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Heavenly Seer Gongbaek.

What is the weight carried within that name?

Am I currently walking the path befitting that name?

“…….”

The clanging of the wooden block stops. I gaze up at the Buddha statue.

Gongbaek remained silent. Even if he opened his mouth, he had nothing to say.

It’s changing. Shaolin.

For the worse.

The tidal wave of change was too overwhelming to control, and it was beyond his own capabilities to hold it back.

Hyun-kyung? A realm where one can portray their will upon the world through the martial path?

What use is that?

If a person’s will can be simply overturned by brute force, how is that any different from the world of beasts?

And…

It was odd that he, who once abandoned the duties of a leader, was now trying to speak with strength.

Even after pondering various strategies, he found himself lost, unable to find a sharp answer.

Gongbaek sighed, stepping out of the temple after his dawn training.

“Master.”

At the calling, he turned to look.

A monk, who seemed to have just finished dawn training, was looking at him.

“Damyang.”

One of the promising kids from the later generation of Shaolin.

A capable child who has caught the eye of many masters.

“Your prayers have increased again, I see.”

“Thanks to the mercy of the Buddha.”

“Since your training is not in vain, it must be something you’ve achieved on your own.”

“You’re overpraising me.”

Gongbaek pat Damyang on the shoulder.

He was a child that piqued his interest. Rarely gentle in nature and quick to anger at injustice.

He used to worry about her slightly high self-esteem…

But now, that had vanished, leaving no faults in her character. She was living a perfectly disciplined life, as if transformed overnight.

If so, wouldn’t she be suitable as the next successor to lead this chaotic Shaolin?

“Are you studying hard?”

“I am filling my own shortcomings, but I am still lacking.”

“Recognizing your lack is already commendable.”

Gongbaek smiled with satisfaction.

Even if everything is tangled up, looking at him these days, one can’t help but think that time will resolve everything.

If he were to grow up and take the position of leader… perhaps he might become the key to bring change to Shaolin.

Suddenly, Gongbaek turned his head. Speaking of change, he was reminded of the Martial Alliance inspectors he had heard about before.

Where did those who were supposed to arrive go? It has been strange to hear nothing at all.

“When is the Martial Alliance inspector arriving?”

“…They’ve already arrived.”

“What? Yet you didn’t tell me…”

“That is…”

Damyang hesitated.

“Master Jang Gyeong is handling things on his end…”

“…And Master Na Han?”

“He said the same.”

“Ha ha.”

Master Jang Gyeong and Master Na Han.

Two pillars supporting Shaolin.

They were also the two institutions symbolizing actual martial power. But isn’t the true leader of Shaolin none other than himself?

To think that they would handle things arbitrarily without me, the head of Shaolin…

“…….”

…Still.

They must have their reasons.

“I am sure both Master Jang and Master Na have their own thoughts. But I would like to meet them at least once.”

“…Master, it may be disrespectful to say, but relying on outsiders for help would undermine Shaolin’s dignity, wouldn’t it?”

“People are going missing within the domain of Shaolin. We have yet to properly trace their whereabouts, so it wouldn’t be a bad idea to hear their opinions once. Saving lives comes before dignity.”

“Since you say so, I will follow your wishes. I will arrange a separate meeting. The inspector seems to be busy, so how about three days from now?”

“Three days should be just fine.”

Martial Alliance inspectors, huh?

What kind of people are they?

Gongbaek walked forward, his breath forming clouds in the chilly air.

…To say that receiving help from outsiders would tarnish Shaolin’s prestige.

No matter how he thought about it, it felt strange. Since when did Shaolin…

Prioritize prestige over human life?

All this deviation stems from one source: the fact that an unqualified person has taken the position.

“Namu Amitabul… It seems I was indeed unworthy of taking the position of the Shaolin leader…”

Recalling the name of the person he had killed, Gongbaek once again felt regret.

“…Master. Why did you burden me with such a heavy load…”

…

Contact was made with Bul-jun Gongbaek, the head of Shaolin and one of the sages.

A promise made for three days later. In response, Myochoa and Geumpyeong did not say a word.

