The woman hammering the iron diligently was none other than Ian. She was working at a small smithy that made farming tools like hoes and sickles.

With her skillful hands, she quickly learned the craft and was already producing fairly decent-quality hoes with quick, steady strikes.

This place was the Heavenly Demon Sect’s inner quarters. There were various kinds of inner quarters—some hidden where no foot would tread, others disguised as ordinary places where many people passed by, like this one.

At that moment, someone entered.

“Eat and work.”

Turning around, Ian saw Cheonhwa Rujoo bringing a meal.

“Thank you.”

Ian mainly handled the smithy work, while Cheonhwa Rujoo was in charge of meals. Cheongmyeon wore a mask, so he didn’t reveal his face and moved around stealthily.

Ian looked at Cheonhwa Rujoo’s outfit and asked,

“Where are you going?”

Usually, Cheonhwa Rujoo wore plain women’s clothes with a headscarf. But today, she was wearing makeup and had dressed in pretty clothes.

“No, I just wanted a change of mood.”

Leaving the inner quarters was absolutely forbidden.

Ian understood—today was a special day for her.

“Is it your birthday today?”

“No. I just had a good dream. Now, eat before the food gets cold.”

“Yes, I will eat gratefully.”

Ian began using her chopsticks.

“Eat with me.”

“I’ve been picking at the food while cooking, so I’m full. You eat a lot.”

“Your cooking skills really seem natural. It tastes way better than buying food.”

“Actually, when I first started this work, I was in the kitchen.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“I struggled a lot back then.”

Ian could feel it—that her success came from having endured hardship from the bottom up.

The food was delicious, but Ian didn’t eat much. Since coming here worrying about Geom Muguk, she had lost her appetite.

“Did you hear what I said to the Master?”

“Yes. I heard you said he would do great things. Why did you say that?”

“I’m good at reading people.”

“Thank you for thinking well of me. But that praise is too much.”

With calm eyes, Cheonhwa Rujoo looked at Ian and said,

“This warrior is a precious person. So always hold yourself precious.”

Ian was grateful for those words.

Though hidden away in the inner quarters, Ian didn’t show it, but she worried greatly about Geom Muguk. Sometimes she couldn’t sleep at night from concern. Each time, Cheonhwa Rujoo comforted her that nothing would happen.

Her comfort strangely gave strength—perhaps because ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ Cheonhwa Rujoo had an indescribable mysterious aura.

Then Cheongmyeon, who rarely showed himself, entered.

Ian asked in surprise,

“What’s the matter?”

“There’s an emergency at the Demonic Alliance headquarters.”

“Do you know any details?”

“No. Just that an emergency has been declared.”

Ian forced her anxious heart down and said,

“The Master will be fine. Sima is protecting him.”

At that moment, a welcome voice came from behind.

“Why don’t you consider the opposite? I might be protecting Sima.”

Turning around, Geom Muguk and Geugak Sima were walking in side by side. Their clothes were splattered with blood, especially Geom Muguk’s, which was soaked through. Alarmed, Ian rushed over to check him.

“Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

Geom Muguk sank to the floor as Ian examined him. He had sword wounds here and there but had avoided fatal injuries.

“I’m badly hurt. Almost lost limbs!”

“...I don’t think it’s that bad?”

“No, look closely. Check if all fingers and toes are still attached.”

Ian turned her head and respectfully greeted Geugak Sima.

“Thank you for saving our Master.”

“No, don’t mention it! It’s the opposite!”

Geom Muguk joked, while Geugak Sima remained calm. It seemed like Sima was the one who had saved Muguk.

Geugak Sima silently stared at Geom Muguk. Cheonhwa Rujoo sensed a change in Geugak Sima. It was as if the mask he wore had changed, his gaze toward Geom Muguk was different.

She linked arms with Geugak Sima and asked,

“Brother, are you hurt anywhere?”

“No.”

“Then can we return to our Cheonhwa now?”

Geugak Sima nodded, and Cheonhwa Rujoo was pleased.

