## Chapter 1516 – 1516. The Ascent To Guangming
Ink Earth Alliance.
One of the requests I received from Cheon Yu-un was to investigate the Ink Earth Alliance’s branch located in Mount Jongnam.
I did my own research on the Ink Earth Alliance.
I subtly leaked information about the Ink Earth Alliance at the brothels. High-end brothels are frequented by the wealthy and skilled martial artists, where various information is exchanged over drinks.
While information might be extracted by the courtesans, conversely, one could also obtain information from them.
In conclusion, getting information about the Ink Earth Alliance was easy. The Ink Earth Alliance had become a well-known organization in the shadows. Those who knew, knew. However, the courtesans and people didn’t know exactly what the Ink Earth Alliance did.
“The Ink Earth Alliance? It’s a pretty decent place. If you have the money, they can get you items that are hard to find,” one said.
“A martial artist I know got a spiritual elixir through the Ink Earth Alliance. They say they also sell advanced martial arts,” another chimed in.
“It’s like a black market of sorts. I don’t think it’s that big of a deal,” a third added.
These were the courtesans’ responses. They had no idea what the Ink Earth Alliance was. It wasn’t considered strange. That’s how thorough the Ink Earth Alliance was.
I also considered using Gongbi, the owner of the Flower Moon Pavilion. Her information-gathering skills were top-notch.
‘I don’t know if she’s active here, but she’d know more than these courtesans at least.’
After gathering enough information, I planned to get an invisibility talisman from Mireong and infiltrate the Ink Earth Alliance.
And the plan went wrong from the start. Before I could even meet Gongbi, the Ink Earth Alliance contacted me.
Following the note the Ink Earth Alliance had given me, I headed to a shabby inn a little outside the city. It was an inn for travelers. It looked suspicious at first glance.
There, a man was sitting. With a cold expression, he was quietly savoring his tea. I approached him and sat down, asking,
“Ink Earth Alliance?”
He opened his mouth. His calm voice matched his neat appearance.
“I am Ma Hobul, the branch leader of the Ink Earth Alliance’s Jongnam branch.”
I scanned his body up and down. He was perfectly concealing his aura, making it difficult to gauge his level.
‘If he were a Three-Star, he would have been more forceful… He’s probably at a similar level to me.’
He had no weapons on him. At least, that’s how it looked. The possibility of him hiding them couldn’t be ignored. Or maybe he trained in fist techniques. He could also have trained in qi cultivation or sorcery.
“I am Yu Jin, the best swordsman of Joseon.”
“And you are also Yeom Gu-seok, the Lightning Blade of the Demise Corps of the Heavenly Demon Sect.”
He knew my identity.
‘He’s revealing it right away? Is he trying to take the initiative?’
I didn’t like it.
I immediately drew my sword. *Clang!* Blue qi gathered on the blade.
“Please calm down. I have no intention of fighting you.”
“I don’t mind fighting you.”
“If I die here, information about you will spread throughout the world. The Jongnam Sect will be the fastest to react.”
“Did you call me here to threaten me?”
He looked at me as if he was dumbfounded.
“Isn’t it you who is threatening me, Great Hero Yeom?”
I clicked my tongue and sheathed my sword for now. I didn’t lower my guard. Now that I was a martial arts master, I couldn’t just be overwhelmed by him.
“If you called me here to talk nonsense, I’ll kill you.”
“I wanted to have a cup of tea and talk about the martial world, but it seems you don’t want that, so I’ll get straight to the point. Were you tasked by the Heavenly Demon Sect to investigate the Ink Earth Alliance?”
“You know me, but you don’t know the mission I received. You’re mediocre.”
“I only learned of Great Hero Yeom’s identity by investigating your movements. The Heavenly Demon Sect is not an easy place… Getting classified information is not easy.”
“Why are you asking about my mission?”
“It’s because I’m not sure. You’ve been asking about the Ink Earth Alliance too openly.”
“What if I say yes?”
“I would propose a deal.”
“What if I say no?”
“I would also propose a deal. We are not foolish enough to fight you, Great Hero.”
“……”
I was lost in thought.
I didn’t like the atmosphere. I felt like I needed to let this guy know that I wasn’t ordinary.
“Bring Gal Seong-jeon.”
“……”
“Bring Gal Seong-jeon. I’ll talk to him.”
Ma Hobul was silent. After a long period of contemplation, he slowly opened his mouth.
“Who is Gal Seong-jeon?”
“Are you pretending not to know? Your acting skills are quite good.”
“Acting? I really don’t know. There is no one named Gal Seong-jeon in our branch.”
“You don’t know? As a branch leader, you don’t know the name of the Ink Earth Alliance’s leader?”
In [I Woke Up and Became a Heavenly Demon], Cheon Yu-un creates the Ink Earth Alliance with a man named Gal Seong-jeon. Since Cheon Yu-un couldn’t easily leave the Heavenly Demon Sect, he set up a kind of figurehead. Of course, Gal Seong-jeon was a capable man. If he wasn’t capable, he wouldn’t be able to manage the Ink Earth Alliance.
“Hoo. It seems you’re misunderstanding something. Gal Seong-jeon is not the leader of the Ink Earth Alliance.”
“Are you trying to deny it even after coming this far?”
“I’m telling the truth.”
“……Then who is the leader of the Ink Earth Alliance?”
“I’m sorry, but that’s classified. You can tear me apart and kill me, but I can’t tell you.”
“……”
My mind became complicated for a moment.
Gal Seong-jeon isn’t the public leader of the Ink Earth Alliance?
‘Just like the Reverse Demon Art… It’s completely different from the Ink Earth Alliance I know.’
Then who is the current leader of the Ink Earth Alliance?
I was silent for a moment before speaking.
“The investigation of the Ink Earth Alliance is not a direct mission from the Heavenly Demon Sect. If you tell me who the leader of the Ink Earth Alliance is, I can tell you more details.”
“That answer is enough. Now it’s my turn to make a proposal. Would you consider joining the Ink Earth Alliance? We will provide you with a fake identity, spiritual elixir support, and martial arts support. If you wish, we will help you train in the Reverse Demon Art.”
“Join the Ink Earth Alliance… Are you planning to make me a double agent?”
“That’s right. You just need to give us information about the Heavenly Demon Sect’s movements. We will do our best to help you establish a position within the Heavenly Demon Sect. Are you satisfied with your position in the Demise Corps?”
Of course not.
My goal was to reach the top of the Heavenly Demon Sect.
The Demise Corps? It was just a stepping stone.
“Have you already recruited high-ranking officials of the Heavenly Demon Sect?”
“Not completely. But we have established connections.”
“A business relationship.”
“They use us, and we use them.”
It was a tempting offer.
The reason I maintained a good relationship with Cheon Yu-un was to quickly climb the ranks within the Heavenly Demon Sect. However, unlike the original work, Cheon Yu-un’s growth rate and plan progress were slow. It was because this world’s setting was a Xianxia world. There were too many things to consider.
‘Above all, I’m bothered by the fact that Cheon Yu-un hasn’t completely taken control of the Ink Earth Alliance.’
After considering various things, I realized something strange.
“You’re just a branch leader, yet you’re making this kind of offer?”
“…What do you mean?”
“It’s related to the Heavenly Demon Sect. It’s not an offer you can make on your own. Did the leader of the Ink Earth Alliance order you to do this?”
“That’s right.”
“How presumptuous. Tell him that I’ll accept the offer if he shows himself in front of me.”
His eyes wavered. But it was only for a moment. He perfectly concealed himself and replied,
“…I will convey that to the leader of the Ink Earth Alliance.”
“I hope I can meet him before I return to the sect.”
“I cannot guarantee that. It is up to the leader of the Ink Earth Alliance to decide.”
I snorted and got up from my seat, leaving the inn.
‘Presumptuous bastard. He didn’t even see me off, a martial arts master? I’ll make him pay for this dearly if I get the chance.’
He had abandoned the ways of the martial world. Therefore, there was enough reason to kill him.
***
Ma Hobul, the branch leader of the Ink Earth Alliance’s Jongnam branch, took something out from within a barrier.
It was a small leaf made of special steel. He placed the leaf on his palm and infused it with inner energy. *Whoosh.* The leaf floated into the air.
“Leader. This is Ma Hobul.”
-How did it go?
A somewhat irritable female voice echoed through the leaf.
“He accepted the offer. However…”
Ma Hobul reported what had happened earlier that day. He expected the leader to be furious. The leader was short-tempered. She would often rage like a thunderbolt when things didn’t go well.
-Hmm.
However, the leader did not get angry.
-It went well. I thought it didn’t go well because you were talking so seriously.
“Do you intend to meet him?”
-Of course, I have to meet him. Just by meeting him, I can get a sharp sword in my hand. This is a profitable deal. Well, it’s hard to meet him right now. Tell him that I’m busy and it will take time to meet him. Take some spiritual elixirs as a gift. If he wants anything, fulfill it as much as possible.
The leader’s voice was filled with joy.
Ma Hobul recalled the information he had seen about him earlier that day.
“Do you really trust him?”
-Why?
“That guy is trash. He’s a remnant of a heretical sect who gained power. He spends most of his days in brothels and deliberately picks fights with martial artists. One day, he was seen threatening a waiter at a brothel, and he frequently challenges passing martial artists to duels and kills them just because he doesn’t like them. Also, one of the landlords who slandered him was found dead in a place far from the city.”
-Hahaha. So what?
“We can’t trust him. He will betray us.”
-You missed a few pieces of information. He doesn’t touch women. Especially, he doesn’t even step on the shadows of beautiful women.
“He’s just a lecher.”
-One more thing. He doesn’t touch those who willingly submit to him. I have a feeling how I should use him. Above all… It’s funny that you’re saying that? Is it okay to kill innocent people, but not okay to kill people you don’t like?
Ma Hobul lowered his head. He was silent for a long time before speaking.
“……There are too many variables. He is not suitable to be handled with a sword.”
-I’ve already made my decision.
“I don’t understand. Is he really necessary?”
-Yeom Gu-seok. That damn bastard is paying attention to him, and he trusts him at least a little. You know, that bastard’s eye for people is top-notch. Yeom Gu-seok will be the best sword to pierce his heart.
Ma Hobul closed his eyes. No matter what he said to the leader now, she wouldn’t listen. There was only one thing he could say.
“I will follow your orders.”
