Chapter 284

Chapter 284

The Great Seal was destroyed.

That news spread throughout the entire Central Plains the moment the Murim Alliance search party returned. That’s because among those firmly holding the real power in the world, including the Imperial Family, there wasn’t a single person who didn’t know the importance of the Great Seal.

The Nine Sects and One Gang, the Five Great Families, the Seven Gates and Two Families, and even the Ming Imperial Family.

These prominent figures realized the seriousness of the situation and quickly exchanged opinions to prepare countermeasures to protect the common people. The forces located on the outskirts who had to act immediately promptly began their response, and sects or forces that hadn’t yet directly confronted yokai agreed to organize reinforcements. 

Both the Orthodox Faction and the Unorthodox Faction knew that such countermeasures were nowhere near enough when humanity as a whole faced extinction. The Demonic Cult also knew, and so did the Imperial Family.

That’s why the Sword Saint sent letters to various places to coordinate the situation, and thus arrived at the current situation.

A situation where all those who control the world’s interests sit at one table to share opinions.

Beijing. Great Hall.

“Is your condition alright?”

“It’s fine.”

Cheon Seoryeong, who looked at Baek Rigang standing with a haggard complexion with a worried face, frowned at the dry answer. She went to the trouble of worrying and speaking to him, only to receive an utterly bland response.

“What do you mean fine? It’s obvious to anyone’s eyes that your internal injuries haven’t healed yet.”

“……I’m rather better off. In your case, didn’t your entire arm fly off?”

“It’s my left arm, you know?”

“I’m a right-handed swordsman, so it’s fine. It’s a bit inconvenient, but not to the point where I can’t adapt.”

While saying this, Cheon Seoryeong fluttered her empty sleeve with Void Grasping to show him, and Baek Rigang, who had been about to say many things watching her, firmly shut his mouth. Because it seemed like nothing good would come out if he opened it.

‘There’s no way she’s fine.‘

In Daoist martial arts, there’s something called the Sword Finger Seal.

It’s moving the index and middle fingers of the hand opposite to the one holding the sword, extended like a single sword, and even though the motion may seem meaningless at first glance, it has more significance than you’d think.

That’s because the Sword Finger Seal is a motion that helps maintain the center of one’s posture. It’s a remnant from the process of efficiently changing from using both a longsword and short sword to eliminating the use of the short sword. But what happens if a swordsman can’t hold that Sword Finger Seal?

‘No matter if she’s a swordsman who uses her right hand, her level will have dropped compared to before.‘

It will be difficult to recover her previous martial prowess before adapting. Nevertheless, the fact that she’s showing an indifferent expression is surely because she’s being conscious of Baek Rigang or other acquaintances.

“……I’m glad you’re fine.”

“Huhu.”

Unable to say what he wanted to say, Baek Rigang let out low words, and at his appearance, Cheon Seoryeong smiled and chattered away.

“These days I’m practicing to correct my swordsmanship even without my left arm. It probably won’t take too long.”

“Is that so?”

“Rather than that, shall we talk about the meeting? How do you think it will go? The countermeasures…….”

“Be quiet. His Majesty will arrive soon.”

“Tch.”

Baek Rigang, who shot a sharp glance at Cheon Seoryeong clicking her tongue lightly, straightened his back at the presence felt from outside the door. And the following proclamation.

“His Majesty the Emperor arrives—!!!”

A heavy aura presses down on the Great Hall.

In front, the heads of the Jinyiwei and Dongchang; behind, the Grand General and the Water God Guard.

Beside them, the Emperor, leading Western King Ju Tae, slowly moved his steps and crossed the center of the Great Hall. An intangible energy solemnly filling the Great Hall despite his low level of martial arts.

Authority fills the surroundings without saying a single word.

The Sado Alliance Leader, who had been secretly yawning at length while bowing to the intimidating presence felt from that lean frame, subtly brightened his eyes. And the moment he reached the jade throne, the Emperor turned around and looked at the figures bowing their heads.

