Among the factions which followed the Earth Demon, the so called Fourth Disciple faction, the positions of the two warlords felt quite odd and vague.
In terms of strength alone, they would compete for first or second place in the faction. But they sided with the Earth Demon when it came to end the succession struggle.
In other words, there were not many achievements they could have attained.
And not long after they joined did the Second and Third Disciples get taken down. To be precise the disciples themselves killed one another.
And it was Seol-Hwi who made it possible.
Thanks to that, the pointless fights had stopped. Many subordinates under the Earth Demon were happy, but for the two warlords it could not have been a happy situation.
-If that happens… isn’t that the chance to gain achievements which they lost?
It was not possible to create achievements out of thin air.
Regardless of the time or place, trust was equal to a contribution. And when the faction with a small power seizes the throne, what they were able to contribute would bound to be less.
However, the two leaders were late joiners under the Earth Demon, and as said before the struggle, they ended once the successor came out.
Their power was truly amazing but they did nothing.
-This is bad. Things have changed a lot… there is no guarantee of the Fourth Disciple keeping his promise now.
Especially the Bloody Death Warlord, he was hot blooded. He was even offered the position of vice leader of the sect by the End Demon and yet he refused.
It was because he wanted to see the ability by having really amazing people participate in his troops, which was his long cherished wish.
He did not think it was such a bad thing until then, but now things have changed. In the process of the Fourth Disciple becoming the final winner, their contribution to it was small.
In addition, since he was put in a situation where he had to compete with the Black Demon Warlord, he must be concerned of the benefits he would be given.
-I guess… it seems like the previous plans have gone wrong.
A dog sees a dog in the mirror, and Buddha sees Buddha in the mirror.
So the Bloody Death Warlord decided he would not get anything special in the faction. And was it not true that it was Seol-Hwi who brought them in and not the Earth Demon?
And even if that was not it, the more wealth, power, and influence, the better his life would be.
In order to get more benefits and to avoid being trampled on, it must have seemed better to increase the strength of his forces.
So the first would be to take in the forces of the other disciples. Urge them to join him, provoke and attack them from time to time, those without their lords were bound to act in an unstable manner.
“This is a complete mess. It isn’t some game to touch a beehive, and everyone is poking around it every day…”
Cho Ah-ran sighed.
The fact that the Bloody Death Warlord was violent was one thing which made this more complicated. Seeing someone who managed to change places overnight and benefit, the troops of other disciples would have envy and jealousy.
-This is not nice!
-Is it a world where the people who aren’t greedy and faithful to their allies turn into fools?
It will start with the talks after the drinking party and normally everyone would drink and point fingers at one another, but this time the words would have ended only after grabbing another’s throat and turning the fight into a sword fight.
One died while the other barely managed to live. And bloodshed like that does not happen once or twice. Too many places would see the same happening.
Obviously, the struggle for succession had already ended, but it was not a justification or a power struggle, but this unstable atmosphere which shook the entire sect.
“Can I stop them?”
Seol-Hwi showed his intention to solve the problem.
This was a mess which would make anyone upset. The only ones who can control them are Cheon Miryo and himself. So it was expected for him to take the initiative.
“Uh. For now, I need to calm the two warlords down. But, I will have to present something to them to make them back down.”
“Present something…? Ah, you mean a position?”
Seol-Hwi’s words could not be immediately understood.
No matter how many martial arts he learned thanks to the system, he had a different side when it came to negotiations.
“Right, especially with Black Demon Warlord… The ambition and greed he has is greater. He would ask for a position right then and there.”
“…The Black Demon Warlord? Not the Bloody Death Warlord?”
Seol-Hwi frowned as he thought of the two and the trade of positions.
“The Bloody Death Warlord has shallow thoughts. He has greed and will not be afraid to show it. On the other hand, the Black Demon Warlord will not display his greed that swiftly. This is a more dangerous target for us.”
“Hmm.”
At the words of Cho Ah-ran, Seol-Hwi went silent.
If he thought about it, the Bloody Death Warlord liked to take gambles, and he had confidence in his strength.
He once summoned all the disciples of the Heavenly Demon at the same time. He would look calm, but he was insane, and no one could tell how he would act if he was pissed.
To calm him down, he would have to try to give him a better position than he wanted, or something else that was valuable.
“First… I need to meet him.”
Seol-Hwi looked at the three of them and sighed.
It was impossible to understand things through words, so he decided that seeing the situation for himself is better. But, it was concerning.
What is this…
That the time was just right.
If all this was not just the natural consequences of everything but instead someone’s plan…
The point was that his move might be expected too. For some reason this entire feeling of a spider web around his body… felt like an inconvenience.
“Kuak. Euk…”
His eyes were red. His entire body was sore and hurting with no place uninjured.
Even so, there was this unbearable joy on his lips. If the sword he swung at the end did not pierce the throat of the comrade, he would have been the one lying down.
“Now… has it been proven?”
