"Have you heard that rumor?"
"I can't say I know the details, but I can tell it's the usual pointless gossip."
"But it's interesting, isn't it."
"…That's true. So what's the rumor about?"
"Well, they say people from the Nine Great Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Families are gathering to find the secret vault of Gwiyeong Sin-tu, which has been all the buzz lately."
"Martial artists from the prestigious Orthodox Sects? I thought those types usually stepped in to mediate whenever something like this happened, to keep things from getting out of hand."
"Apparently, something was stolen from one of those prestigious Orthodox Sects' own gates as well."
"Hoo. So then…"
Everyone in the inn began to prick up their ears at the story coming from afar. We were no different.
According to the rather eloquent man, Gwiyeong Sin-tu was a legendary prodigy who had plundered the secret arts of all Five Great Families and the Nine Great Sects and One Gang, so surely that secret vault would rival the storehouses of the Murim Alliance or the Imperial Court…
"That's what they're guessing, but unfortunately, it's probably not quite to that level."
"Yes. It's probably just a step below that. It's likely filled with things that would be nice to have but not a great loss to lack, or items with subtle symbolic value."
"That's not to say they're completely useless, though."
In terms of martial arts, they might not reach the level of divine arts, but they would be more than adequate to be called high-grade martial arts. So it made sense they were kept under strict guard.
Besides, regardless of anything else, wasn't it proof that prestigious families and sects had been robbed in the past?
It would be possible to collect a price by returning the items, or to place them in debt.
And the Tang Clan was one of the parties in the Central Plains martial world that absolutely must never be swindled.
In the past, when the Tang Clan had not yet grown as strong as it is now, there were those who broke their promises or secretly stabbed the clan in the back.
All of them met the same end. It might not be any different for other martial families, but the Tang Clan was also a family that built its reputation on someone's blood.
How many people would go so far as to throw away their own honor just to make an enemy of the Tang Clan?
If we could secure the items in the secret vault first, it would surely lead to a good deal.
As I nodded inwardly, Tang So-wol glanced sideways at the man who was speaking excitedly and continued.
"Those who don't know what's inside harbor more illusions than necessary, and wouldn't they end up exhausting themselves?"
"Be careful. This time, most of those who should be playing the role of mediators have become participants, so we could get caught up in an unexpected accident."
"Gwiyeong Sin-tu must have anticipated this and sent us the complete information. …Well, I trust that young hero Cheon will take care of things no matter what happens, right?"
Tang So-wol rested her chin on one hand and picked up a piece of meat from the meal with the other, bringing it to my lips.
When I took a bite, only then did she start grinning with a satisfied expression.
As I shook my head at this, Tang So-wol, who had been giggling for a while, suddenly darkened her expression.
"But… I wonder if this is really alright."
"What do you mean?"
"It's about leaving Hyang-i and Sister Hwa-rin behind."
That's right. For this trip to Gansu, it was decided that only Tang So-wol and I would move.
Seol Ri-hyang was at a point where she needed to focus on the Yin Art training she had only recently begun to learn properly, and Seomun Hwa-rin's appearance was starting to become widely known—once she moved, she drew an excessive amount of attention.
To quietly find the secret vault based on the complete map and claim it first, moving with just the two of us—me and Tang So-wol—was the best option.
Moreover, this wasn't simply to raid the vault; it was also to hold a funeral for Gwiyeong Sin-tu.
That was another reason why only the two of us, who had known him personally, should go. And above all—
"Isn't it nice to wander around like this, just the two of us, once in a while?"
"Oh my… I never expected the young hero Cheon to say something like that."
Tang So-wol curved her eyes into crescent moons and smiled warmly.
This time, I picked up some food with my chopsticks and held it out toward Tang So-wol.
"I'm not completely oblivious either. Say what you will, but moments like this are necessary, aren't they?"
"You… have awareness?!"
"…"
Tang So-wol, who had reacted with exaggerated surprise, soon burst into laughter, her lips trembling as if she could no longer hold it in.
"Hehe. I'm just joking. It's a joke, so please don't make such a face. After all, isn't it true that the young hero Cheon isn't exactly the perceptive type?"
"…It's not that I lack awareness entirely—just that it's a bit lacking."
"Well, I'm not so sure. From where I stand, except for the occasional moment, it's practically nonexistent… munch."
Tang So-wol, having said that, opened her mouth wide to accept the meat I offered. The sight reminded me of a baby bird being fed by its parent.
After chewing for a moment, Tang So-wol swallowed in one gulp before speaking.
"Ahem. Actually, I've been thinking I'd like some time like this too. Let's enjoy it within reasonable bounds."
"Right. Within reasonable bounds."
Of course, the treasure maps aren't just one.
Except for what we already have, all the rest are shattered pieces that need to be gathered separately.
I don't know exactly how many treasure maps were scattered, but Gwiyeong Sin-tu wanted the entire Central Plains to go crazy over his secret vault, so he wouldn't have been lacking in preparation.
Judging by the scale of the current commotion, by the time we arrive in Gansu Province and start searching for the vault, one or two people will have already completed their treasure maps.
The secret vault wouldn't just be sitting there unprotected either—it would be guarded by all sorts of mechanism traps, so breaking through would take considerable time.
"If only nothing happens…"
I muttered words I didn't even believe myself as I finished my meal.
