Black Mountain Blade’s Queen Bee (3)

“Welcome!”

The server from the guesthouse greeted them politely at the entrance.

Perhaps because there were many warriors present that day, the man appeared very nervous and stiff. Yu Jinsan looked around and responded.

“Please take me to the most secluded spot on the second floor.”

“Yes, I will guide you there right away, Elder!”

He chose this floor to avoid any potential fights, but primarily to ensure a better view.

The floor was open in the middle, allowing a panoramic view of the first floor, and there was a window for a potential escape route if necessary.

As he followed the server upstairs, he saw many warriors.

Numerous people were enjoying their meals, keeping an eye on each other.

There was palpable tension, as if a fight could break out at any moment, but everyone seemed to be cautious. This might have been due to the Murim Alliance’s announcement that it would not allow individual fights until the end of the retirement ceremony.

“Right, this way. What kind of food would you like me to prepare for you?”

Yu Jinsan sat down and glanced at Hyun Hee. It was a signal that she could order whatever she wanted.

Hyun Hee placed Yu Seol on her lap and asked with a bright smile.

“What is the specialty of this place?”

“At our Soho guesthouse, the Soho noodles, made with stir-fried duck and eight kinds of vegetables, are the most popular. The meat noodles are also quite famous here.”

“Then prepare those and a bowl of chicken porridge as well.”

“Yes. Would you like something to drink?”

Hyun Hee, who had never drunk alcohol, looked at Yu Jinsan.

She licked her lips and forced herself to shake her head.

“I’d like a drink, but I should refrain. Just bring us the food we ordered.”

For him, being near alcohol was akin to shortening his lifespan. He planned to abstain until he achieved Body Reformation.

“Alright, I’ll bring it right away.”

Perhaps it was because the restaurant was so crowded that their food didn’t arrive until an hour later.

Yu Jinsan was preoccupied with feeding his granddaughter the meat porridge, seemingly oblivious to everything else.

“Huhu. Seeing you eat so heartily, you must enjoy it.”

Yu Seol continued to open her mouth like a baby bird.

Hyun Hee smiled brightly and offered the chicken porridge to him.

“I’ll do it, so Father should start eating now.”

“Hehehe. Thank you.”

The three of them resembled a happy family. Yu Jinsan’s face was beaming, but in reality, his attention was on the conversation between the warriors. He had accompanied Hyun Hee here to gather information about the state of Kangho.

“Did you hear? There’s a rumor that the real owner of this guesthouse is the Sword Queen.”

“That’s ridiculous. Do you feel sorry for her or something?”

“I don’t know. They say the money used to expand the guesthouse came from her funds.”

“What nonsense are you spouting? Just eat your food.”

The room buzzed with chatter about the retirement. He had hoped to find some clues about those who had wiped out his family, but he couldn’t keep up with the conversation.

Yu Jinsan gave up on gathering information and focused on his noodles.

Half an hour later, a commotion broke out.

“S-Sword Queen!”

Someone shouted urgently, and dozens of warriors on the second floor rose to their feet.

They moved towards the railing and peered down. Meanwhile, the warriors on the first floor were so shocked that they remained motionless.

Coincidentally, Yu Jinsan’s seat offered the best view.

Hyun Hee, who was about to feed Yu Seol another spoonful, froze.

“…Oh my.”

A woman in a bright red robe with a phoenix embroidered on it stood before them. A small sword was tied around her waist.

Sword Queen Soso. Her appearance was entirely different from what he had imagined. She was a beauty that seemed fragile yet felt so sacred. Moreover, her face was so youthful, and she appeared young.

The bustling guesthouse fell silent. So silent that everyone could only hear her footsteps.

The server rushed over and asked her politely,

“Should I prepare your usual?”

“Yes, please.”

There were as many as a hundred warriors in this guesthouse, but no one spoke.

After a while, the only food the server brought out was a bowl of meat noodles.

