When I said I’d take the Cult Leader down with me, the White-Robed Scholar’s face lit up. I’d never seen his face that bright before, so I made a decision deep down.

“Like hell I’ll go down with him...”

I’m surviving no matter what. Run and live, that’s the plan.

Truthfully, all of the Four Villains were exhausted, but just the White-Robed Scholar being present in the inn felt like he was standing guard. So naturally, I thought we should bait and hold onto him, even if we had to provoke him a bit.

But first, the White-Robed Scholar decided to provoke Cha Seong-tae.

“A fool who looks like he’d die like a frog hit by a rock if struck dares to run his mouth. Even with the Haomun Lord next to you, I could rip that mouth of yours open—so watch your tongue, General Cha.”

We all looked at Cha Seong-tae’s face. Apparently, he’d left his life back in Ilyang County—he was just picking at his ear with his finger.

“......”

It was a weird image. I stepped in to mediate the conflict between Cha Seong-tae and the White-Robed Scholar.

“Enough. He only said you’re unlucky because you are. Can’t even say that much? Allies shouldn’t be fighting.”

The White-Robed Scholar immediately snapped back.

“Who said we’re allies?”

“If we’re taking shelter under the same roof from the rain, that makes us allies. I poured you a drink, you drank it—we’re allies. Why throw a fit? Just stop it already.”

I looked around the inn, with rain leaking through in places. Then I stared at the lousy meal Cha Seong-tae had made.

“Anyway, did you eat? That dish right there is what they call Specter Fried Rice, made by General Cha of Haomun. Should I ask him to make more?”

The White-Robed Scholar looked at the giant pot of food.

“I wouldn’t eat that dog food even if it were free.”

I looked at Cha Seong-tae.

“You hear that? He called it dog food, Seong-tae.”

“I didn’t want to give it to him either.”

Now that I thought about it, that meant the Scholar was the dog.

“This little bastard...”

The moment the White-Robed Scholar rose to his feet, I extended my hand and yanked Cha Seong-tae back using the Heavenly Pearl Absorption Art.

“Seong-tae.”

Grabbed by the collar in a flash, Cha Seong-tae looked at me in shock.

“Yes?”

“Ease up. You really might die like that.”

“Is that so?”

“But this is exactly the kind of guy that comes from Ilyang County.”

“Correct.”

I let go of his collar and gave him an order.

“What you said was true—he is unlucky. But from now on, show proper respect.”

Cha Seong-tae looked at me.

“Is there a reason?”

“The only reason you’ve gotten stronger since your days of swaggering around Ilyang is because this man passed on the Hundred Battles Tenfold Technique. He’s not your master, but he changed your life.”

In my past life, my own life was changed for the worse.

But in Cha Seong-tae’s case, it was for the better.

“It’s understandable if you didn’t know. But now that you do, show respect. If you become a master someday, it’ll be thanks to the White-Robed Scholar. Don’t forget that.”

Cha Seong-tae looked between the two of us with wide eyes, then nodded.

“...Understood.”

I pointed at the still-standing White-Robed Scholar and gave a proper introduction.

“Let me introduce him. The most enigmatic man in Jianghu. A man shouldering the fate of the martial world. A man like the reincarnation of Zhuge Liang. Someone who could outwit even Zhou Yu. A great strategist of both war and literature. A master of psychological warfare who could command someone like Zhang Fei. A fire tactician rivaling Chief Byeok. In the Scholar faction, known as the White-Robed Scholar. When aligned with the White Path, known as White-Robed Supreme. Whether Jianghu is saved or not depends on whether this man lends his aid. Without his support, the White Path might be crushed by the Demonic Path no matter how tightly united they are. Even today, he assisted Master Yukhap. Without his help, Yukhap would’ve just babbled nonsense without even getting to taste Cha Seong-tae’s terrible cooking.”

Ghost Demon nodded and looked at the Scholar.

“That’s true. White-Robed, thanks for helping.”

I sent Cha Seong-tae to the back, away from the Scholar, and looked at the Scholar.

“Sit down, will you?”

The White-Robed Scholar sighed and sat.

Looking at him, I gave him another nickname.

“Actually, you are the unluckiest man in Jianghu.”

He looked at me with a baffled expression.

“What?”

“Your martial arts are strong enough to defeat the head of the Seomun Clan. Your light footwork is excellent. You’re brilliant with strategy. You lead a decent faction. You even count Cheonak, one of the Three Calamities, as a friend. ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) Yet you still can’t decide whether you’ll ally with us or not. So yes, calling you unlucky is accurate. And when I said I’d take the Cult Leader down with me, you just laughed.”

“......”

“I’m not planning on dying for you people. You’re too damn unlucky.”

Maybe he had cooled off a bit, because he replied.

“That’s a shame.”

I glanced around the inn, rain still dripping everywhere.

“Look at this desolate inn. As soon as the Demonic Path appeared, everyone vanished. If it had been the White Path, they would’ve asked the innkeeper if all was well while eating. If it had been the Black Path, they’d demand protection money. But when the Demonic Path appears, life becomes empty and hollow. That’s why we’re here eating dog food made by Cha Seong-tae. It’s all because of the Cult Leader.”

I looked at the Scholar.

“...Is an alliance really so hard?”

He replied,

“Why are you suddenly talking alliances with me?”

“Who else would I talk to?”

“I’m not the head of the Scholars. The leaders of each faction don’t listen to me.”

“And I’m supposed to believe that?”

The Scholar gave me a questioning look.

“What do you mean?”

