The Orthodox-Demonic Conference (1)
The Martial Alliance was busily preparing for the upcoming Orthodox-Demonic Conference.
“The first meeting between the Heavenly Guardian Sword Sovereign and the Heavenly Demon! We cannot afford to look sloppy in the slightest!”
The foreman glared with wide eyes as he oversaw the site.
“Identify every possible risk factor in case of unforeseen incidents!”
The Heavenly Mechanism Department, operating directly under the Chief Military Counselor of the Martial Alliance, was busy pinpointing every potential hazard.
And then.
“Haaam.”
As the pinnacle of the righteous martial world and leader of the Martial Alliance, I was hiding.
Where? Up in a tree tucked away in some corner of the alliance grounds. The branches stretched out vigorously, thick with lush leaves, easily enough to conceal one or two people.
“It’s not like I’m going to fight the Heavenly Demon. Why are they making such a big deal?”
Even though the leader of the Heavenly Demon Sect—the strongest individual force out there—wasn’t even our enemy at the moment.
Right then.
“Captain. If the Chief Military Counselor catches us, we’re finished…”
A familiar voice whispered to me as I lay on the branch, using qinggong to stay perfectly balanced.
“We?”
I twisted my lips and glanced at Han Baekho, captain of the Heavenly Martial Unit, who was sprawled beside me.
Why “we”? I’m Jin Muhyeok, the Heavenly Guardian Sword Sovereign standing at the very peak of the righteous path.
“Fuck…”
Han Baekho, trussed up tightly with rope and dangling from the branch, bit his lip and glared at me.
“What do you mean, fuck?”
When I narrowed my eyes at him, he quietly turned his head away.
“…Anyway, no one can find you once you hide, Captain. So why drag me into this?”
“It gets boring alone.”
“Ugh…”
Of course, Han Baekho was a renowned expert in his own right. Avoiding his eyes to slip away would have been a real hassle, so I’d simply subdued him and brought him along. He was the captain of the leader’s personal guard, after all. It was only natural he’d stay by my side.
“Baekho.”
“What.”
His curt reply made a chuckle slip out of me. The guy looked like a solemn general, yet here he was.
“If the Heavenly Demon and I fought, who do you think would win?”
“…Who knows?”
A vein throbbed on my forehead. If anyone should know my skills, it was the man who’d fought across battlefields with me.
“Have I ever lost a fight?”
“You got your ass handed to you by Elder Hyungeom.”
“…”
Hyungeom Do Muhyeon, slain by the Blood Demon. The absolute expert who had led both Wudang and the Martial Alliance. Back when I was young and reckless, he’d beaten me black and blue. After that, every time our eyes met he’d smile and come after me with his sword. It was honestly terrifying.
“People say Elder Hyungeom and the Heavenly Demon were nearly equal in strength. If you fought the Heavenly Demon now, you’d be at a pretty big disadvantage, wouldn’t you?”
It sounded logical. Just like how I’d been beaten by Elder Hyungeom, the same would probably happen against the Heavenly Demon.
But.
“Is it the same as back then? I stabbed the Blood Demon in the back and then fought his remnants to the death.”
Back then I hadn’t yet stepped into the Profound Realm, but things were different now. After gaining access to every spiritual elixir and supreme manual the Martial Alliance possessed, my growth had been steep. I had refined my enlightenment through real combat against the Blood Sect’s survivors.
“The Heavenly Demon has been the absolute master of the Heavenly Demon Sect since you were still a low-ranking member of the alliance. The fact that you, who only recently entered the realm of absolute experts, would be at a disadvantage is simply true.”
“This bastard?”
“So stop pushing yourself.”
I narrowed my eyes and stared hard at him. The leader of any group had to push himself. Only then could he save even one more life. But it seemed Han Baekho saw things differently.
“How long are you going to keep pushing yourself just to protect us? That’s not what the position of Martial Alliance Leader is for.”
“…”
To an orphan like me, the Martial Alliance had been like family. Comrades who trusted me with their backs when I could trust no one and fought alone. Especially after joining the Black Dragon Unit, my style had become set in stone. I would stand at the very front and shoulder every danger by myself. That was how I had built my name and protected my comrades.
Yet here was Han Baekho—the former third-in-command of the Black Dragon Unit—advising me in his role as captain of the Heavenly Martial Unit.
“Now it’s our turn to protect you. Right now you might be a little weaker than the Heavenly Demon, but—”
“I will win…”
His serious tone made me trail off without realizing it. That was how deeply his sincerity reached me.
“Yes. You win, Captain. As long as you have the time. So let us buy you that time. Just like you did for the Black Dragon Unit.”
In the past the Black Dragon Unit had been a gathering of orphans with nowhere else to go. That was why I had treasured it as a place to return to. We all carried the same scars.
