The Youngest Member of the Martial Alliance

Cheon Woojin stood in front of an inn.

It was the place the Beggars' Sect Leader had told him about, saying that someone who knew information about the Shadowless Divine Thief would be waiting.

- Who is it?

- Well. We'll know when we get there, right?

The Beggars' Sect Leader had just said so and had given a mysterious smile. In the end, Cheon Woojin, who had come in person, stood in front for a moment and looked at the inn.

"Hmm."

Although it was a rather luxurious inn with three floors, there were only two presences felt inside.

They were not shop assistants or cooks.

One was familiar. It was Ma Butcher, whom he had met briefly during the escort mission.

'He said he was being chased by the Black Plaque Star.'

The other's presence was quite impressive. Although it was unfamiliar, it was somehow familiar, and when he traced his memory, it was very similar to one of the people who had come to see his Black Master.

The current number one of the black path and the Black Plaque Star Lord, Ha Yulcheon.

Although he had only seen him a few times when he was young, he was a man with such a special presence and atmosphere that he had left a deep impression.

However, it was not Ha Yulcheon. At that time, the Black Plaque Star Lord was almost the only man who could exchange more than a hundred moves with his Black Master.

The presence felt inside the inn was also quite a master among those he had met since coming down from the mountain, but it was far from the Black Plaque Star Lord, the alliance leader, or the Sword King.

Cheon Woojin, who was guessing the identity, soon entered the inn. Because it was a matter that could be confirmed by checking in person.

* * *

Two people greeted Cheon Woojin who had entered the inn.

A strange young man sitting down and a familiar middle-aged man standing next to him as if guarding him.

The middle-aged man was indeed Ma Butcher, whom he had met before.

"Ah, alliance member Cheon! Have you been well?"

Ma Butcher folded his thick hands and cupped his fist. When he had first seen him, he had been acting as a butcher in a small village, but now he had become a respectable black path martial artist again, so he was showing the etiquette of the martial world.

Cheon Woojin nodded his head roughly.

"Yes, well."

Although it was true that he had saved his daughter, it was not something he had done with any particular favor. It was just in the process of carrying out the mission at that time.

Despite Cheon Woojin's lukewarm attitude, Ma Yongseok continued to smile brightly, contrary to his rough impression.

Since he was the benefactor who had saved his daughter, who was more precious than his life, he couldn't help but feel good just by looking at him.

Soon, Cheon Woojin's gaze turned to the young man sitting down. His age seemed to be similar to the newcomers of the Martial Alliance. However, the faintly exuded presence was completely different from them.

Nangong Jin was also a man who was considered a genius among his peers. But that young man had already far surpassed even Nangong Jin.

Above all, he was dressed in black from head to toe, and the atmosphere that naturally dominated the surroundings was exactly like the Black Plaque Star Lord in his old memories.

"You know the information about the Shadowless Divine Thief."

At that question, the young man just nodded his head. His eyes were shining like stars, and he looked like a child who had found something interesting.

Cheon Woojin met his gaze with a reluctant look.

Soon, the young man, who had raised the corners of his mouth in a smirk, began to speak.

"Nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you."

A natural informal speech.

The current Black Plaque Star was a huge force that had completely unified the black path that had been divided for hundreds of years. Naturally, Ha Inseong, who was born and raised as the young star lord of such a force, was more natural in dealing with his inferiors than his superiors.

Cheon Woojin looked down at Ha Inseong with a dry gaze.

At the end of a brief staring contest, Ha Inseong, who had slightly curled up the corners of his mouth, pointed to the chair opposite him.

"Sit down first. You're taller than I thought, so my neck hurts a little."

Cheon Woojin sat down without a word. Soon, Ma Yongseok, who had entered the kitchen, rummaged around for something with a clatter and then came out with a bottle of wine and a cup.

"If I had known this would happen, I would have told the shop assistant to stay."

"Did you chase him out?"

There was no one in the inn. If it was the bloodline of the Black Plaque Star Lord, it would be nothing to occupy an inn without permission.

