The Martial God with Psychic Powers

Bang Woon kept making that same expression, and it was starting to make her feel like she was the bad person.

Tomorrow, I need to tell him firmly. Stop making that face. Be a man—hold your head up with confidence. A man who makes that face is just… hard to look at.
There were so many things she wanted to say.
And the most frustrating part?

He only ever talked about Sunwoo Baek.
She wished he’d talk about himself a little, but no—start to finish, it was all about Sunwoo Baek.
Even when Sunwoo Baek tried to bring up Bang Woon, he’d cut him off and redirect the topic back to Sunwoo Baek again.

Yeah! I’m going to tell him to talk about himself for once.
Her list of things to say kept growing.
She stayed up late into the night, unable to fall asleep, going over all the things she wanted to say to Bang Woon.

At some point, without realizing it, Ho Sohyang had begun thinking more about Bang Woon than about Sunwoo Baek—worrying more about him.
 
****

“Not today.”
“Huh?”
“You know why. Today’s the day Woo Jin evaluates our progress in training. There’s no way I can miss it.”

“Ah, right.”
“Sorry. I really wanted to go with you.”
“No, it’s okay. ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) I’ll explain it to her.”

“Alright… just… eat something nice together today. Go see somewhere beautiful. While I’m not around.”
At Sunwoo Baek’s words, Bang Woon nodded with a dejected look.
Ugh, I really need to tell Woo Jin about this. At this rate, he’s going to break.
Sunwoo Baek made up his mind. He would tell Yeon Woo Jin everything about Bang Woon today.

If it was Woo Jin, he’d think of something.
As Sunwoo Baek walked away, Bang Woon stood there murmuring to himself with a slumped expression.
“How am I supposed to explain this? She’s going to be really disappointed…”

He didn’t want to see that look on Ho Sohyang’s face.
Even if she didn’t like him.
Even if she never looked his way, it didn’t matter.

As long as he could see her smile.
That alone would be enough.
He was well aware that she liked Sunwoo Baek.

If she ended up with Sunwoo Baek, she’d probably be happy.
She’d live her whole life smiling.
And that would be enough for him.

With that thought in mind, Bang Woon made his way toward his meeting with Ho Sohyang—planning to console her with more stories about Sunwoo Baek that no one else knew.
 
****

As usual, Bang Woon spent the entire time talking about Sunwoo Baek.
“That’s enough! Please, just stop!”
“…What?”

Startled by Ho Sohyang’s furious expression, Bang Woon floundered.
“D-did I do something wrong?”
“Do you not know how to talk about yourself, Young Master Bang?”

“About… myself?”
“Yes! You’ve spent the whole day talking about Master Sun—who’s not even here!”
“I-I just thought… if I talked about myself, you might find it boring…”

“Why would you assume that? Why do you decide things like that on your own?”
“I… I just…”
“Speak up like a man! And how do you still not get it? I’m using you right now. Can’t you see that? Are you really that dense?”

“I know.”
“…What?”
“I said, I know.”

“You… you know? And you’re still doing this?”
“Yes.”
“Why? Why keep going when you know I’m using you?”

Bang Woon stayed silent.
“I like people who speak honestly.”
“If… if Master Sun isn’t there… I can’t see you…”

The words caught in his throat.
At Bang Woon’s reply, Ho Sohyang felt something tighten in her chest.
“If this is the only way I can see you… then I’ll take it. All I want is for you to be happy.”

“Well, I’m not okay! You’re making me feel like I’m some awful person! Why—why are you making me out to be the bad guy?!”
“I-I’m sorry. I didn’t think it through. I just… thought this would make you happy.”
Biting down on her lip, Ho Sohyang said,

“From now on, there’s no need to bring Master Sun.”
Bang Woon squeezed his eyes shut.
He had the sinking feeling he’d never see her again.

Grief was already rising up—
“From now on… come alone.”
“…What?”

Completely blindsided, Bang Woon jolted his head up.
Ho Sohyang said,
“I’m not in the mood to see you again today. Let’s meet tomorrow. And when you come, wear a blue martial uniform. That’s my favorite color.”

“Huh? Y-yes! Of course!”
“…God, I’m losing it. What is it about this guy that I like…”
She spun on her heel and walked away.

Bang Woon rubbed at his ears, wondering if he’d misheard something.
Then Ho Sohyang turned back from the distance and shouted,
“Come with a confident expression tomorrow! If not, I’ll just leave!”

“Y-yes! Got it!”
Hearing his enthusiastic answer, she smiled faintly and turned again.
Watching her retreating back—which somehow looked cheerful—Bang Woon’s lips curled into a smile of his own.

This was the happiest day of his life.
He wanted to throw his hands up and cheer, to run wild with joy—but he held himself back.
Because she was still within view.

Barely managing to contain the laughter bubbling up inside, Bang Woon watched her until she completely disappeared from sight.
 
****

The next day.
“What do you mean, what happened with Bang Woon?”
“Huh? That’s… not what I expected.”

Yeon Woo Jin looked at Bang Woon’s beaming face and asked again,
“Weren’t you saying he’d be all gloomy?”
“I thought he would be… what the heck?”

“He looks like he just won the lottery. His grin’s about to split his face open.”
Sunwoo Baek looked just as confused.
Then Bang Woon spotted Sunwoo Baek and sprinted toward him.

Wearing a giant grin.
“Is he insane?”
Sunwoo Baek muttered worriedly.

Yeon Woo Jin shook his head.
“No, not insane… but definitely not in his right mind.”
“Woo Baek! Hahaha!”

Wham—
Bang Woon ran over and hugged Sunwoo Baek tight.
“Thank you! It’s all thanks to you!”

“…Thanks for what?”
Pulling back from the hug, Bang Woon beamed.
“She likes me!”

“Who does?”
“She does!”
“Ho Sohyang?”

“Yeah!”
What the hell?
What the hell happened yesterday?

Sunwoo Baek had no idea what to make of this.
Yeon Woo Jin let out a soft laugh.
“Whatever happened, it looks like it worked out.”

“Woo Jin! I think… my spring has finally come!”
Heh.
“Yeah. Looks like it. Good luck. So… who exactly was it again?”

“You know Ho Cheon from the North?”
“Of course.”
“His little sister—Ho Sohyang.”

“She has a sister?”
“Yup!”
“Huh. Good for you.”

Yeon Woo Jin smiled as he spoke, and Bang Woon was about to burst with joy—until his face twisted with concern.
“But… wait. Her family’s the Fist King Gate…”
“Right.”

“What if her family doesn’t approve of me? Then none of it matters.”
“They’ll like you.”
“Really? You think so?”

“Of course. Just trust me. You trust me, don’t you?”
There was no one Bang Woon trusted more than Yeon Woo Jin.
“Yeah!”

“Then I’ll let you skip training today. Go have fun with her.”
“Thanks!”
Bang Woon shouted and dashed off.

“Can he really be that happy?”
Yeon Woo Jin said with a smile.
Sunwoo Baek asked,

“So what are you going to do?”
“Hmm? About what?”
“You going to visit the Fist King Gate and tell them he’s a good guy?”

“Of course.”
“You planning to reveal who you are?”
“No need. They already know.”

“…Wait, they know? The Fist King Gate knows who you are?”
“Yeah. I told them.”
“…How did that happen?”

“I got caught while helping out Senior Ho Cheon.”
“Whoa—so then what happened?”
“The Fist King Gate came under my command.”

Bit by bit, Yeon Woo Jin was making all of Mushincheon his.
At this rate, by the time the Young Lord candidates emerged from closed-door training and reentered the world, most of the sects would already be in Yeon Woo Jin’s hands.
And not just the sects.

Even the Mushincheon organizations—three of them had already fallen under Yeon Woo Jin’s control.
The Military Division, Tianzhu Hall, and now the Hall of Recruitment.
They must’ve worked themselves to death preparing to become the next Tianzhu… But once they’re out, all they’ll find is emptiness.

 
****
Time passed, and it came time for Ho Sohyang to return home.

There was no point in staying here—she wouldn’t be able to see Bang Woon anymore for a while.
The reason was the upcoming field training.
Every Senior Division student was required to undergo field practice in one of Mushincheon’s official organizations.

They had agreed to meet again during the academy’s break, once field training was over—and parted ways.
Ho Sohyang had no idea.
That she would fall this deeply for a man.

The more she met Bang Woon, the more he revealed himself as genuine.
And the more they met, the more affection she felt.
But on her way home, a new worry crept into her mind.

