“Phew… phew… little brother… you’re late.”

Beomgang, covered in blood, and the masked martial artists facing him.

Jin Sohyun, who was watching them, tilted his head and asked.

“Miss Cheon?”

At Jin Sohyun’s call, the person in black who was wearing a mask took it off.

At the appearance of the beautiful woman that was revealed, Beomgang, who had been dying just a moment ago, opened his eyes wide.

“No, this can’t be! Such a great beauty!”

“Young Master Jin?”

The one who was surprised was Cheon Yerang as well.

Moyong Susu and Oh Seolhwa, who were standing with her, also took off their masks and stepped forward.

“Young Master Jin!”

Moyong Susu and Oh Seolhwa approached with a full smile and looked Jin Sohyun over here and there, saying.

“Are you okay?”

“It’s a relief that you don’t seem to have any trouble moving!”

“I’m fine.”

Jin Sohyun, who had revealed his well-being by spreading his hands, finally seemed to understand how the situation was unfolding.

“Could it be that you guys are the ones attacking the Hao Sect’s branches?”

“Huh? H-how did you know?”

“Are you attacking the other branches as well?”

“That’s right. But how do you know that, Young Master Jin?”

As Moyong Susu asked in wonder, Jin Sohyun scratched his head and then shrugged his shoulders.

Jin Sohyun, who had answered a question with a question, moved his gaze toward the Cheonhwagak.

“It seems the master has come too.”

***

The damage to the Hao Sect’s Honggang branch was almost nonexistent.

Because as soon as the surprise attack began, everyone belonging to the branch had declared their surrender.

A situation that no one had expected.

Beomgang, who had confronted the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple disciples who had come to attack the branch, could be said to be the only victim.

“Somehow… we were also puzzled.”

Gwak Myeong, seeing Cheon Yerang and the other disciples, who should have been fighting Beomgang, appear with Jin Sohyun, came to understand the whole situation.

“So that person is the Honggang branch manager of the Hao Sect?”

“I-I am called the Red-Faced Lord.”

Jeokmyeon trembled as he looked at Gwak Myeong, Gu Jucheol, Song Gang, and Tang Hocheol, who were glaring at him.

‘Wave-Breaking Sword, Ghost-Faced Revolutionary Sword, White-Handed Golden Palm, Poisonous Tiger Hand…’

The renowned masters of the righteous martial world were gathered in one place.

Moreover, the Ghost-Faced Revolutionary Sword, Gu Jucheol, was one of the Seven Evils who had once been called the greatest evil lord of the heretic path.

He was a transcendent master whose very existence made one’s legs tremble.

“Are you okay?”

At Gwak Myeong’s question, Jin Sohyun nodded his head.

“You rascal! If you were okay, you should have returned to the temple immediately!”

As Tang Hocheol shouted, Song U raised his hand and stopped him.

“Wouldn’t Young Master Jin have had his own circumstances? Didn’t the Heretic Path's Alliance actually attack the Jin Clan, aiming for Young Master Jin?”

“Ahem! Still, if the Martial Alliance helped…”

“Enough.”

At Gu Jucheol’s heavy voice, Tang Hocheol coughed and stepped back.

Gu Jucheol approached Jin Sohyun with slow steps and placed his hand on his shoulder.

“It’s good that you’re safe.”

“Thank you.”

Jin Sohyun, who had finished greeting the masters of the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple, briefly explained what had happened so far.

And through him, they heard about Bieunggaek’s death, that he was Jin Sohyun’s master, and how he had died.

Throughout the story, the faces of the four masters were very heavy.

“The burden that Great Master Bi was carrying was quite heavy.”

“Thanks to his sacrifice, we were able to find and attack the branches of the Hao Sect.”

While the Martial Alliance directly raised its flag and launched a surprise attack on the heretic martial arts sects belonging to the heretic path to draw attention, the late-stage prospects selected from each of the Four Daoist Daoist Temples formed teams and attacked each branch.

For the temples that lacked strength, the branch managers of the Martial Alliance lent their strength.

As a result, they inflicted irreparable damage on at least ten large and small Hao Sect branches throughout the Central Plains.

“This alone won’t be enough to destroy the Hao Sect, but for the time being, they will have to focus on recovery, and the information network they were proud of will have become useless.”

The reason the existence of the Hao Sect had not been known until now was that they had shared information through their own unique network from unseen places.

But this time, their unique network had become a poison.

“With this, we should be able to restrict the movements of the Heretic Path's Alliance.”

Jin Sohyun, who had nodded his head, moved his gaze to Eumyu, who was standing there, unable to run away or fight back, and to Ok Myeon, who was lying down below him.

