Chapter 197: Black Lotus (2)
To be honest, I didn’t fully believe everything Jegal Eun said.
Humans tend to be fundamentally conservative when it comes to areas they haven’t personally experienced.
Especially the reversal of internal energy—this was something even she had never heard of before, an utterly unbelievable phenomenon.
If one had abandoned their internal energy and started over, that might be understandable, but for all their existing internal energy to completely transform into demonic energy—was that even possible?
And then—
‘What about the fact that more than half of the orthodox factions are plotting the collapse of order?’
However, since both the Saber King and the Venerable Buddha, the epitomes of wisdom among the orthodox, vouched for it, she couldn’t outright deny the truth either.
How much of that lengthy half-hour explanation was mixed with lies and exaggeration?
She figured it was up to her to make that judgment moving forward.
More than anything—
‘This… this might actually be fun!’
Once she realized the Black Lotus wasn’t merely an evil organization, her chronic curiosity reared its head again.
At that moment, Cheon Yura approached her and handed her something.
“Here. Take this.”
“What is it?”
“You should conceal your identity, shouldn’t you?”
A black mask engraved with a crescent moon on the forehead.
“From now on, your alias and name will be Black Lotus Disciple Sima Eun.”
Though she didn’t have an official alias yet, within her clan she had been referred to as Munryeon.
In a few years’ time, she would likely join the new generation of Four Phoenixes under the names Literary Lotus or Wise Phoenix, so the alias ‘Black Lotus’ was quite fitting.
However, she had one question.
“Why the Sima surname, of all things?”
Jegal Eun blinked slightly.
“Isn’t Sima a good opposite to Jegal?”
“……”
What kind of logic was that?
Sure, a thousand-some years ago, the Jegal and Sima clans didn’t get along.
But after both declined post-Eastern Jin dynasty, any lingering enmity between the clans had long since disappeared.
“Sima… Sima Eun, huh…”
Still, if she was going to operate as a strategist for the Black Lotus, she definitely needed a way to conceal her identity.
“Not bad!”
“Right?”
Cheon Yura smiled in satisfaction at the reaction she had hoped for.
“But if we’re coming up with aliases, wouldn’t Demonic Lotus Flower be better…?”
Jegal Eun tried to slyly suggest an upgrade from Three Blossoms to Four Demons.
“Rejected. Someone who hasn’t even set foot in the Demonic Path dares suggest such a thing?”
“……”
Faced with her firm refusal, Jegal Eun pouted.
Her expression, like a sulky rabbit, softened Cheon Yura’s heart just a bit.
“If you contribute significantly to the Black Lotus, I’ll consider promoting you to Saha.”
“I’ll do my best!”
Seeing Jegal Eun flare up with motivation in an instant, I let out a sigh and rubbed my forehead.
“You shouldn’t try too hard.”
If she tried too hard and the Black Lotus ended up succeeding wildly, that would be a serious problem.
***
Jegal Eun’s joining our side was quite the encouraging development.
Though she was young, her intellect and insight were exceptional.
More importantly, her proficiency in high-level formations was worth high praise.
“Jin Yeomyung.”
“Yes, Lady Cheon.”
After Baek Sang-ah took Jegal Eun away and the Venerable Buddha and Saber King went off to have a drinking bout, only Cheon Yura and I remained in the hall.
She asked me,
“In the end, are you planning to formally establish the Black Lotus?”
I nodded.
“If we don’t take any action now, the Black Lotus or whatever it is will collapse before we even begin.”
Yesterday’s indiscriminate attack on the Demonic Faction was clearly carried out by an Awakened One.
What had been ninety percent suspicion had now turned into complete certainty.
It seemed my letter to Sword Supreme Sage Gwan Hyun had taken effect—he hadn’t left Luoyang and had begun using increasingly radical methods.
“I had provoked him a bit to push him across the line, but I didn’t expect him to come out so blatantly aggressive.”
