Luoyang Sword Clan. The Third Young Master’s Faction’s Headquarters.

Thud. Thud.

Heavy footsteps echoed down the corridor.

“…..”

Those who recognized the owner of the footsteps hastily bowed their heads, parting to the left and right. Normally, the owner of those footsteps would have felt a sense of satisfaction from each of these deferential gestures. However, now, instead, the sound of his own footsteps echoing off the corridor walls only filled him with anxiety. It even felt as if he were being hunted.

“Halt! This is the central district of the Grand Military Strategy Bureau!”

The warriors, attempting to control access as usual, saw who it was and their eyes widened.

“E-Elder Namgung?!”

The owner of the footsteps. Namgung Hyuk-cheon, the head of the Third Young Master’s faction, spoke in a low voice.

“Open the doors.”

For a moment. The two warriors, both from the old Martial Righteous Alliance, exchanged glances. But the man before them was not someone they could stop in the first place.

“E-Elder Namgung Hyuk-cheon has come to visit the Grand Military Strategy Bureau!”

With a loud announcement. Namgung Hyuk-cheon strode inside the moment the doors opened.

“My goodness.”

Amidst the overpowering aroma of ink, a voice, laced with a subtle yet unmistakable annoyance, broke the silence. An elderly man, exuding an air of timeless grace, his age a mystery. Grand Strategist Sima extended a greeting.

“Elder Namgung. What urgent matter compels you to visit this humble abode in person?”

The sarcasm in his voice was unmistakable. It was a sentiment that had been simmering since the days of the venerable Martial Righteous Alliance. The noble families, represented by the esteemed Namgung Imperial Family, the Military Strategy Bureau, and the Nine Great Sects had engaged in an endless struggle for power within the alliance. The strained and grudge-filled relationships that had been forged over those long years of power struggles continued to simmer, even now, within the Luoyang Sword Clan. That was precisely why. Without even offering a cup of tea, he had left Namgung Hyuk-cheon, the head of the Third Young Master’s faction, standing there, demanding his business.

“Have you heard the news about the Grand Young Master?” Namgung Hyuk-cheon inquired, his expression hardened by discomfort.

“We have ears, and we’ve heard,” Grand Strategist Sima replied, his voice surprisingly direct. Contrary to his usual demeanor, he harbored a particularly deep-seated grudge against the Namgung family. “Are you referring to the incident where the elders, led by Elder Namgung Hyuk-cheon, were thoroughly beaten and defeated by the Grand Young Master during the Council of Elders? Oh, dear…”

The old man clicked his tongue and muttered to himself, “Our Military Strategy Bureau explicitly warned Elder Namgung about the possibility of the Grand Young Master’s intervention.”

His attitude was filled with hostility. “Or is it about the Grand Young—“ Grand Strategist Sima’s lips twisted, baring his teeth.

“The Grand Young Master,” Namgung Hyuk-cheon cut him off before he could finish. “If you mean the news that he made Elder Peng of the Hebei faction a master, I, too, have just heard.”

At that, Grand Strategist Sima’s lip twisted even further.

“Then I suppose you also know that our faction’s elders are flocking to Wongakjeong.”

Grand Strategist Sima spoke mockingly. “If that’s the case, shouldn’t Elder Namgung be controlling them right now…?”

Normally, this would have been the point where one of them would have exploded in anger, and the meeting would have ended.

“…Suppressing their martial curiosity now will only lead to a greater craving later. If that happens, they will only be swayed further by the Grand Young Master.”

But today, despite his eyebrows twitching in anger, Namgung Hyuk-cheon continued to speak with grim determination. “In that case, it is better to let them off the leash for a while.”

