"Will you be alright...?"
Right after Beom-dong disappeared taking the Flying Dragon Squad with him, Na-hi asked me as I was walking down the road.
I glanced at Na-hi and asked.
"What do you mean?"
As I asked while looking at her, Na-hi bowed her head and answered.
"I am worried if it is alright to let the Flying Dragon Squad Leader go so easily..."
"Why. Do you think that level of threat wouldn't work?"
"..."
Looking at Na-hi, I held back a chuckle.
No answer came to my words.
It must mean yes.
I understand Na-hi's worry.
'There's a better method, so it must be hard to understand why I only used this.'
All I did to Beom-dong was at most a threat involving his family.
I didn't place a restriction on him, nor did I corrupt him into a demonic cultivator.
'I could have, but I didn't.'
I had inserted demonic energy long ago, so I could crush him at any time.
As for restrictions, I could have placed one whenever I wanted, but I didn't.
Because there was a reason I had to do so.
"Don't worry about it. I have something in mind."
"However. If the Squad Leader were to leak word of this matter..."
"He won't do that."
The fact that I have his daughter caught.
That alone should be enough for Beom-dong.
'Considering he's a guy who cares deeply for his daughter.'
I heard in my past life that the guy had a child.
It was a fact known when Beom-dong defected to become a demonic cultivator; when it was revealed he had hidden his child in Hubei, the Peng Clan stepped forward and took Beom-dong's child as a hostage.
I wondered if he would still care for his child after even becoming a demonic cultivator.
Surprisingly, as soon as the news spread, Beom-dong headed to the Peng Clan alone. And as a result, Beom-dong was assassinated by the Peng Clan.
Even after becoming a demonic cultivator, he headed to Hubei alone for his daughter, showing that his feelings for his bloodline were extraordinary.
'Even if that weren't the case.'
That wouldn't matter either.
"I have a way to use him anyway. Just focus on what I ordered."
"...Understood."
Na-hi said so and bowed her head. I looked at Na-hi and asked.
"What did you do with her?"
At the mention of the crazy bitch who wrecked the Flying Dragon Squad just moments ago, Na-hi carefully offered an answer.
"As ordered, I gagged and tied her up in the corner of her quarters."
"Good job. Keep a close eye on her. She'll probably open her eyes within two shichen."
Then she'll go crazy again.
Just imagining it gave me a headache.
'I tried not to call her if possible.'
Since she's no ordinary person, I tried not to use her if I could help it.
But since she was the only one who fit the plan perfectly, I had no choice.
"Report to me immediately when Chang-chang opens her eyes."
"Yes."
"Any contact from Ji-seon?"
"There was a report that he departed."
"Then he'll be here in a few days."
It would be easier to handle things if he arrived within at least five days.
"Then, look into the Cheonra Squad Leader's side. Organize only what's happening around my sister and send it to me by tomorrow."
"I obey your command."
With those final words, Na-hi bowed and concealed her presence.
"Hmm."
After sending Na-hi off, I surveyed my surroundings.
The time was heading from early morning toward noon.
Dogshit things happened since morning, making my irritation rise.
'It seems the time for a meal has passed, though.'
From this point on, I had to think a bit.
The time we agreed to eat together had long passed.
Since I had already sent word that something came up as I headed to Beom-dong, they would have eaten first.
'But going to train is also a bit ambiguous.'
To start afternoon training, there happened to be an important matter today.
Since my schedule opened up, it would be right to finish that and go.
"...Tch."
Right after organizing my plan, I clicked my tongue briefly.
I knew it was an unavoidable situation, but to think I'd have my time stolen by a guy like Beom-dong.
'I should just go get some work done.'
Thinking that, I started walking.
******************
The place I headed straight to was the Baihua Trading Company.
Specifically, the Company Head's room located on the highest floor.
"You're here."
"Yes."
As I entered the room, Madam Mi came into view.
Madam Mi, as always, was looking at the letters piled high on her desk.
Among the thick stack of letters, a single flower caught my eye.
It seemed to be the flower I had gifted her before going to the North Sea.
