Early dawn.

The previous night, after hearing the news and hastily preparing to depart, Yu Gang had tossed and turned until daybreak.

He knew he ought to sleep deep before setting out on a long road, but the pounding in his chest refused to settle.

And no wonder—he would be traveling alone with Seolhwa, whom he hadn’t seen for days.

After parting like that a few days ago, he had gone to see her several times, but she hadn’t received him—yet now the two of them would go alone together.

All the way to the distant Hundred-Thousand Mountains, at that.

What if, when they met again, she avoided him?

Was it Seolhwa who had decided to go to the Hundred-Thousand Mountains with him?

If so, why hadn’t she seen him in the meantime?

He knew full well this was no pleasure trip, and yet the worries and excitement that surged up at the thought of seeing Seolhwa filled his head to the brim.

Tossing like that, he watched the hour before dawn grow light.

...

Off in the distance, he could see Seolhwa and the four who had come to see her off.

They had decided to keep Seolhwa and Yu Gang’s departure for the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult as quiet as possible.

Seolhwa and the Demon-Slaying Corps Commander were the hottest focus of attention of late—if they vanished, people would notice at once—but it was the only way to keep their movements hidden from the Blood Sect as much as possible.

For that reason, only Namgoong Mucheon, Namgoong Cheongun, Ouyang Do, and Seop Mugwang had come to see them off.

Tak!

Sensing someone running up, those gathered turned to look at Yu Gang.

In that instant, Yu Gang unconsciously faltered and slowed.

For some reason, the eyes fixed on him felt sharp as blades.

“I’m late.”

He formed a fist-and-palm salute and bowed to each of the four in turn.

In truth, he had arrived about one tea’s time (roughly fifteen minutes) earlier than the appointed hour, but since he was the last to get there, it looked as if he were late.

“Move quicker, you rascal.”

Seop Mugwang flicked him lightly on the head.

Yu Gang laughed and rubbed the spot that smarted.

“Yes, sir.”

Even as he spoke, his gaze was busy searching for Seolhwa.

And at last, beyond the four, he saw her already prepared to mount up.

At the very moment his face broke into an unguarded smile—

Thock—

“?”

Someone stepped into his line of sight, seized his shoulder, and stopped him.

Yu Gang looked up naturally.

It was Seolhwa’s father, Namgoong Cheongun.

“You.”

“?”

“You know you’re headed out on a long journey, yes?”

“Yes. I’m well aware.”

“You’ve prepared without skimping?”

Yu Gang wondered inwardly.

Aside from spare clothes and travel silver, was there something special to prepare?

He mentally retraced the gear he had packed and nodded.

“Yes. I believe I’ve packed well.”

“Can you make a fire?”

For this journey, they had plotted a route that avoided great cities as much as possible, to keep their trail hidden.

That meant there ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) would be many nights without an inn, and many times they would have to cook their own food and tend their own fire.

“It’s my specialty.”

Yu Gang’s eyes gleamed as he answered with confidence.

Thanks to long years living in the mountains while serving Gong Cheon, firecraft was the one thing he truly excelled at.

“And food? Can you cook?”

“To a degree...”

...

!

Yu Gang glanced sidelong at the hand gripping his shoulder.

It felt as if his shoulder were being wrung.

“To what degree can you?”

“...Pardon?”

Can... what, exactly?

Cheongun’s grip on his shoulder tightened and tightened.

Yu Gang twisted slightly, wanting to slip free, but he did not avoid Cheongun’s burning gaze.

He could only look back with a somewhat pitiful expression.

“I’ll be watching.”

“...I’ll do well.”

Not knowing what, exactly, he was supposed to do well, Yu Gang dipped his head.

Cheongun let out a long sigh, patted Yu Gang’s shoulder twice, and passed by.

Yu Gang was just about to relax in relief that it was over when—

Swish—

Another shadow fell across him.

He slowly lifted his head to see whose shadow it was.

“Alliance Lord.”

“What will you do if you encounter an enemy?”

Yu Gang’s eyes rolled a little in thought.

Assuming enemies, right off—plainly he was referring to the duration of this journey.

“If possible, I’ll avoid them. It’s best not to cause a stir.”

“If it’s a situation you cannot avoid?”

“Then I’ll fight.”

“If he’s stronger than you?”

“In that case...”

