At Lee Hwa Un’s introduction, Yeo Hwarin bowed her head.“It is my first time meeting you. I am Yeo Hwarin of the Sword Pavilion.”“Oh! So you are the Sword Queen I have heard so much about. It is an honor to meet you.”“The honor is mine, to meet the Green Forest Grand Emperor.”“Hahaha. Grand Emperor of Green Forest? Not anymore. The true Grand Emperor of Green Forest is none other than my lord here. I am nothing but an old servant obeying his commands.”The great Green Forest Grand Emperor lowered himself, calling himself a mere old servant.If the world heard those words, people would faint from shock.Namgoong Hwan and Yeo Hwarin were no different.They looked astonished at the sight of the Green Forest Grand Emperor calling himself a servant.Seeing their expressions, Lee Hwa Un chuckled.“Why look so surprised? I, on the contrary, am even more surprised that the Sword Queen and the Namgoong Clan serve as subordinates to our lord.”At his words, Yeo Hwarin replied.“I only strive so as not to be an unworthy subordinate to our lord.”“Hahaha. That is exactly how I feel. I too must ensure I am not a lacking subordinate to our lord. It weighs heavily on me.”“Please speak comfortably. I am much your junior.”“The Sword Queen is right. You should lower your speech.”“May I really?”“Of course. We are one family now.”“Hahaha. Then so be it.”The three exchanged smiles.“Now that introductions are done, shall we set out?”At Yeon Woo Jin’s words, all three answered in unison.“Yes, my lord.” ****“Kwahahaha! Stop right there!”“Do you even know where this is, that you dare try to pass through?”“Kekeke. Looks to me you’re carrying some valuables. Hand them over, and we might just spare your lives.”Dozens of men, dressed in garb that made them look exactly like bandits, blocked the path of the Shincheon Escort Bureau.“Are these your men?”At Yeon Woo Jin’s question, Lee Hwa Un shook his head.“I’ve never seen them before.”“Are they not a Green Forest stronghold nearby?”“There are no Green Forest bandits in this area.”“Hmm? But you said you had visited a nearby stronghold and came after hearing I was here.”“Ah…”Lee Hwa Un instantly realized his slip and scratched the back of his head.“That was… a lie. I only wanted to serve at my lord’s side… so I lied. I apologize.”Yeon Woo Jin chuckled.“It’s fine. In truth, I’m pleased. You came well.”At his words, Lee Hwa Un’s face filled with emotion.“To be treated so kindly despite my deceit—I am deeply moved, my lord.”“You only lied because you wanted to see me, right? Then these men may not be bandits after all?”“Correct. They are not Green Forest men. Please leave this to me—I will deal with them.”When Yeon Woo Jin nodded, Lee Hwa Un turned around with a radiant smile.And the instant he turned, his expression turned icy.“Which stronghold are you bastards from?”At his question, the supposed bandits glanced at one another.Then the one who seemed to be their leader smirked.“Why does that matter to you?”“Because no matter how I look at you, you don’t seem like bandits.”“Kekeke. We are bandits. Just hand over your goods and go back the way you came. Then we’ll let you live.”At those words, Lee Hwa Un chuckled.“That’s what I should be saying. Speak honestly now, and I might let you live.”The bandit leader’s expression hardened.“Old man. Do you have something to rely on?”“Something to rely on…? Aren’t you the ones relying on something? Otherwise, how could you dare stand so boldly before me, the Green Forest Grand Emperor?”“T–The Green Forest Grand Emperor!”When Lee Hwa Un revealed his identity, the bandits flinched and staggered back in shock.At that instant, a massive aura surged from Lee Hwa Un’s body.“How dare you impersonate Green Forest before me… it seems you have no wish to die cleanly.”The bandits were thrown into disarray.“W–Why is the Green Forest Grand Emperor here?”“C–Could it really be him?”“Damn it… judging by that aura, it must be true. Just our luck—to run into him of all people.”“When we get back, I’ll tear apart the fools who failed to investigate this properly.”“First worry about ourselves. It seems… today is an ill-fated day.”They swallowed nervously.To face the Green Forest Grand Emperor—it was no easy matter.For most here, it meant risking their lives.No, all of them could die.As they tensed, Lee Hwa Un’s voice rang out.“I will give you a chance. Tell me why you are doing this, and I will spare your lives.”“You think we’ll talk?”“Then I will make you talk.”“You won’t succeed.”“That’s what you think. My specialty is Bone-Splitting Torture. No one has ever withstood it.”At his words, the bandits swallowed hard.–The swiftest among you, fall back.The leader’s voice carried through transmission, and several men stepped back.–When I give the signal, unleash your qinggong at full speed and scatter in every direction. At least one must reach headquarters and report this situation.They nodded grimly.“Hoo.”Clang—The leader threw down a massive sabre and drew a sword instead.“I thought the way you held that blade was unnatural. You were a swordsman after all.”“You noticed? Seems we were too careless in our preparations.”“My eyes see all. Those who stepped back—they’re your fastest, right? The plan is to strike me, while they scatter to inform your master?”He had seen through everything.“A terrifying man indeed.”“You think it will work?”“Only one way to know—by trying.”