Murmurs.
Murmurs mixed with the tense reactions to my greeting.
I just greeted them, so why is everyone acting like this?
Everyone was either breaking out in cold sweats or seeming to have their existing tension amplified.
Damn.
“Haa…”
Flinch.
Even the sigh I let out drew a reaction.
Seeing that, I felt like sighs I didn't even have would arise.
‘I haven't even done anything, but it already feels like things are getting twisted.’
I was quite familiar with this kind of sting, but perhaps because it had been a while, it didn't feel pleasant at all.
‘I tried to treat them decently, at the very least.’
Since I had done certain things in my past life, I thought about doing it a little differently this time.
But seeing their state, it seemed that would be impossible after all.
“A person goes out of his way to greet you, yet the reactions are so cold.”
Tilting my head slightly, I took a step forward.
At the same time, I reached out my hand.
Using a bit of qi, a chair from afar wrapped around and floated over.
Thud-!
Placing a chair in front of me using the Empty-Space Snatching Technique, I plopped down onto it.
“Nice to meet you all. You've been working hard since morning.”
Still, there was no answer.
But the atmosphere was better than before.
With heavily lowered eyes, I scanned the personnel and continued speaking.
“I am Gu Yang-cheon, the one who will be leading you from now on.”
As I spat the words out, I could feel the reactions divide.
On one side, the volunteers I directly selected just nodded.
Beside them.
On the faces of the ten personnel selected and sent by the Meng, some discomfort could be felt.
‘Let's see.’
I scanned them one by one, checking their faces.
Wondering if there were any familiar faces was the primary reason. Memorizing them was the secondary reason.
‘Their eyes are quite brazen.’
Perhaps because they were drafted from various units, their dissatisfaction showed even though they tried to hide it.
Since it was the creation of a new sword unit, they could be unaffiliated martial artists of the Meng.
‘That's impossible.’
I judged that it was absolutely impossible.
They must unconditionally be people sent from their respective units for reconnaissance.
However, if there was a difference from what Ssang-ui-hwan-geom tried to do… that guy had sneaked them in among the volunteers. This was an overt act.
From my position, this was rather better.
Dealing with sneaky ones was a hassle if caught. Overt actions actually put my mind at ease.
“You must have heard the rumors…. Ah, if anyone is displeased with a young bastard speaking to you informally without hesitation, raise your hand. I won't fix it, but I'll at least listen to your opinion.”
Naturally, no one raised their hand.
From the moment they entered the sword unit. From the moment they joined the Meng, hierarchy was a natural thing.
“Then, I'll take it that there are no complaints and continue.”
I pulled out a letter from my bosom.
A letter I received along with the Daoist robe. It was an information sheet lightly detailing the personnel.
“You must have heard from above, but we are not a sword unit whose purpose is hunting demonic beasts. You are aware that this is a unit created solely in preparation for battles against the Evil Sects, right?”
Force entered their eyes.
It seemed they had listened properly.
“I assume you understand this as well…”
Flip.
Even while speaking, I read through the letter one by one.
Excluding the ones I had already memorized, I focused only on the descriptions of those sent by the Meng.
‘Hmm.’
Three familiar faces.
Five with names and appearances I was hearing for the first time.
Two whose names I only knew.
From these.
‘Four bastards to dispose of.’
I briefly organized it in my head.
And I burned the letter I was holding.
Whoosh-!!
Burning the letter so suddenly, I could see surprised reactions upfront.
Storing their reactions in my mind, I prepared my next action.
“My introduction isn't really necessary. And it doesn't seem like the time to needlessly exchange friendly greetings, so since we're all gathered, let's get to the main point.”
I brushed off the ashes of the letter and smiled.
I didn't unleash anything like killing intent or aura.
“You probably know, but since you've just been transferred to the sword unit, I believe none of you have respective ranks or positions.”
Excluding me, everyone only had the title of sword unit member; currently, there were no ranks.
This was the same for the personnel sent by the Meng.
No matter what position they held in other units, it meant it was erased upon coming to the Seongryong Dae.
That was probably the reason they had displeased expressions.
This part was also a matter I had agreed upon with Mok Chaeksa.
“Shall we decide on that first?”
I would decide the positions first.
Originally, it was right for someone of the Unit Lord rank to decide, but this was deeper and clearer than that.
Since it meant I would do everything as I pleased, even excluding the ranks set by the Meng.
The very moment I was about to bring it up.
Swish.
Suddenly, someone raised their hand.
It was one of those sent by the Meng. As I looked at the guy, he continued speaking as if he had been waiting.
“I have a question. What you just said—”
“Shut your mouth.”
“…!”
At the tone cutting him off, the man flinched and stopped.
