Yi-gang was in a tavern.

His attire was not the rough gray robe he used to wear in Shaolin.

Over a luxurious jade-colored robe, he wore a deep purple long coat.

When he changed clothes, Jeong Myung had hesitantly asked if it was alright for him to wear such things.

But once he was fully dressed, the clothes suited him perfectly.

Seated by the window of an upscale inn in a tavern, Yi-gang embodied the term “elegant noble” perfectly.

Yi-gang blended into the city seamlessly.

“I feel awkward.”

“Get used to it.”

“As a Buddhist disciple, I wonder if this is alright.”

“It’s about helping people, isn’t it?”

“Well… it is helping, I suppose.”

“It is helping. If that woman marries that vile man, her life will become a living hell,” nonchalantly replied Yi-gang, still gazing out the window.

Jeong Myung spoke carefully, “What if someone recognizes our identities?”

“What if they do? Nothing much can be done about it.”

“

“Don’t worry. We’re completely undetectable.”

Yi-gang turned his head to look at Jeong Myung.

Then he subtly lowered his gaze.

It seemed he wouldn’t be able to hold back his laughter if he looked directly at Jeong Myung’s face.

“This is my first time wearing a wig, and it feels a bit suffocating.”

Jeong Myung was also in disguise.

But the wig he’d managed to find in such a foreign place on short notice was far from perfect.

Even that was something he had managed to get thanks to Yi-gang’s connections with the Low Down Sect.

“Your wig is riding up. Pull it down.”

“Oh.”

His forehead was exposed as if he were wearing a Manchu-style topknot.

Jeong Myung hurriedly adjusted the wig back in place.

The wig he wore was a sleek, jet-black bob cut.

Yi-gang glanced over, signaling with his eyes.

“Wear the headband too. Otherwise, you’ll stand out too much.”

“Of course.”

Only after Jeong Myung tied the blue headband around his forehead did he look somewhat natural.

Although Jeong Myung was a monk, the outfit didn’t look strange on him. No, rather than looking strange, it actually suited him quite well.

It was only natural.

He had only shaved his head and didn’t have the ceremonial mark of a monk.

Being a young man in his prime with quite refined looks, he appeared like a nobleman’s son out for tea.

Tap, tap

At that moment, the Ugly Buddha tapped his finger on the table.

After drawing attention, he gestured in sign language.

‘Why am I the only one dressed like this?’

Jeong Myung couldn’t answer and subtly avoided his gaze.

The Ugly Buddha finally demanded an explanation.

His clothes were entirely different from those of Yi-gang and Jeong Myung.

While they wore luxurious outfits, the Ugly Buddha was dressed plainly. Though clean, his attire looked shabby between the two.

Above all, his face bore an unusual disguise.

His wig and beard were dusted with ash, making his face appear pale. He was disguised as an old man.

With his hunched back, he looked completely ordinary, like an elderly man.

“Should we have dressed you up like an elegant noble?”

‘…’

This time, the Ugly Buddha fell silent.

Even if he dressed like Yi-gang, he knew he would look ridiculous.

In fact, the Ugly Buddha’s disguise as an old man was very fitting. Not just fitting—it even pleased Beop Jae.

For once, he felt the comfortable indifference instead of the usual uncomfortable attention.

‘…Where did you learn something like this?’

“I didn’t learn it properly—just here and there.”

From the Low Down Sect associates, from Senior Brother Dam Hyeon, and directly from the Eastern Depot’s inspectors in the imperial palace.

For Beop Jae, who had spent his whole life within the walls of Shaolin, this was astonishing.

Yi-gang looked out the window again.

There was a reason he had chosen this place in the tavern.

It was the tallest building in the vicinity, allowing him to look down on many structures in Dengfeng County.

The mansions surrounded by walls taller than a person’s height had their interiors exposed from above.

For this reason, prestigious families or major sects, or even wealthy mansions, were usually built on higher ground or bought out all the surrounding buildings.

Not just anyone could do such a grand thing.

Dengfeng County was an area connected to Shaolin’s sphere of influence.

