A Shared Enemy
Ma Jung-hyeop was genuinely delighted by his son’s growth.
Everything in the business world went exactly as he wished the moment he set his hand to it, yet his son had always been the one exception.
Hadn’t people always said there was no harder task than raising children?
But now the situation had completely reversed.
His son was bringing fortune to the family.
The recent matter with the Jangryong Merchant Group was a perfect example.
Ma Jung-hyeop had long looked unfavorably upon the merchant groups conducting illegal distribution in Qinghai. Even if they turned a profit in the short term, such activities were ultimately devouring the region from within. He knew full well that the Jangryong Merchant Group sat at the center of it all.
The fact that his son, Ma Uiryong, had played a part in cutting down that very group still felt almost unbelievable.
And most important of all was the connection with Pajuk Seonsaeng.
That was something money could never buy.
His son had studied under Pajuk Seonsaeng!
At the heart of all these events stood Jang Muhwi.
In truth, the reason Ma Jung-hyeop had come to the Murim Alliance was to find ways to help Jang Muhwi. Quite apart from the merchant agreement, his promise to donate to the Murim Alliance had also been made for Jang Muhwi’s sake.
He had even added a special clause to the contract stating that the agreement would last only as long as Jang Muhwi remained in the Murim Alliance. That alone showed just how strongly he felt.
Ma Jung-hyeop had already been perfectly satisfied with things as they were.
Yet today he had sensed yet another change in Ma Uiryong.
Had his son ever had a true friend before?
As far as Ma Jung-hyeop knew, he had not. Most people fled the moment they saw Ma Uiryong coming.
But this young expert named Galmu-ryang seemed to treat Ma Uiryong without any preconceptions. Moreover, Ma Uiryong was even showing a competitive spirit toward him.
His martial prowess was also far from ordinary.
The only regrettable part was his physical disability.
Yet the more Ma Jung-hyeop watched, the more he realized even that was not a significant issue.
“Chief Wang. May I ask one more favor?”
“Please speak freely.”
Wang Jimak smiled brightly.
It was only natural. Ma Jung-hyeop had now become the greatest patron of the Qinghai Branch.
Ma Jung-hyeop returned the smile and spoke.
“I would like to support that young man, Galmu-ryang.”
“Oh, as expected of a great man. You truly know how to judge character.”
“Was he someone Chief Wang had also been keeping an eye on?”
When Ma Jung-hyeop tilted his head, Wang Jimak answered immediately.
“No one can match that friend’s sincerity.”
This was the truth.
Even while Jang Muhwi was away, Galmu-ryang had stayed up all night organizing documents despite his inconvenient body.
Of course, his body was not actually inconvenient, but both Wang Jimak and Ma Jung-hyeop had fallen deeply into the same misunderstanding.
Seeing Wang Jimak’s expression that seemed to say “how admirable,” Ma Jung-hyeop nodded in agreement.
“Indeed. It seems I saw correctly. Chief Wang.”
“I will make sure to look after him according to your wishes, sir. Haha.”
Wang Jimak laughed and turned his gaze out the window.
Ma Jung-hyeop quietly turned his head as well.
From the VIP reception hall, the banquet venue was clearly visible.
Even now, warriors of the Murim Alliance were still enjoying themselves there.
Naturally, their eyes were fixed on Jang Muhwi and his group.
After the harmony banquet, the way people looked at the Hyeonmudae had changed completely.
The rewards had not gone only to the Hyeonmudae members.
Every squad member had received a modest bonus.
This had been Wang Jimak’s decision after sharing several drinks with Ma Jung-hyeop.
Wang Jimak’s warm reception had worked wonders.
But ordinary warriors had no way of knowing how the highest leadership was moving. They simply believed they had received rewards thanks to the Hyeonmudae.
As a result, the Hyeonmudae’s popularity among the lower-ranking warriors had skyrocketed.
That was not all.
Now even members of the Four Divine Martial Squads had begun showing interest in the Hyeonmudae.
They reasoned that it was better to be the head of a snake than the tail of a dragon.
Warriors who had been pushed to the bottom ranks in the core White Tiger Squad and Blue Dragon Squad had started paying attention to the Hyeonmudae.
On top of that, even the female warriors of the Vermilion Bird Squad had joined the crowd.
