A Bold Proposition
The deepest recesses of the palace.
While this phrase was typically reserved for imperial courts, it did not belong to them alone.
For even within the vast lands of Changsha, such a sanctuary existed.
If the term implied a place so sacred that none dared trespass, then Sadocheon, situated at the heart of Changsha, was more than worthy of the name.
And if there was a place within it that struck such dread that even the most notorious bandits wouldn't dare dream of entering, it was the residence of the Lord of Sadocheon.
A massive office that occupied an entire pavilion.
Here, the Lord of Sadocheon, Dok-go Cheon, resided, conducted his official business, and even trained in his martial arts.
Naturally, the pavilion was constantly bustled with a carefully selected entourage.
Maidservants serving meals and secretaries handling documents were always stationed nearby.
Today, however, the pavilion was silent and solemn.
Even the permitted staff had been dismissed.
In the center of the quiet room, Dok-go Cheon sat alone, sipping tea as he waited for someone.
Creak.
At the faint sound of footsteps on the wooden floor, a small smile tugged at the corner of Dok-go Cheon's mouth.
His long-awaited guest had finally arrived.
Yet, as the guest's presence drew closer, the smile vanished without a trace.
By the time only the overwhelming aura and untouchable dignity of a supreme master remained, a voice called out from beyond the door.
"Lord, it is Hu Seong, Leader of the Law Enforcement Division."
"Enter."
Though there were no maidservants to open the door, it slid open smoothly on its own.
Dok-go Cheon had used the profound technique of Telekinesis to open it.
"As commanded, I have brought the prisoner."
"You have done well."
"Lord, and, well..."
"...?"
Dok-go Cheon nodded lightly in acknowledgment.
Normally, Hu Seong would have bowed humbly and excused himself, but today he hesitated.
His expression was strained, as if he had something difficult to say.
-What is it?
-...That brat has caused trouble again.
Hu Seong let out a soft sigh and explained the situation.
It was, of course, transmitted via sound transmission. Upon hearing the explanation, Dok-go Cheon chuckled and addressed Jeok-un.
"Did you really have to cause a ruckus even while locked up?"
"Hmph. Some lunatic pointed a blade at my face, so I merely taught him a lesson."
Jeok-un spoke with utter shamelessness, acting as if he had done nothing wrong.
Since Dok-go Cheon had no intention of reprimanding Jeok-un over Do Ju-man anyway, his gaze naturally shifted to Hwa Mu-il, who stood beside Hu Seong.
"How is the boy's body?"
"Cackle! I didn't do a damn thing. He's like some lizard from the Southern Barbarian lands, shedding his skin and healing all on his own."
At the news that Jeok-un had healed completely before Hwa Mu-il could even intervene, a strange gleam flickered in Dok-go Cheon's eyes.
However, he kept his composure and thanked the physician.
"Thank you for your trouble."
"Hmph. I told you, I didn't do anything. What trouble?"
With that, Hwa Mu-il glanced sideways at Jeok-un.
His lips moved silently.
-See you around.
That was what he was saying.
"Cackle! Well, I'm off to get some more booze."
"L-Leader of the Black Medicine Hall!"
Having said his piece, Hwa Mu-il turned on his heel and walked out.
Dok-go Cheon, long accustomed to the physician's eccentricities, showed no reaction.
Instead, he turned his attention back to Hu Seong.
"You may leave as well, Leader of the Law Enforcement Division."
"But Lord, that would leave this rascal alone with you."
"That is precisely why I ordered it."
"...!"
When Dok-go Cheon declared his intention to speak with Jeok-un in private, Hu Seong was startled and tried to object.
However, the determination in Dok-go Cheon's eyes brooked no argument.
"...Understood."
Unable to defy the Lord's will, Hu Seong had no choice but to obey.
A heavy silence fell.
Soon, only Dok-go Cheon and Jeok-un remained in the spacious office.
Trickle...
Dok-go Cheon poured tea into Jeok-un's cup.
Steam rose gently from the cup.
Dok-go Cheon had heated the tea using his own Yang energy as he poured it.
"Drink."
"Hey, don't you have any alcohol?"
"Would you prefer I splash this in your face instead?"
"...Ugh."
Despite witnessing a display of internal energy control that could easily be described as miraculous, Jeok-un calmly accepted the cup and drank.
Watching him, Dok-go Cheon casually opened the conversation.
"Did you actually drink the blood of some lizard?"
"What kind of nonsense is that?"
"I am wondering how your body could possibly recover like this in a single day."
"My mother just blessed me with a sturdy constitution."
Despite the lighthearted tone, the underlying subject was heavy.
Yet Jeok-un merely sipped his tea, replying as if they were discussing someone else entirely.
Amused by his brazen, nonchalant attitude, Dok-go Cheon chuckled.
"So you intend to keep it a secret."
"Well, we aren't family just yet. Why would I share my hidden secrets with you?"
A sharp gleam flashed in Dok-go Cheon's eyes.
He had caught the true implication behind Jeok-un's use of the word 'yet.'
"Do you truly intend to join Sadocheon?"
"I told you during the entrance exam, didn't I? I need an umbrella and a roof to shield me from the rain."
"You did."
"But to do that, haven't you set fire to the very house you wish to shelter in?"
"Huh?"
Jeok-un furrowed his brow at Dok-go Cheon's remark.
"Seriously, this is like saving a drowning man only for him to demand your bundle. What fire are you talking about?"
"You speak too lightly. Do you have any idea how severe the repercussions of your actions have been while you were locked away?"
Whoosh!
Dok-go Cheon released a fraction of his overwhelming aura.
