Chapter 824: Ilcheonkyo.

So-called powers or groups exist in countless numbers within the Central Plains. Right now, the Nine Great Orthodox Sects and the Four Great Families are also powers.

The Murim Alliance itself, including them, is a power, and the Demonic Cult was also in that position.

What’s important here is what role these powers play and what intentions their members have.

Simply put, are they Orthodox or Unorthodox? That’s what needed to be looked at first.

It was the same in my previous life.

Back then too, I saw many guys with strange names.

In the first place, there were many who called themselves sects or families, but among them, the particular problem was….

‘Those who call themselves cults (敎團).’

If major problems arise, it’s mostly those guys.

Those who follow something or are crazily addicted.

This isn’t entirely strange.

Look at the ones called the Taoist Sect or Buddhist Sect, like the representatives, Mudang or Sorim.

Despite the names, it wouldn’t be strange to call them cults too. If you were to classify them, you could say they are the considerably successful ones.

However, what I’m talking about here refers to the lunatics among those cults.

Whenever trouble happens, it’s always those guys causing it.

Just look at the Demonic Cult, isn’t it the same? Anyway, I’ve never seen a decent guy among those whose names have ‘Cult’ attached.

In that sense.

‘Ilcheonkyo?’

The feeling I got now was chilling to the bone.

Tak-tak-! Tak-tak-!

Flames flicker, riding the night air. A small building was burning down entirely.

Naturally, I was the one who set it ablaze.

I was burning it all down to erase any traces of the guys inside, and watching the roaring flames, I stroked my chin.

‘It feels unsettling.’

Those who approached Gyecheonmun. Or rather, those plotting something with Gyecheonmun.

Their name is Ilcheonkyo… Hearing the name left me feeling incredibly uneasy.

‘Gyecheonmun were the ones who obtained something from Geumcheonyenga’s secret vault in my previous life.’

Thanks to that, not only did the Sect Leader’s cultivation level skyrocket, but he also made a name for himself as a demonic cultivator. Back then, they must have obtained some incredibly awesome fortuitous encounter. That’s roughly what I thought.

‘What is it now?’

I was the one who raided Geumcheonyenga’s secret vault.

It wasn’t as great a fortuitous encounter as the one that caused Gyecheonmun Sect Leader’s cultivation level to surge… But anyway, I was the one who discovered and obtained it.

But what about the current Sect Leader?

‘He definitely wasn’t weak.’

His cultivation level was much higher than what was known.

Judging by the look of him, I got a feeling.

‘He seemed to be among the lower ranks of the Ten Great Masters.’

It wasn’t just some mediocre Hwajing realm. He possessed a much more stable and potent energy.

He definitely couldn’t have obtained the secret vault’s contents, so how could he achieve that?

‘In the end, it means there’s definitely something.’

Just as I was wondering what that something was, the name Ilcheonkyo made me think of various things.

The fortuitous encounter Gyecheonmun obtained from Geumcheonyenga in my previous life.

And the name of the man who was the head of Geumcheonyenga. And the man called a hero for stopping the blood massacre at the time.

Because it was the same as Yeon Ilcheon, the number one under heaven.

Furthermore, it was enough to get on my nerves.

---

A day passed after burning those Ilcheonkyo bastards to death.

I couldn’t kill them all, and it wasn’t their main base, so I needed to broaden the search area a bit more.

The only problem is.

‘The fact that it’s difficult for me to move.’

It’s a point where I have other things to do that slightly hinder me from searching directly.

Of course, with the Shadow King here, this part isn’t a major problem…

‘But it feels awkward to leave everything to that gentleman.’

It’s incredibly awkward to keep assigning tasks to a gentleman who’s missing an arm.

Of course, if I were to search myself…

‘I’m not good at searching.’

If it were about smashing and overturning everything to find something, maybe.

Sneaking around and figuring things out one by one didn’t suit my nature. I could do it if I had to… but honestly, it’s more convenient if someone better than me handles it.

‘Sigh.’

Yeah, let’s think positively.

‘Besides… it somehow seems like the Shadow King wants to do it too.’

When he heard the name Ilcheonkyo, the Shadow King was beside me. Since then, the Shadow King seemed fixated on something and brought up the idea of delving deeper.

It was convenient for me since he stepped up to do it.

‘Sip.’

Tap-tap. I tapped the desk, furrowing my brow.

“There’s definitely something…”

There is something.

Something enough to bother me.

But I don’t know what that something is.

