“Here it was—the place where Jin Sojeo and I parted.”

Ian pointed to the end of the forest path.

“And Jin Sojeo walked off that way.”

The listeners were Hyeol Cheondoma and Gwun Ma. To avoid being seen by others, they wore tight-fitting hats pulled low over their faces. Myeol Cheondae was also wrapped in white cloth. Fortunately, the area was sparsely populated, and they met no one.

When Ian arrived at the courtyard and relayed what had happened, Hyeol Cheondoma’s first words were:

― Leaving him alone is the way to help him.

That was Hyeol Cheondoma’s assessment of Geom Mugeuk. But his actions differed from his words and evaluation.

― There may be nothing to help with, but just in case, shall we go get some fresh air?

Gwun Ma followed Hyeol Cheondoma’s will in his usual blunt manner.

Gwun Ma began carefully inspecting the forest path here and there. Hyeol Cheondoma silently watched him. Ian found it odd that only Gwun Ma was entrusted with the search, but there was a reason.

“It seems he was captured here.”

Ian asked Gwun Ma.

“How do you know?”

Normally, Ian would have been too scared even to speak, but after training late at night with Gwun Ma, she felt somewhat more at ease with him.

Ah! Among the Majon, if you had to choose the most comfortable person, she found herself selecting Gwun Ma—the scariest-looking one!

“Look at these footprints.”

There were faint footprints on the ground, so faint that one would not have noticed them if Gwun Ma hadn’t pointed them out.

“How did you recognize these?”

“I once had an interest in tracking techniques when I was younger.”

Hyeol Cheondoma praised him.

“If he hadn’t become a Majon, he would have been the greatest tracking master in the world.”

It was oddly fitting and yet surprising to think such a large, intimidating man had mastered tracking.

‘Not just anyone becomes a Majon,’ Ian thought.

Considering it, they were the eight who had risen to the highest ranks after Cheonma. Although Geom Mugeuk seemed so outstanding that the Majon appeared to be under his sway, when seen separately, each one was a figure who could shake the martial world.

“Fortunately, no one will pursue the kidnapper, so they let their guard down. This way.”

“Lead the way.”

Hyeol Cheondoma and Ian followed him.

The pace gradually slowed. Even if Gwun Ma had learned tracking in his youth, it wasn’t easy to fully demonstrate such skills now.

Just as Ian thought they might have to give up, Gwun Ma found the path.

They discovered traces of someone pushing through the forest.

“It’s Mugeuk.”

This was a deliberate trail left by Geom Mugeuk.

Hyeol Cheondoma shook his head.

“Trying to use the old man somehow!”

Despite his words, a look of relief crossed his face. Ian understood. Though he said leaving him alone was helping, he genuinely worried about Geom Mugeuk.

That blunt Gwun Ma was even willing to use his old skills to find Geom Mugeuk.

Ian felt good and somewhat envious of their concern for Geom Mugeuk.

‘I want to have people like this in my life too.’

Geom Mugeuk had not only taught martial arts but had also influenced the direction of life itself.

Ian smiled faintly and said to Hyeol Cheondoma:

“Let’s hurry and go scold him!”

And so, the three began crossing through the forest.

“How did you find this place?”

Though outwardly calm, Baek Cheonggyeong was secretly startled by Geom Mugeuk’s arrival. This was his personal hideout, undiscovered by anyone until now. Over the past ten years, a few herbalists had accidentally stumbled in and died, but no one had deliberately found this place.

“I threw my shoe and divined where he went; it pointed exactly here.”

“Yeah, you’re always talking nonsense.”

Geom Mugeuk stared at him and asked,

“And you—what kind of person are you? Someone who kidnaps women to get things done?”

“Well seen. I’m someone who achieves my goals, even if it means kidnapping women.”

The energy emanating from thousands of puppets began to grow stronger. It was clear Baek Cheonggyeong’s emotions were rising.

“Where is Jin Sojeo?”

“Ha Ryeong is fine.”

“Ha Ryeong? Do you even have the right to say Jin Sojeo’s name?”

“Right? I’ve yet to see anyone who has the right to talk about rights. What about you? Do you have the right to question mine?”

“I have more than enough right. The Little Pill Master of the Demon Sect who came to save the granddaughter of the Murim Alliance Leader—have you seen such a person? ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) What right would you lack?”

