Baek Eung-ji was a place I could reach fairly quickly using light footwork, though it would take quite a while on foot.

That’s how fast my light footwork had become. If I ran like a madman with my mind set, I could easily outrun carriages and even the finest steeds.

It wasn’t exactly normal.

I was probably now within the top ten in Jianghu when it came to light footwork ranking. Surprisingly, it was all thanks to Dark Fragrance Drifting.

I’d tested my body’s limits using Dark Fragrance Drifting.

Could I sustain it repeatedly? How quickly did it drain my internal energy? How much burden did it place on my body afterward?

I returned while studying the combination of newly devised martial techniques and my physical form.

Whenever I overexerted myself and my internal energy couldn’t recover properly, I would intentionally climb a quiet mountain, perform breathing exercises, and only then come back down.

Because I’m naturally suspicious.

Strangely, I couldn’t sleep at all when I tried to rest at an inn.

After my senses sharpened, I even started assigning meaning to the footsteps from the floor above.

I’d drift into a shallow sleep only to wake at the sound of footsteps in the hallway, or even imagine the patter of footsteps blending into ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ the rain on the roof.

Does deeper mastery of martial arts free you from Deviation of the Heart?

I learned that it does not.

When heightened senses pair with suspicion, even a single night of rest becomes a battle. Of course, underneath it all was the certainty that assassins were out to get me.

Could someone like me ever live a normal life, mingling among ordinary folk? I often found myself imagining retreating deep into the mountains where no one could find me and spending the rest of my days there.

Perhaps that’s why the ancient founders of sects built their schools in the mountains.

The energy of a mountain favors breathing techniques.

And if you choose a flat, spacious area for the sect’s grounds, it’s easier to prevent ambushes. All this meant that to get a good night’s sleep, you had to prepare thoroughly.

Strangely enough, though I had strengthened my martial arts considerably, I found myself hovering near yet another Deviation of the Heart. As if nothing could be taken for granted, good and bad kept switching places in my life.

Come to think of it, I’d only been able to sleep soundly when I was around other top experts like Cheonak or the White-Robed Scholar—or when the Four Villains took turns standing guard. Only then could I lay down all my worries.

Is that why I get along so well with villains?

Since my condition was slowly deteriorating, I made my way back as quickly as possible. The closer I got to Baek Eung-ji, the less I could sleep, and my eyes began to feel dry and gritty. I thought of this quiet inn I entered as the spot for my final meal before arriving at Baek Eung-ji. But as soon as I ordered food, I dozed off in my chair.

Life really is exhausting.

Now, whenever I closed my eyes, phantoms chased me. I even imagined assassins weaker than me boldly launching ambushes.

I opened my eyes at the sound of Jomsoi’s footsteps. A plain bowl of noodles had been placed on the table.

Just the look of it told me it would taste terrible.

Is this really something fit for human consumption?

The noodles were in such dire condition that even my appetite was useless. As I jabbed my chopsticks into the bowl and stirred it around, the interior of the inn darkened. Someone had blocked the entrance and was staring straight at me.

“......”

I couldn’t see his face, but the long, dark crimson sword hanging from his waist reflected the sunlight brilliantly.

Though my eyelids felt like they could drop at any moment, my sleepiness vanished the moment I saw the man strolling in at ease.

It was the unexpected arrival of Gwangmyeong Usa. He sat across from me and said,

“Where’ve you been running around so busily, Master of Haomun?”

I stared at him in silence. Gwangmyeong Usa looked over at Jomsoi.

“The same for me.”

“Yes, sir.”

Gwangmyeong Usa looked back at me.

“You seem quite startled. Go on and eat. You should at least fill your stomach.”

My appetite vanished with him sitting in front of me. Holding my chopsticks, I asked,

“...Have you surrounded me?”

He ignored my question and said whatever he pleased.

“I figured you’d return to Baek Eung-ji, but I couldn’t tell when. No appetite? Would you prefer a drink?”

Why had this man—of all people—chosen to appear when I was this tired?

Naturally, I wasn’t in the mood for alcohol.

Baek Eung-ji was full of affiliated sects, martial halls, and noble clans. For someone like Gwangmyeong Usa to appear so close to it was a bold move. But considering his power, it wasn’t too strange for him to move freely. After all, even the White-Robed Scholar couldn’t handle him easily.

Gwangmyeong Usa looked at me.

“You look utterly exhausted, Munju.”

I nodded.

“I’m tired.”

“Why? Didn’t get any sleep?”

“Were your men tailing me the whole time? Funny how I couldn’t sleep.”

He chuckled.

“Maybe so, since we were searching for you.”

Just then, Jomsoi approached and placed a bowl of noodles in front of him.

“Your noodles are here.”

