BFLT 9

BFLT

Posted by Mona, Released on October 9, 2025

Episode 9 — Younger Brother, Baek Ha-jun (4)

Baek Lee kang was weak.

No one knew this better than he did himself. With his crippled body, he could never defeat his younger brother, who was born with divine martial talent, through straightforward means.

If he couldn’t strike with the beanbag from afar, he would have to touch his opponent directly.
If he couldn’t catch Ha-jun’s movement with his eyes closed, then he needed to make Ha-jun stop.
He had to erase his own presence completely.

That was the plan—and Lee kang succeeded in hiding himself.

“Hoh… I half-doubted you, but you truly did it,”
said the Immortal Divine Sword, his tone impressed.

Lee kang dared not reply. He thought he had grown used to infusing intent into his body, but this was something else entirely.
There was a vast difference between touching what does not exist and making what exists seem nonexistent.

Yet, completely immersed in a state of no-mind, Lee Kang filled his body with intent. His flesh grew light, his steps silent.
Though even a soft breeze could have toppled him, his senses sharpened in that fragile stillness.

Using the sound of his brother’s rough breathing as a guide, he unfolded the Taeeumgyeong Meridian Technique and moved forward.

It felt like becoming one of those astronauts he’d once seen on TV in his past life—walking across the moon.
Quietly, softly, he approached and struck Ha-jun with the beanbag.

“The more I see you, the more remarkable you are,”
said the Immortal Divine Sword, unable to hide his amusement.

And thus, Lee kang won.

That night, immediately after his victory, Lee kang sought to exercise his right as the winner.

But seeing Ha-jun’s pale face and Nung Ji-pyeong standing beside him, I-gang decided to call his brother to his quarters the next day instead.

Ha-jun came quietly, awkward and hesitant—it was, after all, their first proper meeting in three years.

“Then, it’s not really that I refuse…”

I-gang didn’t bother with preamble.
He told Ha-jun to formally declare himself as the heir of the Baek .

Ha-jun had been designated as the next head but never officially recognized by the clan elders.

“Honestly, it’s stranger that the procedure hasn’t been done yet,”
Lee kang said coldly.

To become the heir, two conditions were needed: the patriarch’s nomination and the elder council’s approval. Ha-jun only had the first.

Ha-jun’s voice trembled. “If I do that… there’s no turning back.”

“Don’t say such pathetic things,” Lee Kang cut him off.
“There’s been no turning back since the moment I was born with broken meridians.”

Even though his tone was calm, Ha-jun’s eyes quivered faintly.

“I wasn’t joking before,” Lee kang continued. “I have no interest in that seat. You’ll be the heir.”

“Hyung…”

“I won’t live past twenty anyway. You handle the bothersome work—I’ll live freely.”

Ha-jun’s face contorted, his throat tightening. It wasn’t the first time Lee kang had seen that expression.

“Good grief, what a stubborn boy,”
the Immortal Divine Sword muttered.

‘He probably thinks I’m just saying that to be nice again,’ Lee kang thought dryly.

He added with a sigh, “I mean it this time. Every word.”

“Y-yeah… okay…”

Lee kang sighed again. The Immortal Divine Sword chuckled softly.

“You can’t blame your brother alone. Not wanting to become head is unusual, after all.”

‘We just have different values. And I’ve got other things to do than waste time chasing a title.’

With his modern mindset, Lee kang had no desire for an empty, ceremonial position.
Especially since the Immortal Divine Sword had told him of a possible way to extend his lifespan—something he needed to investigate.

“About what you said yesterday,” Lee kang began.

“What part?”

“You said I took everything from you—the heirship, and Mother.”

Ha-jun’s face darkened instantly. Lee kang clicked his tongue and handed him a plate.

“Eat first.”

“…This is?”

“Grilled rice cake with honey.”

Normally, servants brought his meals, but this time I-gang had cooked it himself. It was one of Ha-jun’s childhood favorites, alongside dumpling stew.

“Wow, it’s been forever.”

He bit into the warm, slightly crispy rice cake dipped in honey. The sweetness melted away the cold expression on his face—and Lee kang seized the moment.

“Forget whether what you said was nonsense or not. I want to know why you think that way.”

Ha-jun hesitated. “It just… came to me one day.”

“The heir thing, maybe. But about Mother? There had to be a reason.”

“Mother’s death was from illness,” Lee kang said firmly.
“She fell ill again after giving birth to you. Father kept it quiet, but how did you find out?”

Ha-jun looked conflicted. “Uncle told me.”

“What?”

“He said something by mistake while talking about Mother. He asked me to forget it, but I couldn’t.”

“By mistake, huh.”

Ha-jun nodded. “He looked really troubled about it. But I kept pressing him.”

Lee kang frowned. It was possible—a slip of the tongue. The matter had been kept quiet but wasn’t truly forbidden knowledge.

Yet the Immortal Divine Sword suddenly snarled:

“Uncle? You mean that wretch Baek Jin-tae?”

‘He’s one of the few decent men in this clan. Why call him a wretch?’

“Because of that fool, my Taeeumgyeong Meridian Technique lost its proper name!”

