Sitting beside Yongmyeong, I whispered as we watched the cultists.

“If the Cult Leader keeps acting like this...”

“Yes.”

“At first, he ordered you to retrieve the One-Kill Sword... then it changed to wiping out an entire sect. Next, it’ll be to kill a traitor. And on and on with new orders. If you keep obeying because you're worried about the Blood Night Palace each time, then you're just the Cult Leader’s dog. There’s no way retrieving the One-Kill Sword is the end of your mission.”

“That’s true.”

“Have you decided?”

Yongmyeong looked at me.

“I’ll return to the Blood Night Palace immediately.”

I intended to respect whatever decision he made.

“Good. Send my regards to Elder Heo and the Palace Lord. Tell them to grow stronger so no one can touch the Blood Night Palace. Running at first is fine. It’s going to be a long fight. There might be encirclement... think you can break through it?”

Yongmyeong looked around.

“...Sect Leader, do you think I can’t even break through this?”

“Good. Once your breathing stabilizes, leave at once.”

“Yes.”

Assassins would, of course, be trained in retreat tactics too.

Yongmyeong suddenly glanced at his sword, still stuck in the grotesque greatsword. The tip was bent; it wasn’t in good shape. As I stared at his sword, I pulled out a Flash Dagger from my robe and handed it to him.

“Use this.”

“Sir?”

“An assassin should use a dagger. I have another.”

Yongmyeong received the Flash Dagger.

I gave him a brief tip on psychological warfare.

“Don’t run. Walk confidently like you’re on a mission. Only break into light footwork if you’re chased. Handle it dynamically.”

“Sect Leader, I’ll go now.”

We exchanged a look, saying farewell with just that. Yongmyeong slowly stood, just like I said, and walked toward Zaha Inn. It looked like he was going to say goodbye to his big brother before leaving.

Sitting cross-legged, I silently watched the Black Forest vanguard. If even a part of them peeled off to chase Yongmyeong, I planned to charge in alone.

First, I asked what I was curious about.

“Where’s the new Left Guardian or someone higher? Lord Yang, are you in charge?”

Only then did Yang Daegong appear from a distance where the black-clad figures had spread out. His hair and skin were white, but it had been a while—his eyes had grown noticeably dark underneath.

Seeing Yang Daegong’s complexion, I asked,

“Lord Yang, wasn’t it nicer when you were relaxing in Simwon Valley? You look like hell.”

Yang Daegong nodded.

“The former Right Guardian came all the way to Simwon Valley. Honestly, it was exhausting.”

“That must’ve been rough. He didn’t look sane.”

As Yang Daegong walked over, he replied.

“Exactly. I’ve never seen a madman like that lately.”

“I’m curious how it turned out.”

He sat a bit apart from me and said,

“It’s internal business, so I can’t say much. He left to carry out a new order.”

“The Right Guardian received an order? That’s not possible.”

Yang Daegong smiled.

“That’s how the outer division works. When summoned, you have to run like a dog. No exceptions.”

It was only after seeing Yang Daegong that I realized—if Yongmyeong survived under the Cult Leader long enough, he’d end up like this man. Whether Simwon Valley or the Blood Night Palace, it was the same in the end.

The distance between us was slightly ambiguous.

If it were Yang Daegong, he could launch a surprise attack from here. This couldn’t just be casual conversation.

Remaining wary of a sudden strike, I asked,

“Did the Cult Leader meet with the Right Guardian?”

Yang Daegong just smiled. While I was watching him, Big Brother’s voice came from behind.

“Lord Yang.”

“Speak.”

“You’re as much a merit-gainer as Elder Heo. Why not go independent? You’re already a Daegong; it’s not like you crave power. Why step up like this?”

“A cultist, independent? Don’t be absurd.”

Yang Daegong’s expression left an impression. It was close to expressionless, but not peaceful. I deliberately brought up Yongmyeong.

“Yongmyeong’s decided to return to the Blood Night Palace. Will you let him go safely?”

Yang Daegong nodded.

“I heard he’d decide his own path. Depending on that, the Blood Night Palace’s fate will change.”

“And yours?”

Yang Daegong looked at me and muttered,

“My fate...”

When I blinked without thinking, I saw Yang Daegong’s palm energy. Everything vanished—and a massive palm struck my right palm directly.

A deafening boom rang out. Still seated, I was pushed back, but absorbed the impact through Cloud Ladder Ascension and rose lightly. Yang Daegong’s follow-up attack came immediately.

Dust rose from the shockwave of the palm clash, obscuring vision. His next strike shot out from that haze. It was a fierce palm attack, not hard to deflect—but the dust storm kept mixing in.

‘Is he doing this on purpose?’

Yang Daegong poured out his full power from the start, leaving no time to draw my sword. Compared to Yongmyeong, his ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) internal energy was far deeper, and he seemed highly experienced in real battle. A single blow could flatten most masters. Normally I would conserve energy while keeping an eye on the vanguard, but after trading blows, I changed my mind.

Yang Daegong used palm strikes while remaining hidden from both friend and foe.

His footwork and movements created constant whirlwinds. He was also good at locating targets in poor visibility. Reaching for my waist to draw the One-Kill Sword, I suddenly ducked my head.

As I backstepped, I saw strands of my own hair flutter past.

A floating palm dropped like a guillotine, which I blocked with my right palm, and immediately countered with my left.

Finally, I saw Yang Daegong’s face.

The troubled expression was gone—now he looked delighted to be in a real fight.

While blocking with both palms, I was pushed slightly back...

Then quickly regained my balance and clashed internal energy with him. At that moment, I understood his intent a bit.

This was a pure, life-or-death internal energy duel.

As the swirling dust began to settle, the surroundings came into view. The Black Forest vanguard was still on standby, and I felt Big Brother watching from behind.

Yang Daegong’s energy rose step by step before bursting forth like a defensive force field. Then, the ground beneath us sank.

Things were getting dangerous...

I looked at Yang Daegong and prepared Zaha Divine Art. As something surged from my danjeon, I sensed a surprise attack from the right. I unleashed a burst of internal energy filled with Zaha Energy, then layered external power on top to push Yang Daegong away.

A surprise attack.

Instinctively, I grabbed the One-Kill Sword and prepared to draw.

The attacker from the right was already airborne, his whole body glowing red like he was wrapped in flame.

‘Huh?’

Still recovering from my Zaha-charged strike, Yang Daegong looked up and unleashed energy. Just before his palm force could be released, the intruder’s fingertip struck dead center in his palm.

Thunk!

A red bolt shot in like an arrow.

At the same time, Yang Daegong’s left palm landed squarely on the attacker’s chest.

KWAHHHH!

The red-robed man was blasted back...

But blood burst from Yang Daegong’s right hand as well. Shockingly, as the red-robed man was pushed away, he sprayed blood like mist into Yang Daegong’s eyes and lunged again.

From the red-robed man’s body, six or seven spider-leg-like streaks of blood energy shot out like blades...

Then rushed Yang Daegong, who now had blood blinding his eyes.

It looked like a mutually assured destruction technique, but even the attacker’s blood seemed corrosive—it was clearly stinging Yang Daegong’s eyes. It happened too fast for me to intervene.

The six or seven streaks pierced Yang Daegong’s body, then withdrew repeatedly. Even so, he kept swinging both palms. But soon, the red-robed man grabbed both his arms and tore them off to either side.

Splat!

What followed was even more gruesome. Blood and flesh exploded midair in chaos—and before long, Yang Daegong was literally torn apart.

I instinctively took a step back in disbelief.

‘Ah, fuck. That bastard’s insane.’

Now drenched in Yang Daegong’s blood and flesh, Gwangmyeong Usa smiled as he looked at me, then glanced at the cultists. Blood also dripped from his mouth—Yang Daegong’s palm force had struck home—but he looked every bit the Blood God (血神) incarnate.

After a slow scan of the area, Gwangmyeong Usa said,

“Sect Leader of Haomun, been a while.”

I nodded and answered like greeting an old friend.

“Been a while. You eating alright?”

Gwangmyeong Usa glared at me.

“...”

“I didn’t know you and Lord Yang had such deep hatred.”

Looking at the pile of flesh and blood that had been Yang Daegong, he said,

“I only needed to kill this bastard. But he kept breaking promises and running.”

Honestly, if I hadn’t used Zaha Energy, Yang Daegong might’ve recovered faster and fought off Gwangmyeong Usa. But since I couldn’t tell who the ambush was aimed at, that couldn’t be helped.

Gwangmyeong Usa, who suddenly appeared and butchered Yang Daegong, looked even worse off than before. It now felt like you couldn’t even communicate with him.

As he approached, I stepped aside.

The only answer to a lunatic is to get out of the way.

I’m no exception.

He glanced at me once, then walked over and picked up the grotesque greatsword from the ground.

“Sect Leader.”

“What?”

“This the Pagoda King’s weapon?”

“Yeah.”

“What’s stuck in it?”

“The weapon of Assassin Yongmyeong, who lost to me.”

“Hm...”

Gwangmyeong Usa looked at me.

“And the Pagoda King?”

“Got killed by the old Left Guardian.”

Gwangmyeong Usa smiled in satisfaction and asked for permission.

“Can I use this?”

“The greatsword?”

I wanted to stay on this lunatic’s good side, so I allowed it.

“I was planning to take it, but consider it a gift.”

“Good.”

He detached Yongmyeong’s longsword, infused it with Blood God Energy, turning the blade reddish. Then he pressed the glowing blade to the grotesque greatsword—

Sssssk!

It fused with a hiss.

Gwangmyeong Usa holding the grotesque greatsword looked utterly savage.

It suited him perfectly—like it had always been his.

Then he asked,

“Still fighting the Cult Leader?”

“Yeah.”

Gwangmyeong Usa smiled awkwardly and confessed,

“I’ve already lost once. You probably won’t beat him either. If you live, see you again.”

I nodded and gave him the respect due a mad demonic grandmaster.

“Take care, Blood Cult Leader.”

That lunatic suddenly charged the Black Forest vanguard with the greatsword.

His muttered words carried eerie energy.

“...Move.”

Then, the man who had been Gwangmyeong Usa tore through the vanguard and vanished down the path.

Standing beside Big Brother, I sighed as we watched his madness.

“Wow... insane... Was he always like that?”

Big Brother shook his head.

“No.”

“Then why is he like this?”

“I don’t know. What’s more shocking is how he still shows you respect, even in that state.”

Big Brother walked over to Yang Daegong’s remains, searched a bit, and found a small golden trinket. He tossed it to the cultists.

As the tiny, glimmering ornament flew through the air, one cultist caught it.

Big Brother told them,

“That’s all that’s left of Lord Yang. Take it and return it.”

The cultist responded absentmindedly.

“...Understood.”

As he replied with utmost courtesy, all the black-clad cultists turned to stare at him.

The atmosphere turned... strange.