Chapter 61: Second Order, Han Muyeon (1)
Everlasting Decree Fortress, Main Base of the Evil Overlords of Heaven.
The pavilion on the seventeenth floor, the highest level within the Evil Overlords of Heaven.
That uppermost floor of the pavilion was prepared solely for one individual.
A privilege reserved for someone who had the right to overlook the entire fortress from a height greater even than the governor of Everlasting Decree himself.
It was a special right granted only to the King of Ten Thousand Evils, Gu Yomyeong, one of the Five Kings of the Central Plains.
Seventeenth floor of the Perished Spirits Hall , Gu Yomyeong’s office, where all matters of the Evil Overlords of Heaven were decided.
Gu Hwanggun, his top disciple, stood at its entrance, his heart trembling.
“Master, it is your disciple.”
A moment of silence followed before a voice responded.
“Come in.”
Gu Jeoksan carefully opened the door.
Beyond the window of the grand hall, he saw the back of his master, gazing out at the scenery of Everlasting Decree.
“Do you have something to say to me?”
“I have come to offer my apology, Master.”
Gu Jeoksan slowly knelt and bowed his head low.
Yet, Gu Yomyeong showed no particular reaction.
“What are you apologizing for?”
“It is regarding the youngest disciple.”
“Because you interfered with what the youngest was doing in Eastern Sea Fortress? Even going so far as to join hands with both the orthodox and the demonic factions?”
Flinch!
No matter how skilled Gu Jeoksan was, he could not escape his master’s notice within the Evil Overlords of Heaven’s territory.
Even if Gu Yomyeong pretended not to know, he was always aware of everything.
“That is not the reason.”
“If not that, then what is it?”
Gu Yomyeong slowly turned his figure to fix his gaze on his top disciple.
“I have come to atone for the disloyalty of attempting to expel the youngest.”
Even as his disciple confessed outright that he intended to kill another of his disciples, Gu Yomyeong’s expression did not waver.
“What wicked deed did the youngest commit against you?”
“Master…”
Was he pretending not to know? Or did he truly not know?
“You are aware of it, aren’t you? The youngest has crossed the line.”
Even then, Gu Yomyeong did not react.
“Despite being granted the honor of existing beneath the sky of the Evil Overlords of Heaven, that one dared to join hands with an unknown external force and plot against our very organization. No, perhaps…”
Gu Jeoksan clenched his teeth.
“It is possible that the youngest’s very existence is that of a spy planted by another external force.”
“External force, you say.”
Gu Yomyeong slowly approached Gu Jeoksan.
“Are you certain that it wasn’t your own pressure on your juniors that drove the child to such an extreme choice?”
“Even if that were so, lack of ability can never justify betrayal.”
This wasn’t the orthodox faction. This was the unorthodox world, where power decided everything.
And yet, separate from that, Gu Jeoksan felt a tremendous sense of crisis in the current situation.
“Master, even with my abilities, I was unable to grasp the true nature of the forces behind the youngest. It was like digging into a bottomless abyss.”
“…”
“I believe it would be better to sacrifice Eastern Sea Fortress and draw out at least part of the enemy's true identity.”
And in the process, dispose of the youngest as well.
“Hoo!”
Suddenly, a long sigh escaped from Gu Yomyeong.
“M-Master?”
Gu Jeoksan was confused, unsure what that reaction meant.
“The youngest… was the child of a comrade who entrusted him to me back when I was in the Castle of the Demonic Way.”
It was an event from more than thirty years ago.
“He supported me, knowing I aimed to take the seat of Castle Lord. Even when I ultimately failed and left the castle, he never betrayed me and stayed by my side to the end.”
“You mean Uncle Cheongwoo?”
The Blood Sword Ghost Cheongwoo. A native of the Castle of the Demonic Way and one of the founding pillars of the Evil Overlords of Heaven.
“Yes. After we founded the Evil Overlords, years passed. One day, Cheongwoo mentioned he had blood kin in Namchang before he passed. That child was the youngest.”
“To be honest, I was a little surprised. When did he even manage to father a child in Namchang…?”
If the child had been older, it might have been understandable. But what Cheongwoo had left behind was a mere newborn baby.
For more than ten years, Cheongwoo had been working around Qinghai, laying the foundation for the Evil Overlords. When and how did he manage to father a child in Namchang?
Regardless of the truth, they had brought Cheong Museong in based solely on Cheongwoo’s words as a founding contributor.
