"Why is the Right Guardian so insane?"

The Jecheon Alliance Leader asked me that while we were eating. I kept picking at dishes with my chopsticks as I answered.

"Did you know him from before?"

"I heard rumors now and then. That the Left and Right Guardians of the Cult were the most composed men in the whole organization. That’s why today’s spectacle was even more shocking. Was he always like that?"

The eldest of the Four Villains responded to the Alliance Leader’s question.

"No, he wasn’t."

It was well known that the eldest was a man of restraint, and apparently the Right Guardian had been the same.

I told the Jecheon Alliance Leader why the Right Guardian had gone mad.

"I slaughtered the forces he brought near Baek Eung-ji."

The Alliance Leader nodded.

"Was it... a lot?"

"A lot. Most of them died in an instant. Without a trace... I should’ve killed the rest, too. When you witness something that defies belief, when your comrades and subordinates all die in the blink of an eye, even someone like the Right Guardian can’t help but be shaken."

The Alliance Leader suddenly set down his chopsticks and said to me,

"That technique must have been Heaven-Piercing Sun-Moon Radiance. Any reason you’re telling me so openly?"

He seemed to have lost his appetite. I continued eating as I replied,

"Because I never intended to fight from the start."

"Why not?"

"You saw the look in the Right Guardian’s eyes, didn’t you?"

"I did."

"If we and the Jecheon Alliance had joined forces and launched an attack, the Right Guardian would’ve fought us while holding a child in his left arm. And if that child died, he’d pick up another one and continue fighting. Even if someone rushed in to save the other children, it wouldn’t have been easy. With a single swing of his hand, he’d have spilled blood. And once everyone else was dead, he would’ve cradled the last surviving child and used it to threaten me."

"......"

"Demanding I reveal the secret of Heaven-Piercing Sun-Moon Radiance. The whole situation was a losing battle from the start. So I had no choice but to give him what he wanted."

The Alliance Leader, who had stopped eating altogether, poured himself a drink and offered it to the Four Villains.

"Was that bold claim of yours—that you could wipe out eighty percent of the Jecheon Alliance—because of Heaven-Piercing Sun-Moon Radiance?"

It was only now that I revealed the basis of that old boast.

"If the entire Alliance had charged at once, perhaps. But the Alliance Leader insisted on a one-on-one match, so it turned into a duel."

The Alliance Leader nodded with a baffled expression.

"So when you told the Right Guardian that asking for a duel was the easiest way to get himself killed—"

"Exactly."

Which meant what happened to the Right Guardian could’ve just as easily happened to the Jecheon Alliance Leader. Now that he understood everything at once through the Guardian, the Alliance Leader nodded while cursing at me.

"You really are insane in every way."

"You stood your ground like a true man, Leader. And Senior Shin Gae arrived just in time, too."

"The Alliance nearly fell, you bastard."

I smiled slightly and looked at the Alliance Leader.

"Exactly. Spread the word to the Black Path. If anyone touches Haomun, I’ll personally pay them a visit and slaughter about eighty percent of them."

Even someone like the Alliance Leader let out a sigh.

"This is absurd. If my subordinates disappear, I’m no longer a Leader. If I collapse like that, what were you planning to do next?"

"What else? I’d have fled and thrown my support behind Alliance Leader Im. Either way, it wasn’t an empty threat. That eighty percent figure wasn’t just talk."

"I’ll give you that. My appetite’s ruined. Eat up."

"With pleasure."

I continued eating with the Four Villains without a care. This time, the Sword Demon asked the Alliance Leader,

"He went northeast. Think you can catch him?"

"Unlikely."

The Lecher asked,

"Why is that?"

The Alliance Leader looked around at all of us as he replied.

"You all saw it too. It wasn’t a speed we could possibly catch. And northeast... that’s as vast as the Central Plains. The Central Plains have the noble clans and the Martial Alliance. To the northwest is the Demonic Cult. To the south, we’ve got ourselves and a cluster of ancient sects. If he went northeast, maybe he really is planning to create a new Blood Cult where there are fewer strong warriors."

I suddenly thought of something, and while holding my cup, I recalled what I’d seen before.

