At Kwak Yeon’s question, the half-grey elder of the Four Evils of Heaven curved his lips into a thin smile.

“Of course we know the martial world’s taboo—that civilians are not to be touched. We’ve abided by it, more or less, till now. The Martial Alliance’s hunting parties are nuisance enough, but nothing is more troublesome than when the eunuchs of the palace hound us.”

By eunuchs, he meant the masters of the Eastern Depot.

No matter the principle of non-interference between officials and the martial world, would the Emperor who ruled the empire truly leave martial affairs entirely unchecked?

Thus was the Eastern Depot created: an organization dedicated to punishing martial men and sects that slaughtered civilians.

Over time, the Depot’s presence had grown so great that even the Four Evils of Heaven—who boasted of fearing nothing under Heaven—kept wary eyes upon them.

“Yet this time, why did we kill? The reason is simple… because of you.”