Chapter 45

Chapter 45
Word rapidly circulated throughout the Murim Alliance that Hyun-cheon-dae had begun enlisting fighters.

Baek So-cheon had made his comeback, and Hyun-cheon-dae was assembling its ranks. Paired with whispers of discord brewing between the Murim Alliance Lord and the Grand Strategist, this development instantly turned into the most captivating topic across the grounds.

“Who would actually dare sign up for that?”

To many, it seemed akin to fastening a bell around a feline’s neck. Regardless of how deeply they revered Baek So-cheon or wished to fight by his side, making such a commitment was far from simple. Stepping into Hyun-cheon-dae meant risking the wrath of the leader of the Iron Sword Squad—and possibly drawing the disfavor of the Murim Alliance Lord himself.

Yet matters took an entirely unforeseen turn.

The very first person to step forward and volunteer was someone nobody could have predicted: Cheon-su, commander of the Iron Sword Squad’s sixth unit, who had recently crossed blades with Baek So-cheon on the training grounds.

“I have arrived to submit my name for Hyun-cheon-dae. Would you be willing to take me in?”

Baek So-cheon had certainly not anticipated his appearance either.

“Even should you prove yourself here, the highest rank you could hope for is a squad leader—otherwise, you will merely be an ordinary soldier.”

“I have already braced myself for that possibility.”

“May I inquire as to what prompted your decision?”

“My desire is to serve under your command, Captain.”

“If your motive stems from our encounter on the training grounds, there is no obligation for you to do this.”

“Had that been my sole reason, I would never have set foot here.”

Knowing Chung Yang’s disposition, staying behind would have only invited endless torment.

“What else, then?”

“My respect for you has endured for a very long time.”

Baek So-cheon recognized that this was not hollow flattery. He remembered the steadfast loyalty with which Cheon-su had once stood beside him during training. Even so, he inquired further to test his resolve.

“If that is true, why did you insist on a transcendent peak level demonstration back then?”

Though it had been Chung Yang who gave the command, Cheon-su provided a far more profound explanation.

“Deep down, I knew you would pull it off.”

“And had I perished in the attempt?”

“Such a worry never crossed my mind. I had full confidence you would never undertake something that lay beyond your grasp.”

That absolute conviction had enabled him to execute Chung Yang’s orders with such composure. Deprived of that belief, he never could have followed through so faithfully.

“Do you feel no dread?”

The inquiry made no explicit mention of Chung Yang’s vindictiveness or the possibility of future vengeance.

“I do feel fear.”

“And yet you still come?”

“Because I trust that you will shield me, Captain.”

There was no necessity for further questioning.

“You are welcome in Hyun-cheon-dae.”

Baek So-cheon reached out his hand, and Cheon-su took hold of it with a powerful grip.

“I swear to dedicate myself to you with wholehearted devotion.”

Baek So-cheon summoned Im Choong and Beon Saeng to introduce them to their newest comrade.

Before that day concluded, fourteen additional fighters from the Iron Sword Squad joined Hyun-cheon-dae alongside Cheon-su. Among their numbers were three unit commanders, including No Woong from the third unit.

Every single one of these men had braved mortal peril shoulder-to-shoulder with Baek So-cheon during his tenure leading the Iron Sword Squad. A number of them owed their very survival to him, while others had held him in unshakeable esteem from those days until now.

Having witnessed the true Baek So-cheon reemerge during the confrontation on the training grounds, they had resolved to rally behind him once more.

A mere fifteen warriors? That was far from disappointing! Baek So-cheon had not envisioned gathering even that many. He understood all too well how rare and difficult it was for even a single soul to step forward when one stood in desperate need of aid.

Naturally, upon receiving word of the defections, Chung Yang erupted in sheer fury.

“What did you say? Fifteen men walked away? Those ungrateful ingrates!”

As he moved to barge outside in a tempest of rage, Hwang Il-bi stepped into his path to restrain him.

“Control your temper!”

“Control it? How can you expect me to sit still?”

“What could you possibly achieve by confronting them now? Their loyalty has already departed.”

Of course, Hwang Il-bi himself had secretly assisted in their departure. When a handful of soldiers had tentatively approached him asking if they might transfer, he had quietly urged them forward, even telling them to fulfill their duties honorably on his behalf.

“Baek So-cheon! That cursed wretch!”

“Inviting him to serve as an instructor was where our error began.”

