Geom Mugeuk was thoroughly intoxicated by Pungcheon Sect Leader’s prayer.

From the illusions of the charging beasts, he felt the depth of the leader’s wrath.

If the Heavenly Demon Protective Skill hadn’t activated, his blood would have boiled in response to the prayer, and he would have struggled to resist the urge to draw his sword.

This was the true prayer of a master—a real master who had reached the pinnacle of a martial art.

Now was the time to calm his anger.

Geom Mugeuk dodged the rampaging beasts here and there, waving his hands and joking.

“I didn’t lay a finger on your disciple, sir! Oh no, I’m dying!”

At this, Pungcheon Sect Leader withdrew his prayer.

The rampaging beasts vanished in an instant. The dark clouds dispersed, and the surroundings brightened. The tolling of the bells, which had resonated like pounding hearts and opened the gates of hell, faded away. With the lingering echo of the bell’s long ring, the leader’s emotions visibly settled.

His gaze returned to normal.

“Where is Cheongseon now?”

The calm question carried concern for her.

This was why one must observe people closely. No, even with close observation, Pungcheon Sect Leader’s layers of character had remained unknown until now.

It was a moment to realize just how difficult it is to truly know someone, to understand their many facets.

“The Spirit Mazon is well.”

Only then did Pungcheon Sect Leader’s face relax.

“She will be glad to know you worry so. Though I nearly died thanks to that, too.”

“Nonsense! You’re perfectly fine.”

“I even used the Heavenly Demon Protective Skill!”

To save the leader’s pride, Geom Mugeuk deliberately mentioned the skill. At those words, the leader’s mood brightened immediately. He truly regarded his father as the greatest in the world.

Gowol, standing behind the leader, spoke up.

“Leader, did you really care that much about your disciple? You don’t seem that fond of her.”

“I don’t. Care for her? What do you mean care?”

Feeling a bit embarrassed, the leader gave a different reason.

“It’s not because of Cheongseon, but my pride! How dare they touch my disciple? That’s an insult to me. Surely they knew she was my disciple? Or maybe they didn’t and that’s why they did it?”

Geom Mugeuk firmly shook his head.

“No way. Anyone plotting such a thing would have done proper research.”

“Who exactly is it?”

“A woman.”

Pungcheon Sect Leader tilted his head in doubt. Among the women he knew who had learned spirit control, none could have done this. The same was true for men. Who would dare touch a Mazon of the Demon Sect? If caught, their whole clan would be annihilated. Who was it?

“Who is she?”

“She’s a woman disguised as a garden owner in Maga Village.”

“I must see her myself. But first, bring Cheongseon.”

“I’ll go fetch her. By the way, your disciple doesn’t know she’s under spirit control.”

“That figures.”

The leader’s gaze deepened. Though other matters could be overlooked, he never took spirit control lightly.

As Geom Mugeuk left, Gowol spoke to him.

“Leader.”

Calling someone, Gowol said nothing.

They were always together, so how could he not understand Gowol’s meaning? He was worried that emotions might cloud Geom Mugeuk, his disciple’s affairs.

“What’s there to worry about? You know what a rotten person I am.”

Gowol nodded with a knowing expression.

The leader shouted, hiding his dignity until his disciple arrived.

“You better say it’s not you! The leader’s secretly affectionate and worried! At least say it’s not you!”

Black energy rose from Cheongseon’s fingertips, wrapping around her arm.

The black smoke transformed into fish-scale shaped armor, perfectly protecting her arm as the Illusionary Scale Technique seemed to succeed.

But—

Jjeong.

A sound like metal splitting was heard, followed by the scales bursting apart and scattering as smoke.

Cheongseon grabbed her arm in pain. She had recited the incantation incorrectly and nearly seriously injured herself.

After killing Saujong, she couldn’t focus on training.

Was it guilt? No. She wasn’t a weak person. Her harsh and fierce nature made her regret losing control of her emotions.

She kept recalling that day, imagining how she should have responded calmly. “If I had answered like this… If I had handled it like that… I should have endured it.”

Maybe it was because of the Little Pill Master. She wanted to show a cool image.

She alone was the next generation Mazon. Other Mazons might grow old and die, but she would serve Geom Mugeuk, who would live to become leader. She felt regret at ruining the start of such an important relationship.

Then a subordinate’s voice was heard outside.

“The Little Pill Master has arrived.”

“Bring them in.”

She was startled as she had just been thinking of Geom Mugeuk. His timing was impeccable.

Shortly after, Geom Mugeuk entered.

“Little Pill Master.”

“Mazon.”

They greeted each other formally. Cheongseon was inwardly worried that the Saujong issue might have escalated.

But contrary to her concern, Geom Mugeuk brought very good news—two pieces of it.

“Ilhwa Sword Lord agreed to let this matter pass quietly.”

Cheongseon was greatly relieved. She couldn’t openly show it, so she forced herself to maintain a composed expression.

“The Sword Lord yielded for the Mazon’s sake.”

Cheongseon knew well that Geom Mugeuk’s mediation had brought about this result.

“I won’t forget your help.”

And then another piece of good news.

“Pungcheon Sect Leader has returned.”

“Ah! Master!”

“He came back and went straight to find the Mazon.”

I wanted to tell her how angry her master was when he heard about the spirit control. Though he showed no outward signs, he cared for her deeply. I would tell her when this was all over, hoping their relationship would deepen further.

“Where is he?”

“He’s currently waiting for the Mazon at my residence.”

This time, Cheongseon could not hide her joy.

Geom Mugeuk and Cheongseon returned to the residence.

“Master.”

Cheongseon tried to maintain a confident appearance before everyone but was always burdened by these worries.

When would her spirit control strengthen enough to make her like other Mazons?

Though no one dared say it, it followed her like an obsession.

For her, Pungcheon Sect Leader was a reliable protector. Perhaps because of the recent gloom caused by Saujong, she was even happier than usual to see her master.

“How was your trip, Master?”

Cheongseon knelt respectfully.

The Sect Leader could recognize her martial achievement from her prayer alone.

“You’ve trained hard.”

Hearing her master acknowledge her effort, Cheongseon was happy. She trained harder than anyone to catch up with other Mazons. Being recognized made all her hardship worthwhile.

“Thank you, Master.”

“Rise.”

The Sect Leader stared deeply into her eyes. It was the first time he had looked at her like that, and Cheongseon was inwardly flustered. When she tried to lower her head,

“Look me in the eye.”

“Yes, Master.”

Cheongseon raised her eyes to meet his gaze.

Geom Mugeuk and Gowol watched tensely. They hoped this was a spirit control that Pungcheon Sect Leader could undo.

“Now, show me the Mind and Soul Technique.”

As the Sect Leader’s test continued, Geom Mugeuk and Gowol briefly left. They knew this was to check what kind of spirit control she was under, but being present when a Mazon unleashed martial arts was impolite.

Geom Mugeuk and Gowol walked around the inner courtyard.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“Not at all. I enjoy working. Don’t worry too much.”

“Don’t say that. Then they’ll think you really like it and give you more work.”

Gowol smiled.

Geom Mugeuk thought he should share more information with Gowol.

“Keep in mind the ones behind this might be the same group that caused the recent Murim Alliance incident.”

Though it was serious, Gowol was not surprised.

“Did you suspect that?”

“Since both plots target top ranks, I suspected the same backers. If your guess is right, the Satan Alliance will also have their conspiracies.”

Gowol was sharp in analyzing the situation.

“Better to be cautious and gather information with that in mind.”

“Understood.”

“And for now, stay at the leader’s and my residence. Soon, with father’s permission, I’ll create a small official Eunwol branch.”

Gowol cautiously refused Geom Mugeuk’s kindness.

“Please postpone that.”

“Why?”

“If Eunwol becomes official, it will be a recognized Demon Sect branch. When you become leader, please make Eunwol official.”

He wished it to remain solely under Geom Mugeuk’s command for now.

Geom Mugeuk smiled brightly, conveying gratitude with his eyes.

“Gowol.”

“Yes, Little Pill Master.”

