Chapter 642
Bukri Seung wore an expression of bewilderment.
"Aren't you a candidate for the Hall Leader position yourself? Yet you're saying you'll support Commander Seon-u?"
"Is that not allowed?"
"It's not that, but..."
As Bukri Seung trailed off, Baek Mu-seong rose to his feet and clasped his hands together.
"May I share my thoughts?"
"Go ahead."
"Until now, our Alliance has failed to produce talents as exceptional as those from the Demonic Path."
Baek Mu-seong, now standing, swept his gaze across the assembly as he spoke.
"From the Martial Soul Lord to the commanders under him, and even the Wandering King... There are rumors that all the rising stars making names for themselves lately hail from the Demonic Path."
He pressed his palms together and continued with utmost courtesy.
"Don't you think it's time for our Alliance to change as well?"
For a moment, silence filled the conference room.
Had any other Hall Master-rank figure uttered such words, everyone would have scoffed.
But coming from him—a disciple of the Buddhist Venerable and now a symbol of indomitable warrior spirit—
They couldn't help but feel a twinge of shame.
"Let's acknowledge it."
Bukri Seung nodded.
"Truth be told, Commander Seon-u is indeed a rare Dragon Among Men in recent times."
Through numerous meetings, the name Seon-u Jin had become known not just for his excellence, but for his many good deeds.
Because of this, Bukri Seung had privately grown fond of him.
Baek Mu-seong nodded with a faint smile.
"You're right. He truly is an outstanding figure."
"But one man alone isn't enough."
At that, Baek Mu-seong turned his head to look at Yuk Jang-cheon.
"Hall Leader Yuk."
Then, with the gentlest of smiles, he asked:
"How about we engage in a fair competition?"
Yuk Jang-cheon's eyebrows twitched instantly.
What nonsense was this brat spouting now?
"You've been observing Commander Seon-u closely, so you know his abilities better than anyone, don't you?"
When Yuk Jang-cheon remained silent, Baek Mu-seong pressed on.
"Moreover, didn't Commander Seon-u recently slay the Fist King and, alongside you, ascend to the Seat of the Four Gods and Seven Kings?"
Whoosh—
A dangerous glint flashed in Yuk Jang-cheon's eyes.
How dare this whelp mention Seon-u Jin's ascension to the Four Gods and Seven Kings right to his face?
Had this not been a conference room, Yuk Jang-cheon would have roared at Baek Mu-seong in fury.
"He began his duties in the Alliance as a mere Third-grade Commander under this Hall Leader."
Suppressing his anger, Yuk Jang-cheon spoke flatly.
"I acknowledge his remarkable abilities, but from my position, it's undeniably awkward."
"Thank you for your honesty. But wasn't I also promoted from Second-grade Commander to Hall Leader candidate?"
Baek Mu-seong replied with utmost deference.
"If you were to compete fairly with Hall Leader Seon-u, your former subordinate, the decision would be remembered as a noble tale for ages."
'This bastard just won't stop his drivel!'
Yuk Jang-cheon nearly exploded in rage, barely restraining himself as he felt the piercing gazes around him.
"No matter how I think about it, I'm not inclined. My apologies."
"I suppose competing against a rising star who now shares the Seat of the Four Gods and Seven Kings must feel like an adventure from your perspective, Hall Leader Yuk."
With that same faint smile, Baek Mu-seong respectfully clasped his hands again.
"Forgive me. I spoke out of turn. Please disregard my words."
For an instant, a white light flickered in Yuk Jang-cheon's pupils.
—So, competing against a fellow Four Gods and Seven Kings newcomer is an adventure for you, is it?
In essence, Baek Mu-seong had just uttered these words before the Martial Alliance's elite.
What if Yuk Jang-cheon refused outright?
It would be no different from admitting the truth of those words.
And if that happened, he might endure endless ridicule until he secured the Hall Leader position.
Tsk, tsk.
Just then, Yuk Cheong-a subtly shook her head at Yuk Jang-cheon.
A clear warning not to accept such a proposal under any circumstances.
'So even you doubt your father's abilities?'
Her reaction only stoked Yuk Jang-cheon's fury further.
'Fine! I'll crush both of them with overwhelming force!'
"Well said."
Masking his erupting rage, Yuk Jang-cheon rose from his seat.
He scanned the room with a solemn expression before speaking.
"As Hall Leader Baek said, our Alliance needs a new wind. Seeing all the candidates brimming with youthful vigor stirs even this Hall Leader's heart."
