Chapter 174

The correct answer flew in right after Dongbang Hwa’s wrong one. Namgung Woo raised his internal energy, ready to strike at any moment.

“How did you know?”

“So it was like that.”

Namgung Woo still carried the Bonding Sword. If he were to unleash his killing intent, Baek Seobeon would at least suffer serious injuries, yet Baek Seobeon’s expression showed shock but no sense of crisis.

Was it because he believed they were in the Forbidden City?

Baek Seobeon’s answer only strengthened Namgung Woo’s resolve to go all the way.

“Is it because you’re related to the prophecy?”

Prophecy!

Namgung Woo’s eyes narrowed sharply.

Even in Pung Hyeon’s dying words about Namgung Woo’s identity, the word “prophecy” had come up.

Someone pointed out by the prophecy.

That someone was Namgung Woo.

Pung Hyeon had said so.

Namgung Woo’s hand gripped the Bonding Sword.

Baek Seobeon’s body trembled as Namgung Woo’s energy gradually encroached on the space, suffocating him.

“The Eastern Depot. I heard Yi Ja-ryong could occupy Manse Mountain because there was a collaborator among the eunuchs of the Eastern Depot. Tell me, is it the Beonse Sect?”

“The Beonse Sect? Another bizarre cult has appeared, huh? The martial world. Time and time again, such people emerge. Obsessed with power, believing the world is theirs. Without understanding the weight of ruling the world.”

“Answer the question.”

“I’ve never heard of it. The Eastern Depot lost all its intelligence capabilities after the turmoil in Beijing. If it’s a cult formed after that, it’s not in the Eastern Depot’s records.”

Namgung Woo realized the error in his question.

The name “Beonse Sect” was merely a temporary alias given by the Martial Alliance.

Pung Hyeon, who seemed to be the actual leader of the sect, had scoffed at the name.

“What about the name Pung Hyeon?”

“Pung Hyeon? The Imperial Family has so many officials. If you dig deep enough, you might find the name Pung Hyeon, but at least not around me.”

It wasn’t a lie.

Namgung Woo didn’t have the Upper Dantian’s ability to discern truth like Innate Life Force, but he could estimate the truth through the physical cues people unconsciously showed when lying.

Baek Seobeon was telling the truth. At least, he believed he was telling the truth.

“What is the prophecy?”

“I don’t know either.”

“What…?”

“I only know that there is a prophecy. That’s all. Even within the Eastern Depot, there were many skeptical opinions… but it seems there really is a prophecy.”

Baek Seobeon looked genuinely surprised, as if he had just learned this himself.

The fact that Namgung Woo knew about the prophecy seemed to prove its existence, which was indeed strange.

Namgung Woo didn’t even know what the prophecy was, so how could he be a witness?

Yet Baek Seobeon believed Namgung Woo’s existence was undeniable proof.

“I don’t like riddles.”

“Neither do I. I don’t have the depth of such profound knowledge. You must have many questions. So do I. So follow me. You have the qualifications.”

As Namgung Woo withdrew his energy to allow Baek Seobeon to move, Baek Seobeon turned and began to guide him.

Namgung Woo released his grip on the sword but kept his hand on it as he followed.

“Is it okay to move around like this? Without the Emperor’s permission?”

Unless one harbored resentment over the Emperor’s favor shifting from the Eastern Depot to the Western Depot, one couldn’t move so freely.

But Baek Seobeon replied as if it were obvious.

“Don’t worry. This was permitted by the late Emperor, and His Majesty has also issued a decree to proceed as is.”

Then there was no need to hesitate.

Namgung Woo focused solely on what Baek Seobeon had just said.

“Is Mugeuk related to the prophecy?”

“Don’t rush. I want to ask you something. Aren’t you a Namgung?”

“…So?”

“Hmm, you really don’t know? Well, it might not have been passed down.”

“Stop beating around the bush and speak straight.”

As Namgung Woo growled from the depths of his dwindling patience, Baek Seobeon revealed a fact he knew.

“Do you know who it was that brought Jeongryong, whom you martial artists call Mugeuk, into the Imperial Family?”

It was a habitual interrogative phrase from the Eastern Depot’s Chief, but it wasn’t a question meant for Namgung Woo to guess. Baek Seobeon answered immediately.

“It was Namgung Jin. The one who sent Jeongryong to the Imperial Family was Namgung Jin.”

§

The Eastern Depot’s headquarters was outside the Forbidden City. Located outside the Dong’an Gate, it was called the Dongjisachang.

Beijing was composed of the Outer City, Inner City, and Imperial City. Over time, the Imperial City was divided into the Imperial City and the Forbidden City, but in this era, they referred to the same area.

The area inside the four gates—Tiananmen, Xi’anmen, Zhi’anmen, and Dong’anmen—was called the Imperial City. In other words, the Eastern Depot had its headquarters outside these gates.

Baek Seobeon led Namgung Woo out of the Forbidden City’s Wu Gate and past the Dong’an Gate.

It was quite a distance.

“How did you get to the Wenyan Pavilion?”

“Even though the Eastern Depot has been overshadowed by the Western Depot, the Eastern Depot’s eyes and ears within the Forbidden City are still intact.”

Baek Seobeon didn’t elaborate further, and Namgung Woo didn’t press. What mattered wasn’t why Baek Seobeon was there but the content of the prophecy that Baek Seobeon and the Eastern Depot were guarding.

Upon arriving at the Eastern Depot’s headquarters, several eunuchs greeted Baek Seobeon. After dismissing them with a few words, Baek Seobeon headed to the Chief’s office. After some manipulations, a small sound signaled the appearance of a new door.

A hidden room concealed by Mechanical Formation.

This was where Baek Seobeon had intended to bring Namgung Woo. The deepest part of the Eastern Depot, where only the most classified information gathered.

“This, this, and this.”

Scrolls, books, bamboo slips—all sorts of documents filled the space. Baek Seobeon quickly retrieved several files, knowing exactly where everything was.

“These are all I can show you. Taking them outside is prohibited. Now that you’re here, it’s best not to try stealing anything else. There are countermeasures in place. Even a Peerless Master wouldn’t come out unscathed, so don’t get greedy.”

Ignoring Baek Seobeon’s threat, Namgung Woo reached for the first item Baek Seobeon had pulled out.

[Secret History of the Ming Dynasty]

“Secret History of the Ming Dynasty?”

“It’s a copy. Only parts of it.”

A hidden history. Records of events not recorded in the official Ming records.

The book, excerpted from the Secret History, compiled only the parts related to one person.

Jeongryong (精龍).

Entered the Imperial Family through Namgung Jin. Judging by his age at the time, his exact birth year is unknown. Assigned to the Lamp Guardians.

What followed were accounts of Jeongryong’s life in the Imperial Family. Surprisingly, nothing extraordinary. He showed remarkable talent, then grew bored and left for the martial world. The content was so monotonous it barely differed from what Namgung Woo already knew. Only the mysterious affiliation with the Lamp Guardians was new information.

The anomaly came in the next volume.

When Jeongryong returned to the Imperial Family under the name Mugeuk, he had changed.

Efforts were made to bring him back, but he no longer wished to stay.

However, his ties to the Imperial Family remained, and when the Unyang Rebellion grew severe, the Emperor summoned him, and Jeongryong quelled the rebellion.

Afterward, he visited the Imperial Family and declared he would leave forever.

When the Emperor asked where he was going, Jeongryong replied, “Back to where I came from.”

When the Emperor asked why he was leaving, Jeongryong answered, “To fulfill a promise, to protect the prophecy.”

Even after reading all three volumes, the questions only grew more complex.

“Is this all? If this is all, did you bring me here just because I’m a Namgung? Because Namgung Jin sent Jeongryong to the Imperial Family? That alone doesn’t seem sufficient, does it?”

Baek Seobeon sighed at Namgung Woo’s hidden intent to dig through other materials if his questions weren’t answered.

But Namgung Woo’s guess was correct.

“There’s one more thing.”

“What is it?”

“An oral tradition. It wasn’t recorded. I heard it directly from him. He said he didn’t know when it would happen. Pass it down through the generations of Eastern Depot Chiefs. But six years is quite short.”

Someday, someone will come. Probably a Namgung, but maybe not. Even if not, they’ll likely carry the Namgung name, so if a Namgung comes looking for me, tell them. Even that guy Jijin allowed it.

“That’s what he said.”

“Who is he?”

A Namgung, perhaps, but maybe not.

Yet someone who carries the Namgung name.

And seeks Jeongryong.

Clearly, it was referring to Namgung Woo.

Is this what it feels like to stand before Azure Tranquility Eyes?

Even though he had never seen it before, Namgung Woo shuddered at the sensation of his very existence being thoroughly dissected from the ground up.

Seeing Namgung Woo’s reaction, Baek Seobeon chuckled and said he felt the same.

“He’s not human. Of course not.”

How could one call that being human?

Biologically, he was in a league of his own.

“We called him this.”

One who, as the human world dawned, donned the same shell to squeeze into the cracks.

“A dragon.”