Chapter 77
Chapter 77
Translator: Penny
Chapter 77
Don't Look Back (1)
"Corps Head, we're here."
Two men entered Pung Tavern. They were martial artists from the Alliance Guard Corps: Yangcheong, a good-natured brute, and Myeongdo, a youthful-looking man with a handsome face. They were among the most loyal warriors, particularly devoted to Baek Pyo—truly his right-hand men.
They had been the most vehement in urging Baek Pyo to stay when he left, and it had taken all his efforts to calm their frantic offers to resign with him.
Baek Pyo glanced at them and scolded, "Corps Head? What if Head Im hears you?"
Head Im referred to Im Jungtae, the new Head of the Alliance Guard Corps, who had previously served as Deputy Head.
Yangcheong chuckled.
"Head Im talks about nothing but the Corps Head these days," Yangcheong said. "He keeps saying he misses you and that he shouldn't have taken the position. He's even threatening to resign."
Famous Saber nodded in agreement, confirming Yangcheong's words.
Baek Pyo chuckled softly. "That man..."
During his time as Head of the Alliance Guard Corps, Baek Pyo had been a respected leader among the martial artists. Naturally, his relationship with Deputy Head Im Jungtae had been amicable.
Beyond their individual bonds, the members of the Alliance Guard Corps shared an unusually deep camaraderie. This was understandable, given the grueling nature of their duty: protecting the Alliance Leader.
At first glance, their job might seem like a leisurely task—chatting idly while guarding the gates. But in reality, the work of a guard was incredibly demanding and challenging. The mental strain was particularly severe, as they constantly bore the weight of knowing the Alliance Leader's life rested in their hands, intensifying their psychological burden several times over compared to ordinary martial artists.
Baek Pyo chuckled. "Tell him it's tough there, but coming out is hell. Just tell him to work hard—even hardship is a blessing."
"Haha, he said he'll visit soon. You can tell him yourself then."
"Tell him to take his time."
Since his initial visit shortly after the opening, Im Jungtae hadn't been able to find the time to return.
But Baek Pyo wasn't at all disappointed. He knew better than anyone how demanding and exhausting the position of Head of the Alliance Guard Corps was. He was already grateful for Im Jungtae's first visit.
The two men brought their own liquor and began drinking.
A while later, Baek Pyo brought out some snacks he had prepared. The two men, their expressions unusually serious, spoke up.
"Corps Head, we have something to discuss with you."
Baek Pyo sat down before them, inwardly tense.
"What is it?"
"We're quitting."
He could tell they weren't joking.
"Why?"
"The work is just too hard."
That couldn't be the real reason. The work had been grueling since they first joined.
"And there's no sense of purpose."
This was the truth.
Guards worked solely out of a sense of duty.
The pride of protecting someone—that was what allowed them to work tirelessly through sleepless nights, despite the meager pay.
But they had found no such value in Ma Bonggi.
They had been taught to forget what they saw and heard. But how could they truly lack eyes and ears? Ma Bonggi was already displeasing enough, and now rumors were circulating that the Heavenly Blade Gate's faction was causing trouble throughout the Central Plains.
Why should we protect someone like this?
Tormented by such doubts, they had finally made up their minds.
Having been particularly close to Baek Pyo, they came to him first to share their decision.
"Do you have a plan for when you leave?" Baek Pyo asked.
Yangcheong grinned. "Can't we just work as waiters here?"
It was, of course, a joke.
Famous Saber joined in the jest. "I'll wash dishes in the kitchen."
The two exchanged glances and burst into laughter.
Baek Pyo didn't laugh.
When Baek Pyo stared at them with such seriousness, the two men quickly sobered up.
Baek Pyo lowered his voice, his eyes gleaming with hidden meaning.
"Are you really going to do it?"
The two men exchanged startled glances. They knew Baek Pyo wasn't talking about tavern work. There was no need for three people to work in such a small place. No, regardless of the size, Baek Pyo would never ask them to do such menial tasks.
They didn't ask what Baek Pyo wanted them to do.
Yangcheong replied without hesitation, "I'll do it."
Famous Saber followed immediately, "Just give the order."
Their eyes still burned with unwavering loyalty.
Baek Pyo smiled. "Since this will be your last night as guests... drink and enjoy yourselves to the fullest."
Sometimes, even I think, "A celestial martial artist is still just a martial artist."
