Again. It was happening again.

‘Why is this happening?’

These burdensome gazes directed at Seolhwa, this overwhelming hospitality, and the seat of honor offered to her as though it were only natural.

She had felt it back when she asked for help with Seop Mugwang’s case, but the Black Cloud Gang’s attitude toward her was undeniably strange.

It had definitely not been like this at the start.

Was it not with swords drawn and blood spilled when they first met?

What had occurred between then and now that caused such a complete change in attitude?

“We had been eagerly awaiting your arrival, Lady Soru. What kept you from coming until now?”

Even the way they spoke had changed drastically from their first meeting—now polite, almost as though they were hosting a person of great stature.

Though the flip in their behavior was baffling, Seolhwa first expressed her gratitude to the Black Cloud Gang.

“Thank you for what you did last time. I apologize for the delayed thanks. Something came up and I could not come right away.”

“A-ah, Lady Soru is not someone who has the leisure for trivial things. I bear no resentment, so please do not trouble yourself over it.”

“Someone who has many affairs.” “Bear no resentment.”

Every word was burdensome.

Perhaps unaware of her discomfort, or choosing to ignore it, the Gang Lord of the Black Cloud Gang continued with his head bowed.

“The one you entrusted to us returned to the Namgoong Clan seven days ago. I had our men escort him until he entered Habi.”

“Ah.”

So the Lord has returned safely.

“We confirmed his safe return to the Namgoong Clan, so please rest assured.”

“Thank you for seeing to it all the way to the end.”

“No, no! It was a request from our benefactor, so of course we had to take care of it.”

“Benefactor?”

Had she ever saved the Black Cloud Gang before?

Why were they calling her that?

“Thanks to you taking on the rumor of the Great Rejuvenation Pill, we did not end up making enemies of Shaolin or Mount Hua. From our perspective, that makes you our benefactor.”

And not just that. She had culled those stirring unrest within the gang, stabilized their crumbling structure, and with that as a foundation, had even helped them expand their territory.

These days, skilled individuals who had heard of the Black Cloud Gang’s rising fame were increasing in number.

In the surrounding region, it was said that no other black path faction could match their current power. It was truly a revival.

“However...”

“?”

“What should we call you?”

The Gang Lord of the Black Cloud Gang knew that Seolhwa was the young lady of the Namgoong Clan.

Not only were there rumors about her throughout the entire central plains, but she had also helped the Namgoong Clan’s Bipung Division Commander—there was no way he would not know.

But he deliberately avoided calling her “young lady.”

The Namgoong Clan belonged to the righteous path. Among those, it was one of the leading families that stood against the black path.

And yet the way the young lady of such a family treated them black path members was unusually cordial.

That meant that even though she had returned to the Namgoong Clan, her identity could still lie with the black path.

‘She might dislike being called young lady.’

Moreover, she had not declared her identity as the Namgoong Clan’s young lady.

Seolhwa’s lips curved faintly.

‘As expected of the Black Cloud Gang Lord.’

In her previous life, the Black Cloud Gang had become a public enemy of Mount Hua and Shaolin because of the stolen Great Rejuvenation Pill.

And the one who extended a hand to them as they fled from those two great powers was Hwaoru—the Blood Fiend.

The Black Cloud Gang had come under the Blood Fiend’s authority and had taken charge of recruiting and unifying the black path forces.

The person who carried out that mission was this Gang Lord.

‘The Blood Fiend ordered the Black Cloud Gang to bring him the Great Rejuvenation Pill to absorb them.’

But in this life, she had taken that responsibility upon herself, preventing the Black Cloud Gang’s downfall.

Still, it was unlikely that the Blood Fiend had given up on them.

“Since then, has there been any contact from Hwaoru?”

“No. Not yet.”

Surprising. She had expected there would have been contact by now.

‘Is that because of me?’

That might be the case.

Given the actions she had taken upon returning to the Namgoong Clan, the Blood Demon Cult must have suffered heavy losses.

‘They must be in chaos from the Fifth and Sixth Blood Lords’ affairs.’

Not to mention the deaths of the owners of the Moon Tiles.

Whether to appoint someone new or rebuild under the Fifth Blood Lord’s leadership—it was bound to be complicated.

‘So, in the meantime...’

Perhaps I should seize this Black Cloud Gang for myself.

“Gang Lord.”

“Yes, please speak.”

“You asked what would be best to call me, did you not?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Then, how about this.”

In that instant, black smoke-like energy burst forth from Seolhwa and spilled out around her.

“Gah...!”

“!!”

The Black Cloud Gang Lord, the elders seated in the main hall, and even Ryeong—

All were struck speechless by the dense black energy that rapidly filled the air.

