[Episode 92: Tomb of King Pyeong (1)]
Flying non-stop day and night with the sword flight, I was able to arrive at Wuhan in two days.
To be precise, we arrived at the place where King Ping’s tomb is located, northwest of Wuhan.
I maintained my stamina by eating a fortune-telling breakfast throughout the trip, but my eyelids were heavy and I was tired, perhaps because I had not slept for four days after leaving the Shaolin Temple.
I think I should just check whether there is a treasure hidden in King Pyeong’s tomb and then go to sleep.
-But how are you going to search the tomb?
By what means?
Shouldn’t we aim for the dark night?
Although it is not the tomb of the Yan Dynasty, I understand that the tombs of older dynasties are managed by the government.
-why?
This is because there are countless treasures embedded within it.
-Treasures?
The king’s tomb is different in scale from the tombs of ordinary people.
I heard that it is being built to a size comparable to that of a fortress.
As a result, they ask for the treasures that the king cherished during his lifetime. It is said that in some cases, even living concubines of loyal vassals are buried.
– Bury a living person? It’s an unusual funeral ritual. Anyway, if what you said is true, it will take quite some time just to dig up there and get inside.
Well, that’s not necessarily the case.
When you go inside, you will see that the interior is made up of several communal rooms.
However, since King Pyeong’s tomb was built more than 600 years ago, the cavity may have collapsed and become filled with dirt.
-Prepare at least a shovel that can dig up dirt. I’m sure you’re not going to do it with your bare hands, and you’re not going to dig it up with me or the Namcheon Iron Sword, right?
‘That’s a good method.’
-what!
It wasn’t like Sodamgeom was upset and was making a fuss.
Then, the voice of Namcheoncheolgeom rang in my head.
-Unhwi…is that the tomb of King Pyeong you mentioned?
When I heard Namcheon Cheolgeom’s words, I looked down and wondered why.
‘What the hell is this…’
Yeong (郢), the old capital of the Chu Dynasty.
Not far from Nogam-hyeon, northwest of Yeong, is the tomb of King Pyeong.
Even though it was managed by the government, it was thought that it would be guarded by about 50 to 100 government troops at most.
But I saw an unexpected sight.
Even though it was night, nearly 5,000 government troops were stationed around the huge tomb, which was illuminated with torches.
In addition, hundreds of workers were busy working at the tomb, busy with excavation work.
‘Ha…’
I have no idea what this means.
Why are the government forces taking the initiative to excavate King Pyeong’s tomb?
-What should I do with this?
The fact that the tomb was being excavated late at night with all directions lit up with torches meant that work was being carried out day and night.
This made it difficult to quietly inspect the royal tomb using normal methods.
There were too many people, from government soldiers to workers.
‘Why?’
There was no way to know that there was something special hidden in King Pyeong’s tomb without unraveling the secret hidden in the five magic swords made by the master Gu Yaja or opening the mouth of Seobok who hid them.
While I was wondering that, something caught my eye.
It was a flag hanging in an ornate barracks in the center of the government military garrison.
‘King Gyeong?’
The flag symbolizing the prince was hung on the flag and the word Gyeong (景) was engraved on it.
It showed that that place was King Gyeong’s barracks.
King Gyeong was one of the princes who was destined to become the next emperor in the future.
-Is it King Gyeong who is leading the government forces and excavating the tomb?
It seem to be like that.
He, the prince and king, went on an excavation himself…
‘No way?’
Come to think of it, King Gyeong was also looking for the five magic swords.
If so, it means that he too was looking for the treasure pointed to by the five magic swords.
However, King Gyeong had at most a rubbing of a single sword.
Among the remaining magic swords, the Gyeopsal Sword is in the hands of Jeolsim, one of the Five Evils, and the Hojak Sword is in the hands of Geumsangje.
-The blood demon sword is in the lucky bag.
okay.
It is in a lucky bag that can fit anything, along with a sword.
Even if you were lucky enough to obtain the only evil sword whose whereabouts were unknown, it would be difficult to solve the secret of Ilmodowon with only two clues. How did you find out the tomb of King Pyeong?
-What are you going to do?
At Sodamgeom’s question, I looked down at King Gyeong’s barracks.
* * *
Inside King Gyeong’s barracks.
There, King Gyeong was having a private meeting with someone.
King Gyeong, who had a satisfied look on his face, personally poured a drink for a middle-aged man with a mustache wearing the uniform of a county official.
“Did you say no lecture?”
“yes. majesty.”
“King Bon will never forget this.”
