Chapter 6.5: No Wind, No Waves

Eon Ik-sam, the head of the trading group, was confined in the House of Frozen Pond, the residence of Yeom Seung-han, and was growing increasingly anxious. He had no way of knowing how things were unfolding.

Ik-sam's situation had been deteriorating for some time. The trading group he inherited from his parents was steadily declining. Back when he was young, his trading group was large enough that marriage talks were held with a distant relative of the lord — who later became his current wife.

This was all due to the sudden rise of the Yonghwa Trading Group. Initially, Yonghwa was a small-scale trading group, but it gradually expanded its influence and began to threaten Eon Trading Group. Ik-sam made every effort to retain his business partners, but his schemes were quickly seen through, leaving him in a difficult position. He was even forced to seek help from his wife's family to avoid imprisonment.

At the time, he thought it was fortunate to have connections with the local authorities. When he first married his wife, she was obedient and compliant. But after her family saved him from trouble, she started carrying herself with newfound confidence, which annoyed him. In response, he sought comfort in the arms of another woman — who ended up getting pregnant and giving birth to a son.

Since his wife had only given birth to daughters, Ik-sam could not bring himself to abandon the son.

In the martial world, a person's status was determined more by their level of martial prowess than by gender, so both sons and daughters were valued if they were well-trained. But among ordinary people living in the Central Plains, sons were generally preferred. Ik-sam was no exception — he had always wanted a son.

His wife constantly pressured him, asking when he would formally declare their eldest daughter as the heir. If the Eon Trading Group still held the same influence it once did, such a discussion would have been out of the question — no one would have dared challenge his authority back then.

Delaying the declaration of an heir only intensified the scrutiny from his wife. For Eon Ik-sam, who had been hiding the existence of his illegitimate child because of the debt he owed to his wife's family, it was a nerve-wracking situation.

After losing many business partners due to the Yonghwa Merchant Group, Eon Ik-sam found it difficult to regain his former influence. It was during this time that he encountered the Third Internal Officer of the Black Sky Clan. The officer offered him good liquor and requested a meeting. Soon after, his pockets were stuffed with so much bribe money they were practically bursting, and Ik-sam managed to secure a small business deal. Though Eon Ik-sam felt dissatisfied, he believed that if he clung tightly to this connection, his fortunes would eventually turn.

There's a saying that good things come to those who wait. Ik-sam believed he was destined for success and that with enough time and effort, he could live a prosperous life.

However, as the saying goes, the longer the tail, the more likely it is to be stepped on. His wife's discovery of the hidden mistress and illegitimate child was inevitable.

It all happened because his now-grown son had started acting more rebellious. His son argued that since the Eon Merchant Group would belong to him anyway, why should he have to live in hiding? His wife threatened to return to her family at once, and Eon Ik-sam desperately begged her to stay, practically groveling at her feet.

His father-in-law and mother-in-law already disapproved of Ik-sam for making their precious daughter suffer rather than living comfortably after marriage. If they were to divorce, they might even bring up his past crimes, which could land him in prison again.

Through his connection with the Third Internal Officer, Eon Ik-sam sent his son to the Black Sky Clan. Since the boy was determined to become a martial artist, he hadn't been taught how to handle business matters. This caused his wife to step back slightly. In return, however, she demanded that their eldest daughter be announced as the heir soon. Ik-sam promised he would fulfill that request.

When it happened, he had been sweating profusely, but after it passed, anger boiled within him. He was not a man who deserved such treatment. That was his only son, why should he have to beg his legal wife for forgiveness because of a mere illegitimate child?

Eon Ik-sam had been preparing for this moment. He had planned to shower the Third Internal Officer with bribes during his upcoming visit to the Black Sky Clan, hoping to secure a special deal. But then, terrible news reached him.

The Third Internal Officer—his only connection—was dead.

Even after hearing the news of someone he knew passing, he felt more anger than sadness. How much money had he poured in? And now the man had died before he could even get a return on his investment?

Since the dealings involved bribes, there was no one he could complain to.

Ik-sam locked himself away in a tavern, drinking nonstop for several days. On his way home, still not sober, a man in black appeared before him.

Apparently, his illegitimate son had caused trouble even within the Black Sky Clan. He had recklessly acted out of inferiority and ended up on the bad side of someone important. He had been spreading rumors about the Third Disciple of the Black Sky Clan and was now as good as dead.

The man seemed suspicious, but the weight of the information he delivered crushed Ik-sam. Even though his son had always been disobedient and difficult, he still felt a sense of loss. But more than that, his son had ruined things so badly that the deals between the Eon Trading Group and the Black Sky Clan was now uncertain.

With the Third Internal Officer dead and his son having lose the clan's favor, what was he supposed to do now?

The greedy, fierce face of Ik-sam, who was pacing back and forth, was met with a suggestion from the man in black.

He proposed that Ik-sam use his illegitimate child to his advantage. Although the child owed his existence to Ik-sam, he passed away before he could repay his father. He whispered that by taking advantage of his son's death, Ik-sam could greatly expand his Eon Trading Group.

By making his son's death a public issue and escalating the situation, the Third Disciple would likely offer compensation for the sake of his reputation. Even if it wasn't the Third Disciple, the Grandmaster, who cherished him, would ensure that Ik-sam and his group received an appropriate compensation to prevent the situation from growing out of control.

Despite being tempted by these words, Ik-sam hesitated. It wasn't because he felt guilty about using his son's death. He knew that if this reached his wife's ears, it would cause chaos. His legitimate wife came from a prestigious family that had connections to the lord of the region. While they might overlook the existence of an illegitimate child, if rumors about him began to spread, for the sake of their reputation, they would surely abandon Ik-sam.

His life was balancing between rise and fall, and Ik-sam could not predict which way it would tip. What truly shook his heart were the final words the man in black had left him.

"As a man, shouldn't you aim for the highest position?"

Looking back, it was truly a cunning tongue.

While it was tempting to close his ears to the suspicious words, he knew that the other party's knowledge reached deep within Black Sky Clan.

When Ik-sam expressed concern that he might be killed, the man assured that due to the nature of the Third Disciple, he would not die. It was mentioned that since the Third Internal Officer died, he would not be able to enter Black Sky Clan until receiving a new permit, but if he came to the west gate at the designated time, he could still enter using his old pass.

That person assured Ik-sam that he would take full responsibility for everything, urging him to escalate the situation without worry. With that, Ik-sam decided to head to Black Sky Clan. Despite making this decision, Ik-sam didn't know the full details of the plan. The closer he got to his destination, and as the scheduled time neared, he started to understand the steps he needed to take.

The instructions from the person in black were inscribed on the side of the chopsticks he used during breakfast, on the reins of the horse he rode into Black Sky Clan, and on the back of the pass he submitted and received back when passing through the west gate.

He couldn't tell how far the man's influence reached.

As Ik-sam processed everything, he felt a chill run through him but also a shiver of excitement. Someone with unimaginable power was backing him. Even though he was merely a pawn for the moment, if he faithfully carried out his orders, he might be treated differently.

Following the instructions on the pass in hand, Ik-sam easily followed the path to Honamgak, his chest swelling with anticipation. When he opened the documents with the Third Internal Officer to prove his identity, he found a new instruction written on the paper and a letter to be used as evidence.

It stated that the murderer would be revealed by tomorrow morning.

'Is it just a matter of holding on until then?'

Entering Honamgak, Ik-sam saw, as he had been warned, his son's body being placed in a coffin. The reality of the situation hit him hard, and his heart sank.

For a moment, he questioned whether this was the right thing to do. However, there was no turning back now.

Ik-sam clutched his son's corpse and wept as he had been instructed by the mysterious figure. He raised his finger in anger toward the Third Disciple of the Black Sky Clan, a figure he would never have dared to look up to under normal circumstances, and cursed at Honamdan, escalating the situation.

The problem began afterward. The Third Disciple did not act like the righteous man the black-clad figure had described. Instead, he exuded a harshness reminiscent of the day long ago when he stood before the judge, bound by his aura. The way of the swordsman was too much for Ik-sam to withstand.

