Hundreds of underworld members perished, but what truly mattered to people wasn’t who won.
Only the news that a victor had emerged was enough to secretly please them.
Who ruled Hangju’s night held no significance for them.
What they truly awaited was whether the protection fee would change.
Fortunately, since Hangju’s underworld had won, people predicted there wouldn’t be much change.
And a day after the fighting ended, news spread that the protection fee would drop from 30% to 20%.
That news spread throughout Hangju in an instant.
Merchants and residents gathered in groups, busy praising Cheonrangpa.
“With this, maybe better days are coming for us too?”
“Cheonrangpa is truly doing a fine job. If all underworld types were like them, they’d deserve some respect.”
It was the moment Nanseol’s prediction hit the mark.
Gangchan left for Cheon Myung Bang, seeing off a regretful Baekcheon and his mother.
In the manor, now changed from Baekryonghoe to Cheon Myung Bang, ten workers were already waiting.
They greeted Gangchan respectfully, celebrating his arrival as the new leader.
Gangchan chose a separate pavilion located behind the inner quarters of Cheon Myung Bang as his residence.
The pavilion had once been where the Baekryonghoe Association Leader lived with his family. It was a modest, quiet building with a backyard suitable for simple martial training.
It felt like the perfect place for Gangchan.
Inside the pavilion was a small reception room.
Now, Gangchan sat in that reception room, eyes closed, quietly reflecting on his circumstances as if in meditation.
‘The problems are still here.’
He quietly brought to mind each reality he faced.
The first problem was the Demonic Sect.
Having eliminated the person the Demonic Sect was watching, Gangchan believed that, given the nature of the group, he would only face more suspicion and closer surveillance.
‘If I were alone, I could simply erase my tracks and disappear quietly… but I’m no longer alone.’
His thoughts turned to the members of Cheon Myung Bang.
Now, it was a situation where he couldn’t even predict what might happen because of him.
The second problem was the conflict with the Pang Family.
Thinking of the Pang siblings’ actions, Gangchan mused inwardly.
‘Given the Pang Family’s nature, as long as I remain at Cheon Myung Bang, they will definitely come looking for me.’
Gangchan had no regrets about his actions.
‘If they come in goodwill, I’ll gladly meet them… but if not, I’ll simply have to respond in kind.’
The deeper his worries became, the clearer the reality before Gangchan’s eyes.
In this world he’d set foot in, being powerless was a crime.
Thus, he had to do everything he could to grow stronger.
Gangchan resolved to first build up enough strength to properly protect Cheon Myung Bang.
As he organized his thoughts, a voice from outside caught his attention.
“Leader, the Cheonhyangru Mistress has arrived.”
Gangchan lifted his head and replied.
“Let her in.”
The door opened, and Nanseol entered.
“Did I interrupt you, Leader?”
Nanseol asked, wearing a gentle smile.
Gangchan shook his head.
“No. I was actually thinking about calling for you.”
Nanseol sighed in relief.
“That’s good to hear. I was worried I might be disturbing you.”
Gangchan tilted his head and asked,
“Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Gaho Wi around lately?”
Nanseol answered with a mischievous grin.
“When I come to meet you, I have him stay far away.”
Gangchan laughed lightly.
“That explains it. Next time, why don’t you bring Gaho Wi with you when you have time?”
Nanseol looked a bit flustered as she replied.
Gangchan gestured to a seat.
“All right.”
“I don’t have much, just something I wanted to tell you.”
“Hm? Is there a special reason…?”
“Please, have a seat over here.”
When Nanseol sat, Gangchan took a seat across from her.
“What brings you here?”
Nanseol got to the point.
“There are a few things I wanted to discuss, so I came.”
“Go ahead.”
Nanseol asked cautiously.
“If your identity as Leader is revealed, what do you plan to do?”
Gangchan paused for a moment, then answered.
“I don’t think it matters much anymore whether my identity is revealed or not. The problem is, thanks to you, I’m not alone.”
He took a breath and continued.
“If I were alone, I could deal with anyone, and if things got dangerous, I could just run away. But now, that’s no longer possible. I can’t just run or pretend ignorance anymore. The fastest solutions are gone. Now, only two options remain: submit and beg for forgiveness, or stand and fight.”
Nanseol listened quietly.
Gangchan spoke resolutely.
“I can’t do the former, and Cheon Myung Bang isn’t ready for the latter. So, first, I must create real strength for Cheon Myung Bang.”
He lifted his head and looked at Nanseol.
“As I mentioned before, I’ve never taught or learned martial arts from anyone. You’ll have to help solve this problem, Mistress.”
Nanseol asked right away.
“What specifically would you have me do?”
Gangchan shook his head.
“I won’t try to separate what’s possible and what’s not. If it’s impossible, it won’t happen anyway. First, we need instructors to teach martial arts. And those instructors will need martial arts techniques to teach.”
Nanseol nodded, sinking into thought.
In truth, she’d already made up her mind before coming to Gangchan. Yet, when it came time to decide, the words wouldn’t come easily.
“Gongja-nim, this decision I’m making isn’t just a feeling. I’ve come to want to trust you. And my fate is tied to this decision. So please, don’t betray my trust.”
After finishing, Nanseol steadied her breath. When she raised her head, tears welled up in her eyes and soon streamed down her cheeks.
“I am the daughter of Haomun’s master who died under mysterious circumstances fifteen years ago. I barely escaped thanks to the sacrifice of Haomen Disciples loyal to my father. Since then, I’ve survived in hiding for fifteen years, clinging to the single thought of killing the current Haomun master, the Heaven-Measuring Eccentric, Doak, who killed my father, and reclaiming Haomun. But I’ve grown weary of living like this in hiding. I feel the meaning of life itself growing faint if I must keep living in the shadows. So, regardless of the outcome, I’ve decided to stake everything. I will lay everything I’ve prepared over the past fifteen years at your feet. Please, let the people who have had to hide with me for fifteen years finally step into the light… hrrk…”
Caught off guard by Nanseol’s sudden tears, Gangchan was at a loss.
Having never faced a woman’s tears before, his mind went blank as if he’d turned into an idiot.
His gaze was fixed on Nanseol’s tears, unable to move away.
Then, without meaning to, strange words tumbled out of his mouth.
“Um, well… ah, what should I do?”
Nanseol sobbed for a while, then, pulling herself together, burst out laughing at Gangchan’s frantic floundering.
“Heh, you’re all over the place. Now, sit back down, will you?”
“Huh? Oh, yes.”
Gangchan sat down, still bewildered.
As he looked at the now composed Nanseol, he couldn’t hide his surprise.
Nanseol composed herself and apologized.
“I’ve shown you an ugly side of myself. I’m sorry.”
Gangchan waved a hand.
“It’s all right. No, it’s not all right… Please, just don’t do that again. If you do, I’ll really run away next time.”
Nanseol chuckled at his words.
“Hoho, I understand. I won’t show you that side of myself again.”
Watching Gangchan look more flustered than she’d expected, Nanseol found him truly innocent.
A while later, having gathered his emotions, Gangchan looked at Nanseol deeply and spoke softly.
“I don’t believe in fate, but I do believe in your intuition, Mistress. I don’t know what you saw in me to feel that way, but I’ll protect that feeling.”
Nanseol bowed her head in response to his sincere words.
“Thank you. I’ve troubled you with my selfishness, Leader, but from now on, I won’t let you endure your hardships and struggles alone.”
Gangchan replied with a light smile.
“I appreciate that. So, are we family now?”
What Nanseol had prepared was fifty martial artists raised in secret over fifteen years, and several rare martial arts manuals.
Though the number was nowhere near enough to face the Haomun master, a few were first-class, and at least most had the skills of second-class fighters.
The amount of time and resources spent raising them could be imagined without a word.
Fortunately, some of them had experience operating or working in martial halls, making them suitable to handle basic martial instruction.
Using these people, the urgent problem of martial instructors could be partially solved.
Now, by selecting capable talent from among the underworld members of Hangju and Suzhou, the basic organizational structure could be established.
