Chapter 52
Chapter 52
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: You Can Be Proud
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Alright, show me what you can do."
As Byeok Taesan sat down in the training grounds and spoke, Soso, Danyeong, and Chaewol stepped forward.
Cheon Gyeongwan and Yu Seoyeon watched the scene and hesitated.
Spying on another's martial arts training was a breach of etiquette.
Watching the training process could allow one to analyze the martial art itself.
While it was likely impossible to understand a true master's training even when watching from the side, a novice's training focused on the basics of the forms. From how to apply the forms to the very motivation and process behind them, it was little different from examining the martial art itself.
That was why Cheon Gyeongwan and Yu Seoyeon hesitated with troubled expressions.
They wanted to watch, but they knew they shouldn't.
As the two turned to leave the training grounds, Byeok Taesan spoke.
"Leaving already?"
"Pardon?"
"Are we... allowed to watch?"
Byeok Taesan let out a small laugh.
"Did you think you'd figure something out just by watching them at their level? Just watch. Get a feel for where they stand."
At Byeok Taesan's words, Cheon Gyeongwan and Yu Seoyeon politely clasped their fists. Their faces were filled with gratitude.
Byeok Taesan waved his hand at the three women, signaling them to begin.
The three then moved in unison.
Though they had learned the same martial art, their movements were very different. The auras they exuded were also distinct.
Danyeong was restrained and elegant. Chaewol was flamboyant.
And Soso was small and light.
Her movements weren't large; she moved with a cheerful lightness.
It was a night and day difference from what he had seen just a few days ago.
Her constitution alone had changed, yet it made such a difference. No wonder everyone strived to find disciples with good constitutions.
Soon, all the movements came to an end.
Seeing the budding anticipation on Soso's face made him want to tease her again, but he knew he shouldn't this time.
"Not bad. You won't be getting into unnecessary trouble anymore."
Soso giggled and squirmed bashfully.
Her changed appearance combined with her actions brought a fond smile to his face.
Byeok Taesan turned his head to look at Cheon Gyeongwan and Yu Seoyeon.
Their eyes held not just surprise, but utter astonishment.
They seemed to understand why Byeok Taesan had told them to watch. It was impossible to analyze the martial art just by observing.
What the two of them could discern was something else entirely.
That the martial art they learned was truly incredible.
And that their talents were immense.
They never imagined Soso's talent was this great. As far as they knew, it had only been about a month since she started learning martial arts.
She had started her training along with the newly arrived maids.
But the forms she just displayed were not at a level one could achieve in just a month.
Byeok Taesan looked at Cheon Gyeongwan and Yu Seoyeon and asked.
"What do you think? Pretty good, right?"
The two's expressions darkened slightly.
"They are incredible."
"What is? The martial art?"
"The martial art... and their talent are incredible."
Byeok Taesan chuckled.
"If that's all you saw, then that's as far as you'll go."
With those words, he stood up and approached the three maids standing in the center of the training grounds.
And he pointed out a few areas for them to work on.
Cheon Gyeongwan and Yu Seoyeon watched them, mulling over what Byeok Taesan had just said.
What on earth were they supposed to have seen?
Their gazes grew complicated. Their minds became just as tangled.
* * *
The Leader of the Hubei Martial Alliance finished his daily work and quietly enjoyed a cup of tea.
It was his favorite time of day, so much so that it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he endured the day just for this moment.
As he calmly drank his tea, he reflected on the day.
It was a time to reflect on his mistakes, smile at his successes, and plan for the future.
Today, the Alliance Leader's mind was filled with none other than Byeok Taesan.
No, it was the two bodyguards protecting Byeok Taesan.
"Cheon Gyeongwan and Yu Seoyeon, was it?"
Cheon Gyeongwan was Byeok Taesan's bodyguard, and Yu Seoyeon was Yeon Harin's.
Both were quite skilled.
He especially liked their eyes. They had a gaze and an aura that could only come from experiencing a great deal of real combat.
They had probably seen much of their enemies' blood, as well as their own.
A unique atmosphere, one that naturally blossoms through such experiences, surrounded them.
Though they themselves were likely unaware of it.
When the two had blocked his path, the Alliance Leader had read their immense resolve.
They were half-prepared to lay down their lives.
