On a ridge outside the city, well past the point where the town lights fell behind them, Namgoong Seolhwa stood facing the night wind, looking toward Ikyang’s distant lights. Someone approached her from behind.

“Master.”

It was Eunwol.

“I heard you have an item to deliver to that person.”

Seolhwa reached into her bosom, produced the small cloth pouch she had kept safe, and handed it to Eunwol.

Eunwol stepped up beside Namgoong Seolhwa, took the pouch into his clothing, and then looked out at Ikyang where she had been looking.

“Did you get what you wanted?”

“Thanks to you.”

“That is fortunate. He said he, too, was pleased with his meeting with you. He said it was an enjoyable time after a long while.”

“Is that so? Good.”

There had been little cause for joy while living in the Blood Cult.

“You know, Eunwol.”

Namgoong Seolhwa turned to him.

In the moonlight her expression looked somehow relieved.

Eunwol’s gaze, which had met hers for a moment, dropped.

“Speak.”

“You don’t have to strain yourself anymore.”

“...Yes...?”

“You don’t need to pretend loyalty to me. I understand why you cooperated.”

Although Eunwol had helped her, Namgoong Seolhwa still could not bring herself to trust him entirely.

Eunwol had been the one who, in a previous life, had sworn loyalty to the Blood Cult until her death.

He claimed to have taken her as his lord, but there was no way she could simply believe that.

Now she knew.

Why he had been helping her.

For whom he had been exerting himself.

“What a filial son.”

“....”

A dark, concentrated black flashed within his eyes.

The assassin who always half-masked his face and moved in shadow.

Yet tonight his dark eyes glittered like stars beneath the moon.

Namgoong Seolhwa realized anew that Eunwol’s sharp eyes and long eyelashes were rather pretty.

They were almost identical to that woman’s eyes.

****

The tragedy at the Tang Clan in Sichuan spread throughout the Central Plains.

The Nine Schools and the Five Great Houses, along with countless smaller sects and families, could not contain their shock at the news.

Some dismissed the matter as merely an internal Tang Clan affair and criticized the clan’s excessive greed.

But at the same time the Martial Alliance Lord’s proclamation arrived to each force.

[To the brethren of the Central Plains martial world, who must be in turmoil.

The matter at the Tang Clan in Sichuan is the act of the Blood Cult, which the Martial Alliance publicly declares.

As you know, the Blood Cult has long planted infiltrators within our martial ranks, including the Tang Clan, to bring down our forces.

We have joined together to root out the Blood Cult’s infiltrators and thwart their schemes, but regrettably we did not detect every cell, and thus today’s tragedy occurred.

You must understand that this is not solely a problem of the Tang Clan in Sichuan.

This is a war between the Blood Cult and the Martial Alliance, a tragedy caused by our failure to stop them — do not regard this lightly.

Brethren of the Central Plains martial world.

They have begun to move.

The sword of the North Sea and the fangs of the Southern Wilds are advancing toward the Central Plains; cruel martial heretics plan to stain the world in blood and now eye the Central Plains with covetous designs.

Their fiendish outrage that toppled the Tang Clan in one day may next be directed at your grounds.

Brothers, take up sword and spear and rise.

Give your life for your sects and families, for the land where you were born and raised.

Black clouds cover the world, and the enemy’s breath draws near.

Strengthen your vigilance, [N O V E L I G H T] strengthen it again, that no such mournful news be heard twice.

Remember: these are the days of war.]

News that the Blood Cult had begun to move spread along with the Martial Alliance Lord’s letter, and every force increased its defenses in obedience to the Lord’s command.

At that hour, the Martial Alliance organized two detachments.

“As soon as you arrive at Mount Hua, check Elder Ouyang Do’s condition and then send for the Detoxifying Pill.”

“Yes. Please be careful, Lord.”

Namgoong Mucheon sent two armed contingents to Mount Hua ahead of himself.

The Vermilion Bird unit led by Yu Pyo and the Black Tortoise unit under Doryang were dispatched.

The Blood Lord who might strike Mount Hua would likely be the elder of the Mount Hua Sect, the old man of unmatched skill.

Originally the chief commander Seop Mugwang should have led the Alliance force to Mount Hua, but Seop Mugwang was convalescing from the palace incident.

Ouyang Do was also recovering at Mount Hua, and since the Blood Lord Tang Hojin’s appearance could come at any time and place, they could not spare manpower from other sects or clans.

The Beggar’s (Network) relay leader of the Sado Union would accompany them, and the Mount Hua warriors stood ready to face the elder — they had no choice but to trust them.

‘I have thought of something.’

Namgoong Mucheon watched the departing troops and recalled his conversation with Namgoong Seolhwa.

‘I plan to appear as the Shadowless Demon God in this engagement. I will take the Southern Wilds Beast Palace; grandfather, please take the North Sea Ice Palace.’

“Lord, preparations are complete.”

Moryong Songbaek, leader of the White Tiger unit, approached Namgoong Mucheon.

