Chapter 176
Chapter 176
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 176
Chapter Title: Burn It All
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The contents of the letter that Gui Je-gal had sent via Tang Gon were no different from the documents uncovered in the South Palace Clan's Dark Thunder Division's secret branch.
—Six years ago, after rumors spread of traces of the Sword Saint Heavenly Demon—who was known to have vanished in the Tianshan Mountains—being discovered in Kongtong Mountain, signs of involvement from the South Palace Clan and the Demonic Cult, centered around Kongtong Mountain, began to emerge bit by bit.
—At first, there was suspicion that it might simply be a ploy by the South Palace Clan's Dark Thunder Division to disrupt our family's intelligence network, but after multiple cross-verifications, it was determined that even the Dark Thunder Division had "discovered" it.
.
—Reports are also trickling in from the Demonic Cult that the Ghost Sect Leader has been spotted in Okmun Pavilion.
.
.
—Feng Hua Zhen's own investigation leans toward the high likelihood that the traces of the Sword Saint Heavenly Demon are genuine.
—Currently, the cave of Gwangseongja, known to be where the Sword Saint Heavenly Demon stayed, is under Kongtong Sect management, with all access strictly prohibited for outsiders.
—On the other hand, internal politics within the Kongtong Sect are complicated. A faction centered around the religious scholars is raising the banner against the Tang Clan.
—Various other pieces of information continue to emerge, but space is limited, so they are omitted here. More definitive reports will be sent later.
—Please preserve your health.
Among this, the three points that caught my attention the most were:
The high possibility that Master's traces were genuine. And that the South Palace Clan and Demonic Cult were salivating over it.
That the Ghost Sect Leader... had dared to step out without knowing his place.
Among the Five Traitors who betrayed Master, the Ghost Sect Leader boasted the most meticulous personality.
Unlike the North Sea Sect Leader, who always loved wandering about, this one had a heavy ass and never moved lightly.
Even when he did move, he never let those around him know, operating in secrecy and only reporting afterward.
Master had warned him several times that this could disrupt the New Cult's intelligence network, but the Ghost Sect Leader would just promise to be careful—then repeat the same behavior.
He was that paranoid about anyone catching wind of his movements.
He acted exactly like the ghost his name implied.
Yet, this bastard had been sighted in Okmun Pavilion?
Of course, it could be disinformation leaked by the Ghost Sect itself.
But given that it was a report forwarded to me by Gui Je-gal, the chances were it was real.
And my gut told me it probably was.
—The Ghost Sect Leader is after something.
That was my judgment.
Was he yelling for Master, who had gone into hiding, to show himself again?
Or challenging the one who took down the North Sea Sect Leader to come out?
Maybe it was a show of force to Dark Venerable.
Or perhaps negotiations with the South Palace Clan.
It could simply be to stir chaos in Kongtong Mountain.
Hell, maybe he was aiming for all of it.
I had no idea.
What the bastard really wanted.
But one thing was certain.
'He thinks I'm a fucking pushover?'
It was time to teach him exactly how the North Sea Sect Leader, strutting around with half-baked power, ended up with his head smashed in.
With that in mind,
I brought up marching out.
* * *
"...Marching out."
Heh.
Dark Venerable let out a light chuckle.
But the office was heavy with tension.
Because his eyes had sunk deep.
"You're even planning to take the fledglings? Does breaking the North Sea Old Monster once make you think the South Palace Clan or Demonic Cult are a joke?"
The suddenly demoted fledglings, the Cheoksa Trio, started chirping in protest.
『What the hell are you saying, young master! The Clan Head is pissed! Apologize for your slip-up! Hurry!』
『...We've only been in the Tang Clan branch for a day! And now back to Kongtong Mountain? Are you sane?』
『I'm fine with real combat anytime. But this is too rushed.』
From their perspective, getting dragged from mid-exam to Kongtong Mountain for a life-or-death battle, it was only natural to be baffled.
But I ignored them and shook my head at Dark Venerable.
"No way. If anything, I'm more scared now."
"And yet you're dragging around kids who haven't even passed muster, let alone properly learned Stormwind Dance? Planning a group suicide?"
"That's not it either."
"Then? That's all I'm hearing."
"We can do the necessary training on the way up to Gansu, can't we?"
"!?"
Dark Venerable's expression twisted oddly.
Like he was questioning my sanity.
Gong Son Beom and the Cheoksa Trio were the same.
"All the people who entered the Anti-Evil Punishment have already passed the preliminary exams—they're top-notch fighters. We can skip basic training, and they'll pick up Stormwind Dance or Perfect Formation without issue."
"Don't talk nonsense. If the Stormwind Corps could be whipped up overnight like that, we'd have done it ages ago—"
"I did it, though?"
When I boasted, Dark Venerable scowled.
"That's a special case, you brat! Don't act like the others can match you!"
"What if they can?"
"What?"
"Put it to a second exam. I'll prove the Anti-Evil Punishment can become the new Stormwind Corps. Stormwind Dance, Perfect Formation, and we'll crush the Demonic Cult and South Palace Clan to show you."
"......"
"In exchange, just provide a few simple supports. Assign some key instructors like Tang Gon."
