Inside the Luoyang Sword Clan, at the Third Young Master’s Camp. The Military Strategy Bureau.

Grand Strategist Zhuge, his face a mask of astonishment, lifted his white fan to conceal his surprise. “This is… quite incredible,” he murmured, his gaze falling upon Namgung Hyeok-cheon, who was savoring the aroma of his tea. “To forge an alliance between the Huashan Sect and the Wudang Sect in such a short span of time…” He turned to Namgung Hyeok-cheon, his voice filled with curiosity. “When did you begin these preparations?”

It was a question Grand Strategist Sima also wanted to ask. His eyes flashed as he chimed in, “The Military Strategy Bureau was completely unaware of this.”

For all the time Namgung Hyeok-cheon had been keeping the two Grand Strategists in check, they, in turn, had been closely monitoring his movements.

“Even with the Military Strategy Bureau’s impressive intelligence network, it was impossible for you to know,” Namgung Hyeok-cheon smiled from behind his teacup. “Because I was not the one who contacted them.”

“In that case,” Figures of their caliber needed no more than that to grasp the situation. “It must have been the Namgung Clan’s main clan that was in contact with them.”

“Correct.” Namgung Hyeok-cheon nodded calmly. “As you both know, for the sake of this Sword Clan, I have long restricted the use of external power.”

For the sake of the Sword Clan. 

Or so he said. In truth, everyone present knew it wasn’t for the family’s sake, but because he was afraid of his own influence diminishing.

“Indeed, you had always warned that the more external forces allied with the Sword Clan, the more chaotic it would become. However, now that they had chosen to unite, there was no need to revisit the past. “But, having realized the peril posed by the Grand Young Master…” He abruptly set his teacup down with a sharp tak. “I no longer have the luxury of choosing my approach.”

The intervention of Huashan and Wudang was a massive shock on its own, but they were merely the beginning. They would by no means be the last faction to intervene in the Sword Clan’s succession crisis.

Namgung Hyeok-cheon bared his teeth. “To remove that bastard from this game, I will mobilize every possible resource.”

The first move had been stolen by the Grand Young Master, but victory was something he could never concede. ‘Even if these external forces rise to power and the Sword Clan is torn into four or five pieces. It no longer mattered.’ If he couldn’t have all of the Luoyang Sword Clan, he would rather consume even a torn and tattered piece of it.

“…In any case,” Grand Strategist Zhuge flicked his white fan. “When the Grand Young Master demonstrated the former Patriarch’s martial arts and then broke Elder Peng through his bottleneck, we understood his intentions.”

Grand Strategist Sima nodded. “We speculated that he intended to somehow shake up the New Martial Righteous Alliance and peel away its key members.”

“However, with this,” A twisted smile formed on Namgung Hyeok-cheon’s lips. “They, too, will be forced to properly re-evaluate which side has the advantage.”

“Indeed,” the two Grand Strategists laughed. “Even those who have already betrayed us will be deeply shaken.”

Just then, “Elder Namgung Hyeok-cheon.” A subordinate entered and respectfully offered him a small note.

As Namgung Hyeok-cheon smiled in satisfaction, Grand Strategist Sima narrowed his eyes, instantly deducing the note’s contents. “Is it the Emei Sect?”

“Correct.” At that answer, Grand Strategist Zhuge nodded and spoke. “With this, we have prevented the Kongtong Sect from defecting to the other side.”

***

Luoyang Sword Clan, Wongakjeong. The Grand Banquet Hall.

“Huashan and Wudang”

“It seems the Third Young Master’s faction has truly made up its mind.”

The esteemed guests murmured amongst themselves like a storm-tossed sea.

“It must mean they intend to avoid suffering the same fate as the Second Young Master’s faction—being defeated before they could even fully muster their forces.”

Whispers of “As expected of the two Grand Strategists,” and “The Namgung Clan is truly formidable,” drifted from all corners of the hall.

“If this were a game of Go, the Luoyang Sword Clan is the Origin of Heaven.”

From the perspective of Huashan and Wudang, which had been overshadowed by the new era, this presents an opportunity for them to reclaim their former glory by actively supporting the Third Young Master from within the Sword Clan. Some people couldn’t help but express their awe, exclaiming, “To think about how long they’ve been honing their skills for this moment, it fills me with a sense of trepidation. Hoho.”

As the guests engaged in conversation, their gazes discreetly shifted toward the figures in the room who had once been under the Third Young Master’s authority.

“My decision was never driven by political gain or loss,” the Sect Leader of Zhongnan was the first to respond. “We of the Zhongnan Sect have no regrets in offering our swords to the Grand Young Master.” His expression remained resolute and his tone calm, but after completing his words, he closed his eyes, signaling that he would not answer any further questions.

“He claims to be confident, but he’s clearly anxious,” one of the guests remarked.

“How could he not be?” another replied.

At this, the crowd erupted into whispers and gossip once more. The loudest voices belonged to the Third Young Master’s loyalists, their confidence bolstered by his actions. “He single-handedly made a decision that could sever the lineage of the great Zhongnan Sect,” they exclaimed.

“This is precisely why we warned against making such a rash decision,” another guest interjected.

“Aigoo, tsk tsk,” they muttered.

They raised their voices, as if to ensure that their words were overheard. “He should have learned from the Grand Master of the Kongtong Sect.”

The Grand Master of Kongtong remained silent, his lips firmly sealed. However, the onlookers could sense a palpable feeling of relief emanating from him.

“If only he had waited a little longer.”

“Now, our Third Young Master’s faction is one step closer to a true New Martial Righteous Alliance.”

“This incident will be recorded as a prime example of the dangers of a faction leader making a decision based on emotion.”

The loyalists’ gazes then shifted to the former Sect Leader of Diancang.

“How about it, former Sect Leader?”

“Feeling a sense of crisis yet?”

Judging by the former Diancang Sect Leader’s usually frivolous personality, he should have been the most anxious person in the room. And yet, for some reason, he just stood there, showing no reaction at all.

“Huashan and Wudang have joined the New Martial Righteous Alliance!” When the former Diancang Sect Leader first heard that news, he had felt a cold sweat soak through to his very undergarments.

Even though the names of Huashan and Wudang no longer held the same significance as they once did, they stood apart from the other sects that had either become vassals of the Luoyang Sword Clan or had sealed their gates. These factions had independently and steadily rebuilt their strength in this new era.

Did I reveal my allegiance to the Grand Young Master too early? If he hadn’t disclosed his betrayal here today, I could have observed the atmosphere and the unfolding situation for a longer time, making more calculations.

His gaze instinctively sought out the Grand Young Master. Amidst the shocked crowd, the Grand Young Master was clearly smiling silently.

The moment the former Diancang Sect Leader witnessed that expression, all the agitation within him vanished, as if he had been enchanted by some sorcery. His mind settled, becoming perfectly and utterly calm.

“Hoho.” An old man’s laugh echoed through the banquet hall just as the loyalists of the Third Young Master began to notice something peculiar about the former Diancang Sect Leader’s expression.

“My apologies for being late, Grand Young Master.”

At this point, how many people in all of Luoyang could speak so comfortably to the Grand Young Master?

“Who is that?”

“That voice sounds familiar.”

The crowd’s attention naturally turned toward the entrance of the banquet hall, where the voice had originated.

“Not at all, Elder.” The Grand Young Master, Yeon So-hyeon, replied as he personally approached the old man. The sight of the gaunt old man seated in a wheeled chair sent a shock through the crowd.

“That man is…?!”

“Elder Gong Liang, the patriarch of the Gong Clan, one of the Sixteen Imperial Families of the Imperial Capital?!”

Though no one dared to utter the name aloud, it flashed through everyone’s mind: The Old Demon!

They all vividly recalled the merciless bloodbath that Gong Liang had unleashed upon Luoyang just a few months prior.

“Allow me to introduce him to you all,” the Grand Young Master Yeon So-hyeon announced, introducing Gong Liang to the assembly. “This is Elder Gong Liang, who has just been appointed Governor of Luoyang.”

At this introduction, the members of the crowd were struck by a wave of shock.

“The Governor of Luoyang?!”

“Elder Gong Liang has been appointed the new Governor?!”

But their shock didn’t end there.

“Hoho. For a dying old man like me to be able to take on such a heavy responsibility,” Gong Liang gathered his hands and bowed to Yeon So-hyeon, who stood beside him. “It is all because the Grand Young Master here personally recommended me to His Majesty, the Emperor.”

A heavy shockwave rippled through the crowd.

“For His Majesty the Emperor to have chosen Elder Gong Liang, a man renowned for his deep friendship with the Grand Young Master, for the position of Governor of Luoyang!”

“Does this mean the wildly speculative rumors about the Grand Young Master’s relationship with the Emperor were true?”

“If that’s the case,” one of the guests suddenly muttered. “Doesn’t this mean that this land of Luoyang, already belongs to the Grand Young Master?”

While the Third Young Master was maneuvering external forces, the Grand Young Master had already firmly established his presence in Luoyang.

“Seizing this opportunity, I have some exciting news to share with all of you esteemed guests,” Gong Liang began, causing everyone to fall silent and intently listen to the old man’s soft-spoken words. “The Grand Young Master of this Sword Clan has achieved a remarkable transformation of the Valley of Sin, one of the Five Evils and a long-standing symbol of poverty, in a remarkably short span of time.”

Gong Liang placed a hand on his chest, expressing his deep admiration for the Grand Young Master’s compassion for his starving people and his astonishing ability to revive the Valley of Sin when all others had given up. “Therefore…” Gong Liang took the Grand Young Master’s hand and raised it alongside his own. “As the new Governor, I pledge to collaborate closely with the Grand Young Master.” He then beamed a bright smile. “We have decided to embark on a grand project to completely regenerate the four remaining slum areas of the Five Evils that are still located in Luoyang.”

The Third Young Master’s loyalists, along with everyone present, couldn’t help but understand the significance of those words. It was an opportunity.

“This is a national project,” the Grand Young Master Yeon So-hyeon emphasized, further clarifying the situation. “Naturally, a substantial budget will be allocated, but even that won’t be sufficient. Therefore…”

Gong Liang resumed his speech. “—The path for investment is indeed open, but…” His gaze swept across the crowd before settling on a specific individual. “It’s not accessible to everyone.” Gong Liang flashed a knowing smile as he directly addressed the Grand Master of the Kongtong Sect.

“This project is not merely about financial gain. It will be a tremendous opportunity for those who have, until now, failed to establish a proper foundation in Luoyang.” The Grand Young Master smiled at the Sect Leader of Zhongnan, who had already pledged his loyalty. “Sect Leader.”

“Yes!”

“This is the first reward I can offer for the reconstruction of the Zhongnan Sect.”