“Is it true?”

“I told you, it is! The Luoyang Jin Family put up a recruitment notice!”

“Wow… how long has it been since that happened?”

“As far as I know, it’s been over five years. Hahaha! This time, I have to get into the Jin Family!”

The already noisy streets of Luoyang became even more boisterous.

Everyone gathered was talking about the same thing—the recruitment notice from the Luoyang Jin Family.

And it wasn’t just Luoyang; all of Henan Province was stirred up.

The news spread rapidly across the entire Central Plains.

After all, for ordinary people, getting into the Jin Family was like a dream come true.

It was said that once you entered, your fate would change overnight. So, people from all over the Central Plains were already on their way, prepared to seize the chance.

Just like countless people used to travel to Beijing to take the imperial exams, many were now flocking to Luoyang in hopes of making money.

Luoyang Jin Family Recruitment Notice

The Luoyang Jin Family is seeking people to work joyfully as part of our family.

Positions:

• Bodyguards and general labor

Please note: All positions may be changed at any time.

Contacts:

• General Manager: Yoo Hyun
• Head of Security: Baek Jahyun
• Head of Personal Attendants: Hong Goohyun

The job required working all day without rest days.

It was an absurd condition, but people flocked to it for a reason.

The salary was overwhelming.

If you could grit your teeth and last ten years, you could earn enough money to live proudly anywhere. That alone was enough to justify the harsh conditions.

Even if the job was grueling, the money was worth enduring for.

“Sometimes I think… the Young Master is just crazy.”

“Cough. That’s a funny thing to say.”

In the training yard of the annex, Jang Chuhyung stood in the center, sweating profusely as he punched through the air.

Every time his fist cut the wind, a sharp whooshing sound echoed, as if he were slashing the very air.

He glanced at me, who was sitting and observing, and stuck out his tongue.

“I mean, who puts up a recruitment notice at a time like this? What if some shady people come in?”

I nodded in agreement.

Anyone would think the same.

It had only been a short while since that incident, and here I was putting up a notice to recruit people. With nothing properly resolved, it was natural for people to be suspicious.

I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“We’re the Luoyang Jin Family. We must always show strength and stability.”

“Still, this is a bit much… If the Patriarch finds out, he’ll go nuts.”

“He won’t. I didn’t tell him.”

“Exactly! But why? Something major happened to the family, so shouldn’t we inform him? If it were me, I’d be crying and yelling all the way to him!”

Jang Chuhyung looked at me like I was crazy.

The Patriarch of the Jin Family—my father—holds unimaginable power.

He had dealings with both the Imperial Family and the Martial Alliance. He practically controlled the flow of money in the Central Plains.

As such, anyone would expect the son of such a man to run to his father the moment his life was threatened.

But I didn’t.

I hadn’t in the past, either.

Father needed to deal with the bandit threat and return.

If I sent word now, he might act hastily out of concern, and who knows what decision he might make in that state?

One misstep, and everything could fall apart.

So I kept silent.

That side must proceed as originally intended.

“Stop complaining and focus on your punches. Your form’s off.”

“Ugh?!”

Three days had passed since I put up the notice.

In that time, I’d been helping Chuhyung with his martial training. Though I was only helping him build his foundation, it had already made a big difference.

His punches were becoming more stable.

Compared to a few days ago, he was like a different person.

His growth was steep.

Whether it was due to natural strength or talent, if he could establish his dantian, his progress would explode.

No wonder that person had shown interest in him.

Smirking, I stood up and grabbed a wooden sword, walking in front of Chuhyung.

“What are you doing?”

“A sparring match. Let’s go light.”

“With you, Young Master? Come on, that’s ridiculous—”

I slashed.

Swoosh—!

The blade narrowly missed Chuhyung’s hair. If he hadn’t tilted his head back just in time, he would’ve been hit.

“W-What the heck!?”

“Just light sparring.”

“……!”

Ignoring his shocked expression, I went for his shoulder.

He dodged again and stepped back half a step.

I twisted and swung again.

Swhak—!

“Eek?!”

Startled by the sharp sound, Chuhyung stumbled and fell.

But I didn’t stop.

I closed the distance and jabbed the wooden sword toward him.

A change in movement—what had been a straight thrust now swerved with precision.

Panicked, Chuhyung rolled across the ground.

Thud!

The wooden sword smashed into the ground, sending splinters flying.

“I’m gonna die—!”

“Hmmm…”

This sword technique I used was the Water Moon Sword Art (水月劍功).

It was a martial art created using numerous secret techniques once bought by the Jin Family, a family once fixated on martial prowess.

During my life on the run, I dissected and reassembled it into a new style.

But it still had flaws.

Because of those flaws, I couldn’t break through the final barrier and died in the past.

Even after all my efforts, I couldn’t reach the pinnacle.

So I concluded there was a fundamental flaw in my martial arts.

That’s why I’d been reviewing everything recently. But unlike before, it was hard to make progress.

Back then, I had someone advising me.

Now, I was on my own.

No guidance—just me.

Thinking of this, I gripped the sword again.

“Again.”

“Ugh, seriously!? No mercy?!”

“Good choice.”

Thwack!

“Gah?!”

I struck him on the forehead like a charging boar. He fell, holding his head, exposing many openings.

I took the chance to strike his torso repeatedly.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

“Arghhh!”

He groaned and curled up. It must have really hurt.

“Sloppy. In real combat, the enemy won’t hold back.”

“In real combat, I would’ve died at the first hit!”

He grumbled, rubbing his head.

Yet he got back up, slowly assuming his stance again. His eyes looked serious.

But just then—

Cough!

I coughed.

Despite barely moving, I was drenched in sweat.

My body had taken too much damage.

I frowned unconsciously.

Damn this body…

I threw down the sword and looked at Chuhyung.

“That’s enough. Try to improve for next time.”

“Oh, I’m gonna die…”

He collapsed dramatically, groaning.

But I knew it was all an act.

This was the guy who knocked out Gam Cheongwoon with a single punch.

A spar like this wouldn’t faze him.

Seeing him play dead, I shook my head.

Then, Chuhyung started patting his body and peeked at me with the eyes of a begging child.

“Let’s eat now. The sun’s already high.”

I looked up.

Sure enough, it was already midday.

And then… my stomach growled.

I smiled awkwardly.

“Good idea. Let’s go. I’ve been craving street food lately.”

“Again? Sigh…”

Chuhyung sighed, but I ignored him. I no longer felt unsafe eating outside, but I still craved the flavors of street food.

Plus, I wanted to see the chaos of Luoyang’s streets.

The marketplace was bustling as always.

People crowded the streets, more than usual. Folks from nearby towns had come, making the place even livelier.

This was the power of the Jin Family’s name.

Of course, some were profiting more than others.

From the moment the recruitment began until the day it ended, the entire market turned into a festival.

Performers roamed the streets, doing acrobatics to attract crowds.

Inns doubled their prices but were still packed. Locals even rented out their own rooms for profit.

Food stalls made more food than usual and charged higher prices. It was chaos, in a fun way.

Truly, a festival.

An expected result when people gather.

I smiled wryly at the sight.

The bear performs, and the man gets paid—they say.

I now understood why people waited eagerly for Jin Family recruitment periods.

I clicked my tongue and bit into a skewer.

“Shouldn’t we be getting paid for this?”

“I feel the same.”

“Feels like we’re being used…”

“We are. But we let them. Because in the end, all that money comes back to the Jin Family.”

“R-Really?”

I nodded.

When people earn a lot, they naturally want to spend it. Whether it’s at the famed Unryong Inn or other places.

The money would flow back to us.

The Jin Family had its hands in many things, after all.

It was mutual benefit.

I smiled, chewing the last of my skewer.

Then, I spotted something familiar.

A man blending casually into the crowd, acting like any other bystander.

But that face—I knew it too well.

I turned away naturally, as if I’d just happened to glance that way.

We made brief eye contact, but he disappeared into the crowd without suspicion.

I turned and walked in the opposite direction, recalling his face.

Faster than expected.

There were still three or four days until the full moon, and he was already in Luoyang.

Goo Yangchul, Captain of Shadow Assassins, Team Ten.

I smiled quietly and walked deeper into the street.

The second prey had arrived.