Namgoong Mucheon turned and surveyed the White Tiger unit’s warriors who had finished preparing for departure.

Their numbers were pitifully small to stand against the North Sea Ice Palace, a force said to rival Shaolin.

Yet at their side stood a master of Heaven-Beyond-Heaven and the Martial Alliance’s sky: the Celestial Dragon Sword Sovereign.

Namgoong Mucheon looked over the warriors, standing erect with resolve and tension, and nodded shortly.

“Depart.”

“To battle!”

CLATTER-

With the White Tiger leader’s shout, Namgoong Mucheon’s command was taken up by those at the front of the White Tiger unit.

Behind them followed the White Tiger leader and the deputy, and the White Tiger warriors came after.

****

“Master. The Southern outsiders have just entered the Western Pass.”

Ryeong, the Sado Union’s Lawkeeper, spoke and Namgoong Seolhwa nodded once.

As soon as movement had shown in the outer regions, Namgoong Seolhwa had taken subordinates of the Sado Union to the Western Pass where the Southern Wilds Beast Palace’s march route lay, and waited there for them.

“Prepare the subordinates.”

“Yes.”

Ryeong withdrew, and Namgoong Seolhwa looked down into the long, deep valley of the rocky mountain.

The vast expanse of rock before her seemed to stretch on without end.

Beyond this lay the Southern Wilds.

A damp, insect-infested, pestilent forestland.

[Many humans have shared their lives here, but none have ever lorded over me like you do.]

Imoogi slid into view above Namgoong Seolhwa’s shoulder.

There was discontent in the creature’s gruff voice.

[Do you not know how to greet an old acquaintance?]

For a very long time Imoogi had not been able to converse with Namgoong Seolhwa.

Or rather, it was not merely that they had not conversed.

Unlike previous humans who abandoned it, she had entrusted Imoogi with tasks and departed more than once.

Because the Sado Union’s core, the Shadowless Demon God’s force, relied on Imoogi’s strength, it had been impossible to leave the Union vacant for long.

While Namgoong Seolhwa had been absent, the stability of the Sado Union had been maintained entirely by Ryeong and Imoogi.

Yet then, one day, she had opened the heavens and appeared, and in her greeting she had snatched up the creature that flew into her bosom and, without a word of polite greeting, had said:

‘I need your strength.’

And then had dragged it to the Imperial Palace to withstand an explosion with her whole body.

When they met again, Imoogi intended to teach that insolent human a lesson.

To have the audacity to use the creature’s strength and treat it so contemptuously — it would be taught a proper lesson.

But—

[Are you even listening to me? Is it fitting to drag me along the moment we meet and make me work?]

From the Imperial Palace the task had immediately shifted to the Southern Wilds Beast Palace.

[Are you still human?]

At that moment a hand rose unconsciously in front of Imoogi.

Before it realized, the creature coiled itself around Namgoong Seolhwa’s arm.

In front of Imoogi’s grumbling eyes, Namgoong Seolhwa’s smiling face appeared.

[You, heartless human...]

“I missed you.”

[...Wha...what did you say?]

“That tiresome grumbling — I missed it.”

Imoogi’s eyes widened.

Namgoong Seolhwa tapped Imoogi’s cheek with a finger.

“Sorry I couldn’t take proper care of you. Sorry I couldn’t even thank you. I’ve been too busy.”

Could Namgoong Seolhwa not be delighted at once to hear Imoogi’s voice again?

There had been palace affairs, the Tang Clan’s matters, meetings with that woman.

She had simply been too occupied, as she had said.

[...Hmph. I have never seen a human as insolent as you are.]

“I know. You’ve told me until I’m sick of hearing it. If you tell me once more, won’t it become a thousand times?”

[I did not say that many! Not a hundred, perhaps!]

“All right. One hundred.”

Namgoong Seolhwa gave a quiet chuckle.

Humans were a terrifying sort of creature.

Anger that would have boiled at a few flattering words and a smile could be calmed by them.

‘No, that is because this sovereign’s discernment is superb.’

It had chosen a particularly strong human with very fine taste. Hmm.

Imoogi, slightly chastened, turned toward the valley Namgoong Seolhwa had been watching.

[Can we stop it?]

Namgoong Seolhwa glanced down the valley again.

[The Southern Wilds I know are by no means weak. For such strength to strike in two places at the same time and to stir up the former first of Mount Hua’s highest —]

Not only that.

The madmen of the Tang Clan could descend upon the Central Plains at any time.

[Does the Central Plains now possess the strength to oppose the Blood Cult? From what I can see...]

“It will be insufficient.”

Especially now, with the Tang Clan toppled and the Kunlun Sect likewise ill-suited to lend strength.

Moreover, with the absences of Ouyang Do and Seop Mugwang and the recent loss of capable Demon-Slaying Corps members, their forces were depleted.

[What do you intend, then? Do you mean to face the Southern Wilds Beast Palace alone?]

“No.”

Imoogi looked at Namgoong Seolhwa with a perplexed expression.

“We will not fight.”