Inside the inner hall of the Continental Merchant Union in Changchun.
“A message came from the Dongbang Clan. They have accepted the request.”
“Then I don’t have to worry about the marriage with the young lady of the Dongbang Clan anymore?” Jin Il-myeong asked with a broad smile.
“Are you that happy?” Jin Yun asked back in a heavy voice.
“Of course. I will work hard at whatever you command, Father.”
“Do not forget that this is your last chance.”
Jin Yun’s gaze sank coldly.
“If you behave disappointingly again, I might forgive you, but the family never will.”
“Yes, Father.”
As soon as Jin Il-myeong left the room, Jin Yun called for the Chonggwan with a frustrated expression.
“Did you call, Branch Manager?”
“Tell my brother that the matter with the Dongbang Clan has proceeded as planned. And…” He continued in a low voice, “Secretly attach people to Il-myeong’s side. Monitor him so he doesn’t cause any trouble.”
“I understand.”
“Also, inform the Blood Wolf Band that the Dongbang Bureau will depart in two days. Tell them to never lay a hand on Dongbang Seollin and to keep her well-captured.”
“Yes. I will take care of it immediately.”
***
It had been four days since the message was sent to Hangju.
The letter from Nanseol, the Haomun Munju, finally arrived.
The content stated that there were no special changes to the situation in Hangju and that there would be about half a year of breathing room. However, Gangchan knew Nanseol’s personality well.
Her saying there was ‘half a year of breathing room’ did not mean they actually had time to spare; it likely meant he should ‘hurry as much as possible.’
Gangchan immediately informed his brother, Gangcheol, of his decision. As time passed, Gangcheol had been hoping his younger brother would give up on revenge.
The fact that Gangchan had grown up so wonderfully was enough compensation for the past twelve years.
The happiness of this moment was ten million times more precious than revenge. However, he could not block the path his brother intended to take.
So, he gave his consent.
However, he could not compromise on the trip to Hangju.
The place where he would meet his brother again after the revenge was finished should not be Hangju, but right here — Cheongangmun.
***
In the office of Cheongangmun.
All the Squad One members were gathered.
“I received a letter saying we have half a year, but given the Haomun Munju’s personality, we shouldn’t take it literally,” Gangchan said quietly. “And my brother insisted on going to Hangju together only after we finish our work. So, inevitably…”
Gangchan slowly continued his words.
“Go Gu, Sawu, and Yedowi, please protect Cheongangmun while we are away. The rest will enter the plains with me. We will depart at dawn tomorrow, so everyone, please prepare thoroughly.”
The three who had to stay at Cheongangmun glared at Gwak Sugi as if they wanted to kill him.
Gangchan laughed while looking at them.
“I trust you three. My brother is more precious to me than revenge.”
Go Gu bowed his head deeply.
“I know that well. Do not worry about this place, and please return safely.”
***
At dawn the next day.
The moment Gangchan and the squad members were leaving Cheongangmun, his brother Gangcheol, Old Man Kang, and the three members staying behind came out to see them off.
Gangcheol gave a final warning.
“Chan, don’t forget your promise… If you ever feel it’s dangerous, come back immediately.”
Gangchan looked at his brother and smiled.
“I will. Instead, please practice hard and take good care of your health.”
Old Man Kang approached with a tender face.
“Young Master, please be careful… and make sure to eat your meals.”
Gangchan replied with a twinkle in his eyes.
“Don’t worry, and just prepare well for the trip to Hangju in advance.”
“If it’s that, do not worry.”
Gangchan looked back at the members staying at Cheongangmun one last time.
“You know how I feel, even if I don’t say it, right?”
Go Gu replied with a determined look in his eyes.
“Don’t worry, and return quickly.”
Leaving the grand send-off behind, Gangchan quietly moved toward the plains. Behind him, the seven members of Squad One of the Cheongeomdae followed him silently.
***
Even though it was early autumn, the nights on the plains were cold.
It wasn’t a matter of rushing, but it was better to finish before winter arrived.
The Blood Wolf Band.
The bandits who had stained Guihon Village with blood.
They probably didn’t even know they were being hunted.
Having entered the plains, Gangchan planned to stop by Gwalimgwakteuk, the city closest to the border of Jilin Province, to obtain information on the bandit groups.
The Changchun branch of Haomun, led by Jangdal, should have prepared it in advance.
In the distance, traces of a city could be seen at the edge of the plains. A city formed on the plains was like an oasis to the nomads.
Because of that, even the bandit groups rarely touched the cities on the plains.
There were various reasons for that, but fundamentally, it was because bandits and nomads were ‘different yet the same beings.’
Nomads raised livestock to survive, and bandits plundered to survive. At any moment, all nomads could turn into bandits.
As they entered Gwalimgwakteuk, low buildings were spread out wide.
Unlike the cities in the Middle Plains, people’s gazes remained the same even as they rode horses.
In the plains, a horse was a being no different from a person. Gangchan and his party stopped for a moment in front of the city’s only inn, the Chunha Guest House.
Na Myeong stepped forward and asked.
“Are there seats available?”
The Inn Attendant, who was in his mid-teens and had been outside the guest house, welcomed the guests with delight.
Gangchan and his party quietly entered the guest house.
“Give the horses plenty of good grass mixed with beans.”
“Yes, milord!”
Before entering the guest house, Gangchan stroked Mong’s mane.
“Mong, eat well and stay quiet.”
*Whinny — *
Watching Mong move toward the back of the guest house, Gangchan stepped inside.
The owner, who looked over fifty and was slightly obese, approached and guided them to two tables in a corner.
“What can I get for you?”
