Chapter 8: Younger Brother, Baek Ha-jun (3)

The Immortal Divine Sword suddenly broke the mood.

「I cannot agree.」

‘…Excuse me? What is it?’

「The nonsense of no younger brother being equal of the elder.」

‘When you said you had a brother, were you the younger one?’

「Uhum, indeed. A younger brother often learns from the mistakes of the elder, growing into a better person as a result.」

He had been cheering for Yi-gang just moments ago but now changed his stance.

Then, Neung Ji-pyeong interjected, further dampening Yi-gang’s enthusiasm.

“Take off your blindfold for a moment. You’re familiar with the rules of catching goblins, aren’t you, Young Master Yi-gang?”

“I have a general idea. You scatter bean pouches around and, with eyes covered, throw them at each other, right?”

Those were the rules of the goblin-catching game he remembered playing as a child.

Players wore blindfolds and picked up bean pouches, throwing them at each other as if engaging in a staredown. Bells were tied to the waist so that each player’s location could be easily determined.

“It’s similar, but slightly different. The difficulty has been increased to train one’s light footwork technique.”

In the goblin-catching game for training, players did not wear bells on their waist. The bean pouches were wrapped in rabbit fur, making them quieter.

“If you hit your opponent with the bean pouch, you get one point. First to three points wins. However, if you grab the bean pouch and strike your opponent’s body directly, you win instantly.”

“The number of pouches is small, isn’t it?”

“Yes, there are only five.”

The game had become considerably more challenging compared to the playful version.

「It hones one’s reflexes and agility while sharpening senses other than vision. Whoever conceived this, it’s an excellent training method.」

“Let’s begin.”

Yi-gang brushed off the Immortal Divine Sword’s self-praise and donned his blindfold again. Despite hearing about the revised rules, his expression remained unchanged. Baek Ha-jun also put on his blindfold.

“As soon as I throw the five bean pouches, the game will start.”

Neung Ji-pyeong swallowed hard.

Both Baek Ha-jun and Yi-gang stood still, their bodies relaxed. It was unimaginable even a day ago that the two brothers would face off like this.

“Playing goblin-catching with you, it’s been a while.”

“Almost six years now.”

“I remember getting hit in the nose with a bean pouch.”

“…Not anymore.”

If this had been when Yi-gang was eight and Baek Ha-jun was six, it might have been more favorable for Yi-gang.

However, the present Baek Ha-jun would surely overpower Yi-gang in every aspect.

This was why Neung Ji-pyeong was worried.

‘Young Master Ha-jun, you must not let your guard down.’

Yi-gang had recognized the presence of what was known as the Tranquil Sword from behind.

With a hidden move likely up his sleeve, it was unpredictable what would happen if Baek Ha-jun became careless.

“Begin.”

Then, Neung Ji-pyeong threw all five bean pouches at once.

The fluffy furry pouches scattered in all directions.

Ting-

Due to the fur, a very faint sound signified the start of the match.

Immediately, Baek Ha-jun moved with lightning speed.

He grabbed the nearest bean pouch as if he could see it clearly. With a smooth motion, he instantly threw the pouch towards Yi-gang.

Smack!

The bean pouch hit Yi-gang’s shoulder and fell.

This happened before Yi-gang could even move from his spot.

“Young Master Ha-jun, one point!”

A smile that Neung Ji-pyeong could not hide crept onto his lips.

His earlier concerns seemed unfounded. Baek Ha-jun had not been careless and was familiar with the goblin-catching game. He even had experience playing against Neung Ji-pyeong. For Yi-gang, who only played as if it were child’s play, it seemed impossible to counter.

Baek Ha-jun had secured a point right from the start, but he was not overly confident.

He lowered his posture and moved quietly and slowly. He was remembering the sound from when the first bean pouch fell and was trying to locate the next one.

This, too, was an excellent strategy.

‘Then, what about Young Master Yi-gang…?’

Yi-gang would also surely not remain still. Filled with anticipation, Neung Ji-pyeong looked in his direction.

