Chapter 308
Wi Jeong-guk suddenly asked, as if a thought had just struck him.
“How are things going with training the new Liuhe Swordmasters?”
Ja Gwang-jin answered, a bit uncertainly.
“Well… for the Pasan squads, we’ve already selected members from five groups and administered the binding ritual. They’re all fiercely loyal to the main sect, with almost no family ties or connections, so things should proceed smoothly. But as for the Pacheon squads, it’s been tough. Since we need people who have reached the absolute pinnacle of mastery and also meet those strict conditions, finding suitable candidates has become quite difficult…”
Hearing this, Wi Jeong-guk clenched his teeth tightly.
He knew exactly what Ja Gwang-jin meant.
It was never going to be easy to find supreme masters worthy of becoming “real spouses” through the ritual.
Even when they first formed the three Pacheon squads, it had been a monumental struggle.
They had to carefully select naïve, pure-hearted masters who had only trained in the mountains—those unlikely to cause trouble—and then deceive and coax them into the binding.
And now, to lose all three Pacheon squads at once, after such painstaking effort…
The mere thought made his teeth grind in frustration.
He felt a surge of rage, recalling how easily they had allowed the former Outer Sect Leader, Jwa Ga-gyun, to be killed.
Of course, Wi Jeong-guk himself had made that decision.
But he hadn’t given it a second thought until now.
Sensing the murderous aura radiating from Wi Jeong-guk, Ja Gwang-jin cautiously spoke up.
“Still, I believe we can form at least one squad by the end of this month. Please don’t worry too much, Chief Sect Leader.”
That calmed Wi Jeong-guk’s anger slightly.
He asked again.
“What about the Fukon Yongga and Hae-nam factions? Are they still unaware of the Liuhe Swordmasters?”
This time, Ja Gwang-jin answered with more confidence.
“Yes. The Fukon Yongga finished their campaign against the Da-nam Dao and wiped out the remaining Ma-gyeong remnants. Yet, there’s still no word about the Liuhe Swordmasters, so it’s clear they haven’t grasped the connection between us and the Swordmasters. It seems disguising the Swordmasters we sent to Baekwoonbang was a key factor.”
Baekwoonbang, the puppet faction of the Hyeongsan Sect created to control Gangseo Province, had been utterly destroyed by the sudden assault of the Southern Sea Saintess, Si Seo-woo, and the Fukon Yongga.
The destruction was so thorough that hardly any survivors remained.
Though this was infuriating beyond measure, Wi Jeong-guk’s anger was tempered by a growing sense of suspicion.
They had planned to attack Fukon Yongga but hadn’t yet acted.
How had the enemy known and struck first?
No matter how he thought about it, the only conclusion was that information had leaked somewhere.
That was one reason they had eliminated the former Outer Sect Leader, Jwa Ga-gyeom.
But the problem was, no matter how much they investigated afterward, they couldn’t pinpoint where the leak had occurred.
Wi Jeong-guk asked again.
“What about Gangseo Province? Is Fukon Yongga still keeping watch there?”
“Yes. Their martial artists are still lurking around the ruins of Baekwoonbang, gathering intelligence.”
“Hmm…”
From Hyeongsan Sect’s perspective, Fukon Yongga’s continued presence around Baekwoonbang wasn’t entirely bad.
It meant they hadn’t uncovered any new information.
But it also meant Hyeongsan couldn’t gather detailed intel either.
They had to be cautious, fearing that sending their own agents might expose their connection.
Wi Jeong-guk’s fury flared up again.
Every time he thought about losing the Liuhe Swordmasters and Baekwoonbang, his anger boiled over.
Clenching his teeth once more, he decided to change the subject.
“What about Hae-nam faction?”
“Yes. Yoo Hae-eung, head of the Hae-nam Yoo family, has been elected as the temporary Chief Sect Leader.”
At that, Wi Jeong-guk’s eyes narrowed.
“Temporary?”
“Yes. Since five of the twelve main families of Hae-nam were all ousted at once, the remaining five heads decided it was impossible to elect a permanent leader right now.”
After Jin Tae-do’s death, the Hae-nam faction had undergone many changes.
Not only Jin Tae-do’s own Hae-nam Jin family but also the leadership of the Chuk, Mi, Sul, and Hae families—who had been his underlings and accomplices in many misdeeds—were all forced out.
Though it was necessary to excise the rotten parts, it inevitably weakened their strength.
Wi Jeong-guk scoffed.
“Hmph. They must be in a mess right now.”
