That evening.
Namgung Cheon let out a deep sigh.
He knew people couldn't always see things his way, but how could they be so short-sighted? He had given Song Wongyo a clean ending with no hard feelings, but Song Wongyo had chosen a messy conclusion in the end.
After class, Song Wongyo, with a look that said he would chew Namgung Cheon up and spit him out, had requested a spar.
Of course, he was now paying the price for it.
His eye sockets were swollen shut, blood was pouring from his crushed nose, his lips were split, and he had lost a tooth.
"You, you bastard… how…? Keuk!"
Song Wongyo, who had barely managed to speak, collapsed, blood dribbling from his mouth. His legs were trembling so badly he couldn't even support his own body.
"S-Song Gongja…"
Baek Rihyang, who had been watching as if in a daze, muttered weakly. She looked at Namgung Cheon with trembling eyes.
The official Hogu of Yongcheongwan, the laughingstock of all.
But he had become a completely different person. Those placid, sunken eyes were chillingly cold.
Finally, Namgung Cheon asked, his voice practically radiating a chill, "Are you next?"
"N-no… I…"
Baek Rihyang quickly averted her gaze. She was flustered.
I... looked away first? Me?
Had she ever avoided a man's gaze? It was always the opposite. But right now, she couldn't find the confidence to meet Namgung Cheon's eyes.
'Why, in front of a Hogu like that…!'
Just then, Namgung Cheon's voice cut in again. "If you're going to fight, say so. I'll be sure to teach you a lesson."
"How arrogant…!"
The words had burst out before she knew it, but as soon as their eyes met, her mouth snapped shut.
An eye-shape that hinted at a wicked smile. It was the same expression Namgung Cheon had worn last night when he had used that strange art on her.
Suddenly recalling that event, her cheeks burned hot.
'Why am I thinking of that now…!'
She still didn't know. What he had done to her, or how. She had called it a "strange art," but it was clear it wasn't Sagong (Demonic Arts). She hadn't felt the slightest trace of demonic energy.
It was only natural. Bangjungsul, while it might seem lewd, was ultimately one of the Daoist cultivation methods. If anything, it could be called an orthodox art.
Namgung Cheon narrowed his eyes and glared at Baek Rihyang.
"Why no answer? You want to be taught a lesson, too?"
"Ah, that is…!"
Baek Rihyang stammered, flustered again.
Want to be taught a lesson? Yes, I just want to be... taught a lesson. Huh?
'Wh-what am I thinking right now?'
Her heart felt like it would explode. At the same time, despair began to fill her mind.
'What do I do? Am I going crazy?'
Baek Rihyang, unable to hide her bewilderment, suddenly spun around and ran.
"B-Baekri Sojeo!"
The fallen Song Wongyo called after her with a pitiful expression. But Baek Rihyang had already vanished around the corner of the building.
Namgung Cheon tilted his head. What was that absurd reaction? Don't tell me the lewd energy is still there?
Could it be…?
"That Bangjungsul is one I developed myself. I call it the Saekhwa Sosim-sul (Lust-Transforming Original Heart Art). It's easy to remove the lewd energy after the deed, so there's no burden. Well, there is a slight element of instability if you remove it too late… but it's nothing to worry about."
That goddamn lust-crazed monk... did he palm off an unfinished art on me?
Well, it wasn't like he'd paid for it, so it wasn't technically palming it off. Still, he felt cheated.
If it had been a normal martial art, he would have used his Chogyeon Pagongan to analyze and fix the flaws after one use. But this Bangjungsul... he had no occasion to use it, and it was qualitatively different from martial arts, so he hadn't recognized the problem.
But what if that "element of instability" was that the Saekhwa Sosim-sul's influence remained even after the lewd energy was removed?
What to do?
'Well, it's not my problem.'
That's right. It was a problem for Baek Rihyang to solve. Wasn't it all Ingwa-eungbo and Jaeop-jadeuk (reaping what you sow)? You reap what you sow.
He had done what he had to do. If anything, she should be thankful he didn't do worse.
Anyway, what to do with this guy now?
Namgung Cheon looked down with cold eyes at Song Wongyo, who was collapsed in front of him.
Song Wongyo, despite his wretched state, had not erased the malice from his eyes. He spat out a glob of bloody phlegm and snapped, "You think this makes you any less of the Yongcheongwan Hogu? I don't know what you did to Baekri Sojeo, but you'll soon regret it! Don't expect your situation to change just because you learned some petty tricks and beat me. You're still just the bastard shat out by the wench who screwed the Great Killing Star! This world won't leave you alone! You would have been better off just dying!"
Ah, now that I listen to him, his insults are a bit much.
Does this academy teach its students how to earn a beating?
Ttaak!
"Keo-eok!"
Namgung Cheon smacked the back of his head with all his strength and crouched in front of him.
"You bastard. No matter what, the one who insults parents is the worst kind of trash."
"Hmph! I just stated the facts as they…!"
Ttaak!
"Keok!"
"A bastard who doesn't learn. Well, then you just have to get beaten."
"W-wait! Stop! I admit defeat! This isn't a martial artist's etiquette…! Aaaak!"
Peok! Peok! Ppaak! Peo-eok!
Namgung Cheon beat him soundly, speaking as he did. "Etiquette is for people. You're not a person, so we'll skip it."
Even after that, Namgung Cheon continued the beating for a long time.
That night, Namgung Cheon, having finished his energy circulation as usual, clenched and unclenched his fists, lost in thought.
'I've raised my body's condition quite a bit… but it's not enough.'
He could easily handle those at the entrance of the Ill-ryu (First-rate) level, like Song Wongyo or Baek Rihyang. But it would be dangerous if he had to cross hands with a Jeoljeong-gosu (Peak Expert) or face multiple Ill-ryu experts.
Of course, he had a wealth of experience second to none. But he couldn't rely on that alone.
'Just as Song Wongyo said, I am now the son who inherited the Great Killing Star's blood.'
People's gazes would be anything but kind. He knew full well he would have to walk a path of thorns. It was a much better situation than his past life, but he couldn't just relax.
Namgung Cheon stood up and walked to the window. The stars in the night sky twinkled brightly.
Namgung Cheon looked at the multitude of stars and thought.
'Are you watching? I've punished the ones who tormented my son. That's why you gave me this chance, right? You, and Cheon-ie. If only I could hear your voice. If only you could just say, "You did well." I wouldn't ask for anything more.'
Connecting the starlight, it became a face he missed. As he looked up at the sky, his eyes grew moist.
"Keo-heom!"
He had been uncharacteristically sentimental.
Namgung Cheon closed the window, turned, and went back to contemplating how to get stronger. In the end, this was the Jianghu, where you needed strength to survive, wasn't it?
'If this were the Namgung Family of old, I'd be stuffing myself with all kinds of elixirs and building up my internal energy.'
But the family could no longer afford such luxuries. The only reason they hadn't been erased from the Jianghu after associating with the Great Killing Star was because they were, after all, the Namgung Family.
If that's the case, the only method left is…
'I have to visit the Anga (Safe House)…'
In his past life, while fleeing the Murim Alliance, Jin Cheonrang had set up safe houses all over the Jianghu. It was a habit of those branded as public enemies. Among those safe houses, some held rather precious elixirs or artifacts. He had prepared them for emergency treatment in case he was in dire straits. He could also sell the artifacts if he needed quick cash.
'The problem is, this is Wuhan, the one place I don't have a safe house.'
Why wouldn't he put a safe house in a place with so much foot traffic? Because, obviously, this is where the Murim Alliance is. There's a saying that it's darkest under the lamp, but that only applies if you were under the lamp from the beginning. If you're an idiot who believes that saying and crawls under the lamp, you're more likely to get caught and die before you even get there.
So, he had to stay as far away as possible from Wuhan, the Murim Alliance headquarters.
'The closest one from here is probably Daebyeolsan (Dabie Mountains)?'
The reason for placing a safe house in the Dabie Mountains was simple. First, the mountain range is vast, and second, it's on the border of Anhui, Hubei, and Henan, so it's easy to flee in any direction.
The problem was that getting there and back would be no simple feat.
'Being a student has a surprising number of restrictions.'
In this respect, the life of a fugitive certainly felt freer.
In the end, is life all about perspective?
Ah, to have an epiphany even at a time like this. I'm just that deep of a thinker.
Peo-eok!
"Keuk!"
Kudang-tang-tang!
Song Wongyo, sent flying by a kick, rolled haphazardly with a pile of junk.
They were inside an old building used as a warehouse by Yongcheongwan.
"Kkeueueu."
Song Wongyo twitched, letting out a pained groan.
Jeobeok, jeobeok.
Heavy footsteps approached. A dark shadow drew near and a brutish hand grabbed Song Wongyo's hair.
"Keuk!"
The man was a head taller than most adults. He grabbed Song Wongyo's hair, dragged him, and threw him carelessly in front of a young man sitting in a chair.
Teolseok!
"Keup…!"
Song Wongyo, his eyes bloodshot, didn't dare lift his head even in this miserable situation.
Just then, moonlight slanted through a crack in the window, clearly illuminating the face of the man in the chair.
A somewhat youthful face. A voice, just as youthful, flowed out.
"Song-hyeong. You made two mistakes. Do you know that?"
A clear voice, one that could be called innocent.
As Song Wongyo just bit his lip, the large man standing next to him sent a fist flying.
"Answer!"
Ppaak!
"Keok!"
Kudang-tang-tang!
Song Wongyo, struck in the face, was sent flying again, rolling on the ground.
The young man in the chair spoke as if complaining. "Cheolju. How can you hit him so crudely? If his teeth fall out, it'll be hard for him to understand me."
"My apologies, Sogaju."
The large man bowed respectfully.
They were none other than the Sogaju (Young Family Head) of the Luoyang Jo Family and his bodyguard. The young man in the chair was Sogaju Jo Gangmin, and the large man was his personal guard, Gwak Cheolju.
The Luoyang Jo Family, along with the Baekri Family, belonged to the Gangho Chil-dae-sega (Seven Great Families of the Jianghu). Sogaju Jo Gangmin, in particular, was known as a peerless martial arts genius. There was a rumor that the Yongcheongwan Head had personally recruited him, which was why he was already a third-year student at only seventeen. The Luoyang Jo Family had sent the slightly older Gwak Cheolju to enroll with him as a bodyguard.
Jo Gangmin, as befitting a rising star who held everyone's expectations, was on the verge of reaching the Jeoljeong (Peak) stage. However, he had recently been on edge, unable to break through that wall.
Jo Gangmin let out a shallow sigh and continued.
"Since you're slower than I thought, Song-hyeong, I'll spell it out for you. First, you overreached and coveted Baekri Sojeo. Did you think I wouldn't know? If so, you've underestimated me. Or, you're just fucking stupid. Second, for the Sogaju of the Jeongjumun Sect to get beaten by the official Yongcheongwan Hogu and come crying to his Seonbae (senior)... that's a disgrace to our Henan. Isn't it? You're still the Young Master of a sect with its own name, right? At this rate, you'll have to take your sign down."
"...!"
His pride wounded, Song Wongyo flinched but showed no other reaction. He knew he might get hit by Gwak Cheolju again.
Jo Gangmin swept back his hair and continued. "Ah, well. That said, a Hubae (junior) came to me after getting beaten like this, so I can't just stay still as a Seonbae. I just didn't think I'd have to step in for something like this."
"Y-you can't be careless. That bastard… he's definitely changed."
"Carelessness is for stupid bastards like you, Song-hyeong. I give my all even when hunting a rabbit. Got it?"
As Jo Gangmin spoke in a cold voice, Song Wongyo watched him warily and asked, "D-do you have a plan?"
"I have information that our academy's students will be sent on the Daebyeolsan (Dabie Mountains) Subjugation Expedition soon, to gain real-world experience. That would be the most natural time to make a move."
Jo Gangmin grinned, and his stark white teeth flashed in the moonlight.
"But that kind of 'real-world experience' is dangerous enough to get you killed, isn't it?"
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