Kang-oh immediately began his investigation. Although he was returning from a mission dispatched outside of Black Sky Clan and was considerably fatigued, he had a gut feeling that resting right now wouldn’t be the right choice.

Thanks to his capable subordinates, gathering information about a single servant wasn’t that difficult. In just a few short hours, Kang-oh started flipping through the prepared report.

Woo had started working at Black Sky Clan eight years ago. The most surprising thing about this servant’s background was that it was none other than Ye Jin-rang who had brought him to Black Sky Clan.

Since Ye Jin-rang seldom ever brought anyone directly to Black Sky Clan, there was an uproar in Black Sky Clan ten years ago when Kang-oh had arrived. Similarly, there should have been a commotion when Woo was brought in, but there was no such disturbance eight years ago.

It was as if it had been deliberately concealed.

Kang-oh furrowed his brows and turned to the next page of the report. Shadows flickered on the paper under the candlelight as the night deepened.

Woo had soon been entrusted to the Third Commandant and came to serve the Lord of Black Sky. What piqued Kang-oh’s curiosity was that, of all people, the Third Chief Steward had been assigned to handle Woo.

In the Black Sky clan, there were three overseers managing the internal affairs, and among them, the Third Overseer was infamous for having the most ruthless and cold-hearted nature. If Jin-rang had personally brought Woo to the Black Sky Clan, it would imply that there was some level of interest. So why would he entrust him to the Third Overseer? There was the impartial and firm First Overseer, and the quick-tempered yet bold Second Overseer as well, weren’t there?

According to the information that followed, it seemed that initially, the Third Overseer also showed some leniency toward Woo. This was because Woo had been directly entrusted by the Black Sky Master. However, one day, Woo made a mistake, and the Third Overseer, without realizing it himself, struck him. Even when Jin-rang saw this, he did not tell the Third Overseer to stop. From that day onward, the Third Overseer’s abusive behavior rapidly escalated.

This so-called ‘special treatment’ only isolated Woo further from the others, and for eight years, he lived in the Black Sky Clan without blending in, completely alone.

The records were sparse, barely a few sentences in length. Enough to summarize his life, yet it felt dusty and barren, like the sand in a desert—substantial yet empty at the same time.

“Strange…”

Ye Kang-oh had been curious about Woo since the moment they met. His background was unknown, and there was no clear reason why their master had personally brought him in as a servant.

This man, Woo, clearly held secrets far beyond what was visible.

The most puzzling thing was his master’s attitude. Though he had eventually agreed to investigate who had abused Woo, his master had a lingering expression of unease. Considering how Black Sky Lord had always been endlessly lenient with his youngest disciple, his demeanor now seemed out of place.

Wasn’t it as if he was afraid of the backlash if he hadn’t permitted the investigation?

Kang-oh burned the report in the candle flame. Acting against his master’s wishes was not something that would leave him feeling comfortable either. So perhaps it was best to put the issue of that servant to rest here. After all, he wasn’t some grand martial artist, nor was he a descendant from a prestigious family. He was simply a lowly, crawling servant.

As the report turned to ashes and was about to scatter, Kang-oh’s hand hesitated. Strangely, the unburnt character for “Woo” (愚) caught his attention. Who would use a character meaning ‘foolish’ for a name? Unless it was a child descended from parents filled with deep contempt…

Or, was that even his real name in the first place?

Kang-oh paused at the thought. He had clearly tried to steer his mind away from any interest in Woo, yet the servant kept popping into his head.

In Buddhism, they say that even a brief brushing of sleeves forms a karmic connection, but this felt different—odd. It wasn’t like Kang-oh to be so concerned about others. The extent of his interest in people usually ended with wanting to test himself against a powerful martial artist once he heard about one. But considering Woo’s emaciated, mistreated body, there was no part of him that resembled a trained warrior. He was just thin, weak, and an ordinary person who had been subjected to abuse.

“Keep a close eye on the Third Overseer. If you see him lay their hands on any assets of Black Sky Clan, make sure to stop them.”

“Yes, my lord.”

At Kang-oh’s command, his subordinate, who had been standing by, bowed deeply and vanished. His movements were as ethereal as mist. This subordinate was a member of the Honamdan, a group Kang-oh personally recruited and trained within Black Sky. Kang-oh had selected him in response to his master’s recommendation that it was time to gather loyal men. Though many assumed he harbored no interest in the position of the next leader of Black Sky Clan, the majority he chose were individuals from minor factions or without any strong backers, people with extraordinary talent above all else.

