Five days had passed.

The Crazed Fiend hadn’t returned.

Even the Seven Family heads, who had been so reluctant to accept it, had no choice but to acknowledge it.

That Seo Woojin had truly removed the Crazed Fiend.

Word had already spread across all of Zhejiang, so they couldn’t hold out indefinitely anyway. From the moment they’d lured the Crazed Fiend out so loudly, the rumors spreading had been a foregone conclusion.

Over those five days, Seo Woojin had been able to rest well. The injury to his left hand had been fairly serious, but his other external wounds and internal injuries had been relatively light. Fortunately, he’d recovered a good deal while resting.

And only then——

Woon Seorin came to visit.

He’d expected her to show up the moment everything was over and unleash a torrent of nagging. But her visit came far later than anticipated.

“It’s been a while.”

Seo Woojin handed Woon Seorin some tea. And observed her.

She was different from usual. Exhaustion was plain on her face, and her normally immaculate attire was somehow disheveled.

“Are you alright?”

At Seo Woojin’s concern, Woon Seorin scoffed.

“You’re asking me if I’m alright? From where I’m sitting, Young Master Seo’s state is far worse.”

Rested as he was, he was still a patient. The splinted, bandaged left hand was especially hard to miss.

Seo Woojin offered an awkward smile.

“Haha…… still, against the Crazed Fiend, isn’t this getting off lightly?”

“Lightly, my foot. I heard a rough report before coming here. Haah. Do you have any awareness of how reckless you are? If the Four Black Dragons hadn’t held out, or……”

Seo Woojin cut her off.

“I heard the Woon Clan’s warriors moved that day. How did you persuade the Woon Clan? Is that why you’ve only come to see me now?”

Woon Seorin, about to continue, closed her mouth. Several emotions flickered across her complicated expression — but she let it out as a sigh.

“That’s not something Young Master Seo needs to concern himself with.”

Seo Woojin frowned.

“Didn’t we agree to share all information?”

Woon Seorin smirked and shrugged.

“Let me just say it’s hard to explain in words. But I’ll tell you one thing — the Woon Clan’s help ends here. Which means the remaining two tests have to be resolved entirely by Young Master Seo’s own strength.”

Seo Woojin let out a quiet sigh.

The Woon Clan certainly wouldn’t have lent out a combat unit for free — and elites, at that. It had been a situation where the Cheon and Gok Clans could have gone wild far more violently. Even for the Four Black Dragons, being outnumbered would have been a burden. There surely would have been casualties, and the first test wouldn’t have wrapped up this peacefully.

It was because the Woon Clan’s elites had appeared at the right moment that such a clash had been suppressed. Which meant Woon Seorin’s role had unquestionably had an enormous impact.

So what was the cost?

He had no read on it whatsoever. And she clearly wasn’t going to open her mouth about it.

Seo Woojin shook his head slightly and turned the conversation.

“Do you have any guesses about what kind the second test will be?”

Woon Seorin thought for a moment before answering.

“At the very least, it won’t be a near-impossible test like the first. Since Young Master Seo won the first round, they’ll be determined to win. By whatever means necessary.”

“Hm.”

Seo Woojin let out a low sound.

In truth, if they’d resolved to deal with the Crazed Fiend a step faster, the first round’s victory would have been theirs. They lost because they got greedy for a more perfect, more striking victory. And underneath that had been their contempt for him.

But there would be no more carelessness now.

“They’ll likely be deliberating between two approaches.”

Seo Woojin tilted his head.

“Two?”

“Inducing Young Master Seo’s failure. Or a more perfect success than Young Master Seo’s. But if it’s the Cheon Clan’s young clan head……”

Seo Woojin let out a small sound.

“There’s a high chance it’ll be both.”

Woon Seorin exhaled quietly.

“Yes. The Cheon Clan’s young clan head is a man of strong pride. He won’t easily accept this defeat. He’ll definitely want to pay it back. On the surface, of course, in some plausible……”

Woon Seorin’s words couldn’t continue.

“Clan Head Cho Igyeom of the Soaring Wind Cho Clan has arrived.”

A handmaid’s voice came from outside. The two looked at each other and nodded.

“Send him in.”

When Woon Seorin answered in his stead, the door opened. And Cho Igyeom entered with his characteristic sly expression.

“Haha. It’s been a while. Oh my. The young lady is here too. Did you resolve matters at the main house well? Your Clan Head was quite surprised, apparently. Said it was the first time the young lady had ever defied him……”

“Clan Head Cho. I believe I’ve told you before. I’m here in my capacity as Military Advisor.”

