Unexpected Family Ties
"Just do it secretly—"
"Just do it secretly—"
"Just do it secretly—"
Only after the echoes finally faded from his ears could Baek Seung-mu be certain.
'This guy's not right in the head.'
The rules of a murim sect were strict.
Violations brought harsh punishments as a matter of course. For a prestigious orthodox sect like Kunlun, it was even more severe.
And yet, just do it secretly?
Just in case, Baek Seung-mu decided to test the waters with something lighter first.
"Benefactor. What happens if a Kunlun disciple gets caught drinking... no, grain tea, or eating meat?"
"For young whippersnappers like us, they turn a blind eye to meat, but grain tea? No mercy."
"What kind of punishment?"
"They lock you in the Repentance Cave for half a year."
"...Worth it?"
"My senior brother Jeong Hyeon went in once, and after that, he'd puke at the mere smell of meat or grain tea."
"...The smell alone?"
"Or maybe just looking at it?"
"..."
That was just for meat and booze.
What about women, then?
Swallowing his fear, Baek Seung-mu bravely pressed on.
"Wh-what if... you get involved with a woman? Just hypothetically. You know, just in case."
"No idea. I'm curious myself—why don't you join up and find out firsthand?"
"...I'll pass."
"Aw, come on. Join us."
"...Are you telling me to join Kunlun just so you can find out what happens if I break the lust taboo?"
"Yep."
Baek Seung-mu let out a deep sigh at the answer, delivered without a hint of hesitation.
"Huuuugh. Should've known better than to hope."
"What're you talking about?"
"I thought you were recommending I join because you saw some real potential in me. Haha."
He laughed it off, but inside, it stung.
So this was all he amounted to.
His talent fell woefully short of becoming a disciple of one of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang.
Who was he kidding, dreaming of being a great hero?
Time to snap out of it and face reality...
"You're not that useless, though."
"Really? You mean it? No lies? Benefactor, tell me quick! Do you want me in Kunlun? Why me?"
Jeong Gwang answered honestly to Baek Seung-mu's rapid-fire barrage, faster than a quicksword master's strike.
"I've been the youngest for nineteen years now."
"...And?"
"Need a junior I can boss around easily. You seem perfect."
*
It had been a very long night, but dawn broke without incident.
Un Hak stroked his goatee as he watched the sun rise.
"Hmm. Not sure if this is good or bad."
"Haha. Avoiding a fight in the dark is something to be grateful for. No needless casualties."
Un Hak shook his head at Baek Jin-hwan's consolation.
"We're the ones confident fighting at night. That's why it's a shame."
"...?"
Baek Jin-hwan couldn't know about Jeong Gwang's hellish training that ignored night or day. As he puzzled over it, Un Hak smiled and suggested,
"Let's eat first. We've prepared simple vegetarian fare fit for daoists."
"Heavens, no 'realized ones' here. But we'll gratefully partake."
The early morning meal began.
The Kunlun daoists enjoyed the surprisingly tasty food at first, but their faces gradually darkened as time passed.
It was due to the growing noise from outside and the swelling auras.
"Got careless? People are gathering."
"The whole estate's already surrounded. What now, senior brother?"
"Guests have come. We should greet them."
The Kunlun daoists and Baek Merchant Group warriors, fully armed, opened the main gate.
Owner Baek Jin-hwan strode out and bellowed in a booming voice,
"Welcome to our estate! What brings you here so early in the morn—huh?"
Not just Baek Jin-hwan—everyone's eyes widened.
Utterly unexpected people were surrounding the estate!
"Kyaaa! Jade Jade Dragon-nim!"
"Please, look this way just once!"
"Aaaah! Hurry! I'm dying here!"
Three-quarters of the black sea of people were women.
Among them fluttered flags reading Jade Jade Dragon Protection Squad.
"Heh..."
"Wh-what the hell?"
The Baek Merchant Group folk gaped, mouths hanging open, too stunned to react.
But Kunlun was different.
They snapped to attention and took control immediately.
"Amitabha! Thanks to all you faithful for coming!"
