We'll Settle This Ourselves
The first light of dawn began to paint the roofs of West Lake one by one. Unlike the day before, this morning's sky carried an unusually deep red cast, but the excited townsfolk never noticed so small an omen.
In the kitchen of the West Lake Number One Inn a fragrant aroma was already rising.
Tadak. Tadak. Tadak.
The steady rhythm of Kang Yeon's knife work filled the air. He had started preparations a full two hours earlier than usual. Yesterday's successful run of the delivery alliance promised even more orders today.
"Oppa! You're already at it?"
Jo Seol wandered in with a yawn. Having risen earlier than usual, sleep still clung to her eyes, yet her expression was bright as ever.
"The response has been too good lately. Figured it'd be busier today."
Kang Yeon answered with a smile, his hands never stopping as he worked the ingredients.
"I know! You should've heard what a guest said yesterday. 'I never knew anything this convenient existed—I'm ordering every day from now on!'"
To the people of this era, the very idea of delivery must have been a pure shock. Jo Seol tied on her apron, bubbling with energy.
"The other inns are booming too. Golden Wind Pavilion alone took over two hundred orders just yesterday."
"Is that so? Everyone must be working hard."
Kang Yeon checked the simmering stock; its rich fragrance filled the kitchen. Just then Jo Hwan stepped in.
"Already started, I see. Let me help."
"You're up early too, Uncle?"
"Business is good. Strangely enough I don't feel tired—if anything I feel stronger."
Color had returned to Jo Hwan's face. After so long, seeing the inn truly thriving seemed to fill him with quiet pride. The front door opened and Yeong-ho, along with the other former Black Wind Association members, appeared one by one.
"Good morning, Young Master."
Yeong-ho bowed politely. The red apron tied around his waist now looked completely natural on him.
"Out earlier than yesterday?"
"Yes. I wanted to scout each zone before deliveries start. A few routes got delayed yesterday because the paths were complicated."
Cheol-san chimed in.
"That's right. Especially around the eastern market—merchants start unloading crates first thing in the morning and block the alleys."
Myeong-wol added,
"So today we plan to speak with the merchants ahead of time."
Jang Mu-eon appeared holding the delivery log.
"Everyone's here? Young Master, I've reworked the optimal routes by district based on yesterday's notes. This should shave even more time."
Jo Seol marveled.
"Wow, you're really thorough!"
"If it means raising the inn's revenue, I'll do whatever it takes."
"You've become a true member of our inn now."
Jang Mu-eon gave a sheepish smile.
"I'm just glad I can be of use."
The other former Black Wind martial artists felt the same. Working at the West Lake Number One Inn had given them a measure of peace they had never known. As the warm atmosphere settled over them, Myeong-wol spoke up.
"I'll start with the southern district then. Yeong-ho Oppa takes the east?"
"Yeah. I should head out too."
Jang Mu-eon organized them.
"Good. We'll regroup in two hours and share what we've found."
Yeong-ho slung a delivery box over his shoulder and stepped outside. The streets were still quiet; the sun had not fully risen. Only the occasional early merchant opening his shop broke the silence.
Peaceful…
Yeong-ho thought. Not long ago he had lived a life steeped in blood as a Black Wind Association martial artist. Now he walked these same streets as an ordinary delivery man.
This isn't bad at all. Actually, it's better.
With his family's revenge already complete, following Jang Mu-eon felt natural enough. Smiling faintly, Yeong-ho turned into a familiar eastern alley—a shortcut he often used on deliveries.
Then—
Something's wrong.
His expression hardened. Something glittered on the alley floor. He drew closer and found shattered wooden fragments.
This is… a delivery box?
He picked up a piece. It was unmistakably part of the special insulated boxes used by the delivery alliance. Then something far worse caught his eye.
Dark red spatters on the wall. And a thick pool of blood soaking the ground.
"Blood…?"
Yeong-ho's face went pale. As a martial artist he was no stranger to blood, yet he had never imagined finding such traces here.
"What on earth happened…"
He scanned the surroundings. Broken delivery crate, pools of blood—someone should have been here. Yet the alley was utterly empty of any presence.
Meanwhile, in the southern district, Myeong-wol also felt an uneasy shift in the air.
Something… feels different from usual.
Her senses, sharpened by recent martial training, kept sending warning signals. Nothing visible presented itself—only a faint killing intent drifting through the air.
Suddenly a chill raced down her spine.
Could someone be targeting us?
She was about to examine the area more carefully when—
"Wola!"
Yeong-ho's urgent voice carried from afar—completely unlike his usual composure. Myeong-wol sprinted toward the sound. At the alley mouth she found him holding a bloodstained scrap of cloth and broken box fragments.
She recoiled.
"Yeong-ho Oppa, what is that?"
"Found it in the eastern alley. Not just this—there's blood everywhere, as if someone was attacked."
His voice trembled. Myeong-wol's expression turned grave. The two locked eyes; the same thought flashed between them.
"Someone was ambushed."
"We have to report to the Young Master at once."
Myeong-wol spoke firmly.
"Yes, hurry. This doesn't feel like anything ordinary."
They raced back to the inn. The peaceful morning air suddenly felt heavy. Arriving out of breath, Yeong-ho and Myeong-wol climbed to the second floor. Kang Yeon was sharing morning tea with Jin Mu-gyeong.
"Young Master, we have an urgent report."
At Yeong-ho's strained voice Kang Yeon looked up.
"What is it?"
"We discovered these in the eastern alley."
Yeong-ho laid the evidence on the table. The bloodstained cloth and shattered box made Jin Mu-gyeong's eyes sharpen.
"Hmm… a broken delivery crate and bloodied martial robes."
Kang Yeon lifted a fragment of the box. A faint special pattern was still visible on the surface.
"This is definitely one of our alliance boxes. It has the unique mark Dan U-ryeong carved into them."
Myeong-wol's brow furrowed.
"Who would attack a delivery runner?"
Jin Mu-gyeong asked,
"And the runner himself?"
Yeong-ho answered.
"Only the bloodstains. No body, no further traces."
"Hmm… we should at least consider the possibility of a personal grudge."
Myeong-wol shook her head.
"I don't think it's personal. Hired troubleshooters don't settle scores this way."
Jin Mu-gyeong continued.
"Assumptions still have to be made. So someone deliberately ambushed the runners."
Just then a commotion erupted downstairs.
"It's terrible! Terrible!"
The frantic voice belonged to a clerk from the Galaxy Inn. He scrambled up the stairs, gasping.
"The Galaxy Inn's… the Galaxy Inn's delivery man was attacked!"
Before noon, all of West Lake was in an uproar.
"Golden Wind Pavilion and Galaxy Inn delivery men were attacked!"
The news spread like wildfire. Delivery runners from both inns had been assaulted mid-route by unidentified attackers. On the second floor of the West Lake Number One Inn, the hastily assembled inn owners all wore dark expressions.
"Our man Wang So barely escaped with his life."
Yu Ha-yeong spoke in a trembling voice. Unlike the vanished Golden Wind Pavilion runner, the Galaxy Inn man had survived—thanks to considerable martial skill of his own.
"A masked figure appeared out of nowhere… said the man's martial arts were formidable."
Kim Dae-bu slammed the table.
"This is clearly aimed at our delivery alliance! Someone is trying to sabotage us!"
Baek Un-seong shook his head.
"Isn't that jumping to conclusions? It could simply be a random robbery."
"A robber who takes neither money nor food? And not one runner, but two?"
Kim Dae-bu's retort silenced Baek Un-seong. Yu Ha-yeong let out a low groan.
"For now each inn has no choice but to strengthen security for the delivery staff, doesn't it?"
Then Kang Yeon, who had remained silent until now, spoke.
"That will not solve anything."
Every gaze turned to him.
"What do you mean, Young Master Kang?"
Kang Yeon's eyes grew cold.
"Whoever they are, this attack was planned. West Lake has no shortage of troubleshooters, yet they each have their own methods. The fact that only delivery runners were targeted is something we must take seriously."
Yu Ha-yeong asked in a shaking voice,
"Who in the world would… why attack inn staff?"
"I don't know yet either. But…"
Kang Yeon looked at Jin Mu-gyeong.
"Hyung, can you help?"
Jin Mu-gyeong nodded.
"I'm already investigating. Something definitely feels off."
The sun began to sink westward.
Normally this was the busiest hour for evening deliveries, yet today was different.
"I'm terribly sorry, sir. Deliveries will be difficult today."
"What? Why? You managed just fine yesterday!"
"Well… there are safety concerns…"
Clerks at every inn's delivery counter wore awkward expressions as they turned customers away.
Late that evening the former Black Wind Association members gathered urgently at the West Lake Number One Inn, their faces thick with killing intent.
"This is definitely the Blood Shadow Tower's doing. They're trying to keep us from settling in."
Cheol-san clenched his fists.
"I'll find those bastards and tear them to pieces!"
Rage burned in Myeong-wol's eyes as well.
"We have to track them down and make them pay."
Then Jang Mu-eon slowly rose to his feet.
"Everyone, calm down."
All eyes fixed on him.
"Think carefully. Why target only the delivery runners—and so openly?"
Yeong-ho's face lit with realization.
"You mean… they're trying to draw us out?"
Jang Mu-eon nodded.
"Exactly. If we don't step forward, innocent runners will keep getting hurt."
Yeong-ho let out a bitter sound.
"What a despicable method. If they have a grudge against us they should come find us themselves."
Jang Mu-eon's gaze sharpened.
"This problem we will settle ourselves."
Yeong-ho, Cheol-san, and Myeong-wol answered as one.
"Yes!"
"Be careful. Another powerhouse like the Dark Shadow Blade may be lurking. Send the signal and I'll come at once."
Midnight drew near.
West Lake's streets were quieter than usual; people had gone home early after the attacks. In the darkness four shadows moved in silence, former Black Wind martial artists following behind them.
"Second team takes the east, third team the west."
At Jang Mu-eon's order Yeong-ho and Cheol-san split off.
"Myeong-wol, you and I will cover the central district."
"Understood, Guild Leader."
They had just reached the vicinity of the central market when—
KUNG!
A massive iron mace suddenly smashed down from above.
"Heh heh heh… finally came out, did you?"
From the shadows a man of enormous build stepped forward. One of the Blood Shadow Ten Hands—Hyeol-ho, the Blood Tiger.
"Black Wind Association dogs… I never thought you'd take the bait so easily."
Jang Mu-eon spoke in a voice of ice.
"So you were the one who attacked the delivery runners?"
"And if I was? They were so weak it wasn't even satisfying."
Hyeol-ho rested the mace on his shoulder and sneered. Jang Mu-eon's brow furrowed.
"Blood Shadow Tower?"
"You know us well."
"If you had business with us you could have come yourselves. Why kill innocent delivery men?"
Hyeol-ho gave a short laugh.
"Do you really think our true goal is the likes of you? Our real target is the Absolute Martial God. You lot are nothing more than bait."
In that instant crimson energy erupted from Hyeol-ho's mace.
"Now then… shall we skewer the bait on the hook?"