Although this all began not by Gangchan’s will, it was thus that his conquest of the Middle Plains quietly began its curtain call.
Five days later, at dawn, a woman rushed to Gangchan’s room.
“Leader, are you awake?”
“Yes. What is it?”
“There are people gathered outside asking for you.”
Moments later, the door opened, and Gangchan emerged, dressed neatly.
“They’re asking for me?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Let’s go.”
Following the woman toward the main gate, Gangchan spotted fifty men milling about out front.
“You said they came to see me?”
A man who looked to be in his mid-forties stepped forward.
“Are you Leader Gang by any chance?”
“That’s me, but who are you all? Your faces are unfamiliar.”
“The Cheonhyangru Mistress sent us. My name is Hong Hyeon.”
As he introduced himself, the man gave Gangchan a scrutinizing look. Gangchan understood that gaze—it was a typical reaction for martial artists meeting him for the first time.
“Come in, all of you.”
As soon as Gangchan finished speaking, the fifty men filed through the gate.
Once inside the courtyard, the men glanced around at Gangchan with curiosity, but clear disappointment was evident on their faces.
‘Is this the one they call the Cheongung?’ suspicion flickered in their eyes.
The courtyard of Cheon Myung Bang was vast. Even with fifty men inside, it still seemed empty.
Gangchan waited for them all to come in, then looked at Hong Hyeon.
Hong Hyeon stepped forward, gave a slight bow, then turned to the disorderly group and gave an order.
“Line up!”
There were more than a few moving about with the unruly attitude of marketplace thugs as they lined up, grumbling. Gangchan waited quietly for order to be restored, sensing the auras of the men.
Among them, about ten had well-refined energy.
Given all the time and resources Nanseol had invested, Gangchan felt a twinge of disappointment that there weren’t more capable individuals. Most of the men’s energy was rough and unrefined, and their manner was equally unruly.
Once they’d finally formed a rough line and stood awkwardly, Gangchan called Hong Hyeon forward.
“Hong Hyeon, was it?”
“Yes, Leader.”
“You’re in charge of these men?”
“It’s only temporary, but I’ve managed them so far.”
“So you’ve been letting them run loose like this?”
“That’s not exactly—”
Hearing Gangchan’s words, Hong Hyeon faltered, unable to defend himself further. He couldn’t deny the men’s dissatisfied expressions and loose posture.
“Is that so? But they seem pretty wild.”
Hong Hyeon pressed his lips together, and Gangchan coolly looked over the men.
“Anyway, I see why you’re here. Now, run fifty laps around the manor. And don’t use your internal energy.”
With those words, Gangchan turned away, and the courtyard was instantly in an uproar.
“What did he say? Run? Does he even know who we are?”
“Exactly. He’s lost it. Give him a bit of respect and he thinks he’s something.”
“Ha, we’ll have to put up with him. Doesn’t he still look young?”
“Damn it, I knew something was off. What a joke.”
Grumbling erupted among the men. There were even mocking voices. But Gangchan didn’t flinch and calmly turned his head to look at them again.
“Enough!”
At Hong Hyeon’s sharp command, the men finally fell silent.
Hong Hyeon let out a deep sigh and looked at Gangchan.
“Leader!”
Gangchan shrugged and smiled lightly. Hong Hyeon, looking flustered, shook his head and shouted to the men again.
“Everyone, quiet! From now, run fifty laps around the manor—no internal energy allowed! Start now!”
The courtyard buzzed again, but Hong Hyeon didn’t wait and immediately ran out to start.
Some men looked around before following, and in the end, even the complainers reluctantly joined in.
“Damn, we’ve got no choice. Let’s run.”
One lap around Baekryonghoe Manor was about 1.5 li (roughly 600 meters).
Fifty laps came to 75 li—about 30 kilometers.
With internal energy, it was nothing, but without it, running that distance was no easy feat.
As he watched the men begin to run around the manor, Gangchan murmured quietly.
“Those who can, will. Those who can’t, will drop out. The ones who endure to the end are the real thing.”