Cheon-geuk (1)
The next morning, bright and early, Im Choong arrived at Baek So-cheon's residence with his family in tow.
"Baek mu-in, thank you for saving my life and my son's."
Im Choong's wife, Ju-ssi, bowed deeply in gratitude, and their son Chan followed suit with surprising poise.
"We'll never forget this favor."
Baek So-cheon responded to their bows with a gentle tone.
"It was just what anyone serving the branch leader should do."
His attitude toward them was worlds apart from how he treated Im Choong—far more deferential. He showed the same respect to Chan.
"The jianghu is a dangerous place. Don't slack on your training."
"Yes! Next time, I'll protect Mom myself."
Baek So-cheon ruffled Chan's hair affectionately.
Once Ju-ssi and Chan had withdrawn, only Baek So-cheon and Im Choong remained.
"You didn't have to bring them all the way here just to say thanks."
"I did. Gratitude must be expressed properly, no matter what."
"Have you given it any thought?"
"Yes. Honestly, I didn't sleep a wink last night."
If it had only been his own life at stake, the decision might have been easier. But this involved his wife and son too.
Just then, Beon Saeng arrived.
"You're out early. Haha, good morning!"
In stark contrast to his queasy state the day before, Beon Saeng brimmed with energy and cheer.
"You okay?"
Im Choong voiced his concern, but Beon Saeng just grinned.
"Why wouldn't I be? I've made up my mind. I'm fighting Shin-hwa-bang alongside you, hyung-nim."
Baek So-cheon pulled back slightly, his expression hinting at reluctance as he probed.
"Do I have to fight too?"
"Of course you do! No backing out—not even in your dreams. I trusted you and came this far."
Beon Saeng's resolve was ironclad. Now Baek So-cheon turned to Im Choong.
Im Choong asked, "If I want to avoid this fight, what choices do I have?"
"You could run to Wang Gon right now and sell me out. Tell him you never wanted to get dragged into this mess, but now you'll help kill Baek So-cheon if he forgives your past slip-ups. He might even buy it."
"That won't happen."
Im Choong stated firmly. It was a thought he'd entertained himself—and the first option he'd discarded.
"How can you be so sure after knowing me such a short time?"
"Exactly. That's why I thought it through coldly. Wang Gon would pretend to accept, use you up, then dispose of you at the end. This decision's for my sake, not just yours."
"Not bad."
Baek So-cheon didn't look offended in the slightest. It made it easier to open up to him like this.
Im Choong pressed on. "Any other options?"
"Flee far away and live in hiding. Not as a Murim Alliance warrior—new identity, new name, new life."
Im Choong pondered it. It wasn't a bad choice. With his limbs intact and basic martial skills, he could support his family doing anything. Safer than battling Shin-hwa-bang, for sure.
But his mind raced while his heart refused to budge.
That same emotion from when he'd ordered Wang Gon's arrest surged up again, overriding his reason.
"If I choose to fight, will you help us, hyung-nim? Sorry—everyone should decide their own path. I hate dragging this out, weighing it back and forth..."
"You should weigh it even more. Days, weeks, months if needed. Lives are on the line. I just pity you having to decide so fast."
"Truth be told, I want to fight. I want to punish Shin-hwa-bang for harming the innocent. But I can't do it alone. I'd need your help."
This was the conclusion Im Choong had reached after a sleepless night.
"Please help us."
Im Choong and Beon Saeng fixed their gazes on Baek So-cheon.
He answered without hesitation, readily.
"I'll help."
His quick reply startled them both.
"Really?"
"Of course. This mess started because of me."
"Thank you."
"Truly, thank you."
Im Choong and Beon Saeng bowed repeatedly in gratitude.
With Baek So-cheon on their side, they felt they could take on Shin-hwa-bang. Even in the worst case, it wouldn't end in some pointless death.
"What's so great about dealing with a puny Shin-hwa-bang that you're thanking me? The old me would've blown them out like a candle—mere mayflies."
"Haha, hyung-nim's boasts just get more endearing the more I hear 'em."
Yet both Im Choong and Beon Saeng were staking their lives on that boast. With Baek So-cheon, they believed they could pull it off.
"What do we do next?"
"Find who killed Yang Chu's family and make 'em confess Shin-hwa-bang put them up to it. That's big enough for Murim Alliance headquarters to step in—and Shin-hwa-bang's done for."
Branches and headquarters differed from the start, scale aside. Branches got tangled in local politics inevitably, but headquarters stayed above it. Unless Shin-hwa-bang had infiltrated that far, anyway.
Beon Saeng jumped on Baek So-cheon's clear plan.
"Who'd they hire? Heuk Su?"
"Not Heuk Su. When I asked if they killed Yang Chu's family, they denied it—said they weren't dirty blades for that."
"Dirty blades?"
"Who do you think sees themselves as too clean for dirty work?"
Im Choong and Beon Saeng shouted the same name in unison.
"Assassins!"
Im Choong suddenly realized something.
"Ah! The coroner, Hwang ui-won, said it: the killer struck without hesitation, using an ordinary weapon to leave no traces. Classic assassin traits."
Beon Saeng added, "That's why Yang dae-hyeop's estate had zero evidence, no matter how we searched."
All signs pointed to an assassin killer.
Baek So-cheon asked, "Any assassin groups around here they'd use?"
