From a massive flight of wide stone stairs carved into the side of a towering mountain peak all the way up to its summit stood the Forbidden Palace, a magnificent imperial palace that overlooked the entirety of the Imperial Capital sprawled far beneath its elevated position.
The palace radiated overwhelming magnificence and absolute authority, its countless jade rooftops shimmering beneath the moonlight like a sacred domain suspended above the mortal world itself, while towering jade pillars supported vast halls adorned with intricate carvings depicting the Four Auspicious Beasts, and countless banners bearing the emblem of the Xuanwu Dynasty fluttered proudly amidst the cold mountain winds that swept across the peak.
As the political heart of the empire, the Forbidden Palace served as the residence of the imperial family along with the countless high-ranking officials entrusted with governing the vast Xuanwu Dynasty under the Emperor's supreme authority, forming the very core of power that held the empire together.
Within its countless halls and chambers existed innumerable treasures of immeasurable value that had been gathered throughout generations, including renowned martial arts manuals, ancient artifacts, legendary weapons, forbidden scriptures, and priceless relics, all carefully preserved within the depths of the imperial palace under the unwavering protection of the dynasty.
Yet among all those chambers scattered throughout the Forbidden Palace, none possessed greater significance than the Forbidden Archive.
The Forbidden Archive contained the accumulated knowledge of thousands of years since the founding of the Xuanwu Dynasty, with certain records preserved within its depths dating back to eras that existed even before the empire itself had been established, making it a repository of history that transcended the lifespan of the dynasty itself.
Ancient scriptures, forgotten histories, cultivation records, political documents, astronomical observations, long-lost secrets, and countless other forms of knowledge beyond enumeration were all meticulously preserved within the vast and seemingly endless archive.
For the Xuanwu Dynasty, the Forbidden Archive was not merely a library nor a place of scholarly study, but rather the very foundation upon which its knowledge, history, governance, and legacy had been built and sustained across generations.
And yet—
Within this sacred place, amidst countless towering shelves filled with ancient books and priceless records, a middle-aged man could currently be seen sleeping soundly atop a large wooden table while buried beneath piles of historical texts, utterly staining the dignity and solemnity that such a revered location demanded.
Scattered scrolls and open books were strewn carelessly around him, creating a chaotic scene that stood in stark contrast to the otherwise immaculate and sacred atmosphere of the Forbidden Archive.
The quiet rhythm of his breathing echoed faintly throughout the vast library halls while the warm glow of lantern light illuminated his sleeping figure beneath the mountain of books, casting soft shadows that shifted gently with each flicker of flame.
At first glance, the scene almost appeared peaceful, as though nothing within the world could disturb the stillness of that moment.
However, that peace did not last for long.
Boom!
The massive entrance doors of the Forbidden Archive were suddenly forced open with tremendous violence, the deafening sound reverberating throughout the enormous library halls and causing even the dust within the air to tremble.
An elderly man dressed in dark scholar's robes strode into the archive with hurried and forceful steps, his long beard swaying slightly beneath the momentum of his movements while his presence alone carried an undeniable weight of authority.
His robes were embroidered with the symbols of the Four Auspicious Beasts, though among them the Black Tortoise stood most prominently upon the fabric, marking his exceptionally high status and importance within the Xuanwu Dynasty.
The old man's aged face was filled with unmistakable displeasure as his sharp eyes swept across the countless towering shelves within the Forbidden Archive, clearly searching for someone without needing to voice a single word.
Before long—
His gaze landed directly upon the middle-aged man sleeping atop the table buried beneath the archive's most important historical texts.
The old man's expression immediately darkened even further.
However, despite the visible frustration etched into his features, he did not appear particularly surprised by the sight before him.
After all, he had already expected to find the source of his irritation lying exactly there amidst priceless knowledge, sleeping peacefully without the slightest concern for the sacredness of his surroundings.
At least—
That was what it appeared to be on the surface.
But in reality, beneath the pile of books where one would normally assume peaceful slumber, the sleeping man's face was tightly contorted as though he were trapped within something far more disturbing than ordinary dreams, his unconscious expression revealing silent turmoil beneath the stillness.
Deep within the depths of his unconsciousness, fragmented voices echoed endlessly, whispering with malice and spreading negativity throughout his mind while countless fractured visions assaulted his awareness with relentless intensity.
"So this is the bastard child of the lord? Such a disgrace, having such lowly blood stain the lord's bloodline."
"He can't cultivate? How pathetic, not only is he of lowly descent but also a cripple who cannot even begin to learn the basics of martial arts, just how much lower can he possibly sink?"
"Not only that, he is frail and prone to illness, so even if he attempts to learn martial arts or strengthen his body it would not make any difference at all."
"I heard he tried to use a Mystic Herb in an attempt to forcefully cultivate, what a foolish decision, not only did it backfire on him but such a precious herb, coveted by countless martial artists, was completely wasted on him."
"How much more of a disappointment, failure, and useless cripple will he become?"
The malicious voices overlapped endlessly as fragmented visions of his past flooded his mind, accompanied by countless indistinct silhouettes that stared at him with expressions of disgust, disappointment, and hatred, each gaze pressing down upon his fragile consciousness like an invisible weight.
That overwhelming negativity slowly began eroding his mental state, pushing him toward intense self-loathing and doubt that threatened to collapse his resolve entirely, yet even within that suffocating darkness, the man fiercely rejected those thoughts and forcefully strengthened what remained of his determination.
