Unjeong sat in the room that Wang Gwang had led him to, waiting for the courtesan nad Mi-hyang to arrive.
In front of him was a table full of delicacies that he could never eat alone, and musicians were playing so music.
He sat there blankly for a mont, then looked at the musicians and thought, 'I'm sorry. I don't an to.'
After apologizing in his heart, he threw a wine cup into the middle of the musicians.
The wine cup shattered into pieces, and at that mont, the music stopped abruptly.
Although the glass fragnts scattered, not a single person was injured. Because Unjeong had thrown it with exquisite control so that the glass fragnts would not fly towards them.
"It's noisy. Everyone get out."
"B-But..."
"Didn't I say it's noisy! And tell them not to let anyone in here until the courtesan cos. What are you doing not getting out!"
"Ah, I understand!"
After chasing out all the musicians, Unjeong finally sat in a comfortable position.
If soone was watching, he would have to pretend to drink, and above all, it was not easy to have to act like a nervous person all the ti.
He patted his legs and waist with his fists to loosen up his body, and then he began to organize in his mind what he had seen and heard on his way here.
'Hwi said to first find out how many martial artists are here...'
He recalled the thod that Unhwi had explained to him to distinguish those who had learned martial arts, and he recalled the people he had t on his way here.
'Judging by those with a steady breath and stride, and restrained movents... no, it seems almost all the employees have learned martial arts. Was this place called the Shi-yue Pavilion worth that much?'
He felt a chill run down the back of his neck.
Because if his identity were to be revealed, he would have to fight with dozens, hundreds of martial artists, or be chased by them.
'No. For now, there's no way I'll be caught...'
He tried to calm his mind and sat up straight again.
Because soone might co in unexpectedly.
But, fortunately, a little ti passed without anyone even coming near his room.
"Young master. May I co in for a mont?"
It was the voice of Wang Gwang, who had guided him here a little while ago.
He had said it would take a very long ti, but he ca sooner than expected.
"Co in."
The door opened with a creak, and Wang Gwang appeared.
But he was not alone. Behind him stood several won, the musicians he had chased out earlier, and a few strong n.
Unjeong was tense for a mont. Because he thought his identity had been discovered.
But, soon Wang Gwang opened his mouth with a friendly attitude.
"I ca to check if the musicians had made you uncomfortable in any way a little while ago. Is it true that you chased them out?"
"That's right. I wanted to enjoy it quietly, but they kept making a racket next to , so I chased them out."
"I see. As a token of our apology, we have prepared several courtesans. All of these children will serve you, young master."
"What?"
Unjeong looked at Wang Gwang with an annoyed face and shouted, "I don't know why you're trying to bother so much since a while ago, but do you not understand my request? I just want to have a quiet drink with Mi-hyang. It seems the Shi-yue Pavilion has changed a lot while I was away... but this is too shabby, isn't it? How can I co back next ti like this?!"
Although about ten strong n were watching, he shouted like that without batting an eye.
Since all those strong n had learned martial arts, it was a situation where an ordinary person would have been sufficiently intimidated. But he was really not fazed at all.
'Even if you add up those ten people, their sense of intimidation is less than that of one Unhwi.'
Looking at Unjeong's appearance, who did not lose his montum, Wang Gwang...
He bowed his head deeply and repeatedly apologized to him.
"Mi-hyang's preparations are almost finished. We will send her in soon."
"If the preparations are almost done, don't ask and just send her in. Understood? And if you bother one more ti, not only will I go back today, but I will also tell all my close friends not to go to the Shi-yue Pavilion again, so keep that in mind. You all know who my close friends are, right?"
Although Wang Gwang had no way of knowing who those close friends were, he could only bow his head repeatedly, saying that he knew.
A little later, Unjeong slamd the door shut and went into the room, and Wang Gwang dismissed the people who had co with him to their respective places, and then he began to curse the Red Snake Gang Leader, Go Mun-tak, in his heart as he moved with quick steps to get Mi-hyang.
'This suspicious patient. Before you bring out Mi-hyang, you're telling to bring a crowd of people? If there's sothing suspicious, he'll show a suspicious appearance on his own?'
He decided not to follow Go Mun-tak's words anymore, thinking that he would lose all his custors if he listened to him.
'The gang leader told to send Mi-hyang out as late as possible, but if the sales drop, he will surely say sothing to again. I have to send Mi-hyang out quickly before a bad rumor spreads.'
He made up his mind and hurried to get Mi-hyang.
That courtesan, who would usually stubbornly refuse to receive custors, is said to have finished her preparations quickly for so reason.
He felt that he was lucky.
He had t such a difficult custor, and he was worried about how to send him back if Mi-hyang said she would not sit with him, but that worry was resolved at once.
***
The information I received after paying the information fee at the inn run by the Hao-n was not very useful.
To be honest, most of it was sothing I could have found out on my own if I had ti.
The number of disciples is between two hundred and two hundred and fifty, and as is usual with Unorthodox Faction sects, most of them are said to have just escaped the third-rate level.
A peculiar point is that they were originally a weak sect with less than a hundred mbers, but they suddenly started to grow in size in the last two or three years and have beco as large as they are now.
