Chapter 38

Chapter 38
The Murim Alliance was monumental in scale.

Both Im Choong and Beon Saeng felt entirely dwarfed by its sheer presence.

A gaze upward revealed towering structures whose highest roofs seemed lost against the sky. Without a guide, anyone could easily lose their bearings in such an endless labyrinth. Around them walked martial artists carrying an air of disciplined dignity, while martial training grounds stretched out across immense spaces between the buildings. Had Je-gal Hyeon not been escorting them, the two would have spent the entire walk whispering in sheer disbelief at the sight of every passing expert and grand pavilion.

The architecture of the Murim Alliance rested on fifteen core branches: the One Hall, Two Courts, Three Pavilions, Four Legions, and Five Brigades.

The One Hall represented the Alliance Lord’s Hall, managing every administrative and personal concern of the Murim Alliance Lord under the supervision of the head of the covert escort corps.

The Two Courts consisted of the Elder Council, which housed the retired grandmasters of the faction, and the Dharma Court, charged with enforcing internal discipline and statutory justice.

The Three Pavilions encompassed Hyun-cheon Pavilion, acting as the brain trust where tactical masterminds charted campaign strategies; Am-yeong Pavilion, tasked with monitoring internal conduct across the Alliance’s ranks; and Bi-gak, which took direct orders from the Alliance Lord to carry out clandestine endeavors.

The Four Legions commenced with the prestigious vanguard unit, Cheol-geum-dan, followed by the mounted lancers of the Iron Cavalry Legion who crushed opposing ranks under heavy hooves, the Blue Dragon Legion which commanded the greatest numerical strength, and the White Dragon Legion responsible for perimeter defense.

The Five Brigades were split between standard frontline forces—the Flying Dragon Brigade and the Justice Heroes Brigade—while the Pursuit Squadron tracked down outlaws and dangerous miscreants. Domestic matters fell under the purview of the Rectification Brigade, whereas the Support Brigade managed outreach and external relations.

All fifteen entities functioned within the sprawling grounds of the Murim Alliance, partitioned into expansive inner and outer districts.

After treading a considerable distance under Je-gal Hyeon’s lead, they stopped before an isolated building tucked far away along the compound’s remote edges.

He offered an apologetic smile, noting that they would need to begin their journey from this humble spot.

His sheepishness made complete sense, as the structure stood weathered, cramped, and evidently repurposed from some forgotten utility shed.

Yet right above the door hung a fresh wooden sign.

Hyun-cheon-dae

Je-gal Hyeon turned toward Baek So-cheon, explaining that he had decided on the name Hyun-cheon-dae to borrow from his own pavilion’s standing, asking how it sounded.

Baek So-cheon nodded in approval.

The strategist mentioned that he had brushed the calligraphy with his own hand. Each stroke carried profound weight and earnest intention. While he privately yearned to label it So-cheon-dae, wrapping the unit in his personal authority remained essential to shield Baek So-cheon from early political hostility.

Je-gal Hyeon excused himself, explaining that a mountain of duties awaited him. He advised them to finish settling in today, reminding them that formal responsibilities would commence in two days’ time before wishing them endurance.

Baek So-cheon offered his gratitude.

Just as the strategist took his leave, an approaching presence announced his arrival, remarking that Baek So-cheon had reached the headquarters far swifter than anticipated.

Turning around, they were greeted by Hwang Il-bi, leader of the first squad in Cheol-geum-dan. This was the companion who had previously lamented staying behind for his family when Baek So-cheon departed for Mun-seong.

Baek So-cheon retorted that rural living grew tiresome quickly, prompting him to journey back.

Hwang Il-bi genuinely smiled at his comrade’s return. Though he had expected an eventual comeback, this rapid reappearance underscored the brewing crisis.

When Baek So-cheon introduced the newcomer to Im Choong and Beon Saeng, their jaws dropped upon discovering he held command over a squad in Cheol-geum-dan.

Naturally, confusion stirred between the two companions. They could not understand how an ordinary former member could converse so flippantly with a current Cheol-geum-dan squad leader. Even accounting for age differences, official hierarchy normally dictated strict deference.

Simultaneously, Hwang Il-bi studied the two strangers, wondering whether they were hidden experts plucked from obscurity. Yet by any standard observation, they lacked the bearing of martial masters.

Before the mutual scrutiny could deepen, an urgent messenger from Cheol-geum-dan arrived, bowed, and announced that the Legion Lord required the First Squad Leader’s immediate presence.

Hwang Il-bi sighed softly, noting that eyes were clearly trailing him, as summons always landed whenever he tried to enjoy a brief moment.

Baek So-cheon bid him farewell for now.

Pausing before departing, Hwang Il-bi looked at the humble plaque and inquired about the prerequisites for entering Hyun-cheon-dae.

Baek So-cheon stated there were no specific conditions, though a clear disqualification existed.

Curious, Hwang Il-bi asked what that was, to which Baek So-cheon bluntly replied that he was barred from joining due to being a nuisance.

