The sect master's office of the Dianchang Sect was stark and spartan, devoid of decoration.
It suited the nickname of the sect leader, “The Merciless Sword” (Mujeonggeom), perfectly. A single sword rested on a low table, accompanied by a round table and chairs for greeting guests, and a half-burned lantern. That was the entirety of the room’s furnishings.
It felt desolate to the point of bleakness—but the master of this office stood in clear contrast to its atmosphere.
The Merciless Sword, Jo Bi-ja, leader of the Dianchang Sect.
He was an elderly man with a remarkably gentle expression.
And it wasn’t just his expression. Upon seeing Geombong, he came running out barefoot, embracing her with joy. When Geombong told him she had invited me to Dianchang as both her benefactor and friend, he beamed at me with the same warmth.
“Your benefactor? Could it be the young warrior from the Tang Clan?”
“Yes, Master. But how did you know?”
“The Martial Alliance sent me a detailed letter about what happened when you were injured. If that’s him, then indeed, he is your benefactor.
If a disciple’s benefactor is here, then I must see to it that he’s treated with proper respect!”
“Yes, Master!”
Contrary to the name “Merciless Sword,” he was clearly a man full of warmth and affection.
That kindness showed again as we shared tea and conversation.
When Geombong recounted everything that had happened, he looked extremely displeased when she mentioned how her back had been pierced by Cheong-yu Sojeo. But when she spoke of our adventures and strange experiences across the Central Plains, he simply smiled kindly and listened intently.
His reaction was that of a grandfather hearing about his granddaughter's travels.
Looking at him, it was obvious—his nickname didn’t suit him at all.
Shouldn’t it be Kind-Hearted Sword, not Merciless Sword?
The title "Merciless Sword" evokes someone who wields a blade without emotion, but this kind, gentle expression didn’t match it in the slightest.
“...And that’s how we ended up coming back.”
It was just as Geombong finished her long story after we’d moved into the sect leader’s office.
Jo Bi-ja, in that same warm voice, asked:
“Hoho. You’ve really been through a lot. So, after all that experience, do the world and martial arts look different to you now?”
“Of course, Master. I was able to reach the third star level of Hou Yi Shoots the Sun, the ultimate technique of the Sun-Piercing Sword Method.”
“Truly!? Now that is something to celebrate! You didn’t neglect your training—just like the Geombong I know.”
These days, she and Chang-ryong had been glued together—so when exactly had she been cultivating martial arts?
Did the two of them have some kind of partner training?
They say dual cultivation at night can help with progress, too.
I’d heard that in some Daoist circles, there was a technique called “Shuangxiu,” where men and women trained together by harmonizing yin and yang energies to improve their cultivation—sometimes even in ways that would earn an adult rating.
Did those two secretly try something like that?
While I was mulling over that, the leader of Dianchang took Geombong’s hand and said,
“Now then, I’d like to examine your body.”
“My body, Master?”
“Yes. I’d like to check your level of martial cultivation and whether your muscles and bones suffered serious damage. If there are lingering aftereffects, we must be sure. Be sure to stop by the Medical Hall—I’ll let them know.”
“Master, it’s fine if you want to check my cultivation level, but my body is fully healed. The Lord of the Beast Palace even used Yosang Arts on me.”
“Of course they would’ve taken good care of you at the Beast Palace. But don’t you understand? Your body is now part of Dianchang’s future. Sometimes symptoms recur after treatment, so you must be checked.”
“I understand, Master.”
His voice brimmed with concern.
Everyone smiled quietly at the exchange, and right after, the Merciless Sword elder turned to me and bowed his head once more.
“Young warrior, our Dianchang owes you a great debt.”
He had already expressed his gratitude earlier, but now, even though he was much older than me, he bowed his head again. Startled, I waved my hands in denial.
“No, I didn’t do anything worthy of that.”
Honestly, when Geombong got pierced through the back, it was my foster father and grandfather who saved her. As for our journey afterward, we traveled together because our interests aligned.
Sure, I did cover some costs—clothes, meals, travel money—but it wasn’t much.
But the elder shook his head at my words and patted Geombong on the shoulder.
“No, after hearing Geombong’s story, I’m certain of it.”
“?”
He had a look of firm conviction.
As I tilted my head, he continued:
“I saw the letter sent from the Martial Alliance. If you hadn’t happened to arrive at that place, Geombong would’ve died in a foreign land and her body would never have been found.
You brought her and your spiritual beasts all the way to the border, where the Lord of the Beast Palace and the Heavenly Poison Deity were able to rescue her. Without you, she wouldn’t have made it that far.
The Blood Cult had unleashed its Heaven’s Web, and the Five Venoms were pursuing you. How could just three of the Three Peaks of the Five Dragons have escaped from all that?”
He was saying that based on the letter from the Martial Alliance and Geombong’s story, I was indeed the one who saved her.
Now that I thought about it... he had a point.
It was all a coincidence, but sometimes, coincidence becomes fate.
Well, if an elder says so, who am I to argue?
Besides, Geombong’s trip into the martial world was meant to advance her cultivation—and in martial arts, what matters most is experience.
“And experience is the most crucial part of martial arts. After hearing your stories, I’m convinced that such rare and mysterious adventures help broaden a martial artist’s world more than anything else.
A frog in a well only sees the sky through the well’s mouth, but a frog in the forest sees a different world altogether.
Geombong was able to advance her cultivation thanks entirely to you.”
So the things we went through while following this Fabre apparently helped her improve her martial arts.
Well, experience really is important—just like your first time.
They say once a monk gets a taste for meat, not even the temple fleas survive.
My thoughts kept drifting into the indecent, so I shook them off quickly and thanked him.
“You’re too kind, Elder. I hardly know what to say.”
I replied with a bashful look, and the elder returned a warm smile.
Once all the gratitude was finished, he asked me,
“Now then—Geombong mentioned earlier that you had a request for our Dianchang?”
He must have remembered the passing remark Geombong made while embracing him earlier. I thought he would’ve forgotten.
But since he brought it up, I took out the letter I had tucked away.
“In fact, the Tang Clan’s Venom Elimination Squad has an assignment in Dali. I’d like to ask for your understanding.”
From what Hwa-eun and the Squad Leader had told me, obtaining this permission was critically important.
Dali fell under the Dianchang Sect’s jurisdiction. Merchants and civilians in the area were under the sect’s protection.
Apparently, like the gangsters in my previous life, they even collected protection money for that—but there was a reason.
Martial artists in this world are beings beyond the control of ordinary people.
Even some third-rate lowlife from the dark path would be untouchable by civilians—and the truly evil ones, who preyed on human essence or life force, were like walking disasters.
Being protected by an upright martial artist was considered an essential requirement for surviving in a world governed by martial power. In exchange, sects that received money took strict responsibility for managing their own territories.
They would exterminate bandits, punish evildoers when they appeared, patrol the area like soldiers, and even handle local grievances and civil complaints.
Now that I thought about it, even the request from Shaolin to catch a fraud was part of that same cultural system.
But what if someone started poking around another sect’s territory to apprehend a criminal?
It could lead to a direct conflict with the sect that ruled that area. That was why asking for permission was absolutely necessary.
After all, if suspicious people started causing a stir in their turf, the ruling sect might retaliate.
“If it’s the Tang Clan’s Venom Elimination Squad, this can’t be a minor matter.”
The Merciless Sword’s face turned slightly serious as he examined the letter I handed over. Then, after a moment, he looked at me and spoke—posing a question and answering it himself in the same breath.
“Surely... everything in this document is true? No, of course it is. You wouldn’t have brought it otherwise.”
He then shouted toward the outside.
“Is anyone out there!?”
“You called, Master?”
Startled by his thunderous voice, I flinched. The one who rushed inside was Seonhak, the disciple who had greeted Geombong earlier.
If I remembered right, he was the youngest of the sect master’s direct disciples.
To his question, the Merciless Sword issued a command.
“It seems some lowlifes are selling counterfeits of the medicine made by the benefactor of Dianchang, here in Dali. Go down to Dali and discreetly capture the ones tarnishing our sect’s honor.”
“Yes, Master!”
“Wait, we can handle it ourselves—”
It was a direct order to his disciple to catch the criminals in our stead, so I tried to decline, saying that wasn’t necessary. But the Merciless Sword elder shook his head.
“You should rest here in Dianchang. Since the matter happened in Dali, it’s faster for us to take action. No one will think it strange for us to move in Dali, but if outsiders get involved, they’ll stand out quickly.
Most people in Dali belong to ethnic minorities, after all.”
That was true—most people in Yunnan were from minority groups.
Their attire was different, their appearance slightly distinct. No matter how plain the Venom Elimination Squad tried to ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) dress, they’d still draw attention.
“Then, I leave it in your hands.”
“Very well. Seonhak, inform the senior disciples—”
“Master, a moment.”
Just as the Merciless Sword elder was about to issue another order, Seonhak stepped closer and whispered something into his ear.
At Seonhak’s quiet murmuring, the elder’s expression darkened slightly, and he nodded.
“I understand. Leave that part to me. Focus on carrying out the benefactor’s request.”
“Yes, Master!”
Soon after, shouts were heard from outside—Seonhak gathering the disciples, ordering them to depart for Dali. Once the brief commotion died down, the Merciless Sword elder, now smiling again, spoke warmly.
“Then, you must all be tired from your journey. Head to your quarters and rest well. I’ll see to it that a delicious meal is prepared.”
“Thank you, Sect Leader.”
“Thank you, Elder.”
Just as we finished our lengthy greetings and were about to rise from our seats—
A cold voice—entirely unlike the warm and gentle one from before—cut through the air.
“You. Stay behind.”
The voice was so frigid and sharp that everyone who had been turning to leave stopped and looked back.
Standing there, pale-faced, was Chang-ryong.
“M-Me? You're talking to me?”
“Yes. You.”
When I shifted my gaze to the Merciless Sword elder, the kindly old man from before was gone. In his place stood a cold-blooded elder, the kind of man who might not shed a single drop of blood even if stabbed.
Wow. Hwa-eun’s cold expression is nothing compared to this.
That gaze—it felt like it could freeze your heart.
For the first time, I understood why he was called the Merciless Sword.
Hwa-eun’s icy looks sometimes felt like a playful warning. But this... this was different. This was the look of a man who could cut a person down without hesitation.
So cold, the kindness from earlier now felt like a mask.
That youngest disciple tattled on him just now, didn’t he?
On the way here, I’d had a brief chat with Chang-ryong, and it had somehow gotten out that he was Geombong’s lover. That news must’ve reached the Merciless Sword’s ears through Seonhak’s whisper.
Well, tattling was practically the job of the youngest disciple anyway.
From the mood, it didn’t look like the elder was going to let it slide.
Chang-ryong was in serious trouble now.
Rest in peace, Chang-ryong. If only you’d been more competent, you could’ve been welcomed as a son-in-law, like me.
I silently offered my condolences in my heart.
