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Chapter: 01
A person who is truly on the verge of death never says, I’m going to die. They only wonder whether they’re still alive.
How did he know?
Because that was exactly what Jin Cheong-un thought as he opened his eyes, half-buried beneath the rubble.
Am I alive?
With great difficulty, Jin Cheong-un pushed himself upright and slowly let out a breath.
I survived.
He turned his head and surveyed his surroundings.
From right before his eyes to the distant mountain ridges, the entire world was stained a reddish hue.
The headquarters of the Secret Cult.
Just a few days ago, it had been the most magnificent—and most dangerous—stronghold of the heretics in the martial world.
Now it was nothing but a ruin filled with death.
What happened?
His last memory was blocking the Secret Cult Master’s attack in place of the Alliance Leader.
The battle must have reached its conclusion somehow.
After catching his breath, Jin Cheong-un grabbed the sword lying beside him and tried to stand.
At that moment—
Clang!
The sword slipped helplessly from his grasp.
“…”
Only then did he truly notice the condition of his body.
There wasn’t a single part of him that hadn’t been mangled. It was almost miraculous that he couldn’t even feel any pain.
“No wonder I had a bad feeling.”
A bitter laugh escaped him.
At this rate, even if he managed to hold a sword, there was no way he could swing it.
Giving up on standing, Jin Cheong-un simply flopped back onto the ground.
How did a country bumpkin from a rural martial arts school end up here?
It had already been more than ten years since he had joined the Martial Alliance, chasing the lofty dreams his name—Cheong-un, “Blue Clouds”—seemed destined for.
Looking back, everything had begun with a single proposal.
“Warrior Jin. Would you be interested in becoming the Alliance Leader’s secret bodyguard?”
A secret bodyguard?
Not just an ordinary guard, but a secret one.
Just hearing those words made it sound like he’d uncover hidden conspiracies and battle enormous plots lurking within the martial world.
If that didn’t make a martial artist’s heart race, then they weren’t a martial artist.
Though if your heart suddenly starts racing for no reason, shouldn’t you see a physician instead of becoming a bodyguard?
Expose conspiracies? Fight hidden schemes?
Well…
He had done something along those lines.
The problem was everything else.
While the Alliance Leader rested, he worked.
While the Alliance Leader ate, he starved.
Even when the Alliance Leader went to the latrine…
Jin Cheong-un squeezed his eyes shut.
I should’ve retired.
He had tried.
He’d even had opportunities.
I really should’ve retired earlier.
If only he hadn’t fallen for the Alliance Leader’s silver tongue every single time.
“You’ve been working hard lately. I’ll give you a week’s vacation. Go relax.”
“What a shame. I was just about to raise your salary… Even if you retire, it’s better to have a full purse, isn’t it?”
“I’m saying this because I think of you like a son. Do you know how harsh the world is? If the Alliance is a battlefield, then outside is hell!”
As expected of someone who had climbed to the position of Alliance Leader in the Martial Alliance, where schemes and intrigue were commonplace.
His sweet talk was on another level.
Just when Jin Cheong-un had finally resolved that no matter what he was told, he would quit…
The Secret Cult launched its invasion.
And somehow, here he was.
“Cheong-un! Buy me some time!”
Who would’ve thought that old fox would dump extra work on him right until the very end?
The more he thought about it, the more absurd it seemed.
Was that really something the Martial Alliance Leader should say?
He’d just dressed it up in nicer words.
Wasn’t he basically saying, Go be the sacrifice?
Sacrifice?
Jin Cheong-un suddenly froze.
No way…
…No way?
Just then—
“So, you survived after all.”
Jin Cheong-un turned his head.
An elderly man was approaching him.
It was Yeo Un-baek, the current Alliance Leader of the Martial Alliance.
“So you survived as well, Alliance Leader.”
“I was fortunate.”
Limping over, Yeo Un-baek let out a dry laugh.
“How’s your body?”
“…I’m alive, somehow.”
“Hoho… Remarkable. To think you survived after taking that attack…”
As he looked more closely at Jin Cheong-un’s condition, Yeo Un-baek’s expression darkened.
Jin Cheong-un simply smiled.
“It’s fine. I got off cheap.”
He really had.
The two of them had nearly crossed the River of the Dead together.
Instead, they’d both survived.
“More importantly… what happened to him?”
He meant the master of the demons who had plunged the world into chaos.
The greatest of the twelve high priests of the Secret Cult.
The man known throughout the world as the Heavenly Slaughter Divine Demon.
The ruler of the Secret Cult.
“You didn’t see?”
“I was busy interviewing with the Grim Reaper until just now.”
“You managed to come back without following him. Impressive.”
Yeo Un-baek smiled weakly before speaking in a voice heavy with emotion.
“It’s over.”
“…”
Yes.
It was truly over.
The war.
The Secret Cult Master.
And the martial arts Jin Cheong-un had devoted his entire life to mastering.
“Thanks to you, I gained the opening I needed to take his head. How exactly did you do it? Had you secretly learned some new martial art without telling me?”
