Yoo Unryong let out a deep sigh and spoke.
“Are you saying you just stood there and watched?”
“Then what? Was I supposed to dance while watching?”
“A woman was kidnapped.”
“It wasn’t a woman who was kidnapped. It was a martial artist from the righteous sects who barged into the Human Ghost Party alone, causing a ruckus, and got caught.”
“So she’s....”
Yoo Unryong, who had been about to reveal Danri Yuhwa’s identity, shook his head.
The sect leader of the Blue Moon Sect and the head of the Blood Crow Hall of Majeon merely maintained a close relationship, nothing more. From the very beginning, the Blue Moon Sect had been completely outside the interest of Majeon’s core members. Moreover, since Danri Yuhwa had never been active in the Central Plains martial world, there was no chance they would recognize her by sight.
Knock knock.
At that moment, there was a knock, and his adjutant Mu Gwang entered.
“Captain.”
After bowing to Yoo Unryong, Mu Gwang gave light nods to Won Semun and Jo Namcheon as well.
“Captain Won. Captain Jo.”
Then he spoke carefully.
“It’s an urgent message from the Death Spirit Corps. I thought you should hear it right away.”
“Speak.”
“Because of the branch division conflict, the young sect leader of the Blue Moon Sect—Danri Yuhwa, who had repeatedly clashed with the Human Ghost Party—secretly infiltrated their headquarters, was discovered, and has now been captured in Chengdu.”
The intelligence capability of the Death Spirit Corps was outstanding. They were already reporting exactly what Won Semun and Jo Namcheon had witnessed in Chengdu just moments ago.
“She probably heard the unsavory rumors about the Human Ghost Party, wanted concrete evidence, and planned to use it to gain an advantage in the power struggle.”
The Blue Moon Sect branch was positioned extremely close to the Human Ghost Party’s territory and since the Human Ghost Party belonged to the Black Path Alliance, they had been quietly applying pressure against the Blue Moon Sect’s branch establishment.
Recently, however, disturbing rumors had been circulating in intelligence circles about the Human Ghost Party: that they were abducting women and turning a profit from them.
Danri Yuhwa must have obtained that information, infiltrated to confirm its truth, and intended to use it to ease the subtle pressure from the Black Path Alliance.
A simple, yet utterly reckless plan.
“This has become quite inconvenient.” Mu Gwang scratched his head. “It looks like we’ll have to postpone dealing with the Human Ghost Party for quite a while now.”
Coincidentally, Yoo Unryong had also heard the rumor about women being abducted by the Human Ghost Party and had already been planning to handle the matter.
He had intended to thoroughly verify the abduction rumors.
But he had also learned that a certain powerful force stood behind them.
That was why he had been preparing—together with the other captains—to hold discussions and proceed with a plan to eliminate the Human Ghost Party.
Then, out of the blue, Danri Yuhwa got herself captured.
“What did you say? So the woman who was dragged away earlier… is actually the young sect leader of the Blue Moon Sect?”
When Won Semun and Jo Namcheon opened their mouths in shock, Yoo Unryong nodded.
“Correct.”
“What an astonishing connection.”
Won Semun and Jo Namcheon looked at each other in amazement.
The woman who had been so brutally dragged away by the Human Ghost Party was none other than the young sect leader of the Blue Moon Sect—the same woman who had once been betrothed to Yoo Unryong?
“If things had gone well between you two back then, her life would have been smooth and secure.”
“Indeed. The Blue Moon Sect Leader worked so hard to win over the Blood Crow Hall Leader’s favor.”
Even knowing all of this, they spoke as though they were merely watching a fire burn across the river. No matter how much they had been influenced by Bu Eunseol, their roots remained in the Demonic Path. They had virtually no interest in other people’s affairs.
Since Danri Yuhwa had only met Yoo Unryong once—for a single marriage talk—there was no reason for them to worry about her.
“In this situation, we probably won’t be able to touch the Human Ghost Party for the time being.” Mu Gwang spoke calmly. “Regardless of the circumstances, the young sect leader of the Blue Moon Sect has been captured by a Black Path faction under the Black Path Alliance. If our forces move now, it could create unnecessary friction between the Demonic Path and the Black Path.”
“Hmm.”
“They won’t suffer too greatly. In the current situation, they can’t afford to wage war against the Blue Moon Sect… so they’ll likely settle for a large ransom.”
