There was no need to grovel before the village chief or beg for travel money to go to the Blue Dragon Martial Hall. I had already mastered first-class inner energy, which meant I could easily withstand cold, heat, and hunger—and my self-defense abilities were more than adequate. What I needed to do now was head for Dongle* without wasting another second.
Just as I was gathering some useful tools like a horsewhip and a hammer from the stable, someone with an unpleasant look stepped out from the darkness and blocked my way.
"Damn it… What kind of noise is this in the middle of the night, cow dung boy?"
"Geum Man-jae."
"You little bastard… shouldn't you be calling me 'young master'?"
The one barking orders was Geum Man-jae, the village chief's son. A real piece of human trash—someone so worthless I didn't even feel he was worth killing. But right now, he was an obstacle to my escape from the village, so I spoke calmly.
"I'm really not in the mood right now, so you'd better move out of my way."
"What? You punk!"
Geum Man-jae lashed out with a kick without warning. It was a move often used in street brawls to gain the upper hand, showing he had some rough fighting experience. But I coolly dodged his attack with ease.
"W-what…?"
As Geum Man-jae stumbled, having lost his balance, I quickly grabbed his arm.
"W-what are you…"
He struggled to move, but he couldn't budge an inch thanks to my grip. It must have felt like being bound by iron chains.
I leaned close and whispered into his ear from behind.
"Stay still, you idiot."
Overwhelmed by the killing intent and pressure radiating from me, Geum Man-jae couldn't even breathe loudly. He just stood there trembling. It seemed that with my inner power fully awakened, I could now emit pure killing intent as well.
Leaving Geum Man-jae behind, I stepped out of the village.
This time, there was no way the village chief could launch a proper pursuit. Last time, I almost wiped out his whole family and even ran off with a stash of secret silver ingots—so he resorted to the extreme of hiring an assassin. But no way would he hire a martial artist just because his son got intimidated by a "lowly stable boy" and I ran away in the night. Knowing the village chief, he'd probably just sit at home thinking I'd starve to death somewhere far away.
'Even if he does pursue me, it doesn't matter. As long as I get my hands on the Cheonam Secret Scroll, I can start over again.'
At this point, no matter what happened, I could get to the Cheonam Secret Scroll before anyone else. I looked down with a somber gaze at the village buried in darkness. I had thought getting revenge once would be enough—but my anger still hadn't subsided.
Staring at the village chief's house from a distance, I muttered:
"I was too soft. I admit it."
Then I clenched my fist tightly.
Because of my boiling rage, my eyes shone with a murderous glint.
A thin line of blood trickled from my clenched fist.
"This time, I'll do it right."
It took four days to obtain the Cheonam Secret Scroll. Since I had no money, I had to hitch rides and even steal a bronze shield from a blacksmith. And because I was in the body of a child, it was extremely difficult to locate the cave where the scroll was hidden.
Still, I succeeded in securing the Cheonam Secret Scroll. Inside the cave, I collapsed and took a moment to rest.
"Haah… I'm exhausted. What now?"
Should I go back to the Blue Dragon Martial Hall?
If I returned and got accepted, then this time, I could aim to become a master-level martial artist within ten years. My foundation in inner power was already solid, so I'd be starting from a much stronger position than others—strong enough to surpass even the most gifted talents.
But I shook my head bitterly and dismissed the thought.
"No, I can't. Impossible. This time, I have no choice but to self-train."
If I returned to the Blue Dragon Martial Hall, I'd be met with trials beyond imagination.
I had mastered secret martial arts and the forbidden Ten Techniques all at once. Yet ironically, the three masters—Yi Gwang, Jin So-cheong, and Chung Sa-beom—had never officially taught them to me. In their eyes, I would look like a thieving stray cat who stole their techniques. In the worst case, I could be stripped of my inner power—or even killed.
Of course, it was possible they might take interest in me and try to use me, and thus decide to teach me martial arts. But even then, I couldn't stomach the thought of risking death all over again.
Every time I died, it felt like a chunk of my soul was shaved away. Unless you've gone through it, you could never understand the mental anguish.
If I could help it, I didn't want to die.
Even if I could come back to life, I didn't want to die.
Thankfully, despite being in a child's body, I still retained my inner power and martial arts knowledge. If I trained for three years like before, I could achieve a higher level than I did the last time. That thought gave me some comfort.
'I need a place where I can train and still make a living. Somewhere I won't waste time…'
There was only one answer.
I reached a single conclusion—and grinned.
"Becoming a bodyguard-for-hire (pyo-sa) will do just fine, won't it?"
