Chapter 189 : Trap of the Assembly of the Beyond-Heavens

“It's ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍the Ghost Lotus Sect!”

At ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the answer of the man who claimed to be the Ghost Lotus Sect Master, Yul Han’s gaze turned toward the Cult Leader.

“I’ll ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍take only the Thirteen Bloods and go. Senior Brother, please guard this place.”

“You’re ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍telling me to wait?”

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Cult Leader looked at me in disbelief, and I replied,

“It ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍might be the Ghost Lotus Sect first.”

In other words, they might ask for help elsewhere as well, so he should wait and assist those places.

At my words, the Cult Leader hesitated for a moment before nodding.

“Then take the Five Demons with you as well. For the first battle, the other side will likely give it their all.”

Knowing his concern, I nodded.

Of course, that didn’t mean I intended to leave my Senior Brother without even a single Manifestation Realm expert.

“I will take Profound Demon and Pageuk with me.”

That meant leaving Iron Demon and Ghost Demon, both in the Manifestation Realm, as well as Poison Demon and Demon Flower, who were in the Transcendent Realm, by the Cult Leader’s side.

And not just that.

With Gu Yangma and Death-Scorching Demon Lord also remaining, it meant two additional Transcendent Realm experts would stay behind.

“I said it’s dangerous!”

At the Cult Leader’s renewed concern, I turned my gaze toward one spot.

They were standing there.

Twelve Possessed Martial Artists.

One in the Manifestation Realm, three in the Transcendent Realm, and the remaining eight all at the Supreme Peak.

The Cult Leader, who had been looking at them, spoke in a worried voice.

“I understand they’re strong, but will they be useful? If they betray us in the middle of battle, it’ll only become more troublesome.”

Although he already knew the secret behind the Blue Eyes from the Strategist, he did not trust such restraints.

No one could predict the affairs of the world. If it was because of the Blue Eyes, then if those Blue Eyes lost their effect for any number of reasons, the restraint would be broken just as easily.

At those words, I shook my head.

“They won’t. We made a pact.”

“A pact?”

“Yes.”

“What kind of pact?”

At the Cult Leader’s worried question, I gave a small smile.

“I’ll tell you when I return. It’s urgent right now.”

Indeed, the face of the Ghost Lotus Sect Master, who had rushed here as a messenger, looked like he might bolt out at any moment.

Just from his expression alone, it was clear how desperate the Ghost Lotus Sect’s situation was.

In the end, the Cult Leader relented.

“Fine. But when you return, properly—thoroughly, understand?”

“Yes. I’ll tell you everything.”

At my answer, the Cult Leader nodded.

“Good. Go.”

With the Cult Leader’s permission granted, I turned around with the Ghost Lotus Sect Master leading the way, and soon Profound Demon, Pageuk, the Thirteen Bloods, and the Possessed Martial Artists followed behind.

Excluding the Ghost Lotus Sect Master, who served as our guide, we were only twenty-seven in number.

But it was a force that could never be taken lightly.

Four Manifestation Realm experts, seven in the Transcendent Realm, and the remaining sixteen all at the Supreme Peak.

With this much, even if we faced the entire remaining combat force of the Bright Cult head-on, we would not be greatly pushed back.

Soon, we disappeared into the distance like dots.

And once I and my group were no longer visible, the Cult Leader issued an order.

“Do not lower your guard!”

At his command, the Bright Cult martial artists who remained shouted in unison,

“We obey!”

Our movement speed was like lightning.

Since Pageuk carried the Ghost Lotus Sect Master—who was at the Peak Realm—we could match the speed of Supreme Peak experts.

Thanks to that, in just half a day after departing the Bright Cult, the support force I led arrived at the Ghost Lotus Sect.

However, unlike what the Sect Master who had come as a messenger had said, the Ghost Lotus Sect was quiet.

“What is going on?”

At my question, the Sect Master also shook his head with a puzzled expression.

“I don’t know either. Right after I declared I would remain with the Bright Cult, a group of highly skilled martial artists gathered and threatened us as if they were about to scale the walls at any moment.”

“Scale the walls? I don’t see anyone here capable of that.”

“Right after we sent a messenger to the Bright Cult, they withdrew.”

“They retreated?”

“Yes. They likely anticipated that the Vice Cult Leader and the Bright Cult’s experts would come rushing, so they withdrew.”

Before the Sect Master could even finish speaking, the General Manager standing beside him added,

“Or perhaps they intended to concentrate their forces elsewhere. From their perspective, moving together with the Eighteen Demon Sects would be the way to reduce their losses against the Vice Cult Leader.”

It sounded like a valid point.

Rather than facing enemies from both front and rear, they might choose a place where strong allies were by their side.

“Then for now, let’s observe the situation a bit.”

At my decision, the support force unpacked their gear within the Ghost Lotus Sect.

After waiting another half day—

Sensing that the people of the Ghost Lotus Sect were murmuring, I stepped outside.

What I saw were people stretching their necks, all staring beyond the wall at something.

Following their gaze, what entered my sight was faint smoke rising.

“That…”

“It’s a beacon.”

“A beacon means an external enemy has invaded, doesn’t it?”

At my surprised question, the Sect Master shook his head.

“The authorities use yellow smoke. It’s visible both day and night. But that…”

“Red smoke.”

“Yes. Only the Eighteen Demon Sects use red smoke beacons.”

Because their territories were spread out over vast distances.

Thus, the beacon system used by the authorities had become a way for the Eighteen Demon Sects to signal crisis among themselves.

And the direction of that beacon—

As I looked toward it, the Sect Master explained,

“North. Toward Cheonghajin.”

