Chapter 456
Singular Light Pavilion, Yeop Hyo-cheon's Office.
On the reception table inside, two teacups steamed gently.
And there, seated, was a woman so beautiful it stole one's breath—her skin as white as fresh snow, her nose bridge high and elegant, her eyes sharp with striking contrast between black and white.
None other than the prodigy rumored to be the next Chief Doctrine Commander of the Demon Hall: Dan So-ok, the Secret Order Lord.
"Me?"
Dan So-ok couldn't hide her surprise upon hearing Yeop Hyo-cheon's words.
She had already heard the news—that the Martial Alliance had deployed troops to Guizhou and initiated a factional conflict.
'But to entrust the negotiations to me... I never imagined such a thing.'
This matter, in truth, gave the Martial Alliance the moral high ground.
No matter how skillfully she negotiated, the Demon Hall was bound to suffer losses.
"If you can conclude this matter without incurring losses... then Lord Dan would secure an advantageous position, one worthy of guaranteeing her candidacy as the next Chief Doctrine Commander."
—Resolve this without losses.
Yeop Hyo-cheon was making an absurd, unreasonable demand.
Of course, if Dan So-ok could settle this, she would undoubtedly prove herself as the perfect candidate for Chief Doctrine Commander.
But the task was impossible from the start.
"Perhaps..."
Just as Dan So-ok shook her head, about to refuse, Yeop Hyo-cheon abruptly interjected.
"And wasn't Lord Dan engaged to the Martial Soul Lord? A rather close relationship, no?"
"...What?"
"There are whispers that the Martial Alliance could deploy troops all the way to Guizhou precisely because the Martial Soul Lord weakened the Hell Blood Citadel's faction."
He lifted his teacup with a leisurely expression.
"If Lord Dan handles this matter, nothing could be more ideal, don't you think?"
Yeop Hyo-cheon's meaning was clear.
—Since it's the fault of your future husband, shouldn't you, as his betrothed, take responsibility?
That was what he was implying.
Dan So-ok felt both joy and unease.
If it was for Bu Eun-seol's sake, she would gladly walk into hell itself with a smile.
But this matter couldn't be resolved with mere affection and sacrifice.
If she failed to produce concrete results, it might instead bring harm to Bu Eun-seol.
'If someone must resolve this... and if doing so is for his sake...'
After a moment of contemplation, Dan So-ok nodded.
"I will try."
"An excellent decision."
Yeop Hyo-cheon smiled and nodded.
"Then the burden of these negotiations shall fall upon the Secret Order Lord. I appreciate your efforts."
Yet the voice that followed, unlike his warm smile, was icy and ruthless.
"However, this negotiation concerns the Demon Hall's pride and the Martial Alliance's pride. Should we suffer losses, you will be held accountable."
In an instant, Yeop Hyo-cheon had transformed from a kindly elder into the cold, merciless face of the High Command.
But Dan So-ok, as if accustomed to this demeanor, clasped her hands together.
"Understood."
After her private audience with the Chief Doctrine Commander, Dan So-ok immediately departed the Demon Hall.
Leading the elite martial artists of the Myriad Demons Faction—the finest warriors under the Demons-Control Department—
She set out for Yeogyeong, where the Martial Alliance's Coiling Dragon Hall was stationed.
'Please, let this be resolved smoothly.'
She sought no recognition for herself.
She only wished to conclude this matter cleanly, so that Bu Eun-seol would not be blamed for weakening the Hell Blood Citadel's influence.
Meanwhile, Bu Eun-seol—having left the Martial Alliance with the Peak Leader's unit—was also heading toward Yeogyeong, where the Coiling Dragon Hall was stationed.
Upon arriving at Guwol Mountain near Chengdu, he found dozens of barracks set up along the mountain's foothills.
This was where the Coiling Dragon Hall had encamped to negotiate with the Demon Hall.
'As expected of one renowned for his negotiation skills.'
Bu Eun-seol's gaze deepened as he observed the barracks.
Normally, negotiations took place in luxurious guest inns or banquet halls in Chengdu—neutral grounds between sects—
Where discussions could be held in secrecy.
