The Owner of Those Clear and Pure Eyes
No matter how far they traveled, it was all the same.
The sandy horizon stretched on endlessly.
Baek Jin-hwan let out a quiet sigh to himself.
'What a rotten business this is.'
Apparently, he wasn't the only one feeling that way.
His wife, Heo Yeo-min, who was riding alongside him, tossed out a quip.
"I never thought walking through a desert could make you seasick."
"Oh dear. Shall I pat your back?"
"You've already seen me puke how many times now?"
"Haha. If you're cracking jokes, you must still have some energy left."
"Hey! I'm serious."
Baek Jin-hwan startled and quickly checked on her condition, but Heo Yeo-min let out a soft chuckle.
"Haha. Just kidding, kidding."
"Phew. You scared me. You really okay?"
"Of course. Actually, it's kinda nice."
"Huh? This desert?"
At Baek Jin-hwan's bewildered question, Heo Yeo-min's eyes curved into playful crescents.
"I mean traveling with you."
"You…"
Baek Jin-hwan trailed off, gazing at his wife.
With only their eyes uncovered against the sandstorm, he could still picture the smile she wore.
And that made his heart ache all the more.
"I'm sorry. I can't give you the luxurious life you deserve, and now I've dragged you out to a place like this."
"What are you saying? I insisted on coming along."
"Heh. 'Insisted'? Everyone knows your martial prowess is on par with mine—you're a huge help."
"Hmm. Why are you buttering me up like this? Did you do something wrong?"
"I'm just sorry I haven't treated you better."
Heo Yeo-min frowned at his repeated self-recrimination.
And then—
Paang!
"Gahk!"
She slammed her palm into her husband's back.
"Why do you keep ruining the mood? It's been ages since we traveled together—I'm in a good mood here."
"Tr-travel?"
"Say something sweet in moments like this. You do it fine at home—why clam up out here?"
Baek Jin-hwan's eyes trembled.
Calling their nearly year-long journey a "trip" made him so grateful to his wife.
He steadied his heart.
"Right, it's a trip. I must've forgotten for a moment."
Her eyes curved into crescents again.
"There you go—back to the real you."
The two halted their camels and exchanged gentle smiles.
Then they clasped each other's hands tightly.
The subordinates trailing behind had no choice but to stop as well.
Instead of whistling and teasing, they grumbled irritably.
"Come on, let's get moving!"
"This is ridiculous. Unmarried folks like us can't catch a break."
"Can't you see our morale tanking right now?"
Unlike the sheepish Baek Jin-hwan, Heo Yeo-min whipped her head around and glared at them.
"What was that?"
The burly men shrank back, shoulders hunching.
As she kept staring them down, a few mustered the courage to reply haltingly.
"Ahem. Not far now, so take your time."
"Thanks to you two, I've resolved to get married for sure."
"Raaargh! Suddenly feeling pumped!"
Heo Yeo-min stifled a laugh and turned back to Baek Jin-hwan.
"That's what they say."
"Hahaha. I heard."
"So, no more of that talk from you. Actually, I want to do trips like this more often."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Sure you will. This is only our second one."
"…You mean the first was that trip to Kunlun seventeen years ago?"
"Oh? What else could it be?"
Baek Jin-hwan smiled bitterly beneath his face cloth.
Memories of that time flooded back.
The visit to Kunlun, seeking their protection as a patron for his merchant group.
'What a pointless ordeal.'
His wife had come along, barely recovered from giving birth to their second child.
The grueling path from Xining to Kunlun Mountain.
Naturally, he'd opposed it at first.
'No way. How can you go in that condition?'
'I know my own body. And I miss my brother.'
How could he argue against wanting to see her brother, who'd become a Taoist long ago?
Still, he'd tried to dissuade her.
'If I go in person, maybe my brother can sway Kunlun a bit.'
The rapidly growing Baek Merchant Group needed backing.
He'd said nothing and just hugged her tight.
Then they'd set off for Kunlun.
But they'd been flatly rejected.
By her own brother, whom he'd trusted.
'Protect your merchant group? Sorry, but we're a Taoist sect—we don't meddle in Jianghu squabbles.'
'Brother-in-law, what kind of talk is that? Even fellow Taoists like the Kongtong Sect raise lay disciples and manage businesses.'