At that, the gazes of the others also turned to Ok Myeon.

“Is that the person called Ok Myeon?”

“Yes. He is the one who caused my master’s death.”

“And yet you managed to keep him alive.”

“Ok Myeon is the first branch manager of the Hao Sect. There is a high possibility that he knows secrets that we are not aware of. However, according to Jeokmyeon, his loyalty to the Hao Sect is extraordinary, so if he finds out that he has been captured, he will immediately commit suicide.”

“Hmm.”

As Gwak Myeong approached, Eumyu placed his hand on his twin swords.

“Don’t come any closer.”

“I have no intention of killing your master, so step back.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Is that so?”

Gwak Myeong’s sword struck Eumyu hard.

Eumyu, who hadn't even seen the sword being drawn, was hit on the face with the side of the sword and collapsed.

Gwak Myeong, who had subdued Eumyu with a single sword strike, lifted Ok Myeon with one hand.

“Is there no way? Great Master Gu.”

At Gwak Myeong’s question, Gu Jucheol, who had stood up from his seat, approached Ok Myeon.

His mask was taken off, and the face that was revealed was that of an ordinary middle-aged man.

“If you try to make such people submit, they would rather break. Besides, there’s a high possibility that he’s under a strong suggestion.”

“Then is there no way to extract information…”

“It’s safe to say there isn’t.”

Gwak Myeong looked at Jin Sohyun with a pitiful face.

“So it seems.”

“No. It’s not that there’s no way to release the strong suggestion and extract information.”

At Gu Jucheol’s answer, everyone’s gaze turned to him.

“However… for that…”

Gu Jucheol, who was trailing off his words, unlike his usual self, rubbed the back of his neck.

“We have to find that old man.”

***

“Haaah…”

Gu Yong, who was standing in front of the main gate of the Jin Clan, let out a deep sigh as if the ground would collapse.

How on earth should he explain it?

He didn't have the courage to face Jin Sohyun.

Gu Yong, who had been pacing for a long time, finally gathered his courage and held out his fist in front of the main gate.

“I was wondering who it was, but it’s a beggar from the Beggars' Sect.”

At the beautiful voice coming from somewhere, Gu Yong raised his head.

A woman was standing on top of the main gate of the Jin Clan.

“It’s been a long time, Elder Oh.”

“What brings you here?”

“I came because I have something to tell you.”

“Could it be about Great Master Bi?”

“Did you… already know?”

Oh Yoran, who had nodded her head, came down with a gentle movement and opened the main gate for him.

“Come in. It doesn’t seem like a short story.”

“Yes.”

Gu Yong, who had entered the separate building of the Jin Clan with Oh Yoran’s guidance, confessed everything about what had happened between him and Bieunggaek and their deal without holding anything back.

Throughout the story, Oh Yoran’s expression distorted, and in the end, she closed her eyes tightly.

Gu Yong waited in silence for Oh Yoran to compose herself.

And so, after some time had passed, Oh Yoran opened her eyes.

A faint smile filled with longing hung on her lips.

“Hut… Bieunggaek… that person, I don’t know about other things, but I had to admit that he was fast. I thought he would live the longest among us, but he left the earliest… and the farthest.”

“Thanks to his sacrifice, we found the branches of the Hao Sect, and now the Martial Alliance is striking the branches of the Hao Sect. If Great Master Bi hadn’t been there… it’s a huge achievement that we couldn’t have achieved.”

“Did you say your name was Gu Yong?”

“That’s right.”

“Bieunggaek cherished his disciple, Sohyun, terribly.”

“That’s… right.”

“And the Beggars' Sect used that to drive Bieunggaek to his death.”

“…”

“I don’t blame the Beggars' Sect. In any case, all those choices were made by Bieunggaek, and taking responsibility for the consequences of those choices is also Bieunggaek’s… that person’s share. However.”

A heavy pressure was felt from Oh Yoran’s entire body.

“Don’t let his sacrifice be in vain. I won’t forgive that.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“Phew. And you have business with Sohyun?”

“Yes. Should I call it a will… as per Great Master Bi’s wish, I have no intention of involving Young Master Jin in the fight between the righteous and heretic paths.”

The deal between Bieunggaek and the Beggars' Sect was this.

Not to use Jin Sohyun in the war between the Martial Alliance and the Heretic Path's Alliance.

To let him live a lazy, peaceful, and free life as he wished. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

That was the promise that Bieunggaek had obtained by sacrificing his own life.

“The Beggars' Sect will mobilize all its forces to let Young Master Jin live as he wishes…”

“If it’s that, it’s already too late.”

