‘Martial Venerable.’
Bu Eunseol clenched his fist tightly.
‘So he intends to throw me out as delicious bait.’
In this way, he would draw the attention and scrutiny not only of the senior figures but also of the Three Realms already rooted deep within the Martial Alliance.
From now on, Bu Eunseol’s every move would undoubtedly become far more perilous.
“You have continually taken on life-risking secret missions and carried them out flawlessly, and even after rising to such a high position, you have never once abused your authority for personal gain.”
The Martial Venerable’s voice gently filled the entire grand training ground.
“The current state of the martial world is chaotic, and this Alliance Leader has been responding in secret. Yet because of that, we have been unable to properly strengthen the Alliance’s internal foundations.”
The Martial Venerable stared straight at Bu Eunseol and gave a slight nod.
“That is why I have long been searching for the right person to entrust with the Clear Heart Token.”
In that instant, the seniors standing on the platform wore expressions as though they had been struck in the back of the head.
The Clear Heart Token.
It was a direct surveillance token of the Martial Alliance Leader, granting the authority to investigate corruption and wrongdoing within the Alliance.
Yet throughout the entire history of the Martial Alliance, the Clear Heart Token had never once been bestowed.
The Martial Alliance was not a place run solely at the whim of the Alliance Leader.
It was a place where the opinions of countless senior figures, elders, and meritorious contributors carried far greater weight.
Moreover, at present, the vast majority of the Alliance’s affairs were handled by Vice Alliance Leader Buk Ri-seung and numerous other seniors.
Yet now, without any prior consultation, such immense power was suddenly being handed to Seon Woojin?
Those who felt the greatest shock were especially the Punishment Hall Leader, the Dharma Protection Hall Leader, the Enforcement Hall Leader, and the Council of Elders.
The Punishment Hall, Dharma Protection Hall, and Enforcement Hall—which upheld, executed, and oversaw the Alliance’s laws—were functioning perfectly well.
And the Council of Elders already wielded immense influence within the Alliance, practically transcending the laws themselves.
Yet now the Clear Heart Token—one that could even be turned against them—was being granted to Seon Woojin, who had only just become Intelligence and Secret Affairs Division Lord?
In effect, did this not mean the Alliance Leader intended to keep the existing factions in check and place the Intelligence and Secret Affairs Division Lord firmly under his own command?
‘As expected of someone called the Divine Evaluator—he has meticulously weighed the utility of every piece on the board.’
Bu Eunseol’s eyes narrowed.
The Martial Venerable was a man who knew exactly how to play the cards he held.
In exchange for granting him power that could even be turned against himself, he had placed a leash around Bu Eunseol’s neck using the lives of the Supreme Corps members as collateral.
By bestowing the Clear Heart Token publicly, he had ensured that the forces of the Three Realms lurking within the Martial Alliance would bare their teeth at Bu Eunseol.
Murmur, murmur.
Faced with this unforeseen development, not only the arrayed martial artists but even the senior figures of the Martial Alliance changed color.
“Alliance Leader.” Finally unable to bear it any longer, Buk Ri-seung cautiously voiced his concern. “If you bestow the Clear Heart Token so abruptly, the seniors will strongly object.”
“It’s fine.”
The Martial Venerable gave a faint smile.
“He will handle it well.”
“But—”
“Must even this Alliance Leader’s inherent authority now be exercised only after reading the room?”
Only someone like Buk Ri-seung could dare raise such an objection from the platform.
With the Alliance Leader standing in public view, no one else could openly and decisively oppose him.
……
The seniors’ eyes flashed, but there was nothing they could do.
In the end, they simply pressed their lips together and watched with venomous glares.
“Continue to work hard from now on.”
When the Martial Venerable handed over the Clear Heart Token, Bu Eunseol extended both hands to receive it.
“I will devote myself fully.”
“And,” The Martial Venerable spoke again. “To ensure you can faithfully carry out that duty, I will assign the Cheongmyeong Corps as your direct subordinate unit.”
The Cheongmyeong Corps—the one led by Mu Gyeol?
In the end, the Martial Venerable had placed yet another leash around Bu Eunseol’s neck.
Now Mu Gyeol would be able to closely monitor him at all times.
“Thank you.”
After offering a respectful salute and turning away, the corner of Bu Eunseol’s mouth lifted slightly.
‘Up to here, it went exactly as expected.’
He hadn’t anticipated the public bestowal of the Clear Heart Token, but he had already foreseen that the Martial Venerable would try to attach Mu Gyeol to his tail.
