Golden Night Journey (4)
Having heard the story, I was utterly dumbfounded.
"...So."
Yaryul Geuk explained that whenever he had a spare moment, he'd chased down Ak Jupyeong and unilaterally challenged him to spars. Even when Ak Jupyeong refused, he'd start the fight anyway, harassing the guy relentlessly.
Well, this is...
"Are you some kind of crazy bastard?"
"...Senior Brother."
Whoops, that was supposed to stay in my head, but it slipped out. Whatever. I patted Eunho on the shoulder and turned back to Yaryul Geuk.
What're you gonna do, glaring at me like that?
"Hey, wanna go a round? Lower your eyes while I'm asking nicely..."
Crash!
"Let's go a round!!"
Look at that temper. Yaryul Geuk shot to his feet, fuming. Eunho sighed and struck his pressure point.
"Whether it's misfortune or a blessing, the academy hasn't said a word yet."
Figures. They'd seen my senior brother—the academy head Buk Wonpyeong—chewing out the Third Division Head of the Inspection Hall. No way the underlings would step up easily.
"Plus, since the Third Division Head was away at the Four Black Alliances as envoy leader, it seems Ak Jupyeong went straight to the family estate to report it."
"And?"
"That's all I know."
"Hm..."
I nudged the fallen Yaryul Geuk with my foot.
"Hey, can't you just make peace and get along?"
In response, he bared his sharp fangs with a growl, even though his body wouldn't move.
...What kind of wild animal is this?
"I can't live under the same sky as that bastard!"
"..."
As I sighed at the untamable punk, a voice chimed in.
"Tsk tsk, acting on whims shortens your lifespan, you know."
Dang Seohee, who'd been sipping her seven-colored liquor beside me, started flicking peanuts at him one by one.
Hey, uh, that's not something you should say...
"Kaak! You little runt, you wanna die?!"
Ha... My head's spinning, for real.
Yaryul Geuk glared at Dang Seohee with a demon's face, but she just kept targeting his mug with more peanuts.
"You're the bigger runt, you know."
"Let's throw down!"
Stop it. She's the White Water Divine Maiden, idiot.
I let out a small sigh and asked again.
"Still haven't overcome it?"
"What?"
Yaryul Geuk glared daggers at me. I met his eyes straight on.
"The fear. Haven't overcome it yet?"
His face stiffened.
Charging in snarling like a wildcat despite the wounds—it was all just desperate thrashing to avoid being consumed by fear.
Fear built up over years doesn't vanish overnight. Days starting with terror and helplessness were nothing but hell on repeat.
'Me, Yaryul Jae, the Small Justice Squad... we all thrashed through every damn day.'
I understood Yaryul Geuk's feelings better than anyone. He was just flailing desperately in water up to his neck, fighting not to drown.
"..."
His snarling mouth clamped shut.
"I... can't forgive it."
"Yeah, after all that bullying, forgiveness doesn't come easy. Of cour—"
"I can't forgive myself for running away helplessly."
"...Huh?"
His eyes burned red. Probably from straining not to cry.
"I... worked so hard to get into the academy, but I let this chance slip because I was too powerless to even run. I just can't forgive that...!"
Drip—drip—
Thick teardrops finally fell. He hadn't said it, but carrying his brothers' sacrifices on his back must've weighed heavier than I'd thought—guilt and responsibility crushing him.
"..."
And considering he'd even tried to end his own life at the last moment, the helplessness must've hit even harder.
"I... hate myself so much."
As he said, he was pathetic and loathsome. Maybe because my own unvanquished fears from this second life overlapped with him, making him look even more so.
As I watched him grit his teeth and tremble, lost in thought—
Creak.
Suddenly, Dang Seohee stood, strode over, squatted by Yaryul Geuk, and...
"...?"
...patted his head.
"Everyone has times like that, you know. But there's no need to blame yourself for it."
Her words strangely stabbed at my chest.
"You shouldn't hate even that version of yourself. You need to cherish it more, love it more."
Something piercing my heart surged up my throat.
Dang Seohee had this side to her?
Then—
"...Especially not when it gives the Ak family an opening. That's even more foolish."
In an instant, the hand stroking his head smacked down hard.
"You're an idiot."
...There it is.
Yaryul Geuk's face twisted back into a wildcat's snarl from the sneak attack.
"Who's the idiot?! You're the idiot!"
"No, I'm not. I've already proven it at the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly. Could you make it to the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly?"
"...Let's throw down!"
Dang Seohee smacked the back of his writhing head once more and returned to her seat. I pressed my temples amid the racket, etching "endure" into my mind.
Eunho sighed and said to me,
"For now, with Yaryul Geuk on the representative team, the Ak family will tread carefully even if they move."
"...Can't keep a guy who won't do his job on the team, though."
I prodded Yaryul Geuk with my toe.
"I'll allow spars via challenges, but no ambushes or fouls otherwise."
"What do you care?!"
I added calmly,
"That's as far as I can protect you. Don't underestimate the Five Great Families. There's a reason they've endured five hundred years."
I hoped he'd get it. But he froze, staring up at me.
"You'll... protect me?"
Instead of answering, I nudged him once more with my foot and turned away.
What a pain.
Eunho, looking down at Yaryul Geuk, asked me curiously,
"What do you plan to do?"
"Talk it out first."
"...With Ak Jupyeong? He hates you more than Yaryul Geuk."
I smirked at Eunho.
"Why talk to a punk like that? Gotta go higher up."
"Pardon?"
I didn't know the reason, but we'd had a good rapport for a while. Hope this doesn't ruin it.
'...Still better than letting that guy die.'
I could picture the face that'd grieve if Yaryul Geuk died. Better to see him bragging about his martial arts with that smug grin.
