The scent of roasted chestnuts, oiled blades, and incense drifted through Yujeong Crossing. The town was alive with color — flags flapping, vendors barking, and somewhere, the clanging of a drunk blacksmith making music instead of weapons.
Sun-Ho's group walked in, cloaked, weapons hidden, but eyes alert.
"Festival of Seven Fires," Yul-Rin read off a tattered banner. "Celebrating the founding of neutrality, or just an excuse to sell terrible rice wine."
Ma-Rok was already chewing something suspicious. "Tastes like old socks soaked in vinegar. I love it."
Yeon peeked from behind Sun-Ho, wide-eyed at the stalls of masks, toys, and buns shaped like swords.
So-Ri nudged him. "Go on. Explore. But come back with at least half your limbs."
Sun-Ho gave him a small nod. Yeon hesitated… then slowly wandered off, drawn toward a stall with glowing incense.
---
[Marketplace – Minutes Later]
Sun-Ho and Master Jang browsed a weapon vendor.
"These are fake," Sun-Ho said flatly, tapping a painted dagger.
"They're souvenirs, not weapons," the merchant snapped.
From the crowd, a sudden whistle — not musical, but coded.
Master Jang's posture shifted. Sun-Ho felt it too.
Six men in traveler robes closed in around a masked performer juggling knives.
The performer dropped the knives — clang! — and leapt into the air, kicking one assailant in the chin.
Thwack!
The fight broke loose — no swords drawn, but fists flew, and hidden blades gleamed. A smuggling dispute? Or a gang trap?
One man staggered toward Sun-Ho, bleeding from the shoulder, whispering, "They're going to silence her. She's one of the last… from the Twin Willows."
Sun-Ho's eyes narrowed.
Master Jang muttered, "Now that's a name I haven't heard in decades."
"Ally potential?" Sun-Ho whispered.
"High. But not if she dies."
---
[Chase Through the Festival]
Sun-Ho moved fast — leaping a stall, sliding under firecrackers, bam! dodging a cart of squawking chickens.
The masked performer ducked into a shrine alley, five pursuers behind her.
Sun-Ho caught up as a flash of silver came toward her throat.
Clang!
He blocked it with a flick of his palm. The knife spun harmlessly into a melon stand — splat!
The woman — dark eyes, short braid, mask — blinked at him.
"Why are you helping?" she asked.
"I like people who can juggle knives."
She smirked. "You're strange."
A pursuer lunged. Sun-Ho caught the man's wrist, twisted — crunch! — and swept his leg.
Thud.
"Stay low. Let's draw them away."
They ran together, turning into a quieter alley behind the temple.
---
[Shrine Courtyard – Aftermath]
Master Jang and So-Ri arrived minutes later, Yeon trailing behind holding a bag of sesame buns.
The woman sat on a stone bench, breathing hard but calm. Her mask was gone now — revealing a small scar near her left eye.
"I'm Ji-Mun," she said. "Of the Twin Willows. Or what's left of it."
"You've heard of us?"
Sun-Ho nodded. "You trained under the last generation's intelligence network. You coordinated strikes during the Iron-Back Revolt."
Ji-Mun blinked. "How… do you know that?"
"History hobbyist," he said smoothly.
She studied him. "You're not ordinary travelers."
Yul-Rin stepped in, sipping tea. "We're aggressively ordinary. Except him." She pointed at Ma-Rok. "He breaks rocks by hugging them."
Ma-Rok gave a proud thumbs-up. Yeon handed him a bun.
Ji-Mun looked around at the group, eyes lingering on So-Ri's confident posture, Yeon's eerie calm, and Master Jang's amused smile.
"…You're resisting the clans."
"No proof," Sun-Ho said with a small grin.
She looked back. "Then hypothetically, would you accept help from what's left of the Twin Willows?"
Master Jang raised a brow. "You have contacts?"
"Scattered, hiding, hunted. But still loyal to the spirit of the old Murim Alliance. We've watched your... masked friend."
Sun-Ho stiffened.
"You know about Musang Oje?" he asked carefully.
"We've seen his work. Never seen him. But we believe he exists."
Sun-Ho relaxed.
"Hypothetically," Ji-Mun said again, "if a certain masked avenger was looking to burn out corruption from the inside… we'd like to offer what we have. Maps. Informants. Safe routes."
Sun-Ho glanced at Master Jang. The old man gave the faintest nod.
"We'll accept."
---
[Later That Day – Inn Room Discussion]
The door shut behind Ji-Mun, leaving only the crackle of the lantern and the rustling wind outside the wooden inn.
Silence hung for a moment.
Then So-Ri crossed her arms. "We're really considering this?"
Yul-Rin raised an eyebrow. "You mean, trusting someone who led assassins to our melon stand?"
"She didn't lead them," Sun-Ho said calmly. "They were after her."
Ma-Rok grunted. "Still. 'Hi, I juggled knives, got chased, and now I want to join your secret anti-corruption club' is not the usual recruiting pitch."
"She was skilled," So-Ri said, then glanced at Sun-Ho. "But you trust too easily sometimes."
"I trust my judgment," Sun-Ho replied.
"And what if her people find out about you? About your real… candidacy?" So-Ri pressed.
"They won't," he said. "And even if they suspect, they won't guess the connection to Musang Oje."
Yul-Rin stirred her tea, eyes narrowed. "They think he's a myth."
"Which is perfect," Sun-Ho said with a faint smile. "Let them believe in a phantom. It keeps the enemy nervous and the allies inspired."
Master Jang chuckled from the corner. "Look at all of you. Like old warriors debating the fate of nations."
"Well, technically we are," Ma-Rok said, already half-into a dumpling.
"Master," Yul-Rin said, "you've fought with or against the Twin Willows in the past, right? Do they keep oaths?"
Master Jang's face darkened slightly. "When they gave them, yes. And they don't give them lightly."
A beat passed.
So-Ri tapped her foot, eyes flicking toward the door where Ji-Mun had exited. "…She said they still believe in the old Murim Alliance."
"Which makes them rarer than phoenix feathers these days," Sun-Ho murmured.
Ma-Rok crossed his arms. "Fine. But if she betrays us, I'm dunking her in a melon pot."
Yul-Rin snorted. "That's your solution to everything."
"No, sometimes I just throw the melon pot."
Yeon, from the corner, held up a small sign he had scribbled with charcoal:
"Yes to allies. But no to trusting melons."
Everyone stared.
Sun-Ho smiled. "Well then… a cautious alliance. But one with potential."
So-Ri finally nodded. "We watch her. We test her. But we give her a chance."
"Good," Master Jang said. "Because we'll need more than fire and fists to survive what's coming."
---
[Far Away – Crimson Gorge Watchpost]
A masked figure knelt before a crimson throne. "Sir. He's gathering allies."
A low voice, like embers on stone, answered:
"Then burn the branches before they root."
---
[End of Chapter - 24 ]