Chapter 402
Chapter 402
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 402
Chapter Title: An Unconventional Leader
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“Hah!”
Just then, a sharp cry echoed as dozens of streams of sword energy rained down chaotically upon Bu Eun-seol.
The forms of the Shadow of the Dark Fragrance Sword, one of the three great sword arts of the Mount Hua Sect, were not only exquisitely precise but also unleashed with the speed of a flash sword.
Because of this, even a great master would be unable to find an opening in an instant, forced to retreat and prepare a counterattack.
‘His footwork is nimble, so he’s sure to fall back.’
A confident smile touched Cheon Hwa-in’s lips.
‘The moment you retreat, you’re finished.’
Cheon Hwa-in had already been taught a technique by the Martial Alliance to compensate for the weaknesses of the Shadow of the Dark Fragrance Sword.
If Bu Eun-seol retreated, he intended to exploit that opening and unleash his ultimate technique.
“……”
But Bu Eun-seol simply stood there with a blank expression, as if he had seen nothing.
—Do not blame yourself.
At the same moment an explosive killing intent erupted from him, he had heard the voice of Yeong Mun-ho, one of the Ten Demonic Masters of the Spirit Demon Gate.
The man who had lost his martial arts and become an herb gatherer, finally finding peace. The man whose heart was too soft to be a warrior… had ultimately died in his arms with a smile on his face.
His last thoughts were a worry that Bu Eun-seol would suffer.
How could he ever forget such a tragic and heart-wrenching memory?
*Shhhhh!*
At that moment, dozens of streams of sword energy grazed past Bu Eun-seol, who stood motionless as a stone statue.
Because he had stood still, lost in thought, he had inadvertently evaded the feints of the Shadow of the Dark Fragrance Sword.
‘What?’
Seeing this, Cheon Hwa-in was so shocked he could have fainted.
‘Does that man know the variations of the Shadow of the Dark Fragrance Sword?’
But he was a master with vast experience in the martial world.
Even though Bu Eun-seol had broken his technique, he didn't panic. He shifted his sword form again and thrust toward his opponent's lower abdomen.
*Swish!*
As the sharp sword energy aimed for his abdomen, Bu Eun-seol was finally jolted back to his senses.
‘What am I doing!’
Scolding himself internally, Bu Eun-seol barely managed to turn his body and evade Cheon Hwa-in’s attack.
What if he hadn’t reached the Realm of Extreme Heaven, a state that allowed him to experience five moments for every one that Cheon Hwa-in did?
This single strike would have pierced straight through his abdomen.
‘This is the Martial Alliance. I can’t afford to get lost in sentimentality again!’
The Martial Alliance was a den of demons, filled with masters who surpassed him.
What if he had unleashed the Formless Heavenly Flow or the True Art of As-You-Will while his mind was distracted?
Forget avenging his grandfather… he would either lose his life or trigger a war between the Orthodox and Unorthodox Factions.
He had nearly made a grave mistake, not yet possessing the disposition of a proper spy.
“Hah!”
In that interval, Cheon Hwa-in closed in like a ghost and, with a sharp cry, was about to unleash his ultimate technique when—
*Clang!*
A loud metallic clang brought Cheon Hwa-in’s attack to a halt.
As the sword energy poured down, Bu Eun-seol had instead charged forward, dagger in hand.
*Chaang!*
When the dagger and the longsword finally clashed, both were pushed back a step.
Bu Eun-seol had deliberately retreated, as his internal energy couldn't appear greater than Cheon Hwa-in's.
‘This one is trouble.’
Cheon Hwa-in felt a chill run down his spine. Not only was Bu Eun-seol’s internal energy on par with his own, but he had also instantly halted his ultimate technique.
Moreover, to think he could precisely parry his longsword—which moved ceaselessly with profound variations—with just a short dagger?
It was a display of fearlessness and concentration.
‘So it was him.’
