Chapter 119: Chapter 119
The first target was Song Yi-yeon.
There was no grand reason. It was merely to defy everyone’s expectation that he would attack Cheol Ji-ak first.
In Cheon Woo-jin’s memories, Black Elder was always such a person. Even if he outwardly appeared to simply smash things apart, he always deceived his opponents, defied expectations, and toyed with them through thorough calculations.
However, because the results produced at the end of such calculations were so destructive, everyone merely remembered Black Elder as a man more overbearing than anyone.
Just like right now.
“Uh, uh…”
Song Yi-yeon’s already large eyes grew incomparably wider.
There was absolutely no way Young Hero Cheon would kill him. Because this was merely training. Nevertheless, as the Crescent Moon Staff drew right before his nose, the heads that had been smashed by that staff flashed past like a revolving lantern.
Right around the time fear welled up in Song Yi-yeon’s eyes.
Thwack!
The Crescent Moon Staff slightly shifted its trajectory and slammed into his shoulder.
Struck, Song Yi-yeon flew far away just like that, slammed into the wall, and slid down smoothly.
Everyone was greatly startled. They had never imagined Cheon Woo-jin would strike this violently.
“Y-Young Hero Song. Are you alr…”
This time, Jin Un, who had been worrying about Song Yi-yeon, was struck by the Crescent Moon Staff and sent flying. Likewise slamming into the wall, he was laid down neatly beside Song Yi-yeon.
“You won’t die. Probably.”
Cheon Woo-jin spoke calmly.
At that dry voice, the remaining three stiffened completely. For some reason, the word ‘probably’ appended at the end resonated with unusual weight.
Cheon Woo-jin’s gaze turned toward Cheol Ji-ak this time.
As a hall master of the Martial Alliance, Cheol Ji-ak charged first as if to prove he was different from the previous two.
But it was difficult to satisfy Cheon Woo-jin. It seemed none of them yet properly understood his master Black Elder’s training method.
It held meaning only if approached with the resolve that one could truly die. Cheol Ji-ak’s rushing fists should have been wrapped in fist astral energy, rather than just menacing resolve.
Crossing death once, and again, and crossing it countless times was how the meaning of this training finally emerged.
‘It cannot be helped.’
Cheon Woo-jin slightly dodged Cheol Ji-ak’s punch while simultaneously hurling the Crescent Moon Staff. Leaving Cheon Woo-jin’s hand, the Crescent Moon Staff surged forward, tearing through the air.
Greatly shocked, Cheol Ji-ak urgently jerked his head aside.
The Crescent Moon Staff grazed lightly past his cheek.
Cheol Ji-ak felt his hair stand on end at the thought that he had almost died just now. However, the person actually facing a life-threatening crisis was someone else.
Crash!
Grazing past Cheol Ji-ak, the Crescent Moon Staff lodged itself into Namgung Jin’s solar plexus. Soon, unable to withstand that power, Namgung Jin was sent flying all the way to the wall with it.
“Keo-heok!”
Suddenly pinned between the Crescent Moon Staff and the wall, Namgung Jin threw up bile with a pale face.
In an ever dry manner, Cheon Woo-jin reached his hand into the air. At that, the Crescent Moon Staff was drawn back, and Namgung Jin slid down along the wall just like that.
Around that time, Jin Un staggered to his feet.
Namgung Jin lay there merely blinking with a face wondering what on earth had just happened.
Checking the conditions of the five in sequence, Cheon Woo-jin continued speaking in a nonchalant tone.
“Starting now, I will consider all five of you to be going all out.”
Stated differently, it meant that because he would deal with them matching their full power, they could truly die if they did not go all out.
Of course, Cheon Woo-jin had no intention of killing them. However, there was a possibility they would be heavily injured.
But it did not particularly matter.
How could a martial artist grow without getting hurt?
Whether that distinctive set of values inherited from Black Elder had clearly transmitted to the other five, everyone’s momentum shifted in a single breath.
Jin Un and Namgung Jin drew their respective swords.
Distinct fist astral energy gathered on Cheol Ji-ak’s fists, while sword qi was contained within Zhuge Rin’s sword.
Only then did Cheon Woo-jin wear a satisfied expression.
Above all, what satisfied him most was…
That Song Yi-yeon was subtly preparing a surprise attack while pretending he had not yet regained his senses.
It was for this reason that he rated Song Yi-yeon’s talent the highest. Others looked down on him for being a merchant, but Cheon Woo-jin thought that precisely because he was a merchant, he could break free from the peculiar mindset of martial artists.
* * *
Late that night.
Members of the Martial Alliance passing before the Hidden Dragon Squad’s manor whispered among themselves.
Wailing sounds had begun since afternoon, continuing into this late hour of the night.
At that level, hasn’t someone died?
Around the time such rumors were spreading outside, everyone inside was having similar thoughts as well.
‘This will probably only end if someone dies…’
Both of Cheol Ji-ak’s fists were already battered and torn. Zhuge Rin’s jade sword was in tatters after being struck hundreds of times by the Crescent Moon Staff.
Even so, those two were relatively better off. At least they were standing, leaning against a wall or a tree.
Song Yi-yeon, Jin Un, and Namgung Jin were stretched flat out on their backs.
Beside the three lay one saber and two swords shattered to pieces.
Cheon Woo-jin approached the three lying down.
At that, Namgung Jin shouted as if having seen a demon.
“D-Don’t come! Don’t treat me!”
“Please just let us lie down for a moment…”
Whenever the three collapsed, Cheon Woo-jin forcefully infused soft and warm true qi into their bodies.
Then vigor would suddenly surge, enabling them to raise their bodies. Initially they thought it was extraordinarily wondrous and amazing, but from the moment it surpassed ten times, he looked like a devil who alternately inflicted healing and torture.
Black Elder’s training was originally like that. Until filling the targeted quota for the day, ending training, resting, or even collapsing from exhaustion was not permitted.
When the three struggled frantically, Cheon Woo-jin stopped abruptly.
At that, hope crossed the eyes of the three.
Was training finally ending?
But Cheon Woo-jin had no such intention. Rather, he chose an even more cruel method.
“Hall Master.”
“U-Uh, why?”
Leaning against the wall to rest, Cheol Ji-ak answered in surprise.
“Must we select a vice squad leader?”
“It would likely be better to have one.”
“Then we might as well choose the strongest person. That way, complaints from the remaining two will be comparatively lesser.”
At that, the three sprawled on the ground exchanged glances with one another.
They had the same thought.
There was exactly one way for everyone to be happy.
None of them had to get up together.
But what if only one got up?
They would have to watch that bastard become the vice squad leader.
Neither Song Yi-yeon, Jin Un, nor Namgung Jin had any desire to live addressing a peer of the same class as Vice Squad Leader.
“Damn it…”
Thus, the three rose from their spots with tearful expressions.
* * *
Ten days passed, and the day of the Inspection Hall’s first mission arrived.
Due to the nature of their missions, the Inspection Hall was directly managed by the Alliance Leader.
Therefore, before setting out on the mission, they headed to the Alliance Leader’s Palace.
“Alliance Leader.”
Cheol Ji-ak’s solemn voice echoed low.
Once Bukli Cheon’s permission was granted, all personnel of the Inspection Hall entered the office led by him.
Seeing them, Bukli Cheon asked in great astonishment.
“Did something happen to you all?”
Chief Strategist Sima Hwi beside him also nodded vigorously.
Barely ten days had passed since he last saw them. Yet the gaze and bearing of the young ones had become as sharp as if blade edges had been embedded in them.
It was understandable to feel solemn for their first mission, but looking only at their expressions, they looked almost like people heading out to kill their parents’ murderers.
“We trained a bit.”
His tone was also still solemn.
When Cheol Ji-ak mentioned training, Zhuge Rin, Song Yi-yeon, Jin Un, and Namgung Jin naturally recalled the past ten days.
Recalling that hellish training made something surge in their hearts. At the same time, fighting spirit toward the Qingcheng Sect rose like a heat haze.
It could also be called a side effect of Black Elder’s training method, as one became frantic to unleash that strength to one’s heart’s content as much as one had grown stronger.
Because Cheon Woo-jin had such a calm disposition, the side effects were not so severe even during his youth, but the other five felt like they would die if they could not sprint at full speed toward the Qingcheng Sect this very instant.
“This mission is to determine whether the Qingcheng Sect has committed misdeeds related to the founding of the Righteous Heavenly Alliance…”
“If there are, shall we kill them on the spot?”
“…?”
Bewilderment appeared on Bukli Cheon’s face.
Was that child Zhuge Rin originally this radical?
Not only her, but everyone wore similar expressions.
Right after the explanation and encouragement from the Alliance Leader and the Chief Strategist ended like that.
Finally, the Inspection Hall took its first steps outside the Martial Alliance.
“We assemble before the Azure Pine Inn in Deyang.”
Having spoken so, Cheol Ji-ak abruptly began shooting forward.
At that, as if they had been waiting, Zhuge Rin, Song Yi-yeon, Jin Un, and Namgung Jin followed in sequence.
Only the Black Tortoise Squad members left behind were baffled.
“No, just what kind of training did they do for ten days?”
Those who had not experienced Black Elder’s training method could not understand.
“The last five to arrive take the night watch.”
Soon, as Cheol Ji-ak’s voice rang out from ahead, fire fell on the feet of the remaining Black Tortoise Squad members as well.
Having watched everyone dash away until the very end, Cheon Woo-jin took leisurely steps.
It did not take very long for the side effects of those who had endured Black Elder’s training method to be completely resolved.
* * *
“P-Please stop…”
“Immeasurable Buddha. Primeval Lord of Heaven. Amitabha Buddha…”
Watching the back of Cheon Woo-jin which refused to get any closer, Song Yi-yeon dry-heaved, while a half-crazed Jin Un chanted Daoist invocations before suddenly chanting Buddhist invocations as well.
Right, it would end if they simply stopped.
They could let Cheon Woo-jin go first and proceed at a relaxed pace themselves.
But Cheon Woo-jin had said that whoever arrived last among the three would be completely eliminated from consideration for vice squad leader.
Namgung Jin pretending to collapse while grabbing Jin Un’s robes to pull him down, and Song Yi-yeon throwing wet leaves onto the path Namgung Jin ran to make him slip, were all for that reason.
How long did they run like that?
Suddenly, Song Yi-yeon made a proposal to the two.
“Let’s make it a three-way tie this time. At this rate, we will die before even properly starting the mission. We enter the inn all together at the exact same time. All right?”
Jin Un and Namgung Jin agreed.
They had no desire to ruin their first mission by expending all their energy on running either.
The compromise succeeded dramatically, and as the three slowed their pace together, they clearly felt just how beautiful peace was.
How many whole days did they run like that?
Below that hill, a town came into view. Although its scale was not as large as Luoyang of Henan Province or Hefei of Anhui Province, it seemed quite lively thanks to the Qingcheng Sect being situated nearby.
Then, an inn suddenly caught their eyes.
The characters clearly inscribed on the signboard: Azure Pine Inn.
A strange current flowed among the three who had been running matched in pace. Right around the time each was warily watching the person beside him and preparing to sprint at any moment.
“Let’s not betray one another. Are we not martial artists of the Righteous Path? Deceiving comrades with lies and all sorts of petty tricks is far too sorrowful a thing.”
Song Yi-yeon proposed once again.
Jin Un and Namgung Jin also felt ashamed to commit unsightly deeds as members of the Nine Great Sects and One Clan and the Five Great Clans respectively.
In that way, the three maintained peace until the end and stood before the inn. Somehow comradeship was blossoming. They even had thoughts like this.
‘In truth, didn’t Young Hero Cheon expect us to unite our hearts like this? Because this is what true comrades and brothers-in-arms are.’
The moment a field of flowers bloomed in Jin Un’s mind.
Song Yi-yeon yanked the robes of the two with a jerk and entered the inn first.
“…The realm of competition is ruthless.”
Looking at that Song Yi-yeon with faces smeared with bewilderment and betrayal, the remaining two stepped into the inn. Coincidentally, Jin Un and Namgung Jin’s feet stepped onto the inn floor at the exact same moment.
Watching this, Cheon Woo-jin, who had arrived first and was waiting, murmured low.
“Since two people entered simultaneously, it’s invalid.”
“…?”
Startled, Song Yi-yeon looked at Cheon Woo-jin.
But Cheon Woo-jin avoided that gaze and merely slurped the noodles placed before him. He made an effort to ignore Song Yi-yeon being dragged away behind the inn by the hands of Namgung Jin and Jin Un.
What was the reason he had decided to become the Hidden Dragon Squad Leader?
It was precisely to establish the will of his master White Elder upright within the Martial Alliance. As the saying goes that harmony at home brings prosperity in all affairs, the family must be harmonious first for everything to go well. In that sense, Young Hero Song’s petty tactic could not be defended.
Soon, the prolonged sounds of Song Yi-yeon becoming well-behaved echoed from behind the inn.