When I first saw him, I thought he was a madman.
He came wearing a shabby martial arts uniform and an old iron sword at his waist, and abruptly suggested we dig into the ground together.
But he wasn't mad. Not the slightest hint of madness could be felt from the man.
'Then has he come to kill me?'
Did his suggestion to dig together mean he intended to bury me there?
"Where exactly are you suggesting we dig?"
Even as he asked the question naturally, Yeon Baekin launched a surprise attack at the man.
In the martial world, there were many martial artists who refused to acknowledge instructors or masters of martial halls. Some even mocked him, saying he swindled money from snot-nosed brats. He had worked harder than anyone knew to avoid hearing such words.
Through endless effort, he had reached the pinnacle in the world of martial halls.
Shhhk.
It wasn't a position he had attained easily.
Whish.
In the next moment, Yeon Baekin stared at the man with a blank face. To be precise, he looked at his own sword held in the man's hand.
The problem wasn't that his sword had been snatched away. The problem was that he had no idea how it had been taken.
The man's hands or wrists should have been restrained somehow. But they were perfectly fine. Yeon Baekin hadn't even felt the slightest touch, yet his sword was gone.
With such skill, the man could have killed him, or proceeded with threats.
But the man turned the sword around and offered him the hilt.
"You have quite the temper."
Looking back, this very moment was when the first button of their relationship had been fastened.
Because of that single, simple act—a powerhouse who could have subdued his blood points or threatened to snap his neck, instead turning the sword and offering him the hilt.
"In life, shouldn't there be a day when good fortune comes knocking on its own at least once?"
Just as he had smiled brightly at him that day, the man was smiling the same way today.
The man approached Yeon Baekin's side, washed his face, hands, and feet in the water trickling down from the ceiling, and even rinsed his mouth.
"This dust is something else. By the way, have you eaten?"
"I have."
After washing up briefly, the man lifted the cloth covering the corner. The basket was piled full of rice balls.
The man devoured the rice balls.
"Is that enough for you?"
"There are also days when I eat meat and drink my fill of wine."
When this work had begun, Yeon Baekin had tried to provide every comfort. He had offered to furnish the room splendidly, bring courtesans to comfortable sleeping quarters, and prepare feasts for every meal. But the man had refused. These were his words at that time:
"One must be somewhat uncomfortable and lacking to grow stronger faster."
He had confirmed just moments ago that those words were true. He saw it in the hall members wielding sword qi freely.
They were no longer greenhorn hall members, but proper martial artists.
They had learned things in this cramped, uncomfortable space that they couldn't learn in the wide training grounds outside.
And more than anything, those words applied most of all to this man.
Because he could feel that the man had grown stronger than when he first came to him.
Eating the same food as the hall members and sleeping in the same place, perhaps the man had even made this place his own training ground.
While the man ate the rice balls, Yeon Baekin recalled the day they first met.
"Deep beneath the Hwangryong Martial Hall, there is a place where treasure and peerless divine arts are stored."
A master of this level wouldn't speak nonsense. Naturally, one question arose.
"With your skill, you could kill me and seize the Hwangryong Martial Hall."
"That's right. But if the master of the Hwangryong Martial Hall changes, the eyes of the martial world will focus here. I wish to proceed with this matter quietly."
"Can you guarantee you won't kill me and silence the witnesses after the work is done?"
"There is none. You have no choice but to trust me."
At first, he had joined hands with him out of necessity. To refuse meant death.
At first, he hadn't trusted him. He had pretended to trust him while looking for a way to survive.
And now?
Yeon Baekin looked at the man. Over the past days, the man had shown through actions, not words, that he was someone worth trusting.
Did he trust him? Yes, he did.
But still, when he thought of the moment he would discover the door he sought beyond that wall, his heart beat like mad.
"The peerless divine art there shall be yours."
"Why do you not want the secret manual?"
"What does it matter what I learn? I'll be stronger regardless."
The man cackled as he spoke. These were the words of a man who had snatched away the Hwangryong Hall Master's sword in a single move, without him even knowing how.
"What I want lies elsewhere."
What could it be that he wanted?
Would he look at him the same way even in the treasure-filled chamber? Would he spare him, and spare all those hall members as well?
Or would that iron sword be drawn, killing everyone here in a single move?
Whether this encounter with the man would become a nightmare or a stroke of fortune, the result was not far off.
The man who had finished his rice balls washed his hands in the flowing water. Though he dressed in shabby clothes, he was a clean and tidy person.
"Why have you come down?"
"I heard the excavation is nearing its end, so I came down. And to see your face after some time."