Hwang Il-bi placed the blame squarely upon Chung Yang’s shoulders. Because the accusation rang entirely true, Chung Yang could offer no defense. Never in his wildest thoughts had he envisioned matters deteriorating to this point.

Chung Yang abruptly pushed himself up from his seat.

“Where do you plan to go?”

“When a beast turns feral, you must summon a more capable hunter.”

Relinquishing his quarry to another tracker dealt a severe blow to his pride as the head of the Iron Sword Squad, but preserving his reputation was no longer a luxury he could afford.

“I shall go with you.”

Hwang Il-bi moved to accompany him, eager to stay close enough to observe how events unfolded.

“You were just thinking that it isn’t the tiger that went mad, but rather the hunters who lost their senses, weren’t you?”

“Certainly not, sir!”

“Stop pretending to be ignorant. Remain right here.”

Watching Chung Yang stride past the doorway, Hwang Il-bi mused internally,

‘A true seer. What a remarkable fortune teller.’

Chung Yang was marching off to secure an audience with the leader of Bi-gak.

‘If my own strength is insufficient to handle him, I must compel the Bi-gak lord to act.’

At present, only the Iron Sword Squad and Bi-gak possessed sufficient influence to stand against Baek So-cheon.

That held especially true because both organizations had formerly been under Baek So-cheon’s personal command. Surely the Bi-gak lord harbored the very same sense of apprehension that troubled him.

Guided by an attendant, Chung Yang stepped into the chambers of the Bi-gak lord.

Yet the instant he crossed the threshold, he stopped dead in his tracks, paralyzed by astonishment.

‘What in the world…!’

Baek So-cheon was already sitting inside.

‘Why under the heavens is this bastard sitting here?’

Catching sight of his bewildered face, Baek So-cheon offered a faint grin.

“You appear as though you just encountered an apparition.”

“That is not so.”

Mindful of the Bi-gak lord’s presence, Chung Yang swiftly reined in his composure.

“I hope you have been keeping well, Pavilion Lord?”

“Please enter, Squad Leader.”

The individual currently serving as the head of Bi-gak, On Byeok-hwa, was a mature woman.

Having crossed into her fifties, her face remained entirely free of cosmetics, a simplicity that only magnified her commanding aura. Delicate creases etched near her eyes hinted at decades of accumulated trials, and the sharpness of her stare carried enough intensity to make ordinary martial artists shudder with apprehension.

She did not originate from within the Murim Alliance itself; the Murim Alliance Lord had personally recruited her from outside regions. Originating from Gang-seo, she had once achieved widespread renown after slaying the notorious Guizhou Seven Swords in a solitary clash. Her numerous valiant exploits had earned her immense prestige throughout the martial world, even if the finer details of her martial prowess and personal background stayed largely veiled in mystery.

“Please take a seat. If this arrangement feels awkward, you are welcome to wait in an adjoining chamber.”

“There is no need for that.”

Chung Yang took a seat alongside Baek So-cheon.

His original intention had been to build a joint coalition alongside the Bi-gak lord so they could work together to drive Baek So-cheon away.

‘Accursed luck. He reached her before I could!’

He presumed Baek So-cheon had arrived to sway the Bi-gak lord toward orchestrating his removal.

Yet that assumption was completely detached from the true purpose of Baek So-cheon’s visit.

“Shall we resume our discussion? As I understand it, you are requesting that I transfer a contingent of Bi-gak fighters to Hyun-cheon-dae?”

“Indeed. A mere ten individuals will suffice.”

Hearing this exchange, Chung Yang was inwardly thunderstruck.

‘He dared walk in here demanding soldiers from Bi-gak? The man has lost his mind entirely. As if Bi-gak would ever surrender its own members.’

Baek So-cheon pressed forward with an even bolder proposal.

“If they are handed over permanently, it will inevitably breed resentment among them. Instead, assign them on an official dispatch.”

In essence, he was asking that their official affiliations and stipends continue to be sustained directly by Bi-gak.

Faced with such an extraordinary request, On Byeok-hwa maintained an unperturbed demeanor.

“For what reason should I agree to this?”

“Hyun-cheon Pavilion established Hyun-cheon-dae to serve as a nimble strike unit capable of keeping the Black Heaven Alliance in check.”

Chung Yang cut in with a thinly veiled sneer.

“Is that duty not already fulfilled by Bi-gak and the Iron Sword Squad?”

“Precisely. And their performance in that regard is commendable. However, both groups possess distinct shortcomings.”

