Chapter 08
– Gathering Gazes (1)
In just a few days, much had changed around Seok Jin-ho’s residence.
Until recently, no one came to visit him except when delivering food ingredients or clothing. Now, people came by almost every day.
Most of them were servants, loitering pointlessly around his quarters.
“Is the young master in the backyard?”
“Should we sneak in for a look?”
“And for what reason? Did you forget how Jang-chil got thrashed for barging in without permission?”
“R-right, I did forget that.”
A mid-teen servant swallowed hard. He had seen with his own eyes how his close friend Jang-chil had foolishly gone to see Seok Jin-ho and ended up getting severely scolded. That icy gaze from that day still haunted him.
“They say it was terrifying?”
“Not an exaggeration. He tore him apart logically, point by point, leaving no room to argue back.”
“He really did change. Even his physique looks so much stronger.”
“They say it’s all thanks to daily training.”
The boy speaking swept his gaze over the area surrounding the residence.
And he wasn’t the only one circling around near the Wol-dong Gate. Servants of all ages were openly loitering around, waiting for Seok Jin-ho to appear at any moment.
“But where did he learn martial arts? The manuals in the martial library are all low-level. As for higher-level secret arts, I know the clan leader keeps those under his own control.”
“They say the martial world is full of eccentric hermits, like grains of sand. Maybe he secretly apprenticed under some hidden master? Came in secret, passed on a peerless art, then left. Or maybe he stumbled upon some fateful opportunity.”
“And then it’s Tak Yun who reaped the benefits of those leftovers.”
The boys’ eyes gleamed brightly.
Not long ago, Tak Yun’s deed had spread like wildfire throughout the entire Seok Clan. He had rescued some servants who had gotten into trouble with back-alley thugs in the marketplace.
For martial artists, it wasn’t much. But to the servants, it was a huge deal.
The fact that someone of the same servant status had actually learned martial arts—even if only at a third-rate level—and had defeated ruffians who brawled daily left a massive impact.
Even more so because he had defeated not just one, but five opponents at once. The tale spread through the servants’ quarters like lightning.
“If we can get into Young Master Seok Jin-ho’s good graces, we could become martial artists too.”
“It would be the perfect chance to turn our lives around!”
“There’s no reason we have to remain servants forever, right? Even learning a second-rate art would let us work as guards at an escort bureau. We could skip being mere baggage carriers entirely.”
“Maybe even become first-rate warriors, like the household guards!”
The boys’ eyes grew hazy, their imaginations drifting.
They pictured themselves as martial masters, gallantly roaming the rivers and lakes.
And truth be told, every loiterer around the residence was entertaining the same fantasy.
“Tak Yun.”
“Yes, brother.”
“Can’t you really do this? Even if I beg you like this?”
“Well, it’s just that…”
Tak Yun wore a troubled expression.
It wasn’t as if he and Jeong Ma-ryung were strangers. In fact, they were fairly close. With Jeong Ma-ryung pleading so earnestly, he couldn’t bring himself to flatly refuse.
If it were someone he barely knew, he would have rejected him outright. But Jeong Ma-ryung had been the one who looked after him back when he had no friends.
That made things difficult.
“I’m not asking anything excessive. Just casually bring it up in passing, that’s all. We’ve known each other for years. And you don’t think I came empty-handed, do you?”
“Wh-what! I can’t take this.”
Feeling something shoved into his hand, Tak Yun’s eyes went wide as he quickly shook his head. It wasn’t a large amount, but still, he couldn’t accept it.
He wasn’t so young as to think there was such a thing as a free favor.
“Please. Just once, could you put in a word for me? You know what my lifelong dream has been.”
“…I know.”
“And you know I don’t have much time left. Young Master Seok Jin-ho will be eighteen in just nine months. My chances are nearly gone.”
Jeong Ma-ryung clutched Tak Yun’s hand tightly, nearly on the verge of tears.
At this point, the only person he could depend on was Seok Jin-ho.
After all, in such a short time, Jin-ho had transformed Tak Yun into a martial artist. And Tak Yun was only one year younger than him.
“You know I don’t have that kind of ability, brother.”
“I know. But you could still hint at it, couldn’t you? Blood aside, you and the young master are practically brothers, having grown up together. If you ask, maybe he’ll grant me at least a chance.”
His voice trembled badly.
Ever since he first dreamed of becoming a warrior, Jeong Ma-ryung had visited every escort bureau in Hebei Province.
The larger ones sometimes taught basic martial arts even to porters.
But unfortunately, he never managed to join such places. He ended up drifting between lesser establishments before finally coming to the Seok Clan.
Even so, he never gave up.
The Seok Clan boasted skilled retainers and household guards who protected the direct line, and he had hoped to earn their notice.
But the result was plain to see.
“Ugh!”
“This is my last try. If it doesn’t work this time, I’ll really give up. I’m too old now.”
He hadn’t wasted his years. He had worked harder than most, he believed.
It was only that he lacked talent.
Even so, he had diligently trained for nearly five years in the Three Talents Breathing Method, Three Talents Sword Technique, and Three Talents Footwork.
“I’ll mention it. But don’t expect too much. You know the young master’s personality.”
“Thank you! Thank you so much!”
