A Promise from Long Ago
Hebei Pang Clan, the pinnacle among prestigious families.
Born as the late-born only daughter of the clan head, Paeng Su-bin had been raised like a precious golden branch and jade leaf.
She could have grown spoiled with everyone indulging her every whim, but she was different.
Now eight years old, she was already an accomplished dao wielder.
Though her young age limited her martial prowess, her stance with the blade and burning passion for the arts were undeniable.
That was why she wasn't pleased with the current situation.
This is so noisy...
The clan's people were bustling about frantically.
Not for martial training, but for feast preparations.
The Pang Clan had produced the Murim Alliance leader for the first time in history. They were determined to throw a celebration worthy of the achievement.
Enough with these useless thoughts. I need to focus on my own training.
She cleared her mind and swung her child-sized dao.
The ferocious and lethal Five Tigers Breaking Door Blade unfolded in a surprisingly dainty and refined manner, yet it was thoroughly infused with an immense and powerful momentum.
But it didn't last long.
A puzzled light flickered in her eyes.
That's weird. What's going on?
Even as she followed the forms precisely, the blade seemed to veer off on its own.
She recalled her second brother's words, who always doted on her especially.
'If anything feels off, even a little, stop immediately.'
Paeng Su-bin sheathed her dao at once.
She trusted Paeng Gang-hwi completely.
I need to ask him.
She dashed toward Paeng Gang-hwi's quarters.
Arriving soon after, she frowned at the wide-open door.
Peering inside, she saw only a table littered with empty bowls and liquor bottles—no one in sight.
Then...
She knew exactly where Paeng Gang-hwi would be.
She headed to the private training ground behind.
And sure enough.
There lay Paeng Gang-hwi on the ground, eyes closed.
Three men sat around him, chatting. Strangers, all of them.
"...Who are you?"
At her question, a sharp-featured young man in his twenties replied curtly.
"Guests."
"...Why is my brother... Ah!"
Paeng Su-bin's eyes widened.
Paeng Gang-hwi's left eye was bruised black and blue!
"Brother!"
She rushed over, shaking him frantically.
But he didn't stir, eyes still shut.
At least his breathing was steady. A relief.
He'd just fainted.
She slowly turned, glaring at the sharp-featured young man.
"Did you do this?"
"Yeah."
"You dare ambush him?!"
"It was a fair spar."
Paeng Su-bin didn't buy it.
Her brother was the Paeryong among the Nine Dragons Eight Phoenixes!
No young punk like this could touch him.
Her absolute faith in Paeng Gang-hwi left no room for imagining his defeat.
They must have ganged up on him.
Even then, they'd taken down Paeng Gang-hwi.
The sharp young man, the dim-looking youth, and the ordinary middle-aged man suddenly loomed large.
Then...?
At her age, beating them was impossible, obviously.
But fleeing? Not a chance.
Instead, she dropped into a low stance and drew her small dao.
Shing!
She raised the blade vertically to guard her front and shouted loudly.
"Enemies have invaded!"
"..."
"Someone come quickly!"
"..."
After yelling several times with no response, she felt baffled.
Why isn't anyone coming?
The mystery solved itself.
Via the sharp young man's words.
"Quit yelling. Blocking the sound nonstop is annoying."
"...!"
Paeng Su-bin's little mouth gaped wide.
Blocking sound? With internal energy?
The young man looked barely in his twenties, at most.
Impossible at that age—what nonsense!
It's sorcery!
She stepped forward with footwork, planting herself firmly before Paeng Gang-hwi.
Channeling her energy, she exuded a fierce aura.
She'd protect her brother, no matter what!
The sharp young man asked with intrigued amusement.
"What're you doing?"
"Blocking you."
"Oho. Not scared?"
"..."
No matter how bold Paeng Su-bin was, she was still a child.
Fear flickered in her sharp eyes.
But only briefly.
The fear coalesced into resolve, firing out as razor-sharp intent.
"Don't underestimate me!"
"Never did."
The young man grinned.
"If anything, I'm impressed."
A child bristling like a hedgehog, burning with defiance...
