First Steps into the Jianghu
"Jeong-ah. Jeong-ah. What are you doing?"
Yoo Jeong, who was piling up dry branches, turned his head at the sound of his name. There stood his master, wearing an oversized Taoist cap, her eyes sparkling.
Though the clothes had been tailored for a child, they were still quite large, forcing her to fold the sleeves—a detail that boasted a fatally charming cuteness. Having managed to roll up her cascading silver hair and tuck it neatly inside the cap, the only prominent feature left was her blue eyes. They blinked repeatedly, looking exactly like those of a foreigner, specifically a child from the far West. Of course, Yoo Jeong had only read about them in books and had never actually seen a real Western child.
No matter who they brought, they wouldn't be half as cute as Master.
This wasn't a biased judgment born of blind affection. Even Namgung Sua, standing right before them, couldn't take her eyes off his master. Whenever Yoo Jeong pinched his master's cheeks or stroked her hair, Namgung Sua's fingertips would twitch in unison, or she would cast a fiercely envious glare in his direction.
Well, you should have accepted Master's gift.
Namgung Sua was currently wearing her cat mask. Earlier, his master had chased her around while meowing playfully, only to present her with a freshly caught mouse as a "gift." Contrary to the expectation that she would accept it calmly, Namgung Sua had shrieked like a young maiden and recoiled in horror. Seeing this, his master had thrown a massive tantrum, sulking over the rejected offering. Namgung Sua had been shooting him pleading glances, begging him to mediate a reconciliation, but...
Not a chance.
He had already been feeling a bit possessive over his master's attention these past few days. *Brush, brush.* Yoo Jeong wiped his hands and deliberately caressed his master's soft cheek for all to see.
"I'm preparing the camp, Master."
"Camping! Like in the heroic tales?"
"Yes. Just like in the heroic tales."
"Wow! Wow! Jeong-ah, does that mean we get to catch and eat rabbits too?"
"Master, do you want to eat rabbit?"
"Yes! They always eat them in the tales. So if we're camping, we have to eat them too."
"Then I shall go catch some."
Namgung Sua, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, stood up while grabbing her willow-leaf saber. But then...
"Hmph. No, actually. Jeong-ah, I don't want to eat rabbit."
At his master's words, accompanied by her crossing her tiny arms, Namgung Sua froze mid-motion in an awkward posture.
"Why is that?"
"Rabbits are cute. It makes me sad to eat them."
"Are pigs and cows not cute?"
"Uh... No, they are cute too..."
"Then are you going to stop eating meat altogether?"
"Ugh! I hate you too, Jeong-ah!"
His master puffed out her cheeks so adorably that Yoo Jeong stopped teasing her and lifted her high into the air. He held her by her armpits, swinging her gently back and forth. Instantly forgetting her anger, she burst into a fit of giggles. As he comforted her, he glanced over at Namgung Sua, whose eyes behind the cat mask were trembling with envy.
This should be enough.
Even if her closeness with his master annoyed him, she was still their guide to Hangzhou, where the trustworthy physician resided. Hugging his master tightly as she whimpered for more air-swings, Yoo Jeong whispered in her ear.
"Master, Lady Namgung said she would read you a heroic tale."
"Huh? Really?"
"Yes. She said she was very sorry about last time and would read to you as much as you want today."
"Is that true?"
When his master's suspicious gaze shifted to Namgung Sua, the young woman, who had been standing there blankly, began to nod her head furiously. She was so desperate that her usual calm demeanor was completely gone. *Is this the power of Master's charm?* Yoo Jeong smiled wryly in admiration.
*Tap, tap.* His master silently patted Yoo Jeong's arm. The moment he set her down, she sat about ten feet away from Namgung Sua, crossing her arms with an expression that looked exactly like a judge waiting to evaluate a performance. Yoo Jeong naturally pulled out his master's favorite book of heroic tales and handed it to Namgung Sua. It was a small gesture of consideration.
"Thank you."
"You have to read it with passion and bring the characters to life."
"...I will try."
Namgung Sua replied confidently, even clenching her fist.
But it won't be easy.
Reading heroic tales to his master was a grueling chore that even Yoo Jeong had dreaded back when they lived in their thatched cottage. And for good reason.
"No. Do it again."
"He's a bandit, so why does he sound so nice?"
"Uh-uh. I didn't hear that part. Read it again, Sister."
Like a master artisan smashing an imperfect piece of pottery, his master was incredibly fastidious when listening to stories. If anything displeased her, she would ruthlessly demand a re-read. Namgung Sua initially seemed flustered by the relentless barrage of "do it agains," but she adapted surprisingly quickly. Perhaps she had a talent for it. Watching his master gradually lose herself in the story, Yoo Jeong picked up his sword and stood.
