Chapter 7
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: This Body is the Sword of Completion's Disciple (2)
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A night so dark, even the moon had hidden itself.
Team Leader Min Sik-gi was on night patrol in Jungrang Prefecture with his subordinate, Warrior Gwang.
He walked with the same languid expression as always.
Following behind Min Sik-gi, Warrior Gwang glanced around before speaking.
“I was surprised to see Gyeong.”
“Ah, I know. Why’d that kid switch his shift again?”
Min Sik-gi grumbled as he walked with familiar steps. Despite the pitch-black night, where not even moonlight could be seen, his pace was unwavering.
Warrior Gwang struggled to keep up behind him.
“If Gyeong finds out about today’s deal, he’ll definitely report it, won’t he?”
“He’s not the type to be swayed. The kid’s honest to a fault.”
Min Sik-gi said, a look of annoyance on his face.
The two arrived at a small wooden building on the outskirts of Jungrang Prefecture.
It was a remote place, seldom visited by people since its previous resident had passed away a few years ago. But on this day, a dozen men were gathered there.
“Hey~ Team Leader Min, you’re here?”
Among them, a man with a long-stemmed pipe greeted Min Sik-gi.
Min Sik-gi frowned at the man’s welcome.
“Gu Gi-po, watch your mouth. As far as anyone’s concerned, I’m not here.”
“Tsk, tsk~ Don’t be like that between us.”
Gu Gi-po chuckled, puffing on his pipe.
Min Sik-gi glanced around before speaking again.
“The goods?”
“Right here, top quality. But.”
“But?”
“It’ll be hard to get a supply for a while. A problem came up.”
Gu Gi-po said with a bitter smile.
Min Sik-gi straightened his slumped shoulders and stood tall. His half-closed eyes glinted sharply.
The image of the middle-aged man from the precinct vanished without a trace, and a seven-foot giant revealed his overwhelming presence.
“A problem? That’s not my concern.”
A vicious aura, as if he could explode at any moment, flowed from Min Sik-gi.
Gu Gi-po swallowed hard, nervously watching Min Sik-gi’s expression.
Min Sik-gi, Team Leader of the 2nd Squad, Jungrang Precinct, Righteous Alliance Sichuan Branch.
On the surface, he had the impression of a simple, good-natured neighborhood uncle, but beneath that was a cold-blooded man who would gut you with a smile on his face.
“Isn’t it the Jeungbyeok Sect’s job to provide high-quality goods in exchange for me looking after you?”
“I know, I know. But the place we were trading with got cleaned out overnight.”
Gu Gi-po said, thinking of the Gyeongmun Sect.
But such excuses were useless against Min Sik-gi.
Min Sik-gi grabbed Gu Gi-po by the collar.
“So what? You want me to clean up the shit you couldn’t handle? Or are you trying to wash your hands of this?”
“No, that’s not it. We have our own circumstances.”
“Those are your circumstances. Do as you’ve always done. If you don’t provide the goods, it’s over.”
Min Sik-gi gestured with his chin toward a sack placed before him. Warrior Gwang quickly approached and inspected its contents. It was filled with an unidentifiable powder.
It was the main ingredient for the Soul-Summoning Pill, made by steaming and drying poppies with various medicinal herbs, said to be so potent that one would trade their very soul for it.
“You, and the Jeungbyeok Sect.”
Min Sik-gi turned his back, leaving behind those chilling words.
Warrior Gwang scurried to follow him.
* * *
Late that afternoon, with Jeok-sam’s help, I found the Righteous Alliance’s Jungrang Prefecture Precinct in Sichuan.
Lee Geum-yeong had told me that the precinct ran on rotating day, night, and off-duty shifts, or day-night-off shifts if they were short-staffed.
“I am Team Leader Geum Gye-seong of the 1st Squad. What brings you here?”
A man with a sturdy build greeted us.
Since the Righteous Alliance warriors at the precinct often interacted with civilians, their attitude wasn't as overbearing as that of typical martial artists from the Alliance.
“We heard an acquaintance of ours, Nam Gyeong, works here.”
