After leaving Cheondong Cave, the Taiyi Sect disciples ran eastward.

And right after the incident occurred, the Zhongnan disciples began to tail them.

The five people fleeing as if running for their lives after causing a scene in Cheondong Cave.

The majority of the Zhongnan personnel suspected that they were the ones who created the third entrance and, in the worst-case scenario, possessed the Five-Spirit Immortal Flower Milk.

The Zhongnan Sect members were thrilled at the thought of capturing and torturing them to find out how they had acquired the Five-Spirit Immortal Flower Milk and why they had interfered with Zhongnan's affairs.

However, despite having learned the Jianghu's supreme martial art known as the Silver River Gliding Secret, the distance between them and the suspects hardly narrowed.

'What kind of... movement technique is...'

'Hah, to think such a movement technique exists?'

Far from closing, the distance actually kept widening.

Moreover, it was only natural for a movement technique's speed to drop when executed in the mountains due to the trees and rough, rocky terrain, but their speed never decreased, as if they were running on flat ground.

The Silver River Gliding Secret was not a technique that would lose out in terms of speed anywhere, yet as the distance continued to widen every time they crossed through forests or climbed cliffs, Zhongnan was eventually forced to lose the culprits by the time they crossed two mountains.

The news that Zhongnan had eventually lost the culprits soon reached the Beggars' Sect, who had been observing the entire situation.

"Keke, stupid fools..."

"Did they honestly think the culprits would just let themselves be caught?"

"This is why dim-witted fools never succeed."

Having anticipated this outcome, the Beggars' Sect finally began to make their move.

After all, the Five-Spirit Immortal Flower Milk that Zhongnan failed to obtain was no longer Zhongnan's possession.

Which meant that if it did not belong to Zhongnan, there would be no problem with it becoming the Beggars' Sect's.

However, they could not let their guard down.

"Those bastards outran the Silver River Gliding Secret. Do not drop your tension!"

At the words of the Swift Speed Hall Leader, the Beggars' Sect disciples snorted.

"What good is a high-tier movement technique for those fools who don't even know the basics of lightfoot techniques?"

"If we catch them this time, does that mean we outpaced the Silver River Gliding Secret?"

Commonly known as the Beggars' Sect's lightning, the Swift Speed Hall was tasked with delivering urgent information to all corners of the world at the fastest speed.

Created to guard against the risk of messages being lost when delivered by carrier pigeons or carrier falcons, this organization was more confident in long-distance running than any other sect or escort warrior in the world.

"Those who don't understand lightfoot techniques think simply being fast is the best. However."

For they were the ones who could run faster and longer than anyone else.

"This is our chance to show those bastards what a true lightfoot technique is. Let's go!"

It was a chase that began half a day later than Zhongnan's.

Even so, the Beggars' Sect disciples were able to find traces of the culprits before a day had passed.

"Huhu, those guys have started sensing us too. Their speed is gradually increasing, isn't it?"

"They'll tire out soon anyway. We'll adjust our distance and stick to them tenaciously. As they grow increasingly anxious, they'll exhaust themselves in no time."

But things never go as expected.

"... Why does the distance keep widening?"

"Pant, pant... Those, those bastards... seem to be... pushing themselves quite a bit... don't they?"

At the words of his profusely sweating fellow Beggars' Sect disciple, the beggar who asked the question had the words 'Aren't you the one pushing yourself?' rise to the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed them back down.

If they fought now, the chase and everything else would go to ruins.

"It's already been half a day! It's about time for those guys to take a break too. We'll regulate the distance, follow them, and rest matching their break time."

However.

"Pant, pant... I-I thought you said we were resting..."

"I don't know either, fuck..."

The culprits did not rest along the way.

Even after staying up for a full day and entering the second day, they kept running.

Then, the problem first arose on the Beggars' Sect's side.

"H-Hall Leader... the distance is widening."

"What are you talking about! We're still maintaining it!"

"No, not them... us."

Although they had gathered those who ran the fastest and longest in the Beggars' Sect, there was bound to be a difference in individual skills and martial arts levels.

