Chapter 60

Chapter 59

Night Butterfly.

A butterfly that flies at night.

A name that is invariably mentioned when discussing the world's foremost information organization, a group that rivals the secret underground society of the martial world and the shadowy film industry.

It is a place where all the information scattered across the world converges, and those who use such Night Butterflies are certainly not careless.

Of course, it is a well-known name among the high-ranking experts of the martial world, the heads of various factions, and even the power brokers in the imperial palace.

There were countless power brokers who had long maintained a close relationship with the Night Butterfly, and naturally, its status was special even in the martial world.

The Secret Sect, despite being a power group that dominates the underground society, would also have a close relationship with such a Night Butterfly.

Yet, to destroy the Night Butterfly just to check the Little Sword God and the Zhao Family Trade Fair?

It was something that Zhao Hui found hard to understand.

"That means they view the Little Sword God (小劒神) as a heavy and terrifying presence."

A low murmur from the Dark Night Phantom.

Zhao Hui, disguised as a beggar, frowned and showed his annoyance.

"Why me? What have I done wrong?"

The Dark Night Phantom looked as if he found it absurd.

"Are you saying that living quietly is the same as being dead?"

"Why! What!"

The Dark Night Phantom sighed.

"You have plotted the Black Heaven Alliance and taken control of Jiangxi, disrupting the balance between the righteous and the evil. Furthermore, you have formed an alliance with the Martial World Alliance. Naturally, the evil side will be in great turmoil."

"But isn't it natural for martial artists to fight and merge for profit, and sometimes to decline?"

The Dark Night Phantom was even more astonished.

"Are you a martial artist?"

"Since I inherited the Little Sword God's martial arts, I should naturally be a martial artist, right?"

"True. The Little Sword God can be considered a martial artist. But the Zhao Family Trade Fair is not, is it?"

"Hmm..."

"Think a bit more if you have a brain. In the history of the martial world, there has never been a case where a single trade fair has claimed power and become the overlord of a region. How can those who have vested interests sit idly by in the face of such unprecedented chaos?"

The Zhao Family Trade Fair, with its dual nature as a martial and commercial entity, is a group that martial artists have never encountered before.

"Moreover, the most foolish choice you made was to limit your interactions to only the Northern Martial World Alliance. Jiangxi, a typical Southern commercial power, with its enormous financial resources, all flowing to the North? If you are the one who moves the martial world, could you sit idly by and watch this happen?"

Zhao Hui flinched and subtly turned his head.

Wow, what a sharp tongue!

I thought he would be taciturn as a swordsman, but once he starts talking, his eloquence is truly remarkable.

"There is no one who can sit idly by when power is concentrated on one side. You were too foolish. Or perhaps you overestimated your abilities."

Has anyone ever given me such a bone-chilling critique?

Zhao Hui looked at the Dark Night Phantom with a newfound respect.

Is this guy possibly smarter than Zhuge Yun, or even Zhang Yilong?

"Then, should I have also appeased the evil side a bit?"

"There has never been a successful example of a faction that has clearly declared its position between the righteous and the evil in the long history of the martial world. Or, for that matter, a commercial power that has directly involved itself in the martial world."

"Then, what should I have done?"

The Dark Night Phantom looked at him with a disdainful expression, as if to say, "Is that even a question?"

"......If I were in your place, even if I took control of Jiangxi, I would not have declared the Zhao Family Trade Fair as a martial faction. Instead, I would have created numerous subordinate organizations to gradually infiltrate the market. I would have diversified all business entities to make it impossible to find the core, and secretly extended my influence to both the righteous and the evil sides."

Zhao Hui frowned deeply.

A familiar method.

"Are you a Secret Sect member or what! Aren't you a swordsman at heart? Isn't this too devious?"

"I'm talking about probability. The methods of the underground society have worked for over a thousand years. Your method has no successful precedent."

At that moment, Bai Hualin, perfectly disguised as Chunxian, yawned widely, revealing her false teeth.

"Damn, my head hurts just listening. When are we arriving at the Night Butterfly's headquarters?"

"Once we pass this road, it's the end."

Rattle, rattle.

Zhao Hui, who had been traveling in an ordinary carriage, was in agony with pain in his thighs and back.

He suddenly longed for his own (his?) great invention.

"You said it would be a little further just a moment ago!"

"Really, it's just this road, I promise."

Chunxian's (?) appearance filled the Dark Night Phantom with amazement.

Having guarded Chunxian for nearly a decade, he could not find a single flaw in her, a truly perfect Chunxian!

Moreover, after tormenting Chunxian for nearly half a month, he had mastered her tone, habits, eating habits, and even her sleeping preferences and voice.

Even those who had been with her for decades would be completely deceived.

The Dark Night Phantom looked at Zhao Hui again.

"When can I learn the One Sword Thousand Kills assassination technique?"

"You can start whenever you are ready."

Instantly, the Dark Night Phantom's eyes gleamed fiercely.

"I am always ready."

Snap!

Zhao Hui gave the Dark Night Phantom, who was frozen in astonishment, a meaningful smile.

