“Is the Heavenly Demon out again today?”
“That’s right, Supreme Being.”
Wi Ji-cheon thought of Wi Seoryeon. Born as the daughter of the Heavenly Demon, Wi Seoryeon had dedicated herself to becoming the Heavenly Demon and achieved a unique feat by being the first in the long history of the Heavenly Demon Sect to succeed the title.
Wi Ji-cheon was always proud of such an accomplished daughter, but…
“Hmm.”
Sometimes, he couldn’t help but worry.
Since childhood, Wi Seoryeon had devoted herself solely to martial arts training and quickly became the Supreme Being of the Demon Sect. She only learned to command subordinates and had never met or experienced anyone like herself.
Still, Wi Seoryeon went out every dawn and returned late at night. Although he usually didn’t say anything special given her duties, he thought,
“If she comes back late again today, I’ll have to say something.”
No matter how much the Black Cat and Ho Cheon-an were around, it was rude to stay camped out all week and all day.
Just then…
“The Heavenly Demon has returned.”
Even though the sun was still high, Wi Seoryeon had come back. Did Ho Cheon-an or the Black Cat kick her out? As that thought crossed Wi Ji-cheon’s mind, he visited Wi Seoryeon’s quarters to meet her.
However, Wi Seoryeon’s expression was quite strange.
“What happened?”
A dazed Wi Seoryeon responded.
“I saw something incredible.”
“,,,?”
“That Ho Cheon-an… truly remarkable.”
While a puzzled look spread across Wi Ji-cheon’s face, Wi Seoryeon remained dazed and did not provide an answer.
“Haha.”
Seeing Wi Seoryeon in such a state, Wi Ji-cheon could only let out a hollow laugh.
*
In the stillness…
“I am the Sect Leader of the Dark Dragon Sect, also known as the ‘Best Beauty in Yunnan,’ Dokgo I-seol.”
Only the voice of Dokgo I-seol rang out in the campsite.
“I congratulate you on your victory over Jeong Cheol and simultaneously come to clear the age-old grudges from when we were once the Sadoryeon by seeking friendship with the Dark Dragon Sect.”
Upon receiving Dokgo I-seol’s gaze, Ho Cheon-an started sweating profusely.
“I never expected to meet the Yongji Maeng in a place like this. Ah, it is the Brain Knife Outcast.”
“Cough, cough…”
“It’s been a long time since I saw Geum Myeong-wol. I inquired everywhere, but it seems I only learned of your whereabouts now.”
Cold sweat poured down Hyeok Gi-rin’s face.
“It appears you’ve earned the nickname ‘Big Brother’ among your companions. May I call you that as well? It’s truly difficult to know what to refer to you as since I cannot learn your original name.”
Due to Dokgo I-seol’s pointed words, the group breathed a sigh of relief. The most relieved among them were, of course, the Black Cat and Miss Yeo Il-ye.
Thanks to not mentioning Hyeok Gi-rin’s name in the process of calling him out, his identity remained concealed.
Considering the matter sensibly since Yeo Il-ye from the Jeomchang Faction called small Hyeok Gi-rin ‘Big Brother,’ it was reasonable to think of it as a nickname.
The group, relieved that Hyeok Gi-rin’s identity was not exposed, found Dokgo I-seol observing them with a complicated gaze.
The Yongji Maeng was the Brain Knife Outcast?
Dokgo I-seol, who had assumed that the Yongji Maeng was merely a friend or companion to the Brain Knife Outcast, never expected the current situation.
Setting aside the confusion for now, they began discussing their purpose for coming here.
“…On behalf of the Dark Dragon Sect, I congratulate you on your victory over Jeong Cheol.”
“…Thank you.”
“It is true that the Dark Dragon Sect was once part of Sadoryeon, and while we never had a direct clash, it is also true that we were adversaries. Therefore, I have come here to clear those grievances and forge new ties with the Brain Knife Outcast.”
“…How could there be any resentment between the Dark Dragon Sect and you?”
“Indeed. That seems true.”
