Chapter 4

To Jo Hwi, who had lived in a modern city like Seoul, Hefei, the capital of Anhui, was a surprising city.

If one were to describe the feeling of a modern city, it would be like the first time one disassembled a computer and saw its internal components.

Uniform, systematically organized parts, all kinds of circuits connecting them, intricately entangled wires, and dazzling LEDs.

The sight was so cold and dry that it evoked a vague fear, as if touching it carelessly would be dangerous.

But Hefei was different.

It evoked a sense of awe, as if facing the great nature.

Despite the vast and massive city walls, it did not feel artificial.

Knowing that these walls were built by 'people' without any heavy machinery, one could only feel admiration.

Unlike modern people who lean on subway handrails, looking at their smartphones with expressionless faces, the people here had 'expressions.'

Annoyed women arguing, friendly merchants constantly trying to attract customers, beggars with sad faces holding empty bowls, children teasing and following these beggars, acrobats performing with mischievous expressions, and elderly people bursting into laughter at their performances.

It was as if... looking at a giant, living organism.

An emotion rarely experienced in South Korea.

Such a strange resonance moistened Jo Hwi's heart today.

"Wow!"

Jo Hyuk, with a face full of curiosity, kept looking around.

To him, Hefei was a whole new world.

Then, upon discovering something, Jo Hyuk suddenly ran over and mingled with the crowd.

"Sir! Is this the Peking Opera you mentioned?"

"Hehe! You're a big country bumpkin! Is this your first time seeing Peking Opera?"

"Yes, sir! I came from Bongtaehyun! Haha!"

"Quite a long journey. Tsk tsk."

Every time, the people here did not hesitate to strike up conversations and mingle.

For Jo Hwi, who had lived in a modern world where borrowing a lighter from a neighbor required much hesitation, this was quite surprising.

Well, now he was also a Zhongyuan native.

Soon, Jo Hwi's face also became cheerful.

"Sir! I also came from Bongtaehyun! Haha!"

"Really? Two country bumpkins from Bongtaehyun?"

At that moment, the sound of a horn signaling the start of the Peking Opera echoed throughout the venue.

Woo-oo-oo-

The noisy chatter of the crowd gradually subsided, and soon the Peking Opera performers began to enter the stage one by one.

"Ah! Nanok Blood Demon!"

A child's cry startled Jo Hwi.

A Peking Opera performer wearing a blood-red costume appeared on stage.

It looked as if he had painted his entire body with the blood of a freshly caught chicken, and the realism of his appearance was so intense that it sent shivers down one's spine.

The mask he wore resembled a demon.

"It's Changan Sword Hero!"

He wore a long sword at his waist and a silk hero's cape, looking valiant and majestic.

Seeing the appearance of the Nanok Blood Demon, it seemed that the Peking Opera would depict the life of Changan Sword Hero Namgung Su, the current head of the Namgung family.

"Oh! Changan Sword Hero!"

Jo Hyuk was also excited.

To him, Changan Sword Hero was an idol-like figure.

Probably, the same would be true for anyone living in Anhui.

But then,

"Every time I come to Hefei, this absurd Peking Opera is still the same."

"That's right. Didn't Master Manbokja already announce through the Jianghu Chronicles that the Nanok Blood Demon was killed by the Heaven Thunder Saber Guest?"

"Man, these ignorant people, can they even read the Jianghu Chronicles, a rare and precious book?"

"Well, that's true."

The gazes of the audience watching the Peking Opera suddenly focused on them.

Everyone looked at the strangers with glaring eyes and angry faces, but soon, due to someone's cry, they had to change their expressions.

"Jegol!"

The phoenix pattern embroidered on the shoulder of their clothing.

In the Jianghu, only the direct descendants of the Jegol family could wear such clothing.

Murmurs.

People's reactions were varied.

Some openly showed hostility, while others looked dejected and moved away from their seats.

Some spat, and others shouted with fiery eyes... Wait?

"What the hell is that noise!"

Jo Hwi's eyes widened as much as they could.

"Brother!"

With a determined look, Jo Hyuk boldly stepped forward. It was none other than Jo Hyuk!

This made the old man standing next to Jo Hyuk freeze awkwardly.

He seemed to have been about to shout, pointing at the Jegol family members with his finger.

He was the old man who had greeted the Jo brothers at the back of the Peking Opera venue.

One of the Jegol family members frowned and looked at Jo Hyuk.

"Who are you?"

Jo Hyuk confidently took out a book from his chest.

"I'm an avid reader of the Jianghu Chronicles!"

Jo Hyuk continued, not letting go of his displeasure.

