Chapter 54: How to Borrow a Sword (2)
“Congratulations!”
Bang! Bang bang!
Hwa-ran set off the birthday celebratory firecrackers she had prepared.
“Thank you so much. Really, thank you.”
They were holding Lee Yeon’s BST passing celebration party at a pub near the HT Group Residence. The attendees were Jang Cheon, Park Gwang-cheol, Hwa-ran, and today’s star, Lee Yeon. Just the four of them.
“Congrats, Yeon. Now all that’s left is for you to join Park Enter. I told you before, right? There aren’t many Murim folk who are celebrities. Especially a beauty like you—you’ll become a star.”
“I’ll think about it, CEO Park.”
Hwa-ran then said to Park Gwang-cheol,
“Oh, you’ve come a long way. She’s actually at the ‘thinking about it’ stage now?”
“My utmost sincerity is finally bearing fruit.”
“Sincerity? More like obsession. Anyway, congrats to you too.”
She said it jokingly, but it was sincere. Lee Yeon’s willingness to consider it probably came from sensing Park Gwang-cheol’s changes too.
Congratulations, Yeon. I hope this celebration holds meaning for a very long time.
This time, Jang Cheon spoke to Lee Yeon.
“Congratulations, Yeon.”
“Thank you. Really. This whole gathering today is all thanks to you, Cheon.”
“We all influence each other in big and small ways as we live. But in the end, it’s yourself who accomplishes things. Today, you have every right to be proud. Yeon.”
Park Gwang-cheol, listening in, shot him a jealous yet admiring glance.
“The guy’s got a way with words at times like this.”
Hwa-ran chimed in.
“And that’s not all. It-girl Seol Yeon’s totally smitten with him too.”
“What? For real?”
Park Gwang-cheol jumped in surprise.
“No way! What if a scandal breaks out?”
He glared at Jang Cheon and said,
“She’s only twenty-two now. Touch her and you know what happens? Bam! You die, I die.”
Jang Cheon stared at Park Gwang-cheol for a moment before blurting out,
“She looks so young, but she’s already twenty-two? A full adult.”
“What?”
The flustered Park Gwang-cheol switched tactics.
“Hahaha, not just smooth talker—you’ve got jokes too.”
“If that makes you feel better.”
“Hey!”
Only after Park Gwang-cheol yelled did Jang Cheon smile, as if it had all been a joke.
Hwa-ran whispered to Lee Yeon,
“The Seol Yeon thing was real.”
Lee Yeon whispered back in her ear,
“Anyone can see he’s got charm.”
“Doesn’t it bother you?”
“Me? Why?”
“Hmm. Don’t you like Cheon?”
“Of course I do. But I’ve never thought of him romantically. As a work partner, as a junior in the Murim world, I respect and like him.
And you know, right? I don’t have time for dating. Don’t even want to.”
It was Lee Yeon’s honest truth. The only luxury in her life had been taking the BST.
Hwa-ran glanced at Jang Cheon and said,
“Too good to give to another woman.”
“Give him? He was never ours to begin with.”
“Hahaha. True enough.”
The two women smiled at each other. They had grown very close.
“Fine then, little sis. Play with me instead.”
“Call me anytime.”
Hwa-ran pulled out the gift she had set down beside her.
“Here, a celebration gift.”
“Whoa, score! I was wondering about that big box you brought, sis. What’s inside?”
Lee Yeon grinned broadly.
“You’re prettier anyway. Prettier than Seol Yeon.”
“Haha, making millions of uncle fans rage with that biased call—and I’m this happy! Guess that’s why people need their own team!”
Lee Yeon opened Hwa-ran’s gift.
Inside was a floral-patterned martial robe—flashy enough for wearing out after the party or posing on a Murim magazine cover.
“Wow! It’s gorgeous!”
“Buy your own everyday training clothes—ones that fit perfectly. With your personality, you’d never buy something this flashy in your life, so I’m getting it for you.”
“Ah! It’s really pretty.”
“It’s martial wear, but get it dry-cleaned. Got it?”
“Of course. Thanks, sis.”
Hwa-ran said to Park Gwang-cheol,
“What about you? Got nothing?”
Lee Yeon waved her hands in embarrassment.
“No, it’s fine. Just having you here is an honor.”
“Hey, I’m a businessman. You think I’d come empty-handed?”
Park Gwang-cheol pulled a small envelope from his pocket and handed it over.
“W Hotel buffet vouchers, four of them. Too pricey to buy outright, but perfect as a gift. Treat your family to something nice.”
“Wow! Thank you so much.”
Park Gwang-cheol felt pleased. Had he ever given a woman such a meaningful gift? Not even to Hwa-ran, he thought.
You bitch! Sorry up till now. I’ll make it up big time from here on!
Now even his curses stayed inside.
Hwa-ran said to Jang Cheon,
“You too, Cheon. Whip it out. Looked like you brought something earlier.”
All eyes turned to Jang Cheon.
He lifted what he had placed under the table. Unwrapping the cloth revealed a single sword.
“Whoa!”
Not just Lee Yeon—everyone was stunned. They had suspected it might be a sword, and it really was.
Lee Yeon asked in a trembling voice,
“Can I really accept this?”
Jang Cheon smiled and said,
“It’s for beginners. Not too expensive, so no need to feel burdened.
Use it for the next few years, then switch to one that suits you. You’ll know when the time comes. Which sword fits you best.”
Tears streamed down Lee Yeon’s cheeks as she gazed at the sword.
Hwa-ran hugged her.
“Why cry on a day like this?”
“I’m just so happy. Thank you all so much.”
It had been ages since someone had looked after her like this.
After her dad was hospitalized, she had become the head of the household at a young age, caring for her family while living on.
Her mom’s earnings alone couldn’t cover the medical bills.
“Alright, enough getting emotional. Try wearing the sword. Don’t pair it with the outfit I got you, though—you’d slay us all.”
At Hwa-ran’s words, Lee Yeon stood with the clothes.
“I’ll change in the bathroom and be right back.”
“Haha, later. Just try the sword for now.”
“Okay.”
Lee Yeon fastened the sword Jang Cheon had gifted her to her waist.
“Whoa! With a sword, she really looks like a martial artist.”
The slender, beautiful woman with a sword at her hip looked stunning.
Lee Yeon checked herself in the distant mirror. It was overwhelming. Buying a sword had been postponed.
Her first month’s martial artist stipend would go to a laptop for her brother, and the next month’s salary to the cheapest sword she could find. But now she had received such a great gift.
Seeing the sword at her waist made her dream feel truly real at last.
Jang Cheon said to her,
“The sword suits you perfectly.”
“Thank you.”
Back when they first met, when she asked why he suggested the BST, Jang Cheon had said a sword would suit her. Now she had heard it directly.
Lee Yeon turned to the three, clasped her hands in a formal bow, and said playfully,
“Rookie Murim newcomer Lee Yeon greets the citizens of the pugilistic world.”
Hwa-ran laughed, mimicking her bow in historical drama style.
“Press on, martial artist. Even the great ones had humble beginnings.”
Hwa-ran looked at Jang Cheon.
“Right? You had rookie days too, Cheon?”
“No. I was good from the start.”
As everyone stared in disbelief, Jang Cheon raised his glass.
“Kidding. Cheers, everyone!”
“Hahaha.”
They clinked glasses in high spirits when breaking news flashed on the TV mounted on the pub wall.
Lee Yeon gasped in shock.
“James Hwang—the World Integrated Martial Tournament champion?”
Hwa-ran’s eyes widened at Lee Yeon’s words.
“Champion? So the world’s strongest man has gone missing?”
“Yeah.”
The mood sank instantly.
Lee Yeon, who had raised her glass for a toast, quietly sat back down.
Park Gwang-cheol sipped his beer with a tense expression. He suddenly recalled how Tae Jin-gu, the Gangnam branch head of Gu Wol Sect whom he had known, had vanished just like that.
Hwa-ran, hiding her fear, said to Lee Yeon,
“Little sis, you’ve just stepped into a world where even the top expert can disappear. Be careful.”
“Yes.”
Lee Yeon glanced at Jang Cheon.
Watching the TV, Jang Cheon raised his glass high again with a bright voice.
“Bad luck can strike even on a safe stroll—that’s life. Don’t fear it. Stay resolute!”
Lee Yeon beamed. Her fear vanished like a lie.
This was it. What Jang Cheon had always given her since they met.
With him, even terrifying situations felt at ease—making her clench her fist, determined to become someone like him. A strength only he could provide.
Lee Yeon raised her glass high.
“Alright, cheers, everyone!”
Clink.
Yang Do-hwa, the widow of the Gwang-sa-mun lord, entered Dae-jeong-san-jang.
Heavy makeup hid her age, and she was draped head to toe in luxury brands. The bag she carried was the priciest one, with a year-long waitlist.
Guided by an attendant, she entered U Myeong-hwan’s residence.
“Lady Yang, you’ve arrived.”
“It’s been a while, Lord U.”
It really had been ages since the two had met.
U Myeong-hwan knew well how she and her son lived—the stuff of tabloid headlines.
Back then, Gwang-sa-mun had been wiped out, but their wealth remained. Enough to live lavishly off interest alone forever.
But Yang Do-hwa had squandered it all. Every business she touched failed; she fell for every scam imaginable.
With Dae-jeong-san-jang and Gangnam-il-mun around, one might think scammers wouldn’t dare approach—but reality proved otherwise.
The world was full of bold con artists.
The stress of losing money compounded the grief of losing her husband, leading to debauchery and scandals everywhere. Her man troubles accelerated the downfall.
After bankruptcy, she survived on support from Dae-jeong-san-jang and Gangnam-il-mun.
Was that process smooth? Hardly. She caused endless petty conflicts with the two great sects.
A few years ago, Gangnam-il-mun cut her off. Now she clung to Dae-jeong-san-jang. The money they gave her was no small sum—billions per year.
Yang Do-hwa stared silently at U Myeong-hwan before speaking in a subdued voice.
“You said it before. Jang Cheon! That the guy who fled abroad couldn’t be tracked anymore. Probably dead somewhere.”
“Why bring that up now?”
Jang Cheon. Another wave of Jang Cheon crashed over him, tightening U Myeong-hwan’s chest.
Yang Do-hwa snapped sharply,
“Because I heard the bastard you said was dead came back alive. That son of a bitch returned!”
“Who told you?”
“So you knew. How I found out doesn’t matter. What matters is he’s back alive. How long did you think you could hide something this big?”
“Lady Yang.”
Yang Do-hwa glared at U Myeong-hwan and asked,
“Save it. I didn’t come for excuses. I want an answer to this: what will you do about Jang Cheon?”
A heavy silence fell.
Finally, U Myeong-hwan said with a troubled face,
“It’s not a simple decision.”
“Not that difficult either. One word from you ends it.”
When U Myeong-hwan said nothing, Yang Do-hwa pleaded desperately.
“Please avenge my husband’s death. You know how much he relied on you in life. Lord U!”
U Myeong-hwan felt suffocated. Why didn’t she remember they had massacred the Jang Sword Clan first?
This woman... You lot killed them all first!
Suddenly, the thought struck him.
He should have cut ties like Gangnam-il-mun.
He knew what endless favors led to.
Billions a year was pocket change for Dae-jeong-san-jang. He had chosen the easy path for peace of mind... Now he had to pay for that shallow choice.
Longer and more money than Gangnam-il-mun, but refusing today would paint him worse. Fail to cut off when you should, and this happens.
His mind was a mess, but U Myeong-hwan wasn’t one to let personal feelings ruined.
“Lady Yang, forget the past. It’s all gone.”
Yang Do-hwa wiped her tears. As if expecting refusal, she didn’t rage or excite.
She said something unexpected.
“Kill Jang Cheon for me... and I’ll tell you one important secret.”