Yang Seok stared blankly at Ha Gyeol’s severed head rolling on the ground.

He couldn’t believe that Ha Gyeol was such a formidable master. The skill of Geom Mugeuk, who had treated that great master like a mere sparring partner and killed him, was beyond surprising—it inspired awe.

In truth, Yang Seok hadn’t really watched the duel properly. It was just flashes, bangs, and crashes, and suddenly it was over.

The only thing he had truly seen was the final move Geom Mugeuk had shown.

‘What on earth was that evil spirit?’

He knew the Demon Sect’s martial arts were terrifying, but he never imagined actual evil spirits would manifest. When it appeared, he was so shocked and scared he couldn’t even scream.

Yang Seok cautiously glanced at Geom Mugeuk. The man who had invited him to drink all night was completely different from the one who had just fought.

And now, Geom Mugeuk silently looking up at the sky also seemed like a different person.

That posture made Yang Seok feel as if Geom Mugeuk was weighing whether to kill him or not—and that thought filled him with fear.

‘Even if I have to kneel and beg, I must live.’

Stealing the Extreme Vessel without informing Geom Mugeuk was clearly a death-worthy crime.

‘If it had succeeded, the Extreme Vessel would have become a trump card.’

Yang Seok deeply regretted losing the one bargaining chip that could have allowed him to negotiate with both his father and Geom Mugeuk. That extra life was gone.

“Young Master Yang.”

“Yes, Little Pill Master.”

Yang Seok’s trembling voice replied. Hopefully, the next words wouldn’t be “you must die too!”

“Now the task of finding the mastermind rests on you.”

Yang Seok sighed in relief, but thinking he was alive only made him tremble more.

“Do you know anything about the mastermind?”

“No, I don’t.”

No—now was not the time to lie.

“Actually, the Sect Master of the main branch is involved.”

He used “Sect Master” instead of “father.”

“I also just found out recently.”

Geom Mugeuk saw that Yang Seok misunderstood this. He also saw something else: Yang Seok wanted to kill his father. That was why he said it without hesitation.

“The mastermind behind you is not your father.”

“No?”

Geom Mugeuk shook his head firmly and said,

“But your father probably knows about the person Ha Gyeol serves.”

Thinking back, the terrifying blood techniques Ha Gyeol showed earlier seemed stronger, not weaker, than his father’s.

Only now did Yang Seok understand the relationship between his father and Ha Gyeol. Why his father had struggled with Ha Gyeol—not only because Ha Gyeol’s martial arts were strong, but because he had an even greater master behind him.

‘So that’s why they wanted Ha Gyeol as heir. They couldn’t withstand their threats.’

Yang Seok interpreted the situation that way.

He should have thought his father had no choice, but instead, he blamed him.

‘How could he succumb to external pressure and abandon his own children!’

Already, having resolved to become Sect Master using the sword called Geom Mugeuk, he justified all situations as righteousness against the bonds of kinship.

Moreover, when Ha Gyeol made a gesture earlier, his blood vessels swelled as if about to burst. Only today had he realized something parasitic had been implanted in his body.

Anger welled up in Yang Seok—an intense murderous intent to kill everyone involved in this incident without exception.

Geom Mugeuk saw through his heart and fanned the father-son conflict further.

“Your father will soon learn that Ha Gyeol died because of you. Will he forgive you then?”

Yang Seok’s desperate desire to survive might create another opportunity.

“He won’t forgive me.”

He wanted to argue “Why because of me?” but dared not. Now was not the time to argue; it was time to impress Geom Mugeuk.

“Somehow, you must find out the mastermind quickly.”

“As I said, only Young Master Yang can find that out.”

With things as they were, Yang Seok didn’t hesitate.

“What should I do?”

“Meet your father and find out who is behind Ha Gyeol.”

“He won’t tell me.”

“Normally, no. But since Ha Gyeol’s death changed things, if you approach properly, you should get information useful to us.”

“What do you mean by ‘properly’?”

Then came an unexpected answer.

“Be honest.”

To a man who had lived far from honesty, Geom Mugeuk’s words sounded strange.

