The fabric of their clothes whipped violently in the wind.
“Damn it!”
Mookbi cursed, something completely unlike her usual self.
“Then what happens? Will Guangdong Province itself be thrown into chaos?”
“Yes.”
Thundering hooves echoed.
Riding atop Red Wind, Yeon Hojeong’s face was hardened to the extreme.
“According to this man, he has already identified the locations of every key official in the Guangdong provincial government. Correct?”
Sima Hyeon nodded.
Had he learned horsemanship while studying assassination techniques as well? His skill at handling a horse was remarkably refined.
“I left in a hurry, so I did not hear the details. Just when did this begin?”
“I do not know either. However, when I began to stand out among the disciples, he started training me as his successor, the next Yin God. From that point onward, he handed me information piece by piece.”
Sima Hyeon’s eyes deepened.
“I am certain it did not originate from the previous generation. The Yin God was merely the strongest figure worshipped like a god by all assassins under heaven. He was never a king. That is something every assassin living in the shadows acknowledges.”
“He ruled, but did not govern...”
“Exactly. That is why the Yin God was able to become a legend.”
A figure who received the respect of every assassin through presence alone.
But Yayul Jeok was different. The moment he became the Yin God, he took the life of his predecessor and simultaneously began tightening his control over those around him.
Yayul Jeok’s ability to seize control was astonishing.
It was true that when the legend known as the Yin God °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° announced his intention to create an imperial court of the underworld, countless assassins gathered without hesitation. However, completely managing that vast number of assassins and expanding the organization at a terrifying pace were entirely Yayul Jeok’s achievements.
In other words, Yayul Jeok was the one who dragged the name of the Yin God—a figure worshipped as a legend—into the real world and transformed it into the name of a ruler.
It was a grand way of putting it, but in the end, he had created yet another faction and established it as an unavoidable force in the southern martial world.
That was why some assassins viewed the current Yin God with deep disapproval. Although many assassins offered him their respect and followed in his footsteps, it was because of the Yin God’s unique dark romanticism—the ability to move freely between the boundary of life and death.
Even if their work consisted of killing people for money, it seemed that assassins considered such a thing a kind of romance.
The harsher and darker a profession was, the more firmly it required established principles. Only by living according to those principles could one receive respect.
In that regard, the current Yin God was vastly different from the Yin Gods of previous generations.
“Surprisingly, Hong Gwan—or rather, the man you call Yayul Jeok—does not seem to intend to bring every assassin under heaven beneath his command.”
Mookbi asked in confusion.
“He gathered countless assassins and built his own kingdom. How could he not possess such ambition?”
“That is how it appeared to me.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Though he is my enemy, Yayul Jeok’s ability to control an organization is extraordinary. If he had truly desired it, he could have unified the assassin world years ago. He possesses that ability, and furthermore, he possesses the power granted by the name Yin God.”
“...!”
“Yet he never left Guangdong Province. He only raised the level of the assassins under his command and never reached beyond that. His stage was always Guangdong Province in the Central Plains.”
“Why...?”
At that moment, Yeon Hojeong spoke.
“Because he is a member of the Perverse Lust Cult.”
“What?”
“He never forgot his true role. Before he was the Yin God, he was an agent sent by the Perverse Lust Cult. In fact, when I fought him, what stood out was not the pride he had from the reputation of being the Yin God, but the pride he held as a member of the Perverse Lust Cult.”
“...!!”
Mookbi’s eyes shook.
“Then in the end, his purpose is...?”
“Yes.”
The Flood Dragon Chain wrapped around Yeon Hojeong’s upper body, as if sensing its master’s thoughts, released a sharp metallic cry.
“To remain in the south as a reliable foundation when the Perverse Lust Cult attempts to enter the Central Plains. If the Perverse Lust Cult is defeated and forced into retreat, he can open an escape route. Furthermore, he can become the actual military force that pushes northward from the south.”
“...!!”
“The Perverse Lust Cult is everything to him. It is true fanaticism. That man, Yayul Jeok, is someone who can sacrifice everything for the Perverse Lust Cult.”
Mookbi suddenly felt a chill run through her entire body.
The Yayul Jeok she had seen was powerful. Not merely powerful—he was so overwhelmingly strong that he surpassed the level of the leaders of the Nine Sects and Six Great Clans.
Setting aside the experts of the Supreme Heavens, he was unquestionably someone worthy of being called a master capable of contending for supremacy under heaven.
And a master of that level was willing to stake his life for a single organization.
Everyone pursued different things, but someone of such strength would surely have desired to establish his own faction. Yet despite that, Yayul Jeok had faithfully followed the commands of the Perverse Lust Cult.
How frightening.
Mookbi once again felt fear toward the Three Creeds.
She feared the doctrines that could earn absolute loyalty without even a trace of doubt from a master of that level. She feared the confidence and resolve that allowed them to send someone of such strength into the world.
Even knowing that a single betrayal could cause irreparable damage, they had acted without hesitation.
That meant the Perverse Lust Cult’s ability to control its followers was truly immense.
Sima Hyeon spoke.
“As I said, Yayul Jeok has identified the locations of all key officials in the Guangdong provincial government. And he has placed assassins beside them.”
“...”
“I do not even know how he intends to issue the order. However, I know one thing.”
“What?”
“When he gives the command, the assassins stationed beside those officials will kill them all at once.”
