Chapter 403
Four days later.
A resplendent building now stood before the bamboo grove at the Martial Alliance's North Gate.
Beyond the towering white stone walls lay a beautiful garden with a small pond, and at its center stood a grand pavilion.
Adjacent to it were lodgings spacious enough to accommodate over a hundred unit members, complete with a small dining hall inside.
It was truly on par with the living quarters of a first-tier unit. And astonishingly, it had been constructed in just four days by mobilizing hundreds of laborers.
—They say the successor of the Seonhwa Merchant House hired all the famous carpenters and workers from Henan in one go.
—Not only that, but he orders dozens of taels worth of food for every meal!
—The first-tier sword unit members nearby saw that pavilion in the bamboo grove and joked about whether they could move in there instead.
Within the Martial Alliance, the temporary headquarters built at the North Gate had become the talk of the alliance.
A supreme unit created to handle major and minor affairs in the Martial World that even the Alliance's sword units couldn't resolve.
And Seon-u Jin, a candidate for its commander, had shown the Martial Alliance's members just what the power of wealth could accomplish.
Thud, thud.
A figure approached the entrance of the North Gate bamboo grove pavilion where Bu Eun-seol resided.
Clad in blue robes, their face was strikingly pale, their eyes clear and bright.
At a glance, they resembled a delicate young lady who had never touched martial arts, but in truth, they were one of the Martial Alliance's most renowned female masters.
Yuk Cheong-a.
"My heavens."
As the Hall Leader of Yeonseong Hall, her days were packed with endless duties.
Outside of mealtimes, she barely had a moment to spare for wandering around the Alliance.
So when she heard rumors that the successor of the Seonhwa Merchant House had built a palace-like pavilion at the North Gate, she had merely scoffed.
"I thought it was just an exaggerated tale..."
But now, seeing the completed structure with her own eyes, she realized the rumors hadn't done it justice.
"Young Hero Seon-u."
As she stepped inside the pavilion, her jaw dropped once more.
Within, there was a training ground where two martial artists were sparring in pairs.
They were none other than the two unit members Bu Eun-seol had selected—Tae Mu-ryong and Jeong Jong-do.
That... that's...
Those two had originally worn shabby clothes and wielded only well-maintained but worn-out weapons.
Yet now, they were dressed in gleaming attire, and even their weapons had been replaced.
Their drastically changed outfits and dazzling armaments made them look almost like performers in an opera.
"Hall Leader Yuk."
Recognizing Yuk Cheong-a, Tae Mu-ryong and Jeong Jong-do clasped their hands in greeting.
"What brings you here?"
Up close, the sight was even more dazzling.
Tae Mu-ryong, now clad in splendid martial robes, had transformed into a dashing warrior with a retractable silver trident strapped to his back.
Jeong Jong-do, who once sported a scruffy beard, now wore a magnificent saber at his waist in place of his old sword.
"Where is Young Hero Seon-u?"
"He should be at Sangrim Pavilion by now."
"S-Sangrim Pavilion?"
"Ah, it's a pavilion inside. Allow me to escort you."
Tae Mu-ryong guided Yuk Cheong-a through the grand courtyard to a small pavilion standing beside a pond.
There, a slender young man sat gracefully sipping tea—none other than Seon-u Jin, the successor of the Seonhwa Merchant House.
Good heavens.
In a situation where a mission could drop at any moment, he had built a proper garden in a temporary headquarters and was now indulging in leisurely tea?
And the tea he was drinking—wasn't that Silver Leaf Tea, a rare specialty from the Western Regions that was difficult to obtain even with money?
"Commander. Hall Leader Yuk has arrived."
A flash passed through Yuk Cheong-a's eyes.
He's already established discipline and order?
Judging by Tae Mu-ryong's respectful demeanor and speech, this place already operated with the same strict discipline and structure as any proper Martial Alliance unit.
This is absurd.
No matter how exceptional a person was, how could he have made those two fiercely independent martial artists sincerely follow him in less than ten days?
