My Friend Called Cheonma - Chapter 25
Rubbing his aching head for a while, Yeon Sa-gu pouted.
"When did you figure it out?"
"When was it... Ah! When Ha Hu-jin almost got taken out by that assassin."
"...That's been a while."
"You held out on that rooftop longer than I expected. You've got more patience than you look."
Yeon Sa-gu's eyes widened slightly.
"More than I look? You been digging into my ass or what?"
"Like hell! A guy who just bounces between the branch, the tavern, and home—what's there to dig? A few days of checking, and nada."
"Even my house?"
"Told you I know about your bad sleeping habits."
"...Guess you don't need me to explain myself."
"So why'd you come down?"
"Curious."
Mu Yun flashed a grin.
"You've been investigating all this time, and got nothing? That's why you're here."
"Yeah, so who the hell are you?"
"Spill what you've dug up first. I'm curious."
Yeon Sa-gu's eyes gleamed. No missing even the tiniest twitch in his expression.
"Couple suspects, but the top one's Mu Yun from Nae-yang!"
"Who's that?"
"You don't know Cheon Ga-jang in Nae-yang?"
"Wanna get hit again? Spill it quick."
Yeon Sa-gu scowled in annoyance. Not a flicker in the guy's eyes.
Did I read him wrong? He'd sensed in the fight earlier this wasn't some demonic cultivator. He'd clashed with a few who practiced demonic arts before—no trace of that here.
"Cheon Ga-jang's patriarch's been quietly hunting for his missing son. The guy's build and movements match yours. He's on the run for practicing demonic arts."
Mu Yun's chest suddenly tightened.
Still...
Nearly four years had passed, yet his father was still risking it all...
But now wasn't the time to show it. Keeping his indifferent face, he feigned mild surprise.
"Demonic arts? Demon cults around here too?"
"Maybe up north in Honam, but down here? Nah, never seen one since I arrived."
Mu Yun let out an obvious chuckle.
"This guy's dumber than he looks. Do I scream demon to you?"
"He might not be a demon. Back then, he was a clueless punk—could be disguised now. That's why I pegged you."
Mu Yun waved it off. More questions would just fuel suspicion.
"Enough bullshit. So what do I do with you? Stealing someone's martial arts—what's the penalty for that?"
"Aw, come on! Why you gotta be like this? You know damn well. I was asleep."
"Dunno about that."
"Hey! Wasn't gonna say this, but you looked me up. Then you know who my old man is..."
Yeon Sa-gu cut himself off, clawing at his hair.
"...?"
Scowling in frustration, Yeon Sa-gu exploded.
"Goddamn it! How do I keep whoring out my dad's name like this... Fuck! Am I really this fucking stupid? Ha! Bullshit!"
"Make it make sense..."
Yeon Sa-gu bellowed at the sky.
"Hey! I'm in a shit mood right now! Talk later!"
"..."
That one line flipped the whole dynamic. Mu Yun couldn't help a smirk.
This guy's a riot, alright.
His glare looked murderous on the surface. But dead serious for a totally different reason. What composure.
A moment later, Mu Yun asked out of genuine curiosity.
"You really think I won't kill you?"
A playful grin twisted Yeon Sa-gu's lips.
"You wouldn't waste breath on someone you're killing. You'd have done it earlier."
"...You did your homework."
Yeon Sa-gu's eyes lit up.
"Oh yeah! Snagged some real intel worth your ransom."
Even as Hao Mun's young master, he had something prepared to prove his value.
"What?"
"You'll know when I tell you. Then we pretend it never happened."
"Let's hear it."
"Hey! No more pointless bickering. I stumbled on this while tailing you—branch doesn't even know. Trust me on this."
"Can't trust your own uncle, but I should trust you?"
"There's reasons! I fucked up some Seomun family punks in Jangsa, so Dad had to grovel to their patriarch and ship me here. Gotta lay low."
"Till when?"
"Super peak at least, right?"
"That's gonna take forever."
"You bastard! Yeah, gotta survive like this till then."
"Got it. Spill."
Yeon Sa-gu's eyes sharpened.
"Chimdo-bang's deputy leader? Might be Ju Son-hak."
"Who's that?"
"Fuck! You don't know Ju Son-hak? What do you know?"
"Just talk."
"Twenty-five years ago, the Gongya Lodge master in Jangsa got murdered. Culprit was his sworn brother Ju Son-hak—word is he picked up demonic arts. Blew his cover and bolted."
Mu Yun's eyes nearly bulged.
That guy's a demon?
The guy from Chimdo-bang a few months back, radiating super peak-level energy.
"For sure?"
"Pretty much. Seomun family was still digging when I was in Jangsa. Got the details."
A question popped up immediately.
"Then just tip off Ha Hu Sega—easy."
"And if wrong?"
"You said sure."
"Hey! High odds, yeah? If I'm wrong, I'm fucked. It's just intel—use your head."
Mu Yun let out a hollow laugh. Suppressed the urge to smack him again. Questions first.
"How sure?"
"My gut says solid."
"Your gut makes me Mu Yun too?"
"..."
Pretty much everything was out now. For the silver mine and market ops ahead, Yeon Sa-gu and Hao Mun would be useful. Tying them in cuts headaches.
"Got it. Get lost. Use the front door from now on."
Yeon Sa-gu had to ask.
