The man in the black hood turned and gestured inward. At his signal, the densely packed members of the Black Cloud Gang split apart to either side. Ilhwa followed the man through the newly opened path.
Not a trace of fear or hesitation showed on her face. Her unshaken demeanor, far from cowed, instead made the Black Cloud Gang members tense as they watched her. The man led Ilhwa to a hall deep within the Black Cloud Gang’s territory.
The doors to the hall were wide open, as if welcoming her. At the foot of the stairs leading up to the hall, the man stepped aside and bowed deeply. His gesture seemed to indicate that his guidance ended here.
Ilhwa ascended the stairs without sparing him another glance. Behind her, the Black Cloud Gang’s underlings gathered thickly at the base of the stairs. As she stepped into the main hall, she found the gang’s leader and elders already seated, waiting for her.
At the very back of the hall sat the Black Cloud Gang Leader. Ilhwa walked to the center of the hall and bowed respectfully toward him.
"Young Pavilion Master Ilhwa of the Fire Crow Pavilion greets the esteemed leader of the Black Cloud Gang."
The gang leader smiled kindly, as if looking at a beloved child.
"I had no idea the famed Young Pavilion Master of the Fire Crow Pavilion would be such a young heroine."
"Your presence, Gang Leader, surpasses even the rumors. I am merely awed."
"Hahaha, the Young Pavilion Master of the Fire Crow Pavilion is so well-mannered..."
His gaze abruptly turned cold.
"... So why must you be so unreasonable?"
"..."
Ilhwa quietly used her heightened senses to count the number of Black Cloud Gang members surrounding her. The gang leader, eight elders, and roughly a hundred and fifty underlings. Just like in her past life.
Due to the Blood Demon’s threats, the Black Cloud Gang had become enemies of both the Mount Hua Sect and Shaolin. By the time Ilhwa arrived, they had been grinding their teeth, eager to kill her.
Even if they handed over the item, they believed they had to at least kill the Young Pavilion Master to vent their anger—so they had prepared thoroughly. In her past life, a bloody battle had indeed erupted, and Ilhwa had slaughtered half of them.
"I apologize on behalf of the Pavilion Master’s rudeness."
Winning a battle once was easy. Winning it again wouldn’t be hard. But Ilhwa took a step back.
She wanted to avoid unnecessary bloodshed and waste.
"Please, set aside your anger."
"We don’t need meaningless apologies."
"If you ever visit the Fire Crow Pavilion in the future, we will ensure you are treated with the utmost hospitality."
"Do you take us for penniless beggars?"
Ilhwa’s gaze lowered slightly. A thick killing intent had already begun rising from the Black Cloud Gang Leader. It was clear he had no intention of ending this peacefully.
"Gang Leader, I urge you not to make a foolish choice."
"Has the little Young Pavilion Master grown frightened?"
"Many of your subordinates will lose their lives."
"And the Young Pavilion Master will have to forfeit hers as well."
Shing—shing—shing!
In unison, the elders and gang members drew their swords—all except the leader. It seemed history was about to repeat itself.
"I gave you a chance."
Shing!
Ilhwa’s sword flashed out in an instant. The earlier warmth vanished, replaced only by a suffocating tension. Ilhwa slowly surveyed her surroundings.
‘Since it’s come to this, I’ll only take the necessary lives.’
"Since the odds seem against me, I’ll take the first move."
"What—?!"
Swish—thud!
"Guh—!"
Ilhwa’s blade sliced clean through the torso of one of the Black Cloud Gang’s elders. The man collapsed forward with a dying scream. Before his body even hit the ground, Ilhwa was already moving toward her next target.
"Stop her!"
The gang leader’s shout came too late—Ilhwa’s sword was faster.
"Gah—!"
Another elder fell as the sharp blade carved through flesh. Behind the collapsing elder, Ilhwa adjusted her grip, her eyes glinting sharply.
‘In my past life, I let the Black Cloud Gang strike first.’
Even then, she had won. But this time, she had made the first move simply out of curiosity.
‘What choice will you make, Gang Leader?’
The gang leader seemed unable to believe that two elders had fallen without even getting a chance to act. Stunned, he only snapped out of his daze when his eyes met Ilhwa’s. "K-Kill her!
Now!"
"Raaagh!"
"Die!"
At his command, the Black Cloud Gang members charged at Ilhwa. Her figure moved like a shadow among them.
"Guh—!"
"Kuh—!"
Everywhere she passed, screams erupted without fail.
‘W-What…?!’
The gang leader was stunned. Had they underestimated her because she was young? No. The leader, the elders, and the underlings had all heightened their senses, watching her closely.
Yet they couldn’t even track her movements. Even now, it was the same. Elders, captains—all fell in a single slash.
The underlings were no different.
‘A monster…!’
Could she be a master who had reversed her aging? If not, how could a child reach such heights? This made no sense!
He had heard of the Fire Crow Pavilion’s infamous reputation, but he never expected the Young Pavilion Master’s martial prowess to be this overwhelming. This was beyond all expectations. At this rate, far from killing the Young Pavilion Master, the Black Cloud Gang itself would be wiped out before dawn.
"Stop!"
At the gang leader’s shout, his men froze. Even Ilhwa, who had been about to behead an underlung lunging at her, halted mid-motion.
‘The gang leader made his decision faster than in my past life.’
Because of that, more Black Cloud Gang members survived than before. Ilhwa flicked the blood off her sword indifferently and looked at the gang leader. Drenched in blood yet expressionless, her appearance made the gang leader shudder.
‘She’s no ordinary child!’
She must be a master who had reversed her aging!
"Young Pavilion Master!"
The gang leader bowed deeply toward her.
"Please, sheathe your sword!"
Simultaneously, the gang members dropped their weapons and prostrated themselves. Ilhwa stood at the center of it all. The clatter of weapons echoed sharply through the hall before fading into silence.
Then, the gang leader spoke again.
"Forgive this foolish old man’s mistake. We will... hand over the item."
**** Under the dim moonlight, Ilhwa examined the small pouch now in her possession. Even wrapped in multiple layers, a mystical energy emanated from within. Truly, it lived up to its reputation as Shaolin’s prized treasure—a medicine of legendary potency.
‘With this, I can purge the blood energy within me.’
Tucking the pouch into her robes, Ilhwa swiftly moved on. To perform the energy-circulation technique needed to expel the blood energy, she needed a secluded place where no one would disturb her. A single misstep during the process could twist her energy channels, leading to Qi Deviation, so she proceeded cautiously, scanning her surroundings as she traveled.
‘...’
Ilhwa suddenly stopped and glanced back. Rustle—rustle— Someone was following her. The moment she left the Black Cloud Gang’s territory, the pursuer had openly revealed their presence—as if announcing themselves.
Emerging from the dense trees, she reached a small clearing bathed in moonlight. Ilhwa stopped there. Under the pale glow, her black hair and sharp eyes gleamed.
She stared into the shadows between the trees. From there, an overwhelming energy—one she couldn’t even begin to measure—radiated outward.
‘Who is it?’
Her face stiffened with tension. In her past life, no one had pursued her like this. Her wariness peaked.
As she heightened her senses, preparing for a sudden attack— "Whoops!" A middle-aged man stumbled out from behind a tree, tripping over his own feet. Clad in a black robe with blue embroidered cuffs, his beard was scruffy, and his robes were loosely worn, giving him a somewhat sloppy appearance.
But Ilhwa’s expression only hardened further. She knew the truth hidden behind that carefree facade.
‘The Storm Thunder God…?’
Shockingly, the man was from the Namgung Clan. Among the Namgung, he was one of the top three masters—the leader of the Secret Wind Sword Unit, a direct force under the family head: She Wuguang.
Known as the Storm Thunder God for his wind-like speed and thunder-like destructiveness, he was the only high-ranking member of the Namgung not of their bloodline.
"Kehehe. Not drawing your sword? You’re a clever little brat."
She Wuguang scratched his chin, grinning. Though his face was friendly, the sheer pressure of his energy made every hair on Ilhwa’s body stand on end.
"Who are you, kid?"
He pointed at her lazily.
"Think carefully before answering. Depending on what you say, I might kill you or let you live."
His smiling words carried an undeniable threat. His gaze was as sharp as a blade. Ilhwa pondered her response.
Seop Mugwang was the head of the Namgung’s secret organization. While famous as the Storm Thunder God, few knew he served the Namgung Clan. Mentioning the Namgung carelessly here would only make him suspect her of being a spy.
‘Then…’
Ilhwa clasped her fists in salute.
"Junior Seolhwa of the martial world greets the esteemed senior."