It happened in front of countless onlookers.
Three peerless martial masters soared through the night sky using Hyeogongdappo (Step on Empty Air), clashing fiercely.
Each collision between them caused shockwaves and gusts strong enough to turn the surroundings into chaos.
"Get out of the way!"
"Waaaah!"
—KWA-KWA-KWA-KWANG!
A crimson sword energy rebounded and split the roadside within the city. If one of their attacks deflected even slightly, several buildings in the city could be obliterated without effort.
Even when high-level masters fought, the aftereffects were considerable, but this fight among three peerless ones was on an entirely different level.
No one could approach within dozens of jang (a Korean unit of distance).
"What's going on?"
"I have no idea."
"They're moving so fast, I can't even tell who's winning."
The night was dark, and their movements were too fast for the naked eye to follow.
Still, this kind of epic battle was a rare spectacle, worth any price to witness.
That's why, even though it was dangerous, the martial artists of the city watched from a distance until the end.
"He's a real monster."
"To fend off the combined attack of such masters like that..."
Even if they couldn't see clearly, it was obvious the fight was evenly matched.
At the same time, many martial artists watching began to have doubts.
'Why is the Blood Demon helping us?'
To the Blood Cult and the Blood Demon, orthodox sects were sworn enemies.
Yet suddenly, the Blood Demon had appeared and was helping the orthodox side.
In fact, such suspicions had been creeping into people's minds for a while.
'He released captured orthodox fighters before…'
'They said in the Yangtze River, when the alliance and escort bureau were in danger from river bandits, the Blood Demon saved them.'
'Even during the recent Blood Cult suppression campaign, they willingly let the main unit go.'
This behavior was very different from the Blood Cult they had known.
They seemed less like brutal fiends and more like any other martial sect—protecting themselves but not crossing any lines.
'Has the Blood Cult changed?'
'If so, do we really need to risk our lives fighting them?'
Such thoughts began to arise in the hearts of some martial artists, without even realizing it.
But no one questioned these feelings.
They didn't realize these thoughts were being deliberately induced.
Then, after the fierce battle had gone on for a while—
"Look! Over there!"
"He's retreating!"
The battle, which had seemed like it would continue until death, suddenly changed.
The golden-eyed figure who had been fighting against two top masters of both orthodoxy and unorthodoxy suddenly stopped and began to flee.
Seeing this, the martial artists watching cheered.
"WAAAAAAH!"
"That monster is retreating!"
The being that had appeared like a sudden catastrophe was now fleeing first.
This fact thrilled the martial artists of the Murim Alliance and raised their morale.
As he fled, a figure presumed to be the Little Sword Immortal chased after him with Sword Flight, and the one believed to be the Blood Demon followed with Gungshintanyeong (Bow Body Bullet Shadow).
At that moment—
—TAP!
Someone appeared atop the roof of a building inside the city.
It was Jin Gyun, the Vice Lord of the Murim Alliance.
Having received the report and rushed to the battlefield, he ground his teeth as he saw the three figures flying away in the distance.
'They noticed I was coming.'
Jin Gyun had seen the fight from afar as he approached.
But as he entered the area, the battle ended and the enemy began to retreat.
He believed they fled because they knew they'd be at a disadvantage if he joined the fray.
"Think I'll let you escape?"
—FWIP!
Jin Gyun also launched himself into the sky with Gungshintanyeong.
"WAAAAH!"
"It's the Vice Lord!"
Seeing him soar through the air, the martial artists cheered.
The shadow of crisis over the Murim Alliance was lifting.
Watching this from a rooftop over 200 jang away in the city outskirts was a dark silhouette.
Its eyes remained fixed on the faraway figures without the slightest wavering.
Then, like mist, the figure vanished.
The roof tiles where it had stood were twisted into a strange shape.
---
Zhaoyang, Northern Hubei Province.
A house hidden among cliffs, like a natural fortress.
Inside, a space filled with the heat of a forge.
—CLANG! CLANG!
A tanned man, likely a blacksmith, struck a red-hot, sword-shaped metal with his hammer.
Watching silently at the entrance, hands behind his back, was a man with one golden, glowing eye.
He turned his head slightly, noticing a shadow waiting outside.
The shadow bowed its head toward him.
The golden-eyed man spoke.
"Raijin."
"My lord."
"Did you find Mansashinui?"
The shadow answered with regret.
"We've mobilized the Spirit King to search, but there's still no sign of him. He must be in one of the two places we suspect."
The man's eyes sharpened.
"I ordered you to bring him."
His voice was laced with anger.
Raijin replied calmly.
"I returned because there's something more urgent."
"Urgent?"
The golden-eyed man frowned as Raijin continued speaking.
With each word, his brow twisted deeper in fury.
His rage was so intense, the blacksmith hammering nearby clutched his chest, gasping for breath.
"How dare they... mimic me."
This was something he hadn't foreseen.
He had planned to reveal that the enemy had impersonated him—but instead, they had joined forces and fought him.
Barely controlling his rage, he asked:
"What of Gunbang, Choju, and Baek Hyang-muk?"
"I observed from afar... but saw no trace of them…"
—SLIP!
Before the words were finished, the golden-eyed man flashed forward, grabbing Raijin by the throat.
"Kegh."
"Did you only watch?"
"By… the time… I… arrived… they were… already…"
"Useless fool."
He roughly flung Raijin aside.
Raijin quickly regained his posture, unbothered.
Even while being choked, he showed no change in expression.
The golden-eyed man snorted. Of his three loyal subordinates, Raijin was the hardest to read.
But he couldn't afford to kill his only remaining one in a fit of anger.
'This bastard…'
This incident had severely disrupted his plans.
If things continued, the orthodox factions might even unite.
That would render all their efforts meaningless.
'There's no time.'
He entered the forge, hands behind his back.
On the wall hung five rubbings of complex patterns.
And in a large censer opposite the furnace was a sword—shaped exactly like the Blood Demon Sword.
Forging it had taken over three months.
The red-hot sword the blacksmith was now hammering had already taken:
'Two months and five days.'
It was only possible because they obtained the rubbing held by the Spirit King.
The golden-eyed man asked the blacksmith:
"Can it be finished sooner?"
The blacksmith replied carefully:
"Forgive me, my lord, but it will take at least fifteen more days. Gwanya Black Iron is extremely difficult to work with. If we rush it…"
"Enough."
The man cut him off with a sigh.
It would take at least fifteen days.
Once complete, he would have four swords—two made of Gwanya Black Iron, and two he already possessed.
'Still not enough.'
Time was running out.
Because the stone coffin hidden in the tomb of King Pyeong of Chu had been uncovered, they had the rubbings needed to forge the final sword.
But it too would take time.
And meanwhile, the descendants of the Sword Immortal were tightening the noose.
Then Raijin spoke:
"If Baek Hyang-muk is truly dead, we won't be able to obtain the sword he promised to give. Shouldn't we recover it by force?"
At his words, the golden-eyed man's expression changed.
Why was that?
In a calm voice, he replied:
"If neither I nor you step in, we may not be able to subdue him. We've already suffered significant losses—I can't risk more pawns."
"But the enemy's sword is already at our throats."
"Then what do you suggest?"
Raijin brought his hands together in salute.
"I've left palace matters to the Dream Master. Send me. I'll return with the last sword."
The golden-eyed man hesitated.
Should he wait three months or take a risk and retrieve the sword now?
He soon decided.
"Bring me the sword."
"Yes, my lord!"
The moment the order was given, Raijin's body dissipated like mist.
***
A steep mountain range about 30 ri (approximately 12 km) away from the Murim Alliance's fortress.
I was dashing through the dense forest at an incredible speed, using lightfoot technique.
In truth, I could go even faster, but I was adjusting my pace to match someone else's.
– Tak!
After running for quite a while, I came to a stop.
Right in front of me was a valley connected to a waterfall.
I felt like I didn't need to go any farther.
"I've come quite a distance because of that man."
Indeed.
While we were putting on the act, Yeolwang Paedo Jingyun, the vice leader, appeared.
At that point, I stopped pretending to fight and made a run for it.
Others might not realize it, but since he had already surpassed the wall and reached the realm of a superhuman, dragging things out any longer could have made him suspicious.
– Papapak!
Just then, someone burst through the foliage.
It was a person with red hair, wearing a demon mask and dressed in black.
At a glance, they looked exactly like I did when I used to act as Blood Demon (Hyeolma).
The person took off the demon mask.
It was none other than Baek Hyang-muk, the former leader of the Murim Alliance, known as Infinite First Sword.
"Looks like we've finally shaken off Yeolwang Paedo."
To his words, I shook my head.
I had expected him to fall back at some point, but he chased us for nearly 30 ri.
Even though his skill was below ours, his persistence was impressive.
Baek Hyang-muk threw the demon mask to me and said,
"This will be the last time I impersonate the Blood Demon like this."
"Really? But as per our agreement, you owe me two more favors."
At my words, Baek Hyang-muk frowned.
Trying to change the subject, he asked,
"Who was the one wearing the human-skin mask that looked like Little Sword Immortal?"
I shrugged.
No need to tell him everything.
The one who acted in my place was none other than my father-in-law, Wolak Sword (Wolakgeom) Sima Chak.
I knew he was skilled in making human-skin masks, but I was still surprised at how quickly he could adjust wrinkles and eyebrows to match my appearance.