A spark of intrigue flared within On Byeok-hwa’s eyes.

“What flaws do you perceive?”

“Bi-gak stands without question as the finest elite cadre within the Alliance, yet it functions solely at the direct command of the Murim Alliance Lord—it is his personal division. That dynamic severely constrains its operational flexibility. At a juncture like this, with hostilities against the Black Heaven Alliance drawing near, autonomy among our forces is vital.”

His argument held undeniable merit. Though Bi-gak represented the foremost martial strength within the Alliance, its movements remained tethered to the Lord’s immediate directives.

“And what about the shortcoming of the Iron Sword Squad?”

Chung Yang demanded hastily. Under ordinary circumstances, the Pavilion Lord would have mounted a defense of Bi-gak prior to addressing the Iron Sword Squad, but his patience had worn thin.

“Its scale has become too vast.”

“While our total numbers are substantial, we are systematically separated into discrete units.”

“Yet every single one of those units remains reliant upon the commands of a single leader.”

Regardless of how many subdivisions were introduced, a structure governed by an undivided chain of authority remained an unwieldy entity.

“To put it simply, Squad Leader, how intimately are you acquainted with the personal circumstances of every warrior under your command?”

Chung Yang had no response to give.

Baek So-cheon shifted his focus back toward On Byeok-hwa.

“Hyun-cheon-dae will not swell into an oversized organization. It shall remain a lean, elite force designed to maneuver rapidly in backing up both Bi-gak and the Iron Sword Squad. If my own words fail to convince you, place your faith in Strategist Je-gal.”

“What would happen if I chose to assign only the most unruly and troublesome fighters from Bi-gak to your ranks?”

“I know you would not take such an action.”

“How can you assert that with such certainty, considering you do not truly know me?”

“While it is true that I am unfamiliar with you personally, Pavilion Lord, I am intimately acquainted with the character of the Alliance Lord. He is not a man who would delegate such significant authority to someone capable of petty conduct.”

Even though he currently stood on opposing terms with him, Baek So-cheon could not deny that the Murim Alliance Lord was exceptionally gifted at placing the right individuals in positions of power.

Their eyes met and held in silence. Neither individual could decipher the hidden thoughts or underlying motives of the other merely through expressions or shared glances.

At last, On Byeok-hwa gave her consent.

“Very well. I shall draft ten members from Bi-gak to your command.”

“You have my gratitude.”

Chung Yang was practically seething with indignation. With this concession, any possibility of reclaiming the warriors who had been pulled away from his own squad vanished completely.

“With that settled, I shall take my leave.”

Baek So-cheon offered a courteous bow and exited the room.

Finding himself alone with On Byeok-hwa, Chung Yang immediately voiced his objection.

“You must not dispatch those fighters.”

“For what reason should I refuse?”

“Do you believe the Murim Alliance Lord will permit such an arrangement?”

“I possess sufficient authority to oversee matters of this scale.”

Seeing that referencing the Lord failed to alter her stance, Chung Yang pivoted toward an alternate angle.

“That fellow is aiming to seize your station.”

“My station?”

“Precisely.”

“And why would he desire it?”

“Why? Because it is the very seat he once occupied, and it carries the greatest authority.”

“I find that doubtful.”

“Excuse me?”

“It is just as Captain Baek remarked. I may not know him intimately, yet I understand the nature of the Alliance Lord. In a perilous hour with impending warfare at our gates, he would never elevate a figure inclined to play petty political games.”

“Nevertheless…”

Chung Yang came within a hair’s breadth of declaring that times had changed. Yet giving voice to that would cross an impermissible line. Once the head of Bi-gak settled upon a ruling, the matter was sealed.

Fixing an unblinking gaze upon Chung Yang, On Byeok-hwa calmly unveiled an unexpected fact.

“Squad Leader Chung.”

“I am listening, Pavilion Lord.”

“When warrior Baek suffered his demotion from the leadership of the Iron Sword Squad, are you aware of whom he put forward to serve as his replacement?”

“Who was it?”

The name of Hwang Il-bi crossed Chung Yang’s thoughts.

Instead, the name that fell from On Byeok-hwa’s mouth took him completely off guard.

“It was you, Squad Leader Chung.”

“What did you say?”

Chung Yang’s eyes stretched wide in utter disbelief.

“No. That simply cannot be true.”

“It is the reality. He personally advocated for you before the Grand Strategist. Naturally, it was handled through informal channels.”

