---

Emei Sect

In the lands of Sichuan, Emei Sect is a prominent faction among the nine sects representing the Righteous Faction known as Gu Paibang.

Unlike other sects, it uniquely maintains its organization solely with female disciples.

Why is that? Who knows.

It’s probably best not to care about it.

The only thing I know is that it wasn’t always like this.

Since the Blood Demon War, they began expelling male disciples and assembling exclusively female practitioners.

People often wonder how they can maintain their position in Gu Paibang being composed entirely of women.

But honestly, I didn’t think it held much significance.

“Once you’ve tasted a bet, who cares about gender?”

From a normal perspective, martial artists had already crossed that line.

They should only be divided by their realms, and if you think about gender, it becomes pointless.

“The ones who have issues with recognizing women are the real problem.”

Such leniency is only permitted for ordinary folks; it holds no weight for martial artists.

So, it’s really no surprise when someone ends up decapitated because of a beauty trap and hesitation.

In fact, during the time demons invaded Sichuan, the biggest hassle was the Emei Sect.

It wasn’t that they were overwhelmingly powerful or exceptionally clever; it was merely that problems arose from being tantalized by women.

Emei sect’s female practitioners, despite being nuns, kept their hair long.

Though not exceedingly long, if anything, they were styled in bobs or short cuts.

Perhaps because of this, beast-like bastards acted recklessly.

“I dealt with the Black Flame Sect….”

If they pulled such stunts, they’d get burned alive, so there were no issues from them.

However, the Demon Sword Inspection Team and the Green Kicking Group were not so fortunate.

Later on, after stepping on a Sword Demon and disemboweling a member of the Green Kicking Group, things quieted down, but it nearly caused a problem in the conquest of Sichuan.

“Anyway.”

Ignoring such matters, I had to focus on the woman before me.

With a bob that fell to her shoulders and a dark scar crossing her cheek.

She appeared to be slightly over thirty.

“I don’t know who she is.”

Not a famous martial artist by any means.

At least, her appearance didn’t ring any bells for me.

I gazed at the woman with the scar; more precisely, I met the gaze of Emei Sect’s disciple.

“What could it be?”

“…Ugh.”

As I tightened my grip around her neck, the woman let out a moan.

I had interrupted the flow of the bet and sealed her movements.

Her realm maxed out at the peak.

With my free hand, I ran over her body.

“…!!”

Her expression twisted in humiliation, but I didn’t care.

“Considering her muscles, she’s an assassin.”

Seeing her well-toned state, it was indeed the case.

However, the calluses on her hands suggested she could be using martial techniques.

An assassin but also a martial artist… a rather complicated mix.

“It’s quite a mystery. Why is a nun from Sichuan doing this?”

I relaxed my grip slightly to ask.

“What… what do you mean…? W-why are you suddenly doing this!?”

As expected, she evaded my question.

Listening intently, I observed her eyes.

They were wildly trembling.

Her breath was ragged, and her heart was racing.

Was it fear or panic?

There might be subtle differences, but I couldn’t quite figure that out.

However.

“She recognizes me.”

She definitely called me So Yeomra.

For ordinary people, it was rare for them to notice me.

That was also a tactic I had set with the Beggar Clan.

I had lived in obscurity to avoid being recognized.

Yet she saw me right away.

“That’s not strange.”

Even if the rumors hadn’t spread, there’s a possibility that someone with interest could notice me.

But—

“That doesn’t feel right.”

Her reaction wasn’t merely surprise.

“The very fact that this meeting happened is the root of the problem.”

As I contemplated the cause of our entanglement.

“Does the nun from Emei Sect have something to discuss with my disciple, Pi Yeon-Yeon?”

“…P-Pi Yeon-Yeon?”

Pi Yeon-Yeon.

The second-born of the Seowon branch.

As of now, it was the name Bong-Soon had taken on.

Also, she was bait I had laid out.

“Right, bait.”

Eulryeong Sword Queen is a figure the sect is extremely cautious of, and she attracts attention from several forces.

Quite odd.

It’s been decades since she passed, and her position is now held by Hwasan.

So, why would there be a reason to watch over the traces of someone long gone?

If it’s the martial alliance, there’s no doubt about that. But for the others, it raises questions.

The Eulryeong Sword Queen was said to have had no affiliations.

Though it was later revealed she did have a separate faction.

“Anyway, that’s just the martial alliance’s little schemes.”

Yet I felt it hard to trust.

Even if it’s real, it doesn’t concern me.

“If it’s true, I can make it appear as if it were false.”

I can create the evidence.

The existence of Eulryeong Sword Queen was merely a dagger in my hands.

Yet—

“Who could it be?”

Who outside of the martial alliance and myself would seek to uncover this?

It had always been a point of curiosity for me.

