Of course, Sword Immortal had spoken so that Geom Mugeuk could hear.

Geom Mugeuk rose from his seat and bowed respectfully to Sword Immortal.

“Previously, I did not have the chance to greet you properly. It is an honor to meet you.”

Sword Immortal appraised Geom Mugeuk with sharp eyes. Even from their first meeting, he had been impressed by the clarity in Geom Mugeuk’s gaze and aura.

His gaze shifted toward Hyeol Cheon Doma standing behind Geom Mugeuk. He recalled what Hyeol Cheon Doma had said earlier:

—“It can change.”

Had that referred to this young sect leader who had transformed his life?

Sword Immortal asked again, in a low but serious tone:

“Repeat what you said before.”

Geom Mugeuk answered,

“I expected you might be unaware. If you had known, you would not have tolerated it.”

Sword Immortal, tasked by Murim Alliance Lord Jin Pae-cheon to protect Jinha-gun, did not know the full reason Geom Mugeuk had come. Frankly, he had no interest.

“So you mean what you said earlier is true?”

“Yes. That Seo Cheong killed innocent passersby just because he wanted to slaughter, even killed our sect members. There are other victims as well. When I was in Honam and tried to punish Seo Cheong, the Murim Alliance intervened and stopped me.”

Sword Immortal looked coldly at Jinha-gun and asked,

“Lord Jin, is this true?”

If Jinha-gun answered yes, Sword Immortal’s stern nature meant even the grandson of the Murim Alliance lord would face reprimand.

Jinha-gun understood Geom Mugeuk’s intention: to use Sword Immortal as a way to escape the matter.

“It is true.”

Sword Immortal’s eyes flashed with anger.

Jinha-gun quickly added,

“But one fact is missing.”

He glanced at Seo Cheong.

“I intended to give Seo Cheong a fitting punishment.”

Jinha-gun knew this was the most natural way to break with Tianhe Sect.

“What kind of punishment?”

“Imprisonment in the prison. For life.”

Sword Immortal regarded Jinha-gun suspiciously, thinking this might be an excuse hastily made after Sword Immortal intervened.

But Jinha-gun met Sword Immortal’s gaze squarely. Whether he would or wouldn’t punish, ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ he had chosen to believe in himself. Surely he would punish Seo Cheong.

Only then did Sword Immortal’s expression soften.

“Good. I thought you would.”

Because Sword Immortal trusted Jinha-gun, he lent his strength. He had watched Jinha-gun grow from a young age—he knew he had always been diligent and upright.

“I believe in you.”

“I will strive even harder to not disappoint you.”

Jinha-gun felt relieved the absorption of Tianhe Sect would not proceed. Looking back, he realized his greed had blinded him seriously.

However, Sword Immortal’s anger did not disappear—only its target changed.

His gaze turned to Seo Cheong, who stood frozen in fear. He should have realized Sword Immortal’s gaze meant he should run to him, but Seo Cheong stayed rooted.

Seobaekjung shouted loudly,

“What are you waiting for? Come here now!”

Sword Immortal, already angry, was easily provoked. Offending him now could cost one’s life.

“Come here at once!”

Seobaekjung barked, sending a secret message:

—Do as Sword Immortal says. Come, beg for forgiveness as if you were dead!

—Please spare me, Father! Don’t send me to prison! I’ll die there!

—Shut up! This is no time to indulge your tantrums!

Seobaekjung’s outburst terrified Seo Cheong, who hesitantly walked toward Sword Immortal.

Seobaekjung urgently sent a message to Jinha-gun:

—Stop him!

—Sword Immortal has taken charge; I can’t do anything. As you know, he’s a close friend of the lord and lifelong ally, right?

—Will this really happen? Will he overlook this?

Seobaekjung mentioned Jinha-gun’s master.

The master was indeed the most worrisome part for Jinha-gun.

But with Sword Immortal stepping in and Jinha-gun having decided to detach from Tianhe Sect, he trusted his master would understand.

—He cannot go against Sword Immortal’s wishes.

Meanwhile, Seo Cheong stood before Sword Immortal.

