“Are you referring to the young lady?”
“Young lady, my foot. Just call her Seol.”
“I’ve seen her from a distance a few times… but I’ve never spoken to her directly.”
“That’s only because you’ve been so busy.”
Bi Unseong gave Sa Dobin a subtle glance.
Sa Dobin caught on to his intent and spoke up.
“Leader Yu.”
“Yes.”
“Why don’t you take the kids out for some fresh air for a moment?”
Yuwol looked confused, unsure of his meaning.
Sa Dobin, as if handling official business, got straight to the point.
“We’re planning to send the young lady down from the mountain.”
Only then did Yuwol understand what Sa Dobin had meant earlier.
Sa Dobin continued,
“She’s twenty now. It’s about time she learned about the world of martial arts. Things have been quiet in the martial world lately, so the timing seems right. It would be best to do it before the Seven-Year Pact ends.”
Yuwol nodded silently.
“So, we’re thinking of entrusting her with a small business in Gansu.”
“A business?”
“We haven’t decided yet. We may let her handle everything herself. And for that…”
Sa Dobin took a breath, his expression turning slightly apologetic.
“You’ll have to escort her.”
Yuwol remained silent for a moment.
Bi Unseong and Sa Dobin watched him carefully. Tasking the leader of the Black Wind Division with babysitting a sheltered young lady—it was a request that disregarded rank and command structure, making them feel apologetic.
Yuwol responded calmly,
“Understood. Leave it to me.”
The moment Yuwol agreed without hesitation, Bi Unseong’s expression brightened.
“Well, what can I say? Once you have children of your own, you’ll understand how I feel. I apologize.”
Yuwol, having already accepted the task, replied with formality,
“It’s only natural that I take on this duty.”
He was the type of person who, once he made a decision, never looked back.
“I appreciate that.”
“When do we depart?”
“It’ll take a few days to prepare everything.”
“We have several ongoing matters.”
“Hand them over to the Iron Cavalry Division. I’ll speak to their leader myself.”
“Understood.”
“And…”
Sa Dobin’s tone turned serious.
“Word will reach the Righteous Alliance and other people eventually, but try to keep a low profile.”
Yuwol silently nodded.
“Leader Yu.”
Bi Unseong’s voice softened.
“If she misbehaves, discipline her. Even if that means giving her a good spanking.”
“Are you serious?”
Yuwol asked earnestly, causing Bi Unseong’s voice to waver.
“…Just not too harshly.”
A faint smile played on Yuwol’s lips.
“Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of her.”
The three of them continued discussing Bi Seol’s departure for a while.
Eventually, Yuwol left the room first. As he stepped out, Bi Unseong called after him.
“Leader Yu.”
“Yes.”
Bi Unseong’s gaze deepened as he looked at him.
“…Bring her back alive.”
—
Passing through more than ten layers of strict security, Yuwol finally left the Heavenly Demon Palace and headed straight to his personal training hall.
In the thirty-pyeong-wide hall, one corner was piled high with unsheathed blades. Next to them was another heap of broken swords.
At the center of the training hall stood a single iron rod.
The rod was horizontally placed at about half a handspan in height, its ends firmly secured by heavy iron blocks. It was about two feet long, resembling a short staff.
A faint bluish hue shimmered on its surface, indicating that it was no ordinary iron.
Yuwol extended his hand.
Whoosh.
One of the swords from the pile flew into his grasp.
He stepped toward the iron rod.
After silently gazing at it for a moment, he closed his eyes and steadied his breath.
“If you can cut through this rod with an ordinary blade, without using internal energy, I will teach you the latter seven forms of the Nine Infernal Blade Techniques.”
The voice echoing in his mind belonged to the Heavenly Demon, Bi Unseong.
Three months ago, Bi Unseong had secretly given him this new challenge.
Five years ago, Bi Unseong had taught him the Nine Infernal Blade Techniques, which were divided into the first seven forms and the latter seven forms. What he had learned was only the first half.