Seolhwa was with him. She would likely step forward and fight.

If it came to that, he would cover her from behind...

“Run.”

“!”

“You are Seolhwa’s weakness. Meaning—do not drag at her heels. Understood?”

Anyone stronger than Yu Gang would already be in the Flowering Realm.

Where Flowering Realm experts crossed hands, a near-Transcendent like Yu Gang had nothing he could do.

At best, he would be swept up in the fight, or captured and used as a hostage.

Before it came to that, withdrawing was the most efficient course.

Only—

“I cannot run alone, leaving Seolhwa behind. I will not be a drag. If such a situation arises, I will take my own life.”

If he became a hostage, or if his presence hindered Seolhwa’s battle—

Yu Gang meant to protect her even if it meant ending his own life.

But again, it was not the answer Namgoong Mucheon wanted. Hearing it, his face darkened.

“Do not bandy death so lightly. If another’s life weighs heavy, then yours may weigh heavy to someone as well—do not forget that.”

If you want to protect someone with your life, remember that the other may feel the same toward you.

In other words, if you would put the other first, then as you guard their life, you must also hold your own life dear.

“See that you do not return dead. If you do, I’ll cut you in two with a single stroke.”

At the chilling threat, Yu Gang swallowed hard.

He bobbed his head quickly; Mucheon patted his shoulder twice and stepped back.

“What did you do?”

Once the two had withdrawn, Ouyang Do came up.

“I didn’t do... anything.”

He hadn’t.

Yu Gang looked at him, aggrieved.

Ouyang Do ruffled his hair twice and spoke.

“Travel safely. If trouble finds you in the Hundred-Thousand Mountains, say that you are my disciple.”

“You have ties even with the Demonic Sect?”

“At my age, it would be stranger to have none.”

Ouyang Do took the Ouyang School’s token from his own neck and hung it around Yu Gang’s.

Before the battle with the Blood Demon, he had entrusted it to Yu Gang; upon waking, Yu Gang had returned it.

“This will be of help.”

With his own hand, Ouyang Do hung around Yu Gang’s neck the token proving him heir to the Ouyang School.

“Master...”

“When you return, I’ll come out to greet you myself.”

Having finished his farewells with Ouyang Do as well, Yu Gang could at last go to Seolhwa.

She was exchanging parting words with Seop Mugwang.

Catching sight of Yu Gang approaching, Seop Mugwang chuckled and asked Seolhwa,

“Truly sure about this? Going with just that kid?”

“The Demonic Sect is dangerous.”

“That’s what I’m saying. You sure about going to a place that dangerous with someone that dangerous?”

When Seolhwa said she would go to the Demonic Sect with Yu Gang, Seop Mugwang and Namgoong Cheongun had nearly dropped their jaws in shock.

Because they could not speak of Yu Gang’s circumstances, they could only assume Seolhwa had been swept up by her feelings and chosen him.

She hadn’t stepped outside her quarters for days because of Yu Gang—now she meant to stay by him constantly.

Cheongun was appalled; Seop Mugwang was proud of his disciple.

“At any rate, travel safely. When you return, there’s something we need to discuss, so keep that in mind...”

“Something to discuss?”

“There is.”

Seop Mugwang gave her shoulder a long push, urging her to go.

“Up you go. Go on.”

Seolhwa had been about to ask what it was, but under his insistence, she swung up onto her horse.

In the meantime, Seop Mugwang was handing the reins of another mount to Yu Gang.

“Demon-Slaying Corps Commander! Take good care of Seolhwa!”

SMACK! Seop Mugwang clapped Yu Gang on the back.

“Whoa—”

Caught mid-mount by the blow, Yu Gang lurched, then righted himself by catching the reins.

“Playing weak, are we.”

Leading his horse, Yu Gang came alongside Seolhwa and faced the elders.

“We’ll be off.”

With a final bow to their elders, the two set out.

When they had gone some distance, Seop Mugwang’s shout carried after them.

“Send Seolmae!”

Seolmae was the hawk Yu Gang kept.

He meant: send word.

Yu Gang turned in the saddle and looked back.

They had already gone quite far, and yet the elders still stood there watching the two depart.

When he looked back, Seop Mugwang and Ouyang Do raised their hands and waved.

Yu Gang bowed from the waist toward them, then urged his horse on to catch up to Seolhwa, who had drawn a little ahead.