Chapter 214

Chapter 214
**Chapter 214: The Familiar Wanderer Nanghon**

One welcome turn of events had come to pass.

Chudal had tracked Nanghon down in the span of a single day.

“Hyungnim. Nanghon’s roughly five alleys east of here.”

“You found him quickly.”

Chudal shrugged as he replied, “I am still the chief intelligence officer’s disciple of the family, am I not? I ought to deliver at least this much.”

“Fair point.”

I nodded without hesitation, and Chudal’s expression fell like a deflating balloon. He must have been hoping for at least a word of praise.

Truth be told, I did want to commend him. But giving this fellow praise? My hand ached just at the thought.

*Still, he has come quite a long way.*

A few years prior, we had possessed no independent intelligence network and had relied entirely upon the Thieves’ Network. Now we could locate an unknown individual within a single day. I was certain our information exchange surpassed that of any clan under the heavens.

“Right, isn’t it?”

—Kkiee!

As I scratched beneath his chin, Won-u cried out in delight. Won-u had been pivotal in establishing the Baek family’s current network. Thanks to him and the dozens of hawks that roosted with the family, our intelligence traveled swifter than even messenger pigeons.

“Here, have some jerky.”

—Kkieak!

Won-u snatched the treat straight from mid-air. With the hawk munching away on my shoulder, I stepped out of the inn room.

“Oppa, where are you going?”

It was Zhuge Seol-ha.

“To meet someone I ought to recognize.”

“That wanderer Nanghon? You have found him then?”

“That is right.”

“May I come along?”

“Bored?”

“Something of the sort.”

I considered briefly before nodding. We needed to appear together in public periodically anyway—to stir the younger generation disciples of the Yeonwol Alliance.

“Certainly. It is not far.”

There might be risks, yet this was Wunan, one of the great cities of the realm. If trouble lingered for even half a gak, the Taeguk Sword Elder would intervene.

—Oppa, you believe Nanghon is very likely the Blood Cult Leader, don’t you?

Seol-ha sent her message by spiritual transmission, given the sensitivity of the subject.

I nodded.

—I am not certain, but he is the prime suspect.

—Why have I never heard the name Nanghon before?

In my past life, distinguished younger generation disciples such as Kira-seong all sought renown at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering. Yet once the Dragon-Phoenix Supremacy concluded, the entire martial world was set abuzz—the highest honor had been claimed by an unnamed wanderer.

*Looking back, it seemed unjust.*

In that former life, Yang-hwi had fled his family and wandered the jianghu. He harbored the ambition of elevating his mediocre arts to divine heights, and the Supremacy offered the perfect chance to witness countless techniques firsthand. Naturally, I had intended to participate.

*But in the end, I did not.*

I had already attained the peak realm, yet hailing from remote Gangseo—a neglected region—and having never ventured beyond the family estate, Yang-hwi lacked true self-awareness. Determined to earn a Silver Badge, he had challenged a passing wanderer… and been utterly, decisively defeated.

*Crushed completely. Every bone in his body broken.*

He had held absolute confidence in his skill. Reaching the early peak was rare even within Gangseo. Yet on the world stage? It counted for nothing. Losing to an unknown wanderer had driven that truth home.

Having learned that bitter lesson, Yang-hwi of the past had withdrawn from the Gathering. He became a wanderer, seeking to temper his skills through life-and-death experience.

What had been a vision of the future was now unfolding as the present. I could not share this with Seol-ha, so I offered a lighthearted quip instead.

“I saw it in a dream.”

“What? Hahaha.”

Seol-ha laughed gently and asked no further questions. That was one of her many virtues.

“This is the place.”

A modest residence, marked by neglect and disrepair in every corner.

“Oppa, it looks exactly like a den for a sinister faction.”

“In truth, it is.”

What was the name… the Yeongpyo Gang? A minor rogue organization of that sort. Nanghon had thoroughly beaten them into submission and made the place his own, setting its members to menial tasks.

*In a way, it fits the part of a wandering warrior.*

“Come out!”

I called out, and three or four thugs of the underworld rushed forth. I had no desire for a brawl, so I simply snapped my fingers. In that instant, the aura of the Righteous Spirit Merchant washed over the area. The men dropped to their knees before they could even glance at Seol-ha.

“Is Nanghon within? I have heard he possesses considerable skill and wished to see him for myself.”

It served as a fine pretense. On the eve of the Dragon-Phoenix Supremacy, young warriors throughout Wunan sparred constantly to sharpen their abilities.

“There is no need for such formalities.”

A low voice drifted from inside. A man emerged, strolling calmly across the courtyard. At the sight of him, my eyes widened.

*That face.*

Was it astonishment at the revelation, or sheer absurdity?

*How amusing. So this is how things are.*

In my past life, Yang-hwi had learned the true measure of the world through a crushing defeat at the hands of a nameless wanderer—a wanderer who had humbled his arrogant twenty-year-old peak self. That man was Nanghon.

*I had assumed he was someone who had lost to the tournament’s champion, and imagined all the other young contenders were formidable as well.*

This coincidence was beyond belief. The stranger Nanghon was someone I knew.

“To whom do I owe the pleasure… Ah. The Fairy of this era honors us with her presence. And beside her stands the Baek family’s young master, I presume.”

Nanghon offered a polite, hands-clasped greeting—hardly the bearing of a typical wanderer. I returned the gesture and asked a single question.

“It is natural to recognize Seol-ha, yet you also take me for the heir to the Yeonwol Alliance, do you not?”

“Fame travels fast. Only the young lord of a mid-tier clan could walk openly beside the Most Beautiful Under Heaven.”

His assessment was accurate.

—See? I told you to share tea with Hyun-geom.

—Why should I seek someone who shows no interest?

—Perhaps tea afterward, then?

—Very well.

—So you are interested in me, after all?

—Oppa is different. We have faced everything together.

That, too, was true.

“In any case, what brings you both to seek this Nanghon? You called my name, so you already know who I am.”

I had prepared two plausible explanations. But before I could speak…

*Very well. Let me see for myself.*

I sharpened my perceptions. Already among the keenest in the world, they were further heightened by my sword energy. If Nanghon was indeed the Blood Cult Leader and harbored malevolent qi within… my senses would detect it.

“You are curious about me?”

I said nothing. My expression hardened. I sensed nothing at all.

And clearly, he had noticed.

*How is this possible?*

I had not probed him with threads of qi. It was more like catching a subtle scent that should have been undetectable—merely reading the ambient energy around him. Yet he had been aware of my scrutiny.

“Hahaha!”

Of course. The foremost warrior of a past era would possess such mastery. This Nanghon had attained at least the mature peak. Vitality, void grasp, unity of sword and self—he had mastered all three profound realizations and awakened the Eye of Intent.

“Just as I suspected. You have come to learn my secrets. If you wish to see, then look. I shall not hide them.”

Nanghon smiled faintly. Suddenly, what had been imperceptible became clear. He had sealed his qi flawlessly, more skillfully than most professional assassins, and now allowed it to manifest.

It was an awkward position to be in, yet I met his gaze unflinchingly.

“Since you have offered, I shall examine you fully.”

This time I extended threads of qi to search every part of him. Even the sharpest senses benefit from direct perception. I studied the flow and quality of his energy down to the last detail.

*There is no trace of demonic qi whatsoever.*

His power was immense and pure for one who wandered without affiliation, yet there was no warped or unorthodox principle within it—only the energy of a reclusive master or a disciple of a hidden sect.

“Have you seen enough?”

“Thank you. Would you care to see mine in return?”

“As one who walks the martial path, I prefer crossing swords over exchanging inspections.”

A challenge to a friendly spar. I shook my head.

“We shall have ample opportunity to match skills at the Dragon-Phoenix Supremacy. There is no need to rush.”

“…Haha! You speak the truth. Our paths are certain to cross.”

“Hahaha!”

The sound of both men’s laughter filled the courtyard. *Certain to cross*—in a gathering of such magnitude, those words meant only one thing: both of us intended to reach the final stages.

Just as I had assessed him, he had measured me as well. An interesting man. I remained uncertain whether he led the Blood Cult, yet he was thoroughly engaging company.

“The odds favor it. Unless someone flees once their identity is laid bare.”

“What do you… Ah. You have come to ascertain whether I am concealing something. With the Dragon-Phoenix approaching, all manner of folk have gathered here. I hear the Yeonwol Alliance patrols Wunan thoroughly.”

He answered with perfect composure, deflecting my subtle probe with ease. Quick-witted, eloquent, and possessed of skill that rivaled Adu or Hyun-geom.

*If he is not the Blood Cult Leader, I must persuade him to join our household.*

“What is your true name? Nanghon is merely an alias.”

There were clear reasons for concealing his identity, yet he answered without hesitation.

“The young lord of the Baek family shines like the Dragon Sword of Heaven—you are Yang-hwi. My name is Min-eum. It carries a gloomy connotation, so I adopted Nanghon instead.”

*Min* meaning might, *Eum* meaning shadow—scarcely a name given to a child. It hinted at a difficult history.

“I understand. Then I shall see you at the Dragon-Phoenix Supremacy.”

“I eagerly await it.”

A simple farewell, and I departed. Glancing back, Nanghon gave a cheerful wave.

“Oppa. It seems there was no major discovery.”

Knowing my temperament, Seol-ha reasoned that had I found cause for alarm, things would have taken a chaotic turn.

“None as yet. Still… he must be placed under surveillance. Through every means available.”

“At the very least, you have found a new rival, have you not?”

“Perhaps.”

Seol-ha’s eyes widened slightly. The Yang-hwi she knew would have declared without hesitation, ‘He is no match for me.’

“To earn your respect? That is rare—only Adu and the Tang clan’s young heir have received such an acknowledgment.”

“Is it truly?”

It had not been a wasted visit, yet I had learned far less than I had hoped.

“Then we must seek out new suspects.”

Events had unfolded so differently from my past life that the task would be difficult. Even Hyun-geom and Adu had not participated in those former times.

“Ugh. What a headache.”

“It cannot be helped. The work must be done.”

It was a sensible sentiment from her, yet it irked me that the elders had grown complacent. There was no point in explaining that the Blood Cult lay at the very heart of the martial world’s darkest history.

“You are right. It cannot be avoided. We must seek out new leads.”

“I shall make use of the family’s network to assist you, Oppa.”

“Thank you. I must consider where to begin.”

But was it good fortune, or merely cause for more headaches? Upon returning to the inn, I realized the answer at once. The reason was simple.

“Hyungnim! Urgent news! The heir to the Blood Society has declared his entry into the Dragon-Phoenix Supremacy!”

“What?”

The most dreaded faction of the current age. The Blood Society—unmatched in size and power, worthy of being called the world’s greatest sect—had begun to stir.

*This never occurred in my past life. Could it mean…?*

Yang-hwi’s expression hardened.