It was a dark room. In the sealed room without windows, not a single point of light could be found. Only thick blackness was spread out.

“Phew…”

From within the darkness where not even an inch ahead was visible, a deep breath flowed out. Along with the rustling sound, the dragging of cloth could be heard.

Footsteps followed, and soon after, the dense darkness was pierced, and a ray of light flooded the room.

Amid the commotion, the man who entered swept his gaze across the room.

“Young Cult Leader, if you go in there…!”

Urgent voices of the guard martial artists burst out from behind him. However, Hyuk Dojin casually closed the door and spoke in a low voice.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, Father.”

Hyuk Dojin’s voice was directed at the man sitting askew in the darkness – the Cult Leader, Hyuk Muhyeol.

“Were you startled by my sudden visit?”

“Hmm…”

At Hyuk Dojin’s words, Hyuk Muhyeol let out a deep groan and stroked his chin. Hyuk Dojin quietly observed his father before taking a step forward. Hyuk Muhyeol’s eyes, which had been facing downward, directly met his son’s gaze.

Their lines of sight clashed in midair.

The two exuded such a fierce aura that they hardly seemed like father and son. If someone else saw them, they would believe they were bitter enemies, not family. Despite Hyuk Muhyeol’s being the Cult Leader, Hyuk Dojin didn’t bow his head. Instead, he lifted his chin and stared squarely at Hyuk Muhyeol.

Hyuk Muhyeol met his son’s gaze and, after maintaining his silence, opened his mouth.

“What brings you here in the middle of the night?”

“Does a son need a reason to see his father?”

“At least for you, he does.”

Hyuk Dojin let out a derisive snort at Hyuk Muhyeol’s coldly dismissive tone. Hyuk Dojin’s usually gentle and soft demeanor was nowhere to be found.

He stared at his father with chillingly cold eyes, as if he were a stranger.

Hyuk Dojin closed his mouth tightly and lowered his gaze from Hyuk Muhyeol, whom he had been silently observing.

“I have something to ask.”

“How rare. For you to have something to ask me.”

So?

Hyuk Muhyeol leisurely opened his mouth, with his arm resting on the armrest and his chin propped up.

“What did you want to ask?”

Hyuk Muhyeol regarded his son, whose appearance he hadn’t seen in a long time, with an intrigued look. He was the person who knew Hyuk Dojin best.

Many who knew Hyuk Dojin considered him a gentle and calm man. For this reason, he often faced criticism that he was unsuitable to be the Young Cult Leader of the Demon Cult.

They thought that the life of a Cult Leader required being constantly cold and walking the path of cruelty, so Hyuk Dojin’s peaceful demeanor was unsuitable.

However, the Hyuk Dojin that Hyuk Muhyeol had observed over a long period was never truly calm and gentle. He had simply learned to control his boiling fighting spirit long ago.

Hyuk Dojin met his father’s observant gaze and spoke briefly.

“A very long time ago, after Mother passed away, you told me that her illness could have been cured.”

“…”

“But you neglected Mother’s illness, and in the end, chose her death.”

Hyuk Muhyeol shifted his body uncomfortably, letting out a low groan, as if the topic made him uneasy.

Discussions related to Geum Soso were equally uncomfortable for both Hyuk Muhyeol and Hyuk Dojin, father and son. It was not an easy subject to bring up.

“So?”

A curt voice followed curtly. Sitting askew in his chair, Hyuk Muhyeol opened his mouth again.

“Are you only now going to ask this father for his sins… or something like that?”

The aura emanating from his body was subtle yet overbearing. It was an overwhelming force that could crush anything in front of him.

Others would have retreated in terror, but it had no effect on Hyuk Dojin.

“No, it’s not that.”

“Then?”

At his questioning voice, Hyuk Dojin hesitated briefly before calmly continuing.

“I want to ask about that method.”

“Method?”

“Yes, the method that could have cured Mother’s illness. I’m curious about what that method was.”

Hyuk Muhyeol stared intently at his son. Since Geum Soso’s death, Hyuk Dojin had restrained himself, never revealing his true nature.

