It was not just anyone, but Yeongpung who asked me.
Strange... Shouldn't I be the one asking that?
Despite being treated like a half-criminal, he could still wear such a cheerful face.
For some reason, I saw the image of Pang Wujin overlapping with Yeongpung.
'...A madman's smell is coming from a stranger.'
It was a bad feeling.
I needed to find out why he was acting like this, so I approached Yeongpung.
[How did such a beautiful white robe get so dirty...]
I ignored the self-proclaimed Huashan Sword Immortal's words.
"Why are you doing this?"
"Haha, well, there were some circumstances."
"Master...!"
Wulyeon, who looked at me with surprise, hurriedly approached.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, I just felt a bit dizzy earlier."
I looked at the Huashan Sect members glaring at us from the opposite side.
'Who are these people?'
They were wearing white martial robes, and some had plum blossom embroidery on their sleeves, just like Yeongpung.
This was the symbol of Huashan's Plum Blossom Swordsmen.
These were individuals who, through talent and relentless effort, had made plum blossoms bloom from the tips of their swords.
They were at least first-class martial artists, high-ranking experts of the Huashan Sect.
"What's going on here?"
In response to my question, Wulyeon sheathed his sword and came to me.
"While you were talking to him, you suddenly collapsed, so we restrained him to prevent anything worse from happening."
"Restraint...? That person?"
It was a situation where a misunderstanding could easily occur, given that he had fainted during the conversation.
It was also surprising that Yeongpung had been restrained so easily.
Did he have something to interrogate me about?
Given that there were no signs of a struggle, it seemed he had allowed himself to be restrained.
Seeming to understand my gaze, Yeongpung smiled.
"When the young hero wakes up, everything will be resolved, so I had no intention of causing a fight."
"Did you force the carriage to stop?"
Yeongpung laughed awkwardly in response to my words.
"That... I apologize. We had our reasons."
"Your group...?"
Yeongpung and the other Plum Blossom Swordsmen of the Huashan Sect.
While the Huashan Sect's Plum Blossom Swordsmen were famous, they were also few in number.
No sect or faction had an abundance of first-class martial artists.
The fact that so many were gathered here meant it was not an ordinary matter.
"Are they also involved in the reason you stopped our carriage?"
Yeongpung gave a bitter smile in response to my question.
Since Wulyeon was fine, I asked him to release Yeongpung and approached the people standing there.
I slowed my pace and thought.
'...If I get too close, will my aura be detected?'
I realized the problem was the aura inside my body.
If Yeongpung could sense it, wouldn't the other skilled Plum Blossom Swordsmen sense it even more easily?
The ghost, who had been silent, responded to my unease.
[Don't worry, just go.]
'...Can you hear my thoughts?'
That would be a bit awkward.
[Very faintly. Your anxiety is so strong that I can clearly feel it. Just go, I have a way.]
Though I didn't want to believe it, I had already taken a step, so I decided to pretend to trust him.
[From the situation, I also have something to ask you.]
'What is it?'
[I'll ask later. You have more urgent matters to deal with right now.]
I finally reached the representative of the Huashan Sect.
[Just knowing that the Huashan Sect still exists in the Central Plains... is enough for now.]
"I am Gouyang Qian of the Gou family."
"I am Xin Xian, the second-generation disciple of Huashan."
"Is that so, Master Xin Xian. Can I ask what's happening here?"
Xin Xian looked at Yeongpung with a troubled expression.
It seemed there was a problem here as well.
Perhaps sensing the gaze, the now-unrestrained Yeongpung rushed over.
"....Hehe."
Yeongpung scratched the back of his head and laughed sheepishly, but Xin Xian suddenly punched him on the head.
Bang!
"Ouch!"
...I thought it would be a light tap, but it was a loud bang.
With a sound that shouldn't come from a human head, Yeongpung screamed and rolled on the ground.
"Ouch... Uncle, that hurts..."
"It hurts? I hurt more."
"Beating your beloved junior disciple, right?"
"Want another one?"
"...I'm sorry."
Xin Xian sighed deeply.
"Do you remember that your master told you not to cause trouble just a month ago?"
"...Yes."
"Do you remember? If you remember, why did you act alone like this?"
"...I'm sorry, but the situation was the situation."
"Yes, the situation was the situation, but to be precise, it was our situation. Do you think others will understand that?"
Yeongpung shut his mouth in response to Xin Xian's words.
But Xin Xian continued.
"Before being a martial artist, you are a person of the Dao. Everyone knows your talent, but don't let it make you arrogant and overconfident."
"Yes..."
"These are the words of the Sect Master. Even if everyone in the Central Plains praises you as the Sword Dragon, you must realize that not everyone is on your side."
"I'm sorry."
"...Alright."
Leaving the dejected Yeongpung behind, Xin Xian approached me and bowed.
"My junior disciple has caused you trouble."
With his actions, there was nothing left for me to say.
'He must have planned to scold him like this.'
Did he want to hit me too?
[Not bad.]
What's not bad? What's he talking about?
I sighed and said,
"...If you're done, I would like an explanation of the situation."
I asked Xin Xian.
It seemed something had happened, and I needed to know.
They had even stopped our carriage, so we needed to understand their situation.
Xin Xian hesitated for a moment but quickly composed himself and spoke.
"...Recently, Huashan Sect members have been disappearing frequently."
"From Huashan?"
"Yes, mostly the swordsmen who operate outside the sect."
The swordsmen of Huashan, the Plum Blossom Swordsmen.
'...But disappearing?'
While it was common for swordsmen to die while defending the sect, the fact that Huashan had sent search parties suggested a serious issue.
Especially, sending Plum Blossom Swordsmen on search parties.
"We are conducting a search because the situation is not good."
"This is quite far from Shanxi, isn't it?"
We still had a long way to go to reach Shanxi.
Yet, the Huashan Sect, which operated in Huayin County, had come here to search?
Xin Xian gave a bitter smile.
"...That part is difficult to explain to outsiders."
"Understood."
Something seemed to be happening, but there was no need to pry.
Since I hadn't heard of such an incident in my previous life, it probably wasn't a major event.
"...Anyway, while returning from a mission, my junior disciple felt something and left the formation, causing the problem."
Hmm...
He must have sensed the Huashan Sect's internal energy from the unknown carriage and decided to stop it.
Given the disappearances, it was understandable, but he should have thought before acting.
I asked Xin Xian,
"What do you think, Master?"
Xin Xian cleared his throat and spoke carefully.
"From what I can see, it doesn't seem like a mistake. I can definitely sense it."
Xin Xian pointed to the carriage I was in.
"If you allow it, I would like to search for a moment."
"From the carriage?"
"Yes."
"...Master Yeongpung said he sensed some energy from me. Can you not sense it?"
"From the young hero?"
Xin Xian looked at me carefully.
A very faint energy brushed past my body, likely a probe, so I didn't resist.
Xin Xian turned to Yeongpung, who seemed to sense nothing.
"Yeongpung, what exactly did you sense?"
Yeongpung looked at me for a moment, then frowned.
"Why can't I sense it... I definitely felt it earlier..."
"Don't make excuses."
Yeongpung flinched at Xin Xian's firm rebuke and answered in a small voice.
"...Yes, I'm sorry. I must have been mistaken."
"If you caused any rudeness, you should apologize to him, not me."
Yeongpung straightened up and bowed to me.
"I'm sorry, young hero, I was rude..."
"It's fine."
As I accepted his apology, I thought.
If the energy was so noticeable earlier, why can't it be sensed now?
The ghost seemed to answer my question.
[I told you, I have a way.]
That was true.
I didn't know what method he used, but the energy that had been swirling outside my body was now quietly settling in my dantian.
I was relieved that the most worrying part had passed smoothly.
After taking a deep breath, I said to Xin Xian,
"There's no need to search the carriage."