“What were you doing coming and going from the Martial Alliance? You met the Swift Sovereign and passed along messages to other scholars saying ‘our senior said this.’ That lets you designate successors, lets others act in your stead like representatives. You’re not a faction leader, but you act like one. That makes you the unluckiest kind of person. Am I wrong?”

“......”

“I’m not proposing some grand alliance. Just... let’s make sure we don’t end up in a situation where this inn is all that’s left after something terrible happens. I’m not calling for a Red Cliffs-style alliance between Wu and Shu against the Demonic Path. Scholar, just look at that dog food.”

He looked at Cha Seong-tae’s creation.

“......”

“When the Demonic Path shows up, that’s what we’re stuck eating. What does that mean? It means life has gone to the dogs. You think you’re any different?”

As the Scholar fell into thought, Cha Seong-tae muttered.

“Strange. He was eating it just fine earlier.”

“It was appetite that made it taste good. Anyone could see it’s dog food.”

I pointed at the Scholar.

“Look at him. Even starving, he wouldn’t touch that stuff. A man of principles.”

The Scholar asked,

“What are you trying to do right now?”

“Call your disciples.”

“And then?”

“We hunt down the black-clad figure together. I can still feel them nearby. They're targeting me. And since our White-Robed Scholar is great at drawing, start with a facial composite.”

“What good will a sketch do?”

I don’t think the Scholar lacks observational skills.

“You saw the eyes?”

“I did.”

“The height?”

“I remember.”

“Build, gait, posture, voice, skin tone, estimated age... You remember it all. I know your personality—you wouldn’t have missed a thing. So let’s make a sketch and share it.”

He asked,

“And once we catch them? Torture?”

I felt something strange and answered.

“...We have to kill them. Otherwise...”

Suddenly, I clearly recalled the Absolute Being’s words from when I was sent back to the past.

“Do not ever swallow another Heavenly Pearl. No matter the outcome, I will treat you with goodwill. This is the best choice I can offer, the greatest gift I can give.”

I fell silent, and everyone looked at me.

“......”

The words had resurfaced for no reason I could grasp. I repeated part of it to the Scholar.

“White-Robed, no matter the outcome, I will treat you with goodwill.”

“Hm.”

“Helping is your choice—I can’t force you. But in my eyes, the black-clad figure is destined to be absorbed by the Cult Leader. That kind of slavery is the worst kind. Maybe that’s why they’re desperately resisting. But they’ve crossed the line. If their outburst caused the deaths of ordinary people here, then they chose the wrong path. That’s something I can’t forgive. They didn’t die fighting Jianghu warriors.”

“Seong-tae.”

“Yes?”

“People who kill civilians in inns like this... they’re Haomun’s enemies.”

“That’s right.”

After saying it, I felt a bit of relief.

My first plan was to kill them. Second—was to absorb them.

But the Absolute Being’s words made that impossible.

Killing the Demonic Path by becoming the Demonic Path—that would be meaningless.

It was a trap, hidden in the journey of life.

Besides, I already carry the Heavenly Pearl, now stripped of side effects.

It truly is the best gift—I’m growing stronger rapidly. The only reason I don’t get overwhelming bursts of power or fall into sudden sleep is probably because my body isn’t ready for it yet.

The Heavenly Pearl is a deep ocean...

And when I try to draw from it, my body’s vessel is still too shallow, causing overflow. That overflow strains the body, leading to fatigue and drowsiness.

If I push forward recklessly in pursuit of strength...

That would be walking the wrong path—the Demonic Path.

So what is the right path?

I looked again at the Four Villains, Cha Seong-tae, and the White-Robed Scholar.

Even if I’m not strong enough...

If I handle it with these people, it’ll be enough.

It’s now clear why the Cult Leader went into seclusion after absorbing the Heavenly Pearl. Even he needed time to elevate his body’s vessel.

The White-Robed Scholar rose and echoed what he’d said on the rooftop.

“Lord.”

“What?”

“Was that a request?”

He was clearly trying to mess with me, grinning as he stared. I stood up and deliberately offered a formal bow.

“Supreme, I ask this of you.”

Seeing me suddenly act formal, the Scholar scanned me up and down.

“You crazy bastard... What’s with the manners all of a sudden? Doesn’t suit you.”

“If more Haomun members die, then I have to ask. A hundred times. A thousand times. I’ll beg if I have to.”

The Scholar looked around the desolate inn. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

“Huh. This was Haomun territory?”

“No.”

“What?”

I ran my hand over an old table.

“They don’t need to know they’re Haomun. They don’t need to know I’m the Lord, or that Cha Seong-tae’s the General. I just... think of them as Haomun members on my own.”

The Scholar furrowed his brow and looked around at us.

“You’re all nuts. I’m leaving.”

“Take care.”

The Scholar exited the inn. I watched him pass by the window and muttered,

A comrade is leaving. I had so much to say, but his entrances and exits are always on his own terms.

Cha Seong-tae asked,

“Will he come back with his disciples?”

“No idea.”

I checked his condition.

“You hurt anywhere?”

“No.”

“Stand watch. We need rest.”

“Yes, sir.”

...Out on the rain-soaked road, the White-Robed Scholar stopped walking and called out to someone pulling a cart.

“Samgon.”

The man called Samgon stopped and turned.

“Yes, sir?”

“Call them all.”

“All... as in?”

The Scholar replied in a flat tone.

“Why question it? Everyone. All of them. Every last one. Tell Cheonak to come too. Even if he refuses, pass the message. Once they arrive, I’ll give them the sketch—so bring the target in. Until then, seal this area with a net. Station guards near the Lord’s group.”

Samgon bowed.

“I receive your command.”

With his hands behind his back, the White-Robed Scholar silently looked over the corpses and ruins scattered around him.

“......”