1147 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

“Gah!” Cough! Wi Seok, faltering, falls to his knees on the floor, repeatedly retching. “Ugh... Cough...!” Tears well up in his reddened eyes, and his face is a mess of saliva. The sight is utterly pitiful. Those wretched eyes glaring at me are so annoying that I decided to move my foot. Whack-! “Kek!” The blow to his chin knocks him out, and he collapses onto the vomit he had spewed. Turning my attention away from him, I looked again at the woman. “...Miss Hyun.” Hyun So Yeon. An unbelievably beautiful woman stood there. She was so stunning that even with Wi Seok knocked out, the other male members were staring at her, utterly entranced. Of course, she’d be beautiful. She resembles someone. No, not quite... ‘She’s the one resembling the other.’ Anyway. “...Why are you here?” I asked, puzzled by Hyun So Yeon's sudden appearance. She tilted her head slightly in response. “Why? Am I not allowed to be here?” “Under normal circumstances, no.” We were in the Cheong Ryong Dae's building. Outsiders shouldn't easily have access to the main camps, let alone enter the primary sword unit's compound. It just doesn't make sense. “Hmmm... well.” To my question, Hyun So Yeon nodded her head. “But I made it work.” She added with a bright smile. “I've decided to sponsor Cheong Ryong Dae.” “...What?” “Oh, technically, it’s our trading company, but... anyway.” “...” Sponsorship? For Cheong Ryong Dae? Hearing that, my face contorted. “...Suddenly?” “It wasn’t sudden; I've sent letters beforehand. It might have been around the day Baek Gongja left.” Which means it hasn't been long... In terms of time. “There wouldn’t be time for a reply.” Even if you sent and received the letter, at best it should arrive a couple of months later. Arriving just days after was just impossible. When I pointed that out, she replied as if it were obvious. “Of course, I just came without waiting for a reply.” “...What?” “There’s no time to wait for a reply. And is it necessary?” “Why wouldn’t it be necessary?” “Who would refuse this?” “...” I fell silent. She was right. Normally, they wouldn’t refuse. If it were a direct sponsorship for Cheong Ryong Dae... ‘The head would undoubtedly find a way to accept.’ Mi Hyo Ran is able to freely move within the organization possibly due to Cheong Ryong Dae's influence. And now. ‘Even with an existing sponsor, a new one is approaching.’ There might be some discussions with Baek Hwa Trading Company. ‘...The fact that she's already inside and walking around suggests...’ That the Cheong Ryong Dae has likely accepted her. Proving this... “Well, this is an amusing situation.” A middle-aged man with a broad smile landed on the ground. Flutter-! His light blue martial robes bore the symbols of the main camp and featured a blue dragon. “Greetings, Daeju-nim...!” Those who saw the man quickly showed their respect. The man was none other than Cheong Ryong Daeju. “Hmm...” Cheong Ryong Daeju alternated glances between the unconscious Wi Seok and myself before frowning slightly at me. “In the meantime, you’re causing trouble again. Our youngest member, no less.” “...” Should I apologize? I pondered briefly, but Cheong Ryong Daeju moved faster. With one gentle wave of his hand... Woosh-!! The unconscious Wi Seok floated in the air and flew towards the other members. “Ugh!” One of the members caught Wi Seok. “Send him to the infirmary.” “...Yes, sir!” Following the Daeju’s command, they hurriedly took Wi Seok away. Cheong Ryong Daeju then turned his gaze towards Hyun So Yeon. At that moment. “My, my, we have our esteemed sponsor here.” “...” He exhibited a rather lighthearted disposition. So much so that seeing him rubbing both hands together, I was momentarily speechless. “I should have personally received you. Thank you for taking the time to come despite your busy schedule.” “No, I’m just grateful to be accepted.” “Oh, as lovely in words as in appearance.” “Oh dear.” At Cheong Ryong Daeju’s cheap flattery, Hyun So Yeon covered her mouth and laughed. “I regret not showing only the best side. It’s such a pity. Our young ones are quite spirited, you see. Hahaha.” “No, if they are martial artists, that's understandable.” “Thank you for your understanding. Well then, shall we go inside and have a conversation?” “Sure.” With those words, Cheong Ryong Daeju led Hyun So Yeon inside. And in passing, a voice reached my ear. -Come to my office after you finish the conversation. It was a tone entirely different from the one used with Hyun So Yeon. ‘Hmm.’ A feeling that I would be scolded settled in. * * * Some time passed, and as the once clear sky began to turn to dusk. The meeting that had been planned was cancelled since the Daeju was engaged with Hyun So Yeon, leaving some free time. Having concluded my training sufficiently, I approached the Daeju's office. And then. “Come in.” A voice was heard just as I reached the door. I had deliberately made my presence known. Upon hearing the response, I promptly grabbed and opened the door. As the door creaked open, there sat Cheong Ryong Daeju. “Take a seat.” I moved over and pulled out a chair to sit. At that moment. Boom-!! A pressure emanated from his body. “Baek Yang Cheon.” “Yes.” I fully sensed the pressure. Without resistance, I accepted all the energy the Daeju was exuding. “Do you take me lightly?” “No.” “I find it hard to understand. So you’re not taking me lightly?” A chilling sensation washed over me. ‘...He’s strong.’ Indeed, Cheong Ryong Daeju was powerful. The level was different from what I’d experienced with the foolish Il Cheong Geom. Was someone like this really a Daeju? He seemed on a different level compared to the other Daejus. Or perhaps, the Daejus of this era were exceptionally strong. “I thought I was quite lenient with the first incident. Was I not?” “That’s correct.” “I showed leniency because you were worth it. But this... this is quite troublesome.” Ssshhhh. A tightness grips my throat. Cheong Ryong Daeju was exerting considerable pressure. “If this goes on, it will influence the main camp enough. Why did you clash with Wi Seok? You don’t strike me as someone foolish enough to not know better.” “...” I scratched my cheek. Honestly, it’s true I hit him because I was just fed up. I didn’t want to hold back excessively even after coming here. “He reminds me of someone I despise.” Someone I wanted to kill. And indeed, someone I killed. Thinking of Wi Seok as that person during his younger years infuriated me even more. “...That’s the only reason?” “There was more. He was unnecessarily trying to intimidate, so I might have overreacted a bit. I apologize.” “I don’t think you owe me an apology.” “No, I don’t feel particularly sorry to him, so it’s correct to apologize to you, Daeju.” “Huh?” “Given the nature of the group, I can be compliant to an extent, but I’m not patient enough to overlook pointless antics. I probably won’t hold back if it happens again.” I spoke boldly; I had no intention of enduring such nonsense. “Unless someone provokes me first, I won't be the one to initiate. But if something happens, I doubt it will be any different.” “So? You’re saying you’ll cause trouble again next time?” “It’s an incident that wouldn’t occur if I’m not provoked.” “Do you think I’ll just let that slide?” “If you don’t, then... too bad, what can I do? I’ll have to leave the camp.” “Huh?” If it didn’t suit me, I’d leave Cheong Ryong Dae. At those words, Cheong Ryong Daeju’s face twisted harshly. But I wasn’t intimidated by that expression. If someone were to scoff at me for thinking of the main camp as merely this much, I’d have nothing to say because— ‘That’s truly how it is.’ Even in my past life, I didn’t place much value on the murimmaeng. And in this world? Even less so. My reason for joining this place boils down to one thing. ‘Something that needs resolving.’ Something I need to know here. It was merely a means for meeting my father. ‘Even if I leave here, now I have ways to manage.’ I had already set some things in motion, so if I had to leave, I’d just find another way. Besides, with Sword Master having his eyes on me, staying longer might be more dangerous for me; if I were to leave, I’d just leave. ‘The problem is...’ The real question is— ‘Will they let me go?’ I suspect that the main camp won’t easily let me go now. And as if affirming this... “Ha ha ha ha—!!” Cheong Ryong Daeju bursts into hearty laughter. The energy pressing down on me dissipates. “...This one’s a piece of work, huh?” Though the pressure was gone, the tension in my body remained. ‘...Wow.’ This man. ‘He’s using sword intent?’ A chilling sensation as if countless sword tips were aimed at me. Cheong Ryong Daeju was sharpening his sword intent. “You see.” Amidst this, Daeju speaks to me. “I like people who are aware of their own value. Whoever they might be.” “Should I thank you for the compliment?” “There’s no need for that. I’ll just ask one thing.” “Go ahead.” “Are you an enemy of the murimmaeng?” “....” A rather unexpected question. I ponder briefly over his intention, but the answer is already clear. “Well, not at the moment.” “Oh? Not at the moment?” “Yes. It might be different depending on the circumstances.” “And what does ‘depending on the circumstances’ mean?” “It’s the same.” I ran a hand through my hair. The murimmaeng would become my enemy under one condition. “As long as they don’t meddle with me, I don’t plan to regard the murimmaeng as an enemy.” Don’t bother me while I’m at peace. That’s all it takes. It’s such a straightforward and simple issue. “Hmm.” At my answer, Daeju tilts his head. Then. “It’s not the most satisfactory answer, but I also don’t find it terrible.” He chuckles and pulls out a letter from his robe, handing it to me. “...What is this?” “Whatever it may be, a punishment must be given. Whether you understand your value, after all. Consider this your punishment.” “...” I took the letter and opened it. A punishment? What could it be? I looked at it with curiosity. “Go to Shanxi for a while and deal with some matters there. The deputy will be the overseer, so it’s best not to attempt anything unnecessary.” “...” It was a letter detailing a mission in Shanxi. “...Understood.” Though they called it a punishment, it was actually evidence that my father had secured what he wanted in his conversation with the Sword Master. ‘This man.’ It seems Cheong Ryong Daeju was aware of this as well. ‘Hmm.’ I nodded inwardly. Whatever the case, my journey to Shanxi had been decided.