Yu Gang’s gaze trembled.

“He did not want to die.”

The reason that child had tried to flee from the role of infiltrator was likely because of Yu Gang.

The warmth Yu Gang had poured into him had made the child hesitate.

The reason he had died was probably because of that tiny moment of hesitation.

The Blood Cult was the kind of group that discarded anyone who showed even the slightest sign of betrayal. And the younger and weaker the child, the stricter the standard.

‘But it is probably best not to say this.’

Seolhwa looked at Yu Gang.

As she watched the fury in his eyes turn into sorrow, she opened her mouth.

“Tomorrow, we will avenge him.”

“H-How?”

“We will catch the ones who drove him to his death.”

“And once we catch them?”

“We kill them.”

They would root out every infiltrator hiding among Mount Hua’s ranks and tear them out by the roots.

“Can we do that? Really?”

“We will. No matter what it takes.”

“...”

Yu Gang silently looked down at his feet.

He remembered the first time he saw Myeong, hiding behind a plum tree.

‘Who’s that?’

‘Him? Ah, /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ Elder Nobaek brought him. He was a street urchin. Not a formal disciple, but if he gets initiated, he’ll probably become a third-generation disciple, right?’

The look in the child’s eyes as he watched the second-generation disciples train had clearly been one of longing.

A look that said he wanted to be among them too.

Yearning.

Yu Gang knew that look better than anyone.

‘Hey. What’s your name?’

The first time, the child had run away.

When they met again, he had been scolded for not answering properly when a first-generation disciple—Yu Gang himself—spoke to him.

‘It’s okay. I will speak on his behalf. That was partly my fault too. Please don’t scold him too much.’

But even after that, the child ran away several more times.

He finally told Yu Gang his name the fourth time he asked.

‘Myeong.’

‘...Huh? Did you... just call me... hyung?’

‘...’

Strangely enough, that made Yu Gang care even more.

Only later did he realize that had been the boy telling him his name. But it did not matter.

Myeong had reminded him strongly of his own childhood.

“...How will we know who killed Myeong?”

“There were scratch marks under his fingernails. The person who killed him will definitely have wounds.”

Yu Gang nodded.

The gaze that had always appeared so gentle turned sharp.

It was a look Seolhwa was more familiar with.

****

As dusk began to fall the next day—

The disciples of Mount Hua gathered in one place.

It was nearly unprecedented to assemble everyone by skipping afternoon training.

But everyone had a sense of why they had been called together.

Even if they had not spoken with him often, all of Mount Hua’s disciples knew of Myeong, and the revelation that he had been an infiltrator had shocked them to the core.

The first-generation disciples, followed by the second-generation disciples—

And finally, a small number of probationary third-generation disciples who had not yet formally joined were lined up in succession.

Soon after, the warriors of the Namgoong Clan filed in from the guest quarters and stood in line beside Mount Hua’s disciples.

The disciples of Mount Hua glanced in confusion at the Namgoong warriors.

‘Why are Namgoong Clan warriors here...?’

Before they could find an answer to that question, the elders emerged from the main hall.

The disciples of Mount Hua stood straight and faced the elders.

All the elders wore grim expressions, and their mere appearance was enough to fill the air with tense pressure.

‘Elder Muhak is not here.’

‘Well, that boy was brought here by Elder Muhak, after all...’

Since it had been Nobaek who brought Myeong, it was only natural that he was not present, but that absence only made the disciples more curious.

‘If neither the Sect Leader nor the acting Sect Leader are present, then who summoned us?’

And with the warriors of Namgoong, no less.

‘Ah... could it be...?’

Just as Mount Hua’s disciples began to think of one particular person, three people appeared from the center of the main hall.

One was Namgoong Mucheon, Clan Head of the Namgoong Clan. Another was the physician they had brought from Namgoong.

And the third—supported by that physician—caused an immediate stir among the disciples of Mount Hua.

“Wh-Who is that? No way...”

“...The Sect Leader...?”

“Wh-What happened to the Sect Leader’s face...?”

Everyone was unable to conceal their shock.

The Sect Leader, who had not been seen for two years since entering seclusion for closed-door training, looked utterly unrecognizable, and his appearance was enough to send waves of panic through Mount Hua’s disciples.

Perhaps because of yesterday’s incident, or because he had not been resting properly in recent days, No Un’s condition had deteriorated drastically overnight—his face even more haggard.

Originally, No Un had intended to stand before the disciples himself, but he was now in no condition even to speak.

Leaving No Un behind, Namgoong Mucheon stepped forward.