"Hall Leader Yuk."
As Bu Eun-seol clasped his hands in greeting, Yuk Cheong-a did the same.
"Young Hero Seon-u."
Once the two exchanged pleasantries, Tae Mu-ryong bowed his head respectfully.
"Then I shall take my leave."
As Tae Mu-ryong hurried away, Yuk Cheong-a let out an admiring sigh while watching his retreating figure.
"This is astonishing."
"What is?"
"You've already turned them into loyal subordinates."
"I wouldn't call them loyal subordinates yet."
"You wouldn't? They seem even more disciplined than my own hall's members."
When she teased him with a half-joking remark, Bu Eun-seol set down his teacup and shook his head.
"Since childhood, I've learned the ways of merchants in handling people. They follow me simply because I've given them benefits using my wealth."
A lie.
Bu Eun-seol had already experienced turning the Demonic Path's most unruly brats—the Rootless Squad—into fiercely loyal subordinates.
Compared to that, winning over the hearts of those two simple and honest Righteous Faction members had been child's play.
The natural dignity and gravitas exuding from Bu Eun-seol's demeanor had already begun to earn their genuine loyalty.
"That does make sense."
Yuk Cheong-a readily accepted the explanation.
As the heir of a merchant house, it was only natural that he had learned from childhood how to command people and lead an organization.
Moreover, with such formidable financial power at his disposal, bending two subordinates to his will must have been trivial.
Just as Yuk Cheong-a finished organizing her thoughts and blinked, Bu Eun-seol spoke up.
"By the way, what brings you here?"
"Ah, right!"
Only then snapping back to attention, she handed him a letter.
"Your mission has finally been assigned."
As Bu Eun-seol accepted the letter, she lowered her voice.
"As written in the letter, you may use any means necessary, and there's no strict deadline. This mission has been given to both temporary units simultaneously. I sincerely hope you succeed."
"Understood."
Once Yuk Cheong-a left, Bu Eun-seol unfolded the assignment slip.
Then, with a faint scoff, he shook his head.
"So they intend to keep playing this game to the very end."
The slip bore the following mission:
—Resolve the conflict between the Ancient Sword Sect and the Falling Blossom Sect.
Bu Eun-seol set the letter down beside his teacup.
The Ancient Sword Sect and the Falling Blossom Sect were second-rate sects located in Shaanxi's Gongchang Prefecture. Not only were they geographically close, but they also shared the same martial arts lineage.
Over two hundred years ago, Han Seung and Cheong Yeon-yeon, who had been lovers, had stumbled upon a secret manual containing the ultimate art of Light Severing, the signature technique of the Quick Sword Sect.
Unfortunately, the manual had been severely damaged, with more than half of its contents lost.
In the end, the two attempted to interpret the manual themselves, but their differing views on martial arts led not to reconciliation, but to a fierce dispute.
Unable to bridge their differences, Han Seung and Cheong Yeon-yeon eventually parted ways, each walking their own path.
Later, after retiring from the murim in their old age, the sects they founded became the Ancient Sword Sect and the Falling Blossom Sect, respectively.
Given their proximity and the lingering resentment passed down from their predecessors, the two sects had never been on particularly good terms.
Still, they had managed to coexist without any major disputes or conflicts—until recently.
Lately, their disciples had begun growling at each other like beasts, and soon enough, blood was spilled in open battle.
The clashes escalated to absurd levels, to the point where disciples from both sects would now draw their cursed weapons at the mere sight of one another.
Worse still, the fights broke out indiscriminately—whether in crowded guest inns or bustling marketplaces—
And the ones bearing the brunt of the damage were the merchants and common folk.
With the surrounding civilians suffering greatly from the sect wars, the Martial Alliance finally decided to intervene—
By dispatching Bu Eun-seol and Cheon Hwa-in's temporary units.
The next day, North Gate Bamboo Grove, Martial Alliance Headquarters. The temporary unit's meeting room.
Bu Eun-seol, along with his subordinates Tae Mu-ryong and Jeong Jong-do, sat with grave expressions.
"This isn't a mission—it's outright rigged in Cheon Hwa-in's favor."
Tae Mu-ryong, staring at the letter on the table, shook his head in disbelief.
"Even if two second-rate sects like the Ancient Sword Sect and the Falling Blossom Sect went to war, why would the Martial Alliance bother mediating?"
He let out a sigh before continuing.
"These two sects operate within the Mount Hua Sect's territory. If the Mount Hua Sect stepped in, they'd force a reconciliation whether they liked it or not."
"I share the same opinion."
Jeong Jong-do spoke with a gloomy expression.
"Aren't we just temporary units of the Martial Alliance? But Cheon Hwa-in—that man has the Mount Hua Sect backing him. A single word from him would end the conflict."
Their arguments were rational and well-founded.
Yet Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
"That may not necessarily be the case."
He insisted on using honorifics even with his subordinates—
Because that was the personality of Seon-u Jin, the heir of the Seonhwa Merchant House, a persona meticulously crafted by the Divine Calculator.
The character was designed to be gentle and benevolent, and even if he had to gradually adjust his disposition later, for now, he had to calmly adhere to the Divine Calculator's settings.
"What do you mean, it may not be the case?"
At Jeong Jong-do's question, Bu Eun-seol smiled faintly.
"Human conflicts ultimately boil down to emotions. And Cheon Hwa-in—that man is arrogant by nature, with an overwhelming sense of pride."
He continued in a composed tone.
"Rather than investigating the details, he'll use the Mount Hua Sect's influence to resolve things quickly. Because he wants to end this pointless test as soon as possible and become the Martial Alliance's Great Leader."
Pausing briefly, Bu Eun-seol then spoke with firm conviction.
"No matter how small a sect may be, its leader still has pride. But given Cheon Hwa-in's temperament, he won't handle this carefully or wisely."
After a brief pause, he spoke with resolute certainty.
"Moreover, since this conflict stems from deeply rooted emotions, even brandishing the Mount Hua Sect's influence won't resolve it easily."
Bu Eun-seol's gaze shifted between Tae Mu-ryong and Jeong Jong-do, his pupils glinting with profound insight.
"We must keep that in mind and perfectly orchestrate the reconciliation between the two sects. Only then will the Martial Alliance have no grounds for complaint."
The two men blinked in surprise.
Not only did Bu Eun-seol's analysis strike them as remarkably accurate, but they couldn't even begin to guess the plan he had in mind.
"If the Deputy Leader has already devised a brilliant solution, shouldn't we hurry and arrive as soon as possible to settle the matter?"
Jeong Jong-do spoke with an uneasy expression.
"Cheon Hwa-in—we can't ignore the possibility that he might resolve the issue outright."
Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
"Though the letters were delivered simultaneously, Cheon Hwa-in has Elder Gu backing him. He's likely already left for Shaanxi."
Then, with a composed expression, he looked at the unit members and continued.
"So there's no need to rush. Let's proceed slowly while uncovering the inside story."
Tae Mu-ryong and Jeong Jong-do exchanged glances.
But for now, unable to decipher Bu Eun-seol's intentions, they could only bow their heads and clasp their hands in silent acknowledgment.
Having departed the Martial Alliance with Tae Mu-ryong and Jeong Jong-do, Bu Eun-seol soon arrived at Gongchang Prefecture.
Instead of immediately visiting the two sects, he handed Tae Mu-ryong and Jeong Jong-do a substantial sum of money upon arrival.
He then ordered them to gather information on the Ancient Sword Sect and the Falling Blossom Sect from intelligence networks and the lower-class populace.
—No detail is too trivial. Leave no stone unturned.
Truthfully, if Bu Eun-seol had secretly ordered the Death Soul Squad, they could have uncovered everything—from the two sects' financial states down to the number of chopsticks in their kitchens.
But why waste time and money ordering an investigation through Tae Mu-ryong and Jeong Jong-do, who had no prior experience handling intelligence?