Hwang Il-bi scoffed playfully, questioning where anyone could find someone as entertaining as himself and teasing whether Baek So-cheon merely feared stirring the envy of the Legion Lord.

Baek So-cheon calmly refuted that notion.

When pressed for the true reason, Baek So-cheon delivered an unexpected answer: should any sudden crisis erupt, Hwang Il-bi needed to be in place to seize command of Cheol-geum-dan. He told him to remain dedicated to his current superior and stay put.

The words left Hwang Il-bi speechless. Never in his wildest thoughts had he envisioned such a prospect; Baek So-cheon was openly treating him as the legitimate heir to the Legion Lord’s seat.

His pulse quickened fiercely at receiving genuine recognition from Baek So-cheon. Concealing the sudden rush of emotion, he offered a parting quip about being glad for the rejection anyway since he could never tolerate being demoted back to a regular foot soldier, before taking his leave.

Watching him disappear down the path, Beon Saeng let out a ragged sigh, wondering aloud whether ranks worked in reverse at headquarters, where simple fighters towered above squad leaders and pavilion commanders. Even knowing Baek So-cheon possessed an extraordinary nature, witnessing prominent figures bend to him in person proved overwhelming.

Baek So-cheon instructed them to head to their quarters and organize their personal belongings for the rest of the day, stating they would cleanse the outpost tomorrow.

Both men acknowledged the command.

Staring after their leader’s walking silhouette, Im Choong and Beon Saeng exchanged weary looks, overwhelmed by the sheer velocity of recent events. Standing in the heart of the Murim Alliance felt utterly surreal, as though walking through an improbable dream. Where high spirits and bold ambition ought to dwell, an undeniable fear and anxiety gnawed at their guts.

Im Choong placed a steadying hand upon Beon Saeng’s shoulder. He felt that weight even more acutely, having relocated his entire household to this foreign place. Yet having a comrade at his side made the burden bearable. They resolved to weather whatever trials lay ahead side by side, reaffirming their shared grit.

Inevitably, Baek So-cheon’s resurgence did not bring joy to all quarters.

Within the quarters of Cheol-geum-dan, Legion Lord Chung Yang seethed with venomous fury. It was he who had previously applied relentless pressure to exile Baek So-cheon to Mun-seong in disgrace.

Chung Yang roared in frustration, demanding to understand how this turn of events had come to pass.

Hwang Il-bi, standing attentive nearby, suggested that the decision likely stemmed directly from the Alliance Lord’s Hall.

Chung Yang ground his molars together, holding his tongue from outright curses since the supreme leadership might truly be involved. He sneered, asking what manner of squad Baek So-cheon was supposed to lead with only a handful of men at his side, scoffing that a toothless tiger posed zero threat.

Yet beneath his bravado, Chung Yang still carried the vivid memory of the humiliating beating that same toothless beast had once inflicted upon him.

Hwang Il-bi suggested that if the situation caused such distress, he could personally keep tabs on Baek So-cheon and provide constant updates.

Chung Yang narrowed his eyes suspiciously, asking if Hwang Il-bi merely wished for an excuse to loiter around his old associate.

Hwang Il-bi felt a momentary jolt at his superior’s sharp instinct, yet kept his expression completely neutral. He countered that he was purely practical and held no love for washed-up relics, inviting the commander to dispatch another scout if doubt lingered, as his own schedule was sufficiently packed.

Chung Yang waved it off, ordering him to execute the surveillance himself and bring back precise reports on how many subordinates Baek So-cheon gathered and what operations unfolded.

Hwang Il-bi formally acknowledged the order.

Massaging his aching brow, Chung Yang fumed that the returnee would surely scheme to reclaim the supreme seat of Cheol-geum-dan.

Hwang Il-bi asked quietly if the commander felt intimidated.

Chung Yang snapped back defensively, declaring he held no dread toward a ruined wretch devoid of inner qi. He insisted there was nothing to fear, noting whispers that the Grand Strategist had pushed this arrangement against the supreme leader’s true preference. In his eyes, that meant Baek So-cheon had lost all favor from the Murim Alliance Lord, giving them every justification to plot his ultimate eviction.

Hwang Il-bi listened without a word.

Chung Yang reiterated firmly that a method must be devised to cast the man out for good, to which Hwang Il-bi gave a solemn agreement.

Departing down the stone corridor, Hwang Il-bi reflected on the encounter. While pleased by his friend’s return, Chung Yang’s unstable agitation signaled trouble. The legion commander’s deep-seated anxiety regarding Baek So-cheon remained raw, and his earlier defeat had grown entirely out of that terror. Yet there was no true shame in that; even shorn of fangs, a majestic predator remained something to be feared.

—

As darkness fell, Baek So-cheon arranged a simple drinking table for the three of them.

Having never shared such an intimate setting with him before, Im Choong and Beon Saeng sat with rigid spines, thoroughly nervous.

Reading the atmosphere, Baek So-cheon spoke in a steady tone, revealing that during the catastrophic Righteous-Evil Great War of the past, the realm had known him as the War God.

