Episode 66. That is the Problem.
While I danced a madman's dance, circling around Yusa Cheong who stood rigidly frozen in place, Hongsin spoke.
“Eldest Martial Brother, they're stealthily retreating.”
“What?”
I stopped dancing like a startled man, then whirled around. At that, a few of the retreating rabble fell on their rear ends, sprang up, and scattered in all directions like routed soldiers.
Even amidst this, Iryong Nogun glared at me with a wooden expression.
I spoke to Iryong Nogun, who was putting on a fairly calm front.
“Old man, anything to say?”
Iryong Nogun replied.
“It is merely a temporary truce as promised.”
Baekin stepped forward and spoke.
“Eldest Martial Brother, let's kill more of them.”
“That's enough. A truce is a truce. Defense is defense. The expressions and atmosphere of the retreating bastards, even the expressions of those leader bastards trying to look calm—enjoy it for now.”
When Iryong Nogun retreated first, Su Seonsaeng had no choice either. Putting on airs as a leader, he spat out a remark toward me.
“You, we will meet again soon.”
I grinned and replied.
“You bastards, I'll only treat those who come to surrender first as captured generals. Go back and think it over slowly. Whether there will truly be another chance to survive or not. Think about it seriously.”
After the enemy retreated, I looked around at my subordinates.
“Tend to the wounded first. The night has grown deep, so let's head in. Conclude the defense, and So Gunpyeong, take charge of setting up guard duty first, then rotate with the other officers.”
“Understood.”
I slapped the cheek of the rigidly standing Yusa Cheong and spoke.
“Prisoners have it hard too. The night air is cold, so let's go in together.”
One of the Heukmyo Bang subordinates approached and threw his arm around Yusa Cheong. I called Cha Seongtae.
“Seongtae.”
“Yes.”
I didn't particularly have anything to say. I just threw my arm around Cha Seongtae's shoulder and headed toward Heukmyo Bang.
“Let's go.”
* * *
I sat in the head seat and took a drink of alcohol. In the meantime, the officers moved about freely. I let the wounded get treated, the sleepy sleep, and the hungry eat.
Yusa Cheong, silently watching the busily moving officers, sat bound next to me.
After a while, the martial brothers and officers returned and filled the empty seats.
Everyone had gathered because they were curious about Yusa Cheong's identity.
Dokgo Saeng, who had appeared the latest after washing the blood from his face and body, passed by and cuffed Yusa Cheong on the head before sitting down in the next seat.
“Is everyone here?”
To my question, So Gunpyeong replied.
“The Fifth Great Lord was slightly wounded, so he said he'd sleep first.”
Dokgo Saeng, who had set down his drinking cup, suddenly seemed to flare up and struck Yusa Cheong's cheek again. With a smack—Yusa Cheong's face snapped to the side.
I looked around at the Twelve Divine Generals martial brothers.
“Are any of the martial brothers injured?”
“None.”
“I'm fine.”
Cha Seongtae also reported his condition.
“I'm fine too.”
I nodded my head.
“You'd better be fine.”
So Gunpyeong asked about the overall strategy going forward.
“What shall we do about Iryong Nogun and Su Seonsaeng from now on?”
“Wait. Their losses are much greater. They'll lose sleep for two nights, it'll be uncomfortable to eat, and they'll be restless even when going to the latrine. What follows provocation, chaos, and defeat is nothing but fear and anxiety. They themselves are strong-willed men, so they'll endure, but their subordinates will be shaken. They'll grow weaker than before.”
Baekyu unexpectedly let out these words.
“Eldest Martial Brother, your dancing was quite nice. I should have danced a fan dance beside you.”
I grinned.
“Let's dance together next time.”
“Let's do that.”
Baekin glared at Yusa Cheong and asked me.
“Eldest Martial Brother, what do you think of this bastard?”
“What do you think, martial brother?”
Baekin first mentioned Yusa Cheong's swordsmanship.
“It is not a swordsmanship one can learn on the demonic path.”
“Explain why to the others. Someone like Seongtae might not know.”
Baekin answered briefly.
“I felt that he had rigorously trained his posture first before training the swordsmanship. Thinking back to when he was pressing you back in the early stages, the flow of his swordsmanship was consistent as well. He is not one who learned a crude swordsmanship.”
“I think the same.”
Dokgo Saeng glared at Yusa Cheong.
“This bastard, was he from the orthodox path?”
Dokgo Saeng's fierce palm struck Yusa Cheong's cheek once again. When Yusa Cheong did not open his mouth, Hongsin asked curiously.
“Eldest Martial Brother, did you seal his mute acupoint too?”
“Probably.”
“Shall I release it?”
“You can't release it. I can't either. I've sealed them plenty of times, but releasing them is a bother so I didn't practice much. I didn't inject too much internal energy, so it'll release soon.”
Truthfully, I didn't even properly memorize the names of the acupoints. I only roughly knew what effect tapping a certain point had. Since I had learned them for offensive purposes, I hadn't bothered to learn how to undo them.
Hongsin spoke without much thought.
“The mute acupoint is quite dangerous, so if you don't release it quickly, there's a risk of being unable to speak forever.”
I replied curtly to Hongsin's words.
“Not my problem.”
“Yes.”
I chatted casually with my subordinates like someone without a care in the world. We brought out leftovers from the kitchen and shared them, drank alcohol, and spent the time laughing incessantly.
Then, when about half a shichen had passed…….
A subordinate reported from outside the main hall.
“Bangju, Muak Sect Leader has come to the main gate with his weapons lowered. What should we do?”
“What do you mean, what should we do? If he's here, he should come in.”
While the officers and martial brothers looked at each other with bewildered expressions, Muak Sect Leader entered the main hall with two disciples.
Muak Sect Leader first cupped his fists and spoke.
“Bangju, I am Muak Sect Leader Yang Jaegyeong.”
I nodded my head slightly and replied.
“Sect Leader Yang, welcome.”
Muak Sect Leader smiled awkwardly and spoke.
“How should I say this…….”
“Speak comfortably.”
“The Muak Sect will not appear as the Pavilion Lord’s enemy in the future. We made a mistake due to insufficient information. I beg your…….”
Since the Muak Sect Leader was stammering so much, I roughly nodded my head.
“Let us leave it at that.”
“I am nothing but grateful that you are treating us with such magnanimity.”
When the Muak Sect Leader gestured to his disciples, two disciples lowered the box they had been carrying at my feet and opened the lid. Inside the large box, half in common gold coins and half in common silver coins were gleaming.
I clicked my tongue and spoke.
“What do you mean bringing all this again. Between us, tsk. No, how much is all this? It’s enormous. I should send some to the Heukseonbo as well. Sect Leader, isn’t this too much?”
I kicked the box with my foot to close the lid, then stood up.
“Our first meeting was hardly pleasant, but there is no need for us to meet as enemies going forward. That is simply how life is. Sect Leader, do you not agree?”
When I tapped the Muak Sect Leader’s shoulder, he flinched as if in a brief convulsion, then nodded.
“That is correct. You are right.”
“In the martial world, enemies sometimes become allies, and allies sometimes become enemies. And if you are unlucky, you get beaten to death. So do not take it too much to heart.”
“Ah, yes. I shall keep that firmly in mind. We will never again join any summons from Iryong Nogun or Teacher Su.”
“Well, that is welcome news indeed.”
“It is meager, but we were delayed preparing it. Then, as the night has grown late, I shall take my leave.”
“Take care on your way. Coming all this way in the middle of the night with such things. You have worked hard.”
The Muak Sect Leader hurriedly clasped his fists and quickly turned to leave with his subordinates. The moment he tried to exit the great hall, I called out to stop him.
“Sect Leader Yang.”
“Ah, yes.”
“Let us share a meal sometime.”
“Aha, of course. Pavilion Lord, I shall see you then.”
After Sect Leader Yang departed and the doors of the great hall closed once more, a brief silence descended.
“…….”
Dokgo Saeng, who had been watching the proceedings with nothing but blinking eyes, looked at me.
Seeing that Dokgo Saeng looked as though he wanted to say something, I asked.
“What.”
Dokgo Saeng replied with an utterly blunt expression.
“Fucking hilarious.”
It was a statement of hilarity from the perspective of Dokgo Saeng’s worldview, which could not comprehend such things, and also from the fact that the Muak Sect Leader’s behavior as a whole was simply funny. However, when Dokgo Saeng called it hilarious with a completely unamused face, his martial siblings and the executives all burst into laughter.
“Hahahahaha…….”
I too ended up giggling.
“It really is funny.”
While everyone was busy laughing, Yu Sacheong alone wore a rigid expression. Naturally, all eyes were drawn to Yu Sacheong.
Dokgo Saeng looked at Yu Sacheong.
“Why aren’t you laughing? Did someone seal an acupoint on your face?”
When Dokgo Saeng raised his hand as if to strike another slap, Yu Sacheong’s stiff face trembled.
Dokgo Saeng pretended to lower his hand, then struck without mercy.
Smack!
I did not care how Dokgo Saeng treated the prisoner. Dokgo Saeng had led his subordinates into battle and fought with their lives on the line, so he had every right to act as he did.