Na Myeong, who was looking at Gangchan, asked back.
“What should we order, Bangju?”
Gangchan replied simply.
“Something simple.”
Na Myeong nodded and placed the order.
“Dumplings and greens for eight people. Four bottles of kumis for each table.”
“Please wait a moment.”
The owner shouted toward the kitchen.
“Dumplings and greens for eight! Eight bottles of kumis!”
The sound of busy movement came from inside the kitchen. While waiting for the meal, Gangchan looked around the interior of the guest house.
Excluding their party, there were guests at two tables.
One was two people who looked like local residents, and the other was a man eating quietly alone at a table.
Gangchan knew that one of them was focusing on him, but he did not show it.
This was because he felt a sense of awe rather than a murderous intent.
Near the end of the meal.
The man who had been watching Gangchan stood up and approached his table.
Gangchan signaled Gok Jeong, who was sitting opposite him, to move to the next table.
The man greeted politely.
“I greet Bangju Gang. I am Cho Pyeong, a Haomen Disciple and observer of Gwalimgwakteuk.”
He was a man who looked to be in his mid-thirties.
“Nice to meet you.”
When Gangchan replied lightly, Cho Pyeong continued cautiously.
“I prepared in advance after receiving word… but strangely, it is very difficult to obtain information on bandit groups these days.”
“Is that so?”
“I tried to find out as much as possible, but since there wasn’t much time, this is all there is.”
Cho Pyeong handed over a small document.
Gangchan received the document, unfolded it, and asked.
“Thank you. I will use it well. But… are there any Haomen Disciples further inside the plains?”
Cho Pyeong shook his head.
“You can consider me the last one. Well then, excuse me.”
That meant they could no longer receive help from Haomun.
According to the information from Haomun, there were currently three bandit groups in the plains.
The Red Wolf Band centered around Hailaer in the east, the Blood Wolf Band active around Seollim-hoteuk in the north-central part of the plains, and the Black Wolf Band centered around Limha in the west.
The fact was that dozens of bandit groups in the plains had been integrated into these three since several years ago. Gangchan thought deeply about what this information meant.
As they entered deeper into the plains, Gangchan let out a sigh.
The size of the plains was massive, incomparable to what he had imagined.
‘I thought I could find the Blood Wolf Band easily once I entered the plains…’
He felt his simple thinking was laughable.
‘If it hadn’t been for the help of Haomun, would I have been able to find the Blood Wolf Band in this vast plain?’
According to Haomun’s information, the Blood Wolf Band’s base was Samjeok Mountain, located about 500 li northeast of Seollim-hoteuk.
That alone was a huge help.
Gangchan, who was slowly leading his horse, said, “It seems like something is happening in the plains, right?”
Gwak Sugi replied, “It seems so. It’s not common sense that only three bandit groups remain in this vast plain.”
In fact, in the plains, counting the number of bandit groups was meaningless. Nomads lived in an environment where they could become bandits at any time.
Bandit groups repeatedly appeared and disappeared.
“All those bandit groups were integrated into exactly three?”
The number of bandit groups had decreased drastically.
That was even more suspicious.
‘What on earth is happening…?’
But whatever the reason, it didn’t matter to Gangchan.
The purpose of his coming to the plains was only ‘one’ — the Blood Wolf Band.
Once the revenge was finished, he didn’t care what happened in the plains.
As they walked, the day slowly began to set.
Baek Geombi, who had gone out for reconnaissance, was returning quickly.
“There is a suitable campsite about 5 li further.”
The group moved to the place Baek Geombi had reported and prepared for camp.
After a simple dinner, they lit a bonfire in the center and either practiced or rested.
Now, even if no one said anything, they practiced or sparred with each other whenever they had time. If they hit a wall, they asked Du Ilchung or Gangchan for advice or sparred directly.
The sun set, and darkness fell all around. Numerous stars were floating in the sky. Those stars he used to look at while holding his father’s hand as a child.
They remained unchanged… but only his father, who had been by his side, was gone. Gangchan quietly closed his eyes and thought of his father.
At that moment, the absence of his father felt so immense.
‘I… am now going to avenge Father, the Chun Gang Mundo, and the villagers. I can do it well, right…?’
While he was reminiscing about the past, Du Ilchung quietly sat beside him.
“Is there a problem?”
Du Ilchung spoke cautiously.
“It’s not exactly a problem, but… I would like you to change your way of speaking now, Bangju.”
Gangchan raised his eyebrows slightly.
“My way of speaking?”
Du Ilchung spoke cautiously but firmly.
“Using polite speech to subordinates is not a matter of right or wrong… but it certainly looks problematic to others.”
Gangchan tilted his head.
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Regardless of age, you are the highest elder of the Heavenly Mandate Hall.”
Gangchan looked around once.
“Is that everyone’s thought?”
Du Ilchung nodded without hesitation.
“It is.”
Gangchan smiled lightly and replied.
“Then, I’ll change it.”
A hint of joy crossed Du Ilchung’s face.
“Thank you.”
The way Gangchan accepted the change was very grateful to Du Ilchung.
No matter who the opponent was, if their words contained sincerity, Gangchan listened and accepted it purely.
It was something anyone could do, but something that those with high martial arts never did.
As Du Ilchung left his seat, Gangchan lay in a sleeping bag made of sheepskin and looked up at the countless stars pouring over the plains.
And he remembered that day.
Twelve years ago.
That day, he ran away to live.
And he lost his father and had to spend a long time separated from his brother.
Neither he, his brother, nor his father had done anything wrong. But the world had trampled on his family like that.
Now he would pay back that debt of blood.
From now on, it was time to become cruel.
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