Each For Themselves

Gathered at Elder Go Yu-saeng’s quarters of the Yellow Stone Sect were So So-jeong of the Zen Cloud Sword Sect and Go Geun-dong of the Eminent Mountain Sect. That secluded place was the most fitting spot to avoid the gaze of Martial Alliance Leader Jo Yang.

“They must have hidden the Sword God’s disciple somewhere.”

When Go Geun-dong huffed angrily, So So-jeong scolded him to keep quiet. Nothing good would come of their meeting being exposed. Their aim was to find the Sword God’s disciple as discreetly as possible.

“But is that child truly carrying the scripture?”

At So So-jeong’s worried question, Go Yu-saeng stroked his moustache with a smile.

“Hmph. Did you not see that sly Venerable Elder desperately resisting handing the boy to the Demonic Cult? He clearly knows something.”

“Then why tell us? If he was going to keep it wrapped up for years, he should never have hinted at it. It’s been killing me with impatience.”

Go Geun-dong scratched his head in irritation, earning a disdainful glare from So So-jeong.

“I understood it as meaning he’d divide it among us soon. Four years—it’s the perfect timing, is it not? Rumors of the martial tournament spread far and wide, and now every sect is targeting that child. The moment Emptiness Dhuta Sect lets go, whoever seizes him first will be the winner.”

Go Yu-saeng nodded vigorously in agreement.

“I think the same. Should we not have the scouts watch Taiyi Divine Sect’s movements while also searching for the boy?”

The two both agreed to Go Yu-saeng’s idea. If the three sects competed among themselves, others might steal the prize. If the Taiyi Divine Sect got to him, their chance would be gone forever.

“But Senior Go, though we were ambushed by the Taiyi Divine Sect, aside from the Emptiness Dhuta Sect none of the sects suffered major harm. Earlier I made a fuss, but in truth only three disciples sustained minor wounds.”

So So-jeong tilted her head in puzzlement, and Go Yu-saeng also furrowed his brow deeply. The same was true for the Yellow Stone Sect. They too had been ambushed on the way, yet the Taiyi Divine Sect’s black-clad men had only startled them and withdrew without attacking seriously.

“And the Eminent Mountain Sect wasn’t even attacked at all!”

Go Geun-dong, feeling somewhat slighted, burst out in frustration. So So-jeong chuckled pityingly at his simplemindedness.

“At least no sect was gravely harmed—that’s fortunate. But what is their intent? To extract information, set an ambush, and yet only pretend to attack—it’s strange, is it not?”

“Ah! A warning that the Five Great Mountain Swords didn’t keep their promise?”

Go Geun-dong slapped his forehead as if enlightened. But Go Yu-saeng thought otherwise. Sword Demon Seong Gon was even more cunning and shrewd than Yi Seomun—he would never waste manpower and time without reason.

“Let us each share what we learn, and call it a night.”

Thinking nothing more could be gained from chatter, Go Yu-saeng hurried to wrap things up. If Jo Yang discovered them, all their preparations would be ruined. This time, they had to seize the Sword God’s disciple and uncover the scripture’s contents.

Boom!

At the faint rumble, the three froze instantly.

“What was that?”

As Go Geun-dong shot to his feet, So So-jeong pressed her finger to his lips. Feeling a woman’s touch for the first time in a while, his face flushed bright red.

“Something must have happened. I’ll check it out—wait a bit before coming.”

At Go Yu-saeng’s nod, So So-jeong rose and went outside. The sound had come from the main hall where they’d just met.

‘Could it be someone from the Taiyi Divine Sect attacking?’

For a moment, Ma Jingun’s face flashed in her mind, but she quickly shook it away. She loathed herself for still longing for someone now completely a stranger.

“Sect Leader So?”

Just then, a tall dark figure blocked her way. Startled, So So-jeong put her hand on her sword hilt, ready to strike at once.

“It’s me, Jo Sang-won!”

He thrust both hands forward at his chest to calm her.

“Ah…”

So So-jeong relaxed, but still eyed him with suspicion.

“What business brings you here at this hour?”

“Noise? What noise?”

Jo Sang-won looked around in puzzlement, as if he truly didn’t know.

“Didn’t you hear something crash loudly?”

So So-jeong narrowed her eyes at Jo Sang-won, sensing something odd in his manner. Among the heads of the Five Great Mountain Swords, he was the most inscrutable. The fact that he led the Dragon Gate Sect despite the famed Dragon Brothers ranking second to none in martial skill always seemed suspicious.

“Ah, my sect’s disciples must be building a temporary station for the scouts—that must be the noise. I’ll tell them to be more careful.”

So So-jeong was unconvinced, but pressing further would have been discourteous, so she withdrew.

“Then, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Rest well.”

The two bowed politely to each other, then went their separate ways.

‘He’s definitely hiding something…’

Watching So So-jeong until her figure disappeared, Jo Sang-won sighed deeply. If he hadn’t stepped out to check the area again, that sly fox from the Zen Cloud Sword Sect might have discovered them.

The rumble from the main hall had been Jo Yang throwing Yun-seon against the beam. When Jo Sang-won, out on a night stroll, rushed inside, he found Baek Hyeongjin blocking his path, sweating profusely.

“Leader, it’s nothing at all. I accidentally broke the chair—I’ll pay for it later.”