To avoid appearing as if he was vying for the next leadership position, the Honamdan operated discreetly in the shadows. Despite serving a master who seemingly had no ambition, the Honamdan were devoted to the Third Disciple, Ye Kang-oh. In return, Kang-oh did his best to reward their devotion.

Oddly enough, everything in Black Sky felt like something he had gained through immense debt. It was like enjoying wealth and glory at the expense of having pawned away something precious, always leaving a bitter taste in his throat. He never shared this sentiment with his master, Ye Jin-rang, nor with his Honamdan subordinates.

Thus, though Kang-oh enjoyed the Black Sky Lord’s favor, he was often regarded as being extremely cautious for someone of his age. Simply put, it felt as though he was wearing the clothes of another person.

How, then, could he truly develop any interest in his surroundings? Both his current station and his master’s favor seemed like dreams from which he would eventually awaken. The only thing Kang-oh found meaningful was the martial prowess he had cultivated through his own efforts. As a result, Ye Kang-oh’s widespread fame, which echoed within and outside of Black Sky, was primarily earned through battles against masters from other sects.

True to his reputation as the Third Disciple of the Black Sky Clan, Ye Kang-oh was known for his ferocious and wild temperament, as well as the notorious rumor that he enjoyed the sight of blood. This was despite the fact that he always sent a formal challenge notice before any duel, ensured there were at least two witnesses, and conducted the matches with proper decorum.

If one were to line up all the great martial artists of the White Path that were said to have perished at the mercy of the ruthless Ye Kang-oh, the procession would stretch from Anhui Province to Luoyang. Yet, in truth, no one had actually died.

It was simply the fate of the Black Sky Clan to carry such rumors, as it stood as the symbol of the Black Path martial world. In contrast, the prestigious White Virtue Palace, which represented the White Path, did not have such rumors following it.

There was a time when the Black Sky Lord and the White Virtue Palace Lord had stood shoulder to shoulder to drive out the Blood Cult from the Central Plains. Back then, all of the martial world, both Black and White, united in opposition to the cult. In that era, any esteemed and right-minded martial artist, regardless of their faction, would share a drink together in the spirit of righteousness and fellowship. This was not so long ago—it was during the prime of Jin-rang, Ye Kang-oh’s master, that this great war took place.

Nevertheless, the nature of people in the martial world was fickle. Just because the martial techniques pursued by each side were different, they divided the Black Sky Clan and White Virtue Palace into opposing factions. The increasingly apparent conflict between the Black Path and the White Path cast doubt on whether the Martial Alliance could endure into the next generation.

Much like when the Celestial Demon Sect had once threatened the martial world, many speculated that it would not be long before the Black Sky Clan severed ties with the Martial Alliance and reestablished itself as an independent force.

If only White Virtue Palace’s missing master were present, they could at least discuss possibilities for an agreement. However, that person had disappeared from the martial world ten years ago. The story of the mother who searched for the suddenly vanished master was widely known. Whenever Ye Kang-oh saw White Virtue Palace consistently sending out search parties despite it being clear the master must have died after such a long absence, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of jealousy.

That missing palace master likely wouldn’t know the feeling of being as directionless as Kang-oh, drifting like a floating plant. After all, wasn’t there a family searching desperately for them? On the other hand, Kang-oh had no one between heaven and earth—truly a person alone in the world. Although he held his master’s affection, everyone spoke of Ye Jin-rang as a capricious man. They claimed that he could smile sweetly like a flower today and transform into a fierce devil by tomorrow. Of course, Kang-oh trusted his master. Still, he desired a stronger bond, something more powerful to anchor him to this world.

“Foolish. So foolish…”

Was he not, like the servant Woo, a fool for being dissatisfied with what had already been bestowed upon him?

His thoughts returned, circling back once again to Woo. Clicking his tongue, Ye Kang-oh realized there were still embers left in a flame he thought he could snuff out with just a press of his thumb. At this rate, even if he tried to forget, the memory would keep haunting him, leaving his heart ill at ease.

Although his master hadn’t looked upon it favorably, there was no way he would stop Kang-oh’s investigation now that permission had been granted.

With the justification that the discipline of Black Sky Clan needed to be restored, if anything, he would receive praise — certainly not any scolding.

Kang-oh blew softly, and the candle flame flickered out. As if it had been waiting for this moment, the pitch-black darkness crept in, slowly engulfing Kang-oh like a predator closing in on its prey.

It was a silent night.

---

“From today, your living quarters have changed.”

Early in the morning, Third Overseer appeared at the servants’ quarters and said this to Woo. Woo harbored doubts about the statement but didn’t voice them. After all, the change in his residence must have involved Jin-rang’s intervention, making it pointless to argue.

