The Child Who Shouldn’t Exist

“How did it go?”

“It was a success, Sect Leader.”

“And the pursuit squad?”

“They have all returned without a single casualty. The contribution of this man—the disciple of the Hao Sect Leader—was significant.”

An elder of the Mount Hua Sect pointed at me as he addressed the Sect Leader. If the Hao Sect hadn’t tracked down those disciples who had fled their sect to indulge in habitual r*pe and murder, Mount Hua’s reputation would have plummeted into the abyss because of them.

“I see. You’ve done a fine job.”

A thin smile played on the Sect Leader’s lips.

Just as I allowed myself to think that the grueling time and effort spent hunting those criminals had finally borne fruit, the unthinkable happened.

Sshhhk—

The sound of wind being sliced was followed instantly by a sensation like boiling water being poured over my lower back. A sword—drawn so fast I never saw it leave the sheath—clove through my waist. A thick spray of blood erupted like a rising red mist.

With his back still turned to me, the Sect Leader spoke coldly.

“Junior Brother, ensure that no one ever learns they were disciples of Mount Hua.”

“Yes… Sect Leader.”

Did you cut me down just to bury that truth as a secret?

To a leader who could order the slaughter of his own disciples, killing one more informant was likely nothing. I had been a fool.

It was a bleak, lonely agony.

My death.

“Grand Young Master, you mustn’t grip the Little Young Master’s hand so tightly! He’s only just been born, you have to handle him with extreme care!”

“I’m not the one gripping him, Langlang. This little guy is the one holding me. Look at this. He won’t let go even when I try to pull away.”

The voices of a young woman and a small boy drifted over me.

I couldn’t see anything; I could only hear. While I was spiraling in confusion at these unfamiliar voices, my arm gave a little shake.

“Oh my, truly? Even though he hasn’t opened his eyes yet, I wonder if he knows the Grand Young Master is his brother?”

“Sarin must really like his big brother. He won’t let me go. I have to go to my lessons at the Murim Temple soon, so this is a real problem!”

The woman let out a soft laugh.

“Then just let go and leave. Are you saying the Grand Young Master can’t go to class because he can’t win a strength contest against the Little Young Master?”

“It’s not that, but it feels wrong to just heartlessly pull away.”

“You’ll be scolded if you keep this up. At this rate, you might be banned from coming here entirely, so please leave at once, Young Master.”

The child let out a sigh so heavy it felt like the floor might collapse. I thought he was finally retreating, but then that cute voice chirped again.

“By the way, Langlang, when will this little guy open his eyes?”

“It varies from child to child, Young Master. You opened your eyes the very day you were born. But some children don’t open them for fifteen days. Since it’s been five days for the Little Young Master, he should be opening them any time now.”

In the meantime, I felt the sensation of tiny fingers wiggling in my palm.

The situation was becoming increasingly clear.

I was currently clutching this child’s finger.

The mention of being five days old clearly referred to me—I was currently lying in a bed, unable to even open my eyes.

‘Little Young Master?’

Had I been reborn instead of dying? Was reincarnation a real thing? I had never believed in such nonsense. Had I known it existed, I thought to myself, I should have lived a better life. Just then, I felt the small finger slide out of my hand.

“Sarin, I don’t think I can stay any longer or I’ll be late. I’ll be back soon. Be a good boy, okay?”

As he stroked my hair, the woman’s voice cut in urgently.

“You mustn’t touch a newborn’s head, Young Master!”

“That’s why I only touched his hair, Langlang. I know how fragile my little brother is right now. I’m going to be very, very careful. Because my brother is precious.”

The “Young Masters” I used to know treated their servants like dirt, but this child seemed mindful of the maid and was quite obedient.

‘Is it just because he’s still young?’

While I pondered this, the sound of footsteps finally faded as someone left the room. Then, the woman left behind spoke with a voice full of suppressed laughter.

“Little Young Master, don’t be sad even if the Madam doesn’t visit. Grand Young Master Murin dotes on you so much. Then again, you’re the Young Master of the Sichuan Tang Clan—you really have nothing to complain about.”

The moment I heard those words, it felt like a bolt of lightning hit my mind.

