"Should I Learn Martial Arts Too?"
Jin Cheon-hee chuckled to himself.
"If I think about it, in those novels where people get transported into another world, everyone learns martial arts or magic. Why not me? Jin Cheon-hee, the greatest martial artist in the world! Haha... that sounds pretty cool, doesn’t it?"
As he laughed, Jin Cheon-hee slowly sat up.
He finally felt some strength returning to his body.
"Hah... I think I’m going to live," he muttered, stretching his arms before getting out of bed.
He pushed the recent events to the back of his mind and started thinking.
"From what I remember, the attackers who ambushed the Yunlong Escort Agency were never clearly identified, right? The Demon Sect was suspected, but it was just suspicion. Even the Hao Clan and the Kai Clan couldn’t figure it out, and the whole thing just fizzled out..."
The origins of those attackers and their true motives remained a mystery.
A month later, the captives were executed as a warning, and the matter was closed.
People began to suspect that Gongsun Hyun, the head of the main family, had orchestrated the attacks to eliminate his cousin, Gongsun Young.
They thought the first attack wasn’t enough, so he launched a second one.
"Well, Gongsun Hyun probably won’t explain himself. Knowing her personality, she’s likely trying to secure the position of family head for Gongsun Young. She’s content with supporting from the shadows. Instead of explaining, she probably started hunting down the real culprits who tried to kill her beloved cousin. Even if she has to step down, she’d pave the way for Gongsun Young. That’s just how she is."
Just as he finished his thoughts, the door burst open.
"So this is where you’ve been hiding," a voice said.
Jin Cheon-hee looked up.
"Oh, it’s you. Why are you looking for me? Little Demon Lord Yeo Ha-ryun. Well, not quite the Demon Lord yet. More like a tiny demon brat."
He casually chewed on a piece of rice cake while Yeo Ha-ryun’s eye twitched in irritation.
"I was tired from treating people, so I’ve been sleeping until now. What do you want?"
"We had a deal, didn’t we?"
"When?" Jin Cheon-hee acted as if he had no idea what Yeo Ha-ryun was talking about, causing the latter’s face to twitch even more.
"Look at him getting angry. If he’s not careful, he might kill me. That’s the problem with the Heavenly Slaughter Star. Even now, he could kill someone with a wooden chopstick. The only saving grace is that while he’s beaten people to near-death, he’s never actually killed anyone."
"Ouch, my neck! My neck!" Jin Cheon-hee suddenly grabbed his neck, pretending to be in pain.
"You’re trying to kill me after I saved your life? This is why you shouldn’t keep black-haired beasts like you around. Ouch, ouch!"
Despite Jin Cheon-hee’s teasing, Yeo Ha-ryun bit his lip and held back.
He seemed to know he owed Jin Cheon-hee his life.
"Even back then, he had that trait of repaying what he owed. Despite having the blood of a Heavenly Slaughter Star killer, he still tries to clearly distinguish between gratitude and grudges. It’s quite something."
"... Thank you," Yeo Ha-ryun muttered.
"What?"
"... Thank you for saving me."
"Isn’t there something else you’re forgetting?"
"... I won’t do it."
"Ouch, my neck hurts so much I can’t hear you."
"I’m really sorry!"
"Hmm, I think I’ve broken his pride enough. That proud brat actually apologized out loud. But no, I should drive the point home a bit more."
Just as Jin Cheon-hee was about to continue, the door opened again.
"Oh, you two are here?" It was a servant holding cleaning supplies.
She noticed the tense atmosphere between Jin Cheon-hee and Yeo Ha-ryun and said, "You’re not fighting, are you? Don’t bully our Cheon-hee."
"Our Cheon-hee?" Jin Cheon-hee immediately changed his expression and smiled brightly.
"Bully? No, nothing like that, noona."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
‘I’m the one doing the bullying,’ Jin Cheon-hee thought, ignoring his conscience.
"Ha-ryun, let’s go out and play."
"..."
Yeo Ha-ryun looked at Jin Cheon-hee with a face that said, ‘You little scammer.’
But Jin Cheon-hee just smiled softly and cheerfully walked outside.
They headed to a secluded area in the backyard.
After making sure no one was around, they sat down on some rocks.
After a while, the Little Demon Lord, Yeo Ha-ryun, spoke first.
"What do you want from me?"
"That’s the problem. I don’t want anything."
"What?"
"Think about it. I saved you from certain death, exposed the Mountain Venom, helped predict the ambush, and even nursed you through that chaos. And what did I get in return? This?" Jin Cheon-hee showed the marks on his neck.
Thanks to the White Phosphorus Divine Thread’s excellent treatment, the marks were barely visible now. ‘But who cares? I can still say it hurts.’
Jin Cheon-hee mercilessly poked at Yeo Ha-ryun’s conscience, conveniently leaving out the part where he received a spirit pill and the gratitude of the Yunlong Escort Agency’s leader.
"But you..."
Yeo Ha-ryun started to say, but Jin Cheon-hee suddenly coughed.
"Cough, cough. Ouch, ouch."
Hearing his groans, Yeo Ha-ryun’s eyes wavered.
He swallowed his words and said something else instead.
"So, you want to make a deal?"
"My mind has changed. I don’t trust you anymore."
Jin Cheon-hee pulled out a rice cake from his sleeve and took a bite.
The sweet red bean paste filled his mouth. ‘It’s really delicious.’
