Chapter 63
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: What Do You Think It Was Like?
Ha Mu-baek thought of Yeon Ha-min.
No matter how he looked at it, she seemed connected to the Yeon Clan somehow.
Since Dang Jin-san, Namgung Ji-hu, and even Namgung Ji-yu hadn't recognized her, he figured she might not be from the Hubei Yeon Clan after all. Yet her body clearly bore the traces of their unique training methods.
"It seems the Five Great Clans hold some grudge against you, Instructor."
That must have been what Namgung Ji-hu wanted to say.
"Yeah, thanks. See you around."
Ha Mu-baek resumed his halted steps.
Even Namgung Ji-hu didn't fully know about him yet.
'That means the old fogeys are keeping things about me under wraps...'
What kind of person would the new deputy pavilion lord be?
Someone who knew about him, or someone who didn't?
He was curious.
The patriarch of the Hubei Yeon Clan, Yeon Ja-gyeong, tapped the desk rhythmically.
He was one of just four Grand Elders in the Righteous Heaven Alliance's Elder Council, ranking third in seniority.
The recent Elder Council meeting had decided on the appointment of a deputy lord for the Dragon Training Pavilion—and the troublesome task had fallen to the Yeon Clan.
The pavilion was located in remote Wuchang, far from the alliance headquarters, and it was a place for teaching mere fledglings.
Naturally, it was seen as a dead-end post, and no one volunteered for it.
Pavilion Lord Pang Do-yul hadn't clung to the position for all those years without reason.
But this time, opinions had converged on weakening the Pang Clan further, so they'd decided on the deputy appointment to keep Pang Do-yul in check.
It was a post even capable people avoided. And capable people usually harbored ambitions for advancement.
Yet there was this disaster of a guy there, unpredictable as they come.
'Ha Mu-baek...'
In truth, using Pang Do-yul's restraint as an excuse, the real target was Ha Mu-baek.
More precisely, the intent was to catch him in some wrongdoing and expel him from the Righteous Heaven Alliance.
But it had turned into a game of chicken over who would bell the cat, and in the end, the Yeon Clan had been chosen.
The reason: they had never contributed a thing to the pavilion's operations.
"Who should I send...?"
Of course, everyone would hate going.
And his son, the young heir, had been distracted by other matters for months now.
"Useless fool. Tsk."
Thinking of his son, Yeon Baek-ryang, soured his expression automatically.
Lusting after his late brother's adopted daughter, of all people.
Heroes chased skirts, and she was an outsider with no blood ties anyway, so he hadn't bothered stopping it.
She was meant to be used for the clan's benefit regardless.
But the boy's greed had been too blatant, driving the girl to flee—and now he was abandoning everything to chase her down.
He was seriously questioning whether to keep such a fool as heir.
"I'll watch him a bit longer."
Yeon Ja-gyeong muttered softly.
Then he resumed searching for someone to send to the pavilion.
"Looks like it's got to be that one."
The current pavilion lord was the Pang Clan patriarch's son. Even if ruin awaited the patriarch now...
To balance that, he needed to send one of his own sons.
"The youngest it is."
Having decided, Yeon Ja-gyeong summoned a servant.
After a refreshing bath, he lay on his bed. Sleep began to creep in with the invigorating sensation.
Ha Mu-baek naturally closed his eyes.
But only for a moment.
He opened them again.
Sitting up, Ha Mu-baek grimaced.
"Some annoying pest has come calling."
He muttered irritably, though the emotion on his face was more perplexed than anything.
Shaking his head, Ha Mu-baek stepped out of the room. If he didn't show, the guy would probably keep lurking subtly like that.
Ha Mu-baek headed toward the presence his senses had picked up.
It was a quiet spot in the Dragon Training Pavilion's rear garden.
There, a middle-aged man in azure robes and a scholar's hat strolled leisurely about.
"You've come, Corps Leader."
Amusement laced his voice.
"Why are you here? And I'm not a corps leader anymore."
Ha Mu-baek said with a stern face.
"Well, doesn't the discarded one have to come visit? And to me, you're the one and only corps leader."
"Who said I was discarded? Cut that creepy talk. Don't say stuff like that—a guy ten years older than me."
The lips visible beneath the hat curved into a grin.
"It's the truth. The corps leader who up and left without a word after his assignment... and the deputy who followed to drag him back... Ha. When I tried to leave, they said no dice."
The man sighed in lament.
He was Dam Mu-hyeon, the other deputy corps leader of the Hocheon Corps.
Ha Mu-baek's right-hand man during his days as corps leader.
"So that's why you quit?"
"What kind of horrific nonsense is that? Loyalty to you matters, but work is work. When I go home, that vixen of a wife and bunny-like kids are waiting with mouths open just for me."
Ha Mu-baek shook his head at Dam Mu-hyeon's banter.
"If you care about that vixen and those bunnies, you should've quit."
"Kek."
Dam Mu-hyeon chuckled at Ha Mu-baek's words.
"If it's not a resignation, then why are you here?"
"Vacation. Vacation. My first leave since joining the Hocheon Corps, spent coming to see you. Feel honored."
"When I told you to take some time off for your family, you wouldn't."
"How could a deputy take leave when the corps leader doesn't?"
Ha Mu-baek shook his head at Dam Mu-hyeon's retort.
"Well, then the current corps leader must be taking vacations."
Dam Mu-hyeon nodded vigorously.
"That damn bastard's been taking leave so often, I finally got mine. It's not like the other deputy just up and bounced for no reason..."
"Seol-bing didn't complain much."
"That ice witch..."
Dam Mu-hyeon trailed off and glanced around.