To think that some unseemly thugs who could barely be called a black-market gang could afford a proper base here was a luxury.

“They’re really down there.”

With sharp vision, Yi-gang spotted Yi Gyu-jin.

Below, there was Yi Gyu-jin, the fiancé of Yeong-yeong.

He was laughing and chatting noisily with his peers.

They were playing around, hitting each other jokingly.

“The information we received was accurate.”

‘They’re part of a gang called the Dragon Tears Society.’

Yi-gang’s gaze shifted slightly downward.

Inside the mansion where Yi Gyu-jin was, in one corner of the courtyard, a person was kneeling, bound.

It looked like he had been beaten while stripped.

So, they truly were as thuggish as expected.

“It does seem a bit suspicious, though.”

Yi-gang had been investigating the young man named Yi Gyu-jin along with his companions.

It appeared that Yi Gyu-jin was affiliated with a group called the Dragon Tears Society.

It seemed there were about 50 young men in the group, making it a small-scale gang.

Therefore, it was essential to find out what kind of organization the Dragon Tears Society was.

“Over here!”

Yi-gang called for the server.

At a glance from Yi-gang, Jeong Myung casually handed over a silver coin to the server.

The act was so natural that the server didn’t even realize Yi-gang couldn’t use his arm.

“So, you said the Dragon Tears Society’s rival is a group called Bamboo Blade Hall? Tell us about this Bamboo Blade Hall.”

“Ah, Bamboo Blade Hall, you say?”

Yi-gang’s detective-like investigation was conducted by spending money freely.

Since it was being done at his own expense, Jeong Myung and the Ugly Buddha kept their mouths shut.

While Yi-gang was asking a few more questions, the man who appeared to be the owner of the inn signaled to call over the server.

“I’ll be back shortly.”

The server left.

Yi-gang waited patiently.

He hadn’t sipped from the tea in front of him even once.

And soon, he demonstrated an interesting trick.

Tap.

He placed his hand on the table.

It was something he could do now that a slight bit of strength had returned to his arm.

By moving his shoulder, he swung his arm, applying only the slightest force, as if he could actually move his arm.

It looked natural enough that no one would notice the impairment in his arm.

Jeong Myung cautiously complimented Yi-gang, “Benefa… No, Young Master, your skills are remarkable.”

“For asking around like this?”

“It may cost some money, but isn’t it an excellent approach?”

Jeong Myung was impressed by Yi-gang.

When he first heard that they were investigating a young man named Yi Gyu-jin, it had seemed like a daunting task.

Yet, Yi-gang managed to uncover a great deal of information in no time.

However, Yi-gang merely chuckled at Jeong Myung’s praise.

“Don’t try to imitate this unless you plan on bragging about questioning everyone in the neighborhood.”

“…Oh. Is that so?”

“There’s no need to worry about repercussions when investigating a single young man in the neighborhood. Besides, no reliable information will come from just asking around like this.”

“Then why…?”

“Oh, and one more thing.”

Yi-gang looked at Jeong Myung with a serious gaze.

“From now on, just quietly follow along as I instructed.”

Jeong Myung’s expression hardened.

The person who returned wasn’t the server.

It was a middle-aged man with a smiling face, dressed as a manager.

Yet, there was an oddly sharp aura about him. While not the presence of a master, it was certainly the aura of a martial artist.

It seemed that hidden weapons were tucked within the wide sleeves of his attire.

“Sir, I heard you were looking for something.”

“Hmm.”

Yi-gang nodded and murmured, “Do you have Longjing tea from Taihu Dongting?”

“Haha… I’m afraid not.”

An unexpected tea order.

Yi-gang asked again, “Then how about Bi Luo Chun from West Lake?”

“We don’t have that either.”

Though Beop Jae didn’t realize it, Jeong Myung noticed that this was a secret code exchanged between Yi-gang and the manager.

Longjing tea was famous from West Lake, and Bi Luo Chun was renowned from Dongting.

However, he had reversed the origin of each tea.

“That’s a pity. Then, do you have any recommendations?”

