Chapter 180

Chapter 180: A Place to Lie Down (2)

Daybreak arrived.

The citizens of the River Capital attempted to begin their daily routines as they normally would, but it did not take long for a sense of anomaly to ripple through the crowds, sparking frantic whispers.

Word of mouth moves without legs, yet its pace outstrips the swiftest runner.

The shocking report that the grand headquarters of the Seven Star Immortal Society had been utterly cleared out rippled across the length and breadth of the River Capital in mere moments.

It was, in the most literal sense, completely gone.

No foundational stones remained, nor was there a single shard of roof pottery left behind, to say nothing of an actual building structure.

In their place lay nothing but a smooth, barren stretch of earth, as though no structure had ever graced the spot since the dawn of time.

“But… it makes no sense, just yesterday evening, it was without a doubt…”

“The Seven Star Immortal Society stood right there. Right before our eyes!”

The entirety of the River Capital was thrown into absolute chaos.

When the Iron God Gang fell into ruin, there were at least corpses left behind and shattered timber to mark their passing.

Yet the Seven Star Immortal Society had vanished into thin air, leaving no evidence behind.

In the span of a single night, the twin titans that held dominion over the River Capital had been wiped away.

Naturally, the local administration went into a state of frantic activity.

Whether dealing with the Seven Star Immortal Society or the Iron God Gang, both factions had been thorn-filled nuisances to the law, yet from the viewpoint of the local magistrates, they served as a necessary counterbalance.

Their presence allowed the local authorities to utilize regional thugs to counter regional thugs, keeping external threats like the Northern Yan at bay.

Now, both factions had evaporated in the darkness of a single night.

To describe it as a disappearance was far too mild; they had been struck from existence in a manner so bizarre it defied belief.

Faced with this vacuum, the local government would now be forced to spill its own blood to maintain order.

They would be required to dispatch messages to the Central Government and the Imperial Family, pleading for reinforcements and martial experts.

In all likelihood, the Imperial Family would respond by tightening the purse strings even further while sending fewer soldiers than requested.

And was that the sole complication?

Because these two massive factions had balanced each other like a locked dragon and a fiercely contesting tiger, numerous lesser scavengers had been lurking on the periphery, waiting for a vulnerability.

With their sudden departure, the River Capital had transformed overnight into a lawless wilderness stripped of its apex predators.

It was entirely obvious that a brutal war of succession would erupt immediately as everyone scrambled to seize the assets the dragon and tiger had once claimed.

And indeed.

That grim forecast materialized far more rapidly than anyone could have anticipated.

Before twelve hours had slipped away, the minor organizations that had previously kept as quiet as frightened rodents in the shadow of the twin giants began launching operations simultaneously.

Over in the Western Road.

The One-Eyed Sect aggressively claimed thirty percent of the territory previously managed by the Iron God Gang, while the Black Wind Hall seized a twenty percent share, leaving the remainder to be carved up among the Fire Bell Gang, the Blue Snake Society, and the Ten Thousand Gold Pavilion.

Conversely, over within the Eastern Road, which had been the domain of the Seven Star Immortal Society, no rival faction dared to take action just yet.

To be completely accurate, they were paralyzed by fear.

This hesitation stemmed from the long history of Bukgung Ri governing his territory with an unyielding, tyrannical grip.

No matter how unstable or unpredictable his mind was, nobody could have foreseen that Bukgung Ri would dismantle his own organization entirely before abandoning the River Capital.

Furthermore, if Bukgung Ri was indeed the architect of this destruction, he might still be lurking in the shadows nearby, an unnerving thought that forced his rivals to exercise extreme vigilance.

Yet such hesitation was bound to be short-lived.

The lesser forces ranked third, fourth, and fifth in power, along with the smaller gangs of the Western Road, were already deeply embroiled in forming fleeting pacts and betraying them just as quickly.

The moment the internal strife in that sector concluded, they would inevitably join forces to launch a massive, coordinated assault on the undefended Eastern Road.

Consequently, the Eastern Road would not remain an empty prize for long.

An anticipated, or rather, a completely ‘fated’ descent into anarchy.

The metropolis had always existed on the fringes of order, but now…

Before forty-eight hours could fully pass, the River Capital assumed the dark, terrifying aspect of a besieged stronghold in the midst of war.

Concurrently, a faint but optimistic narrative began passing through the streets.

The individual who first set this account in motion was a shopkeeper operating a modest business within the Western Road.

“I am telling you, my own eyes witnessed it. With every stride that warrior took, the fighters of the Iron God Gang were mowed down like dry wheat. It has to be him. He is the one who eradicated both the Iron God Gang and the Seven Star Immortal Society.”

Predictably, the vast majority of people dismissed such claims as the delusions of a madman.

Who within the borders of this River Capital possessed the sheer might to dissolve those two colossal networks in a single evening? And to achieve it completely unaided? Such a feat was beyond the boundaries of reasonable imagination.

Surely it would necessitate the intervention of at least one of the legendary Ten Great Sects. Even granting that possibility, could such a massive undertaking be executed so silently, under the cover of darkness?

“I swear to you, I watched the whole thing happen! That Great Hero will undoubtedly step forward to resolve this madness as well.”

Despite the widespread skepticism, this flickering ember of optimism, centered on an enigmatic ‘Great Hero,’ steadily gained ground, creeping through the populace under the guise of casual gossip.

Prefect Yo Han-myeong found himself in an absolute quagmire.

Even when Bukgung Ri and Cheol So-ah had conducted their tense confrontation—which could hardly be called a civil conversation—inside his private office, he had failed to foresee that events would spiral out of control with such terrifying velocity.

-I must ask for your forbearance ahead of time. The peace of the River Capital is bound to be disrupted for a short duration.

Recalling the words Bukgung Ri had uttered, the Prefect had anticipated a temporary storm of violence and a degree of unrest gripping the River Capital for a brief window…

Yet for the very instigators of that unrest, Bukgung Ri and Cheol So-ah, to be utterly erased so rapidly was beyond comprehension.

He had operated under the assumption that this “disrupted peace” would merely consist of the two leaders trading blows for a time before structural balance was restored.

The local magistrates, adhering strictly to the ancient doctrine of mutual non-interference separating state officials from the affairs of the Murim, had issued explicit directives to maintain absolute silence regardless of what violent spectacles took place.

How could he have guessed that the entire conflict would reach its final conclusion in this unbelievable manner?

‘This is a monumental disaster. What sort of documentation can I possibly submit to the higher authorities in the metropolis this time?’

He was a seasoned official who had navigated treacherous political waters, survived military campaigns on land and water, and even witnessed a primitive form of aerial engagement, yet he was completely at a loss as to where he should begin unraveling this knot.

At that moment, a specific remark made by Bukgung Ri flashed across his memories.

A unfamiliar companion appears to have arrived in the River Capital.

As is our custom, would it be acceptable for our factions to handle the matter internally?

An unfamiliar companion.

Bukgung Ri and Cheol So-ah had confidently asserted they would resolve the issue personally, but for the situation to terminate in this fashion…

It was equivalent to confirming that they themselves had been ‘resolved’ by this mysterious entity instead.

“Have we uncovered any individuals who saw what happened?”

Yo Han-myeong finally caught a desperate thread of direction.

It was time to investigate from the very genesis of the incident.

In response to his prompt, the subordinate official positioned just behind him spoke up.

“Reports have reached me regarding certain shopkeepers from the Western Road who claim to have observed a sequence of strange occurrences just prior to the total annihilation of the Iron God Gang.”

Prior to their destruction?

“Before? Are you implying there were visible warning signs before the massacre occurred?”

“There were, sir.”

Yo Han-myeong lightly rubbed his lower jaw, burying himself in contemplation.

It was a physical quirk he demonstrated whenever he was parsing a complex issue.

A brief interval passed.

“You specified the Western Road, correct?”

He came to a sudden resolution.

“Yes, specifically the 7th District of the Western Road.”

“We are departing immediately.”

“Sir?”

The subordinate could not conceal his astonishment, given that Yo Han-myeong had expressed his intention to investigate the site personally.

An official of the Prefect’s standing almost never placed himself on the front lines of such inquiries.

The established protocol dictated that he remain secluded, directing his agents from safety.

“For an official of your rank to personally visit the streets is…”

“Incorrect. It is imperative that I examine the scene with my own eyes.”

Yo Han-myeong cut off his subordinate’s protests mid-sentence and strode out of the River Capital Prefecture without a moment’s delay.

Whoosh—

Yo Han-myeong activated his advanced locomotion techniques, blurring into a streak of motion as he dashed directly toward the western sector.

His trajectory was aimed precisely toward the heart of the 7th District of the Western Road.

Precisely as Yo Han-myeong was making his way toward that specific district.

Dong Bongsu was casually walking through the desolate grounds that had formerly served as the stronghold of the Eastern Road’s rulers, the Seven Star Immortal Society.

The sight matched his calculations perfectly.

The entire compound had been reduced to absolute desolation.

A territory of this vast scale could never have been leveled to such an extent in the span of a single night through conventional means.

It was impossible without the application of extraordinary, unnatural forces.

‘It appears he chose to consume the entirety of his own Seven Star Immortal Society.’

Dong Bongsu positioned himself at the center of the devastation, precisely where the grand pavilion of the Society Leader once towered, and spoke softly to the empty air.

“This development is turning out quite a bit more compelling.”

If their paths were destined to cross once more, it simply meant Bukgung Ri had evaluated him as a fitting ‘place to lie down.’

Nothing more, nothing less.

Dong Bongsu consciously pushed aside his deliberations regarding the Seven Star Immortal Society.

This was due to the information materializing before him.

[Main] The Salvation of Jeon Rahwa

[Relationship]:

Please respond to the ‘First Belief’.

Faith always brings a corresponding reward.

Please sever all the chains of ill fate connected to her.

(Chain of Ill Fate 『Seven Star Immortal Society』 Annihilated)

Progress: 18.18% (Third Reward: History +100, Trust MAX)

The system governing his journey as a Hero had already formally recognized the destruction of the Seven Star Immortal Society.

There existed no practical motivation to pursue Bukgung Ri’s trail any further.

At least for the present moment.

With that matter concluded, it was time to transition to the subsequent phase of his plan with unburdened focus.

However, there remained a pressing task demanding his immediate attention.

It was an action he really ought to have executed immediately following his elimination of the Iron God Gang the previous afternoon, but given the rapid succession of unexpected disruptions, he was only just now finding the quiet moment required to examine it thoroughly.

A soft prompt sounded.

Dong Bongsu instantly pulled up his Hero History advancement matrix.

• Hero’s Aura Lv.1 Y/N

ㄴRequired History: 10 (10/10)

• Light of Faith Lv.1 Y/N

ㄴRequired History: 10 (10/10)

By virtue of fulfilling a sequential chain of objectives, his accumulated Hero History store had successfully reached a total of 10 points.

The moment of decision had arrived.

『Hero’s Aura Lv.1』

[Passive][Buff][Area of Effect]

• A true champion must possess the capability to elevate the fighting spirit of all comrades simply by maintaining a presence on the field of engagement. A champion’s radiant resolve across the battlefield bolsters the determination of neighboring companions while projecting a crushing weight of intimidation upon adversaries. The mere proximity of a champion can fundamentally alter the course of a battle. This trait harbors boundless capability, scaling in direct proportion to the number of souls placing their reliance upon the champion.

  • All companions within the radius receive Attack Power +5% / Defense Power +5% / Status Effect Resistance +10%

  • All adversaries within the radius incur Attack Power -5% / Defense Power -5% / Critical Hit Resistance -10%

  • Operational Radius: 15-meter zone centered upon the champion

  Level Up Enhancement

  *Lv.2: Operational radius expands to 20 meters, attribute adjustments increased by +2%

  ※Perpetually operational, with the modifications taking effect the precise instant engagement commences.

『Light of Faith Lv.1』

[Basic Magic][Summoning][Attribute]

• A distinguished champion is perpetually accompanied by a manifest radiance. That radiance functions, naturally, as nothing short of cosmic retribution visited upon transgressive souls. Conjure a sanctified radiance to illuminate the theater of conflict, carving an unhealable sacred scar upon spectral, undead, or corrupt fiendish entities. The illumination additionally carries a distinct probability to obscure the vision of standard adversaries, significantly impairing their martial efficiency.

  Mana Requirement: 20 MP

  Incantation Duration: 1.5 seconds

  Recuperation Period: 15 seconds

  Fundamental Output: 50 (+Faith Bonus)

  • Triggers Blindness (Accuracy reduced by 50%) targeting standard adversaries for a duration of 3 seconds.

  • Operational Radius: A forward-facing 30-degree arc spanning a length of 12 meters

  Level Up Enhancement

  *Lv.2: Damage increased to 220%, Blindness duration extended to 4 seconds

  ※Inflicts Holy-aligned damage equivalent to 200% of standard magical damage against Undead or Fiendish classifications.

Should he opt for a permanent, area-wide enhancement?

Or choose an active incantation capable of delivering devastating targeted strikes against corrupt and unholy monsters?

Dong Bongsu required very little deliberation to choose his path.

A crisp confirmation echoed as he selected the ‘Y’ option for one of the choices.