At Namgung Hyuk-cheon’s peculiar atmosphere, Grand Strategist Sima halted his taunts and fell silent. “In that case…” Instead of Grand Strategist Sima, the young Grand Strategist Zhuge, who had been observing the situation, stepped forward and spoke. “The reason Elder Namgung has come here is—“

“—The Second Young Master’s faction.” Namgung Hyuk-cheon abruptly mentioned the Second Young Master. “Internally, they were divided between the Luoyang faction and the Jiangnan faction, vying for achievements and being defeated by the Grand Young Master one by one. And…”

Grand Strategist Zhuge nodded and continued, “And when it came to the decisive moment, they were defeated by the Grand Young Master without ever deploying their full strength.”

Why bring up the Second Young Master now? Grand Strategist Sima narrowed his eyes, observing the conversation between the two.

“From the Second Young Master’s faction’s perspective, it was an empty defeat that must have made them want to beat the ground in regret.”

Namgung Hyuk-cheon took up Zhuge’s point. “The snare the Grand Young Master laid was too vast, too swift, and too precise. Before they could mobilize all their available tactics and forces, the battle was already decided.”

The Second Young Master’s faction had been defeated without ever fully unleashing the power of the Heavenly Wicked Hegemons. Without fully mobilizing their forces within the Sword Clan. Without revealing the full strength of their allies.

“With a single victory, the Grand Young Master effectively pushed the Second Young Master’s faction to the brink of virtual collapse.” After savoring his victory, Grand Strategist Zhuge inquired, “The reason you’re bringing this up now is…”

Namgung Hyuk-cheon closed his eyes for a moment.

—“Your worst enemy is not the Heavenly Wicked Hegemons, nor the Sichuan Tang Family. Nor is it the Patriarch currently lying in bed.”

The Chief Steward of the Inner Court had raised his hand and pointed outward, toward the Council of Elders.

—“It is the Grand Young Master over there.”

“With your brilliant minds, Grand Strategists, you must feel the same as I do.” Having solidified his resolve, Namgung Hyuk-cheon opened his eyes and spoke. “The path we are currently on is no different from the path the Second Young Master’s faction took.”

At those words, both Grand Strategists let out a low groan simultaneously.

“No, it’s not just ‘no different.’ We are following in their exact footsteps,” Namgung Hyuk-cheon stated firmly.

Neither Grand Strategist dared to deny his words. They, too, were acutely aware of that fact at that moment.

“Our plan to draw attention by revealing the Third Young Master, who has reached the ranks of a master, at the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly—“ Grand Strategist Sima nodded heavily, picking up Namgung Hyuk-cheon’s words, “—has already failed.”

Grand Strategist Zhuge, with a soft click of his tongue, acknowledged the numerous plans they had meticulously crafted to follow in sequence. However, the unexpected turn of events had thrown everything into disarray. They were fierce competitors vying for the coveted position of the pivot of power, but this revelation was a story for a future victory.

“At the moment when the Grand Young Master has so preemptively and shockingly displayed his martial prowess…”

“Everything has become meaningless.”

“…the Grand Young Master can be said to be superior to anyone, in any field.”

Namgung Hyuk-cheon, with a voice laden with the truth he had unconsciously avoided, voiced the undeniable reality. His sense of competition with the Grand Young Master had transformed into an inferiority complex. The more he learned about the Grand Young Master, the more profound the realization became—the gap between them felt insurmountable.

“Now is not the time for our camp to be divided like this.”

Namgung Hyuk-cheon’s words carried a grave weight. “Even if the elders from the Nine Great Sects fail to unite, at least our noble families and the Military Strategy Bureau must first join forces.” His words then echoed the Chief Steward of the Inner Court’s counsel, “Our true enemy… our greatest threat… is that Grand Young Master.”

Grand Strategist Sima let out a long sigh and nodded in agreement. “You are correct,” he said. The cunning old strategist was not so foolish as to overlook the significance of the matter. “From now on, we will set aside our personal feelings.”

