Chapter 630
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 630
Chapter Title: Kuhahaha!
The Fierce Dragon Barracks were in an uproar.
The space where the squad members stayed had become quite spacious.
It had been somewhat roomy from the start.
If they split the Fierce Dragon Corps in two and rotated their stays, there would be plenty of room.
But now, it was even roomier than that.
And not for any other reason.
A significant number of members had left on vacation.
Ha Mu-baek, who had returned after a long absence, processed the squad members' vacation requests at breakneck speed.
It was a pace rivaling Han Seol-bing's.
He wasn't lazy just because he disliked the work—once he set his mind to it, he could demonstrate that level of skill. That was Ha Mu-baek.
He hadn't become the Hocheon Corps Leader solely because of his strength.
The Fierce Dragon Corps members still at the barracks were buzzing with excitement, waiting for their turn on vacation.
That was why the entire Fierce Dragon Barracks felt chaotic.
In the midst of all this, the busiest one was Han Seol-bing.
Even though the Fierce Dragon Barracks had been created as a place for those who had finished their garrison rotations to rest...
The atmosphere was far too rowdy.
To rein it in, she had to keep moving.
It was none other than training.
Under Han Seol-bing's command, the Fierce Dragon Corps members trained relentlessly.
All while awaiting the day they would depart on vacation.
"Hoo."
Han Seol-bing let out a sigh.
What reason could she have for feeling this way?
Obviously, it was because of that man.
The one who had processed the vacation requests in mere days had left again.
This time, there was nothing she could say about it.
"I was away too long, so I just stopped by to show my face. But unexpected circumstances kept me longer than planned. This time, I'll be quick."
"Pardon?"
"Gotta bring my disciples."
"Ah..."
And with that, Ha Mu-baek had left for Seobok once more.
The "unexpected circumstances" undoubtedly referred to the squad members' vacations.
No matter how harshly he drove them or how indifferent he seemed, Ha Mu-baek always gave his all for his people.
So, after coming all this way, he had departed immediately without even greeting his master or his sister at the garrison.
Even as she pushed the squad members hard in training, Han Seol-bing recalled that moment.
But it was Ha Mu-baek's expression when he said he had to leave again.
It wasn't an expression she saw often.
It even made her think, Can even he get that flustered?
So, after the members whose requests Ha Mu-baek had prioritized as top priority departed on vacation...
And as the chaotic atmosphere intensified...
Han Seol-bing had asked what to do about it, and Ha Mu-baek had replied curtly.
"Work 'em."
That's what he said.
Then he jolted in surprise.
After that, the processing speed of the paperwork sped up even more.
And the moment everything was done, he vanished like the wind.
"No matter how I think about it, it feels like he just forgot..."
Han Seol-bing muttered with a suspicious look.
Ha Mu-baek forgetting to bring his disciples?
That in itself was something new and ridiculous.
It might become fodder for teasing him for life.
Is this what they call a 'black history'?
Recalling the term circulating among the squad members, Han Seol-bing smirked.
They were kids whose faces she didn't even know yet, but she was already looking forward to telling them about this someday and seeing their reactions.
I'll never forget this. I have to bring it up.
She tucked that small vow away in a corner of her heart.
Seobok's western edge.
Near the border of Jiangxi Province.
The Fierce Dragon Corps' garrison outpost.
This place was just as chaotic.
Vacations were one thing, but the rotation period was approaching.
A recent official notice had suddenly instructed them to submit vacation requests.
And just a few days ago, processing of those requests had begun.
With some garrison members already gone on vacation, the time had come for others to rotate back to the Fierce Dragon Barracks.
"Finally, tomorrow..."
Dang Jin-san stretched as he spoke.
"Yeah. Tomorrow it is."
Dan Mok Un-roe nodded with eyes full of anticipation.
And for good reason—his vacation was in three days.
He'd return to the Fierce Dragon Barracks, rest for a day, and head out right after.
The vacation order was entirely up to higher command.
They said requests were reviewed and sequenced by priority.
So...
Seems like Deputy Corps Leader Han handled it...
Truly fitting for her—fair and impartial.
In Squad Seven, everyone except Dan Mok Un-roe had vacations far off.
Proof that priorities had been set with utmost fairness.
In truth, no one in Squad Seven craved vacation as desperately as Dan Mok Un-roe.
Take Dang Jin-san himself—he had no real desire to return to the Tang Clan.
He planned to just kill time in Seobok or Anbok during his break.
Maybe sample some pleasure houses for old times' sake.
Dang Jin-san, who had even earned the moniker Chengdu Playboy.
Back then, he'd been lost and immersed in them, but not anymore.
Still, for a change of pace, he occasionally visited, so he thought of hitting one in Anbok this time.
Should've dragged this guy along...
He glanced at Dan Mok Un-roe, who was watching the western border of Jiangxi Province with eager, focused eyes right beside him.
He was terribly curious how this strait-laced, innocent, thrifty fellow would react to a pleasure house.
But their vacation dates didn't align, making it impossible.
Well, there's another one.
He sneakily eyed someone a bit farther away.
Baek Ri-pyeong.
Dang Jin-san's original plan included Dan Mok Un-roe, Baek Ri-pyeong, and Joo Woo-myeong.
And to avoid leaving one out, Nak Woo-jin too.
He'd planned to drag all the male Squad Seven members to a pleasure house.
Dan Mok Un-roe failed due to mismatched dates; Joo Woo-myeong matched but went to Wudang Sect, so failure.
