It was as if she had awoken from a nightmare.
When Gongsun Dankyung opened her eyes, she looked around in shock.
How could she, who had clearly died from the power of the Poison Calamity Star in Sangsu Valley, now be opening her eyes perfectly fine?
How could she possibly be waking up inside her own quarters in the Gongsun family home?
“Am I already a ghost?”
For a long while she blinked with a dazed expression, until suddenly a splitting headache struck her.
At the same time, the memory surfaced of lying inside a dark, pitch-black box and being transported.
—In truth, I entered the Martial Alliance for revenge, just like you.
At the same moment, the stories Seon Woojin—no, Bu Eunseol—had told her echoed in her mind.
But they weren’t words she had heard directly from him; they felt more like something she had overheard unconsciously while asleep.
‘Did I… really die?’
When one’s life ends, can one hear the voice of someone they loved? Or was this merely a brief delusion?
Slide.
At that moment the door opened, and a middle-aged man in splendid robes entered carrying a medicinal decoction.
It was none other than Gongsun Hwa-uk and his wife, Ok Jeongyeong.
“Father… Mother.”
Tears streamed from Gongsun Dankyung’s eyes.
She had clearly drawn her last breath.
Yet here she was, seeing the warm faces of the Gongsun Hwa-uk couple once again?
‘I really did die.’
This must be the moment before crossing into the afterlife.
Out of pity, the heavens had allowed the King of the Underworld to show her the people she most wanted to see one last time, to help her let go of attachments to this world.
“How is your body feeling?”
When Gongsun Hwa-uk asked gently, she wept even more.
“I’m sorry.”
“Hm?”
“I deceived you, Father… no, Family Head.”
“What are you saying?”
“The truth is…”
With thick tears falling one after another, Gongsun Dankyung spoke calmly.
She explained everything: how she, originally named So Min, had been born; what she had endured in the Jungson Family; and how she had eventually met the Gongsun Hwa-uk couple.
“I see.”
Gongsun Hwa-uk, who had listened silently, nodded with a smile.
“You must have suffered greatly all this time, keeping it to yourself, unable to tell anyone, enduring the pain alone.”
He gently stroked her head.
“You’ve really been through a lot.”
“I’m so sorry. Truly, I’m so sorry.”
As So Min—as the daughter of a mere farmer—she apologized to Gongsun Hwa-uk.
Seeing her like this, Gongsun Hwa-uk shook his head with an expression of heartache, as if his chest were tearing apart.
“There is no need to apologize. We already knew.”
“…What?”
“That you had not lost your memories. And that you had approached us intentionally.”
Gongsun Dankyung blinked in disbelief.
Gongsun Hwa-uk smiled.
“This father of yours is a master of formations, isn’t he? My eyes see a little more clearly than others.”
“But…”
“Above all, I knew that a great sealing art suppressing one of the One Hundred and Eight Stars had been placed on your body. I knew there was a deep story behind it, but to us husband and wife, that made no difference at all.”
Astonishingly, Gongsun Hwa-uk not only knew detailed information about the One Hundred and Eight Stars, but was also aware that a great art suppressing the energy of a One Hundred Eight Star had been cast on Gongsun Dankyung’s body.
“Didn’t this father always tell you? Formation studies were created by modeling the constellations of the heavens.” Gongsun Hwa-uk spoke calmly. “And though I never told you… the Living Buddha of the western regions who once saved my life was searching for one of the hidden One Hundred and Eight Stars. From him I learned all the knowledge related to the One Hundred and Eight Stars and their powers.”
He added, “That is why we created the Unique Heavenly Star Section.”
Gongsun Dankyung had always thought the Gongsun family created the separate Unique Heavenly Star Section—in addition to the Heaven-Origin Pond—simply to find unique talents.
But it had all been because of that lama from the western regions?
“You never asked, so this father never spoke of it.”
At Gongsun Hwa-uk’s words, Gongsun Dankyung bowed her head once more.
“But I only used you and Madam for the sake of revenge.”
Gongsun Dankyung wept sorrowfully.
“So please… do not concern yourselves with me any longer.”
Now that she had finally revealed the long-hidden truth, it was time for her to go to the afterlife.
