The Black Dragon Guard were the Dark Alliance Lord’s personal guard.

Naturally, only the finest were selected — and even after earning a place in their ranks, they were expected to endure training that could only be described as hellish.

Exceptional martial prowess alone wasn’t enough.

Stealth. Intelligence. Strategy.

They had to demonstrate ability above the standard in every regard.

And among those elites, there were those who stood even further apart.

The Four Black Dragons.

These four had distinguished themselves even within the Black Dragon Guard — a unit already filled with monsters in human skin.

It had been a natural choice for the Commander of the Black Dragon Guard.

Assigning the mission of retrieving the Dark Alliance Lord’s son to them.

But——

“Hah. This is exactly why I didn’t want to come. Chief. Aren’t we completely screwed?”

At those words from Yoo Geonwoo — one of the Four Black Dragons — the large, fierce-looking man beside him let out a quiet sigh.

The one who served as the leader of the Four Black Dragons.

Bae Seokjin turned his head toward another member of the group.

“Still no news?”

The one he addressed gave only a silent nod in reply.

Bae Seokjin shut his eyes tight against the wave of dread.

Five days.

It had already been five days.

The Dark Alliance had sent word to the Murim Alliance. They had received a clear answer — the request would be honored.

And yet.

And yet why.

There was not the slightest trace of him to be found.

‘He left early? No. Our spies confirmed no one resembling the Young Lord left the Alliance before we arrived.’

They had stationed informants near the Murim Alliance well in advance, precisely to avoid missing each other along the way.

‘Then did he disguise himself and slip past our eyes?’

That would explain why they hadn’t found him yet.

But why would he do that?

Did he not want to return to Zhejiang?

Lost in thought, turning the problem over in his mind——

A woman climbed up from the base of the mountain. When she reached them, she let out a tired sigh.

“Hah. I made contact with the informant we planted inside the Alliance. Apparently the Young Lord already left sometime ago. Even they don’t know exactly when.”

“Ha! Figures. These people were never going to hand him over without a fuss. Scheming bastards.”

Yoo Geonwoo scoffed, and the woman wrinkled her brow.

“Excuse me, we’re standing in the Murim Alliance’s front yard right now? If you’re going to be reckless, at least have some sense.”

“Oh, what — you’re scared of the Murim Alliance?”

“Ah, sorry. I thought you were just thoughtless, turns out you’re actually just stupid.”

“Being stupid beats being dense.”

“Hehe. Is our little brother acting up again because he’s bored? Did that rib you broke last time heal properly?”

“Hmm. Want to check for yourself?”

The atmosphere between them looked ready to ignite at any moment. But the other two paid no attention whatsoever — clearly used to it.

“It seems we crossed paths somewhere along the way. We head back to Zhejiang for now.”

Only when Bae Seokjin finally reached his conclusion did their bickering come to an end.

He cast one last glance toward the distant main gate of the Murim Alliance, then turned away.

The mission had failed.

If he never came to Zhejiang on his own——

The fate of the Four Black Dragons as well……

Just as Bae Seokjin moved to take his first step.

“Mm?”

Muk-yeong raised a hand and pointed at something.

As if in a trance, Bae Seokjin turned his head.

“Th——that’s……”

The words slipped out before he could stop them.

He reached into his robes and unfolded a small slip of paper.

[At the age of ten, his beauty was such that one might mistake him for a woman. Now fully grown, it is highly probable he retains a striking appearance. Notable features include eyes that carry a deep melancholy, and an air of natural authority that he emanated even as a young child.]

When he had first read this, he had almost laughed.

How was anyone supposed to find a person with only this to go on?

But it was an extremely accurate description.

Because the young man now coming down the mountain path matched every single word on that paper.

“Chief.”

The woman called out, her voice edged with excitement. Bae Seokjin reined in his own emotions with effort.

“We need to confirm it first. Follow me.”

Whoosh!

Bae Seokjin shot forward in an instant, and the rest followed close behind.

In moments, they had closed the distance and stood before the young man.

“Pardon the intrusion — and we’ll continue to be an intrusion a little longer. Might we ask your name?”

He tried to hide it.

But there was a desperate longing woven into Bae Seokjin’s voice that he couldn’t quite conceal.

And the moment the young man’s lips parted——

Bae Seokjin was certain.

On the pitch-black road that had been the Dark Alliance’s future, he could finally see a faint glimmer of light.

Seo Woojin was too bewildered to move.

Having his path suddenly blocked was startling enough on its own.

But now they were calling him the Young Alliance Lord.

Young Alliance Lord — that meant the young master of the Alliance, didn’t it?

‘The Murim Alliance? Did they mistake me for the Murim Alliance’s Young Lord?’

Seo Woojin cleared his throat and carefully addressed the figures who were still bowing with their heads down.

“I…… think there may be a misunderstanding. I am not the Murim Alliance’s Young Lord.”

The man kneeling at the front raised his head.

Eyes as sharp as his face — sharp enough to make Seo Woojin’s heart clench involuntarily.