The man, finished washing, turned toward Yeon Baekin. Under the man's gaze fixed upon him, Yeon Baekin felt a crushing pressure that gripped his heart. From the first day they met, he had been unable to lie while looking into this man's eyes.
"You must be troubled over your younger brother."
In that moment, Yeon Baekin knew. The man knew everything happening outside. That he was worrying over his younger brother.
Yeon Baekin tensed inwardly when the man brought up his brother. His brother was trying to find this place.
"The situation has grown complicated with the blood kin of the Ghost Gate entering the hall."
At that, the man spoke as though he knew Seo Jin was here as well.
"The problem is not the little ghost of the Ghost Gate."
"What do you mean?"
"A demon far more fearsome than a ghost has attached itself to her."
"Who are you referring to?"
The man merely smiled an inscrutable smile without telling him who.
"Our hall master is struggling with one little ghost, so I suppose I must go up."
Yeon Baekin was startled by his words. Just who had come?
"Don't do that. Shouldn't you remain at your post at such a critical time?"
At that, the man shouted.
"Let us rest as well!"
Yeon Baekin was bewildered by the truly unexpected words.
All the hall members looked this way with expressions saying 'Exactly!'
"Of course you should rest."
Looking at the flustered Yeon Baekin, the man put on a sly smile as if amused. He could tell the man was joking.
"The kids are exhausted. To break through the final gate, we'll need new personnel as well."
"How many do you need? I will select and send some excellent ones."
But for some reason, the man refused.
"There's no need. This time, I will choose and bring them myself."
Then the man shouted to the hall members.
"Come and eat!"
The hall members rushed over and took the rice balls.
"Wash your hands before eating! Tsk, you filthy lads!"
At the man's cry, some washed their hands, while some took the rice balls with a laugh. Perhaps because they had suffered together, the mood was truly good.
Some of them were hall members Yeon Baekin knew well. Being with this man, their eyes and auras had changed completely, as if they were different people.
The man shouted to them.
"I'll be out for a few days. Rest well in the meantime! Prepare to receive the newcomers."
The hall members cheered in joy.
The man, who had been going barefoot, put on his shoes and walked briskly toward Yeon Baekin.
"Let us go up."
"Very well."
As they walked to the mechanism that led upward, the man asked.
"Is this place important? Or is your brother important?"
Yeon Baekin couldn't answer. Because he didn't want to give this man justification.
"You didn't choose your brother?"
Yeon Baekin let out a sigh. He had already answered, for all intents and purposes. He should have said his brother was important immediately.
The man gave Yeon Baekin's back a light slap.
"You should have at least said it was your brother."
Yeon Baekin couldn't say a word.
The man spoke calmly.
"Do not worry. I will resolve this favorably."
Yeon Baekin looked at the man.
Just looking at his profile set his mind at ease. Even if he were to die, in this moment, there was a unique sense of trust this man gave.
And it was likely this side of the man that had kept fastening the buttons of their relationship.
* * *
"What kind of person is the Young Sect Leader?"
At Seo Jin's question, I An turned her head to her. The two women were on their way back after stopping by the Tongcheon Pavilion and the Eunwol Branch.
Just by the words and gazes with which Geom Mugyeok and I An treated each other, one could tell. How deep the affection they held.
Therefore, wasn't I An the person who knew the Young Sect Leader best? Seo Jin thought.
I An expressed Geom Mugyeok in exactly one word.
"Dream. He is truly like a dream."
"A dream?"
"He is someone who makes me dream of becoming like him."
If there was a good dream, there was also a bad one.
"He is also someone who makes me feel uneasy—that all of this might be a dream when I wake up one day."
Just as he had suddenly changed one day, wouldn't he suddenly return to how he was? Such a vague fear existed in her heart.
It was a fear she hadn't spoken of to Seo Daeryong or Jang Ho, yet it was the first time she brought it out to Seo Jin.
"What if it is a dream? As long as you don't wake until you die."
At those words, I An smiled. She was glad Seo Jin had entered as a team leader. They were both women, and they got along well. Cheongmyeon had been relatively difficult to deal with after all.
"Anyway, just be prepared to be surprised. Because he shows amazing sides every time."
Then Seo Jin spoke.
"I think I'm starting to understand a little already."
Inside the inn, Geom Mugyeok and Yeon Baekjin were drinking wine.
The usually stiff-looking Yeon Baekjin was talking with Geom Mugyeok with a flushed face. He didn't look guarded at all.
"Well, that's nothing much."
The two women entered the inn.
