The Plan
As soon as the Heavenly Demon Competition ended, Father and my eldest brother finished their preparations to depart immediately for the archipelago.
The term “archipelago” referred to the entire maritime region composed of countless islands. Their destination was the largest among them—Jeonghae.
Why was the Ju family heading there? Because that island was one the Ju family had claimed. In other words, it was Ju territory.
After this journey, the two of them would amass extraordinary fame. It also meant a brutal bloodbath would erupt there. In my previous life, my eldest brother had suffered severe injuries in that place.
Of course, that had happened because he hesitated so terribly.
But now, I suppose I don’t have to worry about that anymore?
The brother I had seen during this competition no longer let his hands tremble. It was as if he had steeled his resolve; he attacked Father with everything he had. He couldn’t even graze the hem of his robe, yet the important thing was that he had managed to draw a satisfied smile from the Sword Sovereign’s lips.
Hmm. It still nags at me…
I didn’t think any major problems would arise. For now, my priority was to focus on what I needed to do here.
I’m busy. Extremely busy.
I already had a detailed plan laid out in my mind for the coming days. All that remained was to execute it step by step.
I recalled what had happened the previous night. My brother had come to see me and asked me to accompany them to the archipelago. I, of course, refused. It was a development that had never occurred in my previous life, but the tasks awaiting me here were far more important than going there.
Have a safe journey, Brother. By the time you return, the family will have changed beyond recognition.
My brother had hesitated at those words, but soon smiled and nodded. Unlike my previous life, we had grown quite close. That was a relief. If I had known things would turn out this way, I would have tried to build that bond much sooner. Perhaps we had both been far too lonely.
After sending my brother off, I laid my exhausted body down and quickly fell asleep.
The next day, the Ju family was in an uproar. It was the day the family head, Ju Tae-sung, and the eldest son, Ju Seung-hyeok, would depart for the archipelago.
In most other families, when the head moved, his personal guard unit or an elite martial force would accompany him. But the Sword Sovereign was different. He did not mobilize the martial unit. He believed he was not weak enough to rely on them. Instead, he would point out the family’s vulnerabilities during his absence and always left the martial unit behind to defend the estate.
Moreover, when the Sword Sovereign left on such a long expedition, the Blood Sovereign would return—my youngest uncle, the great hero Ju Tae-hwi. A family that possessed two of the Ten Supreme Sovereigns, something even the Five Great Families could not claim. That was the Ju family.
“Young Master.”
Dan-hee knocked on the door.
“Yeah? What is it?”
“The family head is urgently looking for you.”
“Suddenly? For me?”
“Yes. Please go right away.”
At her words, I hurried toward the Sword Soul Hall. Weren’t they supposed to leave for the archipelago quickly? Why call for me again?
“You summoned me?”
When I entered the Sword Soul Hall, Father—already fully prepared—stood motionless in the center of the room. It seemed he had been waiting for me.
“Ju Woo-jin.”
“Yes. Please speak.”
“I heard you refused your eldest brother’s request yesterday?”
“……?”
What? How did Father know? Wait—could it be?
“Did you order him to ask me, Father?”
“I didn’t order it. I simply told him to gauge your thoughts. Nothing more.”
Huh? But why?
Why was he trying to take me along? The moment I unconsciously looked at Father’s face, I felt my heart drop.
“……Will you not come with us?”
Why… why that expression?
Father’s mouth twitched as if he wanted to say something, yet he couldn’t bring himself to speak. It was the look of someone deeply worried, deeply concerned. It was the first time I had ever seen him like this. It felt utterly foreign.
“May I ask the reason?”
“The reason…”
Father nodded with a rigid expression.
“If that is your decision, I will respect it.”
“……”
He gave no specific reason.
“You may leave.”
The response left a deeply uneasy feeling. There were many things I wanted to ask, but I couldn’t open my mouth either. I had no choice but to turn and walk out.
Father and my eldest brother departed for the archipelago alone. The Sword Soul Hall, usually bustling with people, fell silent.
“Whew. That feels refreshing.”
After completing my morning training, washing off the sweat, and returning to my room, I headed straight for the rear garden. No matter how exhausting it was, training could never be neglected. It had been a while since I last saw Mother.
“Come in.”
Mother’s complexion had improved dramatically. After stopping the medicine, her weakened body finally seemed to be recovering properly.
“Your health appears much better.”
“Does it? I feel that way as well.”
The rear garden had a lovely atmosphere. Mother had always enjoyed planting and tending flowers as a hobby, but her illness had prevented her from doing so. Now she took walks and cared for the flowers every day. Thanks to her efforts, the garden had transformed into a breathtaking display of colorful blooms.
“Did the family head not say anything to you?”
“He didn’t say much—only asked if I wanted to join the trip to the archipelago…”
“You didn’t want to go with them?”
I nodded at Mother’s question. There were matters I needed to handle by remaining in the family.
“Then shall this mother take you to visit the maternal family?”
“I’d like to, but I don’t think I can. I have work to do.”
“Work? What sort of work?”
“It’s important. I’ll tell you once it’s finished.”
“You’re not… causing trouble again, are you?”
“Of course not.”
I chuckled and shook my head. Mother took my hand gently, her expression relieved.
“This mother always believes in her son. I only wish for you to grow up comfortably, without getting hurt.”
“I feel the same. Seeing you healthy like this is…”
My lifelong wish.
We talked for a long time. In the end, Mother decided to visit the maternal family alone, and I thought that was for the best. It was better than staying in the family and witnessing every unsightly thing that would unfold.
“Woo-jin.”
As I opened the door to leave, Mother spoke softly.
“Do not hate your father too much. The family head feels deeply sorry toward you.”
“…I know.”
I truly did. Father always hesitated when speaking to me. Yet both of us—father and son—were exactly alike in being unable to express ourselves, hesitating instead. It was almost comical how similar we were.
…Someday.
It would work itself out.
After bidding Mother farewell, I turned and walked in a different direction. My expression hardened on its own.
With Father and my eldest brother gone, nothing could restrain me now. The place I headed was the northern section of the inner court, where the martial forces were concentrated. I went straight to the residence of the Baekryongdae chief.
The one who had shot the paralyzing needle at me during the Heavenly Demon Competition. The chief of the intelligence organization that controlled all information for the family.
“What brings you here?”
Baekryongdae Chief Ju Tae-san asked in a brazen tone.
“Baekryongdae Chief.”
I dropped all courtesy as well. I had no intention of showing even a shred of mercy or kindness to those who had targeted me.
“You shot a paralyzing needle at me.”
“Isn’t that why I’m under house arrest, waiting? I am awaiting the family head’s punishment.”
Watching Ju Tae-san speak indifferently in that blunt tone, my eyes gleamed.
“Why did you move so obviously?”
“……”
He didn’t even glance at me. It seemed he intended to ignore me completely, but I had no intention of allowing that.
“Do you wish to step down from your position?”
“I have no attachment to the position. If that is the punishment, I will accept it.”
“Stop pretending to be enlightened. You’re simply incompetent, Chief.”
Ju Tae-san’s face twisted violently at my words.
“Your words are excessive, Young Master.”
“I am merely stating facts.”
“Hah… As I have said repeatedly, this is pointless.”
I had pondered it countless times. Why had the Baekryongdae Chief done something so foolish? No matter how stupid he was, the Sword Sovereign and every prominent figure in the martial world had been watching. Why act so blatantly?
No matter how much I thought about it, the answer wouldn’t come. Frustrated, I had come to see him directly. And he had claimed he held no attachment to his position.
“So that’s it.”
The Baekryongdae Chief had not made a mistake. He was moving exactly according to plan. If he was a traitor—if he was a traitor of the Ju family who had already joined hands with the Demonic Cult—
Crack!
I seized Ju Tae-san by the throat.
“As expected… the Baekryongdae is rotten.”
“W-what are you—!”
Panicked, Ju Tae-san tried to raise his internal energy to pry my hand away. But he froze instantly.
“Demonic energy…”
“Oh? You recognize it immediately?”
The Dragon Heaven True Qi, having reached its peak, revealed its unbridled demonic energy and flaunted its presence in every direction. Yet even Ju Yu-ran and Muyoung had been unable to easily identify it as demonic energy. The reason was its sheer purity. It was difficult to comprehend how demonic energy could be so pure, but I had no better way to explain it.
Ju Tae-san, however, recognized its true nature at once. That was only possible for someone who had experienced demonic energy firsthand.
“You… how do you possess demonic energy…”
Crack!
I attempted to snap his neck. But Ju Tae-san escaped my grasp in an instant and positioned himself before the window.
“Planning to run?”
I smirked at him. Ju Tae-san, you’ve chosen the wrong opponent. I am not so careless.
“Damn it…”
Muyoung was waiting outside. I had stationed him there in advance, anticipating an escape through the window. With Ju Tae-san’s skill, shaking off Muyoung might have been possible. But the moment they clashed, he would have to guard his back.
Because I was right here.
“You pretended to support this young master while secretly joining hands with the Demonic Cult. Is that it?”
“……”
“The picture is becoming clear. You deliberately committed a blunder to step down from your position… and the one who takes your place will be the true shadow of the Demonic Cult. Correct?”
“You’re spouting nonsense—”
“No. It is not nonsense.”
Boom!
The Strong Wind Shredding Moon unfolded at full power. In terms of pure linear speed, it could be called the strongest movement technique. I closed the distance in a single breath and drove my fist forward.
Crunch!
Blood sprayed. Using the principles of the Black King Advance Strike Body, I twisted Ju Tae-san’s wrist and slammed my other hand down, shattering it. This way, he wouldn’t be able to grasp a sword.
“Young Master? Is everything alright inside?”
At the sudden disturbance, Muyoung called from outside. But I had ordered him to hold his position no matter what, so he did not move recklessly.
I ignored Muyoung and looked down at the captured Baekryongdae Chief.
“Why are you telling me this? If I run away from here…”
“First, you cannot escape. Second, if I leave you alive, information within the family will continue to leak.”
I smiled coldly.
“And finally… who is it? One of the Twelve Demon Emperors?”
“…!”
Ju Tae-san’s eyes widened in shock.
“H-how did you—”
“Is it true? Then who? The bastard who would orchestrate such petty tricks.”
This fool kept handing me clues. The one who would do something like this. It didn’t seem to be one of the Four Evils. It was definitely one of the Twelve Demon Emperors…
The one who would specifically target the Baekryongdae…
“Aha.”
I remembered. There was one son of a bitch who fit this perfectly.
“Sa-an Gwi-gun.”
That damn old bastard who flashed snake-like, cunning eyes and manipulated people as he pleased. It seemed he had embedded himself deep within the Ju family.