“The Emperor has long wished to engage with the Martial Alliance. However, as you know, each side has its station.”

Non-interference between court and the martial world.

The court and the rivers-and-lakes do not meddle in each other. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

By that unspoken principle, ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) the Emperor could not freely demand cooperation from the martial world.

Moreover, the palace has its own factions and turf wars.

If one were to drag the martial world into palace struggles, neither the palace nor the martial world would come out unscathed; thus any meeting between the two powers was a matter of vigilance.

Even if the other party was the sun of the Central Plains—the Emperor himself.

“Even so, is there any need to drag out what happened twenty years ago?”

If one wished for a pretext, there were other pretexts to make.

“It would be best if you heard the particulars from His Majesty. That said, it would be better for us to be the ones to take Blood-King Poison into custody.”

“!”

“Are you saying you will haul her away like a criminal?”

This time Namgoong Cheongun spoke, his voice sinking cold.

“The ‘criminal’ you speak of is a person of our Namgoong Clan.”

A person of the Namgoong Clan.

There was no one who did not know that the current Martial Alliance Lord was the former Clan Lord of the Namgoong Clan.

Outside the Central Plains’ broader martial world, the Namgoong Clan was the very house that represented the martial world.

Thus Cheongun’s words meant that opposing the Namgoong Clan could become, further, opposing the Central Plains’ martial world itself.

“If a situation arises where a person of our house has their life threatened, our Namgoong will stop it by whatever means necessary.”

He had not said directly that they would defy the Emperor’s will, but it was also a declaration of standing against the imperial house.

At the somewhat over-the-line statement, Seop Mugwang turned with a surprised look toward Namgoong Cheongun.

Cheongun and Namgoong Mun faced Chief Eunuch Joo with unshaken poise.

Chief Eunuch Joo chuckled softly and waved a hand.

“There is no need to take it so gravely. This is also a proposal made for the sake of Blood-King Poison.”

“What do you mean.”

“There are those who covet Blood-King Poison.”

The three fixed their hardened gazes on Chief Eunuch Joo.

“Within the palace as well— a faction with considerable strength. However, no matter how strong they may be, they cannot climb over the fence of the Eastern Depot.”

“In short, on the surface you will escort her under guard, but you will protect her from them?”

“Something like that. As I said earlier, the details are not mine to deliver.”

In other words, they were to meet the Emperor and speak.

“You said she is of the main house. In that case, pay a visit to the palace under the Namgoong Clan’s name. If it is revealed that Blood-King Poison is a person of the Namgoong Clan, there will be few who find it strange.”

“That will not do.”

Seop Mugwang struck the table with a sharp thud.

Chief Eunuch Joo turned to him with a puzzled expression.

“Visiting the palace under the Namgoong Clan’s name does not mean you go first and we follow after.”

“That is how it would be.”

Even in the best case, permission to enter the palace would have to be granted, so they would be delayed a day or two.

“In the meantime I cannot leave Chor Yeon solely in your hands. If you are to take Choir Yeon, then I must go with you.”

“Hm...?”

Chief Eunuch Joo’s brows dipped as if in a bind.

It was merely a day or two. Were they so distrustful?

“You yourself said it. That I too bear a crime from twenty years ago.”

“That is a different matter. Is there any need to hand them a pretext.”

Just who were “they.”

Knowing nothing, Seop Mugwang knit his brows in frustration.

In that moment, after thinking it over, Chief Eunuch Joo let out a soft “ah,” and tapped his own palm with his fist.

“I have a good idea.”

He turned back to Seop Mugwang, who was bristling with anger.

At the eunuch’s faint, smiling eyes, Seop Mugwang’s expression tightened even more.

****

“It suits you well!”

When Yu Gang returned wearing the new clothes, the Heavenly Demon’s Lady—his mother—clapped her hands with a bright smile.

“It suits you wonderfully, Young Master!”

“You look magnificent, Young Master!”

The attendants in the room likewise lavished him with praise.

Luxurious silk, a harmony of crimson and gold.

Every brush against his skin felt like soft feathers winding around his body.

It was splendid yet not heavy, offering no discomfort in movement; even to someone who knew little of clothing, it was clear the outfit was excellent.

Only—

“I’ve never worn clothes like this....”

Yu Gang could not get used to the vivid colors and the feel of fine silk.

From childhood he had worn rough cloth knocked together on the street, and after entering Mount Hua he had worn nothing but simple martial garb.

After leaving Mount Hua, his clothes were not much different from those of his childhood on the streets.

No—when training in the mountains, there were many times he wore nothing at all.

After becoming Chief of the Demon-Slaying Corps, he had worn somewhat better clothes, but—

“I’m not used to it.”

Feeling awkward for no reason, Yu Gang scratched the back of his neck.

