“What did you say?!”

Song Gyeong[1] jumped to his feet.

“What’s happening at the Fourth Young Master’s quarters?!”

“Well…”

Song Gyeong’s face crumpled at the True Demon Squad member’s brief and concise explanation.

“So you’re saying the Black Watchers burst in and ended the situation?”

“Yes.”

“Damn it! Shit!”

Though it should have been a relief, Song Gyeong was instead furious.

If only he’d died there… or at least been injured enough to need several months of recovery!

Song Gyeong actually had little interest in the Third Young Master. His interest lay with the Fourth Young Master.

Only the Fourth Young Master’s downfall would free him from being a puppet.

“When’s the next operation scheduled?”

“Exactly fifteen days from now.”

“…I see. Tell the Vice Squad Leader to handle training on his own, as I’ll be missing frequently due to personal matters.”

“I receive your command!”

After the True Demon Squad member disappeared, Song Gyeong sprang up from his seat.

“He’ll summon me again.”

He downed a bowl of wine placed beside the table and sighed.

How did I, the great Song Gyeong, end up in such a state?

Though he was career-oriented, he was also realistic.

While he had ambitions to reach the top, he also knew how to be content with his position. He just wanted to age gracefully while protecting himself and enjoying life’s small pleasures.

…How long do you plan to toy with me, Fourth Young Master?

His insides boiled. The thought of becoming an obedient dog after the Fourth Young Master caught him during ‘that incident’ made him bolt upright with rage even in his sleep.

“Eek!”

In his anger, Song Gyeong threw a bowl randomly.

Crash!

Broken bowl fragments flew everywhere.

That’s when it happened.

“Urgh!”

Song Gyeong turned toward the sound.

“So you’ve come to your senses.”

Surprisingly, where he looked, over ten demon practitioners were writhing and crawling on the floor. They had been beaten so severely that not a single part of their bodies was unscathed.

“You’re certainly tough bastards.”

Song Gyeong put on the mask he had set aside. It infuriated him that he, as the squad leader of an internal combat unit, had to wear such a mask.

And he hated having to put on this cringe-worthy act of deception.

“If you’ve regained consciousness, go back now. And remember this. I will come find you again. Though I want to rip out your throats right now for what you did to the Third Young Master, I’ll hold back because he ordered me not to kill you.”

Twitch!

For a moment, terrible killing intent erupted from the practitioners’ bodies. Though they were rolling on the ground in tatters, the killing intent that suddenly rose was intense enough to make even Song Gyeong flinch.

Tough bastards.

If only to avoid ending up like them, he had to steal that evidence from the Fourth Young Master.

That’s when it happened.

A man approached from afar. It was impressive how he maintained rapid movement techniques without disturbing his breath.

Song Gyeong frowned.

“What brings you here?”

“I’ve come to deliver the Young Master’s command.”

“…A command, is it? Well, what is his order?”

The man, Shin Hoe, glanced at the demon practitioners before speaking.

“Capture the woman you hate so much.”

“…!”

“Take her to the Criminal Court. We promise your safety and her downfall. Additionally, you’ll receive twice the compensation you received before.”

Song Gyeong unconsciously clenched his fist.

Moving under orders for money. It was something only martial world assassins would do.

But things change when the amount of money grows large enough. With double the previous payment plus a chance to catch that crazy bitch who was a thorn in his side, there was no reason to refuse.

Woong.

Setting aside his anger toward the Fourth Young Master for now, killing intent rose from Song Gyeong’s body as he grinned.

“By when do you need her captured?”

Shin Hoe turned away.

“Before dawn tomorrow.”

***

Upon returning to his quarters, Seo Ryang sat cross-legged in the training ground.

Ma Dong-pil, standing guard at a fair distance, glanced at him.

What could he be thinking?

It wasn’t energy cultivation. By now he could tell that much just by looking at the Young Master’s face.

But that was all. He had no way of knowing what the Young Master was thinking or what he planned to do next.

Perhaps his feelings are complicated?

Though they were now estranged, there must have been times when he shared sincere laughter and conversation with the Fourth Young Master. He thought perhaps the Young Master’s heart was troubled by the current inevitable situation.

Of course, his thoughts were completely wrong.

Seo Ryang was internally sighing deeply.

Will this even work?

Who cares if that bastard Hong Wi-moon dies or not.

His goal from the start wasn’t Hong Wi-moon but escape from the Divine Cult. Wasn’t he causing all these complex and annoying situations for that single purpose?

Of course, the fact that the bastard had targeted him first was also a major reason he couldn’t let it slide.

Those Black Watchers… if only those masked bastards hadn’t shown up, I could have grabbed him and dramatically raised my notoriety.

After examining the Divine Cult’s history and laws based on So Yeon-shim’s information, fights to the death between candidates didn’t violate any laws.

Though he didn’t need to resolve things definitively, he had wanted to end the situation right there if possible. Of course, he hadn’t really intended to kill. Seo Ryang knew where to draw the line.

He had planned to inflict severe injuries requiring at least a year of recovery, though not beyond hope of survival, making him never dare to touch Seo Ryang again.

In other words, there was no reason to withdraw just because the Black Watchers intervened.

Yet he withdrew because he had to consider future developments.

There’s no guarantee this one moment of attention will make me free. No point in making enemies with the Criminal Court unnecessarily.

Like the Internal Military Advisory Department and Joyous Pavilion, the Criminal Court could become the most fearsome organization in the Divine Cult depending on circumstances. While minor friction might be acceptable, they should never be made enemies.

Fuck… I hate having to think through things so carefully.

