Misunderstanding (2)
‘I can’t give it up, that’s the problem!’
‘It’s agonizing while doing it, but so damn refreshing after—drives me crazy!’
‘If I give up, I die—how the hell am I supposed to quit?!’
Gu Cheon-woo had informed the Sacheon Three Heroes that he’d injected them with Paewang Qi. To suppress the Earth Dragon Qi, he’d amplified its power, so abandoning it now would mean it detonated inside them, killing them outright.
They’d sworn loyalty as his vassals, but they’d never dreamed it would demand staking their actual lives. Still, the changes after training were beyond recognition. Death was a risk, but so was the chance to grow stronger. Even so, the pain was utterly maddening. This was mild compared to midnight, when the agony defied imagination. Each time, they endured the torment of being reborn. It made them truly appreciate their mother’s greatness.
Mother, I love you!
I think I know the pain of childbirth now!
Father, you’ll regret it!
Gu Cheon-woo was pleased with the Sacheon Three Heroes’ progress. They were advancing far faster than before. In terms of pure achievement, Ga-bok, Cheon-gi, and Cheon-ye were in a league of their own.
“Oppa, how long do I have to keep doing this?”
“Basic training has no end.”
“Do I really have to circle the Gu estate naked?!”
“A martial artist has no shame.”
“Never heard that crap before!”
Cheon-ye wanted to become a martial artist, not a laughingstock. Every lap around the estate burned like fire, like sitting barefaced under the blazing sun.
“Pride belongs to the strong alone. But pride won’t save your life.”
“What about you, oppa?”
He’d struck at the core, but Gu Cheon-woo offered no reply. The Paewang was always strong. Besides, Ga-bok’s results proved the training’s worth. In mere days, Ga-bok had transformed beyond recognition—not just physically, but his inner energy had surged astonishingly. With a proven test subject right there, there was no need for alternatives. And to survive long as a martial artist, one had to taste humiliation. It fueled the drive to grow stronger.
“Wow, just ignoring me, huh!”
“Looks like I need to increase your training load.”
“……Brother dear, I was wrong!”
“Good, that’s a relief.”
What the hell had she done wrong?! She’d become the kind of sister who stripped at her brother’s command. She didn’t know where it went wrong, but mouthing off might get her killed. If that damn third brother was telling the truth, it was no joke.
No, did I eat something weird?!
Why was he going around killing people?! And that third brother spilling family meeting secrets like it was nothing—he wasn’t right in the head either. Couldn’t suffer alone, so he dragged his little sister into the mess like some vengeful water ghost.
Still, she had to say what needed saying.
“Oppa, how am I supposed to get married like this? The whole neighborhood’s talking!”
“Planning to marry?”
“You’re not gonna let me?”
“Your martial arts is your husband.”
“……?”
This damn brother! Was that something to say to a blooming 13-year-old?!
Normally, she’d think it was just big-brother teasing, but his face was dead serious. Not a shred of jest—he meant every word.
“Oppa, I said I want to be a martial artist, not die an old maid.”
“Isn’t being a martial artist enough?”
“Marriage doesn’t make you not a martial artist!”
“It’s a hindrance.”
“What about you, then?”
Gu Cheon-woo didn’t answer. It was an unfavorable counter, but the Paewang relished such lone eagle duels. Time was short even for perfecting Mireok Paedo. Better to crush one more evildoer than waste it on marriage.
This is all the castle lord’s fault!
What about our lives?!
Mu-hu and Ji-hu had snapped at him in casual speech, which had genuinely surprised him. He still didn’t know why they were so furious. Not that he’d bothered asking.
Either way, they’d carved their names in history without marrying. How impressive was that? The Paewang acknowledged them, if no one else did. He hoped Cheon-ye would follow suit—forsake marriage, focus on slaying evildoers.
“Mom’ll kill you even if you’re her son!”
“You gonna tell her?”
“Of course!!”
“Troublesome.”
Father could be swayed with elixirs aplenty, but Mother? Good luck. Hadn’t she bulldozed everything her way, stubborn as ever?
“I’ll concede up to Absolute Realm.”
“……?”
What the hell was that? Sounded generous, but “Absolute” blew past expectations into fantasy.
“Did you just say Absolute Realm?”
“You heard right.”
“And if I can’t?”
“You will.”
“When?”
Gu Cheon-woo didn’t answer. Hwagyeong could be beaten into someone, but Absolute Realm demanded self-engraved resolve, reaching the realm of the mind. Force wouldn’t cut it. Hwagyeong was impressive, but most died without surpassing it.
“Plenty of martial artists die stuck below Hwagyeong!”
“The world’s top hero can hit it by her thirties.”
“Hwagyeong at that age? How?!”
“I’ll show you.”
This was spiraling weirdly. Cheon-ye dreamed of becoming the world’s greatest hero, but not an old maid. And no dating unless she hit Absolute Realm?
“Oppa! Even love has its season!”
“Rejuvenation makes timing irrelevant.”
Why answer so smoothly? Anyone’d think he meant it. Was rejuvenation to youth some casual milestone?
It made sense, but only if she rejuvenated—otherwise, forget it.
“Oppa, you’ve changed!”
“I haven’t!”
Gu Cheon-woo’s eyes flashed with the Paewang of Mireok Paedo. Everything else could slide, but not that. He’d invoked family harmony out of necessity, but he’d prove himself its incarnation later. That was the Paewang’s goal, his vow.
Shwaaaa!
In an instant, the training ground grew heavy. Unintended, yet his resolve dominated the space.
“My mistake.”
“……No, you’re right, brother dear!”
Oppa’s temper was no joke! Terrifying as hell.
***
The Iron Cane Hero had come. As the saying goes, those who’ve handled money know how to spend it. The Beggars’ Sect was a great faction, but hopeless with wealth. Processing astronomical gold bars, jewels, and treasures in secret was a burden.
Better to entrust a merchant group. Gu Cheon-woo had anticipated this. The sect excelled in martial arts and intel, but not laundering riches. Plus, wealth in the Hero’s hands could spark issues. Cheol-san was heir, but factions lurked within. Full trust was impossible.
“Did you take the elixir?”
“As ordered, immediately. But Breaking Heaven Martial Emperor being the Golden Merchant Lord? Absurd!”
“Wise discretion.”
“Too kind—his fortune’s obscene.”
No one imagined the Emperor and Merchant as one. Worlds apart, eras mismatched. Even Cheol-san was stunned by such meticulous greed. He’d hidden it in a secret vault post-mortem, no heirs, no leaks. Ultimate avarice till the end.
The Emperor hid his merchant side fiercely. He craved respect as a transcendent warrior spanning righteous and demonic. The “devil merchant who shed no tears for gold” wouldn’t do. He embodied human duality raw.
“Does wealth sin? Use it for good.”
“I’d love to play prime minister, but beggars don’t know spending. I’ve no attachment to money.”
“Yet a thousand taels vanished.”
“……Beggars gotta eat.”
Shameless, yet he gazed at distant hills like it was nothing—a mere thousand from millions.
How’d he know the exact amount?
He’d cracked the tomb first. The more he thought, the less it fit. Too precise for guesswork—infuriating.
“Finding people costs.”
“I said nothing.”
Damn! Thief low on guilt. Those eyes made him spill unwittingly. Never called timid, yet small before big brother. Face bruised, but he had to prove his worth.
“Recruited one.”
“Well done.”
“Baek-do’s fine, but how’d you know about him?”
“Experience.”
“Ah, yes.”
First time beyond the castle, yet spouting that casually—bold. Shameless, yet spot-on, like possession.
—Hungry, huh?
—Ignore it.
—Eat this.
—No charity.
—Too lazy to clear your corpse.
—……Damn it!
One steamed bun for one talent. Why there? Starved collapse. Cheol-san didn’t know.
“How’d you peg him as Cheon-geuk Star Person?”
“Experience.”
“You didn’t know?”
“Probably.”
No connection, yet Seo Mok-seung never visited Sacheon Castle. Knew nothing of Jeokgeum’s young master or big brother. One-sided knowledge chilled him.
Secret intel network?
It fit, but Jeokgeum’s intel sucked. They’d have crushed Hwajeong otherwise. Bizarre they’d suffered so long.
—I pledge loyalty.
Seo Mok-seung was odd too. Unknown man knows him, hears name, swears fealty. What?!
—Why?
—Strangely compelled.
—That’s it?
—Yes.
Without Cheon-geuk Star, he’d seem mad. The arts taught—sticky rice cake—absorbed Northern Dipper Heavenly Wolf Art and Northern Dipper Dominating Sword like sand water. Growth insane. Such talent wasted till now—tragic.
Master’d kill me…
Sect recruit, but for his brother, a separate secret org. New safehouse, intense training. Star-born growth steep.
“World’s unfair.”
“When was it ever fair?”
“Not complaining, but bittersweet.”
“Good, that’s a relief.”
“Big brother, talk like that and heaven’ll strike!”