Chapter 196

'Too slow. Far too slow.'

Weaving ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍through the horde of jiangshi, Jaseong muttered inwardly. The movements of the jiangshi seemed agonizingly slow to Jaseong's eyes.

Ever ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍since he had reached the Transformation Realm, even his perception of the passage of time in the world had changed.

Every ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍movement route of each jiangshi, the flow of their deathly energy, even the trajectory of snowflakes flying between the blizzard—all of it was as clear to him as if he were looking at his own palm.

'So ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍this is the level of Transformation Realm... Thanks to this, the abilities of the Samadhi Eyes have evolved severalfold beyond before.'

The ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍sorcerers of the Blood Cult, who were controlling the jiangshi, cried out in horror.

"Wh-what ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍is that bastard?!"

"The jiangshi aren't working! Dozens of them fall to a single Sword Ki strike...!"

"Stop him! Stop him!!"

But they couldn't.

Jaseong's advance was unstoppable.

The sorcerers scrambled to set up a new formation, but Jaseong's sword aura was faster than them.

Shuaaa!

A single strand of Sword Ki split the air, beheading five sorcerers simultaneously.

Their decapitated bodies collapsed onto the snow, crimson blood soaking into the pure white snowscape.

"Kyaaagh!"

"R-run away!"

The remaining sorcerers scattered in terror. But Jaseong did not spare a single one.

Every swing of his sword sent enhanced energy out, piercing the backs of those trying to escape.

About a shikcheong later, Jaseong finally reached the hilltop.

At the very heart of the Blood Sacrifice Grand Art's formation, where blood-red smoke was rising, Chu Hyul-gwang stood.

"Who are you?!"

Chu Hyul-gwang glared and asked.

As one of the Five Great Evil Ones of the unorthodox factions, a murderous intent poured from his entire being.

"I am Red Light Calamity Jaseong, the new leader of the Evil Path Association."

Jaseong replied calmly.

"... The new leader of the Evil Path Association? Don't tell me you're the leader who led the Evil Path Association to victory in the recent War of Orthodox and Unorthodox?"

"That's right."

"Huh, and a brat like you killed Namgung Cheon-rui, the Murim alliance leader?"

Chu Hyul-gwang questioned with eyes full of disbelief. At that moment, Jaseong set his sword level and said,

"Chu Hyul-gwang. I'm glad to meet you here."

"... And what does that mean?"

"You are one of those I absolutely had to kill."

[Blood Demon Chu Hyul-gwang] was a name inscribed on the Kill List of the Celestial Realm.

In other words, taking down Chu Hyul-gwang now meant fulfilling another step in the Heaven's Mandate to eliminate the giants of evil.

That's why, at this moment, murderous intent flashed in both of Jaseong's eyes.

Seeing it, Chu Hyul-gwang's eyes also brimmed with killing intent.

"... Fine. I'll show you why I am called one of the Five Great Evil Ones of the unorthodox sects."

Chu Hyul-gwang hoisted his Blood Demon Sword and charged.

The deadly energy of the Blood Demon Art mingled with the snowstorm, and the crimson enhanced energy surged like lightning to envelop Jaseong.

Kwakakakakakakaang!!!

Their first clash collided with a thunderous roar.

But in that instant—

'... What?'

Chu Hyul-gwang's grin vanished.

The Blood Demon Sword was pushed back.

The moment it collided with Jaseong's sword, a jolt like his arm was tearing apart shot through him.

The weight behind it was on a different dimension from when he had fought Gal Seo-ryeong, the Right Protector of the Hao Sect.

'How, how could this brat possess such cultivated power...?!'

Chu Hyul-gwang's eyes shook with horror. He looked down at his own hand—his tiger mouth torn open and blood dripping out.

In contrast, Jaseong stood calmly. He gripped his sword in one hand, without even the slightest tremor.

"Are you surprised? And it was only a single exchange."

Jaseong spoke in a low voice.

"... Arrogant...!"

Gritting his teeth, Chu Hyul-gwang charged once more.

Sword force burst out from the Blood Demon Sword. The crimson sword aura split the air, branching into three lines aiming simultaneously for Jaseong's upper, mid, and lower body.

A triune combination of sword technique, palm technique, and kicking technique that had cornered Gal Seo-ryeong—a Blood Cult ultimate chained form he had trained for decades.

But—

Shubabat!

Jaseong's sword swept once.

Just once.

That was the end.

Kakakakang!!

Chu Hyul-gwang's three streaks of sword aura shattered to pieces simultaneously.

And then, Jaseong's sword aura struck the Blood Demon Sword head-on.

Jjeoreok!!!

Chu Hyul-gwang's body was sent flying backward, carving a deep groove into the snowy field.

Snow exploded in all directions. He was flung dozens of yards before finally crashing into a boulder.

Kwareung!

A spiderweb of cracks spread across the rock.

"Kuh, kuh-huk...!"

Chu Hyul-gwang spat blood. He gazed up at Jaseong with disbelieving eyes.

"What sort of opportunity did you receive?! How can a mere youngster like you possess the cultivated power of this body's hundred years...!"

It was only natural for him to be shocked.

In fact, Jaseong had only opened the fourth gate, Closing Gate, of the Celestial Gate Opening Art.

In other words, he hadn't even used half of his full power.

Yet, the Blood Cult Leader Chu Hyul-gwang, a mountain he had once thought insurmountable, was now being so easily overwhelmed.

"It's not over yet! I'll show you the ultimate secret of the Blood Demon Art...!"

Chu Hyul-gwang tossed the Blood Demon Sword aside and gathered the palm force of the Blood Demon Art in both hands.

Crimson energy spiraled and gathered at his palms.

It was the Blood Cult's mightiest manual, the final form of the Blood Demon Grand Art.

"Blood Demon Heaven-shattering Palm!"

A gigantic palm of blood ki formed at Chu Hyul-gwang's hands and flew toward Jaseong.

Accompanied by the sound of tearing air, the crimson palm force radiated a heat intense enough to melt the snow.

But Jaseong's sword was swifter.

Shuuuuuk!

The Blood Demon Heaven-shattering Palm evaporated without resistance the instant it touched Jaseong's enhanced energy.

Like a candle flame snuffed by a storm. Next—an enhanced energy, shining like a flash, pierced through Chu Hyul-gwang's chest.

"Ka... hak...!"

Chu Hyul-gwang's body flew backward and collapsed on the snowy ground. Blood gushed like a fountain from the hole in his chest.

Chu Hyul-gwang stared at the sky as if still in a dream.

"To think... this body would meet its end... like this...."

His gaze faded.

The cultivated blood demonic ki gathered throughout his body scattered into the air, the pillar of black-red smoke rapidly shrinking away.

The formation of the Blood Sacrifice Grand Art had collapsed.

At the same time, the thousands of jiangshi encircling the fortress walls all stopped moving at once.

And then, one by one, they began to topple.

Kwarurururu.

The jiangshi fell like dominos. With the last caster of the Blood Sacrifice Grand Art defeated, the energy maintaining the jiangshi was cut off.

"......."

A heavy silence descended upon the snowy field.

Jaseong brushed the blood from his sword and looked toward the North Sea Ice Palace.

Countless female swordsmen were watching from atop the fortress walls.

And soon, someone burst out in cheers.

"We won!"

"All the jiangshi have fallen!"

"We defeated the Blood Cult Leader!"

The cheers rolled out in waves.

From atop the North Sea Ice Palace's walls, Lee Seol-hwa watched every moment unfold, unable for a time to open her mouth.

'Blood Cult Leader Chu Hyul-gwang. Not only one of the Five Great Evil Ones of the unorthodox sects, but a supreme expert equal to myself, the Ice Palace Mistress.... For such a person to fall in only three exchanges.'

Lee Seol-hwa had fought Chu Hyul-gwang before.

When they faced each other in the Central Plains more than ten years ago, even after hundreds of moves, they had been unable to decide a victor.

The ice arts of the North Sea Ice Palace and the Blood Demon Art of the Blood Cult were opposites, like water and fire, so their strengths had neutralized each other, resulting in an endless struggle.

But that same Chu Hyul-gwang, defeated in a mere three exchanges.

'... With such might as that.'

Lee Seol-hwa's fingertips trembled ever so slightly. A sense of awe tinged her very spine.

'They say a World's Greatest has appeared in the Central Plains—the new Evil Path Association Leader, Jaseong. It was no exaggeration. Just what kind of opportunity has he encountered in that time...!'

Memories flashed through Lee Seol-hwa's mind.

Namgung Cheon-rui had once tried to bring the North Sea Ice Palace into the orthodox sphere by leveraging his daughter's marriage at a banquet.

At that gathering, Lee Seol-hwa had first heard the name of the Hao Sect youth who was said to be by Lee Rin's side.

Even then, he had shown impressive spirit. But she could never have imagined he would grow this quickly.

To defeat the Blood Cult Leader alone, and bring the North Sea Ice Palace back from the brink.

Lee Seol-hwa slowly descended from the fortress walls.

Jaseong was returning from the hilltop, wiping blood from his sword against the snow with his usual indifferent gait.

Lee Rin was the first to run up.

"Great hero!"

Lee Rin checked Jaseong's body all over for wounds. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries.

Neither the horde of jiangshi nor Chu Hyul-gwang had managed to inflict a meaningful wound on Jaseong.

"I'm so thankful. You fought the Blood Cult Leader, one of the Five Great Evil Ones, while not even fully recovered, and came out this unscathed...."

"Don't worry. His attacks never even touched me."

Only then did Lee Rin heave a sigh of relief.

"That's a relief."

At that moment, Lee Seol-hwa arrived before the two.

"Rin-ah, may I join the conversation for a moment?"

After confirming her daughter's condition, Lee Seol-hwa shifted her gaze to Jaseong.

Their eyes met.

Seol-hwa's gaze was complicated.

Awe, wariness, and deep gratitude. Thanks to this man's sudden arrival, the North Sea Ice Palace was saved—such emotions were only natural.

"I pay my respects to the North Sea Ice Palace Mistress."

Jaseong offered a cupped fist salute, greeting with utmost courtesy. At his words, Lee Seol-hwa spoke slowly,

"It's been a while."

"Yes, I believe since the Murim Alliance gathering."

"I heard the rumor that you became the Evil Path Association Leader and led them to victory in the War of Orthodox and Unorthodox. And I just witnessed your might."

"......."

"To defeat Chu Hyul-gwang, who stood as my equal, so very easily. The rumors calling you the World's Greatest are no idle talk."

"I was just lucky."

"Luck? Huhu. Excessive modesty is also a fault, you know."

Lee Seol-hwa smiled broadly. Then she continued quietly,

"I now owe you a debt."

"......."

"You came when the Ice Palace was in peril, and you took down the Blood Cult Leader, whom even I could not defeat. The North Sea Ice Palace will never forget this favor."

"There's no need to call it a favor. The Blood Cult was an enemy I had to deal with anyway. In fact, it was easier because their focus was on attacking the North Sea Ice Palace, making their rear defenseless."

"Even so, a debt is a debt."

Lee Seol-hwa responded firmly. Then she looked at her daughter.

Lee Rin stood by Jaseong's side, clutching his hand tightly. Feeling the energy between the two, Lee Seol-hwa gave a subtle smile in her heart.

"Association Leader."

"Yes?"

"Your purpose in coming here wasn't solely to suppress the Blood Cult, was it? If you have something to say, speak."

At her words, Jaseong raised his head.

"There is a final war with the Demonic Cult approaching. I have come to ask for the North Sea Ice Palace's strength."

At Jaseong's directness, Lee Seol-hwa nod silently.

"... It will be a great war."

"Yes. But it must be ended."

Lee Seol-hwa fell silent for a moment.

Her eyes swept over the ruined corpses of jiangshi that littered the snowscape.

This mess was caused by just one Blood Cult Leader. And the Demonic Cult was a force far greater than the Blood Cult.

If the Demonic Cult targeted the North Sea as the Blood Cult did, could they stop it then?

'... Joining hands with this man is also the wise choice for the Ice Palace's future.'

Lee Seol-hwa nodded.

"Very well. The North Sea Ice Palace will lend strength to your cause."

"Thank you."

"But, I have one request."

"What request?"

"No matter what dangers lurk in the Central Plains, protect my daughter without fail."

Jaseong looked Lee Seol-hwa straight in the eye. He responded resolutely,

"I've already promised Rin."

"... Huh?"

"I pledged to stake my life to protect her."

At those words, a gentle smile appeared on Lee Seol-hwa's lips for the first time in what felt like ages.

"Huhu. In that case, I can relax. If a master like you vows to stake his life for her, what more could I ask for?"

Next to them, listening to their conversation, Lee Rin's face turned bright red as she lowered her head and bit her lips tightly.