“……You really came.”
Dana’s startled voice trembled. Had she ever been this surprised in her life?
“Haa, haa, haa…….”
The rough breathing gradually subsided.
The back she was staring at was no longer a small, frail back. It was the back that had blocked the terrifying sword qi of the Four as it came pouring down upon them. It was the back that had closed again the gates of hell that had been flung wide open before her and her siblings.
Seo Daeryong slowly turned to look at her.
Relief that he had fortunately not been too late passed through his trembling gaze.
Overwhelmed by the fact that he had managed to save her by a hair’s breadth, Seo Daeryong could not say a word.
“……How did you get here?”
At Dana’s question, Seo Daeryong finally opened his mouth.
“……I heard you were looking for me.”
The moment she heard those words, Dana’s chest tightened. Not from emotion, but from guilt. Because she had thought he would not come. Because she had not trusted him.
And yet this man had run here until he was nearly out of breath.
The one as surprised as Dana by those words was Gangdal.
‘So he really existed!’
A master with a great saber and a small build.
He, too, had been half in doubt. No, he had thought it was a lie. Even so, he had accepted her because of the admirable way she had tried to protect her siblings, to protect her client, even at the cost of her life.
But the person she had spoken of truly existed?
If that man was indeed a master from the main cult as she had said, he should have stepped forward to greet him first, but they were still surrounded by the Seven Roads Pursuit Kill Squad, locked in a standoff with swords pointed at one another.
Of course, not only his own subordinates, but even the members of the Pursuit Kill Squad had their entire attention fixed on the newly appeared man.
And the person most shocked in this situation was Yo Goeng.
‘What is this? Who is this bastard?’
He was confused. What was contained in the face looking at the woman was innocence and embarrassment.
The one who had sent the Four flying with a single strike was making an expression like that? He was so bewildered that he even looked again at the corpses of the Four.
Yo Goeng secretly drew up internal energy into both hands. If the opportunity came, he intended to launch a surprise attack with his unique martial art, the Blood Hand Palm.
“Where have you come from?”
He asked as politely as possible.
Because the dozens of pieces of the Four scattered about so that one could not tell whose limbs were whose were telling him to be careful.
Seo Daeryong slowly turned toward him.
At that moment, Dana saw it. The shy look in his eyes when he had been looking at her turned colder than anything. For an instant, her heart pounded.
“Who are you?”
At Seo Daeryong’s calm question, Yo Goeng answered.
“I am called Yo Goeng, the one in charge of the Seven Roads Pursuit Kill Squad.”
He did not lower himself completely, nor did he act arrogantly. A chaotic battle would soon break out again, so he had to consider the morale of his subordinates, and he also had to consider his opponent’s skill.
“And who might you be?”
Instead of answering, Seo Daeryong drew the great saber planted before him. He handled the saber, which was as large as his own body, with ease. Because he was of small stature, the sight was all the more impressive.
Seo Daeryong was one who joked and blustered in front of Geom Mugeuk, but the Seo Daeryong standing before Yo Goeng had become a completely different person.
“The Seven Roads Pursuit Kill Squad. I’ve heard of you.”
Though he appeared calm on the outside, Seo Daeryong was furious to the top of his head. Had he been just a little later, she would have died at the hands of trash like these men.
“I am moved that you know of insignificant people like us.”
“It likely won’t be a good thing that I know of you.”
For the villains who fell into his hands, the end was either the prison or execution.
“When I heard the rumors about you, I had this thought.”
Yo Goeng tensed, wondering what Seo Daeryong would say. If possible, he hoped something favorable would be said so the atmosphere might flow in a good direction.
“Just let me get my hands on them once.”
Yo Goeng’s expression hardened coldly.
“However, if you answer this question, I may forgive you.”
At the word forgive, the corners of Yo Goeng’s eyes quivered with killing intent. He forcibly endured the urge to unleash a palm strike at once.
“What question?”
“Who commissioned this job?”
