Emperor’s Sword [EN]: Chapter 70

71. The Rise of the Demonic Alliance!

Sichuan Province, with Chengdu at its center, was in a state of emergency. News had spread that the culprit behind the recent strange incidents had infiltrated the Demonic Alliance’s main headquarters, sustained injuries, and fled. Consequently, anyone deemed suspicious was being questioned, and those who refused to comply or attempted to escape were arrested. This led to the capture of several wanted criminals by local authorities, a swift operation that was hard to believe had occurred in just a few hours.

Despite it being midday, the area was dim. It felt damp, and jagged rocks jutted out in bizarre shapes, scattered haphazardly. Among them, insects of unknown species and occasionally grotesque snakes could be seen, and water droplets clung to the ceiling, falling to the ground. In one area, a patch of dry grass was visible, and a young girl lay there.

“Ah… huff, huff…”

A young boy was looking down at her. He was shirtless, his side wrapped tightly in blood-soaked bandages. He looked at the girl with a worried expression.

“Are you okay? Should I go get a doctor?”

“It’s fine. Don’t bother. It’s just a minor wound.”

The girl’s injuries seemed worse than the boy’s. One of her thighs was also wrapped in bandages, but blood was seeping through despite the attempts to stop it. She felt dizzy from the significant blood loss. The boy took something out of his pocket.

“At least eat this. The bleeding is stopped, but the bones are also injured, so the pain must be severe. Fortunately, the nerves aren’t damaged… but it’s dangerous if not treated properly. Moreover, your internal injuries are also severe…”

He took a yellow pill from a vial and placed it in the girl’s mouth. She soon closed her eyes and quietly fell asleep. The boy, watching her, bit his lip.

“Damn it… this isn’t how it was supposed to be. We were too reckless. The Demonic Alliance Lord, was it? That bastard! I will make him pay for this humiliation. I need to inform the senior brothers about this…”

He also seemed tired, lying down on one side and soon falling asleep.

When he opened his eyes, the girl was already awake. She was sitting with her upper body leaning against the wall. Seeing her like that, he was overjoyed.

“Soso. Are you feeling a bit better now?”

“Yeah. But what should we do now?”

“I don’t know. Damn it. I can’t believe we ended up like this.”

“If this is how it is, we haven’t accomplished anything… we haven’t even finished investigating the martial world situation, have we?”

“Don’t worry about it. Since it’s come to this, we have no choice but to wait until the senior brothers arrive…”

“That guy was incredibly strong. We should never underestimate the Central Plains.”

“Huhu, that’s obvious, but the problem is that he’s not the strongest. He’s barely on the bottom rung of the Martial World Seven [a group of the seven most powerful martial artists].”

“How strong are the Martial World Five [the top five martial artists]? Now I understand why Master wanted to ally with the Demonic Alliance Lord in the past.”

“I understand it now too. If we recklessly charge in, we’ll likely suffer a crushing defeat. It might be better to wait for an opportunity and attack when the other forces are exhausted…”

“The eldest senior brother won’t do that. Master has already given him full authority…”

Sorang lay down on one side and sighed.

“Hoo. Who can stop the eldest senior brother’s fiery temper? He doesn’t even care about Master… I’m worried about the future situation.”

“You should go and quickly send a message. The others below must be worried. We disappeared without a word, and what if this news reaches the senior brothers?”

“Let them be. Then they’ll come to the Central Plains faster. Let’s take this opportunity to rest and recover.”

“Hmm…”

Soso looked worried and lowered her head. Sorang, looking at her, felt just as troubled.

★ The appearance of Yueyang was no different from its usual daily routine, but at least those who had enemies in the martial world felt differently. In particular, the Yueyang branch of the Martial Alliance was in an uproar and extremely excited. This was because the most honored guest since the establishment of the Yueyang branch was staying there.

The Righteous Command [a special task force of the Martial Alliance] arrived at the Yueyang branch after the hour of the horse [around noon]. As soon as they entered the branch located in the eastern part of Yueyang, they summoned the leaders of all the martial sects in the area and gave them certain instructions. Even those who were considered powerful in this area couldn’t dare to raise their heads and were fidgeting nervously before him! Of course, it was the Righteous Command’s Commander, the Jade-Faced Divine Dragon, Munyun Daehyeop. This phenomenon was caused not only by his position as the second-in-command of the Martial Alliance but also by his reputation as one of the Martial World Five and his status as the highest-ranking member of the martial world.

