Chapter 445: Twist.

Pasaseuseuseu….

Leaves fall slowly on the breeze.

The woman caught one of the countless falling leaves.

The leaf, which should have been beautifully colored according to the season, was withered and dry.

“…”

Seeing it, the woman frowned.

The leaf, drained of life and dried out, the woman turned her gaze to find the reason why the leaf became like this.

The reason was right in front of her.

The land for entering Sichuan. Beyond that border, a distant hellscape unfolded.

The forest, which should have been full of life, had long lost its former appearance.

What was surprising was that it took less than five years for the forest of Sichuan, which once held a vibrant green, to become like this.

All of this was the influence of demonic energy (Magi).

Furthermore, this forest served as a warning to the righteous sects.

The fact that the demonic beings spread their demonic energy right after driving out the Dangmun sect and killing Dokbi, turning the forest into this state, held significant meaning.

It was a declaration that this land was the territory of the Demonic Cult.

‘…A warning that the righteous shall not cross into this land.’

Knowing its meaning, the woman could only bite her lip tighter.

Her golden eyes (Geuman), filled with light, headed towards the withered forest.

The woman gazed into the distance, as if staring intently somewhere, or perhaps searching for someone.

Perhaps because of that.

The woman didn’t notice another person appearing behind her.

Pasak.

At the distinct sound of presence that followed, the woman heightened her senses and gripped her sword’s hilt, but.

Tak.

“…!”

She couldn’t draw her sword. Another person’s hand had stopped her from doing so.

The figure who blocked the woman’s sword spoke to her with a slight smile.

“You seem troubled by many things. Little Sword Saint.”

It was an old man with strikingly white hair.

As soon as the woman recognized the old man’s identity, she seemed surprised and suppressed her killing intent.

Then, she immediately bowed her head in respect.

The old man was that kind of person.

“…I greet you, Cheonjun.”

The old man’s identity was none other than Cheonjun, one of the Three Venerables.

The woman observed the clothes Cheonjun was wearing.

“…”

They were dark ink-colored.

Cheonjun, who normally wore the blue martial attire symbolizing the Namgung family, had been insisting on wearing such dark ink-colored clothes right after his clan was annihilated.

The Last Namgung.

That was another epithet Cheonjun possessed.

“I thought you hadn’t sensed any presence. Is something the matter?”

At his words, the woman smiled bitterly.

“I apologize.”

Cheonjun chuckled, stroking his beard at the words of the woman, the Little Sword Saint.

“It is not something you need to apologize for. I merely spoke out of concern. Rather, I should be the one apologizing.”

“No…. I was just lost in thought for a moment.”

Cheonjun nodded slightly at the Little Sword Saint’s words.

After the brief pleasantries, the Little Sword Saint asked him, her eyes somewhat subdued,

“Will you be joining this operation, Cheonjun?”

“Indeed.”

At his answer, the Little Sword Saint bit her lip slightly.

It seemed Cheonjun was the ally mentioned by Geolwang.

“I heard from Geolwang that we depart tomorrow, is this the will of Seonui-nyeo?”

Seonui-nyeo, this is the epithet of the woman currently serving as the strategist for the Murim Alliance.

“I haven’t heard the details, but I suspect that might be the case.”

Cheonjun glanced askance at the Little Sword Saint’s reply.

It seemed he wasn’t entirely pleased.

However, no objection was raised.

Because Seonui-nyeo had accomplished quite a bit, it was difficult to express dissatisfaction, even if she didn’t quite understand.

“…Will you be alright?”

This was the Little Sword Saint asking Cheonjun.

Hearing the question, Cheonjun looked at the Little Sword Saint with a peculiar gaze.

Then, he let out a chuckle.

It was because he knew exactly what the Little Sword Saint was asking about.

Cheonjun participating in this operation meant disregarding the words previously spoken by Cheonma.

Perhaps because of that, Cheonjun’s eyes grew somewhat cold.

“Is your question one of concern for me, or concern for Cheonma’s movements?”

At his words, laden with deep emotion, the Little Sword Saint hastily spoke.

“Well, naturally….”

Just as she was about to utter it, the Little Sword Saint bit her lip and stopped herself.

She had intended to say she was worried about Cheonjun, but she realized that wasn’t her true feeling.

The moment she realized this, the Little Sword Saint bowed deeply to Cheonjun.

“I have committed a discourtesy…. I apologize.”

At her words, the aura emanating from Cheonjun seemed to lessen slightly.

And then.

After a moment of silence following the Little Sword Saint’s apology, Cheonjun walked past her with slow steps.

He headed towards the border separating Sichuan from the outside.

Reaching the edge of the border, Cheonjun spoke in a somewhat heavy voice.

“Lift your head.”

“…”

“I know what you are worried about as well.”

Cheonjun’s voice was filled not with anger, but with something bitter.

“…It truly is laughable, isn’t it? That we old men, lauded as the Three Venerables, cannot even move a single step upon the warning uttered by just one person.”

“…”

Just one person.

Everyone knew how formidable a being Cheonma was, far beyond what such words could convey.

-I shall not permit the Three Venerables to set foot in Sichuan from now on.

Those casual words had effectively bound the feet of the Three Venerables who reigned over the Central Plains.

