BFLT 6

Episode 6 – Younger Brother, Baek Hajun (1)

In one corner of the Red Jade Training Hall, there was a brazier. It was used by servants to heat water — the red jade could only be cleansed with boiling water.

Crouched before that brazier was Baek Lee kang.

Even with his back turned, it was clear he wasn’t cleaning the training hall.
A small pot rested atop the brazier, and beside him lay vegetables and cooking ingredients.

Baek Lee kang was making soup.

“He’s cooking in the Red Jade Training Hall?!”

To Neung Jipyeong, it was unthinkable.
This was no ordinary place — the Red Jade Training Hall was sacred within the Baek . The crimson jade that emitted heat even in the depths of winter was a relic — a divine artifact taken by the Immortal Sword after slaying the cult leader of the Evil Sect.

Every generation had trained here, bowing reverently before the statue of the Immortal Sword.
And now, the supposedly disgraced Baek Lee kang had returned — only to make hot pot here.

“Unacceptable.”

Neung Jipyeong, who had intended to leave quietly, instead approached to reprimand him.
True to his title as the Scarlet Blade, he moved without making a sound.

Lee kang didn’t even notice, still stirring the bubbling broth.
When Jipyeong was within five steps, just about to call out—

“Stop.”

It was Lee kang who spoke first.

Still facing away, he continued stirring.

“Stay right where you are.”

Jipyeong froze — not out of obedience, but shock.

“How did he sense me…?”

He prided himself on his stealth. Even Baek Hajun, the younger prodigy of the clan, couldn’t detect him.
Yet Lee Kang, the sickly elder brother, had noticed him without looking back.

“Could he have heard when I punished the servants earlier…?”

But that didn’t explain how Lee kang  could pinpoint his exact distance.

Calmly, Lee kang added a pinch of salt and soy to the pot — his cooking surprisingly deft.
Jipyeong wondered if the man had simply guessed.

“It wasn’t a guess.”

The words made his heart jolt — as though Lee kang had read his mind.

Keeping his gaze forward, Lee kang spoke again.

“Is there anything undignified about cooking one’s own meal? Humans die if they don’t eat, after all.”

Jipyeong said nothing.

“I once made this dumpling stew when I was about ten. Father praised me for it. Hajun liked it too. That was the last compliment I ever received.”

Each word pierced straight into Jipyeong’s mind.

He swallowed hard. Now he remembered the nature of the Taiyin Meridian — a body too weak to master martial arts, yet capable of extraordinary insight and intuition.

“If you’d seen me earlier, you might have greeted me instead of skulking around like that…”

“Kh…”

Was Lee kang reprimanding him?
It sounded as though he were scolding a subordinate for sneaking up on a superior.

“He’s known I was here the entire time.”

A cold chill ran down Jipyeong’s spine.
Despite the blazing jade radiating heat, Lee kang’s presence felt like winter frost.

Lee kang finally turned his head and smiled faintly.

“Oh my, isn’t this Neung Jipyeong, the master of the Flying Swallow Unit?”

The feigned surprise only deepened Jipyeong’s unease.

“Brr… it’s freezing.”

Having finished cultivating the Taiyin Sutra, Lee kang immediately rushed to the brazier.

“The completed Taiyin Sutra draws in yin energy, does it not? Once mastered, you should be able to contain it.”

He had come to the Red Jade Hall precisely to endure longer training under its warmth — but even that had its limits.
His body was ice-cold, releasing visible frost.

That’s why he’d prepared something special today.

“Ah, the broth’s ready.”

“To think you’d try to restore yang energy through food — quite clever of you.”

“Garlic, leeks, chives, chicken… I had the cook make dumplings with strong yang ingredients.”

“Why not just have him cook it for you outright?”

Igany didn’t answer. The stew he was making wasn’t from the Central Plains — it was Korean-style spicy dumpling hot pot, rich with chili and broth to warm the body.

He dropped the dumplings into the simmering pot and tore green onions straight by hand.

“Mm! The aroma is divine!”

The Immortal Sword spirit nearly stuck its nose into the pot, prompting Igany to snap:

“Enough.”

“Heavens, so fierce…”

At least it backed off.

Tasting the soup, Igany frowned slightly. “Needs salt.” He sprinkled in some salt and chili powder.

“You’re just guessing the flavor?”

“Not guessing — experience.”

The next taste brought a satisfied smile to his lips.

“Hmph. For the Baek  heir, this is quite unbecoming. You should’ve had a servant do it.”

“What’s so undignified about feeding oneself? Humans die if they don’t eat.”