“Yes, I did have some doubts.”
“Doubts?”
“First of all, the source of the youngest’s funds comes from the Baekga Merchant Group, one of the Five Great Trading Companies.”
“Th-The Baekga Trading Company!”
The leader of the Five Great Trading Company of the Central Plains—practically the most powerful trading guild in the world.
“And they were the ones who provided funds when I founded the Evil Overlords of Heaven. Without asking for much in return, they supplied money as if from an endless well.”
No matter how talented the King of Ten Thousand Evils was, even if he established a base in the remote Qinghai, nothing could be done without money.
It was thanks to their support that the Evil Overlords rose to dominate Qinghai in such a short time.
“And the one who brought in those funds was none other than Cheongwoo.”
“…!”
“Now that I think about it… not only Cheongwoo, but other comrades from the Castle of the Demonic Way also kept pushing me to build a new organization.”
“W-Wait, Master…”
“Every time I hit a wall, they came up with perfect solutions from somewhere. Looking back now, it’s laughable.”
Gu Jeoksan’s face turned pale. He couldn’t handle what his master was suggesting.
Gu Yomyeong’s calm gaze pierced through Gu Jeoksan.
“I am old. I no longer have the drive I once had, nor the ambition to make the Evil Overlords the greatest in the world.”
“So the rest is up to you.”
“If you’re going to do it, do it thoroughly. Don’t let some stranger take hold of the Evil Overlords I spent my life building.”
As his master’s words continued, Gu Jeoksan clenched his fists tightly.
“I will, without fail.”
“I will give you the Yaksha Heavenly Blade Unit. Now go, and do as you will.”
“Thank you!”
Gu Jeoksan cried out with overwhelming emotion.
The Yaksha Heavenly Blade Unit—symbol of the Evil Overlords and the personal guard of the King of Ten Thousand Evils—was their most elite combat force.
They were unmatched even when compared to the Golden Dragon Heavenly Sword Squad of the Murim Alliance—the fiercest beasts of the orthodox world!
With their strength, he would surely accomplish his goal, no matter who the opponent was!
***
“With this, the unorthodox factions within the fortress have mostly been taken care of.”
“As expected, swift work. Well done.”
As hundreds of martial artists scoured the city, most of the unorthodox factions were swept away without even being able to resist.
“All unfair contracts have been terminated, and we've submitted petitions for mediation to the authorities. Most of the businesses previously run by the Black Tiger Faction have also been seized.”
“Well, let’s proceed with the distribution as previously agreed.”
At my words, the expressions on the clan leaders’ faces brightened.
They had worried that after doing all the hard work, the Nine Moons Blade Hall would snatch up all the rewards for themselves.
Above all, they seemed to have started figuring out where I had come from.
“I’d like to ask one favor of you all.”
“Please speak, Young Master.”
“A large-scale disturbance may break out soon within the city.”
Gulp.
The expressions of the clan leaders grew grim.
“Whatever happens, do not—absolutely do not—interfere. When the time comes, consider seal your doors and refrain from outside activity. I’ve brought you this much profit, so I trust you can at least do that much in return?”
“O-Of course. We shall comply.”
They had their own instincts, and it seemed they’d sensed who was about to clash with whom.
Even without my warning, they knew getting involved would bring them nothing good.
“And one more thing.”
“A-Another?”
“Separate from what I asked, please continue the current purging operations against the unorthodox factions for the next week.”
“Hm?”
“Even if no enemies remain, surely you can still kick up some commotion here and there?”
We’d only wiped out the big players. There were still plenty of parasites clinging to the corners.
“That’s a simple enough task, but why bother?”
I gently brought my index finger to my lips and smiled.
“Because it’s easier to lure out the bugs when it’s noisy outside.”
***
“How dare a Third Order give orders to his superior?”
Second Order Han Muyeon’s gaze shimmered with quiet rage.
“Young Master Han, that may be, but it is also true that now is the best opportunity.”
The shadowy figure standing before him, Myeong-oh, who had delivered the letter, replied calmly.
“And please refer to him as Fourth Lord, not Second Order. We’re not within the Thousand-Day Pass.”
“…I know.”
Seeing Han Muyeon biting back his anger, Myeong-oh clicked his tongue inwardly.
‘As I thought, whether it’s the Second or Third Order… none of them can replace the First Order.’
From the beginning, the rightful successor to the Ten Heavenly Corps was the First Order.
