At Jo Seol-yeon's words, Dan Hyung-u's eyes widened slightly.
That was it—the very phrase.
The words he had forgotten.
The corners of Dan Hyung-u's eyes trembled faintly.
Come to think of it, he should have said those words back at the tavern as well.
"Thank you."
At Dan Hyung-u's blunt reply, Jo Seol-yeon beamed brightly.
A subtle atmosphere flowed between the two.
It was an atmosphere created almost entirely by Jo Seol-yeon, but regardless, it displeased the people around them.
Namgung Jin and Paeng Cheol-yeong, in particular, looked downright irritated.
At present, Jo Seol-yeon's group was positioned some distance away from the other Murim Alliance warriors.
That was at Jo Seol-yeon's request.
She found Namgung Jin and Paeng Cheol-yeong's excessive kindness too burdensome.
Only about a dozen people entered the secret passage behind the cliff.
They were Alliance Leader Dokgo Un, the strategist Jegal Jung-cheon, the unit leaders of the Azure Dragon Unit and the Soaring Dragon Unit, and several elite warriors selected from the Azure Dragon Unit.
The Black Tortoise Unit remained hidden around the cliff, keeping watch for any other intruders.
With the unit leaders of the two units absent, the vice leaders had no choice but to command those who remained.
Because of that, Namgung Jin and Paeng Cheol-yeong were unable to approach Jo Seol-yeon for the time being.
After all, they still had their assigned duties to carry out.
However, once things were roughly settled and things grew a bit quieter, a strange fellow was sticking close to Jo Seol-yeon.
No matter how busy things had been, the fact that someone had arrived here without them noticing was something worth thinking about.
Namgung Jin and Paeng Cheol-yeong exchanged meaningful glances.
Then, with slight tension, they approached the place where Jo Seol-yeon was standing.
"Miss Jo, who might this person be?"
Jo Seol-yeon could clearly see the suspicion in the two men's eyes.
"This person is…"
Only then did Jo Seol-yeon realize that she didn't even know his name.
Thinking about it, it really was strange.
She couldn't understand why she felt such goodwill toward someone whose name she didn't even know.
"Um… may I ask your name?"
Jo Seol-yeon asked while looking at Dan Hyung-u.
Dan Hyung-u stared straight at her as he answered.
"Dan Hyung-u."
Namgung Jin and Paeng Cheol-yeong were dumbfounded.
How could she be acting like this with a man whose name she didn't even know?
What's more, they had just fought a fierce battle against the Sado-ryeon and the Green Forest not long ago.
Namgung Jin and Paeng Cheol-yeong examined Dan Hyung-u closely.
He didn't seem to have trained in any particularly notable martial arts.
Judging by the sword at his waist, he appeared to have learned some swordsmanship—but nothing impressive.
It was clear that even that was unremarkable.
After all, they could not sense the aura a swordsman ought to possess.
'Come to think of it…!'
Namgung Jin's eyes lit up as he looked at the sword hanging at Dan Hyung-u's waist.
The man himself was nothing special, but the sword was another matter entirely.
Namgung Jin was currently twenty years old.
Since he had handled a sword from the moment he was able to walk after being born, the years he had spent with the blade were nearly equal to his age. Naturally, he possessed a certain eye for discerning fine swords.
'What kind of sharp aura is this…?'
Even just approaching it felt as though anything could be split apart—the sword was steeped in keen killing edge. Namgung Jin nodded unconsciously. Now he understood why the sword was carried without a scabbard. With an edge like that, it would be difficult to find a sheath capable of containing it. Even if one could be found, it would require an enormous sum of money. Judging by his appearance, the man didn't seem well-off. But Namgung Jin was different. He had the means to obtain a scabbard worthy of that sword.
Namgung Jin stole a glance at Paeng Cheol-yeong. It seemed he still hadn't taken much interest in the sword. Namgung Jin fixed his gaze squarely on Dan Hyung-u. In any case, the man was clearly suspicious—and on top of that, he possessed an exceptional sword. That alone was reason enough.
"This is suspicious. What business do you have coming to such deep mountains?"
At Namgung Jin's words, Paeng Cheol-yeong nodded vigorously and added his own thought.
"He's probably a remnant of the Sado-ryeon or the Green Forest."
"That can't be!"
At the mention of Sado-ryeon or Green Forest remnants, Jo Seol-yeon cried out in shock. But Namgung Jin and Paeng Cheol-yeong shook their heads firmly.
"Miss Jo, your heart is too soft. You mustn't let someone like that influence you. This fellow has far too many suspicious aspects. If you think about it even a little, wouldn't you see it too?"
Jo Seol-yeon stepped forward, positioning herself in front of Dan Hyung-u and blocking Namgung Jin and Paeng Cheol-yeong. It was because the two were glaring at Dan Hyung-u as if they were about to pounce on him.
Even to Jo Seol-yeon's eyes, Dan Hyung-u looked like a drifter who hadn't properly trained in martial arts. No—he had so little presence that even calling him a drifter felt off.
