Chapter 851: Ilcheonkyo.

“What was the last known location?”

“I heard it was the Western Forest. But it’s not certain.”

The man replied with a worried expression to Tang Soyeol’s question.

“Are you saying there’s a possibility they went elsewhere?”

“Yes… They often searched areas other than the designated location. It’s highly likely they did the same this time.”

“Hmm.”

Tang Soyeol bites her lip slightly.

It’s definitely possible, given those two people.

“How much time has passed since the return deadline?”

“About two shijin have passed.”

“Any word about the delay?”

“There was no word about that either.”

“…Damn.”

Tang Soyeol’s delicate brow furrows. Two shijin was definitely not a short amount of time.

‘Where on earth did they go?’

Narrowing her eyes, Tang Soyeol racks her brain.

Wi Seol-ah and Namgung Bi-ah’s cultivation levels aren’t low. Because of that, she shouldn’t have been this worried, but…

Gu Yangcheon himself had explicitly told them not to be late for the return time.

And Wi Seol-ah and Namgung Bi-ah broke that rule? Even if they were late, it should only have been a little; this wasn’t it.

‘Is something really wrong…?’

She felt an odd sense of worry. A hunch, perhaps? An unknown anxiety began to form.

The other members were also starting to prepare for the search.

According to the rules, they should have started the search after two shijin had passed.

“Commander… Should we proceed with the search?”

Tang Soyeol purses her lips at the member’s words.

Strictly by the rules, they had to start.

It couldn’t be helped. Tang Soyeol lets out a sigh and speaks.

“…Proceed-!”

Tang Soyeol stopped mid-sentence and quickly turned her head.

It wasn’t just Tang Soyeol.

The personnel preparing for the search nearby, regardless of the slight difference in timing, were all looking in the same direction.

They weren’t just looking, either.

“……W-what is this…”

“…Hngh… kkeu…”

After a few seconds, most of them collapsed. Their expressions were filled with terror.

“Ughhh!”

Someone started vomiting on the floor, and a few lost consciousness.

Even those barely holding onto their consciousness were trembling uncontrollably.

The ones still standing were Tang Soyeol and a few others, all of whom had reached the Hwajing realm.

Even they weren’t looking normal.

Cold sweat drenched their bodies, gradually soaking their martial uniforms.

What was happening? Tang Soyeol breathed raggedly, staring straight ahead.

The reason all the members’ minds had shattered was the energy felt from afar.

Tang Soyeol frowned as she identified the nature of this overwhelming energy.

It was killing intent.

Killing intent enveloped the surroundings.

The reason it seemed dark despite the lit lanterns, the reason the members were so terrified – it was all because of the killing intent.

The problem was…

‘How could there be such strong killing intent…?’

Its intensity was beyond imagination. It made one question if a human could even emit such a level of killing intent.

Who could it be? Who was emitting this killing intent?

Tang Soyeol barely managed to grip a dagger in her embrace. If someone within the Alliance could emit such killing intent, there was no need to consider them an ally.

‘Why is it when Young Master Gu-nim isn’t here.’

She wondered who it was, but first, she needed to escape this killing intent.

“Hoo…”

She exhaled, gathering her strength. Just as she tried to break free from the energy in one go, a figure appeared in the distance.

Squinting, she tried to identify the source of the killing intent.

“…Huh?”

Upon recognizing the opponent, Tang Soyeol unconsciously relaxed her stance.

The source of the killing intent was someone she knew well.

The figure walked slowly towards them.

Their martial uniform fluttered in the emanating killing intent, and their expressionless blue eyes were inexplicably cold.

It was so different from the feeling she usually sensed from them.

“…Young Master Gu…?”

The figure was Gu Yangcheon.

All that overwhelming killing intent belonged to Gu Yangcheon? She couldn’t believe it.

“Young Master Gu… No, Com- Commander…”

Tang Soyeol stammered in surprise. Gu Yangcheon’s gaze turned towards Tang Soyeol at her words.

She flinched.

Tang Soyeol shivered upon meeting his eyes. For a moment, she even stopped breathing.

‘His eyes…’

They were abyssal.

Just making eye contact felt like falling into a deep, bottomless abyss.

A hole from which one couldn’t return once fallen. She couldn’t even perceive how deep it went.

Why did he have eyes like that?

Was Gu Yangcheon always a person with eyes like that?

Tang Soyeol’s thoughts became hopelessly tangled.

Just then.

Hoo-wooo.

The overwhelming killing intent suddenly subsided.

It hadn’t disappeared, but it was now weak enough for her to move.

However, not everyone was okay. Except for Tang Soyeol, the others still hadn’t recovered their senses.

Had the killing intent focused solely on her lessened? She didn’t even have time to wonder.

“Commander.”

“…Ah! Yes…”

The voice that came out trembled. It was fear.

“Report the situation.”

What should she report? Her thoughts paused for a moment, but she quickly recalled.

“…Member Namgung and Member Wi, who went on reconnaissance, have not returned.”

“Location and time.”

“It was the Western Forest. Time… two shijin have passed.”