They sat together at the table where Geom Mugyeok and Yeon Baekjin were seated.
"We're back."
After greeting Geom Mugyeok, they greeted Yeon Baekjin as well.
Geom Mugyeok spoke to the two women.
"I was honest with Brother Yeon. I told him we followed to protect Seo Jin."
That was enough to explain what kind of relationship they had told Yeon Baekjin.
Yeon Baekjin's gaze turned to Seo Jin.
He had learned of this matter when Im Hyeon came to him—a conversation he should have had with her, but had already had with Geom Mugyeok. Since there was no need to repeat it, he rose from his seat.
This was also why Geom Mugyeok had revealed himself before him. Because he did not wish to become deeply involved with her. Because he hoped this connection would pass by like a fleeting wind.
Geom Mugyeok spoke to Yeon Baekjin as he tried to leave.
"Try speaking with your brother."
Yeon Baekjin was startled by the unexpected words.
He stared at Geom Mugyeok for a moment, recalling what he had said before.
"You said if I bought you a drink, you'd teach me how brothers could avoid bloodshed in a power struggle?"
"I did."
"Surely the solution isn't simply talking to my brother?"
Is that all you're saying the method is? Such emotions showed on his face.
"Yes, that's right."
Yeon Baekjin scoffed. No matter how much he thought about it, this wasn't something that could be resolved through conversation.
"I can't buy you that drink yet."
Geom Mugyeok spoke to him as he turned to leave.
"There may seem to be countless ways for martial artists to resolve conflicts, but most are resolved by one of two things."
"And those are?"
"Words and swords."
Geom Mugyeok added calmly.
"Whether it works or not, meet him first. The more hopeless a relationship seems, the more unexpectedly well it may turn out."
* * *
The next day, the atmosphere in the White Dragon Class was gloomy.
Already two people had met their deaths in the White Dragon Class. Added to that were ominous rumors that the instructor, Pyo San, had committed suicide.
"They said a temporary instructor is coming before the new instructor is assigned today."
As the hall members talked about who the temporary instructor would be, Yu Gwang was trembling with anxiety.
"I feel like something even bigger is going to happen."
Now, Gyo Seok spoke as if it were no big deal.
"Who dies this time? Me? You?"
"I'm not joking."
"Neither am I. So what? Should I quit the hall and go back to my hometown?"
"Sorry."
Yu Gwang felt sorry toward Gyo Seok. When feeling anxious, he should just swallow it. There was no need to make others anxious too.
Then someone spoke from behind.
"It's better than not knowing when something ominous will happen, isn't it?"
It was I An. I An was grateful to Yu Gwang for bravely stepping forward yesterday, and she believed this talent of his was an instinct essential for surviving as a martial artist.
"I think it would be good to properly cultivate that instinct instead."
Coming from none other than I An, Yu Gwang was moved.
"About that shield you mentioned back then..."
Gyo Seok covered Yu Gwang's mouth.
"Don't."
He stopped him because Yu Gwang was about to ask if they were still recruiting for that shield.
"I won't! I said I won't! Do I look that stupid?"
"Exactly that much! No, even more!"
I An smiled at the two. She truly wanted to take them to the Ghost Shadow Corps. Of course, that was impossible. She could not have these simple, honest fellows join the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
Then the noisy area fell silent.
"There, the new instructor is coming."
Someone was walking this way.
It was a man with his hair tied tightly, wearing a shabby martial uniform and carrying a single iron sword, yet his atmosphere was bright.
He had the brightest expression of any instructor or master seen here.
The moment he saw him, Geom Mugyeok knew.
Why Yeon Baekjin had no choice but to walk such a fate.
It wasn't because of his brother.
His brother too was ultimately a victim.
Because the man before his eyes was one of the Twelve Earthly Branch Kings.
And not just any of them.
The First King among the Twelve Earthly Branch Kings.
The Sword King, Akgunhak.
Although the era's Three Absolutes had died and Hwamugi had gone into seclusion, he had ascended to the position of the world's strongest during the era of the Twelve Earthly Branch Kings. He was truly the strongest martial artist.
Geom Mugyeok calmed his surging heart and steadied himself by gripping the hilt of the Black Demon Sword. Lest it cry out on its own in response to the man's energy. Though he had met many of the Twelve Earthly Branch Kings until now, he had never been as tense as he was now.
The Sword King, having arrived before the hall members, introduced himself to everyone.
"Until a new instructor is assigned, I will be your temporary Instructor Ak."
The Sword King spoke to the hall members with a bright smile.
"Now then, shall we start with introductions, one by one?"