Following Hyeongjin’s finger, Jo Sang-won saw that the paulownia armrest of the seat of honor was completely shattered.

“Ah, that’s fine. These things happen.”

Jo Sang-won reassured him not to worry, patting his shoulders warmly. That’s when he noticed—the bloodstain beneath the beam.

“Go inside and rest.”

With Jo Sang-won smiling kindly, Hyeongjin felt relieved and turned away, lighter at heart.

“By the way, Young Warrior Baek… have you found your missing junior?”

Startled, he turned instantly. Jo Sang-won was smiling at him cheerfully.

‘Why does this man—usually like a bear—act like a fox tonight?’

Beads of sweat on Hyeongjin’s brow rolled down past his temples to his chin.

“Unfortunately, not yet. My fellow disciples are looking—there should be news soon.”

“Shall I help?”

Jo Sang-won curved his lips into a mischievous smile unlike any Hyeongjin had ever seen.

“Wh-what do you mean?”

He strode up and loomed over the flustered Hyeongjin. A head taller and sturdily built, his presence felt like facing a giant boulder.

“You need a hiding place, don’t you? Is that not so, Alliance Leader?”

Though his eyes were on Hyeongjin, the question wasn’t aimed at him. After a pause, Jo Yang slowly stepped out from behind the screen, holding Yun-seon’s limp body like a rag.

“Will you help me, Sect Leader Jo?”

Jo Yang, already exposed, decided it was better to seek aid.

“Of course. But…”

Jo Yang already knew what would come next.

“I must also know the contents of the scripture.”

“…Very well.”

Jo Sang-won bowed deeply in thanks, then approached Jo Yang quickly.

“The Dragon Gate Sect has built an underground chamber in case of war. There, no one will disturb us.”

Seeing his bright smile, Hyeongjin swallowed hard. Until now he had thought Jo Sang-won the least cunning among the heads of the Five Great Mountain Swords.

‘They say there’s no one in this world to trust—seems that’s the truth.’

Dragging the unconscious Yun-seon his master had handed over, Hyeongjin once again realized the terrifying nature of kangho.

After traveling back the entire day, Ju-un suddenly grew doubtful.

“The innkeeper’s old, so he rises early. He went for a walk at dawn and hasn’t returned.”

The girl had clearly said so. She claimed she saw the black-clad men pass in the early morning, yet only watched as her grandfather went for a stroll?

‘That child seemed to know no martial arts. According to Do-pyeong, the old man was just a rustic. And yet with a gang of marauders passing, he calmly went walking? Damn!’

Only then did Ju-un realize she had been completely fooled by the girl. Consumed with worry over Yun-seon’s fate, she had ignored the sense of wrongness. The inn’s two residents were no ordinary people.

‘Grandfather and granddaughter… and the granddaughter, seemingly incapable of martial arts…’

As she raced back toward the inn, a thought stopped her in her tracks. The appearance of the Taiyi Divine Sect, the inn run by the grandfather and granddaughter—the answer had been in her memory all along. It explained why the girl had warmly called her “unnie” upon first meeting.

‘The Medicine Immortal of the Seven Stellar Lords—Yun Seol.’

She cursed herself for realizing too late. Ju-un had met Yun Seol before, though as a child—this was her first time seeing her grown. If Seong Gon had been there, she would have recognized them both at once.

‘So that’s why the innkeeper was hiding.’

Ju-un, oddly reassured, collapsed where she stood. Seong Gon was one thing, but Yun Seol? Was she not the Medicine Immortal famed to cure all illnesses?

‘If that girl took Yun-seon, then his life is at least saved.’

At that thought, Ju-un’s eyes filled with tears. The suffocating weight in her chest lifted. She knew now Yun-seon had passed the worst. If she found him before he reached the Dragon Gate Sect, she could still retrieve him—and with the Medicine Immortal, a cure could be found.

It was dawn, with the darkness receding, when Ju-un finally reached the inn. By day it had seemed shabby and eerie, but now it looked like the warmest, coziest refuge. The lanterns at the door flickered like beacons welcoming her home.

“Anyone here?”

Opening the door, she found Yun Seol sitting at a table, eating noodles.

“Oh my, unnie! Why so late?”

Yun Seol beamed and scurried over to Ju-un.

“You’re famous for being clever—I thought you’d be back quickly. You took longer than I expected, even though I hinted so much.”

Her clear laughter made her seem suddenly adorable. Her cheeky tone remained, but now it wasn’t irritating at all.

“Where’s Yun-seon?”

When Ju-un glanced toward the second floor, Yun Seol’s expression turned sorrowful.

“I barely calmed his seizure, but he wasn’t well. I begged him to rest for a day, even half a day, but he wouldn’t listen.”

“What?”

So he had gone back to the Emptiness Dhuta Sect’s group. Ju-un slumped into a chair, suddenly drained. A sense of unease gnawed at her.

“I’ll have to go to the Dragon Gate Sect.”

“I’ll go with you.”

Seeing Ju-un grip her sword tightly, Yun Seol realized things were serious. Though she knew no martial arts herself, she had a reliable battle demon behind her to save her in danger.

“Grandfather, you’ll come too?”

From the kitchen where he was boiling noodles, Seong Gon finally poked his head out.

“First let’s eat. Ju-un, want a bowl too?”

각자도생 (各自圖生), Each For Themselves:

Each party devising their own way to survive.