Sword Immortal’s cold gaze asked,

“Is what the Tianhe Sect young lord told me true?”

Seo Cheong hesitated, unsure what to say. His eyes shifted toward Seobaekjung.

If he had no guilt, he would deny and plead innocence, but his silence admitted all he had done.

Seobaekjung stepped forward,

“This is still under investigation; the facts aren’t confirmed.”

He tried desperately to buy time. Jinha-gun would likely feel sorry for him and hope for a favorable answer.

But the question was for Geom Mugeuk.

“Young sect leader, is this true?”

“No. All sins have already been uncovered.”

Sword Immortal coldly rebuked Seobaekjung,

“Dare you lie to me?”

Sword Immortal found imprisonment too lenient. His life had been dedicated to punishing anyone who killed innocents, regardless of status.

Seobaekjung lowered his head shamefully, sending a message:

—Kneel and beg forgiveness!

Only then did Seo Cheong fall to his knees, trembling in fear.

He begged Sword Immortal,

“I was drunk and made a mistake. I don’t remember that day. Please forgive me.”

Sword Immortal’s expression turned even colder. He didn’t hear an apology but a claim of a mistake, and an excuse of drunkenness at that.

One glance was enough to understand Seo Cheong’s character.

“A mistake?”

“Yes, a mistake.”

“Then why kill others?”

“I….”

He had no excuse, and pleading, he looked up.

“Please forgive me just once.”

Sword Immortal’s icy rebuke struck him dumb.

“Why did you kill?”

Seo Cheong’s mind went blank.

In his dazed state, a single emotion welled up: anger.

Seo Cheong was furious. No one had ever cornered him like this before.

He suddenly shouted,

“Because it thrilled me to kill!”

Silence fell.

“When I killed, it gave me a rush!”

Raising his head, he looked around and shouted louder,

“You all know that feeling! You’ve killed more than me! Why single me out?”

All present stared coldly at him.

Seobaekjung rushed forward and slapped Seo Cheong hard.

“Shut up!”

“Why hit me? Am I wrong?”

Seo Cheong didn’t realize Seobaekjung hit him to protect himself, but in his anger, he saw nothing else.

“Why punish me? This is Murim Alliance territory? If I must be punished, punish me from them!”

Seobaekjung slapped Seo Cheong again and again.

Who could he blame? Only himself for raising such a son.

Seobaekjung sensed Sword Immortal’s fury had peaked. He feared Sword Immortal might kill Seo Cheong right then and there.

He quickly sent a message to Bisa-in.

—We will join forces with the Satan Alliance.

Bisa-in didn’t answer immediately. Now the knife handle was in his hands.

Bisa-in admired Geom Mugeuk. To bring in Sword Immortal and maneuver events this way—anyone could think of it in hindsight, but not just anyone could pull it off.

While Seobaekjung sent a secret message trying to bring Satan Alliance in, Seo Cheong lost patience and caused trouble.

He was angry at his father, misunderstanding that he kept silent to save himself. And his father was hitting him.

With no love or trust between them, extreme situations led only to extreme thoughts.

Seo Cheong, driven by fear and feeling abandoned, uttered words that should never be said.

“You’ve killed people too, Father!”

Startled, Seobaekjung quickly spoke to Sword Immortal,

“He’s just scared and blurting nonsense. Please ignore him.”

Seobaekjung frowned at Seo Cheong.

—Shut up! Do you want to kill even your own father?

He spoke hastily but regretted it. Seo Cheong interpreted it as “If you want to die, just die yourself!”

Seo Cheong shouted desperately,

“You poisoned Sadoogeom (Evil Poison Sword) and buried it in the bamboo grove behind the mountain! You killed Honam Samrang and Myeoljolgeom too!”

A tense silence followed.

Those names should never be spoken here. Honam Samrang and Myeoljolgeom were righteous sect figures, but Sadoogeom belonged to the Satan Alliance.

Seobaekjung looked embarrassed and glanced at Bisa-in.

—The missing Sadoogeom was buried in our Seo Lord’s mountain grove?

—You misunderstand.

—No excuses. Sadoogeom was never on our side anyway.

