Chapter 2. I'll Make You Live in Comfort
Jang Gi-tae had known Siwoo Lee for a long time.
They first met when Siwoo enrolled in the same martial arts academy that Jang Gi-tae attended.
• “H-hello, n-nice to meet you.”
His speech was awkward, and his movements clumsy.
At first, Jang Gi-tae assumed he was just another rich kid who had come to learn martial arts for self-defense.
So, he didn’t pay him much attention at the beginning.
• “Siwoo, you’re doing great! That’s it! Impressive!”
But Siwoo Lee had talent, a talent so overwhelming that no one could match it.
Teach him one thing, and he’d master five. With just the basics of the Three Talents Swordsmanship, he could defeat even the fifth-year students at the academy.
The instructors began to favor Siwoo exclusively. It was understandable; talent like his was rare even in the largest cities.
But if that had been all, Jang Gi-tae wouldn’t have gone as far as he did.
• “I’m going to pass the Martial Arts Tournament and become a warrior of the Martial Alliance. I’ll take down villains just like Sword Saint or Spear King.”
Siwoo had a light within him that others didn’t possess.
He spoke of seemingly impossible dreams with confidence, and it seemed as though he might actually achieve them.
That’s when it started—Jang Gi-tae’s subtle harassment of Siwoo.
• “Hey, let’s hang out. Training all the time isn’t good for you. To get into the Martial Alliance, you need to be good at socializing too, right?”
It was easy to lure him in. Siwoo was kind-hearted by nature, but also indecisive and timid.
From that day on, Siwoo’s training time began to dwindle. At some point, the time spent playing far exceeded the time spent training.
As a result, his performance at the academy declined, and the instructors’ interest in him faded as well.
Whenever that happened, Jang Gi-tae was there to whisper praise and encouragement, making Siwoo increasingly dependent on him.
The plan was successful.
• “Hey, is that an elixir? Let’s share it. It’s good for all of us to get stronger together. Who else is going to look out for you?”
Siwoo no longer shone. Perhaps he feared being left alone without them, so he began to comply with all their demands.
But he couldn’t completely let go of his dreams, and he continued to challenge the Martial Arts Tournament.
However, how could the results be good? His talent had faded, and he had lost his light.
In the end, he failed the tournament once again and was said to have rolled on the ground crying in the marketplace.
Jang Gi-tae was growing tired of toying with Siwoo. He thought he’d take one last look at his despairing face before finally letting him go.
Who starts martial arts after turning twenty and expects to regain their former glory?
But it seemed Siwoo had finally realized what had been happening.
“Kyaaaah! My arm! Damn it, what are you doing?”
The moment Siwoo put his arm around Jang Gi-tae’s shoulders, he suddenly twisted and broke it.
“Oh, sorry, I was just thinking.”
“What? What does that even…?”
“I’m sorry. But didn’t it snap? You’ve grown weak.”
“What the hell are you talking about, you crazy bastard?”
“It would’ve hurt less if it had snapped, wouldn’t it? Or maybe not?”
“….”
Jang Gi-tae was certain. Siwoo was taking revenge for everything that had happened.
Siwoo scratched his head and apologized, but his eyes and mouth were smiling in a way that sent chills down Jang Gi-tae’s spine.
Jang Gi-tae quickly pulled away from him. It seemed like today would be the day to settle this.
“You did that on purpose, didn’t you? Because we stole your elixirs and messed up your training? And now you finally figured it out? You idiot.”
“Really? Is that what happened?”
“But it’s too late, you fool. Martial arts are all about timing. You’re twenty-one now. Do you really think you can become a Martial Alliance warrior if you start again? Hahaha, you’re screwed.”
“I wasn’t sure, but thanks for confirming it.”
“Don’t fool yourself. Do you really think you can beat us just because you broke my arm? We ate all your elixirs.”
