Suspicion
The moment Muyoung sensed the demonic energy, his wariness reached its peak.
He pressed his blade against my throat.
I immediately twisted my sword aside and carefully pushed his weapon away.
“There is no need to be so wary. The nature of my energy may be like this, but I have never once practiced demonic arts.”
Of course, that was a lie.
Even if I had never learned demonic arts, I knew how to wield them.
I understood the principles and mechanics behind their manifestation.
And I had used them in practice before.
Yet even after hearing my words, Muyoung’s suspicion refused to fade.
“I cannot believe a single thing you say. Even the disciples of Mount Hua fell to this very trick.”
“……”
The disguise of the Mahwang Squad.
Their skill was truly worthy of being called the greatest in the martial world.
It was only possible because the one who had trained them—Muhyeong-amje—was an unparalleled assassin, the likes of whom had never existed before in the Central Plains.
Beings who could appear at any time, in any place, wearing any face.
That was Muhyeong-amje and his subordinates.
“If I were truly in league with them, I would not have come here in the first place.”
“……”
No fool would willingly walk toward the strongest expert in the Mount Hua Sect if they were courting death.
Soon, Muyoung let out a small sigh and lowered his sword.
Before questioning the demonic energy I had displayed, resolving the crisis within Mount Hua took precedence.
“Let’s go.”
I followed silently behind Muyoung as he led the way without a word.
“Before that.”
I scanned our surroundings.
He was nowhere to be seen.
“I do not see Brother Byeokryu.”
“……”
“I will search for him. Elder, please take care of the situation outside.”
The only one currently present who could command the disciples of Mount Hua was Muyoung.
He gave a slight nod.
I immediately leaped off in the opposite direction from him.
Byeokryu’s breath had climbed all the way to his throat.
The same was true for the other disciples behind him.
“Just a little further.”
They chased after the fleeing members of the Mahwang Squad.
Those who had worn the faces of Mount Hua elders.
Yet for some reason, the distance between them kept widening.
The movement techniques of these mere subordinates were far more exquisite than those of Mount Hua’s greatest experts.
Still, Byeokryu refused to give up.
He had a reason he absolutely had to catch them.
I must ask them.
Why.
Why did it have to be Mount Hua?
Why did they kill the disciples of Mount Hua and leave that damned monster beneath the earth?
“This is truly irritating.”
Eventually, one of the Mahwang Squad members stopped in front of Byeokryu.
It seemed he had grown quite annoyed by the persistent pursuit.
“Hey, brat.”
The demonic practitioner of the Mahwang Squad rubbed his chin several times, and his original appearance returned.
He shouted at Byeokryu.
“Instead of wasting time here, go take care of those precious disciples you cherish so much, you fool.”
“……After killing them all yourselves, you dare say such a thing?”
“Kuk kuk kuk. Ah, how irritating.”
The demonic practitioner glanced around, confirmed no one else was present, and stepped closer to Byeokryu.
For someone who had professionally trained in the ways of assassination to reveal himself before a Plum Blossom Sword warrior was practically suicidal.
Yet he didn’t seem to care at all.
“Let me speak plainly. Were those really your disciples?”
“……What?”
“Speak only after you understand properly, brat. Unless those eyes of yours are merely decorations.”
Byeokryu couldn’t comprehend what the man was saying.
He simply thought it was nothing more than the excuses of a demonic practitioner.
“You know only one thing and not the other, you fool. Do you really have time to waste here? Kuk kuk.”
With those words, the Mahwang Squad member threw down a smoke bomb.
Thick, acrid smoke rose, and his figure vanished without a trace.
Even after he disappeared, Byeokryu remained frozen in place, unable to move an inch.
“Senior Brother!”
The Plum Blossom Sword warriors finally caught up to him.
They caught their breath and warily scanned their surroundings.
Byeokryu slowly turned his gaze and stared piercingly at his junior brothers.
“W-why are you looking at us like that, Senior Brother? You’re scaring us.”
