Jin Sa-wol stood up from his seat, grabbed the Sinseonru master's right arm, and took the dagger from her hand.

"Let's start with the fingers. I came knowing everything, so speak when you want to speak."

Swish!

The dagger half-pierced her thumb.

"Aaargh! I'll talk!"

Thwack!

A dagger that came in through the window was embedded in the back of the Sinseonru master's head.

The tip of the dagger protruded from the Sinseonru master's forehead.

Jin Sa-wol shook his head, let go of her hand, and sat down in a chair.

In front of the window, a woman in a white veil flew in like a ghost and stood.

Thump!

As the Sinseonru master collapsed, the veiled woman looked at Jin Sa-wol's eyes.

"Who are you?"

"Who are you?"

"You're a rude person."

"I think the one who killed the prey I caught without permission is the rude one."

Jin Sa-wol poured alcohol into an empty glass and glanced at the veiled woman.

The veiled woman frowned at Jin Sa-wol's dignified and confident appearance.

Swoosh! Swoosh!

The presence of subordinates surrounding the pavilion was heard. Outside, ten first-class warriors hired by the Ziyanglou were on standby.

"I killed my own subordinate, is there a problem?"

As Jin Sa-wol spoke informally, the veiled woman also spoke informally.

As her tone changed, Jin Sa-wol showed interest. It was because of her spirited appearance.

She had a similar smell to Jo-rim.

"A faction leader of the Flower Pavilion."

Swish!

Jin Sa-wol took off his mask and showed his face. The veiled woman could not have not known Jin Sa-wol's handsome face.

"You look better in person than in the picture. I am Dam-ji, the master of the Ziyanglou. In the Flower Pavilion, I am called Faction Leader Dam, and in Chang'an, hmm... the Hundred Flowers Beauty. The Moonlit Beauty? Hoho."

Dam-ji blushed slightly and twisted her body a few times as if she were shy.

'All the faction leaders are half-crazy bitches.'

Recalling Jo-rim, Jin Sa-wol thought that this woman named Dam-ji was also not normal.

Dam-ji took off her veil and leaned against the window.

She had white skin, large eyes with double eyelids, and aegyo-sal under her eyes. Her lips were also red, and her high nose was balanced with her mouth.

She was a considerable beauty, comparable to Jo Geom-ok.

Since she called herself a beauty, she seemed to know her own beauty well.

"Everyone, withdraw."

As her voice echoed, the ten or so black shadows that were staying around the pavilion rose into the empty air at once and disappeared into the night sky.

"Are you confident you can kill me alone?"

"Kill you? Of course not. Seo Mun-ok's loyal subordinate is lying down now."

Dam-ji's gaze turned to the Sinseonru master.

The dead do not speak. Dam-ji's action of killing her was a part that also bothered Jin Sa-wol.

Jin Sa-wol glanced at the dead Sinseonru master and then turned his eyes to Dam-ji.

"The reason you appeared before me?"

"You don't know me, but I know you well. I've been watching you since you appeared in Nanchang and I sent the Flower Ghosts to kill you. Because I was the one who confirmed the report about you sent by Faction Leader Jo and delivered it to the Flower Pavilion Master."

"So?"

"There were many impressive parts. The fact that you were enough to make Faction Leader Jo nervous, and that you caught the eye of the Martial Alliance Leader and swallowed the Gangnam Grand Inn in an instant like a snake. I didn't receive a proper report on the events in the Esoteric Sect, but I think it's amazing that you came out of there alive."

Why is this woman so interested in me? With that thought, he observed Dam-ji.

To say it was simple curiosity, she was too talkative, and the fact that she was young for a faction leader also bothered him.

"Because it's not something an ordinary killing ghost can do. I was also curious why the master was so interested in this man. And there's one more thing to praise, that you faked your death to reassure the master and Mun-hyeok."

Because he had sent a report that he was dead, Mun-hyeok and Seo Mun-ok believed that Jin Sa-wol's existence had disappeared. They had been caught off guard by an opponent who was not prepared.

"Just get to the point."

"The master told me to tell you when I see you. That she is waiting at the Sinryeong Valley in Doksan."

Doksan was a place dozens of li away from Chang'an. It was a place with deep and rugged mountains.

Since it was a mountain Jin Sa-wol had never been to, his curiosity was aroused.

"I wish you good luck."

Whoosh!

