---

A man was looking up at the darkened sky.

At first glance, it appeared to be the night sky, but it was actually just past noon.

Seeing that, one could tell that the sky was not in a normal state.

As the man looked at the sky with a blank expression, he suddenly heard—

Thud—! Thud—!

A colossal sound brushed against his ears from somewhere.

Just as he was wondering what that noise could be, the man felt it.

Someone was approaching him from afar.

Sensing the heavy presence, the man shifted his gaze towards the source of the sound.

There, he saw—

Rumble—!

A figure dragging along a demon the size of a small hill approached with one hand. The demon was already dead.

The body was pockmarked, and bones were protruding through the skin, showing signs of having been treated extremely violently.

There was no need to ponder what had caused the demon to end up like that.

The man’s gaze turned to the one dragging the demon.

With dark green hair and a mischievous grin, a man drenched in madness that strangely complemented his massive physique and blood-soaked jaw stood there.

He was a figure known among the people of the Central Plains as the Green King.

As the man looked at the Green King, he asked,

[Great Lord, what are you doing?]

[Ah, Great Lord. It’s been a while.]

The man frowned at the Green King’s smile.

[This is a gift. Since there’s been a particularly rowdy one, I brought you this as a snack on my way.]

[…]

The man’s hand waved dismissively at the Green King’s words.

At that moment.

Flame Burst—!

The demon that the Green King was holding was suddenly engulfed in black flames.

[Che.]

Upon witnessing that, the Green King clicked his tongue and punched the demon with a quick jab.

Boom-!

Kaboom—! Whooooosh—!

The shockwave from the punch eradicated the demon, leaving nothing but ash behind, but it was a frightening show of power.

[Hey, I went through all the trouble to bring this gift, and you’re just going to ignore my good intentions?]

[Let’s get to the point.]

[Heh heh…. You really are a dull person.]

Despite the Green King’s words, the man showed no particular reaction.

He merely gazed at the Green King with his indifferent purple eyes.

As the Green King observed this, he finally let out a snort and spoke.

[Have you heard the news that the Heaven-Searing Black Squad was annihilated?]

Upon hearing the Green King’s words, a glimmer of intrigue appeared in the man’s eyes.

He was aware of the news as well. The Heaven-Searing Black Squad, one of the direct units under the Heavenly Demon, had reportedly been wiped out in an instant.

[By just one person.]

A martial master known as the monster of the Peng Family.

The Sword Emperor, Peng Woojin.

[Isn’t it strange? I never imagined that old man would lose to someone like that.]

[What do you want to say, Great Lord?]

[No, I’m just expressing my surprise.]

The Green King continued his chatter with a chuckle, but the man found it incredibly irritating.

[If no one helped him, would such a thing have been possible?]

[…]

The man tilted his head, then stood up.

At that moment.

Boom—!

An intense rumble echoed through the darkened sky. It sounded as if a castle was crumbling, and black heat began to swirl gradually.

[What do you want to say?]

[Well.]

[It’s related to the death of the Sword Emperor. Are you suggesting that the Great Lord is involved in this?]

What the Green King meant was that he suspected the man was connected to the death of the Sword Emperor, who had perished at the hands of Peng Woojin from the Heaven-Searing Black Squad.

[It’s not exactly what I mean…. Are you feeling nervous?]

[…This is ridiculous.]

Thud.

A rough sound came from the man’s body.

As he moved, the Green King’s eyes began to fill with madness.

[Green King.]

[Speak.]

[I hear you are envious of the Great Lord’s position. Is that what you’ve been spreading around?]

The man’s words made the Green King’s smile widen.

[Who’s the bold bastard saying such things?]

It was true.

The Green King was coveting the man’s position.

Hearing this, the man let out a faint sigh.

[…The Cult Leader told you to refrain from unnecessary actions. I’ve been turning a blind eye to your trivial desires.]

There were a total of four squads directly under the Heavenly Demon.

The Green King was the head of one of those squads.

This meant he was a demon of considerable rank within the Demonic Sect, but the Green King was not satisfied with that.

