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I took a deep breath and asked the Sword Demon as I received the Golden Lamp.

“Did you ever run out of mental power or fall into temptation while using it?”

This was the main thing I worried about when handing the Golden Lamp over to the Sword Demon, which is why I hurried to Luoyang just two days after we lost contact.

For some reason, I could use the Golden Lamp without succumbing to temptation or exhausting my mental power, but according to Zhuge Sa, ordinary humans weren’t so lucky.

The Sword Demon had seen my memories and understood well the dangers of the Golden Lamp, yet the risks couldn’t be entirely dismissed. Still, it felt safer to use the Golden Lamp a couple of times than to be cornered and killed in the headquarters of the Fire Spirit Techniques.

The Sword Demon sighed.

“Why not? As you saw in your memories, a terrifying dark city and illusions were looming. You seemed used to the Golden Lamp, shaking off those hallucinations, but when using it directly, the sensation was overwhelming.”

“Are you okay?”

“I could use it a couple of times comfortably. The problem wasn’t the Golden Lamp but…”

The Sword Demon trailed off.

“Hurry to Zhuge Sa. He is the one with the best plan right now.”

“Yes.”

The Sword Demon was indeed an expert in strategy, but his reasoning differed from Zhuge Sa’s. Zhuge Sa, who had extensive knowledge of the Dark Path and was skilled in tricks, would surely be able to sort out the tangled situation we faced. I wasted no time using the Golden Lamp to head to Jangryeong Valley.

Crack!

As I arrived at the room where the dark energy stayed, I felt an alarming power of darkness coiling up before me. The Sword Demon seemed to sense it too, staring at the front door with a tense expression. Zhuge Sa was likely behind that door, but there was an instinct telling me not to open it too rashly.

I had a suspicion and spoke to the Sword Demon.

“Zhuge Sa told me not to approach him carelessly when studying the Grimoire of the Nameless Ritual Book.”

“Hmm. Then it’s better not to open the door. What’s happening in there?”

“It seems they’ve delved deeper into studying the Grimoire.”

I quoted what I had heard from Zhuge Sa.

“As for a Demon Sorcerer reading a Grimoire, it’s not like ordinary reading. Once they delve deeper, they come into contact with the spirit of the Grimoire and perform rituals…”

Inside the room, magical circles and all sorts of sinister offerings must be sprawled out, and Zhuge Sa was likely manipulating dark energies to connect with the Grimoire. If I opened the door, the chance of Zhuge Sa falling into a state like ‘Walking Fire Entering Demon’ would be high.

“I see. A Grimoire isn’t just any book; it’s a treasure of the Demon Sorcerer, so that makes sense.”

Understanding the situation, the Sword Demon glanced at the door spilling dark energy and said, “It’s been several months since you left Zhuge Sa, so it’s reasonable. Seeking Zhuge Sa’s advice is impossible for now, so let’s retreat from Jangryeong Valley.”

“Yes.”

“Oh, wait a second before that…”

I decided to follow the Sword Demon to the place he mentioned. Soon, I arrived at the secret room in Jangryeong Valley where Zhuge Bu was imprisoned along with the judge. Seeing Zhuge Bu’s emaciated state, I turned to the judge and asked,

“Haven’t they given him food?”

The judge replied with a contrite expression, “The lord ordered a ‘three meals and nine dishes’ regimen, so that’s what we’ve been providing.”

“……”

Three meals and nine dishes meant he would eat only nine times in a month. It was a harsh standard, even for a prisoner, suggesting Zhuge Sa truly despised Zhuge Bu. However, referring to it as ‘food’ indicated that the judge had absorbed some of Zhuge Sa’s contempt for humanity.

The Sword Demon cleared his throat.

“Alright, first wake him up.”

I nodded and grabbed Zhuge Bu’s wrist, pouring my substantial energy through the Eight Extraordinary Vessels. While this wouldn’t cure his underlying malnutrition, it would temporarily stave off hunger and restore some vitality. As expected, Zhuge Bu soon regained consciousness, his face recovering some color.

Zhuge Bu looked around before addressing me, “Baek Woong! Please save me! If this goes on, I’ll starve to death!!“

His desperate plea was filled with emotion. It was unthinkable for a genius once referred to as the ‘Treasure of the Central Plains’ to be trapped here, facing starvation. If the ‘three meals and nine dishes’ regimen continued for over six months, even a robust individual would struggle. With his powers sealed, Zhuge Bu was at severe risk of dying from starvation. His cheeks were gaunt, resembling a skull.