She kept stammering as she spoke. Her voice trembled, and she felt like crying for some reason.

But she held it back.

“According to the Alliance’s rules… I was just about to issue the search order.”

“…”

Tang Soyeol bit her lip, slightly averting her gaze.

She found it difficult to meet the eyes she usually longed to see.

He seemed like a completely different person, and Tang Soyeol found it hard to bear.

“Right.”

Gu Yangcheon nodded.

“Two shijin. Western Forest.”

He repeated the report a few times as if confirming it, then turned his head to the left.

“Do you know something?”

His words were strange. It sounded like he was talking to someone, but Tang Soyeol couldn’t see anyone.

Her senses were completely messed up due to the killing intent.

“No answer. Is my voice too quiet?”

Hearing no response, Gu Yangcheon turned his body, following his gaze.

“I’m talking to you. So answer me.”

Guguguguk…

“…!”

The killing intent intensified once more.

“Before I grab you and ask. Open your damn mouth, you bastard.”

Along with the rough tone, an oppressive aura exploded. It felt like more than just the surroundings shaking; it was like an earthquake.

Jjeojeojeok-! Just as the quarters and buildings began to be affected.

“Stop.”

Another person appeared, piercing through the killing intent.

It was the direction Gu Yangcheon had been looking.

Tang Soyeol raised an eyebrow as she looked at the figure. The person who appeared was Ilcheonggeom.

Why was the Azure Dragon Grand Master here all of a sudden?

“Star King. What is this…? Emitting killing intent like this within the branch.”

Ilcheonggeom’s face was filled with bewilderment. Was it because of the killing intent? Or perhaps because he had noticed him hiding?

She didn’t know the reason, but whatever it was, it seemed strange.

And… what was the reason for calling Ilcheonggeom specifically?

“Stop it right now!”

“I’ll ask again. Do you know something?”

“What exactly are you asking?”

Ilcheonggeom scowled.

“…In any case, I don’t know what you’re asking. I just came because I had something to say. But what is this you’re doing! The Alliance’s Grand Master emitting such intense killing intent-!”

His tone clearly conveyed disbelief.

Hearing that, Gu Yangcheon paused in silence for a moment.

“Yes, of course. That’s what you have to say. That’s right… Then it’s only fitting that I play along pretending not to know…”

“…What?”

At Ilcheonggeom’s words, Gu Yangcheon muttered with a somewhat weary expression.

This was also the first time Tang Soyeol had seen this.

She had never seen Gu Yangcheon look so exhausted before.

“…Young Master…?”

Tang Soyeol approached with a worried expression.

The killing intent was terrifying, but her resolve wasn’t so weak as to hesitate because of it.

As she tried to approach Gu Yangcheon like that…

“Ah… No, never mind… It’s become too bothersome now.”

Gu Yangcheon whispered a single sentence quietly, then vanished from his spot.

She hadn’t perceived it.

Where did he go? Tang Soyeol quickly searched for his presence.

Jjaak-!

A sound came from not far away. Tang Soyeol’s head snapped around.

There.

“Kkuhk!?”

She saw Ilcheonggeom staggering with his head turned, and Gu Yangcheon.

His head was turned at an extreme angle. Ilcheonggeom’s eyes widened.

‘What did I just get hit with?’

His cheek? Did he just get slapped? By this guy? His cheek felt hot. He could feel the pain. Feeling this, Ilcheonggeom gritted his teeth.

“How dare this bastard-!”

Kuuung-! Udeudeuk-!

“Kuhuk!”

This time, it was his abdomen.

He felt like something inside him had broken.

Stumbling back a step. At the same time, he focused energy in his dantian and reached for his sword’s hilt.

He had to draw his sword.

But.

‘Huh…?’

Nothing was grasped at his waist. What? Ilcheonggeom looked at where his sword should be. His sword, which should have been there, was nowhere to be seen.

“What…?”

“Looking for this?”

“…!”

At the voice, Ilcheonggeom looked up at Gu Yangcheon.

And his mouth fell open.

His sword was held in Gu Yangcheon’s hand. How…?

Kwaaang-!

“Keuhuk!”

Gu Yangcheon struck Ilcheonggeom’s face with Ilcheonggeom’s own sword.

His head snapped back, and blood splattered. He barely held onto consciousness.

He needed to create distance. Ilcheonggeom tried to step back, but his feet felt rooted, unable to move.

Gu Yangcheon was already stomping on Ilcheonggeom’s instep.

At that moment.

Jjaak-!

“Keok!”

His head snapped around once more. The impact was stronger than before.

The energy in his body dissipated instantly, affecting his legs.

Teolseok. Ilcheonggeom collapsed.

It felt like his skin was tearing.

What had happened? Why was he collapsed like this?

His mind wasn’t working properly.

Ilcheonggeom couldn’t comprehend the current situation.

Tuk. His sword fell in front of the collapsed Ilcheonggeom. It was his own sword.

“I’ll ask one last time.”

At the voice, Ilcheonggeom looked up.

Gu Yangcheon was looking down at Ilcheonggeom.

“Did you do this?”

His expression was the same blank look as before.