That was why Bu Eunseol had sent a letter to Mu Gyeol—to once again probe his true intentions and confirm whether he walked the same path as the Martial Venerable.
—Even if the elder commands it, this one will never become your watcher.
Fortunately, Mu Gyeol maintained his stance that he walked a different path from the Martial Venerable.
Having confirmed that, Bu Eunseol was able to accept the Clear Heart Token with composure.
‘I will sever these leashes one by one.’
From the beginning, Bu Eunseol had already seen through the fact that the Martial Venerable’s ultimate goal was not avenging the Heavenly Emperor or using him to draw out the Three Realms hidden within the Martial Alliance.
Because he was concealing the truth of Saha Manor.
Even while repeatedly claiming uncertainty, he had lied that Bu Eunseol’s father had used Black Divine Energy and thus been driven to be seen as the Heaven-Dark Star.
Once someone tells a lie, they will spout more lies whenever it suits them.
Thud, thud.
As Bu Eunseol, now holding the token, returned to his seat, the atmosphere in the hall grew awkward.
In the history of the Martial Alliance, no one had ever attained both a Division Lord position and the Clear Heart Token at such a young age.
It no longer felt like the appointment ceremony for Martial Heaven Commander Baek Museong;
it felt more like the sudden, explosive rise to unprecedented power of Seon Woojin.
“……”
Even so, Baek Museong sat calmly in his place, as though none of this had anything to do with him.
***
A seismic shift had occurred within the Martial Alliance.
The long-vacant position of Martial Heaven Commander had been taken by the Golden True Dragon, Baek Museong.
For generations, the Martial Alliance had placed strict emphasis on seniority and hierarchy.
Rather than promoting outstanding young talents, it had always favored seniors and elders who had steadily held their positions for a long time.
Yet now someone like Baek Museong—transcending age and seniority—had been elevated to Commander?
Even that much could be accepted.
Though young, Baek Museong maintained good relations with the seniors and elders and walked the same path as they did.
But in Seon Woojin’s case, it was utterly incomprehensible.
A former Commander candidate had risen to become Intelligence and Secret Affairs Division Lord and had even received the surveillance token known as the Clear Heart Token.
No matter how exceptional his martial arts, he was an upstart from the upper realm with no support base whatsoever within the Alliance and yet such immense power was being handed to him.
—This cannot go on any longer.
The senior figures of the Martial Alliance were already fed up with the Alliance Leader’s repeated secluded training, his neglect of Alliance affairs, and his constant attempts to place young people in key positions.
Now, with him unilaterally making appointments that completely overturned the existing order of the Martial Alliance, their discontent had reached its peak.
—If things continue like this, we will have no choice but to amend the Alliance regulations to put on the brakes.
In the end, centered around the Council of Elders, the seniors gathered.
They intended to restructure the Martial Alliance’s personnel system—which had previously been the exclusive authority of the Alliance Leader.
—Weakening the Alliance Leader’s authority means weakening the authority of this Alliance itself. We must proceed with utmost caution.
Yet something strange happened.
Before entering seclusion, the Heavenly Emperor had grasped the seniors’ movements and—on the contrary—began actively encouraging their plans.
—Is there really any need to go so far as amending the Alliance regulations? If it is a matter of reducing the Alliance Leader’s authority, then this Alliance Leader consents as well. Do as you will.
The seniors felt not merely strangeness but outright eeriness.
In the past, even during his frequent seclusions, the Heavenly Emperor had paid considerable attention to internal Alliance affairs and the state of the martial world yet now he showed no interest whatsoever in either Alliance business or the broader martial situation, continuing only his seclusion—and even outright agreeing to a reduction of the Alliance Leader’s authority?
—If that is the Alliance Leader’s will, then there is no need for us to refuse.
Ultimately, under the leadership of the Council of Elders, the system was restructured so that the final command authority over major organizations within the Alliance would no longer rest with the Alliance Leader but instead with the heads of halls and pavilions.
Furthermore, the leaders of each organization were granted the right to personally select the superior they would serve under.
In truth, such actions amounted to nothing less than drastically reducing the solemn authority of the Alliance Leader and effectively cutting off his hands and feet.
In a power-first organization like Majeon, this would be considered outright rebellion, but in the Martial Alliance—which valued connections and seniority—it was a plausible form of structural reform.
—By the way, if you come under the command of the Council of Elders, you will never suffer indignity within the Alliance for the rest of your life.
