For the past three months, Yu Gang had set aside everything else to track Seolhwa’s trail.

It was on the orders of Namgoong Mucheon, the Alliance Lord, and thanks to the support of Chief Division Lord Seop Mugwang, who flawlessly filled the Alliance Lord’s absence.

Because of that, they had pinpointed several places suspected to be the Blood Cult’s base and, while circling those areas to gather information—

“...Are you certain?”

“Where did you hear it?”

Namgoong Mucheon and Jegal Myeong hastily shot back.

Yu Gang steadied his breath and answered calmly.

“At a site in Jiulong, Sichuan Province, suspected to be a Blood Cult base, there were movements a short while ago indicating someone was being pursued.”

“Jiulong, then....”

Namgoong Mucheon and Jegal Myeong met eyes.

“It’s close to the last place the Young Lady of the Namgoong was sighted.”

The last place Seolhwa had been seen was Dehong, Yunnan—

North of Kunming, the Blood Cult’s original base; south if you take Jiulong as the center Yu Gang mentioned.

“Then—does it look like she escaped safely?”

Yu Gang nodded.

“Judging by how they combed the area for a few days after the pursuit, it seems she escaped without harm.”

All three let out a low exhale at the same time.

They couldn’t be certain the fugitive was Seolhwa, but if it was, it was fortunate news.

Namgoong Mucheon slowly nodded.

“Then hasten the search. Turn over every place Seolhwa might hide. I’ll instruct the Namgoong Clan to give you the Patrol Unit.”

“Understood.”

“If you need anything, do not hesitate to say so. Understood?”

Resolve filled Yu Gang’s expression.

“Yes. I will— I will find her.”

****

Tadat. Tadat.

A dark night.

A bandit guarding the gate of the Falling Moon Stockade yawned hugely, bored out of his skull.

There was no force in the area that could overmatch the Falling Moon Stockade, and with rumors that they’d soon be admitted into the Green Forest, no one dared to come make trouble.

So for a gatekeeper, the long night had no choice but to be tedious.

“Wouldn’t mind if something happened....”

He clicked his tongue and scratched hard at his chest—

Tadat. Tadat.

Within the stillness, a neat, measured set of footsteps approached.

The gatekeeper cocked an eyebrow and looked toward the sound.

But the night was dark, and the stockade’s lanterns were bright, so his eyes couldn’t adjust.

“Who goes there!”

He squinted and shouted.

Someone was definitely approaching, but only the footsteps answered—no voice replied.

“I said who is it! You know where you’re standing? If you don’t want to die, turn around!”

But the footsteps came closer and closer.

With no reply and steps drawing near, a chill crept over the gatekeeper.

It felt like cold air was seeping out of the forest from somewhere.

He leveled his spear toward the sound of the steps.

“Stop! Identify yourself!”

At last, the owner of the footsteps stepped into the stockade’s light.

But only the lower half came into the glow; the face remained hidden in the dark.

“Y-you, who... huh?”

From beneath the shadow, something long and black slid forward.

The gatekeeper lowered his head to follow the thing nearing him.

“W-what is that?”

A snake?

In that instant, the black snake lifted its head and—Shhaaak—!—hissed.

“Uwaagh!”

As the gatekeeper shrieked in shock—

Thud—

Something heavy struck the back of his neck.

He collapsed with a flop, never managing a single resistance.

As consciousness fled, the last thing his eyes caught was a Black Mask adorned with gold.

Boom! Crack!

“Gyaaaah!”

“I-it’s—an intruder!”

“How many! How many are there!!”

The Falling Moon Stockade plunged into chaos in an instant.

The bandits panicked and scattered like frightened rats before the intruder who stormed in at midnight.

“Block them! Inform the Stockade Lord!”

“Fight! Don’t run, you bastards!”

The sub-chiefs who managed to keep their wits tried to hastily form ranks, but—helpless.

“Uwaaaagh!”

“S-save me!!”

They could only watch, hands tied, as their men fell before a black aura that raged like a whirlwind.

“W-where is the Stockade Lord!”

And of all times, the Deputy Stockade Lord was away!

KRA-KOOOOM—

“Arrrgh!”

A calamity.

An outright calamity.

Each time the intruder, shrouded in black power, swung the sword, buildings collapsed and men were swept away.

This intruder was not someone mere bandits could ever face.

You could shout at them not to retreat, but whether they retreated or stood their ground—was up to the intruder’s hand.

Just then—

“Th-the Shadowless Demon God...?!”

“Stockade Lord...!”

The Falling Moon Stockade Lord and the stockade’s Staff Strategist arrived belatedly.

And the Staff Strategist recognized the intruder.

“Do you know them?”

the Stockade Lord growled back.

The Staff Strategist barked, half-flabbergasted.

