Chapter 816: Where is my son?

I feel the atmosphere turn cold.

Gazes are fixed on me, and the boiling fighting spirit stimulates my heart.

Thump.

Feeling the short, beating pulse, I moved my hand.

Flinch-!

Even my small movements make them react.

I can feel their heightened vigilance.

My fingertips, which had moved, grasped a teacup.

Before I smashed the table, I intentionally floated it in mid-air.

It would be a waste to let it go like this, right? Not only the food tasted good, but the tea was delicious too.

Gulp.

I took a sip, moistening my throat.

Even then, the surroundings remained quiet.

Just as the silence was being maintained.

“…How did you know…?”

The man who had asked me questions earlier posed the same question.

I know what the question means.

“What?”

But I asked back, pretending not to know.

Then the man frowned and added.

“I mean, how did you know where this place is?”

“Ah. That.”

He meant, how did I know this was the base of the Gyecheon Gate.

“Of course, that’s a secret.”

“…”

There’s no way I’d tell them something like that.

Why would I give away precious information?

It’s hardly precious information; I just vaguely heard it in my past life, but they would surely be surprised.

Naturally, I intended to use it.

“How I knew isn’t very important. At least, not to me.”

Creak.

As I leaned back, the chair made a sound.

It didn’t seem like a very good chair.

“What’s important right now isn’t that…”

“Kyaaak-!”

I grabbed the hair of the woman lying prostrate on the floor.

“Where’s your Gate Master? I told you, that’s what I want.”

“…You bastard-!”

Crack.

“–!”

A rough sound spread as the woman let out a shriek.

I grabbed her left arm and twisted it.

Her arm bent at a grotesque angle, clearly looking painful.

“Your words are curt. If you’re going to be curt just because I am, what’s the use?”

“That bastard-!”

“Can’t you stop!?”

“Haha.”

They keep being curt, pissing me off.

This time, I grabbed her right arm, intending to snap it immediately.

“Now, wait a moment.”

The man quickly stopped my action.

“St-stop it.”

“…”

I didn’t listen and tried to apply more force.

Seeing that, the man shouted again.

“Desist!”

With the change in tone, I finally stopped my action.

I immediately smiled and said to the man.

“Yes, that’s better.”

“…Grrr.”

“Straighten your damn eyes too. Guests have come all this way, is it okay to look at them like that?”

“What is the reason for all this?”

“…Uh, I don’t really like repeating myself. Sir, perhaps your comprehension is a bit lacking?”

I stated the reason from the beginning. I don’t know why you keep asking.

“I told you to bring your Gate Master.”

“…”

“Still don’t understand? Should I make it easier for you to understand?”

I let go of the woman I was holding and picked up something else.

It was a young fellow who had knocked his head on the table and fainted.

“Hey.”

He didn’t stir even when called.

Seeing that, I smirked.

“This brat is pretending to be unconscious. Should I wake him up? It might hurt a bit when I wake him.”

“…!”

Only then did the fellow flinch slightly.

“…H-hyung.”

The guy who had already been caught belatedly called out to me pitifully.

“Hyung my ass. You’re older than me, what hyung are you talking about? I’ll rip your tongue out.”

It was a method that would never work.

This guy isn’t really a child.

Although he was wearing makeup, his body seemed to be due to illness.

I know well because such types sometimes exist among hidden guests.

I tightly gripped the fellow’s head.

“Kueo…!!!”

As I applied force, he immediately screamed.

I intended to apply force only until a problem arose, but lately, I haven’t been good at controlling my strength, so I don’t know if I’ll manage.

It doesn’t matter if it doesn’t work out. My head isn’t exploding, is it?

“Kueu…euuue.”

“Stop it!”

“How can someone from the Murim Alliance be so cruel-!”

What I heard was utterly ridiculous.

Cruel?

“You guys approached me thinking it was right, trying to extract information, and now you spew nonsense? Anyone would think you’re righteous folks.”

I knew from the moment I first came to the inn.

These guys knew I was approaching long ago.

No, to be precise, they must have prepared from the moment they knew I appeared nearby.

I noticed it from the moment I arrived in this town.

Because I could feel eyes watching me from all directions.

It was so subtle that I wouldn’t have known if I hadn’t focused my ki sense a bit.

It was a considerable level of stealth.

Mentioning this made their gazes worth watching.

“Alright, this is the fourth time I’m saying this. I don’t usually tolerate more than three times… But since I ate your food, I’ll let it slide this once. Listen carefully.”

“Kkeu…euu….”

“Where’s your Gate Master? If you don’t answer by the time I count to three, this guy dies.”

I held up three fingers and started folding them one by one.

“One. Two….”

I folded my fingers at a slightly faster pace, quickly reaching the last finger.

Just as I was about to apply force while folding my thumb last.

“The, the Gate Master isn’t here right now.”

“Oh.”

An answer came.

“Finally, you answer.”

If it had been a moment later, I would have had to dispose of a corpse, but it was fortunate.

“The Gate Master isn’t here?”

“…Th-that’s right. The current Gate Master is not present.”

“Where did he go?”

“…”

“Answer.”

“Kueo-!!!”

“H-he went out on business…! He won’t be returning today.”

“Hmm. Is that so?”

Hearing that, I released the force on the head I was holding.

“Heeo….”

As soon as I released the force, the fellow slumped down, clutching his head.

It must have hurt quite a bit.

Leaving him behind, I stroked my chin with my hand.

‘He’s away.’

I repeated those words inwardly.

They wouldn’t have deployed their full strength within the inn.

However, their level seems higher than what was known.

That makes sense, aren’t they wary of just me?

With this many people, they’re wary of just me?

This isn’t simply because they know I’m the Grand Marshal of the Murim Alliance.

‘I feel like something’s off.’

It must be because they intuitively know I’m strong.

Although I intentionally leaked some information, it was still strange that they sensed it.

‘They are definitely different somehow.’

Based solely on the information Mukyeon gave me, this shouldn’t be possible.

It was proof that they were different from what was known.

So, was the information the Alliance gave wrong? Or perhaps.

‘Did something change compared to when the information was obtained?’

This shouldn’t happen, but it’s strangely interesting.

If there’s something, it’s troublesome.

It keeps bothering me.

“Hmm. That would be problematic then…. I have business with the Gate Master.”

“…If you state your business, I will respectfully convey it.”

“Nah. It’s something I need to say to the Gate Master directly. You insignificant piece of shit, stay out of it.”

“…”

At my words, the man’s brow twitched slightly.

Seeing him step forward to speak, he seems to hold some position.

So, looking at him, I asked.

“You know. Do you know why I came looking?”

“…I do not know.”

“Do you know who I am?”

“I do. It wouldn’t make sense if I didn’t know you right now.”

“Who am I?”

As I asked with a slight smile, the man immediately answered.

“The Saint King (星王) of Shanxi. The Hero of Henan and the next generation’s number one under heaven. That is you.”

“Hmm….”

I asked for nothing.

Hearing the explanation made my stomach feel uneasy.

Although the explanation was full of issues, it was confirmed that they knew my identity in the end.

“So, now think about it. Why do you think I came looking?”

“…I don’t know. That’s what we want to ask. Why would someone from your Alliance have business in such a remote place?”

Why are you asking something so obvious?

“Obviously, my purpose is you guys. Otherwise, there’s no way I’d come all this way to cause a scene.”

“…”

They know I’m causing a scene.

That’s exactly the expression. The feeling was quite unique.

“You know, I don’t really like doing troublesome things like this…. But what can I do? If they tell me to jump, I jump. Right?”

Although it was a choice I made rather than something ordered from above, there was no need to mention it.

“What do you mean-.”

“So…. Stop playing games unnecessarily. Let’s just make things easy.”

“Games…! As I said again, the Gate Master…”

“Kneel.”

“…!”

Thump–!!

Along with my words, the man and everyone around him knelt down.

Their faces were filled with confusion at the sudden situation.

Simultaneously.

Whoooosh—!!!

Kwoooo—!!

I unleashed my energy, filling the room.

The vibration spread, and people quickly clutched their chests.

“Kkeoheok-!”

“Kk…!”

They seemed quite suffocated, staggering frequently, and the severely affected ones vomited blood, spilling it on the floor, and lost consciousness.

It wasn’t just energy.

I mixed fighting spirit and killing intent, increasing the intensity.

I made everyone kneel beneath me and nodded my head.

“Was I that amusing?”

As always, they don’t understand when I speak nicely.

This damn process never changes, no matter where I go.

“Of course. How amusing must I have seemed for them to try and deceive me with bullshit words.”

“I… am.”

The man’s cultivation level isn’t low, as he’s holding onto his consciousness well.

Not bad. He’d be just about right if matched against Seong-yul.

It was almost a waste for him to be in a mere sect, especially not one of the prestigious orthodox sects like Gyecheon Gate.

That’s why it’s even more curious.

Why would someone like him be here? That’s quite a question, but…

Well, I’ll worry about that later; for now, it’s time to address other matters.

Kkeugeugeuk—!!

Pressed by the energy, the inn began to crumple.

Judging by the intensity, it won’t hold much longer.

How much less the human body?

As martial artists, their bodies would be tougher, but from the looks of it, they won’t last long.

At this intensity, they’ll collapse soon.

Feeling that, I turned my head.

“This isn’t a warning or anything. When I say I’ll do something, I do it.”

Beyond the fallen individuals, towards the area that looked like the kitchen.

I spoke towards there.

No answer came.

Still, I continued speaking as if I didn’t care.

“If you want to confirm, keep doing what you’re doing.”

Thump.

I put strength into my heart and added more energy.

There’s no hesitation.

I really intended to smash everything.

Since I’m doing it anyway, I’ll add some heat too.

Just as I thought that.

“Hoho.”

Hearing a laugh, I paused my energy for a moment.

It was the voice I was waiting for.

“…My, my. You’re even more than the rumors suggested.”

Thump-thump.

Ending with low footsteps, someone walked out from the kitchen.

It was an old man clutching a kitchen knife.

What’s peculiar is that despite his wrinkled, aged face, his hair is jet black.

Seeing him, I asked, seemingly a bit surprised.

“By any chance, did you cook the food?”

“Yes. I’m glad it suited your taste.”

“This is rather unexpected.”

I meant it. The food was genuinely delicious, and this old man made it?

As I stood there stunned in surprise, the old man spoke to me this time.

“It is an honor to meet the Grand Marshal of the great Alliance.”

He smiled with his eyes, deepening the wrinkles around them.

“Since I’ve shown myself as you wished, could you please quell your anger?”

“You say it’s an honor, but it’s hard to see.”

“Kekekek…. I apologize. I’m a bit shy around strangers.”

The black-haired old man slowly approached, piercing through the energy.

That old man was him.

‘Gyecheon Gate Master Dae-hwan.’

I remember because I saw his face fleetingly.

Swoooo….

As if listening to my words, I retracted my energy.

The ki that had been released all around returned, and coughs were heard consecutively from the surroundings.

“Cough cough…!”

“Keok…keok.”

As those freed from the pressure struggled, the Gyecheon Gate Master approached me and pulled up a chair in front.

Then he surveyed the half-broken table and the fallen individuals.

“May I send the children away for a moment?”

“As you wish.”

As permission was granted, he waved his hand.

Whoosh-! The hidden guests disguised as a child and a woman immediately floated into the air and shot out, landing on someone else.

“Dispose of them.”

“…Yes, yes.”

As the relatively unharmed ones were tending to the injured.

“I am Dae-hwan, who holds the position of Master of this sect.”

“I know.”

“First, it seems the children have committed some discourtesy towards the great Grand Marshal…. As the Gate Master, I apologize on their behalf.”

The Gyecheon Gate Master bowed his head slightly.

Looking at the crown of his head, I let out a small laugh.

“Apologize my ass.”

“…”

“You knew it anyway, didn’t you? Don’t act so shamelessly.”

“…Kekek.”

It was unexpected that he was cooking in the kitchen, but.

I already knew that he was here and that I was coming.

“Old man. Stop putting on a show and just do what you were doing. It’s disgusting to watch.”

“…”

As I spat it out, filled with irritation, the Gyecheon Gate Master finally showed a change.

The wrinkles around his eyes, which had been trying to smile, smoothed out, and a chilling aura enveloped him.

“Youngster. Your tongue is too short for your age.”

Not only his voice but also his tone had changed.

“Tell me about it. Your brats’ mouths are really short. How dare you speak informally to the Alliance’s Grand Marshal? You asking for a beating?”

“Is it because your strength makes you arrogant… or is that just your nature?”

“How do I seem?”

“I’m not interested. That’s not what I’m curious about. Yes, I heard the rumors. That the child of the Shanxi Gu family became king… That the child became the Alliance’s Grand Marshal. But.”

The Gyecheon Gate Master’s eyes gleamed chillingly.

“Why would the great Saint King seek out this old man?”

Kkeugeuk-!

I feel something on my skin.

It’s not a good sensation. I ignored it and opened my mouth.

“It’s nothing much.”

As I spoke, I took a letter from my pocket and showed it to him.

It was a letter bearing the Alliance’s seal.

“Gyecheon Gate in Sichuan. There was a report that you are involved with the guys called the Demonic Cult (魔敎) who attacked Henan. We plan to conduct a search for this purpose…. Do you agree?”

“…”

Hearing that, the Gyecheon Gate Master wore an expression of disbelief.

“You came all the way here alone for that? And you say it so openly.”

“What, did you think I came here quietly to eat? Sorry, but I’m not really the type to enjoy culinary adventures. Ah, it doesn’t matter if you don’t agree. Actually, it’s not something that requires your consent.”

“What happens if I refuse to agree?”

“Hmm… In that case.”

After pretending to ponder for a moment, I said with a smile.

“I’ll just beat you all up. You’re from the demonic sects anyway, aren’t you?”

“…Hahahahaha.”

Did my words amuse him? The Gyecheon Gate Master burst into loud laughter.

The sound was quite loud, making the inside of the inn reverberate.

The Gyecheon Gate Master, who had been laughing so boisterously, stopped laughing instantly, as if putting on a play.

“…I heard you came alone.”

“That’s right. I arrived today, and my subordinates looked a bit tired.”

“Yet you’re this audacious. What confidence do you have?”

At the Gyecheon Gate Master’s words, I tilted my head.

“Was what I just showed you not enough?”

Isn’t this enough to overturn everything?

To my unspoken question, the Gyecheon Gate Master replied.

“Kekeke…. No, it’s more than enough. And you have every right to be arrogant. I couldn’t believe the rumors, but seeing you in person, I’m impressed. How can someone be like that….”

“Wow. Should I thank you for the compliment?”

“However, youngster.”

The Gyecheon Gate Master added, his eyes gleaming.

“I know you are a divine beast of the heavens… but you’ve lost your caution, captured by your arrogance.”

“Hmm.”

A mistake of the heavens.

It sounds like they’re calling me an incredible genius. The nuance is quite subtle.

“The world isn’t just what you see.”

“That’s right. The world isn’t just what you see.”

I couldn’t agree more.

“It’s not just what you see. It really is like that.”

“…Huh?”

“Anyway…. I have a lot to overturn and ask. For now, I’ll give you options. Coincidentally, there’s something I want to recommend to you.”

At my words, the Gyecheon Gate Master’s eyebrows furrowed.

“You didn’t hear what I just said.”

“First. Keep acting cocky, get beaten by me, spill everything, and get dragged back to the Alliance.”

“Th-!”

The Gyecheon Gate Master started to rise, attempting to cast something.

“Second. Prepare to kill me with the Azure Dragon Grand Marshal who will arrive later.”

Halt.

At my subsequent words, the Gyecheon Gate Master froze completely.

At the same time, his face was filled with questions.

Seeing that reaction, I smiled as if pleased.

“So. Which of the two do you want to choose?”