Left were Baek Ri-pyeong and Nak Woo-jin, who weren't heading to their sects.
Among them, the one whose reaction he anticipated most was Baek Ri-pyeong.
Dan Mok Un-roe and Baek Ri-pyeong.
The two upright martial artists of Squad Seven—how could he not be curious about their responses?
A fair distance from Dang Jin-san.
Yeon Ha-min glanced slightly up at the sky.
The night sky twinkled with stars amid the darkness.
"Not going anywhere for vacation?"
Yeon Ha-min asked.
"My master and brother are here, so this is home."
Ha Seol-ran, on duty beside her, replied.
Yeon Ha-min nodded.
It was true.
"And you, Ha-min?"
To Ha Seol-ran's question, Yeon Ha-min answered.
"Nowhere for me to go. So I'll stay here."
A somewhat lonely response.
Yeon Ha-min did have a place to go.
But she couldn't—or wouldn't.
One lingering concern was her mother.
She'd heard her mother was healthy and well, but worry persisted all the same.
"What about... your mother?"
Ha Seol-ran's question pierced straight to the heart.
"......"
Yeon Ha-min had no reply.
"That time at Un-roe's house... I felt it then too. I envy you so much for having a mother. It hurts hearing you say you have nowhere to go."
At Ha Seol-ran's words, Yeon Ha-min was speechless.
Before joining the Fierce Dragon Corps, Yeon Ha-min's life had been hell itself.
She wanted to refute Ha Seol-ran's envy, but even in that hell, her mother had kept her alive.
And...
Ha Seol-ran had no mother.
Her instructor—now Corps Leader Ha Mu-baek—was her only blood relative and family.
That's why Yeon Ha-min couldn't snap, How would you know my life to envy it?
She didn't know what a life without a mother was like either.
"Tomorrow, the Deputy Corps Leader should arrive."
Ha Seol-ran murmured.
The rest of the Fierce Dragon Corps resting at the barracks would come too.
And they would move to the barracks for rest.
Meanwhile, those whose vacations came up would leave.
"Yeah."
Yeon Ha-min's curt reply.
"But when the heck is brother coming...?"
Her voice dripped with disappointment.
The news that Ha Mu-baek had visited the Fierce Dragon Barracks to process vacation requests hadn't spread yet.
Since her senses hadn't reached the barracks, they didn't even know he'd come and gone.
The next day.
Han Seol-bing arrived at the garrison with half the Fierce Dragon Corps.
It was around lunchtime.
A large meal was prepared for the first time in ages.
Twice the usual amount.
As the squad members ate in shifts, Han Seol-bing sat with Wi Ji-gun.
"Surprised at how quickly the vacations were processed."
At Wi Ji-gun's words, Han Seol-bing gave an awkward smile.
"The Corps Leader stopped by briefly."
"Huh? That guy?"
No prior word, no greeting.
Wi Ji-gun's eyes widened in surprise.
Han Seol-bing gauged his reaction.
From Wi Ji-gun's perspective, it could feel neglectful—like she was tattling on the Corps Leader's mistake.
"Heh heh, he could've at least sent word. I don't mind, but Seol-ran's been waiting."
Wi Ji-gun spoke with regret.
"Well... it's just my guess, but..."
"Hm?"
"Seemed like he forgot."
"Forgot?"
Wi Ji-gun echoed in disbelief, replaying her earlier words.
Ha Mu-baek had come and gone briefly.
He'd received a letter from Ha Mu-baek before.
Asking if it was okay to take disciples.
He'd replied: Handle your own affairs.
Considerable time had passed, so he'd surely taken them by now.
But he came alone?
To the Fierce Dragon Corps, not some dangerous place?
That meant...
"Heh heh. Kuhahaha! Forgot, you say? Haha! That fool forgot to bring his own disciples! Hahahaha!"
Wi Ji-gun burst into roaring laughter.
Han Seol-bing hurriedly cast a sound barrier.
Wi Ji-gun kept laughing, oblivious.
Tears welled in his eyes.
"Hahaha. That guy... that guy pulling such a sloppy stunt. Hahaha."
He looked utterly delighted.
Han Seol-bing couldn't understand.
Why would Ha Mu-baek's master rejoice that his disciple—a master himself—forgot his own disciples and rushed off without greetings or news?
"Wasn't the Deputy Corps Leader amused?"
Wi Ji-gun finally stopped laughing, wiping tears from his eyes as he asked.
"I think it was the first time I saw the Corps Leader so flustered."
As Han Seol-bing answered, she recalled the emotion she'd felt then.
"Come to think of it, I realized the Corps Leader has such human moments."
Wi Ji-gun nodded at her words.
"Exactly. He's finally starting to seem human. Before, he was like a blade perpetually honed to a razor's edge. Forgetting his disciples? Kek. Hahaha."
Only then did Han Seol-bing understand why Wi Ji-gun was so pleased.
To her, Ha Mu-baek always seemed on edge, blade-sharp.
Even in his usual laid-back laziness, she knew that constant razor tension he maintained.
Come to think of it, such a Ha Mu-baek would never make a grave error like forgetting his disciples.
"Means he's got some leeway now. Good thing."
Wi Ji-gun said with a smile.
Han Seol-bing nodded slightly without realizing it.
The massive city wall served as a measure of the city's immense scale.
Ha Mu-baek gazed at the enormous wall before him and muttered softly.
"Finally here."
His feet moved even faster, vaulting over the giant wall in an instant.