Chapter 868: Execution.

“A cri-criminal, you say?!”

“What in the blazes are you talking about right now?!”

The Azure Dragon Unit members who heard my words react heatedly.

Suddenly barging in and calling someone a criminal, demanding punishment – it’s only natural they’d be flustered.

Among them, especially.

“Our Commander colluding with scum from the unorthodox sects-! That’s preposterous-!”

“What? Associated with the Demonic Cult? Unbelievable.”

Their own Commander. They were furious about Ilcheonggeom.

Ilcheonggeom.

The man known to be closest to becoming one of the Ten Great Masters of the World, soon to replace the current roster.

After joining the Alliance, he had achieved considerable feats during the Orthodox-Unorthodox War, and it was his recognized outstanding cultivation level, coupled with those achievements, that earned him the position of Azure Dragon Unit Commander.

Some say.

That Ilcheonggeom might ascend to the position of Alliance Leader in the near future.

With the Divine Dragon Unit gone, and immediately after the Sword Immortal stepped down, Ilcheonggeom was the closest person to becoming the Alliance Leader.

Of course, that narrative had somewhat faded with the reappearance of the Divine Dragon Unit.

However, that didn’t diminish Ilcheonggeom’s value.

In the Central Plains, Ilcheonggeom represented the next generation of guardians, upholding justice and righteousness.

‘Justice and righteousness.’

From my perspective, it was nothing but utterly distasteful.

“This is a frame-up!”

The Azure Dragon Unit members protested collectively. Their loyalty seemed quite something, I must say.

[A frame-up?]

I chuckled upon hearing that.

I had still infused my voice with energy.

At my voice, those guys flinched.

“Th-that’s right.”

“If it’s not a frame-up, then what is it…!”

They recoiled slightly, but showed no intention of backing down.

It looked good. A well-united group, wasn’t it?

‘Yeah, it looks good on the outside.’

That’s what it looked like on the surface. What was underneath? That remained to be seen.

“By what authority is the Sacred Dragon Unit Commander doing this-!”

“Exactly. This is unacceptable.”

Listening to them, I asked with a smile.

[Why do you think I lack the authority?]

“Well…”

Tuk-!

As I spoke, I took out a wooden token from my chest and threw it onto the floor.

“Hup…!”

“That’s…!”

Upon seeing it, their eyes widened like saucers.

The character inscribed on the token was ‘Alliance,’ and it signified only one thing.

‘Acting Alliance Leader.’

The authority to act in the name of the Alliance without interference from the Martial Alliance leadership, allowing independent decision-making.

Currently, besides the Alliance Leader, only three people possess this.

And this token I held was personally given to me by Mookyeon.

Immediately after tossing the token, I spread my aura further and said:

[You seem to have forgotten the reason the Sacred Dragon Unit was founded.]

The Sacred Dragon Unit, newly established by the current Martial Alliance. Its purpose was none other than this:

[The Sacred Dragon Unit eradicates evil demons (Ma) and exterminates sinners who oppose the Alliance.]

If the previous Sword Units were created to combat demonic beasts.

The Sacred Dragon Unit was founded solely to deal with humans.

And.

[This Commander holds the authority and right to execute anyone deemed a sinner in the name of the Martial Alliance.]

A Sword Unit capable of acting independently, disregarding the Alliance Leader’s orders.

That was the Sacred Dragon Unit.

[I have judged Ilcheonggeom a sinner and am proceeding with his execution. Does anyone object?]

“How could we possibly not object…!”

At my words, a man from the group stepped forward and shouted.

“Even if you have been granted authority as Commander, this is merely an abuse driven by emotion…!”

[Hmm?]

I tilted my head and looked at him.

Abuse driven by emotion? That was an odd statement.

[What makes you think that?]

Let’s hear the reason, I thought, as I spoke.

“…Commander, you previously attacked our Deputy Commander and left him incapacitated.”

[Ah. That’s right.]

I had spared him willingly when I intended to kill him. It was a form of consideration, really.

At my nonchalant reply, the man frowned.

“Furthermore… today… our Commander…”

He trailed off, biting his lip.

Since he couldn’t articulate it properly and stammered, I finished for him.

[Yes, I beat Ilcheonggeom too. A few blows and he collapsed. Quite weak, really.]

“Tsk!”

Ppudeudeuk….

Fierce energy surged from all directions.

They reacted like that when I insulted Ilcheonggeom. Honestly, I thought it wasn’t bad.

I could feel the respect. Nice.

