The sake cup was filled once again.
Gangchan drank the cool sake in one gulp.
Thud!
Deliberately placing the empty cup down with a loud sound, Gangchan smiled slyly at Nanseol.
“Well, the atmosphere has already reached a point of no return, but I still have to say what I intended. I’m ready to listen.”
His playful tone and attitude belied the fact that his eyes were not smiling at all.
After gathering her composure for a moment, Nanseol spoke cautiously.
“You must have heard about last night’s incident in Hangju.”
Her voice was calm.
It wasn’t easy to keep one’s mind steady and continue speaking so calmly.
Because of that, Gangchan looked at the woman before him with newfound respect.
‘Is she really just a Ruju? She doesn’t look ordinary in the slightest.’
His thoughts briefly deepened, and he realized he had missed what she just said.
Nanseol looked at him curiously and asked, “Gongja?”
“Hmm? Ah, sorry. What did you say just now? You were talking about the power struggle among the Heukdo factions surrounding the Night of Hangzhou, right?”
Nanseol nodded and continued.
“Yes. Because of that, I invited you with a request… but I didn’t expect things to turn out like this.”
She trailed off with a regretful expression.
Gangchan raised his hand to stop her and said, “Well, let’s just forget what’s already happened.”
Nanseol took a light breath and bowed her head.
“I’m grateful for your understanding. Now, let me get to the point. The faction controlling the northern part of Hangju is the Cheonrangpa.”
Gangchan’s eyes flickered subtly.
“Cheonrangpa…?”
Nanseol chose her words carefully before continuing.
“Cheonrangpa is a group composed mostly of orphans who either came from outside into Hangju or were born and raised here. They call themselves an organization, but in reality, most are little more than ruffians without any proper military strength. They’re hardly worthy of being called warriors.”
Her voice was cold but laced with a hint of sorrow.
“However, when it comes to survival, no one is as persistent, tenacious, and brave as they are. This fight isn’t directly about them, but due to the power structure in Hangju, they cannot escape the consequences.”
Nanseol looked Gangchan straight in the eyes and pleaded, “So, I’m asking you this: please help the Cheonrangpa.”
Gangchan stared at her, bewildered.
“Ruju, I really don’t get it. Why come to me with this?”
“Because I’m certain that Gongja can help.”
“Why? I’m just a traveler who’s been here only a few days. And besides, I can’t fight.”
As soon as Gangchan said he couldn’t fight, a terrifying aura suddenly surged from the Ga Bodyguard hidden in the ceiling.
Gangchan looked up at the corner of the ceiling with an annoyed expression and said, “Black uncle, stop glaring at me like that. You’re gonna kill me.”
His tone, as if completely forgetting the tension of moments before, left both Nanseol and the Ga Bodyguard flustered and unsure what to do.
Nanseol soon regained her composure and asked Gangchan, “I saw you yesterday when No Jin-hwan caused trouble. Why did you intervene? If you hadn’t, no one would have known.”
“That’s because someone could have died, so I acted without thinking. But this is different from yesterday. This is a war where someone’s trying to take everything for themselves.”
“I won’t deny it. It’s a war born of greed. But at least that’s not true for the Cheonrangpa. They have no intention of taking over Hangju alone. They just want to live their lives without being threatened by others. That’s enough for them to be happy. That’s why their lives are the most precious thing.”
Listening to Nanseol’s confident words, Gangchan felt momentarily confused.
No matter the reason or the purpose, this was none of his business—so why did he have to get involved?
“Then the Cheonrangpa could just stay out of it. Why get involved in such a dirty fight?”
“If they could, of course they would. But the Cheonrangpa cannot avoid it alone. Actually, no faction with strong military power governs Hangju. They only need to handle ruffians and gangs parasitizing the entertainment district.”
“But if someone tries to strengthen their military power out of greed for Hangju, the major factions who’ve stayed out so far will inevitably get involved. That would be the worst outcome. The major factions know this. They know that once they intervene, the golden goose that is Hangju will quickly collapse. So maintaining the status quo is in their best interest.”
“So, the saying ‘If I can’t have the cake, no one can’—and that means we should at least share the crumbs?”
“That’s right. But Baekryonghoe has brought in Dokgwigum Mak Bi. Mak Bi is known as a first-class warrior, but in truth, he’s almost at his peak. There’s no one in Hangju who can face him.”
