Gu Yangdo (Nine Sun Blade) Geumpyeong.

Myochoa (Purple Sword).

The two of them joined me early in the morning. Gu Yangdo Geumpyeong was slightly late for the meeting time, while Myochoa arrived right on time.

“We’re acquaintances, so no need for introductions.”

Gu Yangdo Geumpyeong had the same heavy impression as before. He was large in stature but calm, and the aura emanating from him was serene.

One notable thing was the gigantic “dao” strapped to his back.

Unlike conventional scabbards, it was bound with bandages on the blade portion. Moreover, the aura it radiated was also mysterious.

Bai Ya and Black Pearl whispered softly. I realized from their delicate conversation that this weapon was anything but ordinary.

At the very least… it resembled the Ear Sword.

“This is Myochoa.”

Myochoa, the Purple Sword, was indeed the beautiful woman I had heard about. She was rumored to be the most beautiful in the Martial Alliance.

What stood out the most was her silky black hair, more exquisite than silk. Her eyes were also of a stunning golden hue.

Mysterious. However, apart from her beauty, she seemed to conceal many things. Her refined aura was, like Geumpyeong’s, tranquil.

While showing courtesy, it was clear that she didn’t harbor any favorable feelings toward me. Both her words and actions intentionally lacked emotion.

Above all… a faint sense of hostility.

She was on her guard around me.

“I’m Jeok-un.”

After exchanging brief greetings, we boarded the carriage prepared by the Martial Alliance.

The horses began to move. Myochoa spoke up.

“What are your thoughts on digging into the incident?”

“I plan to uncover the details starting from the small things.”

“Shaolin won’t cooperate. Just the fact that the Martial Alliance has dispatched inspectors will undoubtedly displease them.”

Myochoa leaned against the wall of the carriage.

“While we have valid reasons for coming to resolve the incident, excessively exploiting that will earn us outright contempt. It’s possible that it may not just end at scorn.”

“…….”

“Shaolin is not a gentle Buddha. Remember, behind the prayer hands lies a martial artist hiding their true intentions. Shaolin’s piety vanished long ago.”

Is that a warning?

Or perhaps a threat?

Either way, it didn’t matter. My duties remained unchanged.

Build my reputation and lower the guard of the Martial Alliance.

Save lives and excise the rotting parts.

If I were so easily frightened, I wouldn’t have even started from the Demon Cult. I turned my head to look out the window.

“Lady So will do what she must.”

“…….”

I returned the words I’d heard from her master back to her.

“I will do my part.”

. . .

Myochoa’s gaze lowered.

The carriage swayed. But the other party remained perfectly still.

They controlled their body’s flow. Not using inner strength, but merely their physical body.

How much training would it take for that to be possible solely through external power?

Honestly, I was astonished. If she were a martial artist, her sense of balance was impeccable.

But that was as far as it went.

Myochoa lightly bumped him with a thread of energy she had casually let out. She certainly believed no one could match her in delicate energy manipulation.

And she was right.

The fluctuations of energy, and its nature…

I felt nothing.

It perfectly matched what my master had said. He cannot use inner strength. If so, the limitations must be clear.

There were indeed experts who honed their skills purely through external power. However, whenever they clashed with ‘real’ strength, they were always shattered.

“…….”

Shaolin Temple.

Currently, a number of missing persons cases are occurring within the Gu Pae Il Bang.

However, they do not seek help. What happens within the sect’s domain is something they wish to handle themselves.

The moment they accept external help, their prestige and pride diminish concurrently. Though they may express gratitude outwardly, they will never allow outsiders to solve their problems.

Especially if one oversteps their bounds…

Retaliation will surely follow. The current leader of Shaolin is the Heavenly Seer Gongbaek.

A name mentioned alongside the Martial Alliance Leader. He’s known to have depths too profound, referred to as one of the Four Greats (Sa Jun).

His personality is widely known. Based on the teachings of Buddha, he is compassionate to most…

Yet he extends merciless acts toward those who overstep their boundaries.

A small slip could cost a life.

Myochoa secretly hoped that the warrior before her would be the one to lose their head. She had foolishly agreed to such an absurd proposal.

The current martial world is chaotic, and to resolve it, one must overhaul the head.

Dethrone the current Martial Alliance Leader and elevate the right person.

That must be the starting point to barely set things right, but the person before her was obstructing that.

Whether their motive is righteous or power-driven, I don’t know…

But at least one thing is clear.

That person belongs to the Martial Alliance Leader.

A hindrance in this grand scheme.

If they could be dealt with by someone else’s hand, that would be even better.

If they had a functioning brain, they would know they are in a position to be discarded at any moment, but they seemed utterly oblivious to that…

In my pity, I threw them a piece of advice, but it was ignored.

…Well.

There was no reason to help a foe.

Myochoa neatly set aside her thoughts. She resolved to act as one blade.

He would do his part.

And she would do hers.

Once Jeok-un declared his position as inspector, the decision was already made.

He would ultimately dig too deeply into the corrupt forces and bring about his own demise.

She would simply return with his corpse…

That was the story.

. . .

We arrived at Shaolin. Since it was a formal entry, they also came to receive us.

However, their gazes were not friendly.

“Jeok-sohyeop. Welcome to Shaolin.”

A person who identified himself as Damyang guided us inside.

And naturally, we couldn’t even catch a glimpse of the current head of Shaolin, Gongbaek.

“The abbot is currently absent due to pressing matters.”

“I would like to hear about the circumstances surrounding the incident.”

“I have prepared a document in advance, so please read it. I will take my leave.”

The young monk handed over documents for us to read.

There was nothing unusual. Just a standard report you could find anywhere.

The missing persons had no commonalities, nor was there any specific gender that was vanishing.

The information provided was insufficient. I requested more, but Damyang declined.

“That is all the information we have.”

Furthermore, access to records within Shaolin was also denied.

What I was allowed was merely to observe the area around Hanam Province, the territory of Shaolin.

“Jeok-sohyeop. I ask for your understanding.”

It wasn’t a request. It was a gaze that implied, “Why should a third party meddle in our affairs?”

Ignoring that, I turned my steps toward Hanam Province.

With the two silently following, I had to handle things alone.

The most important thing first…

Meeting those connected to the missing persons.

I encountered those who had formally petitioned at Shaolin. They all bore signs of poor health, living in households on the verge of collapse.

“P-please! Find my daughter! I beg you…! I will offer you anything!”

“My wife has disappeared. No matter how much I search… I can’t find her. Please… please…”

“D-addad hasn’t come back. He promised he’d be back… but… he hasn’t…”

Sixty-three people were reported missing.

And I heard that usually about two people would be taken each time they vanished.

Despite over thirty incidents of disappearance, it felt like no resolution had been reached.

A young girl grabbed the edge of my clothes. She raised her dirty gaze and whimpered.

“Please… find my daddy…”

“…….”

What sin does this innocent child bear?

I pulled up my sleeve and carefully cleaned her face.

“…Don’t worry. I’ll find him and bring him back.”

I traced the traces of the missing persons. They had all disappeared without a word one day, even vanishing abruptly in the middle of the night.

The usual timing for disappearances was after sunset, when few people were around.

The fact that they couldn’t find any missing persons raised the likelihood of organized involvement.

Among those searching for the missing, there were some from Shaolin as well. But it seemed they recognized my face, as they remained silent even when I tried to speak to them.

All they returned were cold words of uncertainty.

The investigation hit a dead end.

The thought that things would have been much easier if Black Danhwa and Black Wind were present lingered in my mind.

Nevertheless…

It had become clear that relying on anyone was futile; I had to handle this impeccably on my own.

“…….”

I arrived at the temporary lodging arranged for me in Hanam Province. Ignoring the two who entered their rooms, I lit the lamp in my own space.

What could they want by abducting these people?

It couldn’t be to kill them. If that were the case, they wouldn’t act so broadly.

…Human trafficking? Or perhaps the work of those who consume human flesh?

No. If that were the case, they wouldn’t have acted in a way that drew so much attention to themselves.

A case known throughout Hanam Province.

The enemy doesn’t seem to mind being exposed. Then why is that?

Why do they not worry about being caught despite committing crimes?

Do they pride themselves on the perfection of their heinous acts?

Or do they simply believe that no one within Hanam Province would dare pursue them…?

“…Hmm.”

With so few clues, I had little to work with.

However, at least one thing was certain. The criminal operates at night.

Without enough information and no one to assist, it meant that walking the path alone was my only option.

I extinguished the lamp. Leaning against the window, I let the breeze wash over me.

“…Hoo.”

Gradually, I started to channel the energy I had hidden within the healing technique.

Recall what my master had taught me. Jeok-un.

While I couldn’t replicate my master’s ability to put an entire banquet to sleep at once…

If I concentrated, I would be able to sense a small area with my energy.

—Tap.

I lightly jumped off the building’s roof.

I scanned the night streets. I was searching for clues.

Nights passed without any fruitful findings. Yet, I continued to run through the streets at night.

The moments I spent sleeping dwindled to a minimum. Could I possibly sleep knowing that an innocent could die while I do?

Searching for the missing had become my duty as an inspector.

Prioritizing taking another step rather than taking a moment to catch my breath was crucial.

Thus, on the sixth night.

I busily darted around, only to encounter someone wearing a mask.

“…….”

“…….”

We halted simultaneously, taking each other’s measure. And within that gaze, I recalled a familiar sensation.

Silent movement through the air. An obscured presence, though right before me.

That… feels similar to Black Wind of the Full Moon.

It’s the footwork typical of information organizations.

“…Who are you?”

“I’m Jeok-un, inspector of the Martial Alliance. Don’t you need information?”

“State your affiliation.”

“The girl goes by Su-ryeon.”

A woman wearing a fox mask moved her body to bow respectfully.

“It seems we can each get what we desire from the other… what do you think?”

“Is money your goal?”

“Not at all. There is something far more precious.”

“……”

“It seems this will be a long conversation, so shall we change locations?”

From the very beginning, the Su-ryeon aimed at me.

I placed my hand on my sword.

“If you wish to talk, perhaps you should first remove the distractions.”

“…Excuse me?”

I nodded slightly.

“I said to get rid of the four hidden from sight.”

 

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