"I'll let Jeong Gwang know his devotees are here, so please stay quiet!"
"Cooperate, and you'll get more time with him!"
Like magic, the clamor died down.
And under the daoists' guidance, they even lined up in perfect order!
The Kunlun daoists had dealt with this countless times back home.
They ignored the stunned Baek folk and got to work.
Heo Cheong, grand senior brother of Heo Ja Bae, greeted one woman warmly.
"Ah! Ge'er Mu branch chief Young-hwa of the Jade Jade Dragon Protection Squad, you're here too. Long journey—must've been tough."
"Amitabha. Sorry for disturbing the daoists' purity."
"Haha, disturbance? Nonsense."
"With the Jade Jade Dragon out in the world, chaos was inevitable. I came shamelessly hoping to help maintain order. Please forgive us."
"Think nothing of it. Feels like we've gained a heavenly army. But where's your squad leader?"
"She stayed in Kunlun to aid until the Jade Jade Dragon returns. Said it's the true way to help him and repay Kunlun for raising him."
"Amitabha. Deeply grateful for your leader and everyone's hearts. Let's make today great too."
"Just doing our duty. But priest, you look even healthier coming down from the mountains."
"Oh dear, that obvious? Heh. What to do? Haha."
Heo Cheong and the Ge'er Mu branch chief weren't the only ones—laughter bloomed everywhere between Kunlun daoists and Protection Squad members.
The mood naturally warmed, and other groups began moving in orderly fashion under their control and guidance.
But cracks appeared when Jeong Gwang showed up.
"Jade Jade Dragon-nim! Ran a thousand li to see you! Just one word, please!"
"Stop it, for crying out loud! Everyone! Subdue that wench!"
"Yes!"
"Ah, nooo!"
The intruder attempting to barge in was neutralized by the Protection Squad's ironclad defense.
"Honored to meet Kunlun's realized ones! This one is Hwang Il-bi, master of Xining's top martial hall, Wa-ryong Hall! I've come today because—"
"Ah, what the hell! Mister, don't you have any manners?"
"No cutting! Get in line! Hurry!"
"Gasp! Y-yes, of course!"
Xining's notables hoping to forge ties with Kunlun wilted under the women's killing intent.
'I knew Benefactor was famous, but this much?'
Baek Jin-hwan and the Baek Merchant Group stared anew at Jeong Gwang's face.
Pushed forward by Heo Cheong, the reluctant Jeong Gwang had no choice but to step up.
"Amitabha. You've come?"
His clasped hands and words brought a earth-shaking reply.
"Yes!"
"Mm. Too many of you."
"Yes!"
Jeong Gwang inwardly shook his head at the pure, unblemished response.
'Even more are still coming.'
Crowds kept swelling.
And ominous figures approached—heavy-aura warriors numbering around a hundred.
The sharp-eyed middle-aged leader at the front scowled at the throng.
With a glance, his subordinates waved hands and bellowed,
"Make way! Urgent business!"
"Here for a showdown with the Baek Merchant Group on behalf of Zhu Manor! Sorry, but let us through first!"
"We appreciate your cooperation! Zhu Manor doesn't forget favors!"
The inner power behind the hundred warriors' shouts silenced the grounds like a graveyard.
But only briefly.
The women, briefly speechless from sheer absurdity, unleashed a barrage of shrieks.
"What the hell are these mangy mutts?!"
"Zhu Manor? Like that's some big shot title!"
"Shut your traps and get in line! Ugh, all sorts of weird old bachelors swarming Jade Jade Dragon-nim."
Killing intent rose steadily from the momentarily halted warriors.
But.
The women's was no slouch either.
"What? Gonna stare us down? Huh?!"
"Hit us! Come on, try it!"
"Oh ho. Gonna kill us all? Think that breaks our hearts guarding Jade Jade Dragon-nim?!"
As the women stood firm without an inch yielded, panic flickered in the warriors' eyes.
The middle-aged leader inwardly sighed.
'Completely outmatched.'
A rough glance showed Xining's notable farters aplenty in the crowd.
'Manageable up to here, but...'
The real issue was the women.
