The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 603

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

Chapter 603.
Bu Eunseol swallowed hard, her throat visibly constricting.
‘It’s entirely plausible.’
Mu Jon was known to be close friends with Jeong Cheon and Sin Do Mu Bi.
If so, he must have entered this Gunkon Pavilion office multiple times.
He either knew of the secret passage’s existence here, or would have discovered it easily regardless.
‘Then… could the corpse in the Eternal Ice Pavilion truly be Jeong Cheon?’
Bu Eunseol closed her eyes and let her imagination run wild.
Sin Do Mu Bi had entered seclusion due to an unexpected accident or injury.
And Mu Jon had brought him here through the secret passage installed in Gunkon Pavilion, placing him in the Eternal Ice Pavilion.
To maintain stability in the Orthodox Sects before chaos could erupt.
And the imagination that he himself had been impersonating Jeong Cheon, fulfilling the role of Alliance Lord all this time.
The Two Supremes of Demon and Righteous.
This term did not merely refer to the supreme of the Demonic Path and the supreme of the Righteous Path.
It meant that two figures capable of reshaping Murim’s landscape had emerged from Jeongsayang-do simultaneously.
In other words, the current peace of Murim was maintained precisely because these two absolute beings existed side by side.
But what if Jeong Cheon had lost his life to an unexpected accident or sudden ambush? There would be more than enough reason to conceal it.
‘Ma Cheon Je?’
Only Ma Cheon Je possessed the possibility of killing Jeong Cheon.
‘No, that cannot be.’
If he had struck down Jeong Cheon, he would surely have announced it to Murim.
Even if Jeong Cheon were dead, it would not be by Ma Cheon Je’s hand.
‘Then who on earth?’
Anyone capable of killing Jeong Cheon could easily strike down the Three Supremes as well.
Excluding Ma Cheon Je, no such absolute powerhouse existed in current Murim.
‘For now, let me set aside the premise that Jeong Cheon is dead.’
Bu Eunseol sank deeper into contemplation.
‘Then… could Shin San Ja be the same person as Mu Jon?’
Shin San Ja had long earned renown as the foremost sage of Murim, yet displayed entirely different conduct from Mu Jon.
Yet her deduction held credibility.
Every figure who had dominated Murim thus far possessed another identity.
Bu Eunseol herself included.
‘Did not Mu Jon and Shin San Ja both build their reputations long ago?’
Bu Eunseol, who had encountered Shin San Ja at Shaolin back then,
could not fathom why a great patriarch managing the realm like the Murim Alliance Lord would create a fictitious persona called Shin San Ja.
But if the Murim Alliance Lord were Mu Jon?
Possessing the identity of Shin San Ja would not be so strange at all.
There would be many matters requiring separate handling to maintain the position of Murim Alliance Lord.
‘Even if Ma Cheon Je feared this and concealed such facts… it seems excessive.’
Bu Eunseol stared blankly into the void.
No matter how fearful Ma Cheon Je might be.
To conceal the death of the Orthodox Sects’ supreme leader for over a decade and elevate Mu Jon as the Murim Alliance Lord? This was utterly absurd, was it not?
‘Then it might not have been orchestrated at the Murim Alliance’s level.’
Based on the traces at Yeongak Dojeon, at most two people had come and gone.
If the Murim Alliance’s leadership had deliberately concealed Jeong Cheon Je’s death?
More individuals would have been involved, and it would have been handled more thoroughly.
‘Could it be… not Ma Cheon Je…?’
In that moment, Bu Eunseol realized there was another person besides Ma Cheon Je who could have killed Jeong Cheon Je.
Chil Ji Ma Do Bu Chanyang.
This unparalleled Daoist could have possessed the means to kill Jeong Cheon Je.
‘Is that why grandfather was mastering the Heavenly Heart Sutra?’
Did grandfather kill Jeong Cheon Je and seize the Heavenly Heart Sutra?
Then how could Shin San Ja’s disciple Mu Gyeol wield the Heavenly Heart Sutra?
Could it be that Shin San Ja had learned the Heavenly Heart Sutra from Jeong Cheon Je long ago?
‘In the end, the answer lies with Shin San Ja.’
Bu Eunseol took a deep breath.
