“Since when.”

“Since when, you ask. I was the general manager before the Lord came to Lotus Pavilion, and I knew Seolyeong.”

“You started a relationship back then?”

When Cheon Mubaeck’s eyes widened, Neung-heo cleared his throat with a cough.

Cheon Mubaeck was grinning, and somehow, it was sly.

“Well, we got to know each other back then. Before that, when Deungcho from the Black Heart Gang attacked me to kill me, I saved Seolyeong from being violated.”

Cheon Mubaeck gathered his memories. A guy named Deungcho from the Black Heart Gang had coveted Lotus Pavilion and attacked Neung-heo.

At that time, Deungcho had tried to violate a few courtesans in front of Neung-heo, and the courtesan at that time was Seolyeong.

“You didn’t push her to repay the favor, did you?”

“No, what do you take me for to say such a thing.”

“You’re from the unorthodox faction.”

“Even if I’m from the unorthodox faction, I’m not trash who would satisfy my lust under the pretext of repaying a favor.”

Cheon Mubaeck chuckled and nodded. Well, there was warmth in Seolyeong’s eyes as she looked at Neung-heo. It meant Seolyeong also had feelings.

Come to think of it, when he was exchanging letters with Cheon Yuhwa and Cheon Mungyeong at the escort agency.

Neung-heo had also exchanged letters. At that time, he just thought he had someone to contact, but it seemed he had been in constant contact with Seolyeong.

“Did you exchange love letters, unbecoming of your age?”

“Ahem.”

Neung-heo just let out a dry cough, as if he was awkward.

The sly voice made it seem as if Cheon Mubaeck was teasing him, so Neung-heo was quite flustered. The way he slyly pried into the details was like an old man interested in a child’s love life.

Even though their appearances were the complete opposite.

Neung-heo pouted his lips slightly and said bluntly.

“Anyway, what brings you here, Lord. You haven’t contacted me for the past few days.”

“To see if Lotus Pavilion is doing well.”

“Didn’t Seolyeong organize it well and report to you?”

“You’re the owner. Are you passing on the work?”

“Ahem. Seolyeong is really good at her job.”

“In that case, you just be the general manager, and make Seolyeong the owner.”

“Well, you can do that too.”

Cheon Mubaeck was rather surprised that he yielded so readily. Wasn’t it an attitude of not caring?

Cheon Mubaeck narrowed his eyes.

“You’re not Neung-heo. Take off the human skin mask, you bastard.”

“No, Seolyeong is really good at her job. Anyway, whether Seolyeong is the owner or I am the owner…”

Cheon Mubaeck laughed as if it was absurd. Wasn’t it the position of Lotus Pavilion’s owner that he was going to use as his retirement fund? Seeing him say it so easily, he had an idea.

Cheon Mubaeck’s eyes narrowed.

“Well, well, are you even thinking about marriage?”

“I have to go before I get too old, don’t I? But well, it’s a bit…”

Cheon Mubaeck, who was watching his reaction, tilted his head. Wasn’t this guy, who had been so brazenly talking back to him, looking somewhat dejected?

“I like her, and I think she likes me too. But when I subtly bring up the topic of living together… her face gets all stiff.”

“…Umm.”

It was a complaint that was hard to answer.

Watching someone else’s love life was quite an interesting story, but such a serious concern was difficult even for the great Cheon Mubaeck.

Cheon Mubaeck crossed his arms and briefly recalled Seolyeong’s appearance from before.

When a person has feelings, they tend to emit a wave of energy around them, knowingly or unknowingly.

Cheon Mubaeck’s extrasensory perception, which had been extremely expanded through the Heaven-Shaking Soul Art and the upper dantian, read that wave of energy.

‘It’s clear that she has feelings.’

Rather, it was too blatant. Wasn’t there even warmth in Seolyeong’s eyes as she looked at Neung-heo? It was clearly a deep affection.

But her face stiffened when he talked about marriage…

‘Is she against marriage?’

Cheon Mubaeck let out a sigh inwardly, thinking it was a troublesome matter.

“Geez. I don’t know why I’m even talking about this to the Lord. Just pretend you didn’t hear it.”

Neung-heo laughed awkwardly and changed the subject.