Those with lesser skills began to gradually fall behind.

"... Those damn bastards, just how much internal energy do they have..."

Using a movement technique ultimately entails the consumption of internal energy over a long period.

Unless one performed a qi circulation method while running, it was impossible to continuously use a movement technique with a limited amount of internal energy.

But what the hell were these crazy culprit bastards?

"What should we do? Hall Leader."

"... Divide the hall members in half. Tell them to rotate in after performing a qi circulation method."

"Should we tell them to catch some sleep before coming back, too?"

"Are you crazy...! Why not tell them to go take a bath while they're at it?!"

"I-I apologize!"

"And contact the branch. Tell them to deploy beggars in advance, since those bastards are heading east."

"Who should we send?"

"Fuck! Seriously! Are you saving the carrier pigeons to eat as drinking snacks later!?!"

"I-I apologize!"

As the Beggars' Sect disciple backed away in fright, the Hall Leader ground his teeth.

It was incredibly infuriating that the Swift Speed Hall was falling behind due to a difference in internal energy, but on the flip side, it also allowed them to deduce something.

'Looking at the amount of their internal energy, they're definitely not from a Third-Rate sect. If we extrapolate their heading, we should be able to figure out which sect they belong to.'

... Even if that deduction ultimately proved to be incorrect.

* * *

On the fourth day.

The Hall Leader's head was spinning, pushed to the brink of his eyes rolling back in his head.

Not only had his internal energy reached its limit, but more than anything, there was no way to offset his lack of sleep.

"Haa... Haa... Haa..."

As the Hall Leader's condition grew alarming, the postures of the other Beggars' Sect disciples also began to gradually falter.

"H-Hall Leader, are you alright?"

With parched lips, the Hall Leader looked at his subordinate with eyes that already resembled those of a half-rotten dead fish.

"Th-The branch... any news from the branch...?"

"N-Not yet..."

The plan to chase the culprits in shifts failed to materialize as the culprits kept increasing their speed.

Those who fell behind could not rejoin the main group, and those chasing the culprits had to keep moving their feet without a moment's rest.

"Did the carrier pigeons... not arrive?"

After sending the first carrier pigeon, they had sent up to a third one.

If the carrier pigeons had arrived safely, someone would have appeared to block the culprits' path long ago, or personnel to relieve them would have shown up.

However, seeing as there was no response, it meant the carrier pigeons had failed to arrive properly.

The question arose in his mind: Could it really be a coincidence that all three carrier pigeons failed to be delivered? But the Hall Leader soon stopped thinking.

Right now, he didn't even have the energy left to nurture a minor suspicion.

"H-Hall Leader. How about you rest, even for just a little bit? You're pushing yourself too..."

Despite his subordinate's dissuasion, a sound like scraping metal burst from the Hall Leader's mouth.

"A hall member... send a hall member... send a hall member to make contact..."

THUD!

With those final words, the Hall Leader's feet tangled, and his body rolled across the ground.

"H-Hall Leader!"

And as if they had been waiting for this, the Swift Speed Hall members also halted their steps.

"Go... go... back..."

Squeezing out his last remaining ounce of strength, the Hall Leader ultimately passed out.

"..."

"..."

"..."

However, no one immediately put the Hall Leader's last request into action.

They merely checked each other's expressions.

"What did the Hall Leader say at the end? His voice was so low I couldn't hear him well."

"... I think he said to just give up since it looks like we won't be able to catch them."

"Right! That guy heard it from the closest distance, so let's ask him."

The Beggars' Sect disciple who had been reporting to the Hall Leader hiccupped as the sharp gazes suddenly converged on him, then yelled out.

"H-Hall Leader! What are we supposed to do! If you pass out without saying anything, we don't know what we're supposed to do... Hall Leader!"

At the Beggars' Sect disciple's cry, the glares of the Swift Speed Hall members softened.

The Five-Spirit Immortal Flower Milk was something they wouldn't even get a drop of anyway.

No one wanted to suffer like dogs just to find it.

And from not too far away, Ho Gye-ak, the owner of the information broker inn from the Hao Sect's Xi'an Branch, watched the scene unfold and couldn't help but marvel.

"Haha, does the Young Master truly see the future? To know that the beggars would give up at this exact location."

It had been quite an eyesore to see those guys, who were originally beggars, walking around in clean clothes pretending to be normal. Seeing them turn into actual beggars from the four-day chase made his eyes feel at ease.

'Serves them right after bragging about selling the map.'

It bothered him slightly that these weren't the young beggars who had made fun of him back in Xi'an, but what did it matter?

In any case, wasn't the important thing that they had managed to flatten the Beggars' Sect's noses?

Just then.

"Boss, shall we head back now?"

"Eh? Head back?!"

"Wh-Why are you reacting like that?"

"Can you really bear to walk away after seeing such a precious sight?"

The owner pulled out a small gourd bottle from his inner pocket.

"As the saying goes, a great poet is born from great scenery. Who knows? You might have the talent of a poet."

At the owner's words, the Hao Sect member who had been stroking the Iron Eagle's beak grinned widely.

"Then shall I prepare the snacks? The Iron Eagle hunted some raw meat between yesterday and today."

"Haha! Thanks to those Beggars' Sect bastards, both my eyes and mouth will be delighted."

Ho Gye-ak felt as if a ten-year-old indigestion had just been completely flushed away.

* * *

The fifth day since we started running non-stop from Mount Judang.

We received news from the Hao Sect that there would be no further pursuit.

"We can finally take a break now."

At my words, the junior disciples, who had been panting heavily, didn't ask any questions and just lay down, instantly falling fast asleep.

"Aaaagh! I almost died..."

"I need... I need to take a piss..."

Even though we kept using our moving cultivation, the fatigue accumulating in our bodies was not something that could be dispelled.

Their rough panting gradually subsided, and they fell asleep just like that, completely disregarding whatever was around them.

They must have reached their limits and felt the urge to give up countless times, yet my junior disciples admirably never surrendered.

And those admirable sights made me feel so pitying that bitter words slipped out.

"Tsk, they should have at least done a qi circulation method before sleeping to relieve their fatigue."

Perhaps... the rest of these kids' lives would just be a continuous cycle of running madly like this.

The lives of those born with nothing meant they ultimately had to swim against the current just to barely reach their desired destination.

Even so, I couldn't tell them to not go against the current, to stop and take a rest.

Because the moment they stopped moving their feet, the exact same lives from their past lives would repeat themselves.

Just as I was starting to feel inexplicably choked up while looking at the living junior disciples before me.

"Mmm..."

Saryeon began to scratch her face wildly, as if her tangled hair was tickling her.

What awful sleeping habits.

I let out a soft chuckle and reached out my hand to fix her hair, until.

"..."

I suddenly froze.

When I turned my head.

"..."

The appearance of the three brothers was even more severe.

Looking at the junior disciples' faces, dripping with so much grime that it would put the Beggars' Sect to shame, I figured there was no need to make them roll around on such a dirty floor this early on.

"... I should have them wash up a bit before we go. The sect's elders will be horrified if they see this."

With that thought, I recalled the guest houses and taverns we could stop by on our way back to the Taiyi Sect.

To reward them for how much they had suffered.

However.

"What are you talking about!"

Saryeon, who was still looking like a beggar after waking up from a long sleep, glared at me with fierce eyes.

"The whole world is on edge right now because of the Five-Spirit Immortal Flower Milk. And you want us to stop by a guest house?"

With drool marks and eye boogers.

At the words of Saryeon, whose appearance was impossible to see as human, the Geum-eun-dong brothers, who were in the same beggar-like state, nodded as well.

"I'm opposed to it as well, Senior Brother. If we happen to bump into people and end up in another chase like this... Ugh..."

"Me too! It'd be better to just avoid people's eyes and camp out in the mountains instead."

No, well... you guys are right too, but...

I added, growing a little desperate.

"Look at the state of you guys... How is this the appearance of a human being..."

"What's wrong with this? It's great since it won't attract people's attention."

Are they being serious right now?

"... I think it'll attract even more attention."

"Anyway, I'm absolutely against it. If possible, I don't want to run into anyone until we reach the Taiyi Sect."

Saryeon hugged the Five-Spirit Immortal Flower Milk tightly, making a resolute expression as if determined never to be robbed of it.

She looked like a beggar refusing to have her begging bowl taken away... Ahem.

'Tsk... I have no idea anymore.'

Then again, what was the use of returning home in silk and glory? We were bringing back something far more precious than real gold anyway.

* * *

"Elder Jang! Elder Jang!"

At Wang Soso's call, Jang Dowon stopped dead while trying to pack tobacco leaves.

"What is it. Are you out of iron coins again?"

After their first encounter, where he had gotten so infuriated watching her throw gold coins around to practice hidden weapon techniques that he had personally forged iron coins of the exact same weight and size for her, Wang Soso would come to Jang Dowon's smithy to take iron coins day in and day out.

"Aww, come on, Elder. Even I know where my iron coins fly off to nowadays."

"Is that so... How admirable."

"By the way, did you hear the news?"

"What news?"

Jang Dowon, who had been apatheticly lighting his pipe, stopped his hand at the story that soon followed.

"They say Brother Jin is returning!"

"If it's Brother Jin... you mean Jin Sowoon?"

"Yes! I was worried about what we'd do if he didn't come during this break, too. But they say he's coming this time!"

"... Hmph. Whether he does or not."

Contrary to his blunt words, Wang Soso glared sideways at Jang Dowon, who was fidgeting with his pipe.

"Elder Jang, really! You've been waiting for my brother every single day."

"That's only because I was infuriated that the punk kept sending me ridiculous materials!"

"Anyway, they say he's coming to the Daecheon Merchant Group this evening. All the people of the Taiyi Sect are preparing a welcome party. You're going to come too, right, Elder?"

"Hmph! Why would I go out to welcome such a pretty-boy punk. He'll come on his own if he needs me."

Honestly, it was a flaw that men could never just be honest.

Wang Soso brushed her seat off and stood up.

"Hoho! You say that, but I know you'll come. I'll send you some new clothes! Wear those when you come."

"Clothes?"

"It's a gathering to welcome my brother, Senior Brothers, and Senior Sisters returning in glory. We should match the atmosphere, shouldn't we?"

"What a bother..."

"See you later!"

At the sight of Wang Soso smiling brightly and darting out like an arrow, Jang Dowon let out a soft chuckle.

Having heard she was the only daughter of Wangga Manor, he had been worried that she might be standoffish like other wealthy children, but her actions were incredibly lively and cheeky.

"Is that her original personality, or does everyone change like that once they join the Taiyi Sect..."

It had barely been half a year since he settled down in the Taiyi Sect.

Everyone in the Taiyi Sect felt so comfortable that he kept abruptly forgetting he was an outsider.

And over that thought, a certain punk's face came to mind.

"There really was a reason why he cherishes his sect so much."

Lighting his pipe and blowing out a long stream of smoke, Jang Dowon soon looked at one of the smithy's walls.

A dark-red sword blade faintly visible in the sunlight streaming through the window.

A masterpiece created after a long period of work, using the bizarre materials and ridiculous requests sent by Jin Sowoon.

No, rather than a masterpiece, it was an item that could truly be called a divine artifact.

"Red Light. You will finally meet your master as well."

Jang Dowon chuckled, his heart filled half with regret and half with joy.

* * *

Hong Mungi couldn't easily relax his stiff posture, perhaps finding the clothes he was wearing to be stifling.

Seeing that, Wang Geumsan smiled warmly and asked.

"Sect Leader Hong, are your clothes uncomfortable?"

"Not at all. Are these not the clothes you had tailored for me at the finest drapery in Hefei?"

How much did the tailor say it cost to get a single silk outfit tailored again?

Hong Mungi shook his head, recalling the tailor's words that even a cheap one would cost the equivalent of a successful escort warrior's two-month salary.

"I apologize. My child is just so headstrong. She said she wanted to show Sowoon that the people of the Taiyi Sect are no longer suffering..."

Come to think of it, if they were returning wearing silk clothes while the people of the sect were wearing shabby clothes, that sight alone would make their hearts heavy.

After hearing Wang Geumsan's words, the silk clothes that had felt uncomfortable began to feel a bit more relaxing.

"Soso is young, yet she has a profound heart. Could it be that she takes after you, Lord Wang?"

"Hahaha! Does it seem that way to you as well, Sect Leader Hong? Her life would be exhausting enough just from her outstanding looks, but her being smart on top of that is a real worry, hahaha!"

Beside the boisterously laughing Wang Geumsan, Jin Taesan approached with a furrowed brow.

"Sect Leader, why did you have to bring up such a needless topic... Once the Lord starts bragging about his daughter, you'll be trapped for half a day."

"Ahem! Come now, my friend! When have I ever bragged for half a day?"

Wang Geumsan coughed dryly before opening his mouth again.

"But why is Sowoon coming at this time of night? If the time doesn't align, he could just sleep and come tomorrow."

"... My thoughts exactly. What the heck is he going around doing this time."

Even though it was his own son, Jin Taesan shook his head in exasperation, completely unable to figure him out.

Just then, a servant rushed in, panting.

"Merchant Group Leader... um... someone has arrived."

"Hmm? At this hour?"

"Yes. The person claimed his name is Jin Sowoon..."

The servant already knew that Jin Sowoon was Jin Taesan's son.

Moreover, wasn't everyone gathered here waiting for Jin Sowoon and his junior martial siblings in the first place?

And yet, the servant's reaction was inexplicably lukewarm.

Unable to understand the reason, Jin Taesan instructed him again.

"What's the problem? Just tell him to come in..."

"Well, that is..."

At that moment, Hong Mungi stepped forward.

"No. It feels a bit wrong for us to just welcome our disciple returning in glory from in here. Right! Let's go out."

"Oh! That's a great idea!"

With Hong Mungi taking the lead and Wang Geumsan agreeing, those waiting in the grand hall also headed toward the main gate one by one with expectant steps.

To warmly welcome someone's son, someone's disciple, and someone's senior brother, the people's steps grew faster and faster.

"Sowoon is finally here!"

"I'll say!"

The pride of the sect who reclaimed the sect's martial arts that had been forgotten for ages, and who challenged the impossible for the sect's sake and ultimately succeeded.

The moment they took a step forward to see the one they had missed and waited for so dearly.

"No, seriouslyyyy! I'm telling you, I really am the Daecheon Merchant Group Leader's sonnn! And the head disciple of the Taiyi Sect!!"

Along with a voice that sounded inexplicably delinquent, they saw the backs of the servants who were sweating bullets.

"I-I mean. Just wait, please wait a moment. Let me check inside and..."

"No!!! What's there to check! I already sent word in advance, and everyone here is a Taiyi Sect disciple!"

A young man squabbling with the servant.

And beside him, four young men and women equally insisting they were Taiyi Sect disciples.

However, their appearances were terribly bizarre.

"..."

"..."

"..."

While all the people of the Taiyi Sect stood frozen, rendered speechless, the first one to open his mouth was Wang Geumsan.

"Well, I'm just asking just in case... is the Taiyi Sect a lay sect of the Beggars' Sect?"

At that question, Jin Taesan swallowed a groan and replied.

"... The Taiyi Sect is of the Daoist lineage."

Right? We're Daoist, right?

But then...

"... Then what on earth is that appearance?"

The Taiyi Sect disciples, whom they had expected to return home in glory after entering that extremely difficult academy.

"Perhaps... they had their reasons?"

"Don't tell me! Did they get robbed? Academy students?"

...were trying to enter the Daecheon Merchant Group looking so grimy that even the beggars of the Beggars' Sect would shudder in disgust.

And right then.

"Oh! Father! It's me, me! Jin Taesan's proud son, Jin Sowoon!"

The only thing gleaming on a pitch-black face covered in grime was the light in his eyes.

More fiercely than ever before, Jin Taesan wanted to pretend he didn't know this clear-eyed madman—no, his own son.