Chapter 394: Alliance (2)
"Mu, Murim Alliance?!"
"Indeed."
Plum Blossom White Sword nodded.
"Before making this proposal, allow me to explain the background."
Plum Blossom White Sword relayed the content of the letter from the Murim Alliance to Baek Sang-ah without distortion.
And after hearing everything, the two women were furious.
"Those bastards of the Murim Alliance!"
Crack!
If things truly unfolded as that message claimed, Black Lotus Union would have no choice but to be buried here.
Though their faces were hidden behind masks, the flush at the edges of their cheeks was clearly visible.
So Cheon showed no particular change in expression, however.
"Should we kill the Murim Alliance Leader too…"
The murmured words, spoken as if in passing, revealed his sincerity to everyone present.
"Can you just shut up?"
"……."
At Baek Sang-ah's words, So Cheon's expression turned sullen.
"Anyway, the fact that you're revealing this so openly means at the very least, Plum Blossom White Sword doesn’t agree with the letter’s contents."
"Naturally. Our Mount Hua Sect isn't made of stone."
"But creating an alliance isn’t something that can be done just by combining one or two factions."
Even setting aside its scale, the Murim Alliance alone had over a thousand officially affiliated sects.
While numbers may become meaningless before a supreme master, a certain headcount is the minimal requirement to form a proper force.
"Of course, I don’t believe it would be easy for us either."
Plum Blossom White Sword nodded.
"But there are a few paths forward."
"And those are?"
"First, if I step forward, it’s likely that the Gongdong Sect will participate."
"And your basis for that?"
"Because they, too, were backstabbed by the Jongnam Sect in the last battle, and likely have no desire to fight against both the Evil Overlords of Heaven and the Demonic Cult again."
"…Indeed."
The damage suffered by the Gongdong Sect was no less than what Mount Hua endured.
Even though some time had passed since that battle, it wouldn’t be strange if they were still sharpening their blades against the Jongnam Sect.
Black Lotus Union, Mount Hua, Gongdong.
If these three factions, along with their affiliated branches, joined forces, it would meet the minimum qualifications to form an alliance.
"But it’s not enough."
Jegal Eun shook her head.
She held up two fingers.
"At least two clans or sects of Old Nine status or equivalent must participate. Only then can the alliance function properly."
To stand on equal footing with the Murim Alliance, that level of support was essential.
Plum Blossom White Sword nodded.
"I will try persuading Mount Emei and the Tang Clan."
While Azure Star Sect had reached a point of no return, Mount Emei and the Tang Clan were less influenced due to their inherently closed nature.
More importantly, those two sects suffered great losses when the Evil Overlords of Heaven launched their offensive, without receiving aid from the Murim Alliance.
Surely, they still bore grudges.
"Mount Emei and the Tang Clan… they certainly qualify, but their locations are too far…"
Shaanxi and Gansu might be considered outer provinces of the Central Plains, but compared to Sichuan, where those two sects resided, they were nothing.
Just then, a rough voice came from outside the window.
"Rather than those two, it’d be more definite if you bring in the Bukcheon Geom Clan."
"Gr-Grandfather?!"
At some point, a swordsman with a curly beard had perched himself on the window frame.
Baek Sang-ah rushed toward him.
"When did you return?!"
"Not long ago. Though the Clan Leader tried to stop me from leaving, how could I ignore my mountain of worries for you?"
"Hehehe…"
Baek Sang-ah laughed sheepishly at his words, then blinked.
"Wait, but your mask…"
He was not wearing his usual Black Sky Master Mask, but his bare face.
"Oops! I forgot that?"
He chuckled playfully.
But judging by his expression, it seemed he didn’t really care even if he was found out.
Plum Blossom White Sword gave a wry smile and bowed respectfully with a clasped fist.
"I greet Saber King. I am the White Sword of Mount Hua."
"Hohoho, I’m now the Ten Thousand Evil Saber Emperor."
"Understood, Sir Demon Emperor."
"An honor to meet one of the famed Eight Seats of the Plum Blossom White Sword."
Saber King winked playfully. Plum Blossom White Sword’s wry smile deepened.
Baek Sang-ah asked Plum Blossom White Sword with a suspicious look.
"Did you already know?"
"Not at all. But the moment such a master of the blade mentioned the Bukcheon Geom Clan, it was as good as revealing his identity."
"Ah…"
"And those who know even a little, like me, have long speculated about the identity of the Twin Emperors of Black Lotus Union."
Logically speaking, in the demonic faction, there was no way someone of that caliber would suddenly appear out of nowhere.
"The other one is the Venerable Buddha, correct?"
"……Hah."
He sighed and looked down.
It was, in effect, a confirmation.
Truthfully, if such a supreme master who called herself the Venerable Buddha appeared in the demonic faction, Shaolin wouldn’t have remained silent.
Plum Blossom White Sword tilted his head slightly.
"Come to think of it… this makes me a little suspicious about the identities of the Lord and the Strategist. I originally thought they might be high-ranking nobles of the Demonic Cult, but if they are being protected by none other than you two…"
At that moment, the two people’s throats visibly convulsed in surprise.
"Hoho, let’s leave it at that."
Saber King warned in a low voice with a faint hint of killing intent.
"Idle curiosity shortens one’s life."
There were probably fewer than five people in all of the Central Plains who could say something like that to Plum Blossom White Sword and get away with it—and unfortunately, Saber King was one of those few.
Plum Blossom White Sword gave a slightly awkward cough.
"Ahem! Understood."
Saber King stepped over the threshold and entered the room.
"Now then, let’s continue this talk of forming an alliance or whatever it is."
At once, the atmosphere in the room turned serious.
"If we can bring in the Bukcheon Geom Clan."
"……!"
"After the last raid, I don’t know if he changed his mind, but the Clan Leader has expressed his intent to enter the Central Plains."
At Saber King’s firm declaration, Plum Blossom White Sword’s expression brightened.
In truth, even combining the Tang Clan and Mount Emei couldn't outshine the name of the Bukcheon Geom Clan.
If those solitary wolves rooted in the northern reaches of the Central Plains were to join, this undertaking might truly be worth attempting.
"I recommended an alliance with Black Lotus Union, but if another orthodox sect alliance forms instead, that would actually be even better."
"Like having a thousand troops and ten thousand horses at your side."
The name value of the Bukcheon Geom Clan alone would draw countless sects eager to join.
"By the way, who will be the alliance leader? White Sword, are you going to take the role?"
"How could I? Ordinarily, the Clan Leader of Bukcheon should take on such a duty…"
"He’s not interested in such titles."
"In that case, the answer is already decided."
Plum Blossom White Sword, Saber King, and Jegal Eun all turned their gazes in the same direction.
Baek Sang-ah, with a slightly blank look, pointed a finger at herself.
"…Me?"
And so, after spending about an hour, the basic framework of the alliance was established.
"Black Lotus Deputy Commander. Actually, there’s one more way we could increase the alliance’s power."
"What is it?"
Jegal Eun lifted her head, her brush still moving.
Plum Blossom White Sword spoke.
"By bringing in the Evil Overlords of Heaven. Or more precisely…"
His eyes shone with an icy light.
"Black Lotus Union absorbs the Evil Overlords of Heaven."
"…"
Jegal Eun paused and fell deep into thought at Plum Blossom White Sword’s words.
"It’s not… an entirely impossible idea."
Her gaze began to mirror his.
"Exactly. I originally believed the Evil Overlord was just a puppet of someone else."
"But that wasn’t the case."
Plum Blossom White Sword raised Lee Jaseong’s severed head with a serious expression.
"That’s right. If he were truly just a puppet… he wouldn’t have been able to summon such a monstrous creature."
Plum Blossom White Sword gave a slight shudder.
The Death Demon, Gunggi.
When he had faced the aura of that being, known only in legends—
Shamefully, he hadn’t been able to move a muscle.
'If it had targeted me… I probably would’ve been finished in an instant.'
That was why he held great reverence for the Black Lotus Leader and her partner, who had fought against such a creature not just once but several times.
So much so that he had no ambition whatsoever to take the position of alliance leader over them.
"Right now, the Evil Overlords of Heaven are essentially a no man's land. Of course, they still have plenty of planted agents… but we can’t expect any real structure from them."
"…"
Jegal Eun carefully weighed the odds.
If So Cheon and Baek Sang-ah recovered, and Saber King and Plum Blossom White Sword gave their full support?
'That’s four peak-level experts on our side. And on their side…'
The Awakened Bodies, once their hidden trump card, had all perished as sacrifices to summon Gunggi.
Only the Yaksha Heavenly Blade Unit, the Evil Overlords’ strongest force, remained intact….
'If it’s just to tie them down…'
Having concluded her thoughts, Jegal Eun raised her head.
"Third Strategist."
"What is it, Second Strategist?"
Seo Muwon, who had been dragged out mid-sleep and looked displeased, raised his head.
"Prepare the Black Sky Command Unit."
Seo Muwon’s weary eyes instantly turned sharp.
"You’re planning a decisive battle?"
"Exactly."
The Black Sky Command Unit.
It was a newly formed elite force, composed of only the finest warriors handpicked as the personal guard of the Black Lotus Leader, born from a sweeping reorganization after the recent rapid growth of Black Lotus Union.
Though young in history, they were already a symbol of the Hall’s military strength.
They still fell short when compared to the greatest elites—like the Golden Dragon Heavenly Sword Squad of the Murim Alliance, the Yaksha Heavenly Blade Unit of the Evil Overlords of Heaven, or the Man’geuk Special Command Corps of the Four Demonic Halls.
But she had no doubt that one day, the Black Sky Command Unit would rise to stand shoulder to shoulder with them in fame.
"We’ll annihilate the Evil Overlords of Heaven and absorb the remnants."
***
Right before I set out, I stood once more at a place I had visited many times before.
Behind me stood six figures waiting.
Three Attendant, San Dojeon, Yoo Cheong, and finally, my younger brother Jin Yeowoon.
Jin Yeowoon seemed slightly displeased, perhaps not too thrilled about being lumped together with my subordinates, but he didn’t voice any further complaints.
Looking at them, I said,
"I know well that you’ve all volunteered to be part of this expedition."
"…"
"……."
My subordinates all wore equally grim expressions.
Because I had personally disqualified them.
I patted Three Attendant and San Dojeon on the shoulders and spoke.
"You've both improved a lot. Honestly, if it were based solely on eligibility, you’d qualify for the expedition."
"Master…"
"But you're still far from the level I expect."
To put it bluntly, my subordinates would be nothing but burdens against the Heaven-Defying Society.
Forget the Ten Heavenly Lords—if even one of those Awakened Bodies I previously faced showed up, they'd be annihilated.
That was how asymmetrical the power of the Heaven-Defying Society's Awakened Bodies was.
"That’s why, in there, you’ll train until you reach the level I demand."
I pointed with my finger toward the massive iron gate standing firm at the entrance.
Behind it lay the main branch of the Thousand Day Pass I had once longed to enter.
A place filled with the most brutal mechanism formations that had claimed a survival rate of five percent centuries ago.
Of course, that rate had been measured against those who couldn’t even be considered second-rate.
With my subordinates now far surpassing first-rate level, they should be able to overcome even the main Thousand Day Pass.
That was a conclusion I had drawn after thoroughly investigating the mechanisms inside in advance.
I turned to the one standing before the gate and offered a respectful fist-palm salute.
"Then, Right Guardian. I entrust my younger brother and subordinates to your care."
Right Guardian Jo Jin-sang.
Though he had stepped down from the position of Thousand Day Pass Pavilion Master, as the guardian of this site, he still had the authority to oversee it.
He slowly nodded.
"Don’t worry. Since the Cult Leader personally asked me to look after them, I will be meticulous in doing so."
"Thank you."
I gave a small nod, then walked over to the boy hesitating behind the others.
"Cheong-ah. Unlike the others, you’ve never received my direct instruction, so I’m a little concerned."
"Hyung-nim…"
Yoo Cheong looked at me with anxious eyes.
"But with your talent and skill, you should be able to overcome this."
The son of Master Old Han and legitimate successor of the Yoo Clan’s martial arts.
Though he may not appear dependable on the surface—
Having watched Yoo Cheong for some time, I was convinced he was someone who would one day achieve greatness.
"You’re the one who must revive the Sooncheon Yoo Clan here within the Heavenly Demon Cult."