Chapter 116
Translator: penny
Chapter: 116
Chapter Title: (Part 1 Complete)
Baek Eunjeong's reaction to being probed came faster than expected.
That very afternoon, a man approached right away.
"Do you have a moment?"
The internal energy he was subtly concealing was unmistakably that of a Shadow Gate Sect disciple, no matter who looked.
I nodded as if I'd been waiting for this.
"Let's go right now."
The place he led me to was the same rundown restaurant where I'd met the Shadow Gate Sect Leader yesterday.
And there sat the Shadow Gate Sect Leader, looking just as he had before.
"I called you here to share a meal."
It wasn't entirely empty talk—the array of dishes in front of him was quite impressive.
But I firmly turned down his offer.
"No thanks. I already have lunch plans."
After stuffing myself yesterday, I'd barely survived dinner with Moyong Hui.
The food here was decent, sure, but I had no intention of going through that ordeal again.
The Shadow Gate Sect Leader looked disappointed at my resolute refusal.
"Didn't it suit your taste?"
On the surface, it sounded like he was asking about the food, but he was really inquiring about something else entirely.
Baek Eunjeong, whom I'd met earlier that day.
He was asking about her.
'Otherwise, there'd be no reason to set up a barrier formation in advance.'
Yet he was tossing out this vague question to test whether I'd catch on or not.
I thought I'd proven myself thoroughly in yesterday's conversation, but here he was being troublesome again.
'Still, since he gave me those Command Medallions, maybe I should play along a bit.'
It wasn't hard to humor him, especially since he'd gone out of his way to hand over a whole squad of Deathsworn.
Besides, he still had two more Command Medallions left.
I shrugged lightly and gave an equally ambiguous reply.
"My tastes run a bit refined."
The Shadow Gate Sect Leader's eyebrow twitched slightly.
He must have been unsure if this was about the food or Baek Eunjeong.
"Hmm, is that so? Then what part of it failed to meet your refined palate?"
"I'm no chef, so it's hard to pinpoint. Just overall, it didn't measure up."
"Haha, the head chef would be heartbroken. He prides himself on his skills."
"That's not for a customer like me to worry about. More importantly, I don't get why the sect leader insists on dining together."
I picked up my chopsticks and tapped them on the table.
As if commenting on the food right in front of me.
But the Shadow Gate Sect Leader smiled knowingly, as if he'd made up his mind.
"Isn't it just because I want to build a closer rapport with you?"
"Didn't we already do plenty of that yesterday?"
Once Somwol took over as Shadow Gate Sect Leader, there'd be no issues between me and the sect anyway.
So why was he trying to link me with the Baek family?
There had to be some ulterior motive.
"Hmm, you don't seem like you'd buy that."
"Truth be told, I don't really care. If it tasted good, I might overlook it once. But the food was sorely lacking, Sect Leader."
"It's quite famous in Jeonam City, you know..."
The Shadow Gate Sect Leader trailed off there and shoved an enormous dumpling into his mouth in one go.
I couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.
"I told you, my tastes are refined. Something from Jeonam City won't cut it. Maybe if it were famous across the entire Central Plains. And the most important thing? The place is filthy—ruined my appetite."
"Filthy? I thought you didn't sweat the small stuff."
Maybe it was time to end the veiled exchange.
I felt like I'd humored him enough.
"I usually don't. But I can't forgive a lecher."
"Hmm, but if the cooking's top-notch, couldn't you turn a blind eye to the chef's personal life?"
He seemed to like the direction of our conversation and tried to keep up the innuendo.
But I waved him off dismissively.
"One of the women I slept with was a maid at that place who got chased out. For reference, the little kid tagging along with me now is her son."
"..."
"And that kid, who's just turned eight, is named Baek Rihyeon."
After a brief silence, the Shadow Gate Sect Leader downed the liquor in front of him in one gulp.
Then he grinned as if it were all for the best.
"In that case, why not make that boy the head of the family yourself?"
'Why bother?'
Whether it was feasible or not was secondary; it was a proposal that held zero appeal for me.
What was so special about that Baek Rihyeon punk that I'd go making him clan head?
Besides, the Baek family wasn't attractive enough to bother acquiring.
'If it were the Baek family that rose to one of the Five Great Families after the Shandong Yue clan's collapse, maybe...'
Eun Garyeon was already busy in Beijing handling the fallout from the Shandong Yue clan.
Why would I need to stick my nose in?
Of course, things might not go as Eun Garyeon planned, and the Baek family could still rise to the Five Great Families like in my previous life...
"Nah, forget it. It's obviously not a clan that'll last."
