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chapter 94
After the great calamity that befell the martial world because of Sa Myeong-ok of the Ten Thousand Demon Sect thirty years ago, peace had slowly returned as the martial world healed and disciplined itself.
However, the sudden reappearance of demonic beings and mysterious attackers once again plunged the martial realm into chaos.
Countless orthodox sects and noble families — pillars of the righteous faction — were struck down by these demons and unknown assailants. Many warriors were killed, and even more were gravely wounded.
Some noble estates were even burned to the ground overnight, reduced entirely to ashes.
Among the Nine Great Sects (Gu Pa Il Bang) and the Ten Great Families (Sip Dae Sega) that upheld the righteous martial world, the Nine Great Sects were spared from direct assault. But the Ten Great Families suffered immense losses under the attacks of these demons and unknown forces.
Because many of their elite warriors had departed in pursuit of Jang Bo-do, the divine sword, the families were left even more vulnerable and thus suffered heavier damage.
The various sects and families sent carrier pigeons to recall their elite warriors, notifying them of the dire situation and ordering some to return.
As the righteous faction reeled from their heavy losses, the demonic factions (Sa-pa) began to eye new opportunities. Seeds of another conflict began to sprout.
Among the major demonic sects based in Chungkyung (Chongqing) were Guishu Manor (귀수산장), Bokmamon (복마문), Daedomun (대도문), and Oksamagog (옥사마곡).
Their powers were roughly equal, though Guishu Manor was slightly more influential than the other three.
In his office, Ryang Ha-geon, the master of Guishu Manor, met with his elders to discuss the turbulent situation in Chungkyung.
“The Seomun Clan, the Baekri Clan, as well as the Okhwa Sect and the Eulji Clan, have all suffered severe losses to the demons,” one elder reported. “This could be an opportunity for us.”
Ryang Ha-geon narrowed his eyes at the elder’s words — calling another’s misfortune an opportunity.
“Master,” another elder added, “the elder is right. We may not have much chance of seizing Jang Bo-do, but if we exploit this situation, we can dominate the commercial sphere of Chungkyung.”
“Indeed,” said another. “Both Bokmamon and Oksamagog are thinking the same thing — they’re watching how we move.”
Ryang Ha-geon hummed thoughtfully.
“Even if the other sects take other targets,” an elder pressed on, “if we seize the trade rights along the Yangtze River from the Seomun and Baekri Clans, we can establish a stronger foundation. If their trade falls into our hands, they’ll face financial ruin. Eventually, they’ll have no more power than the current Eulji Clan.”
The elders spoke persuasively, discussing how to control Chungkyung’s markets and weaken their rivals.
Even among demonic sects, none could tolerate another rising above them within the same region.
Ryang Ha-geon closed his eyes. On the surface, the elders made sense — but what lay beneath was far more complicated.
Their actions could spark another Great War between Righteous and Demonic Factions (정사대전).
“Master, this is a chance. The other demonic sects surely think as we do. If we move now, so will Sichuan and Hunan.”
“Do you think the Alliance will allow it? Have you forgotten the League Master’s warning? There’s a shadowy organization scheming to conquer the martial world. The recent attacks on the righteous sects were likely their doing. Do you not see that?”
“Master, this has nothing to do with the Alliance. We are the Sa-pa! Even though the martial world claims to have purified itself since the disaster caused by Sa Myeong-ok thirty years ago, we remain the despised demonic faction.”
Ryang Ha-geon frowned slightly, displeased by their attempt to justify greed under the guise of demonic pride.
“Master, the sooner we act, the better. The righteous sects must have already recalled their elite warriors. Once they return, our window will close.”
Every elder urged him to strike — to attack the righteous faction’s power base and seize their wealth.
But the issue of the Demonic Alliance (사도맹) weighed heavily on him.
Ryang Ha-geon fell silent, and so did everyone else in the room. The silence stretched on for a long while before he finally nodded.
‘If it’s him…’
The person he thought of was Gu Yeong-cheol, the predecessor of the Phantom Demon Emperor (Yuryeong Maje). A young man who had once appeared before him and warned of a conspiracy within the Demonic Alliance itself.
There’s a saying: “Too much deliberation leads to a poor move.” Ryang Ha-geon’s decision now was just that — a misstep born of hesitation.
“Very well. We’ll proceed as you suggest. Send carrier pigeons to recall the troops pursuing Jang Bo-do. And take our warriors — seize the Baekri Clan’s businesses by force.”
“Yes, Master!”
* * *
The righteous sects, already devastated by the recent demonic attacks, soon faced a new ordeal — assaults from the demonic factions.
Taking advantage of their weakened state, the demonic sects began attacking their businesses, markets, and trade routes. They imposed “protection fees” on merchants under the pretext of guarding them, gradually stripping away the righteous sects’ control over their long-held territories.
In Sichuan, Chungkyung, Hubei, Guangdong, Hunan, Guizhou, and Guangxi, the righteous sects’ losses continued to mount.
Bang!
“We can’t just stand by and watch this happen!”
The representatives of the afflicted sects gathered at the Martial Alliance (Moorimmaeng) headquarters. The demonic attacks were bad enough — but now, on top of that, they had to endure relentless exploitation from the demonic factions.
Baekri Junseong, the Third Elder of the Baekri Clan, voiced his fury at the Alliance meeting. The clan’s patriarch, Baekri Jeongcheol, remained unconscious after being struck by a mysterious attacker.