A sneer appeared on Baek Cheonggyeong’s lips.

“Sure, you must have used sweet words to deceive the Alliance Leader and slip away.”

He wasn’t expected to fall into the trap easily. After all, this was the one who had accelerated his plan in just a few days.

“What’s this all about? By now, you could at least tell me. Tell me why you’re doing this.”

“You brought up rights, so first let’s see if you’re qualified to hear my story.”

When Baek Cheonggyeong reached out, the eyes of the puppets near Geom Mugeuk emitted a deep green-blue glow.

Ssss!

Ten puppets grew larger.

Like living beings, they drew their wooden weapons. Seeing wooden puppets move so naturally was both bizarre and chilling.

Their weapons were also made of wood, but only the blades differed. They were neither metal nor wood yet shone sharper than any sharp weapon.

It was the moment to witness the so-called Wooden Puppet Spirit Binding Technique firsthand.

Of course, Geom Mugeuk neither flinched nor was surprised.

Baek Cheonggyeong felt both confusion and admiration at this.

“He’s not surprised at all.”

How could one stay so calm while tiny wooden puppets grew and moved like people? Perhaps because he had endured all kinds of dark martial arts since childhood?

Still, Baek Cheonggyeong did not think Geom Mugeuk could defeat the Wooden Puppet Spirit Binding Technique. No matter how skilled the Little Pill Master of the Demon Sect was, that youth could not surpass his experience.

Geom Mugeuk knew the quickest, surest way to break this technique—kill Baek Cheonggyeong himself. Though Baek Cheonggyeong would try all means to protect himself, Geom Mugeuk would not have to face all the puppets individually.

Yet Geom Mugeuk did not rush to kill him. His main goal was to save Jin Ha Ryeong and learn about the Fire Weapon.

Therefore, he politely received Baek Cheonggyeong’s first move.

The moment Geom Mugeuk drew his sword, ten wooden puppets simultaneously rushed at him.

When Geom Mugeuk unfolded the Pungshin Sabop, no matter how fast the puppets were, they couldn’t keep up with his wondrous movements.

He cut them down without using the Bicheon Sword Technique. Thinking of them as people, he decisively sliced through.

How could ten ordinary high-level masters kill Geom Mugeuk? Of course, these weren’t ordinary people. First, they had no emotions—no fear, no mercy. They followed only orders, no matter who the opponent was.

More frightening was that they felt no pain.

Moreover, they had regeneration. If a sword-wielding arm was cut off, another arm would grow a sword and continue the attack.

If both arms were severed, they charged with a body slam.

Only by severing the torso or decapitating could their movements be stopped. Once neutralized, the puppets returned to their original small size.

As Geom Mugeuk faced these ten puppets, he thoroughly grasped their traits and movements. Watching him waste not a single move, Baek Cheonggyeong secretly admired him.

“He’s truly no ordinary man.”

After destroying all ten puppets, Geom Mugeuk feigned pain.

“What if you keep this up and I die?”

“If you die, you die. Why? You don’t think I could kill you?”

“I’m the Little Pill Master, the Little Pill Master of the Demon Sect.”

“You may be a big deal in the martial world, but to me, you’re just an unexpected nuisance. Like a carriage suddenly charging around a corner.”

“Not a carriage, a Demon Sect member. This will lead to war—there will be war.”

Though he hinted at war, Baek Cheonggyeong was unmoved. Perhaps this was what he desired. The clash with the Alliance Leader was intended to provoke conflict between Cheonma Sin Gyo and the Murim Alliance.

“Since you showed your qualifications, answer my question.”

“Didn’t I just answer? If you want to talk again, show your qualifications once more.”

This time, twenty wooden puppets grew larger.

Twenty out of thousands of puppets—just a drop in the ocean. It wasn’t the number of puppets that was frightening, but the remaining puppets.

Of course, Geom Mugeuk was not afraid. Using the Wooden Puppet Spirit Binding Technique also required internal energy. They could not move an unlimited number of puppets, and Geom Mugeuk was confident in any internal energy battle.

This time, Geom Mugeuk faced them differently.

Swaaaaaash!

Before they could charge, Geom Mugeuk’s sword energy swept over them—the first form of the Bicheon Sword Technique, Gyuncheon Form, reached at the twelve-star great saint level.

