Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 14: In the Jianghu, One's Body is Not One's Own (3) Yeon So-wol thought to himself.
I'm not afraid.
Six months ago, back when he was still a student, there were many things he feared. Even a slightly delinquent classmate had been enough to intimidate him. If that kid had glared at him like this, So-wol would have averted his eyes out of fear.
But now...
I'm not afraid at all.
Practicing his internal cultivation method had been far more terrifying. He had feared his own wavering mind, the endless self-doubt, and the bone-deep exhaustion that felt like it would drive him mad.
Compared to that, the glare of a piece of human trash—a serial killer like this—doesn't scare me one bit.
He didn't want to look away from a man like that.
Fuuuu...
Thick plumes of hot, white steam rose from between Yeon So-wol's lips. It carried a savory aroma, like roasted barley or toasted Job's tears.
"You little bastard... I'll tear those eyes out!"
Mad Dog was already lunging off the ground. A murky, faint gray smoke rose from his own lips—a vibrating, acrid scent of something burning that stung the nose.
Whoosh!
Yeon So-wol leaped back with all his might, narrowly avoiding Mad Dog's hand. The memory of being beaten half to death by Mo Cheong and Lee Yu-baek was still vivid, even though six months had passed.
Furthermore, his Qi sense had become far more acute than it was back then. Thanks to his training in the Soft Willow Art, his body had become incomparably flexible and strong, moving exactly as he willed.
Even if Mad Dog was a renowned young expert in Sinheung County, So-wol could evade him reasonably well if he focused entirely on defense. He might not have looked graceful doing it, but by timing his retreats and side-steps, he could manage.
I probably can't win a straight fight. But since things have come to this...
The only martial art So-wol had mastered was the Soft Willow Art, an internal cultivation method. He didn't know a single actual combat technique.
On the other hand, Mad Dog was a true martial artist who had trained for over a decade, even if his skills were forged in the back alleys. His hand-to-hand combat was exceptionally fierce, honed through real-life experience.
However...
Yeon So-wol wasn't planning on "fighting" Mad Dog.
I'll kill him in one breath. I'll make it look like an accident.
He would dodge as much as possible, looking for an opening, then close the distance and end it instantly. The power of the Heavenly Killing Star could be triggered as long as he made contact.
Sshhhhh—
A wind blew.
For the first time in a long while, So-wol prepared to unleash the power of the Heavenly Killing Star. The world suddenly felt strangely flat to him.
Threads began to flutter. From all directions. From the sky and the earth. Everywhere. Thin, shimmering threads.
"You little... You're dodging?"
Mad Dog grew even more agitated. He kicked off the ground with more force, desperate to catch the retreating So-wol.
This was the moment So-wol had been waiting for.
He pulled his leaning torso forward and lunged, his legs driving into the earth.
Zip!
Mad Dog was dumbfounded.
...He's closing in? On me?
The sudden proximity threw off Mad Dog's striking point. But it didn't matter. If it was too awkward to throw a punch, he would just grab the boy and beat him senseless. To someone who learned combat in the back alleys, a close-quarters scramble offered infinite possibilities.
You must be acting tough because you have Lee Yu-baek backing you. You're dead today.
He remembered the look in Yeon So-wol's eyes. Even with Resentful Dog and Smiling Dog standing right there, the boy had looked only at him. He had looked at him as if he were an insect.
That son of a bitch...
To a man who already harbored an inferiority complex toward Resentful Dog and Smiling Dog, that look was an unbearable insult.
A broken arm or ribs won't be enough. Lee Yu-baek would just heal those quickly.
Mad Dog hardened his heart.
I'll give him an internal injury.
He wanted to kill the boy, but he knew Lee Yu-baek wouldn't let that slide. So, he settled for an internal strike.
They say you're a genius? Let's see how well you overcome an internal injury. I'll strike deep and twist your Qi and blood.
An internal injury at a young age was fatal. If one's meridians were twisted during a period of rapid growth and cultivation—a time meant for burning away turbid Qi—the turbid Qi would instead accumulate faster. The victim would waste years trying to correct the damage instead of progressing. Their cultivation would be set back by years.
Moreover, the pain and terror experienced in youth could breed cowardice and bad habits. It was a devastating loss. A genius who could have reached the first-rate level might end up spending their entire life as a weakling because of a single internal injury.
Mad Dog decided to carve that very fate into Yeon So-wol.
Sizzle!
The sound of something searing. The smoke escaping Mad Dog's lips turned a shade darker.
Ghost Wailing Hand.
Crack, crunch!
The muscles in Mad Dog's arm writhed. His joints swayed. The technique was named Ghost Wailing Hand because of the eerie sound of twisting bone and muscle. It was a favorite among the Black Path thugs of the back alleys.
