A man was looking up at the darkly stained sky.
At a glance it looked like the night sky, yet it was broad daylight, just past noon.
Seeing that, one could tell the sky was not in a normal state.
As the man gazed up at that sky, his expression indifferent.
Boom—! Boom—!
A massive sound came from somewhere, brushing past his ears.
Just as he wondered what that sound could be. The man could feel it.
That someone was approaching him from afar.
Feeling a heavy presence, the man soon shifted his gaze toward the direction of the sound.
There.
Screeeech—!
Someone was approaching, dragging a demonic beast roughly the size of a small hill with one hand. The demonic beast was already on the verge of death.
Its body was caved in here and there, bones piercing through its skin—a sight of having suffered considerably violent treatment.
There was no need to ponder what had reduced the demonic beast to such a state.
The man’s gaze turned to the one dragging the demonic beast.
Deep green hair and a crookedly upturned corner of the mouth.
A man bathed in madness, with a massive physique and blood on his chin that strangely suited him.
He was a figure called Nokwang by the people of the Central Plains.
The man looking at Nokwang asked.
[“Lord Dang. What is the meaning of this?”]
[“Ah, Daeju. It has been a while.”]
Seeing Nokwang answer with a broad grin, the man furrowed his brow.
[“This is a gift. There was a creature running rampant, so I caught it on the way for you to try.”]
[“...”]
At Nokwang’s words, the man waved his hand.
In that instant.
Fwoooosh—!
The demonic beast Nokwang held was instantly engulfed in black flames and began to burn.
[“Tch.”]
Having confirmed that, Nokwang clicked his tongue and thrust his fist briefly toward the demonic beast.
Bang—!
Crack—! Whooooosh—!
The wind pressure erupting from his fist erased the flame-covered demonic beast without a trace.
Though only ashes remained, it was a formidable fist force.
[“Hah, I went through the trouble of bringing it, and you completely disregard a man’s sincerity.”]
[“Business.”]
[“Heheh... Anyway, a humorless man.”]
Despite Nokwang’s words, the man showed no significant reaction.
He merely looked at Nokwang with calm purple eyes.
Having watched that quietly, Nokwang finally snorted and spoke.
[“Have you heard the news that the Cheonra Heukmangdae has been annihilated?”]
At Nokwang’s words, a strange light flickered in the man’s eyes.
It was news the man also knew. The Cheonra Heukmangdae, one of the Heavenly Demon’s direct subordinate units.
A unit said to possess considerable military strength had been annihilated in an instant.
[“And by a single man’s hand, at that.”]
A master called the Monster of the Paeng family.
By the hand of Blade Emperor Paeng Ujin.
[“Is it not astounding? I never imagined that old man would lose to such a person.”]
[“What is it you wish to say to me, Lord Dang.”]
[“No, I am merely saying it is astounding.”]
Nokwang continued speaking with a chuckle, but the man found the sight quite grating.
[“I thought it might have been impossible without someone’s help.”]
[“...”]
At Nokwang’s words, the man tilted his head and rose to his feet.
At that moment.
Rumble—!
A tremendous tremor began to reach the darkly stained sky. Black heat began to swirl gradually, as though a fortress were rising.
[“What is it you wish to say.”]
[“Who knows.”]
[“Pilduma’s death is related to this Lord. Is that what you wish to say, Nokwang.”]
Nokwang’s implication was that he was harboring suspicions regarding whether the man was involved in Pilduma, the Lord of the Cheonra Heukmangdae, dying at Paeng Ujin’s hands.
[“Well, it’s not necessarily such words... Does it sting?”]
[“...How crude.”]
Crackle.
A rough sound came from the man’s body.
Watching such movement, Nokwang’s eyes gradually became dyed with madness.
[“Nokwang.”]
[“Speak.”]
[“You covet this Lord’s position. That is what you have been saying. Is it not?”]
At the man’s words, Nokwang’s smile deepened.
[“Which loose-lipped bastard has been saying such things?”]
It was an admission.
Nokwang coveted the man’s position.
Hearing that, the man let out a faint sigh.
[“...The Cult Lord ordered me to refrain from unnecessary matters. That is why I turned a blind eye to your petty desires.”]
Under the Heavenly Demon’s direct command, there are four units in total.
Nokwang served as the lord of one of those units.
In other words, he was a demonic human in a fairly high position within the Demonic Cult, but.
Nokwang was not satisfied with this.
The position of the Heavenly Demon, his master and his heaven, was something he could not hope to look up to.
But at the very least, he had to rise to just below that to be satisfied.
From that standpoint, that man was an obstacle to Nokwang.
As stated, under the Heavenly Demon, the Demonic Cult has four units.
Each one was a killing unit composed of masters who made one’s blood run cold just to look at them.
Nokwang was the demonic human who led the Noguibigyeokdae among them.
Cheonra Heukmangdae.
Gwichalgeomdae.
Noguibigyeokdae.
And the last one.
There was the Main Force that ruled over the three units above.
The man before his eyes was the master of that group, and.
The man directly below the Cult Lord.
The man began to gradually step closer to Nokwang.
The closer he approached, the more a scorching heat could be seen surging from the man’s body.
[“You covet my position...”]
What emotion was beginning to dwell in those deep purple eyes?
Looking at them, Nokwang judged it to be an infinitely heavy irritation.
With such a gaze, the man spoke to Nokwang.
[“The likes of you?”]
Upon hearing that heavy tone, fighting spirit coiled around Nokwang’s body.
There was nearly a two-head difference in their physical sizes, but.
In terms of presence, the man was absolutely not losing to Nokwang.
The moment they finally approached to within a breath’s distance and faced each other.
The man spoke to Nokwang.
[“Kneel. Are your eyes not set too high?”]
Those words were the starting point.
Nokwang bulged his muscles and swung his fist at the man.
Black flames erupted from the man’s body and scattered in all directions in an instant.
After this fight.
Nokwang was left one-eyed after having an eye gouged out alive.
The southern Mount Tai, which had boasted sparse thickets, had half its scenic beauty blown away and transformed into a wasteland.
******************
By the time he recalled up to there, he could finally come to his senses a little.
...A dream?
Perhaps because he had been thinking of that bastard right before falling asleep. He had uselessly recalled a memory in his dream.
It was a memory of Nokwang, who was said to be staying somewhere in Sichuan.
‘How annoying.’
It was not a very pleasant memory, so upon waking he had to feel an inexplicable unease.
It was not quite a nightmare, yet neither was it a particularly good dream.
First, since he could not continue lying down, the moment he tried to rise.
A whispering voice reached his ears.
“...Cheek....”
“Or....”
It was the feeling of sleep gradually lifting, one might say.
They seemed to be saying something, but he couldn’t hear it properly. After forcibly waking his unresponsive body by circulating internal energy.
“Nngh....”
He rubbed his bleary eyes and raised his body.
Perhaps startled by his presence, he felt something flinch around him.
When he opened his eyes again, the first thing he saw was that the owner of the lap he had been using as a pillow had changed.
He had definitely been sleeping on Namgung Bia’s lap.
Yet for some reason, Wi Seol-a was sitting in that spot.
Did that mean he had been sleeping on Wi Seol-a’s lap?
‘She... is....’
Come to think of it.
Had Wi Seol-a said she was coming with him? Seeing as he could not remember, it seemed she had not really said anything to him....
Meanwhile, for some reason, he could not shake off the fatigue.
He had even circulated his internal energy, so what was going on?
“Young master...?”
Seeing him sway slightly, Wi Seol-a called out as if surprised.
Though the hazy vision was irritating, even so Wi Seol-a’s brilliant golden eyes were clearly visible.
“...Hoo.”
“Are you alright...?”
“You....”
Meeting Wi Seol-a’s worried eyes, he first asked what he wanted to ask.
“...Are you okay?”
“Huh?”
“...I asked if it is okay for you to come along.”
“Ah.”
Perhaps flustered by the sudden question, Wi Seol-a’s pupils trembled.
It was quite sudden for a question asked immediately upon waking.
“Ah....”
Wi Seol-a hesitated for a moment looking into his eyes, then soon smiled faintly and spoke to him.
“It is okay.”
Did that eye-smile shine exceptionally bright because of an illusion seen in sleep? Probably not.
“Now... I have decided not to worry about such things.”
Wi Seol-a said so, smiling.
As he looked at such a Wi Seol-a, just as he was about to say something.
