Chapter 111: The Night Before the Murim Excursion (3)

Cho Un-hwi stared at the old man in front of him.

The old man had long white hair that reached down past his shoulders, neatly trimmed white eyebrows, and a soft, curved gaze beneath his thick white beard, giving him the appearance of a dignified elder aging gracefully.

“Is there something on my face?”

But as the old man slightly squinted, the madness hidden beneath his eyelids began to seep out.

Yes, he looked like a kindly old man, but in reality, he was a monster whom even demonic practitioners feared.

This was the true face of Sima Bai, the leader of the Dark Soul Black Wind Guard.

‘Misfortune creeps up before you even realize it.’

It felt like sitting comfortably on a box, only to find out there was a snake coiled beneath.

The problem was that the approaching figure was not a cute cat, but a twisted, bitter presence devoid of any charm.

“Sigh. Life is indeed strange.”

No matter how much he had tried to avoid it, the trouble had already crept into his house.

As he sighed, Sima Bai’s squinted eyes narrowed further as he turned to Sima Yul.

“You fool! How could you serve our lord so poorly that he is this displeased?”

Are you not aware that it’s because of you?

“A true loyalist understands their lord’s heart.”

It would be great if you could understand my heart and just disappear.

“How can I rest in peace with such an incompetent son?”

Sima Bai scolded his son with a voice that seemed like it would remain strong for another hundred years.

[My lord, please save me.]

Sima Yul’s face turned ashen under the relentless scolding.

‘I should intervene.’

If this continues, his father might strangle him in his fury.

“Sima Bai.”

“Yes, my lord.”

The old man, who had suddenly reverted to a kindly demeanor, was addressed by Cho Un-hwi.

“How did you get in here?”

“It is the duty of a subordinate to follow their lord, even through ice and fire.”

“Don’t joke.”

“Haha.”

With a sly laugh, Sima Bai explained,

“I was lucky.”

“Getting into Shinmu Academy by luck?”

“Isn’t it all a sign from the heavens to follow our lord?”

Sima Bai’s explanation left Cho Un-hwi with his mouth agape.

“The Lone Flying Swordsman, Wang Woo?”

“Yes. A hidden master seeking to rebuild the destroyed Kunlun Sect. Isn’t it a great cover?”

“It’s not just great, it’s perfect.”

The destruction of the Kunlun Sect was a tragic legend among the righteous factions.

Any righteous faction member would be in awe of someone continuing the Kunlun lineage.

‘Despite bribing the beggars with gold, why am I just a lowly instructor?’

Heaven, isn’t this discrimination too severe? But there was something puzzling.

“Where did you get the Kunlun Sect’s martial arts?”

“We took some from the demonic practitioners.”

“Well, the ones who destroyed the Kunlun Sect were demonic practitioners. They might have had some of their martial arts.”

But that alone wouldn’t be enough.

The ‘Great Void Dragon Slaying Sword’ was a technique passed down only to the head of the Kunlun Sect, not easily obtained.

Sima Bai answered matter-of-factly.

“We excavated it.”

“What?”

Sima Bai’s squinted eyes gleamed dangerously.

“Some suspicious individuals were snooping around the old Kunlun Sect site.”

“Thinking there was something there, we killed them and searched the site ourselves.”

“That’s how we obtained the Kunlun Sect’s martial arts.”

Isn’t it simple?

Seeing the white-haired subordinate smiling like a dog seeking praise, Cho Un-hwi felt his stomach churn.

“…So.”

Cho Un-hwi pressed his index finger against his forehead.

“You killed the Heavenly Destruction Society members and took their stuff?”

“My lord, that’s not it.”

Sima Bai vehemently denied it as if he were a loyalist being falsely accused.

“Everything in the desert, even a grain of sand, belongs to our lord.”

“If they coveted what is our lord’s, the fault lies with the Heavenly Destruction Society.”

“They sought what belonged to our lord, so there’s no excuse even if they were beheaded and gutted.”

“Surely the dead thought so too.”

What are you even saying?

‘Oh, this is bad.’

The reason for the silence about the Kunlun Sect’s legacy was well-known.

It was because the Heavenly Destruction Society coveted the Kunlun Sect’s martial arts.

But now he was gleefully talking about killing them and taking their martial arts?

‘The Heavenly Destruction Society must be frantically searching for it.’

Despite all efforts to avoid entanglement, this was a major blunder.

He felt his stomach churn.

“Ah. My stomach hurts.”

As he clutched his belly, Sima Bai’s eyes narrowed again.

“Foolish son. Didn’t you hear that our lord is displeased?”

“It’s all because you failed to serve our lord properly!”

It’s your fault! Yours!

“How can I rest easy when my only son is so incompetent?”

“You should have brought the head of the Murim Alliance Leader if necessary!”

Pecking like a woodpecker, Sima Yul’s cheeks quickly hollowed.

After scolding his son for a long time, Sima Bai turned to a new target.

“My lord. Where is Danya?”

