Chapter 90
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: Audience with the Haenam Doju
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"Welcome, Latent Dragon Squadron Leader."
Seated in the seat of honor at the innermost part was a man who appeared to be in his mid-twenties.
It was the new Haenam Doju, Gok Ja-seong.
"The Yu Hyun, leader of the Justice Alliance's Latent Dragon Squadron, pays respects to the Haenam Doju."
Yu Hyun bowed deeply from afar, cupping his fists.
"Come closer."
"Yes."
At Gok Ja-seong's permission, Yu Hyun walked calmly down the center of the long, rectangular hall.
Though he didn't show it, it wasn't exactly a pleasant sight.
The sharp gazes of the elders seated one or two per pillar followed his every step, as if laying down a carpet of silk.
He could guess without asking.
Wariness and displeasure.
They didn't like that a Central Plains man was meddling in their affairs.
Their eyes said it, their expressions said it... but what did it matter?
Yu Hyun strode forward without a care, right up to the Doju.
"Sit."
"......"
An old man beside the Doju looked down at Yu Hyun with lowered eyes and spoke.
Sit? On the bare floor?
It was clearly meant as a show of dominance, and Yu Hyun inwardly chuckled.
A reminder of the hierarchy. The gap between him and the Doju, or their difference in stature.
It was blatantly treating him like a subordinate to crush his pride.
Sure, some might find this treatment offensive. But I'm not the type to get worked up over every little thing like that.
In a place where decorum mattered, even a small slip could be exploited. For now, he had to be polite—nay, exceedingly polite.
"Thank you for the warm welcome."
Yu Hyun smiled brightly, bowed courteously in thanks, and sat down on the floor as if it were nothing.
His reaction was unexpected, and murmurs arose from here and there.
Even the old man who had told him to sit seemed quite taken aback.
After watching Yu Hyun for a long moment, Doju Gok Ja-seong appeared satisfied with his conduct and spoke with a gentle expression.
"I heard you departed late, and it seems the sea voyage didn't go smoothly?"
"That's how it was."
"I've already heard about you from my advance guests. They say you possess both outstanding character and skill?"
"......You overpraise me."
At Gok Ja-seong's words, Yu Hyun glanced at Kaidu Shin and Nangong Seong, who were waiting off to the side.
Seeing them twitch their eyebrows with odd expressions nearly made him burst out laughing.
It seemed they'd laid on the praise thick to plant some goodwill in advance.
Not Nangong Seong... probably that chatty Kaidu Shin had been yapping away.
These guys block everything else but not this...
But that wasn't important right now. He hadn't come at the Doju's invitation just for pleasantries.
First, he needed to apologize for causing trouble and gauge the man's character.
He had to see and feel it for himself.
"Doju, about the incident at the Moon Tribe's village..."
Just as Yu Hyun opened his mouth, Gok Ja-seong raised a hand to stop him.
"I've already received a report on that."
"......"
"It was an unsightly mess on my part. Since I haven't fully brought my subordinates under control so soon after becoming Doju, I hope you won't blame me too much."
Gok Ja-seong took the initiative.
Seizing the lead in an unclear situation was a good way to throw the opponent off balance, but this was nothing.
From his talkative master to the Heavenly Mechanism Diviner, Yu Hyun had endured the gauntlet of six old men's scrutiny without flinching, and he responded fluidly, his eyes steady.
"Blame you? Perish the thought. How could I interfere in Haenam matters? I only stepped in because the situation was so urgent at the time..."
"Ha ha, I understand. I would have done the same... Tsk tsk, it's my responsibility."
"......"
Responsibility?
Yu Hyun felt a twinge of surprise at how readily he admitted it, but Gok Ja-seong furrowed his brow deeply and continued.
"I wanted to reform those former pirates and take them under my wing, but who could have foreseen they'd cause such trouble? I gave orders to ensure no chaos for the remaining Moon Tribe folk, yet they couldn't shake their old habits. Fortunately, the Latent Dragon Squadron Leader arrived just in time to save them... How fortunate. I have no face left to show you."
"......"
Ah, pirates... so that's what it was?
The ones chasing Yang Hyo from Omun Harbor were pirates too... yeah, that made sense.
"The Whirlwind Squadron Leader must have gone too far."
"......"
"Ha ha, from your expression, it wasn't a pretty sight."
"Well, a bit..."
"It was excessive, but necessary. To ensure the pirates we'd accepted as Haenam warriors never repeated such acts, we needed an example..."
"Ah!"
Yu Hyun let out a sudden exclamation, as if everything clicked.
That made sense.
Discipline had to be ironclad above all. And with the recent civil war just ended, the new Doju might need to be a bit ruthless to consolidate power.
Wasn't it said that if beheading one could establish rules, then one must raise the sword?
With pirates, a swift lesson might be better than gentle coaxing...
His tone was businesslike, but he readily admitted his faults to others, and his thoughts didn't seem dangerous.
Not some irredeemable scum, as the Moon Tribe said.
If he knew the balance of mercy and severity in action, there was no need to worry... but better safe than sorry, so one more check wouldn't hurt.
"It's not my place, but may I ask one thing?"
"Speak."
"What do you plan to do with the Moon Tribe warriors who rebelled?"
"......"
The surrounding glares sharpened at Yu Hyun's long-considered question.
"Watch your words, Latent Dragon Squadron Leader!"
"Indeed! How dare an outsider question Haenam affairs!"
Roars erupted from all sides, and even Nangong Seong and Kaidu Shin grimaced.
But Yu Hyun ignored the noise entirely, fixing his gaze only on Gok Ja-seong.
He knew it was rude, and the reaction was just as expected.
But he had to ask.
His answer would determine Yu Hyun's actions—and the fate of the surviving Moon Tribe.
Gok Ja-seong quieted the room with a frown and countered.
"Why do you ask?"
"......What other reason? Just idle curiosity."
"Curiosity..."
"......"
Mulling Yu Hyun's words at length, Gok Ja-seong slowly replied.
"Well, I'm still deliberating. The Moon Tribe chief is an elder trusted by the tribe leaders and the most loyal to my bedridden father. Though he committed a grave crime, it's not a simple decision. I'll decide his disposition through a council of tribe leaders later."
"A council of tribe leaders?"
"Yes. It's no small matter, and even as Doju, I can't handle everything alone."
"I see."
Yu Hyun nodded, though a faint doubt lingered.
Gok Ja-seong's answer was almost too perfect. If anything, it made it harder to pin down what kind of man he was.
But Yu Hyun knew to withdraw here.
"Still, it's regrettable. I've heard why you came, but as you see, my brother is ill and can't lend aid. A pity."
"Ah, about that..."
"If he hadn't pushed his training too hard and fallen into qi deviation..."
"No, we're the ones who should apologize..."
They felt guilty for showing up amid the internal strife, yet he was the one apologizing—Yu Hyun smiled awkwardly... Huh?
What was that just now?
A glint flashed in Yu Hyun's eyes as he looked at Gok Ja-seong.
"What's wrong?"
"Hm?"
"You trailed off."
"Ah, no. I was just pondering if 'apologetic' was the right word."
"Ha ha, what does the phrasing matter? I understand your intent."
"Thank you."
"Then withdraw and rest. The estate is in disarray from the civil war, but I'll prepare a special banquet for my guests."
"......Yes."
As Gok Ja-seong rose, signaling dismissal, everyone in the hall followed suit, leaving Yu Hyun, Nangong Seong, and Kaidu Shin. A maid approached.
"I'll guide you to your quarters."
"......"
* * *
"Oh man, my heart! Squadron Leader, you're gonna be the death of me. Why on earth ask that there? The looks we were getting weren't friendly to begin with!"
"......"
The moment the maid left them at their quarters, Kaidu Shin thumped his chest in frustration.
"Hm, Du-shin's right. Uncle, you went too far this time."
"......"
Nangong Seong shook his head in agreement.
But Yu Hyun didn't respond, just gazing out the window with half-lidded eyes.
"Say something, will you? Do you know how worried we were for you?"
"Exactly. When the Moon Tribe was captured, we fretted you might get dragged in too."
"Seriously... how can the Squadron Leader be so oblivious?"
"Uncle. The Gok Ja-heon issue and the Moon Tribe matter are out of our hands now. Sticking around will just make them uncomfortable and harm relations with the Justice Alliance. Once the banquet ends and dawn breaks, let's just leave."
"......"
Nangong Seong and Kaidu Shin took turns speaking, but Yu Hyun remained silent, eyes fixed on the window.
Finally, he spoke.
"......Nice place, huh?"
"Yes?"
It was out of nowhere. Suddenly asking if it was nice?
"It's really something."
"......"
"When I went to Moon Tribe lands, I found pearls."
"......Pearls... so?"
"The other tribes probably have their own treasures. Special local products, right?"
"Well... yeah, sure."
"What would be good if you became Doju?"
"......"
"It's different from other Central Plains sects. Weak government influence, isolated... no one's interference..."
"......"
Nangong Seong and Kaidu Shin exchanged glances at Yu Hyun's words, then frowned in unison.
"What are you getting at now..."
"Wait a moment."
Nangong Seong quickly silenced Kaidu Shin's grumbling.
"What? Why!"
"Let's hear Uncle out first."
"......"
Clamping down on Kaidu Shin's outburst, Nangong Seong focused on Yu Hyun.
He always exceeded expectations.
Though he did things his own way, he'd never strayed wrong. His bizarre guidance had been the clearest path forward for anyone.
Not just for Nangong Seong—for Kaidu Shin too. There was purpose in his steps, intent in his actions.
If such a man showed this reaction, he surely had something else in mind.
"Becoming Doju must be great. Absolute power to do as you please, wealth... Especially for a neglected bastard like him, it might be the ultimate prize."
"Uncle. What are you trying to say?"
With a stern expression, Nangong Seong asked seriously, and Yu Hyun finally turned.
"Seong-ah."
"Yes."
"You saw Gok Ja-heon, right?"
"Yes."
"Did they seem to be hiding something?"
"Hmm... I didn't sense that."
"Yeah? How was his condition?"
"Just as we heard. Qi deviation. All his meridians blocked..."
"No peculiarities? Traces of poison or..."
"Hmm..."
"......"
Irritated at being left out of their private exchange, Kaidu Shin barged in explosively.
"Agh, come on! What peculiarities? He was shitting blood and guts from what I saw..."
"Huh?"
"Seong saw it too. After the qi deviation, something went wrong with his guts—the maids were cleaning it up... Ugh, the blood was unreal."
"......"
Yu Hyun's brow furrowed slightly at Kaidu Shin's words.
Blood? Hemorrhaging from below?
That wasn't a symptom of qi deviation...
"......!"
Yu Hyun's eyes widened in an instant.
"No way?"
"......"
As Yu Hyun pressed his forehead, deep in thought, Kaidu Shin grew increasingly anxious.
Why so serious? Why take interest now?
What trouble are you planning?
He was deeply uneasy.
And he was the only one who could stop it.
Nangong Seong looked ready to charge into fire at Yu Hyun's word?
Right, technically, the Grand Marshal assigned me as watchdog, didn't he?
I've just observed so far, helped and been helped, but no more. Nope, absolutely not.
"Squadron Leader, please. Just stop. No more. Why are you like this? Did the new Doju wrong you in a past life? Haunting his dreams?"
Starting with earnest pleading, Kaidu Shin watched Yu Hyun curl his lip slightly and crack his knuckles on the table.
Why, he asks?
"......That bastard was smiling."
"Yes?"
Their faces twisted in bewilderment at the quiet murmur.