I rested my chin in my hand and thought.
‘So the Muak Sect Leader came in first to gauge the atmosphere.’
The moment Sect Leader Yang switched places with someone outside, a subordinate’s report followed.
“Pavilion Lord, Lady Cheolseom has come.”
I raised my voice slightly and scolded the subordinate.
“The night air is chilly; why are you asking instead of showing her in at once? Hurry, tell her to enter.”
Lady Cheolseom entered the great hall with a stiff expression. She wore an even more troubled expression than Sect Leader Yang, and it seemed words were stuck in her throat.
I spoke first.
“Lady Cheolseom, I nearly took a hit from the fierce concealed weapon you threw and nearly made a slip of the tongue. Your skill with hidden weapons is no ordinary matter.”
Only then did Lady Cheolseom open her mouth.
“Yes, Pavilion Lord. I offer my apologies. So……”
“Speak comfortably.”
“My disciples and I intend to withdraw from Iryong Nogun’s side and return to Yuhwagok. To ensure we do not obstruct the Heukmyo Pavilion’s path in the future, I will inform my friends far and wide and caution them. Please look upon today’s mistake with generosity.”
I nodded.
“Well, such things can happen in a fight. So be it. Is the Valley Lord of Yuhwagok also well?”
“Yes. He remains wholly devoted to his martial arts training.”
“You have worked hard traveling to earn money in his stead. Still, now that we know each other, I hope all of Yuhwagok will not become my enemy going forward.”
Lady Cheolseom nodded.
“Understood.”
“The night has grown late. Take care on your way.”
Lady Cheolseom, who had been hesitating, took something from her bosom and placed it on the table.
“Pavilion Lord, I present the Seomgwang Dagger, which I have cherished since my youth, as proof of my words.”
“E-hey, what do you mean bringing something like this again…… tsk. I shall use it well. I was wanting to carry a dagger on me anyway, and this is perfect for self-defense. It looks very sharp.”
“It is short in length, but it is a masterpiece capable of cutting through any ordinary longsword like dumplings. It is also ideal for assassinations.”
“We martial artists do love masterpieces, after all. I shall use it well. Give my regards to the Valley Lord as well.”
“Yes, then I shall take my leave.”
After Lady Cheolseom left, Hong Shin asked as if curious.
“Will there be more coming?”
I looked at So Gunpyeong.
“Go outside, and if there are any stragglers, check their faces, threaten them as you see fit, and just send them back. They are not worth the trouble. Ah, and feel free to accept any bribes.”
So Gunpyeong stood up.
“Understood.”
The moment So Gunpyeong left, I took a drink of alcohol and struck the cheek of Yu Sacheong, who was seated beside me. Along with a smack—, Yu Sacheong, tied to the chair, fell backward.
Thud—!
One of the executives sitting at the edge quickly rushed over and set the chair upright.
I spoke to my subordinates.
“The night has grown deep, so all of you go find empty rooms and rest. With those people gone, there should be plenty of vacant space. I need to think a little more about whether to simply kill this bastard or torture him to death.”
“Understood.”
The subordinates stood up.
After a moment, only Yu Sacheong, myself, and the Seomgwang Dagger remained in the spacious great hall.
I tapped the Seomgwang Dagger with my fingertip and muttered to myself.
“My teacher told me to go easy on them sometimes, but having tried it, this is not easy. It is awkward. The ones who came to apologize were awkward, but truthfully, I was awkward too.”
Ever since earlier, as I drank, I had been thinking of Murong Bai’s advice. Turning over a new leaf and trying to live a little differently from my previous life was no easy thing.
“Still, my teacher said it all for my own good, so I ought to at least make an effort. Don’t you think?”
“…….”
“Wow, I really have changed a lot. If someone was my enemy, I used to just beat them to death without question, smash them to pieces, kill them with an axe, and so on. What is this? What happened to me? Is this what they call a sense of a world apart (隔世之感)? Or is it mulberry fields turning into blue seas (桑田碧海)? Are both wrong?”
“…….”
I looked into Liu Siqing’s eyes, then asked with a cold expression.
“What’s with that look in your eyes? Do I look ignorant to you? Like some uneducated bastard?”
“…….”
Liu Siqing worked his mouth. Were his sealed acupoints about to come undone? As Liu Siqing’s lips kept twitching, beads of sweat had formed on the bridge of his nose.
After drinking a cup of liquor, I let out a sigh with a grave expression.
“To kill, or to spare—that is the question.”
I drew the Flash Dagger and, for the time being, stabbed it into the table.