HBPEK C1

Chapter 1: The Intruder of Sanpyeong Pass

A thick sea fog made the already pitch-dark night sky—where not even a trace of moonlight could be seen—seem even darker.

At Sanpyeong Pass, a strategic military stronghold located at the southeastern end of the Great Wall that stretched for thousands of miles, only the mournful sound of waves crashing against the shore echoed through the night.

Crash… crash…

A shadow slipped swiftly into the military camp stationed outside the eastern gate, blending seamlessly with the darkness.

Avoiding the sharp eyes of the guards, rigorously trained under strict military discipline, the intruder’s movement technique was nothing short of extraordinary.

Swish…

In a single bound, the figure easily covered over two jang (approximately six meters), leaving behind nothing but the faint sound of wind.

With a slender, agile body concealed beneath black clothing and a face covering, the intruder moved directly toward a command tent marked with the character “朱 (Ju)” on its general’s banner.

For a general commanding twenty thousand troops, the tent was not particularly large, and only eight spear soldiers stood guard in front.

The spears they held were one and a half times longer than ordinary ones, their tips split like fishhooks.

If discovered, escaping would be troublesome, so the black-clad intruder moved carefully.

Stopping briefly in the shadows just before the general’s tent, the intruder steadied their breathing.

“Hundreds of lives are at stake. I must succeed.”

Like a chant, that single thought filled their mind.

After exhaling silently, the intruder leapt up onto the tent.

The movement was so refined that even as they passed directly above the guards’ heads, not a single one noticed.

At the center of the tent’s roof was a ventilation opening, covered by a tightly woven lattice in the shape of the “卍 (man)” symbol.

The intruder drew a dagger from within their robes.

Its blade, dark as ink, emitted an unusual aura.

Shhk—

Like a flash of lightning, the blade sliced cleanly through the frame blocking the vent.

Even ebony wood—so tough that ordinary metal blades would lose their edge trying to cut it—was sliced through effortlessly, as if it were tofu.

Carefully removing the severed frame, the interior of the tent came into view.

Seated at the place of honor was a man leisurely tilting a teacup.

He appeared languid and bored, yet the subtle dignity he exuded clearly set him apart from ordinary people.

He was the prince of UGUK, a fierce general known by the title SALJEHYEOLHU (殺諸血侯).

It was hard to believe that only a few hours earlier, he had fought a life-and-death battle against rebels at SANPYEONG PASS. The ease he displayed felt almost unnaturally out of place—dangerously so.

Still, the mission had to be completed perfectly.

The black-clad intruder’s gaze quickly swept across the surroundings.

Aside from the general, there was no one else inside the tent. Near the brazier stood a rusted iron poker, and beside it lay an extraordinary-looking longsword. Other than that, there was hardly anything of note.

In any case, this was no time to admire his simplicity.

“That must be it.”

There it was—the CHU-YEONG SWORD, the equivalent of a command seal granting control over the elite two hundred thousand troops stationed at SANPYEONG PASS.

“To think such a sword is worth taking innocent people hostage and sending me here…”

With the CHU-YEONG SWORD, even the impregnable fortress of SANPYEONG PASS could be taken without spilling a single drop of blood. It was only natural that EONGUK coveted it.

MUKSEON (黙仙) HWA JEOK-YEON had already built her reputation over more than a decade as a phantom-like spy of SEOPMAENG, the intelligence organization of EONGUK.

Although she had refined her martial arts to escape the shackles of being a spy and gain her freedom, it was not something she could easily cast aside.

The leader of SEOPMAENG had noticed her longing for freedom and used it to threaten her.

This time, all the villagers she had formed bonds with during her training had been taken hostage.

“They must all stay alive until I complete the mission and return…”

HWA JEOK-YEON placed a small round pellet into her mouth and bit down on it, then took out a slender pipe and blew into it.

Hoo—

White smoke flowed from the tip, instantly turning colorless and odorless as it spread throughout the tent and settled.