It was a sword energy impossible to evade. Too fast and strong, twenty puppets were sliced down simultaneously.

“Ugh.”

Baek Cheonggyeong let out a low cry. The sudden destruction of his Wooden Puppet Spirit Binding Technique shocked him.

‘Twenty in one strike?’

Baek Cheonggyeong could not believe it. Since using the technique, he had never been so helplessly defeated.

Despite the astonishing move, Geom Mugeuk remained calm.

He slowly walked to where the attacking puppets had been and sat down.

Then he casually fiddled with one of the puppets nearby—unafraid of it suddenly growing and attacking.

“What on earth happened to you?”

The teasing gone, Geom Mugeuk now gave off a different vibe. His clear, deep gaze seemed ready to listen to any story. Though an enemy, he offered a kind of comfort not found from any ally.

Perhaps because of that gaze, a scene arose in Baek Cheonggyeong’s mind.

That place filled only with corpses, the events burned into his chest like a brand.

Suddenly Geom Mugeuk asked,

“Are you seeking revenge?”

Baek Cheonggyeong looked at him. He had never intended to reveal his story, but watching Geom Mugeuk made him want to speak. He wanted to hear what that smooth-talking, strange man would say.

“And what are you trying to do? Are you aiming to marry the Murim Alliance Leader’s grandson? Or are you trying to get close to the Leader only to kill him?”

Geom Mugeuk fiddled with the puppet as he spoke.

“I’m seeking revenge too.”

Baek Cheonggyeong was shocked. It was the biggest surprise since meeting Geom Mugeuk—he never expected the word “revenge” to come from his mouth.

“Against whom?”

“See, when you hear the word revenge, don’t you immediately wonder who it’s against?”

Placing the puppet down, Geom Mugeuk said,

“By order, shouldn’t I hear mine first?”

At that moment, four puppets nearby suddenly grew and launched an attack.

Shiiik!

All four were cut down simultaneously.

Geom Mugeuk seemed to anticipate the attack. His martial level already overwhelmed the puppets’ strikes.

Baek Cheonggyeong realized this method could not even scratch Geom Mugeuk. To win, he would have to use his secret technique.

Thud. Thud.

The puppets returned to their original sizes, severed and discarded.

Despite the ambush, Geom Mugeuk did not complain, picking them up and placing them back where they belonged.

“Are you mocking me?”

“If I mocked you, I’d have crushed these or pissed on them. At least I know how hard you worked carving each one. I tried myself—carving these is no easy task.”

“No matter what, today you won’t leave alive.”

“Then why not tell me? Since you’re going to die anyway. And even if you die, so will I. Why not talk? Why carry so many worries even after death?”

Those words struck Baek Cheonggyeong’s chest. Yes, he carried countless regrets and worries, yet did not fear death.

“You’re a master of sophistry.”

“Tell me. I want to know your story.”

Their eyes met in the empty air.

Baek Cheonggyeong felt that Geom Mugeuk truly wanted to know, and not just to gain an advantage in battle.

Finally, Baek Cheonggyeong slowly extended his hand.

Then the puppets farther away from Geom Mugeuk grew like people. They did not attack him but instead began fighting each other in the middle of the clearing.

Geom Mugeuk understood. Baek Cheonggyeong wanted to show what he had experienced this way. The clearing became a stage displaying his past.

A masked puppet was cutting down the others. Male and female puppets alike fell to his blade helplessly. The Wooden Puppet Spirit Binding Technique was at work on stage. Small puppets grew. They used the technique to try stopping him.

‘Mokcheon clan.’

It was a display of the clan’s extinction. All family members dying. A scene that would enrage Geom Mugeuk more than anyone.

Familiar faces overlapped above the fallen puppets.

The masked puppet cut down every last one.

It was clear that the clan’s destruction had been carried out by a single person.

“Do you want to know why I spent ten years carving these puppets at the Murim Alliance? Why I don’t care if a war breaks out? Why I dared kidnap the Alliance Leader’s granddaughter? Watch carefully why I waited for the perfect moment of revenge!”

At the end of his words, the puppet who had massacred the others turned its head toward Geom Mugeuk.

Geom Mugeuk was startled.

Though masked, those sharp, intense eyes were familiar. Someone he knew.

It was none other than the Murim Alliance Leader, Jin Paecheon.