Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Youngho forced down the churning in his stomach and spoke.

“Never did I imagine that a Hall Master would personally come to find me over something as trivial as an errand.”

“It is something important, after all.”

“It must be quite important, seeing that you came yourself.”

“You speak as though you know me quite well?”

“Come on, who in the Unorthodox Alliance doesn’t know you? You’re the Hall Master of Blood Ghost Hall.”

“Hm… That may be true, but you should know that wasn’t what I meant, shouldn’t you?”

“I don’t know. Was there another meaning?”

Since this was his first time seeing the Fifth Young Master in person, Danpung immediately began throwing out various questions to gauge him.

Having roughly assessed the man called Youngho, Danpung maintained her smile as she thought,

‘He’s like an old veteran of the Jianghu who has weathered all kinds of storms.’

The way he deftly steered the conversation only around important points, and his tone that feigned complete ignorance.

At the same time, the shamelessness with which he tried to draw out information from the other side without giving any of his own was truly exquisite.

“In any case, since Master has called for me, I’ll go.”

“I shall guide you.”

“I can go by myself.”

“Do you know where the Alliance Lord is?”

“I assumed he would be where we met last time.”

“Unfortunately, you are mistaken. I will personally guide you.”

“I’m not a child. Go take care of your own business.”

“Aren’t you eighteen?”

“Oh. I am, aren’t I?”

“Yes. You are a child. Let us go, Fifth Young Master.”

‘Right now, you and I are about the same age, you wench.’

Youngho cursed Danpung inwardly and followed behind her.

“Horyeung. Make preparations to depart.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

After roughly passing along instructions to Horyeung, Youngho lightly brushed away the energy that kept licking at his body.

As Youngho repeatedly blocked her aura, Danpung let out a soft laugh.

“To sense my energy… as expected, you are quite something.”

“At this level, wouldn’t it just mean you’re lacking?”

If anyone else had heard those words, ten shocks would not have been enough.

No matter that he was the Alliance Lord’s disciple, to act so arrogantly toward a Hall Master—and to openly say she lacked skill.

Though his boldness seemed matched by ability, Danpung did not find his demeanor pleasing.

‘He’s impossible to read.’

“Why? Are you afraid I might do something to you?”

At those words, Danpung’s body trembled for an instant.

“Have you learned mind-reading? Of course, I have never harbored such thoughts toward you, Fifth Young Master.”

“Are you uneasy because you can’t control me?”

“……How could that be?”

Her tone was gentle, but her eyes were endlessly cold. Fortunately, Youngho was walking behind her, unable to see her gaze.

But even without looking into her eyes, he could easily imagine what kind of expression she wore.

‘This wench is beyond saving.’

Before his Regression, Danpung had been a traitor. A traitor who abandoned the Unorthodox Alliance and went over to the Demonic Cult.

Though betrayal was commonplace within the Unorthodox Faction, Danpung’s case had been somewhat different.

Compared to Cheonung, she had been lacking, but she too had reached the Transformation Realm, and at one time had served as the Hall Master of Blood Ghost Hall.

When someone like her defected to the Demonic Cult, what do you think happened? Naturally, those who followed her betrayed the Unorthodox Alliance one by one and entered the Demonic Cult as well.

At that time, she had already stepped down from the position of Hall Master, so the damage had not been too severe, but…

‘Now I see.’

Danpung was someone who valued order. She hated variables and simply followed principles. That was the kind of woman she was.

When Youngho had personally killed her before his Regression, he still remembered clearly what she had said.

—The Heavenly Demon will create a new order. An order that no one, no one under heaven, will ever be able to break……

Order. It was a fine word. Order was necessary everywhere. Because people desired order, nations were formed and laws were created.

But the Heavenly Demon’s order had been of a different nature. It had been…

‘Control.’

Yes, it had been closer to control. The kind of control where everything could be bent to one’s will.

‘You said you desired order.’

But from what I see, that’s not it.

