Chapter 153
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 153
Chapter Title: Guess I Should Say Hello
Shaanxi Province, Chang'an.
A city that had served as the capital of ancient dynasties multiple times, its prosperity beyond words.
Always bustling with people, yet the residents of Chang'an had felt something off over the past day or two.
A tension hung in the air throughout the city.
Just yesterday morning, it had been lively as ever.
Unable to pinpoint the reason for this strange atmosphere, people tilted their heads and ventured out less.
Inns and brothels were especially quiet.
Business naturally suffered, but the owners paid it no mind.
They were among the most on edge in Chang'an right now.
Especially...
The owner of Wind Flower Inn, Hwang Chan, was gripped by extreme tension and anxiety.
It wasn't for nothing.
The man they'd marked as a top-priority watch target was snoring away in their inn.
The eyes and ears of the headquarters were fixed on this place.
Acting normally in such a situation was incredibly tough, even for someone with over twenty years in the Shadow Network.
How could anyone sleep twelve full hours straight?
It had been exactly a day since the guy arrived.
That's when the inn grew rowdy.
There was no change in the movements of the staff, cooks, or guests.
Everything seemed the same as always.
Yet Hwang Chan sensed a subtle disturbance.
He'd picked up on the movements of the Shadow Network informants.
He hadn't sensed them directly himself. He was just an ordinary clan member without martial prowess.
But two decades of experience had honed his instincts to tell him so.
'He's awake, looks like. Please just leave soon. Please.'
He worried a fight might break out in his inn.
Of course, headquarters would cover the damages, but that didn't make watching the place get wrecked any easier.
Hwang Chan glanced over the guests filling the first floor.
'Damn. Quite a crowd.'
Half were martial artists.
Not just from the Shadow Network—others had come too.
This was how grueling it got when a top-priority alert went out.
Most of the martial folk crowding Wind Flower Inn were from unorthodox sects.
Mun In Baek-song hadn't sent word only to the Shadow Network. He'd alerted nearby Unorthodox Alliance branches, their affiliates, and his own intelligence outfits.
Keep eyes on Chang'an.
In Mun In Baek-song's mind, it was only a matter of time before Ha Mu-baek turned the Shadow Network upside down.
But he'd shown up way faster than expected.
Not even two days after the message, and Ha Mu-baek was in Chang'an.
That's why they'd rushed to gather at Wind Flower Inn.
A place under the watch of both Shadow Network and Unorthodox Alliance eyes and ears.
Ha Mu-baek felt utterly refreshed.
He'd even finished circulating his energy, leaving his whole body invigorated.
"People really do need their sleep."
Thanks to his overflowing inner energy, he could've gone days without rest.
Still, the difference between a good night's sleep and skimping was huge.
"Hm. Quite the turnout."
He'd anticipated this from the moment he entered the city.
Startled snakes were rearing up, glaring at him.
Not just one or two.
"Huh? What's the Unorthodox Alliance doing here?"
The Unorthodox Alliance warriors caught in Ha Mu-baek's senses.
He cocked his head.
There was no reason for them to get involved in his business with the Shadow Network.
Especially not their leader Gong Ya Jang-cheon or strategist Mun In Baek-song, who knew him well.
"Ah, did Ye Cho-a ask for help?"
Ha Mu-baek's lips curved into a chilling smile as the thought struck him.
"Looks like she couldn't seize the opportunity after all."
If she had, there'd be no need to call in the Unorthodox Alliance.
The Shadow Network pegged his level right up to that point.
Maybe they could fend him off if the Unorthodox Alliance stepped in.
Gong Ya Jang-cheon alone was an absolute master said to rival Righteous Heaven Alliance Leader So Hwi-woong, a hero of the last war.
"Guess I should say hello."
Ha Mu-baek stepped out of his room and descended the stairs with steady thuds.
He was hungry, so he needed food—and greetings for his Unorthodox Alliance guests.
As Ha Mu-baek moved, those lurking covertly in the inn sprang into action.
He just smirked at their blatantly obvious presences.
Thus he reached the first floor.
He scanned the room from the base of the stairs.
One among them.
'That one's it.'
Plenty of people, but only one worth greeting.
From his scan, exactly one bore the distinctive inner energy of the Unorthodox Alliance's Black Flag Squad.
Ha Mu-baek walked to his table and plopped down opposite.
"Wh-what?"
The man sipping liquor with a roast duck startled.
He'd never imagined the surveillance target sitting right in front of him.
"Mun In Baek-song say nothing?"
At Ha Mu-baek's question, the man froze stiff.
He hadn't expected the name of his commander to pop out like that.
Ha Mu-baek nodded at the reaction.
"Guess he didn't tell you. Means the orders are fresh. My arrival report's probably flying to headquarters right now."
The man gaped, speechless at the casual musing.
Duck grease dripped from his mouth, but he had no time to care.
This was Song Ho-shin.
A Black Flag Squad informant from the Unorthodox Alliance's Chang'an branch, tailing Ha Mu-baek per urgent orders received the day before last.
The branch had combed the city and pinpointed him checking into Wind Flower Inn yesterday.
So he'd camped here all day.
Wind Flower Inn fell in his patrol zone.
And now exposed in one go?
Unbelievable.
