Black Hawk, Please!
"Black Hawk, please!" It seemed the Heavenly Blood Cult Leader's desperate plea had reached the bird. The Black Hawk that had been circling above the inn wheeled around and dove straight toward him.
Flutter! "Black Hawk, you little troublemaker. Why are you always like this?"
The Black Hawk landed lightly on the Cult Leader's arm and simply tilted its head, completely unaware of any wrongdoing.
"Cult Leader, Miss Han has entered the inn. Shouldn't we wait a moment?"
The Cult Leader immediately understood what his subordinate meant and frowned.
"Nonsense! Do you really think Miss Han goes around causing nothing but accidents?"
"No, but still..."
"Enough! Say no more. If the elders hear such talk, they'll have a fit. Let's pretend we never heard it."
Han Ga-eul—no, Shinui—was someone the elders at the very top of the Heavenly Demon Cult, where only the strong survived, would fuss over endlessly. Touching her, whom they protected so fiercely, would send them straight to the afterlife even if the Heavenly Blood Cult's ancestors personally came to help.
"Yes, Cult Leader. I'm sorry..."
"I just don't want to lose any of you for nothing. As long as you're careful from now on, that's enough."
While speaking, the Cult Leader carefully tied a letter to the Black Hawk's leg, double-checking to make sure it wouldn't fall during flight.
"There. Black Hawk, this is urgent, so deliver it as fast as possible. Understood?"
The bird must have heard, yet it only preened its feathers with a bored expression.
"Black Hawk! Why are you acting like this?"
Its speed was nothing compared to a pigeon's, and whenever its route overlapped with other messenger birds, those birds would rest in trees until the Black Hawk was completely out of sight.
'A hawk intelligent enough to be called a divine beast, so why now...'
The clever Black Hawk that treated the vast skies of the Central Plains like its own backyard was suddenly causing problems. The Cult Leader's insides burned so hot they had turned pitch black.
'Don't tell me...'
The image of the Black Hawk circling above Han Ga-eul suddenly flashed through his mind.
"Hmm! Black Hawk, if you deliver this quickly, Miss Han will be very pleased."
The Black Hawk, which had been sitting indifferently on his arm, finally turned its head.
"If you deliver the letter, Miss Han will like you a lot, won't she?"
Flutter!
「Wow, that friend has really pretty feathers.」
「Wow! The Black Hawk is so cool!」
「The Black Hawk is the best messenger hawk!」
「When I grow up, I'm going to live with the Black Hawk!」
Memories began fabricating themselves inside the Black Hawk's head from the Cult Leader's words.
"Go! You must reach the Old Master!"
Flutter!
The moment the Cult Leader brushed his hands toward the sky, the Black Hawk soared upward faster than ever before. They had to report as quickly as possible that the escort target had turned an imperial high official into pulp.
"Phew! It finally left."
Gurgle—!
As he watched the Black Hawk disappear, a strange sound reached the Cult Leader's ears. When he turned around, all the Heavenly Blood Cult members' gazes were fixed on the third floor of the inn. While they stood there looking like beggars, cheerful laughter was coming from inside.
"I want to eat the food Miss Han made again."
One member muttered unconsciously, and every single Heavenly Blood Cult member nodded in agreement.
"It really was amazingly delicious..."
"I've never eaten anything that good before."
"Right. I tried the food at the Young Cult Leader's banquet, but even the famous chefs there weren't at that level."
"Hmm!"
They were carrying out an important mission, so he should have cautioned his subordinates about their words. Yet the Cult Leader felt exactly the same way.
'Even on the first day we met, she found us right away while we were carrying out the Old Master's orders...'
He wanted to deny it out of pride, but perhaps she had simply pretended not to notice. The fact that she had left a generous meal behind in the forest only confirmed it.
Boom!
While the Cult Leader was lost in thought, a sudden explosion made him jerk his head up. The thick wooden wall of the inn was cracking as if it would burst apart.
"Advance team! Among the guests in that inn, who might pick a fight with Miss Han?"
