Gu Jeol-yeop isn't joining us for the trip to Sichuan.

Hearing about it brought a thought to mind.

"This is probably…"

Just like I’d guessed before, it must be because of issues with the Gu Sun Moon.

"Could it be a problem with Muyeon?"

The first sword master and others from Gu Sun Moon had already decided to back Muyeon.

So it made sense that Gu Jeol-yeop chose to return to the main family upon hearing that.

Understanding my thoughts, Elder Il sighed softly and said,

"It’s what he wanted. The head of the family also agreed."

"I see."

My father probably wouldn’t care about Gu Jeol-yeop's choice, but it was a bit disappointing for me.

"If he’s really going back to the main family…"

I wondered if that was truly the right choice for him.

Even though following me wouldn’t necessarily be a better option, something about it didn’t sit well with me.

"Just leaves a bitter taste, that’s all."

That lingering unease and his sullen expression kept bothering me.

I glanced away from Gu Jeol-yeop's face.

"If that’s your choice, I won’t interfere."

For now, if Gu Jeol-yeop decided it was best to return to Gu Sun Moon, I wouldn’t argue. If he’d come to me and asked what he should do, I might’ve given him a different answer.

But he hadn’t.

He probably believed that leaving was the right decision.

Seeing him, a faint feeling of concern bubbled up.

In the future, I hoped he wouldn’t look back on this decision with regret.

 

After bidding my farewells, I climbed into the carriage.

I was riding in one of the Gu family carriages, with no servants accompanying me.

The Tang family prioritized secure transportation, so having too many people would’ve been a hindrance.

The Pa family had agreed with the Tang family to focus on providing security.

"Aside from that…"

I glanced toward the Pa family's carriage.

Cheol Ji-seon was probably sitting there with Pa Woo-cheol.

I needed to know more about him, too.

"The detour to the Tang family has delayed us a bit."

Changing our route to ensure safe transportation to Sichuan had created some issues that needed addressing.

Still so many things to consider.

No matter how much I organized, there were always more issues to handle.

My headache, which had been calming down lately, seemed to return.

As I let out a weary sigh, I felt a cold touch on my forehead.

It was Namgung Bia.

I opened my eyes slightly to meet her worried blue gaze.

She asked softly,

"Are you… okay?"

What was she asking about?

I smiled slightly and responded,

"I'm fine. Nothing to worry about."

"..."

"I probably smell, so you should keep your distance."

I hadn’t had a chance to wash properly, and I boarded the carriage in a mess.

I considered walking outside, but both Wi Seol-ah and Namgung Bia insisted I stay in.

I really could’ve just walked.

Anyway, as I gently pushed Namgung Bia away to warn her not to touch my unkempt self, she pulled me down into her lap.

A soft sensation followed, and I realized it was her knee.

Just as I was about to sit up,

"You're tired… It's okay to rest…"

Hearing her gentle voice, I relaxed against her.

"How did she know I was tired?"

I’d adjusted my energy so my exhaustion wouldn’t show.

I kept my breathing steady.

Maybe it was my ragged appearance that gave me away. Namgung Bia seemed to notice.

"…Troublesome."

Laying my head on her knee, I felt comforted.

Then came a sense of waste.

Time felt precious.

Time spent sleeping felt like a waste. I had other things to focus on.

Should I really be sleeping now?

"Now that I think of it, what about Moyong Heea…"

Recently, there hadn’t been any updates from Moyong Heea, but she’d sent a letter saying she’d join the trip to Sichuan later.

She’d said she’d catch up with us within a few days.

As I recalled this, a strange thought occurred to me.

"Lucky…?"

Why did I feel relieved that Moyong Heea was joining us for the trip?

Maybe I wasn’t thinking straight due to exhaustion.

"…I should focus on what’s waiting in Sichuan."

I forced myself to clear my mind.

There were many reasons I chose Sichuan.

Beyond matters like Baek Ma-seok or the Yeon family, there was something else I was focused on.

"Just as I thought, he’s there."

I’d thought a lot about building a force to prevent the bloodshed that would come in the future.

One of the people I had in mind was based in Sichuan.

He was expected to make a name for himself in a year or two, but I planned to reach him sooner.

"If my information from the previous life is accurate, it won’t be hard to find him."

Based on what I remembered, he was hiding somewhere on the tallest mountain in Sichuan.

Establishing my force started with him.

In my previous life, he was a demonic being, one of those I’d feel no remorse about corrupting in this life.

As I recalled his face,

I felt a gentle hand caressing my hair.