The Human Ghost Party was a Black Path sect, and in the Black Path, money was the supreme law.
Not only had someone infiltrated their headquarters in secret, but that person had also injured and killed several of their martial artists during the escape… Even if the Demon Emperor intervened, the moral justification would lie with the Human Ghost Party.
It was obvious they would demand an astronomical sum to release Danri Yuhwa.
“Captain Yoo, why the grave expression?” Won Semun asked, sounding puzzled. “Surely you’re not thinking of charging into the Human Ghost Party just because of one old marriage prospect?”
“Of course not.” Jo Namcheon shrugged his shoulders. “Captain Yoo is the brain of our sect. Would someone like him ruin the grand scheme over a single past meeting?”
Though the two were joking, their words weren’t entirely incorrect.
To throw away a long-established plan over someone he had met once or twice by chance?
That would be a disqualifying decision for the chief strategist of the Death Shadow Corps.
‘However, the Blue Moon Sect Leader is an extremely stubborn man. Negotiations will likely drag on and hit many roadblocks.’
The Blue Moon Sect Leader could be called upright in a good sense—or obstinate and inflexible in a bad one. Moreover, he placed great importance on face, so he would not easily accept the Human Ghost Party’s demand for a massive sum.
“The Blue Moon Sect Leader and our Blood Crow Hall Leader share quite a close bond.”
Noticing Yoo Unryong’s stiff expression, Mu Gwang spoke in a low voice.
“For that reason alone, the Human Ghost Party will not dare treat her carelessly.”
After all, the Human Ghost Party was merely a Black Path sect.
If they mistreated her, they would not only fail to collect a ransom, but they might also provoke open conflict with Majeon.
They would never act so recklessly.
‘That’s right. This has nothing to do with me.’
Nodding to himself, Yoo Unryong spoke to Mu Gwang.
“Understood. Then regarding the Human Ghost Party....”
But suddenly, the image of Danri Yuhwa smiling brightly while watching a crying child in the marketplace came to mind.
‘Hmm.’
Though her personality was somewhat fiery, she was ultimately a pure and kind woman.
The reason she infiltrated the Human Ghost Party was likely twofold: to support the Blue Moon Sect Leader—who had expended tremendous mental effort and resources negotiating with Majeon’s high-ranking members to establish the branch—and also because she had become outraged upon hearing that women were being abducted.
And if she were left there?
There was no telling when—or in what condition—she would be released.
“Call the Pursuit Soul Unit Captain to the meeting room.”
“Pardon?”
“I have something to discuss with him briefly.”
Rising from his seat, Yoo Unryong let out another sigh.
In the end, he had resolved to personally rescue Danri Yuhwa.
***
The Human Ghost Party was hidden deep in a fog-shrouded mountain valley, beneath a steep cliff.
From the outside, it looked less like a sect headquarters and more like an abandoned, dilapidated ruin but Yoo Unryong could tell at a glance that their true appearance was being concealed by an extraordinary formation.
“Who goes there?”
As he reached the entrance of the Human Ghost Party, a man covered in blade scars, eyes gleaming with murderous intent, suddenly appeared.
Even if there were traps or formations installed at the entrance, his movement was so ghostly that no one without exceptional footwork could have detected him.
‘A mere gatekeeper possesses this level of martial skill....’
Yoo Unryong’s eyes flashed.
‘So they aren’t simply riding on luck and reputation.’
Brushing aside those thoughts, Yoo Unryong spoke calmly.
“I am Yoo Unryong, Second-grade captain of Majeon, Grand Strategist.”
“Majeon?”
“Indeed. I sent a visit notice in advance under our sect’s name.”
“Ahh.”
The warrior nodded as if remembering.
“Follow me.”
Upon entering the Human Ghost Party, thick fog blanketed every direction.
Like mountain bandits, they had laid out formations inside as well—so that outsiders visiting their stronghold could not grasp its layout or internal structure.
“Walk exactly in the same order and steps as I do.”
The gatekeeper’s tone sounded less like a Black Path martial artist and more like a cruel bandit.
Yoo Unryong nodded without showing any reaction.
“Very well.”
The gatekeeper walked slowly, one step at a time, through the fog.
Yoo Unryong followed his footsteps diligently.
After walking for about half an hour, the fog finally cleared, revealing a shabby-looking hall.
“This way.”
Inside the hall, contrary to its dilapidated exterior, the interior was lavishly decorated like a palace.
