After finishing the meal, I lay down on one of the beds in our rented rooms and quietly organized my thoughts.

Jeomchang Sect was in such disarray that they couldn’t even handle a bunch of thugs causing trouble out in front—essentially in a state of self-imposed closure.

Worse yet, the root cause of it all was a serious internal conflict that had nearly split the sect in two.

No matter how exceptional Jeomchang Sect’s martial arts might be, or how solid their foundation was outside of that, in this condition, their decline couldn’t be written off as temporary.

It was the classic pattern of a sect’s collapse. Though it hadn’t happened yet, in a year—maybe three at most—they’d be facing annihilation at the hands of the Heaven-Slaughter Star.

So, in hindsight, the destruction of Jeomchang Sect before my regression had been inevitable.

Still, what concerned me wasn’t why Jeomchang Sect, a once-prominent group, had been wiped out overnight.

What bothered me was something else entirely.

“They already know.”

Jeomchang Sect was already aware of the existence of the Heaven-Slaughter Star.

Right now, they were likely divided—those who opposed and those who supported accepting the Heaven-Slaughter Star.

“Or maybe… they only just realized it.”

If they had found and brought in a Heaven-Slaughter Star from elsewhere, most would’ve opposed it.

Because no matter how talented, they were simply too dangerous to accept—as martial history had proven time and time again.

More likely, one of their existing disciples had started to show the symptoms of a Heaven-Slaughter Star’s awakening.

I’d already investigated the topic and learned more during my time at Shaolin.

As far as we know, the Heaven-Slaughter Star is indistinguishable from an ordinary person at birth.

Before awakening, they’re just a child with decent talent—nothing stands out.

But as they grow, they begin to exhibit strange signs—bursts of killing intent, violent tendencies, enjoyment of bloodshed.

Their personality begins to warp. And as their inner nature becomes more twisted, their talent begins to blossom at an alarming rate.

In famous cases, a nobody with no knowledge of martial arts suddenly wielded an axe a few times and self-taught his way to the Peak Stage.

Or someone from a third-rate family mastered third-rate martial arts, only to ascend to Sub-Perfection in a few years, unleashing a bloodbath.

A previously average person suddenly begins growing at an absurd pace.

There are even frequent instances where someone with no martial training at all invents entirely new techniques on the spot.

It’s nothing short of an unnatural, monstrous talent—hence the claim that their potential is on par with those born with the Heavenly Martial Body.

However, the more their talent awakens, the deeper their bloodlust becomes.

And when they fully awaken, the Heaven-Slaughter Star becomes consumed by murderous intent—killing everyone in sight, indiscriminately, like a berserker demon.

In other words, the Heaven-Slaughter Star is harmless until their nature is awakened. But once that switch flips, they evolve at terrifying speed while bathing the world in blood.

This is why it’s so difficult to detect them in advance.

But then… can’t an unawakened Heaven-Slaughter Star live quietly and die peacefully?

I wasn’t the only one to have that thought. Countless martial artists throughout the years had tried to determine what triggered the awakening.

Unfortunately, the conclusion wasn’t encouraging.

There is no definitive trigger.

Sometimes, emotional extremes like rage or despair could be catalysts, but there are also cases—like the disciple of the former Heaven-Slaughter Star, Monk Gakjeong—where the transformation happened out of nowhere, with no warning.

If someone in Jeomchang Sect had awakened as the Heaven-Slaughter Star, and it had caused such deep division, then that person was likely a highly promising disciple.

Realizing that someone so admired was a Heaven-Slaughter Star, and that they’d have to be either executed or imprisoned—say, in the Murim Alliance’s underground prison—would be unbearable for many.

“Solving it is easy, technically speaking.”

The unspoken rule in the martial world is simple—eliminate a Heaven-Slaughter Star the moment one is discovered.

And I have both the justification and the strength to enforce that rule.

Frankly, if I stormed into Jeomchang Sect and started cutting people down, no one would be able to stop me.

The issue is… that’s not my only reason for seeking the Heaven-Slaughter Star.

My goals are also to prevent Jeomchang Sect’s destruction and, through this incident, increase my influence within the orthodox sects of the martial world.

Even if I did nothing, the Heaven-Slaughter Star would bring mutual ruin to Jeomchang Sect.

But if I were to storm in and kill them myself—sure, the sect might survive, but would they ever agree to join the Orthodox Alliance that I’m organizing?

They’d feel humiliated, emotionally shaken, and resentful—

Even if they didn’t outright become enemies, they’d definitely keep their distance.

And then, half of the reason I came here would be for nothing.

“If only they didn’t know…”

If they’d been unaware, they might’ve been shocked and heartbroken, but it wouldn’t have led to inner conflict.

And once discovered by an outsider, they’d have no choice but to act.

So, what should I do?

Whether I kill or imprison the Heaven-Slaughter Star, something must be done. But if I act alone, backlash is inevitable.

“Haa…”

This isn’t something I can resolve right away.

For now, I’ll have to visit Jeomchang Sect tomorrow and investigate for myself before deciding on a course of action.

If things go smoothly, great. If not, I’ll have no choice but to give up on some of my objectives.

***

The next morning.

After confirming that everyone was ready, I spoke.

“Alright. Let’s head out.”

“Dear. I know it’s late to say this, but… don’t be too disappointed if things don’t go well. There are countless excellent swordsmen in the Central Plains eager to cross swords with someone like you.”

“What’s this all of a sudden, Senior Seorin?”

“You already heard about Jeomchang Sect’s state yesterday.

Before I went to sleep, I thought about it, and… they might not even let us in.”

She reached her small hand toward me, hesitated, then tiptoed up to gently pat my shoulder.

She must’ve been thinking about this all night. Maybe she felt I was expecting too much, and didn’t want to bring it up.

To be honest, I was interested in their sword techniques, putting aside all the complicated issues.

It was originally an archery technique that had been transformed into a sword style—yet it still counted as an ascending art. And even more rare, it focused heavily on thrusting techniques.

It was hard not to be curious.

Of course, what Seorin noticed in me wasn’t just pure interest in swordsmanship.

As someone who’s lived with killing intent my whole life, it’s only natural that the existence of the Heaven-Slaughter Star weighs on me.

Not to mention the burden of having to resolve that issue one way or another.

Since Seorin doesn’t know any of this, to her, it probably looked like I was just excited about Jeomchang’s swordsmanship and anxious I might not get to witness it.

Smiling faintly, I covered the back of her hand on my shoulder with my palm and nodded.

“No worries. We’ll talk first. If it doesn’t work out… well, that’d be unfortunate, but that’s all.”

“If that’s how you feel, I’m relieved.”

As Seorin’s tone softened, I gave a small nod in appreciation and began walking toward Jeomchang Sect.

“Hmm?”

I was still holding Seorin’s hand on my shoulder… or rather, I was pressing it down, preventing her from pulling it away.

“Would you mind… letting go of my hand?”

Seorin was being dragged along with her hand stuck on my shoulder, still tiptoeing.

Of course, as someone at the Flowering Stage, she could walk like that without losing her balance. But the real issue was her short legs.

Her feet weren’t even touching the ground properly, so she couldn’t use lightfoot techniques. She just kept waddling along—until something clicked in her mind, and she suddenly raised her head.

“Wait! Was this your plan all along?!”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“If that’s how you’re going to play it, then I have my own response!”

Her expression turned serious. Then she bent her knees and leapt into the air.

Both feet rose into the air—and I wondered why, since she’d just land and be on tiptoe again. But then—

Ttep.

“What the—?”

She began walking across the air as if it were solid ground.

She used Void-Stepping just for this petty reason?

I stared at her silently in disbelief. She must’ve taken it as admiration.

“Ahem.”

She shrugged her shoulders like she was saying, Can you do this too?

It did irritate me a little. I might be at the Flowering Stage now, but I’m not fully accustomed to it yet.

I can draw out sword energy with some ease, but using protective qi takes long preparation and burns through my willpower and internal energy too fast to last.

Void-Stepping is similar. I’m still just practicing Void-Grasping with light objects—being able to support my whole body is still far off.

I thought about dashing forward with lightfoot techniques and making her drop, but—

“Brother Cheon, don’t tease Sister Hwarin too much. She is older than you, after all.”

“I-I’m fine!”

“And aren’t you holding her hand for a bit too long?”

“Not that I mind, of course. But this hand’s free, and it’s a little cold today.”

Tang Sowol gently waved her free hand. Seeing that, Seorin glanced around and reluctantly let go.

She then quietly moved next to Seol Lihyang and whispered a sound transmission.

I already knew what I needed to do.

Grab.

I took Tang Sowol’s hand, and only then did her smile bloom with satisfaction. Seorin let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Only Seol Lihyang shook her head in disbelief, as if watching fools.

And so, in a rather cheerful mood, we arrived at Jeomchang Sect.

While not quite on the level of the Five Supreme Clans or the Nine Great Sects, it was still too large to be considered an average sect.

But no gatekeepers stood watch at the main gate.

For a sect of this size and reputation, they should have dozens of visitors a day. Gatekeepers are meant to guide or turn away such people—they are the face of the sect.

“Should I knock?”

Just as Seol Lihyang tilted her head and reached for the gate’s handle—

A thick, unrefined killing intent exploded from within.

It lasted only a moment—then vanished, as if blocked by something.

But it was unmistakable.

The killing intent of the Heaven-Slaughter Star.

Though I wasn’t sure exactly what had happened, everyone instinctively froze—their expressions hardened.

I nodded toward them.

“Looks like we don’t have time to wait for permission.”

How we’d get in and find the Heaven-Slaughter Star had been the problem…

But I guess that just solved itself.

I exploded into lightfoot movement and leapt over Jeomchang Sect’s wall.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep