The Return (1)

Kuu-kung! Kwaa-kwang!

The Grand Yao Bat Ship rocked violently, again and again. Under the Hundred Flowers Sect's concentrated barrage, the vessel was being torn apart section by section.

Truthfully, under normal circumstances the Grand Yao Bat Ship could have repelled a sect like the Hundred Flowers Sect with ease. But every one of its unmanned flying warships had been shot down, and the Bat Ship Corps itself had been annihilated — counterattack was simply no longer possible.

Soon the Grand Yao Bat Ship would lose all function and plunge to the ground below. And when it did, Cheon Woo-jin and Mujeong Soma inside would be in grave danger as well.

We could just flee, but…… the moment I fly the Ghost Wood Boat out of the Grand Yao Bat Ship, the odds are high that the Hundred Flowers Sect will focus their attacks on me.

It would be far better if he could take Mujeong Soma's Divine Wood Flying Warship. If Mujeong Soma took to the skies, he was more than capable of handling the Hundred Flowers Sect on his own. But the Divine Wood Flying Warship was a one-seater — Cheon Woo-jin couldn't ride along with him.

In the end, I have no choice but to negotiate with the Hundred Flowers Sect.

Cheon Woo-jin searched for a way out of the ship. When he flung open the door leading to the upper deck, a fierce wind rushed in and whipped his hair wildly about.

"Woo-jin, come with me instead—!"

"It's better I go alone."

Mujeong Soma tried to stop him from behind, but Cheon Woo-jin paid him no mind and soared up onto the deck. At the same time, he activated the Thunderflow Formation, amplifying his thunder qi.

Since the Hundred Flowers Sect was attacking the Grand Yao Bat Ship from all directions, a shield guarding only one side would never do. He needed a barrier that defended against every angle.

What came to Cheon Woo-jin's mind was the Taiyi Protection Talisman he had used in the Hwangryeol Flying Archipelago. Having spent that talisman — imbued with the profound principles unique to the Orthodox factions — without the slightest reservation, Cheon Woo-jin had gained insight into defensive arts as well. Now he would deploy a defensive art that reflected that very insight, here and now.

A barrier in the shape of a tetrahedron — a pyramid — took form around him. It was a defensive array built by fixing the thunder qi in place.

Shuuk! Shuuk!

Sword qi from the Hundred Flowers Sect disciples came flying at once. But it could not pierce Cheon Woo-jin's Thunderlight Lifeguard Array. Just as when he had used the Taiyi Protection Talisman granted by the Taiyi Easy Separation Sect, its firm defensive power shielded his body.

Kwaa-kwang! Kwaa-kwa-kwang!

Each time sword qi crashed against the pyramid's sides, the wall of thunder qi warped and rippled. Yet the wall never broke — if anything, it repelled the attacks, shoving the sword qi away as though hurling it back. That was because the thunder qi shield, like the one forged through the Thunderflow Formation, possessed rebounding elasticity.

Solidity like the Taiyi Protection Talisman, with rebounding force added on top — this was Cheon Woo-jin's new defensive art. Stunned by its astonishing power, the Hundred Flowers Sect's ranks began to stir.

"Is he one of the Illusion Wing Immortal Bat's underlings?!"

"What an incredible defensive art!"

The Hundred Flowers Sect disciples had realized Cheon Woo-jin was no ordinary foe. Just before they shifted their full concentration from the ship onto Cheon Woo-jin himself—

"Stop!"

A resolute voice rang out, and the disciples halted their assault in unison.

"That man is not one of the Illusion Wing Immortal Bat's underlings."

"Seol-ryeong? What do you mean—"

Among the Hundred Flowers Sect's sword cultivators, who flew about on their flying swords, one woman stood alone on a platform of ice, floating in midair. Seo Seol-ryeong spoke in a cool, level voice.

"He is an acquaintance of mine. Trust me, and cease your attacks."

"Hmm... if Seol-ryeong says so, then..."

It was a remarkable thing. The Hundred Flowers Sect, which had been raining down attacks with terrifying momentum, went quiet at a single word from Seo Seol-ryeong. Cheon Woo-jin let out a sigh of relief and released the Thunderlight Lifeguard Array.

He had already expended a great deal of strength bringing down Jang Si-woo. Had the entire Hundred Flowers Sect focused their assault on him, he would not have been able to hold out.

"It has been a very long time, Woo-jin."

"It has. A few months, I'd say, Seo Seol-ryeong."

To Seo Seol-ryeong's matter-of-fact greeting, Cheon Woo-jin answered just as blandly, feigning ignorance. Not long ago, the two of them had crossed paths on Pyeonghwang Island.

Back then, Cheon Woo-jin had been traveling with Song Yuhee, and thanks to the Hundred Flowers Sect's misunderstanding, a fight had very nearly broken out. But Seo Seol-ryeong had been infiltrating the Hundred Flowers Sect's side, and the moment the two laid eyes on each other, they understood the situation instantly. Playing dumb in perfect sync, they had smoothed things over so that no battle ever erupted, then gone their separate ways.

