814 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Translated and Implemented Instructions The season was still autumn. Now, the leaves, which had only just begun to color, were starting to fall. They climbed along the tranquil path for quite some time. There was no moment to appreciate the seemingly beautiful scenery or landscape. Only the sound of shallow breaths echoed. Clearly, the group, which exceeded ten people, continued their ascent. Until yesterday, not even a whisper of discomfort, once heard, could be uttered. Their destination was right ahead, and they were too exhausted to voice their complaints. The tough journey had made even the bravest feel weary. “Ah, the destination is ahead!” At someone's exclamation, the group collectively gasped for air. The sight of the much-desired location invigorated their weary spirits. After ascending the remaining stairs, they finally arrived at a large gate, which opened as if expecting them. It was because there were people already stationed at the entrance. Creeeeeak-! As the gate opened, a person came into sight. A middle-aged man with a friendly expression, who began to speak gently while smiling at the group. “From the Main Alliance (본 맹에서 오신)-.” “Ahhh…!” “We've arrived—!” "Move... Move—!" But, before the middle-aged man could finish talking, the group pushed through. Their desperation was so intense that no one could stop them. The group moved past the gate and, as soon as they entered, they began to collapse to the ground. “Ughhh….” “P-please… give us… water.” “…Wha… what is this….” They staggered as if not in their right minds, trembling to the point of fear. The one who seemed to be the administrator was visibly flustered by the unexpected sight. What on earth was this situation? As the man pondered deeply, someone approached with a fresh voice. "Nice to meet you." He turned, startled. The smile of the young man approaching was intimidatingly bright. But he had to swiftly collect himself. "Ah, I've heard a lot about you." He immediately recognized the young man by his attire. This young man was the one he had been awaiting. In the current realm of Jianghu (중원), not knowing him would be unheard of. The robe he wore confirmed his identity since it was something only bestowed upon a true Sword Unit (검대) leader, akin to a grandmaster. The middle-aged man spoke with a strained smile. "It is an honor to meet the Star King (Seongwang / 성왕). I am Mok Riseon (목리선), the branch manager of the Sichuan Branch." "I am Gu Yangcheon (구양천) of the Star Dragon Squad (성룡대)." "You have traveled a long way, enduring much hardship." "No, not at all. It wasn't that difficult to get here." “Ah, I see.” As Mok Riseon spoke, he glanced to the side. The members assumed to be from the Star Dragon Squad were sitting down, panting heavily as if they were zombies. Claiming it wasn't hard, yet why were they in such a state? Moreover, 'Is this young man truly the new squad leader?' He looked undeniably young. Even younger than his own son. How could such a young man have rescued people in Hanam and ascended to the rank of a king-level martial artist? It was hard to believe. Nevertheless, '...The Main Alliance (본맹) has confirmed it, so I must believe.' It was a decree from the Main Alliance, after all. Whether Mok Riseon believed it or not was irrelevant. As he judged and subtly surveyed his surroundings, ‘Hmm?’ He noticed something peculiar. "Excuse me…." “Yes.” “I heard that the Azure Dragon Leader (청룡대주) was also accompanying the group. Is that not correct?” The notice had indicated that the Azure Dragon Leader and the members would be included in the arriving group, yet the One Azure Sword (일청검) was nowhere to be seen. "Ah, that." The Star King replied with a brief chuckle. "The Azure Dragon Squad will arrive about two to three days later." “Excuse me?” “We hurried along a bit. It seems the Azure Dragon Squad decided to take it easier.” "Ah, I see." Hurrying. Upon hearing that, Mok Riseon nodded in comprehension. Indeed, they arrived swiftly. Despite predicting they would arrive at least five days later, it showcased the speed of the Star Dragon Squad's movement. '...Could it be because of that?' Mok Riseon finally understood why the members of the Sword Unit were utterly exhausted. Arriving five days ahead of schedule. For such an early arrival, they would have needed to travel from Hanam to here at a considerable pace, almost without rest. That must explain the state they were in. Mok Riseon harbored cautious doubts. He was nearly certain but couldn't fully be convinced because, ‘Why are only half of them exhausted?’ Though many were worn-out, the other half seemed relatively fine, albeit tired. Especially. The women seemed unusually alright. ‘And why are they all so well-formed?’ Their appearances were uniformly remarkable. While Mok Riseon found himself inadvertently staring in fascination at one of the women, He noticed and widened his eyes slightly. “Oh…! Could it be Lady Tang?!” “Ah.” A woman with light green hair. Recognizing Tang So-yeol (당소열) of the Tang Clan, he exclaimed in surprise. Reacting to his response, Tang So-yeol awkwardly smiled, nodding. “…It's been a while.” "Have you been well?" "Yes. I've been doing well." "Who would have thought you'd join the Martial Alliance (무림맹).... Ah, how is the Tang Clan Leader (당 가주님)?" “…Yes. The Clan Leader is also well….” The awkward conversation continued. Being from Sichuan, the branch naturally had a deep connection with the Tang Clan, so they were familiar with each other. Observing quietly, Gu Yangcheon furrowed his brow slightly. "Deputy Leader." “Ah, yes. Squad Leader.” Calmly, he called for Tang So-yeol. “Since we've arrived, arrange and settle the lodging. I need to discuss some matters with the branch manager.” “What about rest?” “Rest, you say….” Gu Yangcheon turned his gaze slightly. The expressions of those on the brink of collapse were evident. Seeing that, Gu Yangcheon lifted the corner of his mouth slightly and spoke. Translated and Implemented Instructions "Rest today and assemble by tomorrow's hour of the tiger (in-si / 寅時). Even if you're tired, don't skip the watch." "Understood." A weary cheer spread among the members. The prospect of resting, even for a single day, seemed greatly appreciated. Watching this, Gu Yangcheon shook his head in disapproval. 'How difficult was it really?' All they did was rush a little and arrive early. Was that so taxing? Granted, there were individuals with relatively lower cultivation levels in the group, so it must have been challenging for them. 'I matched the speed to the slowest one.' He adjusted the pace to allow everyone to keep up. If he had set the pace to his own standards, they could have arrived twice as fast. Even after accommodating that much, they seemed so exhausted. 'Tsk, tsk.' Though he had much to say, he decided to overlook it since they had managed to arrive despite everything. The important thing was that they had finally reached Sichuan. ****************** After entrusting the members to Tang So-yeol, Gu Yangcheon followed the branch manager into a room. "Thank you once again for visiting us…." "No need for thanks. This is just part of my duties." "Hahaha. You must be tired after your journey. Are you sure you don't need a rest?" "I'm fine. It's not that exhausting. Let's get straight to the point." "Ah, understood…." After some light conversation, Gu Yangcheon pulled a document from his sleeve and handed it to the branch manager. "This is the Alliance's seal and a letter of verification." "Thank you. I've received it." This indicated his actions were on behalf of the Alliance and marked the beginning of his official mission. As soon as he received it, Mok Riseon handed over another document. "These are the reports we've compiled so far." "It's not very extensive?" "Yes, we've condensed the information as much as possible." There were about five pages. "Hmm." Flipping through the pages, Gu Yangcheon quietly read the contents. The information wasn't significantly different from what Mok Yeon had given. If anything was notable…. 'The increase in contact with unidentified people.' Earlier reports indicated about five days of contact over a fortnight. Now, it appeared to be occurring over half the days. Noticing this, he questioned Mok Riseon. "Do you know the identities of those meeting at Gyecheonmun?" "That… we suspect they might be from a trading company, but…." "So, it's unclear." "…Correct." Hearing this, Gu Yangcheon nodded. "Indeed. Gyecheonmun has a notably aggressive disposition, and the frequency of these contacts with a trading group seems suspicious." After flipping through a few more pages in the document, he addressed Mok Riseon again. "But what led you to believe they are a trading company?" "Ah, that…." Oh. Mok Riseon paused mid-sentence, narrowing his eyes. Something felt amiss. 