Lee kang ignored the spirit’s personal grudge. His uncle, Baek Jin-tae, was a gentle man—one of the few who didn’t despise him—and currently away on sect business.

“Gentlemen always reek of deceit,”
the sword spirit grumbled, and lee kang wisely said nothing.

Ha-jun spoke again. “If I become the heir, what will you do?”

It was a fair question. Once succession was official,lee kang’s position would weaken. He couldn’t even remain as a retainer.

“Who knows? There’d be nothing left for me here.”

“Then you’d leave the clan?”

“Probably.”

“No!”

“Careful,” lee kang muttered. “You’ll make me deaf. Keep your dignity.”

Ha-jun’s sudden shout was almost comical coming from someone who usually acted distant.

“Leave home? Where would you go—”

“Stop making that face,” Lee Kang said dryly. “You’ll get even uglier.”

“Ah… yeah. I’m ugly, unlike you.”

Ha-jun rubbed his face, embarrassed, and Lee Kang chuckled. The boy would grow up to break hearts someday, despite his protests.

“Flashy face for such a fool,”
the Immortal Divine Sword scoffed, and Lee kang agreed inwardly.

“I don’t want to just wait around to die,” Lee Kang said at last. “So I’ll try to fix my body.”

Ha-jun shot up, almost breaking his chair. “You found a way?”

“Not exactly. It’s not certain—and it won’t cure me completely.”

Before fighting the goblin, the Immortal Divine Sword had promised him a clue to extend his life. Lee Kang had decided to follow that clue.

“Did you contact the Celestial Healer?”

“No, and even if I did, I doubt even he could fix severed meridians.”

The Celestial Healer—the most renowned doctor in the orthodox world—had vanished long ago.

But I-gang didn’t plan to rely on medicine.

“I intend to visit Cheongrim.”

“Cheongrim…?”

“Yes. I want to ask them to examine my body.”

It was only natural that Ha-jun looked surprised.

Cheongrim was a martial sect, one of the great Daoist factions—on par with the Nine Sects and One Alliance.

“I’ve been reading,” I-gang said.

“Books?”

“You know the Daoist sects—Mudang, Hwasan, Cheongseong, Kunlun?”

“Oh, they make elixirs and practice alchemy, right?”

“Exactly. But Cheongrim is different. They’ve preserved true Daoist internal arts.”

“Their meridian techniques are said to be extraordinary,” Ha-jun murmured.

“Right. If anyone can help someone born with severed meridians, it might be them.”

The Immortal Divine Sword had confirmed it himself:

“Cheongrim’s elders were exceptional. They might be able to ease your illness.
I once aided them in life and earned their token—show it, and they’ll help.”

But finding that token would be the first challenge.

“Cheongrim’s far away,” Ha-jun noted.

“Yes—and Father will need convincing.”

It would take time, perhaps weeks, to find the token and reach Cheongrim.

Then Ha-jun said something unexpected.

“Actually… that chance might come sooner than you think.”

“What?”

“Cheongrim’s people are visiting our clan—in four days. They’ll be coming with other noble families.”

Lee Kang blinked, then grinned.

“Perfect.”

If they were coming here, all he needed was to find the token first.

“Then you’d best locate it before they arrive,”
the Immortal Divine Sword warned.
“I hid it behind traps to deter grave robbers. Go alone, and you’ll die.”

‘And what do you expect me to do? I don’t have subordinates.’

“You’ve got a perfectly usable helper sitting right there.”

Lee Kang looked up. Ha-jun had finished the rice cakes and was eyeing the empty plate, too shy to ask for more.

“Hey.”

“Yeah?”

“What’s your schedule tomorrow?”

“Nothing much. Just training.”

“Good. You’re coming with me.”

Ha-jun blinked. “Where…?”

“Outside.”

“Outside the manor?”

“Yes. Don’t like it?”

Ha-jun’s face lit up. “I love it!”

At dawn, Ha-jun crept quietly to the outer courtyard, dark circles under his eyes from excitement.

He had barely slept.

He told me to bring a sword, he thought nervously.
Guess it’s not just a trip to the market after all…

Still, he couldn’t help feeling thrilled. At twelve years old, he’d rarely left the clan grounds, never without guards.
And now, the brother he thought hated him was personally taking him out.

Maybe they’d even buy sweets together.

Finding a quiet, pine-screened corner of the outer wall, Ha-jun glanced around.
The inner compound was heavily guarded, but the outer wall was broad, with blind spots perfect for slipping out.

He saw no patrols and leapt.

Tak!

Stepping on a jutting stone, he grabbed the eaves, pulled himself up, and vaulted over the seven-foot wall.

Thud.

It was a perfect leap—enough to make Nung Ji-pyeong applaud, had he seen it.

But when Ha-jun looked ahead, a ragged stranger stood there.

“Hy—hyung…?”

At first, he’d thought it was a beggar.
But it was I-gang—hair loose, dressed in shabby old clothes, face smudged with dirt.

“Why do you look like that…?”

“I could ask you the same,” I-gang said flatly. “I told you not to draw attention.”

“I came out quietly!”

“I meant when walking around! You might as well hang a sign that says ‘Baek Ha-jun, heir to the clan.’”