She took a sip of the noodle broth and smiled without hesitation.

“Hehe. As I expected, so delicious!”

It was like she was living this innocent and mischievous life. Suddenly, the martial arts warriors watching closely from the floor began to move.

Yu Jinsan could hear the whispers.

“She doesn’t seem like the Sword Queen.”

“W-well. What kind of Sword Queen is like…?”

Everyone found this absurd.

Everyone expected her to have an air around her that could overwhelm everyone.

However, not even the slightest sense of intimidation could be found in her. What’s more? She didn’t seem much different from a normal person.

It was natural that those who had been tense relaxed.

“I don’t think it’s such a big deal, right? Even I might win.”

“Right? How on earth did she get the title of Sword Queen?”

“What’s wrong with Kangho? I wandered all the way here for no reason.”

The voices of those who were talking gradually grew louder, and Yu Jinsan felt the ominousness increase.

He had a different thought than the others.

He could feel the qi even as she moved her chopsticks. And the calmness of not caring about those around her.

Yu Jinsan, who had more experience than anyone else, sensed this instinctive sense of discomfort.

Then his eyes shook. This was because he suddenly couldn’t see her.

“Huh….”

His eyes widened as if he had seen a ghost.

It was something he had never experienced before. Even after decades in Kangho, he had never come across this.

At that moment, a woman’s voice came from behind him.

“What? Are all warriors supposed to be solemn and blunt?”

Yu Jinsan quickly turned his head and opened his mouth wide. This was because the Sword Queen, who had been eating noodles downstairs, was suddenly behind him.

In front of her, two warriors who had been gossiping a little while ago were shocked.

“Th-that…”

“I don’t seem like the Sword Queen? Would you like to try and fight me?”

The warriors standing in front of her trembled simultaneously.

“N-No…”

She looked up at their faces and smiled as if this were amusing.

“Hehe. It was a joke.”

The warriors who had been gossiping about her fell to the ground as if their tension had been released. At that moment, she was back on the first floor, eating noodles.

None of the warriors in the guesthouse could open their mouths until she had finished her noodles and left.

The only person in the room who was excited was Yu Seool, who was able to eat a lot of delicious meat.

“Dasdy!”

Yu Jinsan wiped the smile off his lips and mumbled,

“Now that we have seen the Sword Queen, which is what we came here for, let’s return.”

“But… the ceremony isn’t over. Can we just watch from afar and leave?”

There was no need to do much since her retirement was confirmed.

And as he was thinking, suddenly, someone sitting by the window shouted.

“The M-Murim Alliance leader!”

“Dojun is also there!”

“Isn’t the person on the left Yu Kwang of the Kunlun Sect?”

It wasn’t just them. People of fame and name were walking around in luxurious robes.

All of them were the pillars upholding the Murim Alliance. It seemed like the veteran leaders of the Murim Alliance had gathered, led by the Alliance leader.

Then the warriors approached the window to observe the scene.

Yu Jinsan, who had felt an unusual energy outside the guesthouse, wore a stern expression. It was unlike the Sword Queen he had encountered earlier.

“The Murim Alliance leader is said to have arrived in person, so we cannot retreat now. We can only observe them from a distance.”

The elder of the Alliance, who had falsely accused him of murder and issued the wanted order, must be among them. He couldn’t miss this opportunity to scrutinize them.

And Hyun Hee’s gloomy expression brightened upon learning they would stay.

“Really?”

He nodded once and spoke.

“When I peeked through the window earlier, it seemed like the Murim Alliance leader was replaced by someone from the Emei Sect. Is that right?”

“Weren’t you aware? The Emei Sect’s leader is the best among the Nine Great Sects One Union. They are the youngest leader, and their actions have caused quite a stir.”

It was somewhat peculiar.

The Emei Sect consisted of nuns.

Despite being part of the Nine Great Sects, they weren’t particularly powerful, which was something Yu Jinsan couldn’t comprehend.

