Jin Ha-gun had expected the Heavenly Wandering Hermit to show some reaction.
He thought that hearing the word 'evil' had awakened, he might offer such a meaningful glance.
Yes, that evil is me.
But Hwa Yul-cheong showed no such signs.
He appeared surprised, flustered, and worried.
A reaction that rendered this side's intentions meaningless.
"Demon Slaying Branch Master Jin, what in the world are you talking about? A great evil?"
Jin Ha-gun looked at the Piercing Spike that Chief Steward Ju had shown him earlier and said.
"That hidden weapon is an elaborately made counterfeit. Recently, these counterfeit weapons have been secretly circulating in the Martial World."
At his words, the sect leaders present began to murmur and stir.
The One Sword Sect Master, who particularly hated the Demon Sect and believed it was their doing, frowned.
If it was a counterfeit, it couldn't necessarily be said to be the work of the Demon Sect.
"I cannot disclose more specific details in this place."
Jin Ha-gun did not say that it was not the work of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect.
Nor about the death of the White Dragon Division Lord.
There was nothing to be gained from provoking them right now.
Hwa Yul-cheong’s eyes shone with a gaze full of righteous spirit.
"If you need help, speak at any time."
At Hwa Yul-cheong's words, the sect leaders also looked on with dependable eyes, as if to say, just call on us anytime.
Jin Ha-gun politely cupped his fists and said.
"All of you great and righteous heroes are protecting the righteous spirit of this Martial World. On behalf of the Alliance, I express my sincere gratitude."
After greeting them, he bade them farewell.
"I will take my leave now. Please rest."
"Let's go out together."
Although he had simply told him to rest, Hwa Yul-cheong rose from the bed.
Just as his life had always been, he was not a man who rested for a moment.
Jin Ha-gun went and supported him.
His rough hand was so dry that only bones could be felt.
"It's been a long time since I've held your hand."
Jin Ha-gun tried to recall if he had ever held his hand, but he couldn't remember.
It must have been from a long time ago, when he was a child.
Hwa Yul-cheong also spoke to the sect leaders there.
"You all should return as well."
Jin Ha-gun had considered them a wall protecting Hwa Yul-cheong, yet Hwa Yul-cheong was trying to send them all away.
With every word he spoke, a bit of suspicion also dissipated.
The sect leaders walked behind the two.
"They might try to ambush you again. We will protect you."
Hwa Yul-cheong shook his head at the Jade Pine Sect Leader's words.
"I'm at an age where I have no regrets even if I die now."
"Please don't say such things."
This time, the One Sword Sect Master stepped forward.
"You must continue to protect the Martial World for another thirty years."
"My good man, even you can't guarantee that."
The sect leaders following behind them laughed.
They were all relieved and happy that Hwa Yul-cheong was safe.
Feeling the hand that relied on him, Jin Ha-gun suddenly had a thought.
What if he really is an evil man?
It occurred to him that perhaps the disguised life he had lived for decades had become his real life.
He might have tried to pretend to live virtuously and ended up becoming a great hero.
If so, how could one see through that life?
He might be deceiving even himself.
Then, one person naturally came to mind.
Someone who seemed like they would eventually uncover the truth, no matter how much the other person hid it.
Someone who seemed like they would stick their head deep into the other's heart and ask brightly, "What's this big black hole here for?"
Someone who seemed like they would say, 'I'll tell you if you promise to dance with me!'
Just then, Hwa Yul-cheong, beside him, asked.
"Why are you smiling like that?"
For a moment, Jin Ha-gun flinched and looked at him.
It seemed he had been smiling without realizing it.
"Since you are safe, Elder, I too feel happy."
Jin Ha-gun brushed aside the person who had come to mind.
This matter was something he had to resolve on his own, one way or another.
Thus, they left the great hall.
The martial artists waiting outside saw Hwa Yul-cheong and shouted with joy.
Each one called him by a different name.
Hall Master Hwa, Great Hero Hwa, Elder Hwa, Hero Hwa.
But the respect filling their faces was all the same.
There was no one gathered here who had not received his help at least once.
As word seemed to be spreading, the number of martial artists gathered was even greater than before.
Hearing the cheers from inside, those outside also shouted.
It seemed that martial artists who could not enter the manor had set up camp outside.
At this rate, before the day was out, all the martial artists in Wuhan would know that Hwa Yul-cheong had been ambushed.
Jin Ha-gun silently watched the people in the courtyard chanting Hwa Yul-cheong's name.
They were in a state of excitement, as if they were going off to war.
With a single hidden weapon, Wuhan was literally boiling over.
Just then, a martial artist came in from outside and reported something to the One Sword Sect Master.
