Chapter 121: Chapter 121

“Good grief… What kind of old man is that…”

Ma Jang-gang, who was sitting alone behind the inn, made a crying face as he rubbed his face with an egg. He had thought they were just old men who were dying of old age, but they were indeed the people by Dan Woo-hyun’s side.

He was beaten up without even being able to brush against their sleeves.

The punches flew so fast that he could not even see them, and by the time he thought about dodging, it was already far too late.

From the start, they were opponents with vastly different physical abilities.

“So why did you act so cocky?”

With a tap, Jang Sam-tae, who was nearby, lightly kicked his thigh.

Looking at his triumphant and even self-confident face, anger surged inside him.

“Hey there, my friend. Even though I ended up in this state…”

“Saying you’re one of the Top Hundred Experts or the Wolf King is all nonsense anyway. That guy is someone who was once called the Little Twin Blades.”

Jang Sam-tae gestured with his chin towards Gwon Mu-jin. Not a single trace of interest could be seen on the face of Gwon Mu-jin, who was leaning against a wall, standing relaxed.

Ma Jang-gang glanced back at Gwon Mu-jin.

‘Come to think of it, that was why the fight broke out. Little Twin Blades… I heard he was an expert who would lead the Unorthodox Faction, so why is he in a place like this?’

Then again, considering that, he himself, who was called the Wolf King, was also here. Everyone must have their own circumstances, and since Dan Woo-hyun was an existence attractive and strong enough to draw people in, it would not be strange no matter who was here.

‘Moreover, he has no concept of Orthodox or Unorthodox either.’

Ma Jang-gang shrugged his shoulders.

In his eyes, Dan Woo-hyun was someone without the concept of Orthodox, Unorthodox, or Demonic. Should it be said that he walked the path of neutrality? That was likely why he accepted someone from the Unorthodox Faction without a second thought.

The two masked old men he had seen a moment ago did not seem ordinary either. While a pure energy could be felt from one side, an extreme demonic energy was felt from the other.

“Just who are those two old men?”

“You’d faint if you knew, so mind your own business. More than that, do you really plan on staying here?”

Jang Sam-tae asked as he looked at Ma Jang-gang with a somewhat displeased expression. An increase in people at the manor was a good thing because it meant more hands to help.

But having more strong people gather than this was a bit…

Especially when his own standing was already narrowing.

On top of that, he might have to handle this old man who was acting somewhat diseased, talking about being one of the Top Hundred Experts or whatever.

It might be more comfortable not to have such a troublesome guy around…

“I am an existence born to serve Great Hero Dan until I die! I will serve him with all my life, and I will cut down his enemies with this sword.”

He leaped up from his seat and boasted grandly while thumping his chest. Jang Sam-tae, who watched this quietly, shivered and looked back at Gwon Mu-jin.

Come to think of it, hadn’t that guy also said something similar?

Like attracts like…

“Why are you looking at me?”

“Huh? Am I not even allowed to just look… What a terrible temper.”

“Hmph.”

Gwon Mu-jin snorted.

He could roughly guess what Jang Sam-tae was thinking. Even in Gwon Mu-jin’s own eyes, Ma Jang-gang’s behavior certainly gave him a bit of a chill.

If he had acted like that, he would have been too embarrassed to show his face around.

“Did you say you were Ma Jang-gang? You shouldn’t have any time since you manage the vagrant martial artists, yet you want to follow us… There seems to be a contradiction somewhere, doesn’t there?”

“Huh? I will take care of my own business. I don’t think it’s something for you to worry about?”

Jang Sam-tae quietly stared at the two of them with a look of surprise.

He realized that Gwon Mu-jin’s tone and Ma Jang-gang’s tone were both hostile toward each other. Looking at them facing off, it felt as if sparks were flying.

‘What, are they fighting over the position of the chief guard?’

Nonsense…

In fact, he wondered if Dan Woo-hyun even needed a guard. Rather, he had a feeling that instead of keeping guards by his side, Dan Woo-hyun would assign them all to Dan So-mi.

In the first place, was there anyone who could even touch that man?

A guard was meaningless.

He wondered why they were wasting their energy on something so meaningless.

“Whatever the case, don’t forget that I am the one most trusted by Manor Lord Dan!”

Jang Sam-tae burst into a loud laugh, placing his hands on his waist. If there was anyone in this manor as indispensable as Jang Sam-tae, tell them to step forward.

From laundry, of course, to cleaning and cooking.

He was even attending to Dan Woo-hyun and Dan So-mi, as well as the two old men.

Since Jang Sam-tae was the only one who handled most of the expenses required to run the manor, let alone knowing what to spend on what, the manor could not run without him.

It was not strange for him to have such pride.

However, Gwon Mu-jin’s expression was not very good.

“What the hell are you talking about, you idiot?”

For the first time, a curse word came out of his mouth.

“It seems Henan is quieter than I thought.”

That was the first thought that came to Dan Woo-hyun’s mind as he entered this land of Henan. If Anhui was in an uproar because of the Death Blood Syndicate, this place was quiet, too quiet.

Of course, there were times when it was loud.

It was when they first entered the inn and the Orthodox faction fellows were staging a sit-in, demanding they hand over Gwon Mu-jin. But aside from the uncomfortable gazes of the Orthodox people felt while eating, they could not even feel what was happening here, and it was just quiet.

The rumors claimed this and that, but it seemed far removed from such things.

“No, there is something.”

“You know that?”

Sa Do-hak looked at Namgung Cheon with a somewhat crooked expression. It was because he thought they might leave without even getting a look at the Martial Alliance, despite having come all the way to Henan.

“Of course. Henan is too quiet right now. The people of the Nine Sects and One Gang are one thing, but not even the young experts or figures of the Eight Great Families can be seen.”

