Chapter 9
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“Yes, that’s correct. I am Wi Yeon-cheon.”
The Alliance Leader laughed heartily, patting Wi Yeon-cheon on the back.
Each time the Leader’s hand touched him, Wi Yeon-cheon felt his breath catch.
“I’ve heard so much about you from Jin-gyeol’s mouth, and now I finally get to see you.”
“When did I ever say that much?”
“Look at this man—I even remember your son’s exact age when he mastered the The Profound and Subtle Sword Technique.”
Wi Jin-gyeol gave an awkward smile at the Alliance Leader’s words.
Wi Yeon-cheon looked between the two of them, feeling even more awkward than his father’s smile.
“So, are you fully recovered?”
“Yes, thanks to the Divine Healer that you sent.”
In response to Wi Yeon-cheon’s polite words, the Alliance Leader chuckled and waved his hand modestly.
“I’m not someone who can call the Divine Healer here and there at will. I merely sent him a personal letter.”
But Wi Yeon-cheon barely absorbed the Leader’s words.
Just observing the aura that emanated from the Alliance Leader was overwhelming.
“Jin-gyeol, please come in.”
With the Leader’s welcoming invitation, they entered his office, where they were seated and served tea.
Steam wafted from the tea, as if the Alliance Leader had anticipated exactly when Wi Yeon-cheon and Wi Jin-gyeol would arrive.
‘How far can he sense qi from?’
Wi Yeon-cheon found it impossible to gauge the martial prowess of the Martial Alliance Leader.
This was the kind of man who had once eradicated the Demon Sect from the world—a power so immense it felt like the heavens themselves.
“A Blood Blade Demon has reappeared?”
The Alliance Leader double-checked the personal letter Wi Jin-gyeol had sent.
As he read through it, his expression turned fierce in an instant, filled with a Killing Intent that seemed ready to cut down any remaining Demon Sect followers.
The mere intensity of his gaze would have brought reassurance to any martial artist.
“Yes, one of the assassins who infiltrated the clan referred to himself as Blood Blade Demon.”
“So, you didn’t hear it directly, then?”
The Martial Alliance Leader turned his gaze to Wi Yeon-cheon, a hint of a smile on his lips.
“Yeon-cheon, is it true that you took care of the Blood Blade Demon?”
Wi Jin-gyeol was slightly surprised by the Leader’s confident assumption.
“How did you know?”
“Your son is no ordinary prodigy. He’s at the Age of Fifteen, yet his aura is impressive.”
Isn’t it said that nothing brings greater joy than seeing one’s child recognized?
A small smile appeared on Wi Jin-gyeol’s face at the Leader’s words.
“Let me ask again. Did you kill the Blood Blade Demon?”
With a gentle smile, the Leader asked, and Wi Yeon-cheon nodded in response.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
The Alliance Leader nodded as if he’d expected this answer.
“Well then, could you tell me everything you saw and heard?”
“Of course.”
Wi Yeon-cheon proceeded to recount everything he had seen and heard regarding the Blood Blade Demon to the Martial Alliance Leader.
After listening to Wi Yeon-cheon’s account, the Leader was silent for a moment before he finally spoke.
“It seems that this Blood Blade Demon is inherently different from the one we knew.”
“We believe that the Blood Blade Demon who infiltrated our clan is simply an impersonator,” Wi Jin-gyeol added.
The Alliance Leader closed his eyes for a moment, shaking his head gently.
“It’s unlikely to be a mere impersonation. There must be someone who granted him the title of Blood Blade Demon.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“The title ‘Blood Blade Demon’ is used only within the Demon Sect and the Alliance, isn’t it?”
Wi Jin-gyeol’s eyes widened as though he had suddenly remembered something he had long forgotten.
“It seems you forgot.”
“It’s shameful, indeed.”
“No, it’s better not to dwell on such matters. Forgetting about it after stepping down as Chief Military Officer may have been a wise choice.”
At Wi Jin-gyeol’s words, the Alliance Leader offered a brief word of comfort.
