By Zephyria 
“Hmph.”
Jegal Yeom-gang gave the crowd a prim look before sitting down as if nothing had happened.
He was truly a man of unwavering principle. He didn’t seem to care in the slightest about what repercussions his actions might bring.
On the other hand, Seong Mu-yeon felt like hiding in a mouse hole if there were one.
Members of the Haoh Gate were also present in the meeting hall. Jegal Yeom-gang’s unconventional declaration would soon spread like wildfire throughout the Central Plains.
Amidst the commotion in the hall, Ma Jin-cheon, the first to recover from the shock, cleared his throat.
“……I understand what you mean. ……I shall keep it in mind.”
He waited a moment for the people to calm down before continuing.
“Anyway, returning to the main point, this meeting was convened to discuss future plans. The outline of the incident is as follows…….”
Ma Jin-cheon briefly summarized the core of the Demon Subjugation Valley incident. This was because there were several small sects present who had not been at the scene but had come after receiving an official dispatch from the martial alliance.
“……Consequently, Peng Yuan-jin, the Left Horse General and leader of the Divine Demon Sect stationed at Demon Subjugation Valley, died due to an unknown collapse. It appears there are no survivors inside. Our Hwasan pursued and captured the other leader of Demon Subjugation Valley, the Venomous Ox-Demon General, who had fled during the battle.”
Ma Jin-cheon’s voice was calm. However, it carried a strange power that quickly dominated the space.
While everyone was listening intently to his voice, the door to the meeting hall opened silently, and an owl mask peeked through. He scanned the interior of the hall.
It seemed Seomun Yuha had already sent someone to let him know that Seong Mu-yeon was here.
Seong Mu-yeon quickly pressed himself close to Jegal Un to hide, but it was already too late. To avoid disrupting the meeting, Owl approached Seong Mu-yeon quietly.
“Did you think I wouldn’t find you if you stayed here……? Let’s go.”
He muttered gloomily and began pulling Seong Mu-yeon away. He was incredibly strong, possessing power that seemed impossible for his small frame. Seong Mu-yeon held onto Jegal Un and resisted.
“What are you doing! I told you I don’t want to!”
Seong Mu-yeon whispered.
“It is my duty to keep you safe until Yak Seon returns,” Owl whispered back.
“What on earth is this? Let go of this hand,” Jegal Un also whispered.
A small commotion broke out in the meeting hall, which had been filled with a solemn atmosphere. A few people frowned and looked back, seemingly annoyed by them.
“Hwasan was able to obtain information regarding the Divine Demon Sect by interrogating the captured Poison Freak. Bring him in.”
Baek Ryeo-il had not taken his eyes off Seong Mu-yeon the entire time. Just as he was about to step forward, unable to watch any longer, the door opened with a creak.
The Poison Freak entered, bound and led by Hwasan Sect martial artists. He had a look of utter dissatisfaction, but he sat down heavily in the chair prepared in the center with a relatively cooperative attitude.
“I’ll tell you everything truthfully, so don’t forget the promise to spare my life.”
“Very well.”
Ma Jin-cheon gave a small nod.
With the appearance of the Poison Freak, the scuffle between Seong Mu-yeon and Owl paused for a moment. Perhaps because he had suffered quite a bit since being captured, the Poison Freak looked haggard in a short amount of time.
“Your name?”
“Venomous Ox-Demon General, the Poison Freak.”
“Right, Poison Freak. You were the leader who ruled over Demon Subjugation Valley. Is that correct?”
“……How many times are you going to ask the same question? Don’t you know my name? I feel like I’ve said it over a hundred times.”
The Poison Freak looked back at Ma Jin-cheon with a distorted face. Then, Baek Ryeo-il, who had been standing still, strode over and smacked him on the head.
“Agh! I get it! Yes! I am the leader of Demon Subjugation Valley!”
“You should have just said so from the start.”
Baek Ryeo-il clicked his tongue and returned to his spot.
“What was the purpose of Demon Subjugation Valley?”
“……It was a place to stockpile supplies coming in through the trade routes and to train new talents.”
A much more docile Poison Freak answered obediently.
“For what purpose did you stockpile supplies and cultivate manpower?”
“Ah, to supply our Divine Demon Sect headquarters in Qinghai! We’re building up our strength to strike the Old Demon Sect’s divine spear main palace!”
The crowd stirred. It was a well-known fact that the Demonic Cult was split in two and fighting for power, but this was the first time it had been confirmed directly through an insider.
The Demonic Cult had been the long-time nemesis of the orthodox sects. The two forces, the orthodox sects and the Demonic Cult, had maintained a delicate balance through periods of chaos. However, that balance was gradually breaking due to the succession struggle that began when the Cult Leader took to his sickbed.
From the perspective of the orthodox sects, it didn’t matter who won the conflict, but they could not ignore the impact that the resulting changes in the Demonic Cult would have on them.