Namgung Cheon narrowed his eyes as he looked out the window.

It was strange, far too strange.

Even if they were fellow Orthodox members, the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Eight Great Families were absolute entities that had ruled the Central Plains for a long time. Thus, it would be normal for them to frequently patrol the towns to focus on maintaining public order, or for immature youngsters to cause commotions since they had strong backgrounds.

It would be great if those immature youngsters had reflected and stopped causing commotions after Murong Hyeok-mun became the Alliance Leader, but judging by the rumors, things would have broken out on an even grander scale rather than being this quiet.

Even the fact that only Shaolin could be seen among those who should be in charge of maintaining public order was strange.

Namgung Cheon narrowed his eyes.

“It seems I must go inside the Martial Alliance.”

“Really?”

Sa Do-hak sprang up from his seat.

What was the purpose of his coming to Henan?

It was precisely to sightsee the Martial Alliance.

For the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Eight Great Families, it would be possible to see them anytime if he just conquered them, but the Martial Alliance itself could not be easily seen, and he did not know when that opportunity would come again.

Thus, Sa Do-hak’s eyes sparkled.

Namgung Cheon looked at Sa Do-hak with a somewhat uncomfortable expression.

“Ugh… Do you also intend to go?”

“Of course! Why else do you think I came all the way here!”

“What about protecting So-mi at the inn…?”

“No way!”

“Ugh,” Namgung Cheon groaned.

Dan Woo-hyun did not matter since he maintained neutrality regardless of Orthodox, Unorthodox, or Demonic factions. Since he did not have any hostility toward the Martial Alliance, showing him that place would not result in any harm.

Besides, he was fundamentally someone who disliked troublesome things.

Conversely, Sa Do-hak?

He was one of the Five Emperors and an expert representing the Central Plains.

Along with that, simply being called the Demonic Emperor and the leader of the three factions made it self-evident that he was a figure hostile to the Orthodox faction.

Although they were talking casually like this now, the place they had to go was the most secret of secrets within the Orthodox Martial Alliance, so he had no desire to show it to someone from a different faction.

“I am saying! I want to sightsee that Martial Alliance with my own two feet! Isn’t that why I came from Hunan to Anhui! And then back to Henan!”

“No… wasn’t going to Anhui your own choice?”

Namgung Cheon broke out in a cold sweat.

In the first place, when they went to Anhui, he had not mentioned moving to Henan. If so, Sa Do-hak should have known he would not be coming to the Martial Alliance, but now he was claiming that this entire series of travels was done out of his determination to look around the Martial Alliance.

Namgung Cheon let out a hollow laugh in disbelief.

“No! I must see the Martial Alliance at least once. Furthermore, you… if those rumors are true, I’m also curious about how you will deal with that fellow.”

“……”

Sa Do-hak muttered as he stared quietly at Namgung Cheon. Not only was he staring straight ahead, but it was also impossible to read what he was thinking in his dark eyes.

If he had been acting as Demon Heaven Lord for fun until now, the person in front of Sword Emperor Namgung Cheon was unmistakably the Demonic Emperor Sa Do-hak he knew.

In the end, Namgung Cheon raised both hands in surrender.

“I suppose it can’t be helped…”

“Hahaha! Yes, yes, it makes no sense to leave me out when visiting such a place! Indeed, of course.”

“We are not going to play. And you must not cause trouble either. I simply want to get a sense of the Martial Alliance’s atmosphere.”

Namgung Cheon, letting out a sigh, looked at Dan Woo-hyun.

He was elegantly leaning against the window, drinking a cup. By his side lay Dan So-mi, who was fast asleep, as if he did not want to leave her side for even a single moment.

“It is already the hour of the Dog, yet she sleeps so well. Hehehe, she must have been tired.”

Indeed, considering the journey of the past days, it was not a level that such a young child could easily endure. The fact that she did not show it even though she must have been very exhausted might be because she was, in her own way, thinking of the adults.

And there was also some commotion at the inn.

However, contrary to Namgung Cheon’s thoughts, Dan Woo-hyun shook his head as he tilted his cup.

“I have pressed her sleep acupoints.”

“What? Her sleep acupoints? Why to So-mi…?”

Just when on earth did he do such a thing?

Since they had not even seen that sight, not only Namgung Cheon but also Sa Do-hak could not help but be surprised. Until now, in their eyes, he had only appeared to be a person holding Dan So-mi in his arms and drinking alcohol.

At that moment, Dan Woo-hyun, who had been looking out the window, lightly reached out his hand. With just a gentle push, the window opened with a creaking sound.

“Because it seems tonight will be somewhat noisy…”

Since they could not grasp the truth of those words, Namgung Cheon and Sa Do-hak wore puzzled expressions.

And the moment they stood up one by one and approached the window.

It could be heard.

Although faint, it was the sound of blades.

Furthermore, stealthy footsteps were mixed within it.

This undoubtedly meant that someone was moving.

“Just what on earth is happening…!”

“It is the Martial Alliance. Something is about to happen there.”

With a smirk, Dan Woo-hyun tilted his cup. Was it an illusion that he felt like he was drinking while using that sound, which was so quiet it could barely be heard even if one listened closely, as a side dish?

No.

Dan Woo-hyun’s expression looked as if he was genuinely enjoying it.

That something he had not expected was happening.

And the outcome of that event.

Namgung Cheon could not hide his shiver.

Was he saying that despite the sound of people dying reaching his ears, even if it was faint, he had been smiling and drinking his alcohol without even batting an eye until now?

Just thinking about it made his spine run cold.

As he harbored such thoughts, he soon felt a chill and raised his voice.

“Wh-What? The… Martial Alliance!”

Namgung Cheon’s face turned deadly pale.

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