Danpung had merely wanted to control everything beneath her feet. But such a thing would no longer happen.

‘Now that I have regressed, your order will disappear.’

Youngho made a vow. He would turn Danpung’s order into chaos—into a chaos no one could ever touch.

As he was thinking that, they arrived where Cheonung was.

After guiding Youngho, Danpung withdrew at once.

Seeing how clearly she did not wish to face Cheonung, Youngho openly let out a sigh.

“What is it?”

“You look tired. Mentally.”

“The Orthodox Sect bastards keep clinging to me.”

“Well, of course they do. Your words must have sounded very sweet to them.”

“What sweet words did I say?”

“If you don’t know, then so be it. You’ll find out later. The reason I called you here is simply that I want you to travel the Jianghu for a while.”

“I see. What is it that I must do?”

“This is not an order from the Alliance Lord. As your master, I merely wish for your insight to broaden.”

“Don’t tell such obvious lies.”

“Heh heh.”

Cheonung chuckled as though amused by Youngho’s response.

“As expected, you truly are entertaining.”

At the same time, Youngho unconsciously twitched his fingers at the chill he felt around his neck.

Sensing Cheonung’s aura against his skin, Youngho forced an awkward smile.

“Are you going to spar with me?”

Cheonung’s aura was closer to competitive spirit than chilling killing intent. It was only because his realm was so high that it felt akin to killing intent.

Cheonung looked at Youngho with eyes brimming with competitive spirit.

“To be honest, I do want to fight you. I want to know your level.”

“I do not wish to fight.”

“Do not worry. I am not the one you will be fighting.”

At those words, Youngho’s eyes flashed.

“Does that mean I will be fighting someone?”

“In simple terms, yes.”

“Who is my opponent?”

“Just lightly try to persuade some of the Unorthodox Faction’s forces.”

“…Pardon?”

“Do you still not understand the power structure of the Unorthodox Faction? Well, you’ve been shut up in your room doing nothing but training. To start with, the water bandits of the Yangtze River…”

“I know that much. What I mean is, why are you making me do something like that?”

“As you know, this matter requires a considerable amount of force. And we also need your connections.”

“By connections, do you mean Gold-Blood Hall?”

“That’s right.”

“It seems the relationship between the Orthodox Sect and the Unorthodox Faction is more precarious than I thought.”

“No matter how much I restrain my own greed, it seems the thoughts of those beneath me are different.”

“So you want me to persuade forces like the water bandits and the Hao Sect of the Unorthodox Faction to prevent the Orthodox–Unorthodox War?”

“Correct. As for Gold-Blood Hall, I could pay the price myself, but your connection seems more useful.”

“I’m sorry, but I will only use Gold-Blood Hall’s favor when I choose to.”

“Haha, if the gold mine you gave to Gold-Blood Hall had not been thirty times the Unorthodox Alliance’s annual budget, I wouldn’t even have brought it up.”

“…What?”

“Judging by your reaction, you didn’t know. If you had known, I would have been greatly disappointed in you, my disciple.”

“Was what you just said true?”

“Do you doubt your master’s words?”

“It’s not that I doubt you, but there could be some exaggeration, could there not?”

“Precisely thirty-two times. Is that sufficient? Even after reducing it by two years’ worth, you still speak to me like that. I am wounded, my disciple.”

“Ugh…”

At those words, Youngho groaned.

“I truly didn’t know it was to that extent.”

“Yes. I understand.”

“I’m serious.”

“I shall relay that to Chief Aide Cheongsol as well.”

Whether it was the Murim Alliance or the Unorthodox Alliance, money was important. And especially Cheongsol—no matter how financially comfortable the Unorthodox Alliance was—was always plagued by it.

What was the point of earning it? It kept draining away because of fools who only knew how to swing swords.

Cheongsol was perpetually at war with finances.

“…Please pass along my apology as well.”

“That depends on what you do.”

Youngho let out a deep sigh, thinking it had been wise not to inform Yeo Jeonghye of the other gold mines.

