The guy with clear eyes suddenly comes up to me, thrusting a flower while talking about some gruesome murder. This whole situation feels like an utterly unrealistic nightmare, and I immediately turned and bolted.
Run for it…!
This dude is completely insane!
“Hey, Jeonggunachal! Where do you think you’re going?”
The guy shouted as he started chasing me. I have to escape at all costs. I don’t know what might happen if I get caught by someone like him.
“Right! You’re planning to lure me in and then kill me as cruelly as possible!”
What on earth is he talking about?!
“Jeonggunachal! Calm down! I have no intention of fighting you!”
And why the heck is he calling me Jeonggunachal?
Even while running, I glanced back to gauge the distance between us. If he catches up, who knows what will happen?
“Oh.”
But wait, it looks like this guy isn’t very good at running.
Hold on. Has he not learned the Lightness Skill?
If that’s the case, it means he’s not a master. He’s likely just another martial artist on my level or maybe slightly weaker. With that judgment made, I decided to apply the brakes.
As soon as I stopped, he halted too.
“Who are you?”
I casually asked as I turned a bit.
“Hah, hah! I’m late with the introduction!”
He exclaimed, panting.
“I am Galbijong from the Black-themed Martial Arts Group!”
“Galbijong from the Black-themed Martial Arts Group?”
Not a member of the Divine Path but some branch of a branch of a branch?!
“If the righteous martial community has the Martial Alliance, then the evil martial community has the Black-themed Martial Arts Group!”
Isn’t that the gathering of those who couldn’t even get classified into the evil faction? They’re an organization that has become stagnant after a bloody struggle. A collection of wicked scum that doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world.
“What do you want with me?”
“I’ve come as a representative from the Financial Division!”
Financial Division?!
“Ah, we’re a sect that’s well-versed in finance. We lend money to people and collect interest.”
In other words, it’s a group that profits by engaging in loan sharking.
Of course, it’s evident that illegal loan sharking isn’t protected by the law even on modern Earth. What more in this Ming Dynasty? You need considerable power to lend money and collect interest.
And to command those powerful martial artists, you must have a lot of money. Naturally, their interest rates will shoot up to murderous levels.
“So… you’re saying you engage in loan sharking?”
“Exactly.”
I spoke solemnly, and he answered with a grin.
“What about the Black-themed Martial Arts Group?”
“Aah, that’s what I wanted to talk about. First, could you accept this flower?”
Is that thing still in his hands?
“I heard a rumor that Jeonggunachal carries flowers in both hands. So I brought one assuming you like flowers.”
What the heck.
I’ve never gone around with flowers in both hands… Wait, no. The Martial Arts History duo is next to me. Maybe that rumor got twisted.
This guy recognizing my rumors means he’s obtained information about me and approached me intentionally. Come to think of it, this clear-eyed guy is oddly friendly. Almost too friendly, considering he even brought a flower.
Is he trying to establish some benign connection with me? I’m a renowned martial artist with enough fame to have a nickname. While it’s my first time having this kind of encounter, it’s not too strange.
But what is this ‘Jeonggunachal’ nonsense?
I’m Nachalsal!
“Plant the flower over there. I love nature.”
“Oh! I’ll plant it right away!”
He hurriedly dug a hole, carefully planted the flower, covered it with soil, and with a satisfied expression, pointed at the flower as if to say, “Look at this!”
“Good.”
Of course, that flower won’t survive.
Since the stem was broken.
“I’m glad to hear that. Anyway, Jeonggunachal, I want to have a close talk with you. Let’s have a drink. My treat.”
Is this a trap?
Honestly, I don’t know what this guy is up to, but he approached me deliberately. I figured that breaking things off here might not end well, so gathering some intel might not be a bad idea.
“Follow me.”
“Thank you!”
I said gravely, and his expression brightened.
I’ll have to keep acting serious.
Since he calls me a fearsome figure named Jeonggunachal, it seems he considers me a master.
* * *
We soon moved to the inn where Jaemi Son was staying. As we entered, I discreetly asked Server to keep an eye out since outsiders would be watching the situation from above.
With Jaemi Son around, he would keep a good watch from the second floor.
“Is this where you’re staying?”
“It’s not particularly that. Have a seat.”
“Understood. Server, bring some drinks and snacks.”
“Yes!”
I sat down across from Galbijong.
Alright, let’s find out why this loan shark has sought me out. But can I even strike up a conversation? His gaze still felt burdensome, yet oddly familiar.
It felt like he had the confidence of a cult member.
“I’ll introduce myself again. I am Galbijong from the Black-themed Martial Arts Group. Earlier, I mentioned the Black-themed Martial Arts Group, and if you trace it back through the branches, you’ll find it leads to the Evil Path, and I’ve come to Anhui Province to carry out orders from there.”
For a crazy person, he has a pretty coherent explanation.
“That’s a coherent explanation.”
“Ah! Hearing that makes me happy!”
Is he weak against compliments?
Galbijong laughed heartily, his eyes shining.
“Does that command involve me?”
“Surprisingly, yes.”
“Explain.”
Galbijong’s expression turned serious.
“As I mentioned, I came here with an important mission from the Evil Path. To gather information about the Four Fairies.”
“Oh, the Four Fairies.”
The Four Fairies are said to be a terrifying witch, regarded as a major menace in the central plains. They’re pursued even by the Ming Dynasty’s royal family.
If the founder of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang, was wary of the Four Fairies, then they are treated worse than any common rebel.
So does this mean the Evil Path is pursuing the Four Fairies right now?
“Jeonggunachal, didn’t you catch Madunachal in your labyrinth? Upon gathering intel, it turned out that the incident was caused by the Four Fairies.”
“I’m aware. Do you want to ask me about that information?”
“No… that’s not it. My main task is to collect information on the Four Fairies in the Anhui area, but I don’t think I particularly need your testimony, Jeonggunachal.”
As expected, it’s coherent.
I don’t know anything anyway.
“Then, what is it?”
“Well, in order to gather information about the Four Fairies in this area, I need to form a kind of faction or organization.”
“Indeed, that makes sense.”
“Oh! Exactly! I knew you’d understand!”
Just a little encouragement, and this guy’s eyes sparkled even more. This is definitely not the look of an evil martial artist. It’s the pure, innocent sparkle that only a crazed man possesses.
— Shining.
His eyes were so bright that I could almost believe he was hiding some madness behind them.
“I’m planning to organize such a faction from now on. And I want to invite you, Jeonggunachal, to join.”
Wait.
You mean you want to invite me into your faction?
But he’s from the Evil Path’s branch, which means he’s involved in it too.
“Jeonggunachal, I know you wiped out the Assassin’s Room. Because of that, the gangs lurking in the shadows are trembling in fear.”
Really?!
“Originally, your nickname was Nachalsal, but because of this incident, it has transformed into the terrifying name Jeonggunachal! The evil factions are afraid of you. If you and I join forces to form a faction now, we could quickly rally the terrified shadows and create a pretty sizable faction!”
This guy’s eyes are so bright…!
“With that larger organization, we can acquire benefits while simultaneously gathering information on the Four Fairies.”
Yet, despite his wild demeanor and bright eyes, he had a definite vision and plan.
This shocked me a little.
Usually, evil martial artists are seen as dumb, violent, and wicked scum, aren’t they? But this guy, Galbijong, seemed insane but determined and proactive.
Then it’s a man!
“This will be quite beneficial for you too. I don’t intend to treat you as just a pawn. Jeonggunachal…! Just hearing that terrifying nickname makes one yearn! If you agree to my proposal, I’ll treat you like a brother!”
A brother!
He wants to treat me like a brother!
That’s a very enticing offer indeed. Imagining myself in the martial world, hearing “brother” would make me very pleased.
But I’m not the kind of guy who shouts a yes without thinking.
I get that this crazy guy likes me just because of my nickname, but he’s also a loan shark from the Evil Path. There’s no way I can trust him, and I have no idea what kind of shady dealings his faction would engage in.
He talks about searching for the Four Fairies, but… is this dangerous? Regardless, the search could merely be a side job while they engage in something darker to profit from.
As a righteous martial artist, I can’t join such a place.
However, if I outright voiced my thoughts, there’s a significant chance this man’s friendly mania could turn hostile.
— Sparkling.
He still looked at me with those gleaming, pure eyes.
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