---

“What a circus!”

Lee Kwang stepped forward and showed the pass to the gate soldiers. Not long after, an officer overseeing a hundred soldiers appeared, followed by the gate supervisor, who strutted out like he owned the place, claiming to be the one in charge of the renowned Mount Tai gates.

“Hmph! I am Bae Jin-bong. So you’re saying you have a letter and a pass from General Jang Gyeong-ik?”

“That’s right.”

Lee Kwang’s curt response had him squinting and examining our party with suspicion.

“The pass looks genuine…” he muttered as he slowly unfolded the letter, reading it intently. Suddenly, he started shaking and yelled, “C-C-C-Dragon!!”

The letter flopped to the ground. Bae Jin-bong was trembling, and his face drained of color.

Nearby soldiers started whispering, confusion on their faces. Most looked bewildered, while those who recognized the word “Dragon” were equally pale.

Lee Kwang watched their reactions and calmly said, “As it’s written in the letter, we’re not just passing through this gate, but we’ve been tasked with exploring the area near Mount Tai. So, please prepare us a place to stay for a few days.”

“O-of course! Absolutely!” Bae Jin-bong stuttered, hastily commanding the other officers, “Hey! Clean up the VIP room immediately and call the top chef!”

“Understood!”

After giving his orders, Bae Jin-bong flashed a nervous grin at Lee Kwang. “I’ll make sure you have a comfortable stay. Just let me know if you need anything.”

“Hmm… I probably won’t be here long,” Lee Kwang replied gruffly.

Watching this, I realized just how powerful Lee Kwang’s influence in the military was.

‘Impressive.’

Once commanding 100,000 Imperial Guards and closest to the throne, he was once the Emperor’s chief martial artist! In his prime, even generals couldn’t catch their breath around him, and high officials everywhere were surely wary of his presence. Even now, with his connections and influence, a mere commander like Bae Jin-bong had no choice but to bow to him. Even General Jang Gyeong-ik, who’s currently stationed in Shandong, mustn’t dare cross him.

Lee Kwang didn’t get straight to the point. Only after we settled in and enjoyed a delicious meal did he casually bring it up with Bae Jin-bong.

“We’re actually looking for the legendary Taoist of Mount Tai, the old sage.”

Once our voices dropped low enough not to be overheard, Lee Kwang’s tone shifted to a more relaxed one, almost friendly. But Bae Jin-bong took this for granted.

“Ah, the Old Sage of Mount Tai!”

“Do you know him?”

Bae Jin-bong nodded vigorously, “Of course! He’s the greatest sage of Mount Tai!”

“A vague answer. Has the Old Sage visited this fortress?”

Bae Jin-bong looked uncomfortable and turned his head away. Lee Kwang stared at him for a moment before speaking again.

“As you know, we’re not acting on the orders of General Jang Gyeong-ik. We have support from higher-ups. It wouldn’t do you any good to keep secrets here.”

With a hesitant frown, Bae Jin-bong crossed his arms, deep in thought. Finally, he spoke up, “The Old Sage is currently at this gate.”

“Where exactly?”

“Before I tell you, I need a promise.”

“Go on.”

Bae Jin-bong cautiously continued, “If the secrets I share get out, the Golden Eagle Guards won’t let me off easily. Please protect me.”

Lee Kwang nodded confidently, “Of course! I have a long-standing friendship with the White Tiger of the Golden Eagle Guards, so you won’t face any repercussions for this. I’ll even leverage my connections in the military.”

“Thank you.” Bae Jin-bong sighed in relief. “He’s currently staying at the Heavenly Altar inside the gate.”

“What’s that? The Heavenly Altar?”

“This gate is enormous for a mere checkpoint—over twenty times larger than most. There’s an ancient Heavenly Altar nearby where the Old Sage spends his time.”

Lee Kwang frowned. “What’s the deal? The Old Sage is a recluse—why don’t the guards just throw him out?”

Bae Jin-bong lowered his voice. Fear crept onto his face. “I can’t say for sure. But the officer here has historically been supportive of the Old Sage. His presence is a closely guarded secret.”

“Strange.”

Bae Jin-bong stood up. “I must go. Handle the rest yourself.”

“Righto.”

“Whatever happens today, I have no knowledge of it.” He seemed to have calculated everything thoroughly. In front of Lee Kwang, there was no point in keeping secrets—he’d just end up in trouble. Seemingly, Bae Jin-bong felt it was far safer to spill the beans and rely on Lee Kwang for protection.

Lee Kwang must’ve understood this calculation because he smirked coldly. “Don’t worry.” We made our way directly to the Heavenly Altar at Mount Tai while Dokgo Seong gathered us to warn us.

“Your opponent might use sorcery. Keep your mental strength high and stay focused! Try using the Mind Control Technique to endure.”

“Got it!”

Just as we reached the peak, thought to be the site of the Heavenly Altar, a sudden fog rolled in, cutting off our vision.

Dokgo Seong shouted, “An illusion! Concentrate!”

In that moment, the Thunder God experts instantly channeled their energy, and their combined mental strength emanated like a surge of power, dispersing the illusion that clouded our senses.

I turned to Dokgo Seong, surprised. “How did you know to respond like that?”

Typically, to dispel such illusions, one would need incredible artifacts like the Water Element Divine Sword or counter it with certain sorcery techniques. But Dokgo Seong countered with sheer mental intent! It seemed simple but would require extensive experience—not something just anyone could pull off.

Dokgo Seong chuckled softly. “The White Lotus Sect has plenty of sorcerers—their tricks are child’s play to someone from Thunder God lineage.”

Dokgo Seong’s deep well of experience in sorcery was evident. He likely had dealt with many sorcerers in his time. The more I thought about it, the more I felt the need to remain cautious around him. Just then, Lee Kwang spoke up, dragging his spear along the ground.

“Elder, a formation has been set.”

“Really?”

“It hasn’t fully encircled us, and we just bounced back from that illusion, so we should be fine for now.”

Lee Kwang noticed something troubling. “Now might be our chance to pull back. What do you think?”

His tone held a sense of concern. Having the experience and wisdom from countless battles likely made him aware of the traps ahead, he wanted to proceed with caution and not recklessly push forward. But persuading Dokgo Seong was a challenge, as he never backed down easily.

Dokgo Seong pondered briefly before asking, “Can we break the formation?”

Lee Kwang glanced over the foggy hill and answered, “It’s difficult. I have only heard whispers of it; without a master formation master or sorcerer, it’s exceptionally advanced.”

“It’s barely a hundred steps to the hill—I can’t believe this.”

“As you know, once sorcery begins to affect the mind, you can’t trust your senses. A single misstep and it’s hell.”

“Hmmm… I guess we have no choice.”

With a resigned sigh, Dokgo Seong sent me a telepathic message, [There’s definitely an Old Sage at this location. Come again with your companions.]

[Understood.]

Just as he suspected, the Heavenly Altar was awash with powerful sorcery defenses; there had to be someone significant at the peak of Mount Tai. But without others from the martial world, there was no way for us to break through. Dokgo Seong likely figured I’d need help from allies like Mangnyang or Cheon Woo-jin.

‘If it’s Mangnyang, he’d surely break through it.’

It was a strategic retreat for a potential return. I was about to step back when we heard a voice from beyond the mist.

[An old acquaintance has arrived. Lee Kwang, what brings you this far?]

We flinched at the voice, initially thinking it to be a mental assault, but there was no uncomfortable energy swirling around. It seemed familiar enough to recognize Lee Kwang, who shot a puzzled glance at the mist.

“I don’t know who you are. State your name.”

[Oh, you must know by now. However, appearances can be deceiving; even if I showed you, you might not fully believe it. Even if we worked together for a decade…]

“What nonsense…”

Lee Kwang scoffed but suddenly froze, as if he’d pieced something together. He glared into the fog and declared, “…What are you doing here?”

[Seems like you figured it out. Clearly, you’re sharper than I thought.]

Lee Kwang’s tension was palpable. Despite his outer calm, it was obvious he was concerned about the identity of the voice. It was a dangerous presence he suspected it might be.

“If you are who I think you are, there’s no reason for you to be here. Shouldn’t you be assisting His Majesty from the Emperor’s side?”

The voice in the mist replied, [I’m doing my duty just fine. Better than anyone in the palace. You should know who’s neglecting their duties here, Lee Kwang.]

“What do you mean by that?”

[You left the Azure Dragon Guards because of your internal conflict. But swallowed by disappointment, you’ve strayed from the path of life.]

Lee Kwang stood silent, the weight of the voice’s knowledge sinking in.

[Return to the Four Guardian Positions, Lee Kwang. If you do, the palace can provide you with the strength to eradicate the White Lotus Sect at any time.]

Surrounded by thunderous elites, I wasn’t the only one taken aback by this proclamation. This voice seemed to know the secrets of the Thunder God lineage, the White Lotus Sect, and Lee Kwang like the back of its hand. Who exactly could it be?

Lee Kwang remained guarded, his silence hanging in the air.

Then he responded, “Sorry, but I cannot accept your offer. I appreciate the gesture though.”

[Very well… You’d best leave now. This is a crucial location, and I can’t tolerate intruders any longer.]

“I wouldn’t dream of overstaying my welcome.”

With that, Lee Kwang turned away, and everyone else followed suit, retreating from the ominous atmosphere rapidly building around us. We weren’t sure who loomed in the fog, but I felt they were holding their fire against us for Lee Kwang’s sake.

Once we reached the gate and settled back into our quarters, Lee Kwang finally spoke up. “Elder, that was close! We shouldn’t attack that place rashly.”

It was rare to see Lee Kwang, usually so fearless and spirited, express such caution. The Thunder God experts exchanged quizzical looks at his words.

After contemplating, Dokgo Seong leaned in and asked, “Who was that? You must know something?”

“Yes. However, if my guess is correct, the situation’s rather dire.”

“Are you suggesting it was a Dharma Guardian?”

Lee Kwang smiled wryly, “Not quite, but perhaps even more dangerous.”

“Don’t make me guess! Just spill it!”

Lee Kwang nodded, “That person is one of the Four Guardian Positions, the strongest sorcerer in the palace, Zhuque. He’s a true Royal Guardian and seldom shows himself to the others in that role.”

“A power in the dark?!”

“Yes.”

“And compared to you, who’s stronger?”

Cheongwol murmured in disbelief.

“That’s a childish question…”

Dokgo Seong snapped back at Cheongwol before Lee Kwang spoke up, “I can contend with him in martial arts, but if he uses sorcery, I can’t handle it.”

“Really? Is there truly someone who has both martial and sorcerous mastery?”

Dokgo Seong seemed stunned. Indeed, it was a rare breed to possess those two skills at such high levels—that much was clear. Even for someone like me who just finally reached a level near Lee Kwang, I truly understood the immense gap involved.

Lee Kwang shook his head, “Originally, there was just Zhuque. The late Emperor created the Guardian position to strengthen the royal power, but this person has served the imperial family for generations as a dark protector.”

There was a moment of silence as he breathed heavily in thought.

Then he turned to me and said, “Baek Woong, let’s step outside and have a word.”

“We could talk in here.”

“Follow me.”

Lee Kwang strode out as if he had made up his mind. As I look around, I figured it was best to follow. Despite the courtesy he’d shown all due to hierarchy, Lee Kwang’s social stature was undeniably impressive. I noticed Dokgo Seong respected him too.

Eventually, we made our way to a secluded spot, and Lee Kwang was waiting for me, glaring with intensity. “Did you know Zhuque is the Old Sage of Mount Tai before bringing us here?”

He seemed to suspect Zhuque and the Old Sage were one and the same.

“Searching for the Old Sage was not my idea but that of the Dharma Guardian and Dokgo Seong!”

“But you’ve been poking around, and you’ve got something cooking in that head of yours. I don’t think this was just a coincidence.” He seemed highly suspicious.

For a moment, flashes from the past came to me. The information I had gleaned from Sagong Lin came to mind.

[My Master often roams the world, but he spends a lot of time at Mount Tai. Hence the martial world also calls him the Old Sage of Mount Tai. In truth, he travels between the Five Great Mountains.]

[This is a token my master gave me when we parted.]

I pulled out the silver token given to me by Sagong Lin, which showcased an intricate design of Zhuque.

“…”

Holding the token, I spoke, “I received this from Sagong Lin during my research. So it connects the dots.”

Lee Kwang inspected the token before looking back at me with a blank expression. “I asked: did you know this fact?”

“I didn’t. Otherwise, I would have shown it to Zhuque earlier or hand it over to you now.”

“…”

“Now isn’t the time for us to bicker or fight. We can’t afford to overlook the Old Sage…or Zhuque’s true identity.”

“Why do we need to?”

Lee Kwang frowned, kicking gravel. “What’s fundamental to us is reviving and expanding the Thunder God lineage. If the Old Sage is Zhuque, then confronting him would pit us against the palace forces. I’m questioning the necessity of that risk.”

Indeed, that was an argument in itself.

I took a moment before responding, “Then why did you reject Zhuque’s invitation to return to the palace?”

“Because I prioritize the Thunder God lineage above all else.”

