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“So, you’re the Half-Transition Master?”

I met Sagong Hwan, the leader of the Sagong Clan and the lord of Sagong Escort Agency. It had been a long time since I last saw him, but his face jogged my memory instantly. He stroked his bushy beard and said, “What brings a Half-Transition Master like you to our humble abode?”

He seemed utterly convinced that I was indeed the Half-Transition Master, thanks to Sagong Lin’s trust in me. I stared at him for a moment before replying.

“I came for a transaction.”

“A transaction?”

I subtly gestured for him to let the others leave. Once the subordinates were dismissed, I finally spoke up.

“I’m aware the Sagong Clan is facing threats from the Huashan Sect, and I can eliminate that threat.”

He laughed heartily, “You think you can take down the Huashan Sect? They’re part of the Nine Great Sects and have many Peak Experts in their ranks. Do you really know what you’re saying?”

“Of course, I know. In fact, I probably know it better than you do,” I replied, looking him straight in the eyes.

“I assure you, I can protect the Sagong Clan from any harm that the Huashan Sect might wish to inflict. I can even stop their expansion. I believe that’s what you, as the leader, desire the most.”

He fell silent. I had hit the nail on the head. Knowing the circumstances around the Huashan Sect and the Sagong Clan better than anyone, I could easily deduce his state of mind. After a moment, he murmured, “I can’t trust you. Even if you’re a Half-Transition Master, the Nine Great Sects cannot be fought off by just one individual.”

“What I’m about to say, I want you to keep to yourself,” I said abruptly.

“What do you mean?” he asked, a bit taken aback.

Then I delivered a secret transmission, “You are aware that there are suspicious forces backing the Huashan Sect, correct? The name of that force is the Wind Spirit Sect, part of the Dharma Protectors, and the leader of the Huashan Sect, Yong Junil, is the son of the head of the Wind Spirit Sect.”

“……!!”

His eyes widened, and he clenched his fists. Learning such a shocking secret all of a sudden made him react that way, I presumed. I continued without giving him a chance to respond.

“And I’m here as someone dispatched from another group of Dharma Protectors. My mission is to help your Sagong Clan fend off the Huashan Sect’s expansion.”

“Y-You…”

I sent the transmission to him, “So, what’ll it be? Will you help me, or will you just sit back and see what happens?”

I smirked as I sent the message. “Honestly, I wouldn’t mind collaborating with another clan either. Your clan is just a bonus.”

“Hmm.”

Sagong Hwan bit his lip, looking unsure about my proposition. He was flustered but also clearly caught off guard by my boldness.

Yes, I had devised a plan to pose as part of the Wind Spirit Sect to increase my influence and provide protection to the Sagong Clan! With Han Baek-ryeong and Han Jin-seong both willing to cooperate, it wasn’t a lie at all and was enough to shake Sagong Hwan’s foundations.

“Fine, I’ll help you…” Sagong Hwan finally agreed.

“Good choice. A wise decision indeed.”

“So, what should we do now?”

With a tone of resignation, he asked for further instructions. I replied calmly, “I need information regarding Sagong Lin’s master. If she provides me the necessary details, it’ll serve as adequate compensation for my protection.”

Sagong Hwan expressed confusion, “My daughter’s master? What do you want that for?”

Feigning innocence, I replied, “I don’t really need to explain myself to you, do I?”

“…”

I was in control of the situation here. Sagong Hwan already believed I was a Half-Transition Master and wouldn’t dare make a reckless move. If I made a wrong move, it could lead to disastrous consequences for him. Knowing this, he turned his head away as if he had no other option.

“It’s the Old Sage of Mount Tai.”

“I know. What I want to find out concerns his residence, the martial arts he practices, and any distinctive characteristics about him.”

“I don’t know any of that.”

“Your daughter likely knows.”

“……”

Sagong Hwan bit down hard on his lips, his eyes gleaming with a flicker of rage.

“I don’t know how capable you are, but don’t push us any further. The Sagong Clan hasn’t survived in this harsh martial world by being spineless. We are prepared to risk our lives for our honor.”

Swish!

Sagong Hwan drew his sword. He might’ve tried to be reasonable, but selling out information about his daughter’s master was beyond what he could ever consider. I gazed at him with calm eyes.

“As I said, I don’t wish to see bloodshed. It seems Lord Sagong is looking to take the easy way out.”

“The Old Sage of Mount Tai is someone who greatly aided my clan, allowing us to settle on the Huashan. I’d rather die preserving his honor!”

“Foolish…”

I didn’t understand Sagong Hwan at all. “What’s so difficult about this?” I certainly had no intention of killing him, nor did I wish to make enemies of the Sagong Clan. I was just putting on an act to create a guilty conscience that wouldn’t let him resign casually.

If Sagong Hwan could smoothly pass on information as if he had no choice in the matter, he would gain immensely. Not only would he stave off attacks from the Huashan Sect but also gain a powerful ally in me.

But perhaps that’s why he had raised a daughter like Sagong Lin. He was a noble martial artist, compromising with reality while holding onto his own principles so dearly he couldn’t let even one go. A man who was willing to risk his own life for his honor, making it senseless to try and break him by force.

I sighed and asked, “Is the Old Sage of Mount Tai worthy enough to protect your clan with his life?”

“What do you mean by that?”

I thought it best to test the waters a bit. “I’ve heard that the Old Sage of Mount Tai has made several contacts with the Imperial Palace, and they have a clear alliance. He might consider your clan mere underlings to exploit. Despite being a mysterious figure seldom known in the Jianghu, no one knows what he’s plotting behind the scenes.”

“……!!”

“Let me make it clear; I won’t give you another chance. Lord Sagong, think carefully about what I’ve said.”

With that said, I gave a mild nudge, and he staggered considerably. It seemed my words were hinting at something he could piece together. If he had truly dismissed my claims, he would have denied them right then and there, but silence spoke volumes about his understanding of my words.

Suddenly, someone shouted sharply from behind, “You’re really despicable!” It was Sagong Lin. When I glanced at her, she glared back, “How dare you insult my master without any grounds? I’ll never submit to the likes of you!”

“Do you really think it’s all unfounded?” I shot back, giving her a sharp look. “If it wasn’t my mission or if the Old Sage of Mount Tai didn’t smell fishy, I wouldn’t even be here. I’m not idly playing politics with a small faction like yours. It’s only because I suspect the Old Sage that I’m here to negotiate and gain information without getting my hands dirty. Is that truly such a terrible thing?”

Sagong Lin insisted, “Absolutely! I don’t know what circumstances you have, but you are ultimately trying to use force and coercion to obtain information. And how much can we trust this backing of yours? I can’t sell out my master for something uncertain!”

After thinking for a moment, I asked her back, “If it could be ensured that I mean no harm to the Old Sage of Mount Tai, would you allow me a meeting?”

“How did this happen?”

“……”

Annoyance suddenly bubbled up in me. I wondered why I was even engaging like this, and couldn’t help my tone from becoming brusque.

“You and Lord Sagong are incredibly brave. It’s a bold choice to risk your clan’s annihilation to uphold your honor. Not many can pick such choices.”

Taking a moment, I looked at them intently before continuing. “But once I begin to move, it’s not just you who will perish. Once I get involved, I’ll eliminate all potential threats. The Sagong Clan, your escort agency, and even the ones across town trading information will suffer. Such is the nature of the Jianghu; you know the risks involved.”

“……”

Their faces darkened.

I was furious. “You may choose to die for your party’s honor or your master’s loyalty, but what crime do the innocents among you commit? Just knowing you? Making a poor choice of employers? Do you think it’s fair for you to demand they stake their lives?”

With that, a wave of immense internal energy and formless qi surged from me.

“Huh!”

At that moment, Sagong Hwan collapsed, eyes rolling back, while Sagong Lin trembled and paled, collapsing into a sitting position. The overwhelming energy I commanded was beyond measure; unless one was a Dharma Guardian, no one could dismiss the power I exuded.

‘Oh no.’

I realized I had let my anger get the better of me. Luckily, as I quickly retracted my energy, neither of them suffered a heart attack. Given their martial arts training, it was fortunate they weren’t ordinary people, or they would’ve died on the spot.

But I had no choice. After working as an escort for decades, I had seen countless escort agencies fall victim to Jianghu strife. Those with lower martial arts skills often met brutal ends.

It had made me think—why should escorts die? Because they picked the wrong master? If that’s the case in the martial world, then why do those decision-makers think they have the right to bring ruin to the lives of escort personnel?

My frustration only deepened when both Sagong Hwan and Sagong Lin made such ridiculous choices. Being willing to die for their principles was one thing, but there were lives at stake that they couldn’t just toss aside for a code of honor. It baffled me how they thought a bond of honor could easily replace dozens or hundreds of lives.

After taking a deep breath, I said, “I got too worked up. Just make your choice carefully.”

Even I found it absurd that I’d grow angry while trying to blackmail them. Feeling a bit embarrassed about my reaction, I didn’t feel like continuing to be angry anymore.

Gradually, Sagong Lin composed herself. Unlike her father, who fainted from the force of my formless qi, it didn’t take long for her to settle down, hinting her prowess was near the peak level. Clearing her throat, she said, “Alright. I’ll tell you what you want to know.”

“Thank you.”

Sagong Lin answered bitterly, “You can consider it a concession to your force. However, the fact that we carry the lives of our allies on our backs… that sentiment feels increasingly valid.”

A bit of guilt welled up in me. Regardless of circumstances, I had stormed into Sagong Escort Agency demanding information, and they were victims in this scenario. Thus, I resolved to be a bit gentler on them.

“It’s fine. The information you can provide is what matters most. I won’t get stuck on anything else.”

“If I provide the information, can you guarantee my clan’s safety?”

“Of course. I have no intention of harming your master.”

“In that case, I’ll tell you.”