“I have three options: high, medium, and low. Which would you prefer?”

“I’ll go with the fourth option.”

“Ah, the special selection.”

The manager’s eyes flashed.

There were types of secret codes, after all.

From the lengthy exchange, it seemed this was more than just a simple identity check.

“Please follow me. I’ll guide you.”

When the manager said that, Yi-gang rose from his seat.

Jeong Myung and Beop Jae followed Yi-gang toward the manager.

The manager led them down the stairs of the inn.

After descending to the first floor, he took them through the kitchen to a place inaccessible to guests.

Then, there was another staircase leading further down.

Without hesitation, Yi-gang and his companions entered.

They encountered a door guarded by a single person, who recognized the manager and opened the door for them.

“Here, we only serve our most important customers. I apologize for any inconvenience.”

“It’s fine.”

Yi-gang kept his responses brief.

“It’s rare to have someone here familiar with this level of coded language.”

“Is that so.”

“It’s my first time meeting you, but…”

“…”

In some instances, Yi-gang didn’t respond at all.

The place the manager led them to was a small yet luxurious room.

“Welcome to the Low Down Sect’s Zhengzhou branch in Henan Province. My name is Cheong-ryu.”

What Yi-gang had been exchanging was Low Down Sect’s secret code.

Among the codes used in taverns, there was a specific one to indicate a desire to purchase information.

On top of that, the content, Yi-gang’s gaze control, and even the pauses he added between words hinted that he was no ordinary figure.

He was someone with considerable ties to the Low Down Sect.

The issue was that Cheong-ryu, of the Zhengzhou branch, couldn’t ascertain Yi-gang’s true identity.

Yi-gang had also done a simple disguise on his face and wasn’t wearing the sword that would signify his identity as a swordsman.

“I apologize, but may I inquire about your identity?”

“I believe I’ve explained enough.”

Cheong-ryu spoke with a cool smile, “While the principle is not to ask, our Zhengzhou branch doesn’t operate that way…”

“Jeong Myung.”

At Yi-gang’s call, Jeong Myung looked up a beat late.

Yi-gang spoke quietly, “Take care of the two rats that are watching us.”

“…Understood.”

They had discussed posing as a young master and his bodyguard.

Yi-gang’s portrayal of a nobleman was so natural it didn’t even feel like an act, and Jeong Myung’s role as a bodyguard was also surprisingly convincing.

He swiftly kicked the wall beside him.

Thud!

It must have been a partition wall, as it opened up with a bang.

A shriek sounded from within.

At the same time, Jeong Myung leaped up and struck the ceiling with his hand.

His hand punched through the ceiling and grabbed something tightly.

Jeong Myung yanked it down.

Crash!

The man hiding in the ceiling was swiftly overpowered and rolled onto the ground.

Even then, Jeong Myung didn’t use any of Shaolin’s martial arts.

Cheong-ryu stood still, his face stiffening.

Yi-gang slowly approached and lightly kicked Cheong-ryu’s shin.

“Ugh!”

Since he didn’t resist, he was forced to kneel on one knee.

“Does the Zhengzhou branch hide rats even when dealing with distinguished guests?”

“For… for security…”

“Geumhwa mentioned it before. She said the Henan branches have no sense of discipline.”

“…!”

At the mention of Geumhwa’s name, Cheong-ryu’s eyes widened.

The former head of the Xi’an branch, and now an executive of the Low Down Sect overseeing the entire Shaanxi Province.

To freely mention such a person’s name meant that Cheong-ryu couldn’t afford to treat him disrespectfully.

“I apologize! I failed to recognize such an esteemed person.”

“I just want to investigate something simple. I’ll pay handsomely.”

To Cheong-ryu, Yi-gang appeared like an arrogant power figure, able to command people with a mere glance.

“Sit.”

With that, Yi-gang casually sat down, crossing one leg over the other.

Cheong-ryu quickly got up and took a seat opposite him.

“Please ask anything. I’ll answer with utmost sincerity.”

His demeanor now was much more to Yi-gang’s liking than before.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep