Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Audience with the Division Leader
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Kwak Man took a step back and gestured for Yuk Jin-yang to proceed.
Yuk Jin-yang slowly advanced.
The expansive office was filled with open space. It contained only the bare essentials of furniture, arranged in a way that evoked not desolation, but a deliberate pursuit of neat simplicity.
Directly opposite hung a curtain woven from beads of colored jade. Thin wisps of incense smoke seeped through the gaps, lending an air of mystery.
Behind the curtain, the faint silhouette of a person shimmered. Yuk Jin-yang halted at a respectful distance.
Suddenly, an invisible force swept in, parting the curtain. It was the same telekinetic technique his grandfather often employed. At last, Yuk Jin-yang could clearly see the Geonryeong Division Leader.
A woman of strikingly ethereal beauty sat at the desk, handling official matters. Her long, raven-black hair cascaded down her back like the night sky.
Even the movements of her snow-white hand as it wielded the brush carried a rhythmic grace. Her poise exuded an elegance beyond mere appearance.
Having finished signing the document, she raised her head.
Mysterious purple eyes, a mark of imperial blood, fixed upon Yuk Jin-yang.
His gaze lingered on her beauty for only a moment.
The instant their eyes met, a shiver raced down his spine. Though her aura was restrained, its presence pressed upon him unmistakably—a blend of imperial dignity and the overwhelming pressure of a supreme master, impossible to disentangle.
In both his past and present lives, few had left such a profound impression. Perhaps only the heads of the Four Great Clans or the leaders of the Nine Great Sects. Clearly, the Geonryeong Division Leader ranked among them.
"So, you are the one called Jae-cheon."
She addressed him by his newly bestowed courtesy name, a refined courtesy reserved for a full-fledged adult.
"Yes, that is I."
"Your fame has spread far and wide; I had hoped to meet you. Moreover, the Old Master Yuk I know is not one to praise his own blood lightly."
Old Master? Yuk Jin-yang was slightly taken aback by the familiar term.
'Do they share some close bond?'
Then again, considering his grandfather's stature, ties to the imperial dragon bloodline were hardly surprising. He had aided the founding emperor in ending the chaotic era, after all.
It was even possible that his grandfather had been among the Geonryeong Division Leader's personal masters.
"Has Grandfather spoken of me?"
"Quite often. Though he did express some concerns on your behalf."
"Concerns?"
"Matters you need not know yet—and best left unknown for your own good."
Her cryptic words continued. Yuk Jin-yang stifled his urge to press further, cowed by an inexplicable pressure emanating from her.
The Division Leader's gaze swept over him from head to toe, as if appraising his potential. Despite her restrained aura, he felt utterly exposed.
They said a peerless master's intuition could discern an opponent's realm without crossing blades—a insight honed by surviving countless brushes with death.
Satisfaction flickered in her violet eyes, and her red lips curved into a crescent smile. She had reached her verdict.
"It seems those were mere worries on his part."
"......"
"He who does not fly for three years will soar through the heavens when he does; he who does not cry for three years will shake the world when he cries."
The Division Leader quoted an ancient tale in her clear, resonant voice.
"Those words have stirred the Alliance lately—ever since news spread that you slew the young heir of the Hwangbo Clan."
"......Has the rumor spread that far?"
The idiom "not flying, not crowing" originated from a tale of Duke Zhuang of Chu, who bided his time to hone his strength.
Yuk Jin-yang's sudden rise had caught everyone off guard, as if he had deliberately concealed his power.
Her eyes softened with amusement at his embarrassment, like an elder sister regarding a cute younger sibling.
"Seeing you now, I know the rumors ring true."
"Your praise is too generous."
"No wonder the Old Master dotes on you. He often lamented to me that he had no successor to inherit his martial legacy. With you, his worries must have eased."
She spoke freely of the Yuk Clan's inner affairs. Was it imperial arrogance, or a display of intimacy?
Yuk Jin-yang replied cautiously.
"I'm not sure. Grandfather isn't one for overt expressions. Direct praise from him is rare."
"He does have that side to him. But he keeps it hidden. In truth, he harbors deep affection and concern for his kin."
Yuk Jin-yang's expression soured. Deep affection from the clan head? No Yuk clansman would agree. Guessing his thoughts, the Division Leader smiled faintly.
"I have high hopes for you as well. I look forward to your exploits."
"I will strive not to disappoint."
Yuk Jin-yang clasped his hands in salute. The Division Leader nodded and waved him off, signaling his dismissal.
"The Vice Division Leader awaits you. Ask him about your duties going forward."
With a tinkling cascade of jade beads, the curtain fell back into place.
