A group of people dressed in black, covered in dust, was galloping across the plains. Their appearance clearly showed they had been riding without rest.
When the one at the front raised a hand, those following behind him pulled their horses to a stop.
"Let's take a short break."
Kang-oh looked up at the sky. A hawk that had appeared a while ago and had been trailing them swooped down at the perfect moment. It was a sharp-winged falcon. Kang-oh had noticed the arrival of this messenger and had come to a stop.
As if he had been waiting, Il-woon—riding behind his lord—raised an arm clad in protective gear. The hawk landed right on it. Its ferocity was such that any ordinary person would've been thrown from their horse.
"This thing's pretty vicious."
Clicking his tongue, Il-woon pulled a piece of meat from the pouch at his waist and fed it to the hawk, then unfastened the message tied to its leg and unfolded it. Even though it was written in code, Il-woon grasped the content instantly, as if reading a regular book.
Kang-oh, who had only taken out his bamboo water bottle and was wetting his lips, glanced sideways as Il-woon dismounted and approached. There was a hint of unease on his subordinate's face.
"You need to see this for yourself."
There were two pieces of news.
The first was that Kong Yool's group, who had reached the path leading from Ujeon to the desert, encountered and wiped out a group of bandits. They had even discovered the bandits' hideout, but failed to find the palace lord, so they were returning to the Black Sky Clan. Since Kang-oh had also gained nothing of note in Hapmil, he too planned to return—this part wasn't all that important.
The problem was the second part.
"..."
Kang-oh furrowed his brows. Even after reading it, he couldn't bring himself to believe it. But if it were true, then there was no point in lingering in Hapmil any longer.
"We're going back."
As the Third Disciple turned back under an ominous midday sun and spoke, the Black Sky Clan's search party knelt and bowed their heads.
Il-woon let out a groan, realizing that it had come to this. His usually rational lord always seemed to lose his composure whenever the guest from House of Joy was involved.
"Understood."
They were returning after ten days.
***
Rumors were spreading like wildfire throughout the entire Black Sky Clan. They were all about the guest staying at the House of Joy. The gossip claimed that the Third Disciple, out of pity, had taken in a servant and turned his life around—only for that very servant to now be making improper advances toward the First Disciple.
This was the second piece of news brought by the messenger.
Normally, matters involving a servant wouldn't be urgent or important enough to be passed on by messenger hawk. Even so, Il-woon had kept his ears open to Black Sky Clan, knowing how Kang-oh treated Woo. Because of that, once the unpleasant rumor was confirmed to be more than just idle speculation or fabrication, it was reported via the hawk.
Assuming that no one would come out to greet them after their relentless journey, Kang-oh was surprised when an unexpected figure appeared.
"My fellow disciple."
The one who welcomed Kang-oh with open arms was none other than the Second Disciple, Yeom Seung-han. Kang-oh's brow twitched slightly, but he held his tongue, brought his horse to a halt, and lightly dismounted.
"I greet you, Elder Disciple."
As he performed a formal bow, Seung-han waved his hand dismissively.
"There's no need for formality between us. So, any results?"
Though the question was sudden, Kang-oh answered sincerely.
"There were no notable gains in Hapmil. We split the search party and questioned people in villages and mountainous areas, but we found no trace of the White Virtue Clan's Grandmaster."
"Yeah, I see. How was it going to Xinjiang after so long? Maybe next time, we can take a trip outside with our other elder disciple?"
As Seung-han rambled on, Kang-oh finally realized why his senior had been waiting for him here.
He was trying to buy time.
"Elder disciple Yeom, I'm really sorry, but I need to go now."
"Ah, is that so? It doesn't have to be Xinjiang, you know…"
Though his words were polite, his demeanor wasn't. Like someone who touched a hot pot without realizing it was heated, Seung-han drew back with a startled expression.
Kang-oh's condition was completely different from what he had expected. In fact, Seung-han hadn't imagined he would return to the Black Sky Clan this quickly. Kang-oh had left for a search mission, but he was the type who always dragged things out and returned slowly whenever he left Black Sky.
That meant some unexpected variable had influenced Kang-oh's return.
The guest at House of Joy.
Seung-han was already aware of the existence of Woo due to the events at the Medical Hall. But he hadn't thought much of it. Whether he was a man or woman, human or beast, it didn't matter—as long as he gave Kang-oh a reason to stay in the Black Sky Clan, it wasn't a bad thing. Since the relationship between the First Disciple and the youngest disciple had reached a stalemate, keeping them close was the only way to spark any kind of change.
But the spread of a new rumor about this "guest" was a completely different matter. Upon hearing whispers that the First Disciple was coveting the servant treasured by the youngest disciple, Yeom Seung-han had been chasing after the source nonstop for the past three days.
He searched high and low like trying to whack moles, determined to trace the root of the rumor, but no matter what he did, he couldn't find where it started. It was truly like groping in the dark. This kind of thing had to be a rumor someone deliberately set into motion.
