San Sichengram. The mountain village scenery surrounded by the imposing peaks of Hyeongsan naturally stirred the ambient energy. This breathtaking view was near Sosang, north of Hyeongsan, close to Sangdam.
“Brother, where exactly are we headed right now?”
The moment Ong So-hu heard that loud voice, a surge of anger rose within him. Looking down, the innocent face gazing up belonged to his half-brother.
Ong Mun-gyu. A mere bloodthirsty infant who had just come of age this year.
Every time he saw that detestable face, he felt a strange comfort in knowing they weren’t directly related by blood.
Ong Mun-gyu was Ong So-hu’s half-brother and the adopted son of Ong Jin-su. Originally a disciple of a subordinate family, his talent in martial arts was so exceptional that he was adopted into the main family.
Such cases were not uncommon in the Gangho. Especially when passing down the martial arts of the Sangseung, they had to find some connection, and adoption was the easiest method.
“I told you already. We’re going to the Hwanggeum Family.”
“Ah, I see. I’ve always wanted to take a look around Namchang.”
Ong Mun-gyu said that and slipped into the embrace of the Samdae Jeja.
The reason Ong So-hu disliked Ong Mun-gyu wasn’t just because he was a half-brother.
Perhaps because he came from a subordinate family, Ong Mun-gyu had a crude, vulgar aura that didn’t fit with the prestige of the noble faction.
Moreover, every time he entered a guesthouse, disputes—sometimes even involving blood—would arise.
Ong So-hu despised such vulgarity.
Why would Father adopt such a crude brat? Gangho martial arts are important, but a person must carry themselves with dignity.
For now, since it was already late and they had descended, they’d stay the night in Sangdam. They weren’t here for leisure but to gather information on the Hwanggeum Family.
“Mun-gyu, same goes for you.”
“Yes, understood!”
Ong So-hu, Ong Mun-gyu, and the other five Samdae Jeja descended Hyeongsan and took their seats at the guesthouse near the mountain entrance.
They could have moved immediately but chose to proceed slowly.
There was no need to rush. They had yet to confirm what was happening within the family with their own eyes.
Ong So-hu assigned rooms to each of the Samdae Jeja and Ong Mun-gyu before retreating to his own chamber.
He had much to organize alone.
What he knew was that Geum Nok-hwan had cut down Lee Cheongmyeong, Cheonjuseong had suddenly fallen, and in the interim, Gwak Jindo’s forces had surged in like a tidal wave.
“What on earth is going on?”
Ong So-hu was also familiar with the direct bloodline of the Hwanggeum Family and had witnessed much firsthand.
Excluding Geumwolsang, they were all fighters, and Geum Nok-hwan was the most terrifying warrior among them.
Yet now there was an opinion that Geum Nok-hwan was at the center of this upheaval.
Of course, it was shocking that Geum Nok-hwan had cut down Lee Cheongmyeong, but it was premature to conclude that he was the epicenter of change.
“It might be the entrance of a third force, or perhaps Gwak Jindo made a secret deal with Cheonjuseong. No, Cheonjuseong wouldn’t be that kind of group. Still, within the family, someone clearly understands and is exploiting Cheonjuseong’s unique characteristics…”
Ong So-hu tapped his head rhythmically with the hilt of his bok. This had become his daily routine since taking charge of the Hwanggeum Family’s affairs: analyzing incoming intelligence, reporting, verifying, excluding. It was enough to make the nights feel endlessly short.
Just as he was immersed in his analysis, the guesthouse’s first floor suddenly erupted in noise.
Ong So-hu sighed. He knew exactly who was involved.
Irritated, he stepped outside. As soon as he entered the corridor, a man’s agonized scream filled the guesthouse.
Looking up from the stairs to the first floor, he saw Ong Mun-gyu wielding a sword and a man with a severed arm urinating uncontrollably.
“Don’t you know what the red martial uniform around Hyeongsan signifies?”
Holding his sword, Ong Mun-gyu crept toward the man. At that moment, the guesthouse owner quickly bowed in front of Ong Mun-gyu.
“… Oh dear, Young Master. This fellow here is just blind in one eye but a good kid. You’ve misunderstood. He’s been in the northeast for a long time and must have come to Honam, so he doesn’t recognize the Hyeongsanpa’s martial uniform.”
