The training grounds at the center of Baek Family Manor.
The three children of the Baek Family were drenched in sweat as they devoted themselves to their training.
“Ha! Ha!”
“Yah! Yah!”
Against the backdrop of Baek Heonso’s and Baek Yeonyeon’s shouts, Yanghwi repeatedly performed the first through third moves of the Heaven-Covering Three Swords at an extremely slow pace.
Only after completing them ten times in total did he relax his stance.
Even though his martial uniform was soaked with sweat, Yanghwi wore a smile filled with satisfaction.
With this, I have completely mastered the Heaven-Covering Three Swords.
To truly master a sword art, it was not enough to merely grasp its profound principles.
In the end, every martial art was the act of embodying the principles of heaven and earth through the body.
If the body that served as the foundation was not properly trained, one could never reach complete mastery.
I have accumulated a year of dedicated cultivation, and my body has more than enough conditioning to perform the Heaven-Covering Three Swords.
A young, vigorous body.
A shortcut he knew because he had once reached the destination himself.
In his previous life, it had taken him three years to reach his current level.
Now, only three months had passed since he entered Baek Family Manor.
Compared to his previous life, he had achieved this level dozens of times faster.
“Whoo……”
Seeing Yanghwi release a long breath, Baek Heonso, who had stopped training at some point and had been watching Yanghwi’s sword techniques instead, shouted.
“Brother, that was incredible! Your demonstration just now looked like Father’s swordsmanship. Could it be……”
Yanghwi nodded.
“That’s right. I have completely mastered the Heaven-Covering Three Swords.”
“Wow!”
There was no trace of the jealousy that had once filled Baek Heonso’s face.
The only things filling his innocent expression, so fitting for a child, were admiration and longing for his elder brother.
Yanghwi found himself smiling warmly without realizing it.
Keep growing straight like this, So.
He had never imagined he could build such a simple and easy relationship with So.
Why had he been unable to do something this simple in his previous life?
Because I was still young back then. Because I was lacking that much.
From now on, things would be different.
With that thought, Yanghwi spoke.
“So. And Yeon. I am going out for a while, so keep training.”
“Brother, you’re going out again?”
Baek Yeonyeon looked disappointed.
Her expression clearly showed how much she wanted to go with him.
“I’ll bring back some sweets and chicken skewers, so train hard until I return. All right, Yeon?”
“All right……”
Seeing her remain dejected made Yanghwi’s heart soften slightly, but he could not take her along.
He was going to meet Turning a Deer into a Horse, Yeo Unjeok.
Yanghwi straightened his clothes and headed directly to Steward Han Seogeon.
“Steward, I intend to step out for a while.”
In the past, going out had been difficult, but now all the retainers had grown accustomed to Yanghwi wandering outside.
Steward Han readily nodded.
“Very well, Young Master Hwi. By the way, when do you think you will bring back some news?”
“News?”
“This.”
Steward Han curled his thumb and index finger into a circle.
Ah. Money.
Yanghwi gave an awkward smile.
“I am working hard.”
“Please do your best. In this Baek Family, only Young Master Hwi and I seem to care about managing the household finances.”
“Father has been working hard every day as well, has he not?”
“The Clan Head spends as much as he earns.”
That was not wrong.
Baek Muryang was especially softhearted and often gave money to those in need.
After doing so, what remained was usually only enough to keep the retainers fed.
“Father is simply buying things that cannot be purchased with money. Besides, this family will soon be saying farewell to the word ‘poverty.’ With that said, I will be leaving!”
“Bring back the God of Wealth with you!”
Leaving Baek Family Manor, Yanghwi headed straight to the place he had agreed to meet Yeo Unjeok.
Yeo Unjeok had already arrived and was waiting for him.
“Young Master, you have come.”
“You arrived before me despite my making haste. Have you examined all the countermeasures I gave you?”
Previously, Yanghwi had written down methods to counter the martial arts of every Black Path faction in Agan County, including the Red Bridge Gang.
Yeo Unjeok had requested to first verify whether the countermeasures were genuine, as a way of establishing trust between them.
Yeo Unjeok gave a heavy nod.
“During this time, I deliberately provoked their members without making it obvious and used every countermeasure in actual combat.”
