Chapter 628
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 628
Chapter Title: You've Been Patient Long Enough
Gongya Jangcheon.
He had returned.
With Gongya Harang.
It was a secretive movement.
Gongya Jangcheon had moved in secrecy when leaving the league, but his return was even more discreet.
Gongya Harang was the same.
Once they had returned, Gongya Harang began to show herself around the Saha League.
It sent shockwaves through the league in no time.
She, who had been as good as missing, had suddenly reappeared in an astonishingly beautiful form.
The very existence of Golden Protection Valley was a closely guarded secret even within the Saha League, so few knew her exact condition.
Those who did know kept silent about her situation.
Anyone who went blabbing about it risked having their head lopped off at any moment.
Those in the know reacted with surprise in their own way, and those out of the loop did the same.
She looked utterly unscathed, without a trace of Demonic Cult influence.
Above all else.
The upheaval in Golden Protection Valley was known only to the Black Thunder Corps, so that matter was quietly buried.
Affairs in the league lord's quarters proceeded as usual.
Once the schedule wrapped up.
"Everyone withdraw except for Strategist Mun In Baek-song."
At Gongya Jangcheon's curt command, those gathered in the grand hall bowed their heads and departed.
Only Mun In Baek-song remained.
Gongya Jangcheon gazed up at the ceiling and spoke.
"All of you, withdraw."
This was directed at the Blood Thunder Corps members hidden nearby.
He planned to erect a barrier, but even so, he dismissed everyone.
It could block sound, but not sight.
A moment later.
Gongya Jangcheon fixed Mun In Baek-song with a steady gaze.
"You've been patient long enough."
Mun In Baek-song offered a faint smile.
He could guess the reason for this private audience.
Gongya Jangcheon had only just returned to the league with Gongya Harang yesterday.
He had calmly gone through his schedule to cover the gap in between, and only now could he meet Mun In Baek-song alone.
"Indeed. That's right. I wanted to meet you alone the moment I got back. It was hard holding back."
Gongya Jangcheon rose from his towering throne and descended the steps.
"Sit here."
Gongya Jangcheon gestured to a seat at the massive conference table.
Mun In Baek-song took the offered seat, and Gongya Jangcheon sat opposite him.
How long had it been since they faced each other at eye level like this?
It was exceedingly rare, even in Mun In Baek-song's memory.
For a moment, silence hung between them.
Mun In Baek-song simply waited calmly.
He had already prepared his apology and was just biding his time for Gongya Jangcheon to speak first.
Gongya Jangcheon stared at Mun In Baek-song without a word.
He seemed hesitant to broach the subject.
A short while later, Gongya Jangcheon's lips parted.
"Have you seen Harang?"
"Yes. I met with the young lady briefly yesterday. It's hard to believe she's spent so many years confined to Golden Protection Valley—she looks so healthy and radiant."
A small smile tugged at Gongya Jangcheon's lips at Mun In Baek-song's heartfelt reply.
Having heard it, Gongya Jangcheon suddenly rose from his seat.
He then clasped his hands in a formal salute and bowed deeply toward Mun In Baek-song.
"M-My lord!"
Mun In Baek-song shot to his feet in shock at the abrupt gesture.
"As patriarch of House Gongya, as Gongya Harang's elder brother, I offer my deepest gratitude for your help this time."
With those words of thanks, Gongya Jangcheon straightened and returned to his seat.
Mun In Baek-song stared at him in a daze.
"Ahem. Sit, though."
Mun In Baek-song snapped back to attention at Gongya Jangcheon's throat-clearing and sat down.
Gongya Jangcheon's face was faintly flushed.
"What in the world is this...?"
Mun In Baek-song gazed at Gongya Jangcheon in utter disbelief as he asked.
"Just as it seems. You've done me a great service this time."
"I came to beg forgiveness for not reporting such an important matter..."
Even with his brilliant mind, Mun In Baek-song couldn't comprehend the situation and spoke despondently.
"For not reporting the debt you'd placed on Ha Mu-baek?"
"Yes."
Gongya Jangcheon nodded slightly.
"You must have had your reasons for keeping it hidden."
Mun In Baek-song flinched at Gongya Jangcheon's words, which conveyed understanding.
He felt the deep trust embedded within them.
"Truth be told, it did irk me a bit. Keeping something so crucial from me. But because you did, that debt remained available until now, and you could use it this time."
Gongya Jangcheon slowly unpacked the thoughts he had sorted out during his return to the Saha League.
"And in a way, this matter involved using a achievement gained through the Saha League's power for my personal affairs."
He was right.
The matter of Gongya Harang's safety was less the league's business and more House Gongya's—or rather, Gongya Jangcheon's personal affair.
Of course, since it involved the league lord's family, it could be seen as league business, but it was a delicate issue open to interpretation.
"Yet you used it without hesitation. For my sake."
Mun In Baek-song listened quietly.
"So I figured that's why you kept it hidden. If you'd reported it to me and it became an official league record, you couldn't have used it so privately like this. In the end, you chose House Gongya—and me, Gongya Jangcheon—over the Saha League. A disloyal act in service of true loyalty? Sounds odd. Heh."
Gongya Jangcheon's awkward chuckle faded.
"Besides, if you'd secretly informed only me without any official record, and I'd known... Hmm. I doubt that debt would have lasted this long. I'd have used it by now. Something that useful—commanding Ha Mu-baek with a single call. Even So Hwi-woong would be envious. Well, that fool commands him officially, but still. Since I didn't know, you could cash in that debt this time."