If she could take the CHU-YEONG SWORD and slip out of the camp unnoticed, the mission would be a success—and the villagers’ lives would be saved.

In about one dageong (roughly fifteen minutes), even a monster like SALJEHYEOLHU would succumb to the MIHON INCENSE, lose consciousness, and fall asleep.

It was at that very moment—while she concealed all her internal energy and even suppressed the sound of her breathing, waiting for the chance to steal the CHU-YEONG SWORD the instant he collapsed—that it happened.

Bzzzz…

The dagger in HWA JEOK-YEON’s hand—MAEHUN—suddenly began to vibrate violently, emitting a strange, eerie hum.

“N-no…!”

Startled by MAEHUN’s cry, HWA JEOK-YEON turned toward SALJEHYEOLHU with a troubled expression.

Hearing the sound, SALJEHYEOLHU’s gaze shifted directly toward where she was hidden.

As if by mutual instinct, their eyes met.

Almost at the same instant, JU GEON, his sword enveloped in sword energy, appeared right before her.

Shing—Clang!

The sharp clash of blades rang violently in her ears.

JU GEON’s heavy greatsword drove fiercely toward HWA JEOK-YEON’s neck.

Clang! Clang! Tang!

In an instant, they exchanged more than fifty blows within a mere breath of time.

Only then did the sound of warning drums and the shouts of soldiers echo from outside the tent.

“Intruder in the general’s quarters! Raise all torches! Archers, form ranks!”

At the command, soldiers rushed in unison, leveling their weapons and arranging shields to form an encirclement.

At the same time, hundreds of torches flared to life, instantly turning the camp as bright as day.

Even as the archers nocked iron arrows onto their bowstrings, HWA JEOK-YEON and JU GEON continued their fierce clash.

Clang—!

In that fleeting instant when the distance between them narrowed to barely a single step—

“MAEHUN?”

Recognition flashed across JU GEON’s face as he identified the sword in HWA JEOK-YEON’s hand.

“How is that in your possession…?”

Seizing the brief opening created by his moment of hesitation, HWA JEOK-YEON forcefully pushed JU GEON away and leapt toward the darkness beyond the camp, attempting to escape.

At that moment, someone shouted loudly:

“Archers, fire!”

No—stop!”

JU GEON tried to intervene, but it was already too late. Countless arrows had already been released from their bowstrings.

Whoosh—thud, thud, thud!

HWA JEOK-YEON twisted her body, deflecting the first wave of incoming arrows.

But against such an overwhelming barrage, the odds were against her—there was no way to evade or block them all.

Thud! Thud!

“Ugh!”

In the end, several arrows pierced through HWA JEOK-YEON’s body.

Gravely wounded, her body was violently slammed to the ground.

Boom!

“Cough… ha… ha…”

Gasping for breath, HWA JEOK-YEON’s fading vision faintly caught sight of JU GEON rushing toward her.

Her gaze, however, could not leave the CHU-YEONG SWORD trembling in his hand.

“The CHU-YEONG SWORD… I have to take it…”

With miraculous determination, she stretched out her hand—

Thud.

At that very moment, a sharp spear pierced through her heart.

A boundless abyss—whether it was water or some unknown void, it was impossible to tell.

HWA JEOK-YEON walked endlessly through a space where not even a single ray of light existed.

Though her heart had been pierced by a spear, she felt no pain whatsoever.

Even with her eyes closed, her vision was clearer than if she were seeing with them open.

“Has my inner sight opened?”

She was certain she had formed the thought, yet at the same time, it was neither a thought, nor consciousness, nor something that could be expressed in words.

Within the abyss, everything existed in a state of unconsciousness—of complete selflessness.

Bzzzz…

The cry of MAEHUN, the very blade that had led HWA JEOK-YEON to her death.

“Do you still have more betrayal left for me?”

Bzzzz…

As if answering her, the vibration grew stronger.

