Chapter 85
Chapter 85
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Private Meeting, Resolve (3)
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Though he had sat down at the sudden summons, Mok Ri-won's tension was far from slight.
Of course, the man before him was none other than the Murim Alliance Leader.
And not just anyone—he was the one who had cast the dissenting vote on whether the Third of the Four Saints and Six Kings was truly dead.
Even if Sa Baek-un's intentions were for the greater good, and even if he was a righteous man, the tension that naturally followed was unavoidable.
‘…No, I need to calm down.’
Mok Ri-won steadied his mind.
What came to mind were Yeom So-so's words.
‘All I need to do is prove myself. Why are you so scared?’
Mok Ri-won took a deep breath.
In the midst of that, Sa Baek-un spoke.
“What's with all the tension?”
“Ah, no, sir!”
Mok Ri-won's back straightened ramrod straight.
At the sight, Sa Baek-un chuckled and waved his hand dismissively.
“Don't be so tense. Honestly, even though my body's old, my heart wants to stay young. When you young folks treat me with such deference, it leaves me feeling oddly lonely. For days like this, at least, won't you sit a bit more comfortably?”
“Yes…!”
Mok Ri-won lowered his shoulders.
Still rigid with tension.
Sa Baek-un seemed to sense that forcing it further would be overkill, so he smacked his lips in mild regret and lifted his cup.
“Shall we have a drink first?”
“Ah, let me pour it for you.”
“Thank you.”
Pour.
As Mok Ri-won filled the cup, a clear liquor aroma wafted through the space.
Mok Ri-won let out an awed “Ah” at the bursting fragrance.
“This is…”
“It's called White Liquor. I have a brewer friend who sends me one bottle every year.”
“S-Such a precious…”
“Doesn't it suit sharing with a precious guest?”
Sa Baek-un smiled brightly.
With that, he took the bottle and filled Mok Ri-won's cup.
Mok Ri-won received it politely with both hands, as etiquette demanded.
“Have a sip.”
Mok Ri-won swallowed hard and slowly brought the liquor to his lips.
Then, he let out a gasp of admiration.
“Ah…”
It was a taste that demanded such a reaction.
The crisp freshness as it entered his mouth, the gentle warmth as it slid down his throat, the pure aroma rising as he exhaled.
“Th-This is truly exquisite! In all my life, I've never tasted such fine liquor…!”
Mok Ri-won's face lit up as he began making a fuss.
“I don't even know how to thank you for sharing such precious liquor! Truly, thank you…”
“Looks like the tension's eased now.”
“Ah.”
Mok Ri-won widened his eyes and bowed his head.
Indeed, with just one sip, the nervousness from moments ago had considerably melted away.
He lifted his head again and looked at Sa Baek-un.
“There's a saying that martial artists shouldn't indulge in drink, but I disagree. A proper buzz plants a warm passion in this chest.”
The imposing elderly man wore a gentle smile that didn't suit his ferocious build.
If he had to describe it.
A father's smile.
He was a man who perfectly fit the world's description of him as the father of the righteous martial world.
Mok Ri-won fidgeted with his fingertips for no reason.
And smiled.
‘I…’
Had he preemptively feared rejection from a man like this?
He briefly scolded himself.
Mok Ri-won steeled his resolve once more.
‘…Surely, this man will acknowledge me.’
He couldn't yet speak of his origins or his star.
But later, once he could proudly prove himself as a hero of the righteous path, he wanted to reveal his true identity.
“…Thank you for your consideration.”
“How's life in the Alliance treating you?”
“I'm gaining much knowledge. Especially from the advisor!”
“I can't go into details due to circumstances, but he's far greater than you know. Squeeze him dry while you can.”
Of course, that Killing Star.
Mok Ri-won gave an awkward smile and picked up a piece of meat.
Then, with an “Ah!” he pulled a letter from his bosom.
“Hm? What's that?”
“It's a letter from Sword Dragon—er, Young Master Namgung! He insisted I deliver it personally!”
“Hmm, is that so?”
Sa Baek-un took the letter and opened it right away.
Then, he burst out laughing with a “Pfft.”
“He's got such a cheeky side. It reminds me exactly of the Sword King in his youth.”
Mok Ri-won flinched.
He glanced nervously at Sa Baek-un.
The letter's contents were none other than a request for an elixir.
Even Mok Ri-won, who was quite thirsty for elixirs himself, couldn't help but tense up at what Sa Baek-un might reply.
Sa Baek-un quickly picked up on it.
A playful smile tugged at his lips.
“Why? Do you want one too?”
“W-Well…”
Mok Ri-won dragged out his words, rolling his eyes, then scratched the back of his head with a flushed face.
“…I can't lie and say no.”
“Honesty's a virtue.”
Sa Baek-un tucked the letter into his bosom and continued.
“Of course, the elixir will be granted. Even without this letter.”
“R-Really?!”
“Naturally. After all, isn't it the achievement of capturing one of the Six Demons?”
Mok Ri-won's eyes sparkled.
His fists clenched tightly, as if eager to show his excitement.
Sa Baek-un watched him for a moment, then suddenly followed up.
“But.”
“Yes?”
“I heard the report. You acted on your own.”
Mok Ri-won's body stiffened.
In that instant, Sa Baek-un regarded him with an enigmatic smile.
