The Sixth Blood Lord collapsed to his knees before the Emperor.

Namgoong Mucheon stood before the kneeling Sixth Blood Lord, his expression indifferent as he held his sword pointed at the man’s throat, circulating his qi.

At Namgoong Mucheon’s gesture, the Sixth Blood Lord’s mouth fell open. Moments later, a molar to which something was tied was yanked out.

Namgoong Mucheon glanced at the poison capsule attached to the molar before tossing it far away.

“Who sent you?”

The Sixth Blood Lord, Jeok Gwaesu, let out a low, mocking laugh, spitting out the blood that had pooled in his mouth.

“Jeok Gwaesu of the Blood Serpent Stronghold.”

“A mere lackey was carrying a poison capsule?”

“It’s possible.”

“Lies.”

Namgoong Mucheon could tell from the sinister aura emanating from the man that he was no ordinary lackey.

A foul, repulsive energy.

‘It’s similar to the remnants of power left in Seolhwa’s body.’

“Are you a man of Hwaoru?”

“Heh. Did Soruju tell you that?”

“Stop wasting time and reveal your true identity.”

“Bring Soruju here.”

Jeok Gwaesu’s gaze drifted toward the distant hillside.

Both Namgoong Mucheon and Jeok Gwaesu already knew there were two people standing there—and they both knew who they were.

“Quit playing games.”

“I’ll tell you everything before Soruju. Otherwise, I won't say a word.”

Namgoong Mucheon’s brow furrowed slightly.

With himself and Mugwang present, the child wouldn’t be in grave danger, but she would be safer nearby than far away. It was a dilemma.

“I’m already prepared to die. If the Sword Emperor wishes, he can take my head with a single swing. What’s the problem?”

“...”

“I’ll speak without holding back.”

Namgoong Mucheon let out a weary sigh, his expression heavy.

“Three paces away. No closer.”

“Fine.”

Namgoong Mucheon sent a telepathic command to Seop Mugwang to bring Seolhwa closer.

Soon after, Seop Mugwang descended the hill with Seolhwa and positioned themselves precisely three paces away, as instructed.

It was a distance where they could clearly see each other’s faces.

Jeok Gwaesu, who was under Seop Mugwang’s guard, let out a sinister laugh.

“It’s been a while, Soruju. It seems the position of Namgoong’s young lady suits you. Your complexion looks much better.”

“Don’t call me Soruju. I’m not that anymore.”

“...Kuh, hahaha! Hahahaha!”

Jeok Gwaesu burst into laughter, his voice echoing across the desolate field.

To Seolhwa, the sight was somewhat surreal.

‘That Sixth Blood Lord... to think he’d look so pathetic now.’

In her previous life, he had been the master of the Jiangan Waterway, leading the Waterway Stronghold as one of the pivotal forces during the Blood Cult Rebellion.

Because Jeok Gwaesu had controlled the waterways, he had effectively disrupted supply transport throughout the Central Plains, worsening the suffering of the common people and driving more to defect to the Blood Cult.

He had been a figure feared across the entire Central Plains—a tyrant of the waters whom no one could defeat.

And now, that very man...

“Well, there’s no harm in calling you that, is there? Namgoong Lady. Now, are you satisfied?”

Seolhwa simply stared at Jeok Gwaesu, who was baring his teeth in a twisted grin.

Jeok Gwaesu soon wiped the smile from his face and met her eyes.

“Did you know? When that crazy Luju said he was going to bring in some crying child and make her Soruju, I opposed it.”

Due to the binding spell, he referred to her as Soruju, but Jeok Gwaesu was actually speaking of the time when the Blood Demon had suddenly announced that he would make Seolhwa the Deputy Leader and presented her to the Six Blood Lords.

At the time, both the Fifth and Sixth Blood Lords had vehemently opposed the decision.

But the Blood Demon’s proclamation was a command, not a request. Their opposition had been ignored.

“You don’t raise a beast cub. Once it grows up, it won’t distinguish between its master and its prey. Look at you now. Isn’t that exactly what happened?”

Jeok Gwaesu chuckled darkly again.

When the Blood Demon had said he would make the Namgoong child the Deputy Leader, Jeok Gwaesu had thought the man had finally lost his mind.

Of course, he’d already been a madman to begin with.

When Seolhwa’s memories were wiped and she was raised under the Blood Demon’s influence, it had seemed to be working—for a time.

But the result was now clear.

‘How can you say you tamed a beast that bites its own master?’

Heh, that lunatic Blood Demon. Caught in his own trap.

“Well, things have come to this. Why don’t you try winning?”

“Why? Would it benefit you if I did?”

“If I had to choose, I’d say I prefer Soruju over that madman. I’ve always wanted to see that lunatic Luju get what he deserves.”

On the surface, the Blood Cult played the hero, pretending to save the world. But in reality, it was a den of self-serving vipers.

At least that was the relationship between the Blood Demon and the Six Blood Lords. They were all bound to him by the blood bonds that kept them alive.

What might have initially been a transaction had become a curse, a shackle.

And in the previous life, the Six Blood Lords had all harbored a grudge against the Blood Demon.

