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“That Baek Pyo, he’s exactly the kind of person I expected.”

Cho Byeok carefully responded to his words.

“Do you mean you don’t think he received the sword from Gal Sa-ryang?”

“At first, that’s what I thought. But…”

Sima Cheon paused for a moment before speaking softly.

“When I suddenly asked him at the end, he was too calm. Of course, having led the Alliance Protection Regiment for a long time, he’d naturally be calm in all situations. But that calmness just now was, how should I put it, a bit different. It was a calmness as if he had practiced for such a moment.”

“As expected, you’re sharp.”

But Sima Cheon soon tilted his head.

“It’s strange. If he’s hiding such a precious sword, why is he lingering around the Martial Righteous Alliance? Why not leave for somewhere far away?”

Sima Cheon would never understand. He couldn’t comprehend Baek Pyo’s heart, who missed Cheon Hajin so much that he had to leave the Alliance Protection Regiment, yet couldn’t bring himself to leave far from the Martial Righteous Alliance.

“He must have some ulterior motive.”

Cho Byeok was the one who initially suspected Baek Pyo. Since nothing came up from investigating Gal Sa-ryang, he naturally hoped the sword was with Baek Pyo. That would prove he hadn’t investigated wrongly.

“It’s worth investigating.”

“I’ll handle it.”

“How?”

Cho Byeok thought that the sword could never be found by ordinary methods. The target was the former Alliance Protection Regiment Leader, and what they were looking for was the Asura Bright King Sword.

“It might be better if you don’t know the method.”

He meant he would handle it personally. It also meant he would take responsibility if any problems arose.

“You do know, right? That he was the Martial Righteous Alliance’s top guard.”

“Of course.”

Only after warning him to be careful did he entrust him with the task.

“Alright, I’ll leave this matter to you.”

After Cho Byeok left, Sima Cheon walked to the window.

Coincidentally, Gal Sa-ryang was walking towards this direction, carrying a pile of books and documents. He was still working despite the late hour.

Sima Cheon stared at him expressionlessly.

At that moment, Gal Sa-ryang looked this way and bowed politely.

“You haven’t gone to bed yet?”

Sima Cheon was now wearing a gentle expression, like an actor on stage.

“You’re working hard at such a late hour.”

Sima Cheon smiled shamelessly, knowing full well that Gal Sa-ryang was struggling because of the excessive work he had assigned.

“I must be getting old, my work efficiency seems to be declining. Well then, please get some rest.”

Gal Sa-ryang bowed once more before continuing on his way.

He felt the cold gaze from behind.

Although his back was turned, Gal Sa-ryang didn’t even show a small sneer. He knew he was under surveillance.

For now, he had to be cautious, so he was acting perfectly like a defeated person. He knew well that Sima Cheon still didn’t trust him.

But someday, he would trust him. Then, he would think he had truly subdued him.

But from that moment, the counterattack would begin.

Does that mean he’s just wasting time helplessly waiting for that day? Not at all. He had already activated his secret network. He had spent his entire life in the Martial Righteous Alliance, with a long period as the Commander-in-Chief.

There were many subordinates who would risk their lives for his orders, not the Martial Righteous Alliance’s. Most of them were spies. They had infiltrated important positions not only within the Martial Righteous Alliance but also in various organizations throughout the Central Plains. They would help him.

His target wasn’t Sima Cheon.

His goal was Ma Bong-gi behind him, and someone even further behind.

Since Ma Bong-gi’s inauguration, he had secretly observed and investigated Ma Bong-gi as the new Alliance Leader. His conclusion was this: There was someone else behind the scenes. Judging from Ma Bong-gi’s actions as Alliance Leader, it definitely wasn’t his own initiative.

‘I don’t know how you killed the Alliance Leader, but I will certainly uncover it and take revenge. Even if it takes ten years, or twenty years.’

He would do anything for that day.

***

I rented a room at an inn not far from Baek Pyo’s tavern.

