What Did I Say?
Ji Jae-won pointed at the sky packed with dark clouds and yelled.
"Sunlight? Sunliiiight? Look! Where the hell is that?!"
"Is that so? Well, they say my face shines, so maybe that's what they meant."
Ji Jae-won nearly nodded for a split second before barely regaining his senses.
"That's nonsense!"
"Ah, come on. You won't believe anything I say. What do you want me to do?"
"Tell the truth!"
"What truth do you wanna hear?"
"Admit that you killed the escorts from our agency!"
"Got any proof?"
"Arrrgh!"
Exhausted from the endless argument, Ji Jae-won let out a scream.
What kind of guy is this?!
A disciple of a prestigious righteous sect acting like this?!
No, wait.
A chill suddenly ran down his spine.
This guy's deep—dangerously cunning!
Don't get dragged in. Pull yourself together!
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, calming his mind.
Right. Stay cool. If we keep this up, I'll win eventually.
Ji Jae-won opened his eyes, ready for his next verbal jab.
"Eek!"
Jeong Gwang was right in his face!
Startled, he reflexively thrust a palm strike at Jeong Gwang's chest.
Thud!
"Gahhh!"
Ji Jae-won clutched the hand he'd used to strike, hopping around in agony.
My haaaand!
Damn masters are on another level!
But wait a sec.
It wasn't a smack—it was a thud?
While Ji Jae-won reeled in shock, Jeong Gwang was quite satisfied.
Not bad, this Lizard Undergarment.
He was referring to the protective vest made from the scales of the Armored Dragon.
The original owner would've clutched their neck in outrage if they'd heard the name Jeong Gwang had slapped on it, but oh well.
Might as well take hits from average punks instead of dodging lazily.
To Jeong Gwang, Ji Jae-won's palm was like a kitten's paw swipe, but the Lizard Undergarment had blocked it perfectly.
Anyway.
"Arrrghhh!"
Jeong Gwang belatedly let out a scream.
With a completely pain-free expression.
As everyone stared in stunned silence, Jeong Gwang's eyes met Heo Yeo-min's.
Quick on the uptake, she played along seamlessly.
"The chief escort of Juyeon Escort Agency ambushed Jin Ok-ryong, disciple of the Great Kunlun Sect!"
Color drained from Ji Jae-won and his escorts' faces.
Incurring the wrath of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang was suicide!
Famous sayings from the nine great sects and one gang flashed through their minds.
'The Nine Great Sects and One Gang avenge across generations!'
'The Nine Great Sects and One Gang avenge until they win!'
It didn't even take generations or ages.
How many groups in the current martial world could withstand revenge from even one of them?
Hell, Jin Ok-ryong could yawn his way through dismantling Juyeon Escort Agency single-handedly.
And that's exactly what he planned to do.
"Wet nurse. Can I wipe 'em out now?"
Ji Jae-won's face went ghost-white.
"That'd be a problem, young benefactor. Even the Daoists would disapprove."
Color returned to Ji Jae-won's face.
"Ah, seriously. What now?"
His complexion flipped white to red and back...
"Young benefactor, maybe just a light joint massage would suffice?"
...until Heo Yeo-min's words turned it pitch-black.
What kind of vicious woman is this?!
In broad daylight?!
Even Jeong Gwang grumbled.
"Ugh, why's everything gotta be so complicated."
His hands, however, were straightforward.
Grab, snap, twist.
That was it.
"Gyyyaaah!"
Screams echoed across the Qinghai sky for a good long while.
*
Heo Yeo-min praised Jeong Gwang nonstop on the way out of the city toward the Baek Merchant Group base.
"To come up with such a brilliant ploy in that split second—truly impressive! Now the justification is ours!"
"Wet nurse, you're boring me. Cut it out."
"Hahaha! But it's true!"
Is child extortion really that great?
Jeong Gwang recalled his past life.
It was a trick he'd naturally picked up dealing with pushy punks as a kid.
Third-rate unorthodox stuff, but damn effective.
Turns out it works on demons, righteous, and heretics alike.
As Jeong Gwang sank into pointless enlightenment, Baek Seung-mu wrestled with utter confusion.
