The waiter's voice was loud enough that everyone on the first floor could hear it.
But Dan Hyung-u had no money on him at all. It was only natural that he didn't.
"None."
At Dan Hyung-u's blunt reply, the waiter shook his head.
"Haah, how very confident of you. Then hand over at least that sword at your waist."
At the waiter's words, Dan Hyung-u hesitated for a moment. Then he shook his head.
"I can't give this up. It's a sword I traded for the life of my last friend."
At Dan Hyung-u's words, the waiter flinched for an instant, but when he saw the surrounding martial artists showing signs of moving, he pressed even harder.
"Then are you saying you intended to eat for free from the start?"
At the waiter's loud voice, the corner of Dan Hyung-u's eyes twisted ever so slightly. As the situation began to take a dangerous turn, several Murim Alliance warriors in the tavern stood up from their seats. They couldn't allow the disturbance to continue any longer.
Just then, a pretty, oriole-like voice rang through the tavern.
"Stop it. To humiliate someone over a mere five pun."
People's gazes turned toward the owner of the voice. There stood Jo Seolyeon, slightly lifting her eyes. Even that appearance was beautiful, and the expressions on people's faces quickly softened.
"B, but miss. No matter how small the amount, to us it is ..."
"That's enough. I'll pay the money. Is that enough now?"
At Jo Seolyeon's words, the waiter immediately took a step back.
"If you would do that, we would be nothing but grateful."
After placing the money into the waiter's hand, Jo Seolyeon looked at Dan Hyung-u. Dan Hyung-u was completely flustered. He couldn't grasp what he should do or say in this situation. In any case, it was a situation he had never experienced before. Until now, he had never had a reason to spend money, nor had he ever entered a place like this to eat something. So naturally, he had never experienced a situation like this either.
One thing, however, was certain. Now, there would be no problem if he simply left. Dan Hyung-u just walked out of Chwiun.
"T, that ... "
"…That girl…"
From the crowd, angry murmurs burst out as if in disbelief. Jo In and Sama Cheol felt the same way.
"If he was helped, the least he could do was say thank you before leaving."
"What an ill-mannered fellow."
Despite their words, Jo Seolyeon only continued to stare quietly at the door through which Dan Hyung-u had left.
"He really didn't have any money, did he?"
At his naïve younger sister's words, Jo In could only smile.
"You really are something else."
"Still… did you see his eyes?"
"His eyes?"
Jo In and Sama Cheol looked at Jo Seolyeon with puzzled expressions. Her eyes were sparkling.
"They were incredible."
Jo In and Sama Cheol had no idea what she found so incredible. In any case, they hadn't felt the slightest trace of presence or killing intent from that man. As a swordsman carrying a blade, he was completely unqualified.
"And he didn't seem to have any inner energy either…"
Sama Cheol muttered.
"This won't do. I think he really needs a scabbard."
At Jo Seolyeon's words, Sama Cheol and Jo In were startled.
"What are you talking about?"
"I should go after him now. I want to buy him a scabbard."
"Why would you?"
Jo In finally frowned in displeasure.
"He's someone you have nothing to do with. And he has neither manners nor courtesy. Even kindness is wasted on someone like that. And have you already forgotten that we must not move around carelessly right now?"
At Jo In's firm words, Jo Seolyeon's expression drooped.
"Really… I can't, brother?"
"No."
"I agree with Jo In. Wandering around apart from the others right now is far too dangerous."
With both of them opposing her so strongly, Jo Seolyeon had no choice but to give up. Thinking about it calmly, buying a scabbard for someone she had just met really was strange.
"I suppose it can't be helped. I'll follow your wishes."
Her expression dimmed even further. Seeing her face, Sama Cheol and Jo In let out quiet sighs. They didn't want to see Jo Seolyeon look like that either. But even so, there was nothing they could do.
Meanwhile, Dan Hyung-u left Chwiun and walked quickly wherever his feet took him. The unfamiliar experience he had just gone through made his body move on its own. He could have moved much faster, but he deliberately didn't. He didn't want to leave the city by moving too quickly.
He liked this peaceful atmosphere. He wanted to feel, even a little longer, the sense of comfort coming from the countless people around him.
In any case, today's experience made one thing clear. He needed money.
Which meant… he was now in debt.
Dan Hyung-u felt a small flicker of joy at the word he had finally managed to recall. And then he remembered that the debts he carried were already quite numerous, stretching far back into the past.
There were the friends who had been with him. He owed them his life. Every time he survived thanks to them, that debt had increased by one.
"I'll repay them. Every single one."
And there was one final debt he had to repay. The debt he owed to Cheon Gija, the one responsible for throwing him into that hell. That too was a life debt. He had to collect the debt of ninety-nine lives.
Dan Hyung-u gradually slowed his steps. He wandered aimlessly through the streets of Jangsa City, losing track of boredom, savoring the comfortable atmosphere he felt from the people around him.
"They've definitely set out for Hyeongsan."
At Jegal Jungcheon's words, Dokgo-un nodded. It was what he had expected anyway. A clash with them was also well within his expectations. He felt no fear at all.
The experts Dokgo-un had brought with him were strong enough to win even if the Sa-Do Alliance and the Green Forest forces joined together against them. That was how thoroughly they had prepared.
"Then we should head for Hyeongsan as well. But do you think they really possess a map like this? I can't believe Cheon Gija would handle matters so carelessly."
"It could be so—or it might not. Cheon Gija is an unpredictable man. Perhaps his true goal is to force the Murim Alliance, the Sa-Do Alliance, and the Green Forest into a single collision."
Dokgo-un nodded. The reasoning made sense.
"Rather, that would be exactly what we hoped for. That's why we came prepared like this, isn't it?"
At Jegal Jungcheon's words, Dokgo-un nodded deeply with a satisfied expression.
"That's right. No matter what methods Cheon Gija used, it doesn't matter. If anything, we can use them to eliminate any hidden dangers."
"Indeed."
"Then shall we prepare to depart soon?"
Dokgo-un stood up from his seat.
"The sun hasn't set yet. Let's head near Hyeongsan first, then stay overnight in a suitable village."
"I'll inform them at once."
Jegal Jungcheon hurried outside, and in the blink of an eye, Chwiun was emptied.
Enjoying his freedom and peace, Dan Hyung-u continued walking—until he found himself back in front of Chwiun once again. As he walked, he had tried to form a rough plan for what lay ahead, but he simply knew too little for that.
"Back here again."
Murmuring to himself out of habit, Dan Hyung-u looked at the doors of Chwiun. At that moment, people began pouring out in a crowd. Jo Seolyeon was among them, naturally accompanied by Jo In and Sama Cheol at her side.
The Murim Alliance members quickly began to move. Dan Hyung-u watched them quietly, then, without realizing it, started walking after them. Though he was merely walking, his speed was not much different from that of the Murim Alliance warriors who were practically flying using their movement techniques.
Instinctively, Dan Hyung-u kept his distance. No one in the Murim Alliance noticed that he was following them.
"They're heading back the way they came."
Naturally, the Murim Alliance was heading for Hyeongsan. And yet Dan Hyung-u continued to trail them. Before long, the sun was sinking low in the sky. Watching the sunset, Dan Hyung-u felt a faint sense of surprise.
"So this… is night. Night…"
This place had day and night—something that hadn't existed in hell. Having lived for so long in a gray world without distinction between day and night, the gradually darkening sky felt strangely fascinating. Of course, a very long time ago—so long it no longer remained in his memory—he must have known this once.
When night fell, the Murim Alliance set up camp at the foothills of Hyeongsan and prepared to sleep outdoors. There was little to prepare. They chewed on pieces of dried meat taken from their robes, lay down wherever seemed suitable, and went to sleep. Of course, they still circulated their qi to recover from fatigue.
Dan Hyung-u stood far away from the Murim Alliance camp. Though the distance was considerable, he could see every single movement they made as clearly as if it were in the palm of his hand. He stood still and quietly closed his eyes.
Time passed on, and before long, dawn began to break. Dan Hyung-u opened the eyes he had kept closed until then. The gradually brightening sky shook his heart violently.
As the sky gradually brightened, memories that had been buried deep within him began to surface little by little. Dan Hyung-u squeezed his eyes shut once more. For a brief moment, a chilling aura gathered around his body.
Opening his eyes again, Dan Hyung-u began to walk slowly. By now, the Murim Alliance members were also waking up one by one and preparing to move.
Just as the Murim Alliance was about to set off again, Dan Hyung-u sensed that people different from them were approaching nearby.
"Quite a lot of them. Still… it's peaceful."
Dan Hyung-u's figure blended seamlessly into the surroundings.
As the Murim Alliance warriors finished preparing to depart, Dokgo-un frowned.
"I have a bad feeling."
He immediately summoned Jegal Jungcheon, who hurried over at the alliance leader's call.
"Is something the matter?"
"For some reason, my intuition feels off. Are we certain we've fully grasped the movements of the Sa-Do Alliance and the Green Forest?"
"Yes. They're approaching the objective from the exact opposite direction from us."
At Jegal Jungcheon's words, Dokgo-un rubbed his chin with a finger, his brows knitting together.
"Hm… whenever I get this kind of feeling, danger usually follows… There's no harm in being cautious. Conduct a reconnaissance of the surrounding area first."
"But then our departure will be significantly delayed."
When Jegal Jungcheon voiced his concern, Dokgo-un shook his head.
"How late could we possibly be? It's far better than making a mistake."
At Dokgo-un's firm reply, Jegal Jungcheon could raise no further objections.
"Understood."
Jegal Jungcheon delayed the departure and began a sweep of the surrounding area. From among the Murim Alliance warriors, he selected those skilled in lightness techniques and with sharp sensory perception, ordering them to conduct a thorough search.
However, they found nothing.
When Jegal Jungcheon reported back, Dokgo-un tilted his head slightly before giving the order to depart.
"That's strange. Has my intuition finally dulled?"
Watching the warriors begin to move, Dokgo-un followed behind at a measured pace. With the entirety of the Azure Dragon Corps—the Murim Alliance's elite—at his back, there was little to fear. The Azure Dragon Corps warriors were masters beyond first-rate, highly proficient in formation tactics as well.
Moreover, he had also brought along the Rising Dragon Corps. Though the Rising Dragon Corps was a group of younger talents and less refined in formations, each individual possessed abilities that far surpassed even those of the Azure Dragon warriors.
The Azure Dragon Corps alone numbered close to a hundred, while the Rising Dragon Corps numbered fifty. With a hundred and fifty experts gathered, what was there to fear?
"And there's also the Black Tortoise Corps…"
The Black Tortoise Corps was a unit Dokgo-un had painstakingly cultivated together with Jegal Jungcheon. They specialized in infiltration and ambush. They were not assassins, but rather a force created for carrying out covert operations.
That Black Tortoise Corps was now quietly lying in ambush near Hyeongsan. If anything unforeseen occurred, they would emerge and suppress the entire area. No matter what situation arose, victory was assured.
Having thought that far, Dokgo-un brushed away the ominous feeling and lightly propelled himself forward. They had to reach their destination before the sun passed its zenith.
"The Alliance Leader really worries too much. Don't you think?"
At the words of Paeng Cheolyeong, one of the vice leaders of the Rising Dragon Corps, Namgung Jin nodded in agreement.
"You're right. Who would dare to ambush us? There's nowhere left to live after making an enemy of the Murim Alliance."
Namgung Jin was also a vice leader of the Rising Dragon Corps. Paeng Cheolyeong and Namgung Jin were rising stars of the Hebei Paeng Clan and the Shaanxi Namgung Clan, respectively. Their martial arts were formidable, and with their good looks to match, they were immensely popular.
There was no one who could easily cut into the conversation between the two of them—except for Ha Won-hu, the corps leader himself.
"The Alliance Leader surely has his reasons. It's best to tap even a stone bridge before crossing it. When one sits in a position like his, it's only natural to be burdened with many thoughts."
At Ha Won-hu's words, Namgung Jin and Paeng Cheolyeong did not pursue the matter any further. Among them, there was no one who could best Ha Won-hu in debate. True to his title as the Rising Dragon Corps Leader, Ha Won-hu was sharp-minded and eloquent.
Paeng Cheolyeong and Namgung Jin cast sideways glances at Jo Seolyeon, who was moving together with them nearby. Jo In and Sama Cheol were stationed tightly at her sides, making it difficult to approach her casually.
Though Jo Seolyeon was not yet very old, her beauty was far from ordinary. If she were to grow just a little older and more mature, it seemed there would be no one who could rival her. That was the conclusion reached by Paeng Cheolyeong and Namgung Jin, both of whom had encountered countless women in the past.
In any case, they made every effort to get closer to Jo Seolyeon. Thanks to that, they were now able to run alongside her like this. The other Rising Dragon Corps members also ran in formation around her, as if escorting her.
Among everyone present, Jo Seolyeon's martial prowess was the weakest. As a result, keeping up with the others' pace was honestly quite taxing for her—and it showed clearly on her face.
"It seems Miss Jo is having a hard time. Perhaps it would be best to take a short rest. I'll speak to the Alliance Leader."
At Namgung Jin's words, Jo Seolyeon hurriedly shook her head.
"Please don't! I can keep going!"
There was no chance the Alliance Leader would accept such a suggestion anyway, and she didn't want word to reach his ears that they had to stop because of her. That was a matter of the Jo family's pride.
If I'd known this would happen, I should've trained harder…
Unaware of Jo Seolyeon's thoughts, Namgung Jin and Paeng Cheolyeong refused to back down.
"What are you saying? You're clearly struggling. How could I, as a man, simply stand by and watch?"
Paeng Cheolyeong looked as though he was about to dash off to the Alliance Leader at once, causing Jo Seolyeon to panic.
"No, absolutely not! I'm really fine!"
"That's enough. We'll handle this ourselves."
In the end, Jo In stepped in. Only then did Namgung Jin and Paeng Cheolyeong retreat. Truthfully, they had never intended to push it that far. They had merely wanted to earn a few extra points in her eyes.
"Then… shall I help you just a little?"
Namgung Jin extended his hand toward Jo Seolyeon with a faint smile.