Rebirth of the Heavenly Demon

Ma Ryeong-in imposed one restriction.

I was absolutely not to go near or try to open the room across from her room. He even scared me, saying that it was equipped with a tremendous mechanism that would result in instant death if opened.

I agreed, but it was a promise hard to keep. That room was the one I was most interested in within this underground area.

“Even if that room is piled with mountains of gold, I’m not interested.”

And I immediately entered Im Yeon-jeong’s research room.

“Do your research from ten days later, and play with me until then. There won’t be any disturbers then.”

Im Yeon-jeong, who had already heard about me, shook her head.

“You’re really being a nuisance.”

But her expression wasn’t as annoyed as her words suggested.

“Men are naturally meant to bother women.”

“Look, if this is because of what happened that day, it’s a really naive and stupid thought. That kiss meant nothing.”

I looked at her with a disappointed expression. She made a face that seemed to say, ‘Are you an idiot?’

I smiled faintly and said:

“Isn’t everyone trying to live cunningly in this world? There should be people who live naively and stupidly too.”

“Seeing you say such things, you don’t seem to be that stupid.”

“Haha. Thank you for thinking so.”

Im Yeon-jeong went to her seat and read a book. But soon she shook her head and said:

“I can’t concentrate at all because of you.”

“How can you not concentrate because of someone who means nothing?”

“Are you going to be petty?”

“Haha, no. I didn’t mean to disturb your work. Let me ask one thing before I leave.”

“What is it?”

“Why are you doing this research?”

“Do you really not know and have to ask? It’s to eliminate the fatal side effects of the Unrepentant Demonic Spiritual Pill. The reason you only have a year to live is because of those side effects. You’re the only person who should be praying for this research to succeed here, aren’t you?”

“So, why are you trying to eliminate the side effects? Wasn’t this research ongoing for years even before I took the Unrepentant Demonic Spiritual Pill?”

She didn’t answer, but I continued:

“Of course, it’s to cultivate martial artists with tremendous inner energy. What I want to ask is this. Let’s say you’ve succeeded in creating numerous martial artists with tremendous inner energy. Then what? What’s next?”

She remained silent.

I looked straight into her eyes and asked bluntly:

“Are you trying to take over this martial world?”

Im Yeon-jeong turned back to her desk and said coldly:

“Get out.”

I left the research room without provoking her further.

When I spoke about the purpose and results of this research, she showed an oversensitive reaction. It was evidence that she had doubts about her own research.

In other words, it meant this wasn’t research she was doing willingly. Was she also caught in some kind of trap?

As I was walking down the corridor, Number Seven came walking from the opposite direction.

“You remember me, right?”

“Of course.”

“Shall we talk for a moment?”

“Sure, let’s do that.”

We went to the dining room together.

The structure of this underground secret room was like this: After entering from outside and passing through the corridor with four mechanisms, next came the room with Ma Ryeong-in’s guard warriors and Ma Ryeong-in’s bedroom, then Im Yeon-jeong’s research room and across from it the mysterious room emitting powerful energy, then the room where the test subject had died, and after passing through another corridor, finally came the dining area and sleeping quarters.

There were about seven or eight of those rooms, one of which Number Two was using. Now rooms were given to the newly arrived Number Seven and me.

She and I entered the dining room. She brought a teapot from the side and poured me a cup.

“Thank you.”

“It’s nothing. You’re the famous Nameless Hero in the martial world, right?”

“Somehow I’ve come to be called that. The title ‘Great Hero’ is too much.”

“It’s an honor to meet such a famous person.”

I was inwardly surprised that she was such a good talker. When she was with Ma Jeong-su, most of what she showed was just staring into a pond.

I felt anew how people can change so much depending on their mission and situation.

Well, I’m the same. I had perfectly adapted to being Byeok Ri-dan, and now I was faithfully playing the role of the Nameless Hero. I guess people end up doing what they must do if they really have to.

“I heard you killed the Heavenly Blade Sect’s Slaughterer. He was said to be an incredible master, you must be really amazing.”

“That man deserved to die. He committed all sorts of evil deeds under the Heavenly Blade Sect’s protection.”

“The title ‘Hero’ really suits you.”

She looked at me with an expression of admiration. The moment I saw that, I could feel it. That she had come down to kill me.

I originally know her personality well. She’s not the type to come forward like this, praising the other person and buttering them up.

In other words, it means she came down with a clear mission regarding me. She will probably approach me with this goodwill, investigate me, and then decide on my life or death.

It would be troublesome if she decides to kill me. I have things I need to do right now, and I didn’t want to make her an enemy.

“You’re mistaken. I’m just a vulgar person. The Nameless Hero is just a shell.”

After staring at me for a moment, she smiled and said:

“But that shell is still yours, isn’t it?”

She stood up first.

“It was an honor to meet you. Please spare some time for me in the future too.”

She smiled and went out.

Through a small mirror attached to the wall, I saw her expression change instantly as she turned away. Back to her original expressionless self. This entire meeting was just a mission for her from start to finish.

As I was leaving the mansion, I focused my mind on the room across from Im Yeon-jeong’s room. I tried to raise my energy perception to sense the energy inside.

But I still couldn’t identify its nature, except that the energy was strong.

Just who are you?

***

Several more days passed.

The Golden Grand Banquet was progressing well. This annual event wasn’t just a festival for fun. It was also an opportunity for merchants who don’t usually interact to gather, share unknown information, and make new deals.

Of course, it wasn’t just merchants who gathered. Various famous martial artists from the martial world gathered, and it was also an excellent opportunity to form new connections with them. The merchants of the Central Plains had an inseparable relationship with the martial world people.

