Chapter 772: Star Dragon Team (Star Dragon Team)

It was a time when there was still plenty of time before nightfall.

Only now were lanterns slowly being lit around the residence; the sky was recalling the sunset while waiting for the moon.

As the cool breeze began to blow, signaling the start of welcoming autumn,

in a small warehouse situated in one corner of the residence.

several individuals were gathered.

Each possessed a unique personality, with no two individuals alike.

Their genders, martial arts, even the clothes they wore were all different, yet they shared one point of suffering.

That point was having one person as their superior.

They were beings who moved solely by that one person’s command.

The moment an order was given, they had no choice but to act, regardless of what it was.

This meeting was also part of an order, and one of those who received such an order was a woman with short, black hair, commonly known as Bongsun, who was staring at a man in the corner.

“Kk…kkeu….”

A groan could be heard.

It was a moan coming from a secluded spot along the wall.

A massive figure, who seemed tall enough to touch this room’s ceiling if he stood properly.

He was a man with tremendous muscles, possibly the strongest among those gathered here in terms of grip strength.

He was a powerhouse, so strong that even Bongsun herself was certain she would lose if they fought.

“Kkeuheu…Heueueu…..”

Such a man was trembling violently, face down on the floor with his head pressed down.

I heard he had been like this for two days straight.

Judging by the sweat pouring off him, it seemed his powers had been sealed.

He had been keeping his head down in that state for the second day.

It was a sight painful even to imagine, yet not a single person gathered here felt pity for the man.

No, even if they felt pity, they weren’t allowed to look at him.

A young man sat atop that man.

As long as he was there, it seemed absolutely impossible.

Gulp.

Bongsun, watching this, swallowed dryly.

‘…Sc, Scary.’

She was terrified.

Bongsun, who usually wasn’t easily scared, found the current situation more frightening than anything else.

The master Bongsun served.

Her benefactor who saved her, and the man who would one day give her his seed.

Her master, referred to as the Cult Leader, was the cause.

‘Cult Leader…. Why, why is he angry?’

Bongsun had to keep swallowing nervously, hiding her trembling hands.

It wasn’t just her.

Everyone gathered here was watching his reactions.

He usually frowned or wore a thoroughly annoyed expression, as if always angry, but this time was different.

Instead, he was expressionless.

The young man sat on the man being punished, Dangdeok, with a face devoid of any discernible emotion.

A face that conveyed no emotion at all.

He looked nonchalant, but the reality was entirely different.

Everyone in the room. Their survival instincts were going wild.

‘Cult Leader…. The Cult Leader is angry.’

That is rage.

The aura subtly emanating from his expressionless face filled the surroundings, creating darkness as if swallowing light.

It was suffocating.

What on earth could have happened to make him this angry? A painful sensation, like a tight grip around the neck.

In that hazy feeling, Bongsun recalled.

‘Ex, Exciting….’

…It wasn’t an unpleasant sensation.

It was the kind of situation that could be dangerous if experienced any longer.

That situation further stimulated Bongsun.

‘Hooook! Hooook!’

Just as she feared she might become addicted to the strange sensation.

“…Kkeuheu….”

Seeing Dangdeok struggling, the young man cast his gaze.

“Having a hard time?”

“Ah…No…. No, I’m not…”

“Right, you shouldn’t be having a hard time.”

Sik.

A smile appeared on the young man’s face, and immediately, everyone around them flinched briefly.

“Someone who doesn’t even listen properly shouldn’t be having a hard time too, right?”

“…Sorr…Sorry.”

“Sorry? No need. You probably didn’t hear it because it was words you didn’t need to hear.”

Kugugung.

“Keuhuk….”

Perhaps due to a sudden increase in weight, Dangdeok gasped.

“The great Guiakchang doesn’t need to listen to my words, does he? Right?”

“Kkeueueu…!”

“I told you to finish up quickly and prepare to rejoin, but you forgot because the fight was fun? You call that an excuse? You punk. Do you think I planned this operation just so you could go brawl?”

“…Sorr…Sorry…”

Dangdeok’s arms had now started to tremble.

It was astonishing to see those massive forearms shaking uncontrollably.

While he continued to suppress him with his power for quite some time.

“Hey.”

“Uh…Eu…Yeah…..”

The young man.

Gu Yangcheon spoke to Cheoljiseon, who was beside him.

Even then, Dangdeok was practically dying.

“Hypothetically, I’m just asking, you know.”

“…What is it?”

“If we were to remove the Hwangbo Family from the current situation, it would be a bit troublesome, wouldn’t it?”

“…Huh…?”

What did he just hear? Cheoljiseon frowned, as if he had misheard Gu Yangcheon.

“What…what do you mean?”

“Exactly what I said. What would happen if we considered discarding the Hwangbo Family?”

“…”

Excluding the Hwangbo Family in the current situation?

And even considering discarding them…

Cheoljiseon quickly finished his thought.

In fact, he already knew the answer the moment he heard it.

“…It would be troublesome, right?”

It would be very, very troublesome.

If we’ve set up the board this far and are thinking of excluding the Hwangbo Family…

It’s impossible to even grasp where we’d need to start changing and filling things in.

However.

“Do you have some kind of plan?”

Cheoljiseon trusted Gu Yangcheon more than that.

That guy doesn’t say things without a rational reason, so it must be the same this time.

He firmly believed that, but.

“No.”

“Huh…?”

Cheoljiseon was taken aback by the response.

“It’s just that something really pissed me off. I was thinking of just flipping the whole table.”

“What…?”

What kind of crazy talk is that? Cheoljiseon tried to speak but managed to hold back.

“Never mind. Forget it. It was half a joke.”

“…”

That means the other half was serious.

Does he really not know that statement is even more terrifying?

“By any chance, is the Hwangbo Family the reason you’re angry?”

“Hm?”

Gu Yangcheon wore a peculiar expression at Cheoljiseon’s question.

“What are you talking about? I’m not angry.”

“…”

“…?”

“Kkeu….”

Yeah, right.

That was the common thought among everyone in the room.

It seemed he was unaware.

Just how deep and terrible the emotions Gu Yangcheon was emitting were.

Should I tell him?

Cheoljiseon pondered for a moment but shook his head inwardly.

‘If I say the wrong thing, I’ll get hit.’

He knew from past experience that arguing pointlessly would only bring him harm.

For now, let’s just pretend not to know.

Thinking thus, Cheoljiseon swallowed dryly once more.

Just then.

“Ah right, is that okay?”

Cheoljiseon tilted his head at Gu Yangcheon’s question.

“What are you talking about?”

“About the members of the Zhuge Family clan who were captured this time.”

“Ah…”

With the explanation that followed, Cheoljiseon finally understood what he meant.

The descendants of the Zhuge Family who had defied the Alliance.

He knew Gu Yangcheon had used that raid.

Regarding that, Gu Yangcheon was asking Cheoljiseon if it was really okay, but.

“What does it matter?”

Cheoljiseon replied with a somewhat cold gaze.

“Because they aren’t the real ones. It doesn’t matter. Whatever happens.”

“Hmm.”

A cold and dry answer.

Hearing this, Gu Yangcheon nodded slightly.

The strategy to use the Pil Duma as disposable pawns.

Before using it, Gu Yangcheon had asked Cheoljiseon beforehand.

That depending on the situation, the Zhuge Family would be mentioned, and the plan was to use the Zhuge Family descendants in the process.

Furthermore, he had asked if it was okay to use this strategy, considering that public perception of the Zhuge Family might worsen afterward.

To this, Cheoljiseon asked just one thing.

Whether the promise to restore the Zhuge Family’s honor remained unchanged.

To this, Gu Yangcheon nodded.

Within three years at most, he had promised to restore the Zhuge Family to its former renown.

“Make sure you keep your promise.”

“I must.”

Even as he answered, Gu Yangcheon observed Cheoljiseon.

‘Not the real ones.’

Those Pil Duma guys aren’t the real ones.

That statement bothers him quite a bit.

‘In my past life, the Pil Duma also served as Cheonyurang’a’s guard unit.’

That fact has now become a question in this era.

The Pil Duma were actually clan members of the Zhuge Family,

and Cheonyurang’a was the same, making him wonder if this connection was truly a coincidence.

‘In such a situation, the fact that Cheoljiseon didn’t care whether the Pil Duma side lived or died…’

Cheoljiseon is a weak-willed guy who possesses a certain amount of affection.

He’s so weak-willed that he feels vague guilt even over the deaths of complete strangers,

so seeing him indifferent to the deaths of the Pil Duma.

