Chapter 550
After everyone had left, and Hyuk Mu-jin bustled off saying he needed to pack, I found myself alone—and quietly spoke.
“Open quest window.”
* * *
Dding.
【Southern Expedition】
Murim Alliance Leader Ma Jong-hak has given Fire Dragon Pavilion its first mission.
You are now tasked with heading to the Southern Barbarian region and responding proactively to any potential situations.
What lies ahead for you and the Fire Dragon Pavilion is unknown. Stay alert and respond with flexible thinking.
Grade: Peak
Restriction: Jin Taekyung and Fire Dragon Pavilion members
Objective: Enter Southern Barbarian (Incomplete)
Reward: Linked Quest ???
Failure: Title: [Failed to Reach Southern Barbarian], Significant drop in Fame and Trust
* * *
[Southern Expedition]—a quest created the moment I received the mission from Ma Jong-hak.
As the quest description and objective clearly stated, this time the system offered no real hints.
‘There’s not even a time limit.’
That didn’t mean there was plenty of time. It meant the situation was too uncertain to define—definitely not an overreaction to think that.
I sighed quietly and closed the quest window.
‘If nothing happens, that’s great in its own way…
But if something does, it’ll spiral out of control fast. And I’ll be responsible for leading the Fire Dragon Pavilion to respond swiftly and return safely.’
In a world where even living for oneself is a challenge, becoming a person of responsibility really weighs you down.
That burden of the word Pavilion Lord hit me harder than ever.
“…Excuse me—”
A voice quietly pierced my thoughts.
I turned around to find Cheongpung, holding a bundle, staring blankly through the half-broken door.
“Benefactor, may I come in?”
“…Anyone would think you always ask permission.”
This guy used to burst in without knocking when the door was intact—now that it’s wrecked, he’s being polite? What a joke.
I gave a small chuckle and gestured at him.
“Just come in. I was going to visit you anyway. This saves me a trip.”
“Didn’t need your permission anyway.”
Naturally, the voice that responded wasn’t Cheongpung’s.
I turned and muttered, displeased, at the man who’d appeared like a ghost.
“…I was talking to Cheongpung.”
“I know. That’s why I said it—your permission’s irrelevant.”
As Moon Kyung casually stepped inside, his eyes flicked over the scattered teacups and chairs on the table.
“Someone’s been here. You and Hyuk included, that makes six people. One of them a woman.”
“How’d you know that?”
“I looked.”
Cheongpung added innocently beside him,
“I saw the others leaving. Figured I should visit while no one else was around.”
What the hell.
The suspicion in my eyes must’ve been obvious, because Moon Kyung just looked at me like, so what?, and repeated himself.
“I said, I looked.”
“So that ‘looked’—did you really just see it with your eyes?”
“I didn’t even need to see to know.”
“Don’t give me that. You can’t even see mountains from here with all these buildings.”
“…But I can see your future. One more word out of you and this room will reek of blood.”
Goddamn crazy old man. Always going on about being a healer while cosplaying as a serial killer.
I shivered at the malicious aura radiating off this fake doctor and turned to Cheongpung.
“So, what’s up?”
“I came to say goodbye.”
“…What?”
Cheongpung scratched his head and grinned.
“When you told me to go on ahead earlier at the Alliance Hall, I figured you’d be leaving soon. Hehe.”
I never actually said anything directly, but he must’ve picked up on it.
I hesitated briefly, then nodded.
“Yeah. It’s a mission.”
“Ah! So where are you going?”
“Southern Barbarian.”
“S-Southern Barbarian?”
Cheongpung’s eyes widened at my answer.
Moon Kyung, who’d been thinking about something, muttered calmly.
“Southern Barbarian… could it be the Beast Palace?”
“Yes.”
“That bizarre phenomenon. It’s about the gate, isn’t it?”
“That’s right. If a second gate opens, I doubt Dark Heaven could find a better place than there.”
“That’s a plausible assumption. And considering how far it is from the central plains, if something happens to the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace, chaos will spread like wildfire starting from Yunnan.”
I agreed with Moon Kyung.
If Dark Heaven truly had plans brewing in Southern Barbarian, and those plans succeeded, the blaze of war wouldn’t stop in Yunnan alone.
‘It would spread into Guizhou and Guangxi—and even to Sichuan, already weakened from the last battle.’
Guizhou and Guangxi, in particular, had fragile foundations.
The number of sects and martial artists in those provinces was fewer than in other regions, and their influence was weaker—meaning they’d fall faster.
“A mission to the Southern Barbarian region in these conditions… it’s going to be rough.”
“If nothing happens, all the better. But if it does… we’ll do whatever it takes to stop it.”
“With just six people?”
“With all six of us and I also heard a rumor—one of them is a young, handsome peak master who trained under the Fire King and the Killing Star. Ever heard of him?”
“…Nope. Especially not the ‘handsome’ part.”
“…Yeah, okay.”
Cold as ice. Moon Kyung’s sharp response shut my joke down instantly.
