OVERPOWERED BOUNTY HUNTER

The next morning, the village was already alive with whispers. I heard them before I even stepped out of our small home — the kind of low, fearful murmurs that spread like wildfire.

"They say the Black Moon Cult raided the Iron Fang Sect's outpost."

"An entire sect wiped out in one night…"

"Even the Martial Alliance is on edge — if they're moving troops, something big is coming."

I kept my face blank as I passed the villagers, but my mind was already turning. The Black Moon Cult — one of the most feared demonic sects in the Murim world — didn't make moves without a purpose. And if the Iron Fang Sect had truly been destroyed, the balance of power was shifting.

The Murim world was always in conflict, but this… this felt different.

"Seol-Yeong!"

I turned to see Elder Cho hobbling toward me. The old man had once been a wandering swordsman before settling in the village, and though age had taken his strength, his eyes were still sharp.

"You hear the rumors?" he asked, his voice low.

"I heard."

He nodded grimly. "It's worse than they're saying. The Black Moon Cult isn't the only one making moves. The Crimson Serpent Alliance has been gathering forces near the border, and the Bandit King's followers have been sighted in the western hills." He glanced around, lowering his voice even further. "Some say even the Heaven's Shadow Assassins have been seen. When those snakes crawl out of their holes, you know blood will follow."

I stayed silent, processing the information.

"War is coming, boy," Elder Cho said. "And when it does, no village will be safe. If you want your family to survive, you'll need more than silver."

He didn't need to say it — I already knew.

I needed strength. Real strength.

But strength alone wouldn't be enough. Not in a world where sects, cults, and alliances played their deadly games.

I needed power. Influence. And I would take it, no matter the cost.

That night, as I sharpened my blade, I made a decision.

The Murim world was shifting — and I would rise with it.