The man in a black hood turned around and pointed inward. The Black Cloud Sect disciples, who had been blocking the path tightly, split to either side.

Ilhwa followed the man along the path that opened up.

There was no trace of fear or hesitation on her face.

The Black Cloud Sect disciples, unnerved by her unwavering demeanor, watched her with tension.

The man guided Ilhwa to the innermost hall of the Black Cloud Sect.

The doors of the hall were wide open as if to welcome her.

At the steps leading to the hall, the man stepped aside and bowed slightly.

It was as though he was signaling that his role as a guide ended there.

Ilhwa climbed the steps, leaving him behind.

The disciples of the Black Cloud Sect, who had been following her, gathered densely at the bottom of the stairs.

Inside the grand hall, the leader of the Black Cloud Sect and the elders were all seated, awaiting her arrival.

At the innermost part of the hall sat the sect leader of the Black Cloud Sect.

Ilhwa walked to the center of the hall and bowed toward the sect leader.

“Ilhwa of the Hwaworu greets the leader of the Black Cloud Sect.”

The sect leader smiled kindly, as if looking at a charming child.

“I never imagined the renowned young owner of Hwaworu would be such a youthful heroine.”

“Your commanding presence surpasses the rumors, Sect Leader. It is truly awe-inspiring.”

“Haha, for the young owner of Hwaworu to speak so respectfully….”

His gaze suddenly turned cold.

“Why is your lordship so reckless?”

“….”

Ilhwa used her senses to gauge the number of Black Cloud Sect disciples gathered.

The sect leader and eight elders, along with approximately 150 others.

It was the same as in her previous life.

The Black Cloud Sect, cornered into becoming an enemy of Mount Hua and Shaolin due to the Blood Demon’s threats, had been gritting their teeth, eager to kill her when she arrived.

Even if they handed over the item, they had prepared to kill at least the young owner of Hwaworu to vent their anger.

In her past life, a bloody battle had indeed ensued, during which Ilhwa had killed half of them.

“I apologize on behalf of my lord’s discourtesy.”

Though it would not be difficult to win again, having already done so once, Ilhwa took a step back.

She wished to avoid unnecessary sacrifices and losses.

“Please quell your anger.”

“I have no need for such empty words of apology.”

“If you visit Hwaworu in the future, we will ensure that you are treated most generously.”

“Do you take us for paupers with nothing to offer?”

Ilhwa’s gaze darkened.

Killing intent began to emanate from the Black Cloud Sect Leader. It was clear he had no intention of ending things amicably.

“Sect Leader, I advise you not to make foolish choices.”

“Are you, a mere young owner, frightened?”

“Many of your subordinates will lose their lives.”

“And you will pay with your own life.”

Srrrng!

The elders and disciples of the Black Cloud Sect simultaneously drew their swords.

It seemed they were determined to repeat the events of her past life.

“I have indeed given you a chance.”

Shing!

In an instant, Ilhwa unsheathed her sword.

The previously amicable atmosphere vanished entirely, leaving only a palpable tension.

Ilhwa slowly surveyed her surroundings.

‘Given the circumstances, it’s best to take only the necessary lives.’

“I’ll assume you’ll allow me the first move, as it seems unfavorable to me.”

“What?”

Swish― Slash!

“Aargh!”

Ilhwa’s sword sliced through the upper body of an elder in an instant. He collapsed forward with a scream, his body hitting the ground before Ilhwa swiftly moved to her next target.

“Stop her!”

The sect leader belatedly shouted, but Ilhwa’s sword was faster.

“Argh!”

With the sound of the blade cutting through flesh, another elder fell.

Behind the collapsing elder, Ilhwa gripped her sword anew, her eyes gleaming sharply.

‘In my past life, I yielded the first move to the Black Cloud Sect.’

Even so, she had won.

This time, her curiosity led her to act first.

‘What choice will the Black Cloud Sect leader make?’

The sect leader appeared incredulous, unable to believe that two elders had been taken down without resistance.

When their eyes met, his shocked expression turned to panic as he shouted.

“Kill her! Quickly!”

“Dieee!”

The Black Cloud Sect disciples charged at Ilhwa in unison.

Ilhwa’s figure moved like a shadow among the attackers.

“Ack―!”

“Urgh!”

With every movement she made, screams erupted without fail.

‘What… What is this…!’

The sect leader was shaken.

Did they underestimate her because she was a child? No.