Was it because he had returned to his younger self? His senses had become sharper.
Not just his taste, but his vision and hearing were much better too.
In the past, he couldn’t see an inch in front of him without glasses, but now he could even see the veins on the leaves above him.
Growing up meant trading youth for money and status.
But if you weren’t lucky, you’d lose your youth without gaining anything.
By the time you realized it, it was too late.
Jin Cheon-hee liked this body.
It was healthier and more handsome than his younger self.
His thoughts were clearer and faster too.
It was a body perfect for learning anything.
"..."
Yeo Ha-ryun pressed his lips into a thin line and stared at Jin Cheon-hee.
It was a habit he had when deep in thought.
It was quite something to see in person, just like the descriptions in books.
He looked serious, as befitting a protagonist, but there was still a hint of cuteness in his youth.
After all, he was described as a handsome young man, so he must have been a pretty boy when he was younger.
After a while, Yeo Ha-ryun spoke.
"Is an apology not enough?"
"I’ve accepted your apology. But this is about trust."
The two continued their conversation, speaking like adults despite their childlike appearances.
Jin Cheon-hee sighed and scratched his head.
"Alright, alright. Let’s do this. From now on, call me ‘big brother.’"
"Are you suggesting we become sworn brothers?"
"Nothing that grand. But I’m older than you, so I can’t be the younger one, right?"
At his words, Yeo Ha-ryun’s eyes lit up.
"You’re my life’s savior, so I’d be the one to propose becoming sworn brothers. But you being the older brother is strange."
"What’s strange about it?"
At that moment, Yeo Ha-ryun stood up. Thud. He spread his arms and took a stance, like a tiger about to pounce on its prey.
"Fight me and win."
"Hmm. In most martial arts novels, the winner becomes the older brother, and the loser becomes the younger one. But..."
Did they really have to follow that? Jin Cheon-hee said, "You’re going to hit a civilian like me who doesn’t know martial arts?"
Jin Cheon-hee frowned.
"I won’t use internal energy."
"Listen. Even without internal energy, I’ll lose. Why? Because I’m a harmless civilian."
"You’re a Demon Sect spy..."
"What? I can’t hear you. Anyway, I’m a civilian, right? You should know that better than anyone since you choked me. If I knew even a little bit of martial arts, I would’ve dodged your hand."
Instead, he had thrown a burning blanket, but Jin Cheon-hee had already erased that from his memory.
He was just a weak civilian, a victim.
"You’re going to bully a powerless civilian? Even the person who saved your life?"
"..."
There was one thing all martial arts protagonists had in common.
Whether they were evil or weak, they never harmed powerless civilians.
Jin Cheon-hee knew that this brat, being a protagonist, couldn’t break through the invincible civilian shield.
Even though he had received the Spirit Pill and would soon learn martial arts, he decided not to bring that up.
"Call me ‘big brother.’"
"... What are you..."
"Or should I get hit by your fist and become the younger one? Fine. Go ahead. Hit me!"
Yeo Ha-ryun was speechless at Jin Cheon-hee’s flawless logic.
It was clearly nonsense, but it kept making sense.
"What are you doing? I told you to call me ‘big brother.’ Fine, I’ll take the hit. Again."
As he said this, Jin Cheon-hee leaned his head toward Yeo Ha-ryun’s fist.
Yeo Ha-ryun flinched and pulled his fist back.
"Come on, say it!"
"... Big brother..."
"Louder!"
"... Big brother!"
"Clearer!"
"Jin Cheon-hee, big brother--!"
"Good. Little brother."
And just like that, without throwing a single punch, Jin Cheon-hee used his silver tongue to make the Little Demon Lord his younger brother.
It’s said that when the Demon Lord grew up, he lamented his gullibility back then, but Jin Cheon-hee never gave up his position as the older brother.
Jin Cheon-hee had many conversations with Yeo Ha-ryun.
Through them, he learned that Yeo Ha-ryun knew Jin Cheon-hee had accompanied the escort mission but had never spoken to him before.
And Jin Cheon-hee himself had been a very quiet child until he was hit on the head and died.
He was an unnoticeable child.
He never spoke to any adults.
The only time his eyes changed was when adults warned him to be careful of the Demon Sect.
That’s when he vaguely realized their final destination was the same.
"Honestly, I don’t remember much because of the head injury," Jin Cheon-hee said nonchalantly to Yeo Ha-ryun.
"But I think I can help you."
"... What kind of deal are you talking about?"
"To be blunt, what could I possibly gain from you? I just wanted to smooth things over back then. I was scared."
Ah, so that’s why he locked the door and gave the ultimatum: either make a deal or die here.
The Little Demon Lord Yeo Ha-ryun looked at Jin Cheon-hee’s unchanging expression and started to wonder if he was the one in the wrong or if this brat was just really good at scamming.
Jin Cheon-hee said, "Instead, how about you do me a favor later? Alright? It’ll be a small favor."
"... A small one... you say?"
"Yeah. It’ll be nothing major."
Yeo Ha-ryun nodded at Jin Cheon-hee’s words.
He seemed to have made a big decision, as his expression lightened.
‘Small, huh? But even diamonds are small, yet they’re expensive, kid.’
But that was a matter for later.
Just then, Yeo Ha-ryun covered Jin Cheon-hee’s mouth.
"Someone’s coming from far away."