Chapter 55: An Unexpected Visitor (4)
The Ultimate Good Sect was a branch sect of the Kunlun Sect, established in Eastern Sea City. It represented the secular family line of Kunlun.
The Sect Leader of Ultimate Good, Kang Cheon-yong, was once the foremost disciple of the Kunlun Sect and a master-level expert known by the title “Great Saint Sword”.
With over two hundred disciples under its name, even without the affiliation to the secular branch, the Ultimate Good Sect could still be considered the most powerful sect in Eastern Sea City, boasting formidable influence.
However, at present, the circumstances surrounding the Ultimate Good Sect were far from favorable.
Just like with the Nine Moons Blade Hall, under the direct lead of Cheong Museong, the youngest disciple of the Evil Overlords of Heaven, the unorthodox factions in Eastern Sea City were aggressively merging and acquiring businesses in the area without discrimination.
The Ultimate Good Sect was no exception.
“Sect Leader, at this rate, we’ll have no choice but to leave Eastern Sea City.”
“Ugh!”
The Ultimate Good Sect Leader rubbed his forehead.
“Their financial power is beyond anything we imagined, Sect Leader.”
The Sect Leader of Righteous Path Sect, another secular Kunlun-affiliated sect, sighed in frustration.
“They’ve already poured over two million nyang into this remote city. I just can’t understand what they’re trying to achieve here…”
Large-scale establishments like pleasure houses and battlefield inns were still holding out, but the smaller shops had no choice but to give in.
When someone offers twice the market value for your business, who could possibly say no?
The Ultimate Good Sect Leader turned to the other sect leaders and asked,
“How many businesses are still holding out?”
“You can assume most of the small ones are already gone. At this pace, Eastern Sea City will fall entirely into the hands of the Evil Overlords of Heaven within a month.”
“Even asking the main sect for help is futile. They’re operating purely on financial terms.”
Bad news continued to pour in, driving the Ultimate Good Sect Leader to the brink of madness.
“Argh! Just what in the world are they doing this for?!”
An enormous amount of money was circulating, but there seemed to be no clear purpose behind it.
Bang Manhu of the Nine Moons Blade Hall had scoffed that the Orthodox faction could just relocate, but they had their own reasons for concern.
It would be fine if they could resettle elsewhere with that money, but the real problem was that they were part of Kunlun’s secular line.
Eastern Sea City was practically Kunlun’s backyard—losing it would effectively isolate Kunlun from the rest of the world.
One of the sect leaders carefully opened his mouth.
“Couldn’t this be about a succession dispute?”
“Succession?”
“Isn’t the personality of Demonic Emperor Lord, Geum Jeoksan, widely known? He’s known for suppressing the other disciples with brute force.”
As soon as that name was mentioned, the other sect leaders’ thoughts aligned at once.
“So you’re saying this is a plan to use the youngest disciple to turn this place into a forward base against Demonic Emperor Lord?”
“Isn’t that the only plausible explanation? With the money they’ve spent here, they’d be better off starting something in the Central Plains a hundred times over.”
“Hmm!”
That made sense.
Unless there was some hidden purpose, throwing gold around Eastern Sea City while antagonizing the Kunlun Sect was the act of a madman.
“What about the Beggars’ Sect? What did they say?”
“They’ve said nothing so far. With just a local branch, there’s a limit to the intel they can gather.”
“And we can’t exactly commission the Hao Sect either…”
As the sect leaders remained paralyzed by indecision, trapped in a deadlock—
“S-Sect Leader, there’s trouble!”
A disciple of the Ultimate Good Sect burst into the room, barging in without so much as a knock.
“You insolent brat! What kind of rude behavior is this?!”
Things were already chaotic, and now a disciple was acting without even basic manners!
Just as the Ultimate Good Sect Leader was about to explode in anger—
The words that spilled from the disciple’s mouth froze his mind.
“Th-The Demonic Cult has appeared!”
“What?!”
“W-Where exactly?!”
The disciple shouted toward the panicking sect leaders.
“It’s the Demonic Cult! A man claiming to be the Young Master of the Demonic Heaven’s Jin Clan has arrived—along with the Lord of the Nine Moons Blade Hall!”
“Th-The Demonic Heaven’s Jin Clan?!”
The sudden mention of a name none had dared to imagine sent the Ultimate Good Sect Leader reeling.
The Demonic Heaven’s Jin Clan was one of the six great pillars upholding the Demonic Cult.
A single force that rivaled an entire orthodox sect—wasn’t it the strongest clan within the Demonic Cult?
“Wh-What could possibly bring them here?”
