The Beggars' Sect members' fingers continued moving.

"Cheong Rin of the Haepung clan. He was in Seoju Fortress and Namyang Prefecture."

"Jang Jin of the Cheongryeon Estate. He was at the border of the Moonbright Kingdom."

"Shin Cheolsan of the Thunder Tiger Sect. He was in Namyang Prefecture and at the border of the Moonbright Kingdom."

"Ilhwa of the Flying Swallow Pavilion... was present in all three places."

Nothing in this world happens without a reason.

Unhwi spoke.

"These five."

Silence fell.

Cheon Sugang muttered as he looked at the lists.

"...Two hundred seventy-three narrowed down to five. And for clearly overlapping reasons."

He looked at Unhwi.

"You... truly are remarkable."

"Does it look that way to you?"

"...If others had seen this just now, they would immediately understand how you turned the Heavenly Alliance into one of the three great powers of the Central Plains."

"I appreciate the compliment, but more time was wasted than I expected."

"..."

"Now we must catch them."

Cheon Sugang hesitated for a moment.

Clearly, he did not know anything about the Return-of-Life Society.

But even so, he had not taken Unhwi's words lightly.

And now the list had been produced like this.

It ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) proved that this was not baseless speculation.

If that was the case, then the characteristics Unhwi had described about the Return-of-Life Society might also be correct.

That was the problem.

What would happen if they retaliated against the Beggars' Sect?

The Return-of-Life Society's targets were limited to states rather than the martial world. But if their blade turned toward the martial world—

Then it would become an extremely troublesome organization, and the Beggars' Sect would be in greater danger than any other force.

Even if the truth were revealed later, the number of Beggars' Sect members who would die in the process would be countless.

Unhwi read that thought as well.

"The Beggars' Sect merely accepted an information fee from me and provided information."

"...You..."

"Let us settle it at that."

Cheon Sugang nodded.

"And I will need the locations of those five."

"I will provide them."

"Thank you, Senior Cheon."

After paying the price on the spot and receiving the locations of the five, Unhwi stepped outside together with Namgung Wonyang.

She asked,

"What will you do?"

Unhwi answered,

"Deliver the current locations of the four, excluding Ilhwa, to Mak Sohong."

"Understood. I will do so."

As Namgung Wonyang was about to step away, Unhwi's voice came from behind her.

"And."

She turned her head.

"You will personally capture Ilhwa, who is at Drunken Fragrance Pavilion."

At those words, Namgung Wonyang's expression brightened.

This was both a test from Unhwi and an opportunity to prove herself.

"And if someone interferes?"

"Kill them all. I will take responsibility."

"Understood."

***

Drunken Fragrance Pavilion was one of the most famous pleasure houses in Heaven-and-Earth Province.

When Namgung Wonyang stepped inside, the gazes of those around her immediately gathered on her.

It was only natural.

Though she was wrapped in black clothing, even that could not conceal her beauty.

"Th-that woman..."

"I have never seen her before..."

Whispers spread.

Namgung Wonyang ignored them and looked around.

Second floor.

A woman leaning against the railing, tilting a cup of wine.

Though she wore a veil, she matched the information obtained from the Beggars' Sect.

That woman is Ilhwa.

She walked up the stairs.

When she reached the second floor, even more eyes turned toward her.

Namgung Wonyang walked silently and stopped in front of Ilhwa.

Ilhwa placed her wine cup down and lifted her head.

"Who might you be?"

Her voice was soft.

"I do have a taste for women, but not today."

"I am not particularly fond of that either."

"Is that so? What a pity."

Namgung Wonyang spoke quietly.

"Our lord wishes to see you."

"Our lord?"

Ilhwa snorted lightly.

"I serve no one. And I do not even know who your lord is."

"There is no need for you to know."

Namgung Wonyang stepped closer.

"You only need to come with me."

"And if I refuse?"

"You cannot."

Ilhwa stared at Namgung Wonyang with curious eyes.

"How interesting. This place is closer to the outskirts than to the center of the Central Plains, yet someone who commands such a beautiful woman as a subordinate... there are only a handful of people who fit that description."

Namgung Wonyang's voice turned cold.

"Not long ago, thirty martial artists of the Return-of-Life Society died in Yangnyeong City."

"..."

"And recently, I heard that someone named Hyeolmu, who held the position of Return-of-Life Envoy, also died."

It happened in that instant.

A moment.

It was extremely brief.

But Ilhwa's fingers trembled ever so slightly. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

The hand holding the wine cup stiffened just a little.

Namgung Wonyang's eyes narrowed.

She had learned while following Unhwi.

How to read the smallest reactions of people.

The eyes of someone who lies.

The body of someone trying to conceal fear.

Ilhwa spoke in a steady voice.

"I have no idea what you are talking about."

"..."

"Since you mentioned Yangnyeong City..."

Ilhwa slowly stood.

"Surely you are not saying the lord you mentioned is that Seol Unhwi?"

Namgung Wonyang did not answer.

She only spoke quietly.

"Let us go."

"And if I say no?"

"I already told you that you cannot."

As Namgung Wonyang's hand moved toward the hilt of her sword, Ilhwa laughed softly and looked around.

"I have a proposal for everyone here."

Her voice spread across the entire second floor.

"I will give five gold coins to anyone who stops that woman."

A murmur spread.

"Five gold coins?"

"If it is that much..."

Several men rose from their seats.

All of them were martial artists.

One of them laughed.

"This will not be difficult."

"Right. It is just stopping a woman."

"And for five gold coins..."

Namgung Wonyang looked at them and spoke.

"Our lord said that if anyone interferes, I may kill them all."

"...What?"

"Do not risk your lives for five gold coins."

The men burst out laughing.

"This woman is insane."

"She offers nothing while we offer gold?"

Namgung Wonyang shook her head.

"It is not nothing."

"...What?"

"I have been saying it all along."

Namgung Wonyang's eyes flashed.

"I will spare your lives."

At that moment, killing intent spread in all directions.

The entire second floor froze.

Namgung Wonyang drew her sword.

"I will not warn you again."

The men's faces hardened.

From their perspective, Namgung Wonyang was a martial artist of the Five-Qi Convergence Realm.

Those below that realm naturally stepped back or sat down again.

But two did not.

Both were early-stage Five-Qi Convergence Realm martial artists and had their own confidence. Just judging from appearances, it seemed possible to fight her. And above all, this was no longer a matter of five gold coins.

It was a matter of pride for the sake of those five gold coins.

With that judgment, the two martial artists kicked off the ground.

At the same moment.

Namgung Wonyang moved as well.

She held her sword horizontally.

She gathered the cold energy of the air.

Lone Heavenswalk.

Her sword swung once.

Ssssh—

A single strand of sword energy split into dozens in an instant.

The eyes of the two charging martial artists widened.

Sword energy poured in from all directions.

The first martial artist hurriedly swung his sword.

BOOM—!!

He blocked several of them, but the rest grazed his arm and shoulder.

"Ghh!"

The second martial artist lowered his body and dodged, but his thigh was cut.

"Tch."

Namgung Wonyang did not stop, and neither did the martial artists.

These wounds would not kill them.

Instead, they charged even more fiercely.

"Die!!"

The swords of the two martial artists struck toward Namgung Wonyang at the same time.

Namgung Wonyang raised her sword.

Then she swung.

Lone Moon Beneath the Heavens.

BOOM—!!

The sword energy shot out like a wolf howling toward the moon.

It was not ordinary sword energy.

From the starting point of the blade to the end of its arc—

The energy of the air itself detonated.

BOOM—!! BOOM—!! BOOM—!!

A chain of explosions.

The first martial artist was engulfed by the blasts.

His body tore apart and blood burst outward.

"AAAGH!!"

The second martial artist barely rolled aside and escaped.

But his left arm had already been caught in the explosion and shredded apart.

He gritted his teeth and rose.

Even with one arm gone.

He could still fight.

As he gripped his sword with his remaining arm and prepared to charge—

Namgung Wonyang's sword flashed.

All the inner power in her body erupted.

A tremendous amount of inner power scattered like stars across the night sky before gathering into a single point.

That power lightly wrapped around the blade.

Cold Star Shattering the Void.

The sword descended.

"W-wait—!!"

The man raised his sword to block.

Slash—!!

The sword split apart.

And then—

BOOM—!!!

The entire place where the man stood exploded.

Blood and flesh scattered everywhere.

Silence fell.

Namgung Wonyang lowered her sword.

Everyone around her had frozen.

Their faces were filled with fear.

Then—

Tap.

Footsteps.

When Namgung Wonyang turned her head, Ilhwa was fleeing.

Namgung Wonyang spoke quietly.

"If you take even one more step from where you stand."

Ilhwa's steps stopped.

"I will shatter those legs and drag you before my lord."

Ilhwa slowly turned around.

Cold eyes appeared behind the veil.

"...Impressive."

"..."

"But do not misunderstand."

Ilhwa threw aside her veil.

The revealed face was unexpectedly ordinary.

"I reached the Five-Qi Convergence Realm quite a long time ago."

She smiled faintly.

"And you... did not reach it very long ago, did you?"

Namgung Wonyang ignored her.

She began walking forward slowly.

One step.

Two steps.

Ilhwa spoke.

"Listen carefully. From there—"

Her hand moved toward her waist.

"If you take even one more step trying to capture me, I will kill—"

Before she could finish, Namgung Wonyang kicked off the ground.

BOOM—!!

The floor cracked as her body shot toward Ilhwa in an instant.

Ilhwa's eyes widened. Faster than expected. No—simply fast.

She hurriedly leapt away.

Whoosh—!

It was a light and swift movement technique like a swallow in flight.

Swallow-Shadow Ascending-Step.

The ultimate technique of the Flying Swallow Pavilion, a sect that had been exterminated long ago.

But Namgung Wonyang's sword was already pursuing her with precise certainty.

Azure String Shadowless Sword Art.

First form.

Formless String Sound.

Ssssh—

It was one sword.

But in truth, three swords moved simultaneously.

One was the true blade.

Two were phantom blades.

Like the vibrating sound of a blue string, they rang through the air and disoriented the senses.

Ilhwa hurriedly extended her hand.

Dozens of silver needles burst from her sleeve.

Falling Blossom Shadowless Needles.

Beautiful like falling petals, yet striking without a shadow.

BOOM—!! BOOM—!!

All of them exploded in midair with thunderous force.

"W-what... what is this?"

Ilhwa could not help but be startled. From her perspective, Namgung Wonyang's sword had extended into three directions, with one real strike and two feints. Yet even the concealed weapons she had sent toward the feints had exploded completely.

Anyone would have been shaken by that.

...They were not feints. All three were real strikes? Was it guided to appear that way?

As expected of a martial artist of the Five-Qi Convergence Realm, she grasped part of it.

But she could not grasp the principle.

The best she could conclude was that it was extremely high-level swordsmanship.

At this point, Ilhwa should have realized one more thing.

Namgung Wonyang's nature.