“May I ask why?”
At those words, the thought that crossed Mok Ri-won's mind was simple.
Here it comes.
Naturally, the recent mission hadn't been a minor incident, and the report would have already reached the top. It would be odd if Sa Baek-un didn't know the details.
Mok Ri-won smiled bitterly.
But he offered no excuses.
“…I couldn't stand by and watch the common folk be threatened. That's not what a hero does.”
He simply spoke his honest heart.
Sa Baek-un stroked his chin with a “Hmm.”
“I'd like to hear more details.”
“It means exactly that. I couldn't ignore the potential harm to the common folk. If I'd waited there for reinforcements in the name of safety, one more commoner might have lost their life that night.”
“I see.”
Sa Baek-un poured White Liquor into his own cup.
He stared at its surface in silence for a moment, then spoke.
“…A commendable mindset.”
Mok Ri-won fell silent.
He sensed the man wasn't finished, and he was right.
“But a foolish judgment as well.”
Sa Baek-un said, tilting his cup.
He savored the aroma briefly, lips working, then set it down and continued.
“May I offer some advice? This is advice from a senior in martial arts, as Alliance Leader, and as an elder.”
“…Please impart your wisdom.”
“Don't divide the world so starkly into black and white.”
A faint bitterness tinged Sa Baek-un's smile.
Mok Ri-won listened intently, lips pressed shut.
Sa Baek-un continued softly, as if consoling him.
“You and your squad viewed the situation too narrowly.”
“Narrowly, you say…”
“Why only think of reinforcements from headquarters? There was surely a Murim Alliance branch in that city. You could have rallied their warriors to bolster your forces, no?”
Mok Ri-won's eyes widened.
Sa Baek-un chuckled.
“That's how I see it. You didn't trust the branch warriors, did you?”
“N-No…”
“Not consciously ignoring them, of course. No, I've met you all once already; I know you're not that oblivious. What I mean is, you're all too exceptional. And that's clouding your judgment.”
A light dawned in Mok Ri-won's eyes.
He was beginning to grasp Sa Baek-un's point.
“…Am I being arrogant?”
“You could call it that. Or responsibility, put another way.”
“Responsibility…?”
“If not for me, no one can save them. Didn't you think something like that?”
Mok Ri-won couldn't refute it.
‘I did think exactly that.’
In that moment, he had believed he had no choice but to step up to save those commoners.
That only he could save them.
“…I'll reflect on it.”
“It's not that your mindset is wrong. I believe exceptional people require exceptional responsibility. But.”
Sa Baek-un picked up the bottle.
This time, pouring into Mok Ri-won's cup.
Mok Ri-won received it politely with both hands.
“Try showing a little flexibility.”
Sa Baek-un smiled warmly.
“If you'd requested aid from the Alliance warriors, they could have helped in ways beyond combat. Distracting attention, guarding the rear, that sort of thing.”
“…You're right.”
“See the bigger picture. And don't split others into enemies and allies, those to protect and those to rely on. A world carved in black and white is harsh and cold; you'll feel lonely in it before you know it.”
Mok Ri-won gazed quietly at Sa Baek-un.
The earlier bitterness, the sincerity in his current words.
It wasn't something he could simply brush off.
So Mok Ri-won asked offhandedly.
“From experience…?”
“I won't deny it. Forgive me for not elaborating; it's an embarrassing memory.”
Sensing it would be rude to pry further, Mok Ri-won bowed his head.
Sa Baek-un wrapped up.
“They say the jianghu is vast and deep. But I think humans are even more wondrous. You can't grasp their full value from one trait alone. And they change lifelong…”
The words flowed on.
For some reason, they pierced not his ears, but his heart.
“…That's why I believe we shouldn't hastily judge their potential.”
This struck Mok Ri-won as a revelation.
Potential and change.
Faith within that.
The small truth awakened over a lifetime by a Transcendent Realm warrior rippled through Mok Ri-won's heart.
“Ah…”
Mok Ri-won's eyes wavered like rippling water.
Sa Baek-un's eyes widened briefly, then he burst into laughter.
“Quick learner.”
“Ah, th-thank you…!”
Mok Ri-won stammered, jumping to his feet in a fist-and-palm salute.
Sa Baek-un waved him off.
“Enough. Let's end the meal here. Off you go. This is precisely when you need meditation.”
“How could I…!”
“For a senior, a junior's enlightenment brings more joy than dining with them. Go on.”
Sa Baek-un spoke and subtly shot internal energy, shattering Mok Ri-won's cup.
“I want to drink alone now.”
At the playful remark, Mok Ri-won's expression flickered.
His fists clenched tighter than ever.
Mok Ri-won bit his lip.
Then, with a firm fist-and-palm salute, he bowed deeply.
“Thank you for your teachings!”
With that, he dashed out.
He felt he understood something.
The fragments of advice he'd heard until now began piecing together, with those words as the thread.
Not black and white, but every color under heaven.
Change and potential.
And faith.
‘Jianghu.’
The colors of the jianghu.
It was the shade of the jianghu Mok Ri-won had experienced thus far.
As Mok Ri-won left the garden with a beaming smile, Sa Baek-un watched his retreating figure with his usual warm smile.
‘Truly…’
A fun junior, he thought.