‘It must be seen as someone he disliked.’

Why on earth would a descendant of the Zhuge Family dislike another descendant?

‘Shinui and Zhuge Hyuk were the same.’

His view of Shinui was the same as his view of the Pil Duma, so he concluded there must be a reason.

‘I need to look into it.’

It’s about time I started investigating.

Since there were things I needed to investigate about that guy anyway, it seemed I’d have to act as soon as this matter is over.

Having decided that.

Gu Yangcheon took out a letter from his pocket and handed it to Cheoljiseon.

“What’s this?”

“Received from the Alliance today.”

Hearing it came from the Murim Alliance, Cheoljiseon immediately took it and unfolded it.

At that moment.

“What…!?”

Cheoljiseon’s eyes widened like saucers upon checking the contents.

Gu Yangcheon chuckled at the reaction and added an explanation.

“They gave it to me, asking me to become the Grand Leader.”

“Grand Leader…? They gave you this asking you to be the Grand Leader?”

“So they say.”

“Has the Murim Alliance gone mad?”

“Seems like it, doesn’t it?”

“Those so-called righteous sects…. Why would they ask you to take the Alliance’s Grand Leader position…? Are they really planning to ruin the Alliance…?”

“Even I think that…What the hell is this guy?”

As he listened, something felt off, so he asked back.

Then Cheoljiseon quickly covered his mouth as if he had misspoke.

“…I misspoke a little.”

“Doesn’t seem like it? I could feel the sincerity.”

“N-no.”

Cheoljiseon’s face turned pale.

Just as he was about to say more to him, Gu Yangcheon clicked his tongue dismissively.

Even this was bothersome right now.

“Never mind that. Just tell me what you think of it.”

“About the conditions? Or…”

“The conditions are obviously insane, so forget those. Tell me whether it’s something worth doing or not.”

“…”

Cheoljiseon narrowed his eyes slightly upon hearing the question.

“Are you thinking of accepting the Grand Leader position?”

“Hmm. Depends?”

“…It’s a dangerous undertaking.”

He answered honestly.

“It will disrupt your planned schedule. And no matter how strong you are…that place is undeniably a tiger’s den.”

“That’s true.”

The Demonic Cult had truly begun to spread its name.

The Alliance was trying to shut it down somehow, but it seemed they weren’t succeeding easily.

Of course.

‘It’s not just anything, it’s the death of the Dao King.’

The raid could simply be pinned on the Zhuge Family, but

on top of that, a guy named Cheonma appeared, and the Dao King, one of the Six Seats, even died due to the raid.

The Peng Family reported this as the work of Guiakchang, a figure from the Demonic Cult held by the Alliance.

They officially announced that Bisungdo was critically injured by his hand, the Dao King died, and several Alliance warriors lost their lives.

Herein lies the problem.

It’s the fact that Dangdeok didn’t kill the Dao King.

This was confirmed using the restriction spell.

Which means.

‘Someone killed the Dao King, and framed Dangdeok for it.’

That was the correct assumption.

Gu Yangcheon was already certain of the main culprit.

‘Peng Woojin.’

Bisungdo Peng Woojin.

This bastard did this.

He killed his own father and framed the Demonic Cult…

Regardless of the reason, the Demonic Cult did not bother to refute it.

‘No one would believe us anyway.’

They had already attacked Henan and caused chaos, earning a terrible reputation.

Saying, ‘Actually, we didn’t kill the Dao King,’ wouldn’t convince anyone.

‘Come to think of it, it’s not entirely bad.’

The resulting notoriety wasn’t entirely bad either.

In fact, Dangdeok, who actually killed the Dao King, was positioned as a rising star, and Dangdeok’s notoriety increasing was beneficial to me.

That’s why I’m not making any moves.

Thanks to this, talk about the Demonic Cult grew daily.

Consequently, there were quite a few people hoping the Alliance would officially issue a kill order.

A kill order literally meant to kill them by any means necessary.

No matter what they were doing, if a report of the Demonic Cult’s appearance came in, the responsible branch, along with Alliance experts, would immediately prepare a hunt.

I know from experience, having been caught once in my past life, that this was quite a hassle.

‘I couldn’t even properly take a crap.’

Later on, they were burned to death the moment they were detected by Ki sensing, which was convenient,

but in the beginning, I even had to go to the outhouse carefully.

Because they might be hiding in the cesspit and stab me.

Given such circumstances, I knew how absurd it was for me to personally become the Grand Leader, but.

“But then again. There isn’t a better opportunity than this.”

“What?”

“The people I need to deal with will all be gathered there. Wouldn’t it be easier to go and finish them all off at once, rather than picking them off one by one from afar?”

Mu Yeon, of course.

And I still had more than one or two things to obtain from the Alliance.

Besides.

‘I haven’t been able to properly utilize Bongsun.’

Isn’t this the perfect situation to use the hidden blade I prepared?

“That’s absurd.”

Even hearing this, Cheoljiseon was full of negative reactions.

“If you’re truly going to do it… you’ll have to change the plan, not to mention the entire future schedule.”

“Yeah.”

“Is it something you have to do, even accepting those consequences?”

“I don’t know.”

“What?”

Cheoljiseon wore a dumbfounded expression at Gu Yangcheon’s answer.

He wondered what kind of answer that was.

“You don’t know…?”

“Yeah. I don’t know.”

“But why…?”

“I don’t know, but I feel like I have to.”

“There’s absolutely no rational reasoning behind it…!”

I’ll do it because I feel like I have to.

There were dozens of reasons why not doing it would be better, but Cheoljiseon felt like he was going to explode from frustration at Gu Yangcheon’s answer.

One.

“If I feel like I have to do it, I do it. It’s always been like that.”

Gu Yangcheon gave a definitive answer.

His attitude was that he would never change his mind.

“Then, as I said before, the plan…”

“Right. The plan will be slightly disrupted, won’t it?”

It’s not just ‘slightly,’ Cheoljiseon tried to say, but.

“That’s why you need to go find out now.”

“Huh…?”

Cheoljiseon froze at Gu Yangcheon’s nonchalant words.

What did he just say…?

“I’ll send word to someone else too, so starting now, you go find out as well.”

“Wha…What are you talking about?”

I hope not.

Believing so, he asked again.

“A plan that ensures I’ll be okay even after committing to this. Go find that.”

“…”

“Please?”

A request that was brazenly a command.

Only then did Cheoljiseon realize.

Gu Yangcheon had decided on the answer beforehand and was asking.

And also.

That he had arranged this meeting from the start specifically to give him this order.

---

A day later, at the Murim Alliance.

I was sitting in a space quite different from yesterday.

The space back then wasn’t bad either, but this time it was even more so.

It was a VIP room that felt much more dignified and clearly well-prepared.

‘Did the Alliance have such a space internally?’

It was the first time I had ever entered such a room in my life.

In truth, I didn’t even know it existed.

After all, given my status, when would I have ever visited a room like this?

In the first place, any nice room in the Alliance was irrelevant to me.

‘How novel.’

And now, here I am, sitting squarely in a room like this.

It’s a fresh feeling in many ways.

As I was casually looking around.

“This is unexpected.”

A voice could be heard.

I immediately looked towards the source of the voice.

At the location I looked, an old man was visible beyond a desk.

An old man I’d rather not see twice if possible.

The epitome of a strategist, known as the Sword Venerable’s brain, who led the Alliance to its golden age.

An old man who, until Zhuge Hyuk’s appearance, was called a master strategist and the nightmare of the battlefield.

The nightmare of the battlefield.

Looking at Mu Yeon, I asked.

“Is that so?”

“Yes, we truly did not expect you to arrive within just one day.”

Hearing that, I too lifted the corners of my mouth.

“Once the mind is made up, isn’t it better to finish things quickly?”

“That is a most righteous statement. Does that mean we can interpret that the Holy King has decided on his answer?”

“Yes. That’s why I came.”

“I see.”

A brief silence followed.

Mu Yeon calmly watched me, as if waiting for my answer,

and I too met his gaze for a moment before opening my mouth again.

“Regarding the ‘request’ you gave me.”

“Yes.”

“I accept it.”

“…!”

Mu Yeon’s eyes widened at the swift response.

Could it be he didn’t expect me to accept?

I was curious about his reaction, but I didn’t pry.

There was something more important right now.

“However.”

I brought up the main point next.

“There are a few conditions.”

From now on.

From now on, I.

Had to begin a fierce bargaining match with the Alliance’s brain.