Chapter 111: Chapter 111

“What is this……!”

The figure, realizing that there was neither a carrier pigeon nor a visitor at the time he regularly received contact, noticed something strange and visited the Snake Blood Band’s headquarters.

Yet, he could not close his mouth at the sight that suddenly unfolded.

“Annihilation?”

Traces of being defeated by someone were obvious.

Traces of whether they had displayed the Body Strengthening Method were even discovered on the bodies of the dead corpses. However, to think they were annihilated despite using the Body Strengthening Method?

The figure gritted his teeth and entered the cave.

The inside was also filled with corpses.

The fishy blood of the corpses leaking from everywhere and the rotting, offensive smell stung his nose, further fueling his anxiety. Soon, the moment he arrived at the place where the Namgung Family members had been trapped, he was dumbfounded and let out a hollow laugh.

“They cut it cleanly.”

They were bars made of iron, not wood. Since they had even sealed those fellows’ dantians, it made no sense for them to cut this.

If so, it meant there was an intruder in the end.

“Looking at the traces…… is it three?”

Examining the situation inside and outside the cave, he reached such a conclusion.

Two on the outside.

One on the inside.

Considering that most of them were those who used the Body Strengthening Method, he thought they had to be at least equivalent to the Ten Venerables or the Seven Stars.

No, perhaps.

‘The Sword Emperor……!’

The one whose possibility was predicted to be the highest was him.

The movements of the Martial Alliance had been monitored from the beginning. If some change had occurred there, there was no way he would not know.

Of course, although he also thought that other forces of the Nine Sects and One Gang or the Eight Great Families might have secretly sent experts, the number of only three was too small for that.

Since they would not send three when they did not even know the opponent’s power.

Of course, there was no way the Seven Stars or the Ten Venerables would move either.

The monitoring on them was also not neglected.

‘Is the highest probability that the Sword Emperor is alive, and he came here bringing someone……?’

The figure swallowed a groan.

If the Sword Emperor was alive and escaped bringing the Namgung Family members, it was the worst situation. Their goal was to greatly shake the Orthodox Faction.

The sacrifice for that was precisely the Namgung Family, where the massive pillar called the Sword Emperor resided. However, if the return of the Sword Emperor became known again, there would be no great difficulty in rallying the Orthodox forces that were gradually dispersing.

The figure frowned.

“Which bastards……”

Let’s think.

The opponents are at most three.

Whether the Sword Emperor was truly there or not was a secondary issue. Figuring out who the other two fellows were, where they flowed in from, and where they went was the most important.

Snap!

The figure snapped his fingers.

At the same time, a person with a strange appearance revealed himself from the ground. He wore pitch-black clothes and hid his face. His considerably rugged body was like seeing a bear, and his slightly revealed gaze was sharp as if holding blades.

The face revealed between the mask was somewhat bizarrely shaped.

It was hideous, as if burned.

“Find the suspicious ones among those who entered recently. You must bring back information without letting a single one escape.”

“Order!”

Swoosh!

The man’s body vanished from the spot like mist.

Although anyone who saw it would think that man’s movement was by no means ordinary, the figure did not care at all and frowned.

“Sword Emperor…… if you are truly alive, the day you meet me will be the last day of your life.”

His gaze grew even narrower.

* * *

Dan So-mi rose from the bed with a disheveled appearance.

Glancing around, it was an unfamiliar room.

Although she turned her head several times to see if anyone was there, the room was empty and there was no one except Dan So-mi.

She opened her eyes wide unconsciously.

Alone in an unfamiliar place.

That woke up this tiny child’s mind.

Without even washing her face or grooming her hair, she jumped out of bed and opened the door. There was a large hallway and a few rooms were visible.

The room where Dan Woo-hyun and the others had surely gathered yesterday was that one.

The room with a large door visible in the middle.

Dan So-mi pitter-pattered over there and opened the door.

However, no matter how much she looked around that large room, there were no traces of people.

Where did they go?

She tilted her head.

She had an anxious thought of, ‘Could they have abandoned So-mi?’ but she soon shook her head to deny that thought.

It was Dan Woo-hyun, none other.

He was a person who could do nothing without So-mi, and whom So-mi had to take care of and look after.

So there was no way he would abandon So-mi.

The tiny child nodded, going ‘Mm, mm.’

Becoming convinced on her own, she turned her steps again.

If they weren’t here, would they be at the inn?

Leaving the annex, she cautiously headed toward the inn.

Although it was clearly early morning, there were many people. People wearing high-quality silk clothes were visible everywhere, all appearing like young masters of famous families, wealthy merchants, or their children.

Dan So-mi looked down at her clothes.

She saw they were slightly disheveled.

Lightly arranging her clothes, she moved toward the inn.

“Huh? Little girl. Sit here.”

The waiter, who approached before she knew it, smiled brightly and gave her a seat. In that place packed with customers to the extent that there was not even a seat to sit, when Dan So-mi sat down led by the waiter’s hand, gazes gathered from everywhere.

The gazes of the people who had been waiting were sharp.

However, the waiter did not even care.

