I stared blankly at the Flash Dagger stuck in the table.

“There was this funny guy in my neighborhood when I was a kid. You know the type—every town has one. Cheerful, entertaining, treated me well. A real man’s man.”

“……”

“In our town, this is how life-or-death duels worked. Each person would stab a dagger into the table. You’d try to talk things out first. If that didn’t work, you’d grab the dagger and stab each other. It was a death match, technically, but people didn’t always die. Still, at least a finger or two would definitely get chopped off. To a kid like me, it looked brutal. People from my hometown didn’t back down easily.”

I looked at Yu Sacheong.

“One day, I found that guy lying dead on the table. I wasn’t even that surprised. My grandfather cleared away the corpse, and I brought a rag to wipe the table. But the rag kept catching on the surface. When I looked closely, there were dozens of dagger marks. I remember thinking—at least the guy I knew didn’t die in a pathetic fight. I wiped that table at least once a day. Every time, I wondered how I was supposed to feel.”

“……”

“The dagger marks made it impossible to wipe properly.”

“……”

“Can’t remember his name now. He was an orphan too, so there’s no way to find out. Anyway, some time passed, but the guy who killed him died by my hand—same way.”

I pulled out the Flash Dagger.

“In the end, he died by my hand, just like that.”

Yu Sacheong’s whole body shuddered in his restraints. A grown man, sobbing and trembling.

Finally, Yu Sacheong opened his mouth.

“P-please spare me!”

“Ah, your pressure point's been released?”

“Please, I’ll tell you everything I know. I’ll cooperate completely.”

“Don’t know what you think I want to hear, but I’m not interested.”

I extended the Flash Dagger and sliced through the ropes binding him. It cut as easily as a knife through dumplings.

I grabbed Yu Sacheong’s arm and placed it on the table.

“So only your pressure point’s been released. If you lose focus now, you’ll suffer internal deviation. Control your breathing.”

I gripped his hand tightly and said,

“And why would I kill you?”

Then I activated the Absorption Technique.

“Ggh… hrrgh…”

Yu Sacheong’s neat internal energy flowed into my palm and entered my body. I paused the Absorption Technique and sent a strand of energy into him as a scout, then resumed. Not long after, even the scout energy returned to me.

Before long, tears, snot, and drool were all over Yu Sacheong’s face.

After checking his condition, I stopped the Absorption Technique and steadied my breath.

I needed to cycle my own energy now.

The intense yang energy boiling in my danjeon surged up to my crown, making my face burn and adding a reddish tinge to my vision.

I flipped Yu Sacheong’s hand over and drove the Flash Dagger into the back of it.

With a wet thuck, the dagger pierced through and embedded in the table. As Yu Sacheong screamed, I said,

“Shut up. When Dokgo-saeng wakes up, he’ll come twist your neck a few times. Wouldn’t you rather endure the pain than die?”

“Ghhk…”

I glanced sideways at Yu Sacheong, then crossed my legs on the chair and began my energy circulation.

“If you’ve got the guts, pull it out and attack me. That’s how life-or-death duels work where I’m from.”

With Yu Sacheong beside me, I began drawing from the Heavenly Pearl and circulating my energy. Even though it hadn’t been long, I’d already burned through quite a bit of energy, stacking up more internal power. And yet, the cultivation of Golden Nine Wanderer’s Technique was still stuck at the Flame Realm, which left me with a strange feeling. From the middle stages onward, it really was a tough martial art to advance.

I could probably break through the Flame Realm now if I pushed.

But the fundamental philosophy behind the Golden Nine Wanderer’s Technique wasn’t about rushing, so I didn’t.

After calmly completing a full energy cycle, I opened my eyes. Yu Sacheong had stopped the bleeding by cutting off the circulation in his arm using his own method.

With a pale face, Yu Sacheong spoke.

“…I’ve stopped the bleeding for now.”

Looks like he’s come to his senses a bit. Begging for his life and offering up all his secrets—none of that works on me.

I looked at him and replied curtly.

“Well done.”

“Yes.”