"Did you see that?"

"W-What are you talking about?"

"Look behind you."

A faint light was seeping through a small hole that had appeared on the back of the carriage.

The Dark Night Phantom's face crumpled.

"I didn't see it..."

Not only did he not see Zhao Hui's move, but he didn't even hear a clear sound of breaking air.

"You are only ready when you can see this."

The Dark Night Phantom nodded solemnly, as if agreeing with his words.

It was impossible for someone who couldn't even follow the speed of the One Sword Thousand Reds with their eyes to wield such incredible sword speed.

"Don't be hasty. I will teach you when the time comes."

"I will remember that."

While his business acumen was commendable, his respect for the Little Sword God as a martial artist was natural.

But a rising question.

"I can't understand it. Just inheriting the Little Sword God's martial arts is astonishing, but the One Sword Thousand Kills assassination technique... If the martial world learns of this, the Little Sword God's reputation will be even greater."

Zhao Hui couldn't help but chuckle.

Hey, Mr. Assassin.

Add the Demon God and the Martial God, and the Nangong, Huashan, and Tang families.

Only then did Zhao Hui truly realize the incredible fortuitous events he had experienced.

At that moment, the carriage driver opened the window and leaned out.

Then, Zhao Hui dismantled the mental barrier he had cast over the entire carriage.

"Hehe, we have just arrived at the place you mentioned."

"Thank you for your hard work."

Zhao Hui, now back to his beggar's gruff tone, looked out the carriage window.

"We have arrived. Let's get down, madam."

"Yes, Master."

Bai Hualin, also perfectly mimicking Chunxian's sophisticated yet slightly arrogant tone, made the Dark Night Phantom's feelings complex.

The true face of the Little Sword God, known to the world and the martial world, was just the tip of the iceberg.

The Little Sword God, representing the righteous swordsmen and a symbolic figure.

If it were known that such a noble and great swordsman had been using the Body Transformation Technique to carry out all sorts of secret activities, even as a spy for the evil side?

Even if such rumors spread, countless people would refuse to believe them.

"Guilang."

Bai Hualin signaled, and the Dark Night Phantom quickly erased his thoughts and got out of the carriage.

Zhao Hui handed silver to the carriage driver, imitating the Beggar King's warm smile.

"Stay at a nearby inn. Since you will be traveling a long distance again, you need to take good care of the horses."

"Of course, sir!"

The carriage driver, Zhang Gai, had no intention of letting such a rare big customer slip away.

As the carriage disappeared into the distance, Zhao Hui's eyes gleamed fiercely.

"Follow me."

Thus, Zhao Hui entered the bustling crowd, and Bai Hualin and the Dark Night Phantom secretly followed him.

* * *

Butterfly Inn.

A woman with a shabby appearance, wiping the tables with a rag, frowned as she wiped the sweat from her forehead.

"Leader of the Beggar Sect?"

"That's right."

Very few people knew that this shabby woman was actually the famous owner of the Night Butterfly, the renowned Hong Yi.

"How did the beggar come here?"

Of course, the Beggar Sect, being an information organization, would know the headquarters of the Night Butterfly.

But it was a different matter to know that she was disguised as a waitress at the Butterfly Inn.

"Who got caught by the beggar? To be exposed by the beggar, of all people?"

"That can't be."

The Night Butterfly and the Beggar Sect were long-standing rivals in the information industry.

It was a matter of pride that her cover job was exposed while in a subtle competitive relationship with the Beggar Sect.

What made her even more frustrated was that she didn't know the beggar's cover job.

As an information organization, the Beggar Sect would have to interact with external contacts, so the beggar must have had a cover job.

"Is he alone?"

"No, his wife and a bodyguard are with him."

"Ha!"

Hong Yi was even more frustrated.

For the leaders of information organizations to meet and have a secret conversation, bringing two outsiders was a complete disregard for her.

"Isn't the beggar known for his cautious approach? What is he trying to do now?"

"......"

As the subordinate remained silent, Hong Yi bit her lip and eventually threw the rag in her hand.

Then, she sighed deeply and sat down.

"The matter has happened. There's nothing we can do. Clear out the inn. Send everyone away."

"But? There are still customers eating......"

"Are you going to make me say it twice? Double or triple the price, but send them all away!"

"Y-Yes, sir!"

In the end, the inn was thrown into chaos, with arguments breaking out everywhere, but Hong Yi merely stroked her forehead, lost in deep thought.

'What is it?'

Until now, if there was a secret conversation, it was customary to exchange letters.

Why go to such lengths to provoke the Night Butterfly, this Hong Yi, to visit?

No matter how she thought about it, she couldn't fathom the reason.

At that moment, the beggar and his group entered the now empty inn.

The beggar, with a seemingly (?) welcoming face, sat opposite Hong Yi without hesitation.

"Hmm, you've become even prettier?"

"What, what is this?"

The beggar (?) gave her a lecherous smile.

"No matter how much you try to hide it with a human skin mask, how can you hide Hong Yi's beauty? Have you been eating something good lately?"

The way he had his feet on the table, trembling, reminded her