‘This is why the righteous faction couldn’t hold its own in the original work.’

Among the righteous faction, there weren’t many notable people besides Dang Hwa Ryeong and Je Gal Yu Ryong.

“Well, if I had known you would win, I should have sent you.”

Mo Yong Hee was belittling me. At the same time, she was also insulting Ak Wi Cheon.

‘It would be interesting if she knew that unremarkable boy behind me is Ak Wi Cheon.’

I shrugged my shoulders.

Contrary to Mo Yong Hee’s hopes, if the guy in front of me had come to the Celestial Tournament, he clearly wouldn’t have even made it to the finals.

My aunt turned around as if her business was finished. Then she shouted towards the family servants.

“The house is in chaos because I’m not here.”

“Ma, Madam……”

“I must quickly inform Father and return to the main house! This is what happens when there are only lazy ones around.”

[This is the timeline separator]

Meeting Mo Yong Hee at the main gate of the Nam Gung family home left a bitter taste, but returning to my quarters made me feel like I was truly home.

Shin So Gyeong muttered with tears in her eyes.

“Young Lady Nam Gung, how can this be? You won the Celestial Tournament, yet this is how you’re treated!”

Ak Wi Cheon also added a word.

“Young Lady Nam Gung, has the Nam Gung family always treated you like this?”

It was a natural reaction from Ak Wi Cheon, who didn’t know our family circumstances.

‘How did Mo Yong Hee end up coming here?’

As if sensing my curiosity, Yak Ran spoke with slumped shoulders.

“She returned shortly after the family head and Lady So So left.”

“Did Grandfather call for her?”

“No, she said she was passing by and decided to visit briefly. But if the family head finds out, he will certainly be furious.”

“But Grandfather isn’t at the family home right now. And Mo Yong Hee is actually a family member.”

“……”

“It’s not exactly wrong. Grandfather only prevented Nam Gung Hyun Jong from coming to the Nam Gung family home, right? There’s no reason Mo Yong Hee can’t come here.”

I became curious about Mo Yong Hee’s thoughts.

Ak Wi Cheon muttered with a serious face.

“If it’s like this, let’s leave together. The Heavenly Demon Cult is always open.”

Ak Wi Cheon had become strange too.

Where would I, a member of the Nam Gung family, go?

Ji Cheon Wu also looked at Ak Wi Cheon with somewhat contemptuous eyes.

‘He never showed such an attitude in the Heavenly Demon Cult.’

I shook my head.

Nam Gung was my home and I had no intention of leaving. Ignoring the fuss of others, I spoke to Ji Cheon Wu.

“I won’t be able to greet Grandfather.”

I saw Ji Cheon Wu’s face harden at my words.

“Right, I wanted to say goodbye before leaving.”

Since Ak Wi Cheon had come along, we couldn’t stay here for long. We had to return to the Ten Thousand Great Mountains with Ak Wi Cheon right away.

Since the purpose of greeting Grandfather was gone, it was right for him to leave immediately.

‘Now that he’s a person of the demon cult.’

It didn’t make sense for Ak Wi Cheon to enter the Nam Gung family home in the first place.

The righteous faction is the righteous faction, and the demon cult is the demon cult.

Although they joined forces because of the Blood Cult, it was only for a moment. If there was no common enemy like the Blood Cult, they could become enemies again at any time.

‘If Grandfather finds out, he might scold me.’

Ji Cheon Wu can no longer stay at the Nam Gung family home. It hit me that I wouldn’t be able to see this guy I used to see every day anymore.

Ji Cheon Wu also seemed worried, knowing this. I forced a smile.

“Should you not go? You can stay with me.”

“Don’t worry and leave. I’ll be fine.”

I’ve become strong enough now.

So I could endure life in the Nam Gung family without Ji Cheon Wu.

“Grandfather will return soon too.”

Ji Cheon Wu, who had been hesitating, finally nodded.

[This is the timeline separator]

Throughout the departure, Ji Cheon Wu kept looking back. He seemed concerned about leaving Nam Gung Lin in the Nam Gung family home without Nam Gung Jin Cheon.

‘Moreover, Mo Yong Hee is in that house now too.’

Not only was Nam Gung Jin Cheon’s absence worrying, but for Nam Gung Lin, the same was true for Ak Wi Cheon.

Nam Gung Lin said she was fine as if nothing was wrong, but she looked somewhat uneasy.

‘Certainly, Nam Gung Lin is strong.’

Just by winning the Celestial Tournament, she proved her strength. But separate from that, she often looked anxious at times.

Ak Wi Cheon asked Ji Cheon Wu.

“I thought the Nam Gung family head cherished Nam Gung young lady.”

Ji Cheon Wu frowned at his question. Ak Wi Cheon continued.

“But when I actually came to the Nam Gung family home, it doesn’t seem that way. That Mo Yong Hee person, isn’t she Nam Gung young lady’s aunt?”

“Just because they’re family doesn’t mean they’re all close. And that person, Lin doesn’t like her.”

“I thought she hadn’t experienced any particular hardships.”

Ji Cheon Wu stared at Ak Wi Cheon as if displeased.

