“I respected the elder!”

Seeing Blood Heaven Butcher, I jumped up with joy and shouted. Had I ever been this glad to see him before?

Blood Heaven Butcher descended to the ground and pulled out the partially embedded Annihilation Great Sword.

“Why would someone of your age oppress juniors like this?”
Blood Heaven Butcher reprimanded him sternly.

Instead of replying, a Blood Arrow flew toward him.

Bang!

Blood Heaven Butcher swung his sword and dispelled the Blood Arrow. His internal energy was not inferior at all. Especially recently, Blood Heaven Butcher’s martial spirit was sharper than ever due to diligent training.

He shouted fiercely.
“You ugly old man! Do you want to die?”

The Annihilation Great Sword swung powerfully.

Pwoaaang!

The sword wind ripped the space apart and swept forward.

Yang Cheogi didn’t dodge. Instead, he struck out both hands, releasing tension energy.

Kwaaaang!

With an ear-splitting roar, both men were pushed back equally. Blood Heaven Butcher’s power was truly profound, not yielding an inch to Yang Cheogi.

I immediately joined the fight. It would be disastrous if Blood Heaven Butcher got hurt fighting alone.

Charararak.

I activated the Flying Sword Technique, Seventh Form: Flowing Sky. The Black Horse Sword split, twelve sword energies rising into the air. Though my internal energy was low, I deliberately displayed as much power as possible by splitting the sword energy extensively.

Seeing me join the fight, Yang Cheogi judged the situation unfavorable and vanished in a flash.

“Don’t chase after him.”

I worried Blood Heaven Butcher might follow, but he didn’t move.

“He’s tough for an ugly old man. I thought his arm would fall off when we clashed just now. Strong as he looks ugly.”
“Compared to that guy, you’re a peerless handsome man, sir!”
“Indeed.”
“Elder!”

I ran to hug Blood Heaven Butcher, but he dodged using a movement technique.
“Disgusting.”

“How did you come here?”
“Just passing by.”

That was impossible. Blood Heaven Butcher had been watching me closely, worried about my movements.

“Thank you. Without you, we would have died here.”

It wasn’t mere flattery. Without him, the fight’s outcome could have been disastrous.

Geukak Soma collapsed heavily, his mask soaked in blood and his body covered in wounds and gore.

“Elder, please guard him for a moment.”
“Of course.”

I placed my hand on Geukak Soma’s back, infused internal energy, gently tended to his blood channels, and nurtured his vital energy while healing his injuries. The gentle internal energy soothed him, and he soon opened his eyes. Fortunately, the internal wounds were not deep.

“Luckily, the internal injuries aren’t severe.”
Geukak Soma looked at me. I will never forget the look in his eyes—the deep regret he showed when sensing his end earlier.

We tend to forget. That intense moment which could change our lives and ourselves. Once it passes, we cannot live like we did then.

But I will not forget. Now, nothing else matters in my relationship with him. I only need to remember that moment of regret when death was near.

Geukak Soma, what about you? Do you feel the same?

He simply smiled—the first time he fully expressed his emotions with a smile. I smiled too.

Yes. Drink with Chima, laugh with Soma. That’s enough.

Next, Geukak Soma silently expressed gratitude to Blood Heaven Butcher with a slight bow.

Blood Heaven Butcher merely nodded in return.

Seizing the moment, I embraced Blood Heaven Butcher tightly.

“Elder! I missed you.”
“Disgusting, why are you like this?”

Shaking me off like a child, Blood Heaven Butcher moved away quickly. But I knew—he was truly glad I saved him.

I picked up the everlasting cold iron dagger lying near Iron Chain Master’s corpse and spoke frankly.

“This fight was quite tough.”

Watching me, Blood Heaven Butcher said,
“I told you, you’re awakening the martial world.”

“Should I learn a lullaby somewhere?”
“If you do, even those who don’t need to will wake up.”

Laughing, Blood Heaven Butcher made a joke. I answered confidently,
“Since it’s come to this, let everyone wake up. Don’t have them babble nonsense after waking late. But...”

After locking eyes with both of them, I continued,
“From now on, fight alongside me.”

Blood Heaven Butcher stared at me briefly, then turned sharply and walked away, followed by Geukak Soma.

“There they go again, doing that again.”

I followed behind them as we left the place.

Sama Myung entered Cheonma Hall holding an urgent letter. His brisk steps showed the importance of the message.

Despite his urgency, Cheonma Geom Woojin was as calm as ever.

At the red carpet’s end, Sama Myung quickly delivered the news.

“This time Lord Yi clashed with the evils of Evil Song Sect during his mission.”
“Evil Song Sect?”
“Includes Nirvana Demoness, Blood Road Three Armies, Lord Yama, and Blood Wolf Path.”
“Some formidable figures.”
“Not only them. The Fiend and Iron Chain Master also appeared.”

Mentioning these names made Geom Woojin flinch. The first four were not weak opponents, but the latter two were truly formidable.

“They clashed with Lord Yi and Geukak Soma.”
“Geukak Soma was involved?”
“Yes. It seems he was entangled in this matter as well.”
“So?”

After a pause, Sama Myung reported,
“Lord Yi and Geukak Soma killed them all.”
“Even the latter two? That wouldn’t have been easy.”
“During the fight, Geukak Soma sustained internal injuries, but thankfully they weren’t deep.”
“How about Mugeuk?”
“He’s fine.”
“The two of them killed the Fiend and Iron Chain Master?”

Unlike calm Geom Woojin, Grand Marshal Sama Myung was somewhat excited.

“Honestly, I was very surprised by the report. Previously, Lord Yi and Geukak Soma teamed up to kill the Sword Sovereign, but that was only one opponent. This time, there were many enemies, so it must have been far from easy.”

If not for the duel with Geom Mugeuk at the Wind Melody Tavern earlier, Geom Woojin would have been equally surprised. He was already shocked that day.

“Who is behind this?”
“The real mastermind is the Heavenly Demon Sect leader, and those executing the plan are Yang Cheogi and the Evil Song Sect leader.”
“Yang Cheogi? The Yang Cheogi of Baekmyeonmun?”
Geom Woojin knew him.
“Yes. It seems connected to his grudge against Geukak Soma.”
“But they mobilized such powerful figures?”
“According to Lord Yi’s report, the Heavenly Demon Sect leader recruited both the Evil Song Sect leader and Yang Cheogi, secretly offering Yang Cheogi the Evil Song Sect leader’s position.”
“Why? From the Heavenly Demon Sect leader’s viewpoint, the Evil Song Sect leader should be more useful than Yang Cheogi in many ways.”
“I suspect there’s a hidden agenda.”
“Investigate it.”
“Yes! The Heavenly Demon Sect is more troublesome than we thought.”

Until now, we only regarded the Heavenly Demon Sect as a group impersonating the Cheonma Shin Sect for illicit gains. But now it’s clear they’re a much larger, stronger organization.

“What will you do? It might be too much for Lord Yi. Should we summon more help?”
But Geom Woojin shook his head.
“That mission was chosen by the boy himself. He must bear it. Instead, overlook the Ma Jons’ involvement this time. And increase support from our sect from once to three times.”
“Understood.”

Originally, the mission was to be done alone, so Ma Jons’ interference was not allowed.

But given the exceptional circumstances, the difficulty is adjusted accordingly.

“I will focus our sect’s intelligence network to watch the Heavenly Demon Sect.”
Geom Woojin nodded.
“Tell the second son the trial continues.”

We stayed in the main sect’s mansion not far from the Yellow River Guesthouse where the fight occurred.

We rested several days, recovering internal energy and healing wounds. Eating proper meals and practicing breathing techniques, we took sufficient rest.

Today, a dispatch arrived at Cheonma Hall, ordering us to continue the mission.

I thought again of my father. Even when the Martial Alliance sent orders to fight, he would reply simply: fight well.

That night, enjoying the quiet moonlight walking in the mansion’s garden, I saw Blood Heaven Butcher training in a corner courtyard.

