Trash of the Count's Family

“Truly, did gramps truly say that?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Empress Dowager fell deep into thought as she watched Mok Hee nod her head.

‘Mok Hyeon. The Fist King is suspected of being at least in the latter stages of the Unrestrained Realm.

The stages of the Martial Arts world were Third Rank, Second Rank, First Rank with the Peak Realm and the Transcendent Realm beyond that. Above that was the Unrestrained Realm. Once someone got past the Unrestrained Realm, they would reach the Profound Realm.

Anybody who managed to get into the Peak Realm was called an expert.

‘Anybody who reaches the Transcendent Realm is treated as a great expert anywhere they go in the Martial Arts world.’

As for the Unrestrained Realm which was above that, that was something only a handful of people in the respective sects, cults or factions reached.

‘The Imperial family believes gramps Mok Hyeon might be in the Profound Realm.’

At least in the latter stages of the Unrestrained Realm. At max at the early stages of the Profound Realm.

That was the conclusion that the Imperial family had stealthily reached about Mok Hyeon.

‘...Then does that mean that the guy from earlier is at least in the latter stages of the Unrestrained Realm and at max at the early stages of the Profound Realm as well?’

The Empress Dowager could not believe that.

However, she clenched her eyes shut, thought about what she had just experienced, and bit down on her lips.

‘Such an aura-’

The Empress Dowager had experienced all sorts of hardships.

Whether it was the Emperor from two generations ago... And even when she met the former Emperor and had a confrontation with him... The Empress Dowager had not been afraid.

However, the moment she faced that guy's aura... It felt as if she was going to suffocate.

She probably would have plopped down on the ground if it had not been for all of the experiences she had faced in her life.

‘However, all I felt was an aura.’

All she felt was this feeling as if he controlled the air.

She had not felt any murderous intent coming from him.

He did not even have a weapon in his hand.

“Mok Hee.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“...I've heard that in the Martial Arts world, the stronger you get the more average you look. Is that true?”

“…….”

Mok Hee was silent for a moment before she responded.

“Your Majesty, it is said that once you get past a certain stage, a Martial Artist does not look very different from a regular person.”

“Yes. Just like gramps.”

The grim reaper looked even more like a regular person than gramps.

No, honestly speaking, he looked even weaker than the Empress Dowager herself. He was skinny and his face looked extremely tired. And-

“...He looked young. Someone that strong can’t truly be that young, right?”

“It is difficult to answer that question, your Majesty. However-”

Mok Hee hesitated for a moment before continuing to speak.

“There is a process called Rejuvenation where an expert who reaches a certain stage will have their body and bones go through a metamorphosis that makes them look young once again. Unfortunately, I am unable to say for sure because I have never seen it before.”

“I see.”

The Empress Dowager nodded her head before looking up again after hearing a noise.

“Your Majesty.”

She heard a court lady’s voice from outside the door.

“His Majesty requests an audience.”

The Empress Dowager looked out the window.

It was dark.

Her son wanted to see her despite it being night time.

“His Majesty must have heard the information.”

There was no way that her son, who had let her take Mok Hyeon with her, did not know about the grim reaper’s visit. A smile formed on the Empress Dowager's face.

“His Majesty has ears even in the Moonflower Palace.”

Mok Hee’s shoulders shook a bit after hearing that comment.

The Empress Dowager was saying that her son, the current Emperor, had planted an informant in her residence. However, her voice did not sound displeased at all.

In fact, she sounded happy.

“How wonderful. There will be nowhere in the Imperial Palace that his Majesty’s ears cannot reach since he has even infiltrated my palace.”

She was truly praising her son's abilities.

The Emperor knew that Empress Dowager would feel this way, which was why he was openly showing that he had informants in the Moonflower Palace and requesting an audience.

“It would be difficult to sleep tonight anyway so please inform his Majesty to please come.”

The Empress Dowager gave an order to the court lady outside before commenting to Mok Hee.

Stay here with me. You will be able to explain his strength better than I can.”

“Yes, your Majesty.”

darkness beyond

see them together with

moved to one of the guesthouses attached to the Moonflower

had torches

not turn off in that guesthouse since someone

* * *

‘What is going on?’

Cale suddenly felt iffy.

is there no

old man had asked if he was strong so he had responded that he

called gramps had stared at Cale before laughing and

feels a bit...

man’s reaction was weighing heavily on

head to

quiet

others noticing as they walked in

The Moonflower Palace.

because it was night time but there were torches lit up all around, making it not

are similar to Chief Eunuch

Chief Eunuch Wi, the courtesans of Moonflower Palace gave off the same

at

- Human, human!

behind Cale, suddenly

‘What is going on?’

eyebrows slightly rose

Human! I keep getting something

‘Hmm?’

something! He said that I must figure out the flow of mana

the ancient Dragon gives great

that thought and

the flow of mana when I discovered

‘Discovered?’

exchanging conversations with one another! I can read the fluctuation in the air with

‘Hmm?

secretly

Isn't that sound transmission?’

experts in the Martial Arts world could use their internal ki to use a method called sound

‘...He can read it?

With mana?’

Cale’s eyes opened wide.

beating wildly. He was suddenly getting

saying that he might be able to stealthily hear other people's sound

This, this!

If used properly!’

Cale's eyes clouded over.

him. He seemed quite amused by this concept

this old man called gramps

‘Is that so?’

but he was currently

who had laughed before closing his mouth, was silent

his best to stop the corners of his

if I focus! Figuring out the fluctuation is difficult because I am still unfamiliar

who had discovered an item from a

The texture of the fluctuation is different from mana and the power is subtly different as well! This is similar

‘That’s right.’

ki used by martial artists were a bit

would be similar

- Oo!

Raon gasped.

to practice some more but I am a Dragon who can

felt his heart

world where we can hear the

truly are great and

Cale wholeheartedly believed that.

Should I tell you what they are

knew what to do even without Cale telling

Cale things he wanted to know without being

Chief Eunuch Wi

are saying that he is at minimum at the

The old man

himself weak. I guess

Twitch.

corners of Cale’s lips

is the Unrestrained

is the Unrestrained

that a

Cale was flabbergasted.

seem like I am in

almost started laughing in

ass. I would probably cough up blood and faint and cause all sorts of issues even if

and wind powers

significantly sealed... The ancient powers with low

Human! The gramps is talking

the grim reaper seem quite strong as well. However, I do not feel any

‘Of course.

has

all use

“This is it.”

Eunuch Wi

pointed at a

at

for a moment after seeing the

care of things within the annex so please

looked toward

two court ladies and

‘Hmm?’

focused on the

“...Chief Eunuch Wi.”

“Yes, Grim reaper-nim.”

child seems too

who seemed to be about six

Eunuch Wi

be the one to