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The old man replied to Il Cheonggeom.

“Gyecheon Sect Leader?”

“Indeed.”

“Huh?”

Is that old man really the Gyecheon Sect Leader? Il Cheonggeom couldn’t hide his surprise.

It had been a whole day since the search began. I was determined to wait up to two weeks, but suddenly the Sect Leader appears like this?

‘Is he truly the Gyecheon Sect Leader?’

Doubt flickered in an instant. It was too flimsy to believe just based on words. Furthermore—

‘He was that strong?’

The known prowess of the Gyecheon Sect Leader wasn’t particularly high. By some accounts, even the Deputy Lord of the Blue Dragon could match him…

‘But that old man…’

At the very least, he was in the Transformation Realm. Contrary to the information, his level was exceedingly high.

As Il Cheonggeom glared at the Gyecheon Sect Leader with suspicious eyes, the old man spoke.

“I heard you’re looking for me, so I thought it would be polite to show up first. I hope you don’t mind.”

A chuckle escaped from Il Cheonggeom at the old man’s words.

“Well….”

His gaze grew cold.

“Did you think the alliance was a joke?”

The Gyecheon Sect Leader’s words twisted Il Cheonggeom’s expression.

“You showed up knowing the Martial Alliance was looking for you? Do you know who I am?”

Grrrrrr—!!

Il Cheonggeom’s fighting spirit began to rise from his shoulders.

“If this is a joke, it’s not funny.”

“It’s not a joke; as I said, I’m merely being courteous.”

“Really?”

Kkkkkkkk-!! Sword Intent enveloped the blade.

The energy created a ripple, and soon the wind began to gather slowly.

“Then, I should show you the courtesy you deserve.”

He entered a combat stance. Currently, the Blue Dragon’s forces were scattered, but once the battle began, they would unite soon enough.

He also recalled that there might be Gyecheon Sect disciples lurking nearby.

‘If possible, subdue them. If not, eliminate them.’

There was an order to identify any connections to the Demonic Sect and eliminate them if they existed. However, under these circumstances, it wouldn’t be a problem to act differently.

The fact that his opponent came directly was a form of declaration of war.

Crash—! He stepped hard on the ground, which sank, and Il Cheonggeom charged at the Gyecheon Sect Leader.

He was fast. The sound followed just after Il Cheonggeom reached his target.

Bang-!

The sword trembled lightly.

Flashes burst forth like falling stars, just as the light was about to reach the Gyecheon Sect Leader’s neck.

“I know the Great Lord’s goal regarding the Star King.”

Stomp-!

Paaaah—!!!

At the Gyecheon Sect Leader’s words, Il Cheonggeom’s body came to a halt. The sword stopped, releasing immense pressure.

The blade froze right before contact. Il Cheonggeom stared at the Gyecheon Sect Leader with piercing eyes.

“…What did you just say?”

His voice was dripping with killing intent, yet he did not press forward.

Seeing this, the Gyecheon Sect Leader added, “I asked what you just said—.”

“And I also know that the Star King is in poor condition.”

“…!”

“I believe the Great Lord is aware of it too. Am I wrong?”

Il Cheonggeom’s eyes trembled at the barrage of information.

How on earth did he know?

The Gyecheon Sect Leader raised the corners of his mouth.

“Our eyes and ears are not limited to Sichuan.”

“…”

“Apologies if you were surprised. However, the Great Lord’s intentions aren’t strictly hostile, which is why I came to see you.”

As he spoke, the Gyecheon Sect Leader moved his hand.

His slender fingers brushed against the edge of Il Cheonggeom’s sword.

“If I did not see it with my own eyes… I would comply as the Great Lord desired. But if I did…”

He nudged the blade gently, and the sword moved without resistance.

“Why don’t we have a quiet chat? I can assure you the topic will not be unfavorable to the Great Lord.”

“…”

Hearing the words, Il Cheonggeom’s breath hitched slightly. It was unnecessary information.

Demonic Faction.

A conversation with the Gyecheon Sect Leader, suspected to be linked to the Demonic Sect, was something that shouldn’t exist for a righteous faction member, let alone the Great Lord of the Main Sect.

He should immediately shut his ears and swing his sword, shouting that he wouldn’t tolerate anyone trying to play tricks on the Great Lord.

That was what he should uphold as the Great Lord of the Main Sect…

He must have known that all too well.

Click.

By the time he realized it, the drawn sword was already sheathed.

“…If you spout nonsense, I will cut you down.”

Il Cheonggeom gritted his teeth and declared.

“Thank you for your kindness.”

The Gyecheon Sect Leader looked at Il Cheonggeom with a smile.

And then.

“…”

In the darkness, the lord of the night was watching.

“Really?”

I spoke while listening to the King of Demons.

“Yes.”

“Hmmm….”

The Gyecheon Sect Leader and Il Cheonggeom had made contact.

I clicked my tongue inwardly at those words.

It was expected, but…

“That was faster than I thought.”

It wasn’t like I was thrilled that everything went just as anticipated.

‘Still, I thought he’d hesitate just once.’

No matter what, he was the Great Lord of the alliance. A person who had entrenched himself in the righteous faction for many years.

Even if he claimed to know the future, I expected him to decline at least once.

But.

‘Did he accept without much thought?’

Il Cheonggeom had fallen right into the Gyecheon Sect Leader’s words without a second thought.

Ah, whether he’s already been taken in or not was still uncertain.

‘From what I see, he’s already been taken in.’

Once that happened, it was all over.

Recalling that made me chuckle softly.

‘Did I perhaps have some expectations?’

Just as I thought I had hit the bottom and shrugged off any hope, it seemed a remnant expectation lingered in a corner of my mind.

Disappointment only arises when there is something to expect.

“Well, thanks to that, I feel refreshed.”

This smile wasn’t a sneer.

It was a genuine smile brought on by feeling good.

If I was going to kill him anyway, isn’t it better to have no lingering feelings? In that sense, this was a decent harvest.

Il Cheonggeom had let go of what he likely didn’t even know was his belief; that alone was enough.

That was all that mattered.

“Now, let’s see….”

As I walked, I bent slightly. A splash echoed.

It was the sound of stepping in a puddle.

The surroundings were dark, making it difficult to see the situation.

Immediately, I raised my hand to light a fire.

Flame burst-!

Though small, the flame illuminated the space in an instant. Soon, the area was revealed.

What I had stepped on wasn’t a water puddle.

It was all blood.

A sharp, sickly smell filled the air. I averted my gaze at the blood pooling on the ground.

“Ugh….”

A man was whimpering in fear. Beside him lay corpses that seemed to have already breathed their last.

Their throats were torn apart, and they were dead because of me.

This place was where those suspected of being associated with the Demonic Sect conspired.

“Thus.”

I reached out and gently caressed the man’s cheek.

Blood from my hand smeared onto his skin. The droplets of blood flowing down were something the man was undoubtedly feeling.

“P-please… please… please….”

The man trembled uncontrollably. His pants slowly began to darken.

It seemed he had wet himself.

Ignoring that, I asked, “Who are you?”

This time, I sincerely hoped for an answer. I didn’t want him to end up like those I had just killed.

Inside a room in the center of the Martial Alliance in Hanam.

Sraak. Sraak.

It was a time when most were asleep, and the air was quiet. In this place, an old man moved a brush, with the flame hanging barely alight.

His speed was so fast that it felt like only a few strokes later, a letter was organized.

Moreover, he didn’t seem to struggle at all, not even pausing for a moment. The old man merely focused on his task.

Though his work was swift and precise, the letters piled on the table never diminished. It indicated how many there were.

Merely looking at the amount made me feel exhausted, yet the old man performed his task silently as if he were unfazed.

If there was something regrettable, it was that his speed had markedly decreased over the years compared to his youth.

Twenty years. No, even ten years ago, he would have already finished everything by now. His aged body felt increasingly real.

He continued to work for some time.

“…Hmm.”

Then the old man briefly set down his brush.

Afterward, feeling tired, he rubbed his eyes with his thumb and index finger.

“I’ve grown old.”

He muttered with a bitter smile. The differences from before were unmistakable. It was natural to age at this age.

However, what pained him the most was that he felt not only his body but also—

‘My heart had aged too.’

His heart, which held his long-cherished beliefs, had also grown old.

Time could sweep away the beliefs and convictions he used to hold tightly.

Knowing this, the old man often pondered.

‘…I wonder.’

Do I still have the steadfast beliefs I once cherished? How much of what I dreamed of in my youth remains within this old body?

He was curious. It was maddeningly curious, yet paradoxically, he didn’t want to know.

Why was that? Perhaps.

‘Is it because I already know the answer?’

Perhaps it was fear of confirming something he already understood.

For some reason, it felt that way, and the old man, Muk Yeon, chuckled bitterly as he picked up his brush again.

‘…I’ve become plagued with stray thoughts.’

He seemed to have increasingly more thoughts lately, thoughts he hadn’t entertained in ages. If he didn’t keep occupied with work, his mind would wander like this. He already knew the reason for that.

‘It’s probably because of that Child.’

Wasn’t her name Pi Yeon-Yeon? The woman introduced as the bloodline of the Eulryeong Sword Queen.

Ever since that child from Mount Shan brought her up, Muk Yeon’s insides had been restless.

It felt like encountering remnants of the past that he had forgotten.

Though he had once convinced himself that there was no excuse for letting the past weigh on him, that child’s appearance made it impossible to feel that way anymore.

Was it truly something he couldn’t help?

Having failed to find an answer, he left the sect. Yet now—

‘Upon returning, that child has appeared.’

It felt like he was being reminded not to forget his homework.

This time, he was told not to run away and to present the answers he had yet to offer.

It seemed like that was the intent behind her arrival.

“…Haha.”

As Muk Yeon was lost in such thoughts, he suddenly chuckled.

If this could be called a problem, it was an incredibly difficult one. In that case—

‘Who is the mischievous one who set this challenging question?’

There was a face that abruptly came to mind.

Not only was he the one who had brought the child in, but he also kept reminding Muk Yeon of the events from back then.

The Star King.

Remembering him, Muk Yeon brushed his wrinkled lips.

If there was truly a questioner, it could only be that young man.

‘Could it be… that he knows everything?’

If so, what did he know to act in such a way?

It was an unknown matter.

From Pi Yeon-Yeon to the Star King, they were complex issues that Muk Yeon found hard to unravel.

At least…

Not at this moment.

“…Huh.”

While I was lost in thought, Muk Yeon began to move his brush again.

He had rested long enough.

Now was the time to complete his task. Just as he was about to dive back into work…

“…”

Suddenly, the brush in Muk Yeon’s hand froze.

He turned his gaze to the lit lamp. In that moment—

Pik.

The light suddenly dimmed. There was no wind to extinguish it.

As the flame went out, the room was abruptly shrouded in darkness.

It was a situation that felt anything but natural. Anyone would find this surprising, yet Muk Yeon remained unusually calm.

He seemed to know exactly why this situation had arisen.

To prove that, Muk Yeon quietly muttered.

“If I had known you would come, I would have prepared my carriage… I apologize for not being able to do so.”

Though Muk Yeon’s tone was friendly, as if meeting an old acquaintance, his gaze betrayed a different sentiment.

In the now vacant room, the moment Muk Yeon spoke, someone had already stood before him.

The darkness shrouded everything, yet one thing stood distinctly out. Those glowing red eyes staring fiercely at Muk Yeon.

The crimson irises symbolized wrath, brimming with emotion as they glared at Muk Yeon.

Though a dry swallow threatened to escape, Muk Yeon forced himself to endure.

And a moment later.

“I have many questions for you, who broke the pact.”

The owner of those red eyes spoke in a deep voice.

“Guh.”

At the same time, a colossal hand gripped Muk Yeon’s throat.

His thin and frail body was lifted by the thick hand.

“Just one question.”

“Guh—.”

“Muk Yeon.”

Gu Cheolun asked Muk Yeon.

“Where is my son?”

His voice sounded like it could rip apart his opponent at any moment.

 

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