Chapter 86: Rampage

A night where the moonlight hung precariously.

Two human figures darted swiftly through the deep forest.

‘...Young Master Tang, just where are you right now?’

Ha Yeong, the Silver Phoenix of the Emei Sect, followed the one ahead of her with worried eyes fixed into the distance.

Her mind was in utter turmoil.

She still couldn’t believe how such a horrifying situation had become reality.

Upon hearing the news that the Murim Alliance had summoned Sewoon in a surprise move, Lord Geum Hwa hastily sent a letter of support for Sewoon to Ha Yeong.

Coincidentally, she had been out on relief work in a fire-field village near Kaifeng and, upon receiving the message, rushed to Kaifeng.

And then—

"Aaaargh!"

"It hurts... it hurts so much..."

What unfolded before her eyes upon arriving in Kaifeng was a living hell.

People screamed and writhed in agony beneath a crimson rain, red like blood falling from the sky.

Without hesitation, she began tending to the victims, ignoring the danger of injury altogether.

While doing so, a scouting unit from the Beggars’ Sect spotted her.

As she tried to join up immediately, Jang Sopyeong, the Vice-Branch Leader, stopped her.

“The direction of the Cursed Object has been found with the help of the Young Master of the Tang Clan.”

“With the full force of the Alliance and the authorities deployed, this crisis will be resolved swiftly.”

“But the issue is that there’s another assault happening elsewhere.”

“Please—head that way and aid my dear friend.”

The friend Jang spoke of turned out to be none other than Tang Sewoon.

He had stormed out of the Alliance like a madman the moment he heard news of his sister’s assault.

Thus, Ha Yeong joined the rescue unit led by Sea Sword Demon Wi Tae-do, the Great Elder of the Mount Hainan Sect.

It was an unprecedented incident: an ambush on the former Nine Dragons Four Phoenixes, with successors of the Nine Sects and Seven Great Clans involved. Yet only a single unit could be dispatched.

They had no choice.

All of the Alliance’s primary forces were already devoted entirely to lifting the curse afflicting Kaifeng.

With a trembling heart, she made her way toward the dock where the Namgung Clan’s Tower Ship was stationed.

“If you wish to save Young Master Tang, follow me.”

One member of the rescue team discreetly transmitted a telepathic message to her.

It was Do Yecheon, the Mount Hua Sword Dragon, who had joined the rescue mission alongside her.

“I found what appears to be a freshly marked and desperate trail left by the Young Master. If we follow the others, we’ll be too late.”

It was their first real conversation—but without hesitation, Ha Yeong followed his lead at the mention of Sewoon.

Thankfully, the mission commander, Wi Tae-do, had also allowed them to act independently.

Now, Do Yecheon was leading the way in pursuit of Sewoon.

‘Didn’t he say he owed Young Master Tang a life-saving favor?’

She looked toward Do Yecheon.

Fwoosh!

With his movement arts in full display, Do Yecheon dashed ahead at incredible speed.

A refined, blue energy surged around his entire body.

It was a stark contrast to the recent rumors surrounding the one called Fallen Dragon.

They had said he broke through to the Transformation Realm after receiving help from Sewoon—perhaps it was true.

Although Ha Yeong had also reached the peak of Peak Master Level, it was still difficult just to keep up with him.

Before meeting Sewoon, she had only just begun stepping into the realm of Peak Level.

But after fighting alongside Sewoon against Tang Hoyeol, receiving his teachings, and then blaming herself for being utterly useless during the battle against the Poison Demon, she pushed herself relentlessly through training, eventually breaking through the wall.

Shff.

At that moment, Do Yecheon suddenly came to a halt.

He inspected a large tree nearby.

“What is it?”

“A projectile’s trace.”

“...!”

Startled, Ha Yeong quickly moved closer and examined the tree.

A deep, clean hole had been drilled straight through the thick trunk.

But as she observed the traces, a glimmer of understanding flashed in her eyes.

“Phew, it looks like we avoided the worst-case scenario.”

“Pardon?”

“This is a mark left by Young Master Tang.”

“Young Master Tang was versed in archery?”

“No. My guess is that he fired a thread like an arrow.”

“Ah!”

That moment, Do Yecheon recalled the Black Threads Sewoon used to maintain his sword.

There were two clues that allowed Ha Yeong to make such an accurate deduction.

First, there wasn’t a single trace of any arrow shafts remaining nearby.

Second, the barely perceptible fine thread marks left in several places from the high-speed retrieval of Sewoon’s Silken Projectile.

Neither would have been noticeable to anyone without a sharp eye, but Ha Yeong’s unique vision allowed her to detect them clearly.

“I see. Then it seems the one being chased is, rather—”

“Yes, it looks like the ringleader of the Blood Massacre is the one fleeing from the Young Master.”

Just as a trace of relief emerged on both their faces—

Rumble...!

Rrrrmmm!

“–!!”

“!!”

The earth trembled violently, as if a massive earthquake had struck.

Simultaneously, a tremendous wave of energy burst out from not far away.

Their eyes met in midair—

Fwoosh!

Without needing to speak, both of them sprinted at full speed.

They were closing in on the source of the energy disturbance, but Do Yecheon’s expression only grew darker.

‘So it wasn’t the Demonic Alliance? Then who is behind this Blood Massacre…?’

The energy he sensed was undoubtedly Demonic Qi.

He had assumed the Demonic Alliance might be behind both the Kaifeng incident and this one—but that assumption now wavered.

Many among the unorthodox sects were wicked and immoral, but even they rejected Demonic Practitioners and Demonic Arts.

‘It’s as if someone is deliberately trying to create an irreparable rift between the orthodox and unorthodox...’

Just as an inexplicable unease began to take hold of Do Yecheon—

“Young Master Tang!”

