The three outer guards of Namgung, Il-ryong, I-moe, and Sam-bong, were originally bandits active in Hwangsan.

Hwangsan, a mountain south of Hapbi where the Namgung clan resided, was a difficult place for banditry due to Namgung’s frequent bandit suppression efforts.

One day, Sam-Bong returned from a village with unexpected news.

“Brother Il-ryong! Brother I-Moe! Take a look at this! Namgung is recruiting warriors!”

Namgung was no less than their archenemy. However, it was also a place they couldn’t help but admire for its overwhelming reputation.

“I’m fed up with the dirty and humiliating life of a bandit. How about we try becoming Namgung warriors? We’ve got some martial skills, and it doesn’t seem like they’re too picky about qualifications.”

“…”

“But what if they find out we used to be bandits?”

“…”

“We’ll just say we wanted to start fresh! Do you think they’d kill us for that? It’s Namgung, after all. Hahaha…”

Even these bandits knew that without the Namgung surname, becoming inner-guard warriors was challenging.

But their goal was never to be part of the inner guard.

“Ahahaha! Did you see how they trembled at the name Namgung? They say it’s darker under the lamp, and surviving this way is too easy!”

“Doesn’t it feel like we’re better off now than we were as bandits? Good thing you listened to me!”

At the silk shop, they took silk; at restaurants, they ate freely.

Going around various shops, they never properly paid for anything, and no one dared to stop them—all because they bore the name “Namgung.”

However, as the saying goes, a long tail gets stepped on eventually.

And of all people, they were caught by the Black Dragon Squad leader, a member of the inner guard.

Ordered to return and reflect on their actions, the three grumbled as they made their way back to their lodgings.

“Damn it! Why did the Black Dragon Squad leader have to show up?”

“How should I know? They don’t usually care about street patrols. Maybe they just came out for a meal.”

“Honestly, that inn was a bit much, wasn’t it? You can only freeload so many times before it becomes obvious! We got caught because we overdid it!”

“But their dumplings are the best! Damn it, what terrible luck! All this trouble just for some free dumplings, and now we’ve been docked three months’ pay!”

To make matters worse, the innkeeper’s resistance was stronger than usual that day, so they had been planning to hold back for a while.

But of all days, they got caught today! As a result, they lost three months’ worth of pay, which had been a nice bonus.

“Brothers, hold on a moment.”

Sam-Bong stopped Il-ryong and I-Moe.

“What is it now?”

The quick-tempered Il-ryong snapped impatiently, turning back to look at him.

“Our docked pay—where do you think it’s going?”

“Where else? They’ll probably stash it in some warehouse! Namgung just stole our money. What a bunch of thieves!”

“That’s unlikely. It’s Namgung, after all.”

“Hah! What are you getting at?”

Sam-Bong’s eyes gleamed.

“If Namgung is so obsessed with appearances, they must’ve given that money to the innkeeper as compensation for the damage we caused. But Namgung being what it is…”

“What is it?”

“The most hypocritical place in the martial world! You’ve been eating Namgung’s food for a while, and now you think you’re one of them, don’t you, brother?”

Il-ryong scratched his head, realizing his mistake.

“Okay, so what?”

“So what? Isn’t it obvious? Namgung would’ve given the money to the innkeeper to save face, but they wouldn’t care beyond that. If we go back to that inn right now and cause trouble, they won’t even notice.”

“And?”

“And, of course, we’ll take the money back! It’s our pay, after all!”

“Do you think the innkeeper will just sit back and let us? Didn’t you see the look in their eyes earlier? They looked ready to grab a kitchen knife. Let’s not push our luck.”

“We just need to scare them. Make sure they can’t report this to Namgung or resist us any further.”

Sam-Bong’s eyes narrowed dangerously, and a sly smile spread across his face.

“Very thoroughly, too.”

Seeing that expression, Il-ryong’s lips also twisted into a sinister grin.

“Ah, just like the good old days, huh?”

Hehehe, hehehehe, hahaha.

Their shared laughter became increasingly wicked and devious.

The three turned their steps away from Namgung and headed back toward the inn.

To avoid running into the Black Dragon Squad leader again, they decided to take the less crowded alleyways.

Il-ryong felt exhilarated for the first time in ages.

“A bandit’s got to rob, after all!”

Ever since joining Namgung as warriors, they had felt like petty bullies in the streets. But today was different! Today, they were practically robbing Namgung itself!

“No, no. This isn’t robbery. It’s reclaiming what’s rightfully ours.”

Taking back what had been stolen, of course.

“What do you see? Are they gone?”

