The Black Night Gang boss was far older than she looked.

On the outside, she appeared to be a well-kept woman in her fifties, but in reality she was an old woman in her seventies, the same generation as the Black Heaven Society’s society leader.

“Even in the unorthodox martial world, there are lines that must not be crossed. Yet not only did you join hands with the orthodox dogs...”

In her eyes, the Blood Tiger Gang trying to use the Martial Alliance’s hand to eliminate the Black Heaven Society looked no different from lunatics of the demonic path.

“How dare you threaten me!”

KRA-KRA-KRA-KRA-KRA!

When a supreme master like the Black Night Gang boss drew up her internal energy, it felt as if the very air around them began to boil violently.

“Threaten you?”

But Oho merely lifted one eyebrow as if troubled. He neither panicked nor backed down.

If anything, he stepped forward instead.

“How could I possibly harbor such thoughts toward the master of the Black Night Gang? I only hope you will not misunderstand.”

“Misunderstand? If standing in front of me to block my path is not a threat telling me to retreat, then what is it!”

As the enraged Black Night Gang boss swept her sleeve wide, a fierce gust erupted.

Hidden within it was a thread of energy like a concealed weapon aimed at Oho.

SAAK!

Oho did not dodge, even though he saw it coming.

The energy brushed past his cheek and drew a thin line of blood.

“......”

Blood slowly ran down his cheek.

Oho’s smile vanished for a moment.

At the same time, the Blood Tiger Gang martial artists all raised their energy at once.

Grrrrrrrr....

As the Blood Tigers raised their energy together, it sounded like dozens of predators growling in unison.

At the same time, the hundred elite martial artists of the Black Night Gang answered in kind by raising their own presence.

A hair-trigger situation where a clash could break out if even a single word went wrong.

‘They’ve got no chance in a direct confrontation. So why is he being this damn stubborn?’

Watching Oho’s back, Kim Muhyuk narrowed his eyes.

As the situation began flowing in a dangerous direction, he too placed a hand on the sword hilt and tensed his body.

If things went truly bad and a fight broke out, he planned to at least buy as much time as possible.

The Black Night Gang boss was a supreme master. Even if the Blood Tiger Gang had brought only their finest elites, their odds were low.

Then—

“If my words or conduct offended you, I apologize. Please ease your anger.”

Oho bowed deeply and apologized to the Black Night Gang boss.

Even her face showed a hint of surprise at the other side’s unexpectedly humble attitude.

“...So you do value your life after all. If you disappear from my sight right now, I won’t bother chasing you down to kill you.”

The Black Night Gang boss also had no real desire to clash head-on with the Blood Tiger Gang, so she tipped her chin as if generously offering mercy.

But Oho had no intention of backing down either.

“We prepared a gift for you, Black Night Gang boss. I hope you’ll accept it as a token of apology.”

“...?”

At Oho’s signal, one of the Blood Tigers brought forward a box and offered it up.

At the mention of a gift prepared by the Blood Tiger Gang, the Black Night Gang boss frowned, as though trying to gauge the other side’s true intentions.

But the moment the box was opened, her eyes widened slightly.

“...I thought you were a rude little bastard with no manners, but seeing this sincerity changes my mind a bit. You’ve obtained something very precious.”

Kim Muhyuk could not even guess what kind of gift could impress the Black Night Gang boss herself.

But one thing was clear.

Her attitude had softened noticeably.

And just as clear was the fact that Oho had intended this situation from the very beginning.

“Black Night Gang boss. The Blood Tiger Gang wants to build a close friendship with the Black Night Gang.”

“...And by friendship?”

“I won’t bother dancing around it. I mean a solid alliance between our two sects.”

“......”

There was no answer, but seeing the interest in the Black Night Gang boss’s reaction, even Kim Muhyuk let out a relieved breath.

Then he shot Oho a sidelong glare.

‘That figures. This slippery bastard planned this from the start.’

Oho was not satisfied with merely taking the Black Heaven Society’s place.

He was already thinking beyond the point when the Blood Tiger Gang became one of the Five Great Unorthodox Sects, and had moved quickly to build allied forces in advance.

“An alliance between my sect and the Blood Tiger Gang...”

Meanwhile, calculations were spinning rapidly in the Black Night Gang boss’s head as well.