“You risked your life to protect us when we were nothing but low-ranking third-rate warriors. So please give us the chance to repay that debt.”
We who had once roamed the battlefields as mere foot soldiers were now proud members of the righteous martial world. And yet Han Baekho and the former Black Dragon Unit members had voluntarily joined the Heavenly Martial Unit. I had tried to send them away, but they were stubborn—just like someone else I knew.
“Fine, fine. Stop nagging. If even you start, my head will explode.”
“Sorry.”
Han Baekho bowed his head in apology. Seeing him apologize so seriously while still tightly bound made me laugh again.
“Heh heh. Still, I’m Jin Muhyeok. Don’t worry and just enjoy the moment.”
“Then untie me.”
“No.”
We bickered for a while longer until I sensed a familiar presence. It wasn’t Jegal Hyeon.
“Alliance Leader. I have something to say.”
It was Do Hyeonmyeong, elder of the Wudang Sect. Despite hair white with age, his perfectly straight posture hinted at the depth of his martial arts. Clear eyes, firm mouth. Features that could appear slightly grumpy. Yet his heart was upright and true. That was probably why he was called the spiritual pillar of the current Martial Alliance.
“I understand.”
At his grave demeanor I dropped down from the tree.
-Thud.
The rope hit the ground, and Han Baekho quietly moved to a spot a short distance away. The rascal. He’d already learned to read the room like a proper guard captain.
“Alliance Leader.”
Do Hyeonmyeong spoke in a solemn tone.
“Please speak.”
“The Heavenly Demon possesses an arrogant and ferocious nature.”
I already knew that. During the previous encounter with Elder Hyungeom, things had even escalated to drawn swords. That was probably why Han Baekho was worrying so much.
“If he acts up, we can just fight it out.”
“Hehe. In that case our Heavenly Guardian Sword Sovereign would naturally prevail. But that is not what concerns me.”
“Hmm?”
Do Hyeonmyeong’s lips curved downward slightly. The gentle, immortal-like aura I usually saw was gone. I stiffened my expression as well. For an elder who had survived so long in the martial world to come find me personally, there had to be a reason.
“The wounds left by the war between the Martial Alliance and the Blood Sect have not yet healed. If we enter another war with the Heavenly Demon Sect now, the damage will be far greater than expected.”
“Hmm…”
In other words, even if a fight was forced on us, we should avoid it. From the Heavenly Demon’s perspective, however, this was the perfect chance to conquer the martial world, so they would try to manufacture any justification they could. And unfortunately, I—the Alliance Leader—was known as the Battle Ghost who never backed down from a fight that came his way. It was only natural Do Hyeonmyeong would be worried.
“People around me have already been nagging me plenty. Please don’t worry. I’m not so bloodthirsty that I would throw away the peace we’ve finally obtained.”
The Battle Ghost who lived by the sight of blood. That was how those around me viewed me. They praised me as the young hero who defeated the Blood Demon, but they never erased my past deeds. Even so, I didn’t particularly enjoy fighting. I simply hadn’t known any other way to protect what was precious to me.
“The previous leader also told me. That the path I walk now is a dead end.”
“The sect leader said such things.”
Do Hyeonmyeong’s eyes lowered slightly. After all, Elder Hyungeom had been his senior brother when he led Wudang. There must be many memories there.
“I will take Elder Do’s advice to heart.”
I smiled gently to reassure him. From the beginning, I never fought battles I would lose. Except in unavoidable situations, creating an advantageous position came first. If I hadn’t lived that way, we would never have survived this long.
“Hehe. As one grows old, only needless worries remain. You must be busy, so I will take my leave.”
“Yes. I will see you again soon.”
After we parted on that warm note and I turned around, a yaksha was standing there.
“Alliance Leader. There is a mountain of work waiting.”
The former second-in-command of the Black Dragon Unit. The current Chief Military Counselor of the Martial Alliance, Jegal Hyeon. Behind him, Han Baekho was making desperate faces at me, his own face pale as ash. Having spent so many years together, I instantly understood what he was trying to tell me.
“Baekho looked bored, so I played with him a little.”
You said you’d buy time if anything happened. I wasn’t the kind of idiot who ignored a comrade’s advice.
“Hup!”
“Oh?”
The sight of Han Baekho shaking his head with a bloodless face while Jegal Hyeon silently radiated pressure made the corners of my mouth rise. This hard-won peaceful daily life—there was nothing more precious than this scene.
“The Orthodox-Demonic Conference is right around the corner, yet the Alliance Leader’s closest aide is slacking off!”
“That’s not true! Please believe me!”
“Nothing has changed from the old days! All Heavenly Martial Unit members will work overtime until the Orthodox-Demonic Conference concludes!!”
A peaceful daily life. The warm conversations of my comrades. I prayed with all my heart that it would stay this way.
1 Day Remaining Until the Orthodox-Demonic Conference