And as their power grew, they took over quite a few brothels and inns in Wuhan and were making money there.
But these guys are also a headache for Unorthodox Faction guys, because in the brothels and inns run by ordinary Unorthodox Faction sects, they deliberately pick fights with custors to extort money...
In professional terms, extortion is rampant, but they maintain the taste of the food and the level of custor service to so extent and make money in a sowhat legitimate way.
'Soone smart is definitely pulling the strings from behind.'
I don't know who that person is.
It could be a person from the Evil Way Alliance, or it could be an idea that ca from the head of that guy nad Go Mun-tak.
However, the guy is refraining from the foolish act of cutting open the belly of the goose that lays the golden eggs as much as possible, and is gradually increasing the number of those geese.
It ans he is a person who knows how to make money.
'And the Hao-n also couldn't find out the relationship with the Evil Way Alliance.'
Although it seed that the Hao-n could find out anything, in the end, they are also people who gather the rumors of the world.
So it seed that they couldn't find out about the kind of things that rumors couldn't be spread about because people didn't even know of their existence yet, like the Evil Way Alliance.
In this case, it's faster to ask the Beggars' Sect, which also handles direct espionage and information gathering missions...
But I haven't built a proper relationship with the Beggars' Sect yet, so it's not appropriate to ask.
Of course, it's not impossible if I request their cooperation as a martial artist of the Wudang Sect, but right now, I'm not Unhwi of the Wudang Sect, but I'm digging into this matter in a personal capacity.
'For now, I'll go back to the Flying Dragon Inn, check if the other senior brothers have returned, and then I'll also go to the Shi-yue Pavilion. It doesn't seem right.'
As I was thinking that and going back to the inn.
I had just crossed one hill and was at a place where the inn was visible, and several people appeared on top of that hill.
I was about to increase my speed and jump over them, but I stopped about ten feet away from them.
'They're martial artists. Are they ronin? No. It's more likely that they're Unorthodox Faction guys.'
I slowly raised my energy and prepared my mind to be able to draw my sword at any ti, and I looked at them.
Then the person who seed to be their leader said to , "Are you the brat who's been digging around for information about the Evil Way Alliance?"
The internal energy felt from his voice is quite heavy. Coincidentally, he was soone I knew.
The Ghost-faced Cudgel, Hong Seong-hu.
Unusually, he is a martial artist who uses a cudgel made of birch wood as a weapon, and in the future, he will take charge of one of the many strike forces of the Evil Way Alliance and rise to the position of leader. He is also a person who will et his end at the hands of the Martial Alliance during the Evil Way Alliance dispute.
It seems Hong Seong-hu was already affiliated with the Evil Way Alliance from this ti.
"I think you've got the wrong person."
"Wrong person? I already know that you received the news that the swallows brought, so don't think of denying it."
"Surely the Hao-n wouldn't sell out... so it's ten to one that there's a spy in the Hao-n. Good. I can use this to offset the next information fee."
I smiled and answered him.
Anyway, I roughly know Hong Seong-hu's skills. To be precise, he is at a level where he can fight on equal terms with Nangong Ryu-jin. In other words, he is weaker than .
And although the number of the rest is a little over ten, judging by the energy I feel, they are all small fries, so there is no need to be tense. To be honest, I even felt a little happy.
I had no idea about the Evil Way Alliance, but the person involved has appeared so clearly.
"Who are you, and why are you digging around the Evil Way Alliance? How much do you know?"
"You don't need to know that, just co at ."
"What?"
Hong Seong-hu was rather flustered by my words.
He probably thought that since I looked young, and since he had brought a number of people with him like this, I would be scared and tell him everything.
But what can I do? I don't need to be scared, and I don't want to tell my opponent anything.
"Didn't you co to fight? You didn't co to have a peaceful conversation, did you?"
"I've seen an insolent brat like this."
"I'm a brat right now, but I'm not insolent. If I were weaker than you and acted like this, that would be insolent. I'm acting naturally right now, you know?"
"Hehe. You talk well, but let's see if you can still say that after getting your butt spanked."
He gripped his cudgel and slowly began to walk towards .
Hong Seong-hu is a martial artist who specializes in a swift footwork and a cudgel technique that swings the cudgel several tis in the blink of an eye.
Therefore, I also planned to face him with a fast sword.
I began to asure the distance between him and with my eyes.
It was to close the distance between him and in one go with the Flowing Cloud Lightness Skill.
Usually, when facing a short weapon, it is common sense to fight at a distance, but to quickly settle the fight with Hong Seong-hu and face the rest of the small fries, I have no choice but to take the risk.
As I was calculating the ti it would take for him to get closer and was about to jump forward after counting three, two, one in my head.
"What kind of riffraff is trying to harm my disciple."
At the voice that suddenly ca from the side path, I almost tripped and fell because my footwork got tangled.
Because that voice was a very familiar voice.
"Master?!"
When I turned my head, a person who shouldn't be there was slowly walking towards .
"It's been a while."
"It has, but... how are you here...?"
"I ca to help you. It seems I ca at a good ti when you needed my help."
My master said as he stood next to as naturally as if he had been there all along.
Although only one person had been added, I felt as if I had gained a thousand troops and ten thousand horses.
(End of Chapter)
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