Chapter 30

The Hao Sect Knows Everything.

The one who viewed this fight most objectively was Zhang De-Su.

The aura from So Gun-Pyeong's sword surged forth like a gray whirlwind, astonishing all who beheld it.

Just moments ago, the kitchen knife wielded by his younger brother from the neighborhood, who had once been a mere street thug, was even more mysterious.

The knife, which had only sliced garlic before, was now enveloped in a bright red sauce that seemed to drip with blood, tearing through the whirlwind with ferocity.

In Zhang De-Su's eyes... was it because the kitchen knife had triumphed? It was truly a beautiful sight.

The last thing Zhang De-Su, who had not trained in martial arts, could confirm was...

So Gun-Pyeong barely managing to deflect the strange southern knife held in both hands.

At the same time, a deafening sound rang out, causing Zhang De-Su to drop the lid of the pot and cover his ears with both hands.

The shockwave sent So Gun-Pyeong's body flying, crashing into the ground and rolling away.

"Wow..."

It was a scene that Zhang De-Su could not comprehend. 'This fight is magnificent.' If that had been the end, Zhang De-Su would not have been so surprised.

Amazingly, So Gun-Pyeong was still alive.

The former street thug, now a sect leader, charged like a bull, mercilessly beating the just-recovered So Gun-Pyeong.

Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud...

The fight of extraordinary masters had quickly devolved into a brawl among neighborhood boys.

"That’s quite a beating," Zhang De-Su thought, realizing that something was off.

He had begun to see things differently.

The once nimble black-clad man was now being beaten without mercy, likely due to the internal injuries that the martial artists spoke of.

In the midst of this, the former street thug ruthlessly pounded the black-clad man.

While he was beating him, he was saying something to So Gun-Pyeong, but Zhang De-Su could not catch the words. 'That guy is out of his mind.

What is he saying?' Unconsciously stepping forward, Zhang De-Su exclaimed, "Hey, stop it! You're going to kill him!" In truth, he was worried that his younger brother from the neighborhood might be caught up in a frenzy.

However, it was not a normal sight to see the owner of the local soup restaurant stepping in to break up the fight between the former street thug and the black-clad man.

I grabbed So Gun-Pyeong by the hair and lifted him up.

"You've got a good resilience."

So Gun-Pyeong looked at me with a face that seemed to question what nonsense I was talking about.

I tightened my grip on his hair and asked, "Hey, black-clad man, are you back to your senses?" When there was no answer, I slapped him hard, and Zhang De-Su approached, saying, "Are you trying to kill him?" I found it amusing that Zhang De-Su, worried about the master of the Black Cat Sect, who would later be known as the Three Hundred Years Old, was concerned.

Most people engaged in their livelihoods were like this.

They were far removed from the martial world.

In fact, just by knocking So Gun-Pyeong around like this, he was already an exceptional fighter.

But it was also true that he survived because I had intentionally reduced the power I infused into him.

"Gun-Pyeong, are you ready to surrender?" So Gun-Pyeong looked at me and grinned.

"Surrender? Do I look that pathetic?" "You look very pathetic."

"How could I surrender to a street thug? Go ahead, hit me as much as you want."

I pinched So Gun-Pyeong's cheek and smiled. 'This guy is interesting.

Is he still alive because he isn't cowardly?' I then slapped his cheek hard.

With a loud smack, So Gun-Pyeong's face hit the ground, and only then did he faint.

"You've got some guts. I like that."

Zhang De-Su watched the fainted man and asked, "You beat him up and you like him?" "He didn't cower even after taking a beating. A man often realizes his worth only after being beaten."

"And that realization might just get him killed. By the way, what will happen to business now? He seems to be a high-ranking member of the Black Cat Sect."

I locked eyes with Zhang De-Su and said, "I told you. Code of conduct. All of this is..."

"The sect leader did it? If that could resolve things, I would be happy too."

