Fortunately, Gwangyang helped to mediate between Jinju Family and me.

The strangely close distance introduced Han Hye-bin, who bowed towards me.

“U-uh, it’s an honor to meet you.”

What an exaggerated compliment. I nodded awkwardly. There was no need to call me a benefactor.

I just intervened in some ridiculous matter, and since Gwangyang was involved, I might have made things a bit more complicated.

Gwangyang flashed a wide smile at me. Bowing multiple times, he clutched my pants.

“Congratulations on your survival, Master!”

“Receiving multiple bows feels a bit much…”

“Congratulations on your survival, Master!”

“That’s enough! But… where’s Narin?”

Gwangyang flinched.

“U-uh, she’s…”

Gwangyang subtly averted his eyes.

“She’s moving elsewhere.”

“Elsewhere?”

“Well…”

Gwangyang continued explaining.

“Have you heard of the organization we formed?”

“I know the basics.”

“Former Society. The organization we established currently helps the weak who are sacrificed in power struggles. Those who suffer without reason, and those who get caught in fights they don’t want to engage in. A prime example would be the Jinju Family over there.”

I glanced back at the people from Jinju Family.

Their furtive glances were filled with fear. It seems the previous situation was quite shocking.

“Compared to the former Jinju Family, the current Jinju Family isn’t very promising. Master, they only maintain their clan but lack significant power.”

“So?”

“The activities of the Former Society can generally be divided into two parts. One is the support team that directly helps people like this. And the other is…”

Gwangyang wiped his face.

“There’s the combat team that retaliates against direct military interference from other forces with force. That’s where my sister is.”

“Combat team?”

“Master, we have many enemies. More than you might think. The old Martial Alliance and the new Martial Alliance. Those two are not all of them. Ah, have you heard about the split between the two?”

“I have.”

“There isn’t much to say. Just that greedy old guys are split into two sides wanting power. The important thing is that both are our enemies. Master, the Former Society earns hatred from both sides, so naturally, there are those who want to take advantage of that. If they eliminate the Former Society, which is like a thorn in their side, they will certainly receive lavish treatment from whichever side they join.”

“…….”

“Just look at this situation. The Jegeal Family tried to create pretext to bury our Former Society and went so far as to poison their own people to cast us as an evil group. But I’ve heard they were all wiped out this time…”

“I didn’t kill them all.”

“Eh?”

“I left Jegeal Munhyeon and Jong Cho-baek alive. I don’t want the Former Society to be wrongfully accused.”

I patted Gwangyang’s shoulder.

“I can’t block my disciple’s path by becoming a master.”

“M-Master…!”

Gwangyang, who was sniffing, ended the conversation.

“Anyway, my sister is currently in the combat team of the Former Society. And obviously, that place is constantly fighting for their lives against enemies targeting the Former Society. They’re not just those who wish to harm us but also groups drawn by rumors that the Former Society has secretly amassed wealth.”

“Where exactly is the Former Society located?”

“You have to go up through Shaolin and Huashan towards the mountains. The Jinju Family is also nearby.”

“That means our routes overlap. Narin is in that direction too, right?”

“Yes! She will be very happy to hear that Master is alive! Right now, she’s like a walking corpse! Ever since you died, she has seemed completely lost… Ugh!”

Gwangyang groaned while clutching his wound. I forced him to lie down.

“The treatment was just a temporary measure. Rest. Don’t think of anything else.”

“But the work isn’t finished yet…”

“I’ll handle it. Just don’t worry and rest.”

“…Master.”

Gwangyang smiled faintly.

“I’m really glad you’ve returned, Master.”

“…Yeah.”

As I looked down at him, who had fallen back asleep, I turned my head towards the Jinju Family people.

Those whose eyes met mine flinched. The trembling Han Hye-bin whispered in a voice as soft as a mosquito’s wing.

“Um, do you have something specific for me to do…?”

“I need you to treat my disciple.”

“Yes, yes?”

“I have something else I need to do.”

I got up.

“I will finish things with the Jegeal Family and come back.”

…

The Jegeal Family was in disarray. The reason was simple.

Those who should have quickly returned after finishing their tasks did not.

The second son of the Jegeal Family, Jegeal Munhyeon, had completely disappeared.

“What the hell is this messed-up situation? Group disappearance? I clearly ordered everyone to handle things properly.”

The head of the Jegeal Family, Jegeal Hyun, pressed his fingers to his temples due to the impending headache.

Where the hell has the second son gone? Though his nature is fierce, he isn’t exactly a dullard. Instead, he’s quite clever in weaving schemes.

