The Sword King's Rebuke and the Road Ahead
The Sword King's first rebuke had taken place in the office.
At that time, only Ak Jung-san, the family head, and the key figures of the Ak Family had been present, so it ended there.
But this time was different.
The Sword King's scolding unfolded before everyone.
From the veterans who had hardened their bones in the Ak Family to the fresh recruits who had just arrived.
Before them all, the Sword King delivered his sharp reprimand.
The Sword King's rebuke.
It came from one who had reached the pinnacle of the martial world.
No one dared bristle at it or raise a counterargument.
It forced everyone's heads to bow and made them confront reality head-on.
The reality that the Ak Family, which had always seemed eternal despite its decline, might vanish at any moment.
It drove home the truth that martial arts training went beyond mere skill acquisition—it was a matter of survival.
The rebuke's impact was amplified by Woo-gang's earlier questions.
Did Ak Jung-san not know the answers to Woo-gang's queries?
Did the other Ak Family warriors truly not know?
No, they did.
They were martial artists with talent and skill.
They had devoted their lives to cultivating martial arts.
How could they not know?
They knew full well but had simply grown complacent, living day by day in the present.
That was the atmosphere—and the reality—of the Ak Family.
Yet now, winds of change began to stir in the Ak Family, little by little.
Thanks to the Sword King and Woo-gang.
"Hm... Still nothing from the Dang Family."
The Sword King muttered as he lay on his bed in broad daylight.
It had been over ten days since he'd sent the letter to the Dang Family.
Sichuan and Shandong were at opposite ends of west and east, so delays were inevitable, but he hadn't expected it to take this long.
"They wouldn't send someone all the way on foot, would they?"
Even on the fastest steed, the trip from Sichuan to Shandong would take at least a month.
If that were the case, he'd have to stay in the Ak Family that long—and he had no desire to.
For one, the Sword King fundamentally hated lingering in any single place.
Moreover, after his recent scolding, he disliked the Ak Family warriors' gazes—pleading eyes that sought something from him every time their paths crossed.
Of course, he thought the change was a good thing.
But he had no intention of doing more himself.
"That kid's a soft touch if you look at him."
The Sword King thought of Woo-gang.
Unlike himself, Woo-gang occasionally helped the Ak Family warriors.
Still, he knew when to draw the line and wasn't getting dragged around endlessly.
Fundamentally, Woo-gang shared his discomfort with such things.
"Not blood-related, but damn if he doesn't remind me of that guy in those ways."
Yeom Si-woo and Woo-gang had many similarities.
Like the Sword King, Si-woo hated being tied down, but he had far more affection for others.
If the Flame King had come to the Ak Family instead of Woo-gang, the same scene would have unfolded.
'Sigh... What the hell happened to him... He's not one to go down easy.'
Thinking of Si-woo, the Sword King clicked his tongue in regret.
Honestly, he still sometimes couldn't believe something had happened to the Flame King.
But Si-woo wasn't the type to vanish and leave Woo-gang behind, so he had no choice but to accept it.
"Senior, it's Ak Jung-san."
"I know."
The Sword King replied curtly, sounding annoyed at the voice from outside.
"A letter has arrived from the Dang Family."
Whoosh!
At Ak Jung-san's words, the Sword King's earlier irritation vanished as he bolted upright.
"It's here?"
"Yes."
Eager for the awaited news, the Sword King rushed outside in a flash.
"Here it is."
Ak Jung-san handed over the letter, and the Sword King hurriedly unfolded and read it.
"Hm..."
The Sword King wore an ambiguous expression after reading it.
Ak Jung-san, gauging his reaction, stiffened in turn.
"They suspect poison based on the symptoms I described."
"I-is that so?"
If the Dang Family said as much, it was likely poison.
And that meant there was hope for a cure—Ak Jung-san's face brightened slightly.
"But they say they need to examine it in person for certainty. Can't confirm it definitively yet."
"Of course."
Even so, the sliver of hope lightened Ak Jung-san's voice.
"Someone from the Dang Family will come, so they can check thoroughly then."
"Truly, thank you!"
"It's my doing in the end, but you could have handled it too. No need to thank me."
Despite the Sword King's words, Ak Jung-san gazed at him with eyes full of gratitude.
"Where's that boy?"
"I heard he's in his room."
"Right? Then ask him what he thinks. No—better if I go myself."
"What do you mean...?"
"The Dang Family replied, so we've done all we can here. Time to go. We can't stay forever, can we?"
The Sword King looked at him as if it were obvious.
"Why not stay longer until the Dang Family person arrives...?"
Ak Jung-san suggested cautiously.
Truth be told, he wanted to keep the two around by any means.
The Ak Family's atmosphere had shifted thanks to them, and Woo-gang occasionally aided the warriors' training.
