The morning sunlight was gently covering the roof of the inner quarters. The sky of Pungsan was clear, and it was a peaceful morning where a gentle breeze carried the scent of plum blossoms.
"Young Master! Young Master!"
Deok-heum visited Seomun Hwan's room as always. It is a servant's job to wake their master up early in the morning like the other young masters. However, Deok-heum had never once completed his job. Every time he shouted for him to wake up quickly, Seomun Hwan continued to sleep. Eventually, Seomun Hwan's wake-up time was always when the sun was high in the sky. He had no doubt that today, like always, would be in vain.
"Young Master, it is a good morning today as well. Please wake up quickl...."
As he flung the door open, Deok-heum's words cut off in the middle. Unexpectedly, there was no one in the room. The blanket was neatly folded, and there wasn't even an indentation of a head on the pillow. He had been repeating this for several years already, but this was a sight he was seeing for the first time.
"Huh?"
At that moment, a familiar voice was heard from the outer yard.
"Deok-heum, over here." "Yes? Young Master?!"
As the surprised Deok-heum ran out to the yard in a fluster, he witnessed an astonishing sight. On the wooden bench in the center of the yard. Seomun Hwan was sitting, and dozens of crows were sitting around him. On the roof tiles, the walls, the tree branches, and even on Seomun Hwan's shoulders and knees. Strangely, those crows did not scream or fly wild. They only quietly reacted to Seomun Hwan's single movement and tilted their heads.
"Young Master, this... what is this?"
The startled Deok-heum asked cautiously. Seomun Hwan, with his back to the sun, answered nonchalantly.
"Pets." "...Yes?" "They are crows I'm raising."
Seomun Hwan lifted his fingertips as if stroking a crow on his shoulder. The crow, seemingly enjoying the touch, made a cooing sound and closed its eyes. Deok-heum looked around with a dumbfounded face. This wasn't simply a matter of raising birds. Weren't the crows' actions and gestures like beasts worshipping their master?
"Y-Young Master, why are you doing this... no, how on earth...." "Don't worry. They aren't scary kids."
As Seomun Hwan reached his hand upward, the crows filling the yard flew up simultaneously.
Flap!!
The flock of crows that flew quickly disappeared into the sky in an instant. For a moment, Deok-heum pinched his cheek, wondering if he was dreaming.
"Ouch!"
Of course, it wasn't a dream. Seomun Hwan spoke nonchalantly.
"You heard the story that the culprit who embezzled the goods was found a few days ago, right?" "Yes, Young Master. Of course I know. You said Han Man-deuk did it? That person is usually diligent and has a good impression, so I didn't see him that way...." "Right, that guy."
Seomun Hwan cut off Deok-heum's words and spat out shocking words.
"They locked him in the shed, but they say he died yesterday morning." "What?! He d-died? Why?" "It was suicide. They say he hanged himself?" "Eek! Su-suicide?"
As Deok-heum jumped in surprise at the word suicide, Seomun Hwan snorted.
"It's funny even when you hear it, right? Committing suicide just because of theft. Even if he suffered a bit of flogging, eventually getting caught by the government office would be the extent of it." "N-Now that I hear it, that is true." "Something is strange. That's why I started raising crows." "...Yes?"
Deok-heum could not understand at all. What did Han Man-deuk dying have to do with raising crows? Seomun Hwan continued to speak.
"They say Pungsan is noisy recently, right? That guys we haven't seen before keep loitering around?" "T-That is correct. They say the back alleys are noisy these days. It seems folks from the Unorthodox Factions have entered from the outside. But how does the Young Master know that...."
Seomun Hwan pointed to the sky and said.
"The crows told me." "...Yes?! Ay! You're joking again."
Deok-heum, naturally thinking it was a joke, pursed his lips but did not argue as was the duty of a servant.
"I desperately don't want to do anything, but there are guys who keep getting in the way. This is why knowing too much is also a problem."
There were guys buzzing in his ears like mosquitoes. Wouldn't it be harmful to the clan to just ignore them? It was different from his past life where he was an orphan with no family. His father and brothers who always nagged him but cherished him. And his parents who gave him infinite affection no matter how much he lazed around and showed only disappointing sides. For their sake, it would be necessary to move even if it was a bit bothersome.
"Deok-heum." "Yes, Young Master." "Prepare for an outing tonight."
At those words, Deok-heum shouted in surprise.
"Surely... are you planning to go to the gibang again?! Do you intend to disobey the Patriarch's order?"
He was a young master who frequented the gibang almost every day. Eventually, he even received a gibang ban due to the strict order of the enraged Patriarch, but he says he's going again in violation of that.
"If you get caught by the Patriarch doing that, you really won't be able to avoid a flogging. The Patriarch will probably roll up his sleeves himself and swing the club?"
Deok-heum warned him while even mimicking swinging a club, but Seomun Hwan was still nonchalant.
"It's fine if I don't get caught." "...Haa!"
Deok-heum sighed. If they got caught doing this, sparks would fly not only to his master but to himself as well... but what could he do? The master he served was the third young master.