The Vermilion Bird Squad, led by Hwarin, was the Murim Alliance’s primary intelligence organization. Although it was one of the Four Divine Martial Squads, it relied more on brains than brute force.
Because of this, its members rarely showed their faces in public. Most ordinary warriors did not even know what their leader looked like.
The Vermilion Bird Squad had come to gather information after hearing that the once-insignificant Hyeonmudae’s reputation was soaring.
Right now, around the Hyeonmudae’s training ground, warriors from the Blue Dragon Squad, White Tiger Squad, and Vermilion Bird Squad had all gathered.
Galmu-ryang could faintly sense their gazes.
Honestly, their stares were uncomfortable.
Galmu-ryang looked toward the bushes surrounding the training ground.
“It’s strangely distracting.”
“Why pay them any mind? We just need to focus on our own work,” Ma Uiryong shot back.
Galmu-ryang nodded.
“Now that I think about it, the leader did say this was also a form of training.”
“Of course. If you’re that embarrassed, how will you ever face your enemies?”
“You’re right.”
Galmu-ryang nodded with an indifferent expression.
For a moment, Ma Uiryong stared at him in disbelief.
Whenever the subject wasn’t related to competing with Jang Muhwi, this was how it always went. Even if you picked a fight, the other party simply wouldn’t engage. That was Galmu-ryang.
Yet strangely, every time this happened, Ma Uiryong felt like he had lost.
Why did he feel defeated when the other person simply said they understood?
Ma Uiryong simply could not understand it.
Just as he was twitching his eyebrows, Jang Muhwi appeared from behind them.
“Quite a crowd has gathered.”
“There are only two of us here. What are you talking about, Big Brother?” Ma Uiryong asked.
Jang Muhwi pointed behind them.
“I’m talking about the friends lurking out there, not you two.”
“Who exactly are they?”
“It looks like three from the Blue Dragon Squad, two from the White Tiger Squad, and one from the Vermilion Bird Squad. Their reasons are probably varied. The Vermilion Bird Squad has clearly come to observe us. As for the rest…”
“What about the rest?”
“Judging by their expressions, they’ve clearly taken an interest in the Hyeonmudae.”
“W-wait a moment. Are you saying some of them could become our competitors?”
“Isn’t it a rule of the Alliance that transfers between martial squads are possible with the leader’s permission?”
At Jang Muhwi’s words, Ma Uiryong’s expression changed.
Even one competitor had been burdensome.
But now there were countless potential rivals!
Ma Uiryong quickly asked, “Will you really be accepting additional members?”
“Of course. However!”
Jang Muhwi emphasized the last word.
Ma Uiryong spoke urgently.
“Please tell us, Big Brother.”
“I will not accept anyone weaker than you two. Therefore, whether they apply or not depends entirely on how you two perform.”
“Understood, Big Brother.”
Ma Uiryong’s eyes sparkled as he ran toward Galmu-ryang.
Jang Muhwi drew a faint arc at the corner of his mouth.
If you wanted a two-horse carriage to run faster, you couldn’t simply watch the horse running beside it.
It was time to start paying attention to the speed of the other carriages as well.
With a single remark, Jang Muhwi had skillfully wielded both carrot and whip.
There was a reason he was going this far.
In the future, no one could say what dangers might appear beside him.
What Jang Muhwi wanted was for them to be capable of guarding his back.
For now, he still had to protect them.
He needed to raise them to a level where he could entrust his back to them.
Of course, others might say it was nonsense.
Even in their current state, Galmu-ryang and Ma Uiryong were stronger than most of their peers among the younger generation.
But the standard Jang Muhwi looked at was far higher.
The important thing was that not only they, but Jang Muhwi himself, needed to grow.
Having finished speaking, Jang Muhwi headed to a corner to begin his own training.
As soon as he moved away, Ma Uiryong quickly approached Galmu-ryang’s side.
Even his expression had changed. In a low voice, Ma Uiryong called out to him.
“Hey, friend.”
“Friend? Did you just call me friend?”
Galmu-ryang tilted his head.
But his expression remained the same. As always, Galmu-ryang was indifferent.
“Yes, I called you friend. If you had a common enemy, what would you do?”
