Chapter 158
The order, like the last will of the Sect Leader.
The moment he read it, Jaseong's pupils flickered intensely.
"A new Hao Sect Leader, huh... Things are unfolding in an unexpected direction."
A burning ambition stirred within Jaseong's chest.
Until now, Jaseong had been relentlessly forging ahead.
He had started from the very bottom of the Red Light District, absorbed the Dark Path of Guangxi Province, and seized control of the Tianxia Association.
Then, he had become the Lord of Scarlet Lotus Hall Hall, the thirteenth hall within the Hao Sect.
All those steps were taken to amass power for his revenge.
But now, an opportunity to gain power far greater and more definite than anything before was laid out before his eyes.
Hao Sect Leader.
The head of a massive intelligence network spanning the entire Central Plains.
If he attained that seat, his revenge would become swifter and more certain.
Moreover, right now, a new Heaven's Mandate—'Eradicate the Giant of Evil'—had descended.
Recently, at the Orthodox Factions Alliance meeting convened by the Murim Alliance, Jaseong's unexpected intrusion had accelerated internal rifts, but it was still not enough to carry out the Heaven's Mandate.
Had not even the Hao Sect Leader fallen to the joint attack of the Murim Alliance Leader Namgung Cheon-rui and the Sichuan Tang Clan Head, dang Cheolsan?
Thus, Jaseong needed to further strengthen himself for both revenge and Heaven's Mandate.
"Besides, I can't let those bastards who destroyed the very seat of Hao Sect get away. The internal traitor must also be rooted out."
Jaseong gazed out the window.
Dark clouds were gathering in the sky.
"Hyang-ah."
"Yes, hall lord."
"Contact all branches. Also, identify the whereabouts of the surviving hall lords."
There was unyielding majesty in Jaseong's voice, impossible to refuse.
"From this moment, Scarlet Lotus Hall will enter a state of emergency readiness. And..."
Jaseong turned around.
His gaze, catching the sunset, blazed red.
"I will become the new master of the Hao Sect."
* * *
After the Sect Leader's disappearance, the Hao Sect was swept into a vortex of overwhelming chaos.
With the absolute center gone, the ambitions of each hall, long suppressed, mushroomed like toxic fungi.
Instead of convening a joint meeting to discuss a countermeasure, the hall lords all chose their own paths to survival.
The largest factions, seven Star Hall and Flying Dragon Hall, became hell-bent on expanding their own territories amid the confusion at the headquarters.
The powerless smaller halls, desperate for survival, scrambled to align themselves with the giant factions.
Once hailed as the greatest intelligence network of the Central Plains and reigning as emperors of the night, the Hao Sect had been reduced to scattered grains of sand—fragmented into thirteen powerless pieces almost overnight.
Guizhou Province, Ansun.
Heavy silence hung in the office of the Scarlet Lotus Hall lord.
"Report."
Jaseong set down his teacup and spoke quietly.
Before him, Hyang-I was organizing a mountain of correspondence brought by carrier pigeons.
"As you suspected, some hall lords are already boldly showing their ambition for the seat of the new Hao Sect Leader, even though the current Sect Leader's life or death remains unconfirmed."
Hyang-I's voice was filled with concern.
Jaseong tapped the table with his finger, tok, tok.
"Specifically, what movements have there been?"
"Seven Star Hall Lord Wi Jiguang is absorbing the remnants of the headquarters' forces and calling himself acting Sect Leader. Flying Dragon Hall Lord Dokgo Pae is using force to seize control over the Shandong branches. As for Moonstar Hall Lord Zhang Baekwoon, he is declaring neutrality and building up an independent power base in the Hebei region."
Hyang-I paused briefly and unfolded a map.
Her finger pointed to the borders of Sichuan Province.
"And... Chokhwa Hall Lord Bae Wigan's actions are highly suspicious."
"Bae Wigan?"
"Yes. Just before the headquarters was attacked, reports say he secretly diverted troops toward Sichuan. He still remains there, making contact with someone."
Jaseong's eyes narrowed sharply.
The Sichuan side.
That was where the root of this disaster, the base of the Sichuan Tang Clan, was located.
"At present, the Hao Sect is masterless. The one who moves first will seize the initiative. However..."
A cold smile curled on Jaseong's lips.
"Without cutting away the rotten flesh inside, new flesh cannot grow."