"Really, this is just for this one time. Play well just for today and you must get permission next time!" "I got it. I got it."
Somehow, Deok-heum's nagging was increasing.
That night. An old house in the back alley west of Pungsan. From the outside, it looks just like an old abandoned house, but once you enter inside, the story changes. This place was the base of the Black Dragon Gang, which controlled the market's back alleys. A handful of coins were piled up on the table, and there was a man sitting with a rice cake in his mouth between them. Half-pressed hair, and a man in his mid-thirties wearing an earring made of silver on his left ear. He was counting the coins one by one while frowning.
"Ahem! Look at this. It's short half a nyang of silver again today. Anyway, this is why I have to check it myself."
His name was Coin Demon (Dongjeongwi). It was a nickname he got because he was extremely greedy for money. He was the boss of the Black Dragon Gang and a neighborhood bully who had some clout in the back alleys of Pungsan.
"Boss! Boss!"
A subordinate who rushed up the stairs flung the door open.
"Why are you coming up so out of breath? Are you looking to die?" "No. It's not that. Again today, outsiders are loitering around the southern passage side." "Outsiders? Again?"
The Coin Demon frowned while clearing away the money.
"What kind of guys are they this time?" "They're guys I'm seeing for the first time, but they are all armed... and it seems they are threatening merchants to collect territory fees. They said they even snatched the money we were receiving in a few places."
The Coin Demon pursed his lips, then flicked the coins on the table with a tak-tak sound and said.
"Ha! Isn't that crossing the line? We preempted the southern territory fees, didn't we? I even showed my sincerity to the officials, and wheedled the merchants well... This won't do."
The Coin Demon spoke while strapping on the sword that was leaning next to his chair.
"I can't stand it anymore. It's war. We have to show those outsiders a lesson."
As the Coin Demon looked like he would invade right away, the subordinate spoke cautiously.
"B-Boss. I hear they aren't ordinary guys. The Red Tiger Gang bastards are strangely quiet. It's clear something happened. For now, we should carefully dig into their identity...." "Hey!"
The Coin Demon threw a coin and hit the subordinate's forehead with a thud.
"This big brother made sure you don't starve with territory fees, yet you say such things. In this field, don't you know it's over once you look ridiculous?!"
The Coin Demon rose from his seat and lightly loosened his shoulders.
"We can't just let guys who spat in our rice bowl slide. If we leave it like this, we'll have our entire district stolen right under our noses."
At those words, the subordinates nodded their heads simultaneously.
"Let's go!" "Yes! Boss!"
It was the moment everyone in the Black Dragon Gang was about to leave enthusiastically.
Kwa-ang!
Suddenly, the front gate of the Black Dragon Pavilion shattered as if it had exploded. Thick wood flew away like sheets of paper, and dust scattered hazily.
"...What is it?"
The subordinates took out their weapons in surprise, and the Coin Demon bit his lip tightly while gripping his sword. Shadows approached from within the dust.
Thud! Thud!
The people who slowly revealed themselves were three. Men wearing black martial arts uniforms. Expressionless faces, excessively calm movements. Two of them had already drawn their swords, and the one leading did not hide the killing intent flowing from his gripped hand. Although dozens of Black Dragon Gang members filled the room, it was only the three who dominated the air.
"...Who are you."
The Coin Demon's voice trembled. Distinguishing those stronger than oneself was the minimum instinct to survive in this field. That instinct was ringing alarm bells.
"Damn it! Martial artists? Was it you guys who invaded our territory?"
Just because one learned martial arts, not everyone is called a martial artist. The Coin Demon also learned martial arts and was about third-rate, but he was only called a neighborhood bully. However, those approaching seemed to be at least first-rate.
"Why? Why come all the way to our territory and do shit like this?! What are you bastards lacking?"
The back alley is a dog-eat-dog fighting ground for low-life scumbags like themselves. Even if they extort money from merchants, it's only petty cash. What would the real deals who properly trained martial arts lack to dip their feet into this mud? The man leading spoke bluntly.
"No need for long words. Kill them all."
Before those words even finished, two men moved simultaneously.
Swish!
A sword sliced the wall, and one Black Dragon Gang subordinate flew and hit the wall. Another one had his chest cut and rolled on the floor before he could even react.
"Kuaaak!!" "Damn! These bastards!"
In just one breath, two Black Dragon Gang subordinates fell. Their attacks were full of killing intent. The two who fell were dead at a glance. The Black Dragon Gang subordinates scattered in panic in an instant, and the Coin Demon's hand gripping the sword also trembled. First-rate masters who couldn't be compared to himself. Cold sweat flowed down the Coin Demon's eyes.
"Damn it all...!"
As the man leading gestured lightly, the remaining two swung their swords again. Sharp sword energy tore through the wind and approached, and the Black Dragon Gang subordinates were knocked out without even being able to fight back properly.
"Kuak!" "B-Boss…!" "Damn it! Everyone run! Hurry!"
Was he trying to buy time? The Coin Demon blocked the front of his subordinates and raised his sword.
"Get out of our territory!!"
