So? Did Someone Force You to Become the Heavenly Demon?

With ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍his mind made up to head south, Il-mok turned to look at Jong-ri Chu, but the words caught in his throat.

‘If ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍I just leave things as they are, the north could turn into a complete disaster.’

Without ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍him there, holding the northern defense was going to be a serious problem. He needed to throw together some kind of contingency plan before hitting the road, even if it was just a band-aid solution. 

He ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍mulled it over for a moment, and then something came to mind.

***

A ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍few days later.

Near Huayin in Shaanxi Province.

The allied forces of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had set up camp right on top of the old stomping grounds of the eradicated Mount Hua Sect. Their purpose was to regroup and formulate a strategy following a series of defeats.

Zhuge Mun was burning the midnight oil as he shuffled strategy after strategy inside his mind, but nothing useful came to him. The best he could think of was to drag things out as long as possible and hope that the fires of rebellion spreading across the Central Plains would keep growing.

On the table in front of him lay a single sheet of paper. It was a rough summary of the key martial artists on both sides and the remaining troop numbers.

On their side: Cult Leader Wi Jin-hak. Right Guardian Dokgo Ryong. Hidden Guard Pavilion Lord. Dark Shadow Pavilion Lord Seo Wan-pyeong. Grand Teacher Hyeokryeon Cheon-gang. Ouyang Pae. Baek Un-hak. Hwangbo Ak and the Beggar King. And then Hall of the Demonic Way Master Yeom Ga-hwi and Jeok Ri-gang.

Of those names, two had been crossed out in ink.

Jeok Ri-gang had been killed in battle, and Yeom Ga-hwi had suffered severe internal injuries and couldn't return to the field for some time.

On the flip side, the enemy roster featured the Divine Monk, the Supreme Eunuch, Eunuch Bang, the Buddha Venerable, the Central Military Commander, and the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard who had only recently made his presence known.

They only numbered six, but the Divine Monk and the Supreme Eunuch were a disaster on their own.

Zhuge Mun was still stewing over those names when he sensed movement from outside.

"Chief Strategist, the Cult Leader is requesting your presence."

The sudden summons was puzzling, but Zhuge Mun stood and made his way to the hall where Wi Jin-hak was staying.

"I greet the Cult Leader."

Zhuge Mun offered a bow, and Wi Jin-hak returned it with a tired nod. "Come in, Chief Strategist Zhuge."

Wi Jin-hak then gave a glance to the Hidden Guard Pavilion Lord, who produced a letter and held it out to Zhuge Mun.

"A letter from the Left Guardian, sent from the north."

Following Wi Jin-hak's brief explanation, Zhuge Mun took the letter and read through it.

After thoroughly reviewing its contents, his expression grew complicated.

"Are you intending to act on the Left Guardian's suggestion?"

Wi Jin-hak nodded.

"Given everything the Left Guardian has accomplished so far, and especially regarding the Right Guardian, his reasoning seems sound to me."

The mere mention of Dokgo Ryong pulled a wry smile from Zhuge Mun. From a strategist's perspective, Dokgo Ryong was about the most difficult kind of person to manage.

"You seem to be in agreement as well, Chief Strategist. Then we'll proceed as suggested."

With that, Wi Jin-hak projected his voice through his internal energy and called out past the walls of the hall.

"Bring me the Right Guardian."

"Yes, Cult Leader!"

A voice answered from outside, and one of the guards standing watch departed.

About a quarter of an hour later, Dokgo Ryong arrived in response to the summons.

"I greet the Cult Leader!"

Dokgo Ryong offered his bow, and Wi Jin-hak nodded and opened his mouth.

"I've called you here because I have a mission to entrust to you."

Before the words were even fully out, Dokgo Ryong burst into a booming laugh.

"Hahaha! Are you finally giving me command of the vanguard?"

Zhuge Mun shot Wi Jin-hak with a wry look, and Wi Jin-hak had to fight the overwhelming urge to facepalm.

Summoning every last shred of patience he had, Wi Jin-hak managed a strained smile.

"You're leading the vanguard, sure. Just... not here."

"Then where am I headed? Ah, I see! You were planning to strike the Forbidden City to split the enemy's attention, weren't you? As expected of my lord!"

