Legend and Reality (1)
“Ah, Department Head Muk.”
“Commander.”
Muk Bi bowed her head.
“How is your condition?”
Moyong Woo gave a wry smile.
“I’m fine. More importantly, I owe you my thanks from the other day. If you hadn’t arrived when you did, things could have gone very badly.”
Regardless of whether the mission succeeded, Muk Bi and Sama Hyeon had broken through the castle walls, eliminated countless assassins, and saved the Tangma Army soldiers who had nearly died. That alone had been a tremendous help. Without the two of them, the Tangma Army’s casualties would likely have been far greater.
Muk Bi shook her head.
“Not at all. I was simply following the Grand Commander’s orders. Setting that aside, we’re family now. Helping is only natural.”
She spoke that way out of concern that Moyong Woo might feel slighted or think poorly of Yeon Hojeong. No matter what, she did not want Yeon Hojeong to be viewed in a bad light.
Moyong Woo smiled.
“I know. How could I not? Still, thanks to you, Department Head, lives that might have been lost were saved. As the commander of the Tangma Army, it is only right that I express my gratitude.”
“Ah……”
She had worried that Moyong Woo might be upset, but that concern had been unfounded.
Moyong Woo did not resent Yeon Hojeong. On the contrary, he understood him and was deeply grateful that Yeon Hojeong had sent Muk Bi as reinforcements.
Muk Bi felt an unexpected bitterness. He trusts him. She already knew from Yeon Hojeong that he intended to make Moyong Woo the next Martial Alliance Lord.
Moyong Woo likely knew it as well. Regardless of how burdensome he found it, the fact that such a conversation had taken place meant their mutual trust was immense. Just as the Young Master and I are bound by trust, Commander Moyong is also bound to the Young Master by trust. At the same time, just as she had formed a bond of friendship with the Myeolsa Army, Moyong Woo must have developed a deep camaraderie with the Tangma Army.
That was what surprised her. She doubted she could have regained her composure as quickly as Moyong Woo had amid the shocking deaths of his subordinates. Is this the difference in our capacities? It might be, or it might not.
What mattered was that Moyong Woo was far more remarkable than she had thought. The fact that five hundred Tangma Army soldiers had been able to hold off nine hundred assassins who had mastered the ways of Night Castle was thanks to Moyong Woo, who had quickly grasped the castle’s layout in that short time and positioned his forces accordingly.
In many ways, he was an underrated man. Muk Bi felt it. She did not know why Yeon Hojeong wanted to install Moyong Woo as the Martial Alliance Lord, but at least she could tell he had not chosen just anyone.
“By the way, there’s something I’d like to ask.”
“Please speak freely. I’m merely a department head.”
“That won’t do. Your title may be department head, but you’re no different from the commander of the Myeolsa Army.”
“Even so, a title is still a title.”
Moyong Woo studied Muk Bi for a moment before nodding.
“Then let us speak comfortably from now on.”
“As you wish.”
“I’ll be direct. Where is the Grand Commander?”
“He stepped out, saying he had some business to attend to.”
“Hmm.”
Muk Bi had been about to say that he should not misunderstand, that Yeon Hojeong was not ignoring the Tangma Army, but she closed her mouth at a sudden thought. Moyong Woo already trusted Yeon Hojeong; there was no need to add that.
It was exactly as Muk Bi had thought.
“I heard that finishing off the Shadow God isn’t the end. There’s another mission after this?”
“Ah, yes.”
“Did you know about it?”
“I did.”
“Then explain it to me. I heard something about the Righteous Army having to resolve the public security issues in Guangdong Province as well, but I didn’t realize it had come down as a separate mission rather than simply an extension of eliminating the Shadow God.”
The commander did not know something that a department head did.
It was a situation that could easily have caused offense, yet Moyong Woo showed no sign of displeasure. In truth, he was not offended at all.
He believed there must be a reason.
Muk Bi spoke calmly.
“Guangdong Province has developed its own distinct culture, different from other regions of the Central Plains.”
“I’m aware.”
“That’s why it’s difficult for the central government to exert proper control. That’s why they’ve sent many capable officials.”
“Go on.”
“But once the Shadow God is eliminated, the underworld of Guangdong Province will be thrown into turmoil. That’s only natural. With the king gone, countless wolves will rush in to claim his place.”
Moyong Woo’s eyes gleamed.
“They’ll cause great harm to the safety of the common people.”
Moyong Woo’s perception was sharp indeed.
“That’s right. In other words, stabilizing Guangdong Province requires dealing with the underworld.”
“That won’t be easy.”
“The Grand Commander said the same. He said it would be one thing if large-scale unorthodox sects were fighting for dominance, but when small fry wage war among themselves, it becomes much harder to intervene.”
“Of course. Weak wolves are embedded throughout the lives of the common people. With nothing to show for themselves, they have no choice but to do so to protect themselves.”
“In short, rooting them out one by one and eliminating them is an extremely difficult task. It’s hard to resolve with only the Righteous Army and the intelligence organization, and we don’t know how long it would take.”
“Then……”
Moyong Woo muttered to himself.
“As expected, the orthodox sects of Guangdong…… and if we go a step further, cooperating with the government offices would be ideal……”
For a moment, surprise flickered in Muk Bi’s eyes. Remarkable. He had simply stated the optimal solution after hearing only that much.
Setting aside whether it was realistically possible, the best way for Guangdong Province to operate safely on its own was for the orthodox sects and the government offices to join forces and control the underworld.
“In that case, the Grand Commander must be extremely busy. The orthodox sects can be coordinated somehow using the Martial Alliance’s name, but the government offices……”
“Yes. It seems he’s been worrying about that part quite a bit.”
“I see.”
Moyong Woo nodded.
“Understood. Then, did he say when he would return?”
“I think he’ll probably return after sunset.”
“Very well. I’ll come back then.”
“Yes, understood.”
“Ah, and I heard one of the Myeolsa Army soldiers was seriously injured. I was told he’s the disciple of Sword Immortal?”
“His name is Ok Cheong. Fortunately, he’s regained consciousness. He still can’t move easily, though.”
Moyong Woo nodded.
“Make sure he’s managed well so there are no aftereffects. He’s Sword Immortal’s disciple, so I’m sure you’ll handle it, but one can never be too careful.”
“……Understood.”
Even though so many of his own subordinates had died, he was this concerned about the condition of a single Myeolsa Army soldier.
This was not simply because he had a broad mind. To Moyong Woo, the Myeolsa Army and the Tangma Army were no different. Only the people managing them were different.
“Then I’ll take my leave. You should rest well too. We never know when another order might come down.”
Muk Bi’s eyes gleamed.
“Understood.”
With that, Moyong Woo departed.
Watching him disappear, Muk Bi murmured quietly.
“……I wonder if I’m too lacking, or if those people’s capacities are simply too great.”
* * *
Beom-oh’s eyes widened.
“Grand Commander Yeon!!”
Beom-oh’s voice rang out like another lion’s roar.
But Yeon Hojeong did not so much as blink. He did not even turn his gaze toward Beom-oh.
He simply stared at the old man with endlessly cold eyes, a hint of madness flickering within them.
The old man spoke.
“Your name was Beom-oh?”
“Yes? Ah, yes!”
“Stop.”
“B-but, Master-Ancestor!”
At that moment, a flash of light flickered in Yeon Hojeong’s eyes.
Master-Ancestor. It was usually a term used for one’s master’s master, but it was also applied to great elders of previous generations.
In other words, the old man was at minimum a former high monk of Shaolin, and possibly even from the generation before that.
Logically speaking, the probability that he was from the previous generation was high. Those from two generations prior were rare in any sect. Most had either passed away or secluded themselves in places where no one could find them to cultivate.
Yet the strange profound aura emanating from the old man’s body was extraordinary. Combined with that unique presence that made it difficult to gauge his age and the fact that he carried the scent of the secular world despite having trained in Buddhist inner arts, it seemed he had not touched Buddhist scriptures for a long time.
One thing was certain, however: the old man before them was of an age that no one could treat lightly.
The old man straightened his posture.
“You’re right. Not only did I appear out of nowhere, but I got carried away without realizing it and played a cruel prank. For that, I offer my sincere apologies.”
“……”
“First, let me introduce myself. I am called Tam-gyeong.”
Tam-gyeong.
The characters were far too unusual to be a name. Taken literally, it meant “one who seeks scriptures,” which was hardly suitable as a person’s name.
“Why? Does the name seem strange?”
“……”
“Hahaha, to be honest, I don’t know my secular name either. I simply took it from what I’m doing now. My Buddhist name from when I was affiliated with the Shaolin Sect was Gak-ryo.”
Yeon Hojeong’s pupils subtly dilated. Gak-ryo? The Gak generation! The current generation leading Shaolin was the Gong generation.
Above that was the Mu generation, the legendary Muheo of Shaolin. And above the Mu generation was the Gak generation, two generations prior.
In other words, the old man, Tam-gyeong, was a figure from two generations before in Shaolin. In a sense, they had encountered one of the highest elders in the martial world, someone even harder to meet than the powerhouses of Seongcheon.
But Yeon Hojeong’s surprise ended there.
“Now that I know your name, explain what you meant by threatening me with the government offices.”
Beom-oh’s body trembled faintly.
It was not because he was from Shaolin. Any sect would treat an elder from two generations prior with appropriate respect. Regardless of martial prowess, such a person was a living witness to history.
Yet Yeon Hojeong showed no respect whatsoever toward the Master-Ancestor. Beom-oh could barely contain the anger rising within him.
In contrast, Tam-gyeong burst into laughter.
“Hahahaha! What a refreshingly straightforward junior. Indeed, the world has changed this much. I secluded myself in a cave, unaware of the passage of time and cutting ties with the secular world, only to find that the heavens have once again produced remarkable individuals upon this land.”
“……”
“Very well. I’ll tell you. But first, I’d like you to answer one question.”
“Speak.”
“I’ll say this clearly. This question might, in a way, be a secret you’d rather keep hidden. Of course, it’s only my guess, but if what I’m thinking is correct, then you are truly an extraordinary person.”
Yeon Hojeong frowned.
“I don’t like wasting time. If you have something to ask, ask it quickly.”
“Hahaha! Understood, understood.”
At that moment, Tam-gyeong’s gaze changed.
The shift was so striking that even Yeon Hojeong of all people felt a chill run down his spine.
It was an aura that could not be produced by martial arts level or inner energy alone.
It was the gaze of an eccentric and a madman who had devoted his entire life to a single purpose, pouring everything into it.
“Who is your master?”
“……?!”
“Is that question too difficult? Then let me rephrase it.”
Tam-gyeong’s eyes shone like the sun.
“Have you trained in the Four Gods Arts?”