Her family.
Bang Woon, at the moment, was the master of a sect.
The sect known as Cheongapmun.

But Cheongapmun was practically a newborn faction—not even ranked yet.
Would her father acknowledge the master of such a minor sect?
She was sure of it—he would absolutely say no.

How could she persuade him?
There was no way she could part from Bang Woon.
She made up her mind: no matter what, she would marry him.

On her way back to the Fist King Gate, she began planning for every possible scenario, thinking through all the contingencies.
When she finally arrived home, her father was already there to greet her.
“So you’ve finally returned.”

“F-father…”
“It’s been two full months! Two months!”
“There’s… a reason for that.”

“First, get inside!”
He looked furious.
What now?

To explain where she’d been for the past two months, she would have to bring up Bang Woon.
But judging by her father’s face, this was not the right time.
To avoid provoking him further, she obediently followed him inside.

Once inside, she found her eldest brother—Ho Jin, the official successor of the Fist King Gate—standing there with a cold glare.
He was the only person Ho Sohyang was genuinely afraid of.
As Ho Gwang sat down, Ho Jin also took a seat and said in a low voice,

“Sit.”
“Yes, sir.”
Ho Sohyang sat down demurely.

“Alright. Let’s hear your reason for staying out for two months.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Ho Sohyang confessed everything that had happened.
There was no point in staying silent. If they investigated, it would all come out anyway.

And besides, she didn’t want any blame falling on the handmaiden who’d gone with her.
After finishing her story, Ho Sohyang took a deep breath and delivered the line she had rehearsed.
“Father! I want to marry Young Master Bang!”

She braced herself for the harshest words imaginable.
She was ready.
“Alright.”

“…What?”
“I approve.”
What?

He agreed this easily?
Surely her eldest brother would object—
“You made a wise decision.”

What?
This couldn’t be right.
Getting permission was this easy?

“Oh, dear. Now we’re the ones who should feel sorry.”
“Exactly. We’ll have to send her off with a dowry fit for a queen.”
“That’s right. Excellent idea.”

What… is this?
Are they messing with me?
Trying to catch me off guard?

She was utterly confused.
“So those two months were spent finding your future husband, huh? Well spent!”
“She’s all grown up now. Even found herself a groom, just like that.”

“Father? Brother?”
“What is it?”
“Can someone please explain what’s happening right now?”

“What do you mean? You said you wanted to marry someone, and we gave you permission.”
“But you don’t even really know who he is…”
“You told us, didn’t you? He’s the master of a new sect called Cheongapmun.”

“And you’re okay with that? You always said you’d never let me marry into some minor, no-name sect.”
“What’s this? Are you saying Young Master Bang’s sect is insignificant?”
Yikes. Is he angry now?

“N-no, that’s not what I meant…”
Ho Sohyang backed down a step.
But then her father spoke again, wearing a calm smile.

“It’s fine. If it’s insignificant, then we’ll raise it up ourselves. Isn’t that right?”
“That’s right, Father.”
“Haha! I can’t wait to meet him. So—field practice is starting now, right?”

“Yes.”
“Since he unified the entire Senior Division, he must’ve been sent to Central, yes?”
“That’s the most likely.”

“Hahaha! Unbelievable. My daughter went out and brought back a dragon. I’m so proud! Hahaha!”
“Shouldn’t we be holding a celebration or something?”
“Of course! Naturally! You there!”

“Yes, sir!”
“Prepare for a celebration!”
“Yes, sir!”

…A celebration?
Ho Sohyang couldn’t even begin to grasp what was happening anymore.
Watching her dazed reaction, Ho Gwang and Ho Jin exchanged silent transmissions.

—Hehehe. The Young Lord personally asked me to look after him well. If he’s someone the Lord himself takes interest in, imagine what kind of position he’ll be in down the line.
—At minimum, he’ll end up among the Eight Martial Lords of Mushincheon.
—Exactly! Hahaha! Our daughter really did bring home a dragon.

—And now we don’t have to worry about her marriage anymore.
—Exactly, exactly! Haha! I’ve been losing sleep wondering how we’d marry her off, and now it’s all been solved! Ever since we met the Young Lord, everything’s been going smoothly!
—It’s all thanks to the Young Lord’s grace.

—That’s right. That’s the heart you must serve him with. Understood?
—Yes, Father!