The Mad Dog's Arrival
Jang Muhwi had resolved from the moment he returned to the past to sweep up every single Giyan he could find. That was the only way to reach the heights he desired.
The beautiful sword line of the Cheonma still burned vividly in his mind.
Clenching his fists, Jang Muhwi took a moment to organize his thoughts. What were the essential conditions for obtaining a Giyan? Background was likely the most important among them—reputation, connections, family lineage, everything included.
The promising juniors he had formed ties with at the Dragon Gate Assembly counted as part of that, and so did his own clan. The problem was the current state of the Jang Family. Honestly, he could not claim with certainty that the family could back him up.
Thanks to the Dragon Gate Assembly, he had at least secured a modest amount of fame and connections. Now it was time to strengthen his foundation. To do that, there was something he needed to extract from the Ma Family, whose head was known as the Qinghai Spear King, Ma Yukcheong.
Of course, he could not simply seize it by force. Both the Ma Family and the Jang Family were members of the orthodox sects.
Jang Muhwi opened his hand. A cold wind brushed across his empty palm, yet he did not lose his smile. It felt as though he had already grasped the seed that would fortify his family’s inner strength.
With eyes full of conviction, Jang Muhwi walked toward the family estate. In stark contrast to his steady gaze, Cheolwoo trailed behind him, dragging his feet like an ox being led to slaughter.
Jang Muhwi glanced at the guard warrior stationed at the main gate. The man reflexively lowered his head, his face clearly flustered.
“G-Gongja-nim?”
“Good to see you.”
Jang Muhwi passed the startled guard and entered. As he walked slowly, he turned to Cheolwoo.
“Was the family in this much trouble?”
“What do you mean, Gongja-nim?”
“There’s only one guard on duty right now.”
“He might have gone to the outhouse.”
“Judging by his complexion, he’s been worked to the bone without even getting a shift change.”
“When did you start noticing things like that?”
“It’s experience you pick up naturally after rolling around in the murim for a while.”
“If other people heard that, they might mistake you for some old hand. Still, what exactly are you planning to do? If we go in like this, I won’t even have the face to greet the Law Hall Master. Gongja-nim.”
“Just trust me. I’ll take full responsibility, so you don’t need to worry.”
“I don’t feel very reassured, Gongja-nim.”
“You little rascal.”
“Honestly, I’m scared of getting scolded, but more than that, I hate losing.”
“Why do you hate it so much?”
“I just do. I especially hate seeing you looked down on, Gongja-nim.”
“Cheolwoo.”
“Yes, Gongja-nim.”
“You don’t have to worry about that. From now on, no one will ever beat you down again. Rest easy.”
After finishing his words, Jang Muhwi opened the middle gate leading to the family head’s hall.
Creaaak.
As the heavy door swung open, Cheolwoo, who had been following behind, made a miserable face. Jang Muhwi paid no attention to Cheolwoo’s expression and strode straight toward the hall.
─┼
The moment Jang Muhwi appeared, the family head’s hall froze over. Jang Yujung, who had been facing his younger brother, the Law Hall Master, nearly dropped the teacup in his hand.
“What in the world happened?”
Like the rippling water inside the cup, Jang Yujung could not compose his expression. Even Jang Yuseong’s mouth fell open, though he was not as shocked as his elder brother.
An awkward silence blanketed the hall. Finally regaining some composure, Family Head Jang Yujung spoke.
“Why are you silent? I asked what happened!”
“Father.”
When Jang Muhwi offered a faint, almost teasing smile, Jang Yujung asked in a cold voice, “Speak.”
“Shouldn’t you at least ask how I’ve been?”
“…Hmph. So, did you return safely?”
“Yes. Thanks to your concern, Father, I completed everything without issue and returned.”
“Good. That’s a relief.”
“You’re not asking about the results, though.”
At Jang Muhwi’s casual remark, Jang Yujung’s expression shifted. His curiosity flickered for a moment before he masked it again.
“The results don’t matter. As long as you came back unharmed, that’s enough. However…”
Jang Yujung trailed off upon seeing the bandages tightly wrapped around Jang Muhwi’s arm. Sensing his father’s gaze, Jang Muhwi unwrapped the cloth.
Whoosh.
For an instant, Jang Yujung tilted his head in confusion. Jang Muhwi’s right arm was completely unscathed.
“Was it all an act?”
“I was injured, but it healed quickly.”
There was not a single lie in his words. It was true that he had caught the Tang Family’s hidden weapons with his right arm.
Jang Muhwi looked at his father. Worry filled the older man’s eyes; he still could not believe his son was truly unharmed. Jang Muhwi raised his right arm. Only then did Jang Yujung let out a sigh of relief.
“Whew. That’s fortunate as well.”
“…”
Jang Muhwi quickly studied his father’s face. From his expression, it was clear the family had received neither news of what had occurred at the Dragon Gate Assembly nor even the results. Wang Jimak’s earlier words had been true. He had said the outcome of this year’s assembly would not be made public for the time being—likely because of the unexpected result. Hadn’t they slipped out through the back gate on the final day precisely to keep it secret?
Yet he had not expected that even the participating families would not be notified.
Jang Muhwi reached into his robe, then stopped. He had been about to show the proof of the Dragon Gate Assembly, but decided against it. He had chosen to follow Wang Jimak’s measures. Besides, even if he showed the token now, it would not reassure Jang Yujung. After all, Ma Uiryong, who had come seeking a duel, was also someone who had passed the assembly.
That was the strange part. For Ma Uiryong to appear while the results of the Dragon Gate Assembly remained unknown to the public made no sense no matter how he thought about it. A butcher who slaughters oxen would not stay up all night just to catch a single rabbit. To Ma Uiryong’s eyes, Jang Muhwi should not have been worth noticing. He must already know the results of the assembly.