I replied with full conviction.
If my guess was right, the Shadow Gate Sect was behind the Baek family's rise to becoming the Baek clan.
But this conversation would change that future.
It wasn't a clan built to last.
How would that sound in the Shadow Gate Sect Leader's ears?
'Like I'm determined to destroy it myself if I have to.'
Of course, I had no intention of doing any such thing.
I'd have to be insane to take on that hassle.
Just dropping the hint was enough.
"Hmm, so that's how you see it."
As expected, the Shadow Gate Sect Leader was pondering his ties to the Baek family.
Rather than driving the point home, I shifted the topic slightly.
"By the way, what exactly did you tell them about me?"
"Hm?"
"You sent someone with a Command Medallion, so it seems like you're on pretty good terms..."
I wondered just how much the Baek family knew about me.
This question was also partly about the Blissful Creation Art.
'Though I doubt they went that far...'
If they'd mentioned the Blissful Creation Art, Baek Eunjeong wouldn't have acted that way.
Still, I needed to know exactly how much info had leaked.
"First off, I didn't mention any martial art called the Creation Art."
That much I'd expected.
I nodded for him to continue, and he chuckled softly.
"This feels like reporting to a superior."
"Superior or subordinate, what's the difference? Go on."
I prodded him half-heartedly, and his eyebrow twitched as if annoyed.
Then he lowered his voice and growled.
"First, let me correct a misunderstanding of yours."
"About what?"
Was he asserting his pride here?
I narrowed my eyes, daring him to try.
But he continued coldly, still looking displeased.
"The Baek family and our Shadow Gate Sect aren't that close."
"...?"
I'd expected a jab at me, not about the Baek family.
As I looked puzzled, he cleared his throat.
"Ahem. I get what you're uncomfortable about. But as I said, our Shadow Gate Sect and the Baek family only joined hands out of mutual necessity. We're not in some grand alliance to the bitter end."
He seemed to think my attitude stemmed from hostility toward the Baek family.
'His decisions are lightning-fast.'
From what he was saying, it sounded like he'd already resolved to cut ties with the Baek family.
I let out a hollow laugh, and he looked slightly relieved as he continued.
"I just described you as an exceptionally talented individual and hinted that if Baek Eunjeong connected with you, the Shadow Gate Sect could provide various assistance."
"And that's it?"
For something so casual, they'd been pretty proactive.
Or maybe that's exactly why she'd backed off so easily?
"Truth is, the Baek family's situation isn't great right now. Their clan head fell into qi deviation while trying to break through and has been bedridden for over half a year. And the young master and heir, Baek Ri-jun, is currently..."
"Ah, that's enough."
I cut him off before he could ramble on.
What did I care about the Baek family's current state?
'If things are already bad, no need for me to lift a finger.'
Cutting off their Shadow Gate connection would be plenty.
I didn't want to dwell on it anymore.
We'd covered everything worth discussing.
Time to head out.
To be honest, part of me wanted to demand the rest of those Command Medallions he'd stashed away...
'But not the right moment.'
He'd bowed so low already—even I felt a bit embarrassed pushing for more.
Back in my Lecherous Demon days, maybe.
'Would've been easier if he'd snapped at me earlier.'
I could've flexed my strength and taken them by force, but he was sharp enough to back off midway.
Declaring distance from the Baek family was part of it.
Feeling a twinge of regret, I tested the Shadow Gate Sect Leader one last time.
"By the way, have you given up on going legit?"
I'd hoped for a flicker of agitation, but he smiled unperturbed.
"Not at all. Just need to approach it more cautiously."
A complete shift from yesterday's attitude.
Looked like squeezing out more Command Medallions was off the table.
'Oh well, plenty of days ahead.'
Satisfied with the wooden box of medallions in my pocket, I rose from my seat.
***
The third day since arriving in Jeonam City.
Finally, Baek Rihyeon had recovered his health.
But Moyong Hui eyed the boy, freshly discharged, with worry.
"Rihyeon, are you sure you're okay?"
"Hui, he says he's fine. Why worry so much?"
"Gaga!"
Moyong Hui shot me a saucy glare.
Right on cue, Cheon Woojin jumped in.
"Lady Moyong. Rihyeon's a martial artist too, you know. Riding in a carriage? It's shameful for a fellow disciple."
Good thing I'd tipped him off last night.
Thanks to that, even Baek Rihyeon reluctantly nodded.
"Yeah, big sis Hui. I'm a martial artist too."
"Sigh. If you say so, Rihyeon..."
And so, we set off once more.
Walking all the way to the Murim Alliance.