Main Alliance Headquarters in Henan.

The location was a little far from the center, but it was also the most populous place.

Even though the Orthodox-Demonic War was over, the Unorthodox faction was still going strong, and danger was everywhere.

Still.

That was why the Orthodox faction, which claimed it pursued righteousness and chivalry, established Martial Alliance branches in each region—supporting, or forming agreements with, the great clans in charge of each region to protect people from the Unorthodox faction, and at the same time,

under the banner of maintaining peace and safety, receiving support from merchant groups and the like.

There were many sides to it.

And while those connections existed.

The place called the hub of it all was the Main Alliance Headquarters.

The place called the beginning and the standard of the Martial Alliance.

Along with Shaolin of the Ten Great Sects, and the Blue Moon Sect, it was the place guarding Henan.

“Identity confirmed. Go on in.”

The gatekeeper said that as he returned the letter.

CREEEAK—!! The city gate opened as he spoke.

I went in through the gap.

The moment I entered through the entrance, an enormous scene came into view.

‘Damn.’

My eyes widened the instant I saw it.

‘It’s huge...?’

The county seats of the Blue Moon Sect, or the representative county seat of Liaoning, were big too, but this was on another level.

Maybe because it was a county seat representing the Central Plains—everything from the population to the feel was different.

‘Even the quality of the buildings is different.’

The way things were built felt good—just, literally, the feeling of a huge city.

‘Even compared to what I saw in my past life, it’s not just worse across the board.’

A well-made urban core itself. Watching the strange scenery, I went in slowly.

I was still riding in the carriage.

So maybe that was why.

“That emblem is....”

“Blue Moon Sect? It’s the Blue Moon Sect emblem.”

“Hoh. Was the rumor true?”

Voices came through the closed window. My ears perked up.

“What rumor are you talking about?”

“No, you know. That thing. They say the Blue Moon Sect is attending this Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.”

“What? The Blue Moon Sect?”

At the surprised voice, I let out a sigh. The rumor really spread. I didn’t think the noise would already reach all the way here.

‘Damn it.’

I wondered how it spread, but rumors always leaked out if there was even the slightest gap.

As I remembered that and was clicking my tongue—

“Then, does that mean he’s in that carriage too?”

“Then... could it be?”

“You know.”

“That.”

“Little Sword Saint.”

I flinched.

At the familiar epithet, my eyes opened wider. At the same time, every gaze in the carriage turned toward me.

I forced myself to look away like I didn’t know.

‘Goddamn it.’

I didn’t think they’d be talking about me even here. While I hid how flustered I was and took a breath—

“That hero from Sichuan?”

What?

‘...What is that supposed to be.’

Something weird got stuck in front of it.

“Of course. If the Blue Moon Sect is attending, then he’s obviously coming out too.”

“...Hoh. I heard he even puts those great Seven Prodigies under his feet—are you saying we’ll get to confirm the rumor?”

“No matter what, that can’t be right, can it? How incredible the current Seven Prodigies are... that some guy who suddenly appeared becomes that.”

“Hey, you. ‘Suddenly appeared’? He didn’t just appear out of nowhere—he’s the Sword Saint’s successor.”

“That’s right. If he’s Yoo Cheongil’s successor, it’s possible.”

[Mmm.]

At all the mentions, Yoo Cheongil nodded, looking pleased.

“It was such a heartbreaking thing when Yoo Cheongil passed away... and hearing his successor appeared, it made my heart race.”

“On top of that, I heard all Seven Prodigies are attending this time.”

“What? Where did you hear that?”

“I’ve got some ties with the Beggar Clan. There are ways.”

“Hoh... all Seven Prodigies attending?”

They widened their eyes like they were shocked. I was shocked at that part too.

‘All Seven Prodigies are coming?’

This wasn’t something I expected.

The Dragon-Phoenix Gathering was a festival for the junior generation, so it wasn’t strange that they came, but—

‘All of them attending feels like something that hasn’t happened.’

Even just last year, wasn’t it two people who didn’t come? And ever since the Seven Prodigies were born, there had never been a case where all of them attended the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.

