Messenger from the Past
Thud. Thud. The two highest figures in the Murim Alliance left the academy and headed toward the alliance headquarters. Invisible escorts emitted subtle pressure, causing people to instinctively avoid the path they walked. Thanks to them, the pair could stroll undisturbed in comfort.
"What did you think?"
Jegal Somyeong asked. Hyeok Mu-gang, who had been chattering nonstop with questions the moment Jin Sowoon's name came up, was a different man now.
"Hm..."
Hyeok Mu-gang walked several more steps without answering before slowly opening his mouth.
"An intriguing young man."
"Intriguing?"
Hyeok Mu-gang, lost in thought, looked at Jegal Somyeong and smiled faintly.
"I'd only heard about him through you until now, so I couldn't quite grasp it. But seeing him in person, one thing became clear."
"What?"
"That you've gone to great lengths to keep Jin Sowoon from being taken from you."
Jegal Somyeong's face crumpled like a sheet of paper.
"Isn't that all in the past now?!"
Hyeok Mu-gang chuckled heartily, stroking his beard.
"Just kidding. Just kidding."
"..."
"Setting that aside, he's certainly full of mysteries. I was especially..."
Hyeok Mu-gang gave Jegal Somyeong a meaningful smile.
"Impressed by how brazenly he put on that act right in front of the Alliance Leader and Chief Strategist."
"..."
As expected, the Leader knew. When it came to the murky politics of schemes and plots, he was a step above even Jegal Somyeong.
Hyeok Mu-gang raised his eyebrows in genuine surprise.
"If not for the circumstances, I might have really been fooled."
"He's a bold one, isn't he?"
At the Chief Strategist's agreement, Hyeok Mu-gang closed his eyes as if envisioning something.
"That's why... I'm truly, truly looking forward to it."
His eyes suddenly sharpened into crescent moons.
"The new prodigies growing now, and the future of the Murim Alliance under that boy's lead."
"..."
At Hyeok Mu-gang's words, a furrow like the character for "river" formed between Jegal Somyeong's brows. Why separate the prodigies from Jin Sowoon?
The current prodigies included Yong So-a and the Dragon-Phoenix Conference generation, along with the Seven Stars above them. Yet none could match Jin Sowoon's talent.
"Aren't you... getting too attached to Jin Sowoon?"
Hyeok Mu-gang nodded at the reasonable question.
"It might seem that way."
"That's not good for him either."
After a moment's thought, Hyeok Mu-gang turned to Jegal Somyeong.
"Hm... Where do you think Jin Sowoon will go?"
The sudden, odd counterquestion left Jegal Somyeong speechless. Not because he didn't understand, but because he'd never seriously envisioned it.
"Well, I was planning to hand Simhyeongak over to him."
"Not Mantongbu?"
"As you saw, he has a deep eye for reading people's hearts. No better playground for him to run wild than Simhyeongak."
Hyeok Mu-gang nodded and pressed on.
"Do you think he'll stop there?"
"..."
He had no answer to the follow-up. When he'd first seen Jin Sowoon at the Iron Sword Sect, he'd pegged him as a useful Mantongbu staffer. After watching him pass the regular exam, Simhyeongak or Mantongbu seemed fitting. He'd assumed that would satisfy Jin Sowoon—for himself, his sect, and beyond. Those positions symbolized the pinnacle most warriors craved.
But now, asked if Jin Sowoon would be content...?
"As expected, no answer."
"..."
It was just as Hyeok Mu-gang said. Jegal Somyeong couldn't gauge it.
"Then where do you think he'll go?"
Hyeok Mu-gang raised the bundle in his hand to eye level.
"Who knows. I'm not sure myself, but..."
Scree— A hawk's cry pierced the sky, and Hyeok Mu-gang looked up. Was its timely appearance coincidence?
"No bird for the cage in sight."
Jegal Somyeong nodded unwittingly.
"And above all, he views power as a mere trinket. Like a tool."
"What does that...?"
Hyeok Mu-gang chuckled suddenly.
"Myeonghyeon Dojang, that is."
"Why him all of a sudden...?"
"He says Jin Sowoon beat him badly."
Jegal Somyeong's brow twisted.
"Pardon? What...?"
"Unlike the other elders, Myeonghyeon Dojang's in seclusion. The bruises on his face haven't faded yet."
"...That crazy bastard."
Hateful as Myeonghyeon was, the news was satisfying—but beating an Elder Council elder?
As Jegal Somyeong gaped in shock, Hyeok Mu-gang continued.
"The act he just pulled in front of me... Power isn't something he craves or chases."
Jegal Somyeong tilted his head.
"Isn't he just crazy?"
Hyeok Mu-gang shook his head with a gentle smile.
"Isn't it fascinating? He scoffs at power, yet never lets go of what he holds."
His eyes gleamed clearly for a moment.
"In the end, power is just a tool to fulfill what he wants."
Jegal Somyeong had never analyzed hearts that way, so he pondered Hyeok Mu-gang's words deeply.
Gazing at the brooding Chief Strategist, Hyeok Mu-gang murmured.
"And with that secured power, what he does... is save people."
He paused, his face lighting with inexplicable anticipation.
"Truly a wondrous child."
"...Alliance Leader, you're exaggerating."
Jegal Somyeong saw the logic but couldn't feel it in his gut. Perhaps from witnessing too many of Jin Sowoon's mad antics.
