However, the Fifth Blood Lord took a deep breath, gathered his energy, and sat down.

The Fourth Blood Lord was right.

Among the five Blood Lords present, he was the only one who had failed to establish a proper faction.

“Well, I suppose it’s still better than the Sixth Blood Lord, who was assassinated without even a squeak.”

Four years ago, thinking back to the fierce battle on Mount Hua, it truly was, as the Fourth Blood Lord said, a relief just to still be alive.

Regaining his composure, the Fifth Blood Lord resumed his statement amid the scornful gazes of the other four.

“Because we didn’t deal with the Lesser Mistress, we’ve lost influence over Namgoong and Mount Hua, as well as over Surochae. This is clearly a major blow to the Cult. The Blood Demon must deliver proper judgment on the Lesser Mistress.”

Crack—!

With a sharp sound, the teacup standing on the table exploded into fine powder and vanished without a trace.

“How laughable...”

The Blood Demon tapped his finger on the table. His voice, like the tapping sound, flowed out slowly, without rise or fall.

“Do you think the Cult’s grand cause will fail simply because we let Namgoong and Mount Hua go?”

“But those two factions wield great influence even within the Orthodox side—”

“If you knew how important they were, you shouldn’t have let them be taken.”

“...!”

The Blood Demon’s sharp gaze turned to the Fifth Blood Lord.

Just that gaze alone was enough to make his knees go weak and his throat seize up—an overwhelming pressure.

To be this intimidated despite having reached the realm of Enlightenment...

‘Just what level has the Blood Demon reached...?’

One day, the Blood Demon had appeared, trailing an immeasurable energy.

Even without speaking of it, the five Blood Lords could all vaguely feel it.

That the Blood Demon’s level was far beyond their own.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

With each tap on the table, the Blood Demon’s gaze shifted from the Fifth to the Fourth, then to the Third Blood Lord.

Unconsciously, the Blood Lords averted their eyes.

Only the Second Blood Lord—whose eyes had been fixed on the table since the beginning—and the First Blood Lord—who sat with arms crossed and eyes calmly shut—remained unbothered.

“Well now... I did set her loose and told her to fly free, and fly she has—kicking up quite the fuss.”

The Blood Demon let out a dry chuckle.

“My Ilhwa.”

My flower.

Only when blooming in darkness are you truly beautiful, my flower.

Let’s see how far you can go in your rampage.

“Fifth Blood Lord.”

“Yes, Lord.”

“I grant you Ilwol.”

“!”

A flush of color appeared beneath the Fifth Blood Lord’s mask.

The other Blood Lords clicked their tongues in displeasure, but none dared oppose the Blood Demon’s will.

“Whether you reclaim what was lost or find something new—go and seize the power you desire.”

“Thank you. I will not disappoint you this time.”

The Fifth Blood Lord stood and offered a martial salute to the Blood Demon.

The corners of the Blood Demon’s lips curled in satisfaction.

‘To a mad horse, one must give a mad horse’s reins.’

Another leash had been loosened for her to run wild as she pleased.

Things would get entertaining from here.

****

“I told you already—I’m not returning to the main estate just yet.”

Trailing behind Seolhwa’s group, who had returned with only a few horses, were three wagons.

Heavy wagons, packed full of something.

Zhuge Hwi covered the lower half of his face with his fan and gave a soft smile.

“I found I had so many things I wanted to give you, my lady, and ended up packing quite a bit. Don’t worry. I’ll have it all sent directly to the Namgoong Clan.”

“The tea I gave you wasn’t even expensive. Isn’t this a bit too much?”

“I couldn’t help it.”

Couldn’t help it?

Zhuge Hwi pointed at each of the wagons as he spoke.

“The Green Jade Cart was originally promised, and the silk and jewelry in the second one—I just happened to pick things that suited you, my lady, and ended up with that much.”

He truly sounded troubled.

“So if you must blame someone, I ask you blame me gently.”

The absurd answer left Seolhwa speechless.

“...What about the last wagon?”

“Gifts for the Clan Head and Young Clan Head of the Namgoong Clan.”

“Why gifts for my father and grandfather?”

“Well, we’ll be sharing the same rice pot soon—it’s never a bad idea to make a good impression in advance, is it?”

“Sharing the same rice pot?”

— Once the Martial Alliance is formed.

That last line was a sound transmission.

Since it was still confidential, he had no choice but to answer that way. The problem was, Seolhwa was the only one who could hear it.

“Didn’t you just say something about sharing a rice pot?”

“Why is it that you don’t deny it, my lady?”

“No way... No, that can’t be it. Right, Captain?”

Behind them, the murmuring of the Red Dragon Unit members could be heard.

And seeing Zhuge Hwi’s eyes curve in amusement behind his fan made Seolhwa’s head throb for no reason.

“You’re quite shameless, aren’t you?”

“Unpredictability is my most praised charm, or so I’m told.”

“I’m not so sure I’d call that a charm.”

