Chapter 703: Divine Dragon Martial Arts Festival.

Amipai (Mount Emei Sect).

A sect that established its roots in Sichuan, and one of the nine major orthodox sects known as the Nine Great Families.

Unlike other sects, it was unique in that it maintained its sect solely with female monks.

What was the reason? I don’t really know.

It’s probably more accurate to say I wasn’t interested.

What little I do know is that it wasn’t always like this.

Only that after the Blood Demon War, they expelled male disciples and began to form the sect solely with female disciples.

Seeing this, people often question how they could maintain their position among the Nine Great Families with only women, but.

I felt it wasn’t a particularly meaningful topic.

‘The moment you embrace the blade, what difference is there between male and female?’

From a common perspective, a warrior has already crossed the line.

It means you should only divide by cultivation level; dividing by gender is meaningless.

‘The bastards who go easy on them just because they’re women are the biggest problem.’

Such things are only permissible for ordinary people; they mean nothing for warriors.

That’s why idiots get killed by honey traps or have their necks sliced while hesitating.

In fact, when the demonic cultivators were conquering Sichuan, the Amipai was the most troublesome.

It wasn’t because their martial power was overwhelmingly strong or their strategy was brilliant, but simply because their desire for the women caused problems.

Despite being monks, the Amipai’s female monks grew their hair.

Even if not very long, they kept it short or bobbed.

Perhaps because of that, beast-like bastards would do fucked-up things.

‘While I managed the Black Flame Brigade….’

If they showed such behavior, I’d burn them alive, so there were no issues with the Black Flame Brigade.

However, the Ghostly Blade Brigade and the Green Robe Hidden Strike Brigade couldn’t do that.

Later, after stomping on the Sword Demon and ripping out the innards of one of the Hidden Strike Brigade members, they quieted down, but.

Thanks to that, the conquest of Sichuan almost ran into trouble.

‘Anyway.’

Ignoring those incidents, I first had to look at the woman before me.

Bobbed hair reaching her shoulders, a deep scar crossing her cheek.

She looked to be around the age of twenty.

‘I don’t know who she is.’

She’s not a famous warrior.

At least by her appearance, she was an unknown figure.

I met the gaze of the scarred woman. More precisely, an Amipai disciple.

“What is it?”

“…Gguk.”

As I tightened my grip on her neck, the woman groaned.

I had cut off the flow of her blade and sealed her movements.

Her cultivation level was, at best, peak.

With my free hand, I scanned the woman’s body.

“…!!”

She scowled as if humiliated, but I didn’t care.

‘Looking at her muscles, she’s an assassin.’

Judging by her developed physique, she is indeed an assassin.

However, the calluses on her hands suggest she’s someone who uses palm techniques.

An assassin who’s also a fist master… A rather peculiar combination.

“It’s quite puzzling. Why would a female monk from Sichuan be doing something like this?”

I asked, slightly loosening my grip.

“Wh-what… are you talking about… Wh-why are you suddenly doing this?!”

As expected, the woman feigned ignorance to my question.

Listening to her, I calmly looked into her eyes.

Her pupils were shaking uncontrollviously.

Her breathing was ragged, and her heartbeat was rapid.

Is it fear or panic?

There might be a subtle difference, but I can’t discern it to that extent.

However.

‘She recognized me.’

She definitely called me So-Yeomra when she saw me.

Ordinary people rarely recognize me on sight.

It’s also partly because the Alliance made an agreement with the Beggars’ Sect to keep it that way.

And it’s also thanks to me living without revealing myself much.

She recognized me instantly.

‘It’s not that strange.’

Even if rumors haven’t spread widely, I’m known to some extent, and those who are interested might recognize me.

But.

‘That’s not the feeling I’m getting.’

Her reaction wasn’t just surprise.

‘The meeting itself is the problem in the first place.’

Let’s figure out the reason we got entangled like this.

“Does a female monk of the Amipai have some business with our Miss Pi Yeonyeon?”

“…Pi… Yeonyeon?”

Pi Yeonyeon.

A collateral relative born in Xi’an Pi.

It was the alias Bongsun currently used.

Furthermore.

She was also the bait I had cast.

‘Yes, bait.’

The Spirit-Soothing Sword Empress was a figure the Alliance kept extremely quiet about, and simultaneously, several other factions paid close attention to her.

It’s truly strange.

Decades had passed since she died, and the position of Sword Empress had already been taken by Mount Hua.

Is there any reason to watch over and obstruct her traces?

The Alliance certainly might have reasons, but for others, questions arise.