The One Sword Sect Master reported to Hwa Yul-cheong.
"We've found the place where the Demon Sect bastards are hiding!"
The person most surprised by those words was Jin Ha-gun.
The One Sword Sect Master gathered his subordinates and went out first.
"I will go."
Others followed behind him.
"We will help."
Several sect leaders moved with him.
Half of those present ran out together.
Jin Ha-gun couldn't just stand by either.
If they had really managed to find Geom Muyang's whereabouts, he had to go and prevent a clash.
"I will go as well."
As Jin Ha-gun followed them out, Hwa Yul-cheong said.
"A great evil possesses a conviction. A wicked and distorted conviction. That conviction makes the evil even stronger."
The gazes of the two men intertwined in the air.
He wanted to ask what he should do to overcome it, but there was no time for such a conversation now.
"I will be back."
Jin Ha-gun launched himself into the air.
Hwa Yul-cheong's words came from behind.
Just as when they were alone, he called him by his name.
"Be careful, Ha-gun."
The Heaven-Reaching Pavilion's operations room was bustling as usual today.
With the highest level of alert in effect, it was truly a wartime situation.
Not only the Heaven-Reaching Pavilion but also Silver Moon had joined forces, pouring all their intelligence resources into Wuhan.
Thus, information was flowing between the main division and Wuhan faster and more accurately than ever before.
And today, unexpected news arrived.
The aide, with a surprised face, brought an urgent dispatch and reported.
"The Demon Prohibition Order has been broken."
The bustling operations room fell into a momentary silence.
Everyone's gaze turned to the reporting aide.
Sama Myeong's expression hardened.
It was the first time such a thing had happened since he became the Grand Strategist.
The Demon Prohibition Order was broken?
It was a report that should never have been made.
Of all times, in this state of high alert.
The Demon Prohibition Order was a special punishment issued by the Cult Master's order.
It was a punishment usually given when a demonic practitioner who had made great merit committed a crime.
It was imposed when their past merits were too great to be locked in the Thunder Prison, but their crime could not be overlooked.
They were to live with their inner energy suppressed, hiding their identities throughout the Central Plains.
They usually lived in professions that did not involve much contact with people, such as hunters, woodcutters, or herb gatherers, but occasionally, as an exception, they were allowed to do business in the marketplace.
They were never to leave their designated areas.
If they violated the Demon Prohibition Order and left the designated area, they would face capital punishment.
Since it was a violation of the Cult Master's order, they were killed after being subjected to extreme torture.
That was why they would rather commit suicide than ever break the Demon Prohibition Order.
"Who broke it?"
Then, a surprising name came out.
"The Demon Flame Lord has violated the Demon Prohibition Order and left his designated area."
The Demon Flame Lord was a demonic practitioner from a previous generation who, even back then, possessed skills on par with a Demon Sovereign.
The aide brought a flag with the character 'Flame' written on it from a box of flags.
The flag placed on the strategic map was covered in dust from long disuse.
"And it is said that he has released the inner energy seal."
This report was even more surprising than the news of his escape.
Naturally, when they were confined, their pressure points were sealed to prevent them from using their inner energy.
A seal was also placed on them at that time, and if they released their inner energy on their own, rather than it being released by the main division, they would die within a few days.
The number of days until death varied depending on their martial arts skill; it could be as short as one day or as long as seven.
After seven days, they would die unconditionally.
It was impossible for them not to know this, yet they escaped after breaking the inner energy seal?
Either they had resigned themselves to death, or they believed they would not die.
And he was not the only one who had broken the Demon Prohibition Order today.
Another urgent report flew in.
"The White Bone Soul Demon has broken the Demon Prohibition Order and escaped."
A flag with the character 'Bone' was also placed on the strategic map.
The White Bone Soul Demon was a demonic practitioner from two generations prior, even older than the Demon Flame Lord, and his age was a staggering one hundred and fifty years.
'He was still alive!'
Even Sama Myeong had forgotten his existence.
If one person had left, it could be considered an impulsive choice, but two leaving meant there was an external influence.
'Someone broke them out.'
Someone who had discovered their locations, a secret of the Main Sect, and who could also persuade them.
As expected, a report followed.
"They are heading to Wuhan."
Sama Myeong's expression hardened.
Even if only one of the two masters was released, they were individuals who could stir up a great storm of blood in the Martial World.
For such great demons to go to Wuhan? It was truly the worst possible situation.
With the Demon Sovereigns already there, it was like walking on thin ice.
Now old demons who had broken the Demon Prohibition Order were going there?
The ice was truly breaking, and there was no telling who would be dragged down into the abyss.
"Should we send a pursuit team?"