'These two must become capable subordinates who can support me until I secure a key position in the Martial Alliance.'
In the future, Bu Eun-seol would need to move between the Demon Hall and the Martial Alliance.
Thus, he required skilled subordinates who could adeptly handle various matters within the Martial Alliance.
And both men possessed the necessary qualities.
Tae Mu-ryong had keen insight, eloquence, and a talent for rallying people.
Jeong Jong-do, on the other hand, excelled in information analysis, situational judgment, and possessed sharp intuition.
Both were merely overshadowed by their humble sect origins. Their martial talent was also exceptional—if their shortcomings were addressed, they could soar like phoenixes given wings.
Bu Eun-seol intended to nurture their talents and swiftly elevate them to key positions within the Martial Alliance.
***
At the Separate Garden of Cheongwon Inn in Gongchang Prefecture...
Before a beautiful garden planted with rare flowers stood a small pavilion.
Inside it, two middle-aged men sat facing each other—one with sharp, piercing eyes, the other bald.
They were none other than Heo Un-chang, the sect leader of the Ancient Sword Sect, and Baek Do-gwang, the sect leader of the Falling Blossom Sect—both second-rate sects based in Gongchang Prefecture.
The two silently glared at one another.
Before long, footsteps echoed, and a man in white robes entered the garden.
It was Cheon Hwa-in.
"Thank you for responding to my invitation."
Thanks to the assistance of Gu Jeong-in, an elder of the Mount Hua Sect, Cheon Hwa-in had been briefed on the mission beforehand.
He had immediately traveled to Gongchang Prefecture and summoned Heo Un-chang and Baek Do-gwang here.
—What an arrogant bastard.
Despite arriving half an hour late, Cheon Hwa-in wore a leisurely expression, causing thick veins to bulge on the two sect leaders' foreheads.
Even if they led second-rate sects, they were still sect leaders.
Who did this man think he was, summoning them to an inn as if issuing a command?
Their anger simmered beneath the surface.
Had their sects not been under the Mount Hua Sect's sphere of influence—
Had Cheon Hwa-in not been a first-generation disciple of Mount Hua and a rising master from the orthodox faction—
They would never have accepted this summons, even if a blade were held to their throats.
"Well? What was so urgent that you called us here?"
At Heo Un-chang's question, Cheon Hwa-in smiled and spoke.
"I heard that two sects, once on good terms, have recently been at odds?"
His gaze shifted between Heo Un-chang and Baek Do-gwang before he continued.
"And that this conflict has escalated to the point where merchants and even commoners are suffering the consequences."
The two sect leaders coughed awkwardly before responding.
"Our disciples had a minor clash due to hurt feelings."
"I'll ensure greater discipline from my side."
Cheon Hwa-in nodded.
"That's good, but wouldn't the best solution be for the two of you to fully reconcile?"
"Reconcile?"
Heo Un-chang and Baek Do-gwang wore identical expressions of disbelief.
"What do you mean by suddenly demanding reconciliation?"
"We've heard the story. Initially, the two of you weren't on such bad terms, were you?"
"But when the relationship between your successors rapidly deteriorated, your disciples eventually grew to despise each other."
Cheon Hwa-in spoke as if he were an elder, admonishing the two sect leaders with composed dignity.
"However, is it truly necessary for two sects walking the same path in the same region to sharpen their blades against one another?"
When the two still showed no reaction, Cheon Hwa-in's expression turned solemn.
"If the two of you publicly reconcile, your disciples will no longer fight. That is what I've come to request."
Heo Un-chang and Baek Do-gwang inwardly cursed.
—What the hell...
The truth was, the reason the two martial arts schools had clashed was far more complex.
Yet this disciple of the Mount Hua Sect, without even properly understanding the circumstances, was blindly pressuring the two sect leaders to reconcile.
"Sect matters should be handled within the sect."
At Heo Un-chang's words, Baek Do-gwang suppressed his fury and nodded stiffly.