The disciples gripped their swords tightly, visibly tense.
The people they had laughed and cried with just yesterday had suddenly turned into enemies, swords raised against them.
For the Plum Blossom Sword warriors, there was nothing more terrifying.
They could face any foe without fear, but the reality of having to cut down their own martial brothers was utterly cruel.
Get a hold of yourself.
Byeokryu shook his head, clearing away his distracting thoughts.
The Mahwang Squad.
If they truly were demonic practitioners of the Demonic Cult as Ju Woo-jin had said, they would fabricate any lie to deceive him.
Driving a wedge between people and making them stab each other in the back.
Wasn’t that the classic tactic of demonic practitioners?
“Let’s head back.”
Byeokryu steeled his heart and turned around.
There was no need to be swayed by their words.
In the end, the fact that the disciples of Mount Hua had died at their hands remained unchanged.
The atmosphere within the Mount Hua Sect itself was gloomy and heavy.
Muyoung, the greatest sword of Mount Hua, immediately locked the gates of the sect.
The one silver lining was that most of Mount Hua’s disciples were outside, either on training journeys or carrying out missions.
Thanks to that, the damage suffered by Mount Hua was not as severe as it could have been.
But the real problem lay elsewhere.
“Kuaaaak!”
“Ugh…… kuhk! Kkrrk!”
Inside the medical hall of the Mount Hua Sect.
Disciples of Mount Hua, their limbs tightly bound, trembled violently.
Physicians moved ceaselessly around them, wiping away flowing blood and administering medicine.
“Huu.”
Naturally, Mong Yeo-rin stood at the center of it all.
She quickly assessed the remaining medicinal stock in the medical hall, prepared new medicines, and distributed them to the Mount Hua disciples.
“How is the situation?”
At my question, Mong Yeo-rin shook her head.
“There is no improvement. This……”
“What if we use that demonic-fire herb from before?”
It was one of the ingredients used to identify and expel demonic energy.
But Mong Yeo-rin shook her head again, her expression grave.
“It doesn’t work. We must find another method.”
“……”
It was the first time I had seen Mong Yeo-rin struggle so deeply.
Even Seung-gyeong and Mong Yeo-rin were rushing about the medical hall, helping with the overwhelming workload.
“Woo-jin.”
At that moment, a haggard-looking Byeokryu beckoned to me.
“Yes, Brother.”
“Let’s head to the Purple Cloud Palace for a moment.”
“The Purple Cloud Palace?”
“Yes. Master… no, Elder Muyoung is looking for you.”
“Ah… understood.”
I nodded heavily.
The leadership of the Mount Hua Sect had been almost entirely wiped out.
Until the few elders and elders-in-reserve currently outside returned, Muyoung would serve as the temporary sect leader.
I followed Byeokryu toward the Purple Cloud Palace.
“Must I explain myself?”
The moment I entered the Purple Cloud Palace, I asked first.
But the response was unexpected.
Muyoung shook his head.
“If you truly harbored ill intentions, you would have shown signs long ago. Therefore, I trust you.”
The moment he took a single step, he was suddenly standing behind me.
It was a supreme movement technique that I couldn’t even begin to fathom.
“I heard from Byeokryu. You were the one who informed him first—that they were demonic practitioners of the Demonic Cult.”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“Did the Ju Family uncover the movements of the Demonic Cult?”
“It was not the family.”
At those words, Muyoung stared at me with deep astonishment.
“I discovered it myself.”
“Then the Ju Family still does not know?”
“By now, the family head and my youngest uncle should be aware.”
“The fact that those two know means……”
“Yes. The Ju Family also has a traitor within. Therefore, we cannot make it public……”
“I understand.”
Muyoung cut me off.
He said that if he were in my position, he would have done the same.
“This must be delivered to the Sword Sovereign.”
Muyoung handed me a neatly folded letter.
I nodded and tucked it into my robes.
“It seems the movements of the martial world are far from ordinary. It has been too peaceful, after all.”
Who could have guessed?
That the inside of Mount Hua had been turned upside down.
“What do you plan to do now?”
“We must clean up the mess. For now, I wish to let it pass quietly. I do not want everyone’s attention focused on the Mount Hua Sect.”
“May I remain in the Mount Hua Sect for the time being?”
“I permit it. Since we have received your help, refusing would be ungrateful.”
I bowed my head in gratitude at Muyoung’s words.
“You may stay in the main mountain. Not in the guest quarters.”
“……!”
Even Byeokryu was shocked by those words.
The Mount Hua Sect had never once allowed an outsider to stay in the main mountain.
Unless it was for sightseeing, sparring, or if the person was a family head or elder-level figure, staying in the main mountain was strictly forbidden.
Yet Muyoung had just broken that very rule.
“May I ask what you plan to do, Elder?”
At my question, Muyoung nodded.
“The disciples who were outside are returning. I have issued an emergency recall order, so all disciples of Mount Hua will gather here within a few days.”
The gathering of Mount Hua.
How many would that number?
The recall order meant canceling all missions and commanding an immediate return to the main mountain.
Every disciple of Mount Hua who received that message was currently heading toward Shaanxi.
“Among them, I intend to search for traces of demonic energy. It will take time. A very long time. However……”
Crack!
Muyoung ground his teeth.
“I will not hesitate to cut down the demonic practitioners.”
It meant that whenever and wherever the Demonic Cult appeared, Mount Hua would move.
Mount Hua had now obtained a proper justification.
The moment had finally arrived for the disciples of Mount Hua to unleash a true slaughter.
The very Mount Hua counted among the Three Great Sword Sects of the Central Plains…… had truly become enraged.
Where would that rage ultimately lead?
The annihilation of the Demonic Cult? Or the destruction of Mount Hua itself?
Neither outcome could be predicted.
“You may leave.”
It was an order to leave.
I slowly exited the Purple Cloud Palace, organizing the chaotic thoughts swirling in my head.
Something was wrong.
“This is strange.”
“What is, Young Master?”
Muyoung responded from beside me.
I tilted my head, organizing my thoughts.
“The Mahwang Squad escaped. So did Muhyeong-amje.”
“Yes. That is correct. We all saw it clearly.”
Everyone had witnessed it.
The true form of Muhyeong-amje and the sight of him fleeing.
The moment Muyoung appeared, Muhyeong-amje had turned tail and run.
“Then what exactly was that thing underground?”
That man who had existed in the deepest part of the Purple Cloud Palace.
Could that even be called a human?
There had been no painful screams, no expressions whatsoever.
Even after being struck by Muyoung’s sword and my own, that monstrous figure had regenerated in an instant. The image kept flashing through my mind.
In my previous life, I had never encountered such an opponent even once.
If, by some chance, it had been a jiangshi, that too was strange.
The only ones capable of creating jiangshi were the Blood Hand Poison Emperor and Sa-an Gwi-gun.
I had already killed both of them in advance.
Besides them, neither the Four Evils nor Cheonma himself were the type to toy with corpses.
They were the kind who took pleasure in overwhelming their opponents with pure martial prowess.
This is strange.
It wouldn’t come together.
No matter how much I pondered and pondered again, no answer emerged.
If it truly had been a jiangshi.
The Demonic Cult should have used them to overthrow the martial world long ago.
Yet in my previous life, the Demonic Cult had destroyed the martial world through pure force.
Right up until the moment I chose mutual destruction with Cheonma.
I had never even caught a glimpse of a jiangshi.
Has…… fate been twisted?
Could it be because of me?
Because I killed Sa-an Gwi-gun and the Blood Hand Poison Emperor first?
My small actions had ultimately changed the future.
Yet there were also things I had gained in return.
The Plum Blossom Sword warriors who were originally fated to die later, and Muyoung who should have disappeared.
A new future had been born in which they could survive and continue to act.
I couldn’t be certain what was good and what was bad.
But one thing was clear—I was slowly drawing closer to Cheonma, little by little.