It was next day morning when Yeowun returned to the castle of Demonic Cujlt. Yeowun was able to restore his internal energy quickly, but Marakim and Yin Moha acquired internal damage so they had to take some time meditating, and Yeowun hand to protect them while they were going through meditation.

‘I will enter the castle from another gate.’

Marakim said they couldn’t enter the castle together as it will cause needless suspicion so he went to different gate. Yeowun then came to the western gate with Yin Moha without her mask. Yeowun did not go in and out of the castle gate much, but it seemed the guard was more tighter.

‘Something’s weird.’

Guards that stood guard on the castle gate always became surprised to see Yeowun’s medal, but they were different today. They seemed surprised but it was different.

‘Nano. Tap telepathic messages.’

Yeowun ordered and Nano immediately responded.

[Yes, master. Configuring different sound vibration to the user’s ear drum.]

Yeowun then began to hear the sound that he didn’t hear before.

[….is here. Send message to the Lord’s palace immediately.]

[Yes, sir.]

Yeowun passed through the gate with grim look. Yin Moha became curious and whispered.

“Is something wrong?”

“…Yes. We should return fast.”

“Yes, master.”

It wasn’t sure since when, but the Lord’s palace was watching over on everything Yeowun was doing. It seems it was the ‘beginning’ of what ‘he’ said. Yeowun and Yin Moha quickly ran to the mansion of Ghost Illusion clan.

And at the same time in the Lord’s palace. Someone was being apprehended and was brought in by Palace guards. It was Great Guardian Marakim.

‘They werew waiting for me.’

Marakim became grim. When he returned to the palace, he was arrest right away by palace guards. He asked the reason, and guards said that Marakim was suspected of related with Kingbonki going missing.

‘No…’

Kingbonki was killed by Yeowun. The body was buried in different mountain so that it cannot be found by anyone else.

‘Is the Lord thinking I am the suspect?’

If that was it, then it was better. With Yeowun not revealed as true Chun Ma yet, there was a chance where the Lord will use this incident against Yeowun.

‘At least its fortunate that 2nd Elder went berserk by using Blood Reversion Art.’

If the Lord was thinking Marakim was the killer, than he could use it as his defense. And soon, he was at the Lord’s office.

“My Lord, we have the Great Guardian here.”

“Send him in.”

“Yes, my lord.”

The door opened and Chun Yujong was standing at front of his desk, and one armed man standing by the wall to the side of the room. The Lord asked Marakim.

“How was your trip overnight?”

If the Lord knew that Marakim wasn’t at the castle, then there was no need to hide. Marakim knelt down on his one knee and bowed.

“I am sorry to disturb you, my lord.”

“Let me cut to the chase. Kingbonki left the castle last night and he haven’t returned yet.”

“That’s…”

“I am not done.”

Marakim stopped speaking at the Lord’s solemn voice. He felt something was going weird, but he couldn’t object to the Lord right now.

“But I also heard that Crown Prince and Elder Yin Moha also disappeared from the castle last night.”

‘No…’

Great Guardian’s eye beyond his mask shook. He knew that the Lord was having watch on him already, but he didn’t think Chun Yujong was watching Chun Yeowun also. It seemed he had used his own Palace guards to do the job instead of using warriors from Guardians.

“From what the Crown Prince did in the past, I think something must have happened to the 2nd Elder. Do you agree?”

Marakim became grim. It seems the Lord’s target was not Marakim, but the Crown Prince.

“My Lord…”

“If Crown Prince lured 2nd Elder out of the castle to kill him, wouldn’t it be a murder made due to personal vengeance?”

‘So, this was what he wanted…’

Marakim bit on his lips under his mask. The Lord did not know what exactly happened outside the castle. But he was trying to blame Yeowun on killing Kingbonki, no matter what happened to Kingbonki, to pressure him.

‘This cannot be done. I cannot have Chun Ma to be blamed.’

He couldn’t let the Lord to get a reason. The Lord was going to make this as an issue to strike down on Chun Yeowun if given the chance. Marakim then placed his head down on the ground and spoke.

“My lord. That incident is irrelevant to the Crown Prince’s personal feelings.”

“And if not, what is it?”

Marakim then began to explain the death of 2nd elder Kingbonki. Of course, he had took out large chunk of part where Yeowun might become suspicious and only focused on Kingbonki using blood reversion art.

“…So, his body had become too large due to blood reversion art, so I was going to report to you to send people there to carry his body back here.”

It was smooth excuse for a excuse that was made up on spot. The Lord didn’t know why Kingbonki left the castle, so it was sure that he wouldn’t find any suspicious point in the story. The Lord stood for a second in thought and spoke.

“Good. Then I will have palace guards to go with you. Go bring 2nd Elder’s body back.”

“Yes, my lord.”

‘It worked!’

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Marakim was relieved. If he were to bring the body back, then it was going to be enough. But what’s concerned was that he was being sent out by warriors from palace guards. This was probably due to the Lord not trusting guardians anymore. And when Marakim left, the one armed man walked over to the Lord.

“There we have it. Marakim also sides with him.”

The Lord agreed as he nodded. He did sense in that regards, but he was able to confirm it when he saw what Marakim just did.

“And from what we can see, Marakim will not act according to our plan.”

“No, he will have to.”

Man became confused. The Lord then took out a key and opened the safe under his desk. Inside, there was a small wooden box that was warm. And when the Lord opened, there was a blood and small insect like thing squirming inside.

“What is that?”

“It is reactant.”

“Reactant? Oh you mean…”

The Lord then grabbed it by his hand and swallowed it at once. The man scowled in disgust. It was reactant that the Great Guardian gave it to him 25 years ago when he pledged allegiance, but Chun Yujong didn’t eat it then. He sent it to Demonic Doctor to analyze it instead and recently acquired what he wanted.

“He will have to listen to my orders.”

The Lord’s eye seemed to glow faintly in red.

And at the mansion of Ghost Illusion clan, there were ones that were talking seriously. These were Chun Yeowun, 10th Elder Yin Moha, 11th Elder Huan Yi and Hu Bong. But there were no other Yeowun’s members.

“…So, Bakgi was sent to Vice leader of North Expedition team led by Loyal clan, Ko Wanghur was sent to the Armored Calvary of Sword clan to be vice leader there. It was direct order from the Lord so we had no choice to refuse.”

As Huan Yi continued to report, Yeowun became more grim. The Lord’s palace ordered early morning and took Bakgi, Ko Wanghur, Sama Chak and Mun Ku to different places. It was a official order of job assignment to Master ranked warriors of the cult.

“They are… all stationed under four clans then.”

Problem was that they were now under four clans and were scattered all over the place. It was apparent that this move was to make Yeowun’s members to be scattered all over the place.

“Whew, master at least I am safe from being sent away.”

Hu Bong spoke as he sighed in relief. Interestingly, Hu Bong was only one who was not sent away.

‘…I think you were just ignored.’

Huan Yi thought, but he didn’t speak it. It seemed the Lord’s palace didn’t consider Hu Bong and his low ranking clan as much of a threat. Huan Yi continued on his reports.

“It’s not only two Guardians and clan leaders. Elder Sama Yi is sent to Honam Castle as a representative, Elder Mun Yun was sent to northeast of Kangsuh castle to form defensive line against Blade God Six Martial art.”

Sama Yi already left toward north few hours ago, and Mun Yun was now preparing with supplies so he can leave within the day. Everything was going to fast so it was even astounding.

“Then I guess I was ordered also.”

Huan Yi nodded at Yin Moha’s comment.

“I suspect as well, as warriors form Lord’s palace visited your mansion multiple times. But well, you are here.”

Huan Yi spoke. At least Yin Moha entered the castle without her mask as she had came back with Yeowun, so the Lord’s palace thought that Yin Moha still had not returned.

“How can the Lord do this to us! This is outright attack on our group!”

Hu Bong shouted in anger with reddened face. With the Lord’s order, Chun Yeowun had lost all of his arms and legs. Starting with Left and Right Guardian being imprisoned, even elders from highest clans were sent away outside the castle.

“At least Elder Huan is here with us like me.”

Hu Bong spoke and Huan Yi smiled bitterly and shook his head.

“Hmmm… there maybe different reason for that.”

‘The Lord can’t dare to let me set loose.’

The reason why Huan Yi was left here was because he was the leader of Covert Operations team. He was leader of all spies over entire Jianghu, so there was no way to send away Huan Yi.

“Anyway, I think we should do something before the Lord does something to remaining two elders.”

‘Oh?’

Huan Yi became impressed by Hu Bong’s idea, unlike his regular irrelevant one, and nodded. This was surely very weird that the Lord was moving this quck.

‘I just hope… they are not coming for the Crown Prince himself.’

That was the only concern that Huan Yi had. It was apparent that the Lord wanted to use Chun Yeowun as a piece on his chess game, when they saw the Lord helping the four clans. But if he was taking away Yeowun’s power like this, then it was proof that he had a different plan now. Even if Yeowun was powerful, he couldn’t take on everything alone.

‘But it’s strange. Why is he so calm?’

Huan Yi thought Yeowun would be frustrated or be angry from sudden move, but Yeowun, although bit frustrated, didn’t seem to mind as much. As if he expected something like this would happen.

“Crown Prince, what should we do now? Me and Elder Yin will have to take up the order if the order does come to us… huh?”

Huan Yi frowned at middle of speaking. But it wasn’t only him. Yeowun and Yin Moha was also looking out at the same direction. Only Hu Bong was confused and asked.

“W-what’s going on? What’s happening?”

“We’re late.”

Huan Yi shook his head with grim look. Superior master level warriors could sense it through their sense. There were hundreds of warriors surrounding the entire mansion of Ghost Illusion clan.