Just as she sensed the change in Geugak Sima, Ian also sensed something. Perhaps Cheonhwa Rujoo already knew the two would come back today.

“Are you all leaving soon?”

“Let’s go first.”

When Cheugak Sima nodded, Cheonhwa Rujoo turned back—and Geom Muguk was asleep, leaning on Ian’s back.

Ian gestured that she would stay like this for a while, so they should go first.

Cheonhwa Rujoo whispered to Geugak Sima,

“Have a drink with the food I made after a long time.”

“Good.”

Geugak Sima, Cheonhwa Rujoo, and Cheongmyeon left first.

Ian quietly sat beside Geom Muguk so as not to wake him. At last, the tension on her face that had lasted for a while relaxed.

‘Welcome back, Master.’

I dreamed.

In the dream, I was fighting Baek Manggi. It wasn’t a new fight but a replay of a previous battle.

The sword techniques of Baek Manggi, which had been too fast to see, unfolded like a slow-motion painting. My own techniques were moving slowly too.

I felt like an outsider watching the fight objectively, like a spectator standing beside the scene.

The moves I thought had passed in an instant and were forgotten came back clearly. Like Go players reviewing a match, I replayed the fight. My subconscious precisely remembered the battle with Baek Manggi.

I could even control the speed of the fight. The moment I wished to pause, the dream versions of Baek Manggi and I froze.

Thanks to that, I could closely observe the sword’s position and angle. The fight moved as I willed it. I could watch slowly or pause.

This let me compare the Martial Art of the Sword Emperor and my own. This process gave me as much insight as the actual fight.

In fact, there was a new experience even while fighting. The moment Baek Manggi was the only one visible and the world went dark at the very end.

I understood that these mysterious events were caused because the Radiant Sword Art had completed the twelve Sacred Forms, my inner strength had surpassed some limit, and the teachings of the Man Sajongju had been added.

Finally, the moment my sword pierced his heart, I woke.

My body and mind felt refreshed.

Though fighting even in a dream might seem tiring, it wasn’t. I had dreamed just before waking and apparently slept soundly.

“Master, you’re awake? Hungry?”

“How long did I sleep?”

“Almost until ten.”

That meant I had slept almost a whole day. It was the first time since the regression that I had slept so deeply.

My body was also in good condition. Thanks to Guihoeui and the Supreme Celestial Sleeping Master, my wounds were not deep.

‘Thank you, sir.’

If Blood Heaven Butcher had not given me Guihoeui, I would have been hurt worse. I released the Supreme Celestial Sleeping Master and wrapped it again around the handle of the Black Demon Sword.

“It doesn’t seem like you slept that long.”

“You must have been very tired.”

“What about Geugak Sima? Did he go to Cheonhwa?”

“Yes, they left first.”

Suddenly, I felt like seeing Geugak Sima. I suppose it’s true people get close while fighting together.

“Oh, by the way, some new news came while you were sleeping. Bisa-in killed Seok Gwanchu’s grandson.”

I silently nodded. The fate of Bisa-in had changed, along with that of the Demonic Alliance. Originally, Seok Gwanchu’s grandson was to succeed the Demonic Alliance. How this change would affect our future was unknown.

“That’s a good thing, right?”

“Maybe.”

I lay back down again.

Ian pulled the blanket.

“No. Eat and then sleep.”

“Just a little.”

“I’ll prepare the meal, so come out as soon as I call.”

As Ian was leaving the room, I called her.

“Ian.”

“Yes?”

“Good to see you again.”

Ian smiled brightly.

“Me too.”

The Chief General Sima Myeong was in the command room.

This command room of Tongcheon Pavilion was known to be safer than the Heavenly Demon War front.

Hundreds of dispatches arrived daily and were analyzed here.

“Not yet?”

“No.”

Sima Myeong was tense over the last dispatch.

When the news that Seok Gwanchu was the mastermind came, he hadn’t been this nervous.

He believed that Geom Muguk and Geugak Sima would handle it themselves.

But when Baek Manggi’s name arrived, an emergency was declared at Tongcheon Pavilion. If Baek Manggi was truly moving, even the lives of Geom Muguk and Geugak Sima were at risk.

Yet the sect leader gave no orders. Though sending masters nearby to support was impossible given the opponent, he could have sent urgent messages to stop all activity and return. But Geom Woojin did not.

Sima Myeong thought the leader was worthy, but also realized he himself could never make that decision.

‘Does that mean he trusts them that much?’

Since the chief general rarely came down here to await dispatches personally, the soldiers working here were also on edge.

The soldiers managing this place had authority over the highest secrets of Tongcheon Pavilion. They were the most trusted by Sima Myeong.

At that moment, the awaited dispatch arrived. A soldier checked the content and reported cheerfully.

“Seok Gwanchu and Baek Manggi are both dead.”

Sima Myeong felt relief but was inwardly surprised.

“What about our two?”

“Both the Master and Geugak Sima are safe.”

Sima Myeong let out a sigh of relief and collapsed into his chair. Relaxed, he closed his eyes briefly.

“The two killed Baek Manggi and Seok Gwanchu? That can’t be true.”

Since Sado Sip-sam Lang and Bisa-in acted together, there must have been other variables. Perhaps a new master emerged from the Demonic Alliance. In time, the full details would be revealed.

Meanwhile, the reporting soldier organized the dispatch into a report for the Heavenly Demon Sect.

Taking the report, Sima Myeong asked,

“What do you think about this matter?”

“I don’t know how Baek Manggi died, but one thing is certain. News related to the Master always surprises me lately.”

Sima Myeong nodded in agreement and rose.

But at least today, he thought the sect leader who had probably foreseen this outcome was more surprising, as he left the command room.

A few days after arriving at the inner quarters, I wandered through the marketplace buying many things. Since there were many items to purchase, I bought a cart and loaded it.

First, I stopped at the clinic and bought several new medicine cases, then at the pharmacy to buy a large quantity of various herbs. Some were rare and expensive, others commonly used.

After collecting herbs, I bought a large wooden barrel big enough for three or four people.

I bought new bedding and clothes, as well as food and alcohol for a while. Then I bought a large bronze mirror that could reflect the entire body.

Ian was surprised to see what I had bought at the market.

“What is all this?”

“Try to guess.”

“They’re completely unrelated things.”

Looking at the piled herbs, she asked with a worried look,

“Are you hurt inside?”

“I didn’t tell you because I was worried you’d be upset. I think I should go to the healer soon.”

Ian examined the cart again.

“You’re not hurt, right? Then why did you buy so many herbs?”

Then she picked something up from the cart.

“What’s this? Gasp!”

She lowered herself beside the cart, whispering.

“This is women’s underwear, isn’t it?”

“That’s right.”

I lowered myself like her.

“Why did you buy underwear?”

“Because I need it. But why whisper? Is there an enemy?”

“Well... something more surprising than a treasure map came out of the cart.”

“My waist hurts, can we stop standing now?”

“There are other clothes! They’re so pretty!”

There was also a beautiful palace robe made of fine silk.

“Whose is it? For a very slim woman.”

“I have someone to give it to.”

“If it’s a gift of underwear, it must be someone very close.”

“Very close.”

“I couldn’t not know someone that close. But it’s probably not Cheonhwa Rujoo. Ah! Was there a favorite among the Cheonhwa courtesans?”

“Want me to show you who?”

“Really?”

“Of course. Let’s go.”

Together with Ian, I pulled the cart and went to a neat manor far from the village.

“Does someone live here?”

“You could say that.”

But the manor was empty inside.

“No one’s here. Seems no one lives here.”

“They will soon. I borrowed it for a few days.”

“Why?”

To the puzzled Ian, I spoke words that would change her life and that she most wanted to hear from me.

“I intend to perform the Divine Purification Technique here on you.”