Chapter 64
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: That Damn Alliance Leader Bastard
“Well...”
“You have zero interest in worldly affairs like this. Corps Leader, if you're not careful, someone might stab you in the back for real. The martial world is a filthy place. You need to pay more attention to schemes and power plays.”
Ha Mu-baek just chuckled at Dam Mu-hyeon's nagging. He had a hunch about what was coming.
“So, what happened?”
“A flower like that? You have to cherish it and keep it safe. Very, very safe. That way, you can sell it for a high price. I turned her into one of the top five rare flowers in the martial world. And to make sure she doesn't get any funny ideas, I made damn sure she could never learn martial arts.”
Ha Mu-ba-baek felt a flicker of doubt at those words.
For someone like that, she had faint traces of the Yeon Clan's internal energy and even a hint of their martial forms.
It was just the basic introductory art that any Yeon Clan disciple could learn, though.
'But that was barely there anyway.'
The image of Yeon Ha-min that came to Ha Mu-baek's mind was now crystal clear.
“A political marriage? Something like that?”
“Exactly. A young, beautiful woman like her? There'd be plenty of scum drooling over her. And it doesn't seem like they were just drooling from afar, either.”
No wonder he'd caught that sewer-stink vibe.
“Filthy bastards.”
Ha Mu-baek spat the words out curtly.
“The Yeon Clan head botched raising his kids. Three pieces of trash. Not sure which one it was, though.”
“So?”
“Now that someone from the Yeon Clan is coming here as vice pavilion lord, she's bound to run into him...”
“Word will get back to the Yeon Clan.”
Dam Mu-hyeon nodded at Ha Mu-baek's words.
“And then they'll come charging to the Dragon Training Pavilion. The instructor in charge is going to have a hell of a time.”
As he said it, Dam Mu-hyeon shot Ha Mu-baek a sly glance.
Ha Mu-baek let out a short sigh and tilted his head crookedly.
“Yeah. It's me.”
Dam Mu-hyeon had known that from the start. That's why he'd said Ha Mu-baek seemed to be getting tangled up with the Hubei Yeon Clan.
“So, how was she? Teaching the Ice Lotus Flower? She's drop-dead gorgeous, right?”
“Eh. I thought she was pretty cute, but not that level...”
Dam Mu-hyeon let out a short sigh at Ha Mu-baek's response.
“Sigh. What am I even doing talking to this eunuch?”
Ha Mu-baek's face twisted at that.
Eunuch? That crossed the line, no matter what.
“Cut the bullshit. What's the real deal? From the No Shadow Pavilion lord? Or the Alliance Leader?”
No Shadow Pavilion.
The secret intelligence organization within the Righteous Heaven Alliance. Created through the Alliance Leader So Hwi-woong's tireless efforts, it answered directly to him, and its existence was shrouded in utmost secrecy.
Most people didn't even know it existed.
Dam Mu-hyeon's other identity was as a covert agent of the No Shadow Pavilion.
“They said just do whatever the hell you want. But if you're getting involved with the Yeon Clan, here's a heads-up.”
“Who?”
“Both of them.”
Ha Mu-baek made a face like he couldn't believe it.
“They're being way too obvious about this 'draw the sword and cross the bridge' ploy, aren't they?”
The intent was clear: use Ha Mu-baek to deal a massive blow to the Yeon Clan.
Not mediate—stir shit up.
“Well, after getting a taste with the Pang Clan business, seems like they secretly want the same for the Yeon Clan.”
“Ha. That damn Alliance Leader bastard.”
“Kekeke.”
Dam Mu-hyeon chuckled at Ha Mu-baek's sigh.
“Tell the Alliance Leader and old man Gong Son. If they want to use me like this, they better shape up the Fierce Dragon Corps properly. A big outfit like the Righteous Heaven Alliance dragging in clueless fools to use as meat shields? Tsk.”
Ha Mu-baek voiced the frustration he felt every time he faced the cadets in the Fierce Dragon Corps.
He'd planned to grill the Alliance Leader about it if they ever met.
Conveniently, they'd sent a messenger.
“Got it. I'll pass it on in about ten days.”
“Why ten days?”
“I'm on vacation?”
“For real?”
“Yeah, for real. I took actual vacation time because I couldn't stand the sight of you, Corps Leader. Ran this errand on the way.”
Ha Mu-baek shook his head.
“Fine. It's been a while—let's drink.”
And so the two caught up after months apart.
The Dragon Training Pavilion.
The plaque hung right before his eyes.
Yeon Baek-jin stared at it with complicated eyes. How the hell had he ended up here?
The Hubei Yeon Clan had never cared much about the Dragon Training Pavilion. They'd openly questioned its effectiveness.
That's why the clan hadn't sent even a single disciple.
And now he was the vice pavilion lord.
To keep an eye on that guy, no less.
“Ha Mu-baek...”
Truth be told, he kind of wanted to meet the man once.
The unsung hero of the war.
His second brother had told him the stories.
The brother he admired more than anyone had called him a true warrior worthy of respect, despite being younger than Yeon Baek-jin himself.
But now they wanted him to keep tabs on that hero.
Because of him, the Pang Clan had been shattered.
“Well, he did master Demonic Cult arts...”
Before that, wiping out most of the Pang Clan's forces single-handedly in one night? That was monstrous.
“No, that's a natural disaster, isn't it?”
Yeon Baek-jin muttered with a bitter face.
“But how the hell am I supposed to keep a natural disaster in check?”
The gate guards eyed Yeon Baek-jin suspiciously.
