The Beginning of Change (1)
Jang Cheon was listening to his MP3 player.
He had now memorized Geum Sa-cheon's final words perfectly. At first, he had taken them at face value, absorbing their profound meaning.
Next, he had advanced a step further, filtering out parts that contradicted his own insights. That was the period when he listened as if conversing directly with Geum Sa-cheon.
Now, Jang Cheon had progressed yet another step, merging the accepted truths with the contradictions to forge a new realm of martial understanding.
Geum Sa-cheon's dying words were an absolute secret manual for him.
Of course, he never neglected his cultivation of the Sohyeon Ilgi-gong.
He remained at the 3rd Stage, but Jang Cheon trained diligently. Breaking through would accelerate his progress significantly, yet there was still no sign of surpassing it.
The true value of the Sohyeon Ilgi-gong lay not in its worth as a breathing method, but in the second marrow cleansing it promised.
Upon achieving Great Completion, he would accomplish what no martial artist in history had ever done. An unprecedented feat, unknown even in its outcome.
"...Cultivating the Sohyeon Ilgi-gong is like climbing a mountain. You can't see the full landscape while ascending, but from the summit, the world unfolds below.
You must know when to focus on the parts and when to grasp the whole. And above all, never forget that after climbing, you must descend."
The part Jang Cheon focused on was the need to descend the mountain.
What had Geum Sa-cheon intended with those words? Humility? A reminder to revisit the fundamentals?
Or was it the natural law of ascent and descent? Perhaps a hint related to the second marrow cleansing?
He couldn't say yet.
For now, Jang Cheon was in the ascent phase.
Give it his all without impatience—that was his mindset for martial cultivation.
"Boss, money deposited through the market. After fees, it's 720 billion."
—Good.
"I'm picking out colors now. What color do you want? Personally, I like white, but I think passionate red would suit you too, Boss."
—Hold on. What are you talking about?
"Your private jet. You should get one."
—Haha.
He figured he might have to buy one someday, if only for Bishop's sake.
"Now the real demands will start coming in."
—Yeah.
"Be careful."
—Don't worry about me.
"Then pass it on to the enemies. Tell them to watch their step."
Jang Cheon chuckled at Bishop's joke, but he wasn't letting his guard down for a second.
This organization was different from any he'd faced before. Larger than expected, and their operations unlike typical groups.
Jang Cheon met Sing again. This time, Sato Mi was with him.
"Thanks for accepting our offer."
"I'm grateful as well."
"I went to bat for you. You know that."
"It was for your benefit, not mine. You'll rack up major merits through me soon enough."
"Such confidence. You know what? You're a real headache for us right now.
Too strong to eliminate easily, too disruptive to ignore. That's why we hired you."
One thing was clear about this organization: they made decisions fast. Large groups usually faltered on delays in decision-making.
But not this one.
"So, what do you want?"
Sing answered Jang Cheon's question in one word.
"Korea Murim Alliance."
Jang Cheon flinched—or pretended to. He'd anticipated it.
He composed himself and said calmly,
"Be precise."
"Before you joined us, we had the Korea Murim Alliance under control."
"I know. Using Geom-myeong as a front to dominate the Korean Murim business."
"So Cheon Myeong-jin hired you. How much did he pay? He couldn't have had that kind of money."
"I'm tight-lipped about business."
"Don't want to say? Fine. Not that curious."
Despite his words, Sing was very curious. Jang Cheon had demanded trillions from them. What had Cheon Myeong-jin offered?
Jang Cheon cut straight to it.
"What exactly do you want from me regarding the Murim Alliance? Kill Cheon Myeong-jin?"
Silence fell. Jang Cheon had first suggested assassinating the Alliance Leader. A calculated move, of course.
To show he could do anything for the right price.
"Could you kill him if we asked?"
"Yes."
Sing looked incredulous; Sato Mi covered her mouth, stifling laughter.
Jang Cheon glanced at her. She met his eyes and said,
"You're something else. Regardless of whether it's possible, how many people could say that so boldly?"
Beyond her martial level, Jang Cheon sensed she was no ordinary woman. There was a certain feel to how she handled people.
The real one to watch wasn't Sing—it was her.
She lacked the desperate cling to life others had; a lazy indifference that often preceded major trouble.
Sing spoke.
"The Alliance Leader is formidable, but if we'd decided to kill him these past years, he's be dead. What we want isn't his death."
"Then what?"
"To turn him into our puppet, dancing to our tune."
Now Jang Cheon was certain.
This wasn't an organization bent on seizing power. Their ultimate goal was wealth accumulation. Force and authority were mere tools for amassing money.
Im Yeon-sin's aim hadn't been controlling the Alliance either, but growing Geom-myeong to dominate the Korean Murim market. Proof of that.
