Allies Forged by Firelight
Woo-gang and Geomwang were making their way toward Sichuan at a pace that was neither hurried nor leisurely.
A long journey from Shandong Province, passing through Henan and Shaanxi Provinces before entering Sichuan.
But Woo-gang didn't feel much of a burden.
He had even traveled all the way to the Bing Palace in the distant North Sea after leaving the Central Plains—what was a trip to Sichuan compared to that?
The two didn't push their speed to reach an inn for the night, nor did they cut their daily travels short.
What if they camped overnight once in a while?
Of course, with winter still gripping the land in chill, camping could be tough.
If a blizzard hit or an unprecedented cold snap rolled in, they'd have to push on to an inn no matter what—but otherwise, there was no need.
One was the Sword King, and the other was the Flame King's disciple.
For those two, something like cold was no issue at all.
Especially for Woo-gang.
So they traveled from sunrise to sunset, spending nights wherever the light faded.
It had its own charm and wasn't half bad.
Crackle! Crackle! Crackle!
Geomwang and Woo-gang sat side by side, gazing at the bonfire as it danced with satisfying pops and snaps.
Thanks to Woo-gang, starting the fire had been effortless, and it chased away the midnight chill.
Just watching the flames flicker silently in the quiet seemed to soothe the mind.
In the midst of that lingering silence, Woo-gang spoke up, eyes fixed on the fire.
"I've been doing some thinking."
"About what?"
"We've ended up traveling together and going through all sorts of things, but I still don't quite get why you're going this far for me. Just because I'm your friend's disciple? That feels like a bit of a weak reason... Or maybe you're just a sentimental type at heart? Nah, that doesn't fit at all."
Geomwang chuckled at Woo-gang's words, staring silently at the fire for a moment before finally replying.
"Honestly, I owe you a debt of the heart."
"A debt?"
"Yeah. You first saw me that day I was scarfing down rice balls, but it wasn't the same for me. I saw you from afar the day you wiped out that Black Path faction—on request from the Murim Alliance, to confirm if you really were the Flame King's disciple."
Geomwang recounted the events matter-of-factly.
"Back then, I caught on that the Alliance wanted to drag you in and mold you into one of their own. But I didn't say a word against it. Figured it was none of my business, and honestly, it didn't seem like a bad idea. I thought a naive kid like you, fresh to the world and on your own, could use the shelter of the Murim Alliance."
Woo-gang nodded quietly at Geomwang's words.
Fair enough, he thought.
"Then I heard about what went down at the Alliance, and I felt bad. If I'd spoken up then, or gotten more involved, you might not have gotten hurt like that. That's the debt I carry. Never figured Sa Ma-gang would cross that line."
Hearing Geomwang bare his soul stirred a complex mix of emotions in Woo-gang.
"And you know I've got a granddaughter about your age, right? She's got her father and grandpa to shield her from the rain, but you've got no umbrella. When the downpour hits, you take it full force—while she's got cover, so I figured I could lend you mine for a bit."
"Then why help out the Ak Family and Gu Sam? It didn't seem like plain pity."
"If it was just me, I'd have looked the other way. Wouldn't have cared much what happened to the Ak Family, and if that Gu Sam kid tried pinching my stuff, he'd have gotten what's coming. But then I started thinking."
As Geomwang paused, Woo-gang's gaze shifted from the fire to him.
"About you. Made me realize I should build what I can while I can. Sure, I'm playing umbrella now, but I can't do it forever."
"Build what, exactly?"
"Allies."
"Allies..."
"Yeah. Who knows how things'll play out down the line, but you've made an enemy of the Murim Alliance—the biggest power in the Central Plains. Figured it'd be smart to line up a connection or two that could help when it counts. You can't survive on your own strength alone in this world."
Geomwang's calm, even words carried his genuine intent, without a hint of emotional flourish.
Perhaps because his heart felt warmer, Woo-gang—who barely felt the cold anyway—sensed no chill at all.
"Going through all these recent events got me thinking a lot. Including some stuff about the Murim Alliance."
"What kind of thoughts?"
"I get them a little now. The power they hold, and the responsibility that comes with it. Why they don't jump on the obvious threats, and what they'd need to do if they did. I think I see it a bit."
Geomwang nodded at Woo-gang's words.
"Good. If you've felt even a sliver of that, it's progress. Personally, I can't stand the Alliance. But I don't think they're rotten. Their goal is clear, and the path to it is straight. Sure, they stray off course sometimes along the way, but they always find their way back. On the big picture, they're not bad. Closer to right than wrong."
