It wasn’t until the next day that Jeon Wi-gun, Sect Master of Gentlen’s Gate, realized sothing was off.
“What? The Black Dragon Unit still hasn’t returned?”
“That’s correct, sir.”
Jeon Wi-gun’s face twisted in a frown.
“Are you telling it takes over a day just to wipe out a collapsing sect?”
“Perhaps they’re facing more resistance than expected.”
“Resistance? Do you think I don’t know how strong the Black Dragon Unit is? A sect like that wouldn’t last long even if they did fight back. No, sothing else must’ve happened.”
He stroked his beard, lost in thought.
“I suppose I’ll have to send soone to investigate. Summon the White Dragon Unit Leader.”
“Yes, sir!”
A short while later—
The subordinate who had been sent to summon the White Dragon Unit Leader returned alone.
“Why are you by yourself? Where is he?”
“He’s... not here.”
“What do you an?”
“He’s not in his quarters, not at the sparring grounds—he’s nowhere to be found in the sect.”
“Then ask his n.”
“They’re missing, too.”
“What are you saying?”
“I-I don’t know, sir. But there’s no trace of the White Dragon Unit anywhere in the sect.”
A wave of unease surged over Jeon Wi-gun.
The Black Dragon and White Dragon Units were indispensable to Gentlen’s Gate.
And now they had both vanished in a single night?
Sothing serious had happened.
“Then that ans the only ones left are the Yellow Dragon Unit?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Summon them.”
“Yes, sir.”
If the Black and White Dragon Units were the sword of Gentlen’s Gate, then the Yellow Dragon Unit was its shield—a defensive force that protected the sect itself.
Wi Gon, the Yellow Dragon Unit Leader, arrived quickly upon being summoned.
Jeon Wi-gun questioned him about the White Dragon Unit.
“They said the Black Dragon Unit requested backup yesterday and left to assist them.”
“The Black Dragon Unit... requested backup?”
“Yes.”
“Then why was I never inford?”
How audacious.
No, more importantly—if even the White Dragon Unit had been mobilized, a sect like Heavenly Armor Gate should have already been annihilated.
Yet it was now the next day, and there was still no sign of them.
“There’s definitely sothing going on. Go to Heavenly Armor Gate and assess the situation.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Just observe. If nothing seems off, then it ans a high-level master unknown to us has intervened.”
“Are you suggesting the Black and White Dragon Units were subdued and captured by so unknown master?”
“It’s just a theory.”
“What if they have been captured?”
“We’ll assess the situation. First, we need to find out exactly who’s interfering with our business.”
“Understood.”
****
Upon arriving at Heavenly Armor Gate, Wi Gon saw familiar faces.
Right at the front gate.
They were mbers of the Black Dragon Unit.
And they were standing guard at the front gate of Heavenly Armor Gate.
Had they taken control of the sect?
If so, why hadn’t they reported back?
Their posture and watchfulness made it seem as though they were protecting their own sect.
There were no signs of injuries.
No traces of battle, either.
‘What the... Did they just walk in without resistance?’
If so, why hadn’t they reported in? Why were they still standing around?
He kept watching.
Soon, a shift change occurred.
This ti, it was mbers of the White Dragon Unit.
They smiled and joked as they took over the watch.
It didn’t look like they’d been captured.
Which ant—they were guarding the gate of their own volition.
But why?
Wi Gon tilted his head, confused.
‘They’re guarding Heavenly Armor Gate like it’s their own... and taking shifts? Both the Black and White Dragon Units?’
A terrible suspicion crept in.
‘Betrayal. They’ve joined forces and founded a new sect.’
The conclusion was clear.
They had betrayed Gentlen’s Gate and created a new sect together.
Suddenly, everything made sense.
Wi Gon turned back toward the sect to report what he’d seen.
But two familiar faces appeared before him.
“Told you he’d be the next one they send.”
“Well, there’s no one else left to send now, is there?”
Standing in his path were O Gun, leader of the White Dragon Unit, and Hua Cheon, leader of the Black Dragon Unit.
“You ca looking for us?”
At O Gun’s question, Wi Gon gave a stiff nod.
“So, you’ve ford a new sect?”
“A new sect? Us?”
“Isn’t that what this is?”
“Not even close.”
“Then why are you guarding Heavenly Armor Gate?”
“Because we’re mbers of Heavenly Armor Gate.”
“...What?”
What the hell was this nonsense?
They had to be joking.
“You see after all this ti and think it’s funny to joke like that?”
“We’re not joking. It’s true. I’m now the White Dragon Unit Leader of Heavenly Armor Gate. He’s the Black Dragon Unit Leader. And you’ll be the Yellow Dragon Unit Leader of Heavenly Armor Gate.”
Wi Gon’s face twisted.
“Don’t lump in with you traitors. That’s offensive.”
“You’ll join soon enough.”
“Right. You don’t have a choice.”
“And if I refuse? Are you planning to kill ? Wipe out my entire bloodline?”
“No. Honestly, that’d be more rciful.”
“He’s right.”
“Are you saying... torture?”
“If you want to call it that, sure.”
“Yeah, let’s call it what it is. Torture. The most excruciating kind there is.”
To be threatened with torture so bluntly—it was unbearable.
But he knew he couldn’t defeat these two.
That’s when—
“Is this the last one?”
A youthful voice called out.
Wi Gon turned his head.
A young man—barely of age—stood there with his hands behind his back, watching him.
‘Who the hell is that?’
But then he saw how O Gun and Hua Cheon reacted.
“S-Sir! You’ve arrived!”
“This is the Yellow Dragon Unit Leader!”
Their faces were filled with fear.
These were n who stood proud even before the Sect Master himself—and now they looked like this?
Who in the ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) world was that man?
The young man standing calmly with his hands behind his back was none other than Yeon Woo Jin.
He smiled warmly at Wi Gon.
“Welco. First ti at Heavenly Armor Gate?”
****
“Still no word from the Yellow Dragon Unit Leader?”
“N-No, sir.”
“What the hell! Why is it that every ti I send soone to Heavenly Armor Gate, they disappear without a trace?!”
Just the martial artists who had gone there so far made up eighty percent of Gentlen’s Gate’s total strength.
If they didn’t return...
The sect’s ranking would plumt overnight.
And before that, the surrounding sects—who had been eyeing Gentlen’s Gate—would strike first.
“Goddamn it! Assemble all remaining forces imdiately!”
“Sir?!”
“I’m going to Heavenly Armor Gate myself!”
“Y-Yes, sir!”
He couldn’t sit still any longer.
Jeon Wi-gun turned to his eldest son, who had been silently standing nearby.
“You stay here and guard the sect. If... anything happens to , I want you to inherit the sect and rebuild it.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“No! You are the future of Gentlen’s Gate! I’ve lived my life, but you still have yours ahead. No argunts. Stay here.”
“You’re going sowhere dangerous, and I’m your son. You expect to sit by and do nothing? I can’t.”
“You brat! That’s an order!”
“Even if it ans being exiled, I will follow you!”
Unlike his second son, who only caused trouble, his firstborn—Jeon Yeok-ho—was a brilliant young man who seed to be born to lead Gentlen’s Gate.
Intellect, virtue, discipline—he had it all.
Even his temperant was calm and noble.
Jeon Wi-gun cherished him like a treasure.
But the one flaw?
He’d inherited his father’s stubbornness.
Just look at him now.
“You little—are you defying your father’s command?”
“I’m sorry. Just this once, I will.”
That stubbornness...
It couldn’t be broken.
What could he do?
Anyone but him...
From the look in his son’s eyes, Jeon Wi-gun could see it—he was determined to follow, no matter what.
In the end, Jeon Wi-gun let out a long sigh.
“...Fine. Co with . I suppose... it’s sothing you should see for yourself.”
“Thank you, Father.”
He didn’t know whether to be irritated or proud at the way his son smiled so brightly, unaware of how heavy this burden truly was.
Jeon Wi-gun gathered all remaining forces within Gentlen’s Gate and led them personally to Heavenly Armor Gate.
The state of the place?
Untouched.
Despite sending eighty percent of Gentlen’s Gate’s military strength, the front gate hadn’t even been scratched.
What the hell had happened?
Then, soone familiar appeared by the gate.
“Th-That’s...”
He was unmistakably one of Jeon Wi-gun’s own subordinates.
What was this?
Why were they guarding Heavenly Armor Gate?
He was confused.
Betrayal?
No... who betrays this openly?
For a brief mont, Jeon Wi-gun wondered if he had sohow failed them.
He hadn’t.
They were among the most valued mbers of the sect—he had cared for and supported them more than anyone.
But just standing there thinking wouldn’t bring answers.
Jeon Wi-gun walked toward the gate with a furious expression.
When the guards spotted him, their eyes widened in shock.
“You bastards! What do you think you’re doing here?!”
At his roar, the martial artists guarding the gate lowered their heads and replied in small voices.
“W-We’re guarding Heavenly Armor Gate, sir.”
“...What?”
What kind of bullshit was this?
“Why the hell are you guarding Heavenly Armor Gate? Did I order you to do that?”
Even he was beginning to second-guess his own mory.
“No, sir. You ordered us to destroy it.”
“Right?! I thought I was the one who got confused. Then why are you guarding it?!”
“T-That is...”
“What? Did you get here and suddenly feel bad for them?”
“No, sir.”
“Enough. The Unit Leaders are all here, aren’t they?”
“Y-Yes, sir.”
“They’re inside?”
“Yes.”
“Open the gate.”
“Please wait a mont, sir. I need to request permission first.”
“...What? I’m the Sect Master. Whose permission?”
“We must ask the Heavenly Armor Gate Sect Master, sir.”
...What?
He understood the words, but they made no sense.
“What do you an—why are you asking the Heavenly Armor Gate Sect Master for permission?!”
“Because... we’re mbers of Heavenly Armor Gate, sir.”
Of everything he’d heard today, this made the least sense.
“...Huh?”
Jeon Wi-gun stared at the two martial artists in stunned silence.
“W-Why would you be Heavenly Armor Gate mbers? You’re Gentlen’s Gate martial artists! Are you insane? Have you lost your minds? Want to die?!”
“S-Sorry, sir! We are now mbers of Heavenly Armor Gate!”
“...Goddamn it. Don’t tell ... the Unit Leaders are just like you?”
“Yes, sir. They’ve also sworn themselves to Heavenly Armor Gate.”
“Why? Did they get paid in gold or sothing?”
“N-No, sir.”
“Then why?”
“T-That is...”
“Forget it. Go get them. I’ll hear it from them directly.”
“Yes, sir!”
One of them dashed inside while the other nervously glanced at Jeon Wi-gun, gauging his fury.
“This is insane. What, did soone brainwash them all?”
That was starting to sound like the only explanation.
But... was that even possible?
“Was it so kind of soul-capture technique?”
He was beginning to think the Unit Leaders weren’t any different.
At least they weren’t dead. If he could find a way to bring them back to their senses, this could still be salvaged.
Just then, the three n he had once cherished appeared.
Wi Gon, O Gun, and Hua Cheon—leaders of the Yellow, White, and Black Dragon Units.
Seeing them stirred a mix of relief and rage.
How was he supposed to undo this?
“Sect Master, you’ve arrived.”
Surprisingly, they looked ntally sound.
“What the hell is going on? You’re all fine?”
“Yes, as you can see.”
“Then explain this situation to .”
“Ah. All of us have pledged ourselves to Heavenly Armor Gate.”
...They weren’t fine.
They’d clearly lost their minds.
“Good god... where do I even begin with this?”
Should he summon a renowned healer?
Who even handles this kind of madness?
His head pounded.
He hadn’t expected every Unit Leader to fall like this.
He had underestimated Heavenly Armor Gate.
They had likely made the sa mistake—underestimating the enemy and walking into a trap.
“If I told you to return to Gentlen’s Gate now, would you go?”
“Of course not. We are now mbers of Heavenly Armor Gate. We are deeply grateful to you for everything until now, Sect Master.”
“We truly are, sir!”
These sons of bitches...
“Please co inside. He would like to speak with you.”
“He? You an the Heavenly Armor Gate Sect Master?”
“No, sir.”
“...What?”
So there was soone else.
The real mastermind had appeared.
‘Of course. It wasn’t just the sect master... there’s soone higher.’
He hesitated.
Go in?
Or turn back?
...No. He had his pride.
All his subordinates were watching.
Jeon Wi-gun made up his mind—and stepped forward.
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