However, Yi-gang was still in his original position.

‘That’s…!’

And he was doing something incomprehensible. He raised his left hand in front of his face and crossed it with his right arm.

It was the First Form of the Great Yin Flow.

As soon as the goblin-catching game began, Yi-gang brought out the Great Yin Flow.

Whether Neung Ji-pyeong wore a stunned expression or not, Yi-gang, with his eyes covered, could not see.

‘There’s no need to tell me the locations of the bean pouches or Ha-jun.’

「I didn’t intend to, so focus.」

For over a month, the only thing Yi-gang learned from the Immortal Divine Sword was the Great Yin Flow.

He did not meditate and practice internal energy cultivation nor external art training.

Except for meals, sleep, and rest, he practiced for seven shi1 hours a day. That’s 14 hours of repeating the Great Yin Flow.

That meant that on average, Yi-gang practiced the Great Yin Flow around 25 times a day.

As he memorized the moves and moved his body, the Immortal Divine Sword gave him advice while observing him.

Thanks to that, it seemed as though the aura of the Great Yin Flow was now ingrained in his body.

While he was displaying the First Form of the Great Yin Flow, Partial Opening of Heaven and Earth, where the palm covers heaven and earth—

Swoosh—!

The second bean pouch passed by Yi-gang’s ear.

In the meantime, Baek Ha-jun had thrown another bean pouch.

However, Yi-gang continued with the Great Yin Flow, unfazed and undeterred.

「The essence of the light footwork technique is to literally lighten the body. It’s not just about moving swiftly. That would be missing the point.」

The Immortal Divine Sword calmly advised as well.

「What you’ve ingrained in your body over a month is to make the body rely on its physical being. The path to lightening the body is the same. Instead of aiming to strike something weightless, envision your body becoming weightless.」

After completing the First Form, Yi-gang naturally transitioned to the Second Form.

From the moment Neung Ji-pyeong explained the rules of the goblin-catching game, Yi-gang had realized.

With his eyes covered, he had to find the bean pouches and throw them at Baek Ha-jun, hitting him. And he needed to do this three times.

This was the correct method.

However, winning in such a manner was absolutely impossible.

Yi-gang chose a different approach.

「Hm, using one’s brain is commendable, but resorting to tricks will eventually harm you.」

‘So, is there another way for me to win?’

Yi-gang was not thinking of just getting by.

Once he started, he wanted to win. It was his nature.

「Well, that’s another matter.」

So he did everything he could.

However, his younger brother, Baek Ha-jun, probably could not understand his feelings.

“What are… you doing?”

Moving cautiously towards the third bean pouch, Ha-jun, despite exposing his position, asked Yi-gang.

“Why are you standing there making that noise…”

Blindfolded, Baek Ha-jun could not have imagined that Yi-gang was performing the Great Yin Flow.

Yet, strangely enough, only the soft thudding of footsteps and the rustling of clothes could be heard from where Yi-gang was.

Yi-gang did not reply.

Baek Ha-jun hardened his expression, found the third bean pouch, and threw it.

Thud!

This time, it hit Yi-gang.

“Young Master Ha-jun, two points!”

Neung Ji-pyeong exclaimed. However, his expression was not as bright as before.

It was not because he was impressed by Yi-gang’s performance of the Great Yin Flow.

Yi-gang’s movement was still quite terrible. The Third Form of Great Yin Flow, Flying Hawk’s Deft Talon, was where one moves their hand like a hawk hunting their prey. But his movement was far from hawk-like, resembling more of a sick chicken.

‘Did he sense the bean pouch?’

Yet, that hand swung as if to catch the silently flying bean pouch.

Although he failed to catch it and got hit on the shoulder, Yi-gang managed to pick up the bean pouch belatedly.

Neung Ji-pyeong’s eyes widened.

Yi-gang, instead of throwing the bean pouch, tucked it into his waist and continued with the Great Yin Flow.

There was a feeling of unease in the air.

