At the northwestern edge of the Central Plains, there were two mountain ranges that had long served as sturdy shields, protecting against foreign invasions.

The Kunlun of Qinghai, and the Qilian of Gansu.

Those two places had been treated as very important regions not only by the government but also by the Central Plains.

Because beyond the mountain ranges, there was a huge snake that had been coiling and flicking its tongue towards the Central Plains.

It was none other than the Demonic Cult, which was called the source of all demons and had made the Central Plains restless with large and small disturbances once every generation.

However, as Kunlun, which was called the origin of the Central Plains' Taoist sects, sat on the mountain peak with sharp eyes and guarded, the gate of Qinghai was always strong, and Gansu had a narrow pass, so if one guarded the path, one could not come and go recklessly, and thanks to that, the Central Plains had been peaceful for several generations.

* * *

The entrance of Qilian, Jiuquan.

"Indeed, it's worthy of being called the shield of the northwest."

As Yoo Seongyeon, who was entering the village, stopped and marveled at the mountain range that stretched long from east to west like a folding screen with his mouth agape, Baekta smirked.

Was Yoo Seongyeon the only one who was surprised?

Among the people living in the Central Plains, there would be almost no one who had climbed Qilian.

So it was the same for Byeon Gil-tae, who had come along as part of the group, and the other two descendants of the Eight Immortals, who had followed with lingering doubts about Cheonyeong, not being able to take their eyes off the magnificent view of Qilian.

"Ah, this is your first time, isn't it?"

"Yes, it's truly a magnificent view. The place where it touches the ground is green, and the place where it touches the sky is covered in snow… It's as if clouds have settled thickly on the mountains."

"Heh, as expected of a Taoist, your expression is quite plausible. But your impression will be different once you go in there."

"Pardon? Different?"

When Yoo Seongyeon tilted his head, Baekta looked around as if explaining to everyone and said.

"That's how Qilian is. It's a magnificent view from afar. But inside, there are numerous dangers lurking."

"Dangers, you say?"

"What do you think the environment of a place that people don't visit is like?"

"Hmm, well…"

"Do you know the saying, 'one mountain has four seasons, and the climate is different every ten li'?"

"One mountain has four seasons, and the climate is different every ten li?"

"Yes, that's how Yunnan is often described."

"…"

"But the place where that saying truly fits is right there."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Because the season is different for each ridge there. The lower ridge is like a spring full of sunlight, but as you go up, the severe cold gets stronger. Is that all? It rains, then it snows, the weather is a mess."

Yoo Seongyeon's eyes widened as if it were amazing.

"Is that so?"

"But what's truly scary is not the season, but the extremely rugged terrain, and the numerous beasts hidden in the deep mountains and valleys."

"Beasts? How can such insignificant creatures be a danger…"

"Who said it was those beasts?"

"Pardon?"

"Did you forget where is beyond Qilian?"

"…"

"The Demonic Cult."

"Ah! Then the beasts you mentioned are?"

"Yes, the remnants of the Demonic Cult. From ancient times, Qilian was a place where wars frequently occurred. And the place where countless men who had fallen into demonic nature and crossed over to the Central Plains hid is right there in Qilian. This place is different from Qinghai, where Kunlun glares with fierce eyes and immediately executes them upon discovery. There are quite a few places to hide."

"Hmm."

At Baekta's words, Yoo Seongyeon nodded as if he understood.

Deep mountains and valleys, overlapping mountains.

Since human footsteps did not reach that remote and secluded place where mountains overlapped, there was no way of knowing what lived there.

"Those Jingagu bastards, they chose a perfect place to hide. Yes, in a way, it was Qilian from the beginning. That's why the entire Central Plains couldn't find them even after searching so much."

Baekta, who was looking at Qilian with Yoo Seongyeon, frowned and glanced at Cheonyeong.

A little distance away.

Cheonyeong was looking at the high mountain range of Qilian with Gwi-su No Gwanyeong.

"It seems the Lord is not surprised."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, it must be your first time in Qilian, but you look as familiar as if you've come out to your front yard."

