“Phew.”

Ma Dong-pil’s face looked remarkably refreshed.

Though he was drenched in sweat and his breathing was rough, it had been a fulfilling training session.

While his previous training had been somewhat mechanical, every day since leaving the Solitary Bamboo Forest had been filled with joy.

Though there was no explosive growth, the clearly felt changes and his body adapting to them at an increasingly rapid pace – he had begun to purely enjoy martial arts for their own sake.

He recalled Seo Ryang’s words.

“Change means production. Whether growth or regression, it has meaning in itself.”

Why worry about such things when you should trust in your changing self and forge ahead without hesitation?

“Trust yourself. Instead of wasting time worrying, run forward without fear. Those current worries can wait until you’ve reached your limits.”

It had been very timely advice.

After that, Ma Dong-pil stopped worrying altogether. He became captivated by simply swinging his sword again and again, finding fulfillment in his body being exhausted to the point of immobility.

After diving deep into the sea of martial arts, he felt his progress accelerating even further.

But Ma Dong-pil dismissed even these achievements as if they were nothing. He simply enjoyed himself as he had when first learning martial arts.

Perhaps because of this? In just a few days, Ma Dong-pil’s martial arts were entering a new realm.

“Time to wrap things up.”

Having finished training, Ma Dong-pil sat in lotus position. He intended to recover his body through qi circulation.

Suddenly, he recalled his conversation with Seo Ryang.

“Now that various matters have roughly concluded, let’s return to our respective organizations. This applies to Squad Leader Wi too, but especially you, Dong-pil – you’ve been with me too long.”

“…What?”

“Are you just a regular guard? You’re not even an ordinary member, but a Third Captain. You need to return to your post.”

Ma Dong-pil nodded.

That was right. He had become so accustomed to staying with the Young Master that he had almost neglected his main duties.

I need to focus.

He should fulfill his responsibilities as a Law Protection Court’s Captain. There would be other opportunities to meet the Young Master.

Just as his qi circulation was reaching its final stage…

“Captain!”

“What is it?”

“First Captain has summoned you.”

“Understood. I’ll be right there.”

Ma Dong-pil was puzzled. He thought there would be no more summons since he had been selected for the task of guarding the Demonic Army Commander[1] in three days.

Shortly after, he entered Lee Gunseong’s office.

“You’ve come.”

“Yes, First Captain. You called?”

“Indeed.”

Lee Gunseong’s face looked extremely tired. Seeing him struggling with work at this late hour made it clear that being First Captain was no easy task without diligence.

“I’m busy, so I’ll get straight to the point. About guarding the Demonic Army Commander in three days.”

“Yes?”

“It’s been canceled.”

“Suddenly?”

“More precisely, I’ll be going to guard the Demonic Army Commander.”

“You personally, First Captain?”

“Yes. Instead, you and your unit members have a different task.”

“A mission change then. What mission is it?”

Lee Gunseong handed over a document.

“You know how the Joyous Pavilion sends cult members to transport precious goods every three months?”

“Yes.”

“This month happens to be that month.”

“Don’t tell me we’re going to guard the transport members?”

“Correct. With the Mara Festival approaching, things have been quite noisy around our cult’s front yard. Though nothing should happen, given the current situation, we can’t send them alone.”

“Ah…”

“However, it wouldn’t look good if I sent you to guard the Demonic Army Commander while I handled the transport escort. The higher-ups probably wouldn’t approve.”

“Indeed.”

“So I’d like you to go. Think of it as limbering up to commemorate your return. What do you say?”

Ma Dong-pil bowed his head.

“Whatever mission you entrust me with, I will complete it successfully.”

Lee Gunseong smiled as if finding him reliable.

“I’m counting on you.”

“Ah, but when does it start?”

“In two weeks. Since the Second Captain and I will be away, please manage the guards during that time. Second Captain should return two days before your mission starts.”

“Understood.”

“All important details are written in the document. Review it and burn it.”

“Yes.”

“Now go rest.”

Ma Dong-pil gave a silent bow and left the office.

Reviewing the document while returning to his quarters, he let out a soft sigh.

“Limbering up… not bad, but.”

Escorting the transport members. This too was an important mission.

But he had hoped to experience guarding the Demonic Army Commander this time.

Can’t be helped. Don’t discriminate between missions.

***

Huff… huff…

Seo Ryang’s face was quite serious as he looked at the woman lying as if dead, breathing heavily.

“Is this the person?”

“Yes.”

Regret crossed So Yeon-shim’s face as she looked down at the woman.

Though called a fox skilled in politics, she too was human. She couldn’t help but feel troubled seeing someone she cared for enough to choose as successor lying ill.

“Her name is Ju Hwa[2]. She’s as talented in administrative duties as she is in martial arts. When she joined the cult, she was renowned as a genius.”

“Hmm.”

“She leads one unit within the garden while secretly serving as General Administrator[3] as well.”

“General Administrator?!”

“Yes. Even for a successor, I don’t easily entrust work unless they’re immediately capable. I didn’t assign her as General Administrator to learn the job, but because there was no one more capable than her.”

So Yeon-shim sighed.

“After she fell into this state, the Joyous Pavilion nearly became paralyzed. That’s how much work she handled, and how remarkably she handled it.”

Seo Ryang couldn’t help but be impressed internally.

She’s really amazing.

Even at a glance, she appeared to be about his age. For someone so young to handle General Administrator duties for an organization as large as the Joyous Pavilion – she was no ordinary genius.

Moreover, though she only had the formula, she had decoded and shown improvement with the Boundless Art in just days.

“With talent like this, wouldn’t the Cult Leader have his eye on her?”

“I find it curious too. Why didn’t the Cult Leader take her as a disciple?”

The words seemed to imply that even her own capacity wasn’t sufficient to teach someone like Ju Hwa.

Seo Ryang rolled up his sleeve.

“Let’s check her condition first.”

He took Ju Hwa’s pulse.

He had heard she had been in demonic possession for quite some time. Perhaps because of this? Her wrist was particularly thin, with only bone being felt.

But the strong pulse felt in her meridians…

Seo Ryang closed his eyes and employed the Shadow True Demonic Art.

A moment later.

Woong.

Red energy flowing from Seo Ryang’s fingertips enveloped Ju Hwa’s entire body.

So Yeon-shim startled slightly.

What remarkable demonic energy.

Though employed at a low concentration, the quality of the demonic energy itself was exceptionally outstanding.

It was demonic energy so vigorous it caused goosebumps for a moment. It would be difficult to find anyone in the inner palace with such pure demonic energy.

Indeed… there was a reason he overwhelmed the Fourth Young Master.

Hong Wi-moon’s martial arts were also famously extraordinary. She personally estimated him to be at least a level or two above the Mad Demon Squad Leader or True Demon Squad Leader.

If he had easily overwhelmed such a Hong Wi-moon, Seo Ryang’s skills were worthy of being called those of a peak master who had reached the extreme.

A strange light filled So Yeon-shim’s eyes.

How is this possible?

Beyond amazement, she felt a sense of incongruity at Seo Ryang’s demonic energy that defied imagination. Whether through opportunity or whatever else, this wasn’t power that could be obtained at his age.

A moment later.

“Pavilion Master.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“Ju Hwa… no, I’ll call her Administrator Ju.”

“Alright.”

“What demonic art did Administrator Ju practice?”

“The Moon Shadow Demonic Art[4].”

“That one from the Ten Great Demonic Arts?”

“Yes.”

The Moon Shadow Demonic Art was counted among the top yin-based demonic arts. Unlike other demonic arts, it was a high-level art where even entering the doorway was impossible without talent.

No wonder.

In that respect, it resembled orthodox sects’ divine arts. Though he didn’t know the formula, there must be similarities.

Not only talent, but it must have helped her utilize the Boundless Art more easily.

Seo Ryang released her pulse.

“Then this is even stranger.”

“Pardon?”

“Though I don’t know much about the Moon Shadow Demonic Art, I’ve heard it’s exceptionally safe.”

Compared to orthodox sects’ divine arts, demonic arts had an overwhelmingly higher risk of demonic possession.

However, that only applied to lower-level demonic arts. The higher the level of the demonic art, the more its safety increased dramatically. Of course, the practitioner’s talent was equally important.

But no matter how safe, a demonic art was still a demonic art – it couldn’t guarantee the same level of safety as orthodox divine arts.

The Moon Shadow Demonic Art was uniquely safe, comparable to divine arts.

Though it emitted demonic energy, looking just at the entry process, it was no different from a heaven-following divine art.

“But I don’t understand why her yin energy has collapsed like this. Even if you deliberately tried to ruin it, the body shouldn’t be damaged this severely.”

“The Blood Soul Pavilion physicians said it was likely due to forced cultivation. Looking at the scars near her Brain Tiger Point, they suspected it happened while trying to absorb enlightenment.”

“I see.”

After being lost in thought for a moment, Seo Ryang nodded.

“Let’s put aside concerns and start treatment first.”

“Is there anything you need me to prepare?”

“No. Since I came to maximize the effectiveness of the Boundless Art anyway, there’s no need… Ah!”

Seo Ryang snapped his fingers.

“Please get some Turbidity Control Grass from the Blood Soul Pavilion.”

“You mean the herb that revives yang energy?”

“You know it?”

“Yes, a little.”

“We can’t use it right away, but once her physical strength recovers somewhat, we’ll use the Turbidity Control Grass to revive her immune function.”

“…Will you be able to do it?”

What else can we do but die trying, woman?

However, Seo Ryang didn’t voice this thought. He couldn’t deliver a fatal blow to someone already so worried.

“Beginning treatment.”

Seo Ryang’s treatment was simple.

He held Ju Hwa’s pulse point and employed the Boundless Art. Though her body was devastated, since traces of the Boundless Art remained, synchronizing the Boundless Energy wasn’t difficult.

And once the Boundless Energy synchronized, he drove in his enlightenment to keep it circulating endlessly.

Five days later.

“A-amazing.”

“Isn’t it?”

“Most of her internal organs’ functions have returned to normal. How is this possible…”

“I worked hard. Haven’t slept a wink, you know.”

“But Young Master, Ju Hwa hasn’t woken once in five days…”

“If consciousness awakens and becomes active, that much energy must be consumed. But without consciousness, the body focuses solely on vital functions. With the thin tube feeding water and porridge to her stomach, there’s no particular need to worry.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Now we should use the Turbidity Control Grass.”

The method of using Turbidity Control Grass was simple. Dry it, grind it to powder, mix with water, and pour it through the feeding tube. Ju Hwa’s body naturally absorbed the Turbidity Control Grass and responded to its medicinal power.

Right then, Seo Ryang began energy adjustment.

Drip…

Dark red blood flowed from Ju Hwa’s nose and mouth. The turbid energy lurking throughout her body was escaping through the blood.

Woong! Woong!

Sweat beaded on Seo Ryang’s forehead.

Watching from the side, So Yeon-shim’s face filled with wonder.

Incredible!

This was truly divine-like energy adjustment. Without extremely delicate energy control, it would be impossible to forcibly mix turbid energy with blood and extract it.

Really, the more I see…

At first she had been happy about Ju Hwa’s rapid recovery, but as time passed, she became more amazed by Seo Ryang’s abilities.

Thus another ten days passed.

One day before the two weeks Seo Ryang had promised…

“…Mmm.”

Trembling eyelids slowly rose.

At last, Ju Hwa had awakened.