Song Ha-sang immediately understood the meaning of Jin Sa-wol's words.

"Don't trust anyone?"

After placing all the needles on Son Ae-hwa's body, he dusted off his hands and smiled.

The memories of the Ghost Spirit Valley flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern.

Thinking back now, the time he lived there was the most peaceful and carefree.

"What should I do?"

"For now, you must take care of the patient."

Jin Sa-wol answered with an indifferent face, stood up from his seat, went into Song Ha-sang's room, and lay down.

Song Ha-sang, who had lost his bed, shook his head, sat down in a chair, and closed his eyes.

The next morning, Song Ha-sang, after confirming that Jin Sa-wol had left, hung a yellow lantern at the entrance of the pharmacy.

It was a sign for Bi-sun to come in if he saw it while passing by.

***

*Rumble!*

The warriors of the Martial Alliance, who were roaming in groups of five, walked the main road with arrogant eyes.

No one blocked their way.

Since the inn had burned down, the number of Martial Alliance warriors had noticeably increased.

Jo Geom-ok, who was standing by the window on the third floor of the inn, captured the rushing Martial Alliance warriors in her eyes.

After Do-jeong of the Gold Flower Pavilion had died, the warriors of the alliance were conducting surprise inspections of suspicious individuals.

The Fierce Tiger Hall had also entered the inn to help the Sword Wind Hall, and the Inspection Pavilion was moving to catch the assassin.

Besides that, three hundred warriors of the Martial Alliance had entered the branch to replace the deceased Guguang branch members and were patrolling frequently.

Jo Geom-ok, as the warriors passed, took out a gold ruler from her sleeve.

"Are they looking for this?"

A key was needed to enter the inn's safe. And that key was now in Jo Geom-ok's possession.

If Buk Myeong-woo, the master of the Sword Wind Hall, found out, he would surely be very surprised. But Jo Geom-ok had no reason to give the key to the Martial Alliance.

The key was Jin Sa-wol's, and if it was Jin Sa-wol's, it was also hers.

"Hoo hoo... They're going to have a hard time."

Jo Geom-ok showed a sneer and then put the gold ruler back in her sleeve.

After hearing the news that the inn had burned down, she had already gone around the inn once when she spent the first night in Guguang.

Since she also knew the geography of the inn too well, it was not difficult to go in and come out.

At that time, she already knew that the warriors of the Sword Wind Hall were looking for the key.

*Thump!*

As Woo Jeong-bong opened the door and came in, Jo Geom-ok moved away from the window and sat down in a chair.

Woo Jeong-bong, as if frustrated, sat down in a chair and drank water gulp after gulp.

"How long do we have to wait for Brother Jin here? Isn't he dead?"

"Don't say such unlucky things."

Seeing Jo Geom-ok's cold gaze, Woo Jeong-bong sighed and said again, "No, his own house burned down, so why isn't he showing up? If it were me, I'd be so angry that I'd rush over immediately even if I were far away in a foreign land."

"More importantly, how is the inn?"

"They still haven't opened the safe. They say a master of safe-cracking is coming in a few days. They look like they're expecting it to be solved when the master comes."

Woo Jeong-bong grumbled and then closed his mouth at the sound of footsteps. As the two's gazes turned to the door, the door opened, and Namgung Ji poked her head in.

She showed a smiling eye, confirmed Jo Geom-ok and Woo Jeong-bong, and then came in.

She, who had sat down in an empty chair, chattered and said, "About ten beggars from the Beggars' Sect have entered the fortress. Five have also entered the inn separately and have set up a base near the main gate. It seems some kind of talk has gone on between the Beggars' Sect and the alliance."

She soon lowered her voice even more.

"It seems they're looking for the innkeeper, as well as General Manager Bi and the gisaeng house master. The alliance suspects that the one who killed Do-jeong might be General Manager Bi or the gisaeng house master."

"No way? That General Manager Bi is an assassin? The gisaeng house master also had an atmosphere as if she couldn't kill a single ant... She's elegant and pretty."

"Hmph!"

"Hmph!"

Jo Geom-ok and Namgung Ji simultaneously swallowed a snort and let out a long sigh.

