Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Yeon Baek
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This commotion wrapped up quickly.
No, there hadn't even been any proper confrontation to begin with.
Everything had been subdued before any real trouble could erupt. It was only natural.
That didn't mean the attackers' assault could be swept under the rug, though.
There were victims, witnesses, and evidence, after all.
Heaven knew, Earth knew... no, the entire murim world knew now.
Those Heavenly Demon God Cult bastards. Trash from the Demon Subjugation Squad. Human-sacrificing lunatics.
And that black sheep, the one with the rank of Deputy Commander of the Demon Subjugation Squad.
His nickname... Cheongun couldn't quite recall, but it was something four characters long.
He'd simply ingested the ice crystal he'd been gifted, and some bastard had tried to ambush him, so he'd personally lopped off the guy's head.
Somehow, that had turned him into a hero who'd slain a Deputy Commander of the Demonic Cult.
No wonder the guy had felt so damn strong.
Killing a powerhouse like that naturally boosted his reputation.
On top of that, rumors had already spread across the entire murim that he'd killed the Soul-Devouring Demon Lord in Blood Flow Valley before this incident.
To be precise, if you looked closely, he'd been the one picking fights first in every case.
But to the righteous faction, who started it didn't matter.
For those hypocrites who lived by double standards, the only important thing was that Cheongun—the winner of the branch tournament—had clashed with the detestable Demonic Cult.
And in the process, one demon lord and one deputy commander had died?
Of course the Justice Alliance wouldn't let such a massive boon slip by.
Their method was simple.
They just spread Cheongun's name far and wide across the murim world.
The Demonic Cult they'd been itching to crush had finally taken a hit—and it turned out to be from one of our own righteous warriors!
Naturally, everyone cheered.
And so, a special festival for Cheongun erupted within Sachun City.
The next day, Cheongun walked to the Myriad Dragon Escort Agency's treatment room.
He slowly pushed open the door and waved at Yeon Baek, who was lying there with acupuncture needles stuck all over his body.
Yeon Baek jolted upright upon seeing Cheongun.
"Deputy Chief?"
"It's Vice Chief."
Yeon Baek blinked.
"What brings the Vice Chief here?"
"Came to check on you."
"My condition?"
"Yeah."
Cheongun glanced over Yeon Baek's state.
He looked pretty serious on the surface with all those needles, but since he was chatting away normally, it couldn't be that bad.
Relieved, Cheongun asked,
"How's the body holding up?"
"Manageable."
Yeon Baek asked back,
"What happened to that guy?"
"Killed him. Didn't just kill him—smashed his teeth first, then finished him."
"Ah... I see..."
Why emphasize the teeth-smashing part?
Yeon Baek couldn't understand, but he let it slide.
This guy spouting crazy shit wasn't exactly new.
Then Cheongun spoke.
"Foolish."
"Pardon?"
"Talking about you. A weakling in martial arts pulling a reckless stunt like that? Recklessness has to pick its targets."
"Out of nowhere?"
Cheongun had heard it clearly.
Demon Subjugation Squad Deputy Commander Black Ox had been prying Yeon Baek for his location.
Yet this fool had held out to protect his loyalty, ending up like this.
Utterly foolish.
I wasn't going to take responsibility for his life, so why gamble with such danger?
"If that bastard had pushed his internal energy just a bit harder, you'd be dead right there."
Yeon Baek retorted,
"No, so what—should I have just spilled your location to the intruder right then? Even if you'd been in my spot, you'd have done the same, right, Vice Chief?"
"I'd have bolted."
"......"
...Is he insane?
As Yeon Baek stared at Cheongun in disbelief,
"And plotted revenge later."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Listen, you dumbass Yeon Baek. Does buying a few extra seconds justify dying like a dog? What's the point?"
"At least I bought some time."
"Can you guarantee that extra time changes anything? Ever think you both end up dead anyway? You see the future or something?"
