Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Initiation into the White Yang Unit
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Namgoong Hyeok made up his mind, and my enlistment proceeded without a hitch.
It could be called a promotion of sorts. A status unimaginable back when I slept with grass for a blanket and the sky for a roof.
The vow I'd made crossing into the Wudang Sect's gates. That someday, no one would dare look down on me. It was fair to say I'd achieved half of that. Sure, it was childish impulse from my younger days, and it hardly mattered now, but whatever.
'What could Namgoong Hyeok be thinking?'
I wasn't particularly thrilled. Just curious about his intentions. He'd gone to great lengths to keep me out of the Namgung Family before. And now this parachute drop of power?
'The looks from the Namgung Family folks were off, though.'
The selection process for the White Yang Unit was infamous for its rigor. Pure merit, no nepotism or backroom deals. Even heirs from powerhouse clans couldn't buy their way in. Shoving someone in without exams was a massive privilege. Sure enough, after Namgoong Hyeok declared he'd recommend me, the sidelong glares started.
'Whatever. Time will tell.'
Right now, adapting to the White Yang Unit was key.
Never having done anything to get hunted by the Murim Alliance, all I knew was hearsay.
"Welcome. I'm Kang Cheon."
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Yi Se-woong."
"Yeah, I heard about you."
No fancy enlistment ceremony or anything. The Alliance usually stood on protocol, but not here.
The White Yang Unit's captain, Kang Cheon. A scar running from his temple down his left cheek made him striking.
"All I want from you is to fight well. Nail that, and I won't meddle much. Settle in on your own."
"Understood."
"Good, crisp response. Your senior will fill you in. Come in!"
A woman entered at his call. Her poised face contrasted with her sturdy build.
"You called, Captain?"
"Newbie. Looks promising. Train him up."
"Yes."
She answered the captain, then headed straight out. I bowed to his curt wave and followed.
"Jegal Yeong."
"?"
"My name."
She'd walked in silence awhile before turning to tell me.
"I'm..."
"Yi Se-woong. I know."
"You know me?"
"......"
Silence again.
"If the casual talk bothers you, say so now."
"Doesn't matter."
"Good. Forget age or rank. We go by internal hierarchy here. Best get used to it early."
Conversation with Jegal Yeong didn't flow. More like announcements than talk.
"Confident in your skills?"
"Yeah, decently."
"That'll do."
She stopped in a bustling room full of people.
"You know what the White Yang Unit does?"
"Roughly."
"Right. You're on probation, so... I'll train you for now. You'll shadow me on missions as you adapt."
Her explanation was short and to the point.
No time for chit-chat, she laid out the rules plainly. Once I grasped how things ran, she said she'd handle my paperwork and left me waiting.
I sat there blankly. Couldn't fake work right away. Then, faint hostility prickled toward me. A light jab, testing.
'Well, now.'
Sizing me up. I pushed back, raising my own pressure, and it vanished like it'd never been.
That was the start.
Like that first probe was just a taste, hostile auras shot from all sides, growing bolder.
I scanned the room.
True enough, merit-based recruitment wasn't hype.
A bandit-looking brute, a spear master from the Thrust Spear Sect by his look, a beggar sprawled on the floor ignoring chairs, a refined young lord. Mismatched types crammed together.
Common thread: faces burning with competitive fire. Pretending to focus on their own stuff, but keep probing me with pressure.
'Testing the waters.'
Intent clear. They wanted a spar. Bodies twitching like they could jump up any second.
'Because I'm the parachute?'
White Yang Unit members were elites scraped from across the land by the Alliance. Sky-high pride in their martial arts. Into this group drops an untested guy?
'What're you made of?'
That was the vibe.
How hotshot are you to get in?
Restraining the urge to pounce, barely. I'd heard the unit was aggressive even for the Alliance, but this was next level.
'Jegal Yeong's influence?'
Why no direct confrontation, though.
I could guess.
Probably watching her. Kang Cheon, knowing Namgoong Hyeok recommended me, assigned her as handler. Meant she had pull here.
Too risky to touch rashly.
