After immersing herself in warm water and finishing her meal, Seolhwa listened in detail through Ryeong about what had happened after she had entered the Imugi Formation.

The account was that No Mun had fled after losing one arm to Namgoong Mucheon, and that a small amount of information about the Blood Demon Cult had been obtained from the remaining spies.

Most of the Mount Hua disciples who had become spies had been captured by the Blood Demon Cult after leaving the main sect. In order to survive, they cooperated with them, and eventually, having been captivated by power, they were swayed to their side.

“I tried to extract information by any means, but the restriction seals were far too strong. They all died shortly after, so I could not learn much.”

“Died? The spies?”

“Yes. All of them had Gu Poison implanted.”

“Ah.”

Of course.

The Blood Demon Cult implants Gu Poison in those forcibly initiated into the cult.

No matter how much loyalty they might swear, the cult assumes betrayal is always possible and imposes a minimum form of restriction.

At this stage, when the very existence of the Blood Demon Cult as a massive force was /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ still being concealed, it made sense they would go to such lengths to seal their mouths.

‘There is nothing to gain from capturing spies.’

In truth, those spies—meant to be used and discarded—were not entrusted with important information to begin with.

“Will you be returning to the main estate now?”

At Ryeong’s question, Seolhwa shook her head.

“I will not return to the estate.”

“Pardon? You will not return?”

Seolhwa nodded.

It was something she had decided while continuing her training inside the Imugi Formation.

There was something more urgent than returning to the estate right now.

“B-but...”

Ryeong was flustered.

“The Clan Head must be waiting. And so is Young Lord Il. Will you not even send word?”

“No. I will send word. They must be worried. I will stop by the estate soon. There are some items I need.”

Back in the Secret Cave of the Thousand-Mile Rapid Transit, she had acquired not only the antidote pill and the jade token fragment, but also a martial arts manual.

It was a secret manual containing an inner energy cultivation technique. The name of the technique was Poison-Cleaving Steel Force .

Experts who had reached the Flower Realm could deploy Bodyguard Steel Force , enveloping themselves in hardened qi to protect their flesh from physical harm. This technique was similar in nature.

According to the manual, it was a steel force capable of blocking any poisonous intrusion.

However, mastering the technique required a special elixir—the Golden Dragon Jade Blood Treasure, which she had obtained from the Celestial Palace Demon’s Head.

‘The Golden Dragon Jade Blood Treasure and the secret manual.’

Only by obtaining both could one cultivate the Poison-Cleaving Steel Force.

Considering that Bodyguard Steel Force was used by those who had reached the Flower Realm, it was likely that Poison-Cleaving Steel Force required a similar level of attainment.

Thus, there were three conditions necessary to learn the technique.

‘A demanding martial art.’

But the more demanding, the more formidable it must be.

To be able to block any form of poisonous invasion...

‘If I can master this technique, it will give me a tremendous advantage in the fight against the Blood Demon Cult.’

The Blood Demon Cult often used poisons to weaken their enemies before launching surprise attacks.

Therefore, just being able to resist poison would allow her to counter more than eighty percent of their ambush strategies.

To do that, she needed the Golden Dragon Jade Blood Treasure kept in the estate.

“Then, where do you intend to go? I will follow you, my lady.”

“Of course. You are my bodyguard.”

“!”

Seolhwa smiled faintly.

“I made a promise to my grandfather—that I would always travel with a bodyguard until I reached the Peak Transcendence Realm.”

Including the power of the Imugi, she could be considered to have reached the Flower Realm, but her own strength alone had not yet broken through to Peak Transcendence.

A promise must be kept.

“I apologize for not asking your opinion, but you must protect me, Ryeong.”

“...My lady...”

When Seolhwa said she would not return to the estate, Ryeong had feared she might be left behind.

Though she was Seolhwa’s bodyguard, the girl had never truly needed one.

Every time she felt like an unnecessary presence, she regretted her rude behavior from their first meeting even more—and so she tried harder.

“Is that alright?”

As if sensing her feelings, Seolhwa extended her hand to Ryeong without hesitation.

Ryeong, gazing at the small hand held out to her, lowered her head and grasped it tightly.

As if she would never let go.

“I, Namgoong Ryeong, will remain at your side, no matter where you go.”

Seolhwa smiled faintly at such overflowing loyalty.

Ryeong straightened up and asked her again.

“If you will not return to the estate... then where do you plan to go?”

“For now, I have a place in mind.”

“A place in mind?”

“From now on, we will become black path practitioners.”

“!”

Ryeong’s eyes widened.

“B-black path...?”

