Chapter 817

After finishing my conversation with the Celestial Stream Sect Leader and returning, the sun had already set.

I entered the base without any inspection and headed straight to the quarters prepared for us—a relatively spacious area set aside for our unit.

Hah-!

Hoo-!

Shouts echoed in my ears, coming from the training ground within the quarters.

It seemed they were absorbed in their training.

I turned my steps toward the source.

The training ground wasn’t particularly large, so there weren’t many people inside. I counted—just over ten.

Moreover—

‘Exactly the ones I expected.’

None of the men assigned by the Alliance were there. Only those I had personally selected were present.

They wouldn’t be openly practicing their clan’s secret techniques here, so this was likely just basic physical training.

I waved my hand lightly.

Whoosh—!!

The aura gathered inside dispersed and flowed out through the window.

The eyes of the trainees turned toward me, reacting to the disturbance.

“Leader?”

“I told you to rest. You’re really bad at listening.”

“Oh, you’re back.”

“Yeah. Nothing happened while I was gone, right?”

“No, the base’s accommodations have been quite comfortable.”

“This doesn’t look like resting, but… Anyway, where are the others?”

“They’re probably resting in their assigned quarters.”

“Is that so?”

I asked a question I already knew the answer to while scanning their faces.

I needed to memorize their appearances for future use.

“Deputy Tang.”

I called out Tang So-yeol, who was among the group training.

She looked up with widened eyes at being singled out.

“Yes?”

“I need to talk to you. Come see me after training. By sunset should be fine?”

“Ah, understood.”

After delivering my message, I turned and left.

I had no further business at the training grounds, so I strolled around the quarters, keeping an eye out for people.

It wasn’t long before—

“…Hmm?”

I witnessed a strange scene.

“Squeaky clean.”

“S-Sir… P-Please stop.”

“Squeaky clean.”

Behind the quarters, on the wooden porch—

Bong Soon was sitting there with someone.

I didn’t even need to check who it was.

There was only one person with such a shiny head at this hour.

However—

‘…What the hell is this?’

Why was Bong Soon rubbing that glowing head?

That was the real mystery.

“Hehe. So smooth. Feels nice.”

“Ugh… Ughh…”

Her hands moved without hesitation, as if she were polishing a ball.

The bald monk being handled like that had turned red all the way to his ears and looked like he was about to pass out.

‘…’

What was I even looking at?

The future hope of the Shaolin Sect, reduced to Bong Soon’s plaything—it was hard to put into words.

Especially—

‘That lunatic is playing with him like he’s a toy.’

The monk, the so-called Divine Dragon of Shaolin, had turned crimson from scalp to neck.

‘…Looks like this bald bastard’s full of dirty thoughts.’

A monk harboring such impure desires…

How could someone like that ever hope to inherit Buddha’s teachings?

Wasn’t he the same guy I caught secretly eating dumplings before?

Remembering that only solidified my conclusion.

‘Shaolin’s doomed.’

That bald monk was destined to become the next abbot, but with the state he was in, Shaolin’s future was bleak.

Not that it was any of my concern.

“Hmm.”

Should I go over and tease them?

Maybe ask if they were skipping training to indulge in perverted pleasures?

‘Sounds fun.’

Just imagining the monk’s reaction made me smirk.

It hadn’t been long since I’d met him, but he was already proving to be incredibly fun to mess with.

I was genuinely tempted for a moment… but in the end, I turned away.

As amusing as it would be, now wasn’t the time for distractions.

‘Wi Seol-ah or Namgung Bi-ah….’

They weren’t at the training grounds. Were they resting?

‘Those two don’t rest.’

I doubted they were taking a break.

More likely, they were training somewhere quiet, away from prying eyes.

I wanted to look for them, but I held myself back.

If I really needed to find someone, I could always check with Cheol Ji-seon or Seong Yul.

‘Not that I care about them.’

I had already given Cheol Ji-seon tasks to handle.

‘Seong Yul’s still recovering, so he’s useless for now.’

Ever since his sparring match with Peng Woojin, Seong Yul hadn’t fully recovered.

According to the Divine Doctor, his regeneration speed was unusually slow for a martial artist.

‘Is it the aftermath of the Heavenly Killing Star?’

It was possible.

Given Seong Yul’s high cultivation level, slow recovery suggested something was wrong.

I’d have to check later.

The simplest way?

‘Break something and measure how fast it heals.’

