Urban Vagabond: Reload

The disappearance of the sect leader of GREAT HEAVEN GATE once again threw the media into an uproar.

It started with rumors that his workload had recently become overwhelming, that he’d developed a qi deviation and gone into seclusion.

Then, when days passed and no one could find him, talk spread that he’d fled overseas.

Not long after that, whispers of an assassination began circulating too.

Whenever people gathered—especially martial artists, or those with a foot in the related industries—the same topic kept coming up.

“I heard GREAT HEAVEN GATE is basically a funeral house right now. They still haven’t even identified the building bomber, and now their sect leader vanished overnight.”

“And in the middle of that, some lunatic stripped naked and ran around yelling that Sun and Moon Gate killed their sect leader?”

“Ah, that was a GREAT HEAVEN GATE martial artist who escaped from the qi deviation ward, wasn’t it? The Martial Alliance arrested him fast.”

“The Martial Alliance has been doing good work lately. They caught every assassin who infiltrated the license exam too.”

“Hey, did you hear the rumor? That everything that’s happened lately is because GREAT HEAVEN GATE got on the Eight Great Sects’ bad side...”

“Shh! Don’t say that kind of thing carelessly!”

But even with all the ominous rumors and speculation flying around, the exact reason behind the disappearance of GREAT HEAVEN GATE’s sect leader remained unknown.

The Martial Alliance was investigating the case as well, trying to determine the truth.

“He didn’t go into seclusion. Even if you trace his movements up to a month ago, there’s no sign of it. He wasn’t some martial-arts fanatic who’d throw away his sect just to cling to one minor insight...”

No Gucheon—an elder of the Martial Alliance whose complexion had been looking remarkably healthier lately—sat in his office, reviewing the documents in his hand.

He took a sip of the coffee beside him, then asked the man sitting across the desk.

“What do you think?”

After disappearing for more than ten years without a single word, Choi Geon now came and went through the Martial Alliance as if it were his own home.

Choi Geon sipped his tea and replied.

“One of two things. Either he got scared of Sun and Moon Gate’s ‘use-you-and-dump-you,’ abandoned even his family, and ran overseas... or he’s already buried somewhere.”

As if he thought the second was more likely, the line of Choi Geon’s mouth was cold.

No Gucheon set down the papers he’d finished reading and nodded.

“I think the same. Sun and Moon Gate’s sect leader, Jang Jinmyeong, likely made a move.”

“He’s always been a snake. Killing someone wouldn’t be hard for him.”

If they hadn’t known Sun and Moon Gate was behind GREAT HEAVEN GATE, they would’ve wandered in circles like everyone else.

But since they already knew, and started with a clear direction, the investigation moved smoothly.

With only a small number of people, the Martial Alliance grasped the truth faster than anyone—and they even succeeded in spreading false information to disrupt the Eight Great Sects and throw them into confusion.

It wasn’t easy with only the Martial Alliance’s strength, still under pressure and checks from the Eight Great Sects...

But they had help from a hidden supporter.

“Who exactly is this Hwang Suksu? His skill at handling information is no joke. To make the Eight Great Sects’ informants look like fools...”

No Gucheon clicked his tongue in disbelief, and Choi Geon let out a short laugh.

“He’s my disciple’s man. Aside from his frivolous personality, he’s got real ability.”

“Your disciple’s... man?”

It sounded strange to say that Kim Muhyuk—who had only just turned twenty—had subordinates, but No Gucheon decided not to think too deeply about it.

Wasn’t he the disciple who resembled Sword Demon Choi Geon’s younger days almost perfectly?

Someone ordinary like him wouldn’t be able to understand them anyway.

“In any case, the public attention is enormous. I can’t even remember the last time ordinary people cared this much about martial world affairs.”

“You could say it turned into an opportunity. Thanks to stopping the assassins who ran wild at the exam site... public opinion is pretty favorable to us, isn’t it?”

“The situation is very good. The reputation of the Martial Alliance and the Alliance Leader has risen, too.”

“Heh-heh-heh....”

The two men smiled at each other, eyes glittering.

They were men who’d carried decades’ worth of resentment toward the Eight Great Sects’ long-standing corruption and abuse of power.

Now, after all those years, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity had arrived—how could they not smile?

“It’s finally tomorrow. The day the Eight Great Sects’ filthy crimes are exposed.”

“This time it’s only Sun and Moon Gate, but it’ll still keep the others from acting recklessly.”

“The beginning is what matters. A great many things will change from here.”

Once the martial-artist license exams were fully completed, the Martial Alliance Leader planned to reveal the evidence of Sun and Moon Gate’s sect leader’s crimes in front of everyone—and arrest him.

The Eight Great Sects, who had dominated the Korean martial world, would take a massive hit to their reputation.

And once their once-solid alliance shook and their influence declined, the Martial Alliance would finally be able to check their runaway power.

“Maybe it won’t be the perfectly fair and just world we wanted when we were foolish kids... but won’t it at least become a better world?”

“If everything goes according to plan.”

“I’ll block as many variables as possible.”

Even as he said it, there was no way No Gucheon felt no worry at all.

The Eight Great Sects’ power wasn’t just fame and authority.

It was their martial force, the networks they’d built through deep ties with politics and business...

And even the suppression of great anomalies, a duty that had been theirs for a long time.

“...If a void appears in the balance of power, unexpected problems could arise. But if we leave it as it is, this country’s martial world will rot past festering and into decay.”

“So what—are you too scared of maggots to make fermented paste? The Alliance Leader made his choice knowing that risk. I’ll follow him.”