“Do you not know the Shadowless Demon God? That is the Sado Union Lord!”

At his words, the Stockade Lord and the sub-chiefs went pale.

“T-the Sado Union Lord...?”

“You thick-headed fools...! If you don’t want to be annihilated, pull your men back! Now!”

Shouting at the Stockade Lord and sub-chiefs, the Staff Strategist hastily straightened his collar and ran toward the intruder.

The rest traded disbelieving looks, faces still stunned.

“Please stop! I beg you, stop!”

At the desperate cry, Seolhwa—who had been swinging her sword without a glance—halted. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

A man was sprinting toward her, completely out of breath.

Seolhwa tilted her head.

He looked like he’d topple over if she so much as stomped a foot.

No fear, either.

Amused, Seolhwa did not stop the man as he came.

Perhaps sensing this, the man ran even faster and dropped to his knees before her.

“I pay respects to the Shadowless Demon God!”

Under the mask, one of Seolhwa’s brows slanted.

‘Shadowless Demon God?’

Just then, the snake perched on her shoulder poked at the back of her neck with its tail.

As if to say, “You.”

Hrm.

This snake had given her a name.

And acted like it knew things.

So then—

‘Am I the Shadowless Demon God?’

“P-please quell your wrath...! Whatever you desire, say the word and I will prepare it with all my heart!”

What was this “Shadowless Demon God” that made him tremble like this?

What sort [N O V E L I G H T] of person had she been?

She opened her mouth to speak—but the snake tapped her neck again.

When she turned to look this time, the snake snapped its head away primly as if nothing had happened.

Seolhwa turned back to the man and asked,

“Do you....”

‘!’

Her hand went to her own neck.

A low, deep voice—not hers—had come out of her mouth.

Was that the snake’s doing, too?

Just what was this snake?

Why was it trying to hide her identity?

‘Hrm....’

Her doubts about the snake thickening, Seolhwa dealt with the man before her first.

“Do you know me?”

“How could I not know the renown of the Sado Union Lord, the Shadowless Demon God! I hold you in respect—deep and deeper respect!”

Head lowered even further, the man answered.

Watching him shout “respect” while shaking in fear, Seolhwa arched a brow.

Was I a bandit?

And a famous one at that.

Granted, that assumed she really was this “Shadowless Demon God.”

She needed to make it a bit clearer.

“Where did you see me?”

“In the past, when you were in Wuhan, I saw you from afar! I was originally of the Black Cloud Hall!”

“The Black Cloud Hall.”

“T-the Hall that serves the Union Lord at the closest hand...! If you summon the Black Cloud Hall Chief, he will surely vouch that he knows me!”

Sado Union. Black Cloud Hall.

She didn’t know what those were, but if the man spoke true, she was the master of the Sado Union.

And the ones who served that Sado Union at her side were the Black Cloud Hall.

In that case—

‘If it’s the Black Cloud Hall, they should know me well.’

If they had attended her at close range—

Whether she was the so-called Shadowless Demon God, whether she was a bandit or not—meeting them would tell her.

“Bring him.”

“...Pardon?”

The man looked up, startled.

He seemed to have thought she wouldn’t actually tell him to fetch them—his face showed fluster.

But Seolhwa looked down at him and repeated the order.

“Bring me the Black Cloud Hall Chief.”

****

Ilryong, Imoe, and Sambong knew that Namgoong Seolhwa had been taken by the Blood Cult.

The Martial Alliance was fighting tooth and nail to rescue her, and even in the midst of war with the Flesh Curtain, the Sado Union was secretly chasing after news of her.

Then, all of a sudden, someone from the Falling Moon Stockade arrived with a message that the Sado Union Lord had summoned them.

The three did not hesitate an instant and galloped straight for the Falling Moon Stockade.

They had ridden day and night without rest, but once they arrived, doubt crept in.

“Brother. Do you truly think the Union Lord is in a place like this?”

“...”

“Mm.”

The three stared absently around the Falling Moon Stockade.

A compound shabbier than they had expected.

A Black Path outfit with nothing special to it—just a gathering of rabble.

Could the Union Lord truly be in a place like this?

Would someone held by the Blood Cult be here of all places?

However—

“We should confirm it, just in case. We didn’t come all this way to turn back.”

Imoe nodded.

“That’s true, but... Yes. That is true....”

Sambong still couldn’t quite shake his suspicious look, but he agreed with his elder brother.

“And also....”

Ilryong looked around at various parts of the stockade.

“Look. They’re repairing the compound.”

“Right. Maybe they fought a big battle recently... Don’t tell me...?!”

Ilryong nodded.

“For someone to wreck a whole compound like this....”

Tension flickered in Ilryong’s gaze.

“There’s only one person.”