We got on the road, leaving Sichuan behind and heading for Henan.

In the end, I never met the Poison King face-to-face before we left.

Even though people were leaving, he only saw Do Hyeong separately, so it looked like something had come up.

And even if that wasn’t the case, since the Young Clan Head had shown proper courtesy in his place along with the letter, I didn’t really feel uncomfortable about it.

‘Either way, I got what I came for.’

I’d already collected every last bit of compensation from the deal I’d taken earlier.

Same with the Supreme Great Rejuvenation Pill I’d quietly pocketed here.

‘Nice.’

My hands were full. My bags were stuffed with things I didn’t have when I set out.

That alone was enough for me to judge it wasn’t a bad trip.

The problem was—

‘—what I went through.’

Everything I’d run into in Sichuan. Heaven-Breaking Palace. The people tied to Yoo Cheongil. Those were the problem.

‘I did send the report ahead, but....’

I’d already sent a dispatch to the Blue Moon Sect about this.

It would probably arrive there now, or within a few days.

‘Hmm.’

So what did I do once that happened?

‘First, I should start laying the groundwork.’

I needed to look into what I could inside the Blue Moon Sect, and on my end, I needed to start pulling people in.

If I was really going to jump into the Young Lord succession fight properly, it was a necessary step.

‘I didn’t have enough.’

All I had was one thing: the reputation of being the Sword Saint’s successor.

That had real value, sure—but it was also a little... awkward.

But—

‘Now it’s a bit different.’

The situation had changed. It was only half a year, but I had the Tang Clan at my back, and even aside from that—

‘I’ve got a fistful from commissions.’

This whole thing was going to bring the Blue Moon Sect an absurd amount of benefit.

In terms of footing, I could probably gain a lot.

‘If that’s the case....’

I really did need to start recruiting.

‘People who’ll support me.’

People who would push for me to become the Blue Moon Sect’s Young Lord.

Right now, I had no one.

But from here on out, it was time to find them.

‘And the first person to go after....’

There was already one man I’d placed at the very top of my list.

Now the question was how to make him my ally—

‘But whatever.’

I’d found a method a long time ago.

Before I even came to Sichuan.

So I was about to set up a plan—just adjust the process a little more precisely—

“What are you going to do from here?”

A pretty voice shattered my train of thought.

I frowned at the interruption and looked ahead.

“...From here?”

“Yes. From here.”

Across from me sat a beautiful woman with a cold-looking face.

Murong Yeongsun—Murong Clan’s daughter, and my former fiancée.

“From here or whatever, obviously I have to go back to the Blue Moon Sect first—”

I stopped mid-sentence and asked her instead.

“...Why are you coming with us, Miss Murong?”

“It’s been almost a month and you’re only asking now? Isn’t that a little weird?”

Murong Yeongsun spoke with a little snort of laughter.

She was right. It had already been a while since we left Sichuan.

When I first opened the carriage door and saw Murong Yeongsun sitting there like it was normal, I’d nearly jumped out of my skin.

I freaked out and asked why she was in here, and Murong Yeongsun answered like she owned the world.

‘Because I’m going with you.’

She was so shamelessly confident I had nothing to say.

She said the route was the same. They had to return to Henan too, so we should travel together.

I asked why she didn’t just take another carriage, but—

‘This carriage is ours.’

Murong Yeongsun shrugged.

And now that she mentioned it, the carriage we were riding had changed.

It was way bigger. Way more expensive.

Even the seat—there was no comparison to what I’d been sitting on during the trip to Sichuan.

Then what happened to the carriage the Blue Moon Sect brought?

The moment that question popped up, Yeongsun said:

‘We’ll take that along too. Just relax and travel with us, okay? It’s better when it’s comfortable. For you and for the others too.’

‘....’

I looked around.

Do Hyeong and Cheon Eujin both looked like they’d been struck by the chair itself—faces steeped in comfort.

After riding this, could anyone go back to being satisfied with the original carriage?

‘No. Still, it’s a long way. I can’t stay stuck to her the whole time.’

I thought that for a second—

and in the end, I chose this.

‘...Damn it. It’s always money.’

In any world, materialism was unbeatable.

Expensive things were expensive for a reason.

And thanks to that, I had to travel with Murong Yeongsun.

With a deep sigh at my greed-filled decision, I stretched out my hand.

“Water.”

The instant I said it, something was placed into my hand.

A cup.

From the raised cup—

TRRRRICKLE—!

Water was poured.

The one pouring it for me was none other than Poison Dragon Tang Cheonil.

“More. More. More. Yeah, that’s it. Stop.”

“.......”

I swallowed down the cupful in one go.

At least it eased my thirst.

“See? Water tastes best when our Cheonil pours it for you.”

“.......”

At my praise, Tang Cheonil made a face like he’d just chewed on shit.

“Look at that face. Didn’t your big brother tell you not to narrow your eyes like that?”

“...Kgh.”

The moment I pointed it out, Poison Dragon lowered his head.

Seeing him wilt like that, I had to fight not to laugh.

‘At least this bastard kept me alive.’

I hadn’t been bored on the road.

Yeah.

For that long stretch of time, I spent it messing with Poison Dragon for fun.

Because I felt like I’d die if I didn’t.

[ ...You filthy bastard. I thought you’d at least rest for one day. ]

Yoo Cheongil spoke to me with a look of pure disgust.

No—this is unfair.

‘I just did what the Poison Sovereign told me to do.’

Under the excuse of teaching him Myriad-Flowers Rain per the deal, I held “lessons.”

I just... played around a little under the guise of lessons.

‘Tang Cheonil enjoyed it too, you know?’

He definitely hadn’t been bored, not with me.

Look at him. He’s having so much fun he can’t even raise his head.

“Keheh. Kghm.”

A laugh leaked out before I could stop it, and I forced it back down.

Then—

“We’ll be in Henan soon.”

Cheon Eujin said it while looking out the window.

At that, Do Hyeong also glanced outside.

‘Right. This place is familiar.’

The scenery was starting to look familiar.

Seeing it, I steadied myself—separate from the nostalgia of coming home.

‘Time to start thinking again.’

Meaning: time to use my brain again.

Annoying.

I was scratching my head lightly when—

“You’ll be busy from now on.”

Murong Yeongsun said it to me, and I flinched.

‘What?’

Does she know what I’m going to do?

Is she really that sharp?

‘No, that’s not “sharp.” That’s prophecy.’

Not prediction—prophecy.

Otherwise it didn’t make sense.

So I looked at her with a tense face.

“Everyone’s going to be staring at you, Young Master.”

Murong Yeongsun smiled faintly as she said it.

I didn’t understand, so my face turned blank.

“...What do you mean?”

What kind of random nonsense—?

That’s what I was asking, and she answered:

“Hm? The rumors should’ve spread all over Henan too, so you’ll be annoyed for a while. You even got a new epithet, didn’t you?”

“Ah.”

That’s what she meant.

Not the things I was about to do inside the Blue Moon Sect—she meant what I’d done in Sichuan.

‘That damn Little Sword Saint.’

The epithet I got for killing Pal Duyeok.

At the time, it was only famous in the Tang Clan and a few county seats in Sichuan.

“So what? It’s a small rumor.”

We were already in Henan—why would I care about that?

I figured it’d die out quickly.

But when I said it, Murong Yeongsun’s expression turned strange.

“Small rumor?”

“Yes.”

“What—are you— Ah.”

Murong Yeongsun started to say something, then stopped.

And then—

“Oh, I see.”

Like she’d realized something, she clapped her hands once.

“Then it’ll be better if you just go see it yourself.”

“Huh?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

She said it with a bright smile.

What is it? Why is she reacting like that?

Her attitude planted a sprout of anxiety in me.

And then—

[ ...Ugh. Tsk, tsk, tsk. ]

Yoo Cheongil clicked his tongue like I was pathetic, which only made it worse.

*****

What the hell was it?

My head filled with questions—

but I got my answer a few days later.

Because the moment we arrived in Henan—

“No, so this Little Sword Saint—”

“They say the Sword Saint’s successor went and, well, in Sichuan—”

“So you’re saying the successor is way above the Seven Prodigies?”

“The Seven Prodigies, my ass—! They say he’s not even comparable—!”

“They say he cut down a resurrected absolute master with a single sword....”

“Even the Poison Sovereign couldn’t do anything to that thing, right?”

“...Huh?”

I couldn’t react to any of the voices coming at me from all directions.

What is this?

I stood there, stunned, at the ridiculous situation.

Then—

“Small rumor?”

Murong Yeongsun slid up next to me and whispered.

“As if.”

“.......”

I couldn’t even respond. I was barely breathing.

And not just her—

[ I told you, didn’t I? ]

Yoo Cheongil, floating up in the sky, added in.

[ Child. You need to understand your value. Clearly. ]

At his words, I couldn’t say anything.

‘This....’

Something had gone very, very wrong.

Seriously wrong.

*****

Northwest of Guangdong.

A region that was always thick with fog, and so packed with wild beasts that people rarely came near.

The locals had forbidden anyone from approaching, for safety.

And recently, there were even grim rumors that ghosts were appearing deep inside—

so it became a place where those who went near simply vanished.

In that place—

—KAAAAAAAH—!!!

Rough screams rang out in a continuous wave.

—KGH... S-save me—!!!

The desperate cries came in countless bursts with only brief pauses between them.

And they weren’t even from a single person.

Multiple voices were tangled together, every last one of them closer to a shriek than a scream.

—P-please—!

—I’ll talk...!! I’ll talk, so—!! KAAAAAAHK—!!

How long had the screaming gone on?

It was so deep inside that it wouldn’t reach any village outside.

If someone heard it, they’d naturally wonder if the rumors were true—if there really was a ghost.

But the truth was—

it wasn’t a ghost.

Deep in the fog, there was a man-made dwelling.

Not well-maintained, but not a ruin either.

The screams were coming from inside.

—HUUH—!

—Kgh... kkuuuugh....

Those screams gradually faded until none could be heard at all.

And inside the dwelling, a scene of despair had taken shape.

The floor was packed with mangled corpses, and the blood pouring out of them soaked the ground.

They looked like the ones who’d been screaming until just now.

“Hh... hhh... hhhng... D-don’t... don’t do this....”

A man—apparently the last survivor—sobbed with a face twisted in terror.

“P-please...! I-I’ll talk...! I’ll tell you everything...! Everything—!!”

He begged, rubbing his hands together as if praying.

But—

“Talk?”

The person who’d heard him—

the one who looked like the obvious cause of this whole situation—

only let out a small, amused laugh.

Then—

“Please—!”

SHHKK—!

A chilling sound.

His begging hand was severed clean off.

PSHUK—!

Blood burst out, splattering across a woman’s pale cheek.

The woman lightly wiped the blood away, then swung the sword in her hand.

The blood on the blade was swept away by the pressure of the swing.

In a clean half-circle—

it slid back into its scabbard.

CLACK.

After she sheathed it at her waist, the woman relaxed her body.

And on her face, utterly at odds with the savage «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» scene—

there was a subtle feeling of refreshment.

“Ah. I feel like I can live again.”

What did she mean, “live again”?

Humming, she started walking.

With the pooled blood—

SPLASH. SPLASH.

Each step made sound as she headed out of the building.

Outside was still filled with fog, and there too, bodies were scattered.

But unlike inside—

the corpses outside were much cleaner.

The corpses inside had limbs cut off in all sorts of ways.

But the ones outside had their heads taken—clean instant kills.

Seeing that, the woman made an awkward face.

“Oh. I missed a few.”

As if it were a shame.

And in response—

“Always focus, I told you. Yet you always let a few slip.”

The voice belonged to a figure whose face was covered by a veil.

From the voice, it was clear the speaker was a woman too—

but it was hard to guess her age or face.

“Hahaha. Sorry, Master.”

“...Hoo.”

The veiled figure was the woman’s master.

She looked displeased with the woman’s attitude—

but she didn’t scold her further.

After years together, she knew it.

That woman wasn’t someone who listened, no matter how much you nagged.

“Did you hear anything?”

“No.”

The woman answered bluntly.

“You know, Master. Interrogating trash like this won’t get us anything.”

Her master didn’t deny it. She was right.

“Instead.”

The woman pulled something from inside her clothes.

“I found something.”

It was a letter from inside.

Her master took it, then opened it to check.

“.......”

Her master’s shoulders trembled slightly.

Like she’d just confirmed something important.

“Did something happen?”

“Yes.”

She folded the letter and tucked it away, then said to the woman:

“I wondered why the Heaven-Breaking Palace rabble went out of their way to settle in Guangdong. So there was a reason.”

SHHHK—

A sword being drawn from the master’s side.

But strangely, the master wasn’t holding a sword.

Then where did that sound come from?

The moment the question formed—

KRAAAAAAASH—!!!

With a tremendous roar, the dwelling the woman had just walked out of was swallowed by light and vanished.

“Oh my.”

The woman’s eyes widened slightly.

“Honestly, you’re always so violent. Do you know how hard I worked to keep it from collapsing?”

“Once you’ve taken what you need, it is right to erase it.”

“Yes, yes. Of course.”

“Now we go to Henan.”

At her master’s words, the woman beamed.

“We’re finally going?”

“Yes. Now we can.”

“But you said it would be awkward to see the Alliance Leader.”

“It’s something I’ll have to face someday.... And besides, I need to look into your younger brother as well.”

Younger brother.

At that word, the woman’s eyes curved prettily.

“Nice.”

She was curious, honestly.

‘What did that cute little thing do without telling his older sister?’

The things she’d been hearing lately—

They said the Sword Saint’s successor, supposedly dead, had appeared.

That he’d killed Namgung Seong, “Little Azure Sword,” and Poison Dragon of the Seven Prodigies—

and even a master called the Mountain-Spirit Fiend and Pal Duyeok.

For a younger-generation elite who wasn’t even of age, the record was insanely dazzling.

Rumors no one would believe if they only heard them.

And especially not her.

‘What did my bright little kid do?’

Because the protagonist of those rumors—

was her own younger brother.

What the hell had he been doing to suddenly become the Sword Saint’s successor?

She couldn’t understand it, but—

“We’ll see when we see him, right?”

She didn’t think deeply.

If she met him, she’d know.

With that in mind, the woman—

Bang Seojin, eldest daughter of the Bang Clan of Liaoning—

smiled.

And—

“.......”

Watching her, her master—

one of the Heaven-Beyond-Heaven—

Sword Empress Yeon Heeseon let out a quiet sigh.