When would such an opportunity come again?
Greed had begun to creep into Ak Jung-san's heart, once content just with their visit.
As if sensing it, the Sword King narrowed his eyes.
"Excessive greed invites disaster. Know when to pull back. Think I don't see through you?"
"N-no, it's not..."
"Not what? Hilarious. You think I don't know you've been spreading rumors that we're staying here?"
Ak Jung-san panicked at the Sword King's words.
It had been done discreetly, yet he knew everything.
"Back in my youth, I hated belonging anywhere or staying long, so I never even joined the Murim Alliance. Same now. And Woo-gang's much the same—maybe even more so. The Murim Alliance tried to use him and got caught, so the kid turned the whole place upside down on his way out."
Ak Jung-san's face hardened.
"Turned it upside down...?"
"Hundreds of Murim Alliance warriors tried to stop him from leaving. He carved through them with a single spear. Lid blown right off."
Finally understanding, Ak Jung-san's face paled.
"The kid's wounds are still fresh. Stir them up needlessly, and the Ak Family might vanish from the world. I won't stop him."
"I-I'm sorry."
Ak Jung-san bowed his head.
"I won't tell the boy. If he wants to stay, he stays; if he wants to go, he goes. Got it?"
The veiled threat, grounded in truth, sent cold sweat down Ak Jung-san's back.
"Understood."
Ak Jung-san replied in a subdued voice.
The Sword King turned and walked away, leaving him behind.
"Hoo..."
Only after the Sword King was gone did Ak Jung-san exhale deeply in relief.
Upon hearing from the Sword King, who had come to his room, that a letter had arrived from the Dang Family, Woo-gang nodded.
But no immediate answer came about leaving right away or staying longer.
"Having second thoughts?"
"Something like that."
"What, gotten attached to the folks here already?"
"No. If we leave now... is there a way to hear the results after the Dang Family person examines Ak So-cheon?"
"Of course. We can send letters via tracking pigeons, or if not..."
The Sword King trailed off.
Woo-gang looked at him curiously.
Hesitating a moment, the Sword King glanced at Woo-gang before continuing.
"We could get word through the Murim Alliance branches scattered across the Central Plains."
"I see."
Woo-gang replied flatly.
The Sword King had hesitated over "Murim Alliance," fearing Woo-gang's sensitivity.
He worried it might make him insist on staying to confirm the results.
But Woo-gang's reaction eased those concerns—it was unfounded.
"Then let's go. Staying here's getting uncomfortable anyway."
The Sword King asked seriously.
"Got a destination after this?"
"Not really decided yet."
"Where to, then?"
"Thinking of contacting the Bing Palace folks first."
"Got a way?"
"Yes. But they haven't used the return signal since coming back to the Central Plains, and I don't know if they know my movements after leaving the Murim Alliance."
"Hm... Then maybe sticking around for the results isn't a bad idea."
Woo-gang smiled at the Sword King.
"You want to stay longer?"
"Hell no! I'm bored to death."
The Sword King jumped up in protest.
"Then let's head out. Might as well see some new places while we're at it."
The Sword King gave him an approving look.
"You've got some leisure now, huh."
"Yes. After leaving the Murim Alliance, I thought a lot about your words. Rushing won't change anything right now. So I pondered how to use that time."
"Wandering, then?"
"Something like that. See more of the wide world, how people live out there. That way, I won't repeat what happened at the Murim Alliance."
What Woo-gang had realized most clearly was how narrow his worldview had been.
That feeling grew after arriving at the Ak Family.
Their way of life differed greatly from anything he'd known.
It made him yearn to witness the diverse lives across the broader world.
"Good call. Guess I'll have to take you around from now on. I've been everywhere since I was young."
The Sword King said cheerfully.
A smile spread across Woo-gang's face, then turned bittersweet.
"Grandfather would have wanted that too, if he were here."
The Sword King's expression darkened slightly.
"Probably. But it's not too late. Once we find that guy, we can roam all we want."
"Yes."
Woo-gang shook off the bitterness and forced a smile.
"Alright, pack up and wait. I'll grab my things."
With that, the Sword King rose and left.
Word of their departure drew a crowd to see them off.
Despite the Sword King's protests—he hated such fuss—they ignored him this time.
Regret showed on their faces.
The reasons varied, but the outward emotion was the same.
"Young hero Yeom."
An Ak Family warrior called to Woo-gang as he prepared to leave.
"What is it?"
"If it's alright... please visit the Ak Family again someday."
"Sure."
Woo-gang answered lightly, but the warrior grew more earnest.
"Next time, we'll show you the true Ak Family—and the true Ak Family Spear."
Woo-gang smiled faintly.
"I'll look forward to it."
This time, his words carried genuine sincerity.
And so, Woo-gang severed ties with the Ak Family and set off once more.