And if that was the case, then naturally, wouldn't the First Disciple be behind it.
'The First Disciple must've realized just how important that servant is to the youngest disciple and acted accordingly.'
While Seung-han was anxious that a rumor about two disciples clashing over a single man might reach Jin-rang's ears, he belatedly realized there was an even bigger problem waiting for him.
Kang-oh's return.
If the guest from House of Joy was important enough for the First Disciple to target, it was hard to imagine how the youngest disciple—who'd be coming back from the search soon—would react.
And seeing how uncharacteristically cold Kang-oh was now, Seung-han was certain. Black Sky Clan would soon be thrown into chaos.
It felt like watching a lit match fall into a powder keg. Even if he tried to pour water to extinguish it, he couldn't find the source of the rumor, and even if he tried to suppress it, the rumors sprouted back up like weeds, mocking Seung-han as they spread among the people.
"I won't ask you to endure this."
Seung-han, having given up on blocking Kang-oh, stepped aside and spoke.
In truth, he felt a slight sense of guilt towards Kang-oh due to the death of the man who had his tongue cut out in the Medical Hall. There was an unsettling feeling that the incident had escalated because of his own cruel actions. That incident ended up exposing Kang-oh's weakness—the Southern Lake Group—so it didn't sit well with him.
"...I've never held back."
Kang-oh, who had replied to his senior, who was watching him with concern, with that statement, swiftly turned around. It was needless to say that Seung-han's face grew even paler as he pondered the words of the youngest disciple.
On the way back, Kang-oh didn't even have a moment to wipe off the dust clinging to him as he made straight for the House of Joy. The atmosphere of the swordsmen following him, who had not disbanded after joining the search, was quite ominous.
When they finally reached the front of Hee-do Won, the First Disciple's subordinate was waiting there. The fact that he was waiting outside rather than entering suggested that they were there to deliver a message to someone.
As Kang-oh approached, the man bowed.
"I greet the Third Disciple."
"What is it?"
Having rushed back after hearing rumors spreading in the Black Sky Clan, Kang-oh's voice held an uncomfortable tone as he addressed Yu-woon's subordinates.
"I've been waiting to deliver my lord's invitation."
"Invitation? Did the First Disciple know I would return today and sent this?"
It was unlikely that Yu-woon would invite Kang-oh for casual talk first, but Kang-oh feigned ignorance and asked. The First Disciple's subordinate lowered his body and replied.
"He ordered me to deliver it to the guest of House of Joy."
"Interesting." Kang-oh muttered.
The faint sarcasm in his voice made the man slightly lift his head in surprise, then quickly bow it again. The Third Disciple, who usually acted indifferently, now had a menacing glint in his eyes.
"Very interesting."
He extended his hand to the man.
"Hand it over."
"Ah, but it's supposed to be delivered directly to the person involved…"
"I'll deliver it."
The low growl in his voice was like a beast's snarl.
The servants of House of Joy were startled and bowed in surprise at the sudden return of their master without any notice. Kang-oh strode past them without hesitation. He had somewhere to go immediately, and nothing else caught his attention. In the Third Disciple's hand was a single crumpled sheet of paper.
House of Joy was as beautiful as ever. Kang-oh practically smashed the sliding door open as he entered the residence. But the closer he got to Woo's quarters, the quieter his steps became, and even his breathing settled into stillness.
He stopped in front of Woo's door and glanced down at the crumpled letter. He had no idea how he was supposed to deliver it. The emotions blazing inside his chest would rise like wildfire, only to freeze over like solid ice the moment he stood before the person they were meant for. How could he even begin to name this feeling?
He was afraid Woo might send a reply to the First Disciple. But what frightened him more was himself—how he had lost his reason in this situation. Even though he knew how baseless rumors could be, he rushed over without thinking. Since the search party included martial artists from the White Virtue Clan, there was no benefit in rushing the journey, and yet, Kang-oh had to return.
There hadn't been any noise, but perhaps Woo had noticed the shadow lingering outside the door. The voice that had once left Kang-oh deeply shaken called out from within.
"C-Come in."
Kang-oh hesitated in front of the thin paper door, no thicker than a wall, then opened it at the sound of that voice.
Just like that time before, Woo was sitting on the floor. When the door slid open and he slightly turned his head, his profile looked strangely distant.
It reminded Kang-oh of the Woo from the beginning—someone who didn't try to take or enjoy anything. Even getting him to lie on a bed and sleep had only happened because Kang-oh had insisted on it. The changes he'd forced had returned to how they were before. Was it just his imagination, or did that sight feel like a complete severance?
It felt like they had lived as strangers their whole lives—and that they would keep doing so, out of sheer stubbornness.
Kang-oh stood by the door and muttered, "You're sitting on the floor again."
A hoarse voice escaped his lips. There were countless things he wanted to ask Woo, yet the first words that left his mouth were nothing more than a quiet remark full of regret.
Woo lifted his head and looked at Kang-oh.