“Raise your heads.”

At the Emperor’s command, those who had been bowing deeply immediately straightened their backs. And the Emperor, looking at this, gazed at the person positioned at the front.

“Elder Weiji, it’s been a long time. Has it been over thirty years since Elder and I last met?”

“It would be about that, Your Majesty.”

“It feels like yesterday when Elder taught me swordsmanship, but it’s already been thirty years…….”

Has so much time passed.

The Emperor, who had been lost in reminiscence for a moment, looked at Sword Saint Weiji Xue, who still maintained keen eyes despite being over eighty years old, and sat on the jade throne. The following words.

“There are many troublesome things like court etiquette and protocol remaining, but we don’t have time for that in the current situation.”

“Let’s start the meeting immediately.”

Indeed, is this someone born to be a monarch?

“This humble one will speak first, Your Majesty.”

Looking at the Emperor who skipped the introduction and brought up the main topic, the Sado Alliance Leader, slightly impressed, quietly stepped forward. And Ju Tae, whispering to the Emperor while looking at his face.

“This is Sado Alliance Leader Mumyeong, Your Majesty.”

“Sado Alliance Leader.”

The Emperor, who looked at Mumyeong for a moment, nodded.

“Alliance Leader. I have heard much about you from my younger brother. They say you control the Black Path forces and contribute to maintaining order in the martial world.”

“I merely parasitize the shadows where lamplight doesn’t reach.”

“Light cannot shine everywhere. Even if it started as parasitism, if you can give and receive good influences, that should be called symbiosis, not parasitism. Can the Black Path and the common people coexist?”

“I am working toward that.”

“Good.”

The Emperor, who lightly received the Sado Alliance Leader’s words, gestured toward Mumyeong as if telling him to continue. And Mumyeong, taking that instruction, took a deep breath and bowed his head.

“First, let me organize the current situation, Your Majesty.”

“Currently, yokai are swarming into all areas of this Ming Empire.”

“All areas.”

“Yes.”

Mumyeong, who lightly received the Emperor’s words, continued speaking.

“Immediately through independent intelligence from the Sado Alliance and the Murim Alliance, we’ve confirmed the appearance of Hundred Demons Night Parades in Gansu, Yunnan, Liaoning, and Shanxi. Other places haven’t been reported yet, but we believe it’s only a matter of time.”

“……Hmm.”

At Mumyeong’s words, the Emperor, who had been stroking his beard for a moment while shining keen eyes, asked the Grand General standing beside him in a heavy voice.

“Grand General. How is the response progressing?”

“For now, we’re blocking major strongpoints using the Imperial Army near the border, but…….”

“It sounds to my ears like the response is not going smoothly.”

“I apologize. Because the yokai are so powerful and special, we’re experiencing setbacks in troop operations.”

“You’re not to blame. I’m not unaware of how vast the three regions are, excluding Shanxi.”

Gansu, Yunnan, and Liaoning.

Among the four regions where Hundred Demons Night Parades have currently been reported, three regions are actually areas where the Imperial Army’s influence doesn’t reach well.

Yunnan is far away and there are setbacks in the Imperial Army adapting to the region because it was originally Dali Kingdom’s territory, and Gansu itself is too vast. Liaoning is also in a situation where the Imperial Army has difficulty acting actively due to the influence of nomadic peoples living around it, so it’s natural that the situation is not going smoothly.

“Countermeasures should take priority over blame. Alliance Leader. Do you have a solution?”

“Rather than having one, I’m already acting on my own authority, Your Majesty.”

“Acting on your own authority…… In what way?”

“In Gansu’s case, Gongdong; in Yunnan’s case, Jeomchang; in Shanxi’s case, Cheolhyeolmun has responded. In Liaoning as well, the Paeng Family and the Beggar’s Gang have joined forces and are currently exterminating all yokai flowing out. Even regions the Imperial Army can’t defend can be quickly blocked if it’s nimble martial artists, can’t they?”

