A valley near the city.
Sanghyeok was able to find a small wooden box in a cave he had discovered as a child together with his father.
Inside it was a booklet titled Wijailgi.
It meant "A Diary for My Son."
Sanghyeok carefully opened the first page.
On the first page was a letter left behind by his father.
—To my son.
At some point, Unseong lost its spirit and became a den of petty men.
The Heavenly Thunder Twin Swords, once a martial art worthy of being called an enemy of ten thousand, have instead regressed and become something even street thugs learn.
After many trials and errors, I discovered the true method of training the Heavenly Thunder Twin Swords and recorded it here.
My son. I hope you will not repeat the many mistakes I made, but instead reach the realm of the Martial God and restore Unseong.
I pray that you will learn what is right and wrong in being human and become a fine warrior who lives for the sake of all.
I am sorry I could not protect you to the end.
Your incompetent father.
What he had thought was merely a diary was no different from a secret manual of the Heavenly Thunder Twin Swords.
No, to be precise, it was far superior even to the secret manual Han Baeksa possessed.
That was exactly why Han Baeksa had not returned this diary to Sanghyeok.
"..."
Sanghyeok quietly began reading his father's diary.
From basic stances and footwork to detailed methods for mastering advanced martial arts, everything was meticulously written, and scattered throughout were side notes imbued with his father's thoughts for his son.
—Be careful of your knees when training this movement. If you're careless, you could damage your joints.
—When training this form, relaxing your grip is more important than holding the sword tightly. It's an easy part to mess up, so don't rush and practice it repeatedly.
Sanghyeok bit his lower lip, then put his father's diary back into the box.
First, he had to get Ju Eunhui out of Unseong.
Whether sooner or later, Han Baeksa would realize the diary was gone, and when that happened, Ju Eunhui and he himself would be the first to be suspected.
After hiding his father's diary somewhere safe, Sanghyeok headed for the estate.
'They won't have noticed yet.'
Praying so, Sanghyeok arrived at the estate and had no choice but to squeeze his eyes shut.
Ju Eunhui was being tortured in the courtyard.
"Are you sure you didn't steal it?"
"Even if I say I didn't, you wouldn't believe me anyway, so why do you keep asking?"
"I spared you because of my son's last words. Tsk, tsk. Fine then, let's see who wins in the end."
When Han Baeksa waved his hand, the warriors brought over a branding iron heated in the fire.
Ju Eunhui clenched her teeth and endured it, but she couldn't stop the scream that burst out.
"Kyaaaaaaah!"
Sanghyeok spotted Ju Eunhui from outside the main gate and rushed inside.
"What do you think you're doing right now?!"
At Sanghyeok's shout, everyone's gaze turned toward him.
Ju Eunhui looked at the returned Sanghyeok with a shocked expression.
"You…!"
She had told him not to come back.
Sanghyeok immediately dropped to his knees in front of Han Baeksa and spoke.
"Why are you doing this, Grandfather?"
"Is it so strange to punish a thief? This wench stole your father's diary."
"..."
It had already been discovered.
Looking down at Sanghyeok, Han Baeksa said,
"Unless the item she stole is returned, her crime will be punished with death."
Han Baeksa observed Sanghyeok's reaction.
He was a child whose emotions showed plainly on his face.
He was no match for Han Baeksa, who was thoroughly seasoned in politics.
'The diary is probably with that boy.'
Why would that maid, who followed Han Gyuho like a father, steal that diary?
There was no need to think hard. The answer was obvious.
"Sanghyeok, do you know where that diary is?"
"Th-that is..."
Sanghyeok hesitated.
Should he tell the truth and save Ju Eunhui?
No, there was nothing to hesitate over.
There was nothing more important than a human life.
'I'll just train in the Single Sword Style.'
Thanks to Seoha's help, Sanghyeok was already capable of learning top-tier martial arts.
He just had to give up his father's diary.
His father's carefully written advice weighed on his heart, but he had to abandon it with tears in his eyes.
"My father's diary is—"
The moment Sanghyeok opened his mouth—
"Kya hahahahaha!"
Ju Eunhui suddenly laughed like she had lost her mind and shouted loudly.
"There's no way the young master has it, is there? Yes. I stole it and sold it. That diary. Since it was written by a noble, it sold for quite a high price."
