"I... I'm a Silver Rank cultivator... Level Eleven..."
The girl stared at her hands, disbelief and excitement mixing in her trembling voice.
"Thank you, Master," she said quickly, bowing deeply.
"I will not disappoint you. I swear it."
Bai-Xue nodded calmly.
"I know."
She paused, then tilted her head slightly.
"Oh, by the way," Bai-Xue added casually,
"what is your name?"
The girl hesitated for a moment.
"My... my name is Ham Rinvi."
"Rinvi..."
Bai-Xue repeated softly.
A faint smile appeared beneath the mask.
"That's a good name."
She turned her gaze toward the distant horizon.
"So, Rinvi," Bai-Xue continued,
"tell me something."
"What is the most beautiful place in this state?"
Rinvi blinked in surprise.
"The most beautiful place?"
She thought for a moment, then answered honestly.
"Master, that would be Salang Blossom Valley."
Her eyes brightened slightly.
"It's famous for its endless sea of spiritual flowers. People travel from distant lands just to see it bloom."
Then she frowned.
"But... Master, why do you want to know this?"
The wind blew gently.
A strand of Bai-Xue's hair slipped across her masked face.
She looked at Rinvi through the mask—her eyes calm, deep, and confident.
A beautiful smile curved her lips.
"Because," she said lightly,
"we are going to buy it."
Rinvi froze.
"...Buy it?"
Her eyes widened in shock.
"B-But Master!"
"That place has never been for sale! Not once!"
Bai-Xue raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"And why not?"
Rinvi swallowed.
"I... I don't know the exact reason," she admitted.
"But Salang Blossom Valley belongs to the Hell Black Market."
"Oh."
Bai-Xue nodded thoughtfully.
"Hm. The Hell Black Market?"
A faint smile returned.
"Good."
She turned away.
"Then we're going there tomorrow."
Rinvi stared at her, speechless.
Bai-Xue suddenly placed a hand on her stomach.
"But for now," she said seriously,
"I'm hungry."
"Let's eat first."
After finishing their meal, they returned to the same inn.
Bai-Xue stretched slightly.
"I want to take a bath," she said.
"Then I'm going to sleep. I'm exhausted."
Rinvi hesitated, her cheeks faintly pink.
"M-Master..."
"A-Are we... staying in the same room?"
She still didn't know whether White Mask was a man or a woman.
Bai-Xue turned slowly and looked at her.
A mischievous glint flashed in her eyes.
"Rinvi," she said calmly,
"I want to take a bath."
"Help me."
Then—
She began removing her outer clothes.
"AHHH—!"
Rinvi screamed, turning her face away instantly.
"M-Master! Y-You—!"
Bai-Xue burst into laughter.
"Pfffft—HAHAHAHA!"
"Oh gods, Rinvi!"
"Look at your face—it turned completely pale!"
She laughed even harder.
"What?"
"Are you disappointed that I'm a girl?"
"Or..."
She leaned closer teasingly.
"Did you fall for me?"
"P-Please don't joke like that!" Rinvi cried, covering her face in embarrassment.
Bai-Xue chuckled.
"So?"
"Are you disappointed?"
"Of course not, Master!" Rinvi said quickly.
"If anything, I'm even more motivated now!"
"I'll become strong," she declared firmly,
"just like you."
Bai-Xue nodded with satisfaction.
"Very well."
"Now help me bathe."
After bathing, the room grew quiet.
Bai-Xue lay down lazily.
"We'll rest today," she said softly.
"Tomorrow, we'll do something special."
Rinvi bowed lightly.
"Yes, Master."
Hell Black Market
The massive doors of the Hell Black Market opened.
"Ah—Master White Mask!"
"Please, take a seat!"
The chief masters bowed respectfully.
"To what do we owe this honor?"
Bai-Xue sat calmly.
"I've come to buy something."
"Buy something?"
"Of course, Master!"
"Please tell us what you desire."
Bai-Xue looked straight at them.
"I want Salang Blossom Valley."
The room fell silent.
Faces turned pale.
"M-Master White Mask..." one of them said nervously.
"That place... is not for sale."
Bai-Xue's gaze sharpened.
"Oh?"
"So you are refusing me?"
"N-No! Absolutely not!"
The masters panicked instantly.
They exchanged hurried glances.
"Master, this matter involves the true owner," one of them said carefully.
"Please give us a moment."
"Very well."
Bai-Xue leaned back calmly.
One master remained seated with her while the others hurried inside.
Inside a hidden chamber, the head masters gathered.
"This is serious," one whispered.
"We cannot afford to anger Master White Mask."
"Yes," another agreed grimly.
"If she becomes hostile, the consequences would be unimaginable."
"Then we must inform Your Highness."
They nodded unanimously.
"This matter is beyond us."
They moved toward a sealed, secret room.
Inside, a cold voice echoed.
"What kind of trouble,"
"requires all of you to come here together?"
They were led deep underground, beyond layers of sealed doors and silent corridors, until they finally entered a hidden chamber.
The room was completely empty.
No furniture.
No decorations.
No guards.
Only silence.
At the very center of the vast chamber floated a crystal sphere, breathtakingly beautiful. The sphere was the size of a human head, glowing with a soft, light-blue radiance, like frozen moonlight. Spiritual mist slowly spiraled within it, pulsing gently as if alive.
The moment the Head Masters stepped inside, their expressions became solemn.
One by one, they formed a circle around the crystal sphere and knelt respectfully. Then, in perfect unison, they placed their palms against the air, releasing streams of pure spiritual energy.
The crystal sphere trembled.
Its glow intensified.
Suddenly—
A gentle, mesmerizing voice flowed out of the sphere.
The voice was so soft, so melodious, that it felt as if it directly touched the soul. Anyone who heard it would unconsciously wish to listen forever, enchanted beyond reason.
"All the Head Masters have gathered today..."
"It seems something serious has occurred for you to contact me."
The Head Masters lowered their heads even further.
"Your Highness," one of them spoke nervously, "we have something extremely important to report. Or perhaps... we should say, something we must seek your decision on."
The crystal sphere shimmered slightly.
"From your tone, it is clear this matter is no small issue."
"Yes, Your Highness," another Head Master hurriedly said.
"Someone has demanded to purchase Salang Blossom Valley."
The moment those words were spoken, the chamber fell deathly silent.
"...Purchase?"
"Do they not know that Salang Blossom Valley is not for sale?"
"Your Highness, he knows," the Head Master replied bitterly.
"And yet, he insists."
The Head Masters exchanged fearful glances.
"We... we do not possess the courage to offend him. Please, Your Highness, decide for us. We are neither powerful nor wise enough to refuse such a person."
The crystal sphere fell silent.
A long silence.
Then—
"...I see."
The voice grew calm, thoughtful.
"From everything you have said, the one making this request can only be one person."
"Master White Mask."
The Head Masters gasped.
"Your Highness!" one of them exclaimed.
"How did you know? You are not even within the country!"
A faint chuckle echoed from the crystal.
"Though I am far away, news still reaches me."
"Master White Mask is no longer famous in only one nation."
"His name has spread to neighboring kingdoms as well."
"A warrior feared, respected... and admired."
The voice paused briefly.
"Do not sell the valley."
The Head Masters stiffened.
Then the voice continued calmly—
"Give it to him instead."
"As a gift of friendship... from me."
"Your Highness!" several Head Masters exclaimed in shock.
"But Salang Blossom Valley is extremely important to you!"
"I know."
"However, Master White Mask is a special guest of our country."
"Strengthen our relationship with him."
"That alone is worth far more than the valley."
The decision was final.
The Head Masters bowed deeply.