The Five Kings of the World.

The title used for five righteous-sect masters who held enormous influence over the Central Plains. More specifically, it referred to the five who stood out most distinctly in their own respective fields.

Since the standard was not martial prowess alone but influence in the literal sense, there were definitely martial artists stronger than the Five Kings of the World.

Even among the Heaven-Beyond-Heaven, there were surely people stronger than the Five Kings of the World.

But if you looked at their personal strength at this exact point in time, the standing of the forces they commanded, and the influence they held in the Central Plains—

the five chosen by those standards were the Five Kings of the World.

And given that three of them were heads of the Five Great Families, it was obvious what kind of monsters had been selected.

Which, put another way, meant—

‘the remaining two carry influence on par with the heads of the Five Great Families.’

The White King, Moyong Hyeok of the Moyong Family.

The Poison King, Tang Gyeongak of the Sichuan Tang Clan.

The Sword King, Namgung Myeong of the Namgung Family.

The other two kings aside from those three.

One of them was a figure who was troublesome in several ways—especially from my perspective—but irrelevant for now.

The other one was the current problem.

The Tyrant King, Muk Yeokseong.

A man of the Taeseon Muk Family in the Xi’an region, and the absolute ruler of Xi’an itself.

His defining trait was that he was a fist fighter who based everything on overwhelmingly heavy strikes, and it was said that heaven and earth shook whenever he threw a punch.

What was truly astonishing here, though, was what kind of influence had seated him among the kings.

The answer was absurdly simple, and at the same time worthy of a martial artist’s respect.

‘...Because he’s just strong.’

That was all.

Strength.

The reason the Tyrant King, Muk Yeokseong, reigned as a king was nothing more complicated than that.

Overwhelming strength.

Not only had he reached a level comparable to the Heaven-Beyond-Heaven—

‘he was the kind of man who challenged the strong without end in pursuit of martial perfection.’

He fought countless duels, both against the Heaven-Beyond-Heaven and against anyone else worth defeating, to prove his own strength.

At the same time—

‘he also made enormous contributions in the war.’

What the Tyrant King accomplished during the war between the righteous sects and the DEMON CULT was on par with the deeds of the Heaven-Beyond-Heaven.

He had personally killed two of the Eight Demonic Ones, for one thing.

And the tale that he had actually wounded the Heavenly Demon, who stood shoulder to shoulder with Yoo Cheongil in that era, was another massive legend.

A martial artist equal to the Heaven-Beyond-Heaven, and at the same time a hero of that great war.

The influence of the Tyrant King, Muk Yeokseong, came directly from his power.

‘...And I’m supposed to go bring someone like that?’

Bring Muk Yeokseong in as the one to replace me?

The sheer absurdity of it made a hollow laugh slip out before I could stop it.

Holding my emotions down, I asked Cheonrijinan,

“Didn’t the Tyrant King fail to become a candidate because he himself didn’t want to?”

“That is correct.”

The Tyrant King was more than qualified to stand among the alliance leader candidates, but he had not risen as one.

And the reason, as I had just said, was simple.

‘Because he didn’t want to.’

Muk Yeokseong himself had no desire to stand as a candidate. There was no other real reason.

“Then what exactly changes if I bring him here?”

“That depends on how you handle it, does it not?”

“...What the— no, more importantly, does bringing in a substitute really solve anything? If I say I won’t do it, then that should be the end of it.”

“Of course, whether you do it or not is ultimately decided by your own will.”

“Yes.”

“But would Blue Moon Sect truly want that?”

“...”

The moment Blue Moon Sect came up, my eyes narrowed.

At the same time, Cheonrijinan took out a letter and handed it to me. When I checked it, I saw a seal I recognized.

It was the seal of Blue Moon Sect.

And the only one who could use that seal was the sect master of Blue Moon Sect.

“It seems Moon Immortal Sword’s will is different.”

I took the letter and opened it. Just as Cheonrijinan had said, the contents told me to do my utmost as a candidate.

[Ha ha.]

Seeing it, Yoo Cheongil laughed.

There were all kinds of emotions mixed into that laugh.

[They are doing something amusing.]

Probably because Moon Immortal Sword’s intentions and Cheonrijinan’s intentions were both so obvious.

“...This came down as an order?”

It blatantly meant I was to act as a candidate.

It was close to a direct command issued in Moon Immortal Sword’s capacity as sect master of Blue Moon Sect.

‘...Moon Immortal Sword wants me to stand as an alliance leader candidate?’

That was strange.

‘Why not himself?’

If you went by legitimacy alone, Moon Immortal Sword would make far more sense, so why was I the one being pushed forward?

At present, Moon Immortal Sword’s position was sect master of Blue Moon Sect, which was not all that far removed from the standing of the Five Kings of the World.

If Moon Immortal Sword truly wanted it—

‘he might not only become a candidate, he might even become alliance leader.’

That was only natural. Even among the terrifying list of current candidates, he would stand out.

‘But instead of stepping forward himself, he wants me to do it...’

Why?

That question was still circling through my head when—

“That is why I am saying this to you.”

Cheonrijinan continued.

“If you truly do not want it, then bring someone else in your place. You need only bring someone with enough legitimacy and strength to set aside even the alliance leader’s word.”

“And that person is the Tyrant King?”

“Yes.”

“So now you’re telling me to go all the way to Xi’an and bring him back?”

I had to go that far again?

Absolutely not.

That thought had barely crossed my mind when—

“That will not be necessary. The Tyrant King is not in Xi’an right now...”

Cheonrijinan tapped the table with his fan as he spoke.

“He is coming to Henan himself. To Blue Moon Sect, no less.”

“Huh?”

...The Tyrant King was coming to Blue Moon Sect?

“Why...?”

“How should I know? That is simply the report I received. I do not know the reason. However—”

Smirk.

Cheonrijinan smiled.

With his cold face, that smile made me flinch the instant I saw it.

“Seems to me it will be a good opportunity for you.”

“...”

A good opportunity?

That was not easy to accept.

*****

I finished speaking with Cheonrijinan and stepped outside.

Strange Demon was waiting there.

The moment I came out, he fell into step immediately—first at my side, then a half-step behind me.

Glancing at him, I sent a voice transmission.

-May I ask you something?

-Please ask me anything.

At my words, Strange Demon’s eyes lit up.

Ignoring that suffocating look, I asked what I had wanted to ask.

-I heard the DEMON CULT requested a meeting with the righteous sects this time.

-...

At that, Strange Demon’s expression changed for an instant.

-A meeting, you say?

-Yes.

It had been about a month since I first heard about it.

-I’m told it will take place two months from now. The little master of the DEMON CULT himself is supposed to appear then and hold talks with the righteous sects regarding the meeting. What kind of intention do you think is behind it?

-...

The little master.

Baek Cheonil. That bastard was going to show up in Henan again in person.

And hearing that, I had not been able to understand his intentions at all.

‘What kind of move is he trying to make?’

I couldn’t tell what he was thinking or what he wanted.

‘To walk into enemy territory on his own feet.’

And with advance notice, no less.

‘Does that mean he’s just that confident?’

Did he truly have enough power and confidence to step into the very heart of the Martial Alliance and survive?

Or—

‘does he have some other trick prepared?’

He could have some hidden card ready.

No, he definitely did.

There was no way he would make this kind of choice otherwise.

That was why—

‘Wouldn’t Strange Demon know?’

That was what led me to ask him.

-And on this point... would it be acceptable if I thought on it for a time before giving you an answer?

Strange Demon replied with the face of someone sunk in deep thought.

-Yes. Do that.

-Thank you very much for your consideration.

Strange Demon bowed his head deeply to me.

‘So Strange Demon doesn’t know either.’

That was how it looked.

‘And yet he was supposed to have served as strategist while the Heavenly Demon was alive.’

Which meant even Strange Demon had not been given information by this so-called little master.

‘So he never trusted Strange Demon in the first place?’

I tilted my head. I was curious what the truth was, but...

‘...For now.’

Leaving that aside, I had somewhere else I needed to go.

*****

“Teacher.”

When I arrived at my destination, the Small Moon Unit Leader greeted me respectfully.

“If you had summoned me, I would have gone to you. Why did you come all this way yourself?”

“...What do you mean all this way? It’s right next door.”

That burdensome attitude was still hard to deal with. I seriously had no idea how things had ended up like this.

“Today should not be a training day. Then why would you—”

“Ah, it looks like we’ll have to return to Blue Moon Sect for a while.”

“You mean the main sect?”

“Yes. Make the preparations. I think we need to leave today.”

“...Understood.”

The Small Moon Unit Leader rose without another word.

“Let us go.”

“Yes.”

One month at the Alliance.

The waiting period that had not felt remotely like rest was over, and now it was time to return to Blue Moon Sect.

*****

Around sunset, I gathered everyone together.

If we were going back to Blue Moon Sect, we all had to go together anyway.

“So we’re finally leaving?”

Cheon Hyein, whose expression looked far more worn-out than before, asked the question.

“Were you waiting for that?”

At her reaction, I asked back, and Cheon Hyein answered with an incredulous look.

“...Obviously. Because of who do you think we stayed here for a whole month?”

“...”

Fair point.

“...Then you could have returned first.”

“And leave the mission leader behind while going back to the main sect? How was that supposed to work?”

“...”

That was true too.

I gave an awkward laugh.

“...Just think of it as you got sent on vacation.”

“It was a vacation, sure. While someone was busy, other people got to waste away in lazy comfort.”

There were bones packed into every word of that sentence.

“Now you’re even an alliance leader candidate. You must be thrilled.”

“...Do I look thrilled?”

At my response, Cheon Hyein gave a short snort.

“Normally you should have been... though I guess that doesn’t seem to be the case with you.”

“Tch...”

That really dug at my insides.

“Just get on already.”

“Yes, yes.”

Cheon Hyein slipped straight into the carriage.

After her, Cheon Eujin and Do Hyeong approached.

“An alliance leader candidate... You truly are incredible.”

Cheon Eujin said it with shining eyes.

Seeing that, I scratched my cheek.

The news that I had become an alliance leader candidate had only spread three days ago.

“...It’s just for show anyway.”

“No. The Young Master Bang I have seen was more than worthy of becoming a candidate...! I truly don’t think there could be any greater honor than this.”

What exactly had this guy seen when he looked at Bang Seongyeon? Because I was pretty sure it wasn’t me.

While I stood there staring at Cheon Eujin in bewilderment, Do Hyeong patted my shoulder.

“Congratulations.”

“...Th-thank you.”

Anyone seeing this would think ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) I had already become alliance leader. This was posturing on a whole different level.

“Get in. We do not have that much time.”

As if saving me, the Small Moon Unit Leader spoke to the group.

Only then did Do Hyeong and Cheon Eujin climb into the carriage.

For the record, handling the horses this time too were the Sword Emperor and Tang Cheonil.

“...Why again...”

I ignored the grumbling lightly.

And then—

Tap.

At the familiar sound of footsteps, I turned around.

“Ah, you’re here?”

“...”

At my words, the woman—Yuyeon—gave a nod.

Yuyeon, who had followed me to Henan, also had to come along for this Blue Moon Sect trip.

The reason was simple.

‘Because I have to return the black robe.’

I had to give back the black robe that originally ought to have belonged to Mount Hua.

And once everyone had boarded the carriage, it set off straight for Blue Moon Sect.