Fifth Form: White Snake Exploring the Acupoint.
Creeeeeak!
Due to the extreme heat of the Essence in his arm, even the muscles and elbow joints that should have remained firm began to partially melt under the pressure of the Qi. He was forcing a range of motion that should have been impossible.
Mad Dog's forearm rippled as if a swarm of snakes were writhing beneath the skin. By unleashing power that surpassed human limits in this way, he could strike with the flexibility of a heavy water bag. The force would penetrate deep inside, crushing organs and upending the victim's Qi and blood.
You've reached the Breath of Smoke and Clouds, so you won't die, but you'll suffer for years.
At the moment Mad Dog's eyes flashed with a cold, blue light—
"That's enough, isn't it?"
Whoosh!
With a gust of wind, a man dropped down between Mad Dog and Yeon So-wol.
Tap! Tap!
He extended both hands, using his fingertips to press against Mad Dog's and Yeon So-wol's foreheads, pushing them apart.
"...Jeon Tae-gwang?"
Mad Dog's face contorted. At first, he thought one of the Three Gentlemen of Pungryu had stepped in to help So-wol. But the one standing in his way was supposed to be his friend.
Yeon So-wol was also startled.
Whoa. Damn. I almost killed him.
Jeon Tae-gwang was different from Mad Dog, a killer with no real backing. Resentful Dog Jeon Tae-gwang was the youngest disciple of the Severing Sword Sect Leader. If So-wol killed him, even by accident, there was no telling what kind of storm would follow.
The Severing Sword Sect is a prestigious name in Sinheung County, comparable to our Pungryu Martial Arts Hall. Father told me to be especially polite when dealing with their people.
It had cost a gold tael just to settle the deaths of three thieves. If he killed the youngest disciple of the Severing Sword Sect Leader?
Gold might not be enough to fix that.
So, he was genuinely surprised. He had been so focused on severing the "thread" that he hadn't expected someone to jump into the middle of it like that.
"Hey."
Resentful Dog Jeon Tae-gwang looked at Yeon So-wol with narrowed eyes. When So-wol just stared back blankly, Jeon Tae-gwang frowned and spoke.
"I'm Jeon Tae-gwang of the Severing Sword Sect."
Only then did Yeon So-wol act as if he recognized him, cupping his hands in a polite greeting.
"Yes, Senior. I am Yeon So-wol of the Pungryu Martial Arts Hall. Please forgive my late greeting."
His demeanor was entirely different from how he had treated Mad Dog. This had been So-wol's plan from the start. Even if he killed Mad Dog, he intended to show respect to Smiling Dog and Resentful Dog.
In the Jianghu, one's body is not one's own.
I am the adopted son of the Pungryu Martial Hall Master.
If he didn't behave accordingly, he could cause great trouble for Lee Yu-baek, who had shown him such kindness.
"This kid..."
The look in Jeon Tae-gwang's eyes grew even more complicated as he watched So-wol. He waved his hand dismissively.
"Go. For today... but keep this in mind. You were disrespectful to me today."
"Hey! Jeon Tae-gwang! What are you doing?"
Mad Dog protested, but Jeon Tae-gwang continued to wave his hand as if he were shooing a fly.
"Just get lost, kid."
"..."
Yeon So-wol felt a lingering regret. He felt it would have been better to kill Mad Dog now. He had a feeling such an opportunity wouldn't come easily again. Even in 21st-century Korea, the legal sentence for killing someone in the heat of the moment was entirely different from killing someone you already knew and held a grudge against.
...But there's nothing I can do.
As long as Resentful Dog was standing his ground, it didn't seem like he could kill Mad Dog.
"Yes. I will greet you properly next time, Senior."
Yeon So-wol bowed again. Then he turned and bowed to Smiling Dog as well. He knew they were all scum, but they weren't serial killers like Mad Dog. He could afford to humble himself this much, if only for the sake of Lee Yu-baek's reputation.
"Hey! Hey! What are you doing? Where are you going? Hey!"
Mad Dog threw a fit behind them, but with his level of martial arts, he couldn't break through Resentful Dog's restraint.
"Hey! What the hell! Why are you stopping me!"
Jeon Tae-gwang snapped at the hysterical Mad Dog.
"This bastard complains even when I save his life."
"What?"
"You idiot, you almost died just now."
Mad Dog was speechless.
"You're crazy. Why would I die? From the way he moved, that kid knows nothing but internal cultivation."
"That's true, but..."
Resentful Dog felt a sense of frustration. It seemed his friend's Qi sense was too dull to feel it. It was incredibly difficult to explain it to someone who didn't know.
At that moment, Smiling Dog chimed in with a snicker.
"Hehe. Mad Dog, Mad Dog. Didn't you feel his killing intent?"
"Killing intent?"
"Yeah. It was a killing intent that was absolutely certain it could kill you. He was just waiting for you to get close."
"...Don't talk shit."
"It's true, though? Isn't it, Resentful Dog?"
"...I told you not to call me that."
"Ah, sorry, sorry. Tae-gwang. Heehee."
"Anyway, So-cheong is right. His killing intent was vicious. He had a way to kill you if you got close. I don't know if it was poison or a hidden weapon, but... that Annam brat is hiding a trump card."
"Huh? Hah? What?"
Mad Dog let out a hollow laugh.
Die? I almost died? Me? To him?
"Hah!"
As Mad Dog trembled with rage, Resentful Dog spoke.
"Just endure it for now. We've established a justification today. We'll crush him properly next time. If he has any brains, he won't be able to use those underhanded tricks when we meet again. Since we've officially introduced ourselves today."
Watching Yeon So-wol's back disappear around the street corner, Jeon Tae-gwang's eyes twitched.
*
Upon returning to the Pungryu Martial Arts Hall, Yeon So-wol went straight to Lee Yu-baek and told him everything that had happened.
"In the Jianghu, one's body is not one's own. When you're in the Jianghu, they won't leave you be. You'll get into trouble with all sorts of people."
Lee Yu-baek laughed as if he found it amusing.
Yeon So-wol watched his reaction before asking cautiously, "But... what happens if I get into a fight and kill someone? I mean, that Mad Dog guy. I know I shouldn't touch the other two, but..."
Lee Yu-baek looked at him with interest. "And you think you can kill him?"
"Ah... well."
Yeon So-wol, who had been keeping the power of the Heavenly Killing Star a secret, realized his slip. But Lee Yu-baek just laughed.
"I know, you sly fox. I already know you have some kind of lethal technique. Is it some secret art passed down in Annam?"
He knew?
So-wol was startled.
"Look at this boy's reaction. Did you think I wouldn't know? Looking at the traces left on those thieves you killed, it looked as if they had just stood there and let you stab them in the neck."
"..."
So-wol was shocked.
He could tell just from that?
In reality, he had killed them first with the power of the Heavenly Killing Star and then stabbed them, so it was indeed as if they had stood still.
"Don't worry. I won't ask. In fact, I'm proud of you, son. You're doing well. In this Jianghu, it's best to keep a few cents of your strength hidden."
Lee Yu-baek looked at So-wol with satisfaction. Thanks to that, So-wol was able to relax a little.
"Then... may I kill him?"
Even as he spoke, So-wol almost laughed at himself. To think that the words "May I kill him?" would come out of the mouth of someone who had been preparing for the CSAT just six months ago.
But he couldn't help it. He had already earned the grudge of a serial killer... He felt like he wouldn't be able to sleep soundly until he dealt with that man.
"No. You may not."
"Why not?"
"Because you two introduced yourselves."
"...That was Resentful Dog and Smiling Dog."
"If you introduced yourself to Resentful Dog and Smiling Dog, you must have known Mad Dog was there too."
"Is that a problem?"
"It is. If you kill him knowing who he is, it could be interpreted as the will of the Pungryu Martial Arts Hall."
"I heard Mad Dog has no backing..."
"Black Path groups usually don't care about each other, but if someone dies suspiciously, they suddenly start acting like their own family was killed."
"Is that... so?"
"Yes. Because they think the same thing could happen to them. So they band together and become very annoying. That would be a bit troublesome right now. I'm preparing for something big, and I can't afford to deal with the tantrums of Black Path thugs."
"...I will keep that in mind."
"Right. I told you, didn't I? A martial artist must know when to push and when to yield. Just endure it for a bit. Another opportunity will surely come."
"Yes."
Yeon So-wol nodded, but internally he clicked his tongue. His hunch had been right.
I knew it would be hard to kill him if I didn't do it today.
Lee Yu-baek stared at So-wol for a moment before speaking.
"But So-wol, things are going to get tiring for you from now on."
"Pardon?"
"You said Jeon Tae-gwang pointed out your disrespect."
"Yes."
"That means he's going to beat you up the next time he sees you. Since you're acquaintances now, he won't beat you too severely, but he'll make it hurt. Over and over. Every time he sees you."
"..."
"Want me to help?"
"No, thank you."
"Why? I can help."
"...I don't think it's good for an adult to get involved in a children's fight."
Lee Yu-baek laughed. "Then should I ask Mo Cheong to help?"
"I'll decline that as well."
"And why is that?"
