“Atonement…”

Whispers rippled through the esteemed guests in every corner of the grand banquet hall. “Are they saying they joined the Fairy Cult for the sake of atonement?”

“The Hengshan Northern Branch may have lost many members, but their remaining strength is nothing to scoff at,” someone replied. “Indeed, that’s true.”

As everyone murmured, discussing the addition of the Hengshan Northern Branch, Grand Young Master Yeon So-hyeon was exchanging words with their warriors. “I’ll be counting on you.”

“We thank you for accepting us, Grand Young Master,” they responded.

At that moment, “New information!” Another piece of intelligence, clearly and deliberately leaked by the Third Young Master’s faction, arrived in a flurry. “It’s said the Emei Sect has also agreed to join the Third Young Master’s New Martial Righteous Alliance!”

“The Emei Sect?!” a few people reacted to the new information.

“However…” another voice interjected. “Right now, rather than the Third Young Master’s side…”

“The Grand Young Master’s momentum in rapidly securing new forces is far more astonishing,” someone else said.

Their interest quickly faded, and the conversation turned back to the Hengshan faction. “The Grand Young Master will surely grant the Hengshan Northern Branch a base here in Luoyang,” one person said. “Once they secure a base, they’ll have a stable supply of income and recruits.”

“If that happens, it won’t be long before the Northern Branch regains its former strength,” another added.

“No. They will grow even stronger than before. This is Luoyang, after all,” someone else said.

Luoyang, one of the largest cities in the Central Plains. Yeon So-hyeon had not only clearly established his presence as the Grand Young Master of the Luoyang Sword Clan but had also installed Gong Liang, the Old Demon feared for his immense power, as the Governor of Luoyang.

“Hoho, Grand Young Master. Seeing you surrounded by so many allies truly reassures this old man.”

“Elder Gong Liang, your words are kind, but you are the one who is like a thousand troops and ten thousand horses to me.”

With these words, it was only natural that the vassal sects of the Luoyang Sword Clan, which had once formed the New Martial Righteous Alliance, would now flock to the Grand Young Master.

“…Isn’t this like a tiger sprouting wings?”

“The speed at which the Grand Young Master’s power is expanding is like the Yellow River overflowing during the rainy season.”

“My decision to attend this event today was an excellent one.”

“I was just thinking the exact same thing.”

As the esteemed guests swiftly calculated their strategies, contemplating how to get closer to the Grand Young Master, a separate, secret conversation was taking place, completely unrelated to the general flow.

[Now…!] They exchanged furtive glances. [We have to get Kongtong out of here, before it’s too late!] It was the Third Young Master’s loyalists.

“You’re being summoned by the Military Strategy Bureau!”

“Come, let’s go! Grand Master!”

The Grand Master of the Kongtong Sect, who had been struggling to find an opening at the front of the crowd, was suddenly grabbed by the shoulder.

“Wa-Wait…!”

As the Kongtong Grand Master attempted to channel his internal energy to shake off their hands once again, the loyalists sent him a telepathic message first.

[Just now, Elder Namgung Hyeok-cheon ordered the entire Kongtong Sect to return immediately.]

[On top of that, a summons from the Military Strategy Bureau. Are you planning to ignore all of this?]

Their words weren’t directed at the Grand Master personally; they had pointedly mentioned Kongtong. It was, in essence, a threat.

“You…!” The Grand Master of Kongtong bared his teeth with hostility.

[Calm yourself, Grand Master!] 

They swiftly altered their strategy, attempting to sway him. 

[Diancang and Zhongnan have betrayed us, and even Hengshan has completely turned against us!] 

[In such a dire situation, if the Kongtong Sect remains steadfastly loyal, how could anyone possibly treat Kongtong poorly?] 

The Kongtong Grand Master’s eyes wavered for a mere moment, but they didn’t miss that tiny opportunity. 

[If they were to mistreat Kongtong after you demonstrated such loyalty during this crisis, the entire world would point fingers at the Namgung family and the Military Strategy Bureau!] 

[You will undoubtedly receive a reward just as generous as the Grand Young Master’s side!] 

The telepathic message hammered into his mind like a final nail. 

[Besides, what do you think will remain for you if you join the Grand Young Master too late?] 

[With Huashan and Wudang joining forces, the influence of the New Martial Righteous Alliance will only grow stronger across the Central Plains!] 

[Kongtong will undoubtedly reap significant benefits in the future!]

Kongtong Grand Master’s face was creased with wrinkles. Every word he spoke was true. Diancang, Zhongnan, and even Hengshan had already allied with the opposing side. If Kongtong were to awkwardly shuffle over now, they would be treated as nothing more than a discarded guest. Unlike the other sects, Kongtong had no noble justification for joining at this stage, other than blatant opportunism. He squeezed his eyes shut. When he opened them again, they were bloodshot and wavering, but his resolve was firm.

“Our Kongtong Sect.”

“The Kongtong Sect…?”

The Third Young Master’s loyalists watched with bated breath. The surrounding guests, who had been curiously observing the shifting dynamics, also fell silent, pretending not to listen as they strained their ears.

“Our Kongtong Sect… will offer our swords to the Grand Young Master.”

At those words, a shriek-like voice erupted from the Third Young Master’s loyalists.

“Grand Master?!”

“Are you in your right mind?!”

“Perhaps. I may not be. However…” The Kongtong Grand Master nodded firmly. “My intention is unwavering.”

