Fortunately, Dokwang's answer to my request was approval.

It wasn’t a material demand, just a request to see the famous lake belonging to their clan, so there wasn’t much reason for him to refuse.

Though his expression was puzzled as to why I made such a request, he ultimately granted permission.

However, since the lake was considered one of the Tang Clan's treasures and made entirely of poisonous water, he added that he’d assign someone to accompany me for safety.

‘Safety, my ass. It’s just surveillance.’

I had anticipated this.

Having someone to watch over me was going to be a bit annoying, but I had already factored that in.

Creak.

As I approached, Tang Deok, who had been sitting against the wall, stood up. It was due to my order to stay put and not cause any trouble.

“Sit back down.”

“...”

Without a word, Tang Deok slowly sank back against the wall.

“No strange activity?”

"-None."

“Did you see any monsters?”

“-No monsters.”

Hearing his short responses, I exhaled through my nose.

The monsters that had swarmed during the day were nowhere to be seen at night.

‘It seems that was a unique situation earlier.’

But why had such an event occurred?

I still hadn’t figured that part out.

If I had to speculate...

‘It must have been because of that red-class monster.’

The Jeoksusa that had been in the water. That thing was likely the cause.

“Hmmm…”

Nothing ever seems to go smoothly when I try to do something.

It’s damn annoying.

Suppressing my irritation, I glanced at Tang Deok. His eyes still burned with fury.

Even after becoming my slave through demonification, his fiery temper hadn’t died down.

Of course, it could be that since he was a Hwagyeong martial artist, the demonification hadn’t fully taken hold.

I remembered that when Tang Deok had once been the Green King, he was completely under Cheonma’s control.

Looking at him, I smirked.

“You seem really bitter about all this.”

“…”

“You should’ve just lived a decent life.”

Grind.

Hearing my words, Tang Deok ground his teeth and his hostility flared, but the control I had over his body immediately suppressed him.

“Urgh…”

The pain in his chest was intense, and he let out a groan.

As I watched, I thought to myself.

‘In the end, he won’t choose death.’

Even after all the torment he was going through, Tang Deok wasn’t choosing to end his own life.

Was it because he still harbored the desire for revenge?

Or maybe it was because he feared death.

Either way, it wasn’t a bad outcome for me. If he had chosen death, I would have let him go.

By that, I mean I would have let him die.

Tang Deok was certainly a useful asset for the future, but if he had wanted to die, I wouldn’t have stopped him.

But now it seemed clear—he wasn’t going to die so easily.

He was probably biding his time, waiting for the moment he could escape from my control.

In that sense, he had an impressive amount of willpower.

‘Tang Deok is one thing, but I have another task to deal with before reaching the Tang Clan.’

I still had to take care of the eyes and ears Tang Deok had planted within the Tang Clan.

As I was thinking about how to handle it, a good idea crossed my mind.

A perfect plan had come to me.

 
   ******************
   

It had been four days since we began crossing the river. Originally, we should have arrived within two days, but due to the incident with the monster and the need to take detours for safe transport, it had taken longer than expected.

If not for that, we would have arrived at the Tang Clan long ago, with plenty of time to spare.

Once we reached land, we boarded the carriages that the Tang Clan had prepared in advance.

From here on, there were no personal carriages from the families, so both the Tang Clan and the Pae family provided transportation.

Now that we had arrived safely in Sichuan, within the Tang Clan’s territory, the size of the carriages had notably increased.

This likely meant we were in a safe zone. It wasn’t a bad thing.

"Do you think we’ll arrive in about five more days?" Moyong Hee-ah, sitting in the same carriage, asked as she lightly fanned herself.

"Probably around that. If we’re lucky, maybe in three days."

“…You seem pretty familiar with this.”

“It’s just a sense.”

Leaning back in my seat, I closed my eyes.

Thanks to wandering around so much in my previous life, I had a general sense of the geography. At this distance, we didn’t have long left.

If we pushed harder, we might arrive earlier, but knowing Dokwang’s character, even if there was an urgent matter, he’d prefer things handled properly.

Since we were using extra time that wasn’t part of the original plan, I wasn’t in any particular rush either.

‘...Though to be honest, time is a bit tight. But what can I do?’

I had to at least pretend to be relaxed.

I was about to rest, with my eyes closed, when I heard Moyong Hee-ah’s voice again.

“Gongja-nim.”

“Hmm?”

“What do you think will happen next?”

“Hmm…”

At that, I opened one eye and glanced at Moyong Hee-ah.

From time to time, she would ask me questions like this.

The reason? If she asked anyone else, the response would be:

“…I don’t know.”

"Well, I’m not sure?"

"I really have no idea!"

It was obvious that others would give such answers, and even though Cheol Ji-seon was smart enough to have a proper conversation with her, it seemed like Moyong Hee-ah was deliberately keeping her distance from him.

When I asked her why she kept such a distance from him, she had responded rather coldly.

• "I just don’t like people who are pathetic."

"…"

That statement was so harsh, even I felt hurt by it.

Cheol Ji-seon wasn’t around when she said it, but I still felt guilty, so I later gave him some sweets as a token of apology.

