In just a few days, many things had changed around Seok Jin-ho’s quarters.
Previously, no one visited unless it was to bring food or clothing, but now, people came by almost every day.
Especially numerous were the servants, who loitered unnecessarily around his residence.
“Is the young master in the backyard?”
“Should we sneak in for a peek?”
“Why would you do that? Did you forget how Jang-chil got scolded for barging in?”
“R-right, that’s true.”
A servant in his mid-teens swallowed dryly.
He had witnessed his close friend Jang-chil get scolded harshly for recklessly approaching Seok Jin-ho, so he stammered unintentionally.
He still hadn’t forgotten the icy look in Jin-ho’s eyes from that day.
“They say it was terrifying?”
“It was no joke. He spoke so logically and calmly, there wasn’t even room to argue.”
“He really has changed. His build’s gotten so much better, too.”
“That’s thanks to his daily training, apparently.”
The boy answering scanned around the residence.
They weren’t the only ones hanging near the Winter Gate.
Servants of all ages were openly loitering around Jin-ho’s quarters.
Waiting for the moment when Seok Jin-ho might appear.
“But where did he get his martial arts? The techniques in the martial library are all low-level. I thought high-level arts, the so-called ‘true arts,’ were managed separately by the head of the sect.”
“The martial world is full of eccentric hermits. Maybe he was taught in secret by a reclusive master? Or maybe he had a lucky encounter.”
“And Tak-yoon got a piece of that fortune.”
The two boys’ eyes lit up.
Rumors about Tak-yoon had spread like wildfire throughout the Seok Clan—how he saved some servants from back-alley thugs near the marketplace.
For a true martial artist, it was nothing—but not for a fellow servant.
Especially since Tak-yoon, despite being only a third-rate at best, had defeated thugs who fought daily. That made the impact even greater.
And he hadn’t fought one-on-one—he had taken down five by himself.
Naturally, the story spread rapidly among the servants.
“If we catch Young Master Jin-ho’s eye, maybe we can become martial artists too.”
“It’d be a total reversal of fate!”
“It’s not like we’re meant to be servants forever. Even with a second-rate technique, we could land jobs at escort agencies. We could even skip the apprentice stage!”
“Maybe even become first-rate warriors like the guards!”
The boys looked dazed.
They were imagining themselves as masters of martial arts, wandering the rivers and lakes.
And it wasn’t just them—everyone loitering nearby was dreaming the same thing.
“Tak-yoon.”
“Yes, hyung.”
“You really won’t do it? Even when I’m asking like this?”
“Well…”
Tak-yoon looked troubled.
He and Jung Ma-ryung weren’t strangers—they were fairly close. It was hard to refuse him outright.
If it had been someone he barely knew, he would’ve flatly refused, but Jung Ma-ryung was someone who looked out for him when he had no friends.
So Tak-yoon hesitated with a conflicted expression.
“I’m not asking for much. Just a subtle mention, like in passing. We’re not strangers. And do you think I came empty-handed?”
“N-no! I can’t accept this.”
Tak-yoon recoiled, shaking his large head at the familiar feel of money in his hand.
It might not have been a large amount, but he couldn’t accept it.
He wasn’t naive enough to think things came for free.
“Please, just once. Say a word on my behalf. You know what my dream has always been.”
“…I do.”
“You also know I don’t have much time left. Young Master Jin-ho turns eighteen in just nine months. Time’s really running out.”
Still holding onto Tak-yoon’s hand, Jung Ma-ryung looked like he was about to cry.
Now, Jin-ho was his last hope.
After all, Jin-ho had turned Tak-yoon into a martial artist in a short time—and Tak-yoon was only a year younger than him.
“You know I’m not that capable.”
“I know. But maybe you could drop a hint. You’re basically like brothers—you grew up together. If you say something, maybe he’ll give me a chance.”
Jung Ma-ryung’s voice trembled badly.
Since dreaming of becoming a martial artist, he had visited every escort agency in Hebei.
The larger ones sometimes trained their apprentices in basic martial arts.
But unfortunately, Ma-ryung wasn’t accepted by those places. He wandered through minor agencies until he ended up at the Seok Clan.
Even so, he hadn’t given up his dream.
The Seok Clan had skilled guards protecting the main family, and Ma-ryung hoped to get noticed.
But the results were what he now faced.
“This is my last shot. If it doesn’t work out this time, I’ll really give up. I’m getting too old.”
He hadn’t wasted his time.
He had lived diligently—his only flaw was a lack of talent.
He hadn’t mastered any high-level martial arts, but he had practiced the basic techniques for nearly five years.
“I’ll mention it… but don’t get your hopes up too much. You know what the young master’s like.”
“Thank you! Really, thank you!”
Jung Ma-ryung looked deeply moved.
He knew how big of a chance this was.
Though Tak-yoon was kind and warm-hearted, he wasn’t soft.
He had a sharp memory and still remembered who had mistreated him as a child—so only a few were even allowed inside Jin-ho’s residence.
“It’s too soon to be happy.”
“Just getting you to speak on my behalf is huge. You’ve seen how many are stuck outside trying to get in, right?”
“Of course I know.”
Tak-yoon nodded.
People begged him daily—it was impossible not to know.
If anything, Ma-ryung was one of the more polite ones.
“What’s with all the noise?”
“Young Master.”
“Aren’t those kids bothering you too much?”
Jin-ho stepped out, his clothes drenched in sweat from training, a frown on his face.
But even that slight frown made Ma-ryung’s legs go weak.
It felt like his very spirit was shaking.
He felt like prey in front of a predator—and swallowed nervously.
“It’s not too bad.”
“Chase them all away. You can do that now, right? If they complain, use my name. It’s fine to do that now.”
“Hehe.”
Tak-yoon chuckled awkwardly.
Others might say Jin-ho was arrogant, but to him, he was incredibly cool.
He had the strength to back his words.
“Y-young Master!”
“What is it? Who are you?”
“My name is Jung Ma-ryung!”
Jin-ho’s gaze turned to Tak-yoon, and the pressure eased a little.
Seizing the moment, Ma-ryung bowed low.
He knew this was his one and only chance.
“Jung Ma-ryung?”
“Yes! I mostly work in the inner yard, so we haven’t met much.”
“I figured. I don’t recall seeing you.”
“We’ll get used to each other over time, won’t we? Haha!”
Ma-ryung laughed cheerfully despite bowing deeply.
But the pose made him look like a flattering eunuch.
Oddly enough, it suited him.
“You’re bold. You seem close to Tak-yoon too.”
“We’re like brothers!”
“Otherwise, you wouldn’t have made it in here.”
“Exactly!”
Ma-ryung answered loudly.
To him, Jin-ho was the final lifeline.
If Jin-ho didn’t accept him, the best he could hope for was to be a third-grade escort at a small agency.
“You want to learn martial arts?”
“Yes!”
“Surprisingly honest.”
“There’s no point in lying when you already know. Sly people can’t be trusted, right?”
“So you’re saying you’re trustworthy?”
Jin-ho let out a small laugh.
The guy said some funny things.
Still, eloquence was a kind of skill.
And if he was close enough with Tak-yoon to call him ‘brother,’ his personality probably wasn’t bad.
He was discriminated against as a child, so he doesn’t have many close friends. If he calls someone ‘brother,’ that person must have been trustworthy for a long time.
Jin-ho’s eyes flicked to Tak-yoon, who looked uneasy.
He clearly had more to say but couldn’t.
“At the very least, I’m a man who keeps his word!”
“That’s important in relationships. But unlike Tak-yoon, I don’t know anything about you. And more importantly, I don’t have a reason to know you.”
“You’re right. Of course, there’s no reason for you to go out of your way for me. That’s why I’ll show you. Tak-yoon is here, but it’s good to have more people, right? I’ll show you I can do things he can’t.”
“Hmm.”
Jin-ho looked intrigued at his words, shouted with a bowed head.
It wasn’t wrong.
And Tak-yoon was more like family than a subordinate.
In that sense, Ma-ryung’s offer piqued his interest.
“You.”
“Yes, Young Master!”
Ma-ryung cautiously raised his head.
Since he hadn’t been immediately rejected, he looked up with hopeful eyes.
“You know you have no talent, right?”
“…Yes.”
Ma-ryung looked glum.
But strangely, he accepted Jin-ho’s words at face value.
Even though Jin-ho was a year younger.
“And you still want to learn martial arts?”
“Yes. It’s the first dream I ever had.”
“Being a martial artist isn’t as glamorous as it looks. Chivalry? That’s just a fancy word for meddling. Real chivalry doesn’t exist. Only people who need the title.”
Jin-ho let out a cynical laugh.
Across countless lifetimes, he had only met three true chivalrous people.
The rest were hypocrites—or artificially made heroes.
“But doesn’t that give it value? Oh, not that I want to be a hero. I just want to become a martial artist, live freely, and speak my mind. I’m not unaware of how heavy the martial path is. I know I could die anytime, anywhere.”
“And let’s be clear—becoming a martial artist doesn’t change anything. It’s just a different world, still ruled by survival of the fittest. The weak get eaten or enslaved.”
“I haven’t experienced it yet. But I don’t think you need a reason to dream.”
Ma-ryung answered with clear, unwavering eyes.
Jin-ho was reminded of a very old memory.