—So you will join us?

—Regrettably, that’s difficult. Even the heretics have pride.

Though aware of the killing of heretic warriors, they couldn’t accept them fully. Many eyes were watching. Geom Mugeuk had handed him a gourd vine, but it rolled away beyond his control.

In the end, Seobaekjung clung to the farthest line from himself.

“We will join with the Cheonma Sect. Accept us.”

Seobaekjung didn’t even send a message. There was no time to coordinate. His own life was now at stake as much as his son’s. The only hope was the Demon Sect.

Bisa-in sighed, realizing it had come to this. When Geom Mugeuk joked not to choose the Demon Sect, Bisa-in suspected it might really happen.

And it did.

“I said I hate it, didn’t I? I told you not to choose the main sect!”

“Please accept us.”

“I said no! Go to your beloved Murim Alliance.”

“Please!”

“The young lord of the Satan Alliance may look scary, but he’s a good man. Go to him.”

“Please accept us, holy sect! We beg you!”

Seobaekjung grabbed Geom Mugeuk’s pants and pleaded.

“This is troublesome.”

Bisa-in’s prediction was spot on.

Finally, unable to refuse, Geom Mugeuk said quietly,

“Fine, but there is one condition.”

“Speak.”

“Your son will be imprisoned. As long as Tianhe Sect’s loyalty remains, execution will be delayed.”

It wasn’t forgiveness. Life in the Cheonma Sect’s prison was a fate worse than death.

At these words, Seo Cheong panicked and began thrashing again.

“Spare me! Why? I only killed a few insignificant people! Father, save me!”

Though he had lived arrogantly, this was the moment he truly tasted the terror of the world.

“You hypocrites! You kill recklessly, but why can’t I be killed?”

Seobaekjung sighed. His son seemed to be shouting what a death god whispered in his ear.

Finally, Seo Cheong cursed even Seobaekjung.

“Where in the world is a father who abandons his own child? How can such a man lead a sect? You bastard!”

It was the moment their bond was completely severed.

Seobaekjung thought this might be the better way for Tianhe Sect. The sect would continue, his son would live—and that was enough.

He steadied his mind.

At that moment, Gwangseom, who had not spoken until then, strode forward and called Seobaekjung.

“Lord Seo.”

As Seobaekjung turned to look, the sharp sound of a blade sliced through the air.

Swish!

In a single stroke, Gwangseom cut Seobaekjung. His speed was so great the sword was almost invisible.

No one expected him to kill Seobaekjung, so everyone was shocked. Seo Cheong was especially stunned, fearing he might be next, and sank down pale.

Gwangseom bowed briefly to Bisa-in and said tersely,

“Sadoogeom was my sworn younger brother. I accept punishment for acting without orders.”

Even Geom Mugeuk did not know this. When an indifferent heaven turns its gaze to the world, there is no escape.

Sword Immortal sent a secret message to Hyeol Cheon Doma.

—Did you orchestrate this situation?

He thought Hyeol Cheon Doma had been sending secret messages and plotting throughout the day.

Sword Immortal remembered Hyeol Cheon Doma as such a man.

—I wish that were true...

But he knew Hyeol Cheon Doma would not lie.

Sword Immortal’s gaze shifted back to Geom Mugeuk.

—I must live longer.

He realized too late he had moved according to Geom Mugeuk’s will.

—If I interfere so much, young people won’t like me.

—That’s fine.

And thus Tianhe Sect was settled.

With Seobaekjung dead and Seo Cheong imprisoned, the new leader of Tianhe Sect would be someone loyal to the Cheonma Sect.

All eyes naturally focused on Geom Mugeuk.

Today, Geom Mugeuk had achieved everything. He absorbed Tianhe Sect and exacted Seo Cheong’s punishment. Standing calmly, smiling without tension, he now felt like a different man.

If someone said nine out of ten rumors were exaggerated, everyone here would shake their heads and say the one exception was Geom Mugeuk.

Jinha-gun and Bisa-in slowly approached Geom Mugeuk and faced him in a circle.

Just as their meeting had been, the first farewell of the three heirs in Murim history was about to begin.