When Lee Do-Hyun opened his eyes, his mind was in disarray. Cold stone pressed against his skin, and a gentle breeze brushed his cheek. Looking around, he found himself surrounded by an unfamiliar landscape. The towering skyscrapers of the city had vanished, replaced by vast plains and an old-fashioned village.

"Where… am I?"

He tried to get up, but something felt off. When he looked down at his hands, he noticed his skin was thinner, his muscles had diminished—his body was now frail and undernourished. He wasn't himself anymore.

"What the… my body…?"

For days, he wandered aimlessly. He tried to find food, but the language here was unfamiliar, and the people eyed him with suspicion. It didn't take long for him to realize that this place was Kangho.

"Excuse me, can you spare some food?"

"Get lost, beggar."

Exhausted, he finally arrived at a village. But the atmosphere was unusual—bathed in a dim, red glow.

This was Pungwolru, a place unlike any other.

"This place… is it Pungwolru?"

As he staggered forward, his vision blurred, and his body collapsed to the ground.

A woman in a red dress walked past him. At first, she intended to ignore him. But when she saw his face, she hesitated.

"That face… why does it seem so familiar?"

She stood there for a while, staring at him, memories resurfacing from her past. A brother she had been separated from in childhood. A family member whose whereabouts had been lost in time.

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

"There's no way you could be my brother… but for some reason, I just can't walk away."

She knelt down and helped him up, making a silent vow to herself.

"In Kangho, the weak can only survive by helping each other. I don't know who this man is, but right now… I have to protect him."

When Lee Do-Hyun awoke, he found himself in an unfamiliar setting. Red curtains, ornate decorations, and flickering candlelight filled the room.

Next to him, a woman dressed in red sat with a teacup in her hand, smiling down at him.

"Hey, are you finally awake?"

"Where… is this?"

"This is Pungwolru. You collapsed on the street, so I brought you here. If it weren't for us, you would've starved to death right there."

Overwhelmed with gratitude, he quickly devoured the porridge before him.

"Thank you… truly, thank you."

His eyes wandered to the woman's attire—thin red fabric barely covering her shoulders. With each movement, glimpses of her skin appeared. Embarrassed, he quickly averted his gaze.

"Um… your clothes… you don't seem to mind?"

The woman chuckled at his reaction.

"In Kangho, if you fuss over such things, you won't survive. But judging by your reaction… you must be quite naive."

She turned toward the others in the room and called out playfully.

"Hey, come look at this guy! He thinks we're too much for him!"

Over the next few days, Chun-Hyang and the women of Pungwolru took care of Do-Hyun, nursing him back to health.

One evening, as they conversed, Chun-Hyang shared her beliefs.

"This place isn't just about pleasure and entertainment. Pungwolru is a sanctuary for the outcasts of Kangho. We are all weak in our own way. And the only way for the weak to survive is by helping one another."

Do-Hyun listened, nodding in understanding.

"Even so, you helped me. Why go out of your way for a stranger? Especially when it could be dangerous."

Chun-Hyang gazed at him for a long moment before responding with a quiet smile.

"Perhaps… because you remind me of my lost brother. Or maybe, I just help those in need because that's the way I choose to live."

Under their care, Do-Hyun slowly regained his strength and began learning how to survive in Kangho. But unlike the traditional martial arts he had imagined, the women of Pungwolru taught him a different kind of skill—one tailored for those deemed weak.

The characteristics of their martial techniques:

Exploiting the opponent's weaknesses with agility.

Specialized movements for defense and escape.

Psychological manipulation to create openings.

At first, he was ridiculed for learning such techniques. But gradually, he realized their true value.

"In Kangho, brute strength alone isn't enough to survive. Perhaps these techniques… are the true key to survival."

Watching his progress, Chun-Hyang smiled.

"Do-Hyun, remember this—Kangho isn't won by the strongest. The victor is the one who lasts the longest. And those like us, the ones they call weak, we're the ones who know best how to endure."

With newfound determination, Do-Hyun nodded.

"Some might laugh at these techniques… but I'll endure Kangho with them. And if necessary, I'll find a way to turn these skills into true strength."