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Three sects upheld by the Demon Cult.

Black Death Sect. Nachal Sect.

And the Manma Sect.

It had been quite some time since their masters had changed. Thus, Sua headed not to the Black Death Sect’s branch building, but to another location.

A deeper place.

A place where no one knew.

“…….”

The former Heavenly Eight Martial Artists had been completely dismantled.

As a result, the current position of the Heavenly Eight Martial Artists was still vacant.

A large-scale change. Due to the newly altered political landscape, the previous holders of power were driven out in a day.

And among them…

Eun Seol-ran from the Black Death Sect was also present.

“…….”

The current Heavenly Demon, Cheon Jung-hyeok, had attempted to take her as his disciple because he highly valued her talent and her strong will with the sword.

Given her extraordinary brilliance, even though she was an enemy, it was understandable he wanted to recruit her. However, Eun Seol-ran rejected the offer.

What exactly transpired between them isn’t clear. But I heard that Eun Seol-ran was expelled from the Black Death Sect overnight and that Eun Yang-baek hurled insults at her.

And of course, she was not the only one expelled.

The previous Heavenly Eight Martial Artists had lost all their power. They were ordered to leave the Demon Cult with only their lives intact.

This was a respect towards the Grand Sect Master. As someone who shared the same master, it was the last mercy shown, as stated by the current Heavenly Demon.

Thus, the four Heavenly Eight Martial Artists who once led the Black Death Sect and the Nachal Sect all disappeared without a trace. Only their bodies moved, vanishing somewhere…

Eun Seol-ran also followed them.

But Sua knew where they were.

Far away from Cheonsan.

Everyone was gathered there.

Sua underwent several complex procedures. She passed through a cave and responded to a voice coming from somewhere, placing her foot carefully over a formation.

There was one entrance. And one exit.

Only those qualified could enter inside.

“…….”

In an instant…

The world flipped upside down.

Sua opened her closed eyes and slowly looked up at the altered scenery.

The ground where she stood was indeed land. Yet, the land itself felt mystical, as if the energy was extraordinary.

Still and twisted, it felt completely cut off from the outside world.

In her gaze was a gigantic mountain. It wasn’t Cheonsan. However, it was far taller and steeper.

And atop it were structures that no human could imagine, entwined with nature.

A village shrouded in mist. Its scale resembled a small city built atop a mountain, and just looking at it was breathtaking.

Even from a distance, its grandeur was unmistakable. The magnitude.

It was like a city built upon a mountain connected to the heavens. Staring at it vaguely made her feel as if she would involuntarily be entranced by the greatness of the one who erected it.

This place was…

A city established in secrecy by the previous Heavenly Demon.

Cheondoo (Heavenly Path).

Sua slowly climbed the rugged mountain path. She leaped over steep areas and cast her body over a mountain that reached into the clouds.

Gradually, figures began to emerge beyond the fog. Many people passed by, each engaged in their own tasks.

They were not ordinary individuals. Everyone present was at least a warrior who had surpassed the peak.

These were the ones secretly gathered by the Heavenly Demon, raised to one day sacrifice their lives for a great cause. When she first heard that this was the blade aimed at Reverse Heaven, Sua was truly astonished.

It was as if this entire life had been a preparation to fight against Reverse Heaven.

Each and every one of them was nurtured directly by the Heavenly Demon. Among them were also seasoned masters who had retired from the Demon Cult, mingling among them.

Notable recluses from the Demon Cult had gathered together for one war.

And all of them lived quietly in this Cheondoo for that singular endeavor.

A grand plan achieved over many decades.

Countless warriors ready to draw their swords against the reversed heavens.

Under normal circumstances, she too would not have been able to enter. Yet, the previous Heavenly Demon had specially acknowledged her.

…As a tribute to her late father.

“……”

Feeling down, Sua wiped her eyes without thinking. She stood at the entrance where she had finally arrived, taking a deep breath.

An enormous formation, the size of which was unimaginable, enveloped the entire city. And it was not just to hide the inside from the outside.

A vast natural spiritual energy. This place felt like a gigantic, condensed training ground. The quality of the air was different, and even learning the same martial art here would yield faster achievements than outside.

Thus, the air itself felt refreshing. Sua walked slowly inward, brushing past people in search of the one who belonged there.

Then, she locked eyes with someone. Crimson hair like blood. A woman lazily dozing under a tree called out to her.

“You.”

“…Yes?”

“Come here.”

Following the call, she walked over. The woman, who looked at her intently, pulled her close.

“Hmm. Just right.”

“…….?”

“Just hold on like this for a bit. I needed a pillow. You’re cute and soft… just right.”

“Who, who are you…?”

“Don’t you know me?”

Looking again, she still didn’t recognize her. Sua shook her head.

The woman sighed.

“Even if I’ve stepped back from the frontlines, it’s strange that you wouldn’t know me… Was it because we didn’t greet each other when we first met?”

“Eh?”

“You don’t know the Nachal Sect Master? How disappointing. You’re that child brought by the Priest.”

Sua realized late.

The woman leisurely enjoying a nap as if she were carefree was the former Sma from the Heavenly Eight Martial Artists.

“I… it’s an honor to meet the Nachal Sect Master!”

“Forget about that. Being a former sect leader is like being an old-timer now. Well, I’m not quite old but still. By the way… it’s just right being held like this. Does the Priest do this often?”

“…Yes, yes?”

“Probably not. The Priest is composed and sharp. Ahh, how bothersome. But there’s nothing I can do. You’re cute, kiddo.”

The former Nachal Sect Master, Sma whispered.

“Look into my eyes. Did you spill information to the outside?”

She met the firm gaze. The eyes behind the mask seemed to burn as if piercing through her heart.

A mystical art. Sua shook her head. The Nachal Sect Master chuckled.

“Good. Well done. This is your second visit, right?”

“Y-yes…”

“I’m in charge of gatekeeping. So just accept the procedures. To think I was given a pass to wander freely outside… I really don’t understand what the Master is thinking… Trusting you so much. I wonder why?”

“…I don’t really know either.”

If the Master of the Heavenly Eight Martial Artists is being mentioned, it must refer to the Heavenly Demon.

She must be speaking of him.

She too had only met him once. Sua twiddled her fingers.

It was something she wanted to know…

But she really didn’t understand why the Heavenly Demon cared for her. Was it because she was her father’s daughter?

The Sma laughed lightly.

“Why are you here?”

“…I-I came to find Seol-ran Unnie…!”

“Eun Seol-ran? Ah. She’s inside. She’s probably busy bickering with her master every day… It might be that hitting a wall has made her a bit anxious. Anyway, it’s noisy. If you go, can you tell her something for me? Tell her to please sleep quietly at night. And to please stop pestering me… Also, tell her I have no intention of teaching her martial arts, so she should stop coming. Got it?”

Having finished her words, the Sma leaned back against the tree again. Sua quietly asked the masked figure.

“Um… Sma-nim.”

“Yes?”

…Honestly, I’m curious.

So let me just ask once.

“I’ve heard that the Heavenly Eight Martial Artists wear masks to conceal their identities, but… it’s no longer the case now, right…?”

“Isn’t it?”

“But why the mask…?”

The Sma flicked the mask lightly.

“This?”

“Yes.”

“This is…”

She laughed.

“Just feels empty without it now?”

“……”

So that’s why Eun Seol-ran’s master, Sma, continues to wear such a mask.

Sua nodded.

…

She stepped inward.

Cheondoo.

That magnificent city.

But in the end, it was also a place where people lived. The towering buildings each had their roles, and basic facilities flooded the surroundings to keep the Cheondoo operating.

Peak martial artists plowed the land as if it were natural, casually scattering seeds above it. The remarkably condensed spiritual energy soil made the crops grow rapidly, and the introduced animals were all particularly large and robust.

A blessed land. Yet as expected, most of the people there weren’t merely tilling land and raising animals.

Their roles were fundamentally that of the Demon Cult’s ‘hidden blades’.

Everyone honed their martial arts. Among them was a particularly radiant individual.

At the innermost part. Located in the highest place in Cheondoo…

The open training ground.

There stood Eun Seol-ran.

“…Hoo.”

Her stance of sheathing her sword after the end of a spar was striking. And opposite her was the Sma who clicked his tongue.

“This scary gal! Oh no! At this rate, I’ll really be caught up soon!”

“…You’re just exaggerating, Master.”

“Exaggerating, what! I’m just stating the facts! At this rate, you’ll soon be standing on par with me…”

The Sma suddenly turned his head. His gaze met Sua’s.

The voice that had been whining immediately twisted.

“Sua, is that you?!”

He rushed over. Sua, caught off guard, looked up at him as he grabbed her hand.

A bear-like massive frame. Yet, he was gentle. And she knew the reason for that gentleness.

“You came to become my disciple!”

“…….”

The warrior, lost in the joy of nurturing disciples.

His silly side, despite his size, made Sua shake her head.

“I’m here to see Master Sma.”

“Drop the stiff greetings. Talented kids like you don’t need that. Just call me Master.”

“That seems to trouble you, Master. Please step aside.”

“What are you saying! How could Sua not like me?! Right?”

Sua subtly withdrew her hand and ran behind Eun Seol-ran.

The Sma clicked his tongue.

“Sigh…There’s hardly a warrior as good as me except for Unnie…”

“She’s practically a disciple of Ilma.”

“What are you blabbering about? Unnie told me before. Now and forever, she has only one disciple, so beyond that…”

“Master.”

“Oops.”

The Sma whistled softly.

“Well then, I’ll step back for now. Sua, see you next time!”

In an instant, the Sma vanished. Sua gently released the fabric she had been holding.

A beautiful face sighed deeply. The moment her expression relaxed, she smiled softly at her.

A lovely smile. But it was lonely. It was a smile so different from what she had first seen.

“Were you summoned here due to Ilma’s name?”

Sua saw the hidden sharpness within her loneliness.

The reason for her relentless sword practice day and night.

And she knew it was to break free from her own ineptitude and to sweep away the Reverse Heaven entirely.

“…Uh, no. Unnie.”

“Then?”

“You see, Unnie.”

Sua meekly asked, “Can we all have dinner together tomorrow?”

 

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