Namgung Ji asked Jo Geom-ok.

"Is there any contact from the innkeeper?"

"Not yet."

"It might be better if he doesn't come. The fact that they're talking about the Demonic Cult, and the fact that they're trying to open the safe by force, it seems the alliance has no good intentions towards the Grand Inn."

"If they had good intentions, they wouldn't have aimed for the safe. Who do you think benefits the most from the inn becoming like that now? The Martial Alliance, who occupies the safe? Or the Demonic Cult, which is thousands of *li* away? Who could it be?"

"If they occupy the safe, the Martial Alliance will benefit the most."

"The Martial Alliance has already taken a lot of benefits. Even if they couldn't take the wealth in the safe, they took all the gold and silver treasures in the inn's warehouse. On top of that, they wiped out the Ghost Hand Pavilion of the Demonic Cult and the Blood Killing Faction, the number one unorthodox factions in Gangnam."

Jo Geom-ok's criticism of the Martial Alliance was all correct. That made Namgung Ji uncomfortable.

Namgung Ji prioritized the Martial Alliance because of her father.

If asked whose side she was on, Namgung Ji was on the side of the Martial Alliance, not the inn.

Jo Geom-ok said again with an indifferent face, "In my eyes, it looks like the trickery of the Martial Alliance."

"That can't be."

Namgung Ji cut her off, saying it was an absurd story. Then Woo Jeong-bong stepped forward.

"What on earth are you guys talking about? I don't understand, so explain it well. Trickery? Benefit? Is it killing two birds with one stone?"

At his words, Namgung Ji and Jo Geom-ok shook their heads and closed their mouths.

Namgung Ji quietly stood up from her seat.

"I'll be going now. If I stay out in the fortress for too long, they'll say something when I go in."

As Namgung Ji left the room, Woo Jeong-bong hurriedly asked Jo Geom-ok, "So why does the Martial Alliance benefit? The members of the Guguang branch all died. So what's the benefit?"

"There's something like that."

Jo Geom-ok left the room without satisfying Woo Jeong-bong's curiosity.

"Tsk!"

***

A house surrounded by a forest was located in a valley near Ubong in the northern part of Wangok Mountain. Na Hyeon-gi was staying there.

It was his hermitage prepared by the Jongnam Sect and a place for his martial arts training. Not far away, there was also a cave where he could practice wall-facing meditation, and once every five days, his sister-in-law would come up, check his martial arts training for about a *shichen* (two hours), and then go down.

Except for his sister-in-law, no one came.

But after returning from the Demonic Cult, two Flower Ghosts were running errands for Na Hyeon-gi.

Na Hyeon-gi, who was practicing qi circulation, opened his eyes as the hot energy that had risen from his dantian disappeared at his Baihui acupoint.

"My mind travels a thousand *li*, but my body has not yet gone even one *li*."

Na Hyeon-gi grumbled, stood up, and drank water.

It was several times more difficult to train internal energy than to train sword or palm techniques that had a form.

Even with intense concentration, all he could do was gather about one breath of internal energy a day.

The Demonic Cult was currently in a state of chaos, and even the Seo Mun family head had stepped forward to become the Cult Leader.

It was annoying that he could do nothing in the midst of this.

It was important to maintain composure during qi circulation, but since his mind was impatient, it was also difficult to accumulate internal energy.

*Squeak!*

At the sound of the door opening, Na Hyeon-gi turned his head and his whole body stiffened when he saw a familiar face.

"Cough!"

Na Hyeon-gi, who had spat out the water he was drinking, retreated a step like a person who had seen a ghost.

"Cheon Yu-myeong."

Cheon Yu-myeong, who had entered the room, looked around the shabby room indifferently and then sat down at the dining table.

Cheon Yu-myeong, seeing the blankly standing Na Hyeon-gi, drew a gentle smile on his lips. It meant he had no hostility.

"Sit."

Although he heard Cheon Yu-myeong's words, Na Hyeon-gi was still standing, unable to come to his senses.

'How did he get here?'

Although he had numerous thoughts and rolled his eyeballs, no solution to get out of this crisis came to mind.

