The Recruitment War

Seo Joo-cheon ran a search.

A faint smile touched his lips.

Song Yu-yeong had originally been a successor of Sucheon Manor, an Unorthodox house in the Yichuan region, and her ties to the White Serpent Sect of the same territory ran deep. In years past the two houses had exchanged visits often, and marriages among their leaders had even bound them by blood.

When the Unorthodox factions of Yichuan were destroyed in a power struggle with the Black Way, it was the White Serpent Sect and Sucheon Manor that paid the price. The fighting had begun when one of the Ten Great Masters of the Black Way martial world established a sect in the region, and it had ended in the Black Way's victory. The Unorthodox side had the greater numbers, but the Black Way — rich in First-Rate masters — seized Yichuan for themselves.

Only later would it come to light that White Shadow Black Sword Cheol Ha-jin, one of those Ten Great Masters, had started it all to claim Hukou Waterfall, one of Yichuan's celebrated landmarks. Cheol Ha-jin had founded a Black Way sect to obtain the spirit cores of the Blood-Eyed Fish that lived in that waterfall, and that was what had provoked the White Serpent Sect and Sucheon Manor.

Of course, this was a history Seo Joo-cheon himself had written — and Hukou Waterfall had become the flashpoint of the First Great Martial War. That was why he had poured considerable effort into creating Song Yu-yeong, a character who would later inflict devastating losses on the Black Way during the Great War of Black and Snake. And now, because Seo Joo-cheon's transmigration had kept Po Un from dying, a connection of this kind had formed with her.

"Little brother, do you remember me?"

At Song Yu-yeong's words, Seo Joo-cheon recalled Po Un's old memories, as if information were being updated.

So Po Un and Song Yu-yeong knew each other as well.

Po Un had been the son of Po Ji-gwang, the sworn younger brother of the White Serpent Sect's master, and had been treated almost as a young clan head. He had, accordingly, been on familiar terms with any number of important figures from outside the sect. He had taken little interest in martial arts, however, and his realm had never risen particularly high. He had not even mastered half of the White Serpent Sect's sword art, the White Serpent 72 Sword Art. Scholarship had held far more ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of his attention.

Then the White Serpent Sect had been destroyed by White Shadow Black Sword Cheol Ha-jin, and Po Un had drifted into the Jianghu, arriving at last at where he stood now.

"Of course I do, Big Sister. I used to follow you around so much when I was little. You were so beautiful."

"Hohohoho! That's right. Little brother was quite ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fond ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of me."

Her tone lifted just slightly, and those who heard it felt a sudden dizziness. Whether her voice was laced with a charm art or not, their inner energy trembled.

"Good heavens, I had no idea the First Hero of the Shaanxi Four Chivalrous Heroes was the little brother I knew. I only realized later, after the stories started reaching me, that Po Un wasn't just someone with the same name — he was the little brother I remembered."

"I heard long ago that you were doing well at Chang'an Gate, Big Sister."

"Oh my. Then you should have come to find me. What have you been putting yourself through all this time?"

"I was too proud to go to you looking so wretched."

That was the truth. After the White Serpent Sect's destruction, Po Un had wandered the Jianghu alone. At first he had meant to learn martial arts, gather a force, and take his revenge on White Shadow Black Sword Cheol Ha-jin. The traces of that effort to gather a force were the Shaanxi Four Evils — the greatest achievement Po Un had ever managed.

The martial arts he had learned halfheartedly, having no real interest in them, were never going to reach completion, and the martial world was not so tender as to show kindness to the descendants of a fallen house. As time passed, the grudge wore down and the thirst for revenge dulled. With that blunted resentment, the nerve to provoke the Cheol Clan — which now wielded enormous influence across the Yichuan region — had long since gone as limp as a fire poker.

Beaten down by the grind of daily life, he had simply lived on as a run-of-the-mill Unorthodox martial artist until now. A man as proud as Po Un would never have gone to Song Yu-yeong over a slight old connection.

"I always thought you'd become someone great. From the time you were little, you were outstanding — everyone placed their hopes on you."

He had been expected for his scholarship. In martial arts, the people of the White Serpent Sect had expected nothing of the kind. She left all of that out and spoke only of the good.

"But Big Sister, what brings you here?"

Song Yu-yeong had brought only two warriors with her, and at a glance they looked like First-Rate masters. White Salt Blade Jeo Pung scanned the surroundings, his wariness plain. There was no way the commander of the Shadowless Squad would come out with only two escorts, and he was certain Shadowless Squad warriors were hidden somewhere nearby. But true to the name Shadowless, their presence could not be found anywhere.

"I came to bring the Shaanxi Four Chivalrous Heroes into our sect. I petitioned my sect master to make my little brother a squad commander of Chang'an Gate. That way you'll be able to rebuild the White Serpent Sect and take your revenge later, won't you? Forget about hall master this and division leader that."

When she dismissed White Salt Blade Jeo Pung's offer so openly, he could not remain silent. Martial world seniority, however, put Song Yu-yeong far above him, and he could not bring himself to address her. He spoke to Seo Joo-cheon instead.

"Hero Po, even if we call it a division leader's post, we shall treat you as a squad commander. If you asked for my own seat, I would give it to you."

White Salt Blade Jeo Pung, though a guest, commanded a combat division in the Mount Lushan Sect.

"Besides, are we not comrades who crossed the boundary of life and death together over the Undying Demon?"

Jeo Pung laid stress on their connection from Namcheon Inn. It was enough to draw a snort of laughter. Unlike Sang Ryo, who had joined that fight with a pure heart, Jeo Pung had merely been swept up while helping the Black-Eyed Escort.

With even Song Yu-yeong, who shared a past with him, stepping forward, Seo Joo-cheon found himself in an awkward position. He would feel ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠no guilt refusing White Salt Blade Jeo Pung. Song Yu-yeong was another matter. She had truly come forward for his sake.

"As you know, Big Sister, I've only just gained a little insight. I'm not at a level that can meet your expectations."

"Little brother, do you think I'm deaf? I've already heard every detail of what you've accomplished."

"There's a great deal of exaggeration in those stories."

"Fine. Whether they're exaggerated or not, I don't care. All that matters is that you come with me. I'm not trying to take you because of your skill. Half of it is my own will, and half is for your safety."

"What do you mean, for my safety?"

Song Yu-yeong's beautiful brow furrowed slightly. When a woman who rarely even smiled for fear of wrinkles was creasing her face so deeply, there was clearly something else at work. She seemed to think for a moment, then gave a slight shake of her head.

"I can't tell you that here. If you go to the Yongcheon Sect, you'll just be a consumable. The same if you go to the Mount Lushan Sect. But if you come to Chang'an Gate, I'll be your shield — they won't be able to treat you however they please."

The Yongcheon Sect might have invited the Shaanxi Four Evils as hall masters, but they would have thought of them as little more than meat shields. In truth, though Song Yu-yeong was merely a squad commander of the Shadowless Squad, the organization she belonged to was the most powerful within Chang'an Gate, and she wielded more influence than her title suggested.

Seo Joo-cheon had often caught Song Yu-yeong gazing quietly at Jang Hyeon-nam, and he knew exactly what she was thinking.

Yongcheon Sect, Mount Lushan Sect, and Chang'an Gate — these three factions are joining forces to take the Jang Clan. That's why she's worried, seeing how close I am with Jang Hyeon-nam. In the original I wrote, they attack the Jang Clan not too far from now. The Yongcheon Sect and the Mount Lushan Sect will try to use that closeness. That's why Song Yu-yeong has so much she wants to say, and cannot.

Knowing her circumstances, Seo Joo-cheon smiled. Among everyone he had met so far, besides his three sworn siblings and Jang Hyeon-nam, here was someone who was actually worried about him. For a moment, he even felt a sudden urge to follow her to Chang'an Gate, regardless of how the story would unfold from there.

Haa. I'm the author. The author. The one who created this world. I have a duty to let this world flow as it should. And I have a clear reason I need to go to the Yongcheon Sect. I can't give that up.

Seo Joo-cheon made up his mind and straightened his posture.

"I will treasure the care you've shown me, Big Sister. But I have already set my course, so please forgive me for being unable to follow you."

"Ah, really. How frustrating."

When Seo Joo-cheon stubbornly held his ground, Song Yu-yeong looked at him with a gaze mixed with concern. She had come all this way after persuading her sect master, intending to take him in on the strength of their old White Serpent Sect connection. Having all that effort come to nothing made her a little angry as well. From a young age, Po Un's stubbornness had been no ordinary thing. The Po Un that Song Yu-yeong remembered was a child who, no matter how much they nagged and scolded him to learn martial arts instead of scholarship, would only ever do what he liked.

"If that's truly your will, then I suppose it can't be helped. But I'll always be waiting. And even if it isn't for this, come find me. Our connection is at least worth sharing a cup of wine, isn't it?"

"Of course. In my memories, Big Sister, you were always beautiful, and you always doted on me. I used to live thinking how wonderful it would be if I had a real older sister like you."

His three sworn siblings were inwardly startled by such words from Seo Joo-cheon. In all the time they had known him, they had never heard him speak of anyone with such longing and praise. Kang Chu-mi, who had been displeased with Song Yu-yeong for giving off an impression so similar to her own, found herself looking at the woman anew.

Now that I look closely, she really does resemble me a great deal.

Song Yu-yeong turned her body at an angle, and her silhouette spilled along a stream of elegant curves. Who, looking at that figure, would ever call her a woman in her fifties?

"I came today to propose recruitment, but I also came to see my little brother's face after so long. I've achieved half of that, so I'll be going now."

Song Yu-yeong did not linger. She left with her two escorts, and the sight of her departing without a backward glance stirred something strange in the chest. Seo Joo-cheon held a bow toward her for a long time.

Having watched even Song Yu-yeong — someone known since childhood — be refused and walk away, White Salt Blade Jeo Pung abandoned the recruitment as well. The Mount Lushan Sect had hoped to ride Seo Joo-cheon's recent fame, but they were hardly desperate to have him. They had assumed he would snap up a division leader's seat; it had never occurred to them that he would kick aside even a squad commander's post at Chang'an Gate.

Frankly, of all the Unorthodox factions around Xi'an, Chang'an Gate was the most prosperous. After a refusal like that, White Salt Blade Jeo Pung had no lingering attachment. And the Shaanxi Four Chivalrous Heroes were not, in any case, personages worth three humble visits.

"If Hero Po ever changes his mind, please come find this Jeo anytime."

With those words, Jeo Pung left as well. Having weathered a full-blown recruitment war over the Shaanxi Four Chivalrous Heroes, the party finally let the tension go.

"Big Brother, the Mount Lushan Sect and Chang'an Gate are so eager to recruit us, yet the Yongcheon Sect hasn't even sent an ordinary warrior out to greet us. Wouldn't it be better to go somewhere you already know people...?"

"That's enough. I have my reasons. We cannot go."

"Ah. Understood, Big Brother."

Dokgo Ho-in closed his mouth the moment he heard those words. If Big Brother had a purpose, there was no need to argue further.

Watching this, Jeong Geum-sik marveled inwardly.

The bond between them is truly unbreakable. A single word from their Big Brother, and everything is accepted. Not a hint of discontent. That's no easy thing — and to see it among Unorthodox martial artists, of all people.

Jeong Geum-sik felt a genuine jolt of surprise. Until now, every set of "brothers" he had met on the Unorthodox path had been nothing more than another name for gathering and scattering as convenience required.

If they have that kind of loyalty, they certainly have the qualifications to work together with me.

Jeong Geum-sik's conviction grew steadily firmer.