The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 249

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 249.
As morning broke, Gok Jin Dong, commander of the Jeol Myeong Dae, climbed up to Gwan Mo Peak where Sa Yeong Dae was stationed.
He had come to report that nothing unusual had occurred throughout the night.
He came to an abrupt halt.
Yet he was forced to stop in his tracks, his eyes widening in shock.
He had spotted Bu Eunseol walking toward the rear of the camp, her body drenched in blood.
“What happened, Commander?”
As Jo Nam Cheon and the Sa Yeong Dae members rushed toward her upon seeing Bu Eunseol’s state, she waved her hand dismissively.
“It’s nothing serious.”
“Nothing serious? Your entire body is covered in wounds!”
Just as Jo Nam Cheon was about to leap up in alarm, Myo Cheon Woo approached and calmly examined Bu Eunseol’s injuries.
“There’s not a single mark from a direct frontal strike.”
Myo Cheon Woo furrowed his brow and shook his head.
“Did you fight assassins? It looks like they all employed concealed blade techniques.”
“Assassins?”
In that instant, all the Sa Yeong Dae members gasped in shock, their mouths falling open. Wi Cheon Gyeong, equally flustered, approached and questioned her.
“Commander, is that true?”
“It is.”
The moment Bu Eunseol answered, every member turned their heads in unison and glared at Gok Jin Dong.
Unless assassins fell from the sky, they would have had to pass through the checkpoint guarded by the Jeol Myeong Dae and Dok An Dae to reach Gwan Mo Peak.
“What on earth happened! Commander Gok!”
As Won Se Moon rushed toward Gok Jin Dong in fury, Bu Eunseol waved her hand.
“It’s fine. It was nothing of consequence.”
“Nothing of consequence? Assassins came to where you were!”
“I ordered the Jeol Myeong Dae and Dok An Dae to rest easy. Did you forget that?”
At Bu Eunseol’s words, Won Se Moon jumped up and spoke.
“But still, no matter what…”
“Even if it had been you and your unit standing guard instead of the Jeol Myeong Dae, the outcome would have been the same.”
Bu Eunseol spoke matter-of-factly.
“They were from the Chu Sung Dae.”
“The Chu Sung Dae?”
Won Se Moon, his brow deeply furrowed, spoke with utmost gravity.
“What is that?”
The Chu Sung Dae was one of the secret assassination units that the Murim Alliance did not officially acknowledge.
Therefore, even Won Se Moon, who was well-versed in Gangho affairs, did not know the name.
“The Murim Alliance’s assassination unit.”
When Myo Cheon Woo answered in her stead, the Sa Yeong Dae members’ expressions grew tense.
“Are you saying the Murim Alliance sent assassins to kill you, Commander?”
“Not the Murim Alliance—Jo Cheon Wang.”
In that moment, all the members fell silent.
Only then did I recall that Bu Eunseol had killed Jo Bi Woon, the son of Jo Cheon Wang.
“How long has the Commander been here that you would send an assassin to match that timing?”
“Well, there were various circumstances.”
Bu Eunseol shook her head as if finding the matter tedious.
Then she spoke while looking at Gok Jin Dong.
“No need for reports. Return to your post.”
“Yes, yes.”
Gok Jin Dong bowed his head and quickly descended, avoiding the gazes of the Sa Yeong Dae members.
“And….”
At that moment, Bu Eunseol spoke softly.
“There’s no need to establish heightened watch rotations over this incident. Keep your members at ease as they are now.”
“Pardon?”
When Gok Jin Dong’s expression turned puzzled, Bu Eunseol spoke calmly.
“The Assassination Unit has already withdrawn, so no one else will be coming here. Simply maintain a relaxed standby.”
‘Is she testing me right now?’
“How could I possibly… do such a thing?”
As Gok Jin Dong’s expression grew anxious, Bu Eunseol spoke in a solemn voice.
“That is an order. Do not establish watch rotations under any circumstances, and keep your members at ease.”
“Ah, understood.”
Gok Jin Dong’s expression remained unsatisfied, but he soon clasped his hands together.
Returning to the camp, Gok Jin Dong’s mind was troubled.
The Murim Alliance’s Assassination Unit had passed through the checkpoint they were guarding and ambushed Bu Eunseol, the Sa Yeong Dae Commander.
Had I properly maintained the watch post, I could have faced this with a clear conscience, even if such an incident had occurred.
But hadn’t they been drinking all night?
Though that too was Bu Eunseol’s order, something uncomfortable and unpleasant lodged in my throat like a fishbone.
“Commander, has something happened?”
O Deung Ryong, the Dok An Dae Commander, asked carefully as Gok Jin Dong descended in deep contemplation.
“Your complexion doesn’t look good.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Gok Jin Dong calmly explained the situation.
“Last night, the Sa Yeong Dae Commander was attacked by the Murim Alliance’s Assassination Unit.”
“What?”
“They likely passed through here while we were drinking.”
In an instant, O Deung Ryong’s complexion turned ashen.
Bu Eunseol is known among the Demon Hall commanders for her coldness. If it were revealed that the watch post wasn’t properly maintained last night?
Execution would be a mercy.
“Don’t worry. She doesn’t seem to intend to hold anyone accountable.”
“What do you mean?”
“Didn’t she order us to drink in the first place?”
“Ah, that’s true. But….”
As O Deung Ryong scratched his head with an unsatisfied expression, Gok Jin Dong sighed and spoke.
“The Murim Alliance’s renowned assassination unit, the Sa Yeong Dae, they say. Even if they’d maintained proper watch rotations, it wouldn’t have mattered… He even made excuses for them, the fool.”
He paused for a moment, then shook his head.
“Moreover, since no one else will be coming here, he issued an order to absolutely refrain from posting sentries.”
“Absolutely refrain from posting sentries?”
It was an order I couldn’t possibly comprehend.
O Deung Ryong also furrowed his brow and fell into deep thought for a long while, but no answer came to him.
“Then, was there nothing else of particular note?”
“That’s correct.”
“Thank goodness. I was concerned because the commander’s expression looked so grim… I thought he’d returned after receiving severe punishment.”
“The situation seems to be unfolding in a rather peculiar manner.”
Gok Jin Dong narrowed his eyes.
“The Sa Yeong Dae commander is no ordinary man. Yet he says no one else will come, orders them to rest easy… Something feels off about this.”
Having served as the Demon Hall’s commander for many years, his instincts were as sharp as his political acumen.
“Yun Pyeong.”
When Gok Jin Dong called out loudly, one of his subordinates stepped forward and clasped his hands respectfully.
He was Yun Pyeong, the youngest member of the Jeol Myeong Dae.
“You called for me, Commander?”
“Are you still on good terms with Han So Woong of the Mubon Squad… or rather, of the Sa Yeong Dae?”
Yun Pyeong possessed an affable nature, which meant he maintained close connections even with members of the Mubon Squad whom others looked down upon.
In particular, he and Han So Woong got along exceptionally well.
“Yes, sir. We even shared drinks together not long ago.”
“Excellent.”
Gok Jin Dong nodded and spoke in a low voice.
“The Sa Yeong Dae commander’s behavior seems suspicious. When you have the chance, meet with him and investigate the situation at Sa Yeong Dae.”
“Understood.”
Two days later.
Following Gok Jin Dong’s orders, Yun Pyeong climbed Gwan Mo Peak where Sa Yeong Dae was stationed, spent considerable time conversing with Han So Woong, and returned.
“They’re drinking and carousing?”
“Yes, sir.”
Upon hearing Yun Pyeong’s report, Gok Jin Dong couldn’t hide his bewilderment.
“Apparently, the Sa Yeong Dae commander takes little interest in the Demon Hall’s affairs. He doesn’t interfere or impose restrictions on his men as long as they perform their duties properly.”
Such was Yun Pyeong’s account.
The Sa Yeong Dae on Gwan Mo Peak spent their days lounging about lazily, and when night fell, they invariably held drinking parties.
The Sa Yeong Dae commander himself even joined them in their revelry.
After hearing everything, Gok Jin Dong’s frown deepened considerably.
I’d thought him a remarkable figure for properly leading that chaotic Mubon Squad.
Now it seemed he was nothing more than a reckless fool like the rest of them—was that how he’d managed to command them so effectively?
“According to him, they’re truly free to enjoy themselves. He said the Sa Yeong Dae commander is a man of his word, never speaking out of both sides of his mouth. And….”
Yun Pyeong added a remark laden with significance.
“Isn’t the Sa Yeong Dae currently a first-class unit? And we’ve become a second-class unit under their command.”
In that instant, Gok Jin Dong’s eyes gleamed with sudden clarity.
A commander of a first-rate unit possessed the authority to conduct independent operations.
In exchange, he bore full responsibility for all his actions.
