Back Home (2)
"Definitely a big city. Even the vibe feels different, Boss."
Cheolwoo said this while constantly looking around at the bustling streets.
"Yeah."
Sima-Jian gave a faint smile, his face pale.
After learning of his mother's death and weeping for two days and nights, his appearance had grown so haggard that it was incomparable to how he'd looked just a few days earlier.
Unlike the excited Cheol-woo, Sima-Jian showed little interest in the crowded streets. Now that he had arrived in Shaoxing, the only thing on his mind was his family.
Sima-Jian took out a piece of paper from his clothes, on which his family's new address was written. It was precious information he had obtained thanks to Jang seong, the second son of Jangrok, who had settled in Shaoxing.
By dusk, the two arrived at a shabby house in Wujiachon, about ten li north of the center of Shaoxing Prefecture.
Looking at the dilapidated house, Sima-Jian's brow furrowed.
If Jang seong's information was correct, his younger siblings should be living in this house.
The hardships his family must have endured came vividly to mind, making his chest ache.
Sima-Jian, who looked ready to kick the door down and rush inside at any moment, strangely hesitated in front of the gate. His hand, reaching for the door, recoiled several times.
"What's wrong, Boss?"
Cheol-woo asked with a puzzled expression.
"I don't know."
Sima-Jian shook his head as he let out a long breath.
His heart was pounding like crazy.
What if his siblings had forgotten him? What if they resented him?
Seeing Sima-Jian at a loss, Cheol-woo let out a hollow laugh.
"Don't tell me you're scared? Heh heh! It's been ages since I've seen you like this. Just a little while ago you were strolling through places crawling with enemies like it was a walk in the park."
"Is that really the same thing?"
"What's the difference? Just fling it open and shout that you're back."
"That's… not so easy."
Sima-Jian gave a bitter smile. Still, he couldn't hesitate forever, so he slowly reached out his hand.
Just as his hand touched the door—
"Who… is it?"
The sudden voice made Sima-Jian's hand freeze in place.
When he slowly turned around, his face had already gone rigid.
A girl who looked about fifteen or sixteen was staring at Sima-Jian and Cheol-woo with a frightened expression.
Her slightly trembling eyes were darker and clearer than obsidian, and her nose was sharp enough to cut a hand. Her eyebrows curved beautifully like a crescent moon, her jawline was slender, and her lips were as richly colored as cherries.
She was a rare beauty one would not easily see anywhere. However, her complexion was paler than her eyes, and her frail body looked as though it might be carried away by the wind.
"Wow! Damn! Why is she so pretty?!"
Cheol-woo shouted without thinking.
Sima-Jian's left fist, which had been fixed on the girl's face, smashed straight into Cheol-woo's side.
Each time Cheol-woo's massive body stumbled backward, the ground thudded heavily.
"Why'd you do that all of a sudden, Boss?"
Cheol-woo asked in confusion, but Sima-Jian did not answer. He only stared unblinkingly at the girl's face.
A face long treasured in the depths of his memory floated up and overlapped with the girl's.
Sima-Jian realized that the girl before him was Sima-jian, his little sister who, at four years old, used to follow him everywhere begging to be carried on his shoulders—someone he couldn't forget even in his dreams.
"Who are you here to see?"
The girl asked again. Seeing her anxious expression, Sima-Jian forced the brightest smile he could manage.
"Your name is Jin, right? Sima-jin."
Contrary to Sima-Jian's intention, Sima-jin was terrified that a stranger knew her name.
"How… how do you know my name?"
She leaned back as if ready to run away at any moment, but the emotionally overwhelmed Sima-Jian failed to notice.
"Your brothers' names are Hyeon and Ho. I'm your—"
Before Sima-Jian could finish, Sama-jin turned her body away. In a reflex, Sima-Jian grabbed her arm.
"Let go! Let go!"
As she struggled in fear, Sima-Jian's panicked grip tightened.
"Ah! That hurts!"
At her cry of pain, Sima-Jian startled and quickly released his hand.
"I…"
Sima-Jian didn't know what to do. Just as he was about to make an excuse, a roar like that of a beast thundered from behind.
"You sons of bitches!"
A man charged in like lightning—Sima-ho—and swung his fist at Sima-Jian.
Sima-Jian slightly twisted his body, and the punch sliced through empty air.
Staggering briefly before regaining his balance, Sama-ho quickly grabbed Sama-jin's arm and pulled her behind him.
"What kind of lowlifes are you?"
Sima-ho glared back and forth between Sima-Jian and Cheol-woo with blazing eyes.
His gaze lingered a little longer on Cheol-woo, likely intimidated by his rough appearance and massive build.
"Sima… Ho?"
Sima-Jian tilted his head as he asked.
Though traces of the boy he once knew remained, he couldn't tell whether he was the second or third sibling.
Sima-Jian's hesitation was easy to misinterpret.
"Are you bastards from the Blood Axe Sect?"
Sima-ho's expression turned ice-cold.
At some point he had drawn a knife, now clenched in his hand. Though it was only palm-sized, it was more than enough to threaten someone.
"Little Brother!"
Sima-jin gasped and grabbed his arm.
