By Zephyria 
The bald training center director led Young-pa’s party around, introducing the key locations. In the training grounds to the east, practitioners were practicing in several lines. Some were paired up practicing combat arts, while others were firing arrows alone. Young-pa scanned the crowd, wondering if Geum-dongi had passed the test, but he could not find him.
The director took Young-pa to a detached villa. He explained that this space, which even had its own private courtyard, was where important guests stayed.
It was a grand and beautiful building. Golden decorations modeled after animals were attached to the ends of the roof’s eaves. Lee Shim gaped at the magnificent house, and the child pushed open the door at will, burying his face in the neatly laid out silk bedding.
“Baemttong, you’ve really made it in the world, getting to sleep in a place like this!”
“Heehee! Call me ‘My Lord’ from now on. Got it?”
Biryoo had joined them silently. Young-pa hadn’t even noticed when he arrived, but after confirming he was following, he whispered into the director’s ear.
“Actually, I intend to hand this man over to you.”
“Hand him over, Master?”
“His abilities are beyond description; someone like me is not fit to be compared to him. I am saying I will give you such a person. So, raise him well.”
The director glanced at Biryoo and gave a slight nod.
“I must ask Master Neungui, the teacher of this clan.”
“Do as you wish. I only want a fitting price.”
“A price… what do you desire?”
“Show me the changjingyeong.”
The director nearly jumped in surprise at Young-pa’s whisper.
“Are you saying you wish to enter the treasure vault?”
“Yes.”
“I heard the changjingyeong is the treasure most cherished by the clan head and has not been seen by the world for a long time. Furthermore, entry to the treasure vault is strictly forbidden to outsiders… I shall convey this matter to Master Neungui first.”
“I take it this man named Neungui manages the clan’s affairs?”
“The clan head is unwell, so the young master, the deputy clan head, handles all matters. However, as he is still young, Master Neungui holds several authorities.”
Young-pa replied that he understood. The bald man said that Master Neungui was currently away and could be met tomorrow. He also mentioned that they must be hungry after their arduous journey, so he would bring a meal, and if there were any inconveniences, they should tell any servant and he would take care of it.
“Then, please rest well.”
The bald director bowed politely and distanced himself with strides of five paces at a time. Young-pa tried to enter the villa but locked eyes with Biryoo standing before him.
“Since when were you there? You didn’t overhear the conversation, did you?”
“It seems it was a conversation that shouldn’t be overheard.”
“If you’re so curious, why don’t you ask. I think it’d be best to take off one piece of clothing for every question.”
Feeling mischievous, Young-pa tried to flick his finger up at Biryoo’s robe. However, Biryoo stepped back quickly, and Young-pa’s fingertips only brushed the air.
“This bastard, every single time… Will you die if you touch me?!”
As Young-pa stomped his feet in frustration, Biryoo turned away. Before entering the villa, he spoke in a voice so low that only Young-pa could hear.
“Do not trust the people here.”
“You worry too much. I don’t trust anyone to begin with.”
Biryoo did not respond to those words and went inside.
When Young-pa entered the large room, he saw Lee Shim and the child playing as if they were the richest people in the world, having spread out the bedding. Lee Shim held a gold nugget he had disguised, saying, ‘Lord Baemttong, do you need this gold toad? Would you trade that flashy necklace for it?’ to which the child shouted, ‘Here, take it! I have treasures rotting away!’ and the two of them giggled together.
After a short wait, several servants brought a lavish meal that threatened to bend the table legs. There was steaming white rice and about fifteen different side dishes. From pheasant and pork dishes to grilled flatfish and mullet, sautéed or seasoned wild mountain greens and field greens, buckwheat and acorn jellies, grain liquor and flower-scented medicinal wine to drink, fruit punch, and even honey rice cakes. The child began to drool the moment he saw the table.
‘There must be a reason for such excessive hospitality.’
Young-pa had Lee Shim hold onto the child, who was acting possessed, and tasted a small bit of every dish. Having suffered various poisons while being tortured by Ji Seo-gu in the snake cave, he could detect even the slightest toxicity. However, there was nothing wrong with the food. Not only was there no problem, but it tasted excellent.
“Let go.”
The moment Lee Shim released him, the child lunged at the table, growling like a wild beast. Not to be outdone, Young-pa ate fiercely, and under their combined gluttony, the food that had filled the table quickly vanished. Lee Shim, caught between the two, picked at his food with chopsticks before backing away with a look of disgust.
They finished the meal quickly. They ate so cleanly that every dish sparkled as if it had never held anything to begin with.
“Burp!”
Young-pa rinsed his mouth with liquor one last time and let out a loud burp. Seeing this, the child followed suit, but the sound was not even half as loud as Young-pa’s.
“Um, Brother.”
“What.”
“She really is your biological daughter, isn’t she?”
The rice bowl Young-pa threw embedded itself into the wall, cracking it right where Lee Shim’s face had been a moment ago. Lee Shim naturally changed the subject as if nothing had happened.
“It’s so wonderful to see our Baemttong eating so well! Look at how plump he’s become in just three days.”
Having eaten like a glutton for several days, the child was no longer the scrawny girl they had met in the mountains. Picking his teeth with a fingernail and lying down contentedly, the boy looked quite cute now that he had put on some weight.
“Earthworm.”
“Yes, Brother.”
“I told you not to give him a name.”
“Why? What’s wrong with Baemttong?”
“If you’re going to name him, why a serpent out of all animals?”
“I agree. Perhaps it’s because serpents are all we ever see.”
“Don’t get attached to a kid you picked up.”
“Don’t say that, Brother. The child will be sad to hear it.”
Before they knew it, the child had fallen fast asleep using Lee Shim’s lap as a pillow. Young-pa watched them for a moment before standing up.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going to look around the area.”
“I’d like to accompany you, but I can’t get up because of this little one.”
Lee Shim smiled awkwardly. Young-pa turned his back on him and left the villa.
Young-pa walked aimlessly with his hands in his pockets. To others, it might have looked like he was leisurely strolling, but he was carefully observing everything happening around him. He watched where the servants came from and where they went, and assessed how many practitioners were within the grounds.
‘There doesn’t seem to be anything strange.’
Pacheondang was just as the rumors said. A place that scouted practitioners born with extraordinary talent and helped them grow. By a rough estimate, there seemed to be over a hundred people residing there, and from a glimpse of their training, each individual’s skill was outstanding.
Seeing that everyone’s faces were bright, it seemed they were being treated well. The training grounds were clean and spacious, equipped with various weapons. The library was full of books, and there was even a nursery to raise the young children brought by the practitioners.
‘A place like this makes even me want to stay.’
Just as he was about to return to the villa with a light step, Young-pa saw something fallen beneath the shadow of a wall. Approaching it, he saw a black band. The three divine beasts—White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Azure Dragon—were embroidered on the edges.
‘My mother embroidered it herself.’
It seemed Geum-dong had passed the test. However, Young-pa muttered to himself that it was strange for him to lose something he cherished so much.
Young-pa put Geum-dong’s headband in his robe and turned back. He passed the practitioners’ quarters, the training grounds, the dining hall, and the library. At that moment, the bald director, walking from another direction, greeted Young-pa happily.
“Master Young-pa, where are you going?”
“I’m full, so I came out for a walk.”
“I’m glad the food suited your taste. Is there anything uncomfortable?”
“No.”
“Do you know the way back to the villa?”
“Of course.”
The director bowed to Young-pa and walked away quickly. Young-pa waited until his figure grew small and then carefully followed him.
The director’s pace was so fast that Young-pa had to struggle not to lose him. At the same time, he had to kill his footsteps as much as possible and hide his body whenever the man stopped, which was tricky. Fortunately, it was dark, and there were many buildings and trees within the grounds.
The director stopped once at a warehouse and once at an armory to check something before heading west. After walking for a while past the practitioners’ quarters, a small garden appeared, and after passing through it, a wall higher than a human appeared.
The director entered through a door, but Young-pa had to secretly climb over the wall. After landing softly on the dirt ground, the director was nowhere to be seen. Young-pa hid in the shadows and searched the surroundings.
The western district, where the Woo-pyeong family lived, had more greenery than the eastern district. While the east had countless small quarters with five or six rooms, the west consisted of only one large main house and three or four detached villas. The main house was guarded by at least ten armed soldiers. Young-pa used a spell to shake the bushes, and while a few soldiers went to investigate, he slipped into the outhouse.
Once he had infiltrated, the rest was easy. From the veranda to the servants’ quarters, from the servants’ quarters to the main hall. To the kitchen, and then to a small room. He encountered servants a few times, but each time he leaped up to crouch on a beam or hid behind a doorframe.
“It is time for the clan head to take his medicinal decoction. Is it ready?”
“It is here.”
Young-pa heard the bald director’s voice from atop the beam. The man took the bowl and spoon and opened the sliding door of the inner room. Before the door closed, Young-pa saw someone lying there. Soon, a low groan was heard, and through the shadow cast on the door, he could tell that Woo-pyeong had pushed himself up.
“Clan head, you must drink your medicine and recover quickly.”
The director fed the decoction to Woo-pyeong with a tender attitude. Young-pa watched for a moment and then stepped outside. Having confirmed that the clan head was ill, there was nothing left to doubt.
‘If there’s nothing suspicious, that’s good.’
Young-pa intended to return to the villa this time. However, a sound coming from behind the detached pavilion caught his attention.
“So you’re saying you’re still not finished?”
“I-I’m sorry! I worked hard, I did… but there was just too much today…”
“Why is our young master like this?”
The low cackling of young men echoed. Young-pa crept toward the sound. Hiding behind a tree, he saw a group of three or four people surrounding a youth sprawled on the ground.
“Young master, young master… do you think we’re a joke because we call you that?”
“No, it’s not that…”
“Look here, young lord. You need to finish the laundry quickly…”
One of the standing men kicked him in the chest, and with a thud, the youth’s body spun around.
“So that we… can wear them… and train, right?”
Two more kicks followed in succession. The youth crawled on the ground, trembling, but the man dragged him back and slapped his cheek. Those watching around laughed and chimed in.
“Stupid, he never learns.”
“He just needs to hurry. Being that sluggish every time is a talent in itself.”
The man hit the youth a few more times. As if this happened often, the youth endured the beating without even screaming. The man spat on the ground and threw the youth back down.
“I’ve scarred his precious face. I won’t get caught, right?”
“You should have hit him more skillfully.”
“Eh, whatever. Let’s go eat a late-night snack.”
The gang ran off together and crossed the wall into the eastern district.
After a moment, Young-pa slowly stepped out from the shadows. He had no intention of interfering in a fight between strangers, but the practitioners had called this youth ‘young master.’ There was only one person here who would be called that.
“Can you stand up?”
“Ugh… No. I can’t.”
Up close, the youth looked quite young. Perhaps eighteen years old. One eye was bruised deep purple, and a scab of blood had formed at the corner of his mouth. Judging by the way he groaned while clutching his stomach, it seemed his internal organs were damaged.
Young-pa placed his hand on his stomach. As black energy wavered from his palm, the youth’s eyes widened.
“Master… I’ve never seen anyone use such a spell before.”
“Quiet.”
Young-pa healed his internal organs and then fixed the bruise and the scab on his face. The youth had a look of disbelief.
“Ah, um… I’m late in thanking you. It would have been troublesome if the wounds hadn’t healed by tomorrow, so… thank you so much for helping me. I-I am called Wudam.”
“You’re Woo-pyeong’s son, right?”
“You knew… I’ve shown you a shameful side of myself, Master.”
‘I happen to have a lot to ask, so this is perfect.’
Young-pa watched as Wudam pushed himself up.
“I truly wish to repay this kindness. Please tell me your name.”
“Young-pa.”
“You share a name with a famous master.”
Once the introductions were over, Young-pa led Wudam to a secluded tree shadow. This was to ask various things without being overheard. Young-pa took out the band he had picked up from Geum-dong earlier.
“It seems someone I know dropped this. Can you find them for me?”
“Yes. I will find out which house they stay in and deliver this band. What is the name of the practitioner you are looking for?”
When Young-pa answered ‘Geum-dong,’ Wudam promised to check the register. Young-pa handed the band to him.
“I have something else to ask.”
“What is it?”
“I want to see the treasures of your clan. Is there a way?”
“Pacheondang has so many treasures. Which one are you referring to?”
“The divine artifact of the Vermilion Bird.”
Wudam’s eyes widened in surprise.
“If you are talking about the changjingyeong, it is the greatest treasure of the clan… even I have only seen it from a distance.”
“So your promise to repay the favor was just words.”
“That… I want to do whatever I can for you… but I have no authority to begin with…”
Wudam added with a troubled expression.
“Furthermore, even if I wanted to ask for permission, my father is gravely ill.”
“Can’t you just ask that person called Neungui?”
“You mean Master Neungui. Then I shall ask him. He is very busy, so I don’t know if he is here right now, but…”
“I heard he was away. But it’s strange that everyone treats that fellow like the clan head.”
“You are mistaken as well, Master.”
Wudam said he was upset that Master Neungui was often misunderstood because he was deeply involved in the affairs of Pacheondang. He claimed that Master Neungui had lived for Pacheondang since before Wudam was born and was a man of integrity who had devoted himself only to training for over several decades without coveting wealth.
“Thanks to Master Neungui and his disciples, not only monsters but even bandits cannot be found around Nazgol. Not only that, the Master often distributes wealth to the needy.”
Wudam praised Master Neungui tirelessly, but Young-pa listened with indifference.
“You have such a great teacher, yet you get beaten around your own house?”
“That is…”
Wudam’s cheeks turned red. He answered with a stutter.
“It is all because I am inadequate. I have no talent and I am young, so I lack the qualifications of a deputy clan head, so… a few practitioners are just… treating me without formality.”
“It’s like a pet dog biting its owner.”
“I am ashamed, Master Young-pa. Please… do not tell Master Neungui about this. I beg of you.”
“Won’t it be solved if he knows?”
“I’m already a burden who just consumes food; I don’t want to cause him such worry. I can just endure it a bit…”
Young-pa nodded.
The clan head is ill. His son and deputy clan head, Wudam, is weak-willed, lacks authority, and trusts a certain master like a parent. In that case, there was no choice but to speak with the man named Neungui.
“Tell him to find me as soon as that master returns. I don’t care if you have to wake him from his sleep.”
“Yes. I will do as you say.”
Young-pa had no further business with Wudam. He leaped over the high wall and headed toward the eastern district.