The Government Intervenes
Poyang Lake lay in Jiangxi Province, while Tongseong County was situated in Hubei Province.
Even though the two provinces bordered each other, the distance between them was by no means short.
Normally, even with the shared border, it would have been impossible to travel between them so quickly.
Yet, after acquiring Ochu, Jeok-un had managed to return before any major disaster could strike. This was entirely due to the perfect synergy between the Ghost Step and Ochu.
To put it simply, the return journey had taken less than half the time of his departure.
It was faster than galloping on horseback and switching mounts at every relay station.
'It's even faster than before my regression. I didn't expect Ochu to synergize so perfectly with the Ghost Step.'
It was only natural for Jeok-un to make such an assessment.
After all, the Ghost Step passed down by Hwang-bo was a profound technique that ranked among the top three movement arts in the entire Central Plains.
When combined with a divine artifact, it was like giving wings to a tiger—its quality had reached an entirely new level.
Without a doubt, even the Divine Thief, the greatest burglar under heaven, would have to bow his head before Jeok-un.
"Jang Bo-heum, Leader of the Gwi-mong Squad, greets the Leader of the Baekya Squad."
Jang Bo-heum suddenly stood up and clasped his hands in salute.
At this display of deference, which clearly marked Jeok-un as his superior, the eyes of Daoist Hyeon-un and Dan Gyo-ik gleamed.
"Please, take this seat."
"Right. Good work."
Jeok-un nodded naturally and took the chair Jang Bo-heum had been sitting in just moments ago.
This act clearly signaled that he was the representative of Sadocheon.
Jang Bo-heum also took this for granted.
He had merely filled in during Jeok-un's absence; now that the true master had returned, it was only right to yield the seat.
Daoist Hyeon-un and Dan Gyo-ik, well aware of the implications of this attitude, silently stared at Jeok-un.
Thud.
Jeok-un sat down, crossed his legs, and spoke in an arrogant tone.
"I was hoping to get some rest, but it seems we have uninvited guests. So, what brought you all crawling to someone else's house? Looking for scraps to eat?"
"Hah."
"...Kyohoho."
There was no arrogance quite like this.
Daoist Hyeon-un let out an exasperated sigh, while Dan Gyo-ik burst into a sinister chuckle.
Yet, they did not take Jeok-un lightly.
Instead, they scrutinized him even more intensely.
They tried to gauge his martial prowess, the foundation of his strength, and everything in between.
'...Mmm.'
'Does this make any sense?'
The results of their assessment were utterly dismal.
In truth, on their way here, both of them had been skeptical of the reports from their respective headquarters.
According to those reports, Jeok-un had not only killed Dang Maeng, but had also slain Seo Do-yeom on the very same day.
A mere brat who hadn't even reached twenty—barely old enough to be considered a rising star—killing masters at the peak of the Transformation Realm?
And not just any random martial artists, but the Poison Dagger Yama, Dang Maeng, and the Sea Overflowing Fist Madman, Seo Do-yeom?
Was that even possible?
They had assumed it was a terribly unfunny joke. They believed the true culprit was another master secretly sent by Dok-go Cheon from Sadocheon's headquarters, or that Jeok-un had used underhanded, cowardly tricks befitting an unorthodox scoundrel.
'How could someone his age achieve such a level...?'
'No wonder Seo Do-yeom lost. With that level of attainment, and the divine artifact he wears... I can't even gauge its grade.'
Both Daoist Hyeon-un and Dan Gyo-ik had no choice but to accept reality.
Jeok-un was indeed the one who had killed Dang Maeng and Seo Do-yeom.
As proof, a massive amount of energy emanated from Jeok-un.
Yet, not a single speck of that energy leaked out.
This meant his control over his internal energy was near-perfect—a clear sign of the Transformation Realm.
Furthermore, they could feel the terrifying power of the divine artifact he wore.
Meanwhile, just as the two were sizing up Jeok-un, he was also evaluating them.