The reason the Coin Demon became the boss of the Black Dragon Gang was naturally because he was the strongest. But that was strictly by back alley standards. Having never learned proper martial arts in his life, he merely hovered at the third-rate level. Naturally, he couldn't be an opponent. As he clashed with the opponent's sword, his sword bounced off powerlessly.
Clang!
"Kuak!"
In just one move, the wrist that swung the sword was broken. The difference in power was clear. Overwhelming fear and helplessness covered the Coin Demon's mind.
"Why... on earth?"
As the Coin Demon cried out, the man leading spoke with a sneer.
"A corpse has no need to know."
The moment the sword was raised high, everyone shut their eyes tightly. But it was that moment.
[Caw!]
As the ominous cry of a crow was heard, the attackers were startled and looked at the place where the sound came from. Then, surprisingly, wasn't there a crow with dark blue feathers sitting on the ceiling beam? When did it enter?
"What is this...."
Just when they instinctively felt ominousness, a weary voice was heard.
"Yawn! You guys are really diligent. You're two hours earlier than I expected. Even though I haven't even played properly at the gibang I came to after a long time."
The owner of the voice was Seomun Hwan. Seomun Hwan looked quite groomed today. His usually lazy and messy hair was combed neatly and had a sheen. His jet-black and lustrous hair was tied up neatly. Seomun Hwan walked inside, stepping leisurely over the broken door. A half-empty liquor bottle was held in one hand, and he stared at the enemies with eyes that were still weary.
"Who are you?"
When the martial artist leading asked sharply, Seomun Hwan answered indifferently.
"Me? A passing traveler."
Seomun Hwan's gaze scanned the Coin Demon's back, who had fallen on the floor in one corner.
"By the way, there are many pubs I visit often in this neighborhood. If you guys go around breaking things like this, it becomes quite bothersome for me."
The man leading frowned.
"To interfere without fear. It seems your life isn't precious to you."
Seomun Hwan yawned long once again.
"Ay, where is there a person whose life isn't precious. That would be the same for you guys too."
As Seomun Hwan looked at the ceiling, that dark blue crow that cried earlier cried out sharply once again with a Caw! At that moment, the martial artists in black uniforms instinctively flinched.
"You three, could you tell me your purpose for coming here? It doesn't seem like you came to take over the back alleys or anything?"
The attackers narrowed their eyes and looked at Seomun Hwan. The opponent is a scholar exuding an air of nobility. As if he received almost no sunlight, his face was pale to the point of being white, and his hands looked soft like a baby's hand without calluses. It seemed like they could twist his neck in an instant if they rushed... but for some reason, the feeling wasn't good. The three turned their heads to look at each other and exchanged glances. Still, the conclusion was very simple.
"Kill him!"
At the command of the leading martial artist, two people immediately rushed toward Seomun Hwan. As they infused internal energy, a thin film of qi formed on the swords they were holding. Seeing that, Seomun Hwan nodded and said.
"Ho-oh? As expected, peak masters."
The standard dividing first-rate and peak is whether one can overlay materialized internal energy onto a weapon or not. The Black Dragon Gang including the Coin Demon saw them as first-rate masters, but in reality, they were at the much stronger peak level. If one is a peak master, they can receive high treatment anywhere in the Kangho. Why were such skilled people slaughtering third-rate neighborhood bullies here?
Whoosh!
Fast and sharp sword energy rushed in aiming for Seomun Hwan's neck. Seomun Hwan did not move. Just very faintly, he only wore a smile on his lips. It was a fleeting moment. Seomun Hwan's form suddenly shook, then melted away into the air.
"Uh?!"
The two martial artists in black uniforms turned around in surprise. Seomun Hwan was not where he was standing just a moment ago, but leaning against a wall far away, still holding the liquor bottle.
"Isn't it you guys who are drunk, not me? Where are you attacking?"
Seomun Hwan nonchalantly brought the liquor bottle to his mouth.
"Damn it! It's sorcery. Stay calm!"
Confirming that the opponent uses a bizarre technique, the three approached cautiously and surrounded Seomun Hwan. Even until then, Seomun Hwan was leaning against the pillar and just sipping from the liquor bottle.
"Kill!"
At the words of the man who was the leader, the three rushed simultaneously and thrust their swords. The direction, trajectory, and height were all slightly different from each other, but the time the swords reached was almost identical. A perfect combined attack technique that couldn't be matched without shedding countless amounts of blood and sweat.
'Got him!'
They had no doubt that their swords would slaughter him. As expected, the sensation of piercing human flesh was transmitted to the tip of the sword.
Puk!
Red fresh blood poured onto the floor. Both the stabbing attackers and the Black Dragon Gang, who were watching with nervous hearts, thought Seomun Hwan had definitely died. However....
"...Uh?"
When they came to their senses, Seomun Hwan's figure was not seen. The attackers felt their vision shaking and their sense of direction twisting. And above all, a pain as if a red-hot iron skewer was embedded in their bodies. Surprisingly, the three swords were drawing a triangle and stabbing each other.
"What is this...."
Still, a leisurely voice rang in their ears.
"What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"
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