Chapter 675: It’s been a long time!

Heading to the designated place in my quarters. A middle-aged man wearing the Martial Alliance’s Sword Guard uniform greets me.

“It’s been a while.”

It was Beomdong, whom I saw last time.

“Yes. It’s been a while.”

As he received the greeting with a displeased look, Beomdong chuckles.

“I apologize for visiting so suddenly.”

Though his expression showed no sign of remorse.

“You can say that again. You came right at mealtime. I was already hungry.”

I didn’t offer any polite lies saying it was fine.

Because it really wasn’t fine.

“I came to see you because I don’t think I properly introduced myself last time.”

“Then you could have come a bit later. Why now…”

“I am Beomdong, the Dragon Brigade Leader of the Martial Alliance. Young Hero So Yeomra.”

“…”

I was about to get fully annoyed but turned my expression away.

It was because the nickname, heard after a very long time, was mixed in.

‘Well, well?’

I wondered why Beomdong came, but it seemed he found out some information and came.

‘He found out who I am. Is that it.’

Then again, seven days and nights is plenty of time.

And considering the capabilities of the intelligence department…

‘I don’t think he only found out my identity.’

I became slightly interested in why he came.

Screeeech.

First, I pulled out a chair and sat down. And I said to Beomdong.

“I am Gu Yangcheon of the Gu Family.”

“Now I finally hear your real name. It took some time to find you since you first used Pajeolyeop.”

Hearing Beomdong’s words, I contained a chuckle.

‘This guy isn’t even trying to hide it?’

Pajeolyeop was the alias I used when Bihyeonhwa approached me.

But the fact that Beomdong mentions it so openly…

…means he has absolutely no intention of hiding the fact that he investigated me behind my back.

“I was surprised. I never thought you, Gongja, would be Young Hero So Yeomra.”

As I silently watched Beomdong without answering, he continued speaking.

“They said you were a rising expert who caused a stir in the Central Plains… Honestly, I didn’t really believe the talk.”

“Why? Was it too preposterous?”

“Exactly. Being the youngest to reach the Hwagyeong realm… Executing a Great Demonic Leader single-handedly. Those are hard-to-believe things.”

Half of that was true, and half was false.

“But seeing you like this, you must be even more amazing.”

“Why do you keep spewing such insincere compliments, bothering me?”

“From what I’ve gathered, you’ve just passed the age of majority…”

‘Crushing me at that age…’

Beomdong seemed to swallow the words he was about to say.

“This is purely out of curiosity, but are you perhaps a senior who underwent Banro Wandong?”

“…”

I almost spat out the tea I was drinking from the table.

“No matter how I look at it, reaching that level of mastery at your age is incomprehensible.”

“You know the side effects of Banro Wandong too, don’t you, Daeju-nim?”

“I do.”

Banro Wandong is a technique where a martial artist’s physical age regresses, but their acupoints weaken and their capacity diminishes.

This means, unless one undergoes Rebirth and Transformation multiple times, they can never regain their previous body.

“Knowing those side effects clearly, what kind of idiotic martial artist would do such a thing?”

“That is true.”

“Unless they’re a real, top-tier idiot. A moron like a sea cucumber…”

“Ah, I get it, you can stop now.”

“If such a person truly exists, they would be foolish and utterly lacking.”

“…”

Seeing how much I was cursing, Beomdong let out a slight cough.

Watching him calmly, I posed a question.

“Why did you come here?”

Click.

I asked, putting down the teacup I was holding.

“If you found out information, you should have investigated further. What is your intention in coming now?”

“Haha.”

Beomdong laughs.

For some reason, his laughter felt like it was tickling my insides.

“I am continuing to gather information. Not just about you, Young Hero, and the Baekhwa Merchant Group… but also several other intertwined matters. The investigation is ongoing without rest.”

“But why then?”

“It seems something has come up that requires me to visit you directly, Young Hero.”

He says he’s investigating me behind my back, yet there’s something he needs to find out separately?

As I stared at Beomdong, wondering what it could be…

“Recently, several strange incidents have occurred around you, Young Hero. Do you happen to know anything about them?”

“Interesting. I’ll listen carefully.”

‘Around me?’

“The first is… regarding the woman who approached you, Young Hero.”

“Hmm.”

I had to widen my eyes slightly at Beomdong’s words.

Because I was genuinely surprised.

“I didn’t expect you to mention that so openly?”

It seems to be about Bihyeonhwa. I really didn’t think he’d just blurt it out like this.

“I was confident you already knew anyway. Gathering information confirmed it. It’s quite remarkable. Young men of your age would have found it hard to resist.”

Bihyeonhwa was indeed beautiful.

As Beomdong said, she was beautiful enough to make young men lose their senses.

However.

‘It’s just that the girls around me were overwhelmingly prettier.’

I had developed immunity to such things, or rather, I was completely covered by it.

“How did you know? That the woman was an operative of the Martial Alliance?”

