“Hey.” “Cough, cough!” Gasping, the merchant dangled in the air, his feet kicking uselessly. Before him were the glistening eyes of Yoon-seok. “What is this?” “What?” the merchant choked out. He couldn’t draw a proper breath, let alone form an answer. With a thud, Yoon-seok dropped him to the ground, his expression hard. “I asked, what is this?” “I… what do you mean?” He was terrified. No, terror was the only possible response. The sword at the man’s hip, the cold fire in his eyes, the casual strength that had lifted him from the ground with one hand—this was one of the Musado. An outlaw. A man of immense power. The sheer force of his presence was more than any common man could withstand. “Who did this?” “That… I don’t know…” the merchant replied, staring at the ground. “You don’t know?” “…Yes. The beast was perfectly fine yesterday. It was like this when I came in this morning.” Yoon-seok’s brow furrowed as he stared at the desiccated corpse of the black ox. The method of Heup-gong Shin-gong. As a martial artist, he knew its nature better than anyone. It was an art that stole the energy of others to bolster one’s own. The most infamous practitioners were the demonic Heolma-dan, but there were others: arts of Gwi-eum Gong, Hwan-hon Daebeop, and other Cheol-hyeol techniques. All of them were strictly forbidden among the orthodox sects. To even learn one was to become a target for the entire Musado. That was why only the Cheonma-do dared to practice such arts. However, the state of the dead ox was different from the results of those techniques. This was something more fundamental, a prototype of the basic Chae-gi Sul. It was an art few knew, and it was also the foundation of Heuk-ryong Shin-gong, the signature martial art of Yoon-seok and his master, Namgoong Il-hwan. “What kind of person… How dare they?” Yoon-seok’s expression twisted. As far as he knew, he was the last to have been taught this art. No one else should have been able to use the method of Heup-gong Shin-gong. His master had been condemned for creating it, yet he had used it as a foundation to become the Hyeol-ryeonju, reigning over the Hae-won Musado as an absolute power. But those who learned the art had to follow one immutable rule. Never kill an object of love. It was his master’s decree, a sacred taboo, and the only way to use the technique correctly. The moment the target was killed by the art, Sa-gi would accumulate in the user’s body. With each subsequent killing, the side effects would grow more severe, leading to a state known as thirst and extinction. When Sa-gi, the energy of death, accumulated beyond a certain point, one would fall into a demonic state. The urge to kill spawned by the Chae-gi Sul would become impossible to suppress. Enduring this in a sober state was impossible. One had to drink, be it alcohol or medicine, until the mind went blank just to bear it. All the while, the body would continue to break down, withering away until nothing was left. In a way, it was the natural price for forcibly stealing the vitality of others. But here before him lay the corpse of a dead ox. Killed. Whoever did this had broken the taboo and was undoubtedly suffering the side effects. They had to be. Yoon-seok’s face grew cold. “They’ll do anything. A job that kills people without leaving a trace is perfect for them.” And they were likely a terrible drunkard. “Let me ask you one thing.” “Yes?” “How many?” “…What?” “How many of your cattle have ended up like this?” “Eh… About ten, I think?” “How often does it happen?” “There’s no pattern to it.” The merchant mumbled that he had tried to hire escorts, but it had been useless. He didn’t know how many enemies he needed to protect against, and he couldn’t afford the cost anyway. But that was the merchant’s problem. For Yoon-seok, the crucial fact was that this had happened repeatedly. It meant someone nearby knew the method of Heup-gong Shin-gong. And that person had to have a connection to him or his master. And they had broken the taboo. A cold light began to glint in Yoon-seok’s eyes. Knock, knock. Kim Min-joon left a small, rolled-up vestibule on the table. Do-kwang stared at it. It had been only two days since the last murder. “…….?” The contracts handed to Do-kwang were few and far between. The targets were always exceptional. The pay didn’t matter. He didn’t do this for money. He was purely addicted to the act of murder itself. The thrill of killing. That was all he craved. The scent of blood always set his nerves alight. “Hahaha.” Do-kwang smiled a strange, twisted smile at the thought of tasting blood again. He waited for nightfall. That night, Do-kwang headed to the cattle market to kill. As always, his steps were measured. He would only draw out as much energy as was necessary for a single murder. Any more would be excessive. It might turn this into a major incident. If it became an incident and drew attention, he would have to leave Cheong-eun Ho. He never knew when his pursuers might find him. His footsteps were silent on the packed earth. The beasts in the pen stopped their lowing, and Do-kwang slowly approached an ox. Crunch. He always found the sound of an animal’s bones cracking as he drew out its energy… interesting. So far, every night had been the same. But tonight… “Hey.” “……?” Someone had called out to him. Strange. No one had ever been here at this hour. Do-kwang turned his gaze and saw a man in a black uniform standing with his arms crossed. “Huh? Who are you?” “……..” “Well, you’ve seen something you shouldn’t have.” Having already drained the life from a second beast, Do-kwang felt a surge of energy that made his loose clothes feel tight against his skin. He smiled faintly. “Which means you must die.” The moment his smile vanished, Do-kwang’s feet blurred. Boom! And his clean strike was stopped cold. A deep furrow formed on his brow. Something was different. This wasn’t like his usual encounters. And Yoon-seok, the man in black who had intercepted his attack, spoke in a chilling tone. “Who are you?” His head should have been severed. That was how it always went. A square cooking knife, held in Do-kwang’s hand, was trembling uncontrollably. He tore his gaze from the blade and looked at Yoon-seok. The man hadn’t moved an inch from his original spot. The sword at his waist remained sheathed, and his arms were still crossed. How had he blocked it? Do-kwang shook his head, staring at Yoon-seok. “It must have been a coincidence.” Do-kwang shifted his grip on the cleaver, stilling its tremors. He glared fiercely at Yoon-seok. There would be no second chance. He had never met a man like this. Which meant this man would die. He launched himself forward. His steps were wilder, his strike infused with far more power than before. Do-kwang’s body shot across the ground so fast that the dirt kicked up by his feet hadn’t yet fallen back to earth. Whoosh! The cold air rushed past his face, too slow to keep up. His hair streamed straight back. Clang! The instant his cleaver was deflected, Do-kwang saw it clearly. It wasn’t a sword. It was a hand, moving with an almost fly-like casualness. The man’s expression was one of someone dealing with a nuisance. But the killing intent… the incredible energy radiating from Yoon-seok’s body… It pricked his skin like a thousand needles. Death. If he pressed forward, he would die. Do-kwang immediately reversed his momentum, leaping back and away from Yoon-seok. “You… What are you?” Nothing like this had ever happened. Yoon-seok just stared blankly back at him, watching as Do-kwang held his knife in a reverse grip, his eyes wide with a mixture of shock and wariness. “That’s the question I should be asking. Who are you? And how do you know the method of Heup-gong Shin-gong?” “The method of Heup-gong Shin-gong… how?” A flicker of confusion crossed Do-kwang’s murderous gaze. He didn’t know anything about a “method of Heup-gong Shin-gong.” All he knew was that the man before him had discovered his secret, and for that, he had to die. Slowly, Do-kwang’s aura began to rise sharply. This opponent was not someone to be dealt with lightly. His assassination style was ill-suited for a head-on confrontation; it was designed to exploit an opponent’s opening in a flash, fast and simple because its sole focus was the kill. “Heh, you’re quite amusing.” “………” Do-kwang ran his tongue over his lips, his expression grim. “Now, I will kill you.” “………” Yoon-seok just stared as Do-kwang settled into a stance. He wasn’t very skilled. His blade was sharp, that much was true. But after two clashes, Do-kwang should have realized the gap between them. He clearly had no understanding of Yoon-seok’s true ability. He didn’t even comprehend his own opponent’s power. This was a side effect of abusing the method of Heup-gong Shin-gong. The Sa-gi had already risen to his head, driving him mad. He was gradually becoming less of a man. Soon, he would be consumed by a crazed bloodlust, unable to think, craving slaughter day and night. Like the martial arts warriors of the past, he might eventually start sucking the energy from people. He didn’t even realize he was dying. Boom! Do-kwang stomped the ground and flew toward Yoon-seok. “Haha! Die! Die!” Yoon-seok made no move to attack as Do-kwang swung his blade with crazed eyes. He simply dodged. He moved within the arc of Do-kwang’s attacks, avoiding them with minimal, precise movements. The edge of the cleaver sliced through the hem of his clothes, but Yoon-seok didn’t increase the distance between them. On the contrary, he stepped in closer. He wanted to see. Do-kwang’s bladework was excellent. His weapon was slightly longer than a dagger, yet Yoon-seok had never seen anyone wield such an instrument with that level of skill. No one. In terms of pure technique, it far surpassed that of Go Wol-myeong. Every single strike was aimed with lethal precision. ‘He’s targeting the meridians.’ The point of Do-kwang’s blade sliced through the air. As Yoon-seok leaned back, dodging by a hair’s breadth, the flat of the blade passed just over his chest. Outstanding. His blade might have an unconventional shape, but it was sharper than anything. It seemed to ride the air currents, allowing for a swift and fluid transition between offense and defense. He must have undergone a great deal of training. No matter how impressive the martial art, it was not easy to make a blade move with such flow. Every motion was a killing blow. It would be a waste to kill him. Yoon-seok was conflicted. What should he do? Kill him? But he had to know how this man had learned the method of Heup-gong Shin-gong. That was the only reason he hadn’t attacked. If he had intended to kill, this fight would have ended the moment it began. “Hahaha!” The longer the fight dragged on, the more frenzied Do-kwang became. This was dangerous. Perhaps ten more times. If he continued to gather Sa-gi using the method of Heup-gong Shin-gong, a normal life would become impossible. He would transform into a killing machine, not a man. Zurik! Was it the conflict in his mind? A moment’s hesitation entered Yoon-seok’s movements, and Do-kwang’s blade shot through the gap. Clang! “……!” He was certain he had struck true. But the knife stopped with a harsh metallic screech. It was caught. The blade was held fast in Yoon-seok’s right hand. “Curiosity won.” “….?” A grin spread across Yoon-seok’s face, reflected in Do-kwang’s wide eyes. Crack! And then the blade broke. It could not withstand the power in Yoon-seok’s grip and shattered into pieces. “I’ll let you live, for now. At least until I find out exactly what you are.” “…!” As Yoon-seok’s smile widened, his left hand struck. Thump! Yoon-seok’s fist slammed into Do-kwang’s abdomen. “Cough!” Do-kwang’s eyes bulged, and his body folded like a shrimp around the point of impact. His back bowed. Then the right fist, the one that had just shattered the blade, swung around in a vicious, horizontal arc. The shock of the blow to his gut was so great that Do-kwang saw the attack coming but couldn’t move to avoid it. Crack! The fist connected with his jaw. His head snapped to the side, and Do-kwang’s consciousness dissolved. Thump. He collapsed in a heap. Yoon-seok looked down at the unconscious man, then grabbed him by the hair. “Looks like I might have to stay in Cheong-eun Ho a little longer.”

Chapter 1