Seolhwa stared at Seop Mugwang, who had appeared out of nowhere and sent the Hwangryong Division Leader flying with a single strike.

Seop Mugwang, who had been breathing heavily, finally turned to look at Seolhwa, his gaze piercing through her.

His eyes swept over her from head to toe.

“Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine. But more importantly...”

Seolhwa’s gaze shifted to where she had laid down Yugang. Following her line of sight, Seop Mugwang’s expression hardened as he looked at the fallen child.

“He needs treatment.”

“Good thing I brought the Medicine Hall Leader just in case.”

Hearing that Choron was here as well, a wave of relief washed over Seolhwa. It felt like a weight lifting off her shoulders.

“...Did Grandfather go to Father?”

“Yes.”

That brief response was enough to calm the rapid beating of Seolhwa’s heart. Unconsciously, she let out a low, shaky breath.

Seop Mugwang tousled Seolhwa’s hair roughly.

“Just wait a little while. I’ll deal with that rotten bastard first.”

He turned and started walking back toward the Hwangryong Division Leader.

The Hwangryong Division Leader managed to pull himself up, barely regaining his senses.

‘What the...?’

He hadn’t even sensed it.

He only realized he’d been attacked the moment the impact hit.

Right now, he was in a state comparable to the Transcendent Peak Realm after consuming the Bloodburst Pill.

If he couldn’t even sense the other’s presence, it meant that the person who ambushed him was overwhelmingly stronger.

“I always knew you were a filthy little bastard, but I didn’t think you were this much of a wretched dog.”

The Hwangryong Division Leader, who had been clutching his throbbing head and trying to stand, froze at the familiar voice.

He slowly lifted his head. The moment he saw the person standing before him, his face went deathly pale.

“B-Bipung Sword...?”

“What did you say to that child?”

What was it? Something about wallowing in filth? Asking why she came back?

“Your tongue isn’t even fit to be fed to pigs.”

“M-Misunderstanding! It’s a misunderstanding, Bipung Sword!”

“A misunderstanding...?”

A misunderstandinggggggg?

Seop Mugwang’s already murderous aura flared even more violently. The pressure emanating from him was enough to make the air itself tremble.

Seop Mugwang raised his sword.

In that instant, it felt as though a bolt of lightning had descended from the pitch-black night sky.

CRAAAAASH—!

Like the delayed rumble of thunder shaking the heavens, Seop Mugwang’s sword came crashing down toward the Hwangryong Division Leader.

But what his sword struck with a deafening roar was nothing but the bare ground.

“Ohh... Is that so...?”

Seop Mugwang’s eyes [N O V E L I G H T] gleamed as he looked at the Hwangryong Division Leader, who had barely managed to avoid the strike.

“What did you do? A lowlife like you shouldn’t be capable of moving like that.”

“W-Wait, Bipung Sword! I can explain everything! Just give me a moment...!”

“There’s nothing worth listening to.”

Seop Mugwang’s figure vanished in an instant. Immediately, thunderstrikes seemed to rain down one after another.

BANG! BOOM! CRASH!

The sheer power shook the earth, a force incomparable to the Hwangryong Division Leader’s forcibly elevated, unstable energy.

“Gahhhh!”

The Hwangryong Division Leader couldn’t even think of counterattacking. He was too busy desperately evading the relentless barrage.

“W-Wait...!”

But Seop Mugwang didn’t give him a chance to speak.

Like unpredictable lightning, his attacks came crashing down in a frenzied, relentless onslaught.

Thanks to the Bloodburst Pill, the Hwangryong Division Leader narrowly managed to keep dodging, but there was no way to close the overwhelming gap in strength.

‘Damn it...! Damn it!!’

The Hwangryong Division Leader was frantic.

At this rate, he wouldn’t even have the chance to counterattack, let alone escape.

His heart was pounding painfully — a sign that the effects of the Bloodburst Pill were nearing their end.

‘Once the pill’s effect wears off...’

It was clear what would happen. He would be caught before he could do anything.

‘If that happens...’

They’d interrogate him. About his connection with Hwaoru. About his betrayal of Namgoong.

And then...

‘...Damn it.’

“You filthy rat! Is that all you can do, Namgoong’s esteemed Division Leader? Flopping around like a lazy mule?”

The Hwangryong Division Leader barely managed to dodge Seop Mugwang’s attack, his teeth grinding audibly.

Sssssss―

Just as Seop Mugwang’s sword was about to pierce through the Hwangryong Division Leader, Seolhwa suddenly rushed in between them.

“!”

Seeing Seolhwa suddenly intervene, Seop Mugwang twisted his sword’s trajectory, slicing through a thick tree behind the Hwangryong Division Leader instead.

The massive tree split cleanly in two and toppled over as Seop Mugwang sheathed his sword.

The battle had come to an end.

“...”

Seolhwa grabbed the Hwangryong Division Leader by the collar.

His body slumped powerlessly in her grasp.

‘...No.’

He was already dead. Blood streamed from his eyes, nose, and mouth, his eyes still wide open.

By the time she had realized he was trying to take poison, it was already too late.

She had rushed in to stop him, but she hadn’t made it in time.

“...”

Her grip tightened. Her heart pounded erratically, her breaths coming out in shallow pants.

‘I should have...’

I should have killed him myself.

I should have tortured him until he was vomiting blood, severed his limbs, made him cough up every piece of information he knew.

I should have drawn out his death, slowly, painfully, until he begged to be put out of his misery...!

“Calm yourself.”

“...”

“I told you not to let your anger control you.”

At Seop Mugwang’s words, the strength drained from Seolhwa’s hand as she released the Hwangryong Division Leader’s collar.

Seolhwa’s eyes flickered slightly.

‘...Anger?’

Was she... angry?

When the Hwangryong Division Leader had spoken so casually about the deaths of her father and Yugang, her chest had felt like it was being ripped open, and her blood had started boiling.

In her previous life, she had killed countless people, but she had never actually felt the desire to kill someone.

But this time... she wanted to. By any means necessary. No matter what.

‘Anger...’

So that’s what this feeling was.

This filthy feeling... it’s anger.

Seop Mugwang placed a firm hand on Seolhwa’s shoulder. The murderous aura around her gradually subsided.

With a cold expression, Seolhwa released her grip and let the lifeless body of the Hwangryong Division Leader drop to the ground.

“Kid.”

“He committed suicide.”

“I see.”

Seop Mugwang already knew the Hwangryong Division Leader was dead.

He’d heard the man’s final, rasping breath as he twisted his sword.

“How tenacious.”

A poison that kills instantly the moment it’s bitten into.

A poison designed solely for death, minimizing pain and preventing any chance of saving the victim within that brief window.

‘I thought he’d at least try to make a last-ditch effort.’

But he had taken his own life before the battle had even ended.

They hadn’t learned why he betrayed Namgoong, who he was connected to, or anything else.

He died before they could interrogate him.

Tch.

“That bastard’s energy was strange before he died. Did you notice it?”

“He took a pill that activates the blood and energy flow.”

“A pill that activates the blood and energy flow?”

“It temporarily boosts power. But once the effect wears off, the body collapses. It’s made by Hwaoru.”

“Hah. Just what the hell is that Hwaoru place up to?”

“They deal in anything related to blood.”

Seop Mugwang’s expression twisted into a grimace.

A while ago, he’d sent the Bipung Sword Division members to investigate Hwaoru. Yet, every report they’d sent back said the same thing:

[No significant findings. Appears to be a regular tavern.]

By now, the members seemed eager to return, and he was on the verge of ordering a recall.

‘What the hell is the truth here?’

But the abnormal aura just now and the current situation... the kid’s words didn’t sound like a lie.

‘I’ll have to dig deeper.’

It was unfortunate, but the recall order would have to be canceled.

Just then, a powerful surge of energy rippled through the air from a distance.

Both Seop Mugwang and Seolhwa turned to look in that direction.

“Let’s find the two kids and head back. This one also needs treatment, so we’d better hurry.”

“Yes.”

Seop Mugwang hoisted Yugang onto his back, and the two headed toward the direction where Hwarin and Soyak had fled.

Even as they moved, the massive wave of energy echoed through the forest several more times.

****

Tap, tap.

When Seolhwa and Seop Mugwang rejoined Cheongun’s group, they were far away from the main battleground.

The entire area had been reduced to a barren, desolate expanse, with trees and grass completely uprooted, suggesting that a fierce battle had taken place here as well.

Under the moonlight, the Hwangryong Division members moved frantically, trying to clean up the aftermath of the intense clash.

Wounded Hwangryong Division members, the bodies of the dead, and the recently arrived Bipung Sword and Black Dragon Division members filled the scene, creating a chaotic atmosphere.

Seolhwa set down Soyak and Hwarin, her eyes darting around.

‘Where...’

“Seolhwa!”

“!”

She spun around instantly.

Propped up against a broken tree stump, being treated by the Medicine Hall Leader, was Namgoong Cheongun.

“...”

Thud, thud.

Seolhwa immediately ran to him, her eyes scanning his condition.

Choron noticed Seolhwa and greeted her with a warm, “Oh my!” but Seolhwa’s attention was wholly fixated on Cheongun.

His arm was splinted with a crude brace made from a broken branch — it seemed to be broken. His entire body was covered in cuts and bruises.

But the worst of it was his internal injuries.

His already unstable energy flow was now so erratic that he needed to go into meditation immediately.

A gentle hand cupped Seolhwa’s cheek.

“Father’s fine.”

“...What about your legs?”

“They’re fine. I just lost my strength for a moment. I’m only resting. I’m glad you’re safe too.”

“...”

Her lips quivered.

He said he was fine, but she couldn’t understand why her chest ached so fiercely.

“Hehe, you two seem to have a good father-daughter bond. Don’t worry too much, young lady. I’m here, after all,” Choron said, trying to lift the mood.

“Yes. I told you I’m fine.”

Cheongun managed a slight smile.

That same pure, untainted smile that made Seolhwa’s throat tighten painfully.

“Hey, if you’re not in a hurry, maybe you could take a look at this one first.”

Seop Mugwang’s voice came from behind. He carefully laid Yugang down.

“Oh my, what happened to this child?”

Choron hurriedly moved to examine Yugang’s condition.

Cheongun’s eyes also widened in shock and concern.

“What happened?”

“The Hwangryong Division Leader betrayed us.”

“What?”

“What?”

Everyone within earshot — Cheongun, Choron, and the nearby soldiers — all turned to stare at Seop Mugwang in utter disbelief.