How much time had passed?

Seop Mugwang teetered on the boundary between life and death as he fought the spiritual beast. Countless large and small wounds accumulated across his body.

Yet even in such a perilous moment, Seop Mugwang was genuinely rejoicing.

It was the true spirit of a warrior.

Even after losing his internal energy, his continued training had led him to deeper enlightenment in martial arts, and with every exchange of blows, his techniques became more refined.

It was unmistakable growth.

Each time he nearly faced death, Seolhwa's internal energy surged within her, yet she clenched her fists and endured.

She barely held herself back, thinking that though she might save his body, she could crush his spirit.

She had to believe. She had to believe.

That he was the Thunder and Wind Divine Art practitioner.

A warrior who had never retreated from countless battlefields.

Slash—!

Seop Mugwang did not block the spiritual beast's attacks head-on but deflected or evaded them, leaving sword wounds across the beast’s body.

They were not fatal strikes, yet they were undeniably meaningful results.

He rose, and rose again, confronting the beast.

Even when a single strike could mean death.

Gritting his teeth, he continued the fight against the beast.

“You think I would die to the likes of you?!”

As the beast swung its forepaw toward him, Seop Mugwang kicked off the ground, leaping upward.

In that instant of vulnerability, the beast swung its other paw, but before that—

Slash—!

Seop Mugwang’s sword slashed the beast's right eye.

But he could not completely avoid the beast’s retaliatory strike.

Fortunately, slashing its eye caused the beast's attack to veer off target.

Thud—!

“Guh...!”

Seop Mugwang rolled across the ground, coughing up blood.

But when he raised his head, his expression was bright.

“How does it feel, beast?!”

Facing the roaring spiritual beast, he did not stop smiling.

“This is the Thunder and Wind Divine Art practitioner, you wretch!”

Hahaha!

Watching him laugh like a child, Seolhwa could not suppress a faint smile of her own.

****

The ferocious killing intent that the beast exuded had long since faded, yet Seop Mugwang’s fighting spirit continued to blaze.

The scales of victory had tilted.

Thud—!

At last, the beast could no longer withstand the assault and collapsed.

Seop Mugwang’s steady, precise attacks had finally drained the beast’s vitality.

Thunk—!

Seop Mugwang slammed his sword into the ground.

Leaning on his sword as a crutch, his breathing was ragged.

But standing proudly before the fallen beast, his expression was radiant.

[Your master has done it.]

—Yes.

He had truly defeated the beast.

A man who could no longer use internal energy, yet through sheer strength alone.

This victory was born of his spirit and will.

Haa... Haa...

After catching his breath briefly, Seop Mugwang moved again before his strength could fully recover.

He had to find the child taken by the beast.

Staggering into the forest, Seolhwa silently watched him.

Ryeong approached her.

“The child is alive.”

While Seop Mugwang fought, Ryeong had investigated the area and confirmed the child’s condition.

“I laid him in a safe place.”

“Follow the clan head. Watch over them until they return to the village.”

“Understood.”

Ryeong followed after Seop Mugwang.

Seolhwa watched her disappear from sight, then approached the beast that had fought Seop Mugwang.

Seolhwa placed her hand on the beast’s body.

Slowly, she injected her internal energy.

A powerful source of energy pulsed near the beast's heart.

It was a spiritual core.

But Seolhwa had no interest in the core.

What she was searching for—

‘As expected. Traces of demonic energy.’

Her gaze turned cold and sharp.

As anticipated, there were signs the beast had been controlled.

“They made their move.”

[You mean the ones who imprisoned you in your previous life?]

“Yes.”

Among the Six Blood Lords of the Blood Demon Cult, one commands demonic beasts.

The Fourth Blood Lord.

No one knows exactly how they control the beasts, but those under the Fourth Blood Lord's control always bear the traces of demonic energy.

Those who manipulate demonic energy in the martial world originate from the Ten Thousand Great Mountains in the northwest of the Central Plains.

The Demonic Cult.

Based on that information, Seolhwa had already deduced that the Fourth Blood Lord was either a member of the Demonic Cult or closely connected to them.

And when she heard of a child taken by a beast, she had expected the Fourth Blood Lord’s involvement—and her guess had been correct.

“Let’s go.”

[Where to?]

“We have guests to greet.”

Seolhwa removed her outer robe and threw it into the tall trees above.

Beneath the robe, she wore black martial attire.

She drew something from within her garments.

The Alliance Master's mask.

Binding her hair tightly, she donned the mask, staring at the sky, faintly glowing with the light of approaching dawn.

Before the sun rose.

Before they arrived.

To protect her people.

Tap—!

Seolhwa’s form leapt into the purple-tinged sky, vanishing instantly.

****

Rustle, rustle.

As Seolhwa arrived at the Orthodox Alliance's secret meeting point, dozens of presences fixed their attention on her.

Halting in place, Seolhwa ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) snapped her fingers.

In an instant, dozens of figures stood in formation before her.

The elite of the Orthodox Alliance.

The Enforcement Unit, composed solely of peak realm experts and above.

“We greet the Alliance Master.”

The vice-captain at the front bowed, followed by the unit members lowering their heads in unison.

Seolhwa nodded lightly in response.

The vice-captain stepped forward, presenting the Alliance Master's uniform and a carefully folded letter.

“A message from the Hao Gate Leader.”

After donning the Alliance Master's robes, Seolhwa immediately read the letter.

[Alliance Master, I first apologize for mobilizing the Enforcement Unit without your approval.

While investigating the two individuals you mentioned, we discovered belatedly that they were in danger and had no choice but to dispatch the unit.]

Before coming here, Seolhwa had ordered the Hao Gate Leader to investigate Seop Mugwang and Choryeon.

She needed to know exactly what had happened before they arrived at the Namgoong Clan.

The letter continued.

[Of the two, the woman named Choryeon, known as the Poison Moon, has been listed in the Kill Veil's registry.

The client appears to be the mother of the Second Prince, killed by Poison Moon—Empress Cheol, the Fourth Empress of the homeland.]

Seolhwa's brow furrowed.

Choryeon's name was in the Kill Veil's registry?

Yet that was not the only startling revelation.

[Records indicate her name was added over twenty years ago.

However, we do not know why assassins have never pursued her.

Considering the bounty placed on Poison Moon, her refuge within the Namgoong Clan does not fully explain it.]

The Kill Veil specialized in stealth and assassination.

Even if she was hiding within the Namgoong Clan, the complete absence of assassins for twenty years was suspicious.

And that implied—

[It appears the Kill Veil intentionally spared Poison Moon.

Judging by Empress Cheol’s silence, they have either reported her death falsely or continuously reported failed attempts.]

Why would the Kill Veil deliberately leave Choryeon alive?

Had her name also been in the registry in her previous life?

If so, why had she not known?

The answer to all those questions was singular.

‘The Kill Veil is connected to the Blood Demon Cult.’

They had not killed Choryeon because the Kill Veil was already a subordinate organization of the Blood Demon Cult.

They needed her alive to bring her into the Cult when the time came.

That explained why Seolhwa, once the young leader of the Blood Demon Cult, had not known of their relationship.

‘The Blood Lords’ factions.’

The Six Blood Lords, who concealed their influence completely.

If the Kill Veil belonged to one of those factions, it was logical Seolhwa had been unaware.

Especially as the Kill Veil operated entirely from the shadows.

Seolhwa continued reading the letter.

[The Kill Veil has begun to move.

Judging by their activity, their destination is Heung County, where you currently reside.

Their target is likely Poison Moon.]

“...”

[We sent the Enforcement Unit ahead of their arrival, wishing for your people’s safety and your own. Please be cautious.]

‘The Kill Veil is coming here.’

To take Choryeon.

In hindsight, the Kill Veil serving the Blood Demon Cult was not so strange.

The Cult was always abundant with assassins.

The important fact was they were on their way here now.

The master of the Kill Veil was a top ten grandmaster of the martial world.

Seolhwa raised her gaze to the elite members of the Enforcement Unit.

Few in number, but formidable in strength.

Additionally, the Namgoong Clan's warriors were stationed throughout the village.

If she personally handled the Kill Veil's master and her forces managed the remaining assassins—

‘This is a battle worth fighting.’

A faint flame flickered at Seolhwa’s fingertips, instantly reducing the letter to ashes.

The ashes scattered in the wind, vanishing without a trace.