‘Not a bad idea. Let’s go with that.’

It was the most accurate method.

Of course, I’d make sure it wasn’t too painful—out of courtesy.

Anyway, as I organized my thoughts while walking—

“Oh my, really?”

“Haha. Yes, and that’s why back then…”

“But more importantly, did you hear about the festival in Hanan next month?”

Laughter rang out from ahead.

The cheerful chatter of multiple voices made me smile instinctively.

A sharp, mocking smile.

‘At it again, huh?’

I masked my disdain as I approached.

The scene became clearer as I drew closer.

Several people had gathered around the pond near the quarters.

It looked like most of those who hadn’t gone to the training grounds were there.

The problem was—

“Hahaha. Jin, isn’t that a bit exaggerated?”

“What? Exaggerated?”

“I mean, fighting a hundred men at once sounds a bit much. Oh, no offense intended, of course. Just joking.”

“Ha… Hahaha. No offense taken. I knew it was a joke.”

“Speaking of which, there’s a famous festival happening soon….”

The conversation flowed without pause.

It seemed friendly on the surface, but the underlying tension was brutal.

They smiled while probing each other’s weaknesses, hiding daggers behind their words.

It was like watching a dirty political battle.

The whole thing left a sour taste in my mouth.

‘Ugh.’

I knew what they were doing, so I had no words.

It was a struggle—

A competition between males for a desirable female.

“Isn’t that right, Lady Yeon?”

“Oh, yes. It’s quite impressive.”

“Ahem…”

A small compliment, and one of the men blushed.

The others weren’t much different.

They scrambled to make conversation, desperate for more of her attention.

The real issue?

‘One female. Too many males.’

All those men were after the same woman.

The woman smiling behind a delicate fan was Yeon Hong—one of the people I had brought along.

Her soft laugh sent ripples through the group.

Their hungry eyes practically oozed lust.

This dirty mixture of politics and competition was suffocating.

‘What a mess.’

I couldn’t understand their desperation.

Nor could I fathom how one woman could stir them up like this.

‘Ridiculous.’

The fact that Yeon Hong was the only woman wasn’t entirely true. There were also Wi Seol-ah, Namgung Bi-ah, and even Tang So-yeol, the deputy leader. However, none of them were subjected to such bizarre antics.

And the reason was clear.

‘They’re out of reach.’

The gap between them and these men was simply too vast.

That was likely the main reason. Of course, there were times when someone tried to approach them, only to be met with a sharp glare or a blast of Qi that quickly discouraged further attempts.

Maybe that was part of it, too.

Regardless, none of them dared get closer.

In such a situation, Yeon Hong’s presence was like rain during a drought.

Beautiful, yet not so perfect as to be unattainable—her aura carried a deep, captivating allure.

To put it simply, she was like a rare treasure one might hope to obtain with enough effort.

This made her the ideal target for these men’s desperate attempts.

And thus, the current scene unfolded—a competition for Yeon Hong.

They disguised their blades with elegant words, each one trying to win her favor.

They seemed to think their struggle was desperate and dignified, but—

‘This is the dumbest shit I’ve ever seen.’

To me, it was nothing but laughable.

Should I step in and put an end to it?

No, there was no need. Yeon Hong… that woman surely had something in mind.

Confident in her abilities, I stepped forward, calling out to her with a calm voice.

“Yeon Hong.”

The moment I spoke, the chatter ceased, and all eyes turned to me.

The men glared, momentarily mistaking me for another competitor, but as soon as they recognized me, they shot to their feet.

“L-Leader!”

“We greet the Leader!”

“…Yeah. You were all resting well, I see.”

“Y-Yes…!”

Their responses were sharp and disciplined.

Looks like smacking them around a few times during the journey to Sichuan left an impression.

“Sorry to interrupt your break, but I need to borrow Yeon Hong for a moment. We have something to discuss.”

“Ah….”

“A-All right.”

Their voices were drenched in disappointment.

‘Why the hell are you acting disappointed? The person involved hasn’t even said anything.’

I sighed and turned my gaze to Yeon Hong.

She was smiling behind her hand, wearing that signature, elegant expression.

“Shall we go now?”

“Yeah. Follow me.”

“Understood.”

Yeon Hong bowed slightly and walked through the group of men.

But not before flashing them one last smile.

“It was fun talking with you, gentlemen. Let’s chat again next time.”

“Ah… haha, o-of course!”

“Whenever you’d like!”

