After scrapping the kidnapping plan, we arrived at the evening meal.

Perhaps they had been bracing themselves in the meantime, but a quiet yet resolute determination could be seen on the faces of Heo Yunsang and Jang Inam.

In contrast, Heo Soye, now composed and well-mannered, no longer resembled the beast-like figure we had last seen. She simply looked apologetic.

She knew her fate—either death or imprisonment for life in a dungeon—but more than that, she seemed worried about the damage her loss of control might bring to her sect.

Each of them was preparing for tomorrow in their own way, but their expectations, however slight, would likely be overturned.

“Was the room alright?”

“Yes. You mentioned the upkeep might be lacking, but I didn’t notice anything at all.”

“I’m relieved to hear that. There’s not much on the table, but I hope it suits your taste.”

“Before that, there’s something I’d like to discuss, Sect Master.”

“I’m listening.”

Heo Yunsang flinched briefly at my words, then straightened his posture and nodded.

Facing him, I conveyed what I had shared earlier with the others.

“The reason I don’t intend to take Lady Heo away right now is because the Jeomchang Sect can’t handle the rapidly growing threat of Heaven-Slaughter Star.”

“That much, I’m aware of.”

“However, while we’re staying here, the situation is different. We have two Flowering Stage warriors, one Sub-Perfection, and one Peak Stage. Even if she’s Heaven-Slaughter Star, for the time being, we can restrain her ourselves.”

“Surely, you don’t mean…?”

“Yes. I intend to delay taking her for now and remain here temporarily.”

At those words, Heo Yunsang and Jang Inam both took deep breaths, as if their resolved determination was suddenly wavering.

The one to speak up next was Heo Soye, who had been silent until now.

“No. Please take me away at sunrise tomorrow. My father, Brother Jang, and everyone else… you’re all too kind. The longer I stay, the more regrets will grow. So just…”

“You seem to be misunderstanding. I’m not saying we’ll stay here indefinitely, increasing the danger. There’s one final thing we’d like to try.”

“Try…? What do you mean?”

Heo Soye’s laugh was laced with bitterness, her tone growing slightly sharp.

“Do you think we just sat idly by, waiting for my madness to worsen? We’ve tried everything we could.”

“Everything, you say.”

“Yes, everything. I didn’t tell my father, but as soon as we learned of my condition, the very first thing I attempted was destroying my own dantian. It failed, of course.”

“Soye… What are you saying…?”

Heo Yunsang recoiled in shock. Heo Soye bowed her head briefly, then continued.

Unlike the others, she had accepted her reality early on.

Perhaps it was because it was her own body.

She recognized that, no matter how much she trained, she couldn’t resist the impulse born from within, and thus tried to destroy her dantian.

The problem was, every time she tried, Heaven-Slaughter Star’s instincts would erupt violently, and each attempt ended in failure.

She had even gone to the elder who insisted that she be dealt with according to the iron laws of the martial world—but whenever she felt truly threatened, Heaven-Slaughter Star would awaken uncontrollably.

If simply trying to destroy her dantian triggered such resistance, then any attempt on her life would surely provoke even greater backlash.

That was why no one had dared to lay a hand on her, even when the Jeomchang Sect nearly split apart in conflict.

Not because she was the sect master’s daughter, but because, aside from Heo Yunsang, no one could stop her when she rampaged.

“So, beyond those simple methods, we tried everything we thought might help.”

They even invited a master from the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace, the very ones who had once driven the Jeomchang Sect out of Mount Jeomchang, asking him to cast a technique that reduced a beast’s aggression on herself.

She tried sedating herself and attempting dantian destruction while in a half-conscious state.

She experimented with unknown ancient methods from obscure tomes.

She even tried venting her impulses by killing animals rather than humans.

Literally every possibility they could think of was tested, but all ended in failure—as everyone could see.

After speaking without pause, Heo Soye took a deep breath and resumed.

“I got too emotional. I apologize. But truly, there’s no hope left. It would be better to entrust my neck to those of you who can restrain me no matter how violently I struggle.”

“You’re saying… instead of another useless attempt, you’d rather we kill you?”

“Yes. Wouldn’t that be better than staying alive and burdening my father, my sect… or my beloved?”

“What melodrama. Sounds like something straight out of a play.”

“You said you reached Flowering Stage before even coming of age, didn’t you? But you don’t seem so different from me. I doubt you truly understand what it’s like to be powerless against something no matter how strong your will.”

“…Huh?”

A bitter chuckle escaped me, unbidden. And a voice scolded her from beside me.

“You insolent girl! Soye! He is a guest of Jeomchang Sect! How dare you speak like that! Did I raise you to be so disrespectful?!”

“My apologies, Cheon Hwi. Her mental state has grown quite fragile. Please, if you can, be understanding—for my sake.”

Even Heo Yunsang and Jang Inam were trying desperately to smooth things over.

Yes. I understood.

Normally, even someone my age wouldn’t be addressed so carelessly in front of a Flowering Stage martial artist.

No matter how upright and orthodox a sect is, martial artists in the murim world understand that in the end, strength rules.

But when someone has completely given up like Heo Soye,

when they even wish to be killed—they’re no longer afraid of anything.

Maybe she was hoping I’d be provoked and draw my sword right then.

So yes—I understood. But the reason I laughed wasn’t out of mockery or anger.

“You’re misunderstanding something.”

I set down my chopsticks and looked straight at Heo Soye.

And for the first time in a long while, I let my killing intent pour forth.

A bloodlust that seemed to press down on the very air itself.

Now that I had reached Flowering Stage, I no longer needed to cling to killing intent the way I once had. I knew what I truly wanted now.

But that didn’t mean I had lost the ability to release it. Any martial artist at this level can exude it—it’s just a matter of degree.

“Wh-what…”

“Huup!”

My companions were used to it by now, and since the intent wasn’t aimed at them, they remained calm. But the three from the Jeomchang Sect were different.

Especially Heo Soye—her eyes widened as if she’d been struck in the head.

The killing intent of Heaven-Slaughter Star was alien and senseless, sticky and cloying.

But even so, she hadn’t yet fully awakened.

Maybe one day, but not now. Not enough to surpass the killing intent I’d cultivated through countless hellish battles.

Frozen in place, Heo Soye stared. I narrowed my eyes and spoke.

“You said that if your life were in danger, your instincts would awaken. But even under this pressure, you’re calm. I suppose that makes sense. If survival instinct is the trigger… this is the expected response.”

When faced with a foe they have a chance of defeating, the beast bares its fangs. But when they sense true hopelessness, they retreat and hide.

It’s the smarter way to survive.

Heo Soye continued to gaze at me, then finally spoke.

“How… How can you carry this much killing intent and still be fine?”

“Because I own it. And because what I truly want is not the death of others.”

“Could I… be like that too?”

“I don’t know. That’s why we want to try.”

I withdrew the killing intent.

And facing the newly resolved Heo Soye, I gave a slight smile and continued.

“If you’re alright with it, I’ll send a letter to Shaolin. There’s a monk named Master Gakjeong there…He once raised a previous Heaven-Slaughter Star as his disciple, so he should know quite a lot. Of course, I’ll help however I can as well.”

“Of course, that’s fine. But why are you helping us like this?

I heard you had ties to Brother Jang in the past…”

“Brother Jang left quite an impression on me.”

In Zhejiang Province, where the martial world was filled with outlaws, Jang Inam, who dreamt of becoming a chivalrous warrior, ultimately failed—but he left my young self with much to think about.

“More than that, I also received quite a bit from him.”

Even if his skills were only third-rate, he passed them on freely.

He shared leftover food when I was starving, gave me firewood and clothes in winter.

Of course, he might have only done so because his family was well-off at the time, or maybe for other reasons.

But whether it was to restore his shattered confidence after being beaten by the Red Sand Gang, or because he was truly a noble-hearted man—the fact remains that I received his help.

It’s because of Jang Inam’s figure, flailing with only one arm, that I didn’t stay in my hometown to rule after defeating the Red Sand Gang.

That I didn’t become like other martial artists of the underworld—reaching a certain level, joining a sect, indulging in pleasures, and fading away.

Upon hearing that, Jang Inam looked deeply moved.

I shrugged at him.

“Don’t get too emotional. Don’t you think I’ve repaid that favor too generously?”

“Well… you have a point.”

“In that case, don’t forget this moment. If something happens to me later, I expect you to come running. That’s all I ask.”

“Of course. I promise it.”

“I’ll be with you then as well.”

Jang Inam patted his chest with his remaining arm, and Heo Yunsang nodded with a stern expression.

Good.

Now, even if things go wrong and I have no choice but to kill Heo Soye, they won’t direct their resentment at me.

And Master Gakjeong will get a chance to confront his lifelong regret.

This attachment too, will meet its conclusion—one way or another.

Even the current abbot, who has long been concerned about Gakjeong, will likely look upon me favorably.

Then, I remembered something.

“Ah, Sect Master. There’s one thing I’d like to ask directly.”

“Go ahead. What is it?”

“Would you be willing to spar with me?”

“…?”

“At full power, if possible. Don’t worry—I won’t let your blade touch me.”

Heo Yunsang blinked in astonishment.

But still, it had to be done.

I couldn’t come all this way and leave without witnessing the sword of the Jeomchang Sect.

As I nodded to myself, I felt a slight tug at my sleeve.

Turning my head, I found Tang Sowol gently pulling on it.

“Cheon Hwi. Cheon Hwi.”

“Hm?”

“You were really smug just now.”

“I really like that about you though.”

Tang Sowol’s smile gave me a strangely complicated feeling.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep