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To top off his new look, dark circles drooped below his eyes, and his skin was coarse and pale.

Indeed, the face staring back at him through the mirror was as unfamiliar as it could get.

\'Bloody hell!\'

Cai Kechang angrily splashed the cold water gushing out of the tap. Although he didn\'t have the time to properly groom himself, at least he should maintain his hygiene. After washing his face, Cai Kechang used his wet hands to sleek back the bangs covering his forehead.

\'Lee Hyeon-Su...!\'

Cai Kechang\'s brain suddenly recalled Lee Hyeon-Su\'s name. And then... countless insults and curses immediately followed afterward. Just remembering that name alone was enough to cause a train of curses to nearly shoot out of Cai Kechang\'s mouth.

“Fuu-woo...!”

“Dammit. You sure are having fun at my expense, aren\'t you...!”

As a man referred to as the brains of the Crimson King\'s faction, Cai Kechang unsurprisingly had to negotiate and mediate with countless people over the years. Even the top executives belonging to the factions of the Azure King and the Dark King were included in the list of the people he had faced so far.

However! Cai Kechang could unequivocally say none of them exhausted and frustrated him as much as Lee Hyeon-Su.

All the opponents Cai Kechang faced so far could be compared to foxes or wild dogs. However, that Korean brat was like a crafty hunting dog. And a systematically trained one, at that! If his opponent revealed even a hint of weakness, Lee Hyeon-Su would deliberately target it and nowhere else.

It wasn\'t as if he wanted to kill his prey as soon as possible and have a feast later in the day with its meat or something. No, he took his time pricking the wounds as if he knew the prey would bleed to death on its own sooner or later.

If Lee Hyeon-Su had been an ally, Cai Kechang would\'ve had nothing but praise for the brat. He\'d enthusiastically clap his hands, then try to nurture Lee Hyeon-Su as his successor.

Unfortunately, that bastard happened to be a Martial Assembly member, and that fact was mercilessly tiring Cai Kechang out.

\'The Martial Assembly... It always circles back to the Assembly.\'

Cai Kechang never saw the Martial Assembly as a potential hindrance. Indeed, Kang Jin-Ho was the true menace in Cai Kechang\'s eyes, not the organization he led.

The Martial Assembly was like the grain of sand inside the mold called Kang Jin-Ho. It might look tall and imposing, but a hole in the mold should lead to all the sand instantly pouring out.

Now that Cai Kechang had personally experienced this so-called sand castle, though... It turned out to be a lot sturdier than he thought.

\'I can\'t figure it out...\'

Did the Martial Assembly always possess this much latent potential? Or did Kang Jin-Ho nurture and improve the organization in such a short time? If it was the latter... What a horrifying revelation that would be.

After wiping the water off his face and fixing his attire, Cai Kechang sighed deeply before leaving the bathroom. Soon, he was silently walking in a corridor dominated by the crimson hue before finally reaching a massive doorway.

“Fuu-huuph!”

Cai Kechang sucked in a deep, deep breath before loudly announcing himself. “My liege, your servant Cai Kechang seeks your audience.”

The imposing doorway slowly opened. Cai Kechang got down on his knees and crawled inside. Once he arrived at the foot of a staircase inside this massive space, he planted his forehead on the floor.

“My liege. This servant has come to give you his report!”

On top of this tall staircase was an impressive throne, with the Crimson King making a languid expression perched on it. He stared at the kowtowing Cai Kechang for a little while before letting his raucous voice reverberate within this impressive hallway. “You may speak, Cai Kechang.”

“Our negotiation with the Martial Assembly is nearing the end, my liege. It is taking a little longer than expected as they demand many things, but... The negotiations should conclude soon.”

The Crimson King muttered aimlessly. “Demanding many things?”

“Yes, my liege. They want more concessions from us.”

“...Is that right?” The Crimson King grunted, then wordlessly threw his head back.

This silence! An unbelievably heavy silence pressed down on Cai Kechang\'s shoulders. He began biting his lip.

He would\'ve felt better knowing he had committed a mistake somewhere, causing this negotiation to drag out like this. He could ask for punishment to make up for his mistake in such a case, after all.

However, Cai Kechang hadn\'t made any mistakes this time. The situation the Crimson King\'s faction found itself in was the culprit for the negotiation dragging its feet for so long, and that knowledge was burning a figurative hole in Cai Kechang\'s gut.

The faction\'s prestige, its status... had changed.

None of the faction\'s members had changed, yet the faction\'s status was no longer the same as before. If this negotiation had taken place a month ago, the Crimson King\'s faction would\'ve easily throttled those Koreans and shaken them around at will.

“Cai Kechang?”

“Yes, my liege!”

“Do not lower your head.”

Cai Kechang\'s head shot up. That was when he noticed that the Crimson King was looking straight at him with a pair of resolute eyes.

“This isn\'t your fault, Cai Kechang. Besides, even if it is your fault, nothing will change. Do not lower your head and grovel. You are the brains of my faction. Once the brain starts bowing, the rest of the body will follow. Do you wish to turn me into a vanquished in everyone\'s eyes?”

Cai Kechang tightly clenched his fists. “I wouldn\'t dare, my liege!”

“Then... Raise your head, Cai Kechang!”

“I shall obey, my liege!” Cai Kechang proudly raised his head to look up.

The Crimson King smiled in satisfaction. “It seems I\'ve unfairly burdened you through my weakness.”

“My liege...! Please do not say that. This is all the fault of the insidious Azure King and his lackeys\' underhanded activities. How could anyone dare blame you, my liege! No, it is my fault for not anticipating the actions of our enemies ahead of time...!”

“None of it would\'ve happened if I was stronger, Cai Kechang,” said the Crimson King, his voice composed, still. “Even so, do not lower your head. Defeat can come swiftly at any given moment. Gaozu of Han tasted defeat over and over again. However, he still emerged victorious in the end and became an emperor. If he allowed one defeat to crush his dreams, he would\'ve gone down in history as yet another loser.”

“Your words are indeed wise, my liege.”

“I\'m sure it\'s difficult and humiliating. However, you must endure. This is a path we must tread. Do not shed a tear even as you walk on the path of thorns. Even if you bleed from your cuts and bruises, grit your teeth and endure!”

“Yes, my liege!”

“Compensations are not given. You\'re supposed to win it! So, do not ever forget this humiliation, Cai Kechang. You must return this shame and humiliation to your enemies a hundredfold... No, a thousandfold!”

“I will engrave this lesson to my soul!”

“Very good,” the Crimson King slowly nodded. “So, the negotiation is progressing smoothly?”

“Yes, my liege. The Koreans have agreed to a peace deal as well. It\'s just that they demand excessive financial compensation, and…”

“Doesn\'t matter. Let them have it.”

“...I beg your pardon?”

“We are not lacking in finances, so don\'t hesitate and give them what they want.”

“But, my liege...” Cai Kechang swallowed nervously.

Expressing opposition to the Crimson King\'s opinion always had been a difficult affair. Especially after going through that ordeal with Kang Jin-Ho... Raising his voice like this became so much harder for Cai Kechang.

“I\'m not scared of weakening our finances, my liege. But the possibility of the Martial Assembly improving its strength even further frightens me. What if we hand over wealth without a fight only for them to use it to grow their influence...!”

“It doesn\'t matter,” said the Crimson King.

Cai Kechang cautiously raised his head to study the Crimson King\'s mood.

“Cai Kechang.”

“Yes, my liege.”

“I\'m sure you already know that the worst path to take is wasting so much time and all your energy and still handing over considerable wealth in the end.”

“Y-yes, my liege. I\'m aware.”

“Do you have a strategy to prevent this situation from veering in that direction?”

“...It\'s not a strategy, per se, but I can minimize our losses with a little more time, my liege.”

“I care more about you and your mind than such pocket change, Cai Kechang. Don\'t underestimate your own worth like that. You\'re much more important to me than you think. Such trivial negotiations don\'t matter to me. Give them what they want, then take better care of yourself and guide me down the correct path. That is your role.”

Cai Kechang subtly bit his lip.

He had committed so many mistakes. If only he had grasped just one opportunity among countless many offered in his way before the situation could devolve to this state...! They wouldn\'t have been driven to a corner like this.

Cai Kechang had no excuses to defend himself even if others accused him of being an incompetent fool. He would\'ve had no problem offering his neck, all washed and clean, if the Crimson King demanded payment for all of his failures.

However, the Crimson King was actually trusting him even more? How could Cai Kechang not be loyal to a king like him!

“Your wish is my command, my liege!”

“Listen, Cai Kechang.”

“I obey!”

“Kang Jin-Ho and the Martial Assembly will grow stronger.”

“...!”

“Do not try to stop the unstoppable river. Earthwork erected in the middle of a river is bound to crumble sooner or later. You might stop the river temporarily, but you will only cause the water to become even more violent.”

“I shall engrave this teaching to my heart, my liege.”

“Preventing your opponent from getting stronger isn\'t always the right answer. The correct solution should be for us to become stronger instead. As long as we maintain the gap in strength, their growth will mean little.”

Cai Kechang weightily nodded. Like how Kang Jin-Ho had room to grow, the Crimson King\'s faction should also have ways to improve its strength. It must shear off and remove parts of its fattened body to reform itself.

“If only I had not been injured, those insidious bastards wouldn\'t have run wild like this. For now, endure, Cai Kechang. Kowtow and let the deluge soak you from top to bottom. Even as you tumble within the mud chewing on excrement... Endure! Eventually, the day will arrive. The day when you receive your reward for all this humiliation!”

“...This servant will never forget this humiliation, my liege!”

The Crimson King concluded their talk there. Cai Kechang bowed deeply, then left the grand hallway on his knees.

Now left alone, the Crimson King silently pressed down on his gut. The frown on his face deepened at the dull but insistent pain. His wounds still hadn\'t healed yet.

\'Kang Jin-Ho...!\'

Just thinking about Kang Jin-Ho worsened the aching. The Crimson King recalled Kang Jin-Ho\'s face. That face, plastered with a freakish monster\'s smirk as he wielded his swords! And then...

What about the sticky and ominous demonic qi enveloping Kang Jin-Ho back then?

The Crimson King could recall that sight every time he closed his eyes. Nightmares of those moments tormented him every night. And whenever those things happened... the Crimson King stewed in rage and hatred engraved deep into his bones.

“...Kang Jin-Ho!”

The wounds Kang Jin-Ho left behind on the Crimson King\'s body proved to be much worse than he thought. Physical injuries weren\'t the only thing to worry about, as Kang Jin-Ho\'s demonic qi was constantly coursing through the Crimson King\'s body, trying to destroy its host.

To make matters worse, the price of using his essence qi was higher than he thought, too. His physical body had become so much frailer, and demonic qi gleefully messed it up even further. The Crimson King should\'ve been able to heal up within a week from these kinds of injuries, but not this time. These damn wounds showed no signs of healing!

In his estimation, the Crimson King would need at least a good few months of recuperation to return to a completely healthy state. And this was why the negotiations had to be rushed.

Right now, the Crimson King was not 100%. And the Azure King began making suspicious moves as if to exploit this opening. The Crimson King would not want to fight a battle with enemies to his front and rear even when he was in perfect condition. So, what was there to consider when his condition was less than ideal?

Grit!

The Crimson King loudly gritted his teeth. This humiliation! He had never experienced humiliation worse than this one before.

The advice he offered to Cai Kechang earlier wasn\'t simply meant to console his loyal subordinate. No, it was also meant to remind himself. To strengthen his resolve!

It was plainly obvious what would happen if the Crimson King failed to rein in his anger and started rampaging around. That was why he must be patient and endure for the time being.

\'However! I will never let it go like this!\'

The light in the Crimson King\'s eyes burned even fiercer.

A hidden dagger was supposed to stab the victim in the back, not the gut. Its role was to strike when the target was at his least-guarded moment. And the Crimson King was well aware of what his current task was.

“It\'s my loss this time. However... Your victory will not be permanent. That I assure you!”

A wounded lion quietly sunk deeper into his throne. Once he had enough strength to rise from this throne again, the world... would experience another change. The era of peace had come to an end.

The delicate balance created by the Three Kings was now truly shattered by Kang Jin-Ho\'s entrance to the scene. And now, their peace would no longer be maintained. War would thrust the world into chaos once more.

No one could predict the potential extent of the harm caused by the war.