The Second Star
"You're an unusual one. I wouldn't have pegged you for someone who likes jewelry."
Dang Hwa-rin tilted her head with a bright smile.
It was the kind of smile that might have made his heart flutter if he'd been a few years younger.
No. That's not what's important right now.
Dang Hwa-rin is the Thousand Face Fox Thief.
The ring that glowed red near the stolen blood jade.
The fact that it was glowing red now meant Dang Hwa-rin had the blood jade on her.
Of course, it was possible the Thousand Face Fox Thief had stolen it and given it to her.
But given what he'd heard about Dang Hwa-rin's personality and behavior, his conviction that she was the thief only grew stronger.
She'd hidden inside the Dang Clan walls, so even the Hao Sect must have lost her trail.
"Alliance warrior Jang? What are you thinking about so deeply?"
"Ah."
So what should he do?
Subdue her right now and recover the blood jade?
No. Even if that were possible, getting out of the Dang Clan without killing her wouldn't be easy.
And killing her would be a problem too.
He'd be hunted by the Dang Clan for life—how could he sleep soundly worrying about poison and hidden weapons?
He quickly sorted through the situation.
"This is... a memento from my late mother."
"Ah!"
Just learning the blood jade's whereabouts was a huge gain.
Forcing a recovery now would bring more losses than gains.
First, he needed to lure Dang Hwa-rin out of the Dang Clan.
The real business could come later.
"The ring lost its light after Mother passed... Seeing it shine again like this left me speechless in surprise."
He put on a wistful expression, thinking of his actual deceased mother.
Mother. You're doing well in heaven, right?
His own miserable circumstances naturally came to mind, stirring emotion in his chest.
Was it empathy?
Dang Hwa-rin's lively face grew solemn.
"I'm sorry. I had no idea..."
"No. Thanks to you, Miss Dang, the ring shines again—I'm grateful instead. It seems Mother likes you."
"Oh, no way."
He naturally slipped the ring back into his bosom.
Dang Hwa-rin watched his fingertips with a hint of regret.
Women were women, it seemed—she must have taken a liking to the mysterious ring.
He cupped his fists toward Miss Dang.
"Thank you. It's been a long time since I thought of Mother."
"N-no, I didn't do anything. Ah! You're chasing the Thousand Face Fox Thief, right?"
Perhaps finding his serious expression burdensome, Dang Hwa-rin quickly changed the subject.
He nodded lightly and shifted the conversation as well.
"Yes."
"Any leads?"
Dang Hwa-rin's eyes sparkled faintly.
"More or less. Confirmed they entered Seongdo."
"That's it?"
"For now."
He shook off his sentiment and replied in a businesslike tone.
Only then did Dang Hwa-rin's face relax into something more comfortable.
Probably because she'd confirmed there were no decisive clues.
"Seongdo has so many people. How do you plan to find them? Isn't it like finding a needle in a haystack?"
"I have my guesses."
"Guesses? What kind?"
Dang Hwa-rin leaned in closer without realizing it.
A fresh fragrance rode the breeze to his nose.
"Classified."
"Aw, come on! Our Dang Clan is part of the Murim Alliance too! Share the info, and we'll help. Who in Sichuan has more influence than us?"
"Hmm... That's true, but..."
"Yes? Warrior Jang! Come on, tell me! I'll send people out right away!"
Dang Hwa-rin scooted even closer.
He furrowed his brow, pretending to ponder, then shot her a sharp glance.
Dang Hwa-rin's shoulders twitched upward.
"It's top secret. It has to stay completely under wraps."
He lowered his voice to a whisper.
Dang Hwa-rin nodded and whispered back.
"Of course."
"Come closer."
"Okay."
When he beckoned her to his side, she stuck right next to him like a puppy.
They continued their quiet conversation with their heads nearly touching.
"What do you know about the Thousand Face Fox Thief?"
"A thief skilled in disguise arts, right? Common folk call them a righteous bandit."
"Yes. So elusive no one's uncovered their identity yet. But."
"...?"
"I've reached some conclusions after tracking them for the past month."
"What... conclusions?"
Their gazes locked in the air.
Her dark pupils trembled slightly, with the round moon floating above them.
"Probably plain-looking. Neither strikingly handsome nor ugly. Since changing faces is their specialty, they'd naturally avoid standing out in their true form."
"Hmm. Sounds plausible."
Dang Hwa-rin rubbed her pale chin and nodded.
Maybe because the first guess was so far from herself.
She seemed subtly satisfied.
"Petite build."
"Huh? Why?"
"Found some footprints. Small for a man. Could even be a woman."
"Ah... But a righteous bandit mocking the world? A woman?"
"I think the same. Probably a petite man."
Dang Hwa-rin blinked silently for a moment before looking at him.
"That's still a wide net. Plenty like that in Seongdo."
"Likely part of a merchant guild or escort agency."
"Why?"
"Thieves like this usually stick to a home base. They gravitate to familiar spots unconsciously. But the Thousand Face Fox Thief operates nationwide. Not just for special items, but because—"
"They have a job that takes them everywhere?"
"Exactly."
He grinned and lifted his cup.
Dang Hwa-rin grasped the bottle with both hands and poured with a glug-glug.
He eyed the rippling liquor, then downed it in one go with a satisfied face.
Dang Hwa-rin's gaze had been fixed on him for some time.
"So you narrowed it to merchant guilds or escorts."
"Yes. Decent martial arts, so mid-to-high rank. Cross-reference those who left Seongdo recently and returned?"
"Whoa! The Fox Thief's gotta be among them. That narrows it plenty!"
"Yes. They'll be caught soon."
"Amazing! With alliance warriors like you, how did I not know?"
Dang Hwa-rin looked at him with sparkling eyes.
To the ignorant, she might seem like an admiring girl, but to him, she looked like a vixen plotting how to toy with him.
"You're too kind. I'm just a lowly warrior. Meeting you alone like this is a great honor for me."
"What humility! You're way better than those alliance leaders."
"And you're far more beautiful than the Five Peaks beauties."
"Hohoho!"
"Hahaha!"
Suddenly like harmonious siblings, they clinked cups and downed drink after drink.
A beautiful woman laughing heartily like a man—it was amusing enough.
The rustling autumn breeze fanned their buzz just right, and the gloomy bamboo grove danced like ringing bells.
After a few more rounds.
Dang Hwa-rin subtly lowered her voice.
"So when does the pursuit start?"
"Tomorrow."
"Alone?"
"Commissioned the Hao Sect, so they'll screen candidates. Once that's set, I can handle a mere Fox Thief."
"Hohoho! So reliable!"
Dang Hwa-rin covered her mouth laughing.
"If you're curious, you could join."
"Really? Is that okay?"
"Catching the Fox Thief isn't that dangerous. Could be good experience for you."
He coaxed her gently with a touch of provocation.
Dang Hwa-rin's smile deepened.
"Thank you so much! I was hoping to ask!"
"No, the honor's mine. But."
"...?"
He held out his cup to her.
Dang Hwa-rin widened her eyes and raised hers in response.
"Speak well of me to the clan head. Say I took special care of you."
Finally, he revealed a lowly warrior's ambition to solidify connections.
Dang Hwa-rin replied with a beaming smile.
"Of course! I will! Hohoho!"
"Hahaha!"
And so.
Each harboring different intentions, they drank the moon reflected in their cups.
After parting with Dang Hwa-rin, he unpacked in the lodgings the Dang Clan had prepared.
Dang Gi-hyeok had personally insisted he stay inside the clan, and there was no reason to refuse.
Good bed, good food, polite maids.
Why spend money on a smelly inn?
"They put some thought into this."
Even as a Murim Alliance member, he was just a lowly warrior.
Yet the Dang Clan provided a lavish room fit for a VIP.
Probably Dang Hwa-rin's doing.
After washing up, he savored the rare buzz and plopped into a chair.
The Dang Clan's daughter is a thief.
He hadn't suspected it at all when she'd sought him out.
Still, no suspicious movements related to Jang Bo-do inside the clan.
Of course—they wouldn't be that sloppy.
"Focus on the blood jade for now."
He'd visit Cheonun Pavilion at first light tomorrow.
He'd baited the hook to lure Dang Hwa-rin out, so he needed to make it look good.
With that, he wrapped up his thoughts and shifted his gaze to the Sam Bong Do scroll on the table.
"Right. There you are."
He untied the string and unrolled the scroll.
The soaring peaks and majestic aura were no ordinary sight—how could anyone call it a fake?
He focused intently on the old Taoist standing before the three Sam Bong peaks.
It moves.
As before, the old Taoist began his sword dance.
His white robes fluttering as his sword moved fluidly.
His movements, butterfly-like at a glance, were less fierce than endlessly flowing water.
"Hmm..."
He chewed over his own swordsmanship while watching the sword path.
The various sword arts acquired through his wanderings.
None rose to supreme arts.
Still, through countless battles and superhuman senses, he'd honed his own unique style.
The martial world revered creators of arts as grandmasters, but he wasn't there.
It was just a mishmash of useful techniques borrowed from here and there, specialized purely for cutting people.
Yes.
His sword wasn't some profound Way—just a technique for slicing humans.
"Hm?"
Lost in thought watching the old Taoist's dance, the lavish room vanished.
A familiar landscape appeared before him.
Black sky, white desert.
"When did this...?"
It was the inner world he entered through meditation.
He looked up at the sky.
Nine stars twinkled unchangingly.
Shiiik! Shiiik! Shiiik! Shiiik!
But unlike usual, an unfamiliar sound rang out.
Whoosh! He spun around.
"...!"
A world where only he had ever existed.
For the first time, another being was there.
Shiiik! Shiiik! Shiiik!
Dancing a sword dance, no less.
"Sam Bong!"
In that instant.
One clear starlight from the sky poured down toward him.