Hyeok Mu-gang's voice grew firm.
"That's why I see him apart from the other prodigies. And personally, I'm curious."
"About what?"
"What kind of leader he'll become with real power and authority."
"..."
Jegal Somyeong clamped his mouth shut, as if unable to respond. If the alliance knew such words came from the Leader, they wouldn't stand for it.
"..."
Hyeok Mu-gang nodded in understanding and changed the subject.
"Anyway, his achievement is bigger than expected. The Blood Cult's vice leader, no less... What to do?"
"What choice is there? Why else would that clever kid reveal his greatest merit last?"
"You're not being honest, Chief Strategist."
"Wh-what are you saying?"
"Your lips are twitching."
Jegal Somyeong shook his head with a long sigh.
"We'll commend him together after Sichuan wraps up."
"That's it?"
The Leader seemed hooked on Jin Sowoon. Jegal Somyeong finally spilled his concrete plan.
"...I'll funnel Anhui Province branch purchases to Tae-eul Gate's Great Heaven Merchant Group. That'll help them establish themselves."
Hyeok Mu-gang nodded in satisfaction.
"Perfect. If complaints arise, send them to me."
"No need. Do you think I can't handle that much?"
Hyeok Mu-gang grinned at the grumbling Jegal Somyeong. Like grandparents fretting over a grandson's future, they walked side by side.
# Leaving the academy headmaster's office, I turned away from the dorms on impulse. No particular destination—just didn't feel like heading straight back.
Strolling the path encircling the academy grounds, the thick scent of greenery filled my lungs. I retracted my always-extended senses, loosening my body's tension. As I wandered, normalcy settled in.
Unfamiliar birdsong echoed here and there, small wild animals darted between trees from unexpected spots. Hard to believe just days ago we'd fought desperate chases and battles—this place was pure peace.
Couples murmuring affectionately on the path, students debating swordsmanship in clearings. Academy students lived ordinary lives.
Sichuan's events not affecting them proved it hadn't escalated to a "Blood Massacre" like my past life. My chest tickled oddly.
I really changed it...
Of course, I'd altered much before. Mostly for myself, those around me, my sect. This was the first time averting a full war.
I'd prepared for the Upright-Demonic Great War, but doubted my efforts would matter. One person's actions couldn't stem a mighty river, as history showed.
Despite my cynicism, I'd pushed on. Only way to erase the guilt-ridden nightmares of my past life.
And charging blindly into Sichuan had rewritten history for the first time.
The "Sichuan Blood Massacre" was erased from the world. Likely recorded as just another of the alliance's countless minor incidents, vanishing like always.
No one would know how many lives saved, sacrifices averted. No praise for my deeds.
Yet...
Not a bad feeling.
My lips curved unwittingly. Innocents would continue peaceful lives; Sichuan's rivers would run less red with warriors' blood. Even Small Justice Squad types—cannon fodder in numbers—might die a bit less in vain.
If that's all, it's enough.
In my past life's Great War, after losing two squadmates to the Blood Demon Unit's storm assault, I'd asked why we fought amid my despair.
[Murim's peace? Bullshit! I just wanna slack off like before and collect my stipend!]
[Missin' Jeonghyang at Hongwolru. She digs that I'm alliance.]
[Got a debt from this prick. Says he'll pay when he returns to the alliance?]
True to their scum reputations, vulgar answers. But mine was no different: just wanted to live, reclaim lost peace. That was it.
No one promised glory post-war. Best case, survive till end; worst, die tomorrow. A shitty existence.
Blocking that gave my life meaning enough.
From now on... keep erasing history's horrors.
How many? Unknown. Stemming the river alone was impossible.
But repaying my past debts to my sect and those bastards dearly? Even impossible, I'd never back down.
"Hoo..."
Old memories surfaced Small Justice Squad faces. Varied origins, statuses—but united in loathing superiors.
Especially academy elites. Bottom-feeders with no backing couldn't view promising sect heirs fondly.
Plus, academy grads started as squad leaders, forcing veterans to bow to greenhorns—infuriating.
"They'd be stunned seeing me as academy rep now. Heh."
Imagining their sour faces lifted my mood further. Head clearer, I turned toward the dorms.
Dantian full from Chengdu, but travel fatigue needed rest.
Ambling through the academy, I heard it.
Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.
Dull impacts.
What the?
Extending senses, I felt warriors between buildings. Peering into the alley, four or five from a Five Great Families sect stood guard.
At center, two tangled on the ground.
Closer look...
Not tangled.
One-sided beating. Small, unknown academy student tried countering; bulky foe toyed with him.
Tsk.
Even "righteous" paths had brawls among hot-blooded warriors. I'd scrapped with squadmates early on.
But seeing this fresh from saving asses in Sichuan? Not pleasant.
These punks catch my eye?
Time for justice to vent my sour mood. Ganging up on my justice-hating self? Perfect.
Crack. Crack.
"Hey, you bastards..."
As I cracked knuckles and stepped in—
Thwack.
The small student grabbed the big guy's hand, then—
Whirl.
Whoosh—Thud!
—slammed him onto hard ground?
"...!"
I gaped in shock. Not at the feat, but the technique.
What?
Yuyun Divine Art, learned from Yaryul Jae in past life, useful here. Its Lotus form—just unleashed.
Why here?