Chapter 46
『To the Clan Head.
Father. I hope you are well. I have chosen the Dawn Heaven Sect as the bridgehead for my first foray into the martial world and am currently focusing on my training. Although So-cheon hyung ‘s training methods are strange and often difficult, I am still enduring them to gain my own enlightenment, so I can say that this time is not in vain. Anyway, I’m growing, so don’t worry, and I’m sending this letter via carrier hawk to tell you some important news.
That news is about So-cheon hyung .
A few days ago, So-cheon hyung was attacked by an assassin in Mount Guangyang. Surprisingly, the assassin was ‘Noh Ho-yeong’ of the ‘Noh Family Assassin’s Guild’, famous for being an assassin family, and now So-cheon hyung has subdued him and is holding him hostage…… The problem lies here.
So-cheon hyung intends to use the assassin Noh Ho-yeong to make a sort of deal with the Noh Family Assassin’s Guild in the future.
Of course, the deal won’t be ‘money’, but I think there could be a conflict in some way. The reason I’m telling you this, Father, is because I’ve found that this ‘Noh Ho-yeong assassination incident’ is related to the annihilation of the Black Society. Please keep this in mind and prepare for the future regarding the ‘Black Society annihilation’ incident.
I will contact you again.
Sincerely, your son, Seok Yeon-u.』
“Th…… What in the world!”
Seok Dae-bang, who received his son’s letter, had to doubt his own eyes.
“This is truly crossing the line, crossing the line!”
The Noh Family Assassin’s Guild.
Seok Dae-bang was also familiar with the family, and countless martial artists feared its name.
But……
“If it’s Noh Ho-yeong, he’s a well-known assassin even within the Noh Family Assassin’s Guild. It’s amazing that he subdued such a person, but…… to take him hostage and make a deal? Huh…… Sect Leader Jin. What kind of person are you?!”
At this point, Seok Dae-bang had no choice but to interpret Jin So-cheon as one of two types.
‘This guy just likes to attract attention and is a crazy attention-seeker. Otherwise, how could he do such a reckless thing!’
First.
Is he a complete lunatic, a crazy guy who runs wild without fear of the world(?)Or.
‘Or else……!’
Perhaps……
Jin So-cheon is.
In a chaotic time when the Demonic Cult and the Martial Alliance clash and the Cult of the Evil Path runs rampant.
A vague sense of anticipation that he might become a ‘hero of troubled times’ who writes a new history of the martial world!
As Seok Dae-bang was confused by such thoughts, Cheongmun Sword Master, who had just finished reading the letter, burst into laughter.
“Hahaha! It seems I chose my man well.”
“Master. How can…… this be a laughing matter?”
“Dae-bang. Aren’t you surprised? For someone who has only been in the martial world for less than half a year, without any power, the moves he’s shown are…… extraordinary and amazing.”
“That’s true, but……”
“Dae-bang. I’m curious about this man’s future. I wonder how far Sect Leader Jin can go.”
“Master……”
“Let’s wait and see.”
“……”
“The martial world is a place where heroes often emerge and also those who rise and fall without becoming heroes. If Sect Leader Jin is the former, we will find it interesting, and if he is the latter, we can think about it and act accordingly. Let’s wait and see for now.”
“Master……”
Despite his master’s reassurance, Seok Dae-bang’s heart was complicated.
‘Actually, I don’t care what Sect Leader Jin does, but……’
The problem was Seok Yeon-u.
His son, Seok Yeon-u’s heart towards Jin So-cheon was always sincere.
The father’s worry that his son might be involved in Jin So-cheon’s actions and put in danger shook Seok Dae-bang’s heart.
“Dae-bang.”
“Yes, Master.”
“I know your worries well. You are afraid that Yeon-u might be in danger because he trusts and follows Sect Leader Jin, aren’t you?”
“I do have such worries.”
“Don’t worry about that. Yeon-u is like a grandson to me. You, Yeon-u, and the Seokga Estate have me, don’t you? As long as our Mount Hua Sect is here, there will be no problem.”
“Master.”
Despite his reliable master’s words, Seok Dae-bang couldn’t easily put his mind at ease.
◈ ◈ ◈
“D*mn it!”
Papapak━.
“You dared to try to assassinate our Sect Leader? You?”
Papapak━!
“You scrawny, mangy horse-like bastard! You, against our Sect Leader? You must be crazy! Tsk tsk. Die, you bastard!”
Papapapapapapak━!
‘Oh my god……’
During the newly reorganized ‘beating training’, Seok Yeon-u was appalled.
‘Is that really Noh Ho-yeong? Really?’
Noh Ho-yeong.
Although he was an assassin, his fame wasn’t as high as his skill compared to ordinary martial artists, but……
He was undoubtedly a master recognized wherever he went.
But……
“Hey, disciples. Go easy on him. If you hit him too hard, it’ll be tough on the Medical Hall Master. But that doesn’t mean you should go easy on him. For now, beat him as much as you want, as long as you don’t twist his tendons or break his bones. As they say, the one who’s eaten meat knows how to eat it well, and the one who’s beaten people a lot knows how to fight well.”
At Jin So-cheon’s words, Noh Ho-yeong became a ‘living training dummy’ for the third-rate disciples and was being beaten to death.
Of course,
『Ho-yeong. Are your muscles twitching? Try to resist if you want. I’ll crush your skull. I told you clearly. Don’t fight back and just take it for a month while the disciples build their confidence. You, you’ve learned a fair bit of external martial arts too, haven’t you? You won’t die if you skillfully dodge the vital points.』
Noh Ho-yeong, who had recovered after being treated by Master Dongbyeok, wanted to fight back as 20 disciples beat him.
Although his dantian was sealed by Jin So-cheon and he couldn’t use his internal energy, he was confident that he could subdue third-rate disciples with just his basic external martial arts skills.
However……
He couldn’t.
Because Jin So-cheon was threatening him through telepathy not to fight back even while he was being hit.
‘That bastard is beyond the description of a devil!’
Noh Ho-yeong gritted his teeth as he watched Jin So-cheon watching the disciples’ violence with a gentle expression.
But such hatred and resentment……
Didn’t last long.
“Hey, you bastard! You’re from the Noh Family Assassin’s Guild? Huh? Are there only weaklings like you in your family?”
Pupupuck━.
“Are you feeling wronged? Wronged? If you’re pissed, just die!”
Pupupupuck━.
“You arrogant bastard. You dared to attack our Sect Leader in Mount Guangyang? You really wanted to die, huh?”
Pupupupupuck━.
The disciples’ violence continued endlessly.
To make matters worse, Noh Ho-yeong, who had lost his internal energy in his dantian, had to endure the violence with his bare body without any protective aura……
“Kaaaaaaagh!”
He had no choice but to writhe in front of the excruciating physical pain he had never felt before.
“Stop! Stop it, you guys!!”
But they didn’t care.
“Stop it? Oh, you’re still speaking informally? Speak formally, you bastard!”
Papapak━.
Who are the Dawn Heaven Sect disciples?
They are former Green Gang ruffians who are incredibly ignorant and simple-minded.
Rather than feeling compassion for their opponent while inflicting merciless violence,
“Kuh-huh. It feels damn good to hit someone after always being hit unilaterally by the Sect Leader, huh?”
They seemed to be truly enjoying it.
“Sect Leader! This, this. The performance of this living wooden dummy is amazing!”
As they were diligently cultivating their ‘real-life striking sense’ using punches, kicks, and even headbutts, Seung-bok asked Jin So-cheon.
“Of course. Seung-bok. That’s expensive, you know? Tell me if there’s another sect in the world that can have a master like that as a wooden dummy as much as they want. Only the Dawn Heaven Sect is unique. In that sense, you guys are really lucky.”
“Hehe! You’re right, Sect Leader.”
“That’s right!”
“Our Sect Leader is the best!”
The disciples cheered at Jin So-cheon’s words.
