Chapter 33

Near Nanyang Lake, Shandong Province — the Smoke and Cloud Union.

“Union leader, the goods ship bound for Nanyang Lake has been completely burned!”

“Leader, the warriors of our union stationed at Jianyong were attacked. Survivors… there are none!”

“Leader, the merchants who paid tribute have informed us they can no longer pay. It’s clear the Night Water Clan has been applying pressure!”

“Leader! Leader! Leader!”

Ha Ho-baek, the leader of the Smoke and Cloud Union, tore at his hair in agony.

The Smoke and Cloud Union, which had controlled the Nanyang Lake area for decades, was collapsing on his watch.

All around him were reports of defeat.

People were dying, goods were being stolen, and money was slipping away.

“What about the Gold Guards Faction, the White Wish Clan, any news from Cold Stream Clan?”

The situations of their only reliable allied factions mirrored the Smoke and Cloud Union’s.

“Since the leaders of the Southern Four Alliance went missing, the other factions are in the same state. Everyone is under immediate threat!”

Ha Ho-baek squeezed his eyes shut.

The Smoke and Cloud Union couldn’t be called a famous sect in the martial world, but they’d long held sway over the Nanyang Lake region and enjoyed wide respect.

Yet decades of power were crumbling because of a single band of black-clad men.

The Night Water Clan.

Gnash!

Ha Ho-baek ground his teeth at the very name.

“We cannot collapse like this. The Southern Four Alliance cannot be allowed to fall powerless! Damn those Night Water Clan bastards!”

“But leader, you know the rumor — the Bukgung Family is behind the Night Water Clan.”

Bukgung! That damned Bukgung!

Damn the Bukgung Family!

“If that rumor is true, we must give up. The Night Water Clan is not the problem. You know what happens when you oppose the name of Bukgung.”

Grind!

“There is nowhere in the realm that can resist Bukgung, Union leader!”

“What should we do? If we disband the Smoke and Cloud Union, at least the reprisals would be…”

“Union leader, make a decision…!”

The lives of hundreds of Smoke and Cloud members hung on a single man: Ha Ho-baek’s decision.

There was no place in the realm that could afford to displease the Bukgung Family; Ha Ho-baek knew that all too well.

But.

“I will not give up the Smoke and Cloud Union like this.”

The members of the Smoke and Cloud Union froze at the young master’s words.

To them it sounded no different from pouring oil on ourselves and jumping into a pit of fire.

Some despaired, some gave up, some thought of fleeing.

That was, until Ha Ho-baek spoke again.

“It’s true that there’s no place in the realm that can stand against Bukgung. But…”

“…?”

“There is one place. A place that can stand against Bukgung.”

The retainers wore puzzled expressions.

Who, indeed, could oppose the Bukgung Family?

Ha Ho-baek’s mouth fell open slowly.

“It is the Bukgung Family itself…!”

“Aagh!”

At the Flying Swallow Manor guard training ground, the guards’ screams pierced the sky once again.

Today the cause was simple: it was the day the guards sparred with Yeon Mujin.

“You idiot — how many times are you going to get hit by the same move!”

Yeon Mujin’s sparring partner struck Seo Nak-il’s right hand holding the spear shaft, and he dropped his weapon.

Yeon Mujin clicked his tongue as Seo Nak-il clutched his wrist and groaned.

“How many attacks did Captain Seo hold out?”

“One hundred and three!”

Yeon Mujin smirked.

“First place, Yu Se-gwang lasted eighty-three seconds. This time I’d give it to Se-gwang.”

“Hooray!”

Yu Se-gwang threw both arms up in delight.

Seo Nak-il, looking thoroughly wronged, complained to Yeon Mujin.

“You held back on purpose, didn’t you? So I’d lose by just one attack?”

“No way. I always do my best.”

“Otherwise there’s no way only Gwan-wol and I would be left without the bonus!”

For the past month, only Seo Nak-il and Deputy Yang Gwan-wol had not received bonuses.