‘However.’

Do they know who they’re showing that respect to?

If they don’t know, they’re pitiful.

If they do know…

‘They’re all idiots.’

No need to keep them alive. That was my judgment.

[And?]

I nodded, urging him to continue. As if the stage was set, the man quickly added:

“We know you harbor ill feelings towards our Azure Dragon Unit. Yet, to appear like this, calling us criminals and ordering execution-this can only be seen as an abuse of power.”

A tremor laced his voice.

He must be scared. My aura, and the fact that he likely saw or heard about me beating Ilcheonggeom, who was on the verge of being a top ten master-he couldn’t possibly not know.

Perhaps I appear like a monster to him.

Still, it’s remarkable that he says all this.

In a way, it’s something to commend.

“Therefore, even for the sake of legitimacy… first, let’s go to the Alliance…”

[Geum Taeseom.]

“…!”

The man flinched.

He had no choice but to flinch; that was his name.

[A man born into the Geum family of Hanam, who joined the Alliance ten years ago. He’s forty-two, and judging by his mission contributions… he’s most likely to become a Deputy Commander the year after next.]

“H-how…”

[You certainly lived diligently. Well, that’s how one climbs to their current position…]

It’s not easy to reach that position without considerable effort.

Especially the Geum family of Hanam? I haven’t even heard of them. Even more so if they’re from a lower-tier family.

Right. That must be why.

[In that case, you shouldn’t have crossed the line, at least.]

“What… are you saying?”

[Unit member Geum Taeseom. You were taking bribes four times a year in exchange for backing Baek Dongpa. Am I correct?]

“…!”

Geum Taeseom’s eyes widened at my firm tone.

[Furthermore, you used it for your own achievements. You submitted information on other unorthodox sect members at regular intervals. That must have been provided by Baek Dongpa behind the scenes as well.]

“I-I…”

[Righteousness and chivalry? Pathetic.]

Thump. I took a step towards him. He flinched and stepped back.

[Do you even have the right to utter those words?]

“N-no. This, this…”

[If you have any excuses to make, try it. Whatever you say, I have ample evidence to refute it.]

He bit his lip. I could see anxiety and fear welling up in his eyes.

“This is a f-frame-up-!”

Kwang-!!

Teolsseok.

With a loud thud, Geum Taeseom collapsed to his knees.

Thud-thud. As he fell, blood pooled onto the floor. His head had caved in, and he breathed his last.

“G-Geum-hyung!”

“Oh no…!”

Seeing Geum Taeseom die before their eyes, those behind him reacted violently.

[The number of times you colluded with the unorthodox sects exceeds ten. Over a period of five years. If you have no excuses to offer, it’s execution.]

I said, wiping the blood from my hands.

The reactions are sufficient. The atmosphere and the stage seem adequately set.

[I shall now call out the sinners.]

I scanned the surroundings with chillingly cold eyes, making eye contact as I named each person.

[Unit member Oh Seokcheong. You were aware that orphaned girls were taken from the Hwanseong Pavilion in Hubei and forced into becoming courtesans, yet you condoned it. In return, you took numerous courtesans and engaged in lewd acts. You visited almost once every three months. And you, a man with three daughters at home.]

Oh Seokcheong, a man with half his hair gone, clamped his hand over his mouth.

After finishing, I looked at another guy.

[Unit member Seok Gyeongdo. You significantly manipulated the HaeSeong Academy, an academy directly under the Alliance.]

Seok Gyeongdo, a man who looked over thirty, trembled violently.

HaeSeong Academy. It was a martial arts school established and operated by the Martial Alliance. Not just anyone could enter; children under fifteen were tested, and those with sufficient talent were accepted.

Those who passed underwent several years of training before being eligible to join the Alliance’s official Sword Units.

Because of this, even prominent families often sent members who weren’t direct heirs.

It was that influential an academy.

[You took bribes, shared them with an Elder, and manipulated the entrance exams. Isn’t that right?]

He accepted large sums from several merchant guilds, arranging for their family members to be admitted into HaeSeong Academy.

[For your information, we plan to apprehend that Elder as well, so don’t worry about it.]

As I continued, the atmosphere grew increasingly strange.

I called out a few more individuals after that.

The reactions mirrored the sins mentioned.

While they angrily protested it was nonsense, a frame-up, a clear sense of unease was visible among them.

Did others not notice? Of course not. The cracks had already begun to form.

Having laid the groundwork like this, I simply proceed with my task.

