Dan Sahyeok's words had been true.
"I have never, ever, seen such a lunatic bastard."
O Duseok muttered through chattering teeth.
He had just finished hearing the full explanation of what Dan Sahyeok had been up to.
"So you are telling me that Dan Sahyeok, that little bastard, demanded this entire Yellow Dragon Fortress be handed over?"
"That is correct, sir."
The one answering while carefully pouring tea was Moon-Cleaving Blade Bing Ucheon.
The man who had succeeded Hundred-Armed Fist Master Sa Inhwan as Black Tiger Corps Captain.
From O Duseok's perspective, Bing Ucheon was a junior so far removed in seniority that it was practically dizzying.
Knowing this full well, Bing Ucheon was treating him with meticulous deference, which privately pleased O Duseok.
But that satisfaction lasted only a moment before the talk of Dan Sahyeok sent him halfway out of his wits.
"I always figured that bastard was the type to stir up something big, but...... I never imagined it would be something like this."
"If I may ask, sir. Who exactly is this Dan Sahyeok?"
"Who is he? A Martial Alliance First-Class Warrior. Well, not even that anymore, I suppose."
"Do you know anything about his sect or his past?"
"His sect is unknown, and nothing of his past has been established."
O Duseok fixed his expression and brought the teacup to his lips.
"The sort who drift into our branch tend to be that kind of fellow."
"I see."
"At any rate, now I understand why the Strategist was white as a ghost. But is this really going forward?"
"The previous Alliance Leader's dying declaration has been confirmed multiple times over. The question is whether there exists justification for defying it......"
"Justification for defying it. What an unseemly phrase."
"It cannot be helped."
Bing Ucheon spoke with a grave expression.
"We cannot turn thousands of people residing in Yellow Dragon Fortress into vagrants overnight."
"Hm. About that, calling them vagrants and such is a bit much, is it not?"
"Sir."
"No, I mean let us look at this properly. To be blunt about it, you lot have been living the high life here, eating yourselves full, and hoarding wealth, have you not?"
The Martial Alliance was the undisputed guardian of the martial world and the Central Plains.
It was the force that had defended this land against the villainous Cheon Muyeol, who had plunged the world into chaos.
The Bloody Battle of Mount Hua, which served as the culmination of that struggle, had taken place right here in Shaanxi.
That its headquarters was established in Xi'an, a stone's throw from Mount Hua, was in some ways inevitable.
Because of that history, the Martial Alliance had received overwhelming welcome and support from the moment of its founding.
The respect and gratitude of countless people, from small children to elderly women, was a given, and the generous patronage of the wealthy throughout Shaanxi and Xi'an was a sweet fruit that made them beam with satisfaction.
But all of that applied only to the Martial Alliance headquarters in Shaanxi.
How many of those who had continued fighting at the frontier while everyone else forgot had received their due?
Not a single one. That was what O Duseok believed.
"It is easy to say they fought without expecting recompense."
Having opened with that, O Duseok continued.
"After all, people are always indifferent to the affairs of others."
"Sir."
"So I will speak my mind freely, too. Frankly, you can bear that much. Even if you get thrown out of Yellow Dragon Fortress, you will have plenty of places to go."
"......"
"Maybe that is why, but I am starting to get angry."
CRACK, CRA-ACK--
The teacup in O Duseok's grip fractured and split cleanly in two.
A feat that could not be achieved by simply squeezing with brute force.
Bing Ucheon stole a glance and broke into a cold sweat.
'This man's control over his inner arts is far more refined than it appears.'
"I can practically hear the gears turning in your head. What, calculating how a bout between us would go?"
"I...... would never."
"Hmph."
O Duseok let out a sneer dripping with contempt and folded his arms at his leisure.
"Anyway, whoever came up with the idea, trying to pull something on Dan Sahyeok would be a grievous mistake."
"......"
"Even this O Duseok cannot fathom the full extent of that monster's power."
"The claim that he defeated the Blood Sky Demon...... does appear to be true, then."
"Still saying that? By this point, you might as well accept it."
O Duseok clicked his tongue.
When Bing Ucheon bowed his head low, O Duseok turned his gaze outside.
"Then again, martial artists have always been the sort who only learn when they get hit."
***
"The Blood Sky Demon's death has been confirmed."
"I am aware."
At Dan Sahyeok's instant reply, Sama Jin felt his lips go bone-dry.
"However...... I am afraid we cannot grant your demand."
The Martial Emperor Hall, standing empty.
Sama Jin, who had summoned Dan Sahyeok there, was flanked by Namgung Un and other prominent figures.
Most of them, however, were faces Dan Sahyeok did not recognize.
Not that he cared.
"So you refuse to vacate."
"There was never any reason we should."
Into the lingering silence, Namgung Un, who had remained quiet until now, spoke.
"We do not intend to dismiss what you have done for the Martial Alliance. You accomplished something truly great."
"......"
"How could we not recognize that? But we cannot grant your particular demand. We hope you will understand."
When Dan Sahyeok did not reply, Namgung Un arranged his features into an expression full of regret.
"But do not despair. Naturally, the Strategist, myself, and all our esteemed seniors and juniors will promise you every courtesy befitting your station. As the Martial Alliance's hero, you will receive treatment worthy of--"
"Spare me the drivel."
A single curt remark severed Namgung Un's words at the root.
The luminaries standing in line went rigid.
