Chapter 12

Chapter 12: Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven

True to the principle of ihwa (二和) reflected in its title, the Pear Blossom Six Harmonies Art served as a method of cultivation designed to unify two distinct powers: inner and outer qi. By drawing upon the primal terrestrial energy flowing through the six harmonies, it cultivated both the internal core and the external physique simultaneously.

“That implies that the further you push your physical limits, the greater the volume of qi you can absorb. Quit slacking off, So, and drop that stance lower.”

Bathed in perspiration and shuddering with fatigue, Baek Heonso forced out a strained reply.

“B-but, Brother… this is brutal… I feel like my body’s giving out…”

Holding an identical posture beside him, Yanghwi offered a retort in an even, steady tone, despite a faint quaver in his breath.

“When it comes down to pure conditioning, you’re actually ahead of me. You should easily be able to outlast my pace.”

“Argh… y-yes, Brother…!”

Despite coming from a lineage of martial artists, he was still a mere seven-year-old child. Even so, observing Yanghwi stubbornly hold his ground gave Baek Heonso the willpower to grit his teeth and endure.

Much like a fledgling mirroring its parent, he was determined to match Yanghwi step for step.

Still, a quiet frustration gnawed at the back of his mind.

“Brother… huff… why doesn’t Yeon have to suffer through this like us…?”

In sharp contrast to the grueling exertion of the two boys straining every fiber of their bodies to build the Pear Blossom Six Harmonies Art, Baek Yeonyeon moved gracefully nearby, her forms flowing as effortlessly as a gentle dance.

“Don’t compare yourself to her. Yeon is a girl; this rhythm is far better suited to her.”

The Heaven-Splitting Three Swords of the Baek clan embraced the twin tenets of swift agility and unwavering stability.

Put simply, it offered two separate paths of mastery.

“Given her constitution, there is an inherent ceiling to how much physical rigidity she can develop.”

Naturally, once a practitioner attained a realm where dense internal energy could bridge physical limitations, such bodily discrepancies ceased to matter.

Yet because the initial phase of cultivation laid the groundwork for everything to come, their regimes had to be uniquely tailored.

“Our path is entirely different. If you want to wield a blade with unmatched steadiness, you must first build a body unyielding as stone.”

“B-but… pant… Father never… taught us to do it like this…”

“And yet, once he observed it himself, he acknowledged my method was superior, didn’t he?”

“Urrgh… it’s just… so brutal…”

With a groan, Baek Heonso’s legs gave way, and he slumped to the earth.

Yanghwi, whose unconditioned frame had been sustained purely by stubborn resolve, tumbled backward at the very same moment, limbs sprawling outward across the paved courtyard in the shape of a star.

A satisfied grin curled the edge of Yanghwi’s lips.

The little rascal certainly has a fierce bite to him.

Pushing oneself past the brink of exhaustion during a single training bout was no small achievement for a seven-year-old boy.

Even a grown adult would find it difficult to skirt their absolute threshold without an innate, stubborn ruthlessness.

In his prior life, the sole misfortune had been that Heonso turned that fiery persistence toward resentment and petty bitterness.

“You did well, So. Take a breather, and then we go again.”

“Pant, pant… Understood, Brother…”

Even while wheezing as though his lungs might burst, Baek Heonso never once begged to throw in the towel.

The regimen was pure torment, but his elder brother was never mistaken. If his brother declared it was within their grasp, then it was.

Somewhere along the way, that conviction had taken firm root in Baek Heonso’s heart.

Right about then…

“Young Master Hwi. A visitor has arrived for you.”

“Ah, Steward Han.”

An unlooked-for guest had come calling for Yanghwi.

It was not an unwelcome presence, yet the man was, by every definition, unannounced.

“Little Brother, didn’t we leave some unfinished business on the table? An entire month slipped by without a whisper from you, so I had to make the trip myself.”

“Is that so? Did we really?”

Of course, Yanghwi had not forgotten a single detail.

Back when they plundered the secret vaults of the Cheongsa Gang, he had secured Gu Ak’s cooperation with the solemn vow of turning his beloved into his wedded wife.

He had merely delayed following up, knowing a suitable period of anticipation had to pass.

He ought to be thoroughly on edge by now.

Gu Ak had hesitated to take the initiative out of awkwardness, but impatience had ultimately won out, prompting him to march straight into the Baek Estate.

It was clear evidence of just how desperate he had grown.

“Brother Gu!”

Hiding his inner calculations behind a beaming smile, Yanghwi darted forward, covered from head to toe in grime and sweat.

Gu Ak instinctively pulled back with a grimace, shifting his weight aside.

“Little Brother, what do you think you’re doing?!”

“I was merely overcome with joy to see you.”

It was a total fabrication. Seeing Gu Ak dressed in such pristine, shimmering silk robes had simply sparked a sudden impulse in Yanghwi to smear them with dirt.

