Geukak Soma was delighted.

Though he had lived through countless experiences in the Mazone, he likely had never been involved in deciding the successor of the Demonic Alliance. No, he probably never even thought such a matter would concern him.

“Are you really saying we will choose a successor?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“What do you mean?”

“If the current successor, Bishain, seems capable, we’ll help him hold his position. If someone else appears more beneficial to us, we’ll put him in charge. Though I meddle widely, when it comes to the Demonic Alliance’s successor, regardless of their personal character, I believe we must place whoever benefits our sect most.”

Of course, they must also be someone who benefits me personally.

“Then we should appoint the dumbest fool.”

“No, that would destabilize the martial world. At least we must place someone whose actions we can predict. If we handle this well, we will have earned great merit for our sect.”

Geukak Soma laughed loudly. Even just facing the formidable Seok Gwan-chu was a joy; succeeding in this matter would be a double victory.

“Are we finally going to see the Second Prince’s world?”

Expectation flickered in his eyes’ sockets.

“No. This world still belongs to Soma.”

“My world?”

“If Soma were not here, none of this would have happened. Would I have dared face the Demonic Alliance’s Grand Elder alone?”

“Are you flattering me again?”

“Why would it be flattery? It’s a skill honed over a lifetime.”

Geukak Soma enjoyed my joke. The situation unfolding was fascinating.

I sent Ian and Cheongmyeon to the residence housing the Cheonhwa Ruju.

Though ordered to guard the Cheonhwa Ruju, there were two other reasons.

First, it was dangerous. Now that our main enemy was revealed as Seok Gwan-chu, Grand Elder of the Demonic Alliance, who knew what masters might appear next.

Second, I wanted Ian and Cheongmyeon to spend time together. I told Ian, “Win her over. Whether you succeed depends on you.” I only hoped Ian’s capacity could hold Cheongmyeon.

Before leaving, Ian said just one thing.

“If something happens to the young master, I will die too.”

“Alright, think of it as two lives and fight.”

Cheongmyeon watched this and then bowed respectfully to Geukak Soma. Soma said nothing.

I had never seen the usually curt Geukak Soma speak with Cheongmyeon outside official orders.

After sending them off, Geukak Soma and I rushed off with light steps.

“Where are we headed?”

“To Baekya Valley to meet Bishain.”

I had informed Bishain previously that those who tried to kill Geukak Soma were from the Blood Water Five Spirits of Baekya Valley.

Since then, no news had come from Bishain or Baekya Valley, meaning Bishain had yet to solve the problem of uncovering the mastermind.

Bishain was drinking at a tavern near Baekya Valley.

His face was flushed—not from alcohol, but from anger. The more his worries hardened, the more grotesque his scars appeared.

He still hadn’t identified the mastermind. The precious information had been obtained from Guiju under the condition of expelling Baekye Trading Company and paying a huge sum, but things hadn’t gone as planned.

When he came here, he had intended to pressure the Baekya Valley Lord into confessing that he had ordered the Blood Water Five Spirits to kill Geukak Soma.

If that failed, he planned to force a confession through strength. With himself and seven of the Demonic Twelve Lords, even Baekya Valley’s lord and masters would be powerless.

However, when they arrived, the Baekya Valley Lord had already gone on a trip. He had been here until the day before but hastily fled with only his subordinates.

They tried to intimidate the subordinates to learn his whereabouts, but they didn’t know.

He suspected the lord might have heard of his coming. Secrets were leaking.

Bishain drank again. Suddenly, Geom Muguk came to mind. When trapped, he involuntarily thought of him.

‘Pointless.’

As if to shake off the thought, he raised his cup again.

At that moment, a man wearing a death mask strode to his seat. The seven Demonic Twelve Lords nearby sprang up and drew their swords.

The man removed his mask, revealing himself.

“Long time no see.”

It was Geom Muguk. Bishain was truly surprised, having just been thinking about him.

“How did you know I was here?”

Bishain glared suspiciously.

Geom Muguk remained calm.

“Since I gave you the information, it was obvious you’d come to Baekya Valley. With this many around you, how could I not find you?”

Geom Muguk glanced at the Demonic Twelve Lords. Eight warriors moving together made it easy to find them.

“May I sit?”

“Please.”

Geom Muguk sat before Bishain.

Bishain ordered the Demonic Twelve Lords to sit. They sat tensely. Il-rang Baek Cheol-gi sat beside Bishain, ready to draw his sword at any moment.

“Why have you come here?”

He asked curtly but secretly welcomed Geom Muguk. He shouldn’t feel that way, but couldn’t help leaning on him.

“I have important information for you, Second Prince.”

“What is it?”

“I’ve discovered who masterminded this.”

Bishain was stunned. Not only him but Baek Cheol-gi and the others were shocked.

“Who is it?”

Geom Muguk didn’t answer immediately.

“I can’t just give you such vital information.”

At that moment, Bishain realized his grave mistake.

‘Second Prince, you’ve made a serious error.’

He shouldn’t have disclosed such crucial facts here.

Because of the Demonic Twelve Lords.

Bishain suspected a spy planted among the seven Demonic Twelve Lords who followed him, an assassin aiming to kill him.

Many recent failures, he thought, were due to the spy leaking information first.

When they arrived at Baekya Valley and found the lord absent, his suspicion became certainty. Someone was definitely passing information to the enemy.

