Chapter 667: My name is.

Time flows as our eyes meet.

I caught my breath, hiding my body that creaked on its own.

‘Why.’

Why is ‘that thing’ here?

I see a woman who spotted me and is waving her hand.

Hair tinged with a violet hue and eyes shining even brighter.

And on top of that, a striking appearance that reminded me of someone.

It was the same appearance I encountered before heading to the Northern Sea.

If so, it means that wasn’t my imagination.

Then.

‘Why is she here?’

Why is she in this place?

I had to know.

‘I was looking for her anyway.’

The Heavenly Demon (天魔).

I knew she was in Henan. We had met before, and because of that, I had ordered personnel to gather information.

That information was precisely the second task I had entrusted to Pil-du-ma.

But.

‘There was strangely little information.’

The information Pil-du-ma provided wasn’t of very good quality.

Naturally, I wasn’t relying solely on him, so I was gathering information from other sources as well.

However.

‘It wasn’t any different.’

Information about the Heavenly Demon in Henan was far too scarce.

Did she hide after realizing someone was digging into her past? Or perhaps.

Had she already disappeared from Henan?

The fact that there was so little information, even with the Shadow King’s forces moving, naturally led me to consider those two possibilities…

‘Does this mean they couldn’t find her even though she’s out in the open like this?’

The Heavenly Demon had never left Henan.

Judging by her appearance, she didn’t seem to be hiding either.

Did she leave and then come back?

That’s possible, but I won’t consider it for now. Because the Heavenly Demon I knew was not the type to run away.

So, let’s think.

The most important thing here.

‘Can I kill her?’

Can I kill the Heavenly Demon right here, right now?

Back then, at that small noodle shop in the secluded alley. I couldn’t do it when I saw her there.

What about now?

I have regained the cultivation level of my past life.

Now, I could likely eliminate protectors or elders of prominent families and prestigious sects single-handedly without much difficulty.

This was an objective self-assessment.

The level of someone like Cheon-oe-cheon, the heads of a few prominent families, or the sect leaders of the Nine Great Sects.

Meaning, unless they were among the so-called Ten Great Masters of the Central Plains, I couldn’t lose.

‘So, what about the Heavenly Demon’s level?’

I recalled the time we faced each other at the Divine Dragon Pavilion.

Back then, she was strong enough to toy with someone like me easily.

If her level is the same as in my past life, I would lose.

Should I retreat then?

Giiiiiiing-!

Rational judgment dictated so, but my body’s energy involuntarily entered combat readiness.

Squirm-! Demonic energy surged.

What had I endured all this time to stop? Would I stop now, with the opportunity right before my eyes?

The demonic energy, baring its fangs, began to speak thus.

Just as I felt my heart pounding and was about to charge forward.

“Young Master-nim.”

“…!”

The voice that came from beside me instantly chilled my blood.

“What’s wrong?”

I momentarily forgot who was beside me.

I took a breath at Moyong Hi-ah’s worried question.

Someone I needed to protect was beside me.

Therefore, I couldn’t act rashly.

Would I have enough leeway to fight while protecting Moyong Hi-ah?

I lacked certainty about that.

The less certain I was, the more cautious I needed to be.

“Ah.”

Meanwhile, Moyong Hi-ah glanced at what I was looking at, then subtly moved closer.

“As expected, it seems Young Master-nim knows this person too?”

I frowned at Moyong Hi-ah’s words.

‘Too’, Young Master-nim?

I looked at her, wondering what she meant.

“That person. She was brought here by Sword Phoenix (劍鳳).”

“…What?”

Her subsequent words made my body stiffen.

“Brought by whom?”

“Sword Phoenix.”

“…Sword Phoenix… Elder Sister? Are you talking about my Elder Sister?”

“Yes, I’m talking about your sister.”

Are you really talking about Gu Huibi?

“A few days ago, Sword Phoenix came by and asked me to give that person some work.”

I kept hearing her words, but it took a moment for them to sink into my mind.

Because it was all utterly incomprehensible.

“They said she’s a martial artist and quite strong… Since we were looking for escorts today anyway, I just put her in the pool. But it seems Young Master-nim knows her too?”

“…”

So, Gu Huibi not only brought the Heavenly Demon but also inserted her into this situation?

‘What kind of crazy talk is this.’

I have no idea what kind of situation this is.

What on earth is going on?

While I was bewildered by the absurd situation.

“…You know.”

“Yes.”

More than this, I sensed something strange.

So, I looked at Moyong Hi-ah and pointed towards the Heavenly Demon in the distance.

“You, how do you see her?”

“Huh?”

Moyong Hi-ah’s brow furrowed as if asking what nonsensical question this was.

However, perhaps thinking there was a reason for my question, she looked at the Heavenly Demon without adding any further remarks.

Then she said.

“…A person, a woman.”

“A little more detail.”

Even I thought it was a strange question, but I had to ask.