Jeong Ma-ryung’s face lit up with gratitude.
This alone was already a huge chance for him.
Tak Yun was gentle and kind-hearted, but not naïve. He had a sharp memory, and he never forgot those who had mistreated or discriminated against him since childhood. That’s why the number of people allowed into Jin-ho’s residence was so few.
“You shouldn’t be rejoicing just yet.”
“Even so, it’s better than nothing. There are dozens stuck outside with no chance at all. You know that.”
“Of course.”
Tak Yun nodded.
Day after day, he was constantly being cornered by others with the same requests.
Compared to them, Jeong Ma-ryung wasn’t even the worst.
“What’s all this noise?”
“Young master.”
“Aren’t these kids bothering you too much?”
Seok Jin-ho stepped out, his clothes drenched in sweat from training, frowning.
But just that slight frown was enough to make Jeong Ma-ryung’s knees tremble.
It felt as if his very soul was being shaken—like prey standing before a predator. He instinctively swallowed dryly.
“It’s not too bad.”
“Drive them all away. You can handle that much now, can’t you? If they fuss, just use my name. It’s fine for you to do that now.”
“Hehehe.”
Tak Yun grinned ear to ear, admiring Jin-ho’s confidence.
Others might call it arrogance, but to him, it was dazzling. And Jin-ho had the strength to back up every word.
“Y-young master!”
“What is it, you?”
“I am Jeong Ma-ryung!”
When Jin-ho’s gaze shifted toward Tak Yun, the suffocating pressure eased slightly.
Jeong Ma-ryung seized the chance. This was the moment he had been waiting for. He immediately dropped to his knees.
“Jeong Ma-ryung?”
“Yes! I mostly work in the inner courtyard, so we haven’t had much occasion to meet.”
“I see. You’re not in my memory.”
“Well, we’ll become familiar soon enough, won’t we? Hahaha!”
He laughed heartily while bowing low.
But the act made him look more like a flattering eunuch than anything else. Oddly enough, the look suited him.
“You’ve got quite the cheek. And it seems you’re close with Tak Yun.”
“We’re like brothers!”
“Otherwise, you wouldn’t have made it this far.”
“Exactly!”
Jeong Ma-ryung replied firmly.
To him, Seok Jin-ho was the final lifeline. If even Jin-ho didn’t choose him, the best he could ever hope for was to become a third-rate escort guard at some small-time bureau.
“Your goal is martial arts?”
“Yes!”
“Surprisingly honest, considering appearances.”
“I didn’t think it necessary to beat around the bush. Shady people are hard to trust, aren’t they?”
“So then, you’re trustworthy?”
Jin-ho chuckled. The man’s words were amusing. But rhetoric, too, was a form of skill.
And if he was truly close enough to Tak Yun to call him brother, then his character couldn’t be entirely bad.
For someone like Tak Yun—who had been shunned since childhood and had so few friends—to accept him, meant this man must have earned his trust over a long time.
Jin-ho’s gaze shifted to Tak Yun, who looked restless, clearly wanting to say something but unable to.
“At the very least, he’s a man of loyalty!”
“Loyalty is important in human relations. But unlike Tak Yun, I know nothing about you. More importantly, I have no reason to get to know you.”
“You’re absolutely right, young master. Of course, you shouldn’t trouble yourself on my account. So instead, allow me to prove myself. Tak Yun is here, but more hands are always useful, aren’t they? I’ll show you what I can do—things even Tak Yun cannot.”
“Hmmm.”
Hearing the loud declaration, Jin-ho’s expression grew faintly intrigued.
It wasn’t an unreasonable point.
Tak Yun was more family than servant. From that perspective, Jeong Ma-ryung’s words did spark some interest.
“You there.”
“Yes, young master!”
Jeong Ma-ryung cautiously lifted his head.
He hadn’t been dismissed yet, so his eyes carried a glimmer of hope as he looked up at Seok Jin-ho.
“You know you lack talent, don’t you?”
“…Yes.”
Jeong Ma-ryung’s face fell into gloom.
And yet, he accepted Jin-ho’s words without question—even though Jin-ho was a year younger.
“And you still want to learn martial arts?”
“Yes. It’s the very first dream I ever had.”
“Being a martial artist isn’t as glamorous as it seems. Heroes? They’re just busybodies dressed up in fine words. Real heroes barely exist. Most are pretenders chasing the title.”
Jin-ho let out a cold laugh.
Across countless lifetimes, he had only ever met three true heroes. Everyone else had been hypocrites—or manufactured legends.
“But precisely because they’re so rare, isn’t that what gives them value? Ah, but I don’t mean I seek to be a hero. I just want to be a martial artist—free to speak my mind and live as I choose. And I’m not ignorant of the burden martial arts carries. I know death could come at any time.”
“And one more thing—becoming a martial artist won’t change anything. It just means you step into another world. A world ruled by the law of the jungle, where the weak are devoured and enslaved.”
“But I haven’t experienced it yet, have I? And I believe dreams don’t need reasons.”
Jeong Ma-ryung answered with bright, unwavering eyes.
Eyes that didn’t waver in the slightest.
From that look, Seok Jin-ho was suddenly reminded of memories from a very long time ago.