They had sent urgent messages to Baekri Jeonggwang, the heir, and Baekri Seonggwang, the second son — both currently pursuing Jang Bo-do — as well as to their protectors, Elder Baekri Yeongwoo and Elder Baekri Daeyoung. But by the time they returned, most of the clan’s influence would already be lost.
The same was true for the Seomun Clan and Eulji Clan.
The Eulji Clan, having long depended on the Seomun and Baekri Clans for protection, now faced devastating attacks from demonic sects such as Bokmamon and Oksamagog after their allies’ collapse.
All the righteous families appealed to the Martial Alliance, urging it to take direct action against the demonic factions.
Je Gal-mingi, the Alliance’s Chief Strategist, listened to their grievances, massaging the Imunhyeol pressure point near his ear — a habit that showed his growing headache.
The situation reminded him unpleasantly of the great demonic war thirty years ago.
He raised his hand to silence the room, exhaled a long sigh, and spoke.
“I understand your concerns. But I’m afraid the Alliance cannot dispatch warriors at this time.”
“What do you mean?” someone demanded.
“If the Alliance mobilizes its warriors against the demonic sects, the Demonic Alliance (사도맹) will surely intervene.”
That much was obvious to all.
“All we can do,” Je Gal-mingi continued, “is send envoys to the Demonic Alliance to explain the situation and request mediation — or issue formal warnings to the demonic sects to return what they’ve taken.”
If handled recklessly, the situation could erupt into another full-scale Righteous vs. Demonic War, so the Alliance had to move carefully.
The gathered leaders scowled in frustration.
They had hoped the Martial Alliance would take decisive action — after all, the righteous sects were already devastated by demons and mysterious assailants. But now the Alliance was refusing to act, citing the risk of war.
“You all know there’s a shadowy power targeting the martial world,” Je Gal-mingi reminded them. “Those who attacked your families — they were no ordinary demons. If we fight among ourselves now, those hidden enemies will reap all the rewards.”
His reasoning was sound. The attacks alone proved that this mysterious force already possessed power rivaling or even exceeding either faction.
“Now is not the time to fight the demonic sects,” he urged. “We must unite to confront the real threat in the shadows. Once that’s done, we can settle matters with the demonic factions.”
“If we wait,” argued Hwang Bo-gun, head of the Hwangbo Clan, “our trade routes and assets will already be gone. The demonic sects will use their vast wealth to crush us, and then the righteous faction will be completely overshadowed.”
The Hwangbo Clan in Shandong Province had also suffered terribly — first from demonic and mysterious attackers, and now from demonic sects like Baekhyeolpa, Sain Valley, and Hyeolcheonmun.
“There’s no choice,” Je Gal-mingi replied. “The Alliance cannot risk a greater catastrophe by engaging now. But I will authorize the temporary recall of your clans’ warriors within the Alliance. Recall your elites pursuing Jang Bo-do, and prepare defenses. Meanwhile, we’ll formally request the Demonic Alliance to restrain their sects.”
That was the most the Alliance could do. The gathered sects could only accept — recalling their warriors was at least some relief.
“It may be difficult for a time,” Je Gal-mingi concluded, rising to his feet, “but things will stabilize soon enough.”
He left the hall and went straight to meet the Alliance Leader, Seo Jamyung.
“Ah, you’ve come. Sit down,” said Seo Jamyung, standing to greet him.
“So,” he asked, “what have you decided?”
“We’re recalling the warriors belonging to the Alliance’s member families,” Je Gal-mingi replied, sitting down with a weary expression. “And we’ll send a formal letter to the Demonic Alliance requesting cooperation.”
“I see…” Seo Jamyung nodded, unsurprised. It was, perhaps, the only reasonable course left.
He regarded Je Gal-mingi with a thoughtful expression.
As Chief Strategist and brother to the Je Gal Clan’s patriarch, Je Gal-mingi had managed to separate personal and official duties admirably. Seo Jamyung couldn’t help but respect him for it.
If Je Gal-mingi had been the clan head himself, the Je Gal Clan might have surpassed even the Namgung Clan to become the foremost among the Ten Great Families.
“I heard your family suffered heavily,” Seo Jamyung said quietly.
The Je Gal Clan had long been seen as weaker in martial strength compared to others.
“So I’ve heard,” Je Gal-mingi replied. “Many of our people were killed, and the outer compound was burned down.”
Most great families had both an inner and outer compound. The outer housed the family’s warriors.
“That must’ve been a heavy blow.”
“Fortunately, our inner compound was protected by formation arrays, so it remained intact. And many of our warriors had already left in pursuit of Jang Bo-do…”
Even so, the Je Gal Clan had suffered greatly. Most of its outer buildings were destroyed, and many warriors had been killed or wounded.
“Your brother must be distraught.”
“There’s nothing to be done,” Je Gal-mingi said calmly. “With enemies lurking in the shadows, we can’t afford internal conflict now.”
Indeed — if the martial world fell into civil war now, it might never recover.
“I appreciate your understanding,” Seo Jamyung said gravely. “I promise — once this crisis is over, your clan’s service will be greatly honored.”
“I only did what was necessary,” Je Gal-mingi replied. “But there is one concern — the elite warriors who went after Jang Bo-do.”
“What about them?”
“Their clans have surely sent word of what’s happening back home. If they receive those messages, they might turn on the demonic sects pursuing Jang Bo-do alongside them. That could ignite new chaos unrelated to the sword itself.”
Seo Jamyung frowned.
“You’re right… There’s no way to control them out there.”
“A bloody storm will soon sweep Myogang,” Je Gal-mingi said quietly.
“And that hatred,” he added grimly, “will soon make its way back here.”
