The Nape of the Neck
The Sword Soul Hall.
Whenever the family head, Ju Tae-sung, was absent, the Fifth Elder, Ju Tae-hwi, would take his place.
This was due to the consensus among the family elders. The Great Elder had no particular interest in household affairs or operations, and the Second Elder was primarily responsible for the military division’s budget and mission deployments. Among the remaining options, they judged Ju Tae-hwi to be the most suitable.
I went straight to see my youngest uncle.
“Haha, has this brat caught a summer cold? What nonsense are you spouting?”
Unlike my father, his face was full of laughter. Yet behind that cheer, the thick stench of blood clung to him. His name was Ju Tae-hwi. In the martial world, he was far more famous as the Blood Sovereign.
He asked again, wondering if he had misheard.
“I said, please send me to the Black Horn, Uncle.”
“Nothing has been decided yet. I am merely the acting head. For such a major matter, the Lord himself should…”
“Then it will be too late.”
“Hah, then what do you expect me to do? Besides, now that the Lord has returned, you want to go to the Black Horn? What kind of ridiculous…”
“Uncle.”
I looked directly into Ju Tae-hwi’s eyes with a grave tone.
Deep black pupils. Within those irises that carried a faint crimson hue, my own reflection appeared clearly.
“Once the Lord returns, this will simply end. We will be remembered as cowards who hid in the house, trembling in fear at those who clearly threatened our mother’s safety.”
“…Who would dare think such a thing? How could anyone presume to…”
“It’s not enough to just shout about how no one would dare challenge the Ju family. We have to show them. We must make sure that before the Ju family, no one can even utter the word ‘dare.’”
My uncle’s pupils trembled.
Within those shaking eyes, my own figure stood without the slightest wavering.
I was asking him.
Is it truly right to stay still like this?
Is this the image the Ju family—whom you so proudly proclaimed—should present?
“I…”
“Uncle, I know you well. And you… know me well too.”
At my words, the tremor in Ju Tae-hwi’s eyes finally stopped.
When he had slain the Devil of the Raging Waves, I had already seen it. The Blood Sovereign did not hesitate. No—he had longed for it. He had desired to repay the enemy with even greater cruelty. He had wanted the complete death of the one who dared to harm the Ju family’s matriarch!
“Hahahaha!”
Suddenly, my uncle burst into hearty laughter. The sound was loud enough to shake the entire Sword Soul Hall.
After laughing refreshingly for a long while, his expression looked far more at ease than before.
“As expected… my eye for people is never wrong. My nephew. My youngest nephew.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
“Become the young patriarch. This uncle will spare no effort in supporting you with everything I have.”
These were his true feelings. I had already known this, and it was a hurdle I had to cross. I had no interest in becoming the young patriarch, but the moment I showed that, Ju Tae-hwi would be deeply disappointed.
I still need Uncle’s hand.
Therefore, I could not reveal my true thoughts. I had to hide my intentions even deeper and make maximum use of Ju Tae-hwi’s power.
“I am considering it.”
“Hahahaha! Of course! That’s how a real man should be, indeed!”
The Blood Sovereign rose from his seat. In his hand was his beloved weapon, the Heaven-Severing Sword.
A divine blade named for its ability to cut the heavens and sever fate. It was a legendary sword worthy of standing shoulder to shoulder with my father’s Tiger White Pointed Sword.
“Very well, go then. Go to the Black Horn and bring back an answer that will satisfy this uncle. I permit it.”
“Thank you, Uncle.”
In the end, he gave his approval. True to his fiery nature, my uncle had become fully invested.
I felt a twinge of guilt for deceiving my innocent uncle, but there was no helping it. To obtain what I wanted, I was in no position to be picky about means or methods.
When it came to decisiveness, the Blood Sovereign was unmatched.
My uncle immediately tried to select warriors to head to the Black Horn. However, I stopped him.
The Black Horn Master was not someone who would be intimidated by brute force, and this was not a trip to wage war. We needed to exercise as much restraint as possible.
