The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 411

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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 411.
“As is well known, the Dang Family has maintained complex relationships of both favor and enmity with three sects of Yunnan for generations.”
Upon hearing this, Bu Eunseol nodded faintly.
‘Ah, this concerns the Yunnan San Dok Mun.’
The Sichuan Dang Family had long harbored bitter enmity with three poison-wielding sects of Yunnan.
Dok Ma Mun, Dok Yeop Mun, and Dok Bong Mun—these three sects were collectively known as the Yunnan San Dok Mun.
And the San Dok Mun had nearly faced annihilation twice at the hands of the Sichuan Dang Family.
Tang Cheon Gun, the Poison Saint who laid the foundation for the Dang Family’s poison studies and techniques.
And Tang Sim Bin, known as the Flame Blade Death Seeker, who systematized the Dang Family’s assassination arts.
It was precisely when these peerless masters existed that the San Dok Mun attempted to expand their influence into Sichuan.
Had the San Dok Mun not belonged to the Orthodox Sects, the sect would have completely vanished from Murim by now.
But as time passed, the San Dok Mun recovered their prosperity, and whenever opportunity arose, they attempted to expand their power into the Sichuan region.
As a result, the Dang Family and the San Dok Mun experienced numerous conflicts, both great and small.
There were even whispers that the Dang Family’s poison techniques and assassination arts developed so relentlessly because of their constant battles with the San Dok Mun.
“The Yunnan San Dok Mun has recently achieved remarkable growth. Perhaps because of this, they have now come to the Dang Family to launch a full-scale….”
Yuk Cheong Ah’s explanation continued.
In short, the San Dok Mun had rapidly expanded their power over recent years.
And now, emboldened beyond measure, they sought to advance into Sichuan by engaging the Dang Family in open, all-out warfare.
‘Three sects simultaneously expanding their power rapidly to strike at the Dang Family…’
Bu Eunseol shook her head as she pondered Yuk Cheong Ah’s account.
I was aware that the San Dok Mun had recently perfected poison techniques and assassination arts rivaling those of the Dang Family, and had rapidly expanded their influence.
But for three sects to join forces and attack the Dang Family, one of the Eight Great Families? That seemed unlikely.
‘Such coincidence does not exist.’
I suddenly recalled the Hyeol Dok Gok, which I had dealt with alongside Dang Gon.
They too had increased their power within a decade, and had even cultivated poison masters who did not fear the Dang Family’s poisons.
And now, three sects of Yunnan were engaging in similar activities.
‘There must be a hidden hand orchestrating the San Dok Mun.’
“This is indeed strange.”
At that moment, Do Geum Ung, the Lord of the Jin Myeong Branch, shook his head.
“No matter how prosperous the San Dok Mun has become, it should not be beyond the Dang Family’s capacity to handle. Moreover, to request military support from our Alliance? It would be more prudent to call upon the Orthodox Sects with whom they maintain broad connections.”
The Sichuan Dang Family had always walked an independent path befitting their prestige.
In particular, the current Family Head, Dang Pae, maintained extensive connections with outstanding individuals regardless of whether they belonged to the Orthodox Sects, the Demonic Path, or the Unorthodox Way.
Should Dang Pae request assistance, there would be no shortage of sects and masters willing to lend their strength.
“That is likely because of Dok Ma Mun. They were recently incorporated into the Demon Hall…so if matters go awry, it becomes not merely the Dang Family’s problem.”
Even the Dang Family could not carelessly touch a sect belonging to the Demon Hall.
But if the Murim Alliance intervenes?
Even sects of the Demon Hall would hesitate to act recklessly. The Dang Family appeared to be seeking the Murim Alliance’s assistance to contain this conflict.
“Furthermore, the fact that Family Head Dang Pae is currently gravely ill is also a significant factor.”
In the Dang Family, the Family Head’s authority is absolute, and all decision-making power and influence flows from the Family Head.
With the Family Head Dang Pae suddenly stricken by grave illness, more than half of the Dang Family’s strength had effectively vanished.
If Dang Pae had been unharmed, even if the San Dok Mun had grown bold, they would never have dared to launch an all-out war.
“I see.”
Only then did Do Geum Ung nod in understanding.
“So the Dang Family’s request for troop deployment was ultimately to avoid conflict.”
Yuk Cheong Ah nodded at Do Geum Ung’s words.
“Precisely. The Dang Family is requesting forces and personnel to mediate this conflict.”
Then Mo Seok, the Lord of the Cheon Lim Branch, blinked and asked.
“Why would a matter of mediating conflict between factions come before our Lords’ Council?”
To mediate disputes between factions, it should not be the Lords’ Council, but rather the Grand Assembly attended by the highest leadership of the Murim Alliance.
So why had such a matter reached the Lords’ Council, where the branch lords under the Deng Wu Dian gathered?
‘It must be one of two things.’
Bu Eunseol could predict the situation without even hearing Yuk Cheong Ah’s response.
‘Either there are conflicts and issues between the Murim Alliance and the Dang Family, so they turned a blind eye….’
Dang Pae, the current family head, was one of the most outstanding figures in the Dang Family’s history, yet from the Murim Alliance’s perspective, he was a person with many irritating aspects.
‘Or perhaps the war between the Dang Family and the San Dok Mun has become unavoidable.’
If it were a war that could not be prevented no matter what? Then the Murim Alliance’s involvement would be meaningless.
Bu Eunseol thought the latter was more likely.
No matter how displeasing it might be.
They were a clan that had walked the Orthodox Path for generations and belonged to the Eight Great Families…so their request could not be ignored.
Yet the fact that this matter had descended endlessly and reached the Lords’ Council of the Deng Wu Dian.
It was proof that the Murim Alliance was already beyond the point of being able to intervene.
―In the end, it’s unavoidable.
Meanwhile, the lords were also racking their brains to understand the situation.
Strictly speaking, even for those of lord rank, mediating between the Dang Family and the San Dok Mun was not impossible.
But looking at the situation, the leadership had no will to resolve this matter.
They merely needed a subordinate organization to go through the motions.
―Who would want to become the scapegoat?
The lords shook their heads.
This matter was about mediating conflict between sects. Even if they wanted to withdraw, one careless move could result in bearing all responsibility.
“If any of you lords are willing to handle the Dang Family’s mediation request, please raise your hand.”
At Yuk Cheong Ah’s question, not only did no hands rise, but silence filled the conference hall.
The lords kept their mouths shut, only watching each other’s expressions.
“It seems the lords of this branch have no intention of taking this on either.”
Then Yuk Jang Cheon sighed.
“A matter like this cannot be forced. I shall bring this matter before the Grand Lords’ Council or the Grand Assembly.”
Only then did the lords seem relieved, nodding their heads and clasping their hands together.
“Since this matter also ultimately does not require force, what if the Elite Division handled it?”
But then Yuk Cheong Ah suddenly made an unexpected statement.
“Lord Seon Woo Jin is young, but he is a capable individual who single-handedly transformed the Elite Division into a major intelligence division of the Alliance, so I believe he would be fully capable of handling this.”
As Yuk Jang Cheon’s brow furrowed, she spoke again.
“Since she comes from the upper echelons, her eloquence and negotiation skills would surpass those of ordinary individuals.”
As she continued her explanation, the clan lords exchanged puzzled glances.
Mediation between sects was typically handled by those with extensive experience in Gangho and high standing.
Entrusting such a task to a young Elite Division Lord without experience was, in essence, tantamount to abandoning mediation altogether.
―She seemed to be on quite good terms with the Elite Division Lord. Why would she say such things?
As the clan lords pondered this, Bu Eunseol’s eyes grew cold as she discerned Yuk Cheong Ah’s true thoughts.
‘A warning to submit beneath her authority.’
Through resolving this theft incident, Yuk Cheong Ah likely anticipated that Bu Eunseol would reject her proposal and instead build an independent faction to accumulate power.
―No matter how hard you strive, you will never escape from the palm of my hand.
Yet she had not surrendered, and now seized this opportunity to issue another warning.
―If you do not submit beneath me, you will face many more difficulties like this.
She was subtly pressuring Bu Eunseol to abandon any thoughts of independence.
However, there was one fact that she could never have imagined….
That Bu Eunseol desperately desired to undertake this very mission, even if she had to plead for it.
“Very well. Our division shall accept this task.”
When Bu Eunseol agreed readily, even Yuk Cheong Ah doubted her own ears.
Could she truly have agreed to take on this burden so readily?
“Lord Seon Woo.”
Yuk Jang Cheon could no longer restrain himself and spoke up.
“Do you comprehend the nature of this task?”
“Is it not simply to prevent an all-out war between the Dang Family and the San Dok Mun?”
Bu Eunseol spoke so naturally that Yuk Jang Cheon’s brow furrowed deeply.
‘Has she lost her mind after accumulating one achievement?’
No rational person would ever accept such a task.
In fact, it was impossible to accept.
Yet Bu Eunseol’s eyes were far too clear to suggest madness.
“Is it truly possible?”
“I shall simply do my utmost.”
When Bu Eunseol answered firmly, it was Yuk Cheong Ah whose heart suddenly grew anxious.
“Lord Seon Woo. You must think this through carefully. Since this involves disputes between sects, should anything go wrong, you cannot evade responsibility.”
Bu Eunseol then nodded with conviction.
“Of course. Should anything go wrong, our division shall bear full responsibility.”
At that moment, a glimmer of contempt flickered through the eyes not only of the clan lords, but even of Yuk Jang Cheon.