If it truly was the Young Master of that clan, then it was as if the heir himself had come in person!
“S-Should we drive them away immediately—?”
“Have you lost your mind?!”
The Ultimate Good Sect Leader shouted in horror at the disciple’s reckless suggestion.
There were Demonic Cultists, and then there were those Demonic Cultists.
With the power of the Demonic Heaven’s Jin Clan, they could wipe this small city off the map in a single day.
Even the Evil Overlords of Heaven could barely hold their own against the Six Great Demonic Clans!
If they rashly tried to drive him out, who knew how many more Demonic Cultists might swarm Eastern Sea City like clouds?
“I-I’ll go out at once. Bring our guests inside!”
“Y-Yes, sir!”
The surrounding disciples rushed out in a panic.
The other sect leaders, still seated, muttered with disbelief, as if the whole thing had been a dream.
“H-Hah! Wh-What kind of nonsense thunderbolt is this…?”
***
‘Sounds noisy inside.’
I strode forward into the Ultimate Good Sect, leading Bang Manhu and the others.
As expected, the moment I invoked the name of the Demonic Heaven’s Jin Clan, the gatekeepers turned pale and ran off to fetch the Sect Leader.
And before long, the Ultimate Good Sect Leader Kang Cheon-yong and other Kunlun-affiliated sect heads came rushing out in a frenzy.
“Oh, looks like everyone’s here.”
Good. That saved me the trouble of gathering them all in one place.
“I-I am Kang Cheon-yong, Sect Leader of the Ultimate Good Sect.”
I respectfully cupped my fists and bowed.
“It’s an honor to meet the famed Great Saint Sword of Qinghai. I am Jin Yeomyung, Young Master of the Demonic Heaven’s Jin Clan.”
“Th-The Young Master!”
The Ultimate Good Sect Leader subtly turned to glance at Bang Manhu, who stood behind me.
Nod.
Bang Manhu gave a slight nod, confirming my identity.
No matter the divide between the Orthodox and Demonic factions, the credibility of the Nine Moons Blade Hall, which had done business on this land for centuries, was not something to be taken lightly.
“Wh-What brings the Young Master to a place like this? No, wait, that’s not right.”
It wasn’t proper to question a guest before offering hospitality.
“P-Please, let’s go inside first.”
“Thank you, Sect Leader. Ah, and also—”
“Y-Yes?!”
The Ultimate Good Sect Leader stared at me, nervous about what I might say next.
I smiled brightly and dropped a bomb right on his head.
“Soon, Demonic Emperor Lord-nim, the First Disciple of the Evil Overlords of Heaven, will be visiting. You should prepare to receive him as well.”
“……”
Both the Ultimate Good Sect Leader and Bang Manhu staggered violently in unison.
***
“I understand that there’s been a lot of concern about what’s been happening recently in Eastern Sea City.”
“Ah, well, yes… that’s true.”
The sect leaders looked baffled.
Just who was worried about whom right now?
“It’s been over ten years since the Orthodox and Demonic factions stopped fighting. In fact, peace has settled across the Central Plains ever since the Evil Overlords of Heaven were established.”
“……”
“But that peace is now on the verge of breaking. We can't let that happen, can we?”
What in the world is this guy going on about?
Many looked at me with that exact expression.
I continued, based on the information I had received from Bang Manhu.
“Lately, I hear that thugs from the Unorthodox factions have been stirring up trouble at the business sites of long-established Orthodox sects.”
“W-Well, that’s true…”
“But the businesses you operate aren’t illegal, are they? They’re perfectly legitimate enterprises recognized even by the government. Meanwhile, those unorthodox scum are running slave markets and raking in money through illicit means.”
“Y-You’re right! Damn those Evil Overlords of Heaven bastards!”
One of the sect leaders slammed the table in anger.
He was one of the biggest victims of the Evil Overlords of Heaven’s aggressive and hostile takeovers.
The Ultimate Good Sect Leader gave him a strange look.
Agreeing with that statement, which ought to have been completely ignored, might shift the entire balance of power if handled poorly.
“Phew…”
The Ultimate Good Sect Leader barely managed to calm himself.
“So, Young Master of the Demonic Heaven’s Jin Clan, is this why you’ve come to us?”
“Of course. Lord Bang Manhu of the Nine Moons Blade Hall is a steadfast friend of our Heavenly Demon Cult. If his Hall is in danger, it’s only natural that our Cult would step in to help.”
“…Really?”
Bang Manhu tilted his head slightly and muttered in a low voice.
“……!”
In contrast, the expressions of the sect leaders hardened at the mention of the Heavenly Demon Cult getting involved.
