As the war between the Murim Alliance and the Blood Cult in Sichuan unexpectedly prolonged, and a famine caused by droughts centered in Shanxi Province and spreading across Hebei, Henan, and Shaanxi struck, the economy of the entire Jianghu began to slow down.

Escort agencies and merchant groups that operated on a national scale could not withstand the deficits from the slowing economy and eventually began to withdraw their branches.

Naturally, those who worked at the branches were left with nothing to do but suck their thumbs in an already difficult situation.

Amidst this, a merchant group in Anhui Province began putting up notices every day to recruit people, absorbing those who had been left twiddling their thumbs.

That merchant group was none other than the Daecheon Merchant Group operated by the Taiyi Sect.

The Daecheon Merchant Group, which had originally operated conservatively, met an untimely golden age by distributing the rice and grain they had stockpiled in massive warehouses to Jiangbei and Jiangxi, and because of this, they were short on hands no matter how many people they hired.

Even the highly exclusive rice merchants of each region welcomed the expansion of the Daecheon Merchant Group, which had piled up an enormous amount of grain, with open arms.

As the establishment of branches meant a subsequent increase in the volume of distributed goods, there were frequent cases where notoriously stubborn rice merchants visited Anhui Province on their own two feet.

Of course, it wasn't because Jin Taesan, who had been the Hall Leader of the Taiyi Sect's External Hall his entire life, made some incredible prediction to stockpile rice.

It was simply that Jin Sowoon, who had originally extorted the Cangqiong Merchant Group from the Namgung Clan, wanted the merchant group to be operated conservatively.

Building warehouses and accumulating goods and assets out of their already meager wealth was a method that did not particularly help the merchant group's profits, but Wang Geumsan, who was advising them, actually welcomed this policy of Jin Sowoon's.

Wang Geumsan, who was moving his brush, stared blankly at Jin Taesan.

"I truly envy you. Aren't you touching such big money thanks to your wonderful son?"

Thanks to this, while other merchant groups temporarily closed and took a rest by curling up as much as possible, Jin Taesan literally became the incarnation of a giant panda and continued to work.

"Tell me about it. Still, that's not something for you to say, Lord Wang. Aren't you handling even more money than me thanks to your brilliant daughter?"

Jin Taesan's office, which originally had no room to step due to the towering piles of paperwork, had somehow turned into a space where countless people busily came and went while working.

And right next to him, Wang Geumsan had also become the incarnation of a giant panda like Jin Taesan, working away.

Wang Geumsan heavily furrowed his brows.

"Why is this because of my daughter? It's all because of your damn son."

"Hah! You're finally attaching the 'damn' epithet to my son whom you cherished so much."

The Daecheon Merchant Group, which had received the rights to distribute supplies from the Murim Alliance branch in Anhui Province, shared an unmanageable volume of goods with Wangga Manor.

Because this made their already close relationship even closer, Wang Geumsan went ahead and bought up the land around the Daecheon Merchant Group left and right to build a joint office.

Furthermore, as various disastrous issues recently struck and caused problems with the distribution of supplies in neighboring provinces, the Daecheon Merchant Group and Wangga Manor, which originally only handled the Murim Alliance's Anhui Province region, expanded their influence and widened their distribution network all the way to Henan, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang.

Given this situation, no matter how many people they hired, they were always short on hands, and the work was endless no matter how much they did.

"Ah! How about this? I'll give you all the rights to the facilities we invested in together. In return, just give us ten percent of the profits."

It was a condition that meant taking an enormous loss compared to the current distribution profit margins generated in the Anhui Province area, but Jin Taesan firmly shook his head.

"The Daecheon Merchant Group does not suck the lifeblood out of others."

"Damn it! Show some greed, will you! You're young, aren't you!"

"You aren't that old either, Lord Wang!"

The fortune of Wangga Manor, which had staggered after cutting off trade with Mount Hua and the Mount Cangshan Sect, had newly pioneered a distribution network in the West and once again recovered its former prosperity.

Through trading with the Murim Alliance and distributing rice, they had now expanded to a level where they influenced the entirety of Jiangnan and Jiangbei.

At this rate, in a few years, they could be called the number one merchant group in the world rather than just one of the top three merchant groups in the world.

However, instead of a hint of joy, Wang Geumsan's face was heavily cast in shadows.

"This wasn't the life in my old age that I hoped for!"

"Isn't it only natural for a man to harbor the grand ambition of conquering the world in this one life we live?"

"My constitution is suited for spending time simply watching my grandchildren grow!"

Jin Taesan raised his voice, not wanting to be outdone.

"Do you think I'm any different! Why should I, a natural-born warrior, be stuck processing paperwork like this!"

"Hmph! I've already heard that you never showed any talent in martial arts from the start."

"Wh-What kind of nonsense...! I am the father of Jin Sowoon, who is making the world resound with his name right now! Do you really think a tiger can come from a dog?!"

Although the two heads of the Daecheon Merchant Group and Wangga Manor were shouting and arguing, the employees walking around simply shook their heads and did not try to stop them.

They were merely on high alert to see whether the two men would stop moving their brushes while fighting.

Because the moment the two men stopped their brushes, their night shift would be practically guaranteed.

After huffing and puffing and pouring out their frustration for a long time, the two men soon ran out of energy and lowered their voices.

"Your son went to Shanxi Province this time, right?"

"Why are you suddenly distancing yourself? You usually call him 'our Sowoon'."

Snorting, Jin Taesan answered the question anyway.

"I heard he went as part of the Murim Alliance's delegation this time."

"Does it make sense for a mere academy student to be included in a delegation?"

"Well, when has that guy ever operated on a level of common sense?"

Wang Geumsan stroked his chin and spoke.

"Hmm... If he's going because of the rumors that he's close to the Underworld, there's going to be a problem."

Jin Taesan abruptly stopped his brush.

"What do you mean by that?"

No matter how much he complained, a son was still a son.

Wang Geumsan cleared his throat with a 'Ahem' and whispered.

"Keep moving that brush. Aren't the other employees looking this way? Anyway... Politics is just like that. Even a minor flaw gets blown way out of proportion."

"Hmm... Then, are you saying his path to success might be blocked in the future?"

"There might be some brakes put on it."

"That's great."

"Huh?"

This time, Wang Geumsan's brush stopped.

It was surprising to hear from a father who should be wishing for nothing but his child's wealth and glory.

Jin Taesan shrugged and spoke nonchalantly.

"That guy's rise to power needs to stop for my workload to decrease."

"..."

"And I never had any greed to grow the merchant group this big in the first place. As long as the people of the Taiyi Sect don't starve, that's enough."

Though he said that, Wang Geumsan knew.

The fact that Jin Taesan was worrying about Jin Sowoon more than anyone else.

Just looking at him right now proved it.

After hearing that Jin Sowoon might run into trouble, didn't his already giant panda-like face turn as pitch-black as a brown bear?

Wang Geumsan offered words of comfort with the warmest gaze he could muster.

"Don't worry. He's a smart kid. He'll get through it fine."

"..."

Did Wang Geumsan's comfort help?

Jin Taesan, who had been curled up like a sinner, raised his head.

"Start moving your brush again. Stop trying to slack off."

"..."

* * *

Honestly, I didn't care much about how people gossiped about me.

Because in my past life, no matter what I did, I never even made it into people's gossip.

There was even a time when I pissed my pants during a battle, but it never became a controversy.

Despite that, I didn't like how my reputation in this life kept getting stained by the Underworld.

I already despised my alias enough, but wasn't it because of dogshit rumors about me being the joint successor of the Underworld Alliance or whatever that crazy bastards kept clinging to me?

When in truth, I had a kind heart closer to the Orthodox faction than anyone else!

Just looking at the current situation proved it.

I was the only one looking out for the porters who were trembling in fear, wasn't I?

After entering the territory of the Gakmun Stronghold, the porters' anxiety grew noticeably.

"Didn't they say the Gakmun Stronghold is the most wicked in Shanxi Province?"

"Is that all? I heard they also have the largest number of members."

"Huu... If I had known it would be like this, I would have left a will before coming."

Although every merchant run carried risks, for them, who hadn't felt much pressure or threat until now, it was naturally a situation fraught with anxiety.

I consoled them and spoke.

"You don't need to worry too much."

"Pardon?"

Giving a bright smile to those looking at me with round, expectant eyes made it perfect.

Where else could you find an Underworld figure with the word 'goodness' written all over their face like this?

"If a battle breaks out, just stay as close to my side as possible. Then, at the very least, you won't die or get severely injured."

"..."

The porters eagerly nodded their heads even while trembling.

Right then.

"What is your reason for going out of your way to look after them?"

Hyeoltu, who was tilting his head beside me, asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Aren't they just porters? I heard you only met them for the first time on this escort mission."

Haa. I suppose it wouldn't make sense from the perspective of an Underworld scoundrel with a pitch-black heart.

I answered him with a benevolent expression.

"A righteous warrior naturally enacts justice wherever and whenever."

"... A righteous warrior?"

Is this guy trying to pick a fight with me right now?

If he kept acting like this, there was a limit to my patience, even if he was Hyeoltu.

"The rumors I've heard about you are more than a few. Usually, when rumors spread to that extent, it's one of two things. Either only a part is the truth, or there's exaggeration mixed in."

"Why are you leaving out the case where it's all completely false?"

"Have you ever seen smoke rise from a chimney without a fire?"

Well then, of course I have!

Wasn't there the clear-cut example of myself right here?

"Then I'd like to ask you something. Why did you insist on going this way? Was it because you wanted to fight the Gakmun Stronghold?"

"With the likes of the Gakmun Stronghold? What fun would I have fighting those guys."

"Then what's the reason you chose this path where casualties are bound to happen?"

Hyeoltu narrowed his eyes and answered.

"Because I wanted to see how you and the delegation would respond."

"What the fuck?"

"... Did you just curse?"

Whoops, my inner thoughts had accidentally slipped out because I heard something so utterly absurd.

"I apologize. My inner thoughts just slipped out... But is that really the only reason?"

"What other reason is there to specifically take this path?"

"..."

Hyeoltu asked back as if he was genuinely curious.

I had a lot I wanted to say, but wouldn't talking to a lunatic only make my head hurt more?

I simply kept my mouth shut.

Since the Gakmun Stronghold would be appearing soon anyway.

The path heading up the mountainside began to narrow strangely.

The escort warriors, who had been moving as if guarding both sides of the carriages, had no choice but to naturally move to the front and back, and the length of the procession automatically elongated.

Making the path narrow like this made it easier to attack from the high gorges on both sides.

Most Green Woods strongholds used this method when collecting tolls.

No one sent a signal, but everyone knew that the Green Woods bandits would appear soon.

I adjusted my grip on my sword while simultaneously checking the positions of the porters.

Just how much longer had we walked like that?

"WOOAAHH!"

"WOOAAHH!"

"WOOAAHH!"

The mountain ridges rang loudly, and shouts echoed from all directions.

At the same time, crowds of people completely filled the top of the gorge as well as the front and back of the path.

Usually, Green Woods bandits collecting tolls only had a few members blocking the path, but knowing we were martial artists, it seemed they had gathered everyone they could.

Or perhaps, they knew we were a delegation from the Murim Alliance.

"Greetings. The Sangbang Escort Agency pays its respects to the Mountain Lord."

"Welcome. I am Son Hobang of the Gakmun Stronghold."

Usually, the custom was for the escort warrior to hand over the toll after exchanging greetings like this, and then the Green Woods bandits would open the path, but when the escort warrior didn't move, Son Hobang's brow furrowed.

"Do you have no intention of passing through?"

"Well, that is..."

The escort warrior nervously glanced at Ak Byeongbi.

At that, Ak Byeongbi stepped forward.

"Listen here, Green Woods bandits! We are a delegation from the Murim Alliance, carrying out official Alliance duties. So open the path."

"The Murim Alliance?"

"A delegation?"

The whispering voices of the Green Woods bandits could be heard at Ak Byeongbi's words.

"Hah! Green Woods bandits, he says..."

However.

Unlike the flustered ordinary Green Woods bandits, Son Hobang, who stood as their representative, did not seem to care much.

No, he actually showed displeasure at not being addressed as Mountain Lords.

Son Hobang took a step forward and growled.

"So what if you're the Murim Alliance? What does that matter?"

"What did you say?"

"This is the mountain of the Gakmun Stronghold. If you want to pass, pay up."

Ak Byeongbi didn't back down easily either.

"Are you daring to call a mountain you illegally occupy your own property?"

"If you don't like it, then leave your cargo behind."

SHING.