Yo Goeng answered coldly.
“If it were a client we could tell you about, would we have climbed over this wall?”
His determination never to speak could be felt clearly.
Rather, a relieved smile appeared at the corner of Seo Daeryong’s mouth.
From that smile, Yo Goeng could tell.
‘He wants to kill me.’
Instead, Yo Goeng softened his expression.
“We’ve seen enough blood, so I will withdraw here. What do you say? If you simply let us go…….”
The palm technique burst forth from both of Yo Goeng’s hands as he looked for an opening.
Puaaaaaang!
A palm technique of red energy shot from Yo Goeng’s hands and flew toward Seo Daeryong. It was a move of terrifying power.
Swaaaaaaak!
At the same time, Seo Daeryong’s great saber cut across the air.
Kwaaang!
With an explosive roar, the two energies collided. Yo Goeng had expected that his Blood Hand Palm might be blocked by the opponent’s attack. So he had been preparing to unleash his next move in succession.
But he had not expected the opponent’s saber qi to cleave through his palm technique and continue flying straight toward him.
‘No!’
The young master standing before him had opened the Ren and Du meridians and had even consumed two spiritual medicines. The martial art such a man displayed was none other than the demonic art of the Demon Sovereign. And above all, she was watching.
No matter how successful a wandering master Yo Goeng was, he could not block the Heaven-Annihilating Demonic Saber Form that such a Seo Daeryong unleashed.
Heaven-Annihilating Demonic Saber Form, First Form: Annihilating Saber Strike.
The saber qi split the red palm technique and flew on, striking Yo Goeng’s body.
Peooooong!
Yo Goeng’s body shattered and burst apart before their eyes.
Seeing the pieces of the corpse patter down in all directions, the seventy or so members of the Seven Roads Pursuit Kill Squad there were appalled. To them, Yo Goeng had been a terrifying man whose eyes they could scarcely meet.
They truly had never dreamed he would die like this in a single strike.
A suffocating silence flowed.
The one who broke the silence was Gangdal.
He spoke to those who had their swords pointed at him.
“Your squad leader is dead. Lower your swords.”
At his words, the members of the Seven Roads Pursuit Kill Squad looked at one another, at a loss.
Shwik! Puk! Shwik! Puuuk!
Gangdal thrust his sword and stabbed two of the Pursuit Kill Squad members in front of him in succession.
The two, who had not been focused, collapsed one after another, spraying blood.
“If you don’t throw away your swords, you die!”
At Gangdal’s ferocious momentum, a dozen or so nearby lowered their swords.
But there were even more who became excited and ran wild instead.
“Kill that bastard!”
“Kill him no matter what!”
Over twenty members of the Pursuit Kill Squad charged toward Gangdal. It was clear why these men were called madmen. Even in a situation like this, they were the sort to rush in while swinging their swords.
“Protect the branch leader!”
Just as the demonic practitioners were about to step forward to block them.
Swaaaaaaang!
Seo Daeryong’s great saber once again split the air.
Heaven-Annihilating Demonic Saber Form, Second Form: Annihilating Saber Wave.
Peopeopeopeopeopeok!
The charging Pursuit Kill Squad members were swept up in a wave of saber qi and burst apart. With that single move, all those who had been running forward were reduced to bloody pulp and scattered in every direction.
Dealing with villains was Seo Daeryong’s usual work. More than anyone, he knew their nature well. Strong against the weak and weak against the strong, if you showed even the slightest opening, they would bite. Today, there would be no mercy bestowed upon them.
Seo Daeryong pointed his saber at those who still had not thrown away their swords.
Even madmen had their limits. The remaining members of the Pursuit Kill Squad could no longer hold out and flung their swords away.
The demonic practitioners of the branch suppressed their internal energy and made them all kneel. It was not something to rejoice over, thinking they had saved their lives. Once they were imprisoned in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s prison, agony worse than death would be waiting for them anyway.