"Ask who you are, and I'm the idiot?"
"Figure it out. You'll see me around."
"Ugh! Fuck! I'll find out. Count on it!"
"Work hard."
After the grumbling Yeon Sa-gu left, Mu Yun's gaze deepened.
A demon!
He'd resolved to forget the past, but demons tied back to him. Hadn't encountered any yet—planned to after Chim-ju wrapped up. Unexpected twist.
First things first.
The loan shark foreman gig involved Chimdo-bang members too—might need rethinking. Couldn't ignore Yeon Sa-gu pegging him as Mu Yun.
Priority: consult Gong Ya-seong on pushing forward.
A short while later, Yeogwak Merchant Alliance meeting room.
"...Who'd you say?"
Gong Ya-seong's fiercely trembling eyes betrayed his inner turmoil. His lips quivered with shock.
Mu Yun, puzzled, repeated clearly.
"Ju Son-hak. Old case—killed the Gongya Lodge master in Jangsa and fled as a demon."
"...!"
A long silence filled the room. Mu Yun knew it wasn't time to speak. Only Gong Ya-seong's heavy breaths signaled his tangled emotions.
Something's up.
Four months with Gong Ya-seong—not ages, but enough to align visions, share thoughts. Age aside, a few days made them confidants, personal histories excepted.
For this man to be so dazed, Mu Yun could only watch with trusting silence. Like with old friends.
Finally, trembling words escaped Gong Ya-seong's lips.
"Can we trust that Hao Mun kid?"
"Not the type to bullshit. He'd only say if somewhat sure."
"Can't dig more?"
"From him? Could, but not smart."
"Leak worries?"
"He's solo now—more probing, branch knows. Whatever this is, can't let that happen."
"Hoo! Other ways?"
"Want me to check?"
"He's super peak, right?"
"Not close-up, but from range? Fine."
Gong Ya-seong knew Mu Yun hid his true strength.
"Then, within safe limits—please."
"What to scout?"
"Looks, routines, meet privately? That stuff."
Then it hit Mu Yun—added what might help.
"Oh! Seomun family tangled with Chimdo-bang too."
Gong Ya-seong's eyes snapped wide.
"Seomun? Why them?"
"Moved Ha Hu Sega to corner Chimdo-bang—failed. Don't know why. Ha Hu Sega clueless too."
If Seomun's involved, no need to drag in.
"Gotta meet him."
"You?"
"Yeah, now."
"Can ask what?"
"If he's Ju Son-hak, I'll tell."
"No guarantee from one meet. Let me scout first..."
"I'll know on sight."
"...You?"
"Just set a quiet meet."
Mu Yun paused, had to ask.
"One thing: enemy? Vendetta?"
"If it's him, no fight."
"Even a demon?"
Gong Ya-seong met his eyes with conviction.
"Ju Son-hak's no demon."
"...?"
Two days later, Yeonhwa Temple on Mang-san.
Descending the temple steps slowly, the man's eyes sharpened. His veiled gaze fixed on the woods.
"Business with me?"
Leaves rustled. Mu Yun emerged, bowing lightly.
"Came quietly, as hoped."
Ju Son-hak's eyes flashed sharp.
Cheong-ho Bang leader! Why him?
Heard he'd been discussing branch and market ops with their leader. Good for members and folks alike.
But good men don't come uninvited—nor the uninvited good.
"Cover for our leader's deal?"
"No. If today's talk's fine, we proceed."
"Talk? With me, who knows zilch about branch?"
"Not about that."
Ju Son-hak eyed another emerging from the woods, veiled.
"Business with him, not you?"
"Yes."
Curiosity filled Ju Son-hak's gaze. The non-martial footsteps trembled visibly.
Who?
Gong Ya-seong bowed slowly.
"Sorry to intrude."
"Why see me?"
"Questions."
"...What?"
Gong Ya-seong let his surging excitement ride his breath. The build matched Father's tales.
"Ever climbed Sa-haeng Mountain long ago?"
Ju Son-hak couldn't hide the killing intent bursting in his eyes. Sa-haeng Mountain—that sealed it. No mercy now. But questions first.
"Who're you?"
Convinced, Gong Ya-seong unveiled.
"Don't remember me, but Father spoke of it."
Ju Son-hak's wide eyes quivered.
No way!
Moonlit contours left no doubt. Heart pounded with thrill and excitement.
"Father's courtesy name?"
"Ji Ja Myeong Ja. Grandpa named him for a bright world."
"...!"
Gong Ya-seong drew a hidden dagger from his robes, offered it. Lips trembled.
"Youngest uncle gifted it to you, he said. Last thing he gave—said he couldn't protect anymore, just survive somehow..."
Ju Son-hak's chest swelled; breaths came ragged. Dagger and words erased doubt.
"Hoo... Your brother?"
"Passed five years ago. Peacefully."
"...I see."
Gong Ya-seong kowtowed to the earth, voice quaking.
"Nephew Gong Ya-seong greets Uncle."
Ju Son-hak's hand trembled toward the nephew's back and shoulders. Twenty years gone. Stroking the once-small back again.
Chest churning, tears welled.
"You lived. That's enough."
"..."
As their stifled sobs blended with rustling leaves, Mu Yun gathered inner energy and stepped quietly into the woods. Time to leave them be.