Thus, I rejected all the warriors and decided to depart with only Muyoung accompanying me.
“Y-Young Master… I’m nervous.”
Muyoung’s fingertips were trembling faintly. He really was anxious.
“We’ll leave at first light, so make your preparations.”
In truth, there wasn’t much to prepare. Some basic travel expenses and emergency rations would suffice.
I subtly shifted my gaze.
Recently, the Medicine Immortal had grown quite close with Dan-hui and Dan-ae. It seemed the old man was reminded of the granddaughter he had left behind.
“What are you staring at so intently?”
“…Nothing.”
Does the Medicine Immortal have eyes on the back of his head? He had already sensed my gaze and turned to look at me.
“I must go somewhere for a while. I leave this place in your care.”
“Haha, so you’re telling me to hurry up and make the antidote. Ahem.”
“It’s not that. Oh, and within a few days, your granddaughter will arrive here as well.”
Previously, he had stubbornly refused to bring her to the Ju family, but given the current situation, he had finally decided to summon her.
At those words, the Medicine Immortal’s face brightened. He had pretended to be fine, but it seemed he had been worried the entire time.
“I-I told you it was fine. Hehe.”
…You can’t even hide your laughter?
“I will prepare a separate residence for the two of you.”
“No need to go to such lengths. The place I’m staying now is quite good. There seem to be many empty rooms anyway…”
He was referring to my own quarters.
“If you wish, I can arrange for you to stay in a larger space.”
The moment I finished speaking, Dan-hui came running in, her face deathly pale.
“M-Master! No, Young Master!”
“What is it? What happened?”
It was an unusual reaction for her.
“Young Master Ju Sang-jin has opened his eyes!”
“…!”
At those words, I hurriedly headed to his room.
When I opened the door to the room where Ju Sang-jin lay, he was blankly staring into empty space, surrounded by a thick medicinal scent.
However, his pupils had no focus.
“Step aside, brat.”
The Medicine Immortal entered right after me. He checked Ju Sang-jin’s pulse, then examined his pupils.
After observing his condition, the old man gave a small nod.
“Phew, thank goodness. It seems he is regaining consciousness.”
Realizing that his medicine had worked properly, the Medicine Immortal let out a sigh of relief.
“Then what about Madam…?”
“That will take more time. The poison and demonic energy clinging to her body were far worse than this boy’s.”
Only then did my heart feel slightly more at ease.
Soon, focus gradually returned to Ju Sang-jin’s eyes. He stirred and looked in our direction.
“…”
Then he flinched violently and sat up.
“Ugh.”
But his physical condition was truly terrible. He dry-heaved repeatedly, flailing his hands in the air.
The Medicine Immortal, as if familiar with this, handed him a clean bowl of water.
After regaining his senses, Ju Sang-jin finally spoke.
“You… who are you? Where… is this your room?”
It seemed all his previous memories had been completely erased. He muttered incoherently as he tried to stand.
However, his body had not yet recovered, and he kept staggering.
“Just lie down and answer my questions.”
I forcefully pressed down on his shoulder, forcing him back down. With no strength left in his body, he collapsed pathetically without resistance.
“Do you have no memory of what happened before? Does nothing come to mind?”
“What the hell is this? Just because you beat me in the martial contest…”
“I told you to answer what I ask. I don’t want to waste words with you.”
Whether in this life or the last, our relationship was nothing but a bitter one.
Ju Sang-jin.
In my previous life and in this one, we were brothers without even a trace of brotherly affection—an utterly ill-fated connection.
“What memory? What exactly do you want to hear?”
Ju Sang-jin’s attitude softened slightly. Having finally grasped the situation, he frowned and began forcing himself to recall.
“It seems there’s nothing.”
Watching him struggle for a long time, I let out a laugh of pure disdain.
As expected, the bastard was utterly useless.
When I stood up to leave, Ju Sang-jin suddenly called out to me.
“Wait.”
“…”
“What about Mother?”
“Madam Namgung is in the same poor condition as you. She is currently being treated.”
“I must see Mother.”