Beon Saeng chuckled nervously, assuming their leader was spinning another grand yarn, and glanced over to laugh with his brother—only to freeze upon seeing Im Choong’s pale, rigid expression.

Im Choong stared wide-eyed at Baek So-cheon, whispering that the name of the legendary champion who saved the central plains was indeed Baek So-cheon. The memory had drifted to the back of his mind over years of obscurity, but hearing it directly reignited the truth. The supreme defender of the martial world sat right before them.

Im Choong’s voice quivered as he processed the reality.

Beon Saeng, however, struggled to connect the dots. The distant province of Jeol-gang had remained largely untouched by the fires of that conflict, and as a preoccupied rookie struggling to survive, distant tales of war heroes had bypassed him entirely.

Im Choong explained to his bewildered companion that the man pouring their drinks had single-handedly rescued the entire righteous faction during the previous apocalypse.

Beon Saeng’s eyes bulged in shock. It had never been empty boastfulness. All the impossible feats they had witnessed after calling him an older brother, and the absurd ease with which he handled dangerous outlaws like Wang Gon, suddenly fell into place.

Baek So-cheon apologized softly for keeping the truth veiled until now.

Im Choong stammered, asking if it was even appropriate for ordinary men like them to address a legendary savior as an older brother.

Baek So-cheon affirmed that nothing needed to change between them.

Im Choong gathered his courage and posed the vital question: why had a legendary martial god chosen to bring two unremarkable subordinates along with him?

Beon Saeng added with self-deprecating humor whether it was simply because they were naive tools ripe for exploitation.

Baek So-cheon acknowledged with a smirk that while such convenience existed, the genuine reason was different: they possessed genuinely good, honest hearts.

The unexpected answer left both listeners astonished.

Baek So-cheon emptied his porcelain cup in solitude, confessing that ever since he was a six-year-old child, his sole ambition had been to stand as a warrior of the Murim Alliance to defend the innocent. He had assumed that childish ideal was long extinguished by the passage of time and the harsh realities of the world, where grand dreams usually wither away. Yet bringing the two of them along proved that an ember of that naive hope still survived within him.

Im Choong and Beon Saeng sat in absolute silence. They had never imagined hearing such vulnerable convictions from their formidable companion. They did not grasp that, beneath all his ruthless prowess, that singular pure intention had anchored his soul across endless bloody struggles.

Baek So-cheon broke the quiet, asking if they comprehended why the strategist had summoned him out of seclusion.

They shook their heads, waiting.

He told them another war was on the verge of erupting.

The two men shuddered. Barely three winters had passed since the last slaughter.

Baek So-cheon warned that this impending conflict would not resemble the past; it was destined to be an absolute war of annihilation where defeat meant total slaughter for everyone under the Murim Alliance banner. He brought them here because if the storm could not be stopped, death would claim them regardless, and not even the remote corners of Jeol-gang would shield them from the fire.

Silence blanketed the table.

He declared firmly that they were going to halt the catastrophe.

Beon Saeng asked in a trembling voice if the two of them were genuinely included in that grand effort.

Baek So-cheon answered that they stood at the very beginning of it.

Beon Saeng swallowed hard, asking if their adversary was some regional syndicate like Tae-jeong-pa.

Baek So-cheon stated that their true adversary was the Black Heaven Alliance.

Both men turned ghost-white. Though sharing a character in their names, a petty local underworld syndicate could never be compared to the terrifying shadow of the Black Heaven Alliance.

Baek So-cheon recalled how sickened they had felt during their minor brush with Shin-hwa-bang, pointing out that facing this grand terror would make a man collapse on the spot. In this war, fainting meant execution, and fleeing meant getting run down from behind.

Im Choong and Beon Saeng threw back their alcohol, the liquid burning down their throats without a trace of sweetness.

Im Choong spoke up, understanding now that the creation of Hyun-cheon-dae was intended exclusively to prevent this very cataclysm.

Baek So-cheon confirmed it, stating that the unit was forged for that singular mission. He vowed to elevate it until it stood as the supreme force within the entire organization, pulling capable hands from Bi-gak, recruiting veterans from Cheol-geum-dan, and bringing in formidable outsiders without restriction. He asked if they would dedicate their strength to him.

Both men gave an immediate, thunderous reply of assent.

Im Choong reflected upon the lesson his elder brother had once imparted: either turn one’s eyes away from reality entirely, or throw oneself into it with everything one possessed. The era of passive survival had ended; the hour to grasp destiny had arrived.

Both men pledged to temper themselves through relentless martial training from this moment forward.

Baek So-cheon instructed them not to undertake the struggle for him or for the organization, but strictly to secure their own survival and agency.

They affirmed loudly.

Baek So-cheon hoisted his drinking vessel high, and their cups met with a resounding, vibrant clatter.

Beon Saeng let out a nostalgic sigh, confessing that life felt far simpler when he could still dismiss everything as older brother’s ridiculous fabrications.

Baek So-cheon poured another round into Beon Saeng’s cup, remarking with a faint smile that he had quite enjoyed being thought of as an amusing liar.