Chapter 114
Translator: penny
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: The Shadow Gate Sect Leader's Gift
After finishing my conversation with the Shadow Gate Sect Leader, I returned to the clinic, where Moyong Hui quietly called me outside.
It was probably because of Baek Rihyeon, who was sleeping soundly.
'Tsk tsk, he's really living like a king.'
Of course, even I wasn't thick-skinned enough to kick out a sick kid and take his spot.
I just couldn't stand seeing the guy who'd made me suffer since morning sleeping so peacefully.
I glared at Cheon Woojin for no particular reason.
There wasn't any real reason.
'Just because he's Baek Rihyeon's senior brother.'
Of course, it was my fault it turned out that way, but what did I care?
Leaving the bewildered guy who had no idea what was going on behind me, I followed Moyong Hui outside.
"Young master, how did your outing go?"
Moyong Hui checked that no one was around and asked cautiously.
It seemed like she was being extra careful because of who the other party was.
'No need to go this far, though.'
I spread out my energy barrier and spoke freely.
"Yeah. I met the Shadow Gate Sect Leader without any issues."
"...May I ask what you discussed?"
She must have been pretty curious despite pretending otherwise, judging by how she asked right after I got back.
'Can't blame her.'
It was a meeting with the Shadow Gate Sect Leader, after all.
I could look down on him thanks to my memories of ruling the world in my past life, but in truth, the position of Shadow Gate Sect Leader was no small deal in the Central Plains martial world—it wasn't something to be taken lightly.
'If comparing the Shadow Gate Sect to the orthodox sects, it's on par with the Five Great Families or the Nine Great Sects.'
Thinking about my own Mok Family Clan made it easier to understand.
Mount Hua Sect sending just one elder had caused a huge uproar.
The Shadow Gate Sect Leader was essentially on the same level as the Mount Hua Sect Leader.
If the Mount Hua Sect Leader visited the Mok Family Clan?
Not just our clan, but every family in Shanxi Province would be in an uproar.
Of course, Moyong Hui, with her father as the Moyong family head, wouldn't be quite that fazed, but for your average martial artist, the title of Shadow Gate Sect Leader carried that much weight.
And such a person wanted a private meeting with me.
How could she not be concerned?
But the problem was that there hadn't been any of the substantial conversation she was probably expecting.
-Will the Shadow Gate Sect never be able to step into the light...?
At the end of our talk, the Shadow Gate Sect Leader looked utterly dejected and disappointed.
He couldn't even fake his expression, so he must have been pretty shocked.
'Tsk tsk, what's so great about the light anyway.'
Honestly, even I had to admit living in the light now felt pretty good.
Talking about hiding in the shadows was easy, but it came with a ton of frustrations.
'You can't even properly introduce yourself anywhere, and you have to watch your back around everyone your whole life.'
And there was only one way to escape that.
Overwhelming martial prowess.
That's why after reaching the Profound Realm, I'd walked around openly.
'And then it all went south in one go.'
No one could stand against sheer numbers.
That's why I was building up forces in this life—no other reason.
Anyway, having lived in hiding myself, I understood why the Shadow Gate Sect Leader wanted to come into the light.
The issue was that, starting as a proper Shadow Gate Sect disciple, he couldn't ignore the livelihoods of those living ordinary lives below him.
'Or did he never even consider it?'
Martial artists and commoners lived in completely different worlds.
Martial artists trained constantly against the threat of death by blade, while commoners worried about their next meal—there was an enormous gulf between them.
'Even I never worried about starving to death.'
After being kicked out of the clan and before joining the Red Serpent Sect, things were tough, but I never thought I'd actually die of hunger.
Once you learned martial arts, you could always scrape by somehow.
The Shadow Gate Sect disciples were probably the same.
People said the Shadow Gate Sect was a gathering of the lower classes, but take Somwol—even she was making good money as a top courtesan in Taiyuan.
'That restaurant we visited earlier too.'
No other customers besides us, but neither the chef nor the staff seemed worried about business at all.
Point was, they had ways to make a living.
Of course, that wasn't strange.
But if they wanted to keep wearing the hat of an information organization, they had to accept staying in the shadows.
What made the Shadow Gate Sect such a great information network?
Wasn't it because they hid in the shadows and recruited countless commoners as disciples through their branch organizations?
And if they hated the shadows that much, they could just abandon their identity as an information organization.
'Like how I'm living this life as an orthodox junior rather than the Lecherous Demon.'
Kick out all the disciples who didn't know martial arts and build the sect purely from properly trained ones.