Though surely not as much as Namgung Un, the one whose words had been dismissed.
"What did you just--"
"I understand your refusal to vacate."
Namgung Un's face was contorted in a way unlike any other time.
Even so, Dan Sahyeok continued evenly.
"I also understand, though I cannot accept, your position and the response that follows from it."
"Now see here, Dan Sahyeok. What are you--"
"In short, I understand that you had no choice but to take this stance."
"But you will not accept it?"
Sama Jin's question.
Dan Sahyeok nodded.
"Correct."
"Now listen here! I have watched and waited, but this is too much!"
A half-gray-haired man spat as he shouted.
He was Thunderbolt Fist Hwangbo Cheol of the Hwangbo Clan.
A man residing in Yellow Dragon Fortress as his patriarch's proxy.
The influence of the Hwangbo Clan, one of the Five Great Clans of the martial world, was enough to shake Shandong Province, but Dan Sahyeok did not care in the slightest.
"It is not as though we intend to mistreat you, and we are prepared to promise you adequate compensation! The only thing we cannot accept is this absurd demand that you take Yellow Dragon Fortress wholesale--"
"What I need is Yellow Dragon Fortress."
Dan Sahyeok cut Hwangbo Cheol short.
"I have no need for anything else, so it does not matter what you bring to the table."
"How can you--!"
"And so."
Namgung Un spoke, his voice dropping to a hush.
"What exactly do you intend to do?"
"It is simple. I want what is rightfully owed to me and you refuse. If words cannot reach a compromise, then we must settle it another way."
"That other way...... surely you do not mean force?"
"You and I are both martial artists. If that is the case, then the answer is obvious, is it not?"
Dan Sahyeok's declaration froze the luminaries solid.
Before long, like a torrent surging through a crack in stone, their fury seeped from between clenched teeth.
"Are you declaring war on the Martial Alliance?"
"I was not aware the Martial Alliance belonged exclusively to the likes of you."
Dan Sahyeok paused, then swept the luminaries with an impassive gaze.
"But if you wish to see it that way, be my guest."
"What?"
"I said you may consider this my declaration of war against the Martial Alliance."
"......!"
The man who had slain the Martial Alliance's greatest enemy now turned his blade upon the Alliance itself.
In the face of this unprecedented crisis, Sama Jin and the others could not collect themselves.
Just then, a figure came rushing into the Martial Emperor Hall--it was Shaolin's Abbot, Great Master Gomok.
He had heard everything from inside while making his way in.
It is too late--that realization was written plainly across the old monk's face.
"So this is the outcome you have chosen, Strategist. Do you truly believe this is the answer?"
"Is it not the natural course of action, Abbot?"
It was Namgung Un, not Sama Jin, who answered Great Master Gomok.
"We attempted to honor that man as a hero, but it was he who kicked that honor aside."
"I say, Patriarch Namgung. Do you truly mean those words?"
"What else would they be if not sincere?"
Namgung Un finally erupted.
"He gives us a mere ten days and change and tells us to leave. Who would comply with such tyranny? No--why should we leave this place at all?"
"Because I want you to."
A single remark from Dan Sahyeok.
Every person in the hall stared at him with wide eyes.
And Dan Sahyeok received every last one of their gazes with a composed expression.
"This old rascal asks, just in case."
Great Master Gomok inquired carefully.
"You intended to drive us all out from the very beginning?"
"I did."
"Then your talk of negotiating as lord of the fortress was a lie?"
"It was not a lie. I simply judged that the Martial Alliance no longer needs to be here, and therefore all of you who belong to it should leave."
"The Martial Alliance no longer needs to be here?"
"Its primary objective--the death of the Blood Sky Demon--has been achieved, and all of you have indulged yourselves more than enough."
Dan Sahyeok's cold gaze swept across the luminaries.
"So the time has come to put an end to it. Sitting here any longer will only lead to sordid affairs."
"Sordid...... affairs?"
"How dare you utter such impudence!"
The luminaries shook with rage from head to toe.
Only Great Master Gomok and Sama Jin maintained a troubled silence.
In the midst of it, Namgung Un discreetly sent a voice transmission.
[Go, Brother Hwangbo.]
Hwangbo Cheol flinched, almost imperceptibly.
He barely managed to conceal his reaction and sent a voice transmission back.
[You want me to make the first move, Patriarch Namgung?]
[I will be right behind you. Trust me and step forward.]
[No, but......]
Hwangbo Cheol hesitated.
They held the overwhelming advantage in numbers and position, which was why they had pushed hard, but their opponent was the man who had killed the Blood Sky Demon.
Until now there had been room for doubt, but the matter was all but confirmed at this point.
Charging headlong at such a man was not something one could do without misgivings.
'Damn it all! If he wants a fight, he should step up himself. Does he think the Hwangbo Clan is an easy mark?'
Fuming inwardly was the extent of his resistance.
The Hwangbo Clan, lacking a solid foothold in Shaanxi, was financially dependent on the Namgung Clan in several respects.
Namgung Un was making his request on exactly that premise.
Hwangbo Cheol had no legitimate grounds to refuse.
[You must keep your promise to back me up.]
[Of course, Brother Hwangbo. Trust this Namgung Un.]
Just as Hwangbo Cheol reluctantly moved to step forward after Namgung Un's voice transmission--
Dan Sahyeok tossed out a remark.
"I would advise you not to follow that man's lead."