'Why is everything flowing so smoothly?' Reporting to a squad leader (대주급) was expected, but something felt odd. '…Why does this feel so natural?' He had heard that the Star King was merely a young prodigy (후기지수) before becoming a squad leader, yet his conversation was notably adept. It felt like conversing with veterans and experienced leaders. "Through surveillance, we confirmed they are affiliated with the Guangdong region, active under a trading façade…." "Guangdong?" "Yes. They operate under the name Chooyasan Trading Company (초야상단). While the company itself is real…." As Mok Riseon's words trailed, Gu Yangcheon quickly added. "It's likely they're just using the identity. They wouldn't blatantly conduct business with a clan outside the Martial Alliance's favor." “…Indeed.” "Hmm." A few more times, Gu Yangcheon skimmed through the document, seeking more detailed information. After a brief silence passed. "So, Gyecheonmun plans to instigate something immediately… but I see no connection to the Demonic Cult (마교). What about the Demonic Evil Spear (귀악창)?" Responding to Gu Yangcheon’s question, Mok Riseon took a subtle gulp and replied. "Among those presumed to be guards of the trading company, we found someone matching the description of the Demonic Evil Spear." "Hmm. But it's not a certainty." "No, but Gyecheonmun's recent activities are abnormal, and their sudden aggressiveness is indeed strange. If it's akin to the Demonic Cult preparing something as in Hanam…." With a very tense expression and swallowing dryly, Mok Riseon continued. "Especially… with the Tang Clan losing strength, I felt the need to take a different approach." “So, you informed the Alliance and requested support, did you?” "Correct." With Mok Riseon’s affirmation, Gu Yangcheon neatly folded the document and tucked it into his attire. "Reasonable. The information was concisely summarized, making it easy to digest. It seems you’ve handled a lot of hard work." "Haha…. It's just a duty as a branch manager." "Given Mok Riseon's observations regarding the peculiar actions of Gyecheonmun, it seems wise to proceed with investigations. That's why we're here, after all." Upon Gu Yangcheon’s words, Mok Riseon exhibited a visibly relieved expression. "Understood. Would it be prudent to prepare branch personnel for support?" "Yes, that would be good. Ah, one more thing." With a slight nod, Gu Yangcheon addressed Mok Riseon. "Could you prepare the unabridged documents for me as well?" "What?" A startled Mok Riseon inquired further. "Why the full reports…? Ah, if you feel the information is insufficient. I'll recompile them…." "No, that’s not necessary. It’s just that reviewing the full reports myself might give me a clearer picture. I’d appreciate it." "Ah… understood." Though seeming momentarily flustered, Mok Riseon quickly concealed it and replied. Watching him quietly, Gu Yangcheon rose to his feet. "I believe I've heard all I need. I'll take my leave now." "Then, shall I escort you to your quarters?" "No need. I plan to step outside for a while." "...Outside?" Translated and Implemented Instructions Mok Riseon reacted with surprise to Gu Yangcheon's words. They had just arrived; why was he already talking about going out? "You said you were going to rest today…." "That was for the members to rest. I have some matters to attend to, and I won't be long." Gu Yangcheon replied with a smile, offering a slight bow. "Then, I shall see you later." "Ah, I, yes… See you later." Mok Riseon seemed somewhat uneasy. Ignoring this, Gu Yangcheon turned away and reached for the doorknob. At that moment, the smile he had been wearing vanished completely. With an expression that turned sharply cold, he deliberated inwardly. ‘I see.’ He still wasn't entirely sure about Gyecheonmun's dealings and all, but one thing he was certain of. ‘First, I should deal with the branch manager.’ Mok Riseon, the branch manager of the Sichuan Branch. This man was a spy.