The third elder of the Qingcheng Sect, Liu Zhangwen, the fifth elder, Li Xuejing, the head and vice head of the Sichuan Merchant Alliance, the head of the Tang family, Tang Huazhong, Eun Yijeong of the Eun Family Merchant Guild, and even the head of the Shen Family Fortress gathered in one place.
At that meeting, Elder Han of the Ten Thousand Iron Sect had to once again explain the Killing Lord's plan.
After his story ended, everyone fell into a deep silence.
Tang Huazhong and Eun Yijeong, who already knew, kept their mouths shut and waited for the others to think sufficiently.
"This meeting was arranged to unite the power of Sichuan, wasn't it?"
It was the third elder of Qingcheng, Liu Zhangwen, who spoke after a long time.
"Yes."
Tang Huazhong replied.
"Of course, we must. But do you have a plan on how to deal with the Killing Lord?"
"We do not."
"Qingcheng... also does not."
Even at Liu Zhangwen's words, Tang Huazhong showed no reaction.
It meant he had expected as much.
"As the Tang Family Head and all of you think, the power of Sichuan must be united. However, we have no choice but to separately invite a master to deal with the Killing Lord."
"Who do you mean? Does Qingcheng know of such a person?"
The vice head of the Sichuan Merchant Alliance asked.
Liu Zhangwen stared at him and then asked back.
"Is there someone in the Merchant Alliance who can deal with the Killing Lord?"
"If there were, would we have bothered to attend this meeting?"
"Then is there a master who can deal with the Killing Lord with whom you have connections?"
"If there were such a person, we would immediately run to invite them."
"Then we have no choice but to reach out to Tianlian."
"Tianlian?"
"We must stop the Killing Lord's evil scheme, even if it means inviting one of the Six Orthodox Heavens."
"Tianlian is not an option. The Sichuan Merchant Alliance has no intention of joining hands with either the orthodox or unorthodox factions."
While they could support and join hands with the Qingcheng or Tang families as they were sects from the same land of Sichuan, Tianlian, known as the sky of the orthodox faction, was different.
Joining hands with them meant openly making an enemy of the Unorthodox Path Alliance.
Thwack!
Suddenly, the head of the Shen Family Fortress slammed the table.
"How frustrating. The Killing Lord is coming to swallow the Sichuan Merchant Alliance, and you're talking about neutrality?"
"Do you think things will be different if we bring in Tianlian? Let's say Tianlian stops the Heaven of Killing Emperors and the Killing Lord. What do you think will happen after that? They will say that since blood was shed, a corresponding price must be paid, and they will demand a continuous payment for protecting us from the ongoing threats of the Heaven of Killing Emperors or the Unorthodox Path Alliance. How is that different from the Killing Lord?"
"How is it different from the Killing Lord? Those are harsh words. I am also closer to the merchant world than the martial world, but I cannot agree with the opinion of treating Tianlian the same as the Unorthodox Path Alliance."
"That's because your son is affiliated with Tianlian's Divine Martial Stage."
"Vice Head!"
"If you are closer to the merchant world, you shouldn't say that. Once you get entangled in the martial world and its grudges, you can never escape. What power do merchants have to escape from the sky-like martial artists? In that case, it would be better to just disband. Because then, at least, we can start over."
At the vice head's words, the head of the Shen Family Fortress could no longer open his mouth.
Because he also acknowledged it to some extent.
"Head."
When the third elder of the Qingcheng Sect, Liu Zhangwen, called out suggestively, the head of the Sichuan Merchant Alliance turned his head and looked at him.
"Do you also think the same as the vice head?"
"We already promised to do so when we formed the Merchant Alliance."
"I see."
Liu Zhangwen, who had nodded his head, looked at Tang Huazhong.
"Qingcheng has no other way but to request support from Tianlian. What about the Tang family?"
"The Tang family also has no other way."
When Liu Zhangwen and Tang Huazhong said so, the faces of the head and vice head of the Sichuan Merchant Alliance hardened.
"Qingcheng respects the will of the Merchant Alliance. However, we cannot endanger the orthodox people of Sichuan because of that."
It meant they would request support from Tianlian.
At that, the head and vice head of the Merchant Alliance stood up from their seats.
"The Merchant Alliance will not be involved in this fight."
The head left after saying those words.
"War requires a huge amount of funds. That must be why the Killing Lord is targeting the Merchant Alliance. It also means that if there is no war with the orthodox faction, he has no reason to target the Merchant Alliance. In other words, the reason for targeting the Merchant Alliance is ultimately the war with the orthodox faction."
No one reacted to the vice head's words. Because it was a long-standing point of contention between the merchant world and the martial world.
Thus, the head and vice head of the Merchant Alliance left. The remaining people fell into a heavy silence.
***
"The Qingcheng and Tang families will request that at least one of the Six Orthodox Heavens come from Tianlian. The Sichuan Merchant Alliance will absolutely refuse."
As soon as Elder Han's words ended, the main hall door opened and two people came out.
They were the head and vice head of the Sichuan Merchant Alliance.