At No Gwanyeong's words, a cold smile appeared on Cheonyeong's lips.

That was exactly right.

It was familiar.

When he saw Qilian, where the ridges were entangled and drew a dizzying line, his body trembled.

Memories that hadn't come to mind when he heard the name Qilian filled his head.

Although he had only just reached the entrance, he was instantly certain.

That's the place.

In his past life, when his life as an assassin first began, Cheonyeong didn't know where he was in the Central Plains.

The mountain reflected in the eyes of a thirteen-year-old boy was endless no matter how far he went, and it was new with every training.

The sheer cliffs were the graves of those who climbed, and the snakes and poisonous insects lurking in the valleys that were dug deep into the ground were like a fragment of hell.

He had died there.

Countless children who had trained together.

And he was born there.

Countless assassins who had endured the training.

They left this place and headed for the Central Plains, and had to live without knowing where their hometown was.

But now he knew.

The hair on his whole body was already standing on end.

The thick smell of death vibrated to the point where his nose tingled.

Somewhere in that deep mountain, the headquarters of the Jingagu must be.

Now it begins.

It was just that he had barely caught a clue.

He had to secretly find them in that mountain range, which was as vast and deep as the open sea.

"Myeongseon."

"Yeah?"

"What about the wildcats?"

"I sent them beyond the Qilian Mountains as you asked."

"The holes that the bastards might escape through?"

"Holes? What on earth do you think the wildcats' surveillance network is?"

"…"

"Don't worry, at your request, I asked Elder Hyeolgu to mobilize not only the wildcats but also all the forces of the Beggars' Sect in Gansu, Qinghai, and Shaanxi."

"All of them?"

"Ah, of course, to the extent that they won't be noticed."

"That's a relief."

Since Baekta was confident, there was no need to doubt.

Although he looked lacking in his eyes, wasn't Baekta a man who had been appointed as the successor of the Beggars' Sect and was practically the next Sect Leader?

Since he said they wouldn't be noticed, he must have handled it secretly, and since he said there were no holes, he must have set up a watertight surveillance network.

"Just in case, I also asked for the cooperation of the Cheongcheon Alliance's mountain peak surveillance team. The wildcats probably also made a request to the government offices, so even if there are some who escape, it won't be easy for them to get out."

"Hmm."

At Baekta's words, Cheonyeong nodded.

How could people guard all of that vast Qilian?

So, the Cheongcheon Alliance had created bases all over the Qilian Mountains.

It was a place to monitor the movements of the Demonic Cult.

According to Baekta, it was said that on a clear day, you could see as far as the sand desert of Dunhuang, so the location selection was clearly extraordinary.

But the Jingagu had avoided their eyes.

In a place that the mountain peak surveillance team's surveillance network did not reach, in one of those places, was the main building of the Jingagu.

"But Cheonyeong."

"Why?"

"Was it really necessary to have the wildcats guard the northern path?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, wouldn't it have been better to mobilize them to search Qilian instead?"

At Baekta's words, Cheonyeong nodded.

Of course, that was true.

The wildcats were men who had outstanding abilities in searching, regardless of day or night.

They would surely be helpful in finding the Jingagu.

But Qilian, as Baekta had told Yoo Seongyeon, had far more places that people hadn't been to than places they had.

It was something to acknowledge that the wildcats' abilities were outstanding, but to think that their abilities could be fully displayed in an environment they had never encountered before was too optimistic.

At Baekta's grumbling, Cheonyeong, who smiled faintly, said.

"It would be nice if the wildcats helped. But the men staying at the Jingagu's headquarters are more cunning than snakes and have senses more agile than a beast's instinct. If a search begins, they will surely check, and if they realize it's the Beggars' Sect's blades, they will surely disappear."

"I'm not unaware of beating the grass to startle the snake, but to search this vast Qilian by ourselves…"

"Who said we're searching by ourselves?"

"Huh?"

"There are already enough people to search without being suspected by them."

At Cheonyeong's words, Baekta tilted his head.

