Infamy and Fame (1)
"I will now list the black path forces that the Myeol Sa Army has successively annihilated."
Gadeuksang folded the document.
"Led by the Yin Demon Group, followed by the Green Forest's Giáo Khu Village, the Flame Sword Hall, the Iron Death Fortress, the Ghost Blade Sect, the Steel Beam Sect, and..."
"The Crimson Demon Society. That concludes the report."
The assembly was stunned.
"The Crimson Demon Society? You don't mean that assassination organization, do you?"
"That's correct."
The peak experts exchanged dazed glances.
The Crimson Demon Society wasn't one of the top ten assassination groups in the martial world, nor did its leader possess peerless martial prowess.
Yet it was dangerous all the same.
Every assassination outfit in the jianghu had its lines it wouldn't cross—refusing hits on children, steering clear of high officials, that sort of thing.
The Crimson Demon Society ignored every single one. For the right price, they'd kill anyone—a ruthless band of murder-for-hire killers.
And to top it off, they wielded gunpowder for their hits, procured from gods-knew-where.
Such a group had fallen to the Myeol Sa Army, which numbered fewer than fifty.
This was no mere skirmish like the three hundred at Giáo Khu Village.
"Is this true?"
"It is."
"Does that even make sense? The Crimson Demon Society has survived this long precisely because no one knows their base. Did the Myeol Sa Army somehow uncover it?"
"Hardly."
"Then was it the Beggar Clan?"
"No."
Gadeuksang's eyes turned icy.
"The Crimson Demon Society struck first at the Myeol Sa Army."
"What?!"
Bam!
Several peak experts slammed their fists on the table. The air in the Grand Harmony Hall grew scorching hot.
The Myeol Sa Army was the first unit established after the reformed White Path Martial Alliance—the very first elite vanguard.
For them to be attacked by the Crimson Demon Society was a direct slap to the Alliance's face.
"The assault left a dozen Myeol Sa soldiers with severe injuries. Fortunately, there were no fatalities."
"Those insolent bastards!"
Pungbyeokja of the Qingcheng Sect asked urgently.
"Are they being treated? How bad are the wounds?"
Most of the Myeol Sa soldiers hailed from the Nine Great Sects. Small wonder his heart skipped a beat.
Gadeuksang nodded.
"We've summoned the best physicians available and assigned them immediately. Given their exceptional martial prowess, they're recovering swiftly."
"Phew."
Pungbyeokja sank into his chair with a sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness. Truly a blessing."
These were men who wielded poison, hidden weapons, explosives—every forbidden tool of peril.
Even masters could perish from deadly venom or a blast from a firebomb. No deaths was a miracle.
"However."
Jegal Munho inquired.
"Who the hell commissioned the Crimson Demon Society?"
A flicker of unease crossed Gadeuksang's face.
"We couldn't determine that."
"Hmm."
"Myeol Sa Army Leader Yeon Hojeong took a small detachment, tracked the assassins, and stormed their northern Jiangxi stronghold. Amid the fierce battle, someone detonated the main base."
"What?!"
"Most of the Crimson Demon assassins perished, and their foundation was obliterated. Calling it the end of their sect isn't an overstatement. But the client's identity is lost in the rubble."
"The self-detonation was from the Crimson Demon side?"
"We can't know for certain, but... the odds are high."
Jegal Munho nodded gravely.
"Fortunate, then. Tracking assassins is no easy task."
"Indeed. Breaching their lair was entirely Army Leader Yeon's achievement. He pursued them relentlessly to the end."
"I see."
Jegal Munho had deliberately emphasized the tracking, and Gadeuksang had deftly followed suit.
It was to preempt any controversy over Yeon Hojeong's qualifications.
His brilliance had shone, but with injuries among Nine Great Sect disciples, whispers could arise.
The two men had nipped that possibility in the bud.
Gadeuksang pressed forward assertively.
"Regrettable losses aside, the results speak for themselves. In just a few months, they've racked up monumental merits—virtually without Alliance support."
Yonghwa Jin-in spoke reluctantly.
"That couldn't be helped. The Alliance is only now getting properly underway. Funds and budgets were in chaos."
Gadeuksang smiled.
"Of course. Army Leader Yeon understands that. My point is, it's time we extend them support."
"Hmm."
"You've seen their trajectory. They can grow stronger, more meticulous. They've proven their worth, so as an advisor to the Intelligence Division, I request our full backing."
The assembly nodded.
Different ideals, different temperaments—but they were all veterans who'd navigated the brutal jianghu.
They knew how rare it was for newcomers to an organization to achieve such feats.
Then, Shaolin Abbot Gong Gong-daesa spoke.
"Talent selection for the Tang Ma Army is complete, as are assignments across units and organizations."
The room held its breath.
Moyong Gun's gaze on the abbot darkened subtly.
'As expected.'