This thought often comes to mind when I'm evaluating women. If I were to consider when a woman appears at her most beautiful, it would be right now.
Whoosh.
Song Hwarin's sword hurtled toward my heart.
Of course, I'm not some pervert who finds women most beautiful when they're trying to kill me.
What I mean is, I find women more beautiful when they're displaying their martial arts prowess.
And what if that woman is Song Hwarin?
Her long, slender legs, her narrow waist, her full, rounded breasts—her perfect figure, combined with her stunning face...
Even if the Empress of Pleasure were to tempt me with her most sensual nakedness, she couldn't compare to Hwarin, who now gritted her teeth, sweat-drenched, and thrust her sword at me.
After dodging the incoming blade, I shouted:
"Again! Once more!"
Song Hwarin resumed her sword practice. The Forms she was now executing were precisely the counter-techniques I had discovered.
She would face her Master using these very techniques.
"Again!"
"Again!"
"Again!"
She repeated the same Forms dozens of times.
"In a real battle, you'll be nervous. Tension leads to mistakes. The only way to prevent that is through relentless practice."
There was no shortcut but to repeat the movements until they became second nature. The human mind is too fragile; you never know what might trigger it in the heat of the moment.
You might fall for an unexpected taunt from your opponent, or your mind might be distracted by a sudden Heart Demon.
But if your body remembers, that's all that matters.
If your body reacts without conscious thought, even if your mind is suicidal, your body's reflexes can save you.
I gave her a stern lesson.
Though I would be present at the duel with her Master, this was not my battle. It was hers to resolve.
Once she had mastered the Forms, I taught her one more thing.
"Even if your Master counters your Forms and attacks, he'll likely evade it."
"Evade it?"
I nodded at her surprise.
"That's why you need to finish him with a continuous assault."
I couldn't tell if Ho-yeon Nam was aware of the fatal flaw in the Forms he had taught her. But with his skill, he would undoubtedly be able to evade it.
"Just practice for two possible reactions!"
Whether he knew or didn't know. I could predict how he would react in either scenario.
Their training continued late into the night.
Around midnight, she collapsed completely. This was likely the most grueling training she had ever endured.
I sat beside her as she lay panting on the ground.
"You've worked hard," I said.
She gazed up at the night sky and replied, "This feels different from any training I've done before."
"That's because your previous training was confined by a framework."
"Framework? What framework?"
She sat up, exhaustion etched on her face, but her eyes shone with an unusual clarity. It was that state where extreme fatigue paradoxically sharpens the mind.
"The framework your Master created for you. A limit where your body and mind feel satisfied. Push beyond it, and you'll suffer. Do you know what else we call that?"
"What is it?"
"A limit."
"Ah!"
"You felt something new today because you surpassed that limit. We often talk about breaking through our limits, but most people don't truly understand their own. They just vaguely think they need to work harder."
She nodded in agreement. That was exactly what she had been thinking.
"But a limit isn't something external. It's not a line or boundary you need to cross."
"Then where is it?"
"It's within yourself. Your usual actions, habits, and thoughts—those are the limit. To break through it, you can't just work harder; you need to change as a person. Your behavior, your thinking, everything must transform."
"Ah!"
She paused, lost in thought.
I gave her ample time to gather her thoughts. This was a crucial moment for any Martial Artist.
Sometimes, this very moment could lead to profound insights that would completely transform a Martial Artist's life.
Finally, she turned to me and said, "I'm not entirely sure, but I think I understand a little."
"That's enough. You've worked hard today. You were excellent."
She beamed with pride, her face still glistening with sweat.
"Keep practicing the Forms you learned today whenever you have time. You'll meet your Master within a few days."
"Thank you."
"No need to thank me."
As I rose to leave, I added one last piece of advice:
"Never forget this: on that day, you can't rely on me or even your own mind. The only thing you can trust is your body, which remembers the training you've honed."
I immediately infiltrated the Shandong Night Merchants.
With my internal energy nearing the first level of mastery, none of the guards could detect my movements.
I had a premonition that my entanglement with the Night Merchants wouldn't end easily, and here I was, drawn back into their web.
In Yacheon's office, the leader of the Night Merchants, two figures were engaged in conversation.
They were Yacheon himself and his right-hand man, Gucheol—the very man who had killed Si Gon of the Heavenly Blade Gate.
