By Zephyria 
“The conditions are simple. You take your person, and we take ours.”
Fortunately, Il-gwang held his temper well. In his own way, he felt a sense of responsibility for how the situation had turned out.
“‘Our person’? Who do you mean?”
“That… I do not wish to say.”
Il-gwang glossed over it. There was no one in the Central Plains who didn’t know that the Peng Clan held a grudge against Seong Mu-yeon.
“See! How can we trust you and turn our backs to you when you won’t even reveal your hand? Get lost!”
“Don’t overthink it. Once the Demon Subjugation Valley is brought down, you just find Peng Do-hwan and leave this place.”
“Who do you think we are, that you dare give us orders?!”
“The Habeok Peng Clan, aren’t you? If you’re so confused about your own family that you have to ask, then my apologies.”
“You brat!”
“I’ve conceded this much, yet you’re as stubborn as a brick wall. This is exactly why you orthodox sect bastards are useless,” Il-gwang sneered.
“If you Peng Clan lot go in alone like this, you’ll be utterly defeated before you even set foot in the Demon Subjugation Valley. From what I can see, you’ve gathered only your most outstanding talents, but the Family Head is on his deathbed, the heir is in the enemy’s grasp, and if you, the clan’s senior officials, are wiped out here, the future of the Peng Clan is obvious. The lineage will be severed, and you’ll eventually vanish from the map. Well, we wouldn’t mind if that happened.”
“Wha—What?!”
Paeng Oe-cheol’s face flushed red, looking as if he might collapse from a stroke at any moment. Il-gwang had hit the nail right on the head. They had mobilized all their strength, staking the very survival of the clan on the recovery of Peng Do-hwan. Those remaining at the main estate were nothing more than young disciples who weren’t yet combat-ready and elderly elders.
Watching their war of words from behind, Gang Woong thought:
‘…Regardless of the method, he seems to be stalling for time quite well.’
He was far better than Gang Woong.
While Gang Woong had given away everything and let them go without exchanging more than a few words, Il-gwang was effectively drawing their attention.
“This brat’s mouth is truly unrestrained! Elder! Are you just going to endure this?!”
Furious to the core, the Peng Clan members raged as if they had forgotten the very purpose of their visit.
“I cannot endure this any longer, Elder! We must show these wicked wretches the terror of the Peng Clan!”
“Oh, now you’re going to waste your strength? Tsk tsk… This is why the Peng Clan can’t even catch up to the Tang Clan, let alone the Namgung. Do you still not get it?”
“Agh!”
Except, of course, for the worry that Paeng Oe-cheol might actually flip backward.
‘Young Master Jegal, please come quickly…’
The Peng Clan, who had lived by their hearts rather than their heads, trembled with rage, unable to cast off their temperament. However, Paeng Oe-cheol maintained his reason.
It was an undeniable fact that they lacked strength. Furthermore, having rushed for three days and nights without rest, they had only rested for half a day and had not fully recovered their energy.
It was fortunate that the opponent had no intention of attacking them, but if a battle had broken out, Peng Do-hwan’s survival could not be guaranteed.
Yet, they couldn’t simply ignore them and pass by. In the end, it was an offer they couldn’t refuse.
“Seeing as you’re going this far, it seems your side is quite desperate as well? You must have someone you absolutely want to recover, whoever they may be.”
“…….”
As Il-gwang’s expression stiffened, Paeng Oe-cheol wore a triumphant smile. His excitement subsided as he realized that the Black Shadow Unit also needed the Peng Clan’s strength.
“Fine. I will concede a hundred steps and cooperate with you. However, it is only fair that you reveal the person you wish to protect. What if we mistake them for an enemy and accidentally kill them?”
“…….”
“Surely that person isn’t Yakseon Daein. We cannot concede him.”
Paeng Oe-cheol asserted his dominance by mentioning someone who had been completely irrelevant until now. In truth, it didn’t matter if it was Yak Seon or anyone else. For them, Peng Do-hwan’s safety was the top and only priority.
A moment of conflict crossed Il-gwang’s face.
“Swear upon the honor of the orthodox sects. That you will keep your promise.”
“I shall. I, Paeng Oe-cheol, swear upon the honor of the Habeok Peng Clan that we shall not touch that person.”
The two formed a pact regarding a precious person who could never be conceded. However, Paeng Oe-cheol did not anticipate one thing: that the person Il-gwang wished to protect was the Peng Clan’s sworn enemy, the Seventh Prince Seong Mu-yeon.
‘N-no…’
Gang Woong looked at Il-gwang in shock. He shook his head vigorously, hoping Il-gwang would notice him. If he could, he would have stopped him with a loud shout. It was a lifelong regret that he couldn’t use telepathic transmission at a time like this.