She hoped that the Gongsun Hwa-uk couple would no longer feel pain because of her.
“Dankyung.”
At that moment, Ok Jeongyeong spoke.
“There was never a single moment when I did not think of you as my daughter. Never use words like ‘Family Head’ or ‘Madam’ again.”
“But…”
She gently embraced Gongsun Dankyung.
“No matter what anyone says, you are our daughter.”
“Mother… Mother…”
This was no longer the title she had called out with guilt—it was the voice of a child truly calling her mother from the heart.
Gongsun Dankyung burst into loud sobs.
“I’m truly sorry, Mother!”
She cried bitterly in Ok Jeongyeong’s arms.
The heavens had given her one last chance.
She had finally confessed the truth and apologized sincerely to the two people she had always felt guilty toward.
What more regret could she possibly have?
“Now that I have apologized to both of you, I have no remaining attachments.”
Gongsun Dankyung spoke with swollen, tear-filled eyes.
“Please forgive me, your child, for failing to fulfill my filial duty and for having to depart on the long journey ahead of you.”
“Why do you keep talking about going somewhere?”
When Ok Jeongyeong asked, Gongsun Dankyung burst into fresh tears.
“I’m already dead, Mother.”
“What?”
“I was already killed by the Jungson Family.”
Forcing back her sobs, Gongsun Dankyung stood and bowed deeply with utmost respect.
“But the grace you both bestowed upon me—I will never forget, even in the nine underworlds.”
Gongsun Hwa-uk and Ok Jeongyeong looked into each other’s eyes.
Then, at the same moment, they burst into laughter.
“Snap out of it, child.”
“What in the world are you talking about?”
Seeing the couple laugh as if they knew nothing, Gongsun Dankyung’s sorrow welled up even more, and thicker tears fell.
“I already succumbed to the poison of the Poison Calamity Star and stopped breathing. No elixir in the martial world can detoxify it.”
She had always lived a very rational life, never once deviating from her plans.
That was why she had confirmed her own death with absolute certainty and believed it like iron.
Moreover, because she had been exposed to the deadly venom of the Poison Calamity Star, her mind was still dazed, caught between dream and reality.
“The Poison Calamity Star, I see.”
Gongsun Hwa-uk nodded as if he now understood.
“The energy of the Poison Calamity Star shattered the seal on your body and allowed the power of the One Hundred and Eight Star to manifest once again.”
“What do you mean?”
“Some among the One Hundred and Eight Stars can only awaken when another One Hundred and Eight Star’s power invades their body. For others, the power only manifests when they stand on the brink of death.”
Gongsun Hwa-uk continued his explanation.
“And in some cases, both conditions must be perfectly met for true awakening to occur.”
Gongsun Dankyung’s eyes trembled.
“So… you’re saying I didn’t die?”
“Of course not.”
Then Ok Jeongyeong, who had been beside her, spoke.
“It seems your power has only recently manifested, and because the poison has not been fully expelled from your body, your mind is still clouded.”
The Gongsun couple each took one of Gongsun Dankyung’s hands.
An indescribably warm sensation flowed into her.
“Just… what exactly happened?”
Gongsun Hwa-uk sighed and shook his head.
“A few days ago, Lord Seon arrived here carrying a coffin with a look of deep grief. He apologized repeatedly.”
“…”
“When he showed me your body inside the coffin, even this father was startled. Your breathing had truly stopped.”
Gongsun Hwa-uk spoke calmly.
“But just as Lord Seon was about to leave, I saw vital energy flowing through your entire body. It was exactly the appearance the venerable monk had described when the energy of a One Hundred and Eight Star manifests.”
“Lord Seon put me in a coffin and brought me here?”
Only then did Gongsun Dankyung realize.
The inner circumstances of Bu Eunseol that had echoed in her mind earlier—they were the real story he had told her while carrying her in the coffin all the way here.
“Dankyung.”
At that moment Gongsun Hwa-uk said, “If the name Dankyung has been a burden to you, you may change it back to the name you originally remember.”
Ok Jeongyeong added, “You are the daughter heaven gave to us husband and wife. So from now on, never think such thoughts again.”
The couple reached out and held Gongsun Dankyung’s hands.
