The Hell Darkness Emperor, who had been writhing in pain, suddenly tilted his head.
He looked at the subordinate who had co to report, his expression showing that the na Yeon Woo Jin was one he had never heard before.
“I do not know who that is.”
“Is... is that so?”
“Expel him at once.”
“Th-that is... difficult!”
At the word “difficult,” the Hell Darkness Emperor turned his gaze upon the Red Refining Gate Master.
The Gate Master bowed his head and spoke.
“I shall deal with it personally.”
Turning on his heel imdiately, he spoke to the subordinate.
“Let’s go.”
****
Red Refining Gate Master, No Seon Ryong.
He had originally belonged to the Demonic Faction, but, enthralled by the overwhelming might of the Martial Deity Heaven’s Lord, he had volunteered to serve beneath him.
Perhaps that was why—he revered the Hell Darkness Emperor, who had received the Martial Deity Heaven Lord’s recognition, more than anyone.
When the Hell Darkness Emperor himself ca to him and said he had need of him, it felt as though the heavens themselves were about to soar.
For him, the Hell Darkness Emperor’s movents were the Martial Deity Heaven Lord’s will made manifest. So he followed his words without question.
Yet the order he received was strange.
He was told to begin with Bukcheon Gate and then bring all the sects in Qinghai Province under his command.
Though the order felt off, he believed that Musincheon was finally making its move to unify the Central Plains.
Because of that, he threw himself into assisting the Hell Darkness Emperor more zealously than anyone.
Even now, it was the sa.
To deal with the insolent brats who dared to co and go as they pleased before the Hell Darkness Emperor, who was striding toward the great cause, No Seon Ryong was heading for the main gate.
When he arrived, his subordinates were standing in tense formation around a single figure.
They did not tense like this even against considerable foes. Sothing was off.
Turning his head to look at the opponent, No Seon Ryong saw a youth, still in the flush of youth.
He did not even look that strong.
Still, No Seon Ryong did not relax his guard.
If his subordinates were this tense, it ant the opponent was no ordinary expert.
Stepping forward, No Seon Ryong saluted with a cupped fist toward the young man.
“I am No Seon Ryong, Master of the Red Refining Gate. Who might you be, young hero?”
At his question, the youth returned the salute and answered.
“My na is Yeon Woo Jin. I have co to see the Hell Darkness Emperor.”
“The Hell Darkness Emperor says he does not know you. I would like to know the reason you seek an audience with him.”
“You said... he does not know ?”
At those words, Yeon Woo Jin asked again, his expression filled with disbelief.
“That is so.”
“That cannot be. Did you clearly deliver my na?”
“I did. I clearly said the na Yeon Woo Jin.”
“And even after hearing my na, he said he did not know ?”
“That is so.”
Yeon Woo Jin’s face grew grave.
There were only two possibilities here.
Either the Hell Darkness Emperor inside was a fake, or, for so reason, he had lost his mory.
Whichever it was, this matter would not be resolved without facing him directly.
“I must speak with him face-to-face. Will you guide ?”
At his words, No Seon Ryong shook his head.
“The Hell Darkness Emperor said he will see no one. Leave quietly. I shall not hold today’s disturbance against you.”
Yeon Woo Jin shook his head.
“No. I must see him.”
“My words are already showing you the utmost respect. Do not provoke further. Leave in silence.”
“I cannot do that.”
“In the end, you an to cross a river from which there is no return?”
No Seon Ryong’s tone grew cold.
Yeon Woo Jin spoke.
“I too do not wish to fight my own family. Simply arrange my eting with the Hell Darkness Emperor.”
“Family?”
At that word, No Seon Ryong tilted his head.
“I too am of Martial Deity Heaven.”
“Which division?”
“I cannot tell you my division.”
“Then do you have proof you are of Martial Deity Heaven?”
Proof of belonging to Martial Deity Heaven.
He had it.
The Martial Token.
Yeon Woo Jin hesitated.
Should he bring it out?
After a mont’s thought, he drew out the Martial Token.
He did not want a bloody clash between kin.
The token—an absolute authority that everyone in Martial Deity Heaven must obey, save only the Martial Deity Heaven Lord himself.
He revealed it.
Any who saw it must imdiately prostrate in absolute obedience.