How nice it would be if he had the strength to just destroy everything without thinking and leisurely leave the Divine Cult.

Everything else was fine, but he didn’t think the Cult Leader would leave him alone. He wasn’t interested in the horrific ending of his head rolling around freely while seeking life’s freedom.

Anyway, the cards have been dealt. Since things have come to this, I need to use this situation to take a step forward.

The fortunate thing was that his martial arts were growing moment by moment.

He grew stronger day by day without specifically training. His internal energy increased, his demonic arts reached new heights, and the sword that had fit so well in his hand was now becoming one with his soul.

At least I won’t get beaten up wherever I go.

It was excessive modesty. At his current level, while challenging a major sect’s leader might be too much, he had enough skill to handle someone at the Great Elder level.

At his rate of growth, in three or four months he would comfortably reach a level capable of facing sect leaders.

Preparations are complete. I’ve cast the fishing line, now just waiting for the fish to bite.

Swish.

As Seo Ryang opened his eyes, Ma Dong-pil bowed his head.

“Have you finished meditating?”

“What meditation? Just random thoughts.”

So my thoughts were right after all.

Though he sighed internally, Ma Dong-pil didn’t show it.

“Everything will work out well, Young Master.”

“It better.”

Seo Ryang stood up.

“Well, let’s start moving.”

“Pardon?”

“What? Need some rest? Right, you’ve been running around with me a lot lately. Go back to your quarters and rest.”

“Ah, no, that’s not it…”

“Then what? Hungry? Want to eat something first?”

Ma Dong-pil felt his eyes spinning.

“Of course I’ll follow wherever you go, Young Master. I just don’t understand what you mean by moving…”

“Hm? Ah, going fishing.”

Seo Ryang was also someone who couldn’t escape his own world once he focused. Naturally, Ma Dong-pil couldn’t understand any of this.

“By fishing, you mean…”

“The True Demon Squad Leader, of course. Song Gyeong, was it?”

“Ah, yes!”

“I sent Squad Leader Wi to the tavern to have a casual drink, right? Song Gyeong will definitely move. Once we locate the True Demon Squad Leader, things will proceed on their own…”

“…”

“…Come to think of it, why are you here? Didn’t I send you to locate the True Demon Squad Leader?”

“Squad Leader Wi went, not me.”

“Huh?”

“Squad Leader Wi volunteered to locate the True Demon Squad Leader herself. She should have finished by now.”

Seo Ryang’s face went blank.

“Hey, what are you talking about? I clearly told Squad Leader Wi to sip some wine at the tavern. What do you think that means? Doesn’t it mean the True Demon Squad Leader will come find her if she just sits there?”

“Th-that’s true, but…”

“And I told you to track the True Demon Squad Leader’s movements so we could help at the right time…”

Suddenly Seo Ryang’s eyes went wide.

He recalled his conversation with Wi Hong-ryeon.

• Have a drink at a decent tavern.

• Drink?

• Yeah. There’ll probably be movement from the True Demon Squad Leader’s side soon. Could be as early as tonight.

• …Oho, I see.

• You must have sobered up by now anyway? Go have a drink.

• Is it alright if the order of things changes, Young Master?

• What do you mean?

• Ah, nothing. Anyway, I’m happy to meet that True Demon Squad Leader bastard.

• Ugh, you fighting maniac.

• Hehe, I’ll go ahead then.

• Alright. Don’t cause trouble!

The image of Wi Hong-ryeon skipping away happily with a grin.

Wait, order of things?

If she sits drinking, the True Demon Squad Leader will come find her.

But from Wi Hong-ryeon’s perspective, if she changes the order of things?

“…No way?”

She means to catch the True Demon Squad Leader first and then drink in celebration?!

“That fucking bitch!!”

Bang!

Seo Ryang shot out the gate at incredible speed. Ma Dong-pil hurriedly followed.

Yaaawn!

Golden Fox, who had been lying in the training ground letting out a big yawn, suddenly opened his eyes clearly and rolled his front paws.

A faint five-colored light leaked from Golden Fox’s body, and then…

Flash!

Golden Fox’s body vanished.

No one saw where or how he disappeared.

***

Huff, huff.

Song Gyeong, who couldn’t control his breathing from excitement, closed his eyes.

Don’t get excited.

Today he would ambush the woman he wanted to feed to dogs piece by piece, one strip of flesh at a time, even that wouldn’t satisfy his hatred.

His face was already flushed red. His heartbeat felt three times faster than normal. He was so heated he could barely speak properly.

Is this the place?

He looked at the tavern from the alley. More precisely, he looked at what must have once been a “high-class” tavern.

…It’s completely destroyed.

Repairs had stopped for the night. With one wall blown wide open and cracks everywhere, the large first floor of the tavern was no different from an abandoned building.

She caused chaos here? And still came back to drink?

She really was crazy. She clearly lacked even basic common sense and principles.

Well, doesn’t matter I suppose.

Song Gyeong smiled coldly.

Since she wasn’t someone to be taken lightly, things would definitely get broken again. In that case, better an already destroyed place than a new tavern.

Should I head in?

He placed his hand on his waist. He planned to draw his sword the moment the time came.

Just as Song Gyeong was about to slink toward the Purple-Eyebrowed Tower.

“Hey.”

Shing!

Song Gyeong reflexively drew his sword and struck with incredible speed.

Clang!!

The noise of his sword clashing with a broad blade shook their ears.

Song Gyeong’s eyes widened.

This sword?

A deformed sword with a blade width of ten inches despite being a short sword.

Beyond that sword, a woman with a diagonal scar across her face showed a ferocious smile.

“Caught you, bastard.”