The loyalists raised their voices, unable to comprehend. “But why?! Why choose the poison cup in this situation?!” The Third Young Master loyalists pushed through the clamoring group. “At least tell us the reason!”

After a moment of silence to gather his thoughts, the Kongtong Grand Master uttered a single phrase: “The Righteous Path.”

For a moment, the loyalists were dumbfounded, before they burst into incredulous laughter. “…The ‘Righteous Path’?” They found it ridiculous, anachronistic, and bizarre.

The Grand Master gave a bitter smile, knowing they wouldn’t comprehend. “The Grand Young Master has demonstrated numerous stratagems and plans through his divine intellect. However, he has never strayed from the Righteous Path.”

“And what does that—“

The Grand Master cut him off. “That is precisely the credit and trust a ruler must possess. That is the virtue the Grand Young Master embodies…”

Ruler. Credit. Trust. Virtue.

As he spoke those words, he continued, “And that is the decisive reason I have chosen to follow him.”

“Hah.”

How was it that those words felt so alien and distant?

‘…Now I think I understand.’ 

He felt he could finally grasp why the Sect Leader of Zhongnan, who had knelt and apologized to the Grand Young Master, had worn such an expression of profound relief.

“If what you’re saying is just some nonsense about chivalry or righteousness, the kind of talk even the Orthodox Factions in the days of the old Martial Righteous Alliance didn’t utter—“

“No,” the Kongtong Grand Master firmly shook his head. “I’m well aware that we’ve all become too corrupt to discuss such noble values.” A bitter, self-deprecating smile graced his lips. “However…” While the smile was laced with self-mockery, it also carried a hint of the same relief the Zhongnan Sect Leader had displayed. “Even from our sect’s perspective, it’s the same.”

“What do you mean?”

The Kongtong Grand Master replied, “The Third Young Master’s side might make sweet promises, assuring our Kongtong Sect a future brimming with countless benefits. But a single word of promise from the Grand Young Master seems far more likely to be fulfilled. That’s what I mean.”

In short, unlike the Grand Young Master, the Third Young Master’s faction had no credit or trust.

“Nonsense!” As expected, the loyalists of the Third Young Master erupted in fury. “What kind of baseless logic is that?!”

“You’d be better off pretending to be a sage-king! What is this rubbish?!”

The Kongtong Grand Master shrugged off the hands on his shoulders and stepped away from them. “Is it?” he continued his question. “The Grand Young Master has never once broken his word, and it seems he never will. What do you make of that?”

Amazingly, at that moment, the loyalists fell silent.

Will the Grand Young Master, in his future actions, break a promise he has made? No one could readily answer that question.

That was the greatest asset and achievement that the Grand Young Master Yeon So-hyeon had built since ending his seclusion. “That is the virtue I spoke of earlier—the Grand Young Master’s trust and credit.”

Grind. The sound of teeth grinding came from the loyalists. But in the end, they had nothing left to say.

“Grand Master, you will regret this decision.”

It was a typical, almost cliché, parting shot.

“Whatever the Grand Young Master does, we will ensure that the Kongtong Sect is utterly destroyed.”

“Go on, stick to the Grand Young Master and enjoy your ‘cold rice’ while your disciples resent you.”

“You’ll die and not even get funeral rites. You’d better eat that cold rice while you’re still alive.”

Though the words were typical, the chilling killing intent behind them was real. A shiver went down the Grand Master’s spine, and he could only clench his jaw in silence.

“Hoh?”

When Gong Liang turned his head, he discovered that he had somehow approached them. His face was right in front of theirs.

“?!”

The terrified loyalists reflexively stumbled backward. Gong Liang, seated in his wheeled chair, advanced as much as they retreated.

“Are you threatening someone who has just declared his intention to take refuge in the Grand Young Master’s shadow?” Gong Liang’s smile was a chilling reminder of old blood. “Here, in Wongakjeong, the Grand Young Master’s own residence, you dare to reveal your killing intent?”

“N-No…!”

“That’s not what we—!”

They frantically shook their heads and waved their hands, but it only drew colder stares from the surrounding crowd.

“Damn it…!”

“We were in such a hurry that we forgot where we were…!”

Pale-faced, the Third Young Master’s loyalists began to back away toward the entrance.

“W-We will take our leave now!”

The other guests, not wanting to get directly involved, didn’t block their path.

“I, Gong Liang, have memorized all of your faces.” Gong Liang bared his teeth at the retreating men. “Your sects, your families, and your martial halls… none of them will be allowed to set foot near this land of Luoyang ever again.” Gong Liang’s teeth were yellowed with age, his dental alignment was crooked, many teeth had been replaced with gold, and some were missing entirely.

“Heek…!”

But to them, the fangs of the Old Demon were more terrifying than those of a mountain tiger. It was no surprise that they forgot all sense of decorum and fled Wongakjeong as if their lives depended on it.

“Thank you, Lord Governor.” The Kongtong Grand Master expressed his gratitude.

“No.” Gong Liang shook his head slightly. “You are thanking the wrong person.”

“Pardon?”

His expression returned to its usual gentle demeanor as he smiled. “Do you think this old man would dare to act as the master of Wongakjeong on his own?”

Only the host has the right to kick out a guest. The Grand Master of Kongtong, realizing what Gong Liang meant, instinctively turned around. There stood the Grand Young Master, Yeon So-hyeon. “G-Grand Young Master!”

Yeon So-hyeon smiled.

“The Kongtong Sect is welcomed.”