Click.
The white-bearded old man, Jeong Il-ryong, closed the box with a faint smile.
"Quite impressive."
"Hehe, I'm glad you're satisfied."
"Hmm? What do you mean?"
"...?"
"I said it's impressive, but I never mentioned being satisfied."
The face of Ho Yang, the master of Cheongsoo Sect, slightly stiffened. But only for a moment, as he soon broke into a wide smile.
"Ah, please wait a moment. I forgot to mention that I've prepared the finest carpet from the Western Regions."
"Is that so?"
"I'll have my subordinates bring it, so please wait a little longer. Would you like another cup of tea?"
"Sure."
What a needlessly straightforward old man.
Though he cursed inwardly, Ho Yang's smile grew even brighter. In the martial world, the skill of hiding one's true feelings was essential for survival.
After a while, steam began to rise again from the teacups of the two men.
"You must have had a hard time coming all this way. Thank you once again for your efforts."
"Hehe, was it really an effort? I was just sitting in a carriage pulled by my subordinates, enjoying the sights."
"What did you think of the world you saw, Elder? Did it seem quite decent?"
"The world being chaotic is nothing new. The weather was a bit cold, but the further south I came, the warmer it got."
He must have been excited at the thought of receiving bribes.
Ho Yang laughed brightly.
"Indeed, the north is cold. Though it's not for wearing, the carpet from the Western Regions will be quite useful for your office."
"Hehe, how could I take the sect master's kindness lightly? This tea is no ordinary thing either."
"You recognize it. It's a special Longjing tea I procured just for you, Elder."
"West Lake Longjing? Even with a thousand gold, it's hard to find."
"When a noble guest visits, one must procure it even if it costs ten thousand gold."
"Hehe."
"Haha!"
The two laughed heartily.
One came to receive bribes, and the other bowed his head to make a good impression. Their positions were clearly different, but outwardly, they seemed like friendly companions.
"By the way, how is it here in Jiangsu? Is it livable?"
Ho Yang sighed immediately.
"Jiangsu is inherently a good land, but just because the land is good, it doesn't mean one can laugh and chat freely. The current state of affairs is quite troubling."
"What do you mean by the current state?"
"Isn't the festival of the Demon Sect just around the corner? I don't even know the name of that so-called festival."
"You're talking about the Pasun Festival."
"Ah, yes."
"The Pasun Festival is the biggest event for the Demon Sect. I've heard rumors that they are stirring up everywhere to gather all sorts of rare items from various places."
"Indeed. Because of those bandit-like folks, things are quite chaotic."
Jeong Il-ryong chuckled softly. His appearance, with his white attire and neatly groomed white beard, was reminiscent of an immortal.
"Master Ho, you must be having a hard time. You've passed the age of knowing destiny, so you should wrap things up here and come up."
For a moment, Ho Yang felt his eyes widen.
"Is that possible?"
"Even if the north is cold, it can't be as lonely as a remote mountain village. If you live with various people, the north is quite a decent place."
"Haha! Indeed, Elder, you are the only one who understands my heart. Lately, everything has been noisy and bothersome, but if I could go to a place that brings new vitality, how wonderful would that be?"
Ho Yang's face noticeably brightened. It was not a fabricated smile but genuine joy.
The bribes he had offered to enter the main headquarters of the Yi Tian Alliance were considerable. He must have uprooted several pillars of his sect.
The moment when his efforts bore fruit had arrived. Naturally, he couldn't help but be happy.
After a while, a servant brought a red carpet well-tied with blue silk.
Jeong Il-ryong, who discreetly examined the carpet, nodded. He recognized it as the finest product available from the Western Regions.
"When I return to the main headquarters, I'll inform the higher-ups. You have enough experience running a sect, but since the alliance is a new environment, I'll find a suitable position for you within the internal affairs."
"Thank you. Thank you, Elder."
The warrior standing behind Jeong Il-ryong gathered the box and the carpet.
"Then, I'll take my leave."
"Are you going straight back to the alliance?"
"No. I came here to visit my mother, whom I haven't seen in years. It's just two hundred li further south."
A hint of worry appeared on Ho Yang's face.
"Everyone knows that your martial arts have reached the state of transcendence, but please be careful. I'm concerned that the cunning Demon Sect members might even tarnish your clothes."
"Hehe, though I'm old, I'm still active. Even if the Demon Sect leader comes, I'll scold him and chase him away, so don't worry, Master Ho."
Jeong Il-ryong glanced at the carpet held by the warrior and smiled deeply.
"Well, what could possibly happen?"
The old man, Oh Kyung-hwa, who had opened all the boxes, had his eyes flash.
"Hmm."
The boxes were filled with items.
Oh Kyung-hwa was puzzled.
"They're all rare medicinal herbs. They're hard to find even with a thousand gold. But... why are they trying to acquire these in large quantities in this state of affairs?"
Even though the Pasun Festival is near, are such items necessary for a festival disguised as a ritual?
'They're rare, but they're not herbs that can be made into elixirs. This smells fishy.'
Oh Kyung-hwa shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, it's not something I need to worry about."
The order from the higher-ups was to strike this target and seize all the goods intended for the Demon Sect.
Though he didn't like the mission, he didn't want to waste time worrying about it now that it was done.
After closing all the boxes, he looked around.
"Let's clean up... Tsk tsk, those beasts again."
Puhwaak! Kwadeuk! Kwaduduk!
Dark shadows were tearing into the corpses.