"Of course, the person who brought the head of the Nanok Blood Demon was the Heaven Thunder Saber Guest! Who could have any objections to that? But what about the blood-red palm marks all over Changan Sword Hero's body when he returned to the family after half a year of disappearance? Isn't it clearly the Blood Sky Great Catastrophe Hand? He defeated the Nanok Blood Demon and returned alive after being hit by the Blood Sky Great Catastrophe Hand, the ultimate skill of the Nanok Blood Demon! This is a fact known to everyone in Anhui!"

"..."

"Even I respect the high insight of Master Jegol Youyun! But no one is perfect!"

Jo Hwi was surprised again.

Kuh!

Indeed, a true martial arts enthusiast.

But, wait a minute. Jegol family, you say?

One of the Five Great Families!

A smile of ridicule appeared on the face of one of the Jegol family representatives.

"Did you see it yourself?"

Jo Hyuk glared, unable to hold back.

"Then, are you saying that Changan Sword Hero and the heroes of the Namgung family lied?"

The strange smile on the other person's face did not fade.

"Hmph! When such rumors spread in Anhui, our Master Manbokja invited Changan Sword Hero to the main house to confirm the facts. The Namgung family clearly did not respond to this invitation."

"......That, that's..."

It seemed that Jo Hyuk did not know this fact.

"Of course, Master Manbokja wanted to know if Changan Sword Hero had really defeated the Nanok Blood Demon after enduring all kinds of hardships... or if he had just fainted after being hit by the Blood Sky Great Catastrophe Hand and regained consciousness later, returning to the family. It's impossible to know, isn't it?"

"What, what are you saying!"

Hee hee hee!

Jo Hyuk, who was breathing heavily with anger, suddenly protested.

"Then, did Master Manbokja see the Heaven Thunder Saber Guest beheading the Nanok Blood Demon himself? He could have just cut off the head of a dead Nanok Blood Demon and brought it back, right?"

The old man standing next to Jo Hyuk suddenly grabbed his stomach and laughed.

"Hee hee! He brought the head! Hee hee hee!"

The expression of the leader of the Jegol family group turned cold.

"Boy, even if you're a civilian, words have consequences."

Shiver!

A chill ran down Jo Hwi's spine.

Jo Hwi hurriedly stepped in front of his brother, waving his hands.

"Sir, Sir! This kid has lost his mind! He's just a crazy kid! Come on, let's go! Why did you leave the house again? Let's go play with Nureongi! Let's play fetch! Woof woof!"

"But, but I'm not...!"

Jo Hwi covered his brother's mouth and quickly left the venue.

"Right. You're the crazy one. Let's go play fetch."

* * *

"Hmm..."

Jo Hyuk, sitting in a corner of the inn, was reflecting like a mouse.

"You said you wouldn't cause trouble?"

Even if your eyes are rolling, you should still choose the right time and place, right?

Hmm... I'm getting old.

"Since it was in the middle of the city, and there were many people watching, it's a good thing. Sigh, really... Should I give you some money? Do you want to go home?"

"No, no."

"Damn! What do you mean 'no'? You promised not to open your mouth and act like a man! And as soon as we arrived in Hefei, you picked a fight with the Jegol family? You could easily pull out a wooden sword and unleash a stream of sword qi, right?"

Then Jo Hwi pursed his lips and imitated Jo Hyuk.

"Are you saying I'm outstanding? My life is not that serious, you know?"

Feeling embarrassed, Jo Hyuk's neck shrank like a turtle's.

"If you keep being serious twice, even the leader of the martial arts alliance might hit you with a stick. Sigh... I'm the crazy one. I'm the crazy one! Ah!"

Bul bul bul!

"Kuh!"

As Jo Hwi, who had been drinking the strong fire wine like water, kept staring at him fiercely, Jo Hyuk, who had been avoiding the issue, soon brightened up.

"Brother Bi! Here! Over here!"

Shangguan Bi, entering the inn by lifting the curtain, was like a savior to Jo Hyuk.

Shangguan Bi, who immediately noticed the strange atmosphere of the Jo brothers, cautiously asked while standing.

"Did something happen?"

Jo Hwi sighed, as if he didn't even want to think about it, and massaged his temples.

"Sigh... No, it's fine. Please sit down."

As Shangguan Bi sat down with an awkward smile, Jo Hwi immediately got to the point.

"Please tell me everything you know about the Namgung family. I beg you."

Although it was unusual for Shangguan Bi to be asked about the Namgung family, he didn't seem to mind.

He knew that once Jo Hwi focused on something, no one could stop him.

"Hmm. The Namgung family..."

Shangguan Bi's long explanation began.

From the origins of the Namgung family to past major events, their relationships with other Five Great Families, their position in the Jianghu, and the characteristics of their family martial arts.

It was a rather lengthy explanation, but to Jo Hwi, it was not very useful information.