‘But he will never agree to meet me again.’
There was a significant obstacle to clarifying this matter completely.
Shin San Ja would not meet with me, and even if I found him, I could not verify whether he was Mu Jon.
Moreover, with Shin San Ja’s capabilities? Even if he were Mu Jon himself.
He could fabricate hundreds of pieces of evidence to refute or deny it.
‘Then the most credible conclusion would be that Jeong Cheon Je relinquished the position of Lord to Mu Jon for some reason, and Mu Jon now assumes the identity of Shin San Ja.’
This was the most rational deduction I could reach.
Yet even this had its flaws.
If Jeong Cheon Je had positioned Mu Jon as his shadow.
There would be no need to create a false corpse in the Eternal Ice Pavilion and conceal it with that bizarre mechanism.
‘In any case, this is not my concern.’
When I think about it, I came to the Murim Alliance to ascertain the true nature of Sam Gye and seek revenge.
The political situation of Murim and the truth about Jeong Cheon Je were not my responsibility to know.
‘Let me leave.’
Whether the Murim Alliance Lord is Mu Jon or who Shin San Ja is, I need not concern myself with how the Orthodox Sects operate.
And even if I knew the truth, nothing would change.
My only desire is revenge.
* * *
Murim Alliance, Eun Wol Gak.
Gong Son Dan Gyeong sighed deeply upon receiving a report that Seon Woo Jin had discovered traces of the Supplies Warehouse and entered it.
“This was not the ending I desired.”
Remarkably, Gong Son Dan Gyeong.
Had long known of the secret passage in the Supplies Warehouse that Bu Eunseol had discovered.
And had been constantly observing whether anyone was using that place.
“You said that aside from yourself, only those who have mastered the Geomso Heonwon Form could discover that passage.”
After all, she was one of the few who knew the Murim Alliance Lord was not the true Jeong Cheon Je.
The greatest reason she could become Chief at such a young age.
It was because she knew the true identity of the person posing as Jeong Cheon Je and was serving as his accomplice.
“What is the probability that Seon Woo Dae Ju discovered the secret passage by chance?”
“None whatsoever.”
Song Ryeong, her subordinate, shook his head.
“You said that without understanding the changes in the technique, even the strongest in the world could never find the secret passage.”
“If there were any probability at all, it would mean Seon Woo Dae Ju has mastered the Geomso Heonwon Form and possesses cultivation of over three hundred years.”
“That’s correct. Setting aside the cultivation, the fact that he has mastered the Geomso Heonwon Form is absolutely impossible.”
“Impossible, you say….”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s eyes gleamed.
“No. Then it’s possible.”
“Pardon?”
“He has consistently accomplished things that were deemed impossible.”
Her eyes narrowed to slits as she continued speaking in a low voice.
“Investigate Seon Woo Dae Ju’s movements over the past three months.”
“Even the Man Gyeong Jeon cannot trace Seon Woo Dae Ju’s movements. As the Information Lord, he has perfectly concealed his tracks.”
“That’s not true. We can find them.”
“How is that possible?”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong smiled faintly.
“By collecting the debt I’m owed from the Muk Hon Ryeong Ju.”
Bu Eunseol had borrowed Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s intelligence network in the past to strike down Hyuk Ryeon Eung.
After much deliberation, she had agreed to that request.
And since Bu Eunseol was someone who always repaid her debts, borrowing her intelligence network temporarily was hardly an unreasonable request.
“If we simultaneously mobilize the intelligence network of Jeongsayang-do and still cannot find him….”
“Then there’s no need to investigate further. He would truly be a figure of the Three Realms.”
“You trust Seon Woo Dae Ju that much?”
“Trust?”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong wore an enigmatic smile.
When Song Ryeong’s expression turned puzzled, she spoke in a low voice.
“If you believe in such sweet words, you won’t last long in this business.”
A cold, white chill seemed to emanate from Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s eyes.
Her appearance was so frigid and ruthless that Song Ryeong unconsciously swallowed hard.
“Contact the Muk Hon Ryeong Ju and ask them to hand over all traces of the major figures they’ve discovered over the past three months.”
“Understood.”
Song Ryeong bowed and quietly left the office.
