The Youngest Member of the Martial Alliance

Late evening at the Anhui Song family.

Song Yiyeon's father and the head of the Song family, Song Habaek, provided the best environment he could for the Martial Alliance members.

Not only the meals, but he also prepared a separate space for them to train or rest comfortably, even setting up a training ground.

It wasn't just because his son had joined the Martial Alliance. It was originally Family Head Song's values.

The merchants of the era could not be unrelated to the martial world, and they usually had to choose between the black path or the white path.

Anyway, since the smell of money also wafted from the illegal activities of the black path, there were always merchants who immersed themselves in that side.

Of course, the Anhui Song family was a large merchant family closely related to the white path. Not only was the profit they gained through the Martial Alliance quite large, but his personal disposition also corresponded with the values of the white path.

Song Habaek pointed to the table full of delicacies and said.

"Eat up before it gets cold. I never thought the day would come when I would have a meal with this guy's friend before I die."

Song Habaek looked at Song Yiyeon, who had a somewhat dissatisfied expression, and the embarrassed Cheon Woojin with a smile on his face.

He was inwardly surprised when his son had first said he would introduce a friend. Because he had no memory of hearing that this guy had a friend his whole life.

When he was young, he rarely went out of the house because his body was very weak, and when he grew up, he unintentionally made all the local women's hearts cry, so the only men of his age were guys who were jealous.

But, to think he would bring such a neat-looking guy.

Cheon Woojin put the food in his mouth while trying to ignore Song Habaek's burdensome gaze.

"Father, you're going to burn a hole in young hero Cheon's face."

"Hahaha, I'm sorry. He has such a good atmosphere that my eyes keep going to him."

Song Habaek liked Cheon Woojin.

Not just because he was the first friend his son had brought, but because Cheon Woojin's atmosphere was moderately heavy and had a side that captivated people's hearts.

It was mostly something one was born with.

Those who were born with this kind of atmosphere, whether they were martial artists or merchants, were bound to become great and make their names widely known.

Song Habaek's insight, which had raised a small rice shop into a huge merchant family, had a rather sharp side.

"Does the food suit your taste?"

"...Yes."

Cheon Woojin answered with a forced calmness. In fact, right after coming down from the mountain, there was something else besides the bustling scenery that he hadn't adapted to yet, and that was the delicacies.

The only meals he had had his whole life with his masters were herbs or meat obtained from the wild, roughly grilled.

From Cheon Woojin's perspective, it felt as if an explosion was going off in his mouth every time he ate such food.

Anyway, it meant that it was good.

Song Habaek looked at Cheon Woojin with satisfaction and smiled.

"He's entered the Martial Alliance, and he's made such a fine friend, so now I'd have no regrets if he just brought home a nice bride."

Song Habaek clicked his tongue and looked at his son.

Although he was his son, he was truly handsome. However, there was no way a guy who had never had a friend until now would bring a woman.

"Ah, come on!"

Song Yiyeon, who was usually quite mature for his age despite his occasional mischievousness, whined like a child and then shot up from his seat.

Suddenly, a silent staring contest broke out between the family head and the young family head of the Song family. It was probably because they couldn't have an argument in front of a guest, Cheon Woojin.

However, since Cheon Woojin's level was what it was, he could feel everything even though he was trying to bury his gaze in the food.

'Umm...'

Cheon Woojin thought that this was a more difficult situation than when he had faced the Sex Demon and the Blood Immortal at the same time.

Whether he knew Cheon Woojin's heart or not, Song Yiyeon soon stormed out of the room.

At his back, Song Habaek clicked his tongue.

"I don't know when he'll grow up. He's of age, but he's like that whenever the topic of marriage comes up."

"Cough..."

Cheon Woojin, who had burst into a cough, drank the tea next to him.

When he was affected by the beauty poison of the Black Wolf Hand and the courtesans at Cheonghwaru, Cheon Woojin had realized that Song Yiyeon had learned the Virgin Boy Art.

As long as he had learned the Virgin Boy Art, it was impossible for him to have any kind of relationship with a woman, let alone get married.

It seemed that young hero Song's father did not know that his only son had learned the Virgin Boy Art.

If he found out, the Song family would be turned upside down.

"So, does our alliance member Cheon not have a woman?"

"...No."

