~Chapter 07~

 A Visitor of the Hundred Blades Society (2)

“What did you just say?”

“S-sorry!”

At the cold tone of Gwangpae, Wei Xiaoping, the leader of the Hundred Blades Society, hurriedly scrambled down from his seat and flattened himself to the floor.

“I-I heard that you abandoned the nickname Paegunilak (The Evil Who Defeated Kings)! I didn’t know how else to address you, so I made such a rude mistake…”

“…Six Defeats.”

“…What?”

“Seven battles, six defeats! The seventh was a draw!”

“Ah… yes! Now that you mention it, I think I heard that, too!”

When Gwangpae growled like a beast, Wei Xiaoping hastily nodded.

The nickname Chiljeonchilpae (Seven Battles, Seven Defeats) was how people mockingly referred to Gwangpae for losing seven times against the same opponent.

Of course, it also hinted at his greatness—only someone incredibly strong would dare challenge the world’s number one expert seven times. But naturally, to the man himself, it was a rather unpleasant name.

Still, since he corrected the record to “Seven Battles, Six Defeats” and showed no further anger, Wei Xiaoping cautiously raised his head to peek at him.

“Um… may I stand up now?”

“Do as you like. Did I tell you to crawl while we talk?”

“N-no, sir.”

At Gwangpae’s curt reply, Wei Xiaoping slowly rose and looked at him with a newfound expression.

“Then… were you angry because I got the record wrong?”

“Of course. How could I be pleased if you added another loss that never happened?”

“I thought perhaps the nickname itself displeased you.”

“Hmph. I’m too old to be upset over something like a nickname. It’s not as if people are inventing outright lies.”

“…I see.”

Wei Xiaoping nodded.

A man of the unorthodox faction who hated the word evil being attached to him so much that he dropped the nickname entirely.

He always preferred fair one-on-one duels—so much so that many said he was more righteous than the orthodox sects themselves. Perhaps those assessments weren’t entirely wrong.

“Anyway, I apologize again for my slip of the tongue. But, what brings a master like you to someone like me?”

“Your Black Blade Sect, isn’t it? I came to give you a job.”

“A… a job? What kind…?”

“I need a wet nurse.”

“…What? A wet nurse?”

Wei Xiaoping blinked in surprise at the unexpected request.

“You mean… a woman who feeds milk to and raises infants?”

“She doesn’t have to breastfeed. I just need the best wet nurse—someone who can raise a child properly.”

…How to even process that?

Especially considering who the man before him was.

“So… in other words, you need a nanny. Or maybe even a foster mother, right?”

“Exactly. Money is no issue, but she must be the very best.”

“…Understood.”

He at least grasped the request. The rest could be sorted in the details.

“Do you have a specific standard for what you call ‘the best’?”

“A woman who can raise a child well. And it’d be nice if she could cook decently too.”

“So, good with children and skilled in cooking… Got it. Do you care about age?”

“No. As long as she isn’t too old to keep up physically.”

“Understood. That’s not too demanding. By when shall I have her ready?”

“By noon tomorrow. I’m staying at a manor at the southern entrance of Mount Baekun. Send her there.”

“That… might be hard to find with only that. Could you give me more detail—?”

“Don’t you know? From the southern road into Baekun Mountain, there’s a manor along the path… eh, fine. Just have her wait at the southern gate. I’ll fetch her myself.”

“Yes. I’ll see it done.”

“Good. I’ll pay once I’m satisfied with the wet nurse. Oh, and one more thing…”

Just as he was about to leave, Gwangpae suddenly turned back and warned:

“Don’t spread word that you saw me. And if word gets out that I came here looking for a wet nurse, I swear you’ll die a death far worse than you can even imagine.”

“…Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”

It might have sounded like a generic threat, but considering who was saying it, Wei Xiaoping dared not take it lightly.

As he nodded frantically, Gwangpae turned to leave. But before he was gone, Wei Xiaoping quickly called out:

“Ah, w-wait! May I ask one more thing?”

“What?”

“When I see you next time… should I address you as, um, Master Seven Battles, Six Defeats…?”

“You want to die?”

“…I’ll just call you Master.”

…And he said he wasn’t too old to be upset over nicknames.

He almost got himself punched.

Bang.

“Safe travels, Mast—oh. He’s already gone.”

In the blink of an eye, Gwangpae had disappeared, leaving the door wide open behind him.

Wei Xiaoping exhaled a long sigh of relief.

“Haa… I can’t believe I just met the leader of the Black Heaven Demonic Sect.”

He still couldn’t tell if it was a dream or reality.

The way this man knocked out his subordinates with just a casual touch, then sat down and declared he had a request—it had been terrifying.

If he hadn’t memorized the faces of the martial world’s key figures in advance, today might have been the last day of the Hundred Blades Society.

But why on earth would the dread leader of the Black Heaven Demonic Sect want a wet nurse?