At the very front, on a high platform, stood an ornate throne-like chair. Lounging casually against it, chin resting on his hand, was a man.
His build was bear-like, his eyes sharp as a hawk’s. He had deep-set eyes and a prominent hooked nose, giving him the appearance of a Hui person rather than a Central Plains native.
This was the sect leader of the Human Ghost Party—Ghost-Slaying Sword, Jeon Baek-seung.
“Captain Yoo Unryong, at your service.”
Though the Human Ghost Party was a small sect with fewer than three hundred members, Jeon Baek-seung was still the leader of an entire faction.
Yoo Unryong respectfully clasped his hands and bowed.
“Hmm.”
Jeon Baek-seung leaned back in his chair and asked indifferently.
“What brings a captain of Majeon to our humble hall?”
“I heard that a friend of mine is being detained here, so I had no choice but to come.”
“A friend of the captain?”
“The only daughter of the Blue Moon Sect Leader—Danri Yuhwa.”
Jeon Baek-seung let out an “Oh” and spoke.
“I had heard that the Blue Moon Sect Leader is quite close with the Blood Crow Hall Leader, but I never imagined he would also be on friendly terms with a captain of the Death Shadow Corps.”
“Is she safe?”
“Of course.” Jeon Baek-seung smiled. “She’s a valuable commodity. If she were damaged, how could I sell her at full price?”
“She is not a commodity. She is my friend.”
At Yoo Unryong’s sharp tone, Jeon Baek-seung snorted.
“Since you are a captain of the Death Shadow Corps, I’ll speak plainly.”
Jeon Baek-seung continued without hesitation.
“It was she who secretly infiltrated our hall. During her escape, she injured over a dozen of our martial artists.”
Taking a deep breath, Jeon Baek-seung shook his head.
“I don’t know why a captain of the Death Shadow Corps is getting involved in this matter, but this is an issue between the Blue Moon Sect and our hall.”
His gaze sharpened.
“No matter how mighty Majeon may be, if you intervene so directly... won’t this turn into a conflict between the Demonic Path and the Black Path?”
“Do not misunderstand.”
Yoo Unryong spoke calmly.
“The only reason I revealed my affiliation was to meet with the sect leader. I have no intention of using Majeon’s authority here.”
Then, with the most serious expression, he continued.
“As I said earlier, she and I share a good relationship. That is why I have come forward—as her friend.”
“Friend, is it?”
Jeon Baek-seung gave a strange smile.
He now understood what those words implied.
“I suddenly have the feeling that something fortunate is about to happen for our hall.”
“Since the sect leader seems to be a straightforward man, I too will speak directly.”
Yoo Unryong said calmly.
“How much would satisfy you?”
The very existence of the Black Path revolved around money thus its ultimate goal was money.
Jeon Baek-seung negotiating with the Blue Moon Sect Leader was ultimately about extracting a ransom.
Yoo Unryong was now offering to pay that ransom himself.
“Hahahaha.”
Jeon Baek-seung laughed heartily.
“As expected of a hero of the Demonic Path—bold and decisive.”
When his laughter died down, he spoke in an ice-cold voice.
“Isn’t the value of a treasure determined by the buyer?”
Such an offer invited endless bargaining and price inflation.
Jeon Baek-seung continued leisurely.
“Soon the Blue Moon Sect Leader will arrive together with the Blood Crow Hall Leader. There’s no need for Captain Yoo to spend a fortune all at once.”
In other words: ‘Give us both what you offer and what the Blue Moon Sect offers.’
At that moment, Yoo Unryong’s gaze turned utterly frigid.
“Considering the face of the Martial Soul Command Lord who leads the Death Shadow Corps, I trust the sect leader will not treat me too stingily.”
He then took out a single promissory note from his robes.
A subordinate waiting below hurriedly ran over and handed it to Jeon Baek-seung.
“Ho.”
Jeon Baek-seung looked down at the note and smiled.
“Truly befitting a Captain of the world-shaking Death Shadow Corps—generous indeed.”
A smile played on Jeon Baek-seung’s lips.
The amount written on it was three times larger than what he had originally planned to demand from the Blue Moon Sect.
“Very well.”
Jeon Baek-seung nodded with a satisfied expression.
“For the sake of the Captain’s dignity, let us end it here.”
He then ordered his subordinate.
“Bring her.”
“I will go fetch her personally.”
“Impossible.”
Jeon Baek-seung shook his head.