There was the scent of dust—and a faint trace of blood in the air. Woo, thinking Kang-oh might be hurt, had meant to check on him. But seeing Kang-oh standing firm by the door like an unmovable stone, with no intention of stepping closer, he lowered his head.
Kang-oh slowly looked around the room. The space, which had begun to feel lived-in, had returned to its original neatness. The bean pods Woo had been peeling were gone, and the vase that had held flowers by the window was gone. The hydrangeas had probably withered while he was away, but strangely, the empty space left behind felt hollow in his heart.
There were no blankets, no ointments, and nothing else in sight. Only a neatly packed travel bag sat in the corner of the room.
Woo was already prepared to leave. The only one not ready to let him go was Kang-oh.
Kang-oh's mouth felt dry. He didn't know what to say. At that moment, he felt the crumpled invitation from the First Disciple in his hand.
Right. He had snatched it away after saying he'd deliver it instead.
"I heard you were summoned by the First Disciple."
Kang-oh held up the letter. Woo's eyes darkened at the sight of the crumpled paper.
Even though he had refused to meet him several times, Yu-woon's messenger came every day. According to Yeon-jin, the messenger had even taken to standing guard at the main gate of the House of Joy. He was being so stubborn that he thought the First Disciple would either back off or choose a more discreet approach out of pride. But unexpectedly, Mo Yong Yu-woon chose to act openly.
Yeon-jin even mentioned rumors spreading throughout Black Sky Clan—that the First Disciple was clinging to a guest at the House of Joy. The First Disciple was said to value honor so it was puzzling why he wouldn't put a stop to the gossip surrounding such matters.
And now, facing Kang-oh in this moment… it felt like he finally understood why.
He wanted to provoke the youngest disciple.
"Are you planning to answer the First Disciple's summons?"
The voice was calm and subdued. There was no anger or sudden surge of emotion in Kang-oh's demeanor that Woo could sense. Even so, Woo instinctively knew that he should not meet Kang-oh's gaze and lowered his head.
"N-no, I'm not."
Woo shook his head. His hands, resting on his knees, tensed on their own. The thought of leaving Kang-oh's side to go to Mo Yong-yu-woon—it was utterly absurd.
"In that case, why... no, never mind."
Kang-oh burned Mo Yong Yu-woon's invitation letter he'd been holding. The paper, with only a few lines written on it, turned to ash in an instant from the flames at his fingertips.
"You said you had no intention of responding, so I disposed of it for you."
"Th-thank you."
"Now that I'm back, I'll make the preparations so you can leave. At the latest, you'll be able to leave Black Sky Clan in three days."
Kang-oh suddenly started speaking more briskly, then turned away. The reason for his departure before leaving Black Sky Clan due to the search party came rushing back to him. He turned his back to escape.
However, anyone who turned their back on the battlefield was bound to receive a fatal wound.
"Actually, the thing is…"
Woo slightly furrowed his brow as he spoke. It was clear that he found it difficult to say such words.
"I... I hope you'll allow me to stay a little longer at House Of Joy."
"...!"
In the midst of a storm, his words felt like a sudden ray of light. Despite his confusion, Kang-oh couldn't understand the change in Woo's feelings while he was away, and he narrowed his eyes in deep thought.
At that moment, he noticed the ashes scattered on the floor.
Considering there had been no other news, the only change Woo had undergone seemed to be the approach of the First Disciple. But why did that lead Woo to want to stay at Black Sky Clan?
"I-If this shameless person makes you uncomfortable, I'll leave Hee-do Won and go back to where I was before... I'll make sure to stay out of your sight, Third Disciple…"
"That's not it."
Kang-oh hurriedly interrupted Woo.
For a moment of silence, the conclusion Woo reached did not sit well with Kang-oh.
He was stunned by the fact that there was a little more time to wait and was caught up in all sorts of thoughts, but hearing that Woo would remain in Black Sky Clan and never be seen again—it was truly horrifying.
"It's just that the room..." Kang-oh opened his mouth but bit his tongue at the slightly choked sound of his voice. He didn't want to show his agitation, but at this point, it was becoming hard to hide.
Regaining his composure, he spoke in a deliberately indifferent manner.
"It looked like the room of someone who was about to leave today, so I thought it was that."
"…"
The one who had organized the room was none other than Woo himself. Every day, he packed his belongings: the blanket, the ointment, and the dried flowers. He carefully packed them one by one. Whenever he missed them, he would slightly open the bundle to take a look, then pack it up again. As he had promised to Kang-oh, he would sleep in the bed and, in the morning, neatly fold the quilt, smoothing out the wrinkles, gradually detaching himself from the attachment to this space.
Since the Third Disciple had been away, the only presence coming and going in Woo's room was Yeon-jin. She had wanted to say something about Woo's obsessive tidiness, her lips twitching with the urge, but for now, she kept it to herself.
So this was an action taken to leave without any lingering attachments. Kang-oh's instincts had been correct. However, now that Woo had voiced his request to stay, he couldn't reveal the true reason for his actions to Kang-oh.
