Chapter 349

“That man right there is my inner disciple.”

“Wow! So she really was a beauty?! Madam would have been famous across the land even in this era! And on top of that…”

Sun Woo-jin glanced at the man standing beside her and continued.

“The age difference… seems quite large, sir. Did you have a thing for younger women?”

Narrowing his eyes, Sun Woo-jin asked, prompting Muk-rang to frown and reply.

“That look of yours is rather unpleasant, but I can’t say I don’t understand. Believe it or not, my inner disciple is actually a year older than me.”

“Whaaat?!”

“That surprised tone doesn’t sit well with me either. Anyway, from the moment I first met her, she looked incredibly youthful. But no matter how much time passed, she never seemed to age. Eventually, people even joked that we were father and daughter.”

Sun Woo-jin compared her appearance to the sword spirit standing beside her several times.

The idea of them being father and daughter made more sense than the claim that the woman was a year older.

He asked suspiciously, “Did you perhaps learn some martial art like Senior Son of the Female Demon that makes you grow younger instead?”

Muk-rang sighed deeply.

“If only that were true, I’d understand.”

Apparently, that wasn’t the case.

Sun Woo-jin marveled again.

“So you’re saying you were born with such beauty and on top of that, you have eternal youth? As a fellow man, I envy you, sir.”

Muk-rang chuckled softly.

“Envy? What’s there to envy? I’ve only ever had one inner disciple in my life. If anything, I should be the one envying you.”

Startled, Sun Woo-jin stammered, “Uh, I plan to have only one inner disciple my whole life too…”

“You seem to have forgotten that I don’t fall for lies. Even as you say it, you know it’s not true. At least you’re aware of your own situation, so that’s something.”

“Ugh!”

Sun Woo-jin was left speechless, unable to argue.

Muk-rang looked at the frustrated Sun Woo-jin with amusement and continued teasing him.

“So, how many inner disciples do you plan to have? Four? Five?”

“No, what are you talking about? Do you think I’m my father or something?!”

“Oh! Right! To surpass your father, you’d need at least seven.”

“Sir!”

Sun Woo-jin and his group moved at top speed, managing to join forces with Pyo Seo-geuk of the Mugeuk faction, who was playing the role of the fake Sword Master, within a day.

Soon after, they also met up with Sword Saint Seol Poong and Qing Guangjin from the Qingseong Sect, who had rushed over from the Sawang Lian.

But since arriving, they had to keep moving in hiding.

They never knew when the Reverse Heaven Blood Demon might strike, so they had to quietly follow Pyo Seo-geuk’s lead.

Moreover, contrary to expectations that the Reverse Heaven Blood Demon would be impatient, she hadn’t appeared even two days later.

Even after Pyo Seo-geuk had crossed Zhejiang Province and passed more than halfway through Anhui Province, there was still no sign of her.

Sun Woo-jin felt his heart burning with anxiety.

He fully understood what it meant that she hadn’t shown up when she should have.

“Probably increasing the size of her assault team. She needs time to strengthen her forces.”

That meant the Reverse Heaven Blood Demon was also doing her utmost to prepare for the attack.

It showed how much she feared the Sword Master’s presence and that facing her would be far more difficult than expected.

Sun Woo-jin informed the others.

“The enemy’s strength may exceed what we anticipated. In fact, it almost certainly will. There might even be a blood demon from the current era joining them, whose whereabouts have been unknown until now.”

Hearing this, the others couldn’t help but groan.

They had barely matched the number of high-level Huajing experts, but if Sun Woo-jin’s prediction came true, their advantage would slip away again.

Besides, the Blood Demon Warlord had already defeated the Sword Saint before.

If he joined the enemy, even the top expert on their side, Senior Son of the Female Demon Son Eun-sang, couldn’t guarantee victory.

So, until the Reverse Heaven Blood Demon appeared, the Huajing experts on Sun Woo-jin’s side continued training even while in hiding.

Everyone was doing their best to increase their chances of winning, even if only slightly.

Sun Woo-jin was no exception.

Whenever he had a moment, he entered the dream realm through the Dream Soul Technique to train alongside Muk-rang.

