Inside the luxurious, lone house that overlooked the vast North Pacific Ocean near the shores of Babel, an elderly man in a crimson martial arts uniform—Li Kenxie—stood on the veranda, gazing out at the open sea.0

Swoosh-0

The sound of waves came in together with the sea breeze. The horizon before him seemed to stretch endlessly, offering a refreshing sense of openness, yet Li Kenxie felt nothing from it.0

—Master, can’t you come back now?0

The voice of Caden, his first disciple, emanated from the phone resting on the table. He had called every day since Li Kenxie’s arrival in Babel. 0

Li Kenxie continued to stare silently at the ocean.0

—The Seven Saints find your absence displeasing. It’s unsettling the atmosphere within the party.0

“…”0

—If you continue to act like this, they might resort to action—0

“Action?” Li Kenxie interrupted flatly. “Do you think those fools can actually do something?”0

—…0

Caden couldn’t respond. He was well aware the Seven Saints’ dominance over China wasn’t due to their prowess as S-rank heroes, but rather the Sacred Equipment given to them by Li Kenxie himself.0

Rebelling against Li Kenxie would also mean throwing away their control over China, which was something the Seven Saints would never do.0

—They can’t, of course. 0

Though reluctant, Caden admitted it. 0

—But if they lose footing in the party, you’re the one who will be inconvenienced.0

It was the Chinese government...0