There had been no attacks from the men in black for a whole day.

Thanks to that, the martial artists of the Jonggeompa and the Jongnam Sect were able to take a long rest for the first time in a while, but they did not let go of their swords or sleep soundly.

They ate Byeokgokdan for their meals, leaning against the wall so that they could fight at any time.

“Some of us are suffering like this… while he sleeps so well.”

The martial artists of the Jongnam Sect felt envious of the man and the girl who had not come out once since entering the reception room and were sleeping.

“By the way, when is the support coming?”

At the disciples’ question, Hwang Jichun could not readily give an answer.

By now, some kind of contact should have come, whether it was sending support or a letter.

‘Don’t tell me there’s a problem at the main mountain?’

Even so, large and small fights were breaking out all over the Central Plains.

Since there had recently been a big clash at Mount Hua, there was no law that the Jongnam Sect would not be caught up in the flames of battle.

“I’ll have to find out.”

As Hwang Jichun was selecting the martial artists to move with to find out the situation outside, a commotion was heard from inside.

“You crazy bastard!! To repay kindness with enmity! Are you even human!?”

At the shout coming from inside, Hwang Jichun approached the place where the sound was coming from.

There, the sect master of the Jonggeompa, Wang Gasaeng, was pointing at the man and the girl who had come to them last night and was spewing curses.

“What’s wrong?”

At Hwang Jichun’s question, Wang Gasaeng became even more furious and raised his voice.

“Look at the atrocities of these bastards!”

When he looked at the place that Wang Gasaeng was pointing at, there were the stockpiled foods.

‘Oh no…’

On the first day that the fight had broken out at the Jonggeompa, a big fire had broken out in the sect’s food warehouse.

Of course, the ones who had started the fire were the group of men in black who had attacked the Jonggeompa.

They had set fire to the food of the Jonggeompa for a war of attrition rather than a full-scale battle, and they themselves had plundered nearby villages or cities to fill their food supplies.

Thanks to that, the martial artists of the Jonggeompa and the Jongnam Sect, who were trapped in the estate, were saving food by mixing the few foods they had barely saved with Byeokgokdan.

But the man and the girl, who did not know that, had eaten the food they had been saving.

“I’m sorry. I was hungry because I hadn’t eaten anything on my way here.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Although the man and the girl bowed their heads and apologized, Wang Gasaeng was furious.

“You damn couple! This is not food that was stockpiled to feed useless things like you!”

“Sect Master. That’s enough.”

“Why don’t you kick this couple out!? In this difficult situation, to be protecting such rat-like bastards…”

“Sect Master!!”

At Hwang Jichun’s shout, which was mixed with internal energy, Wang Gasaeng flinched his neck.

“You are a vassal sect of the Jongnam Sect! Are you persecuting innocent residents who were being chased by the evil demons of the heretic path!”

“B-but…”

“Even when the main mountain was in danger, I came to help the Jonggeompa! Are you trying to make me regret it!”

“No… no! Great Master Hwang! I was wrong!”

Wang Gasaeng lowered his body as much as he could.

Because he knew that was the only way they could survive.

Hwang Jichun, who had been spewing his anger, pressed his temples.

Because of his excitement, the fatigue rushed in even more, and he felt a headache.

“Phew… don’t persecute these two again. Do you understand?”

“Of course.”

As Wang Gasaeng retreated as if running away, Hwang Jichun sincerely apologized to the man and the girl.

“I’m sorry. Because the situation is what it is, everyone is sensitive. So please understand.”

“We’re fine. Rather, we were the ones who were in the wrong.”

“Phew… it seems that the outside has become quiet, so please wait a little longer. You will be able to leave here soon.”

“Yes.”

Hwang Jichun, who had turned around, reassuring the man and the girl, was about to leave the Jonggeompa with the martial artists he had selected in advance.

But it was then.

“They’re here! It’s the enemy!!”

At the shout of the martial artist of the Jonggeompa who was looking around, the resting martial artists all stood up and drew their swords.

As he had shouted, dozens of men in black attacked the estate.

Their number was considerable.

“Oh no…! Have they all come!”

The group of men in black, who had been taking turns harassing the martial artists of the Jongnam Sect, began a general offensive.