Of course, he could have made a mistake. But for a mistake to exist, it could only happen if the opponent was stronger than this side.

The person who emerged from the Former Society known as Gwangyang has gained some renown as the “Great Sea Sword,” but he wasn’t someone to be taken lightly.

Moreover, the Jinju Family was initially used just as bait to lure out the Former Society, given their lack of any substantial standing.

There shouldn’t have been anything in this event that could cause things to go awry. Not a single thing. That’s why it was even more incomprehensible.

Did the ground suddenly sink? Where did they vanish to?

“Send people immediately…”

“G-Head!”

One of his aides rushed in. Jegeal Hyun frowned at the interruption of the urgent report.

He had also said not to disturb him unless it was of great importance, yet this aide dared to defy him.

His voice naturally grew cold given his already throbbing headache.

“If it’s about some trivial matter, you better…”

“A letter has arrived!”

“What?”

“It arrived anonymously, but upon checking the contents…!”

The aide spoke urgently.

“It seems the one holding the second son sent this letter!”

“…What? They have Munhyeon? What nonsense is this? Speak clearly!”

“W-well, it seems that this letter has spread throughout the city…”

Jegeal Hyun’s face contorted.

The aide pressed his forehead to the floor.

“If you want to reclaim the young master, it says you must bring him back fairly with a martial arts competition this time! You are told to drop the childish acts and nonsense!”

…

“You’ve really stirred up quite a situation,” I said, standing atop a tall building, overlooking the bustling city.

I had asked Sapa to distribute a simple letter throughout the city. In it stated the intention to have another martial arts competition with the Jegeal Family tomorrow, and it caused quite a stir among the people.

“Simply wiping out the Jegeal Family would only look like mindless slaughter. Since I’ve decided to help the Former Society, I can’t tarnish their reputation.”

“Jeok-un is too soft-hearted and kind. The girl will have to help him for life.”

“I’m already depending on her. Su-ryeon.”

“…….”

The small head that leaned against me this time offered great help again. As I gently patted her head, she murmured softly.

It felt like petting a white cat. Her nature was inherently cat-like. I watched the situation unfold while stroking her head.

The date for the martial arts contest is in three days. I could see the warriors of the Jegeal Family stirring the city. They’re probably searching for either the Jinju Family or their missing warriors.

But these are martial artists specialized in hiding their bodies. By now, Jegeal Munhyeon and Jong Cho-baek have long been smuggled outside the city with just their lives barely intact, leaving them with nothing to do but wait for tomorrow.

“Jegeal Hyun will come out. The head of the Jegeal Family. Through my personal investigation, he holds the strength befitting the heads of the Five Great Families.”

“Is that so?”

“A master of Huaxing. The martial arts of the Jegeal Family are famous for their complex sword techniques that gradually reduce the opponent’s options.”

I looked down at Su-ryeon, who was babbling beside me. All the information spilling from her tiny mouth was intricately dissecting the opponent’s martial arts.

Listening quietly, I couldn’t help but smile at her cuteness. She likely spoke out of concern for me, knowing my prowess.

That’s why I stroked her head.

“Thank you for your concern, Su-ryeon. But it’s fine. If I wouldn’t be able to handle the situation I started, I wouldn’t have begun it in the first place.”

“…Of course, I know that Jeok-un will win. But any injury will certainly hurt. The girl understands. Even though I’m skilled at enduring it, I couldn’t help but let out a sound of pain at that level of hurt.”

“I’m used to it by now.”

“Pain is something you can’t get used to.”

She bumped her head against my shoulder.

“Don’t get hurt. Not even a hair’s width.”

“Yes.”

Time passed quickly. The Jinju Family people hidden away also remained undetected by the warriors of the Jegeal Family.

With Gwangyang’s mobility improving, it was a bonus. I grabbed my sword around noon and stepped into the sunlight.

People were gathering. More people than before. By slipping in the word that I would reveal the truth of that day, it seemed everyone curious about the real meaning of what happened flocked over.

A larger stage than before.

A bigger crowd than before.

As I pushed my way through, I saw numerous warriors from the Jegeal Family waiting with serious expressions on the stage.

Among them was one who blatantly exuded an intimidating aura.

I stepped up to the stage. The moment I attracted attention, the head of the Jegeal Family, Jegeal Hyun, turned his head.

Our eyes met. He stared at me quietly, as if trying to gauge whether he recognized my face, and then asked with a threatening voice.

“…Are you the one who orchestrated this absurd situation?”

“Absurd situation?”

I stood tall on the stage.

“You shouldn’t be the one saying that.”

 

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