Hyang-I cautiously asked,
"But if you make a move too rashly, the other hall lords might unite and attack. The Right Protector, Moonstar Hall, Five Dragon Hall, and Celestial King Hall are certainly friendly toward us, but the rest view us with suspicion. We need a justification to sway them."
"A justification..."
Jaseong rose from his seat.
A chill of murderous intent emanated from his entire being.
"Then first, we must root out the traitor who exposed the Hao Sect headquarters. There is no clearer justification than punishing the one who betrayed their comrades."
* * *
Jaseong's intelligence network, established by installing pleasure houses all across the Central Plains with enormous resources, was truly formidable.
Added to that, he now wielded the vast Dark Path network acquired through control of the Tianxia Association—meaning information from every corner of the Central Plains was at his ears.
Dark Path members across Guangxi Province and neighboring areas, errand boys at inns, even city beggars—all were his eyes and ears.
After several days of persistent pursuit and investigation, finally, definite circumstances came to light.
[Chokhwa Hall Lord Bae Wigan, secretly meeting with the elder of Sichuan Tang Clan.]
[On the day of the headquarters' assault, Chokhwa Hall's forces deliberately loosened the exterior defenses.]
All arrows pointed to one man.
"That bastard... colluded with them,"
Jaseong's voice settled, cold as the chill of an underground cell.
The location of the Hao Sect headquarters was the ultimate secret.
Without a high-ranking insider opening the way, the Sichuan Tang Clan could never have mounted such a precise ambush.
"Hyang-ah."
"Yes, hall lord."
"Summon Gu Janghu. And Lee Rin as well."
"Will you depart for the pursuit immediately?"
"Yes. It's best to strike while the iron is hot."
At dawn the next day,
Jaseong, together with Lee Rin, Gu Janghu, and ten Shadow Division elite operatives, set out toward the Sichuan border.
Their movements were swift and covert.
The Tianxia Association's intelligence was precise.
On the border between Sichuan and Guizhou Province, in a desolate mountain valley, a dilapidated inn was found.
There, the tracks of Bae Wigan's group were discovered.
"There it is,"
Gu Janghu, hiding among the woods, pointed toward the inn.
Around the inn, Chokhwa Hall's warriors were standing strict guard.
"There's energy. There are some strong ones inside,"
Lee Rin whispered, activating the Seeking Light in the Darkness.
Jaseong's party waited, barely breathing, for night to deepen.
When the moon hid behind clouds and pitch darkness blanketed everything—
Creak—
The inn's back door opened, and a man stepped out.
A middle-aged man, clad in splendid silk robes, a red spear at his waist.
It was Chokhwa Hall Lord Bae Wigan.
He glanced around nervously, then strode toward the bamboo grove behind the inn.
Someone was already waiting there.
An old man dressed in yellow martial robes.
An elder of the Sichuan Tang Clan.
Jaseong activated the Samadhi Eyes to eavesdrop on their conversation.
"You've worked hard, hall lord Bae,"
The elder handed Bae Wigan a thick pouch and a letter.
"This is the remaining payment, as promised. And this letter contains the next instructions from the clan head."
"Hehehe, do tell the clan head of my gratitude."
Bae Wigan snatched the pouch with a sly grin.
"If you tell us the remaining hall lords' locations, we can reward you even more handsomely. Especially that Scarlet Lotus Hall Lord... the clan head is especially eager concerning him."
"Worry not. I myself have a way to gather them in one place. If I use the Sect Leader's 'will' as pretense to call a meeting, they'll converge without suspicion. When that happens, you can wipe them all out at once."
What flowed from Bae Wigan's lips was unambiguous evidence of betrayal.
He was selling out his comrades, scheming for his own advancement, and plotting to destroy the Hao Sect for his own gain.
Jaseong's eyes glinted with icy coldness.
This was sufficient—there was nothing more he needed to see.
After the elder handed over the letter and disappeared into the darkness, Jaseong signaled.
"Now."
At Jaseong's sign, the Shadow Division operatives moved without a sound.
Shwick!
With a slicing sound tearing through the air, the Shadow Division operatives blocked Bae Wigan's path.
"Wh-Who are you?!"
Bae Wigan recoiled in utter shock.
But when he spotted Jaseong striding toward him through the operatives, his eyes widened to the point of almost tearing.
"Th-the Scarlet Lotus Hall Lord?! What are you doing here?!"