Cheon Hyein, for one, had been in a situation where she couldn’t attend because of her sect.

‘But they’re all coming....’

My spine went a little cold.

‘This is bad.’

If I, the hot topic because of the rumor that all Seven Prodigies were attending, also ended up going to the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering—

‘Every eye is going to get dragged in.’

Even eyes that wouldn’t have been drawn in will get focused on me.

“Ghk.”

I swallowed and organized my thoughts. If this happens, what do I do? While I was thinking about that—

[What are you worrying about?]

Yoo Cheongil spoke to me in a flat voice.

[You just beat them all up.]

“......”

It wasn’t a more effortlessly stupid solution.

Seriously.

‘If I could do that, I wouldn’t be worrying about this.’

If that was possible, would I be worrying?

While I was rolling my eyes hard, a voice came from the side.

“So the lodging was the Wicheon Inn?”

It was Do Hyeong’s question. Before I could answer, Cheon Hyein answered.

“Yeah. It’s always been there. Looks like it’s that place again this time.”

‘Wicheon Inn.’

It was written on the letter. The lodging I’d stay in for the entire Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.

They said they’d rent out the entire inn and give rooms to the attendees.

‘So it’s partnered.’

If what Cheon Hyein said was true, it sounded like a place they used every time the ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) Dragon-Phoenix Gathering was held.

Meaning it was connected to the Martial Alliance.

It was probably a place that sponsored the Martial Alliance heavily, or a place that had worked things out with the upper ranks.

I glanced out the window.

A bustling crowd and murmuring voices.

Maybe because the carriage was moving slowly—everyone was looking this way.

Those eyes were full of interest and expectation.

It wasn’t just because the Blue Moon Sect was attending. I knew exactly why they had those eyes.

‘It’s because of me.’

The Sword Saint’s successor is attending.

That damned reason was the cause.

‘Haa.’

The quiet sigh I breathed out turned into visible steam.

Would it be okay? It was a start that made me worry.

*****

We arrived at the inn. It wasn’t a lie that it could hold all attendees—the Wicheon Inn was huge, and wide too.

It looked like they weren’t using just one building; it seemed like they were using all three attached buildings.

“Then I’ll go take care of the carriage.”

“...Please.”

Sword Emperor Ui Yangyeon headed toward the stables set up near the inn.

Since it wouldn’t be one or two carriages coming in, it looked like they’d prepared for it.

With Sword Emperor Ui Yangyeon gone, we went into the inn.

“Excuse me. May I check the letters of recommendation?”

As soon as we stepped in, someone walked up like it was familiar.

Seeing him, our group, including me, handed over our letters.

“...!”

The person checking the letters widened his eyes.

And I could feel the glance that flicked toward me.

Just from his eyes, I knew.

—So this is the Little Sword Saint.

That was exactly that look.

“...Uh... ahem.”

He cleared his throat once and kept talking right away.

“...I’ll confirm identities. Four members of the Blue Moon Sect, and... hm?”

This time, the person’s gaze went to someone else.

“Sichuan... Tang Clan’s Tang Cheon-il. Confirmed....”

Why was a Tang Clan blood relative here—on top of that, Poison Dragon.

That was the “this is strange” look. And then—

“Oh....”

He let out a small sound like he’d realized something.

I wondered what he realized, but I knew. This guy—

‘He remembered the rumor.’

There’s a rumor about me like that. That after I saved Sichuan, Poison Dragon, a blood relative, was following me around while treating me as his benefactor.

Because of that rumor, this guy was looking at Poison Dragon like that.

Poison Dragon noticed too and immediately frowned, but—

“Tsk.”

He only clicked his tongue, and there was no further reaction.

Watching that, I held back a laugh.

‘This bastard....’

He’s been sulking since earlier.

The cause was obviously the fight with Black-Grand Saber Peng Dojin.

‘His cheek’s all swollen.’

Was the shock of getting shattered in one hit that big?

With the puffed-up cheek and the scrunched face, it looked unbelievably weird.

“Ah... then, yes. Confirmed: four members, and one Tang Clan blood relative. All five of you will use the top floor. I will guide you straight there.”

We moved at his words.

*****

The top floor of the inn. Even the feeling was different.

A very luxurious atmosphere kept flowing nonstop.

That feeling had grown stronger step by step every time we went up, and—

‘Did they split it by rank?’

Looks like they divided the floors by rank.

The rank on our letter was gold—highest rank.

Of course. If the Blue Moon Sect didn’t get gold, it would’ve been weird.

Maybe because of that, we were guided to the very top floor.

About two floors below this had a similar feel.

“Here.”

“Thank you.”

We were guided to our rooms and went in. Each of us got a single room.

I tossed my luggage down roughly and came back out. I didn’t even organize it properly.

“Let’s go eat.”

I said it to Do Hyeong as he was coming out too. He was in the room next to mine.

Meal time was set, and if we waited a little, it’d be the last time slot, so we decided to gather and eat.

Poison Dragon said he wouldn’t eat and we ditched him. Looking at his condition, he probably wouldn’t eat tomorrow either.

‘Whatever.’

If he says he won’t eat, it’s not something I need to worry about.

So we all went down together, and—

‘Mm.’

I felt eyes again.

The dining hall where you could eat was in the building next to this one, and when we headed that way, a lot of people were gathered.

Just looking at them, I could tell.

‘They’re all martial artists.’

Every single person there was a martial artist. Not one exception.

Maybe because it was a space packed with martial artists, the talk wasn’t normal either.

People who weren’t looking this way.

People who were.

People who were pretending not to while checking.

All three existed—but I knew.

‘They’re all looking.’

No matter what, they’re all looking this way. I could feel it clearly.

“Blue Moon Sect.”

“It’s the Small Moon Unit.”

“...That’s Moon Dancer, isn’t it? So it was true.”

“Then....”

Past the murmuring noise, eyes quickly swept over us.

After confirming Cheon Hyein, they stared straight at the group.

It looked like they were checking Cheon Eujin and Do Hyeong, and then me.

And the reason was—

‘They’re looking for me.’

The Little Sword Saint who’d be in here.

Those eyes were looking for me.

Realizing that, I just went down the stairs.

Slowly, I checked for an empty table.

The moment we came down, someone ran over this way.

It looked like a server.

“I’ll guide you to your meal...!”

We were guided and sat at a table.

Since it was just a matter of filling our stomachs, we ordered only simple food and sat there blankly.

“...I’m tired....”

Fatigue came crashing in. Most of it was mental fatigue.

Because of that, my brow furrowed on its own.

The eyes drilling into me right now, and what was coming next, too.

‘Today, I should just eat and rest.’

Seriously—just fill my stomach and rest.

That was all that filled my head.

As we waited like that, the food came out.

Even then, we didn’t exchange a single word.

Everyone was exhausted, but also, we barely talked to begin with.

The food was laid out.

I was hungry.

‘Finally, I’m eating.’

I’d been so wound up and running around that I had no appetite, so I hadn’t been able to eat a proper meal—

but now, I was hungry enough that I didn’t care what it was.

Just as I was about to grab the food and eat.

“You—!”

Someone’s voice came. I didn’t care.

It wasn’t aimed at us.

That’s what I thought, but—

“So I finally found you.”

Somehow the voice was closer than before.

BANG—!!

“Huh?”

From the shock, the chopsticks I was holding flew.

Of course the food did too.

Because someone had grabbed my hand.

“This crazy—”

Heat flared up behind my eyes. I was already exhausted to death—

“Which bastard—! Huh?”

Just as I was about to snap and curse—

I saw the face of the guy grabbing my arm.

Huh.

It was a face I knew.

“You?”

A smug-looking face, scrunched up hard.

Even the greasy killing intent floating in his eyes.

And.

The wicked energy wriggling behind his back.

Seeing that, I said what he was.

“You pervert bastard. No....”

The name was definitely—

“Namgung Seong?”

Little Azure Sword Namgung Seong.

He was that junior generation martial artist back in Anhui—the one Yoo Cheongil borrowed my body to smash to pieces.