The tracking went smoothly.
Tracking Art is, by nature, a skill where sharper senses matter more than Qi Sense.
Thus, training one's senses to become more acute over a long period of time is the foundation of the Tracking Art.
And now, with the help of Tang So-wol and Seol Ri-hyang, I had gained senses that were temporarily expanded.
A vision that made the world feel clearer. Since this was a borrowed sight, not my own, it wouldn't help with martial arts training…
But it was more than enough to achieve the original goal of finding and chasing the faint traces of the Blood Flame Fist Demon.
Leaving the charred village behind, I pursued the faint traces of unnatural cleanliness that remained.
How many times did I repeat this process—whenever I came to a fork in the road with no traces left behind, choosing the path that led toward the places Peng Woo-jin and Eon Ga-hye had mentioned?
Perhaps he had grown confident after putting considerable distance between himself and the village he had massacred, for familiar traces began to appear one by one.
They were traces of someone writhing in the throes of the Blood Flame Death Cultivation's side effects.
No matter how much of a killer who had suppressed his emotions he was, he couldn't erase his exhaustion.
He must have let his guard down, thinking this was far enough, and failed to completely wipe away several traces.
However, there was one peculiar thing.
"It doesn't seem to be the traces of just one person."
"What do you mean by that, young hero Cheon?"
"Exactly as I said. Perhaps the Blood Flame Fist Demon isn't traveling alone, but with several assassins in tow."
"Ah… have you discovered traces of other demonic arts?"
"No. It's the same Blood Flame Death Cultivation, but the builds and levels of mastery felt from the traces differ from one another. It seems those who have learned the same martial art as the Blood Flame Fist Demon—if not quite his disciples—are moving alongside him."
Do those of the Demonic Cult also practice martial arts? Yet, unlike most martial artists of the Central Plains, they do not revere the martial arts themselves.
To them, a martial artist is an enemy, and martial arts are like the enemy's sword.
They learn martial arts because they need them, but they have no thought of monopolizing them. No matter how great the martial art, it is only a tool. If one wishes, they will gladly teach it to anyone.
It sounds quite ideal when you just hear it, but… there is the enormous problem that most of them are mad with vengeance, and that the martial arts they teach are all demonic arts.
In any case, given such circumstances, even in the previous life, there were several others besides the Blood Flame Fist Demon who had practiced the Blood Flame Death Cultivation.
Even after receiving teachings from the Blood Flame Fist Demon, who had already reached that level, it was said that most couldn't overcome the side effects and either went mad or took their own lives.
That had been a matter of the distant past before the regression, but now it might well be a matter of the present.
"Even if their numbers grow, most will be first-rate at best. Even at their peak, they'd barely have just reached the Peak Realm, so there's no great need to worry. Still, just in case, I wanted you to be aware."
"Ah, I see. Understood. I'll pass the word to the others as well."
Tang So-wol nodded and shared what she had just heard with the companions following behind.
How many times had I watched that sight for a moment before setting out once more in search of the next trace?
Before I knew it, a wide river and Jin Village, stretching long along its banks, lay before us.
It was a perfect spot for a boat ride.
"It's a perfect spot for a boat ride, Tang unni."
"Shh! You mustn't say that it's a good place to enjoy ourselves secretly without worrying about others' gazes, out here in this scenic spot!"
"I, I didn't go that far…"
Seol Ri-hyang shook her head with a sour expression while Tang So-wol wore a mischievous smile.
Of course, Peng Woo-jin and Eon Ga-hye had their eyes squeezed shut, trembling violently, and for some reason Seomun Hwa-rin was also blushing and hiccuping repeatedly.
I shook my head and lightly patted Seomun Hwa-rin's shoulder.
"Senior Seomun Hwa-rin."
"Ee-yah! Th-this one had no such thoughts! After all, the boat is rocked by the river's current, so I certainly didn't think it would be particularly inconspicuous…!"
"I always admire Senior Seomun Hwa-rin's imagination, but that's not what matters right now."
