Eight years had passed since the Namgung clan began searching for their lost child. Ilhwa had been raised by the Blood Demon since the age of five, making her thirteen now. For reasons unknown, she had somehow returned to her thirteen-year-old self.
"A regression after death."
Was it the result of some grand technique achieved by someone? Or perhaps a curse? The Blood Sect was capable of countless forbidden arts, so it wasn’t entirely impossible.
The Blood Demon had spent his entire life researching immortality—maybe one of his experiments had succeeded. The reason for her return didn’t matter.
"What’s important is that I’ve come back to the past."
Returning to her room, Ilhwa packed her belongings—though there wasn’t much to pack. Just a single sword and a small pouch containing a few copper coins. As she held her meager possessions, she hesitated for a moment.
At this time, the Blood Demon was operating a tavern called the Fire Crow Pavilion in Yunnan. On the surface, it was just an inn and drinking house, but in truth, it was a hidden stronghold of the Blood Sect, quietly amassing power to devour the Central Plains.
"I can’t go back to the Fire Crow Pavilion."
Now that she knew she was a Namgung, she couldn’t repeat the foolishness of destroying her own family with her own hands. That left only one place—the Namgung clan. Ilhwa looked down at her small hands.
It still didn’t feel real.
"I’m a Namgung."
In her past life, she had lived solely to bring ruin to the Namgung.
"And yet… I was one of them all along."
She clenched her fist.
"Five years."
Five years remained until the Blood Sect, lurking in the shadows, would emerge under the name of the Great Blood Sect and plunge the Central Plains into chaos.
"I don’t want to be the Blood Demon’s pawn anymore."
Now that she had returned, she couldn’t live the same life again.
"I’ll go back."
She would return, grow stronger, and use the Namgung’s power to prevent the clan’s destruction and stop the Blood Demon’s ambitions. With the memories of her past life, nothing was impossible. Five years was short, but it was enough time to prepare.
So...
"I’m going back."
Back to the Namgung. Back to the home she had once destroyed with her own hands. --- Though she wanted to leave for the Namgung immediately, there was one problem. Ilhwa circulated the inner energy flowing through her body.
A murky, blood-red energy surged from her dantian. Before her death, she had reached the Profound Realm.
"But now… I’m barely at the Peak Stage."
No—being at the Peak Stage was actually a blessing. The Blood Sect’s martial arts were based on blood. Unlike orthodox techniques, which were built step by step, most of their methods involved stealing and absorbing the blood or life force of others to strengthen oneself.
This allowed for rapid, explosive growth, but the resulting energy was impure and carried severe side effects. The problem was that if she returned to the Namgung with this tainted energy, she might be killed before even being recognized as one of them.
"Namgung Mucheon, the Heavenly Dragon Sword Sovereign."
Her grandfather and the patriarch of the Namgung clan. He was one of the Ten Great Masters of the Martial World, infamous for his hatred of unorthodox practitioners. It was said he showed no mercy to those who cultivated evil techniques, slaughtering them without hesitation.
So before returning to the Namgung, she had to purge the foul blood energy the Blood Demon had forced into her body. --- "They say thousands have already visited the Namgung. They’ll take in anyone with even a faint birthmark on their neck."
"I heard someone even brought their own child, trying to sell them off for money."
"As if the Namgung would be fooled. Do they really think they can’t tell their own blood?"
Stepping out of the inn, Ilhwa found the streets buzzing with talk about the Namgung’s lost child. Standing in front of a shop, she hesitated.
"Hey, kid! Are you buying or not? If not, move aside! Other customers are waiting!"
Ilhwa lifted her gaze to the shopkeeper. Though she merely looked at him, the coldness in her eyes made him instinctively shrink back.
"W-What’s with that look?"
"Is this tasty?"
The shopkeeper followed her gaze to his display—rows of candied fruit skewers.
"... You’ve never had one before? Didn’t your mother ever buy you any?"
"I don’t have a mother."
"…!"
The shopkeeper’s face paled rapidly. Confused by his stiff reaction, Ilhwa tilted her head.
Crunch. Crunch.
"Weird man."
After asking about her father (who also didn’t exist), he handed her a skewer without taking payment. He even patted her head, sniffling. Though she had regained some emotions after returning to childhood, she still couldn’t understand his behavior.
"Maybe it’s because I lived so long without feeling anything."
She couldn’t remember what emotions were—how they felt, what they meant. That made it hard to understand others, but she didn’t mind.
"Emotions just get in the way of judgment."
There was no need to restore what had dulled. Munching on the free candied fruit, Ilhwa scanned her surroundings.
"This is Luonan, right?"
She had awakened in Luonan County, Shaanxi—south of Huayin, home to the famous Mount Hua Sect. She had only been here once as a child.
"When I stole the item secretly traded between Mount Hua and Shaolin."
The deal between the two sects had been conducted in absolute secrecy, meaning the item in question was extraordinary. The Great Rebirth Pill—Shaolin’s legendary elixir. Revered as a miracle drug, it was one of the rarest treasures in the Martial World.
Upon hearing that this precious pill had left Shaolin, the Blood Demon had ordered the Black Cloud Gang—a group of bandits—to retrieve it.
"He threatened to capture and dismember them all if they failed."
The Fire Crow Pavilion’s infamy among the underworld ensured their compliance. Ilhwa’s mission had been to deliver the stolen item to her master.
"Hmm…"
She rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought. The Great Rebirth Pill would be perfect for purging her tainted energy. Since she had no other way to obtain such a treasure now, this was a golden opportunity.
Besides, neither Shaolin nor Mount Hua had publicly pursued the matter.
"I’ll take it."
She looked up at the gradually setting sun. The meeting with the Black Cloud Gang was set for the Hour of the Rooster (5–7 PM).
"Time to go."
Tossing aside the skewer stick, she bounced lightly in place a few times. Though her reduced energy felt unfamiliar, her child’s body was undeniably nimble. Her flexibility, even without stretching, showed the results of her diligent training.
"Good."
After a few more warm-up jumps— Tap! Her body shot into the air. In an instant, she soared high enough to see all of Luonan County below.
Landing on the tallest building’s roof, she sprinted across the tiles at blinding speed. Ordinary people wouldn’t even be able to track her movements. Reaching the outskirts in moments, she leaped from the last rooftop and soared again— As if diving into the sunset itself.
Hovering midair, she gazed down at the dense forest below before vanishing into its depths. --- Thud.
Thud. THUD!
Before an unmarked black gate, Ilhwa pounded heavily. A moment later, a palm-sized slit opened above, revealing a pair of sharp eyes. After scanning the area, they lowered— And found a child standing there.
No older than ten.
"... Was it you knocking?"
The boy’s only response was a nod. The man’s thick brows twitched, but he decided to be generous—after all, the kid barely reached his waist.
"Scram. This isn’t a place for brats."
"I have an appointment with your leader."
"What? You got a death wish, kid? You think our boss meets anyone who asks? If you don’t leave now, I’ll—" BOOM—!
The Black Cloud Gang’s thick gate exploded inward with a deafening crash. Dust slowly settled. Beyond it, Ilhwa saw the gang’s members, already gathering with weapons drawn—swords, axes, all aimed at her.
"Same as always."
In her past life, she had slaughtered them all. But that wasn’t necessary now.
"I should avoid unnecessary killing. I’m an orthodox sect member now."
She stepped calmly inside. Underfoot, the fallen gate creaked—someone was trapped beneath. The gang members faltered, unnerved by the child’s eerie composure.
None dared attack.
"What kind of kid has killing intent like that…?"
"If we mess with her, we’re dead."
The bloodthirst radiating from her small frame was thick enough to make their skin crawl. It was as if a crimson haze enveloped her. With each step she took, the gang members retreated.
Halfway across the courtyard— A man in a black hood stood waiting. Bowing respectfully, he clasped his fists.
"Are you the Young Pavilion Master of the Fire Crow Pavilion?"
Ilhwa nodded.
"Please follow me. Our leader awaits."