To Mun Mountain
He swallowed hard.
“It’ll be fine, right?”
The one fighting the Blood Emperor wasn’t Haomun. It was the Five Great Orthodox Sword Sects.
Haomun’s only role was that of a scout. The Five Great Sword Sects were probably expecting nothing more from them.
Yet Dan Yeop couldn’t shake the unease gnawing at his chest.
No new information arrived until dusk had completely fallen.
“They should be back by now…”
Haomun’s part ended the moment they informed Xuanwu Hall of the Blood Emperor’s location. Once the Five Great Sword Sects stepped in, there was nothing left for Haomun to do.
As Dan Yeop paced restlessly inside the Anxi Pavilion, someone burst through the door.
It was Branch Leader Baek Cho-gong.
“Instructor Dan! We have a crisis. Munwi Baek has been captured by the Blood Emperor.”
“What? Baek Yu-hwa?”
Dan Yeop’s eyes flew wide in shock, the color draining from his face.
“They say the Blood Emperor overheard what Munwi Yang whispered to Munwi Baek.”
The details were damning.
Yang Hoi, whose internal and external cultivation was mediocre at best, had whispered from a distance to Baek Yu-hwa, asking why things were taking so long at Xuanwu Hall. But those words had reached the ears of the Blood Emperor, whose cultivation had already entered the Transcendent realm.
Yang Hoi’s foolish belief that the distance would keep his words private had gotten them caught.
“…Munwi Yang was beheaded on the spot. Munwi Baek was subdued and dragged away by the Blood Emperor.”
“Where?”
“It looks like they’re heading for Mun Mountain.”
“Mun Mountain… Isn’t that where Byeongmachong is?”
“Exactly. It seems the Blood Emperor knows exactly what Byeongmachong means to the Guannei Circuit’s Haomun and chose that location on purpose.”
“What’s his intention?”
“To punish Haomun, of course.”
“Punish us?”
“Given his personality, he’ll likely execute Munwi Baek right there.”
“Then why didn’t Xuanwu Hall move? If they had gone when we told them, none of this would have happened!”
“I don’t know. We informed them immediately, but they never share their plans with us.”
“Still… They asked for the location because they had a strategy, didn’t they? Yet there’s been no movement at all?”
“None. It’s driving me insane. Our position has become impossible.”
“Even after you told them the Blood Emperor was taking Munwi Baek to Mun Mountain?”
“They only replied ‘Understood.’ I have no idea what we’re supposed to do now.”
“We have to rescue Munwi Baek.”
Dan Yeop’s voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.
Whether it was the Blood Emperor or anyone else, he would not allow them to lay a hand on Baek Yu-hwa.
At that same moment, inside Xuanwu Hall.
The grand conference hall, Sungui Pavilion.
Seven in the evening.
Five men and women sat facing one another around a massive round table.
Cheondohoe Chief Gongson Chan and his daughter, the Divine Wisdom Beauty Gongson Ji. The Jongnam Sect’s External Hall Leader, the Falling Goose Sword Yu Jeong-pung. Xuanwu Hall Master, the Iron Sword Peerless No Hyeon-am. And General Manager, the Lightning Sword Jin Ha-cheong.
Although this was Xuanwu Hall’s own meeting room, the person occupying the head seat was Gongson Chan. It was clear he was presiding over the gathering.
As expected, General Manager Jin Ha-cheong spoke to him in a respectful tone.
“The Blood Emperor is currently moving toward Mun Mountain with a female disciple of Haomun. He should arrive by nine at the latest. May I ask when the Cheondohoe subjugation force plans to begin operations? People from Haomun keep coming to inquire.”
Cheondohoe was the alliance formed by the Five Great Sword Sects to eliminate the Blood Emperor.
Gongson Chan, patriarch of the Gongson Clan, had been appointed supreme commander and bore overall responsibility for the Blood Emperor’s elimination.
The beautiful woman beside him was Gongson Ji, renowned for possessing both heavenly wisdom and heavenly beauty. She had accompanied her father to assist him, her unparalleled talent in formations and mechanical traps proving invaluable.
The greatest powers of the Guannei Circuit—Huashan Sect, Jongnam Sect, and Xuanwu Hall—had all joined Cheondohoe because of this matter. At present, Cheondohoe was the most powerful organization in the entire Murim world.
Gongson Chan pondered for a moment before answering.
“The Cheondohoe subjugation force will head straight to Mun Mountain tomorrow.”
“Then what about tonight?”
Gongson Chan shook his head with a bitter expression. In his eyes, the female disciple of Haomun was already as good as dead.
“Provide Haomun with generous compensation.”
“It will be done.”
Once the matter was settled, Gongson Chan turned to Yu Jeong-pung.
“Who has the Jongnam Sect decided to send?”
“The Jongnam Seven Swords will go.”
The Jongnam Seven Swords were all first-generation disciples and pillars of their sect.
A spark of interest flashed in Gongson Chan’s eyes. Most factions usually sent elders or promising juniors simply to fill numbers, yet Jongnam was sending their finest.
Yu Jeong-pung offered an explanation.
“When else would we have the chance to face a supreme expert like the Blood Emperor? Our sect leader called it an excellent opportunity to broaden our disciples’ perspective.”
“That makes sense.”
Gongson Chan nodded in agreement. A martial artist could only grow through real combat, and there was no better opponent than the Blood Emperor.
Provided they survived, of course.
Yu Jeong-pung suddenly spoke again, as if a thought had occurred to him.
“Supreme Commander, there is one thing about the Blood Emperor I still don’t understand.”
“What is it?”
“As far as I know, the Blood Emperor has never once left the Gangnam region in his life. So why has he suddenly come all the way to the Guannei Circuit? Could there be another purpose?”
“Whatever his purpose may be, he will meet his end at Mun Mountain.”
It was a polite way of saying he didn’t know.
Yu Jeong-pung, mindful of the commander’s dignity, asked no more.
At that moment, the gatekeeper’s voice came from outside.
“Hall Master! Mok Un-saeng has returned again. What should we do with him?”
All eyes turned to No Hyeon-am.
The hall master, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke.
“He’s from Haomun. General Manager Jin, persuade him nicely and send him away.”
“Yes, sir.”
As Jin Ha-cheong left the room, Gongson Chan clicked his tongue in annoyance.
Yu Jeong-pung waved it off as if it were nothing.
“Pay them no mind. When you think about it, they brought this upon themselves. It was foolish to speak carelessly in front of the Blood Emperor. I didn’t realize Haomun lacked even that much judgment.”
“They’ve probably never faced an absolute master before.”
“Yet they claim they will unify the Haomun of the Ten Blades? It’s so ridiculous I don’t even know what to say.”
Yu Jeong-pung showed not the slightest concern for the captured Haomun disciple. Instead, he placed the entire blame on Haomun itself.
“Their level seems even lower than I imagined. I thought they were at least a proper Murim faction, but they’re no different from common street thugs.”
The topic naturally shifted from the Blood Emperor to Haomun’s shortcomings.
Quite some time had passed, yet General Manager Jin Ha-cheong still had not returned.
Yu Jeong-pung glanced at the door and muttered, “The conversation must be dragging on…”
Before he could finish, a loud cry erupted from the courtyard.
No Hyeon-am’s face stiffened with embarrassment as he looked at his distinguished guests. To have such a scene occur in front of representatives of Cheondohoe, the greatest gathering of the righteous path, was utterly humiliating.
He rose hastily, flung the door open, and stepped outside.
In the courtyard, Vice Branch Leader Mok Un-saeng and General Manager Jin Ha-cheong were locked in a heated confrontation. Though Mok Un-saeng was far inferior in martial prowess, Jin Ha-cheong could not bring himself to handle the man roughly. After all, it was because of the mission he had given them that a Haomun disciple had fallen into the Blood Emperor’s hands.
When Mok Un-saeng’s eyes met No Hyeon-am’s, he quickly bowed low.
