Qingyang County, around sunset.
Namgung Cheon stood on a low hill, looking down at the marketplace where lanterns were just beginning to be lit.
Just then, Yun Jongseung ran up, huffing, and exhaled the breath that had risen to his chin.
"Heok, heok, l-let's just rest a bit... heok, heok!"
"Tsk, tsk. A child of a martial family panting like this after just this much? What use are you? Kids these days have no grit."
"Y-you're a kid... a person... these days too, you know."
Ttaak!
Namgung Cheon gave Yun Jongseung a solid smack on the back of the head and said.
"Seeing as you have the energy to talk back, you've rested enough."
"Aish! Why my head...!"
"Why? Want to have another round of that 'spar' you like so much?"
"Keu-eung. That's not it... I was carrying your luggage, too."
Yun Jongseung stealthily tucked his tail.
A wise choice.
If he had snapped and talked back, it wouldn't have ended with just a fire on the back of his head.
"Don't be a baby. My family has become poor, so I didn't even pack much."
For a moment, the atmosphere became solemn.
"Besides, until now, I was the one carrying your luggage, so you have no room to complain, do you?"
Yun Jongseung flinched with a guilty expression.
It was true.
In the past, Yun Jongseung had traveled in a Two-horse carriage and still made Namgung Cheon carry his luggage.
His excuse was that he was "helping with Gyeonggong training," but in reality, it was just torment for his own amusement.
Namgung Cheon slung an arm around Yun Jongseung's shoulder.
"Thanks to you, my Gyeonggong skills have improved by leaps and bounds. I can't be the only one to enjoy this good thing, can I? Friends should share. Ah, come to think of it, you didn't take a carriage this time? I was thinking of hitching a ride."
"Ah, Father told me to walk..."
Watching Yun Jongseung mumble vaguely, Namgung Cheon smirked. It was written all over his face that it was a lie, but it didn't matter.
His nasty habits would be fixed soon enough anyway.
"True. Gyeonggong training is the foundation of all martial arts."
The two went down the hill and entered the most splendid inn in the Qingyang County marketplace.
It was the place Yun Jongseung stayed every time he went to the academy.
"Welcome!"
The Jeomsoi (Inn attendant) ran over with a bright smile, and Yun Jongseung replied in an exhausted voice.
"The best room."
"Right away. I'll show you up immediately. And this guest...?"
The Jeomsoi asked, looking at Namgung Cheon.
"That room is my room."
"Ah...?"
The Jeomsoi looked back, flustered, and Yun Jongseung spun around with an expression like he'd just bitten into shit.
'Is this bastard... extorting room money from me right now...?'
The clueless Jeomsoi prodded Yun Jongseung.
"Sir? Will one room be enough?"
"...Show him to the next best room!"
In the end, Yun Jongseung, his cheeks trembling, replied irritably.
Regardless, the Jeomsoi led the way cheerfully.
"Yes, sirs! Please follow me."
Namgung Cheon grinned at Yun Jongseung.
"Friends are great, aren't they? Well, I paid for your room and board until now, so we'll just call this repayment."
This, too, was a fact he had heard from Bokseong.
That his travel money had been stolen by Yun Jongseung every time.
Namgung Cheon, having been shown to his room, said to the departing Jeomsoi.
"I'm hungry, so prepare a spread that'll make the table legs bend. With the most hiiigh-quality food you have."
"Yes, yes! Leave it to me! I'll bring it up right away!"
The Jeomsoi, having landed big-spending customers for the first time in a while, ran down, beaming.
Namgung Cheon clapped Yun Jongseung's shoulder.
"Don't hold back, eat your fill. It's my treat, with the money you're paying back. Thankful, right?"
"Y-yeah."
Yun Jongseung gripped the pouch containing his travel money and closed his eyes.
The next morning.
"Thank you, sirs! Please come again!"
The inn's Jeomsoi shouted loud enough to shake the roof.
Namgung Cheon picked his teeth and waved his hand dismissively.
"Yeah, we rested well."
But next to him, Yun Jongseung, carrying the travel bags, had a face crumpled in despair.
'Overnight... a hundred Nyang...! This crazy bastard!'
To think it was possible to spend a hundred Nyang in one night just on food and sleep, with no alcohol or women!
Namgung Cheon patted Yun Jongseung's back.
"No need to be so thankful. What are friends for?"
'No, you spent my money, so why do I have to be thankful!'
Yun Jongseung swallowed the retort that rose to his throat.
Right, hadn't I prepared for this to some extent?
