Leeho

Leeho was born amid the chaos of what later came to be called The Demonic Beasts Suppression War. His father was an adventurer affiliated with Monster Tamers and barely had time to be with his family because of the war. Still, Leeho was proud of his father and dreamt of joining the fight one day.

During a short visit, Leeho's father taught him spearwork and gave him his spear, encouraging him to become a strong warrior. Eventually, Leeho's father fell in battle against Hotblooded Tiger and returned home to Leeho as a cold corpse.

Hotblooded Tiger disappeared, undefeated, and the young Leeho swore vengeance.

Leeho took up the spear to honor his father's memory. However, he lacked natural talent. He struggled just to lift his spear, and it took him a year to steady his aim. It took him years to learn what others could in months, but he refused to give up. Repeating the same basic moves of thrusting and slashing, he kept training.

Even past twenty, he struggled to fend off minor youkai. Yet, he vowed not to stop until he could stand before his father's grave as a true adventurer. His spirit remained unbroken through every hardship.

One day, Leeho felt someone's gaze while training, and he discovered a tiger beastkin with white hair. While Leeho didn't realize it, this gourd-sipper was the White Tiger Divine Beast Sangun.

Leeho resumed his training, and Sangun came back every day to watch him train. One day, Sangun finally spoke to Leeho. He commented that Leeho was stiff and suggested that they go somewhere else to have some fun. Leeho ignored him at first, but Sangun offered to make him stronger. Eventually, Leeho accepted the offer for the sake of his goal to defeat Hotblooded Tiger.

Leeho's time with Sangun was relaxing and peaceful. They went fishing on a boat and shared drinks while sitting on rocks, and Leeho experienced rest for the first time. Sangun taught him how to relax, emphasizing the importance of letting his body and his senses come alive. Slowly, Leeho let go of his rigid forms and began to move with freedom.

Eventually, Sangun took Leeho out into the wild and made him fight various wild beasts. Under the immediate threat of death, Leeho learned to fight by instinct, letting go of the swirling thoughts in his mind and trusting his body. Through these deadly battles, he finally started making progress.

His true gift lay in instinctive movement and unrestricted fluidity.

With Sangun's blessing, Leeho went back to Naksan and joined Monster Tamers. However, the organization had fallen into decline, with only a handful of scattered ronin operating in secret cells.

Unfazed, Leeho took on missions without demanding payment, building up a reputation of trust. He took in ronin from other regions while dismantling corrupt factions. Over time, people came to regard Monster Tamers with new appreciation.

At the center of this revival stood Yuna, the receptionist. With her business acumen, they could afford to lease every room of a tavern named Red Lotus, turning the establishment into a new branch of Monster Tamers. Leeho tried to make her the branch master, but she firmly refused.

Leaving the management of Monster Tamers to Yuna, Leeho started tracking down Hotblooded Tiger. Dohwa Garden, the renowned intelligence group from Wolha Village, provided him with leads.

Jiwon, the leader of Dohwa Garden, noticed that Hotblooded Tiger was still alive and assisted Leeho, who combed through all of Baek-Ah and hunted tiger demon beasts. He draped himself in the pelts of the tigers he killed as a way of renewing his resolve to defeat Hotblooded Tiger once and for all.

His unique outfit and fighting style soon earned him the nickname "Windpiercing Tiger Hunter." No longer just a man driven by revenge, he had become a fearless predator of beasts.

Sangun used to visit Leeho whenever he liked. Sometimes it was after a month, sometimes after a year. Regardless, Leeho always enjoyed fishing and spending time leisurely with his old friend. Those were his true moments of training and recovery.

With each visit, Sangun seemed a little thinner and worn out, but he never spoke of what ailed him. Leeho didn't ask, and trusted that if Sangun needed to talk, he would. Eventually, Sangun stopped coming. It's been two years now. Leeho still wanders the lands of Baek-Ah in search of Hotblooded Tiger while setting his boat afloat, waiting for his friend to visit him again.