Cheon Woo-rin's face was one of wounded pride.

He had never once received proper praise from the Cult Leader, Cheon Yu-myeong. Rumors were circulating within the cult that his own position was diminishing.

There were talks that if he weren't Cheon Yu-myeong's son, he wouldn't even have been able to leave his family estate, let alone become the Master of the Shadowless Pavilion.

"What do you know to be spouting such nonsense?"

Cheon Woo-rin became agitated, as if his own shame had been exposed.

Jin Sa-wol, seemingly uninterested in Cheon Woo-rin's reaction, asked in an indifferent tone.

"After the Demonic Cult Leader returned from the Esoteric Sect, did he ever change or feel like a different person?"

"What kind of bullshit is that? There was no such thing."

"Nothing strange? He's your father, isn't he?"

"There was no such thing."

"The father-son relationship isn't good. Or are you just indifferent to each other?"

Cheon Woo-rin recalled Cheon Yu-myeong, who had kept his distance from him since he was young. But Cheon Yu-myeong definitely loved him. That was certain.

"That's not true! Where are you trying to drive a wedge!"

Cheon Woo-rin shouted at Jin Sa-wol, who was sitting with an indifferent face.

"Cut the useless chatter and kill me if you're going to kill me. If you plan to spare me, end it here. If you stop now, I won't chase you."

Cheon Woo-rin maintained his composure as much as possible and raised his voice, but to Jin Sa-wol's ears, it just sounded like nonsense.

If Cheon Woo-rin returned alive, he would try to find and kill him by any means necessary.

Of course, he had no intention of sending Cheon Woo-rin back alive.

"There were a total of eight people here when the Esoteric Sect Leader died. Among them, the former Demonic Cult Leader and the former Alliance Leader died, and Dokgo Shin-wi also died. Now only five are alive."

At the news that Dokgo Shin-wi had died, Cheon Woo-rin's eyes widened. He was a supreme old demonic head even in the Demonic Cult.

"Your nonsense is severe."

Splash!

Hearing the sound of water from afar, Jin Sa-wol stood up from his seat.

"They came faster than I thought."

The moment he heard Jin Sa-wol's words, Cheon Woo-rin let out a scream.

"Aaargh! Over here! Here!"

"Over there!"

Splash! Splash!

With a loud splashing sound, three people appeared, parting the fog. They were the Wind Blood Pavilion Master, the Deputy Pavilion Master, and Faction Leader Seo, who had crossed the lake following Cheon Woo-rin's scream.

"Lord Cheon!"

"Lord Cheon!"

As Faction Leader Seo rushed to support him, Cheon Woo-rin hastily looked around.

"That bastard! Where did he go!"

Cheon Woo-rin shouted, looking for Jin Sa-wol, but Jin Sa-wol's figure was nowhere to be seen.

* * *

The intense light of morning shone through the window, and Cheon Woo-rin, who was lying on the bed, opened his eyes.

"Ugh!"

Unable to get up properly due to the pain coming from both his legs, Cheon Woo-rin leaned his back against the wall.

"It wasn't a dream."

Cheon Woo-rin sighed and clenched his fist.

"Aaargh!"

The moment he tried to clench his fist, pain shot up from his broken fingers, and he let out a scream.

Instantly, Faction Leader Seo, with her mask off, rushed into the room.

"Lord Cheon."

Faction Leader Seo, in her early to mid-thirties with smooth skin and a face like a round full moon, sat next to Cheon Woo-rin, checking his complexion.

"You're awake."

"Did you find that bastard?"

"There's no one. We searched this entire area, but the person Lord Cheon mentioned was not there."

"That bastard is definitely somewhere."

Muttering, Cheon Woo-rin looked out the window with a hardened expression.

"This place is ominous."

It felt as if Jin Sa-wol was watching him from the bushes far away. As that illusion came to him, he trembled his shoulders.

At the news that Cheon Woo-rin had woken up, Song Bi, the Pavilion Master of the Wind Blood Pavilion, came inside.

"Lord Cheon."

"Speak."

"We must withdraw."

"You want to go back?"

Cheon Woo-rin's eyes widened.

"We haven't even caught the bastard who made me a cripple like this, and you want to run away? Is that something to say! With so many subordinates?"

Cheon Woo-rin flew into a rage.

