***
“Sure is a big city. You can tell from the vibe right off the bat, Boss.”
Diamond Yaksha Cheol U said, craning his neck this way and that down the bustling street.
“Yeah.”
Sima Geon gave a faint smile, his face ashen.
His appearance was beyond haggard compared to just a few days ago, after two straight days and nights of weeping over his mother's death.
Unlike the excited Cheol U, Sima Geon showed little interest in the crowded street around them. Now that they'd arrived in Soheung, his only concern was his family.
Sima Geon pulled a slip of paper from his bosom with the family's new address scribbled on it. Precious information courtesy of Jang Seong, the second son of Village Head Jang Lok, who'd settled in Soheung.
As dusk settled, the pair arrived at a rundown house in Uga Village, about ten li north of central Soheung Prefecture.
Sima Geon's brow furrowed at the decrepit sight of the place.
If Jang Seong's info was solid, his siblings were living right here.
The hardships his family must have endured hit him like a punch to the gut.
He'd been ready to kick the door down and charge in, but for some reason, he hesitated at the front gate. His hand, reaching for it, flinched back several times.
“What's wrong, Boss?”
Cheol U asked, looking baffled.
“Dunno.”
Sima Geon shook his head with a long exhale.
His heart pounded like mad.
What if his siblings had forgotten him? What if they resented him?
Seeing Sima Geon at a loss, Cheol U let out a hollow chuckle.
“No way you're scared, are you? Heh! Haven't seen you like this in forever. Just the other day you were strolling through enemy swarms like it was a walk in the park.”
“That's not the same thing.”
“What's so different? Just fling the gate wide open and holler that you're back.”
“It's not... that easy.”
Sima Geon gave a wry smile. But he couldn't dawdle at the gate forever, so he slowly reached out.
Just as his hand was about to touch the door.
“Wh-who are you...?”
His hand froze at the sudden voice.
He turned slowly, his face already rigid.
A girl who looked about fifteen or sixteen stared at Sima Geon and Cheol U with fear in her eyes.
Her trembling pupils were darker and clearer than obsidian, her nose sharp enough to cut glass.
Her brows arched like a new moon, her jawline slender, her lips a deep cherry red.
She was a stunning beauty, one you wouldn't see just anywhere. Though her complexion was paler than her eyes, and her frail frame looked like a stiff breeze might carry her away.
“Whoa! Holy hell! She's gorgeous!”
Cheol U blurted out before he could stop himself.
Sima Geon's left hand, glued to the girl's face, swung hard into Cheol U's side.
The ground thumped with each step back from Cheol U's massive frame.
“What the hell, Boss?”
Cheol U asked, flustered, but Sima Geon didn't reply. He just stared holes into the girl's face.
A face long cherished in the depths of his memory floated up, overlapping with hers.
Sima Geon realized this was his four-year-old sister Sima Jin—the one who'd trailed after him endlessly, begging for piggyback rides, unforgettable even in his dreams.
“Who are you looking for?”
The girl asked again. Trying for the brightest smile he could muster at her anxious look, Sima Geon said,
“You're Jin, right? Sima Jin.”
Despite his intentions, Sima Jin recoiled in terror at this stranger knowing her name.
“H-how do you know my name...?”
Sima Jin edged back like she might bolt any second, but Sima Geon, caught in the throes of emotion, didn't notice a thing.
“Your brothers are Hyeon and Ho. I'm your...”
Sima Jin spun away before he could finish. In a flash, Sima Geon grabbed her arm.
“Let go! Let me go!”
She thrashed in panic, and Sima Geon gripped tighter in his alarm.
“Ow! It hurts!”
A pained whimper escaped her lips, and Sima Geon yanked his hand back in shock.
“I-I...”
He floundered, at a total loss. As he groped for an excuse, a beastly roar erupted from behind.
“You filthy bastards!”
Sima Ho charged like lightning, swinging a fist at Sima Geon.
Sima Geon twisted aside, and the punch sliced empty air.
Sima Ho staggered, barely regaining his balance, then yanked Sima Jin's arm to pull her behind him.
“What the hell are you scum?”
Sima Ho glared daggers at Sima Geon and Cheol U in turn.
His eyes lingered a bit longer on Cheol U—probably spooked by the dirty mug and hulking build.
“Sima... Ho?”
Sima Geon tilted his head.
He could see traces of the kid from back in the day, but wasn't sure if this was the second or third brother.
Sima Geon's hesitation only fueled the misunderstanding.
“You from the Blood Axe Sect?”
Sima Ho's face turned ice-cold.
A short sword gleamed in his hand now. Palm-sized, but plenty threatening.