"What's wrong with my imagination?! …But well. You do have a point. Wait a moment."
If this was one of the places Peng Woo-jin and Eon Ga-hye frequented, then the Blood Flame Fist Demon was likely to be here as well.
Of course, he might have already left… but there was no harm in being careful.
Seomun Hwa-rin stopped and closed her eyes. A faint energy began to emanate from her body.
An Aura so delicate that it was hard to sense without focused attention. It grew fainter still, and before long, it stretched far beyond the reach of my Qi Sense.
It felt like dough pressed hard and rolled out thin and wide.
Once one reaches the Harmony Realm and can refine internal energy through Intent, techniques that were previously impossible become possible.
Void Grasp, which moves objects without touching them, is one such technique. Sword Force, which compresses internal energy to an impossible density, is another. And the vast Qi Sense that Seomun Hwa-rin is now spreading across the entire village—that too is one of these arts.
Having secretly searched the surrounding area, Seomun Hwa-rin suddenly opened her eyes.
"There's a suspicious presence."
"Is that true?"
"Of course. If I looked too closely, they would surely notice and flee, so I didn't examine it in detail… but from a brief sweep, I can sense faint Demonic Qi in one spot."
"I'll leave it to you."
"Ahem! Consider it done! Ah, but even I only have two hands, so there's a chance someone might slip away. So let's surround them slowly from here."
"That's reasonable. Then let's leave Peng Woo-jin and Eon Ga-hye, who are their targets, to Senior Seomun Hwa-rin. That place will be the safest."
"An assassin, or a martial artist who has mastered the Yang Gang Qi Skill — if they lack experience, they can suffer defeat regardless of their realm. Understood. Do as you say."
"Yes. Then I'll stay with Seol Ri-hyang, who has the weakest martial level, and Tang So-wol…"
Before he could finish, he glanced to the side, and Tang So-wol opened her mouth with a confident smile.
"After all, the Blood Flame Fist Demon at Transcendent Peak will be dealt with by Sister Hwa-rin. As for the rest, it's actually more comfortable for me to fight them alone. …Since I can use the Extreme Poison."
"True. Unless someone has a resistance similar to yours, Tang So-wol, having them by your side would only be a hindrance."
"Hehe. It will take some time, but young hero Cheon will surely reach that point too, so don't worry."
"I've never worried, but I'll be looking forward to it."
I let out a snort of laughter and turned to look at the others.
"You're all fine with this, right? If anyone has objections, speak now."
Peng Woo-jin and Eon Ga-hye nodded silently. Their expressions were already grim with resolve. But then.
"Hey. We're heading into battle now, aren't we?"
"Yeah. If you're scared, you can just stay somewhere safe."
"…No. I always knew that living as a martial artist meant a day like this would come eventually. You and Master have told me that enough times. I'm just nervous, that's all. Nervous. Yeah."
Seol Ri-hyang said this and took a deep breath, her scattered Aura settling into order before long.
"Alright. I'm ready."
"It won't be dangerous."
"No, I mean the resolve to kill another person, even if they're a Demonic Cultist. I'll be safe, of course. You're here, Cheon Hwi."
"…"
So that was what she was thinking.
As I admired her inwardly, Seol Ri-hyang fiddled with the whip hanging at her waist and continued.
"Let's go now."
"Understood. Where should we head, Senior Seomun Hwa-rin?"
Only after she gave a brief nod did I ask Seomun Hwa-rin, and she answered with a faint smile.
"Follow me."
With that brief command, Seomun Hwa-rin took the lead. How many times did we cross through the crowd at a brisk pace, following behind her?
In the distance, a group of people who looked like outsiders at first glance came into view.
Seomun Hwa-rin confirmed them with her naked eye from a precarious distance and whispered softly.
"If we get any closer, that Blood Flame Fist Demon bastard will catch us with his Qi Sense. From here, we split up according to plan."
Without a word, we exchanged glances and spread out wide from our companions. Thus was completed a somewhat loose triangle.
After all, with so few people around, a tight encirclement was impossible. Besides, we were nothing more than a precautionary measure in case something unexpected happened.
This should be enough.
Seomun Hwa-rin, apparently judging that the preparations were more or less complete, shot toward the man at the lead in a single burst.
Thud.
It wasn't her full power, but the movement was swift and forceful enough to hint at the caliber of an absolute master who had reached the Harmony Realm.
For a moment, it almost felt as if the Natural Qi around her was being drawn into Seomun Hwa-rin—such was the intensity of her Aura. There was no way the enemy could fail to notice it.
By the time Seomun Hwa-rin had taken a couple of steps, the Blood Flame Fist Demon, sensing her approach, didn't even look back—he hurled his own subordinates aside and fled in the opposite direction.
"What the—!"
Seomun Hwa-rin, caught between exasperation and resolve, smashed the skull of the Demonic Cultist who had been forcibly shoved into her path.
Crunch!
He didn't even have time to spit out a final curse. His last words were nothing more than a startled yelp as he was shoved forward without warning.
Seomun Hwa-rin wiped the blood from her hands and shouted in a flustered voice.
"Running away without even looking back! And you call yourself a martial artist?!"
"I don't know who that dead man was, but in the martial world, they say to beware of women, children, and the elderly. I don't know who you are, but that advice proved useful again."
The Blood Flame Fist Demon shouted at full speed with his Lightness Skill. Come to think of it, Seomun Hwa-rin was a woman, had the body of a child, but was actually an old woman in age—so all three categories applied to her.
As befitting a Demonic Cultist who had once escaped even the Heaven's Net of the Kunlun Sect, his instincts were sharp.
The other Demonic Cultists, who had belatedly grasped the situation, and the expressionless assassins standing guard around the area, all charged at Seomun Hwa-rin at once.
They seemed to be trying to buy time, hoping to give the Blood Flame Fist Demon a chance to escape in the meantime.
In the Demonic Cult, where masters were few and it was only natural for members to avenge one another, this was a rational choice.
Of course, no matter how many of them there were, they couldn't hold Seomun Hwa-rin back for long.
At best, they'd buy him a moment to catch his breath. …But the Blood Flame Fist Demon, contrary to his vicious alias, was a martial artist well-versed in escape.
As if he already had a plan, he didn't hesitate, sprinting toward the river by the shortest route with his Lightness Skill.
His speed was considerable, so at this rate, he'd be able to dive into the river before Seomun Hwa-rin could catch up.
Whether he'd escape safely or be caught in the raging currents, his ears couldn't tell.
But one thing was certain: the direction he was running in happened to be the direction I was in.
"Stay back, Seol Ri-hyang."
"Huh? Wh-what… yes!"
Realizing she was out of her depth, Seol Ri-hyang quickly dodged out of the way.
But perhaps that made her look like someone involved. Narrowing his eyes, the Blood Flame Fist Demon swung his fist at Seol Ri-hyang's back without hesitation.
Whoosh.
The internal energy blazing from the Blood Flame Fist Demon's fist shot toward her.
It wouldn't kill her, but if she was caught off guard, it had enough power to leave severe burns across her entire body.
It was a blatant ploy to create an injured person and slow our pace a little more.
…But more than that, what I disliked was that he was ignoring me right in front of my face and trying to attack Seol Ri-hyang.
"A pathetic move."
I swung the sword I had drawn in one breath. The well-honed sword wind split the air and collided with the internal energy the Blood Flame Fist Demon had released.
Boom!
With a sound close to an explosion, the fireball formed of internal energy split in half and vanished.
I stood in front of the Blood Flame Fist Demon and aimed my sword at the bastard's brow.
"If you want to pass through here, you'll have to take me down first."
"Then I'll just go around another way."
"?"
Without a moment's hesitation, the Blood Flame Fist Demon twisted his body and leaped into the river. The sight of him showing not even a speck of pride made me flinch for an instant.
This is the infamous Demonic Cultist…?
His appearance was far too different from before my regression.