Rrrrrumble.

The storm's aftershocks lasted a long while.

The half-burned hall finally collapsed, and dust blew out past the walls of the estate.

"Clan Head—!!"

The Overlord Guard rushed into the estate in alarm.

But even they couldn't see anything through the thick haze of dust.

Eom Cheol, Commander of the Overlord Guard, slashed his saber this way and that.

A saber-wind rose and swept the dust away in an instant.

What had been hidden came into view, but not one of the Overlord Guard could move.

Gok Cheonmu, his saber hanging at his side.

And in front of him, Seo Woojin, standing with his sword raised.

The air between them was hard for anyone to break into.

Like a separate world, open to the two of them alone.

"Khk—!!"

Blood poured from Seo Woojin's mouth again.

Gok Cheonmu glared at him, his eyes gone still.

"Is this a Murim Alliance martial art?"

Seo Woojin had his head half bowed. He barely managed to lift it.

He could hardly open his eyes, and his face was smeared with blood.

Looking like that,

he bared his blood-stained teeth and grinned.

"D-don't kid yourself... This art... was created by... the greatest under heaven."

It was a hard thing to make sense of.

The greatest under heaven. Did he mean the Murim Alliance Lord? Or someone else?

The question nagged at him, but Gok Cheonmu shook his head and let it go.

"Fine. That's not what matters."

Swish. Shhring, tak.

Gok Cheonmu clicked his tongue as he sheathed his saber.

"I truly meant to kill you."

"I told you... I don't plan on dying easy..."

Gok Cheonmu snorted and turned away.

"This time, I admit defeat. But in the end, my saber will take your head. And that day isn't far off."

As he turned to go, Seo Woojin stopped him in his tracks.

"You've got your math wrong."

Gok Cheonmu asked without even turning his head.

"What?"

Tak.

Seo Woojin planted his sword in the ground and barely got the words out.

"If I let you vent your anger... I should get…