After three or four days had passed...

I had grown quite comfortable in the Martial Alliance.

Thinking about it now, it must’ve been because the place was under such strict surveillance—I could sleep more deeply here than anywhere else. Honestly, if someone managed to sneak past all these defenses not to attack the Alliance Leader but to get to me, that bastard would have to be truly insane.

Thanks to that, I was able to rest well, eat well, and relax while calmly sorting out my thoughts on the upcoming duels.

Most of the Emperor’s disciples would likely struggle to surpass the Four Great Villains.

If there were any disciple-level fighters comparable to us, it’d probably be some idiot who had inherited the title of the Fist King at a young age. In my past life, the Fist King was someone so formidable that not even the Drunk, the Lecher, or the Poison Demon could guarantee victory against him.

He and I didn’t get along at first...

But we became friends through fighting.

After hitting each other so much, we got exhausted and started chatting. Then we’d fight again, get hungry, and go eat together—it went on like that. Honestly, I was the one who benefited more from the relationship. I copied most of his techniques and used them in fights.

Since I’d clawed my way up from the bottom, whenever I came across someone with better techniques than mine, I treated it like a windfall and stole them without hesitation.

Still, I’m sure the Fist King learned plenty from me too.

Things like pettiness, cheap tricks, underhanded tactics, throwing dirt, spitting, taunting... he endured all of it, and in doing so, picked it up himself.

That idiot was the man personally chosen by the Fist King as his successor. It meant he was the most skilled among the later generation. I stole his martial arts, and he learned my scumbaggery.

Who gained more? I’m not sure.

From the start, we were both the type who didn’t care much about gain or loss.

That’s why I was genuinely looking forward to the fights between the Emperors and the Four Great Villains, but I was personally curious whether the Lecher or the Drunk could surpass that fool from my past life.

So until the Emperors arrived...

I spent each day meaninglessly but peacefully, cycling between meditation, stray thoughts, and breathing exercises like a jobless fool.

If I ended up killing an Emperor during a duel with Heaven-Piercing Sun-Moon Radiance, that’d be a catastrophe.

But if the Emperors kept challenging Im Sobaek one after another, draining his energy and stamina and leaving him seriously injured, that would also be a catastrophe.

And if Im Sobaek ended up beating the Emperors one by one so badly that they had to retire, that too would be a catastrophe because it would weaken our overall forces.

I figured the major incident in my past life probably resembled the third kind of catastrophe.

Therefore, the most sensible course for this Emperor Martial Exhibition was for us Four Great Villains to face off against the Emperors in somewhat balanced matches—regardless of outcome—burning some of their strength, getting familiar with their faces, and ending things on a “we’re good, we’re cool” kind of note.

Still, I couldn’t help but wonder—

Why do the right answers in life always end in half-assed compromises?

I tried to think of a reason... and promptly forgot it.

***

About ten days had passed since I started mooching off the Martial Alliance when I noticed a change in the steps of those coming and going from the Moonlight Pavilion. It wasn’t the usual gait; there was an urgency and tension in their movement.

That’s when I knew.

‘Someone’s arrived.’

The air had shifted. It had to. The Moonlight Pavilion was reserved for important guests. That meant one of the Emperors was about to check in.

Even the other Great Villains holed up in their rooms must’ve noticed this change.

Curious to see which Emperor had arrived, I threw on my clothes and left the room, heading down the stairs. The guests would be received by Administrator Song himself, so once the pompous entourage and Song Gwanju arrived, I planned to observe them up close.

I mean, I didn’t have to spy in person...

But knowing your enemy and knowing yourself is a sure path to victory.

And spying on your enemy while staying hidden just feels good.

I stepped out into the wide courtyard in front of the Moonlight Pavilion and asked one of the officials sweeping the yard,

“...Who’s arriving?”

The official, someone I occasionally chatted with, looked at me and answered.

“Yes, Pavilion Lord. The Military Sword has arrived.”

“Military Sword... you mean the Sword Emperor?”

It seemed the Sword Emperor of the Baekri Family had arrived.

“Yes.”

“Where’s he staying?”

“He’ll likely stay here or go to Phoenix Hall. I’m not sure which yet.”

“I see. Did he bring a large retinue?”

“The Alliance Leader doesn’t like that sort of thing. He probably came with the bare minimum.”

“Hm. Why doesn’t he like it?”

“Too much wasted money on food expenses.”

“Fair enough.”

With nothing better to do, I walked up to the official and held out my hand.

“Give it here.”

“Sir? Give you what?”

“The broom.”

I snatched the broom from the official and waved my hand, telling him to go rest.

“Ah, Pavilion Lord, please—if you do this, we’ll get scolded.”

“It’s not even a big deal. I’m just sweeping the courtyard. Go on inside. I’m a professional.”

I bumped shoulders with the official to gently push him aside and started sweeping the courtyard.

Swish— swish— swish— swish— swish— sweep— swish—

The familiar sound of the broom after a long time brought peace to my soul.

As I watched the worthless specks of dust gather, I couldn’t help but think of the Haomun bastards.

Honestly, I’d been antsy from doing nothing but eating, meditating, and breathing exercises. Sweeping was just what I needed to loosen up my body.

Maybe it’s an occupational hazard from being a tavern boy.

Still, I was always better at cleaning than cooking, so I gathered the courtyard’s dust bit by bit into a nice pile by the wall.

Just then, the third-floor window burst open and the Lecher yelled,

“Who arrived?”

Still sweeping, I replied.

“Military Sword Emperor.”

At that, the Lecher suddenly spat out the window.

“Ptoo! What lousy luck.”

He slammed the window shut with a bang.

“...That crazy bastard. What’s his problem now?”

I looked at the official for a moment and then muttered,

“The Sword Emperor’s daughter is a beauty, right?”

“She’s famous.”

“Wasn’t she one of the One Phoenix Two Immortals?”

“Not quite. May I have the broom back?”

“No.”

Then it all came back to me.

Apparently, there had been a marriage proposal between the Wind-and-Cloud Mong Family and the Baekri Family, and the Lecher—being the second son—was unilaterally rejected. I vaguely recall hearing about it over drinks. The Lecher hadn’t even been interested, but they talked among themselves, and he got turned down. Beautiful story. The Mong Family was weaker and he was the second son, so the rejection probably came easily.

The families had likely talked because both traced their roots to the military.

The real issue came later, though...

The Lecher aside, the Sword Emperor’s daughter also gained a reputation for being quite fond of handsome men. In my past life, the Sword Emperor was said to have retired early from the martial world due to stress over his daughter.

A man who fell into internal deviation because of his daughter—that was the Sword Emperor.

The absurdity of it made me pause mid-sweep and dig through my memory.

‘Wait, what the hell...?’

Back when the Taechung Merchant Company embezzled Yeon Jaseong’s construction funds, the force backing Taechung had been none other than the Baekri Family. I think I even sent them a letter laced with threats, but I can’t remember if they ever replied. Maybe they did, and I just didn’t check because I left for Dongho after that bastard Sadocheil-in pissed me off.

As I swept, I realized the Baekri Family was entangled not only with me but with the Lecher as well.

‘Yeah, definitely bad luck.’

As for the Sword Emperor’s achievements in my past life...

Can’t recall much from my active days.

He’d already earned his fame from wars long before.

Whether he truly fell into deviation over his daughter—I’ll never know. But since we were still pre-scandal, both his martial prowess and mental state were likely intact.

A thought occurred to me.

If his swordsmanship was forged on the battlefield, it probably wasn’t easy to pass on to disciples or children. Meaning he was likely the only exceptional master in his household.

While sweeping, the official suddenly stiffened and offered a respectful bow toward the entrance.

“We greet the Sword Emperor.”

Still holding the broom, I looked over at the arriving Emperor—the Military Sword.

He looked younger than expected, with the presence of a seasoned general.

Administrator Song, standing beside him, spoke.

“Senior, this way please.”

After a few steps, Song Gwanju caught sight of me holding the broom and flinched.

“...!”

Whether he was shocked or not, I casually observed the Sword Emperor, his daughter, and the young men accompanying them.

One of the youngest-looking ones spoke to me.

“What are you staring at?”

Caught off guard by the question, I blinked.

“Hm?”

Thinking back, one of the men must’ve been part of the Six Dragons of the South. Another group with deep ties to mine.

“Hahaha...”

I suddenly burst into laughter. When I did, the young man furrowed his brows and cursed.

“What the hell? This lunatic.”

Another man, clearly the eldest and likely one of the Six Dragons, spoke with a composed tone.

“Hyeok, watch your mouth. He’s a member of the Alliance. Let’s go inside.”

“But he just started laughing out of nowhere, Brother.”

At that moment, the Lecher’s voice rang out from the window, low and sharp.

“What’s the big deal with laughing? ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) You’re all flipping out over a laugh?”

The same young man shouted at the window.

“Who said that?!”

Administrator Song panicked, running in circles.

“No, wait, what is...? Please, everyone, calm down.”

Then the Sword Emperor turned his head and said,

“...Enough.”

The eldest son and daughter replied at once.

“Yes, Father.”

Just then, the Sword Emperor and I locked eyes briefly. As he took a step forward, he stopped, turned his body slowly, and looked me over, as if confirming something.

“...”

His expression blank, he scanned me from foot to face.

“Who are you? I don’t recognize you.”

Since he was bound to find out anyway, I kept it simple.

“I’m the Lord of Haomun.”

The Sword Emperor smiled faintly and said,

“...It was you? What are you doing here?”

It sounded like he was asking why I was in the Martial Alliance, but I didn’t feel like answering seriously.

“Just sweeping.”

The Sword Emperor gave a deflated chuckle and nodded once.

“Fits you well. Carry on.”

He turned and headed toward the lodging.

Seemed like he meant to insult me, but I didn’t really care. I just kept sweeping.

I heard Baekri Hyeok’s voice.

“...Brother, wasn’t this the guy who sent that threatening letter to the Taechung Merchant Company?”

“This isn’t the time to bring that up.”

“Looks like the Alliance detained him?”

“No idea.”

The daughter’s voice followed.

“Then isn’t he also one of the Six Dragons of the South?”

“That’s right.”

To sum it up: the eldest son had a calm personality and was a strong member of the Six Dragons, while the youngest was clearly immature.

Perhaps the Sword Emperor had been too focused on war and training to properly raise his kids. But that wasn’t something I could know for sure.

Then, the Lecher opened the window again and cursed at me.

“Why are you sweeping out there, you bastard? You’re pissing me off. What the hell is wrong with you? Act like a sect leader if you are one, dammit.”

“...”

Still holding the broom, I simply watched the Lecher’s expression.

Why does that guy always lose control when family matters come up? Is it because he’s illegitimate? I’m not a bastard, so I couldn’t understand how he felt.

I chuckled.

“You dumbass. Why are you so mad today? What’s gotten you so riled up?”

It’d probably be good for him to overcome that inferiority complex about being a bastard, but I couldn’t think of anything better to say to tease him.

“Come down here and sweep the yard a bit.”

“Why should I?”

Still sweeping, I said,

“For peace of mind. For the peace and safety of Jianghu. For the weight of a man’s word. For the courtyard...”

Suddenly, the Lecher turned his head and asked toward the door,

“Who is it?”

The second son of the Baekri Family, Baekri Hyeok, replied.

“Hey, show your face when you talk. You’re the one who was yapping earlier, right?”

Yeah, peace and safety of Jianghu my ass...

Looks like the opening act was a battle between the second son of the Mong Family and the second son of the Baekri Family. From inside the room, I heard the Lecher’s voice.

“...It’s me. So what?”

“Open the door.”

“It’s open.”

I stopped sweeping and clicked my tongue.

Tsk tsk tsk.

Ah, these hot-blooded youths, I swear...

I called out to the Lecher.

“Hey, you two. How about you stop throwing tantrums indoors and come out here where there’s space? Makes it easier to watch.”

In hindsight, maybe I shouldn’t have swept the yard.

I tossed the broom aside and sat on the steps, waiting for the two of them. Since both the Sword Emperor and the Sword Demon were keeping silent, it looked like the brats would be fighting soon.

Either way, watching fights is always the most fun. So I planted my ass in the prime spot and waited.

And this thought crossed my mind—

“Damn... Coming to the Martial Alliance was a great decision.”

From here on out, everything that happens is bound to lead to a fight. Honestly, it’d be best if the Lecher just took care of all the later-generation hotshots on his own.

What kind of sect leader steps in for a kids’ fight?

Yeah. That’d be ridiculous.