"The meeting went smoothly, I take it."
As the Division Leader had said, Kwak Man was not the only one waiting outside. A towering stranger exuded a robust aura. His fierce, hawk-like eyes evoked a beast of prey.
He resembled Yi Jeong-baek in build but not in presence. Though similarly sturdy, his air was far rougher and more battle-hardened.
"I am Yang Jung-ui, Vice Leader of the Geonryeong Division."
The man introduced himself. His voice boomed like an echo in a cavern. He showed no hesitation in expressing his goodwill toward Yuk Jin-yang.
"I don't know what you discussed with the Leader, but I have great expectations for you."
"......"
"Talented individuals are rare in these times. All the more so for one who wiped out an upstart clan and single-handedly defeated the young heir of a famed murim family."
"The Leader said much the same."
"I expected as much. Even I can sense your extraordinary nature; with her discerning eye, she surely saw it too."
Yang Jung-ui nodded toward the stairs opposite.
"Follow me."
They descended slowly. As they exited the hall and passed through a garden blooming with rapeseed flowers, Yang Jung-ui spoke up.
"Have you heard of the Geonryeong Division's role?"
"I know it's the Leader's elite unit of a select few. The rest was to be explained directly."
Yang Jung-ui nodded and began in earnest.
"We primarily handle cleanup for the other combat units."
"Cleanup?"
"The jianghu is full of variables. Even Alliance units fail sometimes, despite rigorous selection. We handle their aftermath."
"Must see your share of grim sights."
"Indeed."
Yang Jung-ui sighed deeply.
"Take the recent incident where half the recruits died. It wasn't a difficult mission—we even assigned veterans to guide them. Yet disaster struck unexpectedly."
"What was the mission?"
"Scouting the evil sects in Gansu Province."
That alone didn't explain the failure. Yuk Jin-yang probed further.
"Was there more to it?"
"The White Lotus Cult."
Yuk Jin-yang frowned. That name again.
Yang Jung-ui eyed him meaningfully.
"You encountered them in Shandong too, right? The report said you slew their Not Flying Not Crowing practitioner and dismantled their bizarre formation."
"Yes."
Yuk Jin-yang recalled the brutal clashes in Shandong.
From their sonic arts to the Black Dark Heaven-Shrouding Formation, none had been easy fights. They differed starkly from typical jianghu skirmishes—far more insidious and treacherous. Inexperienced fighters would struggle most.
"But others couldn't handle them as deftly. Precious lives were lost in pursuit or combat."
Yang Jung-ui shook his head.
"We cleaned that up, but such cases abound. Problems linger across the land."
"The White Lotus Cult holds that much sway?"
"Yes. Plus hidden evil masters and yokels. Failures mount, straining our already thin ranks."
They arrived at a small training ground.
Several men and women had already gathered—seniors of the Geonryeong Division, though fewer than expected. Many must be away on missions.
Among them was a familiar face: Yu Baek of the Seo Ju-Yuk Clan, who had served as an examiner at the entry ceremony.
'He was with the Geonryeong Division too.'
The talk of him being a clan prodigy wasn't exaggeration. Qualifying for the elite unit, even as a temporary examiner, proved it.
The Geonryeong members spotted Yuk Jin-yang and showed keen interest.
"What's this, a newbie?"
"The genius everyone's buzzing about. Did the Vice Leader pull some strings?"
"Baek-ie finally escapes being the baby. Happy about that?"
"Come to think of it, during the last entry exam... Yu Baek lost to this newbie, right? With such a star recruit, even being a senior's gonna be tough."
Their teasing gazes turned to Yu Baek, revealing the seniors' fondness for the youngest.
"You're all being too hard on me."
Yu Baek grumbled at the ribbing but gazed at Yuk Jin-yang with genuine warmth, unburdened by past defeat.
"Quiet, everyone."
Yang Jung-ui's lowered tone silenced the group instantly. Their disciplined poise spoke volumes about the division's rigor.
In the hush, he continued.
"Jin-yang, welcome to the Geonryeong Division. Introduce yourself to your seniors."
"Yuk Jin-yang of the Zhejiang Yuk Clan."
He saluted with clasped hands. Eyes upon him brimmed with curiosity, interest, even faint rivalry—all met with the bold openness of true warriors.
"Now that you're officially one of us, one rule to heed."
Yang Jung-ui's voice grew stern.
"Leave all outside grudges and ties at the door. No flaunting clans or status. Only the Alliance rank tokens determine hierarchy here."
"Understood."
As he nodded, a voice piped up from the seniors.
"So, can we see the new guy's skills now?"