"So you're saying the Murim Alliance invited Cheonhwi and me to verify the truth of the rumor?"
Hyeondo's brows furrowed deeply.
He had rushed all the way to Jahak Pavilion at the Sect Leader's summons, so what was this about?
An invitation from the Murim Alliance?
Irritation flared up spontaneously.
"Are you saying they're inviting us now?"
He revealed his displeasure as he spoke.
What kind of existence was the current Murim Alliance to him?
It was the target of his deep hatred for ignoring the vengeance for his youngest martial brother and disciples.
"When our sect asked for help, they kept ignoring us."
Hyeondo's words, as his fierce expression darkened further, were far from polite.
They hadn't visited even once recently, but the moment the rumor of destroying the White Ghost Sect spread, they came rushing over.
It made him sick.
"So did you accept?"
"I called you to hear your opinion."
"My opinion?"
Hyeondo was taken aback.
He had shown his displeasure, but he thought the Sect Leader would tell him to go to the Murim Alliance.
No matter what, it was the Murim Alliance.
"But is it really okay? The condition is that if the Four Black Lotuses bare their fangs this time, the Alliance will move together with us..."
The Murim Alliance's offer was unprecedented.
The Alliance had even sent an edict stating they would not sit idly by and would help if the Four Black Lotuses picked a fight over the annihilation of the White Ghost Sect this time.
It was exactly the offer they needed at a time when they were anxious about the Four Black Lotuses' retaliation.
However.
"It's fine. It's quite a tempting offer, but if you don't want to go, there's no need to."
The Sect Leader respected Hyeondo's opinion.
"So do as you please."
"But to receive the Alliance's help..."
"Have we ever received the Alliance's help recently?"
Hyeondo's words were stuck in his throat.
The Sect Leader's gaze warmed.
"So there's no need to worry. Besides, now that they've confirmed we annihilated the White Ghost Sect, even if we refuse, the Murim Alliance won't be able to press us further. Rather, they'll be anxious that we might leave the Alliance."
"...Haa."
Letting out a deep sigh, Hyeondo rubbed his forehead as if his head was aching.
It was good that his Sect Leader Senior Brother believed in him.
But because of that, it also became a burden.
"Still, isn't it too big of an offer to refuse?"
His instincts told him to refuse, but his reason screamed that he couldn't.
They had now finished preparing to soar.
But the existence of the Four Black Lotuses was a hindrance.
'If it's the Murim Alliance's support...'
His stomach churned.
Even for the future of the Huashan Sect, the Murim Alliance's offer was too attractive.
Thinking deeply, Hyeondo shook his head before struggling to speak.
"...I will accept the invitation."
"Are you sure it's okay even so?"
"The past is the past. Now is the time to think about the future."
"I'm sorry."
The Sect Leader closed his eyes quietly.
He had given him a choice, but he knew what choice Hyeondo would make.
"Not at all. But what about Cheonhwi..."
"Why did you call me?"
They say speaking of the tiger brings the tiger.
At the sudden sound of Cheonhwi's voice, both of their heads turned.
Cheonhwi was sitting in the chair that was empty just a moment ago.
"You're here?"
"You came."
The Sect Leader and Hyeondo didn't startle or flinch seeing Cheonhwi appear instantly without a trace.
It was because they were already used to it after experiencing it several times.
"There is something to discuss."
Meeting Cheonhwi's eyes, the Sect Leader explained the deal he had made with Seolgeom.
"Hmm, so the Murim Alliance is inviting me and Fourth Senior Brother."
"To sum it up, yes."
Cheonhwi stroked his chin.
'The Murim Alliance...'
The complexly intertwined conditions written in the letter didn't catch his eye.
Only one phrase: the Murim Alliance.
That phrase stimulated his interest.
'Should I go take a look?'
So he made a decision immediately and answered.
"Alright. I'll go to the Murim Alliance too."
"Are you sure it's okay?"
"It works out perfectly. I wanted to see the Murim Alliance once anyway."
"Thank you."
Ten days after the conversation ended.
Two Daoists quietly descended the mountain from the Huashan Sect without anyone noticing.
* * *
Chwarak—
The bamboo blind hanging on the inn's door made a clear sound as it was lifted.
The small beads shook greatly, but failed to attract the attention of the crowded interior.
It was because the inside was incredibly noisy due to the conversations of the customers, the clattering of tableware, and the music coming through the open windows.
"There are a lot of people."
"I wonder if there are any empty seats."
Just as Cheonhwi and Hyeondo, who had entered the bustling inn, were looking around, a bright voice was heard.
"Welcome!"
The waiter, who must have rushed over after dealing with other customers, widened his eyes when he saw Cheonhwi and Hyeondo's attire.
"Ah! You are Daoists of the Huashan Sect!"
Instantly, the noisy inn fell quiet.
