So? Did Someone Force You to Become the Heavenly Demon?

Chapter 467: Founding the Nation (1)

After ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍all rewards and appointments for the officials had been settled, the Empire’s undertakings began in earnest.

And ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Il-mok, now the undisputed boss of every civil servant in the country, felt like he was going to have a mental breakdown.

One ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍afternoon, he marched over to find the new Minister of Education, Hyeokryeon Cheon-gang.

“Why ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍is the Ministry of Education so idle?”

Outside ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the Ministry of Education, Hyeokryeon Cheon-gang was using the open courtyard as an impromptu training ground when Il-mok found him.

"Well, ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍it's mostly because we don't really have anything to do."

Il-mok squeezed his eyes shut for a moment before opening them to ask, “What do you mean, there is nothing to do? Aren't you supposed to be setting up an education system to convert the entire Central Plains into our Divine Cult members?"

“Has the curriculum not already been fully established?”

Now that he thought about it, Hyeokryeon Cheon-gang had never actually experienced what it meant to suffer as the Grand Teacher.

Back when the Divine Cult's education department was actually being built from scratch, Wi Jin-hak had been the one running it. And by the time Hyeokryeon Cheon-gang inherited the position, the foundation had already been laid.

His duties had amounted to little more than keeping the department’s members from running amok, leaving him with an unusually leisurely tenure.

“The curriculum is only the beginning. We still need places to teach and the personnel to carry out the work. We need to build basic academies right now. And by the time those kids graduate, we need to have the Elementary Demonic Halls fully constructed and ready for them. Oh, and we have to do this across the entire Central Plains. Plus, we actually have to hire instructors for all these academies and train them on how to teach the curriculum!"

As Il-mok rapid-fired the endless list of tasks to do, Hyeokryeon Cheon-gang quietly sheathed his sword with a mixed look of horror and confusion.

“…Are you telling me the Ministry of Education has to do all of that?"

“Then which ministry is supposed to handle matters of education if not yours?”

“…Would you explain it once more? What did you say we should start with?"

"For now, you must immediately set up basic academies across the Central Plains and begin teaching the children. At the basic academy level, you only need to teach them basic reading, writing, and our core religious doctrines, so finding teachers won't be that hard. Those who already worked in the Grand Teacher’s office will know the details, so ask them.”

"Understood."

Hyeokryeon Cheon-gang nodded like his soul had just left his body before turning toward the Ministry of Education’s building.

Moments later, muffled screams and furious roaring began echoing from within.

“You bastards! How could those of you who worked at the Grand Teacher’s office for so long have failed to inform even this?!”

Even after knowing that he had just shoved the lazy Ministry of Education straight into the hellish abyss of bureaucratic crunch time, Il-mok still let out a weary sigh.

The Ministry of Education wasn't the only problem.

Almost every single department in the government was an identical circus.

And he should have seen this coming.

More than half the heads of the various ministries came from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, meaning they were bloodthirsty zealots whose brains consisted entirely of martial arts.

Il-mok starts to wonder if they should have just shoved all the Divine Cult members into the military posts and hired actual scholars to run the civil government. 

But that was far too dangerous.

It might have been fine during wartime, but during peacetime, the politicians holding the pen always ended up with more power than the generals holding the sword.

If they handed the entire civil administration over to non-Divine Cult outsiders, the Divine Cult would lose control of its own Empire in a heartbeat.

"Haa..."

With his head still throbbing, Il-mok turned and started walking toward the next department.

It’s time to throw the rest of the ministries into administrative hell.

* * *

Several days later, in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province.

Strange rumors began to circulate through the city chosen to house the new Imperial Palace and serve as the capital of the new Empire.

"Hey, you remember that massive estate where Lord Park used to live?"

“Of course I do. But why ask about that place? Don't tell me it's haunted now."

That Lord Park had been a notoriously corrupt politician who was swiftly executed by the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult during the war.

"No, nothing like that. Everyone is saying the Divine Cult seized the property and want to use it as some kind of academy.”

“An academy? Wait, are they going to teach people how to fight, now?"

The man shook his head at his friend’s question. “Not martial arts. They say they will teach children how to read and write. And get this, they're doing it entirely for free!"

"Y-you're joking."

