The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 575

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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 575.
The Murim Alliance was struck by successive shocks.
Not long after Baek Mu Sung had become crippled and departed from the Murim Alliance.
This time, Yeon Ja Gang, who had been driven out from Deungmu Hall, attempted to fabricate evidence and frame the Elite Division Lord as a traitor.
Fortunately, thanks to the courageous confession of Tae Mu Ryong, the Vice Lord of the Elite Division, they were able to prevent an unjust calamity.
Yet the fact remained that a martial artist within the Alliance, unable to overcome hatred, had attempted to fabricate evidence and carry out punishment.
This alone was enough to shake everyone to their core.
―This matter was not Yeon Ja Gang’s independent action.
But before that shock could fade, another startling rumor spread from Hyung Dang.
―There is someone behind Yeon Ja Gang.
Yeon Ja Gang, who had become a member of Cheong Ryeong Gak, possessed no ability to recruit or coerce the Vice Lord of the Elite Division.
Ultimately, Hyung Dang, having detected that someone stood behind Yeon Ja Gang, began investigating the matter intensively.
And it was recently revealed that Yeon Ja Gang had met with Yong Myeong, the Lord of Yong Ban Jeon, repeatedly.
Furthermore, it became known that Yong Myeong had requested the Grand Leader Council through Buk Ri Seung.
Of course, this could not serve as evidence.
Yong Myeong had merely requested the council meeting at Yeon Ja Gang’s behest.
But… what if there had been some transaction between Yong Myeong and Yeon Ja Gang?
What if they had conspired from the start to frame Seon Woo Jin?
Then Yong Myeong too could not possibly escape punishment.
Yet neither Tae Mu Ryong, who had confessed of his own accord, nor Yeon Ja Gang, whose innocence had been revealed,
would speak a word about the one behind them, leaving Hyung Dang’s investigation mired in difficulty for some time.
At the Elite Division’s Office, in Seon Woo Jin’s chambers.
Bu Eunseol, seated in the office, was likewise struck by profound shock, her expression vacant and dazed.
Just once, in her haste, she had entrusted Tae Mu Ryong with the disposal of a letter.
But Tae Mu Ryong had discovered the oil stains on that letter, and all this time he had pretended not to know?
Not only that, but Yeon Ja Gang had been suspecting her all along,
and had deliberately descended to Cheong Ryeong Gak to examine every letter sent to Seon Woo Jin in order to find evidence?
‘I had underestimated human obsession.’
Yeon Ja Gang’s actions
were a stark illustration of how far human determination and resentment could reach.
‘I was far too indifferent.’
Bu Eunseol’s true nature was the Demonic Path.
And she had believed her real subordinates were the martial artists of Sayoung Battle Division.
Since she was someone who would eventually depart, even if the people of the Murim Alliance showed loyalty,
she felt only regret.
But Tae Mu Ryong had shown loyalty without hesitation, even knowing that she was a traitor of the Demonic Path.
And he had sacrificed his own position and honor to devise a scheme to topple Yeon Ja Gang and those behind him all at once.
Solely for the sake of Bu Eunseol’s future.
So that she would never again be suspected as a traitor.
‘I was wrong in my thinking.’
The members of the Elite Division, too.
Like the subordinates of Sayoung Hall, they followed me blindly and served with unwavering loyalty.
Yet I worried only about their futures.
I deliberately turned away from the hearts of Tae Mu Ryong and my team members, who served me with genuine devotion.
“Lord, it’s Jeong Jong Do.”
At that moment, Jeong Jong Do’s voice came from beyond the door.
“Come in.”
At my words, the door opened, and I saw Jeong Jong Do standing there with a worried expression.
Even as the Murim Alliance was thrown into upheaval, even as Tae Mu Ryong was dragged away for interrogation at Hyeong Dang.
He had come out of concern, seeing me sit so calmly in my office, handling matters as usual.
“What will become of the Vice Lord?”
No matter that he confessed at the end, the attempt to fabricate evidence and frame him would not simply disappear.
Even if he escaped punishment, the stigma would remain, and Tae Mu Ryong could not stay in the Elite Division.
“Shouldn’t you at least go see him once?”
When I did not answer, Jeong Jong Do spoke with earnest urgency.
“The Vice Lord fell for the schemes of that cunning old man Yeon Ja Gang. He is not someone who would truly betray you.”