“The outcome depends on how honest you are.”

Yang Seok was doubtful. No, he was sure it wouldn’t work. He had never been honest, and his father was someone who could detect lies better than anyone. Approaching honestly was itself a lie.

Still, Yang Seok didn’t reveal those inner thoughts. He was far from honest.

“I’ll try!”

That was all Yang Seok wished for now.

‘Yes, no matter what it takes, I’ll find out everything, defeat my father and the mastermind, and leave! Get out of my Northern Sea!’

When Geom Mugeuk returned to Binggung’s residence, Chimma was sitting alone at the windowside table, drinking.

As if expecting Geom Mugeuk, two cups were set.

Seeing the prepared cups, Geom Mugeuk felt pleased. They symbolized Chimma’s trust in him.

Chimma poured the cup full of the liquor to honor that trust.

“Did you find the mastermind?”

“No.”

Those who recklessly used self-destructive qi were people who guarded their secrets fiercely.

However, one strong hunch remained.

“I think he’s at Bukhyeolmun.”

Seeking the Extreme Vessel was probably to perform a great ritual.

If Ha Gyeol, his right hand, was at Bukhyeolmun, then the Blood King must be hiding somewhere there too.

“Whether he’s there or not, Bukhyeolmun will be cleaned up anyway.”

They lured people under the pretense of developing medicine, promising a fortune in return.

Since most people weren’t Extreme Vessels, they met death. For this alone, Bukhyeolmun’s leader and Yang Seok were unforgivable.

“By the way, who did we rescue?”

Chimma had saved the person in the carriage with incredible skill.

“Hidden inside our sect’s outskirts for now.”

“What kind of person?”

“A father who volunteered to find treatment money for his child.”

Chimma had already handled everything Geom Mugeuk needed.

“I sent word to the branch where he lives. Told them to treat the child before it’s too late.”

“Nice work, brother.”

“Nice, indeed.”

To confess honestly, Chimma did it to look good in Geom Mugeuk’s eyes.

He knew who he was—not someone who saved others and contacted those saved for their children.

He was someone who didn’t care if others died, living a life alone drinking, ignoring everyone.

Now, he cared for others—to look good to Geom Mugeuk.

When he first got involved in the heir battle, he never imagined this relationship with Geom Mugeuk.

“If it wasn’t for you, would I have even sent word or saved that person?”

“Same here. If Ian hadn’t come for the husband of the woman who drank water, would I have cared about the Extreme Vessel?”

Chimma wanted to ask, “Who made Ian go to the martial world to do that?” but stopped himself. He knew Geom Mugeuk was embarrassed to be praised.

“What now?”

“He lost both the Extreme Vessel and his right hand.”

“He’ll come for revenge. Or hide forever.”

No one knew which path the Blood King would choose. But the Blood King he knew always paid back those who crossed him.

“He’ll definitely want blood.”

Chimma’s gaze into his cup hardened.

“He’ll need stronger liquor now.”

The head of Bukhyeolmun was somewhat excited.

‘Finally, today.’

The day the Extreme Vessel arrives. Once the great ritual was completed using the Extreme Vessel, he would reveal himself to the world.

He recalled what Ha Gyeol once said.

—If only the Extreme Vessel is found and the great ritual completed, Northern Sea Binggung would be finished. Binggung’s martial arts would be neutralized, and only Binggung could enter the icy treasure vault.

For Northern Sea martial arts, Binggung’s disappearance meant Bukhyeolmun would become the top sect. That was his lifelong wish.

‘I won’t live my life beaten and controlled by a woman.’

Surprisingly, he’d carried this sentiment since youth. He had lived feeling inferior to Binggung.

Perhaps that was why he accepted their proposal easily.

‘Today, finally, the snake’s head will become the dragon’s tail.’

He didn’t care if it was just a tail. He wouldn’t live as a tail forever. Someday what looked like a tail would open its mouth and swallow everything from head to torso.

For now, the top priority was to use them to sweep out Northern Sea Binggung. Like father, like son—they both dreamed of murder.

Then Yang Seok entered.

“I greet the Sect Master.”