As Sagong Lin spoke, I questioned whether my approach was correct. Maybe I should have taken the time to earn her trust slowly instead of demanding information. But I had neither the time nor the luxury to work that way.

Eventually, she began to share details about the Old Sage of Mount Tai.

“My master, the Old Sage of Mount Tai, is regarded as one of the Three Great Masters of the Orthodox Sect and roams the world like it’s his backyard. He accepted me as his disciple because he saw great potential in my martial aptitude since I was a child. I’ve accompanied him on many journeys to different mountains since I was young.”

“What martial arts did you learn from him?”

After pondering for a moment, Sagong Lin replied, “I learned the Asura Heaven Light Technique and Gongsun Sword Technique. The Asura Heaven Light Technique involves internal energy methods among the advanced techniques, while Gongsun Sword Technique is an ancient sword style passed down since the times of the ancients.”

“……?”

“The two techniques are direct lineage, so they cannot be disclosed to clan members.”

I found it hard to believe what I was hearing. “The Asura Heaven Light Technique? Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

I went into deep thought, struggling to wrap my head around it. After a moment of wonder, I murmured, “That can’t be.”

“Why do you say that?” Sagong Lin asked, giving me a strange look, but I couldn’t afford to care at that moment. Memories of battling Zhuge Bu resurfaced in my mind.

“Even with the peak execution of the Asura Heaven Light Technique, my hands would still ache. How did he achieve that level?”

Because the Asura Heaven Light Technique was none other than the peerless divine technique used by Zhuge Bu—the Grand Astronomer of the Imperial Palace and the lord of the Inner Imperial Pavilion. He was at an extraordinary level of martial arts, adept enough to deflect my attacks after consuming Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng multiple times. Having fought him firsthand, I’d never forget the name of that technique.

Yet now, Sagong Lin, the direct disciple of the Old Sage of Mount Tai, had training aligned with Zhuge Bu’s divine technique? What in the world was going on?

While I was busy pondering, Sagong Lin continued, “My master usually roams the world but often stays at Mount Tai. That’s why martial artists all refer to him as the Old Sage of Mount Tai. However, he tends to roam the Five Great Mountains.”

“The Five Great Mountains?”

The Five Great Mountains refer to Mount Tai, Mount Hua, Hengshan, Mount Heng, and Mount Song. It made sense for the Old Sage to visit Mount Tai specifically as it is the premier mountain among the Five.

Contemplating further, I asked Sagong Lin, “Why does he travel between these mountains?”

“He told me that he must always observe the sacrificial rituals at the Five Great Mountains.”

“Why does he care about the sacrificial rites?”

“I’m not sure, but my master has shown a deep interest in sky offering rituals since his youth. He claimed to have obtained profound knowledge from the Daoist spiritual sect.”

“Hmm…”

The mention of rituals made me furrow my brow for another time. I already knew that sacrificial rites were highly significant as offerings to the gods. The idea of the Old Sage of Mount Tai traversing the Five Great Mountains while mentioning sacrificial rituals raised my suspicion immensely.

“Just to confirm, is there anyone named Zhuge Bu in your sect?” I inquired cautiously.

“I have no idea who that is…”

“Hmm.”

Sagong Lin didn’t seem to be playing dumb. She genuinely didn’t know who Zhuge Bu was. I retrieved whatever other useful bits of information about the Old Sage of Mount Tai I could from her, and she genuinely seemed dedicated to answering my queries.

Thinking that things were getting interesting, I told Sagong Lin, “No matter what, I need to meet the Old Sage of Mount Tai. Is there any way to find him?”

“My master is quite free-spirited, so it’s tough to pin down where he might be. I have no clue myself.”

“Is there no way?”

“Although, with this sign marker in hand, he might just grant you an audience.”

She handed me a round silver token, exquisitely engraved with a Vermilion Bird. As I stared at it, Sagong Lin explained, “This token was given to me by my master when we parted ways.”

“Are you sure it’s okay to give me something so precious?”

“……”

Sagong Lin looked at me with clear eyes and stated, “You could have easily used coercive methods to intimidate us, but I felt no ill intent in you. I believe at heart you are not a wicked person.”

“Ha… you say the silliest things. Just hurry and hand me that silver token.”

I awkwardly accepted the token and felt Sagong Hwan’s pulse, returning his energy to its original state before standing to leave. I lifted my hat to obscure my features as I announced, “Rest assured, I have no intention of harming your master as promised. Additionally, I will protect your clan.”

Bang!

Without waiting for Sagong Lin’s response, I hastily exited the Sagong Clan. I felt her gaze linger on me, making me uncomfortable. I feared she had seen right through my intentions.

‘Ah, this is maddening.’

Am I being too soft-hearted? Wouldn’t it be better to be a bit more ruthless?

After contemplating for a while, I shook my head to clear my mind and refocused on my objective. “I must travel across the Five Great Mountains.”

Mount Tai, Mount Hua, Hengshan, Mount Heng, Mount Song! Surely, one of them would lead me to the Old Sage of Mount Tai!

 

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