Yanghwi already knew the result, but he asked anyway.
“What was the result?”
“They were all…… perfect countermeasures.”
There was no other possibility.
At least regarding the martial arts of the Black Path factions in Agan County, Yanghwi could confidently say he understood them better than those who practiced them.
“Where exactly did you obtain these countermeasures? Not just one, but the weaknesses of every martial art from multiple factions……”
Yanghwi answered simply.
“While living among the band of beggars, I watched the Black Path fighters of Agan County fight more than a hundred times.”
“You came up with the countermeasures yourself. That is impossible. Young Master, you have only learned martial arts for a few months after turning eight.”
It was true.
By ordinary standards, his words were completely reasonable.
But—
“Elder. How many talents exist in this world who cannot be measured by common sense?”
“……Are you saying that you are one of those peerless prodigies?”
Yanghwi responded with an almost shameless confidence.
“If not, how else would you explain the current situation?”
“……”
Maintaining his proud and confident expression, Yanghwi carefully observed the changes in Yeo Unjeok’s expression and demeanor.
To be honest, there were gaps in Yanghwi’s logic.
Without revealing his regression, there was a limit to how much he could make the pieces fit together.
But—
When persuading someone, logic is not the only thing that matters. In some ways, the speaker matters even more.
If an ordinary person and a renowned figure both said the same thing, whose words would carry more weight?
Naturally, it would be the latter.
Therefore, right now, it was more convincing to present himself as someone possessing talent beyond even the extraordinary.
Besides, even apart from the countermeasures, his actions so far had been far beyond what anyone would expect from an eight-year-old child.
“……It is truly arrogance beyond measure, but otherwise there is no way to explain it. Then what do you intend to do now?”
Thankfully, he believed me.
Yanghwi smiled faintly and answered.
“Elder. There are two Black Path factions whose strength is roughly equal and whose hatred for each other runs deep. If one side obtained the countermeasures to the other side’s martial arts, what do you think would happen?”
“They would immediately try to devour the other.”
“And if, at the moment of their greatest crisis, countermeasures were given to the opposing side as well?”
“I see. They would tear each other apart until only death remained. Judging by the number of countermeasures, Young Master is not thinking of a conflict between only two factions. You are planning a three-way conflict, perhaps even more.”
Yeo Unjeok stared at Yanghwi.
“Many people will die. Are you truly all right with that?”
Was this a question meant to pressure him?
Or was he asking about his resolve?
Yanghwi nodded without hesitation.
“Their deaths will come from their own greed. If they were not greedy, the war between Black Path factions would never occur.”
“Your words are not wrong, but you may regret it later. The price of blood is equal for everyone, and it becomes a burden of karma weighing upon one’s shoulders.”
Yanghwi was silent for a moment before answering.
“Do you know something, Elder? Agan County is a place where even children cannot safely go outside alone.”
When Yanghwi had first attempted to take his younger siblings out, Steward Han had firmly opposed it, saying they could not leave without guards.
That was the kind of place Agan County was.
A place where nothing strange would happen even if children wandering outside alone met with disaster.
“The upper waters are filthy, so the lower waters cannot remain clean. There are too many Black Path fighters in Agan County. Even I, someone born into a martial family, suffer because of them. What about ordinary people?”
Yanghwi had not told anyone about his cooperation with Yeo Unjeok.
However, even if his father, Peerless in Chivalry Baek Muryang, learned of it, Yanghwi was certain he would only worry—not stop him.
What Yanghwi intended to do had never once strayed from the path of chivalry he had learned from Baek Muryang.
Perhaps those feelings showed on his face.
After remaining silent for a moment, Yeo Unjeok spoke.
“Young Master is truly mysterious. Your martial arts, your schemes and strategies, and even your unwavering resolve. None of them suit your age.”
Yanghwi merely grinned.
“That is why I call myself a once-in-ages prodigy. Then I shall leave this in your hands, Elder.”
*****
Gu Cheolhyo, the Fourth Hall Leader of the Blue Snake Gang, clutched his aching leg as he tried to sleep once again.
Damn it. Those filthy thieves. When I catch them, I will tear them apart and kill them.
Gu Cheolhyo ground his teeth as he thought of the thief who had robbed the secret cache under his responsibility.
