A Brother's Resolve
"Waaaaah!"
The moment Baekho-bu collapsed at Ho-sung's hands, a massive cheer echoed across the wild hills.
With Baekho-bu's death, the eyes of the warriors Ha Tae-gun had brought with him completely changed.
They glared at the remnants of Baekho-bu's bandits with murderous intent.
As warriors of a merchant guild, the incident from a few days ago had dealt a severe blow to their pride.
They wanted nothing more than to slaughter the bandits before them to vent their rage, but...
"Stop! Any who surrender now shall be spared."
Ha Tae-gun firmly held his men back.
"Check the stolen goods first!"
At Ha Tae-gun's command, the warriors swallowed their disappointment and moved toward the bandit stronghold.
Slaying bandits offered only fleeting satisfaction; the true pride of a merchant guild lay in recovering their lost cargo intact.
Step, step.
Watching them go, Ha Tae-gun let out a sigh of relief and smiled at Ho-sung, who was walking over to him.
"You did well."
"It was nothing, young master. I only did what needed to be done."
Ho-sung's nonchalant reply made Ha Tae-gun's smile widen.
Within the Heavenly Sword Academy, Ho-sung was a rather peculiar character.
Though incredibly lighthearted, his loyalty and affection for the academy were so profound that he had volunteered to be its gatekeeper.
Because they crossed paths so often, he was the easiest person for Ha Tae-gun to talk to.
"I will never forget this debt of gratitude."
"The young miss's husband is also someone I must protect. Today, I merely performed my duty as the academy's gatekeeper. Please, do not weigh your heart down with it."
"Even so..."
"Why don't we check the goods first? The men will handle the heavy lifting, but the leader should inspect the cargo himself."
Nodding at Ho-sung's suggestion, Ha Tae-gun set off to inspect the recovered goods.
As he examined the cargo piece by piece, his eyes gradually darkened.
"Let us return to the academy. It would be better to leave the fate of these bandits to my father-in-law rather than deciding it ourselves."
"As you command!"
Having slain Baekho-bu and reclaimed their cargo, Ha Tae-gun and Ho-sung quickly made their way back to the Heavenly Sword Academy.
"You've had a long journey, husband."
Do Yoo-mi, who had been waiting at the entrance of Baekmyo County, let out a sigh of relief and welcomed them warmly.
"Ho-sung was of immense help. Where are Father and Mother?"
"They are waiting. Let us hurry."
"Are those prisoners?"
Standing beside Do Yoo-mi, Do Yoo-chan asked as he looked at the bandits bound in ropes.
"It felt wrong to just leave them behind, and killing them outright seemed excessive, so I brought them along... but now that I think about it, it feels like a pointless hassle."
Ha Tae-gun blamed himself, recalling the uncomfortable stares of the townspeople on their way to the academy.
"You did the right thing. I will take care of them, so please go see Father. He has been waiting for you for some time."
"Thank you."
Expressing his gratitude to Do Yoo-chan, Ha Tae-gun and Ho-sung followed Do Yoo-mi to Do Sang-woon's office.
"You both did well."
"I am so glad you returned safely."
Do Sang-woon and Dang So-ryung looked warmly at Ha Tae-gun and Ho-sung, relieved that they had returned without a scratch.
Secretly, they had been anxious, knowing that Baekho-bu was a master of the Peak Realm.
Though Ho-sung was also a Peak Realm martial artist, a bandit leader like Baekho-bu was bound to have underhanded tricks up his sleeve.
"So, did you recover all the goods?"
Slaying Baekho-bu was important, but if they failed to recover the stolen cargo, Ha Tae-gun's pride would suffer a devastating blow.
After all, a merchant's pride lay in protecting their trade goods above all else.
"Fortunately, we recovered all the trade goods, but..."
Seeing Ha Tae-gun hesitate, Do Sang-woon and Dang So-ryung waited patiently.
"However... we could not find the Flame Pill."
"Ah..."
"Oh dear."
Do Sang-woon and Dang So-ryung let out soft sighs at his words.
The Flame Pill was a medicine Ha Tae-gun brought back from the Tang family specifically for Soso.
The sole reason he chose a trade route passing through Baekmyo County was to ensure he could bring back the Flame Pill once every three months.
