“Slow.”The Alliance Leader glanced back as he spoke.Sohwa was tucking the documents stolen from the Bigo into her sleeve, and in her arms she held Maehwa, the spirit creature, plumped from nibbling this and that. Carrying even one would have limited her speed; carrying both naturally slowed her down.Strangely, no Honin or Blood Cult bastards appeared to block them.The Alliance Leader seemed to know the way well. Without even looking around, he just kept running. When he had come in with the Blue Blood Hall Lord, it had taken a full day on foot to traverse the formations, but now he tore through several of them in just two gak at a mad pace.“If you’d learned lightness skill, we could go faster. We’ll make it by a hair.”He clicked his tongue and cut her a sidelong look.“May I carry you and run?”“I’ll follow faster.”“Your being this slow was outside my expectations. They’ll all be waiting.”His voice had gone dark.Sohwa tightened her hold so Maehwa wouldn’t slip, and quickened her pace.“Will we truly all make it back alive?”The Alliance Leader did not answer easily.“Human life is not something one can guarantee lightly. It hangs on the will of the gods.”“……”“But since I fixed the aim on bringing you back, ordinarily no one would die—no, none should even be injured. Most of those who came with us put survival above glory, so nothing major should happen.”He muttered as if to soothe himself, not Sohwa. He too seemed uneasy. It was fitting, in the gloom at the heart of Geumeunsan. He had passed in and out of Geumeunsan and seen many deaths.The one who had scolded that plans would not go as intended was now believing they would. Understanding the confusion born of anxiety, Sohwa held her tongue.Crunch.The Alliance Leader stopped—he had reached the entrance.He knit his brows and looked around. Something was amiss.In a tight voice, Sohwa asked,“Why is no one here?”“Our route is faster coming out. And I asked them to lure the Blood Cult bastards; it may be taking time.”Even as he spoke, he kept sweeping the surroundings.“But I did think I might be late—thanks to you running like a slug… strange.”“Didn’t you claim no one would be hurt?”Sohwa’s voice sharpened. It bothered her more than his dismissal of her speed.“I claimed nothing.”The Alliance Leader answered coolly.He decided to wait and trust, and stopped scanning the area.“Coming into an enemy stronghold and hoping everything goes to plan is greed.”Meeting Sohwa’s eyes, he let out a hollow laugh.“I’m not blaming the gods. Misfortunes of the battlefield happen regardless of divine will.”It was not a pleased smile, but Sohwa asked no more. She had no interest in gods or the Alliance Leader’s feelings. She stared only toward where his gaze had lingered—where the Tang clan would be running to save her.She tightened her hand. Forcing blood back into her blanched fingers, she tried to ease the tension by stimulating the points.After a moment, the Alliance Leader’s brow twitched. Even Maehwa, who had been listless in her arms, suddenly lifted her head.Small silhouettes appeared in the dark—and closed the distance in a blink. A sharp bellow stabbed into her eardrums.“You—you—you! The moment we get back I’ll break your legs! Spoil you a little and you think you can run around wherever you please!”The Black Heaven Dark Ghost raged, eyes bulging.Sohwa felt no fear; instead, something that had lodged in a corner of her heart vanished. She drew a breath of relief—and froze.She had seen the Clan Head. More than her father’s angered face, it was the blood-drenched youth in his arms that seized her eyes.Tang Sohwa stepped forward before she knew it. But the Clan Head did not let her check Tang Hak. He drew back his arm and spoke in a voice full of wrath.“You will account for this the moment we return.”Tang Sohwa could not answer. She stood rigid, staring at her brother caked in blood.Beep-beep-beep-beep-beep.Maehwa let out a tearing cry and craned toward Tang Hak, as if checking on him.“Ah, the Young Clan Head isn’t dead yet! You worry about yourself! You’re going to die to me the moment we get back!”The Black Heaven Dark Ghost shrieked and lunged at Tang Sohwa. The Sword Sovereign, standing beside him, grabbed him and held him back.“Hey, calm yourself!”Listening to Tang Min’s tirade, the Alliance Leader swept his eyes over the group. Strangely, only the Young Clan Head was a wreck; the others were unscathed. A few were smeared with mud, and that was all.He felt unease even as he was grateful that things had gone as he’d intended. Fortune had almost never graced his plans.“We’ve no time to tarry—back, quickly.”He immediately opened the entrance with the name tablet. Fortunately, outside was Geumsan. The sun was just rising; even the sand felt cool.“…A lucky day.”He muttered with a furrowed brow.Fortune had come to him again and again. Rather than sink into satisfaction or fear, he simply ran.As if by prior agreement, the party started running after him. There was no doubt in their eyes. When they had first entered, they had harbored wariness toward the Alliance Leader, but having brought Lady Tang out without loss, it seemed all his words had been right.But they had not slept for days and had run the whole time. Fatigue had accumulated. At its limit, their bodies felt heavy; they could not build speed.'Still, the Central Plains are right ahead.'Entering the wide grasslands, a weary Zhuge youth’s eyes shone.Eager to return quickly, he ran with all he had and was nearly at the fore. It also helped that Wu So, the Sword Sovereign, and the others guarded the rear.It was in that daze, sprinting for the last passage.KWA-BOOM.His body was hurled back and a crimson flare burst before his eyes.“Alliance Leader!”Wu So threw a blade of sword-qi and looked back at him.The Alliance Leader stared straight ahead. He murmured inwardly.'…So that’s why it felt like a lucky day.'Of course. Time would not be favorable to him. To the Absolute Above the Heavens, the Alliance Leader was a sinner.Wu So had sensed killing intent and struck first, but the enemy had not yet shown himself. The others, too, felt the approaching force, even if unlike Wu So they did not leap forward.The Alliance Leader set a hand to his scabbard and spoke.“Do you recall I said the head of Dongmun was in the Central Plains?”“Good grief, how long has it been since I heard that? Of course I remember.”When the Black Heaven Dark Ghost answered, the Alliance Leader drew his sword.“Looks like the bastard’s returned from the Central Plains.”“What?”Tang Min was taken aback, but then tore his gaze from the Alliance Leader.A massive figure appeared on the empty grassland.A huge man, bandit-like, stood there with a lazy grin.“Only folks impressive enough for me to recognize at a glance have come.”The red-haired man in the center dragged out his words.“Well, only with your caliber would you dare cross over here without fear.”The Red Blood Hall Lord’s crimson gaze slid to a woman. Recognizing Tang Sohwa, he snorted a laugh.“All these great people are suffering over you alone. What value do you have that causes such an uproar?”Clicking his tongue, he flinched—then lifted his hand fast.Clang.By a hair’s breadth, the Red Blood Hall Lord blocked the throwing weapon that was about to pierce his mouth. He spoke in an irritable voice.“Man ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) is speaking.”But the reply came back laced with laughter.“Precisely. I answered by telling you to shut it because you’re noisy.”Ignoring the Black Heaven Dark Ghost’s and the Red Blood Hall Lord’s clash of nerves, the Alliance Leader shouted,“They’re stalling for time until the Blood Demon arrives. Ignore them and keep running!”Even if they fought head-on, it was not a fight they would necessarily lose.Nor were these bastards blocking the way because they thought they could win. Judging from how they did not rush in, that was clear. Either their goal was not them, or they had no intention of sapping strength in a fight.

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