"I don’t think he’ll go into hiding just yet."

"......"

Everyone looked at me.

I recalled the Right Guardian’s eyes and tried to gauge a villain’s heart.

"Feels like he’s going to cause another incident..."

The Drunk asked,

"What kind of incident? Shouldn’t we go after him?"

I glanced between the Four Villains and the Alliance Leader and tilted my head.

"Maybe... he won’t say goodbye to the Cult Leader in the usual way?"

I didn’t say the rest out loud. No need to tell them just how well I understood the minds of villains like him.

***

Gwangmyeong Usa ran toward the northeast, as if testing the limits of his light footwork, fully aware that no one could follow him. He entered a random village, casually took clothes hanging on a laundry line, and washed up in a flowing stream. Even as he changed clothes, no one pursued him.

He had resolved to walk the path of the inhuman, so he didn’t speak to any ordinary people he came across. To him, they were no different than livestock. But he didn’t actually go northeast. He changed clothes several times, spent his days meditating and sleeping, and traveled southwest at night. After seven changes of sun and moon, he arrived in good condition at a familiar safehouse.

As he stepped into the courtyard, a man sweeping the yard bowed his head.

"You’ve returned, sir."

Gwangmyeong Usa walked toward the main hall and asked,

"Where is Lord Yang?"

"He’s inside."

Before opening the main hall doors, the Right Guardian looked back at the man with the broom.

"Any news?"

"No, sir."

Confirming the man’s expression, the Right Guardian entered the main hall. Lord Yang, dining alone in the wide room, looked up in surprise.

"Usa, you’re here. Why did you disappear like that? Have you eaten?"

Gwangmyeong Usa sat down across from him and replied,

"Let’s eat together."

Lord Yang called toward the inside.

"Bring more food."

"Yes, sir."

As Lord Yang chewed his food, he looked at the Right Guardian.

"What exactly happened?"

The Right Guardian answered.

"The Left Guardian’s group followed me, and I had to shake them. Then the Jecheon Alliance got involved."

"The Jecheon Alliance?"

Lord Yang nodded and looked him over from head to toe.

"You’ve had a rough time. But still, how are we supposed to report this failure? I can’t bring myself to return. Maybe if we bring the Haomun Master’s head, we’d be forgiven. I’m not short on money—should I just hire an assassin? What do you think? No matter how I look at it, capture seems impossible."

The Right Guardian nodded.

"Capture is indeed impossible. The Cult Leader will have to act personally now. We lost troops, our ghost force was weakened, and both your and my subordinates were heavily damaged. This is the worst failure I’ve ever experienced. If the Cult Leader refuses to act, we’d best stay out of the Central Plains for a while. At this rate, even our main stronghold might get attacked."

Lord Yang shook his head.

"They wouldn’t dare attack the main stronghold. That doesn’t suit Im Sobaek’s character."

A servant brought a large tray of rice and side dishes and set them before the Right Guardian. Only after all three servants had finished placing the dishes did he pick up his chopsticks and speak.

"Bring water too."

"Yes, sir."

The servant bowed and hurried off.

Lord Yang spoke.

"Oh, I heard after returning here—apparently that Wei bastard became the Left Guardian."

"So he did."

"Usa, isn’t Wei ten years your junior?"

"Roughly."

"Seven or eight? Either way, he’s not someone of your generation. Not someone whose reputation should rival yours."

"When has our Cult ever cared about seniority? We care about strength. That Wei bastard is strong enough for the role. Comes from decent stock, too."

Lord Yang shook his head.

"Why don’t you take this chance to claim the vacant Chief Commander position instead? Let the young ones have the Guardian seats. I know you hate Wei—why compete for credit at the same level?"

The Right Guardian sipped the water the servant brought and stirred the dishes before him.

"......"

Watching him stir without eating, Lord Yang muttered,

"There’s no poison. Eat in peace."

The Right Guardian replied,

"Didn’t you want the Chief Commander seat?"

"How could I aim that high?"

The Right Guardian nodded once, then picked at the rice as he asked,

"By the way, is that Young Master alright?"

Lord Yang pointed to his shoulder.

