After that day, for a while, I focused only on teaching Ian, the work of Hwangcheon Pavilion, and my own training.
Ian learned the Bicheon Sword Art in the blink of an eye, like cotton soaking up water. She had more talent for martial arts than I had imagined. And with her painstaking effort added to that, her progress was astonishingly fast.
There was one thing I realized anew while teaching Ian.
Teaching was, at the same time, learning.
As I explained what I already knew, I was able to view myself objectively.
‘Ah, so this is how I thought about this form.’
I gained the chance to reconsider parts I had never once thought about seriously.
Teaching is not simply scooping water out of a stagnant pool. If one teaches halfheartedly, without sincerity, the water will dry up and be depleted; but if one teaches with deep thought and devotion, it becomes a way to enlarge the well itself.
That was why, as I taught Ian, I was also learning. Since I had never taught anyone even once in my previous life, this process became an extraordinary experience for me.
During a short break in the middle of training, she asked me seriously.
“Young Master. You really are going to create the Ghost Shadow Unit, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then may I make the martial uniforms? I don’t want dull black uniforms. I want to make them stylish. We can change the colors and shapes, and make separate clothes for wearing inside the cult and for operations.”
For a moment, I almost burst out laughing. Since deciding to create the Ghost Shadow Unit, I had not once thought about the color or shape of its uniforms. Come to think of it, the same had been true of every martial uniform I had ever worn in my life.
“I also want to divide the masks that cover the face according to the difficulty of the operation. The ghost engraved on the mask should be stylish yet terrifying, so that just seeing it will make their knees go weak… Why are you laughing?”
“I was wondering what a stylish yet terrifying ghost would look like.”
“I’m fairly good at drawing too. I’ll show you later.”
“The ones who join the Ghost Shadow Unit from now on will get to wear fine clothes.”
“Don’t tease me.”
Ian was truly a delicate, attentive person. If the heart that had been focused on me were directed toward others, she would become an excellent unit leader who could soothe everyone’s hearts.
“The most important thing is your skill. The Ghost Shadow Unit will carry out the most dangerous missions in the murim. Succeeding in operations and minimizing the harm to your subordinates will all depend on your skill.”
“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”
“And one more thing. There is something more important than skill.”
“What is that?”
“The resolve to lose subordinates. A steadfast heart that will not be wounded even if you lose them.”
Ian stared at me.
“You see me as a child, don’t you, Young Master? Because I’m always by your side like this.”
“Am I wrong?”
“You are. I’m not a child, and I’m not as innocent or kind as you think. I won’t be so heartbroken I could die just because I lose a subordinate. I’m actually worried you’ll be disappointed in me later. You’ll think, ‘Was she really this coldhearted?’”
“I won’t be disappointed over something like that. Then that’s enough.”
Perhaps thinking that, since the subject had come up, she might as well speak honestly, Ian revealed what was in her heart.
“When you said you would pass the Bicheon Sword Art on to me, Young Master, I finally felt as if my feet had touched the ground.”
“What do you mean?”
“To be honest, until then, I felt like I was floating in midair. The Ghost Shadow Unit? Would an organization like that really be created? I’m the unit leader? Really? Young Master is just caught up in some fervor right now. Those were the thoughts I had. But as I memorized the formulas of the Bicheon Sword Art, I felt that this was real. Can I really bear all of this? Ah, I’m sorry. Ah, I was trying not to ask questions so lacking in confidence anymore.”
“You may ask. No, you must. How could you walk a path that will change the fates of countless people without asking such questions? Ask today, and ask tomorrow. Ask even ten years from now. It is a path you must walk while constantly questioning. I will keep nagging you as well. We must keep asking each other.”
The people who did not ask such questions were people like the Eight Demon Venerables.
They believed their decisions were right because they thought they were superior to others. They had no concern or empathy for other people. They did not ask.
“Yes, Young Master. Whenever I’m confused about whether this is right, I’ll ask. I’ll ask you, and I’ll ask myself as well.”
I gently stroked Ian’s head once.
“Well done.”
Ian’s face reddened slightly, and she smiled shyly.
“Now, begin training again!”
“Yes!”
Around the time training ended, I brought her books on organizational management, the art of employing men, and the self-discipline of a leader.
“Read them whenever you have time to rest.”
“Yes.”
These days, because it was one training session after another, she had been neglecting learning the work of Hwangcheon Pavilion. Even if it was through books like this, she needed to learn how to run an organization.
* * *
A few days later, I went to the Southern Blade Sect to meet the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
When I entered the Southern Blade Sect, the Blade Demons flocked out to look at me.
This, too, was a place where people lived, so some were trash and some were decent. All sorts of people gathered and lived here.
In general, I bore them no ill will. Thanks to them, I had been able to complete the Heavenly Meridian Reinforcement Art splendidly.
The Blade Demons also showed goodwill toward me, as I was on good terms with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. Moreover, when I had displayed the Heavenly Meridian Reinforcement Art, many had been impressed by my courage and momentum, so some even sent me looks of respect.
A few Blade Demons came up and greeted me politely, while others applauded and cheered from afar. Did they take after their master? The Blade Demons seemed like adorably insane bastards.
I waved to them.
Guided by a Blade Demon, I arrived at the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s office.
The one surprised by my visit was the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
“Has something happened that requires you to drag me away?”
“Have you committed a crime in the meantime?”