The Cult Leader desperately wanted to believe it wasn't her. But contrary to what he had told his subordinates, her name was already slipping naturally from his lips. No matter how uncompromising she was, causing trouble everywhere she went...
'No... It can't be.'
"We've identified that late-stage experts participating in the Dragon Phoenix Assembly hosted by the Martial Alliance are staying there."
"No, please!!"
Upon hearing the report, the Cult Leader unconsciously grabbed his subordinate by the collar.
"Urgh! C-Cult Leader!"
"Who! Which late-stage experts!!"
The Dragon Phoenix Assembly was a stage of opportunity where young martial artists could spread their wings. Even without winning, simply making a name for oneself would elevate their reputation. That was why countless people, from nameless wanderers onward, flocked there. Though it was technically open to anyone of the right age, in reality it was a showcase competition for the late-stage experts of the great sects.
Our sect's disciple is this amazing. Is your sect's disciple only that much? A place of boasting, camaraderie, and hellish public shaming. That was the Dragon Phoenix Assembly.
'If they're late-stage experts of the Dragon Phoenix Assembly, they might not even be from the major sects.'
This place was Boju City, located between Anhui and the Martial Alliance. It served as a daily shelter for travelers crossing vast lands, but no particularly famous sects or factions resided here.
Gulp.
The Cult Leader swallowed dryly and looked at his subordinate with desperate eyes.
"The Nangong Family."
"Aaah!"
Upon receiving the report, the Cult Leader tore at his own hair. His subordinate watched with a complicated expression. The ever-cool-headed leader of the Heavenly Blood Cult was slowly breaking down.
"Th-the Zhuge Family too..."
"Aaaah!"
"The daughters of the Peng Family of Hebei and the Tang Family of Sichuan as well..."
Names of major sects he knew all too well kept hammering into the Cult Leader's ears.
"Please!!"
The Cult Leader, still clutching his hair, looked around frantically.
"Black Hawk! Black Hawk!! Where did you go, Black Hawk!! Come back!"
He should have listened when his subordinate said they needed to wait until Han Ga-eul entered the inn and add more to the letter.
"Tsk tsk."
The reporting subordinate could only watch pitifully as his leader continued to unravel in real time.
Boom! Boom!
Meanwhile, the inn wall was pierced through, and a large number of people came flying out.
"They appear to be escort warriors of the late-stage experts."
"Nooooo!!"
***
A large man who had drawn his sword charged straight at her.
Crack—!
Thud thud thud!
Boom!
She slapped him across the face and sent him rolling toward the woman who had flown out first, where he foamed at the mouth. The remaining short one was just trembling in place, so it didn't seem like much of a hindrance.
"Nangong."
She grabbed the back of his head, applied force, and lifted him up. His face came into view—teeth shattered, cheekbones sunken, covered in blood.
"If you don't want to die, don't let me see you again."
The moment she lowered the hand she had raised to strike him—
Grab.
Something seized her wrist. Wrinkled, callused hands came into view.
"The donor's hand technique is quite fierce."
"Who are you."
"Just a passing old man."
Following the aged hand upward, she saw robes that smelled of incense. Above them swayed a long white beard and a shiny bald head.
"Monk?"
"Amitabha."
An old man who looked at least eighty called out his Buddhist name and lightly bowed his head. Even that simple gesture gave the illusion of seeing a living Buddha.
"Ah, yeah. Hello, Monk Grandfather."
"Hehe. Pleased to meet you, donor."
As she bowed in response to the old monk's greeting, the hand holding her wrist slowly released.
"The donor's hand technique carries too much killing intent. What do you plan to do with them?"
"Killing them feels a bit much, right?"
The old monk's eyes widened in surprise at her words, but instead of answering, he soon wore a benevolent expression.
"Then I'll just break their arms and legs so they can't do anything useless."
"W-wait!"
The old monk's hand, which had fallen away, grabbed her wrist again.
"Why?"
"Didn't I say the donor's hand technique is too cruel?"
