Episode 114

Within the major sects, especially those with history and tradition like the Shaolin Temple and the Wudang Sect, respect from the common folk was common.

Their influence even extended to the government.

Many noble families, including generals and military officers, had their members as disciples of these sects.

What about the Seven Great Clans? Both the Namgung and the Moyong clans had connections with the government.

In this regard, the Baek Noble Clan was even more special.

Apart from their inherent martial strength, they were among the most prestigious families. Several members of the Baek family were in the current royal court.

Even the Magistrate of Xi’an would humbly seek favors from the Clan Head of the Baek Clan. To hold one’s head high in front of Baek Ryu-san, one would need to be at least a provincial governor or a grand coordinator.

About 20 years ago, the name of the Baek Clan rose even higher for a specific reason.

Baek Ryu-san, the Clan Head of the Baek Clan, married someone related to the Imperial family.

Even after the death of Yi-gang’s mother, the symbolic significance of this remained.

Simply put, Yi-gang, the eldest son of the Baek Clan, was as good as a high-ranking official to the local administrators.

“Yes, that’s right. Please, take a seat here comfortably.”

That’s why the previously arrogant head of the guards changed his attitude completely.

“Would you like to meet Lord Ji-hyun? He would likely want to greet you.”

“That’s alright. What would a commoner like me do there.”

“A commoner? How could I…!”

“It’s fine.”

“Yes!”

Upon hearing that Yi-gang was a disciple of the Azure Forest, the previously stiff head of the guards changed his demeanor completely after learning he was from the Baek Noble Clan, rubbing his hands together and fawning over Yi-gang.

This sight greatly disgusted Dam Hyun.

“Really now.”

“What?”

“He thinks he’s so great…”

Dam Hyun came from a family of slash-and-burn farmers.

He couldn’t even obtain a simple family plaque and was not even treated as a commoner.

To ordinary commoners, the guards and local administrators were already difficult and intimidating figures, let alone for slash-and-burn farmers.

A single mistake could lead to the destruction of an entire village. For them, the guards and soldiers were more terrifying than tigers.

So, it was natural for him to feel complex emotions seeing a head of the guards groveling before his junior brother.

“It’s a good thing, isn’t it? If it weren’t for me, things could have gotten really troublesome.”

“That’s… true.”

Dam Hyun reluctantly nodded in agreement.

As soon as Yi-gang revealed his identity, the head of the guards earnestly listened to their statements, and Yi-gang and Dam Hyun were quickly cleared of any suspicion.

“Head Guard, if you need help interrogating those men, just let me know. My senior brother is confident in his interrogation skills.”

“Oh…? Yes, of course. You do look like someone… who would be good at interrogations.”

The head of the guards was also courteous to Yi-gang’s senior brother, Dam Hyun.

Dam Hyun, who suddenly became someone “who looked good at interrogation,” felt a strange mix of pride and annoyance.

“H-hey!”

Eventually, he discreetly moved away from the spot.

Yi-gang sat down and quietly closed his eyes.

It’s good for the body to get proper sleep, but today, he couldn’t help but have a restless night.

This time, the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon interrupted Yi-gang’s rest,

「But honestly, it is irritating.」

‘What now? You too?’

「You, what “you”! Call me sister!」

The Blue-Eyed Mad Demon insisted that Yi-gang speak informally to her. So, when Yi-gang called her “you,” she then insisted he should call her “sister” or alternatively “lady.”

Yi-gang, somewhat reluctant to do so, settled on still calling her “you.”

「I really don’t like that head of the guards. Acting so servile just because of some family’s status.」

‘My family must be intimidating to him. And, it’s understandable.’

The Blue-Eyed Mad Demon shared a similar trait with Dam Hyun.

She disliked those who acted arrogantly because of their status or position. She believed that people were inherently equal from birth.

In short, she had a rebellious nature.

Living as a modern person before reincarnating as Yi-gang, he could understand these thoughts, but they were not ordinary for this era.

Therefore, Yi-gang vaguely thought that the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon must have been born in a less privileged environment.

He assumed she would also view him unfavorably.

「What? Not particularly. I was referring to that head of the guards being irritating.」

‘I do flaunt my power quite a bit, don’t I.’

「Even so, I’ve never despised or found you disgusting. Those who grovel are the pathetic ones.」

‘What’s the difference?’

Yi-gang was prepared to understand if the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon disliked him.

He was born into the prestigious Baek Noble Clan and was fully aware of his noble status.

Not just aware, he did not hide that power when it was needed.

With his talent almost akin to that of an actor, Yi-gang easily exploited his identity as an arrogant nobleman.

