Chapter 6

" Young Master Jeok was truly a warm-hearted person."

This was the estate manager's assessment of Jeok Leegeon. Conflicting opinions about him were nothing new.

"He was a very good man."

Seeing him receive such generous praise even after his departure, it seemed he had earned considerable points with this old man.

'He received preferential treatment.'

Gwimyeong smiled faintly, thinking of Jin I-bong.

This was the estate where Jeok Leegeon had rented a room for the past six months. It was said that the estate had been vacant since Jeok Leegeon left some time ago.

"What's so great about him? Did he lend you money or something?"

Gwimyeong made no effort to conceal his murderous intent. When investigating something, such pressure was definitely helpful if the other party was an ordinary person.

Indeed, perhaps due to nervousness, the manager's mouth ran non-stop.

"It's not that, but he always cared about us underlings."

"For example?"

The manager hesitated for a moment.

He seemed worried that his answer might harm Jeok Leegeon. However, Gwimyeong's murderous aura was too intense for him to maintain his loyalty.

"Don't worry. I'm just investigating something."

He probably didn't believe his words, but he answered honestly, thinking it didn't matter since he had left quite a while ago.

"My son has been wanting to become a Jianghu Wanderer since the year before last. After attending a martial arts school last year, he started hanging out with bad company. I asked Young Master Jeok for help because he wouldn't listen to a word I said."

"And?"

"After talking with Young Master Jeok, my son gave up his naive longing for the Jianghu.

Do you know what advice he gave him?"

The manager quickly spoke, fearing he might call his son to ask.

"He told my son that an even more wonderful Jianghu would unfold soon. He told him to enter the Jianghu then. And he showed him a demonstration. He said that when he wielded his sword, thunder rumbled in the clear sky and lightning struck, but he's such a boastful kid, so I can't believe it. Anyway, he pulled himself together and stopped fighting after that day. Young Master Jeok is a great benefactor to me."

Gwimyeong was not interested in the fact that his son had pulled himself together.

The problem was the part about the thunder.

It was known that the Thunderbolt Sword only made a thunderous sound when it reached the Ninth Round.

'There's no way.'

It was impossible to reach the Ninth Round at the age of twenty.

Even Naeng Isang, the master of the Martial arts, was known to have reached the Ninth Round at the age of forty. Moreover, he would show such precious Martial arts to the son of an estate manager? And such a guy would be humiliated by a gang of Wanderers?

It was a series of events that Gwimyeong could not understand with his common sense. Gwimyeong pressed his fingers between his eyebrows as if his head was throbbing.

"Were there any visitors?"

"No. Not a single one."

"Isn't it strange that he's so young? Living alone in a place like this."

"I just thought he was a lonely person."

Soon, the manager stopped in front of a detached house in the backyard.

"This is it. Then, please take your time to look around."

Gwimyeong called out to him as he turned around.

"Just one more question."

Gwimyeong took out a coin from his pocket.

"Did he leave any words as he left? Like where he was going."

Looking at the silver coin in Gwimyeong's hand, the manager tried hard to remember.

"Ah! He said that he was going to find a smart woman to take care of his affairs since he was ready to start a big business. The prettiest and smartest woman in the Jianghu."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. The moment I heard that story, I wished my son was a daughter."

"Did he happen to mention the Martial Arts Tournament?"

At that, the manager tilted his head. He definitely didn't seem to have heard it.

Gwimyeong threw the silver coin without hesitation. The manager happily took the money and disappeared.

"A woman..."

Moreover, a woman to run a big business. What on earth is this guy up to?

Gwimyeong slowly entered the building. He walked down the hallway and entered the room where he usually stayed.

The room was neatly organized. Perhaps because it hadn't been cleaned while it was empty, dust had accumulated on the table.

Gwimyeong's gaze turned to the Map of the Central Plains hanging on the wall. His casually passing gaze turned back to the map.

He rushed over.

A red circle was drawn in the Hubei area, and next to it, a letter was also written in red. A line of scribbled writing like graffiti.

Conquest of Hubei.

Conquest of Hubei? Hubei?

At that moment, two major Martial Arts Tournament being held there this year flashed through Gwimyeong's mind like lightning. It felt like a strand of something that had been blocked was untangled.

Looking at the map once more, Gwimyeong chuckled. As if Jeok Leegeon was in front of him, Gwimyeong provocatively said.

"Why? Since you're writing it, why not write 'Conquest of the World'?"

Then, a chilling voice was heard from behind.

"I stopped him from doing that. I told him to do it one step at a time."