Namgoong Cheongun and Seolhwa returned to Suro Stronghold without delay.

The family of Cheongsan was waiting for them in front of the Stronghold Chief’s tent.

“It’s already over?”

“Not yet. However, Guiyeong Stronghold is likely to fall soon. We must escape before that happens.”

“!”

Cheongun shouted to the group.

Cheongsan, Moyong Yeonhwa, and the members of the Hwangryong Sword Division all looked at Cheongun with tense expressions.

“From now on, we will proceed without rest until we exit the territory of Suro Stronghold. Cheongsan will lead the way, clearing the path. The Hwangryong Division Leader and I will erase our traces from the rear.”

“Wait.”

Cheongsan interrupted Cheongun.

“I will take the rear. Brother, you are in no condition to fight. If that’s the case, it’s better for me to stay behind and buy us some time.”

“I’ll stay at the rear too. I’m confident in erasing our traces.”

Moyong Yeonhwa also sided with Cheongsan.

After a brief moment of hesitation, Cheongun decided to respect Cheongsan’s decision.

“Understood. Let’s proceed as planned.”

Cheongun and the Hwangryong Division Leader each carried Hwarin and Soyak, followed closely by Seolhwa and Yugang. Behind them were the Hwangryong Division members, and at the very end, Cheongsan and Moyong Yeonhwa.

“There will be no rest until we cross the mountain.”

Cheongun glanced back at the chaotic Suro Stronghold.

Beyond the stronghold, smoke was rising from the riverbank.

“Let’s move.”

****

Thud— Thud—

Sshh. Ssshh.

The Namgoong party raced swiftly through the mountains.

There was no proper path, as the area was devoid of human traces. This made both moving forward and erasing their tracks difficult.

The forest was dense, and the moonlight barely seeped through, leaving them in darkness.

Though they had declared they wouldn’t stop until they crossed the mountain, they had no way ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) of knowing where the end of the mountain was.

Still, Namgoong did not stop. They pressed forward relentlessly.

“Hic... Hic... Daddy...”

Soyak finally burst into tears.

Though he had followed Namgoong without complaint, fearing he would be a burden to his father, he was still a child and far from oblivious.

Sensing the danger of the situation, the boy realized his father’s life was hanging by a thread. However...

“Meng Deungho won’t die.”

Seolhwa’s thoughts differed.

“The Sixth Blood Lord lost Ma Jong-ui. Therefore, he will want to secure Meng Deungho at any cost.”

The statement about making Meng Deungho his subordinate after losing Ma Jong-ui wasn’t just provocation.

Although Meng Deungho’s stance had likely changed, and he no longer wished to follow the Sixth Blood Lord, that didn’t mean there was no way to force him into submission.

“If he gets his hands on Jin Soyak, that’s all it will take.”

A father who would do anything for his son.

As long as the Sixth Blood Lord gained control over Jin Soyak, Meng Deungho would have no choice but to obey, whether he liked it or not.

And the Sixth Blood Lord undoubtedly knew this.

“That’s why, no matter what, I must protect Jin Soyak.”

Now that Ma Jong-ui was dead...

As long as Jin Soyak did not fall into their hands, Meng Deungho wouldn’t become the Sixth Blood Lord’s subordinate.

If that happened, the Sixth Blood Lord’s power would be far weaker than it had been in the previous life.

“If that’s the case, the Sixth Blood Lord might fail to conquer the Suro Stronghold.”

And if he failed to seize control of Suro Stronghold...

“I might be able to kill the Sixth Blood Lord before the Blood Demon Cult even appears...!”

But first, they had to get out of here alive.

Seolhwa glanced at Cheongun, who was gasping for breath.

“Haa... Haa....”

Already unstable, Cheongun’s internal energy had been further disrupted after sustaining internal injuries from Meng Deungho.

Even after using his lightness skill for barely half a shichen, his energy flow was already in disarray.

“It would be better if I carried Hwarin.”

Seolhwa moved to approach Cheongun and suggest the change when—

Boom—!

“!”

A deafening explosion echoed from behind them, causing the ground to tremble.

The group at the forefront halted in surprise and turned to look back.

A menacing and powerful energy surged from the rear.

Though the dense forest obscured their vision, they could clearly sense Cheongsan and Moyong Yeonhwa’s energy fluctuating violently.

A battle had erupted.

“Hwangryong Division Leader.”

Cheongun set Hwarin down and drew his sword.

“Take care of the children.”

“That won’t do, Young Master...! You’re in no condition to fight...!”

“At least one of them is a transcendent peak-level master. I must go.”

“But...! ...Hwangryong Division! Support the rear guard immediately! Move!”

“Seolhwa.”

Cheongun looked at Seolhwa.

The biggest reason he insisted on joining the battle despite his condition was to protect her.

“Run as far as you can.”

Seolhwa didn’t know what to say.

No one knew Cheongun’s current state better than Seolhwa.

However, among them, he was the only one capable of facing the enemy attacking the rear.

Logically, she knew it was right for Cheongun to go and buy them time.

And yet...

“...Father.”