Jang Gi-tae signaled to his younger brothers with a glance. Jang Gi-yu and Jang Gi-pyeong understood and began to surround Siwoo.
If the three of them teamed up, they were confident they could take him down easily.
Siwoo spoke up.
“Then I guess I should repay you for the elixirs.”
Jang Gi-tae spat on the ground.
“Bullshit.”
That was the signal. Jang Gi-tae and his brothers charged at Siwoo simultaneously.
Left, center, and right.
They closed in on him, cutting off any direction of escape.
Jang Gi-yu aimed for his upper body, Jang Gi-pyeong targeted his lower body, while Jang Gi-tae went for the center.
All three had trained together at the same martial arts academy, and they were confident in their combined attacks.
“Get on your knees, you bastard!”
Jang Gi-tae was the first to strike, fully expecting Siwoo to be crawling on the ground in despair.
Whoosh!
But his fist, which should have pierced Siwoo’s solar plexus, sliced through nothing but empty air.
Aaahhh!
A horrifying scream echoed from an unexpected direction. It was the kind of scream that sent shivers down your spine.
‘What the hell?’
Jang Gi-tae couldn’t comprehend what was happening. He felt like a mouse caught in front of a snake, his entire body freezing in place.
No, perhaps Siwoo had moved so fast that he seemed slow in comparison.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Why was there a sickening crunching sound coming from his own legs?
And why was his body slowly crumpling to the ground?
What in the world was happening?
Thud!
Jang Gi-tae’s head hit the ground, and it wasn’t until he looked at his legs that he realized the reality.
His knees were bent backward, and his heels were facing forward.
AAAAAAAHHHHH!!!
“Does it hurt? Sorry. So, when do you plan to repay the elixirs?”
A demon looked down at Jang Gi-tae.
The Jang brothers lay sprawled on the ground before me.
It wasn’t enough to settle the score, but it was satisfying in its own way.
But this wasn’t just because I realized they had stolen my elixirs and tormented me in such a petty manner.
While their actions were cruel and cowardly, it wasn’t entirely their fault. Someone else would have exploited me eventually, given my indecisive nature.
The martial world is not a kind place.
What came to mind was something far worse, something so absurd that I had forgotten about it in my previous life.
‘These bastards sold me to the Baek family.’
A surge of murderous intent welled up inside me. The urge to rip them apart on the spot consumed me.
The Jang brothers left me alone for a while after today, but one day, out of boredom, they took me to the black market and sold me off.
Their method was so clever that I naively followed them, only to become a lifelong servant of the Baek family.
‘But I shouldn’t kill them.’
It’s not that my resentment isn’t strong enough. It’s just that I’ve set a goal for this life, one that I’ve been thinking about silently.
In my previous life, how lightly I regarded the lives of others.
I intend to fill this life with atonement for my past sins.
[To atone for the harm I caused to those who were hurt by me, especially my family, and to care for them.]
[To never stand idly by while evil deeds occur around me.]
[And finally, to burn to the ground everything related to the Baek family.]
I couldn’t start such a life with the death of the Jang brothers.
‘Though perhaps killing them would be better….’
I placed my index and ring fingers on the eyes of the fallen brothers, and my thumb on their mouths.
What I was about to perform was a dark art I had learned from the Baek family, the Honwon Pill Technique.
The Honwon Pill Technique drains the opponent’s vital energy. Thanks to it, I was able to accumulate immense internal energy, even at a late age in my previous life.
Though overusing it can cause my own internal energy to become polluted and lead to side effects, that’s only if I’m greedy.
If I only take what I can refine, it would be the perfect tonic for me right now.
“I’ll just take as much as the elixirs you consumed.”
The Jang brothers didn’t respond. They were already unconscious from the pain.
But they wouldn’t be able to live their lives with clear minds again.
They would be like newborn infants, as the Honwon Pill Technique absorbs not only their vital energy but also erases their memories.
