As Seo-jun moved toward the Sword Sect, he examined his own inner world.
Inside, the trapped soul of the Gilyeon Sect’s master was still screaming.
But those screams had nothing to do with the annihilation of the Gilyeon Sect. He was merely writhing in his own suffering.
"How disappointing."
Seo-jun had hoped to inflict even greater torment, but it seemed that the only thing the man truly cared about was himself.
—Crack!
Tearing through space, Seo-jun arrived at his destination. But it was not the Sword Sect.
The Sword Sect was not the same as the Gilyeon Sect. Located deep within the Black Lotus Union’s territory, it could not be attacked recklessly.
Seo-jun was here for revenge, not suicide.
"I am not my father-in-law."
Seo-jun understood his own limits. He had grown stronger at an unprecedented pace, but he was still not at Namgung Jincheon’s level.
Fighting four Harmonious Realm warriors at once was still impossible.
If such a situation became unavoidable, he would do his best—but he would never willingly throw himself into it.
Seo-jun knew the pain of those left behind.
"If I had no one else left..."
Then he would have charged in alone. If he died, so be it. If he lived, he would continue his revenge.
Either way, he would lose nothing.
But now, he had people by his side. Chun-bong, Sua-noona—they were still here.
A meaningless death was unacceptable.
“Ideal World.”
His domain unfolded. Countless warriors on the battlefield turned their gaze to the sky.
“A domain…?”
“A Harmonious Realm martial artist... Why is he here?!”
“Run! Preserve as much of our forces as possible!”
Seo-jun had studied the Martial Alliance’s strategic maps back at the meeting hall.
He had memorized the frontlines surrounding the Sword Sect.
Before the Sword Sect could be destroyed, its forces needed to be weakened.
Heavenly Thunder Burst .
Lightning that relentlessly pursued its targets erupted from Seo-jun’s fingertips.
—Rumble!
Azure lightning carved intricate paths across the battlefield.
“Aaaaaagh—!”
—Sssht—!
Then, mid-strike, a man severed the bolt.
A peak-level expert of the Sword Sect.
Seo-jun’s sharp gaze swept over the battlefield.
There were three elite warriors from the Sword Sect.
Unlike other factions like the Seven Demonic Masters or the Sixteen Noble Houses, the Sword Sect operated with a small, highly specialized force.
It was said that their only Harmonious Realm master had already been slain by Namgung Jincheon.
"Even killing the ones out in the open would be a severe blow."
Strategically, it was a sound choice.
The warriors of the Sword Sect were among the most difficult opponents Seo-jun could face.
Qi was inseparable from martial arts, yet the Sword Sect relied more on their blades than on their qi.
“I’ll buy some time.”
One of them dashed forward, sword in hand, closing the distance to Seo-jun in an instant.
“I am Geomsong.”
He revealed his name.
Seo-jun did not.
Without a word, he condensed the surrounding lightning into a sword.
Heavenly Thunder Qi Sword.
A single blade shot forward in a blue arc.
Geomsong swung his sword upward to parry.
—Searrkk—!
As he deflected the Heavenly Thunder Qi Sword, his hair stood on end, his entire body numbed by the residual electricity.
“Kgh…!”
He kicked off the air, retreating.
Seo-jun had absolute control over qi, which allowed him to dominate most martial artists.
But against the Sword Sect, there was no natural advantage.
They were one of the few who could face him on even ground.
But that was all.
—Srrrng—
Seo-jun unsheathed his sword.
Dark energy flickered like lightning across its edge.
Heavenly Demon Divine Sword .
At best, they were only peak-level warriors.
Some of them might be able to contend with Harmonious Realm masters, but only to a certain extent.
Great Mountain Suppression.
Seo-jun’s sword fell.
The very space surrounding Geomsong collapsed.
—Kuuuuuuuuung──────!!
A canyon formed in the wake of the strike.
There was no scream.
No dying words.
Nothing remained—not even a trace.
Seo-jun let go of his sword.
—Wuuuung—
The demonic blade floated in the air, trembling, craving more blood.
“To see the end of the sword, is that it…?”
Seo-jun’s brow furrowed.
How laughable. He had no interest in their personal philosophies.
If they walked the path of the sword, then he would simply cut them down.
—Crack!
Tearing through space once more, Seo-jun appeared before another warrior of the Sword Sect.
“Damn—!”
The man hastily thrust his sword forward.
Seo-jun flicked his fingers.
Path of the Immortal.
The mysteries of the sword?
He ignored them.
His blade, laced with demonic energy, shot forward.
—Schhhkkk!
The warrior had tried to redirect the attack with his own technique, but it had only been a feeble attempt.
Seo-jun’s strike pierced his chest, tore through the sky, and shredded the clouds above.
The falling clouds turned into a gentle drizzle.
Seo-jun swung his hand.
The raindrops solidified into blades and rained down.
The last remaining warrior of the Sword Sect faced them head-on.
“Hnnngh…!”
—Shhhkkk—!
His sword split into countless fragments, tracing intricate arcs as he deflected every raindrop.
Seo-jun raised his hand.
The sky within his domain coalesced into the form of a massive sword.
Imperial Sword Form.
The incantation triggered an old memory.
The overwhelming trust that Namgung Jincheon had once placed in him.
A trust so great that it made his heart ache.
At its end, there was only rage.
With blood-red eyes, Seo-jun swung Namgung’s sword.
—Schhhkkkkkk!
The strike erased the landscape before him.
Seo-jun gazed upon the now-barren battlefield.
There were still Black Lotus Union warriors fleeing in the distance.
“Not a single one escapes.”
It didn’t take long before they all stopped breathing.
Seo-jun sheathed his sword.
The righteous martial artists stared at him in a daze.
Within their gazes lay awe—overshadowed by an even greater fear.
He had openly used demonic energy. Someone would likely find an excuse to challenge him over it.
"So that's what it was."
Perhaps he had been hoping for it.
He wanted someone to confront him—so he could unleash this raging fury.
He wasn’t worried about any repercussions for the Namgung Clan. He already had enough strength to shield them.
He still remembered his father-in-law’s words.
"Demonic energy is just a tool—it all depends on how you use it."
That was enough. The Namgung Clan had accepted him. Nothing else mattered.
If someone used his demonic energy as a pretext to bare their fangs, he would welcome it.
It would give him the opportunity to remove any potential threats to Namgung before they could take root.
Seo-jun kicked off the air.
Space itself tore apart as his figure vanished in an instant.
Silence lingered on the battlefield long after he was gone.
Seo-jun wandered through the battlefield before finally returning to the Namgung Clan before nightfall.
After washing up, he went straight to Namgung Sua’s quarters.
There, he found Chun-bong battling drowsiness, her head nodding forward as she fought to stay awake.
“I’m back.”
Chun-bong’s head jerked up, and she waved groggily.
“Huh! Mmm… What were you up to?”
“Cleaning up a bit.”
“Cleaning?”
Chun-bong scratched her soft cheek.
“Well, whatever. Anyway, Sua-noona seems a little better. She woke up earlier but fell asleep again. Doesn’t look like there’s any big issue.”
“Is that so?”
Seo-jun sat beside her.
Sensing his presence, Namgung Sua’s eyelashes quivered.
Her blue eyes, faintly visible through her half-open lids, locked onto Seo-jun.
“…Seo-jun.”
Namgung Sua slowly sat up.
Her gaze flickered between Chun-bong and Seo-jun before she let out a bitter smile.
“…I’m sorry. I’ve been a burden.”
“What burden? Just rest some more.”
Silence followed.
An awkward stillness settled over the room.
Chun-bong glanced around before suddenly standing up.
“Haaahm… I’m feeling sleepy, so I’ll get going.”
With a forced yawn, she excused herself from the room.
Now, only Namgung Sua and Seo-jun remained.
Seo-jun hesitated, unsure of what to say, then silently pulled her into his embrace.
Namgung Sua said nothing.
She gripped his clothing tightly, her body trembling slightly at times.
The dampness seeping into his chest was unmistakable.
Seo-jun gently patted her back.
"Perhaps..."
He swallowed the words before they could leave his mouth.
He couldn’t torment her with uncertain possibilities.
"Father-in-law’s death… might not be what we think it is."
There were ways to verify his suspicions.
But whether they were truly feasible remained uncertain.
He would only bring it up once he had undeniable proof.
“…Once again, I couldn’t do anything.”
Namgung Sua’s voice was barely a whisper.
“When I lost my mother… and now… once again, I…”
She cried for a long time.
Though she didn’t say more, Seo-jun understood.
She blamed herself.
“Hic…”
Eventually, exhausted, Namgung Sua fell asleep in his arms.
Seo-jun laid her down on the bed.
Her swollen, reddened eyelids made his heart ache.
He wanted to offer words of comfort, but nothing would come out.
"I’m no different."
He had done nothing.
He hadn’t been where he was supposed to be.
He had been too complacent.
"I won’t let this happen again."
He owed too much to his father-in-law.
If he couldn’t protect him, then at the very least, he would protect what he had sought to safeguard.
"From now on…"
The Namgung Clan’s revival.
And revenge.
Every debt would be repaid in blood.
Seo-jun’s crimson eyes flickered with a burning light.
As he stepped out of Namgung Sua’s room, he found Chun-bong leaning against a pillar.
“How is she?”
“Asleep.”
Seo-jun approached, and Chun-bong fell in step beside him.
“Come talk with me for a bit.”