“The place where she is confined is a restricted area—no outsiders are permitted.”
Then he spoke firmly.
“I wish to avoid causing problems with Majeon as much as possible. You understand what I mean?”
Yoo Unryong nodded as if he had no choice.
“Very well.”
Jeon Baek-seung nodded and ordered his subordinate.
“Escort Captain Yoo to the guest hall.”
Then, looking at Yoo Unryong, he gave a sinister smile.
“Wait there. We will bring her shortly.”
Yoo Unryong nodded and followed the warrior outside.
Then, suddenly, he glanced somewhere and gave a faint smile.
‘Success.’
He had discovered the trace of the Phantom Shadowless Step—a peerless footwork technique from the Heavenly Scripture that allowed one to pass through an opening the size of a palm in an instant.
***
A masked warrior of the Human Ghost Party headed toward the hidden prison deep in the mountains.
The prison was built to blend perfectly into the natural terrain so that it would not be easily noticed even upon close inspection.
After passing a small waterfall cascading down a cliff and following a path thick with fallen leaves, one would reach a large boulder.
Thud. Thud.
As soon as the masked Human Ghost Party warrior arrived, he drew something on the ground with his foot.
Rumble.
With a deep sound, the entrance to the small prison appeared.
The fake boulder was crafted so perfectly that even a master highly skilled in mechanisms and formations would find it nearly impossible to detect.
Thud. Thud.
As the warrior entered the narrow, dark tunnel, a musty stench assaulted his nose.
The deeper he went, the wider the passage became, with torches hung on the walls to light the way.
At the end of the passage stood a thick iron door.
In short, they had carved out an entire mountain to create this prison.
The Human Ghost Party was, at its core, a Black Path sect that took on commissions and resolved them. So why had they secretly constructed such a massive prison inside their main base?
Clank.
At that moment, with a dull metallic sound, the opposite iron door opened.
The interior of the stone prison was revealed.
The stone floor was soaked with moisture, and every step produced a squelching sound as water seeped up.
The cells were divided into several sections, each fitted with rusted iron bars. Chains and shackles were prepared in every room.
At the entrance to the prison stood guards with cold eyes, vigilantly watching every direction.
“Deputy Sect Leader.”
The guards bowed respectfully upon seeing the masked man.
The masked man was none other than the deputy sect leader of the Human Ghost Party—Sang Gon.
“Open the door.”
At Sang Gon’s command, the guards opened the tightly shut iron door.
Clank.
There, sitting in a haggard state, was a woman.
It was Danri Yuhwa.
“Are we already taking her out?”
At the guard’s question, Sang Gon replied indifferently.
“A captain of Majeon paid a generous ransom. The sect leader ordered her release.”
“What? A captain of Majeon?”
“Indeed. Before the Blue Moon Sect Leader even arrived, the Majeon captain concluded negotiations with our sect leader.”
“Ahh, what a shame.”
One of the prison guards smacked his lips and said, “She was on a completely different level from the pleasure slaves we’ve had so far.”
“Nonsense. It was always going to end with money anyway.”
Waving his hand dismissively, Sang Gon released the pressure points he had sealed on Danri Yuhwa.
Tremble.
Though her sealed acupoints were released, her internal energy remained suppressed.
Her movements were extremely slow, and her complexion was deathly pale.
“You’re quite fortunate. Among everyone locked in our prison, you’re the first to leave so quickly.”
Even at Sang Gon’s words, Danri Yuhwa gave no reply.
“Follow this deputy sect leader.”
Unperturbed, he led her back outside.
But as they walked through the prison passage, Sang Gon suddenly noticed something and his eyes flashed.
‘So that’s how it was.’
After examining it for a long moment, he resumed walking as if nothing had happened.
After leaving the prison following Deputy Sect Leader Sang Gon, she was guided by a young warrior once again—this time to the guest hall of the Human Ghost Party.
There, sitting on a chair with a tired expression, was a young man.
It was Yoo Unryong.
“So you were the Majeon captain who paid my ransom?”
Earlier, when Sang Gon mentioned that the Majeon captain had concluded negotiations, she had assumed—through a message sent via the Blood Crow Hall Leader’s subordinate—that her father had handled it.
But to think it was Yoo Unryong of all people?
“Are you alright?”
At Yoo Unryong’s question, Danri Yuhwa looked at him with an expression of complete incomprehension.
