With the Executioners in tow, Seo Daeryong returned empty-handed.

“Yang Tae refused to be arrested. He argued that in the Namojong region, the Dogyu can protect themselves. We tried to force him, but when his subordinates intervened, we had no choice but to retreat.”

The Blood Heaven Butcher, a direct subordinate, had only a hundred men. If he refused, arresting him was not going to be easy.

The investigators, their morale at its peak, were agitated.

“This is blatant disrespect!”

“We should take all the Executioners and arrest him by force!”

Gok Myeong calmed the excited young investigators and advocated for caution.

“We must handle this carefully. If we clash with the Dogyu, many of our Executioners will be injured.”

“That doesn’t mean we can just let it go, does it?”

While the investigators debated, I handed them a document.

“Here, send this to him.”

“Gasp!”

What I showed them was a summons, and the reason they were shocked was the charge I had written on it.

Treason.

“Treason for refusing arrest?”

Even Gok Myeong, a senior investigator, was unfamiliar with this approach.

“Yes. We hold a position appointed directly by the sect leader, while ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) the Blood Heaven Butcher is appointed by the Demon Lord himself. Our orders and the Blood Heaven Butcher’s orders cannot conflict. In the end, he is disobeying the sect leader. There’s no need for us to go in person. If we send this summons, he’ll come running on his own.”

He will. If he makes a mistake and treason spreads to all of the Dogyu, he’ll be killed by them.

“Understood.”

Seo Daeryong quickly ran out with the summons in hand.

Sure enough, within half a watch, Yang Tae appeared at the Yellow Spring Division.

The word “treason” was a magic word that could make even the most stubborn of men comply.

However, while it brought him here, it didn’t mean he would confess.

An hour passed since the investigators began questioning, but Yang Tae still refused to admit to threatening Jonghwa’s sister.

I expected this, so I entered the interrogation room myself.

Yang Tae sat in a chair, his energy suppressed. He flinched when I entered. No matter how powerful the Blood Heaven Butcher’s influence was, it couldn’t compare to the momentum I had after recently slaying a Demon Lord.

“Lord Lee.”

“You should be calling me the Lord of the Yellow Spring Division.”

“I apologize. Lord of the Yellow Spring Division. The summons mentioned treason. What exactly do you mean by that?”

“I thought this was the only way to see our Lord Yang.”

I smiled gently as I spoke, and Yang Tae responded just as smoothly.

“I apologize for refusing arrest. As you know, when you’re in an organization, you have to be mindful of how things appear, especially in front of your subordinates.”

“I understand.”

“This whole issue didn’t need to blow up like this. It started with the kids playing around.”

“There is some truth to that.”

Seeing how he responded, I decided to play along, and Yang Tae seemed to think I was someone who understood. He began trying to win me over.

“I thought you were a reasonable person. We can settle this amicably.”

“How?”

“You’ve taken on a major role for the first time, haven’t you? As you manage the Yellow Spring Division in the future, you’ll need plenty of external help. It’ll cost a lot of money, too.”

He was hinting at bribery.

“And that’s not all. If you ever want to become the official successor, you’ll definitely need our help. Everyone is currently aligned with the Grand Prince, after all…”

“I’d be glad if you helped. Please assist me.”

Yang Tae’s expression brightened immediately.

“You truly are generous. I’ll serve you well from now on. And soon, I’ll arrange a good position for you.”

He glanced at me, then slowly stood up.

“Where are you going?”

“Aren’t we finished talking?”

“When you leave the prison, you’ll help me, won’t you?”

At the mention of prison, Yang Tae’s expression froze.

“What kind of joke is this?”

I looked up at him, revealing a cold prayer in my gaze.

“Does this sound like a joke? We’re talking about a threat to kill the family members of a Yellow Spring Division investigator.”

“I’ve told you clearly, I didn’t make such a threat.”

“Your testimony doesn’t matter. The testimony of the investigator who was threatened has already been accepted.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Our sect has this rule: the testimony of the Yellow Spring Division’s investigators takes precedence over any conflicting testimony. This rule was made to protect the authority of our division’s investigators. You probably didn’t know about it. I didn’t know about it either until now. It’s because of people like you, who think they can get away with anything.”

Yang Tae, clearly flustered, couldn’t say anything. He never expected this kind of situation when he first came here.

And then, a thunderclap hit.

“If you confess willingly, your sentence will be reduced to ten years. If you deny it, it will be twenty years. No further negotiation.”

“What… what? Ten years?”

Yang Tae was so surprised that he stuttered.

“Make your choice.”

“Are you crazy?”

His true nature, which he had been holding back, surfaced, and his words became harsh.

“If I must be crazy, I’m willing. I can’t handle people like you if I’m in my right mind. You have half an hour to think about it.”

In the end, Yang Tae’s composure shattered. He spoke to me with fiery eyes.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I won’t even last a single day in the prison, let alone ten years.”

There was no point in continuing the conversation, so I stood up from my seat.

“The trial will be held in a few days.”

“Who decides that?”

“I decide. You’re living according to your own whims, aren’t you?”

His desperate words caught me as I was about to turn away.

“Wait! Lord Lee! Lord of the Yellow Spring Division! Why are you doing this?”

“Don’t you know? Your son nearly killed his friend by assaulting him. It wasn’t just a simple fight; he tormented him for years. And what did you do? To cover up the incident, you threatened to kill an investigator’s family. So, why are you doing this?”

“Are we the same as those who guard warehouses? At least show us some respect. Up until now, I’ve let a lot slide.”

It was a sad, yet terrifying statement. It was also the fuel that drove me forward.

“Not anymore.”

“If you touch me, the Demon Lord won’t just stand by.”

“He’ll just stand by. He stood by when I killed the Demon Lord, and who are you to say otherwise?”

Finally, Yang Tae exploded. He had reached the wrong conclusion that this was happening because he had tried to be reasonable.

Bam!

Yang Tae slammed the desk, gritting his teeth as he spoke.

“Listen here, Lord of the Yellow Spring Division! I’ve had many friends I’ve shared my life with!”

“I can guarantee you, no one will step forward for you. Who would risk their life for someone like you?”

I threw the words back at him as he trembled with fury.

“Why? Are you going to kill my family too?”

Yang Tae, enraged, dared not speak another word.

I watched him swallow his fury, and suddenly, I had this thought.

Perhaps we hadn’t fallen because of Hwa Mugi.

Perhaps it was because of people like him, who were so easily threatening investigators from the Yellow Spring Division and subtly intimidating me.

“Confess willingly.”

I said calmly as I walked out. As the door closed behind me, I could hear the sound of the desk being slammed once more.

That day, the Blood Heaven Butcher came to visit me.

He was sitting in my front yard, his large sword stuck in the ground, drinking alcohol.

“Welcome, Lord Lee. No, should I now call you Lord of the Yellow Spring Division?”

“Call me whatever is comfortable for you.”

“I find it more comfortable to call you Lord Lee, so I’ll stick with that.”

“Do as you wish.”

“Come over here and have a drink.”

I sat down in front of him as he invited me, but he didn’t pour me any drink.

“I’m sure I warned you. There’s no good in seeing me often.”

“You’re the one who always comes to visit me.”

After a moment of staring at me, Blood Heaven Butcher suddenly brought up something from the past.

“I had a new thought about you recently. After you won the duel and made your wish to the sect leader, I shouted to myself, ‘That’s it. A smart person would make such a wish.’”

“I thought it was quite a good wish as well.”

“Yes, that’s when it all began.”

Blood Heaven Butcher emptied his cup and refilled it again. He still didn’t offer me a drink. Instead, he poured the wine for himself.

The massive Heaven-Cleaving Blade that was stuck behind him was impressive compared to his lean frame.

“It’s a magnificent sword.”

“Are you not afraid of it?”

“Why should I be afraid?”

“You make my sword cry.”

I didn’t avoid the intense gaze of Blood Heaven Butcher.

“The sword doesn’t cry because of me.”

“Then why does it cry?”

“It cries because it’s lamenting.”

“Lamenting what?”

“That your disciples earned the San Gongdok from the martial arts tournament, and another came to insult my subordinates. Your younger brother used the Demon Corps to fulfill his own selfish desires, and your subordinates threatened to kill a Yellow Spring Division investigator’s family. My sword cries because it sees how unworthy the people around you are of your true nature.”

Blood Heaven Butcher’s lips curled into a smile.

“Your eloquence is impressive.”

“I’m just stating the facts. I’m no orator.”

“You’re mistaken.”

“Teach me.”

“First of all, you said they’re unworthy of my true nature, but that’s not it. They fit perfectly with my nature. I am that kind of person.”

Indeed, he was not an easy opponent. Those with a high sense of pride or honor are easier to deal with.

“And strictly speaking, it’s not their fault. It’s yours.”

“My fault?”

“When a dragon rises, it brings storms with it.”

“Who’s the dragon?”

“Who else but you? My people are being swept away by the storm you’ve caused.”

“Rising? It’s just a mudfish causing a disturbance in the muddy water.”

“The mudfish becomes a snake, and the snake becomes a dragon.”

Blood Heaven Butcher emptied his cup again. After finishing, he handed the cup to me.

“Would you like to have a drink?”

This was the first time he offered me a drink. I accepted the cup without hesitation.

As he poured the wine, he spoke.

“Alright, I’ll let the rotten water flow away.”

“Indeed, a wise choice.”

Just as I was about to finish my drink, Blood Heaven Butcher dropped a meaningful comment.

“In exchange, I’ll have you become my water from now on.”