Cheon Mubaeck didn’t dig any further either. Neung-heo wasn’t a child. He would do well on his own. Cheon Mubaeck changed the subject as Neung-heo wished.

“I’ve checked all the reports Seolyeong sent. She’s really good at her job.”

He had already heard a lot about Lotus Pavilion from Seolyeong.

The results were satisfactory.

Lotus Pavilion had now firmly established its reputation as the number one courtesan house in Henan. It had become a famous place that people came to visit not only from Henan but also from other provinces.

Cheon Mubaeck had intended for Lotus Pavilion to be a source of funds to be used in an emergency and to control the information network of Henan Province, and fortunately, it had gone well as intended.

“I called Hwaung too.”

“You mean that bear-like bastard?”

“Yes. We have to talk about the Black Heart Gang too.”

“Ugh. The evening business will start soon, so I’ll have to keep the top floor empty.”

“It’s not an important story. It’s just to sort out the situation so far.”

Cheon Mubaeck said nonchalantly.

Not long after, Hwaung arrived at Lotus Pavilion.

“Greetings, Lord. I am Hwaung.”

A deep, low voice.

Hwaung hadn’t changed. He had the same reliable impression. Cheon Mubaeck liked his seriousness. Because he was more like a simple warrior than a person of the unorthodox faction.

Hwaung politely greeted Cheon Mubaeck and looked at Neung-heo.

“…”

“What, you bear-like bastard. Are you greeting the faction leader now?”

Hwaung made a surprised expression for a moment and then took a fist and palm salute.

“It’s been a while, Faction Leader Neung.”

“Hehe. You’re quite polite.”

“You didn’t seem like much before, but now you seem to have the qualifications to be called a faction leader. You must have had some enlightenment while traveling with the Lord.”

Hwaung recognized Neung-heo’s changed aura at a glance.

Previously, Hwaung had been confident that he was stronger than Neung-heo, to the point of saying that he himself should be the faction leader. But now, Hwaung had no choice but to admit it. Neung-heo had reached a realm that Hwaung himself could not handle.

“Hehehe. That’s right, you bastard. I’m the Black Heart Faction Leader, so don’t even think about taking it all.”

“I never dreamed of such a thing. The Lord appointed Faction Leader Neung as the faction leader, so how could I do as I please?”

To be honest, Cheon Mubaeck thought that Hwaung was more of a faction leader material than Neung-heo.

He was serious, cautious, and calm in everything. He had a reliable impression, and he was loyal even though he didn’t have a deep connection with Cheon Mubaeck.

Well, that’s why he had led the faction well without being greedy for the faction leader position even when Neung-heo was away.

Cheon Mubaeck lightly clapped his hands to change the atmosphere.

“Alright, Hwaung. Is everything okay with the Black Heart Gang?”

“I have compiled the events that have occurred so far and the contents that need to be reported in this document.”

That wasn’t all. Hwaung also reported the necessary contents in detail himself.

Among them, there was a content that caught Cheon Mubaeck’s attention.

“The Great Dragon Gang approached you?”

“Yes.”

In an instant, various thoughts flashed through Cheon Mubaeck’s mind.

The first thing that came to mind was the Red Dragon Faction of Chongqing.

“Did they seem to know that I was behind the Black Heart Gang?”

“That’s not it.”

Hwaung’s way of speaking was quite simple. For example, he didn’t make any conjectures like ‘~it seems’.

“The Great Dragon Gang’s approach is for the purpose of taking the growing unorthodox faction under their wing. This is certain.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. They want us to pay tribute and become their younger brother.”

“And they don’t seem to know anything about me?”

“At least, the Great Dragon Gang, which is far away, would not have noticed the fact that the Lord is behind the Black Heart Gang. If they had noticed, it would mean that there are guys from the Black Heart Gang who are wandering around outside, and I have dealt with that point for sure.”

“Hmm.”

Since Hwaung was so sure, Cheon Mubaeck nodded for now.

Of course, Cheon Mubaeck also knew well that this secret would not be kept forever.

But he thought he could hide it for quite a long time.

The Hao Faction was in Cheon Mubaeck’s hands for now, so they wouldn’t provide information, and the Beggars’ Sect also wouldn’t give information even if they were given a fortune, since the Great Dragon Gang was found to be related to the Blood Demon Valley.

