Seong Yangho had knocked one of the poison users unconscious.
No Cheonmyeong’s gaze shifted one last ti—toward Unhwi.
Looking at him quietly observing the situation, he couldn’t help but laugh.
The stench of blood.
A stage where resentnt entangles and life and death intersect.
This is what the martial world is.
It finally felt like he’d returned to where he truly belonged.
No Cheonmyeong stroked his white beard and laughed.
***
As I stood silently, Shim Munryong asked ,
"...I really don’t get it. Why does that guy listen to you? He doesn’t seem like the type to follow anyone.”
“He’s like you.”
“...You helped him break through?”
I nodded.
“You helped him surpass a wall he couldn’t for fifty years?”
“Is that strange?”
“It is. And I may not be in the Divine Five Realms, but from what I can tell... isn’t that guy going to reach Boundless Profound Deity soon?”
I didn’t deny it.
Honestly, I was surprised too.
As I’d discussed with Paewoon in Shin Sam Valley before—once No Cheonmyeong reached Heaven-Human Embodint, he would wield a power different from the average practitioner at that level.
It was the product of fifty years of accumulated training.
And that much was true.
Just the fact that he had easily killed Hyeol Unam, who was also at Heaven-Human Embodint, made it obvious.
But more than that, the atmosphere he gave off felt fundantally different.
From what I could see, No Cheonmyeong would reach Boundless Profound Deity before long.
Not imdiately—but the fact that I knew he would was what mattered.
“Shim Munryong.”
“What?”
“You’ve done well.”
“...What the hell, why’re you talking like that all of a sudden?”
“And when you have ti, go to Senior No and ask for his guidance.”
Shim Munryong’s eyes widened.
“...Wait. You’re saying I was right?”
I nodded. He let out a disbelieving snort.
Then he walked over to No Cheonmyeong and started asking him sothing. No Cheonmyeong laughed and patted his shoulder.
Then Shim Munryong made a deep cupped-fist salute and sent a voice transmission.
—Hey, I’m heading out. You can handle the cleanup, right?
I nodded.
—If you need anything, call again. It was annoying at first, but when else am I gonna get to kill Blood Sect bastards like this?
Leaving those words behind, Shim Munryong exited the collapsed gorge.
This ti, No Cheonmyeong approached .
“You’ve done well, Senior No.”
“‘Done well’ my ass. I’ve been resting for fifty years—this barely qualifies as a warm-up.”
“Still, you took the field personally, and that made things much easier.”
Hyeol Unam hadn’t been wrong.
Who would dare hold the Main Blood Sect accountable?
Doing so would be suicide. The Main Blood Sect is that kind of group.
No—
It’s known as that kind of group.
“You brat. I figured you weren’t ordinary, but I didn’t think you’d really cross the Main Blood Sect. Can you handle this?”
I gave a small smile.
“I haven’t crossed them yet.”
“...You killed the Lord of the Fifth Blood Command Division, three Blood n, and even the disciple of that Cheonsa Eum guy—and you’re saying you haven’t crossed them?”
“Senior.”
“Speak.”
“Even the tallest mountain ranges have cracks, and even the strongest fortress walls have gaps.”
No Cheonmyeong’s eyes widened at my calm voice.
I continued, unhurried.
“Even if the Main Blood Sect moves the world, in the end, it’s still just an ‘organization’ made up of people. And where there are people, there are conflicts—and where there are conflicts, cracks will naturally form.”
No Cheonmyeong’s eyes lit with curiosity.
“You’re saying you’ve already seen through their internal structure?”
“Just as stones on a Go board are divided into black and white, the Main Blood Sect is ho to factions with different ideals and ambitions. Even within the Blood Command Division, there are ten separate branches. It’s impossible for all ten lords to be of one mind. You asked if I’ve seen through them? Yes, I have. Not only the visible aspects—but the ones they’ve kept hidden until now.”
I began walking slowly, and No Cheonmyeong followed beside .
“What’s /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ most dangerous in the martial world is not the enemy’s strength—but one’s own ignorance of the enemy. Those who think the Main Blood Sect is untouchable simply haven’t seen its true nature.”
No Cheonmyeong narrowed his eyes, genuinely intrigued.
“Then tell —what is their true nature, as you see it?”
“A structure with a steel exterior, but a corroded interior. Their long history and traditions are their pride—but that’s also their weakness. Those who reject change inevitably fall behind the tis.”
“...Rejection of change, huh...”
“All forces in the world stand on a single thread. And what pulls that thread... is the human heart. Even the Main Blood Sect is no exception. If one knows the string of intent that sustains them—knows how to move it—then even the mightiest mountain will begin to crumble from a single grain of sand.”
No Cheonmyeong wore an expression of awe.
I stopped in front of the poison user that Commander Seong had subdued.
“If you're worried about what cos next, you don’t have to be. The Main Blood Sect will reach out to instead.”
The fight was already over, and the collapsing terrain had begun to settle.
I hadn’t infused my voice with internal energy—but I still spoke loud enough for everyone to hear.