And so the Council of Elders began working behind the scenes to induce organizations—excluding those directly under the Alliance Leader—to voluntarily enter their fold.
—Our corps is also undergoing reorganization. Combat units not belonging to the Seven Great Divisions would do well to come under our command.
Baek Museong moved swiftly as well.
Rather than harshly training the existing Martial Heaven Corps members to restore the former glory of the corps, he began filling the new Martial Heaven Corps with people loyal to him alone.
Having built close ties with many seniors since childhood, and already followed by a considerable number of young martial artists even before entering the Martial Alliance, it was only natural that outstanding talents and capable individuals gathered around him once he became Commander.
As he filled the Martial Heaven Corps with his own people, before long it had grown to rival the Star Guard Division, which had previously boasted the largest force among the Seven Great Divisions.
—The future of this Alliance lies with the young martial artists.
As the Martial Alliance underwent reorganization and the influence of the Council of Elders and Baek Museong swelled uncontrollably, Gongsun Dankyung also began—almost as though she had been waiting—building her own power base.
Originally, the position of Chief Inspector could be replaced at any time based on merit and demerit.
In reality, gathering a personal faction in such a role should have been impossible yet she had consistently accomplished astonishing feats.
Moreover, by working closely with the young grandmaster Seon Woojin—who had become Intelligence and Secret Affairs Division Lord—she handled numerous matters, and she had even secured the absolute support of Lord Bukgung Ryeong, who was rising as one of the fastest-growing core forces within the Martial Alliance.
In the end, Gongsun Dankyung became one of the true highest echelons of the Martial Alliance leadership and was able to firmly hold onto the Chief Inspector position despite pressure from the seniors.
—In this Chief Inspector’s office, connections, seniority, and status mean nothing. As long as you have ability—like Division Lord Seon Woojin—you will be heavily employed.
The Martial Alliance was a place where no one could grow powerful alone.
Martial artists without sect backing or personal networks were already frustrated by a system dominated by connections and seniority; now witnessing the Council of Elders suddenly denying the Alliance Leader’s authority and expanding their own influence… many felt complete disillusionment with the Alliance.
Yet now the Chief Inspector publicly declared that she would conduct appointments based purely on ability, disregarding everything else.
They could not help but grow fervent.
—Let us rather submit to the Chief Inspector’s office.
Young unit leaders without backing or sect support—who had witnessed the unfair factional struggles within the Alliance—applied to come under the Chief Inspector’s command.
Though their individual ranks were not high, their numbers were considerable.
Thus, on one side stood the Council of Elders—solidly entrenched with long-established seniors.
On another, the Martial Heaven Corps—built with Baek Museong’s own people across the Seven Great Divisions and various covert organizations.
Rising rapidly as a new force with the absolute support of young martial artists—the Chief Inspector’s office.
Before long, these three had transformed into organizations fiercely contending for power, just like Majeon.
Martial Alliance, Supreme Pavilion. Conference room.
Bu Eunseol and the Supreme Corps members had now officially become part of the Secret Intelligence Division.
The Secret Intelligence Division itself existed to monitor the state of the martial world and to capture and eliminate forces disrupting the martial world.
Aside from the immense authority to mobilize Martial Alliance branches at any time, its duties were not so different from what Bu Eunseol had been doing all along.
“Then does that mean we have also become martial artists of the Secret Intelligence Division?” Jeong Jongdo, seated in the conference room, asked cautiously. “It seems we will need to transfer to the Secret Intelligence Division.”
“There will be no such thing.” Bu Eunseol spoke calmly. “The existing Secret Intelligence Division has now become a subordinate organization supporting our Supreme Corps.”
“The Secret Intelligence Division… supporting our squad?”
Jeong Jongdo’s eyes nearly popped out in shock.
The Secret Intelligence Division was an organization directly under the Alliance Leader, practically free from any interference as it carried out various missions.
Yet now a mere second-grade combat unit—the Supreme Corps—was placing the Secret Intelligence Division under itself?
“Our corps is called the Supreme Corps.”
Bu Eunseol said evenly.
“Until the day we eventually move from the Alliance to become the Martial Soul Society, I have no intention of changing the name.”
In that moment, the corps members’ eyes rippled like waves.
The name “Supreme Corps” had become the most unique independent organization within the Martial Alliance and had long since become the very identity of the corps members.
Knowing this well, Bu Eunseol had deliberately refrained from forcing the name “Secret Intelligence Division” onto them and had shown consideration by preserving the Supreme Corps’s name intact.