Which meant that even if Jeol Myeong Dae and Dok An Dae caused trouble while indulging in their revelries, wouldn’t all accountability fall upon the Sa Yeong Dae commander?
“Hehehehe.”
Only when this realization struck Gok Jin Dong did his mind find ease, and a smile played across his lips.
“I thought she was some prodigious sect leader of the new generation. Turns out she’s just cut from the same cloth as those reckless fools.”
I had worried needlessly.
Even if they drank daily and rested comfortably, it was merely faithful obedience to Bu Eunseol’s orders.
We bore no responsibility whatsoever.
“From now on, I must follow orders with absolute precision.”
Gok Jin Dong spoke in a loud voice, addressing the members of Jeol Myeong Dae and Dok An Dae.
“Continue resting at your ease. Don’t even think about standing watch.”
A smile graced his lips.
“For this is the command given by the Sa Yeong Dae commander.”
Four days had passed.
Bu Eunseol was indeed a woman of her word.
She issued no further orders regardless of whether Jeol Myeong Dae and Dok An Dae rested leisurely, and they were indeed resting comfortably at Gwan Mo Peak.
“Ah, how tedious.”
Leaning against a boulder, Gok Jin Dong yawned and gazed toward the distant sky.
After four days of waiting at the foot of the sparsely populated mountainside, I felt as though I would go mad from restlessness.
“I wish something—anything—would happen.”
The moment those words left my lips, one of the Jeol Myeong Dae members came rushing over, shouting.
“Disaster! We have a crisis!”
The member ran straight to Gok Jin Dong and cried out again.
“Disaster, Commander!”
“What is it?”
As Gok Jin Dong’s expression hardened with concern, the member shouted urgently.
“Tens of thousands of imperial soldiers are marching toward us from Haenam!”
“Imperial soldiers?”
In that moment, Gok Jin Dong’s mind went blank.
It made no sense whatsoever.
“Is the Imperial Palace interfering in Murim affairs?”
“Did the recent confrontation not cause considerable suffering among the common folk living near Oji Mountain?”
“So what?”
As Gok Jin Dong’s eyes widened in alarm, the member spoke with urgent haste.
“Moreover, Gong Gong Sin Tu is no ordinary martial artist.”
Gong Gong Sin Tu was a mysterious figure who held leverage over the Jeongsayang-do’s weaknesses.
In other words, capturing him would be an opportunity to seize the Righteous Path faction’s vulnerability.
“They intend to capture Gong Gong Sin Tu?”
“Even if that weren’t the intention… with the Jeongsayang-do forces gathering and testing their strength, the imperial palace would certainly be displeased.”
The officer swallowed hard and continued.
“And the damage caused by this standoff is being borne by innocent civilians.”
“Hmm.”
As Gok Jin Dong made a sound of acknowledgment, the officer spoke again.
“Because of this news, there’s a rumor that last night the commander of Cheon Sal Unit found and attacked the commander of Cheon Geom Dae of the Murim Alliance.”
“The commander of Cheon Sal Unit has revealed himself?”
“Yes. If we delay any longer and the imperial army actually arrives, both the Demon Hall and the Murim Alliance will end up like a dog chasing chickens.”
What if the imperial forces descended upon Oji Mountain?
Gong Gong Sin Tu might actually rejoice and reveal himself.
Being escorted to the government offices would be better than being killed by the masters of Jeongsayang-do.
“Then a full-scale battle will break out soon…”
Whee-whee-whee! Boom!
As if to prove Gok Jin Dong’s words, two fireworks shot up into the distant sky simultaneously.
The signal flares used by the Demon Hall’s unit and the Murim Alliance’s sword unit to request reinforcements had detonated at the same time.
It was clear that the Demon Hall’s unit and the Murim Alliance’s sword unit had clashed in that vicinity.
“I need to meet with the commander of Sa Yeong Dae.”
Just as Gok Jin Dong, having made a decision, began to move,
Thud, thud, thud.
Dozens of people were descending from above Gwan Mo Peak.
It was Bu Eunseol and the Sa Yeong Dae officers.
“Commander.”
Upon spotting Bu Eunseol, Gok Jin Dong bowed, and all the officers bowed together, clasping their hands.
“Commander. Have you heard? The imperial forces right now…”
Before Gok Jin Dong could finish,
“Don’t worry about it.”
Bu Eunseol raised a hand and cut him off.
“There will absolutely be no full-scale battle.”
As I descended, I had heard the entire conversation between Gok Jin Dong and the officer, and I continued calmly.