'Baek Group Leader. It's been over a century since we took lay disciples. Don't you know why?'
'I do. Back when the Heavenly Demon Cult first invaded on that demon's orders, Kunlun's lay disciples rushed to aid the sect and met tragedy.'
'Exactly. They were slaughtered by cultists before even reaching the mountain.'
'But that's ancient history. With the True Heavenly Demon dead, the cult's in internal chaos—they can't do anything…'
'Ancient history? Who knows when the seeds of evil he sowed will sprout again? If they rampage once more, it'll repeat. We must prepare. No time for petty affairs—understand?'
Her brother was as stubborn as he looked.
Talking to a wooden log would've been more pleasant.
'Brother! Why are you even more pigheaded than before? Look me in the eye and say it! Come on!'
His furious wife had joined in, but even pale-faced, he wouldn't budge.
'…N-no means no!'
They'd stayed a few more days to persuade him, but no dice. Instead, she'd ended up nursing their infant like some nursemaid.
A total waste of time, in short.
But looking back, it had been a blessing.
Unlike merchant groups hiding under giant sects' shadows, they'd gritted their teeth and built their power alone.
Eventually, the Baek Merchant Group had even opened a trade route to the Western Regions.
Not the bandit-plagued Tianshan North or South Roads, rife with tolls, but the long-forgotten Southern Silk Road.
'It was tough.'
A route piercing the desert.
The Taklamakan Desert—meaning "the place of no return" in the Uyghur tongue—teemed with dozens of clans, defying its name thanks to rare oases.
Baek Jin-hwan had aimed to traverse those to link the Western Regions and Central Plains.
Using ancient records and local lore, he'd retraced the path.
And revived the Southern Silk Road.
'Stories of man-eating monsters leaving no bones… but just legends. None in seventy years.'
This path was safer than any other.
'Passing Hotan, Yutian, Niya—Yechen is just ahead. First caravan success means smoother sailing. Now…'
With his innate smarts, their eldest—already in office—would get support.
Their second, sword in hand dreaming of heroism, could enter Shaolin or Wudang as a lay disciple with generous donations.
And above all, he could pamper his wife.
"Oh? You're daydreaming something silly again, aren't you?"
"…Hm? What do you mean?"
"Your eye crinkles give it away. Spill it. What?"
"Hahaha!"
"No laughing—tell me."
They bickered affectionately once more.
The subordinates' faces twisted, naturally.
Then—
"Huh!"
"Ah!"
Baek Jin-hwan and Heo Yeo-min whipped their heads around in unison.
Without missing a beat, they shouted the same words.
"Battle stations!"
The men reflexively drew weapons and followed the couple's gaze.
Their expressions soured.
A massive dust cloud billowed in the distance.
"Damn it! No way!"
"Please! Please no!"
Unfortunately, it was.
Camels thundering toward them shook the earth.
Astride them rode men gripping massive crescent blades.
"Blood Sand Wind!"
"Shit! Why are those Tianshan North-South Road bandits here?!"
Baek Jin-hwan calmed the panicking men.
"Quiet! Circle the wagons—put loaded camels in the center!"
Heo Yeo-min followed up.
"Assemble your bamboo spears! Hold position—don't advance!"
They obeyed instantly.
Forming a circle, they linked bamboo segments into ten-foot spears, planting butts in sand and aiming tips outward.
Hands shook with fear, but none fled.
The couple's command was absolute.
No escaping Blood Sand Wind in the open desert anyway.
The bandits charged without slackening.
Kwajik!
"Kwaaak!"
A bandit's camel and rider impaled together on a spear, screaming.
Seogeok—
A Baek guard's head flew from a crescent blade.
Screams rent the air; blood soaked the sand.
The Baek group resisted fiercely.
But Blood Sand Wind were seasoned hunters.
Unlike their initial rush, they tightened slowly now.
And spotted the leaders.
"Hmm."
The bandit vice-leader, who'd observed, pointed his blade at the pair.
"The sword guy and the saber wielder."
"Yes, sir!"
Bandits swarmed Baek Jin-hwan and Heo Yeo-min.
Multiple blades slashed down at once.
Kkang!
"Kuh!"
Kkaang!