Neung Ji-pyeong looked towards Baek Ha-jun. Determined to win at the goblin-catching game, Baek Ha-jun threw the fourth bean pouch.

And Yi-gang, about to transition into the Fourth Stage of the Great Yin Flow.

Swoosh—

The bean pouch miraculously missed him.

‘…I dodged it!’

This time, it was not a mistake.

Yi-gang, who seemed unaware of the approaching bean pouch, slightly tilted his shoulder just before being hit.

Then the flowing movements of the Great Yin Flow continued seamlessly.

‘Ha-jun needs to close the distance.’

Neung Ji-pyeong felt anxious. Although Yi-gang demonstrated an astonishing dodge, the advantage was still with Ha-jun. If Baek Ha-jun became a little more aggressive, he would surely win.

However, Baek Ha-jun stood still, holding the fifth bean pouch in his hand.

He looked around aimlessly, seemingly without any intention to throw.

Despite having his eyes covered with a blindfold, it was evident he was flustered.

‘Why in the world… Ah!’

Then, Neung Ji-pyeong realized the source of his unease.

At some point, there was no sound coming from the hands and feet of Yi-gang as he performed the Great Yin Flow.

The noise made by leather shoes against the ground, the whistling sound created when punching the air, and the unavoidable noises due to the mass of a human body – all of these sounds had disappeared.

From the moment those sounds ceased, the blindfolded Baek Ha-jun lost his target.

‘Where, where is he…’

Up to the third bean pouch, he could clearly determine Yi-gang’s position. But starting from when he threw the fourth bean pouch, the noise from Yi-gang began to diminish.

And by the time he held the last bean pouch, there was not a single sound.

It was as if his older brother had vanished like a ghost.

Thud, thud.

As silence enveloped, Baek Ha-jun could hear his own heartbeat.

The sound of blood flowing through his veins, the sound of his breathing, and a faint ringing in his ears.

Other than that, there was utter silence.

Was Yi-gang still in the same spot as before?

If he threw this fifth bean pouch, he’d have to collect the previously thrown pouches. That meant he would have to approach the area where Yi-gang was.

His heart thudded even louder.

Despite being an expert and having played the game of catching the goblin with Neung Ji-pyeong countless times, he had never completely lost sight of his opponent like this.

Baek Ha-jun felt a suffocating frustration and wanted to rip off his blindfold.

‘In the past, how was it?’

When they were young, just the sight of Yi-gang’s smile made them play the game of catching the goblin together.

‘Surely not even once…’

Then, Baek Ha-jun realized that up to this point, he had never once defeated his older brother.

At that moment, despite it being a midsummer night, an icy cold breeze brushed against Baek Ha-jun’s face.

A spine-chilling coldness, as if a ghost had appeared from somewhere.

By the time his instinctual sense of danger made him attempt to dodge, he had already been standing still for far too long.

The bean pouch struck the face of the dodging Baek Ha-jun.

Squish—

The hand clutching the bean pouch pushed Baek Ha-jun.

Losing his balance impeccably, Ha-jun fell backward.

Thud!

He hit the back of his head on the ground.

“Y-young Master Yi-gang wins!”

Neung Ji-pyeong’s voice echoed faintly.

Baek Ha-jun’s vision went dark.

There was a time when everyone in the clan cherished his older brother.

Although he was born with blocked meridian disease, he was always considerate, so everyone pitied him and looked at him with warm eyes.

His older brother, Yi-gang, was only two years older than Baek Ha-jun, but to Ha-jun, he always seemed like an adult.

“Big Bro, this is so delicious!”

“Is it? Eat a lot.”

“But it’s spicy!”

“Drink some water with it.”

Yi-gang would occasionally make a spicy dumpling stew for him. At that time, Yi-gang was only eight years old, but even that seemed mature.

Ha-jun was extremely happy when he was with Yi-gang. His elder brother was both smart and kind. He believed those happy days would last forever.

However, one day, everything changed.

Suddenly, Yi-gang started to act harshly. He no longer played with Ha-jun and angrily tossed aside the meals and medicinal concoctions the servants brought.