It was natural to treat guests in the annex this way. Since they were people with that much money and status. Furthermore, the innkeeper had also ordered him to serve them with special care.

From the waiter’s standpoint, all of this was natural.

“You must eat breakfast…… is there anything you want to eat?”

“……So-mi wants…… dumplings……”

“Haha! Yes, yes. I will bring dumplings, so sit quietly.”

The waiter gently stroked Dan So-mi’s head.

Her tiny head shook slightly up and down every time he stroked with a little strength. Perhaps finding it highly amusing, the waiter stroked her head for a long time until a customer called.

“Ah, my head……”

Dan So-mi felt dizzy.

It was not like that when Dan Woo-hyun stroked her, but this waiter was not good at stroking. How hard did he press for her to feel dizzy?

But well, being doted on by someone was not a bad thing.

Thus, she sat alone at the large table, waiting for the food.

However, she went ‘Ah!’ and recalled something.

‘So-mi did not come to eat, though?’

She lifted her head suddenly.

She had clearly come out to find Dan Woo-hyun, so why was she sitting here? But since he said delicious dumplings were coming, she couldn’t just stand up either!

Dan So-mi bit her nails and trembled.

The waiter was scary.

He captured the young child’s heart in a single instant.

Realizing, ‘So this is why they say not to talk to strangers,’ she wore a crying face.

‘What should I do? What should I do?’

It seemed a bit late to stand up.

Before she knew it, the waiter brought the dumplings.

“Here, eat deliciously.”

“Yes……”

Eventually letting out a deep sigh, Dan So-mi slowly reached out and grabbed a dumpling. The texture was quite decent. It felt different from the dumplings she had eaten in Yueyang from the start.

Is it because it is expensive?

Are expensive things originally all like this?

Until Jang Sam-tae appeared, she could not eat proper things. Even after Jang Sam-tae joined as a family member, she had eaten many quite delicious things, but how would she know if that was expensive food or cheap food?

However, this dumpling was different.

It truly showed that it was expensive.

She took a big bite.

“Wow!”

Dan So-mi let out a tiny exclamation. From the texture when chewing to the taste of flowing juices. It seemed no exaggeration to call it the best among any dumplings she had eaten so far.

It tasted that good.

Dan So-mi, with her eyes shining brightly, stuffed the dumplings into her mouth. Before she knew it, she stuffed them in until her cheeks were plump and swallowed.

Feeling something strange, she glanced around, and saw many people watching Dan So-mi with warm expressions.

What is it? Why are they doing that?

As she tilted her head in wonder, small exclamations were heard here and there. Several people did not even hesitate to blush.

Why are their eyes shining like that?

She swallowed the dumpling remaining in her cheek. At the same time, expressions showing they were dying of cuteness were obvious along with small exclamations here and there.

“Huh?”

Dan So-mi, unable to understand the meaning, tilted her head in wonder. Since she did not understand why people were acting like that.

And at the same time, customers began ordering dumplings from everywhere.

“Hey, waiter! Two plates of dumplings here!”

“Here! Three plates here!”

The waiter moved busily, taking orders.

People ordering dumplings at this inn were extremely rare. Although they sold them, they did not order them, to the extent that at most ten plates went out a day.

However, at the suddenly flooding orders, even the chef and the waiter could not hide their surprise.

“Haha, you are a lucky charm for our house.”

Watching that situation, someone approached and spoke to Dan So-mi. Lifting her gaze quietly, the innkeeper she had surely seen last night was visible.

“Hello.”

“Yes, yes, did you sleep well?”

“Yes! So-mi slept well. But since Dad and…… Grandfather aren’t here…….”

“Ah, those gentlemen went out to the marketplace. They said they were making various preparations.”

“Sigh…… I wish they had taken So-mi along too.”

“Do not be discouraged. Because it was too early morning and you were fast asleep, they might have done so out of feeling sorry to wake you. That aside, is your stomach full?”

“Eh? Ah, yes. So-mi is fine.”

“Haha, if there is anything more you want to eat, tell me. This uncle will give it to you for free.”

At those words, Dan So-mi hesitated.

Of course, her desire to eat more was like a chimney. Since in fact, filling this hungry stomach with just a few dumplings seemed somewhat impossible.

Furthermore, for free.

But Dan So-mi soon shook her head.

‘I must not cause trouble any more than this!’

“Dad said so. Do not even receive or look at free things.”

“Oh? He says good words.”

The innkeeper laughed with a pleasant expression after a long time.

Because he had been sitting and watching Dan So-mi from a moment ago, he could also know why the atmosphere of this inn had changed like this.

This child, she was truly cute.

Every single action she did drew people’s gazes and concentrated their attention. Most of the many customers here would be those who had daughters, but they were happy seeing that something their own daughters did not possess.

That was highly pleasant.

The instant the innkeeper smiled broadly.

Crash!

Someone roughly struck the wall and raised his voice.

“How long on earth do you want me to wait?! You kid over there! You arrived later than me, so why is that fellow sitting and I am standing!”

A group of men roughly shouted and frowned.

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