“Finally…”

A foul smell mixed with the scent of blood came from the mouths of the martial artists who had entered Hebei Province.

“The wanderers?”

“It seems they’re not chasing us anymore.”

The wanderers who had been fiercely chasing them from behind were no longer visible.

“This is the first time I’ve felt so scared of wanderers.”

Yeom Yoa looked down at her own clothes, which were stained with blood.

They had to tear their clothes to tie up their wounds because they ran out of bandages, and they also ran out of wound medicine, so they had to roughly grind herbs that were said to be effective in stopping bleeding and apply them to their wounds.

Most of the martial artists were in this state.

And everyone’s face was gaunt because they couldn't sleep properly.

In particular, Gu Jucheol and Gwak Myeong, who had to break through the wanderers from the front, were covered in wounds.

Thud-thud-thud—!

“Ugh!”

The martial artists, who were barely catching their breath at the rough sound of footsteps coming from a distance, flinched and reflexively raised their swords.

“Lower your swords. They’re allies.”

At Gu Jucheol’s explanation, the disciples of the Daoist Temple lowered their swords with a deep sigh.

And then, a group of martial artists came running like angry horses and guarded the surroundings.

And the one who seemed to be the leader of the group lightly bowed his head to Gu Jucheol.

“It’s been a while, Great Master Gu.”

“It’s been a while.”

The Fierce Tiger Iron Sword Squad and their leader, Peng Ohyun, showed their strong figures.

At their appearance, the wanderers seemed to have not dared to set foot on the land of Hebei and had turned back.

“Sorry for being late.”

“It’s fine. Thanks to you, we were able to avoid disaster.”

In fact, it was close to a miracle that they had arrived in Hebei without any casualties.

When it came to individual martial prowess, the wanderers could not dare to face them.

But the problem was the numbers.

Even in a fight between a tiger and a pack of wild dogs.

If the number of wild dogs overwhelmed the tiger, the wild dogs could bite and kill the tiger.

“From now on, the Fierce Tiger Iron Sword Squad will escort you, so it would be best to go to a nearby doctor.”

“That’s a good idea.”

Gu Jucheol and his party, who had entered the city under the escort of the Fierce Tiger Iron Sword Squad, immediately went to a doctor and began treatment.

Although it was a fairly large doctor’s office, the hospital rooms were full.

“I’ve heard the general situation, but what was going on?”

As Peng Ohyun asked, the master, Gwak Myeong, briefly explained the events that had occurred.

“Jin Sohyun… if it’s that man, there’s nothing to worry about.”

“Ah, so you’ve met that fellow, Great Master Peng.”

“Even back then, I thought he was an extraordinary fellow. Thanks to him, the Peng Clan was able to obtain weapons made of very good quality iron.”

Peng Ohyun proudly showed his sword.

When he flicked the well-balanced blade with his finger, a clear sound echoed.

“It’s indeed a famous sword made of good iron.”

“Thanks to him. By the way, is that child, Jin Sohyun, okay?”

Although he already knew that Jin Sohyun had extraordinary abilities, he couldn't help but be worried.

The opponent was wanderers whose numbers exceeded ten thousand.

Moreover, there was also the Four Guests of the Hao Sect, whose martial prowess was unknown.

“Don’t worry about Jin Sohyun.”

At that moment, Gu Jucheol, who had finished his treatment, came between the two and sat in a chair.

In his hand was a bottle of alcohol that he had gotten from somewhere.

Gu Jucheol drank the alcohol straight from the bottle and then handed it to Gwak Myeong.

Gwak Myeong silently took the bottle and drank the alcohol.

The hot liquor went down his esophagus.

“More than that, we have to contact the Martial Alliance. If Great Master Yeom and Great Master Kang are right, the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon is a person who must be killed.”

“But is that true? That he… steals the martial arts of the person he sucks the blood of?”

Peng Ohyun asked with a suspicious face.

In fact, it was a natural reaction.

Because in this world, he had never heard of a martial art that could steal another’s martial arts, and there was no record of it ever existing.

“The Flying Heaven Sword Master confirmed it. He said he used the lightness skill of the Shadowless Ghost, whom he had killed with his own hands.”

“…Phew!”

Peng Ohyun reached out his hand to Gwak Myeong.

As Gwak Myeong silently handed him the bottle, Peng Ohyun drank the alcohol without hesitation.

Perhaps because of the hot and bitter taste of the alcohol.

Peng Ohyun felt as if his eyes were opening.

“This is not the time to be suspicious. Then, we’ll leave the Hao Sect to the Jin Clan fellow, and we just have to catch and kill that Blood-Sucking Sword Demon or whatever he’s called, right?”

“For now, that would be the best.”

“I’ll have to call Gu Yong.”

“Were you looking for me?”

Gu Yong appeared at the right time.

He was covered in bandages and limped over to sit in an empty chair.

“I’m already investigating the whereabouts of the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon. According to the information that has come in so far… it seems he’s attacking the branches of the Alliance.”

“The branches of the Alliance?”

It was a rather bold move.

He was revealing his movements without reservation, even though he knew that the Martial Alliance and the Beggars' Sect were watching his movements.

“Oh my, is this a men’s meeting?”

“You’ve come?”

Yeom Yoa did not sit down but stood leaning against the wall.

“Since everyone seems to be here, I’ll speak.”

Gu Jucheol looked at the faces of the people gathered in one place one by one and said.

“From now on, we will chase the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon with reliable late-stage prospects. As Great Master Kang said, if he really has the power to take the martial arts of the person he kills… we can’t just leave him alone anymore. The Martial Alliance has to keep the Heretic Path's Alliance in check, so it’s right for us to move.”

“Okay!”

Yeom Yoa clenched her fist.

“Because of that bastard… I lost my children in front of my eyes.”

The young disciples of the White Tiger Daoist Temple had lost their lives in front of her, the master.

Nevertheless, Yeom Yoa was busy running away with Kang Cheon’s help, let alone getting revenge.

The anger that she had tried to suppress flowed out from Yeom Yoa’s entire body, mixed with killing intent.

“I will… kill that bastard with my own hands.”

“Then, I’ll take it that everyone agrees. Gwak Myeong and Yeom Yoa, please select the useful children from each Daoist Temple.”

“Yes.”

“Yes!”

As Gwak Myeong and Yeom Yoa left to check on their respective disciples, Gu Jucheol then said to Gu Yong.

“Can you predict the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon’s movements?”

“It will be difficult, but I will try.”

Following a master like Ma Seongun was something that required preparing for death.

Gu Yong’s face darkened as it was a matter of risking the lives of the beggars.

“I’m counting on you.”

“Yes.”

Gu Yong, who had nodded his head, also left, and Peng Ohyun asked with his arms crossed.

“Will it be okay? I heard that the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon is so strong that even the Flying Heaven Sword Master had to retreat.”

Peng Ohyun looked at Gu Jucheol silently.

Peng Ohyun, who had caught a glimpse of Gu Jucheol’s sincerity from his facing eyes, nodded his head.

“You’ve… prepared for death.”

“How much longer will I live? If there’s a place where I should die, the seat next to the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon would be good.”

“…I understand. The Fierce Tiger Iron Sword Squad will also help.”

“Thank you.”

Gu Jucheol, who had finished talking, left the doctor’s office and lightly raised his left arm.

His creaking shoulder did not move properly.

“Hehe… it’s broken.”

Well, he was grateful that it had moved at all until now.

Gu Jucheol massaged his left shoulder and slowly caught his breath.

“I’ll leave the Hao Sect to you, Jin Sohyun.”

Because the time I have left is not much.

“Become the best under heaven. I will be a little… help to you on your path.”

Gu Jucheol, who had finished speaking softly, stroked his sword with his fingertips.

A cold wind blew, making his nose tingle.

Winter.

Was coming.

***

“Ugh… damn it! Damn it!”

Baekhwa bit her thumbnail and stomped her feet.

“Yuha! Is that bastard still sleeping?”

“Uh-huh.”

“How many days has it been!”

As the wanderers retreated and Honggang returned to normal, she was out of her mind because of the flocking customers.

In that situation, Baekhwa’s head felt like it would explode because of Jin Sohyun’s words that the Hao Sect Master would come.

‘Why is the Hao Sect Master coming! For goodness sake!’

It was known that the Hao Sect Master could not be found by any means.

But now, the Hao Sect Master was coming to Honggang himself.

And he was coming to the Cheonhwagak, where Baekhwa was sitting as the master.

Baekhwa was so anxious that she couldn't even sleep properly.

But Jin Sohyun, who could be said to be the cause of all this, had been sleeping in the Cheonru for several days.

“I can’t take it anymore!” 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Baekhwa, who couldn't stand it anymore, went up the stairs, stomping.

When she arrived at the Cheonru, she saw a girl and Beomgang, who were surrounded by people and laughing.

“Young Master Beom.”

“Ah, Miss Baek.”

“It’s Master.”

“I see. Master Baek.”

“Sigh… just call me whatever is comfortable. Where is that fellow?”

“If you’re looking for my little brother, give up.”

“What!? Why?”

“My little brother said so. He said that Baekhwa would surely come to find him and bother him, so he would rest somewhere else. And he told me not to say where he was going.”

“Ugh!! You damn bastard!”

“Haaam—!”

Jin Sohyun, who was yawning and picking his ear, looked out the window.

The place he was currently in was the Jahong Inn.

Jin Sohyun, who had not come down from the bed for over five days, could even eat in his room thanks to Dongpyeong’s consideration.

“Winter is coming.”

The coldness mixed in the wind blowing through the window was unusual.

It seemed that winter was just around the corner.

“In winter, you’re supposed to cover yourself with a blanket and do nothing.”

Jin Sohyun, who was rolling around on the bed with a blanket wrapped around him like a robe, sat up in a cross-legged position.

“Phew…”

He closed his eyes and recalled the fight with the wanderers.

And the fight with the Ghost Star: Phantom Guest.

On the black world where nothing was visible when he closed his eyes, the Third Guest and the Second Guest appeared and pointed their swords at Jin Sohyun.

‘Ghost Star: Phantom Guest.’

And then.

The fight between the three martial artists began in Jin Sohyun’s mind.

***

Thud— thud—!

The carriage stopped, and the door opened.

The Second Guest staggered out of it and gasped for breath.

‘I feel like I’m going to collapse at any moment.’

It was even difficult to step on the ground with his foot.

But nevertheless, the Second Guest had to move.

He pushed the ground with his foot and went forward, entering a wall where there was no sign of people.

As if it had been abandoned a long time ago.

When he walked in along the stone path where weeds had grown thick, a man was standing there as if he had been waiting for the Second Guest.

“Second Guest. Your body is not in a good state.”

Even on the outside, the Second Guest’s body was not in a normal state.

Not to mention the external injuries, his breathing was also irregular, as if his internal injuries were also severe.

“Who did this to you?”

“It’s… Jin Sohyun.”

Had he already expected it?

There was almost no change in the Sect Master’s expression.

“The Third Guest…”

The Sect Master, who had confirmed that the Third Guest was not next to the Second Guest, said with a pained face.

“He couldn’t come.”

The Second Guest silently nodded his head.

“Jin Sohyun… the one that even the great Heretic Path's Alliance could not kill in the end. The monster who destroyed the Nameless Pavilion by himself.”

“He told me to deliver a message to you, Sect Master, as he let me live.”

“Speak. What did he tell me to deliver?”

“He proposed a deal.”

“A deal?”

“Yes. He said he would give you, Sect Master, a choice.”

The Second Guest had a very pained expression, as if it was disrespectful to even deliver such words, but the Sect Master calmly waited for the next words.

And then.

The Second Guest struggled to continue his words.

“He told me to choose what to protect between the Hao Sect and the Heretic Path's Alliance.”

“Hmm.”

The Hao Sect Master crossed his arms and was lost in thought for a moment.

‘He killed the Third Guest, and he could have also killed the Second Guest, but he proposed a deal instead.’

Jin Sohyun had already proved that he had enough power to destroy the Hao Sect.

The Hao Sect Master, who had finished his thoughts, commanded.

“Second Guest, rest for a while.”

“Yes…?”

The Hao Sect Master’s hand came and very gently stroked the Second Guest’s shoulder.

“I will use the carriage that you, Second Guest, came in.”

“Are you… going?”

“The most dangerous person in the Central Plains has sent an invitation, so it would be polite to respond.”

The Second Guest tried to say something, but the rushing fatigue made him fall asleep quickly.

The Sect Master gently caught the falling Second Guest and laid him down, then commanded.

“Let the Second Guest rest.”

“As you command.”

A group of men in black who had appeared from somewhere guided the Second Guest inside.

In the meantime, the Hao Sect Master got into the carriage that the Second Guest had come in and said to the coachman.

“Let’s go, to Honggang.”

(End of Chapter)