Chapter 76

Ma Widong scanned the faces of the three people with a sharp gaze. A brief silence and tension hung over the scene.

Taewoon and Yerin instinctively tensed up and adjusted their stances. Compared to the brutal fight that had just unfolded, the current silence was excessively quiet, and they were unable to read Ma Widong’s inner thoughts.

Hwang Gae tilted his head as if slightly puzzled and spoke.

“You’re unusually quiet. Is there some kind of problem?”

At that moment, a very slight tremor flickered across the corners of Ma Widong’s eyes.

“Problem my foot. I can tell just by looking that you’ve heard something from that Divine Physician fellow, but whatever item I possess, what does it have to do with you?”

“Why wouldn’t it be our concern? Then let’s just ask. Surely the world-renowned Strange Machine Person has already identified the nature of the object?”

Hwang Gae provoked Ma Widong with a sly expression. In response, Ma Widong’s lips twitched as he let out a loud laugh.

“What? An old beggar is trying to fish for information from this elder. Unfortunately, I am not one to fall for such coaxing. I don’t know what you want, but if you have no business here, get lost.”

“Hmph. If it’s such a precious item, couldn’t you just show it off and brag a little? Given your temperament, that wouldn’t be so unusual, would it?”

At those words, Ma Widong’s gaze hardened coldly. A chilling wind swirled between Hwang Gae and Ma Widong. Taewoon felt his grip tighten instinctively, and Yerin also gathered her Qi, preparing for any eventuality.

However, Ma Widong suddenly relaxed his tension and snorted.

“Heh, I simply don’t understand. Why is a beggar who wandered everywhere as if he had no interest in the secular world showing such obsession?”

“As you said, it is a quite important item to us. I’m not exactly on intimate terms with you, but is it really that difficult to take one look at the object?”

Hwang Gae’s voice contained a firm determination to confirm the actual object no matter what. Every word he uttered pierced through the opponent’s mind like a sharp awl.

The gazes of the two old Experts clashed in the air, sparking like flint.

“Tsk.”

Ma Widong’s eyes wavered uneasily. In some ways, it looked like he was becoming irritable; in others, it looked like he was expressing displeasure.

Eventually, unable to bear his own frustration, Ma Widong raised his voice and shouted.

“Agh, how annoying! Why are you all so obsessed with my belongings? Do you really have nothing better to do?”

“We are just as frustrated. We need to grasp the truth of the matter, which is why we are being so polite to a scoundrel like you.”

Although they seemed to be bickering, Taewoon felt that Ma Widong didn’t seem to have a strong aversion to the request to see the item itself.

Noticing a certain hint from this, Taewoon spoke up, just in case.

“By any chance, did you lose the item?”

“Wha— what?”

Instantly, Ma Widong’s eyes furrowed abruptly.

His expression was a mix of displeasure, as if a hand had touched a part of him that he didn’t want touched.

Taewoon’s intuition had hit the mark.

“Tsk! How dare you speak so recklessly to me? You’re suggesting that I let a treasure I once obtained slip through my fingers?”

“There are many circumstances surrounding the item. If the Strange Machine Person could help this humble junior, I will surely repay the favor.”

Ma Widong clicked his tongue lightly, but he no longer seemed inclined to deny the truth.

He waved his hand as if the mere thought of it annoyed him and continued in a lamenting tone.

“Fine, fine, you’re right! Whether I was possessed or simply careless for a moment, the item was stolen. What do you expect me to do about something that isn’t in my hands?”

It was a declaration of utter resignation. The three of them looked at each other with perplexed expressions.

“It’s already been over a year. I don’t know the name or face, but seeing as they deceived the eyes of this elder, they must be no ordinary person.”

“Tsk. To think the world-famous Strange Machine Person was played by some random nobody.”

“Hmph! Didn’t you just say it yourself? That it’s no ordinary item. Perhaps they knew its value and plotted properly.”

Ma Widong clenched his fist and shook his head self-deprecatingly.

“I have never experienced such humiliation in my entire life. It was stolen before I could even uncover its true identity; the more I think about it, the more my blood boils.”

Yerin asked hurriedly.

“Where was the item stolen?”

“Beijing. To others, it looked like nothing more than a long pile of scrap metal, so this elder let his guard down more than necessary. Is that a sufficient answer?”

The answer was sufficient. However, it only made things more complicated in their minds.

“What should we do? The clue is gone, and we don’t know the whereabouts of the other person, the Spear Ghost…”

“You Ma fellow, if you held the item for a while, you must have examined it thoroughly. Did you find out anything else?”

At Hwang Gae’s frustrated question, Ma Widong glanced at him and gave a single answer with a dissatisfied face.

“Well. I’m not certain, but in this elder’s view… it definitely felt like a type of ‘weapon.’ Though I lost it before I could realize how to use it.”

Although things weren’t going as smoothly as hoped, they had gained a harvest of their own. The important thing was the plan from here on.

“…Thank you for your help, Elder.”

“Hmph! If you have nothing more to say, this elder shall be leaving. Do not bother me any further.”

“…Wait, may I offer my opinion?”

At Taewoon’s sudden interruption, the gazes of the three people shifted simultaneously toward his face.

Ma Widong frowned as if it were absurd, but Taewoon continued without hesitation.