Only then did Cheon Hwa-in realize that Bu Eun-seol was the one who had helped Tae Mu-ryong before.
‘How did a man from a merchant guild build such a high level of martial skill?’
From this single exchange, he could guess that Bu Eun-seol had broken through the wall to the peak level.
But if he possessed such skill, why had he only been dealing with bands of bandits?
*Tap.*
Halting his attack, Cheon Hwa-in quickly retreated.
He then calmly observed Bu Eun-seol.
“So you were a hidden master.”
A sharp aura began to emanate from Cheon Hwa-in’s body.
Realizing his opponent’s skill was not to be underestimated, he prepared to face him with utmost seriousness.
“Good. Very good.”
*Whoosh.*
A sharp wind swirled around the blade of Cheon Hwa-in’s sword as he muttered under his breath.
Judging by the strange and formidable aura, it was clear he intended to use the most superior sword art in his arsenal.
*Swish!*
With a sound of tearing air, sword energy shot out from the motionless longsword in an instant.
It was so fast and sudden that it was impossible to find the right moment to counter.
*Swoosh!*
Bu Eun-seol hurriedly retreated. In that instant, he felt a sharp sting on his back.
A keen stream of sword energy had somehow appeared behind him, aiming for the Yeongdae acupoint on his spine.
It turned out Cheon Hwa-in had sent out an additional, invisible strand of sword energy to target Bu Eun-seol from behind.
*Swish!*
The sword energy was laced with a blade-like thread of internal energy.
If it hit, Bu Eun-seol’s meridians would be severely damaged.
‘So this is how Yeong Mun-ho lost his power.’
The very sword technique that had destroyed most of Yeong Mun-ho’s internal energy.
It was a move from the Shadow of the Dark Fragrance Sword, the Clear Fragrance, Dark Recitation technique, secretly overlaid with a sword energy art taught by the Martial Alliance.
*Woong.*
A bloody light flickered in Bu Eun-seol’s eyes.
He wanted to counter this sword technique in a single move and turn him into a cripple, just like Yeong Mun-ho.
But if he crippled him in this match, his true abilities would be exposed, and he would come under suspicion.
‘Not now, but…’
His mind made up, Bu Eun-seol threw his dagger.
‘Soon enough, I will make you suffer the same pain Yeong Mun-ho did!’
Simultaneously, he threw his body sideways and spun rapidly.
*Swish!*
The sword energy narrowly grazed past his body.
At the same time, the dagger Bu Eun-seol had thrown shot toward Cheon Hwa-in’s chest.
*Clang!*
Shattering the dagger in two, Cheon Hwa-in moved to slice Bu Eun-seol, who had just landed, in half.
But another dagger had already appeared in Bu Eun-seol’s right hand.
*Whoosh!*
He unleashed the sharp dagger toward Cheon Hwa-in’s glabella, intending to quell his gale-like momentum.
‘Now!’
But Cheon Hwa-in had anticipated that Bu Eun-seol would throw a dagger at him.
And that it would fly toward his glabella with unerring accuracy.
*Swish!*
He executed the Piercing Resolve technique from the Shadow of the Dark Fragrance Sword.
It was a move where the body seemed to draw back like a bowstring, only to shoot forward like an arrow, piercing the enemy in an instant.
*Clang!*
He had seen through the trajectory of Bu Eun-seol’s dagger and timed his Piercing Resolve to match it.
The movement was faster than lightning, leaving Bu Eun-seol no time to dodge as the longsword pierced toward his chest.
‘I’ve won!’
Just as Cheon Hwa-in was savoring a proud smile internally,
*Whoosh!*
Something strange happened.
The moment the tip of the sword touched his chest, it slid off bizarrely, grazing past his side.
‘What is this?’
Cheon Hwa-in was so shocked his eyes nearly popped out, but he quickly changed his sword form and slashed at his opponent’s side.
*Whirl!*
But a strange rotational force flowed from Bu Eun-seol’s body, causing the sword to slide off once again.
‘Is he deflecting my sword with Grafting Jade?’
Seonu Jin, known by the moniker ‘Heavenly Dagger,’ was renowned for his dagger skills and Grafting Jade, a technique that allowed him to deflect attacks.
But Grafting Jade was only useful for deflecting fist strikes; it was useless against sharp weapons like swords.
Yet this man was freely redirecting the tip of his sword.
‘Not a chance!’
Furious, Cheon Hwa-in gathered his full power.
*Swoooosh!*
His sword then bent strangely like a whip, spinning fiercely as it shot toward Bu Eun-seol’s neck.
It was the Decree of Life and Death, a technique from the Life-Taking Chain Sword, which the Mount Hua Sect forbade using except in moments of life and death.
Just as the impossibly sharp sword move was about to pierce Bu Eun-seol’s neck,
*Chaang!*
A clear ringing of steel echoed all around.
A sharp dagger had appeared and met the very tip of Cheon Hwa-in’s extended longsword.
*Snap.*
The tip of the dagger in Bu Eun-seol’s hand broke, but Cheon Hwa-in did not press the attack and retreated.
It was a stalemate.
The two were so evenly matched that a victor could not be decided.
—Cheon Hwa-in has lost.
But Yuk Jang-cheon and Gu In-jeong, who were watching, both knew the truth.
The reason Bu Eun-seol had blocked the ultimate technique with a dagger in hand.
It was because he had found an opportunity to pierce Cheon Hwa-in’s neck in a single move… but couldn't bring himself to kill him, so he hadn't thrown the dagger.
“Hmm.”
Cheon Hwa-in knew this as well, which was why he had stopped his attack and retreated.
‘Should I fight again, ready to die?’
Cheon Hwa-in hesitated.
The match was decided. But a fight to the death was a different story.
‘In that case.’
Just as Cheon Hwa-in was about to gather his internal energy again,
“Since no victor has been decided, we shall call this match a draw!”
Gu In-jeong, who had been sitting in the spectator seats, shouted loudly as he walked toward the stage.
“This is a duel to select a Brigade Leader, not a battle to the death.”
Yuk Jang-cheon, watching this, couldn't hide his dumbfounded expression.
If Bu Eun-seol had thrown the dagger with intent, Cheon Hwa-in would have been defeated.
How could he insist on a draw when he knew that perfectly well?
‘Even if he had already decided on Cheon Hwa-in, this is just wrong.’
Until now, if a clear difference in skill was apparent, he had used his authority to decide the victor.
But to make such an unfair and biased judgment?
‘If that heir of the Seonhwa Merchant Guild doesn't accept this, things could get out of hand.’
Yuk Jang-cheon’s face filled with worry.
The Martial Alliance had already suffered an irreversible humiliation by biasedly selecting the man known as Cheon Geom.
If something like this happened again?
In the worst-case scenario, the Alliance Leader himself might have to intervene. Then, not only Gu In-jeong but also Yuk Jang-cheon would not be free from responsibility.
“I understand.”
But to his immense relief, Bu Eun-seol respectfully cupped his hands and accepted the decision.
At that, Gu In-jeong’s stiff expression relaxed, and he nodded.
“Since it is a joint victory, we will decide on the Brigade Leader through another method. I hope you understand.”
“I understand.”
“Then, the duels end here.”
Yuk Cheong-a wore a dazed expression, but at Gu In-jeong’s urging glance, she had no choice but to announce in a loud voice.
“Since a victor could not be determined, it is a joint victory for both contestants.”
The tournament ended anticlimactically.
Cheon Hwa-in, the pre-selected candidate for Brigade Leader, had failed to defeat the merchant guild heir, Seonu Jin, resulting in a contrived joint victory.
“Elder Gu. No matter how small the scale, this was a tournament held under the authority of the Alliance.”
Unable to watch any longer, Yuk Jang-cheon finally approached Gu In-jeong.