Yeon-u felt dizzy again at the sight, and the Dongdong brothers were already assimilating with them.
‘These crazy bastards! How far are they going to torment me!!’
Noh Ho-yeong, who had transformed from a top-class assassin yesterday to a ‘living training dummy’ today, eventually,
“Are you crying?”
Burst into tears.
“Tsk tsk. You’re crying just because you got beaten up a little? And you call yourself an assassin? Pathetic.”
Jin So-cheon’s gaze at Noh Ho-yeong was mixed with mockery and contempt.
“Disciples. Enjoy the violence to your heart’s content. There will be grueling physical training in the afternoon, so enjoy it while you can.”
But then, Jin So-cheon grinned and chuckled.
◈ ◈ ◈
“Daddy. Aren’t you cold?”
November.
Time flew by like water, and winter had arrived.
It was the first day of snowfall.
Seeing the snowflakes covering the ground in white, I was reminded of the time I first reincarnated.
‘It was dark then……’
A mysterious reincarnation, lost martial arts, and a sudden daughter.
I managed to survive such a drastic change.
“Daddy! Why aren’t you answering?”
“Huh? Sorry. I was thinking about something.”
“What?”
“I don’t know if you remember, but before we met Old Man Yi Si-jin, Daddy was hurt. I bled a lot. It was really scary then. Seeing the first snow reminds me of that time.”
“Heehee. Of course I remember! I was really scared then too.”
“Yes. You remember.”
How scared must So-yun have been then?
It’s amazing that So-yun clearly remembers what happened when she was 3 years old.
“Hehe. I remember everything. I’m a genius.”
“That’s right. So-yun is a genius.”
“But Daddy, are you really not cold? You don’t have to take care of me.”
While we were walking across Chang’an Bridge, I took off my robe and wrapped it around So-yun because of the chilly weather.
But So-yun seemed worried that I might be cold.
“So-yun. Daddy has learned martial arts, so I can withstand most cold weather.”
“Daddy always says you’re okay, right? You say you’re not sick even when you are, and you say you’re not tired even when you are.”
“It’s true. Daddy is neither sick nor tired.”
“No way!”
“I’m telling you the truth.”
“Really?”
“Of course. Daddy is fine as long as I see So-yun smiling.”
“Hehehe. Then I should smile at Daddy all the time!”
“That’s right. If you smile at me like that every day…… Daddy will always be fine.”
So-yun clung to my leg and dangled.
I stroked her head.
‘It’s strange. She’s not even my real blood relative…… Why do I cherish So-yun so much?’
I had thought about that dozens of times since I reincarnated.
‘I guess……’
The spirit and soul of the hunter Jin So-cheon, the original owner of this body.
Is it influencing my soul by becoming a powerful instinct?
“Heeheehee. I like Daddy.”
Well……
Even if it’s not that.
It doesn’t matter since she’s so cute.
I just like So-yun for no reason.
“So-yun.”
“Yes?”
“Daddy will be gone for a few nights starting tomorrow. Can you stay with Grandpa, Ye-rin unni , the writing teacher, Yeon-u uncle, the Dongdong uncles, and everyone else?”
“Aww…… Where are you going again?”
“I’m going to work.”
“So you’re going to make money?”
“Well, something like that.”
“Oh…… Okay. Then Daddy, make a lot of money. So-yun will smile at you again.”
“Thank you.”
I was lost in the reverie of a walk while exchanging trivial conversations with So-yun.
It’s the happiest time of my day, I guess?
Anyway, being with So-yun made me feel at ease.
◈ ◈ ◈
The next day, at the Dawn Heaven Sect’s main building━.
“I’m going to the Noh Family Assassin’s Guild. I’m going alone, so don’t even think about following me. It’s not a good idea to dream of neglecting your training even when I’m not here. I’ve already told the Medical Hall Master, so he’ll be supervising you. When I’m gone, Il-dong is like the Sect Leader, so Il-dong, you take good care of everyone. Yeon-u, after your training, play with So-yun. That’s all.”