Let's Call It the Three-Three Alliance
The kitchen staff had left, and the patrol and surveillance warriors had vanished as well.
Won Seung gathered the children and relayed what the head cook had told him.
"We have to escape the mountain, even if it means carrying the seriously injured kids on our backs."
"But where do we go?"
"Where? Home, obviously."
The children's eyes were blank. Ah, right—they've lost their memories.
Won Seung let out a sigh.
"You all ate the Soul Oblivion Pill. That's why your memories are gone. No helping it. Find a nice spot, settle down, and live well."
The kids had ransacked Sa Gyo-du's and the instructors' quarters, pocketing plenty of money. Thanks to Sa Gyo-du's massive hoard, each had several hundred nyang in silver taels.
"That's enough to live comfortably. So..."
Won Seung looked at the children and said,
"No more assassin work. That'd just play into Jeokhyeolsan's hands. We've got all sorts of skills, right? Let's live honest lives."
"Wait—how come you remember everything?"
Someone asked.
"I didn't eat it."
Sharp kid, even at that age.
I-ho asked with a grave expression.
"Is there no antidote for the Soul Oblivion Pill?"
Won Seung shook his head.
"It rewires the brain. No antidote."
The children fell into gloom. Then someone spoke up.
"Hmph! I don't wanna go back to parents who sold me off."
But the heavy mood didn't lift. Return to one's roots... It's instinct.
Won Seung sighed and said,
Should I tell them...?
"There is a way to find your real names and origins."
The children's eyes lit up.
"On your first day here, they called us one by one and recorded our birthplaces, names, family ties, and such. Jeokhyeolsan bastards are that thorough—prepping for every contingency. The records should be at their main base."
Hope flickered in the kids' eyes.
I-ho turned to them.
"What'll you do once we escape? I'm gonna wipe out Jeokhyeolsan. They've got our records anyway. Didn't Bingeol even draw portraits? They'll track us down easy."
"......"
"I don't wanna hide forever. Or sit around waiting for assassins to show. Let's hit Jeokhyeolsan first!"
Whoa, this guy... I saved him, and now he's itching to die. That terrifying bastard could kill us all alone!
But the kids were swayed by I-ho's words, murmuring in agreement.
"Dongho-gun's right! Let's drown Jeokhyeolsan in blood. And find our origins."
They glanced at Won Seung.
Why're they looking at me?
"No. 50... got any ideas?"
Even I-ho—Dongho-gun, who'd started it all—turned to him.
You flap your gums all heroic, and I have to cough up the plan?
Won Seung thought for a moment.
That terrifying man knew Won Seung's face. Knew his deeds in Sangyang. Tracking a kid named Pung Un-saeng wouldn't be hard for Jeokhyeolsan. Truth be told, Won Seung was the easiest to hunt down.
Sigh. Guess I can't use the cool name Pung Un-saeng anymore.
Fine... let's aim big. Can't live on the run. Jeokhyeolsan? Screw 'em. Let's erase them.
Won Seung spoke in a resolute tone.
"Jeokhyeolsan ain't a pushover. You'll have to trust me with your lives. Can you do that?"
The sudden shift in Won Seung's demeanor made the kids flinch.
He softened his face with a grin.
"Means being ready to die, kids. You saw it yesterday—that monster. We've gotta take down guys like him."
"......"
Won Seung scanned them.
"But don't worry. One just like him dropped dead on the road."
Yong Jo-un had killed Bi Jangno. Already blood enemies with Jeokhyeolsan. Yong the righteous hothead would charge ahead once he knew.
Won Seung pictured leading with Yong Jo-un and continued.
"First, we build our strength. Can't even handle one instructor—forget Jeokhyeolsan. Gotta scout 'em too. Branches all over the Central Plains. How many? How many experts? Train up and gather intel—that's priority one."
"......"
"And find righteous sects to back us. Hubei has the Murim Alliance, right? Made to crush evil like Jeokhyeolsan. Pull every resource and smash 'em."
Light returned to the kids' eyes at Won Seung's words.
Yeah, that could work. Hope swelled in their hearts.
"Bottom line: we need time. We're young. Even if revenge takes ten years, it's not too late."
The kids tilted their heads. Gentlemen? Nah, gentlemen are suckers. Won Seung thought that deep down, so he tossed out "sucker" without realizing it bugged them. Seeing their confusion, he asked,
"What? Problem?"
"Nah, but... don't we need our own organization for that?"
I-ho turned to the group.
"Your choice. Only those who wanna stay."
"We've lived together ten years—longer than family. We're all brothers. Right? Let's do it!"
Someone shouted, and heads nodded as one.
The kids were simple. Mountain life of eating, training, surviving—blank slates, basically.
"What'll we call our group? How 'bout Pasanhoe—Mountain Breakers—for smashing Jeokhyeolsan?"
"Nah, 'breaker' screams intent too loud."
Won Seung nixed it—Ilgwon Pasan trauma.
Mute No. 14 scribbled something; Deaf No. 13 read it aloud.
"Ambition should be grand. Jicheonhoe—Heaven Shakers?"
"Nope. Kwon-wang's Ilgwon Jicheon. Impersonators got killed. We're thirty-three, right? Just call it the Three-Three Alliance. 'Hoe' reeks too black dao."
Everyone nodded. Name wasn't the point.
"Who'll be alliance leader?"
Eyes turned to Won Seung.
Me? Hell no.
If Three-Three Alliance got exposed, they'd hunt the leader first. No way.
"I'm pretty handsome, sure... but can't pick on looks."
"......"
The kids shot him annoyed looks. No. 27 So-hyang spoke.
"Looks matter. And your martial arts are tops. Who else kills Sa Gyo-du and head instructor?"
"Can't pick on skill alone. Leader needs martial prowess, strategy, and character. Mine's iffy."
The kids eyed him like Mr. Humble today? So-hyang again:
"What's wrong with your character? I think it's fine."
"No, So-hyang—you don't get it. The more you know me, the more you'll hate me. So... I-ho's perfect. Great skills, handsome. Anyone outrun him?"
Second in first-day race. With No. 1 dead, fastest runner.
The kids nodded readily.
Dongho-gun I-ho nodded too.
"Fine. I'll lead."
Then to Won Seung:
"No. 50, spill the plan."
Won Seung blinked. Leader already bossing?
You ain't dumb. Use that brain.
I-ho just stared blankly.
"Hmm. Gimme a sec. Meanwhile, burn the barracks—erase our traces."
The kids torched upper and lower barracks. Patrol and surveillance had buried instructors' bodies, well-disguised.
All gathered, Won Seung said,
"Scatter across the Central Plains. Solo if you like, pairs or triples fine. More draws eyes. Train martial arts, scout local Jeokhyeolsan branches. Report intel to leader every half-year."
They spread Sa Gyo-du's office map, picked destinations, set contact methods, and left one by one.
Last: Dongho-gun I-ho and Won Seung.
"You hit Murim Alliance. Make connections. I'll scout Jeokhyeolsan HQ."
"Got it."
I-ho replied, then to Won Seung:
"Dunno why you dodged leader, but I see you as one. We'd be dead without you."
Hmm. Volunteering as pants leader?
"But someday I'll be real leader. Then work under me."
"Oh? What's that mean?"
Dongho-gun eyed him.
"I only acknowledge what I take."
? Another Yong Jo-un type. Born heroes?
Won Seung eyed him curiously. Explains why kids follow.
"Fine. Take it."
"Promise to serve under me."
"My call. You can't force it."
Won Seung had learned from Yong Jo-un: no rash promises to these types.
Alone after I-ho left, Won Seung went to Dok Sabu's barracks. Entered poison chamber, packed remaining herbs and potions.
Smashed the last keystone holding the chamber.
"Hngh!"
Pent-up poison gas poured out. Won Seung pinched his nose, bolted beyond the fence. Even with gradual dosing for resistance, years-accumulated toxin overwhelmed him.
Dok Sabu's hilltop barracks let gas flow down, slowly filling the valley.
Oddly, it spared Dok Sabu's and dead kids' burial mound.
Master, watch over the kids in peace. I'll visit later.
Won Seung bowed toward the grave.
Checked the valley poison.
Takes half-year to clear. Jeokhyeolsan won't figure shit out.
Won Seung's trace vanished.
The regular report from O-ho training camp never came.
Gi Jangno exploded. Figured Sa Gyo-du rebelling under pressure.
"That fucker Sa Gyo-du mouthing off? Tell him haul ass here."
Four days later. The messenger to O-ho camp rushed in pale as death.
Too frantic to speak straight.
"The camp... burned down. Just ashes left."
"What?"
Gi Jangno, mid-tea after morning training, shot up.
"What the hell? Ashes? How long since I was there?"
Sa Gyo-du's pig-faced pout flashed in Gi Jangno's mind.
That bastard trashed it fearing purge, then bolted!