The Azure Sky Alliance began gathering numerous factions right from its founding.
From the moment of its establishment, it displayed an almost perfectly formed appearance as a righteous alliance… and so the martial world’s attention was fixed on what kind of exploits the Azure Sky Alliance would achieve in the future.
However, Bukgung Ryeong had never before deeply involved himself in the affairs of the martial world’s political landscape, nor had he ever commanded a vast number of subordinates.
Even the exceptionally wise Gongsun Dankyung, having never led a completely newly created coalition, found herself struggling somewhat as she assisted Bukgung Ryeong in operating the Azure Sky Alliance.
‘There’s no helping it.’
In the current martial world, the only person who had ever founded—and successfully operated—a massive coalition on this scale was essentially Bu Eunseol alone.
‘Since I possess the identity of Seon Woojin, for the time being I have no choice but to help the Azure Sky Alliance.’
The one fortunate thing was that Dok-go Jin—the General Steward in charge of the Alliance’s overall administration—was proving far more capable than Bu Eunseol had anticipated.
Thanks to his flawless handling of affairs as steward, the various organizations began functioning properly, and Gongsun Dankyung finally felt a little breathing room.
Azure Sky Alliance, Grand Conference Hall.
Under Bukgung Ryeong’s chairmanship, the core leadership had gathered to discuss how exactly the Alliance’s first activities should begin.
Present were the young talents who had come from the Martial Alliance—including Gongsun Dankyung—as well as outstanding individuals newly dispatched from Wudang, the Beggars’ Sect, the Eight Great Families, and other factions.
Nevertheless, as the new righteous coalition of the martial world, they found it difficult to easily decide on the Azure Sky Alliance’s inaugural course of action.
The first step after founding a sect or organization is an extremely important matter—it reveals the banner and true character of the group.
‘Hmm.’
From the very beginning of the Azure Sky Alliance’s establishment, Bu Eunseol had already thought of a goal.
But the Alliance Leader was not himself—it was Bukgung Ryeong.
If he stepped forward and took the lead at a time when Bukgung Ryeong, as Alliance Leader, should be demonstrating guidance and authority, then from then on Bukgung Ryeong would unconditionally follow his opinions.
In the end, he himself would wind up running the Azure Sky Alliance.
The plan to properly establish a new righteous coalition would collapse into nothing.
Murmur, murmur.
The meeting showed no sign of concluding and dragged on endlessly.
If the discussion continued to stall like this, he would have no choice but to offer his own suggestion in the end.
‘No. That cannot happen.’
Having quickly made up his mind, Bu Eunseol gave a small inner nod.
‘I can only hope that the old man Bukgung and I are of the same mind.’
“May I say a few words?”
When Bu Eunseol—who had remained silently observing until now—finally spoke, Bukgung Ryeong nodded.
“Go ahead.”
After offering a respectful bow, Bu Eunseol spoke in a clear, resonant voice from his seat.
“This Alliance was founded with the goal of establishing justice in the martial world.”
He looked directly at Bukgung Ryeong, seated at the head of the conference hall, and continued.
“And that banner is also the Alliance Leader’s own philosophy. Therefore, I believe the first action must be something that unmistakably reveals this conviction and ideal.”
“So what Captain means is…”
“Wouldn’t it be best if the Alliance Leader simply decides according to the very resolve he held when he first chose to create the Azure Sky Alliance?”
Hearing those words, Bukgung Ryeong’s eyes widened.
The Azure Sky Alliance.
Though it had come into being at Bu Eunseol’s suggestion, in the end it was the righteous coalition that he himself must lead—and the place meant to restore the justice that had been lost in the current righteous martial world.
‘There’s no need to do anything grandiose.’
In that instant, the words Bu Eunseol had once spoken to him came back clearly.
‘You don’t need to get caught up in the word “coalition.” Just do whatever aligns with this old man’s values and convictions.’
‘You brat.’
Bukgung Ryeong let out a deep sigh.
How could he have kept forgetting this simple truth, this clear resolve?
“There is only one thing this Alliance Leader desires.”
Having gained enlightenment from Bu Eunseol’s words, Bukgung Ryeong looked at the young core members.
“There is no need for some grand goal of establishing martial justice. There is no need to expand our sphere of influence in a way that shakes the martial world.”
Then, with an utterly solemn expression, he continued.