Whirr…
As I activated the Honwon Pill Technique, my vital energy connected with theirs.
I inhaled deeply, drawing their vital energy into me as if I were extracting their souls.
The pure energies intertwined and gradually became tainted, turning into a murky, ash-colored mix.
I added about five years’ worth of internal energy to my dantian.
‘With this amount, I can immediately purify it with the Yeomra Divine Technique.’
Only then did I release my grip and help the Jang brothers to their feet. I even realigned their broken legs and splinted them.
After that, I quietly took the Jang brothers to the outskirts of the village and returned to my room.
I needed to see my parents, but first, I had to purify the tainted energy.
Flare!
‘So I’ve gained ten years’ worth of internal energy? The Red Lotus has bloomed.’
That night, I officially began practicing the Yeomra Divine Technique.
Chew, chew.
This is delicious. It’s chewy too.
“My son, eat as much as you want.”
“Yes, thank you. It’s really good.”
“Oh, you’re eating so well.”
I’m currently having breakfast at the inn my parents run.
I didn’t get to eat anything the previous night because I was busy starting my training in the Yeomra Divine Technique with the help of the Jang brothers.
Plus, it didn’t feel right that I hadn’t seen my parents yet, even after being reborn.
So, as soon as I finished refining the murky energy, I rushed over to ‘Siwoo’s Inn,’ one of the three inns my parents own, where they personally cook and serve food.
My parents welcomed me warmly and prepared a hearty breakfast for me.
I almost burst into tears, but the moment I put the food in my mouth, the tears disappeared.
“Mother, what is this? It’s so delicious.”
“It’s a new dish I’m developing. It’s made from pig intestines…”
“Pig intestines?”
“Hohoho, don’t worry. It’s from the large intestine, and I cleaned it thoroughly. How does it taste?”
I hesitated for a moment. So, my mother fed me pig innards?
Then I picked up my chopsticks again.
“It’s so good! I think I’d keep eating even if it cut my mouth.”
It doesn’t matter.
This is the first meal my mother has made for me since I came back. And it’s unbelievably delicious.
“Right? I gave it a smoky flavor and seasoned it heavily. It gets rid of the odor.”
“Hmm. Even so, those words make me feel a bit queasy, Mother.”
“Hohoho. Silly boy. I’m glad you like it. I think it’ll be a hit in the new inn’s menu.”
“We’ll just have to keep the ingredients a secret.”
“True, true.”
No matter what anyone says, my mother’s cooking is the best.
I had no doubt that the grilled pig intestines I just ate would become a popular dish at the inn.
Even in my past life as Cheon Sal-gwi, I always made sure to eat well, so I’m confident in my judgment.
Not long after, I scraped the last bit of sauce from the bowl, leaving it spotless.
Then my mother brought my father, who had been in the kitchen, and sat him down in front of me.
“So, have you heard the news?”
“What news?”
“The Jang brothers. I heard they became crippled last night.”
I thought they were going to have a serious conversation since they both sat down, but they just poured some tea and brought up something I was already aware of.
They must be trying to ease into the conversation.
I took the teacup and replied calmly.
“Yes, I heard. They’re almost like vegetables now.”
“How unfortunate.”
“Well, it’s karma, isn’t it? Their legs were crippled too, I hear. Someone found them outside the village with splints on their injuries.”
Yes, karma. That’s how I genuinely felt. Although it was the result of my actions, it was really just the consequences of their own misdeeds.
Perhaps they should be grateful to me for not letting them commit any more evil.
When I was living in isolation, consumed by loneliness, how I wished someone would kill me.
So, I gained internal energy, and they were freed from their evil ways. It was a mutually beneficial exchange.
“My son, you shouldn’t speak so lightly about others’ lives, even if they were mischievous and caused trouble for the villagers.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to be, dear. Hohoho.”
…Ahem.
My father cleared his throat a couple of times and then looked at me. My mother stopped smiling and took a sip of tea.