Woo-gang stared back at the fire, a faint, enigmatic smile playing on his lips.
"Even so, they crossed the line this time. Toying with a man's life like that? And to you, family."
Geomwang's voice rose a notch.
Seemed like the more he talked, the angrier he got.
Then he quieted, steadying himself as he watched the flames before continuing.
"Who knows what connections we'll run into next. Might as well make as many helpful ones as we can."
"Thank you."
"No need. Like I said, just settling a debt."
Woo-gang smiled at the reply.
"Time to sleep. Gotta walk tomorrow."
Geomwang, perhaps embarrassed, turned in first.
Woo-gang lingered a while longer, sorting through his thoughts by the fire before finally bedding down.
After that, their journey continued smoothly, without incident.
Smooth to the point where Woo-gang wondered if this was okay.
And then, it happened.
A single figure appeared before Geomwang and Woo-gang.
An enemy? No.
Just a messenger bearing news.
The knot at his waist marked him as a Beggar Clan disciple.
He'd clearly rushed here, breathing ragged, face urgent.
He was trying to speak, but his breath wouldn't settle enough.
If it was this urgent, something big had blown up—or they'd uncovered something crucial.
"From Byeol Gae?"
"Yes."
The Beggar Clan disciple finally caught his breath enough to answer.
Byeol Gae would've sent Gu Sam. Why another disciple?
As Geomwang puzzled, the beggar spoke.
"The Ak Family... burned down."
Geomwang and Woo-gang's eyes met.
As if on cue, they both wheeled around and bolted back the way they'd come.
Sichuan could wait.
Gu Sam, who had rushed to the Ak Family alongside Byeol Gae, stared at the charred ruins in dazed shock.
With a blank expression, he plunged into the wreckage, rummaging through the debris in search of his younger brothers.
No confirmation yet on anyone's survival.
Gu Sam had no room for other thoughts.
Mental panic set in—vision narrowing, breaths heaving.
He clenched his teeth to hold back the tears welling up, scouring for his brothers.
Unlike Gu Sam, Byeol Gae stayed composed.
In times like these, you had to stay cool and assess coldly.
That said, he had no intention of stopping Gu Sam.
He understood—the brothers' lives hung in the balance.
With uncharacteristically grave expression, Byeol Gae was receiving an interim report from the Beggar Clan disciples already on site investigating.
"No bodies found? Not a single one?"
"Yes. Like they torched an empty house—not a corpse in sight."
Byeol Gae frowned.
"They knew ahead and evacuated first?"
Nothing else came to mind.
"What the hell happened? Any signs of a mass exodus?"
"None we could find."
"Keep searching the interior. You send word to the Sword King group?"
"They're here."
No sooner said than Geomwang and Woo-gang appeared.
Shock filled their faces too.
What the hell was this?
"You got here fast."
"Had to. What's the situation?"
"Nothing solid yet. But there's something odd."
"Odd?"
"No bodies. Not one."
Geomwang frowned at Byeol Gae's answer, just as puzzled.
Then, as if struck by a thought, Byeol Gae's eyes widened.
"Ah, that Gu Sam kid brought someone here a few days before the Tang Family folks arrived."
"And?"
"Gave the family head some advice. Personal hunch, but..."
Byeol Gae succinctly relayed what he'd told Ak Jung-san.
"Hm... Plausible enough, and maybe that's what we're seeing here?"
"Need more digging, but can't rule it out. Timing's too perfect for coincidence. If Ak Jung-san heeded my warning, they'd have prepped for this."
"Meaning... they could still be hidden somewhere inside."
At Geomwang's words, Byeol Gae beckoned a nearby beggar.
"Comb every inch for secret passages or hidden rooms. Miss nothing, no matter how small."
"Yes, sir!"
The beggars moved with crisp efficiency at Byeol Gae's command, and Gu Sam joined the hunt for hidden spaces.
"Haa... My head's spinning."
"Just my personal take, but the poison on Ak So-cheon and this mess? Same culprit."
"I think so too. Can't have the poison's source exposed. Only way to bury the evidence is if Ak So-cheon dies—so they pulled this."
"But why fire? Could've snuck in quiet and just offed him."
Woo-gang asked.
"That wouldn't cut it. Traces could linger even on a corpse. Burning it all clean is the surest way to hide everything."
Woo-gang nodded at Geomwang's explanation.
"If whoever did this ties back to my friend the Flame King's business... then Ak So-cheon has to stay alive."
Geomwang murmured, eyes on the smoldering Ak Family ruins.