"Aren't You Worried Anymore?"
Around the time Jekyeong was having a heart-to-heart with Cheongo, sharing this and that, another group of individuals was opening up to one another on a remote island far, far away from Black Flood Dragon Island.
"Senior Roh. It has been a long time."
Two deeply wrinkled old men and one middle-aged man stood facing each other. The middle-aged man, addressed as Senior Roh, looked at the old man who had called out to him with a cold, indifferent expression.
"It seems you have taken another step forward since we last met. You look even more dignified than before."
"Jong Gi-su. If you are going to keep spouting useless pleasantries, I am leaving."
Had the cultivators of Yangseo Lake—especially the human cultivators—heard the words casually slipping from this middle-aged man's mouth, they would have been utterly shocked. For the three-character name he had just uttered belonged to the Supreme Elder of the Geumyang Sect, the strongest human expert in all of Yangseo Lake.
"Why such a rush? Having lived for so long, shouldn't you be a bit more generous? Look at us. Though we are practically infants compared to you, Senior, we at least know how to enjoy a brief moment of leisure."
"Your path has been severed, so whether you like it or not, you have no choice but to enjoy your remaining days. But I am different."
Jong Gi-su gave a bitter smile. Beside him, Jang Mu-hyu clicked his tongue with a similar expression.
"Even after all this time, your tongue is as sharp as ever, Senior."
"It may have felt long to you, but it was not long to me. Enough. Now that you have prattled on to your heart's content, get to the point."
"Whew. Very well." Jong Gi-su let out a long sigh, his expression turning solemn. "Senior, I assume you have heard about the recent war."
"I have."
"A new Demon King has risen among the Beast Race."
For the first time, a flicker of emotion crossed the middle-aged man's face. He sneered at the two human cultivators, who wore grave expressions. "Was that not the very outcome you intended?"
"I will not deny it. However, we originally believed they would destroy each other. The Jansu Whale King is narrow-minded, and given his past actions, we were certain he would not tolerate a potential rival. And our prediction was not wrong."
"But what followed did not go as you planned."
Jong Gi-su remained silent, letting his quietness serve as an answer. This time, Jang Mu-hyu spoke up.
"Mu-ara bringing in the Heumwon Clan was entirely outside our expectations. To be honest, we still do not understand it. We never believed Mu-ara possessed such resourcefulness."
"Are you suggesting that rather than Mu-ara recruiting the Heumwon Clan, it was the Heumwon Clan that co-opted Mu-ara?"
"It is merely a speculation."
Only then did the middle-aged man's expression turn truly serious. Observing his reaction, the two human elders exchanged a glance before continuing.
"We cannot be certain of anything yet. But one thing is undeniable. There are now two Demon Kings among the Beast Race, and two factions led by them. And while those two may compete, they will not engage in an all-out war."
"Are you saying that the demon territories, which were once sufficient, will now be lacking? But that has nothing to do with us. The ones they will strike to secure more territory will not be us, but you humans."
"Of course. But we have already suffered one defeat. On the surface, it may seem the Beast Race retreated, but in reality, we lost. The two of us are already too old to face even the Whale King alone, and the juniors we painstakingly raised have not yet matured. In the face of the demon threat, our human race is already like a candle flickering in the wind."
"..."
"If the two Demon Kings rush in to carve up the human territory between them, we cannot guarantee our survival."
"That, too, is a matter for you humans. It has nothing to do with us."
Although the middle-aged man's expression had already darkened, he still shook his head.
"Perhaps. But what about afterward? What if they are not satisfied even after taking the human territory? Or what if, one day, another Demon King rises?"
"That is a leap in logic."
"Perhaps. But what has happened once, can it not happen twice?"
The middle-aged man saw right through the insidious intentions of these two old fledglings. It was a blatant, cliché attempt to drive a wedge between factions. Yet, putting aside their dark motives, he had to admit that their words held a chilling amount of realism. If the future truly unfolded as they described, the Beast Race would undoubtedly become a massive threat to them as well. No, in truth, they were already a threat. The emergence of the Heumwon Clan had already sounded an alarm in his tranquil mind.