"Brother, I know everything that can be obtained from the Jianghu Chronicles or information brokers. What I want to know is the personalities and tendencies of the current head and other key figures of the Namgung family, their personal goals or preferences, conflicts, and hidden corruptions... such things."

Shangguan Bi could only look blankly at Jo Hwi's request.

All of them were extremely detailed information.

"Brother, the information you want is high-level information that most information brokers can't even handle. I'm the same. There are limits to the information that can be obtained by mobilizing the resources of a trading company."

Jo Hwi nodded in agreement.

He had already visited an information broker he met before, but he couldn't get information beyond a certain level.

"Is there no way?"

"Hmm... There is, but..."

"Is there a way?"

Shangguan Bi looked uncomfortable.

"Night Butterfly and Moonlit Forest, which are said to have information capabilities surpassing the Beggar Sect... If such legendary information organizations exist, they might have the information you want. However, as a mere third son of a trading company, I have no way of meeting them, and even if I could, the commission they would demand would be astronomical."

"Night Butterfly... Moonlit Forest..."

"Legendary information organizations in the Jianghu. They may or may not exist, but rumors about them are rampant."

Jo Hwi felt a tightness in his chest.

Information brokers usually demanded high prices even for trivial information. He had been shocked by their outrageous prices more than once.

Let alone legendary information organizations.

It was obvious how much they would demand.

Moreover, his pockets were not flush after pouring gold into the iron foundry.

Most importantly, it was impossible to track down such secretive special information organizations.

"......How long would it take if I just request an audience?"

A look of resignation appeared on Shangguan Bi's face.

"How many people do you think send audience requests to the Namgung family every day? Hundreds. And as you know, there is a limit to how many guests a person can entertain in a day. As a result, most of them, about 70-80%, have to leave without even seeing the face of the Inner Court Master, Namgung Baek."

Jo Hyuk, who had been listening, showed curiosity.

"Hundreds of people a day?"

"That's right. When you submit an audience request, you receive a ticket based on the guest's status. Guests from the military and government receive gold thread tickets first, followed by Jianghu people receiving silver thread tickets. Of course, ordinary people are excluded. You need to be at least a promising young talent from a prestigious family to receive one."

"Then what's next?"

"Those who have a direct connection to the Namgung family receive red thread tickets. These include people who continuously supply weapons, clothing, and food to the family, as well as collateral branches of the family."

Jo Hwi, who had been listening, also asked a question.

"Is there more after that?"

"Of course. Next, martial artists who wish to join the family receive blue thread tickets. To continuously strengthen their power, they can't afford to miss these people."

"......Ah!"

"Finally, new merchants who want to start trading with the family, people like you who are looking for a sponsor, and those who come to make various requests receive green thread tickets."

Jo Hyuk looked depressed.

"Among gold, silver, copper, red, and green, it's the last one."

Shangguan Bi smiled bitterly.

"Would we be any different? Even our Huolong Trading Company receives green thread tickets and waits. In the past, it took my father more than a month to see the face of the Inner Court Master."

Shiver.

They are really disgustingly expensive.

If it took more than a month for the head of a trading company that is among the top five in Anhui... there's no solution.

But we can't just go back to Hefei after coming this far.

Jo Hwi respectfully bowed to Shangguan Bi.

"Brother, thank you for your advice."

Shangguan Bi showed a difficult expression.

"You didn't really do much as a brother. I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help. What do you plan to do now?"

Jo Hwi's eyes gleamed sharply.

"I have to try. I'll go to the Namgung family tomorrow."

Shangguan Bi bowed back and smiled.

"Brother, I wish you luck."

While lying in the pavilion of the inn, organizing his thoughts, Jo Hwi heard the familiar voice again.

-Child, when are you going to the Sword Hall?

It was the voice of Master Jianxin.

"Do I really have to go to the Sword Hall? Can't you directly teach me your martial arts, Master?"

-Those who have not experienced the Sword Hall cannot inherit my sword studies! How many times do I have to tell you?

At first, Jo Hui was filled with enthusiasm and begged him to teach him martial arts as soon as possible.

But Jianxin only insisted that he must go to the Sword Hall.

"Master, it's too far for a human. It will take at least five or six months... As you know, I have so many things to do in Anhui..."

-Go! You take my sword studies too lightly! If the unique sword skills of this Zhaotian, known as Jianxin, could be passed down through words, I would have left a manual to ensure the succession of my lineage!

"Hmm..."

The Sword Hall Jianxin mentioned was located at the border between Gansu and Shaanxi provinces.

It's too far for a human.

If I could use the relay stations, I could change horses, but officials wouldn't give horses to an ordinary civilian like me.

This means I can only travel by changing horses every half a day.