“Stop… please stop… Hearing your cry hurts more than anything.”

Ever since she had obtained MAEHUN by chance, they had shared countless days of life and death together.

MAEHUN—the divine weapon and cherished companion that had brought HWA JEOK-YEON to the pinnacle of martial mastery.

Bzzzz…

Was it releasing some deep resentment?

Its cry swelled, as though it would tear her ears apart.

“Open your eyes. And return.”

A voice echoed from somewhere.

Though she had never heard it before, it felt strangely familiar—comforting.

“I said, open your eyes. Hurry.”

“…MAEHUN, is that you?”

“Open your eyes… now…”

Urged by the voice, HWA JEOK-YEON opened her closed eyes.

Flash—!

An intense, immeasurable light pierced her vision.

She was drawn into the blinding radiance.

“Ahhh—!”

Pain—something she had not felt within the abyss—suddenly surged through her body.

How much time had passed since she opened her eyes?

Gradually, the pain subsided, and the fog-like haze clouding her vision began to clear.

Her drifting consciousness, as if from a dream, slowly regained vitality.

“Y-Your Highness, CROWN PRINCESS… are you awake?”

“CROWN PRINCESS? Where is this…? Could it be that I’ve escaped the abyss?”

Two exquisitely beautiful young maids, with tear-filled eyes, repeatedly called out to the Crown Princess.

Their expressions were somewhere between smiling and crying.

Confused thoughts swirled inside her mind.

For some reason… it feels like they are calling me.

HWAJEOKYEON curved her lips into a faint smile.

“Kyaaah! Her Highness the Crown Princess has awakened! She’s returned!”

“Quick, inform the Eastern Palace!”

“No—call the physician first!”

“And we must notify the Grand Hall as well!”

The maids, overwhelmed with emotion, busied themselves in panic and excitement.

Watching them, she found them both endearing and overwhelming at the same time.

Ah… I shouldn’t have smiled. My head is already spinning. More importantly… where on earth am I?

Yeonhwa Palace

A commotion broke out in the residence of the Crown Princess.

“Quickly! Hurry! Her Highness the Crown Princess has awakened!”

MAID CHAEHUI rushed breathlessly, urging the physician forward.

The physician, who had arrived at the entrance of the sleeping chamber, took several deep breaths before stepping inside.

He placed a thin silk cloth over the wrist of the Crown Princess lying on the bed.

With her eyes closed, he carefully examined her pulse.

After finishing, he respectfully withdrew his hand and stepped back.

Not only MAID CHAEHUI and EUNRYEONG, but even the eunuchs standing behind them craned their necks forward, all watching the physician with tense expressions.

“The Crown Princess has passed the critical danger,” the physician said calmly. “However…”

“Is that true? She’s alive? You’re sure, right? If there is even the slightest lie—ah!”

Before the physician could finish, CHAEHUI grabbed his words and blurted out question after question, only to be sharply pinched on the arm by EUNRYEONG.

“Ow!”

Tears welled in CHAEHUI’s eyes as she pouted.

Looking at her, the physician continued in an even tone.

“She was thought unlikely to survive, yet she has awakened. This is truly a blessing for the Imperial House. However, she must take extreme care during recovery. Those who attend Her Highness must be especially vigilant.”

Upon hearing the confirmation, CHAEHUI lit up with joy.

“Of course! Don’t worry! I won’t leave her side for even a moment!”

Lying quietly and staring at the ceiling, HWAJEOKYEON listened to everything in silence.

Crown Princess…? What is this place…?

From the fragments about the Imperial House and “Crown Princess,” it was clear—this place was an imperial palace.

But…

Could this possibly be the imperial palace of the Heavenly Realm?

The thought flashed absurdly through her mind, half disbelief, half confusion.

HWAJEOKYEON remained silent, staring at the ceiling, trying to piece together reality from the fragments of unfamiliar voices and unfamiliar surroundings