Chapter 44
Chapter 44
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: The Promise and the Token
-----------------------------------------------------------------
약조. 그리고 각패.
I nodded lightly. Well, what could I do? If she asked, I had to do it. Now that I'd already made her my woman, taking that much responsibility was only natural. Soso. So this was the weight of being the head of the household. How did you endure it all those years?
I spread my arms and patted the empty spots beside me. Soso and Ha-eun, catching my intent, quietly slipped into place on either side of me and lay down. On my left pressed the massive, soft swell of Soso's breasts; on my right, the smaller but springy ones of Ha-eun. Enveloped by that soft, warm sensation, a languid energy spread through my entire body. I closed my eyes for a bit just like that.
How much time passed?
From outside the carriage came the sounds of people bustling about, firewood crackling, and the distant whinny of horses. It seemed morning had arrived.
I roused my stiff body. On either side, Soso and Ha-eun breathed evenly in deep sleep. No trace remained of last night's fierce passion—only the peaceful faces of sleeping girls.
I shook them awake. Telling the half-asleep pair to throw on some clothes, I adjusted the black iron sword at my waist and tidied my attire.
"Let's go."
I led Ha-eun and Soso out of the carriage. The cold morning air hit us, chasing away the drowsiness. We headed straight for the center of the camp where the Azure Dragon Squad members had gathered.
By the bonfire, Squad Leader Byeok Cheonwi and Elder Moyong Bi sat facing each other across a simple table. They held steaming teacups, warding off the early morning chill. It was a type of herbal tea—a murim-style morning coffee of sorts. Behind Elder Moyong Bi stood his loyal guard Seok Jin like a shadow, while behind Squad Leader Byeok Cheonwi stood the steadfast Paeng Daesan at attention.
The first to spot us was Paeng Daesan.
"Brother! You've arrived!"
Paeng Daesan's booming voice cut through the morning quiet. At the sound, the gazes of the two big shots at the table turned to me in unison.
Squad Leader Byeok Cheonwi, spotting me, laughed heartily and raised his cup.
"You've come, Vice Squad Leader!"
I wasn't the vice squad leader. But I had no desire to correct his cheerful mistake.
Beside him, Elder Moyong Bi set down his teacup and murmured softly.
"Hm. So the son-in-law has arrived."
I wasn't his son-in-law. Nor did I intend to be.
"No, Elder Moyong. What strange nonsense is that? Why would Young Master Mu be your son-in-law?"
Squad Leader Byeok Cheonwi stared at Elder Moyong Bi in bewilderment. But Elder Moyong Bi lightly ignored his gaze and leisurely took another sip of tea. Amid the subtle tension between them, Elder Moyong Bi's guard Seok Jin bowed politely to me.
"Young Master Mu, you've arrived."
I acknowledged their greetings with a casual nod.
Time to get to the point. But in this atmosphere, it felt awkward to ask Elder Moyong Bi to step aside so I could speak to Squad Leader Byeok Cheonwi privately. Calling the boisterous man somewhere else? He wasn't the type to go quietly.
No choice. I'd say it here.
I approached their table, not bothering to find an empty seat, and looked down at Squad Leader Byeok Cheonwi as I spoke while standing.
"Squad Leader. We had a promise between us, didn't we?"
Squad Leader Byeok Cheonwi's eyes narrowed. He set down his teacup and looked up at me.
"Mm. We did."
Indeed, before entering the secret cave, we'd made a bet. If I won, he'd let me claim two treasures from the cave first. And I had won. Spectacularly.
Squad Leader Byeok Cheonwi's gaze shifted to the black iron sword at my waist. Once brimming with demonic energy, the mad demon sword was now just an ordinary dark iron blade.
"You've already taken that sword, so by our promise, one remains."
"That's right."
I admitted it readily.
"But as you see, the cave exploration is over. All that came out was this sword and a lump of ore everyone has to share. There's nothing else worth claiming, so I'd like compensation in another form."
Squad Leader Byeok Cheonwi's brow twitched. He stared at me intently for a moment before speaking.
"What is it?"
I replied as if I'd been waiting.
"I'd like you to temporarily enlist my little sister into the Azure Dragon Squad."
The air around the table froze subtly.
Squad Leader Byeok Cheonwi's brow jerked slightly. His sharp gaze swept over the two women standing side by side behind me. Soso was already a Healer Immortal Sect physician, so not her. That meant my 'little sister' was the unfamiliar woman beside her—Yeon Ha-eun. He grasped it instantly.
Soon, the hearty smile faded from Squad Leader Byeok Cheonwi's lips. His voice dropped low.
"Young Master Mu. You have no little sister, do you? From what the Vermilion Bird Squad Leader told me, you have no family."
"I just got one."
Only then did Squad Leader Byeok Cheonwi seem to grasp the true meaning, letting out a short chuckle. Beside him, Elder Moyong Bi, sipping his tea quietly, gave an amused "Heh heh..." while Paeng Daesan behind us looked genuinely puzzled: "Huh? Brother, you had a sister besides me?" Paeng Daesan wasn't my brother.
Squad Leader Byeok Cheonwi crossed his arms and pondered seriously.
"The compensation you're asking for... isn't easy to grant."
I understood his point. The Azure Dragon Squad was the core martial force of the Murim Alliance. For its leader to forge documents and enlist some physician's woman as a member? If word got out, it'd tarnish his reputation. Given his upright nature, he couldn't easily accept.
Besides, the original promise was limited to 'items from the cave.' Even if he refused now, I had no grounds to argue.
I'd anticipated this reaction. So I played my next card. An offer he couldn't refuse. Draw.
I met his eyes directly. All surrounding noise faded; only our gazes locked in the air.
"If you do that,"
I paused briefly. Feeling all eyes on my lips, I delivered the final words.
"I'll take the vice squad leader position."
Vitality sparked instantly in Squad Leader Byeok Cheonwi's eyes, which had been clouded with anguish moments before.
"Is... is that true, Young Master Mu?!"
His voice trembled with excitement. But the joy was fleeting; he sank back into deep thought. Forging identities was a grave violation of Murim Alliance rules. As squad leader, he couldn't lead such a thing.
Still not easy, huh.
As I inwardly clicked my tongue, a faint voice whispered in my ear. Elder Moyong Bi's transmission.
- Become my son-in-law. I'll handle that much...
I ignored him without even glancing his way. But regardless of my reaction, Squad Leader Byeok Cheonwi astutely caught Elder Moyong Bi's movement. He'd seen the subtle lip movements for the transmission, even if he didn't know the words.
Realizing his rival was making a move while he hesitated, a flicker of anxiety crossed Squad Leader Byeok Cheonwi's face. He slammed the table urgently and shouted.
"Fine! I'll do it! I'll handle that identity issue myself!"
At his declaration, Elder Moyong Bi clicked his tongue in disappointment.
The innocent Paeng Daesan alone still looked baffled, glancing between me, Squad Leader Byeok Cheonwi, and Elder Moyong Bi, utterly lost in the adults' tangled conversation.
Either way, Yeon Ha-eun's identity problem was solved.
Having achieved his goal, Squad Leader Byeok Cheonwi stood with a hearty laugh, as if he'd never agonized.
"Great! Since it's come to this, let's hold Young Master Mu's vice squad leader inauguration right here!"
"I refuse."
I cut him off flatly.
I didn't want to step forward. Surely there were squad members grinding away in training, eyeing the vacant vice leader spot. If an outsider like me parachuted in out of nowhere, there'd be resentment and jealousy. I passed on the hassle.
"This should suffice for now, so I'll take my leave."
Not wanting further entanglement, I turned to go. Then Elder Moyong Bi called me back.
"Wait."
He pulled a small jade plaque engraved with a dragon emblem from his bosom and handed it to me. It was his elder token from the Moyong family.
"If you need anything later, bring this and come find me."
No reason to refuse. I pocketed the token.
I sent Soso and Ha-eun ahead to our carriage first.
"I have somewhere to go briefly, so head back and wait."
Confirming their nods, I turned away. My destination was the opposite side of the righteous faction camps—the area where the unorthodox warriors were staying.
Unlike the righteous sects, they were a loose gathering of individuals, so their camp felt quite sparse. Many had already left right after the cave exploration ended. As I passed through, a few recognized me and greeted warmly.
"Hey, Physician! What brings you here..."
They were ones I'd treated in the cave. They welcomed me with genuine friendliness. I nodded lightly to their greetings and stated my business.
"I'm here to see the Blood Path Wanderer."
I rather liked him. Despite being unorthodox, that upright gaze of his stuck with me.
One unorthodox female wanderer offered to guide me and led the way. She took me to a shabby tent in the farthest corner of the camp.
The Blood Path Wanderer, silently tending his paired swords in front of the tent, let out a short "Hm?" upon seeing me, looking surprised. He hadn't expected me to seek him out.
I stood before him and asked.
"Where are you headed now?"
He shrugged indifferently. A dry voice emerged.
"Where would I have to go? The road ahead is just the road."
I didn't press further and pulled my own token from my bosom, handing it to him. A simple wooden plaque proving my status as a Healer Immortal Sect physician. It was the first time I'd given my token to anyone.
The Blood Path Wanderer eyed me and the token alternately with puzzlement, clearly wondering why I was giving it to him. After a moment's hesitation, he accepted it.
Watching him, I said softly.
"I wish you achieve your heartfelt desire."
His shoulders twitched faintly. His ever impassive eyes shook violently.
"...How did you know?"
In the cave, while implanting reinforcement suggestion on him, I'd glimpsed his memories. Unintentionally, I'd seen the deep-seated wish buried within: an intense longing for the rootless unorthodox wanderers to stop dying in vain or staining themselves with evil, and instead unite under one banner.
"Who knows. No idea what you're talking about."
But my next words pointed him clearly toward a path.
"If you ever need anything, use this to find me or send word. From now on, I'll likely be at the Healer Immortal Sect—or the Azure Dragon Squad."
The Blood Path Wanderer stared at me silently with a grave expression. His sharp eyes seemed lost in deep thought. After a long silence, he spoke.
"...Thank you."
I smirked and shot back.
"Don't you say 'thank you' a bit too often?"