A few days before Yu Gang and Seolhwa’s party departed for Hebei.

At the Martial Alliance meeting they decided to send people to Mount Wudang.

On his way out, having heard the news separately from Namgoong Mucheon, someone approached Seolhwa.

“Your performance at the martial tournament was truly impressive.”

Seolhwa turned her head and looked at the one who had come up to her.

It was the Martial Alliance strategist, Jegal Myeong.

— Long time no see, my lord.

Jegal Myeong gave a brief nod.

Seolhwa returned the greeting with a smile and offered him a formal bow.

“I greet the Martial Alliance strategist.”

“May I walk with you a while?”

“Yes. I’d like that.”

Because the main hall was full of onlookers, the two naturally moved to a quieter place.

Seolhwa walked ahead and Jegal Myeong followed at her side.

To an onlooker they seemed to be enjoying an ordinary stroll, but Seolhwa was telling him, by voice transmission, about the trouble the Wudang Sect was in.

When Seolhwa spoke of the Hwandan, Jegal Myeong could not hide his shock.

The couriers who had tried to spread the Ten-Thousand-Tribulation Blood Toxin at the tournament — those who did not know martial arts — were all people who had lived near Mount Wudang, and that was why the Martial Alliance was sending an investigative party to the Wudang Sect.

— If what you say is true, then the ones who handed over the couriers were the Wudang Sect’s doing.

She meant they had handed suitable people to Hwaoru in exchange for Hwandan, and taken payment for it.

— It is very likely, but I am not declaring it as fact.

— Then we must uncover it with this investigation. If your suspicion proves true, a school representing orthodox Murim would have committed human trafficking.

Accumulating power through wicked poisons is a grave issue, but exploiting powerless civilians for one’s own gain is a larger crime.

— Is there a suitable person? Someone trustworthy within the investigation team?

— How about your uncle, my lord?

— You mean Namgoong Cheonghae’s uncle?

— Yes. He has a knack for administrative work and is quick-witted.

Indeed, Namgoong Cheonghae was someone they could trust. As the Martial Alliance’s deputy military officer, he would be suitable to lead the investigation.

— Good. If possible, it would be wise to assign someone to assist your uncle.

— Do you have someone in mind?

Seolhwa tapped her chin, thinking briefly.

After a moment her lips curved into a small smile.

— Make it Jegal Hwi.

— Understood.

****

Shortly thereafter, Namgoong Cheonghae received a secret order to assess the Wudang Sect’s Hwandan addiction situation and to investigate what measures they had taken to obtain Hwandan.

When Cheonghae arrived at the Wudang Sect, avoiding the suspicious glances of the Daoists, he was able to find evidence that the sect had recently investigated the identities of vagrants living near Mount Wudang.

One.

‘To think they would ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) lure Lord Jegal into the underground workshop.’

They showed what should not be shown to create a pretext, then locked the entire Martial Alliance investigation party in the dungeons.

Then they had the gall to call them “people to be used as materials.”

‘Are they planning to make Hwandan with our blood?’

Having heard Jegal Myeong’s report on the Wudang Sect’s Hwandan, Cheonghae could draw no other conclusion.

So.

“I am a martial artist who has reached the Chojuljeong brink.”

Cheonghae stepped forward to volunteer in their stead.

He was close to the boundary between the peak and near-Transcendent, though not yet beyond his limit.

Still, he spoke with proud, steady eyes.

“You are all less capable than I am with that child.”

Cheonghae’s resolve slightly unnerved the two Daoists; they exchanged glances.

Without anyone saying a word, they threw Jegal Hwi forward and seized both of Cheonghae’s arms.

“If you do not hurry and walk, we will take him again.”

“.......”

“Deputy Military Officer!!”

Jegal Hwi scrambled up and cried out.

“I will carry the deputy military officer!”

With the Blood Channels sealed, resistance was pointless.

If defiance could change nothing, then this was the best option available.

“Didn’t you say we must be quick? As you can see, the deputy military officer has injured legs and cannot walk well. So I will carry him.”

The two Daoists exchanged looks again, deliberating what to do.

“If we reach the destination, I can put him back here. That will be faster!”

The Wudang compound’s buildings were spread apart. The mountain was steep and craggy with many steps, and Namgoong Cheonghae could not use inner power because his Blood Channels were blocked. His rotting wound also gave off a foul smell, so the Daoists ultimately agreed to Jegal Hwi’s suggestion.

Gasp... Huff...

“I am sorry to trouble you. I do not know how I can repay this favor.”

Jegal Hwi tried not to touch Cheonghae’s wound as he set off with a heavy step.

Climbing a rugged mountain without being able to use inner power was harder than he expected.

“If I had known, I would have trained my external techniques more diligently.”

“You are hardly the sort to do that.”

Indeed, Jegal Hwi had not shown much physical exertion even at the martial tournament.

“Ah, I cannot promise you repayment, but I will tell you something that may be useful.”

“What is it?”

