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**

I caught a beast.

I skinned it. I could trade for some basic supplies when I go down to the village, but there was another reason as well.

I looked up at the neatly stacked hides. It seemed like a daunting amount to store…

But now I have the heat manager and the cold manager at my disposal.

Using them, I could manage the hides without any impurities.

The accumulated amount piled high inside my hastily built hut. And just as much, the number of those I killed had also surpassed a hundred.

The Sado Clan members were tenacious. At the same time, there were many who would stake their lives on honor.

Those who, not knowing their own levels, clamored to catch me, known as Mu Pungsura.

They came at me brandishing swords right off the bat, so I just split them in half. Their companions would have to return, horrified, carrying only their fallen comrades.

At least it was fortunate that the number of newcomers was gradually decreasing.

The overall level was increasing day by day. However, that didn’t mean I could find a worthy opponent.

There was a Master from Huaxing who sought revenge for his student…

But he too turned out to be a freak who wanted to make me his subordinate under the pretext of avenging his pupil.

When I split him in two, he vanished into nature without uttering a word.

Three months.

During that time, I refined my energy.

I learned how to control the overflowing power. And now, I learned to hide perfectly as if I were an ordinary person with nothing.

Not a single trace of energy leaking out.

At the same time, I heard rumors that the civilian conscription of the Sado Clan was decreasing. Not merely because of me, but because those inspired by me were appearing all over the Sado Clan.

Some, claiming that the current situation was strange, even began to raise their swords, saying that no matter how much of a warrior of Sapa they were, there were limits.

They talked about the name Mu Pungsura, while insisting not to abandon their pride as warriors.

Could there be righteous ones among the Sapa? I wasn’t particularly impressed by their movements.

I merely recognized that my time to move again was drawing near.

At the same time, I managed to barely follow news about Sua.

Money seized from the warriors I killed. Using it felt a bit off to me, but the situation was urgent.

I gathered everything and donated it to a nearby information organization. As a result, I was fortunate enough to discover that a group of female warriors had crossed into the new territory.

Crossing into the new territory meant they had reached the Demon Cult safely.

And just as I let out a sigh of relief, as if telling me it was time to end my seclusion…

A man came to visit.

“…Mu Pungsura. I am Song Nam-cheon. I am the General of the Sado Clan.”

An familiar face.

The one I had faced off against on the castle walls back then.

“Help me.”

Of course, I tried to refuse. There was no need to clash swords again after all this, and I had no reason to help either.

However, the man spoke something familiar.

“The real Master of Sado and the First Sword of Sapa are being chased.”

The First Sword of Sapa, Heuk Dae-wun.

I recalled our brief connection. While I was momentarily distracted by the sword, I quickly glanced back.

Now a body that appeared to be completely visible. I could see the traces of two spirits floating like ghosts in the air.

Bai Ya and Black Pearl.

I asked them.

What would be the best course of action?

They responded.

Shouldn’t I go collect the overdue payment?

“…Ah.”

“Excuse me?”

The overdue payment.

That’s right.

The sword of Sua. I intended to retrieve it from him. Hadn’t I exchanged it for the spirit’s essence?

So… let’s go collect it.

I had done something bad. Like a father disappearing without a word.

It should make for a suitable reunion gift. So let’s go.

I had something to collect from the First Sword of Sapa.

“Where is it?”

“…….? Wait a second. This voice… I feel like I’ve heard it somewhere…”

“We’re not on friendly terms reminiscing over the past.”

“……!”

Song Nam-cheon staggered back. His hands trembled as if witnessing something unbelievable.

“It can’t be… you’re supposed to be dead…!”

“It’s been a while, Song Nam-cheon.”

I removed my mask. There was no longer a need to operate as Mu Pungsura.

Instead, I wore a conical hat I had crafted myself.

“Lead the way. To the First Sword of Sapa.”

“…A-are you really a god of the undead…?”

“Now is not the time to be asking such questions.”

Seeing him look shocked, I sighed.

“Instead of being surprised that the dead have returned, shouldn’t we focus on the fact that in this current situation, I’m asking help from someone who was once my enemy?”

“…….”

“The fact that the real Master of Sado is being hunted means… there must be a fake Master of Sado. Explain that first.”

“Are… you saying you’ll help me? Me, who was your enemy?”

“I’m not helping you.”

I thought of Heuk Dae-wun.

The man who had seemed so solid.

“I’m helping the one who is going to collect the overdue payment.”

…

Song Nam-cheon, the former General of the Sado Clan, explained his circumstances to me.

There were many details mixed in, but the answer was clear. He had escaped before he died.

“…I don’t know exactly who the current Master of Sado is. But I’m certain it’s not her.”

Song Nam-cheon wiped his face.

“The real Master has been revealed to be on the run. The important thing is… that she has been branded as a fake.”

“The Master of Sado shouldn’t be someone so easily taken down.”

“The state of things is strange, they say. She seems to be poisoned. But… it’s her for sure. It’s only natural for a subordinate to recognize their lord! The current Master of Sado is definitely a fake!”

“Poisoned?”

Poisoned.

I suddenly thought of her.

Yeong-wol. She was the woman who had even poisoned the Heavenly Demon back in the Demon Cult.

If she managed to poison the Master of Sado as well, it wouldn’t be completely out of the question. A warrior who had poisoned even the Heavenly Demon wouldn’t be unable to do the same to the Master of Sado.

Then the current Master of Sado…

She’s either related to Yeong-wol or considered to be Yeong-wol.

“…….”

There are tasks that remain unfinished. If I could rescue the real Master of Sado, it would also simplify uncovering her identity.

I felt bad for Sua, but it seemed better to return after finishing everything that needed to be done. It was something that needed to be done to receive the overdue payment too.

“So? Where is she?”

“…Currently, those who are being pursued are surrounded by a web of traps under the command of the current Master of Sado.”

“A web of traps?”

I knew that term. It was the most notorious tactic of the Sapa.

No matter who the opponent is, they use sheer numbers to wear them down to the last.

They don’t let the enemy rest, biting and tearing until they have consumed their prey completely.

Ambush tactics. That wouldn’t be wrong. But the important part was that every member of that web of traps must be a master.

It was a pursuit of the real Master of Sado. The fake must be aware of the real one’s prowess, so even if she is poisoned, she must still be putting forth her utmost effort.

“…Mu Pungsura. The reason why Sado hasn’t responded, despite you causing such a stir, is precisely that. They’re all chasing the one who claimed to be the Master of Sado. It could even be said that the strongest within the faction have all departed there. Although she isn’t in good condition, she’s still the Master… she has yet to shake off the pursuit.”

“But there must be a limit to it.”

“That’s true. The web of traps is gradually tightening its grip once they have surrounded where they cannot escape. The pursuers are getting closer and closer. Now, she can no longer properly hide her traces.”

“…….”

To face a web of traps composed of the Sado Clan’s top masters head-on.

It was something I wouldn’t have even dreamt of before. But I’m different now.

“Of course I will join! I’ll surely be of help! So…!”

“Guide me.”

I got up. After tidying up my home, I quickly scanned over the stacked hides.

A pile sufficient to be stacked high in one corner of the warehouse. There was a reason for collecting this much.

“There are people nearby called Yuk Nam-pyeong and Yuk Hae-won.”

“What?”

“Send someone to let them know your location. Tell them they can use the hides as they please.”

My debt of gratitude will be fully paid off now.

I tightened my black wind hat. Moving with the hat pulled deeply down.

“Let’s go. To those being chased.”

…

The commander of the first pursuit squad discovered the extinguished firewood and nearby dried bloodstains.

They were close. That fake was near.

“Commander, how should we…?”

“Don’t let your guard down. Keep moving.”

Even if the enemy is a fake, at least they have skills.

Those who charged in without knowing anything were all slaughtered. Even the ultimate master, Guisan Dojae, was cut down.

At the very least, it’s someone who can hold their ground. It’s essential to keep pressing but not rush.

The commander doggedly followed the trace. He discovered two men and women sitting on top of a rock and gave orders.

The masters jumped out immediately. Of course, they were sliced down in an instant. But one managed to stab their sword into the enemy’s shoulder.

Another escape. But it’s fine. There are plenty of pawns to use.

What the commander wanted was to ultimately take their heads.

Until then, they just needed to continue whittling down the enemy. Cornering the expendable warriors.

Time passed. The pursuit teams kept rotating, relentlessly pressing the enemies without giving them a moment of rest.

The dried bloodstains increased. They seemed to be using some mysterious power to heal some of their injuries, but there were clear limitations.

The situation of rushing in and being pushed back was repeating. But the more it continued, the harder it became for them.

It felt like watching a beast slowly sink into a swamp. The commander, having confidence, immediately drew his sword.

—Kwahh!

The piercing strike of Yi-hyeong Ki shoved the enemy’s body into the cliffside. The fake Master of Sado coughed up blood, gritting her teeth.

“You bastard… commander! I am the real one…!”

“Stop barking. The Master I know isn’t so weak. Since the real one is right before me, why would I listen to the words of a fake?”

The commander restrained the man who came rushing at him, battered and bleeding. He pinned him to the ground and whispered.

“To be honest, it doesn’t matter to me whether you’re fake or real. Whoever brings you in, the current Master said they would make them her closest aide.”

“You bastard…!”

“So get captured quietly. But you, you’re not the one. The fake First Sword of Sapa. You look just like him. The one over there must be the imposter, so it’s slightly less interesting to just kill a fake…”

The commander raised his sword high.

“This is rather interesting as well. Watching someone with the same face flounder beneath me. I’ve wanted to see that stiff face twist all along. Let’s dig, First Sword of Sapa.”

He brought down the sword with all his might.

—Kwahh!!!

The ensuing wave of energy caused a ripple around. The mountains and trees howled, and everything near trembled in fear.

But.

For some reason, the body underneath remained unharmed.

The commander flinched. The sword that was brought down had hit something, unable to move further.

The full-force strike, the end of the sword that remained enveloped in the blue Yi-hyeong Ki…

Had merely been blocked by the foot.

“Put your sword away.”

A man who had appeared before me without me noticing.

He, who had blocked the Yi-hyeong Ki with just his foot, spoke without a hint of emotion.

“Right now.”

 

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