'It hasn't withered yet?'
A flower's lifespan shouldn't be that long, so it was quite wondrous that it remained so vivid.
*Shrak.*
The sound of Madam Mi turning the letters filled the room.
That sight reminded me of Murong Hui-a, whom I had seen last time.
I heard she's learning the work under Madam Mi; is she growing to resemble her?
'Should I call that good or bad?'
It felt somewhat subtle.
Like that, around the time I was looking at Madam Mi with a strange look.
"I heard there was an incident."
"..."
At Madam Mi's words, I had to smile awkwardly.
Oh boy.
'She already heard about it.'
She was probably referring to the episode of Beom-dong visiting me this morning.
I came straight here after finishing that, but to think Madam Mi already knew.
"...It was nothing major."
When I said that sheepishly, Madam Mi's gaze, which had been on the letters, turned to me.
"The Alliance's Squad Leader came looking for you, and you say it's nothing major?"
I gulped at her somewhat stern gaze.
Even with my increased cultivation realm, my father's gaze or Madam Mi's eyes were strangely hard to endure.
"I am aware the Alliance is keeping an eye on the trading company. But the fact that they sought you out instead of me... Could it be because of the friction with the Branch Head last time?"
"..."
I opened my eyes slightly at Madam Mi's words.
She even knew about that?
"No, well... I resolved it well."
Unable to flat out say no, I spoke evasively.
'It's not a lie, so it should be fine, right? I did resolve it.'
At my words, Madam Mi quietly stared into my eyes.
The gaze was burdensome and I wanted to avoid it, but I forced myself to endure it.
A brief silence brushed by like that.
"Would it be fine if I get rid of them for you?"
"...Pardon?"
I had to give a dumbfounded answer to the words Madam Mi softly let out.
Get rid of them for me?
"Get rid of what?"
"If you wish for it, just say so."
"No..."
I kept hesitating as I tried to speak.
Because I felt like I knew what Madam Mi was offering to get rid of.
'If I ask her to get rid of them, does it mean she can?'
I know Madam Mi said it meaning she would get rid of the Flying Dragon Squad for me.
No matter how Baihua Trading Company is one of the top places in the Central Plains, I wondered if they could get rid of one of the Alliance's Sword Squads...
But leaving that aside.
"I'm fine. I can handle it myself."
Even if that were possible, I had no intention of receiving Madam Mi's help.
I will handle it myself.
I decided to do so from the beginning, and this is no different.
Hearing my answer, Madam Mi nodded slightly.
"I understand."
It was an attitude saying she wouldn't ask twice.
Then she immediately withdrew her gaze and only looked at the letters. I thought she was as sharp as ever.
It didn't matter much to me either, since this wasn't the main reason I came to see Madam Mi.
"There is something I wish to ask."
"Go ahead and ask."
"Is something the matter with the Family Head?"
*Halt.*
At my question, Madam Mi stopped looking at the letters and sent her gaze back to me.
"I believe he sent you a separate letter."
"Yes, I did see it, but..."
Madam Mi did hand me the letter containing my father's message, but...
'Something is bothering me.'
It rubbed me the wrong way for some reason.
Even though it was clearly written in my father's handwriting and tone.
"I was wondering if something had happened."
"..."
Madam Mi's gaze changed subtly upon hearing my question.
I could tell hesitation flickered in her pupils.
That alone was enough to know something had indeed happened.
So I waited for her answer, and...
"I have considered it, but... I still cannot tell you yet."
A disappointing answer came from Madam Mi's lips.
Just as I thought I'd have to swallow my disappointment...
"You have yet to inherit the duties of the Family. It cannot be helped."
"...!"
At the following words, my eyes instantly turned cold.
"I understand."
As I concluded, I quickly turned my head.
Because I was able to extract a lot of information from Madam Mi's words just now.
'She cannot tell me yet.'
To be exact, the duties of the Family.
It meant she couldn't tell me, who hadn't inherited the position of the Young Family Head.
Those words meant...
'The Young Family Head can hear it, and that an incident of that magnitude has occurred to Father.'
Moreover, since she was in no position to blurt this out carelessly, Madam Mi must have deliberately spoken in circles.
If it were Madam Mi, she would never have made such a slip of the tongue, so it was right to assume she intentionally gave me this information.
"...Thank you."
I bowed to Madam Mi. In response, she also nodded lightly.
It meant my thoughts were correct.
'...So, it seems something has happened to Father.'
I know the family's incident is delayed in blowing up, but...
'This is ambiguous.'
It's ambiguous to look into the matter.
It was also ambiguous to intervene. As Madam Mi said, I hadn't inherited the duties yet.
'It means I just have to wait for now.'
If this was the case, it seemed better to just go find Gu Hui-bi.
'I need to ask about Grandfather too.'
Also, I couldn't keep using people to monitor Cheonma forever.
'...He said he noticed long ago too. I suppose I must go.'
'Tch.'
Nothing ever goes smoothly.
That's my life for you.
Feeling a lingering discomfort, I spoke to Madam Mi.
"Since the important business is concluded, I will take my leave now."
"Where do you plan to go now?"
Those words came just as I was about to leave after bowing.
"I will likely be heading toward the Alliance."
"The Wulin Alliance..."
Hearing my destination, Madam Mi added.
"Then, it seems you plan to go today."
Hearing her words, I scratched my cheek.
She seemed to have figured out the reason for my visit just by hearing the destination.
She's so hard to talk to. This is why smart people are uncomfortable to be around.
Especially smart people you can't even hit are the most difficult.
"...If I go in a few days, there will be too many people, and it'll be annoying."
"Alright, have a safe trip."
"...Yes."
With that answer, I truly stepped out the door.
Now it was time to slowly head out.
Since my business was done, I walked straight ahead.
I left the trading company and moved toward the Wulin Alliance.
The reason I was heading there was exactly as Madam Mi guessed.
'The timing is about right.'
A particularly bustling street.
The road leading to the Alliance was packed with far more people than usual.
The reason for the crowd was none other than this.
With less than ten days left until the Martial Tournament, today was the very first day to apply for participation.
Thanks to that, there were significantly more martial artists than usual.
And the crowd who came to see such martial artists was even larger.
Moreover.
'It'll probably explode even more than this in five days.'
This much because it's the first day, but in five days, it will be even more packed.
That was also the last day for applications... and furthermore.
'All the prestigious families and clans will show up that day.'
It was also the period when all the renowned martial artists gathered.
It would be convenient to finish it on the first day, but the guys from prestigious families and clans will definitely try to come on the last day.
The reason being.
'They'll think it's beneath them to come on the first day.'
Didn't they say the main character appears last?
They will try to come late on the excuse of preserving their status and face.
Not wanting to go on the first day for fear of looking like they were eagerly anticipating this mere Martial Tournament.
The middle is ambiguous, and since everyone gathers on the last day to show off their majestic appearance, they can't be left out either.
So, they will obviously do the same.
'Politics and face... Tch.'
Why do they live so exhaustingly?
They could just live a little more casually.
'I'm better off having it easy thanks to them, though.'
Thinking about the packed crowd, it was better to finish it quickly while those guys were doing their thing.
That's why I made time to come here from the first day.
As I walked slowly through the people, I soon arrived at my destination.
I couldn't enter the headquarters of the Wulin Alliance. Only the entrance in front of it was open.
Originally, they wouldn't even open that, but they only opened it today because they had to receive applications.
"Please line up properly!"
The sound was heard as soon as I entered.
A martial artist from the Wulin Alliance was struggling to maintain order among the crowd, and inside, the murmurs of martial artists from other affiliations could be heard.
"...Isn't that guy Xianqian Wuguangjian?"
"What!? Isn't he that famous young expert in the Central Plains lately!"
It was a name I'd never heard before.
Xianqian what...?
'That's a damn long epithet.'
Why use more than five characters, making it so hard to remember.
"No, how did a righteous hero who only recently operated in the Qinghai region come all the way here?"
"He must have thought Qinghai was too small to contain him. It must be his intention to spread his name further."
