ADG Chapter 6

Rumble!

The carriage traveling along the narrow road came to a stop as tremors shook the ground.

Rumble!

The tremors grew stronger. Bang Deok-sim^[1], the middle-aged man on the driver’s seat, turned toward the passenger compartment and spoke quickly.

“It seems there’s an earthquake.”

Crack!

The ground’s surface several zhang away from the carriage split and overturned into a long fissure. As the horse startled and tried to bolt, Bang Deok-sim skillfully calmed it. Fortunately, the ground had split avoiding where they stood.

Rumble.

After shaking for quite a while, the ground finally stabilized.

“Miss! Are you alright?”

“Bang-sook, I’m fine.”

An incomparably clear and pure woman’s voice came from the carriage.

“Even I’ve never experienced such a large earthquake before. We should wait a moment before departing, just in case.”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

Every word Bang Deok-sim spoke revealed his deep devotion to the woman in the carriage.

Deep wrinkles lined the corners of his eyes as he gripped the reins. These weren’t mere traces of age. They were the resolute determination of an old martial artist to serve his household’s young lady well.

“It’s still not too late. Let’s turn back.”

No response came from the carriage. Bang Deok-sim knew this meant refusal. He knew better than anyone how strong her will was.

“Sigh.”

Bang Deok-sim let out a deeply troubled sigh.

Though they say life doesn’t flow as one wishes, it shouldn’t be this tangled.

“We’ll depart again.”

Bang Deok-sim shook off his gloomy mood and vigorously shook the reins.

After traveling for some time—

Bump! The carriage wheel went through a large puddle.

Splash.

A man walking along the road was doused with dirty water.

Bang Deok-sim continued driving the carriage. He hadn’t seen the water splash, and even if he had, he wouldn’t have stopped. By his standards, getting covered in dust or splashed with water while walking was nothing special.

Just then, the woman’s voice came from behind.

“Bang-sook, please stop the carriage.”

After stopping the carriage, Bang Deok-sim asked worriedly:

“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

“I’m fine.”

“Then why?”

She had waited for the man who was splashed with dirty water. When the man walked up to where the carriage had stopped, a woman’s voice flowed from behind the lowered curtain of the carriage window.

“I’m sorry. It was an unavoidable accident.”

“Ah, it’s fine.”

But contrary to his words, the man’s appearance was a complete mess. The muddy water had splashed not just his pants, but also his upper clothes, face, and hair. Moreover, the man had already been covered in dust to begin with.

The man was Cheol Moo-rin.

“You’ve suffered quite a mishap.”

Actually, being covered in dust wasn’t because of the carriage, but the woman thought it was due to her carriage.

The recent earthquake had been caused by Moo-rin. When he unleashed the Soaring Exploding Nine Swords, that massive cliff had shattered to pieces and caused an earthquake.

Even Moo-rin with his mastery was greatly surprised by that power.

The conclusion he finally reached was singular: whether the opponent was transcendent or beyond transcendent, the Soaring Exploding Nine Swords was not a technique to be used against people.

He had encountered the carriage while walking down from the mountain.

This was the same person who had dodged the Blood Demon’s attacks. He could have easily avoided the dirty water from the carriage.

But at that moment he had been lost in thought about the power of the Soaring Exploding Nine Swords, and when nine gapja of energy suddenly left his body, he felt beyond tired to the point of emptiness. That’s why in his exhausted state, he hadn’t bothered to dodge.

“Where are you headed?”

The voice from the carriage was incredibly clear. It was truly a moment when one could understand what it meant to be captivated by voice alone.

“To the marketplace.”

“We’re going there too. Perfect timing. Please get in.”

The carriage door opened without waiting for his response. A curtain hung behind the door as well, so the woman’s appearance couldn’t be seen. Bang Deok-sim on the driver’s seat hardened his expression.

“I’m fine.”

At Moo-rin’s decline, Bang Deok-sim quickly said:

“It would also be rude to force companionship on one who declines.”

