Chapter 703: Amipa (峨嵋派).
It is one of the nine sects representing the Jeongpa, known as Gupailbang, and is a faction that originated from Sacheon.
Unlike other sects, what makes it unique is that it was maintained solely by nuns.
What was the reason for that? I really don’t know.
It’s probably better to assume they just aren’t interested.
The only thing I do know is that it wasn’t always this way.
After the Blood Demon War, they excommunicated all the male disciples and started forming a group comprising only female disciples.
When considering this, people often wonder how they can maintain their status in Gupailbang with an all-female force.
Honestly, I thought it was a pointless discussion.
“From the moment you make a bet, does it even matter who’s male or female?”
From a general standpoint, martial artists have already crossed that line.
It simply means that we should categorize things by levels, so the moment you start distinguishing by gender, it’s utterly meaningless.
“The real problem lies with those who look down on women.”
That kind of thinking is only acceptable among regular people; for martial artists, it’s worthless.
Which means, if you get foolishly tricked or hesitate, swish, your throat gets sliced!
In reality, the biggest headache when the demons were conquering Sacheon was Amipa.
It wasn’t that they were exceptionally strong or cunning; it was simply the trouble that arose from being attracted to women.
Even the nuns of Amipa, despite being nuns, grew their hair long.
Even if it wasn’t long, it was short or styled like a bob.
Maybe that’s why those beastly brutes acted so foolishly.
“I managed the Black Flame Corps just fine, but…”
Such nonsense would lead to someone being burned alive in the Black Flame Corps, so no issues there.
But the Gwichal Sword Team and the Green Clothing Corps didn’t fare as well.
Later, after I stepped on the Sword Demon and caught one of their members to pull out his entrails, things quieted down.
Thanks to that, there was nearly a setback in conquering Sacheon.
“Anyway.”
I had to disregard such matters first and focus on the woman in front of me.
Wavy hair reaching her shoulders and a dark scar crossing her cheek.
She looked to be in her early thirties.
“I don’t know who she is.”
She isn’t a well-known figure.
At least, based on her appearance, she doesn’t seem familiar.
I locked eyes with the scarred woman, who was, to be exact, one of the disciples of Amipa.
“What could this be?”
“…Ugh.”
As I tightened my grip on her neck, the woman let out a pained groan.
I had severed the flow of energy and sealed her movements.
In terms of martial realm, at best, we’d reached the pinnacle.
I ran a hand over the woman’s body.
“…!!”
She grimaced as if ashamed, but I didn’t care.
“Looking at those muscles, she’s definitely a rogue warrior.”
Given her developed physique, she had to be a rogue.
However, the calluses on her hands indicated that she wielded a legit martial skill.
A mix of rogue and martial artist… Quite the peculiar blend.
“What a mystery. Why would a nun from Sacheon be doing something like this?”
I asked, loosening my grip just a tad.
“Wh-what are you talking about? Why are you suddenly doing this!”
As expected, the woman maintained her ignorance in response to my questions.
I locked my gaze onto her eyes as I listened to her words.
Her pupils were wildly shaken.
Her breathing was ragged, and her heart was racing.
Was it fear? Confusion?
There’s a subtle difference, but I couldn’t pin it down.
But.
“She recognized me.”
She clearly called me Soyeomra.
Ordinary folks rarely recognize me on sight.
It’s likely they set it up on purpose through some agreement to open their borders.
I, too, had lived without exposing myself much.
She recognized me at once.
“Not surprising.”
Even if the rumors haven’t spread, there’s an extent of recognition, and anyone interested enough might pick up on it.
But.
“That doesn’t seem to be the case.”
Her reaction wasn’t just simple shock.
“The very fact that we’re having this encounter is the real problem.”
Let’s figure out what caused our paths to cross.
“Does the nun from Amipa have some business with our Piyeonyeon?”
“…Pi… Piyeonyeon?”
Piyeonyeon.
The collateral clan born from the Seoanpi family.
It’s now the alias that Bongsoon holds.
Also.
She was a bait I had laid out.
“Yeah, bait.”
The Eulryeong Sword Master was a figure who kept a low profile in the alliance while also being someone watched closely by certain factions.
It’s strange.
Decades have passed since she died, and even the spot of the Sword Master has been taken by the volcano.
Is there a reason to watch over her and hold her footsteps?
If it was the alliance, then it could indeed be that way, but I have doubts regarding others.
The Eulryeong Sword Master was known to be without any specific faction.
In the end, it was revealed that she did have a separate faction.
“Still, that’s just a fabrication.”
I couldn’t trust it.
Even if it were true, it wouldn’t matter.
“If it were real, it could just be fabricated to appear false.”
Evidence can be made.
The existence of the Eulryeong Sword Master is merely a dagger to me.
But.
“Who could it be?”
Who, apart from the alliance and me, would try to figure this out?
This has always been a point of curiosity.
Who is it?
Who is behind the moveme– “Oh, that’s a straight road.”
“Are they someone who can help me?”
To be precise, are they someone who would assist my plans?
Or could they be a useless obstacle?
I was curious and needed to throw some bait to find out.
As soon as someone spots it, it was bait as valuable as water.
Yet, it was also precious bait that wouldn’t be easily discerned.
I cast it out upon the sea and was amazed to find something biting right away.
That was Amipa (峨嵋派).
The nuns of Sacheon, or the guardians of Sacheon.
In my past life, they hadn’t stood out much even as they approached extinction, yet rumors about them were unusually abundant.
It was there that my bait was taken.
“… Let go… let me go! Soyeomra, why are you doing this?!”
“First of all,”
I ignored her cries and asked.
“Why were you staring at that kid?”
Outside the preliminaries hosting the martial arts competition.
There, the woman had been watching Bongsoon.
To be precise, she was said to be watching her.
It was a report from the Dark King’s subordinates stationed everywhere.
The order was to let me know if anyone was keeping an eye on Bongsoon or acting strangely.
“What are you talking about? I’m not looking at anyone…!”
Even as she spoke, her breaths grew calm.
Her heart rate was still erratic but steadied as well.
“She must be a hardened individual.”
At this point, it was hard to tell if she was lying or acting.
The silver lining is that even if that were the case, there were still ways to find out.
“Wasn’t it a child?”
I asked, tilting my head slightly in her direction.
“Then were you looking at the Noble Tree?”
“…!”
Gotcha.
I felt the shift in sensation and smiled slightly.
Her eyes widened, and her breath, which she was barely managing, became ragged.
“What… what do you mean?”
She gasped for breath, but it was already too late.
“I’m talking about the one Lady Pi held. I thought that startled you.”
“…”
“That’s what the Sword Master used to carry around, right?”
The more I smiled and asked, the more I could see her cheeks quivering.
Her expression was already breaking.
The shock in her eyes screamed how did you know?
And that reaction was simply delicious.
“I wanted you to know on purpose. Of course, it should be expected.”
Noble Tree (貴英木).
Upon hearing the name, you’d wonder what tree it is, but it’s essentially a precious object, among the weapons made from it.
Its form appears like a pole carved from wood.
“If you desire, it could be a wooden sword or a spear.”
It changes form based on the abilities of the wielder.
Much like the effects of Guijeong.
It’s known the Eulryeong Sword Master used a wooden sword, which likely meant she wielded the Noble Tree as that form.
“How did you come by that?”
When I mentioned the Noble Tree, the woman let out a disconcerting voice.
“It doesn’t matter how I know; what’s important is why you’re reacting this way.”
“…”
The staff Bongsoon carried had a flower design embroidered in black.
This was one of the symbols of the Noble Tree.
The Eulryeong Sword Master would have crafted that into the handle.
The same design was hidden on the embroidered part of the previous life’s sword.
This was another detail I learned later from Guichang.
And there was a significant reason for using the Noble Tree as bait, specifically.
Because.
“The Noble Tree signifies bloodline inheritance.”
One of its core traits is that it could only be used by blood relatives.
If you aren’t blood-related, you’re out of luck.
This was akin to the characteristics of Namgung’s brain.
But.
While the brain can be wielded by anyone acknowledged from the Namgung clan.
“The Noble Tree must be a genuine blood relative.”
This was noted by Guichang, yet in reality, nobody could manage the Noble Tree other than Guichang.
So I thought.
“The forces must have been searching for the blood relatives of the Sword Master long ago.”
I’m aware they were hunting for information on his health and whether he had any potential heirs.
That’s how the info I compiled looked.
Then.
“How would they go about verifying this?”
It’s not like they’d just search for someone who looks like him.
There would be a method to it.
I envisioned it as the Noble Tree.
Thus, I instructed Bongsoon to carry it openly, without any cover.
Interestingly enough, it seemed like the alliance, who should be searching further, was unaware.
“This suggests that the Murim Alliance doesn’t even know about the characteristic of the Noble Tree, let alone the lineage of the Eulryeong Sword Master.”
When witnessing this, the rogue from Amipa must have realized something about Bongsoon and fled.
A figure whose name I don’t even know…
“They know of the Noble Tree and its traits.”
That’s how it should appear.
“I’ll ask again. What’s your goal? Is it our Bong… No, the blood slave or the Noble Tree?”
“…”
No answer.
She must have caught on already.
She no longer had a getaway, and failure to control her expression was evident.
So, highlighting snip snip, I opened my mouth.
“Crack!?”
Amid her sudden confusion.
I sent a pulse and swept inside her mouth.
“No poison?”
It seems she didn’t hide any poison in her molars or under her tongue.
After confirming and fearing she might resort to biting her own tongue, I maintained a strong grip.
“Whichever it is, Amipa is definitely related…”
“Gulp… Ugh.”
“But really, why the sudden twist?”
It’s well-known that Eulryeong Sword Master is independent.
There was no distinct clan or sect associated with him; he’s simply known as a master of swordsmanship.
“What could it mean?”
Why is Amipa looking after Bongsoon?
“No, maybe they’re after the Noble Tree rather than Bongsoon.”
Could the Noble Tree be Amipa’s representative treasure?
“That’s plausible.”
It could very well be that they were trying to find the Sword Master’s descendant or something altogether different.
So, a long timeline of searching could exist.
A sect’s signature treasure always carries significant value.
“Forget about it; this is purely speculation.”
But it makes sense to keep an open mind.
“For now, knowing that Amipa is involved is sufficient.”
That alone signifies progress.
I guess I should thank them for getting tangled up just because I threw out a little bait.
“Now, onto the last business.”
“Ugh…”
The woman was flinching, barely able to close her mouth.
Sadly, my business was far from over.
“Honestly, it doesn’t matter whether it’s about Bongsoon or the Noble Tree. What I’m going to ask now is the key point.”
It’s a matter of recognizing and making them divulge the premise.
Wishing to avoid corrupting others without a complete grasp of the situation, I felt hesitant.
So, I asked.
“I drank some poison this morning.”
“…”
“Did you do that?”
She shuddered.
The change in her movements did not go unnoticed.
“Looks like that’s a yes?”
“I-It wasn’t me…”
Was she trying to deny it? Her pronunciation came out all jumbled since I had her cheeks in my grip.
Seeing her like that, I clicked my tongue briefly.
“Ah, I may have to apologize to Mr. Do-wang. I just had a feeling it was him…”
Regrettably, it seems my second assumption turned out to be correct.
Confidently, I spoke, and she responded with her eyes saying no way.
“How did you find out?”
How on earth did I pinpoint this so accurately?
It was impressive.
Because there really was no proof or reason to believe Amipa was behind the poisoning.
But.
“I did catch a bit of a conversation.”
Sadly, I’m privy to more insider info than what meets the eye from my past life.
“Amipa’s nuns, they’ve been making underhanded moves against male warriors gaining popularity.”
“…!”
“Am I right?”
That was, in fact, a lie.
This was information I had from my previous life; in reality, it hadn’t yet spread as a rumor.
The chatter began surfacing when Sogeomseong was gaining momentum.
Rumors had it that Amipa was manipulating behind the scenes regarding male competitors.
That was the question I set after dredging up those whispers.
The catch is.
“Upon investigation, I found out several others besides me had experienced the same thing.”
It seems like the rumors hold some water.
“Ugh… eugh….”*
Whether it’s servants, inn workers, or even ladies of the night.
From earlier last night to this morning’s wee hours, attempts to poison food and drinks in various establishments around Hanam have been confirmed.
These snippets came from conversations I happened upon separately.
The attempts came from various suspects, but they all had a common choice of toxin, and every one of their attempts crashed and burned.
There’s the fact they paid hefty sums to some untrained knuckleheads to use petty tricks.
To me, it looked like those were purposely botched attempts.
The oddity was.
“It didn’t escape that all the perpetrators are male martial artists.”
All of them were gradually elevating their reputation.
Young men at the brink of making a name for themselves in martial circles.
The main point is, they’ve been targeted for poisoning attempts.
“And they all backfired!”
None of the victims fell ill.
Being tied up in this undisclosed threat, they weren’t about to easily disclose the circumstances.
The funny part? No one bothered seeking out the Murim Alliance for protection.
Why not? Surely, the most reliable organization in Hanam would be the Murim Alliance.
“…I suspect it’s not merely out of pride for martial artists.”
It seemed this notion also indicated even the so-called righteous factions don’t truly trust the alliance.
Truly, it’s a mess.
“Darn it… It’s a child…”
“I’m curious. Why would they act like this?”
I don’t believe in the accusations.
It’s amusing that the rumors from my previous life turned out true, but I wondered what could’ve driven them to act this way.
Having reached this point, I thought I had enough foundation to make them pay.
So, shall I interrogate her?
Worry began to spring up.
The stakes couldn’t be better under the circumstances.
“Because gleaning more info beyond that of the Eulryeong SwordMaster would be beneficial.”
I didn’t plan to add any more mind slaves for the time being, but this seemed a tolerable situation to manage.
Should I corrupt her?
While wrestling with that thought.
“Hmm.”
A brilliant idea came to mind.
There’s more at play than just one or two factions involved here.
Amipa and the Murim Alliance.
Not to mention other sects causing me hassle. What I needed to understand was.
“Is the Murim Alliance cooperating with Amipa?”
Or are they opposing forces?
“Most likely, being under the banner of justice, they won’t be outright hostile.”
That said, I also doubt it would be an entirely collaborative relationship.
If it was collaboration, it’s strange the alliance knows nothing about the inspector’s info.
What ties them is a mystery.
“At the very least, to me, both are enemy factions.”
Caught between them, rather than writhing endlessly like this, it made way more sense to adopt an easier approach.
“Alright.”
Having completed my thoughts, I smiled.
The woman who witnessed me smile trembled inexplicably.
While looking at her, I tightened my grip.
Crunch-!
To the massive dwelling, north of Hanam Province.
This was one of the areas managed by the Murim Alliance.
Currently, it was a residence for the disciples of Amipa.
The interior of one of the largest residences within that jurisdiction.
There.
“Aaaaah-!”
A piercing scream echoed.
“Sa… Sajjeo!”
“A terrible accident…!!”
The women in their martial attire checked the situation with pale expressions.
At the center stood a woman, lifeless, taken her last breath.
It was Yeonyoung, the second disciple of Amipa, who had just set out on a mission.
“W-what is this…!”
A corpse randomly discovered in the open field.
The women, faced with this situation, twisted their expressions all at once.
“…Step back.”
Everyone jumped at the voice that resonated from behind.
Immediately, the women made way, allowing passage.
Then, an old woman approached Yeonyoung’s body with a dignified stride.
…
A cold, lifeless body.
Based on the marks on her neck, she appeared to have died from a single blow.
The old woman, sensing the strangeness, narrowed her gaze towards her surroundings.
“…What on earth is going on here?”
“T-the thing is. While I was on guard, it suddenly appeared…”
“…What?”
The old woman’s expression darkened upon hearing the explanation.
This is an area overseen by the alliance. Even if that’s not the case, it was a zone where the disciples were on watch.
Yet, suddenly, a human corpse appears without any obstacles?
And the most shocking part?
‘The child we sent on a mission?’
One of the five tasked with a secret mission last night?
It was baffling.
The old woman, with a strange sense, looked back at the body.
“Hmm…?”
Suddenly, she caught sight of something held tightly in the corpse’s hand.
The old woman immediately tried to yank it free from the corpse’s grasp.
As the body was stiffening and difficult to uncoil, a loud crack resounded as she applied force.
Crack-!!!
Once she completely crushed the corpse’s grip, she finally held an unknown note.
Not caring about the mutilated hand of the corpse, the old woman studied the note closely, furrowing her brow.
The note bore an emblem representing the Murim Alliance along with a single line of text.
[Do not approach the secret any further.]
“…”
Upon seeing the inscription, a sudden whoosh followed.
“Chief!”
“It’s dangerous!”
The letter she held instantly burst into flames and vanished.
“…Hah.”
An old woman.
No, she was the chief of Amipa, one of the Seven Iron Three Swords.
The Powder Moon Fist Immortal twisted her face in a display of anger.
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