Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Joint Training with the Azure Dragon Unit
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Seo-bong, a member of the Azure Dragon Unit, had experienced a series of strange events today. Baek Mu-heun, who had defeated him in a duel through some unfathomable method, had shown up at the Azure Dragon Unit’s headquarters and invited him to his estate.
He’d said something about how, having shared martial arts, it was now time to share a dance…
But what was even stranger was that the Commander had permitted all of it.
Fourth Young Master Baek of the Heavenly Dance Family approached with the speech and mannerisms of a quintessential scholar, completely oblivious to the turmoil in my heart. I had been struggling ever since my duel with him. Although I was a new recruit, my humiliating defeat had earned me the painful ridicule of my fellow members.
Was that why?
Even as I ate and drank at the estate of the very man who had shamed me, I felt good. Was that why? I drank quickly, and the alcohol went straight to my head.
*Thump! Tap, tap. Dadadadak♩♬♪*
As a lively melody struck my ears, the last thread of consciousness I was clinging to seemed to snap.
In that moment…
I saw nothing and thought of nothing.
I simply danced, lost in the revelry.
A solo dance, performed alone in the mist.
Just then, the scholar’s voice, which I had so disliked hearing, once again struck my ears.
“We have a guest!”
[ We have a guest! ]
*Swish-!*
“Gah!”
“Myriad Fragrance Round Dance. Release.”
The formation, drawn in the air like an ink painting, slowly dissipated. As the thick fog cleared, the scent of alcohol vanished from Seo-bong’s nose and mouth.
And just like that, the minds of all the Azure Dragon members who had been dancing in a circle returned to them.
“Wh-what just happened?”
“I remember eating a feast and getting drunk, but after that…”
The members looked to their Division Commanders, completely bewildered.
But the Division Commanders were just as confused.
“What? Why are you looking at us? You want to know what happened? A-Ahem! There was no poison in the food or drink. If there had been, there’s no way we wouldn’t have noticed!”
“That’s right, that’s right.”
The Division Commanders spoke deliberately louder so the members could hear.
“There must have been some kind of formation at play.”
“A formation?”
“What do we know about formations?”
“But the Fourth Young Master of the Heavenly Dance Family would know.”
Just then, a scholar’s voice came from somewhere.
*Tak!*
The scholar cupped his fist in greeting.
The host of this banquet.
Fourth Young Master Baek Mu-heun of the Heavenly Dance Family.
“Eating, drinking, and even dancing together—it feels like we’ve truly become one!”
He wore an expression that suggested he was enjoying this immensely.
What on earth had he been planning?
“On that note, starting tomorrow until the Divine Dragon Assembly, I was thinking of training with all of you!”
“What?!”
“I look forward to working with you!”
Ever since getting entangled with Mu-heun, the Azure Dragon Unit hadn't had a single day without being bewildered.
“Commander of the Azure Dragon Unit, please lead the way.”
The Azure Dragon Commander, Cheon Ga-rak, who had appeared on the estate’s platform with Mu-heun at some point, nodded his head. Then he shouted loud enough for everyone to hear.
“All members! Return to the Azure Dragon headquarters immediately! I will explain the situation when we get back, so move out!”
“Yes, sir!”
Despite the chaotic situation, the Azure Dragon Unit moved with perfect discipline at a single command from Cheon Ga-rak, who had seemingly sprung from the ground. They had let their guard down and appeared like a disorderly mob, but that was only because Cheon Ga-rak had told them to forget everything else and just eat, drink, and enjoy themselves for the day.
Their trust in Cheon Ga-rak had allowed them to relax, and his shout brought them back to their senses in an instant.
Seeing how quickly they regained their composure, they were undoubtedly a well-trained unit.
Just then, the Deputy Commander, Cheon Gi-seom, called out to Mu-heun.
“Fourth Young Master.”
His attitude was remarkably different from before.
“I look forward to working with you.”
“Haha, the pleasure is all mine.”
Mu-heun smiled brightly as he saw the Azure Dragon Unit off.
Meanwhile.
The Moonshadow Unit had crippled the dantian of every Reaper Unit member and tied them up. Having fallen under the Soul-Severing Bewitchment Art, the members of the Reaper Unit became soulless husks who confessed every piece of information without any need for torture.
It was hard to believe these were the same people who were said to choose suicide the moment a mission failed.
This phenomenon was also proof of just how terrifying the Fourth Young Master's formations were, sending a chill down the spines of the Moonshadow Unit members.
