Don’t Look Back (1)
“Master Danju, we’re here.”
Two men entered the tavern. They were warriors from the Mengho Clan, with Yangcheong, a man with a kind demeanor, and Myeongdo, a youthful and handsome fellow. They were fiercely loyal to Baekpyo, following him with unwavering devotion. They were practically extensions of Baekpyo himself.
When Baekpyo decided to leave, they were the ones who tried hardest to persuade him to stay, even threatening to quit alongside him until he managed to calm them down.
Baekpyo scolded them playfully as he saw them.
“Calling me ‘Master Danju’? What if Im Danju hears you?”
Im Danju referred to Im Jung-tae, the former deputy leader who had taken over as the new leader of the Mengho Clan.
Yangcheong chuckled and replied, “Im Danju talks about you all the time. He says he misses you and regrets taking the leader’s position, claiming he wants to quit.”
Myeongdo nodded in agreement, confirming Yangcheong’s words.
Baekpyo let out a small laugh. “That guy, really.”
During his time as the leader, Baekpyo was highly respected by the warriors of the Mengho Clan. He had a good relationship with Im Jung-tae as well.
The bond among the Mengho Clan warriors was exceptionally strong. Their duty to protect the clan leader was incredibly demanding.
To an outsider, it might seem like they were just casually guarding a door, but the job of a bodyguard was extremely challenging and stressful. The thought that the leader’s life depended on them was a heavy burden, much more so than for ordinary warriors.
Baekpyo smiled and said, “Tell them that while it’s tough there, it’s hell out here. Hard work is a blessing, so they should keep at it.”
“Haha, he said he’d visit soon. You can tell him yourself.”
“Tell him there’s no rush.”
Since the tavern opened, Im Jung-tae hadn’t found the time to visit again.
But Baekpyo wasn’t upset. He understood better than anyone how busy and demanding the position of Mengho Clan leader was. He was grateful that Im Jung-tae had visited even once.
The two men poured themselves drinks.
After a while, when Baekpyo brought out some snacks, the two men spoke with unusually serious expressions.
“Master Danju, we have something to discuss.”
Baekpyo sat down, feeling a bit tense.
“What is it?”
“We’re thinking of quitting.”
It was clear they weren’t joking.
“Why?”
“The work is just too hard.”
That wasn’t the real reason. The work had always been tough since they first joined.
“And there’s no sense of fulfillment.”
This was the real reason.
Bodyguards worked purely out of a sense of duty.
The pride of protecting someone. It was this pride that allowed them to work tirelessly despite the low pay.
But they couldn’t find that value in Mabonggi.
They were trained to forget what they saw and heard. But how could they not have eyes and ears? Mabonggi didn’t sit well with them, and they had heard rumors of the Cheondo faction causing trouble all over the martial world.
Why should we protect someone like this?
Plagued by such doubts, they had finally made up their minds.
Because they were particularly close to Baekpyo, they came to him first to share their decision.
“Do you have a plan after you leave?”
Baekpyo asked, and Yangcheong grinned.
“Can we work here as waiters?”
Of course, it was a joke.
Myeongdo joined in the jest.
“I’ll wash dishes in the kitchen.”
The two laughed heartily together.
But Baekpyo didn’t laugh.
When Baekpyo looked at them seriously, they stopped laughing too.
Baekpyo spoke in a low, meaningful tone.
“Are you serious?”
The two were taken aback, exchanging glances. They knew Baekpyo wasn’t talking about working at the tavern. There was no need for three people in such a small place. Besides, Baekpyo wasn’t the type to suggest such work to them.
They didn’t ask what Baekpyo had in mind.
Yangcheong didn’t hesitate to answer.
“I’m in.”
Myeongdo followed suit.
“Just give the word.”
Their eyes still shone with loyalty.
Baekpyo smiled and said, “This might be your last time as customers… so drink and enjoy yourselves today.”
There are times when I realize I’m a warrior through and through.