"Completely shattered. His wrist was crushed and dislocated. Still, the bones are healing well, so that’s fortunate. He’s immobile, so he’s just meditating."

The Right Guardian clicked his tongue and said,

"Must be rough. I’ll pay him a visit, then return to the Cult."

"No need for that."

"I came all this way—I should at least see his face."

The Right Guardian poked at his rice, clearly without appetite, and glanced at Lord Yang, who was silently staring at him.

"......"

"Lord Yang, why are you staring like that?"

After a long silence, Lord Yang spoke.

"Usa."

"Go on."

"I can’t allow the visit."

"Allow?"

Lord Yang nodded.

"Please return quietly. I’ll meet you back at the Cult later."

"I want to see him. Do I need your permission for that? Since when is the Lord above the Guardians?"

Lord °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° Yang replied,

"I may not outrank you, but I’m not your subordinate either. It’s not like you two were especially close. Not seeing him isn’t the end of the world. Let’s not make this complicated. Just consider it closed-door meditation. He’s focusing on cultivation and dislikes visitors."

The Right Guardian set down his chopsticks and snorted. As he looked around the main hall with a smirk, Lord Yang asked,

"What’s so funny? Neither of us should be laughing right now. Please return and speak well of me to the Cult Leader. He still respects you."

"Lord Yang."

"Yes?"

"If I’m to report to the Cult Leader, I must also describe the Young Master’s condition. So what’s the real reason you won’t let me see him?"

"There’s no real reason."

The Right Guardian’s tone changed.

"Speak."

Lord Yang leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh.

"There is a reason."

"......"

Covering his nose with one finger, Lord Yang continued,

"Usa, you’ve reeked of blood since the moment you entered. It’s not like you didn’t wash... what happened? Did you go around slaughtering sects on your own? I don’t recall the Cult Leader giving that order. But I’m not in a position to question you, so I’ll let it go. Just discuss it properly when you return. Either way, that blood stench of yours is quite unpleasant in my safehouse."

Hearing the real reason, the Right Guardian smiled and glared at Lord Yang. He lifted his sleeve and sniffed. No smell. He rolled up his sleeve and sniffed his forearm.

"......"

The scent of blood was overwhelming—so much so it seemed etched into his very skin.

Lord Yang cleared his throat and called toward the back.

"The Right Guardian is leaving."

A man—not a servant—responded,

"Yes, sir."

The doors to the main hall burst open, and Lord Yang’s men looked in. As the Right Guardian glanced around, more subordinates emerged from inside and others from the safehouse grounds gathered.

As the Right Guardian stood, he said,

"I’ll be going."

Lord Yang nodded.

"Take care. Also, offer my congratulations to that Wei bastard. Once the Young Master recovers, we’ll return together."

The Right Guardian glanced at the gathered subordinates and stepped outside.

"......"

They all stared at him stiffly, heads held high.

He asked,

"Aren’t you all Cultists?"

Only then did they lower their heads.

"Safe travels, sir."

Lord Yang’s subordinates stepped aside to create a path to the gate. The Right Guardian walked down the central path, encircled like a noose, then paused and looked back at the main hall.

Lord Yang stood at the entrance, watching him.

"Is this everyone?"

Lord Yang sighed.

"......Let’s not do this. Are you insane?"

The Right Guardian unsheathed the long sword at his waist and said,

"Lord Yang, select two men and order them to escort the Young Master back to the Cult. I originally planned to kill you all, but I’ll show gratitude for the Cult Leader’s past courtesy. Maybe he does care about his child. Consider this a gift."

Lord Yang’s eyes widened.

"You’ve completely lost it. Cheoljong, Byeoksa. Escort the Young Master back. Report to the Cult Leader that the Right Guardian has succumbed to Deviation of the Heart."

"We obey."

The Right Guardian pointed at Lord Yang.

"No. That’s not the right report. Tell him: ‘The Right Guardian has attained enlightenment and is walking the path of individual exorcism.’ The Cult Leader will understand what it means."

As the two moved swiftly, Lord Yang ordered,

"Kill him. He is no longer the Right Guardian. He is a heretic in the throes of madness."

At that moment, the Right Guardian’s eyes turned blood red.