Seeing this, Cheonung smiled broadly, clearly enjoying himself.

“If you visit Gold-Blood Hall, none would dare oppose your will to prevent the Orthodox–Unorthodox War. Even if they have complaints, since you have done so much for them, they won’t dare utter a word.”

“That’s likely. I may never be able to shake off Gold-Blood Hall’s favor for the rest of my life.”

“To be honest, I think so too.”

Youngho sighed heavily with regret and spoke.

“By the way, why me? I am your youngest disciple.”

“Hm… There are countless reasons, but I’ll make it simple.”

“Yes.”

“First, Baekcheong is far weaker than you. He is still at the level of a Junior Disciple.”

“That’s true.”

“So he is excluded from this matter, which requires force. And I cannot send out the eldest either.”

“Because First Young Master is in Closed-Door Training.”

“Correct. And the second is a coward.”

“That’s true. I suppose I have no choice but to go.”

“…Have you ever met the second?”

“No, I have not.”

“Then how do you know he is a coward?”

“He has never appeared before me, so I judged him a coward.”

“Pfft!”

Cheonung burst into laughter, unable to hold it in.

“Ha ha ha! You truly are entertaining. I did not expect such an answer.”

“Isn’t it true?”

“Yes, I think your words are right a hundred, a thousand times over. One who schemes from behind is a coward.”

“So there was indeed a reason I had to go.”

“Yes. You only need to meet the heads of each force and return.”

“Master, I fear I might bring disgrace upon your name.”

“Is it not rather that you fear you might die?”

“That is correct. Honestly, is it not too harsh to send an eighteen-year-old child on such a task?”

“What can I do when you appear stronger than the other disciples? If you handle this matter properly, I will clearly establish the succession in your favor.”

“Even so, it would not be finalized, would it? And I am still too young to become the Lord of the Unorthodox Alliance.”

“Honestly, judging by your growth speed, it seems you will catch up to me within five years.”

‘Five years, my foot. Give me a spirit pill and two years of time, Master.’

Swallowing those words, Youngho laughed lightly.

“I am not yet prepared to inherit your position.”

“No, you have already shown sufficient qualification. Now I will raise your influence. Of course, I trust you are not such a fool that you cannot eat even after I have placed the spoon in your hand.”

“I am not that foolish. This disciple merely wishes for Master to remain well and strong for a little longer.”

On the surface, it appeared as though the disciple trusted the master and the master trusted the disciple. In reality, it was different.

‘You do it. I’m tired.’

‘Ha ha, Master, have you lost your mind? You’re not the only one who’s tired.’

Each was desperately trying to hand over—or rather force upon—the other the position of Lord of the Unorthodox Alliance.

‘I’m not even done locking myself in my room to train, and now he pulls this again?!’

‘Let me train too!’

‘You say that while dumping all the work on Chief Aide Cheongsol and training alone!’

Though none of it was spoken aloud, Cheonung and Youngho exchanged these words through their eyes.

In the end, failing to pass on the position of Lord of the Unorthodox Alliance, Cheonung looked at Youngho with a disappointed expression. Youngho immediately avoided his master’s gaze.

“…You wretched brat.”

“Yes? What did you say, Master?”

“Nothing. In any case, this is to prevent the Orthodox–Unorthodox War. Go and discipline those beneath us.”

“Conspicuously?”

“Are you mad? They are still leaders of organizations. If they are beaten by a brat who has only just finished the Dragon–Phoenix Gathering, how would they ever hold their heads up again?”

“I never said I would go around beating them.”

“Are you not going to beat them?”

“I am.”

“Exactly.”

“Ah, honestly.”

“In any case, handle it as inconspicuously as possible.”

“Yes.”

“And I will serve ten more years, then after that you—”

“This disciple suddenly has urgent business to attend to and must take his leave.”

Before Cheonung could finish speaking, Youngho fled the room.

“…You wretched brat.”