Gu Jucheol’s death.

Jin Sohyun blinked his eyes as if he didn't understand and then scratched his head.

“How… no… why…”

As Jin Sohyun stuttered, Namgung Muhyeok placed his hand on his shoulder.

“It’s the work of the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon, Ma Seongun.”

“Ma Seongun…”

Following Bieunggaek, this time Gu Jucheol had died.

“What… what do you mean?”

From behind the two, a trembling voice of a middle-aged woman was heard.

“Master.”

Oh Yoran was standing there.

She, who had come to the separate building after hearing the news that Namgung Muhyeok had come to find Jin Sohyun, had heard something she couldn't readily believe.

“Gu Jucheol is dead?”

“That’s right.”

Oh Yoran staggered as if in shock and sat down on an empty chair.

“Thank you. Who killed him?”

Oh Yoran, who had moistened her throat with the water that Jin Sohyun had handed her, asked with a very serious face.

There are not many martial artists in this world strong enough to kill the Ghost-Faced Revolutionary Sword.

If such a person existed, he would surely be a threat to Jin Sohyun.

And Oh Yoran’s worries became a reality.

“The Blood-Sucking Sword Demon.”

“The Blood-Sucking Sword Demon… has he become strong enough to kill Gu Jucheol?”

“That’s not all. Even the Flying Heaven Sword Master, whom you both know well, could not defeat him.”

Even Kang Cheon, of all people, could not defeat the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon.

“If Ma Seongun has taken the martial arts and power of the Sword Saint… that bastard will have a power that is at least comparable to the Five Great Masters of the Central Plains. Maybe… even more than that.”

Namgung Muhyeok, who had nodded his head at Jin Sohyun’s words, asked in a very low voice.

“Jin Sohyun.”

“Yes, Uncle Namgung.”

“From now on, tell me the truth to what I ask.”

“Please speak.”

“How much do you know about the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon… Ma Seongun.”

At Namgung Muhyeok’s question, whose intention was unknown, Jin Sohyun shook his head and said.

“I know almost nothing about Ma Seongun.”

“Is that so?”

Oh Yoran had an anxious face as if something was wrong.

“Why are you asking Sohyun such a thing?”

The hesitating Namgung Muhyeok opened his mouth.

“That’s…”

Kung—!

The one who appeared, opening the door wide, was Kang Cheon.

He walked in with long strides and said.

“Because that bastard knows you well.”

“Master?”

Kang Cheon came close to Jin Sohyun.

“Ma Seongun knows you. Your talent and power… as if he knows you.”

Jin Sohyun looked at the three martial artists facing him and recalled the past.

Come to think of it, it was strange.

Ma Seongun did not exist in his memory.

The first time he had met him was when he had come to assassinate the late-stage prospects of the Five Great Families at the Gyohosu in Anhui.

Even at that time, Ma Seongun had acted as if he had known that Jin Sohyun would come.

And he had spoken as if he knew him.

Hadn't a strange misunderstanding almost arisen because of that?

“I saw that bastard for the first time, but he acted as if he knew me.”

“Perhaps the Heretic Path's Alliance was watching Sohyun after hearing the news that he had become Great Master Kang’s disciple? They were the ones who planned the Acheon in the first place.”

Although it was a plausible story, Namgung Muhyeok denied it.

“If that were the case, they would have tried to kill Sohyun even if it meant using all their strength. But they did not do so.”

If the Heretic Path's Alliance had recognized Jin Sohyun’s talent early on.

The Jin Clan estate would surely have been reduced to ashes.

Because the Heretic Path's Alliance would have had the power and justification to do so.

But they did not do so.

“If they had to, they would have mobilized the assassins of the Nameless Pavilion.”

As Kang Cheon also chimed in, Oh Yoran became even more confused.

“Then how did Ma Seongun know about Sohyun?”

“I don’t know.”

To say it was a coincidence, Ma Seongun’s attitude was bothersome.

‘That bastard already knew that Sohyun’s talent was unusual. As if he had seen the future.’

Kang Cheon shook his head.

Because it was an absurd story even to himself.

“That’s not what’s important now. Ma Seongun is getting stronger by the day, and that bastard knows about you.”

Although it was meant as a warning, Jin Sohyun took it differently.

“In that case, there’s no need to look for that bastard.”

“Jin Sohyun.”

“If we leave him alone like this, more people will die. If it’s as you say, master, that Ma Seongun takes the power and martial arts of the person he killed, then if more time passes like this, no one will be able to stop Ma Seongun.”

“Do you have something in mind.”

“Originally, I was thinking of luring Ma Seongun by going to the Heretic Path's Alliance, but I’ve changed my mind.”

Jin Sohyun stood up from the bed.

“I have to make Ma Seongun come to find me.”

***

Evening time.

The members of the Jin Clan estate gathered in one place after a long time.

The four people gathered around a round table and had a pleasant time, sharing stories they hadn't been able to share.

Jin Sohyun also smiled and listened to his family’s stories or told them about what had happened.

“It was very dangerous. By the way, to use poor women and sell them… they are very bad people!”

Yu Seoheung, who had heard the story at the Baekhwag Pass, was very angry, unlike her usual self.

It seemed that the story of the poor women had stimulated her sympathy.

“A lot of things have happened, brother.” 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

“They have.”

The family, who had finished their meal, drank tea and chatted.

Around the time the atmosphere had ripened.

Jin Gahyeon put down the teacup she was holding and faced Jin Sohyun.

“Brother.”

“Hmm?”

“Do you have something to say to us?”

At Jin Gahyeon’s direct question, everyone’s gaze once again turned to Jin Sohyun.

Jin Sohyun, who was looking at the faces of his family facing him with sincerity, shrugged his shoulders.

“It seems that a big fight will soon break out in the martial world.”

“Ah… is… is that true?”

Unlike the flustered Yu Seoheung, Jin Seomok and Jin Gahyeon only hardened their expressions and were not flustered.

“I had expected it to some extent…”

Jin Seomok is a merchant.

He had the eyes to read the situation in the Central Plains through the flow of goods and funds.

He had noticed that a strange current was flowing in the Central Plains a few weeks ago.

The rich had begun to stockpile food, and the transaction volume of precious iron had increased by several times.

What this meant was only one thing.

War.

“I had a feeling that a big fight would break out anyway. Is it a fight between sects?”

“No.”

Jin Sohyun said, stroking the head of the worried Jin Gahyeon.

“It’s a war between the Martial Alliance and the Heretic Path's Alliance.”

“The Heretic Path's Alliance?”

“To put it simply, a war will break out between the righteous martial world and the heretic martial world.”

It is not a fight between sects.

A war between the righteous and heretic paths over the hegemony of the martial world.

A shadow spread over the faces of the three people who had realized the seriousness of the situation.

“We have to prepare too. But we’ve already stockpiled food, so there will be no problem even if we lock the gates for the next year.”

“I’ll organize the necessary supplies. What can we do to help?”

“I’ll send a message to the Martial Alliance.”

While Jin Seomok and Jin Gahyeon were talking about the upcoming war, Yu Seoheung reached out and placed her hand on Jin Sohyun’s.

“Sohyun.”

“Yes.”

Yu Seoheung, who had met Jin Sohyun’s gaze head-on, felt that something was strange.

“You’re not thinking of something else, are you?”

Jin Sohyun showed a faint smile.

“It seems I have to go out and fight too.”

“What!?”

At Jin Sohyun’s shocking statement, Jin Seomok couldn't hold back and stood up, knocking over his chair.

He shouted with his eyes wide open.

“What are you going to do, you who are not even in good health! Just stay quietly in the estate. If you’re worried about the righteous martial world, I will not spare any support. If you need martial artists, I will send martial artists, and if you need money, I will send money even if it means emptying all the vaults! I will give you everything you need from the Jin Clan estate! So…!”

Jin Seomok came walking and grabbed Jin Sohyun’s shoulders.

“But not my child.”

Jin Seomok’s two hands, which had always been strong, were trembling.

He was afraid.

He was afraid that his child would be dragged into a war and be killed.

“Father.”

“What are you going to do, you lazybones. Just be lazy as you always have.”

“Father.”

“It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have sent you… you to the Daoist Temple. If I hadn’t, you wouldn’t have been hurt… and you wouldn’t have said you would go to war… you would have just stayed by your family’s side as a lazybones forever.”

Large tears like chicken droppings fell from Jin Seomok’s two eyes.

Because Jin Sohyun was not one to not understand his sadness.

He lifted his sleeve and wiped Jin Seomok’s tears, saying.

“Do you remember Master Bieunggaek.”

“Of course. How could I forget him.”

“Master Bi has passed away.”

“What…?”

Tears also flowed from Jin Sohyun’s two eyes.

“Great Master Gu Jucheol, whom I met at the Daoist Temple, has also passed away. And many martial artists have died. Because of the villain called the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon.”

“What… what does that have to do with you. The Martial Alliance will take care of such a demon…”

“That bastard knows me. If I stay here, father and mother… and even Gahyeon. Everyone will be in danger.”

“We can run away. We can run away! We have enough money to start over anywhere. If we run away to a place where no one can find us, the demon called the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon won’t be able to find us either. So you don’t have to worry about anything…”

Jin Sohyun pushed away Jin Seomok’s hand with his own.

“I have to go.”

“I cannot allow it! Martial Marquis! Are you outside!”

“Yes!”

The Martial Marquis flew in like a thunderbolt and glared at Jin Sohyun with angry eyes.

“Young Master Jin. Please do not move.”

“Uncle Mu.”

“The elite martial artists of the Jin Clan are waiting outside now. No matter how outstanding Young Master Jin’s martial arts are, you will not be able to break through all of us.”

“Uncle Mu.”

“Young Master Jin… please…!”

“I’m sorry.”

With these words, Jin Sohyun raised his fist and aimed at the wall.

Soon, he threw a fist strike without any preparation.

Kwang—!!

The wall was pierced.

A total of five layers of walls were pierced by a single fist strike.

Jin Sohyun, who had created a hole, smiled brightly at his family, who were cowering in surprise at the loud noise.

“I’ll be back.”

“Sohyun…!”

The Martial Marquis quickly reached out his hand.

But what he caught was the afterimage that Jin Sohyun had left behind.

“Damn it!”

As the Martial Marquis, who had missed Jin Sohyun, was about to run outside quickly, Jin Seomok stopped him this time.

“Yonghu.”

“Yes, Clan Head! I will take responsibility and bring Young Master Jin back!”

“No.”

“What?”

Jin Seomok looked sadly at the seat where Jin Sohyun had been sitting until just a moment ago and said.

“My wife.”

“Yes, my husband.”

“Do you remember the contents of the letter that Great Master Namgung sent in the past?”

“Of course. I have never forgotten those words for a single moment.”

From the mouth of Jin Seomok, who had nodded his head, the words of the past flowed out.

“A bird in a cage longs for the clouds.”

“Perhaps the time has come to let Sohyun go. So…”

Jin Seomok’s gaze became sharp.

“This war must be won by the Martial Alliance. Yonghu, send a message to the Alliance. That the Jin Clan estate will support whatever the righteous martial world needs!”

“As you command!”

“Gahyeon.”

“Yes!”

“Call all the heads of the merchant associations. From now on, it is not a war between martial artists.”

Jin Seomok said.

“It is everyone’s war.”

(End of Chapter)