“What is there to forgive or not forgive?”
I opened my mouth with a measured voice.
“It’s simply that Hyeong Dang is conducting an investigation, so I cannot meet with him or interfere.”
I spoke matter-of-factly, but my expression was dark.
Only then did Jeong Jong Do realize that I was just as worried and concerned as he was.
“I apologize. I came needlessly and spoke carelessly.”
“No, it’s fine. And don’t worry.”
I smiled reassuringly.
“I’ve asked Yuk Jang Cheon and Gong Son Dan Gyeong to ensure the Vice Lord receives the lightest possible punishment.”
“You’ve spoken to the Chief as well?”
“Yes.”
“I see.”
Jeong Jong Do broke into a bright smile.
The Chief was one of the highest-ranking leaders of the Alliance, even above the Seven Lords in hierarchy.
If Gong Son Dan Gyeong used her influence, Tae Mu Ryong could certainly avoid severe punishment.
‘But why does the Lord look so grave?’
Jeong Jong Do, unaware of my complicated thoughts, bowed deeply.
“I apologize, Lord.”
“For what?”
“For not understanding your heart and speaking carelessly.”
“It’s fine.”
I spoke calmly.
“Once Hyeong Dang’s investigation concludes, we’ll know for certain, but the Vice Lord will not face severe punishment.”
“Understood.”
Jeong Jong Do left the office with a cheerful laugh, quite different from when he had entered.
But Bu Eunseol would soon come to regret this.
Had she known of Tae Mu Ryong’s loyalty.
She should have extracted him from Hyeong Dang by any means necessary. And she should have heard his true feelings.
Moreover, she had failed to properly understand the nature of the Murim Alliance.
Unlike the Demon Hall, which prioritized power and authority, the Murim Alliance carried the banner of upholding justice.
She had believed it would at least observe basic procedures and moral principles.
What she had forgotten was that the Murim Alliance was actually rife with far more schemes and conspiracies than the Demon Hall, a place where anything could be done to maintain power.
Bu Eunseol had momentarily lost sight of this truth.
* * *
―Hyeong Dang had begun investigating Yong Ban Jeon Ju.
Ominous rumors spread once more through the Murim Alliance.
Yong Ban Jeon Ju, who stood in competition with Deng Wu Jeon Ju, had finally been implicated as the mastermind behind this false accusation incident.
―It was merely a simple meeting born of personal acquaintance!
In response, Yong Myeong vehemently insisted that his meeting with Yeon Ja Gang had been nothing more than a casual encounter.
But such words were difficult to accept at face value.
A figure demoted to Cheong Ryeong Gak.
Would have no reason to meet repeatedly and intimately with a high-ranking leader of Yong Ban Jeon Ju’s stature.
Ultimately, Yong Myeong found himself in dire straits.
If it were revealed that he stood behind Yeon Ja Gang?
His moral character would suffer grave damage, and he would be forever barred from ascending to Wu Tian Danjoo.
Yong Ban Jeon, Seung Myeong Gak. Yong Myeong’s office.
“Yeon Ja Gang, that mad bastard!”
Crack!
The inkstone resting on the desk shattered as it struck a pillar.
Yong Myeong, who had hurled the inkstone, trembled as he struggled to contain his seething rage.
He had believed that rat-like wretch’s words, thinking it would be easy to topple Yuk Jang Cheon.
Instead, he had set this affair in motion and created a situation where he had trapped himself.
“This won’t do.”
Yong Myeong clutched his head.
If Hyeong Dang’s investigation continued? If it were discovered that they had conspired together in this matter?
There would be no escaping punishment.
“Yeon Ja Gang appears to be unexpectedly stubborn.”
His aide, Yak Heum, spoke carefully.
“Even during interrogation at Hyeong Dang, he refuses to say anything that would harm the Lord.”
“Stubborn? That’s laughable.”
Yong Myeong let out a scoff.
“Yeon Ja Gang. That rat-like wretch simply understands the structure of power far too well.”
….
“He knows there’s nothing to gain by dragging the original Lord down like a vengeful ghost, so he keeps his mouth shut.”
“Your words are most wise.”
Yak Heum spoke again, his expression grave.
“The true problem lies with Tae Mu Ryong.”
“Tae Mu Ryong?”
