After that day, Jin wandered through the Alliance territories, searching for information about the matter.
All that mattered to him was that his friend would not truly be that person.
In one of the taverns, he sat as he usually did.
"Rib soup and a drink, please."
He sat eating and thinking...
If it is him… I must convince him to return…
If I cannot… I must kill him…
His thoughts were interrupted by a beggar outside.
He went to him immediately.
The beggar was terrified… a person had suddenly appeared before him.
Jin: You there. If you belong to the Beggars' Sect, take me to the branch leader. I want information.
⸻
Later, at a branch of the Beggars' Sect.
Branch Leader: Hmm… you want information about the clans destroyed by the Blade Demon?
Jin: Yes… if you don't have it, I'll go to the sect leader himself.
Branch Leader: No, I do have it… many are investigating this because of a rumor, but… can you pay? It won't be chea—
Jin interrupted him and began taking out gold ounces.
Jin: Is this enough?
Branch Leader: Eh—eh… what is this? That's ten gold ounces! Are they real?
Jin: Take five more and give me the information… you may die if you don't tell me everything.
Branch Leader: Alright, alright, I'll tell you… all branches of our sect are gathering information about this matter, and even the Alliance intelligence is investigating.
Jin: Why?
Branch Leader: That's because of the Golden Alliance… all the small clans destroyed by the Blade Demon owed large sums to the Golden Alliance.
Jin thought for a moment.
The Golden Alliance? Yuan told me his sect took a loan from this alliance, and…
Impossible...
Jin: You there.
Branch Leader: Yes?
Jin: Look… when a sect borrows from the Golden Alliance, they deliberately bankrupt it through certain schemes… then they plunder it completely, and the Blade Demon kills the entire sect so no one learns the truth.
Take twenty gold ounces and spread this news throughout the Murim… as fast as possible.
⸻
One week later…
In the room of the Golden Alliance leader, late at night…
Alliance Leader: Ya Luo Yang-Shi...
What did you do for this matter to spread like this?
The Blade Demon replied angrily: I don't know. Perhaps one of your commanders betrayed you.
Alliance Leader: You… the Justice Alliance will arrive soon. We must know who spread this matter before—
They were interrupted by a strange sight.
A sudden presence in the room…
It was neither an assassin skilled in hiding among shadows, nor a loud warrior.
Rather…
The shadow itself, in the corner of the room... condensed!
A human form took shape… stepping forward confidently as it emerged from the darkness!
The Black Wanderer appeared, one hand behind his back!
Jin: I'm the one who spread it. Do you have a problem?
The Alliance Leader screamed and was about to stand—
[Silence]
[Shadow Restraint]
The Alliance Leader could not break the spells, but the Blade Demon was unaffected.
The Blade Demon did not even move from his place.
Jin: It would be better for you not to try anything, Leader… your turn will come later.
The Blade Demon looked at him carefully… he was able to recognize him.
He had met him only once before, but he remembered those eyes, and that ominous, cursed feeling emanating from him.
His red eyes were not like a fiery mutation nor Heavenly Demon arts.
They were dark crimson, with sharp pupils like a beast's.
Blade Demon: Did you think I wouldn't know who you are when you came to me? Aren't you afraid?
Jin: Hah… as expected, your instincts are excellent.
Honestly, I'm afraid of death… but I must take the risk.
Do you enjoy killing innocents? You are truly shallow, trivial villains.
There are villains with reasons—some seek revenge, some aim for greater things, and killing is merely a means.
But you? You are extremely shallow. You kill for pleasure, and this idiot beside you exploits that to plunder clans.
Jin laughed for a few seconds.
Blade Demon: Are you that certain you can kill me?
Jin: On the contrary… I'm certain I would die if I fought you.
That's why I won't fight you now—but I have a question.
That follower of yours... is he Xing Yuan?
The Blade Demon finally rose from his chair.
Blade Demon: Yes, he is. Is that what you wanted to know before dying?
Jin's expression changed completely… it turned extremely cold, yet filled with rage.
Jin: ...… So that's how it is.
The Blade Demon drew his weapon and unleashed a devastating slash at Jin... it split the entire building.
Jin appeared in another corner's shadow.
Jin: Don't try to fight me in a place where any form of shadow exists… no matter how much stronger you are, you won't hit me unless I choose to fight.
There was a small dagger near Jin… he pulled it with telekinesis.
The Blade Demon unleashed another slash... Jin appeared in another corner.
Jin launched the dagger with telekinesis... it was filled with energy.
The dagger pierced the Alliance Leader's head.
Jin: When you choose a partner… choose someone strong enough not to be a burden.
That is, if you live long enough to choose another partner.
The Blade Demon's rage exploded as he released his aura... all the glass around them shattered.
The pressure spread outside… enough to kill ordinary people.
But Jin... had disappeared.
Blade Demon: That bastard...… I will kill you, you wretch…
Jin stood on the rooftop of a nearby building, looking at the place… people had begun to gather and approach, but no one had arrived yet.
Jin looked coldly at the Alliance headquarters, and before the people and guards reached the grounds, he raised his hand.
A magic circle formed before it.
[Fireball – Fifth Circle]
The attack struck the building… a few seconds were enough for it to burn completely, the flames spreading to the rest of the headquarters.
Jin looked on with extreme coldness and thought:
No time to search for an innocent person in the middle of this…
As for Yuan... we will meet soon.
And Jin vanished into the shadows.
⸻
End of the Chapter