“If you go back on your word like this, the problem could spiral out of control.”
“I’m not going back on my word. It was a genuine draw. Since both men readily accepted it, there won’t be any complaints.”
But all he received was Gu In-jeong’s shameless reply.
“This turned out for the best.”
“What do you mean?”
“No matter if the brigade handles minor affairs in the martial world, a brigade of the Martial Alliance is still a brigade, is it not? We must consider various abilities, not just martial skill.”
That much was true.
The man named Cheon Geom had proven that a Brigade Leader who leads subordinates couldn't succeed on martial strength alone.
But it was none other than Elder Gu In-jeong who had ignored that fact and insisted on selecting the new Brigade Leader through a tournament.
The only reason Yuk Jang-cheon hadn't stopped his absurdity was simple.
The establishment of this new Peak Brigade was sponsored by the Council of Elders.
More precisely, it was supported by the Mount Hua Sect and spearheaded by Gu In-jeong.
Furthermore, the higher-ups had already internally decided on Cheon Hwa-in, a Master of the Great Path, as the Brigade Leader, in line with Gu In-jeong’s proposal.
Yuk Jang-cheon, in truth, had no strong opinions or complaints about it.
But the appearance of the outstanding individual named Seonu Jin was starting to change his mind.
“Then what do you propose we do?”
“We do it the way the Alliance has always selected Brigade Leaders. We give them a mission that will test their overall abilities.”
“To those two?”
“Indeed,” Gu In-jeong said calmly.
“The brigade we are forming was intended to handle the various minor affairs of the martial world that our other Brigade Leaders cannot, wasn't it?”
“Hmm.”
Yuk Jang-cheon let out a low hum.
‘It would have been better if we had done this from the start.’
He wanted to retort but held his tongue.
The man who had been stubbornly pushing for a tournament was now saying he would select the Brigade Leader properly. There was nothing he could say to that.
“Very well, let us proceed that way.”
***
As joint victors of the tournament, Bu Eun-seol and Cheon Hwa-in were given the status of Temporary Brigade Leaders.
Since the duel had not produced a clear winner, the two were appointed as temporary leaders and would be given a mission.
The rationale was to evaluate their capabilities from various angles to see who was more suited for the role.
Yuk Cheong-a, under Yuk Jang-cheon’s orders, explained the situation to Bu Eun-seol and conveyed his apologies.
“I’m sorry. By rights, Young Master Seonu should have been chosen.”
At Yuk Cheong-a’s sincere consolation, Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
“Not at all. I believe this is the correct way.”
Bu Eun-seol actually felt that this turn of events was fortunate.
What if Gu In-jeong had been stubborn to the end? He was the key figure in establishing the Peak Brigade, and Bu Eun-seol would have been in a difficult position.
But now that he was being given another fair chance, he had reason to be grateful.
“And I have to tell you something else I’m sorry about.”
“Please, go on.”
“Normally, we would create fair temporary brigades… but all the skilled martial artists the Alliance can provide have been assigned to Cheon Hwa-in’s temporary brigade.”
She said with an embarrassed expression.
“So, Young Master Seonu, you don’t even have enough members to form a temporary brigade.”
Gu In-jeong had blatantly stacked the deck to ensure Cheon Hwa-in would successfully complete the mission.
All the available masters from the Martial Alliance who could be assigned to a temporary brigade had been given to him.
“Does that mean not a single member is assigned to me?”
“That’s why the Hall Master asked if you would be willing to take some of the rising stars who participated in the Scholars’ Tournament.”
“Those who participated in the Scholars’ Tournament…”
After a moment of thought, Bu Eun-seol nodded.
“It can’t be helped. I would be grateful if you could arrange at least that much.”
As Bu Eun-seol readily agreed, Yuk Cheong-a had a strange thought.
‘I can’t tell if he’s a good person or a fool.’
Any normal person would have protested or demanded compensation for such a biased arrangement.
But this man, Seonu Jin, was accepting these unfair conditions far too easily.
‘Well, it’s none of my business.’
“I’m glad to hear that,” she said, her expression changing.
“First, I’ve made a preliminary list of the rising stars from the tournament who expressed a desire to join the Alliance.”
Yuk Cheong-a presented Bu Eun-seol with a small scroll.
On it were the names of about ten individuals who had participated in the Scholars’ Tournament.
“Have they agreed to join the temporary brigade?”
“Yes. They’ve shown their willingness to join the temporary brigade led by Young Master Seonu. Because… in exchange for their cooperation, we promised them they could become warriors of the Alliance.”
Yuk Cheong-a smiled faintly.
“They desperately want to join the Alliance, even if it means becoming a low-ranking warrior rather than a Brigade Leader.”
“I see.”
Understanding the situation, Bu Eun-seol nodded.
“In that case, I will take these two.”
“Only two? Wouldn’t it be better to take all ten as your subordinates?”
“Now that the tournament is over, I doubt they’ll give us a mission that requires martial strength.”
Bu Eun-seol said with a faint smile.
“Since I can’t command the members like my own limbs in such a short time, it’s better to effectively lead a small number of them.”
Yuk Cheong-a inwardly nodded.
‘So he’s not a complete fool.’
The two men Bu Eun-seol had chosen were, in her opinion, martial talents with exceptional qualities and outstanding potential.
“Alright. I’ll make the arrangements.”
Yuk Cheong-a said as she rolled up the scroll.
“I’ll report that you will form a temporary brigade with these two for now.”
“Thank you. Oh, and one more thing.”
Bu Eun-seol looked at Yuk Cheong-a and smiled, revealing his white teeth.
“I’m not sure if I should call it a consultation or a request, but there’s something I’d like to ask…”
***
About two hours after Yuk Cheong-a left, Tae Mu-ryong and Jeong Jong-do arrived before Bu Eun-seol.
They were the temporary brigade members he had chosen.
Despite their outstanding abilities, both men had been denied proper opportunities because of their humble origins or obscure sects.
As a result, they desperately wished to join the Martial Alliance.
Here, if they accumulated various merits, becoming a Brigade Leader someday would not be just a dream.
“Young Master Tae. I would like you to be the Vice-Leader of this brigade.”
At Bu Eun-seol’s words, Tae Mu-ryong let out a hollow laugh.
“This is a temporary brigade with only two members. Are you really appointing a Vice-Leader?”
“Does it look like it will end as just a temporary arrangement to you, Young Master Tae?”
For a moment, Tae Mu-ryong fell silent.
He had caught a glimpse of a fiery and solemn light hidden within those gentle eyes.
“Well, be that as it may. This is really too much.”
At that moment, the man with an iron sword at his waist, Jeong Jong-do, gestured at their quarters and spoke.
“To call us both temporary brigades, but give only our side these shabby makeshift barracks.”
Cheon Hwa-in’s temporary brigade had been given a proper building, as if they were a formally established unit.
But the quarters for Bu Eun-seol’s temporary brigade were just a few tents set up in a bamboo grove at the far end of the Martial Alliance’s northern gate.
“Even for a temporary brigade, this is so shabby I’m embarrassed to show my face.”
Bu Eun-seol nodded at Jeong Jong-do’s words.
Living in such pathetic barracks would naturally lower morale.
No matter how excellent his leadership, it was questionable whether the members could even complete their missions properly.
“It can’t be helped. Elder Gu In-jeong has full authority over the creation of this brigade, and they say the Mount Hua Sect is funding it,” Tae Mu-ryong chided, but Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
“Don’t worry. That problem has already been solved.”
“Solved? How on earth did you manage that?”
Just as Jeong Jong-do was about to ask with a frown,
*Rumble, rumble. Clatter, clatter.*
Suddenly, hundreds of laborers and about forty carts began to swarm toward the barracks in the bamboo grove.
“Sir.”
An old man who appeared to be the eldest among the laborers approached Bu Eun-seol and asked.
“Should we build it here?”
When Bu Eun-seol nodded, the old man bowed his head.
“Understood.”
Then he turned to the laborers and carpenters behind him and shouted.
“Let’s begin immediately!”
*Clank, clank.*
At his command, the hundreds of laborers began to construct a large building in front of the bamboo grove using the materials they had brought.
Most of the laborers were skilled carpenters, and some seemed to have learned martial arts, as they carried large logs with ease.
“What is going on?” Tae Mu-ryong asked in astonishment.
Bu Eun-seol smiled.
“Since the Alliance has given us the land, shouldn’t we build a proper place to stay?”
“You brought in laborers from outside?”
“That’s right.”
“But how…”
Bu Eun-seol smiled.
“With my own money, of course.”
Tae Mu-ryong swallowed hard.
Seonu Jin. He was the heir to a respectable merchant guild, and had been trading across the northern borders since he was young… his wealth was likely comparable to that of any great tycoon.
“Even so, are you really building such a large structure for temporary quarters?”
“I already told you,” Bu Eun-seol said with a calm smile.
“Did you think this would be temporary?”
Tae Mu-ryong’s jaw dropped.
He was right.
The laborers were not simply putting up a temporary structure.
They were laying down bluestone slabs for the floor, digging a pond, and even planting ornamental rocks and trees. In one corner, they were even building a training ground for martial arts.
This wasn’t a temporary building; they were constructing an entire estate.
Tae Mu-ryong had to shake his head vigorously to clear his thoughts.
“Still, was it really necessary to go this far…?”
“We need to stay in proper lodgings to rest comfortably and work effectively, don’t we?”
Bu Eun-seol shrugged, and Tae Mu-ryong and Jeong Jong-do looked at each other, their mouths agape.
To mobilize hundreds of laborers to build a massive estate in a place where they might not even stay for long?
Moreover, the scale and facilities were on a level that would put the residence of not just a third-rate Brigade Leader, but even some high-ranking officials to shame.
“Did the Martial Alliance approve this?”
At Jeong Jong-do’s question, Bu Eun-seol nodded.
“Of course. I received permission from Hall Master Yuk beforehand.”
He looked around and smiled.
“The Martial Alliance is so large that it suffers from a chronic deficit. When I offered to build our quarters with my own money, they seemed quite apologetic even as they gave permission.”
*Rumble, rumble.*
Just then, about a hundred servants carrying bamboo containers walked toward the bamboo grove.
“We’re from Eunha House, sir!”
“We’ve brought the food you ordered from Cheongdo Restaurant!”
The hundred servants each announced their affiliation as they took out plates from the bamboo containers.
Looking at the dishes on the plates, Tae Mu-ryong and Jeong Jong-do’s jaws dropped once more.
What they had brought was not ordinary food, but high-class cuisine, with each dish costing at least five nyang.
“Let’s eat first. We can work better on a full stomach, can’t we?”
At Bu Eun-seol’s shout, the laborers swarmed over and began to eat.
“Sir. We have prepared your table over here.”
The old man directing the laborers pointed to a table and chairs he had just made from wood.
It turned out the old man had been busy making a table and chairs so that Bu Eun-seol could dine in comfort.
“Then let’s eat first, too.”
At Bu Eun-seol’s words, Tae Mu-ryong and Jeong Jong-do followed behind him as if in a daze.
—So this is the level of a merchant guild’s heir…
Both of them were disciples of second-rate sects, so they had never had a proper luxurious meal in their lives.
But the food spread on the table was filled with extravagant dishes that one couldn’t even order in a normal tavern… no, dishes they had never even seen before.
“The temporary quarters will probably be finished by today, so don’t worry.”
At Bu Eun-seol’s words, Tae Mu-ryong and Jeong Jong-do could only nod with dazed expressions on their faces.