Taking up the Post (2)
Im Choong, examining the appointment order, was startled.
"He used to be an Iron Sword Unit squad leader?"
The document only listed his final service record with the Iron Sword Unit. Even that was astonishing to Im Choong.
Beon Saeng, standing beside him, was even more shocked.
The Iron Sword Unit?
It had been his dream since childhood to join them. Of course, it was now an unfulfilled one. Naturally, Beon Saeng's gaze fixed on Baek So-cheon.
"The Iron Sword Unit is the elite of the elites at headquarters. How did you end up pushed out here?"
Baek So-cheon answered Im Choong's question flatly.
"Probably because I didn't work hard enough."
"Is that supposed to be for our ears here?"
Baek So-cheon tossed the question right back at him.
"How did you end up pushed out here, Branch Leader?"
Im Choong stared up at Baek So-cheon, wide-eyed.
Look at this guy!
The shameless way he met his gaze marked him as no ordinary man.
"I worked hard and still got pushed out here."
"Then you must've lacked the talent."
It was the kind of talk that should have sparked anger, but it didn't really rile him up.
What was it? This Baek So-cheon and his cheeky words just seemed to fit. Or maybe it was the tone. The words clearly belittled the listener, yet his calm voice held no disdain. It felt more like bantering freely with a stranger.
He's no ordinary guy.
Im Choong and Beon Saeng knew nothing about Baek So-cheon.
He was someone known only among the elite warriors at headquarters. After his demotions began, a gag order had gone out about him, so the warriors in this backwater Mun-seong Branch had no way of knowing.
Even if they did, no one would have imagined a man of his caliber ending up in a place like this.
Im Choong's eyes stopped at one spot on the document, the part that always surprised everyone.
"What? Thirty-eight?"
Beon Saeng beside him cried out in shock.
"No way!"
It was even more astonishing than hearing he'd been in the Iron Sword Unit.
Beon Saeng was twenty-six. At first glance, he'd pegged him as younger or about the same age.
"Must be a clerical error, right? Twenty-eight maybe?"
Baek So-cheon replied to Im Choong's question.
"If that makes you more comfortable, feel free."
His casual response only made it seem all the more true.
"Unless you've mastered the Youth Preservation Technique, you should thank your parents."
Im Choong added one more question.
"What's your martial prowess like?"
He didn't usually ask, but the Iron Sword Unit squad leader background made it natural.
"I used to fight well back in the day."
"And now?"
"Terrible."
Beon Saeng, listening nearby, chimed in slyly.
"What good's the past? By that logic, back in my prime, I rode a golden calf and took on the Black Heaven Alliance Lord."
Baek So-cheon nodded as if it were spot on.
"True. The past is just the past."
His ready agreement softened Beon Saeng's heart.
"Good thing there's not much fighting around here. Let's get along from now on."
He wasn't exactly meek, but Baek So-cheon's first impression wasn't bad. Better a sharp, straightforward guy than some sycophant glancing around nervously. Guys like this were more likely to get the job done.
"Alright, that's enough chit-chat. Squad Leader Beon will show you the ropes on your duties."
Beon Saeng led Baek So-cheon out to tour the branch.
Im Choong leaned back in his chair, murmuring to himself.
"The Iron Sword Unit..."
As expected from that affiliation, his presence was no joke. If they just had five Iron Sword warriors here, Wang Gon wouldn't dare treat him with such contempt.
A wave of regret washed over him anew.
Beon Saeng took Baek So-cheon to the branch's rear yard, where an empty private quarters stood vacant.
"You're older than me and a Murim Alliance senior, but... you're still a regular warrior, and I'm the squad leader. Guess I'll have to act like the superior."
The Murim Alliance prioritized rank over age, naturally.
"Go ahead."
"Thanks for understanding. So, how'd you get demoted from squad leader?"
"Beat up my superior."
"...!"
Beon Saeng flinched and stared at Baek So-cheon. He nodded as if it were true, so Beon Saeng quickened his pace with renewed vigor.
"What do superiors and inferiors matter in a little branch like this? We're all family and friends."
