The carriage was quiet, and so was the night. Outside, only the rustling of leaves could be heard as they swayed gently in the wind. They hadn't encountered any obstacles during their journey so far, but who knew how long that would last?
By now, they had already left safe territory behind. The road had become much rougher, the path ahead of them steep and littered with stones.
The route they had chosen was the fastest one. Few people ever used it. After all, it passed through the outer reaches of the Dark Forest. For miles ahead, there was nothing but wilderness.
For ordinary people, taking this road was no different from courting death. Naturally, because so few travelers ventured this way, it was poorly maintained.
No human soul besides them was anywhere to be seen. If something were to happen now, they might disappear forever.
Thinking about all the horrifying stories I had heard from the Kunlun disciples while they traveled the vast jianghu, I couldn't help but shudder.
I had never been good with scary things. Back when Baek Chul used to tell us ghost stories, I was always the first to flinch at every little sound.
"Scared?"
Jongmu's infuriating voice interrupted my thoughts.
"No, of course not. It's merely the outer forest. Nothing is going to happen.", I put on an indifferent expression.
Over the past few days, I had resolved not to behave so casually anymore and, above all, not to make an even bigger fool of myself.
I couldn't bear and didn't dare bear, the consequences that would come with it.
It was time to wake up and remember our respective social standings.
Once we arrived in the capital, and no longer found ourselves in this remote wilderness, there would be nothing left for us to discuss aside from any updates regarding the whereabouts of his fated partner.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that."
Jongmu looked out the carriage window, surveying the surroundings.
"Recently, quite a few people have vanished around here."
"Vanished? That's impossible."
I frowned, my face growing pale.
'Could there really be some formidable beast roaming these woods?'
"Of course, they didn't simply vanish," he said calmly. "It's just that no trace of them was ever found. No one knows whether they're alive or dead."
My already pale face drained of what little color remained. I clenched my fists inside my sleeves.
"Truly mysterious."
"Yes... it is indeed mysterious."
His low chuckle sent shivers down my spine.
At that moment, a cold breeze drifted into the carriage.
I immediately turned toward the window. Even after lifting the curtain, however, there was nothing beyond it but darkness.
'Where did that come from?'
It was summer. The days were scorching, and even the nights barely cooled. A breeze this cold was highly unusual.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end.
'Something isn't right.'
As if on cue, Jongmu flicked a dagger out of the carriage.
"Tch.", he clicked his tongue.
"Looks like we have visitors."
The guards outside also seemed to sense that something was amiss and brought the carriage to a halt.
"Your Highness."
A person clad entirely in black knocked on the carriage door.
"What is it?"
The question didn't seem directed at the situation itself, but rather at whatever or whoever had caused it.
"We're surrounded. Yet none of them are approaching us. They're simply following us in silence. I fear there's an ambush waiting ahead."
Jongmu frowned deeply, massaging his temples. "... Let's continue our way."
"Yes!"
The guard immediately relayed the order, and the carriage began moving once more.
"Shouldn't we attack first?" I asked hesitantly. "Whatever it is seems to think we haven't noticed it yet."
"It doesn't matter."
With those three words, he closed his eyes, making it clear the conversation was over.
'Care to explain, you jerk!? What exactly doesn't matter?!' , I cursed him inwardly.
As I continued grumbling about his impossible personality, I suddenly felt something lean against me.
Lowering my gaze, I found Jongmu's face resting on my lap.
I stared at him, stunned.
He had simply made himself comfortable, as though nothing at all were happening outside.
"I have a headache."
At his sudden declaration, I could only blink at him in confusion.
"So what?"
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
I immediately composed myself, hoping he would graciously overlook my rudeness.
He behaved so recklessly that I kept forgetting he was the most feared man in Silla.
"Massage my temples."
'How can he be so calm and demanding at the same time? We're being followed by who knows what!'
As if sensing my inner turmoil, he lightly tapped my arm.
"If you do a good job, I'll do something against them. And the problem will be quickly and cleanly solved." He spoke lazily, as though discussing the weather.
Hearing that, I let out a quiet sigh.
I really wanted to hit him.
Since I obviously couldn't, I resigned myself to indulging his whims.
Gently, I placed two fingers against each of his temples and began massaging them with steady pressure.
"Is this enough, Your Highness?"
"Mn."
The man lying before me looked surprisingly peaceful.The faint crease between his brows gradually disappeared.
We continued on like that. The gentle swaying of the carriage was almost hypnotic, and before long, drowsiness overtook me.
My eyelids slowly drifted shut.
But only moments later, I was jolted awake by a violent lurch of the carriage.Someone had attacked us.
I had almost forgotten we were being followed. My eyes snapped open, instantly focusing on my surroundings.
Looking down, I found Jongmu still lying on my lap. He was still asleep or more likely pretending to be.
A martial artist of his level couldn't possibly have failed to notice the attack.
Feeling irritated, I shoved him off my lap without mercy, preparing to jump outside and face whatever awaited us.
"Hwi."
My body froze at the low, slightly husky voice calling my name.
"Didn't I tell you I'd handle it?"
His fingers wrapped firmly around my wrist.
"I made you a promise."
His grip tightened ever so slightly.
"So sit down."
He rose with a quiet sigh before kicking the carriage door open. His face was filled with annoyance and faint exasperation as he stepped outside.
Drawing his sword, he didn't immediately advance. Instead, he turned back toward me.
"You may watch." His eyes met mine.
"But you're not allowed to step outside."
Leaving me with those words, he finally walked toward the guards at the front of the carriage.
***
Seeing her cousin approach, Hayeon, clad entirely in black, narrowed her eyes.
"You're joining the fight?"
"Mn."
Jongmu stepped forward at an unhurried pace.
"More precisely... I'll handle it alone."
His answer struck Hayeon as odd. Jongmu was not the type to involve himself unless absolutely necessary.
'Could these opponents really be that formidable?'
A trace of worry crept into her heart.
She had assumed they were nothing more than ordinary troublemaker who preyed on common travelers and low-level martial artists.
As though sensing her concerns, Jongmu gave her shoulder a light pat.
"Don't worry."
He gestured toward the carriage behind them.,"It's not because they're strong."
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"It's because I made a promise."
Just as Hayeon was about to ask what he meant, the enemies finally revealed themselves.
Fortunately, they weren't beasts or monsters.
They were merely a group of bandits. Their ragged clothes, disheveled appearances and rusted weapons made them look even more miserable.
"Dirty."
Jongmu frowned.
The leader of the bandits was an enormous man. Tall and broad-shouldered, every movement caused his muscles to bulge beneath his tattered clothes.
To an ordinary person, he would have been an intimidating sight. But to Jongmu and any high-ranking martial artist, physique alone meant nothing. If anything, it was aesthetically unpleasant.
"HAH!"
The bandit leader burst into laughter.
"Looks like we've struck gold this time! All these young masters will surely be generous enough to share their wealth with us!"
"KEKEKEK!"
One of the henchmen licked the edge of his dagger.
"They look weak."
'Weak? ', Hayeon's expression remained completely deadpan. 'It's you who are the weaklings.'
None of them had even reached the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Jongmu seemed equally unimpressed.
"Mere Qi Warriors daring to act so recklessly..."
His cold gaze swept across the group.
"You have eyes yet fail to recognize Mount Tai." A faint sneer appeared on his face.
"And instead, you strut around with your nostrils pointed at the sky."
The bandits immediately grimaced.
Short-tempered by nature, they were visibly enraged by his mockery.
Jongmu, however, had already grown bored.
There was no point wasting words on fools.
Not to mention, even Hayeon could have defeated them with ease.The guards alone would have been enough.
With one fluid motion, he drew his sword.
Then he vanished. In the blink of an eye, Jongmu stood before the group of bandits.
The leader's eyes widened but it was already too late.
The sword flashed once, then twice and for the finaly time. One after another, the bandits collapsed before they even realized what had happened.
Heads rolled across the ground. Bodies crumpled moments later. The entire exchange lasted only a few breaths.None of them even had the chance to scream. Their deaths came swiftly, efficiently, silently.
An eerie silence settled over the forest.
No one spoke.
Even the guards found themselves staring.
No matter how weak the opponents had been, watching Jongmu slaughter them so effortlessly was deeply unsettling.
There hadn't been the slightest hesitation in his movements, no unnecessary flourish, no hesitation. Only clean, merciless efficiency.
It was exactly this scene that Hwi saw and couldn't take his eyes off.
The man clad in dark blue robes, with a handsome face and a cold expression. The blood splashed across him made the contrast against his pale skin even more striking.
He had beheaded them all within seconds, the fresh blood of his enemies still dripping from his blade. And behind him, the sun began to rise.
'He's terrifying.'
Yet while Hwi thought so, his heart began to beat faster. It wasn't out of fear, but fascination.
"Have you seen enough?"