Jinhai walked a few steps behind Ming before speaking again.
"My lord… where are we heading?"
"Shanxi," Ming replied. "My subordinates are there."
Hearing that, Jinhai nodded and said nothing more.
After several hours of travel, the three of them stopped at a roadside tavern to eat. The place was crowded—travelers, merchants, martial artists. As soon as they sat down, loud conversations drifted toward them.
"Hey, did you hear?" someone said excitedly. "The Black Serpent Sect is hunting members of the Blood Cult."
"Yeah, yeah, I heard!" another replied. "They've spread wanted posters everywhere."
Ming's hand paused.
Slowly, he turned his gaze toward the tavern wall.
A poster was nailed there.
The face on it was unmistakably familiar.
Mine.
It looked exactly like him.
Beside it was another portrait—Wrath's. Cold eyes. Sharp features. Marked as an accomplice.
Only one face was missing.
Jinhai's.
The Black Serpent Sect didn't know he was traveling with them.
Ming calmly lowered his head, shadowing his face beneath his hood. He had no intention of drawing attention. Right now, fighting both the Murim Alliance and the Empire was the last thing he needed.
But the conversation didn't stop.
"Did you hear about those rebels?" the same man continued. "The ones under General Jisoo."
"Ah, them? I heard they're not alone anymore."
"Right! There's a new force backing them now."
"What were they called again…?"
"Oh! I remember—Sin."
"Sin?"
"Yeah. Gluttony. Greed. Envy. Pride."
At those words—
Ming's eyes narrowed.
His heart sank.
"They say the Emperor has already sent a letter to the Murim Alliance," the man went on. "He wants the Alliance Leader himself to help wipe out those rebels."
"Some people say the Alliance Leader has already agreed."
The tavern felt colder.
Ming's grip tightened slowly beneath the table.
They're talking about my subordinates.
He knew exactly what that meant.
If the Murim Alliance Leader moved personally…
Gluttony, Greed, Envy, Pride—
They would die.
For the first time in a long while, Ming's expression cracked.
Worry.
And fear.
Not for himself—
For them.
Wrath noticed instantly.
She turned to look at Ming, her eyes sharp, questioning.
What do we do now?
Jinhai sat stiffly, tension running through his body. The wanted posters already made him uneasy—but he had no idea that the conversation at the tavern was speaking about people far more important to Ming than anyone there realized.
Ming slowly exhaled.
His gaze hardened.
Looks like I don't have time anymore.
Ming's thoughts moved rapidly.
If the Alliance Leader goes there… they won't survive.
We're not ready.
Not for the Murim Alliance.
Not for the Empire.
We need time.
His fingers tightened slightly against the table.
I'll take them away myself.
And I have to move fast.
At that moment, a waiter approached.
"Have you decided on your order?"
Ming lifted his head slightly—but his face remained hidden beneath the shadow of his hood. Wrath had also concealed herself. Only Jinhai's face was visible.
"We won't be eating here," Ming said calmly. "We're traveling a long distance. Pack the food instead."
The waiter nodded quickly. "Yes, sir."
He left, and not long after returned with their food neatly packed. Ming paid without another word.
The three of them stood and left the tavern.
But they weren't the only ones watching.
From a shadowed corner, several men tracked their movements, eyes glinting with interest.
"They look like an easy catch," one murmured.
"A rich woman, a servant, and a bodyguard," another chuckled quietly.
"That sword on the bodyguard's back—expensive," a third added. "I want my share this time."
The waiter who had served them leaned closer, lowering his voice with a grin.
"I already poisoned their food," he said softly. "They won't get far."
One of the men laughed. "Good. After that, we sell the woman—she'll fetch a hefty price."
"I'll need more coin," another said. "I've got debts to settle."
The waiter giggled, eyes shining with greed. "Fine. I'll go with you. We can divide everything after."
The group exchanged satisfied looks.