Jeok-sam stepped forward to speak.
Geum Gye-seong’s brow twitched as he took a breath.
“Warrior Nam Gyeong does indeed work at our precinct, but may I ask where you heard that?”
“Well…”
Jeok-sam’s gaze shifted to Lee Geum-yeong.
It seemed he had obtained the personnel information through other means but still needed the help of Lee Geum-yeong, who was also from the Righteous Alliance.
However, for some reason, Lee Geum-yeong quietly shook her head.
‘She said she was from the intelligence division, right?’
Perhaps there was a reason she couldn't reveal her identity to a lower-level unit.
In the end, I stepped forward to face Geum Gye-seong.
“My name is Jin Je-yong. I taught Nam Gyeong swordsmanship.”
“Ah! From that, uh, Sorry-something Sword School?”
Geum Gye-seong scratched his head, blurting out the wrong name.
I stopped Jeok-sam before he could lunge forward and corrected him.
“…It’s the Sinnae Sword School.”
“Ah! My apologies. It’s just, it’s not a very well-known place…”
Geum Gye-seong’s voice trailed off as he mumbled.
I could sympathize with that. Sinnae Prefecture was a backwater town, and the Sinnae Sword School didn't engage in any external activities that would have made it famous.
Making a name for ourselves would start now.
“So, I wanted to see Gyeong to give him some news from the school, but unfortunately, while I know where he works, I don’t know where he lives.”
“Ah! I see. Warrior Nam is off today since he worked the night shift yesterday. In that case, Instructor Jin, do you have anything to prove your relationship with our Warrior Nam?”
His attitude made it clear that he couldn’t carelessly disclose a Righteous Alliance warrior’s personal information.
As the warrior eyed me with suspicion, Jeok-sam looked deeply offended, but I, on the other hand, thought the tight security was a sign of a proper workplace.
“I can show you my identification plaque, but that alone won’t explain my relationship with Gyeong. Instead, please let us give you the name of the inn where we are staying, and you can contact Gyeong for us.”
“Understood. I will be sure to pass on the message.”
Geum Gye-seong bowed his head.
He must have been well-trained, as he didn't act arrogant just because he was a team leader in the Righteous Alliance. In fact, he was quite polite.
‘Come to think of it, Master always emphasized etiquette.’
He used to say that the weaker the dog, the louder it barks. Regardless of whether one was righteous or evil, once they reached a certain level, they wouldn't draw their sword so hastily.
It was always the ones with no real skill who made the most noise, demanding more respect than they deserved.
“Then we’ll be counting on you.”
Just as we were about to leave the precinct, we came face-to-face with a young man with thin lips.
Unlike the other warriors at the precinct, his hair was slicked with oil, and he carried a fragrant pouch that gave off a sweet scent.
“You came looking for Gyeong? Phew! You should have come to me first.”
The young man approached with a friendly demeanor.
From his gait, hand gestures, and the way his eyes moved, I could tell he was a martial artist who specialized in hidden weapons.
“And you are?”
“My name is Dang Jin-wi. Nam Gyeong and I are like brothers. But are you Gyeong’s younger brother? Or perhaps…”
Dang Jin-wi casually dropped his formal tone, looking me up and down.
Before Jeok-sam could intervene, I spoke.
“Young warrior, you say you and my disciple are like brothers? Then that would make you a disciple to me as well.”
“Huh?”
“Where are you from? As a warrior of the Righteous Alliance, you wouldn’t be from some unheard-of, motley sect. Which means you must be well-versed in etiquette, correct?”
Dang Jin-wi’s face flushed red, then turned ashen.
I walked up to him and patted his shoulder. It felt like he was wearing a flat metal plate under his clothes.
“So, is our Gyeong doing well?”
“Ah, well…”
Dang Jin-wi’s eyes darted around, looking for an escape.
Inside the precinct, his colleagues from the 1st Squad, who were on day duty, were watching us.
Dang Jin-wi grimaced and bit his lip.
“Yes, well. He is. He’s doing well.”
