Jin Cheon-hee and Hwang-gu.

And the three men watching them?

“From now on, we’ll have to rely on the Dark Palace Medical Pavilion if we get hurt, but for a thousand gold nyang, we have no choice. Second Brother, get ready. You see them?”

“Already prepared, Eldest Brother.”

The three men boasted such hideous features that one might wonder if they were legendary monster rather than human. They were the three brothers infamous in the Hao Sect for their specialization in manhunting, known as the Three Murderous Tracking Rats. They were called “Tracking Rats” because, contrary to their appearances, their methods were like those of rats.

Classified as part of the Unorthodox Faction, they were nonetheless considered petty criminals. They weren’t men who had committed great crimes, but they meddled in affairs they should and shouldn’t, and as a result, they were now targets of various other sects. They were men who survived by running and taking on dirty jobs, and their skill in evasion was known to be first-class, as each brother possessed a different specialty.

The martial prowess of all three was at the First-Rate level, but their talents were exceptionally tricky.

“Judging by their path, it looks like they’ll go to Hongze Lake to cross the Yangtze…”

“If they cross the river by day, we’ll attack after they’ve crossed. If they cross at night, we’ll attack them right there on the water.”

The eldest was a master of tracking. His sense of smell was said to be so superior that he was known to track targets better than any hound.

The second had special eyes. It was said that by using his internal energy, he could distinguish objects at least a thousand zhang (nearly three kilometers) away.

The last, the third, excelled in swimming and stealth.

These three brothers had traveled the Gangho and built a considerable reputation for themselves as bounty hunters.

“Well, I’ve got the scent memorized, so let’s follow slowly.”

“Sounds good, Eldest Brother.”

“Fine by me.”

The three brothers thus concluded their plan.

***

Jin Cheon-hee and Hwang-gu finally arrived at Hongze Lake, which connected to the great Yangtze River. A famous lake in Jiangsu Province, Hongze was known not only for its vastness but also for its beautiful scenery. The sight of mist rising from the mirror-like surface of the lake was truly a spectacle. It was said that hot springs also flowed into this region.

Perhaps that was why connoisseurs often said: ‘On a cold morning, it looks as if the clouds themselves have descended to quench their thirst. With clouds in the sky and clouds on the ground, who would envy the Realm of the Immortals?’

They arrived in Bao’ing, a city on the shores of Hongze Lake, and one large enough to serve as a port for ships. It was late afternoon, and the sun was beginning to set.

“This is a lake, not the sea?”

As he entered Bao’ing, Jin Cheon-hee stared at the water, which stretched out like the horizon. He had never seen such a lake, not even in his past life. He hadn’t been able to travel much, neither in Korea nor abroad.

I only get to see this after I’m dead.

Life was just as relentless now as it had been then. But he couldn’t deny that this chance, at least, was a precious experience.

Keong! Keong!

“You must have seen things like this often, huh.”

“Wang!”

“It’s my first time.”

In his past life, Jin Cheon-hee’s world had been so small. It had consisted of the hospital and his home. The relationships he built were purely professional; he had almost no personal connections. In short, he was always an agreeable colleague, but he had never made a friend he could open his heart to, the kind one could travel with.

It was a path he had chosen himself.

Jin Cheon-hee scratched Hwang-gu’s head, savoring the emotion of the moment.

“When Master is all better, I have to travel more.”

He wondered why all the things he hadn’t been able to do seemed to shine so brightly now.

Wang!

Jin Cheon-hee chatted with Hwang-gu as they made their way to the Bao’ing post station to return the horse he had used.

Now I need to find a boat.

From here, it would be much faster to take a boat along the Yangtze tributary to his destination.

“The horse is in fine shape for the time you made, eh?” the station worker remarked, stroking the horse’s neck. “The time written on the pass… you would’ve had to ride at a full gallop to make it here so quickly, but the horse is barely winded. It’s strange…”

“It must be a fine horse, I suppose.”

“Hmm. Doesn’t look it.”

It’s because I used the Five-Elemental Divine Art to forcibly instill vitality into it. Of course, it’s not a perfect solution, and even a post horse will get tired, but it’s possible to make it endure longer.

Jin Cheon-hee played dumb and headed out into the street.

He had barely stepped out, however, when a beggar approached him.

A Beggar’s Sect disciple, I assume?

While Jin Cheon-hee was thinking, the middle-aged beggar came up and showed him his knot.

“I am Bang-il of the Beggar’s Sect. Are you Young Master Jin Cheon-hee?”

“I am. It is a pleasure to meet a great hero of the Beggar’s Sect.”

He offered a polite, clasped-fist bow, the standard greeting of the Gangho. The middle-aged man nodded, his face expressionless, and said, “The boat leaves tomorrow, so you’ll have to stay here for a day. But be careful. The bounty the Hao Sect posted has drawn all sorts of riffraff.”

He scratched his head and added, “A few of our disciples, including me, are here, but there aren’t many of us.”

“Ah.” Jin Cheon-hee was startled. He knew about the bounty, but he hadn’t expected the Beggar’s Sect to have made arrangements for him in advance. I had an inkling when they sent Hwang-gu, but this is more thorough than I thought. I’m truly grateful.

He pictured Seol Gyeon’s face. The favor he had done in saving the former Faction Leader, Il-geol, was now becoming his own strength.

“The smart ones probably won’t make a move, if only because of us, but it’ll be dangerous on the boat.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Go to the Spiritual Dog Inn. It’s one of ours.”

“What about the post stations?”

“If your goal is to move discreetly, it’s best you stop using them. Officials are sloppy creatures by nature. And if we know, it means the Hao Sect knows, too.”

At those words, Jin Cheon-hee finally realized he had been relying too much on books. “This is how I learn the ways of the Murim, I see.”

“Hahaha, no. Little White Dragon, you’ve acted more cleverly than most sons of noble families. This is simply a matter of experience, not knowledge, so it can’t be helped. It may not have been your intent, but by moving faster than the official couriers, you’ve avoided a lot of trouble.”

It was a consolation, perhaps, but it was also the truth. No matter how well they knew his route, it was difficult to catch someone who moved that fast. That was the reason he was still safe.

Jin Cheon-hee gave a bitter smile. “A senior of the Gangho has taught me a valuable lesson.”

“The rumors of the Little White Dragon’s modesty are true, I see. If you show such humility, I have no choice but to do my very best for you.”

“It’s not that. It’s the truth that I am still lacking.” Jin Cheon-hee demurred politely.

“Hahaha. In any case, leave the preparations to us. We’ll see you at the Spiritual Dog Inn.”

The middle-aged beggar finally broke his deadpan expression, smiled, and left.

Jin Cheon-hee looked down at Hwang-gu and said, “See? It pays to help people. Right?”

Keong! Keong!

“Alright, so where is this Spiritual Dog Inn…”

Hwang-gu took the lead.

“You know the way, do you? Alright. Lead on.”

Wang!

Jin Cheon-hee began to walk the streets, following Hwang-gu. But suddenly, a sensation he had never felt in his life washed over him.

Swoosh!

A chill ran down his spine. For an instant, he felt the air around him shimmer with instability.

He was in the process of judging whether it was a simple illusion or a premonition when, at the exact same moment, the sound of something cutting the wind hissed in his ear.

Before the thought could even finish forming, instinct took over. Jin Cheon-hee snapped his head to the side.

Swaeeek!

Something grazed his cheek. It left no wound, but goosebumps prickled his skin. A fraction of a second slower, and that long needle would have punched a neat hole right between his eyes.

An ambush! But he just said the smart ones wouldn’t attack!

Jin Cheon-hee heightened his Qi Sense and rapidly located the direction the needle had come from.

Below the wall of a building down the street. In that middle point where the street fed into an alley. In that slightly shadowed place stood a man with several daggers stuck in his belt. A dagger was in his left hand, and his right hand was still poised from having just thrown.

“Tsk. Thought he was just a bookworm who only knew medicine.”

To think he’d just attack me out of the blue from a place like that, even if it is a bit hidden!

What do I do?

Jin Cheon-hee was momentarily stunned. It was a natural reaction to being attacked so suddenly. But the attacker, seeing Jin Cheon-hee’s hesitation, promptly turned around and started to run.

His ambush having failed, he had decided to flee. But just then, two beggars burst out from the alley.

“Soaring Sword Jo Illusion! You dare try to harm this Sect’s benefactor!”

“Heh! You nameless Beggar’s Sect trash dare to stop me, the Soaring Sword? I know there aren’t even ten of you in this city!”

“Shut that mouth!”

In the end, the man called Soaring Sword and the two Beggar’s Sect disciples clashed.

Jin Cheon-hee’s heart felt complicated as he watched.

I see. He couldn’t account for the ones with no brains.

He’d said the smart ones wouldn’t attack, but it seemed he couldn’t do anything about the thoughtless rabble.

Is this the magic of one thousand gold nyang?

The Hao Sect put a price on his head, creating attackers. The Beggar’s Sect was trying to help him as their benefactor. And the result was a life-or-death battle, starting right there.

Was this the grudges and favor of the Gangho?

This is… a complicated feeling.

And it was not a good one.

He had always thought he’d experience the Gangho’s grudges and favor someday, but he’d never imagined it would be like this.

Should he not have saved Wangya Ju’s husband? What if he had stopped her from taking revenge on the Hao Sect? If he hadn’t saved the Beggar’s Sect’s Faction Leader, those beggars wouldn’t be risking their lives right now.

Wang!

Just then, Hwang-gu barked. The dog, known as a spiritual beast, looked at Jin Cheon-hee with bright, clear eyes.

Looking into those black, clear pupils, he somehow felt his heart grow calm.

“Right, Hwang-gu. I just have to do what I can.”

Wang?

Jin Cheon-hee started to run. He ran straight toward the man called Soaring Sword and the two Beggar’s Sect disciples. The Soaring Sword was fighting with a dagger in each hand, and though they were short weapons, his skill looked formidable. The two beggars were fighting back with short staffs, but they were already wounded and bleeding from several places.

The moment he saw Jin Cheon-hee, the Soaring Sword flung a long needle at him. It seemed his moniker was “Soaring Sword,” but he also used needle-like hidden weapons.

Jin Cheon-hee used the Three Talents Footwork, his form sliding as he moved.