Episode 85. So We Finally Meet.
After returning from Nammyung Society, nothing much happened, so I started observing the ruined lives around me.
I’ve always been an expert in ruined lives.
Hyun-cheol had already been sent to Yongdu Ironworks. I’d thought of the Plum Blossom Sword Art again, so I asked Geum Cheol-yong to forge a sword using that same metal. Whether it returns as a proper weapon or ends up ruined too—well, that depends on the life of Geum Cheol-yong.
I sent Heuk Baek-soso to study medicine at the Moyong family. If they grow into fine physicians, they’ll stay there. If they fail again, they’ll return to Black Cat Hall. One way or another, I’m collecting failed lives—because that’s what I do best.
With little else to do, I looked around outside and saw Cha Seong-tae swinging his sword with impressive diligence—a man who’s lived as a failure for more than twenty years.
His master, Ho Yeon-cheong, was nearby—once a swordsman from a nameless clan, but thanks to me, now a ruined guest living under my roof. A failed master and a failed disciple comforting each other. They looked at me, and I nodded once.
“Good work. Keep at it.”
“Yes, sir.”
They bowed slightly and resumed training. To be honest, I doubt Cha Seong-tae will ever become a famous swordsman, but who knows? People can surprise you. I’ll cheer him on anyway.
So Gun-pyung was drilling even more hopeless underlings, merciless as always. I watched with arms crossed. Our three-hundred-year-old So Gun-pyung was one of the few truly diligent men in the dark world. I thought I might pass Black Cat Hall down to him one day.
After all, I’m the Hao Sect’s master now—delegating responsibility is part of my job.
Once I’d finished watching those ruined lives, I moved to my own training ground and sat cross-legged beneath the plum tree that never failed to bloom. As the faint groans of my training subordinates drifted through the air, peace like a river came over me.
Inside, the peace of a river and the madness of a sea swirled together. There was nothing particularly upsetting today, but I still engraved the word patience (忍) into my mind, like chanting a sutra.
“Thou must endure.”
“Lord, this is Chief Byeok. I have an urgent report.”
I opened my eyes calmly and looked at Byeok, who had lived nearly fifty years as a washed-up dark-world veteran.
“What’s the matter, our great strategist?”
I meant to say “our failed old chief,” but my words came out too grand. Byeok chuckled awkwardly. “You flatter me, my lord. Hehe.”
“Mm.”
“We’ve finally found a man whose face matches the description.”
That woke me up instantly.
“Where?”
“It’s a bit risky. Do you know Baek Eung-ji—the White Hawk District—where young noblemen of the righteous clans often gather for socializing?”
“I know it.”
“He was sighted in the main boulevard there. But the man we sent to follow him got caught—and beaten. He’s being treated at a nearby clinic. His face was smashed and his right arm broken.”
“Impressive that you found him at all.”
“I just followed your clues, my lord. I told the men to search the righteous world’s taverns where obnoxiously handsome men tend to appear. It paid off.”
“Well done, Chief Byeok.”
“Yes. However, we’ll need to confirm it’s really him. If you prefer, I can send a faster man.”
I shook my head. “No need. If he’s caught again, it won’t end with just a broken arm. To strike one of my men… that deserves payback. What’s the injured man’s name?”
“Everyone calls him Gong Cheol.”
“Gong Cheol. Got it.”
The Bright Left Envoy of the Demon Sect—Gwangmyeong Jwasa—was originally from the righteous clans, famous for his talent. Trained in martial arts since childhood, strong enough to defeat most dark-world masters. That title isn’t given lightly. Whatever his personality, he’s a rare genius of the blade.
I gave orders to Byeok. “Let’s prepare.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Ask Gong Cheol about local customs. Prepare white robes and attire that match the current fashion there.”
“Understood.”
“Send word to the Moyong family. Ask Master Moyong Baek for a poison—and its antidote.”
“Poison, sir?”
“Ask for a laxative-type poison. He’ll understand what that means. Best to be thorough.”
“At once.”
Since a confrontation with the Bright Left Envoy was inevitable, I closed my eyes again and began circulating my energy. I would build up as much internal power as possible before the encounter.
I would either kill him—or make him my subordinate. Sending him back to the Demon Sect was out of the question.
If both options failed, I’d simply crush that part of him under my foot. At least then, the righteous world’s women would be safe. They’d never know how I saved their lives.
When I finished a full cycle of energy, I stood and murmured, half in trance, “I’ll make you a eunuch.”
Cha Seong-tae, who had been training nearby, looked startled. “Pardon?”
“Shut up.”
“Yes, sir.”
I began practicing kicks aimed at the groin, along with low punches. Circling the plum tree, I alternated low strikes and kicks. Cha Seong-tae asked timidly, “Master, what are you doing?”
“Shut up.”
“Yes, sir.”
I leapt, performed a series of midair low strikes, and landed lightly. Beside me, Cha Seong-tae and Ho Yeon-cheong applauded my Neuter God Technique.
“Magnificent!”
“Well done.”
A man who trains solely to make another man a eunuch—that’s me.
* * *
Baek Eung-ji was named after the white hawk that once perched there. Why people drink so much there, I’ll never know.
There’s rarely a clear reason for anything humans do. Anyway, it’s where the young, high-born heirs of the righteous sects gather—to drink, flirt, fight, and sometimes ruin their lives. And I came right to that place.
The dark world has plenty of fools, but the righteous world isn’t much better.
The truly ambitious are at home reading or training. Occasionally, you’ll find those rare ones who drink well, play well, win hearts, and still fight brilliantly. Those men are simply born that way. Life’s never fair.
The district was full of inns and taverns, so I wandered from one to another, pretending to look for a friend—sometimes stepping into gatherings as though invited, then slipping out as if mistaken.
It looked a bit pathetic, but so be it.
After a few more stops, hunger struck, so I sat by the window on the second floor of Cheonpung Inn, a popular place for martial artists.
Frankly, I probably had more money than most of the young lords here. I called a waiter and ordered the inn’s finest meat and seafood dishes—plus rice wine, iced noodles, sea cucumber, spicy tofu, and dumplings.
Quite a feast for one man, but I couldn’t let the cityfolk look down on a country bumpkin from the dark world.
As the food arrived, I ate like a soldier on campaign. When night fell, lanterns lit the streets—glowing lights that stirred the hearts of women and excited men like the Bright Left Envoy.
The crowd thickened fast. Soon, every table in the inn was full. A few groups eyed my solitary seat but moved on.
This was righteous territory—everyone kept their manners. No one demanded to share my table.
The righteous sects, after all, value etiquette—at least on the surface.
Thanks to that, I could quietly observe the couples and drinkers, looking like a lonely wanderer or a swordsman pretending to be aloof.
The waiter was attentive, refilling my water and asking if I needed anything else. I waved him over.
“Yes, young master?”
I took out a silver ingot and handed it to him. He smoothly pulled a cloth from his belt, wiped the table, and pocketed the silver with a swordsman’s quickness.
“Go ahead,” he said quietly.
I unfolded the sketch I’d brought and showed him the face of the Bright Left Envoy.
“Do you recognize this man?”
The waiter studied it, poured me water, and said, “That’s the playboy from the Mong family.”
“The Wind-and-Cloud Mong family?”
“Yes.”
“Name?”
“Not sure. Everyone just calls him Mong Rang—the Wolf of the Mong Clan.”
The name sounded more like a childhood nickname than a title—‘the wolf cub of Mong.’ I tucked the paper away and asked one last question.
“Is he a bad one?”
The waiter met my eyes and answered firmly. “Yes. Be careful, young master. No one can best him.”
I finished my meal. If the Left Envoy truly came from the Wind-and-Cloud Mong family, there was no need to rush. That family had once produced generals but later abandoned the army to thrive in the martial world. The branch here must be distant kin—the main line was wiped out long ago. Everything pointed to him being that man.
Sipping my last drink, I imagined the cold force of his palm strikes. Just how strong was he now?
Thanks to Heaven’s Jade and my rebirth, my strength had grown rapidly—but those righteous young masters had been training since infancy. Fifteen years or more of constant practice—no small feat.
Sons of generals and high officials grow up with fierce pride. If he’d been treated as an illegitimate child, his resentment would burn even deeper.
After draining my last cup, I left the inn and wandered through the lantern-lit streets, buying shaved ice from a vendor and asking another where the Mong residence was. I lingered to watch a street performance, blending in with the crowd.
Then I saw them—a man and a woman who stood out even among dozens of spectators, far too beautiful to blend in. They whispered to each other, smiling, while watching the performance. I glanced briefly—and the man with the fan met my eyes.
“……”
That annoyingly handsome bastard closed his fan and pointed it right at me—as if to say, ‘Keep staring and you’ll regret it.’
Only then did I see his face clearly.
I smiled and nodded, as if to say, “So it’s you.”
The young Bright Left Envoy was watching a show with a beautiful woman. Outwardly, I smiled—but inside, a sea of madness surged.
So this bastard had time for romance?
I already knew he was a womanizer, but seeing it still made my blood boil.
Once for being a lecher. Twice for choosing women that beautiful. Thrice for not yet being punished for it. Four times for pointing at me with that smug fan. And a fifth time—because the wine had hit me.
My gaze locked on him as I whispered inwardly:
“For the sake of the righteous world…”
From this moment, I was no longer the Dark Lord Ja-ha, but the temporary hero of justice—acting for the Martial Alliance, for the innocent, for the pure-hearted maidens, for righteousness, for all the pitiful men of the world…
I slowly lifted my finger and pointed straight at the Bright Left Envoy across the street.
“I’ll destroy your manhood.”
A man who returned from the past just to destroy another man’s manhood—that’s me.