Gwangmyeong Usa reached out, grabbed his chopsticks, and immediately slurped up his noodles right in front of me. Watching a man who seemed like he didn’t even eat rice calmly slurping down noodles was... disconcerting.

Maybe it was just my sleep-deprived brain talking, but his noodles looked better than mine. Though I couldn’t even eat mine because of how uneasy I felt with Gwangmyeong Usa sitting there, he was enjoying his as if he had not a care in the world. For a second, I felt the urge to eat too—but barely restrained myself.

As he ate, Gwangmyeong Usa ordered some alcohol from Jomsoi.

I had no intention of running, but I wasn’t planning to fight right away either. I simply observed the rare sight of Gwangmyeong Usa in person. Then I heard Jomsoi’s voice from behind me.

“...Welcome.”

Looking toward the entrance, I was surprised to see a man I recognized from my past life. I even remembered his name.

It was likely Hong Mok-han—a subordinate of Gwangmyeong Usa and the man who had guided me with calm precision when I first entered the Cult.

Hong Mok-han sat a little distance away and gave me a slight nod.

“Munju-nim.”

Without even looking at him, Gwangmyeong Usa said,

“If you’re hungry, eat something.”

“I’m fine.”

I tapped my noodle bowl with my chopsticks.

“Wanna eat this?”

Hong Mok-han looked at me, smiled, and answered,

“I’m fine.”

I turned to Gwangmyeong Usa.

“Didn’t you say you hadn’t surrounded me?”

“I never said that.”

“You didn’t, huh. Anyway... would you let me call for reinforcements from Baek Eung-ji before we fight?”

As he poured himself a drink brought by Jomsoi, he replied,

“I can’t allow that.”

From the way he used the word “allow,” it seemed the Four Villains were still alive. Honestly, I didn’t think Gwangmyeong Usa’s forces alone could take Baek Eung-ji—it’d be too big of a mess.

With nothing better to do, I let out a sigh.

“This is troublesome.”

Gwangmyeong Usa looked at me and said,

“Troublesome for me too. If you try to flee, I’ll start by killing everyone who works at this inn. You seem like the type who hates innocent bloodshed, so I doubt you’d run off alone.”

“You know me well?”

“A few inquiries from my subordinates and that much becomes clear.”

I gestured to Jomsoi.

“Get me some alcohol too.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Stay inside. If you go out, you might die.”

“Understood.”

The moment I heard his reply, I realized Jomsoi was Gwangmyeong Usa’s subordinate. His tone was far too calm. I was so dumbfounded I couldn’t even speak.

I looked at Gwangmyeong Usa.

He grinned and said,

“Caught on, did you? He handled it too smoothly.”

“Usa.”

“Speak.”

“If we fight now, your subordinates will all die first. Are you okay with that?”

He shook his head.

“That’s not the answer I expected from you. Even the great Master of Haomun seems flustered. Of all the cultists you’ve killed, did any of them ever beg you for their lives? If even one did, then that would be my fault. But I doubt there was even one.”

I nodded.

“True enough. There wasn’t. So why are you hesitating to attack?”

Ignoring me, he turned to Hong Mok-han.

“Are they all in position?”

“Because of Munju’s incredible light footwork, they had to spread out wide.”

Gwangmyeong Usa nodded.

“As you heard—we’ve surrounded you.”

“So now it’s time for the show?”

He furrowed his brow slightly and said to Hong Mok-han,

“The second son has arrived. Hold them off for a moment. I have something to discuss with Munju.”

“Yes, sir.”

As I watched Hong Mok-han leave, I asked,

“The second son is here too?”

He nodded.

“The other Daegong’s here as well.”

Even just the second son could fight for three days and nights nonstop. With another Daegong present, their power was considerable. I had no idea who the other one might be.

Is this really where I fall?

Gwangmyeong Usa said,

“Munju, what am I supposed to do with you?”

Even in a life-threatening situation, I’m the kind of man who’s kind enough to offer counseling.

“What’s your dilemma? Go ahead, let’s hear it.”

He laughed as he replied.

“Taking you alive to the Cult Leader is no easy task.”

“Hold up. Are you saying it’s possible if I’m dead?”

He nodded.

“Something like that...”

Gwangmyeong Usa said,

“Munju, what am I supposed to do with you?”

Even in a life-threatening situation, I’m the kind of man who kindly offers counseling.

“What’s the problem? Talk to me.”

Gwangmyeong Usa smiled as he replied,

“Taking you alive to the Cult Leader is no easy task.”

“Wait a minute—so you’re saying dragging me there dead is an option?”

Gwangmyeong Usa nodded.

“That’s right. We’ve already missed several chances. The Four Heavenly Kings failed. The phantoms failed. Even the Black-Clad Ones failed.”