Even in the body of a child, I was far stronger than the "me" of my original life. At this point, I was at least three times more powerful. If I continued training properly, I was confident I could reach the level of a top-grade bodyguard (pyo-sa) in just three years. A pyo-guk—a bodyguard agency—was the perfect place to earn money and legally train in martial arts at the same time.
Of course, Samsong Pyo-guk and Maehwa Pyo-guk, which were nearby, were not options. The village chief's influence reached those places, and word would spread quickly. If people started digging into the origins of my martial arts, it would just become a never-ending hassle.
After much thought, I came to a decision.
"I'll get hired as a pyo-sa at a pyo-guk near Mount Hwangsan. And then, at the right time, I'll go searching for and eat the legendary Millennium Snow Ginseng in Hwangsan! Perfect! Even I think this plan is genius!"
There was no better plan. It would save me time and get me as far from the village chief's reach as possible. Sure, having to mingle with complete strangers was uncomfortable, but I could manage somehow. With a plan now in place, I got ready to move immediately.
Grrr…
I was hungry.
At the same time, I realized the biggest flaw in my plan.
I had no home, no money, and not even a single coin to my name. That meant I would have to beg or forage my way to Hwangsan. This was going to be the first real hurdle.
"Maybe I should try hunting…"
In the end, I chose to hunt. I broke a tree branch nearby to use in place of a knife, putting on a determined expression.
Luckily, that day I managed to catch a wild rabbit and a squirrel, which I roasted and ate. The next day, I drank stream water and chewed on tree bark. On most days, I couldn't catch any small animals, so I survived on bark or wild herbs.
Even as I felt my body gradually weaken and thin out, I kept walking. A teenage boy, scavenging for food and pushing through mountain paths—anyone who saw me would have thought I was insane. I deliberately avoided main roads and crossed mountains and rivers to prevent any word of me from reaching the village chief, but the process was incredibly harsh.
For about eight days, I survived by eating plant roots, mushrooms, and the occasional bat caught in a cave. Sitting in a damp corner of a cave, I felt a few tears slip down my cheeks.
What is life, really?
Why must I throw everything away just to keep living?
I still didn't have an answer to that question.
By the time I finally arrived at Hwangsan, nearly a month had passed. I had become a wretched beggar and had caught a cold, leaving me slightly weakened.
"Cough, cough…"
My head felt heavy and dizzy, but I forced myself to stay alert.
I couldn't collapse now.
I had to at least make it to a pyo-guk and become a pyo-sa before I let myself fall.
Strangely, even though Hwangsan had people and a decent-sized town, I couldn't spot a single pyo-guk. Frustrated, I wandered aimlessly—until I came across a fabric shop…
The fabric shop owner must have pitied me, because he brought me a plate of food.
"My goodness, you're just skin and bones… Don't you have any parents or siblings?"
"I don't… sir."
"Eat slowly. One meal won't fix everything, but it'll give you some strength."
"Thank you… really."
Even though it was out of pity, I didn't feel bad. I was too overwhelmed with joy from eating a proper meal for the first time in ages to care. It was just plain rice mixed with vegetables, but I devoured it like a madman, shoveling it down with wild, desperate bites.
After I finished, I cautiously asked the fabric shop owner a question.
"I'd like to go to a pyo-guk around Hwangsan… Do you know where the nearest one is?"
The shop owner's expression shifted oddly. He shrugged.
"Kid… there isn't a pyo-guk in Hwangsan."
"…!!"
What the f—…?!
"M-my head… it's… my head's spinning…"
Thud.
My vision blacked out and I collapsed on the spot from sheer frustration.
When I came to, I was lying in a room somewhere. The fabric shop owner must have taken me to his home after I fainted. He turned out to be a surprisingly kind man, and once I regained consciousness, I thanked him sincerely.
"Thank you so much."
"Are you trying to become a pyo-sa because something happened?"
"I just think… it's probably the easiest way for me to make a living right now."
The man clicked his tongue and shook his head.
"Being a pyo-sa is a rough, thankless job… tsk tsk."
I agreed with that statement. A pyo-sa is half a martial artist, yes—but at the end of the day, they're laborers hired to protect cargo shipments. It's rare for them to possess top-level martial arts; most spend their whole lives barely scraping by with meager skills and often die in the line of duty. Honestly, the fabric shop owner likely had an easier and more stable life.
He said to me:
"I'm sorry, but I'm too busy trying to survive myself to take care of you long-term. Drink some water and be on your way, alright?"
"Of course. You've already helped me more than enough."
"Like I said before, there's no pyo-guk around here. You'll have to cross several mountains to get to Wangha, where the Sagong Pyo-guk is."
Then, the fabric shop owner handed me a clean set of clothes. Judging by the rough fit, it looked like he had quickly altered something he already had to match my size.
"I… I don't have any money…"
"Just take it," the fabric shop owner said. "In times like these, looking like a beggar draws more danger than pity."
"…Thank you. May I ask your name?"
"Haha, people just call me Mr. Song from the fabric shop."
"I see. Take care, sir."
As I changed into the new clothes and stepped out of the shop, I made a vow in my heart:
'Jang Cheol of Samsong Pyo-guk… Mr. Song from the fabric shop… I'll repay both of them somehow, no matter what.'
I knew very well how rare and difficult it was to give something without expecting anything in return in this harsh world. I myself had never helped others without benefit—it was all I could do just to survive.
Jang Cheol and Mr. Song lived the same kind of life I did, yet they had chosen to take risks and offer help anyway. That alone made them extraordinary. If I didn't repay their kindness, I'd be nothing but a bastard.
I started walking again, heading toward Wangha.
As I traveled, I improved my hunting skills and was able to roast meat more frequently. Possibly because the Hwangsan region had a strong martial arts presence—like the Hwangsan Sect and many smaller clans—there weren't any bandits around, which made travel safer.
Splash—
At one point, I stood beneath a cold waterfall. I gathered my inner energy to protect my body, then washed off the filth. Normally, this would risk catching a cold, but I had properly refined my inner power and consumed enough nourishing food, so I didn't feel that cold at all. After drying my clothes, I felt refreshed and clear-headed.
Once I arrived in the Wangha area, it wasn't difficult to find Sagong Pyo-guk. I hadn't spent much time in the Hwangsan region before, so I didn't know the area well, but the Sagong Pyo-guk was one of the largest in the region. Once I entered town and started asking around, it was easy to find my way there.
Standing in front of the Sagong Pyo-guk's signboard, I paused for a moment.
'Sagong Pyo-guk… I heard it was established by someone from the Sagong clan, but I don't know much else. Is it really okay to entrust myself to this place? …Well, I don't have any other options right now, so I guess I have no choice.'
After a moment of hesitation, I stepped inside the Sagong Pyo-guk.
Bustle. Shouts.
"Hey! Move that cargo over to the left!"
"This one doesn't have a stamp! Rookie, take it and get it stamped!"
"Yes, sir!!"
Inside, the place was exactly what you'd expect from a busy pyo-guk: people constantly on the move, loading and organizing goods for transport. Everyone was clearly swamped with work, but I knew I only needed to speak to a pyo-wi—a senior bodyguard.
"Excuse me! I'd like to become a pyo-sa. Could you accept me?"
"What?! Kid, quit messing around! We're busy—get lost!"
I had tried asking one of the bodyguards, but he scowled at me and dismissed it as nonsense.
To be fair, pyo-sa work was labor-intensive. A boy who looked barely in his early teens claiming he wanted to be a bodyguard would sound ridiculous to anyone. Honestly, if I were in his shoes, I would've responded the same way.
This time, I made sure to ask the right question.
"I'd like to speak to the pyo-wi of Sagong Pyo-guk. Where can I find them?"
"Huh?! The pyo-wi is right over there—that person in the white clothes!"
Swish.
I looked toward where the bodyguard was pointing. Sure enough, there stood someone dressed in crisp, elegant white robes, unlike anyone else there. From her refined appearance, I could tell she wasn't originally a pyo-sa but likely came from a noble or martial family.
But what truly surprised me was something else.
"A woman?"
That's right. The person identified as the pyo-wi was a beautiful young woman in white robes. She looked even more stunning than the village chief's concubine, Madam Seo, whom I had seen before. She appeared to be in her mid-to-late teens, with delicate and well-defined features and flawless skin. Her eyes were especially striking—clear, sharp, and magnetic, instantly drawing the gaze. There was no denying she possessed extraordinary beauty.
Still, a female pyo-wi was something I had never encountered before. Though pyo-wi did handle more administrative tasks than regular pyo-sa, it was still fundamentally a physically demanding role. The idea of a slender young woman holding such a position was nearly unheard of.
But the moment I watched her walk from place to place, I understood why.
"She's mastered martial arts!"
Her every movement was light and precise, with no wasted motion. That level of fluid efficiency only comes from mastering a high-level footwork technique. Each step she took carried the distilled essence of martial arts. Judging by that alone, she had at least mid-tier to high-tier martial skills, making her more than worthy of the pyo-wi title.
Carefully, I approached the female pyo-wi and spoke with resolve:
"I've come here hoping to become a pyo-sa!"
She looked at me with mild surprise.
"Oh?"