He'd revealed his presence to summon Ha Mu-baek, which Han Seol-bing could have sensed, so he was checking if she was nearby.
"She's not here."
"Phew."
"So why are you here? Third time I'm asking."
"Ah, obviously to see you, Corps Leader."
"Not that bastard corps leader?"
"That bastard's the Namgung punk back at headquarters. You're my one and only. Heh."
"Sigh. Fine. Let's go somewhere. What are you doing loitering here?"
Ha Mu-baek took the lead.
They ended up at a window seat in a tavern he sometimes frequented.
It was bustling even in the afternoon.
"But seriously, that charge?"
"What?"
"Assaulting a superior. Your only superior's the alliance leader. You didn't really hit the alliance leader, did you?"
Dam Mu-hyeon asked the moment they sat, eyes wide with genuine curiosity.
No doubt in his mind that Ha Mu-baek could—and might have—done it.
"Kuhuhuhuhu."
Laughter leaked from Ha Mu-baek's lips.
Dam Mu-hyeon, hat off, smirked at the sight.
"Yeah, figured. The alliance leader wouldn't touch you unless he's crazy. I thought the elder council geezers cooked up some charge. But 'assaulting a superior'? Too ridiculous not to ask."
The Hocheon Corps answered directly to the alliance leader, so that was Ha Mu-baek's sole superior.
"You really don't know?"
"Would I ask if I did?"
"Must've been damn embarrassing. If even you don't know, they clamped down hard."
"So you did hit someone?"
"Un Hak-ja."
Ha Mu-baek answered curtly.
"The Discipline Hall Lord?"
Ha Mu-baek nodded at Dam Mu-hyeon's question.
"Ah, that crusty old geezer's been quieter since you left... But why's hitting the Discipline Hall Lord 'assaulting a superior'? Oh! Alliance hierarchy. Kekeke."
As Dam Mu-hyeon laughed, drinks and food arrived.
He eagerly filled a cup to the brim and downed it.
Some things never changed.
"Miss me that much?"
After a light sip, Ha Mu-baek asked. Dam Mu-hyeon froze.
"You know the situation. Think I'd be sulking?"
"Then quit quick. Don't make your wife and kids cry later."
"Haa."
Dam Mu-hyeon sighed in frustration at Ha Mu-baek's words.
"Won't let me go. Just like you're still hung up on it."
At the wistful remark, Ha Mu-baek silently brought his cup to his lips.
Yeah.
Both he and Dam Mu-hyeon were in the same boat.
They wouldn't let go.
That damn alliance leader.
"Tell me about it. Damn alliance leader. War's even over."
"Pfft. Even with all the eavesdropping blocks, isn't that too blunt? Good to hear it again, though. 'Damn alliance leader.' Heh."
Dam Mu-hyeon had emptied another cup in the meantime.
"So, real reason you're here? Sent by that alliance leader bastard?"
"Well, they say you caused this mess?"
He meant the Pang Clan incident.
Ha Mu-baek nodded.
"Yeah, things are getting weird because of it. The elder council geezers, thinking they'd washed their hands of you by dumping you at the pavilion, are suddenly on high alert like vipers with a grudge."
It made sense.
He'd single-handedly wrecked the Pang Clan—something unprecedented.
Even current alliance leader So Hwi-woong might not pull it off.
"Heard the Hubei Yeon Clan's sending a deputy."
"Huh? Word travels fast. Thought you'd be holed up here oblivious. Iron Wall Dog tip you off?"
Ha Mu-baek smirked and shook his head. He knew Dam Mu-hyeon was aware he'd settled in Wuchang, but they hadn't met since that day.
"Problem is it's the Hubei Yeon Clan. Feels like it'll drag you in again. That's why I'm here."
Ha Mu-baek tilted his head.
What business did he have with the Yeon Clan? Then Yeon Ha-min's face flashed in his mind.
"One of the Yeon Clan's kids sneaked into the Fierce Dragon Corps without the patriarch knowing. Fled the clan like she was escaping."
"A Yeon Clan kid fled the Yeon Clan?"
Yeon Ha-min's image grew clearer in Ha Mu-baek's mind.
"She's the patriarch's granddaughter... second son's daughter. But not really."
Ha Mu-baek frowned.
"What does that mean?"
"Daughter his remarried wife brought in. No blood relation—an adopted one. Still, they gave her the Yeon name."
Ha Mu-baek set down his chopsticks and crossed his arms.
"Hm."
He had a bad feeling—something sleazy and tangled.
"Wait, the patriarch's second son... he died in the last great war, right?"
"Yep. Left behind that remarried wife and the girl. Thing is... that wife was originally a Yeon Clan maid."
"Normally, they'd kick her out... in a typical clan."
Dam Mu-hyeon nodded at Ha Mu-baek's words.
"Right. But here's the issue: even if the second son insisted, would the patriarch just let a remarried ex-maid's daughter take the Yeon name?"
A foul stench seemed to assault Ha Mu-baek's nostrils.
Yeon Ha-min's face sharpened further in his mind.
"Must be a real beauty."
"Insanely so. One of the Five Flowers of the Martial World. Funny thing—almost no one knows her face."
"What nonsense? How's she a Flower if no one's seen her?"
"Patriarch bought off the brokers to spread the hype. And yeah, she's worth it."
"You talk like you've seen her."
"I have. Drop-dead gorgeous. Now, what's the status of her and her mother in the clan?"
Ha Mu-baek pondered silently.
"Patriarch has five sons?"
"Only two decent ones: the second and the youngest."
"And the second's dead."
Dam Mu-hyeon asked softly at Ha Mu-baek's words.
"What do you think it was like?"