“There’s nothing you can do even if you go. Just stay here quietly and receive treatment.”
I turned to leave after saying that.
But Ju Sang-jin was not finished.
“Formless Merchant Guild.”
“…!”
I flinched at those words.
“What?”
“The guild master of the Formless Merchant Guild. That’s how the bastard introduced himself. And…”
His memories were gone.
Ju Sang-jin frowned, then clutched his head and began tearing at his scalp in agony.
“Ugh… ughk.”
Soul-Destroying Illusion Art.
It was the side effect. Although the Medicine Immortal’s detox pill had awakened his mind, it seemed the lingering scars in his brain had not yet been erased.
“Should I put him to sleep? What do you want to do?”
The Medicine Immortal asked me.
I shook my head.
“Leave him in pain. Since the Ju family’s second young master was stupid enough to fall for this, it’s only right that he suffers a little.”
“Haha, what a cold-hearted fellow. Understood.”
The Medicine Immortal grumbled but nodded. Both he and I knew that leaving him like this would cause no real harm, which was why it was possible.
“Hah, rest for now. I’ll ask again later.”
I left the room as it was. He was in no state to give proper answers.
Formless Merchant Guild.
Still, it wasn’t bad information. It was highly likely to be a fake name, but it was better than having no trace at all.
If only I had intelligence agents I could move at times like this…
Once again, the lack of an information network felt painfully insufficient.
It seemed I would need to properly plan things out after returning from the Black Horn.
“Young Master, the preparations are complete.”
At Dan-hui’s words, I headed outside immediately.
Muyoung followed behind me. At the training ground in front of the inner court entrance, my youngest uncle, Ju Tae-hwi, was already waiting.
And it wasn’t just my youngest uncle.
The warriors, who had become fiercely enraged by the recent attack on our mother, had gathered in droves.
“Are you fully prepared?”
“Yes, Uncle.”
Seeing me completely unfazed, my youngest uncle laughed heartily and clapped me on the shoulder.
“Hahahaha! I was worried about sending you alone, but seeing you this strong and steady, it seems my concern was unnecessary.”
“Don’t worry. I will finish this properly and return.”
I wasn’t simply saying I would bow my head.
“I will bring back a proper apology.”
With those words, I cupped my fist toward Ju Tae-hwi.
The warriors surrounding us on all sides had always ignored and despised me. But this time, it was different.
My status as a direct descendant. And the shocking display of skill I had shown during the martial contest.
Perhaps? Could it be this time too?
Such thoughts were clearly visible on their faces.
Though they still looked at me with suspicion, they had no choice but to follow. They all simultaneously cupped their fists toward me.
“Have a safe journey.”
And so, I climbed into the carriage heading toward the Black Horn—the largest alliance in the Demonic Faction.
South of Jiangxi Province, a place that could technically be considered Guangdong territory—Xiaojiang Village.
It was one of the waypoints Ju Woo-jin had to pass through.
“Who’s passing through here?”
The man with the greatest influence in Xiaojiang Village was none other than a member of the Black Horn called Chu Mil. He was also the leader of the Xiaojiang Sect, the largest sect in the village.
This Chu Mil had shown interest in Ju Woo-jin’s procession.
“They say he’s the youngest son of the Sword Sovereign, Brother.”
“The worthless mutt who treated the Geungnakru like his own home?”
At Chu Mil’s words, his subordinate nodded.
“Yes. That’s what they say.”
His eyes sank deeply.
He held a very unpleasant memory regarding the Ju family.
“I was just wondering what to do about those Ju family bastards, and now an opportunity has fallen into my lap.”
With a sinister glint in his eyes, he spoke in a low voice.
“Prepare the men. We’ll have to cut off one of that bastard’s limbs to make it worthwhile.”
“Understood, Brother. I’ll prepare them right away.”
He had no intention of killing him.
The Sword Sovereign’s retaliation? He wasn’t afraid. No, before that, he was confident he wouldn’t get caught in the first place.
With eyes full of killing intent, he stroked his sword and let out a chilling smile.