Fear.

It was only a fraction of a second, but the very fact that such an emotion had surfaced made Sacred Wind’s energy surge up like boiling water.

KUUUUGUUUUNG—!!!

The quarters shook. The energies of two overwhelming martial artists collided head-on.

“NNGH...!!”

“KH—!!”

The warriors nearby swallowed suppressed groans and dropped to one knee.

“Your eyes are sharp, Strange Demon. You really do intend to see blood.”

“You’re the one who crossed the line «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» first. Isn’t it petty to blame me now?”

Even under Sacred Wind’s pressure, Strange Demon didn’t give an inch.

Watching that, a strange glint settled in Sacred Wind’s eyes.

‘What the hell.’

What is this bastard? The moment Sacred Wind realized it was Strange Demon, the question had already started.

Sacred Wind had fought in the Orthodox-Demonic War before. Even without ever meeting Strange Demon in person, Sacred Wind had heard the rumors.

But still.

‘This young bastard—what the hell is he?’

Every time Sacred Wind saw Strange Demon up close, it felt wrong.

‘That isn’t rejuvenation.’

This wasn’t the aftermath of some rejuvenation art that simply preserved a youthful appearance.

The first time, Sacred Wind had assumed it was a change brought on by rejuvenation—but now it didn’t look like that at all.

‘He’s strong.’

A strength you felt in your bones.

The Strange Demon in front of Sacred Wind was a figure who had stepped into the ranks of absolute masters.

And that was something rejuvenation made outright impossible.

Physical regression. In exchange for chasing youth, you lost far too much.

A martial artist might keep the understanding earned along the way, but the energy cultivated from it—along with the body hardened by time, and even the vessel that supported it—those were what you normally sacrificed.

Yet—

‘Strange Demon...’

How could a man keep that youth and still maintain this level of power?

At least, in Sacred Wind’s common sense, it couldn’t happen.

Then—

“Stop changing the subject.”

KIIIKIIIK—!

Strange Demon forced a step forward, cutting through Sacred Wind’s pressure.

“Answer what I asked first.”

As if this level of pressure meant nothing. Those eyes—stuffed with nothing but madness—stayed locked on Sacred Wind.

“That information just now. How do you know it?”

“That reaction... I can take it as confirmation I’m right, can’t I?”

“Aha.”

GRRNNNNK—!!!

Strange Demon laughed and unleashed energy. Killing intent—colossal, suffocating.

“Is your skull too thick for words to get through? Answer me first.”

“I asked first, Strange Demon. You answer me.”

“God, you’re annoying.”

The outpour didn’t stop. It didn’t swell further either—just kept grinding on and on as Strange Demon twisted his face and spoke.

“If you don’t answer properly... there won’t be any more cooperation from our side.”

“What...?”

“I’ll make sure you can’t accomplish a single thing you were trying to build.”

“Hah. You think you’re threatening me?”

“Yeah. A threat.”

“If you do that, you’ll take a big loss too.”

“So what? Compared to you?” Strange Demon sneered. “All we have to do is leave this place. And anyway, the information’s already crossed over to the other side—what would we have to be afraid of?”

“......”

Sacred Wind closed his mouth.

“So choose properly. You’d better speak cleanly. If you don’t... our side’s going to get loose-lipped too.”

It meant: We can hand your information to Mount Hua whenever we want.

“...Ridiculous.”

But instead of flaring up, Sacred Wind let out a laugh.

“Why are you laughing?”

“More than that has already crossed over. And now you think this will scare me?” Sacred Wind’s eyes narrowed. “Or is it you?”

“What are you—”

“The double agent Moon Knight mentioned.” Sacred Wind’s voice sharpened. “I’m asking if that’s you.”

“...What?”

At Sacred Wind’s words, Strange Demon’s face tightened.

Watching that, Sacred Wind continued.

“Moon Knight said it.”

Moon Knight. At that name, something inside Strange Demon trembled—just slightly.

“Said a double agent was planted on the HEAVEN-BREAKING PALACE side. And also—”

The thoughts blooming in Strange Demon’s mind suddenly flooded, as if water had been poured over fire.

“Said the reason you came here... was, in truth, to find the Heavenly Demon’s bloodline.”

“.......”

At those words, from Strange Demon—

‘No way.’

Suspicion bloomed like a soft, silent flower.

*****

“Hm.”

Back in my quarters, loosening up, I let the thought surface.

‘About now, right?’

After the first investigation ended and we returned, Sacred Wind had disappeared, saying there was something that needed checking.

Not just “disappeared,” either.

From what I saw—

‘He went to meet the HEAVEN-BREAKING PALACE side.’

That was how it looked, watching his reaction. The Heavenly Demon’s bloodline—something I’d pulled straight from what I’d heard from Seongheon.

And the moment Sacred Wind heard it, his expression went strange.

‘He didn’t know.’

He couldn’t have known that far. That was why he reacted like that.

‘What matters here is—’

Even after hearing it, Sacred Wind didn’t suspect me. Not even for a second.

Forget the double agent line—if hearing “the Heavenly Demon’s bloodline” made him react like that, then—

‘It means the trust between Sacred Wind and the HEAVEN-BREAKING PALACE isn’t that deep.’

The shape of things came into focus. He was probably getting shaken hard right about now.

‘Of course, it might not be.’

But the moment the likely path narrowed, that was as much certainty as I needed.

‘The HEAVEN-BREAKING PALACE and Sacred Wind are cooperating, but the bond isn’t deep.’

And also—

‘If that’s true, then Sacred Wind’s objective...’

...could be a little different from the HEAVEN-BREAKING PALACE’s objective.

That made things easier.

‘Meaning, if you just rattle it a little, the whole thing can collapse.’

Just a small shove—and the inside could get smashed to pieces.

Maybe this was the pivot point.

‘Hope it goes well.’

It might not, so I needed to sketch out the next move too.

I started to spin my thoughts—

BAP—!

“GHK!”

A shock cracked across my forehead and shoved me back.

“Your head’s full of stray thoughts.”

“Ah—ngh....”

It was the Sword Emperor. He’d smacked me in the forehead with a wooden sword.

“I’m sorry.”

I cupped my forehead as the swelling began to rise.

It burned.

“......”

The Sword Emperor narrowed his eyes at me, then withdrew the wooden sword.

“We’ll stop here today.”

“Huh? But—”

“Even if we continue, you won’t focus.” His tone was flat. “Go back.”

“.......”

He wasn’t wrong. I had too much to think about because of what happened during the day.

“...I’m sorry.”

“.......”

The Sword Emperor didn’t care about my apology. If anything, I was the only one losing out.

I was about to end training right there, when—

“Um. Sword Emperor.”

At my call, he stopped and looked at me.

No answer. More like, Talk.

“Do you happen to know anything about Strange Dem—”

Before I could finish.

SAAA—

‘...Shit.’

Gooseflesh crawled up my skin. The Sword Emperor’s expression at the word Strange Demon was vicious.

“So.” His voice turned cold. “You said you got tangled up with him.”

“Y-yes....”

“Don’t.”

“...Excuse me?”

He said it with absolute finality.

“Don’t get tangled up with him.”

“Th—why?”

“Because he’s disgusting.” The Sword Emperor’s eyes were knife-thin. “And filthy.”

“.......”

That shocked me. For the Sword Emperor to describe someone that bluntly—

‘It’s not like I tangled up with him because I wanted to.’

As I scratched my cheek with that thought—

“Now that I’ve confirmed those bastards are here, stop stepping forward so much.”

“...What?”

“It’s about time I moved as well.”

“...You’re going to move yourself?”

“Yes.” The Sword Emperor’s jaw set. “Now that Strange Demon is involved, it means he’s here to do something.”

“.......”

His reaction was razor-sharp.

“...You’re really going to step in personally?”

The HEAVEN-BREAKING PALACE situation is confirmed, so the Sword Emperor moves.

That thought put a knot in my stomach.

‘If that man interferes... will things stay okay?’

It felt like something unpredictable was going to happen.

And I couldn’t be sure whether that unpredictability would help me.

‘If he just handles it, it’d be convenient for me.’

But the root of the doubt—

‘Heretics.’

The curse-work and descent-rituals I’d seen the heretics use in my past life.

That was what snagged.

‘Tch.’

While I swallowed a suppressed groan inside, the Sword Emperor turned to leave.

“.......”

The conversation ended there.

“Mm....”

I watched his back, then moved too. The Sword Emperor’s business was one thing, but—

‘First, I go confirm the rest.’

Right now, I still had checks to make.

*****

When the night deepened, I stepped out of the quarters with the Small Moon Unit Leader.

TUDUDUK—!!

We ran low and quiet until we reached the destination.

The same cliff from earlier in the day.

“We’re going back in there?”

The Small Moon Unit Leader looked at me like Do we really have to?

“We have to. Right now.”

I was firm.

“No eyes on us?”

“...I don’t sense anything.”

I nodded at that.

Meaning nobody tailed us.

That was why I’d deliberately moved with the Small Moon Unit Leader—openly—so no one would get cute and follow.

We went down to the cliff. And of course, the Small Moon Unit Leader carried me down again.

Then, as I was about to enter—

“Alright. Then, Disciple—go back up and keep watch.”

“Me?”

The Small Moon Unit Leader looked genuinely flustered.

“You want me up there?”

“Yeah. Keep an eye out.”

“That’s risky, Teacher.”

The meaning was clear: You’re going in alone when we don’t know what’s inside?

“It’s fine. Hurry.”

“.......”

“It’s better to guard outside anyway.” I kept my voice flat. “There’s only one entrance. I’ll just confirm something and come right back. Please.”

I didn’t budge. The Small Moon Unit Leader started to argue, then stopped.

“...Understood.”

“Thanks.”

I got him out of the way.

Like I said, there was only one entrance, so it really was easier to guard outside.

And even aside from that—

‘It’s not something I want anyone watching.’

What I had left to do wasn’t exactly the kind of thing you put on display.

I went in along the same path as earlier. The trap had already been neutralized, so there was no issue.

“...Hoo.” 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

The space grew drenched and clammy again. Once I reached the interior, I knelt and pressed a hand to the ground.

UUUUUUNG.

The same sensation as before. I moved, searching for where it felt thickest.

After a short while, I found it.

‘Here.’

The spot where life force felt unusually dense.

I stared down at the earth.

“.......”

Then I drew the sword at my waist.

The Divine Sword—top-grade gear forged by the Tang Clan.

Using that—

PAK—!

I dug into the ground.

PAK—! PAKPAK—!

It felt insane, using an expensive, storied blade to dig dirt.

But—

“...It digs well.”

I was honestly impressed.

Maybe the sword was just that good. Maybe the ground was soft because it was soaked.

Either way, I was satisfied.

PAK—! PAKPAK—!!

I kept digging. Digging, digging—until a hole began to take shape.

Then—

GRAB—!

“......!”

The sword tip hit something hard.

This was it.

I shoved the blade in, then clawed at the dirt with my hands.

Not long after, the soil peeled away and a stake appeared—the same kind I’d seen in that abandoned house before.

I grabbed it and lifted it out.

The shape, the size, the texture—identical.

Except—

‘...This is—’

Several sheets of paper that looked like talismans were stuck to the stake.

“Ha.”

The moment I saw them, a hollow laugh slipped out.

Because this talisman—

“...Fuck.”

It was exactly the same as the one the heretics used in my past life.