Her chest throbbed painfully. Her mouth was dry, and her palms were damp with sweat.

In her previous life, Namgoong Cheongun did not die at this point in time, but the circumstances had changed.

Now, faced with this unpredictable threat, the thought of Cheongun dying made her heart drop.

“Fear.”

She was afraid. Afraid he would die.

“I will catch up soon.”

As if sensing her anxiety, Cheongun gently caressed Seolhwa’s cheek with a softer smile than she had ever seen.

The warmth that lingered on her cheek faded all too quickly.

Before she could even grasp his hand, Cheongun was already gone.

****

Slash—

“Argh!”

A Hwangryong Division member was struck down in a single blow.

“Haa... Haa....”

Cheongsan stared blankly at the fallen comrade who had died protecting him.

His greatsword lay shattered on the ground, broken cleanly in two.

“...Monster.”

The one attacking the rear was a monster in every sense.

Neither Cheongsan nor Yeonhwa could contend with a transcendent peak-level master.

They had fought desperately to buy time, but the two of them had barely lasted five exchanges.

“Haa... Haa....”

Moyong Yeonhwa was also struggling to catch her breath. Thrown to the ground and battered against a tree, her body was a wreck.

Cheongsan looked at Yeonhwa as he picked up the broken sword.

“At least... you should escape.”

“!”

Cheongsan stepped in front of Yeonhwa.

Yeonhwa looked up at the broad back of the man blocking her path. It was a massive back, radiating a faint blue aura.

“...What are you saying? You don’t actually think you can beat that bastard without me, do you?”

Yeonhwa used her sword to brace herself and stood up. After briefly staring at his enormous back, she moved to stand beside him.

“I told you before. It’s not about the size of the sword, but its strength.”

“Kuhuhu. For a man, the bigger, the better. I still stand by that.”

“Carrying around a shattered sword and still being stubborn....”

Moyong Yeonhwa turned her gaze to the enemy radiating a vicious aura in front of them.

The aura was deeply unsettling, truly repulsive.

“...Don’t die.”

“You too. If you’re going to die, at least die after me.”

“....”

The two of them faced the enemy.

Watching the two of them, the enemy commander snickered.

“Look at these little worms trying to stand up to me. It’s almost enough to make my heart ache.”

At his words, the bandits accompanying him burst into laughter.

The enemy commander was the only one actually fighting. The bandits hadn’t even bothered to properly draw their swords.

“Do you know how magnanimous my heart is? It’s probably bigger than the sea itself.”

“....”

“In that spirit, I’ll grant your last wish.”

The enemy commander licked the blood dripping from his sword.

“You two lovers—I’ll send you to the afterlife together.”

His sword became shrouded in a dark crimson aura.

Just as Moyong Yeonhwa had felt, it was a sticky, foul, and sickening energy.

Swish—

The enemy commander swung his sword at Cheongsan and Yeonhwa, sending a wave of dark crimson energy surging toward them.

“Damn...!”

Both of them raised their swords to brace themselves against the incoming strike.

Swish—Boom—!

A wave of blue energy shot forth from behind them, colliding with the crimson energy and nullifying the attack.

A deafening roar echoed through the forest as the two opposing forces clashed, creating a gust of wind that sent leaves and dust flying into the air.

When Cheongsan and Yeonhwa finally managed to open their eyes, they saw Cheongun standing before them, blocking the path.

****

Boom—

A massive vibration shook the entire area.

The birds that had been resting in the trees took off in a flurry of wings, and a chilling wind blew from somewhere.

Seolhwa stopped in her tracks.

When she stopped, the Hwangryong Division Leader and Yugang also set the children down and took a moment to catch their breath.

“What’s going on?”

Yugang approached Seolhwa.

“...Father.”

“What?”

“Father....”

The clash just now—it was unmistakably Cheongun’s energy.

There was no mistaking that pure, clear aura.

‘What happened?’

Thump. Thump. Her heart pounded heavily.

The uneasy feeling she had when they parted from Cheongun now wrapped around her like a tightening noose.

Seolhwa clutched her chest, feeling her racing heart. The sensation of it constricting was unfamiliar and terrifying.

“Hey... are you hurt?”

Noticing Seolhwa’s cold sweat and pale face, Yugang grabbed her shoulders, his expression tense with concern.

Just then—

‘!’

“Get down!”

Seolhwa shoved Yugang aside. But—

Swish—Splat—!

“Guh....”

Blood splattered. Yugang gasped as his breath hitched.

Seolhwa’s eyes widened, trembling.

The moment she tried to push him away, Yugang had tightened his grip on her, refusing to be moved.

“You....”

“This... really... hurts....”

Gurgle...

Yugang’s body swayed forward, collapsing limply into Seolhwa’s arms.

At that moment, the stench of blood filled Seolhwa’s nostrils, sharp and pungent.

“....”

“Aww— Look at that. I meant to kill him in one strike.”

Seolhwa, who had been staring blankly at the blood on her hands, lifted her gaze to the figure standing against the moonlight.

“Didn’t die, did he?”

“....”

“Miss.”