Ugh. Let me sort this out again.
One, his mother was the wet nurse of the famous Jin Ok-ryong.
Two, Jin Ok-ryong was handsome beyond his stellar reputation and ridiculously strong.
Three, but his methods were straight out of some black path thug playbook?
Four, and his righteousness-filled mother was praising him for it?!
I can't comprehend this!
Baek Seung-mu had every reason to feel that way.
Especially number four.
But to Heo Yeo-min, it was only natural.
Why wouldn't she praise the benefactor who'd saved her son, methods be damned?
Especially since it was Jeong Gwang!
Ending it without a single death? She was overflowing with gratitude.
The Baek Dragon Squad—who'd rushed to rescue them—met up with the group they'd linked with earlier. They returned to the Baek Merchant Group base with bold swagger.
Dragging prisoners with both arms shattered.
"What in the world happened?!"
Chaos erupted as Baek Jin-hwan and the Kunlun Daoists arrived.
After hearing the full story, they raged—and praised.
In slightly different ways.
"Those bastards attacked us?! Unforgivable! And Seung-mu! You threw yourself in to save the retainers? Outstanding!"
"Attacking the innocent Baek Merchant Group with such despicable tricks! Truly unforgivable scum! And Jeong Gwang! You used the same cowardly tactics to take them without killing a soul? Low... but outstanding!"
Either way, it had worked out.
"Thanks to the heroes' chivalry, our caravan escaped great peril. We are truly grateful."
"Amitabha. As righteous folk, it was our duty. Don't take it to heart."
After the heartwarming exchange, the Kunlun Sect requested a meeting.
They'd confirmed Baek Jin-hwan's account with merchants and locals alike. They'd decided to get actively involved.
The Baek Merchant Group side welcomed it with open arms.
"Jeong Gwang, what did that Juyeon Escort chief you captured say?"
"Said he was picking a fight with the caravan to lure us out before we could help."
"And?"
"Planned to force a surrender, grab 'compensation,' then scatter."
"Any chance that's a lie? Ah! Forgive my slip."
These were men who'd endured the hell of pulverized arm bones courtesy of Jeong Gwang.
Even his casual training sessions were torture. If they'd lied under deliberate punishment?
That wouldn't be human.
The old Daoists muttered their thoughts.
"Strike before the enemy gets reinforcements—create justification first."
"Most effective way to settle disputes in the martial world."
"But not anymore."
It now looked like Juyeon Escort's chief had ambushed a Kunlun disciple. Kunlun getting involved was inevitable.
Juyeon now faced the Baek Merchant Group and Kunlun.
"An escort agency? More like a sacrificial pawn to hit the Baek group."
Baek Jin-hwan replied bitterly to Un Hak's words.
"If so, we'd take an irrecoverable hit. Caravans to the West would stick to the old Gansu route."
"Amitabha. Pavilion Master Baek, what's your plan?"
"I'd value the Daoist's wisdom."
"Hm. No Daoists here. But this old Daoist's thoughts: strike Juyeon first?"
"...Juyeon belongs to the Ju Clan. Is that alright?"
"One question. Is the Kongtong Sect involved?"
The room grew heavy.
Baek Jin-hwan hesitated before murmuring.
"Likely."
"Amitabha..."
Un Hak closed his eyes gently.
Everyone waited silently.
Moments later, he opened them and spoke slowly.
"Before descending Kunlun, the Sect Leader said: Do not seek to raise our sect's name. Act according to righteousness in all things."
"..."
Baek Jin-hwan smiled wryly inside.
'Don't raise the name' means stay out of needless quarrels. 'Act righteously' means go with the flow, settle nicely. Yeah, makes sense.
Kunlun had lines it wouldn't cross.
And Juyeon was that line.
We'll scrape by this time, but Kongtong and Ju won't back down. What to do?
His deep worries shattered at Un Hak's next words.
"We shall follow the Sect Leader. We won't chase gains to raise our name, nor stray from righteous chivalry."
"Th-that means!"
Un Hak turned from Baek Jin-hwan to the Kunlun disciples.