The orders stressed utmost caution to avoid detection.
Ha Mu-baek chuckled at his reaction, amused.
"Chew and swallow what's in your mouth properly. Waiter! Over here!"
He called the waiter while speaking.
"Yes, sir!"
The waiter hustled over, quickly wiping the table in front of Ha Mu-baek.
"One fried chicken and one bowl of noodles."
Ha Mu-baek flicked two nyang coins; the waiter snatched them midair.
"Keep the change."
"Thank you, sir!"
The waiter bowed deeply with a shout and dashed to the kitchen.
Ha Mu-baek's gaze shifted to the man before him.
"Name?"
"Uh, well..."
"No point hiding when we both know the score."
"Song... Song Ho-shin."
Ha Mu-baek nodded at the answer.
"Quit glancing around so much. I've set up a barrier—no one can hear us."
Song Ho-shin's eyes widened at Ha Mu-baek's words.
A sound-blocking formation. Fitting for a top-priority target.
In truth, he knew only Ha Mu-baek's name and priority status.
Like any field agent, detailed target intel wasn't shared.
"What'd Mun In Baek-song say?"
The casual tone, naming the Unorthodox Alliance strategist like a neighborhood bum.
He should've been furious, but Song Ho-shin's instincts screamed otherwise.
He just answered straightforwardly.
"He... said to watch you carefully, sir."
"And then?"
"Just observe. No involvement."
Ha Mu-baek nodded slowly.
The food arrived in a flash.
After a bit of noodles and fried chicken, he asked again.
"That's really all?"
"Yes. Told all unorthodox groups in Chang'an: no clashes, no meddling. Even if a dispute arises between you—er, sir—and a specific group, stay out of it."
"Mm."
Ha Mu-baek nodded, swallowing chicken.
Didn't seem like they'd come out due to his earlier concerns.
Good.
Getting tangled with the Unorthodox Alliance would be a hassle.
Not just their size—an alliance of unorthodox sects tied them in messy relations with the Righteous Heaven Alliance too.
"Gong Ya Jang-cheon and Mun In Baek-song are sharp, unlike some."
Song Ho-shin's eyes bulged at the mutter.
Never dreamed he'd slight the Alliance Leader that way too.
Meanwhile, Ha Mu-baek polished off the noodles and chicken.
Rinsed his mouth with tea.
"Let's go."
"Pardon?"
Song Ho-shin blinked blankly at Ha Mu-baek.
Go where all of a sudden?
"You have to tail me and report back, right? No need skulking around. Just come along."
Song Ho-shin stood awkwardly.
What the hell was this guy?
Why order surveillance on him?
Did the strategist know his true nature?
Questions swirled, but all he could do was follow Ha Mu-baek.
As the pair moved, Wind Flower Inn buzzed quietly.
Once Ha Mu-baek was confirmed gone, owner Hwang Chan sighed in relief.
The top-priority target had left without incident.
Outside, Ha Mu-baek spread his senses wide.
He already knew Ye Cho-a's presence, so finding her was easy.
Thus he roamed Chang'an's streets and alleys.
Main boulevards, then slum backstreets.
An unpredictable path.
Even walking with him was this erratic; covert trailing would've been hell.
"Um, are you zigzagging to shake the tails?"
Where'd he get the nerve?
Song Ho-shin asked cautiously.
"Nah. Annoying, but shaking them's more hassle. Too lazy to sweep them out, so leaving 'em be."
The chilling aura made Song Ho-shin gulp.
"Sweep" sent shivers down his spine.
"Then... where to?"
The question followed.
Conversation flowing eased the fear a bit.
"Dunno."
The absurd reply.
Leading the way yet clueless?
Ha Mu-baek grinned at his expression.
"Keeps darting around. Seeing how far it'll go—trailing slow."
He resumed walking.
Seemed this top-priority target was hunting someone himself.
Chasing and chased, chasing and chased.
How many martial artists were playing hide-and-seek in Chang'an?
Song Ho-shin wondered.
The air in Chang'an felt heavier today.
"He's turned toward the slums."
Ye Cho-a scowled at the report.
How long ago had they shifted to the Shadow Network's safehouse in Chang'an's back-alley slums from headquarters?
And now heading there?
"Move again."
Ye Cho-a left the safehouse, Second Protector on her heels.
Just the two of them.
Moving more would only draw Ha Mu-baek's eyes, she figured.
Shadow Network disciples blanketing Chang'an relayed his moves via code signals nonstop.
Second Protector passed them to Ye Cho-a.
But useless.
Wherever she hid in Chang'an, Ha Mu-baek ghosted straight there.
Persistent bastard.
Midnight.
Streets empty.
Still, Ye Cho-a moved fast.
Another coded signal.
Ha Mu-baek changed direction again.
"Th-that damn persistent freak..."
Gurgle.
Song Ho-shin rubbed his growling belly quietly.
Hours since dinner—hunger made sense.
"Grab a midnight snack and move. Know any spots?"
Same as dinner.
Got hungry, ate, then moved.
Got a breather.
"Yes. One nearby."
Song Ho-shin led.
Ha Mu-baek followed, glancing back.
"Not bad. Still not quitting? Time to end this boring game. Wait here. Gotta fill up first."
No one heard Ha Mu-baek's quiet mutter.