A Parting Toast to the Soaring Dragon
At the outermost boundary of the Vermilion Shadow Squad's territory lay an aged, weathered martial training ground. Long abandoned by foot traffic and devoid of maintenance, wild weeds ran rampant across the cracked earth, leaving it utterly desolate. Yet within this forsaken clearing, a lone figure shattered the pervasive silence, having claimed the space entirely for himself. It was Tang Pung-yeong.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Thud-thud-thud!
With a single flick of his wrist, three short iron nails slammed into a wooden post, embedding themselves in a clean, horizontal row.
"Splendid. Is that the proud concealed weapon of the Sichuan Tang Clan, the Back-Piercing Nail?"
The Back-Piercing Nail was a favored weapon among Tang Clan masters, widely considered the foundation of their hidden projectile arts. Simple in construction and effortless to mass-produce, there was no better weapon for Tang Pung-yeong after severing ties with the clan.
Tang Pung-yeong turned his head to find Dokgo Jin standing quietly nearby.
"The Dragon Tiger Plaque Master?" His eyes narrowed to sharp slits. "What brings you here?"
Dokgo Jin did not answer directly, countering with an inquiry of his own. "Are you satisfied with your life in the Vermilion Shadow Squad?"
"What are you on about all of a sudden?"
"Rumor has it that your fellow squad members go out of their way to avoid you."
"Hmph. Mind your own business."
Turning his back once more, Tang Pung-yeong whipped his sleeve.
Swish-swish-swish! Thud-thud-thud!
This time, three more nails struck the timber vertically in rapid succession, intersecting the first row to form a cross. What was truly astonishing was that the nail at the dead center struck the earlier dart head-on, driving it even deeper into the wood before seating itself cleanly in its wake.
"Magnificent," Dokgo Jin murmured. "The Tang Clan must feel a bitter pang of regret for casting out such a master."
Tang Pung-yeong's face hardened at the loaded remark. "If all you came for is idle chatter, leave."
"Tang Pung-yeong, I came to invite you to serve as Vice Commander of the Mad Tiger Squad, a new combat unit about to be formed."
"...!"
"Will you join me?"
When Dokgo Jin had visited the Golden Frog Money House, he had looked into Tang Pung-yeong's background, only to find an unnatural lack of information. The meaning behind such an absence was unmistakable.
The Sichuan Tang Clan covered his tracks.
A clan so insular they forced even sons-in-law to marry into the family, the Sichuan Tang Clan was notorious for its secrecy. Once they chose to suppress information, outsiders had virtually no means of discovering the truth.
Yet the Heavenly Mechanism Hall is different.
What Dokgo Jin had uncovered within the alliance's intelligence archives was the true history of Tang Pung-yeong.
After a brief hesitation, Tang Pung-yeong offered a cold retort. "Why should I?"
"It strikes me as far better than being treated like an outcast here."
"You've guessed wrong. I am getting along just fine, so be on your way."
"Is that truly so?"
Swish-swish-swish! Thud-thud-thud!
Another row of nails sank horizontally into the post. Yet upon close inspection, the final dart was slanted slightly upward.
Dokgo Jin did not miss the slip.
"You are shaken. I have already secured the understanding of the Vermilion Bird Banner Leader. All that remains is your decision, Young Hero Tang."
"...!"
Tang Pung-yeong froze.
"The Vermilion Bird Banner Leader likely pacified you with sweet words—promising that if you endured your time in the Vermilion Shadow Squad, heavy responsibilities would soon be yours."
"..."
"Rather than lingering here indefinitely on empty promises, wouldn't it be better to choose a path while a seat is open before you?"
Tang Pung-yeong turned back to face Dokgo Jin. "You seem ill-informed. Do you think the Vermilion Bird Banner never offered me a vice commander position?"
"I know they did. But you refused."
Tang Pung-yeong furrowed his brow. "Knowing that, you still come offering a vice commander's post? If you handed over the commander's seat, I might at least consider it."
"I know why you rejected their offer. You had no desire to serve as half a martial artist." Dokgo Jin continued, his voice firm and unwavering. "I give you my word. If you become my vice commander, I will lift your restriction."
"...!"
"I will bear every shred of the responsibility."
A flicker of astonishment crossed Tang Pung-yeong's face. "Is that... even possible?"
"Of course. In my eyes, serving as a vice commander who can act freely while shifting all blame onto his commander sounds far superior to being a squad leader bound by chains."
Tang Pung-yeong's restriction was none other than poison.
Though the Northern Heavenly Alliance was known as a coalition straddling the orthodox and unorthodox, it drew a clear, unyielding line against demonic depravity. From ancient times, poison was considered the exclusive domain of the unorthodox underworld, with the Sichuan Tang Clan as the sole exception. The Tang Clan had earned orthodox recognition only through extreme restraint and rigorous discipline in their use of toxins. For any other sect, deploying poison was tantamount to branding oneself an unorthodox villain.
The Northern Heavenly Alliance did not officially outlaw poison by codified rule, but custom and convention strongly discouraged its practice. Tang Pung-yeong faced the exact same prejudice. No one explicitly forbade him from using poison; they merely urged him to exercise "utmost caution." Even without poison, his deadly mastery of hidden weapons made him a formidable and useful asset.
Yet Tang Pung-yeong could never swallow such hypocrisy, especially when the Vermilion Bird Banner housed a unit that openly utilized gunpowder and explosives.
What meaningful difference is there between poison and explosives?
His primary reason for joining the Vermilion Bird Banner had been the thought that if black powder was permitted, poison surely would not be barred. Yet in practice, the shackles had remained firmly fastened.
"Are you truly certain? Even if I deploy poison entirely at my own discretion?"
"That will be for you to judge. I repeat: as the commander, I will bear all the responsibility."
Emotions shifted across Tang Pung-yeong's face in rapid succession. This was no simple permission to use poison.
He... trusts me?
Unless Dokgo Jin genuinely trusted that Tang Pung-yeong would never wield poison recklessly, he would never have made such a pledge. Having met with nothing but guarded eyes and suspicion since entering the Northern Heavenly Alliance, this unreserved faith struck Tang Pung-yeong with profound impact.
"..."
Silence stretched between them, but Dokgo Jin waited patiently.
At last, Tang Pung-yeong brought his fists together in a formal martial salute.
"This Tang greets the Commander."
A satisfied smile curved Dokgo Jin's lips.
"As of now, you are the Vice Commander of the Mad Tiger Squad."
The first warrior of the White Tiger Banner's newly established unit had officially joined.
Dokgo Jin turned his steps toward Iron Heart Hall.
The crimson sunset that had stained the western sky gave way to the encroaching chill of dusk.
Has it grown this late already?
Wandering across the vast alliance grounds since dawn had made the hours vanish in the blink of an eye. Though running around and exhausting his mind ought to have drained him, his thoughts regarding the Mad Tiger Squad were sharper than ever.
Only a few days remain with the Iron Soul Unit.
Since the Mad Tiger Squad had yet to be officially inaugurated, Dokgo Jin was still an active member of the Iron Soul Unit on paper. He intended to remain quietly at Iron Heart Hall until the administrative paperwork concluded, but rumors within the alliance were bound to spread like wildfire.
Once the rumors take hold, the stares will grow piercing. When that time comes, I'll have to request separate quarters at the Guest House Hall.
As the main gates of Iron Heart Hall came into view in the distance, Dokgo Jin came to a sudden halt.
"..."
Dozens of figures stood lined up rigidly before the gates in the darkness. They were the warriors of the Iron Soul Unit. At this hour, they would normally be resting from duty or absorbed in private training, yet tonight, every single man had gathered with one heart, waiting for someone to arrive.
"...What is everyone doing out here?"
At Dokgo Jin's question, Gwak Hyo, leader of Squad 1, stepped forward from the head of the ranks.
"We were waiting for you."
His voice was pitched lower than usual. From the look in Gwak Hyo's eyes, Dokgo Jin instantly knew the rumors had already reached deep into Iron Heart Hall.
"It seems word has already traveled this far."
"We heard whispers that the alliance is establishing a new strike unit, and that you've been tapped as its commander. Is it true?"
The gazes of all the warriors converged on Dokgo Jin. There was no resentment or envy in their eyes—only a profound, lingering reluctance to see him go.
"We knew you were destined for great heights, but none of us expected you to leave our side so quickly."
"That is simply how things unfolded, Squad Leader."
"Aye. I was your squad leader. It'll probably be my proudest boast for the rest of my life—that the Commander of the Mad Tiger Squad was once a member of my squad." Gwak Hyo roared with laughter and clapped Dokgo Jin firmly on the shoulder. It was a heartfelt blessing from a comrade who had shared life and death on the battlefield.
"Come now, what are you all standing around for! Tonight is his final night as a brother of the Iron Soul Unit! Bring out the liquor!"
