Dong Bongsu stood on the roof of the now-completed [Alchemy Workshop], looking over the area while in the middle of a [Whisper].
[You remember everything I said earlier, right?]
The sight of the sect opening ceremony in full swing filled his eyes.
[There's only one thing you need to do based on that information.]
People who had gathered from all over the River Capital filled the inside of the Hero's Sect.
The sect opening ceremony of a new sect that had single-handedly subdued the Iron God Gang, the Seven Star Immortal Society, and the Bandit Alliance.
The scale wasn't grand, but the gazes of the attendees were serious.
Because there was no one here who didn't know that the landscape of the River Capital had changed.
[Raise the Hero's Sect's value.]
At the front of the training ground, the children stood in a row, dressed in new clothes.
Hoae was at the very front, her back straight.
Next to her, Jeon Rahwa was calmly going over the sequence of events.
In the Honored Guest seats, Yan Bilyeong and Myo Jinheo sat side by side, and opposite them, Yo Han-myeong of the Government Office and Bae Dal-pae of the All-Knowing House were watching the training ground while drinking tea.
Two Trigram Masters of the Formation Tower were seated as honored guests at the opening ceremony of a new sect.
That fact alone caused constant murmurs among the martial artists of the River Capital.
[Keep this in mind. If you want to ask the questions you desire, this matter must proceed normally.]
That was the end of the [Whisper].
After closing the chat window and minimap, Dong Bongsu immediately came down from the roof.
The sect opening ceremony.
The day to hang the sign of the Hero's Sect for the world to see.
But this is just the beginning.
The makeup is done.
The plastic surgery is also done.
It's slightly different from the originally planned direction, but it has been completed in a way that is 120% satisfyingly upgraded.
'Now, it's time to create demand.'
Making the great power that is the Formation Tower voluntarily seek out the Hero's Sect.
Making the Vast Heaven Infinite Sword Sect perceive the Hero's Sect as an indispensable existence.
To do that, the Formation Tower must first side with the Vast Heaven Sect.
And the Hero's Sect must be at the center of that tilt.
The benefactor who brought the Formation Tower.
From the Vast Heaven Sect's perspective, the Hero's Sect becomes the number one contributor.
'And if I use the information about the Patrol Sword Corps' annihilation and Sang Gwanhwi's Demonic Arts?'
This conflict between the Vast Heaven Infinite Sword Sect and the Dark Rakshasa Way could become the perfect debut stage for 'Kim Rae-won's' heroic debut in the Central Plains and for the Hero's Sect, which will protect righteousness and justice.
Dongmun Mutoe.
He's the perfect man to set the stage for this plan.
The role of exquisitely setting the stage.
Even if it weren't for the oath, he would set this stage properly for the sake of his 'questions'.
Of course, the finishing blow....
'I will deliver it myself.'
Dong Bongsu wiped his face with both hands.
To others, it might have looked like he was relaxing, but in reality, an appropriate expression was being woven onto the skin of his face, hidden by his hands.
A smile full of gentle warmth amidst the tension, one that a young sect leader facing his new sect's opening ceremony might make.
His hands moved away, revealing Dong Bongsu with a perfectly gentle smile as he walked towards the guests.
From now on, it is Dongmun Mutoe's time.
Even though he is several hundred li away.
● ● ●
"By any chance, have you all heard of a new sect called the Hero's Sect?"
Dongmun Mutoe uncupped his chin, and with his now-free index and middle fingers, he crossed them and moved his hand across the table like walking fingers.
Tap, tap.
A light noise made by his alternating fingers.
Other than that, a strange silence flowed within the Eight Trigrams Hall.
The Hero's Sect.
Because there was no one in this room who knew that name.
"...What did you say?"
Baek Jang-gyeong narrowed his eyes.
"Hero's Sect? I've never heard that name before."
"Yes, well, that's natural. It's a new sect."
Dongmun Mutoe replied lightly.
"Some unheard-of rabble... ahem. Hero... what was it? Anyway, where does that sect belong? Is it Orthodox or Unorthodox?"
"Neither. It professes to be neutral."
"Neutral?"
Baek Jang-gyeong's brow furrowed.
"It is a sect located in the River Capital."
"The River Capital? Where is that?"
The Trigram Master of the Wind Formation Division, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, couldn't hold back and interjected.
"The River Capital? Isn't that a rotten place where small factions squabble every day over minor interests?"
"It was."
Dongmun Mutoe nodded.
However, the Trigram Master of the Wind Formation Division missed that he used the past tense.
No, most of the people in this room missed it.
Because the River Capital's standing in the Murim was just that low.
Ttak, ttak, ttak.
Ga Myo-ryeon's abacus sounded three times.
Her slender eyes, opening only halfway, turned towards Dongmun Mutoe at the right moment.
"Trigram Master Dongmun. There must be a reason why you brought up a nameless new sect as soon as you returned to this meeting that's been deadlocked for two days, right?"
"A reason?"
"It's not just a simple change of subject, is it?"
Ga Myo-ryeon.
As expected, this woman is quick.
[Keep this in mind. If you want to ask the questions you desire, this matter must proceed normally.]
That will received from Kim Rae-won earlier.
It wasn't a voice or text, but an intention as sharp and precise as a blade.
It was a one-way communication to which he couldn't reply, but if he wanted to be able to continue asking Kim Rae-won questions in the future...this meeting was extremely important.
While he couldn't stand even trivial things like dying or getting hurt, the fact that there were so many things he didn't know was something he could absolutely, never, definitely not tolerate.
"The reason is simple."
Dongmun Mutoe stopped all hand movements and placed both elbows on the table, clasping his hands.
"If we pinpoint the exact reason why this debate has been deadlocked for two days."
He scanned the room.
"If we side with the Vast Heaven Infinite Sword Sect, we maintain our dignity but have no Formation Stones. If we side with the Dark Rakshasa Way, we'll have plenty of Formation Stones but lose our dignity. Both sides are making valid points."
Baek Jang-gyeong's shoulders relaxed slightly.
Since his argument had been acknowledged.
Ga Myo-ryeon's abacus also paused for a beat.
Acknowledged as well.
"However, the real problem with this situation lies elsewhere."
He raised one finger.
"The problem isn't whether to choose the Vast Heaven Sect or the Dark Rakshasa Way, but the very structure that makes the Formation Tower an enemy of the other side, no matter which we choose."
Because Dongmun Mutoe's mouth paused for a beat, a brief silence fell upon the Eight Trigrams Hall.
But it wasn't very long.
"If we side with the Vast Heaven Sect, the Dark Rakshasa Way becomes our enemy. If we side with the Dark Rakshasa Way, we might fall out of favor with the entire Orthodox Faction, of course."
"But haven't such things always happened? Our Formation Tower-."
"No. This is not something that has always happened. Have you all forgotten the Great Blood Heaven Turmoil?"
At the single phrase, Great Blood Heaven Turmoil, everyone's expression changed drastically.
The storm of blood that swept through the entire Central Plains over a hundred years ago.
Dongmun Mutoe paid it no mind and continued speaking.
"Ah, so you believe this is a trivial matter that won't escalate into a massive war like the Orthodox-Unorthodox Great War?"
[Listen carefully.]
"I'm sure no one knows this yet."
[The Patrol Sword Corps that was on its way to the River Capital has been annihilated.]
"The Patrol Sword Corps, which was touring to gather allies for the Vast Heaven Infinite Sword Sect, has been annihilated. It's already like this before things have even properly begun. Who can guarantee how big this will become?"
As Dongmun Mutoe unsparingly threw out the information he had received while climbing the stairs earlier, a great wave of bewilderment swept through the room.
"Crazy! Does that make any sense?"
"Trigram Master Dongmun? Are you saying even Sang Gwanhwi is dead?"
"Nonsense. If there was such information, how could our Formation Tower not know?"
The room was in an uproar.
Baek Jang-gyeong slammed the table.
"The Patrol Sword Corps annihilated? Sang Gwanhwi is dead? The youngest of the Three Swords of Vast Heaven? If that's true, the entire Central Plains would already be in chaos!"
His voice echoed throughout the Eight Trigrams Hall.
The Trigram Master of the Wind Formation Division also shook his head.
"Trigram Master Dongmun, if the Patrol Sword Corps was annihilated, the Vast Heaven Infinite Sword Sect's headquarters would have moved first. How do you know information that wasn't even caught by our intelligence network?"
The Formation Tower's intelligence network is the most intricate in the Central Plains after the Great Beggars' Sect.
How could a single Trigram Master know information that wasn't even caught in that net?
It was a reasonable doubt.
Nevertheless, Dongmun Mutoe maintained his smile.
Tap, tap.
His index and middle fingers walked across the table again.
Did he not know this question would come?
Rather, this very question was the core of the matter.
"That's right. Our Formation Tower did not know."
An admission.
At that one statement, the Eight Trigrams Hall became quiet again.
"However, the Hero's Sect knew."
Dongmun Mutoe stopped his finger-walking and placed both hands on the table.
"What I just told you is information I received from Kim Rae-won, the Sect Leader of the Hero's Sect. The fact that the Patrol Sword Corps was annihilated near the River Capital, and the fact that its leader, Sang Gwanhwi, is dead. Information that the Formation Tower doesn't know, and that most likely hasn't even been officially confirmed by the Vast Heaven Infinite Sword Sect's headquarters yet."
"...What did you say?"
Baek Jang-gyeong's expression changed.
"The leader of a new sect knows about the annihilation of the Vast Heaven Infinite Sword Sect's elite unit before we do?"
"Yes."
Dongmun Mutoe nodded clearly.
"That is precisely the reason I brought up the Hero's Sect here."
Ttak.
A bead on Ga Myo-ryeon's abacus moved.
Her slender eyes widened slightly.
What this woman was calculating was no longer Formation Stones.
Information.
A power that holds information the Formation Tower's intelligence network could not catch.
Just how much is that worth?
"Trigram Master Dongmun."
Ga Myo-ryeon swept her abacus once.
"The source of the information hasn't been verified. Isn't it possible that this so-called new sect is spreading false information to raise its own value?"
"It's possible."
Dongmun Mutoe answered.
"But Trigram Master Ga. What is the Patrol Sword Corps' current location?"
"...?"
"The Patrol Sword Corps that left the Vast Heaven Infinite Sword Sect was heading towards the River Capital, and their scheduled arrival date has long since passed. But there has been no word of their arrival in the River Capital, has there?"
Silence.
"No communication means one of two things. They've arrived but have no reason to report, or they've become unable to report."
Dongmun Mutoe lightly tapped one finger on the table.
"No word from the Patrol Sword Corps for over two days. People who should have arrived long ago. How would you interpret this?"
Baek Jang-gyeong's hand clenched on his knee.
Ga Myo-ryeon's abacus stopped completely.
It was no longer an interpretation, but a confirmation.
Logically.
The Trigram Master of the Wind Formation Division asked in a trembling voice.
"Then, Trigram Master Dongmun, that place called the Hero's Sect... why do they have that information? Does it mean they were at the scene of the Patrol Sword Corps' annihilation?"
It was a good question.
Dongmun Mutoe pondered the answer to this question for a moment, just a tiny bit.
Because he couldn't be sure whether Kim Rae-won had eliminated the Patrol Sword Corps or not.
But the pondering wasn't long.
Because even if he could be sure, he was certain that it was information he couldn't and shouldn't say.
Dongmun Mutoe himself just had to spit out only the necessary information, in the necessary place, at the necessary time.
The question of who eliminated the Patrol Sword Corps didn't fit any of these three criteria, so it was naturally dismissed.
Well, I can use it in a similar way.
Right now.
"That is."
Dongmun Mutoe smiled brightly.
"A question that is not appropriate for me to answer. You can ask the Hero's Sect Leader directly, can't you? Haha."
He didn't say he didn't know.
A tone that implied he might know the answer, but couldn't say.
Even to himself, it looked perfect.
"Directly?"
Meeting the glare of Baek Jang-gyeong, who retorted with twitching caterpillar-like eyebrows, Dongmun Mutoe's smiling eyes deepened.
"Yes, directly."
"Do you think that makes sense right now? Our Formation Tower?! Why?! For what reason?! For such a massive issue?! Are you saying we have to meet the leader of some unheard-of rabble sect?!"
"Ah, yes. I thought you might say that, so I've prepared more. Please listen."
Dongmun Mutoe changed his posture.
He took his elbows off the table and leaned his back against the chair.
A step back from his aggressive posture until now, a posture of honesty.
"I faced him myself. That Sect Leader."
The Eight Trigrams Hall fell silent once more.
Dongmun Mutoe.
One of the Eight Trigram Masters of the Formation Tower.
Said he 'faced him himself'.
"The result?"
The Trigram Master of the Water Formation Division asked cautiously.
Leaning back, Dongmun Mutoe briefly looked up at the ceiling.
Then, he gave what appeared to be a perfectly self-deprecating smile, with only one corner of his mouth raised.
"Defeat."
Two words.
The Eight Trigrams Hall froze.
Baek Jang-gyeong leaned forward.
"...What did you just say?"
"I lost. And it was a futile, complete defeat."
Dongmun Mutoe said it again calmly.
He didn't say useless things like how he had deployed an unverified, incomplete, and extremely dangerous formation like the Eight Directions Avici Prison.
Information to a minimum.
A Trigram Master lost.
A Trigram Master of the Formation Tower.
To the leader of a new sect.
Baek Jang-gyeong's eyes shot up.
"If you're not bluffing-."
"Trigram Master Baek."
Dongmun Mutoe cut him off short.
"I may talk a lot of nonsense usually, but I'm not one to bluff, am I?"
Baek Jang-gyeong shut his mouth.
The person in this room who had known Dongmun Mutoe the longest, after the Yin-Yang Guard, was Baek Jang-gyeong.
He knew better than anyone that while this young Trigram Master was full of intellectual vanity, he was not a man to bluff.
Listening, Ga Myo-ryeon's abacus began to move quickly.
Ttak-ttak-ttak-ttak.
She was converting something into numbers.
"Trigram Master Dongmun. If you were to convert the martial power of that Hero's Sect Leader into a number, what would it be?"
"It can't be converted."
Ga Myo-ryeon's abacus slowed abruptly, its rhythm breaking for the first time.
"I couldn't measure him by my standards. That's why I'm telling you to meet him directly."
Dongmun Mutoe scanned the room once.
"I'll summarize."
He opened his palm and folded his thumb first.
"One, the war between the Vast Heaven Sect and the Dark Rakshasa Way has already progressed deeper than we think. The annihilation of the Patrol Sword Corps is the proof."
Following his thumb, he folded his index finger.
"Two, in this war, there's a high probability that the Formation Tower will become the sworn enemy of the opposing side, no matter which side we take. That's why we must side with the one that will surely win. There's no one here who doesn't know that backing out isn't an option, right? If we back out of something like this, the Formation Tower's credibility and prestige will be thrown down to the level of the Hao Sect at the bottom of the Jianghu."
Dongmun Mutoe folded his middle finger as well.
"Three, this sect called the Hero Sect... although new, is incredibly powerful. To be precise, its leader wants to negotiate with the Formation Tower regarding this matter. And-."
Actually, he was going to end it here at first, but there was still more information he could use.
Very powerful evidence—though it wasn't something Kim Rae-won had told him.
"Four."
After a moment's hesitation, he folded his ring finger too.
"Trigram Master Myo Jinheo and Trigram Master Yan Bilyeong are at the Hero's Sect right now."