Having already met Kang-oh, Woo figured that sooner or later, there would be consequences.

Pressed by the Third Overseer to leave immediately, Woo barely had time to gather his few belongings. He was practically shoved out, feeling the eyes of the other servants clinging to his back. Though Woo had lived in the same building as the other servants, due to his ‘special circumstances,’ he had used a room of his own. Occasionally, Black Sky Lord would summon Woo to run errands, so none of the other servants had dared approach him. Despite being of the same rank as them, his distinct treatment was all too evident to the others.

Woo had never been in a place where he easily mingled with others, so it took him some time to fully realize his isolation. And even when he did, the realization did not particularly bother him. It was just a recognition that he was now wrapped in a suffocating solitude, closer even than the clothes on his back.

Once, he had considered himself a noble crane, preening its white feathers—a white heron that would not flock with crows. However, in reality, Woo was the dirtiest and most wretched of all. His once lofty pride had been doused in filthy water, and his entire life had been negated. The only thing driving him forward, trapped in helplessness from which he could not lift a finger, was the lash of guilt.

“A life born of sin must inevitably be spent paying for it, don’t you think?”

That was the only reason Woo kept steadily putting one foot in front of the other, even as he was pushed around by Third Overseer and nearly collapsed to the ground. It was Woo’s stubborn determination that kept him moving.

The place where Woo had been taken was a small mountain that belonged to the Black Sky Clan. Before him stood a shabby hut, barely seeming capable of keeping out the rain, let alone a strong gust of wind. Its precarious state was so evident that even Woo considered the possibility of its collapse. The Third Overseer shoved Woo towards the front of the hut.

“From now on, you’re to live here.”

“Yes, yes.”

“To think there’s no greater source of worry for the Black Sky Lord than you, and yet you’re still clinging to that wretched life of yours.”

“……”

“If you had even an ounce of shame, you would’ve already taken your own life. It’s a shame you’re no better than an animal.”

The Third Overseer spat on the ground with contempt. Woo lowered his head deeply.

It was almost laughable. Third Overseer despised Woo, but what he couldn’t understand was why Ye Jin-rang, despite his disgust, still kept Woo close. The Third Overseer’s harsh treatment of Woo stemmed solely from his loyalty to Black Sky Lord. Even if Ye Jin-rang didn’t outwardly express it, the Third Overseer could always read the displeasure on his master’s face every time they encountered Woo. Thus, without a shred of doubt, the Third Overseer believed Woo to be in the wrong, and in Ye Jin-rang’s stead, he took it upon himself to torment Woo.

The slapping and hitting had begun years prior. At first, there had been reasons, but now, even those had vanished.

Because he happened to be in sight, passing by, or just appeared unpleasant…

The unreasonable hatred only deepened with no sign of subsiding. Yet, Woo quietly complied.

“From today, you will chop the trees on this mountain.”

“Yes.”

“Do not come down until you’ve cut down every single tree on this mountain. The rice is inside the hut.”

At the tree stump the Third Overseer pointed to, there was an axe driven into it with all its teeth gone. The blade was so rusted that just by looking at it, it was clear that using it to cut trees would likely injure his hands first. Still, Woo understood that even being given a tool at all was something to be grateful for.

After the officer left, Woo entered the hut to check the rice. As he had expected, it was half rice and half sand. It had been mixed so thoroughly that there was no way to simply scoop out only the edible portion. He was fortunate that there were still some grains he could eat at all.

It seemed that he would have to strip away the tree bark and start from scratch. Otherwise, even if he stayed up for half a month straight, he wouldn’t be able to separate it all.

Woo picked up the axe and headed toward a nearby tree. Though all the muscles in his body had vanished and the internal energy that used to fill his core was now gone, the calluses on his palms still remained. They were a byproduct of his life as a servant.

The hands that once played the zither or penned poetry had become rough and coarse, but Woo understood that this was the outer shell that now best suited him.

“Shall we begin?”

The early sunset clung to his shoulders like the weight of fatigue. The lengthening shadows signaled that the day’s work had come to an end. He needed to light the fire before it got any later. Though they were on a hillside deep within the Black Sky Clan where wild animals were unlikely, knowing the personality of the Third Overseer, it wouldn’t hurt to be cautious.

That person was the kind of man who would go so far as to capture wild dogs alive, just to release them to torment Woo.

As Woo rubbed the tree bark to start the fire, a thin smile tugged at his lips. It was amusing to him that he was still clinging to life so desperately, despite how miserable and wretched it had become. Only now, in moments like these, did any sort of smile grace his typically hardened, dry expression.