“Aiyoh. I keep forgetting that. Haha. My apologies. Ah, and our Young Master! This old Cho was genuinely astonished. To think you actually drove the Crazed Fiend away! Kya——! I hear there was a truly earth-shattering battle? What a shame, really. They say the two most entertaining things in the world are watching a fire and watching a fight, don’t they? If I’d caught wind of your movements just a bit sooner, I certainly would have——!”

As he spilled words without pause, Seo Woojin felt his wounds beginning to ache again. He sighed and cut him off.

“Clan Head Cho. State your business first.”

Cho Igyeom tapped his own head with his fan in exaggerated fashion.

“Aigoo, look at me. This fellow’s always been a talker…… Ah! Business!”

Cho Igyeom looked Seo Woojin over once.

“The injury to your left hand doesn’t seem fully healed yet…… but you’re about ready, aren’t you? To move on to the second test?”

Seo Woojin nodded.

“I’m fine. Go ahead.”

Whatever they had prepared, he wanted to deal with it quickly. That was the only way he’d make progress in finding his enemy.

Cho Igyeom nodded deeply, looking satisfied.

Snap!

Cho Igyeom flicked open his fan. It looked as though the test contents were about to come out — but what left his mouth was something else entirely.

“This time, we’ve decided to all gather together.”

Seo Woojin frowned.

“Is there a reason for that?”

“Hehehe. There is. Aren’t you curious who the other candidates are? They’re competitors sharing in the same hardship, after all — seeing each other’s faces and offering some encouragement, isn’t that the warmth of the Dark Path? Hahaha. Ah! Regrettably, my adopted son has withdrawn. He took quite a beating from the Crazed Fiend this time, you see, hahaha.”

He rattled off the absurd remarks without a care.

What was their objective? He had no choice but to weigh every single proposal.

But Woon Seorin seemed to have different thoughts.

“There’s a condition.”

“Hm? A condition? Haha, at a simple gathering to say hello, what condition could there——”

“Exclude those without the right to be there.”

“When you say the right……?”

Woon Seorin’s gaze turned sharp.

“You said Clan Head Cho represents the will of the Seven Families. So — I won’t block Clan Head Cho’s attendance. And I’ll attend in my capacity as Military Advisor. The candidates should obviously attend as well, yes?”

“Hmm.”

“Exclude the heads of the other clans. Ah — and the same goes for acting clan heads.”

Cho Igyeom’s smile slowly faded.

“Well now. As the backbone of the Dark Alliance, they do have the right to observe this test.”

“Wouldn’t it look rather absurd? For each clan to put forward a candidate and then jointly announce the test contents. You’re well aware of the current mood in Zhejiang, aren’t you? A man of your outstanding intelligence, naturally.”

The support toward Seo Woojin right now was no ordinary matter.

The tragic heir who had sacrificed for the Dark Path from such a young age. The extraordinary figure who had somehow survived in enemy territory and finally made it back alive. And on top of that, the resolve to bring back the Sword Saint’s blade — said to be a symbol of the Murim Alliance — and destroy it.

To the lower-ranked warriors of the Dark Path, Seo Woojin was already the rightful heir.

And now, this time, he’d removed the Crazed Fiend — the very thorn in the Dark Path’s side. How could they not be enthralled?

The warriors of the Dark Path were all watching the Dark Alliance intently.

In a situation like this, if the Seven Families showed any suspicious movements, harsh criticism would come pouring down at once. The usual Seven Families wouldn’t so much as blink at that — but now was different. Discontent toward them would flow straight to the candidates they’d put forward.

Even the final victor, if they lost the hearts of the people, would have quite a hard time holding onto that seat.

Seo Woojin caught Woon Seorin’s intent.

Unlike the other candidates, he had no reliable backing — but she was reminding everyone that he had the people’s hearts. And at the same time, she meant to exclude Cheon Doyun from that seat and eliminate the variable.

Meanwhile, Woon Seorin herself would attend. If the test contents were judged unreasonable, she could refute them without hesitation.

Cho Igyeom let out a low sound and cocked his head from side to side several times. As though deliberating what to do with Woon Seorin’s proposal.

And then——

Tap!

He struck his hand with the fan and nodded deeply.

“Hah. Truly cautious. And your threats come so naturally. Well now. The other clan heads will surely rebuke me for this…… but there’s no helping it. Since I lost the first round, the justification and the rights belong to Young Master Seo. Let’s do that. I’ll see you at the meeting hall this afternoon.”