Gazing coldly at Zhuge Bu, I said, “If you answer us honestly, you should order the judge to properly feed you. So please answer my questions directly.”

“Of course!! Of course! Please…”

“Do you know a person named Deung Gwak? I’m referring to the leader of the Clear Stream Faction.”

Zhuge Bu pondered for a moment before responding, “Of course. He is a notable figure, treated with utmost attention by the Emperor and all the powerful officials.”

“Tell me everything you know about him. From the common knowledge to the secrets you are aware of.”

“Uh… Could I have some food first? I’m too hungry to think!” Zhuge Bu attempted to deflect the question. However, if I brought him food now, he would likely get too full to share any information, so I firmly replied, “First, speak. I’ll decide what to do after.”

“Understood.”

Desperately piecing together his thoughts, Zhuge Bu began, “Deung Gwak is the leader of the Clear Stream Faction and a powerful minister who controls the strong authority of the Inspectorate. Furthermore, he has the backing of the Scholar organization, so the Emperor himself would think twice before crossing him. He’s also renowned as an academic. Most importantly, the previous Emperor greatly valued and trusted him, so our hands are tied when it comes to eliminating Deung Gwak.”

“What do you mean? Even if he has the Emperor’s favor, it wouldn’t be hard to label him a traitor if the Emperor wished to do so…”

This was the most baffling part. The Inspectorate was the most powerful division in the Great Ming Empire, and as a high official there, Deung Gwak wielded immense power. Yet compared to the Emperor’s authority, that power seemed insignificant, leading me to question why the Imperial Palace forces seemingly hesitated to touch Deung Gwak.

But Zhuge Bu continued, “He is no ordinary official. He hails from the prestigious Deung family, a powerful house since the past Huang Dynasty. The organization he is part of, the Scholars, includes direct descendants of Confucian scholars from ancient times. They secretly possess unique techniques and martial arts passed down through the ages. Moreover, Deung Gwak himself is a peak expert, and if we remove him, we cannot predict how the Scholars will react. That’s why we have no choice but to leave Deung Gwak be. Most critically, he has retained his position even after the previous Emperor’s death and hasn’t turned against us.”

“……”

The Scholars!

This was the first I had heard of such an organization. However, it seemed the Scholars were a coalition of Confucian scholars who possessed considerable military power. It was clear that many members of the Qing Liu Faction were likely from the Scholars.

The Sword Demon chimed in, “While there are many Martial Arts sects rooted in Taoism or Buddhism, I’ve never encountered a Confucian sect that could possess real martial arts techniques. They are just a group focused on the teachings of Confucius.”

“I’m not sure of their origins either. They’ve been around for a long time, and all I know is that they are a secret society with considerable power…”

“Even Zhuge Yulong doesn’t know?”

“Correct. Deung Gwak despised the Inner Imperial Pavilion, so he never had close ties with my father.”

That meant Deung Gwak and the Scholars were new forces that had emerged in this reincarnation. A secret organization possessing sufficient power to make even the Imperial Palace forces hesitant had made their debut for the first time. Perhaps knowing that, the Sword Demon chuckled lightly.

“So your efforts weren’t in vain. Your actions in approaching Sangwan Hyuk ended up drawing Deung Gwak’s interest too. This is a gain.”

“That’s true. But whether we should align with him…”

I couldn’t help but feel troubled. I hadn’t anticipated such a complex situation developing. What started as a simple learning experience became something entirely bigger! Naturally, I needed Zhuge Sa’s advice, but he was preoccupied with his research. Then the Sword Demon suggested,“In that case, you’ll have to seek Mangnyang.”

“That sounds right.”

Zhuge Bu interjected, “Wait… release me. I swear I won’t betray you.”

“Sorry, but you should focus on eating properly. I’ll discuss this.”

As I coldly replied, Zhuge Bu tugged at the chains binding him, urgently calling out, “If you set me free, I can help! Please! I’m begging you!”

“……”

His desperation would have swayed me in my previous life. Even now, seeing him in such a pitiful state made me want to help. However, I had learned from past lives that Zhuge Bu was the kind of person who would use others without a second thought to save himself. Based on my experiences, Zhuge Bu was definitely not someone I could trust. I unhesitantly turned away and exited the stone chamber where Zhuge Bu was imprisoned.

Using the Golden Lamp, I set off towards the training ground where Mangnyang was located.

“Baek Woong, what brings you here?”

Mangnyang was still at the same place, but his aura had grown stronger since our last meeting, indicating significant power increase.

