Chapter 359: Upheaval (2)

Henan, Murim Alliance.

In recent years, the Murim Alliance had suffered through a series of misfortunes.

The resignation of the previous Alliance Leader, the Southern Heavenly Sword King; the advance of the Heavenly Demon Cult; and now, the unrest stirred by the Evil Overlords of Heaven.

“A message from the Tang Clan! They say they’ll form a defensive line near Chengdu in coordination with the Emei Sect!”

“A message from the Jeomchang Sect as well! They say they’ll advance north into Sichuan and support the defense!”

With reports flowing in from all directions, one of the Alliance’s Elders pressed his hand against his forehead.

“Now that the Demonic Cult bastards have pulled back, it’s the heretical sects who are running wild.”

Murim Alliance’s Grand Assembly Hall.

Led by the current Alliance Leader, Sword Supreme Sage Gwan Hyun, notable martial figures from across the Central Plains had gathered to convene on the recent invasion of Sichuan’s martial world by the Evil Overlords of Heaven.

“I heard there’s movement within Evil Path Castle as well. Just what is that so-called Heaven-Embracing King thinking…?”

The sudden death of the Conqueror King Gam Unbi had practically become a confirmed fact.

It was now widely known within the Murim Alliance that a mysterious young man named Heaven-Embracing King had ascended as the new Lord of Evil Path Castle.

“The new Lord of Evil Path Castle is likely just a puppet. The true forces behind him are probably the elders of Evil Path Castle.”

“Puppet or not, if they join hands with the Evil Overlords of Heaven, it’ll be over for Sichuan. We must stop them at all costs.”

Evil Path Castle, which held overwhelming influence over Hunan and Guizhou, could step into Sichuan at any moment if they so wished.

If that happened, Sichuan would be facing enemies from both front and rear.

An Elder from the Gongdong Sect, dispatched to the Murim Alliance, sighed regretfully.

“It would’ve been great if Namcheon stepped in now, but of all times, they had to close their gates…”

“Hmph!”

Many let out deep sighs.

The Namcheon Baek Clan, due to their position, served as a check against the rise of Evil Path Castle.

However, ever since the Southern Heavenly Sword King secluded himself for unknown reasons, the Namcheon Baek Clan had followed suit and closed its doors alongside him.

The Elder from the Gongdong Sect opened his mouth again.

“Well, it’s been some time since Namcheon closed itself off, so there’s nothing to be done. However…”

His gaze turned toward a corner of the hall.

“What on earth is Cheongseong doing? Isn’t it Cheongseong, not Emei, that’s closer to the Tang Clan?!”

His gaze landed on the Elder representing the Azure Star Sect.

The Elder of the Azure Star Sect replied heavily.

“We’ve been sending communications continuously, but there’s been no response.”

“What?! What nonsense is that?!”

“That doesn’t make any sense at all!”

Criticism and rebuke poured in from several directions, but the Elder from the Azure Star Sect kept his mouth shut and invoked his right to silence.

“At the very least, we can manage things as long as the Demonic Cult bastards stay quiet. What’s the situation with the Black Lotus Union?”

“The Black Lotus Union! They’re the biggest problem of all.”

The Black Lotus Union, which had risen in Luoyang, had become the Murim Alliance’s newest headache.

If they, too, aligned with the other heretical sects, the worst-case scenario would be the total abandonment of support for Sichuan.

At that moment, a solemn voice rang out from the head seat.

“The Black Lotus Union will not move.”

“Alliance Leader?”

Alliance Leader Gwan Hyun stroked his beard as he continued.

“They are fundamentally different from the other two forces. As long as the Demonic Cult remains quiet, so will they.”

“Indeed!”

“That is a reasonable assessment.”

“There are widespread rumors that the Master of the Black Lotus Union, the Demonic Sword Flower, hails from one of the prestigious families of the Demonic Cult. The cult’s internal turmoil from the enthronement of the new Cult Leader would certainly hinder her actions.”

