Chapter 391 : Friend and Foe (3)

Around the afternoon of the following day, the main force of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult arrived at Lanzhou in Gansu Province.

And right there in the middle of the Demonic Cult's territory, a rather bizarre family reunion took place.

"Family Head!!"

"Father!"

The entire household of the Hwangbo Family bowed deeply to Hwangbo Ak in unison.

With tears welling up in his reddened eyes, Hwangbo Ak let out a booming laugh.

"Hahaha! You all went through so much hardship making it all the way out here!"

He hadn't let it show on his face, but Hwangbo Ak had been terrified this entire time. He had been anxious that the Imperial Family might have seen through his ruse and ambushed his vulnerable household. Fortunately, it seemed his family had safely made it to Gansu before the Imperial Family even realized what was happening.

'We may have lost the ancestral land of our Family, but what does that matter? In the end, a family isn't made up of walls and roofs, but the people living inside.'

Hwangbo Ak knew that as long as he had his people, he could rebuild the Hwangbo Family anywhere in the world.

Il-mok watched the emotional family reunion from a distance before approaching Hwangbo Ak once the atmosphere had settled somewhat.

"Family Head Hwangbo. Your entire household must be exhausted after travelling all the way from Shandong. How about ordering them to rest here for a few days before moving on? I think it would be best if the non-combatant members of your family remain here safely in Gansu."

After pondering Il-mok's suggestion for a moment, Hwangbo Ak soon shook his head.

"I plan on marching straight into Shaanxi right alongside the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's main army. How could the proud warriors of the Hwangbo Family ever use travel fatigue as an excuse to run from a fight!"

Hwangbo Ak made his declaration while acting like a muscle-brained bear, but his true intentions were entirely different.

'Gansu is exclusively the territory of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. We might be allies right now, but putting our roots down in their backyard is bound to cause massive political problems later down the line.'

On the other hand, Mount Hua and Zhongnan, which had been holding Shaanxi Province, were soon scheduled to fall, and so Hwangbo Ak had Shaanxi Province in mind as the new foundation for the Hwangbo Family.

Il-mok had also roughly figured out what Hwangbo Ak was scheming, but he didn't bother trying to stop him.

'If the Hwangbo Family sets down roots in Shaanxi, they'll fight tooth and nail to defend it no matter what happens. That works perfectly for us.'

On top of that, the Hwangbo Family was far friendlier toward the Demonic Cult than the Zhuge Family or the Wudang Sect. There was a very high chance they could act as a political buffer for the Cult once the war was finally over.

"In that case, I will relay your decision to the Cult Leader."

Il-mok offered a salute and then departed. Once he was gone, the man standing next to Hwangbo Ak, the Chief Steward of the Hwangbo Family and Hwangbo Ak's cousin, asked.

"Family Head, who is that young man?"

"He is the youngest brother of the current Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. Though he appears young, he is a master who single-handedly slew the Alliance Leader."

"My. It seems his appearance has grown youthful through the Overhaul Body Transformation."

"...He is a year younger than Se-hui."

"Come again?"

Hearing his youngest niece mentioned, the Chief Steward could only stare at Il-mok's back with a completely shocked expression. 

Completely ignoring his cousin’s midlife crisis, Hwangbo Ak's face scrunched up into a deeply complicated expression at the thought of his youngest daughter.

'Maybe it would be better to leave Se-hui here....'

It wasn't because he was a doting father trying to keep her safely away from the frontlines. Rather, it was entirely because he wanted to leave her next to Il-mok in hopes that the two might come together.

'But rumor has it that the Young Master is already romantically involved with his maid, and there's no way in hell I'm sending Se-hui as a concubine. Then maybe I should send her to the Cult Leader on the battlefield... Damn it! Because of those cunning snakes in the Zhuge Family, she'd end up as a concubine over there, too!'

His youngest daughter was well past the perfect age for marriage, and he desperately wanted to marry her off, but he absolutely refused to let his precious daughter be treated as a mere concubine. Caught in this tangled web of matchmaking frustrations, Hwangbo Ak suddenly remembered a crucial detail, and his eyes lit up.

'Now that I think about it, something's very strange. They definitely slept together, yet the Young Master and that maid have been acting entirely oblivious, haven't they?'

Based on what he had seen over these past few days together, there wasn't a single spark of romance between them.

'They must have secretly agreed just to sweep the whole thing under the rug! If that's the case, this is a golden opportunity. Word on the street is that the current Cult Leader and basically the entire Demonic Cult view that Young Master as the next successor. If I'm looking at the long game, marrying Se-hui off to him is actually...'

Just as Hwangbo Ak was standing there pulling weird faces while single-handedly planning out the next several decades of his family's lineage, his eldest daughter walked up beside him.

"Father, please don't worry so much. As long as we stand together, we can win this war."

Hearing Hwangbo Yeon's resolute declaration, Hwangbo Ak could only manage a bitter smile.