“Why?”

“She seems too bright.”

Ji Cheon Wu shook his head at Ak Wi Cheon’s words.

“She might seem that way because she’s been through dark times.”

Ak Wi Cheon thought of Nam Gung Lin.

Nam Gung Lin was fundamentally a kind girl. The words she had said while looking straight at him were still unforgettable.

She was righteous enough to think that saving others was natural. It felt foolish to have rashly assumed Nam Gung Lin’s past.

He thought she could be so righteous and bright because she grew up wanting for nothing in the Nam Gung family.

“The more I learn about Young Lady Nam Gung, the more amazing she is.”

“Our Lin is quite remarkably great.”

“I can see why the Cult Leader showed interest in her.”

“But I wish you would like her a little less.”

“Why?”

“It’s irritating.”

Ignoring Ji Cheon Wu, Ak Wi Cheon fell into deep contemplation as he thought of Nam Gung Lin. Ji Cheon Wu looked at Ak Wi Cheon as if displeased.

[This is the timeline separator]

It was late at night.

I couldn’t fall into a deep sleep in a place without Grandfather and Ji Cheon Wu.

It was because I always felt anxious. My anxiety was created by experiencing near-death situations several times.

And after meeting that man while chasing the Blood-Sucking Twins, my anxiety grew even worse.

Now that I knew the Blood Cult would be watching me, I was even more vigilant.

‘So I was careful. Even Mo Yong Hee has come home. She wouldn’t have visited the family home after 5 years without a purpose.’

So I was lying with my eyes closed, full of caution.

Certainly, that was the case.

I shouldn’t have fallen into a deep sleep.

But at some point, I realized I had fallen into a deep sleep.

[Wake up, Mandu!]

At Uncle Dagger’s words, I opened my eyes wide. Then I quickly rolled my body.

There was a dagger stuck beside me.

I was surprised.

Was I being attacked now in the Nam Gung family home?

It was my ‘home’.

It should have been the safest place of all. I felt anger rising to the top of my head. I looked at the person who attacked me.

‘My prediction wasn’t wrong. This person wouldn’t have come to the family home for no reason.’

I saw Mo Yong Hee pulling out the sword stuck next to me with bloodshot eyes.

‘Someone is using Mo Yong Hee.’

And it wasn’t hard to guess the identity of that someone.

The Blood Cult, it was clear they were using Mo Yong Hee.

‘But how?’

Mo Yong Hee was a person of the Mo Yong family. Even if they had colluded with the Blood Cult, attacking me was abnormal.

[There was killing intent. She tried to kill you.]

A faint anger could be felt in Uncle Dagger’s voice.

“How did you wake up? I burned so much sleeping incense.”

Instead of answering, I thrust the dagger. It was fortunate that I always kept Uncle Dagger in my bosom.

If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have had a weapon to attack with in this situation. From the start, Mo Yong Hee was no match for me.

There was no need to borrow Uncle Dagger’s power. She had all but given up martial arts after marrying Nam Gung Hyun Jong.

Mo Yong Hee was eventually subdued by my hand.

“Ah, no.”

I roughly snatched the sword from her hand and threw it away.

It was powerful sleeping incense that even I would have succumbed to. There was no way Mo Yong Hee could have obtained such strong sleeping incense.

Mo Yong Hee was now crying teardrops.

I let out a bitter laugh.

Isn’t this a situation as if I had attacked her?

“Lin, please die for Hwa Su’s sake.”

“Why should I? Why would my death be for Nam Gung Hwa Su’s sake?”

“Those people said they wouldn’t save Hwa Su unless you die.”

“Who are ‘those people’?”

“I can’t say. If I do, Hwa Su will be in danger. You, you just need to disappear.”

Mo Yong Hee muttered, half out of her mind.

“Our Hwa Su, what will we do, he’s so pitiful.”

“…Pitiful, you say?”

“Poor Hwa Su. If it weren’t for you, the Nam Gung family would have been Hwa Su’s. Because of a moment’s mistake, he lost the Nam Gung name and now his life is in danger!”

“……”

“Those, those people have Hwa Su’s life in their hands. He seems to have learned some strange martial arts because he can’t use the Nam Gung martial arts anymore.”

“And so?”

“If you want to save Hwa Su, you have to die.”

She said this while shedding tears. Repeatedly asking me to die to save Nam Gung Hwa Su.

I couldn’t understand why I had to be in this situation.

[How detestable, how can a person be like this.]

My hand holding the sword trembled.

It was because of anger.

I remembered my childhood self.

Eight years, it was almost eight years.

The years I was bullied by Nam Gung Hyun Jong and Mo Yong Hee.

‘Of course, Mo Yong Hee didn’t directly bully me.’

But she treated me like I didn’t exist. Thinking that I could never be of help to Nam Gung Hwa Su’s future.

I still can’t forget what Mo Yong Hee said to me in my childhood.

It was when I was crying after being hit by Nam Gung Hwa Su.

That’s what she used to say.

Mo Yong Hee clung to my feet.

“Please save our Hwa Su.”

“What about me?”

“What…?”

“Then what happens to me?”