“Good,” Namgung Hyuk-cheon replied, sitting cross-legged on the floor and rolling up his sleeves. “I will now share all the information I know. So, Left and Right Grand Strategists, if you would also—“

“Of course,” the two Grand Strategists agreed, sitting on the floor just as Namgung Hyuk-cheon had. “The first piece of information the Military Strategy Bureau will share is…”

Grand Strategist Sima continued Grand Strategist Zhuge’s words. “News regarding the North.”

“The North…?”

As the Nine Great Sects and noble families primarily operated in the Central Plains, they had limited access to information about the outside world. The Military Strategy Bureau of the old Martial Righteous Alliance, with its extensive information network spanning the entire Central Plains, was the only source of reliable information.

“An unusual movement is currently being detected among the barbarian tribes of the North,” Grand Strategist Sima revealed.

“An unusual movement? Of what scale…?” Namgung Hyuk-cheon inquired.

Grand Strategist Sima then disclosed the new information that had just come in. “It is to the extent that the Imperial Palace is moving.”

“…The Imperial Palace?!”

The name ‘Imperial Palace’ carried a weight that was truly different. No matter how weak the current Emperor was, that was a matter confined to the internal politics of the capital. If the Imperial Palace was preparing a direct response, the scale of the events in the North was far from ordinary.

To have grasped the internal situation of the Imperial Palace… As expected of the Military Strategy Bureau…

Namgung Hyuk-cheon groaned inwardly. “Our plan to use the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly to reveal the Third Young Master has failed.”

“In that case… we must change the direction of our plan from the roots up.”

Namgung Hyuk-cheon’s eyes narrowed. “If so…!” As he immediately understood the meaning of their words.

“That is correct.” Grand Strategist Zhuge nodded. “Currently, the Third Young Master’s location is near the North.”

Grand Strategist Sima smiled, a sinister smile that didn’t suit his immortal bearing, and opened his mouth. “Perhaps, right now… we have seized an opportunity even greater than the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly.”

However, they did not know.

That an envoy from the Emperor was already visiting Wongakjeong.

***

Wongakjeong, Guest Chamber. The Imperial Son-in-Law, who was deeply moved, was approached by the triplet handmaiden, Il-ryeong.

“As you hail from the Imperial Palace, Your Excellency, I presume you are accustomed to such opulence.”

“Ah, indeed,” he replied, a bashful smile tugging at his lips. “It’s simply… I’m experiencing anew the essence of being within Wongakjeong.” He traced his short beard with his fingers, continuing, “To think that I, who was merely a collateral branch of the Yeon Clan, would one day grace the guest chamber of Wongakjeong…”

At those words, Il-ryeong’s eyes widened in surprise. “I had heard there was a member of the Yeon Clan in the Imperial Palace, but was that Your Excellency?!”

“Yes, but…” The Imperial Son-in-Law smiled. “I am now a man of the Imperial Palace, and my origins no longer matter.” He turned his gaze. “Besides, it’s not just me. General Geum Mun-hwi, who is in charge of my escort, was also originally…”

However, the person in question, General Geum Mun-hwi, whom the Imperial Son-in-Law had pointed to, was preoccupied with gazing out the window, his expression unusually tense.

“General.”

When he called him, the General, uncharacteristically, turned around with a startled expression. “Ah, yes. Your command?” Somehow, he looked like a general on his first deployment to a battlefield.

The Imperial Son-in-Law couldn’t help but chuckle and inquire, “My goodness. Why is General Geum Mun-hwi, the ‘Iron Lion’ whose bravery is renowned even in the North, so nervous?”

The usual General Geum Mun-hwi would have cleared his throat and blushed. “Your Excellency… Your Qi Sense is still developing, so you may not be able to sense it, but…” He gripped the scabbard at his waist so tightly that his large hand had turned white as he continued. “The number of masters I can sense within this Wongakjeong… is already over ten. Moreover…”

Whatever had just transpired, they were not even attempting to conceal their combative auras; they were displaying them as if for show.

“The number of masters gathering at Wongakjeong right now is more than double that.”