The sect leader, elders, and disciples had all been fully focused on her, raising their senses to their peak.

And yet, they couldn’t even see her movements. The same was true now.

Elders, unit leaders—none were spared, all falling in a single strike. The ordinary disciples were even less of a match.

‘She’s a monster…!’

Could she be a hidden master who had reversed aging? If not, how could such a young girl reach this level of skill? It was unbelievable!

Though Hwaworu’s infamy was well known, the young owner’s martial arts exceeded all expectations. At this rate, far from killing her, the Black Cloud Sect itself was on the verge of being wiped out.

“Stop!”

At the sect leader’s cry, the Black Cloud Sect disciples froze.

Ilhwa, who had been about to cut down an approaching disciple, also stopped in her tracks.

‘The sect leader’s decision came faster than in my past life.’

As a result, more disciples survived compared to before.

Ilhwa casually flicked the blood off her sword and looked at the sect leader.

Even though she was covered in blood, her expression remained unchanged, causing the sect leader to shudder.

‘She is no ordinary child!’

Surely, she must be an ageless master in disguise…!

“Young Owner!”

The sect leader bowed deeply toward Ilhwa.

“Please, sheath your sword!”

At the same time, the Black Cloud Sect disciples threw down their weapons and prostrated themselves.

Standing amidst them, Ilhwa remained motionless.

The sound of weapons clattering to the floor echoed sharply in the hall. When the noise subsided, the sect leader spoke again.

“Please forgive this foolish old man’s mistake. I will… hand over the item.”

---

Under the dim moonlight, Ilhwa gazed at the small pouch in her hands.

Even though it was wrapped in several layers, an extraordinary energy emanated from within. It was undoubtedly the miraculous elixir that Shaolin took pride in.

‘With this, I can dispel the blood energy within me.’

Ilhwa tucked the pouch into her robe and quickly set off.

To perform the necessary energy circulation to expel the blood energy, she needed a place where she could not be disturbed.

If anything went wrong during the process, her energy could become twisted, leading to qi deviation. As she cautiously searched for a suitable location…

‘…’

Ilhwa paused and turned to look behind her.

Rustle― Rustle.

Someone was following her.

As soon as she left the Black Cloud Sect’s territory, they deliberately made their presence known, as if signaling their pursuit.

Exiting the dense forest, Ilhwa reached a clearing bathed in moonlight.

She stopped there.

Under the gentle glow of the moon, her jet-black hair and sharp eyes gleamed.

Ilhwa stared into the shadows between the trees.

An overwhelming energy, far beyond her ability to measure, radiated from that spot.

‘Who is it?’

Ilhwa’s expression tensed with apprehension.

In her past life, no one had pursued her at this point, making her current tension all the more acute.

As she heightened her senses to prepare for a sudden attack…

“Oops!”

A middle-aged man stumbled out from behind a tree, tripping over its roots.

The man was dressed in a black long coat with its collar adorned by an elaborate blue embroidery.

His scruffy beard and disheveled attire gave him an air of carelessness.

But Ilhwa’s expression hardened further upon recognizing him.

She was well aware of the true identity hidden beneath his nonchalant demeanor.

‘The Thunderstorm God…?’

The man, surprisingly, was affiliated with the Namgung Clan.

One of the top three masters of the clan and the leader of the secret division known as the Storm Sword Party, Seop Mu-Gwang.

His nickname, Thunderstorm God, came from his speed and destructive power, likened to wind and thunder.

Despite not being a direct descendant of the Namgung family, he was one of the few in its upper echelon.

“Heh. Not drawing your sword, eh? You’re quite clever for a kid.”

Seop Mu-Gwang chuckled, scratching his chin.

Despite his casual demeanor, the immense energy he exuded made Ilhwa’s hair stand on end.

“What’s your identity, kid?”

Seop Mu-Gwang pointed lightly at Ilhwa with his chin.

“Think carefully before you answer, little one. Your response will decide whether I kill you or not.”

Though he spoke with a smile, his words were filled with menace, and his gaze was sharp enough to cut.

Ilhwa contemplated her response.

Seop Mu-Gwang’s position as the head of the Namgung Clan’s secret organization was not widely known.

If she recklessly mentioned the Namgung Clan here, she risked being suspected as a spy.

‘In that case…’

Ilhwa cupped her fists and bowed respectfully.

“I am Seolhwa of the Martial Arts Fringe Academy. Greetings to the esteemed senior master.”

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