Jeong Gwang felt great.
Yes, a martial artist needs this much spirit.
He could forgive her misunderstanding due to poor judgment at her age.
But any warrior, regardless of age, needed this fire.
A small laugh escaped him.
"Haha. This is why I like the Hebei Pang Clan."
"...What do you mean?"
Jeong Gwang had meant to say she drew her blade at the drop of a hat, but softened it.
"You don't just preach valor—you live it."
The girl clasped her hands to bow, then hesitated.
"...Thank you for the praise."
"Hahaha."
Jeong Gwang laughed heartily.
Hiding behind her blade while thanking him verbally.
Yet stoking her aura even more.
Far better than her careless brother, who'd let his guard down.
Good. Very good.
Talent and manners too.
Manners weren't crucial, but they didn't hurt.
Jeong Gwang grew a bit curious about the girl.
"What's your name?"
"...Paeng Su-bin. And you?"
"Me...?"
About to give his dao title, Jeong Gwang paused.
He was hiding his identity in case Sima Lian stirred trouble here.
Did that make him seem more suspicious?
Paeng Su-bin snapped sharply.
"Not even giving your name? Aren't you ashamed of your clan?!"
"I'm an orphan."
"...I apologize. No offense intended."
Still aiming her dao while apologizing.
"Hahaha."
Amused, Jeong Gwang pondered a usable alias.
What to go with?
He'd been called Jeong Gwang since infancy.
Nothing came to mind.
Eventually, he settled on...
His name from his past life.
No big deal.
He'd been known more as the True Heavenly Demon anyway—few knew his real name.
And after so long, even fewer now.
A long-forgotten name slipped from Jeong Gwang's lips.
"Hyeok Ryeon-hu. That's me."
"...Hyeok Ryeon-hu..."
Murmuring the name, Paeng Su-bin gripped her dao tighter.
"Sorry for my ignorance—I don't know it."
"No worries."
"Not backing down?"
"Nope."
Jeong Gwang's calm reply hardened her gaze.
Her courtesy so far had been because he'd spoken politely first—now her aura thickened fiercely.
"Then come at me!"
"Sure."
Jeong Gwang nodded contentedly, clenching his fist.
I'll go easy on her.
A crack echoed from his knuckles, making Baek Seung-mu yelp in horror.
"Sajae! She's just a kid!"
Huh?
So what?
In his past life as True Heavenly Demon, plenty of kids had come at him.
Smiling innocently before stabbing with a hidden dagger, or feigning tears to splash poison—common tricks.
Jeong Gwang never forgave them.
Going easy now was already merciful...
...Wait. That was my past life.
Living long in Kunlun had softened him.
And this girl hadn't ambushed anyone.
Forgot—no kids have attacked me in this life.
Jeong Gwang relaxed his fist; Baek Seung-mu sighed in relief.
"Sajae. Good call."
"Whew. That's what I thought."
Jeong Gwang patted Baek Seung-mu's shoulder, then chided Paeng Su-bin.
"Put the blade away. You'll hurt yourself."
"...Once you leave our grounds."
"Whoa. Tough cookie."
Studying Paeng Su-bin, Jeong Gwang nodded.
"Solid frame, decent energy for your age..."
"...How can you tell just by looking?"
"'Cause it's me."
Paeng Su-bin was dumbfounded.
"...You're utterly mad."
"Am I?"
Tilting his head, Jeong Gwang asked Baek Seung-mu.
"Think so too, Sajae?"
"Well, you're always like that..."
"Jao?"
"Mad? Obviously not. The capable naturally..."
"Stop. Later."
Cutting off Jin Chung (Jao, Gak-eung), Jeong Gwang beckoned Paeng Su-bin with a finger.
"Show me. Come on."
"...Such rudeness!"
"Basic stance."
"...You expect me to believe that?"
"Hmm. Guess I'll come to you."
Jeong Gwang thrust his fist.
Chilling killing intent laced it.
Paeng Su-bin instinctively shut her eyes.
But.
Can't be scared!
She snapped them open and slashed down.