“It looks as though you were in the middle of martial training.”

“Indeed I was.”

“Hmm…”

Gu Ak was well aware of the humble standing of the martial disciplines passed down through the Baek family.

Even so, he possessed enough tact not to bluntly declare that sweating over such mundane arts was a fruitless endeavor.

Noticing Gu Ak’s hesitation, Yanghwi saw through him in a heartbeat.

“You look as though you’re holding back from telling me that bleeding for a dead-end style is an exercise in futility, Brother Gu.”

It was an entirely understandable reaction. After all, Gu Ak had broken into the first-rate realm despite his youth.

That feat proved he possessed not only natural gifts, but had also studied elite techniques backed by relentless, bone-grinding toil.

“…Ahem. That wasn’t my thought at all. The Baek Estate’s fundamentals are quite sound, and there is certainly merit in mastering them.”

Gu Ak refrained from claiming that it could ever open the doors to the pinnacle of cultivation, which was an undeniable truth.

After all, even Baek Muryang, who diligently practiced despite his heavy responsibilities as the family patriarch, remained stuck at the second-rate realm.

Still, it undeniably excels at laying a proper baseline.

Were it otherwise, Yanghwi would have already resorted to drastic measures to impart the Harmonious Heaven Primordial Art and the Hundred and Eight Heaven-Splitting Swords — the very masterworks he had created with his own hands — straight to Baek Muryang.

“Let us step inside my pavilion. Come with me, Brother Gu.”

“Lead the way.”

Showing Gu Ak into his personal chambers, Yanghwi summoned a servant girl and requested a fresh kettle of tea.

“Give us just a moment, and tea will be brought.”

“Hmm.”

Gu Ak looked distinctly uneasy, his gaze restlessly darting across the four corners of the room.

Yanghwi instantly discerned the reason for his discomfort.

I see. He has no desire to lay bare his inner vulnerabilities in a room where stray ears might be listening.

It was the classic paranoia of those walking the underworld: ever wary, perpetually anxious in any environment outside their grasp.

“Little Brother. How about accompanying me instead? I’ll treat you to a proper feast and introduce you to an exceptional venue.”

He framed it as a hospitable gesture, but his true objective was securing a private retreat under his absolute sway.

Since the meeting place held no importance for Yanghwi, he agreed without hesitation.

“Why not? I simply need to secure permission to leave the grounds first. And wash off this grime.”

Leaving Gu Ak alone in the room, Yanghwi washed away the sweat and dirt before slipping into clean garments.

From there, he walked toward the steward’s quarters.

“Big Brother!”

Recognizing Baek Yeonyeon’s chirping call, he glanced toward the open yard.

“Training isn’t finished yet, so why are you already cleaned up? Where are you off to?”

Baek Yeonyeon stared up at him with wide, inquisitive eyes. Baek Heonso hovered right beside her, wearing an identical expression of unspoken curiosity.

“I need to step out to handle a quick matter with Brother Gu, Yeon.”

“Hmph! So you’re slipping away to have fun all by yourself?”

Seeing Baek Yeonyeon puff out her round cheeks like warm steamed buns, Yanghwi could not help but break into an affectionate smile.

“I’ll return with a generous pouch of sweet treats. And I’ll pick up some grilled chicken skewers for you, So.”

“Truly? You promise?”

“P-promise me as well, Brother.”

Watching the two precious children, Yanghwi extended his pinky finger to seal the pact before turning toward the steward’s door.

“Steward Han, it’s Yanghwi.”

“Come in.”

The interior was weather-worn and modest, yet meticulously arranged, its desk weighed down beneath neat stacks of registers and scrolls.

After taking in the quiet room for a brief moment, Yanghwi went straight to the point.

“I intend to take a short trip outside.”

“Oho, and what sort of profit will this venture yield?”

“Excuse me? Steward Han… isn’t it a bit unseemly to tie my every movement to silver?”

“Are you saying there is no coin to be made?”

“Well… not quite that.”

“I thought as much. My confidence in you never wavers, Young Master Hwi.”

While that trust felt slightly misdirected, having someone believe in him was far from unpleasant.

Even if there is no coin in this, I’ll have to see that it turns a profit regardless. If only to satisfy the steward’s expectations.

Stepping out from the steward’s quarters and heading back to his room, Yanghwi waved toward Gu Ak.

“I have my leave. We may go, Brother Gu.”

“Excellent.”

The moment their feet cleared the threshold of the Baek Estate’s main gates, Gu Ak hoisted Yanghwi effortlessly over his shoulder.

“Are you resorting to a movement art already? Where are you taking us, anyway?”

Rather than showing any alarm, Yanghwi hung there looking completely unbothered, prompting Gu Ak to click his tongue in amusement.

“Where else would the scion of the Honggyo Gang leader lead you? Even if the hour is rather early for it.”

With that, Gu Ak set his path toward Hoyeong Pavilion, the premier pleasure palace operated by the Honggyo Gang.

