Chapter 173

By the time Sun Woo-jin returned to the front lines, everything had already come to an end.

All he could hear were the results.

“Elder Sword Saint… was defeated by Seo Il and has passed away?”

Sun Woo-jin simply couldn’t believe it.

The Sword Saint losing to someone like Seo Il? That was impossible.

Yet, the Sword Saint’s body was already being transported to the Ha family estate in Hanam.

And whether it was a trick by Jegal Ji-gang or not, the details of the duel remained completely unknown.

But that wasn’t the only news that shook Sun Woo-jin to his core.

After gaining nothing at the Biryong Corps headquarters, he hurried back to the Biryong Thirteen, utterly flustered.

Cheon Ju-eun clung to him, sobbing uncontrollably.

“Master Sun! Why did you come back so late?! The sisters… Seo-yu and Cheong-yeon…!”

Though Sun Woo-jin had managed to keep his composure despite the Sword Saint’s death, this news was too much. He froze on the spot, unable to process it.

He muttered blankly, “What is this…?”

Nothing lasts forever, but he had always believed that some things would remain by his side. Now, everything was crumbling all at once.

---

“The Heavenly Sword Saint, Hae Un-baek, was defeated and killed by the poisonous sword of Seo Il.”

The martial world, already stirred by recent shocking news, now boiled over like a furnace at this staggering revelation.

No previous news had shaken the martial world this deeply.

Though the exact details were unknown, the fact that the Sword Saint was defeated by Seo Il was shocking enough. But to be killed by a single strike from Seo Il’s poisonous sword? That was unimaginable.

For the warriors who idolized the Sword Saint, it was as if the sky itself had fallen.

“The Sword Saint was defeated by Seo Il’s single strike? Just one blow?”

“Was Seo Il really that strong? Or could it be that the Sword Saint was overrated all along…?”

Soon, rumors spread throughout the martial world that the Sword Saint had been excessively overrated.

He was, in truth, someone who had merely been lucky enough to be named among the Fifteen Absolutes, yet had been given far too much credit.

But that wasn’t all.

Whispers began circulating that the Sword Saint was actually a despicable man, and that even those who had suffered at his hands dared not speak out because of his overwhelming influence.

After his death, the true downfall of the Sword Saint had begun.

Of course, all of this was a fabrication by Jegal Ji-gang.

He intended to completely destroy the Sword Saint’s reputation and erase his influence from the Martial Alliance.

Having removed the most troublesome thorn, Jegal Ji-gang now sat leisurely in his office, calmly brewing tea as he murmured with a satisfied expression.

“There were far too many in the Alliance under the Sword Saint’s influence. They were so caught up in pointless agreements that they lost sight of practical benefits. Tch.”

Because of those people, the Alliance’s activities had been severely restricted.

But now, that was over.

He would thoroughly shatter the idols of those who clung to empty principles.

After lowering the Sword Saint’s status, Jegal Ji-gang planned to purge his followers next.

Since they had blindly followed a despicable man, it wouldn’t be difficult to justify their removal.

“And once I fill those vacancies with my own people, the Martial Alliance will finally become an impeccable force.”

Yes.

An impeccable force.

A perfect power led by the wise Jegal Ji-gang, with loyal members who carried out his orders without question.

He quietly muttered to himself.

“Jegal Ji-gang, Martial Alliance Leader. Not bad at all.”

Since the days of Lady Jegal, those bearing the Jegal name had always been seen as second-in-command.

But that was utterly ridiculous.

In an era where even humble peasants and tenant farmers could found nations, how could capable members of the Jegal family always be relegated to second place?

It was simply a fixed notion born from a lack of precedent.

So Jegal Ji-gang intended to become that precedent.

To be the first Jegal to rise as the top figure.

“I will be remembered in history as a hero who surpasses even Lady Jegal.”

And he was certain that time was not far off.

But a few days later, a report arrived that made him explode with anger.

“What?! The Sword Saint’s Protection Squad?!”

His rare outburst of rage made Mancheong, the Pavilion Master, shrink back and speak cautiously.

