The Night Visitor
It has changed a lot here, too.
Although he had only visited his maternal family's estate a few times during his childhood, it felt much more modest and quiet than he remembered.
Yet, just like his own family's home, the passage of time had left its mark here as well.
Ten years is indeed enough time for many things to change.
Once again, the weight of the years he had wasted in the Jianghu pressed heavily upon him.
At the same time, long-forgotten memories began to warm Yoo-sung's heart, one by one.
"Old Patriarch, your maternal grandson has arrived."
At the chief seneschal's announcement, the door slid open, revealing an elderly man with hair as white as frost waiting for Yoo-sung.
"It has been a long time, Maternal Grandfather."
"Haha! When did that audacious little brat grow so tall?"
As Yoo-sung bowed politely, Dang Joong-myung accepted the greeting with a hearty laugh.
"You rascal. Did you finally decide to return after breaking your parents' hearts like that?"
At the clicking tongue and the ensuing scolding, Yoo-sung lowered his head even further.
He had his own grievances regarding that matter, but his fault was undeniably far greater.
A ten-year absence was a debt he would have to spend the rest of his life repaying, at least to his family.
"So, what brings you here?"
He knew his grandson was not the type to visit simply because he had returned home safely.
Dang Joong-myung possessed a keen eye for people.
There was a reason why, despite being a member of the prestigious Tang Family—even if only from a branch line—he had given his youngest daughter to the master of a seemingly insignificant martial academy.
It was his belief that, though currently lacking, the man would eventually make a name for himself in Sichuan.
The fruit of that belief had been proven by the growth of the past ten years.
Though it still bore the name of the Heavenly Sword Academy, it was now worthy of being called a respectable, albeit small, sect.
"Actually..."
Dang Joong-myung groaned as he listened to Yoo-sung calmly explain So-so's condition.
His maternal granddaughter, So-so, was a painful thorn in his heart as well.
It was only because the Pyre Pills were effective for So-so that he could save face as her maternal grandfather.
But it was not a fundamental cure.
"So the White Wolf Bandits are the problem."
Dang Joong-myung sighed, swallowing his anger toward the White Wolf Bandits who had dared to touch the Pyre Pills he had sent.
"Obtaining the Pyre Pills is not difficult, but the quantity will inevitably be smaller than before."
"May I ask why?"
At Yoo-sung's calm question, Dang Joong-myung sighed and explained the current situation.
Tsk. So it comes back to this.
Yoo-sung was well aware that the root cause of all this lay with him.
He had dismantled Matian with his own hands, and the aftershocks were merely rippling across the Jianghu.
It was a somewhat predictable future, but it left a bitter taste in his mouth knowing that it had directly threatened the well-being of his adorable niece.
Should I take care of them on my way back?
For now, he could obtain spare Pyre Pills from Dang Joong-myung, but there was no telling what would happen next month.
There was no reason to go out of his way if it was too bothersome, but dealing with them lightly on his return journey wouldn't be a bad idea.
"You have traveled a long way, so rest comfortably. This grandfather of yours will go and fetch the medicine."
Nodding slightly at Dang Joong-myung's words, Yoo-sung rested peacefully at his maternal family's estate.
"I am sorry."
Late at night, Dang Joong-myung returned from the Tang Family Branch with a look of regret on his face.
"It is not something you should apologize for, Grandfather. It is the law of the Tang Family, so it must be followed."
These were not empty words meant merely to comfort Dang Joong-myung.
Although the Pyre Pills were easy for the Tang Family to manufacture and distribute,
they were strictly under the family's direct supervision, making it difficult even for Dang Joong-myung to take them at will.
It was only because of Dang Joong-myung's solid influence within the branch family that he had managed to secure three pills.
"With three pills, she should be able to hold out for at least half a year."
Just as Dang Joong-myung said, three Pyre Pills would last her half a year, or perhaps slightly longer, barring any unforeseen emergencies.
The problem is that we must prepare for the worst-case scenario.
Slipping the Pyre Pills Dang Joong-myung had brought into his robes, Yoo-sung thought to himself.
It looks like I'll have to play the night visitor for the first time in a while.
For the sake of his precious So-so, he was more than willing to endure such minor trouble.