The first task was to find out what Sima Cheon was looking for. If Baek Pyo had it, he was in a very dangerous situation.

Earlier, Sima Cheon had asked if Gal Sa-ryang had left anything with him.

Was he looking for Gal Sa-ryang’s possession? Or was it my possession?

Seeing that Sima Cheon moved in person, it must not be an ordinary item. What could be so important? I couldn’t know about Gal Sa-ryang’s possessions, so I started thinking about my own.

Since I didn’t usually collect or decorate things, there wasn’t anything particularly important. I didn’t have jewels like the Night-Luminous Pearl[1], nor did I have any elixirs or treasure clothes.

After all, wasn’t I someone who had lived relying on just one sword all my life?

The next moment, I was startled as I thought of one item.

Could it be?

I stood up abruptly without realizing it.

The Asura Bright King Sword?

Suddenly, I recalled a conversation with Gal Sa-ryang from about a decade ago.

“Alliance Leader, you always use only the Asura Bright King Sword. Even though there are many treasure swords in the Alliance’s vault, you try them for a few months and then send them back, don’t you?”

“Did I do that?”

“The fact that you’re not even aware of it means you cherish the Asura Bright King Sword that much.”

“Having carried it for so long, it now feels like a part of me. If I die, make sure to take good care of this sword and give it to someone worthy of it.”

“Please don’t say such things, even in jest. That’s something for decades in the future.”

“Haha. My friend, I’m already over sixty years old.”

Ah, I thought that he might have really taken the Asura Bright King Sword. If that’s the case, Sima Cheon won’t give up easily.

Then, another scene naturally came to mind.

The sword and shield decorations hanging on the wall of the Wind Tavern.

Good heavens!

When I first saw them, I thought he had made them just to decorate the tavern.

But I had never seen Baek Pyo carving anything in my past life. I had never heard that he had such a hobby.

Could he have hidden the Asura Bright King Sword inside that decoration?

***

The next day, after retrieving 10,000 nyang from the bank, I went to find an information broker.

Since this was where the Martial Righteous Alliance headquarters was located, there were many information organizations in Wuhan.

Information organizations were no longer operating secretly as before, but were competing legally, so you could find information brokers’ signboards all over the marketplace.

The place I went to was the Wuhan branch of the Heaven’s Net Association.

The tavern called Bul-ru, where I had gone to look for Gal Sa-ryang before, was run by the head of the Heaven’s Net Association.

Of course, that place was where the association head was, and the Wuhan branch of the Heaven’s Net Association was in a different location.

The information I requested there was about the man who had accompanied Sima Cheon. From what I saw yesterday, he wasn’t an ordinary guard.

Sima Cheon had brought only one person with him to the Wind Tavern.

In other words, he was a trusted person that Sima Cheon took on secret outings. I expected that Sima Cheon would assign him to handle this matter.

Even if not, it wasn’t a bad investment. It would be good to know what kind of person was the right-hand man of Sima Cheon, the Commander-in-Chief of the Martial Righteous Alliance.

If it were investigating Sima Cheon directly, it would be a very delicate matter, but investigating his subordinate wasn’t much of a problem. Various organizations within the Martial Righteous Alliance collected such information to keep each other in check anyway.

The information fee for the man was 3,000 nyang. It wasn’t a small amount for information on a single warrior. It was probably priced several times higher because he was the right-hand man of the Commander-in-Chief.

After placing the request with the information broker, I headed to the Wind Tavern.

When I arrived, Baek Pyo was just opening the doors.

“You really came again!”

“Oh, I came too early, didn’t I?”

“Not at all. I was just about to open. Please come in.”

“Please understand. I couldn’t sleep because I couldn’t forget the taste of the wind-flavored alcohol here.”

“Haha. It’s the first time I’ve heard someone say our alcohol tastes like wind.”

How could alcohol taste like wind? It’s just that when I look at Baek Pyo, I feel like I’m standing in a wide plain, facing the wind.