I lowered my eyes and looked at him.
“I didn't permit you to ask questions, did I?”
Putting a slight hostility in my voice, the guy's Adam's apple bobbed.
It seemed like he swallowed a dry gulp.
“…S-So, sorry.”
“Name.”
“Pardon?”
“Can't you understand? Introduce yourself before you ask anything. Isn't this common sense?”
“…I am Third-Rank martial artist Jeong Seol-jin.”
Third-Rank martial artist.
In terms of realm, it ranged from First-Rate to Peak Realm, and they were martial artists of a rank mainly in charge of combat.
Even if not at the Vice Unit Lord level, it was a level that could become a squad leader.
Listening to his words, I nodded and spoke.
“Go ahead. What's your question?”
“…Unit Lord, first of all, I am a Third-Rank martial artist.”
“Yeah, I just heard it.”
“But what you said, Unit Lord, does that mean we ignore such a rank system and decide autonomously within the unit?”
The rank the Meng had given this man was Three. It was quite a high position, but the question was whether such a rank held no meaning in the Seongryong Dae.
“No.”
I first offered a denial to correct that statement.
“Then.”
“It's a bit ambiguous to call it autonomous.”
It seemed he completely failed to understand the most important thing.
“I decide. And you will simply accept it.”
Jeong Seol-jin's eyes widened at my words. He apparently didn't expect me to say it so blatantly.
“Second-Rank, Third-Rank. Or even higher, Fourth-Rank. I couldn't care less.”
The rank stamped by the Meng was meaningless.
“As long as you are here, what I decide is the law.”
“…How…! Isn't the Seongryong Dae also a sword unit belonging to the Murim Meng?”
“So? You're a Third-Rank, so you want to be treated like a Third-Rank. Is that what you're saying?”
“…That was not my intention, but…”
“Bullshit. What do you mean 'not your intention'?”
“…!”
At the abruptly spat-out curse, the atmosphere instantly chilled.
“In the end, you're just whining to be treated better because of what you've accomplished. Why is your tongue so long?”
“...”
“You understand beating around the bush so well. But you can't understand the words coming out of my mouth?”
I scowled deeply.
“I have no intention of accepting such things, so don't put on airs with your rank. Squad Member Jeong Seol-jin, was that so hard to understand?”
“...”
“Answer me. Your Unit Lord is asking.”
“…N-No... sir.”
He said no, but his expression was on the verge of turning sour.
Seeing that, I felt a hollow laugh about to escape.
‘What a pathetic sight.’
Maybe because I hadn't established discipline yet, I saw them crawling out of line over such petty things.
If I made a mistake, my old temper seemed like it would flare up.
I had to endure it.
I had to endure it somehow. But it was really not easy.
‘The past was definitely easier, I tell you.’
If there was a bastard who didn't listen, I just had to make him listen.
If he crawled out of line, I just had to pull out his arm so he couldn't. If his gaze was shitty, I just had to burn his eyeballs.
There was nothing as simple and convenient as crushing them with force.
‘Making things so unnecessarily difficult.’
Wanting to live a different life from that time made it this hard.
In the past, I would have pulled out his tongue to make an example.
Not being able to do so was a regret.
“Is there anyone else who doesn't like my methods, like Squad Member Jeong Seol-jin?”
As I spoke, holding back my annoyance, someone raised their hand again.
“Yeah, there.”
“Hello. I am a Third-Rank martial artist…”
“Squad Member Hyun U-cheol, right.”
“…Uh, yes, that's correct.”
Mentioning his name even though he hadn't spoken, the man's eyes shook.
“Speak.”
“If you say rank is not important, how do you intend to decide…?”
If I was going to ignore what the Meng had established, what method would I use?
The answer to this was already decided.
“Why would there be a question of how to decide?”
Moving my stiff neck, I pointed to one side with my hand.
It was a slightly empty space inside the unit's grounds.
“There's a simple method.”
“…Wha, what do you mean…?”
Whoosh--!!
“Gasp!?”
As I suddenly created flames from my hand, those watching were startled.
I imbued the flames to the brim with internal energy and condensed it.
I lightly tossed it and fixed it in midair.
“The flame will roughly last about one shichen. After that time passes, it will all die out.”
It would take about that long for the internal energy to dissipate.
“Decide within that time.”
“Pardon?”
“De-decide what?”
Everyone who heard it held bewilderment.
Confirming such reactions, I added an explanation.
Honestly, there was no need to explain.
“Figure out the method yourselves. Whether you decide by beating each other up within the time. Or decide through friendly conversation. Or decide by voting. There is only one order you must follow before I return.”
Tearing my eyes away from the flame, I looked at the personnel.
And I pointed my finger alternately at both groups.
