7.
“A special task force?”
“Yes. When the military grain robbery occurred, it came to mind. I thought it would be good to have a small-scale unit that handles the kind of matters ordinary soldiers cannot resolve.”
At Yangjeong’s words, Wonil stroked his chin briefly and looked up at the ceiling.
“Would you care to lead it? After all, there is not much for you to do by my side, is there?”
Even in this recent military grain robbery incident alone, Wonil’s contributions had been no small matter. Thus, this idea also carried the intention of assigning Wonil a suitable role while the opportunity presented itself.
“So you’re telling me to earn my keep.”
“Think of it as you wish.”
Yangjeong spoke in a manner suggesting he did not care either way.
“I will earn my keep, but I must decline the leadership role.”
“What do you mean?”
“I am not a soldier. It makes no sense for me to lead a unit. Rather, how about entrusting it to the Gujipjang I mentioned before?”
“He is already being educated for promotion to Baekinjang. Surprisingly, he knows how to read.”
From the Baekinjang rank upward, one had to be capable of at least the minimum administrative work of reading orders and submitting reports. It just so happened that Gujangwon was able to do so, and thus Yangjeong had promoted him to Baekinjang without hesitation.
“I see. Then the only one left is Wicheonsaeng.”
“Is he not too young?”
A position of at least a ten-man leader. How would it be to place a youth who had not even reached the age of adulthood in command?
“I will assist him well by his side.”
“You must be quite fond of him. He certainly possesses a rare martial talent, but······.”
Had the Yang family estate been a pure martial family, Yangjeong might have felt jealous of Wicheonsaeng’s talent. However, as someone who knew that a military officer was a position where strategy was emphasized more than martial power, Yangjeong could admire him purely. But he could not understand why Wonil, the outsider, was so attached to Wicheonsaeng.
“His talent is not limited merely to martial prowess.”
“Oh?”
“He also possesses outstanding aptitude for the arcane arts. I would even like to introduce him to my master someday.”
“Was he?”
“Yes. But more than that, I believe this matter will serve as a good lesson for him.”
“A lesson?”
“Yes. Is not the art of employing people one of those skills one can never regret learning?”
“I do not know what you think of that friend, but is there not a saying: ‘A youth ages easily, yet learning is hard to accomplish’?”
It means that a boy grows old with ease, but scholarship is difficult to achieve.
“It is not uncommon for those praised as prodigies in their youth to grow into mediocrity. Moreover, a martial talent without backing. I wonder if he will even live long enough to reach greatness.”
He had wounded and captured the daughter of the Cheonhwa Sword Gate sect leader. His actions had been in accordance with military orders, and his opponent had undeniably committed the crime of plundering military grain. But does the world ever flow only according to reason? If the Cheonhwa Sword Gate harbors a grudge over this and sends assassins, Wicheonsaeng is as good as dead. At times, a treasure held in the hands of the powerless is no different from a cursed object that shortens one’s lifespan.
“You speak rightly.”
“That is not the face of a man who agrees.”
“No. I do not agree.”
Wonil expressed his intent with his characteristic subtle smile.
“At least while he is under Cheoninjang Yangjeong, he will be safe. Furthermore, he is neither ambitious nor of a rough disposition. He is destined for greatness by any measure.”
“Well, let us hope your thinking proves correct.”
He acknowledged Wicheonsaeng’s qualities. That was why he had even handed over the Ihwachang secret manual. If the boy grew without mishap, he would become a quite useful sword.
“Take my military token. I have sent word to each baekin unit to dispatch personnel, so do your best.”
“Did I not say I would leave the commander's role to Wicheonsaeng?”
“Act as his guardian. What would make me hand command over to a young soldier so readily?”
“Understood. However, you said special task force—what exactly does it do?”
“For now, it will be escorting the plunderers back to the main camp.”
According to military law, Yangjeong himself could have summarily executed them without issue, but he did not wish to make unnecessary enemies with the Cheonhwa Sword Gate behind them.
“Understood.”
“Then go.”
As if the matter were concluded, Yangjeong waved his hand and dismissed Wonil.
*
*
*
Meanwhile, at that time, Wicheonsaeng was engrossed in training the Seonpung Yeopje.
“As expected, something is lacking.”
Though he had subdued Gyeongjin the moment he learned it, Wicheonsaeng could not be satisfied. Intuitively, he knew that the Seonpung Yeopje he currently displayed was only half complete.
“It must be the difference in internal energy manipulation.”
He had been able to grasp the principles of the techniques through his opponent’s breathing, but fully deciphering the more profound internal operation methods was beyond him.
