Chapter 138: Chapter 138
The Alliance Leader’s Palace office.
The Alliance Leader and the Chief Strategist still wore stunned expressions.
Before them, the Hidden Dragon Squad members, including Cheon Woo-jin, sat comfortably.
The Hidden Dragon Squad members had originally been extremely nervous whenever having a private audience with the Alliance Leader, but after dining with the Emperor several times, even the Alliance Leader now felt quite comfortable to them.
The Alliance Leader pondered for a moment whether he should offer the seat of honor to Cheon Woo-jin. In the meantime, Cheon Woo-jin sat in the seat where he always sat.
Having brewed the tea, the Chief Strategist unwittingly set down the teacup in front of Cheon Woo-jin before the Alliance Leader, then flinched.
The Alliance Leader and the Chief Strategist’s eyes met.
An awkward silence flowed.
Feeling embarrassed, the Chief Strategist cleared his throat and hastily spoke.
“Ahem, what on earth happened?”
The news of the Peng Clan and the news that Cheon Woo-jin’s other master was Black Elder had spread quickly. However, the rumor that Cheon Woo-jin had become the Grand Preceptor had not yet reached all of the Central Plains.
Because it was news directly related to the imperial family, there were many things to consider before letting the rumor out.
Cheon Woo-jin replied nonchalantly.
What the Great General, the Hebei Peng Clan Patriarch, and the Eastern Sea Ghost had done on the battlefield of the Shandong Peninsula.
How the Sword Demon and the Explosion Demon intervened to take them and vanish.
How the Emperor had suddenly asked him to teach him martial arts, so he became the Grand Preceptor, beat him up a little, and agreed to drop by occasionally in the future.
The Alliance Leader narrowed his brows.
Amidst the constant surprises, there was a part he could not understand.
“With your personality, you would have refused without a second thought?”
At their first meeting, the Alliance Leader had proposed to Cheon Woo-jin to lead the orthodox martial world together with him.
Naturally, he was rejected flatly.
Could it be that the offer he had extended back then was too weak?
Recently, there was a saying:
‘If something cannot be solved with money, look back to see if the amount was too small.’
Had the Martial Alliance been far too lacking to satisfy Cheon Woo-jin, and it had to be at least on the level of the imperial palace?
Around the time the Alliance Leader was lost in such thought, Cheon Woo-jin answered nonchalantly.
“Wouldn’t becoming the Grand Preceptor be helpful for missions? For instance, when I suddenly need manpower, I could call upon local officials to deploy soldiers.”
Although it was said that government and the martial world do not interfere with each other, Cheon Woo-jin himself was both the Grand Preceptor and a Martial Alliance member, so what did that matter?
The Chief Strategist and the Alliance Leader nodded stiffly.
“…I see.”
Here was a fellow who received the position of Grand Preceptor, the center of imperial court power, just to use it for Martial Alliance missions.
The Alliance Leader and the Chief Strategist exchanged glances. The two were conversing with their eyes.
‘Is this right?’
‘I don’t know either.’
It was roughly that kind of look.
Meanwhile, Cheon Woo-jin spoke.
“Chief Strategist. The mission is now over.”
“You did well. When I recommended you for the position of Hidden Dragon Squad Leader, I never expected you would accomplish this much.”
The Chief Strategist planned to count appointing Cheon Woo-jin as Squad Leader as one of his greatest achievements when he retired.
However, Cheon Woo-jin stared fixedly at him as if to say he hadn’t brought this up to hear praise.
Only then did the Chief Strategist recall something.
“Ah, vacation! That’s right. I promised to give you a full month, including the vacation you didn’t receive after the last Qingcheng Sect mission.”
“Yes.”
Cheon Woo-jin was not originally someone who yearned for rest. However, he had noticed that the Hidden Dragon Squad members were on the verge of collapsing.
Because since the Hidden Dragon Squad’s first mission, they had been handling a rather grueling schedule without resting for even a single day.
Unlike Cheon Woo-jin, the members of the Hidden Dragon Squad were ordinary geniuses. People who wanted to rest when exhausted, and collapsed when pushed past their limits. Calling them ordinary geniuses sounded comical, but it was the truth.