Although he couldn’t look up at the Heavenly Demon, who was his master and the sky, he felt he needed to at least ascend to right below that.

From that perspective, the man before him was merely a hindrance.

The Demonic Sect had four squads under the Heavenly Demon.

Each squad was a murderous unit composed of terrifying martial masters.

The Green King was one of those demons leading the Forest Dragon Corps.

The other squads included the Heaven-Searing Black Squad, the Demon Sword Inspection Team, and finally—

The main unit that governed these three squads.

And that man before him was the leader of that collective, directly beneath the Cult Leader.

The man began to move closer to the Green King.

The closer he got, the more the blazing heat radiating from his body became apparent.

[You intend to covet my position….]

What emotion was settling in his deep purple eyes?

The Green King interpreted it as an overwhelmingly heavy annoyance.

With that gaze, the man spoke to the Green King.

[You, of all people?]

Hearing that heavy tone, the Green King felt the aura of Qi wrap around him.

Despite the considerable difference in their sizes, the man’s presence was absolutely not subordinate to the Green King.

Finally, as they stood face to face, the man looked at the Green King and said,

[Bow down. Is your gaze not too high?]

That was the tipping point.

The Green King bulged his muscles and swung a fist at the man.

The man’s body erupted with black flames that scattered in all directions in an instant.

By the end of that fight, the Green King was left with one eye gouged out, becoming a cyclops, and the once lush southern Mount Tai had half of its scenic beauty obliterated and turned into wasteland.

Just as I recalled that far-off memory, I was finally able to regain a bit of my consciousness.

…Was it a dream?

Was it because I thought of that guy before falling asleep? I regrettably rehashed that useless memory into a dream.

It was the memory of the Green King, who was somewhere in Sichuan.

‘How irritating.’

It wasn’t a particularly pleasant memory, so I felt an inexplicable unease the moment I awoke.

It wasn’t a nightmare, but it certainly wasn’t a good dream either.

I couldn’t remain lying down any longer, so just as I attempted to rise—

A whisper brushed against my ear.

“…Cheek…”

“Or else…”

It felt like I was slowly waking up.

It seemed like someone was saying something, but I couldn’t quite catch it. As I struggled to gather strength, I roused myself from sleep.

“Ugh….”

Rubbing my bleary eyes, I sat up.

The moment I stirred, I felt something flinch around me.

The first thing I saw upon opening my eyes was that the owner of the knee I was resting my head on had changed.

I was sure I had been resting on Nangong Bi-ah’s knee, but for some reason, Wi Seol-ah was sitting in that place.

So, I had been resting my head on Wi Seol-ah’s knee instead.

‘She….’

Come to think of it, didn’t Wi Seol-ah say she would accompany me? I can’t recall her explicitly telling me, though….

Yet, for some reason, I felt more refreshed and free from fatigue.

With all the betting going on, what happened?

“Prince…?”

Upon seeing me slightly wobble, Wi Seol-ah called out with surprise.

Though my blurry vision was somewhat bothersome, I could still see Wi Seol-ah’s radiant golden eyes clearly.

“…Huh.”

“Are you okay…?”

“You….”

Meeting Wi Seol-ah’s concerned gaze, I prioritized asking the question I wanted to ask.

“…Are you okay?”

“Yes?”

“…Is it alright if we go together?”

“Ah.”

Wi Seol-ah seemed taken aback by my sudden question, her eyes darting around.

It was quite abrupt for me to ask right off the bat as soon as I woke up.

“Ah….”

After hesitating for a moment while looking into my eyes, Wi Seol-ah then smiled softly and replied.

“It’s okay.”

Was that smiling gaze excessively radiant, or was it just a trick of my groggy state? Probably not.

“Now… I’ve decided not to worry about those kinds of things anymore.”

Wi Seol-ah said that while smiling at me.

As I was about to say something in response to her.

-If you’re awake, come out already. How long do you intend to rest?

I frowned at the voice that echoed in my ear.

How did he know? It was the Pejon calling me.

That ghostly old man. Has he been watching me the whole time?

-Tsk tsk, if you’re awake, you ought to hop out. Have you already lost interest in the ladies?

-…I was just about to step out.

-Of course, you would.

-…

Letting out a sigh at the Pejon’s mockery, I gently tousled Wi Seol-ah’s hair before opening the carriage door and stepping outside.

By now, it was night.

I had only planned to nap for a short while, yet somehow, I ended up sleeping this long.

If I was going to sleep this much, I should have told the children to wake me up.

‘…Where am I?’

I turned my tired gaze around to examine my surroundings.

The first thing I noticed was the valley and gravel plain. Since most of the carriages seemed to be parked, it looked like they planned to stay here for the night.

I attempted to expand my Qi perception, hoping it would be enough, but I felt it spreading much slower than I intended.

‘What’s going on? Why is this happening?’

As I pondered this bewildering situation, I was suddenly greeted by the Pejon’s premonitory voice.

-Don’t be surprised, for it is quite expected.

-Expected?

-Yes, it’s the rebound from being forcefully pushed into the State of No-Self.

-Ah.

Referring to the moment when I lost consciousness during training, the Pejon had mentioned that the Breaking Heaven Technique had forced me into the State of No-Self.

So, that was the consequence?

-Just to clarify, it was because you’ve touched a threshold that you shouldn’t be at yet.

I hadn’t reached that level yet, but apparently, I had unexpectedly stepped into the State of No-Self.

‘So, my body is fatigued, and my Qi perception is all out of whack because of that?’

No wonder it was tough trying to bet and loosen it all up.

Gripping my throbbing head, I shifted my gaze.

I sought out the Pejon, but my Qi perception was too distorted to manage it properly.

Endlessly, I had to ask the Pejon for clues.

-…Where are you?

-Go straight into the forest on the left.

Hearing that, I started walking.

There was a vast forest stretching behind the valley; it seemed to be referring to that.

Since it was a dim place, I had to kindle fire on my fingertips to light the way.

Even then, it was strangely dark around me.

Was this also a residue from the rebound? Had my vision darkened?

Thinking that way, I ventured a bit deeper, and eventually, I saw a decent stretch of flatland with the Pejon standing in the center.

“Have you arrived?”

“Yes.”

“Cluck… Your face says it all; it looks miserable.”

“…It’s manageable.”

Honestly, it was a bit tough, but it wasn’t enough to deter me from training.

Just as I steadied my breath while trying to gather my thoughts—

“Your body seems ready, so shall we move on to the next training phase?”

At the Pejon’s words, my eyes lit up.

The mention of the next phase meant I would be getting closer to the one-prolonged stretch he’d always talked about.

“I think I’m ready, so I intend to impart the first stage of the Breaking Heaven Technique to you. Do you have any objections?”

“None at all.”

I had been rolling around trying to learn just that, so naturally, I would.

There was no time for leisure. I needed to use every moment on the way to Sichuan.

“Good. Then.”

The Pejon shrugged his shoulders.

Could it be that he was going to teach it without further explanation?

“Before that, there’s something you need to do.”

“Something to do?”

A chore, huh?

The abrupt wording made me want to ask the Pejon for clarification.

Suddenly—

Rustle—

A chilling sound enveloped my senses.

Just as I wondered what that was, my vision began to warp.

My straight gaze suddenly veered downward, and the ground came into view.

Then I was rapidly speeding toward the ground.

Was my head about to be severed?

With the dizzying sensation, just as my head was about to collide with the earth—

“…Hah…!”

Suddenly, clarity surged back.

I instantly expelled rough breaths and clutched my neck.

Fortunately, my head was still attached.

…Then what was that sensation?

Cold sweat began to trickle down my body just as the Pejon’s voice mixed in.

“I mentioned it earlier, about your greatest issue.”

You don’t fear death.

Was that the problem?

Even if my body were broken, I wouldn’t care. I distinctly recalled that it could be a strength, but it was far too excessive.

“If it were a proper situation, I would have taken my time to correct your twisted movements. However, I happened to find a more suitable instructor nearby.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“You’ve just died once. Do you understand that?”

“…!”

“You must have definitely noticed your neck got severed.”

That sensation from earlier; was it something the Pejon concocted? Was that an illusion or a formation?

Unable to comprehend the situation, someone appeared behind the Pejon.

Upon seeing him, I inadvertently swallowed hard.

That identity was none other than the King of Demons.

‘What’s that guy doing here?!’ I thought, my face swirling with surprise.

The Pejon, noticing my reaction, continued speaking.

“I didn’t want to go this far, but it seems you’re more talented than I anticipated; it’s igniting my greed.”

“…Elder?”

“Since I’ve decided to train a disciple, it must be perfect. After all, you are a disciple of none other than me, the Pejon.”

“Does this have anything to do with the King of Demons being here?”

“Well, of course, it does. This friend will assist you in your training.”

The King of Demons would help me in training? What kind of outrageous statement was that?

I frowned, wanting an explanation from the Pejon, but he merely smiled at me.

“Your task is simply one: from the time the moon rises until the sun rises, you must catch this friend at least once.”

As soon as I heard the Pejon’s utter outrageous task, my jaw dropped.

“Are you referring to the King of Demons…?”

“Correct, and the deadline is every night until you succeed.”

Catch the King of Demons?

At this hour of the night?

“Given how tough it would be, this friend will approach you continuously.”

‘So, does that mean I’ll be given the chance?’

Even so, it felt utterly lacking in certainty.

I had wanted to start training the Breaking Heaven Technique right away, yet I was getting some nonsense chase game.

With this absurdity, even the King of Demons seemed to be acquiescing.

…That would seem accurate.

He must have agreed to be here and do this.

Since I had to listen, this meant I had to play tag with the King of Demons at my age.

‘Then what about that vision I saw earlier?’

The illusion where my neck had been severed? It felt too vividly real to be dismissed as an illusion.

The Pejon had insisted that it was an intended situation.

Was there something more to it?

As I continued to raise questions, the Pejon took a few steps forward and spoke.

“Then good luck. I hope you accomplish it quickly, for I have many more things to teach you.”

“Are you leaving like this?”

“I’ve conveyed all I needed to convey; it’s solely up to you to handle the rest.”

Is he truly leaving like this?

Looking on in daze as the Pejon left, he soon turned back to me.

“Oh. I almost forgot to ask you for a significant favor.”

“Yes?”

“Please, don’t collapse.”

“What does that….”

As he continued to spew out these bizarre words, I intended to grab the Pejon for a proper explanation.

But I couldn’t utter the next word.

Whoosh—.

Something plunged into my heart.

“…!”

There was no pain.

Only a rush of blood and a hazy vision.

Even in that haze, I saw the dagger plunged into my heart by the King of Demons.

Hiiing—!

Under the crescent moonlit night, a horse sprinted as it broke the path furiously.

Wherever it was rushing, the carriage trailing behind swayed violently.

“Ugh….”

Inside the carriage, a beautiful woman struggled to maintain her balance, gripping the window while desperately covering her lovely mouth. As a result, her skin had turned deathly pale to the point of being bluish.

Was it her first time riding in such a rough carriage?

Moyong Hi-ah couldn’t hold her stomach any longer.

“Slow… slow down… ugh….”

With a pitiful voice, Moyong Hi-ah pleaded, but the speed only escalated.

‘I’m going to die…!’

Thoughts swirling in her mind felt more like a nightmare.

It wouldn’t be odd for her to die right here.

Amidst all this, the only face that came to her mind was that of a man.

Moyong Hi-ah shut her eyes tightly, speaking to the memory of the man.

‘…Prince… I’m afraid this is where my story ends.’

As Moyong Hi-ah began to fade, the coachman driving the carriage called out in a joyous voice.

“Hey, niece! Look out the window! The moon is beautiful tonight!”

“C-Cousin… s-slow down…”

“Hmm? What’s that? You want to go faster? I can see that you know how to enjoy life more than you’d let on!”

“Oh….”

Was it because of her cousin’s plea? The woman turned with a wide smile, and the speed of the carriage increased once more.

Unable to bear it further, Moyong Hi-ah ultimately lost consciousness, but the woman, oblivious to the event, only urged the horse on faster.

 

---