As Son Hobang drew his saber as if there was nothing left to hear, the bandits scattered throughout the gorge began to raise their weapons one by one.

The members of the delegation also began to prepare for battle one after another.

Yeom Gwibi and Hyeoltu, who were watching with interest as if curious about what the delegation would do, also slowly circulated their internal energy.

Ak Byeongbi warned in a low voice.

"If you do not step aside, you will see a lot of blood."

"We'll see whose blood flows soon enough. Boys!"

As soon as Son Hobang shouted, large boulders began to fall behind the procession.

The rumbling boulders quickly blocked our retreat, and in an instant, we became rats trapped in a jar.

'This is going to be harder than I thought.'

The height of the gorge was too high, and the number of Green Woods bandits was larger than expected.

At this rate, there could be people killed or injured by stray weapons.

'Damn it...'

The tension was rising tautly.

This was a situation where anyone could foresee a clash between the two sides.

I quickly climbed onto a carriage and took my position.

Because instead of dealing with the Green Woods bandits, I needed to protect the porters.

As if signaling the start of the battle, Son Hobang raised his hand high.

"Gakmun Stronghold, attack those bastards at once...!"

However.

He suddenly stopped mid-command.

The Green Woods bandits, who had been ready to charge out at any moment, flinched one by one and stopped in their tracks.

'What is it?'

I got the feeling that Son Hobang, who had been fully intent on fighting even after the Murim Alliance's name was revealed, was somehow staring at me.

"... You there!"

Son Hobang's finger pointed in this direction.

Was he calling me by any chance?

My confusion only lasted a moment.

"... Are you the Black Flame Dragon?"

Son Hobang called out my damn alias.

Damn it. Why was that alias coming up here again?

When I nodded with a sour expression, Son Hobang's face stiffened rigidly.

"Are you truly the Black Flame Dragon, the Stronghold Master of both the Black Dragon Stronghold and the Hwaeom Stronghold?"

No, fuck, why was that story suddenly coming up here?

The delegation and Hyeoltu's group, who had been preparing for battle with tense expressions just a moment ago, also looked at me with bewildered faces.

I struggled to ignore the gazes focused on me and replied.

"Hearing that you brought the Hwaeom Stronghold to its knees, I thought you would be older, but you're younger than I expected..."

No, I'm telling you, it's a misunderstanding.

Then Son Hobang asked cautiously.

"Did you come to apply for the Battle for the Mountain King by any chance?"

"It's not that. We just happened to drop by while passing through."

"Is that so...?"

Son Hobang turned his head to the side and smacked his lips.

Then he nodded and spoke.

"I cannot collect a toll from a comrade of the same Green Woods stronghold. Open the path!"

I'm telling you I'm not!

I'm not a comrade, so hurry up and start the battle!

Contrary to my wishes, the Green Woods bandits gripping their weapons began to sheathe them one by one.

Before long, Son Hobang and the others blocking the path stepped aside to clear the way.

Then he spoke to me.

"We are listening closely to the rumors about the Green Dragon's Path of the Combat King in Jiangnan. Please pass on the message that our Gakmun Stronghold is ready to accept his challenge at any time."

"..."

The Gakmun Stronghold truly didn't take any action until our procession passed by.

Some even waved their hands after we passed.

We had somehow passed the Gakmun Stronghold peacefully without a battle or a toll, but the atmosphere within the procession became even more awkward.

Piercing the quiet atmosphere, Hyeoltu's voice flew in.

"... A riiighteous warrior? What righteous warrior in the world owns two bandit strongholds?"

Hyeoltu spoke with an expression of sheer absurdity for the first time.

"..."

Even at Hyeoltu's sarcasm, I had nothing else to say and did not answer.

No, more accurately, Ak Byeongbi's glare was so piercingly sharp that I couldn't bring myself to open my mouth.

Damn it.

To think I'd get caught for something in Shanxi that I didn't even get caught for in Sichuan.

This time, a bright voice unfitting for the atmosphere flew in.

"Ooh! Then are you a bandit boss? Can I be a bandit boss too?"

Tang Seo-hee, who had been completely obsessed with playing the righteous warrior just the day before, had somehow changed her future dream to becoming a bandit boss.

"... I'm not. None of that is true."

"I am curious. How did you become a Stronghold Master?"

I don't know either, I just ended up being a Stronghold Master one day... I swear.