Because, separate from the Heavenly Demon being here, I had confirmed something strange in Moyong Hi-ah’s reaction.

“She seems shorter than me. Her hair is black.”

The person Sword Phoenix brought. And the person I seemed to know.

Only that much information came from Moyong Hi-ah’s mouth.

“And black eyes, skin that looks slightly tanned… Should I describe her features too?”

In reality, the most important thing was something else.

“No, that’s fine.”

Hearing Moyong Hi-ah, I became certain.

That something was wrong.

“Why do you say that?”

Moyong Hi-ah asked with confusion, but I couldn’t easily answer.

And for good reason.

‘She’s not mentioning that the person looks exactly like Wi Seol-ah.’

Anyone could see the appearance is identical to Wi Seol-ah.

Only the hair and eyes are different, but otherwise, she could pass for a twin.

Moyong Hi-ah, however, wasn’t asking any questions about this.

Furthermore.

‘Her description is also somewhat different.’

The height is vague, and while the hair is black, it’s not completely black.

It clearly had a violet tinge, and they weren’t black eyes (黑眼) either.

Moreover, the skin color…

‘If she calls that slightly tanned, she must be blind.’

Her skin was pale, almost to the point of being cadaverous.

Calling that tanned made no sense.

Then why did Moyong Hi-ah describe her like this?

Thinking about the reason, perhaps.

‘She’s perceiving it differently.’

It meant Moyong Hi-ah’s gaze towards the Heavenly Demon was different.

‘Are the others like this too?’

Is it just Moyong Hi-ah, or are the others here the same?

Or perhaps.

‘Are my eyes deceiving me?’

Is Moyong Hi-ah’s perception correct, and my eyes are wrong?

Doubt arose, but I believed my eyes were correct.

No, rather than trusting my eyes, I trusted the energies within my body.

I quietly stared at the Heavenly Demon.

The Heavenly Demon was also looking at me, not avoiding my gaze.

She had a somewhat vacant expression.

It was vastly different from the arrogant, condescending gaze I remembered from my past life.

It was to the point where I wondered if she wasn’t a completely different person, despite looking the same.

Watching her like that, I swallowed and time passed.

I made a decision and said to Moyong Hi-ah.

“…What should I do first?”

If only to confirm the identity of the persistent sense of strangeness.

I decided to observe for the time being.

---

In terms of numbers, it wasn’t even thirty people.

From that group, I had to select seven.

That was the task Moyong Hi-ah had requested of me.

“So, exactly seven people.”

“That’s right. You can select them as you see fit.”

“Meaning I can do as I please.”

As I listened to the explanation, I cast my gaze somewhere.

Towards the woman leaning against a tree with a vacant expression – the Heavenly Demon.

I was concerned, not knowing her intentions for being here or what she planned to do.

Recalling this, I took a step forward simultaneously.

As I moved ahead, the gazes of those around me fixed on me.

Every single one of them had unpleasant expressions.

It seemed the waiting time had been quite long.

Just as the martial artists’ expressions were starting to show interest that something was finally happening.

“You there.”

I pointed at one person with my finger.

Before the designated man could express his confusion.

“Pass.”

“…?”

“I said, you pass.”

At my curtly spoken words, the man’s eyes widened.

Ignoring such a reaction, I waved my hand.

A gesture telling him to move aside quickly.

The man wore a puzzled expression but stepped aside without any particular objection.

The person I pointed out was the second strongest martial artist here.

Excluding the ‘Heavenly Demon’, that is.

Right after picking out one person like that.

I moved my finger, sorting through the people.

“That guy on the left is disqualified. The one with the ponytail next to him is also disqualified.”

Disqualified. Disqualified… Disqualified. More disqualifications.

I disqualified people one after another, clearing out more than half the group in less than half an hour.

There were a total of eleven people who passed; everyone else was disqualified.

I nodded, looking at the roughly selected group.

“This should be enough for the initial screening…”

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Just as I was about to feel satisfied with the clean sweep, someone yelled at me.

I directed my gaze.

It was a martial artist emanating a strong aura.

“Showing up out of nowhere and doing whatever you please, what is this nonsense?”

The middle-aged man seemed furious, raising his voice.

He was a martial artist with a long scar across his face.

His level was…

‘Mastered Peak.’

He was the kind of person who could live comfortably anywhere, receiving respect.

He was also the strongest among those who came here, and the very first person I disqualified.

I nodded slightly at him.

“Why?”

“Huh?”

My attitude made the man’s face contort further.

“Is that something you should be saying right now?”

“What exactly is it that you don’t like?”

At my question, anger laced the man’s voice.

“We’ve been gathered here waiting for over an hour. Sitting out here in the scorching sun, and now someone unknown shows up to disqualify us – you think we’d like that?”

I chuckled at his words.

“Didn’t you hear what the Branch Manager just said? She told me to do as I please.”

“Don’t make me laugh!”