‘ He truly progresses by the day.’

I outlined everything that had happened to Mangnyang and showed him more detailed insights by giving him the obsidian. After contemplating, he responded, “Baek Woong, I’ve only heard rumors of the Scholars but never thought they actually existed.”

“Yeah, I figured as much.”

“But it makes sense. Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism have evolved for thousands of years in the Central Plains, and beginning from the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States, most scholars opposed meaningless human sacrifices and regarded human lives lightly. Given that nature, maybe they’ve been aware of the existence of this world’s [darkness] or [old rulers] all along.”

“……”

“If Zhuge Sa is busy, I’ll stop training for a while and help you with your tasks. My skills should be of significant assistance.”

“That would be appreciated!”

When Mangnyang joined me, I could hardly contain my excitement, feeling as if I had gained an army. Plus, Mangnyang had received an incredible fortuitous encounter since his reincarnation, continuously improving his powers. While I wasn’t sure of his precise level yet, his assistance would undoubtedly be invaluable.

“You should really accept Deung Gwak’s training proposal. That way, you can gather information about Deung Gwak and the Scholars, which you can use wisely moving forward.”

“I understand.”

“Also, you possess powerful abilities as a seven luminary holder and a treasure bearer right now. It would be best to keep that power under wraps during the battle against the Imperial Palace.”

Startled by his unexpected advice, I blinked.

“Why is that?”

“You’ve already drained most of your benefits from the Imperial Palace, and your current reinforcement is closer to a mere theft from the palace. It’s just a trivial skirmish. If you reveal your strength to powerful figures like Deung Gwak or Han Baek-ryeong now, the future developments might go either way…”

Mangnyang raised two fingers.

“They could either be subdued or utterly destroyed.”

“……”

I hadn’t considered that, leading me to let out a low hum. The Sword Demon, who had been listening nearby, nodded in agreement.

“That makes sense. Hiding your power seems prudent to me as well.”

“You can’t use a sword made for slaying a chicken to catch a tiger. If your goal is to capture both the Fire Spirit Techniques and the Scholars, you can’t show your full strength right from the start. Plus, your foundation is still a bit lacking to take on these two colossal powers.”

“I understand.”

I nodded at both of their advice. Indeed, Mangnyang was pointing out aspects I hadn’t thought through. Mangnyang continued, “However, if tomorrow’s conference proceeds this way, you won’t even have a chance to be heard as a proper subordinate of the Fire Spirit Techniques. More so, if ignored by figures like Deung Gwak or Han Baek-ryeong, it’ll be hard to set any big plans in motion. Being overlooked entirely would be problematic, so the Shadowless Alliance must get a foothold to lead their alliances according to our interests.”

“What should we do next?”

Mangnyang replied with a chuckle. “We just need to bring one person along, so there’s no need to worry!”

Finally, with Mangnyang’s clever plan revealed, even the Sword Demon was taken aback, praising him: “Brilliant!”

“Elder Sword Demon’s role will be crucial. You’ll need to persuade him effectively.”

“Leave that to me.”

We moved vigorously according to the plan and headed towards the conference hall the next day. The conference hall was the largest and most luxurious in Luoyang, known as Hwitcheon Pavilion, a place accessible only to high-ranking officials and those with immense power and wealth, a venue where ordinary citizens couldn’t even dream of entering during their lifetime.

Upon entering Hwitcheon Pavilion, a beautiful young woman elegantly dressed guided us from the first floor.

“Please, follow me.”

We ascended the Hwitcheon Pavilion following her lead, reaching the grand table on the ninth floor. Soon, Deung Gwak and Han Baek-ryeong would join us at the table. It was just us on the ninth floor, but I could sense a contingent of guards associated with both Deung Gwak and Han Baek-ryeong stationed nearby Hwitcheon Pavilion.

Glancing at us, Deung Gwak narrowed his eyes, “Shadowless Alliance Lord. Who’s that guy in a straw hat?”

The Sword Demon glanced at the man beside him with the straw hat and replied, “I’ll explain shortly. He’s not a suspicious individual.”

“Hmmm.”

Han Baek-ryeong then chimed in, “Then Deung Gwak, speak. What’s your intention in attacking the Imperial Palace?”

“It’s exactly as it sounds.”

Deung Gwak responded, his expression brimming with rage, “The current Emperor is insane. He’s tasked the Golden Eagle Guards and Duke of Guanzhong with suppressing the evil Demon forces, intending to perform human sacrifices to achieve immortality. The Sorcerers of the Inner Imperial Pavilion are aiding him, and if this continues, a disaster will certainly strike soon.”