Contrary to his words, he was warning that they shouldn’t carelessly associate with a stranger.

The woman’s voice flowed from the carriage again.

“No. I’m not fine with it. Please get in. Let us take you there.”

When she insisted this much, Moo-rin no longer refused.

“Then I’ll accept your kindness.”

As Moo-rin tried to board the carriage, Bang Deok-sim got down from the driver’s seat and blocked his path.

“Wait.”

Moo-rin’s appearance was a complete mess. He was practically buried in tremendous dust when the cliff collapsed, with dust flying at his slightest movement. With dirty water splashed on top of that, he truly looked like a beggar. His handsome face wasn’t visible because of his disheveled hair.

Setting aside his displeasure for now, Bang Deok-sim asked:

“Have you learned martial arts?”

“Just a few moves for self-defense.”

“Then excuse me for a moment.”

Bang Deok-sim grabbed Moo-rin’s wrist. Since there was no malice or killing intent, Moo-rin simply let him do as he wished.

Bang Deok-sim examined Moo-rin’s hand. He had thought the man might have learned fist techniques since he had no weapons, but his knuckles and fingers were smooth and long. It didn’t seem like he had learned martial arts after all.

Only then did Bang Deok-sim relax his guard. Well, what martial arts would a beggar-like youth have learned? He must have said he knew some self-defense moves out of pride.

Bang Deok-sim warned in a low voice:

“If you try anything funny, your bones won’t remain intact. Understand and get in quietly.”

Moo-rin lifted the curtain and boarded the carriage. One woman sat inside.

The moment he saw her, Moo-rin was shocked. Though he had seen countless women while roaming the martial world, he could say with certainty that he had never seen a woman as beautiful as the one before his eyes now.

She was beautiful. He thought the term “peerless beauty” must have been created for her.

There were no adjectives that could describe her beauty.

‘Really’, ‘incredibly’, ‘supremely’, ‘stunningly’. All words fell short.

With snow-white skin without a single blemish, distinct and charming features, and deep clear eyes that seemed to pull one in at first sight.

She emanated a pure grace that was both dignified and unrestrained, able to overcome any flashiness.

She was Baek Seo-yeon^[2], the only daughter of the Henan’s Baek Family^[3].

“Let me apologize once again.”

“I wasn’t splashed with poison.”

Bang Deok-sim on the driver’s seat nodded.

It was clearly excessive kindness. She could have just passed by, or if not, an apology and some money for new clothes would have sufficed. There was no need to give a ride to a man in such filthy condition.

Baek Seo-yeon had taken in Moo-rin on a momentary impulse.

Just before, through the carriage window, she had seen him walking pitifully while covered in muddy water. Seeing him unable to even protest after suffering such misfortune, she thought his situation resembled her own.

Her eyes met Bang Deok-sim’s through the small window connecting to the driver’s seat. Baek Seo-yeon sent him a look saying not to worry.

She understood Bang Deok-sim’s concern now. He had always emphasized how dangerous the martial world was. How people deceive from the front, deceive from behind, and even while pretending to comfort someone crying, they deceive again.

For such a Bang Deok-sim to allow a strange man into the carriage, his worry must be immense.

Indeed, they say what increases with age are wrinkles and worries. As if reflecting Bang Deok-sim’s heart, the carriage’s speed increased.

Clop clop clop clop clop clop!

Moo-rin was absently staring out the window.

His heart raced when he saw her. He thought it was his body’s response, unrelated to his heart or will. Perhaps because his body had become younger.

In his youth, he had been with several women. Most were women of the martial world – some he still thought of occasionally, others he wouldn’t recognize even if he met them again now.

Since he never intended to have deep relationships with women from the start, he had never experienced painful love.

He had lived thinking love constrains people.

If someone he loved died because of him… it was something he didn’t even want to imagine. He’d rather die himself. This burden-free freedom was good. This life where it didn’t matter when he died was good.

