As the Western Saber Clanâs leader, Hwang Chung, made his way to the guest pavilion he was more nervous than ever. Because the person he was going to meet here at the Yang Clanâs household was Ma Jung Soo. Ma Jung Soo had secretly sent someone to set up this meeting.
The Western Saber Clan was ranked sixth in San Dong City so naturally he attended the previous meeting. He was one of the Leaders who had a bad premonition about Ma Jung Soo.
He thought of Ma Jung Soo as an âInsolent pupâ who only has the guts to threaten others because the backing from his  father. But he knew that he could never express his true feelings because the Heavenly Dao Gate was an organization that he didnât dare to  make an enemy of and now they are in control of the Murim Alliance.
Guided by  one of the maids, he found his way into the guest room. Ma Jung Soo was drinking by himself as he was waiting for him. As Hwang Chung made his way, Ma Jung Soo stood up and greeted him, âOh! Welcome Hwang Bangju-nim.â
âLord Ma. It is my honor being here.â
Although Ma Jung Soo was too young and had not made a name for himself, Hwang Chung had no other choice than to address him as a lord.
Hearing Hwang Chungâs response, Ma Jung Soo quickly said, âWhat do you mean Lord Ma? It is too much. Just treat me as your brother.â
âHa Ha. I donât think I am worthy to call you that.â
âNo no. I wasnât even born when you took down the Scarlet Demon. You are more than worthy to call me brother.â
Hearing that, Hwang Chung was surprised.
âHow do you know that I killed the Scarlet Demon?â
Thirty years ago, when Hwang Chung was still in his prime, an Evil Practitioner with  Scarlet Hair made a great disturbance in the city of San Dong. Since he was overflowing with youthful vigor he was brave enough to exchange blow withs the Scarlet Demon and brought him down. And Ma Jung Soo was well-informed about this story.
âAfter hearing it from my uncle I grew to respect you.â
âYour uncle is?â
âHe is called the Crimson Lightning Master of Kang Ho.â
âOh! You must mean the Crimson Lightning Master, Ma Choong Hyun. His fame reaches far and wide, even I have heard of him in this rural city.â
The Crimson Lightning Master Ma Choong Hyun was a very famed expert of the Heavenly Dao Gate. He was one of the top five experts of the Heavenly Dao Gate.
âAnd His Lordship knows of me?â
âYes, he definitely knows of you. He even told me  to become someone worthy of respect like you.â
âAh!â
Hwang Chung was happy on the inside. Even though he couldnât verify that what Ma Jung Soo said was true, he was still pleased that Ma Jung Soo knew about something that happened in the past. But since Ma Jung Soo said that he heard it from the Crimson Lightning Master, it didnât seem like something Ma Jung Soo made it up. Even though he was on his guard he wanted to believe Ma Jung Soo.
âIn this trip to San Dong the person who I truly wanted to meet was you, Hwang Bangju-nim.â
âOh, so thatâs how it was.â
Even though he knew that Ma Jung Sooâs words were intended to lure him but it was too sweet. He thought that this soft sweet tone was indeed better than the rough and arrogant one. But it didnât seem like Ma Jung Soo was putting on an act to garner his favor. He really didnât have the reason to do so either, and how can a grown man put on such act like this?
âNow, please receive a drink from me.â
Ma Jung Soo poured Hwang Chung a drink respectfully. And the bad first impression that he made on the first meeting somehow turned good.
âThank you for giving me your support. The donation is a great help.â
âIt is our obligation to help you. Rather than that, thank you for your precious gift.â
âOf course I had to send you a gift. If my father found out that I had not done so I could have been in big trouble.â
This time he brought out Ma Bong Gi on top of Ma Choong Hyun. Since it came out naturally the doubt in Hwang Chungâs heart seemed to have faded away.
âI have bigger plans for the future. I am expecting your support.â
âI will gladly help you.â
âTo tell you the truth, I plan on working with only a few clans of San Dong. If too many Clans are involved it will only bring disorder.â
From this Hwang Chung could tell that his clan was one of the clans.
âThank you for taking care of me like this.â
Since Ma Jung Sooâs first impression was rather not impressive, acting friendly like this made him have a better impression of Ma Jung Soo.