“Baekryonghoe plans to swiftly and cleanly wipe out the other three factions. Then, if they bribe the major factions to look the other way, those factions won’t intervene. The problem is that all this has to be done quietly and quickly.”
Nanseol finished her explanation.
Now it was Gangchan’s turn to respond.
“Ruju, is that all there is to it?”
Her eyes flickered briefly at the unexpected question.
Of course, Gangchan didn’t miss that slight change.
Nanseol hesitated before answering.
‘Should I tell him that Mak Bi might be connected to the Demonic Sect? Or that the martial art used by the bodyguard No Jin-hwan killed is similar to the Amyoungdae’s? But since it’s not certain, there’s no need to mention it.’
She exhaled lightly and said, “Yes. That’s all.”
Gangchan looked at her with disbelief.
‘This woman… There’s something more, but she says there isn’t…’
After looking at Gangchan for a moment, Nanseol stood and bowed deeply.
At that moment, the faint energy from Ga Bodyguard on the ceiling stirred once again.
‘Not simple loyalty, then.’
Gangchan ignored it.
“I don’t care about the other factions. I only want the Cheonrangpa to be safe. They shouldn’t be sacrificed in such a filthy war—they’re pitiful souls. If you turn your back on them, Gongja, they’ll be wiped out. Please, protect them!”
Moved by Nanseol’s desperate voice, Gangchan was momentarily speechless, then raised a hand lightly and replied,
“Wow, you’re coming on pretty strong. Fine. I’ll assume I understand the situation in Hangju. But still, why should I believe you?”
“Just… it’s a feeling born from long experience.”
“A feeling, huh?” Gangchan chuckled lightly and joked, “If you’re planning to hit the gambling den, take me with you. I could use some winnings.”
Gangchan answered with a silly joke, then suddenly opened his eyes wide as if recalling something and looked at Nanseol.
“Oh, by the way! That black uncle might be able to help too. He seemed pretty skilled.”
Nanseol answered weakly, “His name is Ga Seokho.”
“Is that so? Ga. Seok. Ho. Uncle, huh.”
“Ga Bodyguard has reasons he can’t appear on the front lines.”
A shadow of apology crossed Nanseol’s face.
Gangchan shrugged and accepted it lightly.
“Is that so? Well, if there’s a reason, I understand.”
He didn’t ask further.
Gangchan stayed in Cheonhyangru for a few more si-jin, then returned to his lodging at Baekcheon Inn.
It was now the hour of Shin-si.
In a few si-jin, the war would resume.
***
Upon arriving at his lodging, Gangchan gathered his weapons.
He hung the Soul Axe and bow on his back and loaded twenty arrows into his quiver.
‘I probably won’t need the Soul Axe, but you never know about the world.’
He paused in his room, lost in thought.
‘This isn’t something I should interfere in… Cheonrangpa. If I help only them, can I really escape this fight?’
Nanseol’s desperate request wouldn’t leave his mind.
According to her, the Cheonrangpa existed only to survive, without any further ambition.
But Gangchan had come to understand the ways of the world through his journeys in the martial world. This wasn’t a situation he could move by sheer sense of justice alone.
He lowered his head and sighed deeply.
Suddenly, memories from his childhood surfaced—the moment bandits stormed in and mercilessly slaughtered his family and villagers.
The terror and helplessness of having to survive alone, hiding.
If he turned a blind eye now, he might repeat those regrets.
Anxiety swept over him.
In the end, he resolved to help the Cheonrangpa and gathered his weapons.
Descending from the second-floor guest room to the first floor, Sobaekcheon, who was wiping a table, hurried over to him.
“Uncle, where are you going?”
“To grant your wish.”
“My wish?”
“Yeah.”
“What’s my wish?”
“Hmm… isn’t it to live happily here at this inn with your mother?”
“Yeah, that’s pretty much right.”
“I’m going to make that come true, so make sure to give Monggi a special meal later.”
“Monggi? Ah! You mean uncle’s horse.”
“Right. See you later.”
“Yes.”
Baekcheon listened to Gangchan’s words but frowned in disbelief, tilting his head.
As Gangchan stepped out of the inn, he encountered a familiar young girl—the one who had delivered the letter before.