“What do you think?”
“I know one thing.”
Gujangwon, who had been watching Wicheonsaeng’s training, scratched his chin with a displeased look.
“What is it?”
“That I am no longer in a position to teach you anything.”
“Huh?”
“To be honest, I have thought so for quite a while now······.”
“Why are you saying this all of a sudden?”
“That footwork you just displayed. Seonpung······. What did you call it?”
“Seonpung Yeopje.”
“Yes. The Cheonhwa Sword Gate is considered one of the great sects in Seomseo. Since it is their secret footwork, it must be incomparably profound. Honestly, when I look at your footwork now, I am simply amazed that you do not trip over yourself.”
“That is because the rotation of the ankle is the core; as you actually step, you launch your body······.”
“Stop, stop! No matter how much you explain, my thick skull cannot understand.”
Gujangwon clicked his tongue as if fed up. From the beginning, Wicheonsaeng possessed the absurd talent of comprehending martial arts immediately by reading an opponent’s movements and breathing. Perhaps that was why. Wicheonsaeng’s explanations were precisely calibrated to his own level.
“You need a proper master, not a worthless wanderer like me.”
“That may be so.”
It was something Wicheonsaeng had been thinking about as well. The Samjaegong passed down by Gujang was so simple in principle that there had been no further progress, and the Cheonhwa Sword Gate’s techniques felt like nothing but hollow shells because he did not know the internal energy manipulation methods.
If only Wonil knew martial arts as well······.
In contrast, in the arcane arts, there had been no blockages thanks to Wonil. It was a study that inherently progressed slowly, so there had been no noticeable, immediate achievements, but whenever he got stuck, Wonil guided him with all his heart, so he had no worries.
“By the way, Squad Leader, do you have a martial sect?”
“A sect? Pfft! If I had one, would I be wandering around as a vagrant?”
“But you said you learned martial arts at a martial school when you were young. Is that not a sect?”
“Puhaha! You cannot compare some countryside martial school that teaches a few forms for money to a real murim sect. A sect is a relationship tightly bound by master and disciple. Like a family.”
“Hmm······.”
At Gujangwon’s explanation, Wicheonsaeng crossed his arms and fell into thought.
“What are you thinking about?”
“You know that person, the daughter of the Cheonhwa Sword Gate sect leader.”
“Ah, that female martial artist in the prison?”
“Yes. She later asked if I had any intention of joining their sect.”
“Hey! You’ve hit the jackpot! Wait······. Maybe not?”
At a glance, it seemed like gaining the opportunity to enter a great sect renowned even in Seomseo. But Wicheonsaeng was none other than the one who had carved a large sword wound into the belly of the sect leader’s beloved daughter.
“Would I even be treated like a human if I went?”
“It could be a trap from the start. Actually, I took her sword.”
“Did you now.”
From Cheonseorin’s perspective, it was quite unfortunate, but because they were from such humble origins, both Wicheonsaeng and even Gujangwon could not help but be suspicious of Cheonseorin’s proposal.
“So you were here.”
“You’ve come.”
At Wonil’s appearance, Gujangwon and Wicheonsaeng lightly bowed their heads.
“Sir Gujangwon, I do not believe you will need to stand on such ceremony with me in the future.”
“Yes?”
“Aren’t you being promoted to Baekinjang soon?”
“Haha, whether that is truly possible or not······.”
At Wonil’s words, Gujangwon scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed expression.
“Please make a good impression on Yangjeong. He is no mere Cheoninjang.”
“Even a fellow like me knows well that he is the direct line of the Yang family estate. If he is making me a Baekinjang, I ought to serve him with my life.”
“You will be rewarded as much. But more importantly, Sir Wicheonsaeng.”
“Yes.”
“Last time, Yangjeong gave a hint about a change in position. Do you remember?”
“Yes.”
“From now on, you will lead a special task force directly under the Cheoninjang. For now, you may think of it as about the rank of a ten-man leader.”
“A ten-man leader?”
Wicheonsaeng was slightly surprised. He had never imagined that he would end up commanding others.
“Personnel have been drafted from each baekin unit and are currently waiting for you.”
“What exactly do we have to do?”
“What else? First, you have to whip them into shape.”
Gujangwon smirked.
“Discipline······.”
“There is no need to feel burdened. I will assist you, and Gaho will be with you as well, so you will adapt quickly.”
“Congratulations.”
Gujangwon clapped Wicheonsaeng, who wore a bewildered expression, on the shoulder.
