Dark Shop (흑점 — 黑店), alongside the Hao Gate and Mount Yong could be considered as the pillars forming the backbone of the Dark Path. The Dark Shop originated from a shop where, for a reasonable price, one could purchase anything. However, perhaps due to the term "anything," it often dealt in illegal goods that were not easily obtainable elsewhere. Consequently, various interests became intricately entangled around the Black Shop, forming a complex web of power with multiple factions. Due to these reasons, by the present day, the Black Shop had surpassed the status of a mere shop and, alongside the Hao Gate, constituting the Twin Peaks of the Dark Path.
The Dark Shop never turns away guests under any circumstances. They welcomed people of all ages and backgrounds, not discriminating even against the People Outside the Central Plains or even Foreigners, let alone individuals of different sects. As long as they had the financial means to purchase the desired goods, that was the sole qualification.
Since ancient times, the City of Wuhan in Hubei Province has been renowned as one of the most livable cities in the world. Its climate is suitable for agriculture, and its abundant underground resources show no signs of depletion. Furthermore, the development of trade through the Chang River, which runs through Wuhan, has flourished, and commerce has also prospered smoothly. Such favorable conditions for commoners to live in make Wuhan equally appealing to martial artists.
Therefore, it was natural for the headquarters of the Orthodox Faction, the Murim Alliance, to establish a presence in Wuhan. However, wherever there is light, there is also darkness. Various factions such as the Evil Faction or the Dark Path lurked around, trying to take advantage of Wuhan's prosperity. Among them, one could identify the Black Shop as a representative.