I-seol tried to keep her emotions at bay as she dealt with sect matters, but in the midst of bubbling chaos, she inadvertently spoke out.
“The appearance of the Expert of the West, the incident in Okgyo, the Imperial Army’s involvement, and Jeong Cheol’s claim of poisoning forced our Dark Dragon Sect to exit the Sadoryeon without taking any action against the Brain Knife Outcast. Who would misunderstand these circumstances more than those who know the process better than anyone else?”
“….Cough.”
A heavy silence filled the space between the group and Dokgo I-seol.
“…I spoke out of turn. Would the Brain Knife Outcast be willing to shed the grudges held by the Dark Dragon Sect, which was once connected to the Sadoryeon?”
“Of course.”
“I appreciate your consideration.”
The quarrel between Jeong Cheol and Ho Cheon-an surrounding Sadoryeon was nothing more than a formality to those who understood the underlying truths.
Dokgo I-seol looked at Ho Cheon-an with a wavering gaze.
What exactly should she feel?
She had thought she’d simply meet the Brain Knife Outcast to find out where the Yongji Maeng had gone and restart things from there.
Yet, the Yongji Maeng was the Brain Knife Outcast, who just happens to be the lover of the two people in front of her.
Her mind was twisted, and in the confusion, Dokgo I-seol couldn’t even understand what she was meant to do or what she desired.
“There is one thing I want to ask.”
“…Please speak.”
“You mentioned that I had something I must do that day.”
Dokgo I-seol looked at Ho Cheon-an, pondering. There were a mountain of questions she wanted to ask, yet she chose this one specifically.
Eventually, Dokgo I-seol managed to arrive at an answer.
Even if the Yongji Maeng was the Brain Knife Outcast, she longed to hear this from the Yongji Maeng, which was why she had rushed here.
“Did you achieve it?”
“…I did.”
“I see.”
Dokgo I-seol displayed a gentle smile.
“I congratulate you.”
Ho Cheon-an was left speechless, and neither had been expecting a response.
“I’ll take my leave for today. I have learned too much, and I am feeling disoriented.”
Dokgo I-seol said, attempting to appear nonchalant.
“I’ll come to see you again soon.”
*
A hearing was taking place.
“What on earth did the person who went to dissolve the Dark Dragon Sect and the Sokryeong Sect do?”
Having just delighted in the news of Ho Cheon-an and now instantly souring with frustration, the Black Cat and Miss Yeo Il-ye fixed a chilling gaze on Ho Cheon-an.
“What are you planning to do about this?”
“Uh, if I persuade them to go back…”
“How do you suppose to do that? If Dokgo I-seol holds a grudge, it would spell trouble.”
Ho Cheon-an found himself at a loss for words under the Black Cat’s barbs.
Whether or not he tarnished his reputation for using underhanded tactics was hardly the most pressing issue at hand.
The real problem lay in how those tactics were employed.
Podalap Palace. And the Imperial Army.
Mobilizing the Imperial Army plus the forces in the border regions – if this information became public, not only would Ho Cheon-an’s reputation plummet, but the peace in Sacheon, barely regained after Jeong Cheol’s disappearance, could be shattered.
“It wouldn’t be easy to find solid evidence.”
Tang Do-yeon attempted to provide comfort, but the Black Cat shook her head defiantly.
“No matter how much one tries to conceal it, one can only stall for time; the truth cannot be hidden forever. The many Rasa people who watched the magic performance at the West Bank, travelers who heard or saw the Bicheongmacha move, and those from the Dark Dragon Sect who caught a glimpse of the Senior’s face – the Dark Dragon Sect isn’t powerless, and if they set their mind to it, they could uncover everything.”
“Hmm. But even if Dokgo I-seol holds a grudge, she wouldn’t be in a position to openly expose it.”
Tang So-yeol chimed in.
“Ultimately, Dokgo I-seol has risen to become the Sect Leader because of the strategies executed by her disciple. The incident in Okgyo and the appearance of the Imperial Army was pivotal in eliminating her competitors. If it were revealed that her rise was a result of her disciple’s schemes that were adversarial to the Sadoryeon from the beginning till the end, Dokgo I-seol’s position would undoubtedly be greatly shaken.”