“…Why Danya?”

“It seems everyone has become lax in my absence. They need immediate reeducation.”

Oh, really.

He wanted to ignore him, but Sima Bai’s squinted eyes were too unsettling, so he made an excuse.

“He’s not here.”

“He… left our lord unattended?”

Unattended, my foot.

I’m not a child.

But it seemed Sima Bai wasn’t convinced.

“They need more than reeducation.”

“Stop thinking about it. Shinmu Academy is very strict about entry.”

So calm down and let’s talk.

But Sima Bai was adamant.

“My lord, don’t worry.”

He pulled out a long, shining silver plaque from his sleeve.

“What’s this?”

“It’s the identification plaque of an elder of the Beggars’ Sect.”

An elder’s identification plaque?

“I kept it for occasions like this.”

Sima Bai smiled wickedly.

***

As always, Sima Bai’s actions were remarkable.

Holding the elder’s identification plaque, he moved around and easily obtained an exit permit.

*Clang. Clang.*

The gate of Euncheon Hall opened in the middle of the night, leaving Cho Un-hwi speechless.

“…This is the first time this gate has opened outside of scheduled times.”

“I’ve never seen anyone who can charm and deceive people like my father.”

“Me neither.”

Agreeing with Yul, Cho Un-hwi looked at Sima Bai.

“Haha. Thank you for understanding this old man’s stubbornness.”

With a friendly smile, he charmed the gatekeepers.

“This is urgent. It might be a matter of life and death. Rules are important, but saving lives comes first.”

He coaxed the grumpy scholars who had been woken up in the middle of the night.

At the same time,

[Look into my eyes.]

While they were distracted by the elder’s identification plaque and his eloquence, he skillfully hypnotized them.

The result was this.

*Clang. Thud.*

Seeing the drawbridge lower, Cho Un-hwi was speechless.

‘Was it this simple?’

What did I waste half a year trying to cross this gate for?

‘Let’s admit it.’

I’m not good at scheming and manipulation, only at killing and destroying.

As the drawbridge lowered, the gatekeeper, half-dazed, muttered.

“It’s ready. Please proceed.”

“Thank you. You’ve eased a great burden. It’s people like you who keep the Jianghu peaceful.”

“It’s an honor to assist Elder Chui Geol-gae.”

“The Beggars’ Sect will not forget you.”

After patting his shoulder and offering a few words of praise, Sima Bai returned.

“Is there something on my face?”

“No. It’s just amazing.”

“Haha. Let’s go. We don’t have much time.”

Sima Bai, now back to his villainous self, smiled with narrowed eyes.

“Reeducating Danya will take all night.”

***

In an abandoned building on the outskirts of Muhan City.

Not long after sending a signal through Yo-ran, the smell of blood wafted in.

*Slash!*

Emerging from the shadows was Danya.

Waving his blood-soaked bandages, Danya cheerfully waved at them.

“Hey, my lord. Sima Bai and Sima Yul too?”

Seeing Danya waving, Sima Bai smiled.

“Danya?”

But his voice was low and menacing.

Seeing Sima Bai’s expression, Danya froze.

“I sent you to serve our lord, and you’re loitering here.”

“Uh, Sima Bai. That’s…”

“Not only are you irresponsible as a subordinate, but you also speak disrespectfully to our lord.”

His low voice was filled with killing intent.

Feeling the suffocating pressure, Danya’s face turned pale.

“Why are you so angry?”

“Haha. I’m not angry at all.”

“Liar! Your eyes are scary!”

“I’m just thinking about what to do with someone who disrespects our lord.”

Sima Bai’s lips twitched slightly.

“A useless subordinate deserves to be disposed of.”

“Eek!”

Feeling the intensified killing intent, Danya’s bandages trembled.

Sensing the danger, Danya tried to explain.

“No, I was helping our lord!”

“Judging by the smell of blood, you’ve been having fun.”

“No, I was following our lord’s orders to deal with the Heavenly Destruction Society…”

Despite Danya’s efforts to explain, Sima Bai’s response was cold.

“Leaving our lord’s side to catch a few small fry?”

“You claimed to help our lord’s conquest, but your excuse is weak.”

“Claiming to be our lord’s left hand with such irresponsibility.”

“Danya needs reeducation.”

Danya, feeling cornered, looked desperate.

[My lord, save me.]

Seeing Danya’s plea, Sima Bai’s expression grew even colder.

With his keen senses, he intercepted Danya’s telepathic message.

“you’re asking our lord for help?”

You’re hopeless.

Sima Bai’s presence grew even more oppressive.

“Gak!”

Choking under the pressure, Danya screamed.

“I had no choice! Finding the rightful companion for our lord is more important than conquest!”

Sima Bai’s killing intent abruptly ceased.

His head turned like a broken puppet.

“Rightful… companion…?”

Seizing the opportunity, Sima Yul quickly intervened.

“I’ll explain.”

Sighing, Sima Yul began to speak.