Any ordinary martial artist would have shivered in terror, but...
What a joke.
Jeok-un scoffed inwardly.
This was a battle of wits.
Pressuring the opponent to induce a mistake and force them to reveal their true intentions.
There was no way he would fall for such a basic tactic.
Jeok-un effortlessly brushed off the pressure and spoke.
"It's as obvious as day. Now that the deeds of No Hwang-mun and No Hwang-gu have been exposed to the world, all the gambling houses must be shut down. You'll be raiding the cultivation farms, freeing the captives, and destroying all the drugs in the warehouses."
"...!"
"The spineless cowards are probably whining that we shouldn't provoke Heukpaeseong, while the brainless fools are screaming that we must attack them immediately."
Dok-go Cheon was genuinely surprised.
He realized that Jeok-un's intellect was just as formidable as his martial arts.
Jeok-un continued.
"So, while you make it look like the Leader of the Law Enforcement Division is busy cleaning up the mess..."
He glanced up at the ceiling, a smirk playing on his lips.
"...Aren't you actually deploying the Hucheon Guards, who protect the Lord and are nowhere to be seen, to conduct an internal audit and root out any remaining spies from Heukpaeseong?"
"!!"
The Hucheon Guards.
They were a secret guard unit operated solely to protect and serve Dok-go Cheon.
It was a covert combat force that absolutely no one in Sadocheon knew about, save for a select few.
A chilling silence descended.
Dok-go Cheon stared at Jeok-un as if trying to pierce through his soul, but Jeok-un remained entirely unfazed.
He was far too clever to be shaken by this level of pressure.
"...You certainly read a great deal in the library of the Divine Record Keeper."
"I just happen to have very keen eyes."
"Then try guessing one more thing."
Dok-go Cheon looked at Jeok-un with dark, heavy eyes.
"What do you think I will do next?"
Without a shred of hesitation, Jeok-un met his gaze and answered immediately.
"Once you finish the task of uprooting the weeds..."
"...!"
"...You will wage a grand war against Heukpaeseong."
A shocking declaration spilled from Jeok-un's lips.
A war with Heukpaeseong.
Given Sadocheon's absolute disadvantage in numbers, such a plan should have been unthinkable.
And yet...
"Precisely."
Jeok-un's prediction was spot on.
Whoosh!
Rumble!
The moment those words left his mouth, the aura Dok-go Cheon released made his previous pressure look like child's play.
An energy akin to the crashing waves of a vast ocean swallowed the entire room.
This was the true, unbridled dominance and majesty of the greatest unorthodox master of the era.
It was the crushing weight of one of the absolute rulers of the Jianghu.
"Once the internal purge is complete and our strength is consolidated, I will wage an all-out war against them. I will sweep them away until not a single cornerstone of Heukpaeseong remains."
Dok-go Cheon spoke while radiating a terrifying, savage bloodlust that felt potent enough to kill with a glance.
In a situation where anyone else would have struggled to even breathe, let alone speak...
"Knowing this, do you still wish to enter Sadocheon?"
"Is that even a question?"
"...!"
Jeok-un grinned.
"Just hearing about it gets my heart racing."
Instead of being intimidated, Jeok-un wore an incredibly bold and spirited smile.
Immediately after hearing his response...
"Bwahaha!"
Dok-go Cheon burst into roaring laughter.
He laughed for a long time, his voice shaking the room as if an earthquake were occurring, before finally calming down to speak.
"I must admit, of all the lunatics I have encountered in my life, you are by far the craziest."
"Well, I can't tell if that's a compliment or an insult."
"Haha, take it however you wish."
As the storm passed and a peaceful atmosphere settled over them, Jeok-un suddenly spoke up as if remembering something.
"Ah, by the way, when are you going to give me my reward, and what is it?"
"What are you talking about all of a sudden?"
When Dok-go Cheon looked at him in confusion, Jeok-un scoffed.
"Ha! You're just as shameless as Heukpaeseong, aren't you?"
"...?"
Dok-go Cheon was genuinely bewildered, unable to fathom what the boy meant.
"I mean, I gave you the insight to break through your stagnant cultivation realm. Even ten thousand gold pieces wouldn't be enough to pay for that, yet you're playing dumb?"
"...!"
"Don't be so petty, especially since you're the leader of a massive organization."
In truth, Jeok-un's words were entirely valid.
Dok-go Cheon had indeed gained profound enlightenment during their duel.
To a martial artist, the realization that allowed them to overcome a bottleneck was worth more than a thousand—no, ten thousand pieces of gold.
"So, shouldn't we settle the bill properly? Hurry up and pay me my due."
"Heh, you really are a madman."
They said there was a fine line between genius and insanity.
Yet, a genuine smile spread across Dok-go Cheon's face.
"Fine, I will pay. What is it you want?"
"A high position. It would be best if you stepped down from the seat you're sitting in right now."
"Ha! You want to swallow me whole without even plucking the feathers first, do you?"
Dok-go Cheon shook his head in disbelief.
Yet, a brilliant light shone in his eyes.
"Very well. I shall give you the greatest position I can offer."
"Oh, excellent!"
Dok-go Cheon paused for a moment to gather his thoughts, then delivered a shocking proposal that even Jeok-un had not anticipated.
"Become my disciple."
"...!!"
Dok-go Cheon had never taken a single disciple in his entire life.
He had rejected every single prominent rising star of the unorthodox faction, claiming none of them were good enough.
This was an utterly unprecedented, mind-boggling offer.
Yet, to this extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime proposal...
"What kind of bullshit is that?"
Jeok-un merely scowled and rejected it flat out.