Yuwol still did not fully understand why the Heavenly Demon had passed the technique onto him.
Five years ago was the year the Seven-Year Pact had brought peace to the martial world, and the year he had become the youngest division leader in history. Rumors and criticisms had been rampant at the time. Perhaps this training was meant to silence the doubts. Or… was there another reason?
He sometimes wondered if Bi Unseong was searching for a successor. Though that was the last thing Yuwol wanted.
Regardless, the transmission of the Nine Infernal Blade Techniques had been conducted in absolute secrecy. No one knew about it except Sa Dobin.
He had already mastered the first seven forms to perfection.
Apart from the official techniques he had used to cut down the Wind Demon, most of the martial arts he employed were a modified version of the Infernal Blade Techniques, utilizing only about thirty percent of its potential.
Even so, he was already known as the Seven Blades of Ruin.
If he could fully master the latter seven forms, which were said to be far more refined and powerful, the results would be unimaginable.
Yuwol, who had been steadying his breath with closed eyes, suddenly opened them.
In that instant—
Whoosh—
A sharp gust of wind echoed through the hall.
Yuwol appeared motionless.
Then—
Clang.
The sword in his hand shattered belatedly. The strike had been so swift that the break occurred with a delay.
Yuwol clenched his wrist, his expression tightening.
He had failed to cut the rod once again. That was the fastest he could swing.
Bi Unseong wouldn’t have given him an impossible task. But at this moment, that iron rod was a monster—one that refused to die, no matter how much he struck it.
Frustrated, Yuwol threw the broken blade aside.
The shattered weapon landed with a metallic clang, merging into the grave of discarded swords.
Yuwol unfastened the front of his robe.
On his chest, a crimson handprint was etched.
The Five-Colored hand print.
Like a brand, it was embedded into his skin, each of the five fingers glowing faintly in red, yellow, blue, purple, and black.
The scar on his left cheek throbbed.
He slowly touched it.
—
Memories are powerless against time.
There was a time when he swung his sword only to survive, only to grow stronger.
He had thought that the stronger he became, the greater his thirst for revenge would be.
But the opposite was true.
As time passed, his hatred faded.
Even unforgettable events… eventually succumbed to time.
—
Yuwol’s eyes turned bloodshot.
Even if he wanted to cry, he could no longer shed tears. He had already lost the most precious human ability—to cry when he needed to.
A surge of dark energy erupted from his body. The entire training hall trembled under the invisible storm.
Yuwol’s fist struck the air.
Boom!
A deafening explosion rang out as a hole burst open in the thick steel wall of the training hall.
Dust rained down from the ceiling.
“Hoo—”
Yuwol exhaled, staring at the ceiling.
As his breathing steadied, a face suddenly appeared in the hole he had just created.
It was Jinpae, looking cautious.
“There’s a problem.”
Yuwol straightened his robe. His expression had already returned to calm.
Jinpae hesitated before continuing.
“Captain Bai Wei has been taken to the Command Hall.”
“For what reason?”
“They’re investigating internal corruption.”
Yuwol’s expression turned slightly weary.
Jinpae looked uneasy.
“Tell them we have an important operation and need him released.”
Jinpae hesitated before adding,
“…I think you’ll need to handle this personally.”
Before Yuwol could ask why, Jinpae explained,
“The Command Hall’s chief won’t let him go easily. The way they’re handling this, it’s clear they want to meet you.”
Yuwol nodded in understanding.
“Let’s go.”
With long steps, he left the training hall and headed toward the Command Hall.
“Oh, Leader Yu. What brings you here?”
Command Division Leader Gu Ho-yeol looked surprised by Yuwol’s visit.
Gu Ho-yeol was a middle-aged man with a solid build and a strict demeanor. As the head of the Command Division, responsible for overseeing the unruly martial artists, he was known for his meticulous and unyielding nature.
“Come, have a seat.”
Yuwol sat across from Gu Ho-yeol at the table set in the middle of the office.
“What kind of tea would you like?”
“I’m fine.”
Declining the tea, Yuwol got straight to the point.
“I heard one of my subordinates has been captured.”
Gu Ho-yeol poured tea into his own cup and replied.
“Most people prefer Dragon Well or Tieguanyin, but I like this Biluochun. It’s a tea that only grows on the east and west hills of Dongting Lake.”
Ignoring Yuwol’s words, he continued talking about tea as if he hadn’t heard him.
“I’ll send you some later. Even Master Sword has taken a liking to it after I introduced it to him. Now he’s more obsessed with it than I am. Haha.”
“Thank you.”
Yuwol expressed his gratitude with a calm expression.
Sipping his tea, Gu Ho-yeol eventually spoke.
“The discipline within the cult has been slackening lately. Ever since the Seven-Year Pact, there’s been no real conflict with the Justice Alliance, so naturally…”
Yuwol cut him off firmly.
“I’d like you to delay the interrogation of my subordinate.”
Gu Ho-yeol’s expression stiffened slightly, but Yuwol continued as if he hadn’t noticed.
“Our main unit has an important operation coming up. I need him.”
Gu Ho-yeol called for the warrior waiting outside. The Black Enforcer who had captured Baek Wi entered the room.
“Bring me the Black Wind Squad case file.”
“Yes. Here it is.”
As if he had been expecting the order, the Black Enforcer immediately handed over the file.
Flipping through the pages, Gu Ho-yeol read aloud.
“Bai Wei, Fourth Squad Leader of the Black Wind Squad. Took a bribe of three thousand nyang from the Heungan Branch Leader.”
After scanning the document for a moment, he shook his head.
“This is troublesome… very troublesome.”
Yuwol glanced at Gu Ho-yeol.
Their gazes met midair, both unreadable.
“I’ve already arrested the Heungan Branch Leader. If I go easy on your man while punishing the other, wouldn’t that be unfair?”
Yuwol stared at him for a moment before standing up. He didn’t bother mentioning getting authorization from the cult leader to descend the mountain.
Running to a stronger elder for help after getting beaten up was what children did. Adults had their own way of handling things.
“I understand.”
“Don’t take it too personally.”
Without another word, Yuwol stepped out.
As soon as he left, a cold sneer formed on Gu Ho-yeol’s lips.
“Arrogant bastard.”
Then, turning to the Black Enforcer beside him, he asked,
“What about him?”
“He’s a tough one. Still refusing to talk.”
“Make sure he confesses.”
“Yes. Mad Dog is handling the interrogation personally. He’ll break soon.”
“We need justification. Once we prove his crimes, we’ll have a reason to investigate the Black Wind Squad Leader. And once that happens, he’s finished.”
“But… aren’t we pushing too hard? If the cult leader gets involved, things could get complicated.”
Unlike the cautious Black Enforcer, Gu Ho-yeol was resolute.
“The cult leader won’t interfere. No, he can’t. That bastard, the Black Wind Squad Leader… He’s just that kind of person.”
Looking out the window, Gu Ho-yeol spotted Yuwol leaving the building.
Tapping his fingers against the window frame, he murmured,
“He’s grown too much. Before he gets any bigger, he needs to be stepped on.”
Meanwhile, Jinpae, who had been waiting outside, rushed over to Yuwol.
“How did it go?”
Yuwol glanced up at the building. Gu Ho-yeol was staring down at him from the window.
Then, shifting his gaze back to Jinpae, he said,
“He wants a fight.”
Jinpae smirked.
“Who’s out on missions right now?”
“Second, Third, and Fifth squads are deployed.”
Striding forward, Yuwol ordered,
“Call all the squad leaders back by midnight.”
As Yuwol walked away, Jinpae turned to look up at the Command Division building.
Gu Ho-yeol was glaring down at them with a displeased expression.
Grinning broadly, Jinpae met his gaze.
With an irritated flick, the curtains were drawn shut.