"Please convey what we have said today, and the concerns you yourself are feeling, to Senior Ju. We ask for nothing more than that."
Jang Mu-hyu's dry voice brushed against his mind.
Not long after Jekyeong had Han Cheongyu distribute Muju's Smithing Secrets, an envoy arrived from the Whale King Palace.
The envoy this time was not Makgye, but a fierce-looking Great Demon Jekyeong had never seen before—and the fellow certainly lived up to his intimidating appearance.
After exchanging introductions in a tense atmosphere, the envoy abruptly barked a demand for submission to the Whale King Palace. Jekyeong responded with a cold sneer.
On the surface, it might have seemed like both sides were simply acting on their temper, but Jekyeong's reaction was the result of careful calculation. He figured that while his opponent might be stronger than Makgye, the gap wouldn't be too vast. At that level, he judged it was a fight well worth taking.
When one party came determined to force a submission and the other was resolved to stand their ground, the outcome was inevitable.
A fierce battle erupted just outside Black Flood Dragon Island.
Though their clash did not last long, its impact completely upended the surrounding area. Several nearby islands sank or were half-destroyed, and a thick, scalding mist hung over the neighboring waters for two whole days.
"You bastard! Just you wait!"
The two fought fiercely, but they could neither determine a victor nor establish who was superior. Once both confirmed that the other was no easy opponent, they backed away from each other in silence, as if by unspoken agreement.
"Hmph! Stop annoying me and get lost!"
"I see you have some skill, but do not be so arrogant! Do you truly think the Whale King cannot deal with the likes of you?"
"The one I told to get lost is you, not the Whale King! Stop dragging the Whale King into this when he has nothing to do with it, you pathetic coward!"
Jekyeong's mockery was relentless, but highly effective. The opponent, who had been threatening Jekyeong by invoking the Whale King's name, retreated with steam practically rising from his head. Jekyeong took a brief look around at the ruined surroundings before leaving the area.
Their clash had been an unexpected incident, and the battle itself was brief, lasting less than half a day. Yet, the news of their confrontation spread in all directions as if it had grown wings.
Naturally, this was the result of Jekyeong secretly ordering Hyeongu and his other subordinates to circulate the rumors. Jekyeong wanted the news to travel as quickly and widely as possible. Only then would the Demon Court and the Great Demons gathered under his shadow feel secure.
"Fellow Daoist Jekyeong. I heard you had a clash with Mo Su-u."
Less than five days after Jekyeong began spreading the rumors, Jang Yeong visited, his face brimming with delight.
"Mo Su-u? Ah, that guy." Jekyeong frowned and clicked his tongue.
"Indeed. He came with the intent to drag me to the Whale King Palace even if he had to beat me half to death, so we exchanged some blows. Though it ended without a clear conclusion."
"Aha. So it was true."
"But that happened only a few days ago. How did you already find out and make your way here?"
While Jekyeong was internally pleased with the diligence of Hyeongu and the other aquatic demons, he furrowed his brow, pretending to be completely in the dark. His expression practically demanded of Jang Yeong, 'Have you been spying on me?'
"How could I not? The rumors are already widespread. Surely, someone who dislikes Mo Su-u must have spread them on purpose. That ruffian practically makes a hobby out of creating enemies, so there are plenty of people both inside and outside the Whale King Palace who would rejoice at his embarrassment."
"Hmph. He was indeed an unpleasant fellow."
Seeing that Jekyeong seemed convinced, Jang Yeong seized the opportunity and raised his voice.
"Exactly. He is not only arrogant but also incredibly violent. But it is not just Mo Su-u; the entire Whale King Palace is like that. Just as a child resembles their parents, subordinates are bound to take after their master."
Jang Yeong excitedly poured out a stream of vitriol against the Whale King Palace. Jekyeong did not stop him, but he did not agree either, simply listening in silence.
"In any case, Fellow Daoist, please be careful. Since the Whale King Palace sent someone like Mo Su-u and he returned in disgrace, there is no telling what they might do next."
"Hmm. I shall keep that in mind."