Ho for lake, yeong for shadow. True to its poetic title, the establishment commanded the most breathtaking view of the scenic Yuhang Lake, drawing an endless stream of sightseers and wealthy dilettantes.

“Welcome, Young Master!”

“Quickly! The young master has arrived! Gather around and show your respects!”

Look at this spectacle. A ruffian of the dark path being hailed as a noble young master.

The sight made Yanghwi’s skin crawl, yet Gu Ak accepted the fawning chorus as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Set the finest private chamber with a full spread of wine. As for entertainers…”

Gu Ak glanced toward Yanghwi with an amused, knowing smirk.

“It is said that boys and girls should not share a mat past the age of seven. Which implies that once you cross that threshold, you are old enough to act like a grown man. What do you think, Little Brother?”

“Are you trying to see my father break my legs? Never mind courtesans, I am forbidden from touching a drop of liquor.”

“Tsk. Have it your way, Little Brother.”

Shortly thereafter, a low table was carried into the room, laden with cups and a jar of vintage brew.

“Do you spot that vessel? Nurse your tea, Little Brother. I have drinking to do.”

“…”

That was downright petty. Forcing him to sip plain tea while someone indulged right across from him.

Having spoken with such righteous virtue moments ago, asking for a taste now would thoroughly wound his pride.

Setting aside the certainty that his father would have his hide if he discovered it, consuming spirits was undeniably harmful to an undeveloped frame.

…Until the physical foundation settles, touching alcohol is out of the question. Indeed… that is undeniably the correct choice…

His mind understood that truth plainly.

Yet in his previous life, Yanghwi had wandered the realm as a vagabond swordsman for over a decade.

And among wandering blades, liquor and breath were practically the same thing.

Gulp.

Noticing Yanghwi swallow his saliva, Gu Ak let out a low chuckle.

The little whelp was putting on airs as though he genuinely understood the allure of strong drink, which was thoroughly entertaining.

“Would you like a cup?”

“…I am quite alright.”

“Your voice suddenly took on a bitter edge. It seems your throat is parched after all.”

Matching the sour tone of his words, Yanghwi’s face twisted into an equally sullen scowl.

“I might just get up and walk away, you know.”

“Walk if you wish, but settle our account before you do. Do not forget that you are the one who failed to deliver on your end for over a month, Little Brother.”

“Everyone lets things slip from time to time, there’s no need to hold a petty grudge… Ah, blast it, my thoughts slipped past my teeth!”

Gu Ak’s brow twitched sharply.

“You dare admit that you forgot a pact forged with me, Gu Ak? Especially when you dangled Rangnang as your wager?”

Rangnang. That appeared to be the name of the woman Gu Ak cherished enough to defy his own blood father.

In his prior existence, Yanghwi had paid little heed to the affair, leaving him completely ignorant of her name until now.

“Still, you came to find me in the end, Brother Gu, so has it not worked out for the best? In the grand scheme of things, the one gripped by urgency is always the one at a disadvantage.”

“You are sorely tempting me to show you what true desperation feels like, Little Brother.”

“I might just run to Sister Rang and complain that you are using heavy-handed threats against a helpless child, Brother Gu.”

Gu Ak blinked, utterly thrown off.

“Sister? On what grounds is Rangnang your sister?”

Yanghwi offered an innocent, sly smirk.

“If she is the beloved of Brother Gu, does that not make her my sister as well?”

“…”

For the longest time, Gu Ak had endured hearing his own father and brothers drag Rangnang’s name through the mud with vulgar contempt.

Hearing someone else casually refer to his beloved as ‘Sister’ instantly disarmed the anger in his chest.

Did the little brat calculate that phrase on purpose, or did it truly come out naturally? Either way, this boy was terrifyingly far from ordinary.

“Drop the nonsense and speak plainly. How do I convince my father to welcome Rangnang? He is dead set on arranging a political marriage for me.”

“I am aware. Furthermore, your prospective bride is the direct daughter of an influential clan, meaning you will not even be granted the privilege of keeping a concubine.”

In short, should events continue along this course, Rangnang would neither stand as his primary wife nor find shelter as a secondary spouse.

Eventually, the master of the Honggyo Gang would orchestrate Rangnang’s demise. And that bloody act would trigger an all-out slaughter within the Honggyo Gang itself.

Rangnang had lived her life convinced she was nothing more than an abandoned orphan, but the reality was far different: a powerful father was searching for her with relentless fury.

A patriarch wielding enough martial might to drown the Honggyo Gang — a dominant dark-path syndicate ruling over Ak’an County — in a river of blood.

How should I arrange the pieces so that such a towering figure becomes a shield for our Baek house?

After letting his thoughts churn in silence for a fleeting breath, Yanghwi parted his lips.

“Brother Gu. When stripped to its root, the dilemma persists because Sister Rang lacks any lineage or backing of her own. Which implies…”