"I came to punish a traitor."
Jaseong's voice was colder than ice.
"A traitor?! What nonsense! I just—"
"No excuses. I saw you colluding with the Tang Clan with my own eyes."
Jaseong stepped forward.
In that moment, bae Wigan sensed there was no way out.
"You brat! How dare you to a senior hall lord—!"
Bae Wigan shouted, drawing his spear from his waist.
The first technique of the Chokhwa Spearmanship, Fire Dragon Emerges from its Lair.
Flame-like energy surged from the spear tip, thrusting straight at Jaseong's heart.
It was dazzling, vicious spearwork—a strike 1st-rate experts would struggle to evade.
But to Jaseong, it was far too slow.
In the vision of the Samadhi Eyes, bae Wigan's spear was effectively at a standstill.
Chalang!
Jaseong's sword flashed out like a bolt of lightning.
The first form of the Heaven Evading Flash Sword.
A blinding flash split the darkness.
Kaaang!
The spear shaft was sliced like tofu.
The spear tip spiraled through the air.
"Urgh!"
Bae Wigan had no time to even be shocked.
A second flash of the blade grazed his right shoulder.
Slish!
"Aaaargh!"
Bae Wigan screamed and crumpled down.
Jaseong's sword didn't stop.
A third flash pierced straight through Bae Wigan's left knee.
Thud!
"Guaaaah!"
Bae Wigan collapsed entirely.
The fight had taken barely three seconds.
The might displayed was overwhelming.
"Ha-hall lord!"
At the commotion, Chokhwa Hall's warriors rushed out.
But Gu Janghu, Lee Rin, and the Shadow Division cut them off.
"Nobody move. Anyone who does will be considered an accomplice and cut down."
Gu Janghu drew his twin swords, exuding murderous intent.
Lee Rin, too, readied a palm brimming with cold energy.
The Chokhwa Hall warriors froze, too intimidated to attack.
Jaseong looked down at the fallen Bae Wigan.
"Tie him up."
Gu Janghu and Lee Rin moved swiftly to bind Bae Wigan.
From his coat fell the Sichuan Tang elder's letter and the pouch.
It was undeniable evidence.
"L-let me go! Do you know who I am? I am the Chokhwa Hall Lord!"
Bae Wigan struggled in vain, but Jaseong looked down at him with merciless eyes.
"You're no hall lord. You're merely a dog that sold out the Hao Sect."
* * *
The next day.
A message via carrier pigeon was sent to every Hao Sect hall lord.
It was an urgent summons issued in the name of Scarlet Lotus Hall Lord Jaseong.
[The traitor responsible for the destruction of headquarters has been captured.
There is conclusive evidence of collusion with the Sichuan Tang Clan.
I demand an emergency meeting at White Crane Temple in Jingzhou.
This is the only place to discuss the Hao Sect's future.
Scarlet Lotus Hall Lord, Jaseong.]
Each hall lord's response to the message was different.
Flying Dragon Hall Lord, intent on taking over Shandong, frowned as he read.
"A traitor... The Chokhwa Hall Lord, is it? I need to see the evidence. If it's true, there's no way I can let this slide."
Seven Star Hall Lord Wi Jiguang, rallying survivors from headquarters, crumpled the message and flung it aside in anger.
"That Scarlet Lotus brat, what's he playing at? How dare a greenhorn order hall lords around? I'll break his nose myself."
Moonstar Hall Lord Zhang Baekwoon, expanding his power in Hebei, mused calmly to himself.
"If all this is his scheme, I'll use the opportunity to bury the Scarlet Lotus Hall Lord myself. But if it's true, he'll become the hero of the Hao Sect. Either way, I need to see for myself."
One by one, the Hao Sect's hall lords began making their way to Jingzhou.
Every one of them driven by their own calculations, ambitions, and doubts.
And Jaseong anticipated all of it.
On the high tower of White Crane Temple, he smiled as he watched the gathering clouds.
"Come, all of you. Gather."
Rooting out the traitor was only the beginning.
Jaseong's true goal was not simply to execute a traitor.
It was to quell this chaos and gather the scattered Hao Sect under his grasp.
That was the great design Jaseong envisioned.
"Are you ready?"
Jaseong glanced back and asked.
From the shadows, Gu Janghu and Lee Rin nodded.
The prodigy of the Red Light District was now reaching for the throne of the Hao Sect.