CFZ

I frowned at the name—familiar yet strangely out of place.
‘Why is that name suddenly coming up?’
Celestial Stream Sect..

It was one of the sects located in Sichuan.
In the past, it had been somewhat famous, boasting a sizable number of disciples and decent recognition in the region.
‘But that’s about it.’

Unfortunately, Celestial Stream Sect faced a significant obstacle in achieving greater fame within Sichuan.
That obstacle was the presence of the Tang Clan and the Emei Sect.
The Tang Clan, once counted among the Four Great Clans, and the Emei Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects, were both rooted in Sichuan.

Just that fact alone made it difficult for Celestial Stream Sect to assert much influence.
But then—
‘Something unexpected happened.’

In my past life, an unusual event occurred.
It was this:
‘Celestial Stream Sect discovered the secret records of Geum Cheonyeon.’

More precisely, it was the head of Celestial Stream Sect who found the hidden records of Geum Cheonyeon.
Whatever opportunity he uncovered within those records, his martial prowess improved far beyond what was publicly known.
Not only did the Gate Master grow stronger, but the disciples also gained strength, allowing Celestial Stream Sect to rise in prominence.

That part was fine.
Soaring to new heights through a fortuitous encounter wasn’t necessarily a bad outcome.
The problem was—
‘Celestial Stream Sect was a demonic sect.’

Whether they became a demonic sect after acquiring the opportunity or had always been one wasn’t clear.
I lacked the intelligence network to investigate that deeply.
But as far as I knew, Celestial Stream Sect was a demonic sect.

‘And shortly after the Heavenly Demon’s emergence, they joined the Demonic Cult.’
The Gate Master entered the Demonic Cult, becoming one of its demonic warriors and later aiding in the invasion of Sichuan.
Given how long Celestial Stream Sect had operated in Sichuan, they were intimately familiar with the region’s terrain.

This gave Cheon Yulang-a a considerable advantage in devising strategies.
‘Hmm.’
I pondered this as suspicion crept into my thoughts.

‘Why now?’
Why was Celestial Stream Sect being brought up so suddenly?
And with claims of connections to the Demonic Cult?

‘No, that shouldn’t be possible.’
It was true that in my past life, they had strong ties, but—
‘Not yet.’

Not now.
The Heavenly Demon’s emergence in my past life happened later than this.
More importantly—

‘There’s no way they obtained anything from the secret records.’
I had already gone through Geum Cheonyeon’s records.
Frankly, there wasn’t much to gain from them.

Even if the Gate Master had visited the records afterward, it wouldn’t have made a difference.
‘What’s going on here?’
Why was Celestial Stream Sect suddenly being mentioned now?

It didn’t make sense.
“Did you say Celestial Stream Sect?”
“Yes.”

I asked again, and the response was the same.
Celestial Stream Sect was involved with the Demonic Cult.
That was the information I received from Muk Yeon.

‘What’s ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) going on?’
I couldn’t make sense of it.
What exactly was happening?

And—
“…So, why are you telling me this first thing in the morning?”
Why did they feel the need to call me out and inform me of this?

Were they testing me?
No, that couldn’t be it.
‘Muk Yeon isn’t foolish enough to probe me like this.’

He would’ve chosen a more subtle approach.
So then, why?
As I tried to piece things together, Muk Yeon spoke.

“There’s an issue involving the Demonic Cult, so I thought it best to send the matter to the Star Dragon Unit.”
“…You mean this is an assignment?”
“Yes.”

Hearing that, I finally understood.
If Celestial Stream Sect was connected to the Demonic Cult, it made sense to assign the matter to the Star Dragon Unit.
After all, the unit was created specifically to handle Demonic Cult-related incidents.

“…And I assume I’m free to refuse if I wish?”
“Of course.”
Muk Yeon’s response hung heavily in the air.

Even though I could refuse, given the conditions set when the Star Dragon Unit was formed—
‘Celestial Stream Sect, huh.’
Something about it nagged at me.

Of all things, Celestial Stream Sect.
While this was earlier than the Heavenly Demon’s emergence in my past life, it was still strange for Celestial Stream Sect to be tied to the Demonic Cult now.
“Muk Yeon.”

“Yes?”
“What happens if I accept this mission?”
“It’s simple.”

Muk Yeon took a sealed letter from his robes and placed it on the table.
“You’ll be given the information and need to assemble your team and depart within the day.”
“Today?”

“If it’s not urgent, you can delay—but given the circumstances, the sooner, the better.”
“…I see.”
“And if the Star Dragon Unit’s leader determines that the information and Celestial Stream Sect’s activities match…”

Tap. Tap.
Muk Yeon lightly tapped the letter with his fingertips and said—
“You are to eliminate them all.”

