There’s really no need to say kind things to an idiot.

No reason to quote old sayings, no need to gently point out their flaws one by one. It’s useless.

With idiots, the best thing to do is just call them what they are—idiots. And you have to be clear about it. You are an idiot. Because if they were capable of realizing things on their own and correcting their path, they wouldn’t be idiots to begin with.

And on top of that, I deliberately shouted loudly to stop the Sect Leader’s mind from slipping into deviation. Some idiot like Noshin glaring at me like he wanted to kill me? That was nothing.

If I’m going to protect the Sect Leader, I have to protect his heart first.

That’s the right thing to do—not just for him, but for the entirety of Jianghu.

If someone like him had remained in Baekdo during my past life, able to stand against the Cult Leader and Tian’e, then the demonic sect wouldn’t have overrun us so easily.

I almost hurled another string of curses at Noshin—but held back and stared instead toward the end of the bridge.

“......”

Suddenly, a random man was approaching from the now-empty bridge.

It was none other than the noodle shop owner. I was startled not because of who he was, but because he was holding a long sword in his right hand—not a kitchen knife.

I asked,

“Boss, what’s going on? You out collecting debts?”

The man looked to be in his forties, and with a calm expression, he addressed the Sect Leader.

“No, sir. I’ve come to help you, Sect Leader.”

Even Shin Gae looked surprised.

“I thought you’d retired?”

The shop owner smiled.

“...But you, Sect Leader—I have to help.”

Nothing had happened yet, but the air had already grown extremely tense. I glared at Noshin.

“What the hell is going on?”