Once again, tears flowed from Gongsun Dankyung’s eyes.
They were tears of guilt for having deceived the foster parents who had raised her with love all this time and tears of joy that she now truly had parents.
After a long journey, Gongsun Dankyung had finally become the true daughter of the Gongsun family.
“From now on, I must perfectly disguise myself as dead.”
Once her mind cleared, Gongsun Dankyung returned to her former self—the brilliantly wise Chief Inspector of the Martial Alliance.
“If even Lord Seon was convinced of my death, then the Jungson Family will surely believe it ironclad as well. But the Martial Venerable—he will not be so easily deceived.”
Gongsun Dankyung explained everything in detail to the Gongsun Hwa-uk couple:
Everything she had experienced so far, and even the fact that the Martial Venerable was hiding behind the mask of the greatest sage of the martial world.
“Then he will certainly send someone to our house to confirm your death.”
Understanding the implication of her words, Gongsun Hwa-uk let out a deep sigh.
“In the end, we must do the one thing we least want to do.”
“I’m sorry.”
No one would ever wish to hold a funeral for their daughter—even if only as a disguise.
Especially for the Gongsun Hwa-uk couple, who had already experienced the loss of a daughter once, such an act would be even more unbearable.
“Husband. There’s a saying that once you ward off calamity, you live longer.”
Ok Jeongyeong smiled as she spoke.
“Since our Kyung-ah has come back alive, and we’re deceiving that wicked man, let us do it cheerfully.”
In the end, a quiet funeral was held at the Gongsun family.
It was conducted very discreetly without notifying the outside world, but the Martial Venerable’s subordinates would surely have confirmed it.
Afterward, Gongsun Dankyung secretly left the Gongsun family and sent a letter to Bu Eunseol.
She knew that her survival would become an ace up his sleeve—one that even the Martial Venerable could never predict.
And finally, she met Bu Eunseol in secret.
After discussing with him, she once again used the outstanding intelligence network of the Death Spirit Corps to discreetly spread information confirming that she was truly dead.
Now the Jungson Family—and the Martial Venerable—would never suspect her death.
Because no one in the world knew that she was one of the One Hundred and Eight Stars.
She had succumbed to the extreme poison of the Poison Calamity Star, which no one could possibly detoxify.
***
“…That’s how it happened.”
After explaining the entire situation to Bu Eunseol, Gongsun Dankyung bowed her head with an embarrassed expression.
“I see.”
“And now our family intends to begin operating as a proper martial clan.”
Bu Eunseol could understand Gongsun Hwa-uk’s decision.
The Gongsun family, which had never involved itself in martial world affairs, was now choosing to act as a martial clan.
It could only be a decision made to protect their precious daughter.
Gongsun Dankyung’s enemy was still the Jungson Family—one of the legendary Three Clans whose true form had yet to be revealed.
“It’s not solely to protect me.”
But Gongsun Dankyung said something unexpected.
“Lord Seon. No—Martial Soul Command Lord Bu Eunseol. It is to help you.”
“What do you mean all of a sudden?”
“I will remain by your side from now on.”
Gongsun Dankyung had originally planned to make a passionate confession the moment she reunited with Bu Eunseol.
That she wanted to spend the rest of her life by his side.
But she could not.
What he needed right now—what this fragile, child-like man needed—was not a sweet lover whispering words of love… but a capable comrade who could stand shoulder to shoulder with him in battle.
So she changed her words.
“If I help you, then someday I will be able to achieve my own revenge as well.”
“Chief Inspector.”
“The elite members of the Blood Heaven and Fate Corps who were with me in Sangsu Valley—they all died trying to protect me.” Gongsun Dankyung clenched her fist tightly. “I can let go of my personal grudge against the Jungson Family. But I must take revenge for them.”
“Are you asking me to deal with the Jungson Family?”
“Yes.”
Taking a deep breath, she continued.
“Of course, I’m not asking for it for free.”
Gongsun Dankyung spoke calmly.
“The Azure Sky Alliance’s organization is nearly perfect overall, but one thing is missing.”
She had already realized it.
The one thing the Azure Sky Alliance uniquely lacked.
A truly capable Chief Inspector.
“I will help you.”
“But we don’t even know when we will strike the Jungson Family.”
Bu Eunseol spoke honestly.
“In truth, for the sake of your revenge, I had already planned to mobilize the entire intelligence network to locate the Jungson Family’s main base first. But now that you are alive and well… I cannot prioritize destroying the Jungson Family.”
He let out a deep sigh and continued.
“To find the Jungson Family, whose main base has never been revealed, we would have to concentrate the entire intelligence organization solely on that task. If we did that…”
“I know.”
Gongsun Dankyung nodded.
“It would create security gaps in the other operations the Lord is currently pursuing, and charging in without proper preparation would cause many people to get hurt.”
She hit the mark perfectly.
Not only could she skillfully read Bu Eunseol’s innermost thoughts, she was also a genius when it came to establishing strategies and conducting analysis.
“I’m not asking you to do it right away.”
Gongsun Dankyung spoke calmly.
“My revenge can be the very last thing.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
Even if one scoured the entire martial world, it would be nearly impossible to find a talent as outstanding as Gongsun Dankyung.
Moreover, if she—who had commanded enormous support within the Martial Alliance—joined the Azure Sky Alliance, then even more exceptional talents still remaining in the old alliance would flock here.
“Thank you.”
Bu Eunseol clasped his hands together.
At last, he had found the final piece to perfectly complete the picture of the Azure Sky Alliance.
From now on, the Azure Sky Alliance would stand tall in the martial world as the new orthodox martial alliance.
***
Finally, the Azure Sky Alliance officially held its opening grand ceremony.
And at the same time, astonishing news once again shook the martial world.
Gongsun Dankyung, who had left the Martial Alliance, had taken the position of Chief Inspector in the Azure Sky Alliance.
The woman whose outstanding talent and strategic command had once sent chills down the spines of the world’s heroes, the woman who evaluated everyone strictly by ability without regard for lineage or faction, had followed Seon Woojin to become the Chief Inspector of the Azure Sky Alliance.
As a result, the capable martial artists who had remained in the Martial Alliance until the very end, along with the young martial artists who had looked unfavorably on the Azure Sky Alliance, began gradually flocking to the Azure Sky Alliance.
—If it’s Chief Inspector Gongsun, then I can trust them!
Gongsun Dankyung had already proven her abilities countless times in the Martial Alliance and had always conducted herself with fairness and integrity.
Because of that, the trust the younger generation placed in her was rock-solid.
No matter how solidly established the Bullet King Bukgung Ryeong and the existing powers were in the Azure Sky Alliance, the direction of the organization could shift dramatically depending on who handled its actual operations.
Now that Gongsun Dankyung had become the Chief Inspector of the Azure Sky Alliance… the young martial artists could join with peace of mind.
***
Alliance Leader Bukgung Ryeong.
Chief Inspector Gongsun Dankyung.
Supreme Corps Captain Seon Woojin.
Among the Nine Great Sects: Wudang, Beggars’ Sect, and the recently newly formed Mount Heng.
Among the Eight Great Families: Namgung, Tang, Zhuge, Huangfu—and now the Gongsun family as well.
And the Seonhwa Merchant Group, which provided enormous financial support, had completely relocated its base to the Azure Sky Alliance.
Meanwhile, the mysterious factions of Sichuan—the Sword Pavilion and the Divine Maiden Palace—had also joined and sent congratulatory envoys.
In addition, roughly a thousand new rising experts and martial artists had come over from the Martial Alliance, and another thousand newly recruited martial artists had joined.
—I heard the base salary in the Azure Sky Alliance is higher than in the Martial Alliance?
—They even say they properly teach martial arts. Customized according to constitution and talent.
—And unlike the Martial Alliance, they treat everyone equally regardless of lineage or faction.
Meanwhile, in some corners, questions were raised.
—But it’s strange. No matter how much financial power they have, can a coalition really form this quickly?
They weren’t some neighborhood black faction thugs.
How could an orthodox coalition be created so effortlessly?
That inevitably led to suspicions:
Had Bukgung Ryeong been planning the Azure Sky Alliance from long ago?
Had Gongsun Dankyung and Seon Woojin deliberately left the Martial Alliance as part of that plan?
—The original framework of the Azure Sky Alliance was a league that the Sichuan Tang Clan, Divine Water Palace, and Sword Pavilion had long been building together, centered in Sichuan.
But from the martial world’s intelligence organizations, information quickly spread that shattered those suspicions.
—During that process, participation from the Nine Great Sects and Eight Great Families was discussed. Then, just as the Martial Alliance split apart, Tang Clan Leader Tang Gon proposed creating a new coalition centered in Sichuan, and Bukgung Ryeong agreed.
By the time the Sichuan Coalition was nearly complete, an incident erupted in the Martial Alliance, and Bukgung Ryeong withdrew.
He was then brought in, and under the name Azure Sky Alliance, a new martial alliance was born.
—That makes sense.
Though the timing was almost too perfect to be coincidence, it was merely that a long-planned coalition had simply changed its name to the Azure Sky Alliance.
And because the entire process and procedure could be perfectly verified, the martial world had no choice but to set aside their doubts.
—Well, with those two people involved, nothing is impossible.
In truth, it usually takes a great deal of time for a new sect or coalition to function properly.
But Seon Woojin was someone who had risen from the very bottom of the Martial Alliance—and his true identity was Bu Eunseol, the Martial Soul Command Lord who had founded the Martial Soul Society.
Moreover, with Gongsun Dankyung—whose wisdom and administrative ability rivaled his—assisting him… it was inevitable that it would appear as though the coalition had fallen from the heavens fully formed in an instant.
—Alliance Leader Bukgung has truly grasped both dragon and phoenix in one hand.
—From now on, there won’t be a single calm day in the martial world.
Thanks to the Azure Sky Alliance, a new wind finally began to blow through the martial world.
In contrast, the atmosphere in the Martial Alliance was like a house of mourning.
The Alliance Leader Shin Domubi had believed the false report of a disloyal subordinate and branded the Intelligence and Secret Affairs Division Lord a spy. An absurd, unprecedented incident had occurred in which the Chief Inspector was nearly assassinated by a secret organization within the Martial Alliance itself.
As a result, Bukgung Ryeong founded the Azure Sky Alliance, and they lost even such outstanding talents as Gongsun Dankyung and Seon Woojin…
In the end, it was concluded that everything was the fault of the Blue Dragon Hall Lord.
But from both external eyes and internal eyes within the Martial Alliance… there was no way the Heavenly Emperor could be viewed favorably.
***
At the far end of a dark corridor stood an iron door.
With a creak, the door opened, revealing bookshelves crammed full of ancient texts.
The bookshelves bore clear traces of age and were so old that a mere breeze seemed capable of turning them to dust. Strange patterns were engraved on the ceiling, and on one wall was painted an antique mural that appeared to depict the past, present, and future in sequence.
……
The deeper one went inside, the more it seemed a woman’s faint whisper brushed against the ear.
It was a truly hair-raising, terrifying atmosphere.
Yet the shadow that entered the secret chamber strode boldly into the darkness without hesitation.
It stopped in the center of the chamber.
Sizzle.
Suddenly a bright light spread from the ceiling, enveloping the shadow that had been hidden in darkness.
The figure that had boldly walked into the secret chamber was a heroic man with broad shoulders and a strong jawline.
He had large, deep eyes and distinct, handsome features that would inspire favor in anyone.
It was none other than the disciple of the Buddha Venerable, and now the leader of the Martial Heaven Division of the Martial Alliance—Golden True Dragon Baek Museong.
“You promised you would definitely give me Gongsun Dankyung!”
Baek Museong, standing in the darkness, shouted in unprecedented rage.
“Why have you handled things this way? Is this all the Three Realms amount to?”
The reason he had endured and obeyed the Three Realms until now was solely because of the promise that he could obtain Gongsun Dankyung.
But they had broken that promise.
They had attacked Gongsun Dankyung and nearly driven her to death, causing her to ultimately leave the Martial Alliance. And she had gone to the Azure Sky Alliance—together with Seon Woojin, the very man he had always been so wary of.
“Why do you think I stayed in the Martial Alliance all this time! Why do you think I endured hellish pain to receive that great art!”
[Tsk.]
Then a low, cracked voice emerged from the darkness.
