Village Reckoning
Woo-gang unfolded the letter with faintly trembling hands.
As Yeom Si-woo's handwriting came into view, a rush of emotions welled up, but Woo-gang forced them down.
Live steadfastly even in my absence. You are the disciple and grandson of the Flame King.
If you ever face an insurmountable crisis where no answer can be found, return to the cave where you first trained.
The message on the letter was brief.
Woo-gang read it over and over before carefully folding it again and handing it back to the Apothecary Owner.
"What did it say?"
"Live steadfastly."
"Damn it. That's all he left? Then he shouldn't have bothered writing anything."
The Apothecary Owner grumbled, his heart heavy with frustration.
"Please keep it safe."
"You take it. It's meant for you."
Woo-gang shook his head firmly as the Apothecary Owner tried to hand the letter back.
"There's no proof Grandfather is dead. He's just missing. I'll find him. And when I do, I'll burn it then."
The Apothecary Owner nodded at Woo-gang's words, gazing at the letter before tucking it back into his desk drawer.
"Fine. Do that."
"Yes."
Woo-gang gave a short reply, and silence hung between them for a moment.
"What are your plans now? Finding him won't be easy."
"Yes. It seems difficult. Even Bing Palace searched for years without success. So I'll take it step by step. First..."
"First?"
"Feed me, please."
Woo-gang spoke with a faint smile, and the Apothecary Owner chuckled.
"Master and disciple, both the same. Come on!"
The Apothecary Owner opened the back door and headed toward his quarters.
After devouring the hearty meal the Apothecary Owner prepared, Woo-gang stepped out of the shop.
As before, the Apothecary Owner saw him off at the door.
"Thanks for the meal."
"You ate like a starving man."
"I haven't eaten properly."
"Didn't Bing Palace give you any spending money?"
"They did, but I have to save it."
"You're eating to live... Tsk tsk. Wait here!"
The Apothecary Owner went inside and returned with a money pouch.
"It ain't much, but use it. Don't skimp on food."
"Yes."
Woo-gang accepted the pouch with a smile.
"And you can't handle this alone. They're at least a sect, no, a full faction. To fight them, you need a faction of your own."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Despite Woo-gang's response, the Apothecary Owner couldn't hide his worry.
"Then I'll be off."
"Yeah. Be careful. Swing by if you think of me."
"Yes."
With the Apothecary Owner's farewell, Woo-gang left with a full heart.
After leaving the apothecary, Woo-gang arrived at a distant spot.
He stood still, gazing at one place.
His eyes fixed on a sheer cliff.
It was the very spot where he had jumped—the place where he first met Yeom Si-woo.
What emotions stirred in Woo-gang as he stared at the cliff?
His expression gave nothing away.
Woo-gang approached the cliff.
Gathering his qi, he leaped lightly upward.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Bouncing off nearby dead trees and protruding rocks with ease, Woo-gang reached the top in an instant.
There, he stared blankly ahead, just as he had that day.
'Grandfather.'
Woo-gang called out to Yeom Si-woo in his mind.
What if Yeom Si-woo hadn't saved him that day?
The thought from back then resurfaced—he'd believed death would end everything.
Staring blankly ahead, Woo-gang turned his body.
With a hardened expression, he started walking.
He checked his old hiding spot, where he'd evaded the villagers' eyes, then kept going.
A little farther, and the hellish village would come into view.
Woo-gang's mind grew complicated.
'Why am I heading there?'
He questioned himself.
Yet his feet didn't stop, carrying him to the village entrance.
"Waaah!"
He thought it was a hallucination.
The wail from that night at the village outskirts, he figured.
But no.
The cry was real, coming from the village.
"Shut up!"
A harsh shout followed.
Woo-gang's face hardened further.
The atmosphere felt off—dangerous.
Suppressing his presence, he crept closer quietly.
Peeking from cover, Woo-gang was stunned.
It was nothing like what he'd imagined.
At first, he thought villagers were just fighting among themselves.
But no.
All the villagers had been herded into one spot, surrounded by sword-wielding men exuding menace.
Bandits, it seemed.
Woo-gang scanned the villagers.
Time had passed, but many faces were familiar.
They trembled uncontrollably.
Seeing those who had always abused and tormented him now kneeling in fear before others felt strangely alien.
"N-no, please!"
Then, a woman cried out desperately.
Her baby had been snatched from her arms.
"Quiet!"
"Not the baby! Please... please!"
The man who seemed to be the father clung to the bandit's pant leg, begging.
"Let go! Hey! Drag him away!"
At the apparent leader's command, two armed bandits grabbed the man roughly, pulling him off and shoving him aside.
