“You were indeed a descendant of the Azure Sky Sword God.”

At the Medicine Immortal’s blunt words, Cheon Mubaeck shrugged his shoulders.

“He believed that what he gave, he should receive in return.”

“That’s right. I thought that guy was a bit petty.”

“Then I’ll be in your care from now on, guest escort warrior.”

Cheon Mubaeck responded nonchalantly.

The Medicine Immortal narrowed his brow as if he didn’t like the word ‘guest escort warrior’.

Although he didn’t seem to like it, he eventually nodded his head.

Shaolin had accepted Cheon Mubaeck’s proposal.

Of course, at first, they had shown reluctance.

Although the skills of the Azure Star Escort Agency’s escort warriors were decent, they were ridiculously inadequate to be in charge of the security of the Shaolin Temple.

“If Young Master Cheon himself were to remain, it would be a different story.”

At the Great Master Hyeryang’s smiling words, Cheon Mubaeck shook his head as if he couldn’t help it.

“We each have our own things to do, don’t we?”

“Are you planning to go to Mount Hua Sect first with the Jin-in?”

“Yes. Shaanxi is wide. In order to track the tail of the Blood Ghost Valley there, the help of Mount Hua Sect is desperately needed.”

“Don’t worry, Young Master Cheon. I will do my best to persuade the sect leader and the elders.”

The Mount Hua Sect Guardian Sword, Cheonghyeonjin, said firmly.

It was none other than the Guardian Sword, and Cheonghyeonjin, who was one of the top among the Mount Hua Sect elders, had guaranteed it. Unless it was an extraordinary matter, he would surely be able to receive the help of Mount Hua Sect.

“Thank you.”

It was an unexpected achievement for Cheon Mubaeck.

In any case, it was a natural thing to go to Shaanxi to track the Blood Ghost Valley and the Blood Demon Sect in the future. Cheon Mubaeck had been thinking of seeking the help of Mount Hua Sect or Zhongnan in Shaanxi.

How could he track them in the vast land of Shaanxi?

‘Anyway, you have to live a good life.’

Cheon Mubaeck, who had been thinking so, coughed in vain at the sullen gaze of the Medicine Immortal who was looking at him.

“I’ll be in your care, esteemed Medicine Immortal.”

“Keung. With this, I have repaid all the favors that guy has bestowed upon me.”

Cheon Mubaeck grinned.

The reason why Shaolin had accepted Cheon Mubaeck’s proposal was thanks to the Medicine Immortal.

“My goodness. How many years has it been in the martial world, and to become a guest escort warrior of an escort agency is a strange experience.”

Cheon Mubaeck had hired the Medicine Immortal as a guest escort warrior and had entrusted him with the security of Shaolin.

“To think that the Medicine Immortal senior would remain. Thank you.”

Hyeryang bowed his head directly to the sullen-faced Medicine Immortal.

No matter how much of a junior he was, since the abbot of Shaolin had said so, the Medicine Immortal had no choice but to try to unfold his expression.

‘Well, I can’t help it.’

Cheon Mubaeck laughed inwardly as he looked at the Medicine Immortal.

He had bestowed several favors on the Medicine Immortal in his past life.

Granting the request of the descendant of the Azure Sky Sword God was a very trivial matter compared to the help he had received so far.

“Hurry up and go. If you delay, you’ll miss that old man. Although you’re quite a handful, looking at that old man’s skill in breaking through the formation, he’s not to be trifled with.”

Cheon Mubaeck nodded his head and cupped his fist to the Great Master Hyeryang and the people who were remaining at Shaolin.

“Young Master Cheon. Please take this.”

“…?”

At that moment, the Great Master Hyeryang handed over a square-shaped ink tablet with a black luster.

While the people in the crowd were tilting their heads, not knowing what it was, only Cheon Mubaeck recognized it and let out a slight admiration.

“Is it okay to give me this?”

“It seems Young Master Cheon knows what this is.”

“Isn’t it the famous Shaolin Exemption Tablet?”

“That’s right.”

“The Shaolin Exemption Tablet!”

The crowd was surprised at the words ‘Shaolin Exemption Tablet’.

The Great Master Hyeryang straightened his posture and put his palms together.

“Whatever path Young Master Cheon takes in the future, Shaolin will stand by Young Master Cheon’s side.”

Cheon Mubaeck flinched for a moment and then accepted the Shaolin Exemption Tablet.

“We have only given out the Shaolin Exemption Tablet a few times until now. But for the current Shaolin, this is the only thing that can be of help to Young Master Cheon, although it is lacking.”

The Shaolin Exemption Tablet.

The person who possessed the exemption tablet would receive absolute support from Shaolin, unless it was a matter that would incur the public wrath of the entire martial world.

In other words, it meant that Shaolin was with him.