“When we declared him an enemy to the world, we gave him the title ‘Blood fiend.’ But he called himself ‘Blood Blade Demon,’ which suggests he has someone supporting him.”
“Yet, perhaps he was already familiar with the title Blood Blade Demon from before?”
“If that were the case, he wouldn’t dare to impersonate the Blood Blade Demon openly in this world.”
The Alliance Leader’s tone was absolute, as if he would never permit anything related to the Demon Sect while he remained the leader.
The Yin-Yang Divine Art, too, was indeed a remnant of the Demon Sect.
Wi Yeon-cheon imagined what might happen if the Alliance Leader discovered that he had learned the Yin-Yang Divine Art, a remnant of the Demon Sect.
‘My Dantian feels like it’s aching…’
Just imagining himself being struck by the Leader’s powerful qi made his insides churn.
‘A master of the Alliance Leader’s level can instill tension with words alone.’
The Alliance Leader closed his eyes briefly as if contemplating the Blood Blade Demon Wi Yeon-cheon had described, then slowly reopened them.
“One thing is certain: the Red Blood Flame Technique was indeed practiced by the Demon Sect elder known as the Blood Blade Demon. This could mean that someone is attempting to resurrect him.”
At the Leader’s words, Wi Jin-gyeol nodded, opening his mouth to speak.
“If they’re aiming to bring back the Blood Blade Demon, they might also try to resurrect the other elders: the Black Fist, the Demonic Scholar, and Lord of Burial.”
“Exactly. Someone could be dreaming of rebuilding the Demon Sect.”
A profound silence followed the Leader’s words.
The two men who had devoted themselves to erasing all traces of the Demon Sect from the world felt a whirlwind of thoughts stirring within their minds.
“Jin-gyeol, if someone is truly plotting to revive the Demon Sect, you have no obligation to be involved in this matter.”
At the Leader’s words, Wi Jin-gyeol looked deeply into his eyes without speaking.
“You are no longer the Chief Military Officer of the Martial Alliance. You’re merely the head of the Wi Clan. Focus on protecting your clan. That is my advice to you as the Alliance Leader.”
After a long silence, Wi Jin-gyeol finally spoke.
“This matter began with the Wi Clan. As the head of my clan, how can I not be involved in something that began within my family?”
The Alliance Leader was well aware of Wi Jin-gyeol’s determination to eradicate the Demon Sect, matching his own resolve.
For that reason, he knew it would not be easy to deter Wi Jin-gyeol’s resolve.
“Jin-gyeol, you know what this decision entails.”
“Of course.”
With Wi Jin-gyeol’s firm response, the Alliance Leader let out a deep sigh.
“Summon Military Officer Jegal and the Direct Division Leader.”
“Yes, Alliance Leader.”
From outside, an Alliance member’s response was heard.
No sooner had the response finished than the aura of the Alliance member quickly disappeared.
It wasn’t long before Jegal Hyeon-song and the Direct Division Leader arrived.
“We greet the Alliance Leader.”
“Military Officer Jegal, investigate whether the name ‘Blood Blade Demon’ is circulating among the public.”
“Yes, Alliance Leader.”
Upon receiving the order, Jegal Hyeon-song immediately exited the office.
“Cheon So-baek, verify if there has been an increase in missing persons reported at the authorities.”
“I shall carry out the order, Alliance Leader.”
The Direct Division Leader, Cheon So-baek, vanished in an instant, leaving only his qi behind.
As Wi Yeon-cheon observed Cheon So-baek’s movement in silence, thinking he might have something to learn, the Alliance Leader addressed him.
“You aren’t asking the questions that others would be curious about.”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you know the phrase ‘Guanmu Non-Intervention Pact’?”
“Of course.”
“Yet I told the Direct Division Leader to go to the authorities. Doesn’t that seem strange to you?”
Wi Yeon-cheon had been too engrossed in observing the aura and movement techniques of the Direct Division Leader to think deeply about it, but hearing it from the Alliance Leader made him realize it indeed was odd.
“Judging by your expression, it seems you’re curious now.”
To the Alliance Leader, the son of his old comrade was admirable no matter what he did.