“It’s been over 30 years since I stopped keeping up with Kangho. Isn’t it natural that I wouldn’t know? How long has this been the case?”

“Just quite recently. About a year or two?”

For a moment, a faint spark of curiosity flickered in Yu Jinsan’s eyes, but it quickly disappeared.

“Two years… Wow.”

Two years ago was when the Yu family was attacked.

He didn’t know if there was any connection to this, but it was evident that some form of link existed.

“But why?”

“It’s nothing. But it seems like the Alliance leader is missing an eye?”

“According to rumors, it was a wound inflicted by a relatively unknown swordsman. It’s just a rumor. Anyway, let’s eat and then depart, Father.”

“Right.”

So the three of them resumed eating their meal. After paying the bill ten minutes later, they proceeded to their destination.

There was no need to ask for directions. All the martial arts warriors they saw on every street were heading to the same place.

“It seems to be over there!”

“Seems like it.”

It was a road leading to the entrance of the mountain behind the village. It appeared they had a place to stay prepared there.

He planned to settle down in a suitable place and watch from afar. However, his plan quickly fell apart.

As they neared their destination, the noise began to intensify. Judging from the rising voices, it seemed everyone was in a hostile state.

“Wh-what is happening?”

Yu Jinsan turned toward the commotion.

Wasn’t there already a crowd of over a thousand people fighting there? As he got closer, he saw the warriors of the Murim Alliance blocking the path.

Warriors in white robes, wielding long blades. There were only about twenty of them, but each exuded an extraordinary qi.

“The retirement ceremony is canceled, so everyone, please return.”

It was an absurd statement.

It was natural for the martial arts warriors who had traveled from all over to be enraged.

“I walked here for ten days, and now you are telling me to go back?”

“What nonsense is this?!”

When the crowd came together, their courage began to grow.

These were warriors of the Murim Alliance, whom anyone wouldn’t even dare look at, but now they were being questioned.

At that moment, someone pointed somewhere and shouted.

“Then why are they going in?!”

People in black, wearing deep bamboo hats, were continuously stepping inside.

And no one stopped these unknown warriors.

“What, is this some discrimination?”

“You people call yourselves representatives of the Justice Faction?”

As the protests grew stronger, someone from the Murim Alliance stepped forward.

Unlike the others, this person wore a white robe adorned with a yellow dragon.

With his appearance, the protests disappeared.

“Green Void Sword, Wang Hyul?”

“W-why is he here…?”

Hyun Hee, observing from a distance, whispered to Yu Jinsan.

“He is one of the three great swordsmen of the Sichuan Province. It is said that he has never spared anyone’s life.”

“The Justice faction seems different from my time. It’s bittersweet that they aren’t as peaceful as they used to be.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the tip of Wang Hyul’s sword slashed the ground.

Chak!

The floor where the sword passed through, from one end of the alley, was cut.

“From now on, anyone who crosses this line will be cut down, so only those who don’t want to live should step in.”

Kangho was a world where strength ruled everything.

Although many warriors had gathered, none could challenge him.

People who had traveled far to see the retirement ceremony could only stomp their feet in frustration.

Then, a soft voice that everyone could hear resounded.

“Brothers. Please stop for a moment.”

The voice was like a whisper, yet every warrior heard it.

Wide Area Sound Spread. It was a legendary technique where many people could listen at a specific time.

The Sword Queen held her teacup, as if she were enjoying some alone time.

“S-Sword Queen!”

“The Sword Queen has appeared!”

The warriors who saw her were filled with emotions. As she passed by, they cleared the path for her.

Without hesitation, she crossed the line drawn on the ground.

At the same time, her cherry lips spoke to Wang Hyul.

“Oh my, did you fall?”

“…”

When the Sword Queen slowly raised her head, Wang Hyul instinctively stepped back.

It was like a wolf encountering a fierce tiger.