The Black Cat Pavilion was too important of a stronghold to just abandon coldly. So I decided to stay at least until So Gunpyeong finished his energy circulation training and stepped outside the main hall to watch the monkeys train.

While watching, I was startled to spot Seventh Bug—the Seven Insects—who used to be Gui Ma’s underlings.

“Hey, bug.”

The youngest of the Silver and Gold Seven Insects, Seventh Bug, turned to look at me.

“Yes?”

“Come over here.”

Seventh Bug walked over and stood in front of me. After examining his expression and energy flow, I asked,

“Why are you here?”

Seventh Bug answered with a puzzled face.

“I’ve been here the whole time.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you leave?”

“I’ve got nowhere to go. And Master Yukhap said if we didn’t behave, he’d beat us to death. So we’re just staying quiet.”

“What about the rest of the Silver and Gold Seven Insects?”

As Seventh Bug turned around, the rest of them subtly emerged from among the training monkeys. Originally, they feared Gui Ma the most, and since I was the one who beat Gui Ma to near death, that made me the man they feared above all.

“How have you been?”

Seventh Bug hesitated before replying.

“Got scolded a lot by Sub-Pavilion Lord So.”

“For slacking off?”

“How’d you know?”