Chapter 66
Chapter 66
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Episode 8 - Friendly Spar (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The inauguration ceremony ended with an unexpected encounter.
Two days later, a serious atmosphere hung over the first training ground of the Dragon-Phoenix Squad.
"Hello again. From today, I'll be in charge of your training. I'm Yeom So-so."
Yeom So-so greeted them with a bright smile. Mok Ri-won responded with a lovely smile of his own.
Mok Ri-won was recalling the events from two days ago.
-For now, White Cloud doesn't need to tell him. That might actually be better. He needs to look at you without prejudice so he can make a proper judgment when your true identity is revealed.
Yeom So-so's words had become a guiding light for the lost Mok Ri-won. Naturally, gratitude welled up in his gaze toward her.
Dang Hwa-seo tilted her head but soon dismissed it.
Of course. For Mok Ri-won, being a master from the front lines of the Blood Massacre was achievement enough to warrant respect.
"Now, as you heard, I'll teach you the basics of covert operations. Why don't each of you tell me? What do you think is the most important thing in covert ops?"
At Yeom So-so's question, Dang Hwa-seo spoke first. Her tone was composed.
"Forging identities, faces, and backgrounds for arriving at the target location."
"Good. Anyone else?"
"Getting friendly with the locals at the target area."
It was Jegal San speaking. His face bore its signature weasel-like smile.
"Rumors among the locals make for pretty good intel."
The Jianghu called him the Freak Dragon.
Jegal San, who often moved in secrecy, had pinpointed a core aspect of covert ops.
Yeom So-so smiled in satisfaction.
"Indeed. Must be because you're a Jegal brat. Sharp as a tack."
"You're too kind."
"Now, who wants to go next?"
Silence suddenly fell over the space.
The remaining four squad members exchanged glances in the ensuing quiet.
Yeom So-so tilted her head, and a sigh escaped Dang Hwa-seo's lips.
Amid it all, Namgung Jincheon straightened his shoulders confidently and spoke.
"Exterminating all witnesses."
"Don't you think making sure there are no witnesses is what covert ops is about?"
". . ."
He sank.
Yeom So-so burst into laughter.
"You take after that damn old man of yours exactly."
Was that an insult or praise?
Namgung Jincheon fell deep into contemplation.
Then Il-un spoke.
"Hmm, I think hiding your martial prowess is best. Lure the enemy in by making them complacent, then capture and torture them . . ."
"The method sounds plausible enough. But are you sure you're a monk?"
". . ."
Il-un sank.
Hye-un giggled at that, drawing Yeom So-so's gaze.
Hye-un shrugged and said,
"Use the honey trap. Men turn into chatterboxes in bed, don't they?"
A torrent of words rose in Yeom So-so's mind, but she uttered none.
She chose to look away instead.
". . . Right. What does our Dark Dragon think?"
A warmth not present before settled on Yeom So-so's face.
Emboldened, Mok Ri-won shouted with full confidence.
"You need to wear a bamboo hat and cloak! Black is even better! Oh! And when you smile, just lift the corner of your mouth! That gives you gravitas!"
Of course, his words weren't normal. Mok Ri-won gave a thoroughly *Tales of the Jianghu Heroes*-style answer.
Dang Hwa-seo covered her flushed face with her hands.
". . . Sorry."
She didn't know what for, but Dang Hwa-seo was sorry anyway. And embarrassed.
Yeom So-so smiled faintly.
"Everyone, drop and give me push-ups."
Yeom So-so thought to herself.
Mission assignment in no more than a month.
To train them quickly, nothing beat the rod.
*
Yeom So-so's training was brutal.
Dang Hwa-seo and Jegal San, who already had some foundation, were excused, but the other four squad members underwent training where their lives hung by a thread.
It was mostly role-playing.
Yeom So-so would pretend to be a village elder, converse with the squad members, and fire blunt-tipped daggers when they acted out of place.
They weren't for scaring.
Mok Ri-won and Namgung Jincheon, who erred the most, had their bodies bruised and swollen purple.
Yeom So-so was impressed.
". . . Maybe you all should just keep your mouths shut."
Their wits seemed sharp enough, so why were their actions so uniformly stupid?
No, uniformly wasn't quite right.
Mok Ri-won's mistakes always came in conversation. He'd excitedly spill his entire objective.
Namgung Jincheon's errors were in pandering to others. He didn't know how to bow.
"I'll let the Dark Dragon slide, but Sword Dragon, what's your excuse? Weren't you taught manners from childhood?"
"The Namgung heir doesn't bow."
"Right, I forgot. That thunderbolt-headed Namgung Hyeok wouldn't have given proper instruction."
"Insulting the Retired Clan Leader?"
"It's an insult, you fool."
Namgung Jincheon's eyes widened.
"Why glare like that? What, want a deathmatch?"
Namgung Jincheon's eyes dropped.
*I can't win yet.*
Namgung Jincheon knew he'd one day surpass the old woman, but fighting now meant certain defeat. He was practicing the insight from the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament finals.
No arrogance, constant diligence.