At Cheon Woojin's low question, Ha Inseong's eyes widened, and then he burst into a laugh.

"Am I some third-rate ruffian? It's an inn run by our Black Plaque Star. Didn't you see what was written on the sign when you came in?"

He had seen it. The name of the inn was Black Night Moon.

It was certainly strange for an inn's name to reek of blackness, so he had thought it was peculiar.

"Hey, Guard Ma. Bring that out."

"Yes."

Ma Yongseok, who had barely found the wine bottle, entered the kitchen again. In the meantime, Ha Inseong filled two cups with wine in turn.

Thump.

Cheon Woojin looked at the wine cup placed in front of him blankly.

Unlike ordinary wine, it was black as if it had been mixed with ink.

"It's Black Night Wine, which is only sold at Black Night Moon. Although it looks like this, it tastes quite good, so try it."

Ha Inseong gestured with a playful expression as if to say, 'hurry up and drink'. However, Cheon Woojin did not pick up the wine cup. He had not come to drink wine.

"Where is the Shadowless Divine Thief?"

"Well."

Ha Inseong, who had drained his wine cup, mumbled. In the meantime, Ma Yongseok, who was searching the kitchen again, reappeared with a golden carp.

"Fire carp?"

Seeing that it was a little bigger than his palm, it didn't seem to be a ten-thousand-year-old fire carp.

Well, even if it were the Black Plaque Star, they couldn't carry around a spiritual medicine like a ten-thousand-year-old fire carp so defenselessly.

"Oh, you recognize it. In the Black Plaque Star, there is a pond where I often fished since I was young. In fact, although it's called a pond, its size is quite large, so it's no less than a decent reservoir. Anyway, I just caught it from there, so it must be very fresh. Look at it flopping around."

Ha Inseong pointed at the fire carp. Naturally, Cheon Woojin's head also turned, but far from flopping around, it seemed to have been dead for a long time.

In the first place, given the distance from the Black Plaque Star to this place, there was no way the fire carp would be alive.

However, Ma Yongseok injected his internal energy and made the fire carp flop around forcibly.

"..."

As Cheon Woojin looked at him as if he were dumbfounded, Ha Inseong suddenly took out a small dagger from his bosom. The dagger, taken out of its scabbard, contained a sharpness that was no less than a decent famous sword.

Ha Inseong smirked and said.

"Alliance member Cheon, do you know who I am?"

"The young star lord of the Black Plaque Star."

"Oh, a person who knows that doesn't even blink an eye when I take out a knife from my bosom. As expected."

For some reason, Ha Inseong seemed to be enjoying his meeting with Cheon Woojin very much. Ha Inseong, who had received the fire carp, began to prepare sashimi on the spot. He was quite skilled, as if it were not the first or second time he had done it.

Soon, a plate was filled with sashimi made from the fire carp.

"Although it's not a ten-thousand-year-old fire carp, a fire carp is also called a spiritual medicine. It goes especially well with Black Night Wine. Now, please help yourself."

Ha Inseong, who said so, moved his chopsticks by himself as if he didn't care whether Cheon Woojin ate or not.

He chewed on the fire carp sashimi and then drank the Black Night Wine that Ma Yongseok had poured and chewed it together.

At the same time, Ha Inseong's black pupils flickered with a deeper black. The energy of the fire carp was immediately melting into his body.

As Cheon Woojin was looking at Ha Inseong with a dry face, Ma Yongseok, who was watching his expression from the side, said cautiously.

"Alliance member Cheon, why aren't you eating?"

However, Cheon Woojin's gaze was still directed at Ha Inseong.

He had come here with the guidance of the Beggars' Sect Leader. His purpose was clear, and he had no intention of having a trivial conversation. However, the young star lord of the Black Plaque Star had no obligation to tell him the information about the Shadowless Divine Thief.

"Do you know the location of the Shadowless Divine Thief? If you don't know or have no intention of telling me, I will get up."

Cheon Woojin's voice was dry as always.

Ha Inseong clicked his tongue and said.

"Of course I called you to tell you. Yes, you're more impatient than I thought. Let's get straight to the point. But are you really not going to eat? A fire carp is also a spiritual medicine."

Of course, Cheon Woojin also knew.

Although it was not as good as a ten-thousand-year-old fire carp, even a fire carp was a spiritual medicine that would cause a sword fight among first-rate martial artists who wanted to eat it.

However, at Cheon Woojin's level, a spiritual medicine of the level of a fire carp was not very meaningful. If even the Small Pill of Shaolin was like that, what meaning would a mere fire carp have?

"I'm fine."

"Hahaha, I see. The cold wind is blowing hard."

Ha Inseong, who laughed for a long time as if something were so enjoyable, gestured to Ma Yongseok. At that, the approaching Ma Yongseok took the plate with the fire carp and disappeared into the kitchen.

Soon, Ha Inseong, with a serious expression, rested his chin on the table and looked at Cheon Woojin, then opened his mouth.

"I've come to repay a favor. That foolish Guard Ma, unlike how he looks, is my treasure. I should naturally show favor to the one who found my treasure. But..."

As the story seemed to be going off on a tangent, Cheon Woojin let out a sigh.

Ha Inseong also could not understand why he was doing this. Originally, he had intended to just see what kind of man Cheon Woojin was, and then, as a reward for finding his treasure, he would treat him to a fire carp and tell him the location of the Shadowless Divine Thief.

However, for some reason, this time sitting opposite Cheon Woojin felt enjoyable. Although he was a man he had met for the first time, and he had no connection with him, he did not know.

However, Ha Inseong only realized it much later. After looking at the pathetic peers who could not even follow his heels for his entire life, he had met a man whose height he could not even guess, so how could he not be happy as a martial artist?

"I see. I see. You're very impatient."

Ha Inseong stopped Cheon Woojin, who was about to get up. If he played any more pranks, he was about to leave without any lingering attachment.

Ha Inseong took out a small letter from his bosom and handed it to Cheon Woojin.

"I sent the same letter to the Shadowless Divine Thief. Of course, in my father's name, not mine. The Shadowless Divine Thief is afraid of the Star Lord, so he will surely move according to this letter."

The letter contained the content of the request that the Black Plaque Star Lord had ordered to the Shadowless Divine Thief. If he went to the place at the right time, he would be able to meet the Shadowless Divine Thief.

Cheon Woojin, who had put the letter in his bosom, said.

"What do you want from me?"

If one received something, one had to give something. His two masters were also such people. They had said that it was the virtue of a martial artist to never forget and to return favors and grudges.

However, Ha Inseong shook his head.

"It's a favor I'm showing as a reward for bringing Guard Ma back to me, so don't worry about it. Well, if you really want to repay me, it would be nice if you came to the Black Plaque Star sometime and went fire carp fishing with me. Ah, is that a little difficult since you're a Martial Alliance member?"

A newcomer of the Martial Alliance fishing with the young star lord of the Black Plaque Star. And in a pond located in the middle of the Black Plaque Star at that.

Even Ha Inseong himself thought it was an unrealistic story.

However, contrary to his expectations, Cheon Woojin nodded his head.

"I will do so."

It wasn't a particularly difficult thing.

At that sight, Ha Inseong's eyes narrowed.

'This guy is also not a guy who lives under the rules.'

He was also such a man. Therefore, his father, the Black Plaque Star Lord, had suffered a lot. Of course, apart from his sorry heart, he had no intention of living under the rules.

The reason was simple. Because it was just not fun.

"The Martial Alliance Leader must be having a hard time. No, is your direct superior, the Black Tortoise Unit Commander, having a harder time?"

Cheon Woojin shrugged his shoulders.

Soon, as he was about to leave, Ha Inseong suddenly asked.

"But, I heard that you have something to get back from the Shadowless Divine Thief."

"That's right."

"Even if you know the place, you won't be able to catch him. How are you going to catch a guy who even stole from the Nangong family and escaped from the hands of the Sword King? Can you do it?"

"Well."

Cheon Woojin answered vaguely.

At that sight, a strange light flashed in Ha Inseong's eyes. Although he had not answered clearly, there was not a single bit of doubt in Cheon Woojin's eyes.

'He doesn't even think that he might miss.'

Where on earth was that guy's level?

Was it a baseless arrogance or a reasonable confidence?

Although it was a short meeting, he was a guy who made him crazily curious.

For that reason, Ha Inseong finally added one more word. Although it was not in his disposition to ramble on, for some reason, he kept spitting out words.

"Well, let's say you caught him with a stroke of luck. Then what? Do you think a martial artist of the level of the Shadowless Divine Thief will open his mouth?"

At Ha Inseong's question, Cheon Woojin let out a smirk.

It was a situation where it was inferred that there was a mastermind behind the Shadowless Divine Thief.

Then the Shadowless Divine Thief would have to choose.

"Since he's not a real black path person, wouldn't he value his life more than loyalty?"

When his White Master had spoken about the theory of the white path about forty times, his Black Master would occasionally talk about the theory of the black path as a passing remark.

In the end, the only black path people that his Black Master acknowledged were the Black Plaque Star Lord and a few executives of the era.

The real black path people were those who would willingly throw away their lives for their beliefs.

His Black Master had said that it was very unpleasant that all sorts of miscellaneous guys who imitated the black path were lumped together as the black path. In particular, the Shadowless Divine Thief was a man who was always mentioned when giving an example of a fake black path.

"A real black path."

Ha Inseong's black pupils flashed brilliantly for the first time. He was the next star lord of the Black Plaque Star, and he was a man who would succeed his father and become the number one of the black path in the future.

In front of him, he was talking about the theory of the black path. And a low-ranking member of the Martial Alliance at that.

It was a truly annoying thing. Moreover, if it were the Shadowless Divine Thief, he was a master of movement skills that even the Black Plaque Star Lord acknowledged.

To call such a person a fake black path.

Suddenly, Ha Inseong erased the fighting spirit that had brushed past his eyes and curled up the corners of his mouth in a smirk. Because he had had a truly interesting thought.

"Good. Then let's make a bet."

"A bet?"

"If that guy, the Shadowless Divine Thief, opens his mouth, you win, and if he keeps his mouth shut to the end, I win. How about it?"

"I'm not interested."

Soon, Cheon Woojin turned his body. He thought that the young star lord of the Black Plaque Star was a truly persistent man.

The moment he lifted the curtain and left the inn, the cheerful voice of the young star lord was heard from behind.

"Right, I wish you good luck."

And so, right after Cheon Woojin left.

Ma Yongseok, who was watching his expression from one side of the inn, approached and asked.

"Young Star Lord, are you really going to make a bet?"

The Young Star Lord he knew was a man whose own will was the most important in all things. The other person's intention did not matter. If he decided to make a bet, he would do it.

As expected, Ha Inseong nodded his head readily.

"I have to. The black path originally likes gambling and betting."

"No, that's not the problem..."

Ma Yongseok soon gave up on persuading him and let out a sigh.

"So, what are you going to bet? If by any chance alliance member Cheon has the masters of the white path behind him, he might really be able to subdue the Shadowless Divine Thief."

"Well. If that guy wins, I'll grant him one wish without asking for the conditions, as long as it's within my power."

Ma Yongseok's eyes widened.

Although he said it lightly as one wish, the influence of the Young Star Lord in the black path was absolute.

Moreover, the Young Star Lord was a man who would unconditionally keep his word. Even if it were an unreasonable request.

'Depending on how it's used, he could move the entire Black Plaque Star.'

Although it seemed like an absurd thing, the Young Star Lord, not Ma Yongseok, was a person who would do that and more.

"Then what will you do if alliance member Cheon loses?"

"Of course, I'll have to receive a corresponding price. In one way or another."

Ha Inseong's laugh filled the inn in a low voice.

(End of Chapter)