Didn't want to see him moping over his little brother's death.
"Well, gotta try."
I glanced back at Yaryul Geuk, now Dang Seohee's peanut target again. He looked utterly baffled.
Don't look at me like that. I don't get myself either.
Ak Byeongbi struggled to calm his emotions as much as possible.
He'd only recently started meeting the Chief Strategist often, but even for the Third Division Head of the Inspection Hall, facing the head of the Myriad Communications Division was daunting.
'Hoo... a private meeting...'
He knew the intent behind the separate audience. It had been clear since his appointment as envoy leader.
'Definitely about Jin Sowoon.'
The order to scrutinize the suspicious activities Jin Sowoon had shown, and that he himself was suited for it—he knew all that.
But hadn't he already submitted his investigation results with the envoy report? He'd spoken plenty of the boy's merits, signaling no need to suspect him as a Black Dao spy.
Yet the thorough Jegal Somyeong had arranged this to hear it straight from him.
'As expected of the Chief Strategist...'
Rumors of his position thanks to the Jegal backing were unfounded; Jegal Somyeong ran the Murim Alliance flawlessly.
Retired Inspection Hall seniors had said thriving sects and families would've flipped the Alliance multiple times by now.
Murim Alliance Leader Hyeok Mu-gang's near-twenty-year tenure owed much to Jegal Somyeong's equal time as Myriad Communications head.
The door opened, and Jegal Somyeong strolled in leisurely.
"Sorry to keep a busy man waiting."
Entering the inner chamber, Jegal Somyeong had a faint smile.
"What tea do you like?"
"Anything's fine for me."
"Is that so? The new Gunsan nectar brew is excellent."
As Jegal Somyeong prepared it himself, Ak Byeongbi started to rise.
"Ah, let me..."
"No need. I called you out, so it's only right."
Ak Byeongbi tensed at the humming Chief Strategist. A relaxed facade to lower guards—a classic Inspection Hall interrogation ploy.
Soon, two steaming cups sat before them.
"Drink up."
As Jegal Somyeong savored his slowly, Ak Byeongbi didn't touch his.
Observing leisurely, Jegal Somyeong set his cup down.
"Does the tea not suit you?"
"No, sir."
"Then why not drink?"
"..."
Their gazes met briefly in the air.
Ak Byeongbi racked his brain to read the intent. Then Jegal spoke abruptly.
"...Jin Sowoon is not a Black Dao spy."
"Pardon?"
Jegal Somyeong looked surprised. Ak Byeongbi clenched his fist.
Best counter to psychological ploys: charge straight.
He met the Chief Strategist's eyes steadily.
"During the envoy to the Four Black Alliances, I observed Jin Sowoon up close without respite. He may be insolent and unruly, but presuming his loyalties lie with the Black Dao would be like crushing a promising sapling unfit for an elder of the Orthodox Murim."
Jegal Somyeong tilted his head, listening silently.
He'd planned a personnel review consultation, but this unexpected praise poured out.
Intrigued, Jegal toyed with his cup.
"Hm... A great tree, you say? You really think so?"
"Of course, he'll face many hardships. Lacking innate talent or solid backing."
Ak Byeongbi shook his head, then stated firmly after a breath.
"But that boy has the vessel to become a mighty tree of the Orthodox Murim."
"Hm...?"
Jegal pondered Ak Byeongbi's words.
The Third Division Head was renowned in Black and Orthodox worlds alike: upright as bamboo, unswayed by temptation, flawless.
Strong family ties, sure—but who among Alliance members lacked that? That's why they endured the absurd Murim entrance exams and academy tests to join.
The key was balance: aiding the Alliance or leeching like parasites.
Hence sending him as envoy leader: to see how one who hated the Black Dao handled dealings with them.
From Grand Banner Lord up, it was more about big-picture vision than duties.
Yet in evaluation, he praises Jin Sowoon? Odd and amusing—he listened on.
"The biggest hurdle for the lowly rising isn't their flaws or past. It's the jealous gazes. Thus, the Inspection and Execution Halls shouldn't become warped weapons to down high-flying birds."
Jegal nodded.
"True. But if it involves your sect or family? Can you stay objective?"
The words pierced Ak Byeongbi's chest, prodding his past. He answered calmly.
"I am ashamed. If held accountable, I'll take full responsibility."
"Tsk tsk, enough. How many in the Alliance avoid private gain? Don't dodge and dump it on others."
Lightening the mood with jest, Jegal continued.
"Anyway, you're saying Jin Sowoon's no spy now or ever?"
Ak Byeongbi nodded at once.
"Jin Sowoon upholds Orthodox spirit more purely than any and acts on righteousness without hesitation."
"Hm..."
Silence fell briefly.
"Kukuku."
A chuckle escaped Jegal.
"Hard to believe from the Third Division Head."
Ak Byeongbi flushed at the echoing laugh.
"Understood. I've heard all I need. You're dismissed."
Alone after Ak Byeongbi left, Jegal muttered,
"Turning an enemy into an ally. Does he truly have that caliber? Or has the upright bamboo bent into a reed?"
The smile lingered as he sipped his tea.
Back at Inspection Hall's Third Division, Ak Byeongbi slumped into his seat, exhausted, and sighed deeply.
"Tough..."
Easier to interrogate a hundred suspects, he thought—
"Division Head. A guest."
"Guest?"
"Yes. Young Master Ak Jupyeong."
Ak Byeongbi tilted his head, then called,
"Send him in."
"Yes."
Moments later, Ak Jupyeong entered, limping faintly on one leg.
"Uncle...!"
Ak Byeongbi's face hardened at the near-tears expression.