Their level was so low that it was hard to find a first-rate martial artist, but the problem was the number.

A group of men in black, who were well over a hundred at a glance, attacked from all directions.

“Don’t scatter! The opponent only has numbers, their skills are insignificant!”

Hwang Jichun encouraged the martial artists of the Jonggeompa and the Jongnam Sect and fought against the group of men in black.

The difference in level was clear.

A short breath burst from Hwang Jichun’s mouth, who had cut off the necks of three people with a single sword strike.

‘Stamina…’

There was no lack of internal energy, but there was a lack of stamina.

Because he had not rested for five days, his whole body was creaking, and his stamina was quickly draining.

The same went for the remaining martial artists.

While the martial artists of the Jonggeompa and the Jongnam Sect were struggling, a few men in black were seen entering the inner quarters.

“Oh no!”

Hwang Jichun tried to block them, but a dozen or so men in black blocked him.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

“You bastards! Come out right now!!”

Hwang Jichun’s sword scattered sword ki and cut down the men in black who were blocking him.

But more martial artists than he had killed blocked him.

‘Damn it… damn it!!’

Hwang Jichun gritted his teeth and despaired.

‘I said I would protect them!’

Although he had promised to protect them at all costs, he could not keep that promise.

Hwang Jichun apologized to the man and the girl who must have been horribly murdered by now and swung his sword even more forcefully.

“Die! You demon bastards!!”

Hwang Jichun’s sword, which was being swung fiercely, stopped abruptly.

Someone had blocked his sword.

“Keuk!”

Hwang Jichun, who had been pushed back by the force, not just blocked, took two steps back.

“You’re pretty good. Who are you. You don’t seem to be a nobody from the Jonggeompa.”

A man holding a large sword appeared in front of Hwang Jichun.

The aura flowing from his entire body was unusual.

‘A master!’

A master of at least a similar level to himself.

Hwang Jichun gripped his sword and caught his breath.

“I am Hwang Jichun, a swordsman of the Jongnam Sect.”

“Oho? So you are the Taeseonggeom.”

“Who are you.”

“I have no name. But you righteous path bastards call me this. The Paam Mado.”

“Paam Mado…”

A person who had become famous by single-handedly destroying the small and medium-sized sects belonging to the righteous path with his outstanding sword skills among the demons belonging to the heretic path.

The Paam Mado.

At the appearance of the unexpected master, sweat flowed down Hwang Jichun’s forehead.

“A famous person from the heretic path has come to kill me.”

“What? To kill you? Hahaha! You’re as arrogant as the righteous path bastards. I didn’t come to kill someone like you.”

“What did you say?”

“Where did you hide him.”

“Hide him? What are you talking about.”

“Don’t play dumb. Someone saw that bastard go in here. Where did you hide that bastard. If you tell me, I’ll specially spare your life.”

“What on earth are you talking about!?”

“You damn bastard!!”

The Paam Mado shouted, striking the ground hard with the sword he was holding.

“Where did you hide that bastard who killed my subordinates and ran away!!”

Hwang Jichun could not easily understand this situation.

Seeing the Paam Mado’s attitude, it seemed that he was not making things up.

Then who on earth had they hidden?

‘The only one I took in was… a young man who appeared with a girl on his back.’

While Hwang Jichun was confused, the Paam Mado raised his sword high, emitting a strong energy from his entire body.

“Forget it. If I kill everyone, he’ll show up on his own. So die.”

“Ugh!”

It was the moment when Hwang Jichun took a starting stance for a clash with the Paam Mado.

Kwang—!!

“Aaargh!”

A scream and an explosion were heard from somewhere.

The Paam Mado, who had turned his head to the place where the sound had come from, laughed loudly with great joy.

“There he was! You bastard!”

“Over there…?”

The place where the sound had come from was the reception room.

At the same time, the Paam Mado threw himself into the reception room and entered the sand and dust that filled his vision.

“If you hide here, you think I won’t be able to find you…!”

The Paam Mado’s voice was cut off.

“What happened…”

Swish—!

Something flew through the sky and fell to the floor, rolling.

And all the martial artists who had discovered it stopped their movements.