“Whether it’s a common enemy or just an enemy, you fight and drive them out. Why ask something so obvious?”
“This is exactly that moment.”
When Ma Uiryong’s eyes gleamed, Galmu-ryang tilted his head again, clearly not understanding.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I’m saying we should show them exactly how harsh this place is so they won’t dare apply to the Hyeonmudae.”
“Hmm. So you’re suggesting another spar?”
“There’s no need to spar. We just need to show them how brutal this training ground really is.”
“If that’s the case, don’t worry. After all, isn’t it only natural to train until the strength leaves your hands?”
“Then let’s begin.”
Ma Uiryong pulled out his iron staff.
Galmu-ryang also drew his bloodless saber.
The one that had been broken in half in Paryun Valley had been repaired by the best blacksmith in the Qinghai Branch.
They distanced themselves from each other and began displaying their finest techniques.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Ma Uiryong’s iron staff tore through the air as it swept across the training ground.
The force was so powerful that even the fallen leaves on the ground were sucked into its wake.
Galmu-ryang answered with his own technique.
Swoosh!
The massive bloodless saber sliced through the empty air.
Its momentum alone was enough to make the onlookers flinch.
Galmu-ryang did not stop.
Just as Jang Muhwi had taught him, he swung the saber in a state of no-mind, no-thought.
Thud!
The continuous slashes showed no sign of fatigue.
No, he simply did not recognize his own condition.
He merely swung his blade with an indifferent face.
Swoosh!
The black blade rang out at perfectly even intervals, moving without a single breath of rest.
The only reason he could swing the bloodless saber like this was because his internal energy and focus were concentrated entirely on one arm.
Beside him, Ma Uiryong also unleashed the core techniques of the Ma Family Spear Art with his iron staff.
“Maga Nanchang.”
The afterimages left by the iron staff were so numerous it looked like a dazzling display of spear techniques.
Ma Uiryong did not stop there.
He continued the spear art without pause for an entire hour.
Now it was time to catch his breath.
As Ma Uiryong glanced to the side while trying to rest, his eyes suddenly widened.
It was because of Galmu-ryang.
The man named Galmu-ryang showed absolutely no moderation.
He was swinging his bloodless saber with maximum power.
If anyone else were told to swing like that, they would collapse within moments.
Then what about himself?
Ma Uiryong bit his lip and lifted his iron staff again.
He had been thinking only of external enemies earlier, but he had just realized there was an even greater enemy within.
Whoosh. Whoosh!
Unlike before, he left not a single ounce of strength unused.
Before long, sweat poured from him like rain.
Galmu-ryang’s body was already completely soaked.
Their scheme worked perfectly.
The other martial squad members who had been watching the absurd training turned pale and fled.
They had never seen such brutal training before.
At that intensity, their joints should have already come apart.
The leader of the Hyeonmudae who imposed such training was clearly a demon.
That became their final conclusion.
However, the member from the Vermilion Bird Squad remained in place.
She had already gathered the information she needed.
Yet she could not leave.
It was because of the passion shown by the two warriors of the Hyeonmudae.
In truth, she was no ordinary member.
She was the leader of the Vermilion Bird Squad herself.
Her name was Hwarin.
The reason she had come in person was that she had sensed the Hyeonmudae held many secrets.
Part of the recent Jangryong Merchant Group incident had been kept hidden even from the Vermilion Bird Squad.
So she had come to see for herself, and the results had been unexpectedly fruitful.
Just as she was about to leave, Hwarin narrowed her eyes.
Someone was watching from the bushes, eyes gleaming.
It was none other than the leader of the Blue Dragon Squad, Hyeon-gok.
Hyeon-gok turned his head and walked toward her.
“For the leader of the Vermilion Bird Squad to come in person—what brings you here?”
“The same reason that brings the leader of the Blue Dragon Squad, I suppose.”
“Then may I assume our hearts are aligned?”
“How could I possibly know the heart of a squad leader?”
“I simply cannot stand the Hyeonmudae leader who rides on the coattails of his subordinates and acts superior.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“It means I find the Hyeonmudae leader who shows off while being carried on his subordinates’ backs utterly distasteful.”
The leader of the Blue Dragon Squad, Hyeon-gok, let his eyes shine with cold light.