âPlease donât forget. Hwang Bangju-nim is someone that I respect.â
âYou flatter me too much.â
The two clinked their glasses.
Half an hour later after they emptied the wine bottle and Hwang Chung left. He left in different mood than he entered. He wasnât the only one who changed, Ma Jung Soo who was drinking by himself also changed. His mood seemed completely different than when he was drinking with Hwang Chung.
The door opened and Old Man Flower Fan and Si Gon entered.
Old Man Flower Fan said with a smile, âJob well done.â
Ma Jung Soo made a smirk and said, âDealing with these country bumpkins is like taking  candy from a baby.â
âBut you can never lower your guard.â
âDonât worry. I am someone who is always vigilant.â
Old Man Flower Fan was about to say something but didnât. Someone who is vigilant never uses the word âvigilantâ in their sentence. But since everything went well there was no need to nag about it.
âSince everything is going according to plan I think it is time to move onto the next phase.â
Hearing that Ma Jung Sooâs eyes brightened.
âI can finally see her. The one who is called the Number One Beauty in San Dong.â
Old Man Flower Fan made a perplexed expression, âYour plan could go astray due to a girl.â
There was no way of suppressing his blood. Just like his father he lusts after women.
âShe is not just any girl. Havenât you heard, they say that she is the most beautiful woman in San Dong?â
âJust keep my advice in the back of your head.â
Old Man Flower Fan looked at Si Gon. He signaled Si Gon to back him up, but Si Gon pretended he didnât see it and kept silent.
âLeave the girl problem to me and take care of the invitation.â
âAlright.â
âAh. Where did that wretch disappear to?â
âI think she was standing outside a while ago.â
Ma Jung Soo approached the window. From far away he was able to see the woman who came to San Dong with him.
She was standing in the garden looking down at the pond.
âHave you found out anything about her?â
âNot yet.â
âCrap.â
On this trip she was someone whom Ma Bong Gi sent to go with him. But Ma Bong GI didnât say anything about her, so he didnât know whether she was here to protect him or to observe him.
He secretly tried to find information about her but it was no easy task.
Staring at her Ma Jung Soo wondered, âWhere did she come from?â
******
I decided to head home.
Since I didnât have a method to deal with them yet, it would be bad if crossed path with them while staying at the Yang Clan manor.
Even though I was wearing a high-tier face alteration mask and most will not be able to recognize me, it was better to be safe.
I participated in the training of my Sword Sect and trained with them. The more uneasy the situation was the harder one had to concentrate. Because unexpected situations call for careful planning rather than needless worry.
Because I acted like always no one was able tell the difference except one person.
âYoung master, is there something bothering you?â
Like a ghost he knew that something was wrong.
âThere is someone that I want to kill.â
âOh my.â
Surprised, Kwang Du asked me carefully, âWho might that poor soul be?â
âHe is around twenty five years old and has many experts protecting him.â
Then Kwang Du said in a surprised tone, âCould it beâŚme?â
Seeing me smile Kwang Du smiled with me. I could see that he was trying his hardest to lighten  my mood.
âHow is it going with Do Soon-ee?â
Kwang Du said with a sigh, âThat is âŚâ
It seemed that something was not working out for him.
âI got the courage to ask her out to have tea on our day off.â
âAnd she said?â
âShe said she was busy.â
âI see.â
âNo matter how busy she is if she liked me she would make time for me? Right?â
Seeing me nodding Kwang Du pouted
âArenât you agreeing with me too easily? What if she really is busy or she is too shy and wants to decline?â
âNo. Be it men or women, if they like someone they will make the time. So, are you are not going to see her because you are busy?â
Kwang Du frowned, âSo it really is?â
âI am sorry but yes.â
âHmph! I will seek revenge. Iâm going to make her regret. I will get stronger, make more money, and become so successful that she begs in front of me. Then I will say, âget lost! Itâs already too late.ââ
Since I did not say anything Kwang Du asked me, âWhy arenât you saying anything? Isnât it refreshing?â
After a moment of silence I said, âWould it really be refreshing... after seeing the girl you liked cry?â
Kwang Du shook his head after imagining the scene.
âJust thinking about it makes me sad.â
âYes, revenge is not for everyone. Kwang Du-ya, donât they say first love never works out? Cheer up.â
I patted his shoulder and turned away.