"Don't worry. Step back. Hurry!"
Pushing Sima-jin behind him, Sima-ho licked the blade and smiled coldly.
"Nice try. If you wanted to hit the Dongshim Association, you'd have to take out me first—the pillar of the Dongshim Association, Mad Tiger Gwangho. But you dare target my family? I'll show you exactly what happens when you provoke the mad tiger of the Dongshim Association."
The fierce aura pouring from Sima-ho, as if he might pounce at any moment, was quite intimidating.
"Hah…"
A deep sigh escaped Sima-Jian's lips, while a snicker slipped out of Cheol-u.
"Blood Axe Sect, Boss."
"..."
"And what's this Dongshim Association? Mad Tiger? Heh heh. He really does seem crazy."
"Shut up."
Sima-Jian's eyes hardened, but there was not the slightest hint of anger in them.
Despite his harsh tone, his eyes were smiling.
It was a bit unfortunate that what should have been a moving family reunion had turned into such chaos, but he didn't mind.
What if it was the mad tiger of the Dongshim Association, or even a mad cat?
It was a shame his brother seemed to be involved with a less-than-ideal group, but reuniting with his siblings after twelve years was itself like a dream.
"You bastards think this is funny?!"
Believing he was being mocked, Sima-ho charged at Sima-Jian, his face burning with rage.
At that moment, a desperate shout rang out from behind.
"Stop!"
It was already too late. Sima-ho's attack had already reached right in front of Sima-Jian's nose. Of course, nothing happened. Sama-geon was never someone who would be struck by an attack like that.
With just a slight lean of his body, Sima-Jian brushed the attack aside, and instead it was Sima-ho who staggered, unable to control his own strength.
"Stop it, Ho! Enough!"
Sima-Jian came rushing in with an angry face and snatched the knife from Sima-ho, who was standing awkwardly.
"What on earth is this? Why are you carrying something so dangerous?"
"Give it back. Those bastards are from the Blood Axe Sect—they came to kill me."
Sima-ho scowled and tried to grab the knife again.
Sima-Jian spun around and hurled the knife far away.
***
"Brother!"
When Sima-ho shouted angrily, Sima-Jian smacked the back of his head with a stern look.
"Getting into a knife fight on Mother's memorial day?!"
"Then what, you're saying I should've just let the guys who attacked me go?"
Sima-Jian let out a sigh.
"Do you think people who plan an ambush go around spreading rumors all over the neighborhood?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Those people—looks like they asked this person and that person while looking for us. On the way home, everyone we passed said a guest seemed to be looking for us."
"That was to attack me—"
"You mean the people you're trying to ambush don't even know where you live? Even if that were the case, they'd quietly ask around. They wouldn't announce it to the whole town."
"Well, that's true, but…"
Only then did Sama-ho's voice shrink as he sensed something was off.
"But what 'but'? You jumped to conclusions and made a huge mistake. And are you even in a position important enough to be targeted?"
"What do you mean? I'm in the Dongsim Association—"
"Enough. Since when have you been carrying something like that around?"
Sima-Jian asked, pointing at the sword he had tossed away.
Under the sharp gaze, Sima-ho averted his eyes slightly and replied,
"It's just… lately those Blood Faction guys have been running wild. Quite a few kids have gotten hurt."
"That's why I told you to quit. How long are you going to keep running around doing pointless things?"
"We already settled that, didn't we? You go your way, I go mine."
Sima-Xian's face hardened as he raised his voice.
"How long are you going to keep being so childish—… enough. We'll talk later."
With a frustrated sigh, Sima-Jian turned toward Sima-Xian.
"My younger brother made a serious mistake. I apologize."
"No, it's fine."
Though the casual tone came naturally, neither Sima-Xian nor anyone else found it strange.
Sima-Jian placed a hand on his younger brother's head.
As Sima-Xian tried to pull away stiffly, Sima-Jian gently patted his head and said,
"Our little runny-nosed kid has grown up so much. Even knows how to act like an older brother now."
At the voice filled with pity and pride, joy and sorrow all at once, Sima-Xian's body trembled.
Up until now, only one person had ever called him a "runny-nosed kid."
Someone who had disappeared long ago—someone he thought he would never see again for the rest of his life.
"No way…!"
Sima-Xian stared at Sima-Jian with wide, shocked eyes. He thought the face had long been forgotten, but the moment he saw it, the memories came flooding back as if they had never faded.
"That's impossible!"
Sima-Xian's eyes shook wildly.
It was the face of his eldest brother—the one he trusted, followed, and loved more than anyone.
A face he had tried desperately to forget, believing he would never see it again, yet could never truly erase.
Though much had changed, it wasn't to the point that he couldn't recognize him.
"Did you really forget me?" Sama-Jian asked with a smile.
"Brother?"
A hazy film welled up over Sama-Xian's eyes.
"Yes. It's me."
"Really? You're really my brother? You came back?"
Hot tears streamed down Sima-Xian's face.
"Yes. I'm back."
"Brother!"
Sima-Xian threw his arms around Sama-Jian.
Sima-Jian quietly held the sobbing Sima-Xian, patting his back.
"I'm sorry. It took me too long, didn't it?"