“Yes. The Hae-nam family’s merchant guild still seems active, but the main faction probably can’t focus on the mainland at all.”
Ja Gwang-jin’s words made Wi Jeong-guk frown in frustration.
“Hmm. If only the Hapsan faction were still intact, they could have expanded their influence into Gangseo and Guangdong provinces. Damn that Inpa Rang… Is it certain he’s dead?”
“Yes. Since then, there’s been no trace of him. It seems he died alongside Ma-gyeong and Jin Tae-do.”
Just then, an urgent voice came from outside the office.
“Chief Sect Leader! Urgent news!”
Wi Jeong-guk frowned.
An urgent message during the morning briefing was rare.
“Send them in!”
At his command, Jo Mo-hong, the Outer Sect Deputy Leader, entered with a pale face.
His anxious expression only worsened Wi Jeong-guk’s mood.
It reminded him too much of the time they had heard about the deaths of the Liuhe Swordmasters.
Wi Jeong-guk’s sharp gaze pierced him.
“What’s going on?”
“Chief Sect Leader, there seems to be a problem in Akyang!”
“Akyang? What kind of problem?”
Wi Jeong-guk exchanged a glance with Ja Gwang-jin.
Akyang was where Ja Gwang-jin had just reported starting the effort to sway the invincible Liuhe Swordmaster, Cho Ha-gon.
What kind of trouble could have arisen there?
“What kind of problem in Akyang?”
“Well…”
Jo Mo-hong stammered as he began to explain.
As he spoke, Wi Jeong-guk and Ja Gwang-jin’s eyes widened in shock, and they couldn’t help but shout.
“What?!”
I ask the Hyeongsan Sect:
Is this the result of my lack of loyalty, or are you a den of demons hiding behind the mask of righteousness?
If you have any honor, answer this question!
If not, apologize to me and my family!
If you refuse, I will use every means at my disposal, including my life, to expose your evil deeds to the entire martial world! -
This was the declaration of Cho Ha-gon, hero of Akyang and a respected figure among the righteous sects.
Jo Mo-hong had rushed to deliver this declaration to Wi Jeong-guk.
Wi Jeong-guk glared at Ja Gwang-jin, grinding his teeth.
“What? You said Ja-gyeong has gone there, so we can just wait and trust him?”
Under Wi Jeong-guk’s murderous glare, Ja Gwang-jin couldn’t meet his eyes and bowed his head.
Wi Jeong-guk looked at him as if he were a pest, then spat out toward Jo Mo-hong.
“So what? If he’s making a fuss, shouldn’t we send more men to silence him before the rumors spread?”
Jo Mo-hong avoided his gaze and replied.
“Well… the rumors have already spread far and wide…”
Wi Jeong-guk’s eyes twitched.
“What?!”
Jo Mo-hong continued, unable to meet his eyes.
“His declaration has spread throughout Honam Province and even neighboring provinces. For some reason, the Hao-mun factions outside Honam have all been spreading the rumors…”
“What?!”
The Hao-mun factions in Honam had never opposed Hyeongsan Sect and avoided offending them.
They never dealt with information that could harm Hyeongsan.
But now, for some unknown reason, Hao-mun factions in other provinces were all spreading Cho Ha-gon’s declaration and exposing Hyeongsan’s atrocities.
As a result, the rumors were spreading through the martial world faster than even the most advanced cultivation techniques.
Hearing this, Wi Jeong-guk’s face finally paled.
“What the hell are you all doing?! If something like this happens, you shouldn’t be reporting to me—you should be cracking down on the Hao-mun immediately! Wipe out everyone spreading those rumors!”
“Yes, yes! Understood!”
But Wi Jeong-guk’s attempt to suppress the rumors by punishing the Hao-mun was futile.
The Hao-mun branches that spread the information, anticipating Hyeongsan’s retaliation, had all vanished without a trace.
Meanwhile, the rumors they failed to contain were now spreading throughout the entire martial world.
And, as always, misfortune never comes alone.
To make matters worse, something else happened that infuriated Wi Jeong-guk even more.
This time, it was Fukon Yongga.
This truth was revealed with the help of the Southern Sea Saintess Si Seo-woo and the righteous warrior Si.
There is no doubt about it.
Though a righteous sect, Hyeongsan has committed acts as vile as the Blood Cult.
Our Yongga will never tolerate such atrocities! -
Fukon Yongga’s declaration exploded like a bomb across the martial world.
The entire realm was now in uproar.
This revelation was on a completely different level from Cho Hagon’s earlier bold declaration of invincibility.