Cheon Woo-jin's appearance then had been different from now. The Hundred Flowers Sect members would never recognize him. As for Seo Seol-ryeong, her eyes had been covered from the start, so it hardly mattered anyway.

"Seol-ryeong, did you just call him Woo-jin?"

The tall woman beside Seo Seol-ryeong showed a startled expression.

"Could it be — Cheon Woo-jin of Ghost Head City? That man?"

"That's right, Xiang."

The one Seo Seol-ryeong had addressed as Xiang was a face Cheon Woo-jin knew. This was the first time he was seeing her in person, but he had seen her in the game.

In the game, Zhou Xiang was a central figure of the Baekhwa Sect. Yeongro Suseonjeon had allowed players to freely choose the protagonist's gender, and playing as a woman let you join even the Baekhwa Sect, which accepted no men.

On the Baekhwa route, Zhou Xiang served as the protagonist's direct superior. At first she took a severe attitude and worked the protagonist to the bone, but she gradually came to acknowledge the protagonist's abilities, until the two grew into a relationship built on genuine trust. Together they would then join forces and lead the Baekhwa Sect to the rank of a supreme sect.

But she's also a tragic figure who inevitably dies if you don't join the Baekhwa Sect.

While Cheon Woo-jin was reminiscing about his playthroughs, a woman stepped forward from among the Hundred Flowers Sect members. The disciples all wore plain, unadorned white sect robes — but this woman alone wore a robe embroidered with lotus flowers.

"You would be Cheon Woo-jin, then. I've heard the rumors."

From her radiated a dignity unlike anyone else's. Gazing at her, Cheon Woo-jin pressed his palms together in a formal salute.

"The honor is mine, Sect Master."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Hmm. So you know who I am?"

"Are you not the great senior who dealt heavenly punishment to the Black-Faced Scholar of the Moonlit Thirteen League? I have long held you in respect."

A smile touched the corners of her mouth.

"Cheon Woo-jin, what a shameless flatterer you are. You're nothing like what I heard from Seo Seol-ryeong."

"And what, may I ask, did she say about me?"

"That you were a man without a drop of blood or a tear to spare."

Cheon Woo-jin looked over at Seo Seol-ryeong. But she turned her head toward the empty air, avoiding his gaze entirely.

In the end, Cheon Woo-jin shifted his eyes back to the Baekhwa Sect's Sect Master standing before him.

The Sect Master of the Baekhwa Sect, Shao Xiaofu. A master of the Orthodox faction, she had led the Baekhwa Sect with an upright and unwavering heart. Roughly a century ago, she had felled the Black-Faced Scholar — one of the Thirteen Lords of the Moonlit Thirteen League — and her name had shaken the world.

Incidentally, after the Black-Faced Scholar's death, his junior the Eerie-Faced Scholar had succeeded him — the very master of Gu Yang-gyeol, whom Cheon Woo-jin had once killed with instant death.

In the game's Baekhwa route, once the protagonist reaches the Nascent Soul realm, she passes down the Sect Master's seat and retires... Cheon Woo-jin hadn't played many female protagonist runs, so he'd only done the Baekhwa route once — but he remembered her as a person of genuinely decent character. A person of integrity in a league apart from the likes of Song Mu-yeol of the Taiyi Easy Separation Sect.

"It wasn't that Seo Seol-ryeong spoke ill of you. Quite the opposite — she praised you plenty."

Shao Xiaofu said with a smile.

"I heard you were a man among men who never lets wicked villains go unpunished."

"...?"

Cheon Woo-jin glanced at Seo Seol-ryeong once more, but she still steadfastly avoided his gaze.

"They say when Jeok Ya-wol of the Blood World Mara Sect invaded Ghost Head City under the banner of the Mad World Yin Spirit Sect, you stood at the front lines and fought him head-on."

"Well, that was..."

"The Dark Gate has its share of bad sorts, but the Demonic Path is home to villains of a wickedness that can never be tolerated. You did truly well."

"..."

At that very moment, Cheon Woo-jin felt a presence behind him. Mujeong Soma had climbed up onto the upper deck.

"...!"

But Mujeong Soma looked nothing like he had until now. The white mask he had always worn over his face was gone.

The moment a handsome man with blue eyes and refined features revealed himself, a considerable number of the Hundred Flowers Sect's sword cultivators found their gaze stolen away.

"I greet you for the first time, Sect Master."

"And you are...?"

"A loose cultivator named Seong Jun, acting alongside Woo-jin here."

Mujeong Soma slipped the false name into his mouth with utter naturalness. Of course, even the bare face he was showing now was not his true one. Before the Baekhwa Sect, which loathed the Demonic Path, he had disguised his appearance to conceal that he was Mujeong Soma of the Blood World Mara Sect.

The real Mujeong Soma was the head of the White Face Pavilion, which handled all manner of espionage and covert operations. A disguise of this level was as easy as lying down and eating rice cake.

"We had poured out every last ounce of strength hunting the Illusion Wing Immortal Bat when we suddenly came under attack from outside, and I confess we were terrified. Fortunately, it seems you are people we can speak with — for which I am truly glad."

"What? You hunted the Illusion Wing Immortal Bat?"

Shao Xiaofu's eyes went wide. Around her, the other sword cultivators began to murmur.

"So that's what it was."

The only one who reacted calmly was Seo Seol-ryeong.

"Woo-jin, how did you come to fight the Illusion Wing Immortal Bat?"

"I recently obtained a piece of intelligence — that the Illusion Wing Immortal Bat had returned to the continent after losing his power to a heavenly tribulation."

"He lost his power to a heavenly tribulation?"

"That's right."

Cheon Woo-jin went right on lying without a hint of shame.

"Lately, the Illusion Wing Immortal Bat had been searching this area for some herb or other that grew only here, trying ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to recover his strength. We used that to infiltrate the Grand Yao Bat Ship... and brought him down."

"It's only because he had already lost his power that we managed it. Had circumstances been even slightly different, it could have ended in disaster. Even stripped of his strength, he was a truly fearsome opponent."

Mujeong Soma chimed in, nodding along beside him. Despite never having coordinated their stories, it flowed as smoothly as running water.

"Did you all come to hunt the Illusion Wing Immortal Bat as well, after learning the same intelligence? My apologies for stealing the first move."

"No. We merely sensed a great battle unfolding in the sky while in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠transit, and flew here to see."

Seo Seol-ryeong said, nodding.

"In any case, you've worked hard. Slaying the Illusion Wing Immortal Bat, infamous for his cruelty — you have accomplished a truly great deed."

Having said that, Seo Seol-ryeong looked toward Shao Xiaofu.

"Would you not agree, Sect Master?"

"Mm, that's true enough. A great deed indeed. Splendid work."

From the look of things, Seo Seol-ryeong was playing along with his story too. Truthfully, Cheon Woo-jin was the sort of man who would join hands with the Dark Gate or the Demonic Path without hesitation if the need arose. The Corpse Ghost Extreme Jade Gate and the Yin Scale Spirit Needle Sect, with whom he had forged close ties in Ghost Head City, both belonged to the Dark Gate.

But in front of the Baekhwa Sect, he needed to hide all of that and play the part of a man of justice as far as possible. For Seo Seol-ryeong to grasp that in an instant and adapt to cover for him — as expected of her.

Cheon Woo-jin felt a quiet swell of gratitude.

"Sect Master, this actually works out well."

"Works out well, how?"

"Men like them could assist the Baekhwa Sect in its business, could they not?"

Seo Seol-ryeong suddenly raised the topic out of nowhere.

"As their defeat of the Illusion Wing Immortal Bat shows, their sense of justice is sound and their abilities outstanding. They would surely be of help to us."

"Hmm... well, that is true..."

Listening to this exchange, Cheon Woo-jin retracted the thought he'd had a moment ago.

So that's what she was aiming for, Seo Seol-ryeong.

She hadn't spoken up earlier merely to protect Cheon Woo-jin. She had been laying the groundwork to rope him into her own affairs.

"Woo-jin, it seems your own business has wrapped up nicely — so lend us a hand, won't you?"

"Hm..."

Seo Seol-ryeong knew that Cheon Woo-jin had set out for the Hwangryeol Flying Archipelago with some manner of purpose. If he was here, so far removed from the archipelago, then his business there must surely be finished. Hence she was signaling that he might as well help with hers.

"You needn't worry."

"Worry?"

"I wouldn't dream of shortchanging you."

"..."

Apparently Seo Seol-ryeong already had some form of compensation in mind. If so, it was worth at least considering. She had always prepared a reward that left Cheon Woo-jin satisfied.

"Senior, will you be alright with this?"

Cheon Woo-jin threw the question to Mujeong Soma first. Mujeong Soma answered with a laugh.

"Didn't I say it already? Let's do it together."

A short while ago, Mujeong Soma had declared that he would follow Cheon Woo-jin around and assist him for some time to come. If Cheon Woo-jin accepted Seo Seol-ryeong's offer and aided the Baekhwa Sect, Mujeong Soma would be joining the fight alongside him.

"Aiding the illustrious Baekhwa Sect does make me a little nervous, though. Haha."

"..."

Mujeong Soma was an executive of the Blood World Mara Sect, a faction of the Demonic Path. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠He was the very definition of a Demon Lord — and joining forces with the Baekhwa Sect, famous for righteousness even among the Orthodox factions, made for a rather strange picture.

Even so, Mujeong Soma was showing his willingness to help Cheon Woo-jin. That was, without question, something Cheon Woo-jin was grateful for.

But...

That's not the problem here.

Handled carelessly, Mujeong Soma could find himself in a deeply awkward position. And yet giving him a warning look about it now was itself a difficult thing to do.

Blissfully unaware of any of this, Seo Seol-ryeong addressed Mujeong Soma directly.

"It seems you, too, would be willing to join us."

"Haha, I owe your Woo-jin here a debt or two, you see."

Mujeong Soma said with a smile.

"And what sort of business would it be? I'd like to hear that much, at least."

"It will be a rewarding task for all of you."

Maintaining her usual composed manner, Seo Seol-ryeong explained what needed to be done.

"The task of hunting down a Demon Lord of the Demonic Path."

"..."

A Demon Lord among Demon Lords — Mujeong Soma fell silent.