“...What the hell.”

Seop Mugwang was dumbfounded.

He had used his sword as a cane to calm the «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» child down and bring them back, only to return to find the entire village in chaos.

“Mugwang-ssi!”

From afar, Choryeon came running, having recognized him.

It was a stroke of luck that Mugwang had returned from the direction opposite of the masked assassins’ attack.

“Ahh, Hanho!”

“Mom—! Waaah—!”

The child dashed out, sobbing, for a tearful reunion with their mother.

Grab—!

“!”

Choryeon, who had run over, threw her arms around Seop Mugwang.

“You’re safe, hic... You’re really safe...! Hic... Thank goodness... Thank goodness...”

“...What... the...”

Seop Mugwang’s eyes widened.

He stood frozen, unable to do anything.

But soon, his eyes caught the battle unfolding within the village.

Seop Mugwang pushed Choryeon away slightly and asked:

“What the hell happened here.”

“I... I don’t know. Suddenly, these masked men appeared and started killing the villagers... The Namgoong Clan warriors are fighting them off, but... it looks tough.”

“Step aside.”

Seop Mugwang hurried toward where the villagers had gathered.

The anxious villagers, watching the battle between the Namgoong Clan warriors and the masked assassins, made way for him.

“....”

Clang—!

“Argh!”

“Hold the line! Fall back! Protect the wounded!”

Clang—! Clang!

It was utter pandemonium.

The moment Seop Mugwang saw the battle, he understood.

The Namgoong Clan warriors were being pushed back.

“Damn it.”

Without hesitation, Seop Mugwang drew his sword.

Just as he was about to charge in—

“Are you insane?!”

Choryeon grabbed his arm.

The wounds from the battle with the spirit beast flared, causing Seop Mugwang to grimace.

“Let go.”

“You’re really going to jump in there? In your condition?”

“Can’t you see they’re losing?”

“And you think you’ll change anything by going in? They’re struggling even with Namgoong Clan warriors! You can’t do anything like this!”

“I’ll figure something out—”

“You can’t even use internal energy!”

Choryeon shouted.

She instantly regretted it, but the words were already out.

Who was Seop Mugwang?

If she didn’t stop him, even with harsh words, he would recklessly throw himself into the fight.

But still... seeing the person she loved hurt was unbearable.

Choryeon’s emotions overwhelmed her, and she burst into tears.

“Don’t go... Please...”

“....”

“Stay... with me...”

“....”

Choryeon bowed her head.

She didn’t expect that this alone could stop Seop Mugwang.

He was someone who cared deeply for his people.

The ones fighting ahead were all subordinates from his time in the Namgoong Clan.

They might not have been members of the Bipung Division under his direct command, but they were warriors he had known and exchanged greetings with.

There was no way the man who cared so fiercely for his people could stand by, watching them struggle.

By now, he was probably already planning to charge in.

But this time, just this once, she selfishly wanted to stop him.

She simply wanted to let him know—someone was desperately worried about him, every time he ran headfirst into danger.

That alone... That alone would be enough.

Thud—

“...!”

At the moment she resigned herself, something hard pressed gently against her forehead.

Rough hands softly patted her head.

“...Alright.”

A low, rumbling voice.

A heavy warmth resonating from his chest, the comforting heat of his embrace.

“Hic...”

He didn’t go. He stayed.

He stayed by her side.

“Hic... Hic...”

“Why are you crying? I said alright... See? I’m not going anywhere. I’m right here, yeah?”

Seop Mugwang cared deeply for his people.

He knew what this choice meant.

Choryeon couldn’t stop the endless stream of tears.

****

Meanwhile, the tide of battle had turned.

It was thanks to Ryeong arriving alongside Seop Mugwang.

Slash—!

In the blink of an eye, Ryeong beheaded two of the masked assassins.

The Namgoong Clan warriors, who had been struggling, stared blankly as she soared across the battlefield.

“Watch out, Captain!”

Urgent shouts rang out.

Ryeong immediately dashed toward her next target.

But—

Whoosh—!

“!”

Clang—!

Ryeong deflected a fast-approaching throwing dagger and fixed her gaze on the attacker.

It was one of the masked assassins, wearing the same mask as the ones who attacked the village.

Sensing the massive power rapidly approaching, Ryeong tightened her grip on her sword and faced him.

‘This one is far stronger than the other masked assassins.’

There had been four masked assassins in total attacking the village.

She had killed two—meaning two remained.

Among the Namgoong Clan warriors, there were two Peak Realm experts. That should be enough to handle the remaining two.

‘I’ll take this one.’

Tap—!

Ryeong charged straight at the incoming assassin.

Realizing Ryeong had chosen him as her opponent, the assassin pulled something from his robe and hurled it at her.

Throwing weapons.

Clangclangclang—!

There were at least dozens of razor-sharp projectiles.

Those she couldn’t deflect grazed her, leaving thin, hairline cuts across her body.

But Ryeong didn’t stop.

The two clashed.

Clangclangclang!

Dagger and sword collided with such speed and ferocity that sparks flew.

The onlookers couldn’t even track their movements with their eyes.

Exchanging blows with the masked assassin, Ryeong was confident of victory.

He was fast, but lacked power.

If she kept pressing the assault and knocked away his dagger—

“...!”

Suddenly, her vision swayed.

Tap—! Tap—!

Ryeong hastily retreated.

A sickening wave surged up from within her.

A dark, crimson mass of blood.

‘Poison!’

The throwing weapons from earlier had been coated with poison.

Her vision blurred rapidly as she glared at the masked assassin.

Though his face was hidden behind the mask, she could tell—he was smiling.

‘D-Damn it...’

She should’ve considered the possibility of poison...

“I’d love to keep playing, but I’m short on time.”

Tap—!

Leaving those words behind, the masked assassin sprinted past her toward the village.

‘This is bad!’

There was no one left in the village who could stop him.

If he reached the village, it would be a massacre.

‘Where’s the Enforcement Unit?’

Come to think of it—the Orthodox Alliance's Enforcement Unit hadn’t arrived yet?

They hadn’t met up with the young lady?

If only they were here, they could prevent everyone’s deaths...

Just then.

The sky darkened, and the world was swallowed by shadow.

Ryeong thought it was the poison making her vision go black.

But when she lifted her head to look at the sky, she realized it wasn’t that.

—Ryeong.

A voice penetrated her fading consciousness.

—Regulate your energy. The Enforcement Unit will protect you.

Ah... the young lady.

Ahh... Alliance Master.

It was Step Across the Void—the elusive, near-miraculous technique only those at Peak Realm or higher could perform.

Seolhwa soared across the sky toward the village.

No, she flew.

At the sound of her voice, Ryeong steadied herself, sitting cross-legged in place to regulate her energy.

The Orthodox Alliance's Enforcement Unit formed a perimeter around her, guarding her.

****

Something enormous was approaching.

An immeasurable master.

The Namgoong Clan warriors, fighting against two remaining masked assassins, instinctively turned toward the approaching power.

‘Senior Ryeong lost...!’

The only thought that followed—

‘It’s over.’

Everyone here would die at their hands.

Tap—! Tap—!

The two masked assassins pulled back from the battle.

Another masked figure sprinted toward the Namgoong Clan warriors, both hands raised.

Dozens of throwing weapons rained down upon them.

The Namgoong Clan warriors stood frozen, unable to even think of blocking them.

Only the two squad leaders raised their swords.

“Get it together! Raise your swords!”

“Don’t retreat! Protect the people!”

But even they couldn’t be sure they’d block all of the projectiles.

Just then—

Whoosh—!

Suddenly, the heavens darkened as something plummeted from the sky.

Faster than the rain of throwing weapons—a person.

Slash—

A black robe fluttered as the figure descended, sword swinging wide.

Clang—!

The projectiles shattered in midair, falling to the ground in pieces.

For a moment, time itself seemed to stop in that surreal scene.

But the masked figure didn’t stop there.

Tap, whoosh—

Kicking off the ground, they shot toward the assassin who had thrown the weapons, slashing their sword.

Clang—!

Sparks burst.

Boom!

The clash of blades echoed like thunder, unbelievable in its force.

Crack!

Three exchanges.

In just three moves, the masked assassin’s dagger snapped.

Slice.

Their head fell.

Truly, it happened in the blink of an eye.

The Namgoong Clan warriors, the remaining two masked assassins—

The villagers watching from afar—

All were left speechless by the overwhelming force.

In fact, many couldn’t even track what had happened with their eyes.

Slash—! Slash—!

The remaining two assassins' heads fell to the ground.

They didn’t even realize they’d been beheaded.

The long, brutal battle ended in an instant.

Seolhwa turned her gaze toward the gathered villagers.

She spotted the stunned Seop Mugwang, with Choryeon still in his arms.

Seolhwa and Seop Mugwang’s eyes met.

Seolhwa tilted her head slightly, as if surprised.