“Yes, that’s right. Movements have arisen across the martial world to root out those who slander the Sword Saint. Those who received direct favors from him are rising up, searching for the source of the rumors.”

Jegal Ji-gang gritted his teeth.

“Then shouldn’t this be handled quietly?”

Mancheong bowed deeply, apologetic.

“That’s the problem… There are too many. It’s happening simultaneously in too many places… Even the Alliance’s own warriors have risen to track down those who slandered the Sword Saint. The Gaibang are coordinating them, and the Hao Sect members are actively cooperating…”

Bang!

Jegal Ji-gang finally slammed his fist down in frustration.

With the Gaibang and Hao Sect involved, this was no longer something that could be quietly suppressed.

If anything, the connection to the Martial Alliance needed to be severed immediately.

Even he hadn’t expected that so many had been indebted to the Sword Saint, or that they were so widely spread.

Though the Sword Saint was dead, his shadow only grew larger.

Jegal Ji-gang ground his teeth and muttered.

“Un-baek, you bastard! How long, just how long will you block my path?!”

But anger was one thing; business was another.

Judging coldly, if things had reached this point, it was wise to retreat for now.

Trying to regain his composure, Jegal Ji-gang ordered Mancheong.

“Eliminate those manipulating public opinion. No connection to the Alliance must be found with them…”

At that moment, a loud voice came from outside.

“The Alliance Leader has arrived!”

This was completely unexpected for Jegal Ji-gang.

“…The Alliance Leader? He’s come here?”

The Martial Alliance Leader, Hyeopwang Moyong Geom, hadn’t visited Jegal Ji-gang even once in recent years.

In fact, it was rare even for Jegal Ji-gang to see him when he went to visit.

And now, at a time like this, the leader had come personally.

It was a significant and ominous sign.

“Surely not… No, it can’t be.”

Suppressing his unease, Jegal Ji-gang sent Mancheong out and stood up, calling out.

“Please come in, Leader!”

Moyong Geom entered the office with a bright smile.

“Soldier! How have you been?”

Jegal Ji-gang returned the warm smile.

“Just the usual. But, Leader, what brings you all the way here? You could have just summoned me…”

Though polite, the question was a clear demand to know the reason for the visit.

Moyong Geom laughed heartily.

“Ha ha ha! You must be busy as always. Well then, I’ll get straight to the point. I’ve heard rumors that there are forces slandering the Sword Saint recently. Have you heard anything about this?”

Jegal Ji-gang’s heart skipped a beat.

But he shook his head as if he’d never heard of it.

“Well, there are so many rumors in the martial world, aren’t there? I’m not sure…”

But today’s Moyong Geom was not the usual man Jegal Ji-gang knew.

He looked at Jegal Ji-gang with a strange expression and asked again.

“Really? That’s strange. I’ve heard it was you who ordered it, Soldier. Are you sure you haven’t heard anything?”

Now, with a sharp, meaningful smile, Moyong Geom stared at Jegal Ji-gang.

Jegal Ji-gang’s heart sank.

This wasn’t just casual conversation.

Moyong Geom already knew everything.

Jegal Ji-gang could no longer pretend to smile.

This was a completely different Moyong Geom from usual.

The man who had shown no interest in Alliance affairs was suddenly pressing him.

Jegal Ji-gang had to find out why.

Moreover, this matter had been planned unilaterally by Jegal Ji-gang without informing Moyong Geom.

He lacked both sufficient information and justification to confront him.

So, for now, Jegal Ji-gang decided to bow quickly.

“Ha ha ha, Leader, you already knew. I apologize. I handled it alone because I didn’t want to trouble you. It was my fault for not reporting in advance…”

He intended to acknowledge this part quickly and move on, hoping that a single bow would earn some leniency.

But once Moyong Geom bared his teeth, he wouldn’t let go.

“That’s not all, Soldier. I’ve also heard that before the Sword Saint fought the Poisonous Sword, he was attacked by the Blood Demons, including the Blood Sect’s leaders. Soldier, did you conspire with the Blood Sect’s leaders as well?”

Moyong Geom’s eyes, usually calm and carefree, now shone with the dangerous glare of a predator.