Once at a drinking gathering, Baek Moo-gyeol had said:

“Hey, friend. That’s cowardly escape.”

Perhaps that was true. No, even if it wasn’t, it was natural for others to see it that way.

“You can’t even imagine how much happiness children bring.”

That was what he had said the year his second child was born in consecutive years.

“Hah! Let’s see if you still say that when your children are swinging swords at each other fighting over succession!”

At those words, he had truly laughed heartily.

“Hahaha!”

“When you’re nervous, you laugh even louder.”

“Hahaha!”

“They might even plot together to kill their father.”

“Uahahahahaha!”

At the old memory, Moo-rin smiled slightly, and Baek Seo-yeon glanced at him. With his hair hanging down and covered in dust and dirty water, Moo-rin looked completely wretched and pitiful.

After quietly observing Moo-rin, she suddenly asked:

“Do you know any skilled inns?”

“No.”

At Moo-rin’s blunt response, Baek Seo-yeon gave a strange smile.

“Then let’s look together.”

Whatever her thoughts, she was suggesting they go together. And as if saying she wouldn’t explain why, she turned her gaze to the window.

Rather than looking for reasons to refuse, he was more curious about why she wanted to accompany him.

“Alright.”

With his energy depleted and feeling hungry, there was no reason to refuse a meal with a world-class beauty.

Meanwhile, Bang Deok-sim’s expression hardened as he overheard their conversation.

Miss! What are you thinking?

Thus the carriage stopped in front of the West Wind Inn^[4]. It was the first inn visible upon entering the marketplace, and Bang Deok-sim’s only thought was to get rid of Moo-rin as quickly as possible.

When Moo-rin got out of the carriage, Baek Seo-yeon put on a bamboo hat with silk thread hanging from the brim before following.

He thought it was the right decision. Her slim figure with perfect curves alone was enough to capture everyone’s attention, so it was wise to cover her face.

An attendant ran out to greet the three people.

“Welcome!”

Bang Deok-sim handed him some coins while asking about the horse.

“Please feed it and let it rest.”

“Yes, don’t worry. Will you be staying overnight?”

“Yes. Give us two rooms.”

The attendant frowned at Moo-rin’s beggar-like appearance but couldn’t say anything since the other two looked proper.

As Baek Seo-yeon tried to enter the inn, Bang Deok-sim held her back.

“Miss, I have something to say for a moment. You go in first.”

“Very well.”

Moo-rin followed the attendant into the inn first.

Once alone with Baek Seo-yeon, Bang Deok-sim spoke with a worried expression:

“What are you thinking?”

“About what?”

“Why did you bring that beggar along?”

“Just because. I felt sorry and wanted to buy him a meal.”

At her composed response, Bang Deok-sim couldn’t tell if it was just kindness or if she had other intentions. She was someone who rarely revealed her true feelings.

“Nothing good comes from getting tangled up with strangers.”

“Bang-sook, as you can see, I’m not the one who got tangled up now. He got tangled up with me.”

“That may be true, but remember that too much compassion is also a sickness.”

“I understand. Let’s go in now. He must be waiting.”

“That beggar bastard can wait.”

“Bang-sook!”

“Yes, yes. Let’s go in.”

The two entered the inn. Various guests were seated here and there, eating meals or drinking.

Moo-rin was sitting by the window. The two joined his table.

Bang Deok-sim ordered two or three dishes.

Then, Moo-rin spoke:

“I’d like a drink of Fire Wine.”

Bang Deok-sim’s eyes narrowed. His expression clearly showed his thoughts: ‘How dare you ask for alcohol when you’re just getting a free meal.’

Already hungry and disliking the prolonged conversation, Moo-rin said:

“Since you gave me a ride, I’ll pay for dinner.”

At those words, Bang Deok-sim made an incredulous expression. He wanted to hit that head while saying if you have money for that, buy yourself some clean clothes first, but he held back and said calmly:

“You must be quite wealthy.”

His rebuke implied: how could someone like you afford food worthy of our precious miss?

“Hmph! Fine. If you really want to pay, do as you wish.”

Out of spite, Bang Deok-sim canceled the previous order and ordered expensive dishes instead. They were premium dishes costing five taels each.

Baek Seo-yeon didn’t stop this and quietly waited to see how Moo-rin would react.

“Add a flower pancake too.”

Far from canceling, he added another dish.

“The strongest Fire Wine, and use large cups.”

Bang Deok-sim’s round eyes narrowed.

Hmm. Now I understand. You plan to run away after getting drunk and making us let our guard down. Not a chance, you bastard!

Bang Deok-sim secretly sneered.

Just then, the attendant carefully said:

“I’m sorry, but payment must be made in advance. It’s the same at all inns in Hangzhou.”

This was a kind of rule that had developed because there were so many people who would eat expensive meals and run away. Hangzhou and Suzhou were truly the Central Plains’ premier cities of entertainment and paradise for traveling guests.

Bang Deok-sim smiled with satisfaction.

Now what will you do, you bastard?

Moo-rin reached for the money pouch in his clothes.

Suddenly Moo-rin realized his mistake. Since he had just come down from testing the Soaring Exploding Nine Swords in the mountains, he wasn’t carrying any money.

As he made a troubled expression, Bang Deok-sim sneered with a “just as I thought” expression.

“Heheh! What’s wrong? Forgot to bring money?”

Moo-rin gave no response.

On days when he would drink with his Iron Blood warriors after big battles, he would spend hundreds of taels in a single evening.

Though he hadn’t saved much money because of that, compared to those times, five or six taels was nothing. Even after giving Sa Maeng-jin three thousand taels, he had some money left.

Just then, Baek Seo-yeon stepped in.

“I’ll pay.”

As she took out money from her clothes and gave it to the attendant, Bang Deok-sim said coldly:

“In the future, don’t try to act proud when you don’t have a rat’s ass.”

Moo-rin said nothing.

This situation is ridiculous.

Whatever he said now would only sound like excuses.

The Fire Wine came out before the main dishes. Since he was already being looked down upon anyway, Moo-rin filled a large cup with Fire Wine.

Moo-rin downed the Fire Wine in one gulp. A burning sensation swept down through his chest.

“Ahh!”

After big battles, he would always drink strong Fire Wine with Baek Moo-gyeol. A cup of Fire Wine with his subordinates’ songs as side dishes was the greatest comfort for a tired body.

Moo-rin ate a bite of the complimentary vegetables and poured another cup of Fire Wine. Without hesitation, he emptied the second cup.

When drinking with Baek Moo-gyeol, there was something he would always say:

“Hey! Moo-rin! When I take over the Central Plains later, I’ll give you half!”

Though said while drunk, it contained some sincerity.

“You keep the whole Central Plains for yourself, Lord Alliance Leader. Just give me a boat. I’ll live freely with a pretty and kind woman.”

“Oh! You’ll get married?”

“Not that.”

“Of course! You just want to have fun?”

“You bastard, watch what you say!”

“Hahaha. Soon I’ll hold a competition to select the world’s greatest beauty. I’ll let you have that world’s greatest beauty.”

“Without even asking the woman’s opinion?”

“As if she would dislike you!”

“Hey, we’re getting old too.”

“Hahaha. But you’ll still work out. Even I think you’re handsome.”

“Fuck, I’m only handsome when killing people.”

Thunk. Moo-rin emptied his third cup again.

Seeing him empty cups consecutively, Bang Deok-sim realized that at least when it came to alcohol, it wasn’t mere bravado. Fire Wine was so strong that only someone who truly loved and could handle alcohol could drink it consecutively like that.

“Give me a cup too.”

Bang Deok-sim downed the Fire Wine. He had traveled thousands of li with a troubled heart. With the sole determination to protect Baek Seo-yeon, he hadn’t had a single drink of the alcohol he loved so much. He had truly endured with all his might.

Now that they had reached their destination, a small crack of “just one drink!” appeared in that diamond-like resolve.

“Ahh! This is truly good!”

Bang Deok-sim gave a thumbs up.

Moo-rin smiled faintly as he watched him. There are people you can understand without dissecting them completely.

Bang Deok-sim was such a person. He was someone whose true feelings showed on his face, and he was that pure.

His loyalty toward the woman before him was palpable.

Because this was how his own gaze toward Baek Moo-gyeol had been, and how the Iron Blood warriors’ gazes toward himself had been.

Moo-rin’s gaze turned to Baek Seo-yeon. He could see her face through the silk threads. Between her proud and calm expression, a fleeting sorrow naturally drew out his question.

“Why did you come here?”

As she hesitated to answer, Bang Deok-sim stepped in.

“What business is it of yours?”

Though he raised his voice slightly, he wasn’t really angry. He knew that if he got angry in this situation, it would only upset Baek Seo-yeon more. Bang Deok-sim refilled his own cup.

“Ahhh.”

Bang Deok-sim emptied another cup of flower wine refreshingly. Having strong alcohol after so long made his whole body tingle with warmth.

As Cheol Moo-rin filled his cup, Baek Seo-yeon held out her own.

“Pour me one too.”

“Young miss!”

As Bang Deok-sim tried to stop her, saying it wasn’t allowed, Baek Seo-yeon spoke first.

“I’ll just hold onto it.”

When Cheol Moo-rin tried to pour her a cup, Bang Deok-sim quickly snatched the bottle and poured it himself.

Cheol Moo-rin smiled faintly. Understanding it was from his reverence for his master, he didn’t feel particularly offended.

Meanwhile, the ordered dishes arrived. Befitting their price, they looked very appetizing and came with many side dishes.

“Please eat, young miss.”

“Let’s eat together.”

The food was better than expected. It was a place with decent taste despite its modest size.

“Pour me another.”

As the alcohol took effect and the delicious food went down, Bang Deok-sim’s mood improved steadily.

“Hahaha. In my prime, I once drank three full jars of alcohol in one sitting.”

Bang Deok-sim’s boasting about alcohol quickly led to boasting about his strength.

“That was the day I cut down Hwang-gu, the thirteenth pier master of the Yangtze River Water Bandits, along with twenty-seven water bandits in one place.”

Behind her veil, Baek Seo-yeon smiled slightly. The emergence of that story was proof that Bang Deok-sim was already drunk.

Having not drunk for so long, he seemed to be drunk already. Baek Seo-yeon suddenly felt sorry for him. He was someone who would jump up even from sleep at the mention of alcohol.

“That’s not all? When I was at my peak, I even fought with Shooting Shadow Sword, who was a famous master in the Dark Path- Ah! You probably don’t know. Back then, there were seven famous masters in the Dark Path…”

Cheol Moo-rin silently listened to his story while drinking. As he said, the time when Shooting Shadow Sword was active was truly from his prime years.

Cheol Moo-rin had already accurately gauged Bang Deok-sim’s martial arts skills. He was a master who belonged to the first-rate category. No, to be precise, he was a master who had belonged to the first-rate category.

Now he was old, and being old meant he had weakened. The saying that old ginger is spicier only applied to masters who had reached their peak. Ordinary masters naturally struggled more as they aged.

And one more thing – Cheol Moo-rin noticed that Bang Deok-sim had internal injuries. They appeared quite serious. He was probably hiding this fact.

The two men shared three bottles of flower wine between them.

Bang Deok-sim was quite drunk. The clear evidence was:

“Hahaha. Hey, Small brother! Have a drink!”

Cheol Moo-rin had been promoted from beggar to Small brother.

“Young miss! Don’t worry! I’m not drunk at all!”

He kept trying to reassure Baek Seo-yeon, but his pronunciation was already completely slurred. Each time, Baek Seo-yeon would just smile and maintain her seat.

In contrast, Cheol Moo-rin was fine. He had always been good at drinking, and perhaps because of his physical transformation, the alcohol went down like water.

The two men emptied yet another bottle between them.

“Here, little brother, have another cup.”

Cheol Moo-rin had been promoted from small brother to little brother.

“Who cares if your clothes are dirty! Who cares if you’re broke!”

Cheol Moo-rin played along with his mood. Clinking cups with him, he said cheerfully:

“Do we drink with money? We drink with style!”

It was what he used to always say when drinking with the Iron Blood Alliance members when drunk.

“Hahaha! I really like you! Come, let’s drink! If anyone calls you a beggar, make sure to call me.”

Cheol Moo-rin had been called a beggar six times in his life, all of them today from Bang Deok-sim. Hah. He couldn’t help but laugh.

Cheol Moo-rin could feel her watching him. But he ignored her presence and continued drinking with Bang Deok-sim.

Thud!

Finally, the drunk Bang Deok-sim collapsed, his head hitting the table. Wondering what to do next, Cheol Moo-rin glanced at Baek Seo-yeon, who calmly called the attendant and handed him a coin.

“Take him up to his room.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The attendants came and supported him up to the second floor.

Now only Cheol Moo-rin and she remained at the table.

Baek Seo-yeon quietly looked down at the cup in front of her. The wine she had received earlier was still there.

For whatever reason, she picked up the wine cup. After drinking about a third, she grimaced.

“Ugh. It’s strong.”

“If you’d like to drink, I can order something milder.”

Ah, since I have no money, that means I’m telling her to pay and order it.

He regretted once again not bringing money. Actually, he hadn’t cared much about Bang Deok-sim, but he felt slightly conscious of her.

“It’s fine. I’ll try this since I have the chance.”

She drank the wine while grimacing. She left half unfinished.

Her cheeks had turned slightly red. She seemed to be deliberately trying to get drunk, like someone wanting to forget their troubles.

But that was truly the words of someone who knew nothing about alcohol. It’s really not easy for a novice who can’t drink well to get drunk enough to forget their sorrows. Before reaching that point, the body gives up. The alcohol won’t go down, you just want to throw up. In the end, you just end up with a tired body.

“Do you believe in luck? The kind of luck that visits once in a lifetime?”

Cheol Moo-rin smirked. What a question to ask someone who had experienced physical transformation and rejuvenation.

“I do.”

“Today seems to be that day for you.”

After emptying the remaining wine in her cup, she spoke calmly.

“Would you like to sleep with me?”

Cheol Moo-rin was startled by the unexpected proposition. He never imagined she would say such a thing.

Cheol Moo-rin quietly looked at her. She had forced herself to drink to say these words. But she wasn’t drunk. She wasn’t a witch trying to suck out his internal energy, and she certainly wasn’t crazy.

If she were such a witch, I wouldn’t hesitate to sleep with her and then bury her.

She was beautiful, and he, himself still looked like a beggar.

After a moment’s consideration, Cheol Moo-rin emptied his cup and said softly:

“If you’re fine with it.”

☆ ☆ ☆

Pleasure should have whirled like a storm. They should have trembled to the point of fainting multiple times from joy and ecstasy.

Well, that would have been nice… but it didn’t happen.

It couldn’t have happened in the first place. This was her first time with a man. Her body was tense with nervousness, experiencing pain and discomfort. Every time Cheol Moo-rin’s hands touched her rounded breasts, slim waist, and long, snow-white thighs, she trembled all over.

When he realized she was a virgin, he tried to stop. But she wanted it. To go all the way.

If there was any joy, it was more mental than physical. The mere fact of sharing intimacy with such a beautiful woman was joy enough.

In terms of pure physical beauty, she was more beautiful than any woman he had ever met.

The two lay side by side on the bed, silently gazing at the moon visible through the small window.

“Why did you sleep with me?”

Cheol Moo-rin spoke casually, as if addressing a friend. Earlier, because of Bang Deoksim’s presence and thinking they would just share a meal and part ways, he had maintained formality.

