My Friend Called Cheonma
"What, you getting cold feet about heading down?"
Yeon Sa-gu prodded when Mu Yun showed no sign of moving for a while.
Mu Yun let out a wry chuckle.
"Would that make it easier for you?"
"Nothing's getting resolved up here."
"...I know."
"Let's go down. That's the only way it'll sort itself out."
Still, Mu Yun's figure didn't budge for some time. Yeon Sa-gu's eyes grew distant.
A journey to meet family after seven long years.
'Won't be easy to tear himself away.'
Normally, he'd snap back right away, but now was a time to wait.
A moment later, something occurred to Yeon Sa-gu.
'Must be stifling. Maybe I should help him vent a bit?'
He'd tagged along as a friend, after all—what was the point of just sitting there? Plus, there were still plenty of things he was curious about.
But he couldn't just poke and prod from the start this time. It was a wound that had festered for years.
'Start light, ease into it.'
Yeon Sa-gu broached the subject casually, flashing a bright, carefree grin—the kind that didn't seem too serious.
"Hey! Even I gotta say, it's seriously impressive! Heh heh!"
"...What is?"
"I really busted my ass this time. My old man would flip if he knew."
"So?"
"Investigating Nae-yang. Bet I know more about it than you now."
"What's gotten into you? Working that hard."
Yeon Sa-gu didn't hide his intentions.
"Heh heh! If it was just some job, nah."
"Then what?"
"What else? How else am I gonna get one over on you? Can't touch you in Chim-ju business, and martial arts? Forget it. Only weak spot's Nae-yang."
A snort escaped Mu Yun despite himself. Classic Yeon Sa-gu.
"So? Find anything good?"
The warm-up was over. Time for lighter questions.
"But why does your father stick only to the paper business? Everyone else dabbles in all sorts."
Nae-yang had three major industries besides grains: Sang-cha (the local Hunan tea specialty), herbs, and paper. And three prominent families fitting for a small city, blends of merchant houses and martial clans. They divvied up the businesses amicably, one each, with side gigs in the others.
But Cheon Ga-jang, Mu Yun's family, made only paper. Even their fields were all leased to tenant farmers.
Mu Yun's chest tightened at the thought of his father, Cheon Jung-seo. He calmed himself and spoke evenly.
"You know who invented paper?"
Yeon Sa-gu raised his voice in mock outrage.
"You take me for an idiot? Cai Lun! He's from Nae-yang. Think I'd miss that after all my digging?"
"And the abundance of paper mulberry trees here?"
"Duh. That's why they make top-quality paper. Cheon Ga-jang's the biggest."
Now for the real answer.
"Father reveres Master Cai Lun. Believes nothing in the world holds more value than paper. Never looked elsewhere."
"Ah, makes sense. It's his calling."
"Yeah. Always told me stories about Cai Lun's merits. Said to become a man like that."
Yeon Sa-gu caught on. Mu Yun's bitter expression said it all.
Time to edge toward the heart of it.
"As a kid, that kinda talk must've grated. You tuned it out with snarky comebacks?"
"Sharp as ever!"
"What'd you say?"
"Cai Lun was a eunuch who cozied up to Empress Dong, the top power back then."
"Huh? Didn't know that. And?"
"Ended up disgraced, forced to drink poison."
A hollow laugh burst from Yeon Sa-gu. He knew well how Mu Yun had clashed with his father.
"You lunatic! He was just trying to set you straight, and you throw poison in his face?"
"When a guy dreaming of the martial world keeps hearing crap he hates, that's the best comeback in a fit."
"Pathetic! Should've hashed it out properly with him."
"I did."
"And?"
"You looked into my little brother Mu-jin too?"
"Yup. You left a good one behind. Word's all over. Handles business like a pro, solid martial artist around here. Nothing lacking."
"What do you figure a worthless big bro does with a star like that?"
"Worthless? ...Still not on your level."
"Not back then. Before I met my master."
"Ah! So... jealousy and envy?"
"Yeah. But I'd always been better at martial arts since we were kids."
Yeon Sa-gu pieced it together.
"Hand the family business to your bro and go the warrior route?"
"That's right."
"Should've convinced your dad properly."
"He wouldn't budge. Absolutely not."
"...Why?"
A fleeting wistfulness crossed Mu Yun's eyes.
"Father knew from early on. My brother was better at martial arts."
Yeon Sa-gu's eyes widened.
"...He hid it? For your sake?"
"I was seventeen when I found out. Holed up in the gisaeng house after. Hated seeing his face."
"...!"
Even Yeon Sa-gu held back this time. But only briefly.
"Perfect for a screw-up big bro."
"Nothing else fit."
"That's why you went full delinquent for three years?"
"Yeah."
"And the girl your bro was seeing—you made a huge fuss over her on purpose?"
One woman sprang to mind. Daughter of the Ham family head, one of the three clans.
'Ham Eun-jin.'
Mu Yun tilted his head. Echoes of the old Mu Yun's feelings.
"Not sure on that. Thought I really liked her back then, but after leaving? Barely crossed my mind. Still doesn't."
Yeon Sa-gu scoffed instantly. Obvious from the current Mu Yun.
"A guy who looks at beauties like Jin Seo-yeon like stones? You did it out of spite 'cause your bro liked her."