“…What?”

“Sohyun had to see his master’s remains with his own eyes, and he let the people who had killed his master go for the sake of revenge. He swallowed his blood and endured the pain as if his bones were being scraped to endure for a more perfect revenge.”

“…!”

“Now Sohyun has left the hands of his masters. It will only end when he has killed all the people who caused Bieunggaek’s death.”

Oh Yoran let out a sigh with a voice filled with bitterness.

A sense of powerlessness of a master who could not stop her disciple from walking into a death trap was felt from her.

“Since things have come to this, I also want to ask the Beggars' Sect for a favor.”

“Please speak.”

“Never take your eyes off Sohyun. Wherever the path he is trying to walk may be… never let him die.”

The promise that had started with Bieunggaek was now passed on to Oh Yoran.

Gu Yong accepted the promise with a polite bow.

“I will do so.”

Gu Yong, who had exchanged greetings with Oh Yoran and had left the separate building, left the Jin Clan completely.

His shoulders were heavy, and an unbearable fatigue washed over him.

Nevertheless, Gu Yong could not stop.

“It’s a chance that Great Master Bi created with his life. I can’t hesitate like this.”

Yellow-robed beggars ran up to Gu Yong, who was about to set off on the road again.

“Young Leader.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Master Gwak is looking for you, Young Leader. He says it’s an urgent matter.”

“I understand. Where should I go?”

“I will guide you.”

Gu Yong ran without a break with the yellow-robed beggars.

Throughout the run, a sense of anxiety that something might have gone wrong arose in Gu Yong’s mind.

‘Please let there be nothing wrong!’

***

“I’ve sent the news, so he’ll be here soon. So for now, get some rest. Great Master Gu and I will watch over Ok Myeon.”

“Yes. I’ll leave it to you.”

Jin Sohyun, who had entrusted Ok Myeon to the reliable Gwak Myeong and Gu Jucheol, came down from the Cheonru, which had now become their strategic point.

The Cheonhwagak was closed for business under Jeokmyeon’s orders, so the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple disciples were resting in the VIP rooms on each floor.

Jin Sohyun, who was going down the stairs, discovered Beomgang being treated by Moyong Susu.

Despite being covered in wounds, Beomgang was sitting up straight with a flushed face.

“Are you really the disciple of the Fist King?”

“That’s right! I am the one and only disciple of the Fist King.”

“That’s really amazing.”

“No wonder, each and every fist strike was fierce. It was the fist technique of the Fist King.”

“Haha! That’s right!”

Beomgang, surrounded by Moyong Susu and Oh Seolhwa, was smiling but didn't know what to do.

Jin Sohyun left the exhausted Beomgang and went down the stairs again.

“You!”

At that moment, a familiar voice was heard from below the stairs.

Thump-thump-thump—!!

The identity of the man who had run up the stairs in one go was Jong Ryeo'ak.

He pointed a finger at Jin Sohyun’s face and shouted.

“Ahem! You should call me older brother.”

“Ugh!!”

Jong Ryeo'ak, who was venting his anger, barely calmed his anger and asked with a much calmer face.

“Are you okay?”

“No. I feel like I’m going to die from exhaustion. So let’s talk later.”

Jin Sohyun passed by Jong Ryeo'ak with his shoulders drooping.

Jong Ryeo'ak, unlike his usual self, let Jin Sohyun go obediently.

“Just you wait. Soon, you’ll be calling me older brother!”

Of course, he had not forgotten the moment of revenge he had been waiting for for a long time.

“As you wish.”

Jin Sohyun, who had passed by Jong Ryeo'ak with a light wave of his hand, finally came face to face with Cheon Yerang.

“Ah, hello. Huh? I haven’t seen that sword before.”

“It’s the White Heaven Sword.”

“Aah… it suits you well, miss.”

“Young Master Jin.”

“Yes?”

Cheon Yerang took one step up the stairs and then another.

Cheon Yerang, who had approached Jin Sohyun, climbing the stairs at a normal speed, finally got close enough for their breaths to touch.

“Thank you.”

“Wh-what for?”

“At the Four Daoist Assembly. You saved me.”

“Haha… what… do you mean by that.”

“Your eyes.”

“My eyes?”

“Thank you again. You must be tired, so please rest well.”

With these words, Cheon Yerang gently brushed past Jin Sohyun.

For some reason, a clear floral scent seemed to emanate from her.

“My eyes?”

Jin Sohyun touched his own eyes and then scratched his cheek.

“It seems I’ve been found out.”

For some reason, it was an embarrassing night.

(End of Chapter)