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0117 ———————————————-

Dark Heaven Village

Lee Kwang first organized the disciples starting the next day.

“We will disband the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School.”

He prepared travel expenses for the disciples with the wealth he had accumulated and wrote recommendation letters for the senior trainees with more experience than I Seon. Most of the third-line trainees were either novices or not serious practitioners, so they were simply disbanded.

The masters, Yun Kwang and Ji Pyeong, decided to follow Lee Kwang. Although their skill levels were relatively low, they had certainly mastered the Thunder God Lineage, making them talents that could not be handed over to other factions. In just over a decade of training, they would surely become renowned figures in the Jianghu.

Instead, Lee Kwang said,

“Always carry this medicine with you.”

“What is this?”

“It’s a medicine that allows you to commit suicide without feeling pain.”

Yun Kwang and Ji Pyeong were taken aback but soon accepted the medicine in silence. They understood from Lee Kwang’s words that if they were to be captured, torture awaited them that would be better to die from. Even though the path ensured their death, their loyalty to the Thunder God Lineage seemed genuine as they followed without complaint.

Once the Thunder God Lineage was complete, Lee Kwang said,

“Our first destination is Spring Scene Pavilion.”

“Spring Scene Pavilion? Isn’t that a brothel?”

I asked, utterly baffled. Lee Kwang smirked at my surprise.

“Yeah. It’s the biggest brothel in the Guanzhong area.”

“……?”

Spring Scene Pavilion was indeed the largest brothel in Guanzhong, a place where various beauties awaited as it was situated in the heart of the nightlife. Given Lee Kwang’s noble stature as a martial artist, that location seemed completely out of place for him. However, without hesitation, Lee Kwang led the group towards Spring Scene Pavilion.

After arriving at the pavilion, Lee Kwang spoke to the courtesan at the entrance.

“Where’s Gik Ho?”

“Oh! Gik Ho, my bro…”

The courtesan seemed to recognize Lee Kwang. After hesitating a bit, she said,

“Gik Ho is in his room.”

“Good.”

Without waiting any longer, Lee Kwang strode in confidently. The courtesan was surprised and tried to stop him, but it was no use. Like a fierce spear, Lee Kwang pushed through the brothel and went up to the third floor, stopping in front of a room.

“Gik Ho, come out now.”

Clunk.

At those words, a dandy immediately opened the door. He was a man with a pretty face, resembling a courtesan, and looked slightly older than Jin So-cheong. Standing there was the prime secretary of the brothel in the mid-thirties.

The man, presumably Gik Ho, chuckled.

“Hey, what’s up with you, Sect Leader?”

“The disguise is set. Something big is happening, so now carry out the Thunder God Lineage’s orders.”

At that moment, Gik Ho’s gaze turned chilling. His previously relaxed aura transformed into that of a Peak Expert. He exuded the presence of a well-trained martial artist of the Thunder God Lineage. A sinister statement escaped from Gik Ho’s lips.

“Is it the enemy?”

“Correct. We will move to Luoyang starting today.”

“Understood.”

“I’ll give you a meal’s time to pack.”

“I’ll follow shortly.”

And that was the end of the conversation. We sat in the first floor of Spring Scene Pavilion, waiting for Gik Ho. I felt puzzled and asked,

“Master, who exactly is this Gik Ho?”

Lee Kwang glanced at me and replied,

“Gik Ho was, like you, the first disciple of another Thunder God Lineage. He came to me after his master from the Wind Spirit Sect was killed.”

“……!!”

“But Gik Ho took on the role of a sentry. Occasionally, he’d report back on any threats to the Thunder God Lineage wandering in Guanzhong while I taught him martial arts. That seems to be his way of surviving.”

I was surprised.

‘Now I understand why Lee Kwang showed no aversion to the term “another Thunder God Lineage.”’

There had already been another disciple of the Thunder God Lineage seeking out Lee Kwang, just like me. Still confused, I said,

“It would be much better to become a disciple of the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School for martial arts training, why does he choose this?”

From what I could see, Gik Ho’s skills were impressive. He could easily rival or surpass the status of elder-level members of the Nine Great Sects if he jumped into Jianghu right away. Considering Gik Ho’s age, he could be called a top-tier late bloomer.

“Don’t pry too much. If you really want to ask, you should ask him directly.”

Swoosh.

“Right, kid. Don’t poke your nose everywhere.”

Before long, Gik Ho jumped down from the third floor, buoyantly coming this way. His light body technique was remarkably fast and agile, and I realized he performed a Three Step change that was part of the Thunder Shadow Step’s secret technique. He clearly was skilled enough to receive the Thunder God Lineage’s credentials.

