After sending Byeokgeom away, I sat alone, deep in thought.

It felt like I was ascending Mount Tai without stopping, using light footwork—rage rising endlessly.

What the hell is the problem?

My martial arts are rapidly improving, I’ve got plenty of subordinates, and more money than I know what to do with.

But the problem... the problem is that I’m still angry. That emotion hasn’t changed. At this rate, if I regress back to the Crazy Demon who once flung himself off Manjang Gorge, I’ll probably end up bald from stress.

It would be a pathetic and empty way to end.

As I sat there thinking, seething, then suddenly laughing to myself, I realized—I’m not in a normal state of mind.

“Ah, this is dangerous. Time to throw a fit.”

If someone had seen me just then—sitting with a grim expression one second and giggling to myself the next—they’d think I was mad.

Not wrong.

Rather than slipping further into this madness alone, I decided it would be better to lash out at someone else.

I slapped myself hard across the face, then shouted toward the outside.

“Bring in Master Yukhap. Tell him to quit his crap and come in already!”

“Yes, Pavilion Lord!”

So-gunpyeong and Cha Seong-tae had been with me long enough that I couldn’t yell at them without reason anymore.

The former Crazy Demon of my past life, Master Yukhap, appeared with his hands behind his back.

“You called?”

I imagined beating the hell out of him, then jerked my chin toward the seat next to me.

“Sit down, Yukhap.”

“…”

“So, now that you’ve been eating our rice and lazing around Black Cat Pavilion—what thoughts have you had?”

Master Yukhap sat down and glared at me.

“…”

“You worthless piece of trash. I asked you a question. Answer me.”

He let out a sigh and replied.

“Not much.”

“Wrong. You’ve been slowly building resistance to the Mountain Bell Poison. Recovering your internal energy. Waiting for a chance to escape, fully restore your martial arts, and one day take your revenge. Isn’t that right?”

He glanced sideways at me and replied in a calm voice.

“You’re right. You see right through me. That’s exactly what I was thinking.”

I looked at him with a smile.

“Think you can take your revenge on me with your current skills?”

He smiled too, though his irritation was rising.

“I think I could get by for three or four years fueled purely by vengeance. By then, maybe I’ll catch up.”

“Yeah?”

I shouted toward the outer hall.

“Cha Seong-tae!”

I ran a hand through my hair, suppressing the murderous intent that had filled my head. Moments later, there was a loud shuffle, and Cha Seong-tae arrived.

“You called?”

“Bring me all the antidotes.”

“Yes, sir.”

It wasn’t until my rage had fully boiled over that I understood what was truly making me so angry. What I had done to Master Yukhap wasn’t much different from the atrocities committed by the Demonic Cult.

That’s why I was pissed—not just at them, or at Yukhap—but at myself.

Cha Seong-tae returned with a bundle of antidotes handed over from So-gunpyeong and stood beside me.

“Here they are.”

I snatched them out of his hand and slammed them on the table.

“Yukhap.”

“Speak.”

“Take them. Eat every last one. You’re a scheming, useless bastard. And it’s not like you’re of any use to the martial world either. Did you even have the balls to dream big like a real man? No. You’re just a piece of trash with decent martial skills. Meanwhile, I’ve got to go out and fight a life-and-death battle against those bastard Demonic Cult freaks. And the mere thought of you still hanging around here pisses me off.”

He furrowed his brow and asked,

“Why are you suddenly like this?”

“Why? You want me to kill you? No. I have pride, too. Killing a poisoned and weakened man wouldn’t sit right with me. Heal up. Then come at me. That’s how it should be.”

Because I’d been yelling like a madman, the senior members were now gathered outside, peering toward the great hall.

I glared at Master Yukhap.

“This is who I am. A man who swings between extremes. And lately, you so-called martial artists are really grinding my nerves. I feel both disgust and hatred. Of course, I live in the martial world too, so I include myself in that. Now, before I bash your skull in, get out of my sight.”

He stared at me, then tucked the antidotes into his robe.

I spoke.

“Come find me once your internal energy’s fully recovered. Then I’ll make sure to tear you to pieces. I’m sure you have your pride too. You won’t scurry off and hide like a rat, right? I’ll be waiting.”

Yukhap stood silently and looked at me.

