Chapter 0: prologue

It was a warm day.

As always, Chui Geol-gae had settled down beneath the wall of a restaurant.

This was his favorite spot.

The reason was simple.

It was the best place to enjoy the sunlight as it slanted in perfectly.

“Ah, this is the life.”

Today was no different.

As the sun reached its zenith, his head was in the shade, his legs bathed in the warm sunlight.

Stroking his messy beard, Chui Geol-gae looked up at the sky.

In the clear blue expanse, a hawk soared gracefully.

“What a beautiful day.”

Everything was perfect.

Except for one thing.

The begging bowl in front of him was empty.

‘Should I find a new spot?’

He was deep in thought when…

Clang!

With a heavy thud, something landed in his bowl.

Looking down, he saw a gleaming gold ingot.

“Elder Chui Geol-gae of the Beggars’ Sect, am I correct?”

He looked up to see a man standing against the sunlight.

He didn’t look a day over twenty.

Yet, the aura he exuded was far too heavy for his age.

Chui Geol-gae replied cautiously, “I think you have the wrong person…”

“I assure you, I do not.”

Chui Geol-gae clicked his tongue.

“Judging by your state, shouldn’t you be seeking a doctor rather than a beggar?”

“I’m fine. It’s not my blood.”

The blood-soaked man said nonchalantly.

‘It seems he won’t be easily dismissed.’ Curiosity bubbled within him.

“Why are you looking for me?”

“I have a request.”

“If you’re looking for an assassin, you should visit the Black Market.”

“If I wanted someone dead, I wouldn’t bother asking someone else. I’m the fastest and most efficient when it comes to such matters.”

The man was dead serious.

Chui Geol-gae was in a predicament.

‘What should I do…? He doesn’t seem like the type to back down easily.’

Should he just unleash his Dragon Subduing Palms and make a run for it?

‘I don’t think that’s a good idea.’

His instincts screamed at him.

Do not provoke this man.

His gut feeling told him that even the Beggars’ Sect’s ultimate technique, the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, wouldn’t be enough to stop this man.

In the end, Chui Geol-gae decided to hear him out.

“What is your request?”

“I need a new identity.”

“If you’re looking for a fake identity, you don’t need the Beggars’ Sect. There are better options out there.”

“An ordinary identity won’t do. I need to be able to get a job as an instructor at the Murim Alliance’s Martial Arts Academy.”

“Are you asking me, an elder of the Beggars’ Sect, to betray the Murim Alliance?”

“It’s not betrayal. I’m asking for your recommendation.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“I have other requirements as well.”

The man continued.

“My background can’t be too conspicuous. But if possible, I’d prefer to be from an actual sect.”

“As for alignment, somewhere between righteous and demonic would be ideal. I find the righteous factions too stuffy and the demonic ones distasteful.”

“My martial arts skills should be around first-rate. I don’t want to stand out too much, but I don’t want to be underestimated either.”

“And most importantly…”

Chui Geol-gae gulped, feeling the man’s chilling aura.

“I need to be twenty-five years old.”

“…”

“Absolutely, without a doubt, twenty-five years old.”

“And why is that?”

“Because the woman I want to seduce is twenty.”

“What kind of reason is that?”

“She has a thing for older men. She wouldn’t even consider anyone a year or two older! Even twenty-four is pushing it!”

The suspicious man cried out desperately.

“She sounds like a handful.”

“My goal is to be called ‘Oppa’. I’d rather bite my tongue than be called ‘little brother’ again.”

Chui Geol-gae suddenly felt a pang of curiosity.

“I have a question.”

“Go ahead.”

“You seem to be quite close to this woman. Why go through the trouble of creating a new identity to meet her?”

The man smirked.

“Because she doesn’t know me yet.”

“But didn’t you just say you were close to her?”

Clang! Clang!

With bloodshot eyes, the man tossed more gold ingots into the bowl.

“That’s none of your concern. Twenty-five. Martial arts instructor. That’s the identity I want.”

As the man turned to leave after dumping his gold, Chui Geol-gae exclaimed in surprise, “Hold on! Hold on! You can’t just leave like that!”

“What’s the problem?”

“What’s your name? I need to know your name if I’m going to create a new identity for you!”

The man turned back and said,

“Cho Un-hwi.”

Then, he added,

“A martial artist of marital age.”