They belatedly realized the truth: if bonuses were awarded based on how many attacks one could withstand, Yeon Mujin could decide the winner as he pleased from the start.

Smack!

“You pick on me because you’re weak.”

Of course, it didn’t faze Yeon Mujin at all.

Yang Gwan-wol, listening nearby, murmured, “These sparrings are boring…”

“How long do we have to keep doing this?”

“It’s frustrating.”

“Frustrating, stinging, and painful.”

“Frustrating, stinging, painful, and we don’t even get paid.”

Yeon Mujin picked at his ear and addressed Yang Gwan-wol and Seo Nak-il’s grumbling.

“Why are the ones who get the highest monthly stipend so quick to complain? Guarding is like this. To protect the lord, you train and grow strong every day as if a year were a single day, always preparing for the unexpected. That’s what being a deputy captain is about.”

“Anyway, the lord stays only at the manor, and I don’t see why we must learn how to handle tribute delegations in the first place.”

The reason Yeon Mujin had the External Protection Troops practice handling tribute delegations was because of Solitary Cloud Manor’s Lonely Claw Troops.

Yeon Mujin believed Bukgung Yoon’s first hurdles to becoming family lord would be Bukgung Bi-beom and the Lonely Claw Troops.

‘Bukgung Bi-beom isn’t really a big problem. But Un Ji-kang and the Lonely Claw Troops need watching.’

That fellow was probably furious over matters with the Wang Family Trading Union.

They might suspect Yeon Mujin started it, but without proof they’d only be pacing about in frustration.

When Flying Swallow Manor clashed head-on with the Lonely Claw Troops later, these sparring sessions would surely help.

Yang Gwan-wol answered Seo Nak-il’s remark.

“I know. The lord wants to take out his frustration.”

“Agreed.”

How could a sparrow know the intentions of a great roc?

“Both of you, be quiet. If you’re annoyed, leave — I won’t stop you. Those without the will to become stronger don’t belong in the Bukgung Family’s personal guard.”

“There you go again.”

The guards trusted and followed Yeon Mujin. But none of them seriously believed Bukgung Yoon would become lord of the Bukgung Family yet.

Except for one person.

“The captain is right! When our lord moves forward, our External Protection Troops must protect him!”

Yu Se-gwang shouted.

For reference, Yu Se-gwang was the one who had earned the most bonuses in the sparring exchanges.

“That captain-worshipping fanatic.”

“He got paid, so he won’t complain.”

When Bukgung Yoon’s name came up, murmurs spread among the guards.

“But lately, doesn’t the captain’s vibe feel different from before?”

“Different how?”

“Every time we escort the lord these days it’s strange. Flying Swallow Manor itself is more stable than before, but the manor lord seems the exact opposite.”

“The exact opposite?”

“Well, it’s hard to put into words, but she has a blade-like air about her.”

The other warriors all nodded in agreement.

Yeon Mujin had noticed the change in Bukgung Yoon too.

To be precise, the shift came after the family meeting ended.

—I also developed it. The thought of becoming the family lord of the Bukgung Family.

It was the first time Yeon Mujin had heard such an ambition spoken by Bukgung Yoon.

He didn’t know why she had suddenly felt that way.

‘Well, I don’t need to know that. At least it’s advantageous for me.’

Yeon Mujin thought Bukgung Yoon’s change was a good one.

A ruler should naturally carry an aura that makes people uneasy.

Especially for someone young and a woman like Bukgung Yoon — fear is an aspect of rule.

However.

‘Bukgung Yoon still lacks much.’

Yeon Mujin believed what she needed most now was power — a faction.

No matter how much she strengthened bonds and gained loyalty within this narrow Flying Swallow Manor, it would be a tempest in a teacup.

To gain recognition, status, and power equal to her brothers, Bukgung Yoon needed her own faction.

The other brothers had each built their own power bases.

The First Young Master governed Central Huazhong.

The Second Young Master governed Southern Huazhong.

