A Wise Bargain
The Expert Master, Yang Cheon-jo, also known as the Blood Wind Spear.
In truth, he was merely a big fish in a small pond, famous only in a backwater countryside like Giyang County.
Yet, this very same Blood Wind Spear possessed a master whose fame transcended provincial borders and resounded across the entire land.
His name was none other than Cheol Mu-geuk, the Three Absolute of Heaven's Path.
Cheol Mu-geuk was a middle-aged man standing seven feet tall, his thick, solid muscles wrapping around his frame like a suit of heavy armor.
Though he appeared middle-aged at a glance, he was already nearing his sixtieth year.
The reason the Three Absolute of Heaven's Path was so renowned throughout the martial world was his absolute mastery of the sword, the spear, and fist-and-palm techniques.
He was a genuine master who had reached the realm of a Transcendent Master in all three disciplines.
Yang Cheon-jo stole a glance at his formidable master before turning his gaze to his two senior martial brothers standing beside him, whispering in a hushed tone.
"I will try to set a polite, quiet mood first, so please, Senior Brother Yong, do not say anything offensive just because he looks young."
"I have already heard this a dozen times. My ears are practically bleeding, you rascal."
"Haha, Senior Brother. It seems our youngest has grown quite anxious."
"Senior Brother Ju, I am not joking! He really looks incredibly young. Like he is barely twelve years old. You absolutely, positively must not make a mistake. Do you understand?"
"Yes, yes. You told us to treat him like a master who has undergone Youthful Restoration. I have heard that exact line ten times now."
Overhearing his youngest disciple's frantic warnings to his senior brothers, Cheol Mu-geuk felt a spark of curiosity rise within him.
Usually, Yang Cheon-jo was a thoughtless, self-centered brat.
For him to be this terrified of someone, repeating warnings without pause, was unprecedented.
The Young Divine Dragon of the Yangtze...
Rumors about Ilyang were already rampant in the region.
Some claimed a black dragon had appeared to carve a new path for the Yangtze River, while others whispered that he was a secret master raised in isolation by the Orthodox sects.
Such rumors mattered little to Cheol Mu-geuk.
The only thing that truly concerned him was one specific detail.
A high-level spellcaster capable of opening a Hidden Realm.
A Hidden Realm—a mystical pocket dimension created by ancient immortals or yokai sages.
Currently, a spellcaster capable of opening and closing a Hidden Realm on their own could not be found even in the imperial capital. Such figures rarely cared for worldly affairs, making them nearly impossible to meet.
"But can that boy truly open the Hidden Realm?" Cheol Mu-geuk asked quietly, his eyes scanning the bustling wharf.
Yang Cheon-jo snapped his head around instantly.
"Of course! If he cannot open it, we will not find anyone else who can, even if we wait for years."
"...I see."
As the master and his disciples waited quietly in a corner of the wharf, a group of riders approached from the distance.
Clack, clack!
Riding a sleek, pitch-black stallion was a young boy who appeared to be around ten years old.
He wore a warrior's headband embroidered with a golden dragon, and his ink-black silk robes fluttered in the wind. The boy exuded an aura of absolute confidence.
"Hmm..."
Cheol Mu-geuk swallowed hard as he watched the riders cresting the hill, an involuntary groan escaping his lips.
I cannot see it.
He could not read the boy's realm at all.
Since he himself was a Transcendent Master, the boy had to be at least at his level or higher for his cultivation to remain completely hidden.
His mouth went dry.
Did he cast some special spell to conceal his presence?
Whether it was raw strength or a clever trick, one thing was certain: the boy was extraordinary.
Cheol Mu-geuk cast aside his relaxed attitude, his focus sharpening instantly as he observed the approaching riders.
At that moment, Yang Cheon-jo stepped forward, waving his hand energetically.
"Hey! Kid! I'm here!"
Yang Cheon-jo smiled brightly and waved at Ilyang. The nearby river bandits scowled fiercely at his casual tone toward their master.
They clearly did not appreciate someone speaking so familiarly to their lord.
However, Yang Cheon-jo was entirely unbothered.
"What are you glaring at? Want to die?" he barked, glaring right back at the bandits.
One of the bandits, a fierce-looking middle-aged man sipping tea on the wharf, let out a cold chuckle.
"Let us not cross any lines here."
It was Maeng Ryeo, the Iron Blood Sickle.
As a renowned Peak Master of Myeongju, his icy glare made Yang Cheon-jo, a mere Expert Master, flinch slightly.
But remembering his formidable master standing right beside him, Yang Cheon-jo quickly regained his bravado and stepped forward.
"Don't you know your boss and I are friends?"
"Well, we both know that is not quite the relationship. But since you have come as a guest today, I shall let it slide. Show some respect in the future."
"Hmph!"
Yang Cheon-jo snorted and looked away as Maeng Ryeo conceded the point.
Meanwhile, the riders arrived at the wharf, and Ilyang dismounted, clasping his hands in a polite greeting toward Cheol Mu-geuk.
"Ilyang, a junior of the Murim, greets Senior Three Absolute of Heaven's Path."
"You are even more remarkable than the rumors suggest. I am Cheol Mu-geuk."
Ilyang nodded, sensing the fierce, powerful energy radiating from the man's physical form.
At this level, he is comparable to a high-tier knight.
In his past life's empire, this man would have easily commanded a knight order. He was a cultivator who had pushed his physical body to its absolute limits.
Thus, Ilyang showed him proper respect.
"I brought my master, just as promised!" Yang Cheon-jo declared proudly.
"Indeed."
Ilyang turned his gaze to Gong Jeol-gang.