Late at night, when even the moonlight had vanished.
A man walked leisurely through the Tang Family Branch, which was currently shrouded in a heavy atmosphere due to recent events.
The man, concealing his identity beneath a black mask and robes, was Yoo-sung.
Step.
Yoo-sung roamed openly through the estate, yet not a single soul detected his presence.
"Have you still not found them?!"
"Damn it! Where on earth are those bastards hiding?!"
"What about the Beggars' Sect?! Is there still no word from them?!"
Even in the dead of night, the lights inside the Tang Family Branch remained lit, and the agitated voices of the occupants echoed in Yoo-sung's ears.
Is it over there?
Yoo-sung directed his steps toward the Tang Family's apothecary visible in the distance.
Sliiiide.
Slipping effortlessly through the slightly ajar door, Yoo-sung scanned his surroundings before making his way to where the Pyre Pills were kept.
Ten should be more than enough.
With that many, So-so's safety would be guaranteed even if an emergency arose.
Yoo-sung quietly slipped away from the Tang Family Branch, carrying ten Pyre Pills with him.
No one realized that a night visitor named Yoo-sung had come and gone.
Creak.
Upon leaving the estate, Yoo-sung immediately headed somewhere else.
To a certain corner of the entertainment district, where the brilliant lights never dimmed.
"We're closed for the night."
A rough-looking man blocked Yoo-sung's path.
"Tell your master to come out."
"I said we're closed—"
Thud.
With a flick of Yoo-sung's finger, the man collapsed instantly.
"...!"
In the blink of an eye, five men materialized before Yoo-sung.
Despite their murderous glares, Yoo-sung remained perfectly composed.
"Is this how you treat your guests? I only came to buy some information."
"Let him in."
At the low, commanding voice, Yoo-sung walked past the men and entered the room.
A man, younger than expected, was waiting for him inside.
"I am Jang Geon, the head of the Sichuan branch of the Hao Clan."
Jang Geon introduced himself while warily sizing Yoo-sung up.
"I want to know the location of the Three Demonic Travelers."
"I am sorry, but even we do not know their whereabouts yet."
Yoo-sung let out a cold chuckle at Jang Geon's response.
"Unlikely. I know you are aiding them."
"...!"
Jang Geon's face contorted at Yoo-sung's words.
"Aiding them? We do not associate with demonic practitioners."
"Then why are you helping them? How else could the Three Demonic Travelers hide so effectively in Sichuan? The reason they remain elusive despite the Beggars' Sect's involvement is simple. It is because they have you—an organization whose information network rivals that of the Beggars' Sect."
"..."
"The Beggars' Sect and the Tang Family will likely begin to suspect you soon."
No, perhaps they already did.
However, without concrete evidence, they could not rashly make a move against the Hao Clan.
No matter how lowly the Hao Clan might seem, their intelligence-gathering capabilities were formidable enough to rival the Beggars' Sect.
Rather than risking a backlash by acting prematurely, they were likely searching for definitive proof.
"What makes you so certain?"
"As I said, no matter how powerful the Three Demonic Travelers are as Transcendental masters, evading the Tang Family's eyes in Sichuan is no easy feat. Furthermore, for the martial artists of Sichuan to pursue them and find absolutely nothing? That would be impossible unless either the Hao Clan or the Beggars' Sect was backing them."
Even if the Great Five Noble Families did not get along with the Nine Great Sects,
there was no way the Beggars' Sect would ignore a crisis facing a fellow orthodox sect.
Moreover, since the Beggars' Sect harbored a deeper hatred for demonic practitioners than anyone else, they would never aid the Three Demonic Travelers. Thus, the only remaining answer was the Hao Clan.
"Why don't you confess while I'm still asking nicely?"
"...It is... not that simple."
"Why? Because of the poison in your body?"
"...!"
Jang Geon's eyes shook violently at Yoo-sung's words.
Who on earth was this man standing before him?
Could Dang Joong-myung's maternal grandson really be a master of this caliber?
"I will cure your poison. Tell me where they are."
Faced with Yoo-sung's indifferent offer, Jang Geon hesitated before finally nodding.
"Cure me first."
"Very well. It is not particularly difficult anyway."
Answering casually, Yoo-sung waved his hand, and a gentle breeze enveloped Jang Geon's body.
Whoosh.
"Arghhh!"
With a wave of excruciating pain, black blood erupted from Jang Geon's mouth.
"Incredible... The poison is actually gone."
Jang Geon was astounded that the poison, which even the Tang Family's legendary medicine could not cure, had been neutralized so effortlessly.
"Now speak. Where are they?"
"...Their location is..."
The moment Jang Geon finished speaking, Yoo-sung's figure vanished.
"Ah, a word of warning. Idle curiosity only invites danger. Erase today's events from your memory."
Yoo-sung's chilling warning sent a shiver down Jang Geon's spine.
He instinctively realized that ignoring this man's words would bring about a terrible catastrophe.
"Hmm."
A middle-aged man with striking dark red eyes sank deep into thought.
Everything is proceeding as expected. The internal strife within the Tang Family will only worsen, and in the meantime, we will find Pacheondo.
The middle-aged man was the leader of the notorious Three Demonic Travelers currently terrorizing Sichuan: the Sword Traveler.
Once famous as a vanguard commander of Matian with a single sword, the Sword Traveler.
His sworn brothers, the Saber Traveler and the Fist Traveler, had remained by his side even after Matian collapsed.
Currently, they were searching for Pacheondo, which was rumored to be hidden somewhere in Sichuan.
Pacheondo was one of the ten legendary demonic weapons of Matian, a coveted treasure of immense power.
Each of the Ten Demonic Weapons contained an incredibly profound martial art.
The power of these ten weapons had played a major role in Matian's ability to absorb various demonic sects and unite them under one banner.
In truth, Matian's original purpose had not been to conquer the world, but to recover the Ten Demonic Weapons. It was only as their power grew over time that their ambitions became corrupted.
The Three Demonic Travelers had been pursuing Pacheondo for a long time.
They believed that if they could obtain the martial arts sealed within it, they would finally break through the massive wall that had stymied their progress for so long.
Yet, the location of Pacheondo remained elusive.
Even with the assistance of the Hao Clan.
"Brother."
The Sword Traveler was pulled from his thoughts by a voice calling out to him.
"What is it?"
"He has disappeared."
"...As expected."
The man who had entered was the Saber Traveler.
As the second of the Three Demonic Travelers and a master of the saber, he had always dreamed of becoming the Saber Demon.
Although his limited talent and humble origin had held him back, he had never once abandoned his dream.
He pursued Pacheondo because he believed it could compensate for the shortcomings in his saber techniques.
The Sword Traveler desired the internal cultivation method contained within Pacheondo, while the Saber Traveler sought its saber forms.
Because their goals were complementary yet distinct, they were able to work together in harmony.
The Fist Traveler, too, coveted the martial arts of Pacheondo.
The "he" the Saber Traveler referred to was the Fist Traveler, whose pride had been deeply wounded after suffering a humiliating defeat at the hands of Dang Geon-ho.
It seemed he had ultimately defied their warnings and descended the mountain...
"Tsk. What should we do?"
The Sword Traveler clicked his tongue, contemplating their next move.
He was not particularly worried about the Fist Traveler.
Despite his hot temper and crude nature, he was still a Transcendental master.
This meant that the branch of the Tang Family, which had been cast out of the Great Five Noble Families, was no match for him.
"I only hope he knows when to stop and returns soon."
"Do you really think he will?"
As the two discussed the Fist Traveler's whereabouts,
the door suddenly burst open, and something came rolling across the floor toward them.
Roll, roll.
It was the severed head of the Fist Traveler, whom they had been speaking of just moments ago.
"...!"
"Who... Who the hell are you?!"
Their shock at the sudden intruder was brief; the moment they realized he was the culprit who had slain their youngest brother, a furious rage erupted within them.
Though not related by blood, they were sworn brothers who had pledged to die on the same day.
Seeing their youngest brother's gruesome end, their eyes blazed with murderous fury.
"Foolish bastard! Even if you had run, you wouldn't have survived. Now pay the price for delivering yourself to us!"
His eyes burning with wrath, the Saber Traveler unsheathed his weapon and lunged forward.