Bisa-in, who was eating at the inn, received a mental message.

— Eat a balanced meal. It seems you always eat the same dish.

Bisa-in replied with a bewildered ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) expression to Geom Mugeuk’s message.

— Now you’re trying to meddle with my taste too?

—I’m just looking out for your health. I’ve always been a bit meddlesome.

— I’m really glad you’re not from the heretic sect.

— Don’t worry. Everyone says I’m from the righteous sect, not the heretics.

After some light joking, Geom Mugeuk revealed the reason for his visit.

— In two days it will be Oreu Shingum’s birthday. We plan to take care of everything that day.

At once, Bisa-in’s chopsticks froze, and passion flashed across his face. Finally, the event that would change his fate was just two days away.

— Are you sure it’s okay to tell me all this?

— At least in this matter, you’re on the same side.

—I could change my mind and tell Yalyulhan everything. Or accidentally let someone else know.

—I trust myself. I wouldn’t have allied with such a fool in the first place.

A slight twitch appeared at the corner of Bisa-in’s mouth. Anyone might think he was displeased with the food, but he was smiling.

Bisa-in said to Geom Mugeuk,

— Let’s meet at the cliff tonight.

— Agreed.

He looked like he had something to say.

That night, I arrived early at the cliff and waited.

After tonight, it would be the eve of the decisive battle. I was nervous and excited like never before.

“Looking at your back, I don’t know why I want to just push you over.”

Bisa-in’s voice came from behind. I smiled and turned around.

“I usually have a lot of anger bottled up.”

“Is there a way to live as the heir of the Satan Alliance without piling up anger?”

“In those times, drinking with the drunken horse and swimming in the lake helps ease it. Anyone want to drink?”

“I don’t like alcohol much.”

“Reading books with Doma is fine too.”

“I like books even less. Does Doma even read?”

“Or I spar with Geomjon.”

“How many people aren’t trying to kill me by sparring?”

“How about traveling with Soma?”

“No one to travel with.”

“How about midnight training with Kwonma?”

“Your words just make me angrier! Is this you bragging about being close to the Majons?”

“Do you believe me? I thought you’d say I made it all up.”

Then Bisa-in answered,

“If it’s you… I think you’re close with everyone.”

Surprisingly, he believed me completely.

“There is a way to relieve your anger.”

I smiled at his curiosity.

“Play with me!”

“!”

“After this is over, if your anger builds up too much and you can’t stand it, come find me. We’ll go out and have fun.”

Bisa-in’s pupils trembled slightly. In the past, he would have called me crazy, but he said nothing.

Maybe he wanted to say “Agreed!” Because loneliness always lingered around him.

“No.”

Bisa-in immediately refused and took several sheets of paper from his bosom.

“This is why I wanted to see you.”

He handed me secret documents related to Oreu Shingum.

They detailed his martial skills, birthplace, upbringing, and who he fought and where.

“I don’t know if this will help, but read it just in case.”

“Thank you. It will be a great help.”

Bisa-in stared at me intently.

He seemed to hesitate, then finally said,

“If this ends, we might not have time for talks like this anymore, so I’ll say it now. Lately… I’ve been thinking about my disciple.”

My question, “What is your disciple?” seemed to have deeply affected him. Perhaps this was the real reason he asked to meet today.

Before I could answer, he turned and walked away briskly.

“I’ll look forward to hearing about your disciple.”

As Bisa-in disappeared into the darkness, he said,

“Just don’t die before then.”

The day before Oreu Shingum’s birthday, Geom Mugeuk scouted his residence.

No one knew how many remained inside the manor or who lived there. To carry out tomorrow’s operation safely, thorough preparation was needed. Yet variables kept arising endlessly.

The manor was small and cozy.

Though it could be reached quickly in a straight line from the Satan Alliance headquarters, on foot or by carriage it required a long, winding path through dense forest, a cleverly hidden location.

It was so deep in the woods that even someone passing by daily would be surprised to learn there was a house there.

Geom Mugeuk climbed a large tree overlooking the manor.

He flew up high and landed on a branch, not making a single sound. The slender branch barely shook but did not break.

There he began his energy dispatch.

A few threads of energy crossed the walls. The energy dispatch technique I learned from my father during my first hunt shone in moments like this. It allowed me to send slender, long energy like a scout at a distance without alerting the target.

One person was detected in the manor’s courtyard.

Using the Mind-Detecting Technique, Geom Mugeuk confirmed him. He appeared to be a servant handling chores for Oreu Shingum.

Another energy signature came from the kitchen area. Judging by the aura and movement, this person also did not practice martial arts and was an elderly individual. Probably an old woman preparing meals.

Geom Mugeuk’s energy scanned the entire manor. Seeing no one else, it seemed these two served Oreu Shingum.

Geom Mugeuk’s energy entered the building. Passing the corridor, he sensed strong energy in the innermost room.

‘It’s Oreu Shingum!’

Geom Mugeuk did not push himself. For now, confirming his presence was enough. He quietly withdrew his dispatched energy.

Just as he was collecting the energy—

Cheonma Hoshingong activated, sensing danger.

Next moment!

Thud.

A man appeared on the branch where Geom Mugeuk had been standing. Suddenly appearing, he darted through the air like an arrow and landed on the slender branch. It was mastery of the highest level of lightness skill (gyeonggong).

Geom Mugeuk was already below the tree.

The man looked around and then down under the tree. Geom Mugeuk was on the opposite side, so the man didn’t see him.

He quickly turned and checked the other side under the tree.

Again, Geom Mugeuk was on the opposite side. Despite their swift movements, there was no sound. Both were demonstrating exquisite lightness skills.