And then, sighing continuously, he withdrew.

Seo Woojin swallowed a hollow laugh and shook his head.

“He accepted…… more readily than I expected.”

“He may have anticipated I’d make this proposal. What matters is that they’re aware of it too. That they can’t openly present an unreasonable test.”

“Which means there could be a serious, covert campaign of interference.”

Woon Seorin nodded.

“Well. That’s for me to worry about, so get some rest, Young Master Seo. And don’t be late this afternoon.”

“You’re leaving?”

Woon Seorin gestured at her own clothes.

“I’m the Dark Alliance’s Military Advisor, in name at least. If I show up to an official occasion looking like this, there’ll be talk, won’t there?”

Ah. So this hadn’t been an official occasion.

The thought puzzled him briefly, but Seo Woojin accepted it.

“Alright. I’ll see you this afternoon, then.”

After Woon Seorin, too, had gone outside——

Seo Woojin fell into deep thought, preparing for what was to come.

Arriving at the meeting hall right on time, he found everyone waiting. But the number was smaller than expected.

Reading Seo Woojin’s puzzlement, Cho Igyeom spoke.

“Ah. I mentioned earlier, didn’t I? That my adopted son withdrew. There are three more. Same situation. Hahaha.”

At Cho Igyeom’s rapid words, Seo Woojin shook his head. A headache seemed to be coming on.

He took a seat in an empty spot and studied the faces of those gathered.

‘I’ve already confirmed the other candidates’ backgrounds. That one is the Gok Clan’s candidate……’

The candidate the Gok Clan had put forward — Gok Munyeon. As expected, one of Gok Cheonmu’s adopted sons. Perhaps because of that, he had a somewhat softer impression than Gok Cheonmu.

Beside him sat a scholarly-looking man. A gentle impression — but in those clear, deep eyes, an indiscernible strength could be felt.

‘That one is the Woon Clan’s candidate. Yoon Seobaek. The disciple Clan Head Woon trusts most.’

To borrow Woon Seorin’s words, if this opportunity hadn’t come along, he would surely have become the next master of the Black Scale Unit. There was even an assessment that if another ten years passed, he could catch up — through his own strength — to the martial power that currently lagged behind the Cheon and Gok Clans.

But the person most worthy of caution was someone else entirely.

Seo Woojin’s gaze went to the very end.

A woman watching him with an expressionless face. The Cheon Clan’s adopted daughter, Cheon Suryeon.

Her martial ability was already assessed to have surpassed the pinnacle realm and reached beyond it. At an age not yet even thirty.

‘The Cheon Clan’s killing machine.’

Her most famous title. Every matter great and small in the Cheon Clan was handled by her. And wherever she passed, only blood and death remained.

‘There doesn’t seem to be a single easy opponent here……’

He’d fought a desperate battle against the Crazed Fiend, but that had been rather special. It was a fight that had only been possible because the Crazed Fiend had no reason left in him. How he’d fare against these people at full strength was hard to gauge right now.

While his thoughts continued, Cho Igyeom’s voice sounded.

“Everyone’s gathered, so — may we proceed with the discussion?”

Woon Seorin answered on their behalf.

“Go ahead.”

Cho Igyeom nodded, then slowly continued.

“As you all know, the first test went to Young Master Seo, seated over there. A word of congratulations from everyone…… ahh. I understand. Straight to the point.”

When Woon Seorin’s glare sharpened, Cho Igyeom hastily changed course.

“Some time ago, Young Master Seo said that the Dark Path was originally a group that yearned for freedom. Well…… I won’t deny that, but at least now, it’s a bit different. The Dark Path prioritizes profit above all else.”

Cho Igyeom paced back and forth, tapping his own shoulder with the fan. The restlessness somehow added a pull to his words.

“The first test, too, was set with that backdrop in mind — the Crazed Fiend. Thanks to the Crazed Fiend, disruptions arose in our enterprise, and that inflicted serious losses on us.”

Tap.

Cho Igyeom stopped and looked at the candidates. The corners of his mouth curled up. As though he were savoring this very moment.

“The second is no different. One who harms the Dark Path’s interests. A traitor. Protecting our profits by erasing that traitor — that is the content of the second test.”

Seo Woojin’s brow furrowed.

‘A traitor……?’

It was hard to follow immediately. A traitor, out of nowhere.

Amid the confusion, Cho Igyeom finished.

“Well? Simple, isn’t it?”

Wearing a meaningful smile.

(End of Chapter 22)