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“All the children from Cho Byeok’s pleasure house have been safely sent back to their hometowns. Also, all the old men who were there have been imprisoned in the dungeon. Not just them, but even those who had used the place before have all been arrested. They’ve all received sentences of several decades, so they won’t come out alive. Moreover, it’s a place where serious criminals are held, so it won’t be easy to survive in the dungeon.”

It was a satisfactory result. Fortunately, as I had thought, the discipline of the Martial Righteous Alliance had not yet been compromised.

But as time passes, the various organizations of the Martial Righteous Alliance will start to become corrupt. How can you expect the water below to be clear when the water above is murky? The upright individuals will soon start to be replaced by Ma Bonggi’s people.

“Commander-in-Chief Sima Cheon did not intervene in this incident. Rather, he’s probably trying to erase any connection with Cho Byeok.”

This was as I had expected.

“Can you secure evidence of the connection between Cho Byeok and Sima Cheon?”

“It might take some time, but I think it’s possible.”

He has handled many tasks for Sima Cheon until now. Surely, somewhere there must be evidence that they were on the same side, evidence they hadn’t managed to erase.

If we could secure that evidence, it could be used effectively when dealing with Sima Cheon later. Of course, I won’t use it right away. It would be evidence to be used at a critical moment later.

“Secure it carefully.”

“Yes.”

“At the same time, keep your ears to the ground for any movements in the Martial Righteous Alliance.”

“Understood.”

“You’ve done well.”

“It was nothing.”

I was pleased with how the two handled their work. Above all, they were fast, and they accepted orders without complaint even when given difficult tasks.

Although I’d need to observe them a bit longer, they could be considered to have passed the first test.

After meeting Jin and Su, I went to find Gong Su-chan next. He was reviewing documents in his room.

“Is the merchant group progressing well?”

“Yes, it’s proceeding smoothly. If I were to give an interim report…”

“No, that’s not why I came. Please handle this matter entirely on your own, Chief Gong.”

“I see. Then what brings you here?”

“Have you perhaps seen Martial Artist Gwang? I haven’t seen him at all yesterday or today.”

I came to ask Gong Su-chan because the two had been going around together recently due to work.

“I haven’t seen him.”

There was a slight hesitation in his answer.

“I see.”

It wasn’t something I could press him about, so I was about to turn and leave when Gong Su-chan called out to me from behind.

“Young Master.”

“Yes, what is it?”

Finally, Gong Su-chan revealed the reason for his hesitation.

“If Martial Artist Gwang causes trouble, what happens? Is it a big incident?”

***

When Baek Pyo came out to open the tavern door, he noticed someone standing across the street. It was Gwang-du.

“I felt like having a drink, so I came.”

“Did you come alone?”

“Yes.”

“Please come in.”

Gwang-du stepped inside. Having just opened, the place was still in a state of disarray.

“Let me help a bit.”

As Gwang-du stepped forward to help, Baek Pyo hurriedly stopped him.

“That would make me uncomfortable. Please just sit and wait for a moment.”

“Alright, I understand.”

Gwang-du sat in the same spot where he had sat with Byeok Ri-dan during their previous visit.

Baek Pyo quickly began tidying up the interior. With his skilled hands, he soon had everything in order.

Gwang-du quietly watched him. Although he was quite capable when it came to work, Baek Pyo’s skills were no ordinary matter.

“Shall I bring you the same drink you had last time?”

“Yes, please. And the same side dishes too. They were delicious.”

Baek Pyo brought the drink.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

“Our Young Master has spoken about you several times.”

“About me? What did he say?”

“That he met a really good person.”

“Haha, I’m grateful that he thinks so highly of me.”

“What do you think of our Young Master?”

“Master Byeok? Without a doubt, he’s a much better person than I am.”

Gwang-du quickly chimed in.

“Right? He’s really a good person.”

“Yes.”

Until he first arrived, Gwang-du had intended to speak directly and tell everything.

But when he actually saw Baek Pyo, the words wouldn’t come out.

A big reason was that he was intimidated after learning that the other had been the commander of the White Tiger Regiment that guarded the Martial Righteous Alliance Leader. He felt an inexplicable pressure. Until then, he had just been a tavern owner with a nice personality.

Gwang-du imagined the possible outcomes of speaking up.

What if Baek Pyo exploded in anger, saying something like:

“How dare you! Who do you think you are to secretly help me behind my back?”

What if he beat him up then? No, that would be getting off easy.

“Are you perhaps enemies targeting me? I’ll have to eliminate you and leave this place.”

What if he tried to kill them? Even though he had learned the Seven Forms of the Southern Sea technique, there was no way he could beat a former White Tiger Regiment Commander, right?

Gwang-du drank his alcohol in quick succession.

They say there’s no thief with a bad face, and you can’t judge a person’s heart by their appearance alone. Who knew what terrors might be hidden behind that innocent face?

‘No. Someone who was the Martial Righteous Alliance’s White Tiger Regiment Commander wouldn’t do that. I should just say it. It could even go like this:’

“I’ve been waiting to find a new lord after leaving the Alliance. Thank you so much for telling me.”

‘Should I just say it? Should I just blurt it all out?’

Gwang-du clutched his head.

Just then, a voice came from right in front of him.

“Do you have something on your mind?”

Startled, he looked up to see Baek Pyo standing there with food.

“I’m sorry if I startled you.”

“Ah, no. I was just lost in thought for a moment.”

Baek Pyo smiled and set the food down in front of him.

As he was about to turn away, Gwang-du spoke to him.

“If you have time, could you listen to what I have to say for a moment?”

“Of course.”

Baek Pyo sat down across from Gwang-du. He had been expecting that Gwang-du had come to say something to him, given that he had come alone and seemed full of worries.

Gwang-du offered him a drink.

“Please, have a drink.”

“I don’t usually drink while working, but I’ll have just one.”

The two drank.

After taking a deep breath, Gwang-du began to speak.

“What I want to say is related to our Young Master.”

Having made up his mind, he was going to tell him everything.

“Did something happen to Master Byeok?”

Baek Pyo asked worriedly.

“Yes, something did happen.”

“What happened?”

“It’s because of you, sir.”

“Because of me?”

Baek Pyo was surprised.

Gwang-du told him exactly what he had heard from Byeok Ri-dan.

He told him about how Sima Cheon’s subordinate, Cho Byeok, had planned to threaten Baek Pyo’s family by taking them hostage with the help of the Three Shadows, and how Byeok Ri-dan had found out about it by chance and eliminated them.

This was the core of the matter as Gwang-du saw it. To let Baek Pyo know that Byeok Ri-dan had helped him.

Baek Pyo was shocked by this unexpected information. However, befitting his former position as the White Tiger Regiment Commander, he remained calm even after hearing everything.

“Why did he help me secretly?”

Baek Pyo was no longer just a tavern owner, but had reverted to the commander who had led the White Tiger Regiment.

“Our Young Master is that kind of person. He’s not the type to boast about doing righteous deeds.”

“Then why are you telling me about this past event?”

“Because our Young Master likes you too much.”

Baek Pyo was surprised again.

“He likes me?”

“Yes. He wishes to join forces with you. But it seems he can’t express those feelings, so I’m saying this on his behalf. I know that telling you about how he secretly helped you earlier greatly diminishes our Young Master’s good intentions. But since he will never mention it himself, if I don’t tell you, you’ll never know. I hope that by telling you this, you’ll join forces with our Young Master.”

Having poured out his words, Gwang-du squeezed his eyes shut. His heart was pounding as if it might burst. He was terribly anxious that Baek Pyo might explode in anger.

“If he finds out I told you this, I’ll be beaten to death.”

Just then, a voice came from the entrance.

“So you do know that.”

Gwang-du turned his head in shock.

“Young Master!”