“Hold on. The pillar’s blocking my view. Can you see from your side, brother?”

Before charging in, the three crouched in an alley behind the inn, peering through a small window to check inside.

They were being cautious since what they were about to do was more in line with the ways of the unorthodox sects.

“What are you doing?”

“…!”

“…!”

The three, pressed against the window and peeking inside, froze at the sound of a child’s voice behind them.

They wanted to turn around to see who it was, but strangely, their bodies wouldn’t move.

Not even their heads or fingers would budge.

The only thing they could do was roll their eyes in the same awkward position they had been in while looking inside.

“Don’t bother trying. I’ve struck your paralysis points. You won’t be able to move for at least two hours.”

Their pupils wavered with growing unease.

Even though they wanted to scream, no sound came out.

“Oh, right, I also sealed your voice pressure point (아혈). It would be annoying if you screamed.”

‘When the hell…!’

Even if they were just first- or second-class warriors, they were still martial artists.

Yet, they hadn’t even realized when their pressure points had been sealed or sensed any presence.

‘A master…!’

Pressure point manipulation requires intricate control over qi, which only a peak-level master or higher can perform.

This meant the person who immobilized them was at least a peak-level master!

‘What do you want from us?!’

They wanted to ask but couldn’t, unable to make a sound.

“I’m sure you have a lot to say, but I don’t have the time. So, I’ll just say what I need to.”

‘…!’

“Il-Ryong, I-Moe, Sam-Bong.”

The rolling eyes of the three men froze simultaneously.

‘They know who we are…?’

‘How could they…?’

“I know all about guys like you. You’ll do anything as long as it pays. Though I didn’t expect you to play the role of Namgung’s warriors.”

‘They even know we’re Namgung’s warriors!’

‘Who is this? And why do they sound like a kid?’

Seol-Hwa chuckled softly as she watched the three trembling heads in front of her.

‘I didn’t think I’d run into these scumbags here.’

Il-Ryong, I-Moe, and Sam-Bong.

In her past life, these three were members of the Blood Sect.

To be precise, they were bandits from the Green Forest who joined the Blood Sect after making demands that they would hand over valuable information about Namgung.

Surprisingly, they did deliver some decent intel.

It was baffling back then how such nobodies had access to Namgung’s information.

‘So they were once Namgung warriors?’

Though, to be exact, they were dark-world thugs masquerading as Namgung men.

There was much to question—how they infiltrated Namgung, what their objectives were—but there wasn’t enough time.

“People like you don’t even deserve a chance to reflect. If you were capable of repentance, you wouldn’t have started doing bad things in the first place.”

The fact that they were here instead of heading back to Namgung proved her point.

Though she felt a little sorry for Namgung Cheong-Un, these men weren’t the kind who would change, even if given a chance.

Traitors to Namgung, traitors to the Green Forest, and finally, turncoats who joined the Blood Sect—men who shifted allegiance wherever it suited them.

In her previous life, their end was death.

Once they were no longer useful, they tried to leak information about the Blood Sect, only to be caught and executed by Ilhwa herself.

“As much as I’d like to kill you before you cause trouble….”

The three heads flinched again.

“I’ll let you live since you’re under Namgung. For now, at least.”

For now, because they were still part of Namgung.

‘They’re somewhat useful, after all.’

Il-Ryong was stupid but skilled in martial arts, I-Moe was silent but obedient, and Sam-Bong was sly but cunning—a group well-suited for exploitation.

Meanwhile, Sam-Bong’s heart leapt with relief at Seol-Hwa’s words.

‘She’s sparing us because we’re part of Namgung?’

Touching someone under Namgung, even an external warrior, was not something easily done. Nobody in the martial arts world wanted to make an enemy of Namgung.

‘As expected of Namgung…!’

Even a master was cautious of Namgung’s name! Of course!

Just being assured of survival made Sam-Bong rejoice inwardly.

At that moment, however—

‘…!’

Something suddenly appeared behind his head.

It seemed like a hand, but no matter how much he rolled his eyes, he couldn’t see what it was doing.

‘Wh-what is she trying to do…?!’

The intruder’s hand forcibly opened Sam-Bong’s mouth and shoved something inside.

It was hard and about the size of two finger joints.

‘No, no…!’

Desperate not to swallow it, he resisted, but the assailant’s hand tilted his chin up and gave his throat a firm tap. Against his will, his throat reflexively gulped, and the object slid down.

It disappeared into his body without resistance.

Sam-Bong instinctively knew.

‘I’m doomed….’

“I said I’d let you live. I never said I’d let you go.”

A voice as cheerful as a demon’s whispered into his ears.

Other Novels