The Verdict

It was strange. Only the Shadow knew the true identities of the Mil-ja, and until now, all communication had gone through him alone. Hadn't today's gathering been arranged by a directive delivered through the Shadow's unique mark? True to the Shadow's obsessively meticulous and thorough nature, the procedures and location for today's rendezvous had been exceedingly intricate. Yet, standing tall in the spot where the Shadow should have been was none other than Yi Gajang's youngest son, Yi Jinpyeong.

The very man who, just today, had thoroughly crushed the operation they had plotted and executed, driving even Open Faction's Bang Cheonpyo Elder to his death.

The man's spine chilled as he stood behind the rock. A variable had emerged—he needed to escape this place immediately—but his feet, conditioned to not flee easily, refused to move. He was still just watching the others' reactions. The same went for them.

In the midst of it all, some fool muttered, "No way... the Shadow's identity is..."

No.That can't be. The man behind the rock screamed inwardly. Though the Shadow always concealed his face thoroughly, anyone could see that Yi Jinpyeong and the Shadow had distinctly different builds. The Shadow couldn't possibly be Yi Jinpyeong.

Then was he just one of the Mil-ja? That didn't make sense either. If Yi Jinpyeong were one of the Mil-ja, he wouldn't have disrupted Dongbeonhoe's event schedule like that, nor blocked the catastrophe that should have unfolded at the martial tournament from the start, nor exposed and shattered Bang Cheonpyo Elder's true nature.

So Yi Jinpyeong was unmistakably the enemy. And a very dangerous one at that.

I can't stay here any longer. I have to escape.

As the man hardened his resolve to plot for the future and powerfully kicked off the rock to launch himself backward—

Yi Jinpyeong stared straight at the rock where he was hiding and said, "Jang-yeon Do-in. It's best if you stay right there. Don't we still have unfinished business?"

The man who had just been about to leap—the first to arrive at this abandoned temple, and the second-in-command among Wudang's attendees at this Nine Great Sects and Eight Great Clans meeting—froze in place.

Cold sweat dripped down his back. He had no idea how Yi Jinpyeong knew his name and identity so precisely. They had never even exchanged words.

With his thoughts momentarily halted, he stood rigid like a stone statue. Meanwhile, Yi Jinpyeong spun once in the center of the temple clearing, his gaze sweeping toward every hiding spot where people lurked. Wherever his eyes landed, the Mil-ja shrank back.

"Shaolin's Beop-yeon Daesa, Hwasan's Hwa-un Jangno, Jongnam's Do-heon Jin-in, Kunlun's Hong Sa-heon... The sects and ages are nicely mixed. How about it? Did I get anything wrong?"

The woman who had joined them last replied, "Spot on. Impressive memory."

"As expected."

Yi Jinpyeong nodded nonchalantly and continued, scanning the surroundings. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠"Just in case—just so you know—don't even think about fleeing this place and then playing dumb, claiming there's no evidence. Right now, a pretty big fire's raging at Dongbeonhoe's main headquarters."

"...!!!"

Jang-yeon Do-in instinctively glanced south toward Dongbeonhoe's location. Just as he said, something seemed faintly brightening in the dark night beyond.

"The blaze will be contained soon enough, but every sect will have figured out by now which of their members is missing. People will start whispering. 'Huh? Why wasn't that elder in bed so late at night? Did he go out for fun? Was he sneaking off for a rendezvous with someone?'"

Silence fell. For them, who had slipped away secretly in the dead of night while everyone slept, this was the worst imaginable scenario.

Yi Jinpyeong grinned and pressed on. "So no need to rack your brains. There's only one way for you to keep your identities hidden and stay alive from here on out—"

He raised a single finger.

"Kill me right here."

Wudang's Jang-yeon Do-in realized it. The opponent had made extraordinarily thorough preparations to lure them out.

Impersonating the Shadow to summon them secretly. A rendezvous point that seemed to guarantee perfect anonymity. Lulling their vigilance to prolong the conversation, confirming their identities and locations once more in the process, and even boldly starting a massive fire to ensure they couldn't hide their absence.

So Yi Jinpyeong's words rang true. No matter where things had gone wrong—their identities were exposed now. Hiding or fleeing would be pointless.

There was only one way out for them: kill Yi Jinpyeong before their eyes—and the mysterious woman aiding him.

Even then, the shattered secret might not be fully buried, but there were no other options.

Killing intent seeped from Jang-yeon Do-in. The same from the other four Mil-ja.

Shaolin's Beop-yeon Daesa, Hwasan's Hwa-un Jangno, Jongnam's Do-heon Jin-in, Kunlun's Hong Sa-heon... All renowned masters, holding high status and fame within their sects. No one would ever suspect them of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠collaborating with the Demonic Cult.

The man hiding on the temple roof rose. Shaolin's Beop-yeon Daesa, who never lost his benevolent smile anywhere, anytime, glared down at Yi Jinpyeong with chilling murderous eyes and said, "Looks like the Shadow fell to you as well."

"Correct."

Yi Jinpyeong nodded. "His crimes were grave, so I sent him to the burning hells first. You'll be joining him soon."

"Hmph. You seem skilled enough. But you think you can withstand all five of us attacking together alone?"

Following Shaolin's Beop-yeon Daesa, the others revealed themselves one by one. Hwa-un Jangno from the bushes, Do-heon Jin-in from behind the crumbled wall, Hong Sa-heon from behind the broken stump. Hiding held no meaning anymore.

Wudang's Jang-yeon Do-in finally stepped out from the rock's shadow, gripping his sword tightly.

The woman still firmly in hiding spoke up. "Oh? Why'd you leave me out? Strictly speaking, it's five against two."

"Not from behind a rock, you aren't. Quit fooling around and stay put. It's five on one."

Yi Jinpyeong pulled his pipe from his bosom and spun it leisurely. Then, lowering his voice to a rasp—the exact tone he'd used while fervently discussing overturning the murim with them earlier—

"Brothers. It was good sharing that brief moment of understanding. Now, let's have at it."

With a screech, Jang-yeon Do-in grimaced, drew his sword, and lunged. Behind him, the four others charged from all directions toward Yi Jinpyeong.

Energy surged from Yi Jinpyeong's dantian.

Go among then like emptiness, abandon the center and become void; discard what should not be discarded, yet return to the origin...

Breath solidified, opening the path of wind. Wind qi wrapped around his limbs guided him, evading the chaotic onslaught and soaring into the sky. His light, unpredictable movements left their weapons slashing empty air.

"Hahaha!"

Yi Jinpyeong laughed. It was closer to a sneer. A century ago, during the war against the Demonic Cult, no one could have imagined a proud member of the Nine Great Sects and Eight Great Clans being swayed by them. But look at them now. Elders from renowned orthodox sects like Shaolin, Hwasan, and Wudang, wielding blades as the Demonic Cult's lackeys.

The Demonic Cult's methods had advanced greatly. Plant a seed in the smallest crack, nurture it, and even the sturdiest rock would eventually split in two.

The Shaolin monk who leaped first split his palm strike into eighteen streams in an instant. Demonic qi flickered faintly in his bloodshot eyes. Likely, his martial arts had grown rapidly after acquiring demonic qi, snatching a position he never deserved—perhaps even becoming hall leader of some grand hall.

He had sought power and authority, allied with the Demonic Cult, become their slave, and tried to upend the world. Yi Jinpyeong's verdict for them was death.

Power scattered across his body condensed to one point. Force gathered in the pipe he gripped, emanating a mysterious golden glow. He swung it down toward the eighteen palms enveloping him.

Slicing straight between heaven and earth. The essence of the world's greatest martial artist, Yi Gyeol, infused that simple linear motion. Overwhelming energy that reduced all to nothingness! What did the number of palms matter before it?

The palm strikes, shaped like vicious ghosts, tore ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and shattered.

Shrrk!

The Shaolin monk's form plummeted faster than it had risen, cratering into the ground. His body buried deep first, then crimson blood poured down.

The Shaolin monk wasn't the end. If they failed to finish Yi Jinpyeong here, they had no path back—the remaining Mil-ja unleashed their swords in unison. Different origins, but serving the same master with true loyalty, united in the one they must kill to survive.

Swords from Hwasan and Wudang, Kunlun and Jongnam intertwined like coiling dragons, surging upward.

But the sky they gazed at was already shrouded in thick, inky clouds. Yi Jinpyeong calmly puffed smoke from the pipe that had bisected the Shaolin monk; gray haze mingled with wind, dyeing the world thickly.

In pitch-black darkness, the four swords lost their way. The four masters fell futilely back to earth. True to their peak prowess, they didn't falter—backs together, they swung to dispel the dense fog.

Crimson plum blossoms bloomed from Hwasan's sword, Jongnam's twisted into thirty-six warped blades, Kunlun's formed a black dragon, Wudang's a distorted taiji.

But when they finally cleared the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fog, Yi Jinpyeong was nowhere in sight from any direction. Only far off, behind the rock, a black-veiled woman peeked out, shaking her head at them.

"...!"

Realizing something, the four warriors spun around—or tried to. Their bodies wouldn't move, as if impaled.

The blind spot they thought they covered with backs together. From within, qi extended from Jinpyeong's hand bound them tightly.

Yi Jinpyeong murmured quietly amid the bindings. "Farewell. To hell."