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
Cheon Yura, her expression subdued, asked me this:
“Jin Yeomyung. Do you trust them?”
Them.
There was no way I didn’t know who she was referring to in this situation.
I paused for a moment.
“Before… the Venerable Buddha once said this to me: it’s not strange to feel a sense of belonging to the place you were born and raised.”
I chuckled softly.
Looking back, it was a painfully obvious statement.
“That sentiment applies not only to the Heaven-Defying Society but to all of us.”
“Then that means…”
“Yes, I don’t trust them.”
The Saber King had ties not only to the Sword Demon but also close relations with the Extreme Blade Sect.
The Venerable Buddha said he knew the Cult Leader personally and even handed me the Muscle Changing and Marrow Cleansing Classic.
Even so—
“Even if they’re not our enemies, they can still turn against us depending on their personal goals.”
Whether I betrayed them or they betrayed us.
In the Venerable Buddha’s eyes, I had seen a hatred that was unmistakable—definitely not a mistake.
That hatred could explode beyond my expectations at any time, in any place.
Cheon Yura nodded, satisfied.
“I’m glad you understand. No matter how much they straddle the line between orthodoxy and heresy, they’re not true members of the cult.”
“Of course.”
“In this place, you’re the only one I trust. And… I hope you’ll only trust me as well.”
Unshakable trust.
The sense of camaraderie that only those who shared the same roots could feel.
And something even deeper than that radiated from her.
Hearing those words, I gave a wry smile.
“If Lady Baek hears that, she might be a little disappointed.”
At my words, Cheon Yura pouted in dissatisfaction.
"Could’ve just joined comfortably, but she insisted on being stubborn.”
“If she really had, we’d already be in the middle of a righteous-demonic war, so please hold back.”
Cheon Yura and I exchanged a small smile.
After Jegal Eun’s arrival, preparations for the founding of the Black Lotus reached their peak.
“Ten days and nights from now, the Lord of Luoyang has expressed his intent to attend the founding ceremony. He also said he would bring along the heads of the local branches and the magistrates under his command.”
“……”
“In return, the Luoyang Lord requested strict control over the demonic factions in Luoyang. Anyone extorting protection money from merchants or citizens, or causing trouble, can be summarily executed by official order with your permission, Lord Yeon.”
Before a gathering of over ten high-ranking officials, including the Lotus Lord Ma Geomhwa, Military Strategist Black Lotus Disciple ‘Sima Eun’ delivered her report.
On her very first day as a military strategist—
Jegal—no, Sima Eun—immediately founded the Strategy Department, brought in all the field operatives under Yumhon Saekma, and formed the foundation of the organization.
And on the very next day, she visited the Lord of Luoyang herself and completed negotiations regarding the establishment of the Black Lotus.
Waving a black-feathered fan—no one knew where she got it from—she continued her report.
“As of now, the number of demonic factions identified within Luoyang has exceeded four thousand. However, judging by the recent trend, the numbers are unlikely to increase further. Once we sort out the wheat from the chaff, we plan to reorganize the Black Lotus into three corps and nine units for the initial phase. Here’s the report detailing that.”
Baek Sang-ah felt overwhelmed by the forcefulness of her speech, like arrows raining down.
“Y-Yeah… Good work, Eun.”
Despite Baek Sang-ah’s praise, she shook her head sternly.
“This is an official setting, so please refer to me as Military Strategist or Black Lotus Disciple.”
“……”
“……”
In that moment, Baek Sang-ah and I exchanged glances.
‘She’s getting way too into this roleplay.’
‘Still, she handled something pretty important, didn’t she? We should praise her.’
‘I didn’t expect her to get this into it either!’
As our exchange of looks dragged on, Jegal Eun tilted her head.
“Lord Yeon?”
Seeing her confused gaze, Baek Sang-ah hastily cleared her throat.
“Ahem! Well done, Strategist Black Lotus Disciple.”
“Thank you!”
“But working hard is good only as long as you don’t forget our true goal.”
“Of course!”