“No. majesty. “God just earnestly hopes that His Majesty will sit on the throne.”
King Gyeong laughed heartily at the words of the wise man called No Gang-yeon.
Although King Gyeong usually did not reveal his true feelings, everyone here was like his own limbs.
That’s why I didn’t hide my joy.
“You are truly someone I like. Hahahahaha.”
“I’m just flattered that you’ve seen it that way.”
“King Bon makes a promise. “On the day you sit on my throne, I will recognize your merits and give you a place in the royal throne.”
“I am devastated.”
Noh Kang-yeon, the prefectural governor, treated King Gyeong as if he had been crowned emperor.
Although King Gyeong did not go near those who flattered him, the reason he treated him so kindly was because he had merit.
There were three rubbings on King Gyeong’s table.
And on one piece of paper, four letters were written by overlapping the patterns on the rubbings.
[日暮 遠王(King Ilmo Won)]
The word 途(途) and 陵(neung) are written at the bottom of the empty space in the middle.
It was like that.
King Gyeong had unlocked the secret of Ilmodowon.
The person who made a great contribution in unraveling this secret was Noh Kang-yeon, the county commander sitting right in front.
King Gyeong said happily, emptying his glass.
“No Hyeon-ryeong, to this king, you are no different from the eldest son or a criminal.”
“How can a god compare to their greatness?”
“You are too humble. “Didn’t you also tell me to obtain command to excavate all the tombs in each region under the pretext of replenishing the imperial family’s inventory?”
King Gyeong was appointed as the general manager of this excavation work.
So, not only King Pyeong’s tomb but several other tombs were being excavated at the same time.
“Thanks to this, although I gained the stigma of doing useless things like digging up tombs, I was able to avoid the attention of other princes and prevent their checks.”
It was exactly what it said.
No one doubted King Gyeong.
On the contrary, he was happy that he was doing something useless in a situation where it was not enough to be worthy of the attention of the emperor, who had become sick after having worked hard for a long time.
Thanks to this, I was able to focus on the excavation work without any interruption.
King Gyeong said as he poured alcohol into a glass.
“I regret not recognizing someone like you sooner.”
“I am so sorry.”
“I’m so happy to hear that the excavation is now in its final stages. Hyeonryeong Noh, please give up the thought of going into your house today. “I’ll have to hang out with Jim all night today.”
“Do you want to say this? majesty.”
King Gyeong, who was in a good mood, gave an order to Noh Kang-yeon, the wise spirit who was good at pleasing people.
“Hello. Is there anyone out there?”
“yes. majesty.”
“Bring the gisaengs into the barracks.”
“I will do as you command.”
It wasn’t long before the gisaeng, dressed in fancy clothes, came inside as if they had been waiting.
The appearance of the pretty gisaeng made Noh Kang-yeon’s lips tear up to his ears.
“ruler! “Then let’s get drunk as much as we can.”
The gisaeng came in and a drinking party began.
He was drinking heavily for a while, with the gisaengs next to him, even playing their instruments, and was getting drunk.
King Gyeong, who was drinking from a bottle because his cup was not enough, said to a gisaeng in excitement.
“If Yeonsaeng had known that you were this good at playing the flute, he would have let you continue playing right away.”
“Here comes the Emperor. majesty.”
“Try one more song. “If I can make the King happier, today I will be with you…”
It was before King Gyeong could finish his words.
I heard someone running towards the barracks.
“majesty!”
King Gyeong shouted at the sound coming from outside.
“If it’s not a big deal, don’t disturb. Today, with Noh Hyeonryeong…”
“Danju of the excavation team has just discovered the central cavity of the royal tomb!”
“what!”
King Gyeong, startled by those words, jumped up from his seat.
The news I had been waiting for had finally arrived.
The corner of King Gyeong’s mouth, which had been twitching, went up and he burst into laughter.
“Hahahahahahaha!”
The gisaeng, including No Hyeon-ryeong, bowed their heads and congratulated King Gyeong.
“I salute you. majesty.”
* * *
-Jump, bump, bump!
This cave-like place was inside a tomb.
Perhaps because it was a king’s tomb, the passage of the cave was wide enough to remind one of the corridors of the imperial palace.
As a result, excavation was bound to take a considerable amount of time.
Those who appeared to be military guards were leading the way in, and behind them, King Gyeong was walking with gisaeng on either side.
Looking at him like that, County Commander Noh Kang-yeon spoke cautiously.
“But Your Highness, is there any need to take the gisaengs to the tomb?…”
From his point of view, he couldn’t understand at all.
It must be a very important event for King Gyeong, so he brings five gisaeng to the event.
At first, I thought it was just for acting, but when I took women like this, all I could think was that I was really enjoying it.
King Gyeong smiled and said to Noh Kang-yeon, the wise man.
“Do you think these children are just ordinary gisaeng?”
“yes?”
A gisaeng smiled brightly at Noh Kang-yeon, the county spirit, and gently lifted the hem of her skirt.
A sharp weapon visible from inside the hem of the skirt.
When Noh Kang-yeon, the county governor, saw this, a strange look appeared in his eyes.
‘You’re not just a gisaeng.’
King Gyeong’s gisaeng were all trained warrior guards.
Contrary to appearances, their martial arts skills were comparable to the level of white generals of the Golden Army.
“But the bow of the friend you brought is truly extraordinary.”
King Gyeong said, pointing with his eyes at the person behind Noh Kang-yeon, the county governor.
Behind Noh Kang-yeon, there was a middle-aged man with a bow and arrow quiver so large that most people would have trouble lifting them.
“He is someone who can truly be called a shrine.”
“Hoo. okay?”
“If you give me a chance to show off my skills in the future, I will be able to see your archery skills.”
“I’m curious because you praise me so much.”
Although he was saying this, King Gyeong’s interest only stopped there.
All his attention was focused only on King Pyeong’s tomb.
There is something I have been waiting for.
‘……I guess I can achieve today the one thing that countless emperors have been unable to achieve.’
King Gyeong was very happy that he had access to the treasure.
I followed the passage down to the basement for a while.
Numerous blood stains were seen in the maze-like passage.
“hmm.”
King Gyeong let out a faint groan.
In response, Danju of the excavation team, who was walking ahead of the government soldiers and guiding them, spoke in a quiet voice.
“Please don’t worry. “All engine locks in the passageway have been lifted.”
Thirty-seven excavators lost their lives during the excavation of this place.
This was because of the traps and engine siege hidden within it.
It ended at least this way because people who were experts in organ raids were mobilized.
“The further down you go, the warmer it gets.”
Danju of the excavation team answered King Gyeong’s question.
“When building the royal tomb, it was designed to prevent water veins and cold air from coming into contact with it as it gets closer to the center where the coffin is located.”
“That’s really interesting.”
King Gyeong nodded as if he had learned something new.
As the car continued to descend, I saw a bright light from inside.
“Oooh!”
As we entered through the passage, an exclamation flowed from the mouths of Gyeongwang County Commander Noh Kang-yeon, including the government forces.
This was because a large cavity completely filled with gold appeared.
There were piles of all kinds of goods there.
We have reached the center of the royal tomb.
“This is it.”
“I’ll buy it back.”
The leader of the excavation team approached the northern wall of the cavity and pointed to a stone wall that looked like a blocked door.
“There is King Chu’s coffin in here.”
Even if it wasn’t him, it was enough to guess that the word Pyeongwang (Pyeongwang) was engraved in large letters on the stone wall gate.
There were four more stone wall gates like this in the cavity.
On the right side of the stone wall where King Pyeong’s coffin is located, the word “Loyalty” was engraved, and Danju, the excavator, said that the vassals who served King Pyeong were buried there.
And on the left side, the word Bibin (妃嬪) was engraved.
Of the two remaining stone walls, one had the word “chuk (畜)” written on it, and was the only stone wall with nothing written on it.
‘This is it.’
King Gyeong instinctively approached there.
He was confident that this would contain the treasure he was looking for.
Unable to hide his excitement, King Gyeong ordered.
“Let’s open this place…”
That was right then.
-Poof!
“Oops!”
King Gyeong turned his head when he heard a scream coming from behind.
There, the government soldiers standing at the rear were bleeding to the ground and falling to the ground with their chests pierced.
The people who stabbed the government soldiers were other officials.
The gisaengs were surprised by this and shouted.
“Protect Your Majesty!”
-visor!
Then the gisaeng pulled military flags from the hem of their skirts and surrounded King Gyeong.
“Protect Your Majesty!”
In front of them, friendly government soldiers also stood in front of them.
The situation took a strange turn.
It became a confrontation between the government and the traitorous government.
King Gyeong couldn’t figure out what this meant.
“What are they doing?”
At his urging, someone walked forward.
He was a middle-aged guard who was said to be a gentleman brought by the county governor, Noh Kang-yeon.
“Clean it up.”
When the middle-aged guard gave the order, the government soldiers who had stabbed other government troops behind him rushed towards the government troops protecting King Gyeong.
They were people of amazing inaction.
King Gyeong’s government troops had some people who were skilled in martial arts, but they were slaughtered in an instant.
-Wow!
“Ouch!”
It only took time to count to ten before the government forces were subdued.
The only people left were the gisaeng surrounding King Gyeong.
As the traitorous government soldiers approached them, they said,
“Stop.”
A middle-aged guard wearing a large bow stopped them.
Then he walked forward and said:
“I think you know very well that girls are of no use.”
At his words, King Gyeong opened his mouth with a distorted expression.
“Who are you?”
“It doesn’t matter who it is. majesty.”
“This is outrageous!”
The middle-aged guard chuckled at King Gyeong’s urging.
Then he slowly walked to the stone wall that had nothing carved on it.
King Gyeong, surprised, shouted at him.
“Can’t we stop right now!”
The middle-aged guard stood in front of the stone wall as if he could not hear King Gyeong’s cries.
Then he immediately extended his fist towards the stone wall.
-bang!
A loud roar emanated from the fist like lightning.
But surprisingly, the stone wall was in perfect condition without the slightest blemish.
King Gyeong and the gisaengs also could not hide their surprise.
“How…”
“As expected.”
The middle-aged escort nodded as if he had guessed.
Then, he tried to punch the stone wall once again, but
“Can’t we stop right now?”
King Gyeong urged him.
At this, the middle-aged escort turned his head and said.
“What do you want me to stop?”
“Who are you that you dare to covet what belongs to this king?”
The middle-aged guard laughed loudly at King Gyeong’s words.
“Hahahahaha.”
King Gyeong, who felt uncomfortable with that laughter, glared at him horribly and shouted.
“How dare you!”
“Do not covet power beyond your means. majesty.”
“what?”
“It was hard to lead the excavation, but your role here ends here.”
King Gyeong was dumbfounded by those words.
He could not hold back his anger at the mention of his role as the prince and king of a great empire.
How much effort did it take to find this place?
Either way, the middle-aged guard grinned and said to King Gyeong.
“Are you angry?”
King Gyeong barely calmed down his anger at his provocation and spoke in a cool voice.
“……Did King Jin send you? Or was it sent by King Yeong?”
“Hoo.”
King Gyeong was convinced that one of them was behind him.
The middle-aged guard, who was looking at King Gyeong with interest in his question, opened his mouth.
“You certainly seem smarter than other highnesses. You are also good at controlling your emotions.”
“what?”
“If he had the right beliefs like His Majesty King Jin, he would have seen it differently, but it’s such a pity.”
With those words, the middle-aged guard winked at the traitorous officials.
The place the glance pointed to was none other than King Gyeong.
-Sreung!
The treacherous government soldiers raised their blades and walked toward King Gyeong and the gisaeng guarding him with murderous intent.
They were having fun, like wolves about to kill their prey.
At that time, one of the gisaengs, a woman wearing a green suit, walked out.
“Yeonsaeng!”
The gisaeng shouted her name.
But the woman didn’t care and walked forward toward the government soldiers.
One of the government officials smiled and said.
“It looks like he wants to die first…”
– Exactly!
At that time, the gisaeng called Yeonsaeng snapped her fingers.
At that moment, something unbelievable happened.
“Ugh!”
“Oops!”
“Off.”
The traitorous government soldiers who were walking towards King Gyeong and the gisaeng suddenly clutched their bodies as if they had been stabbed by something and fell to the floor, vomiting blood.
The government soldiers, whose bodies were trembling, died just like that.
‘!?’
The gisaeng, including King Gyeong, were dumbfounded.
“Yeonsaeng…..what the hell are you….”
They couldn’t tell if it was the Yeonsaeng they knew.
At that time, the middle-aged guard who had ordered them to kill King Gyeong quickly took his hand to the palace that was on his back.
It was that moment.
-Kwasik!
“Ouch!”
His wrist was twisted and broken, causing the bone to stick out.
But that wasn’t the end.
Not only did they break his wrists, they grabbed his neck and pushed him against the wall.
-bang!
The stone wall cracked and almost caved in backwards.
The middle-aged escort looked at the woman clutching his neck in disbelief.
I couldn’t figure out how such strength came from such slender wrists.
“What the hell are you, you bitch?”
The woman opened her mouth to his question.
“I heard that you ran away after discarding your severed arm. Did you manage to get away with it?”
‘!!!’
At those words, the middle-aged escort’s eyes widened to the point of bursting.
ⓒ Hanzhongwolya