Passing the yard, Beon Saeng stopped in front of a massive log set up for martial training.
He itched to tell him to take a swing, curious about an Iron Sword squad leader's skill. But he couldn't bring himself to say it.
Only then did Beon Saeng notice. Baek So-cheon wasn't carrying a sword.
Why'd I assume he had one?
He always checked opponents' weapons first out of habit. Yet somehow, he'd taken it for granted that he carried a sword.
"Do you use fist techniques?"
"No."
"Then what martial arts?"
"None at all."
He said it like a stubborn kid refusing dinner, so Beon Saeng glanced back.
What the hell is with this guy?
By then, they'd reached the rear yard lodging.
It was better than expected. With a good cleaning, it was perfectly fine for one person.
"This is your quarters. Looks rundown, but it's south-facing and gets great sunlight. Rest well today."
"Thanks."
"No big deal. You're one of us now."
Turning to leave, Beon Saeng glanced back.
Baek So-cheon stood in the middle of the yard, gazing at the sky. For some reason, his dazed silhouette looked lonely.
No, what am I thinking?
Beon Saeng's plan for a proper hazing ritual fizzled out upon learning he was thirty-eight and from the Iron Sword Unit. He should've laid down the law on day one.
Fine, starting tomorrow, I'll set him straight!
The next day, Baek So-cheon's life at the Mun-seong Branch began.
"A newbie's job is sorting these documents."
Honestly, Beon Saeng found dealing with Baek So-cheon intimidating. But yielding ground now would just mean another boss down the line. So he emphasized the "newbie" part.
Once Beon Saeng showed him how to sort files, Baek So-cheon picked it up fast.
As expected! Smart guy.
Beon Saeng was pleased. Yeah, awkward or not, better if he was competent.
But the gap between what Beon Saeng considered "competent" and Baek So-cheon's actual performance was vast.
While scanning documents, Baek So-cheon spotted something.
"Take a look at this."
"What?"
It was a petition document.
"Petitions claiming the Tae-jeong Sect is harassing them. Not just one—several. All from the same person."
The Tae-jeong Sect was the local black guild. Unlike martial groups, black guilds were gangs of ruffians extorting protection money from taverns, brothels, and merchants, meddling in various interests for profit.
"Oh, that? Consolidate duplicates into one and send to the Jeol-gang Branch."
"And then what happens?"
"They analyze reports from all branches and issue orders from the branch level. How to handle it—or ignore it."
"Why not handle it here and skip the branch?"
"Why? That's just how the rules work."
Baek So-cheon stroked his chin and stared at Beon Saeng. The direct gaze made him step back uncomfortably.
"I didn't make the rules. That's how it's always been."
"This is wildly inefficient."
"The branch treats us like shit, that's why."
Then Baek So-cheon said abruptly,
"A black guild's nothing. We could handle it with our current manpower."
Ruffians and warriors were worlds apart. Even third-rate, a warrior was a warrior; a black guild was just thugs.
"You say that 'cause you don't know the Tae-jeong Sect. They've got numbers, and their boss knows martial arts. Rumor has it he made a name for himself in his youth..."
As Beon Saeng's explanation dragged on, Baek So-cheon cut in.
"Do you take money from the black guild?"
"What? I don't touch dirty money from scum like them!"
Beon Saeng jumped up, then sighed lightly.
"We'd love to wipe them out, but... rumors say the Shin-hwa Merchant Guild backs them."
"Shin-hwa Merchant Guild?"
This time, Beon Saeng explained about the Shin-hwa Merchant Guild.
"...So we can't touch the Tae-jeong Sect carelessly here in Mun-seong."
He'd rambled on to save face in front of the newcomer. He didn't want to look like an incompetent senior who couldn't handle a single black guild from day one.
But despite his efforts, the result was unexpected.
Baek So-cheon said flatly,
"If that's why you can't handle the petition, it'd be better to just take the money."
"What?"
"We're Murim Alliance warriors, after all. Helping villagers out of fear looks worse than taking bribes. Don't you think?"
"...!"
Baek So-cheon tossed the document aside.