Many dressed in obvious finery—not from ordinary families.
Clashes with Xining elites could be settled by concessions, but not these women.
'Hurt one, and her father, brothers, husband, sons come at us with their lives. Gotta yield here.'
Having gotten approval from someone behind, the middle-aged man clasped fists and shouted,
"This one is Zhu Hwan-seol, lay disciple of Kongtong Sect! So rushed I was rude! Apologies to all you murim worthies—please forgive and let it pass!"
Zhu Hwan-seol!
Among Kongtong's myriad lay disciples, a high-renown master and Zhu Manor's heavyweight elder!
p>His fame spanned Gansu Province and neighboring lands—a true heavyweight!
But to the women, just annoying uninvited guests.
"Kongtong? Then kneel on your own!"
"Why's this guy yapping so much?"
"Enough—get in line!"
"...Understood."
Zhu Hwan-seol swallowed his rage and lined up with his men.
Meanwhile, the watching Baek Merchant Group drew sharp breaths.
'Zh-Zhu Hwan-seol? The Cold-Faced Remnant Sword, top Kongtong lay disciple?'
'Zhu Manor coming out so boldly! All elite warriors—handpicked aces!'
'Oh no. This is more ill omen than good.'
Zhu Manor was mighty, but sorely lacking against Kunlun.
Yet they marched so brazenly?
Backed by Kongtong to settle things for good!
Proving it, black-robed daoists from Kongtong lingered at the rear.
'Kongtong themselves!'
Panicking, Baek Jin-hwan sent a transmission to Un Hak.
—Realized one! It's Kongtong!
—I know.
—Didn't expect them to come out so openly! They're clearly behind this—how do we handle it?!
—First, show sincerity to these faithful who've come all this way.
—...Pardon?
Ignoring Baek Jin-hwan's blinking eyes, Un Hak spoke up.
His calm voice rang clearly in every ear.
"Amitabha. Shall we proceed as before?"
The Jade Jade Dragon Protection Squad replied in unison to his cryptic words.
"Thank you, realized one! Yes, please!"
"No 'realized one'—just a woefully lacking old man."
"Amitabha!"
"With so many faithful here, it'll take time. Not at the main sect, so we'll trouble the Baek Merchant Group—your help, please?"
"Of course, realized one! We'll do it!"
The exchange ended like a perfectly scripted opera.
Un Hak turned to dazed Baek Jin-hwan.
"Squad leader. Need lots of tents. They'll pay fairly—no skimping. Prepare them."
"...Pardon? Y-yes, got it."
Under Un Hak's command, an altar rose, modest offerings placed upon it.
By then, the Baek Merchant Group had hauled out every tent they had, pitching them across the vast yard—a spectacular sight.
'What the hell is going on?'
Even Baek Jin-hwan, who'd ordered it, was baffled.
To him approached women whose sight made one think, 'Rich folk.'
A veiled noblewoman offered a fist-sized silk pouch.
"Sorry for the trouble. Modest sincerity—please accept."
"Wh-what's this...?"
"Don't make me embarrassed. Take it."
"Th-then... Ack!"
Peeking inside, Baek Jin-hwan screamed.
"Th-this is all jewels!"
"Rushed here, so that's all I grabbed. Soon, I'll commission your firm for something useful to repay today's bother."
Baek Jin-hwan's jaw dropped.
'That's "rushed and skimpy"? What kind of woman...'
A breeze flipped her veil.
'Huh? N-no way?'
His eyes bulged.
Wasn't this a woman he'd glimpsed once before?
The words slipped out.
"...L-Lady Yeon?"
"Oh? You know me?"
"...S-seen you from afar once. Wife of... Lord Yeon, governor of Qinghai Province..."
Then, Jeong Gwang appeared like a ghost.
"Gasp! B-Benefactor!"
Ignoring Baek Jin-hwan, Jeong Gwang dropped a bombshell.
"Auntie. What brings you here?"
Baek Jin-hwan's head whipped around, nearly snapping his neck, toward Lady Yeon.
She beamed, arms wide.
"What else? Come to see my nephew."