“So long as we can humble ourselves and directly help people—that alone is enough.”
At that moment the young leaders wore ashamed expressions.
Originally, their own aspirations had not been so different from Bukgung Ryeong’s.
But as the Azure Sky Alliance unexpectedly grew to such a massive scale from the very beginning, gathering as many factions as any existing coalition, they had gradually begun to grow greedy, deviating from their initial intentions. Before they realized it, pride and obsession had taken hold—the belief that they must undertake something befitting a grand coalition.
‘As expected, I judged the man correctly.’
Bu Eunseol gave a faint smile.
Bukgung Ryeong was still Bukgung Ryeong.
Only he could remain completely unconcerned with the scale of the Azure Sky Alliance and maintain his original heart unchanged.
‘Abandon any ambition to rule the martial world. It is enough to humble oneself and help people wherever possible.’
And that very philosophy of Bukgung Ryeong aligned perfectly with Bu Eunseol’s own thoughts.
If so, then there was no problem in speaking the plan he had been holding in reserve all this time.
“After hearing the Alliance Leader’s words, one good idea has come to mind.”
Having confirmed that Bukgung Ryeong’s heart had not changed—and would not change in the future—Bu Eunseol began to lay out everything he had been contemplating.
***
Finally, the Azure Sky Alliance’s first martial activity was decided.
“This Alliance will sanction black-path factions and black-path gangs that exploit the common people and engage in usury.”
When news of this spread, the martial world could not hide their bewilderment.
A righteous coalition is, by definition, a gathering of righteous power.
Its focus is on maintaining order in the martial world.
In other words, mediating conflicts between sects, punishing factions or groups that commit evil deeds, or driving out demonic forces that oppose the righteous banner and engaging in power struggles—that is the usual course.
Yet their first activity was merely to sanction black-path thugs and black-path gangs who bleed the common people dry?
‘Do they really have nothing better to do?’
As such rumors circulated, not only Majeon—which had been watching the Azure Sky Alliance with keen interest—but even the Martial Alliance, a fellow righteous coalition, could not help but burst into laughter.
‘In the end, having nothing else to do, they pick up petty tasks like this.’
Their mockery was not unwarranted.
Black-path sects stake their lives on money and profit.
Therefore, rather than clashing directly with major martial powers, they generally entangle themselves endlessly with officials or the merchant world—or collude with them to pursue gain.
Moreover, black-path thugs are exactly that—thugs. Criminals living the most depraved lives, barely qualifying as martial artists at all.
Yet for the Azure Sky Alliance—a righteous coalition, not even a single sect—to involve itself in black-path affairs?
It was so absurd that people could only laugh hollowly.
‘A fledgling coalition stirring up the black-path’s territory—what good could possibly come of it?’
The martial world simply could not understand.
The Azure Sky Alliance was a newly founded coalition.
At this stage, harmonizing with existing powers was crucial.
Yet it suddenly chose to poke at the black-path’s domain?
‘If the Azure Sky Alliance really carries out such actions, the black-path coalition will never stand idly by!’
As the martial world feared, upon hearing the news the black-path side reacted with fierce opposition and began moving to designate the Azure Sky Alliance as a hostile force.
But regardless, the Azure Sky Alliance proceeded methodically.
“Our Alliance’s sphere of influence is not yet very wide. Therefore, we must dispatch our martial artists directly and handle matters one by one.”
As the one who had proposed the idea, Bu Eunseol personally took command of the martial artists and began systematically cleaning up the black-path forces bleeding the common people in the Sichuan region.
The demonic path cares nothing for benevolence, righteousness, or morality; for the sake of power and authority they will use any means necessary and exploit that power to forcibly extort money.
Righteous sects pursue the just and correct path, value ethics and morality, repel evil, and aid the weak… yet in the end they too collect spheres of influence and receive voluntary “donations.”
The unorthodox sects generally operate bizarre cults and use grotesque doctrines to bewitch commoners or wealthy individuals, reaping enormous profits.
In this way, the mainstream powers of the martial world—righteous, demonic, and unorthodox—each possess stable sources of income in one form or another.
But the black-path is different.
The black-path figures advanced into the martial world while training in martial arts.
Their history is relatively short, and whenever they try to do anything substantial, they clash with the spheres of righteous, demonic, or unorthodox powers.