"If I accept that kind of help, I think I'll be a laughingstock for a long time."
In So-wol's mind, people of the Jianghu were essentially gangsters. He didn't think someone who hid behind others because they were a bit scared would ever earn respect among gangsters.
Lee Yu-baek's smile deepened. "You understand well."
He then added, "But if you really can't handle it, let me know. I mean, what's wrong with an adult stepping into a kids' fight once in a while?"
Looking at Lee Yu-baek's face—he was in his late thirties but smiled like a child—So-wol thought to himself.
I really shouldn't cause trouble for a man like this.
He let go of the lingering attachment he had toward killing Mad Dog.
"Anyway, since you say you'll handle it yourself, I'll leave it at that for now. Let me know if you change your mind. All I can do is help with your training. It's been about a month since we last spoke, so let's resume your training tomorrow."
"Yes."
"...And, well. Don't be too disappointed."
"About what?"
"That guy. Mad Dog. If you wait, an opportunity will surely come. An opportunity to kill someone who deserves to die."
So-wol gave a bitter smile. To think this was a conversation between a father and a son.
A man of the Jianghu. Gangsters really are different.
But strangely, it's comforting.
Yeon So-wol bowed his head. "Thank you."
"Right. You must be tired. Shall we call it a day and see each other tomorrow?"
"Ah, actually... may I ask you one thing?"
"Ask away."
"Thank you."
Yeon So-wol pulled a booklet from his robe.
"I heard this is a secret manual carried by merchants, and it contains many strange stories. Do things like monsters actually exist in this world? I haven't seen any yet."
Lee Yu-baek answered immediately. "Of course they do."
Yeon So-wol's eyes widened.
"The Great Sage did not speak of the supernatural, the extraordinary, the chaotic, or the divine. But that just means he didn't speak of them, not that they don't exist. Since extraordinary power and chaotic violence already exist here, why wouldn't there be monsters and ghosts?"
As he spoke of extraordinary power and chaotic violence, Lee Yu-baek pointed to himself and So-wol. Extraordinary power referred to superhuman strength, and chaotic violence referred to unruly behavior; in the context of the four forbidden subjects, "power" and "chaos" were terms used to describe martial artists.
"Ah."
Realizing this, So-wol asked again, "Father, have you personally seen monsters or ghosts?"
"No?"
"...?"
"No. I mean, they must exist, but they aren't exactly common..."
"..."
Lee Yu-baek cleared his throat.
"Let me see that for a second. I want to see if there are any stories I know."
He took the booklet. Then he sighed.
"So such a thing existed. Merchants make things like this."
"Is this your first time seeing it, Father?"
"It is. A merchant's secret manual is never given to those who aren't merchants."
Lee Yu-baek looked at So-wol with warm eyes.
"I can see how upright your conduct must have been."
He flipped through the pages.
"I know several of these stories."
"Really?"
So-wol's ears perked up.
"I don't know about the sudden fog and the smell of alcohol, or the warning not to touch food on the street, but I know all the rest."
"But you said you haven't seen monsters or ghosts..."
"Right. The ones I say I know are all the deeds of men. Many things that seem like the work of monsters or ghosts turn out to be the work of humans upon closer inspection."
So-wol blinked.
The work of humans?
They seemed too much like ghost stories for that. So-wol pointed to one: the secret about not earning the resentment of courtesans or servers at Cheongun Pavilion.
"Is this also the work of humans?"
A warm smile played on Lee Yu-baek's lips—one that was friendly and full of affection.
"It is the work of humans."
"How?"
"That's a secret. It's impolite to spread other people's stories carelessly."
"..."
So-wol was extremely curious. But since it didn't seem like Lee Yu-baek would tell him, he didn't push and changed the subject.
"Then what about this one?"
*
II.
If you see a young child crying in the street while dressed in silk clothes, do not be quick to help.
If that child's body is strangely hot, flee immediately.
When fleeing, do not look back, no matter what strange sounds you hear.
Though they wear silk, they are by no means the child of a wealthy family, so do not let greed cloud your judgment.
*
Yeon So-wol saw it. He saw the corners of Lee Yu-baek's eyes droop. He was grieving.
"This... this is the work of the Yeoljeong Sect. So that is how the merchants remember it..."
The Yeoljeong Sect?
So-wol was puzzled. He had already familiarized himself with the major factions of Sinheung County when he first arrived. He had researched where he should learn martial arts. But this was the first time he had heard the name "Yeoljeong Sect."
"You wouldn't know. It was about five years ago. I killed them all. Every single one of them."
Flinch.
So-wol suddenly felt as if he could smell the scent of blood. A thick, heavy scent of blood that even the sweet aroma of lemons couldn't hide.
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