“The Guanmu Non-Intervention Pact is a treaty established long ago between the royal family and the martial world. However, at some point, limited information sharing between the authorities and the Alliance has come to be allowed.”
“If it’s just a matter of information, couldn’t we ask the Beggars’ Sect or Hao Gate?”
The Alliance Leader shook his head at Wi Yeon-cheon’s question and responded.
“The Demon Sect has harmed even commoners greatly. Especially the Demonic Scholar and Lord of Burial, those two don’t even see commoners as human.”
From the conversation between his father and the Alliance Leader, Wi Yeon-cheon inferred that the Demonic Scholar and Lord of Burial were remnants of the Demon Sect as well.
“If there are people in Zhongyuan who don’t regard commoners as human, the authorities would be the first to notice signs of it.”
“Why is that?”
“Because they collect the head tax.”
According to the Alliance Leader, by collecting the head tax, the authorities could precisely measure the population of commoners.
“Didn’t Father ever tell you about this?”
“No, this is the first I’m hearing of it.”
At Wi Yeon-cheon’s response, the Alliance Leader turned his gaze to Wi Jin-gyeol.
“Haha… I simply never found the time.”
The Alliance Leader nodded lightly, accepting this explanation.
“Jin-gyeol, as you know, it takes the authorities around seven days and nights to locate and compile information.”
“I’m aware.”
“Then, are you willing to wait here in the Alliance for them?”
“Yes.”
With Wi Jin-gyeol’s unwavering answer, the Alliance Leader shook his head in a gesture of acceptance.
“Well, then you might as well make the wait more enjoyable by watching the Martial Arts Tournament.”
“Are you referring to the Azure Dragon Tournament?”
“Yes.”
At the mention of the Azure Dragon Tournament, Wi Jin-gyeol seemed momentarily lost in nostalgia.
“As the former Chief Military Officer, it would be good for you to observe the morale of the warriors.”
“It would certainly boost my morale as well.”
“That is not my intention.”
* * *
After leaving the Hall of the Alliance Leader and being shown to the guest room, Wi Yeon-cheon asked his father a question.
“Father, could you tell me more about the remnants of the Demon Sect?”
Wi Jin-gyeol was visibly taken aback by his son’s request.
“Why do you ask?”
“The Blood Blade Demon I encountered was just a black-clad assassin. Yet, everyone from the elders of the clan to the Alliance Leader himself responded with such severity.”
His son’s curiosity was perhaps natural.
However, Wi Jin-gyeol hesitated to explain the Demon Sect to his son.
At the same time, Wi Yeon-cheon felt it would be as though he was merely listening to explanations without understanding who it was he had killed.
Realizing this, Wi Jin-gyeol organized his thoughts and spoke.
“The once-powerful Demon Sect began to split after its final leader’s death.”
Wi Jin-gyeol began to recount what he knew about the Demon Sect.
After the death of their last leader, the Demon Sect began to fragment.
The elders of the Demon Sect formed a council to continue its legacy.
However, without a clear leader, divisions deepened within the sect, leading to civil war.
The victors of this internal struggle were the elders known as the Blood Blade Demon, Demonic Scholar, Black Fist, and Lord of Burial.
But rather than rebuild the sect, they each scattered across Zhongyuan.
As time passed, these elders began to establish their own doctrines.
The elders and their followers committed numerous atrocities, each in pursuit of different evils, causing chaos across the martial world.
It was as though they were in competition to kill the most martial artists and commoners.
The Martial Alliance, unable to ignore this any longer, seized the opportunity to eradicate the Demon Sect’s influence.
The ensuing war between the Martial Alliance and the elders of the Demon Sect lasted over a decade, ultimately ending in the Alliance’s victory.
“In short, the Blood Blade Demon is one of the last remaining elders of the Demon Sect.”
Wi Yeon-cheon pondered over his father’s words.
Noticing his father’s expression darken as he remembered his battles with the remnants of the Demon Sect, Wi Yeon-cheon decided to change the topic.
“Then, could you tell me about the Azure Dragon Tournament instead?”
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