Seung-gi had successfully captured the Soha Mountain Villa, but their opponents were no ordinary fighters—they were warriors from the Seven Stars Sect.

Despite being attacked from all sides and losing many of their top fighters, only a few attempted to flee.

“Take as many of them with you as you can!”

“Down with the hypocrites of the righteous sects!”

Even though they were gravely injured, the warriors of the unorthodox sects fought with a wild frenzy, determined to strike the righteous sect fighters one last time.

“Ugh! Stay alert! These guys are tough.”

The righteous sect fighters had to endure significant losses as their opponents clung to them with relentless tenacity.

In the end, the Soha Mountain Villa had no choice but to open a path for some of the Seven Stars Sect warriors to escape. Trying to kill them all would only drive the cornered fighters to a desperate frenzy.

They chose to minimize the losses of their own disciples rather than inflict more damage on the Seven Stars Sect.

Once the battle was over, the righteous sect fighters returned to the Soha Mountain Villa. There, they held a memorial for the fallen and shared a modest drink among the survivors.

“Brother Muhui, can I come with you when you return to the Mount Hua Sect?”

Sun-joo, who was drinking with them, asked, causing Muhui to twitch his lips.

“Why Mount Hua?”

“Since the Six Harmonies Sword Conference, the Overlord Castle has been on the move, and I haven’t dared to venture into the martial world. But now that I have the chance, I want to visit Mount Hua and think about where to go next.”

“Do as you like.”

“Yay!”

Sun-joo’s delight brought a smile to Muhui’s face. Just then, Mujin entered the room and sat next to Muhui.

“Senior Brother, I just heard that the fleeing warriors from the Zanryong Society and the Guyu Sword Sect ended up fighting each other.”

The second-generation disciples, who had been exchanging drinks, immediately turned their attention to Mujin.

“What? Why?”

Mujin slowly recounted what he had heard to the surprised Muhwa.

“While they were fleeing, they found the body of the Zanryong Society’s lady, and there were traces of the Guyu Sword Sect. The two factions argued and eventually fought.”

Muhui nodded calmly, but his eyes, as he drank, were slightly curved with satisfaction.

‘If they found the body and even fought, it means their emotions are high and the scene is chaotic. This is the best outcome.’

The reports from the surviving warriors would naturally be exaggerated with emotion. Since the two factions had only joined forces out of convenience, this incident could easily lead to another war between them.

Muhui raised his glass slightly toward the air.

‘I owe you one for helping maintain peace at Mount Hua. This drink is for you, Jeok Sa-hye.’

If Jeok Sa-hye’s spirit could hear this, it would likely be furious, but Muhui didn’t care about that.

Sun-joo, listening to Mujin, looked at Muhui.

“Brother Muhui, you said you chased Jeok Sa-hye but lost her, right?”

“Yes. I regretted not dealing with her like I did with the Hell Dragon, but it worked out.”

Muhui hadn’t told the Mount Hua Sect that he had killed Jeok Sa-hye. His goal was to create misunderstandings between the two factions and keep their attention away from southern Shaanxi, so it was better if no one knew.

“I heard Jeok Sa-hye’s martial arts were quite strong, so I came to face her myself, but I didn’t even get to see her. It’s a shame.”

Sun-joo’s eyes drooped with disappointment, but Muhui shook his head.

“Don’t worry about it. You’re stronger than Jeok Sa-hye.”

Even in passing, Muhui’s words lifted Sun-joo’s spirits, and her eyes curved into a beautiful arc.

“Really? I’m definitely stronger than I was at the Six Harmonies Sword Conference. I clashed with the Overlord Castle almost daily. I even had two close calls.”

Sun-joo flicked the tassel of her sword as she sipped her drink, and Muhui nodded.

Sun-joo wasn’t just boasting; she had indeed grown stronger since then. She could now hold her own against the likes of the Canal Dragon.

“Miss Sun-joo, when we get to Mount Hua, shall we have a match?”

“I’d love that, Miss Muhwa. Your swift swordplay at the Six Harmonies Sword Conference was impressive.”

As they clinked their glasses, a fire ignited in the eyes of the two women.

Though similar yet different, a match between them would be greatly beneficial to both.

Thud!

A large jar of wine was placed in front of Muhui. Dokgo Yul, who had set it down, stared intently at him.

“I’m coming to Mount Hua too!”

“Do as you please.”

“Let’s have a proper match when we get there!”

Dokgo Yul’s hearty voice made Muhui chuckle.

“You lost to the Fist King’s disciple, didn’t you? I won, so isn’t the outcome already decided?”

Dokgo Yul ignored Muhui’s taunt, filling his cup and clearing his throat.

“Well, you know, life has its ups and downs.”

“If it were me, I’d be too embarrassed to show my face in front of the Sword Ghost’s memorial.”

Dokgo Yul’s shoulders slumped as if deflated.

‘This is strange.’

Normally, he wouldn’t be so affected by the words of a mere junior.

But something about Muhui, the Sword Saint’s disciple, made him feel strangely intimidated.

Despite his gentle appearance, Muhui’s fierce eyes were reminiscent of his late master. Every time their eyes met, it felt as if his deceased master had returned.

Watching Dokgo Yul drink alone, Mujin asked.

“Are you related to the Sword Ghost, since you share the same surname?”

Muhui’s expression soured at the question.

He noticed Dokgo Yul making the same grimace.

‘This disciple of mine, why are you making that face?’

As Muhui glared at Dokgo Yul, the latter, unaware, answered Mujin.