When No Seon Ryong saw the extraordinary plaque, radiating a dazzling light, he sharpened his vision to examine it closely.
And there, the characters “Martial God” were carved.
There was only one golden plaque in Martial Deity Heaven that bore those characters.
The Martial Token—the symbol of the Martial Deity Heaven Lord himself.
Shiiing—
No Seon Ryong imdiately drew his sword, his face twisted with rage as he glared at Yeon Woo Jin.
“You wretch! To dare forge the Martial Deity Heaven Lord’s token! Do you think you have ten lives to spare?”
“...What?”
“That token you hold is possessed by only one man in Martial Deity Heaven—the Martial Deity Heaven Lord himself! How can you possibly have the token that belongs to him?”
“Because he gave it to .”
“Silence! n! Kill this blaspher at once!”
“Sir!”
At No Seon Ryong’s order, the Red Refining Gate n surged forward to attack Yeon Woo Jin.
“W-wait! S-stop! You must not lay hands on him!”
“Yuk Tae Bo! Stand aside!”
“Gate Master! The Martial Token truly was given to him by the Martial Deity Heaven Lord!”
“Silence! Do you think that makes sense?”
“Think carefully about his na!”
“What?”
“Did he not introduce himself clearly?”
“He did. He said Yeon Woo Jin.”
“What is the Martial Deity Heaven Lord’s na?”
“Yeon Cheon... Baek...”
“And his na?”
“Yeon... Woo Jin...”
“He is the one and only grandson of the Martial Deity Heaven Lord.”
“...!”
No Seon Ryong looked at Yeon Woo Jin, his face stricken with disbelief.
“P-prove that you bear his bloodline.”
The claim was far too overwhelming to accept so easily, so he demanded confirmation.
“Showing power is the surest way, isn’t it?”
Of course it was.
As No Seon Ryong swallowed hard and stared at him—
Whoooom—
Flutter—
Qi swirled around Yeon Woo Jin, making his robes flutter.
But the aura did not seem so overwhelming at first, leaving No Seon Ryong puzzled.
Then Yeon Woo Jin’s pupils began to turn black.
At the sight, No Seon Ryong recoiled in shock.
“B-Black Eyes?”
The Black Eyes were a phenonon that appeared only when the Martial Deity Heaven Lord raged.
And now they appeared in Yeon Woo Jin’s eyes.
Was he truly the direct grandson of the Martial Deity Heaven Lord?
As that doubt rose, he realized sothing else—Yeon Woo Jin had said he would show his power, yet nothing had happened. It felt strange.
Then—
Wooooong—
A sound of resonance rang out.
Turning his head, he saw, right before him, sothing faintly blue aid straight at him.
Looking closely, it was a sword-shaped form.
And not just one.
Before every warrior present, sword-shaped forms of blue light were aid at them.
All of them stared blankly at the mysterious sight they had never before seen.
The answer ca from No Seon Ryong’s muttering.
“Th-the Sword of the Heart...?”
Thud—
Overco with shock, No Seon Ryong collapsed to the ground.
The Sword of the Heart—sothing that could barely be ford by those at the Mythic Realm—Yeon Woo Jin had manifested not one or two, but hundreds.
“A... monster...”
The words slipped from his lips before he could stop them.
“Ah!”
Snapping out of it, he realized—Yeon Woo Jin truly was of the Martial Deity Heaven Lord’s bloodline.
If not, how could such a sight be possible?
No.
Gathering himself, No Seon Ryong quickly dropped to his knees and bowed flat.
“I! No Seon Ryong, Gate Master of the Red Refining Gate! Pay homage to the Martial Token!”
At his cry, the others ca to their senses and prostrated as well.
“Pay homage to the Martial Token!”
Yeon Woo Jin looked at No Seon Ryong and spoke.
“Take to the Hell Darkness Emperor.”
“Yes!”
There was no reason not to guide him.
On the contrary, he most likely bore the Martial Deity Heaven Lord’s ssage. They had to hurry.
In haste, No Seon Ryong led the way.
****
“Hell Darkness Emperor, a guest has co.”
When No Seon Ryong carefully called from outside the door, a languid voice replied from within.
“I told you clearly I do not wish to be disturbed.”