I couldn’t help but scoff. “Let’s stop being ridiculous; you would have been thrown off by your own surprise upon learning Zhuque’s identity.”

“That’s not true.”

As Lee Kwang denied it, I stared him down. “So why not think rationally? Why would a figure like Zhuque be here at Mount Tai, and what’s his connection to the Emperor?”

“Why should I care?”

“Because…,” I stated with a grin, “You have a sense of patriotism.”

“What?”

“Devotion to the nation is your personal creed, isn’t it?”

“…”

I could see Lee Kwang’s mask crumbling away as confusion took hold. He struggled to keep his composure.

“Without understanding Zhuque’s intentions, how can you pledge loyalty to His Majesty? You need to know how the palace’s actions affect the stability of the empire. Isn’t that your duty as a loyal subject?”

“Zhuque is the guardian of the Emperor. I don’t need to worry about that…”

In an instant, I knew exactly which button to push. Decades of watching Lee Kwang made it clear to me.

“Have you forgotten who killed General Jin Cheon-hwi?”

“…!!”

“Do you even know the Emperor’s thoughts today? Can you still claim to be a loyal subject?”

Suddenly, blood began to trickle from Lee Kwang’s clenched fist. He was so riled up, his grip on his own hand had crushed flesh. I could tell it was hard for him to endure this emotional upheaval.

“Believe me, if you think you can just up and leave this matter aside, feel free. But know this: I’ll tackle the Old Sage myself.”

With emphasis, I added, “But I would sadly be disappointed in you, Lee Kwang. To think you lack a conviction like that…”

Lee Kwang fell silent. I began to turn and head back inside when, suddenly, he shouted, “Stop!”

As I paused, I could see the burning fury in his eyes, struggling to contain his rising temper. After a long sigh, he finally responded, “I’ll heed your words. However, if I sense you’re trying to use me, I will kill you without hesitation.”

“Go right ahead.”

At that moment, I knew, despite how much he despised me, Lee Kwang was locked in and would combat the forces of the palace—even if it would lead to his own confrontation with Zhuque. He had discovered a reason to fight.

Lee Kwang had an intense devotion to the imperial family, yet witnessing his friend Jin Cheon-hwi being murdered by the Emperor must have confused his priorities. He was stuck between loyalty to the state and loyalty to the individual. The conflict bore down like a weight on his shoulders.

He had tried to escape to the Jianghu, haunted by his fate, becoming the leader of the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School, yet targeting his weaknesses was surprisingly simple.

Once Lee Kwang and I entered the hall, Dokgo Seong asked, “Have you finished your talks? Let’s lay out our plans moving forward.”

“Sure.”

“Cheongwol and I will be on the hunt for the territories of Red Moon and Green Moon. I have a hunch where they might be, and we should pin them down within a year. Once we’ve rallied their forces, we can seek out successors for the Thunder God lineage without raising White Lotus Sect’s suspicions.”

“Isn’t that a bit risky?”

Dokgo Seong chuckled. “Not at all. Given what I know of his character, he won’t rush for spoils before they’ve ripened. As long as he doesn’t reach out first, we’re free to grow our power.”

“What about the Wind Spirit Sect?”

“That’s your job to manage.”

“Huh?”

It finally clicked as I locked eyes with Dokgo Seong. ‘He wants me to keep the Wind Spirit Sect under control as a disciple of the White Lotus Sect!’

Once my forces had grown, I could use the assassination rights from Seven Kills Village to eliminate the White Lotus leader while they were in disarray. When that happens, the Thunder God lineage would rise publicly as envisioned by Dokgo Seong.

Such a brilliant strategy left me in awe once again. How could someone so cunning not have become a Dharma Guardian?

Lastly, Dokgo Seong turned to Jin So-cheong. “From today on, you’re to learn from Baek Woong.”

“Huh?”

“Huh?!”

Baffled, both Jin So-cheong and I reacted in shock. But Dokgo Seong continued as if it were the most normal thing in the world. “Baek Woong is already a master of the Thunder God lineage. Training under him will accelerate your progress at a phenomenal pace.”

“Um… alright then.” Jin So-cheong responded, looking a bit hesitant, while I felt like a weight had just dropped in my stomach.

‘This…’

Having to teach Jin So-cheong could lead to chaos. If he were to absorb what I learned from Jang Sam-bong or my insights, I couldn’t begin to fathom how powerful he could become. But refusing here wouldn’t even be an option, so I had no choice but to nod. “Understood.”

 

---