“Have you spent your whole life being fooled? It's true! I've already signed my kid up to go."

Conversations like these were taking place all across Xi’an.

Thanks to the spark Il-mok had thrown into it, the Ministry of Education had become a veritable hellscape of productivity.

Obviously, opening schools simultaneously across the entire continent was an impossible thing to do. So, their strategy was to start in Xi'an and slowly roll out the program nationwide. 

Not only was Xi'an the new capital, but the Divine Cult and its allies had basically lived there during the war, meaning a huge chunk of the locals were already converted followers.

The only other place to get schools as quickly as Xi'an was Gansu Province, since Gansu was basically the holy land of the Maitreya Luminous Cult.

In fact, just a few days later, a caravan from Gansu arrived in the capital. 

They were the die-hard believers of the Maitreya Luminous Cult, the ones who had stayed loyal even after discovering their religion was secretly a front for the Demonic Cult.

The most educated among them had been handpicked and shipped to Xi'an to work as the very first academy teachers.

“Now. Repeat after me. Heaven is black, and Earth is yellow.”

“Heaven is black and Earth is yellow!”

As soon as sites for the schools had been secured and instructors had arrived, children’s voices reciting Thousand Characters Classic began to ring throughout Xi’an.

But right around the same time, another strange sight was taking place in alleys all over the city.

"S-spare a coin, please..."

The war had left countless people orphaned and destitute on the streets.

As they held out their gourds begging for alms, a long shadow suddenly fell over their heads. Looking up, they saw another beggar staring down at them.

"Hey, can't you see this spot is taken? Piss off!"

Hunger and desperation had stripped away any trace of civility, and the beggar's glare was as fierce as a cornered animal. But the newly arrived beggar just grinned at that.

"How long do you plan to live off other people's charity? If you want to eat, you should earn it."

“Who are you cursing at, you bastard? I’d work if there was actually any work to do!!"

Hearing the beggar’s desperate words, the Beggars' Gang member chuckled.

"Actually, there is work. If you're willing to put in the sweat, I can guarantee you'll be paid very handsomely for it."

The beggar's eyes bulged out of his head like saucers at the offer.

A few days later, hundreds of beggars scouted from Xi'an and the neighboring provinces were rounded up in one place.

Right on cue, a group of dozens of men arrived to meet them. Unlike the ragged beggars, these men were well-groomed and healthy.

Hong Gae, the Beggars’ Gang’s Elder appointed as the general foreman for this massive project, stood between the two groups and spoke.

"Alright. Go ahead and introduce yourselves. To those of you over here, these men are essentially your seniors."

He was addressing the beggars gathered from Xi’an and its surrounding region.

“Seniors? What's that supposed to mean?"

"Wait, are you saying they're going to be our bosses?"

Hong Gae shook his head at their questions. "Well, yes, you're going to learn the trade from them. But what I meant was that these fellows used to be beggars like you.”

The crowd of beggars gasped in surprise as they stared at the men across them.

"Hahaha! Come on, Elder Hong Gae, you're bringing up ancient history!"

“Cheeky as ever. If it wasn't for the Maitreya Luminous Cult—or rather, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult—you’d still be in the dirt with them."

These men were the veteran beggars from Gansu.

Years ago, when Il-mok was still using the Maitreya Cult as a front, he had hired local beggars to build the Divine Cult’s branch there and run various public works.

The men standing here today were the very same beggars he’d recruited back then.

They had learned the construction trade on Il-mok's dime back then, and had been working steadily as professional carpenters and builders ever since.

"You boys are in charge. Teach these rookies the ropes and lead the construction. Oh, and I'm sure the seniors already know this, but I’ll say it for the newbies. Starting today, we’re building the brand-new Imperial Palace right here in Xi'an."

The announcement caused another wave of gasps from the newly brought beggars. They had come half convinced they were being deceived, yet now they could only stare at him in stunned disbelief.

“An Imperial Palace? W-What do you mean?”

“What do you mean, what do I mean? An Imperial Palace is an Imperial Palace. It will be an enormous project. Which means, as long as you bust your asses and work hard, you are guaranteed a steady paycheck for the next several years. Do I make myself clear?"

Hearing that, the beggars could only nod with blank expressions.

