The Way to Borrow a Sword (1)
The next day came and went, but Death did not return.
No news articles about him surfaced, nor did a single social media post from fans claiming to have spotted him anywhere pop up.
Actor knew it. Death had fallen to Jang Cheon.
The lead actor was dead before the curtain even rose.
In Actor's mind flashed the image of Jang Cheon in his gas mask, gazing up at the sky. That sight was etched into Actor's memory as pure terror, dominating his thoughts even now.
His only task now was to dodge responsibility. First, he called his superior.
"Death seems to have been taken out."
There was no reply. Actor could tell the man was shocked and flustered. No wonder—how long had it even been since they'd painstakingly sent Death down here?
It must have hit like a bolt from the blue.
"I'm sorry."
A heavy sigh came through the phone from his superior.
"Fortunately, I've figured out who the opponent is."
Another sigh, followed by the rustle of him rummaging for aspirin.
"What kind of bastard takes down Death?"
"Do you remember that video from before?"
"The gas mask guy?"
"Yes. That's Jang Cheon. Both Doctor Woo and Death fell to him. I've uploaded detailed info on Jang Cheon."
His superior sighed again. Identifying the enemy was a small mercy, but the real crisis was losing Death.
"The higher-ups won't let this slide."
"Of course not."
"Damn it. We're dead meat."
They wouldn't actually kill him, but the punishment would be severe.
"There's a way to survive this."
"Spit it out before I collapse."
"When reporting this, inflate it big time."
"Inflate how?"
"Say the Korea Murim Alliance leader has teamed up with him to wipe us out."
"You think that'll fly?"
"It will. Im Yeon-sin, who was trying to control the Korea Murim Alliance leader, is dead, right? Pin all the blame on him regarding the leader."
"Hm."
"And there's one more thing in our favor. The World Murim Alliance leader has slapped a info access restriction on Jang Cheon."
"A lock?"
"Yes. He's no ordinary guy. Death went down to someone like that. And the Korea Murim Alliance leader's backing him."
"Hm, that paints a picture. Fine, it's do or die anyway. Investigators will come down regardless."
"I'll handle the investigators. The rest is up to your report, branch chief. Frame it as an existential threat to the organization. Make good use of the World Murim Alliance leader's lock."
"Got it."
Actor hung up and stared at the stage. The empty stage that once set his heart racing now felt oppressively bleak.
On stage, he was always the star.
But in reality, he was scrambling just to survive—like a pathetic supporting actor pulling every dirty trick to avoid being booted offstage.
Maybe that's why he could never leave that stage behind.
Either way, he had to stay sharp. The show couldn't end just because the lead was gone. Time to find a new star.
Actor immediately called Lee Dong-hyeok at Guardian Camp.
"Come see me right now."
* * *
"Greetings, Lord Jang."
Lee Dong-hyeok bowed deeply and politely.
The man seated at the head was U Myeong-hwan, lord of Dae Jeong San Jang, one of Korea's two great sects.
"Hoho, no need to bow like that every time."
"Lord U is the master of Dae Jeong San Jang, our nation's premier sect. Moreover, you're the most revered elder in all of Korean Murim.
If I could, I'd offer even greater respect."
Flattery laid bare like this somehow felt less awkward for both.
U Myeong-hwan chuckled good-naturedly.
"Hohoho. Murim just doesn't mistreat its elders, so I get a bit of deference. But you're no Murim man, President Lee—you don't need to stand on ceremony.
You're the one running the nation's top security firm. This old man should be the one bowing."
"Heavens no, you mustn't say such things."
U Myeong-hwan gazed at Lee Dong-hyeok with warm eyes. He knew business folk had slick tongues, but who didn't enjoy sweet words?
"So, what brings you to this old man today?"
Lee Dong-hyeok's purpose was clear.
"I have urgent news to share."
"What is it?"
"A client visited our HQ recently for a consultation. Park Gwang-cheol of Park Enter. Have you heard of Park Enter?"
When U Myeong-hwan shook his head, Lee Dong-hyeok explained.
"It's an entertainment company started by the youngest son of HT Group."
"Ah! I vaguely recall hearing the group's youngest was in showbiz."
"Yes, that's him. You've probably heard the rumors—he's a playboy who loves women and living it up."
U Myeong-hwan nodded as if to say he'd heard.
"Anyway?"
"He came with someone: a martial artist named Jang Cheon."
At the name Jang Cheon, U Myeong-hwan was startled. He never dreamed it'd come up in conversation with Lee Dong-hyeok.
"In my line of work, I do basic checks on clients and their associates.
During the investigation, I discovered Jang Cheon stirred up a storm in Korean Murim 14 years ago.
That's why I came to inform you. Do you remember Jang Cheon?"
Instead of answering, U Myeong-hwan slowly closed his eyes.
'So, fate couldn't be avoided after all?'
He'd learned of Jang Cheon's return to Korea from Baek Ya-bang leader Jo Chang-su's report not long ago.