“...I’m the same.”

Both men nodded with serious expressions, as if they shared the same resolve.

To lighten the heavy mood, No Gucheon asked,

“Ah. Is your disciple preparing well for the exam?”

It wasn’t the top priority for the two of them, but in the public eye, the postponed martial-artist license exam had become a major focus too.

The younger generation had personally repelled assassins who infiltrated the Martial Alliance while hiding their identities.

Since Richard Han’s appearance, the media were even calling it the strongest generation to appear in the last twenty years.

“Heh. What’s there to say? He’s preparing to become the best.”

Yang Hayun. Song Junho. Shin Kangheon.

The media mentioned those three most often, but—

Anyone with even one foot in the martial world was watching the name Kim Muhyuk.

Even though his exploits had been deliberately downplayed at his request, the rumors still spread by word of mouth through the young martial artists who’d been at the exam site.

The corner of Choi Geon’s mouth rose on its own, pleased.

“They didn’t coin the phrase ‘an awl in a bag’ for nothing. Just watch. That brat Muhyuk will shake the world.”

“Of course he will. Of course.”

Seeing his old friend act like a doting parent, No Gucheon shook his head, but he had no intention of denying it.

*****

With repeated incidents and the disappearance of GREAT HEAVEN GATE’s sect leader, an oddly anxious current had been running through the Korean martial world lately.

Even so, time moved steadily, and the day of the first-rate license exam—the one that had been halted—finally arrived.

“...Feels good.”

That morning, I woke up in peak condition, without even turning once in my sleep.

After loosening up at ease, I ate breakfast with my parents, talking as usual, then tightened my sneakers and slung a duffel bag over one shoulder.

“I’ll be back.”

“I should quit this damn company. Going to work on the day my son’s whole life is riding on a test...”

“Stop making a fuss. Muhyuk’s life is already a straight shot. But... are you really sure it’s fine if we don’t go with you?”

If I told them to come with me even now, Kim Chanho and Park Jiyeon looked ready to skip work without permission.

But I knew what was going to happen today, so I’d firmly refused for days.

“Are you going to follow me around every time something happens from now on? I’ll do well, so let’s go eat something good tonight.”

“Our son’s all grown up. All grown up.”

“Dad’s... a little sad...?”

After hugging my parents once each as they reluctantly prepared for work, I left the house early.

When I reached the area near the Martial Alliance, a far larger crowd had gathered than before.

The number of test-takers was much smaller—since the people who’d failed last time weren’t coming back—but the public had swelled because media interest had exploded, bringing in ordinary spectators too.

“Kim Muhyuk!”

“Please look this way, just once!”

Click-click-click-click!

Under the barrage of flashes for the first time in my life, I pulled my hood down and passed through quickly.

Fortunately, the Martial Alliance had dispatched martial artists, so it wasn’t hard to get inside the exam grounds.

“Hey, you lunatic!”

Even though I’d come pretty early, it looked like most participants had already arrived. I spotted several familiar faces.

“Did you oversleep or something? I was waiting so long I thought I’d die of boredom. Haaam—”

Shin Kangheon walked up yawning wide, like he hadn’t slept at all.

Seeing that, I clicked my tongue and nagged him.

“Sleep on time. You’re fine because you’re still young, but once you get older, your stamina won’t hold.”

“This bastard says stuff like an old man sometimes.”

Shin Kangheon grumbled with an incredulous expression, when another voice cut in.

“Haha. Isn’t it normal to be too excited to sleep the night before a test?”

Oh Jungmin of Songwol Gate—who I’d gotten close to during the last exam—approached and spoke.

Beside him, Song Junho of Supreme Pole Sword Gate was there too, and for some reason he looked serious.

“...I couldn’t sleep a wink either. I guess good sleep really is important if you want to grow tall...”

“Hey, runt. What’re you muttering?”

When Shin Kangheon teased Song Junho—who was much smaller than him—Song Junho bristled and lunged forward.

“I told you not to call me a runt! You think being tall is everything? Your constitution’s two levels below mine!”

“What’d you say? I can’t hear you from down there—!”

“Hey, you two, don’t waste your energy before the exam...”

It seemed the three of them had gotten pretty close since the last license exam.

Shin Kangheon killed time by cackling as he teased the highly reactive Song Junho, while Oh Jungmin tried to stop them with an awkward look.

I was looking around to see who else was here when—

“Sun and Moon Gate’s vehicle!”

“Did Yang Hayun come?”

“The Glacier Priestess came with her!”

A pure white limousine rolled in, and reporters and broadcast cameras moved all at once.

The appearance of Yang Hayun—the person who’d almost become the biggest victim in the last license exam.

“Miss Hayun! What resolve are you bringing into this exam—”

“Just one word, please!”

An overwhelming flood of attention and interview demands poured in, but the limousine ignored them and entered the Martial Alliance grounds.

A moment later—

Yang Hayun stepped out with the Glacier Priestess. She looked around, then spotted me and flinched.

‘What’s with her?’

Then, as if she’d made up her mind, she nodded and strode over in big steps, stopping right in front of me.

“I thought about it a lot.”

“...?”

“But not right now. We’re still too young, and we have to focus on our martial arts. So later—when I get stronger...”

The more she spoke, the redder Yang Hayun’s cheeks became, and her voice shrank until it was like a mosquito.

“I’ll keep... the promise.”

I could barely even hear the last words. Yang Hayun abruptly turned, then ran back to her master, the Glacier Priestess.

“What the hell was that supposed to mean?”

Everyone except me watched the two of them with sparkling interest.