Yeon Hojeong entered his quarters inside Ink Dragon Manor and sat on the bed for a moment.

“.......”

His face was barren to the extreme. His eyes were as dry and cold as a desert at night.

“...So it was true after all.”

He had tried not to jump to conclusions. He had his suspicions, but until clear proof emerged, he had refused to be certain.

Now, it felt like he could be certain.

Because the words had come directly from Yangcheon himself.

The Perverse Lust Cult.

The Three Fanatical Cults.

Unknown religious groups coiled somewhere beyond the frontier.

Each was called the Perverse Lust Cult, the Mad Blood Cult, and the Divine Flame Cult. They served the same god, but each worshiped in a different way.

Because their methods of worship differed, so did their scriptures and doctrines. Though they shared many martial arts, the temperaments and dispositions of their believers were all different as well.

But beyond serving the same god, they also shared one more thing.

Power.

So I was right. The reason those bastards were able to rise all at once and turn the Central Plains into a sea of blood wasn’t just their overwhelming military strength. They’d spent decades laying groundwork beforehand.

The Yeon Clan of Green Mountain was strong.

And yet in the past, the clan had been wiped out with absurd ease. The reason was simple: someone inside had been feeding information out.

That spy had been Taegyeong. If not for him, the Yeon Clan would have fought far more efficiently.

This was no different.

If the Ming Clan had worked together with the Mo Yong Clan to plant a spy inside the Yeon Clan, then the Three Fanatical Cults had used Ink Dragon Manor to watch every corner of the ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) Central Plains and adjust the situation. Then, once they judged the land ripe for conquest, they would strike like lightning and turn the Central Plains into a sea of blood.

A scheme wise and insidious, bold and vicious.

I won’t condemn your method. In the end, this world is about whether you devour or are devoured. Before morality and ethics, there is no glory for the loser.

Yeon Hojeong’s cheek twitched again and again.

He was suppressing the killing intent surging inside him. It felt good to have all those suspicions fall into place in one blow—but something beyond even that was blazing up inside him.

So don’t feel too wronged, either. Even if we tear the whole board apart more viciously than you ever imagined.

He still hadn’t decided how exactly he should respond.

But he swore it. No matter what criticism or condemnation he had to bear, he would crush them. No—he would burn even their foundations to ash so that they had nowhere left to plant themselves.

WOOOOONG.

The killing intent he failed to suppress brushed against Vermilion Bird Qi.

FWOOOOSH.

It felt like his heart had caught fire.

The red-flaring Vermilion Bird Qi rapidly drove up his heartbeat. As his body temperature rose, heat surged through his acupoints like a river in flood.

“Hoo.”

With a light breath, Yeon Hojeong drew up Black Tortoise Qi.

SSSSS.

Vermilion Bird Qi protested. It cried out in grief, asking if he wasn’t angry too—begging him to go kill those bastards right now.

Calm down.

Yeon Hojeong smiled. He controlled his emotions with a smile.

There’s no meaning in getting angry now. This rage and this resentment can wait until the day those bastards show themselves.

Suddenly, he remembered the warriors in black sheep masks.

Come to think of it, that bastard.

Out of all the many leaders gathered in Ink Dragon Hall, one man in particular had caught his eye.

That man was Black Sheep. One of the Twelve Zodiac Gods under Yangcheon—a master in a special position, with a peculiar disposition of his own.

The men I faced back then were under Black Sheep’s command. They used Dissecting Severance Grapple, one of the Three Teachings’ close-combat arts, and that distinctive wheel formation they used to drive Kang Ryang into a corner was originally a formation of the Perverse Lust Cult, later refined...

A chill settled into Yeon Hojeong’s smile.

He recalled Black Sheep’s expressionless face.

Now that I know you’re a hound of Perverse Lust, how could I leave without taking you—no matter how important the mission is?

SLLLLIDE.

Black Tortoise Qi completely suppressed Vermilion Bird Qi.