As I ignored their probes, some started needling verbally.
"Pretty boy like a pampered parasite. You even swing a sword?"
Starting with looks-bashing.
"Bet he won't last a month."
"Coward. I was gonna bet first!"
Wagering on my tenure.
"Must be nice. Snagging a spot others bleed for, just 'cause you pulled strings."
Outright trash-talk now.
Testing my breaking point.
Kind of funny.
Dying to fight, but waiting for me to give cause. Worried about Jegal Yeong?
'Just one slip up.'
I waited. Key was not snapping first. Battle of patience.
"Yawn~."
Bored yawn, and a bite.
"Hey, newbie."
One couldn't hold back, calling out. Flashy robes screaming daddy's money. Arrogant face.
"Not answering?"
"What."
"What? Ha! No basics."
Like you'd use honorifics on me?
Just poking with aura till now. Why not cut the crap and spar?
The man spread his arms, voice carrying for all.
"Didn't your senior tell you? This ain't your cushy bedroom. Newbies kneel proper."
"......"
"Can't stand that stiff neck. As senior, I'll teach you a lesson!"
He glanced around for nods. Silent agreements. Some frowned at the abrupt challenge, but curiosity about my skills kept them quiet.
"Follow."
A few trailed us at his word.
A lesson, huh.
You started this?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'This is Yi Se-woong?'
Recent letter from Moyong Hye, who'd gone quiet. She'd found the guy her sister mentioned. The girl who'd sworn off men forever had found her match. Smiling warmly through the letter until the fiancée part froze her.
'Is she insane?'
Moyong Hye was sharp. Meaning of pining for an engaged man. And that fiancée being Namgoong Yeonhui? She knew full well. Yet she wanted to stay close?
Letter's end: swallow the Moyong Family whole. She'd built shadows quietly till now. Not enough to shift tides yet. Such rashness felt off to Jegal Yeong.
'How great can this guy be?'
Curious. Moyong Hye, who'd treated men like stones, head over heels. Then, news Yi Se-woong was joining White Yang as newbie.
'Alliance Leader pulled strings.'
Leader personally recommending to White Yang? Must be a favorite in Namgung Family.
'Well... he is handsome.'
Moyong Hye said he glowed in darkness. Thought exaggeration, but seeing him, spot on. Looks fit for "young lord." Made her judge harsher.
'Handsome guys trade on their faces.'
Her creed. Hotties know it, act entitled.
'More composed than expected.'
Calm in unfamiliar turf.
Martial artists minus pride are corpses. Newbies flinch at hierarchy ignoring outside status. Tested with casual talk, but he took it in stride.
'Should be fine.'
Back after paperwork, Jegal Yeong found him gone.
"Newbie? Probably warehouse by now."
Sure enough, couldn't wait.
Her steps hurried to the warehouse.
'Another Neungjapil?'
Sick of it.
Fine, White Yang enforced force, so aggression made sense. But these guys were fight junkies.
Tiny spark, and excuse for spar. Helped skills, so higher-ups tolerated, even encouraged.
'Problem's the abusers.'
Neungjapil, Thrust Spear Sect ace.
Froths at newbies, especially namers' sons or recommends like Yi Se-woong.
'Time to tighten discipline.'
Long irked her. Their cliques fine, but him rallying Nine Great Sects elites? Unwelcome. Crushing newbies to flex power? Worse.
Thud! Thud!
Clear impacts through the door. Jegal Yeong feared she was late. Bursting in, she saw...
'What the hell?'
Bloodied members sprawled on warehouse floor.
"Gah... s-stop!"
Desperate shriek.
That shrill voice: Neungjapil.
The thuds? Yi Se-woong pounding him.
"Newbie. What're you doing?"
"Oh, Senior. You're here."
Thud.
Yi Se-woong tossed Neungjapil like trash.
"Other seniors deep in fist arts, so getting pointers."
"......"
"You're my handler, but eagerness overrode manners."
He wiped cheek blood, grinned fresh.
Composed? Retract.
Crazy bastard joined as newbie.