"We will caution our disciples once more. There's no need for the Mount Hua Sect to concern themselves with such affairs."
"You've misunderstood me."
Cheon Hwa-in rubbed his forehead with a finger.
"What I want is for the conflict between your two sects to end immediately. Do you not understand?"
The threatening tone made Heo Un-chang and Baek Do-gwang fall silent.
Though they said nothing, their resentful expressions alone conveyed their refusal.
'Good words won't work, then.'
Cheon Hwa-in clicked his tongue inwardly, exhaled a sigh, and shook his head.
"Do you truly wish for me—no, for my sect—to intervene?"
And so, he finally deployed his last resort.
What if the Ancient Sword Sect and the Falling Blossom Sect, mere second-rate sects, fell out of favor with the Mount Hua Sect? And what if the Mount Hua Sect exerted pressure?
The two sects would see their standing and dignity as martial factions shaken to the core.
"...Understood."
Heo Un-chang and Baek Do-gwang had no choice but to nod.
"You've made me a promise."
Cheon Hwa-in spoke cheerfully.
"I expect you to publicly announce your formal reconciliation as soon as possible."
Without even looking back, he immediately rose and left.
"Then, until next time."
Heo Un-chang and Baek Do-gwang could only bite their lips as they watched Cheon Hwa-in disappear into the distance.
And a few days later—
—The conflict between the two sects was resolved immediately.
Rumors spread throughout Gongchang Prefecture that the two sects had signed a reconciliation agreement.
Cheon Hwa-in promptly sent a messenger pigeon to the Martial Alliance, reporting that he had resolved the matter.
But then, something unexpected happened.
With the two sects unable to fight due to Cheon Hwa-in's coercion—
They mobilized the Black Syndicates to encroach on each other's commercial and territorial interests.
—This is even worse than outright brawling!
With the backing of the two sects, the Black Syndicates engaged in a power struggle, and once again, the common people bore the full brunt of the damage.
"Are you joking with me now?"
Furious, Cheon Hwa-in immediately sought out the sect leaders and tried to intimidate them, but it no longer worked.
"We wrote the reconciliation agreement as you demanded and had the officials mediate. What more do you want from us?"
At their words, Cheon Hwa-in's anger flared like wildfire.
"Are you mocking me? Then why aren't you stopping your disciples from manipulating the Black Syndicates into fighting?"
"That is not our concern."
"Do you even hear yourself right now?"
Cheon Hwa-in's eyes burned as he unleashed a threatening aura.
"Or are you saying my request was laughable?"
As his expression and tone grew increasingly disrespectful, the sect leaders could no longer hold back.
"We tolerated your unreasonable demands out of respect for the Mount Hua Sect's reputation. But this is too much."
They spoke in unison.
"Are you the Supreme Martial Lord? Or is the Mount Hua Sect the Supreme Martial Lord? Let's contact the Martial Alliance and settle this properly."
Cheon Hwa-in flinched.
'How did the Martial Alliance come into this?'
For the two sect leaders to suddenly bring up the Murim Top Gang—
Didn't that mean they already knew he had come on a mission assigned by the Martial Alliance?
'Could it be... those bastards?'
In an instant, Cheon Hwa-in recalled the face of the dim-witted-looking successor of the Splendid Merchant Group.
A man who should've stuck to selling goods but instead acted as if he were the Martial Alliance's chief—
Seon-u Jin.
"What will you do?"
Faced with the sect leaders' sharp resistance, Cheon Hwa-in had no choice but to retreat.
"Let's discuss this matter again later."
As he stepped outside, flames flickered in Cheon Hwa-in's eyes.
'Fine. If that's how it is, I'll make sure you fail too.'
If he had failed, then he would ensure their mission failed as well.
But he had no idea—
That despite dedicating himself solely to martial arts, he was woefully unequipped to navigate the Rivers and Lakes, where schemes and power plays ran rampant.
And even if a hundred years passed—
He would never be a match for that dim-witted-looking merchant group successor he had always looked down upon and dismissed.