“I was wondering where you’d gone off to, and here you are causing trouble.”

I strode into the tavern. I didn’t need to ask what Gwang-du had said; I could guess.

I spoke to Baek Pyo.

“You don’t need to mind what that fellow said. And I’m sorry for not telling you about the matter related to Sima Cheon earlier.”

“How did you come to know about that incident?”

I couldn’t tell him that I was Cheon Hajin, and that I did it to protect him.

“As I told you before, I’m traveling the martial world to broaden my knowledge. During this, I learned that girls were being kidnapped across the martial world. Following this trail led me to Wuhan. Then I discovered that Cho Byeok was running a pleasure house with kidnapped children. In the process of eliminating Cho Byeok, I found out that he was targeting your family. After I had already eliminated Cho Byeok and his group, I didn’t think it necessary to tell you.”

Baek Pyo didn’t say anything. It was a story that was neither easy to believe nor disbelieve.

It seemed too clumsy to be a conspiracy, given that Gwang-du had come and brought up the story in such an awkward manner.

“There’s no need to take it too seriously. It’s all over now.”

“I’m very grateful that you think highly of me, but… I have no intention of returning to martial affairs. I’m sorry.”

“There’s nothing to be sorry about. Please don’t worry about it at all.”

Gwang-du asked weakly, his head bowed.

“I’ve ruined everything, haven’t I?”

I smiled and said,

“No, you haven’t.”

Gwang-du sighed.

“The fact that you say I haven’t means I have.”

Gwang-du raised his head to look at me. His eyes were brimming with tears.

“I’m sorry, Young Master. But I… I think you shouldn’t hide your feelings from someone you like. If we just let this pass, the owner here would never know your feelings, Young Master. I thought that shouldn’t happen. I thought that at least the choice should be made not by you, Young Master, but by the owner here. I’m sorry, Young Master.”

I approached and patted Gwang-du’s shoulder.

“I understand. Your feelings.”

Actually, now that Gwang-du had gone ahead and done this, I felt more at ease.

Gwang-du must have anticipated that I would never have said anything in the end. There’s a kind of intuition that only close people can feel.

Yes, he saw right through me. I probably would have just left. Because I wanted Baek Pyo to be happy more than anyone else.

Just then, Gwang-du was startled.

“Oh?”

Baek Pyo and I followed Gwang-du’s gaze out the window.

Snow had started to fall outside.

Forgetting the atmosphere from a moment ago, Gwang-du said in an excited voice,

“It’s snowing.”

It was the first snow of this winter.

“They say if you see the moment the first snow falls, you’ll have good luck that year.”

Hearing my words, Baek Pyo was startled. These were the words Baek Pyo had said to me on the day I died.

“Let’s go, Gwang-du.”

“Yes.”

Gwang-du stood up from his seat.

I bowed politely to Baek Pyo and said,

“This seems like it will be the last time. If fate allows, we’ll meet again.”

Baek Pyo still looked dazed.

He would feel somewhat sorry to just let me go, but he wasn’t mentally prepared to join me yet.

That last remark was my final gift to Baek Pyo. It was my wish for him to see the first snow every year and always have good luck.

Just as I was about to turn and leave, it happened.

Woong―

A vibration sound came from somewhere.

Baek Pyo, as well as Gwang-du and I, were startled.

The wooden sword hanging on the wall as decoration had resonated.

I was the most surprised because I hadn’t intentionally sent any energy to the sword.

Wooong―

The Asura Bright King Sword was truly resonating.

In my previous life, I had used the Asura Bright King Sword for such a long time, but it had never resonated on its own even once.

Woooong―

The vibration grew stronger and stronger. Finally, the wooden sword shook as if boiling lava was inside, and then…

Bang!

The wood surrounding the sword exploded.

The sword inside revealed its majestic form.

As everyone watched in amazement, the Asura Bright King Sword, finally freed from its confining shell, resonated with a deep, low sound.

Zing―

It was calling to me.