The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 771

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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 771.
Demon Palace, Jamma Pavilion. Great Conference Hall.
“…These various issues are scattered throughout our operations.”
Yu Woon Ryong was earnestly explaining to Bu Eunseol the difficult circumstances facing the Sayoung Battle Division.
The Muhon Society had reached the point where it needed to expand beyond Seomseong by establishing branches in new territories.
At the same time, the Sayoung Battle Division required a base to train the Bi Ma Dae and additional forces recruited from external sources.
However, resolving these two matters was far from simple.
Since Hwasan and Jongnam Sect could not effectively check the Muhon Society’s expansion,
the Murim Alliance branches had deliberately begun monitoring the Muhon Society’s movements, and were desperately working to prevent them from expanding their influence.
This was the fundamental obstacle they faced.
Moreover, the Bi Ma Dae was not technically part of the Demon Palace—it was an intelligence organization that Bu Eunseol had recruited from outside.
In other words, it was a secret organization that Bu Eunseol operated covertly.
Therefore, if the Sayoung Battle Division continued to operate the Bi Ma Dae directly as it currently did,
there was a risk that its scale and activities could eventually be exposed by the Demon Palace’s intelligence network.
“In short, we need a base where we can establish a Muhon Society branch, train new forces including the Bi Ma Dae, and station them there.”
“That’s not difficult.”
Bu Eunseol replied calmly to Yu Woon Ryong’s words.
“Soon I will establish a new Wanderer Market under the Muhon Society’s name near Gwang Won, adjacent to Sichuan… and everything will be resolved.”
“That approach won’t work.”
Yu Woon Ryong shook his head firmly.
“Isn’t that region within the sphere of influence of the Murim Alliance Gizhou Branch?”
He continued with a grave expression.
“What the Murim Alliance branches are watching with bloodshot eyes is precisely how the Muhon Society expands its power by operating Wanderer Markets.”
Even in the previous incident at Jongnam Sect, when the Murim forces challenged the Muhon Society, they had issued an ultimatum that martial sects could not operate Wanderer Markets.
They demanded we choose one or the other.
But if the Muhon Society openly established a Wanderer Market near Sichuan?
The Murim Alliance Gizhou Branch, which considers Gizhou its territory, would certainly mobilize all its strength to stop it.
“That’s correct.”
Wi Cheon Gyeong, who had been listening silently, added his voice.
“If the Muhon Society were to establish a Wanderer Market there, they would certainly create obstacles—even before construction was completed, they would likely destroy the work site.”
“Exactly. That’s precisely why we build it there.”
“Pardon?”
Bu Eunseol spoke with measured calm.
“Whether they create obstacles or destroy the construction site doesn’t matter. As long as the Muhon Society continuously invests unlimited funds and keeps rebuilding, everything will be resolved.”
“But that’s…”
“It’s what you might call social cooperation, or perhaps a transaction.”
The Lords wore perplexed expressions at her cryptic answer.
It was obvious the Murim Alliance branches would destroy those structures before the Wanderer Market could be established.
Yet she was telling them to forcibly continue construction by pouring in massive amounts of capital?
“What are you thinking?”
“There’s nothing to think about or worry over.”
At Yu Woon Ryong’s question, Bu Eunseol smiled softly.
“Trust me. It will happen exactly as I say.”
Faced with her unwavering conviction, Yu Woon Ryong scratched his head.
His own wisdom and stratagems were hardly inferior, yet Bu Eunseol’s schemes remained utterly beyond his comprehension.
“Very well. Then I shall trust that the Wanderer Market will be established there, and prepare all the Lords, including Myo Cheon Woo, accordingly.”
“That won’t be necessary. Training three people will suffice—Won Se Moon, Wi Cheon Gyeong, and Jo Nam Cheon.”
Yu Woon Ryong’s expression grew sheepish.
The reason for not sending Myo Cheon Woo, who specialized in training.
He understood it was to assist himself, who was occupied with the various duties of the Sayoung Battle Division.
Yet he neither expressed gratitude nor made any pretense of refusal.
Bu Eunseol was not one to let trivial sentiment compromise the greater strategy.
“Understood. I shall see it done.”
Yu Woon Ryong drew a deep breath.
He had no idea how such a thing was possible, but…
By establishing a Wanderer Market within the Murim Alliance’s sphere of influence, the Muhon Society’s scheme to expand into Sichuan had begun in earnest.
* * *
Thud, thud, thud.