"Tell me who filed it. I'll say no more petitions—they're useless. Even that'd be too cruel if we can't follow through."
That evening, Beon Saeng visited Im Choong's office.
"Not heading home?"
"Gotta. You?"
"Me too."
"You've had a few. What's up?"
Beon Saeng was thoroughly drunk. Upset over the day's events, he'd drowned his sorrows. Unable to stew alone, he'd come to Im Choong.
He recounted what happened.
"Hearing that jerk talk made me so mad. What does he know?"
"Why didn't you say something?"
"Couldn't. I just couldn't."
"Don't let the Iron Sword Unit thing get to you, Squad Leader."
"It's not that. Not because he's Iron Sword..."
"Then what?"
Beon Saeng sighed.
"Because he was right... I couldn't say a word."
Murim Alliance warriors, unable to help people tormented by black guild scum because their backers scared them? Maybe he was right—better corrupt warriors than cowardly ones. Self-loathing welled up.
Im Choong stood, fetching a hidden bottle and cups from behind.
"One more."
Pouring, he comforted him.
"Don't take it to heart. What does a fresh-rolled stone know?"
But that stone had lodged firmly in Beon Saeng's heart.
"If we can't help, where do the harassed folks turn? I feel so sorry for them. Damn it."
He'd never voiced it, but it had gnawed at him. He'd buried his conscience under a blanket of excuses, but Baek So-cheon yanked it off on day one.
Im Choong understood.
He'd been here less than a year, but Beon Saeng had served six years in Mun-seong since joining the Alliance. He'd have deeper ties to the villagers.
Im Choong quietly drained his cup.
He wasn't much different.
He felt the same powerlessness Beon Saeng did, right then.
Deep down, he wanted to tell Wang Gon:
Great, new business. But remember this: don't harm Mun-seong folk. If you do, I won't stand by.
He knew giving century ginseng to a dead-end branch head meant they planned something big and shady, yet he'd turned a blind eye.
After a few more drinks, Beon Saeng bellowed,
"Damn it! Should we just smash the Tae-jeong Sect?"
It was drunken bravado, not courage.
"Shut up and drink. The underlings are ruffians, fine—but Tae-jeong's boss is stronger than you. Maybe even me."
"Damn. Reduced to weaker than a ruffian boss."
Beon Saeng emptied his cup again. His anger shifted targets.
"That bastard! Pisses me off more thinking about it. Iron Sword Unit makes him all that? Older means superior? What? Better to take bribes? I'll get him!"
Beon Saeng shot up and bolted out.
"Where to?"
"I'll go set him straight!"
Im Choong didn't stop him. It felt like something that needed to play out once. Oddly, no worry. Though just a day with Baek So-cheon, he trusted he'd handle it. Probably the age.
Im Choong turned to the window. The bright moon seemed lonelier tonight, mirroring his heart.
The words Baek So-cheon used to wound Beon Saeng applied to him too.
Was he living righteously by refusing the century ginseng?
Beon Saeng arrived at Baek So-cheon's quarters, fired up.
You think we're heartless scum? If you're so brave, go save them yourself!
His head swirled with retorts.
Baek So-cheon was in the rear yard.
The sight stopped Beon Saeng dead, shocking him.
Baek So-cheon balanced in a handstand on three fingers. He wobbled as if about to collapse, but gritted his teeth and held. The ground was soaked with his sweat, like after a rain. How long had he been at it?
Even groaning in pain, he endured to his limit. Just before crashing, he released the stance and stood.
"What is it?"
Drenched like he'd been caught in a downpour, the sight sobered Beon Saeng instantly. Shame flooded in where liquor had ruled.
This late at night, a thirty-eight-year-old training like that—while he, at twenty-six, came drunk to make a scene? Just to excuse his own cowardice.
When's the last time I trained this hard, sweating buckets?
His childhood efforts to become a warrior. Preparing for Alliance entry, pushing to death. Those days resurfaced.
...When did I give up everything?
Was it shame surging from deep within?
"If it's alright with you..."
With the same fury meant to thrash him, Beon Saeng declared loudly,
"When it's just us, will you let me call you big brother?"