That's why he had backed down. And he had even taken them aside to talk.
Despite his efforts to create a friendly atmosphere, the two never let their guard down.
It was as if they had been attacked in a relaxed situation before; they were even more cautious.
"In any case, they're quite something."
This made him even more interested in Byeok Taesan.
It meant he was someone who could inspire such resolve in his bodyguards.
It was possible that Cheon Gyeongwan and Yu Seoyeon were the types to risk their lives for any master they served.
No, that was highly likely.
But for a master to fully draw that out of them was another matter entirely.
In the Alliance Leader's eyes, Byeok Taesan had properly drawn out their loyalty.
"By the way... I definitely received a report that he left his room today..."
The Alliance Leader tilted his head, unable to understand.
There was no way Cheon Gyeongwan or Yu Seoyeon hadn't relayed his message. He had emphasized it several times.
That meant Byeok Taesan had heard his words and still hadn't come, but he couldn't figure out why.
"Is he unwell?"
But that alone wasn't a sufficient reason.
"Well... I suppose he'll visit tomorrow."
The Alliance Leader smiled pleasantly, thinking about what he would say to Byeok Taesan when they met.
And separately from that, he became very curious about how the investigation into the Golden Jade Trading Company was proceeding.
Soon, his teacup was empty.
The Alliance Leader slowly rose from his seat and headed to the private training chamber located behind his office.
It was now time to truly end the day.
* * *
Yeon Harin felt as if she were walking on air.
She was finally able to attend the gathering of the younger generation with Byeok Taesan.
Yeon Harin repeatedly stole glances at Byeok Taesan's profile as he walked beside her.
Yu Seoyeon, Cheon Gyeongwan, and the three maids were not with them. Today, she could have Byeok Taesan all to herself.
No outsiders were allowed at the venue for the gathering of the younger generation.
Only members of the younger generation belonging to the Hubei Martial Alliance or one of its affiliated martial families could participate.
Strictly speaking, Byeok Taesan wasn't eligible to participate, but the Alliance Leader and Seo Mundeok had made the necessary arrangements for him.
Yeon Harin had been incredibly anxious about this.
She worried that Byeok Taesan might not be able to attend.
In any case, she was relieved that things had worked out well.
Unlike Yeon Harin, Byeok Taesan was rather indifferent.
In fact, he hadn't intended to participate at first. But when he saw the look on Yeon Harin's face as she asked him to go with her, he couldn't refuse.
Her fear of rejection and her earnest care for him had combined, causing her to tremble as she looked at him, and that had ultimately moved his heart.
Byeok Taesan found this quite fascinating himself.
His former self would never have given in.
Once he had decided not to go, he wouldn't have gone even if the most beautiful woman in the world came and cried.
He'd actually had a similar experience before.
But now, it was different. His intention to refuse had been swayed.
This wasn't a matter of giving in or not; the issue was that Byeok Taesan's heart itself had changed.
Byeok Taesan thought about this matter the entire time he walked with Yeon Harin.
About what, exactly, had changed.
His intuition wasn't bad.
He had a feeling this change would be a positive one.
It wasn't just a feeling; it was an intuition that bordered on certainty.
As he was lost in thought while walking, he felt an intense gaze on him.
Byeok Taesan broke from his reverie and turned to look at Yeon Harin.
The owner of the intense gaze was none other than Yeon Harin.
When their eyes met, Yeon Harin asked cautiously.
"Are you... angry by any chance?"
Byeok Taesan looked bewildered, as if wondering where that came from.
"Why would I be?"
Yeon Harin laughed awkwardly.
"You were making such a scary face... I'm glad that's not it. I thought you were upset because I was too selfish in pestering you, Young Master, to come when you didn't want to."
Byeok Taesan chuckled.
"It's true that I didn't want to come."
"Ah...!"
"But you moved my heart and made me want to come. That's not something just anyone can do, so you can be proud."
Yeon Harin stared blankly at Byeok Taesan.
'I can take this... as a positive sign, right?'
The wording was a bit strange, but it meant he came with her because he was thinking of her, so that had to be a good thing, right?
After that, there was no conversation between them for a while.
Byeok Taesan returned to his previous thoughts, and Yeon Harin, feeling somewhat intimidated, kept her mouth shut and just walked.
