How did they find out I’m from Yongji Maeng?
Well, to be honest, there were just too many places where the truth could leak. The subordinates of Dokgo I-seol and the rookies all knew my face, and if those were the subordinates of Yoran who raided the place where I-seol was staying, they would definitely remember me.
But really, does it even matter how I got exposed?
The fact that I was exposed is what matters.
And being exposed wasn’t even that big of a deal.
“Yongji Maeng? I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”
Dokgo Yeongcheon’s eyebrows twitched, but I didn’t blink as I stared him down.
Even if Dokgo Yeongcheon had proof that I was part of Yongji Maeng, I didn’t care.
If I deny it, that’s the end of it.
Pressuring me with proof that I’m from Yongji Maeng would do him no good.
In this situation, where I had the Heavenly Demon backing me, I was the strong one.
Honestly, Wi Ji-cheon could come in and say, “Are you messing with our saint?” and ruin Dokgo Yeongcheon right there.
I might take a hit too, but Dokgo Yeongcheon would be the one to suffer far more.
If he wanted to spill the beans about me being from Yongji Maeng, he was welcome to try.
With that thought in mind, I gave a smile, and Dokgo Yeongcheon smiled back. He could have been quite offended by my provocative response, but somehow, he seemed amused.
“Hahaha. You look just like the Yongji Maeng that I-seol cherished.”
“Haha, so it seems.”
Did I pass some sort of test with Dokgo Yeongcheon?
He turned to look at Dokgo I-seol and spoke.
“I was wondering why I-seol, who didn’t even glance at any guy, was so attached to you. Seems like there’s a good reason.”
“You flatter me.”
“No, it’s true. Do you have any idea how I was at your age? I was blissfully intoxicated with the fact that I reached Peak Stage in my mid-twenties, obsessed with the position of the leader of the Dark Dragon Sect. But you’ve already reached the level of Hwa-gyeong and are in a position to pressure the leader of the Dark Dragon Sect.”
“It was just the right circumstances. If the sect leader were in my position, they would have navigated it even better than I have.”
“I appreciate your words.”
“Hmph, you can be proud. My father doesn’t easily speak weakly, after all.”
“Oh dear.”
A warm smile passed between us, and Dokgo Yeongcheon seemed to think the atmosphere was right, so he got to the main topic.
“Do you happen to know what’s been happening in Yunnan lately?”
“If you enlighten me, I will listen attentively.”
“Excuse me. The Imperial Army was deployed due to the incident related to Yongji Maeng, causing a significant shake-up in the power structure of Yunnan. And the one who benefited the most from it was the Dark Dragon Sect.”
I nodded silently.
In the end, my actions had dealt a blow to the sects of Sadoryeon. The Sokryeong Sect that was hit doubly hard, and the Odokmun which was heavily marked by the Imperial Army, not to mention the Black Serpent Church and the Trench Faction would have faced quite a lot of trouble too.
On the other hand, the Dark Dragon Sect sustained little to no damage and managed to tidy up its line of succession, making it easier for them to expand their influence.
“However, after the Blood Sect asserted its strength in the Central Plains, things began to change a bit. The Blood Sect has started actively recruiting alliances in Yunnan. Their proposal to collaborate on other territories is something the outcast factions in Yunnan would find quite acceptable.”
Dokgo Yeongcheon spoke indirectly, but it was obvious he meant Sacheon.
It was about teaming up with the strong righteous faction in Sacheon and sharing the spoils.
“Since such a current began to flow quietly in Yunnan, the Dark Dragon Sect slowly started to become isolated. With you and I-seol together, it’s no surprise they’d see the Dark Dragon Sect as your ally.”
“Indeed, that makes sense.”
Well, it was clear that the entirety of Yunnan was likely seen as the Blood Sect’s potential allies.
In a world where the Martial Forest Alliance and the Blood Sect were dividing the forces, the outcasts in Yunnan had no choice but to side with the Blood Sect.
There might be little differences, but everyone would likely be tied up with the Blood Sect in some way.
“Thanks to that, the Dark Dragon Sect has been isolated and is in a difficult position.”
However, I found it a bit hard to accept Dokgo Yeongcheon’s claim that the Dark Dragon Sect was isolated.
Sure, there might have been a time when the Dark Dragon Sect was isolated.
But after the emergence of the Heavenly Demon Sect, the situation for the Dark Dragon Sect would have changed completely.
The outcast faction has a way of swallowing everything sweet and spitting out the bitter.
Thus far, the Blood Sect seemed to be dominating, and since they couldn’t choose the Martial Forest Alliance anyway, it had been easy to ally with the Blood Sect. But now that the Heavenly Demon Sect had appeared, the outcasts in Yunnan would likely want to reassess their options.
They could cut off ties with the Blood Sect or ally with the Heavenly Demon Sect.
Whatever their intentions, it was clear the status of the Dark Dragon Sect, with direct links to me moving alongside the Heavenly Demon Sect, would change.
