“You’re the one, then. The one said to be using our Mount Hua’s martial arts as he pleases.”

He had been strong.

The elder who claimed to be from Mount Hua was, in truth, overwhelmingly strong.

Though Yu Gang had lived barely more than ten years, he had never encountered anyone stronger.

“Hm. You have a rather decent look in your eyes. What do you say, will you come with me to Mount Hua?”

“If I follow you... can I become strong like you?”

“You want to become as strong as me?”

“No, I want to beat you.”

“Hahahaha! Look at this brat who doesn’t even know his place! Still, it is not entirely impossible. Whether you become as strong as I am, or strong enough to defeat me—that depends entirely on you.”

“Then I’ll go.”

Just like that, he left the neighborhood where he had lived his whole life.

It was perhaps when they had traveled about four kilometers from the village.

“Ah.”

“What is it?”

“I was supposed to fight Chunpal today. I forgot.”

“Who is this Chunpal?”

“He’s just... a beggar. Said he joined some place called the Beggars’ Gang and learned martial arts. But seriously, why would some place that teaches martial arts bother with a filthy beggar? I should’ve smashed that liar’s mouth in.”

“Hm. If what he said was true, then perhaps, with some luck, you may run into him again.”

“Huh? Him? So he really had some connection to Mount Hua?”

“Not particularly. More importantly....”

“Ow! Why’d you hit me?!”

“There is much you must learn. Let us start by fixing that ruffian way of speaking.”

From then on, he was hit. A lot.

One strike for not using honorifics. Another for speaking too roughly. Even showing anger from the pain earned him another blow.

But he did not seem to be a bad person.

He bought meals for Yu Gang, gave him new clothes and shoes, and let him stay at inns.

The first night he stayed at an inn, Yu Gang sat before a steaming bowl of rice, glancing at the man.

“What is it now?”

“I know what this is.”

“What? The wheat noodles?”

“Giving food, giving clothes, preparing a place to sleep. This kind of thing.”

“And what would that be?”

“...Father...?”

Snap!

“Call me Master.”

From that day on, the man taught Yu Gang about what a sect was.

Not a blood family, but a family nonetheless.

Not true brothers, but fellow disciples.

There were first-, second-, and third-generation disciples, and since Yu Gang was entering as a first-generation, he had to be particularly careful with his words and conduct.

By the time they arrived at Mount Hua, the man had taught him many things, and Yu Gang had become decent enough—enough not to be a shame when received as a disciple.

Life in Mount Hua, after he joined, suited Yu Gang quite well.

No, in truth, he liked it very much.

Though not blood-related, he had found people he could call family. People precious to him.

Since coming to Mount Hua with that man, there had not been a single unhappy day.

And yet—

Tatadak!

Yu Gang could not believe his eyes.

The man was running away.

The strongest sword of Mount Hua, head of the Peerless Plum Sword, one of the Ten Great Masters under heaven, the Plum Blossom Divine Sword—and Yu Gang’s master, No Un—

Was fleeing, having lost his left arm.

Yu Gang dashed forward, picked up a stone the size of his fist, and hurled it at the fleeing figure.

Whoosh—Thud!

The stone missed.

But it managed to make him stop.

No Un turned back to face Yu Gang.

As he met the ruined figure of his master’s gaze, Yu Gang screamed until his throat tore.

“Why!!!”

“...”

“Why did you betray us?! Why!!!”

Yu Gang hurled another stone.

This time, it struck him squarely in the chest and then dropped to the ground.

But No Un neither grew angry nor gave any answer. He simply stood there, watching Yu Gang cry out in despair.

“Why...! Why did you make me your disciple if this is how it would end!! Why did you...! Why did you bring me to Mount Hua...!!”

His throat closed, and he could hardly breathe.

Gasping for air, Yu Gang glared at No Un.

“Kill me and go...!”

He clenched his fists.

“If you’re going to run away so disgracefully, then at least kill me before you go!!”

Why did you make me your disciple?

Why did you bring me to Mount Hua?

Why did you not put me under hypnosis?

Why...

“There is still much for you to learn.”

Why will you not kill me?

With that final statement, «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» No Un turned his body and fled.

In the end, he gave neither answer nor reason.

In the end, he never laid a finger on Yu Gang.

And that was what enraged Yu Gang the most.

He remembered how, when he first came at No Un wanting to defeat him, the man would always hold back—over and over again.

And that made the betrayal all the more unbearable, the injustice more bitter.

So full of fury, Yu Gang stood there, clenching his fists, glaring at the place where No Un had vanished.

His face contorted with seething resentment.

****

At the very moment Namgoong Mucheon was about to sever No Un’s lifeline, the man detonated a smoke bomb and fled.

Perhaps knowing it was not enough, he unleashed waves of qi in all directions.

Namgoong Mucheon blocked all the flying energy blades aimed at Mount Hua’s disciples and No Un.

By the time he finished, No Un was already gone.

Not long after, the elders and disciples of Mount Hua, freed from their hypnosis, regained consciousness.

The disciples awoke confused at the unfolding situation, but the elders, having been briefed by Namgoong Mucheon before their minds were overtaken, remained surprisingly calm.

The sect leader and elders quickly soothed the awakened disciples and began a full-scale search of the area.

No Un had said he heard the flute sound, but the hypnosis had not activated.

It was surmised that the poison's effects had interfered with the activation of the hypnotic technique.

The situation was swiftly brought under control.

Originally, since the hypnosis had triggered earlier than expected, the Namgoong Clan’s forces should have suffered greater losses—but the damage was minimal.

This was because quite a few of Mount Hua’s disciples had been poisoned before the flute sounded, and because the White Dragon Division had arrived in time to support the Black Dragon Division.

Though the White Dragon Division Commander blamed himself for leaving Seop Mugwang alone, Namgoong Mucheon did not reproach him.

With the White Dragon Division now joined with the awakened disciples of Mount Hua, the Namgoong Clan’s forces worked together to gather the dead and wounded.

But Namgoong Mucheon remained uneasy.

“Clan Head!”

The Black Dragon Commander approached, holding something.

It was a wooden tag marked with the red characters for Seven (七) and Nine (九).

Namgoong Mucheon recognized it at a glance.

It was the same kind of token as the one marked Twelve (十二) that he had seen at the main estate.

“We found two corpses in the forest, each carrying one of these tags. And also...”

The Black Dragon Commander held out another item.

A small piece of blue cloth.

“Is this not the young lady’s?”

Namgoong Mucheon took the fabric in hand.

A piece of blue silk, clearly torn from Seolhwa’s clothing.

“...Black Dragon Commander. Take Black Dragon Unit One and follow me.”

Namgoong Mucheon clenched the fabric tightly.

“Even if I must overturn all of Mount Hua—I will find Seolhwa.”

“Understood!”