The Martial Alliance’s main hall.

With the band’s music flowing softly and the servants hurrying about, a banquet was being held in the main hall to welcome the Sado Union’s visit.

The heads of the Sado Union and the Martial Alliance sat in single rows, facing one another from either side of the hall.

Those of the Martial Alliance attending the banquet were the heads of the Nine Sects and the Beggar’s Union, the lords of the Five Great Clans, and the elders of the Martial Alliance.

And the two seated at the place of highest honor in the hall.

The Martial Alliance Lord, the Heavenly Dragon Sword Emperor, and the Sado Union Lord, the Shadowless Demon God, exchanged greetings from seats that looked down upon both forces.

“My greetings are late. I offer my sincere thanks for what happened at the recent tournament. I also thank you for answering the Martial Alliance’s invitation in this way.”

The Shadowless Demon God accepted the Alliance Lord’s greeting with a single nod.

Some within the Martial Alliance showed displeasure at that sight, but since Namgoong Mucheon, the Alliance Lord, laughed warmly and offered a cup, they could not make an issue of it.

In a comfortable atmosphere, the mood ripened.

Yet black and white do not readily mix by nature.

Amid the natural smiles and chatter, there lay a subtle vigilance toward one another.

Is that person the famed Hao Sect Lord?

They say the only one who knows the Hao Sect Lord’s face is the Sado Union Lord. He’s said to be adept at using a Human-Skin Mask, so even now that won’t be his true face.

Why do they all cover their faces like that?

Are they not, by definition, those called the dark? They must have their reasons for not showing themselves openly.

Within the gentle, smiling small talk, there was a subtle disdain toward the Sado Union.

Even if they unified the unorthodox forces and played a great role in straightening the order of the martial world, to the orthodox eyes of righteous martial artists, they were only people who lived by taking what belonged to others and reaping unjust profit.

And the same held true for the Sado Union.

Look at those stiff necks. A wrong move and they’ll snap.

They invite us and then whisper like that? Filthy feeling.

They live by squeezing the common folk; no wonder their bellies are so full. Look there—so fat he can’t even swing a sword properly, can he?

They act as though only they are right, as though they are righteous, but in truth they pursue only their own profit and fame—hypocrites.

Stiff-necked people who pretend to act for the people while only trying to seize and shake the Central Plains’ martial world.

Why did the Union Lord accept this invitation?

The Sect Lord said it would be good to use this opportunity to open a face-to-face with the Martial Alliance.

Both the Sado Union and the Martial Alliance were forces that had # Nоvеlight # not existed long.

In that short time they had come to hold such influence as to be called the pillars of the Central Plains; for each other’s sake, they had to meet at least once.

Strictly speaking, wasn’t it the Sado Union Lord who first established the Sado Union? The Martial Alliance only followed suit.

That we live in an age where the unorthodox can strut so—frankly, I wonder whether this is truly for the best.

What scheme are they hiding behind that smiling face to warrant such lavish treatment?

I worry this will end up merely bolstering the unorthodox scum’s morale.

So it was, while conversations that could not be heard by the other side and could not be seen, yet could be plainly felt, were being traded.

Namgoong Mucheon raised his hand to halt the music, then stood.

Under everyone’s gaze, Namgoong Mucheon opened his mouth.

“As fellow martial artists there is much we are curious about one another, and since we have made this occasion and gathered together, I thought it best we talk a little more freely, and so I have stopped the music.”

Talk a little more freely?

While the heads of the Sado Union and the Martial Alliance exchanged puzzled looks, Namgoong Mucheon made a proposal.

“How would it be if we mixed our seating? Sitting face to face and looking at one another like this is fine, but when we sit together and converse, there are unseen things that can be seen.”

The Alliance Lord’s proposal was nothing short of shocking.

Those who had been inwardly condemning one another only moments ago could not readily rise, even at the Martial Alliance Lord’s suggestion.

As if he had anticipated this, Namgoong Mucheon laughed softly and spoke again.

“The world divides us into black and white, but I think we are all the same—warriors. Since what we pursue differs, it stands to reason that we can point out a Way the other has not seen. It will be a good opportunity.”

With the Martial Alliance Lord going so far as to say this, they could not pretend not to have heard simply because they felt uncomfortable.

Several of the Martial Alliance’s leaders rose from their seats.

Yet the Sado Union’s heads still only watched one another’s faces, not moving.

The Hao Sect Lord looked to the Sado Union Lord.

When the Sado Union Lord gave a small nod, the Hao Sect Lord stood and addressed the Sado Union’s leaders.

“In the Sado Union, those seated alone will move.”

“Hmph!”

Hardly had the Hao Sect Lord finished speaking when those at single seats rose and began to move.

The Martial Alliance’s heads likewise, and naturally, those seated here and there in a scattered way shifted their seats toward the Sado Union’s side.

When the seating was set in order and Namgoong Mucheon raised his hand, the music began again.

At first the warriors on both sides were uncomfortable, but one by one they began to converse.

“I hear the Green Forest War King was originally a disciple of the Unfeeling Overcomes Buddha. Is that true?”

“It is true. May I ask—does the abbot not reside here?”

“Haha, the abbot is at Songshan. He so rarely goes abroad that we too have not seen him in a long while.”

“I see.”

The Green Forest War King clicked his tongue, showing regret, and tipped his cup.

Elsewhere, the Beggar’s Union’s leader So-and-so and the Hao Sect Lord were conversing.

“Originally, the Beggar’s Union was a place whose intelligence no one could match. That was when the name ‘Hao Sect’ had not even become known.”

“Yet now there is no place that can match the Hao Sect’s intelligence. I hear tell your beggars come begging our Hao Sect for information?”

“Hey now, for a beggar, begging is no shame! It’s a kind of business. And our Beggar’s Union is so time-honored that in old intelligence we are not behind the Hao Sect!”

“That much I cannot help but acknowledge.”

Unlike the awkward beginning, as they resolved misunderstandings about one another and spoke of martial arts, the atmosphere soon became more comfortable than before.

As Namgoong Mucheon said, though they were two forces divided into white and black, orthodox and unorthodox, there was surely something that communicated between those who walked the path of the martial.

“Is it true that your spearwork parts a river?”

The booming voice belonged to Peng Yeopmyeong, the head of the Hebei Peng Clan.

The one conversing with him was Maeng Deungho, the Surochae’s Chief Hall Lord.

Maeng Deungho set down his cup and answered.

“‘Parting a river’ is an exaggeration. In days past, pirates suddenly attacked and tried to board our Suro Hall’s ships, so we struck the river water to push them back, and that is how the rumor spread.”

“They say when you struck the river water the bottom was laid bare!”

“No.”

“No? But they say it was laid bare... tch...”

Peng Yeopmyeong smacked his lips, a little disappointed.

At that moment—

“If you’re that curious, you can just cross blades and find out for yourself.”

Someone at their side cut into the two men’s conversation.

It was Tang Sangcheon, the former clan lord of the Sichuan Tang Clan.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, how about facing him directly to see whether his spear can part a river or not.”

“Are you telling us to hold a friendly match?”

He and the Surochae’s Chief Hall Lord?

“With so many of the Central Plains’ foremost warriors gathered here, isn’t it stranger to only spin tales?”

“However...”

Peng Yeopmyeong was flustered.

For warriors to exchange friendly matches is natural, and another form of training.

All the more so, for the strong, a match against someone they have never crossed is always precious.

However, is this not a place where the warriors of the Martial Alliance and the Sado Union have gathered together?

Unorthodox and orthodox.

Righteous and unorthodox.

If a fight were added to a place where two forces with such clear camps had gathered, the matter might spiral beyond control.

“Haha, no. I am enjoying myself well enough as it is...”

“Who said to do it right now?”

“Pardon?”

“You can simply train together. For example, in the early morning.”

“!”

Peng Yeopmyeong swallowed.

Ordinarily, the elders of the Martial Alliance each train at their own private practice grounds.

Moreover, during the Sado Union’s visit, there is no training of the Patrol Unit.

Therefore, in the early morning, the friendly match grounds would likely be quite empty.

“If it’s at that hour...”

Would it not be sufficient for a friendly match?

“What do you think?”

While Peng Yeopmyeong was mulling, Tang Sangcheon pointed at him and spoke to Maeng Deungho.

“Clan Lord Peng is famed as a warrior who wields the greatest saber in the Central Plains.”

“...I have long heard the tales of Clan Lord Peng.”

“Then shall the hour of the Rabbit (5–7 a.m.) suit for tomorrow?”

Maeng Deungho looked to Peng Yeopmyeong.

Maeng Deungho, too, was just as curious about Peng Yeopmyeong’s martial art—called the Dragon-Seizing Saber for ‘grabbing dragons.’

A warrior’s sense is keen.

Sensing that Maeng Deungho also desired a match, Peng Yeopmyeong at last accepted Tang Sangcheon’s proposal.

“We’ll meet at the hour of the Rabbit. I will send a servant.”

Maeng Deungho gave a short nod.

Peng Yeopmyeong cleared his throat, loosened his neck, and tilted the bottle to fill his own cup.

Tang Sangcheon was right.

With the foremost warriors of the Central Plains gathered, would it not be a waste to go back after nothing but idle chatter?

“Only a single friendly match.”

There would not be many chances to exchange a light friendly match with the unorthodox’s warriors rather than a life-and-death duel.

In any case, it would be a match between just the two.

“A friendly match is a form of training...”

There should be no big problem.

Thinking optimistically, Peng Yeopmyeong raised his cup.