Jegal Ji-gang realized something was going terribly wrong.

He quickly thought it through.

Only his direct subordinates knew about that.

He had ordered no evidence or witnesses be left at the scene.

In fact, he had recently heard reports that all the White Tiger Corps warriors had been wiped out.

So he didn’t know where Moyong Geom had heard such things, but there would be no witnesses left.

Jegal Ji-gang decided to deny it for now.

“How could you say such a thing? Who told you that, Leader?”

Moyong Geom scoffed and replied, “Hah, I heard from Baekho Daeju Dongbang Mugeuk, who served right beside Geomseong. They say the Blood Demons, the Iron Spirit Mad Demon, the Black Blood Phantom Demon, and even the White-Faced Corpse Demon all launched an attack together. To think the military wields such influence over the Blood Sect—I never imagined it!”

Baekho Daeju Dongbang Mugeuk?

At the mention of that name, Jegal Jigang’s face finally stiffened, hard as stone.

He should have been dead…

With a trembling voice, Jegal Jigang asked, “You said Baekho… Daeju?”

His mind raced. If the leader’s words were true, then the reports he had received were false.

That was a grave problem.

Moyong Geom gave a cold smile and asked, “Why the surprise? Are you shocked that Baekho Daeju, who should be dead, is still alive?”

Jegal Jigang was horrified. He fully understood what that meant.

He knew he had ordered Baekho Daeju’s death, and that after it was prevented, false reports had been fed to him.

This implied that the organization he believed was his own might not be so.

“This can’t be…”

His vision blurred. He even doubted whether the man before him was truly the reckless Moyong Geom he had known.

Worse still, he had no idea how much of his network was under Moyong Geom’s control.

It could be everything.

“I’ve been nothing but a pawn in his hands.”

Jegal Jigang realized he was completely leashed by Moyong Geom.

He quickly conceded defeat. Now was not the time to resist.

He needed to figure out why Moyong Geom had come to him and what he wanted.

Logically, if Moyong Geom wanted to politically destroy him, assassination would have been simpler.

They shared secrets too dangerous to risk mutual destruction.

“He must know that if I speak, it’s the end for him too. So what does he want?”

But the card Moyong Geom had just played was too powerful to take lightly.

If it became known that he had conspired with the Blood Sect to kill Geomseong and then manipulated public opinion to slander him, both he and the Jegal clan would be finished.

Having thought this through, Jegal Jigang looked at Moyong Geom with a respectful gaze and asked, “What is it that you want from me, Leader?”

Moyong Geom smiled slyly and replied, “I’m glad you’re quick to grasp the situation. Hmm, what do I want, you ask…”

He paused briefly, then continued in a teasing tone.

“I’ve always trusted the Jegal forces to some extent. So whatever you did, I believed in you and supported you.”

That was true, though more because Moyong Geom found it easier to let Jegal Jigang handle things than to intervene himself.

Jegal Jigang swallowed his anger and listened silently.

“I’ve tried to overlook most things, but this time, no matter that you’re Jegal’s, I can’t just let it slide.”

Jegal Jigang tensed, sensing the real point was coming.

“So, I think it’s best if the Jegal forces take some time to reflect.”

“…Time to reflect?”

“Yes. Somewhere with fresh air… Ah, now that Geomseong is dead, how about going to the front lines? You can check on the situation with the Blood Sect there, manage things a bit.”

Jegal Jigang knew he couldn’t refuse.

And though the presence of the Blood Demon at the front was troubling, it might be a good chance to distance himself from Moyong Geom and reorganize his forces.

He forced a smile and answered, “The front lines… Very well. I do need to deal with the aftermath of Geomseong’s actions. It will be a good opportunity.”

Moyong Geom laughed heartily. “Hahaha! I knew the Jegal forces would like that!”

Jegal Jigang ground his teeth inwardly.

Not long ago, he had dreamed of becoming the first great leader in Jegal history, and now he was being exiled to the front lines.

His anger burned fiercely inside, but outwardly he smiled brightly.

