Chapter 5: To Hanzhong (1)

Yoo-hwa was buried. After two days of aimless wandering, his steps led him to a tavern.

It was a tavern located at the southern tip of Shaanxi Province. The signboard bore the name ‘Yonghua’. It was a two-story structure with over fifty tables and ten waiters—a scale incomparable to the Soho Tavern he had operated.

So-mu sat drinking alone in the most secluded corner of the second floor, gazing blankly out the window.

In front of Yoo-hwa’s grave, he had cut off his disheveled hair, burying the tavern keeper So-mu alongside the child.

As the warm sunlight illuminated his distinct features, his strong, clean-cut face made him look like an entirely different person.

It hurts.

For once, he wanted to get drunk. Yet no matter how much he drank, his superhuman body refused to allow him the luxury of intoxication.

That was not all. The clamor of hundreds of patrons chatting at once pierced his ears, forcing their words into his mind whether he wanted to hear them or not.

Their chatter was focused entirely on a single topic, which was the very reason the tavern was so unusually crowded today.

Sipping his wine in silence, So-mu glanced at the table to his right. Two martial artists were talking excitedly.

“Ah! It is the regret of a lifetime that I was not there to see it!”

“Who could have known the Sword Saint was in Baiyang County? They say the Hui soldiers were so terrified they nearly pissed themselves and couldn’t even go near him.”

“Haha! Well, that’s obvious. By the way, I heard the Martial Alliance has been scouring the Baiyang County area to find him. Have they still not found him?”

“Don’t even ask. The place is in complete chaos. The experts of the Martial Alliance have swarmed the area, and they look ready to clash with the elite troops of the Hui Dynasty. The tension is palpable.”

“Really? Isn’t it a rule that the martial world and the government forces do not interfere in each other’s affairs?”

“Usually, yes. But the Hui Dynasty has been pushy. If they look down on the martial world, they will try to slaughter everyone. The Martial Alliance has had enough.”

“That’s insane. But why now?”

“Who knows? And here is a piece of top-secret information: do you know what the Sword Saint’s identity was all this time?”

“What identity? Are you saying he was hiding in plain sight?”

“Hehe. Don’t be shocked. The Sword Saint’s true identity was… a tavern waiter!”

“Hey, you crazy bastard! The Sword Saint is a legendary figure, why would he work as a waiter? Have you lost your mind?”

“I’m serious! My Sect Leader heard it directly from a contact in the Martial Alliance.”

“Shut up and drink! If you insult him again, I’ll crack your skull!”

So-mu shook his head slightly. Judging by their caliber, they were disciples of a second-rate sect at best. If rumors had reached them, it meant the Martial Alliance was thoroughly scouring this entire region. They would stop at nothing to drag him back to the Jianghu.

I cannot stay here much longer.

So-mu tuned out the noise, falling back into his own thoughts. He had yet to decide on his next move.

I must find the cause of Yoo-hwa’s death. For the sake of the child who died so cruelly, I will break this chain of evil.

Emptying his cup, So-mu filled it once more.

Simply slaughtering Hui soldiers won’t solve anything. More commoners will only be conscripted to replace them. What crime have they committed?

He looked out the window. The only place bustling with activity on this street was the Yonghua Tavern. And it was certain that this town would soon meet the same tragic fate as Baiyang County.

Is the Emperor of Hui the sole problem? Or is there something else at play? Even with my strength, invading the imperial palace of a massive empire alone is impossible. I cannot return to the Martial Alliance and trigger another bloodbath, either. How many lives were lost during the ten years of the Great War? If I step back into the martial world, a relentless storm of blood will blow once more.

His gaze remained fixed on the street outside for nearly an hour. As he pondered, Il-gwang’s words came back to him.

Did he say they were recruiting new soldiers in Hanzhong? Starting from the bottom there might not be a bad idea. If I experience their world from the very beginning, I might find the answer. But before that…

Downing the last of his wine, So-mu focused his gaze on a figure on the street.

I must kill Ha-chil first. I cannot forgive that bastard.

His eyes locked onto a beggar walking along the street. He had been tracking him for a while. He was a filthy, disheveled beggar, but he had two knots tied to his belt. He was a member of the Beggars’ Sect.

Reaching his right hand out the window, So-mu flicked his finger. A chopstick shot out like a hawk diving for its prey, striking the beggar squarely on the back of his head.

Thwack!

“Agh!”

Clutching the back of his head, the Beggars’ Sect member spun around, his eyes bulging as he searched for the culprit. His face was twisted in rage.

“Who did that?”

He quickly spotted the likely assailant.

From the second-floor window of the Yonghua Tavern six zhang away, a man was gesturing for him to come up.

Clenching his fists, the beggar marched toward the tavern. “You’re dead today, you bastard. Do you know who I am—”

He froze before he could take five steps. A voice had echoed directly in his ears through telepathy.

—You are searching for the Sword Saint, aren’t you? I know his location.

The beggar’s eyes widened. His anger evaporated instantly.

The experts of the Martial Alliance were scouring the region for the Sword Saint. If he could deliver his location, he would not only be promoted to a three-knot disciple, but he would also have a legendary feat to brag about for the rest of his life.

But he could not believe the words so easily. The beggar scrutinized So-mu with a suspicious look.

Sending a telepathic message over this distance was no easy feat. The man had to be a martial artist of considerable skill, not someone a low-level member like him could take lightly.

“W-Where is he?”

—I believe the Shaanxi branch of the Beggars’ Sect is nearby. Go and call your Branch Leader. A two-knot disciple should be able to convey that much, right?

“Our Branch Leader does not move lightly. Why should I trust you?”