***
"Hehe. I've been waiting for you, young hero Blood Flower Sword Demon. And you as well, female hero of Flying Butterfly Poison Peak."
Just as we passed through Sichuan and set foot on Gansu's soil, a woman with a gentle, amiable face approached us as if she'd been expecting us. That was when I realized it.
What was coming had finally come.
After all, hadn't I grown famous recently? Not as much as Seomun Hwa-rin, but there were surely those keeping an eye on me.
Whether that purpose was tied to the secret vault or something entirely different.
I casually raised my Qi Sense and studied the woman approaching.
A smiling face, yet with eyes that seemed oddly narrowed as if shut. A mouth curved without emotion. And an appropriately neat tone of voice that anyone would find likable, as if she'd practiced it.
It's a memory I'd rather not recall, but I know who she is.
Sama Yuryeon.
A woman who spent her entire life clinging to the succession struggle of the Sama Clan, ultimately lost, and then threw herself into the Black Alliance, rising all the way to the position of Chief Steward.
She was the one who, under the orders of the Lord of the Black Alliance, pressured the Iron Blood Faction in the pettiest of ways, and at the same time, the greatest con artist I've ever known.
…She was also the lover of the Lord of the Black Alliance, and a pessimist who took her own life the moment she heard he had died at the hands of the Heavenly Demon.
For now, she was probably still in the stage of flailing desperately within her own clan, which made the reason Sama Yuryeon approached me and Tang So-wol all the more clear.
The memories of being worn down by her until I was sick of it before the regression… my instincts are telling me something.
That woman, all flash and no substance, is trying to pull a con.
Even if she isn't actually running a scam, she's someone skilled at twisting people around her finger, so she'd certainly have some thought of using us for her own purposes.
So, I decided to trust my instincts. Starting with stopping Tang So-wol, who was about to answer her.
"Just ignore her."
"What?"
"How would she know when and where we set off from? Look at her—she's clearly dragging along some huge hassle. Is she someone you know?"
Hmm. I have no idea at all. And it's not as if she's wearing any mark that would identify her affiliation…
See? It's not like we traveled all night using lightness skills, and we're not exactly making our Murim debut. If someone wanted to find out, they could trace our movements easily enough.
Whether they hired the Beggars' Sect or Haomun, I doubt someone who spent that much money to track us down would come bearing some innocent, harmless business.
Tang So-wol gave a small nod and naturally sidled up beside me, linking her arm through mine.
"Young hero Cheon, what shall we do about dinner?"
"What do you mean?"
"Ah, I know a decent inn nearby. The cooking itself is Gansu-style, but the seasoning uses what they favor in Sichuan Province, so it should suit your palate well while still being a novel experience."
"Dinner's just something to fill the stomach. As long as there's meat, I don't care."
"Young hero Cheon really does love meat, doesn't he?"
"That inn happens to handle duck meat remarkably well. It wouldn't hurt to stop by."
"It's delicious, isn't it? Since I was young, my dream was to eat my fill of good food. And it's been a considerable help to my External Arts training as well. Think about it. Even the warrior monks at Shaolin Temple ate meat, and the people of the Paeng Clan ate even more than that. On the other hand…"
"On the other hand, the Taoist martial artists with slender builds tend not to favor meat. And among the common folk who haven't learned martial arts, those who eat well are the ones who wield strength well. However, if I may say so, it's a bit much for me to see young hero Cheon become even more burly than he already is."
"It's true that meat-eating helps with External Arts training, but I understand that once you reach a certain level, it no longer has much effect. That's why Shaolin Temple has its special training methods leading into the Seventy-Two Ultimate Techniques, and the Paeng Clan supplements those with Spiritual Medicine… Hmm. You two? Are you listening?"
"Don't worry. Even if I wanted to become burly, I couldn't. My bones and tendons are ordinary, aren't they?"
"Indeed. The Shaolin monks' achievements in External Arts varied regardless of their martial realm, and the Paeng Clan likewise said that their source of divine strength was a constitution where exceptional External Arts ran through their bloodline."
"…By any chance, am I being ignored right now?"
Sama Yuryeon's narrow eyes flew wide open, as if she couldn't believe it. She didn't seem to realize that this only made her look even more suspicious.
I spread killing intent centered on me and Tang So-wol, a clear signal that she shouldn't follow us any further.
"…!"
She flinched mid-step, hastily bringing a hand to her neck.
It was only a brief moment—the blink of an eye—but the killing intent she'd clearly felt had drained the color from her face.
I hadn't pressed hard, nor had I exposed her to it for long, but she was someone with little talent for martial arts to begin with.
Still only first-rate, having barely reached Peak Realm with the full support of the Lord of the Black Alliance, that brief killing intent must have been quite a shock to her.
Confident the warning had been delivered, I left the frozen Sama Yuryeon behind and headed to our next destination with Tang So-wol.
***
"I've already told the young hero Blood Flower Sword Demon where the secret vault is—"
"Tang So-wol!"
"It's already been taken care of!"
She'd been waiting in front of the inn where we'd stayed until early morning, and when she started running her mouth on her own, I pressed her vital point to subdue her first.
Then, as if waiting for that exact moment, Tang So-wol sprayed sleeping poison to knock her out completely, and hoisted her onto her back.
Tang So-wol and I exchanged a wordless glance, then, without needing to say anything, we both turned around and headed back toward the inn.
Good. That was natural.