Yeon Hojeong took another deep breath and rose from his seat. He had mastered his emotions. Now it was time to do what had to be done.

Then a voice came from outside.

“Director of the Intelligence Division.”

It was a strange voice.

It sounded fairly aged, and yet somehow younger than expected.

“Who is it?”

“One of the Twelve Zodiac Gods—Phantom Snake.”

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes lit up.

KUUUURRRRMMMM!

The door opened and Phantom Snake entered.

Phantom Snake bowed.

“I greet the Director of the Intelligence Division.”

Yeon Hojeong gave a short greeting in return.

“As of today, I am Jeong, Director of the Intelligence Division. Good to meet you, Senior Phantom Snake.”

Phantom Snake lowered his head even further.

“Please don’t say that. We of the Twelve Zodiac Gods rank lower than the heads of Ink Dragon Manor’s Four Great Organizations.”

The Four Great Organizations of Ink Dragon Manor were, as the name suggested, the four main divisions.

The Intelligence Division, which handled information. The Inspection Division, which not only oversaw internal inspection but also grasped the state of the Dark Path’s martial world and planned practical responses. The Dragon Fang Court, which oversaw every armed organization within the Manor. And the Dragon Horn Court, which was responsible for managing Ink Dragon Manor’s finances.

Yeon Hojeong shook his head.

“That may be true in formal settings, but I can’t do that even in private. Still, I have a position of my own, so I won’t lower my head any further than this.”

He came out with that remarkably cleanly.

Since the other side had approached him this way first, Phantom Snake had no reason to reject it.

“Understood.”

“So then—what brings you here?”

Phantom Snake’s eyes gleamed.

“The Lord of Ink Dragon Manor personally ordered me to assist in your work, Director. You may leave any small errands to me.”

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes flashed.

“Can I really do that?”

“Of course. Since it is an order from the Lord of Ink Dragon Manor himself, I will serve you with all sincerity.”

In other words, if it hadn’t been Yangcheon’s order, Phantom Snake never would have come.

Yeon Hojeong nodded.

“Understood. For the time being, I need some time alone to sort things out. I’ll call for you later when the time comes, so go rest for now.”

“Are you resting today?”

“No. I’m planning to visit the Intelligence Division and understand all of the Manor’s internal administration and everything that has happened so far.”

“Then let me accompany you. I will assist you.”

“Then let’s do that.”

He needed to turn his mind elsewhere anyway. At times like this, focusing on work was best.

So the two of them left the quarters and headed toward the Intelligence Division.

Maybe Phantom Snake found the silence hard to bear, because he spoke.

“I heard there was trouble between you and Fire Ape.”

“That monkey?”

“...Yes.”

Yeon Hojeong smiled.

“I think it was nothing much, but people around me keep asking about it.”

“Now that you are part of the same family, it’s hard not to care.”

“Don’t worry. I’m the type to brush off anything once it’s over.”

That was a lie. If something truly looked harmless, Yeon Hojeong forgot it quickly—but if not, he never forgot.

Because one wrong move could earn you a blade in the back.

“I spoke to Fire Ape separately. I told her not to cause any more trouble.”

Yeon Hojeong let out a quiet snort.

“That was pointless.”

“What do you mean?”

“Judging by that one’s personality, other people’s words won’t even graze her ears. If anything, your warning probably only lit her eyes up brighter, thinking about when she should take a bite at me.”

Phantom Snake’s eyes gleamed.

He’s quick.

It was very difficult to objectively grasp the personality of someone you had already clashed with.

But it seemed this extraordinary young man was capable of it.

So the Lord of Ink Dragon Manor did not take note of him for nothing, is that it?

Phantom Snake said,

“If Fire Ape truly bears a grudge, then all she’s doing is shortening her own life.”

“I suppose so.”

“As one of the Twelve Zodiac Gods, I apologize on her behalf.”

“I don’t think that’s something you need to apologize for in her place. And besides, didn’t that matter already come to an end? It isn’t worth digging up again.”

“I see.”

“That’s right.”

Just like at the beginning—he was impressively straightforward.

Phantom Snake found himself liking the other man, if only a little.

Then again, there’s no way the Lord of Ink Dragon Manor would entrust a burden like this to some brat who only happened to be talented. He must have had the nerve and judgment to match, which is why it was handed to him.

Most of the leadership of Ink Dragon Manor looked at this new Director of the Intelligence Division with displeasure. If the Lord of Ink Dragon Manor had not added that warning about avoiding conflict, three or four of them would have picked a fight already.

Phantom Snake had been the same. He had not exactly welcomed the new Director with open arms, but neither had he viewed him all that favorably. To be honest, it had even felt like the Lord of Ink Dragon Manor was coddling him too much.

But now he understood.

I’ll have to watch him more... but there must be a reason he receives the Lord’s favor.

Yeon Hojeong noticed that Phantom Snake’s gaze toward him had softened, if only slightly.

Just as I thought, not an easy man.

Yangcheon’s reason for sending Phantom Snake was obvious.

At the same time he was lending support to Yeon Hojeong, who still had no foundation of his own, he was also announcing to all of Ink Dragon Manor that this was someone influential enough to have one of the Twelve Zodiac Gods—one of Yangcheon’s personal confidants—attached to him.

And beyond that, Phantom Snake would also be a watcher, in case of anything unexpected. Yangcheon trusted his own judgment completely, but he was also an old piece of ginger who knew well that the world was full of variables.

Sorry, but things won’t go the way you intend.

The fact that Phantom Snake’s gaze toward him had changed meant his guard had lowered.

You gave me a very nice gift.

Yangcheon was using Phantom Snake—but Yeon Hojeong could use Phantom Snake too.

And the day he would use him to set off fireworks was not far away.

“We’re here.”

“It’s large.”

The stone gate was enormous. It was three times larger than the great gate of Ink Dragon Hall.

KUUUURRRRMMMM.

As the door opened, an immense cavern appeared—large enough to leave anyone gaping.

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes gleamed.

Shall I get started?

*****

“Head of the Clan!”

“What is it?”

“A letter has come from the operational team leader.”

Mo Yonggun’s eyes lit up.

“Give it to me.”

Astonishingly, the letter ran over twenty pages.

And every page was packed densely with writing, the letters smaller than a pinky fingernail.

RATTLE-RATTLE-RATTLE!

As Mo Yonggun slowly read through the pages one by one, surprise rose on his face.

“He’s already siphoned off this much?”

It wouldn’t have been strange to call it a bundle rather than a letter. Every page was filled with top-secret information from inside Ink Dragon Manor.

The state of financial operations, the operating range of the information network, troop deployment—there was even detailed analysis of the personalities and martial realms of the key leaders.

It was treasure one could hardly acquire even with a thousand pieces of gold. Simply receiving this letter safely was enough to say the mission had succeeded.

Remarkable.

Mo Yonggun felt pure admiration.

I heard he was appointed Director of the Intelligence Division only two days ago, and in that short span he already pulled out this much information?

He was so competent that Mo Yonggun had thought there was little left to be impressed by—but moments like this always forced fresh admiration out of him.

Not only had he sifted through an enormous amount of information and extracted only the vital core, he had then boldly delivered all of it in just two days.

A true monster was a true monster.

“What about the operational team?”

“At present, only the operational team leader has entered Ink Dragon Manor. The others are staying at the estate, but it seems likely they too will enter the Manor within a few days.”

“That sounds right.”

Mo Yonggun’s eyes flashed.

“He’s not the type to be satisfied with just this. There’s definitely more information he intends to pull out.”

Once Yeon Hojeong set to work, he always carried it through more thoroughly than anyone else. He would definitely seize something even bigger than this.

“Still, the fact that he sent this first means I should start preparing too.”

He rose from his seat.

“I suppose it’s time to start fanning the flames so that bastard comes to capture me.”