"It seems they have decided to ask for help from Tianlian. Well, in the end, that was the only way. Since there is no master to deal with the Killing Lord."
Elder Han trailed off, glancing at Banjeok Myeong.
Banjeok Myeong and Elder Han were waiting outside the main hall, but Banjeok Myeong, whose hearing had surpassed human limits, was listening to the conversation inside as if he were right next to them.
"Who will come?"
Banjeok Myeong asked, glancing back.
"It will be either the Sword Saint of the Blue Sky or the Iron Bone Divine Beggar."
"Why?"
"Because they are the most active. The other four are devoted to Buddhism and Taoism, so they don't move unless it's absolutely necessary."
"Then the Iron Bone Divine Beggar will come."
"What?"
Since the Sword Saint of the Blue Sky was dead, the Iron Bone Divine Beggar had to come.
Banjeok Myeong didn't need to mention the death of the Sword Saint of the Blue Sky, so he changed the subject.
"If the Iron Bone Divine Beggar and the Killing Lord fight, who will win?"
"The stronger one will win."
"If you had to bet your life, who would you bet on?"
"On you, young master."
"......?"
"Since you are forcing me to choose an unknown answer, I will bet my life on you, young master, and beg you to save me."
"Come to think of it, I should deal with you too."
"......!"
"Choose. Shall I destroy your lower dantian and let you go, or shall I take your life?"
"Please save me."
"Then I'll just destroy your lower dantian, so live a good life from now on."
Banjeok Myeong raised his hand.
Elder Han, who had turned pale, cowered.
At that moment.
"You are to come in."
The person guarding the entrance of the main hall approached Banjeok Myeong and said.
Banjeok Myeong lowered his hand.
"If you run away and make things troublesome again, I'll destroy your lower dantian and pull out your arms."
"Yeees..."
At Banjeok Myeong's threat, Elder Han bowed his head deeply and answered with a voice that sounded like he had lived his whole life.
***
"Oh, is this the young hero?"
"Yes. Greet them. They are the elders of the Qingcheng Sect, Great Hero Liu and Great Hero Li."
"I am Banjeok Myeong."
"This is the head of the Shen Family Fortress."
"I am Banjeok Myeong."
Banjeok Myeong gave a brief greeting.
It was not an extremely polite posture, but it was not rude either.
"It's an amazing thing. The Sun and Moon Peerless, Ga Geumhu, is a truly terrifying master..."
Li Xuejing trailed off.
His disbelief was evident.
Banjeok Myeong looked around at Li Xuejing, Liu Zhangwen, and the head of the Shen Family Fortress.
They all had faces of disbelief.
"My master said so. That martial artists who have not reached the absolute realm all have at least one weakness, and they are not free from the compatibility of martial arts. The mansion master of the Bamboo Forest Villa's weapon is a wheel. He also holds and swings the wheel, but he dislikes getting blood on him, so he prefers to throw it from a distance. To me, who has to fight in close combat, it seemed like a fatal weakness."
What he said about his master was true, and the story about the mansion master of the Bamboo Forest Villa was just made up.
He could trust the Tang Family Head and Eun Yijeong, but he couldn't trust the rest of the people yet. So it was better to hide as much as he could.
"You even grasped the tendencies of the Sun and Moon Peerless?"
"I was at least confident that I could escape, so I jumped in, and fortunately, the result was good."
"Oh! Truly amazing."
A look of admiration appeared on Liu Zhangwen's face. Li Xuejing was not much different. Of course, it wasn't that they believed Banjeok Myeong's words at face value. They thought there was something more than what Banjeok Myeong had said. Nevertheless, it was truly astonishing that he had defeated a master like Ga Geumhu at an age of less than twenty.
"I expect Young Hero Ban to play an active role in the fight against the Heaven of Killing Emperors."
"If the Tang family and the Eun Family Merchant Guild fight, I will also fight."
Banjeok Myeong drew a line.
It meant he was fighting not for reasons like the orthodox faction or justice, but because of the Tang family and the Eun Family Merchant Guild.
Liu Zhangwen and Li Xuejing were not pleased, but they did not show it.
At this time, the head of the Shen Family Fortress, who had been staring at Banjeok Myeong until now, suddenly said.
"Young Hero Ban, I have something to ask."
"Yes."
"I heard from my daughter that my son attacked you. Is there something between you two?"
The face of the head of the Shen Family Fortress, who was asking, looked serious.
He had not returned to the Divine Martial Stage for a year and had been cooped up in his residence, so he was very worried. In such a situation, he had run to save his sister and had suddenly attacked a young hero from the Eun Family Merchant Guild, so he was so surprised that his heart sank, but on the other hand, when he thought about it carefully, there must have been a good reason for his son to do so.
Banjeok Myeong looked at the head of the Shen Family Fortress and was about to open his mouth. But Eun Yijeong, who was sitting right next to him, shook his head. It meant not to tell the truth.
"It would be better for you to find out from that brother yourself."
"Look here."
"It is not for me to say."
"Don't be like that, if you know something, please tell me."
