Flaws in Discipline (4)
Gang Yun's face flushed red.
"Are you saying you'll drag me down from my position as captain?"
"You should be grateful for that," Yeon Hojeong said, raising his fist.
Woooong.
A fierce surge of true energy rose from his fist.
Gang Yun, who had been about to speak again, flinched in shock.
'No way?!'
The energy emanating from Yeon Hojeong's fist was truly extraordinary. It far surpassed Gang Yun's own internal energy as captain of the Bi-eungdae.
"If I could, I'd break your limbs and kick you out myself. But you don't even deserve a punch."
"……!"
"Wasting a punch on trash like you is too much."
Yeon Hojeong turned to Yu Jiha.
Yu Jiha jumped in fright.
"Doesn't that sound right to you?"
"I-I'm sorry!"
Yeon Hojeong's gaze was fiercely intimidating.
Yu Jiha's feet moved on their own.
Gang Yun's lips twitched.
"You're making this bigger than it needs to be."
"Don't overestimate yourself. This isn't about you—it's about the higher-ups who felt safe putting a guy like you in charge. I can't wrap my head around them."
Yeon Hojeong gave a cold smile.
"I'm handling it by the book because that's the proper way. Shut your mouth and stand by."
"……Even you, Young Master, can't remove me from my captaincy."
"That's why I didn't kill you on the spot and called the Law Enforcer instead. And I told you—stand by. I've said all I need to. No more yapping."
Gang Yun bit his lip.
"I only acted for the good of the Yeon family!"
"I'm demoting you for the good of the main house."
"Small units form larger organizations! Without laws and discipline, they fall apart! Some sacrifice is inevitable for a well-oiled machine!"
"Trash."
"W-what did you say?"
"If that sacrifice is so necessary, why aren't you the one bearing it? You're supposed to be a role model for your men."
"……!!"
"You're the classic petty villain—lenient with yourself, harsh on others. That's why the Bi-eungdae's performance is so lackluster under you."
Yeon Hojeong turned his head.
"Isn't that right?"
No one was there, but he pressed on without hesitation.
"Since we've called the Law Enforcer, word will reach Father anyway. Show yourself."
At that moment.
Shhh.
Gang Yun and the Bi-eung Three Squad members started in surprise.
A man emerged from the shadows beside the weapon storeroom in the grand training grounds. Tall and solidly built, his face was concealed by a mask covering everything but his eyes, making it hard to gauge his features. From his eyes, he appeared to be in his late thirties or early forties.
The man spoke.
"You knew I was here?"
"No idea. But your qi flickered for a split second just now."
"Impressive."
"Nothing special."
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
"You're Wang Jeon, right?"
"Yes."
Gang Yun's eyes widened.
Wang Jeon was the closest guard to the family head, Yeon Wi—the Guardian of the Lord, as they were known across generations. His skills were the finest in the household, second only to Yeon Wi himself.
"Something to say?"
Wang Jeon shook his head. Even in response to the young master, he merely shook his head. It might seem improper, but the Guardian was allowed such leeway. He answered only to the family head.
"Tell Father I'll be handling some business today."
Wang Jeon, who had been silently watching Yeon Hojeong, spoke.
"I have a question."
"Go ahead."
"What if the Law Enforcer doesn't punish the Bi-eungdae captain? What then?"
Yeon Hojeong answered honestly, though he didn't know the reason for the question.
"I'd kidnap Gang Captain and make sure he never functions as a human again."
A glint flashed in Wang Jeon's eyes.
Gang Yun stared at Yeon Hojeong in disbelief.
"I'd love to flip the table on the Law Enforcer and everyone else, but I'm not the family head. And it's not right to abandon the clan over idiots like that, is it?"
"……."
"Does that answer your question?"
Wang Jeon nodded.
Yeon Hojeong pointed at the Bi-eung Three Squad members with his hand.
"Ask Father to find a clinic nearby. These kids are in bad shape."
"You knew?"
"Just found out today. I was too negligent myself—my responsibility too."
Wang Jeon's gaze grew enigmatic.
After staring at Yeon Hojeong a moment longer, he left one final word and vanished.
"The Bi-eungdae captain will face severe punishment."
Gang Yun's face drained of color.
These were the words of one of the Yeon family's top experts. The vague sense of crisis now felt all too real.
"Why…… why?!"
"Still don't get it?"
Yeon Hojeong looked at the squad members.
"Your uniform training wrecked their bodies."
"What?!"
"And you were blathering about organizations and units without even knowing that?"
Gang Yun glanced at the Bi-eung Three Squad in panic. They bit their lips and averted their eyes.
"That's proof of your incompetence. I don't know how you ran those drills, but their meridians are messed up. They got injured, got no proper treatment, and you threw them back into training."
"……!"
"How can someone who can't even check his men's conditions call himself a captain?"
Gang Yun paled further.
Even in the ancient Three Kingdoms era, injured soldiers were sidelined to preserve unit strength. Yet he'd been utterly oblivious to his men's individual traits and health.
And on top of that, he'd subjected them to torture-like punishment under the guise of insubordination for resting.
He was utterly unqualified.
Soon after, the Law Enforcer arrived at the grand training grounds.
"Young Master?!"
"Wait a bit. More people are coming."
"W-what do you mean?"
Yeon Hojeong shot Gang Yun a glare.
Gang Yun's face had gone from pale to ashen.
"You like taking responsibility for your brigade?"
That day, nearly every unit and organization of the Yeon family gathered in the training grounds.
Yeon Hojeong exposed Gang Yun's incompetence before them all.
Gang Yun was human, after all. He must have known deep down his command wasn't normal—he'd just chosen the easy path.
Having it laid bare in front of everyone was too much, even for the thickest-skinned.
Gang Yun finally knelt under the Law Enforcer's icy stare.
But Yeon Hojeong didn't stop at Gang Yun's faults.
He summoned everyone who had trained Gang Yun or studied alongside him.
Then he had each of their organizations scrutinized for similar abuses.
The results were shocking.
Three organizations were even worse than the Bi-eungdae. One had even killed and buried a squad member over a trivial matter.
It was thunder from a clear sky.
The entire unit had kept silent to cover it up, passing it off as a disappearance.
Neither the Law Enforcer nor Yeon Wi—who learned of it late—had any inkling such rot existed in the household.
For over five days after, the Yeon family simmered like a bomb on the verge of explosion.
Those involved in the abuses, corruption, or cover-ups were rooted out.
They were punished strictly by the family laws.
Gang Yun was no exception.
His crimes weren't exactly heinous felonies. His issues were mainly inept leadership, neglect of his men—incompetence and poor communication.
But his words to the young master were the real problem.
No one knew if Wang Jeon had relayed them or if the squad members had, but the Law Enforcer viewed Gang Yun's attitude toward Yeon Hojeong as far graver than his incompetence.
It was only natural.
Gang Yun's behavior was tantamount to insubordination against a superior.
The Yeon family's laws were ironclad. Leaders were given great authority—and thus great responsibility.
For a brigade captain to commit insubordination against the family's heir apparent? Unforgivable.
The Law Enforcer sentenced him to total crippling of his internal energy and ten years in the prison tower.
Harsh, yes. But it signaled how gravely even the Law Enforcer viewed the incident.
Thus, the Yeon family's cold iron fist fell upon the guilty.
* * *
"Do you truly think it excessive?"
"Yes."
"I heard that if the Law Enforcer didn't punish the former Bi-eungdae captain properly, you'd handle it yourself."
"That's right."
"Then why call the sentence excessive now?"
"If the Law Enforcer hadn't punished Gang Yun, it would've meant the main house itself was rotten. We'd have to start from the top, not just Gang Yun."
"……."
"But the Law Enforcer did punish him. For incompetence and insubordination."
"Correct."
"Incompetence is bad enough, but insubordination is a grave sin. In wartime, execution on the spot wouldn't be amiss."
"Indeed. Hence the total crippling and ten-year imprisonment. Those in high positions bear commensurate responsibility."
"Wise words, but still excessive."
"Explain."
"No direct brigade responsibility, but the Yeon family put him there."
"……."
"He was family, in the end. Not sure if you still see him that way, Father."
"So, lighten the sentence?"
"Gang Yun got harsher than the family laws stipulate. Not lighten it—make it transparent and by the book."
Yeon Hojeong gave a wry smile.
"He twisted the family laws to his own whims, causing this mess."
"……."
"If you're not allowing flexibility in the laws, don't go overboard either. It'll confuse everyone."
"You truly believe that?"
"My view, yes. Other groups maybe not, but the main house must."
Yeon Wi turned to Yeon Jipyeong.
"What do you think?"
Yeon Jipyeong, caught off guard by the question, blinked in surprise. But he spoke right away, as if he'd been waiting.
"Even if not Gang Captain specifically…… it's one man's life on the line."
"Hm."
"If rules are broken, punishment fits the crime—that's right."
After a slight hesitation, Yeon Jipyeong continued.
"I think the Yeon family is called the Bi-san house because we handle things justly and incorruptibly."
Yeon Wi nodded.
"Well said. Truth be told, I find Gang Yun's sentence excessive too."
Yeon Jipyeong looked puzzled at his father.
If he thought so, why not adjust it himself? Why call them here?
Yeon Wi asked Yeon Hojeong.
"Is that alright with you?"
"Pardon? What?"
"Insubordination's severity varies by circumstance. You're the superior he insulted, so you could demand his death if you wish."
"True."
"Yet you want it lightened. That's what I'm asking."
Yeon Hojeong chuckled.
"I'm fine. I scraped his nerves raw enough as is. Not drawing my sword is mercy enough."
"Drawing it would've meant instant execution."
"Exactly."
The corner of Yeon Wi's mouth twitched upward.
But it faded quickly, his face stern once more.
"Very well. We'll do as you say."
Yeon Jipyeong was inwardly stunned.
Yeon Hojeong, however, took it calmly.
"Hojeong."
"Yes, Father."
"Good work."
Yeon Hojeong grinned and stood.
"Keep stuff like this from happening so I don't have to work. It's killing me."
Yeon Jipyeong tugged his brother's arm in panic.
Yeon Wi sipped his tea.
"I'll keep an eye out from now on."
Yeon Jipyeong's jaw dropped.
"Then we'll take our leave."
"What tomorrow?"
"Same as always."
"Back to that brutal training?"
"Thinking of switching it up."
Yeon Wi nodded.
"Stop by before Huigae arrives. I'll check your martial arts. Jipyeong, you too."
The Yeon brothers left the family head's quarters.
Yeon Wi gazed out the window.
The brothers were heading to their quarters, bursting into laughter over something amusing.
A flicker of regret passed through Yeon Wi's eyes.
It was aimed, as always, at Yeon Hojeong.