Gangdal approached Seo Daeryong.
“Thank you truly for your help. I am Gangdal, the branch leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s Jeongan Branch.”
Everyone’s eyes focused on Seo Daeryong.
Only then did Seo Daeryong reveal his identity.
“I am Seo Daeryong, Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s Hwangcheon Pavilion.”
In that instant, Gangdal was startled out of his wits. It was truly a position he had never imagined. It was not only Gangdal who was shocked; the other demonic practitioners were the same.
There was an enormous difference between a branch leader and a pavilion master. And he was not just any pavilion master.
‘The Hwangcheon Pavilion Master?’
Hwangcheon Pavilion was the inspection organization that investigated treason, misconduct, and corruption within the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. By the nature of the organization, it was the most powerful organization, taking precedence over every other organization within the cult.
The ghosts who dragged away demonic practitioners, the Hwangcheon Pavilion that made demonic practitioners tremble—it was truly one of the real powers among real powers of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult!
Gangdal, who had been standing blankly, quickly cupped his fist and bowed his head.
“I greet the Hwangcheon Pavilion Master.”
Chak, chak, chak.
At that, the demonic practitioners of the branch also straightened their posture all at once and paid their respects in disciplined unison.
“We greet the Pavilion Master!”
Their voices rang out thunderously.
Gangdal was delighted. It was surprising enough that her words had truly been true, but that master was the Hwangcheon Pavilion Master?
‘Something like this is happening to me?’
Perhaps because of this incident, bright sunlight might shine upon his life.
‘Perhaps I may even be sent to the main cult!’
He could only earnestly hope that it would truly happen.
When Seo Daeryong revealed his identity, Dana and Danyeon were also startled. In truth, they did not know much about Hwangcheon Pavilion.
But judging from the reactions of those fearsome branch demonic practitioners, he was certainly someone of high status.
Having revealed his identity, Seo Daeryong turned back toward Dana.
The fearsome man who had blown enemies apart with a single stroke, the man who held a high position in the Demon Cult, was smiling as he looked at her. He was embarrassed, just as he had been that day. His eyes were pure, just as they had been that day.
Seo Daeryong asked her,
“You seem to be hurt. How is your body?”
“I’m all right.”
At that moment, Danbi and Chohui came out of the building. Danbi, who had awakened late, had heard the sounds of fighting outside and come out to help her older sister despite Chohui’s attempts to stop her.
But they were shocked by the scene unfolding in the courtyard. Corpses were strewn about, and the Seven Roads Pursuit Kill Squad were all kneeling.
Her startled gaze turned toward Seo Daeryong, who stood in the center of everyone.
‘That man?’
She naturally recognized Seo Daeryong. How could she not know the man who had followed her sister out and revealed himself to be a demonic practitioner?
Before her younger sister could misspeak, Dana quickly said,
“He is the Hwangcheon Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. He saved our lives, so greet him at once.”
At the words Hwangcheon Pavilion Master, Danbi was startled. He really had been a demonic practitioner, and on top of that, someone of high rank?
Danbi bowed her head respectfully.
“I will not forget this grace.”
At that moment, the youngest, Danyeon, whispered to Dana,
“I take back what I said about your standards in men being low, Sister.”
Dana’s face reddened.
The moment the tension loosened like that, she suddenly vomited blood. The internal injury she had been suppressing had flared up.
“Are you all right? Are you all right?”
The startled Seo Daeryong rushed over and seated her on the spot. He was so shocked and flustered that Dana was the one who became even more flustered.
“I’m fine.”
“Fine, my foot! Please come out and help quickly.”
Gangdal said urgently,
“I will call a physician.”
“I was not speaking to you.”
Seo Daeryong looked up into the air and said,
“Please help quickly!”
Then someone leapt lightly down from the roof.
It was Geom Mugeuk, who had been watching the situation.
He had deliberately not stepped forward so Seo Daeryong could finish this matter alone. Because he had wanted today’s protagonist to be Seo Daeryong until the end.