“Very well. As of today, the Alliance will not issue any missions to you for one month. Rest to your heart’s content. I will also disburse the mission rewards in advance so that you can use them during your vacation.”
The corners of Song Yi-yeon, Jin Un, and Namgung Jin’s mouths twitched.
Because one way or another, they were ultimately young men barely in their twenties.
* * *
Dust had gathered in the Hidden Dragon Squad’s manor after their long absence. Though their bodies were weary, the Hidden Dragon Squad members started training after finishing a simple cleanup.
The time when the Hidden Dragon Squad trained the hardest was right after a mission. After witnessing the Squad Leader’s martial prowess with their own eyes, their will to cultivate naturally burned brightly.
In that manner, Song Yi-yeon, Namgung Jin, and Jin Un engaged in their usual emotion-filled, realistic combat training.
And around the time Cheon Woo-jin was sitting cross-legged, continuing his thoughts regarding the silver-haired man and the Dark Emperor.
“Is anyone inside?”
A familiar voice was heard.
Song Yi-yeon put away his White Flower Saber and opened the gate.
Two elderly men stood in front.
“Ah! Venerable Divine Physician!”
Song Yi-yeon greeted him warmly. Unlike Jin Un and Namgung Jin, Song Yi-yeon had seen the Divine Physician before at the Black Overlord Castle.
At the mention of the Divine Physician, the other two also rushed over in shock and paid their respects with utmost politeness.
Such was the presence of a physician in the martial world, especially the Divine Physician.
Cheon Woo-jin merely rose from his seat and bowed his head slightly.
Soon, the Divine Physician and the other old man acknowledged the Hidden Dragon Squad members’ greetings and approached.
“It has been a while, Alliance Member Cheon. Or should I call you Squad Leader now? This is a close friend who hones the medical arts alongside me.”
The Divine Physician joked.
However, Cheon Woo-jin’s gaze was fixed on the old man who came along. For some reason, the old man and the Divine Physician wore tense expressions.
Soon, Cheon Woo-jin’s eyes narrowed.
“…Is it all right for a public enemy of the martial world to come here?”
At that, the old man wore a regretful look, and the Divine Physician burst into hearty laughter.
“As expected, your eyes cannot be deceived. Well, what does it matter? The reason this fellow became a public enemy was actually nothing much.”
“What kind of reason was it?”
The answer came not from the Divine Physician, but from the old man who came with him.
“Back when I was living in hiding from Black Elder, I disguised myself as a beggar and lived in the Beggars’ Sect for a time. Seeing the Dragon Head Sect Leader and his disciple sleeping dead to the world after getting drunk, I could not overcome my surging thirst for knowledge and released a little poison on them. I barely managed to escape after almost getting beaten to death by the Sect Leader that day, but from the next day onward, I found myself branded a public enemy of the martial world.”
“…Do not package it as a thirst for knowledge. Did you not end up running away your whole life after doing the same thing to Master Black Elder?”
The identity of this old man with many age spots, a slightly stooped back, and cloudy pupils was none other than Dok-ra-su, who had altered his appearance through disguise arts.
Cheon Woo-jin was purely impressed. In truth, for someone at Cheon Woo-jin’s level of cultivation, disguise arts were largely meaningless. No matter how much one changed one’s appearance, one could recognize the opponent through energy.
However, Dok-ra-su had even deliberately fabricated his energy. It was a feat possible only by possessing extremely delicate control.
“It seems you have trained diligently in the meantime.”
Dok-ra-su’s realm had risen slightly compared to when he saw him before. Since he had already reached the Transcendent Realm, bone-carving training must have been necessary to raise his realm even by the slightest margin.
At Cheon Woo-jin’s compliment, Dok-ra-su smiled brightly.
“I made ceaseless efforts to become a martial uncle who wouldn’t embarrass my nephew. Thank you for recognizing it.”
“…That nephew talk again.”
Cheon Woo-jin shook his head as if finding it absurd. Yet seeing that it did not simply grate on his ears like before, it seemed he had grown somewhat comfortable with Dok-ra-su before he knew it.
Thus, the three sat side by side in the main hall.
Cheon Woo-jin brought teacups and a teapot using Telekinetic Attraction and served tea.
The Hidden Dragon Squad members returned to training. Thanks to having had audiences with the Emperor several times, they weren’t particularly nervous no matter whom they met now.
Around the time they were exchanging greetings and catching up on recent events while watching the Hidden Dragon Squad members train.
“Is anyone inside?”
“…There are many guests today.”
On a rare vacation, no less.
Swallowing those unspoken words, Cheon Woo-jin waved his hand through the air, and the gate opened smoothly.
The guests were two beggars, the Disciplinary Hall Master and the Dragon Head Sect Leader.
And the Courier Hall Master, neatly dressed in scholar attire.
“Hahaha, we came in a hurry upon hearing that Squad Leader Cheon had returned. Why didn’t you greet us upon arriving?”
“No, no. He is now the esteemed Grand Preceptor, so isn’t it proper that we come to pay our respects?”
“Is that so?”
While exchanging such words, the Disciplinary Hall Master and the Courier Hall Master, who were close friends, warmly greeted Cheon Woo-jin.
The Dragon Head Sect Leader’s face was flushed red from alcohol as usual, but even though he came to see Cheon Woo-jin, his gaze was fixed on the old man sitting next to the Divine Physician.
In an instant, the Divine Physician and the Hidden Dragon Squad members grew tense.
Could Dok-ra-su fool the Dragon Head Sect Leader?
If he were caught, all hell would break loose. With the Disciplinary Hall Master present, he would surely have both hands and feet bound and be dragged off to the Martial Alliance dungeon immediately.
“Sect Leader, it has been a while. This is a close friend who studies medicine alongside me.”
At the Divine Physician’s words, the Dragon Head Sect Leader narrowed his eyes and tilted his head repeatedly.
How much time had passed like that?
The Dragon Head Sect Leader blew his nose loudly into the yard with a snort, then spoke with a slightly sobered face.
“Pleased to meet you. I am the Dragon Head Sect Leader. All physicians are friends of our Beggars’ Sect, so let us get along comfortably.”
“Haha, Sect Leader, you are truly a jovial person. If you treat me so, the honor is all mine.”
Dok-ra-su greeted him, having changed even his voice and tone of speech.
The Dragon Head Sect Leader merely nodded, seemingly failing to notice in the end. Since even the Sect Leader didn’t know, the Disciplinary Hall Master and the Courier Hall Master hadn’t even the faintest inkling.
Cheon Woo-jin once again felt how remarkably delicate Dok-ra-su’s ability to manipulate energy had become in the meantime.
Suddenly, Disciplinary Hall Master Chu Pung-gae spoke to Cheon Woo-jin.
“It is true that I came to greet you upon hearing the news of your return, but I also came because there is something I must confirm.”
“What is it?”
“The Brocade Guard sent a message to the Beggars’ Sect. They said they intend to crush the Ten Thousand Gold Manor upon your command and asked for our cooperation. Did you truly give that order? If the imperial palace is trying to use us by putting you forward, we must prepare accordingly.”
In truth, investigating the Ten Thousand Gold Manor, the world’s foremost banking house, was a welcome development even for the Beggars’ Sect. After all, the Ten Thousand Gold Manor was the one that joined forces with the five factions trying to establish the Righteous Heavenly Alliance.
However, because the Ten Thousand Gold Manor was not a martial faction, they could not easily investigate it, so having the imperial palace step forward was more than welcome.
“Yes, I did mention it in passing, but they are already moving.”
The Disciplinary Hall Master wore a thoroughly satisfied expression. What kind of existence was the Brocade Guard? It was a direct agency of the Emperor that could supposedly bring down flying birds.
“To think the day would come when the successor to Venerable Divine Beggar Man Gi-ja’s will would command the Brocade Guard, hehe.”
“You brat, the one who inherited Master’s true lineage is me.”
“Then what does that matter? When Man Gi-ja actually left everything to Squad Leader Cheon.”
Smack!
Provoked, the Sect Leader smacked the back of the Disciplinary Hall Master’s head.
The Disciplinary Hall Master glared.
“Hey, why the hell are you hitting me all of a sudden? Are you going to humiliate me like this in front of people? Shall we hold the Sect Leader succession ceremony today?”
The Beggars’ Sect’s succession ceremony was simple.
The Sect Leader’s disciple just had to defeat the Sect Leader, and that was it.
As the Disciplinary Hall Master raised his energy, the Dragon Head Sect Leader also unleashed his energy as if to say ‘not a chance.’
The energies of the two beggars clashed in midair, and a strange odor spread throughout the manor.
While Cheon Woo-jin quietly held his breath, the Disciplinary Hall Master, overwhelmed in energy, was the first to tuck his tail.
It seemed the time had not yet come to succeed to the position of Sect Leader.
“Ah, right. I was supposed to meet those Brocade Guard fellows today. Sect Leader, consider yourself lucky.”
Having said that, the Disciplinary Hall Master fled as if running away.
The Dragon Head Sect Leader clicked his tongue.
“Tsk, these damned beggars have no concept of hierarchy. Don’t any of you ever think about becoming beggars.”
Having suddenly received this unsolicited advice, Song Yi-yeon, Jin Un, and Namgung Jin wore ambiguous expressions. Saying they understood felt like looking down on beggars, yet saying no, they all had far too much money to become beggars.
“Talking such nonsense when he is a beggar himself.”
The Divine Physician, who was acquainted with the Dragon Head Sect Leader, clicked his tongue.
Soon, feeling somewhat uncomfortable in this place, the Hidden Dragon Squad members tried to sneak out of the manor.
Sensing the atmosphere, the Courier Hall Master hurriedly spoke.
“Squad Leader Cheon, you have worked hard. Actually, I also came today on business.”
“What is it?”
“Not you, but over there. I heard you received a vacation?”
What the Courier Hall Master pointed to was Song Yi-yeon.
The Courier Hall Master had coveted Song Yi-yeon previously as well.
Because of that, the Courier Hall Master’s gentle smile sent shivers down Song Yi-yeon’s spine.
“S-Squad Leader Cheon. Since I received a vacation, I was going to return to my hometown after a long time and see my father…”
Having good instincts, Song Yi-yeon spoke hurriedly.
But faster than that, the Courier Hall Master approached Song Yi-yeon and grabbed his collar.
The moment Song Yi-yeon widened his eyes.
Swish!
The two vanished from the manor.
Those who remained stared blankly for a moment at the spot where the kidnapped Song Yi-yeon had stood.
“Tsk, tsk, that fellow Courier Hall Master. He is good in every other way, but whenever he sees agile, quick-witted youngsters, his eyes turn upside down with greed for talent.”
The Dragon Head Sect Leader clicked his tongue and looked at Jin Un and Namgung Jin with subtle eyes. Perhaps because they had witnessed the scene of Song Yi-yeon being kidnapped, Jin Un and Namgung Jin felt an uneasy sensation and hurriedly ran away. One could clearly feel their desperate determination that no matter what, they could not become beggars.
Now, only the Sect Leader, the Divine Physician, Dok-ra-su, and Cheon Woo-jin remained in the manor.
The Dragon Head Sect Leader’s words continued.
“Shall we head out as well?”
“Where to?”
“I found an amazing tavern just up ahead. It cooks Sichuan-style food, and the side dishes are exceptionally delicious.”
The Dragon Head Sect Leader swallowed hard.
Dok-ra-su beside him swallowed hard as well. For him whose hometown was Sichuan, at times he missed Sichuan’s numbing cuisine even more than the family members of the Tang Clan.
.
.
.
The Dragon Head Sect Leader practically dragged the three toward the tavern. When it came to walking toward a drinking table, no one could easily stop him.
Having ended up sitting in the tavern out of the blue, Cheon Woo-jin was about to call the waiter to order liquor.
Just as he was about to order a few simple Sichuan dishes and Bamboo Leaf Green, the Dragon Head Sect Leader suddenly cut in.
“Order one bottle of baijiu.”
“Does baijiu go well with Sichuan cuisine?”
“No, Bamboo Leaf Green is better. However…”
The Sect Leader suddenly pointed at the disguised Dok-ra-su and continued.
“You bastard don’t drink anything unless it’s baijiu, right?”
“…”
“Did you think I wouldn’t know? Seeing how this dog bastard crawled fearlessly into the Martial Alliance, you must not have been beaten enough back then.”
The Dragon Head Sect Leader spat into his palms and rubbed both hands together, while Dok-ra-su half-lifted his buttocks with every intention of bolting right away.