“Th-that is... he has co from Martial Deity Heaven.”
“From Martial Deity Heaven?”
“Yes.”
The Hell Darkness Emperor was silent for a mont.
“...Let him in.”
“Yes!”
Clatter—
The door opened, and Yeon Woo Jin stepped inside.
Before his eyes sat the Hell Darkness Emperor—Ma Ryang—wearing a disinterested expression.
It was not a fake.
But sothing was different.
Even as he looked at him, his eyes showed no recognition.
Not a trace of familiarity.
“Who are you?”
The voice was cold, devoid of any hint of warmth.
Unfamiliar.
“Yeon Woo Jin.”
“Ah! So you are the one who was said to be seeking just now. Very well, you ca from Martial Deity Heaven, did you? For what reason do you seek ?”
That fellow.
He truly did not recognize him.
With a stiff face, Yeon Woo Jin began to walk slowly toward Ma Ryang.
“Stop. Take one more step, and even if you ca from Martial Deity Heaven, I will not let you live.”
As Ma Ryang directed killing intent straight at him, Yeon Woo Jin’s heart ached.
Who could know the pain of receiving killing intent from one he cherished?
Yet, despite the warning, Yeon Woo Jin walked forward in silence.
Watching with an anxious face, No Seon Ryong finally cried out, unable to bear it.
“H-he is the grandson of the Martial Deity Heaven Lord! Show proper respect!”
At his cry, Ma Ryang’s expression shifted with surprise.
“So... he is the Martial Deity Heaven Lord’s grandson.”
But even with the Martial Deity Heaven Lord’s na invoked, Ma Ryang’s face remained unconcerned as he stayed seated.
Surely the Hell Darkness Emperor was a direct subordinate of the Martial Deity Heaven Lord.
And yet, to react like this?
No Seon Ryong realized sothing was terribly wrong.
Could it be that he had been deceived by a false Hell Darkness Emperor into committing grave acts?
If so, it was disastrous.
He glanced at Yeon Woo Jin.
His face was grave.
“Ma Ryang...”
Yeon Woo Jin called the Hell Darkness Emperor’s na.
It seed they truly did know one another.
That thought gave No Seon Ryong so relief.
Perhaps he was not entirely a different person.
“You know ?”
Ma Ryang tilted his head. Yeon Woo Jin nodded.
“For you not to recognize ... this is a grave problem. Do not worry. I will heal you at once.”
“Heal ? I am fine. More importantly—stop. Take another step, and I will not let you be.”
Yeon Woo Jin ignored the warning and walked closer still.
Ma Ryang rose to his feet, raising his aura.
“I told you to stop.”
Kuoooo—
The room shook with Ma Ryang’s energy, objects rattling in the air.
Still, Yeon Woo Jin did not stop.
His face was full of concern as he walked toward Ma Ryang.
“To dare ignore my warning...”
Killing intent gathered in Ma Ryang’s hand, and then he unleashed it toward Yeon Woo Jin.
Fwoosh—
A strike brimming with killing intent shot forth.
Clang!
Boom-boom-boom!
But the strike was blocked by an invisible barrier around Yeon Woo Jin, scattering in all directions, punching holes into the walls.
Through the thick dust, Yeon Woo Jin’s figure stood unhard.
Ma Ryang looked at him, his eyes gleaming with surprise.
“You are no ordinary man.”
As the dust cleared, Yeon Woo Jin smiled.
“Not ordinary, indeed.”
The sight of him grinning made Ma Ryang’s heart pound.
It felt like he had forgotten sothing—sothing vitally important.
“What is this? Why does my heart race when I look at you?”
“Ah, so it does? Then your body rembers after all.”
Ma Ryang faltered, stepping back.
What was {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} this feeling?
As though he must not harm Yeon Woo Jin.
Yeon Woo Jin gave a deep smile.
“Whoever the bastard is that laid hands on what’s mine...”
Shiver—
Yeon Woo Jin’s pupils turned black.
“...I will find him, and make him regret it.”
What was this?
A being who felt more terrifying than even his own master.
No—worse. The very sa feeling he harbored toward his master now surged from Yeon Woo Jin.
With a complicated gaze, Ma Ryang looked at Yeon Woo Jin, unable to grasp his own condition.
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