The order of the person who possessed the ink tablet would be accepted at the same level as the will of the abbot of Shaolin. In addition, he had the authority to officially request the command of the Arhat monks at Shaolin.

Of course, in order to actually use it, he could not do it recklessly.

It was only possible after a certain degree of communication with Shaolin. But the fact that he possessed the exemption tablet alone clearly meant that Shaolin was behind Cheon Mubaeck.

‘It’s not just Shaolin, but the orthodox martial world is on my back.’

Cheon Mubaeck knew the true power of the Shaolin Exemption Tablet.

Although the organization called the Martial Arts Alliance was still being maintained with great difficulty, at least formally.

Although the proportion of Shaolin in the current Martial Arts Alliance was ridiculously lacking, since they had lifted the seclusion, the expansion of Shaolin’s influence within the Martial Arts Alliance was a self-evident matter.

In the end, the will of Shaolin would be with the will of the orthodox martial world.

In other words, the orthodox martial world could not treat Cheon Mubaeck carelessly. If they suspected that Cheon Mubaeck was a person of the demonic path or the unorthodox sects, it would mean that they were suspecting Shaolin, which had given the exemption tablet to Cheon Mubaeck.

‘This might be the biggest achievement.’

Cheon Mubaeck was happier than when he had received the Great Return Pill.

‘When a person builds a reputation, envy and jealousy are bound to follow.’

Cheon Mubaeck was gradually gaining a reputation as the Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero.

‘If you’re young, you’re bound to be ignored.’

No matter how much the martial world was said to run on the logic of power, if you were young, your words would not carry much weight.

But while tracking the Blood Ghost Valley, Cheon Mubaeck might have to raise his voice even more.

At that time, this exemption tablet would be a greater help to Cheon Mubaeck than a thousand troops and ten thousand horses.

“The Shaolin Exemption Tablet…”

“Does that mean Shaolin has received such a great favor?”

In fact, it was an exception among exceptions.

Although it was a clear fact that Cheon Mubaeck had saved Shaolin, it was a question whether it was to the extent of giving out the Shaolin Exemption Tablet.

But they did not know.

Just by undoing the seal of the Red Buddha Hermitage, Shaolin had been able to soar again.

Hyeryang was rather sorry that he could only give out the Shaolin Exemption Tablet.

Of course, Cheon Mubaeck did not accept the Great Master Hyeryang’s will with just perfect goodwill.

Because Cheon Mubaeck was not a brat with a thousand years of martial world experience.

‘He’s quite cunning.’

The meaning of being a person who receives the support and protection of the orthodox martial world.

If you look at this differently, it means that he is an enemy of the unorthodox sects, the black-way, and the demonic path.

So by giving this one exemption tablet, Cheon Mubaeck had become an irreversible enemy of the demonic path and the unorthodox sects.

Cheon Mubaeck clicked his tongue at that mind game but still accepted it.

‘Well. He must trust me that much.’

But if you look at it another way, it means that he trusts Cheon Mubaeck that much.

What if he used this exemption tablet to use the orthodox martial world to benefit the demonic path?

Wasn’t that a sufficient possibility?

If Cheon Mubaeck had been hiding the fact that he was a person of the demonic path from the beginning.

‘Well, that won’t happen.’

Now that Cheon Mubaeck had already become an irreversible enemy of the Blood Ghost Valley and the Blood Demon Sect, there was no reason to join forces with the demonic path.

“I will not forget the will of Shaolin, which has given me the Shaolin Exemption Tablet, and I will walk the path of righteousness.”

At Cheon Mubaeck’s greeting, the Great Master Hyeryang put his palms together.

“I hope that the mercy of Buddha will be with the young hero’s path.”

* * *

“Tell me honestly.”

“What.”

“Do you like me?”

“Neung-heo, you’re really crazy now.”

“No, I know I’m a little handsome and I want to rely on you like a brother. But it’s a bit much to take me with you every time.”

“The Medicine Immortal must have given you poison. Your head is spinning.”

“No. Shit! Why are you taking me when Chief Heo wanted to go to Mount Hua Sect?”

“It’s not boring. And the escort agency will be busy, so it’s not right to take Chief Heo.”

“…Wow.”

Neung-heo laughed as if he were dumbfounded.

“I am the Master of the Lotus Pavilion.”

“Right.”

“I am the head of the Black Heart Gang.”

“Right.”

“Does it make sense for that head to be away from his position?”

“Hwa-ung is leading the Black Heart Gang well, and Seol-yeong is also leading the Lotus Pavilion without any problems.”

“Ah. I’ve clearly become the head, but I can’t do the head’s job.”

“There’s a reason why you have to go.”

“What is it?”

Neung-heo put his hand on his waist.

If it wasn’t a reasonable reason…

“Are you going to rebel?”

“Of course not. My waist is itchy.”