“Seolhwa likes candied hawthorn.”

“.......”

Gasp. Huff.

For a moment only labored breaths followed instead of an answer.

Jegal Hwi let out a breath that sounded like a small laugh and spoke.

“That is precious information.”

So the normally guarded young lady had something she particularly liked.

“If you buy candied hawthorn for her, will you be able to see her smile?”

“I cannot promise that.”

Jegal Hwi’s smile was satisfied.

“Hurry, hurry, follow me!”

The Daoist who had been a few paces ahead called out, and the Daoist behind prodded Cheonghae’s back with the scabbard.

The shove made Jegal Hwi stagger for an instant, but he regained his balance and kept walking.

“This way.”

They were led to the Wudang Sect’s largest building, the Jade-Vacancy Palace.

Even from a distance the palace roof looked majestic; the tension showed on the faces of the two as they looked up.

“Hurry.”

The Daoist urged them onward. At that moment—

“Who goes there!”

The lead Daoist drew his sword and shouted.

Jegal Hwi and Namgoong Cheonghae froze in place and looked at the one who blocked their path.

“...Young Lord Namgoong...?”

“Seolhwa...?”

Standing there in black robes with her hair tied up tightly, blocking the path, was none other than Seolhwa.

She showed an expression of surprise she rarely allowed herself to show.

“...Uncle.”

Seolhwa’s gaze flicked to Cheonghae’s injured leg.

Then she swept her eyes over the disheveled forms of Cheonghae and Jegal Hwi.

Slowly taking in their condition, Seolhwa’s face hardened, cooling bit by bit.

A dark-red murderous aura began to seep from her.

“Guh—!”

With a thud, the Daoist who had been following collapsed.

Startled, Cheonghae and Jegal Hwi turned to see Yu Gang standing over the fallen Daoist, a blade leveled at the man’s neck.

“Mounted Pursuit Chief...! You...!”

Why were those who had gone to Hebei on Beggar’s Union business here?

While the two were bewildered, Yu Gang urgently sent Seolhwa a voice transmission.

— I’ll handle it. His wound mustn’t be aggravated.

But Seolhwa did not seem to receive Yu Gang’s voice transmission; her murderous aura only intensified.

The Daoist before her trembled so much he dropped his sword.

— Seolhwa.

— .......

— Namgoong Seolhwa!

Seolhwa’s eyes shifted to Yu Gang.

Yu Gang flinched at the sight of the crimson light flickering in her gaze.

Seolhwa gave a small nod.

She meant for Yu Gang to bring the subdued Daoist in front of her.

“.......”

He should stop her, but in her current state she could not be stopped.

Thinking that, Yu Gang hauled the Daoist to his feet, brought him before Seolhwa, and forced him to kneel.

The remaining Daoist, cowed by Seolhwa’s overwhelming presence, also sank to his knees without protest.

“Deputy Military Officer’s wound is severe. I will take him and see that he is treated quickly.”

Yu Gang approached Jegal Hwi and took Cheonghae from him.

Just as Yu Gang was about to leave, Jegal Hwi grabbed him in alarm.

“Are you leaving this young lord here alone?”

Yu Gang glanced at Seolhwa and answered.

“It is for her sake that I clear this place now.”

Only then did Jegal Hwi notice that there were a few more martial artists around them besides the two.

“Please, guide us to the dungeon’s location.”

Jegal Hwi nodded.

“Very well.”

“Everyone, follow Master Jegal.”

Still worried, Jegal Hwi cast a glance at Seolhwa, then turned and returned with the men who had accompanied him.

After confirming that everyone had withdrawn, Yu Gang hurried down the mountain with Namgoong Cheonghae.

Once they had all cleared the area.

“.......”

Seolhwa looked down at the two Wudang Daoists kneeling and trembling before her.

They were like insects shrunken by her aura, incapable even of drawing their swords.

Seolhwa took an Expanding Blood Pellet from her bosom and dropped it on the ground with a soft thud.

The two Daoists raised their heads in startled recognition.

Even within the Wudang Sect, an Expanding Blood Pellet — not a Substitute Blood Pellet — was an extraordinarily rare and precious item.

But those who had tasted Hwandan never forgot the ecstasy of their first Expanding Blood Pellet.

And Seolhwa knew better than anyone the filthy avarice that sprang from that craving.

“Kill them.”

The two Daoists blinked, not understanding.

“You wanted this, didn’t you? To get Hwandan into your hands and build your strength regardless of who died.”

“......!”

They had intended to do exactly that even now.

‘For my uncle...’

Seolhwa’s murderous aura deepened.

One coughed as if breathing had become difficult; the other clutched his chest.

“I will give this Hwandan to the one who survives between you.”

“......!”

They looked at each other in shock.

Though shaking with fear, neither could take their eyes off the Hwandan; their gazes were filled with desire.

“What are you doing?”

Seolhwa nudged the fallen warrior’s sword with her knee so that it came to rest beside his knee.

“Don’t you want it?”