“-!”

From behind, Ha Yeong called out loudly.

Following her gaze—Tang Sewoon had indeed appeared before them.

“......”

“...Kkugh, guh... g-guh.”

He was clutching the throat of a wretched-looking enemy with one hand.

Fortunately, it seemed the battle had just ended.

Faint yet unmistakable Demonic Qi seeped from the captured foe.

‘That man…!’

Since the face of Sewoon Do Yecheon had seen before had been hidden beneath a Human-Skin Mask, this was the first time he saw Sewoon’s real face.

Yet strangely enough, he immediately realized that this was the man who had saved his life.

What words could possibly convey the depth of his gratitude?

His heart stirred; he could not conceal the emotional turmoil.

Ssshhk.

At last, Sewoon, who had been silent, turned his head to look at them.

And then—

‘...!!’

Shock spread across Do Yecheon’s face the moment he saw Sewoon’s eyes.

“It’s a relief, Young Master Tang. You’re safe.”

Ha Yeong stepped forward, letting out a breath of relief.

Shff.

But suddenly, Do Yecheon raised a hand and blocked her path.

“Young Lord Do?”

“...You mustn’t.”

His unexpected action flustered Ha Yeong.

But Do Yecheon’s frozen expression didn’t waver, and he didn’t lower his hand.

Right at that moment—

“Gugh, grk!!”

“!!”

The enemy in Sewoon’s grip groaned in agony.

Dangling midair with his feet off the ground, the man flailed helplessly as his face turned purple from suffocation.

“Y-Young Master Tang?!”

Ha Yeong was more alarmed than ever before.

To protect justice—

To save even those unrelated to him, Sewoon had thrown away his life without hesitation.

But now, with empty eyes devoid of any emotion, he stared at the struggling enemy.

Sssshhh!

A spine-chilling killing intent erupted from him without restraint.

And finally—

Crunch!

“……!!”

“!!”

With a horrifying sound, the man’s neck snapped.

The body in Sewoon’s grasp instantly went limp.

The brutal scene left Ha Yeong in shock.

“Y-Young Master Tang, why…?!”

“That man... is no longer Young Master Tang.”

In Do Yecheon’s eyes, as he looked at Sewoon, sorrow and pity swelled.

Just as the two stood there, unsure of what to do—

Fwoosh!

Fwoooosh!

The enemy’s corpse suddenly burst into dark crimson Demonic Fire.

The ominous flames were linked to Sewoon’s hands.

Wuuuung!

The Demonic Qi that surged from Sewoon engulfed the area like a storm.

‘...Demonic Qi!’

‘W-why is Young Master Tang…!!’

At that moment, memories of what Lord Geum Hwa had once told Ha Yeong about Demonic Arts resurfaced in her mind.

—"When facing a Demonic Practitioner, it’s not just the blade you should be wary of. Be cautious of every aspect at all times."

—"Some Demonic Arts can induce Inner Demons in an opponent or even drive them into a berserk state."

She concluded that Sewoon had been affected by the enemy’s Demonic Art.

There was no other explanation for why someone like Sewoon, who once radiated pure and orderly Profound Qi, would now be exuding such terrifying Demonic Qi.

“W-we need the Alliance’s support...!”

She frantically pulled out a signal flare from within her robes.

To pull someone out of such a dire state, support from the Alliance was essential.

Snatch!

But Do Yecheon immediately snatched the flare from her hand.

“...Why?”

“No one will try to understand Young Master Tang’s condition.”

“-!!”

Her eyes shook violently, as if hit by an earthquake.

Ha Yeong understood the implications of Do Yecheon’s words at once.

Because of Sewoon’s actions thus far, many factions within the Murim Alliance had already grown openly hostile toward him.

Even his recent summoning to the Alliance had seemed more like a trap to harm him and the Tang Clan—hence why her master, Lord Geum Hwa, had sent her with a letter of support.

If news of Sewoon being consumed by Demonic Qi spread now...

‘There’s a higher chance they’ll issue a kill-on-sight order than a rescue one—!’

In the end, the only ones who could save Sewoon now—

Were Ha Yeong and Do Yecheon.

In that instant, the panic vanished from Ha Yeong’s eyes.

All that remained was unwavering resolve.

“...We absolutely must not hurt him.”

“Of course.”

Do Yecheon answered without the slightest hesitation.

There was not a hint of falsehood in his voice.

In truth, Do Yecheon had anticipated that something like this might happen, which was why he had separated from the rescue unit.

‘It’s a Doomed Star’s power that far exceeds someone like me.’

Do Yecheon believed that Sewoon, like himself, was born under the fate of a Doomed Star, and that he was now overtaken by that power.

The insight Sewoon had given him—things only someone who had suffered the same pain could understand—confirmed it.

And what stood before him now turned that belief into certainty.

‘...Just as you saved me, I too shall risk my life to save you.’

Clink!

To save Sewoon.

That singular determination filled both of them as they simultaneously drew their swords.

But as soon as they showed intent to act, Sewoon unleashed a torrent of ferocious Demonic Qi.

Shrrrk!

Shrrrrrkk!

At the same time, countless strands of Heavenly Thread burst forth.

Each one pulsated as if it held a life of its own—the Black Threads quivered.

Ssshhh!

Then, the Heavenly Threads lifted their master off the ground.

‘Ah...’

Sewoon looked down upon them with an overwhelming gaze—

It was eerie, fearsome, and terrifying.

Ha Yeong’s mind flashed with a legendary tale from the Buddhist Martial World—the descent of the Heavenly Demon.

Fwish!

Shhhhaaa!

[Evade!!]

The Black Thread that once saved her life—

Now turned into a blade of icy steel, flying at her throat to sever her breath.

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