“Indeed.”
Yak Heum lowered his voice.
“Among the confessions he made, he claimed to have received a document from Yeon Ja Gang that was connected to the Lord.”
“A document? But didn’t Yeon Ja Gang say he destroyed the document’s contents himself, and only gave Tae Mu Ryong an envelope? And everything written on it was merely Yeon Ja Gang taking responsibility for his own crimes.”
“According to Tae Mu Ryong, there exists another document.”
“What? That cannot be.”
Yong Myeong bit his lip.
“If such a document truly existed, the Hyung Dang would have immediately imprisoned the Lord instead of repeatedly searching for him.”
“I share that sentiment, yet I remain uneasy.”
Yak Heum spoke cautiously.
“Is he not the very man who deceived even Yeon Ja Gang so completely, and orchestrated the revelation of fabricated evidence at the Grand Leader Council? Such a man would not overlook such calculations.
”
“Hmm.”
“Perhaps he knows that even if such a document exists now, the Lord would not face severe punishment, and acts accordingly.”
“You mean he might be entangling this with another matter entirely, to send the Lord into complete ruin?”
“Precisely.”
Yong Myeong exhaled slowly.
Unless Tae Mu Ryong’s audacity had swollen beyond reason, he would not speak such nonsense.
As Yak Heum suggested, this could be a stratagem to execute his plan to overthrow him.
“Mm.”
Emerging from deep contemplation, Yong Myeong spoke in a low voice.
“First, summon the Elite Division Lord, Seon Woo Jin, to Ja Hang Jae in secret.”
“You mean Seon Woo Jin?”
“I must first determine whether Seon Woo Jin or Yuk Jang Cheon stands behind Tae Mu Ryong.”
“If the Yuk Lord is involved….”
“It matters not.”
Yong Myeong spoke with an ominous expression.
“What is certain is that Tae Mu Ryong is a man of loyalty to Seon Woo Jin. Since Seon Woo Jin knows this well, he cannot abandon a subordinate who sacrificed himself for him.”
A cold gleam burst forth from his eyes.
“I cannot simply release Tae Mu Ryong’s lifeline so easily.”
Yak Heum swallowed hard.
In short, Yong Myeong intended to threaten Seon Woo Jin through Tae Mu Ryong’s life, thereby resolving this matter.
“Ha, where else could one find such a loyal subordinate?”
Though Yak Heum disapproved of this scheme, he forced a smile and flattered him.
“Since Seon Woo Jin understands this as well, he will surely attempt to save Tae Mu Ryong’s life, just as the Lord anticipates.”
“Hehehehe.”
Yong Myeong smiled and nodded.
“Summon Seon Woo Jin discreetly at once.”
A chilling murderous intent flowed from Yong Myeong’s eyes.
The blazing gaze like a flame lamp and the fierce, razor-sharp aura were so overwhelming that even Yak Heum, who had served him for so long, felt his skin prickle.
“Understood.”
Yak Heum bowed and hurried out.
As the sun began to set in the distance.
Two figures stood side by side before a mountain hermitage near the West Gate of the Murim Alliance.
They were Bu Eunseol and Yong Myeong.
After exchanging formal greetings, the two gazed upon the crimson sunset ablaze across the sky.
“The principles of nature are wondrous indeed. The sun burns so fiercely that one might think it will vanish, yet it rises again the next morning.”
Yong Myeong spoke in a low voice as he watched the sunset.
“So too is the life of man. It burns brightly before extinguishing, and though it seems to have gone out… it ignites once more.”
He gazed at Bu Eunseol and spoke in a hushed tone.
“The same applies to the Bon Jeon Lord’s circumstances. It seems as though it will fade, yet it burns on. And so the cycle continues, round and round.”
“I do not understand your meaning.”
When Bu Eunseol feigned ignorance, Yong Myeong spoke directly.
“Your subordinate has placed the Bon Jeon Lord in no small predicament.”
Yong Myeong spoke in an extraordinarily gentle voice.
“The Bon Jeon Lord was deceived by Yeon Ja Gang’s words and met with him only once. And he merely requested a council with the Alliance Leader when evidence was presented.”
A sharp gleam flickered in his eyes as he continued.
“But your subordinate uses this as leverage to blackmail the Bon Dae Ju, as if I orchestrated all of this myself.”