"Hehe, how can such a handsome young man. If you have any thoughts, feel free to tell me. Because of my son's marriage, I know all the nice women in Anhui."

"...It's alright. By the way, since you are young hero Song's father, please just call me Woojin."

Cheon Woojin, whose eloquence had suddenly improved, smoothly changed the subject.

Of course, the great merchant, Song Habaek, knew but noticed that Cheon Woojin was uncomfortable and nodded his head.

"Hahaha! Yes, Woojin. Please take good care of my son. If you need anything, you don't have to go through Yiyeon, so feel free to send a message to the Song family at any time."

Song Habaek had already heard that Cheon Woojin had lived serving only his masters without a family.

Song Habaek, who was originally a man of much affection, pitied Cheon Woojin as a father of a child.

"You may not be able to think of me as a father, but I hope you will feel comfortable with me."

He was sincere. Not only was he his son's first friend, but he also liked the person Cheon Woojin himself very much.

For some reason, Cheon Woojin was receiving the affection of the middle-aged men of Anhui, including the Sword King.

Soon, Cheon Woojin, who had finished his meal, said.

"Thank you, Family Head. Young hero Song seems to be troubled, so I will go and see him."

"Wait. Still, since it's our first meal together, have a drink before you go."

As Song Habaek picked up the teapot next to him, Cheon Woojin held out his teacup with both hands.

"Since there is a funeral at the Heavenly Tiger Unit, I cannot drink alcohol, so I have no choice. I will also call you comfortably, so you should also just call me 'uncle' from now on. 'Family Head' seems too distant, doesn't it?"

"That's a bit..."

Cheon Woojin was surprisingly a person who said what he had to say.

Song Habaek's eyes narrowed.

"Well, if alliance member Cheon is uncomfortable, I can't help it. Then I'll see you again next time."

"...?"

Cheon Woojin looked at Song Habaek as if he was dumbfounded. Song Habaek had a smile on his face, and it was exactly like Song Yiyeon's, full of mischief.

"...I will call you uncle."

"Hahaha! Yes, that's good."

The man who had become sworn brothers with Cheol Jiak on their first meeting, and who had a pseudo-father-son relationship with Cheon Woojin after just one meal, was the great merchant of Anhui, Song Habaek.

* * *

Cheon Woojin headed straight for the backyard where Song Yiyeon was.

Although there were seven such yards in the Song family, it was not difficult to find him because his senses were so wide.

Song Yiyeon, who was sitting on the railing and looking up at the particularly bright full moon pitifully. Cheon Woojin, who naturally sat down next to him, said.

"You haven't told him yet?"

"I'm only child, how can I tell him?"

Cheon Woojin nodded his head. It wasn't that he didn't understand Song Yiyeon's heart.

"But you can't keep it a secret forever."

He was his father, of all people.

Although Cheon Woojin did not know the affection of a family, he thought of him as the same existence as his masters, so the conversation became much easier.

Song Yiyeon nodded his head.

"Young hero Cheon, do you know this? The Virgin Boy Art is a very unique martial art. Up to seventy percent of its power, it doesn't show on the outside, but if you operate it higher than that, a unique energy is emitted. Since the Virgin Boy Art is a martial art with a clear weakness, it's better to operate it only up to seventy percent until you master it."

Cheon Woojin nodded his head. He had already heard about many martial arts in the world from his masters.

"Of course, mastering it doesn't mean the weakness disappears. It just means you become strong enough that it doesn't matter."

"I heard that in the history of the martial world, only three have mastered the Virgin Boy Art. I know it's a martial art that is that difficult to master."

"That's right. Instead, all three who mastered it carved their names deeply in the history of the martial world. The Virgin Boy Art is that kind of martial art."

A moment of silence followed.

Whether it was because of the night scenery or because he had confided his secret for the first time, Song Yiyeon felt sentimental for no reason.

"Also, the Virgin Boy Art is a very lonely martial art. There is a common prejudice that a man who has learned the Virgin Boy Art will be a homosexual. In fact, since one of the three masters who mastered it was said to be a homosexual, it's not a groundless prejudice. Of course, I'm not."

Although there was a time in the very distant history of the central plains when homosexuality was not considered strange, it was different now.

In the current era, there was a strong tendency to despise and ridicule homosexuals as strange perverts.

Song Yiyeon looked at Cheon Woojin with a somewhat tense face. He liked women. However, he was afraid that his first friend would look at him with prejudiced eyes.

