Chapter 12

True to its name, the Harmonious Six-Combinations Art sought to unite two opposing forces—internal Naegi and external Oegi—while drawing in Jayeon Jigi from all six cardinal directions, cultivating both the inner and outer self in parallel.

“In other words, the harder you push your flesh, the more energy you gather. Stop slouching and sink deeper, So.”

Drenched in sweat, Baek Heon-so trembled as he forced out a ragged breath.

“B-but, Brother… it’s too much… I feel like I’m going to die…”

Standing right beside him in the exact same stance, Yang-hwi spoke in a voice that was shaking yet remarkably composed.

“Your body is actually in better shape than mine. At the very least, you ought to outlast me.”

“Urrgh… y-yes, Brother…!”

He was seven years old, barely more than a toddler, martial lineage or not. Yet as long as Yang-hwi held his ground, Baek Heon-so refused to quit.

Like a fledgling struggling to mimic its mother, he threw everything into following Yang-hwi’s lead.

Even so, the boy harbored one burning grievance.

“Brother… ugh… why doesn’t Yeon-i have to do this too…?”

While the two brothers punished their bodies in grueling postures to cultivate the Harmonious Six-Combinations Art, Baek Yeon-yeon glided nearby, her movements as effortless as a dance.

“Don’t covet what’s not yours. Yeon-i is a girl; that style suits her best.”

The Baek Clan’s Three Sky-Covering Swords pursued twin ideals: blinding swiftness and unyielding stability.

Two distinct paths born of a single art.

“Because Yeon-i is female, her body has natural limits when it comes to raw firmness.”

Of course, once an expert broke through realms and could use Naegi to overcome physical limits, such differences became meaningless.

But until one attained that level, training regimens had to diverge.

“We are different. To wield a blade firmer than anyone else’s, we have to forge our bodies to be harder than steel first.”

“B-but… Father never taught it like this…”

“And didn’t he admit my way was right once he saw it?”

“Urrgh… I can’t… take…”

With a heavy thud, Baek Heon-so collapsed to the dirt.

Having held on purely through sheer grit in an unconditioned body, Yang-hwi immediately slumped beside him, sprawled out starfished across the Martial Arts Field.

Yet a satisfied smile played across Yang-hwi’s lips.

‘Still, little So has some real bite in him.’

It was no small feat for a seven-year-old to push himself to total physical exhaustion through training alone.

Even grown adults could rarely push themselves near their limits without an innate streak of stubborn malice.

In their past life, the boy had wasted that venom on petty jealousy and spite.

“Well done, So. Catch your breath for a bit, then we go again.”

“Hah… hah… Yes, Brother…”

Exhausted to the point of collapse, Baek Heon-so never once begged to quit.

Agonizing as it was, his brother was never wrong. If Yang-hwi said it could be done, then it was possible.

Somewhere along the way, that conviction had taken deep root in Baek Heon-so’s heart.

Just then.

“Young Master Hwi. You have a guest.”

“Ah, Chief Steward.”

An uninvited visitor had arrived.

It wasn’t that Yang-hwi resented the intrusion; the man was simply an uninvited guest in the truest sense.

“Young Brother So, don’t we still have unfinished business? A month went by without a peep, so I had to come find you myself.”

“Ah, is that so?”

In truth, Yang-hwi had remembered all along.

When they raided the Cheongsa Gang’s Secret Hideout, he had dangled the promise of turning Gu Ak’s lover into his wedded wife as bait.

He simply bided his time before following up.

‘He should be properly stewed by now.’

Too prideful to come knocking at first, Gu Ak had finally snapped and come to the Baek Manor himself.

Desperation had set in.

“Brother Gu!”

Masking his thoughts behind a brilliant beam, Yang-hwi sprang toward Gu Ak, caked in grime and dripping sweat.

Naturally, Gu Ak recoiled in sheer disgust, twisting out of the way.

“Young Brother So, what are you doing?!”

“I was just so thrilled to see you!”

A blatant lie. He had merely spotted the man’s pristine silk martial robes and felt a sudden urge to ruin them.

“I see you were training.”

“Indeed.”

“Hmm…”

Gu Ak knew the limits of the Baek Manor’s ancestral martial arts all too well.

Still, he possessed enough tact not to say to the boy’s face that no amount of sweat would ever overcome those intrinsic boundaries.

Catching the hesitation in Gu Ak’s voice, Yang-hwi saw straight through him.

“You’re thinking that pouring blood and sweat into an art with a low ceiling is an exercise in futility, aren’t you, Brother Gu?”

It was only natural for him to look down on it. Gu Ak had attained the First-rate Realm at an enviable age.

That required not only innate genius, but also access to superior arts and bone-carving discipline.

“…Ahem. Not at all. The Baek Manor’s techniques provide a rock-solid foundation. There is nothing wrong with mastering them.”

Gu Ak pointedly avoided saying anyone could reach the pinnacle with them, and he wasn’t wrong.

After all, despite never missing a day of training as head of a martial house, Baek Mu-ryang was still stuck in the Second-Rate Realm.

‘Well, it’s true that it builds good fundamentals.’

Were it not, Yang-hwi would have resorted to drastic measures to impart the Harmonious Heavenly Dual Origin Art and the 108 Sky-Covering Swords—the two supreme arts he had created himself—to Baek Mu-ryang already.

“Let’s head to my room. Follow me, Brother Gu.”

“Very well.”

Leading Gu Ak inside, Yang-hwi summoned a servant girl and ordered tea.

“Have a seat; the tea will be here shortly.”

“Hmm.”

Gu Ak looked ill at ease, his eyes constantly darting around the room.

Yang-hwi immediately clocked the man’s unease.

‘Ah. He doesn’t want to air his vulnerabilities where walls might have ears.’

Suspicion was second nature to the Black Dao Factions; they never felt secure outside their own turf.

“Young Brother So. Why stay cooped up here? Come with me. I’ll treat you to something nice and show you around.”

A “treat” was merely a polite excuse; Gu Ak wanted their secret talk to happen on ground he could control.

Not that Yang-hwi cared where they talked anyway, so he readily agreed.

“Shall we, then? Though I’ll need to ask permission first. And wash up, of course.”

Leaving Gu Ak in the room, Yang-hwi scrubbed off the sweat and dirt, threw on a fresh change of clothes.

Then, he headed straight for the Chief Steward’s quarters.

“Brother!”

Hearing Baek Yeon-yeon’s voice, he turned his head toward the Martial Arts Field.

“Training isn’t even over yet. Why did you wash up already? Where are you going?”

Baek Yeon-yeon asked, eyes round with curiosity. Beside her, Baek Heon-so said nothing, though his eager gaze mirrored his sister’s.

“I have to step out and talk with Brother Gu for a bit, Yeon-ah.”

“Hmph! You’re going out to play all by yourself!”

Seeing Baek Yeon-yeon puff out her cheeks like steamed dumplings, Yang-hwi couldn’t help a fond smile.

“Tell you what—I’ll bring back a mountain of sweet candies when I return. And some chicken skewers for you, So.”

“Really? Pinky promise?”

“M-me too… promise, Brother.”

Hooking little fingers with both of his adorable siblings, Yang-hwi turned and walked up to the Chief Steward’s door.

“Chief Steward, it’s Yang-hwi.”

“Come in.”

The room was worn with age but impeccably kept, the heavy desk buried under mountains of ledgers and books.

Yang-hwi took in the familiar sight for a brief moment before getting straight to the point.

“I’d like to step out for a short while.”

“Oho. And how much will this outing earn us?”

“Pardon? Chief Steward… isn’t that a bit harsh, measuring every single thing I do in coins?”

“So this errand won’t make us any money?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“I knew it. I always have full faith in you, Young Master Hwi.”

The premise behind that trust was somewhat skewed, but being trusted still felt gratifying.

‘Even if it wasn’t profitable, I’d have to make it so now. If only for the Chief Steward’s sake.’

Slipping out of the office and returning to his own room, Yang-hwi gestured toward Gu Ak.

“Permission granted. Let’s go, Brother Gu.”

“Good.”

The moment they crossed the Baek Clan’s threshold, Gu Ak swept Yang-hwi up under his arm.

“Using a light-foot technique? Just where are we going?”

Seeing Yang-hwi dangle casually without a trace of panic, Gu Ak clicked his tongue.

“Where else would you go with the son of the Leader of the Red Bridge Gang? A bit early in the day, perhaps, but still.”

Gu Ak carried him straight toward the Hoyoung Pavilion, the grandest pleasure house in the Honggyo Gang’s holdings.

Named after the shadows cast across the water, the pavilion boasted the finest vantage point over the celebrated Yuhang Lake, always bustling with roving sightseers and wealthy loafers.

“Welcome, Young Master!”

“Everyone! The Young Master has arrived! Come out and pay your respects!”

‘Good grief. Look at this hoodlum from a Black Path Band being hailed as a “Young Master”.’

Yang-hwi felt a prickle of secondhand embarrassment, but Gu Ak took it entirely in stride.

“Set out wine in the finest private room. As for the courtesans…”

Gu Ak shot Yang-hwi a sly, knowing grin.

“They say boys and girls shouldn’t share a mat past the age of seven. In other words, seven is old enough to act like a man. What do you say, Young Brother So?”

“Are you trying to get my father to skin me alive? Forget women—I can’t even touch liquor.”

“Tsk. If Young Brother So insists.”

Yet when the table arrived a moment later, it was laid for drinking, complete with a jug of wine.

“See that teapot? Sip your tea, Young Brother So. I need a drink.”

“…”

‘Now that’s just cruel. Guzzling wine right in front of someone and telling them to drink tea.’

It would wound his pride to ask for a cup now after giving such a sanctimonious speech.

Quite apart from the thrashing he would get if his father ever found out, alcohol was terrible for a growing body anyway.

‘…Best not to let a drop touch my lips until the vessel is fully forged. Yes… that’s definitely for the best, but…’

He knew that. It made complete sense. And yet.

Yang-hwi had lived for over a decade as a wandering Ronin in his past life.

And a Ronin and liquor were practically married.

Gulp.

Watching Yang-hwi swallow hard, Gu Ak snickered.

Seeing a little brat act as though he knew the taste of wine was utterly comical.

“Want a sip?”

“…Never mind.”

“Look at that pout. You’re dying for a drink, aren’t you?”

Yang-hwi’s expression soured to match his tone.

“I’m leaving.”

“Go if you want, but a deal’s a deal. Remember, Young Brother So, it’s you who hasn’t paid your end for over a month.”

“A man can forget things! You don’t have to be so petty… Oops. Said that out loud.”

Gu Ak’s brow twitched.

“You dare forget an oath made with Gu Ak? Especially after using Rangrang’s name to make it?”

Rangrang. So that was the name of the woman Gu Ak defied his own father to pine after.

Having cared little for such gossip in his past life, he had never learned her name.

“Well, Brother Gu, you came looking for me, didn’t you? In matters like this, the desperate party always loses.”

“You’re sorely tempting me to show you what desperation feels like, Young Brother So.”

“Keep it up, and I might just go cry to Sister Rang about how Brother Gu bullies poor, adorable little boys like me.”

Gu Ak blinked, taken aback.

“‘Sister’? Since when is Rangrang your sister?”

Yang-hwi offered an innocent smile.

“If she’s Brother Gu’s beloved, shouldn’t she be my sister too?”

“…”

For months, Gu Ak had gritted his teeth in silence while his father and brothers dragged Rangrang’s name through the mud with every insult imaginable.

Hearing someone finally refer to her respectfully as an elder sister disarmed him in an instant.

Did the kid say that knowing what it meant, or had it simply slipped out? Either way, this boy was far too shrewd for his age.

“Enough chatter. Out with it. How do I get my father to accept Rangrang? He’s dead set on an arranged marriage.”

“I know. And since the prospective bride is the direct-line daughter of an allied faction, taking a concubine isn’t an option either.”

Which meant that as things stood, Rangrang could be neither Gu Ak’s primary wife nor his concubine.

‘In the end, the Leader of the Red Bridge Gang murders Rangrang. And that unleashes a bloodbath on the Honggyo Gang.’

Rangrang believed herself to be a helpless orphan, but she actually had a father scouring the realm for her.

A father terrifying enough to single-handedly drown the Honggyo Gang—one of the ruling Black Dao Factions in E’an County—in a sea of blood.

‘How can I play this so he becomes an ally of the Baek Clan?’

After turning the thought over in his mind, Yang-hwi finally spoke.

“Brother Gu. In the end, doesn’t the whole problem stem from Sister Rang lacking a family background? Which means…”