Chapter 10
“Hey, Chun-bong.”
“…What?”
Chun-bong looked pale. Seeing her so small and vulnerable made it hard for me, Seojun, not to feel a twinge of sympathy.
“I’ll go get some food, so just rest, okay?”
“…Yeah.”
Chun-bong staggered into the house. I strapped my sword to my waist and stepped outside. Utilizing a martial move from the Divine Sword Golden Family, the Yellow Cloud Divine Sword, I stealthily blended into the surprisingly crowded street.
‘Healing elixirs, huh…’
I pondered where to find some while buying dumplings at a nearby stall. Naturally, they were meat dumplings; Chun-bong needed to eat well at her growing age.
“Guess I should start finding some money, too.”
Occasionally, when I ran into Black Tiger gang members in secluded areas, it was a decent score. Most were broke, but some with a bit of status were pretty loaded.
Just then, I spotted a shady-looking guy who screamed “Black Tiger” loitering down an alley.
“Hmmm…”
That guy looked really suspicious. A quick glance around revealed some folks who clearly didn’t belong there pretending to be passersby.
“Not my problem, I guess.”
Feeling good about my decision, I headed toward a darker spot when my eyes met those of the Black Tiger thug.
“Yo, old man, got any cash?”
“You dumbass! Today’s your funeral, meathead!”
The pretend pedestrians started inching closer, circling me. I chuckled softly.
“This is why you shouldn’t let these guys live.”
Chun-bong had often warned me about the dangers of bloodlust; once you got a taste for killing, it spelled trouble.
“By the way, have we met? I don’t recognize you.”
“Beat it!”
In the narrow alley, the row of thugs drew their weapons and charged.
“Always the same stupid faces.”
With just two in front and two in back, it was easy pickings.
I lunged forward. The two surprised thugs swung their sabers wildly.
Clang—!
Sparks flew as their blades met. I locked eyes with them and grinned.
“Hello there.”
My left hand curled in; fingers shot out like a spring-loaded pincer.
Wham—
The two guys crumpled, holes in their foreheads. I yanked one of them by the collar and flung him back.
“Whoa—!”
The thugs collided with their own comrade. Using one of their limp bodies as a shield, I charged ahead.
Thud—
True to their ruthless nature, the Black Tigers couldn’t care less about their fallen friend. The lead thug twisted the knife he had driven into the corpse and chuckled.
“Die!”
In the cramped alley, dodging was out of the question. The thugs thought the dead body would block me long enough to make a clean getaway.
“Huh?”
There was nothing behind the crumpled corpse. Laughter bubbled up from below, between my legs.
Swishhh—
“Gah!”
“My leg!”
As I rolled under, my sword swept through, severing the thugs’ legs. Springing back up, I collected their lives with a triumphant smile.
“Looks like I’ll be set for a while.”
The back alley was now a pool of blood.
*
“Ugh…”
Standing alone, I patted myself down. After a bit of roughhousing, my body was sore.
“Maybe a bit too much.”
I grumbled as I pilfered from the thugs’ pockets, inflating my stash.
But fearing the worst, I found they were all pretty broke. The earnings were a disappointment.
I clicked my tongue, tossing a blood-soaked dumpling onto the ground.
“Bummer.”
Covered in blood, I stepped back into the street, causing pedestrians to sidestep me awkwardly. Even the dumpling vendor was trembling in fear.
Quietly, I bought another batch of dumplings and slipped back home.
“Hey, Chun-bong! Big bro’s back!”
“You—! What did you do this time?!”
“I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Oh, for goodness’ sake…!”
Chun-bong slapped her forehead and scurried short-legged to grab a wet cloth.
“Get cleaned up quickly! You’re dropping blood everywhere!”
After hastily washing off the dried blood and changing clothes, Chun-bong pointed to a chair with a serious face.
“Sit down.”
“Why?”
“Just sit!”
I complied and plopped into the chair. Chun-bong took a deep breath as if gathering her words, but instead, she shoved a dumpling into her mouth.
“Mmmph!”
“Let’s eat while we chat.”
Not backing down, Chun-bong dove into her food.
“Wow, you’re really chowing down! Just grow up healthy and strong, okay?”
Chun-bong, her cheeks filled with dumplings, shot me a glare.
“I told you not to make a fuss.”
“Heh.”
Letting out a deep sigh, Chun-bong finally spoke up.
“Okay, it’s time to get moving.”
“Moving? Suddenly, why?”
“Do you really not see it? At this rate, you’ll get stabbed and die.”
At that, I chuckled while tapping my sword belt.
“Come on. I can handle things! I could take them all down and still eat!”
“Not happening. How many do you think you’re planning to kill?”
“Kill? I could count those Black Tiger guys like… livestock!”
At that point, it would be more butcher than fighter. Very few people genuinely concern themselves with mental health over a bit of slaughtering, so going overboard was no big deal.
