Cheon-ma frowned for a moment while looking at the fainted Demon Brain.

“Tsk-tsk, didn’t I tell him to learn martial arts? This old guy is good for nothing..”

Cheon-ma waved it off. And leaving him behind, she went into the Cheon-ma Treasury to search for something.

“It must be here..”

The Tyrant’s Flower Vase. Hundreds of years ago, the Demon Sect conquered Moorim and plundered things from the office of the Everlasting Supreme, who was the leader of the Justice Faction of the time.

“Lucky, it’s still there.”

However, the Tyrant’s Flower Vase wasn’t like a treasure with special magic like the Arch Hunter’s Hunting Gloves or the Judgment Sword. It was only placed in the treasury because of its historical symbol. It was just a pretty, well-made vase. However..

“Fufufu..”

Cheon-ma picked it up with a satisfied smile. Then, she took out the flowers she received as a gift from Yoon-seok and put them neatly inside.

“As expected, they look good.”

She told the Demon Brain that she was just passing by, but.. actually, this was the main purpose of her visit to the Demon Sect after thirty years. She needed a flower vase for the flowers, but she thought the Tyrant’s Flower Vase would be perfect.

“Yongyong, you should go back inside the bag. We will return as soon as the Demon Brain wakes up.”

“Yes, Mother.”

Cheon-ma, who got what she wanted, paid no mind to the countless other treasures. Meanwhile, the Demon Brain had regained his consciousness. However, he looked at Cheon-ma with blurry eyes as if he hadn’t returned to his senses completely.

Before long, he realized something and breathed out a sigh of relief.

“Phew.. it must have been a dream.”

“A dream?”

“Yes. I dreamed that the sky was falling.”

Cheon-ma, who tilted her head, smiled. The sky was fine, so even if she didn’t know what it was, it must have been a dream.

“Tsk-tsk, a strong mind naturally resides in a strong body, so take care of your body as well.”

“Yes.”

He lowered his head as if he was embarrassed. Then, he asked as he looked at the object Cheon-ma was holding carefully.

“..Have you been to the Treasury?”

“Are you complaining?”

“It can’t be. I’m just curious why you came out with that item..”

“What are you curious about? You must want to know if your guess is right.”

The Demon Brain did not deny it. Why was it nothing else but the Tyrant’s Flower Vase? However..

“Can’t you tell with your clever head? I just needed a suitable vase.”

It was only then that he noticed the flowers put inside. His eyes saw it, but his brain couldn’t recognize it properly.

“..It’s my first time seeing such flowers. Could it be the world’s best elixir or something like that?”

“As far as I know, they are ordinary flowers.”

“Huh..”

The Demon Brain drooled without realizing it. It wasn’t even an elixir, so how come the flowers? After contemplating for a while, he obediently accepted it.

“..You’ve changed a lot.”

“Hasn’t it been thirty years?”

Yes. A lot of time had passed. Demon Brain gave up the vain hope that Cheon-ma would return and lead the Sect again one day. But after emptying his mind, he felt like something filled the spot.

“You look better than before.”

“Don’t say something that you don’t mean..”

“It is true. But since it’s the first time I’ve seen those flowers, they must have been picked from somewhere other than Moorim.”

“I don’t know, but probably. After all, he is so busy running around here and there.”

“..?”

The Demon Brain, who had been smiling warmly, hardened in place. In context, the flower appeared to have been a gift. It was definitely from a very special person.

“Is it the Co-Sect Leader..?”

The Demon Brain somehow thought this was similar to a dream he just had. Wasn’t that a dream? No, that can’t be true.

It had to be a dream.

“Yeah, he gave me them saying it was to repay me.”

“I-I see.”

The Demon Brain tried hard not to be embarrassed and nodded slowly. Did he give those flowers as a gift? What did that mean? As she said, it must be to repay his benefactor.

“It’s embarrassing. Fufufu.”

Yes, that bright smile was the same. She had just become more relaxed over time; it must not mean much.

‘But I’ll have to check.’

The Demon Brain’s eyes chilled. Cheon-ma, who was happily touching the petals, didn’t notice, but his eyes were sharper than when their base had been invaded some time ago.

“Do you know the flower language?”

“Flower language?”

“Yes. It is common to put a hidden meaning in the gift of flowers according to the flower language. I wonder what the Co-Sect Leader meant by giving the flowers to you.”

“Hmm. Flower language, huh..”

Cheon-ma also looked slightly interested.

“I don’t even know the name of the flower. How can I know that?”

The Demon Brain said not to worry and called someone. It was a challenger that had a wide range of analytical techniques.

“Long live, long live, long live the Leader..! I, Xue Haijun of the 17th Extermination Squad, greet the Great Cheon-ma!”

However, when he arrived, Cheon-ma wore a slightly suspicious look.

“..It’s a flower of a distant dimension, there may be no flower language, and even if there was, he might have given it without knowing.”

“Didn’t you say that he was busy running around? If it were the Co-Sect Leader with a wide knowledge, he would have known.”

“..Is that so?”

“Yes. However, if you are concerned about the Co-Sect Leader’s sincerity, please stop here..”

“Alright, let’s do it.”

The Demon Brain, who successfully caught Cheon-ma’s attention, winked at the challenger he called. Then the challenger, who stood up trembling, carefully grabbed the vase and recited a command.

“Pre-registration.”

Swoosh-

A calm wind bloomed, and a thick book formed in the air.

“What is this flower?”

The challenger read through the book.

“Carotian. It is a breed that only exists in Seheranbad within a subtropical climate. In other words, flowers are common in hot, humid climates..”

“That’s enough. Does it have a meaning?

The challenger looked annoyed when his explanation was cut off in the middle, but he nodded without showing it.

“Yes, it does.”

“What is it?”

The Demon Brain gulped. Cheon-ma was resting her chin upon her palm as if she wasn’t interested, but her eyes were glued to the challenger.

“A love that will come true someday.”

“..?”

“That is the meaning of this flower in the flower language.”

A heavy silence fell over them.

* * *

It didn’t last long.

“I-Is that true?”

The Demon Brain stuttered and asked back, and the challenger stepped aside, motioning for him to read it himself. The Demon Brain approached as if possessed.

His shoulders trembled.

“It seems it says that.”

“What a disrespect..! This is absurd disrespect..!”

“What do you mean disrespect? It’s just the flower language.”

Cheon-ma responded bluntly as if telling him not to act like a child, but the Demon Brain felt like his head was spinning again. From the voice alone, it seemed like it was nothing at all.

But looking at her smile-

“Fufufufu..”

The corner of her lips couldn’t go much higher, and even her pale skin was dyed a little red around the cheeks.

“He gave it to me without much thought.”

That’s what she said, but it was clear that she didn’t think so at all. In this regard, the Demon Brain wanted to ask more precisely. However, the moment he came to his senses and was just about to open his mouth-

“Long live, long live, long live the Leader!”

Two men opened the Great Hall door and entered. They were Zheng Dayun, the Sword Demon, and the Leader of the Extermination Squad, Jin Muzhen. The two immediately took a horizontal position, sang three cheers, and hurriedly spoke.

“Please forgive us. Since it was a matter related to the Co-Sect Leader, we had no choice but to commit this rude behavior.”

“I’ll forgive you, so hurry up and tell me. Did something happen?”

“The culprit that killed the Bloody Sky Delusion Sword in the League is claimed to be the Co-Sect Leader.”

“Bloody Sky Delusion Sword?”

Jin Muzhen added a brief explanation for Cheon-ma, who frowned as if it was the first time she heard of him.

“He was imprisoned in the League for destroying the Namgoong family, and he was originally not someone you should have cared about.. it is said that after the announcement by the League, the head of the Black Alliance was desperate to find the Co-Sect Leader who killed his sworn brother.”

“Who is the current head of the Black Alliance?”

“It’s the Blade Sovereign.”

“Looks like that bastard is still alive.”

“Unfortunately, yes..”

After quickly asking one question or another, Cheon-ma crossed her legs and touched her chin.

The Sword Demon Zheng Dayun spoke carefully.

“He is not comparable to you, but the head of Black Alliance is quite a dangerous person. Of course, the Co-Sect Leader must be able to defeat him, however..”

“Keep talking.”

“If he joins forces with the Overlord of Bow, even the Co-Sect Leader will be in trouble.”historical

“Then we must find him.”

“Yes. Hurry up. We need to mobilize the Sect members to find and protect the Co-Sect Leader..”

“Huh? What does that mean?”

“..?”

Cheon-ma and Sword Demon wore their doubts openly. And before long, the Sword Demon banged his head on the floor and shouted.

“Such a sin of not being able to understand your words. Please forgive me!”

Cheon-ma clicked her tongue and explained.

“It is not the Co-Sect Leader that I ask you to find.”

The Sword Demon looked to Jin Muzhen, who had come with him, but he also wore an expression that said he didn’t understand.

Bang-bang!

Therefore, the Sword Demon banged his head on the floor again. Cheon-ma, who was in a good mood today, kindly explained.

“How can you bother looking for that child in this vast Moorim?”

That’s why they needed to find the Co-Sect Leader if they wanted to protect him, right? The Sword Demon, thinking like that, said so.

“It will end if we kill the head of the Black Alliance.”

Did it mean that if there is a threat, it should be eliminated? To make this matter so simple..

“I, Zheng Dayun the Sword Demon, am truly moved by your great wisdom..!”

She was clearly a god.

* * *

“It’s better than I thought, huh?”

Two days after leaving the Namgoong Manor, Yoon-seok arrived at his destination. The headquarters of the Black Alliance. And, contrary to expectations, it was very solid.

Looking at the signboard alone, it didn’t feel much different from the Moorim League.

“If you cut in line, you’ll be the last one to enter. Please wait for your turn.”

Merchants, farmers, scholars. It was in good order even though warriors and ordinary citizens were mixing. Ordinary citizens weren’t afraid of the warriors, and the warriors didn’t treat the citizens callously.

Since it was a group formed by the Black Blade, Yoon-seok imagined something like a lawless state.

‘I also want to see the headquarters of the Main Sect sometime.’

Suddenly, he wondered what the inside of the sect called the den of monsters would be like. It didn’t seem like it would be that different from here. It only looked rough on the outside.

The demon followers were also purer than anyone else, after all. At least in Yoon-seok’s eyes.

‘They’re all good people.’

Recalling them and smiling, Yoon-seok hid his presence and crossed the fortress wall. He then entered the Black Alliance. He felt sorry for the people who were in line, but..

Wouldn’t this be better than smashing the entrance and going in? After all, Yoon-seok wasn’t here to fight.

Most likely.