Gu-ak was exactly thirty years old this year—six years younger than Baek Mu-ryang and twenty-two years older than Yang-hwi.
It went without saying that he wasn't the sort of age to be called "hyung" by a fresh-faced kid.
Yet Yang-hwi, with a brazen grin so bright it was almost innocent, repeated the honorific once more.
"Gu-hyung! Your little brother comes to pay his respects!"
"You cheeky little ratling, who the hell are you?"
"I'm Yang-hwi, the one who's about to become the son of Peerless Righteous Benefactor Baek Mu-ryang the great hero!"
"What?"
"Until about one shichen ago, I was a pitiful boy kidnapped by those Muddy Black Gang bastards—who were operating under Crimson Sect Hall's banner, doing things even worse than dogs—and on the verge of being sold into slavery."
For a split second, Gu-ak's eyebrow twitched.
Yang-hwi's words could be interpreted in two ways.
First: the Muddy Black Gang had deceived Crimson Sect Hall and committed their atrocities.
Or second: those flying Crimson Sect Hall's banner had done deeds that no righteous sect could overlook.
"This Blood Axe doesn't have a hobby of killing brats, but listen up, ratling. If you're thinking of spouting nonsense about witnesses or whatever, don't expect to leave here alive."
"How could I ever do anything to harm you, Gu-hyung? Haha."
He threw in some playful banter while slipping in the "hyung" title again, then subtly gauged the man's reaction.
"I look at least thirty years older than you, so what kind of hyung would I be?"
'His reaction's softened a bit. Looks like he gets that I'm not here to threaten him.'
With that in mind, Yang-hwi brazenly shot back.
"The four seas are one family, aren't they? In a way, we're like kin."
"If that's the case, wouldn't 'uncle' suit me better than 'hyung'?"
"Then you'd end up as brothers with my father."
"..."
For a moment, Gu-ak unwittingly thought to himself.
'I'm fine being bros with a brat like you...?'
Was this kid insane? How could he have no fear?
"You gutless ratling with your liver hanging out, what do you want to say?"
"Simple. I want to repay grudge with grace."
"You, a mere ratling, think you can cover a fresh grudge today and bestow that grace upon our hall?"
"You got it exactly right, Gu-hyung."
Gu-ak snorted derisively.
"If you can pull that off, I'll call you hyung myself."
"Really? You know a true man doesn't break his word, right?"
Yang-hwi's lips curled up high as he tossed out just one more line.
"You're looking for Blue Serpent Hall's spy, aren't you?"
In that instant, Gu-ak and North Evil Spirit's faces hardened like stone.
"Ratling, how the hell do you know that?"
Blue Serpent Hall was one of the unorthodox sects currently clashing most fiercely with Crimson Sect Hall over territory.
"Until two shichen ago, I was a pitiful beggar boy destined for slavery, but until three days ago, I was wandering everywhere begging for scraps. Means I've heard plenty from all over."
"Cut to the chase, ratling."
"Right away. Uh... Could you come a bit closer, brother?"
Gu-ak's lips twitched immediately.
"The more I look at you, the more insolent you get for a ratling. Who the hell do you think you're ordering around?!"
Yang-hwi continued calmly.
"Then order your sworn brother to back off way over there. I'll come to you if you do."
"What kind of scheme is this?!"
"Hear me out first. If it sounds like bullshit, you can end me right then, and I won't complain."
Gu-ak stared silently at Yang-hwi's face, which seemed utterly indifferent to death.
"Your guts really are hanging out. Fine. Evil Spirit, fall back ten zhang."
"Big bro, do we really need to play along with this ratling's tricks?"
"Isn't it fun? The kid's betting his life on it."
"..."
North Evil Spirit retreated slowly, his expression unreadable.
"There. Come here, ratling, and spill what you know."
Yang-hwi scurried over and brought his lips close to Gu-ak's ear.
