If I Had Known Earlier

When Ma Sepung entered through the main gate, the disciples of Yellow Stone Sect were so shocked that their souls nearly fled.

Ordinarily, it was nearly impossible to even see his face.

Only once or twice a year, during sacrificial rites, would he appear briefly before vanishing like the wind—just enough to confirm he was still alive.

So much so that rumors spread claiming he had become the mountain spirit of Yellow Stone Mountain itself.

“Sect Lord, what brings you here…?”

One flustered disciple hurried after him, but Ma Sepung didn’t even glance his way.

Dragging Yeong-jun along, he strode straight to the main hall and flung the doors open with a loud boom.

“What in the—Sect Lord!”

Go Yu-saeng, who had been discussing the affairs of Unpyeong Escort Bureau with twelve elders, was so startled at Ma Sepung’s sudden entrance that he toppled backward from his chair.

Though he could look down on Jo Yang, the Martial Alliance Leader who made all of kangho tremble, he was terrified of his own senior brother and sect leader, Ma Sepung.

“What brings you…”

The twelve elders all rose and bowed deeply,

but Ma Sepung scanned them with a look of displeasure.

That these armchair schemers were the ones leading Yellow Stone Sect filled him with shame.

“Go Yu-saeng!”

“Ah—y-yes, Sect Lord!”

When Ma Sepung roared, Go Yu-saeng broke into a cold sweat and crawled forward.

Yeong-jun, recalling his past encounter with the sect elders, was utterly bewildered.

Was this not the same Go Yu-saeng who had been arrogantly insolent even before Grand Master Shin Yang-seon?

“Why did you drag the Eminent Mountain Sect into this affair?”

Ma Sepung was famous for never interfering in sect matters large or small.

Go Yu-saeng wondered how he had found out, but then noticed Yeong-jun awkwardly standing behind him and realized.

“It was not I—it was Alliance Leader Jo’s idea.”

“What?”

At the mention of Jo Yang’s name, Ma Sepung’s face twisted anew.

“Since when has our Yellow Stone Sect grovelled before that Jo-whatever bastard?”

So furious was he that even his short beard trembled.

Though he usually cared little for kangho affairs, he despised that cunning thief who pretended to be a saint while manipulating martial artists.

Part of him longed to cross blades with Jo Yang.

“No, it’s that we received intelligence that Taiyi Divine Sect is targeting the Unpyeong Escort Bureau…”

As Go Yu-saeng stammered in confusion, Elder Heo stepped in and explained instead.

Ma Sepung glared at him for a long while, then jabbed his finger at each of the twelve elders in turn.

“Do you even know why the Taiyi Divine Sect dogs are after the Unpyeong Escort Bureau?”

It turned out none of the elders had heard.

Their confused gazes turned toward Go Yu-saeng sprawled on the floor.

“Well, that’s… not something to say here…”

As Go Yu-saeng stammered excuses with a flushed face, Ma Sepung’s eyes narrowed further.

“I care not for your petty glory-seeking schemes. But I will never forgive you for selling our sect’s name.”

At the furious bellow of their sect leader, all the elders prostrated themselves, too afraid to rise.

Knowing well his eccentric temper, Go Yu-saeng felt only dread that his collusion with Jo Yang might be exposed.

If Ma Sepung interfered, the plan was as good as ruined.

‘This has become troublesome…’

Ma Sepung, gazing down at his disciples with scorn, grabbed Yeong-jun’s hand and strode out of the hall like the wind.

By the steps before the hall, red lanterns had already begun to glow one by one.

They looked like crimson lotus blossoms floating on a black river.

Unable to calm the irritation welling from his dantian, Ma Sepung pounded his chest.

He knew well enough that all this trouble had begun when he, unwilling to face it, ran away.

“Boy, before the others arrive, let’s have a little bite. I skipped a bowl of noodles earlier and I’m starving.”

As if nothing had happened, his face softened with a gentle smile toward Yeong-jun.

Hearing the man who had pierced their palms casually talk of “change,” the two Dragon-Summoning Hall men boiled with rage.

Just a tavernkeeper—how strong could he be? With that thought, they shifted their swords to their other hands.

It was clear their senior had underestimated him and been caught off guard.

“Still, just in case—split left and right and attack together.”

The two exchanged glances, then split to either side and struck at the youth.

Unlike with the Eminent Mountain Sect youths, now they were finally employing their sect’s true internal sword forms.

“Can’t we just talk…”

The young man only looked troubled, watching them rush at him.

In-gyeong’s palms sweated—if this continued, the youth’s life would be in danger.

“How dare you meddle?”

The man on the left struck first.

His sword slashed from the shoulder blade toward the armpit—a sharp, precise cut.

If it landed, the arm would be severed.

But something unexpected happened.

The youth waited until the blade’s tip was near his shoulder, then stepped back half a pace and flicked it aside.

It looked like a light motion, yet the sword rang heavily and flew tens of meters away.

“Huh?”

As the first man panicked, another thrust at the youth’s left thigh.

It was the essence of the Dragon-Tiger Sword Art—the form “Dragon’s Taloned Foot.”