He'd been mulling over what to do about it.
He'd hoped Jang Cheon would leave Korea, but fate delivered more news of him instead.
U Myeong-hwan betrayed no reaction, responding calmly.
"I remember the kid named Jang Cheon."
He didn't pretend ignorance. If Lee Dong-hyeok had come all this way to report it, he likely knew everything about the Gwang-sa-mun incident 14 years prior.
"I looked into him just in case, but Jang Cheon has an info access restriction from the World Murim Alliance leader.
That's the decisive reason I decided to visit you today."
"Thank you."
It was something U Myeong-hwan already knew.
"If I've caused needless worry, I apologize."
"Nonsense. Bringing such valuable intel to this old man—only family would do that. I'll never forget this."
"Call on me anytime if there's anything I can do."
"I will."
"Then I'll take my leave."
Lee Dong-hyeok bowed politely once more and departed.
Actor, playing chauffeur, waited in the car. He figured it wasn't time for him to step into the spotlight yet.
Considering the eyes of the sect's martial artists, Lee Dong-hyeok got in the back. Of course, Actor was gripping both the steering wheel and the reins of this operation.
"I did as instructed."
"Well done."
"Shouldn't we have ramped up the sense of crisis a bit more?"
Actor had specifically told him to relay only the info about Jang Cheon's entry and leave immediately.
"That would've just raised suspicions."
Lee Dong-hyeok nodded. Plotting was Actor's domain anyway.
"U Myeong-hwan is extremely cautious. He won't move easily on this alone."
"So, what's your next play?"
"Time for phase two."
"Phase two?"
"Who in Korea holds the deepest grudge against Jang Cheon?"
"Dae Jeong San Jang?"
"No."
"Gangnam-il-mun then?"
"Wrong again. From my investigation, Gwang-sa-mun was wiped out back then, but not everyone in the clan died.
The wife and son of the Gwang-sa-mun lord are still alive."
"Ah!"
"We'll use them."
As if eager for the busy days ahead, Actor floored the accelerator.
The car sped away from Dae Jeong San Jang.
* * *
Jang Cheon, sitting in his lodging, finished a session of energy circulation meditation.
His recent training focused solely on Sohyeon Ilgi-gong, abandoning his old heart method.
Still at 2nd stage.
But there was hope.
He expected Sohyeon Ilgi-gong's progress to be the opposite of ordinary arts—slow at first, then explosive after 3rd stage, skyrocketing from 4th onward.
After meditation, he listened to his MP3. As he'd discussed with Bishop before, even masters couldn't slack on training.
It was like elite athletes training daily without fail.
Geum Sa-cheon's voice now felt like family. Today's lesson was on dealing with people.
"When dealing with people, don't divide your heart. Don't split 100 into 50 each just because there are two. Give 100 to each. Even if you can't, try.
As someone who's lived giving 100 to all, I know how grueling that path is.
I know how the world—or people—treat those who try to give 100 to everyone.
They take your 100 for granted and haggle for an extra 5 from someone who gave only 10.
I know, I know it all. Still, don't give up. Keep striving to the end. That effort will return not as 100, but 1000 later."
It might sound like vague advice to just endure, but Jang Cheon sensed deeper meaning.
This wasn't just about relationships. That very line applied to martial arts too.
In training, he'd unwittingly divide his focus—giving 50 or 70 when 100 was needed.
From now on, even a basic form would get his full 100. It had to be rigorous. For relationships, for martial arts. Easy gains slipped away easily.
Geum Sa-cheon's teachings branched out like trees, granting Jang Cheon profound insights into both cultivation and life.
Then Bishop called.
"I tracked down the small theater from the photo. It's run by an ordinary artist."
The man in the photo had rented it for just that day using a fake ID, paying cash.
No luck on the hideout, but they caught him linking up with Lee Dong-hyeok.
Several photos arrived soon after: Actor getting into a car with Lee Dong-hyeok at Guardian Camp.
Bishop had Guardian Camp and Lee Dong-hyeok under tight surveillance, so they'd nabbed it.
"Know where they went?"
"Yes. Dae Jeong San Jang."
This was the moment Jang Cheon truly tangled with his past from 14 years ago. Dae Jeong San Jang's power had grown immensely since then.
"They're using Dae Jeong San Jang to pull off a chado-sarige plot."
"What now?"
"Depends on how Dae Jeong San Jang plays it."
If they came for his head? He'd punish them decisively.
But he couldn't just smash everything recklessly. Not because they were strong.
Facing off against Dae Jeong San Jang would make him a target for the Korean government and all of Korean Murim.
With businesses ahead, he couldn't escalate that far.
"We'll hit them back their way."
"How?"
"Chado-sarin. Places to borrow a sword aren't limited to Dae Jeong San Jang, right?"
"Ah!"
There was Gangnam-il-mun, the other great sect, Black Heaven assassin cartel, or even this organization they were up against.
Just one rule: always think and move one step ahead.
"Yeah. Time to clean up the past once and for all."