Was it Namgung Bia?

Or Wi Seol-ah beside her?

I wasn’t sure.

All I knew was that this soft touch brought a surprising calm to my weary mind.

Though I thought of getting up,

My exhausted body wouldn’t allow it. Finally, I decided to give in and rest.

Just for a moment.

 

Gui Moon Mountain (鬼文山) of Sichuan.

It’s one of the towering mountains, the largest in Sichuan.

With its massive size, eerie atmosphere, and the cold air surrounding it, people called it a haunted mountain.

Stories about the mountain were equally terrifying.

They said if you walked up Tai Mountain at night, you’d encounter ghosts.

Those who visited alone never returned alive.

Gui Moon Mountain was famous for such grim rumors.

Aside from that, other ridiculous stories surrounded the mountain.

One thing people didn’t know was that Gui Moon Mountain had no ghosts.

Ghosts might exist, but stories of them haunting Gui Moon Mountain were just rumors spread by those who had claimed the mountain as their territory.

The tales of people disappearing weren’t due to ghosts; it was human action.

It was all because of the people who had settled in the mountain, spreading stories to keep others away.

In the martial arts world, they were known as the Green Forest.

After the Ma Gyeong Moon rose and monsters started appearing across mountains and seas,

the number of Green Forest bandits dwindled.

Some said bandit blood had dried up entirely.

It wasn’t far from the truth. Reports of bandits were almost non-existent in Central Plains. As monster threats rose, organizations like the escort agencies bolstered their security, reducing the Green Forest’s reach.

In such times, those occupying Gui Moon Mountain were often called the ‘Last Green Forest.’

In a shabby cabin on the mountainside,

Thud-thud-thud.

Inside, bottles rolled around in a room so chaotic it was hard to see the floor.

With trash scattered everywhere and unfinished food covered in flies,

a few men, looking like they hadn’t bathed in days, were snoring loudly.

Unlike the tranquil forest outside, their snoring echoed across the mountain.

Suddenly, someone burst through the door.

Bang!

"Chief!"

A man with a scruffy beard kicked the door open and yelled.

Those snoring stirred and groaned.

"Ugh… my head…"

"Water…"

"Bleugh!"

"Argh! You bastard…! Don’t puke here!"

"Grab him!"

As chaos erupted, the man who shouted frantically looked around and asked,

"Where’s the Chief?"

"Who’s this? Oh, it’s the youngest."

"Hey, kid… fetch some water."

Despite his urgency, the others barely reacted, their voices rising above the alcohol stench filling the room.

The man continued asking for the Chief, but no one answered.

Finally, he snapped.

"You idiots! Where’s the Chief?"

At that, the room fell eerily silent.

The man flinched as everyone turned their eyes on him, and none of them looked pleased.

"This brat…"

"Did he lose his senses? Shouting at us like that?"

"Spit!"

Creaaak.

The men who had been lying around rose, revealing their imposing frames.

Their heads nearly touched the ceiling, and they carried an air of danger that made the man step back.

"Look, guys… it’s not that…"

"He needs some discipline."

"Shall we straighten him out?"

A thick hand reached toward him.

The man shut his eyes, bracing for pain.

But oddly enough, the pain didn’t come.

Confused, he peeked through his lashes and saw the others had pulled back, standing up straight.

He frowned, wondering why they stopped.

"So."

A voice from behind froze him.

He turned, struggling to face the towering figure behind him.

This man was even taller than the ones in the room, a mountain of muscle covered in scars.

His presence alone was terrifying, his sharp gaze sending a chill down the man’s spine.

The man managed to croak,

"C-Chief…"

The Chief grabbed him by the throat, lifting him off the ground.

Seeing a full-grown man hoisted in the air like that was an unsettling sight.

"What’s so important that you’d bother me this morning?"

"I-it’s… uh…"

"If your answer doesn’t please me, you’ll die. Understand?"

The murderous aura in his voice made the man tremble.

That smile, those words—they were terrifying.

The man managed to gasp out,

"Tang… Tang Moon…"

The Chief’s eyes widened slightly.

Then,

Thud!

He released him, and the man collapsed, gasping for air.

"Gasp… gasp…"

He could finally breathe, but just barely.

Before he could recover, the Chief crouched, getting face-to-face.

"What about Tang Moon? Speak."

With a frightening smile, the Chief stared him down.

This man, known as the Chief, was the leader of the last Green Forest stronghold on Gui Moon Mountain.

In time, he would join the Heavenly Demon’s ranks and become known as the Green King.