But the Coiling Dragon Hall's leader, Yeon Ja-gang, had deliberately set up camp at the foot of Guwol Mountain—
Right on the main trade route of the frontier merchants, within the Hell Blood Citadel's sphere of influence.
This meant that if negotiations with the Demon Hall failed to satisfy him,
He was prepared to remain stationed here long-term—even risking armed conflict.
"Wait here."
After instructing his unit to stand by outside the barracks, Bu Eun-seol strode toward Yeon Ja-gang's tent and announced clearly:
"Peak Leader Seon-u Jin, reporting."
But no response came from within.
"I have been dispatched by the Chief Doctrine Commander to assist the Coiling Dragon Hall in their mission—"
Just as Bu Eun-seol continued,
Swish.
A hunched figure emerged from the tent.
A middle-aged man covered in pockmarks, his eyes narrow and his appearance utterly unrefined.
None other than Yeon Ja-gang, leader of the Coiling Dragon Hall.
"Peak Leader Seon-u Jin pays his respects."
As Bu Eun-seol clasped his hands, Yeon Ja-gang gave a slight nod.
"Yeon Ja-gang."
Yeon Ja-gang. In his youth, he had been a rather renowned swordsman in Shaanxi.
But as he wandered the martial world, he came to realize that his skills and talents were not enough to command the Murim.
So he changed course early and became a martial artist of the Martial Alliance.
Though his martial arts were not exceptional, his strategic mind was outstanding.
Through relentless effort and life-threatening missions, he distinguished himself many times, and by the time he reached his fifties, he had finally become a hall leader—a man of tenacity.
"Why do you think this hall leader has come here?"
It was a somewhat abrupt question.
Bu Eun-seol studied Yeon Ja-gang's narrow eyes before speaking.
"I assume it is to reclaim the trade routes near Guwol Mountain under our alliance's control."
"Yes, correct. To achieve that, there will be fierce negotiations—and perhaps even armed conflict."
Yeon Ja-gang narrowed his already-slitted eyes further.
"But the negotiations will be handled by this hall leader. And if it comes to force, the Divine Guard Unit will be deployed."
Then, in a frigid voice, he added:
"Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Yeon Ja-gang had poured his life into serving and proving his loyalty to become Yuk Jang-cheon's trusted subordinate.
And though he had finally obtained the position of hall leader in his later years—
Suddenly, some young upstart from a merchant group had bypassed him entirely, meeting privately with Yuk Jang-cheon time and again.
From his perspective, there was no way he could view Bu Eun-seol favorably.
'He's telling me not to distinguish myself.'
Bu Eun-seol suppressed a bitter smile.
Yeon Ja-gang was wary of him rising in rank—
And now, he intended to ensure Bu Eun-seol would have no chance to achieve merit in these negotiations.
'This isn't the first time.'
Even when he had set out to become the successor of the Demon Hall, he had faced all kinds of discrimination and dismissal.
No matter how much Yeon Ja-gang struggled, it was pointless. Bu Eun-seol was already seated above his head.
"I understand."
When Bu Eun-seol answered politely and without hesitation, Yeon Ja-gang's brow furrowed.
But then—
"Hall Leader, it's Gu Jong-myeong."
Gu Jong-myeong, Yeon Ja-gang's trusted subordinate and deputy hall leader, approached with clasped hands.
"An envoy from the Demon Hall has requested an audience with you."
"Who is it?"
"The Lord of the Secret Order has arrived."
For a moment, Bu Eun-seol's eyebrow twitched.
The Demon Hall had many skilled negotiators who could outmaneuver Yeon Ja-gang.
No matter how sharp his mind was, of all people—why send Dan So-ok?
'This is the Chief Doctrine Commander's doing.'
Bu Eun-seol immediately guessed that the one who had issued the order was Yeop Hyo-cheon.
Most likely, the Hell Blood Citadel had protested, blaming the Martial Soul Lord for this mess.
Yeop Hyo-cheon must have acknowledged it—then urged Dan So-ok to take charge of the negotiations under the pretext of assisting the Martial Soul Lord.
After all, they were publicly engaged.
