Crash.

The books spilled onto the floor.

Fwoosh!

The lamp that lit the room tipped over, and as oil was added, the flames soared in an instant.

As the flames grew stronger and the heat intensified, Jin Gumyeong's face grew colder.

An unexpected attack.

He had thought that in his generation, he would achieve the great task of fulfilling the Jingagu's purpose of existence.

Where had it all gone wrong?

"Tang Cheonyeong."

It was because of him.

Everything had gone awry because of him.

There might have been many other reasons, but in Jin Gumyeong's mind, there was only Tang Cheonyeong.

Just thinking of him made him feel that even tearing off his limbs, chopping him up, and throwing him to the beasts as food would not be satisfying.

But it was no use regretting.

In the blazing flames, the records of the Jingagu's existence were being incinerated.

What remained was…

Jin Gumyeong took out a small medicine bottle from his bosom.

He had to erase it.

Because only they knew of the relationship with the Demonic Cult.

Just as Jin Gumyeong, who was watching coldly, focused his internal energy in his hand, a faint noise pierced his ears.

"Keuk!"

It was a scream.

Crack!

It was the sound of something breaking.

"…!"

The enemies were here?

Jin Gumyeong stared at the door with wide-open eyes.

Could it be that Muak was dead?

Jin Gumyeong knew Muak's skills better than anyone.

He was the strongest in the Jingagu after himself, and wasn't he a subordinate and also a monitor from the Demonic Cult?

Even if he had been attacked by a group, his skills were not such that he would be defeated so easily…

Could it be?

Did someone who had reached the realm of transcendence lead the attack?

His heart grew even more urgent.

If there was such a person among the enemies, even he himself would not be safe.

He had to hurry.

If Muak was dead, the formation spread on Chukhyeon Peak would have already become meaningless. The enemy would soon rush in.

Fight?

There was no need for that.

What was important now was to live.

What was important was to convey what he knew.

Thwack! Thwack!

Jin Gumyeong, who had broken the medicine bottle in his hand, even threw the torch hanging on the wall into the fire to make the flames that were burning the books stronger.

Why was it burning so slowly?

Even with oil poured on it…

The books were only half-burned, but he could not hesitate any longer.

After rummaging through the books once, Jin Gumyeong finally turned his body towards the door.

He had to leave.

Although they weren't completely burned, they wouldn't be able to find out much from just a part of them.

But in that short moment of hesitation, a scream was heard from near the door.

"Kuaaak!"

At the clear sound in his ears, Jin Gumyeong, who was approaching the door, frowned and stepped back.

The sound was too close.

It was already too late to escape.

The door was blocking the way like a boundary, but he could feel it.

That a beast exuding a ferocious smell was approaching.

Slowly…

His lips dried up, and his heart pounded like crazy.

Jin Gumyeong stealthily gripped a hidden weapon.

The tips of his fingers trembled.

It must be the beast that killed Muak.

He could tell.

The air was getting heavy, and with each step closer, its presence was growing larger.

But he would never be defeated easily.

The trembling at the tips of Jin Gumyeong's fingers stopped.

Along with the boiling demonic energy, a cold killing intent seeped into his eyes, and his fear disappeared.

Just one more step…

Jin Gumyeong, who had suppressed his presence, listened to the footsteps of the approaching beast.

And the moment the beast's shadow flickered in front of the door.

Paaak!

Jin Gumyeong's eyes flashed, and hidden weapons shot out from his rapidly extended hand.

He didn't stop for a single moment.

As if he wouldn't rest until his hidden weapons were completely exhausted, he held his breath and continued to shake his sleeves.

The hidden weapons, imbued with internal energy, pierced through the door and walls and began to shatter what was beyond.

The man was still there.

Thwack, thwack!

The sound of flesh being pierced was clearly heard.

There was no way he couldn't distinguish it.

How many people had he killed?

A cruel smile appeared on Jin Gumyeong's lips.

But wanting a more certain death, he even threw the poison bottle hanging from his waist.

Pahak!

The thrown poison bottle shattered, and along with the pungent smoke, corpse poison spread out.

"…"

Jin Gumyeong, whose breath had become ragged because he had not left any strength, looked at the door, which was shattered and clearly revealed the outside.

The beast's shadow flickered in the poisonous smoke.

At the sight of it sitting down powerlessly, a smile appeared on Jin Gumyeong's lips.

Killed…

In that moment of glee, Jin Gumyeong's face hardened.

The presence that had been threatening him was felt again, and he instinctively moved his body back.

What was that?

He should have been dead.

It was impossible.

There was no way he could be alive after being covered in not only hidden weapons but also corpse poison.

As Jin Gumyeong stared at the object beyond the broken door with eyes of disbelief, the corners of his eyes trembled.

The clothes were familiar.

It was that of the assassin who had been guarding outside.

Then, did the man throw a bait to lure the attack?

Pfft!

Just as he was hesitating, lost in thought, a white flash imbued with immense power flew fiercely, and Jin Gumyeong instinctively struck it away with his arm, which was wrapped in an iron plate.

Thwack!

At the sight of his arm being cut off in a chunk, Jin Gumyeong's eyes widened as if they would tear.

"Th-this…"

The iron plate had been imbued with a great deal of protective energy.

But there was no time to assess the situation.

The moment he tried to move his body to prepare for the next attack, another hidden weapon accurately pierced Jin Gumyeong's knee.

Thwack!

His center of gravity dropped.

It was because his leg below the knee had been cut off.

"Keuk!"

Jin Gumyeong, who had collapsed powerlessly, looked at the door with eyes filled more with disbelief than pain.

Deceive first, kill later.

A hidden weapon technique that blinds the enemy with the first move and kills them with the one that follows.

The second attack, which accurately predicted the opponent's movements, was practically their exclusive property.

But how could that man…

Thump.

At the sound of footsteps, Jin Gumyeong flinched, and the shadow that revealed itself sneered.

"Don't be so surprised. You weren't that kind of person, were you? Or was I mistaken?"

"Who are you?"

"Ah, this is the first time we're meeting in this life, isn't it?"

Jin Gumyeong could recognize him at once, the one who was approaching with a youthful voice.

"Tang Cheonyeong."

How could he not know?

Every time his anger flared, he had torn up several wanted posters with the man's face on them.

But he still didn't understand.

Why was he unharmed?

Putting aside the hidden weapons, the corpse poison was still there, so how could he be so unaffected?

Could it be? A body immune to all poisons?

His mind went blank.

Such a legendary realm…

"You seem to have a lot of questions. Then shall we have a little chat?"

"What?"

"That friend named Muak was in a hurry. It wasn't a situation to drink tea, but it would have been nice to introduce ourselves and exchange a few words, but he attacked me out of the blue, you know?"

Cheonyeong said with a bright smile.

He had finally met him.

The connection from the past, and the connection from the present.

With him, with whom all of it was intertwined only as an ill-fated connection.

"Was it all you're doing?"

"Let's put aside what you already know."

"What about Sichuan? What happened to the High Heavenly Ghosts who went to Sichuan!"

"Hoh? Unlike the usual Jin Gumyeong, you're worried about your subordinates whom you've treated as consumables… This is a little refreshing."

Although his anger flared at Cheonyeong's playful smile, Jin Gumyeong tried hard to remain calm.

"But I don't think I can answer that question."

"What?"

"I didn't see what happened over there, but I'm just vaguely guessing. Surely, the ones who attacked a place where the Sword Emperor, the Sword Immortal, and Seoak were together wouldn't be alive, would they?"

"Not two, but three of them are together?"

"Yes."

"What does that mean?"

"I made it so. I'm originally not one to know the distinction between righteous and unorthodox."

"That's ridiculous…"

"Hmm, but listening to you, it's a little strange."

"…?"

"If the assassins in Sichuan died, shouldn't you have known sooner than me?"

"What?"

"The Gu. The Gu."

At Cheonyeong's words, Jin Gumyeong's eyes widened.

"You're looking at me like, 'how do you know?' There's a way I just know everything. You wouldn't believe me even if I explained it anyway. Just accept it."

Cheonyeong, who couldn't talk about his past life, chuckled and laughed.

"You… you…!"

Jin Gumyeong glared at Cheonyeong and repeated the same words.

He wasn't young, so what would he do if his teeth got damaged from grinding them like that?

Well, he wouldn't be able to use them after today anyway.

Because he was going to die.

"But it's really strange. It's certain that the High Heavenly Ghosts went to Sichuan, but you don't know about their deaths? Is it before the attack?"

Knowing that it was impossible for anything to happen to the Tang Family, which was being protected by three monsters, Cheonyeong tilted his head.

"Well, there must be some circumstances. If something bad had happened, that girl Myeongseon wouldn't have stayed still until now."

"…"

"But Jin Gumyeong. I'm going to kill you anyway, but there's something I don't understand, so let me ask you one thing. Why did the Demonic Cult create an assassin organization like the Jingagu to look for the Samyang Divine Art?"

At Cheonyeong's words, the corners of Jin Gumyeong's eyes trembled minutely.

"You, you knew everything…"

"What? The relationship between the Demonic Cult and you? Or that you've been looking for the Samyang Divine Art for several generations?"

"…"

"Why are you staring at me like that? I told you earlier. You wouldn't believe me even if I explained how I know."

Jin Gumyeong didn't like that Cheonyeong was smiling and talking from beginning to end.

The reason for that playfulness must be the confidence that he could kill him at any time.

"…Because of you."

"Hm?"

"Because of you, I've ruined everything."

"…"

"If it weren't for you, I would have achieved the great task and risen to one of the highest positions in the new world!"

Jin Gumyeong shouted as if throwing a tantrum.

He was told to answer, but he was changing the subject.

"But, why is that because of me?"

"What do you mean, why?" 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"Do you really think that your failure, that you're in this state now, is because of me? Well, people like you are originally like that. You only blame others and don't know how to repent."

Cheonyeong shook his head and sighed.

"Jin Gumyeong. The cause of the result is all you."

"What?"

"It's no use asking what. It would take a whole day to point out every single mistake."

"…"

"But there is one biggest mistake."

"The biggest mistake?"

When Jin Gumyeong asked back, Cheonyeong said coldly.

"Forming a grudge with me, Tang Cheonyeong."

"…"

"That's your biggest mistake. Because I'm the type of person who must repay a grudge if I hold one."

At Cheonyeong's words, Jin Gumyeong, who had been staring blankly, began to laugh.

"Heh heh, hahahaha! A grudge. You did all this because of a mere grudge?"

"Yes."

"Truly a foolish man. Truly foolish."

"What?"

Cheonyeong frowned slightly.

To call a natural-born genius foolish, how disappointing.

"You know nothing. What the result of your burning sense of justice, which you call a grudge, is."

"…"

"Do you think everything will be solved if you get rid of me and the Jingagu? No, with your petty sense of justice, you have made the most terrifying enemy, the Demonic Cult. Now everyone will be after you. They will monitor your every move, and at every moment, they will aim for your life…"

Cheonyeong raised his hand and stopped the words that were no different from a curse.

"Listening to you, it's strange."

"What?"

"A sense of justice? Righteousness? It's not like that."

Approaching Jin Gumyeong's side, Cheonyeong looked at him with eyes full of madness and said.

"I'm just clearing what's in my way. Even if that is the Demonic Cult."

A Tang Family member has set out.