“Hahaha! If I can be of help to the Leader, how could I refuse? Hahaha!”

This marked a seismic shift in the power structure within the Martial Alliance.

It was also the moment when the real command of the front lines passed from Geomseong to Jegal Jigang.

---

Sunwoo Jin and the Seven Squad were deeply frustrated over Geomseong’s death and the capture of their comrades by Gu Yuumma Jigi-eum.

But their despair was short-lived; they quickly regained their resolve.

Not just because they were veterans used to loss on the front lines, but because Sunwoo Jin gathered them to share the next plan.

“I know this is hard for everyone, but we don’t have time. Mourning is a luxury we can’t afford.”

Despite Haechungyeon’s promise to release their comrades soon, Naseoyu and Sakmuhun had yet to return after several days.

So Sunwoo Jin and the Seven Squad had lost three comrades.

Usually, anyone captured by the Blood Sect’s Mad Demons never returned alive.

On the front lines, abduction or disappearance was practically a death sentence.

But Sunwoo Jin explained to his team that this time was different.

“Gu Yuumma Jigi-eum isn’t like the other mad demons, driven by lust. He’s known to be loyal, following only the Blood Demon’s orders. And as we all saw, the Blood Demon himself is unlike the usual mad demons of the Blood Sect—he feels more like a righteous figure, almost like a righteous sect leader. I don’t believe he abducted Cheongyeon Sojeo out of lust.”

Several nodded in agreement—those who had seen the Blood Demon at the previous Blood Sect summit.

Sunwoo Jin continued, “Cheongyeon Sojeo probably suspected the Blood Demon and the mad demons would attack Geomseong. I agree with that assessment. But the problem is, during that attack, the Blood Demon pulled away an important asset—Gu Yuumma Jigi-eum—to abduct Cheongyeon Sojeo.”

Bisa Young, listening intently, asked, “Was it to threaten Geomseong?”

Sunwoo Jin shook his head.

“I think Cheongyeon Sojeo believed that too. That’s why she tried to stall without being subdued, so she couldn’t be used until Geomseong’s fight was over. But from Jigi-eum’s perspective, that was unacceptable. If it was just a threat, he would have taken her away quickly. But he didn’t.”

“…So?”

“I think there was another reason. A reason important enough to send away a key asset like Gu Yuumma Jigi-eum before the battle with Geomseong.”

What Sunwoo Jin was implying was that they wouldn’t have gone to the trouble of abducting Haechungyeon only to kill her easily.

At that, Seolpung’s eyes gleamed like a beast’s as he muttered, “Then… there’s a chance Sojeo is still alive. Maybe Sojeo and Brother Sak too…”

Sunwoo Jin nodded. “That’s what I believe.”

With memories of his past life, Sunwoo Jin suspected the reason for her abduction might be connected to the Blood Demon.

A supreme martial artist with a demon’s body—a Blood Demon.

In his past life, the earliest Blood Demons, including the first Blood Demon Witch Jeokuihyeolma, were mostly young warriors.

So perhaps the younger they were, the easier it was to turn them into Blood Demons.

Seolpung rose slowly, radiating the fierce energy of a predator.

“Then there’s no reason to hesitate.”

Now that Naseoyu was lost, Seolpung’s eyes were as dangerous as Sunwoo Jin remembered from his past life.

He seemed ready to storm the Blood Sect immediately to rescue Naseoyu.

Even though he didn’t know the location, the path, or the countless demons and mad demons—perhaps even the absolute Blood Demon—awaiting there.

It was reckless to say the least.

But Sunwoo Jin didn’t stop him.

Instead, he stood and said, “Let me prepare.”

Sunwoo Jin also planned to infiltrate the Blood Sect.

If his intuition was right and Haechungyeon was taken to be turned into a Blood Demon, he might be able to guess where.

And, as if fate had intervened, a guide was already here to lead them.

He spoke to the man who had come to the Biryong Thirteen while he was away.

“Dakam, can you guide us to Aenoe Mountain?”

It was Dakam—the young Miao tribesman who had once lived with the elder Seok Gyeongdal in Dokrim, caring for his younger siblings.