Who could it be, and what could their reasons possibly be?

“Are they someone who will help me?”

Or specifically, would they be a being that could assist my plans?

Or perhaps, they could just be an unnecessary hindrance.

I was curious about that, and to understand it, I had to lay out some bait.

The bait had to be enticing enough, yet not incredibly detectable.

I cast my line upon the sea, and remarkably, someone took the bait right away.

That is precisely—

“Emei Sect.”

The female practitioners of Sichuan, or the guardians of Sichuan.

Though they couldn’t really stand out before my demise, the whispers in the air had always been many.

From that land, a hook took hold.

“…L-let go… Please. So Yeomra, why are you doing this!”

“First and foremost.”

Ignoring her shout, I promptly asked.

“What were you staring at that child for?”

Outside the preliminary round of the martial arts tournament, the woman had her gaze fixed on Bong-Soon.

It was reported by my subordinates scattered all around that someone had been watching Bong-Soon.

“Wha-what are you talking about? Who am I supposed to have been looking at…?”

Even as she spoke, her breath was becoming steadier.

Her heartbeat, while still rapid, became regular.

“Seems like quite the trained individual.”

It became difficult to discern whether she was lying or merely acting.

Fortunately, if that wasn’t the route, I could still find another way to discover the truth.

“Was it not the child?”

I asked, tilting my head slightly.

“Then, were you watching Noble Tree?”

“…!”

Thud.

“Of course.”

Feeling the shift in her senses, I forced a smile.

Her eyes widened, and her breath faltered.

“…W-what…?”

She struggled to catch her breath, but it was already too late.

“I was wondering if you were surprised by that, the one Pi was carrying.”

“…”

“That’s the one the Queen used to carry around. Isn’t it?”

With each question I asked, I could see her cheeks tremble.

Her expression was already ruined.

She wore a face filled with shock, not knowing how I knew.

That reaction was deliciously inviting.

“I intended for you to figure it out. It’s only natural.”

Noble Tree.

To just hear its name, one might think it’s just an ordinary tree. But it’s unequivocally a treasure. More specifically, a weapon crafted from such a treasure.

The form resembles a wooden staff; however—

“If desired, it can become a wooden sword or even a spear.”

It could follow the will of the wielder and change its shape.

Similar to the properties of Gui Jeong.

While the Eulryeong Sword Queen was known to have wielded a wooden sword, it seems she used Noble Tree in that form.

“How did you—”

The moment I mentioned Noble Tree, she let out a flustered voice.

“It doesn’t matter how I know; what matters is why you’re reacting this way to seeing it. Doesn’t it?”

“…”

Bong-Soon’s staff had been adorned with black embroidery, forming a floral pattern.

This was among the features of the Noble Tree.

The Queen had likely disguised it as that handle.

It was also part of what I learned later from the Eulryeong’s story.

Moreover, there was another significant reason I had used Noble Tree as bait.

That reason lies in:

“Noble Tree carries the bloodline inheritance.”

The trait of the treasure is that it requires one to have blood ties.

Only relatives can wield it.

That parallels with Nangong’s Thunder Fang.

However—

While Thunder Fang can be wielded by those recognized by its lineage,

“Noble Tree, on the other hand, must be biological kin.”

This was a feature pointed out by Gui Chang, and essentially, no one else but him could handle it.

So I considered this.

“The forces have sought out the Queen’s relatives for ages.”

They surely had information about the Alliance and whether he had any surviving children.

The collected data suggested so.

Then—

“How did they intend to investigate?”

They likely wouldn’t mean to find someone who merely resembled her.

There must have been a method involved.

I assumed it could be through Noble Tree.

That’s why I had commanded Bong-Soon to flaunt it openly, and intriguingly the alliance appeared to be entirely clueless about this.

“The martial alliance doesn’t know about Eulryeong’s children, nor even the characteristics of the Noble Tree.”

From this perspective, it seems Amipa’s martial artist, who recognized Bong-Soon and fled,

This nameless individual…

“Understands Noble Tree and knows its traits.”

That was the conclusion to draw.

“I’ll ask again. Is your goal Pi… No, is it the Noble Tree?”

“…”

No answer.

It seems she has caught on by now.

She can’t escape, and she has failed to control her expression.

So for now, I gripped her cheeks and pried her mouth open.

“Gah!?”

Right as the sudden shift caught her off guard, I sent energy through her mouth to explore inside.

‘No poison.’

She clearly hadn’t concealed any toxins beneath her molars or under her tongue.

Upon confirmation, I maintained my grip, concerned she might attempt to bite her own tongue in desperation.

“Whatever the case, it’s clear that Amipa’s involved….”

“Gul… Gulp…”

“It’s puzzling. Why did this come to be?”

The Eulryeong Sword Queen had been known to be independent.

I thought she had no specific clan or sect and rose purely through her sword.

“What could be the reason?”

Why is Amipa searching for Bong-Soon?

“No, could it be that they are seeking the Noble Tree instead?”

Was the Noble Tree supposed to be Amipa’s representative treasure?

“That could very well be.”

It’s possible that they aimed to track down the bloodline of the Queen rather than a mere descendant.

If that’s so, it might be the case that they have been searching for ages.

The sect’s representative treasure holds immense value like that.

“This is merely an assumption, but I should remember it.”

“For now, knowing that Amipa is involved is all I need.”

Regardless, this is a harvest.

Just throwing out some bait led to this somewhat tangled affair, and for that, I feel grateful, I guess.

“Then, we’ll move on to the final topic.”

“Cough….”

The woman trembles, unable to shut her mouth.

Unfortunately, my business has not yet concluded.

“Honestly, it doesn’t matter if it’s Pi Yeon-Yeon or the Noble Tree; the next question I ask is the most crucial.”

As for understanding, well I can simply turn her into a demon and elicit a response.

I wouldn’t want to harm someone without grasping their situation, so I’ve hesitated.

Thus, I asked.

“I had consumed a poison earlier today.”

“…”

“Was that you who did it?”

Her body jerked.

Her movements changed.

I didn’t miss it.

“Seems it’s true?”

“I-I didn’t—”

Could it be that she’s denying it? With me gripping her cheeks, her speech came out garbled.

Watching her struggle, I clicked my tongue.

“Oh, I feel a tad sorry for Sword King. Naturally, I assumed it was him.”

Regrettably, it appears that my second guess was correct.

As I declared with confidence, she shook her head vehemently, her eyes screamed disbelief.

How did you figure it out?

How did you pinpoint it so precisely?

It was indeed surprising.

There wouldn’t be reason or evidence to claim Amipa put out the poison.

However.

“I’ve heard some rumors.”

Unfortunately, I have accumulated quite an array of intel from my past life.

“Amipa, the female practitioners of Sichuan… has recently been scheming against a certain rising male martial artist.”

“…!”

“Am I wrong?”

That’s a lie.

Those tales I had heard in my previous life refer back to chatter that hadn’t yet circulated.

It was a rumor that spread when So Sword Sect began asserting its influence.

That Amipa was plotting something behind the scenes against men.

It was merely a story I recited.

The problem was—

“I found that several among the people were catching wind of it.”

It seems those rumors were gaining traction.

“…C cough…”

The attendants, or maybe the inn’s Jeomsosoi.

Or even the prostitutes too.

From last night through dawn today, attempts were made across Hanam to lace tea or food with poison.

The accounts had been gathered through an assassin tailing them.

The culprits differed, but the poison used was identical and all had failed.

Employing hefty sums to those untrained should have been absurdly easy to see through.

Yet, for some reason, it heavily smelled like a deliberate failure.

Here’s the common point.

“Though the culprits differ, the intended targets all were participants in the martial arts tournament.”

All males gaining prominence at this stage.

This all references precisely the rising younger generation of male practitioners.

The fact that they attempted to assassinate them is a notable detail.

“And amusingly enough, all failed.”

The victims didn’t come forward, not wanting to address the unknown threats from out-of-towners.

What’s laughable is that no one asks the alliance for protection.

Why is that? The martial alliance would surely be the most reliable here in Hanam.

“…This likely has far less to do with mere martial pride.”

The implication that they do not trust the alliance interests them.

Surely, it’s utter chaos.

“I-I have to….”

“I wonder why they would do something so baffling.”

The rumors prevailing in my past life were already a farce, but why would they take such actions? That’s what I’m genuinely curious about.

By now, they’ve seemingly amassed reason enough so shall I just make her a demon?

Maybe I should ask away?

These thoughts began to bubble.

This isn’t a situation where I should not do something.

“Besides discovering information on the Queen, I could benefit further as well.”

I hadn’t planned to increase the number of demons for a time, but under these circumstances, it is still worth the trouble.

Should I corrupt her?

As I pondered, an idea struck.

There are multiple factions intertwined in this scenario.

Amipa and the Martial Alliance.

Along with several other clans that are at odds. What I need to discern is:

“Are the martial alliance and Amipa collaborating?”

Or are they rival entities?

“Considering they share the name Righteous Faction, it seems unlikely they’d be at odds.”

That said, it doesn’t entirely rule out the possibility of a lack of collaboration.

If they were cooperating, it would’ve made sense for the alliance to possess information on the Queen.

Yet, unbeknownst to the both of them, I’d fallen right into their tangled web.

“I see.”

Having concluded my thoughts, I grinned.

Seeing my smile, the woman shivered for some reason.

I tightened my grip around her.

Crack-!

 

---