But after a day of intense training, on the second day, they stopped practicing and instead began revisiting the sword spirit’s past.

Sun Woo-jin had suddenly said, “There’s a high chance you’ll have to use your final manifestation in this battle, right? Then you’ll finally rest in peace.”

Muk-rang sighed deeply without replying.

That was likely the case.

It would be ideal if he could defeat the Reverse Heaven Blood Demon without manifesting, but since she was also fighting with all her might, that seemed impossible.

The two fell silent, lost in their own thoughts.

Then Sun Woo-jin suddenly suggested, “Sir, would you show me your life? I want to know more about you.”

He didn’t add, “So I can remember you longer and more clearly,” but Muk-rang understood his feelings perfectly without words.

After gazing at Sun Woo-jin with deep eyes for a moment, Muk-rang smiled softly and replied.

“Well, cramming is for those who don’t study regularly. Someone like you, who’s worked hard all along, might actually need a break before an important test.”

They smiled brightly at each other.

No words were needed to understand each other’s hearts—it was a warm feeling.

And yet, both already felt a deep sense of loss, knowing that warmth would soon vanish.

From then on, they wandered through the dream realm, recreating memories from the sword spirit’s past like a nostalgic journey.

They visited his childhood home, which was just an ordinary second-rate sect, and met his older brother, Noe-shin, who had been quite the wild troublemaker.

“I’ve heard the Sunwoo family was a disgrace, but Noe-shin back then was on a whole other level. A complete delinquent. How did he change so suddenly?”

“I don’t know either. I asked him once, and he just smiled faintly and said he had a dream.”

“A dream…”

They also met their master, Jang Cheon-ung, a notorious expert from the heretical sect who had suddenly connected with Noe-shin and started teaching both brothers.

Alongside them were the beautiful disciples who trained under the master.

“He really looks like the infamous expert from the heretical sect. His appearance is quite…”

“Terrifying, right? Haha. He was often misunderstood because of how he looked. But he was actually very kind and even had a gentle side.”

“I see. And the disciples are both so beautiful. You must have always been surrounded by beauties.”

“Yes, there were many beauties. Most of them admired my brother.”

“Oh, so Noe-shin was popular? To me, you seem more handsome.”

“I wasn’t popular with women I didn’t know well. But most of the women around us adored my brother. Poor guy.”

“Why poor?”

“Well, my brother… was a bit like you.”

“Me?”

“Yes. Despite appearances, he was completely hopeless with women. And after meeting true love, he devoted himself to only that one person for life.”

Their journey, slowed by the dream realm’s altered time, seemed endless.

They laughed joyfully and talked without wasting a moment.

As if this time was their last moment alive, and as if by doing this, they could make it last forever.

But, as always, the end eventually came.

Sun Woo-jin looked up at the sky and said, “Someone’s approaching.”

Muk-rang smiled gently in response.

“Yes, it’s time to go.”

Sun Woo-jin gazed deeply at Muk-rang.

He had so much he wanted to say, but couldn’t bring himself to speak.

Not the title “Master,” nor his thanks.

He felt that saying those words would truly make this moment the last.

Muk-rang smiled warmly and said, “Go prepare. We’re running late.”

“…Yes, understood.”

There was no guarantee that the presence they sensed with their divine sight was the Reverse Heaven Blood Demon.

In fact, it seemed more likely not.

There were only two of them, and the energy felt too weak for the Blood Demon.

But even if it wasn’t her, both knew they couldn’t return to this moment again.

Sun Woo-jin returned to reality and sent a message to the others.

“Someone is approaching, hiding their presence. They’re moving very fast. Everyone, be ready.”

But only Pyo Seo-geuk, playing the Sword Master, and Yong Woo-shin of the Dragon Clan needed to hear this.

Seol Poong, with his profound divine sight, and the other Huajing experts had already detected the approach.

Moments later, two figures of light landed before Pyo Seo-geuk.

Sun Woo-jin couldn’t help but be shocked.

They were the last people anyone would have expected to see here.

Startled, Sun Woo-jin quickly broke his concealment and stepped outside, calling out, “Sa-young! And, Yeo-eun?! How did you get here…?!”

The two who had just arrived were none other than Bi Sa-young, Sun Woo-jin’s close friend training at Gwanggeomneung, and his partner, Dang Yeo-eun.

They had thought the place was safe, which was why they had come here—but of all times, they showed up now.

Sun Woo-jin’s surprise was met with Sa-young’s cocky reply.

“My master said someone like me wouldn’t be a hindrance, so I came to help. Among those training at Gwanggeomneung, I’m the only one who got permission.”

By “master,” he meant Jeong Myeong-gang of the Hwahyeop Sword Guild.

If he had allowed Sa-young to come here, it meant Sa-young’s skills had reached a respectable level.

Sun Woo-jin let out a small sigh and asked, “You said it’s a fight between Hwagyeong masters and that you’d be of help? Can I really believe that?”

Sa-young gave a sly smile. “Just wait and see. I’ll surprise you. Probably better than you, too.”

“Well, well!”

The two approached each other and clasped hands firmly.

Though their words were teasing, their eyes shone with genuine warmth and relief.

After exchanging a few words with Sa-young, Sun Woo-jin turned to look at Dang Yeo-eun.

But his gaze was complicated.

He had sent her to Gwanggeomneung to keep her safe, away from danger—but here she was, in the most perilous place of all.

He didn’t know what to say to her now.

He felt that if he opened his mouth, harsh words might slip out.

Then, Yeo-eun spoke first, her eyes resolute.

“I know I’m not strong enough. I know I might just get in the way. But… this might be the last time. I couldn’t bear the thought of never seeing Jin’s face again. …I’m sorry.”

She bowed her head deeply.

Seeing that, Sun Woo-jin was slightly taken aback.

There was a firm determination in her apology—an unyielding will not to turn back.

It was a resolve he hadn’t often seen in her before.

A wry smile crossed his lips.

He had thought that no matter how much he missed her, he had to hold back—but now he realized it wasn’t a decision he could make alone.

She had her own will, too.

This was a choice they had to make together.

Softly, he smiled and said, “Thank you, Yeo-eun.”

Surprised, she looked up at him, eyes wide.

She hadn’t expected to hear those words.

“Huh?”

Sun Woo-jin stepped closer and embraced her tightly.

“I missed you so much, too. I was terrified we’d part forever without even one last look. Thank you… for coming to me.”

“Jin…”

Tears suddenly streamed down Yeo-eun’s cheeks.

She had come prepared to be scolded, but hearing that he felt the same way filled her with joy and gratitude.

They pulled back slightly, gazing at each other’s faces.

The fact that the person they longed for so deeply was right in front of them was almost unbearable.

But then—

A sudden transmission from Seolpung whispered in Sun Woo-jin’s ear.

“Jin.”

Just one word, but Sun Woo-jin understood perfectly.

He could feel the immense energy approaching from this direction.

Clenching his teeth, he pressed a brief kiss to Yeo-eun’s lips.

“Keep your distance and stay hidden, Yeo-eun. Don’t come out under any circumstances.”

Understanding the gravity of the situation, Yeo-eun nodded firmly.

“Got it. Be careful, Jin.”

After sending Sa-young and Yeo-eun toward the forest, Sun Woo-jin quickly transmitted a message to the others nearby.

—This time, it’s really them. Six masters of Hwagyeong, I can sense.

“!”

“!”

Everyone hiding widened their eyes in shock.

They had prepared for the possibility of five, including the Blood Demon of their generation, but six was beyond their expectations.

Still, retreat was not an option.

Everyone clenched their teeth, tension thick in the air.

Moments later, six Hwagyeong masters, led by Hae Cheong-yeon, descended like shooting stars before Mugeukpaedo Pyo Seo-geuk.

Crack! Crack!

Despite the incredible speed of their descent, not a single thread of their clothing was disturbed.

At the forefront, Hae Cheong-yeon wore a deadly smile.

“Welcome, Sword Master—the heir of the Thunder God and Sword God. Or perhaps, judging by the situation, just a mere bait?”

He glanced toward the forest where Sun Woo-jin and his group were concealed.

“But don’t you think the trap is a bit too small to catch me?”

His face bore a confident, almost casual smile.