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It was a corridor as complex as a maze. Left, right, then left again. It was the kind of corridor that even someone with a good sense of direction couldn’t navigate in one go.

After winding through the maze for a while, a long corridor awaited.

At the end of the gray corridor, where it seemed like something might jump out from the walls opening on both sides at any moment, there was a single room.

When she opened the door and entered, a man was standing with his back turned. Being underground, the room had no windows. The man was looking at a painting hung where a window would have been.

It was a dynamic painting of waves crashing against coastal rocks, creating sea foam. It was a stark contrast to this stuffy room.

“Ma Jeongsu is dead.”

Her tone was as calm as if she were reporting that it was raining outside.

The man’s response was similar.

“How?”

She was reporting Ma Jeongsu’s death, but not to Ma Bong-gi. Nor was this man a member of the Martial Righteous Alliance.

“He died entangled with the Night Merchants of the Shandong region.”

“Did you confirm it yourself?”

“Yes, I saw it with my own eyes. Here’s the detailed report.”

She placed the report she had brought on the table.

The man still didn’t take his eyes off the painting.

“Every time I look at this painting, I wonder. Did the artist paint this sea after seeing it, or did they imagine it? What do you think?”

“I… don’t know.”

Only then did the man turn around. He was in his thirties, but unlike his moment of contemplation while looking at the painting, he gave off an extremely cold impression.

The man was Number One, the leader of this organization. He was also the only person who knew how many numbers there were in this organization and whose orders they received.

Number One slowly read the report.

“Flower Fan Elder and Si-gon who went with him are missing. And there are signs that another successor was involved?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Number One spoke while still looking at the report.

“Stand by until the next order.”

“Yes.”

As she turned to open the door and leave, Number One called her.

“Number Seven.”

“Yes.”

Number One’s tone softened a little.

“Good work.”

But Number Seven’s tone remained stiff.

“Thank you.”

After she left, Number One finished reading the report. After closing the last page, his gaze turned back to the painting behind him.

***

Three hours later, the contents of the report were finally conveyed to Ma Bong-gi, the Martial Righteous Alliance Leader.

The one reporting was Ju Cheol-ryong, the leader of the Bright Moon Regiment.

“Unfortunately, your son, Young Master Ma Jeongsu, has died.”

Ma Bong-gi showed no emotional reaction while hearing about his son’s death.

“Who killed him?”

“It appears to be one of the successors.”

Ju Cheol-ryong didn’t mention anything about the Night Merchants or Shandong Merchant Association.

It was unclear whether he had edited it himself or if he too hadn’t received the related information. It was impossible to know how many hands it had passed through from Number One’s hands until it reached him.

“I think we should send an investigator. We can’t send one from the Alliance level, so send one from the Heavenly Blade Sect.”

Ma Bong-gi nodded.

“I’ll take care of it. Now, what’s the next report?”

That was the end of the conversation about Ma Jeongsu’s death. If the dead Ma Jeongsu could see this conversation from hell, he would be hitting the ground in anger.

“Public opinion in the martial world is not good because of this incident. You should recall the successors you sent out.”

“I can’t do that.”

Ma Bong-gi flatly refused.

“I sent your people with them despite their objections. Therefore, you know everything that’s happening there better than I do. I’ve conceded this much, but I can’t accept the request to recall them.”

“We shouldn’t ignore public opinion.”

“Don’t ignore me first.”

Ju Cheol-ryong continued as if he hadn’t heard.

“There’s a certain level of dignity that martial artists expect from the Martial Righteous Alliance Leader.”

“As you know, I’m a person without such things.”

“Then start creating it from now.”

A tense battle of wills unfolded between the two.

“Let me ask you one thing.”

“Yes.”

“Why did you support me?”

If it weren’t for Ju Cheol-ryong, the leader of the Bright Moon Regiment, the strongest of the Three Major Regiments, Ma Bong-gi would never have become the Martial Righteous Alliance Leader.

“I’ve always respected the Alliance Leader.”

“Cut out that bullshit and tell me the real reason.”

“There is no other reason.”

“Who exactly is behind you?”

“There’s no one.”

Ma Bong-gi snorted and leaned back in his chair. When he denied it so perfectly like that, it almost made him think that maybe he really did respect him.

But that couldn’t be. Ma Bong-gi was a cunning old fox who had been through it all, and he knew himself better than anyone.

There was definitely someone behind him.

