Chapter 2
Dragged along by his father’s hand toward the Baek family estate, Baek Yang-hwi was finally able to face reality.
-Defy the heavens and rewrite fate. The flow of the heavens has bent, altering destiny’s loop. Return, correct it, and let the river flow rightly.
That mysterious voice had echoed from the heavens right after his journey back through time.
So… the reversal of the heavenly current had altered his destiny, and now he was being told to restore the balance?
Did this message come from the Celestial Realm? Or perhaps the Immortal World?
If that were the case, it seemed oddly casual. Other than “return and fulfill your will,” there weren’t any grand commands or warnings.
At present, he had no way of understanding the full scope of what had happened.
And yet, Yang-hwi couldn’t help but smile with joy.
He didn’t know how it had happened, or why.
But one thing was certain.
‘I’ve come back to the past.’
His muscles were still underdeveloped. His hands—small and soft like fern shoots.
Yang-hwi’s body was so light and tiny that Baek Mu-ryang could carry him on his back and still run at full speed.
He had been eight years old when he was first taken into the Baek household. Which meant… he had turned back time by almost thirty years.
In other words—this was a chance.
No, not just a chance. A miraculous opportunity.
He had wandered the martial world for over a decade without once encountering a single stroke of fortune.
But now that he was dead? A divine opportunity landed right in his lap?
“Thank you, Primal Celestial Lord, Daode Tianzun.”
Or wait… this felt more like reincarnation. Should he be thanking the Buddha instead?
Whoever had turned back time for him—he didn’t know—but either way, he was definitely going to offer generous donations to the next Taoist priest or monk he came across.
While Yang-hwi was entertaining those thoughts…
Baek Mu-ryang dashed through the main road and arrived in Muju, specifically the town of Akan-hyeon, where the Baek family was located.
Akan-hyeon, while not as grand as Nanchang, the provincial capital of Jiangxi, was still a sizeable city, housing dozens of martial clans including the Baek family.
“We’re here, Hwi. Look over there—our main estate.”
In the heart of Akan-hyeon stood a large estate—old, but carefully maintained.
At its entrance hung a wooden plaque bearing four large characters: Baek Clan Estate.
Unusually, the gate wasn’t made from regular timber but from solid blacksteel wood, and was covered in intricate carvings of clouds.
“Looks different from most gates, doesn’t it? It was crafted and carved personally by the founder of our house.”
But that wasn’t why Yang-hwi stared at it.
He just recalled the fate that would soon befall that gate.
“Yes, I know.”
“Hmm? Have you been here before?”
“Hard not to know. The Baek clan has saved and fed hundreds of beggars… and I was one of them.”
It wasn’t a lie. Before being adopted, Yang-hwi had indeed begged for food at the Baek estate several times.
“Is that so? Seems our fates crossed long ago. Well then, let’s go in.”
There was no doorkeeper. The Baek clan wasn’t so wealthy that they could afford someone to stand watch when no guests were expected.
So Baek Mu-ryang pushed open the gate himself and stepped inside.
“Wife! Chief Steward Han! I’m back!”
As Mu-ryang shouted, the doors of the inner hall opened and the household began to gather.
The chief steward, his wife, their two children, and about a dozen retainers.
That was the entire Baek family.
“Welcome back, Master. And… who is the child behind you?”
Mu-ryang gave a slightly awkward smile.
Even as the clan head, this was going to spark considerable backlash.
But he had no intention of backing down. Placing a firm hand on Yang-hwi’s shoulder, he declared:
“Starting today, this child is my son.
His name is Baek Yang-hwi.”
The gathered household members stared wide-eyed, their gazes locking onto Yang-hwi—dirty, disheveled, and dressed in rags.
Yang-hwi, in turn, gazed at each of them with a wistful expression.
His mother, Jeong In-Hwa.
His younger brother, Baek Heon-So.
His little sister, Baek Yeon-Yeon.
The head steward, Han Seok-Eon.
And a dozen other household staff.
It was Han Seok-Eon, the one who oversaw both the internal and external affairs of the family, who stepped forward to speak on their behalf.
“Master, may I confirm… When you say ‘son,’ do you mean to officially register him as your adopted heir?”
Baek Mu-ryang averted his eyes slightly before answering.
“You are correct, Chief Steward Han.”
“……”
A conflicted look crossed Han Seok-Eon’s face.
His expression seemed to say, “Once again, the patriarch’s compassion has taken a strange turn, hasn’t it?”
And yet, Han Seok-Eon was a man who deeply respected Baek Mu-ryang and upheld the authority of the house.
So instead of objecting directly, he chose a more respectful route.
“Master, if this goes beyond simply offering protection and you truly intend to take him in as your adopted son… shouldn’t you first discuss this with the madam of the house?”
With those words, Han Seok-Eon turned to look at the matriarch of the Baek family, the wife of Mu-ryang—Jeong In-Hwa.