Her expression turned chilling in an instant.
“The hierarchy I established is strictly to control the demonic scum efficiently—not to grant them glory and wealth.”
Flinch!
Evil Snake Saber Demon, Mad Rage Blade, and others present at the meeting flinched.
They had only recently learned the true purpose of the Black Lotus.
But with the legendary masters Saber King and Venerable Buddha backing it, they couldn’t even think of escaping, effectively forced to serve like slaves.
As the First Strategist, I spoke.
“Due to consecutive ambushes over the past two days, everyone knows that the Wudang Sect is turning their disciples into monsters using forbidden arts.”
The room’s atmosphere immediately dropped.
In just a few short raids, around fifty demonic faction members had died.
And even up to yesterday, the attacks continued.
“There haven’t been civilian casualties yet, but we’ve already lost around two hundred martial artists.”
There were still many pawns on the board, so it wasn’t a critical loss—yet.
But if this trend continued even a few more days, the demonic factions would flee Luoyang.
And in the end, the Black Lotus would collapse before it ever achieved its founding purpose.
“It’s about time we counterattack.”
Who knew how many of those monsters the Wudang Sect had raised?
But ultimately, their targets were Demonic Sword Flower the Lotus Lord, and the Left and Right Guardians—Venerable Buddha and Saber King.
“Our Strategy Department is devising a plan to ensure total mutual destruction between the monsters sent by Wudang and the Black Lotus forces.”
If they needed bait, we’d toss some.
But they would pay the price in full.
Thorough annihilation.
That was the only purpose of the Black Lotus’s creation.
***
Jeonmu, the leading disciple of the Wudang Sect, planned to raid the Dokgo Clan with five of his fellow disciples.
Covered head to toe in black robes and masks, he turned to the disciples following behind and gave a stern warning.
“Don’t hesitate to spill blood just because they’re fellow orthodox sects.”
“Of course, Senior Brother.”
They were all those who had sworn to follow the will of Sword Supreme Sage Gwan Hyun, regardless of the methods.
“Our target is Baek Sang-ah, daughter of Namcheon. Eliminate any obstacles, but don’t forget she’s the top priority.”
“Yes, Senior Brother!”
Once today passed, the famed orthodox Dokgo Clan would fall, and the world would remember this as the Luoyang Blood Massacre!
As the first disciples prepared their killing intent and were about to enter the Dokgo estate—
“Hm, I was told it was around here…”
A young man appeared, casually glancing around the perimeter of the estate.
“That damned Myung bastard. What’s he doing in a place like this? Don’t tell me he’s trying to pick up a girl or—huh?”
The moment the young man and the Wudang disciples met eyes.
Jeonmu asked,
“…Who are you?”
“…Shouldn’t I be the one asking that?”
Seeing their obviously suspicious appearance, the young man gulped.
“You have business with the Dokgo Clan?”
“W-Well, I’m hoping to become a guest retainer, but…”
“……”
Usually in these situations, eliminating witnesses was both common sense and standard practice.
But despite dipping their hands into darkness, Wudang disciples were fundamentally naive hermits who only practiced martial arts in the mountains.
They weren’t used to this sort of situation.
“Leave. No one’s allowed into the Dokgo Clan today.”
Even Jeonmu, who followed the headmaster most deeply into the shadows, was no different.
“Ah, o-okay.”
The young man hurried past the Wudang disciples, clearly rattled.
“P-Pardon me.”
In a single fleeting moment—
With speed even those at the master level couldn’t detect, the young man’s hand brushed past the disciples.
As he prepared to leave the area—
“Wait.”
“Y-Yes?!”
Jeonmu narrowed his eyes and asked,
“You. What’s your name?”
He didn’t seem to have any weapons and looked like some nouveau riche’s son, but still—they had to confirm whether he was connected to the Dokgo Clan.
The young man, terrified of being killed, bowed deeply and said,
“Ah, I’m So Cheon from Gansu Province, sir!”