Like when I evaluate a woman, for instance. When does a woman look most beautiful? It’s right now.
Swoosh.
Song Hwarin’s sword flew straight for my heart.
Of course, I’m not some pervert who finds a woman most beautiful when she’s trying to kill me.
What I mean is, I find a woman more beautiful when she’s displaying her martial skills.
And if that woman is Song Hwarin?
With her long legs, slender waist, and full bosom, not to mention her stunning face.
Even if the Queen of Pleasure tried to seduce me with her voluptuous body, she couldn’t compare to Song Hwarin, gritting her teeth and drenched in sweat as she thrust her sword at me.
I dodged the incoming sword and shouted.
“Once more, again!”
Song Hwarin resumed her swordplay. The technique she was practicing was the very countermeasure I had discovered.
She would use it against her master.
“Again!”
“Once more!”
“Again!”
We repeated the same technique dozens of times.
“In a real fight, you’ll be nervous. Nerves lead to mistakes. The only way to prevent that is through practice.”
Repetition until it becomes second nature. The human mind is so sensitive that you never know what it might react to in the moment.
You could fall for an unexpected provocation or get distracted by unforeseen mental challenges.
But if your body remembers, that’s all that matters.
Even if your mind makes a fatal mistake, your body can react and save you.
I trained her rigorously.
I would be there when she faced her master, but this was her battle to fight.
Once the technique became second nature, I taught her one more thing.
“Even if your master counters your technique, he’ll likely dodge.”
“Dodge?”
She was surprised, and I nodded.
“So you need to finish with a follow-up attack.”
I couldn’t be sure if Hoyeonnam knew about the fatal flaw in the technique he taught, but with his skills, he would definitely be able to dodge.
“Just prepare for two possible reactions!”
Whether he knew or didn’t know. I could predict how he would react.
Our training continued late into the night.
By midnight, she was completely exhausted. It was probably the first time she had trained so hard.
I sat beside her as she lay on the ground, panting.
“You did well.”
She looked up at the night sky and said, “This feels different from any training I’ve done before.”
“Your previous training was within a set framework.”
“A framework? What framework?”
She sat up. Despite her exhaustion, her eyes were clear. Sometimes, when a person is extremely tired, their mind becomes sharper.
“The framework your master created for you. A framework that makes you feel satisfied with your training. Beyond that, it becomes difficult. Do you know what that’s called?”
“What?”
“A limit.”
“Oh!”
“Today, you went beyond that limit, which is why it feels different. We often talk about surpassing limits, but we don’t really understand our own limits. We vaguely think we just need to try harder.”
She nodded, as if that was exactly what she had thought.
“But limits aren’t external. There’s no line or boundary to cross.”
“Then where are they?”
“They’re within you. Your usual actions, habits, thoughts. Those are your limits. To break them, it’s not just about trying harder. It means changing as a person. Your actions, thoughts, everything must change.”
“Oh!”
She fell into thought.
I gave her plenty of time to process. This was a crucial moment for a martial artist.
Sometimes, this moment could lead to an epiphany that changes a warrior’s life entirely.
Eventually, she turned to me and said, “I don’t fully understand, but I think I get it a little.”
“That’s enough. You did great today. Really well.”
She smiled, still sweaty but with a sense of pride.
“Keep practicing the technique whenever you have time. You’ll meet your master in a few days.”
“Thank you.”
“No need to thank me.”
As I stood up, I added one last thing.
“Never forget. On that day, don’t rely on me or your mind. Trust only in your body that remembers the training.”
I infiltrated the Shandong Night Market.
With my internal energy nearing its peak, no one guarding the market could detect my movements.
I had a feeling my connection with the Night Market wouldn’t end easily, and here I was, entangled once more.
In the office of Yacheon, the leader of the Night Market, two people were having a conversation.
They were Yacheon and his right-hand man, Gucheol. Gucheol was the one who had killed Sigon of the Cheondo faction.
“Do you think he’s lost his way? That damned man must be ignoring us, thinking he’s one of the Four Great Powers of the martial world.”
Yacheon had asked for help from the Hoyeon family, and Hoyeonnam had come down. But even after arriving in Shandong, he hadn’t come to see them.
“It doesn’t matter. We’ve dealt with the arrogance of those old sects more than once.”
“But this time is different, isn’t it? We’re dealing with the Butcher of Cheondo, Yeomhwa.”
“Hmm.”
Yacheon’s groan was filled with concern.
“I’m worried they might have ulterior motives.”
“Ulterior motives?”
“I’m saying they might just be stalling to pocket the money. Didn’t we agree to pay them a hefty sum of 200,000 nyang for handling this?”
That was the amount the Hoyeon family had demanded. They wouldn’t get involved unless they were paid that much.
It wasn’t just that. They also had to pay fifty thousand nyang to the Gangseo Night Market, which had acted as a go-between for the Hoyeon family. The Hoyeon family was based in Gangseo and had some sort of arrangement with the market. Essentially, the Gangseo Night Market had played the role of a matchmaker.
The total cost came to a staggering two hundred fifty thousand nyang.
Calculating how long it would take to earn that kind of money was beyond comprehension.
“Still, it’s better than losing my life.”
Despite the dire situation, the representative from the Hoyeon family, who was supposed to have arrived in Shandong, was nowhere to be seen.
“We should have handled this ourselves,” Gucheol suggested.
Yacheon shook his head vigorously. “Your hidden weapons won’t work on a master like Yeomhwa!”
“If we all attack at once…”
“We’d all end up dead at once. Where is the Butcher now?”
“He’s staying at Myeongsu Hall with the Cheondo Five.”
“You’re keeping a close watch, right?”
“We’ve got multiple layers of surveillance. But there’s something I’m curious about.”
“What is it?”
“Why is that Butcher holed up in Myeongsu Hall? If he’s targeting us, why hasn’t he come here directly?”
Yacheon narrowed his eyes. “He’s not here to assassinate me.”
“What?”
“He’s here for revenge. He wants to make it known across Shandong and the entire central plains. The Butcher Yeomhwa has come to destroy the Shandong Night Market, and he’s setting the stage for a public execution in front of everyone.”
Gucheol frowned at Yacheon’s words. “We didn’t even kill that Ma Jeongsu. Let me go and explain.”
“Do you think they’ll believe you? It’s too late for that.”
The situation had already spiraled out of control when they killed Sigon of the Cheondo Clan.
“I’ll take responsibility and eliminate him.”
“Stop with the nonsense and get ready to go out.”
“Where are you going?”
“To meet the Hoyeon representative. If he won’t come to us, we’ll go to him.”
Their only hope now was the Hoyeon family. They needed to extricate themselves and turn this into a conflict between the Hoyeon family and the Cheondo Clan.
“Why do you think they’re dragging their feet? They probably want a little extra incentive.”
Yacheon manipulated a few books on the shelf in a specific order. The shelf swung open, revealing a hidden door.
He left Gucheol waiting outside and went in.
A short while later, Yacheon emerged, holding a thick leather pouch. He tapped it and said, “Bastard! Even if they ignore and dislike us, they won’t turn this down.”
The two men left the room.
A short time later, a carriage discreetly departed from the Night Market.
I was pressed against the building wall, watching the scene unfold. The window next to me was the very one where Yacheon had been conversing.
I had overheard their entire conversation and watched as Yacheon retrieved money from behind the secret door.
There must be a safe or hidden storage inside. The fact that Yacheon entered it in front of Gucheol meant it was a mechanism only he could open.
After a moment of staring at the empty room, I turned away.
What I needed to focus on wasn’t the money, but their movements.
Money should never be the goal. As always, it should be the spoils that naturally follow once the mission is accomplished.
I launched myself in the direction the carriage had disappeared.
A guard on duty glanced up at the sky.
By the time he looked, I had already vanished from his sight, like a bird cutting across the sky of the training ground.