For Hyuk Dojin, Geum Soso was both a sacrificial victim and the one who had preserved his position. Hyuk Muhyeol studied his son, who hated him, even loathed him, and asked as if unable to understand.

“What reason could you possibly have to be curious about that now? It’s all in the past. You know there’s no point in dredging it up…”

Hyuk Muhyeol trailed off as he observed him, then let out a small ‘ah’ and chuckled.

“It’s because of that woman from the Righteous Sect.”

“…”

“I’ve heard her physical condition isn’t very good…”

Hyuk Muhyeol lifted the corners of his lips and raised his chin.

“Did you come to meet this despicable father you can’t stand looking at, in order to save that woman?”

Although Hyuk Muhyeol and Hyuk Dojin were father and son, their relationship was worse than strangers. Hyuk Dojin blamed Hyuk Muhyeol for bearing the greatest responsibility for Geum Soso’s death.

He knew that Hyuk Muhyeol was aware of a way to save Geum Soso but didn’t do so, and Hyuk Dojin loathed the heartless Hyuk Muhyeol.

Because of this, except for official occasions, Hyuk Dojin never visited or spoke to him.

But for him to come here and speak with Hyuk Muhyeol, suppressing his own temperament, was highly unusual.

The woman who had brought the proud and heavy-hearted Hyuk Dojin here…

“You’re acting like it’s nothing, but it seems she’s quite taken your fancy. What was her name again? Sowol, was it? Why…”

His voice trailed off. Hyuk Muhyeol rose from his seat and slowly approached his son. Stopping three steps away, he faced Hyuk Dojin and voiced the words he had left hanging.

“…Did you find a resemblance to your mother in that woman?”

At that moment, a thick killing intent exploded from Hyuk Dojin’s body. Simultaneously, more than ten figures revealed themselves from the darkness, drawing their swords and aiming them at Hyuk Dojin’s neck.

However, Hyuk Dojin showed no interest in them, only glaring intently at Hyuk Muhyeol, who stood before him with a calm expression.

“You’d do well to watch your words.”

Hyuk Muhyeol regarded his son with a relaxed expression. The others standing beside him had pale faces as they endured the killing intent, but it seemed to have no effect on Hyuk Muhyeol.

Recalling the conversation he had just had with Moyong Sowol, Hyuk Dojin unleashed the rage boiling within him as it was.

“I still don’t wish to commit the sin of beheading my father. So…”

Hyuk Dojin narrowed his eyes, picturing Moyong Sowol’s face.

“You’d do well to watch your words.”

Hyuk Muhyeol thought that his son, unable to conceal his anger, was being genuine.

What had allowed Hyuk Dojin to become so strong wasn’t only the talent flowing in the blood of the Hyuk clan, but more importantly, his rage and determination.

Although Hyuk Dojin would deny it, Geum Soso’s death had played a significant role in bringing him to his current position. Even Hyuk Muhyeol, who had displayed overwhelming prowess compared to previous Cult Leaders when he was Hyuk Dojin’s age, hadn’t been able to break through the wall and enter the realm of the ultimate demonic arts.

Hyuk Dojin was the Demon Cult’s greatest talent and simultaneously an uncontrolled weapon.

‘Tsk…’

The long-cherished wish of the demonic cultivators was the unification of the central plains, the demonic dominion over the world. Throughout its long history, the Demon Cult had repeatedly attempted to swallow the central plains, but it couldn’t overcome the united force of the orthodox sects.

Just as they had thought the Demon Cult would never surpass that wall, Hyuk Dojin’s emergence was enough to make them reconsider.

All the demonic cultivators rejoiced at the birth of Hyuk Dojin, who had inherited the greatest talent among the bloodlines of the previous Cult Leaders. However, the cult elders and leaders couldn’t truly celebrate.

But an uncontrolled Cult Leader wasn’t needed.

Hyuk Muhyeol let out a sigh and raised his hand. At his gesture, those who had raised their swords took a step back. Hyuk Muhyeol lowered his gaze, deep in thought for a moment, before looking up at Hyuk Dojin and speaking.

“You’re still clinging to the past, my son.”

“Isn’t it you, Father, who abandoned the past too easily?”