Ong Mun-gyu’s eyes, staring at the bowing owner, brimmed with contempt.
Ong So-hu sighed and called out.
“Mun-gyu.”
“Yes.”
As Ong Mun-gyu looked back, the guesthouse owner and the man stared at Ong So-hu with pleading eyes.
That alone made Ong So-hu feel unpleasant.
“Settle this quietly. Your brother is working on something right now.”
Those words swiftly filled the owner and the man’s eyes with despair.
“Yes.”
Ong Mun-gyu answered and, using the Hyeongsanpa’s Guhyang Geombeop, dispatched both the guesthouse owner and the man from the north wing in an instant.
Knowing the vital points of the bloodstain, he could have killed them cleanly, but what was the point of leaving such a messy scene? Though he disliked it, Ong So-hu didn’t voice this.
To claim the position of Jangmunin, one must have the dignity and virtue comparable to the Hwae.
Such incidents were common in the Gangho. This was the Hyeongsanpa’s territory, and no one could be held accountable for this death.
The Gangho has always punished the weak.
The people lying cold on the floor died because they were weak.
Even if this incident reached the Hyeongsanpa, the elders would surely praise Ong Mun-gyu, saying he had no hesitation in killing when necessary.
Of course, those elders disliked Ong Mun-gyu’s unnecessarily brutal cruelty, but he cleverly concealed it.
“Handle it properly. Make sure no smell lingers by tomorrow morning’s meal.”
Ong So-hu ordered and was about to turn to his room when someone caught his eye.
Strangely, the severed bodies were all staring directly at Ong So-hu.
He had a nagging feeling that something unexpected was about to occur within the Hwanggeum Family.
Ong So-hu adjusted his red martial uniform and returned to his room.
***
Gold-necked Hwan, holding a long bamboo staff, tapped sharply at Geumwolsang’s feet.
“When you executed the second sword form, your foot should have been a mere inch further forward. That way, the speed of the sword technique’s Noegang Santoe form will match perfectly.”
Honestly, his pride was initially wounded. His much younger brother was correcting his martial arts.
However, Gold-necked Hwan was truly an exceptional martial artist with remarkable insight. It was as if a master from a previous era was reviewing his skills.
He pointed out all the things Geumwolsang had missed, everything he hadn’t considered.
At this point, Geumwolsang couldn’t help but rely on Gold-necked Hwan.
“… Nok-hwan, where exactly is your realm?”
“It’s hard to explain with words.”
Gold-necked Hwan continued.
“I’m not stronger than you, brother, so I’m not teaching you out of pride. I’m just helping because my eyes are better.”
Though he said this, Geumwolsang could hardly believe it. It felt like a considerate gesture meant to bolster his brother’s confidence.
Putting aside personal feelings, training with Gold-necked Hwan was several times more efficient than training alone.
“That’s much better than yesterday. Now let’s try something truly important.”
“Important?”
Geumwolsang asked hesitantly. Gold-necked Hwan was referring to Naegong control.
The part that amazed Geumwolsang most when receiving instruction wasn’t the sword forms but the Naegong.
Gold-necked Hwan could break down and perceive his own energy channels as if he were looking inside himself.
He described exactly which energy meridians felt blocked or caused discomfort during circulation.
While sword form instruction was common as martial guidance, Naegong instruction was only possible for masters of a certain level.
Gold-necked Hwan, though proud of his heavenly talent, never spoke of his own realm.
“Let’s try it today.”
Gold-necked Hwan said. He referred to the problem of Geumwolsang’s internal pill of Dokgakhawang.
Geumwolsang had noticed he hadn’t fully absorbed Dokgakhawang’s inner pill.
Indeed, his Naegong quantity had increased, and he had reached this realm, so it was enough.
– “Did you feel any blockages in the energy meridians during your energy circulation?”
– “No, I don’t think so…”
– “Isn’t the Naegong quantity from the energy meridians failing to be fully delivered to the lower dantian?”
– “How did you know that?”
– “Then why do you say there’s no blockage?”
Gold-necked Hwan had never once scolded Geumwolsang, only asked calmly.
No matter how guilty Geumwolsang felt, there was no way to hide anything before Gold-necked Hwan.
Soon, Geumwolsang confirmed the presence of a cluster of residual energy beneath his energy meridian.
