Chapter 87

Chapter 87

It wasn’t particularly surprising, but Daesageom had met countless individuals called prodigies of the martial world throughout his life.

This was only natural. Birds of a feather flock together, and prodigies tend to gather around other prodigies. After all, Daesageom himself had made a name as a promising expert of the dark path since his days as a rising star, so it was inevitable that those around him would be similar.

Those with exceptional martial skills or who had achieved remarkable feats. Or those whose talent was so absurdly outstanding that their future was anticipated. Daesageom had met and experienced countless such individuals. And all of them, while they could possess wit and freshness, invariably lacked the experience that comes with age.

‘How peculiar.’

He felt not the slightest immaturity from Baek Riyun, who had climbed the path of success alongside those people. It was as if he were facing a battle-hardened veteran who had passed through countless battlefields.

That sensation—something he had never received from rising stars or greenhorns who had just passed their coming of age—felt strangely profound to Daesageom.

“……Hmm.”

A brief lull.

Watching Baek Riyun maintain a defensive stance against any attack that might come, Daesageom slowly lowered his sword. And then his lips parted.

“Did I say I had no intention of cutting that bastard down?”

“That’s right.”

“I explained in detail why I should cut that bastard down. Even after hearing that, you still think so?”

“Indeed.”

“I see.”

Watching Baek Riyun readily agree, Daesageom’s eyebrows twitched. As Baek Riyun said, facts were facts.

The Gate Master of Hyeolgeommun  must be rational. And being rational also meant being able to do anything without hesitation if it benefited the sect.

From that perspective, cutting down the Seonwoo Gang would bring more loss than gain. Not because of Seonwoo Gang’s talent, but because there was nothing to gain from cutting him down.

But that was only from his own standpoint.

How could Baek Riyun judge whether cutting down the Seonwoo Gang would be a gain or a loss for him?

‘I should test the waters a bit.’

Having finished his thoughts, Daesageom looked directly at Baek Riyun and spoke.

“If his expulsion  is permitted, there will be a flood of disciples wanting to leave Hyeolgeommun among those who learn of this fact. Do you know that?”

“That’s not wrong. But that’s only if Seonwoo Gang’s expulsion becomes known to other disciples.”

“Ha! It seems you haven’t heard what kind of person that bastard is. He’s the Small Sect Leader of our main sect. The Small Sect Leader of Hyeolgeommun, of all places! And the betrayal of a Small Sect Leader cannot be hidden by any means. At that level, all disciples would know his face. Isn’t that right?”

“Of course that would be so.”

“Then…….”

“──If it were an ordinary Small Sect Leader, that would be the case.”

“……What does that mean?”

Baek Riyun, who had let out a quiet laugh, lowered his sword tip and shrugged his shoulders.

“Isn’t it strange? A Small Sect Leader of a sect as significant as Hyeolgeommun infiltrating as a spy, yet why can’t people recognize him…… Even if I’m not saying this because it’s my former workplace, the Murim Alliance’s intelligence network is formidable.”

Watching the silent Daesageom, Baek Riyun glanced toward Seonwoo Gang.

“Thinking about it logically, it’s a simple story. It’s impossible that the Murim Alliance wouldn’t recognize a Small Sect Leader of a sect like Hyeolgeommun…… So the story becomes that the Seonwoo Gang isn’t the Small Sect Leader. Isn’t that right?”

“He learned my secret martial arts. If he weren’t the Small Sect Leader, I wouldn’t have taught him such things.”

“I know that. And I also know you have one more disciple.”

If one isn’t the Small Sect Leader, they cannot learn Daesageom’s secret martial arts. And there can only be one Small Sect Leader. Yet Hyeolgeommun already has a Small Sect Leader. Hyeolcheop , Seonwoo Gang’s martial sister, is Hyeolgeommun’s Small Sect Leader.

“To accept a more talented Small Sect Leader, you had no choice but to remove the current one. However, if you cast out Hyeolcheop when she committed no wrongdoing, the disciples’ morale would drop.”

Originally, it would have been a method where Seonwoo Gang would personally deal with Hyeolcheop after becoming Small Sect Leader. That’s how most dark path sects determine their successors.

However, with Seonwoo Gang’s gentle nature, he couldn’t kill his martial sister. That’s where Daesageom thought of it.

If Seonwoo Gang couldn’t kill his martial sister.

What if he created an environment where he had no choice but to kill her?

“You sent Seonwoo Gang in as a spy. You intended to both reform Seonwoo Gang’s gentle nature and, while at it, eliminate Hyeolcheop who was active in the Sado Alliance’s military force.”

In that case, the Seonwoo Gang wouldn’t be exposed to the outside world. Naturally so. To put it clearly, Seonwoo Gang wasn’t yet the Small Sect Leader.

And if Seonwoo Gang, who wasn’t the Small Sect Leader, betrayed them, only two people at most would know. His master Daesageom, and Hyeolcheop who had connections with him from the beginning.

“Now let’s return to the present. The reason a martial artist’s betrayal is unforgivable is because it sets a precedent. But what if only you knew of this precedent? What if this precedent isn’t recorded?”

“There’s something people of the dark path often say. If a crime isn’t discovered, it’s not a crime, right? Of course, I don’t agree with that saying.”

Baek Riyun, who had shown a faint smile, glanced at Seonwoo Gang.

“As a result, this means there’s no reason for you to cut down the Seonwoo Gang.”

The moment Baek Riyun spoke as if concluding.

Daesageom, who had been quietly listening to Baek Riyun’s words, silently closed his eyes.

‘Was the Alliance Leader’s judgment correct?’

To be honest.

Even when the Sado Alliance Leader showed tremendous interest in Baek Riyun, Daesageom hadn’t paid much attention to him. He thought he was a talent that wouldn’t come over anyway.

No matter how excellent the talent, it was meaningless if they weren’t under Hyeolgeommun’s, under Sado Alliance’s shadow. And Baek Riyun had a low probability of joining under the Sado Alliance.

Yet he couldn’t understand the Sado Alliance Leader who made a recruitment offer while risking hostility from the Murim Alliance.

‘If it’s to this extent…….’

As the Sado Alliance Leader saw.

‘This person might have been worth that much.’

Seureurung!

Having finished his contemplation, Daesageom raised his sword tip again and aimed at Baek Riyun.

“I acknowledge there’s no reason to cut him down.”

“That’s right.”

“However, there’s also no reason not to cut him down. If I decide I must cut him down even at the cost of some loss, what will you do?”

He had no intention of cutting down the Seonwoo Gang. As Baek Riyun said, cutting down the Seonwoo Gang would only bring loss without any real gain.

However, he needed to know. How deeply this young swordsman could see into his inner thoughts, what kind of eyes he possessed.

“If you insist on accepting loss to cut him down…….”

At Daesageom’s profound gaze, Baek Riyun quietly trailed off. And the sword tip slowly revealing its keen energy in Baek Riyun’s hand.

“What if I match the gain?”

“……Gain?”

“As his master, you know that boy’s nature better. He’s such an upright and good person that if you bestow favor upon him, he’ll surely repay it someday. If that’s too vague, we can clearly set the number of times. And.”

After briefly looking at Daesageom, Baek Riyun swung his sword.

“What you must accept isn’t a small loss.”

“……What do you mean?”

“I have no intention of standing by while you cut this boy down.”

Sipcheon  who controls the martial world and a mere military force leader.

It remains an impossible fight. No matter how talented Baek Riyun is, he doesn’t yet have abilities comparable to Sipcheon.

There’s no chance whatsoever that Baek Riyun could defeat Daesageom.

“On one side of the scale, the satisfaction of definitely finishing off Seonwoo Gang.”

“And on the other side of the scale, the Murim Alliance’s suspicion and cracks in the truce negotiations, the opportunity to bestow favor upon the Seonwoo Gang, and…….”

If it’s not about defeating the opponent but merely inflicting damage, if it’s just about placing it on the scale.

“One of Daesageom’s arms in exchange for my life.”

That’s possible.

“I think it’s obvious which side is heavier without needing to weigh them. Don’t you think so?”

“……You’re truly insane.”

At Baek Riyun’s appearance, wearing a deep smile as if the answer was already decided, Daesageom let out a hollow laugh.

“You’re truly insane, but…….”

At the sight of Daesageom gradually raising his momentum, Baek Riyun fully assumed a combat stance.

“At least you know how to make a deal.”

Daesageom relaxed his stiff expression and lifted the corners of his mouth.

“I’ll accept it. That deal.”

Not all birds know how to fly from birth.

A baby bird cannot climb back up on its own if it falls from the nest. It cannot obtain food by itself either.

That’s why until the baby bird grows, the mother bird personally carries food to the nest to prevent it from falling. 

A baby bird cannot remain a baby bird forever. The time comes when it must flap its wings and obtain food to survive.

Then when does a baby bird stop being a baby bird?

How does one judge when a baby bird must fly?

The side door of Muryeon Hall .

Kkiiik!

“You’re late.”

Seonwoo Gang, who was carefully opening the door and entering, gave a bitter smile at the familiar voice coming from above.

“You’re still not sleeping? If you were meditating, I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. I was just lightly training and then watching the moon since it was bright.”

Seomun Cheok, who had answered lightly, raised his upper body from the building’s roof and looked directly at Seonwoo Gang.

“What about the others?”

“Almost all went to sleep.”

“I suppose so.”

At Seomun Cheok’s words, Seonwoo Gang gave a bitter smile recalling his comrades who had been pouring alcohol down their throats without even removing the bottle stoppers. Tomorrow morning they’d probably be out and about fine, but tonight they all went to sleep early.

“That’s good.”

“What’s good?”

“I just felt like being quiet.”

Ttak!

Having finished speaking, Seonwoo Gang used lightness skill to climb onto the dormitory roof and sat down next to Seomun Cheok. The moon hanging brightly in the sky.

“It’s certainly bright.”

“I heard in passing that today would be the brightest. Even though it’s a waning crescent, apparently brighter than a full moon.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I heard it from the illusionists, so it’s probably certain.”