Dang Jin-wi, conscious of the eyes on him, reverted to formal speech.
Jeok-sam stifled a laugh at Dang Jin-wi's pained response. Lee Geum-yeong looked away from Dang Jin-wi with an expression of disgust.
I patted his shoulder once more and asked.
“Good, good. Then I’d like to know where our Gyeong is. Do you happen to know, Mr. Dang Jin-wi, since you two are like brothers?”
“No, that is…”
Dang Jin-wi stammered, unable to finish his sentence.
It seemed his relationship with Nam Gyeong wasn’t very good, and he had likely intended to use me to put Nam Gyeong in a difficult position.
But I had received far too many of my master's lessons to fall for something like that.
‘Master didn't just teach me martial arts.’
Along with martial arts, he taught me about navigating society, especially how not to be looked down upon or deceived by others.
He shared many stories based on his experiences as a Righteous Alliance warrior in his youth, dealing with numerous criminals, and later, facing the heretics during the War of Righteousness and Evil.
He also taught me how to handle the fools from the great sects and powerful clans who were full of nothing but hot air. Dang Jin-wi, right in front of me, was exactly that kind of person.
“With a surname like Dang, are you from the Tang Clan? The main family?”
The Sichuan Tang Clan consisted of the main family, composed of the clan head’s blood relatives, and the Tang Clan Village, where the branch families resided.
I judged Dang Jin-wi to be from the Tang Clan Village.
His martial skill didn't seem high enough to be from the main family, and more importantly, he was assigned to a precinct, not even the Sichuan branch headquarters.
“No, I am from the Tang Clan Village.”
“Ah, I see. This is my first time meeting someone from the Tang Clan, so I worry I might be rude. What was it they say? Favors are repaid tenfold…”
“…And grudges a hundredfold. That’s right. We of the Tang Clan never forget a favor or a grudge.”
At the mention of the Tang Clan, Dang Jin-wi’s confidence returned.
He seemed to be implying that I should watch my attitude, as the Tang Clan took favors and grudges seriously.
My master’s teachings came to mind.
‘Master always warned me to be wary of the dregs from the great sects and the Five Great Clans.’
He said that the true successors of the great sects and Five Great Clans were strictly educated and possessed the demeanor of great heroes.
The heirs were rigorously trained in both mind and body to be worthy of their station, but the problem lay with the mediocre ones who fell short.
In other words, I had to be careful of dregs like Dang Jin-wi, who wasn't from the main family and lacked the skills to be recognized, thus being assigned to a local precinct.
‘This Dang Jin-wi fellow seems to be the dregs my master spoke of. Gyeong must be having a hard time working with him.’
The thought of my disciple suffering made me start talking.
“As a warrior of the great Sichuan Tang Clan, you must devote your entire being to the safety of the people and the greater good, rather than personal gain.”
“Eh? Well, I mean…”
My master had told me that the Sichuan Tang Clan, despite being a righteous sect, primarily used poison and hidden weapons, which could be seen as dishonorable.
Because of this, they were long considered to be on the fence between righteous and evil, and their sensitivity to favors and grudges was a result of that history.
‘Master said the Tang Clan values its reputation more than any other sect.’
“My master used to say that the warriors of the Tang Clan always dedicate themselves to the weak and never bow before the strong, and that is why they are worthy of being called the greatest family in Sichuan.”
“Th-that’s right, of course.”
“Coming from such a family, I am sure a man of your great generosity, Young Master Dang, will take good care of our Gyeong.”
The warriors of the 1st Squad were working inside the precinct.
With all eyes on us, my mention of the Tang Clan left Dang Jin-wi with no choice but to comply.
“Ah, yes, well, I should. As befits someone from a prestigious family…”
Dang Jin-wi reluctantly bowed his head.
“He completely tamed a man from the Tang Clan with nothing but his silver tongue.”
Lee Geum-yeong, who had been watching from behind, said in a surprised voice.
Jeok-sam’s voice followed.