“Hmm.”

Unlike the Imperial Army that must move in unit formations, martial artists have no affiliations and can move in small groups, so quick response is possible.

“Most powerful Hundred Demons Night Parades come to attack humans via major strategic points. Therefore, small-scale Hundred Demons Night Parades are currently being blocked by the Murim Alliance and this Alliance, but.”

“Is there an additional problem?”

“Yes. There are limits.”

“In detail.”

“With the current response, we won’t last even two months. Because this is merely the opening skirmish.”

“……Opening skirmish?”

“The yokai outside the Ming territory are strong. Significantly stronger than the yokai of the Central Plains.”

In the Central Plains continent, Heukya, needless to say in the strongest ranks, is classified as one of the Seven Great Yokai. Nakcheon, who reached the realm of Transcendence and is significantly stronger than Ilryun, is also classified as one of the Seven Great Yokai.

That means, conversely, that outside the Central Plains continent, there are five more yokai comparable to Nakcheon or Heukya. Of course, there’s no way those yokai would unite and invade the Central Plains continent, and among them, there are yokai who have no interest in humans at all, but the fact that yokai have such potential is certain in the current situation.

“Originally, there are few who can face great yokai. In the Imperial Army, it’s the General rank. In the Murim Alliance or this Alliance, it’s the Vice-Commander level. In each major sect, at least Elder level is needed to barely settle a match with yokai who have just become great yokai.”

“You mean that even counting all of Ming territory, they don’t number a thousand.”

“Yes. Moreover, once the Great Seal is broken and demonic power flows in, the yokai’s strength will inevitably be enhanced. Because the yokai will start creating Demon Realms one by one.”

Don’t they say even a dog eats half when it’s at home?

The difference in strength between a yokai who has established a Demon Realm and one who hasn’t is like night and day. If such Demon Realms spread throughout the Central Plains, not only will subjugation become difficult, but in severe cases, situations may arise where entire regions must be abandoned.

“A terrible situation.”

The Emperor, who grasped the situation from the Sado Alliance Leader’s words, swallowed a contemplative sound and turned his gaze toward the Grand General.

“Grand General. Is there a response plan?”

“……I apologize.”

“You mean there isn’t. Do you have a response plan?”

“We do, but we need time.”

“You need time. It sounds like you can resolve this situation if given time, am I right?”

“I cannot give a definite answer. However, the probability is high.”

“What is that plan?”

“We’re thinking of installing a new Great Seal.”

After all, the current situation occurred because demonic power spread throughout the Central Plains.

Then there’s only one measure to take to resolve this situation. Expelling demonic power from the Central Plains again.

“If we’re given about three months, we can install a new Great Seal. This time, we can also make it stronger so it won’t be destroyed.”

“It seems like a good plan. But you don’t seem to easily present that alternative. Is there a reason?”

“……There’s something we need.”

“Something needed, do you need gold and manpower?”

“No.”

“Then you need my permission for something. I don’t suppose you’re moving your mouth to gain private profit, and looking at how you’re suggesting this alternative to me through the form of a meeting like this.”

“You’re exactly right.”

“Hmm.”

Since you’re going through such complex procedures, it’s surely not a condition that’s easy to approve. It must be a condition that’s difficult for the Imperial Family to accept.

‘Even so, I must hear it.‘

If there’s no other alternative, there’s no choice. In the first place, this isn’t a matter of the martial world’s survival, but of Ming’s, and furthermore, humanity’s survival.

“Speak.”

At the Emperor’s appearance, who seemed to contemplate for a moment before speaking, the Sado Alliance Leader inwardly gave a bitter smile and quietly bowed.

“The Demonic Cult.”

The next moment.

At the Sado Alliance Leader’s words, all the Ming officials standing present widened their eyes.

“Permission for the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult to stay in the Central Plains. That is the necessary condition.”