“As you know, we have a long road ahead. Pace yourself. I worry you might overwork and burn out.”

“People collapse not because of hard work but because no one appreciates it. Since you appreciate it, I have no worries.”

Gowol smiled and added,

“Also, Pungcheon Sect Leader exaggerates. I don’t work hard enough to collapse.”

At the rare joke, Geom Mugeuk laughed out loud.

The two continued walking. Not knowing when they’d be busy again, this rare stroll was precious.

When they returned to the residence with Gowol, Cheongseon was gone.

“How was it?”

Pungcheon Sect Leader had learned exactly what had happened to Cheongseon.

“She was caught by the Yin-Yang Reversal Technique.”

Neither I nor Gowol had heard of it before. It wasn’t a Murim technique but an ancient, extinct martial art from the Outer Garden.

“It was an Outer Garden technique that disappeared long ago.”

The leader’s stern expression was because it was a special technique from the Outer Garden.

“The Blood Sect martial art, now gone.”

Pungcheon Sect Leader was formerly of the Blood Sect. That technique disappeared long ago and never passed into the Pungcheon Sect. Its sudden appearance was unsettling.

Rumors of the Blood Sect’s resurrection had circulated like ghosts throughout history. Naturally, the leader was sensitive to such rumors.

But the truth was, Hwamu Gi had no relation to the Blood Sect. Even when the Twelve Kings ruled the Central Plains after Hwamu Gi sealed the three orthodox sects, there was no incident related to the Blood Sect’s resurrection.

The important point now was this.

“Can the Yin-Yang Reversal Technique placed on ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) the Spirit Mazon be undone?”

Pungcheon Sect Leader looked at me and Gowol seriously. He wanted to indicate he couldn’t, but his pride interfered. Eventually, he spoke up.

“Of course I can. I’m the Pungcheon Sect Leader.”

Me and Gowol cheered.

“Of course! Leader is the best!”

The leader puffed up proudly.

“Did the medium die?”

He knew about Saujong’s death.

“How do you know?”

“The Yin-Yang Reversal Technique can be reversed only when the two involved have slept together, and the one under spirit control can reverse it. The condition is very strict. But why would anyone cast spirit control while sleeping together?”

“To kill the other.”

“If Cheongseon intended to kill, he’d be dead. Since the backer is a woman, she wouldn’t act directly but use a man as a medium. She’d let Cheongseon kill the man so there’d be no loose ends.”

“You sound like a different person! Who are you really? Are you under spirit control yourself?”

“Is that an insult? Not a compliment, right?”

He wasn’t flattering to make me feel better. When working, the Pungcheon Sect Leader was a completely different person.

“The dead one was just a medium, and the woman who taught him the incantation will have the Spirit Suppressing Seal on her body. Using the Great Law, we can remove that seal and naturally erase the red spirit implanted in Cheongseon.”

A cold blue chill flowed from the leader’s eyes.

“I will take responsibility for my disciple’s life. So bring me before that damned woman.”

I trusted Pungcheon Sect Leader to suppress Hwanyeo and succeed with the Great Law. If not him, then who else could break the spirit control? But there was one issue.

“What happens to the woman when the Great Law is carried out?”

“If the Spirit Suppressing Seal is forcibly removed, she won’t survive. Anyone who tries to make others puppets must be prepared for that.”

“Before killing her, we must find out where Hwanwang is.”

If Hwanyeo dies, Hwanwang will definitely seek revenge. I knew well how devoted the twins were to each other.

If Hwanwang sharpened his revenge in secret, and his target was Pungcheon Sect Leader?

That was a situation I never wanted. If we kill Hwanyeo, we must kill Hwanwang too.

“I will inform you when the Great Law proceeds. Until then, bear with it.”

The cold gleam faded from the leader’s eyes as usual.

“I’ve been straining my eyes too much. It’s tiring.”

Rubbing his eyes, the leader joked, then asked me,

“What exactly are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking about how to help our leader shine. So he won’t live a life avenged by someone like Hwanwang.”

“How to make our leader look amazing—that’s what I’m considering.”