Since Chwi Dugae was sitting right beside Kwak Yeon, he naturally had no way of knowing that Kwak Yeon had briefly turned his eyes toward Jin Cheongha.

“Brother Kwak, don’t count on me. Maybe in a crowded marketplace, sure—but out on a quiet road like this, I don’t have the knack for hiding my body and moving unseen.”

Jin Cheongha, who had been quietly listening until now, suddenly spoke up.

“Sub-Branch Master, I’ve been learning a concealment art.”

“Hm? Sister Jin—you know concealment...?”

“Sub-Branch Master, you know our Reed-Blossom Gate is a lineage of the Mount Mao Sect, and you also know the Mount Mao Sect is skilled in transformation methods.”

“Of course.”

Chwi Dugae nodded.

The Mount Mao Sect was an ancient Taoist house, the oldest sect with the deepest history.

Because of that, the arts and Taoist methods early Taoist adepts pursued had been passed down to this day.

“So you’re saying Sister Jin has learned a concealment skill handed down to Reed-Blossom Gate, derived from the Mount Mao Sect’s transformation methods?”

“Yes. That concealment art is quite wondrous, so even in broad daylight it isn’t difficult to hide my form. Of course, it’s hard to avoid the eyes of peak masters, but still.”

Chwi Dugae’s eyes widened.

“Then that’s truly impressive, so don’t be modest. Meeting peak masters out in the world is as rare as beans sprouting in a ten-year drought.”

“It doesn’t feel that rare, but... I’m glad. It seems like I can help right now.”

A brief, unusual glint passed through Chwi Dugae’s eyes.

A skill like that was extremely useful for gathering information.

As Brother Hu Gae of the Beggar Clan—whose side business was information dealing—she was an undeniably tempting talent. But that wasn’t the issue at hand.

“Sister Jin, I’m grateful you want to lend a hand, but it could be dangerous if you go alone. We don’t even know who those bastards are, or how many there are...”

Jin Cheongha replied to Chwi Dugae’s worried words.

“Sub-Branch Master, I only need to hold their attention for a moment, don’t I? In that time, won’t you two be here quickly using lightness skills?”

Before Chwi Dugae could say anything, Kwak Yeon spoke.

“Miss Jin. It’s a good plan.”

“Brother Kwak—what are you saying?”

Chwi Dugae cut in urgently, his face displeased.

“What if Sister Jin gets hurt at the hands of those bastards?”

“Brother, you’re looking down on Miss Jin too much.”

“Huh?”

As much as Chwi Dugae voiced doubt, Jin Cheongha also flinched inside. She was afraid Kwak Yeon might bring up her true martial skill.

“Think about it. Do you really believe Miss Jin’s epithet—Nanjing’s One Flower—exists only because of her... beauty?”

That was an entirely reasonable point.

In the martial world, the epithet of a gifted talent and a peerless beauty was customarily given only when one possessed martial skill worthy of it.

Which meant Nanjing’s One Flower carried the meaning that among the female martial experts of Nanjing, she was the most outstanding.

‘Ah...!’

Jin Cheongha’s cheeks flushed slightly. Part of it was shame for having suspected Kwak Yeon for a moment, but more than that—

It was because Kwak Yeon had mentioned her beauty.

“Miss Jin—only hold their attention for a moment, and never confront them directly. With Brother Hu Gae’s lightness skills, thirty zhang is no different from arm’s reach.”

Jin Cheongha saw Kwak Yeon blink once as he said it.

‘Ah... so that’s why he glanced at me earlier.’

Jin Cheongha realized clearly that the Dark Cavern Taoist had meant to use this chance to let Chwi Dugae know she had talent in concealment arts.

That way, once they entered the Martial Alliance, Chwi Dugae would naturally recommend her to an information-related division.

As Jin Cheongha felt grateful in her heart for Kwak Yeon’s careful consideration, she heard Chwi Dugae’s forced cough.

“Ahem!”

Jin Cheongha quickly turned her gaze to him.

“Then Sister Jin will draw their eyes. In that opening, Brother Kwak and I will sprint over.”

“Sub-Branch Master, thank you for letting me help, even if only a little.”

“The thanks should be ours. Sister Jin is the one stepping forward and taking a risk. And this isn’t a small help—it’s a huge help. Brother Kwak, isn’t it?”

“It’s a hundred times correct.”

Kwak Yeon nodded readily, then spoke toward Chwi Dugae.

“Brother, you must never forget Miss Jin’s great help today.”

“That’s obvious. But...”

Chwi Dugae started to ask why it sounded like he was being made to swear an oath, then stopped.

If he nitpicked like that, he would only look petty.

Not long after, the carriage that had been racing along the road began to slow.

Soon, Old Master Gu’s low voice came from the driver’s seat.

“I’ll stop the carriage by the roadside now.”

*****

“Whoa, whoa!”

The man driving from the driver’s seat hurriedly slowed the carriage.

Soon, a thick voice sounded from inside the carriage.

“What is it?”

“Deputy Society Leader—their carriage has stopped.”

“They’re taking a break like usual. Stop the carriage where their sight won’t reach us.”

“Yes, sir.”

—RATTLE!

A short while later, the carriage stopped and burly men climbed down, opening the door.

Among them, a burly man with a thick saber at his waist climbed up to the driver’s seat.

“What about them?”

The man dressed like a coachman, who had been watching ahead while pushing aside overhanging branches, answered.

“The woman the Deputy Society Leader marked went down first and entered the woods. The two men got down afterward and are loosening up.”

“The woman is probably just going to squat and piss. Watch the men closely. See if there’s any strange sign.”

“There’s no such sign at all. With how careful the Deputy Society Leader was, that’s only natural.”

“Tch. Like that much is anything...”

Despite his words, a satisfied smile rose to the Deputy Society Leader’s mouth.

In truth, finding their trail was a major achievement.

Otherwise, they could have ended up like dogs, letting a golden prize that rolled into their territory slip away.

“Everyone stay sharp and watch their movements carefully.”

The Deputy Society Leader spoke to his underlings who had gathered outside the carriage.

“There are rumors the Dark Cavern Taoist’s martial rank is the Transformation Realm. Considering his young age, it may be exaggerated—but either way, he’s not someone we can handle. If we can’t drive them into the trap the Society Leader has prepared, we leave immediately and plan for later.”

“What is that trap the Society Leader is preparing?”

The Deputy Society Leader jerked his head up in shock at the woman’s voice that suddenly came from above.

“Hng!”

On a tall branch in the woods beside the road, the Deputy Society Leader found a young woman in pale gray martial robes standing there—and he was horrified.

‘No sound. No trace of presence at all?’

Just a moment ago, when he climbed up to the driver’s seat and checked the surroundings, there had been no one on that pine.

Even more than her sudden appearance, what horrified him was the branch she stood on.

The branch was no thicker than a little finger, yet she stood on it without the slightest sway.

‘My god. If she isn’t a ghost, how can a person...?’

But he quickly realized she was not a ghost.

“Deputy Society Leader! It’s that bitch. The very one you marked—khhk!”

—SHWAA! THUD!

A sharp tearing sound cut the air, followed by a heavy impact, and the coachman-dressed man screamed as he clapped both hands over his mouth.

—THUNK-CLACK!

A half-crushed pinecone fell from the driver’s seat and rolled on the ground. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

‘Ugh...!’

The Deputy Society Leader had only seen the woman flick her finger lightly.

He hadn’t even seen the pinecone fly.

A chill ran through his bones.

‘The Dark Cavern Taoist isn’t the problem!’

Concealment like a ghost, lightness skill like Floating Cloud, Leaping Shadow—and a terrifying finger art that reminded him of Shaolin’s divine finger techniques!

“For the sin of wagging that filthy mouth, I should have crushed your skull. But your lives aren’t mine to take, so I stopped at that.”

It was a truly murderous message, utterly at odds with her clear, ringing voice.

That only made the Deputy Society Leader more afraid.

“But if anyone tries to run, I will definitely put a hole through their skull.”

The Deputy Society Leader—who had just decided in an instant that she was not a woman he could handle, and was about to leap down from the driver’s seat and flee—froze.

‘Moving first is suicide.’

Driving them into the trap was completely ruined now, so preserving his life was the best option.

‘Then...!’

He began sending Sound Transmission to his underlings.

—When I signal, scatter and withdraw at once, then regroup with the main force.

His plan was to make his underlings explode outward in all directions, then slip away in the chaos.

He slightly turned his head, about to send Sound Transmission to another underling—

“Deputy Society Leader, stop sending Sound Transmission. I’m already furious after hearing you, of all people, said you’d make me your wife.”

Her words carried clear contempt and belittlement, yet each syllable had poise. That only made the Deputy Society Leader’s skin crawl.

You could only speak that leisurely if you regarded your opponent as far beneath you.

“Deputy Society Leader—if any of your underlings move, I will demand the price from you first.”

At those words, the Deputy Society Leader was left unable to move either way.

“Everyone hold your positions.”

He ordered his men not to move for now, but his impatience only grew.

He didn’t know when Brother Hu Gae of the Beggar Clan—known as a butcher of villains—and the Dark Cavern Taoist—rumored to kill as he pleased with every step—would come crashing in.

In the end, the Deputy Society Leader had no other choice.

‘Her finger art is incredible, but if I withdraw while keeping her in front of me, without showing my back, it’s not something I can’t guard against.’

If things went wrong, he could push his underlings forward and run.

Having made up his mind, the Deputy Society Leader spoke to his men.

“Everyone draw your weapons and prepare for hidden projectiles.”

—SHING! SHING! CLANG! CLANG!

At his order, the underlings drew their weapons together.

—SHIIING!

The Deputy Society Leader drew his own blade, then spoke up toward the woman standing on the branch.

“We committed the discourtesy of following you without knowing our place. Now we realize you are people we cannot dare oppose. Therefore, we will completely abandon what we planned and withdraw. So please consider this saying once: do not chase a rat driven into a corner.”

He said that line—one people typically tossed out right before tucking tail and running from a stronger opponent—thinking it cost nothing to try.

If the young woman was naive and let them go, they could leave without any danger at all.

He didn’t expect much.

“Listening to you... that isn’t entirely wrong, Deputy Society Leader.”

“...?”

At her words, not only the Deputy Society Leader but his underlings too stood momentarily dumbfounded.