“Our Soyah was lovely from a young age, so clothes like these suit you. Come here, let Mother set your collar.”

Truth be told, he wanted to change into something comfortable right this instant, but when he heard that the fabric had been personally chosen by his mother, the Heavenly Demon’s Lady, Yu Gang could not bring himself to say he wished to take it off and went to her.

She drew his clothes closer and straightened his attire.

Her nails were long, and, befitting the lady of the Demonic Sect, lavishly adorned.

Her hands were clumsy as she arranged his clothes, but Yu Gang held still and waited for her to finish as he asked,

“Who is ‘Soyah’ that you called me?”

The Heavenly Demon’s Lady looked up at Yu Gang and spoke.

Her eyes, too, were painted in rich makeup, giving them a sharp cast.

“I didn’t tell you, did I. Soyah is your name.”

“My... name?”

“Yes. Your grandfather gave it to you when you were born.”

Grandfather meant the Supreme Cult Lord.

Set against Seolhwa’s telling, that would be between her and the Alliance Lord.

‘I have a grandfather, too.’

Family was still an unfamiliar notion, but thinking of Seolhwa and the Alliance Lord—

The fact that he, too, had such people somehow made his chest flutter.

Only—

“I’m grateful, but I still prefer my name, Yu Gang.”

“...Do you.”

“I’ve lived by that name all along. I don’t want to be called by another.”

For an instant, a dim shadow crossed her face. Yet she soon nodded and brushed at the hem of Yu Gang’s robe.

“Let’s talk about it slowly. You’ll need time to adjust as well.”

Yu Gang faintly knit his brows.

Not slowly—he truly had no intention of living under another name.

But his parents, too, must have long thought of and remembered him as Soyah; it wasn’t something to dig his heels in about right this moment.

“Now then, since you’ve put on these pretty clothes, let’s be off. The Cult Lord will be waiting.”

They had an appointment with the Heavenly Demon in the afternoon; thus the Heavenly Demon’s Lady and Yu Gang left the room and made for where the Cult Lord was.

Dozens of attendants and guards followed behind the two of them.

“Do we really have to move as a crowd like this?”

Yu Gang could not get used to this situation.

Of all places, inside the main palace of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult—was it necessary to move in a pack like this?

Even if the Demonic Sect had its own law and order, this was still a part he could not grow accustomed to.

“There he is.”

The expressionless face of the Heavenly Demon’s Lady brightened a touch.

The place where the two arrived to meet the Cult Lord was the training grounds of the cult warriors.

“Ha! Hat!”

“Ha! Hat!”

Thousands of warriors stood in straight ranks, executing martial forms—truly a grand sight.

Their cultivation was without exception at first-class or higher—seasoned experts.

It was a scene that laid bare just how overwhelming the Demonic Sect’s military might was.

“So it wasn’t an exaggeration to say the Demonic Sect’s force could be compared to the Central Plains’ martial world.”

Of course, if the Central Plains joined its strength, the Central Plains would be far stronger; even so, for such talk to exist, the Demonic Sect’s force was in no way inferior.

No—he was genuinely moved to admiration.

“Hat! Haat!”

Passing by the training warriors, the Heavenly Demon’s Lady and Yu Gang ascended the pavilion.

Atop the pavilion, built to view the training grounds at a glance, the Heavenly Demon stood with his hands behind his back, watching the warriors’ training.

His closest attendants, standing behind him, bowed as one when the Lady and Yu Gang drew near.

“Cult Lord.”

The Heavenly Demon’s Lady seemed well accustomed to such burdensome deference; she passed them naturally and approached the Cult Lord.

“I have brought Soyah.”

The Cult Lord’s gaze passed over her shoulder to Yu Gang.

“....”

Yu Gang stiffened without meaning to.

The Cult Lord of the Demonic Sect, and his... father.

The Heavenly Demon.

As he had felt from their first meeting, he was a man like a great black panther.

His realm was beyond Yu Gang’s measure, and his presence was something that felt impossible to go against.

The downward cast gaze of a strong man made those who met it feel small; simply by standing, he overwhelmed the space around him.

That a man so like, yet unlike, himself was his father—Yu Gang still could not bring himself to believe it.

“Come closer.”

At the Heavenly Demon’s command, Yu Gang stepped toward him.

When the Heavenly Demon raised a hand toward the grounds below, the warriors halted and straightened their postures as one.

The training ground, which had rung with their resounding shouts, fell into instant stillness.

The Heavenly Demon had Yu Gang step one pace ahead, to stand before him.

In that moment, as if by prior vow, the warriors turned as one toward Yu Gang, cupped their fists, and shouted in unison,

“We pay respects to the Young Master!”

“We pay respects to the Young Master!”