—If you have come to your senses, come out soon. How long do you intend to rest?
He had to furrow his brows at the voice that reached his ears.
Because Paejon had called for him, somehow knowing.
That ghost-like old man. Had he been watching him all this time?
—Tsk tsk, if you are up you should come out at once. To already be so fond of women at your age.
—...I was going to come out anyway.
—Indeed you must have been.
—...
At Paejon’s sarcasm, he sighed, gently stroked Wi Seol-a’s hair, then opened the carriage door and went outside.
Time had somehow turned to night.
He had meant to sleep just a little; how had he ended up sleeping this long?
If he was going to sleep this much, he should have told the kids to wake him up.
‘...Where is this.’
He looked around with tired eyes.
What he first saw was a valley and a gravel bank. Seeing that the carriages had mostly stopped, it seemed they intended to stay here for the night.
It was not enough to look directly, so he tried to expand his qi perception a little, but he felt it spreading far more slowly than he intended.
‘What? Why is this happening again?’
Just as he was puzzled and slightly flustered, Paejon’s voice transmission reached his ears.
—Do not be surprised, for in a way this is natural.
—Natural, you say?
—Yes, it is the backlash from forcibly entering the State of No-Self.
—Ah.
The matter of when he had lost consciousness and moved during training—regarding that, Paejon had said that the Tuapacheongong had forcibly brought him to the State of No-Self.
Was he saying it was the backlash from that time?
—As I said, it is because you reached a place you should not yet have touched.
He meant that although he had not yet reached that level, he had inadvertently stepped into the State of No-Self first.
‘So as a result, my body is tired and my qi perception is acting as it pleases.’
No wonder it had not cleared up even when he tried to use his internal energy; there had been a reason.
Holding his throbbing head, he shifted his gaze.
It was to find Paejon, but since his qi perception would not spread properly, this was impossible.
Thus he eventually had to ask Paejon.
—...Where are you?
—Come straight into the forest on the left.
Hearing that, he moved his steps.
A forest stretched out behind the valley. He seemed to be referring to that side.
Since it was a place light did not reach, he lit a flame at his fingertips to illuminate the way.
Nevertheless, the surroundings were strangely dark.
He wondered if this too was an aftereffect of the backlash. Had his eyes grown dim?
With such thoughts, he went in a bit further. Before long, a suitable clearing appeared, and he saw Paejon standing in the center.
“You have come.”
“Yes.”
“Tsk tsk... By your expression, you look like death.”
“...I am managing well enough.”
To be honest, it was a bit difficult. But not enough to stop training.
As he was struggling to regain his focus and regulate his breathing.
“Your body seems prepared now, so I intend to gradually move to the next stage of training.”
At Paejon’s words, his eyes shot open.
The next stage of training meant the single outward thrust Paejon had spoken of since long ago.
“I believe the preparations are complete, so I intend to pass on the Eclipse of the Tuapacheonmu to you. Do you have any objections?”
“None.”
He had been rolling around this much just to learn that one thing. If he was going to teach it, of course he had to learn it.
There was no time to rest. Even the time heading to Sichuan had to be used in such fragments.
“Good. Then.”
Paejon shrugged his shoulders.
Surely he was not going to teach it immediately without explanation?
“Before that. There is something you must do.”
“Something I must do...?”
Something to do?
The moment he tried to ask Paejon about those sudden words.
Shhhhk—
He was engulfed in a sensation along with an eerie sound.
Just as he wondered what this was, suddenly his vision began to twist.
His gaze, which had been looking straight ahead, suddenly tilted downward, and he saw the ground.
And at a steep speed, he was approaching the ground.
Could it be that his head had been cut off?
With a swaying sensation, just before his head directly collided with the ground.
“...Hurk...!”
Suddenly his mind snapped awake.
Immediately exhaling roughly, he wrapped his hand around his neck.
Fortunately, his head was still properly attached.
...Then what was that sensation just now?
As cold sweat trickled down, Paejon’s voice mixed in.
“I told you before. About your biggest problem.”
Not fearing death.
Had he said that was the problem?
That he did not care whether his body was destroyed. He remembered clearly that while this could be a strength, it was excessive.
“Originally, I intended to spend some time correcting your twisted movements. But it so happens that a more suitable teacher is nearby.”