“Try not to die before then.”

“Oh, of course. And when the time comes, bring all those little bug bastards with you. I’ll rip them to shreds too and lay them neatly beside your corpse.”

He nodded.

“I’ll do that.”

Only then did I feel a little better.

This is who I am. Trying to be all noble and feed someone poison to “save” them—what bullshit. Just thinking of Yukhap always left a bad taste in my mouth.

I should’ve just torn him apart during our first fight. But I got greedy for the martial power he had in his past life.

He was never someone I could keep by my side.

Either I needed to be greater than him, or significantly stronger.

But beating a weakened man who hasn’t recovered his internal energy? Even my temper couldn’t justify that.

Because I’d been so loud, the subordinates silently stepped aside and let Yukhap pass.

Cha Seong-tae closed the door to the great hall and approached me.

“Pavilion Lord, why are you so angry today?”

“Beats me.”

He sat in silence for a moment, then asked bluntly.

“What happened? I’ve never seen you this furious.”

I looked at him and replied.

“...The Demonic Sect I’ve gotten tangled with this time—turns out they’ve been [N O V E L I G H T] feeding poison to martial artists to control them. Same thing I did to Yukhap. Should’ve just killed him. Now I’m just left feeling sick.”

Cha Seong-tae crossed his arms and stared at the ceiling.

“I see. So they’re strong? This Demonic force?”

“They’re the maternal clan of the Cult Leader’s son. Yeah, they’re strong.”

“Ah... If it’s the Cult Leader’s son, then it’s a problem whether we kill him or not.”

There was a knock at the great hall.

Knock knock knock—

So-gunpyeong poked his head in.

“Pavilion Lord, may I come in?”

“Come.”

The doors opened, and he entered quietly. As he sat down, he mentioned in passing,

“Master Ho Yeoncheong went out to see him off. Seems like they got a little closer.”

I more or less understood what he meant, but didn’t react.

“Got it.”

Then he asked the same question as Cha Seong-tae.

“Pavilion Lord, why are you so angry today?”

“Does it show?”

“Yes.”

So I told them as honestly as I’d told Yukhap.

“You guys piss me off with how pathetic you still are. And I piss myself off too. Even if I wanted to take you all into battle, you’re still not combat-ready. All of you are weaker than Yukhap. And when someone’s strong, they act like an asshole. Meanwhile, the so-called subordinates I have—I’d be dragging corpses home if I took you with me. So yeah, I’m angry. At everything.”

So-gunpyeong scowled and retorted.

“Who are we even fighting that makes you say this? We train every day not because we want to be protected like kids, but to fight alongside you.”

He raised his voice at me.

I nodded.

“The third son of the Cult Leader and his maternal clan.”

As soon as “Demonic Cult” was mentioned, the great hall fell silent. So-gunpyeong sighed.

“Pavilion Lord.”

“What?”

“Do you think every single person on their side is strong? That’s not how Jianghu works. Leaders fight leaders. Mid-ranks clash with mid-ranks. The weak die at the bottom. If the leaders settle things, the rest can be wiped out instantly.”

“If they had that kind of romanticism and pride, I wouldn’t be so angry. But the Demonic Sect isn’t like that.”

I suddenly sensed movement outside the hall.

“What? Why are you two still here?”

As soon as I spoke, the door opened, revealing Ho Yeoncheong and Master Yukhap. Ho Yeoncheong looked at Yukhap, then back at me.

“Not sure. He turned back after leaving.”

Yukhap pulled out the antidote I’d given him and popped one into his mouth.

“Pavilion Lord, who are we fighting?”

“Why?”

He let out a long sigh.

“I’m pissed off too. But I’ve got nowhere to unleash it.”

“…”

“Don’t worry. I’ll challenge you later. But for now, I want to fight with Haomun. If it pisses you off that I’m joining, so be it. Ho Yeoncheong said it looked like you were going up against the Demonic Sect.”

I almost asked, how am I supposed to trust you? But swallowed the words.

If I trust him, I get to use the martial strength of the former Crazy Demon.

If he betrays me, well... things get a little more troublesome.

But I’m already troubled enough to lose hair over it.

I didn’t want to call on the Martial Alliance.

Didn’t feel right dragging the Sword Demon or the Womanizer into this, either.