“Training even here?”
“Is training a joke? Does location matter?”
“Lately, seeing you makes me think becoming a Ma Jon isn’t a joke.”
“Don’t lie. You look down on us.”
“That’s a misunderstanding!”

Honestly, when I first decided to confront the Ma Jons, I underestimated them. But getting closer made me drop such thoughts long ago. These people are not easy.

Perhaps that’s why Yang Cheogi never became a Ma Jon.

Apart from martial skill, he lacks the decisive something. Charm? A certain aura? The right level? He’s missing something.

“Lately, I’ve only been seeing Drunken Demon drinking, so I didn’t realize how scary the Ma Jons are.”
“Don’t underestimate that drunkard either.”
“Why do you worry about me so much these days?”
“Do I look like someone who wouldn’t worry? You get into danger whenever you can. I might have to buy you another treasure with my savings. By the way, the Quick Recovery Pill?”
“I took it.”

I didn’t say I gave it to Geukak Soma. That might have kept the old man up all night worrying.

Then—
“That was me.”

I turned to see Geukak Soma walking into the garden.

“I survived thanks to that.”

He bowed lightly. At that polite gesture, Blood Heaven Butcher only glanced at me and didn’t say anything to provoke Geukak Soma.

“Good that you survived.”

How desperate must it have been for him to take it all while fighting? Blood Heaven Butcher knew that well. Though he mocked him behind his back, he acknowledged Geukak Soma’s skill.

“I’ll repay the favor next time.”
“First, you need to wipe the blood off that mask.”
“I plan to keep wearing it until this is over.”

I sensed Geukak Soma was somewhat excited. Not just anger, but a thrill from surviving a life-or-death fight after a long time.

I felt the same. In the last fight, my sword’s speed increased. It came from my desperate wish to save Geukak Soma, but nonetheless, I surpassed my limits. That’s important—breaking through limits. The Flying Sword Technique has reached the Twelve Stars Great Perfection, so this improvement is connected to my overall martial realm.

“I faced several crises, but honestly, it felt incredible.”

At my words, Geukak Soma’s eyes beneath the mask showed agreement.

Even Blood Heaven Butcher nodded.

“That’s the madness everyone goes through in that thrill.”

Blood Heaven Butcher also started to boil with excitement, exchanging sword strikes with Yang Cheogi.

“We must catch Yang Cheogi first.”

Yang Cheogi not only tried to kill us but also drove the disciples of Geukak Soma’s sect, Baekmyeonmun, to death. He will continue to target Geukak Soma and me, so he is our highest priority.

“Besides, he must have met the Heavenly Demon Sect leader, so he could help us find him.”

Blood Heaven Butcher asked,
“Do you know where Yang Cheogi is?”
“Likely hiding in Evil Song Sect. Since those taken from there died, he must report back, and it’s also the safest place. Yang Cheogi is vying for the Evil Song Sect leader position, so he must have returned there.”
“I will help.”

When Blood Heaven Butcher offered help, Geukak Soma said unexpectedly,
“I know Evil Song Sect well.”

After a pause, he added,
“I was there once.”

I was shocked and asked,
“When?”
“When I was young. My master sent me there to nurture my wicked heart. They came for me after three years.”
“If you had died there?”
“Then they would have found another disciple.”

“Lord Soma, you survived Evil Song Sect at such a young age?”

Geukak Soma nodded.

“Evil Song Sect is still a place where people live. Though there are masters like the {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} Fiend, there are also those who don’t know martial arts at all. Some aren’t even from Evil Song Sect but do business there because of the profits. But don’t let your guard down. Without information, Evil Song Sect is one of the most terrifying places.”

I told them the dispatch contents from the main sect.

“Today we received a report. The mission to eliminate the Heavenly Demon Sect leader remains valid, and support from the main sect has been increased to allow three assists instead of one. We might use one this time. Although the three of us can handle it, the Evil Song Sect leader might intervene. No need to risk unnecessarily. It’s like using one chance.”

I spoke with determination, ready to wipe out Evil Song Sect if necessary.

“Let’s call Ilhwa Sword Immortal and Great Drunken Demon and go catch Yang Cheogi.”