Staring at the starry-eyed Dokgo Ryong, Wi Jin-hak and Zhuge Mun arrived at the same conclusion.

‘Just as the Left Guardian said.’

‘God only knows what kind of disaster he'd cause if left here.’

They could vividly picture him ignoring all rules of engagement and blindly charging into enemy lines even if the Divine Monk or the Supreme Eunuch were present. To prevent such an important asset from dying meaninglessly, the Left Guardian’s proposed solution was remarkably simple.

"Head to the North."

The plan was to swap the positions of Il-mok and Dokgo Ryong.

Send the man who only knew how to charge to the north, and bring the vastly more useful Il-mok back to the main stage. 

The moment Wi Jin-hak finished giving the order, Zhuge Mun added his piece.

"The Left Guardian alone seems to be struggling against those vicious Mierqi bastards. The Right Guardian is far more accustomed to dealing with the northern nomads, so it would be best for the Left Guardian to return here while the Right Guardian takes charge in the north."

It was a white-faced lie custom-tailored to stroke his ego. If they had told him they were benching him for his own safety, the old man would have foamed at the mouth in outrage. 

It was persuasion, nothing more. If they told Dokgo Ryong the real reason, that they were sending him north because they were worried he'd get himself killed, the man would foam at the mouth. Instead, they spun a tale about Il-mok lacking the necessary capability and needing Dokgo Ryong to step in.

And the lie worked flawlessly.

"Hmph. I'd heard the Left Guardian was brilliant beyond compare, but I suppose he still has his limits. Well, it can't be helped. I'll go take over for him."

"Then issue the order to the nomadic cavalry right away and have them prepare to move. You'll need to get to the north as fast as possible before the imperial army makes its move."

"Yes, Cult Leader!"

Dokgo Ryong strode out of the hall triumphantly, leaving Wi Jin-hak and Zhuge Mun to share a look at each other.

They'd managed to get Dokgo Ryong out of the danger, but they weren't out of the woods yet. There was no way the old meathead could fill the shoes of both Il-mok and Jin Hayeon by himself. They needed a substitute for Jin Hayeon, and they had already picked the lucky winner while waiting for Dokgo to show up.

"Bring me the Missionary Hall Master!”

The poor soul was Baek Un-hak. 

He had plenty of experience with defensive sieges after holding out in Sichuan for quite some time, and his expertise with hidden weapons made him genuinely useful in that kind of defensive warfare. The Wooden Boxed Thunder Bombs that had served him so brilliantly in Sichuan had long since been depleted, but his skills themselves weren't going anywhere.

On top of that, he and Dokgo Ryong absolutely despised each other. They needed someone who could rein in Dokgo Ryong and keep him from going completely off the rails just because he now held the Right Guardian title.

"...You want me to babysit that crazy coot, Dokgo Ryong... sorry, the Right Guardian, again?"

Understandably, Baek Un-hak looked like a man who had just been handed a death sentence when he heard the order.

The moment he was gone, Zhuge Mun let out a quiet sigh. "We've managed to send the two of them off, but I honestly don't know how much this will change things."

He couldn't shake the feeling that it was little more than rearranging deck chairs. In terms of overall combat strength, not much had actually changed.

Il-mok's World-Destroying Primordial Jade Palm was in a class of its own, but word had spread far enough by now that both sides had a decent grasp of its weaknesses. Even with Il-mok back in the south, there was no guarantee that he would be able to kill the Divine Monk or the Supreme Eunuch.

That was Zhuge Mun's assessment, and Wi Jin-hak's wasn't any different.

Except that he remained hopeful.

"The fact that the Left Guardian went to the trouble of sending a letter all the way here suggests he has something up his sleeve. For now, let's trust him and see what he's got."

He could only speculate that Il-mok was weaving a brilliant stratagem rather than relying purely on martial prowess.

***

Two days later.

A force of roughly a thousand men approached the northern border fortress, with Dokgo Ryong and Baek Un-hak at the head and the nomadic cavalry riding behind them.

‘I didn't expect them to send Baek Un-hak.’