“Come on in.”

At that moment, I saw Baek Pyo casually remove a small container about the size of a palm hanging in front of the door. I pretended not to see, but I knew what it was.

It was an insect called the Night-Crying Bug, mainly used by the Alliance Protection Regiment. It’s an insect that’s only awake at night, and it cries when someone approaches. It’s mainly used for night-time security, one of the excellent methods for guarding against nighttime intrusions.

I went inside and sat in the same seat as always.

“It’s a bit messy because I just opened.”

“I should be the one apologizing.”

“If I had customers like you all the time, I’d become rich soon.”

“Then I should come every day to make you rich.”

“Hahaha.”

Baek Pyo laughed happily.

“Then please sit for a moment.”

“Don’t mind me. I’ll just sit here and enjoy the scenery outside.”

“As you wish.”

The scenery here was truly beautiful.

Beyond the reeds swaying in the wind, the river sparkled in the setting sun.

It’s a place that naturally makes you want to live here. I thought that maybe Baek Pyo had been dreaming of running such a tavern in a place like this while carrying out his difficult and challenging guard duties. If so, this place must be Baek Pyo’s ‘someday refuge’.

“Where is your family?”

Baek Pyo answered my question.

“There’s a house attached to the tavern right behind. My wife can’t help with the work yet because our child is still young.”

“Ah, I see.”

In truth, I’m not too worried about Baek Pyo.

I was probably the only person who knew his true capabilities. People don’t know how strong he really is.

There’s a saying in the martial world: if you want to live long, don’t reveal all your strength and keep some hidden.

Those who follow this saying best are probably the guard warriors. By nature, they extremely dislike standing out. Baek Pyo was one such person.

He’s a skilled warrior who once fended off the combined attack of the Dark Heavens Palace’s Seven Demonic Heretics. You might think the Seven Demonic Heretics are just seven villains from some evil sect, but that’s not the case. The Seven Demonic Heretics were beings who truly showed what it means to be eerie, using all sorts of evil arts and illusions. No, they were women.

You don’t know how many righteous masters fell to their hands. He was the one who blocked their combined attack.

Of course, I stepped in right after finishing another fight and eliminated all the Seven Demonic Heretics, but Baek Pyo had held off their combined attack for over 700 breaths.

What I’m worried about is his family. The stronger Baek Pyo is, the more those villains will try to strike at his weaknesses.

Despicable people always commit unthinkable acts without hesitation. What they do is always similar.

My gaze naturally turned to the decoration hanging on the wall.

In my past life, I had communed with the Asura Bright King Sword.

When you’ve been together for a long time, a famous sword recognizes its master. Of course, that doesn’t mean the sword has any emotions. It literally recognizes me and understands my emotions. Whether I’m angry, and if so, how much. The sword also becomes angry accordingly. When the sword and emotions align like this, attacks become even more powerful.

In the past, if I emitted energy to the Asura Bright King Sword, it would respond.

But I didn’t know if it could recognize my energy now that my body had changed due to the Wall-Shattering Pill. It seemed like it might recognize me since the Heavenly Martial Heart-Guarding Technique remained the same, but I couldn’t be sure without testing it.

When Baek Pyo went out to the back to throw away some trash, I quickly approached the decoration.

I extended my hand and sent energy to the wooden sword. I sent only a tiny amount of energy.

The next moment.

The wooden sword vibrated slightly in response. I could tell.

It really is the Asura Bright King Sword!

He had hidden the Asura Bright King Sword inside the wooden sword.

I couldn’t believe it.

It was so absurd and ridiculous that I couldn’t help but laugh.

How on earth did Baek Pyo think of hiding this sword in such an exposed place?

Well, in a way, I could understand.

He must have considered it more precious than his life. He would have been worried about entrusting it to someone else, of course, and even about burying it somewhere. He must have decided to keep it where he could watch over it all day.

The enemy is formidable.

Baek Pyo will try to protect the sword with his life.

How should I resolve this?