"I see... As expected of Xianqian Wuguangjian. I heard he easily surpassed the Absolute Realm at the age of twenty..."
"What...!? If that is true... that is truly an incredible feat."
The person himself didn't seem to be saying anything, but the crowd was making a huge fuss among themselves.
This is why I hate crowded places.
"That man! Don't tell me it's Meibo Zhengshejian, who rules over Sichuan!?"
"Look next to him, it's Fenglin Weitanquan!"
With every step, all sorts of epithets could be heard from all directions.
The reactions every time a name was mentioned were quite significant, so they seemed to be famous martial artists that only I didn't know.
'...I thought I'd been keeping up with worldly affairs lately.'
It was full of people I'd never heard of, not just now but in my past life.
It made me wonder if I really had that little interest in martial artists.
'Well, considering they gather all those martial artists and even rank them.'
Even the talk of the Top 100 Masters or Top 10 Masters were rumors created because others were interested in them.
It was probably strange that I didn't know.
"And that guy is...!"
"Next to the one next to him!"
I ignored the continuous gasps of surprise and moved forward.
I could feel the reactions getting hotter and hotter.
I should finish this quickly and go train.
'This should be the place.'
Fortunately, I found a short line and slipped into place.
Despite the large crowd, there weren't many lines.
The reason was simple.
Most of them were spectators, and the martial artists wanting to participate were far fewer.
'You can't even apply without a recommendation letter in the first place, so it can't be helped.'
This Martial Tournament required a recommendation letter sent by the Alliance to participate.
In other words, it meant you had to have a certain level of fame to do so.
'That means famous martial artists recognized by the Alliance will come, and the crowd gathers to watch them.'
It seemed like they designed it well to draw people in.
Anyway, the Wulin Alliance seemed to be good at making things like this.
"Next!"
There were several lines, and since it was the first day, people moved quickly and it was my turn.
I quickly approached the receptionist and handed over the letter I had in my embrace.
The receptionist received the letter with an utterly exhausted expression and opened it.
"...The Gu Clan's... Huh?"
After reading the letter, his eyes widened considerably.
Seeing that, I frowned.
'Uh, this isn't good.'
A bad premonition flashed through my mind.
"Could it be, L-Little Yan."
Sure enough.
The moment the receptionist was about to spit out 'that' to fuck me over.
"It's the Shenlong!"
A shout from somewhere buried his voice.
"Shenlong? Shenlong? You mean Shaolin's genius is here?"
At the shout, the crowd began to buzz.
I was no exception.
Shenlong? Could it be that guy I know?
'That bald monk came on the first day instead of five days later?'
If it were Shaolin, I thought they would definitely come on the last day, so how did they arrive so early?
My gaze, filled with such questions, turned to one side.
"Hey, it's not the Shenlong!"
Someone started pointing it out to the person who first shouted.
"You have to be precise. That person is the former Shenlong!"
'Hmm?'
Hearing that, I had to tilt my head.
Former Shenlong?
'If it's the previous Shenlong...?'
If it's the person who held the position of Shenlong before the current one of Shaolin, as far as I know, there is only one.
As my gaze shifted, a familiar figure finally caught my eye.
An appearance as if painted black from head to toe.
A young man could be seen, wearing the dao sword that symbolized his martial arts at his waist.
The rough diamond who would later be called the Dao Di and establish himself as one of the top experts of the Central Plains.
The former Shenlong.
Peng Wuzhen of the Peng Clan was there.
'No, why is that guy already here?'
Confirming it was Peng Wuzhen, I flicked my head.
It's a face I haven't seen in a while, but to think I'd run into him here.
As I watched that place with a strange expression, Peng Wuzhen seemed to have noticed me, and he also sent his gaze towards me.
Soon, our eyes met.
At that moment.
"Oh."
Peng Wuzhen reacted.
"Who is this!!"
And that too, with an incredibly loud voice.
"Wai..."
"The pride of the Shanxi Gu Clan-! Isn't it Young Master Gu Yang-cheon!! Hahaha!!!"
"..."
Fuck.