Several days had passed since I returned to the clan.
“Did my play work?”
There was no reaction from the Heavenly Demon. No word had come from her to the clan. Since I’d asked her to wait, I could afford to relax for now.
I holed myself up at the clan grounds for the next few days.
I deliberately called it the “clan,” not “home,” because every time I came here, I was reminded that this place wasn’t truly my home.
I felt it clearly—I was an outsider among them.
Sure, the heads of various groups like Shadow Pavilion and Martial Hall would come by almost daily, but I could tell just by looking into their eyes.
They were betting on me purely for their own benefit.
The moment I lost value, they’d wipe their hands clean.
Not that I could say much—
“If anything, I’m the worse one.”
I was the one using their power in order to survive. Of course, Skybreaker had granted permission. Once everything was over and he returned to his body, he said he would sort everything out himself.
If there was any place here where I felt the faintest sense of belonging, it would be the Black Shadow Corps.
So I spent most of my time at the Black Shadow Pavilion unless I had other matters to attend to.
Tak Horak, who followed me with blind loyalty, and Saweol, who had begun to voice her own thoughts—both were members of the Black Shadow Corps.
“Ah, Jinsoo too.”
He had initially regarded me with hostility, but after taking a direct hit from Saweol’s inner world during mental landscape training, he hadn’t dared speak up again.
At least on the surface, seeing me endure Saweol’s inner world with ease seemed to have earned his respect.
The fifth floor of Shadow Pavilion housed the exclusive office and training chamber for the division leader. Skybreaker hardly ever used it, but it was a prime spot.
A pleasant breeze flowed through, the sun warmed the room just right, and I could see the entire training yard at a glance.
“How are they doing?”
[You mean the Black Shadow Corps?]
“Yeah?”
[You know they’re divided into two groups, right?]
“Yeah. Factions 1 through 4 are the nurtured group, and 5 through 8 are the recruited group. It’s hard to say who’s stronger.”
Tak Horak and Jinsoo were essentially the heads of those two groups.
[Correct. The nurtured group trained with clan support, so they’re more loyal and organized. The recruited group’s members are a bit more scattered, but individually they’re stronger.]
“So overall?”
[Among our clan’s military forces, they’d rank in the top five. But across the entire Cult, probably around 20th.]
“And with Saweol included?”
[Even with her.]
“That’s lower than I expected.”
Skybreaker nodded his entire body in agreement.
[That’s because the current Black Shadow Corps is composed of young martial artists raised by the old Black Shadow Corps.]
“What a martial artist needs most isn’t talent, but time. Right?”
[Right. Even the head monk of the Central Plains said that.]
“You’re the only one who would call the Shaolin abbot a ‘head monk’…
Wait, no, this is the Cult.”
[How can someone who constantly says, ‘Time to open a massacre decree!’ be a monk?]
“That’s… true.”
Another wuxia cliché.
Monks who were supposed to avoid killing and eat vegetarian ended up wielding martial arts to slaughter people.
“I think I need to strengthen the force.”
[And how will you do that?]
“I’ll teach them more martial arts, and expand our power.”
[Martial arts, I can explain to a simpleton like you. But expanding power… are you thinking of accepting the likes of Shadow Pavilion or Martial Hall? Those people will just suck out the core and ditch you.]
“Of course not. I have plans.”
[You know, I almost forgot lately… but I’ve realized again. You really are an insufferable bastard.]
I just shrugged.
“You said we’re ranked around 20th with Saweol, right?
If we were truly at the Transcendent Peak Realm, where would we rank?”
[Then we’d make it into the top ten. Within the clan, we’d definitely be number one.]
“Then why isn’t anyone making a move? There should be a reaction by now.”
I had stirred up the Clan Head. I thought something would happen—but it had been strangely quiet.
Could it be… Sado Gwang is really dead? And they’re frozen with fear, unable to act?
No. That’s impossible.
Even if there’s no immediate reaction, I can’t allow myself to believe he’s truly dead.
“Maybe it’s because of what happened at the Heavenly Demon Palace.”
Only the Heavenly Demon and I knew what truly transpired there.
[Presence.]
Skybreaker spoke.
Though he hadn’t mastered the complete “Three Flowers Gather at the Summit” technique, his sense for ki was now razor-sharp.
“They’re here.”
Saweol appeared behind me.
“Division Leader.”
“What is it?”
“Someone’s here to see you.”
“Someone?”
I looked out the office window. At the Black Shadow Pavilion gate, a group of people was standing and looking in this direction.
Finally, a reaction.
“Let’s go.”
There was no need to rush. I walked slowly and calmly toward the main gate.
“I greet Young Lord Yi.”
A martial artist with a long sword at his side and flowing beard bowed to me.
Mu Yeong-do, one of the Clan Head’s closest aides, and the one who had once crossed swords with me—more precisely, was defeated by Skybreaker.
I gave him a small nod.
“What is it?”
“The Clan Head has sent a message.”
“The Clan Head? What did he say?”