Namgung Jincheon harbored thoughts of repaying this humiliation manifold someday.
He never went easy, even on elders.
Yeom So-so sighed deeply.
Her gaze turned toward Dang Hwa-seo.
Dang Hwa-seo was apologizing again, hand over her face.
". . . Sorry."
Of course, she didn't know what for either.
*
Three days into the training. The squad members, who mostly stayed within the Dragon-Phoenix Squad grounds, were now about to work as part of the Murim Alliance.
It wasn't a mission assignment. It was a schedule set much earlier.
"Two days from now, the spar with the White Sword Unit."
A friendly spar.
Not just any spar. Friendly spars determined the invisible ranking among squads and units.
The Dragon-Phoenix Squad, with its many privileges, needed to prove itself there or risk an awkward position in the Alliance. Dang Hwa-seo emphasized this.
"The White Sword Unit will field six warriors, same as us. Yes, six out of a hundred. That means their elites."
The squad members looked serious.
But at this moment, even Dang Hwa-seo wasn't too worried.
*Their martial prowess is top-notch, after all.*
They'd perform well in the spar.
"How will we set the lineup?"
Mok Ri-won asked.
Dang Hwa-seo shook her head.
"No intel. In friendly spars, the lineup is part of the competition, so that's one of the things we have to consider."
She added,
"Oh, but the match format is already set."
"Oh! What is it?"
"Winning streak battle."
The squad members stirred at that.
A winning streak battle meant the victor continued against the next opponent. Lineup order mattered even more.
Having always been protagonists, they all desired prime spots in the order.
"Can I be the vanguard?"
Il-un raised his hand. Vanguard meant the first on the stage.
Il-un wanted to rack up as many wins as possible first.
But who else lacked such ambition?
"Me too! I want vanguard!"
"I'll do it."
"Surely vanguard suits me best? I'll lose on purpose to make them drop their guard!"
Mok Ri-won, Hye-un, and Jegal San in turn.
Jegal San had no intention of shining in the spar.
"Huh? Sis, strategically, using me as a sacrificial pawn to reveal one of theirs isn't bad."
". . . A warrior proud of dodging spars?"
"The strong hide three-tenths of their power!"
"Got any to hide?"
"Nope!"
Jegal San thumbs-upped. Dang Hwa-seo sighed.
But it wasn't pure frustration.
Factually, it was sound. Jegal San's plan was strategically solid.
A sacrificial pawn was better used early to probe rather than mid-streak when more was revealed.
It tempted her.
". . . Hm, I think putting Jegal San vanguard is good. Other opinions?"
No objections.
Their goal was wins.
Having Jegal San probe the first opponent was ideal, intensifying the fight for later slots.
"If I go, the rest can rest! I'll win them all!"
"Benefactor Mok, underestimating foes is a bad habit."
"N-No, that's not . . .!"
"Of course it is. Both of you stay put. I'll go first."
The mood turned to a marketplace brawl in seconds.
Dang Hwa-seo felt her temples throb watching Mok Ri-won and Hye-un throw tantrums, with Il-un stubbornly pressing his claim in between.
Meanwhile, Jegal San asked Namgung Jincheon beside him.
"No interest in order, Brother Namgung?"
"I'm last."
"Hm?"
"The strong don't step out lightly."
Namgung Jincheon gazed indifferently at the brawling trio.
Jegal San thought unwittingly,
*By that logic, isn't Brother Mok last?*
Of course, he didn't voice it.
As the brawl heated and tempers frayed,
A furious Dang Hwa-seo yelled,
"Enough! ENOUUUGH-! We'll draw lots for order!"
A crisp resolution.
Faced with her anger, the squad silently assented.
The drawing began.
Mok Ri-won's turn was second to last.
He was a man of poor drawing luck.
*
That afternoon.
Mok Ri-won pouted as he walked the Alliance with Dang Hwa-seo.
". . . The draw was rigged, clearly. Anyway."
"You're on that again."
"It was! How does the last drawer get the worst spot? Little Sister, that's too much. Acting disinterested then snagging second in one go!"
Dang Hwa-seo giggled.
His aggrieved venting somehow looked endearing.
"Say what you will, no changes."
"Ehhh . . ."
Mok Ri-won's shoulders slumped.
Dang Hwa-seo's smile deepened.
"Still, it'll reach Young Hero Mok's turn. I plan one win then step down, and their leader's surely Golden Sword Unit Leader, so Il-un Monk and White Phoenix will step down mid-way too."
"Golden Sword Hero's coming?"
"Yes, squad and unit leaders participating in friendly spars is mandatory now. Tradition's settled."
"Ooh . . .!"
So quick to joy and sorrow.
Dang Hwa-seo couldn't stop laughing at Mok Ri-won's emotional swings.
As they walked,
". . . Ah, Leader."
Someone approached from the opposite hall.
Sturdy features, honest wrinkles.
The man with a golden scabbard at his waist was none other than White Sword Unit Leader, Golden Sword Gwon Pyo-wol.
"Fancy meeting here."
He smiled faintly.