Gone Without a Trace
They arrived at the warehouse where the missing woman had been held captive. Gang Ryong and Chief Steward Gwak seemed to be harboring some pointless misunderstanding, so Yi Jinpyeong had deliberately brought them along. But something was off. Even after opening the warehouse door, there was no sign of life inside.
“...!”
Yi Jinpyeong surged forward in a gust of wind, reaching the deepest corner where the woman had been bound in an instant. But the spot was empty—utterly barren, without a single trace left behind.
He turned to Gang Ryong, who had hurried over. “What the hell is this? Didn't you say you called me because of her?”
“Th-that's right, Young Master. She was definitely here just a bit ago... no, not that long—maybe a few hours back...”
Gang Ryong had awkwardly approached Yi Jinpyeong while he was circulating his qi, but that had been several hours ago at least. After that, Gang Ryong himself had lost track of everything, sinking into his own qi circulation without a break. Then the Chwi Hwa Bang leader had shown up, leading to a drawn-out scuffle. What could have happened in the meantime?
“You didn't disobey my orders and get too close to her, or untie her ropes just in case, did you?”
“As if we'd ever defy your orders, Young Master! We tossed her food from over thirty feet away—never once got close!”
Just to be sure, Yi Jinpyeong scrutinized Gang Ryong and Chief Steward Gwak's eyes closely. If they'd fallen victim to Ma An Seop Hon Gong and released her, some trace would remain. But there was nothing in their eyes—no sign at all.
Did she escape on her own? Come to think of it, her broken ankle should have healed enough by now.
She didn't seem like the type to run, though.
Yi Jinpyeong had heard it clearly—her despairing wails and sobs, laced with resistance against the unwanted demonic qi binding her fate, her desperate will to reclaim her old life. He'd reached the second stage of Gwi Hwa Yeon Cheon Gong, so he figured he could heal her using the vital growth power of wood qi.
“Should we search the estate top to bottom?” Chief Steward Gwak asked.
Yi Jinpyeong pondered for a moment, then shook his head. “No need. She kicked away her own fortune.”
“Ooh...”
Gwak and Gang Ryong exchanged glances, letting out strange sighs of admiration. They turned back to Yi Jinpyeong, thumbs raised high.
“As expected of the Young Master! Such confidence!”
“What the hell are you two even thinking?”
Irritation prickled just as footsteps pounded frantically toward the warehouse entrance. There stood his second brother, Yi Jinun, drenched in sweat, his face etched with worry.
Seeing Yi Jinun's expression, Yi Jinpyeong felt a chill of foreboding.
Yi Jinun asked urgently, “Jinpyeong, have you seen Big Brother Jingang anywhere?”
***
Yi Jinun explained: Yi Jingang, who had vanished during the night, still hadn't returned. No one had seen him anywhere.
It felt ominous. Even in Yi Jinpyeong's memories from his mad days, Yi Jingang rarely left the estate unattended for so long.
Just in case, they mobilized every warrior to comb Yi Gajang thoroughly. Yi Jinpyeong leaped from rooftop to rooftop, while the others checked every hall inside and deep into the woods.
It took a good while to scour the vast estate. But Yi Jingang was nowhere to be found.
Yi Jinpyeong's first suspicion was a connection between the woman's disappearance and his brother's vanishing. Maybe he'd misjudged her—perhaps she'd used demonic arts to kidnap Yi Jingang and planned to demand something through them. Her message via Gang Ryong might have hidden meaning.
But the timelines didn't match. According to Gang Ryong, she'd been locked up until just hours ago.
For now, focus on Yi Jingang's movements. He asked Yi Jinun, “Brother, you know that village where Big Brother secretly delivers grain every night, right?”
“H-how do you know about that?” Yi Jinun stammered.
Of course Yi Jinun would know what Yi Jingang was up to.
“If he vanished at night and hasn't come back, shouldn't we check there first? Tell me where it is. Time's short.”
“I don't know exactly. He said it was a different village from the one we took pork to last time—just a bit farther west, I think...”
Yi Jinpyeong shot to his feet. He had no choice but to leave the estate himself, and now this woman linked to the Demonic Cult was gone too. If Dongbeonhoe or Jang Gapae showed up in the meantime, that'd be trouble.
He scanned his subordinates and gave strict orders. “No telling how long I'll be. Don't step outside—guard the estate and nothing else.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Jinpyeong! I'll come with you.”
“You should stay here, Brother. Safer that way.”
“But...!”
“Listen to me now.”
Yi Jinun bowed his head helplessly at Yi Jinpyeong's firm tone.
“Chief Steward Gwak, Gang Ryong—I'm counting on you. If anything happens while I'm gone, don't rush into fights. Protect yourselves first. You're still green. Got it?”
Still uneasy, Yi Jinpyeong repeated himself. Gang Ryong and Gwak replied vigorously.
“Don't worry!”
***
Pung Chwi Palbo—Wind Stealing Eight Steps, fifth form: Feng Zhui Qian Li. Chase the wind, and a thousand li falls in a breath.
He unleashed it to boost his speed. His meridians exploded with every breath, the scenery blurring horizontally past his eyes. Water mist tore away, willow branches he brushed vanishing into traces. The whoosh of wind roared in his ears.
Faster, more overwhelming than ever since awakening his reincarnation and reclaiming his inner power. Yet it still didn't satisfy Yi Jinpyeong's temperament.
If his attainment were higher, he could move even swifter. Plus, pushing this hard consumed inner power at an alarming rate.
How the hell does Big Brother cover this distance every night?
Unfathomable—and irritating as hell.
After a long stretch of lightness skill, he reached the village where his brothers had delivered pork belly. A region utterly cut off from Dongjeong Lake's bounty. Ramshackle houses everywhere, but their plight barely registered with Yi Jinpyeong now.
Villagers gaped as he called out for Yi Jingang.
“The Yi Gajang young master? He hasn't been around lately...”
“Ah! Calling him 'brother'—you must be...!”
Their wrinkled faces lit up. They grabbed his hands and clothes, thanking him profusely, relieved that the third young master was healthy again. What kind of courtesy was this from strangers?
He shook them off and accelerated westward.
After wandering, he reached another village—nestled between high hills, far more remote than the last, smaller scale, barely huts. Poverty incarnate.
And they didn't even know Yi Jingang existed.
“Hasn't someone been delivering grain lately? Seen that young man?”
A fifteen-year-old barking demands. The villagers shrank like guilty children, apologizing nonstop despite knowing nothing.
“Grain's been piling up at the entrance every morning lately, but we don't know who brings it. Sorry! So sorry!”
Yi Jinpyeong's nerves frayed.
“Why the hell do you keep apologizing? Tell me— was there grain this morning too?”
“Yes, it was there... but we thought someone pitied us and shared it already. What do we do? Was it not for eating?”
Tearful faces. Communication failing.
Frustrated, he climbed a hill overlooking the village. And there, at last, he found him.
His eldest brother, Yi Jingang.
***
Yi Jingang sat ramrod straight. His sweat-soaked training robes shredded, exposing his gaunt torso riddled with wounds large and small. Blood trickled from his mouth.
Fire flashed in Yi Jinpyeong's eyes at the sight.
But Yi Jingang's face was serene. Spotting him, he smiled faintly.
“Little brother. Sorry. With my current strength, I can't break free from this mess.”
What was there to apologize for now? Sick of the sorries and excuses.
At least he was alive. Relieved, Yi Jinpyeong finally surveyed the surroundings.
His vision widened. Yi Jingang, surrounded by dozens of warriors. Familiar faces among them.
A stocky middle-aged man. Short, plump build with an oversized sword mismatched to his frame. The Jang Gapae shorty who'd visited Yi Gajang recently.
The one who'd put on a decent show against Dongbeonhoe's Gwak Sung...
Seemed Jang Gapae, led by the shorty, had captured and wounded Yi Jingang.
But gone was the rough, manly air from his estate visit—now just a gloomy face.
“Why the long face? Gonna apologize too?” Yi Jinpyeong asked.
No forgiveness for touching his family.
The shorty said nothing. His demeanor screamed he wasn't in charge.
Someone else was. The one holding Yi Jingang and luring him here.
Yi Jinpyeong expanded his senses again. High on the hill, atop a tree branch, sat a man.
Odd he hadn't spotted him immediately, even without hiding. That skilled.
Slipping Yi Jinpyeong's senses entirely.
The man wore fine, luxurious robes—not flashy. Glossy face like a gisaeng's pretty boy. Pale skin, narrow eyes, slender white fingers.
Grinning broadly, he spoke.
“Whoa, you got here faster than I thought.”
“......”
“So you're the youngest punk? Looking pretty sane for someone who was a raving lunatic till recently.”
The man smirked for no reason.
Yi Jinpyeong eyed him and replied.
“Tang Clan, huh.”