“For what possible reason would he choose me?”

“That I cannot say. I am unable to fathom his inner thoughts.”

Standing in a daze for a passing breath, Chung Yang muttered his departure.

“I shall be on my way.”

“Take care of yourself.”

Once Chung Yang had exited the premises, On Byeok-hwa strolled over to the window.

She kept her eyes fixed upon Baek So-cheon’s retreating figure in the distance, observing him with a gaze far more solemn and contemplative than when he had presented his initial entreaty, watching until he fully dissolved from view.

Stepping away from the office of the Bi-gak lord, Chung Yang marched directly toward Baek So-cheon.

“Is that the truth?”

“To what are you referring?”

“That when you were stripped of your rank as squad leader, you were the one who endorsed me for the position.”

Following a brief hesitation, Baek So-cheon answered simply.

“It is.”

Caught completely off balance, Chung Yang pressed for an explanation.

“Why would you do that? We were hardly on cordial terms back then.”

“Because I judged you to be the most suitable candidate for the responsibility.”

“Why me, of all people?”

“I am well aware of how intensely you crave higher status and advancement. So long as you hold that hunger, you will never allow the Iron Sword Squad to fall into ruin. You may be self-serving and quick to anger, yet you are devoid of true corruption. When looking toward the future, someone possessing political acumen such as yours serves better than a rigidly unyielding sort.”

A quiet exhalation escaped Chung Yang’s lips. Never had he conceived of such a reality.

“Then why did you keep this hidden from me all this time?”

Had he been privy to this knowledge, he never would have sought friction with Baek So-cheon in the first place. How could anyone openly antagonize the very man who had paved the way for their promotion? Had he known, he might have avoided being humiliated and beaten as well.

“What would you have had me say? ‘I helped you secure your seat, so show me favor’? You would have transformed such words into political leverage, but that is not my way of handling affairs. Did you truly understand so little of my character?”

Chung Yang nearly gave vent to a shout, but the impulse dissolved into a heavy breath instead.

“This revelation does not alter the friction between us.”

“Naturally it does not.”

Spinning around abruptly, Chung Yang stormed out of Baek So-cheon’s presence.

As he made his descent through the corridor, he crossed paths with the former Iron Sword Squad fighters who had enlisted in Hyun-cheon-dae. Upon seeing him, they offered sheepish, remorseful salutations. Positioned at the very front of the group was Cheon-su, the former head of the sixth unit.

Chung Yang’s tone rang out with sharp irritation.

“You miserable fools.”

Cheon-su along with the rest simply bowed their heads in silence. At the end of the day, they had chosen to turn their backs on the Iron Sword Squad.

“You useless wretches! Seeing as you have made your bed here, carry out your duties properly. Ensure you do not drag the honorable reputation of the Iron Sword Squad through the mud. Do you understand?”

“Understood, sir.”

The assembled soldiers responded in unison out of long-ingrained habit.

Returning to the headquarters of the Iron Sword Squad, Chung Yang slumped into his seat in isolation, completely submerged in his thoughts.

Hwang Il-bi ventured forward with measured steps.

“Did an issue arise?”

It was readily apparent that the endeavor to recruit the hunter had gone thoroughly awry.

Chung Yang pushed himself up.

“Come along.”

“Where are we headed?”

“To find some liquor.”

“At this hour? The sun is still high above us.”

“Stop talking and move. Let us go!”

“Very well, if you insist.”

As the two walked side by side, Chung Yang let out a low, bitter murmur.

“If it is your wish to depart as well, go join Hyun-cheon-dae.”

“Why are you dragging that subject back into the light?”

Chung Yang brought his steps to an abrupt halt.

“Just leave. Do you believe yourself superior to everyone else? Before whom are you attempting to maintain an air of virtue? Am I the sole piece of filth inhabiting this place?”

In all their time together, Hwang Il-bi had never seen the man appear so disoriented and thoroughly broken. Chung Yang was ordinarily the sort who would wear a grin in the face of misfortune while quietly scheming retribution. Yet Hwang Il-bi could easily grasp the root of this emotional collapse—crossing paths and clashing with someone like Baek So-cheon was an ordeal few could endure unscathed.

Reaching out, Hwang Il-bi gently steered him forward by the arm.

“You have not swallowed a single drop yet, and our esteemed squad leader is already speaking like a drunken man. Come along, let us make sure we become thoroughly intoxicated today, just the two of us. I shall handle the food—the drinks are on your coin!”