Those Who Chase the Dragon
Bang Du-chil was persistent. Every time their eyes met, he'd keep yammering on about becoming sworn brothers, following him around like a shadow. If Dongryong hadn't gotten hurt in the battle and needed time to recover, Jin Sowoon would've bolted long ago.
"Sorry... about that."
Dongryong, who had just risen from his sickbed, stood between Geum Pyo and Eunho with his head bowed like a prisoner.
"Please forgive me, Big Brother."
Surprisingly, Dongryong remembered clearly what he'd done. He insisted that even though he'd clearly taken the hit in his mind, it hadn't been his body moving. When the killer star awakened, there was no way to observe the outside world through mere consciousness. The fact that Dongryong had held onto his awareness was entirely thanks to the Tae-eul True Scripture.
The good news was that the higher his attainment in the Tae-eul True Scripture, the more firmly his consciousness would take root. Dongryong would never turn into a vicious demon again.
"I swear... I won't ever do it again."
"Do what?"
"...Th-that kind of stuff."
Unable to string words together properly, his voice choked with sobs. Jin Sowoon barely suppressed a laugh at those glistening eyes, on the verge of spilling over.
"You mean turning into a demon like that?"
"Ahem, ahem."
Tears streamed from eyes wide like a rabbit's. He still seemed terrified that the killer star might awaken at any moment.
"But what if it happens again next time...?"
"Waaah. Sniff, sniff."
Dongryong finally burst into tears. Geum Pyo and Eunho dropped to their knees.
"Big Brother! I'll take responsibility!"
"Big Brother! Me too!"
"And how exactly do you two plan to take responsibility?"
"...Last night, we talked it over. If... if Dongryong tries to turn into a demon again, Eunho and I will..."
"Stop right there! What the hell are you talking about?"
His heart plummeted suddenly. What the fuck are these idiots thinking?
Jin Sowoon let out a deep sigh.
"Don't worry. Dongryong won't turn into a demon again."
"Huh? Really, Big Brother?"
"Yeah. Of course, to make it truly stable, he'll need to grind on the Tae-eul True Scripture until he reaches much higher attainment. But even at five stars, it'll suppress the killer star, and at seven stars, he'll never fall to it again."
"Dongryong! You hear that? You're no demon!"
"See? I told you there's nothing to worry about!"
Dongryong grinned through snot and tears. Whether he was just happy not to become a demon or thrilled to stick together, who could say? The others didn't know it, but thanks to the Tae-eul True Scripture, Dongryong had gained talent as a martial artist that outshone any special constitution.
"That's why you can't slack on training from now on. The reason I pushed you so hard on the circulation technique was for exactly this."
"Of course, of course. Even if you said beans make better soybean paste, I'd believe you, Big Brother."
"Jeez."
Three villages around Cheonmok Mountain had produced twelve hundred refugees. Their homes lay in ruins, untended thatched roofs collapsed entirely, and blood from the bandits seeped into streams and wells, making life impossible.
"Mom, I'm hungry."
"Yeah, hang in there a bit. Let's go up the mountain and forage some edible greens."
"You're not leaving me behind again, right?"
"...Yeah, we'll go together this time."
Still, they felt infinite gratitude just for surviving to see each other again.
"Everyone's thinking of abandoning their homes and heading toward Hangzhou. It's too hard to even survive this winter here."
Heo Village Chief, now the spokesman for all three villages, sighed deeply.
"At least we're lucky to reunite like this. It's all thanks to you."
"No need for that."
Heo Village Chief pulled out the five-thousand-nyang bill of exchange Jin Sowoon had given him.
"What you entrusted to me."
"I told you to buy what you need."
"We're not that shameless."
Heo paused, then continued.
"We'll repay this grace somehow. Not in my lifetime, obviously, but my children's... if not, my grandchildren's... and if not them, my descendants after. We'll make sure of it."
The old man looked guilty, having nothing to express his thanks with. They'd searched Ssangmak Stronghold but found no treasure. According to Yang Gunbaek, the bandits had spent a fortune expanding recently. They'd crushed the stronghold, but with nothing to show, there was zilch to distribute to the villages.
"If it takes that long, I might not live to see the benefits."
"..."
Jin Sowoon handed the bill back.
"It won't be much, but use it to rebuild the villages."
If the villages vanished, rebuilding a new bandit stronghold on Cheonmok Mountain would take ages. And if the bandits couldn't grow strong, it would delay Bang Du-chil's takeover of the Nokrim Alliance. Besides, he knew too well the pain of innocents suffering in massive battles or wars.
If you really need more cash, there are a few more places we could hit.
"...But..."
The old man, who'd never taken a free handout in his life, seemed terrified by the sheer sum of five thousand nyang.
"How about this? Rebuild with this money, and send a portion of the villages' future profits to Tae-eul Gate."
"...?!"
The old man's eyes flashed.
"Think of it as an investment—does that ease your mind?"
People like Heo Village Chief felt better carrying even a small burden. It was the trait of those who'd never gotten anything for free.
"Th-then..."
"That work?"
Heo nodded vigorously.
"For the next thirty years, we'll send one-tenth of the three villages' profits to your sect."
"N-no... that's too much."
He'd only meant to remove the burden, not slap shackles on themselves.
"No. It's the least we can do so I can accept this money and the villagers can settle back comfortably."
"..."
The villages around Cheonmok Mountain were mandatory stops for merchants. Exhausted from crossing the high peaks, travelers had to rest here before or after. Heo and the villagers had no clue how much they could develop.
"In return, I have a request."
"What is it?"
"Allow us to put Tae-eul Gate's name on the villages."
"What do you...?"
"Let us say these villages are under Tae-eul Gate's protection."
This was a common protection contract in commercial areas with established sects, but taking three whole villages, spread out like this? Unheard of. Especially since Tae-eul Gate was in seclusion, too far to project real influence.
"At least then others might fear our villages."
Heo kept glancing at Bang Du-chil and his crew. Probably wary of new bandit strongholds on Cheonmok Mountain. But after seeing him dig a massive pit with one palm strike during cleanup, dump all the bodies in, and cover it with another punch, he was speechless.
"That might be tough. Tae-eul Gate isn't exactly a fearsome sect..."
Then, Baek So-ryeong, who'd been listening, whispered to Bang Du-chil. He hunched his massive frame to hear, nodded, and stepped forward.
"I'll do it!"
"Pardon?"
"I'll protect the three villages."
"..."
"But in return, become my sworn brother. That gives me the justification."
"..."
Heo beamed at Jin Sowoon, while Baek So-ryeong stifled giggles beside Bang Du-chil. In his past life, he'd caught flak from the Murim Alliance for collaborating with the Nokrim Alliance a few times—suspected of being a black path spy. Now, as the future Nokrim Alliance leader's sworn brother? No defense against being labeled black path outright.
"...If you could do that, I'd die without regrets..."
Heo stared with desperate eyes, like dictating his last will. This was a total siege.
"Haa... Why do you insist on becoming sworn brothers with me? My sect's nothing special, no background to speak of."
"I've never met anyone greater than you."
"Greater? I got lucky with some opportunity. But you, Big Brother Bang—you built insane martial arts from nothing. My potential doesn't even compare."
"The 'greatness' I mean isn't about martial prowess."
"...Pardon?"
"A man who steps forward fearlessly for the weak, who gives away his precious assets without hesitation—that kind of magnanimity is rare even searching the world."
"..."
"You surprised me for the first time. Can't make a guy like that my subordinate, so sworn brothers it is. Natural for any real man, right?"
Ridiculous logic, but no escape. Heo, who'd been on death's door moments ago, nodded like his neck might snap.
Jin Sowoon sighed deeply. Like I've ever walked the righteous white path anyway.
"Fine. Let's do it."
"Fetch a knife!"
"Why a knife?"
"Sworn brothers need a blood oath..."
"You see blood everywhere and still crave more? Let's just share brotherhood cups!"
"Yeah, yeah. I don't wanna smell blood anymore either."
"Sounds good? Hey, Heo Village Chief, got any booze in the village?"
"You lot drank it all, and now you ask?!"
Amusingly, Heo cursed at Bang Du-chil despite his divine might. Bang didn't mind much either.
"Hrm... Guess we buy some from a nearby village. Wait here, little brother."
They hadn't even shared cups yet, and already "little brother." The road ahead felt treacherous.
"Truly impressive, Young Master Jin."
"What is?"
"Seems like a loss for you now, but in a few years? Massive profits from the three villages' revenue around Cheonmok Mountain, plus sworn brotherhood with the Nokrim Alliance leader. Right?"
Baek So-ryeong spoke as if she'd seen Bang Du-chil as Nokrim Alliance leader in her future sight.
"Was that your idea, Lady Baek?"
At his suspicion, she flashed a meaningful smile.
"You really told the future Nokrim Alliance leader to brother up with a white path sect member?"
"That was purely his idea. He wanted you so bad but didn't know how, so I just gave a nudge."
"..."
"Plus, I figured you'd be our biggest threat down the line. Better to tie you close on purpose."
"Me? A threat?"
Harmless enough to top the Murim Alliance's past-life meat shields—thrown at the Demonic Cult vanguard because they were too harmless.
As he tilted his head in confusion, Baek So-ryeong smirked knowingly.
"Hehe, you haven't objectified yourself yet. That's why men are so cute."
"Big Brother!"
After sharing brotherhood cups with Bang Du-chil—using the excuse to down five jars of booze—Geum Pyo burst in panting.
"You need to come outside for a sec."
Heading out of the inn, a procession of wounded passed by. Their faces clicked in Jin Sowoon's mind instantly.
Gye-ryong Merchant Group.
The hundred ronin who'd marched grandly to crush the stronghold were down to half or less. Most wrapped in bandages, splints on limbs.
"Big Brother."
Following Eunho's glance, there was Gye Yeonseung, empty right sleeve flapping, pulling a cart with two black coffins.
"..."
"..."
Gye Yeonseung met his eyes, then turned away like a guilty man. They watched the Gye-ryong Merchant Group vanish in silence.
"Should we pity them?"
"Nah."
"Huh?"
"We should fear them. We could end up like that anytime."
No sooner said than he unleashed his killing intent.
"..."
"..."
"..."
The gold-silver-bronze brothers twitched their brows but otherwise no reaction.
"Gahk!"
The scream came from elsewhere. Pale-faced Yang Gunbaek emerged from the alley, horrified.
"D-did something bad happen...?"
Yang Gunbaek stammered, trembling.
"Ah, sorry. Was training my juniors."
"Training like this? What the...?"
Yang Gunbaek eyed him and the brothers like ghosts.
It's not like that.
The gold-silver-bronze brothers tactfully stepped away. As Yang Gunbaek sat, Jin Sowoon asked straight up.
"You really have no wind-manipulating ability?"
Bang Du-chil nagged about brotherhood; Yang Gunbaek insisted he controlled the wind.
"I told you. Around this time every year, northwest winds pick up strong. Plus, the long drought left no moisture even in the mountain leaves."
"You're truly wondrous. I thought only legends like Zhuge Liang could pull that."
Yang Gunbaek eyed him complexly, then spread a map on the table.
"Hell Exam First Gate is done. Total 3,842 passed with gate badges."
"Haomen's about to get busy."
"...Yes."
"How many are targeting us?"
"..."
The passers were huge, but dropouts dwarfed them. The Murim Academy exam wasn't just passing gates—it was reaching the end with your badge. Failures hunted badges from passers.
"We'll block as many as we can, but with the Beggars' Sect already moving..."
"I know. That's why we need solid intel."
"It's... a lot."
Bang Du-chil stayed on Cheonmok Mountain, skipping further exams. He'd handed over his original badges plus four new ones from First Gate—six total.
Yang Gunbaek hesitated. Jin Sowoon nodded understandingly.
Badges changed hands endlessly; owners slew countless to keep them. Not white vs. black path. White vs. white waged wars bloodier than black-white clashes, all under "exam."
"So, how many are targeting Cheonmok Mountain... us right now?"
This was the true face of the Murim Academy regular exam. Why they called it Hell Exam.
Yang Gunbaek's mouth opened heavily.
"At least two hundred groups. Over four thousand strong."
"..."
And now, they were the juiciest prey.