“My life is full of sins, after all.”
“Fortunately, not today.”
“Then why have you come?”
“I came to give you this.”
I held out what I had brought to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
“What is this? A box that sprays deadly poison when opened?”
“Where on earth can one buy such a box? I’d like to buy a few.”
“I asked what it is.”
“Open it.”
When he opened the box, inside was a Poison-Avoiding Pearl. Coincidentally, it was the complete opposite of his joke.
“It’s a top-grade Poison-Avoiding Pearl.”
“I can see that. But why this?”
“It’s a gift.”
“A gift? Why give me something this expensive all of a sudden?”
“It is a birthday gift.”
At that moment, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon froze in shock.
“What?”
“Happy birthday. Today is your birthday, isn’t it?”
“Is today my birthday?”
His voice trembled, as if he truly had not even thought of it.
“You didn’t know?”
“It has been a long time since I forgot about things like birthdays. But how did you know?”
“Who do you think I am? There is no information Hwangcheon Pavilion does not have. I even know how many pairs of undergarments you own, Elder.”
“How many?”
“That was an exaggeration. In any case, congratulations.”
It was clearly an intentional kindness, an effort to make him truly one of my people.
I bowed politely to him and turned around.
“Did you really come only to give me a gift?”
“Yes. I’m giving it purely as a birthday present, so please feel no burden whatsoever.”
“You’re just leaving like this?”
“I am a busy man. Let’s have a drink tonight at Pungryu Tavern. I’ll be waiting. Ah, and please don’t think of smashing the place up today.”
Leaving him still standing there in a daze, I stepped out of the office.
Before closing the door, I looked inside. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon was looking down at the Poison-Avoiding Pearl with an expression I had never seen before. It was the first time I had realized that among his expressions, there was one called being moved.
* * *
“By the way, is it true?”
Seo Daeryong, walking beside me down the corridor, asked with a surprised face.
“What is?”
“That you gave the Blade Demon a birthday present.”
“How did you know?”
“Good heavens. So it was true.”
“I asked how you knew.”
“How else would I know? Rumors are going around. I naturally thought it was nonsense.”
I burst out laughing. If something given in a place where only the two of us had been had spread, then the Blade Demon must have bragged to the Blade Demons about receiving a gift. He really seemed like he would never do such a thing, yet he was surprisingly talkative.
“Why did you give it to him?”
“Because it was his birthday.”
“I truly cannot understand the relationship between you two.”
Of course he couldn’t. Incidents that could have made us mortal enemies several times over had occurred, yet the Blade Demon and I were growing closer and closer.
“You don’t become close just by exchanging pleasant words.”
Together with Seo Daeryong, I entered the great hall at the end of the corridor.
All the investigators and enforcement martial artists of Hwangcheon Pavilion had gathered there.
“It has been a while since we all gathered in one place like this, hasn’t it?”
“Yes!”
A resounding answer rang out. Since the training, the morale of the enforcement martial artists had been soaring to the heavens. The investigators, too, had handled the White Blade Demon incident well, so all of them were full of courage.
“I came today to pour some oil on your burning morale.”
Everyone looked curious.
I handed the envelopes I had prepared to Seo Daeryong. The number of envelopes matched the number of martial artists in Hwangcheon Pavilion.
After checking inside an envelope, Seo Daeryong was startled.
“What money is this?”
Inside was a promissory note worth one thousand nyang.
“Give one to everyone.”
“Yes.”
Seo Daeryong distributed what was inside to everyone.
“This money is a special gift from me to you.”
At the word gift, everyone cheered.
“Thank you, Pavilion Master!”
I spoke loudly to them all.
“I am giving you this money because our Hwangcheon Pavilion must become an organization that permits no outside pressure whatsoever. In other words, I am telling you not to accept bribes. If you suddenly need money, come to me. I’ll advance your monthly pay. If your monthly pay is not enough, I’ll lend it to you from my own pocket.”
“Yes!”
At the unexpected windfall, everyone’s expressions brightened.
Nagging when people are in a good mood only eats away at the points you struggled to earn.
“Dismissed.”
As I left the great hall, Seo Daeryong followed close behind me.
“Pavilion Master. How did you know?”
“Know what?”
“That Ikho needed money. His younger sibling is getting married, so he’s been going around trying to borrow money lately. While his parents were alive, he spent everything nursing them through illness. Now, with supporting his younger siblings, there’s never a day his pockets are full.”
“How would I know? I didn’t.”
“Please don’t lie.”
In truth, I did know. I had found out by chance and had intended to give only Ikho some money, but since it had come to this, I decided to give it to everyone.
“There’s no need to be so moved. It’s all an investment for my own sake.”
“An investment for your sake, Young Master?”
“If rumors spread that I spend money freely, won’t people start quietly expecting things? They’ll think that if I become the Heavenly Demon, I’ll spend even more. Then everyone will hope I become the Heavenly Demon. That is how shallow a person I am.”
“Did you really think that far?”
“No. Since you asked, the thought occurred to me. I suppose others could think that way too.”
“So you did know about Ikho after all.”
“I gave it to everyone while I was at it. They have all worked hard. Is that so important?”
“It is important. Do you think loyalty appears out of nowhere?”
“Don’t be fooled by things like this!”
Seo Daeryong stared at me and said,
“Because this is a world where people exploit others without even bothering with such tricks.”
Then he bowed deeply and walked off on his way.