Thus they find it difficult to secure fixed sources of income. Moreover, always being at a disadvantage in martial strength, they cannot fight recklessly and must act while constantly watching the eyes of the established righteous and demonic powers.
In the end, they unhesitatingly commit smuggling, plunder, kidnapping, usury… any money-making crime to maintain their organizations.
The problem is that because they earn money through illegal means, they have no choice but to squeeze the common people.
They inevitably employ back-alley black-path thugs as subordinates and the bribes they must pay to officials are inevitably enormous.
Even more unjustly, within their main spheres of operation there are usually righteous or demonic sects already established.
Thus they must also offer “sincerity” payments to gain those sects’ tacit approval.
‘Damn it. This is so filthy I can’t even stomach it.’
‘Do you think we enjoy doing this kind of crap?’
Day by day, the black-path’s resentment only grew.
Though there was a so-called black-path Coalition, it too was ultimately nothing more than a profit-driven alliance, and individual black-path gangs still had to watch their step around righteous and demonic powers.
But Bu Eunseol… understood the grievances of the black-path better than anyone.
Martial artists almost never suffer from black-path harassment.
But common people in every village are tormented daily by black-path thugs stationed there.
During his days living as a mortician, he had witnessed such scenes until he was sick of them.
Thus Bu Eunseol personally led the Azure Sky Alliance’s martial artists and calmly directed the mission of cleaning up black-path forces.
“As long as there are common people and merchants, black-path usury will never disappear.”
He issued a firm order.
“Root out the brutal acts of black-path thugs who torment the common people. However, if they operate within the spheres of influence of sects or factions that have joined our Alliance, instruct them to reduce the ‘sincerity’ payment to no more than twenty percent.”
The martial artists under his command tilted their heads.
“Wouldn’t it be better to lower it drastically? Even reducing it to twenty percent doesn’t amount to much.”
“If we accept nothing at all, they will suspect our intentions. And thinking ‘how long will this last?’ they will refuse to take the bait.”
Bu Eunseol spoke calmly.
“But twenty percent is a level they will find reasonably acceptable and be satisfied with.”
He added, “Furthermore, if they voluntarily suppress the wrongdoing of black-path thugs themselves, inform them that we will also reduce the tribute paid by black-path gangs operating in our Alliance’s sphere of influence to twenty percent.”
The martial artists were puzzled.
Would those rough black-path characters really control their thugs properly just for a twenty-percent reduction in tribute?
But since it was an order, they carried it out accordingly.
Then something astonishing happened.
Black-path gangs actually began to suppress the most out-of-control forces under them and their previously hostile attitude gradually began to soften.
‘It feels like… they’re actually recognizing us in their own way…’
The gangs operating in the Martial Alliance’s sphere had always collected tribute while looking down on black-path activities. But the Azure Sky Alliance was saying that if they properly managed their black-path thugs, the Alliance would reduce the amount by that much?
In the martial world, black-path were treated as little more than bands of thieves unfit for either righteous or demonic paths.
The brutality of black-path thugs was largely because the black-path gangs had to meet their tribute quotas, often forcing them to overreach.
But now that the Azure Sky Alliance understood this and reduced tribute within their sphere, the thugs’ tyranny decreased, and the common people’s resentment toward black-path gangs lessened.
And that, in turn, benefited the black-path as well.
The more cooperatively the common people and merchants behaved, the easier their own work became.
‘So in the end… they weren’t trying to hunt us down like rats—they were trying to help?’
Eventually the black-path realized that the Azure Sky Alliance’s actions were ultimately for their benefit.
Once they began to grasp the situation, Bu Eunseol clearly conveyed his intentions to the black-path forces.
—If you continue squeezing the common people, the black-path will only lose more and more ground. You must find a way to coexist with them.
This message was sent not only to black-path forces within the Azure Sky Alliance’s sphere, but to all black-path gangs everywhere.
—If you wish to become a necessary evil—one even acknowledged by common people and martial artists—then do so.
When this spread, the black-path reacted with surprise once again.
If it had come from the demonic path, perhaps.
But for a righteous faction to acknowledge the black-path was unheard of.
Because from the righteous perspective, the black-path—who commit all manner of crimes—were evil incarnate.
But Bu Eunseol—no, the Azure Sky Alliance—understood that as long as merchants and common people exist, the black-path can never be eradicated.