"Maybe... Anyway, doesn't matter now."
Now the burning questions.
"You're dead sure it was those two?"
The pair there when he smoked the opium. Baek Ho-min, young master of Baek Ga-jang, one of the three families. And Jo Un-tak, sub-gang leader of the only unorthodox group, Pungcheon Bang.
"No doubt. Only chance to slip the demonic manual in my robes was outside that gisaeng house."
"Their dads could've ordered it?"
"Gonna find out. But unlikely. The three family heads and Pungcheon Bang leader—friends since childhood. Helped each other more than competed."
"Yeah? Still, you never know."
"I set the gisaeng house that night and the whole schedule. Even premeditated, the pieces wouldn't fit."
Yeon Sa-gu's eyes bulged. What Mu Yun's words implied.
"What?! So those two did it on impulse?"
"Pretty much certain. Leaves one question. Why'd they have a demonic manual?"
That manual was what Mu Yun and Yeon Sa-gu had investigated most. But it was barely demonic—crude trash anyone determined could snag.
"Baek Ga-jang and Pungcheon Bang don't seem tied to demonic arts."
"Probably not."
Yeon Sa-gu lobbed the next.
"But why would those two even?"
Mu Yun had a hunch, though not certain.
"Only affiliated branch of Hyeong-sanpa in Nae-yang is Baek Ga-jang. Around then, they wanted my brother as a direct disciple."
"...Frame you as a demonic cultist to wipe it clean?"
"Hyeong-sanpa keeps just one affiliate in a town this size. Ho-min got antsy. Feared my brother rising would boot him out."
Yeon Sa-gu still cocked his head. The biggest puzzle from his digging.
"But I don't get it."
"What?"
"Framing someone as demonic? Not child's play. If caught, you're dead. Family takes a massive hit too—not just losing affiliate status."
"True."
"But those two? No way. Baek Ho-min's such a coward he shakes at getting caught smoking opium by his dad. Jo Un-tak, the unorthodox sub-leader? Scaredy-cat who's never killed."
Mu Yun had that answer too.
"That's them. But we all smoked that opium that night. Can't be just me who lost it."
"...You think?"
Yeon Sa-gu's voice faltered. Still felt off.
'Something's weird to me.'
Nothing more to ask, though. Time would tell.
Still, he voiced his take.
"Anyway, past you deserved a beating. Or dozens."
"No excuses."
Yeon Sa-gu wrapped it up.
"And that punk turned into a dragon. Thanks to meeting a good master."
"Luck."
"...All luck?"
Mu Yun had to dodge. Current power defied mere luck.
"You know. My internal-external fusion art meshes perfectly with yours. Heaven's favor."
"Damn! Why no luck like that for me?"
"You got some."
"...Silver Moon Blue Night Sword?"
He hadn't taught the rest; Yeon Sa-gu wasn't ready.
"If you don't like it, no need for the rest."
"You bastard! Just playing along, and you pick a fight? Keep being petty?"
In lieu of reply, Mu Yun's gaze returned to Nae-yang below. His expression had shifted clearly from before.
'Time to go down.'
About a year into this life, he'd realized. Those three years weren't mere records in the old Mu Yun's memory. Not just because Sin-gi Sim-ui Gong demanded body-mind unity.
'Couldn't have been.'
Present and future extended the past. Fleeting record fragments surfaced one by one, nesting in his subconscious until they became memories. A couple more recalls turned them to reminiscences. More piled on, stirring joy and sorrow. All tied to life's tales.
Faces under the name of family.
Now, time to face them.
No other reason for hesitation. Worry they'd hurt because of him.
But resolve was needed now.
Mu Yun stood, dusting off. Venting to Yeon Sa-gu had cleared his chest. His gaze toward his friend brimmed with warmth.
He knew Yeon Sa-gu had drawn it out on purpose.
'Thanks.'
Conveying that resolve:
"Let's go."
"Hunt those two first?"
"Yeah."
"Your cousin bro in the Hao mun branch probably knows. Bet he's at the gisaeng house either way."
Yeon Sa-gu's cousin ran the Nae-yang Hao mun outpost.
"Nothing changes."
"...!"
A bit later, on the descent. Another curiosity hit Yeon Sa-gu.
"Oh yeah! Cai Lun—poisoned, so probably a shitty person?"
Mu Yun glared fiercely. As he should.
"You moron! What'd I say?"
"Huh?"
"Eunuch from the palace, right?"
"...Lost in the power struggles?"
"Great man. No choice in that den of wolves."
"...!"
Words mattered.
Nae-yang streets, in front of gisaeng house Cheon Jung-ru.
Pungcheon Bang sub-leader Jo Un-tak, about to enter, whipped his head around.
Toward the man who'd brushed past.
His head tilted.
'Seen him somewhere?'
Racked his brain, but nothing. Turned away.
Priority: meet Baek Ho-min, back from Hyeong-ju.
The deed was obvious.
'Heh heh! Time to party hard after so long.'
Not that he hadn't without him.
But with Baek Ga-jang's young master Baek Ho-min, certain perks.
Herb business young master brought the good stuff.
Needed that to truly revel.
Like their first fireplay seven years back.
Just one less person now.