[Because of extreme rage, his original personality has finally returned.]
Swirling.
Light slowly began to gather in the darkness, flowing like waves.
At the boundary where light met darkness, countless strands of light coiled and converged fluidly.
Gradually, they took on the distinct form of a human.
It was clearly a human shape, yet its aura felt like gazing upon an abyssal monster coexisting in a world of light and shadow.
“Even after becoming the Martial Heaven Division Leader as you wished, I stayed quiet like a dead mouse!”
Seeing the shadow, Baek Museong shouted even more furiously.
“You said you would make me Alliance Leader and give me Gongsun Dankyung—how could you handle things this way?”
[It was unavoidable. It was not intentional.]
The shadow shook its head.
[We never expected the Martial Venerable to contact the Jungson Family, nor for the Jungson Family to act so rashly.]
“Is that even an excuse?”
[We are not gods—we are human. But we will not make excuses. This incident was clearly our side’s mistake.]
“Good that you admit it.”
Baek Museong spoke in an ice-cold voice.
“From now on, I will handle my own affairs. Do not interfere anymore.”
[Hahaha. Handle it yourself? And just what will you do?]
A hollow voice flowed from the shadow.
[Have you forgotten that your so-called great master abandoned you?]
A white mouth formed on the shadow.
[He took you in from the Saha Manor because you had lost your memories, but once he realized you had no connection to the Baekri Family whatsoever, he discarded you like trash.]
The black shadow’s mouth vanished, and soon triangular, snake-like pupils formed.
[Our side also thought you were of his bloodline and implanted the great art—but it failed…]
And then it delivered the most shocking words of all.
[Only now have we learned that all direct descendants of the Baekri Family are born with two separate personalities…]
“When did I ever say I was of the Baekri Family’s bloodline?”
Trembling with fury, Baek Museong clenched his fists tightly.
“Wasn’t it all just your own delusion?”
[Indeed. And that is precisely why we imparted the demonic embryo, the artificial inner core, and our side’s great art to you.]
The shadow continued in a dejected tone.
[Before long, the Baekri Family’s shell will be perfectly formed around you as well. So just wait until then.]
And then it spoke in a grave voice.
[Until the True Demon—or the Heavenly Mechanism Star—arrives.]
“Why should I?”
Baek Museong said coldly.
“You people broke your promise.”
[We promised to make you the Martial Alliance Leader and allow you to take Gongsun Dankyung as your wife.]
The shadow spoke coldly.
[But you have not yet become Alliance Leader. Therefore, her absence is not a breach of promise.]
“She’s in the Azure Sky Alliance!”
[Does her affiliation really matter so much when it comes to possessing a woman?]
“That’s sophistry!”
[Not at all. Our side always keeps its promises. Once you become Alliance Leader, Gongsun Dankyung will definitely become your wife.]
“Then immediately bring down Seon Woojin from the Azure Sky Alliance.”
Baek Museong bit his lip.
“Can’t you even do that much?”
[Hm… We shall consider it. In any case, the identity of Seon Woojin can easily be shattered by making use of Majeon.]
“Is he truly a spy for Majeon?”
[Heh heh heh. Wouldn’t it be simpler to say that all the suspicions of being a demonic plant up until now were planned by Majeon?]
Baek Museong faintly nodded as he grasped the meaning.
“Fine.”
[However, there is no guarantee he will be ousted from the Azure Sky Alliance. The Alliance Leader is that Bukgung Ryeong, after all.]
“Then are you saying you’ll just leave Seon Woojin and her together?”
[What does it matter?]
The shadow said, [Even when she was in the Martial Alliance, she was constantly by Seon Woojin’s side, yet nothing ever happened between them. Do you really think something will change just because she’s in the Azure Sky Alliance?]
When Baek Museong fell silent, the shadow spoke again.
[Just focus on carrying out the mission assigned to you. We will take care of the rest.]
Swoosh.
The shadow vanished in an instant.
The secret chamber became an empty space once more.
“Let’s see if things go your way.”
Staring into the empty secret chamber, multicolored radiance burst from Baek Museong’s eyes.
In truth, he had already far surpassed their expectations—he had long since merged his two personalities into one.
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