The bandit handed the baby to another and drew his sword, pressing it close to the father's face.
"You wanna die?"
"Please... take anything else, just not the baby..."
With his arms pinned, the father wept, pleading.
But the bandit didn't flinch.
"Keep making noise, and you, your family, even the brat—all dead. So shut your mouth."
The bandit growled, and the father clamped his lips shut, silent.
He could die, but not the baby.
"Hey, got everything?"
"Yeah, but... we just leaving? Can't we have some fun first?"
One bandit smacked his lips, eyeing a young woman trembling in terror.
"No time!"
"Come on, just once? He finishes quick."
"Hahahahaha!"
The bandits roared with lewd laughter.
"No, you bastards! Absolutely not!"
As the young woman faced rape, her parents shielded her, shouting.
Parents ready to face death for their child.
"Why's this place full of noisy fucks! Can't you shut up?"
The bandit who took the baby yelled, and the fun-seeking one raised his sword.
"Dead men are quiet."
He swung without hesitation.
The father, blocking his daughter's front, squeezed his eyes shut, unmoving.
"Kyaaah!"
The villagers screamed in shock.
Clang!
"Kuh!"
Silence fell instantly.
The terrified villagers looked around, bewildered.
The bandit who swung clutched his hand, grimacing.
His palm torn, blood dripping; his sword clattered on the ground.
All eyes converged on one spot.
There stood Woo-gang, spear in hand, face icy cold.
"Who the hell are you?!"
"And what are you?"
Woo-gang shot back at the bandits.
"You from this village?"
"Used to be."
Woo-gang answered curtly.
"Playing hero, huh? If you don't wanna die, scram."
It was a threat, but tension laced his voice.
Approaching silently and deflecting the swing proved Woo-gang stronger.
Yet one thing: he was alone; they were many. That gave them bravado.
"Hero? Nah. Don't care if these people live or die."
Woo-gang glanced indifferently at the villagers.
"Hah... shitty day. Hey, kill him."
The bandits charged at Woo-gang.
He watched impassively, then moved.
Wham!
Woo-gang scraped his spear on the ground; a flying pebble exploded a bandit's head.
Crack!
"Gaaah!"
Grabbing a close bandit's arm, Woo-gang snapped it without mercy.
Still gripping the broken arm, he glared at the rest.
His chilling gaze made the charging bandits flinch.
"What're you doing?! All rush him! Kill!"
At the leader's shout, the hesitating bandits charged desperately.
Woo-gang's cold eyes fixed on them as he moved again.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Their swords never touched him.
To Woo-gang, forged in ordeals, they were mere butterfly flutters.
Wham! Wham!
He swung his spear.
No mercy in his strikes—fueled by rage at bandits and villagers alike.
One by one.
Dodging their blades leisurely, he struck fatally without hesitation.
Stabbed or broken, bandits rolled on the ground.
Villagers' screams turned to bandits' groans.
"S-stay back! Or everyone dies!"
"Kill 'em, then."
Woo-gang advanced on bandits aiming swords at villagers.
But they couldn't move.
Woo-gang's emanating presence froze them.
All they could do was tremble.
Thud.
Woo-gang kicked off lightly.
Vanishing, he reappeared before the leader.
"Guh!"
Grabbing the leader's throat, Woo-gang said coldly.
"Fun doing this? Enjoyable?"
Throat crushed, the bandit couldn't speak.
Just writhe in pain.
Bam!
Releasing, Woo-gang kicked him flying into a tree.
"Uwaaak!"
The bandit screamed, clutching his shoulder—shattered bone.
Swish.
Woo-gang eyed the few unscathed bandits.
"Hiiik!"
Terrified by his gaze alone, they abandoned comrades and fled.
Even the badly wounded crawled up, staggering away.
Quiet fell.
Villagers eyed Woo-gang warily.
Grateful for their lives, yet terrified of him, none dared speak.
His gaze reached them.
Icy, indifferent.
He truly didn't care if they lived or died.
"How's it feel?"
The question he'd asked the bandit—now for the villagers.
Was it fun, enjoyable, beating and tormenting?
No one answered.
"Why not say it's my fault the bandits came?"
Some head-bowed villagers peeked up, recognizing him.
"Y-you!"
He ignored their realization.
Just looked at them like insects.
Then turned away.
Food even animals wouldn't eat—but he'd repaid raising him to this age.
The murky, nameless grudge in his heart dissolved fully.
"Haa..."
Exhaling deeply, as if shaking off the last dregs, Woo-gang looked one way.
Determination burned in his eyes.
Slowly, he walked toward it.