She was so shocked she even stammered, which was unlike her.

She had just vowed to dedicate her life to Seolhwa, but the shock of this declaration almost made her forget that resolve.

Black path? The black path?

You are saying we are turning into black path martial artists?

Having lived her entire life under the roof of the Namgoong Clan as a righteous path practitioner, now she was to become a black path one?

“W-why...? Why must you take the black path? The black path is full of shameless and dangerous people—”

“Not all of them are like that.”

Well, it was not an entirely wrong statement either.

“Not every black path practitioner is evil or violent. In fact, many are more timid and soft-hearted than those on the righteous path.”

“But how can such people live by stealing from others? Thievery is not the way of the timid and soft-hearted, is it?”

“What matters is why they ended up living that way.”

How did people become part of the black path?

Because they hated work?

Because it was fun and easy to take from others?

Because they enjoyed making others suffer?

Of course, there were many who committed evil for such reasons.

But most black path factions had come into being out of necessity.

Because crops would not grow.

Because they were starving.

Because they had no tax to offer the imperial court.

Because what they had was taken by someone else.

“Those who lose their homes flee deep into the forests. But food is scarce there, and necessary supplies are hard to come by. So, as if it were inevitable, they begin to rob those passing through.”

Eventually, some of them are killed, or captured by suppression squads and dragged to the authorities to be punished.

Because they have no power, and no proper martial strength to defend themselves.

“To survive, those people begin gathering strength. And once people gather, a leader emerges to command them. As the size of the group grows, so too does the number of people they must protect, and thus they cultivate even more power. That is how most factions come into being.”

People who can no longer return to life as ordinary citizens.

People who can no longer live by ordinary means.

“...Of course, as you said, Ryeong, there are certainly no shortage of bad people among them.”

Seolhwa gave an awkward smile.

She had chosen to walk the black path, and though she spoke in a way that might reassure Ryeong, the truth was that the bad ones far outnumbered the good.

No, it was a place where even the good became bad.

Where the timid turned cruel.

Such a place—that was the black path.

And what Seolhwa intended to do was precisely that.

To weed out the rotten, to cut away the excess, to correct the climate of finding joy in evil deeds and treating murder as natural.

“....”

Ryeong clenched her fists tightly, her expression grave.

As someone who had lived her entire life as a warrior of the Namgoong Clan, where integrity and honor were paramount, this was not a decision she could easily accept.

“If you truly cannot accept it, then you may return to the estate...”

“No.”

Ryeong lifted her gaze and met Seolhwa’s eyes.

“I will follow you, my lady.”

“Will you be alright?”

“You are not doing anything wrong. I believe in you.”

“Hmm...”

Ryeong’s eyes were filled with determination.

Seeing the firm resolve in her, Seolhwa nodded.

“Very well. Good.”

****

“Is this the place?”

Ryeong stared at the large black gate standing before her.

It was surrounded by nothing but forest—no nearby buildings, no signboard to indicate ownership—only a black gate.

Which made it seem all the more suspicious.

“This is the base of the Black Cloud Gang.”

“Black Cloud Gang...”

Seolhwa stepped up to the gate and pounded on it firmly. A moment later, a small slot at the top opened, and a pair of menacing eyes appeared.

Those eyes immediately fixed on Ryeong standing out front.

“Who goes there?”

The rough voice came with an urgent, wary tone.

Rather than answer, Ryeong looked toward Seolhwa.

Only then did the eyes glance downward.

At last noticing Seolhwa, the eyes went wide with shock.

“O-oh! You have arrived! Please wait just a moment!”

A series of loud metallic clanks followed, and the gate swung open wide.

Ryeong’s mouth dropped open.

Beyond the gate, a line of black path martial artists stood in orderly rows, bowing deeply at the waist.

“You have arrived, Lady Soru!”

It was an utterly bizarre sight.

Hundreds of grown adults forming fists in salute and greeting a child.

Ryeong could only stare at Seolhwa, dumbstruck.

‘My lady...’

Could she be some infamous villain even the black path respects...?

Just what kind of life had her lady been living...?

Seolhwa began walking.

Then, turning back, she called to Ryeong.

“Are you not coming?”

“Ah—yes! Coming!”

Ryeong scrambled after her.

The two passed through the entrance and crossed through the heart of the Black Cloud Gang’s base.

But before they even reached the main hall, a familiar voice called out from afar.

“Ahhh—Lady Soru—!!”

Seolhwa halted in her tracks.

A crowd was rushing toward them in a flurry.

At the very front—was the Gang Lord of the Black Cloud Gang.