By Zephyria 
“Is this what they call destiny? I didn’t know in advance or prepare for it, but since things happened this way, it was simply fate for this to go to you from the start.”
As Peng Yuan-jin took out the Spirit Pill, a brilliant light revealed itself. It was similar to the Spirit Pill of the Young Master who had caused the Hebei Blood Massacre, but the color, scent, and size were slightly different.
“Now, take this and recover completely. Then, let us start anew.”
“W-what is that? Brother, please, explain this to me.”
Peng Do-hwan, seemingly anxious, kept backing away toward the wall.
“Do not worry. It will not harm you in the slightest. In fact, it will be better than any other Spirit Pill. While compatibility may not matter, it is easier to absorb something of the same nature.”
The same nature?
“I am glad to use this for you, Do-hwan. This is a Spirit Pill containing Father’s essence.”
Seong Mu-yeon and Peng Do-hwan froze simultaneously.
“Fa… what did you do to Father?”
Peng Do-hwan instinctively realized that something terrible had happened to his father.
Seong Mu-yeon was equally shocked. He had clearly heard from Peng Do-hwan a few days ago that the Peng Family Head was hovering between life and death after an attack by an intruder.
If that were the case, did it mean the person who attacked him was his own son, Peng Yuan-jin, and that the Spirit Pill was made from the Family Head…?
“That’s not true, right? Brother, you didn’t… right?”
“A tenacious man. To think he is still breathing even in that state.”
As Peng Yuan-jin muttered this, a clear expression of loathing appeared on his face. However, the look he gave Peng Do-hwan was nothing but tender.
“It is alright. That man is a creature worse than a beast, unworthy of pity. If anything, he has finally fulfilled his value by being able to help you in this way.”
“Brother! Why on earth did you do that! Why Father…!”
Peng Do-hwan, who had been shouting with intense emotion, suddenly paused and looked back at Seong Mu-yeon.
Seong Mu-yeon felt he knew what the other was thinking.
〈’That my mother was murdered and her body desecrated’… is that what he’s thinking?〉
“It’s a lie, right? I don’t believe anything Seong Mu-yeon says. Brother, please tell me it’s not true. I beg you…”
At his younger brother’s plea, Peng Yuan-jin gave a short sigh. However, the answer that returned was not what Do-hwan hoped for.
“It is not a lie. It is all true. And only recently did I discover that the mastermind behind those incidents was none other than that man—the husband and father.”
“Ah…”
“No wonder everyone kept it quiet. To think the great Family Head of one of the five great families would harm his own wife just to increase his inner force.”
The strength drained from Peng Do-hwan’s body.
“….”
Seong Mu-yeon was also deeply shocked.
He already knew that martial artists would stop at nothing if it meant becoming even slightly stronger. After all, what the Demonic Cult Leader Seong Hyeok-gwang had done to his wife and children was to obtain a more superior successor.
Aside from his anger as a victim, he had thought such things were only possible because it was the Demonic Cult. He had a vague expectation that such things would not happen within the orthodox sects.
But through this incident, Seong Mu-yeon realized that the Demonic Cult and the orthodox sects were no different.
The only difference was how elaborately they decorated their outer skin.
Whether it be the Demonic Cult or the orthodox sects, they were the same in that they would abandon their humanity to become stronger. If even the orthodox sects, who revered righteousness and chivalry, were like this, was there anyone left in the world to trust?
Seong Mu-yeon felt a sense of disillusionment.
Should they be allowed to run rampant under the name of the ‘Martial Alliance’ under the pretext of maintaining order in the Central Plains?
“Now, begin your circulation. I will guide you.”
“Brother, are you insane?! Do you really think I would take Father’s life, even for this? Get that away from me!”
Peng Do-hwan suddenly snapped back to his senses and began to resist violently once more. This was not the random thrashing of a hazy and confused mind as before.
In the way Peng Do-hwan gritted his teeth and refused, one could see a strong will that would never accept this.
“I didn’t want to do this to you, but you leave me no choice.”
With a low sigh, Peng Do-hwan’s resistance stopped. His face, which had been distorted with shock and horror, instantly settled into a calm expression.
He had fallen under Peng Yuan-jin’s enchantment.
“Sit in meditation.”
“Yes, Brother.”
As if he had never resisted, Peng Do-hwan answered obediently and sat cross-legged on the bed as instructed.
“He said he didn’t want it! Stop this!”
Unable to watch any longer, Seong Mu-yeon tried to stop him, but it was useless.
“Now, eat.”
“Yes, Brother.”
Peng Do-hwan took the Spirit Pill offered to him and put it in his mouth without hesitation. It happened so quickly that his previous violent refusal seemed meaningless.
Peng Yuan-jin closed his eyes, placing his hand on his brother’s back as he began the circulation.
As a massive amount of Jin-gi began to circulate within Peng Do-hwan’s body, even the surrounding air began to churn.
Seong Mu-yeon could only watch the scene, hardly daring to breathe.
* * *
The distance from Hebei to Gansu was an enormous stretch of over three thousand li. For ordinary civilians, it would take fifteen days of walking along the official roads without rest. Furthermore, since there is a limit to how far one can travel in a day, one would have to allow a full month, including sleeping time, to complete the journey safely.
However, it was a different story for martial artists who had trained their bodies to the limit. They could run longer without resting, and if they employed light body skill, they could drastically reduce travel time. Once their martial arts reached a certain level, they gained mobility that rivaled any racehorse in both speed and endurance.
Paeng Oe-cheol, the younger master of the Hebei Peng Clan and brother to the current Family Head, acted immediately upon receiving Peng Do-hwan’s location from the Haoh Gate. Leaving the matter of the heretic who attacked the Family Head entirely to the Martial Alliance, he selected martial artists with superior light body skill and departed for Gansu instantly.
The journey began simply as a mission to bring Peng Do-hwan home. However, while traveling, they received the thunderbolt of news that Peng Do-hwan had been captured by the enemy.
‘Yuan-jin, we cannot afford to lose Do-hwan after the Family Head…’
Even without this, the atmosphere within the Hebei Peng Clan was grim due to a series of misfortunes. If anything were to happen to the last remaining legitimate heir, there was no telling what the aftermath would be. At the very least, it was certain that the prestige of the Hebei Peng Clan would falter significantly.
By pushing his subordinates and enforcing a high-intensity schedule that even reduced sleeping time, Paeng Oe-cheol achieved the miraculous feat of covering thirty thousand li in just four days.
‘They’ve arrived already?’
Jegal Un could not hide his bewilderment upon hearing the news of their arrival. This was because he had not yet received a reply from a single source.
Dozens of Peng Clan martial artists entered Lanzhou with eyes bloodshot with rage. They radiated a murderous aura, as if they would cut down anyone who dared block their path.
They immediately rented out a lavish inn located on the main road to announce their arrival.
‘Fortunately, they cannot move immediately due to the grueling journey.’
While the others rested, Paeng Oe-cheol, the leader of this mission, sought out Gyo Hong. This was because she was the one who had first informed them of Peng Do-hwan’s location and was well-acquainted with the full details of the incident.
From an inconspicuous spot, Jegal Un watched Gyo Hong and Paeng Oe-cheol make contact.
“Are we certain they don’t know the information about Seong Mu-yeon?”
“Yes, of course. No one knows except for Master and the two of us.”
Gang Woong answered Jegal Un’s question in a confident tone. Owl also nodded.
“Well done.”
They still believed that only Peng Do-hwan had been taken. It was fortunate that the rumors had not spread. Of course, they would find out while attacking Kilyeon Cliff, but it would have been a headache if every random person rushed in claiming they wanted to kill Seong Mu-yeon before then.
“Is there still no news from Mount Hua?”
Gang Woong shook his head gloomily.
“Master… might not be able to come.”
Baek Ryeo-il’s indulgence had gone too far. Disobeying the orders of the Sect Gate and wandering as he pleased for a day or two was one thing, but it had been three whole years. The worst-case scenario was that the moment he showed his face to the people of Mount Hua, he would be dragged straight back to the headquarters.
Given the long silence, that possibility was quite high.
After a lengthy conversation with Gyo Hong, Paeng Oe-cheol left the house of courtesans with a stiff expression.
“What did he say?”
Jegal Un immediately followed Gyo Hong to ask for the result.
“The Peng Clan plans to strike Kilyeon Cliff tonight, as soon as they have recovered from their fatigue.”
“What… do they seem to have a specific strategy in mind?”
“I’m not sure. Though the conditions are tricky, the Peng Clan has no other choice. Since they don’t even know if Young Master Peng is alive or dead, every second is urgent for them.”
“…They say the faster you hurry, the more you should take the long way around.”
Jegal Un groaned.
It would be great if he could just buy a little more time. Even if they just had more numbers, the situation would be better than it was now. However, having received no response to his requests for support, he had no grounds to persuade Paeng Oe-cheol.
‘If it’s Seong Mu-yeon, he won’t just take it lying down. He would have already devised a strategy based on the internal situation. The problem is that there’s no way to contact him…’
It was then.
Someone opened the door of the house of courtesans and walked in.
“Ha. Finally arrived.”
Covered in dust, it seemed they had departed immediately upon receiving the message without even the luxury of sending a reply.
At the first welcome response, the corners of Jegal Un’s mouth curled upward.
“Y-you are…”
Gang Woong, who had been sitting blankly waiting for his Master’s return, gasped in surprise.