Good Bones
Baekdu Hotel.
Jeong Yeonhui finished preparing to head out from the hotel suite she had booked for herself.
Her grandfather had transferred his shares to her, making her the hotel's largest shareholder.
She had graduated from the military academy.
A commissioning ceremony for officers was scheduled in just a few days.
That was why she was staying at the hotel until then.
Her family had urged her to come home, but she had no desire to.
Staying at the house would only remind her of her father.
Her father, who was no longer in this world.
His traces still lingered in the house.
It had been ten years since her father was murdered.
The culprit still hadn't been caught.
But they knew it was the work of a mine.
The overturned car, the driver and bodyguards dead at the scene, and her father—their corpses were missing hearts and internal organs.
Plus, CCTV footage from nearby clearly captured the beastified form of the perpetrator.
Even now, that image of the mine was saved on Jeong Yeonhui's smartphone.
She had vowed it then.
She would definitely track down the mine that killed her father and exact revenge.
That was why she entered the military academy.
By heaven's grace, she had even awakened successfully.
Her first-choice posting was the Imperial Capital Defense Command, Anti-Mine Special Operations Unit.
It specialized in tracking, capturing, and exterminating mines in coordination with the Imperial Intelligence Agency's mine investigation team.
As the academy's top graduate, it was practically guaranteed.
Mines were Jeong Yeonhui's primary obsession.
Whenever news articles about mines appeared in papers or media, she scoured every detail.
She even deployed people to investigate any gaps.
That was how she learned of the Gurye mine incident.
Three mines had been captured.
All at once.
Who were they?
Could one be the killer who took her father's life?
Of course, Jeong Yeonhui investigated personally.
She hounded her grandfather to mobilize the group's entire intelligence network.
But they weren't the mine that killed her father.
Mines' beastified forms differed from their original faces and builds, and each was unique.
She was relieved.
Because she had to avenge her father herself.
Yet in probing the Gurye trio mine case, one name emerged.
Taehong Bio Chairman Kim Taeju.
Official records credited the Gurye Nogodan Guild and Jirisan Monster Defense Legion, but the group intel team's assessment differed.
From tracking to extermination, the high likelihood was that Kim Taeju had done it all alone.
Really?
How could one man capture three mines—things even one was hard to catch—by himself?
Jeong Yeonhui knew exactly how elusive mines were.
From that moment, she took an interest in Kim Taeju.
He wasn't even awakened. Until recently, a mana rejector. Yet he invented the antidote, solving Jirisan's monster infestation woes overnight, and even purged mines.
Any one of those would stun people senseless, and he'd accomplished them solo in mere months.
Her instincts told her.
This man had something special.
He might even know how to track mines.
So she bided her time, determined to meet him someday.
Anyway, today was family dinner day.
At home, but when Grandfather called, she had to go.
Jeong Yeonhui took the elevator from her suite to the lobby.
"Good day, Miss."
Her secretary waited by the elevator.
"We'll be late. Hurry."
"Yes! The car's waiting. This way."
As they crossed the lobby,
Hm?
One man caught her eye.
Why is he here?
It was Lieutenant Colonel Do Minsu.
The officer from the Hamyang Unit who had escorted her during her observation of the Jirisan monster subjugation op.
In a suit—must be on leave.
"Lieutenant Colonel Do Minsu, sir!"
Do Minsu turned at the voice calling him.
"Huh? ...Cadet Jeong Yeonhui?"
"Anti-mine ops! On leave?"
"Ah, well, sorta. But what brings you here, Cadet Jeong? Ah, right—this is Baekdu Hotel."
"Yes, I'm staying here. And you, sir?"
"Trying to book a room. But no luck—fully booked."
Jeong Yeonhui tilted her head.
"That's odd. Not a weekend, should be plenty of rooms."
"Well... the boss is stubborn. Insists the Chairman gets a suite, no less."
What?
Who's the boss and Chairman?
Do Minsu was military.
Her eyes landed on two people at the front desk—a woman in neat office attire, like a company employee, and a man with a sturdy build in a silver-gray coat...
Wait!
Jeong Yeonhui's face lit with realization.
Jirisan Monster Defense Legion's Do Minsu, escorts who looked military, "Chairman," silver-gray coat... Piecing the clues, she knew who the man was.
Click-clack!
Her heels quickened toward the front desk.
Overhearing,
"Standard room's fine. This is a luxury hotel—even that's plenty."
"No can do. Honestly, even a suite's insufficient."
"Ah, Miss Seo, so stubborn. I said it's okay..."
Jeong Yeonhui slipped in smoothly.
"Excuse me... May I help?"
"Pardon?"
Taeju eyed the sudden young woman.
"Who might you be?"
"You're Taehong Bio Chairman Kim Taeju, right?"
"...Yes?"
"I'm Jeong Yeonhui. Officer candidate commissioning soon. I joined the Jirisan monster subjugation as a cadet before."
"Ah! Comrade-in-arms."
Taeju grinned broadly, welcoming her.
They'd fought monsters together—comrades.
"But help with what?"
"Leave it to me. I'll sort the room."
"...No need for that."
"No, I have a duty to secure fine guests for my hotel."
Taeju cocked his head.
Her hotel?
The staff seemed to recognize her too.
"Switch my room to standard. Move Chairman Kim Taeju to my suite."
"...A-Are you sure?"
"I'll take responsibility."
"Yes! Right away."
"And call staff to clean my old room thoroughly and move my luggage."
Meanwhile, Taeju's gaze lingered on Jeong Yeonhui's retreating figure.
Firm glutes, solid thighs, slim waist, straight back, long limbs...
Then Baek Seoyeonn chimed in.
"Chairman, if it's Jeong Yeonhui, she's Baekdu Group Chairman Jeong Ukcheol's granddaughter."
"Ah-ha! That explains it."
"Yes. You seem interested— I'd recommend getting friendly."
"...When did I show interest? N-Not like that."
Finishing with staff, Jeong Yeonhui approached smiling.
"It was my room—cleaned up, it's yours."
"No, thank you. Much appreciated."
"Nonsense! Hosting a celebrity at our hotel is the real honor."
Then,
"If it's not too much trouble, may I visit while you're here?"
"Well..."
No harm in it.
A comrade from Jirisan.
"Sure! Contact anytime."
"Thank you."
Taeju watched her turn away with intrigued eyes.
Promising.
But zero romantic interest.
In the martial world, such a build was called "good bones."
Not just good—the finest martial talent he'd seen.
The likes of heavenly martial body, yin-yang body, heaven-earth body...
Teaching the gifted, watching them grow—that was a warrior's joy.
If only her character holds up...
Observe for now.
Soon after switching rooms, Imperial Intelligence First Deputy Director Moon Kyungshik arrived with a contract.
A freelance agreement of sorts.
Every convenience for Taeju included.
Whether he caught mines or not, 100 million won per dispatch.
Could decline requests anytime.
Long-distance travel? Imperial Intelligence provided transport, etc.
100 million per gig was pocket change to Taeju.
But big money for them.
At that rate, they'd only call with solid leads.
"Sign here?"
"Thank you. We'll serve you to the best."
Serve? They'd hunt mines together.
"Goryeo Hotel will face a business suspension soon. The manager caught on master key cam opening your room."
Good call asking Baek Seoyeonn for backup—she might've struggled alone.
"And..."
A pause, then,
"We can handle Mirinae Chairman Lee Gieon for you."
"...How? Still a major corp chair."
"That chaebol hack? We can wheel him to prosecution. Rot in prison till he dies."
"..."
Moon Kyungshik's confidence meant plenty of dirt.
"Chaebol falls, does Mirinae collapse? Better to oust him, let pros run it—boost the economy too."
All true.
But Taeju shook his head firmly.
"No thanks. I'll handle my business."
"...Understood. Just say the word."
Owing Imperial Intelligence favors wasn't wise.
Could lead to being at their beck and call.
"Oh! Good news from the Patent Office soon."
"Ah, yes."
Approval imminent.
Time to ramp up factories.
Stockpile production, then blast nationwide post-food-and-drug approval.
Just the semi-official opening left?
Immortal Realm.
Dang Gunak's theater venture was an unbridled success.
Tent-enclosed venue.
Traded ten peaches with Great Tree Immortal for fifty comfy wooden chairs.
Darkness Immortal got perpetual dim lighting for volume discounts.
Gwigok Immortal laid barriers around the tent for fifteen peaches—entry only for Dang Gunak's approved guests.
Yet Dang Gunak was going mad.
Business booming, over 1,000 peaches secured, and still...
"Please, go home already."
"..."
"..."
"..."
Not a soul budged.
Immortals glued to seats, eyes bloodshot after three days straight.
Not literally—figurative.
Immortals didn't tire.
"Argh! Let's rest! Mountains of work!!!"
Silence.
Why this madness?
No ordinary addiction.
No end in sight.
Desperate, Dang Gunak killed the beam projector.
Flick!
Gasp!
"Wh-What?"
"It stopped?"
"Which bastard?!"
"You cur!"
"Damn, right at that scene."
Chaos erupted—curses, outrage.
Like movie villains gone feral.
"Dang Gunak! You?!"
"Indeed. Ten flicks today alone—deal was five per day. Back to your abodes."
Curses and complaints flew at him.
"Heh, spared the fresh immortal, but no."
"Rot! Need peaches? Speak!"
"How many? Name price!"
"Sleep now? When that bastard torments our hero?!"
"See him die first."
"Cliffhanger? Brutal."
"I'm out!"
Etc.
Even Poison Immortal Dang Gunak felt mortal peril.
No choice—powered back on.
Flash!
Saga of the Condor Heroes drama resumed.
"Oh! Back on."
"Poison Immortal, thanks."
"Only you get me."
"Such character earns ascension."
"Hm? Who ate my popcorn?"
"Shh!"
"Food Immortal, you?"
"Quiet, please."
Theater hushed instantly.
Trouble.
This pace? Part 1 ends tomorrow or next.
Plenty more content, but...
Need to throttle...
Soon, another episode ended.
"???"
"End here?"
"Mastered cliffhanger arts?"
"Tsk, martial folk..."
"Consecutive screening!"
"Screen on!"
"On, please..."
Then Juseon Ta Baek Immortal spoke.
"Heavens, folks! Free rides erode immortal spirit! Pay up—then Poison Immortal keeps screening."
"True."
"Everyone, one more peach each."
Another hundred-plus peaches piled before Dang Gunak.
Swoosh!
Swept into infinite storage.
Next episode began.
Dang Gunak resigned.
More peaches, the better.
Plenty of uses.
Shipments for Taeju.
Danju Immortal's talisman bundle: 100 sheets.
Three peaches per—300 gone for one bundle.
Traded 600 peaches to Iron Smith Immortal for his treasure, Divine Spirit Flying Dagger.
Consumables like elixirs cheap; durable tools pricey, even same tier.
More commissions too.
All for Taeju.
Whew, if I don't toil, who will?
Dang Gunak leaned back, munched a spirit peach.
His immortal energy slowly recovered.
Good bones.