The Proof is Complete

The drinking party dragged on late into the night without end. The short fellow—a mercenary who'd wandered the Central Plains before briefly joining Jang Gapae—insisted even in his drunken stupor on testing himself against Yi Jinpyeong, vowing to fight like a true man and die honorably. Finally, unable to stand it any longer, Chwi Hwa Bangju Nak Pung-hyeon stepped in on his behalf. He easily knocked the short man flat, then asked what sort of story lay behind his stubbornness.

Only then did it come out—the short fellow had joined Jang Gapae as a mercenary, and the force backing them while they raided Yi Gajang was none other than members of the Sichuan Dang Clan. Nak Pung-hyeon paled at the revelation.

"Of all factions, the Sichuan Dang Clan? ...Could we possibly ally with them?"

As if such a thing were possible. Instead, Nak Pung-hyeon extracted a promise from Yi Jinpyeong: if clashes arose ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠soon with Geumrin Association, Cheol-a Bang, or Dongjeong Lake Waterway Gang, he'd step in personally to help. The difference between having one peak-level expert who could shift the tide of battle and having two was night and day.

It was dawn by the time Nak Pung-hyeon rose from his seat, his face alight with genuine joy.

"My thanks. I'm not boasting, but you can't imagine the harsh treatment women in the back alleys—those not under Chwi Hwa Bang's protection—endure. If we can expand the territories we manage, the number of women suffering unjust persecution and mistreatment will shrink too."

"Looks like liquor and women aren't just money-makers for you."

"If they were, how could I have the gall to approach Yi Gajang and propose an alliance? The riverside back alleys are my hometown—my mother, even. Protecting women and fighting for them is my natural duty."

"Women aside, what about the liquor?"

"Liquor is my master."

Nak Pung-hyeon staggered off in high spirits. Yi Jinpyeong realized belatedly that he hadn't thanked the man properly to the end.

He ran into Un Sa-nang alone in the warehouse again.

"You vanished midway."

"I felt deeply uncomfortable."

"Chwi Hwa Bangju left just a bit ago."

"Quite the intriguing fellow. Far higher caliber than I gauged. Forming friendly ties with a man like that will be a huge boon for Yi Gajang. But I didn't leave because of him."

"Then?"

"...Because of your second brother."

Hm. He'd thought Yi Jinun was purely innocent, but turns out he was a lecher after all.

"If my brother made some blunder, let me apologize on his behalf."

"A blunder? What are you imagining?"

Un Sa-nang burst into laughter.

"Do I look like someone who'd just take it lying down if someone erred against me? What made me uncomfortable was how excessively kind your second brother was to me. The way he fussed over me so attentively and deferentially at the party..."

"Didn't you save his life? It's only natural."

"Plenty of people wouldn't act that way. Especially after seeing my face. They shrink back like they've spotted a monster, subtly keeping their distance whether they mean to or not. Others might miss it, but not my eyes."

"Didn't I warn you? Deliberately provoking empty reactions from others with that grotesque human-skin mask. It's deception, escapism, and an insult."

"Are you saying I should remove it?"

Yi Jinpyeong shook his head after a moment's thought. Considering her astonishingly beautiful features, ditching the mask might stir up even bigger problems.

"Both extremes are no good. Why not find something a bit more ordinary?"

"I'll consider it. Now, heal me."

"We talk about the origin of your demonic arts first."

"No. Purging the demonic qi comes first. I've finally steeled my resolve—hard as it was—so I want out of this curse as soon as possible. I saved your brother's life; that's worth the request, no?"

A woman who never yielded an inch. Yi Jinpyeong let out a small sigh. Lately, for some reason, he kept ending up in situations where he had to bend his own stubbornness.

"Turn around."

He placed his palm on her back.

Un Sa-nang didn't regain consciousness for quite a while. Once aware, she immediately circulated her qi to check her state. Her face lit up radiantly upon confirming the demonic qi that had dominated her depths was utterly gone—the ugly human-skin mask and black veil couldn't dim that joy.

But it wasn't all positive. Her unnaturally high martial prowess for her apparent age and training stemmed partly from the demonic arts igniting her inner force. Now purged, her inner energy had sharply declined from before.

Yet she showed no concern upon realizing it.

"I never dreamed I could escape this energy. So it really was possible."

"Didn't I tell you? I'm a man who can do anything."

"Arrogant as ever, but this time I truly concede. Thank you."

Her words brimmed with sincerity. A day full of thanks, it seemed.

"As I said before, a little later and even I couldn't have treated it. Death would have been the only option. Lucky your cultivation isn't deep yet."

"'Lucky my cultivation isn't deep'—that's a new one."

"One more thing. Once hooked on demonic qi, even wanting to escape is hard. Demonic arts parasitize the host's body and mind themselves. If your will hadn't been ironclad, I wouldn't have even tried."

"My own will..."

"Yes. No ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠one can help those who won't help themselves. Salvation is ultimately your own burden."

For once, Un Sa-nang fell silent. Lost in thought, she stared blankly out the window. After waiting a long while, Yi Jinpyeong spoke first.

"Now it's your turn. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Explain where you learned Ma An Seop Hon Gong, and your ties to the Demonic Cult."

Just then, slanting moonlight pierced her translucent veil. Vaguely visible: her pockmarked human-skin mask. Un Sa-nang slowly removed the veil and mask.

Beneath lay a captivating face—one that could sway any being, young or old, man or woman...

But it meant nothing special to Yi Jinpyeong. His eyes were clear and serene. Hers, meeting his, were equally clear and profound. The faint demonic taint was gone.

In a low, clear voice, Un Sa-nang said,

"He was my childhood friend."

A somewhat abrupt start. Who, exactly? But Yi Jinpyeong let her continue.

"An ordinary little neighborhood, like any other. That's where we grew up together. We'd smear ourselves in mud piles from dawn till late night. But that boy was special somehow. He never forgot anything he'd seen or heard once, and whenever others spoke, he'd always top it with something more. Everyone in the neighborhood knew he was exceptional. Then one day, he vanished without a trace—from our village, from my life."

"After that, my life turned miserable. Not solely because he disappeared, but from that moment, everything seemed to go wrong. As years passed, every man in the village started leering at me, groping or trying to drag me off more and more. My furious parents fought tooth and nail, then packed up and fled the village. Soon after, we ran into bandits—my whole family massacred. I alone survived. Thanks to my face... and because of it. After that, I was sold around as a plaything. All that before I even turned fifteen."

"It was my fifteenth birthday. I was then the possession and toy of a piggish fat merchant. As the beast grunted atop me, a sharp blade suddenly cleaved the pig's head in two. Amid the white and red splatter everywhere—I recognized him at a glance. The man who'd single-stroked dozens of warriors and bisected the pig's skull was that boy from back then. My childhood friend, my first love, my hero... Even after years, he'd remembered me, come back to save me from this mire."

"I threw my arms around him and sobbed. I asked where he'd been all that time, how he'd learned martial arts. He hugged me tight but hesitated to answer. Just kept repeating he'd seized a great opportunity, that he had to prove himself. Turns out raiding the merchant was just part of that proof, and saving me mere coincidence. But I didn't care. It wasn't coincidence—it was fate. My life would change now, redeemed by him, I firmly believed."

"Our reunion was brief. He taught me basic self-defense, handed me a fortune I'd never dream of touching—all the merchant's wealth from killing him. Money meant nothing to him, he said. He had to go back, but promised to return whenever chance allowed. With his money, I hired guards and built a base to protect myself, diligently practicing the arts he taught. I didn't want to disappoint him when we met again."

"He kept his word. Every few months like clockwork, he'd visit, stay the night, then vanish. But the intervals grew longer. I was disappointed but couldn't show it. All I could do was wait for his return."

"It was a deep night years after his last visit. I entered my bedroom, and there he sat. I'd thought he'd completely forgotten me, so I was honestly startled. His state was off too—no focus in his eyes, muttering strange words nonstop. I gripped his hand tight, sat, and demanded what happened, where he'd been—like the day he first saved me. Then suddenly, he snapped to, looked straight at me."

Un Sa-nang shuddered violently, her long tale faltering.

"I'll never forget that gaze. Not human eyes. He was human, yet not. Whatever happened in those years, he'd become something else entirely. With an emotionless face, he said—"

She turned to Yi Jinpyeong, mimicking the figure from her tale—her expression hollow as an empty shell, a single thin smirk on her lips alone.

""The proof is complete.""