Seeing the flustered Na Hyeon-gi, Cheon Yu-myeong shook his head and gestured with his hand.

"If I had intended to kill you, I would have already. Hurry up and sit."

Na Hyeon-gi, who had realized there was no killing intent, sat down on the bed about two zhang away from Cheon Yu-myeong.

"I thought you were fearless since you stabbed me, but are you a coward?"

"It depends on the opponent."

Na Hyeon-gi thought that the only way to get out of this situation was for Cheon Yu-myeong to just leave as he was.

"How did you know I was here?"

"Pfft! Hahaha!"

Cheon Yu-myeong laughed lightly as if Na Hyeon-gi were cute.

"Did you really think I would have no interest in where the child of the Na family was?"

At Cheon Yu-myeong's story, Na Hyeon-gi's eyes widened.

"The fact that you became Ma Chung and stabbed me is praiseworthy. When I think back to that time, it's still chilling."

Although Cheon Yu-myeong praised him sincerely, Na Hyeon-gi thought that was the reason he would die.

Although Cheon Yu-myeong said no, Na Hyeon-gi kept thinking about death.

Cheon Yu-myeong, who had read Na Hyeon-gi's expression, stroked his beard and said again, "You're too cautious. Is it the instinct of a killing ghost? Hoo hoo hoo..."

"If you have no intention of killing me, go on your way. I don't want to see you."

"Don't you want to become stronger?"

A smile sat on Cheon Yu-myeong's face.

Na Hyeon-gi opened his eyes wide and looked at Cheon Yu-myeong. Although he tried to read his thoughts or intentions, Cheon Yu-myeong just showed a smile as if it were amusing.

"If you're thinking of playing tricks, go."

"I will give you the power you want."

Cheon Yu-myeong took out a secret manual from his bosom and threw it at Na Hyeon-gi's feet.

*Tuk!*

Seeing the fallen secret manual, Na Hyeon-gi's pupils shook greatly.

"Star-Absorbing Demonic Art."

Na Hyeon-gi's shoulders shook violently. As he placed the secret manual he had never even thought of before his eyes, Na Hyeon-gi's heart began to beat fast.

As he instinctively reached out his hand towards the secret manual, Cheon Yu-myeong's voice echoed.

"It is not a demonic art that can be learned with a human heart. But if you learn it, you can become the best in the world."

At those words, Na Hyeon-gi withdrew his hand. It was because of the words 'demonic art'.

Cheon Yu-myeong, examining Na Hyeon-gi's anxious face, said again, "You snatch, kill, and burn what belongs to others. That's how people become strong. Snatching what belongs to others is by no means a sin. It's just being faithful to one's desires. Do you think those who have accumulated wealth did so by working diligently? Did those who founded nations do so by living diligently and righteously? I am justice, and as long as I live well, that's all that matters. Even if I kill thousands, tens of thousands, as long as I live well, that's all that matters. That is desire."

Cheon Yu-myeong's voice seeped into Na Hyeon-gi's ears.

"The moment you learn the Star-Absorbing Demonic Art, everything in the world will become yours. You can snatch everything. What belongs to others is originally mine. Shouldn't everything in the world become mine? That is justice."

"Sweet words carry a hidden dagger."

"You stupid bastard. Look at Jin Sa-wol, who is inferior to you. What did you feel when you saw his martial arts? Don't tell me you praised him as great and thought you were envious. I believe you're not that stupid."

"Be quiet."

"Don't you want to become the Demonic Cult Leader?"

"That's..."

"Then take it. It's a present."

At Cheon Yu-myeong's smile, Na Hyeon-gi hesitated once more and cast a confused gaze. But Na Hyeon-gi, as if he had finished his brief contemplation, bit his lip and took the secret manual in his hand.

After that, as if possessed by something, he turned the pages of the Star-Absorbing Demonic Art and concentrated all his mind.

Cheon Yu-myeong, who was watching him, stood up from his seat as if satisfied and went outside.

"The Star-Absorbing Demonic Art kills the closest people first..."

Cheon Yu-myeong, who had paused his steps for a moment, looked up at a distant mountain.

"With this, the Jongnam Sect is also finished."

(End of Chapter)