She was wrapped in thick layers of clothing, despite it being the height of summer. Her health clearly wasn’t in good shape.
“I trust the Lord has his reasons. Cough…”
Even through her coughing, Jeong In-Hwa wore a gentle smile. As the old saying went, “A wife follows her husband’s path.” Her nature was quite similar to Mu-ryang’s.
“Madam! This isn’t a matter to smile about!”
“Cough… But isn’t today a joyful occasion, Chief Steward Han? A new family member has arrived—should I not be smiling?”
Baek Mu-ryang brightened, but Han Seok-Eon’s face only darkened further in contrast.
Even so, he could not step back.
As chief steward, it was his duty to uphold the laws and decorum of the Baek family.
Letting out a long sigh, Han Seok-Eon folded his hands in the formal martial salute and addressed the patriarch.
“As the Han clan, which has held the position of Chief Steward in the Baek family for centuries, I must ask:
My lord, what reason compels you to publicly declare this child as your adopted son?”
“To save a life in need.”
“I understand your intentions. But for a patriarch, every word and act must be grounded in proper reason and principle. While taking him in as a servant is one thing—what justifies going beyond that, forming a sacred familial bond?”
“That reason… I saw it in his eyes. They told me he’s an orphan left alone in this vast world.”
“Then, is it not someone else’s duty to take him in…?”
Mu-ryang responded calmly, and Han Seok-Eon, speaking once more on behalf of all present, posed another question.
Through this exchange, Yang-hwi quietly listened and observed.
‘There’s no doubt now—I really have returned to the past.
Even the way the household resents my adoption is exactly as I remember from my previous life.’
And that reaction was only natural.
After all, Baek Mu-ryang wasn’t just any man—he was the patriarch of the Baek family.
He already had a son, Baek Heon-So, and a daughter, Baek Yeon-Yeon. Taking in another child could easily disrupt the family dynamic.
‘In my past life… I just hid behind Father and waited for everything to be resolved.
And even after that, for a long time, the entire household looked at me with disdain.’
This time… he couldn’t let things play out the same way.
With that thought, Yang-hwi boldly stepped forward.
The motion naturally drew attention, and under the weight of every gaze, Yang-hwi respectfully clasped his fists in a formal martial bow.
“As the old saying goes, all relationships begin with a proper introduction. Forgive my tardiness.
I am one who has lived with the sky as my roof and the grass as my bed.”
Then, turning to Baek Mu-ryang once more, he bowed deeply again before continuing.
“The valiant Sir Baek granted me the name Yang-hwi.
So please, allow me to be called by it.
Chief Steward Han, may I speak with you for a moment?”
“Speak freely, young master.”
“You’ve said that I lack the justification to become the Master’s son, despite his will and intent. Then, if I were to provide a justification—would that be enough?”
Chief Steward Han Seok-Eon wore a puzzled expression.
“Create your own justification? What do you mean by that?”
“What if I render the Baek family a service so great that even the most skeptical would have to acknowledge it?”
Han Seok-Eon nearly shouted “Well said!” and slapped his knee in approval.
It felt like a rope from the heavens had descended to rescue him from the awkward position of trying to overturn the patriarch’s decision.
“The boy actually has some sense of propriety! What a relief!”
“If that is the justification you offer, I believe all members of the household will consent. My lord, shall we go with that?”
Baek Mu-ryang quietly gazed at Yang-hwi.
“Hwi. It was my will to make you my son. You don’t have to step back or make excuses for others’ sake.”
It seemed both Han Seok-Eon and Mu-ryang believed Yang-hwi was offering a polite refusal in the form of an honorable compromise.
But in truth, Yang-hwi had every intention of living as Mu-ryang’s son in this life—just as he had in his previous one.
‘It should be about time. Ah… right on cue.’
A commotion erupted outside—and suddenly, the main gate of the Baek estate came crashing down.
KWAAANG!
Though the sturdy blacksteel wood hadn’t splintered, the gate was completely dislodged from its frame.
Through the now-open entrance strode a gang of more than ten black-clad thugs, led by two men radiating fierce presence.
“Hyeolbu Gu-Ak. Heuk-Gwi Buk-Ak-Shi. Just like in my previous life.”
The man in front—Hyeolbu Gu-Ak—boomed out in a thunderous voice:
“Baek Mu-ryang of Righteous Chivalry!
We’ve come to collect your blood debt!”
In murim society, the main gate of a family home symbolizes its honor and dignity.
But though the gate had just been violated, Baek Mu-ryang didn’t explode in rage. Instead, his face hardened with icy resolve.
The martial pressure emanating from the two men standing at the front was not beneath his own.
“Are you Hyeolbu Gu-Ak?”
“I see you’ve heard the infamous name. That’s right.”
“Our Baek family has never had any dealings with the Honggyo Sect. What is the meaning of this intrusion?”
“What do you mean ‘intrusion’? You dared oppose the great Honggyo Sect and didn’t expect some kind of retaliation?”