"Mm? Jeong-ah, where are you going?"
"I need to take care of something before it gets dark."
"Okay. Be careful."
While his master waved her hand cheerfully, Namgung Sua stared at Yoo Jeong with a knowing look. It was only natural. Though not quite on Yoo Jeong's level, Namgung Sua was still a Peak Expert capable of manifesting saber energy. At this distance, her senses would have picked it up as well. Yoo Jeong gave a slight nod and tapped the sword at his waist. She looked as if she wanted to say something to him, but after hesitating, she ultimately remained silent. Urged on by his master's impatient demands to keep reading, she resumed the tale.
"Nooo! Read it with focus, like you did before."
Leaving behind his master's voice crying out "Again!", Yoo Jeong headed into the darkening forest. A cold, settled emotion flickered in his eyes. It was unmistakable killing intent.
A band of men clad in animal skins and wielding axes and clubs was rummaging through the forest. Their appearance and attire practically screamed that they were bandits. The man leading the pack barked angrily at those following him.
"Move it, you bastards! Do you want to fail to meet today's quota and get thrashed by the chief again?"
"No, Vice-Chief!"
"We'll search harder!"
Watching their behavior from atop a tree branch, Yoo Jeong pondered his options. What should I do? He could hunt them down one by one as they scattered. Even the bearded brute who seemed to be their leader was only around the First-class expert level at best. If Yoo Jeong chose to completely erase his presence and slit their throats one by one, they wouldn't realize what was happening until they were all dead. But Yoo Jeong shook his head.
The risk of them discovering our campsite is too high.
Yoo Jeong, well-accustomed to mountain life, had carefully selected their campsite. It was the perfect spot for camping. There was no way these bandits, who clearly knew the mountain well, wouldn't know about it. Having plundered travelers countless times, they likely had such locations memorized. And if their campsite was discovered, his entire reason for coming out here would be rendered pointless. Thus, Yoo Jeong immediately threw himself down.
*Thud.* Like a waterfall cascading straight down, Yoo Jeong landed gracefully on the ground. Belatedly sensing his movement, the bandits froze in unison.
"Haha! Well, isn't this a ghostly miracle? A person suddenly appearing out of nowhere in the middle of these mountains. Don't you think?"
The leader broke the silence. While constantly prompting his men for agreement to rouse their spirits, his eyes scanned Yoo Jeong. They faced off, sizing each other up for a brief moment. Having finished his assessment, the brute clad in tiger skin began to step forward, swinging his axe in wide arcs.
"No need to be afraid! As for who I am, I belong to the Black Flame Bandit Camp, one of the Seventy-Two Green Forest Bandit Camps! I am the Vice-Chief, the Mighty Heaven-Cleaving Axe, Jang Pal-nam—the right-hand man of our great chief, Black Yama Jeong Gwal!"
With unfounded confidence, the man boasted grandly of his affiliation. Believing that Yoo Jeong's silence meant he was paralyzed with fear, the scattered bandits began to close in, wearing sinister, leering grins.
"I've never seen a beauty like you before. I promise I won't treat you roughly, so come over here and get into my arms."
"Hehehe! Vice-Chief, you've hit the jackpot!"
"Of course. I'll taste her first, then share her with you boys."
"Really?"
"Just keep it a secret from the chief."
"Hehehe, of course. If the chief gets his hands on a woman, she ends up completely ruined anyway. Better we enjoy her ourselves."
"Exactly. Kehehe."
Yoo Jeong tilted his head at their exchange. These bastards. Do they actually think I'm a woman? He let out a dry, incredulous chuckle at the absurd misunderstanding.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I'm a man."
"What?!"
The vice-chief's eyes widened. Since the darkness obscured Yoo Jeong's figure, it was somewhat understandable that they had mistaken his delicate face and small build for a woman's. Of course, it was highly unpleasant for Yoo Jeong. When he spoke with his voice dripping with distaste, the bandits' faces soured.
"Tsk. What a waste. If you're a guy, hand over everything you have and get lost!"
"Vice-Chief, if he looks like that, I wouldn't mind even if he is a guy."
"Tsk, tsk. Disgusting bastard. What the hell is so good about sodomy?"
"Hehehe. As long as it tastes good, who cares?"
Yoo Jeong's face contorted at the vulgar conversation, which felt like rot entering his ears.
"...You're not even worth talking to."
The bandits, still trading crude jokes, had finally closed the distance to Yoo Jeong. His eyes quickly swept over them, counting their numbers. Twilight had fallen, casting faint shadows, but this level of darkness was no obstacle to his vision.
"Thirty-two."
Calmly stating their number, Yoo Jeong cracked his knuckles.
"What is this brat saying—"
The bandit's neck snapped, his head spinning completely around while his body remained in the posture of reaching out to grab Yoo Jeong.
"What?!"
The bandits panicked, their eyes unable to track the sudden anomaly. The vice-chief, who possessed some martial training, was especially shocked. His temples aren't bulging... Crazy. Don't tell me he's a master of the Return to Simplicity and Truth?
"Now thirty-one. It'll be troublesome if the scent of blood lingers, so I should handle this with my bare hands."
Master has a very sensitive nose. Mumbling quietly, Yoo Jeong released his internal energy. Before even a fraction of a minute had passed, Yoo Jeong had vanished, leaving only corpses behind.
"Did you kill them all?"
"Yes."
Only Namgung Sua welcomed Yoo Jeong when he returned to the campsite. His master, having shed her restrictive cap, was sleeping soundly with her head in Namgung Sua's lap, even snoring softly. Yoo Jeong smiled gently at the sound of her snoring and laid down the rabbit and roe deer he had caught in a corner.
"You're remarkably calm."
"What do you mean?"
"Wasn't that your first time taking a life?"
"Yes."
Though he answered calmly, Yoo Jeong couldn't understand the meaning behind Namgung Sua's gaze.
"When I first killed someone, I was sick in bed for days."
"..."
"And it didn't seem like just one or two."
"There were thirty-two."
Namgung Sua gasped at his words. Yoo Jeong still found her reaction puzzling. They were people who needed to be killed, so he killed them. Was she trying to lecture him with some old-fashioned moral about how one shouldn't take lives lightly? Believing that discussing such cliché, storybook ideals was embarrassing, Yoo Jeong preempted her.
"I merely eliminated a potential threat to Master. Besides, they were scum who deserved to die."
"No, what I mean is..."
She tried to say something more, but quickly shut her mouth when Yoo Jeong shook his head. It was a clear sign that he did not wish to discuss the matter further. Accepting the abrupt end to the conversation, Namgung Sua sighed and began to stroke his master's hair. But only for a moment.
"Did you bring back that rabbit and roe deer?"
Namgung Sua was the first to break the brief silence. Perhaps she wanted to avoid any friction. The new topic she raised wasn't bad, so Yoo Jeong went along with it.
"Yes. I figured Master would be looking for meat tomorrow."
"Mmh... Meat..."
"Master?"
Even in her sleep, she must have heard the word "meat." His master rubbed her eyes and sat up.
"Jeong-ahhh."
"Yes, Master."
"Where is the meat?"
His master flailed her arms in the air, searching for meat. She looked so much like a baby bear rummaging for a honey pot that Yoo Jeong burst into hearty laughter.
"The meat is over there."
Following Yoo Jeong's finger, his master's face instantly fell with disappointment.
"Those are a rabbit and a deer. Jeong-ah, don't you even know that?"
Still half-asleep, his master toddled over and poked the rabbit and roe deer with her finger.
"Jeong-ah! The deer and the rabbit must be sleepy too. They're sleeping."
"Master, they aren't sleeping."
"But they won't wake up even when I call them. Mr. Rabbit~ Mr. Deer~"
His master repeatedly nudged the pristine, woundless rabbit and roe deer. When they didn't budge despite her calls, she began to shake them vigorously as if trying to wake them up. Watching this, Yoo Jeong struggled to hold back his laughter.
"They are dead, Aunt-Master. We plan to cook and eat them tomorrow. And that's a roe deer, not a deer."
"Liar! They're so cute, how could we eat them?!"
The words must have been incredibly shocking. Like a lake caught in a tempest, his master's large eyes trembled violently.
"Once you drain the blood, skin them, and cook them, they become the meat you eat, Aunt-Master."
"Liar!"
Screaming at the top of her lungs, his master pattered over and threw herself into Yoo Jeong's arms.
"Jeong-ah, that's a lie, right? Sister is saying bad things."
"Yes, that's right, Master. Lady Namgung is saying mean things."
"Wait a minute! You're making me out to be the bad guy?"
The goodwill she had painstakingly built up by reading the heroic tales was about to crumble in an instant. Namgung Sua shot him a desperate look for help, but...
"Master, the rabbit and the deer said they're just going to sleep for a bit. And we'll be eating meat tomorrow."
"Really?"
"Yes, of course."
"Mmh. What a relief..."
As Yoo Jeong gently patted her back and stroked her hair, his master drifted back to sleep in his arms.
"But still... rabbit... like in the tales... I want to eat it..."
Hearing her true feelings mumbled in her sleep, Yoo Jeong had to stifle his laughter, shaking silently so he wouldn't wake her. Meanwhile, Namgung Sua glared at him as if he were a traitor, which only added to his amusement.