Henan of the Central Plains.
And Shaolin of Henan was a place that held many meanings.
Not only was it the pillar of the Nine Sects and One Union, but the reason the Martial Alliance had been established in Henan was because Shaolin existed as well.
Its significance could not help but be extraordinary.
Possessing the largest number of members among the Nine Sects and One Union.
And receiving the most support.
In some ways, Shaolin was a place that could be called the very embodiment of the orthodox faction.
Though, of course, the way I saw it was a little different.
'A gathering of black-hearted baldies.'
A den of damnable bastards who seemed to have shaved off their consciences along with their hair.
At least from my perspective, Shaolin was that kind of place.
"Then when are you planning to go to Shaolin?"
At the meal after the banquet ended, Dang Soyeol asked me.
By now, it had become natural for us to eat together.
"Well, I do plan to go before returning to the family."
I had said as much, but I didn't really have a personal reason to visit Shaolin.
If Old Man Shin weren't there, there wouldn't be much need to go either.
'Still, I should go at least once.'
Of course, it wasn't that I had no business there at all.
It wasn't an important reason, but since I was already here, stopping by once wouldn't be a bad idea.
'If I can see the future Divine Dragon, I'll take a look.'
The young monk who would take the currently vacant seat of the Divine Dragon.
A name that had already been decided through backroom dealings between the Alliance and Shaolin.
But from what I had seen, I thought he was someone worthy of being called the Divine Dragon even without such matters.
'Though, of course, he later becomes a Demon.'
This was a far-off future matter, and something that might not happen in this life.
A child who bore Shaolin's full expectations becoming a Demon.
Truly an absurd thing.
And the era where such things happened left and right was not far away.
As I rested my chin on my hand and nibbled on dumplings,
Dang Soyeol asked quietly.
"Then, Young Master..."
"Hmm?"
"Then... do you plan to go together with Lady Murong?"
At Dang Soyeol's words, I quietly recalled that time.
I had never imagined that Murong Hia would appear and say such a thing to me.
'Why did she say that to me?'
She was none other than the Murong Hia of the world.
That cold and incomparably calculating woman would never have approached me without thought.
I knew all too well that she was a woman who stripped emotion from every word and gesture and filled them with schemes.
- No.
So I had refused.
As firmly as possible, in fact.
It wasn't that I couldn't trust Murong Hia, but...
I simply thought there was no need to get entangled more than necessary.
What was fortunate was that upon my refusal, Murong Hia nodded her head and left without lingering attachment.
Since she had come all this way to say that, I had thought she would at least tell me the reason.
Splash...
At the sound of water, I shifted my gaze to see Nangong Bia filling my empty teacup.
When I looked at her as if to ask what this was, Nangong Bia answered with half-lidded, sleepy eyes.
"Water... drink. You look thirsty."
I wasn't particularly thirsty, but since she had done so, I accepted it gratefully.
I quenched my throat with the water cup and asked Nangong Bia slyly.
"How's your body?"
"...I'm fine."
The sword wound hadn't been particularly deep, so they had said there wouldn't even be a scar.
And since Nangong Bia's realm wasn't low, the treatment had gone smoothly.
'That's a relief.'
I had been worrying inside without realizing it, so it was fortunate in its own way.
Hearing that, Dang Soyeol clicked her tongue and remarked.
"You must be relieved."
"You visited the infirmary every day."
"...When did I...?"
"Strange... you definitely went every day?"
When did she see?
I had definitely gone in secret.
Just when did she see me...?
Thanks to that, I was slightly embarrassed.
At Dang Soyeol's offhand remark, Nangong Bia looked at me with a strange expression.
Perhaps because I had read the faint emotion flickering in Nangong Bia's pupils, I averted my gaze.
It was truly nothing short of burdensome.
"...I just went because I had nothing else to do."
I tried to say so, but the gaze I felt didn't disappear.
Was this what she had been aiming for? Dang Soyeol chuckled from across the table.
"Is something funny?"
"It's entertaining."
I couldn't understand what was so entertaining about it.
At that sight, I let out a small sigh and picked up a dumpling to eat again.
I felt like I might choke on Nangong Bia's gaze, but I had to fill my stomach.
I stuffed a handful into my mouth and chewed, glancing at the chopsticks picking at food beside me.
It was none other than Wi Seol-a.
Seeing that, I snorted inwardly.
'And she says nothing is wrong?'
If Wi Seol-a was picking at her food like that, it was obvious that something serious was going on.
I asked several times afterward, but Wi Seol-a didn't answer.
No, she did answer.
It was merely a perfunctory claim that nothing was wrong.
Watching her quietly, I simply stroked Wi Seol-a's hair once.
If she didn't want to talk this much, forcing it would likely backfire.
As we were eating like that, Muyeoni approached from behind and whispered quietly to me.
"Young Master."
"Speak. I'm listening."
Muyeoni hesitated for a moment before continuing.
"Someone from the Beggars' Sect has come to see you, Young Master."
I stopped the chopsticks that had been picking up dumplings.
"Who?"
"He revealed himself to be Qiu Weng of the Beggars' Sect, Young Master. He says he has an appointment with you. Shall I send him away if you do not wish to see him?"
It was merely Qiu Weng's personal wish that I make time for him once the martial arts tournament ended.
I had agreed, but there was no need to keep my word.
Perhaps Muyeoni drew the answer from my reaction, for she spoke as if answering me.
"Then I will appropriately send him away."
At Muyeon's words, I stopped her with a hand gesture.
"No. Tell him I'll see him once I've finished eating."
Meeting a beggar right after finishing a meal was rather unpleasant, but...
He was none other than Qiu Weng, who would later be called the Beggar King.
For some reason, he seemed like a shabby and sly man now, but...
When the Bloody Calamity erupted, he was someone who would become a truer hero than anyone else.
'I can at least become acquainted with him.'
It just so happened that my value had risen considerably right now, so rather, this was an opportunity if anything.
I picked up the last dumpling before me, ate it, and rose from my seat.
"Eat up and rest. I'll be back soon."
At my words, Wi Seol-a and Dang Soyeol shouted "Yes!" simultaneously.
The two looked somewhat similar, so putting them together felt like watching small animals, which somehow left me feeling pleased.
Of course, I didn't show that thought outwardly.
When I stepped outside the inn, I immediately saw several beggars shuffling about.
People were also subtly glancing at them and giving them a wide berth.
Beggars openly hanging around like that in Henan were almost certainly from the Beggars' Sect, so it seemed the onlookers couldn't bring themselves to say anything.
"What are you doing blocking the street like that?"
When I said this in bewilderment, Qiu Weng, who stood at the front, smiled awkwardly.
"Hehehe... Young Master, wouldn't it be even stranger for a beggar to enter an inn and wait?"
He had a point there.
I looked at Qiu Weng and asked.
"You were looking for me."
"Aigoo... first, congratulations on your victory. Ah, Young Master. Should I call you the True Dragon now?"
"...No, please use the former."
Just hearing it gave me goosebumps.
Who in the world came up with the moniker True Dragon? The Alliance Leader?
When I refused with a displeased expression, Qiu Weng also looked slightly flustered.
Well, it must have seemed strange that a rising star showed no sign of liking the moniker he received and instead disliked it.
"Ah, anyway... thank you ever so much for coming out like this."
"What, a meeting so great that you need to thank me?"
It was a great meeting, actually.
From his perspective, that is.
"How could it not be great! It's a meeting with the champion of the martial arts tournament."
Because I knew that as well, I was putting on a show of humility.
If I acted too arrogant, there would inevitably be more bad influences than good.
"By the way, are we going to keep talking here?"
There weren't many people, but it was a street people passed through.
If we were going to converse, this wasn't the right place for it.
As expected, Qiu Weng seemed to have somewhere in mind, for he immediately guided me there.
"It may not be as clean as an inn, but you won't be uncomfortable!"
At Qiu Weng's words, I nodded my head.
Truthfully, there would have been no problem even if we sat on the ground and talked.
But for now, I had to put on the airs of a prestigious family, so I had to act the part appropriately.
The building he led me to was, as Qiu Weng said, not very clean, but it didn't look uncomfortable.
"W-would you like some tea at least?"
"You have tea?"
No matter how I looked at it, it didn't seem like a place that would have tea.
What resolved my curiosity was Qiu Weng's reply.
"We don't, but if the Young Master wishes to drink some, I'll go fetch it right away!"
...Then never mind.
As expected, there was none.
I crossed my legs and sat in as comfortable a posture as possible.
There was no need to mind my manners.
The moment I sat down, Muyeon, who had followed behind, also began deploying a guard formation.
The inner aura subtly emanating from me flickered as if keeping them in check.
Qiu Weng noticed this and a strange light appeared in his eyes.
He realized that for a mere bodyguard, she was at a considerable level.
I thought so too.
'She hasn't got long left.'
It truly seemed Muyeon had little left before breaking through the wall to the peak realm.
'Still, I think Nangong Bia will be faster.'
Nangong Bia was also pacing about, having encountered the wall herself, but...
Judging by the talent she possessed and the enlightenment she had gained from the martial arts tournament,
it wouldn't take her very long to cross the wall.
"But why did you follow me?"
I asked bluntly to Gu Jeolyeop, who was standing in the back.
I could understand Muyeon, but why did he follow me?
"I told you to just go eat."
At my words, Gu Jeolyeop answered evasively.
"...I was ordered by the family to serve the First Young Master."
"Then why didn't you serve me from the start? Why were you cowering so pathetically during the tournament, only to act up now?"
" "
"I can see right through you, you brat."
"Ahem..."
Seeing the situation, it was clearly because of the sword he had received from the Alliance.
Perhaps it was because I had said I would give the received sword to either Muyeon or Gu Jeolyeop.
Having heard that, Gu Jeolyeop was now following me around zealously, his eyes lit with fire.
As if he were some kind of dog.
"Ugh, annoying..."
"I merely wish to protect the First Young Master with all my heart..."
"Who's protecting whom? You're weak as hell."
At my words, Gu Jeolyeop staggered.
He looked deeply wounded, but since it was the truth, he seemed to have nothing to say.
Then, a burst of laughter was heard from the side.
It seemed Muyeoni laughed.
Seeing this, Gu Jeolyeop looked at Muyeon in shock, but Muyeon covered her mouth as if nothing had happened.
'They get along well.'
Tsk-tsk, I clicked my tongue once and shifted my gaze back to Qiu Weng.
"Anyway, what did you want to talk about?"
At my words, Qiu Weng seemed to come to his senses and quickly shifted his posture.
"It's nothing else... I have something to propose to Young Master, you see."
Something the Beggars' Sect wants to propose to me?
A few things did come to mind.
But before that, there was something I had to ask.
"Why?"
I had to ask for the reason first.
Honestly, the reason was obvious.
But by asking this, I had to secure justification and leverage.
Qiu Weng would know this as well, so he likely had a prepared explanation.
And as expected, Qiu Weng began to speak without hesitation.
"For generations, the Beggars' Sect has been providing support of a sort to outstanding rising stars."
"Support, you say. Are you giving money?"
"Aigoo, where would beggars have money?"
"Then?"
"If it's support from the Beggars' Sect, it's information! We wish to offer information to the Young Master."
Qiu Weng carefully took out a wooden plaque from his embrace and discreetly pushed it toward me.
I looked at it and then at Qiu Weng with a blunt gaze.
'Information.'
With the label of "support" attached, it sounded somewhat impressive,
but it was merely laying groundwork for when I would become successful later.
It was a way of saying, "The Beggars' Sect helped you when you were like this, so don't forget."
'This is an extremely bland offer.'
Perhaps because I was thinking of the future Qiu Weng.
For a conversation I had come to hear, it held no substance whatsoever.
Perhaps reading that emotion from my expression,
Qiu Weng continued, slightly flustered.
"This plaque, so to speak, is one distributed to only a select few at Beggars' Sect branches."
"What's so good about receiving it?"
"You can acquire information available at the branch level without any trouble!"
Information obtainable at the regional branch level of the Beggars' Sect.
From a rising star's perspective, it was a fairly good condition.
Not to mention that prestigious families were already tied to the Beggars' Sect.
The fact that information was tremendous power was something even rising stars knew well.
It meant being regarded as a special target of management by an information organization.
This was certainly a story that would help.
But from my position, it was a story full of needless strings attached.
Just with the information I knew, there were heaps of matters the Beggars' Sect didn't know.
While situations might arise where the Beggars' Sect's help was needed,
the problem was also that I didn't have much faith in the organization called 'Beggars' Sect' itself.
"Hmm..."
What should I do?
I couldn't say I didn't need it at all.
My original goal was merely to become acquainted with Qiu Weng.
This would be enough for that, but...
'It's a waste.'
More than the Beggars' Sect, I wanted to form a connection with the person named Qiu Weng himself.
Not excessively, but moderately.
Tap-tap-
I drummed my fingers on the table.
I needed a moment to think briefly.
From Qiu Weng's position, he must have wondered why I was worrying so much over this.
In truth, the Beggars' Sect never nitpicked or interfered in personal affairs when they handed out plaques and offered support like this.
Because this was merely one of hundreds of ways the Beggars' Sect inflated itself and survived.
I quietly looked at the plaque and then pushed it back toward Qiu Weng with my hand.
This was a gesture of refusal.
"A-ah... n-no, Young Master, this is really a good..."
At my refusal, Qiu Weng tried to add an explanation in alarm, but...
When I took out an object from my bosom and showed him, he fell silent with his mouth wide open.
"The plaque is fine. So is the support."
The object I had taken out was a wooden plaque that Shin-ui had told me to use if I ever needed to request help from the Beggars' Sect.
I believe he had said that simply showing it would allow one to meet the Beggar Chief.
I spoke to Qiu Weng, who was frozen in shock.
"May I ask you for a separate favor? A personal one."
He probably wouldn't be able to refuse.