CFZ

A Cold Winter's Day
As winter gradually set in, the Martial Alliance's headquarters in Hanam remained as busy as ever.

It was partly because of the changing season, but more so due to the recent events that had unfolded.
"There's been a noticeable increase in the frequency of demonic beasts appearing in the northern Mount Tai."
"Yes, I've heard as well. They say green-ranked beasts no longer even appear there."

Originally, most of the green-ranked beasts had been guarding Mount Tai. However, their numbers had dwindled significantly. Green-ranked beasts had nearly vanished, replaced by blue-ranked beasts as the majority, with red-ranked beasts occasionally making an appearance.
As a result, herbalists were banned from traveling through the area, and the Sword Squads’ schedules had grown unbearably tight.
"This is unbearable. With no days off, it’s hard to endure."

Their faces were marked with exhaustion. Even when they rested, it was never for long, making things worse.
Adding to the strain was the current vacancy in the Sword Squad's leadership.
"When is the Azure Dragon Division expected to return?"
"Well, it's been less than fifteen days since they left for Sichuan. It’ll likely be a while longer."

"If it's going to be longer, are we talking months?"
"Most likely."
A deep sigh followed. It was inevitable.

With the absence of the Azure Dragon Division, work had piled up. Especially with the Sectarian Factions' movements becoming increasingly alarming, the other Sword Squads were also forced to act swiftly.
This only made the already short-handed situation even worse.
"Still, wouldn’t things improve once Ilcheon Sword returns?"

"Of course, but..."
The man scratching his chin added hesitantly, "There’ve been some strange rumors lately."
"What kind of rumors?"

"That Ilcheon Sword has colluded with the Demonic Cult."
"What?"
Hearing this, one of the squad members frowned.

"What kind of absurd rumor is that?"
It was too preposterous to believe.
"Ilcheon Sword, colluding with the Demonic Cult? That makes no sense."

"I think so too. It’s just a rumor I’ve heard going around."
"That’s an absolutely ridiculous rumor."
Ilcheon Sword was known for his upright conduct, both during the Great War of Righteousness and in everyday life.

He was already expected to join the ranks of the Top Ten Experts soon and, potentially, even aim for the position of Martial Alliance Leader in the future.
For such a man to collude with the Demonic Cult? It was nothing short of nonsense.
"Isn't that how rumors always are?"
"I find it ridiculous just hearing it. I can’t imagine how much the Azure Dragon Division or Ilcheon Sword himself would laugh if they heard it."

Especially the members remaining at the headquarters—they would laugh hysterically.
"Rumors always tend to become exaggerated and muddied as they pass from one mouth to another."
The man smirked as he added, "Isn’t it the same with the stories about the Heavenly Demon?"

"Ah, that nonsense?"
The term "Heavenly Demon" elicited a knowing nod from the squad member.
"You mean the nonsense about how he can control and summon demonic beasts?"

Of all the rumors floating around recently, this one was the most absurd.
The Heavenly Demon (천마), the unknown figure said to lead the Demonic Cult, was rumored to have appeared in Sichuan. It was said he reached out to the heavens, causing the Magyeong Gate to open in midair, releasing countless demonic beasts.
"Ridiculous."

There was a limit to what one could believe. This rumor had surpassed it.
No matter how mysterious the Heavenly Demon was, he was still human.
How could a human not only tame demonic beasts but also summon them by opening the Magyeong Gate?

"If that's possible, I’ll burn my own hands."
"Exactly."
"Exactly? It’s an impossibility."

Still, a faint unease lingered in their voices.
The Heavenly Demon had become a figure of fear.
It was only natural.

He was a strange being who had seemingly fallen from the sky. The Demonic Cult, an unprecedented organization, had made its debut with an extraordinary entrance.
He had nonchalantly appeared in the Wudang Sect, the heart of the current Martial Alliance, and killed an elder before disappearing without a trace.
Not long after, incidents began erupting in Hanam.

The Jegal Clan staged a rebellion, triggering conflicts with white-ranked beasts.
The Heavenly Demon had been present then too.
Even with the presence of one of the Three Supremes, the Heavenly Presence, and numerous Top Ten Experts, including the Sword Saint and Plum Blossom Immortal, the Heavenly Demon had made his presence known and vanished unscathed.

And now, with yet another incident, questions were inevitable.
"Just how powerful is the Heavenly Demon?"
How far had he ascended?
This had become the burning question in Zhongyuan.

He was a monster that even the Heavenly Presence could not stop.
Which meant he might have reached the level of the Three Supremes.
And beyond that...

"The appearance of white-ranked beasts..."
The demonic beasts during the Hanam attack resurfaced in their minds, heightening their unease.
If the Heavenly Demon could summon and control demonic beasts, did that mean...?

"No, surely not."
A fleeting thought crossed their minds.
"Did he summon that white-ranked beast as well?"

The memory of the white-ranked beast that had appeared as if drawn from thin air overlapped with the current rumors.
"No, it can't be."
The squad member shook his head.

It mustn’t be true.
The idea that a human could wield such power was unthinkable.
If it were true, could he even still be called human?

The implications of such a being starting a war were too terrifying to fathom.
"Haa..."
The squad member exhaled deeply, trying to dispel his thoughts. The very notion of a human possessing such power was already unbelievable, and the rumors about the demonic beasts had to be baseless.

No, they needed to be baseless.

"In any case, leaving the Azure Dragon Division aside, what about the Star Dragon Division?"
Trying to shift the topic, he brought up something else.

"The Star Dragon Division?"
"Yes, they went to Sichuan together, didn’t they?"
"Well, I haven’t heard much about them, but since they went with the Azure Dragon Division, they should be fine."

"That’s true, but..."
The squad member leaned in slightly, as if about to share something not meant for others to hear.
"You know about the recent incident, right?"

"Incident? Oh, you mean the one involving Strategist Muk Yeon?"
"Yes, that one."
It was a well-known story lately. Tiger Warrior, the head of the Shanxi Gu family, entered the main camp. It was an incident where he sought out Muk Yeon, who was working at the time, and attacked him.

It was said that the Sword Emperor guarding Muk Yeon had confronted Tiger Warrior, after which he subjugated him..
Currently, Tiger Warrior was imprisoned in the underground cells.
"Doesn’t this create problems for the Star King as well?"

"Most likely."
Tiger Warrior was none other than the father of the current Star King.
The Star King was treated as a hero in Hanam, having repelled the attack and even slain a white-ranked beast, earning him widespread acclaim.

Thanks to this, he had become the youngest King-Rank martial artist and was regarded as the most promising candidate for the title of "Strongest Under Heaven" among the younger generation.
But now...
"Why would the head of the Gu family do something like this?"

"Who knows."
Why had Tiger Warrior acted this way?
Even if he wanted to obstruct his son's future, this was going too far.

"Tiger Warrior, while not widely known, was still a famous martial artist, wasn’t he?"
"Famous? Of course. If you’d seen him dealing with Sectarian Faction members during the last war, you’d understand it didn’t end with mere fame."
"...Was he that terrifying?"

"Absolutely. He was like a demon incarnate."
It was no wonder the Sectarian Factions had given him a different name.
Though he had lived quietly in Shanxi, he had once been a martial artist of considerable renown.

"That’s why it’s puzzling."
Why had he suddenly acted out like this?
Many people were questioning his motives.

"The trial is set to happen in two days, isn’t it?"
"Yes, it is."
"If the verdict doesn’t go well, what happens to the Star King?"

"I’m not sure, but it could cause problems."
The Star King was a pillar of the Martial Alliance, one of the Eight Pillars.
For such a figure’s father to commit a crime against the Alliance, it was bound to affect his standing.

"Even if Strategist Muk Yeon holds the Star King in high regard, will he overlook this?"
"Even if he’s a generous man, this is asking too much."
"I agree."

"And with the trial happening in two days, the Star King likely won’t make it back in time."
The Star King was still in Sichuan. Even if he had received news of the incident, traveling back would take until winter.
"Whatever happens, these constant incidents are unsettling."

"Everyone says the same thing—it feels like the calm before the storm."
A Premonition of Chaos
It felt as though something was on the verge of exploding. Everyone sensed it.

The appearance of the Heavenly Demon and the rapidly shifting movements of the demonic beasts made it clear: the situation was growing increasingly volatile.
And then:
"I hear the Sectarian Factions have also been making moves lately."

That was according to information gathered by the Flying Dragon Division. Between the Demonic Cult, the Sectarian Factions, and the demonic beasts, nothing about the current state of affairs seemed normal.
"With everything happening like this, it’s hard not to be uneasy."
"What are you worried about? As long as the Martial Alliance stands, there’s nothing to fear."

"Haha…"
The squad member gave a bitter laugh. The person he was speaking to, being of an older generation, seemed to have an almost blind faith in the Martial Alliance.
People of that age were often like that. However, faith in the Alliance had significantly waned in recent years, especially among those living in Hanam.

"Yes… I suppose so."
Not knowing what else to say, the squad member simply nodded while wiping sweat from his forehead.
"Phew… It’s hot today."

The weather was unusually warm.
"Indeed, why is it so hot…"
Their words trailed off as their gazes met.

Hot?
The realization hit them: something was off.
The season was approaching winter. That very morning, it had been cold enough to see their breath in the air. Yet now, it was sweltering, hot enough to make them sweat.

"…Why is it so hot?"
The heat was oppressive, almost like midsummer.
And it was only getting hotter. Something was clearly wrong. On top of that—

‘…Heavy.’
The air felt heavy, as if something were pressing down on their shoulders. Breathing grew more difficult, and the intense heat and pressure caused them to furrow their brows.
What in the world was happening?

Suddenly:
"Over there—!"
Someone in the camp shouted, pointing to the sky. Following the direction of the gesture, all eyes turned upward.

At the center of the bright, glowing sun, something was there.
What was it?
The question didn’t linger for long.

Fwoosh—!!
It was a flame. A flame tinged with a blue glow.
Blue fire burned at the center of the sun, starting as small as a candle flame.

But then—
‘It’s growing…?’

The flame began to expand.

Watching it, they belatedly realized the truth.
It wasn’t growing.
It was getting closer.

As it drew nearer, its size appeared to increase. The moment they understood this—
BOOOOM—!!!!
The flame slammed into the ground.

KRAAASH—!!!
The blue flame erupted on impact, shooting into the sky like a towering inferno.
The sheer majesty of the blazing pillar made their bodies tremble involuntarily.

BOOOOM—!!!
"Ugh!"
"Argh—!!"

The heat and the shockwave sent those nearby flying. The sudden impact prompted other martial artists to rush outside.
"What is this—?!"
"An attack…? Prepare the formations!"

Their expressions were tense.
It was clearly no ordinary occurrence. Could it be the Sectarian Factions? Or perhaps… the Demonic Cult?
Unease flickered across everyone’s faces.

"Stand aside."
A weighty voice broke through the tension. Along with the words, a figure landed lightly on the ground.
As he set foot on the earth, the oppressive heat seemed to dissipate slightly.

"Sir Guardian—!"
The elderly man was none other than the Sword Emperor, known as the martial artist closest to the Three Supremes among the Top Ten Experts.
The Guardian of the Alliance drew his sword and faced the flames.

An immense aura radiated from the old man, starting from his feet and spreading outward.
Whooosh—!
The Sword Emperor’s qi took form, dominating the surrounding air.

The sight left onlookers awestruck.
"Such precise control of qi…"
The old man’s power was not only refined but also robust and unyielding.

The Guardian of the Alliance, the Sword Emperor, embodied the very essence of his achievements and character—a protector of the Martial Alliance, unshakable no matter the circumstances.
His presence matched his reputation perfectly.
KRAAAASH—!!!

But the flames resisted the Sword Emperor’s aura. They did not yield.
In fact, they seemed to grow more aggressive, as if trying to consume the Sword Emperor’s energy.
His brow furrowed.

"What is the meaning of this?"
He spoke in a low voice. At that moment—
BOOOOM—!!!

Within the rampaging flames, a shape began to emerge.
The fire began to take on a structure, slowly transforming into the form of a ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) human body.
And then—

"What do you mean, ‘what is the meaning of this’?"
The figure that emerged from the flames spoke.
Flap!

The robes draped over him fluttered in the heat.
White robes embroidered with blue patterns.
His martial uniform marked him as a member of the Martial Alliance.

But he wasn’t just any martial artist. Those robes…
"A Division Leader…"
The white robe embroidered with blue was a symbol. Only eight people in the Alliance could wear it.

There was only one person among them capable of commanding such flames.
"The Star King?"
"The Star Dragon Division Leader?"

"Why is someone who should be in Sichuan here…?"
As the others reacted in shock—
"That’s what I’d like to know," Gu Yangcheon said, his gaze fixed on the Sword Emperor.

"You always like to get ahead of me. I’d rather destroy everything, but first, I’ll ask."
Whoooosh—!
The blazing pillar of fire dispersed, scattering into countless smaller suns.

The orbs of fire floated briefly before being reabsorbed into Gu Yangcheon’s back.
They looked like massive wings or perhaps a waterfall being swallowed by his body.
Whatever it was, it was an awe-inspiring sight.

The air that the Sword Emperor had barely managed to clear was once again suffocating.
The overwhelming heat enveloped them as Gu Yangcheon spoke to the Sword Emperor.
"Where is my father?"

"…"
The Sword Emperor frowned at the question.
"Star Dragon Division Leader."

"I don’t have time for this. I’m not in the best mood right now."
Whoosh. Flames coiled from Gu Yangcheon’s fingertips to his elbows.
Even from a glance, his qi was palpable, surging like a tidal wave.

"Do you know where he is?"
Faced with his threatening demeanor, the Sword Emperor’s gaze narrowed further.
"What if I refuse to tell you?"

"…"
At those words, Gu Yangcheon’s eyes grew dangerously cold.
"In that case…"

Crackle.
The flames on his hand spread across his entire body.
No, it wasn’t just his body engulfed by fire—it seemed as though his very being had become flames.

"I’ll just make you tell me."
Fwoooosh—!!!
The fire surged, roaring to life.

KRAAAASH—!!!
On that autumn day, summer had arrived.