‘Ugh. So a person’s face really can be that frightening.’

Whatever Seo Woojin might have thought, Bae Seokjin spoke with absolute conviction.

“Of course not. The Murim Alliance’s Young Lord — perish the thought. No matter how many years you spent living among them — in the end, you never forgot the pride of the Dark Path. That is precisely why you have grown into such a remarkable man. How could we ever truly understand the hardships you endured? But now, at last, you return — and all those years you sacrificed will be repaid in full. The Dark Alliance will never turn its back on your sacrifice!”

What on earth was he saying?

He was clearly speaking words, and yet not a single one was registering.

Whatever was moving him so deeply — those fearsome eyes were actually glistening with tears.

‘The Dark Alliance? Did he just say the Dark Alliance? No, wait — is he calling me the Dark Alliance’s Young Lord? What is going on? Is this man not right in the head?’

There was something his grandfather had always said.

[The jianghu is full of lunatics. Don’t mess with them. Just walk away.]

It wasn’t a coincidence those words were surfacing right now.

Seo Woojin began easing himself backward, step by step, while quickly scanning his surroundings.

‘Four of them. Should I make my escape from the rear?’

A quarter of an hour’s run would bring him to the examination grounds. With Murim Alliance warriors there, these people wouldn’t be able to act recklessly.

[When a person is in danger, their thinking simplifies. This becomes more pronounced the less experience they have. That is why you must always be thinking of ways to catch your enemy off guard, even in peaceful times. Hm? Why, you little — I’m giving you advice worth its weight in gold and you’re falling asleep?!]

The corner of Seo Woojin’s mouth twitched upward slightly.

‘The rear is too obvious. Being lunatics doesn’t mean they’re fools. They look capable, too. Then……’

While his thoughts were still turning, the woman’s voice cut through.

“Hm? What?”

He glanced over. The man beside her was gesturing something with his hands. The woman’s expression gradually shifted to one of irritation.

“Chief. Muk-yeong says dozens of Murim Alliance warriors are closing in fast. Looks like their people.”

In that instant, something lit up behind Seo Woojin’s eyes.

“They’re looking for me.” He kept his voice deliberately low and wore a suitably grave expression. “It seems they have no intention of letting me go quietly.”

‘These people called me the Dark Alliance’s Young Lord. The Dark Alliance and the Murim Alliance may be allies, but by nature they don’t mix. I can use them.’

Bae Seokjin’s expression turned serious as he rose to his feet.

“Then let’s get you out of here for now. If we move quickly, we can slip away.”

Seo Woojin shook his head.

“It’s not that simple. They’re persistent — shaking them won’t be easy. If anything, I’m more worried about all of you getting caught up in this.”

“There is no need for that concern, my lord. We are stronger than you might think.”

“Ah, is that so? Then I have a favor to ask.” He paused. “I’m terrified!”

And with that, Seo Woojin kicked off the ground.

Whoosh!

He surged forward without warning — and Bae Seokjin, who was closest, was caught completely off guard.

‘Killing intent——?!’

An inexplicable pressure made his hand shoot out on instinct——

“Wait——!”

But this was the Young Lord. Someone he absolutely could not hurt.

He yanked his internal energy back at the last second.

Whomp!

Because of that, his palm strike caught nothing but empty air.

Seo Woojin had already ducked low and slipped clean past it. He kept running, weaving straight through the gap between the woman and Yoo Geonwoo without breaking stride.

Neither of them managed to react in time.

No — to be precise, Seo Woojin’s speed was simply too great for either of them.

Bae Seokjin snapped to his senses and barked an order.

“Muk-yeong and I will draw off the Murim Alliance warriors! Yoo Geonwoo, Song Biryeong — escort the Young Lord!”

Without waiting for a reply, he shot off in the direction the Murim Alliance warriors were approaching from. Muk-yeong followed immediately behind.

Left with just the two of them, Yoo Geonwoo let out a hollow laugh.

“Hah. He actually slipped through.”

Song Biryeong let out a deep sigh.

“Can’t blame you this time. I didn’t react either.”

Yoo Geonwoo smirked and casually rolled his shoulders.

“Just chasing him straight feels kind of dull…… Hey. Want to make a bet? Who catches the Young Lord first?”

“Hah. You never grow up. You’re really making this about your mood right now?”

“Oh, right. You’re not confident.”

Song Biryeong’s red lips curved into a smile.

“What’s the prize?”

“Top-shelf Nü’er Hong.”

Swoosh.

Song Biryeong dropped into a low stance.

“Haven’t played with my little brother in a while. Let big sister show you something.”

BOOM!

With a thunderous crack, Song Biryeong’s form shot forward like a bolt of lightning. The ground where she had crouched split and caved in behind her.

“Damn it. That monstrous strength of hers hasn’t changed one bit.”

Yoo Geonwoo grimaced, then launched himself into a lightness technique a beat later. It lacked Song Biryeong’s explosive power, but he moved with smooth, fluid speed that was anything but slow.