There'd be plenty of backlash, but the Shadow Gate Sect could weather it.
'They have more than enough capacity for that.'
The Shadow Gate Sect Leader's skills I'd seen today were on par with Moyong Hwan, the Moyong family head—not lacking at all.
The Brothel Hall Leader in Taiyuan was no slouch compared to a Mount Hua Sect elder either.
As for the juniors worthy of the name, candidates for each hall were a bit below the Five Dragons and Five Phoenixes level, but numbers could make up for quality.
'Thinking of people like Ayoung, their numbers must be huge.'
In short, overwhelming manpower.
If they banded together, they could step into the light, even if it meant losing their information edge.
"Young master?"
While I was lost in thoughts about the Shadow Gate Sect, Moyong Hui called me again.
I snapped out of it and answered.
"Just something like 'let's get along.' Oh, and he said he'd send a gift as well."
For reference, that gift was the Death Command unit Beomseok had promised.
I'd wanted to take them right then, but the Sect Leader said they weren't ready and asked for one day.
"A gift?"
"Yeah. As a gesture of goodwill, he's giving some spirit medicine."
I'd kept quiet about meeting him for the spirit medicine, but no need to hide that I'd secured it.
Moyong Hui, who'd already gained plenty of internal energy from the Blissful Creation Art, wouldn't covet it anyway.
But she said something I never expected.
"Spirit medicine? Young master, don't tell me... for Hyeon?"
What kind of nonsense was this?
If she'd said that about Cheon Woojin, I'd have smacked him yelling 'are you insane?' but...
'Let it slide, Hui. It's you.'
Coming from her kind heart, it was exactly the kind of thing she'd say.
And it showed how highly she thought of me.
I flashed the most natural smile I could and changed the subject.
"More importantly, how's that little punk Baek Rihyeon?"
"Oh, he woke up briefly earlier. Ate some food and medicine, then fell back asleep. The doctor said his fever's down a lot—no aftereffects or anything, so no need to worry..."
I wasn't curious at all, but she answered eagerly.
I nodded along half-heartedly.
"So, when can he be discharged?"
"They said he's recovering faster than expected. Probably good as new tomorrow, but to be safe, let's watch him for three days."
Of course he'd recover fast.
He'd trained in martial arts, after all.
No, the fact that he got sick in the first place was ridiculous.
'It's all Cheon Woojin's fault.'
The idiot had trained a little kid way too harshly.
Even I thought it was overkill, so how could an eight-year-old hold up without getting sick?
'Tsk tsk, moderation. Learn some moderation.'
It absolutely wasn't because I hadn't rented a carriage.
'No, definitely not.'
I dumped all the blame on Cheon Woojin, then asked Moyong Hui lightly.
"Hui, have you eaten?"
"No, I was waiting to eat with you when you got back."
Having stuffed myself at that restaurant with the Sect Leader, her words hit home.
But she burst into a small laugh right after.
"Kidding. I ate with Hyeon earlier."
"Ahem, good. That's a relief."
"The clinic food isn't great, though—I barely ate. So let's go get something tasty together."
She seemed in a better mood now that Baek Rihyeon's condition had improved.
I couldn't bring myself to say I was full, so I took her hand and headed out.
'At least she didn't drag Cheon Woojin along.'
Time to enjoy some quality time together.
The next day, someone arrived at our lodgings with the gift the Shadow Gate Sect Leader had promised.
Considering they were from the Shadow Gate Sect, finding our unmentioned lodgings wasn't surprising...
'Huh? This woman?'
But the visitor was completely unexpected.
It was the woman I'd bumped into in front of the clinic on my way to meet the Sect Leader yesterday.
Not quite as beautiful as Moyong Hui, but still a fine-looking beauty.
I hadn't mustered the courage to flirt back then, but her showing up on her own felt oddly thrilling.
"Young master, who is this...?"
Too late, I realized Moyong Hui was right beside me.
I shrugged nonchalantly, trying not to show it.
"Beats me. First time seeing her."
Admitting I'd seen her yesterday by chance wouldn't help.
If I said I remembered her pretty face despite not even talking, what would Moyong Hui think?
'Hmm, looks like she's already thinking that...'
Her glare was intense.
She'd clearly misunderstood big time.
Of course, I'd done plenty to deserve suspicion, but this time I was a little innocent.
Those petty feelings vanished entirely when the woman introduced herself.
"Hello. I'm Baek Rieunjeong, the second daughter of the Baek Family Clan."
She'd come from a completely unexpected place.