Meeting the Third Disciple, Ik-sam became intimidated and saw the Grandmaster of Black Sky Clan, a sight he had thought he would never see in his lifetime. The lord reached out as if he were about to kill Ik-sam himself. As the man in black had said, the Third Disciple wouldn't kill him, but once fear took hold, Ik-sam's composure plummeted into an abyss.

Most troubling of all was that no further instructions had come.

When had it stopped? It was right from the moment he entered Honamgak.

Swept up in the chaos he had caused, Ik-sam was led to the Second Disciple's residence. He didn't feel anger toward the one who had allegedly split his son's tongue in half—what he felt was fear. When the Third Disciple, who had spoken to that man, started to leave, Ik-sam instinctively reached out, nearly grabbing his pants in desperation.

Sent to a solitary room by the Second Disciple's subordinates, Ik-sam clenched his teeth. It wasn't exactly a prison cell as he'd been told, but there were far too many watchful eyes on him.

As soon as the door closed, he collapsed onto the floor. His chest swelled with panic, and the things he had done under instructions now felt like a noose tightening around his neck. Who would believe him if he claimed now that he had only been following instructions? They'd think he was just desperately trying to escape the mess he'd created.

His panicked mind scrambled to come up with a more convincing excuse, but even after staying up all night, nothing came to mind.

His mouth was dry. It wasn't a prison, but he was still confined under constant surveillance.

"Come out."

The door opened, and a swordsman with a sword at his waist gestured to him. Forcing himself to maintain a calm expression, Ik-sam stood up.

'They must have caught the murderer by now.'

That was the only reason he could think of for being summoned.

Right. Maybe all his worries so far had been for nothing. With someone unimaginably powerful supporting him, everything would surely go as planned.

As he followed the martial artist, Eek-sam spotted a cart with a black flag. With a merchant's eye, he immediately recognized that the items being carefully loaded onto the cart by servants and attendants were all valuable and precious.

A black flag... it must be a condolence offering.

'Wait... a condolence offering?'

Ik-sam abruptly stopped in his tracks.

"What is that?"

The martial artist turned back, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. His heart was pounding, but Ik-sam couldn't keep following without asking this question.

"Th-That… what is that?"

"Ah. Your son died in Black Sky Clan, so this is a condolence offering. It will soon be sent to your family."

"W-What…?"

A hoarse voice escaped Eek-sam's lips. To his family? A condolence offering... from the Black Sky Clan?

The martial artist continued, seemingly unaware of Ik-sam's turmoil.

"Be grateful to the merciful Third Disciple. Even after you spoke such disgraceful words, he pitied you as a father who lost his child. Since it's true that the victim died at the hands of the Black Sky Clan, he ordered condolence offering to be sent."

"Ah, ah…!"

Unable to say anything more, Ik-sam shook his head violently.

Ik-sam, who had been under watch, collapsed to the ground and let out an incomprehensible scream, causing the swordsman who's guiding him frown. The commotion also drew the attention of the busy passersby, who all turned toward Ik-sam.

He covered his face with his hands.

Why had he been dragged out at a time when the killer should have been revealed? Why had he been made to pass by the cart carrying the condolence gifts at that exact moment?

They… they knew everything.

They knew the dead child was an illegitimate son, and they understood Ik-sam's predicament of being unable to reveal this to his in-laws. Moreover, they were aware of his intentions to profit from this death…

The murmurs surrounded Ik-sam. He felt as if their gazes and the slight movements of their lips were mocking his shallowness, exposing the depths of his disgrace.

His breath became faint and shallow.

***

"I found it."

Il-woon returned with a hardened expression. Kang-oh, who had been sitting in the office of Honamgak with his eyes closed, accepted the blood-stained dagger from him.

"This was found in Ban-wi's quarters. He claimed he hadn't seen it when he left this morning. The width and length match the wounds on the deceased's chest."

Ban-wi was a martial artist known for using a whip as his weapon. Having once sparred with him, Kang-oh felt a wave of relief that they had avoided trouble.

"Any word from Senior Disciple Yeom?"

He had sent a message to Yeom earlier, asking him to handle the matter involving the merchant. The message included a request to prepare a cart adorned with black flags and have the merchant pass by it. The reply had said, "It seems you're planning something interesting." That was as good as an agreement.

Later, he could go and explain the situation over some good wine.

"I heard that the merchant tried to bite his tongue, but they stopped him and he had a private meeting with him for a while. After that, Eon Ik-sam wrote a confession letter."

"Already? I expected him to put up more resistance…" Kang-oh muttered.

Since the one who had dared to commit such an act against the Black Sky Clan would likely try to hold out for a long time, Kang-oh assumed Seung-han would have to push him hard — to the point where bloodshed wouldn't be surprising.

"Apparently, as soon as he was subdued, he confessed everything in detail, listing all his crimes with a resigned expression. The Second Disciple met with him privately to verify the truth of his statements."

"Seems like he was more frightened than expected."

"It appears that everything was going smoothly until suddenly communication from his backers ceased, leaving him in fear. On top of that, he completely lost his composure when he saw the cart with the black flag."

To Eon Ik-sam, that cart was not just a simple threat. It was the final warning from someone who had thoroughly grasped both his background and his vulnerabilities.

Ik-sam, who had relied heavily on his in-laws, instinctively realized that if the existence of his illegitimate child were to come to light, he would not only be abandoned by his legitimate wife but would also lose the last remaining trading partners, including Black Sky Clan.

"The Third Disciple's brilliant solution has allowed everyone to breathe a sigh of relief. Ban-wi said he personally wants to visit and express his gratitude."

Even the usually serious Il-woon could not hide his admiration for their lord. Kang-oh, who had been quietly listening, parted his lips.

"It wasn't me."

"Pardon?"

"It wasn't me."

The words were more of a mutter than a response as Kang-oh abruptly stood up and strode out of the room.

The Southern Lake Group, which had been unsettled by the murder incident, seemed to have regained its calm. Since their lord was frequently away from the Black Sky Clan, the Southern Lake Group, with no solid backing aside from Kang-oh, felt shaken by the recent events. However, Kang-oh had seen through the merchant's lies and prevented a scapegoat from being created.

Because of that, a sense of relief was visible on some faces. Among them, Ban-wi, who was standing at a distance, immediately lowered his head and made a fist salute when he saw his lord, Kang-oh, expressing his gratitude for not allowing him to bear false accusations.

When Il-woon had stormed into the members' quarters to investigate, they believed it was Kang-oh's intervention that had saved them from being falsely accused, leaving them deeply grateful.

Instead of responding to the greeting, Kang-oh turned away. He felt stifled.

It felt as if he was wearing clothes that didn't fit.

The person who deserved that gratitude wasn't him — it was Woo, who was in the House of Joy.

Kang-oh continued walking without looking back.

There was someone waiting for the confession of the merchant that Il-woon had obtained.

"M-My lord…"

As Woo anxiously paced near the front gate of Heedowon, he perked up the moment Kang-oh arrived. His expression resembled that of a hungry beast waiting for its meal.

Kang-oh was momentarily startled by the sight, but he quickly pulled out what Woo had been waiting for from his sleeve.

It was a piece of paper labeled 'Confession Statement.'

"...!"

The worry that had filled Woo's face vanished like the tide, replaced by relief. Kang-oh spoke in a calm tone.

"It was a big help."

"Th-Thank goodness..."

As Kang-oh gazed down at Woo's visibly tense face, Kang-oh felt a strange mix of emotions.

Woo had seen all of this coming. He had taken control and shaped things his own way.

Seeing that the merchant leader, thinking everything had been figured out, fearfully confessed everything that had happened so far, Kang-oh felt not surprise but a cold clarity in his mind.

He could not fathom why someone as exceptional as Woo was now so humble and subdued. He could only guess that there must be significant reasons behind it.

What on Earth could have broken Woo's wings?

It didn't seem like the Grandmaster of Black Sky Clan had restrained Woo. He was finally certain of that.

Even though he limped, his back was hunched, he stuttered when he spoke, and he couldn't meet others' eyes directly, the spirit within Woo burned like a blazing flame—so bright it could be blinding.

At least, it must have been that way once.

Now, he no longer had a reason to stand out and simply lived, letting his fire fade away.

"I'm not sure what's true and what's not, but we got a confession and had him write it all down. He claimed there's someone pulling the strings from behind, so I tried to trace them, but…"

Kang-oh shook his head.

"It was cleverly made to look like the work of the Third Internal Officer. Unless the dead have truly returned as ghosts, the investigators believe the merchant has lost his mind."

Woo already had a strong suspicion about the person behind it. However, without solid evidence, it wasn't a name he could carelessly mention.

Mo Yong-yu-woon.

He etched the name of the First Disciple, someone he had never thought to pay much attention to, firmly into his mind as he lowered his gaze.

Kang-oh had likely figured it out too, at least to some extent. After all, he was the one who had been turning a blind eye all this time.

"You… aren't you feeling wronged?"

Woo quickly lifted his head at the question. Kang-oh, with a strained expression as if holding something back, was looking straight at him.

Woo froze under the gaze that seemed capable of piercing through his very soul.

"W-Wronged?"

"They say that even if a needle is hidden in a sack, the tip will eventually poke through. No matter how well it's hidden, exceptional talent will inevitably reveal itself. That's how you are."

"Y-You flatter me too much."

Woo avoided Kang-oh's gaze, looking troubled and unsure of how to respond. Kang-oh placed his hands on Woo's shoulders. It wasn't a forceful gesture, but Woo was flustered just from Kang-oh touching him.

"I learned how incredibly patient you can be from the Third Internal Officer's bribery ledger incident. Your level of observation was beyond ordinary. Even if you're just a servant, as you said, if the Third Internal Officer truly let his guard down, it's possible you could have exploited that opening to uncover the secret."

"Y-Yes… It was just a coincidence."

His claim was weak. Kang-oh shook his head, already seeing through Woo's lie.

"But this is different. The only one who has been in and out of your room is Yeon-jin. The information she could access is limited. Even with just that much, you grasped the situation from where you were sitting and came up with the best solution. No one from the Southern Lake Group ended up being falsely accused because of it. That's not something an ordinary servant could do."

Who are you?

"I-I..."

Woo's breath hitched, anticipating the next question. His breathing quickened as if he had climbed a steep mountain in one go. But figuring out what excuse to give Kang-oh or how to hide the truth was even harder.

But just when he thought Kang-oh would continue to press him, the hand on his shoulder slowly slipped away.

"…I won't ask anymore. Because I owe you."

"...!"

It was hard to believe. Woo knew that coming up with a plan to help Kang-oh would only make him more suspicious of Woo's true identity.

And yet… he said he wouldn't ask anymore?

"So, don't leave. Just stay by my side."

"I-I…"

Woo was about to say that he couldn't, out of habit, but Kang-oh interrupted him.

"Promise me you'll stay."

Woo couldn't understand why someone so strong looked so fragile at that moment.

With a face twisted as though on the verge of tears, Woo shook his head. But Kang-oh's desperate plea bound his tongue, leaving him unable to say a word.

Only after a long moment did Woo finally manage to whisper, "P-please… keep your promise. That's all I ask."

"…"

Kang-oh smiled bitterly. Slowly stepping back, he raised both hands.

Kang-oh gave a bitter smile. Slowly stepping back, he raised both hands.

"I must look pathetic."

"N-No, that's not true."

Woo shook his head. Kang-oh quietly took in the sight of him.

The sun was now setting, casting a warm red hue across the world, painting everything in its glow.

For once, even Woo's usually pale face seemed to hold a bit of life under the fading sunset.

"I will… keep my promise."

Even as he said those words, Kang-oh found himself thinking that swallowing poison might have been easier.

***

On a dark night, Mo Yong-yu-woon sat in a room lit by candlelight.

In front of him lay four pieces of paper, each inscribed with words.

The First Disciple picked up the first sheet from the left and held it over the candle flame.

'Ignore.'

It was the method Jin-rang would have chosen.

Yoo-won stared intently as the paper burned away. His master was far too noble to deal with lowly individuals. It was not just his bloodline; it was his innate character. He despised schemers and refused to give them a chance.

After throwing the charred paper into the brazier, Yoo-won picked up the next one beside it.

'Kill.'

Mo Yong-yu-woon also burned this one over the candle. It was written with Second Disciple Yeom Seung-han in mind.

If it were Yeom Seung-han, he would have killed the merchant to silence any rumors. Though he came from an ordinary family and was adopted by the Lord of the Black Dragon Group, his methods were cold and calculated. He usually walked around with a carefree smile, but Mo Yong-yu-woon knew that the Second Disciple was unexpectedly cold-hearted. He wouldn't have realized this if he hadn't observed him closely for years.

Yu-woon tossed the burning paper into the brazier, watching as the characters written on it were consumed by the flames until they could no longer be deciphered. He turned his head away from the ashes.

'Justice.'

If it were Ye Kang-oh, he would have investigated the matter thoroughly and laid out the truth clearly.

Despite being the Third Disciple of the Black Sky Clan and receiving the Grandmaster's favor, Kang-oh had never acted recklessly even for a moment.

He knew all too well that even a mere flick of his sleeve could stir up a storm. Kang-oh's caution aligned with Yu-woon's own careful nature.

In another circumstance, they might have made good brothers. However, Yu-woon had too little to hold onto.

That's why he couldn't afford to tolerate Kang-oh, who stood in a far more secure position than he did.

The sense of unease Kang-oh stirred in him reminded Mo Yong-yu-woon of all he had lost and made him painfully aware of how precarious his current position was.

Some relationships are bound to fail. To Yu-woon, his relationship with Kang-oh was one of them.

The word 'justice' burned away into ashes within the brazier. Watching the last remnants turn to cinders, Yu-woon turned toward the final piece of paper.

'What remains is…'

Unlike the three pieces of paper he had already burned, the fourth sheet was completely blank.

Mo Yong-yu reached out and gently brushed his hand over the empty paper.

He hadn't been able to write anything on it.

That was because the owner of the final sheet was someone even Mo Yong-yu-woon couldn't be certain about.

There was only a faint resemblance — a face bathed in moonlight, the atmosphere around them vaguely similar. It could have easily been dismissed as a trick of the dark night, yet Mo Yong-yu-woon couldn't bring himself to look away.

The First Disciple, who had been quietly waiting for an opportunity, moved the moment he detected the disturbance at the House of Joy caused by Yeom Seung-han. Any incident — no matter the reason — that could get Kang-oh involved was enough for him to act swiftly.

He had anticipated that Kang-oh would try to prove his innocence. In fact, he even expected that it might elevate the reputation of the Third Disciple and the Southern Lake Group.

From the beginning, the net used to trap Kang-oh had been far too loose. What Mo Yong-yu-woon had been aiming for all along was to identify the outsider who had stepped into this dangerous game.

The tension he felt as he made his bold move completely overturned what his heart had known. For someone who had always been cautious with every step, Mo Yong-yu-woon's heart pounded harder than ever before.

He gave in to an impulse sparked by a single encounter. It was as foolish as casting a fishing line without a hook at the end—a truly senseless act.

All to confirm the identity of one person.

After receiving the final report on the events up to this day, Mo Yong-yu-woon realized that the plan he had carefully set in motion had completely collapsed. It had been a hastily constructed strategy, but he had still put considerable effort into it. Even so, his heart was pounding.

Neither the Grandmaster of Black Sky Clan, nor Yeom Seung-han, nor Kang-oh could have predicted such an outcome. The unexpected turn of events made it clear that a third party had interfered.

On the surface, the one who had cornered the merchant guild leader so thoroughly was none other than Kang-oh —it only confirmed Yu-woon's instincts. The youngest disciple wasn't someone politically inclined.

With that, everything became clear.

'White Virtue Clan's Grandmaster, Dan Woo-Hyo…'

Without wind, there are no waves.

In this harsh and lonely land, Dan Woo-Hyo had stirred the winds.