Degururu—!

The thing that had rolled on the floor and had stopped was the head of the Paam Mado.

Soon, the man who had appeared with a girl on his back appeared from between the sand and dust.

He took out two short swords from between his shabby clothes and grumbled.

“I killed so many, but there are still so many? Ugh…! I really don’t want to do this.”

The man, who was grumbling with a dissatisfied voice, threw the sword he was holding at the men in black who filled the estate.

A blue lightning flashed, and a wind blew.

And at the same time, the group of men in black were swept away like fallen leaves in the autumn wind.

Kwagagagang—!!

The swords that had flown as if crossing space exploded, and at least five or six men in black lost their lives, and the blade imbued with blue lightning ki pierced through ten men in black.

“Ugh, aaargh! Run away!”

“It’s a flying sword! It’s a flying sword!”

“The Flying Heaven Sword Ghost… the Flying Heaven Sword Ghost has appeared!”

The group of men in black began to run away in all directions, terrified.

The man threw flying swords at the retreating group of men in black and killed them, and he stopped fighting only after most of the group of men in black who had attacked the estate had lost their lives.

Sreureureu—!

The sight of the flying swords being retrieved in response to the man’s gesture was truly a spectacle.

“Sword… control…”

There were only two people in the Central Plains who knew such a martial art.

Hwang Jichun approached the man with a dazed face and asked.

“…Are you perhaps the disciple of the Flying Heaven Sword Master.”

“Yes. I am Jin Sohyun.”

“Ah…”

Only then did Hwang Jichun realize how foolish he had been.

‘To think that I said I would protect such a person… I’m ashamed, so ashamed.’

He wanted to hide in a mouse hole if there was one.

But Jin Sohyun didn't seem to care and took off his shabby clothes and took off the outer garment of a dead man in black and put it on.

“I thought I had gotten rid of them on my way here, but it seems there were more left.”

At Jin Sohyun’s words, Hwang Jichun seemed to know the reason why there had been no attacks for the past day.

‘Young Master Jin killed the group of men in black who were attacking us instead.’

Thanks to that, the Paam Mado had come here, leading his subordinates, to find Jin Sohyun.

Of course, the Paam Mado, who had met the wrong opponent, had died without even being able to show off his proud sword technique.

“Thank you for your help.”

Hwang Jichun and the martial artists of the Jongnam Sect, who had grasped the situation, cupped their fists and expressed their gratitude.

At that, Jin Sohyun looked around at the rest and said.

“Now that you’ve rested enough, it’s your turn to rest, Great Master Hwang.”

“What… do you mean?”

“Rest well. Because you’ll have to fight a bigger battle soon.”

“Are you saying that the fight is not over yet?”

“Yes.”

“But we have to go back to the main mountain first.”

“I know. That’s why I’m telling you to rest.”

Jin Sohyun said, pointing to the west where Mount Jongnam was. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

“Because the next battlefield is Mount Jongnam.”

***

“As expected, Jin Sohyun has appeared. It is said that nearly a thousand have been killed by that bastard.”

At Mu Yu’s explanation, Ju Cheon, who was enjoying a bath in a cold tub while drinking alcohol, curled the corners of his mouth.

“The hero of the righteous martial world is also doing his part well.”

“Should I send an order to the Mixed Demon Squad? We need Ma Seongun’s power to stop that bastard.”

“No. Ma Seongun will not move.”

“What? But Jin Sohyun is the rival that Ma Seongun has been waiting for. He will go to find Jin Sohyun even without an order.”

As Ju Cheon stood up from the bathtub, the waiting servants wiped the water from his body and dressed him in a robe.

Ju Cheon, who had finished his bath and was sitting on a chair, said, propping his chin.

“Ma Seongun will wait. For the best stage for himself and Jin Sohyun to be created… so, Mu Yu.”

“Yes!”

“What we have to do is to create the best stage for the two heroes.”

Ju Cheon’s gaze went to the sky.

The brightly shining stars were emitting countless lights as if they would pour down.

And among them, there were two stars that were particularly bright.

Ju Cheon smiled, putting the two stars in his eyes.

“The last and best stage… with the fate of the martial world at stake.”

(End of Chapter)