Blacksmith Yoon's face went from concerned to furious in the span of a heartbeat.
"Bandits took her?" His hand clenched around the hammer he'd been holding, knuckles white. "You're certain?"
"The tracks lead toward the camp location we learned about," I said. "Multiple adult males, one child. Signs of struggle. It's the most probable conclusion."
We stood in his forge, Min-ji beside me still clutching the torn cloth. Grandmother Cho had come as well, her expression grim.
"We have to tell the village elder," Min-ji said. "Organize a rescue party—"
"No." Yoon set down his hammer with deliberate care. "Hong is in Kang's pocket. He'll delay, make excuses, maybe even warn the bandits we're coming."
"Then what do we do?" Min-ji's voice cracked. "We can't just leave her there!"
"We won't." Yoon looked at me. "How many bandits at the camp?"
"The man we interrogated said twenty-three, led by someone called Scarface Deng. But there's also Wei Liang—Ghost Blade. He's the real threat."
"Ghost Blade," Grandmother Cho repeated softly. Everyone turned to look at her. "I've heard that name before. Years ago, when my husband was still alive. He mentioned a young disciple from Moonlit Willow Sect, talented but unstable. Killed a fellow disciple in a duel and was expelled."
"You never mentioned your husband was connected to the martial world," Yoon said carefully.
"You never asked." Her expression was distant, remembering. "He died twenty years ago, hunting a demonic cultist. I've tried to forget that world since then."
Another piece of the puzzle. Grandmother Cho wasn't just a kind old woman—she had her own history with the Murim world.
"What do you know about Ghost Blade's abilities?" I asked.
"Only rumors. They said he could move like smoke, that his sword was faster than sight. Ki Transformation stage, at minimum. Maybe higher by now." She looked at Yoon. "You can't fight him. Not directly."
"I know." Yoon's jaw was tight. "Which is why we're not going to fight. We're going to sneak in, get the girl, and get out before they know we're there."
"That's a terrible plan," I said.
"You have a better one?"
"Yes. We create a distraction. Draw most of the bandits away from the camp. While they're gone, a small team extracts Hana."
"And what kind of distraction would draw away twenty-plus bandits?"
I'd been thinking about this since we found the campsite. "Kang. He's their contact, their source of information. If something happened to him—if his shop caught fire, for instance—they'd need to respond. Protect their investment, salvage what they can."
Yoon stared at me. "You want to burn down Kang's shop."
"I want to create chaos that forces the bandits to divide their attention. Kang's shop is the logical target."
"That's..." Min-ji started, then stopped. "Actually brilliant. And terrifying. Father, he's suggesting arson."
"I'm suggesting a tactical diversion," I corrected. "The arson is incidental."
"The boy has a point," Grandmother Cho said. "Cruel, but effective."
Yoon rubbed his face. "This is insane. We're talking about attacking a merchant, burning his property, and raiding a bandit camp. If anything goes wrong—"
"Hana dies," I said flatly. "Or worse. We know what happens to children taken by bandits. They're sold, used, discarded. Every hour we delay reduces her chances of survival."
The room fell silent.
"Alright," Yoon finally said. "We do it tonight. But we need more help. I can't extract the girl and fight off guards simultaneously."
"I'll go with you," Min-ji said immediately.
"Absolutely not—"
"Father, I can fight. I've been training. And you need someone fast and quiet. That's me."
Yoon looked like he wanted to argue, then his eyes fell on the staff she was still carrying. "You've been training? For how long?"
"Three months. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but—"
"Show me."
Min-ji moved into the clearing behind the forge and demonstrated her forms. They were rough but showed genuine skill. Yoon watched with a complicated expression—pride, worry, frustration all mixed together.
"You learned this by watching me train the boy?"
"Yes. And Seo-yun's been helping me improve my technique."
Yoon turned to me. "You've been training my daughter in secret."
"She asked for help. I provided analysis and optimization suggestions."
"You're fourteen years old and barely trained yourself."
"I have perfect memory and pattern recognition. I can break down movements into component parts and identify inefficiencies. It's not the same as experience, but it's useful."
He stared at me for a long moment, then laughed—a short, sharp sound. "You're either the smartest person I've ever met or the most arrogant. Maybe both." He looked at Min-ji. "Fine. You can come. But you follow my orders exactly. No heroics. Understood?"