The Spirit-Soothing Sword Empress was known to have no affiliated faction.

Although it was later revealed she did have a faction.

‘In any case, that’s just the Alliance’s scheme.’

I can’t believe it.

Even if it were true, it wouldn’t matter.

‘If it’s real, I can just make it fake.’

Evidence can be fabricated.

The existence of the Spirit-Soothing Sword Empress is merely a dagger to me.

Yet.

‘Who could it be?’

Who else, besides the Alliance and myself, is trying to figure this out?

It’s something I’ve always been curious about.

Who could they be?

Who is making moves, and for whatever reason.

‘Are they someone who can help me?’

More precisely, whether they are someone beneficial to my plan.

Or, someone who will become an unnecessary obstacle.

I was curious about that, and to find out, I had to cast bait.

Bait valuable enough for someone to bite the moment they saw it.

And yet, precious bait that couldn’t be easily detected.

I cast it out onto the sea, and surprisingly, someone took the bait immediately.

That was.

‘The Amipai (Mount Emei Sect).’

The female monks of Sichuan, or the guardians of Sichuan.

In my past life, even when they were on the verge of annihilation, they didn’t stand out, but the rumors about them were particularly numerous.

That place took the bait.

“…Let… let me go. So-Yeomra, why are you doing this?!”

“First things first.”

Ignoring the woman’s cry, I asked my question first.

“Why were you looking at that child?”

Outside the preliminary matches for the martial arts festival.

That’s where the woman was looking at Bongsun.

More precisely, she was reported to have been looking.

It was a report from the subordinates of the Shadow King stationed all around.

The order was to report anyone watching Bongsun or acting suspiciously.

“What are you talking about? Who on earth was I looking at…”

As she spoke, her breathing gradually steadied.

Her pulse was still rapid, but steady.

‘She’s highly trained.’

This makes it ambiguous whether she’s lying or acting.

Fortunately, even if this isn’t the case, there are other ways to find out.

“Not the child?”

I asked, tilting my head slightly.

“Then, were you looking at the Noble Spirit Wood (Guiyingmu)?”

“…!”

Clack.

‘That’s right.’

Feeling a shift, I lifted the corners of my mouth.

The woman’s eyes widened, and her barely steadied breathing faltered.

“…Wh-what.”

She tried desperately to catch her breath, but it was too late.

“I mean the thing Miss Pi was carrying. I thought maybe you were surprised seeing that.”

“…”

“That’s something the Sword Empress used to carry, right?”

As I asked with a smile, I could see the woman’s cheeks trembling.

Her expression had already crumbled.

Her eyes were filled with shock, wondering how I knew.

That reaction is truly delicious.

‘I intended for her to know. Of course, she should.’

Noble Spirit Wood (Guiyingmu).

Just hearing the name, you might wonder what kind of tree it is, but it’s strictly a precious artifact. Moreover, it’s one of the weapons made from precious artifacts.

Its form is that of a staff carved from wood.

‘If desired, it can become a wooden sword or a spear.’

It would change its form according to the wielder’s will.

It’s just like the effects of the Ghostly Cudgel.

The Spirit-Soothing Sword Empress was known to use a wooden sword, so she probably used the Guiyingmu in that form.

“H-how did you know that.”

When I mentioned the Guiyingmu, the woman uttered a bewildered voice.

“How I knew isn’t important. What’s important is why you’re reacting like this after seeing it. Isn’t that right?”

“…”

The staff Bongsun carried had a flower pattern embroidered in black thread.

This was one of the characteristics of the Guiyingmu.

The Spirit-Soothing Sword Empress likely disguised it as a handle and carried it.

In my past life, the Ghostly Spear also hid the embroidered part.

This is also something I learned later from Ghostly Spear.

And that was the biggest reason I used the Guiyingmu as bait.

It was precisely…

‘The Guiyingmu is inherited through blood ties.’

The characteristic of precious artifacts was bloodline inheritance.

Those who are not blood relatives cannot use it.

This was similar to the characteristic possessed by Namgung’s Brain Nucleus.

However.

While the Brain Nucleus could be used by any Namgung family member recognized by the artifact.

‘The Guiyingmu requires actual blood relatives.’

This was a characteristic Ghostly Spear mentioned, and in reality, no one could touch the Guiyingmu except Ghostly Spear.

That’s why I thought.

‘Factions have been searching for the Sword Empress’s blood relatives since long ago.’

I know they are aware of the Sword Empress’s information, as well as whether she had children.

That’s what the collected information indicated.

Then.