In that instant, Mu-ryang’s face turned stony.
“Opposed Honggyo Sect? What nonsense is this?”
Honggyo Sect—one of the most formidable underworld sects in all of Mujoo’s Akan-hyeon. Easily among the top three powers in the region.
Known especially for aggressively expanding its influence, Honggyo Sect’s sudden attack on the Baek household had a painfully simple reason.
“The Naheuk Clan you wiped out today—they were operating under our sect’s banner!
I’m sure you understand exactly what that means.”
Mu-ryang let out a slow exhale.
The Naheuk Clan was nothing more than a bunch of third-rate thugs he could take down on his own. But Honggyo Sect… they were different.
Put plainly, the Baek family’s entire martial strength couldn’t even match one-tenth of Honggyo’s power.
“I merely punished those who had abandoned their humanity. Did you know the Naheuk Clan was engaged in human trafficking and drug dealing?”
“Whether they abandoned morality or not, they were under the Honggyo Sect’s banner. If punishment was due, it was our place to carry it out. Baek Mu-Ryang of Righteous Chivalry—you’ve crossed the line.”
He wasn’t wrong. If the Naheuk Clan truly belonged to Honggyo, then Mu-ryang had essentially struck first.
“I only followed the way of righteous chivalry.I saw evil and could not turn a blind eye.”
“Ah, the words of the famous ‘Righteous Chivalry’! Truly befitting.”
At that, the second man—Buk-Ak-Shin—who had been standing quietly behind, suddenly burst into laughter.
“Righteous Chivalry! You really do live up to your name. So the rumors were true—you never let injustice pass unpunished! Puhahaha!”
“Restrain yourself, Ak-Shin.”
“Apologies, elder brother. I couldn’t help it—seeing your title ‘Righteous Chivalry’ live up to its name so dramatically…”
Seeing Buk-Ak-Shin shrug with a mocking grin, Yang-hwi clenched his teeth in secret.
‘That arrogant bastard… How dare he?’
Baek Mu-ryang, known as the Righteous Chivalry, was the head of the Baek family and a second-rate expert in martial arts.
But in the word “Shi (시)”—used in the Buk-Ak-Shin title—aside from “to bestow,” there was also the meaning “to show off.”
Buk-Ak-Shin had just taunted Mu-ryang, suggesting he was all flair and moral posturing without the martial strength to back it up.
‘I’ve been thinking over how to handle this… and you just made the choice easy.
Heuk-Gwi Buk-Ak-Shin—you die today.’
With that deadly thought, Yang-hwi did something he never could have in his past life at this same moment in time.
“Ssshh… Hooo…”
With a single breath, he sensed the vast flow of energy surrounding heaven and earth.
And in that instant, the world transformed.
His Qi perception had awakened.
‘The small fry average around ten years of cultivation. Buk-Ak-Shin—thirty years. Gu-Ak—about forty.’
Anyone else would’ve been shocked speechless.
Even with a well-developed sense for Qi, estimating the inner energy cultivated by other martial artists—without special secret techniques—was considered impossible.
But Yang-hwi had been born with a terrifyingly acute Qi sense. A rare gift granted by the heavens, unearned and absolute.
‘Compared to them, our household… The retainers barely have any cultivation, and Father only has around thirty years of inner power. There’s no way we can beat them with our current strength.’
It was inevitable. In order to keep the family afloat financially, they had little time to invest in martial training.
Though their family bore the title of a martial clan, in reality, it had long since fallen from its peak. A shadow of its legacy.
The Baek clan—better known nowadays as simply the Baek household—was a third-rate martial family in every sense.
‘In my past life, on this very day… the Baek family suffered a wound that never healed.’
On this day, Baek Mu-ryang had been seriously injured—bedridden for months. And their family fortune? Completely looted.
For Honggyo Sect, it wasn’t about the money.
It was a show of force. A public humiliation.
The goal was to send a message to all nearby chivalrous warriors: Don’t touch any faction under Honggyo’s banner—or you’ll pay the price.
‘You think I’ll let Father and our family be humiliated like that again?’
Fortunately, among the thirty years of memories Yang-hwi carried from his previous life… some involved Honggyo Sect.
And within those memories—was something immediately useful.
He leaned close to Baek Mu-ryang’s ear and whispered.
“Father.”
“Hwi, stay back.”
“I have a plan to get us out of this.”
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s a bit long to explain, but I picked up something during my time on the streets that might come in handy.”
The situation was too urgent. It would be rude not to ask permission—but there was no time to wait.
So Yang-hwi rushed forward and bowed in the martial greeting toward Gu-Ak.
“Gu Hyung! How have you been?”
For a moment, Gu-Ak’s menacing expression turned completely blank with confusion.
He wasn’t alone. Everyone inside the Baek estate froze in stunned disbelief.
“Gu… Hyung…?”
For context—Gu-Ak was about twenty years older than Yang-hwi.
-- The End OF The Chapter --
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