"Could he have gotten lost and failed to arrive? That damned fool must be ignoring us, thinking he's too good for us just because he's from one of the Four Great Families of the Central Plains."
The Night Merchants had requested assistance from the Ho-yeon Family, and Ho-yeon Nam had been dispatched. Yet, despite reaching Shandong, Ho-yeon Nam had yet to contact them.
"It doesn't matter. How many times have we had to deal with the arrogance of those old fools from the Prestigious Orthodox Factions?"
"But this situation is different, isn't it? Our opponent is Yeom Hwa, the Butcher of the Heavenly Blade Gate."
"Hmm."
Worry laced Yacheon's groan.
"I'm concerned they might have ulterior motives."
"Ulterior motives? What do you mean?"
"I'm worried they might just drag things out, pocket the money, and leave. We're paying them a staggering Two Hundred Thousand Taels to handle this, aren't we?"
That was the sum demanded by the Ho-yeon Family. They wouldn't even consider getting involved for anything less.
And that wasn't all. We also had to pay Fifty Thousand Taels separately to the Gangseo Night Merchants, who had brokered the connection with the Ho-yeon Family. The Ho-yeon Family was based in Gangseo and had some kind of relationship with the Gangseo Night Merchants. The Gangseo Night Merchants had acted as a kind of intermediary.
That meant they needed a staggering two hundred fifty thousand taels.
They couldn't even begin to calculate how long it would take to earn that much.
Still, it's better than losing our lives, they thought.
Despite this dire situation, Ho-yeon Nam, who claimed to be from the Ho-yeon Family, had arrived in Shandong but remained completely out of sight.
"We should have handled this ourselves," Gucheol said.
Yacheon shook his head vehemently. "Your hidden weapons won't work against a master like Yeom Hwa!"
"If we attack all at once..."
"You'd all die at once. Where's The Butcher now?"
"He's staying at Myeongsu Manor with the Heavenly Blade Five Friends."
"Are you keeping a close watch?"
"We have triple layers of surveillance. But there's something I've been wondering about."
"What is it?"
"Why is that Butcher holed up in Myeongsu Manor? If he's after us, why doesn't he come here directly?" Yacheon asked, his eyes narrowing.
"He's not here to assassinate me," Yacheon replied.
"Huh?"
"He's here for revenge. He wants to broadcast this fact across Shandong and the entire Central Plains. 'The Butcher Yeom Hwa has come to crush the Shandong Night Merchants—watch closely.' He's gathering spectators and setting the stage. In the end, he intends to publicly execute me before everyone's eyes."
Gucheol frowned at Yacheon's words. "We didn't even kill Ma Jeongsu! I'll go explain."
"Do you think they'll believe you? It's already too late."
The moment they killed Si Gon of the Heavenly Blade Gate, the situation had spiraled completely out of control.
"I'll take responsibility and eliminate him myself."
"Stop talking nonsense and get ready to leave."
"Where are we going?"
"To meet Ho-yeon Nam. If he won't come to us, we'll go to him."
The Ho-yeon Family was their only hope now. He needed to escape and somehow turn this conflict into a war between the Ho-yeon Family and the Heavenly Blade Gate.
"What's with all the dawdling? You want me to pack something special for you, don't you?"
Yacheon manipulated several books on the rear bookshelf in a specific sequence. The bookshelf swung open, revealing a secret door.
After instructing Gucheol to wait outside, Yacheon entered the hidden chamber.
A moment later, Yacheon emerged, carrying a thick leather pouch. He patted the pouch and said,
"You bastard! You might despise and ignore us, but you won't hate this, will you?"
The two men left the room.
Fifteen minutes later, a carriage secretly departed from the Night Merchants' compound.
I pressed myself against the building wall, watching them leave. The window beside me was the very one from the room where Yacheon had been conversing.
I had eavesdropped on their entire conversation and witnessed Yacheon entering through a secret door to retrieve the money.
There must be a vault or hidden storage inside. The fact that he entered it in front of Gucheol suggests the mechanism can only be opened by Yacheon himself.
After glancing at the empty room for a moment, I turned away.
My focus now shouldn't be on the money, but on their movements.
Money must never be the primary objective. As always, it should be the natural spoils that follow the successful completion of our goals.
I launched myself in the direction the carriage had disappeared.
A martial artist on guard duty glanced up at the sky.
By the time he looked up, I was already gone, having crossed the training ground sky like a bird.