The power displayed by the being known as Cheonma upon his appearance.

His demeanor, showing no disadvantage even when facing the Three Venerables, and his ability to conjure disasters with a mere gesture, were more than enough to instill fear in many.

Cheonjun knew this himself.

The reason the current righteous sects and the Murim Alliance could hold their ground in the Central Plains was simply because Cheonma was not making a move.

Even if his pride was shattered and inner demons took root because of it.

That was the reality.

Reality does not change.

Although he didn’t know why Cheonma hadn’t moved in the past few years.

All the key figures of the righteous sects, not to mention the Three Venerables, knew this.

That if Cheonma were to truly mobilize, this war would have ended long ago.

Cheonjun thought, recalling that overwhelming presence.

‘Just what are you waiting for?’

An unknown monster.

No one could fathom the intentions of that entity, which chose not to act despite being able to end it all long ago.

It was a truly dire situation.

He recalled the Little Sword Saint’s worry.

The reason he had unknowingly become angry about it was because Cheonjun also knew that even if he did so, he couldn’t defeat Cheonma.

Even as an ally, Cheonjun would not cross into Sichuan. That was the plan handed down by the Alliance.

‘Tsk tsk.’

He scoffed inwardly as he recalled it.

‘Not crossing.’

How ridiculous his own thought sounded.

It wasn’t that he wouldn’t cross, but that he couldn’t.

The situation, trying to save face even at this point, was truly pathetic.

Cheonjun closed his eyes.

He could see nothing.

It was as if it reflected the future.

Within it, a tiny speck of light was visible.

A minuscule light, so small and delicate it seemed it would crumble upon mere touch.

Seeing it, Cheonjun slowly opened his eyes.

And then, he looked back.

There stood a woman with blond hair and golden eyes, much like Geomjon in his youth.

The woman, still gazing at the forest of Sichuan as if something was bothering her.

Approaching the age of thirty (Irip), she possessed a truly frail body.

Though to Cheonjun, her body seemed too weak to contain the hope of the Central Plains.

She was, however, the current hope of the Central Plains.

“…”

Cheonjun forcibly swallowed a sigh that rose within him.

The world placing its hope on that small woman.

And himself, yearning for it.

The encroaching desire for revenge, everything felt bitter.

Cheonjun moved forward, erasing the layers of thoughts piling up inside him.

“…Let’s go back together now.”

“Yes.”

At Cheonjun’s words, the Little Sword Saint also started walking.

---

The Grand Hall stirred at Mukwon’s words.

The Alliance’s forces began gathering in a village outside Sichuan.

The meaning behind this was far from trivial.

Maje, seated on the throne, asked Mukwon with eyes full of interest.

“Is what you say true?”

“Yes. Great Leader.”

All eyes turned to Mukwon’s firm reply.

His expression was full of questions.

It was the same for me.

‘What is this, suddenly, at this time?’

The Murim Alliance had suddenly started amassing its forces.

This was a situation completely absent from my memory, at least.

‘Moreover….’

Mukwon’s words kept echoing in my mind.

-It is reported that the Little Sword Saint has been spotted.

‘…Why?’

Divine Sword.

No, Wi Seol-ah, who was still being called the Little Sword Saint, should not have been in Sichuan at this time.

If Sichuan had become the territory of the demonic beings, her duty was to hunt the demonic beings in other regions and defend her position.

Sichuan was clearly a location designated by Cheonma, so she shouldn’t have appeared now.

‘I don’t understand.’

The Murim Alliance would know this fact even better.

That she shouldn’t rashly step onto a battlefield like this.

In the current situation, the Murim Alliance’s only hope was her.

Losing her would be tantamount to losing the war.

‘Deploying Wi Seol-ah here in this situation?’

The appearance of the Divine Sword in an unknown operation.

My head starts to ache.

I had at least thought she wouldn’t appear in a battle involving Sichuan.

And yet, not only are forces inexplicably gathering, but things have turned out like this.

‘From where…?’

Just where did this world start to twist?

If I were to search for the cause.

‘Could it be… because I appeared?’

Naturally, there should be no other reason, but I still couldn’t understand.

Is it possible for things to get this tangled just because I appeared?

Situations can change with even the smallest actions, but.

This was too absurd a situation.

It was as if…

‘Someone knew that a person like me had appeared.’

It felt like a situation forced into existence because someone noticed the anomaly.

I scowled and clenched my fist.

Whatever the reason, the Little Sword Saint shouldn’t have appeared in the current situation.

She is the hope of this world.

‘Hoo….’

I thought of the woman, turning her back on the world with her small frame.

What a damn karma.

The woman who took karma into her own hands because no one else could, would be small even in this time.

‘…Damn it.’

Thinking of that made curses spill out involuntarily.

The Three Venerables, called the heavens of the Central Plains.

The Four Great Families, called the pillars of the righteous sects.

The Nine Sects and Seven Schools, who grew stronger while protecting their respective regions.

With such existences overflowing, how did one woman become the hope?

Moreover, why must she not appear in the current situation?

I chewed my tongue, recalling the reason why.

It was because, after all.

The reason the Little Sword Saint became the hope of the Central Plains was the power she possessed.

‘…Demon Slaying (Pama).’

It was because it was specialized in dealing with demonic beings.