"So that is......!"
"The Blood Dragon Blade."
No Song and O Duseok let out exclamations of different character.
The two had now relocated to the roof of a nearby hall overlooking the site of the Martial Emperor Hall.
Though the distance was such that Dan Sahyeok looked no bigger than an ant, both men possessed the visual acuity to easily discern the blood-red blade glinting in the darkness.
"You were his superior, so you would know well. Is that truly the genuine Blood Dragon Blade?"
"The abbot of Shaolin himself confirmed it, so it must be the real thing."
"Great Master Gomok? I see. Then it is undoubtedly the Blood Dragon Blade."
"But from the way you ask, it seems you still find it hard to believe he brought down the Blood Sky Demon?"
"It is not so much that. I simply have not ruled out the possibility that the Blood Sky Demon was using a counterfeit."
"A counterfeit? A fake, you mean?"
"Indeed."
No Song nodded.
"Are famed swords and blades not treasures of immense value in their own right? The kind that can serve as assets or collateral when one is driven into a corner."
"So you are saying the Blood Sky Demon might have sold off the Blood Dragon Blade?"
"Continuing a war requires funding."
No Song gazed into the air with the eyes of one tracing old memories.
"As you know, we of the Beggars' Sect are a group that lives and dies by information and connections. Without understanding the world and its people, a beggar cannot so much as guarantee his next meal or a place to sleep."
"Well, that much is......"
"That is why we have no choice but to keep our ears sharp at every moment for the great and small affairs of the martial world. All the more so when it concerns the movements of the Blood Sky Demon, a public enemy of the martial world."
"But what does that have to do with the Blood Dragon Blade?"
"At the time, the Blood Sky Demon and his forces—driven to the borderlands—reorganized their strength and launched a counterattack far faster than the Martial Alliance had anticipated."
"Hmm......"
O Duseok furrowed his brow in thought and let out a shallow breath.
"I was still green back then, so I never made it to the front lines. But thinking back on those days, what you say does seem to be the case."
"Indeed. And so for a time, a theory emerged among our ranks regarding the Blood Dragon Blade. That the Blood Sky Demon might have sold it to the Northern Yuan to fund his war."
"The Northern Yuan? Are you saying the Mongols had their eyes on the Blood Dragon Blade?"
"You did not know, it seems. The Blood Dragon Blade was originally forged from the meteoric iron of the Great Steppe. A treasure passed down through generations within the Yuan imperial court."
"That...... I had no idea."
"It vanished during the fall of the Yuan and flowed into the martial world, eventually coming into the Blood Sky Demon's possession."
"Hm......!"
"In terms of value, one could say it surpasses even the so-called Ten Great Swords Under Heaven."
"......!"
O Duseok's jaw went slack.
Before long, he turned toward where Dan Sahyeok stood, his face fraught with agitation.
"That damned bastard! He's hoarded everything of value and played dumb about it?"
"Strictly speaking, he claimed it through legitimate means."
No Song corrected O Duseok's words in a low voice, then looked at Dan Sahyeok with eyes full of admiration.
"And even now...... he is declaring that anyone who wishes to challenge him is free to do so."
"Hmm."
And so it was.
Dan Sahyeok's declaration.
At his proclamation that anyone who wanted Yellow Dragon Fortress should kill him and take it, not a single person among those gathered could utter a word.
It was a scene in which over a thousand people had been utterly overwhelmed by a single man.
Dan Sahyeok swept a glance over the crowd, then continued in an even tone.
"This blade is the Blood Dragon Blade—the prized weapon of the Blood Sky Demon."
"......!"
"Anyone who wishes to claim it is welcome to challenge me. I do not care what means or methods you use."
"......"
Greed flared in the eyes of a few for a fleeting moment.
But it lasted only an instant before they began glancing at those around them, fidgeting once more.
They wanted the Blood Dragon Blade, but wished to avoid the recklessness of being the first to step forward.
"I have said all I intend to say. If you wish to challenge me, do so. If not, then leave."
At Dan Sahyeok's words, the people could neither advance nor retreat, only stealing glances at one another.
It was at that moment that a young woman's voice rang out from one side of the crowd.
"Is that truly all you have to say?"
Heads turned toward the direction of the voice.
For Dan Sahyeok, it was a voice not entirely unfamiliar.
"You did not return to Longzhong?"
"I did not, Hero Dan Sahyeok."
The one who answered calmly was Jegal Seoyeon, daughter of the Jegal Clan.
She had previously tried to join hands with Dan Sahyeok but had been coldly refused. Yet it seemed she had not given up entirely.
"If you are thinking of challenging me, that is not a very good approach. You would be marginally better off launching a surprise attack."
"I am not trying to challenge you, Hero."
Having answered so, Jegal Seoyeon launched herself forward and approached Dan Sahyeok.
The crowd's eyes followed her movement.
"A great many of those gathered here today were no doubt taken in by the sweet lies of the Green Snake Gang's Unorthodox members. But there are also many who were not."
"Th-the Green Snake Gang?"
"Those scum were the ones inciting us?"
Voices erupted from the crowd.
Jegal Seoyeon continued calmly.
"I, too, am one of them."
"......And?"
"I have no intention of disputing that Hero Dan Sahyeok is the rightful owner of Yellow Dragon Fortress. I can also understand why you drove us out and dissolved the Martial Alliance."
"I did not particularly dissolve the Martial Alliance."
"That is true. The dissolution of the Alliance was merely a natural consequence. But it is also true that it all began with the expulsion from Yellow Dragon Fortress."
