****
Even when the cleaver was aimed right at its crown, the pig remained focused solely on its feed.
"The most important thing is to finish it in one strike. So fast that it doesn't even know what's killing it. There's no second chance. A pig or cow's vitality is incomparable to a human's. Their bones are tougher than you can imagine. If you're even slightly off, you know what the consequences will be without me saying it."
The men, who had already turned the market upside down with their inexperience, stayed silent and held their breath.
The old man, cleaver at the ready, slowly raised his hammer.
A suffocating tension filled the slaughterhouse, but the feasting pig and the hammer-wielding old man were utterly unaffected.
The moment the hammer reached what seemed its peak height, a single flash of light plunged into the pig's crown.
There was no scream.
The pig collapsed in the same position, head buried in the trough.
"Crazy! Did you see that, Captain?"
Cheol U's mouth gaped wide.
"Yeah, I saw it. The most powerful single strike I've ever witnessed."
Sima Geon couldn't hide his astonishment as he stared at the old man.
"He's a hidden master. No doubt about it."
Sima Geon let out a wry chuckle at Cheol U's serious reaction. The old man's strike had been shocking enough to warrant it.
The men who had witnessed the old man's skill firsthand reacted no differently. Of course, their surprise meant something else entirely.
"Whoa! Dropped in one hit?"
"I-Incredible, sir."
"How is that even possible? It should've at least twitched, even if not thrashed around, right?"
The men stared at the pig that had fallen without a squeal or twitch, their faces full of disbelief.
"What are you lot doing?"
A sudden bellow erupted from the old man.
"Cutting off its breath isn't the end, is it? That's just the beginning!"
His voice boomed like thunder, reverberating through the surroundings.
"Drain the blood first."
Startled by the old man's shout, the men bound the pig's legs and hung it from a pillar. They then slit its throat and collected the blood before it cooled.
"Whoa! That old guy's got some serious lungs."
Cheol U watched in surprise as the old man barked orders, directing the men with crisp efficiency. He scratched his pinky in his ear and muttered.
"Tch, my master had pipes like that too."
Cheol U's face showed his longing for the master who had trained him harsher than anyone in Black Dragon Valley but had given him everything before departing.
Thanks to the martial arts and Clear Spirit Oil Sima Geon had shared from Ghost Gate Family, he had perfected his skills—but without his master's sacrifice, it would have been impossible from the start.
"Master Unretreating had lungs alright. And it wasn't just his voice—they were huge, unlike that old man. Probably why he favored you so much, with your build."
"Heh heh! I've heard that plenty."
The two shared a laugh. Meanwhile, the old man's shouts continued to echo through the slaughterhouse.
***
"Butcher shop? Which one?"
Sima Ho, returning from a grueling day, stripped off his sweat-soaked clothes and asked.
"The one on the northern outskirts."
"Oh, you mean old man So's place? There's a slaughterhouse out back."
"That's it. You know it?"
"Of course. The old man's skills are legendary around here. High officials and even prestigious murim families call him in for banquets to supply their meat. Says it all. We buy from his shop too, and the flavor's subtly different from anywhere else."
"Sure seemed that way. His skills are impressive."
Sima Geon and Cheol U, having seen the old man fell the pig in one strike, nodded in unison.
"But why?"
"Your brothers seem interested in that butcher shop. They've been talking about nothing else."
Sima Jin handed Sima Ho the cold water he'd requested and explained.
Sima Ho downed the water in one gulp, then lightly patted Sima Jin's head as she still held out the tray—only to yelp suddenly.
"I told you not to pat my head!"
Sima Jin smacked his shin with the tray and yelled fiercely.
"Crazy! Does that mean hit me with a tray?"
"Last time. Do it again and..."
"Hic!"
Sima Ho hiccuped as Sima Jin's gaze fixed on his head.
Sima Jin glared at him and stormed out of the room.
"Whoa! Our sweet little sister has a side like that. Scary."
Cheol U's jaw dropped.
Sima Ho, rubbing his bruised leg, shouted loud enough for her to hear outside.
"Sweet my ass! That's her real self. She's just been playing nice till now."
Bang!
Sima Ho flinched at the sound of something hitting the door and lowered his voice.
"Not always, though. Just sometimes. She hates head pats, though."
"Really? Had no idea."
Sima Geon, who often patted Sima Jin's head, looked baffled.
"Watch out, big bro. You might end up like me..."
Sima Ho trailed off. The door opened, and Sima Jin returned quietly, back to her usual self.
Sima Geon habitually patted the head of Sima Jin as she approached him. Contrary to Sima Ho's warning, she showed no displeasure.
Cheol U, watching tensely, burst into laughter.
"Guess she just hates it from you."
"Damn it! Be consistent at least!"
Sima Ho glared at Sima Jin, then slumped into a chair, deflated.
"So, what's with the butcher shop interest? Thinking of giving it a shot? I heard the old man's sick and planning to quit."