"Isn't it weird? Whenever fights break out, Blue Serpent Hall moves like they know Crimson Sect Hall's insides. So you've been racking your brains to find the spy. Oh, and that arm tattoo looks mighty fine, Gu-hyung."
Gu-ak's shoulder bore a stylish red palanquin tattoo.
A mark signifying Crimson Sect Hall affiliation. All unorthodox folk branded themselves like this.
Given the nature of the unorthodox world—full of betrayals and turncoats—they stamped the very people themselves.
"I already told you to stick to the point, ratling."
'Touchy temperament.'
Yang-hwi pressed on without pause.
"You know all Blue Serpent Hall's members have blue serpent tattoos. Check North Evil Spirit's body."
Gu-ak's already fierce face twisted further as he grabbed Yang-hwi by the collar.
"You just crossed the line. You saying my sworn brother is the spy?"
"Exactly."
"Then your life is mine now. I've already checked my brother's body."
"The last check was over a year ago, right? Probably when he joined, getting that tattoo."
Gu-ak scoffed.
"Wrong. We checked every member's body just a month ago. Hell, my brother even volunteered to prove his loyalty and stripped first."
Despite the rebuttal, Yang-hwi remained unflappable.
"Is that so? You probably dropped your pants, but did North Evil Spirit strip his undergarments too?"
"..."
'No way he did. I called it knowing he wouldn't bare that far.'
Gu-ak fell silent, struck dead center. Yang-hwi flowed on smoothly.
"Blue Serpent Hall needed assurance their spy wouldn't turn. The spy wanted a spot that wouldn't get found. So they settled on the groin—deep inside the inner thigh, precisely."
Not the scalp like in wild tales or romances, but a place no man would ever show another.
A truly ingenious spot.
"...How do you know that?"
'Because in my past life, the traitor got exposed and ratted out all the other spies.'
Of course, he couldn't say that.
"Who else gets to see inside a man's thighs? While scavenging at brothels, I overheard some guy bragging about tattooing a blue serpent in a spot you can't even see."
Yang-hwi grinned outright at North Evil Spirit.
"I knew what the blue serpent meant, so I even checked who the guy was. Guess he had the guts for spying but not for keeping it in his pants."
"..."
Gu-ak slowly walked toward North Evil Spirit, gesturing to his men.
Suddenly surrounded, North Evil Spirit panicked and shouted.
"Big bro! I don't know what that kid's babbling about, but why are you doing this?!"
"Evil Spirit. Strip. Down to your undergarments, all of it."
North Evil Spirit's body shuddered as if struck by lightning.
"Brother! Are you trying to humiliate me?!"
"Just a quick check. If it's nothing, I'll kneel and apologize."
"..."
After a silent pause, North Evil Spirit chose to bolt.
'Smart call, that one.'
With things this far, he couldn't dodge inspection, hidden or not.
He must've realized flight was his only shot at survival.
'Too bad he's slower than Gu-ak.'
Before he could break the encirclement, the axe that earned Gu-ak his Blood Axe moniker buried into North Evil Spirit's calf.
"Graaaah!"
North Evil Spirit's agonized scream crossed with Gu-ak's roar.
"Nooorth Eviiiil Spiiiirit! You bastaaaard! After all I've done for you, you betray me?!"
The axe tore his pants. The rough handling ripped thigh flesh too, blood spurting, but it didn't hinder confirming the blue serpent tattoo.
"It's really there."
"Big bro! Big bro! I was wrong! Please, hear your little brother out, graaaah!"
A chunk of white teeth tumbled from North Evil Spirit's mouth.
Gu-ak had sealed it with an iron fist, then took further measures.
'Not killing him outright? Makes sense—gotta interrogate a confirmed spy.'
As Gu-ak snapped North Evil Spirit's limbs to prevent escape or resistance, Yang-hwi's vision suddenly darkened.
A callused palm. Baek Mu-ryang had covered his eyes.