Gwi-su and Yoo Seongyeon also looked at Cheonyeong with puzzled expressions.

What on earth was he thinking?

But Cheonyeong didn't explain and said with a smile.

"Let's eat first. We've come a long way, so I'll tell you the plan slowly while having a drink."

"Gosh, you're as sly as a hundred-year-old serpent. That personality seems to have gotten worse after eating the precious blood of the Ten Thousand Gong Baek."

"Is that so?"

"Of course. Sometimes I feel like I want to open up your head and see."

"Then why don't you try?"

"Tch, as if I could. From what I hear, not only the Three Western Sovereigns but even the Sword Emperor seems to acknowledge you. By the way, how much stronger have you gotten?"

"Want to test it?"

As Cheonyeong looked at him with a smile, Baekta, who had been staring blankly, shook his head.

"Test what? I don't want to die early. My life goal is to live a long and thin life."

"Heh."

At Baekta's joke, Cheonyeong laughed like a playful child.

* * *

Since they had brought plenty of money and were going to have a secret conversation, Cheonyeong's group rented out the entire inn and sat at two separate tables.

While the food was being prepared, Baekta asked Cheonyeong.

"Now tell me. What's your plan?"

"Without even eating?"

"Hey! Look at people's faces. They all look like they're dying of curiosity."

"Hmm, alright."

Cheonyeong, who smiled faintly, revealed the plan he had formulated in his head.

"First, I'm going to spread a rumor."

"A rumor?"

"Yes, it's a method I thought of when I went to Anhui last time."

"Are you talking about the Ten Thousand Gong Baek?"

"Yeah."

When Cheonyeong nodded, Baekta, who had been thinking for a moment, had his eyes flash open and burst out laughing.

"Haha! Look at this sly bastard! You're planning to use the ginseng diggers, aren't you?"

At Baekta's words, Cheonyeong nodded.

This quick-witted fellow.

It seemed the successor was indeed a successor.

The others were still full of questions, but to think he had figured out his intention with just a few words.

"It wouldn't be bad. The ginseng diggers would know the terrain of the Qilian Mountains better than anyone."

"Yes. The ones who have lived with Qilian as their home would be better at searching than the wildcats who have come here for the first time in their lives."

"Good. Then the rumor? A spiritual herb?"

"Just a spiritual herb? There has to be a spiritual beast too."

"The hunters will go crazy too."

"That's right. If that happens, we can avoid their suspicion, and the search will be easier."

As the two exchanged words, the rest of them looked more and more clueless.

"Lord, can't you explain it easily? I don't understand what you're talking about at all…"

"Ah, I'm sorry. I was about to explain, but Myeongseon suddenly cut in."

When Gwi-su asked awkwardly, Cheonyeong said apologetically.

"We're going to spread a story about a spiritual beast and a spiritual herb around the Qilian Mountains."

"And then?"

"Not a monster like the Ten Thousand Gong Baek, but a creature that anyone can catch. If that's the case, all the ginseng diggers and hunters who have lived in the Qilian Mountains will rush in with their eyes on fire."

"Hmm, so you're making them search naturally?"

"Yes, with that method, even the Jingagu bastards won't be able to harbor any suspicion."

"That's right. Because it's just human greed."

"That's right."

"It's a good idea."

Gwi-su nodded, and the reactions of the others were no different.

"Hmm, but there seems to be a problem."

"Hm?"

"Spreading a rumor and mobilizing the ginseng diggers and hunters is one thing. But what we actually need to find is not a spiritual herb or a spiritual beast, so how are you going to make them listen to our words?"

When Baekta pointed out the flaw in the plan, everyone looked at Cheonyeong again.

Of course, he had thought of that too.

"Of course, we have to spread one more rumor. So that the ginseng diggers and hunters will come to us." 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Cheonyeong smiled sinisterly, and Baekta's expression, who felt curious along with the others, contorted.

This bastard… just say it all at once.

Why was he dawdling so much? If he were rice, he would be not just cooked, but burned.

(End of Chapter)