The Third-Rate Warrior Welcomes Uninvited Guests
Crash. The sturdy table, famed for being made from O-mok wood of Mount Seolgak, shattered into pieces.
The deputy commander of the Milgung Squad, in the middle of his report, trembled violently. With the table destroyed, the next thing to break might just be his own head if he wasn't careful.
"What nonsense is that?"
Namgung Sangwon's voice rumbled low like a growl, heightening the terror. It was impossible to tell if he was venting rage or barely holding it back. The deputy's words tumbled out even faster.
"When the commander didn't show at the appointed time, I led the squad members there."
"And he was dead?"
"Yes, sir."
"Who was it? Who dared ruin the grand scheme?!"
What Namgung Sangwon harbored was pure fury after all. As it erupted, killing intent flooded every direction, reaching even the Milgung Squad members waiting outside. They gulped thickly.
"Th-that..."
"Speak! Clearly!"
"It... it was one person."
"One? He took on twenty Milgung Squad warriors alone?"
"Y-yes, sir."
"And who was it?"
"Well..."
The deputy couldn't bring himself to say it. They hadn't found a single trace of the culprit.
"We couldn't tell."
"You..."
"I swear it's true, sir. The footprints were faint, and there were signs of ambush, so we tentatively suspect it might have been an assassin."
"An assassin?"
As the deputy's desperate plea for life fueled his words, they flowed smoothly like a clear stream—eloquence he never knew he had.
"Yes, sir. From the common traces, it seems they ambushed at first, then faced us head-on once discovered. We had doused the lights to hide our presence, which might have led to this mess."
"An assassin, huh..."
Did the deputy's earnestness get through? The fury faded from Namgung Sangwon's face, replaced by doubt.
Namgung Sangwon turned to his son, Namgung Songju. "What do you think?"
"I've heard assassins use indistinct techniques to leave no traces."
"So it was a real assassin?"
"There's something odd."
"What?"
"They didn't ambush all the way through—only at the start, then switched to open combat later."
"True."
"Even scouring the entire martial world, assassins who could face Milgung Squad warriors head-on and survive can be counted on one hand. And there's no reason they'd work for the Wang family."
"Indeed."
The top assassins couldn't be bought with money. Even if Wang Geumsan had hired one for personal protection, it was absurd that such an elite would tangle with the Milgung Squad.
"What should we do?"
At the deputy's wary question, Namgung Sangwon replied, "They've erased their tracks, I assume?"
"Yes, sir. We wiped everything before starting the mission."
"Dispose of the bodies and clean up any remaining traces."
Once the deputy left, silence settled over the inner chamber with only Namgung Sangwon and Songju remaining.
Namgung Songju asked, "Do you think the plan leaked?"
"Impossible."
"Then it was coincidence?"
"Hm..."
They'd controlled the risk of leaks from the start. Missions were fragmented and tangled so even participants only understood the full picture after completion. Only Sangwon, Songju, the commander, and the deputy knew the overall plan.
A leak was simply impossible.
"How did they know?"
"We'll catch the bastard and ask."
"Can we find him?"
"It's the Wang family. If he saved Wang Soso, he'll want a reward. Whether it was coincidence or he knew the plan—we'll see then."
"I'll have them watch the Wang estate."
"Do it."
The grand scheme of Rebellion Against Heaven had faltered. They would claim proper compensation.
# Wang Soso missing for a week.
The Murim Alliance Hefei branch chief inwardly recoiled at Wang Geumsan's appearance after just seven days. He looked like a different man—haggard beyond belief. His plump flesh had withered, and his bloodshot eyes suggested he hadn't slept.
Wang Geumsan parted his desert-dry lips. "Any traces?"
The grating voice, scarcely human, snapped the chief to attention. "We found some, but... it's uncertain intel..."
"Show me."
"Sh-shouldn't I supplement it more before reporting? It's a grave matter..."
Whoever got caught in this blaze would be scorched. No one could withstand Wang Geumsan's wrath unscathed.
"Hand it over."
"Estate Lord, I understand your haste, but acting rashly could..."
"My daughter has a disease. A wretched one that can't survive three days outside the Wang estate. It's been a week now. No word from the fiends. Must I show more patience?"
Of course, he understood Wang Geumsan's anguish. That's why handing over this shoddy report felt even riskier.
As the saying went, martial arts supplanted skill. The culprits weren't professionals, but they were experts. Traces remained, yet unidentified—and without identity, they couldn't pinpoint suspects. He'd hastily compiled a list of vicious groups bold enough to meddle in Hefei under Murim Alliance noses, aided by advice from the oft-interacting Namgung family. Empty-handed would invite thunder.
"Do you know how much I donate to the Murim Alliance yearly?"
"Ah! Of course, your generous contributions for the martial world's peace..."
"Need I say more?"
The chief swallowed hard. How far would this report's fallout spread? Yet his hand, ignoring his worries, extended the document.
"Geunsamun... Blood Lord Sect... Tanghyeon Sect? Isn't Tanghyeon orthodox?"
"That's why I said it's insufficient. We'll refine it further."
"Enough. I know your capabilities well. From now on, the Wang estate handles it."
It had to happen, the chief thought. Could he bear responsibility for this report?
As he shook off his unease, a shout rang out.
"Estate Lord! Estate Lord!!"
The voice's owner burst in without waiting for a reply—rude enough to furrow brows of guest and host alike.
But.
"The young miss is back!!!"
"...What?"
This was no time for etiquette.
Thud. The chief's painstaking report hit the floor.
# The mountains shed winter for spring, and the biting cold winds had turned to warm breezes. New sprouts pushed through dry leaves in the forest, sunlight melting the winter ice with gentle warmth.
Wang Soso savored it all.
"This... is spring."
"Feeling the seasons for the first time?"
"My room was always frozen like midwinter. Summer flowers and autumn leaves outside the window felt like paintings—unreal."
Her old life had changed to one like any ordinary person's. She walked on her own, basked in sunlight, sweated, strained her muscles to exhaustion—and her chronic illness slept soundly, vanished.
"Still, don't overdo it. The weakness lingers; stabilizing will take time."
"How can I ever repay this grace..."
"Your father bestows much merit on people. Think of it as his good karma."
Wang Soso's eyes brimmed with emotion as she gazed at Jin Sowoon. Not passing by injustice was impressive enough, but crediting her father's deeds over his own. Despite the small age gap, he seemed mature, capable, magnanimous, handsome...
"Ahem."
"Are you alright?"
"..."
"Was walking too much?"
"No, it's... um."
Was it okay to say this? Dealing with a peer like him for the first time was daunting for Wang Soso.
"Speak freely."
"Well... could I call you Ora-beo-ni?"
Her voice trailed to a whisper; Jin Sowoon had to lean in to hear.
"Haha, if that's easier, go ahead."
"...Then call me Soso. And speak casually, please."
"Sure, Soso."
For a moment, she thought his hand might pat her head—her heart raced.
"Ah, sorry. Habit. Girls hate this, right?"
As he flinched and pulled away, Wang Soso bit her lip in regret.
"Ah... I-I'm fine with it, actually. No experience yet."
"Got it. Let's head down. Your father's waiting."
On the way back to the Wang estate, Jin Sowoon described the world she'd yet to know: street snacks for kids at markets, boating on summer lakes, autumn mountains vivid with color for hikes.
Things she'd nearly missed, now within reach.
"Ora-beo-ni, I want to try that market candy. Will you go with me?"
"Sure."
"And lake boating? Together?"
"That too."
"Autumn mountain climb? With you?"
"Climbing needs training. Up for it?"
"I learned Tae-eul Heart Technique. I'm a Tae-eul Gate disciple now—time to train."
"Then you'll be my junior sister? Tell your father well."
In turn, Wang Soso shared her world.
"Every three years, branch and shop heads gather at the estate for a festival. Endless food and music."
"Sounds amazing."
"Father'll throw a huge feast for you. If not, I'll nag him."
"Don't trouble him."
"Big reward too—he dotes on me."
"Get healthy quick and repay him, Soso."
"We have tons of treasures. Something fitting for you, maybe."
"Must've been fun seeing them."
Wang Soso chattered excitedly. She'd never known she could talk so much. A full day walking and talking, yet no boredom. The illness? Or something else? The young girl didn't know.
"...Ora-beo-ni?"
She saw Jin Sowoon step back.
"You can go alone from here, right?"
"Yes?! What do you mean—come with me!"
Her heart sank.
"You know the chaos your disappearance caused in Hefei. Showing up together now risks misunderstandings."
"No! What are you saying? Ora-beo-ni! It won't happen. Let me repay you."
Jin Sowoon stepped forward, ruffling her hair with his rough hand.
Wang Soso froze, eyes wide, mouth agape like a fish.
"Gaining a new junior sister is reward enough. No worries."
"B-but..."
"Didn't you say you'd join Tae-eul Gate? We'll see each other often. Relax."
"Ora-beo-ni..."
With that, Jin Sowoon turned and walked away steadily.
Wang Soso stared blankly at his back for a long while.
And then.
"Ah, young miss!!!"
"Wang Soso!!!"
The estate folk began spotting her one by one.
# Bounties and treasures tempted, but barging in after Wang Soso was unwise. Claiming credit would invite prying questions; before any reward, they might suspect him as accomplice or kidnapper. With the Murim Alliance Hefei branch involved, succeeding where they failed? Greedy as they were, would they stay quiet?
"Still, mission accomplished ahead of schedule."
He hadn't imagined her chronic constitution. Thanks to that, she learned Tae-eul Heart Technique and wanted to join Tae-eul Gate. Would Wang Geumsan allow it? Regardless, saving his daughter and curing her should net sponsorship rivaling Gyerong Merchant Group.
High hopes.
With Wang Geumsan's aid, Tae-eul Gate needn't yield the special admissions slot to Gye Cheolyeong.
"Saryeon takes the academy entry, and the entry plaque goes to someone else."
Special admission or plaque—easy paths, but entering alone was like a lonely island mid-ocean. Future wars needed loyal limbs moving at his will. Pointless without them graduating together.
Tae-eul Gate ranked lowest among the 108 Peaks. Building influence? Like uncompacted snow—impossible.
Plus another exam reason.
"Plenty of spirit herbs during the academy test too."
The academy exam was hellish because they stoked the flames. One way: spirit herbs they provided. Once found, deaths skyrocketed.
"Need at least one year of inner arts before entry."
Eight months to winter exam start. Boost inner energy, rethink martial arts.
"Socheon Sword Technique hits a wall after a hundred days, a thousand."
With surging inner energy, the bottleneck was Socheon Sword Technique's capacity. It shattered foes' arts with Breaking Sword Form, but if they used others, he'd fight at base level.
And for that, Socheon had clear limits.
"Radiant Heaven Divine Palm needs more inner energy too..."
From the Seolmae Group haul: a manual from the Radiant Heaven Divine Lord, one of the Ten Supremes three centuries ago. He'd reached absolute mastery with one art—welcome, but problematic. One palm strike depleted his energy, fainting him.
"Gossips say he fired five plus in succession. His pinnacle was inner arts, not palm."
Still a pig in a necklace.
"Gotta find that one."
Deepest in his mental library—hidden even from himself.
"What're you spacing out for?"
"Huh? Saryeon?"
Hong Saryeon glared, cheeks puffed like a chipmunk.
"No 'Saryeon'—told you. Where've you been wandering?"
"Working day and night for our Tae-eul Gate..."
"Whatever. Get in—guest's waiting."
"From Wang estate already?"
"Wang? What? From the Namgung family."
"Huh? ...Namgung family?"
"Know something, senior brother?"
Did Namgung Sangwon already know and come? His heart sank.