Even while vomiting blood, Dana looked after her younger sister first.
“My sister is hurt too. Please look at my sister first.”
“Sister, what are you saying! Please look at my sister first.”
Geom Mugeuk first injected a strand of internal energy into Dana’s back and examined the state of her body. When it came to the internal injuries of martial artists, he was superior to most physicians.
“Because the blood was not bursting inside and was instead vomited out, you avoided a serious injury.”
Fortunately, both women had avoided fatal internal injuries. They were injuries that would heal if they rested and recovered for a while.
“Thank you. I will not forget the grace of your treatment.”
When Dana expressed her gratitude, Geom Mugeuk passed the credit to Seo Daeryong.
“Give your thanks to Pavilion Master Seo. He ran here without rest to save you.”
Dana looked at Seo Daeryong. The sound of his rough breathing from earlier was vivid in her ears. If not for him, she and her sister would have died on the spot.
At her gaze, Seo Daeryong made an awkward expression. Just like the shy gaze that had first appealed to her, his expression now appealed to her as well.
Seeing the looks passing between the two of them, Geom Mugeuk smiled.
Seeing that, the youngest, Danyeon, asked Geom Mugeuk,
“And who are you, young hero? I would like to know your name.”
Everyone naturally thought this young martial artist was a subordinate of the Hwangcheon Pavilion Master.
In that instant, Seo Daeryong thought, Ah.
‘I got so caught up in a woman that I didn’t even introduce the Young Cult Leader.’
Seo Daeryong spoke loudly to the branch demonic practitioners, including Gangdal.
“He is the Young Cult Leader of our cult. Everyone, pay your respects!”
Young Cult Leader?
At first, Gangdal thought he had heard wrong. It made sense for the Hwangcheon Pavilion Master to have come because he had sought him out by letter, but the Young Cult Leader?
“What are you all doing?”
At Seo Daeryong’s shout, the demonic practitioners, including Gangdal, cupped their fists in unison and bent at the waist.
“We greet the Young Cult Leader.”
With even that Young Cult Leader of many rumors appearing, none of them could collect themselves.
The women were just as shocked. They, too, knelt together.
‘That person was the Young Cult Leader of the Demon Cult!’
Geom Mugeuk had them all rise.
Seo Daeryong deeply bowed his head to Geom Mugeuk.
“My heart was in haste, and I committed a discourtesy.”
No matter how urgent the situation had been, he should have introduced Geom Mugeuk first and then had him treat them. The closer one was, the more courtesy one had to show. That was what Geom Mugeuk always said.
Looking at Seo Daeryong, who was full of apology, Geom Mugeuk smiled brightly.
How could he not know what Seo Daeryong was feeling? He was simply happy that the bond between Seo Daeryong and Dana had continued.
“I understand, Pavilion Master.”
Because Dana was watching, Geom Mugeuk also cupped his fist respectfully and paid him courtesy.
“Pavilion Master, you are the person I trust and cherish most. The person you seek to protect is someone I, too, must protect.”
Geom Mugeuk was treating him with the greatest courtesy he had shown since meeting Seo Daeryong.
How could Seo Daeryong not know the heart of this man, who was treating him so honorably because he was before the woman he liked?
‘……Thank you, truly.’
Dana looked at Seo Daeryong with eyes that felt even more renewed. This man was trusted by the Young Cult Leader of the Demon Cult.
Gangdal’s heart was pounding in his own way. It was astonishing enough that the Hwangcheon Pavilion Master had come, but he simply could not believe the Young Cult Leader was at his branch.
Because as a demonic practitioner, he was undergoing an experience difficult to have even once in a lifetime.
Even if he could not go to the main cult, he would be able to live boasting about this memory alone for a long, long time.
At that moment, his subordinates, on guard, all drew their swords at once.
Gangdal’s gaze turned outside.
Far in the distance, a carriage was racing toward them.