I entrusted Seo Daeryong with the situation completely.

Without any hint of hesitation, Seo Daeryong looked toward the curtain and said,

“I want to earn a lot of money and gain honor. And I hope that path is an easy one. I want to walk a path without limping or bleeding. If I can walk that path, I will do anything.”

A smile curled at the corner of my mouth as I bowed my head. What Seo Daeryong just said was the opposite of what he really meant. Even in this situation, Seo Daeryong showed his wit.

The reaction behind the curtain wasn’t bad.

“You’re honest.”

Seo Daeryong had passed the first question safely. Now the gaze behind the curtain turned to me.

“You want to make that servant your right hand?”

“Sharp and good-looking; surely he’ll be useful.”

Jo Ibaek asked me,

“If your master’s order and mine conflict, what will you do?”

“I will only follow my young master’s will. That won’t change even if the Martial Alliance leader comes.”

“You’re very loyal.”

Though he said that, I could see Jo Ibaek sneering behind the curtain. He was someone who neither trusted loyalty nor people in the first place. Seo Daeryong was probably laughable to him, and even more so the servant. His interest in me ended there.

Jo Ibaek asked Seo Daeryong again,

“If I ask you to kill someone, will you kill them?”

Seo Daeryong flinched but answered carefully,

“That depends on who. If it’s someone who deserves to die, I can kill.”

“What if you’re ordered to kill someone you don’t even know?”

Seo Daeryong hesitated before answering,

“I will kill! Just leave it to me!”

A brief silence followed.

Then Jo Ibaek laughed loudly behind the curtain.

“Just kidding, kidding. We’re not demons to do such wicked deeds.”

Seo Daeryong tried to hide his embarrassment, making a face that was neither laughter nor tears.

“You know it was a joke. Would you, a Soryongjeon champion, really do such terrible things?”

“Right. I was joking too.”

Seo Daeryong answered awkwardly, wiping cold sweat. He acted well. Anyone would see him as a stubborn country bumpkin mad for success, who even brought a servant to these meetings and said he’d make him his right hand.

“Desire is like clothes. If you try to wear one that doesn’t fit your body, it’ll tear or look ridiculous.”

It sounded like a warning to have ambition suited to one’s place. Seo Daeryong looked up and suddenly asked,

“Then what kind of clothes are you wearing, sir?”

A bold and cheeky question about his ambition.

Well done, Daeryong. To understand the other person, you have to keep shaking things up.

“If you don’t assign me such nasty jobs, what benefit will you gain from helping me? This country bumpkin knows one thing: the world never shows kindness without reason.”

Jo Ibaek behind the curtain showed no discomfort. Instead, a pleasant laugh came out, seeming pleased with Seo Daeryong’s attitude. He probably thought such a person was easier to use.

Though I bowed, I was sensing Jo Ibaek’s emotions with my energy. Seo Daeryong faced him directly, but the real battle was mine.

“You’re investing for the future. To become a giant tree, one must start as a sapling, right?”

“Ah! I didn’t realize your great intention. I apologize.”

No need to apologize, Daeryong. Most villains I’ve known don’t invest long in anyone weaker. Use and discard, use and discard. Their subordinates are just expendable.

If they invest in saplings, it’s to use them as windbreaks to become giants themselves.

The reason for investing in Seo Daeryong is the same. They want something done by him. Whether to kill someone or steal Martial Alliance secrets, they will try to get back as much as they gave. Likely more. That’s how villains deal.

What I must confirm is this.

Are you the Cheonmyeonghoe leader? Or were you recruited too?

Jo Ibaek said to Seo Daeryong,

“I like your honest nature. Grow into a giant tree to uphold the righteous martial world.”

“Thank you.”

After that conversation, we left the room.

As we walked out the main gate, Seo Daeryong said with a deflated voice to So Ok,

“I think I answered wrongly.”

Looking self-critical, Seo Daeryong asked her,

“Did you get asked the question too? About killing someone you don’t know?”

“I did.”

“How did you answer?”

“I said I couldn’t kill.”

“Oh! I should’ve answered like that too. I must have been blinded by wanting to look good.”

I gently interrupted and asked So Ok,

“Do they really not assign such things?”

So Ok stopped walking and glared at me.

Since we met, she hadn’t shown me any interest. A normal woman would at least show some romantic interest, but So Ok showed none.

I know women like her. People who pursue only their goals. She showed no interest in me, but was kind to Seo Daeryong—showing her ambition was huge. She was trying to wear a garment far too large.

“Of course not. What are you talking about?”

Her cold reaction seemed like anger at a servant daring to ask such questions, but I sensed the sharpness was a different kind of guilt.

‘She’s done it.’

She must have killed someone on Jo Ibaek’s orders.

“Sorry, I was just curious.”

I quickly bowed and stepped back.

Seo Daeryong scolded me,

“Don’t interfere recklessly!”

“Yes.”

We parted ways with her in front of the manor gate.

“Thank you for introducing me to sir. I will repay this kindness.”

“Not at all. We have to stick together.”

So Ok smiled brightly at Seo Daeryong, then glared coldly at me and left.

After she disappeared, Seo Daeryong said to me,

“I wish all women treated you like she did.”

“That’s too harsh on me.”

“I’ve lived like that all my life.”

Seo Daeryong hung his head low and walked on.

“Is this part of your act?”

“This is my reality.”

“Since you’ve changed, your reality will too.”

Seo Daeryong stopped and looked back at me. I couldn’t say, ‘Women will still like handsome men,’ so I nodded firmly.

With a brighter expression, Seo Daeryong asked,

“Did you find anything from this meeting?”

Revealing that Jo Ibaek, Josin’s father, was behind was a major achievement.

Seo Daeryong also suspected something.

“So Ok seems to be doing something bad under his command?”

I nodded, and Seo Daeryong exploded with anger. It was anger toward both So Ok and Jo Ibaek.

“Damn it! How much success do they expect from such deeds? Using desperate and poor people! Chief, we can’t leave them be.”

Seo Daeryong wasn’t the only angry one. Others restrained themselves only to root out the problem completely. Otherwise, Jinryongjang would never have left that manor alive.

“But So Ok must pay a price during this process.”

“Of course.”

Seo Daeryong sighed sadly. Perhaps he felt kinship with her. Both were newcomers without money or background—he in the main sect, she in the Martial Alliance—so they probably felt the same.

“I’ll send Jeon Seogu to Tongcheongak briefly and then return. You go ahead.”

“Are you going to call the Ma Jons?”

“I’ll just report the situation. That’s all.”

Though permission was given to seek more help, this was the successor exam. Handling it myself was best. I wanted to see the Ma Jons but endured.

“This matter I will handle with the Martial Alliance leader.”

Building a strong relationship with him was necessary for the future.

After sending Seo Daeryong off, I spoke into the air.

“You must have heard the voice from behind the curtain.”

The hidden warrior may not have seen behind the curtain but certainly heard Jo Ibaek’s voice.

“No need to hesitate. It’s who you think. It’s urgent; let the leader meet him immediately.”

A carriage stood in an alley.

Riding up, the Martial Alliance leader Jin Paechun was inside.

“You have probably been informed by your subordinates that we met the person trying to recruit the Soryongjeon winner.”

“I heard.”

From now on, I spoke by telepathy.

—You have probably heard the rough story from your subordinates. The man is the Jinryongjang leader.

—Jinryongjang is a prestigious sect representing the righteous martial world. There’s no way they’d be recruited by Cheonmyeonghoe.

—I confirmed it myself.

—I heard there was a curtain?

—I pierced through it. It was definitely him.

The Martial Alliance leader still looked doubtful. Since the marriage with Jin Haryeong was proceeding, it was hard to believe. It was easier to doubt me than Jinryongjang.

—That’s not all. His son Josin may also have been recruited by Cheonmyeonghoe, unaware his father is allied with them.

The leader’s surprise deepened.

—You mean Cheonmyeonghoe recruited them separately?

—I believe so. Or the father concealed his identity and recruited his son.

If true, the Cheonmyeonghoe leader is a formidable man, recruiting and using father and son separately.

Even if Jo Ibaek is the leader, he hid his identity from his own son.

—Because the opponent is this madman, no one should be trusted until this is resolved.

The Martial Alliance leader frowned. Hearing this from a renegade cult leader must be frustrating.

—If it were anyone else, I’d handle it secretly. But since it’s someone involved in a marriage with my granddaughter, I’m telling you this.

—Why offer kindness?

—I won’t lie that it’s out of respect. Not even for Seo Sojin. It’s for the main sect. If an incident happens in the Martial Alliance, it affects the main sect. I don’t want my father to turn a crisis into an opportunity for martial world unification.

Mentioning my father made Jin Paechun’s eyes blaze. The provocative word “martial world unification” was spoken.

—I’m not bold enough to lie while mentioning my father. So please trust me.

I didn’t flinch °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° from the leader’s fierce gaze. Having been through so much, I believed he could see the truth in my words.

—Good. Let’s say he is Jinryongjang leader as you say. Why do you think he is doing this?

—Arranging marriage with the leader, recruiting Martial Alliance warriors—there’s only one reason, right?

Jin Paechun knew the answer.

—My position?

—It could be a prelude to placing Josin as Martial Alliance leader in the future. Blasphemous as it is, it might be to assassinate the leader. We must hear their intentions from them, but whatever it is, it won’t please you.

Jin Paechun wasn’t a benevolent leader. He was more ruthless and fiery than any before. He was cautious only because his granddaughter was involved; once unsealed, no one could handle him.

—I understand. From now on, I’ll confirm personally.

He wanted to capture Jinryongjang leader immediately and reveal the truth.

—Don’t. He hasn’t committed a crime yet. Supporting Martial Alliance warriors is public among merchants and sects related to the martial world. We must find direct evidence linking him to Cheonmyeonghoe.

I proposed something.

—Let’s solve this without telling anyone, just the two of us. If you trust me, I have a way.

—Don’t underestimate the Alliance. If you have a way, we have one too.

—I don’t mean to disrespect the Alliance.

—Then?

—Do you remember when I risked my life revealing my identity?

I reminded him that because I revealed everything, this incident could be uncovered. Jin Paechun couldn’t deny this. He was a real man and true martial artist.

Still, I understood the leader. It was natural he wouldn’t want to entrust this to me alone. So I made an unprecedented offer.

—I will resolve it within five days. If I fail, you handle it yourself.

Jin Paechun was surprised.

“Can you really do it in five days?”

“Only if you actively help.”

“How do you plan to do it?”

“They tried to scheme using your relatives. We’ll return the favor.”

Jin Paechun smiled coldly.

“That I like.”

After some thought, he made a decision.

Words flowed from Jin Paechun that marked the start of a joint operation between the Martial Alliance leader and the renegade cult leader—something never before seen in martial world history.

“Proceed!”