“I didn’t particularly think she was an operative of the Martial Alliance. I just kept my distance because she seemed suspicious.”

Although I already knew everything and toyed with her, that was naturally a secret.

“But, did something happen to that woman?”

She just left as if fleeing, so I didn’t particularly stop her.

‘Did something happen?’

Hearing my question, Beomdong stared at me silently.

And then.

“…So that’s how you’re going to play it.”

He suddenly started spouting nonsense on his own.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“What are you talking about? Why are you acting alone? Let’s discuss it together.”

‘Has he gone mad…?’

“The second is… the fact that Martial Alliance members are disappearing one by one.”

This was the first I was hearing of it.

“Disappearing?”

“Yes. Especially…”

Beomdong narrowed his eyes as he looked at me.

His eyes were becoming increasingly displeasing.

Looking at those eyes, I let out a breath and said to Beomdong.

“Are you perhaps suspecting me?”

“Not quite suspicion. More like keeping a close eye on you.”

“That is suspicion.”

I was dumbfounded.

If I were suspected for something I actually did, fine. But being suspected for something completely unheard of was absurd.

‘Besides, I don’t recall any reports coming in.’

Perhaps others committed these acts, but there haven’t been any such reports yet.

“So you came to see me because you suspect me. Is that what you’re saying?”

“That’s not it. This was purely to pay respects… Besides, even if not today, the Martial Alliance will soon issue investigative authority.”

‘Investigative authority?’

Beomdong’s words made my brow twitch.

“Along with the capture of circumstantial evidence.”

‘Circumstantial evidence? There’s evidence?’

‘What kind of evidence are they talking about?’

The moment that question arose.

“The attitude you showed me earlier, So Yeomra, might also become an issue.”

Beomdong’s following words made my eyebrows move.

‘So that’s what it was.’

I went so far as to let him go alive last time, and it seems he’s holding a grudge.

“Given that, before the investigative authority is issued… how about you, So Yeomra, come directly to the Martial Alliance to be investigated?”

“Even though I didn’t do anything. You want me to go to the Martial Alliance and obediently accept an investigation because I’m under suspicion?”

“If the investigative authority is issued, it’ll be troublesome for both of us. Wouldn’t it be better to handle this easily?”

“Wow…”

I expressed admiration while listening to Beomdong’s words.

It wasn’t admiration for his method.

‘This bastard was the same even back then.’

First, he talks as if he knows my information well, then mentions the Martial Alliance’s investigative authority and evidence, referencing his own standing within the Martial Alliance.

In a word, this was a battle of wills.

No matter how strong martial artists were, the righteous sects were bound under the organization called the Martial Alliance.

Even if they acted recklessly, it wasn’t uncommon for things to become difficult if the Martial Alliance intervened.

In my previous life, Beomdong used to apply pressure like this when he worked.

This was done to break the opponent’s spirit before handling matters.

‘What bullshit. Seriously.’

Needless to say, such tactics wouldn’t work on me.

“I’m not falling for that.”

Screech-

I said, standing up.

“If you’re going to investigate, at least find some evidence. You handle things like shit. I couldn’t even eat because I heard a guest was coming. I feel like sprinkling salt on you.”

It’s rare for a Daeju-nim to visit personally, but I didn’t need to exert more effort for such a pathetic meeting.

If I just waited, he would eventually come find me.

Why does he keep rushing his own death?

‘He’s useful, so I can’t kill him yet.’

It felt like he was provoking my patience, but I still had to endure.

As I said, I had to leave him be for now.

‘Beomdong had to be used at a crucial moment-‘

“It seems you have many women around you.”

Thump.

I stopped walking.

I didn’t turn my head, but kept my ears open.

“I see four in total. Three daughters of the Myung family… No, one is no longer, so let’s exclude her.”

The sound was grating on my ears.

‘Should I turn my head now? No, endure.’

‘If I turn around now, I might kill him. Thinking that, I tried to muster my patience, but…’

“It even seems the descendant of the previous-previous Martial Alliance Leader is by your side.”

“…Haha.”

Hearing that last remark, I couldn’t help but turn my head.

“And so?”

“It’s nothing major… It just seems you are quite close with the young ladies.”

“No, I mean…”

Screeeech.

I pulled out the chair I had stood up from, placed my hands on the table, and approached Beomdong.

“So what about it?”

“Hahaha.”

As I said it while making eye contact, Beomdong laughed.

“No, I don’t mean anything by it. It’s just that I think you, So Yeomra, are making a slight mistake.”

“What mistake do you think I’m making?”

“Don’t you think that as someone who upholds justice in the Martial Alliance, you wouldn’t do anything foolish?”

I nodded at Beomdong’s words.

“If that’s the case, you are correct. The Martial Alliance upholds justice and does not act against it.”

Listening to him, I asked Beomdong.

“What do you mean by foolish or inappropriate actions, Daeju-nim?”

“I mean illegal activities.”

“Ah, I see. Okay. Go on. You’re saying the Martial Alliance doesn’t engage in such illegal and petty acts. But?”

