A Pickpocket's Fortune
The Sword King watched Gu Sam devour his food with ravenous gusto, as if he'd expected nothing less.
Beside him, Woo-gang ate quietly.
Gu Sam's enthusiastic chomping made even Woo-gang's solid meal look like mere picking at scraps.
"Whoa~ I really can't eat another bite. What a shame to leave this food behind."
Gu Sam patted his belly with a dramatic flourish.
The Sword King turned his gaze to Woo-gang.
"That enough for you?"
"Thank you."
"Why are you thanking me? I should be getting thanks from this one."
The Sword King shot Gu Sam a sidelong glance, and Gu Sam met his eyes with a broad, toothy grin.
"Thank you so much. Truly grateful, sir."
Gu Sam sprang to his feet and bowed deeply first to the Sword King, then to Woo-gang.
"Prostrating yourself now, eh? Hmph."
Despite the Sword King's gruff rebuke, Gu Sam just kept beaming.
It wasn't just the delicious, filling meal—though that was reason enough. More than anything, he was thrilled that his younger siblings could eat their fill too.
And that was all thanks to Woo-gang's request.
Guided by Gu Sam, Woo-gang had gone to meet the kids, and his heart ached at the sight.
He'd assumed "siblings" meant kids close to Gu Sam's age, but no.
They were barely five or six years old.
At an age when they should be showered with love, they huddled in threadbare rags full of holes, barely fending off the cold in their harsh lives.
Abandoned by parents who might as well be dead or gone, they teetered on the brink of starvation—saved only by Gu Sam's efforts to keep them alive.
In those children, Woo-gang saw his own childhood.
Hadn't he been abandoned by his parents around the same age, enduring every hardship imaginable?
The environment he'd survived was no different from theirs.
The one silver lining: despite their dire circumstances, the kids hadn't lost their bright spirits.
That was the sole difference between them and his past self.
And it was all because Gu Sam had cared for them so well.
Woo-gang saw Gu Sam in a new light for that.
Of course, pickpocketing was still wrong, but he didn't want the boy punished harshly for it.
So Woo-gang had asked the Sword King to let him, the kids, and Gu Sam have a proper meal—leading to this moment.
"Alright, bellies full. Since we're already spending my coin, let me make a proposal."
Woo-gang nodded readily at the Sword King's words.
"You'll help us from now on."
"Pardon? Help how? If I leave for too long, my siblings..."
"Don't worry about that. It'll be good for them—and for you. What do you say?"
Gu Sam pondered the Sword King's offer briefly.
But given what he'd seen today, it didn't seem like they'd ask him to do anything nefarious. He'd trust them for now.
"Just tell me what to do, sir!"
Gu Sam shot to his feet again, bowing deeply.
"You agree before even knowing what I'll ask?"
Gu Sam peeked up slyly, flashing another grin.
"You bought me a meal like this—you're not gonna make me do anything bad..."
"Sharp instincts, kid."
"So, what do I do?"
"Nothing tough. First: I'll write you a letter. Take it to the Ak Family. They'll take in your siblings. You know where they are, right?"
"Of course. But... the Ak Family taking them in? How?"
"Exactly as I said. You and your siblings will become part of their household. Don't expect to learn martial arts, but you'll have proper clothes, food, shelter, and work. Way better than scraping by now."
Gu Sam's eyes welled up at the Sword King's words.
What started as a botched pickpocket attempt had turned into unimaginable luck.
He deserved a beating for his crime, yet here he was receiving such grace. He felt ready to lay down his life right then.
As Gu Sam basked in gratitude, the Sword King continued.
"Second: You'll roam Shandong Province for us, acting as our eyes and ears. You'll be away from your siblings a lot. But it's good for everyone, so not a bad deal."
"Understood."
It stung to be apart, but this path let them all live well. He'd accept.
"Here—the letter."
Somehow already written, the Sword King pulled a sealed missive from his robe and handed it over.
"While you're at the Ak Family, we'll watch over your siblings. Hurry back. With your speed, it won't take long."
"Got it! I'll be quick!"
Gu Sam tucked the letter into his bosom like a priceless treasure and dashed out of the restaurant.
"When did you write that? And how are you so sure the Ak Family will take them?"