A sham marriage orchestrated through seduction and spirit-binding techniques?
Wasn’t this precisely the reason why the Blood Sect had become a pariah in the martial world?
Yet, for a righteous sect—especially one of the revered Nine Great Sects like Hyeongsan—to be accused of such vile acts was almost unthinkable.
What made it even more shocking was that the ones exposing this scandal were none other than the epitomes of chivalry themselves: the Fuku Gen Yong family and the Southern Sea Saintess, Si Seowoo.
If Hyeongsan was simply a righteous sect, these two represented the very pinnacle of chivalrous values.
No one could casually dismiss their words as lies.
And so, all eyes across the martial world turned in stunned disbelief toward Hyeongsan.
In response, Hyeongsan hastily issued a statement:
— “Our sect only provided minimal support to Baekwoonbang; we never turned them into a puppet sect. Therefore, we are unaware of any misdeeds they may have committed. If they truly committed such monstrous acts, then our ignorance in supporting them is indeed blameworthy. However! Hyeongsan would never knowingly engage in actions that betray the code of chivalry! This must be a misunderstanding. We are deeply dismayed that the esteemed Fuku Gen Yong family and Southern Sea Saintess Si Seowoo would persecute us without any evidence.”
In short, Hyeongsan claimed they had only lightly supported Baekwoonbang and knew nothing beyond that.
Everything was a misunderstanding, and they, too, were innocent victims.
Their excuse left the public confused, watching the situation unfold with uncertain eyes.
It seemed inevitable that this would spiral into a muddy war of accusations.
But contrary to expectations, the attacks on Hyeongsan did not stop there.
The next bombshell came from Yu Haeung, acting head of the Hae Nam Sect.
— “We have uncovered that Hyeongsan colluded with Jin Taedo, the former head of Hae Nam Sect, to ambush In Gyeun, the former leader of the Hae Nam Jin family, and together they formed the puppet sect called Hapsanpa to seize control of Gwangseo Province.
We have also personally witnessed the sham marriage warriors—the ‘Yuk Hap Sword Masters’—created by Hyeongsan.
Hyeongsan must stop lying and kneel before all martial artists in the world!”
This revelation struck Hyeongsan like a powerful blow to the back of the head.
Thanks to this, the conflict was no longer just between two parties; Hyeongsan’s credibility plummeted to near rock bottom.
And the situation was far from over.
Members of the Ban Hyung Association, who had long been locked in a bitter struggle against Hyeongsan within Honam Province, gathered in Akyang, where Cho Hagon resided, to make their own declaration.
— “During Hyeongsan’s takeover of Honam Province, they committed countless atrocities. Just as the invincible hero Cho was victimized, families were kidnapped, raped, and murdered as a matter of course. Moreover, many sects were utterly annihilated by the sham marriage warriors, the Yuk Hap Sword Masters, created by Hyeongsan. The recent massacre of numerous sects in Jangsa overnight was the work of these sham warriors. All of us in the Ban Hyung Association have witnessed these horrors firsthand and can serve as living proof. Hyeongsan must stop telling lies that no one believes and bow down to pay for their crimes!”
This was the final, decisive blow.
Where once the Ban Hyung Association’s voices might have been dismissed as empty echoes, now, with the entire martial world’s attention fixed on the matter, their testimony became irrefutable evidence revealing who was truly lying.
Since most members of Ban Hyung had lost their own sects to Hyeongsan, there was no reason to doubt their words.
From there, events began to accelerate rapidly.
Within days of the rumors spreading, news arrived that the other eight Great Sects—excluding Hyeongsan—were convening at Shaolin Temple.
No one needed to hear the details to understand why Hyeongsan was being left out.
Hyeongsan’s sect leader, Wi Jeongguk, was furious.
“Ban Hyung Association… those vermin dare to defy us!”
Strictly speaking, he should have been equally enraged at Fuku Gen Yong, the Southern Sea Saintess, and Hae Nam Sect, but unlike those powerful factions, Ban Hyung was a nuisance they had long dismissed as insignificant.
Now, surrounded by enemies on all sides, Wi Jeongguk decided on his first course of action.
“First, we deal with Ban Hyung. Once they’re gone, the public’s attention will fade with time.”
He gave the order.
“Summon all martial artists of supreme and peak levels currently in the north to Akyang! We must eliminate them quietly and thoroughly!”
“Yes, Sect Leader!”
At that moment, the vast power of Hyeongsan, spread throughout Honam Province, began to concentrate in Akyang.