Drifters usually couldn't properly temper their momentum or aura, so it inevitably showed on the surface. But Dan Hyung-u had none of that at all. If not for the sword hanging at his waist, he would have looked like nothing more than an ordinary person.
Tension filled the air. Yet even amid it all, Dan Hyung-u stood with an utterly unchanged expression and posture. Namgung Jin and Paeng Cheol-yeong were radiating pressure, but to Dan Hyung-u, it felt nothing more than peaceful.
"Miss Jo, step aside."
Namgung Jin spoke in a firm tone. But Jo Seol-yeon had no intention of moving. If she did, it was obvious that Dan Hyung-u would be seriously hurt.
"How can you push him like this without even hearing the circumstances? Shouldn't we first listen to what Young Master Dan has to say?"
Jo Seol-yeon's words weren't wrong. But Namgung Jin and Paeng Cheol-yeong disliked the very fact that she was defending Dan Hyung-u. The two decided to act.
Even though Jo Seol-yeon was blocking the way, Namgung Jin and Paeng Cheol-yeong were both recognized as skilled experts within their clans. The position of vice leader of the Soaring Dragon Unit wasn't something one could obtain through family prestige alone. Dealing with a seemingly ordinary man hidden behind her—without her even noticing—would be child's play.
Just as the two were about to launch themselves forward, a voice rang out from behind them.
"What is going on?"
The voice carried inner energy, instantly cutting off the flow of Namgung Jin and Paeng Cheol-yeong's momentum. Startled, the two turned their heads toward the owner of the voice.
They didn't even need to look closely to know who it was. How could they mistake the voice of the Alliance Leader, Dokgo Un?
In an instant, Dokgo Un arrived at where Namgung Jin and Paeng Cheol-yeong were standing. It seemed as though he had taken only a single step, yet he had erased a distance of over ten zhang.
Namgung Jin and Paeng Cheol-yeong widened their eyes at the Alliance Leader's astonishing movement technique. As expected of Paesan Doro Dokgo Un, they thought.
Dokgo Un looked at Dan Hyung-u standing behind Jo Seol-yeon. It was an unfamiliar face. But it didn't appear threatening. To Dokgo Un's eyes, Dan Hyung-u looked no more than a hunter—albeit a slightly unusual one.
"From the looks of it, he doesn't seem to have learned martial arts at all… You weren't about to attack someone like that, were you?"
At Dokgo Un's words, Namgung Jin and Paeng Cheol-yeong flinched.
"How could that be? We merely judged that this man, who suddenly appeared here, was suspicious, and were about to conduct a brief inquiry."
As Namgung Jin hurriedly made his excuse, Dokgo Un nodded.
"I see. Then it seems I made an excessive assumption about members of the Murim Alliance, which stands at the center of righteousness and camaraderie. My apologies."
"N-no, not at all, Alliance Leader."
Namgung Jin and Paeng Cheol-yeong tried to hide the tension in their shoulders and the cold sweat running down their foreheads.
Dokgo Un looked quietly at the two of them, then suddenly turned his head and fixed his gaze on Dan Hyung-u.
For an instant, a sharp light flashed in Dokgo Un's eyes.
Yet even under that gaze, Dan Hyung-u simply stood there naturally.
Dokgo Un made a curious expression.
"So then, what exactly is your identity?"
At Dokgo Un's question, Jo Seol-yeon looked at Dan Hyung-u with an anxious expression.
Dokgo Un was the Alliance Leader of the Murim Alliance.
He was on a completely different level from the two men she had faced earlier.
Depending on how things went, this could truly become dangerous.
"Dan Hyung-u."
At Dan Hyung-u's curt reply, the expressions of the warriors around Dokgo Un twisted sharply.
"How dare you!"
The warriors growled as if they were about to leap at Dan Hyung-u at any moment.
But Dokgo Un raised his hand, stopping them.
"Ho ho ho. What an interesting young man."
Dokgo Un took a step closer to Dan Hyung-u.
An irresistible force naturally pushed Jo Seol-yeon aside.
She was greatly startled, but there was nothing she could do with her own strength.
As Dokgo Un took another step forward, he came face to face with Dan Hyung-u.
"Would you tell me why you came here?"
Dan Hyung-u looked at Dokgo Un and pondered briefly.
It was the same hesitation he had felt earlier when facing the inn attendant at Chwiunru.
But this time as well, Dan Hyung-u chose a more complicated path.
Using force and spilling blood would have been simple, but he didn't want to shatter the newly gained peaceful atmosphere without reason.
Unless someone directly tried to take his life and break that peace, he intended to restrain himself.
This too was a conclusion he had reached after experiencing the world for a single day.
"Because it's where I used to live."
At Dan Hyung-u's words, the gentle expression that Dokgo Un had worn until now hardened instantly.
"Does that mean you're saying you lived inside that cliff?"
Dan Hyung-u shook his head.
Strictly speaking, he hadn't lived inside the cliff.
Hadn't he come from hell itself?
Seeing Dan Hyung-u shake his head, Dokgo Un judged him to be someone who had simply lived like a wild man somewhere nearby.
"For someone who hunts for a living, you carry quite a remarkable sword. Would you mind telling me where you obtained it?"
At those words, Jo Seol-yeon quickly stepped in.
"He said it was his friend's sword—one he obtained in exchange for his friend's life…"
Jo Seol-yeon remembered what Dan Hyung-u had said back at Chwiunru.
The memory had left a strong impression.
She suddenly wondered if it was that intensity that made her feel such goodwill toward this man.
After hearing that much, Dokgo Un nodded, turned around, and gave an order to the Murim Alliance warriors.
"We're withdrawing."
At Dokgo Un's command, everyone was briefly taken aback, but soon they began preparing to withdraw in perfect unison.
Seeing this, Jo Seol-yeon let out a sigh of relief.
Then she looked at Dan Hyung-u and smiled softly.
"That's a relief."
Dan Hyung-u didn't really know what exactly was a relief, but he nodded faintly anyway.
For some reason, it felt like the right thing to do.
And as a reward, he was met with Jo Seol-yeon's bright smile.
Dan Hyung-u felt, somehow, that he had done well.
"I should nod sometimes."
He thought to himself, feeling a small sense of pride.
Unlike his usual habits, the thought stayed in his mind instead of leaving his lips.
By his own reckoning, that was a positive change.
Sama Cheol and Jo In had been barely able to breathe, but only after the Alliance Leader turned away and ordered the withdrawal did they finally steady their trembling legs and approach Jo Seol-yeon.
"Th-that's a relief. In any case, let's get ready to head back as well."
At Sama Cheol's words, Jo Seol-yeon and Jo In nodded.
There wasn't really anything special to prepare.
All they had to do was wait until the Murim Alliance finished getting ready.
As Dokgo Un sat quietly watching the Murim Alliance warriors make their preparations, Jegal Jung-cheon approached him.
"Alliance Leader, that young man is…"
When Jegal Jung-cheon asked cautiously, Dokgo Un shook his head with a bitter expression.
"No."
"I see. I thought perhaps…"
"I thought so too, but it's not the case. For someone who learned Cheon Gi-ja's martial arts, isn't he lacking—just a bit?"
At Dokgo Un's words, Jegal Jung-cheon forcibly swallowed the reply, 'Not just a bit—he's lacking to an excessive degree.'
"He likely went into the mountains to live for quite a long time to avenge a friend."
"I see. Well, he did say a hundred… Still, judging by the situation, it seems that young man will head to the Hanam Escort Agency. I wonder whether he'll be able to properly work as an escort there. Hanam Escort Agency is quite different from other escort agencies, after all…"
"That's not something we need to worry about, is it? He'll probably end up working as a porter at most. And if, by chance, he learns some of the Jo family's martial arts while he's there, wouldn't that help his revenge at least a little? Though judging by the sword, it may be difficult."
Dokgo Un said no more.
As he said, there was no need for them to concern themselves further.
They already had mountains of other matters to worry about and resolve.
Before long, all preparations for withdrawal were complete, and they began moving.
The Jo family members took a different route from the Murim Alliance.
Normally, they would have traveled together to Wuhan, where the Murim Alliance was based, then taken the main road into Henan—but this time, they changed plans slightly.
That was because Jo Seol-yeon had asked to spend a little time at Dongting Lake while they were already out.
Jo Seol-yeon thought it would be difficult for Dan Hyung-u to move together with the Murim Alliance.
They would obviously be traveling quickly using lightness skills, and there was no way an ordinary person could keep up.
Even Jo Seol-yeon herself would have trouble matching their pace.
Sama Cheol and Jo In understood those circumstances well and readily agreed to Jo Seol-yeon's request.
Dan Hyung-u simply followed wherever the Jo family members went.
In truth, even if he wanted to go somewhere else, he didn't know the roads well enough to do so.
Come to think of it, the fact that he had moved immediately after emerging from the cliff and ended up arriving in Changsha right away was an incredible coincidence in itself.
Once the Murim Alliance people departed, the surroundings became truly quiet.
The remaining four walked along the road at a leisurely pace.
It took quite some time to reach the nearest village from where they had been, but there was no need to sleep outdoors.
By walking diligently, they arrived late at night at a fairly large village and were able to stay at the largest inn there.
Sama Cheol booked two rooms.
Since Jo Seol-yeon was a woman, she needed her own room, while the men would sleep together in one.
After hastily filling their stomachs, the group dragged their tired bodies back to their rooms.
Dan Hyung-u entered the room as Sama Cheol led the way and stood there blankly.
"What are you doing? Go lie down and sleep."
Sama Cheol spoke to Dan Hyung-u as he flopped down onto a bed.
There were three beds in the room, and Jo In had already started snoring.
Dan Hyung-u only glanced briefly at Jo In and Sama Cheol, still remaining standing.
"Not going to sleep? Well, do as you like. I'm turning in first."
Sama Cheol shook his head and lay down.
He hadn't heard Dan Hyung-u speak a single word all day.
Jo Seol-yeon had done all the talking, while Dan Hyung-u had done nothing more than nod occasionally.
With that thought, Sama Cheol, too, drifted off to sleep.