“Effective today, all corps members will receive treatment and salary equivalent to a second-grade Captain. Vice Captain Tae will receive Pavilion Lord-level treatment and salary, and Adjutant Jeong will receive Vice Pavilion Lord-level treatment and salary.”
Tae Muryong and the rest of the corps members all gaped.
Because Bu Eunseol had leaped directly to Intelligence and Secret Affairs Division Lord, they too had been promoted at breakneck speed.
“I… am to receive Hall Leader-level treatment?”
As Tae Muryong opened his mouth in astonishment, Jeong Jongdo blinked rapidly.
“And I’m Vice Hall Leader?”
Then all the corps members—including Gye-muk—pointed at their own faces.
“We’re all second-grade Captains?”
Looking at one another with dazed expressions, their bodies tingled and smiles spread across their lips.
Even if they felt no particular loyalty to the Martial Alliance, achieving such a monstrous external promotion inevitably made their shoulders puff up with pride.
For a while, all the Supreme Corps members looked as if they had downed strong liquor, their eyes unfocused.
“Anyway, just as the Division Lord predicted, the Council of Elders is self-destructing on its own.”
Tae Muryong, the first to regain his senses, spoke up.
“There was no need to employ any schemes—they’ve torn apart the power structure of the Martial Alliance all by themselves.” He continued. “In the future, when the Division Lord reshapes this Alliance into a tripod structure, the foundation stones have laid themselves.”
Jeong Jongdo, listening, nodded.
“Indeed. The Martial Venerable may not sleep tonight, regretting what he has done.”
Bu Eunseol shook his head.
“He would have already anticipated this.”
“No way.”
“It doesn’t seem as though what he desires is power within the Martial Alliance.” Bu Eunseol narrowed his eyes. “Before the reorganization, the Alliance Leader held the authority to appoint the Chief Inspector. If he had truly intended to prevent this kind of structure, he would have replaced the Chief Inspector long ago.”
Everyone nodded.
Now that the Council of Elders had reduced the Alliance Leader’s authority and the Chief Inspector’s office had grown so powerful, touching her would be difficult—but a man of the Divine Mountain Sage’s caliber could not possibly have failed to foresee such developments.
If he had judged that the fragmentation of Alliance power would hinder his goals, he would have first brought down Gongsun Dankyung.
“It won’t be only the Martial Venerable we need to watch out for.”
Tae Muryong spoke then.
“The Chief Inspector’s insight is extraordinary. If things continue this way, even she will eventually uncover the Division Lord’s true identity.”
“That won’t happen. If she did, she would have to suspect Lord Bukgung as well.”
Previously, when Bu Eunseol was under suspicion, Bukgung Ryeong had helped by fabricating the events surrounding the Ghost Island.
In other words, Bukgung Ryeong had proven that Seon Woojin and Bu Eunseol were different people.
Among the righteous faction martial artists, no one would dare suspect a man whose name had been engraved on the Hero’s Stele in his lifetime.
“That’s true, but somehow I feel the Chief Inspector might suspect even Lord Bukgung.”
Bu Eunseol gave a wry smile.
In the past, he might have shared the same worry.
But recently, Gongsun Dankyung’s personality had changed considerably.
And because a small thread of trust had begun to form between them, she would no longer suspect him or relentlessly investigate as she once might have.
“I’m not sure whether we can trust Commander Cheongmyeong.” Gye-muk spoke up then. “On the surface he acts as though he opposes the Martial Venerable, but it could all be a plan to gain the Division Lord’s trust.”
Mu Gyeol had firmly declared he walked a different path from the Martial Venerable, yet outwardly he remained his disciple.
Gye-muk was concerned that Bu Eunseol’s movements might leak through him.
“As long as we remain especially cautious, it will be fine. For now, we are all in the same boat.” Bu Eunseol said gravely. “What truly worries me is the movements of Commander Baek Museong.”
During their last fight, Baek Museong’s skin tone had subtly changed.
That was unmistakably a symptom that appeared when a person had undergone personality separation through Clear River Realm brainwashing.
Which meant the Clear River Realm had already infiltrated the Martial Alliance.
“It is certain that he has colluded with the Clear River Realm. The Martial Venerable granted me power in order to block the Three Realms rooted within the Martial Alliance.”
Bu Eunseol took a deep breath.
“Soon the Martial Heaven Commander will establish himself as a central force within this Alliance. Perhaps…”
He could not finish the sentence.