Kuuuung-! The man unleashed his energy in anger.

Then, wind pressure erupted and spread outwards.

“Huk-!”

“Keuk!”

The surrounding individuals were astonished by the unexpectedly potent energy.

The first person I’d passed looked particularly surprised.

He seemed to have instantly sensed that the man was stronger than him.

It made sense he’d be surprised that such a person was disqualified.

“How dare you! Do you even know who I am? It’s laughable for some brat who doesn’t know their place to be judging us!”

Hearing the man’s outburst, the expressions of others also twisted.

They were the ones who had been disqualified along with him.

“Right, what does that guy know to be conducting interviews?”

“Has the Hundred Flowers Merchant Association gone mad? To be judged by someone like that!”

The mood began to snowball.

They were already displeased about being disqualified so quickly.

Since a strong individual stepped up to voice their anger, others began to join in.

Moreover.

“Even so, shouldn’t the test be conducted properly?”

“This way is a bit…”

Even those who had passed weren’t exactly showing satisfied expressions.

Perhaps, as mentioned before.

‘They don’t like being evaluated by someone they don’t even know.’

They were people who lived and died by the honor of being Central Plains martial artists, obsessed with evaluation.

Wouldn’t it be simpler to just accept the pass? Why are they making such a fuss?

‘They sure live complicated lives.’

In any case, I didn’t like it.

Sensing the atmosphere turning against me, the man smirked amidst his anger.

“I never imagined being treated like this. Branch Manager. Is this truly the intention of the Hundred Flowers Merchant Association?”

“…”

Moyong Hi-ah did not answer.

She just stared at me with a blank expression.

It probably meant I should continue on my own. Seeing that, I relaxed my muscles slightly.

“It’s true the treatment was surprisingly good, which drew me here. But to be treated like this…”

“As always, the ones who amount to nothing but talk the loudest are the biggest problem.”

“What…?”

“Though the idiots who get swept up in it are also a problem.”

At my words, the man glared at me with murderous intent.

I met his gaze and smiled.

“There must be a reason you were disqualified. Why question it so much? If you don’t like it, get lost?”

“You damn foal…!”

Gooooo-! Killing intent and fighting spirit clashed, creating vibrations.

It was a heavy aura, befitting a Mastered Peak expert.

“Seeing as you seem involved with the Association, you’d best correct your attitude. No matter how great the Hundred Flowers Merchant Association is, my sword is closer to you.”

Meaning he’d kill me if things went south.

As if to prove his words, killing intent materialized on his sword.

Sensing the momentum, I nodded inwardly.

He’s truly not a bad martial artist.

Based on his cultivation level, disqualifying him didn’t make sense.

Excluding the Heavenly Demon, he was the strongest among them.

So, if there were no ‘special issues’, I probably would have passed him first.

Yes, if there were no ‘special issues’.

“So what? Are you going to act tough with your sword? Scary, scary.”

“Hah, you little runt…! I should cut out your tongue to stop that momentum-“

“Seriously, guys from the Murim Alliance always draw their swords first. No different from thugs.”

“…!”

At my words, the man stopped mid-sentence.

After that, I could see his pupils trembling slightly.

“You shouldn’t be badmouthing the demonic sects, you know? Damn it. When the very roots of the righteous sects are like this, no wonder the world is going to hell.”

“W-what did you say…?”

A sigh escaped me.

The reason the man was disqualified was simple.

He was a martial artist belonging to the Alliance.

“What the fuck did you say…”

Spitting out a curse, I took a step forward.

Then, my vision shifted abruptly.

Before I knew it, I was right in front of the man.

“Hut…!!”

The man startled and moved his body.

Instinctively, he seemed about to swing his sword.

But before that, I grabbed the hand holding the sword and shattered the bones.

Wooddeudeuk-.

“…!!!”

He froze, unable to move, and let out a silent scream along with a chilling sound.

And then.

“For someone like you, your head is held too high.”

Ppadeudeuk-!

This time, a sound burst from his lower body.

The man immediately collapsed, falling to his knees.

“Kkeueuaaaa–!!!”

Only then did a proper scream erupt.

Even after his limbs were broken, the man kept screaming.

“Shut up.”

Ppaak-!

I struck his head, knocking him unconscious.

Maybe it’s because he’s big? His screams were unusually loud. Annoyingly so.

Phulsseok.

The Mastered Peak martial artist fell unconscious onto the grass.

The screams ceased, and silence descended upon the surroundings.

The atmosphere was actually much quieter than before.

Shifting my gaze, I saw the surrounding martial artists staring at me with their mouths agape.

First, I casually tossed the fallen guy aside.

Hwiieek-!! Koong-!

The sound of him falling beyond the bushes could be heard.

“So?”

Afterward, I casually brushed off my hands and said.

“Anyone else have a problem?”

“…”

“…”

Perhaps thanks to the clear explanation, no one voiced any further complaints.

It was quite fortunate.