At the Martial Alliance, within a building just to the side of the headquarters, two men stood cloaked in black. They knelt before Vice Stategist Seori.
"We bring news of the boy, as requested."
Seori sat behind her desk, glasses perched low on her nose as she flipped through a document. She looked up. "Speak."
One of the men spoke. "He and So-Yeon along with members of Silent Edge cleared a gate in the Black Pines. They came out of the gate with a number of the missing crimson veil scouts."
Seori stood hands flat on her desk. "A gate in the Black Pines? You're positive?"
The two men looked at each other. "Yes, ma'am."
"Hrmm. There is no record of a gate there. Were any of them hurt?" Seori asked.
"No ma'am. Actually the boy seems to have a good relationship with your brother and with So-Yeon. We assume the other scouts were killed in the gate though."
"So Silent Edge, or my sister is harboring someone who had a system." She paced behind her desk. "That's the only way to close gates. Who came out of the gate exactly?"
"So-Yeon, the boy, Wu Jin, Tang Yeol and Wu Cheng. Along with the scouts." One man answered.
"So it's him." She turned back to the men. "Speak of this to no one. You may go."
Seori turned and sat at her desk. She leaned back. "Uncle, Ryul, Cheng, and now So-Yeon. Is it his system you're all interested in? Or is it something else?" She asked herself as she tapped her desk.
She searched her desk for a folder. As she opened it and flipped through the documents, she sighed. "There's nothing on him. No family. No background. He won the tournament, fought Wudang for my brother, and now he's clearing gates with So-Yeon. Who is he?"
She stood and walked to the window. "No, that makes no sense. We have no cousins." She leaned against the windowsill. "Could my father have had a bastard?" She shook her head. "Then, reincarnation? Maybe grandfather or father himself?" She smacked her own head. "Get it together Seori." She chuckled. "Reincarnation, no way. Theres a plausible explanation for all this... and I'm going to find it."
As Seori made her way back to her desk she yelled. "EUYNHANG!"
Her aide rushed in. "Yes, ma'am?"
Seori swiftly wrote a letter, sealed it with her crest, and handed it over. "Send this to So-Yeon. Let me know immediately when she responds."
"Yes, ma'am."
In the headquarters of the Alliance, in Hyeon's private office. Hyeon stared at the war map of the current Murim. Then the air filled with demonic energy. Behind his desk the same red portal opened. The demon stepped out.
"Little king, why did you dismantle the gate in the Black Pines?" The demon hissed.
"We didn't clear any gate in the Black Pines. I have no men anywhere near there."
The demon sat on Hyeon's desk. "So they have gotten involved then. They've been quiet for too long."
"Umm... who is they?" Hyeon asked.
The demons fist punched a hole through Hyeon's desk. "Those damned celestial filth... the golden gods."
"Why was there a gate in the Black Pines to begin with? Why weren't we made aware?" Hyeon nervously asked.
"That's none of your concern. Your only concern now is finding the one who is getting in His way."
Hyeon's fists balled up. "I'll see to it."
"That's the spirit." The demon hopped off the table and walked toward his portal. "He is growing impatient." As the word left his mouth the demon stepped through and the portal closed.
Hyeon walked to his desk and traced the hole left behind by the demon with his hand. "SUMMON JAEGAL LI." He screamed to the guards outside his door.
Moments later, the strategist appeared. "You summoned me? What seems to be the issue?"
Hyeon looked up. "The Black Pines... that's where we were told to sent scouts correct?"
"Yes, sir. That is what the demon commanded. I had the Crimson Veil scouts take that mission." Jaegal Li looked at Hyeon confused. "Is there a problem?"
Hyeon sat in his chair. His fingers interlaced and pressed against his chin. "There is now. Apparently, there was a gate there. And it has been cleansed."
"That shouldn't be possible. So-Yeon has no system users."
Hyeon slammed his fists into his desk and yelled. "I'M AWARE IT SHOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE!" He lowered his voice. "But it is the truth, the demon wants answers. Send a letter to So-Yeon. Get what information you can from her." Hyeon stood again this time leaned forward over his desk. "Make it quick. I'm afraid we don't have much time before that damned demon gets sick of us... and does it all himself."
Jaegal Li bowed. "At your command, sir." He turned and ran out of the room.
Hyeon walked over to his balcony overlooking Chengdu and the Alliance. "Is this all worth it? Getting in bed with this demon and whomever He is. Is it worth the headache?" He thought to himself. He shook his head as he watched the sun set over Murim.
As the sun set over Murim, another gathering was happening at Silent Edge. In the meeting room of Silent Edge the same old men gathered. The head Monk Baek Mu-Seon, the Sword Saint Gyeom, and Tang So-Yeon, all sat next to the leaders of Silent Edge and Tang Yeol.
Yeol broke the silence first. "Sorry for the late meeting, but we discovered information you all need to hear." Yeol took a deep breath and exhaled. "Blue said the red crystals he found in the vault. Were similar to the giant red crystal that powered the gate in the Black Pines."
Baek looked up slowly. "Amitabha... Buddha does not believe in coincidence, and neither do I."
Wu Cheng stroked his beard. "Neither do I, Master Monk. That's why we need to be careful with this information. Those crystals the boy found in the vault... they weren't left by chance. Hyeon and Li move with purpose, which means, those crystals had one too."
"Where are they now?" Gyeom spoke softly. "We need to get our hands on them."
"They are in the back corner of the vault in a box, hidden under a pile of old discarded items. But we have no way to get into the vault." Wu Jin said.
"You let me worry about that. My brother owes me anyway. I just have to cash in that favor." Gyeom smiled. "And, he won't tell me no. What's he going to do? Fight me?" He laughed.
"Stealing from the Alliance. Even if it is your brother, is bold. I'll pray you don't get caught. Amitabha." Baek pressed him palms together.
So-Yeon stood. "You old men sure are cunning, but we are forgetting the biggest thing we learned in that gate. Blue has a system, and he can close gates." She let the words sink in. "So why are there gates still open in Murim? The Alliance controls the system users do they not?"
"Intriguing indeed, Matriarch. The Alliance does seem to pick and choose what gates to close and allow others to remain open." Cheng leaned back as he spoke. He looked at Gyeom. "I fear your brother may be playing both sides of this war."
Gyeom hung his head. Cheng continued. "Why else would the Alliance send her scouts to an area with a gate in it, without even a notice or warning of a potential gate?"
"My brother hasn't been the same since our sister took her own life." Gyeom looked up and looked at everyone as he spoke. "Ever since Jinho chose that barmaid. I assume sending your guards to die, So-Yeon, was partially due to his resentment of the Tang Clan." He stood. "I fear that resentment has now reached beyond the Tang Clan. It has swallowed him whole and is now aimed at all of Murim."
Wu Jin stood. "Then we need to stop it. Why not march on the Alliance."
"March on Emei, Mt Hua, Wudang, the Demonic Cult and Yong Ma. Boy have you lost your mind?" Gyeom yelled.
"Wudang is fractured after my uncle's death. My cousin isn't like Zhenghai. He is no fool, and he doesn't swear blind fealty to the Alliance." Wu Jin looked at his father. "Let me go speak with him."
"Very well. Go speak with him, but do not reveal our hand. Find out where he stands, and let him lead himself to our side." Cheng replied.
"Very well, I'll leave in the morning." Wu Jin sat.
"We have to move quietly from here on out." Yeol said. "For Murim’s sake."