"Huashan Sect...?"
"Huashan Sect?"
Hyeondo, seemingly familiar with such reactions from people, opened his mouth nonchalantly.
"Are there any seats left?"
The waiter, flustered by the sudden silence, hurriedly came to his senses and spoke.
"Y-yes!"
"Then please guide us."
"Please follow me."
Cheonhwi and Hyeondo followed the skillfully guiding waiter and sat at an empty table.
"What would you like to have?"
"Noodles, please."
"I'll have the Five-Spice Intestines..."
Cheonhwi swallowed his words mid-sentence.
Glare!
It was because Hyeondo was right in front of him, signaling him with a fierce look.
"Just noodles, please."
"Please wait a moment."
Looking at the waiter leaving after taking their order, Hyeondo spoke to Cheonhwi.
"Good. Just endure it for the duration of the journey."
"Yeah, yeah."
Cheonhwi replied dismissively.
His mouth itched to grab a passing waiter and order something else right away.
But he had to endure it.
Hadn't Hyeondo earnestly requested him several times a day until his ears grew calluses?
It was okay to eat secretly, just don't get caught.
"I've brought the tea."
Another waiter appeared and placed a teapot and teacups in front of them.
Pururuk—
Pouring the tea, Cheonhwi turned his head and looked around the inn.
The inn had become noisy again in no time, but there was a change.
'Is it because we came in? Most of them are talking about the Huashan Sect.'
Cheonhwi's sensitive ears clearly heard the whispering conversations around him.
"...For the Huashan Sect, who had been holed up in Huashan, to come down here, it seems the rumor was true after all."
"Tch! You still don't believe it? If you see the Zhongnan Sect, who used to ignore the Huashan Sect, watching the situation, you can tell right away."
Listening to the conversations, Cheonhwi recalled the day before they left.
'It's the same as the information the Sect Leader gave us.'
Before leaving for the journey, the Sect Leader had informed them of various things.
The Zhongnan Sect had started to be wary of their sect, and even the Flying Heaven Association had begun to show interest in the Huashan Divine Sword.
Both pieces of information were quite surprising, but they couldn't compare to the information about the Four Black Lotuses.
The Six Emperor Gates of the Four Black Lotuses—no, the five great gates that had now become the Five Emperor Gates, were not paying attention to their sect.
Was it the nature of the Evil Sects?
They had started internal fights to take even one of the interests that the annihilated White Ghost Sect had held.
Without caring at all about their sect, which had annihilated the White Ghost Sect.
For the Huashan Sect, which was worried about the Four Black Lotuses' retaliation, it was a blessing in a million.
But they couldn't let their guard down forever.
Because they were an Evil Sect, they didn't know when they might use this incident as an excuse to attack the Huashan Sect.
'That's why he said that to me.'
He recalled the words the Sect Leader had earnestly emphasized before they parted.
—No matter what happens, you must not reveal all of your skills. Hide more than three tenths—no, hide more than seven tenths.
Right now, the eyes of the world were focused not on the Huashan Sect, but on the Huashan Divine Sword, who had defeated the White Snake God—Hyeondo.
At first, most of them found it hard to believe that the White Snake God had been defeated, but once they learned it was Hyeondo, they accepted it one by one.
There was a little doubt, but since he had been called the Huashan First Sword for a long time.
But the reality was different.
What if it became known that it was Cheonhwi, not Hyeondo, who had defeated the White Snake God?
Then the situation would have certainly been quite different.
The Four Black Lotuses, let alone having internal fights, would have immediately pursued the Huashan Sect and tried to kill Cheonhwi, and the Flying Heaven Association would clearly not have just watched like this either.
At that moment, the waiter brought the noodles.
"Please enjoy your meal."
When the noodles were placed on the table, the two picked up their chopsticks and began their meal.
Hururuk—
A quarter of an hour later, the two finished their meal and, guided by the waiter, arrived at their room.
"See you tomorrow then."
"Yeah, see you tomorrow."
Cheonhwi, watching Hyeondo enter his room first, smiled wickedly.
'Then shall I go?'
Entering his room, he opened the closed window.
Unlike the dark sky, seeing the lanterns lighting the streets and the bustling people, he leapt out the window without delay.
Tat!
Stepping on the railing and springing up, he headed west while stepping on the rooftops.
A short while later, he arrived at a building.
'Is this the place?'
While looking at the signboard that read 'Ilsim Merchant Group (一心商團)', a guard watching the gate approached.
'Hmm? A Daoist? That Daoist robe...!'
The guard quickly scanned Cheonhwi up and down, his eyes gleaming.
"For what business has a Daoist of the Huashan Sect come to our merchant group?"
"I came to get some money."
The guard asked again politely.
"Are you here to make a trade?"
"No."
Cheonhwi rummaged through his sleeve and took out the gold plaque he had received from Merchant Group Head Bipung.