"I will visit the Tang family again soon, so please do not worry too much."
Ha Tae-gun bowed his head apologetically, but Do Sang-woon and Dang So-ryung shook their heads.
"Do not push yourself too hard. We still have one pill left. Since she had an episode just a few days ago, she should be fine for the time being."
In truth, those last words were born more of hope than certainty.
No one could predict when Soso's body would suddenly crave Yang energy again.
"Rest well today, and resume your trade journey tomorrow."
"Do as your father-in-law says. I have prepared food and wine since this morning, so wash away your fatigue and set off with a peaceful mind tomorrow."
Ha Tae-gun expressed his heartfelt gratitude for their warm consideration.
"...I will do so."
In his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Ha Tae-gun felt a parental warmth he had never experienced in his own life.
I will never forget this kindness.
Many around him whispered that marrying Do Yoo-mi was a mistake.
But Ha Tae-gun thought differently.
No matter what background his spouse had, her life would never be easy.
In that regard, the strong-willed Do Yoo-mi was a precious wife who guided his naive self onto the right path.
Furthermore, his in-laws were far more harmonious and supportive than most.
Though they currently kept a low profile under the name of a mere academy, they would one day become a martial clan representing all of Sichuan.
It was a merchant's intuition.
I will make them regret ever touching what is mine.
Unlike his usual gentle self, Ha Tae-gun made a solemn vow.
He would show absolutely no mercy to anyone who dared threaten his precious family.
"I will complete this trade run and bring back the Flame Pill without delay!"
With those parting words, Ha Tae-gun and Do Yoo-mi departed from the Heavenly Sword Academy.
Watching their receding figures, Yoo-sung fell into deep thought.
Is she really safe for the time being?
The unrecovered Flame Pill weighed heavily on Yoo-sung's mind.
His family believed it would be fine to wait until the next trade run, but Yoo-sung knew better.
No one knows when the curse of the Heavenly Yin Body will flare up.
- Since there is still one pill left... we can only hope it will be enough.
As expected, there was a subtle trace of anxiety in Binghwa's voice.
- Was it under similar circumstances that my brother's dantian was ruined?
- Yes. Your brother directly trading with the Tang family's apothecary, and your mother asking her maiden family for help—all of that happened only after your brother's dantian was damaged.
Binghwa briefly explained the events of that time.
When Soso's condition had taken a sudden turn for the worse, much like a few days ago, Do Yoo-chan had recklessly tried to stabilize her, resulting in a devastating injury to his dantian.
He still suffered from internal injuries so severe they could never fully heal. There was no guarantee history wouldn't repeat itself.
I need to make a trip to the Tang family before it's too late.
Yoo-sung could not sit idly by and wait for Ha Tae-gun and Do Yoo-mi to return.
With the power he possessed, he could easily prevent any potential tragedy.
For others, the journey from Baekmyo County to the Tang family would take over a fortnight, but if Yoo-sung set his mind to it, he could cross that distance in the blink of an eye.
Since he had to visit his mother's family and meet his maternal grandfather anyway, Yoo-sung made up his mind to head to the Tang family under a plausible pretext.
Shlick.
Inside a lavishly decorated room, a middle-aged man was meticulously polishing his saber.
This middle-aged man was known as one of the strongest masters of the frontier, alongside Do Sang-woon of Baekmyo County.
Kwak Yoo, the Master of Cheondo Gate.
As the successor of Cheondo Gate, he had been willing to do absolutely anything for the glory of his sect.
In his youth, despite being the heir to Cheondo Gate, he had joined the Sichuan Martial Arts Alliance, starting as a mere foot soldier and clawing his way up through sheer grit—all for the sake of his sect's glory.
If there was one regret in his life, it was his relationship with his former friend, Do Sang-woon.
Who would have thought we would be entangled so exhaustingly?
To be frank, the situation baffled him.
Even if they were both minor sects on the frontier...
He had never imagined that the Heavenly Sword Academy, which was once nothing more than a run-down training hall, would grow to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Cheondo Gate.
No wonder I found him so irritating from the very moment we met.