With practiced ease, she cast out a net that ensured they wouldn’t let her go so easily.

I clicked my tongue and turned away.

“…Let’s move.”

“Yes.”

And just like that, the two of us walked off.

“...”

“...”

A heavy silence descended on the group of men left behind.

Since their connections to Yeon Hong were all superficial, they had nothing to say to each other once she was gone.

They were competitors, after all—what was there to talk about?

The best they could manage was to avoid killing each other.

Just as they were about to quietly disperse—

“H-Hey, um…”

One of the men hesitantly broke the silence.

“Does anyone know what kind of relationship the Leader and Lady Yeon have?”

“...”

“...”

Everyone froze.

It was a question they had all wondered about but hadn’t dared to voice.

“C-Could it be? You know… that kind of relationship?”

“D-Don’t be ridiculous. The Leader has a fiancée!”

One man scoffed, dismissing the idea.

After all, it was common knowledge that the Star King was engaged to Namgung Bi-ah, the Sword Dancer who had defeated the Silver Wolf Sword.

“Exactly. With a fiancée like that, how could he possibly be interested in someone else?”

The memory of seeing Namgung Bi-ah for the first time still lingered in their minds.

They had realized then—someone could truly be that beautiful.

Even traveling together as part of the same unit, most of them found it hard to even look at her directly.

The idea that their Leader might be involved with Yeon Hong instead? Unthinkable.

But—

“Even so….”

“…Yeah, now that you mention it….”

Some of them started recalling details.

“What about the Crescent Moon Sword or Deputy Tang? Don’t they seem… different?”

Wi Seol-ah, the Crescent Moon Sword, and Tang So-yeol, the Poison Queen—both stunning in their own right.

The men had noticed something strange about them, too.

“I remember looking at them for a bit too long once. Thought I was gonna die.”

No, he hadn’t actually died.

But the glare he received had been enough to make him wet himself.

“I tried to start a conversation once and nearly passed out when the Leader warned me to cut the crap.”

The memory of his terrifying expression still haunted them.

“Doesn’t it seem like the Leader treats those women differently?”

“Well….”

“And there are rumors, too.”

“Ah… those rumors?”

The men’s expressions darkened as the thought crossed their minds.

The Star King was known for his heroic deeds, but another rumor had spread through Zhongyuan—

That behind his reputation as a hero, he hid the face of a ghost.

And that he was a notorious womanizer, constantly surrounded by beautiful women.

Recalling those whispers, unease crept into their hearts.

What if—

“D-Do you think Lady Yeon is…?”

“Could she really… with the Leader…?”

The suspicion began to take root.

******************

While the men were lost in their delusions, grinding their teeth in frustration, I led Yeon Hong into the room.

Inside, my belongings had already been unpacked and arranged neatly.

Judging by the setup, it seemed the base staff had prepared it in advance.

“Phew.”

I let out a quiet sigh as I stepped in.

Yeon Hong had already entered and stood near the softly lit lamp.

The room, now aglow with the warm light of the lanterns, carried a subtle yet palpable tension.

I glanced at her.

Under the light, her features appeared even more alluring.

Her slightly upturned eyes held a faint, teasing smile—the kind of expression men found irresistible.

I studied her in silence for a moment before speaking in a low tone.

“Now then.”

The corners of my lips curled ever so slightly.

“Take it off.”

Hearing my words, Yeon Hong brushed her hair back behind her ear with a delicate motion.

“Oh my. Can’t we just talk like this?”

“…It’s a little uncomfortable seeing you like that.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. So take it off.”

I repeated myself firmly.

Only then did Yeon Hong begin to move.

Swish. Swish.

She started removing her clothes without the slightest hesitation.

There was no need for hesitation, anyway.

We had never had that kind of relationship to begin with.

Rustle—

Slip—

Layer by layer, her garments fell away, pooling lightly on the floor.

Watching this unfold, I nodded in satisfaction.

‘Now this is more like it.’

I fixed my eyes on her as she finished undressing.

But—

To my lack of surprise, Yeon Hong wasn’t naked.

Despite removing her outerwear, she was still clad in tight, black martial attire underneath.

And then—

Tear—!!!

Without warning, she grabbed the skin of her face and ripped it away.

From beneath the torn flesh, a completely different face emerged.

It was none other than the man known as the ruler of assassins—“The Shadow King.”

“Shadow King.”

That was Yeon Hong’s true identity.