Expecting this, So-mu sent another message.

—Just tell Heo-gyu that an old friend has come to visit. He will make the decision.

He knew the Branch Leader’s name. This was no joke. Furthermore, this young man claimed to be an acquaintance of the Branch Leader.

Who was Heo-gyu? He was a veteran of the Jianghu who had seen it all. The man before him had to be either a madman or a supreme master who had achieved Rejuvenation [Banrohwandong].

There is definitely something to this.

Besides, he had nothing to lose. At worst, he would get a scolding from his superiors. The beggar nodded.

“Wait here.”

Once the beggar left, So-mu ordered two more bottles of Bamboo Leaf Green.

By the time he finished the first bottle, a beggar rushed up to the second floor of the tavern.

The eyes of the patrons locked onto him. It was because of the five knots tied to his belt.

The rank of the Beggars’ Sect was indicated by the number of knots. A five-knot member was a major figure in the martial world.

Heo-gyu scanned the room, then quickly walked over and sat opposite So-mu.

“My friend, how long has it been? You haven’t changed a bit over the years.” Tears welled in Heo-gyu’s eyes as he looked at So-mu.

“Don’t get emotional, old man. Have a drink.”

Heo-gyu glanced around, noticing the curious stares of the patrons.

“Don’t worry. I’ve already set up a barrier of qi,” So-mu said.

An invisible curtain of energy surrounded them, preventing their conversation from being heard even at the adjacent table.

“Are you sure you should be sitting here? The disciples of my branch are all out searching for you.”

“You’re only pretending to search to appease the Martial Alliance.”

“You knew?”

Emptying his cup, a faint smile appeared on So-mu’s face. “I know you wouldn’t sell me out.”

“So that’s why you chose Shaanxi, my jurisdiction.”

Pouring drinks for each other, they looked like old friends, despite the stark contrast in their appearances.

Seeing So-mu fall silent, Heo-gyu spoke again, “By the way, there is one thing I’ve been dying to ask.”

“Ask away. I have a favor to request as well.”

A sly smile appeared on Heo-gyu’s face. “How did you manage to run a tavern? For beggars like us, food is more important than pride. But how did the legendary Sword Saint bow to customers? I’ve been dying to know.”

“Serving customers as a tavern keeper is simply fulfilling one’s duty, not swallowing one’s pride. For me, those were happy days. Far happier than when I stood at the peak of the martial world. Back then, it was nothing but suffering. Everything was peaceful… until a few days ago.”

“So the Hui Dynasty crossed your line.”

“Yes. What kind of person is the Emperor of Hui?”

“Unfortunately, we have very little information. All we know is that the force behind the Hui imperial court is the Divine Demon Cult. They planted spies within the Jin Dynasty’s imperial family and military for years before orchestrating the usurpation.”

“The Divine Demon Cult… I have never heard of them.”

“They seem to have built up their strength in the shadows for a long time, launching their campaign only after the martial world was weakened following the Great War.”

Having lived away from the Jianghu, So-mu was out of touch with the current political landscape, relying only on rumors overheard at the tavern.

“Are they connected to the Demonic Cult?”

“We aren’t sure. It hasn’t been confirmed, but we have intelligence that the remnants of the Demonic Cult have been absorbed by them.”

Though the Demonic Cult was defeated in the Great War and their influence was weakened, they were still a force to be feared. If the Divine Demon Cult had absorbed them, their power was beyond imagination. The true identity of this group that was plunging the world into darkness had to be uncovered.

“Hmm…”

“In any case, today is a day to celebrate, so let us forget our worries and drink.”

Years ago, So-mu had risked his life to save Heo-gyu. So-mu had also received help from him several times, forging a bond that went far deeper than simple friendship.

They drank and talked until night fell. Though the alcohol could not intoxicate their bodies, their hearts were warm.

“Thank you,” So-mu said.

“For what?”

“You haven’t mentioned the Martial Alliance once. As a Branch Leader of the Beggars’ Sect, you must have a mountain of things to tell me.”

“You have already sacrificed enough for us. Do not look back at that place again.”

So-mu emptied the last of his wine with a bitter smile.

“And about the favor I mentioned…”

Heo-gyu nodded. “Speak. I will do whatever you ask.”

“Find a bastard named Ha-chil. He was the leader of the orphans in Baiyang County. He shouldn’t have left Shaanxi yet.”

A look of surprise crossed Heo-gyu’s face.

As far as he knew, So-mu rarely spoke with such venom. Seeing him struggle to suppress his murderous intent, Heo-gyu was naturally curious.

“If you call him a bastard, he must be a vile piece of trash. A good beating from our sect’s staves is what he deserves.”

“Just find his location. I must deal with him myself.”

“Don’t worry. Shaanxi is my domain. Finding a former beggar leader will be a piece of cake.”

A cold smile played on So-mu’s lips.

“And one more thing. A young beggar named A-gwang should be wandering around nearby. He might have already joined the Beggars’ Sect. Can you look after him?”

“Nothing is easier than that. I don’t care where he came from; as Branch Leader, I will personally look after him.”

“And one final favor. I’m not sure if I should ask…”

“Even if I refuse, you’re going to ask anyway.”

So-mu reached into his robe and placed five copper coins on the table.

“My tavern was destroyed, and this is all I have left. It’s a bit short for what we drank. Can you cover the rest? As a Branch Leader, you must have some money for wine.”

At a glance, the wine they had consumed was worth nearly twenty copper coins. Heo-gyu placed a hand on his forehead and let out a long sigh, his face darker than ever.

“I can’t believe this… the legendary Sword Saint is begging a beggar for drink money.”