Looking at them, I interlaced my fingers on the table.
“But not everything should be resolved through force. If a problem can be solved through compromise, shouldn’t we pursue that path?”
“What do you want from us, Young Master?”
If the Heavenly Demon Cult joined the fray on top of the Evil Overlords of Heaven, the situation would spiral out of control.
The entire Eastern Sea City could turn into a war zone if things went wrong.
I raised three fingers.
“Agreement.”
And then added,
“Justification, and gain.”
I smiled and said to the Ultimate Good Sect Leader,
“This is shaping up to be a narrative where the Heavenly Demon Cult and the Orthodox faction join hands to resist the Evil Overlords of Heaven—”
“That must never come to pass.”
“Right.”
If that narrative took hold, both sides would find themselves in an awkward position.
Unless the Evil Overlords of Heaven were completely eradicated, both the Orthodox sects and I would be politically weakened for joining forces arbitrarily.
“That’s why this situation must never escalate into a clash between factions.”
“How is that possible? There’s already overwhelming evidence that those Evil Overlords of Heaven bastards are involved!”
The moment they directly responded, it would turn into a war between powers. Wasn’t that the very problem they were struggling with?
But I shook my head.
“If two factions join hands, it's called an alliance. But if three do, it's called a compromise.”
“Three factions?”
“I mentioned this before I came in, didn’t I? That one more person would be arriving at this meeting.”
As if it had all been perfectly timed, a deep, resonant voice of a middle-aged man rang out from outside.
“Seems I’m a bit late.”
“……!!”
With that voice came an overwhelming presence.
A transcendent being, beyond even Master Level, someone who had reached the realm of Supreme Master, had entered my qi-sense.
“Looks like the guest I invited has arrived.”
Demonic Emperor Lord, Geum Jeoksan.
The First Disciple of the Evil Overlords of Heaven, cloaked in a yellow long robe, suddenly made his appearance in the heart of the Orthodox faction’s domain.
***
Demonic Emperor Lord Geum Jeoksan.
Now in his mid-forties, he was a middle-aged man with a neatly groomed beard that gave off a refined impression.
At a glance, one would never think he belonged to the Unorthodox factions. But he was, in fact, the First Disciple of the King of Ten Thousand Evils, and practically acknowledged as the next Sect Leader of the Evil Overlords of Heaven.
There were countless men and women who had lost everything by being deceived by his gentle exterior.
“That… that really is Demonic Emperor Lord.”
“Why would such a big figure be here…?”
Even with prior notice, the sudden appearance of someone who should be commanding the heart of the Evil Overlords of Heaven with a mere finger stunned the Orthodox sect leaders like a bolt of lightning.
Demonic Emperor Lord Geum Jeoksan entered casually and took a seat.
“I rushed over as soon as I got the invitation, but I didn’t expect the venue to be within the Orthodox faction’s territory.”
“It’s an honor to meet you, Demonic Emperor Lord. I am Jin Yeomyung of the Demonic Heaven’s Jin Clan.”
“I’ve heard of the reputation of the new Demonic Dragon. A pleasure to meet you.”
‘New Demonic Dragon, huh.’
So the Evil Overlords of Heaven’s intel-gathering abilities were impressive after all.
Word had started to spread after I defeated Ma Chulsoo, but it was still vague and unconfirmed.
For him to mention ‘Demonic Dragon’ now meant he had already grasped the context behind it quite clearly.
‘Even if he doesn’t know everything, he’s clearly aware of my true identity and position within the clan.’
In other words, his decision to come here meant he knew I wasn’t just some degenerate from the Demonic Heaven’s Jin Clan.
“W-Wait a minute. Just when did you make contact with the Evil Overlords of Heaven?!”
Bang Manhu pressed me, clearly unable to understand this part.
“A few days ago, when I sent two instructors to Everlasting Decree Fortress to buy horses.”
“W-What?! You mean then?!”
“One of them listens to me quite well.”
And when they returned, they gave me an earful.
After all, I’d basically sent them off for a neighborhood errand and secretly ordered them to make contact with the Demonic Emperor Lord.
If I hadn’t told them the ‘method,’ Jang Deuk-soo would’ve just come back with horses and thrown manure in my face.
“I was quite surprised myself. I thought only five people, including myself and my master, knew that method. How could the Young Master of the faraway Heavenly Demon Cult know it?”
“…?”
None of the people around understood what Geum Jeoksan was referring to.
Only he and I knew the meaning behind those words.
I shrugged my shoulders.
“Let’s just say I have my own connections.”
Well, it wasn’t a connection so much as knowledge from my previous life, but there was no way I could say that outright.