In a village within Gizhou, countless laborers gathered, ceaselessly constructing buildings.
They laid stone foundations, raised wooden frames, and enclosed spaces between pillars with uniform specifications.
The Muhon Society was preparing to establish a new Wanderer Market.
Strictly speaking, this land fell within the Murim Alliance’s territory, but as commerce had declined, employment opportunities vanished, and common folk gradually abandoned the village.
Before long, it had become a place where no one dwelled.
Now they sought to build the Wanderer Market in this desolate village and expand their influence.
A rumbling sound.
At that moment, numerous martial artists stormed into the construction site.
They all wore the white robes of the Murim Alliance, embroidered with phoenixes.
The branch commander of the Murim Alliance’s Gizhou Branch.
It was Seok Gang, master of the One Palm Shakes Heaven technique, and his elite subordinates.
“Cease construction.”
Seok Gang spoke again, his voice booming.
“Stop all work immediately!”
“What is the matter?”
The laborers asked, and the Murim Alliance martial artists shook their heads.
“No building may be constructed here. All of you must halt work at once.”
The Master Carpenter Elder overseeing the project tilted his head in confusion.
“This is land we purchased fairly with our own money. We have workers here and intend to continue construction—why would you forbid it?”
“You intend to continue construction?”
“Yes, we do.”
Seok Gang swept his cold gaze across the old man and spoke.
“That would be most welcome.”
He turned his body as he spoke.
“Send word to the Muhon Society at once—if they do not vacate this place immediately, we will launch a full assault.”
Then he cried out so loudly that the very heavens resonated.
“The Muhon Society, this so-called alliance of Orthodox and Demonic sects, shall not extend a single step of influence beyond Seomseong!”
Seok Gang was determined to prevent the Muhon Society’s expansion, even if it meant direct confrontation.
Mounted on his horse, he issued one final cold warning to the workers.
“Whatever unfolds here from this moment forward—do not regret it.”
Rumble, rumble, rumble.
With those words, Seok Gang and his subordinates vanished in a cloud of dust.
Days later.
The Muhon Society’s reply reached the Murim Alliance Gizhou Branch.
―This is not a branch of our society, but rather the construction of a new Wanderer Market. It has nothing to do with martial sects, so the Murim Alliance need not concern itself.
Tch.
Seok Gang crumpled the letter in his fist.
In short, the Muhon Society’s response was to ignore the Murim Alliance’s warning and continue building the Wanderer Market.
“Negotiations have collapsed.”
He chuckled coldly, muttering to himself.
“They believe we cannot touch them because there are no Muhon Society martial artists here—only workers.”
Seok Gang’s lips curled upward.
He had long suspected that the Muhon Society would use the Wanderer Market as a pretext
to establish a foothold for expanding their influence.
But he was not one to fall for such nonsense and sit idle.
“If you will hide behind carpenters and masquerade as innocent civilians…”
Seok Gang grinned wickedly, baring his fangs.
“Then we shall become virtuous ruffians ourselves.”
The next day.
Rumble, rumble.
The nearly completed buildings of the Wanderer Market lay in complete ruins.
Not only the palace halls that the carpenters had painstakingly erected, but even the foundation stones that had been stacked for construction work were utterly demolished.
“The Murim Alliance martial artists have finally made their move.”
The old man observing the ruins shook his head.
The Murim Alliance martial artists had not acted directly; instead, they had employed the Black Gang thugs from the back alleys to destroy it.
Since only carpenters and workers were present at the site,
any martial artists who stepped forward would be accused of harming innocent civilians.
“If it crumbles, we simply rebuild it.”
The Master Carpenter Elder muttered matter-of-factly.
When the Muhon Society had hired them, they had already anticipated such circumstances,
and had ordered that construction continue regardless of destruction.
Of course, they promised to pay generously within four days and to supply all necessary materials immediately.
“Well, there’s no helping it.”
The Master Carpenter Elder swallowed hard and spoke loudly.
“We’ll rebuild it!”
The Murim Alliance was relentless.
They would leave it alone for a day or two, only for it to inevitably become ruins by the fourth day.
Yet they couldn’t post night sentries or deploy Muhon Society forces either.
They employed Black Gang thugs instead.
And when that proved insufficient, they would come under cover of darkness and demolish it themselves.
What if Muhon Society deployed martial artists to establish a perimeter watch?
It would become precisely the situation the Murim Alliance desperately desired—one where they could immediately deploy force.
They had already sent letters, securing justification for military conflict.
