The Messenger from the Past (2)
None of the Small Justice Squad survivors had ever even been near the Murim Academy. For third-rate martial artists scraping by on meager stipends with their half-baked techniques, the academy was an untouchable otherworld.
They couldn't even dream of it without it being a luxury. All they could do was despise academy graduates with a passion.
And among them, Yaryul Jae had been the worst. The guy barely spoke normally, but his eyes would roll back whenever he spotted an academy alum.
He'd pick a fight, and when the opponent casually struck back, he'd counter with his half-assed martial arts. Of course, it always ended with Yaryul Jae on the ground, humiliated.
Undeterred, he'd challenge academy grads every time and get beaten half to death each round.
That's how it had been. There was no way he could've had any connection to the academy...
What the hell is this guy's deal?
Yaryul Jae had never mentioned anyone from his sect entering the academy. Yuyunmun's arts weren't one-strike kills—hardly the type ambitious martial artists craved.
Plus, he'd said his sect struggled with poverty because the techniques were incomplete. Yaryul Jae himself had wandered as a ronin his whole life to perfect them before joining the Murim Alliance.
For a powerless, penniless sect to pass the regular entrance exam? That was damn near impossible right now...
"Hey, you fucking bastards! Come at me all together!"
A shrill voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked ahead.
The scrawny academy student who'd just been pummeled was yelling for the next one, but no one among the onlookers budged.
Still half-baked, as expected.
The big guy from the back stood up like nothing happened, grabbed the kid's shoulder, and tripped him with a kick.
Thud.
The academy student crumpled weakly. Thwack. The big guy's kick slammed into his face, turning it into a bloody mess in seconds.
This ain't right.
I circulated my inner energy and unleashed a light wave of killing intent.
"!!"
The leisurely spectators' eyes widened, and they jumped to their feet.
I walked forward slowly, warning them. "Cut it out, yeah?"
The big guy froze, glaring at me. I flashed him a bright smile. "I'm in a good mood today, see."
"...?"
He looked confused. Well, it wasn't meant for him to get anyway.
I waved my hand in front of his face like swatting a fly. "Mind fucking off?"
Crack—his jaw ground audibly, face twisting in rage.
"Watch your mouth, Jin Sowoon."
Then, one of the watchers in Sandong Ak family robes spoke up. Ak Jupyeong, I think.
"This is personal beef. Mind your business and scram."
Oh ho, so he's the leader.
"Hm, you don't know what 'personal' means? How many of you are there?"
I tilted my head at him, then dramatically smacked my forehead. "Ah! Right, the Ak family doesn't teach literacy!"
Veins bulged on his forehead.
"You dare insult my clan?!"
"Now you and I have personal beef too, huh?"
"..."
"As academy rep, I can't just let this slide."
I beckoned him with a finger. "If you're confident, take me on. Or fuck off."
He smirked. "Still think you're academy rep?"
This prick wouldn't shut up.
That's why you don't reason with idiots.
I dug in my ear, ramping up my aura. "Fuck off already, assholes!"
I exploded my killing intent, and they scrambled back.
"...Grr!"
Realizing they'd retreated, their faces flushed red. Ak Jupyeong bit his lip, then spun around.
"Let's go."
With their dumbass leader backing off, the hangers-on glared at me once more before following him away.
"Tch. They never listen to nice words."
I clicked my tongue and approached the guy who'd been getting thrashed.
First time seeing this face...
I checked if he might be connected to Yaryul Jae, but he looked nothing like him. The only match was the sect emblem on his clothes.
"Hey, you okay?"
I shook his shoulder. The kid, curled up protecting his head, snapped his eyes open and bolted up.
"Br-bring it! Come on, you bastards!"
He dropped into a fighting stance. Kid had guts, at least.
"They're gone. Stand down."
"...Gone?"
He finally looked around. I nodded and started to ask, "You from Yuyunmun...?"
"Where'd those fuckers go?!"
"..."
The hyped-up kid glared at me, eyes bulging.
"I chased 'em off. Relax now..."
"You chased 'em?"
The scrawny kid trembled. "Who the hell are you to chase them? I was this close to teaching them a lesson!"
"..."
Did none of these idiots learn to read? "Teaching a lesson" used weird as hell.
"Bring those fuckers back! Now!"
How the hell do you bring back guys you chased off?
"Then you take their beating instead!"
The little shit grabbed my hand, trying to unleash Yuyeop Snowflake. If Lotus Flower was counterattack, Snowflake was pure offense. It maximized your own qi since you couldn't borrow the foe's—but this kid didn't know shit and just twisted blindly.
This little fucker...
Crossing the line.
My patience gone, I circulated energy, hoisted him up whole, and slammed him down.
Boom!
"Gahk!"
The impact was so brutal he puked up his lunch. Now he'd listen.
"Calm down and let's talk..."
But before I finished, the kid sprang up and bolted.
"J-just you wait, Jin Sowoon! I'll get revenge! Watch your back!"
He limped off at a snail's pace.
"Ha!"
I let out a baffled laugh. No info gained, but one thing was clear: he was tied to Yaryul Jae. Brothers, probably.
That shitty temper doesn't lie—blood don't lie.
A strange nostalgia welled up.
I headed to the dorms to find Jang Ujae. As the hub for unaffiliated folks, he might know.
"Ah... that lone wolf?"
Sure enough, a brief description and he knew. "Yuyunmun? Yuhunmun? Something like that."
"Really from Yuyunmun?"
"Know where it is? First I'd heard of it."
"Nah, I've heard the name."
Jang Ujae nodded a couple times. "Odd guy anyway. Doesn't hang with anyone, never seen him drinking or outing privately. Trains like crazy but doesn't improve much."
"They isolating him?"
He scratched his cheek. "Well, Baekdohoe, Jeongdohoe, 12 Bongseong treat us like dirt anyway. So we stick together."
"But why him?"
"He's... super quiet usually."
"...What's with 'lone wolf'?"
He rolled his eyes, recalling. "Baekdohoe guy picked a fight once. No big deal. He demanded an apology, but the guy ignored him."
"And?"
He paused, then raised his hands dramatically. "He bashed the guy's head with a rock..."
Holy shit...
Even his antics matched.
"Baekdohoe ganged up for revenge after. He hunted them down one by one for payback... It's been three months."
"What a sight."
"And he attacks anyone who tries helping... We can't do shit."
"Even crazier than I thought..."
"Pardon?"
"Nah, just thinking aloud. But..."
I tilted my head at him. "Why the formal speech?"
"Haha, just comfy this way."
"..."
"Uncomfortable?"
"Nah, not really."
His eyes sparkled like a puppy wagging its tail. "Can I keep it up then?"
"If it's easier..."
As I wrapped up and turned, a forgotten question hit. "Oh yeah, what's his name?"
"Name? ...Ah! Weird one, so I remember—Yaryul Geuk."
"..."
See? Told ya. Brain full of hot air instead of smarts—he's Yaryul Jae's blood for sure.
That sparked curiosity. Why hadn't Yaryul Jae mentioned his brother?
He wasn't chatty, but he didn't hide his past. Broke sect, half-assed arts. He'd ronin'ed young to fix both—sending cash home while perfecting Yuyeop Divine Art through battles, like any poison specialist.
But that fairy-tale success was for freaks like Hyeok Mu-gang. Like my seniors, Yaryul Jae failed too.
Drifted into the Small Justice Squad. Paradoxically, when he'd given up, he completed it—but post-Great War, seven years after Yuyunmun was uprooted entirely.
[Damn it, completing this now...]
He'd hated his success, drowning in more booze than usual, tormented.
What happened between them? Bad blood?
Anyway, I wanted to hear it from Yaryul Geuk direct. If I passed the completed art via him, maybe Jae's fate changes.
But no sign in classrooms or his 8-man dorm.
Getting beat by Baekdohoe again?
Giving up, as I turned—something flew at me from behind.
I dodged, snatching it midair.
A... fucking rock?
Sharp-angled stone in my palm.
"Hah..."
Too ridiculous. I looked toward the thrower.
"That fucker!"
Yaryul Geuk, panicked, spun and fled.
Still yapping while running. "J-Jin Sowoon! Watch out at night!"
Last time he warned about the back of my head before chucking a rock—now night ambush?
"Figures, Yaryul Jae's kin."
No wonder Jae never spoke of him—probably hated each other's guts. Folks despise their own flaws in others, right? Self-loathing.
"Helping this one would just give me a headache."
Not time to talk yet. I gave up the chase and headed back to dorms.
"Huff, huff, huff."
Yaryul Geuk ducked behind a building, peeking out. No pursuit.
"Heh! See? Now he's scared of my ambushes—won't sleep a wink!"
His laughter faded. "Geuk-ah, what the hell are you doing?"
Self-loathing shook his head.
Jin Sowoon was legendary. From a nothing sect like Yuyunmun compared to 108 Peaks, yet he dragged his juniors through exams to top the reps.
Me? Rode brothers' sacrifices to get here, but instead of perfecting arts, I just brawled daily.
That's why I said no...
Big bro failed completing our half-assed arts in the jianghu, then shoved me in saying you can do it.
During exams, second bro died, third crippled. Big bro said ignore it, focus—but easy said.
Still, grinding to meet expectations revealed one truth.
...I can't.
Every night: Just die already. Never see tomorrow's sun.
That's why he hated Jin Sowoon. Too bright. Too big. Standing tall before the strong. Unshaken by any problem.
Utterly contemptible.
But the arrow turned inward. No... I despise myself.
Too late for anything. Second bro's death and third's arm behind; unbreakable wall ahead.
"When can I visit second bro..."
Today, his gentle smile lingered.
He shook it off, walking. Nap now for night ambush.
Then.
"There you are."
Sinister voice from behind. Head snapped up.
Ak Jupyeong. Start of this shitshow. Baekdohoe goons lined up—triple the usual.
"Fuckers. Cheating..."
"Don't worry. We take you one-on-one."
"Fuck you!"
Fist-pump and he sprinted opposite. Barely steps before a kick from the alley launched him.
Crash.
"Guhk."
Guts churning from the force. Ak Jupyeong sauntered close, squatting.
"What's with Jin Sowoon?"
Staring intently. Scared of him too, huh?
"Why curious?"
"We got plans. If you're connected, we delay punishment."
Sell out Jin Sowoon to escape?
"Pfft."
"Laughing?"
He swallowed boiling scorn. Stooped to selling out the despised?
"Why would I know a guy like Jin Sowoon?"
"..."
Ferret-sharp eyes. Ak Jupyeong smiled.
"Good. Delaying crushing you felt off anyway."
Smile intact—opposite second bro's—as he rose slowly.