Aim: bisect his fist.
Ting!
Her face twisted.
Her full-power strike—deflected by a flick!
Impossible!
Even more shocking...
"Oho. Blade's trying to veer again. Better fix it before it worsens."
"...!"
He'd pinpointed her exact issue.
After just one exchange—how?
No time to gape.
His finger jabbed at her forehead.
She gritted her teeth.
Not done yet!
She dropped the dao boldly.
Formed a fist with her free hand to chop his finger.
But his finger twisted oddly, aiming anew for her brow.
Life-or-death moment!
She ducked, headbutting his chest.
Then, an incomprehensible voice in her ear.
"Haha. So cute."
...What?
That doubt was her last thought.
Snap!
Like her brother, she blacked out.
One fainted, another woke—as if scripted.
Paeng Gang-hwi opened his eyes.
"Ugh. Beat again like this."
Shaking his head vigorously, he spotted Paeng Su-bin beside him and jolted.
"Su-bin!"
"Leave her."
"Ah!"
Turning, he saw Jeong Gwang.
"What happened?"
"She charged; I obliged."
"Gasp! No way!"
Paeng Gang-hwi paled; Jeong Gwang sighed in exasperation.
"What do you take me for? Just flicked her forehead."
Checking frantically, it was true.
A small lump bulged on Paeng Su-bin's brow.
"Phew. Thank goodness. My thanks."
Anyone else might've raged, "You did this to my cute sister?!" But not Paeng Gang-hwi.
Why?
It was Jeong Gwang.
Considering his control, this was a gentle pat.
As Paeng Gang-hwi moved to wake her, Jeong Gwang asked.
"So, when do I get it?"
"Hm? Get what?"
Jeong Gwang was baffled.
What?
WHY did I come all this way?
Could someone be this dense?
Jeong Gwang jogged his memory.
"You begged me to visit the Pang Clan. Promised a gift."
"Ah!"
"Ah?"
"Of course I remember. Just caught me off guard."
Grinning sheepishly, Paeng Gang-hwi scooped up Paeng Su-bin and stood.
"To my room. It's there."
Jeong Gwang followed, anticipation building.
Paeng Gang-hwi opened a large chest and pulled it out.
Jeong Gwang blinked in disbelief.
"Why the face?"
"...That's it?"
"Yes."
Paeng Gang-hwi proudly caressed the sword in hand.
Then murmured nostalgically, laced with old memories.
"Long ago, after parting from you at Kunlun, I pondered what to give. Settled on a sword. Kunlun means swords, after all."
"..."
"Haha. Cost a fortune, too. Heave-ho."
Shing—
Drawing it, a chill seeped out.
"Well? Masterpiece from Iron Blood Manor's famed smith. Your sword looks fine, but can't match this."
"Mine's by the manor lord."
"Haha. Surprised? Take a look... Wait, what?"
"That's off-the-shelf. Mine's custom."
"...Nonsense!"
Jeong Gwang sighed, drawing Yunryong.
It emerged silently, exuding frost-like aura in waves.
"Gasp! Th-that!"
"Told you—the lord made it."
Paeng Gang-hwi protested pitifully amid shock.
"B-but mine has a full tael of Hyeon-cheol!"
"Sajae's has two. Sajae, show yours."
"Yes, Sahyung."
Shiiiing—
Heuk-u gleamed with subtle black sheen.
Paeng Gang-hwi's face crumpled.
Baek Seung-mu explained calmly, with effort.
"My companion, Heuk-u. Custom-made, too."
"..."
"By Iron Blood Manor's. Lord. Himself."
"...!"
And it didn't end there.
Jeong Gwang added.
"Mine's all Hyeon-cheol."
"...All?"
"Yep. Every last tael of twenty-one and a half."
"Keurgh!"
Paeng Gang-hwi groaned as if vomiting blood, face twisted in agony.
Jeong Gwang shook his head, muttering.
"Shouldn't have come. For real. Maybe I should just go."
"...!"
Paeng Gang-hwi's expression slowly hardened.
Stubborn resolve burned in his eyes.