Who Are You? (1)
Im Yeon-jeong and Chil-ho sat across from each other, sharing a meal.
It had been a few days since Byeok Ridan’s visit. Since that day, she had become more spirited. She ate well and didn’t seem to worry about her son. Though she was concerned, she didn’t let it show.
“I’ve decided to trust him.”
“That’s good to hear.”
Chil-ho found her change surprising, even though it seemed natural. He was beginning to understand the influence Byeok Ridan had.
“But don’t get the wrong idea.”
“Sorry?”
“I mean, I don’t have any personal feelings for Byeok. My son is enough for me.”
Chil-ho quietly observed Im Yeon-jeong. The fact that she brought it up suggested she was somewhat aware of Byeok Ridan as a man.
“It’s okay to have personal feelings.”
“I told you, it’s not like that. Don’t misunderstand.”
“It doesn’t matter. I don’t think about men anyway.”
Even without voicing her thoughts, her expression revealed everything.
“That’s not right. I want you to be happy.”
Chil-ho smiled faintly. Happiness always felt like a foreign concept.
Im Yeon-jeong began to share something she had never spoken of before.
“He was a warrior in this organization.”
Chil-ho realized she was about to talk about her son’s father.
“He was sent to assist me, just like you are now. It was only a few short months, but we truly loved each other.”
Her eyes were filled with deep longing and regret.
“For the first time, I didn’t regret being part of this organization. In fact, I thought I was lucky to have joined. I was genuinely happy.”
She smiled brightly.
“Where is he now?” Chil-ho asked.
“He’s gone. He died on another mission.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s okay now.”
Im Yeon-jeong was truly composed. She believed she would meet him again when her time came. She had transformed her sorrow into something else.
“I don’t regret meeting him. Sometimes, I don’t even regret the moments of regret. I hope you can feel the same.”
She shared this deeply buried story for a reason. She wanted to avoid misunderstandings and wished the best for Chil-ho.
Friendship, she thought, wasn’t about being a woman or a man. It wasn’t about age, wealth, or the length of time spent together.
One day, these feelings just appear.
You want to get along with this person, you want them to succeed, you don’t want to disappoint them, you want to protect them.
Chil-ho was such a friendship that had unexpectedly come to Im Yeon-jeong.
Just then, they saw people crossing the yard from afar.
“Someone’s here.”
At Chil-ho’s words, she looked outside to see two people following Baek-seok.
“Who are they?”
Im Yeon-jeong was startled.
“Do you know them?”
“They’re Geom-seon and Gwon-seon.”
“Could they be the ones known as Iseon?”
Chil-ho had heard of Iseon. They were renowned masters within the organization, the best of the best.
Im Yeon-jeong’s eyes trembled. Just moments ago, she was full of trust in Byeok Ridan, but seeing Iseon made her body shake.
Anyone with a certain status in the organization knew about Iseon. Their presence meant this mission was of great importance.
The more important the mission, the more dangerous it would be for her.
At that moment, Chil-ho took her hand.
Startled, she looked at him. His eyes reassured her not to worry. She felt his concern and his trust in Byeok Ridan.
She knew Chil-ho well enough to understand that he wasn’t the type to hold hands, no matter how he felt.
“You’ve changed a lot, brother.”
“Have I?”
“Yes, you’ve really changed.”
Im Yeon-jeong nodded with a smile.
At least in this moment, no words or actions were needed.
In a forest near Hanam Daebyeolsan.
The warriors of the Black Panther Unit were hidden among the trees, keeping watch.
In their midst stood Baek-pyo, arms crossed.
A man was dragged before him. He was a martial artist in uniform, exuding a certain toughness.
Baek-pyo, who had been waiting, asked, “Is this the one?”
“Yes. He’s one of the instructors. We caught him while he was out.”
The man was an instructor from the hidden Sochungdae in Daebyeolsan. The place was like a fortress, making it hard to approach. They had been waiting for a chance to infiltrate and were lucky to capture someone leaving.
The man glared at Baek-pyo defiantly. “Do you know who I am?”
Even in this situation, he showed no fear.
Baek-pyo replied calmly, “That’s a foolish question.”
“What?”
“You should ask that when your opponent doesn’t know you. If they’re weaker, it might work.”
The man couldn’t argue, realizing the truth in Baek-pyo’s words. He resorted to shouting to mask his unease.
“Hmph! If you kill me, the organization will avenge me. They’ll hunt you down one by one.”
“You keep saying foolish things. What good is revenge if you’re dead? Do you think you’ll be happy in hell?”
The man fell silent again.
Then Baek-pyo suddenly asked, “Do you know a boy named Jang-geun?”
He didn’t miss the slight change in the man’s expression. Asking unexpected questions was the best way to gauge genuine reactions.
“I don’t know that name.”
His delayed response prompted Baek-pyo to turn to his subordinates. “How many instructors are there?”
“From what we observed, there are about six or seven.”
“So there are still five or six more to question.”
Without hesitation, Baek-pyo pressed a pressure point on the man’s shoulder, causing intense pain.
“Aaaargh!”
The man screamed as if his shoulder was being torn apart.
Baek-pyo pressed the other shoulder, doubling the pain and the screams.
The man writhed on the ground, while Baek-pyo and his subordinates watched coldly. Baek-pyo had always been resolute, and leading the Black Panther Unit had sharpened him further.
“Please! Please!”
“Please what?”
”…Spare me!”
Baek-pyo released the pressure, and the man’s screams ceased.
He asked again, “Do you know the boy named Jang-geun?”
When the man hesitated, Baek-pyo placed his hand on his shoulder again. The answer came quickly.
“I know him.”
“Where is he?”
“He was selected as a candidate a year ago.”
“Candidate? What does that mean?”
The man hesitated again, but Baek-pyo didn’t wait. He pressed the pressure point mercilessly.
“Aaaargh!”
After another round of agony, the man finally spoke.
“He’s a candidate for the Great Law!”
Baek-pyo was taken aback.
“Explain in detail.”
The man revealed everything about the Sochungdae’s purpose. It was a place to find and train children for the organization’s Great Law.
“So they’re using children as test subjects.”
The man couldn’t deny it.
“I’ve told you everything. Please spare me!”
Instead of mercy, a fist flew.
Thud.
With a single blow, the man’s head was crushed, and he collapsed.
Baek-pyo called over his communication officer and gave an order.
“Send an urgent message to the lord immediately.”
That night, Baek-seok summoned Im Yeon-jeong.
When she arrived at the guest hall, Jeong-so and Iseon were already there, waiting.
Iseon were two robust old men in their sixties, exuding such sharp auras that it was hard to meet their eyes.
They had contrasting presences: Geom-seon was calm like water, while Gwon-seon was intense like fire. They weren’t known figures in the martial world but were renowned masters within the organization.
“They’ve come especially for this Great Law,” Baek-seok said.
Im Yeon-jeong bowed respectfully.
“It’s been a long time.”
Geom-seon asked calmly, “Have we met before?”
“Yes, a long time ago, during the first research of the Bulhoe Malyongdan in Cheonghaeseong…”
“I see.”
Geom-seon cut her off, more out of suspicion than recognition. It was as if he was questioning how she knew them.
In contrast, Jeong-so expressed his joy and gratitude for meeting them.
“I’ve heard of your great reputations. Thank you for coming to guide us. This is the honor of a lifetime.”
He bowed deeply. Jeong-so hoped this meeting would benefit his future. Despite the obvious flattery, Iseon didn’t seem displeased.
Im Yeon-jeong thought they were pathetic.
“Well, power does love flattery.”
After all, people who speak the truth often die, but those who flatter rarely do.
She was reminded of the nature of the organization she belonged to. It was hard to find upright and normal people. Perhaps others saw her the same way, but she felt grateful to Byeok Ridan for trying to save her.
After the greetings, Baek-seok spoke quietly to Im Yeon-jeong and Jeong-so.
“Prepare yourselves, the grand ritual is tomorrow.”
The next day, two carriages set off from the estate.
In the first carriage were Iseon and Baekseok, while Im Yeonjeong and Jeongso rode in the second.
Ilho drove the lead carriage, and Chilho handled the one behind.
Im Yeonjeong stared silently out the window. Of all the tasks she had undertaken for this organization, today’s was the most crucial. At this very moment, Byeokridan was entrusting his most reliable person to rescue his son. Even if they succeeded, if she were to die, her young son would have to grow up alone. That was the last thing she wanted.
“I must survive,” she resolved with more determination than ever.
The journey was long, and Jeongso broke the silence.
“What kind of grand ritual do you think it will be?”
“I have no idea.”
“I was so excited about learning the method of the Ihon Ritual that I couldn’t sleep a wink last night.”
Im Yeonjeong turned back to the window without a word.
‘That’s exactly what worries me.’
Without a grand ritual expert to oversee it, she and Jeongso were to conduct the ritual themselves. This meant something extraordinary was planned, which thrilled Jeongso. But on the flip side, it meant they were being entrusted with a tremendous secret. Did the organization really trust them that much?
After a long ride, the carriages arrived at the foot of an unnamed mountain. They disembarked and followed Baekseok up the mountain. Deep in the secluded forest, they found a solitary hermitage.
Who would have thought there’d be a hermitage here? The thought came unbidden.
They all entered the hermitage.
Waiting inside was Cheonsoseon. Seeing him made the reality of the day finally sink in.
Cheonsoseon greeted Im Yeonjeong and Jeongso warmly.
“Did you have good dreams last night?”
“Yes.”
“Come, let’s go inside.”
Cheonsoseon led the two of them further in.
Inside the temple, a workshop had been set up, and preparations for the ritual were complete.
One wall was lined with dozens of containers filled with various concoctions, and strange devices of unknown purpose were installed throughout the room. Thin and thick tubes snaked from these bizarre contraptions like tangled vines. Im Yeonjeong had participated in many rituals, but she had never seen equipment like this before.
On a table against one wall, an array of pills was neatly arranged, clearly meant to be used in sequence.
On the opposite wall, dozens of long and short needles were laid out.
The incense burning in every corner emitted a scent she had never encountered, making her feel oddly lightheaded.
In the center of the room were two beds, each occupied by a person.
Im Yeonjeong approached slowly, then gasped in shock.
“They’re children!”
Two children lay on the beds, their faces and bodies wrapped in bandages, fast asleep.