Up until just now, she had been furious, but the moment she judged the proposal beneficial, she immediately regained her composure.

‘Helping the Black Heaven Society right now is definitely a high-risk move.’

The Black Night Gang boss felt no hesitation in abandoning her long relationship with the Black Heaven Society.

She moved only for her own benefit.

That, after all, was the most important principle for someone in the unorthodox martial world.

‘If I help the Blood Tiger Gang take that place instead... my own position will remain unchanged.’

Unlike the Black Heaven Society’s society leader, the Black Night Gang boss had no grand ambition.

Rather than major upheaval, she preferred simply to maintain her current position.

Oho had understood that tendency in advance and proposed the alliance precisely because of it.

“How interesting. It’s worth discussing. However...”

The Black Night Gang boss looked around at the martial artists of the two sects still facing each other.

Then she frowned, aware as well of the countless eyes watching this place from afar.

“This doesn’t look very good.”

If she simply withdrew obediently from here—

Rumors might spread that the Black Night Gang had set out to help the Black Heaven Society, only to lose nerve and retreat the moment the Blood Tiger Gang blocked their way.

“I would like the Blood Tiger Gang to preserve my dignity a bit more.”

“If we form an official alliance, the name of the Black Night Gang will always be written before the name of our Blood Tiger Gang.”

Oho thought that was already more than enough to preserve the other side’s pride.

But that judgment underestimated the pride of an unorthodox sect master far too much.

Clicking her tongue, the Black Night Gang boss said,

“That is only natural. I’m saying I want my dignity preserved here, now.”

“...Then please say what it is you want.”

At that moment, the Black Night Gang boss drew a sharp, bloody smile across her lips and spoke while looking around at everyone present.

“Since we’ve all gathered here anyway, let one person from the Blood Tiger Gang and one from my sect step forward and hold a friendly spar.”

“......”

“There’s no better way for martial artists to build friendship between sects than testing one another, is there?”

For the first time, Oho’s expression hardened.

Because he had already predicted what would come next.

“The rules will be a fight to the death. You and I, as the representatives of each side, will be excluded. Other than that, anyone present may step forward.”

She had not said it openly, but it was no different from declaring that she intended to kill one Blood Tiger Gang martial artist here and now.

That was how she meant to prove her superiority.

Oho kept his smile on with visible effort as he spoke to her.

“...Black Night Gang boss. Must blood really be spilled at such a fine occasion?”

“Only when both sides share blood can it become more than a simple alliance and turn into a true blood alliance.”

It was sophistry.

But it was also an extremely unorthodox way of thinking.

Crushing the other side to display power, and using that to establish an unmistakable hierarchy.

“......”

Oho stared at the Black Night Gang boss in silence.

The Blood Tigers who had come with him were comrades who had stood by him for a long time.

The very thought of sending them to their deaths was intolerable.

“I’m afraid that would be difficult. Rather—”

Just as Oho’s world was about to turn blood-red beneath the cold sneer creeping onto his lips—

“I’ll represent the Blood Tiger Gang.”

A Blue Wolf mask stepped out from the Blood Tiger side.

Kim Muhyuk came forward and stood beside Oho.

‘No way she was going to let this go that easily.’

Fortunately, Kim Muhyuk stepped in before Oho’s eyes could fully flip over, and he looked straight at the Black Night Gang boss.

She was one of the masters of the Five Great Unorthodox Sects.

No matter how reasonable she seemed in conversation, that still meant she was one of the most vicious evil figures in this country.

“Ho. From your voice, you sound quite young. Such spirit for a child.”

The Black Night Gang boss seemed to think Kim Muhyuk had stepped forward intending to sacrifice himself, and she looked at him with a gaze that almost seemed approving.

“But why are you wearing a wolf mask in the middle of a pack of tigers? Is there some story there?”

Kim Muhyuk tilted his head toward Oho and the still-frozen Blood Tigers as he answered.

“I like wolves more than tigers. Maybe that’s why the seniors over there don’t like me very much.”

Apparently she found that amusing, because the Black Night Gang boss let out a loud cackle.

“I like the confidence of this young one! Then I’ll send out my adopted son. Jugeuk.”

“Yes, Mother.”

At the Black Night Gang boss’s call, a sharp-featured middle-aged man stepped forward.