He was recalling the shadow of Gongsun Dankyung he had seen in Baek Museong’s heart-image.
‘Even though he has been brainwashed by the Clear River Realm, as long as his love for the Chief Inspector remains… might it not be possible to undo it?’
Baek Museong had ultimately thrown himself into the Three Realms; under normal circumstances, his end would be catastrophic.
But for a brief moment, Bu Eunseol entertained the faint hope that Gongsun Dankyung might be the key to breaking his brainwashing.
‘For now, let us set him aside.’
Bu Eunseol shook his head.
Having risen to the position of Intelligence and Secret Affairs Division Lord, what he must do from now on was to uncover and capture the culprit who had mercilessly murdered his grandfather—the one hidden within the Martial Alliance.
“What of the materials requested from Mankyeong Hall?”
At Bu Eunseol’s words, Tae Muryong nodded toward Gye-muk.
Gye-muk and another corps member then unfolded a large sheet of paper and spread it across the conference table.
Having become a senior figure in the Martial Alliance, Bu Eunseol had requested from Mankyeong Hall a complete organizational chart of all forces within the Alliance.
“It is frankly absurd.”
Tae Muryong let out a long sigh and shook his head.
The hidden forces within the Martial Alliance were vast enough to form an entirely second Martial Alliance.
Jeong Jongdo, staring at the chart, also shook his head.
“At this level, it’s practically as though there is one more Martial Alliance hidden inside.”
Wherever the Martial Alliance had an overt, public-facing organization, there invariably existed a corresponding shadowy counterpart.
For example, while there was the Punishment Hall that punished criminals openly, there was a separate, hidden Punishment Hall for dealing with shadowy martial artists who operated in secret.
Likewise, while the Finance Hall handled the Alliance’s public finances and Mankyeong Hall managed public information, there were entirely separate entities for handling secret funds and undisclosed secret intelligence.
“Why on earth would they deliberately create duplicate organizations like this?”
At Jeong Jongdo’s question, Bu Eunseol answered calmly.
“Someone has to handle the dirty work, don’t they?”
“Dirty work.”
“On the surface, this Alliance was created as a union to protect the peace and justice of the martial world. They could hardly carry out filthy deeds in the open.”
The corps members let out deep sighs at his words.
To maintain a military coalition, constant profits had to be generated, and countless opposing forces had to be eliminated.
The creation of an organization dedicated to handling the dirty work was inevitable.
In the end, there was no such thing as a righteous coalition truly dedicated to preserving peace in the martial world.
“If I had known the Alliance had sunk to this level, I never would have become a martial artist here.”
At Gye-muk’s words, all the corps members nodded in agreement.
They had all been orphans of heaven, entering the martial world with a single aspiration:
To live as men and do what was right, with a sense of righteousness and honor.
Yet after serving under Bu Eunseol, they had seen every filthy underbelly of the Martial Alliance.
On the outside it wore a spotless white emblem, but in reality the Martial Alliance was little more than a stinking sewer.
“Did Chief Inspector Gongsun know as well?”
“She must have. She too is one of the Alliance’s senior figures.” Bu Eunseol smiled bitterly. “In the past, Lord Bukgung absolutely refused to have anything to do with the Martial Alliance. I used to think it was because wicked people gathered here… but now I finally understand why.”
Having long been recognized as an eminent hero, Bukgung Ryeong must have been thoroughly familiar with the affairs of the righteous faction.
He had known the Martial Alliance was a filthy place and had deliberately kept his distance.
‘I feel a little guilty.’
Bukgung Ryeong had consistently been wary of and kept apart from the Martial Alliance, yet Bu Eunseol—because of the matter of the Three Realms—had persuaded him to enter it.
‘So that’s why he despised the Martial Alliance so much…’
Bukgung Ryeong had likely grasped the situation of the Martial Alliance to some extent.
He must have realized just how enormous a decision it had been for him to enter the Alliance at Bu Eunseol’s urging.
“Here are the things the Vice Captain must handle from now on.”
Looking at Tae Muryong, Bu Eunseol took a booklet from his robes and placed it on the table.
“On this date, confirm whether there are any traces of Star Guard Division Commander Baekri moving to the Pyeongan Funeral Home in Hwangju Prefecture. Track his movements thoroughly.”
Now that he could access the highest-level intelligence from Mankyeong Hall, Bu Eunseol intended to begin identifying which of the Seven Great Commanders had been the one to harm his grandfather.
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