Song Bi understood to some extent why he was so irritated and angry. Even he would be angry if he were injured like that.

Song Bi said with a serious face.

"Lord Yuk has passed away. On top of that, Senior Dokgo also died, and former Hall Master Kang also died. It is clear that there is a master here whom we cannot face. He must be hiding somewhere, watching us. So we must leave before he makes a move."

"You're not thinking of catching and killing him, but of leaving?"

"What do you plan to do in that state?"

Seeing Song Bi's cold face, Cheon Woo-rin firmly shut his mouth. It was true that he was angry, but he also didn't want to experience yesterday's nightmare a second time.

"Let's move to a safe place first."

At Cheon Woo-rin's words, Song Bi nodded and went outside.

A short while later, the Demonic Cult members who had come up to the main building began to descend to the fifth gate.

The Demonic Cult members were carrying three coffins, and Hwang-jeong was at the very back.

Hwang-jeong looked around with a tense face, searching for the masked man he had seen. But was it fortunate? The enemy's shadow was not there.

Cheon Woo-rin, being carried on Faction Leader Seo's back down the dark stairs, sighed.

"Faction Leader Seo."

"Yes."

"I'm in a sorry state."

"Your injuries will heal."

"When I return to the cult, I would like to keep Faction Leader Seo by my side."

"Thank you for your words alone."

Faction Leader Seo smiled for a brief moment at Cheon Woo-rin's words. Perhaps this was an opportunity to build a relationship with Cheon Woo-rin and enter the Cheon family estate.

* * *

From early in the morning, numerous martial artists had gathered at the entrance of the Musal-gwan like ants swarming an anthill.

They were martial artists who had heard the rumors of the Sea Peak Spirit Map.

The Martial Alliance's Menglong Division, as well as the Hainan, Hengshan, and Qingcheng sects were seen, and there were also groups from numerous small and medium-sized factions and ronin.

The beggars of the Beggars' Sect had also set up a spot on one side and were chatting, and on the other side, the disciples of the Diancang Sect were also seen.

From large factions to small and medium-sized sects, they had gathered, and their number easily exceeded two thousand.

On the mountain ridge overlooking the Musal-gwan, Jo Geom-ok and Woo Jeong-bong were standing. Not far away, under the shade of a tree, Dan Ji-hyu and Yeon-il were lying, still asleep.

Son Ae-hwa was taking care of the two of them.

Dokgo Hyeon approached Woo Jeong-bong, who was looking at the Musal-gwan.

"It would be best to part ways here."

Dokgo Hyeon said and smiled.

Woo Jeong-bong cupped his fists towards him.

"Although I spent a short time with Brother Dokgo, it was enjoyable."

"I was also pleased to get to know Brother Woo. The future of the Wudang Sect will shine even brighter thanks to Brother Woo."

Watching the two exchange pleasantries, Jo Geom-ok threw cold water on them.

"You'll try to kill each other if you meet as enemies anyway, so what's with the greetings. Hurry up and go."

At Jo Geom-ok's words, Dokgo Hyeon smiled and bowed his head to Jo Geom-ok.

"Young Master Jin and Miss Jo seem to be a very good match. Well then."

Jo Geom-ok, who received Dokgo Hyeon's greeting, blushed without realizing it. As he turned his back and went down the mountain, Jo Geom-ok secretly smiled and then hid her expression.

Swish!

Woo Jeong-bong's face appeared next to Jo Geom-ok's.

"Why the face?"

Slap!

"Oh my! You startled me."

Woo Jeong-bong, who had been hit in the face, stared blankly at Jo Geom-ok.

Jo Geom-ok also stared blankly at Woo Jeong-bong for a moment, then quickly changed to a flustered expression and said.

"No, why the face... You surprised me. Senior Brother Woo, are you okay? I'm sorry."

As Jo Geom-ok grabbed his shoulder and showed a tearful face as if she were about to cry, Woo Jeong-bong came to his senses.

"You... this..."

Woo Jeong-bong should have been angry, but he couldn't bring himself to be angry.

"I'm sorry. Does it hurt?"

"Of course it hurts! Is that hand an ordinary hand? Huh!"

Woo Jeong-bong, who was shouting while touching his cheek, shook off Jo Geom-ok's shoulder and turned his body.

"Just you wait. I'm going to tell Sa-wol everything."

"No, why are you so petty?"

