The Demon-Slaying Monk and the Heavenly Flower
Most people, including those of the Qingcheng Sect, expressed satisfaction with the leadership's decision.
But the Tang Family was a different story.
They were deeply displeased with the lackluster results.
In exchange for the Poison King, Dok-wang, stepping down to Vice Alliance Leader instead of taking the Alliance Leader position, they had demanded three elder seats and three unit leader positions within the Sichuan Righteous Alliance's martial forces.
Contrary to their desires, they were granted only three elder seats and two unit leader positions.
To make matters worse, they were forced to share those positions with the Tang branch families.
Naturally, the direct line, centered around Dang Ho-ryung, subtly displayed their irritation and resentment at this outcome.
However, showing it openly would only expose their bare greed, so they had no choice but to swallow their pride.
On the other hand, the branch families were highly satisfied with securing one elder seat and one unit leader position.
Since this was their goal from the very beginning, they had achieved a modest victory.
At the heart of this success lay the outstanding achievements of Dang Hwa-young and Dang Hwa-soo.
They had subdued five of the Ten Devils and secured the safety of Hojung.
Although they shared the credit with the Diancang Sect, Diancang had shown great goodwill toward Dang Joong-myung because of this incident.
Of course, no one mentioned the name of Do Yoo-sung, who was the true architect of that victory.
But that was exactly what Yoo-sung wanted, so he didn't care in the slightest.
Clack.
"Indeed, just as you said, Yoo-sung is extraordinary."
Late at night, Dang Joong-myung met with Dang Hwa-young and Dang Hwa-soo.
He had already received their written report, but he felt the need to speak with them in person.
"He is a bold child. I never expected him to humiliate Dang Sao right then and there."
"Dang Sao started it. He always acts so arrogant, so he finally got what he deserved," Dang Hwa-young said calmly.
"Indeed."
Dang Hwa-young spoke calmly, while Dang Hwa-soo was still quietly relishing Dang Sao's humiliation.
"Did Yoo-sung truly kill four of the Ten Devils?"
"Yes. We aren't sure about the Red-Eyed Demon, but Yoo-sung definitely killed the other three."
No matter how many times they investigated and verified, the conclusion remained unchanged.
The three devilish ghouls hadn't even left intact corpses behind.
Yet, using the Tang Family's mysterious tracking techniques, they had managed to piece together the remnants.
"Even though there was lethal poison in their bodies, it didn't affect the outcome much. Fundamentally, they couldn't even resist him properly."
Dang Joong-myung fell into deep thought and let out a soft sigh.
"It is certainly a blessing that Yoo-sung's martial arts are so outstanding, but the Family Head's wariness will only intensify. The Chief Manager will not forget his humiliation. Keep a close eye on Yoo-sung during the upcoming missions."
"Will that be easy? From the look of things, they'll try to separate us from him no matter what."
"That may be, but you can use your connections."
Though not as vast as Dang Joong-myung's, the reputation of 'Cheolhwa' carried significant weight.
In fact, she would be of far more help to Yoo-sung than Joong-myung himself, who was under constant surveillance.
"Would Dang Sao really go that far?" Dang Hwa-soo asked.
At Dang Hwa-soo's question, both Dang Joong-myung and Dang Hwa-young nodded firmly.
"He is absolutely the type to pull a stunt. We cannot allow Yoo-sung to get seriously hurt because of him. Never forget that the boy is a guest we begged to bring along."
In truth, the assistance of the Heavenly Sword Academy wasn't strictly necessary.
Dang Joong-myung simply needed people he could trust with his life.
Knowing how much his daughter and son-in-law worried about Yoo-sung entering the Jianghu, he had to ensure the boy returned safely.
"I will do my best as well, but my direct involvement might only give them an excuse to counterattack. You two must support him to the best of your abilities."
"Yes, grandfather!"
"Understood!"
At Dang Joong-myung's earnest request, the siblings answered with resolute expressions.
Only after hearing their firm replies did Dang Joong-myung finally feel at ease, turning his full attention to preparing for the future.
Finally, the day of the official inauguration ceremony of the Sichuan Righteous Alliance arrived.
The Qingcheng Sword Zone, Woo Il-seo, stood on the highest platform and expressed his gratitude to all those who had gathered.