'The Sword Saint and the Demon of the Returning Moon. I didn't expect these two to show up. They've sent even bigger figures than I anticipated.'
The Sword Saint of Wudang and the Demon of the Returning Moon of Heukpaeseong.
It was no exaggeration to say these two represented the giants of the Orthodox and Unorthodox paths, respectively.
The Sword Saint was a respected elder of the Orthodox factions, and the Demon of the Returning Moon was a notorious devil of the Unorthodox. Compared to them, Dang Maeng and Seo Do-yeom were mere nobodies.
The difference in their weight class was that vast.
Because of this, Jeok-un felt a fierce surge of battle intent.
'Heh, excellent. I can finally have a proper fight after a long time.'
If he had it his way, he would leap forward right now and engage in a bloody battle with them.
He wanted to unleash the full power of his newly acquired Ochu.
With opponents that made his mouth water right in front of him, Jeok-un felt his blood boil.
Clench!
As Jeok-un repeatedly clenched and unclenched his fists,
"How foolish!"
Daoist Hyeon-un barked, his voice laced with anger.
"Even if it is in the past, your words and actions show no trace of the Jegal Family, a prestigious clan among clans! Do you feel no guilt whatsoever after committing such a horrific slaughter?"
At Daoist Hyeon-un's outburst, Jeok-un showed a crooked smile and replied,
"Guilt? I clearly offered them a merciful opportunity. I gave them time, and I gave them a chance to leave Tongseong County."
"..."
Daoist Hyeon-un could not refute him.
According to the investigation of the local residents and passersby who were nearby at the time, Jeok-un had not simply rushed in and slaughtered them without reason.
"Yet, the one who rushed in like a mad dog was that bastard Dang Maeng. If that half-wit had made the right decision, there wouldn't have been any unnecessary casualties. Why is it my fault that the Murim Alliance appointed an idiot as their commander?"
At the blatant mockery of Dang Maeng, Daoist Hyeon-un furrowed his brow and said,
"Hah, do you call that an excuse—"
"And you, Dan Gyo-ik."
Before Daoist Hyeon-un could finish, Jeok-un turned his gaze toward Dan Gyo-ik.
"I assume you've come to pay for your sins?"
"Oh? Have I committed a sin that even I am unaware of?"
"Stop playing dumb."
Cutting off Daoist Hyeon-un, Jeok-un kept his eyes locked on Dan Gyo-ik.
"You're the one who used the No brothers as spies."
"...!"
The "No brothers" Jeok-un referred to were none other than No Hwang-mun and No Hwang-gu.
No Hwang-mun, the former leader of the Geum-wol Squad, and No Hwang-gu, the former manager of the Changsha gambling house.
They were brothers who had once ruled over Changsha and enjoyed great success.
However, they were also the very first people Jeok-un had beaten to death upon entering Changsha.
"I don't know what nonsense you're talking about—"
"Gu-poison is a forbidden item in the Jianghu. You know that using it makes you a public enemy of the martial world, right? Hand over your head while I'm still asking nicely. The Lord of Sadocheon will be pleased if I bring him your neck."
"...You really are a madman."
Dan Gyo-ik pretended to be calm on the outside, but he was deeply shocked within.
'...How on earth does this brat know that?'
It was just as Jeok-un said. The one who had recruited the No brothers was indeed Dan Gyo-ik.
Using the sorcery of the Blood Moon Sect and their secret gu-poison, he had forced No Hwang-mun and No Hwang-gu into absolute loyalty to the Blood Moon Sect.
Since then, support from the Blood Moon Sect and Heukpaeseong had flowed under the table.
As a result, No Hwang-mun became the leader of the Geum-wol Squad, one of the newly formed Ten Heavenly Squads.
His younger brother, No Hwang-gu, became the manager of the Changsha gambling house, raking in wealth and fortune.
It was all a plot by Heukpaeseong and the Blood Moon Sect to secretly undermine Sadocheon from within.
'Is the rumor true that this kid read the secret documents of the Heavenly Secret Master at the Jegal Family Manor...?'