Kwang Du screamed later, âAnd, she is not my first love! She really is not! I am someone who is experienced.â
****
Next day an unexpected news came.
âMa Jung Soo said he was holding a banquet for the heirs of the major clans. And you received an invitation as well.â
This punk, he really is forcing us.
With this I could predict his intent.
What was one of greatest weakness that most clan leaders had in common? It was their descendants.
Since he was in a similar generation, if he naturally mingled with the heirs and brought them over to his side he would have an easier time controlling San Dong.
I was now certain. He didnât come to San Dong to make money. He came here to take over.
Next moment I thought of someone, âAhâ
Song Hwa Rin.
He most likely would have heard the rumors of how Song Hwa Rin was the Number One Beauty in San Dong.
Was he the type to stand still after seeing her?
Blood will never lie. He would act just like his father. Lusting after women. If he lived at the Heavenly Dao Gate House, he would most likely have learned it ten times over.
If not then he will offer her to his father. Since he is fifth in the line he will do anything to raise in his rank.
If he was the person I saw that day, both options were on the table.
Thinking about her and my father-in-law I will never allow her to be in such a dirty situation.
âHow should I take care of this?â
******
That night Song Hwa Rin was having a dream.
It was the day when Byuk Lee Dan made a scene at her house after getting drunk.
âHmph! Do you think your looks will last a thousand years? You will get wrinkly when you get old. So donât get too cocky.â
âGo back home!â
âNo. I wonât go back like this.â
Byuk Lee Dan threw himself towards her. Song Hwa Ring pushed him away as he was forcefully trying to hug her. He fell down due to him being drunk.
âGo away! Come back when you sober up!â
âPush me? Bitch you dare push me?â
Byuk Lee Dan quickly got up and chased after her. This time Song Hwa Rin grabbed his arms. He was reeking of alcohol.
âYou want to see those punks outside right? Thatâs why you want to send me away right?â
âStop saying weird things. What do you see me as?â
She gripped his hand harder.
Byuk Lee Dan said mockingly, âWith that sort of martial arts you dare ignoring me?â
She took a deep breath and let go of his hands
Byuk Lee Dan said, âYou are mine. You were mine since you were born.â
âStop joking around. I am not yours!â
Byuk Lee Dan said with a doubtful eye, âWhat you have someone else? Yeah? âŚâ
Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack!
Unable to hold back her anger she started throwing her fists.
Even though she didnât use her internal energy Byuk Lee Dan lost his balance and fell down since he was drunk.
Up to here was just like that day.
If things happened as normal Kwang Du would quickly take Byuk Lee Dan to his house.
But todayâs dream was different.
Lying on the ground Byuk Lee Dan said with a calm voice, âYou said people never change?â
Byuk Lee Dan slowly picked himself up but this Byuk Lee Dan was different than before. A confident stare, a calm voice, this was the Byuk Lee Dan of the present.
âNo, people are the ones who change the fastest.â
The moment her eyes met with his calm eyes, âHa!â
With a scream Song Hwa Rin woke from her dream.
She was full of cold sweat.
She could hear her guardâs, Soo Hwanâs voice, âMiss are you alright?â
âI am.â
She got off her bed and sat down at the table. She poured herself a cup of tea and drank it.
âHuuuâ
With a big sigh she looked outside the window. It was early in the morning.
âI am coming in.â
Soo Ran came in regardless of the answer.
âMissâ, Soo Ran asked with a worried look.
âWas it the same dream as before?â
Song Hwa Rin was having the same nightmare ever since her return.
âNo, it was a different dream today.â
âWhat was the dream about?â
Just like the previous nightmare she didnât tell Soon Ran-ee.
âDonât worry too much. It been a while since I came home and I have become too lax.â
This was something Song Hwa Rin always said.
Soon Ran looked at her with a worried look since she couldnât believe that she was having nightmares because she was being lax. And it had been six month since her return.
âMiss, I think you should go see a doctor.â
âI said I am alright!â
At that moment one of the maids came and made a report, âMaster Byuk came over for a visit.â
Song Hwa Rin was surprised.
âByuk Lee Dan came over this early? Did he come to meet with my father?â
Then the maid said something she would never have expected, âNo. He said he wanted to meet you.â
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