They'd likely amassed enormous fortunes already.
Korea's matters were peripheral trifles to them—capable of approving 800 billion in a single day.
'Far bigger than I thought.'
Meeting their leadership might prove harder than expected.
Still, grasping their nature early was a boon. It would guide his choices ahead.
"We'll appoint a new CEO for Geom-myeong. Get the Murim Alliance to back them like before.
Your job: Grow Geom-myeong into Korea's top Murim-related company within a year."
The current CEO was absent, but Geom-myeong held 15% market share in Korean Murim industry.
Number one was Murim Factory Inc. at 22%, second Daehan Murim Inc. at 20%.
Make Geom-myeong top dog. Tough, but with full Alliance support, doable.
"Know why we didn't poison you upon hiring?"
"Because I wouldn't allow it."
"No! Even if you're strong, if the organization decides to take the loss and kill you... we can."
He truly believed it.
They weren't lax on force. Their vast funds fueled immense martial power.
Death proved it: They'd had a world bi-mu champion, and his death barely ruffled them—just an inspector dispatched.
The difference: They maintained force to protect wealth, not earn it.
"One request."
"A request? What?"
"If I succeed, I want to meet your superior."
"Why?"
"This isn't a one-year gig. I'd like to contract directly with him."
"Greedy."
"That's why. Your organization seems the same."
Their gazes locked in midair.
Hard to tell sincerity, but Sing nodded readily.
"Deal."
"Thank you."
Sing and Sato Mi left. As she departed, Sato Mi glanced back at Jang Cheon, her intrigued eyes still dangerous.
Looking up at the towering building, Lee Yeon said,
"Ah! This is insane."
Kwon Hyeok-su, beside her, gazed up too.
"Once in a lifetime—might as well go crazy."
They stood before the SGC Company headquarters. They'd applied here, and today was the interview.
Somehow assigned to the same team, their slots were thirty minutes apart.
Lee Yeon eyed Kwon Hyeok-su.
"Is this really okay?"
"Do we owe the company? We worked hard for what they paid."
"Team Leader, your lips are trembling."
"Am I?"
"Ah, even if we get in, no dad jokes. You'll be ostracized from day one!"
"Worry about that if we pass."
Lee Yeon took a deep breath.
Right—Kwon Hyeok-su was correct. Sometimes, throwing yourself into the unexpected wasn't bad.
"This building's stunning. The owner's living the dream—dozens like this worldwide, right?"
"Yeah."
Then a voice from behind:
"Hello."
Turning, Lee Yeon saw Queen, who had guided her at the residence. Behind her stood the gentle elderly gentleman Ben, smiling warmly.
"Oh? Hello."
"Fancy meeting here."
"Yeah. What brings you?"
"Meeting someone."
She was here to see Night, the CEO.
"Ah, got it."
"What about you, Miss Lee Yeon?"
She could have said she had business, but Lee Yeon wanted to be honest with her.
"Interview."
"At SGC Company?"
"Yes. Following You go, we go."
Seeing Queen's confusion, Lee Yeon laughed.
"Figured a life change might be good. See you later."
She greeted and entered with Kwon Hyeok-su.
He whispered,
"Who?"
"Residence client. Pretty, right?"
"No kidding."
"We're late. Hurry. And no jokes to the interviewers!"
"You watch it. 'You go, we go' out of nowhere—who'll get that?"
"I panicked. Sob sob, all because of your lame jokes rubbing off."
"No sob sob either!"
"Got it! Careful, super careful."
Meanwhile, Queen and Ben watched them go.
A faint smile touched Queen's lips. Lee Yeon and Kwon Hyeok-su had no idea she'd heard every whisper.
"Kwon Hyeok-su, Team 3 leader where Miss Lee Yeon works."
Ben knew all about Jang Cheon's circle.
"They seem close."
"Known as the tightest pair in the team."
In the distance, Lee Yeon and Kwon Hyeok-su entered the elevator.
"She looks pretty when she smiles like that."
"You shine brightest when you smile, miss."
"Ben."
"Yes."
"Change requires courage, doesn't it?"
"Indeed."
"How do you change a relationship with someone?"
He knew who and what change she meant—easy yet hard to answer.
After a pause, Ben replied,
"Obsessing over the relationship breeds misunderstandings and tangles things worse."
Queen nodded.
"There's a simple but difficult way."
"What?"
"Change yourself. When a person changes, relationships follow naturally."
He knew her bond with Jang Cheon well—advice he could give.
As if that ended it, Ben smiled.
"Shall we go in, miss?"
"Yes."
They entered.
Her face remained impassive, but she pondered Ben's words inwardly.
Change yourself, and relationships change.
Simple, yet the hardest way, as Ben said.
'Ben, how does a person change?'