‘How did they try to find them?’

It couldn’t be just about finding someone who looked similar.

There must have been some method.

I thought that method was the Guiyingmu.

That’s why I ordered Bongsun not to hide the pattern and to carry it openly.

Ironically, the Alliance, which should have been searching more diligently, seemed unaware of this.

‘This means the Murim Alliance knows neither the Spirit-Soothing Sword Empress’s children nor the characteristics of the Guiyingmu.’

Seeing this, the Amipai warrior who fled, seemingly having noticed Bongsun…

This nameless individual…

‘Knows about the Guiyingmu, and its characteristics too.’

It would be correct to assume so.

“I’ll ask again. Is your objective Bong… no, Miss Pi, or is it the Guiyingmu?”

“…”

There is no answer.

She seems to have already figured it out.

That she has no way to escape and failed to manage her expression.

So, I grabbed her cheek and forced her mouth open.

“Ggeok!?”

Just as the woman was flustered by the sudden situation.

I sent a bit of energy to scan her mouth.

‘No poison.’

It seems she didn’t hide any poison pills under her molars or tongue.

Immediately after confirming, I maintained my grip in case she tried to bite her tongue to commit suicide.

“Whatever the case, it’s true that the Amipai is involved…”

“Ggeoreuk… kkeuk.”

“It’s puzzling. Why did it suddenly become like this?”

As far as is known, the Spirit-Soothing Sword Empress was unaffiliated.

I knew her as someone who rose to her position solely through swordsmanship, without any particular faction or sect affiliation.

‘What could it be?’

Why is the Amipai looking for Bongsun?

‘Or perhaps, they aren’t looking for Bongsun, but the Guiyingmu?’

Could the Guiyingmu have been the Amipai’s representative precious artifact?

‘That’s possible.’

Instead of simply trying to find the Sword Empress’s bloodline for some purpose, couldn’t it be that the Spirit-Soothing Sword Empress stole the Amipai’s precious artifact?

Therefore, there’s a possibility they’ve been searching for many years.

A sect’s representative precious artifact would hold such value.

‘This is purely speculation, but.’

Since it’s a possibility, I’ll keep it in mind.

‘For now, knowing the Amipai is involved is enough.’

It was a decent harvest.

I’m grateful that they easily got caught just by casting a little bait.

‘Now, for my final question.’

“Ggeuk….”

The woman flinched, unable to even close her mouth.

Unfortunately, my business isn’t finished yet.

“Actually, Pi Yeonyeon and the Guiyingmu don’t matter. What I ask from now on is the most important.”

If I wanted to know who she was, I could just turn her into a demonic slave and force the answers out.

However, I’m reluctant to corrupt others without understanding the circumstances first.

So, I asked.

“I drank some poison this morning.”

“…”

“Was that you guys?”

Flinch.

The woman’s movements changed.

I didn’t miss that.

“So it was you?”

“N-no…”

Is she denying it? Because I was holding her cheek, her pronunciation was quite slurred.

Seeing her like that, I clicked my tongue.

“Ah, I feel a bit sorry towards Uncle Dowang. I naturally assumed it was him.”

Unfortunately(?), it seems my second guess was correct.

As I spoke with certainty, the woman denied it, answering with her eyes.

Asking how I knew.

Asking how I could pinpoint it like that.

It’s understandable she’s surprised.

Because there would be no evidence or justification to suspect the Amipai of poisoning.

However.

“I heard some rumors.”

Unfortunately, I have more information from my past life than you might think.

“That the Amipai, the female monks of Sichuan… are plotting schemes out of jealousy towards male warriors gaining fame recently.”

“…!”

“Is that right?”

That’s a lie.

This was something heard in my past life; in reality, it was a rumor that hadn’t spread yet.

It was a story that slowly surfaced around the time the Little Sword Saint was making waves.

That the Amipai was secretly playing dirty tricks on men.

I asked, recalling such rumors.

The problem was.

“When I looked into it, there were signs detected from several others besides me.”

It seems that rumor is indeed true.

“…Kkeueu… eup….”

Servants, or inn clerks.

Or even courtesans.

From last night until dawn today, attempts to poison tea or food were confirmed in various places in Hannam.

These were stories gathered by deploying the Water Corps separately.

The perpetrators were different, but the poison used was the same, and all attempts failed.

It was the consequence of paying large sums to untrained individuals pursuing trivial methods.

To me, it was obvious they failed intentionally.

The common point here is.

‘That although the perpetrators differed, all the victims were participants in the martial arts festival.’

And that they were all men who were gradually showing prominence.

