Namgoong Clan’s Secret Pavilion, Azure Heaven Pavilion.

In Azure Heaven Pavilion were kept the clan’s secret manuals recording Namgoong Clan’s martial arts, along with the volumes that set down the clan’s history.

The only ones who could go in and out of Azure Heaven Pavilion were the Namgoong Clan Lord and the Young Clan Lord, and their immediate family.

Even for immediate family, without the Clan Lord’s permission, one could not easily go in and out—within Namgoong Clan, it was the most important and most secret of all halls.

“Father.”

At Seolhwa’s voice, Cheongun, who had been reading a book at one side of the repository, lifted his gaze.

When Seolhwa had first returned to Namgoong, Namgoong Mucheon had granted her the authority to come and go from Azure Heaven Pavilion as she pleased.

It had been the price for the enormous contribution she had made to the development of the clan’s martial arts with the Namgoong-countering arts she had mastered.

Cheongun put the book back in its place on the shelf and turned toward her.

His face was filled with a smile of limitless affection toward his daughter.

“Seolhwa, what brings you all the way here?”

“I wanted to see you before I leave.”

“You’re leaving already? The Alliance Lord said he would only be departing tomorrow morning.”

“I’m going to move separately from Grandfather. There’s something I have to do at Sado Union before I go to the Alliance.”

“I see.”

A deep regret fell over Cheongun’s face.

He carefully brushed aside the lock of hair that had slipped down over Seolhwa’s cheek and took in his daughter’s face one more time.

As MARTIAL ALLIANCE Lord, Namgoong Mucheon had commanded the martial forces of the central plains to gather at MARTIAL ALLIANCE.

Since no one knew when or where Great Blood Cult’s forces might appear, he had ordered that the main forces remain stationed at each sect and clan, and that support volunteers be selected and sent.

The pretext was the eradication of Great Blood Cult’s forces and the war with North Sea Ice Palace.

In other words, Seolhwa was now leaving in order to prepare for war.

“In my heart, I’d like to tell you not to go.... But that would only make your heart heavier, so I’ll not show it outwardly.”

Seolhwa let out a quiet chuckle.

“At that level, haven’t you already shown it?”

“Bear with this much burden for me. Only then will you, thinking of your father, fall back at least once in a dangerous moment.”

Even if she were about to rush in blindly, if she recalled her father worrying over her, would she not hesitate at least once?

If that one hesitation could save his daughter’s life, that would be enough.

“This time, I truly don’t want to send you off.”

“I’m sorry. I can’t tell you that I won’t go.”

“I know.”

Cheongun patted Seolhwa’s head.

A daughter who, at the age of thirty, had killed her own father, then died at Blood Demon’s hand and come back to life.

Even knowing that inside her she carried a self that had lived nearly forty years in sheer years, to Cheongun’s eyes she was simply his precious, precious daughter.

He did not feel the slightest resentment, even though she had killed him.

If anything, he felt only relief that, even in a life no one would remember, he had not killed his daughter with his own hands.

“Until you return, this father will protect Namgoong.”

Seolhwa smiled faintly.

“Thank you, Father.”

Having finished saying her farewells to Cheongun, Seolhwa left the repository and walked toward the outer quarters.

Ryeong was waiting for her.

“Is this really all your luggage?”

Ryeong held out a small travel pouch together with Seolhwa’s sword.

They were the things Seolhwa had entrusted to her.

“Mm. This is enough.”

As Seolhwa took the luggage, she felt a gaze and turned back toward the repository.

At some point, Cheongun had come out in front of the repository to see her off.

When Seolhwa looked back, Cheongun smiled and waved.

For a moment, that figure felt distant to her.

Her father, who had pledged that he would be a good Clan Lord for her sake.

Her father, who was steadfastly keeping that pledge she had thrust upon him like a burden.

Because she knew that devotion and love better than anyone.

Seolhwa faced that feeling for a long while, then turned away and ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ walked on.

*****

Before heading to MARTIAL ALLIANCE, Seolhwa stopped by the Sado Union branch located in Henan Province.

There, the Haomun Lord, who had received Seolhwa’s message, had already arrived to wait for her.

“We have ascertained that the Blood Lords of North Sea and Southern Wilds have entered Yunnan Province. As for Second Blood Lord, he is so elusive that, as of yet....”

“If First Blood Lord and Fourth Blood Lord are in Yunnan, Second Blood Lord will be there as well. After the Mount Hua incident, Blood Demon will have summoned the Blood Lords.”

In the previous life as well, Blood Demon had periodically summoned the Blood Lords.

It was because of the blood-bonded subjugation entangling Blood Demon and the Blood Lords.

A subjugation spell, bound so that they could not kill one another, was something that had to be maintained periodically.

The Blood Lords would have no idea.

That the reason Blood Demon called them together under various pretexts was to adjust the leash on their necks.

Of course, that would not be the only reason.

If Blood Demon and the Blood Lords had held a gathering, they would surely show some other movement as well. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

“Please continue to watch for any suspicious movements. When MARTIAL ALLIANCE advances on North Sea, it would be best if we can grasp the whereabouts of Second Blood Lord and Fourth Blood Lord.”

“Yes. I will keep them under observation. And....”

The Haomun Lord set down a palm-sized sheet of paper in front of Seolhwa.

It was a short dispatch, as if written in a hurried scrawl.

“This arrived this morning from the agent in Jiangsu Province.”

Seolhwa read the contents of the dispatch.

[Commoner riot. Indiscriminate attacks centered on the yamen and officials. Numerous deaths. Situation grave.]

Seolhwa knit her brows.

‘Commoner... riot...?’

Commoners had risen in riot?

At this time...?

‘This didn’t happen in the previous life.’

No—had such a thing happened in the previous life as well, and she had simply not known?

Ordinary commoners, not martial artists, rioting. And in Jiangsu Province, of all places, out of nowhere...?

‘Jiangsu borders Anhui, doesn’t it? ...Don’t tell me...!’

Realizing something, Seolhwa hurriedly asked again.

“Do we know whether these commoners are connected to Great Blood Cult in any way?”

“That, we do not yet know. However, they say Namgoong Clan has sent an armed unit.”

“From the main house?”

“Yes. I heard it is an armed unit led by Iron-Dragon Sword.”

‘If it’s Iron-Dragon Sword....’

Namgoong Mugang.

Namgoong Mucheon’s younger brother, and Seolhwa’s grand-uncle.

He had originally been Lord of the Martial Hall of Namgoong Clan, and now was one of MARTIAL ALLIANCE’s fourteen elders, an unquestioned elder of the martial world.

He was currently staying at the main house to congratulate Namgoong Ung on being publicly proclaimed Young Clan Lord.

“They say he departed for Jiangsu Province earlier than the Alliance Lord’s party, so news should arrive before long.”

“...”

Seolhwa’s expression darkened.

Even if it was a riot of commoners, wasn’t the timing a little too exquisite?

A riot breaking out after Blood Demon and the Blood Lords had held a gathering.

And in Jiangsu Province, which neighbored Namgoong Clan, at that.

“Please don’t worry too much. Not much time has passed since the Blood Lords’ movements were seen in Yunnan.”

“...Yes. I know that. It’s just....”

What was this strange feeling of unease?

Blood Demon was meticulous enough to maintain the binding spell while even deceiving the Blood Lords—could he truly have nothing to do with this matter?

Seolhwa bit down hard on her lower lip.

She wanted to rush to Jiangsu Province immediately to assess the situation, but the martial artists of all the central plains were already converging on MARTIAL ALLIANCE.

She did not have the leisure to go back and forth to Jiangsu Province.

“For now, let us wait for news. I will deliver it to you the moment it arrives.”

Seolhwa reluctantly nodded.

Pushing her unpleasant feeling aside, she returned to the main point.

“In truth, there is something I need to tell you, Lord.”

The reason Seolhwa had sought out Sado Union was to bring up what she had spoken of after gathering those whom Namgoong Clan trusted.

“It may be a story that will surprise you a little, so please listen slowly.”

The Haomun Lord looked at her with a puzzled gaze.

A thick sound-blocking barrier was drawn around the two of them.

*****

GURK... GHK....

A woman’s body floated powerlessly into the air.

Iseon clawed and fumbled at her own throat, which found nothing to grasp.

Terror filled her eyes.

“I warned you so many times.”

STEP.

A crimson-haired man walked past, into her field of view.

“Excessive greed brings misfortune and hastens one’s life, does it not?”

Iseon’s pupils rolled, ROLL ROLL, after him.

Blood Demon came to a stop in front of the incense burner.

Even in the space filled entirely with darkness, the incense burner itself was radiating a brilliant golden light.

It was as if light shone only on the shelf where the incense burner rested.

The moment he reached a hand out toward the incense burner—

ZZZZT-!

“!”

At the menacing sensation that the space itself was twisting, Blood Demon drew back the hand he had extended.

His eyes narrowed as he stared at the incense burner.

Presently, the red papers affixed to all sides of the incense burner slid into his view.

“...What a troublesome thing to do....”

Blood Demon slowly turned his gaze back toward Iseon.

Iseon was still staring at him with terror-stricken eyes.

STEP—

Blood Demon walked toward her.

Iseon’s body began to thrash all the more in fear.

“My lady.”

“Khk... huk....”

“Was this something that child put you up to?”

Instead of an answer, Iseon glared at Blood Demon with a fierce, razor-edged gaze.

Blood Demon, facing a gaze sharp enough to cut him down, remained indifferent.

He lifted his hand and took hold of Iseon’s chin.

“My lady. Why are you looking at me like that again?”

Blood Demon’s eyes curved with sorrow.

“Am I not your loving husband? Why do you look at me with eyes so desperate to kill me?”

“Kh....”

The hand gripping her chin slowly tightened around her neck.

Though she had died at his hands dozens of times already.

Before the fear of death that loomed over her once more, Iseon’s body began to tremble, SHIVER SHIVER.

“After I waited for you for such a long time.”

The sorrow that had hung over Blood Demon’s expression vanished in an instant.

From his lips came a voice so cold it seemed it would freeze the very air.

“Have you still not given up?”