At Gwak Hyo's booming command, the rigid air over the courtyard vanished in a flash of fiery excitement. Casting aside their usual strict discipline, the warriors bustled into action. Massive liquor casks were rolled out from storage, and the mouthwatering scent of sizzling meat soon filled the air from the ground-floor kitchen. A rustic yet boisterous banquet hall materialized in the courtyard of Iron Heart Hall.
"Dragon Tiger Plaque Master—no, I suppose we must call you Commander now, shouldn't we? Even after becoming a commander, you must never forget the Iron Soul Unit!"
The men queued up one by one to offer their cups to Dokgo Jin. Even the youngest recruits, who had once found Dokgo Jin's chilling presence too intimidating to even greet him, approached with flushed, earnest faces.
Gwak Hyo raised a brimming bowl of wine high above his head.
"To the boundless future of our new commander! To the eternal glory of the White Tiger Banner!"
"Waaaah!"
A thunderous roar of cheers shook the rafters of Iron Heart Hall.
Dokgo Jin quietly accepted and emptied every single cup offered to him. He was not one to enjoy drink under normal circumstances, but tonight, the fiery liquor coursing down his throat did not taste bitter at all.
"I will... remember every one of you."
At his words, the warriors erupted in renewed cheers. He was not departing for some distant land, but once he formally assumed the mantle of a squad commander, informal drinking bouts like this would no longer be possible.
As the night deepened, the banquet's fervor only mounted. Some men drunkenly bragged of their past spars against Dokgo Jin, while others grew misty-eyed with parting sorrow. Beyond the raucous clamor, Dokgo Jin quietly took in the sight of Iron Heart Hall.
"..."
Though his time here had been short, this was the very place where he had first felt the true meaning of comrades. Detached as he was, he could not remain unmoved.
Someday... when every burden has been laid to rest, I hope a day comes when I can laugh and feast with these men in earnest.
Meanwhile, two figures leaned against the third-floor railing of Iron Heart Hall, gazing down at the lively banquet below. It was Yeom Baek, Leader of the Iron Soul Unit, and his vice-commander, Yoo Seol-ah.
"Tsk. Cooking porridge only to feed it to the neighbor's dog. In the end, they poached our newbie, didn't they?" Yoo Seol-ah grumbled, pouting.
Yeom Baek took a silent sip from his cup before answering in a low rumble. "His vessel was far too vast to let rot as a rank-and-file warrior. Count it a blessing that he remains under the White Tiger Banner."
"I just never thought he'd climb the ranks so fast. Come to think of it, his rank is higher than mine now! Ugh, my stomach hurts."
"Aye. From now on, make sure you address him with proper honorifics every time you cross paths."
"As if! Until his formal appointment comes down, he is still my subordinate! By the way, Leader, won't you have to speak to him as an equal now? You'll both be squad commanders."
"Hmph. It seems so."
Yeom Baek offered a bittersweet smile, watching Dokgo Jin down cup after cup below.
From the very beginning, he was too colossal a figure for me to keep.
In truth, Yeom Baek had quietly marked Dokgo Jin as his successor to lead the Iron Soul Unit. His regret was immense, yet watching a squad commander emerge from beneath his wing filled him with an odd sense of pride.
Yoo Seol-ah's worries, however, were aimed in an entirely different direction.
"Wait... the Dragon Tiger Plaque Master won't poach warriors from our Iron Soul Unit, will he?"
"Who can say? That is entirely up to him. Having fought alongside the men, he may well have his eye on someone."
"No way! We share a bond of brotherhood! Losing him alone feels like having our foundation pillar ripped away. We can't lose any more! I won't let him take anyone else!"
"Then go down there right now and plead your case."
"Aish! You always dump things like this onto me!"
Unable to sit still, Yoo Seol-ah vaulted over the railing. Landing as light as a feather on the stone floor below, she sprinted like an arrow toward the banquet where Dokgo Jin sat drinking.
Yeom Baek watched her retreating figure and let out a helpless chuckle.
Dokgo Jin... will that man truly be satisfied with the seat of a mere squad commander?
A tiger might be content once it secures a mountain, but a dragon rests only when it claims the boundless sky.
Just how high would Dokgo Jin soar? Yeom Baek could already feel a swell of anticipation rising in his chest.
Dark Sky Martial Emperor
Author | Jeong Cheon
Publisher | Samyang C&C Co., Ltd.
Managing Editor | Editorial Department
Published by | Samyang C&C Co., Ltd. - Dreambooks
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