‘The former clan leader has misjudged this person.’
Yuk Jang Cheon had actually held Bu Eunseol in very high regard.
She had inherited Moo Ae Ja’s legacy, and demonstrated exceptional martial prowess in her confrontation with Cheon Hwa In.
Through this theft incident, she had proven herself to possess not only strategic wisdom, but also outstanding analytical and perceptive abilities.
Had a favorable opportunity arisen, he believed she would have become a great figure within the Murim Alliance.
Yet to lose all sense of proportion due to one achievement?
‘Was she truly no different from Cheon Hwa In?’
Meanwhile, Yuk Cheong Ah could not hide her disappointment.
She had believed that with proper guidance, Bu Eunseol would have achieved one triumph after another.
‘She was simply someone who overestimated her own abilities.’
In truth, overestimating one’s own abilities was a trait commonly seen among brilliant young people.
Because they had never experienced failure.
In her view, Bu Eunseol possessed more than sufficient conditions to harbor such a trait.
She possessed martial prowess and wisdom far superior to her peers, and had accumulated considerable merit this time—naturally becoming arrogant and overconfident in her own abilities.
‘How unfortunate.’
Yuk Cheong Ah had witnessed countless such young people during her time at the Murim Alliance.
And she had seen their wings broken when they overreached.
From her perspective, Bu Eunseol would inevitably follow the same path.
“Very well.”
Having made her decision, Yuk Cheong Ah nodded.
“Since Lord Seon Woo places such confidence in this, there is little choice. Does anyone have a different opinion?”
She glanced around, but the clan lords merely held back smirks, saying nothing.
“Lord Patriarch. The Elite Division will handle the mediation proposal from the Sichuan Dang Family.”
“Hmm.”
Yuk Jang Cheon spoke after a moment of silence.
“Lord Seon Woo. Should this matter go awry, the Elite Division will bear all responsibility. Remember that well.”
Ordinarily, Yuk Jang Cheon would never have permitted this.
But since this was a task even the Murim Alliance’s leadership would have discarded…
He well understood that if things went wrong, it would amount to nothing more than dissolving the Elite Division, rather than bringing shame upon the entire Deng Wu Dian.
“Understood.”
Bu Eunseol clasped her hands confidently, and Yuk Jang Cheon opened his mouth with a displeased expression.
“Then we shall conclude this meeting.”
The Elite Division conference hall of the Murim Alliance.
At Bu Eunseol’s shocking announcement, all the members froze.
―Our division will mediate between the Dang Family and the other San Dok Mun?
There was no precedent in Murim history of a Third-Rank Lord coordinating disputes between sects.
Even if such authority had been granted, one should not have accepted it so readily.
“Lord.”
Tae Mu Ryong spoke with utmost gravity.
“This matter is absolutely impossible. You must petition to abandon this task immediately.”
He drew a deep breath and continued.
“To mediate between sects, prestige and authority are paramount. If you step forward, it will appear as a child intervening in an adult’s quarrel.”
No matter how exceptional Bu Eunseol was, she had only recently come of age.
When a child fights, an adult must intervene. If an even younger child steps forward, it serves no purpose.
“It is acceptable. The decision has already been made.”
When Bu Eunseol’s gaze remained unchanged, Jeong Jong Do carefully stepped forward.
“Lord. This is not a matter of distrusting your abilities. Mediation is fundamentally unrelated to ability.”
Jeong Jong Do spoke with utmost seriousness.
“This is a clash of authority against authority. No matter how much authority the Lords grant you to represent the Murim Alliance, the San Dok Mun, who covet the Dang Family, would never listen to such words, would they?”
Bu Eunseol simply smiled softly.
In truth, I was deeply curious about how Tae Mu Ryong and Jeong Jong Do would react.
How they would approach this mission and how they would attempt to persuade me.
Tae Mu Ryong and Jeong Jong Do both conducted precise analyses and were earnestly persuading me within the bounds of not offending my sensibilities.
―Our Lord will handle everything perfectly!
In truth, only the Lords of the Sayoung Battle Division, who had experienced my abilities countless times, could possess such faith.
If they had spoken such words to me? That would have been either excessive flattery displaying blind loyalty, or evidence that they were overestimating my abilities.
But Tae Mu Ryong and Jeong Jong Do grasped the situation, conducted precise analysis, and offered loyal counsel.
‘Things are proceeding properly.’
Bu Eunseol nodded, a satisfied smile gracing my lips.
“You both speak only truth.”
And I spoke in a clear, resonant voice.
Seon Woo Jin’s voice must always be clear and melodious.
“In fact, I am not going to mediate between the Dang Family and their conflict. So you need not worry.”
The two men could not hide their bewildered expressions.
They had been given the mission to mediate the dispute between the Dang Family and the San Dok Mun. Yet mediation was not the purpose?
“If I attempted clumsy mediation, the San Dok Mun would simply attack the Dang Family again. When that happens, they will shift all responsibility back to the Murim Alliance as if they had been waiting for it.”
At the precise and cold explanation that flowed seamlessly, Tae Mu Ryong’s mouth fell open.
“Then what do you intend to do?”
“We must ensure the conflict escalates properly. So they can never provoke again.”
“Escalate it properly?”
Tae Mu Ryong and Jeong Jong Do exchanged glances, their faces turning pale.
What kind of absurd statement was this?
Yet on the other hand, their expressions showed relief.
They had recognized that it was impossible for Bu Eunseol to ‘mediate’ between the Dang Family and the San Dok Mun.
If I had said mediation between the Dang Family and the San Dok Mun was possible?
The two would have staked their lives on dissuading me from this mission.
“So you have a deeper strategy in mind.”
Tae Mu Ryong and Jeong Jong Do, having seen through my true intentions, exhaled deeply.
From what they knew, I was not one to overestimate my own abilities.
Otherwise, I would not have transformed the Elite Division into an intelligence division.
Surely I had found a way to resolve this using superior strategy. The problem was that they still lacked the ability to fathom my true thoughts.
“We will depart for the Dang Family soon. Prepare all the members.”
“Should we also accompany you…?”
Bu Eunseol spoke in a somewhat playful tone.
“Should we not take this opportunity to enjoy the fresh air with all the members and taste Sichuan’s finest wines?”
I gazed at the two men, whose faces had gone pale, and smiled.
“Let us go and properly demonstrate the might of the Elite Division.”
* * *
Clop, clop.
Twenty martial artists rode their horses along Gwan Do.
They wore pristine white martial robes with two phoenixes in flight embroidered on their backs.
They were Bu Eunseol and the members of the Elite Division from the Murim Alliance.
‘At least I managed to secure horses for them.’
Ordinarily, Third-Rank members received neither carriages nor even a single horse.
However, since this visit to the Dang Family was in the capacity of a special envoy of the Murim Alliance, all the members had been provided with horses.
The Elite Division pressed onward relentlessly until they finally entered Sichuan.
During the journey, Bu Eunseol had stopped at luxurious inns and treated the members to fine wine and delicious food.
Yet despite this, the members’ morale did not rise; instead, they appeared anxious, as if being dragged to a slaughterhouse.
Mediating a conflict between the Dang Family and the San Dok Mun was fundamentally impossible.
From their perspective, it was a mission destined to fail, and they could already envision the Elite Division dissolving into chaos.
But unlike the despondent members, I maintained my composure as if taking a leisurely stroll.
“We shall arrive at the Dang Family shortly.”
Tae Mu Ryong, riding alongside the carriage, called out.
My eyes deepened as I gazed upon the tall plaque bearing the Dang Family name.
―My brother is currently striving to master the Eight Great Secret Techniques of the Main House perfectly. And he often speaks of the Spirit Lord.
Those were the words Dang Cheong had spoken when I met her at Shaolin while searching for Shin San Ja.
A dark shadow flickered across her brow as she mentioned Dang Gon.
I had sensed at that time that something had befallen the Dang Family or Dang Gon himself.
Yet I never imagined it would be the rampage of the San Dok Mun.
‘Perhaps this too is fate.’
I had originally planned to visit Dang Gon once the Murim Alliance’s affairs were concluded.
But now, receiving this crisis of the Sichuan Dang Family as an official mission, I felt anew the profound karmic connection between myself and the Dang Family.
“Whoa.”
The Elite Division members finally came to a halt before the Dang Family gates.
The towering walls and firmly sealed main gate radiated the grandeur befitting the foremost family of Sichuan.
‘Even among the great families, this one is distinctly different.’
The gates of the Namgung Family stood perpetually open, thronged with visitors.
But the Dang Family gates were sealed tight, guarded solemnly by sentries. Few outsiders had reason to visit, and interactions were sparse.
Yet this did not mean the Sichuan Dang Family was weak.
They constantly rivaled the Namgung Family, the leader of the Eight Great Families, and the poisons and secret weapons produced by the Dang Family influenced not merely Sichuan but the entire Murim.
What if the Dok Ma Mun had not joined the Demon Hall? Or what if the family head Dang Pae’s condition had remained sound?
The Dang Family would have repelled them without needing to contact the Murim Alliance.
“What brings you here?”
As the sentry approached and clasped his hands, I stepped forward.
“We have come from the Murim Alliance.”
Upon showing the medallion, the sentry’s expression became peculiar.
The Dang Family had requested a high-ranking official of the rank of family head or above, someone capable of mediating disputes between sects.
Yet warriors who appeared even younger than myself were arriving?
Moreover, on the reverse side of the medallion was the large character “三” (Three), symbolizing a Third-Rank Lord.

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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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