“Hall Master! The child captured by the Blood Emperor is Branch Leader Baek Cho-gong’s own niece. I know this is a difficult request, but I beg you—please save her just this once! If you do, I will never forget this kindness until the day I die.”
Yet No Hyeon-am’s expression remained icy.
“Mok Un-saeng! Have you gone mad? Do you realize where you are, causing such a disturbance? Leave at once while I am still speaking politely!”
“Aigo! Hall Master! Didn’t you ask us to find the Blood Emperor’s location? He is heading to Mun Mountain right now! A man died to discover that information, and a woman was taken by the Blood Emperor himself. Yet now you tell us to leave? Where is the justice in this?”
As Mok Un-saeng wailed, No Hyeon-am felt a sting of guilt but refused to show it.
“There is a proper time for all things. I told you to observe the Blood Emperor’s movements. I never said we would strike him tonight. Do you truly believe the Five Great Sword Sects would mobilize just because of Haomun? Know your place! How dare you raise your voice here when we have honored guests? Get out at once!”
But Mok Un-saeng refused to back down.
No Hyeon-am’s face twisted in fury.
“What are you all standing there for? Drag him out! And from this moment on, do not allow any member of Haomun inside!”
“Yes, sir!”
The gatekeepers and officials seized Mok Un-saeng’s arms and legs, hoisted him onto their shoulders, and carried him away.
Even as he was taken into the darkness, his desperate voice continued to echo.
“Hall Master! Please save her! If Xuanwu Hall does nothing, the captured woman will die!”
No Hyeon-am shot a glare at Jin Ha-cheong.
“General Manager Jin, how could you let things get this far? What kind of disgrace is this in front of our honored guests!”
“My deepest apologies. I tried to stop him, but he was determined to force his way in…”
“Tsk tsk! To think we are being shaken by the likes of Haomun. I thought you were competent, but I am truly disappointed.”
“It will never happen again.”
“Bar the doors. Make sure not even an ant can slip through.”
“Understood.”
After settling the disturbance, No Hyeon-am returned to the conference hall.
Gongson Ji spoke cautiously.
“I heard the commotion. Is it true that the kidnapped person is Branch Leader Baek Cho-gong’s niece?”
No Hyeon-am answered with obvious reluctance.
“It is. But that changes nothing, does it?”
“……”
Gongson Ji remained silent.
As the hall master said, there was nothing Cheondohoe could do at this moment. The main forces of the Five Great Sword Sects would not reach Mun Mountain until tomorrow. The Jongnam Seven Swords and the disciples present here would be killed instantly if the Blood Emperor lifted a finger.
She let out a quiet sigh. There’s nothing we can do.
Eight in the evening.
Seonpyeong Ward in the western market district.
Inside the Anxi Pavilion of Jipdanhyang.
When Vice Branch Leader Mok Un-saeng returned empty-handed, the entire building fell into a funereal silence.
Dan Yeop approached Baek Cho-gong, who sat with a dazed, hollow expression.
“Branch Leader, we need someone who knows the way to Mun Mountain.”
“Are you thinking of going yourself, Instructor Dan?”
“Yes.”
Baek Cho-gong’s eyes flashed with surprise for a brief moment, but the light quickly faded.
“I appreciate the sentiment, but I cannot send you alone. I know your martial skills are exceptional, but the Blood Emperor is on another level entirely.”
“I understand that. But we cannot simply sit here and do nothing. Just give me a guide. If it becomes too dangerous, I will flee.”
“I said no. You are the future of our Guannei Circuit Haomun. Even though Munwi Baek is my niece, I cannot send you to your death.”
“I told you, I’ll be fine. I possess a life-saving ultimate technique. I will not die.”
Dan Yeop was placing his faith in the Heart Demon.
If it was the Heart Demon—who still held many secrets he did not understand—then somehow, he did not feel he would die.
“Is that true? You truly have such a technique?”
“Yes. If I didn’t, why would I volunteer to go?”
“Ugh!”