* * *

The sweeping educational reforms that started in Xi'an and Gansu were steadily expanding across the Central Plains, thanks to the Ministry of Education.

And the Ministry of Welfare was doing the same.

After sweeping the streets of Xi'an clean, its officials began rounding up beggars from across Shaanxi and sending them to the city. They even seemed eager to drag in beggars from other provinces.

"There is no shortage of work beyond the Imperial Palace construction. Find other projects in each region and put them to work there."

Had Il-mok not stepped in with that advice, Xi'an might have become known less as the Heavenly Demon Cult's capital than as the capital of beggars.

Even so, reining in the Ministry of Welfare was only one of many problems demanding his attention.

Every morning, the Ministers of each ministry gathered for an audience.

For reasons that were all too obvious, Il-mok sat with a weary sigh while Hyeokryeon Cheon-gang and the Beggar King glared at Zhuge Mun like they wanted to kill him with their glares.

"Ha! So there are matters even the Grand Preceptor cannot settle. Now that is a rare sight."

When Wi Jin-hak let out a hearty laugh, Il-mok offered a bow and answered.

"I apologize, Your Majesty. The problem is that all three Ministers are making perfectly valid arguments, so I cannot arbitrarily decide who gets priority. If Your Majesty would set the priorities, I will handle the matter immediately.”

Wi Jin-hak nodded at Il-mok’s words, stroking his beard as he organized his thoughts.

"So, if I understand correctly, the problem is that the Ministries of Education and Welfare are already consuming too much of the treasury."

"More than that, Your Majesty, both ministries are demanding even larger allocations. If this continues, the wealth confiscated from corrupt officials and the former Imperial Family will soon be exhausted."

No sooner had Zhuge Mun finished speaking than Hyeokryeon Cheon-gang and the Beggar King cried out.

"Your Majesty! Loyal believers are the foundation of our Empire. We need to build those academies immediately so we can start drilling our doctrines into the next generation!"

“Your Majesty! Hasn't our Divine Cult always devoted itself to the welfare of the people? What duty could be more important than pulling starving orphans and beggars out of the gutter and giving them a way to survive?!"

Seeing the screaming match firsthand, Wi Jin-hak finally understood why Il-mok looked like he wanted to die.

He furrowed his brow and fell into thought.

“Indeed, spreading the doctrine far and wide and caring for all living beings are both among the most important undertakings of our Divine Cult.”

But if one tried to catch two hares at once, one would end up with neither.

After considering the matter again and again, Wi Jin-hak soon relaxed his furrowed brow.

“Since both sides speak reasonably, we shall resolve this in a manner befitting our doctrine.”

It was a solution that even Il-mok had failed to consider.

Everyone looked to Wi Jin-hak with expectant eyes.

"Our Divine Cult is founded on the principle of caring for the masses through martial might. Therefore, we shall determine the answer through a martial arts duel."

“!?”

As Il-mok stood with his mouth hanging open at this unforeseen solution, the high officials from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult erupted in admiration at Wi Jin-hak’s wisdom.

"A most fitting solution indeed. As expected of Your Majesty!”

Obviously, the happiest person with this solution was none other than Hyeokryeon Cheon-gang.

“This humble subject shall obey Your Majesty’s will!”

As the Beggar King stood there with a shocked expression at the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s insane method of resolving matters, Hyeokryeon Cheon-gang taunted him.

"What’s wrong? Is the Minister of Welfare too scared to catch these hands?"

Unfortunately for the national budget, the Beggar King was still a martial artist at heart. The moment he heard the taunt, his eyes went wild and he completely lost his mind.

"Hmph! Who says I'm afraid?! Fine! Let's settle this with a duel!"

And just like that, the Holy Emperor and his entire cabinet abandoned the morning assembly and eagerly marched out to the Inner Palace of the Forbidden City.

Because the area was already completely reduced to rubble, it was actually the perfect arena for two martial masters to go all out.

“If either of you is in danger, I shall intervene. So don't hold back, and fight to your heart's content!"

No sooner had Wi Jin-hak made his declaration than Hyeokryeon Cheon-gang and the Beggar King charged at one another and started an all-out battle.

It was, by Heavenly Demon Divine Cult standards, just another Friday.