"This humble one has taken a position far above his station. I believe our fellow martial artists have placed me here so that I may traverse the lands even more diligently, restoring order to Sichuan. I pledge to everyone gathered here today: those who plunge Sichuan into chaos will find no mercy, whether they belong to the Demonic Path, the Orthodox sects, or even the Heretic Alliance."
Clap, clap, clap!
The crowd erupted into applause at Woo Il-seo's words.
The intelligence and upright, unyielding nature of the man who had led the resurgence of the Qingcheng Sect were recognized by all.
"Though the flashy title of Alliance Leader falls to me, I rely entirely on the strength of each noble family to guide me. If I ever cross the line or lose my sight, do not hesitate to rebuke me."
True to his reputation as the Qingcheng Sword Zone, Woo Il-seo humbled himself while empowering those around him.
"I hope everyone enjoys the festivities prepared for today. I thank all our fellow martial artists for coming. However, I have one small request..."
Woo Il-seo paused, his gaze shifting toward the main gate.
Following his gaze, the crowd instinctively turned their heads toward the entrance.
Thud.
With heavy, rhythmic footsteps, eccentric monks clad in drab Buddhist robes entered the plaza.
Though they numbered only twenty-two, their sheer presence was utterly overwhelming.
Every single one of them was an Ultra-Peak master, belonging to the ultimate demon-hunting force: the Demon-Slaying Unit.
At their head stood a middle-aged eccentric monk, the Demon-Slaying Monk, Ma Jun-gong.
Lightly ignoring the myriad of stares directed at him, Ma Jun-gong scanned the crowd.
His cold, indifferent gaze made the onlookers instinctively shrink back.
As his eyes swept across the plaza, they lingered briefly on Yoo-sung before finally settling on Alliance Leader Woo Il-seo.
"I heard the righteous heroes of Sichuan have gathered to achieve a great purpose."
Woo Il-seo offered a slight nod in lieu of an answer.
"Yet, I do not understand why I sense a sinister, demonic energy lingering in this very vicinity."
Demonic energy.
Everyone present knew that this was Ma Jun-gong's term for demonic qi.
Murmurs broke out instantly.
"Is the rumor actually true?"
"No way! A demonic practitioner inside the Sichuan Righteous Alliance?"
"Aren't they talking about the captives they brought in?"
It was a moment where confusion and conspiracy bloomed instantly, as if on cue.
Watching the scene unfold, Ma Jun-gong stomped his foot heavily.
"Silence. I exist solely to eradicate evil. From this moment, I shall resolve the questions regarding the demonic qi I have sensed."
With that, Ma Jun-gong acted without a shred of hesitation.
Tap.
"You."
"You!"
"And you."
No fewer than three martial artists failed to avoid his piercing gaze.
Though they attempted to resist immediately, they were swiftly subdued.
Several others were pointed out by Ma Jun-gong in succession.
A brief commotion ensued, but the core members of the Sichuan Righteous Alliance remained remarkably calm.
While many onlookers wondered at their composure, Ma Jun-gong bowed his head, his task complete.
"There was a brief disturbance. As an apology, I shall offer a treasured item of mine to the Sichuan Righteous Alliance."
Ma Jun-gong presented a brilliant, glowing pill.
Everyone stared, utterly mesmerized, at the pill in his hand.
As the pill was quickly wrapped up, leaving the crowd with a sense of lingering regret, its identity was revealed.
"It is a Lesser Pill of Rejuvenation. I pray it is used for a righteous cause. Once again, I wish the Sichuan Righteous Alliance boundless prosperity."
"Thank you. We shall put the Lesser Pill of Rejuvenation to good use. You have traveled far, so please rest well. If you sense demonic qi anywhere else, feel free to deal with it as you see fit."
Hearing Woo Il-seo's words, everyone present realized the truth.
He was the one who had summoned the Demon-Slaying Monk of Masal Temple.
This entire situation had been carefully orchestrated by Woo Il-seo.
Unlike Heo Yoo, this man actually has a brain.
As Yoo-sung, who had been watching silently, turned to leave with a faint smile, a beautiful woman approached his side.
"Could you spare me a moment?"
