"What, what did you say?!" Ma Dongpil's face grew heavy.
"I said he has been imprisoned."
"No matter how powerful the Criminal Law Hall is, how can they imprison the Third Young Master? Unless he started a rebellion, that's impossible!"
"......"
"Could it really be a rebellion?"
"Absolutely not."
"Then why!"
Ma Dongpil sighed and explained the situation. Upon hearing his words, Wi Hongryeon's face twisted.
"Is the head of the Criminal Law Hall crazy? What's so strange about candidates fighting that he had to imprison him?!"
"It's not that simple."
"What's not simple? What's simpler than candidates fighting for the throne?"
"He swung a sword at the head of the Criminal Law Hall who was trying to stop the fight."
"......!"
"Even though he holds the highest status in our sect, this time is different. It's not just anyone, but the head of the Criminal Law Hall."
"......damn."
The power of the Criminal Law Hall, which enforces the sect's laws, was indeed formidable. Even if the opponent was the sect leader's disciple, swinging a sword at the head was not something that could be easily overlooked.
"Moreover, there were too many eyes watching. For the authority of the Criminal Law Hall, they had no choice but to imprison the Young Master."
Wi Hongryeon glared fiercely.
"You bastard! Whose side are you on?"
"What are you talking about?"
"So you're saying the head of the Criminal Law Hall did the right thing?!"
"I said I understand him, not that I'm on his side."
"You talk well, you damn bastard."
"That's not what's important. At this point, there's nothing we can do. We don't know how the head of the Criminal Law Hall will act or how the Young Master will respond."
Ma Dongpil's voice gradually lost strength.
"Honestly, I don't know what to do now either."
Wi Hongryeon, who was grinding her teeth, turned her head away. She too couldn't think of anything else.
A frustrating silence enveloped the two.
Ma Dongpil tilted his head.
"By the way, why are you here, Wi Leader?"
"What, you punk?"
"Shouldn't the Gwangma Unit return to the field starting today?"
Wi Hongryeon snorted.
"I'll go to the field when the order comes from above. There hasn't been any word from the higher-ups yet."
"Then why not wait..."
"Geez, you're talkative. Why? Can't I come here?"
"That's not it, but..."
"Don't nag me when I'm already stressed."
Wi Hongryeon, who was sighing deeply, soon showed a sly smile.
"By the way, he's really something. To smash the Fourth Young Master on the spot, as expected."
Although it was being hushed up, rumors were spreading throughout the inner sect that the Fourth Young Master had suffered irreparable injuries.
At the same time, the Third Young Master's formidable martial prowess was being re-evaluated. Not only had he escaped the inner demon, but his martial arts had become much stronger than before, astonishing the martial artists.
Excitement, and anxiety.
The Third Young Master's power left a strong impression on the martial artists' hearts, but it also brought them unease. The fights among the candidates, which had been carried out in secret, were now surfacing.
"Tsk, it's a bit disappointing."
"What's disappointing?"
"The Third Young Master was so flamboyant."
"Watch your words."
"Never mind, because of that, the rumors that should have spread didn't."
"Rumors?"
"Songgyeong, I mean. The fact that he got completely wrecked should have spread too."
"Is that important?"
"It's important to me."
Ma Dongpil clicked his tongue.
"Why do you dislike the Jinma Leader so much? Was there a big issue between you two?"
"If there wasn't, why would I dislike him so much?"
"What happened?"
"When I had just been appointed as a leader, there was a gathering of leaders. That guy tried to discipline me. I got so mad I smashed one of his balls."
"......!"
"Since then, he's been dying to get back at me. Even though he was the one who started it."
"......"
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"......Let's go eat."
"Can you swallow food in this situation?"
"I don't think that's something Wi Leader should say. Let's go, you need to eat to think straight."
"Who told you that nonsense about eating to think?"
"The Third Young Master."
"......"
"......?"
"......"
"If you've come in, why are you just standing there?"
"Third Young Master."
"What."
"Really......"
"Oh, right. Could you take these off first?"
Seoryang raised his hands. On his wrists were the handcuffs made of Geumhae Iron that Wi Hongryeon had been wearing earlier.
"My wrists are aching. I don't plan to escape, so can't you take them off?"
"The Third Young Master is currently imprisoned. Being imprisoned means being a criminal, even if temporarily, so I can't grant that request."
Crack!
Gogu's eyes deepened.
Seoryang scratched his head. The handcuffs made of Geumhae Iron that had been on his wrists were split in half.
"I didn't think they'd break, but they did. Sorry for breaking them."
Handcuffs made of Geumhae Iron seal internal energy. Even the chains connecting the cuffs are made of high-purity steel, impossible to break with sealed internal energy. Yet, the Geumhae Iron broke instantly.
"Your internal energy wasn't sealed?"
"It was sealed."
"Then how?"
"I'm naturally strong."
It was an absurd joke. These handcuffs are difficult to break even for an external martial artist who has reached the pinnacle of external martial arts.
However, Seoryang was well-versed in items that temporarily seal internal energy, like handcuffs, rings, and bracelets. He had used them countless times when assassinating masters who could discern internal energy at a glance.
Naturally, he knew methods to forcibly release the seal. To Seoryang, the Geumhae Iron cuffs were just slightly sturdy handcuffs.
Crack! Crack!
Seoryang tore off the remaining cuffs from his wrists and crossed his arms.
"So, what do you want to say?"
"......I remember you agreeing to my proposal."
"Proposal? It was a threat."
"Whatever it was."
"I did agree. To be honest, I didn't want to cause this much trouble either."
"Was it inevitable?"
"Whether it was a proposal or a threat, there was a mediator. It was a decent way to reconcile, but to truly reconcile, the parties involved need to agree, don't they?"
"So you extended a hand of reconciliation first?"
"I did. He kicked it away. He even threatened to kill me eventually."
"......"
"I can't stand loose ends. Why should I spare someone who wants to kill me just because of a mediator's threat?"
Gogu's eyes cooled.
"I meant it when I said things would get quite troublesome."
"I know."
"Can you handle it?"
Seoryang tilted his head.
"That's an interesting question. Why should I handle it?"
"......What do you mean?"
"I'm not talking about your 'threat' disguised as a proposal, but the 'reason' for such a threat."
Reason? What does he mean?
"Whether as the head of the Criminal Law Hall or as an individual named Gogu, you don't want chaos within the sect. That's why you became a mediator, right?"
"That's right."
"Now there's no reason for chaos, is there?"
"......!"
"Isn't that so? Hongwimun will have to lie down for at least a few years. Can he provoke me in that state?"
Gogu's complexion changed.
Indeed, he didn't want the sect to be noisy with chaos, whether it was caused by candidates or anyone else.
But chaos requires an opponent. The moment Seoryang rendered Hongwimun irrecoverable, his proposal was as good as gone.
Why? Because the opponent causing chaos disappeared.
"For whatever reason, the situation you wanted has arrived. So why talk nonsense about handling it now?"
"......"
"Are you like that Sam Captain, needing everyone in the sect to bow their heads for satisfaction?"
Gogu slightly raised an eyebrow.
Seoryang smiled.
"Stop it."
"......"
"If it weren't for my respect for you, I would have run off before the cuffs were even on. As the Third Young Master, I've shown enough patience, haven't I?"
"You have quite the eloquence."
"I'm just rambling."
"What if I don't release you?"
"Is there a reason not to?"
"I'm just curious."
"I thought you weren't one to drag out conversations with pointless hypotheticals, but I guess I was wrong."
"......"
"Can I leave now?"
Gogu, who had been staring at Seoryang, stood up.
"I'll be watching closely."
"Watch all you want, but don't block my path. I have no intention of clashing with the Criminal Law Hall."
"You're confident. You're not yet appointed as the successor. You're just a candidate."
"So what."
"If I decide..."
"Yeah, if I decide, burying you with rumors isn't that hard. So let's just go our separate ways quietly."
"What do you mean?"
Seoryang stood up.
"Whether it's the Criminal Law Hall or the Guardian Court, they should be led by someone with strict standards to function well, right? If rumors spread that the head of such an organization secretly threatened the Third Young Master, you'd have quite a headache, wouldn't you?"
"......"
"Considering the fear and discomfort the martial artists have towards the Criminal Law Hall, I don't think it's a difficult task."
"You're petty."
"I'll return that comment to you. If you're going to play leader, don't mess with the wrong people and just control your subordinates."
"......"
"I'm leaving. I hope we don't meet often."
Watching Seoryang's figure walking away in the distance, Gogu sighed. He couldn't remember the last time he sighed.
"He's a difficult person."
And a dangerous one. Though he said he hoped they wouldn't meet often, he had a feeling they would.
Just then, Sam Captain approached from behind.
"The initial restoration of the damaged area is complete."
"Good work."
"......Head."
"Is there more to report?"
Sam Captain spoke in a dissatisfied tone.
"Is it alright to let the Third Young Master go like that?"
"......"
"He wielded a sword against you, Head. It's not just a matter of status, but a matter of discipline within the sect. We can find a way to tie him down."
"It would take some effort, but it's possible."
"Then why did you let him go?"
"Is there a reason to make such an effort?"
"But..."
Gogu turned to look at Sam Captain.
In that moment, fear flickered in Sam Captain's eyes. The gaze Gogu directed at him was extremely cold.
"Your actions were swift, but your words and handling were rash. Do you admit it?"
"......I'm sorry."
"Never let yourself be caught, whether it's the Third Young Master or anyone else. Such words and actions accumulate dissatisfaction, and when dissatisfaction piles up, there will be those who disregard the rules. Even the Third Young Master's words had a certain validity."
"......"
"As a reminder to reflect on yourself, you'll be docked three months' pay. Use this opportunity to grow."
"Thank you."
Sam Captain, bowing deeply, quickly disappeared.
Gogu turned his gaze back to the window. The Third Young Master was now a small dot in the distance.
'Third Young Master.'
He no longer thought about the Third Young Master's words and actions.
What he was thinking about was the Third Young Master's martial arts.
'It was more vicious and sinister than demonic martial arts... but that sword technique was definitely orthodox.'
A turmoil unknown to anyone appeared on Gogu's face.
'Could he be like me?'