Chapter 854: Ilcheonkyo.

Kwagagagak–!!! A storm sweeps across the ground.

Swords rain down endlessly.

Like an unrelenting gale, they continued to turn the surroundings into a mess.

Swishh–!! Four flashes of light draw circles with distinct movements.

They seemed to move as if alive.

One of the swords sharpens its tip and lunges forward.

“Hup.”

Namgung Bi-ah tilts her sword, lowering its blade.

Kiiigigik-! The incoming sword scrapes against the flat of her blade and is deflected.

Sparks burst as its angle is broken.

The attack was successfully deflected. However, Namgung Bi-ah’s gaze remained fixed.

Because it wasn’t over after just one.

As expected, after deflecting one attack, two more swords lunged forward.

Namgung Bi-ah scowled and put strength into her feet.

Pazizik-! Lightning energy surged and wrapped around her sword. She unleashed the energy from her dantian.

Pressure materialized, riding along her body. It was the activation of the Emperor Sword Form.

For an instant, the movement of the incoming swords slowed. Namgung Bi-ah didn’t miss that moment.

Sword energy imbued with lightning split the air. Two swords were swept away by the sword energy and scattered. The blocked path was revealed.

Namgung Bi-ah didn’t hesitate. She immediately darted forward.

Her appearance was like a lightning strike.

She reached her opponent in an instant and swung her sword. If things continued like this, she could have severed his neck.

However.

“…!”

Stopping her swing, Namgung Bi-ah quickly turned her head. A sword plunged down where her face had been.

Flick-! A wound appeared on her cheek, and blood splattered.

Several strands of hair were also cut. She spun around, creating distance.

“Hoo….”

Namgung Bi-ah let out a deep breath and wiped the blood from her cheek.

Tension continued to rise.

“You have good instincts.”

The Cheonmun Master chuckled, watching Namgung Bi-ah.

The old man still had his hands clasped behind his back.

Seeing that, Namgung Bi-ah frowned. The old man hadn’t moved a single step so far.

An overwhelming difference in skill. Even within the same Hwagyeong realm, the levels were vastly different.

She couldn’t even compare to Eunranggeom.

“Like earlier. Such a pity, this young lass.”

“…”

“You shouldn’t even be twenty yet… how can you be this strong?”

Tsk. The old man laughs. With his laughter, all the swords were recalled and returned to the Cheonmun Master’s side.

“Star King. That fellow too. Truly, children these days are on a whole different level.”

Hooo….

Namgung Bi-ah took a breath and readjusted her stance.

She couldn’t win. She knew that after just one exchange.

“That’s why it’s even more regrettable. To persecute a child like you, who could shine so brightly, so cruelly.”

Her opponent was holding back. That was a fact she could clearly discern.

He was toying with her, controlling the pace.

Namgung Bi-ah glanced behind her for a moment. Wi Seol-ah still hadn’t moved.

She stood still, her gaze fixed on the tree.

It seemed something was wrong.

“So, why don’t you just answer my questions? I’ll spare your life then.”

“…”

He’d spare her life. What would happen to everything else then?

Namgung Bi-ah wrinkled her nose at the sudden stench.

A foul odor emanated from the old man.

“Of course. In exchange for sparing you… you’ll have to become mine for a while and entertain me thoroughly.”

A desire so clear it was repulsive.

Seeing that, Namgung Bi-ah’s eyes turned cold.

It was a feeling Namgung Bi-ah often felt towards opponents. Things she had grown accustomed to. Whenever she felt that, she remembered what Gu Yangcheon used to say.

-It’s because you’re pretty. If you were just moderately pretty, maybe. You’re a bit much.

Pretty. It seemed she was indeed pretty.

Knowing it didn’t really move her. It wasn’t something that particularly helped her life.

She just acknowledged it.

No, she had known since she was young. At the time, she even thought it was a curse.

Most unfortunate events stemmed from this.

So, wouldn’t it be better if she didn’t have this face? There were times she thought that.

But.

Things were a little different now. It didn’t bother her.

Those gazes too. The desire directed at her too.

Now, it truly didn’t bother her.

Things she used to hate, she no longer hated.

She had asked him once. He looked at her with bewildered eyes.

-You hate being pretty? What kind of crazy talk is that all of a sudden?

-No, I don’t exactly hate it. What? Breasts? Wh-why are we talking about breasts here! Hey! Hurry up and fasten your clothes! Is this girl really crazy.

-I don’t hate either. If anything, I lean towards liking it, so stop asking and go! I need to train!

That was enough reason for the things that used to bother her to no longer be bothersome.

