Geom Muguk deliberately provoked him.

Geukak Soma had said that the Soul-Linked Death Technique could not be evaded if the internal energy was insufficient. That meant even the Ma Jons were at risk. The Evil Song Sect Leader also could not die because he held the clue to the Cheonmyeong Sect Leader.

But Geom Muguk was confident his internal energy surpassed anyone present. No matter how deep Yang Cheogi’s internal energy was, it could not exceed his own, which already surpassed the Ma Jons and even absorbed Nirvana Demoness’s energy.

“Come with me, on that path to the underworld. I talk a lot, so at least it won’t be boring.”

Yang Cheogi’s eyes reddened further, taking it as mockery. Even in that tense moment, when the Soul-Linked Death Technique could be unleashed at any second, Geom Muguk taunted him more.

“You will only die chasing dreams you never fulfill.”

Those words struck Yang Cheogi’s deepest nerve. The wounds from a life that achieved nothing—neither Ma Jon, Sect Leader, Alliance Head, nor Sect Chief—were too deep.

At the moment Yang Cheogi decided, “Fine, it’s you,”

Fwoooaaang!

The Evil Song Sect Leader’s spear flew toward Yang Cheogi’s back.

From the Sect Leader’s perspective, Geom Muguk must never die. If Geom Muguk died, the Ma Jons would not spare him.

Yang Cheogi turned like lightning and threw his spear.

With a piercing roar, both the Sect Leader and Yang Cheogi staggered back—Yang Cheogi farther. Not because he lacked internal energy, but because he had raised it to use the Soul-Linked Death Technique and could not fully wield his usual power.

Furious, Yang Cheogi released Blood Arrow.

Piiing!

But the sound was not flesh pierced by Blood Arrow—it was a sword slicing through.

Plunk!

The Blood Arrow missed the Sect Leader’s face by a wide margin. Blood splattered from Yang Cheogi’s extended fingertip.

He slowly lowered his head to look at his chest. A gleaming sword blade protruded from his back to his chest.

With the sword lodged in him, Yang Cheogi slowly turned away.

I thought either Geom Muguk or one of the Ma Jons had ambushed him, but they stood in their original places.

Then I saw the unfamiliar man who had launched the ambush. He was the Sect Leader’s last subordinate, a master of stealth and swordsmanship. The Sect Leader’s final trump card was not Seokno but this man, whom even Yang Cheogi did not know about. This secret move had worked perfectly.

Yang Cheogi’s knees slowly buckled. He had no strength or chance to choose another target.

“Damn… I never meant to take you with me…”

At that moment, red light erupted from Yang Cheogi’s eyes.

Bang! Thud!

The ambusher’s eyes burst as he fell back. At the same time, Yang Cheogi also died as his eyes burst.

He could not use his final technique on the desired target and had to die together with the ambusher he did not even know.

He died still chasing unfulfilled dreams, as Geom Muguk said.

Geukak Soma looked at his corpse indifferently. Though this marked the end of a long-standing grudge from the death of Sa-baek, he showed no emotion—neither relief nor sorrow.

Meanwhile, the Evil Song Sect Leader was smiling.

In the end, he was the one who survived. Though even his final trump card had died, surviving at this moment was what mattered.

“As promised, I shall be spared!”

Neither Yang Cheogi’s death nor that of the subordinate meant anything to him.

Geom Muguk coldly stared at him and said,

“Whether you live or die depends on you.”

The Sect Leader began talking about the Cheonmyeong Sect Leader.

“He never revealed his identity. When meeting us, he wore a death hood with a veil. He never came when we contacted him; it was always him who set the time and place.”

“How did the Cheonmyeong Sect Leader involve you?”

“Money, of course.”

A huge sum was offered to move him.

“But don’t underestimate me. Money is everything here. You wouldn’t know how unstable this position is. There are crazy fools who would rather die than not sit here once.”

Money was what held this position.

Even the Fiend and Iron Chain Master were contenders for the Sect Leader seat. The money kept their ambitions bound and allowed their indulgence.

“You said you have clues to find him?”

“Yes. But promise me here, you will spare my life. Swear it on your Sect.”

“I swear on my Sect. If you give clues to find the Cheonmyeong Sect Leader, I will spare you.”

Only then did the Sect Leader reveal the clues.

“Did I blindly trust the Cheonmyeong Sect Leader? No. I secretly investigated him. But it was not easy. Those I sent went missing or were found dead. Still, I kept sending men. And finally, I found one thing.”

From the Sect Leader came an unexpected word.

“Little Dragon Tournament.”

The Little Dragon Tournament was a martial arts competition hosted by the Martial Alliance that recruited talented late-stage elites into the Alliance’s elite ranks.

“It is information our spies risked their lives to get. Surely, the Cheonmyeong Sect Leader plans something related to this year’s tournament!”

The Sect Leader trembled with anxiety, fearing the information might be insufficient.

But there was no need. Geom Muguk had already recalled one fact about the tournament.

“Ah! This is the year!”

Geom Muguk nodded.

“Alright. I accept this as useful information.”

“So, you will spare me?”

“I will keep my promise. I hope you survive well.”

“?”

When Geom Muguk and the Ma Jons turned and left the main hall, villains waited outside.

There were the spear-wielding Giant Strength Ghost Spear and his men, Eunyul and his assassins, the drugged ones, women only groups, hunters, and beggars—the very ones who had not attacked us before.

As we exited, one by one they gathered around the hall with murderous and greedy eyes.

Swearing erupted inside, followed by sounds of fighting. Screams pierced the air, including the Sect Leader’s.