Given such a leak of critical info, the mastermind would soon learn.

Previously, he had started sending a secret message to Geom Muguk to ask for help, but dared not fully rely on it.

He regretted sending that message. A Demonic Alliance successor asking help from a Heavenly Demon’s blood? How absurd he felt.

“Traveling from afar makes me thirsty.”

Geom Muguk offered a cup.

Bishain poured wine into Geom Muguk’s cup.

At that moment, Geom Muguk’s secret message flew to Bishain.

—Let’s catch the rat first, then talk in detail.

—!

Bishain paused mid-pour, then finished.

He realized Geom Muguk knew his exact situation. His heart began pounding fast with hope that his troubles might soon end.

Since meeting Geom Muguk, his heart raced constantly. This man made him compare and feel inferior.

“Damn!”

He made me hopeful.

That night, a masked man silently descended on the largest tavern roof in the village.

He hid something beneath the edge tiles of the roof. There was a fixed rule for sending secret messages. In any village, the largest tavern’s roof corner was used to hide messages. Someone would come to collect and send them via courier. In the mountains, a specific tree was used; in fields, a buried spot was set.

Just as he hid the message and hurried to leave, someone spoke from behind.

“Geom Muguk discovered the mastermind’s identity.”

Startled, the masked man turned to find Geom Muguk silently approaching, holding the hidden message and reading it.

Geom Muguk had confirmed that Bishain had fallen asleep after drinking at Baekya Valley.

“I’m a light sleeper. While sleeping, I heard {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} someone sneaking out like a stray cat.”

The masked man realized this was a trap. Rushing because he thought the info was urgent was a mistake.

As the masked man turned to flee—

“I’ll run after you and tell everyone that one of the Demonic Twelve Lords who left is a traitor. I’m confident in my light steps; you won’t outrun me.”

The masked man froze. Geom Muguk taunted him.

“You’d better kill me now. At least then your identity won’t be revealed.”

The masked man drew his sword but said nothing. Unsure how the fight would go, he didn’t want to give away his voice.

Since things had come this far, there was only one way: fight to the death, then quietly leave pretending ignorance.

He rushed Geom Muguk.

Whoosh!

The masked man’s movements were superb, known to be stronger than those in Mazone.

Whoosh!

He closed distance quickly and lunged at Geom Muguk.

Clang!

At their first clash, the masked man’s heart sank. Nearly dropping his sword, he realized Geom Muguk’s inner power was far superior.

But it wasn’t just his inner power.

Clang! Clang!

His previously effective techniques were useless.

His attacks aimed at vital points were always blocked by Geom Muguk’s sword. He gave full effort, but the other seemed to block half-heartedly.

Recognizing the clear skill gap, the masked man leapt away after about a dozen moves. He thought escaping was his only chance.

Then!

Fwee!

Thunk!

A slicing wind pierced his thigh.

Screaming, he fell, then sprang up. Blocking his path was Geukak Soma.

“A man who fights and turns his back? Aren’t you ashamed?”

Shame reddened the masked man’s eyes.

Behind, Geom Muguk appeared. The problem was that these two weren’t alone.

“Yuk-rang!”

At his name, the masked man’s heart dropped.

Bishain and the other Demonic Twelve Lords appeared.

The masked man was the sixth Demonic Twelve Lord, Yuk-rang. Their leader, Il-rang Baek Cheol-gi, was furious.

“Did you really betray us?”

Even seeing with his own eyes, Baek Cheol-gi couldn’t believe it. If asked to pick the least likely traitor among the thirteen, Yuk-rang would have been first.

“Why did you do this? Didn’t you know the Demonic Twelve Lords should not meddle in politics?”

Yuk-rang removed his mask.

“Why not?”

“What?”

“Why must we live bound by rules no one even decided?”

“You fool, what else did you expect from a warrior’s life? If you hated this life, you shouldn’t have sworn loyalty!”

“I didn’t know. I never imagined my lifelong martial skills would lead to such a pathetic life! That I’d spend my life running after a single prince!”

Bishain’s face hardened. He hadn’t known Yuk-rang harbored such feelings. Did others feel the same?

Il-rang shouted at him.

“Stop your excuses! What did they promise you? What will free you from this pathetic life?”

Yuk-rang couldn’t answer. He couldn’t tell Il-rang or the others he was promised vast money and high rank.

“I’m no traitor. I was just trying to find my own life!”

Yuk-rang shouted, then chose an opponent for mutual destruction. That opponent was Geom Muguk.

“This is all your fault!”

Yuk-rang lunged at Geom Muguk.

Even unexcited, Yuk-rang was no match. Now, wounded as well.

As he unleashed techniques on Geom Muguk—

Thud!

A blade pierced through his back, protruding from his chest.

Yuk-rang slowly turned his head to see Bishain behind him.

“…This is all your fault.”

Bishain said coldly in response to Yuk-rang’s accusation.

“You said it was the Second Prince before.”

Clearly unwilling to talk more, Bishain drew his sword.

Under the moonlight, blood spurted from Yuk-rang’s body. If he’d stood still, Geom Muguk would have been splattered with blood, but he dodged aside. This fight was nothing but a family quarrel within the Demonic Alliance.

Bishain held the dripping sword and asked Geom Muguk,

“Now, tell me. Who is behind this?”