Chapter 1
Chapter 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Baek Moo-jin
----------------------------------------------------------------
The young patriarch of the Snow Mountain Baek Family, Baek Moo-jin, was descending the mountain path, seen off by fewer than ten retainers. A hunched old man asked in a worried tone.
"Do you really have to go to the North Heaven Alliance?"
"What's wrong with the North Heaven Alliance?"
"Why not travel the wide jianghu for a bit and then come back? There's no need to go to the North Heaven Alliance specifically."
"I need to earn money."
"Patriarch, the North Heaven Alliance has changed even more from how it used to be. They may look like a righteous faction on the surface, but their actions are no different from the Black Path. They've long abandoned any pretense of chivalry."
"I'm not going there to become a chivalrous hero, so it'll be fine. I'll earn a lot of money and send it back. I need to gain some experience too. The North Heaven Alliance is close by, and it's a suitable place to build it."
"Even so, why of all places the North Heaven Alliance... I'm worried that you're heading to a place your grandfather helped out of the goodness of his heart, only to end up despising it."
"Do you think they'll even remember Grandfather? I'm not going there to fight. Besides, the North Heaven Alliance is a big organization, isn't it? I'll learn how such groups operate, gain experience from missions, and reap the benefits. If the North Heaven Alliance does evil deeds, I'll learn those too. I'm twenty-two now. I have to earn enough to support the family. What trouble could come from staying holed up in the Snow Mountains? It's not like we can rob people or anything. Don't worry so much."
Baek Moo-jin was politely explaining to Elder Won, the only remaining elder in the family, using formal speech throughout.
He had been managing the Snow Mountain Baek Family's affairs since Baek Moo-jin's grandfather's time, so to Baek Moo-jin, he wasn't just a retainer—he was an elder of the house.
The others, standing silently, shared Elder Won's sentiments. Ever since the previous patriarch and Baek Moo-jin's father, Baek Cheon-gyeong, had passed away, the retainers had essentially raised Baek Moo-jin themselves. In the meantime, the family's fortunes had steadily declined, leaving fewer than ten people at the Snow Mountain Baek Family.
But Baek Moo-jin had trained harshly in martial arts on Snow Garment Peak, climbing it back and forth even before Baek Cheon-gyeong's death. When asked why he insisted on such a treacherous place for training, Baek Moo-jin would only say it was "the patriarch's duty," refusing to elaborate.
Yet as he passed twenty, Baek Moo-jin's aura began to change day by day.
With almost no martial artists left in the family, no one knew exactly how strong the young patriarch had become. And so, the moment he turned twenty-two, Baek Moo-jin declared he would venture into the jianghu. Now, shortly after bidding farewell to the retainers, he was descending the Snow Mountains.
Baek Moo-jin spoke up.
"They call the North Heaven Alliance the jianghu within the jianghu. It's the perfect place for a greenhorn like me. I'll think about what comes next after gaining some experience. Alright, this is far enough. The path ahead is treacherous—head back now."
Baek Moo-jin turned to the retainers, their eyes glistening with tears, and urged them again.
"Go on up, quickly."
Baek Moo-jin, now fully grown, had shed all traces of youth. A single word from him as patriarch was hard to defy.
Elder Won, nodding through teary eyes, grabbed Baek Moo-jin's arms and said,
"Patriarch, you don't need to send money. Use it well for yourself. Just send letters now and then to let us know how you're doing. If we don't hear from you, we might come looking for you at the North Heaven Alliance."
The others chimed in.
"Yes, Patriarch. Please send letters often."
"Don't get hurt. Don't push yourself in the exam. Aim for just Seventh Grade. The higher you go, the harder it gets."
Baek Moo-jin smiled as he heard these familiar warnings from the retainers' mouths once more.
"My, what a bunch of worrywarts. Have faith in me. I'll scope out the exam and decide for myself."
"Patriarch!"
"Hey now! At this rate, I'll be late. If you don't head back, I'll have made this trip for nothing. The North Heaven Alliance may be close, but I still need to register..."
"Yes, please stay safe. If it gets tough, come home anytime. You've grown so well—there's no need to go elsewhere and suffer."
"I got it. I understand. Don't worry."
"Yes, we'll be waiting for good news."
As Elder Won led the others back up, glancing over their shoulders repeatedly, Baek Moo-jin waved with a smile.
"Everyone, stay healthy..."
Baek Moo-jin trailed off, unable to voice the rest.
He turned and descended the Snow Mountains.
It was the first foray into the jianghu for Baek Moo-jin, the twelfth-generation patriarch of the Snow Mountain Baek Family—a house too humble now to truly call grand.
He hadn't taken more than a few steps when he reached a path cleared of snow. Baek Moo-jin found his own footsteps strangely unfamiliar.
He had always trod upon snow until now. But it was time for Baek Moo-jin's feet to adapt to firm ground.
A cold wind from the Snow Mountains swept around his body once and passed.
2.
The North Heaven Alliance was the righteous force of the North Martial Forest, having expanded its power through ongoing conflicts with the forces of Evil Demons and Outlaws.
It faced enmity from the Orthodox sects vying for dominance and the Black Path forces that spread like stubborn weeds, not to mention the Demonic Path enduring sleepless vigilance in the shadows.
Even among fellow righteous factions, rivals abounded when it came to claiming hegemony.
Yet the North Heaven Alliance endured.
This was the era they lived in.
Survival itself defined the strong.
The massive North Heaven Gate's eastern entrance teemed with those who had come for the alliance entrance exam. It was a yearly event, drawing crowds eager to prove themselves.
With the irregular Fourth Grade exam open as well, more applicants than usual had gathered.
Among them was Baek Moo-jin, who had come from the Snow Mountains for the exam. His skin was fair, his features handsome and refined, and in his left hand, he carried a longsword fine enough to turn heads. Yet it wasn't enough to draw much attention here.
The scions of great families, chasing dreams of glory, had flooded in, claiming most of the spotlight.
Baek Moo-jin busied himself observing the crowd.
'I never dreamed so many people would show up.'
Their attire, expressions, weapons, and the senior brothers, family members they'd brought along...
It felt utterly different from the solitude he'd known training alone on Snow Garment Peak.
With each name called, applicants passed through the grand eastern gate of the North Heaven Gate.
"We'll be waiting!"
"Do your best! You'll pass! Don't tense up."
Words of encouragement overflowed. And in the bustling clusters of people, talk inevitably turned to great families, young masters, young lords, and passing the exam.
Baek Moo-jin stood alone amid the throng. He couldn't help feeling isolated—perhaps destined never to mingle with these people.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