“Actually, if the current power of the Evil Path Alliance is compared to the entire Martial Alliance, I believe they are lagging behind rather than leading. Yet, a sudden Great War between Righteous and Evil—don’t you think their actions are a bit abrupt?”

“Hmph. Why should I care what those scoundrels are thinking?”

“Generally, a great general does not engage in a war without a chance of victory. However, I am saying this because the story might change if they have obtained an overwhelming ‘weapon’ capable of shaking the tide of war.”

At that one sentence, a strange light flickered in the eyes of the three, as if they had realized what Taewoon was trying to say.

“Nonsense! You are still too ignorant to realize, but in the battles of Experts above the heavens, no such convenient items exist. To suggest a mere weapon could change the course of a war is an exaggeration beyond measure.”

“…….”

Normally, Ma Widong’s words would not be wrong.

But now was different. If it was something that transcended the realm of ‘weapons’ that Ma Widong could imagine, then even this might be a modest prediction.

Seeing the three of them exchanging glances with serious expressions, Ma Widong tilted his head in disbelief.

“…What is it? Do you truly believe that is possible?”

“You Ma fellow. Stop being sarcastic and listen carefully. I don’t know what you’re imagining, but that item certainly does not belong to the common sense of the Central Plains’ Martial World. If the Evil Path Alliance members have realized its true usage, the landscape of the Martial World may truly tilt significantly.”

“…….”

There was no hint of bluffing in Hwang Gae’s voice, and Ma Widong, realizing it wasn’t a joke, sank into deep thought.

After a moment, having decided something, Ma Widong—his cloak adorned with scraps of iron fluttering—expressed his intention to join Taewoon’s party.

“The situation is turning out to be quite interesting. This elder shall join in on what you’re planning.”

“Does that mean you will help us recover the item?”

“Hmph! Think of it however you like. Since it was originally this elder’s item, I cannot simply stand by and watch some random fool use it as they please. If I follow you and stir up those Evil Path Alliance scoundrels, I’ll naturally find out the identity of the thief, won’t I?”

A Martial Artist of Ma Widong’s caliber would be a tremendous asset.

As long as they didn’t know the enemy’s identity, there was naturally no reason to refuse.

Thus, the party grew to four people and one beast, taking on a completely different form than before.

Their first target was none other than the Iron Martial Alliance.

“Tsk! No gain.”

For four days, Taewoon’s party helped the Martial Artists of the Kunlun Sect stir up the Iron Martial Alliance, hoping to obtain any possible information or clues.

However, the Iron Martial Alliance seemed to have little connection to Taewoon’s goal; instead, they were bewildered by the presence of Hwang Gae and Ma Widong, choosing to stop the immediate conflict and hide inside.

“What should we do?”

“Tsk! It seems they have no useful information. Continuing to provoke them would be meaningless.”

“It might be better to leave Qinghai and keep an eye on the conflicts happening elsewhere.”

If so, the place worth turning to immediately was none other than Sichuan.

This was because they had heard that Sichuan was currently one of the regions experiencing the greatest turmoil in the Central Plains, with the Ami Sect, Cheongseong Sect, and the Sichuan Tang Clan joining forces to oppose the Evil Path Alliance.

“A much larger clash must be happening in Sichuan than the conflict between Kunlun and the Iron Martial Alliance. At the very least, there should be something to gain there.”

When they arrived, the sky of Sichuan was covered in thick, dark clouds.

The aftermath of the conflict and a gloomy aura of war had long since enveloped the entire city.

Throughout the streets, pedestrians with dark expressions and people clearing collapsed buildings were visible.

“This is more serious than anywhere we’ve seen so far. I didn’t realize the situation was this bad…”

As Yerin let out a low sigh, Hwang Gae nodded quietly.

Taewoon, composing himself in the chilly air, spoke.

“Since such a massive clash is occurring, I believe many people are watching closely. If the Evil Path Alliance truly possesses an item that fell from the sky and intends to use it, wouldn’t Sichuan be the perfect stage?”

Ma Widong, listening from the side, shrugged as if displeased.

Ignoring Ma Widong’s behavior, Hwang Gae answered instead.

“To confirm that, we’ll need to dig information out of them. You Ma fellow, do you have any ideas?”

“Hmph! Is a man who is the Ark of the Beggar’s Clan asking such a frustrating question? Since two Experts of the Flower Realm have gathered, there’s no need for formalities. We just need to snatch a suitable fellow under the cover of night.”

Normally, this would be nonsense.

However, Hwang Gae and Ma Widong were Experts for whom few in the entire Central Plains could compete, and there were not many things impossible for them.

“Rumor has it that the Heat-Fire Tyrant Sword, the Fighting Desolation Demon, and the Nine-Headed Golden Lion are roaming this Sichuan. Yerin, it would be best for you to stay hidden for a while.”

“Yes. I will. I’m not yet proficient at hiding my presence…”

Unlike Hwang Gae and Ma Widong, who were Flower Realm Experts, or Taewoon, who could perform high-level stealth operations with the power of The Red Man, Yerin’s achievements made it very likely she would not be able to avoid the eyes of the Evil Path Alliance Experts.

Thus, when darkness completely covered Sichuan Province, the three of them left Yerin behind and began their secret infiltration into the heart of the Evil Path Alliance’s territory.