"......"
Yeon Baek was speechless.
Cheongun clicked his tongue.
"Even if you'd succeeded in stalling, same deal. You're alive now thanks to luck, but if luck turned sour and you died? What a pointless dog death. What do you even leave behind? Even if your sacrifice saved someone, what would they do for your corpse? Mourn a few days, pray for your soul—that's it. Is that a meaningful death?"
Sacrifice isn't consideration.
Cheongun truly believed that.
"Romantic to die for your superiors?"
"Isn't it?"
"Romantic, sure. But romance is just glorified bullshit. Peel back the layers, and reality's empty as hell."
"......"
"No leader wants subordinates dying for them. Some might, but not me."
Yeon Baek blinked blankly at Cheongun's torrent of scolding.
Honestly, he'd expected praise for his bravery when Cheongun showed up.
Instead, the Vice Chief looked genuinely distraught.
It didn't feel bad, though.
His words were rough, but the sincerity shone through.
As Yeon Baek sat there like a mute swallowing honey, Cheongun dragged over a chair and plopped down.
"Yeon Baek."
"Yes."
"You're weak."
"......"
"Pathetically, terribly, awfully weak. So don't ever think about throwing your life away for me. No posing heroics with sacrifice. No noble deaths, period."
"Understood."
"If someone stronger than you asks something, just spill it all. Tell them my location, my weaknesses under threat—whatever. It's fine for weaklings like you. You think I'd feel good if you half-ass it and die pointlessly?"
"...It'd leave a bad taste."
Cheongun's expression softened instantly.
"Remember this. You've only got one life. Dead is dead."
"......"
"So use it for yourself. Don't dump it on me."
Cheongun crossed his arms, staring at Yeon Baek.
Truth be told, the brief stall had saved his skin.
It was a split-second thing—if not for those seconds, the moment he'd regained his senses, the deputy commander's sword would've cleaved him in two.
Of course he was grateful. He was human, after all.
Cheongun stared straight at Yeon Baek.
"Your dream was to be filial to your father, right?"
"...Yes."
"Heard his illness is a stroke. Tonics and acupuncture aren't cheap."
"How'd you know that, Vice Chief?"
"Looked into it."
From what Cheongun had learned, Yeon Baek—born and raised in the city—had grown up without a mother, caring for his father and young sibling.
His father had been the breadwinner until the stroke, after which Yeon Baek took over.
Since fifteen, he'd fed his sibling and nursed his father.
His conduct was impeccable—narrow but deep relationships, good reputation all around.
Even in poverty, he'd help struggling neighbors without hesitation.
Yeon Baek's martial prowess was lacking, but his heart was pure.
Cheongun quite liked him.
They say folks respectful to parents are never bad eggs.
"Sent the best physician in the city to your father. He should improve soon."
"...A physician?"
"Yeah. And Yeon Baek, since your pointless sacrifice indirectly benefited me, I can't just ignore it as Vice Chief. Saw you don't have a proper place to stay. So I'll prepare space here at the annex for you and your family."
"......"
A chilling silence hung in the air.
Yeon Baek floundered in panic.
Cheongun chuckled at the sight.
"One more thing."
"There's more?"
"I'll teach you martial arts."
Yeon Baek's eyes widened in shock.
"For real?!"
"I don't say things twice."
"......No, really? Martial arts? To me?"
"Making me repeat myself? Wanna die?"
"......"
Teaching martial arts wasn't hard for Cheongun.
He could just copy the system windows floating in front of him into a manual, hand it over, and let the guy figure it out.
But in the murim world, passing on martial arts went beyond reward—it was symbolic.
The ultimate proof of trust between people.
"......"
Yeon Baek bowed his head deeply.
His mind went blank.
For some reason, his throat tightened like a burning coal was lodged there.
Tears were falling, and Cheongun remarked,
"It's hot."
"......"
"Summer, huh."
"......"