As Dam-ji disappeared through the window, Jin Sa-wol dusted himself off and stood up.

"You showed your face to me just to deliver that message? Hoho."

He couldn't know what Faction Leader Dam's intention was. Still, one thing was certain: her loyalty to the Flower Pavilion Master was not high.

If so, she would have saved the Sinseonru master instead of killing her.

* * *

Cheon Yu-myeong was sitting in his study, looking at a martial arts book called the Needle Leaf Art.

It was a martial arts book about a hidden weapon technique that could kill a person even with a blade of grass.

"Cult Leader. The Wind Blood Pavilion Master has arrived."

"Really? Let him in."

A short while after Cheon Yu-myeong's answer flowed out, Dokgo Hyeon entered the study. He prostrated himself and bowed his head.

"Dokgo Hyeon greets the Cult Leader."

"When did the family head say he would come?"

At Cheon Yu-myeong's question, which he asked while looking at the book, Dokgo Hyeon raised his head.

"It seems my father is sick and has difficulty moving. Due to excessive qi circulation, his qi and blood have been injured, so for about a year..."

"Alright."

Cheon Yu-myeong was still looking at the martial arts book. Cheon Yu-myeong lightly raised his hand as if his business was finished.

Dokgo Hyeon quietly went outside.

As he left the study, Cheon Yu-myeong smiled.

"You sharp old man..."

Although the power of the Dokgo family had declined greatly, it was still a family with great influence in the Demonic Cult.

The reason he kept Dokgo Hyeon by his side was also because of the reputation of the Dokgo family.

He had planned to induce suicide or kill him by poison when the Dokgo family head came to the cult, but he couldn't, so he was disappointed.

It seemed it wouldn't be a bad idea to visit the Dokgo family on this occasion.

"It's Ma Chung."

"Come in."

As Ma Chung entered, Cheon Yu-myeong closed the book. Ma Chung's eyes briefly rested on the words 'Needle Leaf Art'.

"Are you learning a hidden weapon technique?"

"It's a martial arts book I brought from the Esoteric Sect, so I just took a look. What is it?"

"The Hao Faction Master is dead."

"Oh my."

"The Hao Faction Master is said to have left a message that it was the work of our cult before he died. As a result, the Hao Faction seems to have joined hands with the Martial Alliance."

Although Cheon Yu-myeong heard Ma Chung's story, his expression was not serious.

"Appease them."

"Yes."

As Ma Chung answered, the Hwayeong Pavilion Master, Seo Mun-ryeon, hurriedly entered the study. She prostrated herself in front of Cheon Yu-myeong and bowed her head.

"Hwayeong Pavilion Master Seo Mun-ryeon greets you. The Hao Faction Master is dead."

"Your news is slower than Ma Chung's."

At Cheon Yu-myeong's words, Seo Mun-ryeon stood up from her seat and glared at Ma Chung.

Ma Chung stroked his beard and shook his head, and Seo Mun-ryeon frowned deeply.

Ma Chung bowed his head.

"I came in a hurry after receiving a report from the Hwayeong Pavilion Master."

"Alright. Go."

Ma Chung, who had received Cheon Yu-myeong's gaze, bowed his waist and then went outside. Seo Mun-ryeon, as Cheon Yu-myeong looked up, hurriedly prostrated herself.

"The Flower Pavilion Master says that the culprit who killed the Hao Faction Master is Jin Sa-wol. There are a few who witnessed Jin Sa-wol in Luoyang after the Hao Faction Master died."

"They said he was dead, but it was a lie."

"Yes."

Cheon Yu-myeong looked down at Seo Mun-ryeon with a 'look at this' expression.

"Seo Mun-ok?"

"She is in the Sinryeong Valley in Doksan to kill Jin Sa-wol. It seems she is planning to lure Jin Sa-wol to the Sinryeong Valley."

At the words 'Doksan', Cheon Yu-myeong showed interest.

"He's entered the spider's den."

Cheon Yu-myeong stroked his short beard and then said to the bowed Seo Mun-ryeon.

"If Seo Mun-ok dies, you will become my concubine."

"Pardon?"

Seo Mun-ryeon, who had raised her head in surprise at those words, bowed her head as her eyes met Cheon Yu-myeong's.

Cheon Yu-myeong grabbed Seo Mun-ryeon's chin and lifted her face. As her eyes met Cheon Yu-myeong's, Seo Mun-ryeon turned her pupils to the right.

Seo Mun-ryeon, without realizing it, began to tremble all over.

"If you want to become my concubine, Seo Mun-ok must die. But if you don't want to become my concubine, Seo Mun-ok must not die, right? What are you going to do? The one called Jin Sa-wol is a person who easily killed even the Hao Faction Master. Do you think such a person can't kill Seo Mun-ok?"

At Cheon Yu-myeong's words, Seo Mun-ryeon swallowed her dry saliva.

It was like an unanswerable question asking whether she liked her dad or her mom.

She felt like she was in a dilemma.

"A person who has entered the Sinryeong Valley cannot come out alive."

"I think Seo Mun-ok will die. Then the Hwayeong Pavilion Master will become my concubine."

Seo Mun-ryeon could not say anything at Cheon Yu-myeong's words.

Cheon Yu-myeong smiled and then withdrew the hand that was holding Seo Mun-ryeon's chin.

"It seems you don't like being by my side."

"N-no, sir."

Seo Mun-ryeon prostrated herself on the floor.

Cheon Yu-myeong smiled as if it were amusing and spoke again.

"I will send Mun-gang to Doksan. Go and tell him. Tell him to go to Doksan and protect Seo Mun-ok."

"Yes."

Seo Mun-ryeon answered and then raised her head.

"There is a piece of news that has come from the Martial Alliance."

"Tell me."

"They say they are discussing taking the prisoners who are trapped in the Infinite Hell. It seems they will soon discuss an agreement with our cult regarding the treatment of the prisoners."

At the word 'prisoners', Cheon Yu-myeong smiled and poured tea.

"How many of our cult's members are trapped in the Martial Alliance?"

"Ten years ago, there were over a hundred, but now most of them are dead, and about ten are left."

"It's not even worth discussing. Go."

"Yes."

As Seo Mun-ryeon went out, Cheon Yu-myeong stood up from his study and headed for the training hall.

* * *

The fifty or so red shadows that were leaving the main gate of the Demonic Cult passed through the main road at a fast speed and disappeared into the mountains.

They were the masters of the Blood Pavilion heading for Doksan, and at the very front was Mun-gang.

Mun-gang recalled Seo Mun-ryeon, whom he had just met.

"You must protect the Flower Pavilion Master no matter what. By all means! You must! It is the Cult Leader's order."

"Is it because she is to become his wife that I must protect her?"

"Yes, that's right."

Although Seo Mun-ryeon had a face full of anger, Mun-gang did not need to be interested.

It was enough to faithfully carry out the Cult Leader's order.

Seo Mun-ryeon, who was watching the backs of the fifty elites of the Blood Pavilion leaving the cult, still did not feel at ease and hurriedly headed for the Hwayeong Pavilion.

'I have to sleep in the same bed with that old man? He's crazy.'

Seo Mun-ryeon clenched her fists and trembled her shoulders.

Loyalty as a Cult Leader was one thing, but sleeping under the same blanket was a completely different matter.

Seo Mun-ryeon, who had entered the seven-story Hwayeong Pavilion, said to the two maids who were following her.

"Call the Twin Killing Flowers."

As the maids hurriedly went outside, she, who had climbed to the sixth floor, drank water.

A short while later, two black shadows appeared from between the dark walls.

"Go to Doksan and observe the situation. And even if Seo Mun-ok dies, don't step in and just watch. Never show yourselves, and come and report to me what you see and hear."

The two shadows nodded once and then disappeared into the darkness.

* * *

Even in Doksan, the Sinryeong Valley was an area full of fog and shade all year round. In the Sinryeong Valley, which was between sheer cliffs and peaks that rose like awls, no human traces could be found.

Jin Sa-wol waited for the night in a nearby forest to observe the Sinryeong Valley.

Although Seo Mun-ok was a Flower Ghost who also liked the night, Jin Sa-wol was also a killing ghost who preferred the night over the day.

The night came quickly.

As the surrounding air turned cold, Jin Sa-wol opened his eyes. The mountain, full of darkness, gave off a damp smell.

"It's going to rain."

Jin Sa-wol muttered and headed for the Sinryeong Valley.

Pitter-patter!

As the night rain began to fall, Jin Sa-wol went up a tree at the entrance of the Sinryeong Valley.

Ting

(End of Chapter)