Pacheon’s gaze was calm as he looked at the commanders of the Righteous Command. The branch leader, who had vacated the main hall and was waiting outside, didn’t even dare to join them.

“From now on, I order all commanders to focus on finding clues about the destruction of the branch within three days, centered around Yueyang. This mission is purely focused on two things. One is to track the movement of the Demonic Alliance forces that led the destruction of the martial branch! The other is to find their base! Let me be clear, this mission is just an investigation, so do not go beyond what is necessary and act recklessly. Even if you find a clue, do not think about handling it alone, understand?”

“Understood!”

The shouts of 200 commanders echoed through the main hall.

“Act in groups of five, and if necessary, you can borrow the power of the branch. Investigate not only Yueyang but also Hangzhou, Suzhou, Wuchang, and other places in detail. After three days, regroup here in Yueyang. And if something happens to you or you are unable to gather on time, go to the Martial Alliance headquarters and wait. Even if you discover the forces of the Demonic Alliance, do not be foolish enough to provoke them. One such mistake is enough…”

Gwak Unseong lowered his head at Pacheon’s words.

“The vice-commanders will assign the groups, and you will stay at this branch to prepare for any emergencies.”

“Understood.”

“Understood.”

“That’s all. Any questions?”

★

“Are you planning to enter the Demonic Alliance’s main headquarters, Commander?”

“Huhu, why ask when you already know?”

It was inside a room. Dokgomu and Pacheon were sitting across from each other at a table, and in front of them were teacups made of high-quality Hwaun [Fire Luck] porcelain.

Dokgomu had considerable knowledge of Pacheon through the Heavenly Demon. When he looked at Pacheon, he found himself falling into confusion. His initial judgment of Pacheon was that he was a demonic overlord trying to swallow the world. However, having experienced him up close, he felt that he couldn’t simply say that about him. And at other times, he thought his judgment was correct. So, what was the true nature of that man?

“If the righteous people find out that the Demonic Alliance’s Demonic Great Lord is the Commander, what kind of expressions will they make?”

“What do you think? They’ll probably brand me as an enemy of the martial world and try to eliminate me. The greater the trust, the greater the betrayal…”

Pacheon even made such an evaluation nonchalantly! Dokgomu chuckled at him.

“I’m curious to see how their expressions will change in the future.”

“That won’t happen. That fact will never be revealed.”

“Huhu, there’s nothing absolutely certain in this world. Who knows? Maybe one day I’ll change my mind and confess…”

“Hahaha, that would be good too. But let me tell you one thing. If that happens, it won’t be good for them at all. Those who know the truth will be the first to die by my hand, and the martial world will have to endure an unprecedented bloodbath. The Heavenly Demon Sect’s power is enough to fight against the entire martial world.”

Dokgomu was speechless.

“Yulgeuk, come in.”

Squeak.

The door slid open, and Yulgeuk, Sara’s older brother, entered. He had been waiting outside all this time. His hazy eyes and the way he tilted his head from side to side made him look like a complete idiot. However, after being washed and dressed in black martial attire, he was presentable. He looked at Pacheon with a mixture of fear and respect(?). His younger sister, Sara, had already left. She had left for the Northern Ice Palace with a letter written by Pacheon. That could be a variable in the martial world situation.

“You, there’s a place we need to go together. Until I give you special instructions, you must not kill people indiscriminately. Do you understand?”

“Hehe, Master. Understood.”

His head throbbed. Could he really take this idiot with him? But if he left him behind, he couldn’t guarantee what would happen. He might try to kill anyone he saw, not just in the Yueyang branch, but also nearby people. At least his martial arts were formidable, so they would face death helplessly.

It seemed that the Heavenly Demon Soul-Capturing Technique had worked properly, but the words that came out were all informal, and sometimes he would say things that didn’t make sense. In some ways, he seemed like a four or five-year-old child. However, he didn’t disobey or argue with his words and was relatively obedient.