―This will escalate into war.
As the constantly rebuilt structures were reduced to ruins, some workers grew fearful, and several fled.
In any case, the Murim Alliance secretly demolishing buildings constructed by Muhon Society meant one thing.
It would ultimately escalate into warfare between martial sects.
“Those who wish to leave may do so. I won’t stop you.”
“And starting tomorrow, I’ll raise your wages.”
What was strange was Muhon Society’s response.
Whether the Murim Alliance destroyed the buildings or not, they continuously hired workers and pressed forward with construction.
They didn’t restrain workers who left.
Those who stayed long had their wages generously increased.
At some point, worker wages shifted from being settled every four days to being paid on the same day.
“Well, even we don’t understand it.”
“If a fight breaks out, it’ll be between the two sects anyway.”
As the saying goes, money can even command spirits.
Since Muhon Society paid the workers faithfully and treated them generously…
Their courage gradually grew, and they continued endlessly—building when structures fell, then building again.
As this cycle of collapse and reconstruction continued, a peculiar situation emerged.
Workers who had some experience felling timber in Zhong Yuan began flocking to this place.
Especially skilled carpenters arrived, and materials flowed in ceaselessly.
Restaurants where workers could eat began appearing, as did small blacksmith shops to forge tools.
“Watch carefully. Even materials that have been destroyed and broken can be reused.”
Moreover, the skilled carpenters, with Muhon Society’s permission,
researched methods to reprocess and reuse the materials that Black Gang thugs had smashed and damaged.
And they taught these methods to their apprentices.
As skilled carpenters developed new techniques,
carpenters eager to learn them,
and people wanting to acquire such skills began arriving in waves.
The murmur of voices filled the air.
The Ghost Village, once so desolate…
Before long, the village had regained its vitality, transforming into a gathering place for skilled carpenters.
Thud, thud, thud.
A group of mounted martial artists arrived at the village.
Seok Gang, the director of the Murim Alliance Gizhou Branch, had returned to the village once more, leading his subordinates.
“These bastards….”
He had sent Black Gang thugs to demolish buildings repeatedly, and occasionally dispatched his men at night to destroy them personally.
Yet they never tired, endlessly reconstructing what had been torn down.
As Seok Gang surveyed the surroundings, he bit his lip.
During the brief period of his absence,
construction had progressed considerably, and the village itself had grown prosperous.
“Excellent!”
The suffering of the common people was temporary.
But I could not stand idly by while the Muhon Society expanded its influence.
Now it was time to provoke them openly.
“Destroy all the buildings they’ve constructed immediately!”
After all, I had already warned the Muhon Society and sent letters regarding full-scale conflict.
No longer would I employ Black Gang thugs—I would use force to escalate the dispute.
“If direct confrontation occurs, all the better! Demolish everything!”
Crash.
In the end, they drove out the workers and once again destroyed the Muhon Society’s Wanderer Market under construction.
I would have liked to set it ablaze, but the village’s newfound prosperity made that impossible.
“We’ll see how long they can endure this!”
Seok Gang cried out coldly, gazing upon the ruins of the Wanderer Market.
“Let’s return!”
Just as he turned his horse to depart,
“Sir, if I may.”
A group of elderly carpenters blocked the path ahead of Seok Gang and his men, speaking up.
“Could you not cease this destruction?”
“What did you say?”
“Well, sir, whenever you demolish, we gain new work, so we’re quite content to labor. However,”
The old man spoke carefully, gauging Seok Gang’s reaction.
“Each time you destroy, innocent workers are injured.”
Seok Gang felt his anger flare at these ignorant carpenters stepping forward,
yet he could not vent his fury upon common folk, so he suppressed it and spoke.
“You understand nothing. What you are constructing is an outpost for puppets that will become a calamity to the Murim.
“…I see.”
The elderly carpenter shook his head and bowed respectfully.
“I understand.”
Then he turned away listlessly.
Seok Gang watched the carpenters depart, his shoulders sagging, his expression heavy with melancholy.
Though my mood grew deeply unsettled and foul, I suppressed the emotion and promptly turned my horse around.
…It had already been three months.
The Murim Alliance was being unilaterally dismantled.
Yet the Muhon Society proceeded with their construction in silence, offering no response whatsoever.
Meanwhile, the Murim Alliance found itself in chaos over the matter of the next Alliance Lord, who had not yet been elected.
Especially once the support factions within the Alliance were determined by voluntary backing.
Ultimately, all the branch commanders from each division entered the main Alliance, issued clear opinions, and received orders to discuss candidates for the next successor.
―Excellent!
Seok Gang let out a cry of delight.
He had been continuously reporting to his superiors regarding the Muhon Society’s activities and deliberating on how to handle them.
This opportunity would allow him to clearly inform the senior members of the Muhon Society’s provocation and obtain solutions for its resolution.
―The Ben Maeng is currently divided into three factions, practically speaking. Moreover, the Alliance Lord has entered seclusion once again…
Given the current circumstances, we are not in a position to wage full-scale war against the Demon Palace, so we should merely exercise restraint to avoid major conflict.
Thus, this conclusion was reached.
Upon returning to his branch, Seok Gang found it nearly impossible to contain his rage.
“This is precisely why the Ben Maeng’s influence cannot match the Demon Palace’s!”
Crash!
He hurled the inkstone from his office with fierce abandon, yet all that returned was self-loathing.
As the branch commander of Gizhou—the weakest and most nominal of all Murim Alliance branches.
He could not disobey the orders of the Alliance’s senior members.
Then, in that very moment, another opportunity arrived.
―The Deputy Director of the Cheop Mil Won is conducting inspections of each branch.
Upon hearing of the conflict between our branch and the Muhon Society, he is coming to examine our combat readiness.
At his subordinate’s sudden report, Seok Gang broke into a satisfied smile.
The Director of the Cheop Mil Won, while perhaps not supreme within the Murim Alliance, wielded power that could fell even birds in flight outside the Gangho.
He could move every Murim Alliance branch—it would be no exaggeration to call him the supreme branch commander of the entire Murim Alliance.
And now the Deputy Director of the Cheop Mil Won was coming to visit him personally?
“The Muhon Society should never dare to covet the Ben Maeng’s sphere of influence. Prepare to sweep them away entirely—this Deputy Director shall take responsibility.”
Remarkably, Tae Mu Ryong—the right hand of Seon Woo Jin, one of the candidates for the next Alliance Lord and Director of the Cheop Mil Won.
Was supporting his position?
“A single faction alone may harbor ulterior motives when facing the Muhon Society, which commands Seomseong….”
What followed was even more astonishing.
Should combat break out.
He promised to provide additional troops and substantial funds to prevent major casualties.
“Prepare perfect combat readiness so that you may sweep them away in one fell stroke. Ensure the Muhon Society can never set foot in this place again.”
At Tae Mu Ryong’s command, Seok Gang eagerly began preparations for battle.
In truth, the Gizhou Branch was peaceful territory under the Orthodox Sects’ sphere of influence, and had long operated with negligence and laxity.
Thus, opportunities for advancement had ended.
Seok Gang was destined only to grow old in this place.
But what if he could achieve merit by halting the Muhon Society’s expansion?
A position of importance in the Murim Alliance was no mere fantasy.
“Begin training!”
Seok Gang issued the command to his subordinates with grave solemnity.
“Train until even the elite of the Muhon Society cannot break through our lines!”
To achieve perfect combat readiness, another round of training was necessary, along with strict discipline and military order.
Fortunately, thanks to support from the Cheop Mil Won, preparations could proceed methodically.
―The construction of the Wanderer Market is nearly complete, they say.
―The village is flourishing due to the construction. The Sang Gye has also expanded into the area, and a commercial district has naturally formed.
Intelligence reports from subordinates arrived intermittently, but it mattered little.
In fact, it was all the better.
Once we destroyed it completely, that would be the end of it.
“If a commercial district has formed… then from the perspective of this branch, a source of revenue has suddenly appeared. Ahahaha!”
Seok Gang grew delighted and trained his subordinates with even greater intensity.
Those fools had developed a barren village and even established a commercial district.
If the Muhon Society were driven out…
That precious prize could fall into our hands.
And finally… the forces of the Gizhou Branch completed their training and were reborn as a perfect elite unit.
A rumbling sound echoed.
Like the sound of a herd of cattle passing, hundreds of soldiers began entering the village where the Wanderer Market was being constructed.
It was Seok Gang and the entire forces of the Gizhou Branch.
“From this moment forward, we shall destroy that Wanderer Market. All of you, stand aside!”
Seok Gang shouted with commanding force.
But something unexpected occurred.
Every commoner in this region lit fire in their eyes and blocked their path.
“We cannot allow further destruction!”