The Sichuan Tang Clan? Sarin? Tang Sarin?

No, wait a minute. Did she say Grand Young Master Murin? Tang Murin?

That kid who was just chattering in such a cute voice… is he really that Tang Murin, the “Sword Genius of Sichuan”?

The man with a face so beautiful it takes your breath away, yet who swings his sword ruthlessly to butcher his enemies? The “Genius with a Twisted Personality” who was considered more of a villain than the actual members of the Unorthodox Faction, despite the Tang Clan being a “Neutral” power?

The owner of the finger I had been squeezing… was that guy?

I was overwhelmed with frustration at the absurdity of it all. My heart felt like it was hammering against my ribs. It wasn’t just because of Tang Murin. The real problem was my new father.

The Sichuan Tang Clan only began to truly dominate the region once the 13th Head, Tang Su-hyeok, took power. I knew over a hundred anecdotes regarding Tang Su-hyeok’s cruelty.

There was a reason he was nicknamed the “Tyrant of Sichuan.” He was the man who ushered in the Tang Clan’s golden age by drowning his rivals from both the Orthodox and Unorthodox factions in blood. He was a man who paved his path to the throne with a literal carpet of blood.

‘It’s not just reincarnation… I’ve regressed? And into another child’s body?’

I was certain that before I died, Tang Murin was already a terror of the Jianghu. I had definitely returned to the past.

I searched my memories for a child named “Tang Sarin.”

‘Tang Sarin? I’ve heard endless stories about the Head, Tang Su-hyeok, and his heir, Tang Murin… but Tang Murin had a brother?’

It was impossible for me, as a high-ranking member of the Hao Sect, not to know about the direct lineage of the Tang Clan. Not if he had been alive during my previous life.

‘Unless Tang Murin’s brother died before he even turned six… there’s no way I wouldn’t know him.’

Suddenly, a cold sweat broke out. If I had indeed been born as Tang Sarin…

‘Does that mean… I’m going to die before I’m six?’

Stuck in the body of a newborn who couldn’t even open his eyes, my anxiety and terror only intensified with every passing second.

I opened my eyes. Finally.

I learned then for the first time that a baby might not be able to open its eyes for several days. I learned this by listening to the maid and Tang Murin.

I learned quite a lot from their conversations. If Tang Murin hadn’t been chattering incessantly and pestering the maid with questions, it would have been much harder to grasp the current state of the Tang family.

‘Kid, you’d be a natural in the Hao Sect.’

If I had a kid like this with me, gathering information would be a walk in the park. Who could refuse to answer a boy with such a cute voice?

When I finally managed to open my eyes, Tang Murin wasn’t there. He had spent days waiting by my side, but once I was actually ready, he was nowhere to be found.

Langlang mentioned several times how happy the Grand Young Master would be to see me with my eyes open. I was curious about him too, so I waited eagerly. When I finally saw him, I was genuinely stunned—I wondered if such a cute child could actually exist in this world.

I had heard countless rumors about Tang Murin, but this was my first time seeing him in the flesh. The expression on his face was one of pure shock and ecstasy.

It made sense; he had been anxious all day thinking he wouldn’t be able to visit. To see me with my eyes open must have been an incredible relief.

“Aaaaah! Sarin! Sarin opened his eyes! My brother opened his eyes! He’s looking at me! He’s looking at his big brother!”

He screamed with joy he couldn’t contain, and I instinctively burst into tears. I hadn’t meant to cry, but the infant body responded on its own.

“Don’t cry, Sarin! Did I scare you because I was too loud? I’m not angry, so don’t cry. It’s okay, it’s okay!”

The boy looking down at me looked to be only about four years old.

As a precious direct descendant of the Tang family, he would be starting his training around age five. He had likely already begun the basics of mental cultivation and martial arts, which explained why he couldn’t visit for the past few days.

Even now, he was drenched in sweat as if he’d just come from the training hall. His fine, soft hair was matted with sweat, sticking to his forehead in a cute, swirling pattern.

‘What is this kid? Did he fall from the heavens?’

Faced with a level of cuteness that made me question reality, I remained silent, completely captivated.