If Ma Uiryong had come knowing, then there was a pretext. A senior from the assembly teaching a junior a lesson was, in a way, close to tradition.
While Jang Muhwi was sorting through his thoughts, Jang Yujung’s voice rang out.
“Explain why you returned to the family in defiance of orders.”
“A carp has wandered into the fishing grounds. My companions are starving and on the verge of collapse. So, what will you do?”
“Of course we would… Wait, did you just say carp? Underestimating your opponent is the gravest mistake a martial artist can make. Say it again. Did you truly compare Young Master Ma to a carp?”
It was a justified rebuke. When Jang Yujung glared with eyes like thin ice, Cheolwoo, standing behind, instinctively stepped back. He could not withstand the aura of a martial artist. Even if it was a powerless clan, the family head was still the head of a household. Jang Yujung’s presence was that fierce.
Yet Jang Muhwi, who received the full force of that aura head-on, merely scratched the back of his head as if it were nothing.
“Not a carp. More like an anglerfish.”
Watching this, Law Hall Master Jang Yuseong stepped forward.
“You came back even after reading the letter? What on earth were you thinking?”
“I received the letter well. Originally, I planned to return in three months as instructed.”
“Then why did you come back so soon?”
“I saw it as an opportunity.”
“Hah. So you came even though you knew who requested the duel.”
“I heard it was Young Master Ma Uiryong of the Ma Family.”
“I’ll assume you said that because you don’t know much about him. It’s not too late. Avoid it for now.”
“Do you think I’ll lose?”
“…Even if you win, there’s no benefit in defeating that guy.”
Jang Yuseong bit his lip. Jang Muhwi nodded silently. He already knew that dueling Ma Uiryong would bring nothing but loss. Jang Muhwi spoke nonchalantly.
“I know.”
“You also know it’s not about running away because you’re scared of shit, right?”
“I know.”
“Then you understand the situation as well.”
“Of course I do. But there’s a saying in the murim: even dog shit has its uses when medicine is scarce.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“This is my chance to secure that dog shit for medicine in advance.”
“Are you ignoring my brother’s words that underestimating your opponent is a martial artist’s greatest mistake?”
“Uncle, didn’t you just call Ma Uiryong shit yourself?”
“Hmph. Your tongue has gotten quite sharp.”
Jang Yuseong turned his head. There was no flaw in Jang Muhwi’s logic—after all, it had been Jang Yuseong himself who called the man shit.
In that moment, Jang Muhwi took one step closer to his father. Jang Yujung watched him in silence. When their eyes met, Jang Muhwi bowed deeply toward Jang Yuseong.
“Would you entrust this matter to me?”
“That cannot be allowed.”
When Jang Yujung shook his head, Jang Yuseong grabbed Jang Muhwi’s sleeve.
“My brother doesn’t want you to get hurt. But he also doesn’t want to see you run away.”
“…”
Jang Muhwi looked back and forth between the two men without a word. A faint smile formed on his lips as he regarded them. He had realized their true feelings. Before worrying about the family, they were clearly concerned for Jang Muhwi himself. Their judgment seemed to be that it would be better to avoid trouble for a while rather than suffer hardship.
Seeing Jang Muhwi’s expression, Jang Yujung nodded. Though his face remained stern, his eyes were warm. For a brief moment, a gentle atmosphere filled the hall.
Just then, someone burst through the door in a hurry. It was the guard warrior from the main gate. He quickly bowed before the family head.
“Family Head, the Ma Family has arrived.”
“They don’t even skip a single day.”
Jang Yujung gazed beyond the hall before shifting his eyes. At the sight of his hesitant expression, Jang Muhwi spoke.
“Do not worry, Family Head. Just as a boat cannot move forward without rippling waves, the murim is the same. Of course, the same goes for families and people. Without storms, there is no progress.”
Jang Yujung’s eyes widened. Neither the tone nor the content resembled the son he knew. Being called “Family Head” so suddenly made it feel as though a wall had risen between them. Yet that very address calmed Jang Yujung’s heart. His grandfather’s words came to mind: see the forest, not the trees; see the entire boat, not just the oar.
Jang Yujung nodded. Permission had finally been granted. A deeper smile than before appeared on Jang Muhwi’s lips.
─┼
Appearances mattered in everything. For that reason, Jang Yujung remained in the hall. Jang Muhwi had persuaded him that it would be beneath the family head’s dignity to personally greet a single junior. Instead, Law Hall Master Jang Yuseong stood at Jang Muhwi’s side. Because it was a small clan, the Law Hall Master also handled guest reception.
Stepping out to the main gate, Jang Muhwi first looked at the visitors. There stood several sturdy warriors. Among them was one particularly noticeable man. He had a plain solar plexus and a slightly lean build, yet his frame was elongated, as if two extra heads had been attached compared to the others. That man was Ma Uiryong.
Ma Uiryong held a spear even longer than himself. Any warrior from Qinghai would recognize that weapon. No one outside the Ma Family used such grotesquely long spears. Moreover, it was slightly curved, resembling a crescent moon. That was why murim people called it the Ma Spear. Depending on how it was wielded, the slightly curved spear could produce countless variations. It was different from facing an ordinary spear, so anyone encountering it for the first time would inevitably be flustered.
Seeing the Ma Spear after so long made Jang Muhwi’s hands itch for no reason. Ma Uiryong looked at him and spoke.
“Thanks for accepting the duel.”
Even though his tone was clearly condescending, Jang Muhwi replied without the slightest change in expression.
“I never accepted any duel.”
In that instant, both Jang Yuseong and Cheolwoo behind him widened their eyes in shock.