Chapter 337
Zhengzhou, Henan Province.

The Martial Alliance.

As usual, the Martial Alliance Leader, Xie Wang Moyong Jian, was spending his day surrounded by scantily clad beauties when he suddenly received an utterly unexpected report.

“Zhegal Jun-sa… no, Zhegal Zhigang came looking for me? The man who’s supposed to be in Yunnan Province?”

His subordinate, for some reason visibly excited, quickly replied.

“Yes, sir. He’s outside with an incredible beauty whose identity is unknown, along with two others—a man and a woman—both with their faces covered. He requests an audience with you, Alliance Leader.”

“Hmmm.”

Moyong Jian frowned slightly.

He didn’t like the fact that Zhegal Zhigang, who should be in Yunnan, had come here. Nor was he pleased at the thought of seeing his face again.

But the mention of an extraordinary beauty accompanying him piqued his curiosity.

Judging by the usually composed subordinate’s excitement, it seemed the woman was truly remarkable.

He wondered just how stunning she must be to cause such a reaction.

A thought crossed his mind.

“Could it be that he’s come back to the Martial Alliance, offering a beauty as tribute?”

But Moyong Jian immediately scoffed at the idea.

He had no intention of calling Zhegal Zhigang back to the Martial Alliance.

Zhigang was meant to be buried in the remote wilds of Yunnan, battling the Blood Cult until his death.

Still, he couldn’t just let even a beauty be left in such a state.

With that in mind, a faint smile curved his lips.

If Zhigang was willing to offer a beauty, he’d accept gratefully.

He told his subordinate, “Let him in.”

The subordinate glanced at the scantily clad women around Moyong Jian, hesitated briefly, then asked, “Right now? Sir?”

Moyong Jian chuckled softly and nodded.

“Yes, bring them in immediately.”

The subordinate’s hesitation was understandable.

It was improper to receive guests while surrounded by women exposing so much skin, and the guards were stationed outside when the women were present, which posed a security risk.

But Moyong Jian didn’t care.

He had no intention of sending the women away just to meet someone like Zhegal Zhigang.

Besides, comparing the beauty Zhigang brought with the women around him might be entertaining.

Just then, the door opened, and Zhegal Zhigang entered, leading three people.

A beautiful young woman and two others—a man and a woman—both with their heads bowed, faces hidden.

Zhigang bowed respectfully and greeted, “It’s been a long time, Alliance Leader.”

But Moyong Jian didn’t respond.

His gaze was fixed entirely on the woman following Zhigang.

He swallowed dryly, unable to look away.

The moment she stepped inside, the entire room seemed to brighten with a radiant glow.

It was hard to believe she was even human, let alone the same kind as the women in the room.

Her beauty was simply beyond words.

He suddenly felt foolish for having considered comparing her to the others just moments ago.

Her pale skin, features like a heavenly sculpture, and her mysterious eyes—red and blue—seemed to pull him in like a spell.

Despite her youth, the boldness in her gaze was itself beautiful.

Moyong Jian finally managed to speak, stammering, “W-who is this lady?”

He directed the question to Zhigang.

But Zhigang didn’t answer.

Instead, the woman herself spoke, a mocking smile on her lips.

“So, you’re the Martial Alliance Leader? Pathetic. Honestly, that Yang Munheon who was with Dang Ye-eun recently was far better.”

“…What?”

Zhigang bowed politely toward her and replied, “I am but a lowly man. And even if I were not, who else in this martial world would be worthy in the eyes of the Supreme One?”

Moyong Jian sensed something was off.

The woman’s audacity to call him pathetic was strange enough, but Zhigang’s submissive attitude toward her was even stranger.

The Zhigang he knew would rather die than bow to anyone like that.

Frowning, he asked, “What is the meaning of this…?”

At that moment, the woman turned to the bowed female companion and said, “Prepare the formation.”

The woman lifted her head and answered, “Yes, Supreme One.”

Suddenly, the vast interior of the Alliance Leader’s hall was enveloped by a massive energy barrier.

A dazzling, overwhelming display.

It was no small feat to surround such a large space with a barrier comparable to those of major sects.

The speed with which it was formed, and the calm expression on the woman’s face afterward, confirmed she was an extraordinary expert.

Moyong Jian’s eyes widened in shock.

But it wasn’t her power that startled him most—it was her face.

“Y-you are…?”

He stammered, as if seeing a ghost.

Her face was unmistakably familiar.

And yet, she was someone who should have been dead.

He muttered in disbelief, “Jie Xue… Satye?”

Jie Xue Satye was the former leader of the Amifa sect.

She had participated in the first Blood Cleansing Tournament alongside Moyong Jian and had fallen victim to the Blood Demon.

In fact, Moyong Jian himself had pushed her to chase the Blood Demon, leading to her death.

And now, here she was again, displaying a power far beyond anything before.

At that moment, the beautiful woman, Ha Cheong-yeon, spoke with a casual tone.

“This level of power is roughly at the early Fire Realm stage. I heard the Supreme One was a transcendent, but this kind of strength… the Blood Demon’s offspring are quite formidable.”

Moyong Jian looked at her and asked, “What did you say? What’s going on with Jie Xue Satye? And who exactly are you?”

But Ha Cheong-yeon ignored his questions, muttering only what she wished.

“Well then, shall we test how you fare in an actual fight?”

She turned to the man among the two bowed figures and commanded, “Subdue him.”

The man lifted his head and replied, “Yes, Supreme One.”

Moyong Jian’s jaw dropped.

He recognized that face too.

He barely managed to say the name, “Ma… Wonyung? Is that you, Wonyung?”

Ma Wonyung was the former leader of the Jeomchang sect.

He had been involved in the Blood Cult’s trap at the Wuhuang Stronghold, which led to the destruction of Jeomchang and the massacre of many righteous sect members.

He was also the biological father of Ma Yugyeom, one of the Thirteen Dragons’ Four Elders.

Before Moyong Jian became the Martial Alliance Leader, he and Ma Wonyung had been close friends, matched in courage.

So there was no mistaking it.

This was definitely Ma Wonyung.

Moyong Jian urgently addressed him, “Wonyung! What happened to you? Where have you been all this time, suddenly appearing here?!”

But Ma Wonyung didn’t answer.

With a blank expression, he simply drew the sword at his waist.

Feeling a chill, Moyong Jian quickly leapt back and drew his own sword.

In that instant, Ma Wonyung’s blade sliced through the air like a streak of light.

Shing!

A cold shiver ran down Moyong Jian’s spine.

Even his eyes, trained to see the finest movements of Fire Realm masters, could barely track the strike.

Had he drawn his sword a moment later, he would have been cleaved in two.

Though he hadn’t used the Silent Blade Technique, the strike was incredibly swift.

Ha Cheong-yeon smiled with satisfaction.

“Hmm, your movements are quick and smooth. Definitely better than during the descent.”

“The descent?”

Her words made Moyong Jian realize something.

Ma Wonyung’s expression was far too blank.

He was no longer the Ma Wonyung he once knew.

Furious, Moyong Jian shouted, “You! How dare you commit such treachery! Who are you? Are you a servant of the Blood Demon?!”

Suddenly, Zhegal Zhigang’s voice rang out, filled with anger.

“How dare you speak to the Supreme One that way?! To call him a servant of the Blood Demon! He is the Blood Demon incarnate—the Yechun Blood Demon!”

Moyong Jian echoed in stunned disbelief.

“…Yechun Blood Demon?”

The name sounded familiar, but he couldn’t immediately recall its significance.

At that moment, Ha Cheong-yeon stepped forward with a captivating smile.

“That’s enough. Let’s settle this before things get any noisier.”

Her red and blue eyes began to shine brilliantly.

The moment the Martial Alliance Leader Moyong Jian fell under the grasp of Yechun Blood Demon Gwayom, a crucial premise of Sunwoo Jin’s plan was shattered.

---

Taizhou, Jiangsu Province.

The Sawang Lian Headquarters.

Sawang Gweigal-hyeon sat in the Grand Hall, reading a letter from Seol Pung.

After finishing the letter, Gweigal-hyeon spoke into the air.

“Pung says that fellow wants us to keep the Martial Alliance in check. He fears Moyong Jian might be exploited by the Yechun Blood Demon who has returned after a hundred years. Hwiyom, what do you make of this?”

A voice answered from the void.

“The story of the Yechun Blood Demon returning after a century sounds a bit far-fetched. Still, I don’t think Lord Seol would speak nonsense. After all, nothing is impossible in this world.”

At those words, Gwegalhyeon chuckled softly and nodded.

“That’s right, isn’t it? I think the same. Then…”

With that, Gwegalhyeon picked up another letter that had been lying nearby.

“This letter is far more likely to have come from Yeokcheon Hyeolma than from that Moyong Geom.”

The letter he held was the one that had arrived at the Martial Alliance just before Seolpung received his own.

In it, Moyong Geom, the head of the Martial Alliance, challenged him to a one-on-one duel to determine who was superior.

In other words, it was a direct challenge.

A voice responded again.

“Most likely. That coward Moyong Geom wouldn’t dare send such a thing. It has to be a trap set by Yeokcheon Hyeolma.”

At this firm assertion, Gwegalhyeon stroked his chin thoughtfully for a moment.

“Hmm.”

Then, suddenly, he spoke up.

“But tell me this—since the location is Anhui Province, which is neutral ground, how exactly would he set a trap there?”

No answer came from Huyeom.

He was thinking the same thing as Gwegalhyeon.

Gwegalhyeon’s eyes flashed sharply.

“So in the end, it’s not a trap at all. The bastard is just confident he can beat me.”

His eyes gleamed dangerously, like a predator eyeing its prey.

Then Huyeom cautiously asked,

“…You really intend to go?”

Gwegalhyeon smiled fiercely.

“Can the Overlord avoid a challenge? It’s best to make sure that bastard knows exactly who he’s dealing with this time.”

He trailed off in his mind.

‘Let him know what kind of man his father is.’

The smile that crossed Gwegalhyeon’s face as he thought of Seolpung had softened considerably.

---

It had been only two days since Sunwoo Jin left the Hyeongsan Sect when he arrived at Antang Mountain in Zhejiang Province, where the Sword Spirit Yoojin resided.

It took him just two days to travel from Hunan Province, where the Hyeongsan Sect was located, past Jiangxi Province, to the southeastern edge of Zhejiang, Antang Mountain.

The speed was astonishing—faster than a bird in flight.

Moreover, despite such incredible lightness skill, Sunwoo Jin was not overly fatigued.

He looked up at the dark night sky and murmured,

“Good thing I arrived at night.”

Inside his mind, Mukrang spoke.

—Planning to sneak in?

‘Yes. Since my last attempt to enter politely failed, I’ll have to try a different approach this time. Any advice?’

—Be careful of the Sword Master. You don’t know what kind of man he’s become, and if he finds out you snuck in, he might take offense.

Sunwoo Jin nodded at that.

Indeed, it was hard to imagine he was still the same chivalrous hero after all this time in seclusion.

Besides, sneaking in could easily cause misunderstandings.

‘Don’t worry. I’ll avoid making any noise near the cave dwelling.’

With that, Sunwoo Jin melted into the shadows of the night in an instant.

His stealth was so flawless that even Amhyeolhyang would have admired it.

He climbed Antang Mountain and reached the old mountain lodge.

It was the same lodge built in front of the Sword Spirit’s cave dwelling, where he had met Ban Daeha, the second son of the Sword Master.

Without hesitation, Sunwoo Jin scaled the lodge’s wall.

Though countless guards patrolled the area, his movements were as smooth and silent as a black shadow, leaving no trace.

The guards at the front door were no different.

“Hah! It’s quiet again today.”

“Yeah, feels even quieter than usual.”

As they chatted, none noticed the black shadow slipping silently inside behind them.

‘Alright, the guest room I visited last time should be in that direction, so based on the building’s layout…’

Sunwoo Jin mentally reconstructed the lodge’s interior in three dimensions, combining his previous experience with the view from outside.

A rough path formed in his mind.

‘That must be it.’

He moved forward without hesitation.

Like an insider finding his way, he advanced comfortably until he reached what appeared to be the entrance to the cave dwelling.

Staring at it, he cursed silently.

“Damn.”

The entrance was completely sealed by thick walls.

There was only a small door, guarded tightly by four sentries.

But what troubled Sunwoo Jin wasn’t the guards.

It was the keyhole on the door, which looked as if it were made of solid steel.

‘This isn’t a training hall—it’s more like a vault. Surely the guards don’t hold the keys?’

Mukrang answered.

—They wouldn’t be so careless as to manage the keys like that after sealing it so thoroughly. What’s your plan? Break in?

Sunwoo Jin shook his head.

‘I could break in if I wanted, but if I do…’

—Right. The Sword Master inside would be very displeased.

Sunwoo Jin sighed softly.

It seemed meeting him wouldn’t be so easy after all.

‘The greatest swordsman of our time really is something else.’

—Indeed. At this point, I’m stubborn enough to want to see his face at least once.

Sunwoo Jin agreed silently.