But now the situation had changed, so he reverted to his natural way of addressing people.

Of course, Baek Seo-yeon took this as the typical shameless change in men after intimacy. But it didn’t matter. He wasn’t someone from whom she expected courtesy anyway. He was just some nameless man in shabby, dirty clothes she had met on the road.

She sat up, wrapping the blanket around her chest.

The line from her shoulder to her back was breathtakingly beautiful. Her slim waist was visible between the fallen blankets. It felt surreal that he had made love to her.

Finally, she spoke quietly.

“The Baek Family of Henan. That’s my family.”

The Baek Family of Henan was a famous merchant family in Henan. Her father, Baek Yeonho^[5], had lived his entire life as a merchant. He had conducted business while maintaining his principles, never giving in to excessive greed, and earning the respect of his subordinates.

Her mother had died of illness long ago. Worried about potential conflicts between a new wife and his young daughter, Baek Yeonho never remarried.

Growing up receiving such devoted love, her original personality had been exceptionally bright and cheerful.

“Two years ago, my father took his own life.”

Though he had ended his own life, it was clearly murder.

The one who drove her father to death was Jin Bo-wi^[6], the leader of the Supreme Heavenly Blade Sect.

Jin Bo-wi had approached deliberately, disguising it as coincidence. He acted like a gentleman and deceived her father with honeyed words. Her father never noticed his dark intentions, calculated to deceive.

Her father had spent his life conducting business while being mindful of the martial world’s practitioners. But things changed after meeting him.

The usually arrogant sect leaders in the area began reaching out first. The black societies that had previously prowled around trying to extort money disappeared.

Her father was truly delighted and sincerely happy to have found a friend worthy of fellowship.

He proposed a business venture. Though her father was reluctant, he didn’t want to lose their friendship. And until then, it had been small enough that taking a loss would have been acceptable. But things kept growing larger, and enormous sums of money began to be involved.

At first, it was like water trickling through a hole that could be plugged with one finger.

But the hole kept growing larger.

And when it became too large to block even by throwing one’s body at it, like the gaping maw of a monster, it created an enormous whirlpool that sucked everything in.

Until the very last day of drawing in money, Jin Bo-wi spoke of their partnership and how impressive he was in the martial world.

In the end, her father was swindled and lost everything.

The damage wasn’t limited to just him. Several merchants connected to her father were also harmed. Among them, the merchant who suffered the greatest loss took his own life.

Her father couldn’t bear that anguish.

“Father failed at measuring the distance between people. He thought that man was very close to him. That man who existed as a dot too distant to even see.”

If her father had been a truly cold-hearted person, perhaps he might have noticed the signs of betrayal.

But her father was a good person. Once he trusted someone, he was naive enough to trust them completely.

“Bang-sook always tells me that Father was an admirable person. That I must never forget that. But you know what?”

Tears welled up in her eyes.

“What I must never forget is… that good people cannot defeat evil people. That being good is just another word for being foolish!”

She gritted her teeth, holding back tears.

“Don’t anyone dare tell me this isn’t the truth! Not unless they’ve lost family because of such goodness!”

Cheol Moo-rin, who had been listening silently, looked at her. She was struggling not to cry.

“For the past two years since Father’s death, I’ve traveled throughout the Central Plains. I sought out those who had connections with Father before, asking for help. To help me get revenge. But they all refused.”

Some turned her away at their doors, others tried to persuade her that the living must go on living, and some awkwardly offered her money.

“I was wrong to seek them out in the first place. It was foolish. Asking others for revenge! I’ll take revenge myself. Jin Bo-wi of the Supreme Heavenly Blade Sect! I will never forgive him!”

Cheol Moo-rin’s eyes suddenly flickered. It was a name he wouldn’t have remembered in his previous state, but with his rejuvenation improving his memory, he recalled having heard it briefly before.