Whether it was selling tiger skin to the county magistrate or proving his innocence to pressuring the head of the guards.

「Hehe, though my life hasn’t been long. I’ve wandered Jianghu and seen many people,」 the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon said with a low laugh.

「I’ve met royals who ruled over all people, and the most wretched ones rolling in filth. Born naked and the same, yet living so differently, and dying just as lonely.」

Though late twenties might seem too early an age to die, the life the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon had lived seemed anything but ordinary.

The atmosphere made it difficult to listen to her, and it was also laced with laughter in her voice.

「Among those who flaunt their power, I’ve noticed they fall into two categories.」

‘Two categories?’

「Yes, the ones like fat maggots born atop a rotten pile of meat. They turn into blowflies, sucking the blood of others to live. And the other kind…」

Somehow, there seemed to be a deeper loathing and misanthropy than even Dam Hyun possessed.

Yi-gang listened calmly to the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon’s unusual tone.

「They know the weight of the blood flowing in their veins. They use their status just as a first-rate swordsman wields his sword.」

‘A first-rate swordsman uses his sword to…’

「Exactly, at the necessary moment, in the right amount, at the precise location.」

A skilled swordsman used the sword neither excessively nor insufficiently.

He drew the sword when needed and took what was necessary.

The Blue-Eyed Mad Demon compared Yi-gang to a skilled swordsman.

‘So, I’m doing well, then?’

「Yes, perhaps too well, to the point of being detestable.」

‘Whatever.’

Yi-gang was indifferent to how the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon thought of him.

All Yi-gang needed to do was continue as he had been.

The head of the guards, who had been interrogating the captured men and women, returned.

“Those Low Down Sect members seem genuinely unaware of why their superior was killed.”

“It appeared so.”

Surprisingly, the man and woman were members of the Low Down Sect’s Kaifeng branch.

Their exchange of secret signals was recognized by Seo Saeng-won, who had previously offended the Kaifeng branch manager. Startled, Seo Saeng-won informed them of this fact.

“It seems they intended to set fire to the inn. They couldn’t execute their plan due to the rain, and that’s when the trouble started.”

“There must have been a power struggle.”

The Night Inn chosen by Seo Saeng-won wasn’t under the control of the Low Down Sect, hence the power struggle.

The Kaifeng branch intended to burn down the disobedient Night Inn as punishment.

This plan was disrupted when the face of their superior was peeled off during their infiltration.

“But things have gotten complicated. As I mentioned, a bounty has been placed on the face-skinner, a fiend. It’s a serious matter, so the governor himself issued it.”

The head of the guards’ words were true.

Yi-gang had heard about the fiend, the Face Plunderer, who had instilled fear in Kaifeng and its surroundings.

It seemed that the audacious criminal who killed the governor’s nephew had appeared in Yanling County, prompting an emergency.

“The situation is serious, so I’ll assign some of the assistants to the head of the guards to accompany you to Kaifeng. I would really like to go with you, but…”

“Yes, there’s no need for that.”

It was a situation where Yi-gang and his party could have faced great difficulties, but the head of the guards even provided them with escorts.

Yi-gang stood up from his seat and called Dam Hyun.

“Senior Brother, let’s go. We’ll reach Kaifeng in a day.”

Dam Hyun, who had been keeping his distance, trudged back.

Seo Saeng-won also quickly followed Yi-gang.

“Meeting Young Master Baek really seems like the fortune of my lifetime!”

After learning Yi-gang’s identity, Seo Saeng-won became even more obsequious.

‘Have I really caught a big fish?’ he thought.

“When we arrive at Kaifeng, don’t forget to pay the promised price.”

But Yi-gang just said this with a smile.

All of the secret funds of the Fort Leader Kang Ho-gul, and even the items stolen from the branch manager of the Low Down Sect’s Kaifeng branch.

The fact that Yi-gang hadn’t forgotten this made Seo Saeng-won’s expression stiffen.

“O-of course!”

However, Seo Saeng-won had no choice but to shout this and follow Yi-gang.

Yi-gang and Dam Hyun arrived in Kaifeng before the day was over.

There was strict scrutiny at the checkpoint, but they were able to pass through the city gate without queuing, thanks to the endorsement of the Yanling County’s guards.

Like Jin Ri-yeon’s party, they first headed towards the Murim Alliance.

However, as with Jin Ri-yeon’s time, the Murim Alliance was still unable to accommodate visitors.

“Many visitors will soon arrive for the Dragon-Phoenix and Seven Stars Conferences. We are in quite a dilemma.”

“So, we can’t enter the Alliance now?”

“Yes, please stay somewhere else for now. We will notify you soon.”