Il-mok had specifically named Dokgo Ryong in his letter, but left the second person entirely to Wi Jin-hak's discretion. Leaving Dokgo Ryong on the southern front was a bad idea, since the man would practically gift-wrap his own head and deliver it to the Divine Monk or the Supreme Eunuch.

What Il-mok hadn't anticipated was that Wi Jin-hak's choice for the second slot would be Baek Un-hak.

Let's see... a suicidal mad bull, an insufferable drama queen, and an actual schizophrenic. 

Truly, it was the ultimate Heavenly Demon Divine Cult dream team.

‘Ahem. Well... We've thinned the Mierqi tribe enough that these guys shouldn't manage to completely blow it.’

Pushing the stray thought aside, Il-mok turned to Jong-ri Chu for a final farewell.

"Sixth Brother, I'll leave things in your capable hands here."

"I wish you good fortune in battle, Left Guardian."

Jong-ri Chu was doing noticeably better these days.

After a brief exchange, Il-mok set out from the fortress with only his attendants in tow.

Ohalak and James watched Il-mok and his maids disappear into the distance, both wearing the same dejected look.

"Haah, now that the Left Guardian's gone, the defense is going to get a lot harder."

"You're telling me. One Heavenly Demon Death Ball and the whole problem's solved, but now how the hell are we supposed to hold them off?"

Jong-ri Chu let out a long sigh at their nonsense.

"Are you two out of your minds?"

"...We're sorry, Deputy Master."

"We spoke out of turn with the Deputy Master right here."

They were basically crying about how doomed they were right to their commander's face, so they couldn't exactly complain about getting chewed out. But that wasn't actually why Jong-ri Chu was reprimanding them.

"The Cult Leader himself is very much alive and in power, so how dare you slap the title of Heavenly Demon onto the Left Envoy's Divine Art?"

Only then did Ohalak and James realize what they'd actually gotten wrong.

"Then we'll call it the Left Guardian Death Ball."

"Ehh. Doesn't quite have the same ring to it, does it?"

Both of them looked genuinely bummed out with the alternatives.

‘Heavenly Demon Death Ball really does sound better, though... If the Left Guardian ever became the Heavenly Demon himself, then it wouldn't be an issue.’

James was already smacking his lips wistfully over the thought when he caught himself and shook his head hard.

Back in the West where he was from, getting your head lopped off for blasphemy or heresy was a pretty standard Tuesday, and he wasn't looking to relive the experience.

***

Il-mok and his group had been heading south toward Huayin for about a day when they ran into a member of the Beggars’ Gang near Zichang in Shaanxi Province.

"Thank goodness I didn't miss you! I was heading north with an urgent message for the Left Guardian!"

"Urgent? What's happened?"

When Il-mok asked in a serious tone, the Beggars’ Gang member quickly replied. "The imperial army has begun pushing into Shaanxi. Therefore, our side has divided the troops gathered at Huayin and mobilized to intercept them. Strategist Zhuge instructed the Left Guardian to link up with the unit that headed toward Heyang."

Heyang was farther north than Huayin, making it a much shorter trip for Il-mok's crew coming down from the border. Zhuge Mun had clearly factored that in when he split the forces and sent the messenger.

"Understood."

Il-mok relayed his answer to the beggar and changed course toward Heyang.

***

Meanwhile, at a military camp pitched half a day's ride from Heyang.

A middle-aged man dressed in the uniform of an imperial army officer walked briskly toward his destination.

The place he arrived at was a modest tent that was completely at odds with someone of his rank. He looked at it for a moment before speaking in a formal tone.

"Are you in there?"

An answer came from inside the tent in response, though not through the ears. It resonated directly in the mind.

—Speak freely.

The man had experienced this a few times now, but he still couldn't get used to it. Shaking the thought away, he answered.

"There's an enemy camp about half a day's march from here."

The moment the word enemy left his mouth, an overwhelming killing intent seeped out from inside the tent.

The man swallowed involuntarily.

‘To think a monk could feel like that...’

While that thought drifted through his mind, the voice resonated in his head again.

—When do you plan to attack?

"...We'll rest the men tonight and march on them around daybreak tomorrow."

—Understood.

As if there was nothing more to say, the oppressive presence emanating from the tent quietly died down.

Perhaps he was composing himself for the slaughter to come tomorrow.

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