A suffocating silence fell.
No one could speak easily.
Dark Venerable narrowed his eyes and spoke again.
"There's no downside for me in testing it that way. You handle it yourself, and it saves us manpower. But marching out is different. It's the first outing on the line for our clan—and the newly formed Alliance's honor. You know better than anyone we can't gamble recklessly."
"Then we'll move independently, without invoking the Tang Clan or Alliance name."
"Ha."
Tsk!
Dark Venerable clicked his tongue lightly.
But I didn't miss the smile tugging at his lips. That was definitely satisfaction.
Sure enough.
"Beom."
"Yes, Clan Head."
"Bring it."
"...Yes."
Gong Son Beom vanished, then reappeared clutching a stack of unknown documents.
"Burn it all."
Whoosh!
With a casual burst of brain energy from Gong Son Beom, the papers ignited in an instant.
Tang Gon stared at it blankly before asking me.
"Do you know what that was?"
"The second exam contents?"
"Right. There were all sorts of test plans for half a year of Stormwind Dance training and tactical strategies based on the groups from round one."
"!"
"!"
"!"
The Cheoksa Trio's eyes widened.
Canceling the second exam.
No small matter.
But I was nonchalant.
"Half a year is too long. By then, Kongtong Sect could fall into Demonic Cult or South Palace Clan hands."
"That was the point all along."
"!!"
Even I hadn't seen that coming.
Every word from Dark Venerable was radical.
"That's how we create the pretext to conquer—or save—Kongtong."
Seeing the smile on Dark Venerable's lips, I couldn't help but chuckle wryly.
This man always played moves beyond my imagination.
It was impressive.
Dark Venerable pulled a document from his drawer and shook it.
Stamped with a "Confidential" seal was a single line:
—Gansu Stability Plan for Kongtong Conquest.
He tossed the confidential document onto the blazing pile.
"But one word from you just now made this whole plan vanish."
"......"
I chuckled wryly again.
「How is it that someone from the Demonic Path thinks even more radically than us—」
「Luring the North Sea Sect Leader deep into Sichuan's martial world with himself as bait was shocking enough, but who could've imagined casually offering up one of the Nine Great Sects.」
「Since Kongtong Sect won't bend easily to the Alliance, throw it to the New Cult and South Palace Clan as bait, then step in as savior when Gansu martial world is in despair—」
「That secures momentum for the Alliance's launch and solidifies our foothold in Gansu. Solid strategy.」
「The pinnacle of hegemony. No wonder they call him the Western Tyrant.」
By sacrificing Kongtong Sect as bait, Dark Venerable gains in multiple ways.
Time to divert the New Cult and South Palace Clan's attention.
Time to form the Alliance and train the new Stormwind Corps.
And pretext to advance into Gansu martial world.
Just thinking about it sent chills down my spine.
How much blood would have soaked Kongtong Mountain if it had gone that way?
And it wouldn't have been good for me either.
I'd have been stuck in the Tang Clan branch for a full half-year at least.
But with Master's traces confirmed and solid evidence of South Palace Clan and Ghost Sect Leader's movements, I couldn't just sit here.
Dark Venerable rested his chin on his hands, his face stripped of all emotion.
"Sending only the Anti-Evil Punishment to Gansu would be unfair, wouldn't it? If we're rolling, we all roll together."
"......"
"Listen up, all of you."
In that instant, presences I hadn't sensed at all materialized from every direction.
The room had clearly been empty except for Dark Venerable.
They seemed to sprout from the ground.
The Green Venerable Corps.
Specifically, the Green Venerable First Unit, directly under the Clan Head.
"Per the proposal from the Nine Dragons Branch Leader's operations, all second exam contents will be replaced."
Every word he uttered filled the room.
"The new theme is the chivalry of Expelling Evil and Guarding Justice, and the righteousness of Boiling Demons and Extinguishing Evil."
Dark Venerable's words carried a spiritual weight.
Each one shook the soul, wielding influence like words of power.
"Training period: one month. Within that, each group must complete basic joint training including Stormwind Dance, and missions will be assigned for evaluation. Self-volunteering is also allowed. Third exam details to be decided later. End of announcement."
The Green Venerable Corps vanished completely.
Dark Venerable smiled coldly.
"Satisfied?"
I bowed deeply in silence.
"You boasted you could finish basic training en route, but that's impossible. Unlike your bravado, the new Stormwind Corps will be the Alliance's face. Mass casualties are unacceptable."
They were already precious family in my arms—I couldn't let them die meaningless deaths. Dark Venerable added that as an afterthought.
He'd use radical plays like sacrificing Kongtong Sect as bait, but he never crossed the line of "virtue."
—Those in my arms must be protected at all costs; those outside, I don't concern myself with.
That was his philosophy.
And.
That path of hegemony was exactly what I sought.
Perhaps Dark Venerable saw his own shadow in me.
"One month from now, I permit the march. Turn the Anti-Evil Punishment into elite troops by then. As requested, I'll assign instructors for it."
I bowed deeply again, offering a formal fist salute.
I pretended not to hear the heavy sighs from the Cheoksa Trio beside me.