It seemed that the governor was extremely angered as the fiend, the Face Plunderer, had not been caught.

With the governor’s fury, it seemed likely that he might even expel armed martial artists from Kaifeng, leaving the Murim Alliance extremely busy.

“The disciples of the Azure Forest are staying at an inn. Why don’t you head there?”

“Let’s do that. Thank you.”

Yi-gang looked for the inn where Jin Ri-yeon and her party had stayed.

But perhaps because it was still broad daylight, Jin Ri-yeon and the third-generation disciples were not there.

Upon asking the waiter just in case, the waiter scratched his chin and said,

“Those people? They left this morning.”

“Did you hear where they went?”

“Yes, they went to catch that dreadful fiend with some other disciples.”

“So, where did they go?”

“Well, about that…”

The waiter, pretending to ponder for a while, cautiously spoke up when Yi-gang tossed him a few coins.

“They went to meet with the Low Down Sect. Hehe.”

“The Low Down Sect?”

Yi-gang tilted his head in confusion, while Seo Saeng-won fiddled with his fake beard to ensure his disguise hadn’t been compromised.

Jin Ri-yeon and the third-generation disciples had indeed come to meet with the branch manager of the Low Down Sect’s Kaifeng branch.

To capture the fiend, gathering information was the first step. The Murim Alliance had already acquired the information collected by the Beggars’ Gang, so they needed more information from the Low Down Sect, which could be considered part of the unorthodox faction.

Their participation in the investigation of the Face Plunderer stemmed from a visit by an inspector of the Murim Alliance to the inn where they were idly staying.

He greeted Jin Ri-yeon with a fist salute and exclaimed, “I came straight here upon hearing that Miss Jin had arrived in Kaifeng!”

He was the inspector who had worked with Jin Ri-yeon to capture a fiend during the Dragon-Phoenix Conference.

Remembering Jin Ri-yeon’s achievements, he earnestly requested her help.

“You’re asking for help in tracking down the fiend?”

“Yes. It would be a great help if Miss Jin could join us.”

“What I did last time was just good luck.”

Jin Ri-yeon declined, seemingly unenthusiastic.

However, the inspector persisted in his persuasion.

“There’s no need to feel burdened. We are already conducting a separate investigation. Disciples from other sects are also cooperating.”

“Disciples from other sects?”

“The talented ones from the Zhongnan Sect and Diancang Sect are helping us. They came for the Dragon-Phoenix Conference.”

Jin Ri-yeon still looked troubled, but then the third-generation disciples stepped forward.

With eager eyes, they persuaded Jin Ri-yeon. They didn’t want to miss the chance to participate in the exciting investigation of a fiend.

“Alright, let’s go together.”

“That’s a wise decision!”

Eventually, she accepted the inspector’s proposal, wanting to give the third-generation disciples the opportunity to meet other disciples.

The third-generation disciples from the Azure Forest needed the chance to learn more about the world.

And the place where they met the other next-generation successors was a tea house operated by the Low Down Sect’s Kaifeng branch.

A young swordsman with a blue hero sash tied elegantly saluted first with a fist.

“I am Zhongnan’s Flowing Cloud Flying Dragon, Lee Jae-il. The swordsmanship of the Azure Forest is indeed as remarkable as the rumors say.”

The young man with the sophisticated nickname Flowing Cloud Flying Dragon smiled, revealing his white teeth.

Everything from his clothes to his manner of speaking and behavior exuded the aura of a noble martial artist.

The young man beside him was equally splendid.

“I am Diancang’s Lightning Flash, Yu Tae-jin. Haha. It’s my first time meeting people from the Azure Forest.”

The nickname of the Diancang’s next-generation successor was also impressive.

Unlike the Azure Forest disciples, these young men seemed to have already gained their nicknames through their adventures in Jianghu.

Indeed, it was common for next-generation successors participating in the Dragon-Phoenix Conference to have such nicknames.

Yu Su-rin felt somewhat intimidated.

So did the great senior brother, Son Hee-il. Even though there were three of them, they felt this way.

However, one person was not intimidated.

The now youngest, Jun Myung, stepped forward and saluted with a fist. His voice was booming.

“Greetings! I am the third of the Green Forest Exterminators from the Azure Forest, Jun Myung! Ugh!”

The scream at the end was because a flustered Yu Su-rin had swiftly struck his abdomen.

Son Hee-il quickly covered Jun Myung’s mouth at the same time.

“Hahaha! This guy, really!”

“Haha, my junior brother made a slip of the tongue.”

Son Hee-il and Yu Su-rin desperately tried to manage the situation.

The next-generation successors from Zhongnan and Diancang were taken aback.