That bastard had used a young beggar as bait and emptied the entire secret cache.
Because of him, Gu Cheolhyo had been beaten nearly to death by the Gang Leader, and even after two months, the injury to his leg still throbbed.
Damn it. Damn it. I need to catch that thief as soon as possible.
The Blue Snake Gang Leader had ordered him to capture the thief after beating him half to death.
The deadline was three months.
If Gu Cheolhyo failed to catch the thief before then, his life would be over.
The problem was that he had not found a single clue.
I have to catch him somehow. Otherwise, I need to accomplish some other feat and cover up my failure.
But how?
There was no way.
With every passing day, he felt as though a noose was tightening around his neck.
Just as Gu Cheolhyo was drowning in frustration—
Thud.
Something struck the door.
Startled, Gu Cheolhyo immediately went outside and discovered a stone with several sheets of paper tied to it.
What is this?
He unfolded the papers.
And then his expression changed to shock.
[The first three moves of the Red Bridge Gang’s martial art, Rock-Splitting Axe Art, are given to you along with their countermeasures.]
Gu Cheolhyo had fought against the Red Bridge Gang countless times.
He knew immediately.
What was written on the paper was truly the countermeasure to the Red Bridge Gang’s main martial art, Rock-Splitting Axe Art.
Who could have…… No, more importantly, if I have this……!
Why had the Blue Snake Gang created a secret cache and hidden weapons and wealth there?
To prepare for emergencies.
And to use it as a weapon to devour the Red Bridge Gang.
If I offer these countermeasures to the Gang Leader, I can accomplish enough merit to cover my failure!
The moment he reached that conclusion, the identity and intentions of whoever had delivered the countermeasures no longer mattered.
Gu Cheolhyo wanted to continue living.
And the fact that he had found a way to extinguish the fire at his feet was all that mattered.
I need to go to the Gang Leader immediately!
Even though it was the middle of the night, Gu Cheolhyo left his home and rushed toward the Blue Snake Gang.
“Hey! Tell the Gang Leader that the Fourth Hall Leader has something to report!”
After delivering his message to the guards and waiting for a short while, a middle-aged man with an unpleasant expression appeared.
A middle-aged man with a blue complexion, whose sinister appearance resembled a snake.
The Blue Snake Gang Leader.
“You worthless bastard. Did I not order you not to show your face until you captured those thieves who robbed the secret cache?”
Even after being cursed at the moment he appeared, Gu Cheolhyo bowed deeply.
“Gang Leader, I had no choice but to request an audience because there is something important I must deliver. Please take a look at this.”
The Blue Snake Gang Leader snatched the papers from Gu Cheolhyo’s hand.
“Let this better not be worthless. If it is, I will personally cut you down…… Hmm? This is……”
Keeping his head lowered, Gu Cheolhyo raised only his eyes and smiled broadly.
“That is right. It is the countermeasure to the Red Bridge Gang’s Rock-Splitting Axe Art.”
“Where did you obtain this?”
“While desperately searching for the thief, I came across an old man who was injured and on the verge of death. I saved his life and repaid him for his kindness. As it turned out, he was a renowned martial artist, and he gave me these countermeasures before leaving.”
It was an excuse filled with holes.
But in the martial world, such things happened often enough.
The world of martial artists was vast, and there were countless extraordinary individuals hidden within it.
“Is it real? If you are lying to me, I will personally execute you.”
“You have seen it yourself, Gang Leader. You know there is no falsehood in these countermeasures!”
That was not wrong.
Even the Blue Snake Gang Leader, whose martial prowess surpassed Gu Cheolhyo’s and who understood the Red Bridge Gang’s martial arts better, could tell that the countermeasures were genuine.
“Hmm……”
The Blue Snake Gang Leader’s mind began racing.
It is only the first three moves, but most ordinary members only learn those first three moves. If so……
If he gave these countermeasures to every member and went to war against the Red Bridge Gang—
Victory would be guaranteed.
“Listen well! Send people to the Second Hall Leader, Third Hall Leader, and Fourth Hall Leader. Tell them to come here immediately!”
And so, turmoil began spreading through the Black Path martial world of Agan County.
A storm born from the hands of an eight-year-old child.