"Puhehe! Sister, can't you take off your mask just once? I bet your expression would be a masterpiece!"

"Shut up."

"It's the first time I’ve heard you talk like this, Sister."

"It’s the leader’s command."

"Isn’t there a little personal interest mixed in?"

"I told you to shut up."

Ilma growled, and Sama shrugged casually.

"The situation itself is amusing, but unfortunately, I’m not bold enough to overstep. You know that, don’t you, Sister? I’m not crazy enough to covet something that belongs to the leader. No matter how tempting, I know my boundaries."

"..."

"I’m here to recruit Number 29, the one who defeated Baek Seonsaeng. Sure, the Blood Demon Division is yours, but if you think about it, isn’t it also part of the Cheonji Palma as a whole?"

"Rubbish."

"Sister, just make a small concession. It’s not like I’m here to take your favorite pet, is it? Someone like Number 29 is overqualified for you anyway."

Sama tilted slightly as he spoke, his voice dripping with persuasion.

"As the head of the Black Temple Faction, I’m personally stepping in. Surely you can give me some face, Sister?"

"...Haa."

Ilma stepped back. Realizing what this meant, Number 29 turned her gaze toward Sama, her face tense with uncertainty.

Sama smiled faintly.

"I’d love to give you more time to think, but unfortunately, I don’t have the luxury either. Make your decision now. I’m sure you know which side benefits you more."

"..."

Number 29 turned to me, her eyes trembling as if seeking reassurance. I smiled lightly.

This was her chance. Without a doubt, this was an opportunity she couldn’t afford to miss. If she hesitated, I had to push her forward.

Putting aside the bond we had built, I whispered softly to her.

"Go ahead, Number 29."

"...!"

Number 29 bowed deeply to Sama, formally sealing her choice. Her gaze lingered on me for a moment, carrying a hint of regret.

"Master."

Her tone had changed, trembling as she spoke.

"I have a request."

"Hmm, if it’s a condition, I’ll consider it. You’re worth that much."

"Please exchange the elixir that Number 30 has for a proper one."

"...Hmm?"

Sama raised his hand slightly, intrigued. Even I was caught off guard by her request.

Gesturing toward me, Sama signaled for me to bring it out.

"If you have it, hand it over."

From inside my robe, I pulled out the black pill. It barely deserved to be called an elixir.

"...Hooh?"

Sama let out a low exclamation, while Ilma’s sharp eyes narrowed.

"You idiot. Where did you get that?"

"I defeated Maeng Sowoon and obtained it."

"So the Puppet Sect intended to create a puppet after all. What a grotesque scheme."

"Puhehe. Sister, you already knew, didn’t you? That’s why you sent the Blood Demon Division after them."

"I was merely following the leader’s orders, eliminating those scheming behind the scenes. No matter how desperate the situation, reaching out to the orthodox sects is an act of treason. Betrayers like them are exactly who the Blood Demon Division and Death Blood Division are meant to handle. Even if the Lord of the Black Heaven Manor has a good reputation, crossing the line is unacceptable."

"The Lord of the Black Heaven Manor really got dealt a bad hand. While he reached out for help, it wasn’t directly with the orthodox sects. Even so, the help he found turned out to be part of the Puppet Sect’s ploy."

"Just reaching out was the problem, Sama. An irreversible mistake."

The Lord of the Black Heaven Manor. Maengcheon.

From their conversation, I finally understood why the Blood Demon Division had targeted him.

When his son fell ill with an unknown disease, Maengcheon must have sought help wherever he could. Despite his efforts, he couldn’t find a cure. Desperate, he must have tried to deceive even the Heavenly Demon Sect and secretly reached out to the orthodox sects.

Hoping for a miracle, he made contact. But in the end, it failed. The person who came to him, claiming to be a disciple of the Wandering God, turned out to be the one who taught his son the forbidden White Demon Art.

"A tangled web of power struggles.

The Puppet Sect deceived the Lord of the Black Heaven Manor, posing as his savior and attempting to devour the entire clan.

The Lord of the Black Heaven Manor was no doubt a victim of their schemes.

'Jeokwoon, do you know what this is?'

'I don’t.'

Sama laughed.

'This, you see, is one form of the White Demon Art called Jae (祭). It allows for rapid martial progress, but in the end, you’re left as nothing more than a “pouch” carrying energy pills.'

'...What do you mean?!'

'To master it, you need to meet very specific conditions. Even then, is it efficient? Not really. However, the Jae form of the White Demon Art allows condensed energy to be stored in the form of pills. That’s what Jae means—a repository.'

'...A repository.'

'Exactly. A repository. Judging by its aura, this must be the energy of the Lord of the Black Heaven Manor. It’s not purely cultivated through the White Demon Art—its purity is astounding, almost unbelievable for demonic energy.'

'This could be salvaged. They must have extracted it before it fully merged with the White Demon Art. Condensing it into a pill by stealing energy… this isn’t an elixir, but rather, closer to the core of a spiritual beast.'

'Now you understand why the White Demon Art is forbidden? It allows for mass production of energy pills through human lives. Of course, these pills are full of impurities. Consuming them makes breaking through to the pinnacle realm impossible—your energy becomes murky, and your mind dull. However, it does allow for the mass creation of first-rate martial artists, comparable to those at the threshold of the pinnacle realm. In war, that’s incredibly useful. You did well not to consume it, Jeokwoon. Had you swallowed this, you would’ve been stuck at the first-rate level for life, no matter how hard you tried.'

Cold sweat trickled down my back. Ilma clicked her tongue.

'Even if you find an elixir on the roadside, always doubt it. Not even a dog would gobble it up without thinking.'

'If you’re going to scold me, just scold me. No need to insult me, Sister.'

'It’s my teaching. Don’t interfere.'

'Puhehe. Got it.'

Sama toyed with the pill in his hand.

'To turn this into a proper elixir, the cost would be astronomical—it would take as much as crafting a high-grade elixir from scratch.'

'...'

'But since I’ve just taken on a new disciple, I can’t exactly afford to look stingy. I’ll accept the condition. But who’s going to consume this?'

Number 29 bowed her head deeply.

'Please give it to Number 30, Master.'

'Alright. I’ll do that.'

'...'

'You’re wondering why I’m not opposing it, aren’t you? But is there a need to oppose?'

Sama chuckled with a sly smile.

'Forming ties with your disciple isn’t a bad thing. She’s part of the Blood Demon Division now, but who knows what the future holds?'

'He’s not my disciple, Sama. Say something like that again, and I’ll split your head open.'

'Puhehe. Fine, just a toy, then. Disciple, do you need more time?'

'...If you’re offering it, I’ll gratefully accept.'

'Sister, let’s give them a moment. The little ones want to say their goodbyes, don’t they?'

'Don’t touch me, you bear.'

Sama dragged Ilma away to clear the space. The leader of the Blood Demon Division followed suit.

Number 29 turned to face me, her expression tinged with sadness as she hesitated. But soon, she straightened herself with determination.

'You were right. Your real face is much better, you know?'

'...The same could be said for you, Number 29.'

'Do you resent me? For running off on my own like this?'

'What is there to resent?'

I was genuinely happy that she had seized this opportunity.

'I just owe you even more now, Number 29.'

'It’s the same for me. Let’s call it even, shall we? If you hadn’t insisted on going into that manor that day, none of this would have happened.'

'Even so, I owe you more.'

'...You’re so stubborn.'

Number 29 brushed aside a lock of hair that had fallen over her face.

'If you owe me, then pay me back. When you get out of here, find me. You’re Ilma’s disciple, aren’t you? You’ll figure out a way to escape, won’t you?'

"Of course, Number 29."

"...Call me Seollan. And add 'senior' to it."

"Why senior?"

"Because I’m your senior, idiot. Both in the Blood Demon Division and out there as well."

Number 29 grabbed my clothes and pulled me closer.

"...When you escape Magok, find me. I’ll make a place for you by Sama’s side. Let’s stick together like we do here. Don’t even think about joining another faction. I don’t want to have to kill you."

"You’d be the one cutting me down?"

"Of course, Number 30. You can’t beat me. No matter how strong you get, I’ll always be stronger."

Number 29 smiled. I smiled along with her.

"I’m not Number 30, but Jeokwoon, Senior Seollan."

"...That’s much better than Number 30."

"I’ll look forward to our reunion."

"Sure."

Number 29—Eun Seollan—turned her back to me.

"See you later, Jeokwoon."

She walked away. Sama and the leader of the Blood Demon Division also disappeared from sight.

Ilma was the only one left, and she smacked me on the head.

"Even a puppy would be better-behaved than you."

"..."

"That face tells me you don’t get it. Fine, I’ll explain everything to you. Then you can die."

"...Is it okay to treat your precious toy like this? I might break."

Ilma drew her sword.

"Maybe I should just chop off your head and toss it to the dogs."

"I’m sorry."

"Tch."

Ilma inspected me carefully.

"You’ve barely managed to surpass one wall. You’re at the threshold of the pinnacle... but not quite there yet. Your energy, body, and mind aren’t aligned, so you haven’t truly crossed it. Can you project sword energy yet?"

"No, I can’t."

"I thought so. You’re only mentally ahead of yourself. Did you have some kind of realization? What was it?"

"...It’s just..."

I explained my insights into the Three Talent Sword Technique. Ilma sighed deeply.

"The sword you swung for ten years, clinging to a faint hope, turns out to have been useful after all. It’s a stroke of fortune. But don’t expect something like this to happen twice. Hard work is the only way for you to survive."

"I’ll remember that."

"Sama’s elixir might fill in the gaps for the miracle part, but your technique and physical foundation are still lacking. Turn around. I’ll check your condition."

Ilma sent her energy flowing into my body.

"Your Heavenly Tribulation energy is still stirring, though it seems to have taken root. It’s still expanding. You must still be in pain."

"I can endure it."

"Endure, my ass. If I passed your pain to a criminal, they’d beg to be killed in moments. Idiot. If it hurts, just say it hurts."

"And then you’ll comfort me?"

"Don’t push your luck, you fool."

She hit me, but honestly, I felt happy.

Ilma had come to protect me from Sama herself.

"Your eyes annoy me. Maybe I should pluck them out."

"...Your precious toy..."

She kicked me in the stomach.

I rolled on the ground in pain.

"How was your first mission?"

"..."

"Is there something you’re holding back?"

"I didn’t kill the Lord of the Black Heaven Manor."

"And?"

"...Even if I had drawn my sword, I don’t think I could’ve killed him."

"Do you mean skill-wise or emotionally?"

"Probably both."

Ilma climbed onto me, sitting on my back as she muttered.

"You’re the leader’s dog. A dog isn’t supposed to think. Thinking is for humans."

"..."

"If you’re ordered to kill, just kill. There are no other choices, Jeokwoon. And from now on, don’t form pointless connections with your targets."

"...Yes. Understood."

"You still look clueless. Idiot."

Ilma sighed again.

"Why did I end up with something like you..."

"...It wasn’t Ilma, but the leader who—"

"Shut up before I sew your mouth shut."

"I’m sorry."

...

"The leader of the Blood Demon Division will fill the gap. Until your next mission, focus on your training. Sharpen your mastery so you can wield the second form of the Gucheon Blood Demon Art freely. Train, and train again."

Even Ilma left. With her departure, I dove deeper into my training.

The absence of Number 29 felt hollow, but there was nothing I could do. All I could do was hope for her future success.

The second form of the Gucheon Blood Demon Art: Single Soul Hammer.

I began to grow accustomed to its basic form and even its applications. However, the first applied form of the Single Soul Hammer, called Pae Myo (沛墓), required a suitable opponent for proper practice.

There was no one in Magok I could ask for help. Everyone here was sharp-edged, ungrateful even when given food, and cared for nothing but themselves.

So, I stopped worrying about those who wouldn’t appreciate it anyway. I simply hoped that whoever came to fill Number 29’s place would be someone like her.

But before anyone could replace Number 29, my elixir arrived.

"Sama has ordered me to deliver this. Take it, Number 30."

The leader of the Blood Demon Division came to me personally, handing over a wooden box with a slightly conflicted look.

"...If there’s an opportunity, could you tell the one responsible something for me?"

"What should I say?"

"Something along the lines of... they’ve done a good job. That sort of thing."

"I’ll try my best."

"Haha! Thank you!"

With the demeanor of a middle manager you’d see anywhere, the leader of the Blood Demon Division left. I opened the wooden box in my quarters.

A fragrant aroma wafted through the air. The murky black elixir was gone, replaced by a deep, dark blue elixir, radiating a subtle glow.

This was an elixir.

A dense mass of energy containing the qi of the Lord of the Black Heaven Manor.

I rolled the elixir around in my hand. After ensuring no one was nearby...

--- Gulp.

I swallowed the elixir.