Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 274

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 274. Tangled Thread (5)
Jong Mu Seok hurriedly fled and returned to his solitary confinement cell under the protection of the Alliance members.
“This madness!”
With Young Ho Gyeong absent, there was no one to ask what had transpired.
Yet even without asking, the situation could be deduced.
‘Could it have been Yi Ja Gyun?!’
Jeon Chil Sung would never attempt to kill him. He must have believed Jong Mu Seok intended to expose Yul Baek’s corruption within the White Faction.
That was precisely why he had anticipated such a thrilling opportunity for revenge.
‘But if Yi Ja Gyun knew I would expose Yul Baek, then…?’
That information could not have leaked.
Well, it was not entirely impossible. Young Ho Gyeong might have revealed it to Yi Ja Gyun.
The problem was that Young Ho Gyeong had sided with the Alliance Leader, not any Elder.
‘The Alliance Leader himself wrote and sent the certificate. No matter how serpentine Young Ho Gyeong is, he could never have walked such a tightrope between the Alliance Leader and Yi Ja Gyun!’
This transcended Young Ho Gyeong’s character.
Had Young Ho Gyeong shown even a hint of such duplicity, the Alliance Leader would have detected it. Though he had lived like a fool, Meng Ha Sung’s judgment and intellect were unmistakably superior to Young Ho Gyeong’s.
Most crucially, Young Ho Gyeong despised him. That regretful gleam in his eyes when the Alliance Leader’s certificate was revealed—it made clear he had wished to imprison Jong Mu Seok in the Thunder Prison eternally.
‘Then….’
The Black Faction? Could it be Yun Hak Ja?
Jong Mu Seok’s eyes blazed with killing intent.
“That madman Jeon Chil Sung!!”
A master of factional strife who dismantled enemies through methods that defied common sense.
Jeon Chil Sung had certainly attempted to kill him. He had clearly intended to murder Jong Mu Seok and then manipulate the situation, claiming the White Faction had suppressed the exposure regarding Yul Baek.
The evidence lay in Jeon Chil Sung’s movements.
“That bastard rushed onto the platform faster than anyone else, didn’t he?!”
In the chaos, he had not questioned that peculiarity at the moment.
“It was to kill the assassin! Jeon Chil Sung definitely sent him!”
For a brief moment, he had wondered if Jeon Chil Sung had intervened to stop the assassin.
But Jong Mu Seok remembered. The vicious killing intent woven through Jeon Chil Sung’s strike. Had the assassin not been sent by him, Jeon Chil Sung would have captured him alive to expose the truth, regardless of whether Jong Mu Seok died in the process.
Even if Jong Mu Seok perished.
“Aaaaaaaah!”
Jong Mu Seok’s furious, maddened cry echoed through every corner of the Thunder Prison beyond his solitary cell.
* * *
Though the chaos had subsided, the Inner Courtyard of the Law Enforcement Hall thrummed with tension that threatened to explode at any moment.
Creak!
The door leading to the Outer Courtyard swung open, and numerous warriors emerged.
Someone swallowed hard and spoke.
“The Cheonryong Guardian Corps…!”
White and gold harmonized perfectly in their martial uniforms.
Beneath the garments lay lightweight plate armor renowned for its exceptional elasticity and durability—armor so superior that even the sword energy of a precious sword could scarcely leave a scratch upon it.
Each bearing a great sword nearly five feet in length across their backs, they were the warriors of the Cheonryong Guardian Corps, the Alliance Leader’s Faction’s mightiest military force and the protectors of the Martial Alliance Leader.
“I received word that an assassin has infiltrated the Law Enforcement Hall.”
The man at the forefront bore the cold, stern visage of a middle-aged warrior.
He was none other than Dong Pae Cheon, the Vice-Commander of the Cheonryong Guardian Corps and master of the Single Sword Strike that severs mountains.
“Under the Alliance Leader’s command, the Law Enforcement Hall shall now be monitored by three battalions of the Cheonryong Guardian Corps. Regardless of rank, no Alliance member gathered here may leave these grounds, and any attempt to do so shall be deemed an act of rebellion and subject to immediate judgment.”