With that thought process laid out, I puffed out my chest.
“Pretty smart, right?”
“More like a dumbass.”
Chun-bong sighed again. My usual playful demeanor shifted to seriousness.
“Besides, if it’s a gang like the Black Tigers, they could have healing elixirs.”
“You…”
“Maybe I’m wrong, but what if I’m not? You never know.”
Chun-bong shut her eyes tight. Before she could say more, I rose from my seat.
Strolling outside, I heard a tiny voice behind me.
“…Not that stupid.”
Pfft—! I chuckled.
Aren’t you the one who kept calling me a moron? Hearing Chun-bong use “stupid” made it all the more funny.
“Don’t worry. You know who I am, right?”
MUGONG master Lee Seojun. I’m not so weak as to get taken down by the Black Tigers.
Today, my sword would continue to slice through the air.
*
Chun-bong claimed that I had an innate talent for managing qi.
Even if I just waved my sword around, dealing with Black Tiger thugs wouldn’t be a struggle. But as more kept appearing, the situation might change fast.
Phew—
Almost absentmindedly throwing a stone into the dirt, I scratched my chin.
‘Once I reach the peak of infusing qi into my sword…’
Then, with a little further practice, I could project that qi outward, turning it into sword aura.
I found myself at a level somewhere between intermediate and advanced. Achieving this after just a year of training was impossibly fast.
Yet, I still felt I was missing something. I sensed I could accomplish so much more with my qi, but here I was, just goofing around.
“Hey, I told you not to rush. At your level, you’re not just fast; you’re ridiculously fast.” (Chun-bong)
I ignored her, carelessly flicking rocks across the ground. Chun-bong clicked her tongue, exasperated.
Honestly, if I had focused on advancing my skills, I probably would have become a master by now. Yet, for the past year, Chun-bong had only drilled me on the basics.
This was only natural. Though one dealt with low-level scum, if the goal was true mastery, the foundation was essential.
Fundamentally, learning techniques that veered into the realm of the supernatural without a solid base is a recipe for disaster. One could end up going mad or experience fatal blood vessel ruptures.
The Yellow Cloud Divine Art, part of this elite class of techniques, combined with the Yellow Cloud Divine Sword and the Crossing the Yellow Dragon, shared the same principles of enlightened understanding.
The Yellow Cloud Divine Art was the core technique, while the Yellow Cloud Divine Sword was a combination of swordplay and footwork. Crossing the Yellow Dragon was the movement technique that involved various skills.
They were all glamorous martial arts. With my potential, I could indeed achieve greatness, enough to gain renown as a top martial artist.
“But what’s the rush?” (Chun-bong)
“Why? Can’t you tell?” (Seo-jun)
“If I could tell, I wouldn’t be asking… cough…!” (Chun-bong)
A persistent cough that refused to stop echoed, and she felt a dark energy gradually seep into my limbs.
‘If this continues… maybe in half a year.’ (Chun-bong)
Chun-bong bit her lips and glared at me. She had realized by now that her own fate had ended, and healing elixirs were no ordinary things. Most people would live their entire lives without even catching a glimpse.
So, at the very least, she hoped I would blossom properly to continue the legacy of the Divine Sword Golden Family.
“Hey, enough already.”
She desperately hoped I wouldn’t make any reckless decisions.
“I’ll be out for a bit. Don’t wait up; just sleep.”
“Lee Seojun! Stop right there.”
I halted immediately. My back appeared broader than ever, and an ominous feeling crept in, telling her that breaking my stubbornness would be a challenge. Still, she couldn’t just let me go.
“It’s only been a year. What are you doing, risking your life over some kid?”
“……”
“Just train quietly. Give it ten years, and you’ll be formidable enough not to need to bow to anyone in the martial world. Then you can make a name for the Divine Sword Golden Family. I’m good with that.”
Our eyes locked, and I, as always, seemed unreadable.
Chun-bong continued, as calmly as she could.
“Don’t trust people too easily. We don’t know who destroyed the Divine Sword Golden Family. It could’ve been righteous sect members. After all, they’re all just corrupt individuals.”
“……”
“Well, it probably doesn’t concern you. You’re the kind of guy who’ll throw a punch at any girl that gets too close.”
Jokingly advised, I smirked and finally moved my lips.
“Hey.”
“…What?”
“Chun-bong.”
“What is it?”
Chun-bong blinked in confusion, taken aback. I grinned.
“Chun-bong, Kim Chun-bong, the foolish little sister who underestimates her big brother too much. I’m not heading off to my own death or anything.”
I ran my fingers along the hilt of my sword. As darkness enveloped the scene, obscuring everything ahead, only my voice echoed.
“Just wait here. I’ll be back with the medicine.”
As the clouds obscured the moonlight, my figure faded away.
“…What an idiot.”
Chun-bong silently lowered her head.
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