“Mm.”

“The Cult Leader is a patient man, but he probably didn’t expect so many failures from his subordinates.”

“And?”

“I have no intention of killing you neatly. If I can’t take you alive, then I’ll have to kill you, but simply killing someone like you feels like a waste. I plan to absorb you.”

“So basically, if you’re going to kill me anyway, you might as well benefit from it?”

Gwangmyeong Usa looked at me and said,

“If I do that, the Cult Leader might turn his wrath on me. But if I can absorb your Yin-Yang body—already well-formed—perhaps I’ll surpass even the Three Calamities. What do you think?”

He was surprisingly honest.

So this bastard saw me as a chicken fattened up in the backyard.

“I wouldn’t know either.”

Gwangmyeong Usa nodded.

“That’s what I’m torn about. I can’t take you alive, but it’s a shame to just kill you. If I absorb you, it’s insubordination. What to do?”

“Wow...”

The twisted logic meant one thing.

“In the end, you’re telling me to go quietly back to the Cult without resisting, huh?”

Gwangmyeong Usa let out a loud laugh.

“Hahaha.”

It was blatant mockery. Watching him laugh, I found myself chuckling too.

So this is why he’s the Right Guardian.

He truly lived up to once being spoken of in the same breath as the Eldest Brother.

Gwangmyeong Usa said,

“Bring in the Daegongs.”

Even in this mess, I was still curious who the other Daegong was. I muttered to myself while waiting.

“Who could it be? I’m looking forward to this.”

First, the second son entered and smiled brightly as he looked at me.

“Master of Haomun, it’s been a while.”

I gestured toward the empty seat.

“Come on in.”

Then, once again, the entrance was entirely blocked—and surprisingly, a young man stepped in. His face looked stiff, like someone who hadn’t smiled in years.

A guy this young being called a Daegong...

It was obvious who he was.

I looked up at the newly arrived Daegong and asked,

“First son or second?”

For a second, I thought a hand might come flying at me, but the Daegong calmly sat beside me and looked me dead in the eye.

The layout was perfect.

Gwangmyeong Usa in front of me.

To my right: the second son.

To my left: the Cult Leader’s son.

Jomsoi had been Gwangmyeong Usa’s subordinate from the beginning. And outside, a wide encirclement had been completed. There were surely men from the second son and the Cult Leader’s son scattered out there.

The second son spoke to Gwangmyeong Usa.

“He ordered capture.”

Gwangmyeong Usa nodded.

“We’re still negotiating.”

This time, the Cult Leader’s son responded.

“What kind of negotiation?”

I tapped the table a few times to draw everyone’s attention. I’d figured something out, so it seemed like the right time to report Gwangmyeong Usa’s misdeeds to the Cult Leader’s son.

“Daegong. First, let me clarify something. Let’s settle the title confusion—are you the first son or the second?”

The second son answered in his place.

“He’s the second son.”

I nodded. Then, carefully considering the best order, I laid out my tattling concisely.

“Gwangmyeong Usa—”

“......”

“He personally absorbed the Black-Clad One, the disciple of the phantoms you all carefully raised. Without permission. Usa has mastered a demonic technique that allows him to absorb internal energy or anything else. I saw it with my own eyes. He took the Black-Clad One away and now claims it failed—but clearly, that’s a lie.”

As I finished speaking, the second son stroked his chin, and the Cult Leader’s son looked directly at me.

Gwangmyeong Usa didn’t react at all.

The second son said,

“So what? Munju, what do you want us to do with that?”

The Cult Leader’s son showed little interest as well.

“So you’re a tattletale. If Usa absorbed him, I’m sure he had his reasons.”

The second son turned to Gwangmyeong Usa.

“Did you absorb him?”

When Gwangmyeong Usa nodded, the second son said,

“Congratulations.”

Gwangmyeong Usa responded flatly,

“You’re too kind.”

I didn’t even have the strength to sigh anymore. My eyes were still dry, I was sleepy, everything felt like a chore, and I had no clever way out.

Gwangmyeong Usa spoke to me as if gently coaxing a child.

“Munju, there are times in life when there’s no winning move. I’ll give you a sleeping drug—let’s go quietly.”

I raised my hand.

“Hold on. Before that...”

I reached into my robe, pulled out the Muga Dagger, and slammed it into the table.

Thunk!

Gwangmyeong Usa, the second son, and the Cult Leader’s son all stared at the dagger stuck in the table.

Gwangmyeong Usa asked,

“What’s the meaning of this?”

I looked at the embedded dagger and answered.

“When someone in my hometown proposes a life-or-death duel...”

“......”

I looked him in the eye.

“...This is how we begin.”