“Select one person per group to be the Vice Unit Lord. I'll raise the one you select to the position.”
“…!”
Decide on your own before the time is up.
That was the method I had decided on.
“U, Unit Lord?”
“I'll say it again, ranks are meaningless. The personnel selected that way—”
I put force in my eyes and stared somewhere.
Not the volunteers, but the Meng martial artists who had been expressing dissatisfaction since earlier. Specifically, looking at the bastards who were furious about being drafted away from their posts.
“Whoever that may be, I will raise them to the position. So decide diligently.”
With those final words, I immediately turned my back.
They probably had a lot to say, but no further questions followed.
Whether it was because they were dumbfounded or because they couldn't understand, I didn't care what reaction it was.
I gave the order, but they might not follow it.
Not even greeting them properly and telling them to pick their own Vice Unit Lord out of nowhere.
They must be thinking if there was any other absurd thing like this.
However.
‘They're all martial artists anyway.’
They were bastards filled with the desire for recognition and honor.
As such, competition would make them easier to control than anything else.
‘This is better than annoyingly trying to establish discipline for no reason.’
The fastest way to rein in those who crawled out of line was none other than this.
I just had to make them aim the blades meant for me at each other.
If they set up a political board on their own, not using it would be idiotic.
‘Alright then. I've bought some time over there for a bit.’
I moved my steps lightly.
‘Shall we start over here too?’
The destination was Mok-yeon's residence.
******************
It had been roughly half a shichen since I started walking to meet Mok-yeon.
Fortunately, reaching it wasn't too difficult. It was because I had sent a notice as soon as I arrived.
“…Seongryong Unit Lord.”
Mok-yeon looked at me and narrowed his eyes.
“Hello.”
“It must be a busy time for you. What about the unit members on the first day, and what brings you here?”
“Ah, I've left them to play on their own, so it'll be fine for a while.”
“…You left them to play?”
Speaking as if I had left kids in charge, Mok-yeon slightly furrowed his brow.
“They are spending time getting to know each other…. It roughly means that.”
“...”
He had a look of utter disbelief.
Seeing that, I let out a light cough and spoke to Mok-yeon.
“Ah, right. How is the Geumryong Unit Lord?”
“Judging by his condition, they say he will likely regain consciousness today or tomorrow.”
“That's quite a shame.”
“…?”
“Just a joke. It's truly a relief, isn't it?”
“...”
I said it was a joke, but he didn't seem to believe it at all.
That's too much, I'm not a crazy bastard, why would I hope he doesn't wake up?
‘He has to wake up so I can torment him more, after all.’
Right, ending it with just a few beatings wouldn't do.
Since he laid a hand on me, letting him off that lightly was out of the question.
“I'm sincere. The Geumryong Unit Lord is absolutely necessary to prove my innocence.”
“…I see. I understand.”
His eyes showed not only that he didn't believe me, but that he also didn't understand.
That old man was someone whose words and eyes always said different things.
“What is the reason you sought me out amidst your busy schedule, Seongryong Unit Lord?”
Even to my sincere words, Mok-yeon still seemed unconvinced, but that wasn't important right now, so I decided to let it pass.
“Ah, it's nothing else.”
I took out a pre-prepared letter from my bosom and handed it to Mok-yeon.
“The personnel I mentioned last time that I personally wanted to bring in. I've organized them and brought them.”
“...”
One of the conditions agreed upon with Mok-yeon.
When creating the Seongryong Dae and taking the seat of Unit Lord, I had requested to be allowed to bring a few personnel into the sword unit through my authority, bypassing screenings or drafting.
Initially, I asked for eight, but Mok-yeon said it was too many and told me to reduce it to three.
After repeated adjustments over this, the result was five.
Today was to select those five and hand them over to Mok-yeon, and…
‘What about you?’
How exactly would someone like Mok-yeon react to seeing this?
I wanted to see that.
Rustle.
Mok-yeon slowly flipped through the recommendation letters regarding the five.
Frowning at some parts. A look of incomprehension flashing by at others.
After flipping through four pages like that, the final page.
“…Huh?”
Confirming that, Mok-yeon's eyes grew as large as lanterns.
Force entered the old hand holding the letter.
“This is…”
A faint tremor seeped into the voice calling me.
Under his startled gaze, the letter he held peeked through.
Lightly written there was information about a woman's life.
Amidst the explanation that seemed to have no other issues, the reason Mok-yeon reacted like this was just one.
“Is this woman really…”
The last line of the text explaining the Pi Clan's daughter.
It was written like this there.
“A bloodline of the Eulryeong Sword Empress…?”
Meaning, the woman was the hidden illegitimate child of the Eulryeong Sword Empress.