Jang Yeong certainly possessed both brains and tact. Seeing that Jekyeong did not join in on the criticism of the Whale King Palace, he intuitively realized that Jekyeong's neutral stance remained unchanged, and he refrained from pushing any further.
'Still, this is fine. For now, this much is enough.'
Since the Whale King Palace had played a bad hand this time, unless some truly unexpected disaster occurred, this arrogant Black Dragon would never lean toward them.
'It is a relief Jo-gang did not act foolishly.'
If that ill-tempered fellow had acted as recklessly as usual, the one currently turned into a laughingstock might have been the Demon Court instead of the Whale King Palace.
"Is that so?"
Jo-gang was slightly taken aback by his older brother's indifferent attitude.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"No, it's just... I thought you would show a bit more of a reaction, Brother."
"A reaction? What kind of reaction?"
He looked overall similar to Jo-gang, but was noticeably larger in build. In particular, the two horns protruding from his temples were beyond threatening—they were downright sinister.
"That bastard Mo Su-u always claims to be favored by the Whale King. Have you heard of it?"
"I have. But isn't that just an empty rumor?"
"No. It is true."
"Huh?"
A gleam of mockery flickered in his crimson eyes.
"The Whale King certainly favors Mo Su-u. But the reason is simply because Mo Su-u is a piece of trash with nothing but a bad temper. That is why the Whale King can use him here and there without any worry."
So, if Mo Su-u called himself the Whale King's favored subject, it wasn't technically wrong. But that fool had no idea why he was favored, and even if he were to find out one day, he would never believe it.
"Since Mo Su-u is nothing but a piece of trash, why should I be surprised that someone defeated him?"
"Hmm. Then you have no interest in that Black Dragon, Brother?"
"No. Even if he is a lacking fellow, he is still a Flood Dragon, is he not? Of course I am interested. But my interest does not fluctuate over a mere piece of trash."
"I see. But it is a bit unexpected. I thought you would head straight to that Black Dragon, Brother."
Jo-gang did not try to tattle or instigate anything. He had no intention of doing so, but even if he did, he knew it would be useless. His brother was highly opinionated and stubborn, rarely swayed by the words of others. If he decided to do something, he would do it without being asked; if he didn't want to, no amount of ordering would make him. There was no need to waste breath.
"At any other time, I would have. But right now... the timing is bad."
"Since when did you care about things like timing, Brother?"
At Jo-gang's mocking question, his brother, Ha Yuseong, clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"In the past, I was in a position where I did not need to think, so I did not. Now, I must think, so I am doing so."
This time, Jo-gang did not joke. He had watched from the sidelines and knew just how much the Whale King had kept Ha Yuseong in check, both openly and in the shadows.
"Yangseo Lake is not small, but usable land is scarce. Since we and the Whale King Palace cannot afford to shed each other's blood, we have no choice but to lay our hands on other territories."
"Has it already been decided? I thought you said it was still too early last time."
"The situation has changed. The human bastards might drag the Gakchung Clan into this."
"What?"
The relaxed atmosphere instantly turned ice-cold. Jo-gang's eyes widened as he raised his voice.
"Drag the Gakchung Clan in? Don't tell me they have already joined hands?"
"For now, there are only circumstantial signs. But... the motive is more than sufficient. If we step forward to carve up and devour the human territory, the human race will not hold out. They must know this as well. If so, those cunning bastards will not sit idly by and wait for death."
"That is true. But Brother, when did you get so smart behind my back?"
"It is what the Simjeon Demon King said."
"Ah, no wonder."
"Hmm?"
As the crimson eyes flashed sharply, Jo-gang quickly corrected himself.
"No, it's nothing. Anyway, so? If the humans drag the Gakchung Clan in, wouldn't that be dangerous?"
"It is dangerous. That is why we must hurry. Those disgusting bugs are powerful but slow to act. We must solidify our position before they can intervene."
"And what if those bugs exceptionally move quickly this time?"
"Why ask such an obvious question? If that happens, then naturally..."
Ha Yuseong grinned. His razor-sharp teeth, resembling those of a shark, bared themselves in a menacing display.