Beon Saeng answered, more familiar with local shadows than the newly posted Im Choong.
"The most infamous in Jeol-gang Province is Chil-geom-hoe. Run by seven top assassins, over a hundred members, and their skills are no joke."
Im Choong and Beon Saeng's faces fell. If Chil-geom-hoe was involved?
Not even worth mentioning, let alone investigating.
Shin-hwa-bang and Chil-geom-hoe—different beasts, impossible to compare strength directly. But Chil-geom-hoe felt far more terrifying. Killers for hire, utterly merciless.
"I'll handle the assassin angle."
Beon Saeng nearly cheered 'As expected of hyung-nim!' before catching himself.
"How?"
"Call in someone from their world."
"...Chil-geom-hoe?"
"No. Assassins never reveal clients."
"Then who?"
Baek So-cheon drew a small dagger from his robes and handed it to Beon Saeng. Plain, but the hilt bore a carved 'Cheon' character.
"Run an errand. There's Gu-ryong Inn at the foot of Gu-ryong Mountain. Give it to the owner and say the dagger's master is here."
"Got it."
"You can relax for now. Without Heuk Su, Wang Gon's too busy to make moves."
With even Im Choong reassured, Baek So-cheon headed inside without waiting for a reply.
"Man, he's too kind."
"But he does what needs doing, right?"
"Even the branch leader sees his true worth now."
The two shared a laugh. For a moment, Im Choong considered calling Beon Saeng 'dongsaeng' like brothers. It'd be nice and casual—but as superior and subordinate, too close might cause issues.
'Am I being old-fashioned?'
Oblivious to Im Choong's inner debate, Beon Saeng focused solely on Baek So-cheon.
"Are all headquarters warriors that sharp?"
"Can you imagine a place swarming with guys like him?"
"No."
"Me neither. He must've stood out even there."
"Probably."
"Go careful."
"Yeah."
Beon Saeng tucked the dagger away and dashed out of the branch office.
If he'd known whose dagger it was, he wouldn't have run so lightly.
That night, Im Choong visited Baek So-cheon's residence carrying a cloth-wrapped bundle.
Late as it was, Baek So-cheon was training in the courtyard.
Balancing on three fingers in a handstand, sweat poured like water. Heavy iron weights bound his wrists and ankles made it far tougher than what Beon Saeng had seen.
"Nngh..."
A pained groan escaped Baek So-cheon's lips.
Im Choong stood back, watching silently to avoid interrupting.
Finally, having endured the set time, Baek So-cheon collapsed with a thud.
"You alright?"
Im Choong rushed over in alarm.
"Not at all. Rub my shoulders and arms—quick."
"Yes, sir."
The moment Im Choong touched Baek So-cheon's shoulder—
"Whoa!"
He flinched. The body burned like fire.
"What're you waiting for? Get to it."
"R-right."
Im Choong massaged Baek So-cheon's shoulders and arms.
"Harder!"
"Yes."
"Ah, that's the spot. Perfect."
From afar, it'd just been admiration: 'Damn, he's incredible.' But up close, kneading that blazing body, something welled up in his chest.
'I want to train like this too!'
He'd told Beon Saeng it was too late for him—but apparently not. Feeling that heat firsthand reignited the fire in his own heart.
"It's too late for me, right?"
The words slipped out, context be damned.
But Baek So-cheon understood.
"Thirty-six, yeah?"
"Yes."
"I started over at your age."
"Huh?"
"Couldn't even walk—total wreck."
Im Choong couldn't process it. Just three years ago, unable to walk? How then did he kill Heuk Su?
Yet Baek So-cheon wasn't lying or joking.
"Enough. Stop."
"Yes. Oh, and take this."
"What's that?"
Im Choong handed over the bundle.
"Nothing much. Some side dishes my wife made for you. Have them with a drink at home."
"'Nothing much'? This is precious stuff. I've got liquor inside. Fetch it."
"Sure."
Im Choong brought the bottle and cups. Meanwhile, Baek So-cheon had unpacked the bundle on the porch, laying out the dishes.
The two shared drinks there.
"Delicious."
"My wife's a good cook."
"The liquor."
"Oh—uh, yes. The liquor's great too."
Baek So-cheon chuckled at Im Choong's fluster.
"Kidding. Tell your wife thanks."
"Ah! Yes."
"You're fun to tease."
"Even so, saying it to my face?"
"Behind your back, it'd be gossip."
Im Choong laughed despite himself.
They poured and drank in turn.
Sometimes Baek So-cheon seemed from another world entirely, but not now. If he bantered like Beon Saeng, it'd be even better. Im Choong felt a twinge of regret.
"Sorry I couldn't throw you a welcome party after you arrived."
"This is it."
"Beon the squad leader'll be jealous."
"We'll do one with three next time."
Im Choong grinned wide at Baek So-cheon's straightforwardness, raising his cup.
"Welcome, hyung-nim."
They clinked and drained their cups.
Setting his empty cup down, Baek So-cheon echoed him.
"I welcome you too."
Im Choong couldn't grasp what Baek So-cheon meant by "welcome." Entering this mad, brutal jianghu? Or sharing a drink as comrades? Or something else?
Curious, but he didn't ask.
Whatever it was, he was ready to accept it. Ready to leap in.
"Your wife's cooking rivals the alliance lord's chefs."
"She'll be thrilled."
That night, the two drank late into the hours.