“If what the Lord says is true, would not such matters be revealed clearly within the Hyeong Dang?”
“The Bon Jeon Lord has misunderstood my words.”
Yong Myeong spoke with a sinister expression.
“If one obstructs the natural principle of burning brightly before extinguishing, the wrath of nature itself may be unleashed. Do you comprehend my meaning?”
Though he spoke in roundabout terms, it was unmistakably a threat.
“It sounds as though you are saying my subordinate cannot remain unharmed.”
“How unfortunate that it sounded that way. Does the Bon Jeon Lord appear so dull to you?”
Yong Myeong no longer spoke in riddles.
“I am saying that should you provoke the Bon Jeon Lord’s displeasure, death will come silently and without a sound.”
“How shocking.”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes, reflected in the sunset’s glow, gleamed like crimson jewels.
“That you would speak such words, Lord.”
“Seon Woo Dae Ju. The Ben Maeng is a place where only the strong survive.”
Yong Myeong spoke coldly.
“Surely you do not believe the Ben Maeng is a place that upholds justice or conducts only righteous deeds?”
…
“As the Lord of the Information Division, you know this better than anyone.”
Yong Myeong spoke with even greater directness, ensuring Bu Eunseol could not deflect further.
“How many people die silently simply by stepping out of line even once?”
Of course, I knew this all too well.
During my time as a Third-Rank Lord, when I was returning from establishing peace with Yeol Ha Sung Palace.
The Murim Alliance had even sent covert assassins under the guise of investigation.
“Lord. I know only one thing.”
I gazed directly at Yong Myeong as I spoke.
“Whether one is a martial artist or an ordinary commoner, those who lay hands on family never meet a good end.”
“What did you say?”
“My subordinates are my family. Should anyone dare touch them, I too will not stand idle.”
Yong Myeong burst into laughter as if utterly astounded.
“Hehehehe. It seems you still haven’t grasped what the Bon Jeon Lord said.”
“It appears you have misunderstood my words, Lord.”
My eyes blazed with an unfathomably deep and dark radiance.
“Let me speak plainly once more… Should anyone touch my subordinates, I will not remain silent even if it were the Alliance Master himself.”
A formidable killing intent surged from my body.
This was not the facade known to the world as Seon Woo Jin, but my true, overwhelming murderous aura.
Through this conversation,
I had come to understand that Yong Myeong possessed not only fierce ambition but also a cruel disposition.
That is why I deliberately revealed my killing intent as a warning.
To ensure he would not dare attempt any reckless schemes.
“You…”
Yong Myeong was so startled by my killing intent that he could not continue speaking.
Was the aura he now witnessed not comparable to that of Baek Mu Sung, who had been called Bul Jon’s disciple?
And if he had known that this was only half of the killing intent I harbored within?
Yong Myeong would have leaped back in shock.
‘So this is what he truly is.’
In the moment Yong Myeong blinked,
“If there is nothing more to discuss, I shall take my leave.”
I clasped my hands respectfully and bowed my head.
But as I raised my head, I fixed Yong Myeong with a sharp, piercing gaze.
As if to imprint once more that everything I had said was absolute truth.
Tap, tap, tap.
Yong Myeong laughed as he watched me walk away slowly.
“Hehehehe! Hahahaha!”
Yong Myeong burst into loud, mocking laughter, but I did not even glance back as I left Ja Hang Jae.
“Now I understand why Baek Ri coveted him so, and why Yuk Jang Cheon keeps him close.”
As he watched me receding into the distance, Yong Myeong shook his head with a regretful expression.
“There’s no helping it.”
While Gangho is said to operate on merit alone, the Murim Alliance is somewhat different in character.
This is an alliance formed by the gathering and accumulation of power and organizations.
No matter how extraordinary one’s abilities, there is nothing that can be accomplished through strength alone.
“Yak Heum. Contact them.”
Yong Myeong, who had been gazing at the distant sky, spoke to Yak Heum standing far away.
“It would be best to nip this in the bud.”
As was true for the leadership of every organization.
Yong Myeong, too, had connections to organizations that handled troublesome matters when they arose.
They commanded numerous covert operatives and factions even within the Murim Alliance.
And they would do anything for those whose interests aligned with their own.
Sam Gye.
With them, two people could be disposed of without a trace and without any evidence.

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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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