Beon Pung took a deep breath as he saw his six comrades taken down.
Even if it was surprising, it was truly a great achievement. To defeat six people equal to him.
He held up the blood soaked blade as he mumbled.
“Great Heavenly Demon Arts…”
Even if he moved according to his heart, he could use his internal energy better than usual and the force seemed better too.
The martial arts which were known to be learned by those chosen were literally given a chance for him.
[To Beon Pung of the third division in the Blood Killing troops.]
-Nice to meet you. I am known as the Black Demon Warlord, Gu Dae-yeom. As a vassal following the Fourth Disciple, who was the winner to the struggle of succession.
-The death of the leader of the troops, who followed the Demon Lord. The reason I sent for you is because I regret such troops being in chaos.
-To be more accurate, it feels that it is a pity to see amazing warriors torn apart by the power struggle without being able to fully display their strength, like you, Beon Pung.
-I have been watching you for a long time to know that you aren’t just skilled but also revered for your sincerity and loyalty to your colleagues. But I also found out that you couldn’t display your skills to the fullest.
-So I will teach you the Great Heavenly Demon Arts, one of our units’ martial arts. If you learn this and take down six of your comrades within five days. I will raise you with the right ability.
Five days ago—
This piece of paper was under his pillow as he woke up. And he truly wondered what nonsense it was, but when he saw the martial arts book attached to it, his thoughts changed.
All this while, he had many regrets for not being able to get better chances or to get stronger. As said by the old men, a person gets three chances in their life.
Thinking that this was one of those chances, he forgot about anything for the next five days and immersed himself into the martial arts.
And at noon of that day—
He took advantage of the lunch break and struck his people.
Those who were considered to be the weak members of the same unit.
The members of troops were suddenly attacked, and they were not even prepared for it. Three people died from being stabbed in the throat, chest, and stomach followed by the other three who shouted,
“Have you lost it?” and “Why are you doing this?”
Woong
And so seeing the six bodies go cold, Beon Pung spat on them.
The same? It had to be a joke.
Six people died, unable to handle him, who was alone.
These people surely were the laziest bunch. They were animals who did as they were told.
“…Well. I will be taking a different path from you.”
He made a promise to himself and made up his mind. If he had a chance to get stronger, he would do anything for it.
It did not matter who his leader was. It was then—
Clap! Clap!
At the sudden clapping, he raised his head, and in the narrow alley, which had a space for just seven people, where three would normally go to fill their stomachs—
The thick smell of blood was clear in this small path, and there were shadows there that extended all the way to the entrance.
“Wonderful.”
“…Who?”
It was a warrior. He looked unusual at first glance. Beon Pung noticed his clothes and was completely shocked.
This pattern of the black flame on the shoulder blades, it was for the Black Demon Warlord.
“Wonderful. As I expected, my eyes didn’t mislead me.”
The Black Demon Warlord, Gu Dae-yeom, smiled.
Shh
He reached his hand out at Beon Pung who was on the floor and said,
“Come under me. As I promised, I have a place made for you.”
“…M-me in the Black Demon Toops?”
The eyes of Beon Pung widened.
The eighth hall in the Demonic Sect, a core unit which anyone would want to join.
It was known that the items like weapons, clothes, and money would be given there, and there was leave given to the members who needed to go to Kangho.
If he thought about it, even in his current division, only someone like a leader and vice leader would be treated like that, but the positions like that were limited.
And it was not easy to obtain them until someone died. Even if there were vacancies, one needed connections more than skills.
Moreover, was it not such a benefit given to members of the Black Demon Troops?
“Right. Do Pung.”
“Yes, Warlord.”
“Present our hall’s uniform.”
“Yes.”
At his words, one of the subordinates following behind him, hung the robe on the shoulder of Beon Pung, who was gasping for air.
Flutter.
“Do your best.”
“…”
Short but effective words which made his heart beat. As a member of the former division, was he ever treated like this?
The moment when his direct head praised him by calling his name, this made him tear up.
“Now. Follow me.”
“Yes.”
Beon Pung showed his respect by bowing to man and holding the robe carefully.
Chaaak!
“Everyone that is all.”
“…?”
There were people blocking the path of the Black Demon Warlord. Around ten of them were dressed in other robes.
They are…?
The eyes of Beon Pung looked at them. He could not understand where they were from as it was his first time seeing those robes.
“What are you doing!”
Do Pung shouted at the ten warriors.
And one of them slowly moved.
Flutter
The grey hair which fluttered in the wind. On the other hand, the man with young features which did not suit him, raised the bamboo hat and said,
“Warlord Gu. It has been a while.”
“…?!”
Gu Dae-Yeom pursed his lips. A face which he remembered to be more wrinkled than his.
But looking at it again, he knew who it was.
“Vice leader? How…?”
Just one or two would know.
Somehow the second most important person of the sect suddenly appeared in the realm of the Bloody Death Troops.