Gik Ho flicked his finger against my forehead, chuckling.

“Don’t worry. I’m a pretty easy guy to get along with.”

“I’m not too eager to befriend you.”

“Who cares?”

Once our team grew to seven members, we started riding towards Luoyang.

Clop, clop.

Lee Kwang mentioned that the Lord of the Golden Eagle Guard, currently serving as the Four Great Experts of the Imperial Palace’s White Tiger, had suffered severe injuries, and that over half of the Golden Eagle Guard’s forces had been wiped out, making it evident they wouldn’t have the resources to closely monitor our movements. Moreover, those doing the monitoring weren’t professional trackers, so as soon as Lee Kwang or Jin So-cheong identified them, they’d be killed instantly.

Thud.

Lee Kwang smashed the head of an observer and murmured,

“This is a bit lacking.”

“What do you mean?”

I asked while wiping the blood off my blade. I had just killed two Golden Eagle Guards in the ambush, as they had shown up in my vicinity. Lee Kwang replied softly,

“We need an organization to serve as our eyes and ears once we enter Luoyang, and at least over ten experts. Only then can we break into Great Thunder Valley.”

“Is Great Thunder Valley that dangerous?”

“After the founding of the Great Ming, the founder created Great Thunder Valley, and not a single person has escaped from it in history. Moreover, it’s protected using all manner of Qimen Dunjia techniques, martial arts, and elite experts carefully selected by the imperial family, so we can’t take it lightly.”

I had never seen Lee Kwang so cautious before, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of intrigue regarding what kind of place Great Thunder Valley truly was.

At that moment, a thought struck me, and I said to Lee Kwang,

“I think I can request help from a friend.”

“Your friend?”

Lee Kwang regarded the girl approaching from afar with a disapproving expression.

“Is that the one?”

“……”

I didn’t know what to say when discussing Miho. After the disbandment order for the third-line disciples was issued, she insisted on sticking with our party, pretending to be a poor little girl lost without her parents, and cried until Lee Kwang finally accepted her.

I smiled wryly and said,

“No, he’ll definitely be of help.”

“What kind of person?”

“He’s always filled with brilliant wisdom and tactics.”

“Hmm…”

I thought of Mangnyang.

‘Mangnyang mentioned he was already active in Luoyang around this time.’

During my tenth rebirth, Mangnyang had come to Goryeo and told me everything that had transpired since then. He had thought it best to form a group as soon as possible, so after receiving spiritual pills and funds from me, he immediately descended to Luoyang. By now, quite some time had passed since my rebirth, so Mangnyang must have laid the foundation of the Bancheon Alliance by now.

I already knew how to make contact with the Bancheon Alliance.

A few days later, when we arrived in Luoyang, I set off with Lee Kwang, Jin So-cheong, and Gik Ho to a place called Wind and Rain Inn. Wind and Rain Inn was a quiet and small establishment with few patrons, but I approached the innkeeper and whispered.

[Defying the heavens, I will practice justice.]

The innkeeper, who had been dozing off, opened his eyes slightly. After scanning our group, he said,

“Follow me.”

As expected, the Bancheon Alliance had already been established.

The innkeeper opened a small door behind the inn, which connected to a cave in the back mountain. The cave twisted and turned like a maze, and after a while, we came to another door. Upon entering, the innkeeper walked towards a wooden building in an unknown location.

Repeating this a couple of times, we eventually arrived at a weapon shop. It appeared to be a regular weapon shop, but as the innkeeper entered a spacious area behind the seemingly ordinary shop,

Wham!

“……!!”

It was the same “larger inside than outside” space I had seen during the meeting with the Master of the Twelve Joules. This could only have been created through advanced techniques. As a huge grassy plain unfolded before us, my companions from the Thunder God Lineage were all shocked.

Then, a familiar voice echoed.

“What’s this, Baek Woong? It’s been a while, and you’ve brought all these experts with you!”

A charmingly humorous voice accompanied a scholar dressed in a black robe walking over from the other side of the plain. I recognized his face and greeted him enthusiastically.

“Mangnyang!!”

“Ahem, let’s call me the Lord of the Bancheon Alliance.”

“Oh, right.”

As Mangnyang cleared his throat, I felt a bit awkward.

I presented my request.

“I’d like some assistance.”

“Hmmm, assistance you say…”

Mangnyang looked around me before fixing his gaze on one person and then speaking.