Their father, too, looked at him coldly.

The retainers whispered to Ha-jun, saying, “Since your elder brother has lost his virtue, someday you, Ha-jun, will take his place as the heir.”

Back then, Ha-jun could not fully grasp what was happening around him.

All he wanted was for his brother to return to how he was before, so they could play joyfully like in the old days.

‘To be so naive…’

Reflecting on it now, he realized it was something he should regret. He should have understood earlier why his brother had changed like that.

Yi-gang increasingly acted poorly towards Ha-jun. When he cursed and broke toys, even Baek Ha-jun could not help but burst into tears.

Many were appalled at Yi-gang’s behavior, seeing him torment his younger brother.

However, Baek Ha-jun had a realization.

Contrary to the murmuring servants, Yi-gang was not truly evil.

“Brother, do you have to be mean to me?”

“…Go away.”

When he asked this, there was a hint of sadness in his brother’s eyes.

Even when Yi-gang destroyed all the toys, he intentionally left Ha-jun’s cherished swordsman doll untouched. He must have known how much it meant to Ha-jun.

While he occasionally scolded him harshly, he never once raised his fist. Ha-jun, as a child of a martial arts clan, knew how brutal violence could be.

All Yi-gang did was pinch Ha-jun’s cheek. Even when he did it until Ha-jun cried, it was not really that painful.

Could it be that while he resented his younger brother, he could not bear to treat him too cruelly?

Then, why did he act that way?

Pretending to be bad, feigning cruelty, acting recklessly.

Only after Yi-gang was banished from the family home and left for a distant place did Ha-jun realize.

All of it was because of him, the younger brother. He had not understood that at the time.

Gradually coming to his senses, Ha-jun saw his brother’s face.

“…I’m sorry. Brother.”

He could not help but utter those words. Yi-gang, looking down at him, furrowed his brows.

“I won, yet you speak as if you triumphed.”

“No, that’s not it.”

The position of the heir, rightfully Yi-gang’s, had been taken by Baek Ha-jun.

“I took everything from you, brother.”

“Did you hit your head?”

“You should’ve been the Young Clan Head.”

“…Look at you.”

How Yi-gang had defeated him was beyond Ha-jun’s comprehension.

However, somehow, Ha-jun felt that this outcome was inevitable.

“Just keep that title. I never wanted to be the Young Clan Head anyway.”

Yi-gang said with a disdainful tongue click, but Baek Ha-jun felt a surge of warmth rise up in his throat. He was certain that Yi-gang was lying for his sake.

“Also… because of me, our mother too.”

“What? What are you talking about now?”

“I heard. The reason our mother passed away early… it’s because she got sick after giving birth to me…”

Upon hearing this, Baek Ha-jun realized his original sin. He had taken everything from his brother and was also the reason for their mother’s death. Everything was his fault.

From that moment on, guilt towards Yi-gang grew inside Baek Ha-jun’s heart.

And as time passed, that emotion grew exponentially.

“Heh.”

Yi-gang gave a hollow laugh. Then, with a distorted face, he lunged at Baek Ha-jun.

Ha-jun braced himself for a punch.

“You little brat. Acting all high and mighty!”

Yi-gang grabbed both of Baek Ha-jun’s cheeks.

And he pulled relentlessly.

“Aaaah!”

“Just because you have a mouth, doesn’t mean you’re smart. Stop acting smart, you idiot!”

Contrary to his memories, the pinch on his cheek by Yi-gang really hurt to the point of tears. Baek Ha-jun involuntarily shed a tear.

“Ouch! It hurts!”

“So? Laughing now? You’ve lost now.”

“Ugh!”

“Since I won, do as I say.”

“What, what are you talking about? It wasn’t a bet!”

“Quiet.”

And then Yi-gang commanded mercilessly.

For Baek Ha-jun, it was an unthinkable request.

1. Traditional chinese time system where 1 shi is roughly 2 hours in modern time ️

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