[You claim to pursue righteousness and chivalry, did you not?]

Seureureung.

The sound of a sword being drawn echoed from somewhere behind me. It was from my rear.

[I ask again.]

I pulsed my heart, intensifying my aura. It wasn’t killing intent or hostility. It was purely for pressure.

[Are you truly righteous?]

No answer came. In fact, I didn’t need one.

[If you cannot answer, this Commander shall make the judgment.]

I raised my hand.

[You are not righteous.]

And lowered it again.

[Sacred Dragon Unit, execute the sinners.]

Kuuung-!!!

The moment my hand fell, several individuals surged forward from behind.

These were the ones I had already spoken with.

There was no hesitation.

“G-goddamn it…!! I-“

Seogeok-!

Before he could even finish his sentence, his head was severed by Seong Yul’s sword.

He was one of the guys who had harassed women at the pleasure house.

Before the severed head hit the floor, cries of anguish erupted elsewhere.

“Kkeuaaaahhh-!!!”

“Hahaha-!! Hahahahaha-!!”

Accompanied by Bongsun’s unsettling laughter, someone’s body was mangled.

Those who crossed the line by my standards would die outright, while the ambiguous ones would have their ligaments severed just enough to keep them breathing.

-Heuuaaaah-!

-G-goddamn it-!

They tried to resist somehow, but were helpless. While there were individuals with high cultivation levels, my aura intensified immensely to restrain them.

-C-Commander…!

-Uwaaak-!

I walked onward, watching them. Those whose sins were mentioned were struggling desperately.

The expressions of those not mentioned were also telling.

Their faces showed confusion about how to react.

It seemed overwhelming to comprehend this situation. Watching their comrades being cut down, they couldn’t even react properly.

That’s what cracks in relationships look like.

As I was easily dealing with them one by one like this.

“W-what is this…!”

Someone appeared in the Azure Dragon Unit’s quarters with a commotion.

It was Mok Riseon, the Sichuan Branch Manager.

I directed my gaze towards him.

“S-Sacred Dragon Unit Commander. What is the meaning of this…!”

Ah, right.

[Yes, you were here too.]

“…Yes?”

The moment he panicked.

My body had already appeared right in front of him.

Kwok-!

“Gak!?”

I reached out and grabbed him by the neck.

[Sichuan Branch Manager Mok Riseon. I have confirmed that you were colluding with the Gyecheon Gate and engaging in espionage.]

“Gk… Heok!”

[You betrayed the Martial Alliance and threatened peace alongside the unorthodox sects. I shall punish you here for your crimes.]

“W-wait… Gkeu…”

Udeudeudeuk-!!!

Mok Riseon’s neck snapped, ending his life miserably.

“Hk-!”

The Martial Alliance members who came with him shuddered upon seeing this. And amidst them.

Seureureung-! One drew his sword and pointed it at me.

He looked terrified, yet his gaze was firm.

I knew him. I had identified him long ago.

He was the only one in this sizable Sichuan Branch whose background was clean.

“…What is this you’re doing in an Alliance branch…! Even as the Commander of the main Alliance…!”

[Seong Dogyeom.]

“…!”

Upon mentioning his name, Seong Dogyeom, the man pointing his sword at me, faltered.

I looked at him and said:

[From now on, you are the Branch Manager.]

“…What…? What do you mean…?”

With that, I immediately turned my back.

By then, the situation was almost over.

The smell of blood permeated the air, and the few who remained alive were groaning in pain.

Those who hadn’t been mentioned for sins but had attempted resistance were subdued.

Watching them, I slowly lowered my aura.

My fluttering martial robes settled, and as I walked past the dead bodies, someone approached me.

It was Seong Yul.

“…I handled it as you instructed.”

“Yeah, good work.”

Perhaps it was because I used my sword after so long, or maybe I stirred his killing nature, but his eyes were gleaming.

Seeing that, I patted his shoulder.

Tung.

His eyes calmed slightly.

As I confirmed this, Seong Yul added:

“However, the Azure Dragon Unit Commander’s whereabouts are unknown.”

“Oh?”

“…Yes. Shall I look for him?”

“No, no need.”

I already knew where he went.

“Bongsun-ah.”

“Yeah?”

Bongsun, who had been grinning ear to ear, looked at me when called.

Jeez, fuck. That grin is terrifying. Why does she have to smile like that when she’s so pretty?

“Follow me.”

“Where are we going?”

“Just follow.”

I said, putting force into my steps.

“To catch the prey that got away.”