The Supreme Heavenly Blade Sect had connections to the Black Night Faction.

Just as the Iron Blood Alliance had various secret organizations throughout the Central Plains, the Black Night Faction and White Horse Alliance were the same.

Right, that’s it. The Three Heavens Hall!

The Three Heavens Hall was the central organization for gathering the Black Night Faction’s funds. The Supreme Heavenly Blade Sect was one of its three subordinate organizations.

They were opponents too powerful for an individual to seek revenge against. She would ultimately lose her life.

Cheol Moo-rin asked calmly.

“You still haven’t answered. Why did you sleep with me?”

It was related to the common response shown by most of those she had sought help from.

They had tried to take advantage of her body. If not for Bang Deoksim, she would have been violated several times by now.

“What does this mere body matter.”

An unshakeable anger frosted over Baek Seo-yeon’s eyes. It was an emotion that seemed utterly unsuited to her deep, clear gaze.

“At this rate… I’ll end up giving my body to some dog-like bastard soon anyway…”

Cheol Moo-rin could now be certain why she had slept with him. Why she had chosen to sleep with a shabby man covered in dust and muddy water.

It was self-punishment and revenge, a mockery of the beasts who would desire her body in the future, and in a way, a process of throwing away a burdensome load. The dirtier and uglier the partner, the more effective it was.

“I came here to find a master who would help me take revenge. If that’s not possible, I’ll at least find someone to teach me martial arts. Many masters are gathering here to participate in the preliminaries of the Asura Great Exhibition and Phoenix Beauty Pageant.”

She believed that even if she found a master to help her take revenge or teach her martial arts, they would demand her body in return. She had lost faith in the martial world, and in the very existence of men.

Cheol Moo-rin sensed her determination to achieve revenge even if she had to sacrifice her body.

He didn’t think her resolution was foolish.

Over the past two years, how much frustration must this young woman have experienced wandering the martial world? Damn these bastards.

It was remarkable that she had endured this much.

Yes. She had to take revenge somehow.

How could food go down when the enemy who killed your parents was still alive?

A mere body could be sacrificed any number of times.

If it were him, he could cut off an arm, cut off a leg. Of course, he could sleep with an old and ugly woman. If it meant achieving revenge, he could do it a hundred or thousand times.

But even with such determination, could she really achieve her revenge?

To the strong, this martial world was wonderfully beautiful.

But to the weak, this martial world was the most vulgar, cruel, fierce, and ugly place in the world.

“This will be the last tear I shed.”

Would it really be? Could that old and loyal guard protect her in this martial world without tears?

“Could you turn around?”

Cheol Moo-rin rose and sat at the opposite end of the bed.

Rustle, rustle. As he heard the sound of her dressing, he quietly looked down at his own body.

Light emanated from his smooth flesh. After his physical transformation, his skin naturally purified itself. Her plan to sleep with a dirty and ugly man had already failed.

Damn it, how can you take revenge when you can’t even do this right?

Having dressed first, she spoke hurriedly.

“Quick, get dressed. If Bang-sook wakes up, he’ll try to kill you immediately.”

Cheol Moo-rin rose from the bed.

Not expecting him to stand up suddenly, Baek Seo-yeon caught sight of his naked back and quickly averted her eyes in surprise.

With a burning face, she turned her head away.

She had thought his briefly glimpsed back was too handsome. Her face burned with embarrassment at having such thoughts in this situation.

No, no.

Just sleeping with someone whose name she didn’t even know meant she had given her body to just anyone. She deliberately engaged in such self-reproach.

Right. Don’t regret it, don’t regret it.

She felt like she might burst into tears again at her circumstances.

Don’t cry! You can’t cry anymore.

She pleaded with a tearful voice.

“Please… leave now.”

Cheol Moo-rin walked slowly to the door. Though it seemed appropriate to say something, he left silently.

Baek Seo-yeon slumped weakly against the door.

That’s enough. Now think only of revenge! Stay strong! Stay strong, Seo-yeon!