“Why did you negotiate with the Human Ghost Party sect leader?”
“We can talk later. Let’s leave quickly.”
At Yoo Unryong’s words, Danri Yuhwa immediately understood the situation.
She was the one who had arbitrarily entered another sect and injured their martial artists.
The moral justification lay entirely with the Human Ghost Party.
Given her father’s uncompromising personality, negotiations would inevitably drag on for a very long time.
Yoo Unryong, fully aware of that fact, had stepped forward for her sake.
‘Because otherwise I would have suffered for a long time.’
“Ah, right.”
Yoo Unryong extended his index and middle fingers and sent a stream of energy into her Sea of Qi acupoint. Her sealed acupoints were released, and her blocked internal energy slowly began to circulate again.
«The Human Ghost Party is not merely a commission-based organization.»
As her internal energy returned, Danri Yuhwa sent a transmission with an apologetic expression.
«They are a human trafficking organization that kidnaps women and sells them as pleasure slaves. I was captured while trying to uncover proof of it.»
But Yoo Unryong acted as if he had heard nothing and simply led Danri Yuhwa forward.
The two left the guest hall and headed toward the main gate.
Just as they were about to pass through the wide-open main gate,
BOOM.
Suddenly the gate slammed shut.
Swish swish swish swish.
Over two hundred martial artists began surrounding Yoo Unryong and Danri Yuhwa.
Then, slowly, Jeon Baek-seung walked forward from among the lined-up warriors.
“What is the meaning of this, Sect Leader?”
“What a pity.”
Looking down at Yoo Unryong and Danri Yuhwa, he spoke coldly.
“I thought it was a fairly sincere and good deal, but it turns out the Captain was toying with this sect leader.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Do you really think we carved up that entire mountain and built a giant prison just for fun?”
He spoke icily.
“Inside the Heavenly Drum Forbidden Prison, there are detection mechanisms that trigger the moment anyone other than a designated person enters.”
Jeon Baek-seung stared at Yoo Unryong with piercing eyes.
“Moreover, I heard that the Death Shadow Corps once pulled a similar stunt against another sect in the past. You send someone ahead…”
“....”
“Draw all attention, completely divert their focus... and then have a latecomer infiltrate to find the evidence.”
“Haa.”
Yoo Unryong let out a sigh and nodded.
“So that’s why the Blood Cult is behind you. Your intelligence network is impressive.”
At that moment, Danri Yuhwa’s mouth fell open.
The Human Ghost Party was a newly risen Black Path sect.
Yet, he was saying that the Blood Cult was behind them? What did that mean?
“What are you saying? The Blood Cult?”
“If the Blood Cult openly established branch divisions under the guise of righteous or neutral martial sects, wouldn’t they keep getting discovered and destroyed by our Death Shadow Corps?”
Staring straight at Jeon Baek-seung, he continued.
“After much consideration, the Blood Cult chose to support Black Path sects instead, supplying pleasure slaves to the heads of various factions and thereby quietly expanding their influence.”
Yoo Unryong let out a sigh.
“Because the Black Path sects are not easy for our sect to touch. Even if we obtain evidence and destroy them, it would still lead to open conflict between the Demonic Path and the Black Path.”
Danri Yuhwa’s eyes widened.
She had only heard rumors that the Human Ghost Party—already in conflict with her branch division—was involved in human trafficking. She had intended to secure evidence, deal with the Human Ghost Party, and stabilize her sect’s branch.
But it turned out there was the Blood Cult behind them—and the entire situation had been orchestrated to provoke conflict between the Demonic Path and the Black Path?
“If you knew all that, why did you come here?”
Jeon Baek-seung tilted his head as he looked at Yoo Unryong.
“You already know there are no reinforcements. You couldn’t have brought any troops within hundreds of li.”
“....”
“Even if you secretly brought Death Shadow Corps forces, a clash between the Demonic Path and Black Path would have been inevitable anyway.”
Yoo Unryong shook his head.
“Killing all of you will not cause a conflict between Majeon and the Black Path.”
Clank.
At the same time, ten-sectioned chained sticks shot out from Yoo Unryong’s sleeve.
The Ten-Section Staff—his personal unique weapon, which had been bound to his wrist—revealed itself.
“Because I will make it appear...”
Through his disheveled hair, pure white killing intent exploded from Yoo Unryong’s eyes.
“…that I, alone, annihilated your entire sect for the crime of kidnapping my close friend!”
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