As Dan Gyo-ik's eyes darted back and forth,
Scrape!
Jeok-un abruptly stood up from his seat.
At the same time, he looked down at Daoist Hyeon-un and Dan Gyo-ik with an incredibly arrogant expression.
"What are you doing?"
"You..."
It was only natural for the two to show their displeasure at the condescending gaze of a mere junior.
"What do you think?"
On the other hand, Jeok-un scoffed as if it wasn't even worth explaining.
"Since when did those who walk the path of blades and swords settle their differences with words? Since blood has already been spilled, it is only right to resolve this with blood."
"...!"
"!!"
*Whoosh!*
Jeok-un openly released his inner energy, unleashing a blatant wave of killing intent.
Jeok-un's provocation did not stop at words.
No, it wasn't even a provocation to begin with.
He was truly planning to fight the two of them.
*Clang!*
*Ching!*
Since Jeok-un was the first to release his killing intent, the lieutenants who had accompanied the Murim Alliance and Heukpaeseong did not stand idly by.
Everyone drew their swords, creating a tense, volatile atmosphere where a minor clash could trigger an irreversible catastrophe.
"Aaaah! L-Leader, why are you suddenly doing this?!"
Yang Gang, his face pale, tried to hold Jeok-un back, while the lieutenants of the Murim Alliance and Heukpaeseong darted their eyes around anxiously.
Meanwhile, Daoist Hyeon-un and Dan Gyo-ik remained calm.
Or rather, it would be more accurate to say they were cautious.
'What kind of scheme is this?'
'He must be hiding something. We must be careful until we figure out what it is.'
The two believed Jeok-un had set a trap and was trying to bait them into it.
'Even if he left his family, he is still of the Jegal bloodline. We must not overlook that.'
'There is a clear difference in our realms. There is no way he would charge in so recklessly without a plan.'
Although the Profound Realm and the Transformation Realm were separated by only a single stage, the difference between them was as vast as heaven and earth.
Among those who grew up as natural geniuses and rising stars of their clans and sects, the vast majority failed to break through the wall of the Profound Realm.
Thus, the gap between the Transformation Realm and the Profound Realm was so distinct that a novice of the Profound Realm could easily match or defeat several peak Transformation Realm masters.
So, for Jeok-un, who was merely in the Transformation Realm, to challenge them so recklessly?
They could only assume there was a hidden plot.
Therefore, instead of taking Jeok-un's actions at face value, they concluded that he had a hidden motive to catch them off guard.
However...
'Why aren't these bastards attacking?'
Jeok-un was simply charging in because he genuinely wanted to fight.
How could they have ever imagined that he was a half-madman who actually enjoyed disadvantageous battles?
Just as Jeok-un was beginning to feel puzzled by the two men who merely stared at him in silence despite having their pride thoroughly trampled,
"If you won't come, then I will—"
*Thud-thud-thud-thud!*
Suddenly, the ground shook with the thunderous sound of galloping hooves.
From the sound of it, there were easily hundreds, perhaps even thousands of horses.
"All martial artists, drop your swords and weapons immediately!"
"Anyone who does not lay down their arms will be punished under imperial law!"
In a place where the three major powers of Sadocheon, Heukpaeseong, and the Murim Alliance were gathered, there was only one force that would dare utter such words.
It was the government.
Surprisingly, the government army had arrived, breaking the long-standing non-aggression pact between the government and the martial world.
In that instant, a strange light flashed simultaneously in the eyes of Daoist Hyeon-un and Dan Gyo-ik.
'So that was it.'
'This was your move.'
Just as the two reached the same conclusion, a subordinate rushed in and shouted,
"T-The magistrate of Tongseong County and the government army have arrived!"
Even his own allies, Jang Bo-heum and Yang Gang, looked at Jeok-un with eyes full of admiration and surprise at this exquisite timing they hadn't anticipated.
'No, what kind of bullshit is this?!'
In reality, Jeok-un could only scowl at the arrival of the government troops, who had just ruined a perfectly good fight.