Then he looked at Cheongpung and continued.
“But I did hear another rumor. Something about a certain dumpling-obsessed brat who’s learning martial arts just by eyeballing a young healer.”
“…Huh?”
Wait—what did I just hear?
Apparently, my expression said it all.
Moon Kyung looked at me and nodded knowingly.
“Chances are, what you’re thinking right now is correct.”
“Really?”
“It’s true.”
“Wait, then why would you ignore the Sword Saint and go to someone with such a nasty temper—… Sorry. That slipped out.”
I turned away from Moon Kyung’s chilling stare, his fingers already pulling a small blade from his sleeve, and looked at Cheongpung instead.
“If he’s threatening you, blink twice.”
“You bastard… It’s all true, Benefactor.”
I stared at Cheongpung for a moment, then shrugged.
“I know. I was just kidding.”
Even without hearing it, I already understood. Why Cheongpung had gone to Moon Kyung. What he hoped to gain from him.
‘To become stronger. To change—to adapt to this world.’
It was over a year ago.
While I was heading toward an inn, a ragged-looking young man approached me and asked for a single candied fruit.
Despite Hyuk Mu-jin’s protests, I gave him all I had—and that was how my connection with Cheongpung began.
‘We’ve both changed a lot—him and me.’
Once mocked as the disgrace of the Taewon Jin Clan, I became a peak master who shook the Murim.
And that young genius who once loved martial arts and every little experience in the world… at some point, he developed a solid will of his own.
It wasn’t visible—but it could be felt.
A change invisible to most, but noticeable to a few close around him—including me.
Tap.
On impulse, I reached out and patted Cheongpung’s shoulder. His eyes widened.
“Benefactor?”
“Nothing. Just… hang in there.”
Cheongpung’s eyes, which had been fixed on me, curled like crescent moons.
“You too, Benefactor.”
“Of course I have to hold out even more. You, at least, have something to rely on. Me? I’ve got no support left.”
Moon Kyung, who had been silently observing our conversation, suddenly spoke.
“Come to think of it, I don’t see that support around anymore.”
“He stayed behind in Henan. The rest of us are the only ones leaving.”
“Didn’t expect that. So the Fire King really made that decision…”
“Call it what you will—it’s a matter of duty. With the situation as it is, we need as many capable hands as possible.”
Even as I answered, a strange emptiness stirred within me.
It might’ve been because this was the first time since I’d met Jeok Cheon-Gang that we’d be acting separately.
Even when he was unconscious for a long time, we were still always together.
‘But now, it’s time for me to stand on my own.’
His protection had always been broad and warm—but I’d grown too fast to stay within it.
And the world’s upheaval would no longer allow the two of us to walk side by side.
…Wait.
A sudden thought flickered through my mind, and I turned my gaze toward the window.
But the unfamiliar faces passing by were all blurred, distant.
The one I’d been hoping to see didn’t appear, no matter how long I waited.
‘Come on, that’s cold.’
This might be the last time. You could’ve at least come to say goodbye.
The words lingered on the tip of my tongue, then vanished.
We’d already said our farewells back at the office, but still—this lingering sense of disappointment couldn’t be helped.
Because before I’m a hunter or a martial artist, I’m still human.
“…Well, I’m sure we’ll see each other again soon.”
“What was that?”
“Oh, nothing. Just talking to myself.”
Just as I turned away from the window, a small supply cart came rattling up from afar.
It was a common enough sight in any city—but when the one holding the reins was a disguised peak master, it became a different story.
‘Song Ilseom.’
So he came after all.
No doubt Ju Hwaran, true to her word, had finished preparations and sent this cart to discreetly escort us out of Henan.
I could already sense Hyuk Mu-jin’s footsteps climbing the stairs from the lower floor.
‘Guess it’s time to go.’
I’d gotten used to this annex—but I must really be cursed with the wanderer’s fate in this life.
After glancing once more around the room, I turned to the two and offered my farewell.
“Well then, I’d better get going before it gets late. Thanks for coming, both of you. Especially you, Young Master Cheong.”
Cheongpung hesitated, then held out the bundle he’d been clutching the whole time.
“Here, Benefactor.”
“What is…?”
“Dumplings. From the best shop in Henan. I really wanted to eat them—but I saved them thinking of you.”
Moon Kyung quietly added,
“He ate five on the way here. So much for restraint.”
“Ah… aaah…”
I already knew from the smell—but still, the gesture touched me.
Even if he’d eaten five, the sentiment was unchanged.
“Thanks. I’ll enjoy them.”
As I smiled and turned with the bundle in hand, a sudden voice echoed in my ear—through transmitted sound.
—Did you know? Everyone I’ve ever trained… has died.
—So don’t die in vain. If you go and die in Southern Barbarian, all my patience until now will’ve been wasted.
A brutally chilling warning—but it conveyed his feelings just as clearly as the dumplings in my hand.
Standing still, I gave a small nod and began to walk.
Step.
Each step echoed loudly—firm and full of resolve.