“Well, I believe we’re still in the getting-to-know-each-other phase, wouldn’t you say?”

What a strange man.

Truly a strange man.

‘Talking with him makes me feel strange too.’

“I’ll be going now. We’ve a long road ahead.”

Seolhwa ended the increasingly uncomfortable conversation and turned away.

From behind, Namgoong Jipyeong of the Red Dragon Division handed her the reins.

The Red Dragon Unit members were already mounted and waiting.

Before mounting, Seolhwa turned back to Zhuge Hwi.

She offered a polite martial salute.

“Thank you for your hospitality, even on such short notice. I was able to rest well thanks to you.”

Zhuge Hwi closed his fan and returned the greeting toward Seolhwa.

“Visit anytime. If it’s your visit, my lady, I’ll drop anything to welcome you.”

With a slight nod, Seolhwa mounted her horse.

Far in the distance, atop the Zhuge Clan’s watchtower, someone’s gaze was fixed on her.

She couldn’t see them due to the formation, but since the other party had revealed their presence, she could feel it clearly.

“...”

Beyond the formation, Zhuge Myeong also knew that Seolhwa could sense him.

‘You said there’s someone who must be treated. [N O V E L I G H T] Someone very dear to you. That was your only request beyond securing your position at the main estate.’

To find Shin Eui and heal the man called Seop Mugwang of the Namgoong Clan.

‘Someone very dear to the Lord...’

Thunder and Wind God.

He had heard the name but never met the man.

Just what kind of person must he be, for the Lord to care for him so?

The bond between Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang was exceptionally deep.

They had the most ideal Lord and vassal relationship.

‘One day, I too will be someone the Lord calls dear.’

And so, if the Lord has commanded it, there is no task I will fail to accomplish.

I will see it through and dedicate the world to my Lord.

“Hyah!”

Seolhwa’s party departed from the Zhuge Clan.

Zhuge Myeong remained bowed, seeing off the path of his Lord until she was completely out of sight.

****

“So this is Mount Hua...”

The five warriors accompanying Seolhwa looked up at the grand name plaque towering at the mountain’s peak.

This was Mount Hua.

Among the Nine Great Sects, known as the greatest sword sect.

The overwhelming aura of the sect could be felt even from the entrance, and the Red Dragon Unit members swallowed dryly.

‘I heard the sect was hostile to our clan.’

‘They say the two sides are on friendly terms now, but...’

‘Didn’t the elder from Mount Hua cause a scene when he came to the main estate?’

The incident from four years ago at Mount Hua had been kept secret, so even the warriors of the Namgoong Clan didn’t know the full details.

The five Red Dragon members accompanying Seolhwa were the same.

Thus, they had only hearsay to rely on, and couldn’t help but be tense.

Creeeaaak—

The great gates of Mount Hua opened.

The Red Dragon Unit instinctively straightened their postures and stiffened their necks.

Before long, a Daoist in robes stepped out from within.

Seolhwa greeted him respectfully, and the Daoist returned the courtesy.

He greeted her warmly.

“Welcome, Namgoong Lady. You’ve come a long way. You’ve grown so much since I last saw you.”

“It’s been a while, Daoist Yubaek. Have you been well?”

“!”

“!!”

The Red Dragon Unit stirred at the name of the welcoming Daoist.

— Did he say Yubaek?

— Isn’t that the Flowing Cloud Sword?! The one said to be the next Sect Leader of Mount Hua?

They once again looked carefully at the Daoist before them.

A young Daoist who appeared just past thirty radiated a profound spiritual energy they had never sensed before.

‘The Head Disciple himself came out to greet her?’

‘Is the young lady that close to Mount Hua?’

“Please, come in. The Sect Leader is waiting.”

Guided by Flowing Cloud Sword Yubaek, Seolhwa’s group entered through the gates of Mount Hua.

In the Mount Hua training grounds, the third-generation disciples were in the middle of practice.

Four years ago, just before the third-generation disciples had joined, the sect had gone through that incident.

A daily routine of receiving new disciples to lead Mount Hua forward.

Watching them train in Mount Hua’s martial arts at this very place was the peace that Seolhwa and others had so dearly earned four years ago.

“Did you complete your closed-door training well?”

“What do you think?”

Yubaek turned back to look at Seolhwa.

It had been four years since that incident.

After the battle that night, Namgoong Seolhwa had not shown herself until the Namgoong Clan members had departed from Mount Hua.

Many had worried, but Namgoong Mucheon had only said she was fine and kept silent.

Later, word had spread that Namgoong Seolhwa had entered closed-door training, and thus, this was their first meeting since that night.

‘Even four years ago, she was already beyond the heavens.’

He could never forget how Namgoong Seolhwa had looked during the spar between the Namgoong Clan and Mount Hua.

The explosive spirit that had overwhelmed the disciples of Mount Hua with that small body.

It had shattered his preconceived notions about martial clans.

‘But now...’

Yubaek swallowed nervously, trying to gauge the level Seolhwa had reached.