He persevered through the endless tide of negativity even as it grew louder, heavier, and more suffocating, intent on drowning him completely and erasing whatever remained of his will, and in one final act of resistance against the overwhelming pressure crushing his mind, he shouted with everything he had left within his consciousness until—
A voice that had been calling out for quite sometime was now suddenly vividly heard.
"SCHOLAR JEONG WAKE UP!!"
"UUUAAHHHH!!"
And so, within the silent depths of the Forbidden Archive, amidst countless towering shelves of ancient knowledge and the faint warmth of candlelight flickering across priceless texts, the fragile stillness of the sacred hall was abruptly shattered the moment consciousness returned to me.
In an instant upon awakening, I burst out from beneath the piles of books I had been unknowingly buried within, reacting instinctively to the loud voice that had called out my name and dragged me back from the depths of that nightmarish slumber.
For a brief moment, my vision was completely overwhelmed.
The sudden exposure to the candlelight that illuminated the vast archive left me blinking rapidly as my senses struggled to adjust, and only after several moments of disorientation did the world around me finally come into focus, revealing the endless rows of towering shelves filled with priceless ancient texts, alongside the very pile of books I had just been sleeping within scattered messily in front of me.
It was only then that reality fully settled in.
I had, without realizing it once again, fallen asleep inside the Forbidden Archive.
A cold sense of realization immediately washed over me as I instinctively understood the severity of what I had just done, especially after being warned repeatedly on multiple occasions not to treat such a sacred and historically invaluable place as a resting ground, and so I made the immediate decision to leave without hesitation before matters could worsen any further.
However, just as I turned to leave, my movement came to an abrupt halt the moment I found my path blocked by a figure standing directly in front of the exit.
At first, my mind struggled to fully register who it was, but as my eyes slowly adjusted and traced the familiar outline of the person before me, I quickly recognized an elderly man clad in a scholar's uniform similar to my own, though far more intricately embroidered and decorated, the refined patterns upon his robes clearly indicating a status far above my own.
Yet, what truly captured my attention was not his attire, but the expression carved into his face.
It was a look filled with overwhelming irritation and undisguised displeasure, directed squarely at me as though I had just been caught in the act of a crime I had no hope of denying.
For a brief moment, I found myself genuinely wondering who this man was, until reality struck me all at once, and I finally remembered exactly why I had been rushing to leave in the first place.
It was Jang Yeonseo.
The Head Scholar of the Scholar Division, the man known across the entire Xuanwu Dynasty as the "Head Scholar," the one responsible for overseeing all scholars serving under the empire, and by extension, my direct superior.
And that realization alone made the situation far worse than I had initially feared, because not only did he hold authority over me, but he was also the one ultimately held accountable for the conduct of every scholar under his supervision, meaning my repeated misconduct could very well reflect poorly on his standing and reputation.
That was precisely why I had been so desperate to leave before he arrived, to avoid ever having to face the consequences of being caught in such an undignified situation within the Forbidden Archive.
But unfortunately, that hope had already been shattered the moment I saw him standing there.
Judging by the unmistakable displeasure etched into his expression, it was clear beyond doubt that he had already been informed of my actions, meaning I had once again been caught sleeping inside the Forbidden Archive despite repeated warnings.
At first, confusion flickered within me as I wondered how he could have arrived so quickly, until the memory of what had just happened resurfaced within my sluggish mind.
The voice.
The one that had called out my name and forcibly pulled me from my slumber.
It had undoubtedly been his.
And that meant I had already been caught long before I even realized it.
"…Scholar Jeong," he spoke at last, his voice calm yet carrying an unmistakable weight, "where do you think you are going?"
"…?!! I-I w-well… I was going to meet His Majesty for some… i-important business…!"
"Important business with His Majesty, you say…?"
"*Gulp* Y-Yeah… hahaha…"
Even though I was fully aware that my situation had already collapsed beyond recovery, I still attempted a desperate and completely transparent excuse in an effort to escape reprimand for once again sleeping within the Forbidden Archive despite being explicitly warned not to do so on numerous occasions.
However, for reasons I could not immediately understand, his reaction was not what I expected.
Instead of the irritation and anger I had prepared myself for, his expression shifted almost unnaturally quickly, transforming from one of clear displeasure into a calm, composed demeanor reminiscent of a tranquil sage, a sudden change in atmosphere that for a brief moment almost convinced me that my poorly constructed excuse had somehow worked.
Yet that relief was immediately overshadowed by a growing sense of unease, as the abruptness of his change in behavior felt far too unnatural to be comforting.
Just as I was about to walk past him, I was suddenly stopped as his hand shot out and firmly grabbed my shoulder, the grip tight enough to immediately freeze my movements in place.
Slowly, almost creepily, he turned his head toward me.
In response, I nervously followed his movement, turning my own head to face him while still clinging to the faint, foolish hope that I might once again be met with that calm, almost serene expression he had briefly shown moments ago.
But that hope shattered instantly.
What I saw was the exact opposite.
His face was twisted in raw, unrestrained rage, an expression so intense it felt as though the calm facade he had worn moments ago had never existed at all, and in its place now stood something far more terrifying.
For a brief moment, it felt less like I was facing a man, and more like I was staring directly into the face of an enraged old oni, its fury barely contained beneath its aged features.
"Scholar Jeong…" he spoke, his voice low and trembling with suppressed anger, "do you truly take me for a fool… enough to believe that pathetic excuse?!"
"?!!!"
******