Blood was splattered everywhere, and the dismembered bodies that were once people were scattered all around. It was a gruesome sight that would make a faint-hearted person faint immediately.
Disgust was evident on Oh Kyung-hwa's face.
"They don't know moderation. That's why I dislike them. I can't understand why the sect trained with such things."
At that moment, Gwak Sa approached him.
"Reporting."
"..."
"There are no survivors. We've recovered all the goods, so we just need to burn this place before leaving."
"I can see that. Stop the unnecessary chatter, and where are our men?"
"There are three lightly injured, but no serious injuries or deaths."
Oh Kyung-hwa frowned.
"Three lightly injured, you say?"
"Yes."
"Those useless fools! How strong were they to get injured?"
He didn't like it. The mission, the beasts he had to accompany, and the subordinates scratched by the mediocre martial artists—all of it was distasteful.
What he disliked the most was that there was no worthy opponent to have a grand fight with here.
'The Demon Sect has become pathetic. Even if it's just a transport, they sent a transport team for what they call rare items, and this is the strength they have?'
The five who intervened later were somewhat decent, but that was it. They had the skills to be called first-rate, but they were ones he could send to the afterlife with a few flicks of his fingers.
"How many did you say we deliberately let go?"
"About four or five. It was too far to confirm accurately."
"Incompetent fool. Enough, call the men and pack everything. Prepare to leave."
"Yes."
"And you."
"Yes, sir."
Slap!
Gwak Sa fell on his backside. He was slapped so hard that his vision spun.
"I saw you talking to those beasts earlier."
"Ugh!"
"I don't want to know what you talked about. But you do know how much I despise those things, right?"
"..."
"I hold your leash. Keep your head down like a dog. Don't interact with them, and don't hate anyone without my permission. Just think of yourself as my puppet. Understand?"
"Yes."
"Good, go."
He was already on the verge of exploding with anger, but venting on this clueless fool made him feel somewhat calmer.
"Move the goods and check for any other valuables one last time."
"Understood."
Gwak Sa staggered as he moved. It wasn't just a slap; it was a strike infused with internal energy, making it hard for him to stand properly.
Oh Kyung-hwa sneered.
'I should train him well from now on.'
Though he vented his frustration, if handled well, he could be quite useful. Even the strategist acknowledged his intelligence.
At that moment, an unusual sound came from behind him.
"...Ugh."
Oh Kyung-hwa turned his head. In a corner, a hand buried in a collapsed wall trembled.
He kicked the stones away with his foot.
Puseok! Pueok! Kurreung!
Amidst the shattered and flying stones, a blood-soaked martial artist looked up at Oh Kyung-hwa with swollen eyes.
Oh Kyung-hwa grinned.
"Oh? You're quite tenacious. Aren't you the one who was knocked away by my palm strike earlier?"
"This..."
"Green martial robe... Doesn't seem like you're from the outer division. Are you from the inner division?"
"Cough! Cough!"
With each cough, blood splattered. Though not dead yet, it was clear he would die soon.
Wooong.
For a moment, the martial artist's eyes became clear. It was the phenomenon of a dying flash.
"...The Demon God won't let you be."
Oh Kyung-hwa chuckled.
"What a funny bunch. How can you serve a Demon God because you have no other deity to serve? The Demon Sect folks are all insane."
He pressed his foot on the martial artist's neck.
"If you like the Demon God so much, why don't you all die and go to his side?"
"Grrrk."
"Don't have the courage to die? Let me help you."
Crack!
The martial artist's neck snapped. His wide-open eyes turned gray, and his tongue hung down to his chin, dangling.
"If the Demon God you believe in exists, try begging in the afterlife. Tell him you're filled with resentment and ask him to kill me."
Oh Kyung-hwa, who had been mocking the dead martial artist, turned his body.
Soon, dark shadows rushed towards the corpse of the dead martial artist.
Kwaduduk! Puhwaak!
Juhwa's eyes trembled.
"...It's horrific."
Yeoni's face turned pale. Ma Dong-pil's face also hardened.
They were looking at the charred building. Between the broken walls, arms and legs protruded, as if torn apart by beasts, with bones exposed.
"What should we do, Chief?"
"Have the temporary leader instruct the members to clear the debris here."
"Understood."
Yeoni, who nodded, gave orders to the martial artists.
Juhwa rolled up her sleeves.
"Chief, you should rest."
"No."
Having witnessed such a tragedy, how could she possibly rest? However, Yeoni was genuinely worried. As a close aide to So Yeon-shim, she knew Juhwa well.
"You've just recently escaped from your inner demons. If you overdo it now..."
Crack!
"...!"
The stone Juhwa picked up was instantly covered in white frost. It was the result of the cold energy concentrated from the Moon Yin Demonic Art.
"I've already regained a significant portion of my martial arts. You don't need to see me as a patient anymore."
"...Understood."
"Let's begin."
The transport team martial artists and Juhwa cleared the building debris. Fifty martial artists from the Three Guardians spread out to prepare for any possible attacks.
Ma Dong-pil, who was looking around, approached the rear carriage.
"Young Master."
"Dong-pil."
For a moment, Ma Dong-pil flinched. The voice of the young master from inside the carriage was inexplicably chilling.
"Yes, Young Master. Currently, all the martial artists at the transfer point..."
"Dong-pil."
"Yes, Young Master."
Clunk!
The carriage door opened, and Seo-ryang stepped out.
He looked up at the sky. As he took a deep breath, his eyes gradually turned bloodshot.
"Bring me a heavy sword."