They wanted nothing more than to sever the blood bond that enslaved them.

And every single one of them had resented the Blood Demon to varying degrees.

‘They always took out their resentment on me. It was such a nuisance.’

To Seolhwa, the Blood Demon and the Six Blood Lords were all the same—madmen.

“Well, it’s a shame I won’t get to see how it ends, but... I’ll give you a parting gift.”

Jeok Gwaesu shifted his gaze from Seolhwa to Namgoong Mucheon.

“You asked who sent me, didn’t you?”

A vile grin spread across his lips.

“Listen carefully. I, Jeok Gwaesu, am—”

At that moment, bloodshot veins bulged in Jeok Gwaesu’s eyes, and his entire body began to tremble.

Seolhwa’s eyes widened in shock as she watched him.

‘He’s trying to break the binding spell...?’

Was he really willing to endure the pain of breaking the spell just to give them information?

“Dae... Sura...”

Gurgle. Gurgle. Blood-tinged froth spilled from Jeok Gwaesu’s mouth as blood poured from every orifice.

Starting from his fingertips, his limbs began to twist, each joint snapping out of place, his bones bending unnaturally.

The binding spell wasn’t like the poison capsule. Instead of ending the victim’s life quickly, it inflicted unimaginable pain on those who attempted to break it.

“Urgh... Khh...!”

Even as his intestines were being torn apart and his heart shredded to pieces, the Sixth Blood Lord did not lose his vile grin.

His bloodshot eyes fixed on Seolhwa. The gaze of a man rushing headlong toward death was filled with nothing but madness.

“Blood... Cult...”

At that moment, blood gushed from every orifice of his body with a wet splatter. With a grotesque gurgling sound, his body began to swell.

It was a sight too horrifying to watch with open eyes.

“Kh... Hrk...”

Even as his eyes rolled back, he laughed.

As though it delighted him that the mess he was leaving behind would put that arrogant Blood Demon in a difficult position.

Seolhwa did not witness the end.

Seop Mugwang had covered her eyes, and with a sickening splat, something wet splashed against her cheek.

“Horrifying...”

Seop Mugwang’s low murmur was the last thing she heard.

‘He’s... really dead.’

The Sixth Blood Lord was truly dead.

Just like that. So pathetically.

Thud. Thud.

Heavy footsteps approached.

Beyond Seop Mugwang’s hand that covered her eyes, a massive shadow loomed over her. And then, Seolhwa was abruptly lifted off the ground.

“Up you go.”

Namgoong Mucheon hoisted Seolhwa into his arms.

With her back to the remains of the Sixth Blood Lord, his thick fingers gently tapped her forehead.

Moments later, a warm, invigorating qi coursed through her entire body, clearing her mind.

“You’re not hurt anywhere.”

After inspecting her thoroughly, Namgoong Mucheon withdrew his hand.

Still holding her, he began to walk leisurely, as if taking a casual stroll.

“I heard you followed after Hwarin.”

“Yes.”

“Well done.”

Namgoong Mucheon lightly ruffled Seolhwa’s hair.

“But next time, call for an adult first. Or take your guard with you. The guards are there to protect you from danger, not to be sent away to deal with someone else’s.”

“...Yes.”

For some reason, she felt a bit guilty, imagining how much Ryeong must have been scolded.

‘Guards should always stay by my side...’

She made a mental note.

“It’s better to be safe and late than to hurry and lose your life. Understand?”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

“Good.”

Namgoong Mucheon never repeated himself.

His brief, sincere words were filled with his concern for her.

“Well, at least we managed to gain something.”

The Sixth Blood Lord had muttered “Blood Cult” just before he died.

In that kind of pain, he shouldn’t have been able to say anything. But he was the Sixth Blood Lord, after all, and his willpower had been formidable enough to withstand it.

“Now we can root out the infiltrators.”

All they had to do was write down “Blood Cult” and ask people to read it.

Whether it was false information or not was already proven by the Sixth Blood Lord’s death.

“But it is rather strange. That man was a wicked one through and through. Why would he betray his own faction right before his death?”

“People like them have no loyalty.”

“Hm?”

“They’re just a group of people gathered to gain, wield, and indulge in power. At least the leaders of that faction are.”

“Hm.”

“So, there’s no need to feel grateful that the Blood Serpent Stronghold helped us. It wasn’t for our sake.”

It was likely that, knowing he was about to die, Jeok Gwaesu just wanted to hurl one last bit of dirt at the Blood Demon.

“Is Hwaoruju stronger than him?”

“Yes.”

In both her past life and the present, Seolhwa had never truly grasped the extent of the Blood Demon’s power. But one thing was certain: he was far stronger than those who were known as the top ten martial artists of the world. Perhaps even...

‘He might have reached a realm beyond the Flowing Realm.’

“If he’s that strong, why does he keep hiding himself? If he’s as powerful as you say, he should’ve already taken control of the Central Plains.”

Despite his overwhelming strength, the Blood Demon had waited five more years. The reason was...

“Hwaoruju doesn’t want to become the strongest under heaven.”