Sighing at the plaque, muttering to himself—he didn't look normal.
“Should've dragged that punk Gong Hu along by force?”
His nephew, ten years younger, popped into his mind. The one he got along with best in the clan.
Maybe because he was his second brother's son. Compared to his much older brothers, the kid felt more like a little brother than a nephew.
After that winter incident, he'd fallen out of favor with the young clan heir and was restricted from leaving the clan.
Whatever the kid did, eyes were always watching.
Yeon Gong-hu had claimed full responsibility, so suspicion had lifted from Yeon Baek-jin.
Maybe that's why they'd sent him here.
“Father decided it, but...”
Lately, his brother the young clan heir was neglecting clan affairs and going berserk. Could be kicking him out as the cause.
From the clan head's perspective, it was like throwing away a valuable commodity.
“Still, it was the right call.”
Watching his brother rage lately, sending that girl away had been the best decision.
“Hope she's doing well.”
He didn't even know where she'd gone. Just had to believe she was okay.
Yeon Gong-hu seemed to have an idea but kept his mouth shut.
That's why the young clan heir kept the kid under watch. In case he contacted her.
“Um, excuse me. Are you here on business for the Dragon Training Pavilion?”
After watching for a while, one guard finally approached, unable to stand it.
A guy standing in the middle of the road, staring at the plaque, cycling through expressions while muttering.
Anyone could see he was nuts.
Stepping in before trouble brewed.
“Ah!”
Yeon Baek-jin snapped out of it, realizing his blunder.
He cupped his fists and bowed.
“My apologies. I was assigned here today, and the emotions hit me—I lost myself for a moment.”
“Ah, I see. Which unit are you assigned to?”
A standard question for a guard.
The man looked the right age for an instructor anyway.
One had just arrived recently.
“Yes. The Pavilion Lord's Office.”
“Pardon?”
Pavilion Lord's Office?
Wasn't that where the pavilion lord worked?
“As of today, I'm Yeon Baek-jin, newly appointed vice pavilion lord. Looking forward to working with you.”
Yeon Baek-jin showed his ID plaque that came with his orders.
“Eek! V-Vice Pavilion Lord, sir!”
The guard snapped to attention and bowed deeply.
“No need. Haha. My bad for the rudeness. I'll head in now.”
Yeon Baek-jin passed through the main gate and vanished into the distance.
The guards stared after him.
“What an odd fellow.”
The others nodded.
A vice pavilion lord showing that kind of courtesy? Unheard of.
“Wait... Yeon Baek-jin. That's...”
Someone recalled the name.
“Ah, right. The youngest of the Hubei Yeon Clan!”
“Huh. What's the Hubei Yeon Clan doing sending someone here?”
“At least it's the youngest. That's a relief.”
They all nodded.
Rumors about the Yeon Clan head's sons had already spread through the martial world.
'He's here.'
Ha Mu-baek's eyebrow twitched.
He kept his senses over the entire Dragon Training Pavilion.
Ever since Lan Yi entered.
And now, someone trained in Hubei Yeon Clan arts had slipped into that range.
Probably the new vice pavilion lord.
'By himself?'
A vice pavilion lord would usually come with a horde of clan warriors hanging off him. They'd all get sent back eventually, of course.
Even Pavilion Lord Pang Do-yul had come alone.
That was the Dragon Training Pavilion's rule.
But for a powerhouse like the Hubei Yeon Clan in the Righteous Heaven Alliance, they'd probably bring a swarm anyway.
With ways to sneak a few to stay.
But solo.
Ha Mu-baek wondered if the new vice pavilion lord was an interesting guy.
“Um, Instructor?”
Dang Jin-san called out.
“What?”
“We're done.”
“Yeah? Do it ten more times.”
Dang Jin-san got a throbbing vein on his forehead at the order, tossed without even looking.
“Don't scowl. I only tell you to do it because it's worth doing.”
“Even so...”
“Your waist keeps dipping, doesn't it? Gotta fix that.”
“Hup.”
Dang Jin-san clamped his mouth shut at Ha Mu-baek's interruption.
How did he know without looking? The lazy instructor had his back turned.
And he'd even noticed the scowl. Truly a monster.
“Mysterious experts see all.”
“Ugh, that joke's not funny!”
Dang Jin-san deflated and shook his head, heading back to the training ground.
“Un-roe, put more power into your stepping foot. Pyeong, no hesitation in your sword. Woo-jin, extend your arms much stronger. Ha-min...”
The critiques continued.
The cadets listened silently to Ha Mu-baek's feedback.
Then his words stopped.
“What about me?”
Yeon Ha-min asked when it skipped her turn.
“Something happen? Tone down the killing intent in your sword.”
“...”
Yeon Ha-min flinched.
Had she?
She'd had a nightmare last night. Probably that.
A dream she hadn't had since joining Squad Seven of the Fierce Dragon Corps.
For some reason, that demon bastard had invaded her dreams.
“Alright, I'm out.”
“Huh? Didn't you say ten more times?”
“I taught you—fix it yourself. I'll check tomorrow. Ten times, twenty, whatever. But you know what happens if you don't fix it.”
Ha Mu-baek walked off after that.
“Haa. Seriously. What's with him lately?”
Dang Jin-san shook his head.
He'd seemed a bit better yesterday, but today he showed up reeking of booze.
First time she'd seen that at the pavilion.
And now this.
“His critiques are spot on, though.”
Yeon Ha-min said curtly and raised her sword.
Tone down the killing intent.
'Can I?'
With that demon bastard's face in her mind, her sword would carry killing intent on its own for a while.