"Can I really expect that? That you would stay here?"
A complicated expression spread across Woo's face.
"I-I will stay until summer. But beyond that, it's difficult to make any promises."
Kang-oh's lips moved several times, struggling to find the right words. He had failed to say something. But finally, he managed to compose himself. What he said, though, was not at all what Woo had expected.
"We will be able to see the lotus flowers... the lotus flowers of House of Joy together."
Just as before, Kang-oh didn't try to stop Woo from leaving, nor did he bark at him to get lost while accusing him of scheming something. Even though his face showed he wanted to grab Woo by the wrist and stop him, even though he had deliberately taken the search party on a long journey to keep him from leaving, even though he wanted to interrogate him about Mo Yong Yu-woon's invitation... all those feelings were tightly pressed down as he spoke of the lotus flowers, which swelled in Woo's chest like a soft ripple.
"I thought it would be a shame to only see the buds," Woo replied in a subdued voice, as if he were staying for the sake of just a single flower.
Kang-oh turned his face away, his expression twisted in a way that made it hard to tell whether he was smiling or crying.
"I need to go report back. I'll be back before long… so don't eat without me."
"I'll be waiting."
With a soft sound, Kang-oh closed the door. Woo glanced at the shadow lingering at the sliding door, feeling his lips dry as the silhouette slowly faded away.
Even though he pushed away the person who tried to stop him from leaving, he still ended up staying in Black Sky Clan. In the end, it was as if he'd unwittingly deceived Kang-oh.
But now, he had something he needed to do.
Once Kang-oh's presence had completely vanished, Woo gathered the ashes that had scattered on the floor after the letter had been burned and inhaled the scent.
'As I thought...'
It was specially treated paper mixed with a rare incense—made so that even if it was burned to destroy evidence, the scent it released would confirm its existence. It was made using a secret method, not something ordinary people could get their hands on—only a very small number of individuals had access to it.
Moreover, only those who had been trained could detect this scent. It bore similarities to the tracking incense used to pursue individuals, suggesting that it was designed to be discreet, as one would need to find traces without anyone noticing.
The first time Woo had ever smelled this scent was back when he was still in White Virtue Clan.
***
"Father."
Dan Woo-Hyo spoke with a troubled expression. He had been about to leave his residence for today's lecture when he heard that it had been canceled. Wondering if the teacher might be ill, he asked about it—only to be told that the order to cancel had come directly from the White Virtue Clan's Grandmaster.
So Woo-Hyo went to see Dan Baek-hoon. The sudden cancellation of the class made him uneasy. There was no way he would be summoned for something trivial. Because of this, Woo-Hyo remained tense throughout the journey to his father. The moment they met, he felt sure that a reprimand was coming—probably related to one of the matters he had recently handled.
Was it because he uncovered the illegal salt trade run by the Yeongbu Merchant Group? He had known it was connected to the local officials, but he couldn't overlook smuggling occurring within White Virtue Clan territory. So he had quietly sent the ledger to the official involved in the smuggling. It was a warning. If they complained about the trade route being cut off, they'd risk losing their current position.
If not that, could it be about exposing the secret held by the head of Changmang Valley? That person had been secretly accepting assassination contracts. One of the assassins trained by the Valley's lord had taken a job and killed a certain Huahwa Noble who frequently visited a gisaeng house. But the man turned out to be a senior officer from the Embroidered Guards working undercover. To cover up human trafficking, the assassin had killed an investigator. Since the Changmang Valley pretended to be a Righteous Path sect on the surface, the revelation that its leader had been training assassins caused a major uproar.
The problem arose next. The Demonic Path near Changman Valley started acting up as the Righteous Path, which had been suppressing them, began to falter. This was something he had not anticipated. His impatience to uproot the decaying tree had led him to act somewhat hastily. It wasn't until after a report from the previous Changman Valley Lord's disciple, who had inherited the position, that reinforcements were sent. He began to think that his father might perceive his actions as rushed.
There was also the possibility that getting involved in the human trafficking case while handling the affairs of the Lord of Changman Valley had become a problem. Just as smuggled salt brings profit, there are merchants who seek profit over morality even in the buying and selling of people. Stirring them up had led to the unification of the Demonic Path factions in that region.
Although their power was still weak compared to the White Virtue Clan's, even a small drop of water can eventually wear a rock.
With a heart heavy like that of a guilty man, Woo-Hyo moved forward, his face growing more troubled with each step. He had done his best when it happened, but now that he was being held accountable, there was no end to it.
However, when he finally arrived at the office of the Grandmaster of White Virtue Clan, Baek-hoon did not appear to be as angry as expected. It was not that he seemed pleased either. As always, his face was indifferent as he dealt with documents.
The guards at the door had already given notice of Woo-Hyo's arrival, but Baek-hoon did not look up for some time. Only after stamping the final document did Baek-hoon raise his head, looking at his son with a blank expression.
"I greet the Grandmaster."
After lowering his head in a formal bow, Woo-Hyo was met with Baek-hoon's voice.
