"...Impossible."
The healer lowered his eyes.
"I am sorry, Your Highness."
Prince Liang slowly turned toward the unconscious Shin Gu.
Her breathing was shallow.
Her face had become frighteningly pale.
Outside the chamber—
The wind howled through the palace corridors.
Far away, hidden in the darkness—
A pair of unseen eyes watched silently.
As if waiting...
For the next piece on the board to fall.
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