“Let us go.”
And so everyone headed to where the ten-man squad personnel under Wicheonsaeng’s command were gathered.
“This will be interesting.”
Gujangwon chuckled the entire way there, thinking that something interesting was going to happen.
“Interesting?”
Wonil tilted his head.
“Yes.”
“Do you think Wicheonsaeng lacks the qualities of a commander?”
“No. He will do well.”
“Then what do you mean by interesting? Actually, I feel slightly uneasy.”
“What are you uneasy about?”
“This ten-man squad is to be organized to handle special missions that cannot be entrusted to ordinary soldiers. Therefore, I understand they have drafted the most outstanding individuals from their respective units.”
“There will be many strong-willed fellows.”
“Yes. That is what worries me.”
“That is precisely why I think it will be interesting.”
Gujangwon looked even more expectant after hearing Wonil’s words.
“Could you explain?”
“Sir Wonil, do you happen to know his age?”
“I heard last time. They say he is sixteen, though the military registry lists him as twenty-two.”
“That is common for proxy conscripts, but he is rather unusual. No matter how you look at him, he is a soft, downy little brat claiming to be over twenty. Because of that, there was quite a commotion at first.”
“Was that so?”
“But as you saw last time, not a single person in my unit made an issue of his age.”
“Now that you mention it, yes. I suppose they all have good temperaments?”
“Not at all. You know what the army is like. Irritation builds up day by day, so they are desperate to vent it somewhere. At first, they were all itching to get their hands on Wicheonsaeng.”
“But when I saw them last time, they all seemed quite harmonious and in good spirits.”
At Wonil’s words, Gujangwon chuckled.
“The law is far, but the fist is near.”
“Yes?”
“Sir Wonil would not know, but that kid has quite the temper. He used to throw punches the moment he made eye contact. In the end, he beat up everyone who picked a fight with him, one after another, and shut them all up.”
“Heh heh······.”
From Wonil’s perspective, having only ever seen Wicheonsaeng diligently and obediently following his teachings, he could not imagine Wicheonsaeng having such a rough side.
But just then.
“A brat like you is the squad leader? What bullshit. I distinctly heard this was a special unit.”
Sure enough, a soldier whose head was two sizes bigger than Wicheonsaeng’s began a battle of wills from the start.
“Return to your place. My introduction is not yet finished.”
“Hahaha, did you all hear? This little bean-sprout is giving me orders right now?”
At the giant’s words, the soldiers drafted from the same unit snickered.
“Hey brat, how old are you anyway? Stop playing aro—······. Guek!”
The Saeyeopilgwon that the Cheonhwa Sword Gate boasted of accurately struck the giant’s solar plexus.
“That is a place where you die if struck wrongly······. Tsk, I will have to teach him about that first next time.”
“S-should we not stop him?”
“Why?”
Wonil was anxious, but Gujangwon merely made an expression as if asking what he was talking about.
“If he ends up dying······.”
“He will not die.”
Though the giant soldier was already on the verge of losing his breath from a single strike, Wicheonsaeng’s beating was only beginning.
It was a brutal beating that sent chills down the spines of the onlookers.
“S-stop!”
“He will die like that!”
Eventually, the soldiers drafted from the same unit as the giant pleaded with Wicheonsaeng. But they had yet to understand Wicheonsaeng’s way of thinking.
“You two, and you in that front row. No, you beside Gaho.”
At Wicheonsaeng’s words, Gaho subtly pushed the soldier next to him forward.
“You who showed your teeth earlier, step forward.”
For Wicheonsaeng, who was a hardened veteran of the army, there was only one way to enforce discipline.
“We will have to request that more reserve troops be drafted. At this rate, he will not even be able to walk······.”
“No. Cheonsaeng will make him walk.”
“How······. I see.”
Only then did Wonil truly realize that these were soldiers who had survived rough battlefields.
“I am Wicheonsaeng, your ten-man leader. Except when answering me, do not bare your teeth needlessly. Understood?”
“Yes, sir!”
“Gaho.”
“Yes, sir!”
Gaho knew Wicheonsaeng’s true nature well. He quickly pretended to have been disciplined.
“How old am I?”
“You are twenty-two, sir!”
“Did you all hear?”
“Yes, sir!”
No soldier harbored any further doubts about Wicheonsaeng’s age.
“Tsk, it ended more blandly than I thought. I was hoping for a more thrilling scene······. But he has grown so strong, after all.”
Gujangwon, who had been expecting a more tense scene, smacked his lips in disappointment.
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From a prestigious family?