The Judge - 1
Master and disciple each carried small shards of unease in their hearts as they crossed the second cliff path. It was the route through the Qinling Mountains leading from Hanzhong to Guanzhong. Fortunately, nothing strange happened this time, unlike their passage from Seongdo. There was no sign of Yi Cheolryeong or the Black and White Ghosts. Travelers came and went in numbers, however, leading to a minor incident midway along the path.
"Brother, are you heading to the Murim Conference too?"
"Ah... well, something like that."
Jang Cheon started to answer offhandedly, then glanced at Cheon Sohyang. It was her first journey through the jianghu, so broadening her horizons wouldn't hurt. Without meeting her eyes, he gave his reply. Even if their gazes had locked, his answer wouldn't have changed much. Cheon Sohyang would have agreed unconditionally if her master suggested it.
"Knew it! I'm on my way to the Murim Conference myself. More precisely, the Young Phoenix Tournament has my interest. Come to think of it, are you a martial artist too, brother?"
For someone aiming for the Young Phoenix title, the man had remarkably poor observation skills. As Jang Cheon eyed him pitifully, Cheon Sohyang quietly looked away. Undeterred, the man pressed on boastfully.
"Young and full of vigor—you might make a good rival for me. You'd best watch yourself."
"Is there some bad rumor circulating in Jangan?"
"Nah. But who knows—your pretty little martial sister might fall for me if you're not careful! Haha!"
"......What the. Uh, Sohyang!"
"Let's see if your sword is as slick as that vile, rude tongue of yours. Draw it now!"
While Jang Cheon sighed, a commotion erupted as Cheon Sohyang thrust her sword at the unfortunate man's throat in a flash. His skills were no match for hers, of course, and he beat a hasty, humiliating retreat. Since they met at night, he hadn't gotten far—just enough distance to feel safe in the dark.
"Sohyang."
"......"
No reply. In truth, this was the first time Jang Cheon had seen Cheon Sohyang truly angry. Her lips pressed tight, face flushed crimson, she stared at the campfire with cold eyes. Her beauty made the sight like a painting. Jang Cheon spoke again. He needed to clear the misunderstanding.
"Sohyang. You did well."
Only then did she turn to him, her gaze lingering before shifting. It was complicated, brimming with emotions. Guilt for acting too rashly. Anxiety over displeasing her master. Lingering anger and irritation bubbling up despite it all. Naturally, none aimed at Jang Cheon. That's why she couldn't compose herself. He continued smoothly.
"Your honor is yours to defend. That's why I taught you the sword. If it happens again, follow your instincts."
"......Even then?"
"Sometimes a woman's honor outweighs a man's. You'll need a good partner someday, and you'll have to protect yourself then. If it weren't for you, I'd have corrected his arrogance first."
That's what her master thought. Once she married, that duty would fall to her husband—but not yet. For now, it was his responsibility. He wouldn't go as far as beheading the man for mere flirtation like some Amitabha nun, though.
"Might've lopped off an arm."
"Shall I go cut it off?"
"I mean it could have happened. Why the sudden shock?"
She wasn't the type for that. Jang Cheon sighed again, and Cheon Sohyang mumbled.
"Sorry. I lost my composure for a moment. When you said I need a good partner..."
"What? Got someone in mind already?"
"No."
None at all. There'd been no room in her life for such things. As the head of a crumbling house, a member of a nest of treacherous schemes, then a fugitive. Her years had been too barren for rosy dreams. Oblivious to this, Jang Cheon asked casually.
"Still, someone's caught your eye before, right? Think about it this time."
"......"
"The Murim Conference has more decent folk than you'd expect..."
"Do I have to?"
It slipped out reflexively—or so it felt. Cheon Sohyang startled herself. She'd never resisted her master's words in her life. Not mere training complaints or playful bickering. Deep down, she truly didn't want to. She didn't know why. She just didn't want to imagine someone she'd like right now. And if possible...
"......I want to keep living like this."
Jang Cheon fell silent. Many jianghu heroines lived alone—widowed, man-hating, or just eccentric. But his disciple? Complicated. He pondered it repeatedly. Some past trauma? Heartbreak from another? Should he pry? Sadly, Jang Cheon lacked talent for such matters. His martial genius overflowed, but human relations? Not so much. Even after years of marriage long ago. In the end, he gave up and asked directly.
"Who scarred your heart? That bastard."
"Pardon? Huh? What?"
"The one who made you decide this young. We can hunt him down."
"N-No! No!"
She meant it. Cheon Sohyang had never given her heart to anyone. She just hadn't wanted to think about it. She firmly believed she hadn't had time yet. Desperate to dispel his misunderstanding, she flailed her arms.
"Never happened! I swear, no one like that!"
"Alright then. Good."
What more could Jang Cheon say? It ended the topic neatly, so he simply let silence fall. Only the crackle of the campfire filled the quiet night. Soon, it was time to sleep.
...But Cheon Sohyang couldn't drift off, no matter how she tried. She stood watch with wide-open eyes through the night.
*
The next day.
"Your eyes look sunken. It's hard to sleep easy on these cliff paths."
"Yeah......"
That day marked their exit from the path. Entering the Guanzhong Basin meant Jangan was near—a smoother journey ahead. Or so they thought, until they saw the crowd by the roadside.
"What's going on?"
People rarely clustered at the end of these restricted paths, especially in busy times. They blocked the way entirely, forcing Jang Cheon to push through. What he saw made him click his tongue.
"Tch."
A grim pole loomed over the narrow pass, a decapitated corpse dangling from it—attention-grabbing, to say the least. Cliff paths had strict passage controls; everyone was inspected by officials. Drawing attention like the fake Black and White Sword Ghosts was bad enough. Jang Cheon had seen plenty of bodies and could gauge decay at a glance.
"Dead about three days. No one's cut it down?"
"Don't touch it recklessly!"
"It's jianghu business anyway. As long as it doesn't hinder the coroners, right?"
Laying it roadside would let the corpse rest easier. Striding forward, Jang Cheon lifted the pole. Then he noticed the odd marker tied to the body—a skull-like emblem on white paper, inscribed with tiny script.
"Punish one to guide a hundred, the heavenly net spares no sinner, unbound by time or space."
A bearded man yanked him back frantically from behind.
"As you see, great hero, that's the mark of the Life and Death Great Emperor. I get the compassion for the dead, but if you value your life, wait for the officials."
"Life and Death Great Emperor? Sohyang, ever heard the name?"
"Not really..."
"Some vigilante who's popped up in Jangan these past few months."
Jang Cheon eyed the man skeptically. Stammering "vigilante" didn't scream genuine hero. Mad demon fit better.
"They say he wields bizarre arts to judge life and death. Even super first-rate masters can't touch him."
"True. The Life and Death Judge brings more ill than good. Word is, he even revived the dead recently!"
Jang Cheon stifled a scoff at the claim. Reviving the dead? No martial art did that. If it existed, he'd have mastered it by any means. Without further hesitation, he removed the pole from the path amid rising murmurs. He laid the corpse roadside and prepared to leave.
Then Cheon Sohyang spoke.
"......I know him."
"You?"
"The clothes look familiar. It's the guy I chased off yesterday."
Jang Cheon looked again. Indeed, the decay made three days impossible—it was far worse.