“We’ve departed,” Mo Yonggun said.

“I see.”

Watching Mo Yonggun sip tea with complete leisure, Eon Jabang asked,

“May I ask one more thing?”

“As much as you like.”

“I understand you did it on purpose because it benefits you.”

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

Eon Jabang’s eyebrows twitched.

“The trade caravan. Weren’t you going to kill them all?”

“Oh, that?”

Mo Yonggun asked, as if puzzled.

“But why?”

A frightening man.

Eon Jabang almost said it out loud without thinking.

The dead members of the trade caravan weren’t even in Mo Yonggun’s mind anymore. No—he had never cared from the beginning.

He killed merchants who had done nothing wrong for one reason: they had come into view. Of course, the Mo Yong Clan would reap enormous profit from it, but shouldn’t a person at least show the bare minimum of mourning?

Eon Jabang didn’t bother hiding what he felt.

“Do you have no guilt?”

“What guilt? Ah—the trade caravan?”

“Yes.”

Mo Yonggun cut him off cleanly.

“They’re just casualties of war. If you try to fret over every last thing like that, you can forget about making a name for yourself in the martial world.”

“.......”

“You should remember this too. When you drive a big wagon, there will be insects that get crushed under the wheels.”

A shadow fell over Eon Jabang’s face.

He had made a deal with Mo Yonggun. But calling it a deal was just a figure of speech—truthfully, it was no different from a lord-and-vassal relationship.

In other words, no matter what Mo Yonggun did, he had no choice but to follow. Whether Mo Yonggun did what was righteous, or what was vile.

He’s frightening.

He had known Mo Yonggun could be colder than anyone if needed, but to think it was to this extent.

Mo Yonggun gave a bitter smile.

“I thought it was about time you understood that much.”

“That isn’t what I’m asking.”

“Hm?”

“I mean—did you really have to kill them? It’s not as if there were absolutely no way to crush the Guizhou Merchant Guild while keeping them alive.”

“Is there such a way?”

“I don’t know. But if it were you, you could have found one.”

Mo Yonggun let out a small laugh.

“I won’t deny it.”

Eon Jabang’s eyes narrowed to threads.

“So you killed them even though you could’ve done it another way?”

“I could have. But I can’t accept even the slightest disruption to this mission because of it.”

“......?!”

“Yes, as you said, there were many ways. But the surest is to erase the traces. Why do you think people say the dead tell no tales?”

“.......”

“You want to accomplish the mission and take my share of the money too? Do you think you can pick and choose only what you want and take it all into your hands while indulging everyone else’s circumstances?”

A burning flare of lightning swam in Mo Yonggun’s eyes.

“When you want to catch two rabbits, what matters most is ruthless decision and speed. Bring up human feelings and personal circumstances, and all you do is give yourself more things to worry about.”

Eon Jabang closed his eyes.

Maybe he had expected this answer.

Even so, part of him had wanted the person he served to be someone who understood at least a little decency.

He was wrong. Mo Yonggun wasn’t a lord who would meet that expectation.

Mo Yonggun was a hero-tyrant who would use any means necessary to seize power. To someone like that, decency and ethics were nothing more than ceremonial clothes—only impressive to look at, with not a shred of practical value.

Mo Yonggun shrugged.

“If you look at the big picture, aren’t you similar to me?”

“What are you saying?”

“You—how many people have you killed to restore the lost Corpse-Animation Art of the Eon Clan?”

For a moment, Eon Jabang’s eyelids trembled.

Mo Yonggun smirked.

“I didn’t bring it up to shake you. If anything, I applaud that passion and decisiveness.”

“......Stop.”

“In the end, it’s all the same. For your clan, or for power. Trampling others and climbing over them to achieve your goal—that’s the essence of the human breed.”

Mo Yonggun’s face turned icy in an instant.

“Anyone who refuses to step into the mud will only be eliminated along with their defeat. I only want to remain the victor in my life. I don’t want to live as a defeated dog, wallowing in humiliation.”

There was madness in his voice.

It wasn’t an excuse for what he had done. Mo Yonggun truly believed it.

After draining his teacup, Mo Yonggun rose.

“Come. Let’s move as well.”

“......Where are you going?”

“Where? The operational team has moved, so I should do what I need to do too.”

Mo Yonggun’s eyes glittered.

“Once this mission wraps up successfully, the operational team will go straight into the deepest layer of Ink Dragon Manor. They’ll take every scrap of the information they want and come back.”

“......?”

“I think I should prepare another board, so the operational team can withdraw safely.”

*****

SHRAAANG!

Three men and women tore through a thick forest path, their movement arts fast as wind.

At the front, leading the group, Yeon Hojeong was deep in thought.

Mo Yonggun.

Ga Deoksang’s words surfaced again.

I know it’s late to say this, but... can we really trust this information manipulation?

Of course they couldn’t trust it.

If Mo Yonggun had been acting on an order from the Alliance of the Martial World’s headquarters, Yeon Hojeong wouldn’t have doubted this far.

The man who had waved him off when Yeon Hojeong asked him to come along had waited until the operational team broke through Hunan successfully—then, as if he had been waiting for that exact moment, he burrowed into enemy territory.

Yeon Hojeong couldn’t read what he was plotting. This time, even Yeon Hojeong couldn’t see Mo Yonggun’s move.

So Yeon Hojeong decided to watch only one thing.

Mo Yonggun didn’t want this mission to fail either. Until the operational team stole enough information to satisfy them—and returned safely—Mo Yonggun would spare no support.

But—

There’s definitely something else.

As Yeon Hojeong had told him to his face, Mo Yonggun ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) was capable of handling two or more things at once.

He definitely opened some kind of deal with the Guizhou Merchant Guild.

Or, if he hadn’t struck a deal, then he was enduring for something bigger.

Depending on the situation, Mo Yonggun can become more vicious than a world-shaking devil. And on top of that...

Hunan Province was the region where the Mo Yong Clan had its seat.

Of course, it was an enormous distance from Changsha, where Ink Dragon Manor was located. Unless someone was determined, it would be hard for them to truly collide in practice.

But in terms of influence, it could rival Ink Dragon Manor—no, it might even surpass it.

Within Hunan Province, Mo Yonggun’s footing will be extremely solid. If he wants to accomplish something, he can get support far more easily and far more quickly than he ever could inside the Alliance of the Martial World.

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes sank into a dull gloom.

It doesn’t matter.

Mo Yonggun’s face floated up in his mind.

A face wearing an elegant smile like a barbarian’s—yet beneath it, a vicious hunger.

This time, I don’t care what you do. If it’s to seize greater power, or to expand your clan’s strength, I can close my eyes to most things.

But—

Don’t cross the line.

Mo Yonggun was an enemy Yeon Hojeong would have to defeat.

However, Yeon Hojeong had no intention of snapping at every single thing Mo Yonggun did. The opponent was the opponent, but this side would be exhausted too, and that was obvious.

Still, if Mo Yonggun crossed even the minimum line in the process, then Yeon Hojeong would have no choice but to stop him.

I know common sense and decency won’t work on you. But if you were born with a human body, then even if you’re third-rate—don’t become a demon.

At the thought that rose on its own, Yeon Hojeong felt a fresh bitterness.

Then again, in other people’s eyes, I’m no different from a demon either.

His head felt tangled.

Yeon Hojeong drew a deep breath.

Enough. Right now, think only about the mission.

Then, at his side, Pae Yul asked,

“Is that fine?”

“Pardon?”

“The spear. I asked if it’s usable.”

Yeon Hojeong glanced down at the spear in his hand. It was an iron spear he had bought when they first entered Hunan.

“It’s fine.”

“The balance point is good.”

“The blacksmith’s skill was excellent.”

“Hm.”

Pae Yul tilted his head.

“I’ve wanted to ask for a while. Your spear work has reached an impressive realm too.”

“If you want to swing an axe as big as a human body, then spear methods are the basics.”

“I suppose that’s true.”

“But why do you ask?”

Pae Yul—uncharacteristically—hesitated.

“Well....”

Not only Yeon Hojeong, but Tang Sang-a also looked at Pae Yul with puzzlement.

Pae Yul cleared his throat.

“The Shooting-the-Sun Sword Art... well, you know about that, right?”

It probably meant it had been lost. Yeon Hojeong nodded.

“I know.”

“I want to create a martial art that can be compared to it, even if it isn’t superior. I’m in the middle of it, but...”

“......?!”

“I’ve put something together, but no matter how I look at it, it seems to fit a spear better than a sword.”

Surprise spread across Yeon Hojeong’s face.

“You created a martial art?”

“Ahem!”

“Then—what you showed me before?”

Pae Yul smacked his lips.

“It’s still far off. After sparring with you, I took it apart piece by piece, and the gaps weren’t just one or two. There’s a lot of room to improve it.”

“You’re incredible.”

Yeon Hojeong admired him sincerely.

Creating a martial art wasn’t something you judged by strength alone.

Whether the level was high or low, the act of creating a new martial study was itself remarkable. You had to build not only the form, but also the method of operating Inner Qi that fit that form—work that was anything but easy.

“So. Later, spar with me using spear work.”

“Of course.”

With that temperament, asking a favor like this would have embarrassed him badly. It also meant he was serious about the martial art he was creating.

“Then what is the name of the martial art?”

“A name for a martial art that isn’t even finished—what for?”

“Still. It sounds like you made something.”

Pae Yul cleared his throat again.

“I just... tried calling it Piercing-the-Sun Sword. Easy to say.”

“Piercing-the-Sun Sword.”

“Whether it becomes Piercing-the-Sun Sword or Piercing-the-Sun Spear, even I don’t know. Either way—keep your promise.”

“I will.”

A flicker of envy passed across Yeon Hojeong’s face.

Creating a new martial art... that’s truly incredible.

Yeon Hojeong was as good as anyone at taking existing martial arts apart and refining them into something easier to use.

But he had never created a completely new martial art the way Pae Yul had. Pae Yul’s realm was lower than Yeon Hojeong’s—yet in this, Pae Yul was far ahead.

Yeon Hojeong looked forward again.

Will a time like that come to me too, someday?

There was no way to know. This wasn’t something you could do just because you decided to.

Still, he wanted that fated moment to come to him too.

The desire to leave his mark on the world through martial arts—Yeon Hojeong had that much ambition as a martial artist.

They ran through the forest path for a long while.

Then Yeon Hojeong’s eyes flashed.

“It’s there.”

“I see. But....”

Pae Yul frowned.

“What is this?”

Tang Sang-a looked a little flustered as well.

“They’re高手,” she said, then corrected herself in the same breath as if the word had tasted wrong. “They’re strong.”

Yeon Hojeong was just as shaken.

At their destination, nearly a hundred people in identical clothing were gathered. They were substitutes wearing the trade caravan’s clothes.

But the air they gave off was strange.

They’re strong, but...

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes turned cold as ice.

What is this smell of blood?

Then—

CLANG-CLANG-CLANG-CLANG!

Every member of the Guizhou Merchant Guild’s trade caravan drew blades and stared at them.

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes wavered.

Mo Yonggun... don’t tell me—?!

In the center of the trade caravan, a middle-aged man with a scar by his eye spat out a Killing Intent–soaked roar.

“Kill them!” 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP!

A hundred experts charged the three of them.