“It’s difficult to take him inside, and it’s even more unsettling to leave him behind… I have no choice. I guess this is my fate. I can only lament my own self for being seduced by the Heavenly Demon…”

Pacheon summoned the vice-commanders, gave them some instructions, and then left the Yueyang branch. The words the vice-commander had told him earlier lingered in his mind.

“According to news from the Beggar Clan, a group of martial artists clashed in the Hwaryong Forest near Wuchang and then disappeared. Among them was the Southern Alliance’s Cheonhyang Okbong, and she was taken away by a group of people. There were 11 of them, all young martial artists. In addition, there was also a cavalry of about a thousand men who seemed to be under their command.”

In the end, the Beggar Clan reported that Cheonhyang Okbong had been taken away. Pacheon was temporarily puzzled by the report, which was different from what he had expected. Who had clashed with them? It meant that a third force had intervened. Which side had taken Cheonhyang Okbong? What was her value that another force had intervened? And how could it have been resolved without a major conflict? He couldn’t understand it.

‘Damn it, if I had known this would happen, I should have saved her first.’

It was too late to regret it. For Pacheon, who had always pushed things forward according to his own plans, recent events had often shown him unfavorable results.

“Hey, you guys, change your faces now.”

Those were the words Pacheon uttered when he reached the vicinity of Dongting Lake.

★ The Demonic Alliance suddenly began to show vitality. The Demonic Great Lord had returned. The atmosphere, which had been like wandering in a gloomy fog, was instantly revealed under the bright sunlight, and a sense of stability filled everyone’s hearts. Whether they had complaints about him or not, they couldn’t deny his importance and power.

Pacheon, sitting on the grand master’s chair in the Hall of the Venerable Demon, received reports from the Mad Demon Lord and the Strategist in turn. The main reports were about the incidents that had occurred in the Demonic Alliance during his absence, followed by some information about the martial world situation and the movements of the Martial Alliance, especially the report that the Righteous Command was staying in Yueyang.

“Good. That’s enough for me to get a rough idea.”

He raised his head and looked around the room. All the leaders of the Demonic Alliance were gathered. They were sitting on cushions below, and when Pacheon’s gaze turned towards them, they quickly lowered their heads.

“You pathetic lot!”

That was his first sentence.

“Danya Jeokpung of the Black Tiger Gate is dead? Well, that could happen. The weak are bound to die at the hands of the strong… The problem is… that despite such an event, you haven’t taken any action… That pathetic behavior is the problem. Overthrowing the Righteous Path? When? How can those who can’t even solve such a problem and are drifting along overthrow the Righteous Path? Huh? Fine. Everything is fine. I don’t know who is hiding and doing such things, but they are definitely somewhere here… Strategist!”

“Yes, Great Lord.”

“What is the progress of the investigation?”

“We haven’t found any clues yet…”

“Pathetic, how long are you going to keep talking about clues? Think simply…”

“What do you mean?”

“There are three possibilities. The first is that someone among you is hiding their true abilities, but that’s highly unlikely. From what I see, there’s no one here who seems that clever…”

Though Pa Cheon’s words could be seen as an insult to them all, they could only bow their heads without uttering a single word.

“The second possibility is that there is a hidden master of that level among those who are not executives. That’s quite possible.

The third is…”

He paused, looking at his soldiers.

“What do you think it could be?”

“Could it be?”

“Speak.”

“Are you suspecting the Grand Master?”

“That’s right. The third possibility is exactly that. It’s the most likely. The problem is that there’s no way to confirm it… Anyway, that’s important in the current situation, but for now, we’ll put that issue aside. It’s no longer the time to be fixated on finding the culprit. Now is the time for our organization to rise to the surface.”

Everyone’s eyes showed agitation.

“I mean, we will no longer cower underground. According to the martial world situation I’ve observed, if we hesitate any longer, we will lose the initiative. We might be swept away without even being able to exert our strength. Movements of outside forces are being detected here and there, and some are thought to have penetrated deep into the Central Plains [the heartland of the martial world]. The signs are there. So, we will move first.”

Strategist Je Gal Cho Hong interrupted Pa Cheon’s next words.

“But it doesn’t seem like the right time yet.”

Pa Cheon cut her off again.