Let's admit what I have to admit.
This isn't a level I can beat with cheap tricks.
But my opponent is Namgung Cheon.
The son of the Great Killing Star, scorned by the world; the posthumously adopted son of a falling family.
And the official pushover of Yongcheon Academy!
I am not the Yun Jongseung who will be intimidated while running errands for a wimp like that.
'Namgung Cheon... laugh all you want for now. Soon... uh oh? Don't do it. You bastard...'
Yun Jongseung, who had been glaring at Namgung Cheon's back, suddenly looked perplexed.
Namgung Cheon, having reached the village entrance, had begun stretching his arms and legs, warming up.
At last, the dreaded words came from Namgung Cheon's mouth.
"Well, my stomach is full. Shall we start running?"
'Hey, hey, don't. If you run after eating, you'll get a stomach ache, you bastard...'
"There's nothing better for training than running. Now, let's go!"
Tadat!
Without waiting for Yun Jongseung's reply, Namgung Cheon bolted.
Namgung Cheon became a dot in an instant.
In the end, Yun Jongseung, saddled with two bags, chased after him, letting out a string of curses.
"You, you son of a biiiitch!"
Namgung Cheon ran about fifty Li without resting.
Only after fully climbing a rather steep slope did he stop to catch his breath.
He lightly circulated his internal energy for one cycle (Iljucheon) and found the flow wasn't bad.
'My body's condition has improved quite a bit.'
Of course, even so, he was still not at half the level of his prime.
Still, at this rate, he could easily take on a decent Ill-ryu (First-rate) expert with plenty to spare.
After finishing his energy circulation, he glanced around. The forest was dense on both sides.
The path cutting through the forest was an Gwando (Official Road), but it was deserted, making it a perfect place for something to happen.
In other words, it was an ideal location for some despicable person to plot something.
And Namgung Cheon had stopped precisely because he'd just caught the scent of that despicable plot.
Having been hunted his entire life as the Public Enemy of the Murim, his senses for this kind of thing were frighteningly sharp.
Just then, Yun Jongseung ran up, panting, and collapsed.
"Heok, heok, heok...! Please... just a little rest... heok, heok...!"
"Tsk, tsk. You really need to work on your Gyeonggong."
As Yun Jongseung glared resentfully, Namgung Cheon smacked the back of his head.
"This bastard is a slow learner. Your friend gives you advice, and you glare at him like that. Do you think that makes me feel shitty? Or fucked up?"
"S-sorry."
"And you."
"Uh, huh?"
"When I started running, you cursed at me from behind, didn't you?"
"N-no."
"I heard something about a 'son of a dog'..."
"N-no! You... must have misheard. I was treated so well by you, why would I curse?"
"That's what I thought. I spent a hundred Nyang to fill your stomach, you shouldn't."
'That was my money, you bastard!'
Yun Jongseung swallowed the words that rose to his throat and nodded.
"O-of course."
"Right. But are you waiting for someone? Your eyes are busy."
"Wh-what are you talking about? I'm just tired. Who would I be waiting for here?"
"True, right? It'd be lucky if bandits don't show up on a mountain road like this... oh, they've shown up?"
As soon as Namgung Cheon's words fell, a rustling sound came from the bushes on both sides, and seven masked men popped out.
They were dressed as bandits in every way, but the aura they exuded felt completely out of place.
'One Ill-ryu (First-rate), and the rest are I-ryu (Second-rate)? That bald one is the leader.'
While Namgung Cheon was quickly assessing them, the bald man, as expected, slung a Daedo (Great Saber) over his shoulder and walked over.
"Well, well, our little Gongja-nims with peach fuzz, where are you off to in such a hurry?"
"We are on our way to the academy."
As Namgung Cheon answered with surprising clarity, the bald man looked a bit flustered.
The bald man's gaze flickered toward Yun Jongseung.
Namgung Cheon clicked his tongue inwardly.
Just as I thought. These are men Yun Jongseung set up in ambush.
Three pieces of evidence.
First, for bandits, their aura is too clean. Proof they've trained in orthodox arts.
Second, these "bandits" are showing no interest in Yun Jongseung, the one carrying the luggage, and are directing all their hostility only at me.
Third, real bandits would have no reason to wear masks. This means they either know us or can't let their faces be known.
This is why they say old adages are never wrong.
When you stomp on someone, you must stomp on them for good.
So they can never crawl back up.
The bald man snorted.
"You're a bold little bastard. But if you lose your sense of fear, your body is in for a world of pain."
"Are you bandits?"
"What, do we look like Taoist priests to you? Hand over everything you have. Then we'll spare your lives."
"My family's fortunes have declined sharply, so I don't have much. But that guy over there has a lot."
As Namgung Cheon pointed at Yun Jongseung, the men looked baffled for a moment.
But there was no way they'd be interested in Yun Jongseung.
As expected, the bald man's eyebrows shot up, and he roared.
"A little bastard selling out his friend? Where did you learn such rotten manners? Hand over your stuff first! Or I'll kill you!"
"Let me ask one thing before that."
"What?"
"Are you really bandits?"
"Of course, we..."
"Think carefully before you answer. This is a very important moment."
As Namgung Cheon's gaze turned chillingly cold, the bald man flinched and shut his mouth.
'What kind of gaze does this kid have...!'
But his pride was soon wounded, and he brandished his saber threateningly, shouting.
"This arrogant bastard! You don't get the situation, do you? It looks like you need a taste of my blade!"
"So you are real bandits. Waving a blade at an innocent person?"
If they come out like this, it actually makes it easier.
Even for stiff-necked "righteous" types, this is enough of a justification to not hold back.
In other words, they'll have nothing to say even if I beat them to a pulp.
On top of that, the bald man spat out the decisive words.
"Hm? Come to think of it, that sword you have looks pretty useful. That thing might be worth extending your lifespan a bit."
"Ah... this?"
Seureureureung.
As Namgung Cheon drew his Byeokrageom (Green Jade Sword), the seven martial artists flinched and put their hands on their sword hilts.
Namgung Cheon aimed the tip of his sword at the bald man.
"Jongseung-ah, if you don't want to get caught up in this and get beaten, step back."
At that, Yun Jongseung threw the bag he was carrying.
The bag hit Namgung Cheon's back and fell to the ground, as Yun Jongseung drew his sword and sneered.
"I don't want to."
He really is a guy who earns himself a beating.
Just then, the bald man let out a Kihap-like roar and charged.
"Didn't I say your body pays the price if you lose your fear! You little brat!"
In that instant, the Chogyeon Pagongan activated, and the bald man's Qi Path was laid bare before Namgung Cheon's eyes.
Just as he'd thought, the red light spread along the Sutaeyang Sojanggyeong.
'These guys are consistent. Their martial arts and their personalities are both the same.'
Pabat!
Namgung Cheon quickly used his footwork, brushed past the bald man, and swung his Byeokrageom upwards.
Kkaang!
A clear metallic sound rang out, and the thrilling sensation he hadn't felt in a while grazed his fingertips.
Yes, this feeling.
Holding and swinging a real sword after so long, it felt like the blood in his entire body was boiling.
As always, trampling on despicable bastards is fun.
The bald man couldn't withstand the sudden counterattack and lost his grip on his saber.
Hwiririk, Thuk!
The Daedo (Great Saber) flew far and embedded itself in a tree trunk.
From then on, it was Namgung Cheon's one-sided beating.
Shiiit, Peo-eok!
Namgung Cheon wildly swung his Geomjip (scabbard) at the bald man.
Peok! Peok! Ppaak! Ppeok!
"Ack! Keu-ak! Aaak!"
"You were right. If you lose your sense of fear, your body pays the price like this."
The bald man flopped around, continuously screaming.
There were no techniques in the scabbard Namgung Cheon swung.
It was a random beating, like a neighborhood Parakho (wastrel) swinging a club.
The sight was so rough and tyrannical that the surrounding martial artists just stared, dumbfounded and frozen like stone.
Finally, Namgung Cheon struck the bald man squarely on the back of his head with the scabbard.
Ppaak!
"Keo-eok...!"
The bald man froze, his eyes rolled back whitely, and he collapsed with a thud.
After convulsing a few times, the bald man lost consciousness and went limp. His mask was soaked, as if he was foaming at the mouth.
The surroundings became dead silent.
Deng-geureong...!
The sound of a sword blade dropping.
It was Yun Jongseung's sword.
"Y-you... killed him...?"
As Yun Jongseung let out a parched voice, the six martial artists belatedly snapped to their senses and drew their swords.
Chachaaang!
"Th-this bastard! What? All of a sudden!"
"That crazy bastard k-killed the Jojang-nim (Team Leader)...!"
"Don't make a fuss. He just fainted."
Namgung Cheon grinned, then went to... lick his sword blade...
'Aigoo, I almost licked it! Get a grip. If I do that, I'll really look like the Great Killing Star, won't I?'
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