“Little bro!”
Sima Jin gasped, clutching his arm.
“Don't worry, stay back. Go on!”
Sima Ho shoved her behind him and licked the blade with a cold grin.
“Nice try. To hit the Same Heart Society, you'd have to take out their pillar—me, Mad Tiger. But targeting family? I'll show you what happens when you poke the mad tiger of the Same Heart Society.”
Sima Ho bristled with savage momentum, poised to lunge.
“Hah.”
A heavy sigh escaped Sima Geon, while Cheol U snickered.
“Blood Axe Sect, huh, Boss.”
“...”
“And Same Heart Society? Mad Tiger? Heh heh heh! Sounds pretty crazy, alright.”
“Shut it.”
Sima Geon shot him a hard look, but there was no anger in it.
On the contrary, his eyes were smiling.
It was a shame the heartfelt family reunion had turned into this mess, but still... it was good.
So what if he was the mad tiger of the Same Heart Society? Or a housecat?
A bit disappointing they'd dipped into shady business, but reuniting with his brothers after twelve years was a dream come true in itself.
“You lunatics!”
Sima Ho, taking it as an insult, charged Sima Geon with fury blazing.
Then a desperate shout rang out from behind.
“Stop!”
Too late. Sima Ho's strike was already at Sima Geon's nose. Of course, nothing happened. Sima Geon wasn't the type to get hit by something like that.
He just leaned back slightly to let it slide past, leaving Sima Ho to stumble from his own momentum.
“Stop it, Ho! Enough!”
Sima Hyeon rushed up, face thunderous, and snatched the sword from the wobbling Sima Ho.
“What the hell is this? Why are you carrying something this nasty around?”
“Let go. Those bastards are from the Blood Axe Sect—they came to kill me.”
Sima Ho scowled, trying to snatch it back.
Sima Hyeon spun and flung the sword far away.
“Bro!”
Sima Ho bellowed, and Sima Hyeon smacked the back of his head with a stern glare.
“Swordplay on Mother's death day?”
“So you just let attackers walk?”
Sima Hyeon sighed.
“Do ambushers go door-to-door asking around?”
“What're you talking about?”
“Looks like they were asking around about us. Everyone on the way here said visitors had come by.”
“That's just to set up the ambush on...”
“Do you ambush people without knowing where they live? Even if so, you'd scout quietly, not blab to the whole neighborhood.”
“W-well, yeah, but...”
Sima Ho's voice shrank as the oddity sank in.
“No buts. You jumped to conclusions and screwed up big time. And are you really in a position to get ambushed anyway?”
“What do you mean? I'm in the Same Heart Society...”
“Quiet. Since when do you carry crap like that?”
Sima Hyeon jabbed at the tossed sword.
Under the sharp gaze, Sima Ho averted his eyes and muttered,
“Lately the Blood Axe Sect's been getting too bold. Some kids got hurt bad.”
“That's why I told you to quit. How long you gonna keep messing around?”
“We already settled that. You do your thing, I do mine.”
Sima Hyeon straightened up, raising his voice.
“How long you gonna act so damn immature...? Never mind. We'll talk later.”
He sighed with a frustrated look, then turned to Sima Geon.
“Sorry my little brother's caused such a scene.”
“No, it's fine.”
The casual address felt perfectly natural—no one batted an eye.
Sima Geon placed a hand on his brother's head.
As Sima Hyeon stiffened to pull away, Sima Geon gently ruffled his hair.
“Look how big my snot-nosed little bro's gotten. Playing big brother now, huh?”
His voice brimmed with pity, pride, joy, sorrow—all of it. Sima Hyeon's body trembled.
Only one person had ever called him snot-nosed.
The one who'd vanished long ago, the one he'd never see again.
'N-no way!'
Sima Hyeon gaped at Sima Geon, eyes wide. He'd thought the face forgotten, but facing it now, the memories flooded back vivid as ever.
“N-no... it can't be!”
Sima Hyeon's eyes shook wildly.
The face of his most trusted, beloved big brother.
The one he'd tried to forget, thinking he'd never see again—but could never truly forget.
He'd changed a lot, but not so much the old face was unrecognizable.
“What, you forgotten me?”
Sima Geon asked with a smile.
“B-bro?”
Tears welled in Sima Hyeon's eyes.
“Yeah. It's me, bro.”
“Y-you're really back? For real?”
Hot tears streamed down Sima Hyeon's cheeks.
“Yeah. I'm home.”
“Bro!”
Sima Hyeon threw his arms around Sima Geon.
Sima Geon held the sobbing Sima Hyeon gently, patting his back.
“Sorry. Took way too long, didn't it?”