“The Seventh Prince is inside. We have come to escort him.”
Eventually, that name flowed from Il-gwang’s lips.
“……Seong Mu-yeon?”
In an instant, the area became as silent as if cold water had been poured over it.
The eyes of the Peng Clan martial artists glinted, and the surrounding air began to sink gloomily, as if synchronizing with their emotions.
“……Hey? The promise…”
Il-gwang could not hide his bewilderment at the unexpected reaction. The atmosphere was entirely different from before. If they had just raged and stormed like before, Il-gwang wouldn’t have been this flustered.
“……If it is the Seventh Prince Seong Mu-yeon, the story is different.”
Paeng Oe-cheol’s murmur was like a single drop of water falling onto a still pond; the Peng Clan began to boil over all at once.
“The Seventh Prince Seong Mu-yeon!”
“That bastard is here?!”
“The enemy of our clan!”
Gang Woong closed his eyes tight.
Outsiders didn’t know. On the surface, the orthodox sects revered justice and chivalry and took pride in keeping their word, but that only applied within the range they deemed acceptable. They strove to maintain the order of the world and restrain themselves with strict discipline, but they were human too.
Il-gwang, being part of the Demonic Cult, misunderstood the orthodox sects. He seemed to think they would risk their lives to uphold the virtues of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trust. Of course, generally speaking, that wasn’t wrong, but exceptions certainly existed. Especially toward an enemy who had harmed themselves or their clan, they showed no mercy.
A grave mistake had been made.
Il-gwang should not have mentioned his name.
Paeng Oe-cheol drew the greatsword he had been holding. A cold sword-light pointed directly at Il-gwang.
“As expected, the Demonic Cult is not a breed to be associated with. To dare try and sneak the Seventh Prince away right before the eyes of the Habeok Peng Clan. Did you believe that would be possible?”
“Hey! Are you throwing away the honor you swore?!”
“Honor? Not leaving an enemy who harmed and shamed the clan alive—that is exactly what honor is.”
Paeng Oe-cheol shouted.
“Show no mercy!”
“By your command!”
“By your command!”
“W-wait a moment!”
Gang Woong threw himself between the Black Shadow Unit and the Peng Clan to block them.
“If you waste your strength here, Young Master Peng Do-hwan will be in danger!”
“……I see now that the Young Master of Mount Hua is also in league with these wretches. I wondered how you spied on the Demonic Cult’s den, and it turns out you joined hands with them. Yes, everyone knows your master was close with the Seventh Prince Seong Mu-yeon. I heard Mount Hua suffered greatly because of him, yet you still defend him.”
Gang Woong’s mind went blank.
He could neither affirm nor deny it.
After the incident where Seong Mu-yeon was declared a martial world enemy, Mount Hua maintained neutrality without announcing any opinion.
Internally, opinions were divided. Those who had been close to Seong Mu-yeon didn’t want to believe it, while those who viewed him unfavorably argued that Mount Hua should also align with the Peng Clan and state its position.
People were curious about Baek Ryeo-il’s opinion, as he was the person who had watched Seong Mu-yeon from the closest distance.
Gang Woong found the reason why Baek Ryeo-il did not return to Mount Hua there.
As Baek Ryeo-il ignored everyone and focused solely on chasing the Demonic Cult, people turned their arrows toward the relatively easier target, Gang Woong.
But Gang Woong couldn’t answer their questions either.
Was Seong Mu-yeon really a murderer?
Did he kill people to take Spirit Pills to heal his body?
Gang Woong didn’t want to believe it, but it was true that Seong Mu-yeon had shown astonishing martial prowess immediately after. As if all constraints had vanished…
Just as Mount Hua had done, Gang Woong deferred his judgment.
The Seong Mu-yeon he experienced was not a person who would harm someone for personal greed.
…Right?
Only then did Gang Woong realize that he didn’t actually know much about Seong Mu-yeon.
“I am……”
As Gang Woong hesitated, unable to answer for a long time, Paeng Oe-cheol spoke to the subordinates lined up behind him.
“……Enough. Peng Clan, listen! Anyone who obstructs the revenge of the Peng Clan shall not be tolerated!”
“Yes!”
Bloodlust exploded.
Sensing that the plan had gone awry, Il-gwang’s face contorted. Clicking his tongue, he pushed Gang Woong by the scruff of his neck, almost throwing him backward.
“Execute the enemy!”
Just as the two forces, unable to back down due to their respective circumstances, were about to clash.
Paeng Oe-cheol felt a presence rapidly closing the distance toward them and whipped his head around. A snow-white hem of clothing fluttering softly in the wind entered his sight first. They stepped onto the ground with an elegant poise that belied their speed. Their refined appearance was closer to that of scholars than martial artists.
Paeng Oe-cheol’s eyebrows twitched.