“I am the one who summoned you here today. In place of your Sect Leader, I must first explain why the Namgoong Clan has come all the way to Mount Hua.”

The point of Namgoong Mucheon’s message was this:

The Namgoong Clan had learned by chance of the Sect Leader’s illness and, to aid an old friend, he himself—the Clan Head—had come in person.

The revelation that the Sect Leader, thought to be in seclusion, was actually suffering from a mysterious illness shocked the disciples of Mount Hua. And the idea that the Heavenly Dragon Sword Emperor had come all this way because of a long-standing friendship deeply moved them.

Watching the disciples of Mount Hua wrestle with these complicated emotions, Namgoong Mucheon continued.

“The unfortunate event that occurred last night, as you all know, is a grave threat to Mount Hua.”

The fact that an infiltrator from an unknown force had existed within their ranks—and that no one had noticed—was indeed a serious issue.

“However, it is also a fact that Mount Hua currently lacks a leader capable of confronting that threat. A force without leadership is prone to collapse from even the smallest disturbance.”

Choryeon handed Namgoong Mucheon a tightly rolled scroll.

“However, thanks to Heaven’s aid, we have fortunately found a way to cure your Sect Leader’s illness. It is this.”

Namgoong Mucheon unfurled the scroll toward the disciples of Mount Hua, revealing the picture within.

The roots resembled ginseng, and a violet flower and fruit hung from the end of the stem—an herb.

“It is called Night Flower Grass (Yahwacho), said to bloom only at night. If we can find this herb, your Sect Leader and Mount Hua will both survive.”

Namgoong Mucheon handed the scroll back to Choryeon, who passed it to the elders. The elders then circulated it among the disciples of Mount Hua.

“Thus, the warriors of the Namgoong Clan and the disciples of Mount Hua shall work together to search for the Night Flower Grass. We will depart tonight at the beginning of the hai hour (21:00–23:00), so prepare yourselves.”

The disciples rapidly passed the scroll around, committing the herb’s image to memory.

If they could just find the herb, they could cure the Sect Leader’s illness and stand against those who threatened Mount Hua.

The survival of Mount Hua—and the peace of the central martial world—depended on this.

Knowing that, at least the first-generation disciples understood why the Namgoong Clan was lending such earnest aid. Their expressions as they studied the herb were filled with resolve.

****

After appearing before the disciples, Choryeon once again helped No Un down from the platform.

As she did, someone approached her.

It was Seolhwa.

After formally greeting No Un, Seolhwa followed behind Choryeon as she led him to a bed.

Only after laying him down and lighting a calming incense did Choryeon finally leave the room.

As she exited the main hall, Seolhwa held out a small, palm-sized piece of folded paper.

“...My lady?”

Choryeon took the note reflexively and looked at Seolhwa, her expression asking what this was.

“Go to the place written there.”

“Written... place?”

“There is nothing more for you to do here. Go save the one you love.”

“!”

Choryeon’s pupils trembled faintly.

Her gaze dropped to the note in her hand.

The person she loved was at the location written there.

That fact alone made her heart race.

“They will need your help.”

“....”

Choryeon clenched the note tightly.

After staring at Seolhwa for a moment, she slowly bowed her head and turned away.

Seolhwa watched her go until the hurried figure disappeared from view.

****

Tap—tatap—

At the promised hai hour.

Gathered in Mount Hua’s courtyard, the disciples of Mount Hua and the Namgoong Clan formed groups according to the plan previously arranged by Namgoong Mucheon and No Un.

The swift-footed first-generation disciples were paired with the first Black Dragon squad of Namgoong.

According to martial level, five Mount Hua disciples were matched with two or three Namgoong warriors each.

“We shall return.”

“We will find the herb without fail.”

Tadat—tat!

The groups assigned to distant areas departed one by one.

The second-generation disciples and probationary third-generation disciples, unfamiliar with body movement techniques, were sent to locations not far from Mount Hua’s main grounds.

Namgoong Mugang and the Namgoong warriors would follow behind them, carrying both poison and antidote.

Tadadak!

One change to the plan was the movement of the elders.

Since it had been confirmed that all the elders were under hypnosis, scattering them would only complicate efforts to undo it.

Thus, Namgoong Mucheon chose to remain at the main hall with the elders.

‘I suppose it is time I moved as well.’

Outside Mount Hua, atop a tall pine tree—

Seolhwa pulled her mask up as she watched the first-generation disciples head out to their designated areas.

At her waist, the sword let out a metallic clack.

Staring at the disciples dispersing in all directions, Seolhwa’s figure vanished into the darkness.