Still in a situation that felt incredibly unsettling. Just as I was thinking deeply, hiding my damp feelings.

Knock knock.

“Great Leader-nim.”

“It’s Mun Dohyeok.”

“May I come in for a moment?”

“Come in.”

A man enters.

It was Mun Dohyeok, a member of the Scarlet Dragon Unit.

“What is it?”

“I came to report the investigation status.”

“Ah.”

I nodded.

As permission was granted, Mun Dohyeok carefully handed over a letter. I accepted and opened it; it contained the status over several days.

“Hmm.”

Reading quickly, I asked Mun Dohyeok.

“How many days does this cover?”

“It’s for three days.”

“Really?”

Three days? Hearing this, I chuckled.

“Alright. I’ve confirmed it, so you can leave.”

“Is there perhaps any further order you wish to give?”

“Nothing in particular for now. For now, just continue as you are… Ah. Member Mun.”

“Yes.”

“If possible, keep an eye on the movements of the Azure Dragon Unit.”

“The Azure… Dragon Unit, you mean?”

“Yeah. Not in detail. Just casually.”

“Understood…”

After Mun Dohyeok left, I finally let out the laughter I had been holding back. I laughed for a while, then paused and hardened my expression.

“Ah… this is funny.”

Crumple-! I immediately crumpled the letter and burned it.

It disappeared, turning into ashes. Although it was information, there was no need to keep it.

After all.

“It’s useless information.”

Because the information Mun Dohyeok brought was pointless fake information. The information claiming to be for three days looked fine on the surface, but all the information within it was meaningless.

Gyecheonmun’s movements.

Location tracking.

Even the status of their personnel was written there, but.

“Wow.”

It was all fake. I could know for sure because I had what the Shadow King brought and what I figured out myself. That Mun Dohyeok’s information, despite looking fine, was all lies.

“These bastards.”

I cursed, but my expression wasn’t that bad. Because I expected this anyway.

In the first place, if I wanted to get proper information, there was no need to assign it to these guys. I could have investigated myself or assigned it to someone trustworthy.

But the reason I specifically assigned it to this guy is none other than this. I already know the proper information…

‘Because this is easier for filtering.’

This method was convenient for selecting a few. That’s why I insisted on assigning it to those guys.

‘I didn’t expect them to be so blatant.’

It was excessively blatant.

‘Could it be that it’s more obvious because I already know the information?’

Maybe, but regardless, that’s not the important thing.

What’s important is.

‘That there are guys who need to be filtered out.’

There are definitely people within the Scarlet Dragon Unit that need to be caught. Especially Mun Dohyeok, who just came to deliver the letter.

That guy wasn’t from anywhere else but the Azure Dragon Unit. From what I heard, he was someone with little achievement even in the Azure Dragon Unit, almost kicked out.

It was quite a strange connection.

“Hmm.”

Should I do something about it? As I pondered for a moment, I slowly got up.

It seemed I had a place to go.

---

The man who came out of Gu Yangcheon’s quarters. Mun Dohyeok walked, hiding his hurried state of mind. As the presence of people decreased, his expression gradually became visible. Just looking at him, his face was clearly tense.

“Hoo… hoo.”

Clutching his rapidly beating heart, he exhaled repeatedly. Mun Dohyeok was scared. He recalled Gu Yangcheon’s eyes, which he had just faced.

“Ugh…”

How could someone’s eyes be so terrifying? The pupils, tinged with a slight blue hue, were sharp as if they could pierce through his very being. Eyes that seemed to know everything he was doing. Recalling this, Mun Dohyeok slowly sighed.

Could I have been found out? It’s possible. Anxiety welled up, but Mun Dohyeok suppressed it and kept walking. Avoiding people’s gazes, he walked a little further through the branch.

Then.

“You’re here.”

Someone was already waiting at the destination Mun Dohyeok was heading towards. Seeing that, Mun Dohyeok immediately knelt. It was much more respectful and quicker than the attitude he showed Gu Yangcheon earlier.

“G-Greetings, Great Leader-nim.”

The middle-aged man nodded. It was Ilcheonggeom.

Ilcheonggeom, looking at Mun Dohyeok, slightly moved his hand. At that moment, the surroundings shimmered.

Whoosh-! A gust of wind blew, slightly moving Mun Dohyeok’s hair.

It was a barrier.

As the surroundings quieted down, Ilcheonggeom looked at him and asked.

“Did you handle the task well?”

“Yes, yes…! I handled it properly as you instructed.”

As instructed. Ilcheonggeom focused on that part and chuckled slightly.

“What was the Great Leader’s reaction? Did he perhaps look suspicious?”

“He seemed like it at first… but fortunately, he doesn’t seem suspicious.”

“Oh?”

Hearing Mun Dohyeok’s words, Ilcheonggeom reacted with surprise.

“He didn’t react…”

It was somewhat unexpected. Seeing that, Mun Dohyeok hastily added.

“And. He gave one order.”

“Oh, an order?”

“It was an order to observe the movements of the Azure Dragon Unit.”

“Hmm.”

The Azure Dragon Unit’s movements. Hearing that, Ilcheonggeom opened his eyes with a strange look.

So they’re paying attention to that side too, huh?

It was fine. Even if they tried to pay attention now, it was a bit too late.

“What should I do…?”

Mun Dohyeok asked cautiously. Ilcheonggeom calmly told him.

“Proceed as the Great Leader said.”

“You mean, report about the Azure Dragon Unit?”

“Yes. Just report what you see, casually.”

“I-I understand.”

Just as I see it. At those words, Mun Dohyeok nodded repeatedly. Perhaps satisfied with his reaction, Ilcheonggeom chuckled and patted his shoulder.

“As expected, your comprehension is quite fast. Our… our…”

Just as Mun Dohyeok’s eyes lit up at the thought of being recognized.

“What was your name again?”

At Ilcheonggeom’s words, his pupils flickered momentarily.

“…It’s Mun Dohyeok.”

“Ah, right. I remember, Member Mun.”

“…”

“Please continue to cooperate in the future. You remember what you need to do, right?”

“…Yes.”

What he needed to do. Recalling that, Mun Dohyeok clenched his fist slightly. An unknown anxiety surged. So he asked Ilcheonggeom the question he had been holding back.

“Um, um… Great Leader-nim.”

“Hm?”

“A-As you said, once this task is finished… will I be accepted back into the Azure Dragon Unit?”

Ilcheonggeom’s eyebrows furrowed at Mun Dohyeok’s earnest question. It was just for a moment. Ilcheonggeom quickly recovered his expression, smiled, and patted Mun Dohyeok’s shoulder.

“Of course, didn’t I promise? Once you finish this task, not only will you return to the Azure Dragon Unit… but I’ll even secure a proper position for you.”

His words, meant to give assurance, finally made Mun Dohyeok’s expression brighten slightly.

“Thank you…! I-I’ll work hard.”

“Yes, don’t worry, just focus on diligently doing your assigned task. You know, right? Tomorrow is important.”

“I’ll keep that in mind–!”

Mun Dohyeok nodded eagerly. Ilcheonggeom took a step back while watching him. Mun Dohyeok, understanding the meaning, got up.

“I’ll be going now. Great Leader-nim.”

“Take care.”

“Yes…!”

After that, Mun Dohyeok left the place and disappeared. Ilcheonggeom, realizing the presence had vanished beyond the barrier.

“Tsk.”

He immediately clicked his tongue and scowled.

“Insignificant worm.”

A reaction showing his displeasure towards Mun Dohyeok. He expressed his irritation without hiding it. The benevolent appearance he showed until just now was gone.

“How dare he, in front of me.”

The former Azure Dragon Unit member who was just in front of me. What was his name? Mun Hyukdo or Mun Dohyeok? He was someone not worth remembering properly.

But what did he say in front of me?

‘Will you really accept me back once the job is done?’

Recalling those words, Ilcheonggeom clicked his tongue again. Did that clueless fool dare to question me? I thought he’d be a suitable bait to use, but it seemed like he got bold now that I gave him an opportunity. If it were up to me, I’d just get rid of him…

‘No… it doesn’t matter.’

Ilcheonggeom quickly changed his expression and thought. If I think about it carefully, doesn’t it not matter? It’s true that I said I’d give him a position if he returned, and I would really give it to him if he handled the task properly.

Yes.

‘If he returns, that is.’

If he can properly return to Hanam, that is.

‘Once the bait catches the fish, there’s no need to use it again.’

It’s no different for that guy. So it doesn’t matter.

Thinking so, Ilcheonggeom turned his back and disappeared. Beyond the barrier, which dissolved as the caster vanished. Blue eyes watching this from afar. Gu Yangcheon revealed himself and took in the scene he just witnessed.

“Well now…”

Looking at Ilcheonggeom’s retreating back, I found myself pondering.

“Where should I prepare his grave?”

Indeed, where, how, and when should I bury him?

It was truly a delightful dilemma.