Then, decisively, he declared:
"I agree to elevate Commander Seon-u as a Hall Leader candidate."
Bukri Seung asked in astonishment:
"Are you serious?"
"I am."
After a brief daze, Bukri Seung burst into hearty laughter.
"Hahaha! What a heartwarming sight."
Truthfully, Bukri Seung was among those who had grown weary of the Martial Alliance's rigid hierarchy and power distribution.
But as Vice Alliance Leader, he had never been able to voice such feelings openly.
Now, witnessing Yuk Jang-cheon make such a groundbreaking decision, he couldn't contain his delight.
"I salute Hall Leader Yuk's bold resolve."
With a grave expression, he surveyed the assembly and announced:
"Hall Leader Yuk, Hall Leader Baek, and Commander Seon-u—as of today, these three are officially candidates for the Heavenly Martial Brigade's leadership."
Instead of erupting in congratulatory applause, the conference room fell into an eerie silence.
Because of Seon-u Jin.
A young figure from the commercial world, who had risen through the ranks at breakneck speed, had finally ascended to the position of Leader Candidate.
Bukri Seung immediately declared in a booming voice:
"This concludes the meeting."
With the Vice Alliance Leader's meeting over, the Martial Alliance was once again on the verge of upheaval.
The Hall Master of the Hall of Martial Ascension, the Palm King, Yuk Jang-cheon.
The Hall Leader of the Heavenly Martial Hall, the Golden Upright Divine Dragon, Baek Mu-seong.
And the one who had recently been transferred to the Grand Strategy Hall—
The Peak Leader, the Sword King, Seon-u Jin.
These three figures had become Leader Candidates.
Baek Mu-seong's appointment as a new Leader Candidate wasn't particularly surprising.
It had been foreseen ever since he returned with Hyeokryeon Eung's severed head.
But Seon-u Jin was a rising star who had never even earned a proper epithet, and he had originally been a Third-grade Commander under Yuk Jang-cheon's command.
No matter how many fortuitous encounters he had or how he defeated the Fist King, was it really possible for him to suddenly rise to the rank of Leader Candidate like this?
This was even more shocking than Gongson Dan-gyeong becoming Chief Strategist.
This time, Chief Strategist Gongson pushed too hard.
The moment Gongson Dan-gyeong rushed to promote Seon-u Jin—a First-grade Commander—to a Hall Master-level position and elevate him to Leader Candidate, public opinion of him soured drastically.
What kind of position were the Seven Great Leaders of the Martial Alliance?
They were figures who could not be compelled by anyone except the Alliance Leader himself, and who could mobilize entire units at a moment's notice.
Not only that—it was a position from which one could potentially become the next Alliance Leader, depending on merit.
No matter how talented he was, how could she dare to pull strings to place a fresh-faced Rising Talent of the Younger Generation, who had only just made a name for himself, in such a position?
Let it be. He'll fall soon enough.
Even if he had ascended to the Seat of the Four Gods and Seven Kings, the Fist King had long since withdrawn from the martial world.
Moreover, he had already been under relentless assault by countless martial artists.
Because of this, many believed Seon-u Jin had merely gotten lucky when he defeated Seok Chi-haeng.
Just like Bu Eun-seol, who had once slain the Beggar King.
Now, let the first trial begin.
Regardless of the Martial Alliance's opinion, Bukri Seung assigned the same task to all three candidates.
The Leader Examination won't be decided in a short time. We'll assess their abilities thoroughly through three trials before making the final selection.
The first task Bukri Seung assigned was as follows:
The first trial will test the most basic qualification for becoming a Heavenly Martial Brigade Leader—whether they can master the brigade's unique Battle Formation.
He then assigned each candidate an identical group of twenty Unit Members.
I've assigned each of them the same number of newly recruited low-grade martial artists.
Their first evaluation would conclude once they had taught their recruits to master the Heavenly Martial Brigade's Battle Formation within ten days.
This is perfect.
Yuk Jang-cheon smiled faintly upon receiving the mission.
Baek Mu-seong, with his deep connections to the Martial Alliance's veteran members, would have no trouble mastering the Battle Formation.
But Seon-u Jin was different.
No matter how impressive his victory over the Fist King was, he had been in the Martial Alliance for far too short a time and lacked any real support base.
The only one who could back him was Gongson Dan-gyeong, and even she had distant relations with the elders and key figures.
In the end, the only way Seon-u Jin could succeed was by personally persuading the Heavenly Martial Brigade's martial artists to teach him the formation.
The problem was—no matter how exceptional Seon-u Jin's Martial Talent was—
The brigade's martial artists would never willingly pass on the formation to him.
Because he was a candidate who had risen through Gongson Dan-gyeong's backing.
From their perspective, he was the one candidate who absolutely must not become their Leader.
Seon-u Jin. There's nothing you can do.
Yuk Jang-cheon's smile turned cold.
The one who would ultimately compete with him was Baek Mu-seong.
Seon-u Jin had no chance.
As promised, two people remained in the grand conference hall after the meeting.
Gongson Dan-gyeong and Baek Mu-seong.
"I won't thank you."
Gongson Dan-gyeong spoke calmly as she looked at Baek Mu-seong.
"Because I know you were certainly the one behind the two Hall Leaders' betrayal."
"I don't know why you'd think that."
"It was the same in the past."
Her gaze bore into his.
"You always saved me from dire straits."
"..."
"But those straits were always ones you created."
One of the reasons Gongson Dan-gyeong had stopped loving Baek Mu-seong—
Was the realization that every single trial she had endured while knowing him...
Had been meticulously orchestrated by him.
"Heh."
Baek Mu-seong let out a dry chuckle, his lips curling into a bitter smile.
"You're mistaken about something."
"..."
"Do you still think I helped you because I love you?"
A glacial light, colder than eternal ice, flickered in his eyes.
"Far from it. I elevated Seon-u Jin to candidacy for two reasons. First, because I owe him a debt..."
His lips twisted coldly.
"And second—to raise him to the highest heights before crushing him into the dirt."
Gongson Dan-gyeong's eyes wavered.
The Baek Mu-seong she knew—
Contrary to his reputation, had been a tender-hearted man, childlike in his desire to be loved by many.
She never imagined he could speak such ruthless words with eyes brimming with grudge.
"You've changed."
"Not changed—dead."
"..."
"That foolish young man who writhed in agony, desperate to be loved by a woman—he no longer exists."
Baek Mu-seong looked down at Gongson Dan-gyeong with contemptuous eyes.
"Because he realized that the woman he yearned for was nothing more than... a roadside willow or a wallflower, flirting with any man who seemed useful."
An ordinary woman would have flared up in anger at such an insult.
"I see."
But Gongson Dan-gyeong, on the contrary, smiled.
"I'm glad you realized that, even if it took you this long."
As Baek Mu-seong's eyes widened, she laughed prettily.
"That wallflower of a woman... probably abandoned the very notion of love between men and women long ago."
"..."
"Because she had far too many things to deal with to waste time fretting over such trivial matters."
With those words, Gongson Dan-gyeong turned away, her smile cold.
"Excuse me first."
Baek Mu-seong stared fixedly at her retreating figure.
Though his expression was frozen in icy indifference, his gaze burned with possessiveness.
Yes, because you are that kind of woman. That's why I want you so desperately, Gongson Dan-gyeong.
Had she been an ordinary flower, he wouldn't have spared her a second glance.
But Gongson Dan-gyeong was like a plum blossom—standing tall and elegant even amidst the howling northern winds, the kind of cold that could freeze the entire world.
And Baek Mu-seong wanted nothing more than to pluck that very blossom and claim it for himself.
"Seon-u Jin. Let's see if you can maintain that elegance after watching him crumble before your eyes."
With one last glance at Gongson Dan-gyeong's retreating figure, Baek Mu-seong also turned away coldly.
Martial Heaven Pavilion, Grand Martial Training Ground.
Thirty-some Unit Members stood in formation, and before them stood a man clad in white garments.
Bu Eun-seol and the members of the Martial Heaven Unit.
Hmm.
As Bu Eun-seol surveyed the Unit Members, he felt a faint pang of guilt.
The unit's Leader, Jo Cheon-wang, had been defeated by Bu Eun-seol and reduced to a wandering warrior.
And the deputy commander, Gwa Geuk-cheon, had met his end at Bu Eun-seol's own hands while attempting to kill the Demon Swordsmith.
Though unintended, the result was the same—the Martial Heaven Unit had been shattered by Bu Eun-seol.
But there was something strange.
Under normal circumstances, the vacant position of Leader should have been swiftly filled to restore the unit's operations.
Yet the Murim Alliance's leadership, including the Alliance Leader, paid no attention to the leaderless unit, nor did they hurry to appoint a new Leader.
As this neglect continued, the unit's most skilled members could no longer endure and left one by one.
Those who remained had lost all motivation.
And now, Bu Eun-seol...
Had to learn the unit's Battle Formations from them—only to teach those same formations to novice martial artists.
"Welcome."
One of the Unit Members, his expression listless, approached Bu Eun-seol and clasped his hands in greeting.
"I'm Yeong-myeong, temporarily overseeing the members."
Though Yeong-myeong had a lively appearance, his eyes were as lifeless as a dead fish's, devoid of focus.
Bu Eun-seol found that gaze familiar.
He had met men like this long ago.
The members of the Death Shadow War Unit—once called the Rootless Squad.
"I've preselected the members and prepared a demonstration of our unit's finest Battle Formation—the Silver Shield Formation."
Yeong-myeong gestured toward the Unit Members waiting on the Grand Martial Training Ground.
They, too, stood in bored silence, their expressions blank.
No one would be happy to see me.
After Jo Cheon-wang's departure and Gwa Geuk-cheon's death, the Martial Heaven Unit had been neglected for far too long.
The Murim Alliance Leader, who should have immediately appointed a new Leader, had delayed under various pretexts.
In the meantime, the martial artists—barely even treated as members of the Seven Great Battle Corps—were reduced to assisting other units with menial tasks.
Fortunately, the Alliance Leader had finally declared his intention to select a new Leader.
But by now, they had no expectations left.
—After all, aren't the current candidates just treating the position of Martial Heaven Unit Leader as a mere badge of honor?
The Hall of Martial Ascension's Master, Yuk Jang-cheon, was infamous within the Murim Alliance for his lust for power.
And Baek Mu-seong, newly appointed as the Heavenly Martial Hall's Leader, likely saw this as nothing more than a stepping stone in his bid to become the next Alliance Leader.
As for the man called Seon-u Jin...
Though he had been fortunate enough to seize an opportunity and claim victory against the Fist King, from their perspective, he was still woefully unqualified to lead them.
In the end, from the Martial Heaven Unit's standpoint, all traces of their former majesty as one of the Seven Great Battle Corps had vanished.
They had become nothing more than a battleground for those vying for the position of next Alliance Leader—
Left behind like a discarded sack of barley.
"Then we'll begin."
As Bu Eun-seol stepped onto the training ground, thirty-two martial artists raised their shields.
But these were not the treasured silver shields of the Martial Heaven Unit—they were crude iron ones.
"Wait. Why aren't you using the silver shields?"
At Bu Eun-seol's question, Yeong-myeong slumped his shoulders.
"The Alliance took them back long ago. They said our unit wasn't worthy of them anymore."
The silver shields used by the Martial Heaven Unit were one of the Murim Alliance's long-cherished treasures.
But once the unit became a hollow shell, the Alliance reclaimed them and handed them over to another shield-bearing unit.
"I see."
Bu Eun-seol let out a sigh.
Now there was one more thing he needed to do to rise to the position of unit leader.
"Shall we begin now?"
Yeong-myeong's face was unmistakably annoyed.
Had it been any other candidate, they might have flown into a rage, but Bu Eun-seol simply nodded without concern.
"Proceed."
Thud. Screech—
The martial artists wielding iron shields chaotically deployed their formation.
It was an extremely scaled-down version of the Silver Shield Formation that Bu Eun-seol had personally faced in the past, modified so that those outside could observe the intricacies of its execution in detail.
'Was it like this back then?'
As he watched the Martial Heaven Unit members perform the Silver Shield Formation, Bu Eun-seol let out a strange sigh.
All the profound intricacies that Deputy Commander Gwa Geuk-cheon had once displayed were gone.
What remained was the desperate flailing of veterans, like an old soldier's last struggle.
In the end, the current Martial Heaven Unit was nothing more than an empty shell.
"I've seen enough."
That was all Bu Eun-seol could say.
The situation wasn't yet ripe for changing the unit, and he had no authority to issue orders.
Even if he gave them instructions now, it would only crush their spirits further.
"Then I wish you luck."
As Yeong-myeong offered a weary farewell, the martial artists also bowed listlessly before turning away.
"Wait."
But Bu Eun-seol spoke.
At that, Yeong-myeong and the others halted.
"Do you have further orders, sir?"
"I do."
Standing at the center of the Grand Martial Training Ground, Bu Eun-seol raised his voice.
"Watch closely."
"Watch what?"
When Yeong-myeong stepped forward to ask, Bu Eun-seol answered solemnly.
"Let me make this clear first—the process of selecting a unit leader will take considerable time. There are three candidates, and we must evaluate their abilities from multiple angles."
Whoosh—
At the same time, a sharp ripple of True Qi surged from his body.
"In the meantime, practice this."
Shiiiing— Splaaash—
Drawing his sword like lightning, Bu Eun-seol carved spiderweb-like lines and geometric patterns across the training ground.
It was a new Silver Shield Formation—one that closely resembled the original yet had been refined to an even higher level.
"How is this—?"
Yeong-myeong was stunned.
The Silver Shield Formation was far too complex to master in a short time.
And yet, this man had not only grasped all its profundities after seeing it just once—he had also devised an entirely new battle formation?
"Didn't you just see it for yourself?"
Bu Eun-seol lied effortlessly, gesturing to the patterns etched into the ground.
"I'll make sure the silver shields are reissued soon, even if I have to dig into my own funds. Until then, master this formation perfectly."
"That's an excessive promise."
Yeong-myeong spoke hollowly.
"How do you plan to retrieve shields that were already redistributed to other units?"
"Why retrieve them?"
"Huh?"
"I come from a merchant house."
Bu Eun-seol smiled faintly.
"From a martial artist's perspective, silver shields may seem impossibly expensive, but that's only because you see them through the lens of the martial world."
Though the Seonhwa Merchant House was little-known due to its roots Beyond the Frontier, its scale and financial power rivaled even the Ten Great Merchant Houses of the Central Plains.
If he wished, he could simply have new silver shields commissioned.
"Now that you mention it, I did hear you were wealthy."
But Yeong-myeong's voice remained cold.
"Still, what do you stand to gain by helping us? Even if you earn favor with our unit, it won't benefit you."
"Earn favor? Don't be absurd."
Bu Eun-seol scoffed.
"This is the unit I'll soon be commanding. Why would I need to curry favor?"
"Sir—"
"Your overdue salaries will also be paid soon."
His tone was firm.
"Don't worry. It won't be coming from my own pocket."
"..."
"Thanks to the Chief Strategist's management, the Alliance has finally escaped chronic deficits."
Bu Eun-seol spoke calmly.
"The reason your wages weren't paid likely wasn't due to the lack of a unit leader—but the absence of a deputy commander. Without someone handling day-to-day operations, any martial organization quickly falls into disarray."
Whether orthodox or unorthodox, the finances of any faction were typically managed not by the leader, but by their second-in-command.
Because leaders were already swamped with other duties.
Bu Eun-seol had discerned that the Martial Heaven Unit's decline wasn't solely due to the lack of a leader—but also the absence of Deputy Commander Gwa Geuk-cheon.
If Yu Un-ryong, who managed the Death Shadow War Unit's finances and affairs, were gone—
They wouldn't even get proper meals, let alone salaries.
'How does this young man know all this?'
Yeong-myeong's expression was dazed.
This man had risen rapidly through the ranks, becoming a Special-Grade and now a unit leader candidate.
Despite being a battalion leader, he received treatment befitting a Hall Master—a classic case of someone relying solely on connections.
And yet, how did he understand the inner workings of a major force like the Seven Great Battle Corps so thoroughly?
Even figures like Yuk Jang-cheon and Baek Mu-seong hadn't grasped the Martial Heaven Unit's true situation.
"Do as you please."
Despite his thoughts, Yeong-myeong's tone remained detached.
"It won't change anything either way."
Bu Eun-seol smiled.
Because he remembered the faces of the Death Shadow War Unit leaders—
Those who had desperately denied their own worth, ashamed of their unrecognized existence.
"Until next time."
Casually, he turned away.
Yeong-myeong and the unit members could only stare blankly as Bu Eun-seol walked off, hands clasped behind his back.
—Until next time.
It was just a common farewell.
Yet when spoken by the man called Seon-u Jin, it somehow felt like a promise—as if they truly would meet again.
'Almost feels like fate is playing tricks.'
As he slowly exited the Martial Heaven Pavilion, Bu Eun-seol gazed at the distant sky.
'As if it's telling me to rebuild it myself.'
The Martial Heaven Unit had crumbled by his hand.
And now, it was preparing to be reborn anew—once again, through his hands.