This is something Haomun and I have to carry. Sword Demon, the Womanizer, and Im Sobaek—they all have their own battles.

I hate relying on people when things get tough.

To be honest, I was about to storm off to Uhyanggok alone, beat the crap out of the Lord there, then torture the White-Faced Master while I waited.

Now with the former Crazy Demon tagging along, has the difficulty increased or decreased?

“Hey, Yukhap.”

“Speak.”

“Rest for today. Tomorrow, we’re attacking together.”

I told everyone honestly.

“I’m on the edge of losing my mind. I’ll sleep until tomorrow. Don’t wake me. If enemies come, I’ll get up on my own.”

I waved them off.

“Dismissed.”

So-gunpyeong protested.

“Just the two of you?”

“So-gunpyeong, stop yapping. If you’re pissed, go train. I can see your level just by looking at you. If you’re weak, shut up. I didn’t bring you along just to throw you into a meat grinder. I believe you’ll one day fight beside me—but that day isn’t today. Not tomorrow either.”

“Pavilion Lord, but Master Yukhap—”

He seemed unusually irritated today, so I stayed calm.

“So-gunpyeong. So Deputy. Gunpyeong.”

“Yes.”

“Yukhap is ten times stronger than you. If I die, lead Haomun well. But if I really do fall, the bastards who manage to kill me will already be dead by the time I go.”

I pointed at Yukhap.

“And if that bastard betrays me—I’ll drag him to hell with me. I’m going to sleep.”

I turned to my room, stripping off my outer robe. I didn’t want to waste time. By the time I opened the door, I’d already undone all my clothes. I stabbed the Flash Dagger into the bedpost, collapsed, and closed my eyes.

And in that instant, I forgot everything.

All thoughts vanished. All worries disappeared.

I drained all strength from my face, body, arms, legs, stomach, toes, fingers—and fell unconscious. Darkness surged over me like a tidal wave and carried me off into a sea of forgetfulness.

.

.

.

The moment I opened my eyes, I grabbed the Flash Dagger and glanced outside.

The sun was shining brightly. Must’ve been asleep a while.

I looked around my room—my clothes were scattered all over.

I picked them up, one by one, and got dressed, collecting my thoughts.

How long had I slept?

Feeling thirsty, I tried to open the door, but it wouldn’t budge—something blocked it. I pushed anyway and stepped outside—

There stood one of the Black Cat Pavilion subordinates, blinking at me.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“Oh, Pavilion Lord. You’re awake.”

I looked left and right. The subordinates were all slumped against the corridor walls, sleeping.

“What is this?”

“Standing guard.”

“Why are dozens of you doing it?”

“So Deputy said if we lack skill, we make up for it with our bodies.”

I nodded and nudged one of the sleeping guys with my foot.

“Move it. You guys here to stand guard or nap? Get up, all of you.”

Only then did the men stir and bow.

“You’re awake, sir.”

“Yeah. Looks like you slept better than I did. Wipe that drool.”

“Yes, sir.”

I walked through the corridor, eyeing the would-be guards.

“So how long did I sleep?”

“Exactly two and a half days.”

I waved them off.

“Get some rest.”

Apparently I slept like the dead. No dreams. Just the memory of raging at everyone before I passed out.

I left the great hall and saw Master Yukhap sitting under the plum tree, cross-legged.

“Yukhap.”

He opened his eyes and asked,

“Pavilion Lord, are you ready?”

I nodded and began walking down the central path of Black Cat Pavilion.

“Let’s go.”

The former Crazy Demon rose without a word and followed behind me. Just as I turned toward the inner courtyard, I remembered something.

“Mountain Bell Poison?”

It had been two days since I gave him all the antidotes.

He replied,

“Turns out Master Moyong had been a bit lax. He didn’t administer the poison consistently. So it’s mostly cleared up now. The antidotes you gave helped a lot, too.”

Suddenly, I had a passing thought and glanced at Ho Yeoncheong. He dipped his head slightly.

“Pavilion Lord, please return safely.”

Thinking about it, I realized something—I was never someone who could handle Yukhap. It was probably Ho Yeoncheong who swayed his heart to some degree. I don’t care how.

As I passed by him, I said,

“I’ll be back.”

“Yes, sir.”