Soon, the two arrived at the place where the younger generation was gathering.
* * *
While the gathering of the younger generation was in full swing, the Leader of the Hubei Martial Alliance was sitting across from Seo Mundeok.
"It's only been a few days. Do you have results already?"
"Not exactly results, but some suspicious circumstances have come to light that I think we need to investigate thoroughly."
"Suspicious circumstances?"
"There are those in Wuhan who have been constantly checking the Golden Jade Trading Company. It's a group formed by several merchant guilds called the Thousand Gold Alliance, and their backer is a bit suspicious."
"The Thousand Gold Alliance..."
In investigating the Golden Jade Trading Company, they naturally ended up looking into the Thousand Gold Alliance as well, and had no choice but to examine the recent incidents involving the two.
In doing so, several strange points stood out.
"The Thousand Gold Alliance tried to swallow up the Golden Jade Trading Company and failed, and the Jongli Family and the Underworld Sect were involved."
The Jongli Family was a family based in Hubei that had not joined the Hubei Martial Alliance.
"The Jongli Family being involved is surprising. They rarely let their sinister deeds come to light."
"That same Jongli Family has been all but absorbed by the Thousand Gold Alliance."
"I heard about that."
The Alliance Leader had also received a report on the matter. It had happened only recently, so his memory was still fresh.
"In any case, with various interests entangled here and there, there were many openings."
"So the backer has been exposed, I see. Though their identity is still unknown."
"That is correct. I suspect that the backer is the Golden Moon Trading Company."
It was certainly possible.
"I will go to Wuhan."
"You'll go yourself? Wouldn't it be better to just send a good number of your subordinates?"
"I want to go and confirm it myself. I will take plenty of my subordinates with me."
The Alliance Leader's expression grew serious.
"If you insist, then so be it. How many men are you thinking of taking?"
"I'm thinking of five teams for now."
All units in the Hubei Martial Alliance were organized into teams, with one team leader and ten members forming a single team.
In other words, he meant to take a total of fifty-five people.
"That's quite a lot."
"I don't think an opportunity like this will come again. We must seize their tail this time for sure."
The Alliance Leader nodded.
"Do a good job. I have a bad feeling about this. I'm starting to think we might have targeted the wrong person."
"That's what I'm going to Wuhan to confirm."
"Understood. Contact me anytime you need support. I'll be on alert."
Having said that, the Alliance Leader's eyes gleamed.
"Then will you be going with those kids?"
Seo Mundeok shook his head.
"The gathering of the younger generation won't be over for quite some time. I plan to depart tomorrow."
"Such a rigid person. Alright."
Seo Mundeok carefully observed the Alliance Leader's expression and asked cautiously.
"Is there... something you wish to say?"
"No, it's not that I want to say something... It's about that fellow, Byeok Taesan."
As soon as Seo Mundeok gave him an opening, the Alliance Leader eagerly poured out his story.
"I went to see him myself, but it seemed he had important business, so I just left a message and came back."
"Yes. I see."
"I did that because I'm an exceptionally considerate person. Anyone else wouldn't have bothered. Of course."
"Your consideration is famous, Alliance Leader."
Seo Mundeok replied with a deadpan tone, as if just going along with it.
As if this happened often.
"But this insolent brat didn't even think to visit me yesterday after his business was done."
"I see."
"I thought he would come today, but what do you know? He went to the gathering of the younger generation with his fiancée. Does that even make sense?"
"It does not."
"You think so too, right? Ha, what can I do? My considerate self will have to endure and wait. I can't just go running to see him again; it would damage my dignity as the Alliance Leader."
"Why don't you go for a moment, under the pretext of checking on the gathering of the younger generation?"
"Oh! That's a good idea, isn't it? You think so too? Then it won't have anything to do with my dignity, right?"
"On the contrary, wouldn't everyone be moved by your concern for the younger generation, Alliance Leader?"
"As expected, you're the only one who understands my heart."
The Alliance Leader shot up from his seat.
"What are you doing? You said you're leaving tomorrow, hurry up and get ready."
Seo Mundeok rose with a wry smile.
"Then I shall take my leave."
As soon as Seo Mundeok left, the Alliance Leader immediately headed for the gathering of the younger generation.
A mischievous smile played on his lips.