‘He’s strong.’

Kim Muhyuk recognized the opponent’s strength at a glance.

The same was true for Oho, who had remained quietly silent until now.

[......He looks like too much for you. Drag it out as long as possible. If the situation with the Martial Alliance changes, I’ll step in again.]

[Forget it. Just watch.]

The irritation and fury in Oho’s voice transmission were unmistakable.

[Don’t get yourself killed trying to show off. Once this is over, I’ve got no desire to turn the Martial Alliance against me.]

Noticing the two exchanging voice transmission, the Black Night Gang boss said,

“I’ll say it again. The rules are a fight to the death. It ends only when one of you dies. And if any third party interferes in the middle...”

Tsutsutsut.

Her robe flapped violently once more.

“I will take it as an insult against me.”

The two men nodded in agreement, and the martial artists from both sides stepped back, creating a space for the fight.

The martial artist called Jugeuk licked his sword with his tongue and slowly took his stance.

“You look like a kid with a bright future ahead of you. Sorry about this.”

But the vicious smile curling across his lips did not look sorry in the slightest.

‘A pinnacle expert. And an experienced one at that.’

Kim Muhyuk could tell just from the aura alone.

Even if he went all out, this was not an opponent he could confidently claim victory over.

By the standards of the Black Night Gang boss, he was clearly someone judged capable of crushing Kim Muhyuk.

But that was only if this were a duel between martial artists.

‘And I’m going to avoid getting hurt as much as possible.’

Kim Muhyuk intended to keep the vow he had made to himself that very morning.

Tap tap.

With his free hand, the one not holding Phantom Dream, he lightly tapped the scabbard.

In response, Phantom Dream quietly vibrated.

By then, the Black Night Gang boss had seated herself in a chair brought by her subordinates.

“Begin.”

The moment she leaned back, intending to leisurely enjoy the fight—

BANG! 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Kim Muhyuk slammed his foot into the ground and shot forward at full speed.

There was no reason not to seize the initiative against an enemy acting at ease.

The distance closed in an instant.

The opponent, who had been looking at Kim Muhyuk with a mocking expression, stiffened slightly.

“You’re better than I expected—”

In that instant, Kim Muhyuk drew his sword like a streak of light.

Freed from the dark-red seal made by Kim Bokja, Phantom Dream unleashed its aura to the fullest.

FWOOOOSH—!

The aura of the cursed sword that showed hallucinations swept in every direction.

A sticky energy spread out, along with the dense blood smell that seemed to saturate the entire area.

“Ugh...!”

Kim Muhyuk saw the opponent’s startled face.

Under the aura of the cursed sword that bewildered the mind, his breathing grew rough, and the hand gripping the sword began to tremble.

It was hesitation that lasted only a fleeting instant—

But that was more than enough to decide life and death.

‘This isn’t a duel between martial artists.’

By contrast, Kim Muhyuk’s time drifted through that instant.

The acceleration of thought brought on by Sword-and-Body Unity.

Watching the enemy’s face slowly fill with terror as though everything had slowed to a crawl, Kim Muhyuk thought:

‘This is just taking out trash that goes by the name of the Five Great Unorthodox Sects.’

Extreme fear entered the eyes staring at the reaper coming for him.

Reflected in those eyes, Kim Muhyuk’s face was utterly indifferent.

‘I’m simply disposing of him quickly, by the most efficient method.’

The opponent’s face twisted miserably as he realized that in this fight to the death, he would lose without even bringing out a tenth of his actual skill.

“Y-you piece of—!”

It looked like he wanted to cry out some grievance.

But by then, the red arc had already swept across his neck.

Slice!

The severed head flew off, rolled across the ground, and blood sprayed upward like a fountain.

Hot blood splattered down across the floor.

...THUD!

The mist released by Phantom Dream absorbed the blood as it dispersed, and the adopted son of the Black Night Gang boss—now headless—collapsed to the ground.

“......”

“......”

The match had been decided in a single exchange.

While both sides stood in silence, Kim Muhyuk had already returned to his place.

Standing beside Oho again, he gave a small shrug.

“I had an important dinner appointment tonight, so I ended it quickly.”

“...I see.”

Oho took one step to the side, putting a little distance between himself and Kim Muhyuk.