“I’m an orphan. I took my master’s surname. He was an orphan too, so he gave me a name and a surname.”

“I see. My apologies.”

“It’s fine.”

As Mujin bowed his head, Dokgo Yul nodded and filled Mujin’s cup.

“The name of my group, Dokgo Society, is related to that.”

Muhui, who hadn’t known this, listened intently to Dokgo Yul’s explanation.

“Dokgo Society is made up of people like me. Orphans, those whose families have fallen, and wandering ronin.”

The members of Dokgo Society were all people who had lived solitary lives.

“To be precise, they are lonely people seeking a place to belong, something to rely on. Dokgo Society gathers such people to be each other’s home and support.”

Muhui silently regarded Dokgo Yul.

When Dokgo Society was just a small group of about ten, Dokgo Yul had brushed off questions about its meaning, saying it was just a name.

‘So it had this kind of meaning.’

In the recent battle, Dokgo Yul had led two hundred warriors from Dokgo Society.

And that wasn’t even the full extent of their numbers, suggesting the society was much larger.

Though still a young man not yet thirty, Dokgo Yul had a natural ability to lead people.

In time, as he gained more experience, this ability would only grow stronger.

‘Damn disciple. You’re doing well on your own.’

Feeling a sense of pride, Muhui smirked and took a sip of his drink.

Sun-joo, listening to Dokgo Yul’s story, asked.

“From what you’re saying, it sounds like Dokgo Society won’t just remain a group. Are you planning…?”

Dokgo Yul nodded at Sun-joo’s question.

“When the time is right, I plan to give everyone in Dokgo Society the Dokgo surname and form a clan. Though we share no blood, we will be united under the Dokgo name.”

Muhui, who had been listening quietly, spoke up.

“Then the clan’s name will be the Dokgo Clan?”

Dokgo Yul laughed and nodded.

“With the recent rise of the Hebei Peng Clan, there’s talk of the Three Great Clans becoming the Four Great Clans. I aim to grow the Dokgo Clan and make it the Fifth Great Clan!”

As Dokgo Yul raised his glass and laughed heartily, the younger disciples around him looked at him with newfound respect.

When Muhui had been teasing him earlier, he seemed a bit foolish, but now, revealing his grand ambitions, he appeared as a different person.

Some disciples were impressed by his bold declaration to create a new clan, while others looked on with envy.

‘It seems everyone is feeling inspired in their own way.’

Muhui’s eyes narrowed as he observed the disciples.

Muhwa was staring at Dokgo Yul with her mouth slightly open, as if entranced.

“Ah!”

Muhwa, who had been gazing at Dokgo Yul, yelped when Muhui suddenly pinched her cheek.

“Senior Brother! What was that for?”

“You looked like you were daydreaming.”

“Ugh, seriously!”

Muhui released her cheek only after she had squirmed for a while.

Since they were still uncertain about how the Seven Star Sect would act, the first disciple decided to stay a bit longer at the Soha Mountain Villa, while the second disciples returned.

With Sunju and Dokgo Yul climbing the mountain together, the place felt even more bustling.

As soon as Dokgo Yul reached the mountain, he paid his respects to Baekyu and then headed straight to the shrine to bow before the spirit tablet of the Sword Ghost.

Even after raising his head, Dokgo Yul stood silently in front of the Sword Ghost’s tablet for quite some time. Seeing this, Muhwi, who had been waiting outside the shrine, quietly stepped aside to give him space.

Muhwi, who had been meditating cross-legged in the training ground, sensed Dokgo Yul’s approach and opened his eyes.

“You challenge me to a duel and then keep me waiting like this?”

Dokgo Yul finally appeared at the training ground, a full hour after standing before the Sword Ghost’s tablet. He greeted Muhwi with his usual hearty laugh, prompting Muhwi to rise without a word.

The second disciples, who had been scattered around, paused their training and stepped back to watch the duel unfold.

Muhwi glanced at Dokgo Yul briefly before turning his gaze to Mucheol, who stood nearby.

“Mucheol, I’ll need the Plum Blossom Sword.”

“Yes, senior brother.”

Mucheol unstrapped the massive Plum Blossom Sword from his back and handed it to Muhwi.

Whoosh!

As Muhwi swung the sword lightly with one hand, a deep, resonant sound filled the air.

Watching Muhwi’s movements, Dokgo Yul’s eyes sparkled with interest.

‘What’s this? He doesn’t seem like someone who usually wields a heavy sword, yet his movements are so fluid.’

Sensing that the duel might be more entertaining than expected, Dokgo Yul grinned.

“You’re going to use that heavy sword?”

“Indeed.”

Muhwi gripped the enormous Plum Blossom Sword with both hands and assumed his stance.

“I’ll face you with the Iron Plum Sword Technique.”

In response, Dokgo Yul unsheathed the heavy sword from his back and pointed it at Muhwi.

“The Dokgo Sword Technique.”

As the two massive swords aimed at each other, the atmosphere around them grew noticeably heavier.

Meanwhile, Mucheol watched the two in silence, his curiosity piqued. He was eager to see the Iron Plum Sword Technique in action and to witness the power of the Dokgo Sword Technique, rumored to rival even the Imperial Sword Form of the Namgung family.

As the two swordsmen faced off, the air between them began to ripple. The moment their swords clashed, a storm-like wave swept across the training ground.

Boom!

A thunderous roar marked the beginning of their duel.

“I will forge a legacy.”

“Don’t you know there’s no order in leaving, even if there is in arriving?”