And so the two of them gave chase, neck and neck.

[Never be ashamed of running. What matters is recognizing the gap between yourself and your enemy, and accepting it with humility. To survive — that is what it truly means to be strong.]

It was something his grandfather had always drilled into him.

For a young boy, it had sounded impossibly cowardly and completely devoid of anything cool. But right now, in this very moment, he had no choice but to admit the old man had been right.

‘That palm strike. If he hadn’t pulled his internal energy back midway — could I have dodged it?’

He probably could have.

But he never would have broken through all four of them in the end.

‘My instinct was right.’

He had seen it in their eyes.

These lunatics needed him.

He didn’t know why — but if they needed him, they wouldn’t harm him easily.

That was why he had charged straight through them. To catch them off guard.

‘The problem is……’

Seo Woojin pushed his lightness technique to its limits and stole a glance behind him.

‘Fast.’

The lightness technique was the one area in which he was most confident. His grandfather had always stressed survival above all else — so it was the skill he had thrown himself into the hardest.

But the man pursuing him was no slouch either.

‘Still — I’m faster for now.’

Seo Woojin swept his gaze across the terrain.

‘A quarter of an hour from here, there’s a cliff. I need to lose them there.’

Reading the land was second nature to him. Three days before the entrance examination, he had already mapped out the entire surrounding area. The cliff he was heading toward was high — but that was fine. Halfway up, invisible from above, was a cave.

If he could hide in there, they would eventually give up. They might even assume he had thrown himself off the edge.

And just as his destination was almost within reach——

“Hehe. My, our Young Lord is quite the runner, isn’t he?”

A teasing voice drifted in from his side.

“……What?”

He turned — and the woman was dropping straight down at him from above. Her fist, drawn back behind her, came slamming forward.

BOOM!

It crashed into the ground right beside him.

“Ugh——!”

The shockwave threw off his balance for just an instant — enough for his feet to tangle.

Seo Woojin twisted his body rapidly and landed.

Tap.

Shhk!

No time to breathe. A sharp chill crept in from behind.

Seo Woojin threw one shoulder forward and spun around.

And came face to face with——

The young man who had been chasing him all this time.

“Well, well. Handsome Young Lord. Allow me.”

Shhhhk!

The hand he thought had missed came reaching back with relentless precision.

Seo Woojin bent backward and tried to knock the man’s wrist aside.

But——

A piercing cold spread through him like a shudder rolling across his skin.

His movements sluggened.

Fwap.

His acupoints were sealed. His body went rigid.

“As expected of the Alliance Lord’s son. Quite feisty.”

Seo Woojin barely managed to swallow the hollow laugh rising in his throat.

‘Completely unhinged, the lot of them. And strong on top of it.’

He’d already been caught. Struggling further was pointless.

‘Grandfather used to say — even when the sky collapses, there’s always a crack to slip through. Even if you’re dragged into a tiger’s den, keep your wits about you and you can walk out wearing the tiger’s pelt.’

They didn’t seem to be planning to kill him outright — so for now, he’d stay quiet and watch for his opening.

But just as he steeled his resolve——

“That was me. If it weren’t for me, you’d have spent your whole life chasing our Young Lord from behind.”

“I’m the one who sealed his acupoints.”

“Doesn’t matter how much you insist — the Nü’er Hong is mine.”

“That’s beneath you, big sister.”

“I’m not your big sister. I won. It was me.”

Seo Woojin stared as the two of them bickered like children over who exactly had caught him.

‘Ah…… Of all the people to get caught by……’

An inexplicable shame washed over him, dragging him down into a very deep despair.

They regrouped with Bae Seokjin and Muk-yeong — the two who had gone to distract the Murim Alliance warriors — without much trouble.

By then the acupoint seal had been released, but Seo Woojin made no move to run again.

Everyone was watching him too carefully. Clearly they had no intention of being caught off guard a second time.

Still, one thing went better than expected — he had braced for an interrogation about why he had run. But no one brought it up.

They simply treated him as the Young Lord and continued on their way.

‘The Four Black Dragons, hm……’

It wasn’t as though he’d gone along with them blindly. He had been quietly gathering information throughout the journey.

‘They really are Dark Alliance warriors……’

When he first confirmed that, he had almost come clean. But he quickly thought better of it.

‘They got the wrong person — that’s on them. But the moment they find out I’m not the real one, I’m useless to them. I have to keep the truth hidden for now.’

A perfectly natural conclusion.

From what his grandfather had told him, warriors of the Dark Path were ruthless — and moved entirely according to their own whims.

“We’ve arrived, my lord.”

A deep voice broke through his thoughts.

He turned his head — and in the distance, a grand and glittering city came into view.

“That is Hangzhou.”

Seo Woojin couldn’t help the wry smile that crossed his face.

He had well and truly arrived at the tiger’s den now.

The Dark Alliance’s stronghold.

Hangzhou.

(End of Chapter 2)