Recognizing her was a given for everyone; the remaining rituals were just cumbersome formalities, but tradition is important, right?
Im Ha-yeon downed the strong liquor in a glass larger than a pencil holder in one go.
Phew, what a pungent smell! Is it safe to drink this?
What’s Ha-yeon’s tolerance anyway? I’ve had a light drink with her before, but we never really pushed it to the limit to find out how far we could go.
Maybe the sudden intensity of the alcohol hit her, as she swayed slightly but quickly nodded as if to reassure herself.
“Do-mun Hyang-joo has accepted our loyalty and responsibilities as our leader! Now, all the guards, kneel and receive the drink from our leader!”
“Greetings to our new Do-mun Hyang-joo!”
“I pledge my loyalty!”
“…Cheers!”
“A feat that even none in Do-mun’s history have accomplished! Congratulations!”
Everyone raised their glasses. That drink’s a bomb shot; the hangover is going to be a nightmare! But despite my worried glances, the glasses swiftly made their rounds.
No one explicitly mentioned it, but I’m sure they understood the implication.
The Do-mun Hyang-joo of Hubei Province.
The Shadowless Thief. Im Ha-yeon.
Our efforts had finally reached a climax.
“I became the Do-mun Hyang-joo amidst this chaos.”
Im Ha-yeon slowly turned her head to find me sitting quietly in a corner.
It’s been a long journey. We’ve endured a lot. A glance exchanged between us spoke a thousand words.
“Isn’t it easier for us to rampage during chaotic times?”
“Hahahaha!”
Im Ha-yeon chuckled at the laughter from the crowd but returned to a serious expression as she spoke again.
“I won’t let this chaos go unanswered.”
“……”
Now all that’s left is counterattack. I’ll drive away Do-mun Hyang-joo and restore peace. That was my thought.
“Fight against Do-mun Hyang-joo… fight? Ugh?! Ugh!”
What’s going on? Im Ha-yeon’s drink is tipping over.
With her breath becoming rapid, it was as if I could feel her collapsing in slow motion.
“What’s happening? Do-mun Hyang-joo! Ugh!”
“Ugh!”
“Why are you— Uh-oh!”
“What’s going on?”
Starting with Im Ha-yeon, everyone in the mansion began collapsing. I needed to quickly check on her condition.
Just as I was about to rush to her, I locked eyes with a man clutching his chest, who didn’t seem to be in any pain, and at that moment, the mansion door was shattered.
“Did you drink it all? Why does the first toast take so long?”
A relaxed voice came from behind. I didn’t want to hear it, but it was lodged in my mind as it crashed through the door.
“Do-mun Hyang-joo?!”
The owner of that voice was Do-mun Hyang-joo.
——–
“Ugh! How did we end up here?”
One of the executives staggered and asked, clearly resisting the urge to collapse.
“Want me to teach you an easy way to win at the gambling table? You know, winning isn’t just about your skills.”
With that, one of Do-mun’s fallen men got up and chuckled.
“I added the poison into the drink instead of the liquor. It was easy to mix it with the foul-smelling chaos drink.”
“That’s how you plant a spy.”
Do-mun Hyang-joo shrugged casually.
Was there a spy among the people from Do-mun who came from afar for today’s ceremony?
If it were normal liquor, someone would’ve noticed by taste, but with dozens of drinks mixed together, no one seemed to have felt the poisoning.
“You bastard! A betrayal! Are you even still a part of Do-mun?!”
The executive shot a glare at the betrayer as if he wanted to chew him up on the spot.
“Ah, what bond of loyalty and sincerity do Hao-mun have? The trend is already set.”
The betrayer boldly walked to stand behind Do-mun Hyang-joo.
Right. What bond of loyalty and sincerity are you talking about? If it were under normal circumstances, I would’ve nodded in agreement, but experiencing betrayal firsthand is too painful.
“Damn it! You think you’re not being pathetic? Hey! Speak up! Did you do something to this girl? Why are you willing to risk your life to save her?”
“All.. you! run away……. Ugh!”
Im Ha-yeon had barely managed to grab Do-mun Hyang-joo’s foot but collapsed powerless with a single kick.
Anger surged from deep within. I need to hold it together. Losing my temper would only lead to misery.
Is there a way out?
I need to find one. I see the movements of the Do-mun people stirring a bit more than before. They are quietly pushing out the poison.
I need a little more time.
“Is a grand reason needed to save a lover?”
I responded with sarcasm, yet my eyes revealed a depth of passion unseen in anyone else.
“Idiot. If you think betting your wife will lose, you should pull out.”
“Seems that’s not something you should be saying?”
Who does this guy think he is? I scoffed at his arrogance while feigning amusement.
“Heheheh. Well… that’s true? Heheheh.”
Was he just happy to have managed a comeback? Do-mun Hyang-joo clutched his chest and laughed for a while.
The movements of the allies who were trembling started to die down.
Just a bit more. If we can stall a little longer, we might get reinforcements.
“Do-mun Hyang-joo! We are under attack from Ma-mun!”
That glimmer of good news bought us a little more time.
“Ha… that old man is being reckless. Hey! Take care of that girl first.”
Do-mun Hyang-joo pressed his forehead and pointed to Im Ha-yeon.
“What should we do with this one?”
One of the Do-mun fighters poked at me with the tip of his sword.
“Hey, is this really the Shadowless Thief?”
“Yes, it is.”
The betrayer nodded, with no hint of doubt.
“Damn it. I want to chop off his head right now… but what should we do about this bastard…?”
“Shall we tie him up and take him?”
Do-mun Hyang-joo gazed around me as if seeing a delicious barbecue.
Don’t tremble.
Pretending to be scared will only create the atmosphere he wants. Like a sprinter preparing for a short dash, I carefully completed my mental image technique.
Do-mun Hyang-joo clapped his hands as if he realized something, then spoke.
“Wait a second?! We need proof for the Shadowless Thief that we have the daughter and the adopted brother, right?”
“Yes, that would be necessary.”
“While the daughter may not matter, can’t we send one of his limbs as a warning sign?”
A knife drawn with multiple blades glinted ominously.
“What? Ah! Y-yeah, that should be fine! This bastard… Ugh!”
I gathered my energy and immediately shoved off those holding me down.
Starting with the Jade Face Protective Technique, my arms slid like ice on the skin, gripping the enemy’s neck.
“You bastard! Cough!”
I twisted one guy’s neck and immediately unleashed the Shadowless Body Technique, delivering a powerful kick to the jaw of the guy trying to sneak up behind me.
“You barbarian, what the…”
Taking down both of them in an instant, I threw the Hidden Knife and created some distance.
Why aren’t my allies moving? Is time still running short? I fumbled around in my pocket.
“Ha! Seems like someone has a strategy after all. Is that your plan? Everyone, get out of the way!”
Do-mun Hyang-joo grinned mockingly, shoving away his obstructing subordinates.
“Hyung-ju!”
“I’ll personally slice that bastard’s head off.”
Should I use my trump card?
I wouldn’t be able to distinguish ally from enemy. Im Ha-yeon might get hurt. If I use my secret weapon, what comes next? What if Do-mun Hyang-joo survives—what happens then?
“Ha?! Where are you looking?!”
Oh no! I overthought things.
The blade aimed for my neck. I quickly utilized the Jade Face Protective Technique to shield my throat. Suddenly, the direction of the blade changed.
Oh no. He did say he’d take my arm.
“It’s too late…!”
The wicked blade approached my right hand. I wondered if my arm could withstand it.
No.
Without realizing it, I clenched my teeth at the horrifying situation that would ensue. But what I imagined didn’t come true.
It wasn’t because Do-mun Hyang-joo stopped the blade.
The blade was stopped.
By someone else’s knife.
I stared wide-eyed at the back of the person who appeared out of nowhere. The man spoke to Do-mun Hyang-joo with a voice filled with rage.
“What nonsense is this with someone else’s vision?”
What?
Whose vision?
“Ha! No way?! Who is this?”
Do-mun Hyang-joo’s voice was filled with bewilderment. He had every right to be baffled.
“Are you all right?”
I lifted my head to find the source of the concerned voice.
Though he had white hair, he wasn’t old. His hair turned white early as he was clearly now a man in his middle age, with traces of pink occasionally visible among the white strands.
I couldn’t believe it.
This man was…
The one who had been there during my hardest times, patiently filling in as my companion, the one who shared meals and cared for my well-being, even during the days when I was looked down upon as a barbarian.
He was the one who offered his hand of kindness without hesitation for me.
“Uncle Wang…?”
Uncle Wang from the fabric shop.
The previous Shadowless Thief!
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