“There will be a Clan Head Assembly at the start of the Hour of the Rooster today. You are ordered to attend, Young Lord.”
The Sado Clan had three major meetings:
The Clan Head Assembly, led by the Clan Head.
The Elder Assembly, led by the elders.
The Senior Assembly, held by senior family members.
This was a Clan Head Assembly.
“Understood.”
I wasn’t sure what they were scheming, But I wasn’t worried.
After all, I had Saweol, the human anti-personnel weapon.
Now that she had reached Transcendent Peak, she’d evolved into an area-of-effect anti-personnel weapon.
If she detonated her mental landscape, she’d buy enough time for me to escape.
Still, I shouldn’t let my guard down. Too many people fail because they lower their guard.
Several hours later—
I headed to the Clan Head Hall with Saweol, Tak Horak, and Jinsoo.
As a symbol of rapid growth, the Sado Clan’s buildings were large and new.
The Clan Head Hall was the largest of them all. If not for regulations stating it must be smaller than the Heavenly Demon Palace, they’d probably have built it endlessly wide.
Inside the hall’s meeting room, representatives from every Sado faction had arrived, each with their entourage.
It looked more like a market than a council chamber.
A quick count told me there were well over 200 people.
Well, numbers are the foundation of all strategy in the martial world.
Several group leaders who had aligned with me subtly took seats near me.
Only the main seat of the Clan Head and the one beside it—reserved for the First Elder—remained empty.
A power struggle?
It was normal for the meeting host to enter last, but with both the Clan Head and First Elder absent, it seemed they were testing each other.
So I thought—
“Hahaha, everyone’s here.”
“Good to see you.”
The First Elder and Clan Head entered together.
I narrowed my eyes.
[Your prediction was correct, monster.]
“Yup.”
Those two were lifelong enemies. No—more like mortal foes.
When Sado Muyeol became Clan Head, he had killed the First Elder’s eldest son, who was the leading candidate at the time.
And now they return together, smiling? They weren’t late because of a power play, They were late because they’d been plotting together.
“I’ll begin the meeting.”
Sado Muyeol declared.
“There are two main topics today. The first—appointing a Young Lord.”
Young Lord appointment?
“By tradition, the Sado Clan passes succession to the eldest son. But in unavoidable circumstances, the right passes to the second son.”
He pointedly ignored me, yet everything he said was aimed at me.
“Therefore, Young Master, Sado Hwan, shall be appointed as the Young Lord.”
The leaders of both the Clan Head and Elder factions seemed unsurprised.
Only I, and the group leaders aligned with me, showed any sign of shock.
“Any objections?”
No one answered. They had clearly prearranged everything.
“Then from this moment, Sado Hwan is appointed as Young Lord.”
Clap clap clap!
Applause erupted.
What’s their angle?
I knew they were in cahoots and planning to crush me.
But suddenly naming me Young Lord? That didn’t add up.
“Now, the second topic. A celebration for the Poison Demon’s birthday.”
[No way…]
Skybreaker let out a gasp.
“The Poison Demon is a revered member of the Cult.
Naturally, we must send a delegation. But we cannot send just anyone. Therefore, I appoint the Young Lord as envoy to the Poison Demon’s birthday celebration.”
They’d planned this well.
That’s why they made me Young Lord first.
My relationship with the Poison Demon is complicated.
Even if it was part of a mission, I killed his disciple. And I still held onto the Black Crow Fan as spoils.
A typical cultist might see that as honor and praise me, But the Poison Demon is not typical.
He is extremely possessive. When something slips from his grasp, he’d rather destroy it than lose it. Even killing his disciple was about control.
So, if I walk into his territory myself—A disaster could unfold.
Like the saying goes, even a thin sheet is easier to lift with two.
The two old snakes had colluded and devised a fine mess.
“Then it’s decided. The Young Lord shall attend the Poison Demon’s birthday celebration. This concludes the meeting.”
So that’s how they want to play it.
[What will you do?]
Skybreaker asked in a worried tone.
[The Poison Demon is ranked 19th and is a master of poison arts. He could poison you without you even knowing.]
“There’s at least one thing I can count on.”
When Dokso-gong released Rotting Poison, I was immune.
The Heavenly Demon Divine Art energy in my body blocked it.
Even if he uses poison, the Poison Demon has a reputation to maintain. He likely won’t use something openly lethal. That gives me a chance to resist.
If I can survive the poison, I can at least make a solid impression.
[Is that enough?]
“Or he might be swayed by a gift he likes.”
[A gift he likes?]
“Yeah. Like a mystic beast—maybe a snake. What poison expert doesn’t like snakes?”
[You have one of those? Where is it?]
“Where? Well—”
The next morning. I was already busy before dawn.
[…The Disciplinary Hall again? I’m sick of this place.]
“There’s nowhere better.”
[And now you’re dragging a kid along, too.]
“Hey. He’s part of my force—soon to be your force too.
Be nice.”
I clapped the boy standing beside me on the back.
“Let’s go, Cho Ryang.”