A voice as clear as jade beads stopped Yoo-sung in his tracks.
"Hello. I am Jegal Jong-mi of the Jegal Clan."
"Do Yoo-sung."
Yoo-sung's brief reply was laced with sheer annoyance.
Stare.
Yoo-sung found the intense stares directed at him and Jegal Jong-mi quite amusing.
They say the flower of the Jegal Clan possesses a beauty that can move the world. It wasn't an exaggeration.
Jegal Jong-mi was known as the Heavenly Flower, one of the Ten Flowers of the Jianghu.
A flower that reached the heavens.
In another sense, she was also a martial artist possessing wisdom that reached the heavens.
Originally, her title referred to the latter, but over time, people began to prioritize her beauty over her intellect.
"Here?" Yoo-sung asked, noting the crowd's attention.
The appearance of Jegal Jong-mi, the beloved granddaughter of Jegal Min, the Chief Military Advisor of the Murim Alliance, had drawn immense interest from the start.
By delivering congratulations on behalf of the Jegal Clan rather than the Murim Alliance, she subtly signaled that the bond between the Five Great Clans was still intact.
The Tang Family also understood her intention and was inwardly pleased.
They wished for stronger backing, but since that would mean a complete break with the Murim Alliance, asking for more would be pure greed.
Jegal Jong-mi, who had planned to leave immediately after the ceremony, changed her mind upon spotting Yoo-sung.
Her primary reason for coming to Sichuan was to experience Do Yoo-sung for herself.
"Do you know a quiet place? This is my first time in Sichuan, so I'm not familiar with the area."
"I don't know many places either, but I know a spot where we can talk in peace."
"Then let's go there."
"Sure."
Ignoring the curious glances directed at them, the two walked away.
Yoo-sung took Jegal Jong-mi to a small tavern near the alliance headquarters.
It was the tavern run by Ha Tae-gun and Do Yoo-mi. At Yoo-sung's request, a quiet room had been prepared.
"Drink."
Yoo-sung offered her tea, his demeanor incredibly relaxed and indifferent.
He really is different.
He seemed even more detached and unbothered by his surroundings than the rumors suggested.
Jegal Jong-mi was highly confident in her own beauty.
There was a time when she felt frustrated that her intellect was overshadowed by her looks.
But over time, she realized how foolish and arrogant that pride was.
If an opponent was bewitched by her beauty and let their guard down, she simply had to exploit that opening with her intellect.
Since realizing this, she often used her appearance to steer conversations in her favor.
"Do you know of a man called the Wind-Slaying Sword?"
A martial artist's epithet—one who cuts the wind with his sword.
It was a title very familiar to Yoo-sung.
"Ten years ago, was it? That was the first title I earned in the Jianghu. Almost no one calls me that anymore. You did your research to dig that up."
Even when confronted with her information network, which had uncovered the title he used right before joining the Murim Alliance's Vagabond Unit, Yoo-sung remained unfazed.
"Are you the missing leader of the Vagabond Unit, the Wind-Slaying Sword?"
"To be precise, I was the temporary leader. The leader and deputy leader died, so I ended up leading them for about a year. It was a massive pain. They ignored my requests to send a proper unit leader and kept sending us to the most dangerous places instead."
There was a sharp edge to his words.
"I don't have the authority to represent the Murim Alliance, but... I apologize for that. The Chief Military Advisor found out too late and tried to rectify it, but..."
She trailed off, unable to finish.
The martial artists carrying Jegal Min's orders had never managed to rendezvous with the Vagabond Unit Yoo-sung led.
"If you're truly sorry, why don't you track down the families of the men who were in that unit?"
"We are trying."
"A lie."
As Yoo-sung clicked his tongue and made his assertion, Jegal Jong-mi offered a bitter smile.
The existence of the Vagabond Unit was never to be revealed to the world.
That was the rule of the Murim Alliance.
"This is going to get annoying," Yoo-sung muttered.
"It won't. I erased all the records before coming here."
He didn't bother asking how.
If she said she did it, he would believe her for now.
If things truly became annoying, he could always solve it with brute force.
But before that...
"Why did you come looking for me?"
Startled by the sudden shift in Yoo-sung's aura, she froze for a brief second.
But she quickly composed herself and stated her business.