The others were merely given positions to appear as if they were offered a chance.
‘Talented, sure. But the moment they’re pressured, their true nature is revealed.’
The same was true for the Third Order, who often mocked the Second.
They had performed well so far, but when an unexpected variable was thrown in, they failed to adapt properly.
“Summon the Four Children of the Underworld King. We proceed tonight.”
The Four Children of the Underworld King were the top-class assassins of the Underworld King's Division, led by Myeong-oh.
“We must achieve results before the Eighth Lord arrives at Eastern Sea Fortress.”
Han Muyeon still wasn’t aware of the Tomb of the Nine Heavens Maiden operation being carried out by Third Order Cheong Museong, which made him more impatient.
“Hoo, I hope it succeeds.”
Myeong-oh sincerely hoped the assassination would go well.
And yet, he couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling gnawing at the corner of his heart.
Someone of the Eighth Lord’s caliber wouldn’t suddenly abandon the Ten Thousand Great Mountains without reason.
After all, his position in the cult’s main sect was none other than Elder.
If things were moving so rapidly here, it meant something had gone wrong at the main base.
‘Just what is happening back at the main sect?’
Communication with the main sect had been cut off, and Myeong-oh was growing anxious.
‘We should’ve waited for a better opportunity to strike more decisively. If we’re not careful, we might end up swinging at grass and alerting the snakes.’
But with Han Muyeon pressing forward, Myeong-oh had no choice but to comply.
In rank, Han Muyeon was still above him.
***
That night.
Baek Sang-ah was suddenly summoned by Instructor Jeok Ryeong of the Thousand-Day Pass.
Jeok Ryeong wasn’t a combat instructor but was instead a liaison officer—the only female instructor stationed at the pass.
“Instructor? You called for me, so I came. Is something the matter?”
“Ah, it’s nothing serious. Just take a seat first.”
Sea and Moon Teahouse, where all the guests had already cleared out, was now so dark you could barely find a trace of light.
When Baek Sang-ah saw the bottle placed on the table in front of Jeok Ryeong, her eyes widened.
“Alcohol?”
“That’s right. The tea house is fine and all, but I couldn’t find any decent liquor around here.”
A sweet scent of alcohol wafted from her. She had clearly already had a fair amount.
That made Baek Sang-ah relax just a little.
“Have a drink. It’s not something you can find easily around here.”
“Ah, thank you.”
Though she wasn’t yet of age, Baek Sang-ah was already known in her clan for her drinking.
She had begun drinking at fifteen and was once caught sneaking sips from a bottle meant for her grandfather, the leader of the Murim Alliance.
And in the harsh environment of the Thousand-Day Pass, she rarely had the chance to drink. So her desire for alcohol had only grown.
‘Huh? This…’
She took a small sip of the drink poured by Jeok Ryeong and tilted her head slightly.
‘This flavor is familiar…’
“It’s good, right? Have more.”
Jeok Ryeong kept refilling her cup.
After a few sips, Baek Sang-ah finally recognized the taste.
It was light but sweet, with a distinct floral aroma—she knew it!
“One of Namchang’s specialties—Namhwa Liquor. It’s brewed directly by the Namcheon Baek Clan.”
“…!”
“Well, you’d know it best, being from the Namcheon Baek Clan yourself.”
At some point, Jeok Ryeong’s tone and expression had completely changed.
Realizing it, Baek Sang-ah instantly understood—she’d walked into a trap.
“Ugh!”
She jumped up, trying to draw her sword on Jeok Ryeong.
But—stumble!
Her body wouldn’t move properly, and her internal energy quickly began to scatter.
‘P-Poisoned?!’
Only a few minutes had passed—how could this be happening already!?
There had to be several different restraint poisons mixed in!
Because Jeok Ryeong had been sipping it herself, Baek Sang-ah had let her guard down—and now she’d been hit from behind.
“Baek Sang-ah of the Southern Sword Flower.”
Jeok Ryeong—or rather, Myeong-oh—continued sipping as she spoke.
“If you hand over the Jade Green Heavenly Net Divine Sword, I’ll spare your life.”
Baek Sang-ah shook her head furiously, fighting the growing haze in her mind.
“You really think I’d accept that?”
“Well, no. I didn’t expect you to agree in the first place.”
Shffft.
As Myeong-oh raised her hand slightly, four masked figures appeared around Baek Sang-ah in an instant.
With a cold voice, Myeong-oh commanded:
“Kill her.”