“Oh, no, that wasn’t…”
Jin Cheong-un started to answer before suddenly stopping.
“…Wait.”
“Hm?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“What?”
“Don’t tell me… you asked me to block that attack without actually knowing whether I could?”
“…”
“…”
After a brief silence, Yeo Un-baek awkwardly looked away.
“…I believed you could do it.”
This old man…
Smoothly changing the subject, Yeo Un-baek asked,
“So… what happened?”
“To be honest, I don’t really know myself.”
The man’s martial prowess had truly lived up to the title of Divine Demon.
Even fighting together, they’d barely managed to match him.
Their trump cards had long since been exhausted.
Jin Cheong-un had possessed no secret technique capable of blocking such a devastating strike.
So…
I think… I used a martial art I learned long ago at my old martial arts school.
It was a technique he’d never looked at again after learning higher-level arts in the Alliance.
Yet not only had it blocked the attack…
It had saved his life.
I feel like he shouted something, too…
Who would’ve thought the third-rate martial art from a country martial arts school was actually some hidden supreme technique?
Though at this point…
What difference did it make?
“I guess I was just lucky.”
“…Luck. Well, what does the past matter now? When one’s resolve is sincere enough, even the heavens can be moved.”
The conversation came to an end.
Silence settled over the ruined battlefield.
Gazing over the desolate landscape, Yeo Un-baek murmured softly,
“This old Alliance Leader is the only one fortunate enough to return alive. How am I supposed to bring home all these restless souls buried here?”
“…”
Jin Cheong-un simply blinked, unsure how to answer.
Then, suddenly, Yeo Un-baek turned toward him.
“You’ve worked hard.”
“…?”
“If it hadn’t been for you, I wouldn’t have made it this far.”
His voice carried an unusual weight.
Jin Cheong-un flinched.
What’s gotten into him all of a sudden?
“You’ve done so much over the years. There were times I regretted bringing you into the Black Dragon Unit… but looking back, that may have been the best decision I ever made.”
“What’s with you? You’re not acting like yourself.”
“I mean it.”
Yeo Un-baek looked him straight in the eye.
“I’ll never forget your sacrifice.”
“…”
“Thank you.”
“…?”
“And…”
He paused.
“I’m sorry.”
It should have been a heartwarming moment.
Instead, a chill ran down Jin Cheong-un’s spine.
Countless thoughts flashed through his head.
Slowly, he rested a hand on his sword hilt.
“So… is now the time?”
“The time? What are you talking about? And why are you looking at me like that?”
“So today’s finally the day. Did you really think I wouldn’t see it coming?”
“See what?”
“The classic pattern. You tell me ‘Good work,’ then stab me in the back to tie up loose ends. Ah, I knew this day would come eventually.”
“What?”
Yeo Un-baek stared at him in disbelief.
“Tie up loose ends? Me?”
His face quickly turned bright red.
“What nonsense are you spouting?! Why would I do that?!”
“Well…”
Jin Cheong-un mimed stabbing someone in the back.
“You know… saying I know too much, or that I’ve outlived my usefulness, or that it was a necessary sacrifice… then… stab!”
Yeo Un-baek finally exploded.
“Y-You little…! Just what kind of person did you think I was all this time?!”
“A man who lured an innocent country youth into becoming a ‘secret bodyguard’ and worked him to the bone.”
“At least tell the truth! You—! Forget it! You call yourself a secret bodyguard, but do you have any idea how many disasters you’ve caused?! Do you know how much trouble I went through cleaning up after you?”
“I’m getting old, so could you stop calling me ‘brat’ all the time? Besides, it’s not like I caused that many problems.”
“You forgot about punching the jaws off those envoys from the Association?”
“They started it first. Even bodyguards have their pride.”
“If they provoked you twice, you would’ve destroyed the entire Alliance. Actually… there was a time you nearly did.”
“You praised me back then. Have you really been holding a grudge all these years? You can be surprisingly petty.”
“You little…!”
Yeo Un-baek’s eyes twitched violently.
“Fine! Want me to stab you? Stand still! Where should I stab you?!”
“So your true colors finally come out.”
“Hah! Haaah! HAAAAH!”
Yeo Un-baek pounded his chest as though he were about to die from frustration.
“Haah… You brat.”
“You can stay right there and talk.”
“You…”
By sheer force of will, Yeo Un-baek somehow maintained the dignity expected of the Alliance Leader.
“Have you been buying those ridiculous storybooks from the market again? I told you to stop reading that trash!”
“Ridiculous?! Trash?! What an insulting thing to say!”
“I’m the one being insulted! I’m the righteous Alliance Leader of the Martial Alliance!”
“So you really won’t stab me?”
“I won’t, you idiot!”
“Then just say so. Why are you getting angry? You have such a strange personality.”
Crunch.
Yeo Un-baek ground his teeth.
The Secret Cult’s demonic arts disturbed his peace of mind less than Jin Cheong-un’s infuriatingly casual tone.
“Search for survivors! Hurry!”
“Over here!”
Voices rang out in the distance.
It was the suicide squad that had accompanied them to the Secret Cult headquarters.
Apparently, more of them had survived than expected.
After watching them for a moment, Yeo Un-baek spoke again.
“Cheong-un.”
It sounded less like a superior addressing a subordinate and more like a father calling his son.
“…Yes, Alliance Leader.”
“How long has it been since you joined the Black Dragon Unit?”
“A little over ten years, I suppose.”
“Already… That troublesome brat has finally grown into a proper man.”
Yeo Un-baek chuckled.
“So you’re really planning to retire?”
“Yes.”
“What about the men who follow you?”
That question left Jin Cheong-un momentarily speechless.
“They’ve never listened to me anyway. They’ll figure something out.”
“So you’re serious.”
“I am.”
“One last question.”
The smile disappeared from Yeo Un-baek’s face.
“Are you retiring simply because you want to leave? Or is there finally something you want to do?”
“…”
“You were always talking about retirement, but you never actually had anything you wanted to do. Once you’d accomplished your goal in joining the Alliance, it felt like nothing but an empty shell remained.”
“That’s because I never got the promotion I wanted. All I did was work.”
“That wasn’t the real reason.”
“…”
That was why Yeo Un-baek had deliberately kept him around.
Life in the martial world revolved around bloodshed.
Jin Cheong-un had the talent for it.
The aptitude.
Even the purpose.
Unfortunately.
Then—
“I want to open a martial arts school.”
Yeo Un-baek’s eyes widened.
“A martial arts school?”
“Yes. I’ll take it easy, collect a reasonable tuition, teach the neighborhood kids… maybe spend my days acting like a respectable master.”
Life was strange.
It felt like only yesterday he’d defied his own master and left the martial arts school for the martial world.
Now…
He wanted to return and open one himself.
“A martial arts school…”
Yeo Un-baek laughed heartily.
“I suppose it’s finally time to let you go.”
He looked up at the sky before letting out a quiet sigh.
“The war has only just ended, and yet because of you, quite a few people are about to have headaches.”
“It’s just one bodyguard retiring.”
“Just one bodyguard?”
Yeo Un-baek snorted.
Does this fool really not know… or is he pretending?
“You’re awfully carefree.”
“I’m retiring. Of course I am.”
“Heh… We’ll see.”
“…?”
A faint smile appeared on Yeo Un-baek’s face.
“Cheong-un.”
“Yes?”
“From now on… live like an ordinary person.”
“Like an ordinary person…”
“That’s right. Don’t stain your hands with blood anymore. Make some friends and share a drink. Stop getting into trouble. Find yourself a good woman and get married.”
“…”
“Understand?”
“…Yes.”
Jin Cheong-un hesitated, as though he wanted to say something.
Watching him with the affectionate smile of a father, Yeo Un-baek asked,
“Is there something you want to say?”
“No.”
“Go ahead.”
“Shouldn’t you get married first, Alliance Leader? How have you managed to stay single at your age—”
“You little brat!”
At that moment…
The world suddenly grew bright.
The two men turned simultaneously.
Sunlight spilled over the mountain ridge, spreading across the land like a great blanket.
The once-dark world was illuminated.
“Thank you… for everything.”
Bathed in the morning sunlight, Jin Cheong-un spoke quietly.
“You’ve worked hard as well.”
Yes.
He really had.
And now…
A new beginning.
At last…
Retirement!
Stepping down from the carriage, Jin Cheong-un looked at the identification plaque in his hand and smiled.
It bore his name and home address.
Northern District, House No. 13, Cherry Blossom Village, Yichang County, Hubei Province.
Jin Family — Cheong-un.
“So this is the place.”
Looking up at the front gate, he tilted his head.
That’s strange. I don’t remember the house looking like this.
Maybe it had simply been too long since he’d bought it.
All the estates in the area looked similar.
Well, this has to be it.
Finally.
His heart swelled with emotion.
An orphan who had once possessed nothing had earned enough to buy his own home.
He could already imagine decorating it, tending the garden…
This is real life.
Not cleaning up after the Alliance Leader.
Grinning from ear to ear, Jin Cheong-un reached for the gate.
Click!
The gate suddenly opened from the other side.
“…Sis?”
A sickly-looking young boy poked his head out.
Then froze.
“…Who are you?”
“I should be asking you that. Who are you, and why are you in someone else’s house?”
“Someone else’s house? This is our house.”
“…Your house?”
Dumbfounded, Jin Cheong-un leaned back and carefully examined the gate and surrounding walls.
This is definitely the place.
A cold chill ran down his spine.
His voice trembled.
“I bought this house several years ago.”
“I’ve lived here my whole life.”
“…Your whole life?”
At that moment, a memory flashed through his mind.
“What a bargain! You’re getting an amazing house for almost nothing! The previous owner had to move away in a hurry, so it’s being sold cheap!”
“Oh, you don’t need to meet the owner. Don’t worry. They left the contract entirely in my hands before leaving. Come on, this way!”
…No way.
Jin Cheong-un’s eyes trembled violently.
I got… scammed…?
