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Kwagakagak–!!! A storm sweeps across the ground.

Swords rain down in droves.

The unrelenting whirlwind continues to send chaos in all directions.

Swoosh–!! Four blades of light carve arcs with distinct movements.

It was as if they were alive.

One of the spinning blades thrusts forward, point first.

“Gulp.”

Nangong Bi-ah tilts her sword and lowers the blade.

Kikikik–! The incoming sword clinks against her sword’s spine, deflected.

Sparks fly as the angle shifts.

She successfully deflected the attack. However, Nangong Bi-ah’s gaze remained steely.

It was because this wasn’t the end.

As expected, after she brushed off one attack, two more sprang in.

Nangong Bi-ah grimaced, focusing strength into her legs.

Crackling–! Thunder Qi surged, wrapping around her sword. She unleashed energy from her lower dantian.

Pressure manifested along her physical body. It was the activation of Imperial Sword Form.

In an instant, the movement of the flying swords slowed. Nangong Bi-ah did not miss the moment.

The Thunder Qi-infused Sword Intent cut through the void. Two swords were swept away by the force, revealing a path that had been blocked.

She didn’t hesitate. With a burst, she lunged forward.

Her movement resembled a lightning strike.

In the blink of an eye, she approached her opponent and swung her sword. At this rate, she could sever his neck.

But.

“…!”

She halted her swinging sword and quickly turned her head. A sword pierced down where her face had been.

Swoosh–! A wound opened on her cheek, splattering blood.

A few strands of hair were also severed. She spun around to create distance.

“Phew….”

Nangong Bi-ah exhaled deeply, wiping the droplets of blood from her cheek.

The tension was building constantly.

“You have good instincts.”

The Gyecheon Sect Leader smiled as he watched Nangong Bi-ah.

The old man still had his hands clasped behind his back.

Seeing this made Nangong Bi-ah frown. The elder hadn’t moved a single step.

The difference in skill was overwhelming. Even among the same realm, their levels were vastly different.

Compared to Eunranggeom, it was incomparable.

“Just like earlier. Such a precious young girl.”

“…”

“How can one so young already be so powerful?”

Chuckle. The elder laughed. With his laughter, all the swords returned to his side.

“The Star King. That guy and others, truly, the younger generation is on a different level these days.”

Huuu….

Nangong Bi-ah steadied her breath and took her stance once more.

She couldn’t win. She could tell that just by a single exchange.

“That’s why it’s even more regrettable. To treat a shining star like you so harshly.”

Her opponent was holding back. That was a fact she could clearly tell.

He was playing with her, adjusting his attacks as he pleased.

Nangong Bi-ah glanced back momentarily. Wi Seol-Ah was still unmoving.

She stood silently, her gaze fixated on the tree.

Something seemed off.

“Then, how about answering my question? If you do, I might spare your life.”

“…”

She would be spared. But what would happen to everything else?

Nangong Bi-ah wrinkled her nose at the foul stench wafting in.

The old man reeked horribly.

“Of course. In exchange for sparing your life… you’ll have to entertain this old man for a while.”

A nauseating desire, clear as day.

Watching it made Nangong Bi-ah’s eyes grow cold.

It was a feeling she was becoming used to from her opponent. Every time she felt that way, Gu Yangcheong’s words echoed in her mind.

– It’s because you’re pretty. If you were just adequately pretty, it’d be fine. You’re a bit extreme.

Pretty. It seemed she was considered pretty.

Realizing that brought her no particular thrill. It wasn’t something that helped her life in any meaningful way.

It was merely recognized.

No, she had known since she was young. At that time, she had thought of it as a curse.

Most of her misfortunes stemmed from this.

So, she sometimes thought, what if she didn’t have this face?

But now, it was a bit different. She felt nothing.

Such gazes. The desire directed at her.

Now, it truly made no difference.

What she once loathed was no longer something she disliked.

She had asked once. He had looked at her in disbelief.

– You don’t like being pretty? What kind of crazy talk is that?

– No, it’s not like I dislike it. What? The chest? Why is chest talk coming up here? Hey! Can you hurry up and unbutton? Is this person really mad?

– I don’t dislike either. If you think about it, I even like it, so stop asking and let me train!

Those encumbrances that she had once found bothersome became trivial.

The face that would flush and avoid eye contact. The minute desires that seeped into his eyes. Oddly, she didn’t mind it.

Sometimes, she pondered. Though she knew he was restraining his desires, she thought he shouldn’t have to.

No, she wished he wouldn’t.

But this was an emotion solely for him, and no one else.

“Then let’s end this fight with no chance of winning. Behave yourself…. Hmm?”

The Gyecheon Sect Leader frowned as he glanced at Nangong Bi-ah.

“What’s this? Why are you smiling?”

Nangong Bi-ah was indeed smiling.

Partly for him, but also because she found the situation oddly pleasing.

An unwinnable fight. A battle with no visible chance of victory. Moments that could lead to death.

All of it made Nangong Bi-ah grin.

“Hahaha….”

The Gyecheon Sect Leader gave a hollow laugh as he seemed to grasp the meaning behind Nangong Bi-ah’s smile.

“I thought perhaps the beautiful flower had just a touch of talent… but this?”

The spinning swords suddenly ceased their movement. A hint of disgust mixed in with the desire in his eyes.

“You girl. You’re a combat spirit.”

Among martial artists, there are those who enjoy fighting to the point of madness. Those who take pleasure in murder are called killing spirits, while those who become obsessed with the act of fighting are referred to as combat spirits.

In that sense, this girl was indeed a combat spirit.

To smile in such a situation while relishing the fight was absurd.

“Well, it’s possible.”

The Gyecheon Sect Leader chuckled. If she was that beautiful, so what if she was a combat spirit? It wouldn’t change anything.

‘If I can catch her, she would make a great pawn.’

How did she come this far? And how had this sealing gate been undone?

‘Who is that girl behind her?’

The Gyecheon Sect Leader gazed at the girl with golden hair as if entranced.

Daehwan knew her identity as well.

‘The Sword Sovereign. The heir of that renowned figure.’

What was it? The Sword Moonblade?

Just the thought of it sent chills down his spine. He had met her once before in a battlefield where countless swords rained down to annihilate the enemy.

A number that far exceeded the four swords he controlled.

If she was indeed the heir of that figure, she would definitely be troublesome.

‘Yet for some reason, she remains still.’

Even amidst the fight, she seemed to only be looking at the Divine Tree. Whatever the reason, it was favorable to him.

‘I’ll capture them both.’

He planned to capture both and use them to deal with the Star King.

Moreover, he might even have the opportunity to solve the mysteries behind it and provide a gift to his followers for the first time in a while.

“If you can endure, then try.”

Daehwan chuckled as he waved his hand.

Swords once again poured forth like stars.

At that moment.

“Huu.”

Nangong Bi-ah exhaled yet again.

Voices lingered in her ears.

[Draw your sword!]

The old man’s voice pierced her ears, but Nangong Bi-ah did not heed it.

Not yet. There was still more she could do.

[Foolish girl…! This is not something that can be resolved with stubbornness!]

The blades descended, approaching right above Nangong Bi-ah’s head.

The moment had come, and she finally drew her sword.

It wasn’t the Thunder Fang.

Kugugugung—!!!! The blade thrust forward, pressure radiating outwards.

Swoosh.

At that same instant, something was cleaved.

“……!!”

The Gyecheon Sect Leader staggered, falling to one knee.

“Cough…!”

He spat blood from his mouth, clutching his chest.

Something flowed from his upper body. Blood.

His torso had been deeply wounded. Feeling the pain, the Gyecheon Sect Leader glared intently ahead.

“…You… how did you use Heart Sword (心劍)…!”

With a face twisted in malice, the Gyecheon Sect Leader spat curses.

Sssss….

“…Huu.”

The sound of breath echoed from the location where the bombardment had cascaded down, resonating just as before.

The swords that had fallen to the ground, and within the gaps among them, Nangong Bi-ah stood.

She wasn’t unscathed. Signs of being wounded were visible here and there.

Her martial robe was torn, and blood flowed from her mouth, hands, and legs.

The wounds didn’t seem shallow. But.

Even at that moment, Nangong Bi-ah smiled.

Brightly. As if she was delighted with the current situation, blooming like a flower.

“…Your instincts are… good?”

She echoed the words previously spoken by the Gyecheon Sect Leader.

*

In a space located underground, a hefty old man rushed in with an urgent expression.

“What’s going on–!!”

“…Elder…!”

The individuals inside cried out with wide eyes when they saw the elder appear.

“The formation… it suddenly deactivated.”

“What do you mean suddenly?! What were the guards doing!”

“We’ve lost contact with them.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

The elder frowned at the report.

The formation had deactivated suddenly?

“When was the last time the sentinels changed shift?”

“…About half a Time Point ago.”

“…That’s all?”

Only half a Time Point? Was it really possible for the formation to deactivate in such a short time?

It was unbelievable.

The elder couldn’t accept it.

“Even with the renowned Wind Dragon Lord, we could hold off for four days. You mean to say half a Time Point? Do you think that makes sense?”

Furthermore, since he had heard the Wind Dragon Lord was dead from the recent ambush in Hanam, only a handful could deactivate this formation.

To deactivate it in just half a Time Point?

“Are you certain you’re not miscalculating?”

“… I swear it’s true.”

“Is it possible that the formation reacted poorly on its own?”

Could it have malfunctioned? The elder’s doubts arose, but—

“The last time the formation headquarters checked today, there were no issues.”

“Then does that mean it was an external ambush?”

“That’s how we assess it…”

“…What about the Sect Leader? Where is the Sect Leader right now?”

“Currently, the Sect Leader is… supposedly going after a rat…”

“…Tsk.”

He had known someone would enter the space. He had intended to capture them before, yet the Sect Leader had let it slide, thinking of something else.

‘Is it them?’

Those who followed stealthily.

Had they done something? If they had, what kind of methods did they use?

The elder didn’t know, but now was not the time to stand still.

“I will go assess the formation. You come with me.”

He intended to take someone who might know about the formation and get moving. First, he had to step outside and assess the situation.

The elder hurriedly rose from his seat and moved.

He half-ran toward the entrance. Although the incoming path appeared to have numerous entrances, in reality, it was singular.

That path was one the elder did not know well either.

“Left side.”

Only a few knew the right direction. Following their words, the elder advanced.

Just as he was making his way to the correct entrance.

“Turn right from here….”

“…Wait.”

The elder stopped, placing a hand over the man’s mouth.

“…Stop.”

“Yes…”

The man wore a bewildered expression, but the elder’s gaze was fixed ahead. His body even broke into a cold sweat.

“Elder…?”

“Who goes there?”

The elder questioned, hearing someone approach in front.

Only then did the man start to feel it.

“Gah!?”

An overwhelming killing intent pierced through.

Footsteps echoed from beyond the entrance, and as the figure began to materialize from the darkness—

Something emerged from the void, a glowing blue light flickering in the air.

It didn’t take long for him to realize that the light came from eyes.

“Who are you…?”

The elder’s eyes widened as he confirmed the figure.

“Star….”

“Let me ask you something.”

The young man interrupted the elder.

The man could feel his body trembling uncontrollably.

The killing intent alone was terrifying. But aside from that, there was something else.

‘…Those eyes?’

The formerly blue gaze gradually changed color.

The radiant yet chilling blue eyes morphed into a shade of purple.

Seeing that made his breath hitch.

No thoughts entered his mind. All that existed was fear for the man.

Click. Click. Click.

His teeth chattered uncontrollably.

“I’m just looking for someone… do you know anything?”

“H, someone?”

At the words, the elder exerted all his strength to inflate his muscles.

He released his killing intent, emanating a massive wave of energy.

“Do you even know where this place is…!”

His bulging muscles.

The man felt relief wash over him unknowingly. The elder was a martial artist who had reached the Transformation Realm.

Surely, even if that person was strong, he had to buy time until reinforcements could be called…

Thud.

“Eh?”

The man gasped. The elder suddenly dropped to one knee.

“Elder…?”

Why was this happening? The elder didn’t respond. He simply collapsed to the ground.

Bam—! The massive body fell to the earth, and as the man sought to approach the elder—

Thud. Something dropped in front of him. Upon seeing it, he screamed and fell back.

“Eeeek—!!!”

It was a heart. Furthermore, it was still beating slightly.

Whose was it? No way?

The man glanced back at the elder.

Blood flowed from the fallen elder’s chest, soaking the ground.

“E…elder.”

Crack—! A foot stomped down on the heart, crushing it. Blood splattered across the man’s cheek.

“I think you didn’t hear me, so I’ll ask again.”

Swoosh. A finger pinched the man’s chin, forcing him to look up.

Their gazes met.

“I’m looking for someone. Do you know anything?”

He could feel something damp on the finger holding his chin.

It was the elder’s blood.

 

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