"Will there be any issues if I leave for a short while?"
It was a question with a predetermined answer.
"Your disciple will manage everything perfectly, Master."
"Good. I leave it in your hands."
Ilyang nodded, scanned the bandits lined up at the wharf, and looked at Maeng Ryeo.
"Can we set sail immediately?"
"Yes, Young Master. The Ghost Cloud Traveler is already waiting aboard the Nezha Dragon King."
"Excellent. Senior, let us depart."
Cheol Mu-geuk watched Ilyang board the massive vessel without any formal pleasantries or welcoming ceremonies. Shaking off his daze, he quickly followed him aboard.
"Is it truly alright to set off like this?"
"Yes. There should be no issues. Or did you have other business to attend to?"
"No, nothing in particular..."
Was he really traveling alone, without a single guard? What gave him such confidence?
But Ilyang seemed completely unconcerned about his own safety. He looked down at Gong Jeol-gang and Manager Seo standing on the wharf.
"I will return shortly. I trust you with the island, Manager Seo."
"Understood, Young Master."
"Set sail, Captain Ho."
"Yes, sir! The Nezha Dragon King is setting sail!"
Creak—
The flagship of the bandit leadership, the Nezha Dragon King, raised its anchor and glided away from Sunghwa Island's wharf, heading toward the mainland.
Once they cleared the island's waters, Ilyang approached Cheol Mu-geuk.
His clear, dark eyes locked onto Cheol Mu-geuk's as he asked, "Which direction should we head?"
"Yes, Master, where is it located?" Yang Cheon-jo asked, equally curious.
Cheol Mu-geuk, who had been lost in thought while staring at something, blinked in surprise.
"Ah... Yes! If possible, head toward Akyu Wharf. It is closest from there."
Cheol Mu-geuk had been unable to take his eyes off the red-tailed fox perched on Ilyang's shoulder.
Geum-ok, the red fox, ignored his gaze with her trademark sassy, aloof expression.
"Akyu Wharf?" Ilyang narrowed his eyes.
Akyu Wharf was located slightly downstream from his newly acquired territory.
It was clearly the territory of the Five Dragons Clan.
But...
If they pick a fight, all the better.
If they initiated an attack, he had no reason to refuse. He would simply crush them and absorb their assets.
There was no hesitation.
"Steer the ship toward Akyu Wharf."
"You heard him, boys! To Akyu Wharf!" Captain Ho Sam shouted.
The crew sprang into action. Even with a favorable wind, it would take at least two to three days.
Assuming, of course, they faced no interference.
Surprisingly, there was no interference.
I am certain they were watching us from afar.
The ships of the Five Dragons Clan had definitely been spotted, but they did not approach. Were they planning an ambush on the return trip?
Ilyang kept watch, but since they did not attack first, he had no justification to strike them in their own territory.
"We have arrived."
"Keep the ship on standby at the wharf."
"Yes, sir."
"And pick ten of the smartest men to accompany us. They do not need to be martial artists. We will need to buy a cart to haul things back."
"Understood."
Ho Sam quickly gathered his most reliable men to follow Ilyang off the ship.
Ilyang looked at the slightly tense bandits, then turned to Cheol Mu-geuk.
"How many more days of travel from here?"
Akyu Wharf was quite small. A massive vessel like the Nezha Dragon King could not dock properly, so they had to use smaller rowboats to get ashore. It was essentially a tiny fishing village on the outskirts of a city.
"It is not far. About a day's journey on foot."
"Then it would be best to buy a cart here."
"Indeed. Our destination lies deep within the Jinan Mountain Range."
Finally, the destination was revealed.
Even for Ilyang, who was intimately familiar with dungeons, the Hidden Realms of this world were a source of great curiosity.
"Very well. Let us eat first."
After giving his men money to purchase a cart, Ilyang entered a tavern near the wharf.
"Welcome!" the waiter greeted them.
As they sat near the window, Ilyang addressed Cheol Mu-geuk and his disciples.
And he brought up the most important topic.
"Shall we decide on the distribution of the spoils before we enter?"
"Hmm... I would prefer to pay a fixed commission fee. Would that be acceptable?"
Ilyang tilted his head. "I am quite expensive, Senior. I doubt that would be feasible."
Was he joking, or testing him?
Cheol Mu-geuk sighed softly. "I suppose so. Very well. If we clear the realm together, I will give you half of whatever treasures we find."
"M-Master!" Yong Seol-ak, the eldest disciple, gasped at the incredibly generous offer.
But Cheol Mu-geuk remained steady, staring directly at Ilyang.
Ilyang smiled with mild amusement and nodded. "Fair enough. Let us do that."
"Uh... that's a good thing, right, Master?" Yang Cheon-jo asked blankly.
Cheol Mu-geuk nodded with his usual stoic expression.
"We do not just need someone to open the door; we need the strength to conquer it. It is a fair trade."
This was not just a contract to open the entrance; it was an agreement to cooperate in clearing the realm. Cheol Mu-geuk believed the concession was worth the safety it provided.
An accidentally discovered Hidden Realm.
Since they had no idea what dangers lurked inside, having a powerful insurance policy was a wise move.
Furthermore...
The rumors actually understated his caliber.
Though he did not show it, Cheol Mu-geuk held Ilyang in extremely high regard. The effortless composure unique to the truly strong was evident in the boy's eyes and actions.
And Cheol Mu-geuk respected such individuals.
This will be an excellent experience for my disciples.
As a renowned and honorable hero of the Murim, Cheol Mu-geuk had never been greedy for material wealth.
And he had no idea just how incredibly wise this decision would turn out to be.