If the two information organizations kept the secret about Cheon Mubaeck, it would surely take a considerable amount of time for the Great Dragon Gang to find out the relationship between the Black Heart Gang and Cheon Mubaeck.

Then…

“What did the Great Dragon Gang demand?”

“They say that a Black Assembly where the unorthodox factions of the Central Plains will gather will be held soon. They told us to participate then.”

“A Black Assembly… Was there something like that often?”

Hwaung shook his head.

“There were events where they gathered their direct unorthodox factions and held a feast. But this is the first time they have grandly named it a Black Assembly and gathered the unorthodox factions from all over.”

Cheon Mubae-ck narrowed his brows for a moment.

The big force of the unorthodox faction, the Great Dragon Gang.

It was a force so big that even the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Clans could not treat it carelessly.

If such a Great Dragon Gang told everyone to gather, the unorthodox factions had no choice but to gather.

But that situation was like…

“Are they trying to form some kind of unorthodox faction alliance?”

At Cheon Mubaeck’s muttering, Hwaung’s eyes widened.

“What. Is that right?”

“There are rumors circulating secretly that that’s the case.”

Cheon Mubaeck stroked his chin. The timing was coincidental. It was right after Cheon Mubaeck had defeated the Red Dragon Faction. Normally, an unorthodox faction like the Great Dragon Gang wouldn’t have cared. But since Shiseong, the younger of the White Haired Twin Ghosts, had said he was from the Great Dragon Gang…

The connection with the Blood Demon Valley could not be denied.

‘I can’t deduce what kind of relationship it is yet.’

Either a subordinate organization like the Blood Demon Sect.

Or a cooperative relationship.

Either of the two was a troublesome situation.

Cheon Mubaeck said to Hwaung.

“Did they invite the faction leader?”

“Yes.”

Neung-heo, who was listening, glanced at Cheon Mubaeck’s face and turned pale.

Cheon Mubaeck was impressed when he saw Neung-heo’s expression.

“Wow. Neung-heo. You’re quick-witted. You know what to do, right?”

“Lord…”

“What, you’re the faction leader.”

“No… are you telling me to go to that dragon’s den and tiger’s lair?”

“What dragon’s den and tiger’s lair, to those unorthodox faction guys.”

“No, wait a minute. There’s a contradiction.”

“What?”

In an instant, Neung-heo’s eyes lit up as if he had made a great discovery.

“Hasn’t the story that One-Eyed Snake Neung-heo is traveling with the Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero already spread in the martial world?”

“That’s right?”

“If I participate in the Black Assembly as the Black Heart Faction Leader, won’t the Great Dragon Gang clap their hands and say, ‘Ah! The Black Heart Gang is related to the Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero’?”

Cheon Mubaeck was silent. It was truly a sharp point. Neung-heo smiled triumphantly.

“Ugh. It’s a pity. I really wanted to go since I’m the faction leader, but what can I do. This guy Hwaung, we can just send him pretending to be the faction leader. Anyway, since this guy has been leading the Black Heart Gang until now, everyone will believe him even if he says he’s the faction leader.”

Neung-heo raised his chin and looked at Cheon Mubaeck. His face was full of pride that he had finally defeated that Cheon Mubaeck with his words.

In fact, wasn’t Cheon Mubaeck also silent? Cheon Mubaeck sighed with a look of resignation.

“Well, it can’t be helped.”

“…What?”

The nuance was strange.

“If you want to go so badly, you have to go.

“What?”

“You can just disguise yourself with a human skin mask. If you just disguise yourself to the extent you did when you infiltrated the Water Dragon Stronghold last time, it’s enough. If you hide your one eye and disguise your one arm as cut off, they won’t recognize you.”

“…!”

“Don’t worry too much. I’ll follow you. I’ll just hide my identity.”

Neung-heo’s face hardened.

Rather, at the words that Cheon Mubaeck would go with him, Neung-heo felt suffocated.

Had there ever been a time when he had moved with Cheon Mubaeck and not seen blood?

But it was Cheon Mubaeck’s way to refuse a refusal.

Neung-heo, who realized that he had no choice but to follow Cheon Mubaeck’s will, let out a deep sigh.

“…My life is getting twisted in my later years.”

“You’re still in your prime, Neung-heo.”

(End of Chapter)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep