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Heading to the Designated Location

As I made my way to the arranged place, a middle-aged man in the Martial Alliance’s sword team uniform greeted me.

“It’s been a while.”

It was Beomdong, the guy I saw last time.

“Yeah. It has been a while.”

Receiving his greeting with a somewhat sour expression made Beomdong snicker.

“I apologize for coming so suddenly.”

But his expression didn’t show any actual remorse.

“That’s quite the coincidence. You arrived just in time for dinner. I’m starving over here!”

I didn’t bother lying about how I was totally okay with it.

I really wasn’t okay at all.

“I felt that we didn’t get a proper introduction last time, so I thought I’d come by.”

“You could’ve taken your time. Why now of all times…”

“I’m Beomdong, the Master of the Flying Dragon from the Alliance. You’re So Yeomra, right?”

“…”

I was about to roll my eyes in annoyance but turned my expression away instead.

It was a nickname I hadn’t heard in a long time.

‘What’s this about?’

I figured out why Beomdong came—he must have gathered information about me.

‘Did he find out who I really am?’

It had been long enough; seven nights was plenty of time to dig into someone.

And considering the intelligence department’s capabilities…

‘He probably knows more than just my identity.’

Curiosity tugged at me about why he really dropped by.

Crack.

I pulled out a chair and sat down, then spoke to Beomdong.

“I’m Gu Yangcheong from the Gu Clan.”

“Finally, I get to hear your real name. It took me a bit to figure it out since you initially went by the alias ‘Pajeolyeop.’”

Listening to his words, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

‘This guy isn’t even trying to hide it, huh?’

Pajeolyeop was the name I used when Bi-hyeonhwa approached me.

But the fact that Beomdong mentioned it so openly meant he had no intention of concealing that he had been investigating me.

“I was surprised. I never thought the Prince would be So Yeomra.”

I stayed silent, examining Beomdong, and he continued speaking.

“They said you were a rising martial master who once shook the Central Plains… but honestly, I didn’t believe it much.”

“Why’s that? Was it too far-fetched?”

“Exactly. The youngest Transformation Realm Martial Artist… said to have single-handedly taken down Gu Daemadu. It’s hard to accept.”

Half of it was true, and half was off the mark.

“But seeing you here now, you seem even more impressive.”

“Why do you keep throwing around compliments like that? It’s a bit unsettling.”

“From what I’ve heard, you’re just over twenty now…”

To be that age and already suppressing myself—

Beomdong seemed to swallow back whatever comment he had after that.

“This is purely out of curiosity, but are you perhaps a senior who has practiced the Rejuvenation Technique?”

“…”

I almost spat out the tea I had in my mouth when he said that.

“No matter how I look at it, I can’t wrap my head around that level of skill in someone your age.”

“You know that the side effects of the Rejuvenation Technique are known to the Great Lords, right?”

“I know.”

Rejuvenation Technique is a power that makes a martial artist’s physical age younger, but their Blood Qi weakens and their capacity decreases.

This means without undergoing Transformation of the Body multiple times, you’ll never regain your past life’s physical body.

“What kind of idiot would do that knowing those consequences?”

“That’s true.”

“Only a real fool—an utter moron would do something like that…”

“Alright, I get it. You can stop now.”

“If someone does exist, they’d have to be really foolish and lacking in intelligence.”

“…”

Beomdong let out a slight cough at my blatant insults.

After observing him, I threw him a question.

“Why did you come here?”

Clack.

I set down the tea cup and asked.

“If you already learned something, wouldn’t it be better to investigate further? What’s your true intention in coming here?”

“Haha.”

Beomdong laughed.

Somehow, that laughter made me feel a bit uneasy.

“I’m still gathering information. I’ve connected things with you and the Baekhwa Sect… among other matters that are currently intertwined. The investigation is continuously ongoing.”

“But why now?”

“It seems I need to speak to you directly about something.”

As he outright said he was investigating me, he was clearly here for something else.

What could it be? As I looked at Beomdong, he continued.

“There have been some strange occurrences around you lately. Do you have any idea what they are?”

“How intriguing. I’m all ears.”

Around me?

“The first is regarding a woman who approached you.”

“Hmm.”

I widened my eyes slightly at what Beomdong brought up.

I was honestly surprised.

“I didn’t expect you to just blurt that out!”

It sounded like he was talking about Bi-hyeonhwa. I never thought he’d lay it out so plainly.

“I was confident that you would know. Once I gathered the information, it looked that way. It’s curious—men of that age probably had a hard time handling her charm.”

Bi-hyeonhwa was undeniably beautiful.

As Beomdong pointed out, the young men certainly couldn’t help but lose their footing around her.