And so they recognized the black-path as a necessary evil.
‘At the very least… it doesn’t seem like they’re doing this just to expand their power.’
If their goal had been territorial expansion, they could simply hunt the black-path down like vermin.
There would be no need for such complicated measures.
Coexistence.
For a righteous coalition—seemingly blocked on all sides—to speak of coexistence with the black-path… was a fresh shock.
‘Let’s… watch and see for a while.’
The black-path softened its hostility toward the Azure Sky Alliance.
Of course, even showing goodwill was temporary—righteous and black-path were bound to clash eventually.
Coexistence and mutual benefit were possible with common people and merchants, but not with them.
Yet the Azure Sky Alliance’s actions produced unexpected results.
—The reason black-path thugs are holding back is because the Azure Sky Alliance is cracking down on them.
—Is that place good like the Martial Soul Society or something?
As black-path thuggery decreased, even common people with no interest in martial affairs began talking about the Azure Sky Alliance.
For a sect’s name to circulate favorably among ordinary people completely unrelated to the martial world was an extremely positive phenomenon.
Hadn’t the Martial Soul Society also first made its name known to commoners and gained their support?
‘So that was the real intention.’
Through this mission the Azure Sky Alliance not only won the goodwill of the black-path, but also firmly imprinted itself in the hearts of the common people.
The reputation of a martial sect can shift between friendly and hostile depending on circumstances.
But the support of the common people is different.
Once they support a sect, that sect naturally gains fame.
With that fame comes expanded scope of activity, and natural authority follows.
Most importantly, this places the sect in a favorable position when conflicts arise with officials.
No matter how many well-connected martial artists with ties to the government one recruits, a newly born coalition remains vulnerable to pressure from local officials or the imperial court, as the imperial court does not wish for martial coalitions to sprout up endlessly.
But if the common people support the sect?
Escaping official interference becomes far easier.
‘We cannot leave this alone.’
From this incident, the Martial Alliance instinctively realized that the Azure Sky Alliance would quickly rise to become a threatening power.
But having already acknowledged—and not opposed—the Azure Sky Alliance’s founding, they could not now raise objections without cause. Moreover, the unorthodox sects showed no interest, while the black-path and common people naturally came to accept them.
‘Using the demonic path, then.’
From Majeon’s perspective, the existence of the Azure Sky Alliance—like the Martial Alliance—was ultimately a blade that could threaten their own power. Thus the Martial Alliance began provoking Majeon to put pressure on the Azure Sky Alliance.
—The reason Seon Woojin has constantly been suspected of being a demonic spy was—surprisingly—a scheme fabricated by Majeon itself.
The Martial Alliance spread extremely cunning rumors that pierced straight into human psychology.
In truth, Seon Woojin had endlessly been suspected of being a demonic spy, which forced him to leave the Martial Alliance.
After leaving, he joined the Azure Sky Alliance founded by Bukgung Ryeong.
But to say that all of this happened because of Majeon’s scheme?
The story carried considerable credibility.
—So Captain Seon’s true enemy was Majeon all along.
Most of the young martial artists in the Azure Sky Alliance had originally come from the Martial Alliance and revered Seon Woojin.
To learn that it was Majeon who drove him out of the Martial Alliance?
The Martial Alliance added one more elaborate layer to their scheme.
They continuously leaked false information suggesting that the furious young martial artists of the Azure Sky Alliance would attack Majeon branches.
‘They say the Azure Sky Alliance is going to attack our main headquarters?’
The Azure Sky Alliance was already located near the border of Sichuan—closer to Majeon than to the Martial Alliance.
The leadership of the Azure Sky Alliance quickly saw through the falsehood, strictly warned their martial artists, and forbade any clashes…
But the Martial Alliance had no intention of leaving it at that.
They mobilized secret organizations within their Alliance, ordering them to dress in Majeon uniforms and attack Azure Sky martial artists.
Conversely, they also dressed in Azure Sky uniforms and attacked Majeon’s lower organizations.
In the past someone once said:
Though divided into righteous and demonic paths, there is ultimately no difference between Majeon and the Martial Alliance.
Both the leadership of Majeon and the Azure Sky Alliance immediately ordered investigations and confirmed that these incidents were manipulations by the Martial Alliance. However, the lower organizations—having been attacked and needing a target for their anger—did not wait for investigation results and launched immediate counterattacks.