“….”
His chilling tone made me nod.
If the information was accurate, kill them.

The command was blunt and sinister.
To eliminate the target.
While ruthless, it wasn’t surprising.

After all, righteous sects didn’t always spare lives, especially when dealing with demonic or unorthodox factions.
And if Celestial Stream Sect was truly tied to the Demonic Cult, wiping them out was the logical course of action.
‘Hmm.’

Still, I picked up subtle undertones in Muk Yeon’s gaze and voice.
‘Is he testing me?’
A connection to the Demonic Cult.

And an order to kill if the information was accurate.
Was he probing me?
The possibility crossed my mind.

‘Not entirely baseless.’
If Muk Yeon harbored doubts, there was likely some basis for them.
So then, what should I do?

‘Ignore it?’
Since there probably wasn’t any connection, I could simply refuse the mission.
That thought lingered, but my hand moved regardless.

I picked up the letter from the table and said—
“I’ll do it.”
“…”

Muk Yeon’s calm eyes fixed on me as I spoke.
“But I’ll leave tomorrow instead of today.”
“Understood.”

Despite earlier saying time was urgent, he didn’t object to my decision to delay until tomorrow.
Whether that meant he trusted me or had another motive was unclear.
‘Trying to make up for last time?’

Muk Yeon’s poker face reminded me of our previous tense exchange.
He wasn’t giving anything away this time either.
‘Tch.’

It was frustrating, but there was no helping it.
After offering a brief nod, I turned and walked out the door.

   ******************
   

Celestial Stream Sect
Location: Established in the eastern region of Sichuan.
Total Members: Approximately 80, including the Sect Leader.
Sect Leader: Dae Hwan.
Cultivation Level: Previously estimated at Peak Level, but recent intelligence suggests he has reached Hwagyeong.
Combat Style: Focuses on Sword Formations, utilizing group tactics rather than individual duels.
 
Rustle.

Current Status: The sect had reduced activities due to pressure from the Tang Clan and Emei Sect. However, with the Tang Clan’s absence, it has begun reappearing.
Intelligence Reports: Evidence suggests contact with unidentified individuals.
Notable Incident: Reports indicate the presence of Demon Fang Spear—the weapon associated with Tang Deok, known for allegedly killing the Blade King.
 
“…What?”
I paused, staring at the words on the report.

The Celestial Stream Sect was supposedly involved with unidentified individuals, and among them was the Demon Fang Spear.
The report speculated possible ties to the Demonic Cult—but—
‘What kind of nonsense is this?’

I couldn’t wrap my head around it.
Demon Fang Spear.
If Tang Deok had truly made contact, the report had to be false.

‘He’s still in Hanam.’
I had already taken precautions, locking that beast of a man away and keeping him hidden. There was no way he could suddenly show up in Sichuan.
‘Maybe they mistook someone else for him.’

Or the report itself was fabricated.
Or, worse—
‘The Celestial Stream Sect is up to something.’

Either they were scheming, or this entire situation was blown out of proportion.
‘Which is it?’
Whatever the case, it didn’t sit right with me.

Even if they weren’t tied to the Demonic Cult, something about this felt off.
That was enough reason to check it out personally.
‘Beyond this point…’

The report contained additional details, including in-depth profiles of the sect members.
‘Oh.’
It was packed with specifics—physical descriptions, names, cultivation levels, techniques, combat habits, and distinctive traits.

I couldn’t help but admire the thoroughness.
‘The level of intelligence here…’
Was this what it meant to be at the center of the righteous sects?

This intelligence exceeded my expectations.
And yet—
‘Why the hell are they still fumbling around like this?’

No matter how second-rate the Celestial Stream Sect was, gathering this much data wasn’t trivial.
It implied this wasn’t something assembled on short notice.
They had likely been collecting this information for a while.

And—
‘They probably have more.’
I suspected the Alliance had dossiers like this on numerous factions.

‘How extensive is their intelligence network?’
Was it all managed by Flying Dragon Unit? Or perhaps the Beggar’s Sect was involved?
I understood the value of intelligence.

No matter how strong you were, lack of information rendered strength useless.
‘But it’s not just the Flying Dragon Unit.’
While they were competent and efficient, they lacked depth.

‘It has to include the Beggar’s Sect too.’
That seemed more likely.
Regardless, the key takeaway was this—

‘The Alliance’s intelligence network is no joke.’
‘Wait.’
A thought made me frown.

‘Is this what Muk Yeon wanted to show me?’
Was this some kind of demonstration to flaunt the Alliance’s intelligence-gathering capabilities?
That idea lingered briefly before I dismissed it.

‘No, that’s too far-fetched.’
There were too many inconsistencies for that to be the case.
It wasn’t just coincidence, but it wasn’t a definitive pattern either.

I folded the report and tucked it into my robes.
I’d seen enough for now.
Memorizing it would take some time, but that wasn’t a problem.

I was surprisingly good at retaining information.
Sliding the report away, I turned my attention forward.
“Busy morning already, huh?”

Voices stirred in response.
I had come straight to the Star Dragon Unit after speaking with Muk Yeon.
The members were already assembled.

“Had a good day off?”
I could feel their attention, but no one responded.
I didn’t mind.

“Vice Commander.”
“Yes, Commander.”
The one who responded was Tang So-yeol.

She now wore an armband—a mark identifying her as the unit’s Vice Commander.
Behind her, Wi Seol-ah and Namgung Bi-ah stood.
Wi Seol-ah looked annoyed about something, while Namgung Bi-ah’s face was unreadable.

Their expressions differed, but their presence here meant they had accepted the situation.
“Is everyone accounted for?”
I glanced around and asked.

Tang So-yeol hesitated, then—
“…Ah. I’ll check.”
I frowned.

“You didn’t check beforehand? You’re the Vice Commander now. Do your job until the team leaders are assigned.”
My tone carried some heat, and Tang So-yeol’s eyes widened slightly.
“…My apologies.”

“Just do better.”
“Yes, sir….”
No excuses.

She apologized immediately—better than trying to justify herself.
“Next.”
I turned to the Alliance-affiliated warriors.

“Did you assign a Vice Commander on your end?”
They flinched before one of them stepped forward.
“S-Senior Member Song….”

“Song Ho-jung. You?”
“…Yes, that’s me.”
“Noted. Pick up your armband later.”

“Understood….”
Song Ho-jung—someone from the Red Dragon Unit.
His cultivation level was somewhere between Peak and Advanced Peak.

A swordsman, if I recalled correctly.
‘Wasn’t he a squad leader there?’
Something like that.

“Alright. Now that we have Vice Commanders on both sides—”
I leaned back in my chair, crossing my legs.
“Here’s the mission. Engage with a sect in Sichuan. If they’re a threat—eliminate them.”

“Already? You’re assigning missions this quickly?”
“Yeah. Already.”
The unit members' faces filled with surprise.

A mission to Sichuan, barely days after the unit’s formation?
They hadn’t even undergone proper training, let alone engaged in formal operations.
“I heard it has something to do with the Demon Fang Spear…”

“The Demon Fang Spear?”
“You mean that unorthodox bastard who killed the Blade King?”
The moment the alias was spoken, tension rippled through the group.

The man had killed the Blade King and left his son half-dead—a clear indication of his terrifying strength.
And now there were rumors that he was plotting something in Sichuan?
Of course, they were bound to be uneasy.

“We’ll go ahead with the mission since it’s already assigned. But I won’t be taking everyone. I’ll be selecting a small group. Those who want to go, raise your hands.”
“...”
“...”

Hesitation.
Many of them glanced around, unsure whether to volunteer.
“Come on, quit hesitating and raise your hands already. I’m not taking that many anyway.”

As soon as I said it, several hands shot up.
Namgung Bi-ah, Wi Seol-ah, and Tang So-yeol—of course, they volunteered.
Beyond them…

‘The Burning Sword Duelist and… about eight in total?’
That was the count from the volunteers.
As for the recruits brought in from the Alliance,

‘Two more.’
Most of them kept their hands down.
I smirked at the sight.

“Alright. I’ve got my count. Out of those who raised their hands, five will go. As for the rest—you’re all coming with me.”
“W-what?!”
“Commander, wait—!”

“What.”
I shot a glare at the ones protesting.
“When did I ever say I’d only take those who volunteered? I just asked who wanted to go.”

“…That’s…!”
“Quit whining. Unless you want me to tear out your tongues so you can’t complain anymore?”
“...”

I let a trace of killing intent seep out, and the protests died down immediately.
Honestly, sometimes they only understood when I made it clear.
Tch.

I clicked my tongue and waved my hand dismissively.
“The selection’s done. Moving on.”
Just then, I sensed movement from the back of the room.

Thud.
A group of figures entered through the doors—five of them.
Their unexpected arrival drew confused looks from the others.

“These are the final reinforcements. Get along with them.”
These were the people I had specifically requested from Muk Yeon.
Whatever circumstances led them here,

And regardless of how ambiguous their identities might be—
I had gone as far as setting conditions to bring them in by force.