Before anyone could speak, Dong Pae Cheon withdrew an official decree from his robes.
“This bears the Alliance Leader’s personal seal—a formal order. The Silver Soul Mandate has been invoked, and all without exception must obey.”
The crowd gasped.
‘The Silver Soul Mandate?!’
The Martial Alliance Leader wielded three tiers of command authority.
These were divided into gold, silver, and bronze classifications, with most routine orders falling under the Bronze Soul Mandate.
The Gold Soul Mandate was invoked only during rebellion or crises that threatened the very foundation of the Martial Alliance—occasions when all elite disciples from every sect within the Alliance had to converge immediately. Regardless of their circumstances or distance, they were bound by absolute command to assemble.
Naturally, the Gold Soul Mandate had been invoked only a handful of times throughout the Alliance’s history. Even when the Moyong Clan faced accusations of treason in ages past, the Gold Soul Mandate was never issued.
In essence, the Silver Soul Mandate represented the highest-tier command the Martial Alliance Leader could practically exercise.
“The Silver Soul Mandate has been invoked?!”
“Does this not suggest the Alliance Leader has been closely monitoring this situation?”
“But even so, the Silver Soul Mandate is….”
Dong Pae Cheon walked through the bewildered leadership, naturally followed by several warriors of the Guardian Corps.
The remainder were deployed throughout the Inner and Outer Courtyards.
‘Impressive!’
‘Truly formidable!’
Though not yet reaching the age of seventy, his years were still relatively young.
Yet Dong Pae Cheon’s aura was inferior to none present.
‘The Cheonryong Guardian Corps are said to be dragons in the deep and tigers in the abyss—the Vice-Commander Dong Pae Cheon’s martial prowess seems to approach the Twelve Heavenly Generals!’
Whether or not he had truly reached such heights, his presence alone was utterly overwhelming.
“Is the Vice-Director of the Secret Law Court, Gu Wol, present?”
“I am here.”
Gu Wol, a shield strapped to his back, stepped forward.
When the cold-visaged Dong Pae Cheon and the taciturn Gu Wol faced each other, the very air seemed to thin with tension.
“The Alliance Leader has temporarily entrusted you with supreme command authority over all Cheonryong Guardian Corps forces gathered here. You must accept without reservation.”
Though Dong Pae Cheon held a rank nearly equal to that of an Elder, he showed not the slightest displeasure.
Gu Wol nodded.
“I shall follow the Alliance Leader’s command.”
“Do you have any orders to issue at this moment?”
“The Alliance Leader’s orders to the Guardian Corps align with the Secret Law Court’s operational control, so there are no additional directives needed.”
“Understood. We shall maintain our watch over the Law Enforcement Hall and monitor the situation.”
The crowd stared at Gu Wol with stunned expressions.
The Secret Law Court had operated without fanfare until now. Yet the Alliance Leader was entrusting the Cheonryong Guardian Corps—even if temporarily—to its Vice-Director?!
‘He’s granting them authority.’
Yi Ja Gyun’s eyes gleamed with keen insight.
‘The Alliance Leader intends to elevate the Secret Law Court’s presence before all under heaven.’
Though only a fraction of those gathered here, every single one of them was extraordinary.
He had granted Gu Wol the right to command the Alliance Leader’s Faction’s strongest military force before their very eyes?
The intention was unmistakably clear—henceforth, the Secret Law Court would surface in the political struggles of the Martial Alliance, and no one was to disregard them.
‘So there was a reason he lived as a Hidden Dragon all this time.’
Ha Sang Il stared at Gu Wol in bewilderment.
‘If it’s Gu Wol….’
He still remembered the chaotic period of the past.
Under the Former Martial Alliance Leader Gwangmyeong Mujon, called the Mad Demon even by his enemies—Moyong Cheon—there had been an invincible unit that accumulated legends like myths.
The Dark Soul Squad was an organization that wielded such overwhelming might that one wondered if there had ever been a more ruthless force in the entire history of the Martial Alliance.
And the captain of that First Generation Dark Soul Squad, the master called the strongest of the Dark Soul Squad, was Gu Ja Woong, whose nephew was Gu Wol.
‘This is…!’
They hadn’t met in some time, but seeing him here, his presence was truly formidable.
His martial power seemed inferior to Dong Pae Cheon’s, yet his presence rivaled his. He was a warrior who, if he believed something right, would stake his life without hesitation or second thought.
“Ah, before that.”
Dong Pae Cheon stopped and turned to face Gu Wol.
Gu Wol spoke with an expressionless face.
“Should Tambi Ryeong-ju request entry, send him to this person.”
“You mean Moyong Bi?”
“Indeed.”
Dong Pae Cheon, who had been quietly observing Gu Wol, bowed his head.
“I shall carry out the orders of the temporary commander. However, given the circumstances, I shall confiscate all weapons.”
“Do so.”
Still confused, yet the impression that matters were beginning to resolve was unmistakable. Perhaps it was because their conversation, stripped of emotion, contained only what was necessary.
Then Jeon Chil Sung spoke.
“Deputy Commander Gu.”
“Speak.”
There was not the slightest hint of deference.
Regardless of his usual temperament, it was not a manner befitting the second-in-command of the Elder Council, yet no one called him out on it. The situation was far too dire for talk of propriety.
“Do your utmost to ensure the prisoner’s safety.”
“Of course.”
“Then that settles it.”
That simple statement carried no small weight.
It demonstrated that he would look after his own members, prisoner or not, while subtly asserting that it was not he who had sent the assassin.
Contrary to appearances, Jeon Chil Sung’s mind was chaos itself.
‘Where did things go wrong?’
He knew the skill of each Night Butterfly member better than anyone. They were disciples of the Death King himself, after all.
‘The assassination failed? It should have succeeded almost without question.’
Even had it failed, they should have taken their own lives on the spot. He believed that unless one was a master of the highest caliber, no one could prevent a Night Butterfly’s suicide.
Yet unexpected masters had appeared, and the Night Butterfly had been captured.
‘Could it be…?’
Jeon Chil Sung gazed at Young Ho Gyeong standing in the distance.
Young Ho Gyeong was issuing instructions to the Alliance Members.
‘Did he know something would happen and summon the Masters?’
The Masters from the Secret Law Court emerged, having concealed themselves near the Platform while suppressing even their presence.
Even though the Platform was quite far away, the fact that he hadn’t sensed their presence meant they were hiding with absolute thoroughness.
‘He must have even laid down the Formation Technique of the Law Enforcement Hall. There’s no other explanation.’
But that wasn’t the important part.
‘…How did he know?’
This was far too formidable a force to be merely a precaution against the possibility of a witness being threatened.
‘Did information leak? That can’t be!’
The Night Butterfly members always kept their word. He wasn’t the kind of man to employ those lacking such thoroughness.
Naturally, Ya Hon and Ya Baek, as well as the Night Butterfly members, couldn’t have betrayed him.
‘Where on earth….’
Jeon Chil Sung’s eyes turned toward Ha Sang Il.
Ha Sang Il too couldn’t hide his confusion.
‘There’s a high probability of a traitor within, but no matter how much I think about it, Ha Sang Il has no reason to betray….’
In truth, now wasn’t the time to find who the traitor was.
Someone would have noticed his attempt to kill the Assassin. Naturally, suspicion would turn toward him as well.
‘If I claim I acted in panic to save Jong Mu Seok, that would suffice, but the problem lies after that.’
Jeon Chil Sung was extremely flustered.
He had experienced crises of this magnitude several times before. In fact, looking at the situation itself, it wasn’t even a crisis worth calling one.
Yet strangely, a chill ran down his spine.
It felt like a well-oiled mechanism was crumbling. Or rather, it felt as if the parts of the mechanism had been fitted incorrectly from the very beginning.
‘What is this? What exactly is wrong?’
In that instant, Jeon Chil Sung’s eyes wavered.
‘…Could it be the Alliance Leader?!’
That was when it happened.
“You’ve arrived faster than expected.”
Gu Wol muttered, looking toward the door leading to the Outer Courtyard.
A moment later.
Creak!
The large door swung open and a young man entered.
The young man walking in with a grin was none other than Moyong Bi.
“The air here is quite sweet. I rather like it.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————