“While they certainly can’t under the Martial Alliance’s name… recently, as Martial Alliance members are disappearing, people uncooperative with the Martial Alliance often face misfortune.”

“Misfortune?”

“Things like their families suffering… or their loved ones getting hurt.”

As Beomdong continued speaking, my gaze grew cold.

‘How can these bastards never change? Maybe that’s for the best.’

“So?”

“Therefore, I’m telling you out of concern. Since you, So Yeomra, are being so uncooperative… isn’t it possible that something bad might happen to the important people around you?”

“So what you’re saying now, Daeju-nim, is…”

Click.

My hand moved, brushing against the teacup.

At the same time, I sensed a presence behind me.

A presence only I could feel.

“‘Stop acting out and keep your head down. If you keep acting cocky like that, I won’t leave the people around you alone.’ Is that what you mean?”

“Hoho, it seems you’ve misunderstood again… This isn’t the Martial Alliance’s stance. Truly…”

“Damn bastards, anyway.”

“…What?”

Beomdong’s expression crumpled at the curse that burst out uncontrollably.

“So Yeomra, what did you just say-“

“I heard you fine, so don’t ask again. You fucking bastard.”

It seemed I couldn’t hold back any longer.

“These so-called righteous sects, they have no sense of decency. The demonic sects at least act openly. These guys just can’t seem to evolve?”

At the harsh curses, Beomdong also started to stand up.

No, he tried to stand, but…

Thwack-

CRUNCH-

“GURK–!“

I grabbed Beomdong by the hair as he tried to move and slammed his head onto the table.

From the impact, the tea in the cup above spilled and flowed down to the floor.

Fortunately, the table didn’t break.

That was thanks to me protecting the table with my Qi beforehand.

“What is this–!”

Before Beomdong could shout anything, my fist struck his face.

KA-BOOM-!

“KHYUK!“

From the impact, Beomdong’s lips burst, and a few teeth flew out.

“I was already furious, and now you say ‘suffer misfortune’?”

“Nnngh… How dare… you… the Martial Alliance’s…”

Unable to let him finish, I lifted his hair slightly, which I was holding, and slammed it down again.

BANG-! BANG-BANG-!

Repeating the action, I whispered behind me.

“Nahi.”

“Yes, Master.”

“…!”

As Nahi, who had appeared behind me unnoticed, answered, Beomdong’s eyes widened like saucers upon seeing her.

“Close the doors.”

“As you command.”

As soon as the words fell, the windows and doors nearby began closing one by one.

Vwooom-

Once all the doors were closed, a barrier flowed out and filled the room.

It sealed the room to prevent sounds from escaping outside.

CRUNCH-! BANG-!

I continued slamming Beomdong’s head onto the table, and only stopped after the count exceeded ten times.

“Kkeueo….“

Only Beomdong’s groans could be heard in the quiet room.

Drip… drip…

Blood flowed from Beomdong’s mouth, dripping onto the table.

Watching it, I said to the man.

“I tried my best not to interfere and let things slide. Because the time wasn’t right yet.”

It was true.

Beomdong’s usefulness hadn’t arrived yet.

He was someone I needed to utilize at least until after the Martial Arts Tournament.

“Why do you keep provoking me? Making me want to kill you.”

“Kkeuheuu….“

“Huh? I’m asking you. Why are you doing this?”

“Heuu… heuu….“

Beomdong, groaning like that, spoke to me with trembling lips.

“…You… you think you can get away with this…? After daring to turn the Martial Alliance’s Daeju-nim into this state…!”

“Yes. Yes, Daeju-nim. The great Daeju-nim of the Martial Alliance.”

Unable to stand the bullshit, I grabbed his face with my hand.

The flowing blood soaked my hand, but I didn’t care.

“I know well. That it’ll be hard to get away with this. I know it too well.”

I know exactly what kind of organization the Martial Alliance is.

Like Beomdong said, the Martial Alliance at least deals decisively with its own members.

Especially if it’s someone of Daeju-nim’s level, it’s even more so.

“But you know.”

I said, looking into his eyes.

“Knowing that well, yet acting like this… doesn’t that mean you either don’t care about that, or you have a way to handle it even if you do this?”

“…!”

Beomdong’s pupils trembled for a moment.

“So don’t worry about me. I’ll handle myself just fine.”

“Worry about yourself right now. That would be best.”

Thinking that, I gave him a smile.

Thunk.

At the same time, grabbing the water glass next to me.

“Ueeok!?“

I grabbed his cheek, forced his mouth open, and shoved it inside.

Beomdong tried desperately to spit out the glass, but he lacked the strength to escape.

“From now on, keep your eyes wide open. If you close them even once, you die?”

After giving Beomdong a brief warning.

I raised my fist and smashed it directly into Beomdong’s cheek.

WHAM-! CRACK!

“Kkueeeeeeeoa!“

The glass shattered inside Beomdong’s mouth.