As I pulled the Flash Dagger out, Yu Sacheong quickly ripped a strip from his collar using one hand and his teeth, then wrapped it tightly around his hand.

I poured some liquor into an empty cup and held it out to him.

Only then did Yu Sacheong use his good hand to drink. He gulped it down like a man in the desert finding water—impressively intense.

After drinking, he looked at me with bloodshot eyes and said,

“Thank you.”

I sipped my drink and spoke.

“Muak Gate’s master and Lady Iron Fan lowered their heads to me because they stay in one place. They knew I could wipe out Muak Gate or burn down Yuhwa Valley if I wanted, so they swallowed their pride and apologized. It’s not that they have less pride than you. It’s because they have disciples to protect, mouths to feed, and a sense of responsibility.”

I pointed at Yu Sacheong and continued.

“But I don’t care about your situation. You’re the owner of a gambling den.”

“Yes.”

“Your only path to survival.”

“Tell me.”

“If you don’t prove useful in killing Iryong Nogun and Master Su, I’ve got no reason to keep you alive. Sure, they came at me first, but either way, they’re obstacles in my path. That’s why the Great Rakshasa died. That’s why the Lord of Black Fan Pavilion died. I’m an orphan, just like the guy who got stabbed to death back in my town. I don’t have anything to protect—not like Yuhwa Valley or Muak Gate. These people here? They’re a mix of the Great Rakshasa’s disciples, Black Fan Pavilion’s stragglers, and underlings of guys I’ve killed. You don’t even qualify to be one of my subordinates, and the odds of surviving under me are slim. Whether you live or die depends entirely on how you handle Iryong Nogun and Master Su. So, how are you going to convince me?”

Yu Sacheong looked like he might pass out at any moment, scrambling to find the right words. Then his consciousness just cut out, and his head smacked onto the table.

Thunk!

I sighed.

“Tsk.”

Why do I keep ending up talking to people who faint mid-conversation?

‘Maybe I should talk to Master Moyong about this…’

Just then, Dokgo-saeng came out from the inner room and asked me,

“Did you get to talk a bit?”

“He passed out halfway.”

Dokgo-saeng touched the back of Yu Sacheong’s neck.

“He’s still breathing.”

Then he looked at me and said,

“Get some sleep. Your eyes are bloodshot. Weirdly, kind of purple too.”

That’s when I finally stood up.

“Yeah. I’m going to sleep.”

***

When my subordinates told me to eat, I just washed my face quickly and went back out to the hall. Even though there weren’t any servants, the table was full of hastily prepared dishes.

I scratched my head and sat down to eat.

One by one, people returned to their seats from yesterday and began to eat. So Gunpyeong spoke while chewing.

“Should we take out Iryong Nogun first? Or Master Su?”

I chewed on some greens and answered,

“Dunno.”

Baek-in asked,

“Where’s Yu Sacheong?”

“Dunno. Just eat first.”

I’m a man who doesn’t know much. While I was eating, the main hall doors opened, and Dokgo-saeng entered with Yu Sacheong.

Everyone’s gaze turned to the two of them.

Dokgo-saeng went first, pulled out a chair, and told the staggering Yu Sacheong,

“Sit.”

Yu Sacheong bowed and sat down.

“Thank you.”

Everyone shook their heads and kept eating.

Yu Sacheong’s face, which had been drenched in blood, was now washed clean. As Dokgo-saeng patted him on the back, he said,

“Eat. Eat a lot.”

“Yes.”

I don’t know how badly he beat the guy, but he really broke his spirit. Honestly, it’s a miracle Yu Sacheong didn’t die.

While eating, I teased Dokgo-saeng.

“Wasn’t that a bit much? You can’t go around being that brutal.”

Dokgo-saeng replied.

“Don’t bother with lame jokes like that. I don’t find them funny at all.”

Dokgo-saeng explained Yu Sacheong’s condition to the others.

“The Lord stabbed this guy’s hand. Heard he even had his internal energy drained. And the guy was so scared of the Lord that it was hard for me to even talk to him. I just smacked him in the face a few times. Yu Sacheong, am I wrong?”

Yu Sacheong replied while eating.

“No, you’re right.”

Dokgo-saeng said something strange to the room.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

“The Lord has too much to worry about. I’ll take care of this guy from now on. Take note.”

Apparently, Dokgo-saeng really was a piece of work, because no one said anything in response. Then, suddenly, he patted Yu Sacheong on the back.

“Eat up. Eat plenty.”

“Yes.”

Even I got chills down my spine for a second.

Since Dokgo-saeng kept talking down to me, Cha Seong-tae butted in.

“Dokgo-saeng, you’ve really been working hard.”

“……!”

Everyone’s eyes flicked between Cha Seong-tae and Dokgo-saeng.

Dokgo-saeng replied with a blank expression.

“Chief Cha, you’ve worked hard too—burning through our food doing nothing.”

Everyone burst into laughter at that, and Cha Seong-tae’s face turned red again. As we all ate quietly, Yu Sacheong spoke up.

“My Lord.”

“What.”

“If you allow me, I’ll gather troops and take the vanguard... I’ll go with Dokgo-saeng.”

I glared at Yu Sacheong and replied,

“Just eat.”

“Yes.”

As we were finishing our meal, I said to So Gunpyeong,

“Now that we’ve eaten, let’s have some day drinking.”

So Gunpyeong grinned and responded,

“Shall we?”

Right now, I’m the leader of the most pathetic bunch in the world. I have no plan, no direction. The only thing in my head is a vague overall strategy—and the belief that anyone who needs to die will die by my hand.

While we were drinking, Baek-yu spoke to me.

“Big Brother, I’d like to dance the fan dance.”

“Go ahead.”

After a drink, Baek-yu started dancing with his fan. Dokgo-saeng went back to messing with Yu Sacheong. Cha Seong-tae kept drinking and occasionally gave Dokgo-saeng a half-lidded death stare.

In the middle of it all, Hongshin started singing to accompany Baek-yu’s dance.

Baek-in stayed composed, quietly sipping his drink.

Cheongjin just sat there watching us all like we were a bunch of idiots.

It really was chaos.

As I got more and more drunk, I looked at my subordinates and clicked my tongue.

“Ugh, pathetic bastards.”

I wondered what the hell Dokgo-saeng was °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° saying to Yu Sacheong now. Whatever it was, Yu Sacheong just sat there, tears streaming down his face.

At the moment, I didn’t need to do anything. I was just waiting for the enemy’s forces to weaken themselves.

So in the middle of the madness, I once again crossed my legs on the chair and went into meditation.

Hongshin’s singing faded.

Dokgo-saeng’s voice and Yu Sacheong’s sobs disappeared too.

……

Half-asleep, halfway drunk, slipping into meditation…

Before I knew it, I was sitting in the old Zaha Inn.

.
.
.

“Zaha, give me a bowl of noodles.”

A man from the neighborhood, dressed head to toe in clean white robes, walked into the inn and sat down. I grabbed a clean cloth and wiped down the table where he sat. Since the table was already spotless, it wiped clean easily.

“Where you headed all dressed up?”

While he silently slurped his noodles, I sat across from him. After finishing even the broth, he set the bowl down and asked me,

“You still don’t remember my name? That stings.”

“What was your name again?”

He told me his name, but I couldn’t remember it—so I just bluffed.

“Oh, right. Now I remember.”

“Thanks for the meal.”

As he got up to pay, I asked,

“Where are you headed, dressed like that? Going to see a woman?”

He shook his head and smiled brightly.

“A woman? Nah. Time for a new beginning.”

“You quitting knife fights? Don’t you want revenge on Jo Ik-yeol?”

“He’s already dead. What revenge is there? Anyway, thanks. I’m off.”

We locked eyes for a long moment, and then I grinned.

“Good luck with your new start.”

He smiled at me in front of the Zaha Inn.

“Yeah.”

.
.
.

As soon as I opened my eyes again, I let out a shaky exhale.

It was a strange dream, but I didn’t think much of it.

I just figured… maybe that guy from the neighborhood finally got his fresh start.

As I looked around at my subordinates, the corner of my mouth curled upward.