“...What do you mean by that?”
“You just died once. Did you know?”
“...!”
“Your head was severed, so you could not have not known.”
Was that sensation just now a situation Paejon had intended? If so, was it an illusion?
If not, a formation?
As he could not properly understand what was happening, someone appeared behind Paejon.
Seeing him, he had to swallow a hollow breath inwardly.
It was none other than Amwang.
Just as he was greatly bewildered, wondering why that person would pop up here.
Paejon continued speaking, seeing his reaction.
“I had not intended to use such a method, but you seem more outstanding than I expected, so I grew ambitious.”
“...Elder?”
“Since I have decided to raise a disciple. It must be perfect. For you are the disciple of none other than this Paejon.”
“What does that have to do with Amwang being here...”
“Well, of course it does. This friend will help with your training.”
Amwang would help with his training? He wondered what kind of absurd nonsense this was.
He frowned deeply and demanded an explanation from Paejon, but.
He merely smiled broadly and spoke to him.
“There is only one thing you must do. From moonrise until sunrise. You need only catch this friend even once.”
Upon hearing Paejon’s words, it was absurd.
“You mean Amwang...?”
“Yes, and the deadline is every day until you succeed.”
Catch Amwang?
And in the middle of the night?
“It would be difficult as is... Instead, this friend will continuously approach you.”
‘So he is saying he will give me chances.’
Even so, it felt far from satisfactory.
He had wanted to start training in the Tuapacheonmu right away.
Of all things, being told to play a ridiculous game of tag—he could not help but find it incomprehensible.
Had Amwang also agreed to such bizarre conduct?
...He must have.
Since he had agreed, he must be standing here like this.
It was a situation where he had to do as told, meaning he had to play tag at this age.
And with Amwang, the King of Assassins.
‘Then, what was the illusion I saw just before?’
The illusion of his head falling off—calling it an illusion felt wrong because the sensation was far too vivid.
Paejon had clearly said it was an intended situation.
Did that mean there was more to it?
As he continued to harbor doubts, Paejon took a slight step and spat out words.
“Then suffer well. I hope you succeed as quickly as possible. There is much left to teach you.”
“Are you leaving just like this?”
“I have told you all there is to tell. The rest is for you to accomplish.”
Was he really leaving like this?
As he watched Paejon leaving with a blank expression.
Paejon turned his head to look at him.
“Ah. I have a most important request, I had not said it.”
“Yes?”
“Do not break.”
“What do you...”
Because he kept spouting strange words. He tried to grab Paejon to ask for a proper explanation, but.
He could not get the rest of the words out.
Stab—.
Because something had pierced into his heart.
“...!”
There was no pain.
Surging blood and fading consciousness.
Even then, he confirmed who had stabbed the dagger into his heart.
There stood Amwang, looking at him with cold eyes.
******************
Hiiiiing—!
On a night with a crescent moon, a horse was running tirelessly, cutting through the path.
In such a hurry to get somewhere, the carriage behind was shaking like crazy.
“Urk...”
The beautiful woman inside the carriage seemed unable to endure the shaking, busy holding the window and covering her mouth with a delicate hand. Her skin was so pale it looked blue, showing how severe it was.
Was it because it was her first time riding such a rough carriage?
Moyong Hia could not endure her churning stomach.
“Speed... please slow down a little.... Urk....”
Moyong Hia pleaded with a pitiful voice, but the speed only increased instead.
‘I feel like I am going to die...!’
Moyong Hia wondered if every thought passing through her head was her life flashing before her eyes.
Because it would not be strange if she died like this.
Even so, the fact that what came to mind was not the few memories she had but a man’s face was amusing to herself.
Moyong Hia closed her eyes tightly and sent words to the man who came to mind.
‘...Young master... it seems I can go no further.’
Slowly collapsing, Moyong Hia.
The coachwoman driving the carriage for her began to speak with an excited voice.
“Niece! Look outside. The moon is beautiful today!”
“A, auntie... speed... speed...”
“Huh? What? You want to go faster? Our niece knows how to enjoy herself more than she looks!”
“Ah...”
Perhaps because of her niece’s request, the woman driving the horse smiled broadly and increased the speed.
Unable to endure it, Moyong Hia finally lost consciousness.
The woman failed to notice and only applied the spurs further.