"Yes, Father!"
"Good. Now let's plan this properly."
Day 9 – Afternoon
I returned to Kang's shop as usual, acting like nothing had changed. But everything had changed.
Tonight, we would burn this place down. Tonight, we would raid a bandit camp. Tonight, people would probably die.
My heart rate was elevated—98 beats per minute versus baseline 68. Adrenaline in my system, preparing for action. The body knew what was coming even if the mind remained analytical.
Kang was in the back room, talking to someone. I moved closer, pretending to organize inventory while listening.
"—can't keep delaying payment. My people are getting restless."
"I understand, but the last shipment was intercepted. I lost everything." Kang's voice was stressed, afraid. "Give me two more weeks—"
"You said that last time. The boss is losing patience."
"Please, just—"
"Two weeks. But if you miss this deadline, it's not just money you'll lose. Understood?"
Footsteps. I quickly moved away, busying myself with a crate.
A man emerged from the back room—lean, dangerous-looking, with a scar across his cheek. He glanced at me as he passed, and I felt his gaze like a physical weight.
This was one of them. One of the bandits.
After he left, Kang emerged looking pale and shaken. He saw me and quickly composed himself.
"Boy. I need you to make a delivery tonight. After dark."
"Where?"
"I'll tell you when the time comes. Just be ready."
Another test? Or was he planning to eliminate me? Either way, it didn't matter. By tonight, Kang's operation would be in ruins.
"I'll be ready," I said.
Day 9 – Evening
The plan was simple, which meant it would probably go wrong.
Phase One: I would start a fire in Kang's storeroom. The smoke and flames would draw attention, force a response.
Phase Two: While the village dealt with the fire, Yoon and Min-ji would approach the bandit camp.
Phase Three: The bandits would see the smoke, realize something was wrong with their contact, and send people to investigate. This would reduce the camp's defenders.
Phase Four: Yoon and Min-ji would extract Hana during the confusion.
Phase Five: Everyone escapes before the bandits realize what happened.
Simple. Except for the hundred things that could go wrong.
I stood outside Kang's shop in the darkness, a clay jar of oil in my hands. The shop was locked, but I'd memorized the layout. I knew which window had a broken latch.
I climbed through, moving quietly through the familiar space. The storeroom was packed with flammable materials—cloth, paper, oil, wood. It would burn fast and hot.
I poured oil across the floor, over crates, soaking everything. Then I pulled out the flint and steel Yoon had given me.
This was the point of no return. Once I struck this spark, everything would change.
I thought about Hana, terrified and alone in a bandit camp. About Chen, desperate and helpless. About all the people Kang had exploited, all the lives he'd ruined.
I struck the flint.
Sparks fell into the oil. Flames erupted, spreading faster than I'd calculated. The heat was immediate and intense.
I ran for the window, climbed through, dropped to the ground outside. Behind me, the fire was already visible through the windows, growing rapidly.
I ran toward the village square, shouting.
"Fire! Merchant Kang's shop is burning!"
People emerged from their homes, saw the flames, and chaos erupted. Some ran to help. Others just watched. Within minutes, a bucket brigade had formed, though it was clearly too late to save the shop.
I melted into the crowd, watching. Kang arrived, saw his burning shop, and his face went through a remarkable range of emotions—shock, horror, rage, and finally calculation.
He knew this wasn't an accident. But he couldn't prove anything.
Village Elder Hong appeared, taking charge of the firefighting efforts. He was good at looking concerned while accomplishing nothing useful.
"How did this start?" he demanded.
"I don't know," Kang said, his voice tight. "The shop was locked. No one should have been inside."
"Perhaps a lamp was left burning?"
"I don't use lamps in the storeroom. Too dangerous." Kang's eyes scanned the crowd, and for a moment, they locked on mine.
I kept my expression neutral, concerned like everyone else. Just another villager watching the disaster.
His gaze moved on, but I knew. He suspected.
Good. Let him suspect. By the time he figured it out, it would be too late.
Meanwhile – Bandit Camp
[Yoon's Perspective]
The camp was quieter than expected. Most of the bandits were gone—probably responding to the fire in the village. Only five guards remained, and they were distracted, arguing about whether they should go investigate too.