Since the Alliance's founding, he'd been relentlessly busy—solidifying his power base.
But he hadn't reached that position yet.
'The weight of his words has changed.'
The world treated the Nine Great Sects and Six Great Clans as equals, but hierarchies existed within.
Shaolin stood unrivaled at the pinnacle—the Thousand-Year North Star of the martial world, its prestige undeniable.
"In my view, the Myeol Sa Army was too radical from inception. We tolerated it amid the Alliance's shaky foundations, but allowing a Tang-Ma Extermination vanguard to roam unchecked was improper."
The assembly nodded.
Of course, informants shadowed the Myeol Sa Army's every move—that was the bare minimum.
But organizations demanded proper oversight.
It had been excused until now, but no longer.
"However."
Gong Gong-daesa smiled faintly.
"The fervent army leader and his soldiers press on without faltering, even in the heat of youth. And in mere months, they've achieved such monumental feats."
"......"
"I don't know your thoughts, esteemed peak experts, but this monk believes granting them some leeway is fitting."
Ami Sect Leader Bokho Satae concurred.
"Special treatment isn't inherently bad. Moreover, I believe we should empower them regardless of their merits."
Pungbyeokja looked puzzled.
"Why so? Exceptions could breed resentment in other units."
"Resentment, yes. But we all owe the Myeol Sa Army a debt."
"A debt?"
Bokho Satae's eyes grew distant.
"They've gone forth to punish villains we'd all rather ignore—not just us here, but the entire White Path martial world. And they're mere youths not yet twenty."
"......"
"Merits aside, their resolve demands respect. Yet we've only sought to rein them in. It was natural, but we must reflect."
The Grand Harmony Hall fell solemnly quiet at her words.
She smiled at Yeon Wi.
"House Lord Yeon must be immensely proud."
"Pardon?"
"Wall Mountain's Tiger Lord—a title many question. Some dismiss jianghu rumors as unreliable to downplay it."
"......"
"But after these events—witnessing, feeling it firsthand—I've realized. You've raised an extraordinary son. For such talent to already wield banner and blade for the righteous cause is the Central Plains' great fortune."
Rare, resounding praise.
Yeon Wi bowed his head.
"He's still lacking in much. When Army Leader Yeon returns, I hope you'll offer stern guidance over mere praise."
Gong Gong-daesa burst into laughter.
"Haha, the nun speaks true. If anyone's learning, it's us. House Lord Yeon is far too humble."
Gadeuksang smiled to himself, unnoticed.
Sentiment toward the Myeol Sa Army was deepening.
Much more than anticipated.
No one would now question their purpose.
Gadeuksang was satisfied.
Then.
"Indeed."
All eyes turned.
To Moyong Gun.
"As stated, the Myeol Sa Army has earned great merits. Proper rewards are in order."
Gong Gong-daesa smiled.
"House Lord Moyong must be pleased."
He was the one who'd proposed the independent vanguard and nominated Yeon Hojeong.
That was the abbot's point.
Moyong Gun let out a hearty laugh.
"Ha! Pleased? Understatement. Though I half-expected this. Call it presumptuous, but Army Leader Yeon is among the finest talents I've seen. I foresaw results like these."
"Haha."
"That said, after crisscrossing the Central Plains these past months, their fatigue must be immense."
All nodded.
The Myeol Sa Army had crushed black path factions without respite.
In the black martial world, they were already dubbed the Death Unit, the Demon Unit.
"Thus, I propose."
An inscrutable malice flickered in Moyong Gun's eyes, unseen by all.
"The Tang Ma Army founding ceremony is imminent. Why not summon the Myeol Sa Army to the Alliance—for rewards and rest?"
"Excellent idea."
Bokho Satae agreed instantly.
"Constant tension wears body and mind. A timely summons wouldn't hurt."
Most peak experts voiced assent.
Gadeuksang glanced at Jegal Munho.
A smile played on the strategist's lips, but his eyes held subtle tension.
Gadeuksang spoke.
"First, we should inquire about their next movements before—"
Then Dang Gwan interjected.
"Personally, I'd like to gift the weary Myeol Sa Army something."
The peak experts were stunned.
The proud, venomous Tang patriarch saying such a thing?
"So summon them swiftly."
Gadeuksang's eyes wavered.
He quickly scanned Moyong Gun's face and felt a chill.
The man's smile, his gaze—profoundly meaningful.
As Gadeuksang opened his mouth again.
"If that's the peak experts' will, contact the Myeol Sa Army today."
Gadeuksang stared at Jegal Munho in shock.
The strategist spoke calmly.
"I hope the advisor will lend his efforts. Ensure the message reaches them swiftly."
Jegal Munho's eyes conveyed: Don't push further. Now's not the time to stir discord.
Gadeuksang ground his teeth.
"......I'll contact the Myeol Sa Army immediately."