The man tilted his head slightly, then leapt far away to the manor.

He entered the building where Oreu Shingum was.

Geom Mugeuk’s gaze deepened as he watched.

This man, appearing from nowhere, sensed the energy when Geom Mugeuk withdrew it and flew here, the source of the energy. He possessed not only outstanding senses but also advanced lightness skills.

‘Not an ordinary expert.’

Unfortunately, Geom Mugeuk couldn’t get a clear look at his face. His movements were just too fast.

Geom Mugeuk quietly disappeared from there.

At that moment, Yalyulhan was alone at a large table in a spacious hall, eating.

Cha Hwan entered carrying a box.

“The gift for Oreu Shingum has arrived.”

Yalyulhan gestured for him to bring it closer. Cha Hwan approached carefully, each movement cautious.

He opened the box a little distance from Yalyulhan.

A fragrant smell wafted out.

“Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng.”

A ginseng so rare it was nearly impossible to obtain even with a fortune.

Cha Hwan could no longer keep quiet about what was inside.

“It’s too precious to give as a gift.”

Every year on his birthday, Oreu Shingum received expensive gifts, but never one as precious as this.

Despite his complaint, Yalyulhan showed no anger. He kept Cha Hwan close because of such honesty.

“For a special birthday, a special gift is needed.”

“Of course.”

“He is worth the money.”

“Yes.”

Cha Hwan closed the box carefully and placed it on the table.

The words, ‘Then what would you give that old man on his hundredth birthday?’ rose in my throat, but I kept silent.

“Will you go yourself tomorrow?”

Yalyulhan nodded.

“Given the circumstances, wouldn’t it be better to just send the gift this time?”

After a moment of thought, Yalyulhan said to Cha Hwan,

“I will go. If I don’t, I’ll waste the investment in the ginseng and get cursed. But I’ll go at a slightly different time this time.”

Cha Hwan bowed respectfully.

“I will prepare accordingly.”

“And call the Three Evils.”

Cha Hwan flinched. As always, their names chilled people just to hear.

“That will make me feel relieved.”

Cha Hwan left, and Yalyulhan opened the box with the ginseng again.

He silently stared at it. Anyone trained in martial arts would find it impossible to resist Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng before them.

Yalyulhan took it and opened his mouth wide.

But he only pretended to take a bite, then put the ginseng back in the box and closed it.

He would not eat the ginseng but endure and endure to consume something greater.

I returned straight to my residence.

Geugak Soma, Go Wol, and Pungcheon Gyoju waited for me after finishing scouting.

“How was it?”

Go Wol asked, and I sighed lightly.

“I almost got caught.”

At my words, the three were surprised.

Pungcheon Gyoju said to me,

“Looks like the old villain didn’t just grow old by doing nothing.”

“He wasn’t just an old man.”

“Wasn’t he?”

“I’m not sure if he was visiting or guarding, but his martial skill was extraordinary.”

Pungcheon Gyoju recalled someone.

“Could it have been Yalyulhan?”

Go Wol replied,

“No. Yalyulhan hasn’t stepped outside Satan Alliance lately.”

“Not Yalyulhan? Then Hyeollyun Geop?”

Pungcheon Gyoju asked, and Go Wol shook his head again.

“Hyeollyun Geop is known to be on bad terms with Oreu Shingum. It’s unlikely they met alone.”

I agreed.

“I didn’t see clearly, but he didn’t seem as old as Hyeollyun Geop.”

The situation wasn’t good. If the expert had come to celebrate a birthday, he would be at the manor tomorrow too. Another expert to face.

Of course, worry showed on Go Wol’s face.

“Didn’t you expect another to be here from the start?”

“Yes, but if one came today, another could come tomorrow. Honestly, I’m worried.”

“Go Wol, the soldiers make great plans, but unpredictable events happen on site. This will be a good experience for you.”

“I don’t want that experience facing Yalyulhan and Oreu Shingum. Especially if the one executing it is you, Prince. At least we should know who he is.”

I looked at Geugak Soma. Soma, who had been silent, said calmly,

“Does knowing who he is change anything?”

This was the true nature of Geugak Soma. Even if there were ten experts instead of one, he would say the same.

His words neatly wrapped up the situation.

“True enough.”

I smiled at him. What made me smile was the fighting spirit in Soma’s eyes. Deep inside, a will surged. No matter who or how many were there, what did it matter?

Wooooong!

The Black Demon Sword read my mind and gave a long howl. As the sword cried out, everyone’s gaze turned to it. I grasped the sword’s hilt, and the crying stopped.

“This will be the day we make Oreu Shingum’s birthday a funeral day, and even send Yalyulhan along on the boat to the afterlife… If this were easy, that would be strange.”

I made my final decision.

“We proceed as planned.”

The next dawn, before departure, I went to find Geugak Soma.

“What is it?”

Instead of answering, I untied the Supreme Heavenly Silkworm Thread tied to the sword’s hilt and gave half to Soma. He knew well what it was.

“Wrap it around your heart.”

“I’m fine.”

“There’s enough for both of us.”

“Then wrap it twice!”

“My body is too slow for that. I wear the Ghost Tiger Seal on top.”

Knowing I wouldn’t give up, Soma accepted it.

“I’ll return it after the fight.”

“Of course. It’s precious.”

Soma smiled clearly.

We wrapped the Supreme Heavenly Silkworm Thread on heart and abdomen.

With preparations complete, I drew the Black Demon Sword.

Then Soma lightly flicked the blade with his finger.

Ting!

The clear, pleasant sound signaling the start of the decisive battle rang out as we quietly left the room.