When I handed him the sweets, he made a disgusted face and said:

• "Why...? Are you planning to throw me into danger again!?"

And then he ran away.

After all that trouble, this ungrateful bastard…

‘I’ll have to tell Paeh Woo-cheol to discipline him a bit more.’

I hadn’t been tormenting him lately, so it seemed he was getting too comfortable. It was time to put him back in his place.

What? Isn’t he my friend?

Friends are supposed to fight now and then.

‘Even if I’m the only one doing the hitting.’

But setting that aside for now, Moyong Hee-ah often ended up turning to me for conversations like this because there was no one else around who fit the role.

Of course…

‘…That doesn’t mean these conversations are easy for me.’

Moyong Hee-ah is an intelligent woman. Maybe not on the level of Cheon Yurang from the Demonic Cult, but she was recognized for her talents in this area.

Engaging in conversations with someone like her could be taxing for me.

‘Without the experience from my previous life, I wouldn’t even be able to hold these discussions.’

I don’t think of myself as uneducated, but when it comes to intellectual discussions, my brain isn’t the sharpest tool.

Still, I didn’t refuse or avoid these talks. The reason?

‘She looks so excited when she talks about these things.’

Whenever Moyong Hee-ah brought up topics like this, she would look unusually excited, and that was the problem.

“What about the future?”

“Yes.”

“…What specifically?”

“The appearance of the red-class monster. What do you think will happen next?”

Moyong Hee-ah spoke with an intrigued look in her eyes.

The appearance of the red-class monster had certainly stirred things up, and Dokwang had already sent word to the Murim Alliance about it.

“Hmm…”

What will happen now?

“Chaos, probably.”

That’s the obvious outcome.

Hunting a red-class monster is far more complicated than hunting a blue-class one.

To deal with one, you’d need at least a seasoned peak martial artist to match it in both speed and strength.

While a group of highly skilled first-rate martial artists could take one down if they worked together, that was only possible for those extensively trained in monster hunting.

Normally, it required multiple peak martial artists.

‘And that’s where the problem lies.’

People often call anyone at the peak level a master, and while there are many, they aren’t exactly common.

In most regions, just the appearance of a peak martial artist would attract a crowd of spectators from miles away.

To hunt a red-class monster, you need several of them working together? It will definitely disrupt the current hunting methods.

It’s akin to restructuring a battalion.

As the need for high-level martial artists increases, their value will rise. The system that’s been in place for centuries will face a shift.

"Turmoil will come."

In other words, upheaval.

From what I’ve seen in my past life, I can predict that significant incidents are about to unfold.

Hearing my answer, Moyong Hee-ah nodded slightly.

“…So, you think the same, Gongja-nim.”

“…Uh, yeah.”

It’s more that I know it, rather than predicting it, but… sure, let’s go with that.

“You’ll be busy too, won’t you?”

“Me?”

“You’ve probably already sent word to the Moyong Family.”

“…”

Moyong Hee-ah’s eyes widened for a moment, but then she quickly smiled.

Her eyes were still as captivating as ever.

“How did you know?”

“There’s nothing to know. It’s just obvious.”

This was a given.

People seek profit.

It didn’t matter if they were merchants or martial artists. Everyone is like that.

Even when a crisis like the appearance of a red-class monster arises, there are always those looking for ways to profit from it.

Those at the top, especially, would be the first to seek advantage.

‘Just look at Dokwang.’

Dokwang sent word to the Murim Alliance about the monster, but will it arrive quickly?

Probably not. Dokwang wouldn’t want the world to descend into chaos.

However…

‘He’ll still inform his own family first.’

This is valuable information.

The appearance of a red-class monster is monumental. To be the first to discover and act on this information would carry tremendous value.

Even if things get chaotic, they’ll be the first to respond and benefit from it.

Would Dokwang be the only one doing this?

Obviously, both Moyong Hee-ah and the Pae family are likely doing the same.

I don’t think it’s wrong. That’s just how people are.

As I was mulling over these thoughts, something suddenly came to mind.

‘Ah, I should have sent a message too.’

I knew everyone would be doing it, but I forgot to send one myself.

It’s too late now… What should I do?

Father probably won’t be too mad, but…

“Hmm…”

Just as I was frowning at the thought, Moyong Hee-ah brought up the very subject.

“It seems like you didn’t send any message, Gongja-nim. Am I right?”

“…How did you know?”

“I just… had a feeling.”

“…”

I shot Moyong Hee-ah a side-eye. A feeling? Really?

She could at least lie more convincingly. How did she know I didn’t send a message? She really is a scary woman.

As I stared at her incredulously, Moyong Hee-ah smiled and continued.

“So I sent it for you.”

“What? What do you mean?”

“I sent a message to your mother—Madam Mi—under my name. Is that alright? It seemed like the quickest way.”

“What?”

What the hell is she talking about?

…She sent the message?

“Last time, Madam Mi—no, your mother—mentioned…”

“Hey, what did you just call her?”

“She mentioned to let her know if anything happened to you, so I used that connection to send the message.”

“What did you call her?”

Even though something felt off, Moyong Hee-ah kept talking, ignoring my repeated question.

There was no point in pressing further, so I sighed and leaned back into the chair, closing my eyes again.

No matter the situation, it was helpful, so I couldn’t complain too much.

Moyong Hee-ah wouldn’t have written anything strange in the message.

“…”

“…”

Suddenly, I sat up and looked at her.

“…You didn’t add anything weird to the letter, did you?”

At my sudden question, Moyong Hee-ah flinched slightly.

What was that reaction? Why is she making me nervous?

“You…”

“Oh my, Gongja-nim, you seem sleepy. You should rest now.”

“No, that’s not the point…”

“The chair must be uncomfortable, right? Would you like to rest on my lap instead?”

“…”

Hohoho.

As Moyong Hee-ah covered her mouth with her fan and laughed, a chill ran down my spine.

…She didn’t do anything weird, right?

I could only hope for the best.

   ******************
   

A soft rustling could be heard as a bird flapped its wings in the sky.

The bird, gracefully gliding downward, approached a young man standing quietly, basking in the sunlight.

As the man extended his hand, the bird landed gently atop it. The young man, with an air of familiarity, untied the small piece of paper attached to the bird’s leg.

Charrak.

Unfolding the neatly folded message, the young man began to read the brief note. It contained no more than six or seven lines, but the contents were enough to surprise him.

After reading it through slowly, he let out a soft laugh.

“Haha.”

Without realizing it, the young man laughed aloud. His eyes, now crescent-shaped with amusement, hid the cool, sharp glow of his crimson irises.

“The flow has indeed shifted.”

The Blood Demon smiled in satisfaction.

How could he not be pleased when the long-awaited fracture had finally appeared?

What could have caused such a shift? As he mused over the events, the face of a certain young man flickered in his mind.

There was only one person who came to mind, and that person was no longer merely human.

Ah, perhaps calling him human was no longer appropriate.

Cluck…

Letting out a soft chuckle at the trivial thought, the Blood Demon smiled.

“Is it thanks to you? Or is it your fault?”

Is it a blessing? Or is it a curse?

The Blood Demon didn’t particularly care which it was.

“I have high hopes for you.”

He hoped that person would stir things up even more. He wanted him to grow stronger and larger, so much so that the gaze of the heavens would eventually fall upon him.

The Blood Demon fervently wished for this outcome.

For only then…

“My apologies for keeping you waiting.”

A presence approached, causing the Blood Demon to fold the letter and slip it into his robe. Straightening his clothing, he turned around.

When he turned, the red tint in his eyes had vanished, replaced by dark, normal-looking irises.

“It is an honor to meet you.”

“…”

At the Blood Demon’s words, the elderly man approaching him displayed a slight wariness.

“I’d like to hear the main reason you’ve sought me out, Shinseong.”

The elder, or rather, the Wudang Sword Saint, one of the great swordmasters representing the martial world, addressed Jang Seon-yeon, who stood before him.

In response, Jang Seon-yeon smiled gently.

“I have come to propose something that may interest the sect leader.”

“To me, from you?”

Hearing this, the Wudang Sword Saint let out a chuckle.

Jang Seon-yeon’s father, Nakgeom, had stepped down from his position as leader of the Martial Alliance. While once he had burned brightly as a rising star, his influence had begun to wane.

And now, the son of Nakgeom claimed to have something to propose to him? The Wudang Sword Saint wasn’t particularly intrigued.

Especially with the recent issues surrounding the Sleeping Dragons, his head was already filled with enough troubles.

“Forgive me, but…”

He was about to dismiss this conversation as a waste of time and leave when—

“I’ve heard you desire the position of Alliance Leader.”

“…”

At Jang Seon-yeon’s words, the Wudang Sword Saint halted his steps.

Seeing the reaction, Jang Seon-yeon’s smile deepened, and he continued.

“I believe I can assist you in that endeavor. Would you care to hear me out?”

The Wudang Sword Saint’s eyes flickered with uncertainty. How Jang Seon-yeon knew this didn’t matter much—it was a poorly kept secret that he aspired to the leader's position.

“Shinseong… Are you mocking an old man?”

There was a hint of anger in the Wudang Sword Saint’s voice.

Jang Seon-yeon, barely more than a young man, even the son of Nakgeom, was now offering him such a proposal? It was difficult to fathom.

Despite the Wudang Sword Saint’s irritation, Jang Seon-yeon remained unfazed, his smile never wavering.

“At least hear me out first. After that, if you still feel I’ve wasted your time, you may deal with me as you see fit.”

“…”

The Wudang Sword Saint studied Jang Seon-yeon for a moment. What should he do?

The decision didn’t take long.

After all, just listening wouldn’t cost him anything.

Moreover, if it turned out to be a waste of time, as Jang Seon-yeon suggested, he could simply make him pay for it afterward.

With that in mind, the Wudang Sword Saint retraced his steps, signaling his decision to stay.

A fleeting glimmer of red flashed in Jang Seon-yeon’s eyes, but the Wudang Sword Saint didn’t notice.