"...What do you mean?"
"I know what the energy you sensed is. Please wait a moment."
Wulyeon, who was quick to catch on, was already bringing a box from the carriage.
I opened the box containing the treasure and showed it to the martial artists.
"This is...!"
Yeongpung was the first to react, followed by Xin Xian.
Even the other Huashan Sect members behind them showed the same reaction.
"It's the Plum Blossom Jade."
As soon as the cloth was slightly loosened, a strong plum blossom fragrance wafted out, followed by a faint pink glow.
Xin Xian, seeing the treasure, asked in a surprised voice,
"How did the young hero come to possess this?"
He didn't seem to think it was a fake.
Indeed, no craftsman in the world could replicate such an item, which is why it's called a treasure.
"...Our family was temporarily entrusted with it and was on our way to return it to the Huashan Sect."
"From your family...?"
How should I explain this...
I couldn't say, "One of our family elders won it in a drinking game from your sect."
Seeing this, Yeongpung interjected.
"This is the one the Sect Master lost in a drinking game..."
"Shut up...!"
"...Yes."
"..."
Ah, you knew too.
With that, there was nothing more to explain.
Xin Xian's ears were slightly red, likely embarrassed.
After all, it was the Sect Master of Huashan who had caused this.
'...Our side is no different, though.'
What kind of gathering did Elder Li attend to end up in a drinking game with the Sect Master of Huashan?
I was curious but didn't want to know.
"...Anyway, we were on our way to the Huashan Sect to return the treasure."
"...I see."
We had a lot to say, but we couldn't voice it.
After all, it was a situation where we were spitting in our own face.
Xin Xian cleared his throat several times.
To change the atmosphere, he said,
"Anyway... Since that's the case, we were just finishing our search and heading back to Huashan, so the treasure should now be with us..."
"That's not possible."
Xin Xian's eyes widened slightly at my firm refusal.
I wanted to just hand it over and leave, but returning the treasure was a secondary matter.
My main goal was to pick up my brother.
Moreover,
"This is an item I was given to deliver directly to the Sect Master, so even if you are Huashan Sect members, I cannot easily hand it over."
"Hmm."
Xin Xian let out a low sigh.
I couldn't tell if it was because of the unexpected response or deep thought.
Xin Xian quickly composed himself and continued,
"...I understand. However, since we have seen the treasure, we cannot easily leave. Since we are heading the same way, please allow us to accompany you."
If I refused, he would follow anyway.
I nodded in response to Xin Xian's words.
I knew this would happen once the treasure was revealed.
'...It's enough that the energy from the treasure wasn't detected.'
If that had been discovered, it would have been much more troublesome.
[Hehe, I knew you were gobbling it up like a pig. If I wasn't here, what would you have done?]
...His sudden comment was annoying, and I wished he would be quiet. Unfortunately, the ghost had no such intention.
[The Huashan Sect... With each disciple so powerful, the main sect must be even more formidable.]
His voice was filled with admiration.
While I was frustrated, he was lost in thought.
"Can I ask one more thing?"
Just as the conversation was ending, the quiet Yeongpung interjected.
Xin Xian glared at the tactless Yeongpung, but Yeongpung ignored it.
Seeing this, Xin Xian's eyes flared.
"This brat...!"
"No, it's really important...!"
I asked Yeongpung, intrigued by his behavior.
"What is it?"
"You said your family is the Gou family?"
"Yes."
"...The Shanxi Gou family, right?"
"...Yes."
As I confirmed, Yeongpung's expression became increasingly complex.
...Why is he asking about my family?
"...Uncle."
"Why...?"
Xin Xian's voice was filled with anxiety, fearing another incident.
But his expression changed to match Yeongpung's when he heard the next words.
"If the Gou family is from Shanxi, isn't it the family of the Shigu (師姑)?"
"..."
Yeongpung's words made Xin Xian and the other Huashan Sect members focus on me with even more intense gazes than when they saw the Plum Blossom Jade.