Once Gu Sam was gone, Woo-gang asked casually.
"Scribbled it earlier. Once they read it, they'll take the kids—no doubt."
"Hmm..."
As Woo-gang looked skeptical, the Sword King pressed on.
"They owe us a debt. Intended or not, everything turned out better for them because of it. Even that boy Ak So-cheon has hope now. Taking in five kids is nothing after that."
Woo-gang had to admit it made sense.
"So, how will you use Gu Sam?"
"Just as I said. First, send him to check on the Tang Family visitor at the Ak Family. You don't want to run into Murim Alliance folks anyway, right?"
"Doesn't matter much..."
He said it, but unease lingered.
"A street wanderer like him picks up all sorts of gossip. It'll help us. We can't chase every rumor ourselves."
"True."
Woo-gang was quietly impressed.
Is this what experience and wisdom look like?
He'd only thought to feed them; the Sword King planned far ahead.
Listening, Woo-gang finally grasped what Jang Hak-jin had said at the Murim Alliance.
It's not just about crushing evil gangs—you must consider the aftermath.
It hadn't clicked then, but now it hit home.
"Once he returns and the kids head to the Ak Family, we go to the Beggar Clan."
"Beggar Clan?"
"Yeah. Time to meet Byeol Gae."
"What kind of man is this Byeol Gae?"
"Exactly as his name suggests—a real oddball. That's why they call him Byeol Gae. You can tell from how he taught the kid that breathing technique and lightness skill."
Woo-gang nodded.
"Can't rely on the Alliance's intel, so we'll make our own eyes and ears. Link up with Byeol Gae and tap the Beggar Clan's network."
"And Gu Sam...?"
"Thinking of making him an official disciple."
"A Beggar Clan disciple..."
"Yeah. He hasn't trained long—maybe a few years at most. Yet he's stable. Means talent. If he'd started young with proper arts, he'd shine among the later-generation talents."
"That good?"
"Yep. Age limits his growth now, but connections in the Beggar Clan will make a huge difference later. We'll get easier access to their intel too."
"Haha."
Woo-gang let out a small laugh.
"What's so funny?"
"Just impressed. You thought of things I never would, so easily."
"Years lived aren't just smoke in the wind."
Woo-gang nodded at the Sword King's words.
"One pickpocket leads to all this. Amazing."
"Small coincidences birth great bonds; minor events spark big changes. Let's go. We made a promise—time to check on the kids."
Woo-gang smiled at him.
"What's that look?"
"You said you weren't sentimental, but you seem full of it now. Doing all this."
The Sword King coughed awkwardly.
"Ahem! Gu Sam's a pest, but those kids? What'd they do wrong? Born into misery, that's all. We adults have to save them. That's our job. Don't read into it—up you get!"
The Sword King rose first, Woo-gang following.
As the Sword King predicted, the Ak Family agreed to take in the children.
They owed him and Woo-gang a debt, and word spreading would only help their image.
Crucially, the Sword King's letter sealed it.
If you refuse to take them in, I'll tell Woo-gang everything about your past.
Ak Jung-san hurried things along after reading that final line.
And so came the day of parting.
The kids wailed and clung to Gu Sam, refusing to let go.
Gu Sam's nose stung too; he sniffled nonstop but gently pried them away.
"I'll visit often. You'll be safe there, with good people and all the tasty food you want. Warm beds too."
"Hyung, are you abandoning us?"
"Nonsense. Why would I? I'll come by a lot—don't worry."
Only after pinky-swearing with each one could he finally separate them.
The children boarded the Ak Family warriors' carriage and departed for the estate.
Gu Sam waved extra brightly.
The kids stuck their heads out the window, waving until he was out of sight.
"Haa..."
Only when the carriage vanished did Gu Sam exhale deeply.
The farewell hurt him just as much.
The Sword King and Woo-gang gave him time to compose himself.
With their consideration, he quickly pulled himself together and flashed a big smile.
"Alright, what's next?"
"Stick with us for now. I'll let you know when there's work."
"Yes, sir!"
Gu Sam replied briskly.
The group had grown by one, but it felt right.
Woo-gang, too, was growing used to traveling with others over going alone.
The three left the spot with lighter hearts.