Male warriors of the younger generation whose reputations were just starting to rise.

The fact that poison assassination attempts were made against them.

‘And then, all failed.’

The victims were fewer than ten.

As they were entangled in an unknown threat in a foreign land, they weren’t mentioning it easily.

What’s funny is that none of them requested protection from the Alliance.

Why would that be? The Murim Alliance is surely the most reliable entity in Hannam.

‘…This is probably less about a warrior’s pride.’

It seemed to mean that even they, as members of orthodox sects, didn’t actually trust the Alliance.

What a mess this is.

“No… no…”

“Why would they go to such lengths? I am curious.”

I don’t believe denials.

It’s funny that the rumors spread in my past life turned out to be true, but I’m just curious as to why they went to such lengths.

With this much, I think I’ve secured justification, so should I just turn her into a demonic slave?

Should I force her to speak?

The thought naturally arose.

It was a good situation not to do so.

‘Because I can gain information other than that about the Spirit-Soothing Sword Empress.’

Although I didn’t plan to add more demonic slaves for the time being, it was a tolerable situation for convenience’s sake.

Should I corrupt her?

As I was contemplating this.

“Hmm.”

A good idea suddenly occurred to me.

It’s a point where more than one or two factions are involved.

The Amipai and the Murim Alliance.

Besides them, other families are also causing trouble. What I need to know here is.

‘Are the Alliance and the Amipai in a cooperative relationship?’

Or are they hostile forces?

‘Perhaps, given they carry the name of orthodox sects, they wouldn’t be hostile.’

However, I don’t think they’d be in a completely cooperative relationship either.

If they were cooperating, it would be strange for the Alliance to be unaware of information regarding the Sword Empress.

I don’t know what their relationship is, but.

‘At least to me, both are hostile forces.’

It was better to use a much easier method than getting caught between the two and suffering.

“Good.”

I finished my thoughts and smiled.

Seeing my smile, the woman inexplicably trembled.

Looking at her, I tightened my grip.

Ududuk-!

---

A large residence located north of Hannam Province.

This was one of the areas managed by the Murim Alliance.

Currently, it was a residence being used by Amipai disciples.

Inside the third largest residence within the jurisdiction.

There.

“Kyaaaaaak-!”

A sharp scream echoed.

“S-Senior Sister!”

“Yeonyeong had an accident…!!”

All the women wearing martial arts uniforms turned pale as they confirmed the situation.

In the center of them lay a woman, already dead, having breathed her last.

It was Yeonyeong, the second disciple of Amipai who had gone on a mission.

“Wh-what is this…!”

A corpse suddenly discovered in the field.

Just as the women were facing the situation, their expressions contorted.

“…Move aside.”

Everyone flinched at the voice coming from behind.

The women immediately moved aside, clearing a path.

Then, an old woman walked towards Yeonyeong’s body with dignified steps.

“…”

A corpse, cold to the touch.

Judging by the marks on her neck, she seemed to have died in a single blow.

Seeing this, the old woman asked sharply, looking around.

“…What is the meaning of this?”

“Th-that is, while I was on guard, s-suddenly appeared…”

“…What?”

The old woman’s expression crumpled upon hearing the explanation.

This was an area managed by the Alliance, and even if not, it was a place where disciples were keeping watch.

Yet, a person’s corpse suddenly appears in such an open space without any obstacles?

And that too.

‘The child I sent on a mission?’

One of the five entrusted with a top-secret mission last night?

It was an incomprehensible situation.

Sensing something amiss, the old woman examined the corpse again.

“Hmm…?”

Suddenly, she noticed something clutched in the corpse’s hand.

The old woman immediately tried to pull out what the corpse was holding.

As the body was stiffening, making it difficult to straighten, she applied force, and a ‘ppudeuk’ sound echoed from the grip.

Ppudeuduk-!!!

Only after crushing the corpse’s hand could she pull out an unknown scroll.

Seemingly indifferent to the mangled hand of the corpse, the old woman checked the scroll and frowned.

The scroll bore a symbol representing the Murim Alliance, along with a single line of text.

[Do not approach the secret any further.]

“…”

The moment she saw the words written on the scroll.

Hwareureuk-!

“Sect Leader!”

“It’s dangerous!”

The scroll she was holding suddenly burst into flames and disappeared.

“…Ha.”

The old woman.

No, the Sect Leader of Amipai and one of the Seven Iron Pillars and Three Fists.

Bunwol Kwonseon (Powder Moon Fist Immortal) scowled, seemingly filled with rage.