"Forget it."

Woo Jeong-bong, as if he were quite angry, grumbled and headed for Yeon-il and Dan Ji-hyu.

"What a good relationship between senior and junior brothers."

"We're enemies. I'm definitely going to kick his butt one day."

"Hahaha!"

Dan Ji-hyu laughed lightly and then asked.

"By the way, has that Dokgo fellow gone?"

"Yes."

"Let's keep the matter with him a secret. It's also Junior Jin's request."

"That seems for the best."

Since Dan Ji-hyu was indebted to Jin Sa-wol, he had a deep relationship with him.

"My disciples are below. Will you go down?"

"I should."

As Dan Ji-hyu smiled and tried to get up, Son Ae-hwa supported him.

"You shouldn't overexert yourself yet."

"I'm sorry to Miss Son as well. If you come to Diancang, I will accept you as a disciple."

"No, it's fine."

Son Ae-hwa shook her head and moved with Dan Ji-hyu.

Woo Jeong-bong moved, carrying the heavy Yeon-il on his back. Jo Geom-ok said.

"Wait below. If he doesn't come by tomorrow, wait at the Woo family village we stopped at before."

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going back."

"Why, for no reason?"

"Because I'm worried."

At Jo Geom-ok's words, Woo Jeong-bong sighed. Since she was not a junior sister who would listen to him, Woo Jeong-bong nodded.

"Do as you please."

"I'll be back soon."

Jo Geom-ok turned her body and went back the way she had come down.

* * *

Around noon, Song Bi, who had come down to the fifth gate, met Mun-gang, who had gone down and returned.

"Lord Cheon is safe."

"That's a relief. But there's a problem."

"What problem?"

"Right now, a large number of martial artists have gathered below. Their number seems to exceed two thousand."

At Mun-gang's words, Song Bi's complexion changed.

"The Martial Alliance's Menglong Division is also there."

"We're in a dilemma."

Song Bi shook his head with a deep sigh.

But they couldn't just sit here and waste time. He knew that the more time passed, the more disadvantageous it would be.

From the perspective of having to return without any gains, the top priority was to return safely.

"Lord Yuk has died."

"Hmm..."

At the news that Yuk Sam-yuk had died, Mun-gang's expression hardened noticeably.

"This is hell. We must withdraw."

If Yuk Sam-yuk was dead, there was no reason to stay here. But leaving the Musal-gwan was not an easy task either.

The orthodox faction members were waiting outside, and if they confronted them, they could be annihilated.

"For now, I've ordered my subordinates to look for another way, so let's wait. There's a noticeable place, so they're investigating."

"Let's do that."

At Song Bi's answer, Mun-gang turned his head and looked up at the cliff. It was the passage Jin Sa-wol had entered.

His subordinates were currently examining that place. If its safety was confirmed, they had to go out that way.

-Screech!

At the noisy whistle, Song Bi and Mun-gang hurriedly headed for the main hall. Just then, they ran into Faction Leader Seo, who was rushing out from inside.

Faction Leader Seo's eyes were wide open like a startled rabbit.

"Lord Cheon has disappeared."

"What?!"

"What on earth happened?"

As Song Bi and Mun-gang's expressions hardened, Faction Leader Seo quickly explained the situation.

"I confirmed he was asleep in his room and came out for a moment. I left for a moment to boil some porridge, and he disappeared in the meantime."

"Any signs of intrusion?"

"None."

Song Bi sighed and hurriedly headed for the main hall. Mun-gang, who saw that, gave Faction Leader Seo a cold smile.

"You've made a big mistake not once, but twice."

Swish!

Mun-gang made a gesture of slitting his own throat.

"If Lord Cheon dies, your head will fall. Find a way to live."

At Mun-gang's words, Faction Leader Seo's complexion turned pale.

* * *

The warm sunlight was enveloping the area around the lake. Cheon Woo-rin, who was sleeping, frowned at the sunlight and opened his eyes.

"Umm..."

When he opened his eyes, he saw the sky. He should have seen the ceiling, but seeing the sky, he couldn't help but be flustered.

"You're awake?"

"Hmph!"

Cheon Woo-rin, who turned his head at the voice from right next to him, saw Jin Sa-wol and his eyes widened.

"You slept well."

"Ugh... Uwaaaak!!"

(End of Chapter)