His face, which would blush subtly and look away when she stared, And the tiny sliver of desire that seeped into his eyes. Strangely, she didn’t hate them.

Sometimes she thought, She knew he was holding back his desire, but that he didn’t have to force himself. No, she hoped he wouldn’t.

However, this was a feeling solely for him, for no one else.

“So, stop this fight with no chance of winning. Behave yourself… Hmm?”

The Cheonmun Master paused mid-sentence and frowned at Namgung Bi-ah.

“What is it? Why are you smiling?”

Namgung Bi-ah was smiling.

It was partly because she was thinking of him, but also because the current situation was strangely welcome.

A fight she couldn’t win. A battle with no apparent chance of victory. A moment where she might die.

All of that made Namgung Bi-ah smile.

“Hoho….”

The Cheonmun Master let out a hollow laugh, as if understanding the meaning behind Namgung Bi-ah’s smile.

“I thought she was just a beautiful flower with a bit of talent… but my goodness.”

The swords circling the area suddenly stopped moving. A hint of disgust mixed with the desire in his eyes.

“Girl. You are a Battle Fiend (鬪鬼).”

Sometimes among martial artists, there are those. People who live wildly, beyond just enjoying fights. Those who enjoy killing are called Killing Fiends (殺鬼). Those who live madly for the fight itself are called Battle Fiends (鬪鬼).

In that sense, that girl is a Battle Fiend.

To feel fighting spirit in this situation and smile. It was absurd.

“Yes. That can happen.”

The Cheonmun Master smirked. If she’s that beautiful, what does it matter if she’s a Battle Fiend? Nothing changes because of it.

‘If I can capture them, they’ll become valuable assets.’

How she got here. And how she broke this seal. And.

‘What is that girl behind her.’

Cheonmun. More precisely, the blonde woman staring as if possessed by Ilcheonkyo’s Sacred Tree.

Daehwan also knew the identity of that woman.

‘Sword Master. A descendant of that old geezer.’

Was it called Crescent Moon Sword?

Just recalling it sent shivers down his spine. He had met her in passing.

The one who massacred enemies by unleashing countless swords in the midst of the battlefield.

It was a number incomparably greater than his own four swords.

If she’s a descendant of such an old geezer, it’s definitely bothersome, but.

‘For some reason, she’s staying still.’

Despite the fight breaking out, she was only looking at the Sacred Tree.

He didn’t know why, but he preferred it.

‘I’ll capture both.’

He would capture both and use them as assets to deal with Star King.

Furthermore, by solving the mysteries, it seemed he could give the cult members a good gift after a long time.

“Try to endure if you can.”

Daehwan laughs and waves his hand.

Swords rained down again like stars.

Just then.

“Hoo.”

Namgung Bi-ah let out another breath.

Voices continued to echo in her ears.

[Draw it already!]

The old man’s voice pierced her ears, but Namgung Bi-ah didn’t listen.

Not yet. There was still more she could do.

[Foolish girl…! Stubbornness like this won’t achieve anything–!]

The descending sword came right before Namgung Bi-ah’s face.

Death approached.

Only then did Namgung Bi-ah draw her sword.

It wasn’t the lightning strike.

Kugugugung—-!!! As the sword struck, wind pressure spread out.

Seogeok.

Simultaneously, something was cut.

“…!”

The Cheonmun Master staggered and knelt on one knee.

“Kuhuk…!”

He spat blood from his mouth and clutched his chest.

Something was flowing from his upper body too.

It was blood.

His upper body was deeply cut.

Feeling the pain, the Cheonmun Master glared straight ahead.

“…You wretched girl… How did you manage Heart Sword (心劍)…!”

With a viciously contorted face, the Cheonmun Master spat curses.

Seueueue….

“…Hoo.”

From the location where the barrage had fallen, the same breathing sound as before could be heard.

Swords lay scattered on the ground.

Amidst them, Namgung Bi-ah stood.

She wasn’t unscathed. Signs of cuts and slashes were visible here and there.

Her martial arts uniform was torn, and blood flowed from her mouth, hands, and legs.

The wounds didn’t look shallow.

But.

Even then, Namgung Bi-ah smiled.

Brightly. She smiled as if blooming, as if she delighted in the current situation.

“…My instincts… are good?”

Mimicking the words the Cheonmun Master had spoken just before.

---

A space located underground. A large, burly old man burst in with an urgent expression.

“What happened?!”

“…Elder-nim…!”

At the old man’s appearance, those inside exclaimed with eyes wide as saucers.

