"Okay, Boss,"
Choin opened the conversation.
"Before we face those thugs outside the cave, I need a clear briefing. I can't manage the project without knowing the specifics of the land. Who are you, and what is this place?"
Moen Kang Yo sighed. His red eyes glinted sharply.
"You are in Jianghu, a world where strength is the supreme law. Here, humanity is divided into three major factions that are at each other's throats."
"Three factions? Explain,"
Choin interrupted, imagining the division of work zones.
"First, the Orthodox Faction. They call themselves defenders of righteousness, but are actually just a bunch of corrupt hypocrites behind a holy facade. There are large sects like Mount Hua and Wudang, who are arrogant and claim to be supremely holy. Second, the Unorthodox Faction, a collection of bandits and mercenaries who only care about gold. And finally... us. The Demon Faction."
Moen Kang Yo clenched his fist, igniting an unstable black energy around him.
"I am a pure-blooded descendant of Moen, the son of our faction's great leader, Moen Mu Jin. However, I was born to a commoner mother, so I was considered a stain."
Choin nodded.
"So you're the banished prince. As I understand it, where there's a faction, there's a sect, right?"
Choin asked curiously.
"Evernight Gate. That's my sect. Once, Evernight Gate was one of the most feared pillars of the Demon Faction. But now? It's nothing more than a small sect, crumbling under misplaced money and mounting debts. They deliberately left me here to die so no one could interfere with their 'dirty business.'"
Choin slapped his forehead.
"Oh dear..."
Choin sighed.
"So this sect is like a historic building with crumbling foundations, a leaking roof, and the old foreman who ran away with the cash? What a pathetic sect."
Moen Kang Yo's gaze suddenly dimmed, replaced by a thick aura of hatred.
"It all started with the Demon Empress, my father's first wife. She poisoned my mother, Lady Seo-Hwa, to a slow death before my eyes, simply because she feared I would usurp the throne. She was the one who passed on this flawed martial art technique to me, ensuring I would die of Qi deviation while practicing."
Choin paused for a moment. He could feel the lingering sadness and anger creeping into his body.
"Listen, Kang Yo,"
Choin's voice was soft but firm.
"In construction, a foundation built on hatred and betrayal can never stand forever. That Empress has ruined the structure of your life."
Choin stood and patted Kang Yo's imaginary shoulder.
"But now, this is your new destiny. We will tear down that rotting old structure. We will rebuild the Evernight Gate into an impregnable fortress, and we will bring destruction upon anyone who has ruined your life."
Outside the cave, the scraping sound of the stone door grew louder. Sunlight began to penetrate the darkness.
"Briefing's over,"
Choin said, taking over the body's motor control.
"Time to clean up the 'project trash' that just arrived at the door."