“...”
“Although the imperial court and government offices have weakened, the reason ordinary people can still maintain something resembling a normal life is because of the government’s efforts. If all those high-ranking officials were slaughtered, Guangdong Province would fall into chaos from that very day.”
Yeon Hojeong, who had been silently listening, added.
“It would not end there. The government of Guangdong Province is deeply involved in the daily lives of its people, even handling detailed management of fishing and trade. In terms of precision and thoroughness, other regions cannot even compare.”
“Why... why?”
“Guangdong is a place where many people from foreign countries across the sea come and go. That means it has many opportunities to encounter foreign goods and cultures. And that means the imperial system itself could be shaken.”
“...!!”
“Moreover, it is extremely far from the imperial court. That means the influence of the central government is weaker here. The people living in Guangdong already maintain a culture distinctly different from that of the central and northern regions.”
Mookbi’s eyes trembled.
Even Yeon Hojeong’s hardened expression gradually revealed urgency.
“Do you remember when we defeated the Corridor Band in Shandong? Ahyeon said then that if the Sea Dragon Trading Company collapsed, Shandong’s commercial world would collapse. If Shandong’s commerce collapsed, public sentiment would become unstable, and eventually the entire province would fall into chaos.”
“...Yes, she did.”
“What Yayul Jeok is attempting is even worse. He is not merely trying to strike a single organization. He intends to cripple Guangdong Province’s entire government system in one blow.”
The corners of Yeon Hojeong’s eyes twitched.
“If the government collapses, Guangdong falls into chaos. Then the central government will send countless officials and troops to restore order. If that happens, who benefits?”
“...!”
“The Divine Flame Cult. Their agents are still operating throughout the imperial court and government offices. Taking advantage of the central government’s weakened strength, the Divine Flame Cult’s takeover of the imperial court will accelerate. And when that happens, the Perverse Lust Cult’s advance into the Central Plains will become even faster.”
Mookbi opened and closed her mouth.
She had not learned about the world for long, but she possessed an exceptional mind. After all, she had even taken responsibility for training the Evil-Smiting Corps in tactics in Yeon Hojeong’s place.
However, her lack of experience with the world was still an unavoidable fact.
When it came to politics and viewing the greater picture, her abilities were still lacking. Naturally, hearing something like this left her deeply shaken.
How could this happen?
For a moment, a hellish vision appeared before Mookbi’s eyes.
A Central Plains transformed into a land of chaos, where ordinary people suffered and the world burned.
“Ever since the martial world became established within the Central Plains, imperial politics could no longer follow the same path as before. Everything changed, both the large and the small. But among the most important policies was the strict control of regions connected to the sea.”
“The sea...”
“Should another world outside imperial law appear, like the martial world, the foundation of the empire will become as fragile as a candle in the wind. As I said, Guangdong is a place where foreign goods and influences constantly enter. If Guangdong were to turn its back on the central government even once, the empire’s position would weaken further, and eventually the entire Central Plains would fall into chaos.”
Sima Hyeon nodded.
“From the perspective of an invader, that period of chaos would be the perfect moment to strike. After all, the one who takes the world first will seize everything.”
“We cannot allow an era of warlords dividing the land to arrive. Not now. That is why we must stop them.”
Mookbi took a deep breath.
“So, in simple terms, we absolutely must stop Yayul Jeok.”
“Exactly. But...”
Yeon Hojeong’s eyes gleamed.
Far ahead, five li away, a fork in the road had come into view.
“We may already be too late. But we cannot simply give up. You go to the Night Citadel with Sima Hyeon. He will guide you.”
“What about you, Supreme Commander?”
Sima Hyeon answered.
“He is going to the provincial capital.”
“The provincial capital?!”
“Any death among the high-ranking officials would be a problem, but the most important figures among them are concentrated in the provincial capital. And among them, there are two people who absolutely cannot die.”
“Who are they?”
“The left and right Provincial Administration Commissioners of the Office of Provincial Administration, who oversee administration and governance.”
“Ah!”
Yeon Hojeong looked at Mookbi.
“I will go protect them. Though it may already be too late.”
“Yes!”
“Take care of this. Though he is severely injured, Yayul Jeok is still a master. You must stop whatever scheme he has planned together with Commander Mo Yong. Sima Hyeon will guide you.”
“I understand.”
“Do not die.”
Mookbi smiled.
“You too, Young Master Yeon.”
Yeon Hojeong gave a faint laugh.
“I am not Young Master. I am Supreme Commander.”
With that, their conversation ended. Yeon Hojeong urged Red Wind forward.
Thud-thud-thud-thud!
Red Wind’s speed was astonishing.
Red Wind was a divine steed under heaven, capable of effortlessly carrying even the weight of the Mad Dragon. Perhaps sensing its master’s resolve, the horse raced forward at twice its previous speed.
Faster than the movement arts of a Peak master. The charge of Red Wind—with its extreme strength and endurance surpassing even a Blood-Sweat Horse—made Yeon Hojeong’s battle intent surge.
“Hyah!”
Rumble!
At the fork in the road, Yeon Hojeong headed north.
Mookbi looked at Sima Hyeon.
“Can your movement art keep up?”
“Do not worry. At least I am better than you.”
“Then let us run.”
Whoosh!
The two figures leapt from their saddles and raced south.
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