The Third Young Master governed Yun-Gui.

The Fourth Young Master governed Sichuan.

The Fifth Young Master governed Xiangdong.

The Sixth Young Master governed Shandong.

This didn’t mean the Young Masters personally ruled those regions, but that local power blocs paid loyalty and tribute to each of them.

The Bukgung Family arena was a battleground of central forces; the region’s powers, both righteous and otherwise, were vying for territory within this minor martial world called the Bukgung Family.

For Bukgung Yoon to stake a claim here, she must either seize leaderless lands or take someone else’s holdings — she had to do one of the two.

‘Damn. This is getting complicated. The other brothers already have their own forces.’

It was Yeon Mujin’s first time starting from nothing. Could Bukgung Yoon really take from others?

Yeon Mujin didn’t yet know how firm her resolve was.

“Captain! Captain!”

“What is it? What’s the matter?”

“There is a guest here to see the manor lord.”

“Who is it to cause such a fuss?”

“They say they’re from the Smoke and Cloud Union in Shandong Province.”

“What?”

Shandong Province?

“Smoke and Cloud Union?”

That name sounded familiar.

The middle-aged man who entered the lord’s chamber looked thoroughly nervous.

He seemed cowed by the name Bukgung Family.

He met Yeon Mujin’s eyes, bowed urgently, and spoke.

“Hello — my name is Im Cheon-woo. I was named Cheon-woo because I was born on a day of heavy rain when the stream overflowed. I come from the Smoke and Cloud Union near Nanyang Lake in Shandong Province, and I bring a message from Union leader Ha Ho-baek asking me to visit this Bukgung Family. Please don’t be angry; hear my story calmly…”

“Wait, wait, just a moment.”

Im Cheon-woo cut off mid-sentence, terrified, as he stared at Yeon Mujin.

“Yes?”

“Speak a bit more slowly.”

“Ah, I’m sorry!”

Im Cheon-woo bowed his head low.

“Where did you say you’re from?”

“From the Smoke and Cloud Union near Nanyang Lake in Shandong Province, bearing a message from Union leader Ha Ho-baek to visit this Bukgung Family…”

“I told you to speak slowly.”

“I have committed a grievous offense!”

Yeon Mujin’s head ached.

Bukgung Yoon, unable to stand it, stepped forward.

“No one will press you. Please speak slowly. You say you come from the Smoke and Cloud Union?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Im Cheon-woo answered Bukgung Yoon, then looked back at Yeon Mujin and asked cautiously.

“Excuse me, but who might the lady be…?”

“The lord of Flying Swallow Manor.”

“Ehh?”

Judging by his surprised reaction, he had mistaken Yeon Mujin for the lord — understandable, since Bukgung Yoon was young and a woman.

Bukgung Yoon asked him, “I don’t recall a Union leader of the Smoke and Cloud Union — perhaps you’ve come to the wrong place?”

“This is the Flying Swallow Manor of the Bukgung Family, correct? Our previous union leader said there is a deep connection with Flying Swallow Manor.”

“What is the name of your previous leader?”

“Ha Ho-cheon.”

It was a name they did not know.

Im Cheon-woo looked around nervously and said, “Excuse me, but isn’t the lord’s name Wei So-yeon?”

‘Wei So-yeon?’

Im Cheon-woo probably had come to the wrong place. Even Yeon Mujin didn’t know the name Wei So-yeon.

‘Was there such a name in the Bukgung Family?’

But Bukgung Yoon’s reaction was different. At the mention of Wei So-yeon her shoulders stiffened.

“Wei So-yeon… Are you saying the Smoke and Cloud Union has ties to someone named Wei So-yeon?”

Bukgung Yoon’s voice trembled.

“Yes, yes. Our leader told me to seek help from Flying Swallow Manor…”

“I see.”

“Is it someone you know?”

Yeon Mujin asked, and Bukgung Yoon answered, “Wei So-yeon is the name of my late mother.”