Not only the carpenters who had built the Wanderer Market, but now every merchant in this place stood against the Murim Alliance forces.
“After committing all manner of atrocities, you now seek to obliterate everything completely?”
“Atrocities? Atrocities?”
Seok Gang was momentarily flustered, but soon began calmly persuading the residents.
“That Wanderer Market will ultimately fall under the control of the Muhon Society, a martial force! The Murim Alliance absolutely cannot tolerate such a thing!”
“Whether it’s a martial force or anything else, stop interfering with our homeland!”
“Kill us if you must and move on! We cannot endure this any longer!”
The commoners and nearby merchants were firmly united, desperately blocking Seok Gang and the Murim Alliance forces.
‘Something is amiss.’
Seok Gang sensed something wrong.
Commoners never involved themselves in the conflicts of martial artists.
It was an unwritten law.
Yet these people were risking their lives in such desperate opposition?
‘They’ve planted seeds of discord.’
The stratagem of manipulating commoners from behind to obstruct combat was hardly a novel tactic, and military treatises employed it frequently.
‘But they simply cannot maintain them for long.’
Seok Gang let out a scornful laugh.
As someone commanding a Murim Alliance branch, he possessed considerable knowledge of military strategy.
If they rooted out the agitators manipulating the common folk? And if time passed?
Such schemes could be dismantled swiftly.
“Very well.”
Having finished his deliberation, Seok Gang raised the corners of his mouth and stepped back.
“Since that is your collective opinion, I shall withdraw for now.”
Having ordered his forces to retreat,
he immediately dispatched his adjutants to investigate the village’s circumstances and identify those who had incited the people.
“Nothing?”
Yet an unexpected result emerged.
The Muhon Society had no hand in the common folk’s resistance.
“Then why are they so desperately obstructing the Ben Maeng’s entry?”
At Seok Gang’s question, his adjutant scratched his head.
“That is….”
He spoke with an embarrassed expression.
“The Muhon Society established this place as a neutral buffer zone between the Orthodox and Demonic Paths, ensuring that no faction—not even the Black Gang—could set foot here.”
“A neutral buffer zone?”
“Indeed. They documented a promise that no faction whatsoever would lay hands on the merchants’ or common folk’s wealth and interests….”
“What?”
Seok Gang’s eyes widened in shock.
Wherever commerce flourished, the Black Gang’s underworld naturally emerged first.
The Demonic Path, Dark Path, or Orthodox Sects inevitably claimed such prosperous regions as their territory.
Territory, after all, was ultimately about money.
The Demonic and Dark Paths brazenly extorted funds with ruthless efficiency…
while the Orthodox side collected “voluntary donations” from the populace.
Yet the Muhon Society had taken measures to prevent any faction from entering this flourishing village,
and promised to guarantee the people’s complete prosperity.
“These madmen.”
Seok Gang gritted his teeth.
Merchants were people who would stake their lives on profit.
Naturally, the Murim Alliance’s arrival would diminish their gains,
so they had voluntarily united and desperately opposed any conflict.
“…I was wrong.”
Only now grasping the situation, Seok Gang sighed.
So long as the common folk and merchants risked their lives in desperate opposition,
there was no way to destroy the Wanderer Market that the Muhon Society had built.
“Just how much wealth do they possess to forgo any profit from territorial control?”
Moreover, this village’s prosperity itself had been brought about by the Muhon Society.
They hadn’t even swayed them with vast sums of money.
Instead, they had created ’employment opportunities’, allowing the village to prosper of its own volition.
“What should we do?”
At his subordinate’s question, Seok Gang lowered his head.
“…It’s over.”
And with an utterly desolate voice, he issued his command.
“There will be no battle. Everyone is to return to their posts.”
At Seok Gang’s words, all his officers carefully withdrew from his office.
“Heh heh heh.”
Seok Gang let out a hollow laugh.
They were neither the Demonic Path nor the Dark Path.
They were the Murim Alliance, gathered under the banner of protecting the weak and maintaining order in the Murim.
They could not wage war against the wishes of the common people, and if they forcibly laid hands upon them?
If buildings were destroyed or civilians were gravely injured in the process?
They would not be dealing with Murim forces—they would be facing the authorities themselves.
It was entirely possible that the Gizhou Branch could be completely annihilated.
“I wondered how long those bastards would hold out….”
Realizing that all their plans up to now had been meticulous strategy, Seok Gang
“The Muhon Society truly harbors a formidable strategist.”
lowered his head with a forlorn expression.

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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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