"I cannot look into that brother's mind, so I have nothing to say."
After saying that, Banjeok Myeong turned his posture and looked at the Tang Family Head.
"Do you have anything more to say?"
Tang Huazhong looked around at the others.
No one opened their mouth.
"You may leave."
"Yes."
Following the Tang Family Head's goodwill, Banjeok Myeong exchanged greetings with the elders of the Qingcheng Sect and then went outside.
"Are you just coming from greeting them?"
"Yes."
The Tang Family Head's younger brother, Tang Huaping, was outside the main hall.
Tang Huaping's favorability towards Banjeok Myeong was very high because he had run to Mount Emei to get a honeycomb from the Red Jade Peak when Tang Xiulian was on the verge of life and death, and had blocked the dark scheme of the Hao Sect, which had tried to kidnap Tang Xiulian, to the end.
"You haven't even been to the clinic yet?"
"It just happened that way."
"When are you planning to go?"
"If it's not too much trouble, I'm thinking of going after the fight with the Heaven of Killing Emperors is over."
"Everyone will be worried if you say you're going to fight the Heaven of Killing Emperors."
"Yes."
Tang Huaping, who understood his intention not to go to the Hua Family Clinic until the fight was over, nodded his head.
"Let's go. I'll arrange a place for you."
"I think I need to deal with that old man first."
Banjeok Myeong said, pointing at Elder Han.
Tang Huaping turned his gaze towards Elder Han to see what to do.
As the two looked at him like that, Elder Han trembled noticeably.
"When you live as a martial artist, there are many times when you get blood on your hands. But there is no need to do so intentionally."
Tang Huaping approached Elder Han.
Elder Han trembled like a leaf in the wind as Tang Huaping, known as the Poisonous Hand, approached.
"The reason I spared the old man back then was because he seemed quick to judge the situation and quick-witted. I thought that if the old man was in the Ten Thousand Iron Sect, he would be good at avoiding the clinic and our family."
"I, I did so. I always told my underlings not to even go near the clinic and the Tang family members."
"I know. But you see. The Eun Family Merchant Guild that you guys touched this time has also formed a connection with our family."
"I-I have committed a mortal sin."
How could he know what would not happen?
But to live, he should have known.
Elder Han prostrated himself.
"Drink it."
"......!"
At Tang Huaping's cold words, Elder Han lifted his head and saw a very small medicine bottle made of porcelain in front of him.
Elder Han's two eyes shook greatly.
When it came to the Tang family, it was poison and hidden weapons.
Since it was a medicine bottle, it wouldn't be a hidden weapon, so it was definitely poison.
"If you don't take the antidote once every hundred days, your organs will melt."
At Tang Huaping's cold, emotionless words, Elder Han's whole body began to tremble.
"In other words, if you just take the antidote, nothing will happen for a hundred days."
Elder Han took the medicine bottle with a trembling hand and brought it to his mouth.
Because Tang Huazhong's sharp gaze seemed like it would smash his head on the spot if he didn't accept it.
"Thank you for saving my life."
Elder Han, who had returned the empty bottle, prostrated himself on the spot.
"If our family is defeated by the Heaven of Killing Emperors, the old man will also die."
It meant that if the Tang family fell, he would not be able to get the antidote, so he would die after a hundred days.
"Go back to the Ten Thousand Iron Sect. And if there is anything that can help in this fight, help our family by any means necessary. If you understand, go."
Elder Han stood up from his seat, glanced at Banjeok Myeong, and then left with a face that looked like he had lived his whole life. Tang Huazhong, who had dealt with Elder Han like that, looked back at Banjeok Myeong.
"You said you wanted to protect the Hua Family Clinic?"
"Yes."
"Having an old man like that will be helpful in many ways."
"......!"
"After this matter is settled, I'll send him to you, so keep him close and make use of him."
As far as Tang Huaping knew, Banjeok Myeong was overly ignorant of the ways of the world. Hua Yunhui and Hua Sochen of the Hua Family Clinic were not much different.
The Tang Family Head and Tang Huaping were greatly concerned about that.
So an old man who had rolled around in the dark path for a long time like Elder Han would surely be helpful in many ways.
"I will do so."
Banjeok Myeong accepted without refusing.
Tang Huaping smiled at Banjeok Myeong's appearance.
It was a relief that he was not the type to blindly follow words like justice or righteousness.
"What was in here was not some deadly poison, but medicine for boils. So when he comes looking for it later, just give him anything and say it's the antidote."
"......!"
"The most terrifying poison in the world is the poison of the heart that moves the mind."
Tang Huaping grinned.
Looking at it, it was a wicked-looking smile.
***
Three days later.
A group of several hundred people entered Chengdu.
They were warriors dressed entirely in black or red from head to toe, and a large four-horse carriage.
But the flag hanging on the four-horse carriage shook the entire martial world of Chengdu.
Heaven of Killing Emperors!
Three words written in blood-red on a black triangular flag.
The Killing Lord, who was furious about losing Guizhou Province, had moved one step ahead of Tianlian.
(End of Chapter)