"That's plenty brutal for a child to see."
"..."
Savoring the warmth briefly, Yang-hwi grasped Baek Mu-ryang's hand with both of his and pulled it down.
"I'm fine, Clan Head. There's still more to discuss anyway."
With that, he stepped forward another pace.
"Gu-hyung."
Gu-ak, still venting on the broken limbs, turned his head.
"Little brother."
The title had shifted from ratling to little brother.
"Think this covers wiping out those third-rate rabble? Enough to repay the grudge?"
"...I'll acknowledge it. I owe you, little brother."
For a split second, old wanderer habits nearly made him say he'd call him "Gu little bro" from now on.
But cracking jokes now would be guts truly hanging out.
'Gotta save that for later, though.'
"One more time. Grudge met grace and cleared—so no debts left between Crimson Sect Hall and Baek Clan, right?"
"As son of Crimson Sect Hall's Hall Master and Crimson Tiger Leader, I swear it. The debts are gone."
The Baek retainers, who'd worn anxious faces throughout, finally relaxed. Even Baek Mu-ryang, maintaining his dignity as clan head, couldn't hide a slight brightening of his expression.
But.
Yang-hwi had no intention of stopping here.
"Then we need to settle the accounts again."
"Accounts? What accounts are left, little brother?"
"Grace and grudge met and canceled—but there's one grudge remaining. This one's Baek Clan's."
Yang-hwi gestured to the shattered main gate.
"How will you repay this one, Gu-hyung?"
To repeat: the manor gate symbolized a clan's dignity and propriety.
Smashing it and barging in uninvited was a grudge greater than wiping out third-rate thugs, really.
'In terms of sheer offense, this one's way bigger. Enough to demand blood feud on the spot.'
He'd acted thinking justification was on his side, no need to worry about aftermath.
But now the situation had flipped.
"You must know. Our clan head has a sworn brother too, just like you."
Baek Mu-ryang's sworn brother was direct kin from a major clan. Nothing like North Evil Spirit scum—a rock-solid ally.
Recalling Baek Mu-ryang's sworn brother from his past life, Yang-hwi heard Baek Mu-ryang ask, puzzled.
"Hwi-ya, how did you know I have a sworn brother?"
"Living with roads and wilds as my home, you hear things. I even know you're tight enough to roll up your sleeves at today's rumors."
Yang-hwi replied politely, then eyed Gu-ak, whose face had grown grave.
Gu-ak clearly knew who it was too.
'Knew it but figured his justification let him ignore it.'
"True enough. Grace and grudge canceled, leaving one grudge. What do you want, little brother?"
"Our clan head isn't one to nitpick small things. Toss some coin for gate repairs, and he'll laugh it off grandly."
Gate repair money. Grasping the implication, Gu-ak clicked his tongue.
"Little brother... You're too shrewd for your age."
"I'll take that as praise."
Gu-ak sighed and glanced at his men.
"Everyone, empty your money pouches on the ground."
He pulled out his own hefty pouch, dropped it, even rifled North Evil Spirit's, then cupped his fists toward Baek Mu-ryang.
"Peerless Righteous Benefactor. I apologize for our rudeness. As atonement, we'll leave every coin we have for gate repairs."
If word of today spread, what rumors would fly?
Probably: Crimson Sect Hall smashed Baek Clan's gate, then emptied their pockets as payback and slunk away.
'No past-life humiliation for the clan this time.'
Yang-hwi smiled contentedly at the sight.
He'd completely reversed the events of his previous life.
"With this, all debts between our hall and Baek Clan are fully cleared. We'll take our leave. Everyone, follow me."
Once Gu-ak and his Crimson Sect Hall crew ebbed away like the tide.
Yang-hwi grinned at the chief steward.
"Allow me to reintroduce myself. I'm Baek Yang-hwi of Baek Clan."
"..."
Silence descended. Not a single retainer could refute him.