Returning to Ironblood Hall… how should I put it—it had become far more lavish.

The outer walls, which had previously only been haphazardly wiped down in a few obvious places due to chronic lack of funding, now shone as if every corner had been polished clean.

Inside the building, it was hard to believe it was the same place I had once lived before my regression.

Gorgeous decorations. Attendants bustling back and forth. The delicious aroma of food wafting from all directions, alongside stacks of wine jars piled like mountains.

It reminded me of the shock I’d felt when I first entered the Tang Clan, wandering around hand-in-hand with Tang Sowol, marveling at everything.

“…My god.”

“You’ve had that astonished look for a while now. Is something wrong, Young Lord Cheon?”

“A-ah, it’s nothing.”

Wasn’t this proof that even such a desolate building could become like this?

Back then, with barely anyone around, it was usually just Seo Mun-Hwarin handling everything alone. If anyone went out on a mission, others would wait like baby birds with their necks craned, wondering when they’d return.

And even when everyone had returned, there wasn’t much to do other than training or helping Seol Lihyang improve her constitution. A dreary, gray place filled with cold memories.

No… thinking back, maybe it wasn’t so gray and dreary after all.

Anyway, while I had liked the people I’d lived with, life outside that circle had been filled with hardship. Yet here we were—proof that even such a space could change so completely.

Despite my respect for the Black Lotus Sect Leader—who, until the moment of his death at the hands of the Heavenly Demon, embodied the dignity of one who ruled the unorthodox world—his evaluation in my mind was now plunging sharply.

“Phew…”

“Cheon Hwi? Are you feeling unwell?”

“You don’t look so good. If you need to, you could just make an appearance and go rest.”

After a few sighs, even Seol Lihyang and Seo Mun-Hwarin began looking at me with concern.

I quietly reflected on the contrast between the memories of Ironblood Hall and the bustling liveliness around me now, then shook my head.

Yeah. Whatever happened in the past, both of them were now safe and sound by my side. That was enough.

Besides, the Tang Clan where we were currently staying was far more comfortable than Ironblood Hall, now repurposed as a banquet hall.

Finally, I regained some composure and smiled faintly.

“It’s truly nothing. I just had something on my mind… but that’s all settled now.”

Though they tilted their heads slightly, seeing that I looked genuinely fine, no one pressed the issue further.

Together with them, I moved to the center of the banquet hall, where the Black Lotus Sect Leader and Sama Yuryun were already present, along with the father and son of the Namgung Clan.

“Bloodfire Sword Demon! What took you so long??”

“We were just debating whether to start drinking without you.”

True to his fondness for drinking, the Black Lotus Sect Leader looked already impatient. In contrast, Namgung Dowi maintained his usual calm demeanor.

At a glance, it looked like nothing had happened, but both of them had added more minor wounds to their bodies.

And considering the areas hidden beneath their clothing, there were likely many more.

I shrugged and spoke.

“There’s still time before the appointed hour. Besides, with three women needing to prepare, we hope for a little leniency.”

“Huahaha! That’s true! Even I only have one wife, and it still takes her forever to get ready. With three, it’s inevitable!”

“My lord…!”

Sama Yuryun bashfully slapped his arm in protest.

Of course, with his achievements in external martial arts, a slap like that wouldn’t feel like more than a massage.

Still, he laughed heartily, clearly enjoying himself, while gently calming her down. Their display of affection made me smile inwardly—until I felt something on my own back.

Turning slightly, I saw I was in no position to laugh at others.

Tang Sowol nodded serenely, as expected, but Seol Lihyang was awkwardly smiling while thumping my back with increasing force. And Seo Mun-Hwarin stood frozen, as if time itself had stopped.

Truly, such obvious reactions. Thankfully, the solution was simple.

I gently grabbed Seol Lihyang’s hand to stop her, and leaned toward Seo Mun-Hwarin so our shoulders and elbows touched, jolting her back to awareness.

Before either of them could break down again, I changed the topic to something I had been thinking about.

“By the way, it looks like the two of you were sparring again today.”

“Hm. Is it that obvious?”

“The Black Lotus Sect Leader is easier to talk to than I thought.”

The Sect Leader glanced away awkwardly, while Namgung Dowi nodded with satisfaction.

Perhaps after sparring once, the Sect Leader had come to understand the Namgung Clan’s infamous straightforwardness?

Although he had initially been reluctant, he now frequently sought out Namgung Dowi himself for duels.

Thanks to that, Dowi had been in a noticeably good mood lately. And his son, Namgung Jong, who often received pointers, was no different.

Come to think of it, I only realized after reaching the Flowering Stage myself—there really weren’t many people you could freely spar with at that level.

The Sect Leader had reached the Flowering Stage long before me and was too high-ranking to move freely. It must’ve been frustrating.

At least I had Seo Mun-Hwarin. But those two had no such sparring partners.

No wonder Namgung Dowi would go out of his way to pester anyone who seemed like a good match.

But—

“If you have time, could we spar before you leave—”

“That would be difficult.”

The problem was that the Sect Leader refused to spar with me.

I shot him a mildly annoyed look, but he simply smirked with that familiar wild air about him.

“I know your type well. Oh yes. You love martial arts, but unlike the Sword King, you’re not obsessed with them for their own sake. For you, martial arts are a means. You’ve got your eye on something else entirely.”

“Well, I am technically orthodox.”