"Aak!"
The couple fought valiantly, but wounds mounted.
Baek guards could barely save themselves, let alone help.
Soon Heo Yeo-min's face cloth tore, slicing her cheek.
"Aaak!"
"Darling!"
Baek Jin-hwan turned in alarm. Luckily just the cloth— but his distraction earned a shoulder slash.
"Krrk! You bastards!"
Enraged, he unleashed his family's secret art: White Flower Eighteen Swords.
"Kuh!"
"This punk!"
"Eok! My arm!"
Three wounded, but that was it.
Furious bandits pressed him.
And taunted the now barefaced Heo Yeo-min.
"Oho. Not a guy—a woman. Bit aged, but passable."
"Haha. Take her alive?"
"Yeah. Tonight we'll sample… Guk!"
A thrown saber embedded in the lecher's face.
Heo Yeo-min's doing.
"Y-you bitch!"
"What? Want one too?"
She sneered, grabbing another saber from her back.
"Come on. Hurry up. Oh, scared?"
"…Kill her!"
Four crescent blades bore down.
She parried frantically till her qi ran dry.
'Is this the end?'
Her husband, who'd cherished only her, was bloodied too.
She thought of their eldest—topping imperial exams yet scorned for humble roots.
Their second, swinging a sword even now, chasing grand hero dreams.
'If we survive, I'd love a family meal together.'
Terror gripped her.
Not of looming death, but never seeing them again.
'Please… take your time coming…'
Eyes wide, she faced the incoming blades.
Then—
"Hup."
A strange grunt, and dazzling light rays exploded.
"Ugh."
Eyes dazzled shut then open—someone stood before her.
"Ah!"
A raggedly dressed man, sand-blasted.
"Long time no see. What're you doing here?"
"…Pardon?"
"Huh? Why so formal?"
"Wh-who…?"
"Oh, right."
He removed his face cloth.
A stunningly beautiful face emerged.
A boy—no, young man—she'd never seen.
"Recognize me now?"
"…Wh-who on earth…?"
The youth looked exasperated.
"Wow. You haven't aged much, but you forgot me?"
"A-aged?"
"At least you aged gracefully. Unlike Sister Chunyang—she's withered away."
"What are you…"
Flustered, she glanced around—and gasped.
Bandit corpses lay in a semicircle around her, neatly diced.
"H-how! Impossible!"
"Sliced 'em with my sword."
"Th-that light earlier—sword gleam?"
"Yep."
"…Haha. Ahahaha."
She wasn't the only one stunned.
All eyes locked on the sword at the youth's side.
'What the hell!'
'Didn't even see him draw, let alone sheathe!'
Sensing the men's unrest, the vice-leader gnashed his teeth.
'Sorcery! No matter how potent, numbers prevail. Rally the morale!'
Composing himself, he bellowed with inner power.
"Who the hell are you! Do you know who we are?!"
"Who're you?"
"Blood Sand Wind! Now that you know, back off—"
"Oh. The petty thieves?"
Calling the infamous Taklamakan scourge "petty thieves"?
Mouths agape, the youth grumbled.
"What, so many? Don't they manage headcounts anymore?"
The vice-leader's eyes bulged.
'Headcount? Could he be from the cult…?'
The youth clicked his tongue, then turned to Heo Yeo-min.
"Nursemaid. What now?"
"N-nursemaid? Me?"
"Yeah. You nursed me."
Heo Yeo-min reeled; Baek Jin-hwan fumed.
"N-nursed? M-me?"
"Hey! Even as a benefactor, how dare you mock another man's wife!"
"Oh. Uncle, long time no see."
"…U-uncle? You know me?"
"Argh, people's memories."
The youth sighed.
"Sigh. We met at Kunlun."
Racking their brains, the couple simultaneously recalled one face.
"Ah!"
The tiny, adorable baby Taoist.
Whom they'd nursed at the Taoists' request.
Those clear, pure eyes staring fixedly, as if never to forget their faces.
The owner of those eyes stood before them.
If memory served, his name was…
"…Jeong Gwang?"
The youth, Jeong Gwang, nodded.
"Finally remembered. Anyway, I'm kinda busy right now."
He flashed a grin, asking permission.
"Mind if I just kill 'em all?"