Bu Eunseol received peculiar news from Tae Mu Ryong.
Gong Son Dan Gyeong, citing the debt from before, had made a request.
She was asking that all the movements of the people investigated by Sa Hon Dae over the past three months be disclosed.
‘She certainly spends lavishly.’
Obtaining information on every individual investigated by Sa Hon Dae over the past three months.
During those three months, Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s intelligence network and Sa Hon Dae’s intelligence network would merge into one.
It would allow me to grasp every detail of what transpired in Jeongsayang-do over the past three months and trace the movements of all key figures.
‘She’s plotting something.’
Bu Eunseol could sense it instinctively.
That Gong Son Dan Gyeong had made this demand with some hidden purpose.
Moreover, there was no reason she would need all the movements of every person gathered over three months.
It was clear she had deliberately set the three-month timeframe to extract information on a specific individual.
‘There’s no choice.’
Gong Son Dan Gyeong had taken considerable risk to help me.
Even if she demanded something far greater, I could never refuse her.
“If I may speak freely.”
Despite Bu Eunseol blocking sound with her inner energy, Tae Mu Ryong spoke in an extremely quiet voice.
“The Chief may be harboring suspicions about the Lord.”
Tae Mu Ryong continuously monitored all information and movements flowing into the Murim Alliance alongside the Elite Division members.
And she sensed that Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s focus was not external, but internal to the Murim Alliance itself.
“That may well be the case.”
As Bu Eunseol agreed, Tae Mu Ryong spoke cautiously.
“Would it not be wise to refuse the information request, since we cannot know what scheme she’s devising?”
And she added one more thing.
“The Chief is a person whose true intentions remain unknowable. This matter could return as something fatal in the future.”
Bu Eunseol gazed out the window for a moment.
Gong Son Dan Gyeong. Though we share the same boat, there remains no true trust or faith between us.
For me, trust meant.
At minimum, the belief that she would not stab me in the back.
But what if Gong Son Dan Gyeong still harbors hidden agendas? What if she continues to harbor endless suspicions about me?
‘This cannot continue.’
Gong Son Dan Gyeong holds a very high position as Chief.
If someone as intelligent as her were to endlessly pursue suspicions about Seon Woo Jin?
The outcome would inevitably be catastrophe.
If I wish to continue sharing the same boat with her, there must be at least a minimum level of ‘trust’ between us.
As Bu Eunseol fell silent, Tae Mu Ryong spoke with concern.
“Shall I have the Team Members secretly spy on the Chief Inspector Division?”
“No, there’s no need for that.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong possessed not only exceptional wisdom, but also the ability to understand people deeply in a short time.
In other words, she would have already grasped the nature of Seon Woo Jin.
‘Since Seon Woo Jin is, in a sense, part of me….’
Bu Eunseol, who had been lost in deep thought, suddenly widened her eyes.
‘Is that it?’
He opened his mouth, having dimly grasped something of Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s thoughts.
“Convey to Sa Hon Dae that we grant Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s request. Provide her with unlimited access to whatever information she desires.”
“Are you certain about this?”
“Gong Son Dan Gyeong is a woman of exceptional strategic brilliance.”
Bu Eunseol gazed at the anxious Tae Mu Ryong and spoke with unwavering resolve.
“If this matter stems from suspicion directed at me, then there would be no reason to remain within the Murim Alliance.”
“In that case—”
“Should circumstances become unfavorable, withdraw from the Alliance immediately and rendezvous with me.”
Bu Eunseol had prepared for unavoidable circumstances.
Or for situations where her identity might be suddenly exposed—she had thoroughly retrained the Elite Division members once more.
In case of emergency, they would swiftly escape the Murim Alliance and rejoin her. She had arranged multiple contingency routes.
“Understood.”
“And I apologize.”
Bu Eunseol’s expression grew apologetic.
Mobilizing the Elite Division’s intelligence network within the Murim Alliance to relay information directly to Sa Hon Dae in the Demon Palace.
From Bu Eunseol’s perspective, it was as though she had grown wings. But from the standpoint of Tae Mu Ryong and the others, who hailed from the Orthodox Sects, it was tantamount to treason.
“Please, never speak such words.”