“……”

“We, the Scholars, intend to strike before any calamity occurs to preserve the ancestral temple and bring justice.”

Han Baek-ryeong chuckled lightly, “Heh. Justice isn’t of concern. I’m asking what benefits I would gain by assisting you, Deung Gwak.”

“If we topple the evil forces aiding the Emperor, I will strongly push to recognize the White Lotus Sect as the state religion. Furthermore, I will lift all restrictions that have been hindering the Han Clan’s expansion.”

Startled, Han Baek-ryeong’s expression hardened as if stabbed. Deung Gwak, it seemed, was fully aware that the Han Clan was essentially linked to the White Lotus Sect. After contemplating, Han Baek-ryeong spoke, “However, I want to ask something first.”

“What is it?”

“You said it’s not a rebellion. That means there’s a candidate to be raised to the throne, who is it?”

Deung Gwak responded without a hint of a change in his expression, “I can’t reveal that unless you give me a definitive answer. It’s classified information.”

“How can you be so certain that this candidate wouldn’t deceive me first?”

“Rest assured, that candidate exists.”

Deung Gwak’s firm tone prompted Han Baek-ryeong to gaze at him with suspicion. I, however, already knew who he was referring to. ‘Jeonghu.’

He was the new recruit of the Thunder God Lineage whom Mangnyang had recommended and, in reality, ranked first in the royal succession order! Jeonghu had been crowned emperor during my previous life. Surely, he was referring to Jeonghu.

Han Baek-ryeong sighed. “Then let’s discuss the odds. You mentioned the Priest’s disappearance has weakened the Imperial forces, but I believe the Imperial forces still remain powerful.”

“I am aware.”

“They possess hundreds of powerful Demon Beasts, and both the Golden Eagle Guards and Duke of Guanzhong are still in place, the sly sorceries they have hidden away may also be detrimental. My family’s intelligence is incapable of properly assessing their strength. In such a scenario, solely trusting your Scholars seems reckless; even if we strike head-on, we risk severe losses. How can we collaborate?”

Deung Gwak chuckled coldly. “We could sweep them away with the Dharma Guardian’s strength—if you’re just probing for weaknesses.”

“I’m not speaking simply in terms of brute force. If the Imperial Palace is involved, it won’t wrap up like a simple dispute among the Martial Arts forces. My question is whether you’re adequately prepared to handle post-processing and their lower forces.”

“Do you think our Scholars would lack the necessary preparations?”

“Hmph! You’ve been insisting we should just trust you all along, but that’s absurd. At this rate, we’re bound to break off this meeting.”

I understood that their stubbornness stemmed from each side trying to conceal their vulnerabilities. Both Deung Gwak and Han Baek-ryeong wanted to cooperate but were extremely reluctant to expose their respective forces. If this continued, it seemed likely that Han Baek-ryeong might reject the proposal to join forces and leave.

‘Now’s the moment’.

I subtly signaled the Sword Demon, who nodded and rose from his seat.

“I would like to say something on behalf of the Shadowless Alliance.”

Both Deung Gwak and Han Baek-ryeong turned their attention towards us. The Sword Demon calmly elaborated, “We have a special guest here, and I believe it would be wise for both of you to listen to what he has to say before making your decision.”

“You’re referring to that person in the straw hat?”

“Exactly.”

Deung Gwak appeared intrigued, addressing me, “He doesn’t seem to be anything special in martial arts. Who is he? He looks old as well.”

Han Baek-ryeong remained silent, cautiously observing. It seemed she could sense something was off about this figure in the straw hat. The man took a sip from his cup and burst into laughter, declaring, “Ha ha ha! My martial prowess may be lacking, but I still have enough energy to speak my mind to you, Deung Gwak.”

“……?”

Deung Gwak’s expression twisted in confusion. There weren’t many able to address one of the Emperor’s most powerful ministers so boldly. As he pieced together who I was, the man in the straw hat slowly removed it, revealing his face.

“It’s been a long time, Deung Gwak.”

Gasp! A look of disbelief washed over Deung Gwak’s face as he shot to his feet, bowing deeply. “I am Deung Gwak, honored to meet General Hwang Yeon.”

“It’s been a while, Deung Gwak.”

It was General Hwang Yeon! We had all gathered him from his confinement and had spent several minutes briefing him on the situation beside the Sword Demon, finally swaying his mind to join us in this meeting!

 

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