Of course, anyone who knew me well might have recognized the mask up close, but in the middle of the night and from a distance like that, it would be hard to tell.
– You're something else too. The way you keep using that monster-like father-in-law of yours.
It was urgent. What choice did I have?
Besides, using the secret technique of Pungyeongpallyu to play three roles alone would have been impossible.
Unlike before, there were now plenty of experts within the Murim Alliance.
Anyway, to divert Jingyun's attention, my father-in-law had split off mid-chase.
– Still, it seems he came this way.
Yes.
That man, Yeolwang Paedo Jingyun, has sharp instincts.
But we still managed to shake him off.
Then Baek Hyang-muk said to me,
"I have a guess as to who that person was. If it's who I think it is, then you, heir of Sword Immortal, are truly bold. How could you bring that person into the Alliance?"
"Even if he came, it wouldn't have caused much trouble."
"Still..."
He seemed about to say more but then sighed, almost like a lament.
As if he no longer felt qualified to criticize me.
After that sigh, he said,
"Do you really think this little play of yours will work?"
"It already did once on the Yangtze. It'll work again."
Thanks to my use of Jeongyo Hwanuigyeong, those who saw the illusion will give convincing testimony.
Of course, I had no reason to explain all this to him.
"Looking at you, I still can't be sure you're truly the heir of the Sword Immortal."
Baek Hyang-muk clicked his tongue while looking at me.
Clearly, I was different from what he had expected.
Well, even I admit that my strategies and tactics differ greatly from the norm.
– It's closer to trickery than strategy.
So what if it's trickery or strategy?
We're fighting an enemy who hides in the shadows, trying to dominate Murim and achieve immortality. You think fair fights work against that?
"Anyway, don't you think it's about time you told me why you had no choice?"
At that, Baek Hyang-muk looked up at the night sky and sighed again.
What could have made him join hands with those people?
He had led the righteous forces to victory in the Great War and kept order for nearly 20 years.
Why, then, did he learn Blood Cult techniques like Blood Heaven Great Spiral Art?
"Baek Hyang-muk, I don't believe someone like you did it just for the Alliance Leader position. Was it to ensure the safety of the Murim Alliance?"
Or perhaps his loved ones were threatened.
He even refused to protect his cousin Baek Cheol, who drove the daughter of the Sea King Sect's master to her death.
It's certainly possible.
To my words, Baek Hyang-muk spoke with some shame.
"...That was one reason."
"One reason? So there are others?"
He hesitated, unable to respond immediately.
What secret could be so heavy that he hesitated to speak?
I said,
"Baek Hyang-muk, you might not know, but I've opposed that man for a long time. If he — no, the Emperor — gets what he wants, the world could be in serious danger."
"I'm well aware. Just as you said, since he reached into both the Blood Cult and the realm of peerless experts, it's clear he aims to control all of Murim from the shadows."
"Then speak."
With a deep sigh, Baek Hyang-muk finally opened his mouth.
"Before that, I want to ask for a promise."
"A promise?"
"Please... keep what I'm about to say secret."
"Why? What's so secret that you need to hush it up?"
"...Because I believe you, heir of the Sword Immortal, may be the only one capable of stopping him."
"The only one?"
What was he talking about?
I looked at him silently for a moment, then answered without hesitation.
"I'll keep it to myself."
We both had our secrets anyway.
After confirming my promise, Baek Hyang-muk spoke seriously.
"In return for the Alliance's safety, I made a deal involving a certain secret. The price was to hand over what they wanted."
"And what was that?"
"A sword."
"A sword?"
A terrifying possibility came to mind.
If it was a sword they wanted, it had to be one of the five Cursed Swords (Yo-geom).
Had they discovered my identity and demanded the Blood Demon Sword?
But then Baek Hyang-muk said something unexpected.
"The sword is the Killing Calamity Sword, the Geopsalgeom, of Salhyung Jeolsim."
"Geopsalgeom?"
I couldn't hide my shock.
That meant Baek Hyang-muk knew the whereabouts of Salhyung Jeolsim.
Because of that man, my sect had faced a crisis, and I had vowed to take his life.
If Baek Hyang-muk knew where he was, that was perfect.
"You know where he is?"
He nodded and spoke in a trembling voice.
"Please... keep this to yourself."
"I already promised. Stop stalling."
With my urging, Baek Hyang-muk finally revealed the truth.
"The Geopsal Sword... is with my disciple, Lee Jeong-gyeom."
…What did he just say?
I couldn't understand what he meant by saying the Geopsal Sword was with Lee Jeong-gyeom.
Did that mean he had defeated Jeolsim, the most feared of the Five Great Villains?
But the next words were even more shocking.
"...That boy is Jeolsim."
'!?'