Especially, it was an opportunity to greet the Martial Righteous Alliance Leader. Meetings with the Alliance Leader took place every day.

The same was true for Ma Cheol-gun. He was busy meeting dozens of people every day.

While pretending to monitor Ma Cheol-gun, I searched for another person.

And on the fifth day since the start of the Golden Grand Banquet, I was able to find the person I was looking for. The person I found was Gong Su-chan. I had expected he might attend this banquet, and indeed he had.

And with him, I could see an even more welcome person. Gwang-du had come along to guard him.

I was truly glad to see them.

When they stopped at an inn to eat, I sat far away from them.

And first, I sent a sound transmission to Gong Su-chan.

-It’s me. Don’t show any reaction and just listen to my words while eating.

Gong Su-chan continued eating silently without showing surprise or excitement.

-Is everyone alright? If so, drink some water.

Gong Su-chan drank water.

-I thought so. I’m really glad.

If something had happened, they wouldn’t have had the leisure to participate here.

-I’m doing well. Don’t worry about me not appearing before you, there’s a reason.

I exchanged a few more conversations with him. Even without him sending sound transmissions back, he could sufficiently express his intentions by choosing different dishes and water at appropriate times.

I conveyed one particularly important thing:

-Create a branch and a contact point for the newly established merchant group here in Zhengzhou. Be especially careful in your movements, as enemies are swarming here.

Of course, there would be no problem as long as they weren’t connected to the Nameless Hero himself. In such a large city with so many people, no one would pay attention to the movements of a small merchant group.

-Now eat comfortably. Let’s meet when you return later. Don’t tell Gwang-du that I sent you a sound transmission.

He drank water again.

I wanted to send a sound transmission to Gwang-du too, but he would probably show a reaction immediately. I couldn’t take such a risk in a situation where there might be watchers.

I left the inn before them. I felt truly relieved that everyone was doing well.

This is why this task isn’t difficult, even though I’m in danger.

I have a place to return to.

***

That evening, Ma Ryeong-in called for me.

“I found out what you asked me to investigate then.”

It was about Number Three, who was monitoring Ma Cheol-gun.

“I asked Number Two, and he said Number Three won’t interfere in this matter. His purpose is surveillance, not protection.”

“He’s different from Number Two then.”

“That’s right.”

“I know you won’t like me asking this, but you know, right? I can’t stand not knowing things I’m curious about.”

“Go ahead.”

“Who exactly are the people you’ve joined hands with?”

Just say it, casually blurt it out.

But our relationship wasn’t at that level yet.

“You don’t need to know.”

I didn’t press further. Given Ma Ryeong-in’s personality, pressuring him would only lower the chances of getting information. What’s needed until the last moment is emotion and a catalyst that can move his heart.

If I try desperately hard, surely a clue will come from one of these people. If I can’t find out by the last day, I’ll have to open that mysterious door after all. I just hope it doesn’t come to that.

“Well, if that’s how you want it. Anyway, thanks for looking into it. I’ll be going now.”

I stood up and left the room.

Where I went was Im Yeon-jeong’s room. When I opened the door and entered, she was deeply focused on her work.

“Shh!”

She was pouring liquid from a small bowl into a tube connected to the central sphere. The amount seemed important, as she was concentrating all her attention on it.

Sensing it was a crucial moment, I stepped aside.

There was a box where I stood. It was open, as if it had just arrived and been unpacked. It seemed some kind of material had arrived.

Then something caught my eye. There was a torn piece of paper stuck to the box. It was a part that remained when the originally attached paper was torn off.

The moment I saw it, I could tell.

A Escort Agency ticket[1]!

It was a ticket attached by the Escort Agency to courier items. It was a ticket stating where the destination was and who it should be delivered to.

I glanced at Im Yeon-jeong. She had her back turned, absorbed in mixing the liquid.

I quickly examined the paper. I could make out one character on the remaining paper.

It was clearly the character ‘Hyeon’ (shine) (炫).

Judging by its position, it was a Escort Agency ending with ‘Hyeon’. They wouldn’t have entrusted important materials used for these tests to a regular Escort Agency. In other words, this Escort Agency must belong to this organization.

“Is there anything I can help with?”

At my question, she said quietly:

“No. So stay still.”

“I’ll be as quiet as a newborn baby.”

“At least babies are cute.”

And they don’t do this either. I was carefully examining the paper stuck to the box. Looking intently, I could faintly see the first character too. It was ‘Nam’ (south) (南).

Namhyeon Escort Agency.

An Escort Agency I’d never heard of before.

This was the moment a new clue finally emerged.

***

The next day, I sought out Gong Su-chan again to send a sound transmission. This time, I sent it while passing by on the street, not in an inn.

-Tell Jin and Su to find out about the Namhyeon Escort Agency as quickly as possible. Make sure to tell them to investigate carefully, as there’s a terrifying enemy behind this.

I left that one message and passed by.

After looking around the marketplace for a while and having a cup of tea at a teahouse, I was returning when I noticed someone was watching me.

The person was so skilled at concealment that it would have been difficult for anyone but me to notice.

I know well what this unique feeling is. It’s the one I know best, the presence of an assassin.

It’s probably an assassin Number Seven brought. They would need a blade to kill me if the decision to eliminate me was made.

I couldn’t pinpoint the opponent exactly. I was certain I was being watched, but I couldn’t tell who they were or where they were from. That’s how skilled the opponent was.

Moreover, by the time I was returning, the surveillance had even been switched to a different assassin. I couldn’t identify that one either. In other words, it means an assassin of similar skill.

Two assassins of tremendous skill.

I truly am standing in the middle of a place swarming with enemies on all sides.

And now, only three days remain until the last day of the festival.