But it’s been over half a year since he became the Alliance Leader, and that person hasn’t shown themselves or made any demands. If they had asked for money, position, or anything after making him the Alliance Leader, he wouldn’t feel so uneasy.

“That’s all.”

“Then rest well.”

Ju Cheol-ryong slowly walked out.

Ma Bong-gi’s eyes flashed as he watched his retreating figure.

“If you all thought I was just an old man obsessed with women’s breasts, and chose me thinking I’d be easy to manipulate… that was a big mistake.”

***

Starting from Shandong, rumors about Ma Jeongsu began to spread.

The rumor was that Ma Jeongsu had tried to collaborate with Shandong Merchant Association, and in the process, attempted to steal and divert money that the Night Merchants had lent to Shandong Merchant Association.

There was no rumor that Ma Jeongsu had died. Instead, rumors spread that he had left Shandong and his plan to establish a martial arts academy had fallen through.

Of course, these were rumors I had spread.

I spread them very carefully so that the trail could never be traced back. Even with just a little bit spread, because it was such a sensitive matter, it quickly spread in all directions.

This incident had repercussions in other regions of the central plains as well. Criticism began to rise that the Heavenly Blade Sect faction was trying to deeply intervene in the affairs of the central plains.

The discontent that had been building up while people watched Ma Bong-gi’s reactions all burst out at once.

Do they think that even boiling public opinion will settle down with time? The Martial Righteous Alliance made no comment whatsoever regarding this matter.

While Shandong regained peace, there were two organizations that were in turmoil. They were the Night Merchants and Shandong Merchant Association. The Night Merchants were in chaos because of their entanglement with Ma Jeongsu, and Shandong Merchant Association was in trouble because of their entanglement with the Night Merchants.

In any case, I was the final winner.

The money that came into my possession was 200,000 taels.

It was enough money to immediately increase the Sword Squad members to hundreds.

But I plan to increase the Sword Squad members next spring as originally planned. And even then, only by two teams of about 40 people, as initially planned.

There was no need to draw attention with the possibility of an investigation into this incident by the Martial Righteous Alliance or the Heavenly Blade Sect.

The Sword Squad was running well under Gwan Hwi’s command.

Each of them was capable enough to lead a team in the Sword Squad.

I will raise them to be even stronger elites by next spring.

With proper commanders in place, increasing numbers could be done in an instant.

If I make them team leaders of twenty teams, a large-scale Sword Squad of 400 members would be created in no time.

Gwang-du was also immersed in martial arts training. Especially after gaining eight years of inner energy from the spirit herb I gave him, Gwang-du changed a lot. He gained confidence.

“By the way, it’s hard to see Young Master’s face these days.”

“I’ve been busy.”

“Take me with you sometimes.”

“Really?”

When I asked with round eyes, Gwang-du flinched.

“…Was it dangerous work?”

I said with a serious expression:

“Crazy bastards swinging swords from all directions, shooting hidden weapons from behind, every word a threat, hundreds of thousands of taels changing hands, everyone suspicious of each other, deceiving and being deceived, burying corpses…”

Gwang-du covered his ears.

“Stop! Please stop!”

“Let’s go together next time. I’ll show you the real martial world. I think it’s time now.”

“No, it’s still far off. I’ll live in this gentle and peaceful martial world where I receive fragrant spirit herbs and good swords as gifts! Forever.”

“Hehe.”

“Don’t laugh like that!”

I felt really good having such a pleasant conversation with Gwang-du after a long time. I felt all the tension that had built up because of Ma Jeongsu dissipating.

“By the way, where are you going? Carrying luggage and all.”

Gwang-du asked, looking at the leather bag on my back.

I said with a chilling gaze:

“Want to come along?”

“Gasp! Don’t tell me… is there a corpse in the leather bag?”

Gwang-du quickly retreated far away, waving his hands.

I grinned at him before leaving the house.

What was in the leather bag wasn’t a corpse, but a gift that corpse had given me.

***

Carrying the leather bag containing 200,000 taels, I arrived at the Black Market.

I plan to buy spirit medicines here again.

Why am I so obsessed with inner energy?

Because it’s the surest and fastest way for me to get stronger.

Usually, when various spirit medicines are mixed, the purity of inner energy decreases.

As inner energy increases, the effects that can be gained from spirit medicines drop sharply, and purity also decreases, so there’s a clear limit to building strength with money.

Fortunately, because I was cultivating the Heavenly Martial Heart-Guarding Technique, the best heart method, I could turn various spirit medicines into a single pure inner energy.

It’s inevitable that the effectiveness decreases as inner energy increases. Still, since it’s not yet a hundred years of inner energy, buying spirit medicines was still an effective choice.

There were things I felt while going through this incident with Ma Jeongsu. Unexpected things were happening in the Martial Righteous Alliance.

I need to get stronger as quickly as possible.

I can already use perfect forms of the Soul-Reaping Asura Sword Arts. I’m also building my physical strength by training without fail every day. In this situation, what I needed most was inner energy.

I need to surpass a hundred years of inner energy soon so I can use the fourth form. It was incomparably stronger than the previous forms.

Anyway, I hope there are suitable spirit medicines in the Black Market.

The old man from the Black Market greeted me. Today too, I came with a different face.

The old man gave me a disappointing answer as I looked for spirit medicines.

“Unfortunately, no spirit medicines have come in.”

“I see.”

I brought the most money, but there are no spirit medicines.

I felt disappointed, but there was nothing I could do. As the old man said, spirit medicines have their owners.

“I know there aren’t any in other branches in Shandong either. The supply of spirit medicines is gradually decreasing. It seems we won’t be able to see any spirit medicines this year.”

“Can’t be helped.”

“Since you’ve come, would you like to look at other things?”

“Sure.”

Right, it wouldn’t be bad to look at what other items are available.

I left the room, following the old man.

After passing through the courtyard of the estate, we arrived at a large exhibition hall. It was so big that it was as large as the main hall of Yang Minor Faction where the banquet was held.

All sorts of items were displayed there.

The interesting thing was that the items there were divided into two categories.

Iron bars were set up along the walls.

The items beyond those bars were the expensive ones. The items outside were relatively cheaper.

I could tell that these ordinary-looking iron bars were not common steel.

It might not be as strong as ten-thousand-year cold iron, but it would be a metal that could block even decent sword qi and sword strength.

In my prime, I could raise sword strength to cut even ten-thousand-year cold iron. It was when I fought against the Black Dragon Emperor[1] of the demonic path. He fled through an emergency passage beyond the ten-thousand-year cold iron, laughing at me mockingly.

When I raised my sword strength, he laughed even louder.

But you should have seen his expression when my sword strength started cutting through it. In the end, he couldn’t fully escape through the emergency passage and was caught and killed by me.

The old man led me to where the swords were displayed.

“The sword you’re carrying looks quite old. Why don’t you buy a new one?”

Hahaha.

I laughed inwardly.

He’s saying this without knowing what kind of sword is inside this ordinary-looking scabbard. The Heavenly Creation Sword would be quite upset if it heard this.

The old man pointed to a sword hanging beyond the iron bars.

“That sword is the Wind Truth Sword[2]. It was the sword carried by the Great Hero Pung-jin, once called the Best Sword in Northern Jianghu.”

I knew Pung-jin. I had competed with him when I was young. I beat him in 250 moves. Afterwards, we occasionally exchanged letters, but at some point, the communication stopped.

Seeing his sword here, he must have died.

‘Senior, I hope you’ve gone to a good place.’

I silently prayed for his soul.

“How much is it?”

“90,000 taels.”

“90,000 taels?”

I asked in surprise. It was much more expensive than I thought.

“Wasn’t it the sword carried by the Great Hero Pung-jin?”

“That’s right.”

If the Wind Truth Sword is worth 90,000 taels, how expensive would this Heavenly Creation Sword be? It’s a much better sword, plus it has the added value of being used by the Martial Righteous Alliance Leader. It would easily be worth several hundred thousand taels. Of course, I had no intention of selling it, and it wouldn’t be that expensive since it had been modified.

If I brought the Asura King Sword, I thought its price would truly be whatever I asked for.

Besides the Wind Truth Sword, there were several other swords. They were a notch below the Wind Truth Sword, but still decent. Even those were priced between 30,000 to 50,000 taels.

The Wind Truth Sword might be difficult, but I could cut through the lower-grade swords with this Heavenly Creation Sword.

After looking at the swords, I looked at various other things. All sorts of martial world weapons were displayed, including sabers, spears, knuckle dusters, protective armor, etc.

The things I thought about buying were too expensive.

For example, a heart-protecting armor that guards the heart cost 100,000 taels.

Of course, it was high-quality armor that wouldn’t be cut even by decent sword qi and might save your life someday.

But in my current situation, considering the price and performance, the efficiency was too low. After looking at all the expensive items beyond the iron bars, I turned my gaze.

I started looking at the much cheaper items outside the iron bars.