"If any disagree, raise your hand."
All smiled and replied.
"Of course not."
Un Hak nodded, then faced the Baek group again.
Baek Jin-hwan, Heo Yeo-min, and Baek Seung-mu teared up, deeply moved.
Un Hak drove it home.
"We fight alongside the Baek Merchant Group to the end."
*
Baek Seung-mu recalled the words he'd repeated dozens of times.
'We shall follow the Sect Leader. We won't chase gains to raise our name, nor stray from righteous chivalry.'
Each repetition swelled his chest.
The grandeur of true heroes he'd dreamed of was captured perfectly.
Not just words—they act. Kunlun truly lives up to 'Nine Great Sects and One Gang.'
A stark contrast to Kongtong.
Baek Seung-mu was utterly smitten with Kunlun.
He wanted to join them.
But they don't take lay disciples...
He glanced around.
They'd split into shifts for vigilance against enemy ambushes.
His group: Heo Yeo-min, Jeong Gwang, Heo Jik.
Hesitating, he asked the most approachable: Jeong Gwang.
"Young benefactor. May I ask something?"
"Shoot."
"I know Kunlun doesn't accept lay disciples."
"Yeah."
"Any plans to change that policy?"
"Dunno about that stuff. Ask my granduncle."
Baek Seung-mu eyed Heo Jik.
Having overheard, his face looked pricklier than usual.
"Um... Daoist Heo. Could I ask?"
"No."
"...May I know why not?"
"That too, no."
Baek Seung-mu's shoulders slumped at the ironclad refusal.
Heo Yeo-min, who'd been listening, raised an eyebrow.
She shoved her face close to Heo Jik's and snapped.
"What the hell are you doing?!"
"Wh-what do you mean..."
"I know it's no! I know the reasons too! But do you have to say it like that? Why are you so damn prickly?!"
"I-I..."
"Ugh, forget it. Might as well vent to a wooden log. Seung-mu, don't waste words on this fake Daoist."
"Wh-when did I become a fake..."
"Shut it! Scram!"
"Gasp!"
Baek Seung-mu choked on Heo Yeo-min's tirade.
M-Mom's suddenly...? This is bad! Insulting a Kunlun heavy like Daoist Heo Jik? Storm incoming!
Against his dire prediction, Heo Jik slunk away, shoulders drooped.
Wh-what the...?
Baek Seung-mu clutched his head in confusion as Heo Jik paused mid-retreat.
A tiny voice leaked out.
"...Yeo-min. Sorry."
"I said shut it! You pulled this crap nineteen years ago at Kunlun too—what now? Don't ever talk to me again, big bro! Huh? Not leaving? Ugh, seriously—"
Heo Yeo-min drew her sword; Heo Jik vanished at light speed.
Baek Seung-mu got it.
Yeo-min-ah? Oppa?
The secret was out!
Thrilled, he asked Heo Yeo-min.
"Mom! Daoist Heo Jik is your brother—my uncle?!"
"You shut it too!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
Heo Yeo-min stormed off, grumbling.
Alone with Jeong Gwang, Baek Seung-mu couldn't hold back.
"Did you know, young benefactor?"
"Nah."
"...But you don't seem surprised?"
"Should I be?"
"No, but..."
Baek Seung-mu was awed.
Such composure!
Masters really are different!
Truth was, Jeong Gwang just didn't care about family drama.
His mind was elsewhere.
"Wanna become a Kunlun disciple?"
"Y-yes. Any way?"
"Sure."
"Wh-what?!"
Baek Seung-mu's ecstatic face twisted at Jeong Gwang's follow-up.
"Become a Daoist. Not lay disciple—true mountain disciple."
"Th-that's..."
"Why?"
"Well... Daoists can't... drink booze, eat meat, or... women..."
Pathetic, but he couldn't lie.
He was a hot-blooded man!
"That's the issue?"
Baek Seung-mu flinched.
He braced for a scolding: A warrior hung up on petty pleasures? You got a brain or not?!
But.
"What did I say."
The rising star of the martial world, Jin Ok-ryong, was different indeed.
"Just do it on the sly."