Tae Mu Ryong smiled faintly as he spoke.
“We are no longer warriors of the Murim Alliance.”
The Elite Division members existed solely as her subordinates. They had completely abandoned any notion of being Murim Alliance warriors.
Bu Eunseol responded with only a smile.
For the sake of the Elite Division members who demonstrated nothing but loyalty and sacrifice,
she had to ascend higher and become someone whom no one could ever touch.
Days passed.
Song Ryeong, having meticulously examined the information on the individuals provided by Sa Hon Dae, was now reporting the results to Gong Son Dan Gyeong.
“Nothing particularly remarkable was discovered, however—”
Song Ryeong, presenting a thick tome, spoke in an icy voice.
“An extraordinarily suspicious matter has come to light.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong rapidly pored through the pages of the tome she had received.
“Hmm.”
“I cannot fathom why Muk Hon Ryeong Ju would have any connection with Seon Woo Dae Ju.”
The tome Song Ryeong had brought contained evidence that Seon Woo Jin bore a connection to Muk Hon Ryeong Ju.
Moreover, it held damning proof that he was a sleeper agent of the Demonic Path itself.
If Muk Hon Ryeong Ju and Seon Woo Jin were somehow connected, Sa Hon Dae would never have transmitted such information.
“I see.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong smiled broadly.
“Now I can be certain.”
“Certain of what?”
“Seon Woo Jin.”
She paused briefly before speaking with chilling coldness.
“He is not merely a pawn of the Three Realms, but rather a figure possessing abilities that exceed my expectations.”
“Yet you speak thus after witnessing such evidence? Moreover, his movements align with those of Moo Hon Ryeong Ju.”
“Of course.”
Song Ryeong blinked as if dizzy, then spoke.
“Then you intend to simply overlook this information we have obtained?”
“How could I?”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong wore a sweet smile.
“I must create quite the spectacle. So that all the senior members of Ben Maeng become aware of it.”
“Pardon?”
“Seon Woo Dae Ju believed that all suspicion had been cleared due to Yeon Ja Gang’s framing previously… but in reality, it is different. Rather, he remains under the scrutiny and suspicion of the Three Realms.”
“That is indeed the case.”
“However, through this matter, Seon Woo Dae Ju will perfectly prove his innocence… and henceforth, not only the Three Realms, but no one within the Alliance will ever be able to doubt him.”
Song Ryeong could not comprehend it.
Despite such perfect evidence existing.
To instead make Seon Woo Jin beyond the suspicion of anyone ever again?
“I simply cannot understand. Are you saying that Seon Woo Dae Ju deliberately created such evidence?”
Song Ryeong blinked with dim eyes as he spoke.
“To do so, he would have to tamper with the intelligence network of Demon Palace that Moo Hon Ryeong Ju provided.”
“Perhaps. Since he is the one who approached Moo Hon Ryeong Ju in secret and created a connection with Ben Chong Sa… it may well be possible.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong, who had been murmuring softly, spoke calmly.
“Leak the information we have just obtained directly to the Elder Council.”
“The Elder Council… ah, I see.”
Song Ryeong, whose expression had been vacant for a moment, nodded as he grasped Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s meaning.
“The pawns of the Three Realms embedded within Ben Maeng would be positioned in the upper echelons… so if it comes through the Elder Council’s intelligence network, it will reach their ears most swiftly.”
“Exactly.”
Even she, the Chief, has yet to distinguish all the agents of the Three Realms within the Murim Alliance.
Because the roots of the Three Realms that have burrowed into the Murim Alliance run far too deep.
They were like putrid water that reeked and burst forth the more one excavated.
“They will never miss such an opportunity if they possess information to bring down Seon Woo Dae Ju.”
“But if this happens, Seon Woo Dae Ju will never follow the Chief again.”
If he discovers that Gong Son Dan Gyeong leaked this information?
Even if all misunderstandings are resolved, Seon Woo Jin would never remain under Gong Son Dan Gyeong.
“Not at all.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong smiled faintly.
“This is merely one step toward making him truly mine.”
“Pardon?”
“Because this is the first trust that Ben Chong Sa shows to Seon Woo Dae Ju.”
Song Ryeong could not comprehend it.