Here he was, agonizing over how to secure a husband for his youngest daughter, and his eldest daughter had completely misunderstood, thinking he was stressed about the impending war.

"Hahaha. As expected of a daughter of our Hwangbo Family! Yes. There is no need to fear. In fact, this war is the perfect opportunity to engrave the Hwangbo Family's name into the heavens!"

Hwangbo Ak forced out a booming laugh while mentally slapping himself.

'Yeon is right. The war has to be our priority. Trying to plan out decades of political marriages when we can't even guarantee we'll survive tomorrow is just ridiculous.'

Since there was no telling what might happen during the war, Hwangbo Ak decided to worry about matters thereafter at a later time.

Meanwhile, completely oblivious to the fact that Hwangbo Ak had been mentally weighing his worth as a son-in-law against Wi Jin-hak, Il-mok sought out the Cult Leader to relay the Hwangbo Family's decision.

And the next morning, "I wish you fortune in battle, Cult Leader."

"Yes. I entrust the rear to you."

After resting for a full day, the main force of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Hwangbo Family departed Lanzhou and headed for Shaanxi.

Il-mok watched the massive army march off into the distance for a moment before turning around to face his own camp.

Il-mok, who gazed for a moment at the receding figures of those departing, soon turned his head to look behind him.

To support Il-mok's operations, roughly twenty percent of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's forces, along with his two maids, had been left behind.

Il-mok surveyed the faces of those among them who would bear the most important roles in this undertaking.

And the stars of this operation are none other than Baek Un-hak and Baek Cheon, along with the kin of the Baek Family.

Under ordinary circumstances, these were people in whom he would place no trust whatsoever.

But…

"Hahaha. I already heard the general outline of the plan from the Cult Leader! You're telling me that from now on, our only job is to aggressively spread the doctrines of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult to every corner of the Central Plains, right?"

"Young Master Il-mok! Just give the word and tell us what my father and I need to do!"

When it came to propaganda and evangelism, these lunatics were ironically the most reliable allies he could ever ask for.

***

Meanwhile, around that same time.

Within the inner sanctum of the Forbidden City of Beijing.

"What!?"

A shrill shriek that did not suit an old man's face echoed out.

It was because the news that Agent Number One Cheok Pae-myeong and Agent Number Gongsun Hyeon had died had only just reached the Supreme Eunuch's ears.

Thanks to the battle with the Demonic Cult being followed by a chaotic melee, and the Blood Cult joining in the fray as well, the spies who had infiltrated the Martial Alliance had all been annihilated.

In an absurd twist of fate, the Eastern Depot only caught wind of it after the retreating survivors from the Namgung Family, Shaolin, and the Mount Heng Sect leaked the story to the remaining Alliance members in Lanzhou. Only then did the rumors finally make their way back to the Forbidden City.

'Those retarded bastards of the Blood Cult. They really had to spoil things in the end.'

He had set the stage to use the Blood Cult's rampage as a way to consolidate all the Central Plains' martial power into the Martial Alliance, but the plan had backfired and collapsed entirely.

Still, he couldn't sit around crying over spilled milk forever. If he had it his way, he would have loved nothing more than to personally butcher the Blood Cult bastards who ruined his work, but rumor had it they were already completely wiped out.

It wasn't like he could slit his own throat to chase them down to hell for revenge.

"So, what you're telling me is that those Demonic Cult bastards are spreading rumors that we were the ones behind the Guizhou massacre?"

"That is correct, Your Excellency."

"Hmph. Ridiculous. To think they would try to pin their own heinous crimes on us. I suppose I shouldn't expect anything less from a bunch of uncultured zealots."

Without missing a beat, the Supreme Eunuch casually shifted the blame onto the Demonic Cult.

Lying like this was second nature to him. For within the walls of the Forbidden City, framing someone innocent to their death is just as common as eating breakfast in the morning.

Within the Forbidden City, every matter was ultimately decided according to the will of those who held power.

Just like the old saying, if the Emperor and the Supreme Eunuch pointed at a deer and called it a horse, it became a horse. Whatever they say becomes the people’s truth and lies depending on their intention.

Hearing the Supreme Eunuch's words, the old eunuch who had come to deliver the report prostrated himself and replied.

"I shall issue orders to the Eastern Depot and have such rumors spread."

This old man was none other than the newest Brush-Holding Grand Eunuch. Due to the recent failures of Eunuch Bang and Eunuch Cha going insane, this eunuch became the one holding the post.

"Now that both Number One and Number Two are gone, I want you to secretly establish contact with the Peng Family."

"What message would you like me to deliver to the Peng Family?"

"Tell him that the Eastern Depot shall secretly provide support. Order him to rally the Orthodox Faction and slaughter the Demonic Cultists. Make sure to promise him that his grand achievements in 'repelling a foreign invasion' will be heavily rewarded in the future."

It was a brilliant directive that perfectly synchronized with his plan to frame the Demonic Cult for the massacre.

They could have mobilized the Imperial Army to crush the Demonic Cult, but doing so would inevitably weaken the Imperial Army's strength as well. And if the Imperial Army were weakened, his ultimate goal of exterminating all the martial arts thugs in the Central Plains would be delayed. 

Therefore, he planned to use the Hebei Peng Family to ignite a massive civil war within the martial world.

However, the Supreme Eunuch knew very well that it was impossible to face the Demonic Cult with the strength of the Hebei Peng Family alone, especially since he had just received reports that a few of the other bug-like martial factions had decided to ally themselves with the Cult.

"Also, draft official missives to the Western, Central, and Southern Military Commands. Officially designate the Demonic Cult as a foreign invading force. Order the generals that if the Cult crosses the Xinjiang border into the Central Plains, the military is to join forces with the martial artists and butcher them all."

Since the Northern and Eastern Military Commands were closer to Beijing than to Xinjiang, he planned to hold them in reserve and watch how the war unfolded.

"The delivery of those letters shall be undertaken by Eunuch Bang, Eunuch Cha, and yourself in person. Should those bastards invade, you will strike down the Demonic Cult's followers together with the commanderies' soldiers."

Eunuch Bang had already completely healed from his injuries, and Eunuch Cha was fully functional as long as he wasn't sent anywhere near the North. He was effectively deploying the three Brush-Holding Eunuchs to the frontlines, but the Supreme Eunuch couldn't care less.

Even without them, full authority to govern the eunuchs remained within his grasp, and he still had plenty of other chess pieces waiting on the board. 

The royal guards who protected the Son of Heaven. The Embroidered Uniform Guard, whom he was keeping in reserve for unforeseen circumstances, were also his chess pieces.

***

Several days earlier. Mount Longzhong in Hubei Province.

This mountain served as the ancestral land of the Zhuge Family.

There lay the foundation of the Zhuge Family, one of the Seven Great Families, and at present, the Zhuge Family exuded a bustling atmosphere.

Within the Family Head’s courtyard, Zhuge Mun calmly sipped his tea while conversing with his guest.

"Is Wudang's preparation progressing well?"

"Our situation is pretty much identical to yours. My Sect Leader is currently working himself to the bone, so I came to visit in his place as his proxy."

Muheoja, the Supreme Ultimate Sword Immortal replied thus and took a sip of tea.

The reason the Zhuge Family and the Wudang Sect were both exuding such a bustling atmosphere was simple.

As soon as they had returned to Mount Wudang and Mount Longzhong respectively, they immediately dispatched their disciples and household members to deliver urgent letters to every corner of Hubei Province.

Technically speaking, the actual number of martial artists directly belonging to the core of the Wudang Sect and the Zhuge Family wasn't that large.

Wudang had around three hundred core members at most, while the Zhuge Family boasted roughly four hundred. But those numbers only accounted for the people who lived on the two mountains.

Once you factored in their secular disciples, the affiliated minor sects, the escort agencies, and all the freelance martial artists tied to them, their true numbers swelled into the thousands.

Just as Il-mok had thought, these great factions were essentially operating as powerful local lords.

Naturally, since these people weren't skilled enough to be part of the main branch, there were very few actual masters among them. The vast majority of those thousands were only at the Second Rate or First Rate realm at most. 

Warriors who had broken through to the Peak Realm—the absolute benchmark for being considered a true master in the martial world—were incredibly rare.

In any normal situation, the main branches wouldn't bother summoning them. But this was no ordinary situation.

It wasn't a simple matter of defending their mountain estates or waging war against a rival sect. It was a war against the Ruler of the Central Plains. In order to survive the impending wrath of the Imperial Army, they need every manpower they have to lock down the entirety of Hubei Province as fast as possible. 

After taking one last sip of his tea, Muheoja abruptly stood up.

"I only came by for a brief greeting. There's somewhere I urgently need to be, so I must take my leave."

"Where is it that you are heading?"

"Shaolin."

Zhuge Mun tilted his head and asked. "Didn't we already agree that the Beggars’ Gang would handle delivering the message to the Nine Great Sects and One Gang, as well as the Seven Great Families?"

Unlike the Wudang or the Zhuge, the Beggars’ Gang had virtually no direct link to vagabonds or secular disciples. After all, they were beggars to begin with.

Instead, they were spread throughout the Central Plains, and since they primarily dealt with information, their roles were divided accordingly.

The Supreme Ultimate Sword Immortal nodded and replied.

"I am aware of that. But when it comes to Shaolin, I have to go there personally. No matter what, we have to secure Shaolin as our allies.”

"I had no idea you felt such a close bond with Shaolin, Senior Sword Immortal."

"...It has nothing to do with being close to them. I'm just terrified of the insurmountable wall we'll face if they end up as our enemies."

Still not quite grasping what the Sword Immortal was hinting at, Zhuge Mun pressed further.

"Is there something about Shaolin that I do not know?"