“Is there something you’d like to say?”
“Yes. Have you come to terms with it?”
Only then did I understand why they had taken such care of me this morning.
“You mean the fact that I failed the Martial Arts Tournament?”
“Yes.”
At this age, I was obsessed with the Martial Arts Tournament. I challenged it repeatedly, despite my lack of skill, in pursuit of my dream to become a hero, only to fail each time.
The Martial Arts Tournament was an exam to select members of the Martial Alliance, divided into the 12th, 10th, and 8th grades. I must have been aiming for the 10th grade.
“I’m fine. I’ve come to terms with it.”
“They say you were crying and rolling on the ground in the marketplace.”
“…I did?”
“The whole village was shocked, apparently.”
My mother teased me. How did she even know about that?
The first thing Jang Gi-tae said when he arrived was about that, so someone must be spreading the news around.
Whoever it is, they’re dead if I get my hands on them.
“I’m really fine. I’ve learned a lot. I’m always grateful to you both. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have made it this far.”
“……!”
My parents froze as if turned to stone at my sudden expression of gratitude.
I know it was sudden, but it was something I needed to say. I was so sincere that my eyes were starting to tear up.
In my previous life, my parents and my little sister were brutally murdered simply because they were my family.
Even in death, they screamed that I wasn’t someone who would do such terrible things, that there must have been a reason.
How could I not be grateful to the people who believed in me until the very end?
“It seems you’ve learned something. Even though you failed the Martial Arts Tournament, that’s enough.”
“I can’t believe I didn’t realize how much you both cared for me.”
“Haha. You’ve finally matured.”
My father, perhaps feeling a bit awkward, stroked his beard. But he couldn’t hide the smile on his face.
It’s just words, but I regretted not saying them in my past life. It’s one of my biggest regrets.
“So, what do you plan to do now?”
After the atmosphere settled down a bit, my father spoke up.
“Why are you asking that now?”
“He’s matured, so he must have a plan.”
“Even so…”
“Ahem. Go on, answer.”
My mother tried to stop him, but I had no reason not to answer.
I just needed to say what I had decided yesterday after confirming my rebirth and settling the score with the Jang brothers.
I will make my family happy,
I will meticulously settle the scores from my past life,
And I will not overlook any evil deeds that occur around me.
‘And I will destroy the Baek family that manipulated me and the martial world.’
There was only one answer.
“I will take the Martial Arts Tournament again.”
After all, the Martial Arts Tournament is primarily an exam focused on martial arts. With a little preparation, there’s no reason I can’t pass.
“Ha…”
But I heard a heavy sigh, and I could feel their breath on my face.
Wondering what was wrong, I looked up to see my parents’ faces filled with concern. What’s going on? Were they disappointed?
Suddenly, realization dawned on me. I understood what they were thinking.
Their beloved son’s ambition was too small.
“Don’t worry. I’ve only attempted the 10th-grade Martial Arts Tournament so far, but that’s no longer the case.”
As I expected, my mother and father’s faces brightened.
They were worried that I would lower my goals. Or perhaps they were upset that their son would settle for less.
“Oh! So, you’re not going to keep challenging the 10th-grade exam. Good. That’s a wise decision. So, this time you’ll aim for the 12th-grade…”
“I’ll aim for the 8th-grade Martial Arts Tournament.”
“……!!!”
“I’ll pass the 8th-grade Martial Arts Tournament this coming early winter and bring you comfort. I promise, Father! Mother!”
“…….”
They couldn’t say a word. It was only natural.
In my previous life, I was indecisive and timid, so I never spoke with such determination.
My parents were so moved by their now-mature son that they froze in place, still holding their teacups.
I hope I didn’t overwhelm them too much; I wouldn’t want to strain their hearts.
‘I’ll bring you comfort.’
My heart swelled with emotion at the thought of making my first filial piety gesture after returning to the past.
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