“Instead, we will temporarily cooperate with the Murim Alliance.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“If we fight each other recklessly in this situation, we’ll either lose Gong Gong Sin Tu or have him taken by the government.”
I pointed to the fireworks of the Demon Hall and Murim Alliance embroidering the distant sky.
“Since we absolutely must prevent such a situation from occurring… the Demon Hall and the Murim Alliance have no choice but to move together.”
“Then those fireworks aren’t a request for reinforcements, but rather a sign that they’re cooperating with each other?”
“Exactly. Gong Gong Sin Tu must have been discovered in that area.”
Gok Jin Dong’s mouth fell open.
Now that I thought about it, that made sense.
Rather than sending Gong Gong Sin Tu to the government, it would be more advantageous for Jeongsayang-do to join forces and kill him outright.
“But… where are you going, Commander?”
“I’ve been cooped up on Gwan Mo Peak for far too long. Now that the main unit will take over this place, you should all head up there.”
“You won’t be joining the pursuit?”
“I won’t.”
Gok Jin Dong couldn’t comprehend it.
Regardless of Bu Eunseol’s status—someone who didn’t need to accumulate merit—could she really be this irresponsible and reckless?
“But surely the commander should also try to earn some merit….”
As Gok Jin Dong trailed off, Bu Eunseol’s lips curved into a cold smile.
“If you dislike it, there’s nothing I can do. I’ll simply assign you a different task instead.”
“No, no, that’s not it!”
Gok Jin Dong waved both hands frantically.
He feared Bu Eunseol might assign him some absurd mission out of spite.
“We’ll head up to Gwan Mo Peak immediately.”
Worried she might change her mind, Jeol Myeong Dae and Dok An Dae quickly packed their belongings and moved toward Gwan Mo Peak.
Once they had all disappeared toward Gwan Mo Peak, Myo Cheon Woo, who had been standing silently beside Bu Eunseol, slowly opened his mouth.
“Now then, tell me everything.”
“Tell you what?”
“The government forces are supposedly arriving, yet you’re leisurely settling in here? That makes no sense.”
The Bu Eunseol he knew was someone whose cunning was far more terrifying than her martial prowess.
Myo Cheon Woo spoke with absolute certainty.
“This entire situation is something you orchestrated, isn’t it? Now tell me.”
“The government forces won’t be coming.”
“What?”
“It seems Yu Woon Ryong executed his role properly.”
“What do you mean? Why Yu Woon Ryong?”
Bu Eunseol spoke with an indifferent expression.
“I had Yu Woon Ryong spread rumors that government forces were descending upon this place.”
“What?”
“Of course, to deceive the intelligence networks, we actually had to mobilize some troops. That’s why I entrusted this task to Yu Woon Ryong.”
All the unit members, including Myo Cheon Woo, wore expressions as if they’d seen ghosts.
“Commander, what’s happening?”
Finally unable to contain his curiosity, Wi Cheon Gyeong stepped forward as well.
“You deliberately mobilized the government forces?”
“Yes.”
Bu Eunseol gazed at the distant sky and explained calmly.
“That way, the Demon Hall and the Murim Alliance will cease their standoff and immediately unite their forces to eliminate Gong Gong Sin Tu.”
From the beginning, Bu Eunseol had no intention of thoroughly obeying the orders given by Chong Gyo Ryeong and the Cheon Sal Unit commander.
Furthermore, the longer the standoff between the Demon Hall and the Murim Alliance dragged on in pursuit of Gong Gong Sin Tu, the more precarious her position would become.
All attention would focus on Gong Gong Sin Tu, and there was no telling what orders the Cheon Sal Unit commander might issue here.
Therefore, Bu Eunseol had devised a stratagem to break the deadlock between both sides and force the Demon Hall and Murim Alliance to cooperate in capturing Gong Gong Sin Tu swiftly.
“Gong Gong Sin Tu has remained hidden in this region without being discovered precisely because the masters of Jeongsayang-do are locked in a standoff.”
Bu Eunseol surveyed the members of her unit before speaking.
“But if both forces were to join their strength in a search….”
She paused, and a flash of brilliance ignited in her eyes.
“Then Gong Gong Sin Tu would have no other options. He would be forced to break through the encirclement and attempt to escape this place.”
―Our commander is truly insane….
The members couldn’t hide their shock, their mouths falling open.
To overturn the board that the Demon Hall and the Murim Alliance had carefully arranged, and to mobilize the garrison troops to end the Gong Gong Sin Tu incident in one swift stroke?

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