“The master’s master, my grandmaster, had the best silver tongue in the world… *Ahem!* I mean, he was a man of remarkable eloquence. And our instructor here learned his lessons very well.”
The use of the term ‘silver tongue’ for my venerable master was highly irritating.
And in truth, I wasn't much of a talker. My master, and Sam-i too, were surrounded by people who were too good with words.
It was just that Dang Jin-wi was bad at it.
‘I’m much better at conversations with a sword than with words, though.’
It was a bit of a shame I couldn't demonstrate that right now.
* * *
Nam Gyeong’s face was ashen.
The Jeungbyeok Sect was a faction on the border of righteous and evil that had long been established in Jungrang Prefecture. They had participated in the War of Righteousness and Evil and had a cooperative relationship with the Righteous Alliance.
“Well, now, Warrior Nam? What brings you here?”
The warrior in the yellow uniform who spoke in surprise was the subordinate of Team Leader Min Sik-gi of the 2nd Squad.
He was a long-serving warrior of the Righteous Alliance who, after the War of Righteousness and Evil, had distinguished himself alongside Min Sik-gi in driving out the remnants of the evil factions.
And now, here he was, gathered in a remote, abandoned house with warriors from the Jeungbyeok Sect.
Between them lay a sack filled with a brown powder. Nam Gyeong instinctively felt that it was no ordinary substance.
“Senior Gwang, does Team Leader Min know about this?”
“Well…”
“So he does know. Team Leader Min Sik-gi.”
From the way Warrior Gwang’s voice trailed off, Nam Gyeong’s mind raced.
Knowing he was treated poorly within the precinct due to his status and background, Nam Gyeong had always worked even harder than usual.
That was why, even though it was his day off after a night shift, he had gone out for a walk that turned into a patrol. And this was the result.
“…Hah. You foolish bastard.”
“Pardon?”
“Warrior Nam, it’s your day off. What are you doing here? Patrolling voluntarily?”
“Well, I…”
“Hey, you idiot. Who’s going to recognize you for working so hard? People like us, from minor sects, we just have to be smart and wipe the asses of those from the great sects!”
“…”
Nam Gyeong was at a loss for words at Warrior Gwang’s outburst.
The Righteous Alliance he had joined was different from his time as an escort at a security agency or a guard for a merchant caravan.
He felt the disparity in status so keenly that it was bone-deep.
Being pushed around by Dang Jin-wi, who was years his junior, was nothing. The higher-ups in the Righteous Alliance constantly pressured him in everything he did.
“We have to look out for ourselves. How long are you going to be a doormat? And even if you report this, what do you think will change?”
“That’s…”
“Enough. Just go back. And don’t go blabbing about this anywhere.”
Nam Gyeong couldn’t offer any rebuttal to Warrior Gwang’s words and turned to leave.
A graduate of an unknown school in the backwater town of Sinnae Prefecture.
That label followed him like a shadow. The experience he had gained as an escort and a guard was only acknowledged up until the moment he joined the Alliance.
“Is it because I’m from the Sinnae Sword School?”
He had gotten off on the wrong foot. From the start, he should have knocked on the door of a more well-known sect. Or he should have left the school sooner.
Staying there for three years just because it was close to home and because he liked the Child Instructor and his grandmaster had led to his current situation.
“But… I liked those days.”
The Child Instructor was young, but his skills were undeniable. A single technique he had taught him back then was still useful even after more than a decade.
And the vast experience of his grandmaster, who had even fought in the War of Righteousness and Evil, had been a great help when he worked as an escort or a guard.
Though, ironically, it hadn’t been much help in his life within the Righteous Alliance, where his grandmaster had once belonged.
“Ah! There’s Gyeong! Gyeong! Our instructor is here!”
As Nam Gyeong trudged home, a familiar voice reached his ears.
The owner of the voice was his senior, Jeok-sam, who had put down his sword after only three months.
Beside him stood a young man in his early twenties and a fair-skinned, handsome youth.
“S-Senior? No… Instructor!”
Upon spotting the Child Instructor, Jin Je-yong, Nam Gyeong’s eyes grew misty.