“Mm! That’s right…”

Gwan Hyun gave a small cough and nodded in agreement.

The meeting then shifted toward organizing reinforcements to counter the movements of the Evil Overlords of Heaven and Evil Path Castle.

Once the meeting had ended—

Gwan Hyun narrowed his eyes at Jegal Cheon, the last military strategist remaining in the room.

“…Second Strategist. Do you have some business with me?”

Jegal Cheon, who had recently entered the Murim Alliance’s military department and started proving his worth, slowly opened his mouth.

“Wasn’t it stated clearly that this was the place to decide on war? Why aren’t you listening?”

A remark so absurd that anyone else would’ve been dumbfounded.

It was unthinkably rude for someone who was just a military strategist to speak so brazenly.

But knowing his opponent’s identity, Gwan Hyun remained calm rather than angry.

“You should’ve seen it during the meeting. Those blinded by self-preservation are reluctant to send their disciples. Of course, things are dragging.”

“Then you just need to take the lead and handle it yourself.”

“That would require sacrifices from my sect, would it not? I’d rather not do that.”

“……”

The two glared at each other for a while.

“How dare you…”

“You’re making one major mistake.”

Just as Jegal Cheon opened his mouth, Gwan Hyun cut him off.

“No matter if you’re the Grand Heavenly Lord’s proxy, remember this: a mere proxy cannot issue commands to an actual member of the Ten Heavenly Lords. The Ten Heavenly Lords are not structured hierarchically.”

Upon hearing those words, Jegal Cheon’s expression twisted into a cruel grimace.

Gwan Hyun rose from his seat and walked past Jegal Cheon.

“If you’re here as a strategist, then focus on devising strategies for this Alliance like one.”

Bang!

With that final remark, Gwan Hyun exited the room.

Jegal Cheon stared blankly at the door for a while before his face turned icy rather than enraged.

“I’ve suspected it for a long time, but this confirms it.”

Crack! Crackle!

In an instant, Jegal Cheon’s eyes began to glow with a blackish-red hue.

“Fine then, Fifth Heavenly Lord. If you’re that eager to die, I’ll kill you before Heavenly Researcher can get to you.”

***

“There has been suspicious movement from the Cheon Clan.”

I tilted my head slightly.

“So what?”

“…Pardon?”

“So what?”

Han Mubaek’s expression twitched slightly at my unexpectedly blunt reaction.

“Do you not understand how serious this is?”

“I do. It’s about the old farts of the Cheon Clan plotting something, isn’t it?”

“And you act like that knowing it? The Second Elder of the Seven Elders was a long-time collaborator with the Heaven-Defying Society, along with the now-deceased former Elder.”

Outwardly, he looked like a loyal subject sincerely worried for my well-being.

But there was absolutely no chance of that being true.

“Those bastards won’t commit outright treason just yet. Before they try anything, they’ll have to deal with Ilro and the Great Elder first.”

I released a faint wave of killing intent toward him.

“Guh!”

“More importantly, I’m far more curious why you dragged yourself all the way here under such a flimsy excuse.”

I knew him well.

Even when he sat on the throne of the Demonic Faction Lord in my past life, he never hesitated to run around in person if it meant accomplishing his goals.

The problem was, that very disposition meant that every action of his always had a reason.

“Ugh! Ugh! It was merely… out of loyalty to the Lord…!”

Han Mubaek grabbed his neck and began to writhe in agony.

‘He’s putting on more of a show than I expected.’

It was only a light release of killing intent, yet he looked like that.

His acting was impeccable—indistinguishable from the real thing.

“Is he really wary that I’ll wipe out the Evil Refining Sect with my own hands? Or is there something in the north I’m not supposed to find out?”

“L-Lord… p-please, show mercy….”

Drool began to drip from his mouth.

At that moment, Yorang spoke to me from within.