“We can create the right time. We will concentrate all the forces of the secret branch and the main headquarters at once. And then, we will seize the southern region of the martial world, led by the Southern Alliance, in one fell swoop.”

*Kugung*

Those words struck everyone’s hearts fiercely. It felt as if their hearts had dropped.

‘Is it finally beginning?’

Some even seemed to feel a strange excitement.

“Great Lord. I ask you to reconsider. If we attack the Southern Alliance, it is highly likely to lead to an all-out war with the Martial Alliance.”

“So? What does the strategist suggest?”

“Instead of the Southern Alliance, we should start from the lower regions and gradually move up.”

“Huhu, that’s strange. How can a strategist who knows so much about military tactics say such foolish things? In terms of power, we are clearly inferior to the Martial Alliance. Where is the Southern Alliance located? It’s in Muchang, right? That place is south of the Yangtze River. The fact that the Southern Alliance is intact means that the Martial Alliance can always occupy a strategically advantageous area with their forces. What if the Southern Alliance falls into our hands? The situation will be different. They don’t have a forward base of the Southern Alliance’s scale near the Yangtze River. In the end, they will have to organize their forces directly, and their main force will have to come out of the Alliance.

We will gain several advantages. First, it will give us time. No matter how hard we try, it will take considerable losses to seize the southern region. So, time to reorganize our forces is essential. Second, by creating a psychological boundary at the Yangtze River, it is more likely to turn into a long-term war. Why? If our main base was in the lower south, they would immediately come south, but if Muchang and Akyang along the Yangtze River are our bases, they will watch the situation from afar. Unless they are completely confident of victory, they won’t cross the Yangtze River to wipe us out at once…

Finally, third, by buying time and having the Yangtze River act as a boundary, we can unite the scattered forces of the Demonic Path. With just these advantages, I believe we can have power equal to the Martial Alliance. What does the strategist think?”

Je Gal Cho Hong was speechless and dazed! Although there were clearly many flaws in his words, there was no room for rebuttal.

Listening to his words, it was as if he was completely drawing people’s hearts. Right now, in the eyes of everyone except herself, there was even a conviction of victory. The blood of the Demonic Path was boiling in their hearts, and the past grievances were finding a breakthrough.

What opposition could she offer in front of them? Je Gal Cho Hong bowed her head and conceded.

“After listening to the Great Lord’s words… you are absolutely right.”

Her face was clouded with worry.

‘Huhu, woman! I know what you are worried about.’

What does that mean?

“Everyone, listen carefully. We will gather here again in exactly one hour. Before then, check the exact number of personnel and the distribution of forces under your command, and the strategist should reorganize the distribution of the branch’s forces in detail. In addition, a state of indefinite emergency is declared for the entire main headquarters of the Demonic Alliance from now on, and no one is allowed to leave or enter this place. From now on, everything will be carried out according to the emergency rules, so be meticulous, and if even the slightest mistake is shown, you will be executed on the spot. That is all. Everyone, go.”

“Understood!”

“Understood!”

Their shouts seemed more powerful today. It was because they had seen a small hope, and it was even more so because they had been struggling with a sense of despair. In the figures leaving the Jonma Hall, there was a glimpse of excitement, unable to contain the boiling spirit of a warrior.

After they had all disappeared, Pa Cheon moved his seat. Gwangmajon and others followed. Gwangmajon glanced at Dokgo Mu and Yulgeuk. It was because he had no idea who the people the Supreme One had brought were. In particular, when Yulgeuk saw Gwangmajon looking at him, he even smiled foolishly.

‘Is that guy crazy?’

How would his expression change if he knew he was really crazy?

★ “So, what happened?”

As Gwangmajon answered Pa Cheon’s question, he frowned, looking at Yulgeuk, who was grinning at him, revealing his yellow teeth.

“Yes… As the strategist said, we couldn’t find the culprit. We investigated from various angles, but it seems that the culprit is not among them. As the Supreme One said, it seems to be the Grand Master’s doing.”

“Hmm… What about the investigation into the strategist?”

“There is suspicion, but she also has no evidence. Mu Youngjon, you tell him.”

“We secretly investigated the strategist’s residence, but there was nothing particularly suspicious. We have secured testimony that she left her residence at the time of the murder, but we cannot confirm it because we cannot directly interrogate her. If she says no, that’s the end of it…”

“That’s enough. Leave it at that. If she is involved, she will try to trick us in some way. From now on, be very careful. If you make a mistake, you will lose your life…”

“Yes.”

“The Great Disciple Han Dang seems to know something, but he is not answering. If the Supreme One presses him, he might answer.”

“Is that so? Huhu, if it’s the Grand Master’s doing, he might know. First, you guys should also help attack the Martial Alliance’s forces, but don’t go too deep into the front lines… And Danjang.”

“Yes.”

“You should take the opportunity to ride the Golden Eagle and go to the main sect once.”

“Yes? To the main sect?”

“Yes. Go and have 1,600 members of the Demonic Emperor’s Guard infiltrate the Central Plains. I will contact Ssangno in advance, so prepare a hideout and leave.”

“Understood!”

“Is the main sect’s force finally coming in?”

“Not yet. Only a part of them are coming. You guys should not neglect your training either. You probably don’t know, but those guys must have become incredibly strong.”

“Hmm.”

“……”

They also knew that fact. While they were running around, those guys were only training in the sect. Moreover, with the Heavenly Demon Secret Vault even opened, wouldn’t their progress be tremendous? At Pa Cheon’s words, Mu Young and Danjang were feeling a sense of crisis. Mu Young was the strongest among the 12 Demonic Princes, and Danjang was the strongest among the 4 Flowers. Perhaps they might be overtaken by someone soon.

Gwangmajon, perhaps because it was not his concern, looked at the two people who had accompanied Pa Cheon with a nonchalant expression.

“Who are these two?”

He asked that question quite quickly.

“Ah! Introduce yourselves to each other. This one is…”

How should he introduce them? Pa Cheon hesitated and then told the story of what had happened. Upon hearing the introduction of the two, the three people jumped up from their seats. Yulgeuk also stood up with them. Naturally, it was because of Dokgo Mu that they had taken these actions without realizing it. The Heavenly Demon Ancestor? The Heavenly Demon Ancestor, who was said to exist only within Pa Cheon, had appeared anew, borrowing another person’s body. It was no wonder that they were nervous.

‘Kukukuk, they don’t even listen to the fact that I’m not the Heavenly Demon right now…’

“Hey, hey, sit down. It’s dizzying. Right now, he is just Dokgo Mu, the grandson of the Sleeping Dragon Emperor…”

Only then did they awkwardly sit back down.

“I am Dokgo Mu.”

When Dokgo Mu introduced himself, Gwangmajon and the others stood up again and bowed their heads.

“Call me Gwangma.”

“I am Mu Young…”

“I am Danjang.”

“I am Yulgeuk. Hehehe.”

Yulgeuk stood up with them and imitated them. Gwangmajon, feeling embarrassed, looked at him and said,

“Supreme One. Isn’t this guy really a fool?”

“He is a fool.”

“Hmm.”

“I am a fool. Hehe, I am Yulgeuk and a fool.”

“Okay, Yulgeuk, stop it.”

Everyone sat down, revealing their complicated feelings. One was the Heavenly Demon Ancestor, and the other was a supreme master who had mastered the Nine Yin Manual…

Even with their already strongest forces, with those two joining them… How many people would be able to stop them in the future?

★ Pa Cheon began to issue direct orders to the masters of the Demonic Alliance, and the strategist brought a detailed map of the Central Plains and explained it in detail. They would be dispatched, divided into eight major forces, and the 4 Princes, the Inner and Outer Halls, the Thousand-Man Squad, and the Demonic Eye Squad would provide lateral support. Including the personnel of the secret branch, a large army of nearly 40,000 people was formed, and the areas they had to seize were assigned.

They were made aware of the sects and Martial Alliance branches located in their assigned areas, and then they listened to the strategist’s instructions on how to defeat them. As expected, she was a descendant of the Je Gal family. Once she started, there was no stopping her, and it was as if she was unraveling a strategy that had been carefully considered and planned, a detailed operation that was almost perfect. Watching it, Pa Cheon also expressed his admiration. She truly had an amazing mind.

Above all, speed was the absolute priority in this operation. The key to the success or failure of this operation was to seize the areas quickly and immediately gather in Muchang and Akyang.