'If she succeeds, she'll be rewarded handsomely—no loss there. If she fails, he'll tie us together and use it to condemn us both.'
In truth, these negotiations were already a guaranteed loss for the Demon Hall.
Yeop Hyo-cheon intended to highlight this failure—not only to weaken Dan So-ok but also to emphasize his own mistake in diminishing the Hell Blood Citadel's influence.
'But that won't happen, Chief Doctrine Commander.'
Bu Eun-seol bit his lip.
If things continued like this, it was inevitable that he would clash not only with the Hell Blood Citadel but eventually with the Demon Hall's forces as well.
"The Lord of the Secret Order, hm? The Demon Hall has found an amusing scapegoat."
Yeon Ja-gang smirked as he spoke.
"They deliberately sent the Martial Soul Lord's fiancée."
Gu Jong-myeong nodded.
"She said she would be waiting at the Mutual Love Pavilion, the midway point."
"Understood. I'll head there shortly."
Then, Yeon Ja-gang turned his cold gaze back to Bu Eun-seol.
"Since it's the Chief Doctrine Commander's order, you may stay at a location slightly removed from this barracks. If there's anything you're needed for, you'll be summoned."
The fact that he was even separating Bu Eun-seol from the Coiling Dragon Hall's barracks showed his intent to ignore him entirely.
But Bu Eun-seol merely clasped his hands politely.
"Understood."
As Bu Eun-seol turned away calmly, Yeon Ja-gang studied the faces of the Peak Squad members lined up behind him.
'Hmph. Just as I expected.'
They were as composed as Bu Eun-seol, their expressions showing full acceptance of the situation.
As the Information Warfare Unit, the Peak Squad members understood the Martial Alliance's dynamics and interpersonal relationships better than anyone.
So they likely saw his dismissive attitude toward Bu Eun-seol as natural—not even showing the slightest enthusiasm to distinguish themselves.
"Set up the barracks a short distance from the Coiling Dragon Hall."
Bu Eun-seol spoke to his subordinates with an indifferent expression.
"I'll head to Chengdu to reassess the surrounding situation."
"Understood!"
As the members began setting up the barracks, Bu Eun-seol activated his Lightness Skill and soared toward Chengdu.
Whoosh!
In a flash, his body twisted midair, his attire changing instantaneously as a black mask materialized over his face.
[So-yo.]
Bu Eun-seol sent a Thousand-Li Voice Transmission to So-yo, who was undoubtedly hiding somewhere nearby.
"Contact the Death Soul Squad and fabricate traces of Seon-u Jin gathering intelligence while wandering Chengdu. I'll be back after some reconnaissance."
[Understood.]
The moment So-yo's reply reached him, Bu Eun-seol immediately headed toward the Mutual Love Pavilion, where the Coiling Dragon Hall Leader and the Demon Hall were holding negotiations.
In Yeogyeong, there was a place called the Mutual Love Pavilion, renowned for its breathtaking sunset views.
There, martial artists of the Ten Thousand Demon Hall, clad in black uniforms, stood in tight formation. At the center of the pavilion sat a woman dressed in a deep blue palace gown.
Her skin was as white as snow, and her eyes shimmered like sunlight reflected on a river's surface. She was none other than Dan So-ok, the Secret Order Lord of the Demon Hall.
'She's suffering needlessly because of me.'
Just as Bu Eun-seol, concealed near the pavilion, completely masked his presence—
Thud. Thud.
From the opposite direction, dozens of figures clad in white began approaching.
At the forefront was a middle-aged man wearing white robes embroidered with a phoenix motif.
It was none other than Yeon Ja-gang, leading the martial artists of the Coiling Dragon Hall.
With the pavilion between them, forces from both sides took their positions, and the tension reached its peak.
Thud. Thud.
Without hesitation, Yeon Ja-gang stepped forward to the front of the pavilion.
In response, Dan So-ok rose from her seat and clasped her hands together.
"A pleasure to meet you. I am Dan So-ok, leader of the Secret Order."
As a Lord of the Demon Hall, her status was higher than that of a mere Hall Leader from the Martial Alliance.
However, since the Martial Alliance held the initiative in these negotiations and she was still young, she had no qualms about greeting him first.
"I am Yeon Ja-gang, Leader of the Coiling Dragon Hall."
Yeon Ja-gang also clasped his hands in polite response.
In negotiations like these, everything—from the order of greetings to one's demeanor—was part of a silent yet fierce Power Struggle.
Yet both maintained nothing but courtesy and composure.
They were both confident in their positions, unwilling to waste Mental Power on trivial matters.
"Thank you for accepting our invitation despite your busy schedule."
Her voice was low yet clear, and with every word, a faint, sweet fragrance—like ripe fruit—seemed to linger in the air.
An ordinary man might have been utterly captivated by her beauty and grace.
But Yeon Ja-gang remained entirely unaffected.
Because he had spent his life cultivating the Virgin Boy Skill to compensate for his lacking Internal Power.
The Virgin Boy Skill granted pure and profound energy—so long as one remained chaste.
Thus, he had no choice but to regard women as mere stones.
Even if Dan So-ok were the Guanyin Bodhisattva descended from the heavens, he would feel nothing.
"No need for formalities."
Yeon Ja-gang offered a faint smile.
"After all, there's much to settle between the Demon Hall and the Martial Alliance, isn't there?"
Dan So-ok's lips curled into a subtle smile.
"Rather than 'settle,' I'd say 'reach an agreement.' After all, there are differences in the stances of our Hall and the Martial Alliance."
She was doing her best to ease the stiff atmosphere.
But Yeon Ja-gang's voice only grew colder.
"The word 'discussion' hardly suits matters of life and death."
"The culprit behind the Iron Shield Squad Leader's murder has yet to be identified. Our Hall has attended these negotiations purely out of moral obligation."
"Moral obligation, you say."
Yeon Ja-gang spoke flatly.
"The cause of the late Squad Leader's death was the Poison Art of Hell Blood Citadel."
"There's always the possibility that Hell Blood Citadel's Poison Art was leaked. Just as there are many martial artists who use the techniques of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang without being their disciples."
"That sounds like an attempt to evade responsibility."
"If there is responsibility to bear, we will bear it. But if you condemn our Hall based on mere suspicions, that is something we cannot accept."
"So that's your stance."
As sharp words were exchanged, Yeon Ja-gang, who had been deep in thought, narrowed his eyes and spoke.
"Unless the Demon Hall presents terms we can accept from the outset..."
He paused briefly before continuing in a low voice.
"If you continue spouting nonsense... then consider all dialogue terminated."
It was a shocking declaration.
In negotiations, such a unilateral ultimatum was absolutely unacceptable—it should never have been uttered.
'No mere Hall Leader would dare say such a thing.'
Dan So-ok's eyes sharpened.
A mere Hall Leader wouldn't have the authority to make statements that could ignite a full-blown conflict between the Demon Hall and the Martial Alliance.
Which meant Yeon Ja-gang must have already consulted the highest echelons—the Chief Commander—and received approval for his stance.
'In other words, the Martial Alliance is determined to claim the land routes near Guwol Mountain as their territory.'
Realizing there was no room left for negotiation, Dan So-ok's gaze turned icy.
Negotiations were supposed to be a process where parties with differing interests sought common ground.
Once unilateral demands were made, it could no longer be called a negotiation at all.
"That kind of statement is difficult to accept."
Then, in an utterly frigid voice, she continued:
"I truly believed we could find a mutually satisfactory agreement. But it seems that was merely this lord's misconception."
Against force, only force suffices.
There was no point pleading with an opponent who refused reason—doing so would only surrender the initiative.
"Then negotiations have broken down."
Yeon Ja-gang rose calmly from his seat.
"It seems the Demon Hall intends to use its lord as a scapegoat. How unfortunate."
A faint smile played on his lips.
"Rumors abound that you were assigned this mission because of your engagement to the Martial Soul Lord."
"Perhaps."
Dan So-ok stood, her tone indifferent.
"As I understand it, this matter was personally directed by the newly appointed Chief Strategist acting on her own volition."
Her gaze was icy as she met Yeon Ja-gang's eyes.
"If even these negotiations end in failure, your standing will shrink further."
"You seem prepared for that."
"What is there to prepare for?"
Dan So-ok turned away, her voice cold.
"Tell your Chief Strategist this: My forces stand ready at any time."
Yeon Ja-gang responded with equal defiance.
"Since no satisfactory agreement was reached, our hall will maintain its position near Guwol Mountain. Attempt to dislodge us if you dare."
Without another word, Dan So-ok turned and left the Mutual Love Pavilion.
Watching her depart, Yeon Ja-gang allowed himself a faint smile.
"Proceeding well."
Negotiations had never been necessary.
Once forces were deployed to Guwol Mountain, the Martial Alliance had no intention of withdrawing, even if the Demon Hall resorted to force.
"We're leaving."
With that brief command to his subordinates, he turned away.
Meanwhile, from a distance, Bu Eun-seol's eyes flashed as he absorbed every word of the exchange.
So that was their plan all along.
The Martial Alliance had never intended to negotiate.
Once their forces occupied the region, they would never withdraw.
The Demon Hall wouldn't risk a full-scale Righteous-Demonic War over mere trade routes near Guwol Mountain.
Even if Dan So-ok mobilized the Myriad Demons Faction's warriors, they stood no chance against the Divine Guard Unit backing the Coiling Dragon Hall.
Not that I planned to intervene originally.
Bu Eun-seol had only one objective in joining this expedition:
To dispel Gongson Dan-gyeong's suspicions.
But now, a second task had emerged.
He had to ensure Dan So-ok—who had accepted this unreasonable mission despite knowing its futility—would not suffer losses in these negotiations.
Returning to the barracks, Bu Eun-seol assessed the situation and began formulating a plan.
Chief Strategist Gongson intends to seize Guwol Mountain by force if necessary. She has both justification and overwhelming military strength.
Yeon Ja-gang's attitude made it clear: even if Dan So-ok ordered a full assault by the Myriad Demons Faction, Gongson Dan-gyeong would never retreat.
In fact, Gongson Dan-gyeong wanted a confrontation.
Meaning, unless the Demon Hall and Martial Alliance prepared for the Great Orthodox–Unorthodox War, regaining their influence around Guwol Mountain was impossible.
Yet Bu Eun-seol's mind raced, weaving a solution.
They want a fight...?
A faint smile curved his lips as inspiration struck.
Then we'll give them one.
Summoning the Peak Squad members, he issued a crisp order:
"From this moment, we're mapping the Guizhou region."
"A map, my lord?"
"Not an ordinary one. A complete territorial chart marking every Righteous and Demonic faction in Guizhou."
The unit members blinked in confusion.
They had witnessed Yeon Ja-gang's blatant disrespect toward Bu Eun-seol upon arrival.
Moreover, this negotiation required no such preparations. Why this sudden task?
"Our unit is known as the Information Warfare Unit. Regardless of Hall Leader Yeon's opinions, shouldn't we perform our duties?"
Bu Eun-seol's tone was measured, as if gauging their thoughts.
"Armed conflict between our alliance and the Demon Hall remains a possibility."
The members exchanged glances.
—Our lord is too kind.
Despite the humiliation suffered before subordinates, he still sought to gather intelligence for Yeon Ja-gang's benefit.
They nodded, though some worried over Bu Eun-seol's generosity.
"Truthfully, this also serves our unit."
With a faint smile, Bu Eun-seol lowered his voice.
"Narrow-minded figures like Hall Leader Yeon will blame anyone if things go awry. This is preemptive damage control."
At this, Tae Mu-ryong and the others stifled laughter.
They assumed he was making a wry joke.
Yeon Ja-gang was a negotiation expert, and the Martial Alliance held moral justification.
Even if fighting erupted, the alliance couldn't lose—how could negotiations possibly fail?
"Understood. We'll begin drafting the map immediately."
Chuckling, Tae Mu-ryong led the unit away.
But how could they know?
Exactly as Bu Eun-seol predicted, Yeon Ja-gang would soon blunder catastrophically—
Trapping himself in an inescapable predicament where even retaining his position would become a struggle.