Normally, they would have to dispatch elite units, including the Demon Army, and pursue them.
No matter what happened, no matter how great the sacrifice, they had to be pursued and caught.
That was how they had to show that the Demon Prohibition Order was a principle that must never be broken.
But Sama Myeong shook his head.
This time, he did not.
No, he could not.
In this situation, he could not dispatch even the Demon Army to Wuhan.
Sama Myeong looked at the two new flags and asked.
"Do you two even know who is there as you go?"
Sama Myeong's gaze turned to one spot.
"Send an urgent dispatch and relay this information."
It was toward a new flag that had just arrived in Wuhan today.
Extreme.
"I know some people in Wuhan."
The connections that Demon Buddha had diligently woven with his short legs existed here in Wuhan as well.
"I intend to use their help to dig into the Heavenly Wandering Hermit."
Would mere acquaintances help with such a thing? Demon Buddha was planning to use a card he had saved up for himself.
Guessing this, Geom Muyang expressed his gratitude politely.
"Thank you."
"No need for thanks. It's only natural."
Now that the First Young Master had asked for help, Demon Buddha would mobilize everything he could to assist Geom Muyang.
If there was nothing left to help with, he was prepared to sell the undergarments he was wearing to help.
It was then.
Ho Myeong quickly entered and reported.
"The Demon Slaying Branch and the martial artists of Wuhan are coming this way. You must get out immediately."
Geom Muyang and Demon Buddha didn't say another word and quickly left the room.
The Demon Slaying Branch would not have let them join.
It was more likely that the Wuhan martial artists were storming in, and they were coming along to somehow prevent a clash.
Leaving quickly was the best way to help Jin Ha-gun.
Geom Muyang hadn't expected to have to escape this place again like this.
The situation in Wuhan was truly riding a swift current.
They quickly slipped out through the back door.
Since it wasn't her first time, Gwak Yeong ran after them without fear.
Swish!
A man who was keeping watch at the end of the alley collapsed from Demon Buddha's finger techniques.
Demon Buddha did not kill him, only rendered him unconscious.
Geom Muyang spoke to the Division's martial artists.
"Even if you encounter them, you must not kill them!"
Because that would be what the hidden forces wanted.
As soon as they left, the Demon Slaying Branch and the martial artists of Wuhan stormed the place.
"They just left! Let's pursue them quickly."
At the One Sword Sect Master's shout, Jin Ha-gun told him.
"From now on, the main force will handle the pursuit."
But the One Sword Sect Master did not back down meekly.
"This matter is related to the Elder. Please let us help."
The eyes of the martial artists behind him were also earnest.
He could stop them by force if he had to, but he couldn't do that in the current situation.
Moreover, this was the One Sword Sect Master, who had lost an arm to a demonic practitioner.
'I trust you will get away safely.'
Jin Ha-gun trusted Geom Muyang.
Besides, Demon Buddha was with him.
"Very well, let's pursue them together."
Thus, they began their pursuit.
And far away, on top of an old tree, two people were watching the scene.
Standing on a slender branch, they were handsome and fresh-faced.
They were none other than Geom Mugeuk and the Poison King.
"He acted so high and mighty in front of me. Look at him now. Being chased around frantically by Martial Alliance martial artists."
"If it were you, you'd be chased with a much larger crowd behind you."
Geom Mugeuk pretended not to hear and continued with what he had to say.
"Sigh, Demon Buddha is practically glowing. How does he expect to get away like that?"
Just the sight of them standing side by side on the branch created a picturesque scene.
Watching the distant chase between Geom Muyang and Jin Ha-gun, Geom Mugeuk's gaze deepened.
"Anyway, how dare they mess with my brother and my friend at the same time."
Geom Mugeuk looked back at the Poison King and added.
"And even our Poison King's faithful collector."
The Poison King nodded, his expression showing that this angered him the most.
"What are you going to do now?"
The Poison King was eager to finish up the business in Wuhan and go herb-collecting with Demon Buddha.
But Geom Mugeuk knew that this matter was not so simple.
That was why he had come in person.
Moreover, he had promised Sama Myeong not to get involved directly.
Of course, that was a promise he couldn't keep.
"Let's go to a tavern where many pretty female warriors frequent and have a drink first. I really ran all the way here without a moment's rest. They say the women of Wuhan are very beautiful."
The Poison King glanced toward the distant chase.
With all that chaos over there? At his expression, Geom Mugeuk smiled and said.
"Those two will handle it well on their own. Let's let those two boring people get a little closer on this occasion. We'll have a drink with the female warriors and come up with a plan."
Geom Mugeuk looked down at the splendidly laid out streets of Wuhan and added calmly.
"Is there a rule that only they can plot?"