The interrogation didn't take long.
That was only natural—I had done this dozens of times before my regression, and the Demonic Cultists we had captured weren't particularly skilled.
There was just one problem.
"Young hero Cheon. If I may ask—do you have some kind of history with the Demonic Cult?"
My interrogation had gone so smoothly that Tang So-wol, and the rest of the party as well, were looking at me with curious eyes.
After a moment's thought, I shrugged as if it were nothing.
"I've had my fair share of run-ins with them in the past. This is actually a technique I used alongside my father-in-law when we interrogated the Demonic Cultist who hired someone to attack you, Tang So-wol, some time ago."
"Ah, so that's it!"
"The clan head is a formidable person too."
"Of course. When your own daughter's life is in danger, how many parents can keep their wits about them?"
Though he had thrown Tang Jincheon under the carriage, the mood was one of easy understanding.
At the end, Seomun Hwa-rin had looked at me with expectant eyes, then sulked when there was no particular reaction, but it passed well enough.
I spoke to Peng Woo-jin and Eon Ga-hye, who were lost in serious thought.
"I knew it was a big deal, but it's beyond what I imagined. What do we do from here? I'd like to chase down the Blood Flame Fist Demon myself, but… it seems you two have things to take care of."
"I need to return to my clan. I have to report this as soon as possible."
"I feel the same way. If it's alright, could I take a few of the prisoners with me?"
Peng Woo-jin let out a deep sigh, while Seomun Hwa-rin pointed at the Demonic Cultists who had been deliberately left alive. I nodded to the two of them.
"There are still quite a few of them left alive, so take as many as you like, aside from the ones we're handing over to the Murim Alliance. However, I'll have someone accompany you until you reach your respective clans. The Blood Flame Fist Demon is a persistent one—if you move separately, you'll surely never make it home alive."
"That's true. …Thank you."
"I'm grateful. I will repay this kindness as soon as I return to my clan."
Peng Woo-jin and Eon Ga-hye bowed their heads quietly.
Compared to their confident demeanor at the start, they had become much more cautious, which was a bit pitiful to see… but having heard what the interrogation revealed, there was no helping it.
That was how shocking the information obtained from the interrogation had been.
As expected, the Demonic Cult's goal was to drive a wedge between the Paeng and Eon Clans, and in the process, they were willing to kill Peng Woo-jin and Eon Ga-hye if necessary.
But that wasn't the only problem.
"To think they'd use Godok in such a way."
The Demonic Cult's inferior version of a Spiritual Medicine… Inside the pill they called the Blood Essence Pill was the heart of a Godok.
It was made by squeezing the blood essence of ordinary animals, not spirit herbs or Spirit Beasts, and the process was so cruel that even the energy contained within was murky.
That made it perfect for concealing the heart of a Godok, which gave off a faint but alien energy.
However, it wasn't a living Godok, but a dead one. And I couldn't for the life of me figure out what meaning there was in putting only the heart inside.
The ones we captured this time were also just escorts for the Blood Flame Fist Demon, so they knew little, and even the interrogation couldn't extract everything from them.
Fortunately, there were plenty of people to question, so I could at least make some guesses.
As the Paeng and Eon Clans had investigated, the Blood Essence Pill itself was nothing more than an ordinary Spiritual Medicine with severe side effects, but the Demonic Cult apparently had a means of manipulating those who consumed it.
I didn't know exactly what that was. Perhaps they could inflict pain on the user at will, like planting a Godok, or use it as a medium to cast Sorcery.
Whatever trick they pulled, one thing was certain: it benefited the Demonic Cult and would cause immense harm to the Paeng and Eon Clans.
I briefly recalled how things had played out before my regression.
After the deaths of Peng Woo-jin and Eon Ga-hye, the two families' relations had deteriorated to the worst, short of drawing their swords against each other.
In the end, neither side would go to the other's aid even if one faced Clan Extermination.
And so the Hebei Peng Clan and the Jinzhou Eon Clan were defeated one by one at the hands of the Demonic Cult, before the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance was even formed.
Though they had been annihilated with unusual speed, it wasn't much different elsewhere where the Heavenly Demon had personally stepped in.
If I had to point out a difference, it was that compared to other exterminated clans or sects, these two families had very few survivors.
Of course, those of the direct line or First Generation Disciples were almost all killed, and at best one or two managed to escape.
But collateral blood relatives, or young and weak Third Generation Disciples, were apparently lower priority and were pursued less relentlessly.
Thanks to that, a considerable number survived and were able to spread the news of their clan's and sect's extermination.
…I'm not sure if that's related, though.
Well, it's not really important at this point.
The Demonic Cultists who had pursued Peng Woo-jin and Eon Ga-hye and driven them to their deaths—or had staged it to look like suicide—had all either become idiots or were completely subdued.
The one remaining Blood Flame Fist Demon had fled in terror at Seomun Hwa-rin's martial level, hadn't he?
It was a shame we couldn't kill him here, but right now, foiling the Demonic Cult's plans was far more important than capturing the Blood Flame Fist Demon.
I let out a deep sigh and spoke to the others.
"For that reason, I'd like to head to the Eon Clan, which is the closest from here. Is that alright?"
"Do as young hero Cheon wishes."
"I'm fine with it too, of course. …But isn't it going to be hard to bring this many prisoners along on foot?"
"I also agree with your words, Cheon Hwi. It's a pity we let the Blood Flame Fist Demon get away, but rather than killing that bastard, we should prioritize protecting the two children and spreading the word of what happened."
Seeing my companions agree without any particular complaints, a smile crept onto my lips.
"Thank you. And as Seol Ri-hyang said, it would be difficult to bring all these prisoners along on foot. But isn't there a river flowing right here? I plan to travel by boat for part of the way."
"A boat… this will be my first time on one."
Whether it was because the tension had eased now that the battle was over, or because she was simply excited at the thought of riding a boat, Seol Ri-hyang giggled.
Not far from the Jinzhou Eon Clan flowed a river called the Liao River, and this place was connected to one of its waterways.
With six of us in our party alone, and adding the living prisoners, we had over ten people to move—how could we possibly find a carriage large enough in this small village?
It was far better to take a boat, disembark at the closest point to the Eon Clan, and send a letter ahead to have them come meet us.
"Alright, let's set out then. Though before that, we should take care of what needs to be taken care of."
I drew my sword and aimed it at the Demonic Cultists who had been reduced to idiots. Watching this, Seol Ri-hyang fidgeted with her lips for a moment before asking.
"Kill them?"
"Yes. And just so you know, even if we left them alone, in that state they wouldn't be able to feed themselves and would die soon anyway."
"Right. I'm not trying to argue. We saw what those Demonic Cultists did when they burned down the last village. I know they deserve to die. …I just got a little scared, that's all."
"Scared of what?"
"They must have had their own grievances, and with no way to resolve them, they took up martial arts themselves. But now they're harming others carelessly, sowing new grudges. That cycle just feels so vast and hopeless."
"Let me make one thing clear—no matter how heavily the martial world weighs Karmic Debt, the Demonic Cult has clearly crossed the line. As Senior Seomun Hwa-rin said before, this is nothing but mindless venting, the slaughter of madmen."
"I know that much. It's just… we almost died just now, didn't we?"
"If you mean the Fist Energy the Blood Flame Fist Demon fired, that wouldn't have killed you. I would have blocked it any number of times."
"Huh? Uh, th-thanks?"
Seol Ri-hyang, who had been blinking blankly, averted her gaze before taking a deep breath and continuing.
"Anyway! What I wanted to say is this. I thought I might die, no matter what. And if I did die, I was worried about what would happen to you, Cheon Hwi, and to Tang unni."
"What would happen? I'd avenge you, of course."
That wouldn't happen in this life. It wouldn't, but… if Seol Ri-hyang were ever killed for some reason, of course I'd avenge her. Just as I had before the regression.
Hearing my immediate answer, Seol Ri-hyang wore a dazed expression for a moment before shaking her head.