“Th-the formation was suddenly deactivated.”

“So how exactly! What were the guards doing?!”

“We can’t reach them.”

“…What does that mean?”

Upon hearing the report, the Elder scowled deeply.

The formation was suddenly deactivated?

“When was the last rotation with the guards?”

“…About half an hour has passed.”

“…Only that much time?”

Merely half an hour? It hasn’t even been that long, and the formation deactivated?

It made no sense.

The old man couldn’t believe it.

“Even summoning the renowned Wind Dragon Commander would only hold them for four days. Merely half an hour? Do you think that makes sense?”

Moreover, the Wind Dragon Commander was reportedly killed during the recent Hanam raid, so the number of people who could deactivate this formation should be few. And it was deactivated in just half an hour?

“Are you sure your assessment isn’t mistaken?”

“…It’s true.”

“Is there a possibility the formation malfunctioned on its own?”

Could it have broken down? The Elder asked doubtfully, but.

“There were no issues when the formation department last checked it today.”

“Then, does that mean it was an external attack?”

“That’s our assessment….”

“…And the Sect Leader? Where is the Sect Leader now?”

“Currently, the Sect Leader… said he was going to catch a rat and left his post…”

“…Tsk.”

He knew someone had entered the space. He had intended to capture them earlier, but the Sect Leader had left them be, thinking something else.

‘Is it them.’

Those who followed stealthily. Could they possibly have done something? If they did, by what method?

The old man didn’t know, but now was not the time to stand idle.

“I’m going to investigate the formation. You, follow me.”

He grabbed someone knowledgeable about formations and moved. First, they needed to go outside and assess the situation.

The old man quickly got up and started walking.

He headed towards the entrance, almost running. The entrance passage looked like multiple entrances, but in reality, it was just one. Even the old man didn’t know that path well.

“To the left.”

Only a very few knew the way. Following their words, the old man moved.

Just as he was heading towards the correct entrance.

“From here, to the right….”

“…Wait.”

Blocking the man’s mouth, the old man stopped.

“…Halt.”

“Yes…”

The man wore a bewildered expression, but the old man was only looking ahead. Even sweating profusely.

“Elder-nim…?”

“Who are you?”

The old man asked the person ahead. Then, someone approached from ahead.

Only then could the man sense it.

“Kkuhk!?”

The overwhelming killing intent that pierced through.

Footsteps could be heard beyond the darkness filling the entrance. As a figure gradually became visible.

Something could be seen in the darkness. A blue light shimmered in the air.

It didn’t take long to realize that the light was eyes.

“You…?”

The old man’s eyes widened as he identified the figure.

“Seong…”

“I have something to ask.”

The young man cut off the old man’s words.

Watching this, the man felt his own body tremble more and more.

The killing intent was one thing. But even setting that aside, there was something else.

‘…H-his eyes?’

The blue gaze gradually changed. The color was shifting.

The brilliant yet chilling blue eyes. Gradually changed until they finally turned violet (紫色).

Seeing that, his breath hitched.

He couldn’t think of anything. Only fear existed within the man.

Ttak.

Ttak-ttak-ttak.

His teeth chattered uncontrollably.

“I’m looking for someone… Do you know anything?”

“A-a person?”

At those words, the old man tensed his muscles with all his might. Pushing back the killing intent, he unleashed his energy.

“How dare you! Do you know where you are?!”

His fully tensed muscles.

The man felt an unconscious sense of relief seeing that. Elder-nim was a martial artist who had reached Hwagyeong. Therefore, no matter how strong this person was, buying time until reinforcements arrived…

Kung.

“Huh?”

The man let out a yelp. The Elder suddenly knelt on one knee.

“Elder-nim…?”

He looked to see what had happened, but. The Elder didn’t answer. He simply collapsed onto the floor.

Kuwoong-! His massive body crumbled to the ground, As the man moved towards the Elder seeing that.

Tuk.

Something fell in front of the man. Seeing it, the man screamed and fell backward.

“Hieeeek—!!!”

It was a heart. A heart that was still beating faintly.

Whose could it be? Could it be?

The man looked back at the Elder. Blood flowed from the fallen Elder’s chest, soaking the floor.

“El… Eld… Elder.”

Kwajik-! His foot stomped on the heart, crushing it. Blood splattered onto the man’s cheek.

“Since you didn’t seem to hear me, I’ll ask again.”

Seueuk.

Fingers grabbed the man’s chin and forced his head up. Their gazes met.

“I’m looking for someone. Do you know anything?”

He felt something damp on the hand holding his chin.

It was the Elder’s blood.