“Sure, sure. Picking and choosing who you kill is impressive. At least for someone like me, that’s not easy—which is why I’m doing this job in Zhejiang Province as Black Lotus Sect Leader.”

With that, he extended his hand using Object-Grasping Through Empty Air and laid out cups in front of me, Namgung Dowi, and Seo Mun-Hwarin. He even poured the wine himself and continued speaking.

“I don’t know exactly why you want to spar with me. Since taking my current position, I’ve gained a few tricks, but I’ve yet to master reading hearts. Still, one thing I do know for sure.”

“What is it?”

“The way you look at me… it’s not like you’re seeing a senior martial artist, a successful elder from your hometown, or even some unprincipled scoundrel from the unorthodox world.”

“Then how do you see it?”

“It’s the look of a wolf eyeing its prey—prey it’ll devour someday. You’ve looked at me that way from the beginning.”

I was momentarily speechless.

Because he was right.

I had always planned to defeat him one day and absorb the Black Lotus Sect into the Murim Alliance.

Seeing me fall silent, the Sect Leader raised his cup.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll admit something—people with ambition like yours? I love them. I’m that kind of person too.”

“So, the ominous nickname and the elixir you gave me—that was all part of that?”

“Exactly. Most young wolves come find me on their own once they grow up. We have our grand duel, and no matter the outcome, we accept it. Isn’t that how it should be?”

“Well… depending on the terms, maybe. But as you said, unless it’s something I absolutely can’t give up, I might go along with it. I’d demand compensation, of course.”

“Look at you! You’ve already grown too big to be called a young wolf, yet your goal hasn’t changed. And clearly, I still have a part to play in it.”

“You see through me well.”

“When young wolves grow up, they become old wolves like me. Of course I’d understand.”

He chuckled deeply.

Now it made sense—why he’d shown me unexplainable kindness in the past. It was because even in my previous life, he knew I would eventually point my blade at him and the Black Lotus Sect. So he valued me early on.

In this life, with my intention to join the Murim Alliance obvious from the start, it had been even easier to tell.

“It seems you also want something from me.”

“It’s nothing special. I just want an excellent sword—one that, if possible, listens only to me.”

“What a coincidence. I want something similar from you. The only difference is that I don’t want it for life.”

“What an amusing coincidence. In that case, I’ll try to use you gently too.”

He clinked his cup against mine.

Thud.

The full wine made for a heavy toast. Without a word, we all drained our cups, grinning at each other—until we realized we were being stared at.

I blinked and looked around. Everyone, even Namgung Dowi, was staring at us like we were insane.

“…What? Why are you all looking at me like that?”

Just as I was starting to feel a little hurt, the Black Lotus Sect Leader, now in a good mood, raised his voice and prematurely declared the banquet open.

The banquet that followed was perhaps a bit too free-spirited, but overall, it felt similar to the engagement ceremony between Tang Sowol and me.

Some congratulations, a few blessings for a good life, laughter and gift-giving afterward…

The relationship between the orthodox and unorthodox worlds still wasn’t great, but the current martial world had entered a strangely peaceful era, thanks to their separation.

Most people here had never experienced direct conflict between the two sides.

Seeing us and the Black Lotus Sect Leader chatting amiably sparked just the reaction we’d hoped for.

Even if true trust was difficult, perhaps we could still join hands in shared pursuits… That kind of talk was starting to spread.

At this rate, both I and the Black Lotus Sect Leader would achieve our goals for this banquet.

But I must truly be cursed when it comes to this building.

From afar, a sharp surge of energy presence swept through the hall. Laughter and chatter gave way to silence as people began to sense it.

I was one of the first to notice—but rather than resolving, the pressure only grew closer, more aggressive.

At the same time, unknown screams began to approach.

Perhaps thinking leaving it to subordinates would only worsen the damage, the Black Lotus Sect Leader drew his twin sabers and swore.

“Damn it!”

It was the sound marking the end of the banquet.

As people quickly used their inner energy to sober up, likely trying to minimize the damage, the Black Lotus Sect Leader bolted outside, with me and the others following right behind.

And then—

Ssskuk.

One wall collapsed, sheared clean at an angle. Atop the rubble lay a corpse—slashed at the same slanted angle.

Beyond the broken wall, a figure stepped into view.

Hair left wild and unkempt. A deathly pallor and expressionless face. Eyes devoid of emotion, like those of a dead fish.

But beneath the ragged exterior surged a lethal killing aura that seemed like it could cut through anything.

A man who looked less like a human being and more like a living sword.

That gloom. That faintly familiar face, younger than I remembered. That unmistakable atmosphere.

It wasn’t hard to recognize him.

Sword Ghost.

The one causing trouble across Zhejiang Province had finally shown up at the Black Lotus Sect.

That much made sense, given his behavioral patterns.

But there was one thing I absolutely couldn’t understand.

His sword—chipped, worn, and clearly overused—was now glowing faintly with sword energy.

Even after looking several times, it didn’t change.

In my previous life, he had reached Sub-Perfection long before I did, yet never crossed the wall to the Flowering Stage.

But now, he had drawn forth sword energy.

It wavered and was unstable, clearly unrefined… but there was no doubt—it was real.

At that moment, I realized something was seriously wrong.

And as if to confirm that thought, a voice echoed out.

“So it was you… Sword Demon.”

“…No way—!”

It was like my heart had been seized.

Instinctively, I drew my sword and stepped in front of Tang Sowol.

And from behind the Sword Ghost, another figure appeared.

Wearing an unforgettable expression of weariness.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep