Although I had agreed to it, no one actually told me what to do.

Ak Byeongbi, the original captain, should have been the one to speak, but for some reason, he just kept his mouth tightly shut and glared at me as if he wanted to kill me, without taking any action.

I was just thinking about how fortunate it was that Ak Byeongbi hadn't reached the realm of the Heart Sword.

"Oh my, do you plan on making this young lady walk?"

In the end, Yeom Gwibi was the first to speak up.

At her sly and shameless words, two escort warriors glanced at Ak Byeongbi before dismounting and handing over the horses they had been riding.

Yeom Gwibi's eyes curved like crescent moons.

"Oh my, thank you. I actually meant I wouldn't mind riding together."

Her behavior, radiating a strange gaze and smile, was seductive enough, but the escort warriors instead tensed up and maintained their distance from her.

No matter how peerless a beauty she was, she was a woman who thought nothing of staining her hands with blood.

To them, who had plenty of experience in Jianghu, it was only natural that she would be more than enough of a target for their wariness.

"..."

I approached the half-baked bandits who were still trembling in the corner.

"Are you alright?"

"... Y-Yes? Ah, y-yes!"

These people, whose names and life histories had been called out before King Yama himself, were still so dumbfounded that they couldn't gather their senses.

"I know times are tough due to the famine, but being a bandit isn't something just anyone can do."

How many heads of households could just stand by and watch their wives and children wither away day by day? But still, wouldn't you need to stay alive to even try doing something about it?

"Furthermore, with the recent formation of an Underworld alliance in Shanxi Province, the chances that the people passing through are martial artists have significantly increased, so I think it would be best for you to leave the mountain."

"O-Of course. As long as you spare our lives, we will never resort to banditry again."

I looked at the half-baked bandits.

Seeing their gaunt, sunken cheeks one by one, it really seemed like they had held back as long as they could before going up the mountain to commit banditry.

I took a pouch of silver coins from my chest and handed it to them.

However, the half-baked bandits didn't even think about accepting it and just waved their hands.

"No. No, thank you. We will never target other people's baggage again."

I forcefully pulled their hands and pressed the pouch into them.

"Use this to feed your families for now."

Since I had given them a fairly heavy pouch of silver coins, they should be able to feed not only their own families but also the starving people in their village.

I added while looking at the half-baked bandits, who couldn't bear to grip the pouch tightly in their hands.

"Moreover, there are dead among you. You should at least hold a modest funeral for them."

"..."

The half-baked bandit eventually put strength into his hands and gripped the pouch tightly.

A heartwarming atmosphere was about to settle in when he hesitated and opened his mouth.

"B-But... honestly, those people are not from our group."

"Huh?"

"They are traveling with those two over there."

"..."

Because their faces were all equally smashed and their heads blown open, I hadn't recognized them, but it turned out they were actually part of Yeom Gwibi and Hyeoltu's group.

"We also felt something strange and were letting them pass without blocking the road, but suddenly they started fighting among themselves, and ended up like that..."

'What is this?'

'No matter how heinous of Underworld bigwigs they are, why would they suddenly beat their own group to death?'

'And what was up with dragging these half-baked bandits in to pull a hostage situation?'

"... U-Um, so you really don't need to give us this..."

The half-baked bandit cautiously held out the money pouch again.

I looked at him and said.

"... It's fine. Take it and at least buy some rice for the starving people in your village."

I immediately turned my gaze toward Yeom Gwibi and Hyeoltu.

Furthermore, the condition they had proposed in exchange for not killing those half-baked bandits was simply traveling together.

'Just what are they scheming...'

I couldn't fathom what they were thinking at all.

'Are they perverts who feel pleasure from making companions and then killing them?'

That somehow seemed plausible.

Would they be called the Underworld otherwise?

They live solely according to their base instincts, disregarding common sense and everything else, which is why they are the Underworld.

Moreover, those two were the biggest lunatics among lunatics.

It was entirely possible for them to have such perverse tendencies.

As an uneasy thought crossed my mind and I shuddered, a clear voice rang out.

"Young Master! I think we're about to leave~!"

Yeom Gwibi called out to me as if she had been part of our group from the start.

I shook off my throbbing thoughts and mounted my horse.

* * *

Seeing Chief Strategist Zhuge Somyeong up this close was only his third time since joining the Murim Alliance.

Furthermore, the previous two times had been situated across the ends of a long table, leaving him too intimidated to even think of approaching.

Although he was sitting in front of such a terrifying person, he couldn't hold back the question bursting from within him.

["Is it... a disciplinary action?"]

The order to go as part of the delegation to the Underworld Alliance.

Ak Byeongbi forgot that the person sitting in front of him was Zhuge Somyeong of the Mantong Bureau and threw out a question he himself considered rude.

SWISH.

Zhuge Somyeong, who had been drinking tea, moved his wrinkled eyelids and stared at Ak Byeongbi.

In that instant, Ak Byeongbi felt as if his very core was being completely seen through and trembled.

["Why do you think so?"]

Coming from the mouth of someone who sat at an unreachable height and moved the world, even such a simple question carried a different weight.

Ak Byeongbi swallowed heavily at a fear he had never felt before in his life.

Since he had already asked the question first, he couldn't take it back.

He barely squeezed out his voice to answer.

["Because the mission to form an alliance with the Underworld Alliance is certain to fail... no, because the probability of failure seems high."]

["Hmm..."]

Zhuge Somyeong closed his eyes for a moment and savored the aroma of the tea.

Eventually, he slowly raised his head.

["I know. I know it will fail."]

Even though he hadn't raised his aura at all, an indescribably immense pressure emanated from Zhuge Somyeong.

Because the safety of the world hinged on his every single word.

["And the Alliance will not judge you for failing something that is meant to fail."]

There was no way any conspiracy could be hidden in Zhuge Somyeong's words.

He was a ruthless man who leaned toward no faction within the Alliance.

Because he was harsh and cold-hearted even toward his own family.

Even so, he still couldn't understand why he, a member of the Inspection Pavilion, had to go to the Underworld Alliance.

When Ak Byeongbi's gaze still wavered in confusion, Zhuge Somyeong added.

["Hmm... Consider it a disciplinary action. Regardless of the outcome, it is a fact that you provoked Jin Sowoon and privatized the power of the Inspection Pavilion."]

GULP.

Zhuge Somyeong's eyes felt like daggers piercing Ak Byeongbi's entire body.

As expected, Zhuge Somyeong knew everything.

["Although I have appointed you as the head of the delegation, there is not much for you to do. Try negotiating appropriately, and if it does not work out, just return."]

But wasn't the issue too serious to just pass over like this?

Just as he was harboring those thoughts.

Zhuge Somyeong continued his words.

["However, once you leave the Murim Alliance, if that brat Jin Sowoon suggests something, follow his lead exactly. That is the very reason I chose you."]

["..."]

Recalling his private meeting with Zhuge Somyeong, Ak Byeongbi squeezed his eyes shut.

'Just what is the Chief Strategist thinking?'

Moving according to Jin Sowoon's intentions as the Chief Strategist ordered resulted in this very situation: the addition of Hyeoltu and an unidentified woman.

He completely failed to understand Zhuge Somyeong's intentions.

If he had wanted a puppet captain, there would have been many other candidates.

There would have been others favorably disposed toward Jin Sowoon, rather than himself, who held a grudge against him...

'Could it be... that he was hiding his true intentions as well?'

The order to unconditionally follow Jin Sowoon's ideas must surely mean to judge what kind of underlying motives he harbored.

And by observing those motives, he might even be able to uncover whether Jin Sowoon was an Underworld spy who had infiltrated with hidden intentions.

Thinking about it, it was quite simple.

The reason why a member of the Inspection Pavilion, which was directly opposed to the Underworld, was included in the delegation.

In the end, wasn't it a special order to hunt down a spy?!

'So that's it!'

Ak Byeongbi turned his head and looked at Jin Sowoon.

His completely unfazed demeanor even with bigwigs of the Underworld standing right beside him.

Could such a natural attitude come from someone unless they had shared their joys and sorrows with the Underworld since childhood?

Furthermore, during their brief skirmish, Hyeoltu seemed to recognize the swordsmanship Jin Sowoon had used.

Even just looking at these clues, he was unbelievably suspicious.

Perhaps noticing his suspicious glare, Jin Sowoon pointed at the woman and spoke.

"Captain, do you perhaps take a liking to her?"

"Oh my?"

Ak Byeongbi couldn't hide his dumbfounded expression.

"... What nonsense are you spewing?"

Jin Sowoon shrugged and answered.

"Because you keep looking this way. If I may offer some advice, I would suggest you give up. She's a very terrifying person."

"Y-You! You bastard!"

Ak Byeongbi ground his teeth, but Jin Sowoon and the woman didn't seem to care at all.

The woman instead wrapped her arms around her body and even acted coquettishly.

"Young Master! What are you talking about! This young lady is so weak and delicate..."

Not to be outdone, Jin Sowoon shot back.

"What kind of ridiculous joke is that."

"Oh my! Was I caught?"

Look at that, how could the elite of a prestigious Orthodox sect exchange jokes so easily with the Underworld?

'I will definitely tear off your mask during this journey!'

While Ak Byeongbi was grinding his teeth, an escort warrior approached him and handed over a water skin.

"... What is this?"

"Oh, it's just that your face is red, so you looked hot."

"I am not!"

"... Ah, yes..."

* * *

["Just what are you thinking?"]

At first, I answered Ak Byeongbi's questions obediently.

["We can't just let people die, can we?"]

["This delegation is a delegation of the Murim Alliance! The Underworld has no place getting involved!"]

And soon enough, I realized he wasn't asking because he was genuinely curious, but because he just wanted to pick on me.

["Come to think of it, you seemed to know Hyeoltu's identity. How did you know that?"]

["Are you an Underworld spy after all?"]

["Why aren't you answering?"]

["You really are an Underworld spy, aren't you? Right?"]

Ah, this is driving me crazy.

If someone isn't answering, you should assume there's a reason they aren't, so why do you keep pestering me for an answer that isn't coming?

I sharply turned my head and looked at Ak Byeongbi.

"If you're so dissatisfied with them tagging along, then go tell them yourself!"

Because it was quite a loud voice, Yeom Gwibi and Hyeoltu's gazes converged this way.

"...!"

Ak Byeongbi glared at me as if he wanted to kill me before urging his horse and moving forward.

At that moment, Tang Seo-hee trotted up next to me.

"... Are those two the axis of evil? If I kill them, will Jianghu's justice be upheld?"

Haa... What is wrong with you now?

I pleaded with Tang Seo-hee.

"Absolutely! Absolutely! Absolutely! Do not make the first move against those two. Absolutely! Absolutely! Absolutely!"

I didn't know about Hyeoltu, but Yeom Gwibi was a terrible matchup for Tang Seo-hee.

Yeom Gwibi's fire energy, which she used by accumulating yang qi through the Yin-Yang Great Art, was on a completely different level from typical yang martial arts.

Because it only absorbed the hottest energy from men, the firepower itself was far stronger than conventional yang qi martial arts, and the energy circulating within was so intense that it could burn away just about any poison used on her.

It was literally the absolute enemy of the Tang Clan.

Hyeoltu was... well, that went without saying.

Since he must have already achieved immunity to a myriad of poisons.

"... Why can't I perform righteous deeds?"

Tang Seo-hee puffed out her cheeks expressionlessly.

"... Let's just go to a guest house and find a suitable half-baked punk."

I should just find some guy to act as a rough chopstick target, right?

It just so happened that Yeom Gwibi's appearance was quite good for attracting idiots.

After throwing chopsticks a few times and reciting some lines, she would eventually get bored of this too.

Isn't that how kids naturally are?

Of course, it was a bit strange considering that kid was two years older than me.

At this point, I honestly couldn't tell if I had joined a delegation or if I had come on a picnic bringing along disobedient kids of varying ages.

At least it was a relief that Ilmyeong was somewhat of a normal person amidst all this.

I was grateful enough that he didn't blindly bare his hostility toward Hyeoltu and Yeom Gwibi.

'Wait, where did this guy go?'

Not seeing the bald head that usually followed closely behind Ak Byeongbi, I looked around and saw a glint of light reflecting off the sun in the back.

He was riding his horse next to Yeom Gwibi and Hyeoltu.

'What is he doing?'

I heightened my hearing and focused on their conversation.

"... Thus, the Buddha abandoned all worldly wealth and glory to sit beneath the Bodhi tree and enter meditation. After that..."

What are you doing? Preaching at a time like this? And to Underworld bigwigs, no less?

As I looked at him, Ilmyeong met my gaze and smiled as brightly as his shining head.

"Ah! Benefactor Jin. We were just sharing some good stories. Would Benefactor Jin like to listen as well? I heard from my junior martial brother, Ilgak, that you lack faith?"

It was so utterly ridiculous that even Yeom Gwibi and Hyeoltu were looking at Ilmyeong like he was a madman.

Wow, to receive such looks from those crazy people... Are the top talents of the Shaolin Sect really on a different level?

Haa... They say your fortune slips away if you keep sighing.

At this rate, I'll end up losing what little fortune I have left.