‘W-what is this...!’

Inner force. This was inner force.

The energy that now filled this vast main hall could only be that.

‘Why... why is this energy «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» coming from my lady...?’

The energy swirling around Seolhwa was blacker and more concentrated than anything else.

It felt as though darkness itself was coalescing around her.

Seated at its center, Seolhwa’s lips curved upward.

“Join hands with me.”

“W-what do you mean...?”

“I intend to undertake something significant.”

“!”

“And I wish for you, Gang Lord, to stand at the center of it. You and this Black Cloud Gang.”

A proposal without any explanation of what exactly she would do or what she needed from them.

In some ways, it was so abrupt that it bordered on presumptuous. And yet—

“What say you?”

The Gang Lord of the Black Cloud Gang sank to his knees before he realized it.

His hands and feet trembled like quivering twigs in the face of the overwhelming inner force Seolhwa exuded.

The voice of the Imugi echoed in her mind.

[Did you mix killing intent into my inner force? An ordinary human would not even be able to withstand that. You have no intent to kill them, so why include killing intent? Are you not trying to win their cooperation?]

‘That’s right. I intend to gain their cooperation.’

[Then why radiate your energy in such an oppressive manner?]

‘I am showing them. The overwhelming difference in martial strength. That I am someone they can trust and follow.’

In the world of martial arts, strength is persuasion—and leadership.

All the more so in the black path, where power takes precedence over order.

Using the Imugi’s inner force laced with killing intent, Seolhwa was simultaneously instilling fear and trust in them.

Though her outward appearance was that of a child, she was anything but weak.

This way, they would yield to fear, yet feel reassured—engraving her as a ruler they could trust, deep into their bones.

[The order of humans is truly incomprehensible.]

Seolhwa looked down upon the Gang Lord of the Black Cloud Gang, who had bowed his head before the overwhelming gap in martial prowess.

The elders of the Black Cloud Gang were likewise trembling as they knelt in place.

With a voice that trembled, the Gang Lord finally spoke.

“I... I will obey whatever you command. If you so wish, even the position of Gang Lord...”

“No.”

Whoosh—

In an instant, the inner force that had filled the entire interior vanished.

As though dark clouds had cleared from a shadowed world, brightness returned to the surroundings.

With the oppressive force gone, the faces of the Black Cloud Gang members visibly relaxed.

“The seat of the Gang Lord should remain yours.”

“Then...?”

What should we call you?

“The Black Cloud Gang and I are now connected, and with that, we have agreed to join forces. Call me Linked Lord.”

“Linked... Lord?”

Seolhwa smiled gently and nodded.

“Yes. That would be best.”

****

Pat—tap-tap—

Seolhwa and Ryeong traveled without rest for several days using movement techniques, arriving in Habi.

They stopped on a hill overlooking the entire city.

It was the very hill where Seolhwa had first met Yu Gang.

Though the sun had already set and night had fallen, the streets of Habi still glowed brightly.

“Um... my lady.”

Seolhwa turned to face Ryeong.

Though she often seemed expressionless, Ryeong was not good at hiding her emotions.

Seolhwa knew that ever since they left the Black Cloud Gang, Ryeong had been curious about the power she had revealed.

They had traveled nonstop since then, so there had been no time to explain.

“It’s power I obtained at Mount Hua.”

Ryeong’s eyes sparkled for a moment.

“So it was a stroke of fortune after all?”

“That’s right. I cannot tell you the details, though.”

“Ah... no, that’s quite alright. I was only wondering whether the energy you showed in the Black Cloud Gang was truly your own power...”

“The existence of this power is a secret. To the people of the clan as well. To everyone.”

“Then what of your previous inner force?”

“This?”

Seolhwa drew up her internal energy and revealed it. Ryeong’s eyes widened.

Even as she looked, she could hardly believe it.

How could two entirely different types of inner force exist side by side?

Even with the Namgoong energy clearly present, the energy from the Black Cloud Gang had also truly belonged to her?

“There are many strange things in this world. Consider this one of them.”

As if entranced, Ryeong nodded.

She did not want to trouble Seolhwa, and even if she received an explanation, it would be just as unbelievable.

Now, it was time to part.

“Take care of what I told you. Let us meet here again.”

“Yes, my lady. Please be careful.”

Seolhwa and Ryeong once again activated their movement techniques and swiftly descended the mountain.

At some point, the two running together split off in different directions.

Seolhwa moved toward the residence of the Namgoong Clan Head, while Ryeong headed toward the street of Habi where the night market was being held.

Casting a glance at Ryeong’s quickly receding figure, Seolhwa turned back and quickened her pace toward the Clan Head’s residence.