“You know the story written on what Il-seok brought.”

Before leaving Shaolin, a person had been sent from the Lotus Pavilion.

It was the guy named Il-seok of the Black Heart Gang, whom Neung-heo had taken in as his subordinate before.

“Yes.”

“Didn’t some strange guys approach the Lotus Pavilion?”

“Ah, that what’s-it-called. The Henan Gisaeng House Alliance or something?”

“Right.”

“What does that have to do with anything? It’s normal for us lower-class people to band together like this and that to survive.”

“Usually, the gisaeng houses are backed by the black-way, but the gisaeng houses are forming an alliance?”

“Huh?”

“Then it means there’s something that the black-way can’t touch.”

When Cheon Mubaeck stared at Neung-heo, Neung-heo felt a sense of crisis for a moment.

‘I have to answer!’

Cheon Mubaeck was testing Neung-heo from time to time.

If he didn’t like it, he didn’t even hide his intention to take away both the Lotus Pavilion and the Black Heart Gang.

‘That can’t happen!’

What was the reason why Neung-heo was sticking so close to Cheon Mubaeck’s side even in the face of a threat?

‘My retirement!’

If he had been full of ambition like in the old days, the position of the Black Heart Gang would have felt more important. Not now. After experiencing a situation where his life was on the line every time, he had abandoned his ambition.

He just wanted a comfortable retirement. Then even if he didn’t know about the Black Heart Gang, he had to protect the position of the Master of the Lotus Pavilion.

So Neung-heo used his head with all his might.

When Cheon Mubaeck’s gaze was gradually narrowing. Neung-heo’s mind brightened.

“The Hao Faction!”

“Ho. At least your shoulders are not just for decoration.”

“I am Neung-heo, Neung-heo. The One-Eyed Snake Neung-heo. Huh? What is the characteristic of a snake? Isn’t it that it’s cunning? Being cunning means being a little smart.”

“Well. It’s too hideous to carry that around as a decoration.”

“Aww.”

“Anyway, the Henan Gisaeng House Alliance. Well, the organization called the Netherworld Lotus for short. There is a high probability that it is an organization that the Hao Faction is trying to advance into Henan.”

The Lotus Pavilion had a firm grasp on the information network of Henan Province.

By linking with the Black Heart Gang and integrating even the information power of the Azure Star Escort Agency, they had occupied more than half of the information network of Henan Province.

So the Hao Faction, which had a weak power in Henan, had no choice but to approach.

If only the Lotus Pavilion was in the embrace of the Hao Faction, it would be to hold half of the information of Henan.

“So, you’re saying that the Hao Faction approached with the purpose of ‘come under us’?”

“Yes.”

“You son of a bitch! Whose is that! These bastards have no business ethics! What are you doing! Let’s go back to Wonyang County right now!”

“It’s fine.”

“Pardon?”

“The Netherworld Lotus is still weak. They can’t touch the Lotus Pavilion even if we don’t go.”

“Then should we just leave them alone?”

“What do you mean, leave them alone? We have to give them a little touch.”

“Aren’t we going to Shaanxi Province now? To beat up the Blood Ghost Valley?”

“It won’t be easy even with the help of Mount Hua Sect. If Shaanxi Province is in a mess as the rumors say.”

Neung-heo nodded his head.

Didn’t the rumors say that it was a hellish place, as the source of the plague?

“Since the administrative power of the government office is also paralyzed and there are many refugees, if the Blood Ghost Valley or the Blood Demon Sect decides to hide their appearance, it won’t be easy to find them. It’s not an easy task to find a person in the martial world.”

Shaanxi Province is wide. And the number of people living there is enormous.

Even in normal times when the administrative power is properly applied, it is not an easy task to find a person, but in the current situation where there is a commotion due to the plague, it would surely take time even with the help of Mount Hua Sect.

Then a larger information network was needed.

The Lotus Pavilion was not enough.

A window to obtain information in Shaanxi Province was needed.

“There is a Hao Faction branch in Shaanxi.”

“Of course there is. It’s a province where Zhongnan and Mount Hua Sect are. Ah, by any chance, do you know the exact location?”

Cheon Mubaeck smirked.

“Not just the kids under the Hao Faction like the Netherworld Lotus.”

The Hao Faction Shaanxi branch is probably the largest one.

‘It’s not for nothing that there are guys who buy and sell information in the martial world.’

The martial world is wide, there are many strange people, and masters are as numerous as grains of sand.

In order to survive in such a martial world and to achieve one’s purpose, one had to hold information in one’s hand.

At least the information power to be able to move one step ahead of others.

‘In Henan, with the Lotus Pavilion, the Black Heart Gang, and the escort agency.’

Then in Shaanxi, he would have to eat the Hao Faction.

“Before you get eaten, you have to eat. The big one.”

(End of Chapter)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep