The disapearance of their youngest.

Day One — A Rather Peaceful Morning

Mount Hua was unusually peaceful that morning.

The disciples were busy with their respective training, the elders were attending to sect affairs, and the Five Swords were enjoying a rare moment without their sajae screaming at them.

There was only one problem.

Chung Myung was missing.

At first, nobody particularly cared.

"Has anyone seen Chung Myung?"

Baek Cheon asked while looking through the courtyard.

"No."

"Perhaps he's sleeping?"

Yoon Jong shook his head.

"He's not in his room."

"Then he's probably somewhere causing trouble."

Jo Gul shrugged.

It was a reasonable assumption.

Unfortunately, an hour passed.

Then two.

By lunchtime, Baek Cheon had begun to feel that something was wrong.

"Where exactly did you last see him?"

"Yesterday evening," Yoon Jong answered. "He said he was going to sleep."

Baek Cheon slowly turned his head.

"...And you believed him?"

Yoon Jong fell silent.

That was a mistake.

A terrible mistake.

"Find him."

The order spread through Mount Hua.

The disciples searched the courtyards, the training grounds, the kitchens, the storage rooms, and even the surrounding mountain paths.

Nothing.

Not a single trace.

Tang Soso eventually approached with a frown.

"He's not in the medical hall either."

Baek Cheon rubbed his forehead.

"Perhaps he went down the mountain."

"Without telling anyone?"

"Would that be particularly unusual?"

Nobody answered.

Because, unfortunately, it wasn't.

Day Two — Something Is Wrong

By the second morning, the atmosphere had changed.

The initial assumption that Chung Myung had simply gone somewhere to drink had become increasingly difficult to maintain.

He hadn't returned.

He hadn't sent a message.

And nobody had seen him anywhere near Mount Hua.

Baek Cheon stood in the main courtyard with a dark expression.

"Search the nearby villages."

"Already done," Yoon Jong replied.

"And?"

"Nothing."

Jo Gul crossed his arms.

"Could he have gone to Xian?"

"Why would he go to Xian without telling us?"

"Because he's Chung Myung?"

"..."

That was unfortunately a valid argument.

Tang Gun-ak, who happened to be visiting Mount Hua on other business, observed the commotion with a raised eyebrow.

"Is something the matter?"

Baek Cheon turned towards him.

"Chung Myung is missing."

Tang Gun-ak's expression changed.

"Since when?"

"Yesterday."

"Have you checked the surrounding villages?"

"Yes."

Tang Gun-ak fell silent.

He knew Chung Myung well enough to understand that the boy was perfectly capable of disappearing whenever he pleased.

But three days of silence would have been unusual even for him.

"Have you considered that someone might have taken him?"

The courtyard went quiet.

Baek Cheon's expression hardened.

"...Taken him?"

"Given his identity, strength, and the number of people who might hold a grudge against him, it's not impossible."

Yoo Iseol's hand moved towards her sword.

Jo Gul stopped smiling.

Yoon Jong's expression turned serious.

Tang Soso immediately looked towards Baek Cheon.

"Sasuk..."

Baek Cheon closed his eyes briefly.

Then he opened them.

"Send word to the other sects. Contact the Hwa Shadow Gate in Xian as well. We need to know whether anyone has seen him."

Tang Gun-ak nodded.

"I'll have the Tang Family investigate."

Nobody said anything more.

But the atmosphere in Mount Hua had become considerably colder.

Day Three — The Five Swords Lose Their Patience

"THAT BASTARD!"

Jo Gul's shout echoed through the courtyard.

"THREE DAYS! THREE WHOLE DAYS!"

"Keep your voice down."

"HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO KEEP MY VOICE DOWN?!"

Yoon Jong looked exhausted.

He hadn't slept properly for two nights.

Neither had Baek Cheon.

Yoo Iseol was sitting silently nearby, sharpening her sword.

Tang Soso had already checked every possible place Chung Myung might have visited.

And Hye Yeon...

Hye Yeon was praying.

Not because he had given up hope.

But because he was beginning to suspect that even Buddha might need to intervene to deal with their youngest martial brother.

Baek Cheon finally spoke.

"We're going down the mountain."

Jo Gul immediately stood.

"Finally!"

"We'll split into groups. Search every village between Mount Hua and Xian. Don't overlook inns, taverns, or roadside establishments."

Yoon Jong nodded.

"I'll take the eastern route."

"I'll go south," Jo Gul added.

Yoo Iseol stood without a word.

Tang Soso grabbed her medical bag.

"And if we find him?"

Baek Cheon's expression darkened.

"...First, make sure he's unharmed."

He paused.

"Then bring him back."

Jo Gul frowned.

"What if he's perfectly fine?"

Baek Cheon looked at him.

"Then we'll deal with him after we bring him back."

Everyone understood.

There would be a reckoning.

A very unpleasant one.

Meanwhile — The Tang Family's Investigation

Tang Gun-ak received the first report that evening.

He read it twice.

Then he put it down.

"Interesting."

The head of the Tang Family had dealt with countless troublesome situations.

He knew that Chung Myung was not someone who could be easily captured.

Even if a group of highly skilled martial artists joined forces, the result would be uncertain.

But if someone had actually managed to abduct him...

Tang Gun-ak's expression became thoughtful.

"Find out who has been making inquiries about Mount Hua's chivalrous sword."

A subordinate bowed.

"Yes, Family Head."

"And investigate any unusual movement of money in the surrounding villages."

"Understood."

Tang Gun-ak leaned back.

He couldn't help feeling that whoever had attempted this had made a rather unfortunate decision.

After all...

They had chosen to kidnap Chung Myung.

He almost felt sorry for them.

Almost.

Meanwhile — The Kidnapped mount hua's chivalrous sword.

Somewhere in a village near Hua'um.

Inside an iron cage.

Chung Myung was lying on his back.

His chains were still attached.

His sword was somewhere outside.

And he was currently eating the food brought by one of the guards.

"..."

He chewed.

Swallowed.

Then frowned.

"Hey."

The guard looked at him.

"What?"

"Is this all?"

"What's wrong with it?"

"It's cold."

"You're a prisoner!"

"So?"

The guard stared at him.

Chung Myung stared back.

"...Bring me something warm."

"Are you insane?!"

"Then bring me some alcohol."

"ABSOLUTELY NOT!"

Chung Myung clicked his tongue.

'What an unreasonable household.'

He leaned back against the cage.

'Three days already, huh?'

He wondered how Mount Hua was doing.

More specifically, he wondered how long it would take Baek Cheon to realize he wasn't simply out drinking.

A moment later, he grinned.

'Ah. That bastard is probably tearing his hair out.'

He imagined Jo Gul shouting, Yoon Jong desperately trying to maintain order, and Baek Cheon looking like he was about to develop premature wrinkles.

Chung Myung chuckled.

Then he remembered something.

'Oh, right. He hadn't left a message.'

"..."

His expression became thoughtful.

'Well.'

He scratched his cheek.

'They'll manage.'

He picked up the remaining food.

After all, he was currently enjoying a rather unusual holiday.

And he wasn't about to ruin it.

Back at Mount Hua, Baek Cheon sneezed.

Jo Gul immediately looked at him.

"Sasuk?"

Baek Cheon rubbed his nose.

"...I have a bad feeling."

Yoon Jong sighed.

"About Chung Myung?"

"No."

Baek Cheon looked towards the distant mountains.

"About whoever has him."

Nobody disagreed.