Cheon Woojin also looked at Song Yiyeon with a serious face and then opened his mouth.

"It is an excellent martial art. It is not lacking compared to any other top-level martial art. Usually, the martial arts of the Nine Sects are deeper than those of the Five Great Families, and since the Virgin Boy Art is also a martial art that branched off from the early Shaolin, if you can master it, you could become one of the top ten masters in the martial world in the future."

Of course, it was what his White Master had told him.

At that sight, Song Yiyeon let out a hollow laugh.

He was talking about the world's prejudice surrounding the Virgin Boy Art, but this monster young hero was only talking about martial arts, as if he was crazy about them.

At that sight, Song Yiyeon felt his heart being comforted.

"The original Virgin Boy Art was the 'Stopping Heart Following Art', and the second abbot of Shaolin, Master Wonhye, for his disciples..."

By the way, he didn't know where he had heard it, but if he left him alone, he was on the verge of explaining the birth story of the Virgin Boy Art, so he said.

"Young hero, thank you."

"For what?"

Cheon Woojin tilted his head.

However, Song Yiyeon just smiled without saying anything else.

Just by having someone share the secret he had kept to himself because of prejudice and weakness, he felt his heart become much lighter.

Unlike his worries, young hero Cheon had no prejudice and was not a man with a light mouth, so he was not particularly worried.

'Also, there's no problem with the weakness.'

Because even without aiming for the weakness of the Virgin Boy Art, if he wanted to, he could smash his head with that menacing iron staff.

The sight of Cheon Woojin smashing the heads of the villains was still vivid.

Song Yiyeon, who felt a chill for some reason, trembled and said.

"By the way, mastering the Virgin Boy Art..."

It was then.

Cheon Woojin brought his index finger to his lips as if to tell him to be quiet.

While Song Yiyeon was puzzled.

"Someone is coming."

"Ah."

Soon, a man approached the place where the two were.

It was the Heavenly Tiger Unit Commander with a sharp impression, like a well-honed sword under the moonlight.

Song Yiyeon shot up from his seat and said.

"Ah, Unit Commander. Is there anything uncomfortable..."

"No. Thanks to you, I was able to rest very comfortably. Thank you."

"Hehe, not at all."

Song Yiyeon, who had returned to his usual self, smiled. He had thought he had gotten on the Heavenly Tiger Unit Commander's bad side for choosing the Black Tortoise Unit, but he was more friendly than he had thought.

The Heavenly Tiger Unit Commander said cautiously with an embarrassed expression.

"Actually, I came because I have something to say to alliance member Cheon. If I interrupted your conversation, I'll come back later."

"Not at all. We were just about to get up. I'm hungry because I ran out while eating."

Song Yiyeon said so and rubbed his stomach.

At that sight, Cheon Woojin said.

"Young hero Song, then please go in first."

And so, Song Yiyeon left the place, and Cheon Woojin and the Heavenly Tiger Unit Commander stood opposite each other. Since they were both rather taciturn, an awkward silence flowed.

At the end of the silence, Cheon Woojin said.

"If it's related to the mission, I will only receive the orders of the Black Tortoise Unit Commander."

The Heavenly Tiger Unit Commander recalled the memory of urging Cheon Woojin to report during the Cheonghwaru incident.

"Ahem, the situation was urgent then. I don't have any particular intention of giving orders to the Black Tortoise Unit members."

"Yes."

"..."

Silence flowed again.

Soon, the Heavenly Tiger Unit Commander sat down on the railing where Song Yiyeon and Cheon Woojin had been sitting and said.

"The Black Tortoise Unit Commander is a very good person. He was the unit commander even when I first joined the alliance. Anyway, I also think he has the ability to be more than a commander."

"...Yes, well."

In Cheon Woojin's view, it was also so.

By the way, did the Black Tortoise Unit Commander remain a unit commander all this time, even until the newcomer who had joined the Martial Alliance became a unit commander and was thinking about his next promotion?

It was not for nothing that he had the nickname of the 'perennial unit commander'.

But, he was suddenly puzzled.

"Did you come to praise the Black Tortoise Unit Commander?"

"Ahem, that's not it. Actually, I came to say thank you."

Cheon Woojin tilted his head. For some reason, it seemed he was receiving thanks several times today without knowing it.

(End of Chapter)