“Ahem.”

“I made this stew when I was ten. Father praised me. Hajun liked it too… that was the last time he ever did.”

The sword spirit murmured softly.

“Your younger brother… he came when you were unconscious, didn’t he?”

Lee kang smiled bitterly. He hadn’t met Hajun since waking up in this new life.

“If he’d seen me first, he should’ve greeted me…”

The sword spirit tilted its head.

“Er… descendant.”

“What?”

“Why is that man standing there, glaring at you like that?”

Lee kang’s spine stiffened. Slowly turning around, he found Neung Jipyeong standing right behind him.

“Ah.”

“M–Master Neung Jipyeong, is it?”

His voice cracked slightly. He cursed the sword spirit for not warning him.

He braced for a scolding—

Instead, Jipyeong bowed deeply.

“My apologies for not greeting you sooner, Young Master Lee kang.”

The once-arrogant man’s posture was now formally deferential.

“Forgive my discourtesy.”

“Discourtesy? I don’t…”

“I forgot my duty as a vassal.”

He bowed even lower.

Lee kang had no idea what was happening.

“Then… I shall take my leave.”

Without another sound, Jipyeong departed — his footsteps utterly silent.

Lee kang exhaled in disbelief.

“What was that…?”

“Strange fellow indeed.”

“Ah—! The broth’s boiling over!”

Flustered, Lee kang turned back to his pot, pushing the incident from his mind.

“Descendant! Why not let me possess you again while you eat? I’ll teach you how to lighten your body!”

“You said I could die if you did that!”

“Details, details! Think of the technique!”

“What’s the point if I’m dead?!”

Lee kang ignored him completely.

After being completely thrown off by Lee kangearlier, Neung Jipyeong returned to the Red Jade Hall around sunset. It was time for Baek Hajun’s training.

Hajun, despite his youth, had astonishing talent. Jipyeong always steeled himself before their sessions.

But today, his mind was still unsettled.

‘…Did I imagine it?’

As a loyal retainer, he never gossiped — especially about the Baek heirs.
Yet deep down, he believed Hajun, not Lee kang, was the rightful successor.

‘That lazy, pathetic act… was it all a façade?’

If Lee kang hadn’t feigned weakness, his lack of martial ability wouldn’t have mattered.

‘No — pointless thoughts. The boy will die by twenty anyway.’

Shaking off his musings, he failed to notice the silent ambush behind him.

Whoosh!

Steel sliced through the air — Jipyeong parried instantly.

Clang!

Blades met. The attacker was a pale, cold-eyed boy — Baek Hajun.

“Master Neung Jipyeong, I touched you.”

As always, Hajun opened their session with a sneak attack. Jipyeong had blocked it as usual — but this time, something was off.

“Young Master Hajun!”

For once, he’d been caught off guard. Even with distraction, the boy’s improvement was remarkable.

He smiled — rare for the stoic master.

“Splendid! Truly splendid, Young Master!”

The boy, however, remained expressionless.

“It was still an easy block, wasn’t it?”

“Ha! You’re too modest. Even your perception rivals my own.”

Watching Hajun’s daily progress eased Jipyeong’s earlier disquiet.

“Today, we’ll raise the difficulty of our ‘Goblin Hunt’ drills.”

“Yes.”

Hajun nodded slightly, then looked up toward the rafters.

“Young Master?”

“…There’s a smell.”

“Ah!”

Jipyeong realized what he meant — the faint scent of dumpling stew still lingered in the air.

“A warm, comforting scent…”

For the briefest moment, a smile touched Hajun’s lips — something almost childlike.

“Actually… Young Master lee kang was here earlier today.”

The smile vanished instantly.

“My brother?”

“Yes. He trains here when it’s not your time. You didn’t know?”

“…”

Apparently not. The brothers’ schedules had never overlapped in a month.

“Then this smell—”

“Yes, Young Master Lee kang cooked a stew here after his training.”

Hajun’s hand, gripping the wooden sword, turned white-knuckled.

‘So… they still aren’t on good terms.’

Moments ago, he’d smiled. Now, anger burned in his eyes — a rare display of emotion for the usually cold boy.

“Let’s not dwell on it. Focus on training for now. We started early today for a reason.”

Jipyeong thought to ease the tension — but before he could continue, the door creaked open.

Clack.

No servant should’ve been entering at this hour.

“Why is the lamp lit— Oh.”

Baek lee kang stepped inside.

“…Why are you here now?”

Neither brother had expected the other.

They froze — staring across the hall.

For the first time in three years, the two brothers faced each other again.