That meant Cheonghajin was in danger.

Whether it was the Hundred Paths or the Mongol cavalry at the border, either way, Cheonghajin was under attack.

“What do you do when a red beacon is raised?”

“When a red beacon is seen, each of the Eighteen Demon Sects selects a force and sends it to that sect.”

The problem was the current situation.

There was a high possibility that this beacon had been raised due to a clash with the Assembly of the Beyond-Heavens, not an external enemy or the Hundred Paths.

In such a situation, no one could guarantee how many would come to Cheonghajin’s aid.

Even the Ghost Lotus Sect itself could not spare a force.

After sensing danger and asking the Bright Cult for help, they still could not afford to send their own strength elsewhere.

Though there had been some dissatisfaction with the Sect Master’s decision, the sect’s martial artists had united and followed him, avoiding internal conflict—but a powerful external enemy still remained a threat.

So they could not even ask me to go.

Noticing the Sect Master’s inner conflict and anguish, I spoke,

“You don’t need to worry so much. If the Cult Leader saw it, he would have already moved to help.”

“Ah!”

Recently, those observing the Bright Cult from outside all made a similar mistake.

Because the Vice Cult Leader was so strong, they sometimes overlooked the Cult Leader.

But the Cult Leader alone was someone who could never be ignored.

With that belief, my gaze toward the northern beacon remained calm.

Just as I had expected, upon seeing the red beacon, the Bright Cult moved immediately.

The Cult Leader led Iron Demon and Poison Demon from the Five Demons, along with the Twenty-Seven Ghosts, the Blood Sword Unit, and the Red Blade Unit, and rushed out.

Profound Demon, Ghost Demon, Gu Yangma, Death-Scorching Demon Lord, and the Ten Thousand Swords Unit remained in the Bright Cult.

It was a measure taken in case of another request for support from the Eighteen Demon Sects or a surprise attack.

As the Cult Leader rushed like the wind, the sight that entered his eyes was beyond devastation.

Thirty thousand cavalry had split in half and were fighting desperately to annihilate each other.

Amid them, not a small number of experts from the Assembly of the Beyond-Heavens rampaged, cutting down Cheonghajin’s experts.

Contrary to expectations, the beacon had not been raised by Cheonghajin’s Lord.

It had been raised by his son—the Young Lord.

The Young Lord had blocked his father, who sought to side with the Assembly of the Beyond-Heavens and declare independence from the Bright Cult.

His claim was only one:

<We gathered here because we could not follow righteousness and thus betrayed our nation. And now you would abandon even that righteousness? Then we are nothing more than trash who have forsaken not only our homeland, but even righteousness itself!>

Despite his son’s burning cry, the Lord of Cheonghajin did not change his decision.

However, half of Cheonghajin’s martial artists responded to the Young Lord’s shout.

That became the beginning of a bloody conflict between father and son.

Into that chaos of mutual slaughter, the Cult Leader and the Bright Cult martial artists charged in.

Seeing them, the Young Lord shouted,

“The Cult Leader has arrived! Hold your ground!”

At his cry, those who had been pushed back roared and began to drive the enemy back.

Seeing the arrival of powerful experts, Gwangung—who had been leaning toward cooperation—also saw the beacon rising from the north.

“It seems Cheonghajin has decided not to switch sides.”

At his subordinate’s words, Gwangung nodded and asked,

“But where is Elder Sima?”

“That… he went out late last night, saying he had somewhere to go, and hasn’t returned yet.”

Hearing that, Gwangung realized that quite a number of experts from the Assembly of the Beyond-Heavens who had come with Sima were also missing.

Some still remained, so they hadn’t completely withdrawn—but an uneasy feeling crept into his heart.

“And the Blade Emperor? That man?”

“I believe he left together with Elder Sima.”

At that answer, Gwangung burst into anger.

“Why are you telling me this only now?!”

“Th-that is… he often went out like that and returned, so…”

More importantly, it had been Gwangung himself who had once said there was no need to report every time he stepped out, as it had become too frequent.

It was unfair, but the subordinate did not dare say that aloud.

In this atmosphere, if he did, he would not survive Gwangung’s violent temper.

In the end, he could only bow his head deeply.

“I apologize.”

Glowering at him, Gwangung vented his irritation—but he knew.

It had been his own order.

Even so, he lashed out because he was uneasy.

Though it was not the first time, for some reason his heart was trembling with unease.

‘It’s all because of that beacon!’

Staring north, Gwangung forced himself to blame the beacon for his anxiety.

Far to the north where Gwangung stared, at the outskirts where Cheonghajin could be seen—

A woman in a red martial attire stood atop a gracefully curved pine branch, watching the fierce battle below.

Amid the thirty thousand cavalry split in half, splattering blood, the Cult Leader rampaged like a storm.

As expected of his reputation.

Compared to the time when the Assembly of the Beyond-Heavens had briefly allied with him in the past, the Cult Leader now displayed far more threatening power.

“So the concern of the Three Dukes was not unfounded. The beast has entered the trap as planned—let the hunt begin.”

The moment the words of the woman in red—the one Behind the Curtain—fell, eighteen elderly men rose from beneath the pine tree.

They were the Makbu Eighteen Elders, said to be the entirety of the Inner Directorate’s power.

All of them were in the Transcendent Realm.

The moment they stepped forward, they became the wind and vanished.

And the direction that wind swept toward—

Was Cheonghajin, where the battle raged.

Watching that silently, Behind the Curtain turned to the three people still standing beneath the pine tree and said,

“I ask for your assistance as well.”

Only then did the identities of those who began to move reveal themselves.