"No decision yet, but it doesn't seem like a bad idea."
Sima Geon said, looking a bit sheepish. Cheol U chimed in.
"Hey, we wandered all day, and honestly, nothing suited us. Prime spots are taken, and the openings? Not for us. Takes know-how. We've swung swords our whole lives..."
Sima Geon elbowed Cheol U's side hard. He gave an awkward smile to the wide-eyed Sima Jin and explained like an excuse.
"As we told you, we've been mercenaries a long time. Not major dangers, but plenty of blood. Ends up you don't know much else."
"That's mercenaries for you. Doesn't matter how cushy; you're still a merc."
Sima Ho nodded understandingly, then said seriously.
"When second bro joked about pheasant stew before, I almost suggested this: why not try being escorts? Mercs and escorts aren't so different. Your experience might even get you chief escort status if you're skilled enough."
"Hmm, not that I haven't thought about it, but it's too similar—and that's why I hate it. Escorts face rough stuff sometimes too. No more blood."
Sima Ho dropped it at the polite but firm refusal. Cautiously, he suggested another.
"Then how about joining our side? Big bro or Cheol U hyung could snag a spot easy."
"Hey!"
Sima Jin snapped.
"My ears! Why yell? And 'hey' to your brother?"
"After worrying second bro like that, that's your line?"
Sima Jin's glare outdid a north wind blizzard.
"Who said what? Just tossing it out."
Overpowered, Sima Ho backed down.
"Haha! Enough. I'm fine."
Even her anger seemed cute; Sima Geon lightly tousled her hair with a smile.
Sima Geon just smiled to decline, but Cheol U's reaction differed slightly.
"Heh heh! Not a bad idea. Same Heart Society, right?"
"Yes."
"How many members?"
"Over a hundred."
"Big. No rivals?"
With Cheol U egging him on, Sima Ho got excited and rattled off.
"Blood Axe Sect's been cocky lately, but we're the top dogs. Leader's just hesitant; if he wanted, he'd wipe 'em out easy."
"What's the leader like? Strong?"
"Strong. Not sure details, but rumors say Shaolin lay disciple."
"End times. Shaolin lay disciple running a back-alley gang."
"Just rumors."
"Temperament? Cruel? Scum?"
"Nah. Money-grubbing, but treats his men well. Way better than Blood Axe thugs losing limbs."
"Even grunts like you respect him? Sounds trustworthy."
Cheol U cackled; Sima Ho exploded.
"Argh! I'm not a grunt!"
"Who said? Why so touchy? Makes you look like one."
"Seriously?!"
As Cheol U teased with a grin, Sima Ho's face flushed red as if drunk.
"Calm down. You too, quit messing."
Sima Geon eyed Cheol U, then regarded the fuming Sima Ho calmly.
"He's suggesting out of care for us. Thanks, but we'll pass. Don't want to worry family after all this."
"Who said worry..."
Sima Ho started to protest but shut up under Sima Jin's devouring glare.
Even without her, Sima Hyeon would flip if he knew.
"Instead, look into the butcher shop more. Others confirmed the old man's quitting and seeking a successor. How we take it over, costs, etc."
Sima Geon soothed and requested.
"Got it."
Sima Ho nodded, crestfallen.
"Shame. Was getting exciting. Don't give up, push a bit har— Ow!"
Teasing Sima Ho relentlessly, Cheol U finally got his side pinched by Sima Jin.
Sima Geon and Cheol U returned to the butcher shop after confirming via Sima Ho that the old man was indeed quitting and looking for someone to take it over.
"Think that old man'll hand it to us, Captain? We can just scrape the money together."
"It's more about winning him over than money. Ho said he's got one daughter, no son to inherit. Looking for someone to uphold the shop's reputation he's built."
"Honestly, I thought it was funny. Butchering pigs—what's so grand about passing on fame? Just sell to anyone. Successor my ass. Right, Captain?"
Cheol U found the fuss over a successor laughable for a mere butcher shop.
"Not necessarily. Nearly sixty years, he said. After that long, it's natural. Think of Master Unretreating. How many disciples he tested and discarded before leaving you everything. Famous tale in Black Dragon Valley."
"That's different!"
Cheol U got serious and angry, but Sima Geon ignored it.
"What's different? Master Unretreating seeking an heir for his lifelong martial arts, and the old man for his butcher shop—same thing."
"Captain!"
"Anyway, quit the nonsense. No better option right now than taking the shop. Or should we farm? Could buy decent land. Little sis seems to hope for it too."
Cheol U recoiled at "farm."
"Ugh, who said farming's harder than business?"
"You're griping too much."
"Not griping—the old man's picky attitude bugs me."
"Means he values what he's built. I warned you: no more crap, or we farm."
"Fine, fine."
Cheol U irritably shoved his back.
Sima Geon suppressed a grin and entered the butcher shop.