"Well, let us say that is so. And?"
"As I said, I have no intention of taking issue with it. However...... could you not at least offer an explanation?"
Dan Sahyeok tilted his head slightly.
"An explanation of what?"
"You said something before, Hero. That depending on circumstances, it might have been possible to continue residing in Yellow Dragon Fortress without being driven out."
"I believe I did."
"Yet you expelled all the Alliance members regardless. I do not think that was due to simple whim. Rather...... it was the opposite."
At Jegal Seoyeon's words, the crowd began to murmur softly.
Dan Sahyeok maintained his silence, as if inviting her to continue.
"Another thing you mentioned was that the old system of the Martial Alliance needed to change. Putting those two things together......"
"Together?"
"Only those who have stepped outside the existing framework can reside here in Yellow Dragon Fortress. That is what it means."
The murmuring among the crowd grew louder, and Jegal Seoyeon raised her voice.
"The old Martial Alliance was operated under a system centered on personal connections, represented by the great clans and sects. Only those who held ties through regional bonds, blood ties, or relationships of equivalent standing could seize opportunity."
"......"
"Those who were pushed aside were invariably relegated from the center to the fringes. Exiled, that is...... to places like the Gansu Province branch."
Those who had been bewildered moments ago were gradually beginning to comprehend Jegal Seoyeon's words.
"Most likely, you were one of those people yourself, Hero. And that is why...... you resolved that the Alliance had to change."
"......"
"If that is the case, then I—and the Jegal Clan—will fully support your decision, Hero."
A peculiar sense of exhilaration began spreading through the crowd.
A rising star of dominance, shattering the stale old system and its entrenched vices.
And one of the great clans of the old era, throwing its full weight behind such a man.
A historic moment of transformation was unfolding right before their eyes.
This was entirely groundwork laid by Jegal Seoyeon.
If Dan Sahyeok gave even a single word of approval to her now, the crowd would erupt in thunderous cheers.
"And a new Martial Alliance centered around the Jegal Clan would be born."
No Song, who had been watching from above, murmured.
"Truly the talented daughter of the Jegal Clan. She has seized control of the entire situation with her three-inch tongue."
"Hmph."
"In a situation like this, even Dan Sahyeok would find it difficult to be ruthless. And even if he did, Jegal Seoyeon would still have achieved her initial objective. Many would rally behind her and the Jegal Clan."
"She acts less like a martial artist and more like a politician. I do not like it."
"Can a place where people gather truly be free of politics? The martial world is no different. A nimble tongue can be every bit as effective as a powerful fist."
"But even so."
O Duseok spoke with certainty.
"It won't work on Dan Sahyeok."
"Hm......!"
No Song's eyes, which had been gazing down below, gleamed with a peculiar light.
It was closer to shock, and for good reason—Dan Sahyeok had suddenly launched himself toward Jegal Seoyeon.
WHOOOM—!
Closing the distance to her in an instant, Dan Sahyeok threw a punch.
Jegal Seoyeon could only stare wide-eyed, completely unable to react to his overwhelming speed.
WHOOSH—!
The fist swept past the side of Jegal Seoyeon's head.
The force of it tore the cloth tying her hair, and her loosened locks fluttered down around her as they settled.
"Ah......"
"Where is this buzzing mosquito coming from?"
Dan Sahyeok murmured in a frigid voice.
Jegal Seoyeon collapsed onto the spot where she stood.
"You're under some kind of misapprehension. I'm not trying to establish some new order or system for the martial world."
"......"
"And I despise this kind of scheming so much it makes me shudder."
Jegal Seoyeon's body trembled like aspen leaves.
Having experienced it from point-blank range, she understood.
If Dan Sahyeok's fist had deviated just an inch to the side—if it had so much as grazed her cheek.
The sheer force of its gale would have reduced her entire head to pulp.
"I can tell what sort of scheme you cooked up for this little stage of yours, and I can also tell there's no real malice behind it."
Dan Sahyeok's frost-laden gaze fell upon the crown of Jegal Seoyeon's head.
"But you picked the wrong person to run your mouth at."
"H-Hero Dan......!"
"Back off. The next punch won't miss."
The terrified Jegal Seoyeon scrambled to her feet and took off with movement arts.
Dan Sahyeok watched her stagger away in desperate flight, then turned his gaze back to the crowd.
"The same goes for all of you."
"......!"
"If you have no intention of starting a fight, then get out of here. Now."
An eviction order more blunt than the last.
The people scrambled over one another to flee from Yellow Dragon Fortress.
***
"Truly remarkable. I am genuinely astounded."
The site of the Martial Emperor Hall, now desolate after everyone had left.
The original group had reconvened, and No Song was marveling without cease.
"I knew from the first time I saw you that your martial prowess was of an earth-shattering caliber, but I never imagined you would wrap things up this cleanly."
"You can say that again. I thought at least dozens of people would end up dead."
O Duseok added from beside No Song.
The only ones Dan Sahyeok had personally struck down were the four members of the Green Snake Gang.
Even they had survived.
There were minor issues such as every bone in their bodies being shattered and not a single organ within them left intact, but they had survived nonetheless.
That alone had been sufficient, and beyond that, the matter had been resolved without a single additional casualty.
The fact that he had turned back over a thousand intruders without spilling a single drop of blood was an achievement that would make even other masters gape in astonishment.
"That aside......"
No Song continued.
"Is it not about time you told us?"