Though…

‘I was used to being around overwhelming beauties in my life.’

I was almost immune to such things.

“How did you figure out she was someone from the Alliance?”

“I didn’t particularly think she was from the Alliance. I was just suspicious, so I kept my distance.”

Though I already knew about her and had played around, that was naturally a secret.

“So, was there something wrong with her?”

She left in a hurry, and I didn’t chase after her.

Was there a problem after all?

At my question, Beomdong just stared at me.

Then he muttered,

“…Looks like you’re going to play it that way.”

He mumbled something to himself.

“I don’t care.”

“What do you mean? Why are you talking to yourself? We’re in this together, so why not share?”

Has he lost his mind…?

“The second is… several people from the Alliance have gone missing.”

This was the first I was hearing of this.

“Missing?”

“Yes. Especially…”

Beomdong narrowed his eyes as he looked at me.

His gaze was becoming increasingly unfriendly.

As I stared into those eyes, I exhaled and asked.

“Are you doubting me?”

“Not to that extent. More like observing you closely.”

“That counts as suspicion.”

I was baffled.

If I was being suspected for an accident I caused, that’d be one thing, but to be suspected over something I’d never even heard about was absurd.

‘Besides, I don’t think there have been any reports of such incidents.’

Perhaps it was caused by someone else.

But I hadn’t received any such reports yet.

“So you came to see me because you have your doubts, is that it?”

“Not quite. This was merely an introduction… Besides, it won’t be long before an investigation order comes down from the Alliance.”

‘Investigation order?’

Beomdong’s statement raised my eyebrows.

“Evidence has been gathered regarding the circumstances.”

Circumstances? What circumstance?

As questions filled my mind, suddenly…

“The matter you displayed earlier might also cause issues too, So Yeomra.”

The moment Beomdong spoke that, my eyebrows twitched.

‘What did he mean by that?’

After saving him last time, it seemed that he still had a bone to pick.

“Therefore, before the investigation order is issued… I think it’d be best if you personally visited the Alliance to undergo an inquiry.”

“Why would I go peacefully for something I didn’t even do? Just sit there and wait for an investigation?”

“If the investigation order comes down, it will turn into a hassle for both sides. It’s better to handle this smoothly, don’t you think?”

“Geez…”

Hearing Beomdong’s words, I couldn’t help but be astonished. This was not a compliment.

‘This guy is still the same.’

In the beginning, he acted like he knew everything about me and now he’s mentioning the Alliance’s investigation powers and trying to showcase his influence in the Alliance.

In short, this was a power struggle.

No matter how strong martial artists are, the Righteous Faction is firmly tied to the Martial Alliance, and even if they act recklessly, the Alliance could easily make things difficult for them.

Back in my previous life, Beomdong had used this kind of pressure to take care of business.

It was a tactic to take the opponent’s spirit down.

‘Seriously, what a jackass.’

Of course, such tactics would have no effect on me.

“I won’t be going.”

Creak-!

As I spat those words out, I stood up.

“If you’re looking for me, at least bring some evidence with you. You’re handling this terribly. I came here hoping to eat and now I can’t even get that done. Maybe I should just sprinkle salt on this whole thing.”

It may be a rare occasion for the Great Lord to visit, but I wouldn’t put in any extra effort for a ridiculous meeting like this.

They’d come looking for me eventually anyway.

Why rush to end my life prematurely?

‘There might be something useful soon enough, so I can’t kill him yet.’

My patience was starting to wear thin, but I still needed to hold on.

As I just said, it was best to let things be for the time being.

Beomdong had to be saved for a pivotal moment…

“There seem to be a lot of women around you.”

I stopped in my tracks.

I didn’t turn my head but kept my ears open.

“There appear to be four in total. Three daughters from prominent families… No, one of them is out of the picture now, so we can exclude her.”

The sound was grating against my ears.

Should I turn around now? Nah, better hold off.

If I turn now, I might just kill him. I thought about ramping up my patience but…

“I can even see the descendent of the previous alliance leader beside you.”

“…Haha.”

In the end, I was forced to turn around because of what I heard.

“So what’s your point?”

“It’s nothing serious… but it seems you’ve become quite close with the young ladies.”

“No, I mean…”

Creak.

I grabbed the chair I had just stood up from, placed my hand on the table, and approached Beomdong.

“So what’s your point?”

“Haha.”

As I locked eyes with him, Beomdong laughed.

“I don’t mean anything by it at all. I merely thought you might be mistaking something.”

“What am I misinterpreting?”

“I thought since you uphold justice for the Alliance, you wouldn’t do anything foolish.”

I nodded at Beomdong’s words.

“If that’s what you think, then you’re correct. The Alliance upholds justice, so we wouldn’t act against those principles.”

After hearing that, I posed a question to Beomdong.

“What exactly do you mean by a foolish act or an act against justice?”

“I mean illegal actions.”

“Oh, really? Is that so? Please continue. So the Alliance wouldn’t engage in those petty, illegal acts, correct? But…?”

“While that may be true when it bears the name of the Alliance… As of late, several folks from the Alliance have gone missing, and often those who are uncooperative with the Alliance suffer unfortunate incidents.”

“Unfortunate incidents?”

“Such as family members facing misfortune, or… valuable individuals getting hurt.”

As Beomdong continued, his gaze chilled noticeably.

Could it be that these guys haven’t changed at all?

Or perhaps that made things easier for them.

“So?”

“Therefore, I’m worried. You’re acting uncooperatively, So Yeomra… so there may be bad things happening to the important people around you.”

“So what you’re saying is…”

Clack.

My hand slid against the tea cup.

At that moment, I felt a familiar presence behind me.

Just mine alone.

“Keep your head down and don’t act up. If you keep that up, I won’t just leave your loved ones alone. That’s what you’re implying, right?”

“Haha, I see there’s been another misunderstanding… This isn’t from the Alliance. Truly…”

“Oh, shut up, you bastards.”

“…What?”

Unable to hold back, I blurted out a curse, making Beomdong’s expression sour.

“So Yeomra, what did you just say—”

“I heard you loud and clear, don’t ask again, you bastard!”

I must have had enough of his nonsense.

“So-called Righteous Faction members lack any moral compass. At least the Demonic Faction are overt with their intentions. These guys don’t know how to evolve at all, do they?”

Beomdong also rose to his feet after my harsh words.

Well, not quite, he tried to stand.

Clonk-!

Boom-!

“Cough–!!”

I grabbed Beomdong’s hair as he tried to move and slammed his head into the table.

In the process, some tea spilled from the cup atop the table and trickled down to the floor.

Thankfully, the table didn’t break.

Thanks to the protective energy I had set up on it beforehand.

“What the hell—!”

Before Beomdong could finish his words, my fist connected with his face.

Boom-!!

“Gah!”

The impact caused his lips to split and a few teeth to go flying out.

“I’m already angry as it is. What? I’m the one facing unfortunate incidents?”

“Grr… how dare… the Alliance’s—”

As his words trailed off, I slightly lifted my grip and slammed him down again.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

I repeated the action until I was well past two fingers’ worth of times.

Finally, I came to a stop.

“Ugh…”

The only sound that filled the quiet room was Beomdong’s groans.

Drip… drip…

Blood flowed from the corners of Beomdong’s mouth onto the table.

Watching him, I said, “I’ve tried my best not to get involved for now. I didn’t want to make a scene because the time wasn’t right.”

It was the truth.

I had not yet needed to use Beomdong.

At least not until after the Martial Arts Tournament.

“Why do you keep getting in my way? It’s making me want to kill you.”

“Grrr…”

“Hey? I’m asking you. What’s your issue?”

“Ugh…”

Beomdong, who had been emitting only groans, finally spoke through shaking lips.

“…Do you think… after this… you can just move on? How dare… dare to… put the Great Lord of the Alliance in this state…!”

“Yeah, exactly. The Great Lord of the Alliance, indeed.”

I couldn’t withstand the nonsense he spewed and clenched my hand around his face.

The blood running down my hand didn’t bother me at all.

“You know well, don’t you? That it’ll be impossible to just brush this off. You understand that well enough.”

I was fully aware of what the Alliance stood for, as Beomdong had indicated.

As he said, the Alliance holds solid protocols to deal with its internal personnel.

Especially when it comes to a Great Lord, that was an entirely different story.

“But you know what?”

I stared deep into his eyes.

“Since you know that, coming at me like this means you either don’t care about the consequences or you’re someone who has a way out of this, right?”

“…!”

Beomdong’s pupils trembled for a moment.

“So don’t worry about me. I can handle myself just fine.”

Worry about yourself instead. That’d be the best course of action.

I thought while flashing him a grin.

Thud.

At that moment, I picked up a glass of water nearby.

“Ugh!?”

As I grabbed his cheeks, I forced his mouth open and shoved the glass inside.

Beomdong struggled to spit it out, but he didn’t have the strength to escape.

“Keep your eyes wide open. If you ever close them even once, it’ll be the end for you.”

I warned Beomdong shortly before—

I threw a punch into one of his cheeks.

Boom-! Crack!

“Gahhhhhh!!”

The cup shattered in his mouth.

 

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