“What brings you here at this hour?”

“I couldn’t find Ha Gyeol all day, so I came to see if he was here.”

Of course, the Sect Master knew where Ha Gyeol was. Probably sent him somewhere to receive the Extreme Vessel.

“I sent him away briefly.”

Yang Seok tried to keep his expression controlled. Once trust breaks, every word grates.

‘He never honestly told me anything.’

With such a relationship, being honest now?

‘I wonder what face he’ll make when he learns Ha Gyeol died.’

Ha Gyeol’s death might make him suspicious. It was publicly known they weren’t on good terms.

But he wouldn’t blindly suspect him. Ha Gyeol’s martial skill was far superior. You know that well, Sect Master.

“I have one question.”

“What is it?”

“Why are you seeking the Extreme Vessel?”

It was an unexpected question, and the Sect Master looked at his son with surprise.

“Why suddenly ask that?”

“Because I think it’s time for me to know. It’s something the main branch invested time and money into for a long time, isn’t it?”

The Sect Master silently gazed at his son, sensing something was different.

“I’ll tell you when the time is right.”

At that moment, a subordinate hurried in with news.

“Urgent news.”

“What is it?”

The subordinate glanced at Yang Seok briefly then quickly reported.

“Ha Gyeol, the right hand of the Sect Master, is dead.”

The Sect Master’s eyes widened.

Yang Seok had never seen his father so shocked. Not even when his younger brother died.

Yang Seok, in contrast, pretended to be surprised.

“What does that mean?”

He had to give a full performance here. If he slipped up, his involvement would be exposed.

“Report in detail!”

Unlike the raging Yang Seok, the Sect Master said nothing. He showed no outward emotion but was torn by two conflicting feelings.

First, relief. Someone who could have killed him by swelling blood vessels was dead.

At the same time, worry overwhelmed him. Ha Gyeol was a master even he couldn’t handle.

‘Who killed him?’

His death meant his own crisis, for he had allied with Ha Gyeol.

‘Binggung?’

The first person he thought of was Binggung.

“Where and how did he die?”

“He was found with his neck cut on the road to the main branch. About ten other corpses and a carriage were also found nearby.”

Hearing the carriage was found, the Sect Master knew.

‘The escort was ambushed!’

He guessed someone had stolen the Extreme Vessel.

‘Whoever it is, they knew today the Extreme Vessel would be escorted to us.’

The Sect Master clenched his teeth. So much time, money, and effort spent on the Extreme Vessel. What a disaster. Something that should never have happened.

Meanwhile, Yang Seok ordered his men.

“Track ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) down the rogue! Investigate the dead and find the cause of death quickly.”

“Yes, sir.”

After the men left, Yang Seok asked,

“What exactly did you have him do?”

The Sect Master didn’t answer.

‘What now?’

Two options lay ahead. First, inform the person in the secret room. They knew someone Ha Gyeol served was there.

The problem was he’d never seen that person. Ha Gyeol was difficult enough. With the Extreme Vessel gone, meeting that person? No one knew how he’d react.

The second option was to find the Extreme Vessel himself. Ha Gyeol was dead, but if the Extreme Vessel was recovered, the person in the secret room might be satisfied. It might even substitute for Ha Gyeol’s role, turning misfortune into opportunity.

Yang Seok felt this was his moment and took the gamble.

“Father.”

He used “father” instead of “Sect Master” for the first time.

The Sect Master stared at Yang Seok silently.

“I know you secretly planned something with Ha Gyeol.”

Taking Geom Mugeuk’s advice, Yang Seok approached with feigned honesty.

“Please tell me what it is. Let me help you.”

The Sect Master hesitated for a moment.

Then,

A secret door behind the great hall began to open. It was the door to the very secret room where Ha Gyeol had whispered.

The door housed yet another secret room inside.

The Sect Master stared at the opening door with a look more shocked than when he heard Ha Gyeol was dead.

A door that should never open was opening.

“Ugh!”

Yang Seok grimaced, covering his mouth and nose.

From between the doors came a dreadful smell of blood unlike anything he had ever smelled before.