She handed Gangchan a sheet of paper and swiftly disappeared.
Gangchan unfolded the paper and read it.
After a moment’s thought, he clenched the paper lightly, then opened it again.
At that instant, the paper turned to ashes and vanished without a trace.
It was a sight that would make anyone doubt their eyes.
‘Was helping the Cheonrangpa really the right choice? But according to Nanseol’s information, Baekryonghoe’s movements are more than just a simple power struggle. I can’t just stand by and watch this.’
Shaking his head to clear away distracting thoughts, Gangchan recalled Nanseol’s report.
Baekryonghoe and Manhwa Mugwan’s warriors were quickly regrouping their forces at Baekryonghoe Manor, while the other factions had pitched tents at the entrance of the slum that was the Cheonrangpa’s base, preparing defenses.
Gangchan headed to the stables and took out Mong.
‘If the Cheonrangpa are to avoid casualties, this fight must end before it starts.’
Once the fighting began, rescuing only the Cheonrangpa in the chaos would be nearly impossible.
Gangchan’s best plan was to eliminate Dokgwigum Mak Bi, Baekryonghoe’s leader No Yujung, and Manhwa Mugwanju Sang Baek before the fight started.
If he could manage that, the rest would take care of itself.
***
Approaching Baekryonghoe Manor, Gangchan dismounted Mong.
“Mong, go to the mountains alone. I’ll call you when this is over.”
Mong seemed to understand and whinnied once before disappearing into the mountains.
Gangchan marked a rock about a hundred jang away from the right side of the manor and studied the terrain.
Using Cheonryeongchukji, he moved to a large tree about one hundred twenty jang from the front of the manor and observed the estate from above.
‘This should be enough.’
He left a shadow and disappeared again, moving to a rooftop about eighty jang to the left of the manor.
Having carefully confirmed the three locations and surroundings, he returned to the initial rock on the hillside.
It was now the hour of Yu-si.
Until the hour of Sul-si, all he could do was wait.
***
At that moment, at the entrance of the slum where the other factions had gathered.
Cheonrangpa’s Cheonrang Kang Bulhae clutched a letter from the Mistress of Cheonhyangru and was deep in thought.
The letter simply instructed him to trust her and go to Baekryonghoe Manor by Sul-si to handle the aftermath.
Kang Bulhae wasn’t sure whether to believe it or not.
Given the current strength of the Cheonrangpa, launching a preemptive strike would be suicide.
‘Baekryonghoe will attack before the day ends anyway.’
Kang Bulhae looked up at his comrades, Gwak Jagoh and Dam Sajin.
“Do you think this makes sense?”
Squinting, Gwak Jagoh spoke.
“Could the Mistress of Cheonhyangru be in league with Baekryonghoe?”
“We don’t know,” Kang Bulhae said. “But right now, the best option is to dig in here and defend.”
He found Gwak Jagoh’s reaction natural. He would have made the same judgment.
But Kang Bulhae trusted the Mistress of Cheonhyangru unconditionally.
“The Mistress of Cheonhyangru is not the kind to side with Baekryonghoe. Last time, she was the one who warned us of their attack plans. If she was allied with Baekryonghoe, why would she warn us?”
After Kang Bulhae’s words, Dam Sajin was silent for a moment before shaking his head.
“Still, moving now would be reckless.”
Kang Bulhae gave up further persuasion and gathered the Cheonrangpa’s subordinates to make a decision.
“I will trust and follow the Mistress of Cheonhyangru’s orders. You two make your own judgments.”
Without hesitation, he led the Cheonrangpa to Baekryonghoe Manor.
Gwak Jagoh and Dam Sajin watched their retreating backs and shook their heads in frustration.
“Hah… it’s frustrating. What can they do with that force? Are we just going to hand Hangju over to Baekryonghoe like this?”
Sighing, Gwak Jagoh spoke as Dam Sajin clutched his injured arm.
“There’s no other choice. If Baekryonghoe comes this way, we’ll have to hope for a future chance.”
He summoned his swift subordinates and ordered them to monitor Baekryonghoe’s movements.
“Report immediately if Baekryonghoe moves.”
Thus, the remaining two factions dug in and began to closely watch Baekryonghoe’s moves.