"That's exactly what worries me. That you'd go too far. Of course I want to live a long life too, but if something ever happens, just go with Tang unni and—"
"Enough. Why are you suddenly saying something so inauspicious? Let's end this conversation here."
Was it because the image of Seol Ri-hyang's final moments before the regression suddenly flashed through my mind? Before I knew it, I had cut her off in a cold tone.
At that, Seol Ri-hyang flinched for a moment before forcing a bright voice.
"Mm-hm. I guess I did go a bit too far. Sorry. I'll go check on the boat with Tang unni in the meantime, so you go do what you need to do."
"…Alright."
I managed to pull my usual tone back up, but it was too late—Seol Ri-hyang was already running off, grabbing Tang So-wol's arm and pulling her toward the crowd of commoners huddling to one side.
As if shaking off my complicated feelings, I gave my head a vigorous shake and then cleanly cut down the Demonic Cultists who had turned into idiots, as neatly as possible.
Then, leaving the ones still alive to Peng Woo-jin and Eon Ga-hye, I turned toward Seomun Hwa-rin, who had been quietly watching from the side.
"Senior Seomun Hwa-rin. There's something I'd like to ask of you."
"I am aware. If the Blood Flame Fist Demon has not given up, the last chance he will have to target us will be during the journey on the boat. I will keep my guard up until we arrive."
"Thank you."
"By the way, your expression is dark. It does not seem to be only because of Hyang-i… Since we are on the subject, I too have something I wish to ask."
"What is it?"
"Your past, Cheon Hwi. I understand that you once had a master from the Seomun Clan, just like me. I also understand the reason you regarded the Black Heaven Sword Gate as your enemy."
Seomun Hwa-rin looked up at me intently. With an expression of utmost seriousness that she rarely showed.
"However, now that I see it, it seems your grudge against the Demonic Cult is also not ordinary. You endured a worsening reputation for my sake, and you also risked your life. I am deeply grateful for this in my heart."
"Your help and the occasional guidance in martial arts is more than enough."
"I am not trying to rush you, nor am I trying to pry anything out of you. I simply wished for you to know this. I, of course, and everyone else as well, are on your side."
"…"
I closed my eyes for a moment, as if avoiding Seomun Hwa-rin's gaze, which held a faint reddish glow.
I still did not know the reason for my regression, the Heavenly Demon was a daunting thought, and the Demonic Cult was more meticulous than I had expected, with even the seals tightly bound.
Even I could not help but feel frustrated.
But regardless, it was also true that things were gradually improving.
I would become stronger than before my regression, I had protected those I had failed to protect, and I was uncovering and thwarting the Demonic Cult's hidden schemes one by one, schemes I had known nothing about.
Even if I could not forget the past, there was no need to react so sharply to it.
I drew a deep breath and opened my mouth.
"I need to have a word with Seol Ri-hyang on the boat."
"You've thought well."
Seomun Hwa-rin nodded with a pleased expression. As I accepted her small hand patting my back, Tang So-wol and Seol Ri-hyang returned.
"Young hero Cheon! They said there wasn't a single boat big enough for all of us, so we just rented several! The fishermen of this village will serve as both guides and rowers."
"That's what I expected."
Having faced the Blood Flame Fist Demon, I'd noticed the anchored boats were all roughly the same size. At most, one boat could carry three or four people besides the guide.
"Heh heh. It'll be a bit different from the boat ride I imagined, but either way, I get to board a boat with young hero Cheon."
"Ah, sorry, but would it be alright if I rode with Seol Ri-hyang this time?"
"…What?"
A plain tone and a calm expression. It was only that her answer came half a beat late, yet I felt a strange pressure and hastily added.
"I have something to talk to her about. Once it's done, I'll come right over to your boat."
"Ah-ha? If that's the case, then sure."
Only then did Tang So-wol nod with a bright smile, as if she understood.
Letting out a sigh of relief inwardly, I boarded the boat that felt a little cramped.
The Blood Flame Fist Demon, whom I had thought had fled far away, revealed himself once more.
KWAANG!
…Along with a mudslide caused by the collapse of the surrounding embankments.
The boat that Seol Ri-hyang and I were riding on capsized.