“It seems you have remarkable Qi, Elder Lee Kwang of the Thunder God Lineage.”

“Do you know me?”

“The Bancheon Alliance collects various bits of information. We’re aware that a major incident occurred in Water Merging Valley recently, and that the Lord of the Golden Eagle Guard visited the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School.”

Lee Kwang’s eyebrows twitched.

“Interesting friend you’ve got.”

Mangnyang chuckled.

“Everyone, meet my friend, the Lord of the Bancheon Alliance.”

“Good, Lord of the Bancheon Alliance. I understand the information network under your leadership is formidable. However, I cannot be assured of trusting you.”

“Can’t we rely on our common enemy, the Golden Eagle Guard?”

“Fundamentally, I don’t trust information organizations. We simply use each other as needed.”

In response, Mangnyang laughed heartily.

“Hahaha!! Then let’s just use each other; what’s there to worry about? We can provide information promptly and covertly without attracting attention from the Open or Afternoon Gate. That should be a fair trade.”

Mangnyang added,

“Besides, you’re likely more desperate than we are.”

“……”

Lee Kwang remained silent, staring intently at Mangnyang, but Mangnyang remained unfazed, only slightly startled when Lee Kwang’s Qi was unleashed.

After a while, Lee Kwang opened his mouth.

“Lord of the Bancheon Alliance… your skills are extraordinary. I’m impressed.”

Mangnyang wiped the sweat from his forehead.

“Haha, then I take it our deal is done.”

“That seems reasonable.”

In an instant, an alliance between the Bancheon Alliance and the Thunder God Lineage was established.

Watching the scene unfold, I realized once again how remarkable Mangnyang was. To negotiate face-to-face with the divine martial artist Lee Kwang like that was no small feat. Of course, it also helped that Mangnyang’s internal power had increased due to the Black and White Lotus root I had given him, but when Lee Kwang spoke of “skills,” it seemed to encompass both his martial spirit and intelligence.

Mangnyang truly was a genius renowned throughout the Central Plains.

Mangnyang then led us to a reception room. Once everyone was seated, he said,

“Alright, let’s get to the point since time is short. I believe that Lord Lee Kwang and the disciples of the Thunder God Lineage are planning to rescue General Hwang Yeon, who is trapped in Great Thunder Valley, correct?”

“Exactly. I had already surmised as much.”

“It’s simply the result of gathering and calculating the information I have.”

Swish!

Mangnyang unfolded a map. He pointed at a part of the map with his cane and said,

“This is a detailed map of Great Thunder Valley I managed to procure in advance. I believe General Hwang Yeon should be around here.”

“How can you be so sure? What’s your evidence that this is the real map of Great Thunder Valley?”

“I have a supporter in the imperial family who assists me. If this map is proven inaccurate, all the members of the Bancheon Alliance will face dire consequences, thus I implore you to trust it.”

“Hmmm…”

“I propose this.”

Mangnyang’s eyes sparkled.

“Please move the people of the Clear Stream Faction first. I believe that if the political situation shakes up due to them, it will definitely weaken the defenses of Great Thunder Valley.”

Upon hearing Mangnyang’s suggestion, Lee Kwang wore a momentarily puzzled expression before sighing.

“You’re truly an astute friend. It feels like you can read my mind.”

“I have received information that the Elder Deng Gwak, head of the Clear Stream Faction, is a sworn brother of Elder Lee Kwang. You should be able to sway him.”

“Good.”

“And for the time being, I suggest you stay in the hideout we provide. We cannot guarantee your safety concerning any observers.”

“Don’t worry about that. Those amateurs are well within our capacity to deal with.”

After calling his subordinates to introduce the hideout, Mangnyang bowed slightly,

“Then we have some preparations to make. I will see you in three days.”

“Understood.”

It felt like the discussions concluded with lightning speed.

I stayed behind as I had a little more to discuss. I asked Mangnyang,

“How did you know all that?”

“It just came to be through various experiences.”

“……”

Mangnyang smiled slyly as he extended his hand.

“It seems the moment of reckoning is approaching faster than expected. I’m counting on you, Baek Woong.”

I firmly clasped his hand.

“I’m counting on you too.”

The alliance between the Bancheon Alliance and the Thunder God Lineage was formed, marking a significant moment when the connections I had built converged.

—————————= Author’s Note —————————=

I’m quickly posting this before going to reserve training at 10 o’clock. Heehee, happy reserve training~ It’s my sixth year, but I’m still getting training~ 😭😭😭😭

Please leave comments for recommendations!

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