“The Third Young Master revealed his ambitions not long ago; has he already gathered that much power?”
Someone in the crowd asked loudly. At that, the Poison Freak let out a loud snort.
“What’s so hard about that? Those idiots of the Old Demon Sect are so afraid of the Nine Great Sects that they can’t take a single step outside of Xinjiang. But the Divine Demon Sect is free! Our plan was to first seize the various Demonic Cult branches within the Central Plains to cut off the funds flowing to the main palace and isolate them, then gradually increase the number of defectors from within. Several high-ranking Elders have already crossed over to our side. By the time we go to strike the main palace, half of it will have already turned to us. It’s a piece of cake.”
The Poison Freak continued boastfully, seemingly enjoying the fact that the orthodox Masters, who were usually objects of fear, were listening to him.
“There are dozens more places similar to Demon Subjugation Valley scattered across the land. As long as the Third Young Master’s order is given, we are already prepared to raid all branches of the Old Demon Sect simultaneously!”
The atmosphere grew even more serious. If the Poison Freak’s claims were true, it was as if time bombs were hidden everywhere in the Central Plains.
While the Divine Demon Sect’s immediate goal was the Demonic Cult branches, they would turn their eyes to the next target once that was finished.
“Once we clean up the Old Demon Sect…… it’ll be your turn.”
The Poison Freak curled his lips into a sinister smile.
As the radical Third Young Master gained power, the trend of increasing conflicts, both large and small, was already evident. It had long been a given that if he ascended as the next Cult Leader, he would attempt to swallow the Central Plains at any moment.
“What is this scoundrel babbling about!”
People shouted in excitement, looking as if they might leap over the table to pounce on the Poison Freak at any second.
“Hieek! You promised! You said you’d protect me!”
The Poison Freak, who had been acting arrogant out of habit, became terrified and clung to the Hwasan Sect disciples. However, the Hwasan martial artists shook him off with a cold attitude.
Still, no one had lost their reason to that extent yet.
“The Divine Demon Sect must have taken quite a hit from the collapse of Demon Subjugation Valley.”
“Yes! Since the supplies and manpower that were supposed to be delivered to the headquarters vanished, it will take longer than originally planned. Happy now!”
That was at least some good news.
Though he likely already knew from the interrogation, Ma Jin-cheon asked detailed questions about the scale and strength of the Divine Demon Sect’s stronghold so that everyone else could confirm it as well. He even asked about the life or death of Yakseon, who was being detained by the Third Young Master.
Afterward, the people were allowed to ask questions freely. The interior of the meeting hall was noisy for a while.
A short while later, when the seemingly endless Q&A session concluded, Ma Jin-cheon had the Poison Freak led out.
“Therefore, Hwasan has judged that we must take action before the Divine Demon Sect grows any stronger. We intend to convey this fact to the martial alliance and promptly form an expeditionary force. If anyone has a different opinion, please feel free to…….”
A small shadow flickered past Seong Mu-yeon. Owl, who had been quiet the whole time, suddenly rushed out of the meeting hall following the Poison Freak.
“Brother!”
Startled by the sudden action, Seong Mu-yeon followed him into the hallway.
The Poison Freak, who was being led away by the Hwasan martial artists, noticed them and acknowledged them.
“Hey, Seven Sons. Have you been doing well? Somehow, our roles have swapped.”
The Poison Freak raised his bound hands to show them.
As Owl and Seong Mu-yeon approached, the Hwasan martial artists recognized them and exchanged glances, then stepped aside for a moment without trying to stop them.
“Why did the Third Young Master take Yakseon Daein……?”
Owl asked abruptly.
“I don’t know either.”
“You’re the one who kidnapped him.”
“Just how many times do I have to explain? I told the Hwasan kids everything, so go ask them.”
The Poison Freak shrugged and walked past Owl. The small servant looked blankly at his receding back.
……Then, suddenly, Owl launched himself. It was a movement more agile than ever before. Seong Mu-yeon didn’t even have time to stop him.
Owl dashed forward like an arrow and slammed into the Poison Freak.
“Ugh?!”
Unable to react in time to the attack from behind, the Poison Freak was sent flying. The Hwasan martial artists seemed to have guessed what would happen after seeing Owl’s preparatory motion.
Seong Mu-yeon clearly witnessed them subtly stepping back to clear the path the moment Owl charged.
“Aaaaagh!”
Crash!
Unfortunately, since the stairs were just one step away, the Poison Freak rolled down clumsily. He seemed to stop for a moment after hitting a landing, but soon tumbled down again.
Thump…… Thump…… Thump……!
In that manner, the Poison Freak descended three floors in one go.
“Hmm.”
Everyone who witnessed the scene, including Seong Mu-yeon and the Hwasan members, were martial artists with extraordinary reaction speeds. However, until the Poison Freak’s screams ceased, they all stood frozen, pretending to be too bewildered to move. Only Owl was quickly descending the stairs.