–I figured it might be the case, and of course it is. If you keep that up, he really is going to die.

‘Huh?’

–You didn’t even notice, did you? Look around you.

As she said, I looked around, and saw that every member of the Underworld King Unit was lying flat on the ground, trembling.

Even So Soryu had her head deeply bowed, motionless, clutching the unconscious Gu Chil in her arms.

‘This is…’

I hastily withdrew my killing intent.

“Gah! Hah! Uuuek!”

Having barely caught his breath, Han Mubaek began coughing violently, vomiting onto the floor.

Yorang clicked her tongue.

–You didn’t even realize how much your power has grown, holding my true form inside you.

‘Ugh…!’

–There’s not a single human now who can handle you. You should be aware of that by now.

‘I mean, can we really call him a normal human?’

I tried to make some sort of excuse…

–He is a normal human.

‘…Seriously?’

Yorang stared at Han Mubaek and spoke again.

–He used to have the blood of a divine beast inside him, but he got rid of it. I don’t know how he did it, but it’s quite the feat.

Her voice dripped with sarcasm, clearly displeased with the fact that he had removed the divine beast’s blood.

“……”

‘He removed it?’

Even if the Awakened Body gave a person power beyond human limits, as long as one could control it, it was an unparalleled blessing.

Even a warrior like Song Yangja of the Azure Star Sect couldn’t resist its temptation and accepted that power.

And yet, he removed it by choice…

‘This is even more suspicious.’

Han Mubaek, who had been vomiting for some time, finally pulled himself together and glared at me.

He glared, but his eyes held a subtle fear.

“Please believe me. The reason the Cheon Clan is moving suspiciously right now is because the Cult Leader has still not emerged from closed-door cultivation.”

“…What?”

“We were supposed to receive immediate word as soon as she exited, but nothing has come. That could mean something has gone wrong with the Cult Leader.”

“……”

If something really had happened to Cheon Yura, there was no time to delay.

However—

‘The northern disturbance isn’t over yet.’

The Heaven-Defying Society’s plot to soak all four corners of the Cult in blood was still underway.

And I… believed in Yura.

If it was her, she’d overcome any hardship and stand before me with pride.

“So Soryu.”

“Y-yes!”

So Soryu flinched and quickly responded.

“Gather the Underworld King Unit.”

“Ah, should we prepare to return?”

“No.”

I shook my head.

“We’re heading north. I’ll cut down that Evil Refining Sect Leader myself.”

“…!”

“Once the sword is drawn, I’ll leave no seeds for future disaster.”

After interrogating some Evil Refining Sect members who were still in the Cult, I learned that the current sect leader had gone to meet the remnants of the Yuan dynasty hiding in the plains west of the desert, a place known as ‘Gobi’.

“You’re coming with us. You’re capable enough to be of use.”

“B-but I’m part of the Heavenly Thunder Corps…!”

“So what?”

As I began slowly releasing killing intent again, he quickly changed his tone.

“No, of course not. How could I, your loyal servant, refuse the command of the Lord?”

“That’s better.”

Rather than let him go back and fester unease, it was safer to keep him close and monitor him until I returned.

As we began reorganizing the Underworld King Unit and preparing to march north,

Han Mubaek watched silently, then spoke softly.

“You’re more resolute than I thought. I was sure you’d falter at the mention of the Cult Leader’s name…”

It was true that Cheon Yura’s closed-door cultivation had lasted longer than expected.

And the Heavenly Demon Cult was now in chaos because of it.

Han Mubaek’s lips, hidden behind his palm, curled upward.

‘Well, fine. Until I achieve my goal, I’ll play the loyal aide. If it’s you, Jin Yeomyung, maybe… just maybe, you’ll help make my dream a reality.’

Han Mubaek lifted his head and looked up at the sky.

The weather was clear, with white clouds drifting by.

But from that distant place, an ominous crimson glow was steadily approaching.

And his eyes did not miss it.

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