Commander Seong, Ju Soa, Wonyang, Han Murin—
They all looked at with noticeably more at-ease expressions.
I spoke to them.
“You’ve all done well.”
Leaving their nods behind , I crouched down.
The blood-covered poison user glared at with a vicious expression. He must have heard what I’d said—but he clearly didn’t agree.
I didn’t care.
What I cared about was sothing else.
“What’s your na?”
Ptuh!
The spit ca flying—but was instantly blocked by Commander Seong’s swiftly drawn sword.
Lifting my gaze slightly, I saw Seong’s face flushed red with fury.
“...This arrogant son of a bitch... you dare spit at our Young Master? You little—”
“Commander Seong.”
“...Yes, Young Master.”
“Didn’t you know this is how they are?”
“...I do.”
“Then what—are you going to lose your temper like this every ti?”
“...Co on now, I wasn’t really that angry...”
I chuckled.
“Han Murin.”
“Yes.”
“You haven’t forgotten the interrogation technique you told about, right?”
“Of course not. I read Records of Eternal Punishnt every night before bed.”
There’s no way she just reads it.
There are people she’ll have to kill soday—so she probably practices by imagining torturing them.
“There are things we need to hear from him.”
“Like what mission he was on, where he ca from, who he worked with—things like that?”
I nodded.
“Just give two hours. I’ll make sure he coughs it all up.”
“Commander Seong.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“Assist Han Murin.”
“Understood.”
Han Murin and Commander Seong began dragging the poison user into a corner.
I stood up.
“Senior No.”
“Hmm?”
“I know it’s a strange question to ask in a situation like this, but... what do you plan to do now?”
“? Who knows. I did miss the martial world a bit, but I’m not really eager to dive back in. I think I’ll just relax and teach our Paewoon.”
“I see.”
“Why? You got sothing else you wanna ask of ? Go ahead—if you ask , I’ll kill whoever it is.”
I shook my head.
“There will be people to kill, I’m sure. But not for a while.”
“Really?”
“Yes. However... there is sothing I’ve been thinking about.”
“What’s that?”
It really was still just a thought.
“I’m considering establishing a school.”
At that, not just No Cheonmyeong, but also Wonyang and Ju Soa widened their eyes.
“...A school? Like, the kind I’m thinking of?”
“Yes.”
“...A school, huh... hoh... hoh... You bastard... don’t tell ...”
No Cheonmyeong clearly wasn’t a fool.
“You’re planning to gather talented individuals... and lay the groundwork for the future?”
“Yes.”
“...And now that you’ve absorbed Jeogan, Bongrae, and Saryang, if you train promising successors from those regions... they’ll beco a source of power for Everlasting Snow Palace... and governance will beco easier.”
“Exactly.”
“So... you’re thinking of giving the role of headmaster?”
“Yes.”
“...Well damn. So you’re telling to guard Yangryeong.”
“You don’t have to do anything. Just be here.”
I smiled faintly.
“Who would dare touch a city with a Heaven-Human Embodint master guarding it?”
I didn’t want to repeat what had happened before. Given how things were progressing, I’d have to leave Yangryeong more than once in the future. And using substitution techniques each ti would eventually get ssy. The longer the trail, the more likely soone would catch on.
But if a Heaven-Human Embodint master permanently resided here, then no one would dare touch the city—unless they were completely set on annihilating it.
And anyone with that kind of resolve... would be a threat even if I were here.
No Cheonmyeong let out a half-laugh.
“...I’ve thought this before—but you live life even more intensely than our Paewoon.”
I smiled.
“And if you accept, I plan to hire your disciple, Paewoon, as well. His position will be instructor—or perhaps professor.”
No Cheonmyeong scratched his head.
“That’s all fine, but... do I even have anything to teach?”
“You have plenty. You can pass down how you trained without stopping for fifty years, how to manage internal energy, basic breathing thods, the logic behind the Four Seasons and Five Elents... even astronomy and geography. There’s a lot you can teach.”
No Cheonmyeong seed to seriously consider it.
So I sealed it with the final wedge.
“You don’t have to go into seclusion from the martial world. Staying involved—while remaining separate—that’s the best way forward for you, I believe.”
“...Hmm...”
“When you fought Hyeol Unam, it looked like you still had affection for the martial world... didn’t it?”
“Tch. You know this already, but... the martial world isn’t sothing you can leave behind just because you want to.”
“I agree completely. So don’t worry. I’ll make sure your salary is generous.”
No Cheonmyeong laughed dryly.
“You brat. You think I’m doing this for so salary?”
“Weren’t you?”
“Of course not.”
With that, No Cheonmyeong flicked my forehead.
“Alright then, Headmaster.”
“That’s a relief. We can discuss what you’ll be teaching once this is all over.”
“Sure.”
Before long, Commander Seong and Han Murin returned, dragging the half-crippled poison user with them. Their expressions weren’t great. Covered in blood, Han Murin spoke curtly.
“He told us everything.”
I nodded.
“Senior.”
“Yeah?”
“You can go now.”
No Cheonmyeong gave a strange look—then smiled.
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