He had only maintained a friendship with Do Sang-woon due to his father's wishes, but he had always coveted the academy's Thirteen Styles of the Heavenly Sword and its martial artists.
In the end, he had successfully enticed their trained martial artists to join him and expanded Cheondo Gate, so it hadn't been a bad deal.
But lately, it was becoming a burden.
Watching the Heavenly Sword Academy begin to grow at an explosive rate, Kwak Yoo came to a decision.
"Sigh. It is time to bring this tedious, ill-fated relationship to an end."
Muttering in a low voice, Kwak Yoo's eyes flashed with a cold, sharp light.
Just as Kwak Yoo was channeling his fierce hostility toward the Heavenly Sword Academy...
Knock, knock.
Following a cautious knock, Kwak Young's voice drifted through the door.
"Father, may I enter?"
"Come in."
With Kwak Yoo's permission, Kwak Young entered, his expression stiff.
"What blunder have you committed now?"
When Kwak Yoo clicked his tongue at his son's expression, Kwak Young's face stiffened even further.
"Do I really have to marry that woman?"
Kwak Young's complaint grated on Kwak Yoo's nerves.
As his father's gaze turned icy, Kwak Young shivered involuntarily.
"Pathetic fool. What is a mere marriage? Are you seriously protesting to me with such a look on your face?"
"But..."
She was supposed to be his lifelong companion.
Kwak Young felt a wave of distaste as he recalled Ha Tae-young, whom he had been forced to meet a few times.
Her looks weren't bad, but her personality was utterly repulsive.
He knew he wasn't a saint himself, but she was far more vicious than he could ever be.
There was a reason people called her the "Poisonous Spider of Cheonhyang."
She was the type of woman who would slit his throat the moment things didn't go her way.
Spending the rest of my life walking on eggshells around that bitch?!
Just the thought of it filled him with a dreadful sense of despair.
However, he lacked the courage to rebel any further.
If he did, the precious little favor he had managed to win from Kwak Yoo would vanish entirely.
"In any case, it seems the chief of the White Wolf Bandit Clan is about to make a move."
"Indeed. If it is Pa-gun, it is about time he stirred."
With the news of Baekho-bu's death spreading, rumors circulated through the streets that Pa-gun was grieving and furious over his demise.
But Kwak Yoo, who knew Pa-gun's nature all too well, did not believe a single word of it.
In the first place, Baekho-bu had likely been sent to roam this area in the hope that either he or Do Sang-woon would kill him.
Pa-gun, who was always looking for an opportunity to bring Baekmyo County under his heel, would never let this chance slip by.
Now, while everyone's attention is focused on the White Wolf Bandit Clan, is our chance.
While Do Sang-woon and Pa-gun clashed, he intended to swallow the Cheonhyang Merchant Guild whole.
To achieve this, they needed to act swiftly.
"We must move your wedding forward. Let us tie the knot before the White Wolf Bandit Clan begins their rampage in earnest."
"...Understood."
Though he was far from pleased, Kwak Young obediently bowed his head.
If marrying that poisonous spider was the price to pay to inherit Cheondo Gate, he had no choice but to endure it.
Besides, knowing Father's personality, he won't let that bitch remain my wife forever.
Kwak Yoo's ambition and pride far exceeded his own.
If his future daughter-in-law, Ha Tae-young, showed even the slightest hint of overstepping her bounds, Kwak Yoo would either eliminate her entirely or completely sever her limbs.
The former would be ideal, but even the latter would mean he wouldn't have to worry about her anymore. From Kwak Young's perspective, it was a win-win situation.
Until then, he would be busy catering to Ha Tae-young's whims while solidifying his position as the successor of Cheondo Gate.
Pathetic fool.
Watching Kwak Young's smirking face, Kwak Yoo clicked his tongue inwardly.
He could read his son's foolish thoughts like an open book.
Yet, he left him to his delusions simply because there was no reason to care.
For now, he had no better successor than Kwak Young, so he would let things play out.
If all else fails, I can always replace him.
Having finally broken through his bottleneck a few months ago, Kwak Yoo now had plenty of time.
He was no longer desperate enough to cling to Kwak Young.
Completely oblivious to this fact, Kwak Young lost himself in his own delusions, barely able to suppress his grin.