At his sharply cutting words, Hyuk Muhyeol gave a wry smile and turned his body away. He returned to his seat and slowly sat down, clearing his throat.

“You said you were curious about the cure, didn’t you? If you want, I’ll tell you.”

Hyuk Dojin’s fists clenched. For someone who hadn’t expected Hyuk Muhyeol to readily answer, this was a welcome development.

However, Hyuk Muhyeol wasn’t one to be so accommodating.

“But there’s a condition.”

“Condition…?”

Hyuk Dojin muttered with a sullen expression, and Hyuk Muhyeol cleared his throat.

“Show that child to me directly. Then I’ll tell you.”

Hyuk Muhyeol’s voice settled softly on Hyuk Dojin, whose expression had hardened as he looked at him.

“Not immediately after the wedding ceremony, though. Show her to me whenever you wish, and then I’ll tell you the answer.”

“Are you playing games with me now…!”

“Hyuk Dojin.”

Hyuk Muhyeol’s aura and voice dropped down over Hyuk Dojin’s outburst of anger. Even Hyuk Dojin, who had grown immensely stronger, to the point of being unrecognizable from before, couldn’t withstand Hyuk Muhyeol, who had broken through the wall decades ago and sat at the top of the Demon Cult.

The way he handled inner energy, its depth, and its quantity were all different.

Hyuk Dojin urgently drew upon the energy of his demonic counter-force to block Hyuk Muhyeol’s aura, but even that had its limits.

From the tightly clenched lips of Hyuk Dojin, a small trickle of blood flowed, evidence that his insides had been contorted.

Yet despite the considerable pain he must have felt, Hyuk Dojin didn’t let out a single groan.

Instead, as if refusing to yield, he forcefully raised his inner energy to the extreme, causing a faint wind to begin blowing between the two of them.

In contrast to Hyuk Dojin, who gritted his teeth and barely endured, Hyuk Muhyeol observed him with a very relaxed expression. He didn’t expect Hyuk Dojin to easily crumble under the sudden pressure, but his tenacious spirit that persisted until the end was simply admirable.

As if he would die but never give up, as Hyuk Dojin exerted his strength to the very last, Hyuk Muhyeol let out a small sigh.

Hyuk Muhyeol gradually allowed the inner energy he had raised to settle and opened his mouth.

“If you want to save that child, bring her to me directly. Otherwise, you won’t hear a single answer from me.”

“Kugh…”

Wiping the blood from the corners of his mouth, Hyuk Dojin furrowed his brow. After glaring at Hyuk Muhyeol, who regarded him with indifferent eyes, Hyuk Dojin turned his body away. Realizing there was no point in saying anything further, he left the room without hesitation.

Hyuk Dojin soothed the inner energy still churning within him and wiped the bloodstain from his lips with the back of his hand. He narrowed his eyes as he examined the bloodstain on his hand.

He had thought he had grown stronger. He had certainly thought he was getting closer. He had believed that now, he could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Hyuk Muhyeol to some extent.

But Hyuk Muhyeol still stood like an insurmountable wall before him.

‘How long must I…’

Hyuk Dojin returned to the pavilion and looked down at the back of his hand once more in front of his room’s door. The bloodstain was still vivid.

The vivid red overlapped with the image of Sowol bleeding.

Hyuk Dojin bit his lip and slowly opened the door. Inside the dark room, a soft, regular breathing sound could be heard.

Careful not to wake Moyong Sowol, Hyuk Dojin minimized his movements and soundlessly approached before kneeling down in front of her.

Moyong Sowol was savoring the quiet night with a fairy-like face. Hyuk Dojin’s head slowly lowered.

‘Six months…’

He knew she was ill. He also knew she was hiding something very important from him. But this was the first he had heard that she only had six months left.

Hyuk Dojin let out a derisive snort.

“To keep such an important matter hidden until the very end… You truly aren’t a good wife, it seems.”

Having once lost something precious from his grasp, he knew all too well the price one had to pay for giving up.

Hyuk Dojin gazed intently at the sleeping face of Moyong Sowol and muttered softly.

“Do you think I’ll give up? Even if I have to retrieve you from the depths of death, I will.”

Even if I have to risk my life, without fail.

He quietly closed his eyes.