"You expect me to believe that? That you sold your master's keepsake?"
No one seemed to believe her, but Ju Eunhui continued speaking.
"Yes. It's a hundred, a thousand times better than letting it fall into the head of the family's hands. I'd rather die than see that diary end up with you."
With a resolute expression, Ju Eunhui turned to Sanghyeok and said,
"That's what I believe, Young Master."
If the diary were handed over, she would kill herself.
It was a warning.
When Sanghyeok closed his mouth, Han Baeksa said indifferently,
"Is that so? Then you must die. Take her away and cut off her head."
It was a contest of nerves, and the one who lost patience would lose.
If Sanghyeok kept his mouth shut until Ju Eunhui's breath ceased, it would be Sanghyeok's victory. Otherwise, it would be Han Baeksa's.
But Han Baeksa was confident of his victory.
'A foolishly upright child.'
That was why he wouldn't be able to stand by and watch someone else's sacrifice.
Sure enough, Sanghyeok's face turned pale as he slammed his forehead against the ground.
"...Please forgive her, just this once."
"She confessed. How could I possibly forgive her?"
"I'll do anything. Please, just spare her once."
"Fine. Then bring me your father's missing diary, and I'll reduce her punishment to flogging. If you have it, bring it now. Before it's too late."
Sanghyeok couldn't answer.
He couldn't hand over the diary.
Ju Eunhui was the kind of person who did what she said she would. If he handed over the diary, she would hang herself, resenting Sanghyeok to the end.
Knowing that, Sanghyeok could only keep banging his head against the ground and beg for mercy.
"I'll really do anything. Please spare her life. Head of the family."
Sanghyeok no longer called Han Baeksa "Grandfather."
This was not a plea to family, but a plea to the head of the family.
Because Sanghyeok no longer had any family in this land.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Pathetic. Go cut off her head."
At that moment, a good idea flashed through Han Baeksa's mind.
'Wait a moment…'
Seeing that even after all this, he still wouldn't hand over the diary meant that a battle of nerves would gain him nothing.
In that case, wouldn't it be better to use Sanghyeok to gain something?
Since he said he'd do anything, as long as Ju Eunhui lived, Han Baeksa could use Sanghyeok however he pleased.
And once the break ended, the Seongmu Tournament would soon begin.
'The winner will probably be that little Cheongsin brat.'
There were rumors that Lee Seoha had killed the Baekdu Sword Demon.
If that was true, no matter how talented Yeongsu was, he wouldn't be able to win.
'And this kid is friends with that Cheongsin…'
If used well, he could make Yeongsu the winner of the Seongmu Tournament.
'I can use him.'
If Sanghyeok betrayed Cheongsin, he would have no choice but to return to Unseong. There was no saint in this world who would accept someone who repaid kindness with betrayal.
Moreover, as long as Ju Eunhui lived, Sanghyeok would be a blade Han Baeksa could wield at will.
'Yeongsu should have a good blade as well.'
After weighing the pros and cons, Han Baeksa spoke with a sly smile.
"You said you'd do anything?"
"Yes, I did."
"Then can you betray Lee Seoha?"
"..."
Sanghyeok fell silent.
Just that hesitation alone satisfied Han Baeksa.
As long as Ju Eunhui's life was on the line, Sanghyeok would eventually betray Cheongsin.
He was that soft.
"You don't need to answer now. When the Seongmu Tournament begins, answer me then."
"...Thank you, Head of the family."
Hearing Sanghyeok's thanks, Han Baeksa let out a hearty laugh.
He found himself looking forward to the Seongmu Tournament.
"...That's how it happened."
"You know quite a lot of details."
"Unseong has many informants. I believe you know why."
The once-strong and loyal Unseong had long since become nothing more than despicable businessmen.
Their only goals were land and money.
They cared only for their own profit, with no loyalty left, so keeping an eye on Unseong was only natural.
"So what was the order Sanghyeok received?"
"To poison you. The goal is to arrange a meal with you, Young Master Seoha, and poison you so that you won't be able to participate in the semifinals two days from now."
"Did Sanghyeok accept it?"
"He left without saying a word, taking only the poison."
What choice would he make?
Having come this far, I began to wonder whether I truly understood the person named Han Sanghyeok.
Han Sanghyeok.
Hero of the rear lines.
Protector of the people.
Ill-fated genius.
I had never met him even once, despite all the titles attached to him.
I had simply judged him trustworthy based on rumors and records.
This felt like a trial.
"I understand. Thanks to you, I know the whole situation now."
"Call me anytime you need me."
After Jeong Doyun disappeared, I looked up at the moon.
Let's check.
What choice Han Sanghyeok makes.
The next day.
Just as Jeong Doyun reported, Sanghyeok invited me to dinner.
Bad at acting, he said he wanted to treat me to something good before the match and headed to an expensive restaurant.
"Hey, isn't this place pricey? Where'd you get the money?"
"I can't treat you often, so when I do, I should do it right."
A private room.
As Sanghyeok personally poured the tea, he said,
"I have a lot to be grateful to you for. So…"
"What are you grateful for? We're friends."
I looked at his back.
From his slumped shoulders, I could see what he was thinking.
What will you choose?
Whatever you choose, I can understand.
Soon, Sanghyeok handed me the tea, and I drank it all in one gulp the moment I received it.
The hot tea burned its way down my throat, and I smacked my lips.
If the effect came later and it wasn't lethal, then it was probably the Azure Visage Poison. A poison that made one's face turn blue over time and inflicted severe abdominal pain.
And it had a slightly sour taste.
No matter what choice Sanghyeok made, I intended to respect it.
That was my way of trusting people.
If I got betrayed?
Then I just wouldn't trust them anymore.
When I drained the hot tea in one go, Sanghyeok asked with wide eyes,
"Isn't it hot?"
"It is. Damn hot. My tongue's all numb."
After setting down the teacup, I said,
"But you. What are you planning to do?"
"Huh?"
"Why didn't you poison it? Your sister will die, you know."
"..."
Sanghyeok stayed silent for a long time, flustered, then spoke.
"You knew?"
"Yeah. I knew."
"And you still drank it?"
"Yeah. I thought you had poisoned it. Guess you didn't?"
Sanghyeok alternated his gaze between the teacup and me, then his expression hardened.
"You knew and still drank it? What were you thinking if I had poisoned it? Is the Seongmu Tournament a joke? Why would you drink it? Why would you drink it, you crazy bastard!"
Unable to suppress his embarrassment and rising anger, Sanghyeok shouted.
After fuming for a while, he sat down in front of me, let out a sigh, and pressed his forehead.
"How could I betray you? You trusted me blindly…"
Looking at the tearful guy, I said,
"Plenty of people betray anyway. I was just seeing what kind of person you are. Don't be so moved. Given the situation, I honestly wasn't sure."
"I was going to poison it at first. But my hand wouldn't move."
Sanghyeok bit his lower lip, holding back tears, then spoke in a trembling voice.
"There's no way around this, right? Seoha."
You say it fast.
But it's fine.
It's not too late even now.
"No, there is. I'll make it work."
"You're not planning to lose to Han Yeongsu on purpose, are you? If it's because of me—"
"That would just be doing exactly what he wants, so I can't do that."
"Then what are you going to do?"
No matter Cheongsin's power, he couldn't interfere in Unseong's internal affairs.
Ju Eunhui had confessed to stealing it, and the only way to save her would be to pay a price and buy her back.
But since Ju Eunhui was essentially a leash to control Sanghyeok, there was no way Unseong would sell her willingly. Even if they did, they'd name an absurd price.
"First, we have to get your sister out."
"Grandfather won't give up easily, will he? Will it be okay?"
"You're right. He won't give up easily. If we just take her, they'll easily deduce we're the culprits and apply pressure immediately."
If Ju Eunhui disappeared, Unseong would naturally suspect me, Cheongsin, and Sanghyeok.
And if Cheongsin were caught protecting Ju Eunhui, Unseong would launch a major political attack.
After all, she was a criminal who had stolen property from the family.
I had no intention of taking that kind of risk.
"...This isn't the time for this kind of talk, but I can't cause more damage to you and your family. I've already received too much."
"I don't intend to harm my family either. There's a way."
"A way?"
"You don't look for dead people."
I smiled at the puzzled Sanghyeok.
"Let's go. To stage a death."
There's always a way.