Chapter 169
Demon-Eyed Witch, Sama Suryeon.
She had skin like dry tree bark and a body tough enough to endure a certain degree of sword energy.
However, she suffered from a side effect that made her feel intense pain just from a passing breeze or the slight movement of her lips.
She was a member of the Demonic Cult who had instigated the assassination of Tang Sowol, and also someone who had fallen by my hand in Guangdong Province alongside Shadow Ghost Division.
Unlike Shadow Ghost Division, who insisted that all martial artists and martial arts should disappear from the world, Sama Suryeon was a woman who had simply pursued revenge against the Sama Clan, only to stray far off course.
Whereas Shadow Ghost Division was unwavering enough to declare she would end her own life in the end, Sama Suryeon, in her final moment, realized that joining the Demonic Cult and attempting to kill the innocent Tang Sowol would only create another version of herself.
She offered a brief apology and left behind her name as a final testament.
I know nothing of her circumstances. Nor did I want to.
What mattered was that the Demon-Eyed Witch and I clashed, and one of us had to die.
I won, and she lost. That was all there was to it. However, if you add Sama Yuryeon into the mix, the story changes.
Before my regression, Sama Suryeon and I did not have a good relationship, and that likely wouldn’t change in the future.
But that doesn’t mean I was indifferent toward Sama Yuryeon. In fact, I had even done some digging, intending to one day punch that annoying face of hers.
I know nothing about Sama Suryeon. Even when we were in open conflict with the Demonic Cult before the regression, I had never crossed swords with her or even heard rumors.
But I know a bit about Sama Yuryeon.
When the half-sister she most cherished was driven out during a power struggle and became a sacrificial pawn of the family, When she, despite being of Sama blood, was confined not to a spacious warm room but to a cold underground prison, treated worse than livestock—Sama Yuryeon's heart turned cold, and within it, a snake coiled. That much, I know.
So even knowing that Sama Yuryeon's offer of cooperation is quite rational, I still had to ask.
“Sama Yuryeon.”
“Yes. A wise choice. Though we cannot be sure what sleeps within the secret vault, I believe what I asked for is not unreasonable...”
“I’m the one who killed the Demon-Eyed Witch, Sama Suryeon.”
“I’m the one who finally cut through bark tougher than iron, the one who snuffed out the burning firewood she had become.”
“I know.”
“Even so, you're saying you’ll join hands with me?”
“Yes.”
Sama Yuryeon opened her eyes slightly wider and looked straight at me.
“No matter how misguided her path, my sister fought as a warrior, and died by the hand of you, Blood Flame Sword Demon, also a warrior. Isn’t that right?”
“That’s right.”
“Then it’s fine.”
With those firm words, Sama Yuryeon’s eyes returned to their usual squint.
“I bear no grudge against you or against the Young Master of the Sky-Winged Poison Phoenix. Nor do I have any reason to.”
“Is that so.”
I nodded slowly and turned my gaze to Tang Sowol, who had been silently observing the exchange.
“So she says. I think it’s a good offer... What about you, Tang Sowol?”
“Hmm.”
Tang Sowol tapped her chin with her index finger and tilted her head.
“First, there’s something I want to clarify.”
“What is it?”
“It’s no surprise anymore that you’re so well-versed in people and matters related to the Demonic Cult and the Unorthodox Factions. You probably have good reason not to trust them. But...”
She trailed off, then pointed her tapping finger directly at Sama Yuryeon.
“I’m not sure if she’s really competent enough to warrant cooperation, even if you're uneasy. Her martial ability seems to be at most first-class—and just barely at that.”
“You’re right about her martial skills, Tang Sowol.”
But what I want from Sama Yuryeon isn’t force. It’s intelligence—specifically, knowledge to identify and break through the mechanical devices and formations likely filling the secret vault.
“Do you know anything about such things? I, for one, have no clue.”
“I can’t say for sure either, but... Would the Ghost Shadow Thief’s vault really be filled with traps like that?”
“It will be. That’s what makes it worthy of being called his vault.”
“Ah.”
The Ghost Shadow Thief didn’t just want a secret warehouse to hide his stolen goods.
He wanted a grand stage to flaunt his achievements to the world.
That’s why he publicly scattered his treasure map and spread rumors. Naturally, the inside of the vault was designed with flair.
An entrance inaccessible even when you know the location. And inside, constant, qualification-testing traps that never stop.
“I’m quite sure of it. And if we fail to break through in time and other martial artists catch wind of it...”
“They’ll waltz in through the path we struggled to open and get in our way.”
“That’s why I agreed to cooperate with Sama Yuryeon.”
“I understand up to that point. But there’s still something unclear.”
“Something else? Ah...”
Now I understood what Tang Sowol was getting at.
I had seen Sama Yuryeon's capabilities before regression, but to Tang Sowol, this was her first time meeting this odd woman.
I nodded in understanding and answered her question.
“Don’t worry. She probably knows more than we, who only know martial arts. And if she turns out to be less useful than expected, it doesn’t matter.”
“Why is that?”
“Like I said from the start—we can always use her as a decoy.”
“You were serious about that?”
“I’m always serious.”
Tang Sowol sighed deeply after a moment’s thought.
“Whew. Fine. I agree to cooperate for now.”
“Ah...!”
Perhaps relieved that things were going according to her plan, Sama Yuryeon's anxious face brightened instantly.
“Thank you! You won’t regret it!”