***
-Office of the Heavenly Dance Family Head
Mu-heun, the Heavenly Dance Family Head Baek Gun-hak, Moonshadow Unit Commander Geum Yeol, Azure Dragon Unit Commander Cheon Ga-rak, and Deputy Commander Cheon Gi-seom were all gathered in one place.
“May our Moonshadow Unit confirm the information confessed by the Reaper Unit and report back to you?”
“Of course. If you wish, you may take the Reaper Unit to the Hall of Waking Dreams.”
“A-Are you sure we can do that?”
“Certainly.”
“Th-Thank you.”
To think he could take his lifelong rivals, the Reaper Unit, to the Hall of Waking Dreams!
Commander Geum Yeol of the Moonshadow Unit expressed his gratitude for the consideration and thought to himself.
*‘The Fourth Young Master of the Heavenly Dance Family… he is on a completely different level.’*
Watching this, Cheon Ga-rak asked Mu-heun.
“What would you have the Azure Dragon Unit do?”
“Please strengthen security. Also, I will teach you a defensive formation I have devised, so please ensure the members become proficient in it.”
“You’ve devised a defensive formation… Truly remarkable.”
“Haha, I expect I’ll be relying on the Azure Dragon Unit quite a bit from now on. I’m in your care.”
“Hmph, of course.”
The Azure Dragon Commander, Cheon Ga-rak, was newly impressed each time.
*‘I never knew that mastering both the literary and martial arts could be this fearsome.’*
“What about me? What do you wish for me to do?”
“Father, you…”
“Speak your mind.”
“If it’s possible, please meet with the Ninth, Tenth, and Twelfth Elders and subtly leak what has happened.”
Mu-heun omitted any further explanation, simply thinking to himself.
*‘He will grasp my intentions without needing an explanation.’*
“Very well. I shall do as you say.”
“Thank you.”
*‘With this, I’ve escalated the situation and taken all possible measures.’*
Now, all I needed to focus on was turning Golden Fang Poison Claw into a Heavenly Demonic Corpse and the Divine Dragon Assembly. But there was one thing that still bothered me.
Seo-bong of the Azure Dragon Unit.
Why did that name keep coming to mind?
***
-Azure Dragon Unit Training Grounds
The members of the Azure Dragon Unit honed their martial skills, wielding swords and brandishing spears. During their breaks, they recalled the events of that night and chattered among themselves.
“They say everything that happened was the Fourth Young Master’s doing. Can you believe it?”
“What choice do we have but to believe it? The Commander himself said so.”
“Still, isn’t it strange?”
“What is?”
“Luring the enemy into an attack by showing a weakness, then wiping them out in one fell swoop?”
“What’s wrong with that? It’s a brilliant plan.”
“No, I mean, it’s just hard to believe that dandy could come up with such a strategy. He looks like he has almost no real combat experience. How is that possible?”
“I guess geniuses are just built different.”
“Maybe so…”
The discrepancy between his appearance and his achievements was so vast that it was impossible not to be suspicious.
Just then.
*Thud!*
Cheon Ga-rak struck the ground with his spear, and the loud vibration silenced everyone.
“Everyone, assemble! Form up in the training grounds as usual!”
“Yes, sir!”
As the Azure Dragon members lined up in the training grounds, three questionable figures joined them.
“Listen up! Starting today, we begin intensive training. Stay sharp and keep up. Understood!”
“Yes, sir!”
The Azure Dragon Commander’s voice was stern and clear, striking the ears of everyone in the training grounds. However, the members answered as if they were used to it. After all, this kind of training was nothing new. But there was one thing that was definitely not familiar—something strange…
“Yes, Commander!”
…the Fourth Young Master of the Heavenly Dance Family, Baek Mu-heun, standing beside them and shouting a resounding reply.
*Is he really going to train with us?*
*Until the Divine Dragon Assembly?*
***
The Azure Dragon Unit’s training proceeded smoothly.
Under the guidance of Cheon Ga-rak and Cheon Gi-seom, the members, squad leaders, and Division Commanders trained at different levels. Squad leaders supervised the members, and Division Commanders guided the squad leaders.
“Destroy every single stone flying at you without missing!”
This was training to improve the accuracy of their spears and swords.
Proficiency was judged by how delicately they could pierce and slash the flying stones and tree branches.
“Gently gather the falling leaves without damaging them!”
This was training to smoothly deflect an opponent’s attack.
It seemed that Flowing Water Sword Ho-ryang had refined his swordsmanship through this kind of training. Despite using a real sword, Ho-ryang gathered the falling leaves in one spot without a single scratch.
The Division Commanders used real swords and spears, the squad leaders used wooden swords or staffs, and the members could use whatever they wanted, as long as they could gather the leaves.
The Azure Dragon Commander’s training was more interesting than I had expected.
That’s what I thought.
The training I received from my master, the Heavenly Demon.
*‘Compared to that hell, this is child’s play.’*
Pa-sun and Un-pyo, who had undergone my training, were thinking the same thing.
“My lord, is this training truly helpful? It seems too trivial.”
“It is said that one can learn from the stones of another mountain. Don’t be arrogant and focus.”
“…That was careless of me.”
I believed that Pa-sun and Un-pyo needed to observe this training process and learn from it. A day would come when they too would teach others and command a unit.
But the Azure Dragon members watching them couldn’t hide their surprise.
“I thought they’d run away after a day or two, but they’re doing better than I expected.”
“I know, right? The training intensity is the toughest it’s ever been, but they don’t show any signs of fatigue.”
In addition to the aforementioned drills, the training continued endlessly with exercises like climbing mountains with sandbags on their arms and legs, and sparring, but Pa-sun, Un-pyo, and I didn’t even show a hint of exhaustion.
Then, when the training was over, I distributed the Vitality Pills I had made to all the members of the Azure Dragon Unit.
“This is a gift from me to all of you.”
“A-Are you saying you’re giving all of this to us?”
“That’s right.”
I had made them by sweeping up the overflowing medicinal herbs in the Heavenly Dance Family.
As these days went by, the Azure Dragon members’ assessment of me gradually changed.
“The more you see of the Fourth Young Master, the more you like him, don’t you think?”
“At first, I thought he was just an annoying dandy, but he’s really starting to grow on me.”
“Exactly! And look at the defensive formation he taught us. The man is a genius. He’s just a little weak in martial arts.”
Having won them over, I quickly became close with all the members of the Azure Dragon Unit.
All except for one person.
Seo-bong.
Just then, Cheon Gi-seom shouted to the members.
“After taking the Vitality Pills provided by the Fourth Young Master, you will circulate your energy! After that, there will be sparring matches!”
“Yes, sir!”
The sparring matches were held every day with different opponents. Pa-sun and Un-pyo took turns sparring with the Division Commanders. A senior Division Commander collapsed from the gust of wind from Un-pyo’s greatsword.
Seeing this, Jin Guk of the Thunderstorm Battle Spear approached Un-pyo and said.
“You seem to have gotten even stronger.”
He had lost to Un-pyo once before, but after sharing a drink and opening up to each other, the two had become close friends.
Meanwhile, another Division Commander surrendered to Pa-sun’s spear, which boasted both flexibility and powerful destructive force.
“I’ve lost.”
Ho-ryang also maintained a good relationship with Pa-sun, as did the other Division Commanders of the Azure Dragon Unit.
However,
Only I consistently won some and lost some.
My opponent was the same person every day…
“Are you really fighting seriously?”
Seo-bong asked, his anger flaring up.
“Haha, today is my loss.”
I replied with a silly grin.
It was still too early to reveal my full strength, but I was also curious to see how sincere Seo-bong was. And just as I began to think that Seo-bong's face looked familiar…
I went to see the Azure Dragon Commander, Cheon Ga-rak.
***
-The Azure Dragon Commander’s Office.
“You’ve managed to befriend the entire Azure Dragon Unit in just a few days.”
“Haha, well, all except for one fellow.”
That one guy.
My sparring partner, Seo-bong.
While Mu-heun trained with the Azure Dragon Unit, Seo-bong challenged him to a duel every single day. Because I held back, I sometimes won and sometimes lost, but he never knew when to give up.
*‘He wants to know why he lost that day.’*
He was that kind of person. The kind who can only look forward once all his questions are answered.
In other words, a rather troublesome guy.
However…
An unresolved question can become a sickness of the heart.
*‘As a Divine Doctor, I can’t just stand by and watch.’*
I’ll have to show him.
Why he lost that day.
“Commander, I have a favor to ask.”
“Please, ask me anything.”
“Tomorrow, after training, could you send Seo-bong to my room? Please allow me to have a private duel with him.”
*‘Oh?’*
“I understand. I know you, Fourth Young Master, so I’m not worried, but please don’t be too harsh on him.”
“Haha, if I may say one thing, I quite like the fellow.”
“…That’s a relief to hear.”
I thought of Seo-bong.
*‘I’ll show you the gap between us. I hope you can overcome it and climb higher.’*