The Black Cat shook her head in response to Tang So-yeol’s counter.
“It would be a blow, but not a fatal one. The succession plan of the Dark Dragon Sect has already nearly come to a close. A weakness only leads to a lethal blow when there are enemies who can exploit it. Conversely, if all the actions taken to dismantle the Sadoryeon are exposed…”
The Black Cat trailed off.
What would happen if it was revealed that the commotion with ruffians disguised as in Okgyo was instigated by Ho Cheon-an?
The other sects might keep it hush-hush since they wound up attacking their allied sects; it would nonetheless lead to irreconcilable enmity between the Sokryeong Sect and Ho Cheon-an.
This could turn the Experts of Hyeong-gyeong and the great powers against them.
“In the end, the initiative is on their side, then…”
Yeo Il-ye voiced the conclusion that made the Black Cat glare fiercely at Ho Cheon-an.
“Senior, from now on, you are forbidden to act alone, no matter what.”
Having committed sins, Ho Cheon-an nodded vigorously.
As the Black Cat looked at Ho Cheon-an, who had broken into a cold sweat, she let out a long sigh.
If she hadn’t heard from Tang Do-yeon that Ho Cheon-an had been charging forward without looking, she would have scratched his face open for chasing after every woman indiscriminately.
But she had just acknowledged that he had been forgiven for his antics, leaving her with nothing to say.
All she could do was sigh.
“Thus, we only have one option available.”
Normally mild-mannered, Hyeok Gi-rin showed sharp decisive ability when a big situation erupted.
As he opened his mouth, everyone turned their attention to him.
“We must silence Dokgo I-seol through a deal that offers significant benefits.”
“Hmm.”
“It reminds me that you accompanied the Great Brother during that operation. Did you pick up on anything at that time?”
“Dokgo I-seol has subordinates who have worked alongside her from Sanghwa Tower. However, those who directly serve the Sect Leader lack the strength to become formidable core martial artists of the Dark Dragon Sect. Isn’t that right?”
Ho Cheon-an nodded in agreement with Hyeok Gi-rin’s inquiry.
“That’s right.”
“Suppose we offer a means to strengthen the power of absolutely trustworthy subordinates? We propose a transaction based on the Qi that resides in the mind of Senior Ho, offering spiritual medicine or martial arts techniques.”
“That indeed seems plausible. From I-seol’s perspective, forming an alliance with the sect’s adversary, Senior Ho, to amplify her core forces after a successful transaction wouldn’t be easily dismissed later.”
Everyone agreed with Hyeok Gi-rin’s suggestion.
“I am concerned, though, if Dokgo I-seol will accept the deal.”
Yeo Il-ye’s murmuring darkened the expressions of the Black Cat and Hyeok Gi-rin. In the chaos of discovering the Yongji Maeng’s identity, Dokgo I-seol had been sending affectionate glances toward Ho Cheon-an.
Would Dokgo I-seol truly set aside her feelings for Ho Cheon-an and accept the deal?
After suffering a deep betrayal, it was not entirely impossible.
“Let’s hope so.”
“Ah. We will discuss specific details tomorrow… it’s too much to process right now.”
At the Black Cat’s plea, everyone nodded in agreement.
After experiencing a dramatic rollercoaster of emotions that day, the group had finally reached a semblance of clarity before mental fatigue hit them in waves.
And as they finally managed to rest, the group was forced to emerge from their respective tents the next morning due to the commotion stirring outside.
What awaited them was Dokgo I-seol.
“I’m really sorry. It was a bit noisy, wasn’t it?”
Dokgo I-seol casually offered her apology.
Behind her, her aides were busy setting up the campsite.
They were close enough that they could share a campfire with Ho Cheon-an’s group.
“I’ll finish up quickly, so I appreciate your understanding.”
At Dokgo I-seol’s smile, the group could only manage stiff, tense expressions.