At that moment, Cha Seong-Tae, who had come after hearing about the fight, approached and asked, "Our sect leader, who are you beating up in broad daylight?" I stared at Cha Seong-Tae for a moment.

Was it because the neighborhood was small? This guy always appeared like a ghost whenever a fight ended.

I asked, "Do you know him?" "No? Who is he? He looks quite fierce. Is he black-clad?" "They say he is the Golden Dragon of the Black Cat Sect."

Cha Seong-Tae muttered, "If he's a Golden Dragon, he's quite a high-ranking guy. But why did he come alone? His face looks like a dumpling skin."

I speculated while looking at the fainted man, "He probably came alone on the order of the sect leader."

"Why?" "If too many come, it would be embarrassing for the Black Cat Sect. Since I'm a street thug."

"Ah."

"And he was probably testing the waters to see how tough the fighters in Il Yang-hyeon are."

Cha Seong-Tae, who seemed to have gained some confidence lately, kicked So Gun-Pyeong's body lightly.

"He's still breathing. Should we kill him?" I looked at Cha Seong-Tae.

Since he suggested killing him, I somehow felt reluctant to do so.

The fate of a person is indeed strange.

And it felt somewhat unsettling to end the life of someone who would later be known as the Three Hundred Years Old.

It felt like I was about to kill a mythical turtle that had lived for hundreds of years.

If he had survived that long in his past life, perhaps his life had been worth living.

After all, the lifespan of black-clad men is usually quite short.

"Take him to the empty room in the Gilu."

"Ah, you mean to torture him and then kill him?" I slapped Cha Seong-Tae's head, something I hadn't done in a while.

"Why does the sect leader of the Life Gate keep suggesting killing him?" Cha Seong-Tae rubbed his head, looking dazed.

"Oh, so that's what Life Gate was about? I understand for now."

"Take him away. Grab that guy's sword too."

"Yes."

As Cha Seong-Tae disappeared with the fainted So Gun-Pyeong and his weapon, Zhang De-Su picked up the fallen kitchen knife and examined it, exclaiming in surprise, "Wow! Look at this."

Zhang De-Su held out the knife and said, "What an incredible master."

I looked at the bent kitchen knife and replied, "Not bad. I'll buy you a new one."

"No need. I can fix it at Cheolbang. I'm not a stranger to Mr. Geum."

"Do as you wish."

Zhang De-Su said with a worried tone, "Isn't Il Yang-hyeon going to be ruined now?" "That can't be. The Black Cat Sect will be the one to fall. Let's each take care of our own matters."

"Agreed."

After parting ways with Zhang De-Su, I took a moment to survey the construction site.

Not wanting to bother the workers unnecessarily, I gazed at the construction overseer from a distance and headed towards the Plum Blossom Tower.

At this point, I pondered whether I should invade the Black Cat Sect first.

I didn't want to cause trouble for those with livelihoods.

Not everyone in the Black Cat Sect was like So Gun-Pyeong, who could calculate their meal costs.

I said to Cha Seong-Tae, who was watching over So Gun-Pyeong by the bed, "Wake him up."

"Yes."

Cha Seong-Tae kicked the bed, saying, "Get up, you brat! Is this your home?" So Gun-Pyeong, who had fainted, slowly opened his eyes as if waking from sleep, then suddenly sat up in shock.

"Huh!" So Gun-Pyeong looked around with wide eyes, swallowing hard. 'Why am I still alive?' I asked the still dazed man, "Gun-Pyeong, where's that crazy monk these days?" "I don't know. How would I know? The sect leader probably doesn't know either, so how could we?" So Gun-Pyeong frowned as he spoke, touching his swollen cheeks.

"What about the Black Cat Sect leader?" "He's in the main hall."

"I was asking what he's doing these days."

"He's in training."

"Is it another ranking competition?" So Gun-Pyeong looked at me as if to say, "How do you know that?" "Why? Is it strange that I know?" "It can't be anything but strange."

"Our Hao Sect knows everything except for what we don't."

So Gun-Pyeong frowned, still unable to comprehend what I had just said.

"What nonsense is that?" I felt a bit proud of myself.

In truth, I knew this because I had returned to the past, but I intended to attribute any knowledge I had in the future to being part of the Hao Sect.

In that case, the best information organization in the martial world would also be the Hao Sect.

Of course, it was because of my return, but still.

Cha Seong-Tae glared at So Gun-Pyeong and echoed my words, "Our Hao Sect knows everything."

I corrected Cha Seong-Tae, "That's not true. What we don't know, we simply don't know."

"Oh, is that so?" "The important thing is the ability to find out what we don't know quickly."

"That's right."

Cha Seong-Tae suddenly began to berate So Gun-Pyeong.

"Do you understand? We are those who find out what we don't know. In the end, it means that the Hao Sect knows everything. The strongest information organization, that is the Hao Sect."

However, So Gun-Pyeong still did not know what kind of organization the Hao Sect was.

So Gun-Pyeong looked at me and said, "You really aren't an ordinary person. You were a pawn of the Hao Sect."

"A pawn?" "I heard you were a street thug."

Cha Seong-Tae slapped So Gun-Pyeong's head.

With a loud smack, So Gun-Pyeong fell back onto the bed, and Cha Seong-Tae said, "Who do you think you are, calling our sect leader a street thug? Are you out of your mind?" Cha Seong-Tae continued, looking at me, "Sect leader, this guy has some skills in taking a beating."

I suddenly worried that this guy might become a treacherous minister in the future.

As So Gun-Pyeong sprang up with an angry expression, a startled Cha Seong-Tae stepped back.

"Whoa, that surprised me."

So Gun-Pyeong seemed to have a naturally strong physique, his resilience not being ordinary.

In fact, So Gun-Pyeong was not someone Cha Seong-Tae could handle alone.

However, since Seong-Tae had a high probability of becoming a treacherous minister in the future, he was not someone to be intimidated with me by his side.

"What are you going to do if you glare at me? Do you want to die here?" I said to Cha Seong-Tae.

"You stay outside for a moment."

Cha Seong-Tae replied politely, "Yes, sect leader."

So Gun-Pyeong looked me up and down and said, "Are you the sect leader of the Hao Sect? I heard you were a street thug."

I stared at So Gun-Pyeong for a long time and said, "Gun-Pyeong, stop the nonsense. Are you thinking of joining me?" I asked without expecting a positive answer right away.

So Gun-Pyeong replied immediately, "No. How could a wolf cub..."

I anticipated the rest of his sentence about not wanting to serve a dog and cut him off.

"Shut up before I tear your mouth apart." "..."

From So Gun-Pyeong's perspective, it was natural that he had never heard of the Hao Sect, a mediocre organization.

I glared at So Gun-Pyeong in silence for a moment, then asked coldly, "Looking at your face, you seem to have a long lifespan. Should I kill you here?" I slowly approached So Gun-Pyeong.

He couldn't open his mouth.

If he asked me to kill him, it felt like I would actually do it.

I smiled and said, "Don't act tough and answer me well. If you ask me to kill you, I will do it right away. A wolf cub? Are you really going to say that you wouldn't want to serve a dog? Who made up that saying? Should I find them and kill them?" I thought that was a surprisingly memorable remark.

I couldn't quite understand why.

I knew a way to recruit someone like him as my subordinate.

It was a very effective method that had been historically proven.

The classic way to recruit someone who doesn't listen is the example left by Zhuge Liang when he captured Meng Huo.

The so-called Seven Captures and Seven Releases.

Beat him, then let him go, and beat him again.

My conclusion was that So Gun-Pyeong had only been beaten once by me.

I voiced the thought that crossed my mind, "This is why men should read the Romance of the Three Kingdoms." "..."

So Gun-Pyeong, unable to grasp the context of the conversation, looked at me with a fearful expression for the first time.