Geumpyeong watched as always.

Myochoa, seemingly displeased by the disregard for her beliefs, ceased to converse with him further.

What lay beneath them was a clear hostility. One side was a rein that could stop him at any time, while the other was a blade that would halt him should the missing persons incident undermine Shaolin’s forces.

There were no allies.

At best, only the Head of Sapa could be trusted. Even he was not entirely reliable…

A bond entangled with motives.

“…….”

It’s lonely.

Suddenly, he found himself missing acquaintances he had left behind. Were they doing well?

—Knock, knock.

In the late night, someone knocked. But it was not on the door, but the window on the opposite side.

He opened the window. A fox-masked face peeked in, opening its mouth.

“Jeok-un. I’ve heard there’s a meeting scheduled for three days from now.”

How did she know without being told?

She was indeed competent. He nodded.

“That’s right… but why…”

She effortlessly entered the room. Sat on the bed and looked up at him.

“Now that Gongbaek has mentioned your name directly, those related to the missing persons within Shaolin will begin taking notice of you. They are likely judging you as a potential risk rather than simply an outsider.”

“…….”

“Gongbaek is said to be indecisive and not at all suited to the head of Shaolin… yet still, the influence he holds cannot be taken lightly. He is one of the sages and is well-known for his gentle nature, but the reputation of Hyun-kyung has already spread far and wide.”

“…So you’re saying that in the three days remaining until the meeting, those involved in the missing persons case will target me to prevent me from meeting Gongbaek?”

“Exactly.”

“Even if the righteous faction is rotten, would they go that far…?”

He stopped mid-sentence.

Hadn’t he already witnessed it?

How the leaders of the righteous faction become so corrupted.

He rubbed his face, looking down at his training.

“…What, then, is the reason you sought me out?”

“I can’t bear to see a fellow partner die.”

“Are you here to protect me?”

“At least for the next three days. You don’t have to worry about being discovered. I’m adept at concealing my presence.”

“…….”

Leaning against the wall, he gazed blankly at her.

As if it were natural, she swept the area beneath the bed.

“I’ll be fine here.”

“…Why there…”

“Because I’m familiar with it.”

“You mean you’ll stay there for three days?”

“I’ve hidden under harsher conditions before. This is no different from a bed for me.”

“Food…?”

“I can go without. I can manage for three days.”

Is every assassin like this?

He sighed and sat beside her. Su-ryeon’s eyes narrowed.

“…If you wish, I can do other things too. But I wonder if you’d be satisfied with this body.”

“Excuse me?”

“Oh, is that not it? Among the things I’ve learned, there are also things related to bedchamber techniques. I heard all men like this sort of thing… though I have no real experience, so I’m not sure if you’d be satisfied.”

“Absolutely not.”

He cut her off firmly and looked at her intently.

A flower that would never bloom. Her small and delicate body, constrained by her constitution.

She resembled more a girl needing protection than a warrior stepping onto the battlefield. Calling her an assassin made it feel… strange.

He found himself curious.

“When did you start learning martial arts?”

“Since the moment I was born.”

“Pardon?”

“From the moment I was born, I learned how to wield a sword. After that, poison, stealth, throwing daggers, short blades… I learned the methods to handle every conceivable type of assassination.”

She closed her hands and then opened them.

A dagger appeared in her previously empty palm.

“Then I read all sorts of literature. It’s a required process to become a legendary assassin. I learned how to resist loneliness, how to read danger, how to conceal my presence… all of it.”

“Weren’t you burdened?”

“The beginning was tough. But you get used to it as you go along. I was a candidate for the next Head of Sapa, and I was also meant to become the new light of Sapa.”

She muttered expressionlessly.

“Being chosen as the next successor of Sapa, I had responsibilities to shoulder. Repeating until I became accustomed to it was the only choice I had.”

“…Was there never a moment you wished to give up?”

“There probably was.”

Su-ryeon paused for a moment.

“…But I’ve forgotten it all now.”

Chains and shackles.

He thought that perhaps that’s how Sapa felt to her.

The world is truly difficult. It’s not like I chose to wield a sword, yet in the end, I lost even that regret.

He found it bitter. Had he also been like that? Looking back, the only moment that came to mind was when he picked up a sword to survive.

Working with my life on the line brought in more money than farming would. That’s why he continued his life as a wanderer, until he applied to become an employed warrior in the Martial Alliance.

Back then…

What was he thinking?

“…….”

What is responsibility?

He hesitantly opened his mouth.

“Su-ryeon.”

“Yes.”

“Is there nothing you wish to do?”

“Are you referring to revenge against Sapa?”

“I was asking something different… but now I’m curious about that too. Is the revenge against Sapa something you desire yourself?”

Su-ryeon nodded. Silver hair scattered across the bedding.

“…I think that’s likely. After all, I was raised that way. I bear responsibility toward Sapa, and my entire life is intertwined with Sapa. And above all…”

“What above all?”

“The previous Head of Sapa would occasionally say to me, ‘I’m sorry.'”

“……”

“Perhaps that one phrase allowed me to make my decision.”

Su-ryeon smiled for the first time.

Nostalgically, softly.

“I believe that she was the first and last person to treat me not as the next Head of Sapa, but as a human.”

To remember someone with the last words being “I’m sorry”…

Since she had never heard anything more than that, it must be how she recalled it.

It was a story filled with bitter taste. He felt like he had glimpsed, even if slightly, the story of a child who had to grow up within her.

The next Head of Sapa who had forgotten even the way to give up.

“Are you planning to patrol through the dawn again tonight?”

“I am.”

“Then I’ll accompany you.”

He set off into the late-night streets with her. After arriving here and having no results for more than a fortnight, Geumpyeong and Myochoa’s tailing had also diminished.

The night streets became naturally more comfortable. He was busy scouting around the tallest buildings, keen to catch any potential crime scene.

Su-ryeon, who had been sticking to him like a shadow, asked.

“Jeok-un. I have a question.”

“Go ahead.”

“Is the reason you are doing this and losing sleep because you are the Martial Alliance inspector?”

“That’s part of it, but there are other reasons too.”

“What are those reasons?”

“I simply cannot stand to see more innocent sacrifices.”

“That reason alone… is the entirety of it?”

“To a certain extent.”

He jumped off a building roof. There were limits to how much he could patrol all of Hanam Province.

The good news was that the frequency of the disappearances had lessened a bit lately.

Enemies must clearly be aware of his nightly movements. To avoid giving him any leverage, they would surely be acting with extreme caution.

The first night had been quiet. The second was the same.

No enemies were in sight, and the nights in Hanam Province remained still.

He walked into a shop that was open late. Paid for a few items and stepped out.

“Thank you!”

After exiting the shop, he turned into an alleyway. Once it grew deserted, he handed some sweets to the suddenly materializing Su-ryeon.

“……?”

Su-ryeon looked back and forth between him and the sweets.

“Why is this…?”

“Have a bite.”

“Why…?”

“I just wanted to treat you.”

In truth, he had seen it.

A few times, Su-ryeon’s eyes had lingered on the sweets hanging in the shop as they passed by.

“…It’s really good…”

He forced one into her mouth as she kept refusing. Her slightly widened eyes soon began to lick and savor it.

“Is this your first time?”

“…Yes.”

“You can chew it too. It’s tasty.”

“Is it something you like, Jeok-un?”

“It was something an old comrade liked.”

Baekmae. He wondered if she was doing well.

As Su-ryeon diligently chewed the sweets, a sudden realization hit them both.

As much as he wanted to deny it…

The reality was different from the ideal.

“…What on earth.”

Figures donned in masks revealed themselves from between the alleys, armed with weapons.

Clearly, they were planned ambushers, waiting for him.

Naturally, their actions were to block his retreat, and he gritted his teeth.

Su-ryeon was right.

To prevent any further disturbances, they seemed intent on blocking his meeting with Gongbaek and eliminating any variable…

They had sent assassins.

Shaolin. The faction of the righteous path that should prioritize human life above all.

“How far has it rotted…?”

 

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