“But! Brother Cheon does have a fiancée, so you’ll need to be more mindful of your behavior.”
“Oh, don’t worry. I prefer men with ambition.”
Tang Sowol glanced my way. She scanned me up and down, then nodded as if reassured.
“It’s a short time, but let’s work well together.”
“Yes. I’ll do my part and make sure I earn my due reward.”
The mood had softened significantly. Still, I felt compelled to step in due to a strange sense of discomfort.
“Wait. I don’t care about impressing Sama Yuryeon, but the way you say it makes me sound like a man with no ambition.”
Now I understood why Sama Yuryeon had once been smitten with the Black Lotus Sect Leader.
He was the most covetous man I’d ever known—in other words, the most ambitious.
Even so, I couldn’t understand why I appeared as someone completely without desire.
As I questioned them, Tang Sowol opened her mouth carefully.
“By any chance, are you planning to use our marriage as a stepping stone to take over the Tang Clan?”
“Why would I go through such trouble? You’ll do anything I ask if I just ask nicely.”
“Then, are you perhaps trying to build secret influence in the unorthodox world using the approval you got from the Black Lotus Sect Master? A righteous hero by day, a shadowy puppet master by night. Isn’t that cool?”
“If I have work to do both day and night, when would I ever get time to swing my sword? A sword dulled by power is no sword at all.”
“Then, what does your ideal future look like?”
“Well... isn’t it a world where everyone lives peacefully without worry, eating well and living happily?”
Surviving the calamity known as the Heavenly Demon.
And building a proper family—something I’ve never had.
Isn’t that an incredibly terrifying ambition? Just saying it makes my throat tighten, filling me with a strange mix of motivation and hesitation.
Sure, I also want to reach greater heights in martial arts—but that’s a desire every martial artist has, so it’s hardly worth mentioning.
As long as that desire doesn’t stray into obsession, it’s fine.
But after hearing me out, Tang Sowol and Sama Yuryeon began nodding as if they expected this all along.
“Truly a family man. He’d make an ideal son-in-law for a noble house.”
“Yes, I have no complaints. He values me more than what I possess—how could I not like that?”
“I don’t really understand it, but... I hope this proves that I’m harmless.”
“Don’t worry. You've made your case—we won’t be changing our minds.”
The two of them drummed their own beat, nodding in agreement.
Still hard to understand, and a little frustrating in many ways.
But in any case, Sama Yuryeon's inclusion was now official.
***
We moved fast to locate the vault, investigating and claiming what we could, and returning or selling off what we couldn’t handle.
Even after Sama Yuryeon joined, that basic plan didn’t change.
We just picked up the pace.
“I may not be as fast, but the sharp ones are already looking into the source of the treasure map, not the map itself.”
“You mean they’ll be tracking my movements instead of the map.”
“Exactly. Some might even wait until Blood Flame Sword Demon brings things out of the vault, and ambush you then.”
“Any Flowering Stage martial artists likely to get involved?”
“Eh? Ah, no. No master of that level would get involved directly. That would only justify the involvement of other Peak Stage fighters. And the items stolen by the Ghost Shadow Thief aren’t worth that level of commitment.”
Indeed. Useful, but not irreplaceable. Valued, but not enough to die for.
What the Ghost Shadow Thief stole were just such items, and only the desperate would risk everything for them.
At least no one from the Flowering Stage would.
“Then it doesn’t matter. I’ll just cut down anyone who draws their sword first.”
“...So you’re confident you can win against anyone short of Flowering Stage? Arrogant, but if the rumors of the Blood Flame Sword Demon are true, justified. Still, you’re not fighting alone.”
“I can protect at least one person.”
“There are three of us, though.”
“Then I suggest you write your wills ahead of time. You never know what’ll happen.”
Sama Yuryeon was momentarily speechless, but quickly composed herself.
“H-ha... At any rate, I think our current pace is too slow. I waited two days just to meet you both.”
“You’re right.”
I hadn’t expected people to track my movements instead of the map. I’d gotten complacent, half on vacation with Tang Sowol.
“Then let’s pick up the pace.”
“Speed alone won’t do. The key is to throw off pursuit...”
“Of course, we’ll erase our traces too.”
“But if we’re stopping in villages anyway, why not add disguises? Tang Clan attire stands out too much.”
“Hm. Disguises, huh.”
I glanced at Tang Sowol. Noticing my gaze, she smiled lightly.
“I don’t mind. Since we’re changing anyway, it might be fun to wear something completely unexpected. Like... something bright.”
“Anything would look good on you, Tang Sowol.”
“Oh my. That’s a lovely compliment, but I was talking about what you should wear, not me. If you’re feeling brave... maybe even a dress?”
“I’d rather run nonstop for three days and nights to the destination.”
“Oh dear.”
Tang Sowol clicked her tongue in disappointment. Why...?
In the end, we decided to both disguise ourselves and hurry our steps.
Arriving several days earlier than planned at the spot marked on the map—
At the junction where the desert leading to Tibet and the mountain range leading to Sichuan met, We spotted a rock shaped like a horse’s head.
It was a place protected by powerful formations, making it impossible to approach carelessly.
“It’s time to work.”
“I’ve never slacked off once, you know...”
Sama Yuryeon muttered as she stepped ahead into the thick fog.
She glanced back at us and said,
“Just step where I step.”
The entrance to the secret vault was right before our eyes.