He was better with the sword than his senior, certain he would not fail.

And since the youth had just been attacked from the right, his left side should be defenseless.

“I’ll sever your leg!”

But the youth calmly twisted his leg and knocked the blade aside with his knee.

The second sword too was deflected with ridiculous ease.

“You! What sorcery is this?”

To their eyes, it seemed the youth had only gotten lucky.

They assumed he was merely agile and resilient—not truly superior in skill.

“Let’s see you dodge this, then.”

Both men simultaneously gathered qi in their palms.

In truth, Dragon-Summoning Hall was renowned more for its palm techniques than swordsmanship.

Their Dragon’s Hand Palm alone was enough to deal with most martial artists.

“Sect Leader, isn’t this too dangerous? Let’s flee while we can.”

The Eminent Mountain disciples fretted, fearing the youth would be harmed.

He was their only hope, yet his skills still seemed uncertain.

They thought it might be better to use this chance to run to Yellow Stone Mountain.

But In-gyeong thought differently.

“I won’t flee and abandon my benefactor. If you must, then go without me.”

He fixed his eyes firmly on the duel.

If the youth’s life were truly endangered, he was prepared to rush in and take his place.

“Let’s end this here.”

The youth sighed deeply, then stepped forward toward them just as they were about to unleash Dragon’s Hand Palm.

He clenched his fists and thrust them into the space between their palms.

The balls of gathered qi shattered uselessly.

“What?”

“Good heavens!”

The two stared dumbfounded at each other.

In over ten years of practicing Dragon’s Hand Palm, they had never seen anyone unravel their power so easily.

Only then did they realize their foe possessed overwhelming inner strength.

“I have business with those gentlemen over there. Would you kindly step aside?”

The youth, as if they’d never fought, politely clasped his hands and bowed.

The Dragon-Summoning Hall men felt goosebumps rush over them.

They staggered backward, hoisted their immobilized senior, and vanished swiftly into the forest.

“Thank you. How could we ever repay such grace…”

The Eminent Mountain disciples ran up and bowed deeply, pressing their foreheads to the ground.

In-gyeong, especially, was so choked with emotion he could hardly speak.

“Think nothing of it. You overpaid for your noodles, so I only came to return the change.”

In-gyeong wept tears of deep gratitude.

“At least tell us your name—so we may repay you one day.”

The youth flailed his hands in alarm.

“No, no. I’m just an innkeeper. If you feel indebted, then stop by for noodles whenever you pass.”

When the young men refused to rise despite his protests, he scratched his head awkwardly.

He wore the look of someone who had no idea how to escape an unwanted situation.

By then, the sun was dipping low, and night was near.

The youth glanced at the sky, then suddenly smacked his own head as if remembering something.

He forced In-gyeong’s hand open, dropped the change onto it, and bolted back the way he’d come.

“At least your name!”

In-gyeong realized too late and chased after him, but the youth was already gone.

He considered returning to the tavern, but doubted the man would reveal his name anyway.

“Sect Leader, did you notice?”

“I did.”

In-gyeong nodded lightly to the disciple who whispered at his side.

He too had seen how the youth’s skin seemed lifted half a joint’s breadth above his flesh, beaded with sweat.

“He must be hiding his identity with a human-skin mask—very suspicious.”

“If suspicion is what you see, then we are the most suspicious of all. Do not doubt a benefactor so lightly. We’ll visit again on our return to thank him properly.”

In-gyeong bowed deeply again toward the path the youth had taken.

Even long after the old man left the inn, the youth remained lost in thought.

The girl, watching her brother with worry, finally spoke as if making a decision.

“Grandfather told us not to draw attention—but how can we ignore human lives? If you settle it quickly, he’ll never know.”

“Seol, that’s not the reason.”

The youth sighed deeply and continued.

“They’re disciples of Eminent Mountain Sect. No matter how much time passes, I can never forgive them.”

The youth—no, Yun-seon—remembered the face of Go Geun-dong pressing him at the cliff’s edge, demanding the scripture’s whereabouts.

No one could ever fathom the desperation he’d felt as he leapt off that cliff.

“But is this really okay?”

Yun Seol’s desperate persuasion was not from pity for the Eminent Mountain Sect disciples.

It was for Yun-seon, whose face had been clouded with worry ever since they left.

He had claimed he didn’t want to get involved, yet when they were in danger, he had hurled the garlic in his hand without hesitation.

“It will be dangerous, won’t it?”

Try as he might, the old man’s words churned within him.

Those disciples looked three or four years younger than him.

Far too young to lose their lives to Dragon-Summoning Hall thugs.

“If we go now, it won’t be too late.”

Seeing the look on Yun-seon’s face, Yun Seol smiled, knowing he had made up his mind.

Someday, his kind heart might be his downfall, but for now she simply loved this side of him.

“Oh! But you must never reveal your identity! Even with a human-skin mask, sweat will give you away—be careful!”

As Yun Seol’s urgent warnings echoed behind him, Yun-seon hurriedly left the tavern.

조지약차 (早知若此), If I Had Known Earlier:

Regretting something after it has happened.