Yoon signaled to Min-ji. They moved through the shadows, approaching the camp from the blind side. Years of temple training came back—how to move silently, how to blend with darkness, how to become invisible.
The girl was in a cage near the center of camp. She was crying softly, curled into a ball.
Yoon's heart clenched. She looked so small, so fragile.
Two guards stood near the cage, but they were focused on the argument happening across camp. This was the opportunity.
He signaled Min-ji: Wait here. I'll handle the guards.
She nodded, gripping her staff.
Yoon moved like smoke—Ghost Blade wasn't the only one who'd learned that technique. He approached the first guard from behind, hand clamping over the man's mouth as his knife found the kidney. Quick, quiet, efficient.
The body slumped. Yoon lowered it gently, then moved toward the second guard.
This one turned at the last second, eyes widening. He opened his mouth to shout—
Min-ji's staff cracked across his temple. He dropped like a stone.
Yoon stared at his daughter. She stared back, staff raised, breathing hard.
"You said no heroics," he whispered.
"That wasn't heroics. That was tactical support."
Despite everything, he almost smiled. She really was his daughter.
They moved to the cage. Hana looked up, eyes wide with terror.
"Shhh," Yoon said softly. "We're here to help. Your father sent us."
"Papa?" Her voice was tiny, broken.
"Yes. We're taking you home." He worked on the lock—simple, crude. It opened with a soft click.
Hana stumbled out, and Min-ji caught her, wrapping her in a quick hug.
"Can you walk?" Yoon asked.
Hana nodded, though she was shaking.
"Good. Stay close. Stay quiet. We're leaving now."
They moved back toward the forest edge. Almost there. Almost safe.
Then a voice cut through the darkness.
"Well, well. What do we have here?"
A man stepped into view. Lean, handsome, with dead eyes and a thin sword at his hip.
Wei "Ghost Blade" Liang.
Yoon's blood went cold.
"Take the girls and run," he said quietly to Min-ji.
"Father—"
"Now!"
Min-ji grabbed Hana and ran. Wei Liang watched them go, amused.
"You're not going to chase them?" Yoon asked, buying time.
"Why would I? They won't get far." Wei Liang drew his sword—the movement so fast it seemed to simply appear in his hand. "Besides, I'm more interested in you. Former temple disciple, if I'm not mistaken. Iron Scripture Temple, based on your stance."
"You have good eyes."
"I have excellent eyes. I also have questions. Like why a blacksmith is raiding my camp. Like who started that convenient fire in the village. Like who killed my scout three days ago."
"Your scout tried to kill an old woman."
"And you stopped him. How noble." Wei Liang's smile was cold. "Nobility is expensive in this world. Often fatal."
"Then I'll die expensive."
"You'll die screaming. But first, you'll tell me everything."
Wei Liang moved.
Yoon barely got his sword up in time. The impact sent shockwaves through his arms. Too strong. Too fast.
This was going to be bad.
Village – Same Time
I watched the fire burn, counting minutes. Yoon and Min-ji should be extracting Hana by now. They'd need at least thirty minutes to get clear of the camp.
But something felt wrong. The bandits who'd left to investigate—they should have reached the village by now. Where were they?
Then I saw him. The scarred man from earlier, the one who'd threatened Kang. He was watching the fire with a calculating expression, not helping, not panicking.
Just watching.
And he was smiling.
My heart rate spiked. This was wrong. This was all wrong.
He knew. Somehow, he knew this was a distraction.
Which meant Yoon and Min-ji were walking into a trap.
I had to warn them. But how? I couldn't leave without drawing attention. Couldn't run to the camp without being followed.
Unless...
I stumbled, clutching my chest, and collapsed to the ground.
"Help!" someone shouted. "The boy's collapsed!"
People gathered around me. In the confusion, I rolled toward the shadows, then stood and ran.
Behind me, I heard shouts of confusion. But I was already gone, sprinting toward the forest.
I had to reach them. Had to warn them.
Even though I was weak. Even though I was untrained. Even though I'd probably die.
I ran anyway.
Because that's what humans did. They ran toward danger to save the people they cared about.
And I was learning to be human.
END CHAPTER 7