On the way back to my room after the meal, a sigh escaped from me without realizing it.

“Hoo.”

Regrettably, my perfect plan had been put on hold.

“I just don’t understand…”

“Perhaps others thought the same when looking at you, Cheon Hwi-da?”

Tang Sowol shook her head. Seo Mun-Hwarin, who had also been sighing deeply, suddenly brightened up as if she’d had a good idea.

Then she slowly approached me and began patting the area around my shoulder blade. Perhaps she was aiming for my shoulder but couldn’t quite reach it.

“This One understands!”

“…Excuse me??”

“Even the Black Lotus Sect Master is no ordinary figure, yet he’s been failing for years at recruiting other Flowering Stage experts. If the gentle approach fails, then one must take the strong approach. It may be a bit excessive, but This One believes your overall direction is not wrong.”

“Oh…?”

Perhaps because it was Seo Mun-Hwarin—who, before regression, had been the most spectacular failure of the Black Lotus Sect Master’s recruitment efforts—saying it, her words were strangely comforting.

It had been put on hold, but still, I hadn’t been wrong.

While I was nodding, Seo Mun-Hwarin was also nodding with a look of contentment and satisfaction, as if pleased with something herself.

“Ahem. Just as you’ve acknowledged This One, so too does This One acknowledge yo—ah…”

Just as she was trying to say something cool, she glanced toward Tang Sowol.

Tang Sowol responded by slipping her arm around mine with her usual gentle smile. The soft warmth transmitted through my arm.

Seo Mun-Hwarin visibly pouted but soon brightened again at Tang Sowol’s gesture, then cautiously grasped the opposite sleeve and resumed patting my shoulder.

“Ahem! Anyway, even if the Black Lotus Sect Master and the Sword King oppose you, This One and Sowol support you, so don’t be too discouraged!”

“I wouldn’t say I’m discouraged. Besides, now that I think about it, it really was a bit too forceful.”

“Did you just say ‘a bit’…??”

I let Tang Sowol’s incredulous voice pass from one ear out the other.

From my perspective, I was sparing people who were destined to become enemies and die anyway, so using them a bit forcefully seemed like a fair trade.

But to others, it probably just looked like I was grabbing random people by the collar and threatening them.

There were also realistic concerns.

As uncooperative as they might be, they had still registered under the Black Lotus Sect’s name.

If someone like me, from the Tang Clan, beat them up, it could escalate into a major conflict between orthodox and unorthodox factions.

The relationship between the Murim Alliance and the Black Lotus Sect would need to shift before such problems could be handled cleanly.

And the most important issue after that was…To be honest, I’m still not on their level.

I had grasped the method of focusing my internal energy and willpower more aggressively while fighting the Sword Demon,but aside from that, I haven’t even been at the Flowering Stage for a full year. I’ve only just taken the first step.

Meanwhile, those unorthodox warriors who wander freely or reign like kings in their home regions have likely been at the Flowering Stage for a long time.

Even if I don’t know how much they’ve grown, they’ve likely gone far beyond the initial stage.

In an actual fight, there would be countless variables, so it’s hard to say who would win.

But if the goal is to subdue them without killing them, and to do so overwhelmingly to show the difference in strength, I’m still very far from capable.

“So, I think the Black Lotus Sect Master and the Sword King had a point when they said to put my plan on hold.”

“I-Is that so?”

“Yes. First, I need to be strong enough to actually carry something like that out.”

Seo Mun-Hwarin, who had looked like she wanted to say something, eventually nodded.

“Let’s go with that, then!”

“Yes. So for now, let’s put aside my perfect plan… What will you do next?”

“Hm? What else? I already said everything back there.”

Though everyone had been shocked by my proposal, we still discussed many things after deciding to put it on hold.

Tang Sowol planned to make a poison that could dispel demonic energy, the Black Lotus Sect would quickly take over Hao Clan operations to dig up intel on the Demonic Cult, and the Namgung Clan was preparing to mobilize not just the Sword King, but the whole clan if needed.

There were long-term plans that would take time and effort.

But the most pressing topic was—what to do right now.

“First, we should start with the Green Forest, just as the Black Lotus Sect Master originally called us for.”

“I recall that he simply suggested cooperating if a subjugation became necessary…”

“Bandits are always meant to be subjugated on sight.”

At the Dragon and Phoenix Meeting, post-Heavenly Masters sometimes casually bragged in turn, and one topic that always came up was subjugating bandits.

Most weren’t actual Green Forest leaders, just third-rate dark martial artists trying to settle somewhere and getting beheaded for it.

But a few had really gone after Green Forest troops—though not the stronghold leaders, just a few squad leaders and their men.

A true stronghold leader would be a Peak Stage warrior at the least, and, as fitting for the Green Forest, those guys were masters of escape, making them difficult opponents for a post-Heavenly Master.

Anyway, the point is this—subjugating bandits isn’t something you do when you stumble across them. You actively seek them out and crush them. No, more accurately, you should do exactly that.