"They told me they'd give me money if I showed this, so I came?"
The guard, who had frowned for a moment, looked at the gold plaque Cheonhwi handed him with a suspicious expression before his eyes widened.
"Gasp!"
Looking at the gold plaque with trembling eyes, the guard hurriedly bowed his head.
"I-I will report to the Merchant Group Head."
The guard threw the door open and disappeared inside.
'Hmm? Was it a much better thing than I thought?'
Cheonhwi scanned the gold plaque.
Other than being made of gold, the plaque had no other special features.
But seeing the guard's reaction just now, it probably wasn't an ordinary gold plaque.
'I'll find out later anyway.'
He brushed it off lightly.
To him, the gold plaque was just a means to get money anyway.
Putting the gold plaque back into his sleeve, he waited briefly before the guard came out.
"He says please come inside."
A moment later, guided by the guard, Cheonhwi entered a room.
"You have come."
The plump Merchant Group Head, who had been sitting in a chair, rushed over.
"I am Son Mu, the Merchant Group Head of the Ilsim Merchant Group."
The Merchant Group Head, who bowed politely, opened his mouth in a careful tone.
"E-excuse me, if you don't mind, may I check the gold plaque?"
"Here you go."
Cheonhwi immediately took out the gold plaque and handed it over.
"Thank you."
The Merchant Group Head, who examined the received gold plaque for a while, nodded his head up and down greatly.
"What do you wish for?"
Cheonhwi said as he received the gold plaque back.
"Money."
"Money?"
Instantly, the Merchant Group Head's heart pounded.
It was because the other party was the owner of the gold plaque that the World Merchant Union gave only to a select few.
For the Ilsim Merchant Group, which had not yet made a big name for itself, they couldn't refuse whatever he proposed.
Even if he asked them to procure some rare elixir.
'I don't have much gold yuanbao right now...'
Cold sweat flowed, dampening his back.
Of all times, he had used quite a lot of gold yuanbao for a large transaction recently.
Gulp. "H-how much do you want?"
Cheonhwi rubbed his chin.
He had only thought about getting money, but hadn't thought about how much to receive.
When had he ever received and used money?
During his days as the Absolute Heavenly Demon, his subordinates took care of it, so he didn't pay attention.
And now, since he had been holed up in the Huashan Sect, he didn't even know the value of money.
'How much did Jeokgeom spend last time?'
Cheonhwi recalled the money Jeokgeom had calculated during his journey into the murim and spoke.
"About ten taels of silver?"
"W-what? Ten taels?"
The Merchant Group Head asked back in bewilderment.
'Just ten taels of silver?'
Of course, ten taels of silver was also a large sum of money.
Since one tael of silver was equivalent to the living expenses for a family of four for a month.
But it was woefully insufficient for the amount the owner of the gold plaque would want.
The Merchant Group Head glanced at Cheonhwi.
But there was no change in his expression.
'Thank goodness!'
Wiping his chest in relief, he smiled.
"Then I will prepare ten taels of silver."
Cheonhwi nodded, then paused.
"Ah! And is there a famous inn around here?"
"What kind of place are you looking for? A place that serves Hubei cuisine, or..."
"If possible, a place that cooks meat well and also sells fine wine."
"Pardon?"
Thinking he had misheard, the Merchant Group Head dug in his ear and let out a dry cough.
"Cough, I'm sorry. Perhaps I'm tired, I must have heard things. A young Daoist saying alcohol..."
"No. You heard correctly."
The Merchant Group Head's eyes rounded.
He was a Daoist of the Huashan Sect asking for meat and alcohol, a situation that was completely incomprehensible with his common sense.
"I-is that okay? No matter how close the Huashan Sect is to the secular world, meat and alcohol are forbidden in Daoism..."
"Ah!"
Cheonhwi looked down at his Daoist robes.
"You have clothes in the merchant group, right?"
"Well, yes..."
"Then please give me one."
"Clothes?"
Cheonhwi nodded.
"I just have to take off the Daoist robes. Then who would know if I'm a Daoist or not? Right?"
Cheonhwi met the Merchant Group Head's eyes.
"Even if they know, only you and I will know. Right?"
The Merchant Group Head was dumbfounded.
When had he ever heard a Daoist confidently say he would break the rules?
Then, a sudden chill ran down his spine.
The words he spat out at the end.
'The fact that only the two of us know...'
His Adam's apple bobbed greatly.
It was a warning not to let anyone know he was going to an inn.
"T-that's right."
Agreeing, the Merchant Group Head wiped the sweat from his forehead, not knowing when he had sweated it.
He had to pretend not to know even if he did.
'Still, as a merchant, he understands quickly.'
Cheonhwi looked at the Merchant Group Head, who understood his words, with a satisfied expression and said.
"So which inn would be good?"