Settling down in a mountain manor of all places?

“Could it be… he actually had a child?”

…No way.

Could that monster, known as a battle-maniac, really have gotten married, had a baby, and decided to live quietly in some remote village?

It didn’t sound believable at all.

“No… this is no time for idle thoughts.”

He was still the Black Heaven Demonic Sect’s master—dangerous beyond measure, even if he avoided needless killing.

“Everyone outside, get in here! Wake up the unconscious ones too! Mobilize all our intelligence networks and contacts at once!”

For the first time in a while, the Hundred Blades Society was in full crisis mode.

“You asked those Black Path guys to find a person?”

While heading back to the manor with Gwangpae, Hu Pyo (the Black Panther) raised his brows when he heard.

“Why would you entrust finding a nanny to Black Path scum? Those people would kill for money.”

“That’s true. But I heard their reputation isn’t too bad around here. They’re competent, at least.”

The broker who recommended them had nearly wet himself when Gwangpae smashed a stone table with a single punch, so he probably gave an honest answer.

“Still, that’s risky. Those types are notorious for stabbing you in the back.”

“Come on. You think some backwater sect would dare betray the Black Heaven Demonic Sect?”

“Well, when you put it that way… wait. Did you reveal your identity to them?”

“I didn’t. But that Wei Xiaoping guy already knew.”

“Oh?”

Hu Pyo smirked with some surprise.

“For a countryside thug, he’s sharp. Most sects don’t bother memorizing faces unless they’re the Beggar Sect or Hao Sect.”

“True enough.”

Even the broker from before hadn’t recognized Gwangpae at all.

“Anyway, did you buy enough food? And put up the notices?”

“I bought plenty of rice and meat. As for the notices… I’m not sure anyone will find us.”

“Why? Is there a problem?”

“I only wrote: ‘abandoned house at the southern base of Baekun Mountain.’”

“Well, it’s not abandoned anymore, is it? You should’ve called it a manor.”

“But manors usually have names. We don’t have one yet, do we?”

“…Guess we’ll have to name it.”

“Settling down after wandering so long… it’s more troublesome than I thought.”

They chatted lightly as they flew like the wind, soon reaching the manor.

“Hey, Baekryeong! Seokdu! We brought rice!”

“….”

“Why’s it so quiet? Come on out! The kid needs to eat!”

Hu Pyo shouted loudly, but no answer came.

“What are they doing?”

“Not sure.”

Puzzled, Gwangpae and Hu Pyo pushed open a half-closed door.

It was the cleanest room of the manor—designated as the baby’s room.

Clack.

“No one’s insi—wait, they’re both here?”

“They are? Then why didn’t they answer?”

Inside, Baekryeong and Seokdu stood silently, gazing into a corner of the room.

They didn’t react to the new arrivals at all, as if utterly absorbed in what they were watching.

“Hey, what’s going on? What are you looking—”

Hu Pyo followed their gaze. And in that moment, he froze.

“What the…?”

A strange foreboding washed over Gwangpae. He swallowed dryly and stepped forward, almost trembling.

Someone was missing. Someone who should be in this room.

And when his eyes finally saw what the others were watching, his own went wide with shock.

“Th-that…!”

A tiny mouth slightly open, showing a red tongue.

A pale face, tense with absolute concentration.

Short, stubby arms stretched out for balance.

The baby was standing.

“S-she’s st—”

“Shhh!”

Before Gwangpae could finish, Baekryeong and Seokdu shot him sharp glares.

Startled, he clamped his hands over his mouth. The baby, noticing him for the first time, beamed.

“Hee!”

A laugh-like sound bubbled out, and then a clear smile bloomed on the baby’s face.

Her little arms reached toward Gwangpae as her feet began to take wobbly steps.

“Wh-whoa?”

“She’s… walking?”

“She’s gonna fall, isn’t she?”

“Hee… habah!”

The baby tottered toward Gwangpae with a grin.

He just stood there, dumbstruck.

Thud. Crash.

“Ah…!”

Her front foot caught on her back, and she pitched forward.

Caught off guard, Gwangpae didn’t even think to catch her—until, at the last moment, he lunged and scooped her into his arms.

“Y-you okay? Did you hurt—”

“Hee! Kyahaha!”

Instead of crying, the baby burst into delighted laughter.

Something hot surged inside Gwangpae’s chest. His lips pressed tight, and his eyes grew damp.

“Ahem… this little one’s… tough.”

“She’s got grit! And she’s adorable!”

“She might have talent. Should we start teaching her martial arts?”

“Add her in and we’ll be the Five Black Heaven Monsters! Hahaha!”

Seokdu and Baekryeong laughed, followed by Hu Pyo’s booming laughter.

How long had it been since they laughed together like this?

For the first time, a warm breeze blew through the manor of the Black Heaven Demonic Sect.