"You're coming with me today."
"I will follow."
There was no further explanation, but Woo-Hyo lowered his head obediently. The turmoil that had stirred in him had already settled. It wasn't because he felt relieved. It was because he had come to realize that none of the thoughts and worries he'd wrestled with to come here had meant anything to Baek-hoon.
His father was someone who didn't even have the interest to scold his own son. As always, he had been the only one expecting something.
Baek-hoon stood up, put on his outer robe, and walked ahead. Woo-Hyo quietly followed behind. The thought of walking beside him didn't even occur to him—it simply wasn't an option.
Baek-hoon brought Woo-Hyo to the residence of the White Virtue Clan's Grandmaster.
When Baek-hoon opened a hidden passage beside the bookshelf, Woo-Hyo deliberately turned his head away.
"There's no need to look away. One day, this will be your space, so remember it well."
"It's still too early for such words. Please, refrain from saying that."
The position of White Virtue Clan's Grandmaster had already been decided for Dan Woo-Hyo. Even so, despite undergoing strict successor training, Woo-Hyo always felt uneasy hearing words like that. Part of it was the fear that it might make him seem like he was already coveting his father's place—and part of it was because of that emotionless face.
Any human who has something to their name would want to ensure a strong successor. In a situation where the family's legacy must be continued, the thought of dying is less worrisome than the fear of having no heir.
What Baek-hoon bore on his shoulders was the White Virtue Clan, the most powerful organization in the Righteous Path, so his strictness was understandable. However, despite having a successor he could trust, he neither passed on nor shared the responsibility.
Woo-Hyo thought that he had failed to earn his father's trust because of his own inadequacies. He never slacked off in his studies and worked tirelessly on his martial arts. Among his peers, there was no one who could rival him. Even when compared to the strategist of the Zhuge family, known as the Genius Strategist, Woo-Hyo never fell short, and he had learned to conceal his true intentions under the guidance of Seol Bu-yong.
Despite all this, Baek-hoon never once looked back at his son.
"Preparing after the crisis has arrived will only be too late."
The sudden summons from his usually indifferent father left Woo-Hyo feeling only awkwardness.
Beyond the secret passage in the library was a hidden chamber. With no windows to let in light, the interior was dim. Baek-hoon seemed familiar with the place, as he effortlessly ignited a fire in a bronze brazier.
As the room brightened, Woo-Hyo looked around. He had expected a more secretive atmosphere, given that it was accessed through a hidden passage, but the interior felt more like a storage room. Books and documents, along with weapons and clothes, were piled here and there.
"This place is…"
Woo frowned slightly and muttered under his breath.
Dan Baek-hoon responded, "It's a place where we've gathered items from the Blood Cult, acquired before and after the war."
"..!"
Woo-Hyo's eyes widened. It looked ordinary on the surface, but was it really items from the infamous Blood Cult?
His gaze wandered for a moment before settling on the books. The martial world had suffered greatly from the war instigated by the Blood Cult, and afterward, they tried to erase their very existence completely. Every Blood Cult member exposed to the public was killed without exception, and their scriptures were declared forbidden and all burned.
But now, here—scattered carelessly on the floor of what looked like nothing more than a simple storage room—were the very scriptures of the Blood Cult…
With a pale face, Woo-Hyo looked up at his father. Baek-hoon's back appeared as imposing as ever. Surely, there had to be a reason for this. But if word got out that he was storing the Blood Cult's artifacts like this, even as the Grandmaster of the White Virtue Clan, it would be hard to avoid the storm that would follow.
Some might even claim that Dan Baek-hoon was a spy planted within the Righteous Path to scheme for the future. That's how serious this was.
"Are you afraid?"
"No, not at all. I was just... worried about you, Father–Grandmaster."
"...You don't need to be."
Baek-hoon, momentarily silent as if taken aback by Woo-Hyo's unexpected response, finally spoke.
"The leaders of the martial world have been working to erase all traces of the Blood Cult, but at the same time, some have secretly preserved their items. Part of it was to figure out how to counter their demonic techniques, and part of it was to uncover the spies still hiding among us—lying low and waiting for the right moment."
"..."
"The reason I brought you here is to teach you about the Blood Cult, the greatest enemy of the White Virtue Clan. You must know your enemy to achieve victory."
More than ten years had passed since the war with the Blood Cult had ended. And yet, Baek-hoon still spoke of them as if they might return even today.
Woo-Hyo, who had never experienced the horrific war against the Blood Cult firsthand, was taken aback. Just how vicious were they, that his father—who was said to have no equal in all of the martial world aside from the Grandmaster of the Black Sky Clan, Ye Jin-rang—would be this wary of them?
"I will devote myself to the study."
"Twice a week, for two hours each time, you will learn about the Blood Cult here."
"Yes."
With Woo-Hyo's disciplined response, Baek-hoon emphasized once more.
"It's not enough to simply memorize it. You must carve it into your bones and let it flow through your blood."
Having said that, Baek-hoon strode over to the stack of books and picked up a piece of paper. He placed it on the bronze brazier, and soon the smell of burning paper filled the air.
"What do you smell?"
"It smells like... burning paper."
Woo-Hyo answered calmly, though he felt puzzled.
"That's right. To you, it will only smell like burning paper. But I can detect three distinct scents from this paper. The first is the fragrance of Okyangcho, used as an air freshener. The second is the scent of a rare wood that is only used in the making of this paper. It grows very little at the boundary between the desert and the grasslands. And the last is the aroma of mi-honcho, a plant that can be processed into a drug or a truth serum."
As Woo listened, focused on his father's explanation, his expression turned uneasy.
"Mi-honcho… isn't that the plant that's been banned from circulation in the Central Plains by imperial decree?"
It was martial artists who first began using Mi-honcho. In small amounts, it acted as a mild stimulant and pain reliever. Among those of the Dark Path, it was particularly valued—it could dull pain and make the body feel lighter, so they often took it before intense battles.
The problem arose when it was used in large quantities. What had once seemed like a stimulant began producing effects similar to narcotics. Some greedy individuals started distributing it among civilians, leading to widespread harm and chaos.
In the end, the Emperor of Seolland prohibited the cultivation and distribution of Mi-honcho entirely.
"Right. The Blood Cult uses this special paper to send instructions. Can you guess why?"
"…I suspect it's to poison the receiver, given that it contains Mi-honcho."
"Can you think of another reason?"
Woo-Hyo pondered for a moment before responding, "Perhaps for identification purposes. If someone were to discover the Blood Cult's communication system and interfere with it, they could send false orders."
The reason Woo-Hyo had thought of this was because his father had once said that there were scents he could not detect but someone else could. If there were only a limited number of people capable of identifying the scent, it could be used to distinguish allies.
"Correct. You're right."
"In fact, the scent of Mi-honcho in this paper is insignificant. Just by looking at its contents, even someone in conflict might burn the paper to destroy the evidence, and the smell would only leave a slight impression. However, the true danger of this paper lies elsewhere."
"...?"
"It serves to mark the user with a kind of brand."
"Ah..."
Even without a detailed explanation, Woo's sharp mind—praised by every master he had served for his excellence in both martial and scholarly pursuits—quickly grasped the gist of what Dan Baek-hoon was trying to say.
"The scent that rises when the paper burns is almost identical to Thousand-Mile Tracking Incense. Only those who are trained can detect that scent. Naturally, it's used to track people. When searching for the cult's collaborators, you follow this scent to make contact. Moreover, even if the target tries to pull out, the scent seeps into their body while erasing the evidence, so they can be eliminated at any time."
Woo-Hyo listened attentively to his father's words with a calm expression, but the implications were undeniably terrifying.
In the eyes of the Blood Cult, there existed another world that only they could recognize. They had ways of recognizing each other that ordinary people or even other martial artists chasing them couldn't begin to guess. The scent allowed them to track not only allies but also traitors to the very end...
"You'll undergo training to recognize this scent too. Never, no matter where you are or what time it is, let down your guard."
"..."
"They lie in wait in our darkest shadows, and one day, they will crawl out and will attempt to establish Blood Cult domination."
Dan Baek-hoon's voice was calm as he spoke, but for the first time, Woo sensed a hint of madness in his father. As if the brutal battles with the Blood Cult were still playing out before his eyes.
In chaotic times, a man who stepped forward to help the world ended up carrying sleepless nights and days where he could never feel at ease.
Woo-Hyo realized that his respected father might still be trapped in the past. Nevertheless, the boy bowed his head, showing his willingness to obey his father's teachings.
For a while, Woo-Hyo carried the scent pouches given to him by his father. Ten different pouches were exchanged with him, containing various herbs that emitted the scent of Mi-honcho, as well as those infused with Okyangcho. It took a full year before he could distinguish the smell of burning paper. In his free time, he memorized everything his father taught him about the Blood Cult.
However, after Baek-hoon went missing and the news of his death reached him, the only trace of the Blood Cult Woo ever knew was the hidden place within the White Virtue Clan's Grandmaster's residence. Even after inheriting his father's position, and even after finally leaving White Virtue Clan and arriving at the Black Sky Clan, the Blood Cult never appeared before him.
He thought it had vanished for good—a cult lost in the shadows of history. And even if it were to return, Woo believed it wouldn't be in his time, but far in the future, after all the damage had been repaired.
Then, nine days ago, he caught a whiff of the mixed scents of Mi-honcho and Okyangcho, and a faint, fresh yet bitter smell of wood. It had been ten years since he left the White Virtue Clan and could no longer access the secret place, but his father's teachings returned to him, like the scent of rain from the day before.
It was the moment he burned a letter sent by the First Disciple.
"A letter... from the First Disciple."
Yeon-jin handed a letter to Woo-Hyo with a stiff expression. He accepted it but did not unfold it.
Just the day before, Woo had headed toward Suwolgak to meet Kang-oh, but he returned earlier than expected. When asked if he had met the Third Disciple, Woo muttered that he had missed the timing and shut himself up in his room. Yeon-jin, troubled and wondering what had happened, received the letter the following day.
"This is to be given to the guest you are serving."
"Eh? Who's it from?"
It was when Yeon-jin had encountered the gatekeeper. The middle-aged woman who had worked at House Of Joy for many years appeared somewhat confused.
"That... it's something left by the First Disciple's subordinate."
"...!"
Yeon-jin hesitated over whether to deliver it or not, but ultimately brought it to Woo-Hyo. Holding it in her hands, her heart raced with anxiety. The letter appeared to be a regular one, but to Yeon-jin, someone from House Of Joy, there was an eerie and unsettling presence surrounding it.
Why wouldn't there be? It was no great secret that Mo Yong Yu-woon had been keeping the youngest disciple, Ye Kang-oh, in check. The only reason the power struggle wasn't public was because Ye Jin-rang was still strong. Everyone knew that once Ye Jin-rang stepped down, the First Disciple would no longer hide his claws.
Even a beast holding its breath while waiting for the time to hunt doesn't stop being a threat. That's why those under the Third Disciple's sphere of influence couldn't help but remain wary of the First Disciple, Mo Yong Yu-woon. The House of Joy was relatively quiet, but the Southern Lake Group faced even heavier scrutiny.
There were those who liked to gossip, and some even claimed that the murder incident that happened at Honamgak a few weeks ago was, in truth, a scheme by the First Disciple to drag down the Southern Lake Group and break the Third Disciple's momentum. However, since no one supported this theory, it gradually sank beneath the surface.
It wasn't that others couldn't guess what was going on—they kept their mouths shut because they knew what kind of consequences they might face if they spoke carelessly and the rumor turned out to be true.
"T-This is... troubling..."
Without knowing the contents, it was troubling. But even so, he hesitated to tear open the envelope and check. Woo swallowed a sigh and looked at Yeon-jin.
"Did it come directly from the First Disciple?"
"No, it was delivered by the gatekeeper."
If he wanted to keep it secret, there were much more discreet ways to deliver it. But the fact that it was handed to the gatekeeper and passed to Yeon-jin made it clear that the First Disciple had no intention of hiding it.
He was applying pressure.
Woo felt his mouth go dry as he asked Yeon-jin,
"Is it okay if I light a candle?"
At those words, Yeon-jin instinctively nodded, but then her gaze fell on the candlestick, and she was taken aback. The wax candle had barely burned at the tip, maintaining almost its original shape. In other words, during the nearly three months Woo had spent in the House of Joy, he hadn't lit a candle even once.
Come to think of it, when she cleaned Woo's room, she never had to replace the candles. The faint traces of use on one of them might've only been from the time Kang-oh visited—that was the best guess she could come up with. A chill ran through Yeon-jin's body.
Woo wasn't a martial artist; his night vision wouldn't be sharp. Realizing he had spent nearly a hundred nights in complete darkness without lighting a candle made her chest ache. It was obvious he hadn't used the candle simply because wax candles were too expensive.
Even Yeon-jin, who took care of Woo-Hyo's well-being, had only just now realized the extent of his frugality. For a man who always kept his head down and never pushed his own will forward, there was a part of him that was unbelievably stubborn.
"I'll go get some matches," she said, unable to hide her discomfort in her expression.
Woo-Hyo nodded, and only after she opened the door and stepped out did he finally check the contents of the letter. He knew she couldn't read, but he still took extra care. If this was a letter from Mo Yong Yu-woon, it might contain hints about his own identity.
Being cautious was in Woo-Hyo's nature, and it was also a way of life that Seol Buyong had instilled in him time and again.
Even if one could not read, there were those who could remember what they had seen and convey it like a picture.
Leaving aside trust in Yeon-jin, it was best to minimize the risks as much as possible.
Woo tore open the outer envelope and calmly unfolded the letter with a cool gaze.
The contents were similar to what he had expected, yet slightly different. It was a mix of various stories about the transition from spring to summer and inquiries about his well-being. Near the end, there was a request to meet him again.
The handwriting was elegant, and the content reflected a certain level of sophistication, but Woo-Hyo's expression remained largely unchanged. There was little substance in it, and he quickly decided that the purpose of the letter itself might simply be to hand it over to him.
'Is this meant to provoke Kang-oh?'
As he heard footsteps approaching, Woo-Hyo calmly folded the paper and placed it back into the envelope.
"I'm back."
"Come in."
Yeon-jin, who had brought the matchbox, lit the candle. Without hesitation, Woo-Hyo took the envelope containing the letter and held it over the flame. Yeon-jin gasped as she watched the luxurious paper catch fire. Woo-Hyo observed the paper burning with an indifferent gaze, but then he suddenly paused.
It was because of the scent he felt near the tip of his nose.
The moment Woo-Hyo recognized the scent of Mi-honcho, he blinked in disbelief. His eyes widened, and then, as the refreshing fragrance of the Okyangcho reached him, his hand gripping the letter trembled violently. He narrowed his eyes, realizing the last hint of woodsy aroma mixing in, when Yeon-jin rushed toward him, snatching the letter from his grasp and stamping on it with her foot.
"What are you thinking? You could burn yourself like that!"
Indeed, the flames were climbing upward, trying to scorch Woo's hand. It was only when he felt the lingering heat that he returned to reality, his mouth dry and his mind racing.
"… Ah."
"Why are you acting like this all of a sudden? You almost got seriously hurt!"
Woo placed a hand on his forehead, staggering. Yeon-jin quickly supported him.
"Please, open the window. And also... some water... please."
With a puzzled look, Yeon-jin opened the window and then blew out the candle that still had a flame. It seemed as though she was worried that Woo might put his hand in the fire while she wasn't looking. Woo looked completely out of his mind.
It felt as if the hands of the dead were rising from the floor, grasping at his ankles. A chill ran down his spine, and he trembled, unable to even let out a breath.
It had been over ten years since his father's death. The appearance of the Blood Cult's traces before him felt like a cruel twist of fate, as if the heavens were playing a trick on him.
Woo took the cup from Yeon-jin, who had returned holding water, her hands trembling. As he gulped it down, she gave him a worried glance. Unlike Woo, who could recognize the traces of the Blood Cult, Yeon-jin, who knew nothing, assumed his reaction was due to the contents of the letter.
"It's fine. The Third Disciple is watching over you, so even if it's the First Disciple, they can't do anything."
Woo-Hyo managed a faint smile, though it was more of a grimace.
"T-That's not it. I just suddenly felt... thirsty."
He was so flustered that he couldn't come up with a more convincing lie. Yeon-jin looked at him with an expression of deep concern, and when he mentioned wanting to rest, she hesitated before stepping outside. She kept glancing back at him until she closed the door, and even after that, she lingered for a while in front of it, clearly not feeling at ease.
Woo's state was a mess, so much so that even Yeon-jin could read it.
Giving the benefit of the doubt a hundred times over, it was possible that Mo Yong-yu-woon had come across that paper by chance. Part of him even wished for such a coincidence. However, his mind wouldn't let him rest easy with that thought.
The Blood Cult should have already disappeared from history's shadows. That letter should have been the last thing produced thirty years ago. But the paper in Woo's hand didn't show any signs of age. It wasn't yellowed, nor were the corners worn.
It looked as if it were brand new.
That fact left Woo in endless confusion.
He had been his father's successor since birth, a pillar of the Righteous path tasked with both overseeing and protecting the martial world. He believed that his father's concerns, while perhaps a bit excessive, were justified, and he took his lessons seriously because he believed it was his duty to pass down knowledge of the Blood Cult to future generations.
But now, undeniable proof that the Blood Cult still existed had appeared before his eyes. A sense of duty to uncover the truth struck him first, followed closely by a crushing helplessness. He was just a servant, unable to do anything.
What could he possibly accomplish in a body that couldn't even use martial arts properly? If someone who couldn't even protect himself returned to the White Virtue Clan, what could he do except get swept up in a power struggle?
Going to Jin-rang was out of the question. Woo knew he had fought against the Blood Cult, but the one who wrote this letter was none other than the First Disciple, Mo Yong-yu-woon. Given the unclear facts and the lack of supporting evidence—having burned the letter—he found it hard to believe that Jin-rang would take his words at face value.
From the beginning, Woo had one-sidedly endured Jin-rang's hatred. If he were still in his rightful place, standing as an equal to Jin-rang, he might have been able to ask for cooperation. But for a mere servant to speak of the martial world's cause was absurd. He couldn't even keep a proper watch on Jin-rang, and it was questionable whether Jin-rang would thoroughly investigate his first disciple.
The Jin-rang he knew wouldn't kill Yu-woon even if he found out he was tied to the Blood Cult—he might break his limbs and keep him under surveillance, but he wouldn't go so far as to kill him. In fact, he might even destroy all the evidence and try to cover it up.
Even though he likely knew that Yu-woon was subtly rejecting Kang-oh, he didn't make any move. That alone showed how much affection he had for the First Disciple.
But what truly drove Woo mad wasn't Yu-woon or Jin-rang—it was Kang-oh.
As long as the First Disciple was indirectly monitoring him, the Blood Cult related to him could interfere with Kang-oh. This was one of the approaches of the Blood Cult he had learned from his father—empowering an ally. It involved secretly involving them in dirty work, using that involvement as a weakness to control the ally who would eventually take a key position.
If this wasn't just a coincidence, and the Blood Cult still existed, and they had chosen Mo Yong Yu-woon as their pawn for future schemes, then Kang-oh would be in danger.
Thus, despite his intention to leave, Woo-Hyo found himself rooted in the House of Joy, unable to move.
His mind was filled with thoughts of the blood alliance, unaware of how his actions might appear to Kang-oh.