"Monk Grandfather. Instead of stopping me, you should have stopped these dog-like bastards who were trying to hit the child. Right?"
"Urgh... I was going to, but the donor was one step faster."
The old monk's hand slowly released once more.
Crack!
At the same time, she slapped Nangong Unhwi across the face. The dried blood scab burst open and fresh blood flowed out.
Thud!
When she let go of the back of his head, he collapsed powerlessly to the floor.
Crunch!
"Aaaah!!"
As a finishing touch, she stomped on Nangong Unhwi's shoulder. The old monk turned his head as if he couldn't bear to watch.
"Hey."
"Huh? Y-yes? Me?"
The short woman pointed at herself, startled.
"Yes, you. Do you really want to die?"
"That... I..."
"What's so good about sucking up to these guys and hanging around with them? If you don't want to die, get lost."
"H-hiiik!"
It was a pity she hadn't done anything—she would have beaten her otherwise.
—Chik, chik.
"Phew— Would you come this way?"
"Yes, Great Hero!"
"What's with the 'Great Hero.'"
When she called the young waiter who had been standing there dazed, he rushed over immediately.
Clink.
"Here. For the inn repairs."
She took out a gold coin and handed it over. The waiter's eyes widened as if they would tear apart.
"G-Great Hero. This is too much."
"It should be enough to fix the building. And take this secretly."
When she handed over five silver coins, the waiter's eyes widened even further. It was easily half a year's—or even a full year's—worth of monthly wages for the young boy.
"No injuries?"
"N-no... Thanks to you."
She patted the waiter's head, and he bowed shyly.
"Jeonho."
"Yes, Miss Han."
"Drag these bastards away and tie them up."
"M-Miss Han. These are disciples of famous righteous sects..."
"Hey."
"Urgh...!"
When she looked at Jeonho, he stepped back in surprise.
"Answer."
"Yes!!"
Smack!
"Urgh!"
Jeonho grabbed his kicked shin and retreated on his remaining foot, stomping loudly.
"Aren't you supposed to be the Martial Alliance Inspector? What are you doing not inspecting the place where these trash live?"
"S-sorry..."
"Still haven't come to your senses."
"N-no, I have!!"
Flutter!
"Are you defying me?"
"Huk! N-no..."
"Drag them and tie them up."
"Yes!!"
Jeonho, still holding his shin, quickly gathered the fallen ones and glanced nervously at the old monk. His pupils were trembling—perhaps the monk was someone important.
"And manage things so there's no damage to this inn. If anything happens, tell me right away."
"Understood, Miss Han. I'll report to the Alliance and take action."
"Right."
If she stayed here any longer, her blood pressure would spike. There was nothing normal about this place. The only things she liked were the dumplings and the lack of an indoor smoking ban.
"Phew—"
"What's all this commotion!"
As if they thought blocking only the third-floor entrance would keep them safe, warriors who looked like escorts came rushing up late. Or perhaps they had simply been sent down so the others could enjoy themselves in peace.
***
Thanks to constantly running over rough roads, all the motorcycle nuts had come loose.
"Jeonho, I'm taking out a new one, so stay back. You'll get hurt."
"A-ah, yep."
Jeonho dragged the bound men backward. Once they had retreated several steps, she pulled the truck out of her inventory space. Jeonho's eyes widened.
"You've seen it plenty of times. It's just a skill."
"Y-yes..."
This really was a convenient neighborhood.
Click.
"Leave them there and come here."
"Yes."
She opened the truck door and gestured. Jeonho stuck his head inside.
"See that round thing here? It's like a ship's steering wheel. Turn it left to go left, right to go right. It's intuitive, so you won't get confused, right?"
"Uh... yep."
"Stepping on the right pedal below makes it go forward, and the left one makes it stop. Any part you don't understand?"
"None."
Driving was only difficult on complex roads or because of traffic laws. A car was simply something that went when you stepped on the pedal and stopped when you stepped on the other.
"Then get in."