Gold-necked Hwan explained it was the undigested inner pill of Dokgakhawang.
After that confirmation, Geumwolsang began operating his Naegong as instructed.
Instead of releasing Naegong from the energy meridian to other channels, he circulated the Naegong continuously within the energy meridian.
Though he had been trying for days to break down Dokgakhawang’s inner pill with his own energy, the residual inner pill caused stabbing pain in his lower abdomen.
Still, Geumwolsang would not stop.
“Hope it goes well today.”
“Don’t push yourself too hard. There’s plenty of time.”
“Alright, let’s give it a try.”
Geumwolsang had given up asking how Gold-necked Hwan knew all this.
Whatever he was hiding, he was still his brother.
Right now, Gold-necked Hwan was helping despite ignoring his own training.
He truly had a talent for guidance, and Geumwolsang could feel the changes in himself.
The shame and humiliation he once felt were slowly melting away as his martial prowess grew.
“Slowly bring the Naegong up from the energy meridian.”
As usual, Gold-necked Hwan spoke plainly.
When he spoke, he mixed his own Naegong into his words, but surprisingly, it did not affect Geumwolsang’s energy circulation.
Truly, his brother was full of all kinds of skills.
“The energy meridian is like an ocean. The rocks beneath will eventually be exposed. Don’t rush. It’s still your realm, after all.”
Gold-necked Hwan’s voice pulled Geumwolsang’s mind deep into the abyss.
“Don’t be afraid or worried~…”
With those soft words, Geumwolsang soon entered a state of Muaji-gyeong.
***
“The fragments of the inner pill are breaking apart. You must absorb every bit of it without leaving any residue.”
Even in his Muaji-gyeong state, Geumwolsang followed Gold-necked Hwan’s instructions.
The inner pill of Dokgakhawang had already weakened greatly after days of attack, with pieces falling away each time.
The resilient inner pill’s days were numbered; it would soon be absorbed into Geumwolsang’s body.
I waited for the perfect moment—when Geumwolsang’s body could endure and when the inner pill was at its most vulnerable.
Quietly, I watched.
Geumwolsang was already adept at controlling himself even without guidance.
After a while, I saw the moment I had been waiting for.
“After raising all the Naegong in the energy meridian to the lower dantian, smash the inner pill by pouring it down from the energy meridian in a strike.”
Geumwolsang’s energy surged straight to the lower dantian with a flash.
Once ready, his energy exploded like a torrent toward the inner pill of Dokgakhawang.
Thud!
The heavy object crashed to the floor.
“Done.”
A massive wave of energy erupted within Geumwolsang’s energy meridian.
The inner pill had shattered.
Though difficult to break while intact, once fractured, absorption became easy.
There was some resistance, but Geumwolsang could handle it alone.
Naturally, he transitioned to refining his Naegong at the Sojeon level.
From now on, I couldn’t assist.
No matter how much Taeul Heavenly Origin Divine Art didn’t affect the energy circulation, he still had to be careful during Zhuchen.
I quietly left the Yeongongbu.
Outside the Yeongongbu stood Myung Jaehee, staring at the sky.
Her gaze was piercing and focused somewhere beyond what one would expect from someone simply looking up.
Following her line of sight, I looked up.
Not long after, a black shadow appeared, swiftly approaching us.
Its speed rivaled that of a master’s swift sword technique. Had it intended to strike me, I wouldn’t have been able to evade.
Yet I did not dodge.
Myung Jaehee’s eyes followed that dark object precisely.
Up close, it was a hawk. A magnificent bird with black feathers and an elegant beak.
Tied to its leg was a small folded letter.
Myung Jaehee made a perch with her forearm and fist for the hawk to land.
The hawk alighted on her arm, and she untied the string to receive the letter.
The hawk rubbed its head against her arm briefly before flying off into the sky in an instant.
“A fast friend.”
I finally spoke.
Myung Jaehee smiled as she avoided my gaze.
“It’s Cheol Chwi Shin Eung. Stronger than an average master.”
“Seems like it.”
Sure enough, it was a spirit beast.
I was curious about Cheol Chwi Shin Eung, but even more about the letter’s contents.
“What does it say?”
“You see for yourself.”
Myung Jaehee said and unfolded the paper before me.
– Ong So-hu and six others, entering Namchang.
I smiled as I read it.
“Truly timely.”