“No, it won’t. Look behind you. Someone as terrifying as me is guarding the rear.”At his words, they turned their heads.There stood Yeo Hwarin, her posture demure.A slender woman, who at first glance seemed not frightening at all.“Kekeke. That is the Sword Queen.”“The Sword Queen!”Why was she here too?Was the Green Forest Grand Emperor lying?Impossible.For the instant he called her the Sword Queen, a massive aura surged from her body.“If you want to go home, you must first pass through me.”At Yeo Hwarin’s words, the bandits’ faces twisted.They couldn’t even handle the Green Forest Grand Emperor, and now the Sword Queen too.They had thought Namgoong Hwan would be their only obstacle.They were completely wrong.–Leader, what do we do?These men were the Sa Hwal Squad, the elite of the Bukcheon Gate.–Damn it… the situation has worsened.“Need time to consult? Then I’ll give you a moment.”Lee Hwa Un’s mocking words made the leader’s face distort.It was humiliating, but against such opponents, he had to endure.“We had no intent to insult Green Forest. We beg your pardon.”“I accept.”“But we cannot reveal our identity. Please understand.”“So? You just want me to let you go?”“We will show our sincerity.”“Sincerity?”As Lee Hwa Un tilted his head, the leader raised his sword and severed his own left arm.Slash—Blood spurted, and his arm fell to the ground.“Will this suffice as atonement?”Lee Hwa Un’s face contorted.“You bastard—”But before he could finish—“If the leader’s arm is not enough, we will offer ours too.”The others drew their swords, ready to cut their arms at any moment.“You dare? Is this your way of begging forgiveness? It’s coercion!”“It is a sincere plea.”The leader spoke with grim resolve.Lee Hwa Un turned his head toward someone.The gesture was strange—almost as if asking someone else how to handle this.Impossible.The Green Forest Grand Emperor deferring to another?Perhaps he had gone momentarily mad from the grotesque scene.Just then, the young man who had remained silent at the back stepped forward.And instantly, the leader’s pain vanished.“Huh?”He looked at his severed arm. The bleeding had stopped without even binding it.Thump—The leader felt something strange.As ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) if the severed arm were reattaching itself.Had he lost too much blood, begun to hallucinate?No—it soon reached the climax.The arm lying on the ground slowly floated up into the air and returned to where it belonged.It attached itself to the wound and began to heal.The leader thought he must be about to die.That this was a hallucination before death.He turned to apologize to his men one last time.But his men were staring at him in shock.“L–Leader… your… your arm…”“It… it’s reattached.”“Huh?”What?He wasn’t the only one seeing things?Could it be… real?Really?He looked again at the spot he had cut.The torn sleeve still showed the mark of the cut.But the arm was perfectly whole again.“Th–this is…”Was it a dream?Had he already fainted?As he struggled to comprehend, he felt someone’s hand.“It healed well.”“Gah!”When?He hadn’t even sensed him approach.“You startled me, cutting off your arm so casually.”“Wh–Who are you?”“A physician.”“A physician?”“Yes. A physician… and also the Chief of the Escort Bureau.”“The Escort Chief?”“Who sent you?”“You think I’ll tell you?”“Well then, come with us.”“Where?”“To the Blazing Fire Divine Palace.”“T–That place…”He tried to protest, but his strength drained away, leaving him weak.“Sleep well.”Those words were the last thing he heard before his eyes closed. ****The great training ground of the Blazing Fire Divine Palace.There, countless people stood in rows, facing Hwa Sogwang.He looked over his subordinates with a wide grin.They were like his own limbs.He had gathered them to finally reveal the truth.“You’ve endured much, humoring my demands all this time.”“Not at all, Palace Lord!”“Kukuku. Nonsense. I could hear your grumbling all the way to my chambers.”At those words, they showed flustered expressions.“Oh? Judging by your faces, it really was discontent, wasn’t it?”As he frowned, they waved their hands frantically.“N–No, Palace Lord!”Amused by their reactions, Hwa Sogwang chuckled.Then the elders at his side spoke.“Palace Lord, enough joking. Please tell us why you gathered us here.”At their words, Hwa Sogwang wiped the smile from his face and grew solemn.A serious expression from Hwa Sogwang.Just how great must this announcement be?Everyone stared at him tensely.“Soon, a guest will arrive at the Blazing Fire Divine Palace.”That much they knew.But now, would the guest’s identity finally be revealed?Who was it, that the Palace Lord personally oversaw all preparations?“That guest… is none other than my lord.”For a moment, silence fell.All stared at him in disbelief.“Palace Lord! Enough jest. Please, tell us the truth.”But Hwa Sogwang looked at them with his grave expression.“Do I look like I am jesting right now?”Gulp—The elders swallowed hard.That was indeed his true serious face.“The one soon to arrive here is my sun, my lord.”He looked up to the sky as he spoke.“I was born with the destiny to serve him. That is why I became his servant.”“Palace Lord! If you do so, what are we to do?”“Indeed! For something this important, you should have told us beforehand!”At their cries, Hwa Sogwang bowed his head slightly.“My apologies. But that is why I am telling you now.”“T–That’s…”

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