“After all, this is a rare opportunity for the Namgung Clan, the former strongest in the world, and the Tang Clan, soon to be the new strongest, to join hands with the Black Lotus Sect. On top of that, it’s a cause that everyone can support—subjugating the Green Forest.”

“That’s true.”

“It’s a cause everyone can agree with. The two pillars of the orthodox factions working with the Black Lotus Sect for the first time—there won’t be a better chance than this… to form an Orthodox Alliance.”

“Eh? What did you just say, Cheon Hwi-da?”

“Did you just say… Orthodox Alliance?”

Both Tang Sowol and Seo Mun-Hwarin looked at me in surprise. I slowly nodded.

“The Heavenly Demon is a monster. He’s growing stronger faster than we can imagine, and he’s more cunning than that, aiming for blind spots we won’t even see coming.”

This wasn’t just the mindset of a strong fighter.

An overwhelming powerhouse swings their sword when necessary and schemes when necessary.

There’s a reason the Murim Alliance in my previous life tried to form an Orthodox Alliance only after being devastated.

They were struck hardest when they were most complacent. There was no helping it.

That’s how serious the situation is. In a way, we’re lucky this time.

The question of how to alert others to the danger of the Demonic Cult and Heavenly Demon—is already halfway solved.

“Which is why we need to move quickly on this side too.”

“By forming an Orthodox Alliance?”

“Yes. At the very least, we must avoid being picked off one by one while hesitating.”

That’s the only thing I can do for now. It’s not like I have the power to move the entire Murim, let alone the imperial army.

Hearing me out, Tang Sowol and Seo Mun-Hwarin let out impressed sighs.

“So… Cheon Hwi-da, are you saying you’ll form and lead the Orthodox Alliance yourself?”

“Huh. I didn’t expect you to think that far ahead. It won’t be easy. Even in Murim, where power is everything, the way you distribute that power is just as important… Still, it’s not entirely impossible.”

The two nodded to each other, then Tang Sowol tilted her head thoughtfully.

“But, Cheon Hwi-da.”

“Hm?”

“There’s something I’m curious about. May I ask?”

“Go ahead.”

“There’s a common thread with those in the Demonic Cult. Their circumstances differ, but many of them were wronged by martial artists and had no one to hear their grievances, correct?”

“There are rare cases like the Sword Demon who just wanted to cut down anyone from any faction who wielded a sword, but yes, most of them are like that.”

“Wait, is that why the Sword Demon joined the Demonic Cult?! …Then compared to him, you and the Sword King are fairly normal.”

“…?”

Tang Sowol seemed genuinely shocked. As if it were news to her.

I tilted my head as she cleared her throat and got back on track.

“Ahem. Anyway, aside from a few rare cases, most members of the Demonic Cult have a past full of resentment, right?”

“Right.”

“Then… is the Heavenly Demon like that too?”

“I don’t know.”

That wasn’t just a vague answer. I truly didn’t know.

Before the regression, once people learned that the Heavenly Demon was the Demonic Cult Leader, the first thing they did was dig into his past.

Even the Beggar’s Sect, with its feet to the fire, and the Hao Clan, realizing they’d be next if they didn’t act, scrambled to uncover it.

They all wanted to know—what had driven him to turn to the Demonic Cult and commit such indiscriminate slaughter?

They thought that if they could resolve the source of his hatred, they might be able to stop him.

But after all that investigation, nothing turned up. And the conclusion they reached was: he was simply insane.

Now, I think I understand why.

The Heavenly Demon is a regressor. A much more skilled regressor than me.

He may have already resolved the original cause of his hatred before he ever became the Heavenly Demon.

Just like I managed to stop Tang Sowol’s face from melting, and save Seol Lihyang and Seo Mun-Hwarin.

So the question needs to change.

Why is the Heavenly Demon regressing over and over? Why does he still seek the destruction of Murim?

Why does he seem so welcoming of my interference, even though I only get in his way?

I don’t have answers to any of those questions—at least, not yet. But…

“There’s one thing I do know for sure.”

“What is it?”

“No matter what his reasons are, the Heavenly Demon has long since crossed the line.”

Which means, in the end, it must be resolved with the sword.

That is the law of Murim.

***

Back in the room.

Having finished all necessary discussions, I went to find Seol Lihyang to begin preparations for returning.

As she’d mentioned before, she was hosting tea for some skilled but socially marginalized female martial artists.

I thought I’d be meeting her outside, but apparently, it was just in her room.

The little faction Seol Lihyang had formed in just a few days flinched and exchanged nervous glances at my arrival, but Seol Lihyang herself simply waved cheerfully.

“Cheon Hwi! Did you finish that important discussion?”

“Just now. I came to tell you that we’ll be returning to the Tang Clan tomorrow, so prepare accordingly.”

“Aha, right. We were supposed to be back long ago, weren’t we.”

Seol Lihyang nodded. Feeling that staying any longer would only make things more awkward, I turned to head back to my room—when I heard her voice behind me.

“Oh, by the way, Cheon Hwi! Did you hear? You’re about to get a new title.”

“Hm?”

…Yeah, I definitely have to hear this.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep