“What’s your objective?”

Old and dry.

A cold voice sank into the night.

It was so quiet it felt like even the stars were holding their breath, and the moon that had barely risen was swallowed by clouds, its light fading out.

The only thing showing any light within that darkness was the few swords floating in midair.

Filled with power as they drifted through the void, they resembled comets.

FWOOOO—.

As if peeking at the caster’s emotions, they trembled in faint vibrations. With just one of those blades, it would be possible to scorch all of Henan into wasteland.

That was the strongest sword under heaven.

The woman—

Sword Empress Yeon Heeseon knew better than anyone that this was the power Sword Emperor Ui Yangyeon wielded.

Recalling that, Sword Empress moved. She lifted a finger and touched the sword threatening her throat.

Carefully, she pushed it aside. Astonishingly, the blade slid away without resistance under her touch.

Leaving the displaced sword behind, Sword Empress straightened up.

Even then, the swords were still drifting through the air.

“It’s been a while.”

Even at her words, Sword Emperor only stared at Sword Empress with a chilling eye-light.

At that attitude, Sword Empress let out a short laugh and said,

“You’re still stingy. You.”

“You’re wrong.”

He refuted her at once.

And in that instant—

SHIIIIIING—!!!

A line of light shot straight into Sword Empress.

KGGGGK—!!!

The tip of one of the swords Sword Emperor was manipulating poured down at her, but—

it couldn’t reach her. Right in front of Sword Empress’s nose, the blade reared up as if it had slammed into an invisible wall.

“It’s not that I’m stingy. It’s that we’re not the kind of people who get to trade that sort of pathetic greeting.”

The resentment woven into his voice was unmistakable.

Hearing it, Sword Empress didn’t answer.

Sword Emperor, as if he didn’t care about her silence, continued.

“Seeing you show up here on your own two feet... I guess you’re not scared of Divine Spear anymore?”

At the mention of the Alliance Leader, Sword Empress’s shoulder trembled—just barely.

“As if.”

“If not, do you really think it makes sense for you to set foot in Henan?”

“But it’s true. I’m more afraid of Divine Spear than anyone.”

She had tried not to appear before him.

But—

“The situation left me no choice.”

“Hah. Situation?”

Sword Emperor let out a sneer. Then he wrapped one of the swords hanging in the sky around his hand.

And then—

THUNK.

With a small vibration, the wind stopped.

The clouds that had covered the sky split apart, and stars poured down.

“What kind of situation makes you show your face?”

“...Who knows.”

Sword Empress smiled as she spoke.

“Like you said. We’re not the kind of people who’d share that sort of thing with each oth—”

Sword Empress cut herself off and twisted her body.

SHIIIIIING—!!!

The wind whipped past her side.

A slash from Sword Emperor.

“...You’re violent. Still.”

“I won’t listen to nonsense.”

The tip of Sword Emperor’s sword aimed at Sword Empress.

Now killing intent coiled around his voice.

It meant that if she wouldn’t answer, he wouldn’t back down.

“...”

Facing that Sword Emperor, Sword Empress took a step forward.

Somewhere, a west wind blew in.

“I understand your feelings, Sword Emperor. But is it really fine for you to come out like this right now?”

“...”

“You say you don’t fear Divine Spear, but you’re also uncomfortable with him right now, aren’t you?”

“...Ha.”

Hearing her, Sword Emperor let out a hollow laugh.

“Yeah. I’m uncomfortable with him.”

He admitted it without resistance.

But—

“I’m not afraid. Do you think I’d be afraid of him?”

Fear was something only the weak felt.

With that meaning packed into it, Sword Emperor raised his presence.

“...”

Watching it, Sword Empress held back a sigh.

At this rate, it really felt like she was going to have to go a round with Sword Emperor.

So she flicked her gaze, just slightly. Far away, she paid attention to her disciple.

‘Seriously.’

A child who could have let things pass quietly, yet made them difficult.

What she carried was so dazzling that Sword Empress kept her close, and yet how many times had that child made things uncomfortable because of it?

“Hoo.”

In the end, along with the sigh she couldn’t hold back—

TAP.

Sword Emperor’s silhouette vanished.

And a line appeared in the sky.

Fallen Heaven Single Annihilation.

Just as Sword Emperor’s sword dance was about to begin, as if slicing the heavens apart—

“Heaven-Breaking Palace.”

HALT—!

FWOOOOOOOM—!!!

At Sword Empress’s words, the night that had been splitting stopped.

CLINK.

In an instant, Sword Emperor retrieved the sword and shoved it back into his waist.

The drifting swords had already vanished without a trace.

“What are you saying?”

After drawing back his power, Sword Emperor asked.

“You heard me just fine.”

“Speak clearly before I carve your throat.”

He set his hand on his waist, as if he could draw at any moment.

Sword Empress knew Sword Emperor’s temperament well, which meant she knew that threat was more sincere than anything else.

Whether Divine Spear intervened or not, he wouldn’t care.

He might even try to oppose Divine Spear.

Sword Emperor was that kind of man.

That was why it was stranger that he was moving like this while killing his own presence.

‘Even though I know why.’

Swallowing the sigh that wanted to rise again, she said,

“Heaven-Breaking Palace is plotting something in Henan.”

“...Right now?”

“That’s right.”

At Sword Empress’s words, Sword Emperor frowned.

“I got word. They’re going to set it off to match the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering schedule.”

“...Hahaha.”

Sword Emperor let out a laugh.

Hearing it, Sword Empress’s hair trembled slightly. The killing intent packed into his voice was thick enough to cling.

“Does Divine Spear know too?”

He didn’t suspect a lie. That, unexpectedly, wasn’t in him. Sword Emperor was that kind of man.

“No.”

“Planning to tell him?”

“No.”

“I see.”

CLINK.

The sword that had been slightly drawn slid fully into its sheath.

“I want to cut you down right now, but you brought me information worth using, so I’ll let it go.”

Sword Emperor spoke, then turned his back immediately.

Watching him, Sword Empress asked,

“...Sword Emperor.”

Even at her call, Sword Emperor didn’t stop walking.

“I know you’re chasing Heaven-Breaking Palace as well. But.”

At the mention of Heaven-Breaking Palace, Sword Emperor’s foot paused for a moment.

“If the reason is revenge, then stopping—”

“One more word.”

Sword Emperor turned his head and glared at Sword Empress.

“If you say one more word, I really will kill someone.”

“...”

“Not you. That woman far away.”

“...!”

At that, cold sweat ran down Sword Empress’s back.

She had barely hidden her presence with a qi veil, but it seemed Sword Emperor had already pierced through even that.

What is this?

‘Seriously.’

Had he gotten even stronger since the war?

“If you don’t want to hold your disciple’s head, shut your mouth, Yeon Heeseon.”

“...”

This wasn’t the time for questions.

Sword Empress shut her mouth at Sword Emperor’s warning.

Sword Emperor confirmed it—and then scattered on the spot like mist.

“...Ha....”

Only then did she breathe out the air that had been trapped in her lungs.

‘...Why?’

Why was Sword Emperor here?

Only after he vanished did the question finally rise.

If it were Sword Emperor, then surely—

‘He should be in Xinjiang.’

The place where the Heavenly Demon Cult’s former stronghold had been.

He should have been active there.

‘So what is this?’

Why had Sword Emperor been here?

Sword Empress frowned and stared at a certain building.

‘Don’t tell me.’

The one who would be talking with her disciple.

A young man came to mind.

And then she realized.

“...Moon-Thread Sword.”

Remembering the current Blue Moon Sect Master, Sword Empress bit her lip and said,

“You’re trying to do something pointless.”

Just like always.

Huge disasters always seemed to erupt from that sect.

And it looked like this time would be no different.

*****

“...Older Sister?”

Staring at the face that had appeared right in front of me, I asked. The woman smirked.

A handsome face that resembled my father.

An appearance drenched in beauty that didn’t lose to my bastard of an older brother in the slightest.

The Bang Clan’s signature eyes—those gentle-looking corners—were still there, but the expression she was making was too violent for any sense of kindness to survive.

She was my sister, met again after years.

“It’s been a while?”

Older Sister. Bang Seojin smiled brightly as she spoke.

It’s been a while?

“Yeah, it’s been a disgustingly long time.”

At least years.

Time that passed without me seeing her face even once.

“...You haven’t changed much, have you?”

Bang Seojin from right before she ran away and Bang Seojin now didn’t look that different.

That’s why I recognized her instantly.

Sure, she’d matured a lot with age, but I meant the feeling she had back then was still the same.

But—

“...Where the hell did you pop out from all of a sudden?”

Why was this woman suddenly showing up here?

It scared the shit out of me.

“Why? Weren’t you looking for me?”

At my question, Bang Seojin smiled brightly.

Sure, I was looking. But I didn’t want her to show up like this, and honestly, there was a part of me that wished she’d stayed hidden to the end.

“You got bigger, but I guess my little brother’s still a kid? Still looking for your big sister every night.”

“...What kind of bullshit is that?”

When did I ever.

“Why? You used to trail after me because you were scared.”

I don’t remember that.

Not even joking—I really didn’t. What she was talking about—

‘That’d be before I recovered my past-life memories.’

A long time ago. A very, very long time ago.

“Enough about when I had a runny nose... What is it?”

Why had Bang Seojin suddenly appeared? When I asked—

“That’s what I want to ask.”

Bang Seojin asked back flatly.

“What did you do that my little brother’s rumors are spreading everywhere?”

“...”

“Isn’t that right? Little Sword Saint Bang Sungyeon?”

“No, I—”

“Big sister seriously didn’t know my little brother would turn out this impressive.”

I broke into a sweat at her grinning question.

Then—

[Hmm.]

Yoo Cheongil was looking at Bang Seojin like he found her interesting.

A strange light settled in his eyes.

‘What do I do.’

I couldn’t think of anything to say. How was I supposed to explain this?

While I was thinking—

“Whatever.”

Bang Seojin stepped back a little as she spoke.

Then she walked to the window and—

“I can hear the rest later.”

“...Huh?”

“I’ll come again tomorrow. Until then, get your story straight.”

“You’re leaving?”

“Yeah. Aren’t you going to sleep?”

“...I mean, I was going to.”

“Today I just came to see your face for a second. Big sister’s a bit busy, so it’s hard for me to stay long, you know?”

“...”

If you’re busy, then don’t come. Why the hell are you barging in at night?

And also—

“Older Sister.”

“Yeah?”

I grabbed Bang Seojin as she was about to leave.

“Why did you tell me to see you at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering...?”

Back in Sichuan, Bang Seojin told me—

to come at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering. If she said that—

“Weren’t you planning to participate too, Older Sister?”

I didn’t know what method she’d use, but I’d assumed Bang Seojin was planning to take part.

“What are you talking about?”

Bang Seojin stared at me like I’d just said something insane.

“Why would I go there?”

“You’re not going?”

“It’s not that I’m not going. I can’t.”

“Huh?”

“Can’t you see this?”

As she spoke, Bang Seojin pointed at her clothes.

What do you mean, can’t I see—

“Huh?”

I narrowed my eyes when I looked at Bang Seojin’s outfit.

That—

“...Martial Alliance...?”

What she was wearing was, unbelievably, Martial Alliance uniform.

And—

‘That’s Main Alliance Headquarters uniform.’

Not the standard outfit branch members wore—an elite uniform said to be granted only to Main Alliance Headquarters personnel.

For Bang Seojin to be wearing that meant—

“...Older Sister, did you get hired by the Martial Alliance?”

“Hired? Your word choice is still weird.”

Bang Seojin smirked, then put her foot up on the windowsill again.

“Anyway, that’s how it is, so let’s talk details tomorrow. I’ll come see you again, okay?”

“No. You really don’t have to—”

SMACK—!

Without even listening to the rest, Bang Seojin threw herself out the window.

Fast.

The speed she vanished at was ridiculous.

“...What....”

I had to just stare blankly after watching my sister show up like lightning and disappear like a gale.

Did she really come just to say hi...?

With that ridiculous feeling hanging in my chest, the night passed like that.

*****

Chirp-chirp.

An alien sound at my ear. A birdcall that seemed to announce morning, and light that stabbed at my eyes.

Morning.

I could feel that morning had arrived.

‘...Damn. I want to sleep more.’

My mind had woken up, but I didn’t want to open my eyes. A morning like any other.

Then—

[Boy.]

A voice I didn’t want to hear.

[Boy. Boy, get up.]

“...”

Yoo Cheongil kept talking like he was trying to wake me up.

[Hurry and get up. Now.]

Most of the time, that meant he was about to nag me to go train. It was easier to ignore him.

But—

[No, get up! Get up! It’s urgent!]

Yoo Cheongil was persistent today. Just a little more sleep would be perfect.

[Get u—!!]

“Ghk!”

I couldn’t take the yelling in my ear and jerked my upper body up.

“You rotten—! Why are you screaming and losi—”

The moment I glared at Yoo Cheongil with my eyes wide—

“...Huh?”

There was a huge wall standing in front of me.

Looking closer, it wasn’t a wall. It was a person.

What?

Is it Yoo Cheongil? But he was floating in midair.

Then... what is this?

I slowly lifted my head.

A face I could only see after looking way, way up.

“...Uh...?”

The instant I recognized the giant staring down at me, my body went stiff.

Thick white hair.

An eyepatch over one eye.

An old man staring at me with low, gleaming {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} eyes.

A Heaven-Beyond-Heaven figure said to be closest to the strongest under heaven in the Central Plains.

Divine Spear Jeok Homyeong.

He was looking down at me.

“Ah.”

And seeing that, I realized.

“This is a nightmare, huh?”

Because if it wasn’t, this situation didn’t make any sense.