Gongya Jangcheon gave himself a cold, objective assessment.
If he'd had one chance to command Ha Mu-baek, he would have used it long ago.
There had been plenty of worthy occasions in the interim.
Of course, the Saha League had handled them all on its own power, but borrowing Ha Mu-baek's hand would have made it far easier.
"At the time..."
Mun In Baek-song spoke up.
"I didn't know Hocheon Corps Leader Ha Mu-baek was such a formidable figure. I just saw him as the Hocheon Corps Leader, nothing more—like the Blood Thunder Corps commander. So I didn't attach much importance to it. It wasn't even about helping him. The Hocheon Corps' enemies had exposed flanks, so I struck. It was an opportunity."
Gongya Jangcheon nodded at Mun In Baek-song's words.
It was just like him.
The Great Martial Conference.
Back then, the Righteous Heaven Alliance's enemies were the Saha League's enemies.
"Ha Mu-baek knew that too. But regardless of intent, the result was that he saved his precious subordinates' lives, so he vowed to repay that debt."
Recalling that time, Mun In Baek-song let a smile slip unwittingly.
"That's the kind of guy he is."
Gongya Jangcheon nodded in agreement.
"Later, when I learned his true nature and realized what a monumental debt I'd secured, your words from before echoed in my mind as I considered reporting it to you. So despite the disloyalty, I kept silent."
Mun In Baek-song finished his tale.
"Thank you once more. Truly. That decision of yours... saved Harang."
It was a heavy, weighty statement.
"Honestly... I was shocked too. The outcome was nothing like what I'd intended. Though it was the best possible result."
Gongya Harang's safe return.
It was a scene beyond anything Mun In Baek-song had envisioned.
A Dark Blood Jiangshi reverting to normal was impossible.
He had merely hoped his lord could avoid obliterating his own sister and recover from the grief of her loss a bit sooner, so he'd sought Ha Mu-baek's aid for that.
"That's why... I'm so deeply grateful."
Gongya Jangcheon smiled warmly.
"So, you're just letting the matter slide because of that?"
Mun In Baek-song asked with a smile of his own.
Gongya Jangcheon shook his head.
"Even if it had ended in tragedy rather than miracle, I wouldn't have blamed you. Though I'd have needed some time to recover, of course."
There was no need to dwell on what hadn't happened.
"You must be busy, so go take care of things."
Gongya Jangcheon rose as he spoke. Mun In Baek-song stood, offered a formal bow, and withdrew.
Gongya Jangcheon also left the grand hall.
His destination was Gongya Harang's residence, welcoming its master back after many years.
"F-Finally, we're back!"
Pung Geon cried out, his face alight with emotion.
He never imagined the trip would drag on this long when they set out.
He'd figured on a brisk round trip of about a month.
So many things—so many monumental things—had happened.
Thanks to that, they were only returning now.
It had been far too long since he'd seen home.
Gwan Ha-gyeong's face was equally bright with joy.
And so the two entered Fierce Dragon Manor and Mountain Flower Martial Hall, respectively.
"Hm?"
A glint entered Gwan Ha-gyeong's eyes.
The atmosphere was chaotic.
More precisely, it buzzed with strange excitement.
Gwan Ha-gyeong headed straight for the corps leader's office.
To report her return.
She knocked on the door.
"Come in."
Han Seol-bing's voice came from within.
Entering, she saw Han Seol-bing wearily poring over a mountain of documents.
"Good work."
Han Seol-bing finished reading the document in hand and offered a brief word before Gwan Ha-gyeong could even speak.
She had already sensed her presence.
"Thank you."
Gwan Ha-gyeong bowed at the waist as she replied.
In the meantime, Han Seol-bing finished checking the papers in her hand and rose from her seat.
"I had a bad feeling when you left, but I never dreamed it'd turn into something this huge."
Gwan Ha-gyeong smiled faintly at Han Seol-bing's words.
"I didn't imagine a thing."
"Let's sit."
The two sat facing each other at a low table in one corner of the office.
"Still, it was worth it. You've grown much stronger."
"Thanks to you, Corps Leader."
Han Seol-bing nodded at Gwan Ha-gyeong's response.
"So Sangnam's all settled now?"
"Yes. You wrapped it up neatly."
"That guy's got it handled, no doubt."
"But the atmosphere seems a bit chaotic..."
Han Seol-bing glanced at the pile of documents at Gwan Ha-gyeong's words.
"Everyone's taking the vacation we postponed."
Gwan Ha-gyeong's eyes widened round at Han Seol-bing's explanation.
"Of course, you'll have to stay on."
Han Seol-bing grinned, and Gwan Ha-gyeong nodded.
"You've gone through them all. And extras too..."
"No vacation for you next year either."
Gwan Ha-gyeong's shoulders slumped at Han Seol-bing's confirmation.
"These are vacation requests, personnel assignments, and such. More than I thought."
Han Seol-bing rubbed her eyes tiredly.
"Then our squad...?"
"Squad Seven hasn't submitted yet, so Squad Leader Gwan can compile and turn them in once you're back. They're at the outpost now, so take good care of it."
"Yes, ma'am."
No sooner had she returned from that long journey than work was dumped on her.
The joy she'd felt arriving at Fierce Dragon Manor had already evaporated.
"What the hell is all this?"
Then came a familiar voice out of nowhere.
Ha Mu-baek.
The Fierce Dragon Corps Leader had returned.