In the end, real large and small-scale conflicts broke out.
Azure Sky Alliance, Righteous Hero Hall.
This was the residence of Alliance Leader Bukgung Ryeong.
Unlike typical Martial Alliance offices, the doors here stood wide open so anyone could enter freely, and no guards were posted.
Amid this completely open Righteous Hero Hall, there was only one perfectly sealed location—a secret chamber discreetly built inside the main office. It had been designed from the beginning as a secure room for handling confidential Alliance matters or holding private discussions. Inside that secret chamber of Righteous Hero Hall sat an old man in formal robes and a young man, facing each other.
They were Azure Sky Alliance Leader Bukgung Ryeong and Bu Eunseol, disguised as the Sword King Seon Woojin.
“I will handle it.”
Bu Eunseol calmly explained his intentions to Bukgung Ryeong.
“In any case, the Martial Alliance will have perfectly concealed their own involvement, so no evidence will be found.”
“Hmm.”
“In the end, the only way is for the leadership of both sides to meet and publicly announce that all of this was the Martial Alliance’s scheme.”
“Why not leave it to the Chief Inspector instead?”
Bukgung Ryeong shook his head.
“It would be best if that identity no longer goes to Majeon.”
He let out a heavy sigh and continued.
“Because in the end… your going to Majeon is likely the Martial Alliance’s final plan.”
“You’ve truly become an Alliance Leader now.”
Because of Seon Woojin’s identity, the prestige of the Martial Alliance Leader had plummeted to the ground.
Thus Bukgung Ryeong realized that this entire scheme was either the desperate plot of the Martial Venerable—or his closest confidants—to ensure Bu Eunseol could no longer use the Seon Woojin identity, or perhaps a final measure by Martial Alliance elders to confirm the true identity of this “Seon Woojin” whom even they had once suspected.
“To be precise, it is a plan to either reconfirm Seon Woojin’s identity through Majeon—or to eliminate it once and for all.”
“I don’t understand why those bastards are so obsessed with the Seon Woojin identity.”
“It is an identity they spent a long time carefully crafting—even at the cost of sacrificing the real Seon Woojin.” Bu Eunseol smiled bitterly. “How much must it sting them that I’m using it freely?”
Bukgung Ryeong wore an extremely grave expression.
“Then the ones who devised this scheme must intend to make it impossible for you to resist going to Majeon in the Seon Woojin identity… and once you arrive at Majeon, secretly leak the information that Seon Woojin is actually Bu Eunseol.”
“Most likely.”
“And you still plan to go, knowing that?”
“The Martial Alliance has spread the rumor that the reason Sword King Seon Woojin was framed was because of Majeon.”
Bu Eunseol took a deep breath.
“This is truly an ingenious move… If the person involved—myself—does not go, the problem cannot be resolved, and the rumor will snowball endlessly.”
“Mmm.”
“It’s fine. I already anticipated that the Martial Venerable would pull a stunt like this at least once.”
“But something is strange. I heard he entered closed-door training.”
“It could be a theater to allow the Divine Mountain Sage identity to stir up the martial world. Even if not, he has plenty of trusted subordinates who can handle this in his place.”
Bu Eunseol spoke firmly.
“That’s why it would be best to settle this completely once and for all.”
“There is no choice, is there.”
Bukgung Ryeong let out a deep sigh.
It was always like this.
The trials Bu Eunseol faced were so relentless that even he—an old veteran worn down by the martial world—could only heave heavy sighs.
Yet Bu Eunseol had never once avoided them; he had always pushed straight through.
“There’s no need to look at me with those eyes. It’s just the usual.”
Bu Eunseol shrugged.
“I freely crossed between the two great powers of the martial world, playing the role of double agent. Of course I have to bear this level of consequence, don’t I?”
Bukgung Ryeong opened his mouth with a sigh.
“How many hardships have you endured…?”
Then, as though sensing something, he suddenly fell silent.
He stared straight at Bu Eunseol’s calm, impassive face.
“Hardships…”
Only then did realization dawn.
He let out a deep, pained sigh, his voice choking as he shook his head in dejection.
“No… it can’t be.”
Bukgung Ryeong’s expression twisted in misery.
Only now did he finally understand.
Bu Eunseol’s spirit… had already been completely broken long ago.
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