This scene clearly showed why Evil Song never became a unified organization in the world. This place was hell.

At the entrance of Evil Song, I formally thanked the Ma Jons.

“Thank you for your help.”

Blood Heaven Butcher said,

“What did we do? We just fought and died among ourselves.”

“If I had gone alone, it would have been chaos, covered in blood.”

I met the eyes of each Ma Jon.

Deep gratitude shone from Geukak Soma’s eye sockets.

This would never have happened otherwise. But my intervention allowed him to end the old grudge.

Sword Immortal smiled and said,

“Thanks to you, I got some fresh air.”

Sword Immortal, who once said she wouldn’t be a wing, played an excellent wing role this time. People who say they won’t belong anywhere often end up deeply involved. Maybe she was wary because she knew how deep she was already.

Next to her, Chwima drank. He had begun seriously working to reconcile Blood Heaven Butcher and Sword Immortal. Though he had made mistakes in his youth, he now admitted and corrected them. I liked that, brother.

Finally, my eyes met Blood Heaven Butcher’s. Had he not come to the Yellow River Guesthouse earlier, I might have died.

I didn’t say thanks. It was already conveyed in our gaze.

I didn’t know how things would end with these people—whether good or bad, or whether the relationship would deepen beyond my imagination.

I knew what would happen at the Little Dragon Tournament, but the new relationships I forged had never existed before. I could only do my best each time.

“What now?”

Blood Heaven Butcher asked.

“I must go to the Martial Alliance.”

The tournament was held at the Martial Alliance headquarters in about two months.

“That will be dangerous.”

“This heir test is to catch the Cheonmyeong Sect Leader. Messing up the test is more dangerous for me.”

“So? You will attend the Little Dragon Tournament yourself?”

“No, if I attend, I’ll be exposed. I must stay nearby. Someone else will participate—someone completely unknown in the martial world.”

“Who?”

Then from Geom Muguk came an unexpected name.

“The Elder’s disciple.”

Seeing Blood Heaven Butcher’s surprise, Geom Muguk smiled.

“We will send Seo Daeryong to the tournament.”

If we asked Tongcheongak, they would create a perfectly disguised sect. Seo Daeryong would compete under that sect.

“What role will you play?”

“Probably a servant or bodyguard, so I won’t stand out.”

The Ma Jons looked doubtful at whether that would really prevent attention.

Blood Heaven Butcher seemed worried and tried to follow.

“I’ll come too.”

Geom Muguk’s gaze turned to the Annihilation Great Sword.

“They’ll think that sword is fake, right? Surely Blood Heaven Butcher won’t bring the Annihilation Great Sword to the Martial Alliance either.”

He hinted delicately that it was too conspicuous.

Geukak Soma’s mask and Sword Immortal’s White Flower Sword, embroidered with red camellias, were already well known in the martial world.

If Ian went, he’d attract all the attention, and so would the large scar on Jangho’s face. Seo Daeryong was perfect for this mission.

“Sounds fun. Brother, I want to come too.”

Could Chwima really go unnoticed?

“I’ll tell you all about what happened later over drinks. Also, I may ask the Elders for help with the Cheonmyeong Sect Leader matter. I still have two chances out of three to ask. Please help then.”

The Ma Jons nodded. Geom Muguk felt reassured. With their help, he even felt confident to face the Martial Alliance.

“Right arm, let’s make a name in the Martial Alliance.”

After parting ways with the Ma Jons, I headed straight for Wuhan, Hubei Province, where the Martial Alliance was located.

Enjoying extreme speed with swift steps, I ran—through trees, among people, leaping over rocks.

No one recognized me. The beasts chasing me gave up. In a flash, I disappeared far away.

The earlier I arrived, the more time I’d have for martial arts training, so I ran with all my might.

After reaching near the Martial Alliance headquarters, I bought long-lasting food and supplies needed for mountain living and entered the mountains.

Seo Daeryong, the disciple, was still far away, and the tournament even further.

Until then, I planned to quietly seclude myself in the mountains and train.

From that day on, I entered training.

I forgot people, missions, and revenge.

I trained like a person born only for martial arts. Sleeping was like dying. I ate and trained, circulated energy and trained, trained and trained.

One month later, I was walking through a marketplace as a bearded man.

I deliberately kept the beard I had grown. I threw away the martial uniform I wore during training and bought a shabby, cheap set of clothes that didn’t attract attention.

At the agreed inn, Seo Daeryong was waiting.

He looked tense upon entering the Martial Alliance territory.

It was good to see him after so long. Though our eyes met briefly, he didn’t recognize me.

Only when I sat across from him did he realize and was startled.

“Elder...!”

Before he could say “Elder,” I stopped him.

“Want to spread the news that I’m here?”

“No, of course not. I was just surprised.”

His messy hair and bandit-like beard made him unrecognizable, so no one else would recognize me.

“But why this appearance?”

“Disguise.”

“What? A beard? Such a rookie disguise? That’ll just draw more attention.”

Though he said that, he looked just as odd. He wore a white martial uniform with a 正 symbol on his chest.

“Look at me. Who wouldn’t think I’m a righteous sect member?”

“Look around. How many people here wear that? New Martial Alliance recruits wear those for a few days, then stuff them in a corner.”

“I think it’s better than that filthy beard.”

“Not dirty, filthy!”

We laughed at each other’s appearances in this pleasant reunion, then Seo Daeryong asked seriously.

“But why did you call me here?”

He came without prior notice. I gave the tense Seo Daeryong a meaningful smile.

“Let’s do something together.”