Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Between Confidence and Recklessness (1)
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“Huu.”
After splashing a few handfuls of water on his sweat-drenched body, he finally felt alive again.
Hong In wiped himself down with a towel and asked,
“The kids?”
“They’ve all collapsed.”
Sure enough, in the distance on the training grounds, countless swordsmen lay sprawled out.
Dissatisfaction clouded Hong In’s face.
“Don’t the kids seem weaker than before?”
Guwol bowed his head.
“It must be that your martial prowess has advanced, Squad Leader.”
“Advanced? I’m just doing what I always do.”
He said that, but Guwol’s flattery clearly pleased him—his face was beaming.
“Training’s done for the day. How about a drink?”
“If I may speak out of turn, Squad Leader...”
“I know, I know. We’re supposed to lay low right now.”
He spoke to his subordinate—who was nearly a decade older—like a little brother.
Guwol’s expression didn’t change a bit. Truth be told, when it came to age alone, no one in the Crimson Sword Squad was younger than Hong In.
“Still, a little drink won’t hurt. Shall we head out?”
“The patriarch has ordered us to stand by.”
“It’s the Infinite Patrol. This falls under squad leader authority.”
He had to know that even a grand squad leader’s orders came second to the patriarch’s.
Guwol didn’t press the point.
“No need to draw eyes, so please don the plainclothes garb.”
Hong In scowled.
“What a hassle.”
Uniform or plainclothes—it made no difference.
Guwol knew better. Hong In wasn’t annoyed by the hassle; he simply wanted to wear the uniform.
And not because he preferred it, either.
A tiger sires no dog sons.
Hong In brimmed with confidence in all things and loved putting himself on display.
Naturally.
With talent surpassing even the eldest young master, he had overtaken his brother at just eighteen.
How could he not be brimming with confidence? He was at the age when hot blood ran thickest, after all.
If anything, it’s more surprising he endured so quietly for so long.
Back then, he at least feared his father. Things were different now.
Guwol let out an inward sigh and spoke up.
“At the very least, we should give word to the grand leader.”
Hong In’s expression shifted in an instant.
“No need.”
A face cold as ice.
“It’s the squad leader’s independent authority. And I’m the leader of the Crimson Sword Trio, no less.”
For all his words, he’d end up notifying the grand squad leader—his elder brother—in the end. A courtesy notice, technically.
Guwol wanted to warn him that picking a fight with the eldest young master would do him no favors, but the words wouldn’t come.
“I’ll get changed first. You prepare yourself.”
“Understood.”
It was then.
“Second Young Master.”
A lone swordsman approached from the distance.
His steps flowed like water. Posture ramrod straight, yet his shoulders never swayed. A true master.
“What brings the Martial Sword Pavilion Master here?”
He was Yi Jongbaek—third in the Hong Sword Clan’s hierarchy and commander of all its armed forces, as lord of the Martial Sword Pavilion.
Two ranks above Hong In, though in this private moment, they exchanged polite speech.
“The patriarch summons you.”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
Hong In smacked his lips.
“Understood. I’ll head there now.”
Yi Jongbaek turned wordlessly and departed. He never opened his mouth unless it was necessary.
A short while later.
He arrived at a lavish pavilion aglow with lanterns on all sides. There sat Hong Junak, drinking alone.
“Father.”
“You’re here.”
“Yes. You wished to see me?”
“Come up.”
Hong In ascended the pavilion and knelt across from Hong Junak.
Glancing at his son, Hong Junak slid an empty cup his way.
“Training go well?”
“Yes.”
“Have a drink.”
What’s this about?
Puzzled inwardly, Hong In lifted the cup and accepted the pour.
“Do you know what this liquor is?”
“Sichuan Five Grains Liquid, isn’t it?”
“Sharp eye. You drink often?”
“Not often—just now and then. Never something this fragrant, though.”
“Go on, have one.”
Hong In turned his head and downed it, grimacing with a loud keurk. As fragrant as it was, it packed a punch.
Hong Junak spoke in his usual gruff tone.
“A true swordsman must be able to unleash razor-sharp ki even in his sleep. Until you reach a realm any master would acknowledge, you’d best not touch liquor often.”
“I’ll keep it in mind.”
He answered with perfect decorum, though his eyes lingered on the cup. Clearly hoping for seconds.
Hong Junak clicked his tongue inwardly.
No gravitas in his voice.
He’d considered drilling the lesson home more harshly at first.
But he held back. The boy had trained diligently and produced results. Push too hard, and he’d snap—that much he knew.
And so? Thinking his father finally acknowledged him, the son’s confidence had swelled into outright arrogance.
Ga Suk’s words came to mind.
‘Only when overconfidence trips him up does true competitive fire ignite.’
The boy might squirm in his grasp, but those words had struck a chord.
That was why he’d summoned his second son here.
“Your martial arts haven’t grown lately.”
Hong In flinched despite himself.
“My talent falls short.”
Hong Junak let out a smirk.
“You’re not claiming a lack of effort, at least.”
“That’s...”
“I’ve acknowledged your talent. Purely on that front, no one near Infinite could stand against you.”
“...”
“In the end, it’s a lack of effort.”
He hadn’t meant to scold again, but here they were.
Hong In bristled with resentment.
How much more effort could I possibly put in?
Morning heart method practice, commanding the Crimson Sword Trio’s formation drills. Past lunch and into evening: sword training. After dinner: half a shichen of grueling stamina work.
No matter how he looked at it, effort wasn’t the issue. Nor was talent, for that matter.
“Effort is...”
Reading the dissatisfaction on his son’s face, Hong Junak nearly scolded him again but bit it back.
Tsk. Experience is the true teacher.
Ramp up the intensity? Pour in more time?
Obvious steps.
To become a true master, one needed training that defied common sense. Cliff-diving for some, meditation for others, serene sword forms for yet more.
But to find what suited you, first you had to know your own shortcomings.
And no one could teach you that.
Ga Suk was right. He has to stumble first.
Refilling his son’s cup, Hong Junak continued.
“Two days ago, I sent a man to the Ten Sword Sect.”
“Pardon?”
“Their sect leader and eldest daughter are crippled, one elder missing. Public opinion’s in the gutter. The businesses under contract with them are starting to get cold feet.”
“...!”
“Soon, we’ll be able to take over a few of their key monopolies.”
“I... see.”
He was thrilled that his father was sharing clan business. He usually heard about it secondhand from his brother—this was the first time directly.
Pride swelled naturally.
Father’s always acknowledged me, after all.
Of course. Better than that bookworm of a brother.
As a son. As the next patriarch.
“Fortunately, your brother seems to have sweet-talked the sect leader’s second daughter.”
Hong In’s eyes twitched faintly.
“...I see.”
“What? Want a shot at her yourself?”
“Yes.”
It wasn’t mere arrogance.
Hong Junak knew his second wasn’t some clueless pup. He had flaws aplenty, but he hadn’t raised the boy without thought.
Just the hot blood of youth.
“The Ten Sword Sect matter falls to your brother.”
Hong In bowed his head.
He didn’t bother hiding his frustration. Couldn’t, really. His discipline was still lacking.
Hong Junak knew his son harbored strange feelings for Lady Hwang Inhwa.
Not affection between man and woman—more a urge to dominate. Like a toy made for his amusement, perhaps.
Not to that extent. Not yet.
Once he grew more, learned more—three wives, four concubines? He wouldn’t care.
But the time wasn’t ripe.
“Instead, I have another task for you.”
“Pardon?”
“You’ve heard of Murong Bi.”
Anger flared in Hong In’s eyes, only to sparkle like starlight.
“I hear he crushed Hwang Gyu head-on.”
Hong Junak’s brows knit tight.
“Even so, he’s the man who once split Infinite with me. Mind your tongue.”
“My apologies.”
Words alone.
Sorry, but no real contrition.
That temperament, at least, was fine. If he learned when to wear a mask, that boldness was best kept till his dying day.
“I’ll be direct. Are you confident you could beat Lady Hwang?”
Hong In started to answer, then paused to think it over.
The deliberation was brief.
“Honestly? No.”
A smile finally touched Hong Junak’s face.
“Good. At your level, she’d be a tough win.”
“But if I had three more squad members? I think I could take her.”
“Out of the question. Lady Hwang’s arts aren’t to be laughed at. If she draws the Ten Miles Sword? You’d need the entire Crimson Sword Trio to pin her down.”
Hong In flushed red.
“That strong?”
“Murong Bi caught a woman like that—solo. They say he dominated her from start to finish.”
Hong In lifted his head again.
“No way that happened.”
Hong Junak nodded.
“The rumors say so. I don’t buy that Murong Bi truly dominated her, myself.”
“Exactly.”
“What matters is this: somehow, Murong Bi trampled Lady Hwang in a one-on-one.”
Hong In bit his lip.
“...He pulled some trick. Or had unseen helpers.”
“Could be.”
Hong Junak didn’t rule it out.
Whether he’d hidden his power all along or surged ahead recently—at that age, with that build? Overwhelming Hwang Gyu was next to impossible.
“Still, I think you beating him now is a stretch.”
“...”
“Meaning he’s the sort who could crush your reputation as Infinite’s top late-generation talent.”
Anger burned Hong In’s face bright red.
This was plenty to stoke the fire.
“Three days ago, I sent a letter to the Murong Clan. Directly to Murong Bi.”
“Pardon...?”
Recalling it soured Hong Junak’s mood as well.
“Offered to buy him a drink, just to see how far he’d grown. The bastard turned it down flat.”
Hong In shook his head in disbelief.
“The man’s insane. Daring to snub you...”
“Either he’s got some backing, or he’s a deep schemer.”
“Schemer?”
“Isn’t he trying to play tug-of-war with the main house? Power aside, just daring to pull shows real guts.”
True enough.
But Hong In refused to concede.
“He’s just an arrogant fool mouthing off. Got lucky, picked up a trick somewhere. Trash like that gets a windfall, and suddenly they strut like kings, right?”
“That’s why I’m sending you.”
“Pardon?!”
Hong Junak’s lips curled up.
“Go to the Murong Clan yourself. Bring Murong Bi back to the main house.”
“...!”
“I’m the one extending the invitation, of course. You just escort him.”
Hong In’s eyes gleamed with burdensome intensity.
“That all I need do?”
“That’s it. Question is, will he come so easily?”
“Who knows.”
“If he doesn’t? Fine by me. Inviting Murong Bi and having him refuse to the end means he’s got plans of his own.”
“...”
“Care to go judge the man’s character yourself?”
Hong In grinned.
“Tomorrow work?”