Yet he possessed faith that it would come to pass regardless.
Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s predictions had never been wrong thus far.
Ji Da Seong.
She lived up to her alias—the most cunning person in the world.
* * *
Deungmu Hall, Yuk Jang Cheon’s office.
Yuk Jang Cheon had suspended all his duties, regarding the figure across from him with an enigmatic expression.
Yuk Cheong Ah sat at the reception table opposite him.
“What brings you here?”
Yuk Jang Cheon smiled faintly.
Yuk Cheong Ah’s visit was a promising sign. She would never seek him out unless the situation exceeded her capabilities.
“I wonder if you’ve heard the rumors.”
“Rumors?”
Yet contrary to Yuk Jang Cheon’s expectations, Yuk Cheong Ah brought no good news.
“That Seon Woo Dae Ju has been summoned to the Elder Council.”
Yuk Jang Cheon’s eyes narrowed.
For some time now, at the Elder Council’s request—
Or more precisely, at Byeok Yu Dang’s request, rumors circulated that Seon Woo Dae Ju would be summoned once more to the Grand Leader Council.
Yet Yuk Jang Cheon paid it little mind.
Byeok Yu Dang was an organization of leaders ranked below the Murim Alliance’s lords, established to settle expenses when they ventured into Gangho.
It was merely a small faction belonging to the Elder Council.
“Well, Seon Woo Dae Ju is wealthy to begin with, so he might not concern himself with such expenses.”
“You misunderstand. Would Byeok Yu Dang summon him if he had merely embezzled public funds?”
Yuk Cheong Ah spoke in a measured tone.
“For your information, Seon Woo Dae Ju has never once billed the Alliance for his operational expenses during his ventures into Gangho.”
“And?”
“If the lord of Byeok Yu Dang personally intervenes, there must be something concrete.”
“Hmph.”
Yuk Jang Cheon shook his head.
“A similar incident occurred not long ago, and now they repeat the same folly.”
He lifted his gaze to regard Yuk Cheong Ah.
“Yong Ban Jeon Ju and Yeon Ja Gang attempted the same scheme and ultimately faced ruin. I wonder how many times they must suffer before they learn.”
“Your faith is remarkable.”
“Cheong Ah.”
Yuk Jang Cheon smiled faintly.
“I know well how brilliant you are, how much you can perceive. But there are things only age allows one to comprehend.”
He possessed no intellect as exceptional as his daughter’s.
Yet he possessed the discernment born of experience and the ability to judge a person’s true capabilities.
“Even with ninety-nine percent certainty, there are cases where victory cannot be assured. But Seon Woo Dae Ju… he is someone who can overturn the outcome even with one percent probability.”
“Such remarkable faith.”
“Faith? Hardly.”
Yuk Jang Cheon’s lips curved upward.
“I can simply see it with these eyes. How remarkable Seon Woo Dae Ju truly is. How exceptional he has become.”
Yuk Cheong Ah laughed coldly.
“With such ability, you don’t worry he might betray Father?”
“Why would I not?”
Yuk Jang Cheon smiled faintly.
“I’ve suspected for ages that Seon Woo Dae Ju handles various matters with Gong Son Chong Sa.”
Yuk Cheong Ah couldn’t hide her bewildered expression.
“Then why do you simply allow it?”
“Because he remains useful. And regardless of what he does, I now possess confidence.”
Yuk Jang Cheon spoke matter-of-factly.
“Had I lacked such ability, I would have lost my life in Gangho long ago.”
Yuk Jang Cheon laughed softly.
“Do you know why Gu Cheon Hoe betrayed me? Because they lacked the power to drive a blade through my back, even if they desired it.”
Yuk Cheong Ah drew a deep breath.
She had believed him to be simple-minded and rigid.
She had thought him hot-tempered and incapable of managing people.
Yet the truth revealed a cunning old demon with a hundred hidden depths.
“And among my trust, you are included as well.”
A cryptic statement.
After contemplating for a long while, Yuk Cheong Ah’s eyes curved into crescents.
“Then we shall meet again soon enough.”
Yuk Jang Cheon answered with a smile instead.
It was a smile remarkably similar to the one that had appeared on Yuk Cheong Ah’s lips.

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