If the Dark Dragon Sect was genuinely in an isolated position, they wouldn’t be able to invite other sect leaders here.
And to add more suspicion, I couldn’t rule out the possibility that the Dark Dragon Sect was also in contact with the Blood Sect.
If I were a member of the Blood Sect, I would have surely made such an offer to the Dark Dragon Sect.
If I separated one of the key figures, Dokgo I-seol, from Ho Cheon-an, I would surely offer some sort of compensation.
In that regard, it’s fitting for the leader of the outcast faction to keep a tight lip and play dead.
Anyway, he was definitely someone not to let my guard down against.
Just then, as I was about to open my mouth, a presence was felt from outside.
“Please forgive the rudeness of interrupting your meeting. I have urgent news to convey, and it forced me to commit this faux pas.”
“What is it?”
And after hearing the news brought by the tribesmen, I realized there was someone formidable besides Dokgo Yeongcheon.
“The leader of the Sokryeong Sect has arrived.”
With a little over two hours left until the evening banquet began, Ak Gyeong-cheol arrived at the Dark Dragon Sect.
Because of his presence, I had no choice but to leave without reaching any agreement with Dokgo Yeongcheon.
* *
“Your face looks dead.”
I grimaced at Wi Seoryeon’s teasing voice.
In the end, I didn’t get to have any constructive conversation with Dokgo Yeongcheon.
It was because Ak Gyeong-cheol wouldn’t let go of Dokgo Yeongcheon until the banquet started.
Beyond being a petty character, Ak Gyeong-cheol was a seasoned veteran and the head of a massive outcast faction.
During the time between the visit of the Heavenly Demon Sect and the banquet, he must have physically blocked Dokgo Yeongcheon from executing any plans.
If the situation allowed, he may have had intentions of wanting to meet Wi Ji-cheon before anyone else.
As soon as the banquet started, the way he pressed closely to Wi Ji-cheon while constantly wringing his hands made me think such thoughts.
Did I underestimate the outcasts in Yunnan too much?
“It seems things aren’t going as intended for you, but it won’t change anything, so drink up.”
Wi Seoryeon chuckled, seemingly unaware of my troubles. Seeing that, Black Cat gave her a disapproving look.
“Why keep making someone already troubled feel more troubled?”
“Oh dear. I’m so scared I can’t even speak.”
With a carefree tone, Wi Seoryeon emptied her cup. Her refreshing action was so carefree it made me inexplicably upset.
Yeah, she was just enjoying her time in the Central Plains.
“You think too much about unnecessary things.”
Unnecessary things, huh?
I nodded with a bitter smile. Yeah, it’s already a missed opportunity. Glooming over missed chances won’t do me any good.
“I understand. It’s just a loss for me to cling to regrets.”
“Hm. That’s not what I meant.”
Wi Seoryeon twirled her cup and smiled sweetly.
“The point is, we just need to prevent the forces in Yunnan from even thinking about cooperating with the Blood Sect.”
“…That’s true.”
If it were that easy, I wouldn’t have been frowning in the first place.
“You are truly unique. You possess martial arts that could rival this Heavenly Demon, yet you don’t act like a martial artist at all.”
“Um…”
Wi Seoryeon forced liquor into my cup.
“Your worries are completely useless.”
What kind of confidence is that?
“Did the Heavenly Demon make some arrangements or something?”
“Do you think something like that would happen? But there’s no need for concern since this flow is almost inevitable.”
What confidence is that!
As I looked at Wi Seoryeon with a dumbfounded expression, her eyebrows fluttered.
“Ah, someone has come to relieve your worries.”
What does she mean by that?
Just for a moment, I thought that. Soon, I felt a wild, enormous energy approaching the banquet hall.
Even I, someone at the level of Hwa-gyeong, could feel something unusual about this momentum.
When I involuntarily looked toward Dokgo Yeongcheon, his face was already grim.
Bam!
The doors to the banquet hall burst open, and a fierce energy poured in. As the wild, ferocious energy flowed into the hall, the suppressed breaths of those present echoed throughout.
At the entrance stood a martial artist, robust and with fierce eyes.
The moment I saw the dao hanging at his side, I immediately recognized that he was none other than the leader of the Trench Faction—Blood Knife Sabok Seol.
The energy he emitted was so immense that even I struggled to comprehend it, and he wielded the dao as his primary weapon, which could only be Sabok Seol.
His gaze was fixated on one person.
That person was none other than the Heavenly Demon, Wi Ji-cheon.
I thought, looking at Sabok Seol.
Could it be…no way?
He wouldn’t dare challenge the Heavenly Demon, right?
Surely, it must just be some kind of misguided joke because he was clueless about the atmosphere, right?
“Heavenly Demon Wi Ji-cheon!”
However, Sabok Seol crushed my desperate hope without mercy.
“I challenge you to a martial arts match!”
I didn’t know it yet.
But it seemed Sabok Seol was a man determined to court death.