“I suppose so.”

Hearing Seomun Cheok’s words, Seonwoo Gang looked at the moon with fresh eyes. A moon shining almost as round as a full moon despite being called a waning crescent.

“Did anything happen while you were out?”

“Hmm?”

“You seem deep in thought, so I asked. If you don’t want to talk about it, you don’t have to.”

At Seomun Cheok’s calm question, Seonwoo Gang remained silent before reaching up to touch his mouth. The corners of his mouth that had been strangely stiff since earlier.

“It’s nothing much. Just…….”

“Just?”

“I’m pathetic.”

Seonwoo Gang, who smiled bitterly, unconsciously caressed the hilt of the sword hanging at his waist with his fingertips. Memories instantly revived.

—There’s a condition.

Daesageom.

His master said that while accepting the deal. That there was a prerequisite for accepting the deal.

The gain Baek Riyun proposed was placing the Seonwoo Gang in debt. That meant conversely, if Seonwoo Gang’s value was low, the gain would also be low.

If Seonwoo Gang’s value was low, it wouldn’t even become a deal. So prove your value in the three gates of the Grand Competition.

That was the condition Daesageom set for Baek Riyun.

Yes.

It was a condition set for Baek Riyun, not Seonwoo Gang.

‘Pathetic.’

At the surging emotion, Seonwoo Gang bit his lip. A deep sense of self-loathing welling up.

To Seonwoo Gang, Baek Riyun was a benefactor, but to Baek Riyun, Seonwoo Gang was nothing. At best, he could be called a martial artist with whom he’d spent a few months together, someone with a decent relationship.

Conversely, there was no reason for Baek Riyun to protect the Seonwoo Gang while confronting Daesageom. No matter how directly costly it wasn’t, how dangerous was it to directly face one of Sipcheon?

Yet Baek Riyun faced Daesageom on Seonwoo Gang’s behalf without a moment’s hesitation. He grasped Daesageom’s true intentions that the Seonwoo Gang couldn’t figure out and succeeded in drawing out a deal.

Yes.

Seonwoo Gang had done nothing there. Baek Riyun had simply handled everything somehow.

“I feel like I’m just holding back the Sect Master.”

Pathetic. Himself, unable to accomplish his own tasks, himself only receiving help from Baek Riyun. Himself with nothing he could repay Baek Riyun with.

In the rising self-loathing, Seonwoo Gang, who had been looking at the moon, closed his mouth desolately. And the moment he shook his head.

“If that’s the case, doesn’t it not matter?”

“……What?”

“I said, doesn’t it not matter.”

Pulssseok!

Seomun Cheok, who had been sitting up, chuckled and lay his back against the roof again.

“I don’t know what happened, but I can tell you’re blaming yourself. At best it would be something like receiving too much help from the Sect Master. Right?”

“That’s…… not wrong, but.”

“Then I ask. Is it wrong to receive a lot of help?”

Seomun Cheok, who asked lightly, clasped his hands behind his head while laying down and continued.

“Do you remember I said I was on the battlefield for quite a while?”

“Of course…….”

“When I first went to the battlefield, I was an ignorant fool who knew nothing. Life was desperate, and that was the only thing I was good at.”

The village where he’d lived was half-destroyed by yokai . The world was too harsh to live as a beggar in another village.

So Seomun Cheok became a wandering warrior  as a boy. A cheap wandering warrior who sold his life for three copper coins, holding a sharpened wooden spear because he couldn’t even afford to buy a blade.

“The first battlefield was hell. I barely survived by lying among corpses pretending to be dead. Even now I think it was heavenly fortune. I heard less than one in ten survived that battlefield.”

“After surviving there, I thought I needed to learn how to fight, how to survive. But no one would volunteer to teach anything to a child who might drop dead any moment. So I searched around.”

“……For what?”

“For someone who would show me kindness.”

It was fine to say he’d exploit that kindness. He wasn’t in a position to be choosy.

To survive, he had to use anything. He sought out soldiers famous for being good-natured and clung to their legs. He even begged them to please teach him just one skill.

“Eventually, I learned spear techniques from one good-natured soldier. Was it a week? I went to find that soldier every day to learn. Do you know what happened after that?”

“……What happened?”

“I, who survived with the spear techniques I received from that soldier, saved that soldier’s life in the battle after next.”

Having finished speaking, Seomun Cheok filled his eyes with the large moonlight.

“Accept kindness as kindness. Feeling self-loathing while receiving kindness is also rude to the other person.”

“If you can repay properly when you can, that’s enough. If you arbitrarily transform kindness into malice, there’s nothing more foolish than that. What do you think the Sect Master wants from you?”

“That would be…….”

To win the Grand Competition.

To win the Grand Competition and survive.

“That’s enough. Thinking about repaying the favor can come later. The opportunity will come anyway.”

Having finished speaking, Seomun Cheok looked at the moon with a faint smile, and watching him, Seonwoo Gang quietly closed his eyes. The self-loathing had already subsided.

‘The opportunity will come anyway…… is it.’

Seomun Cheok’s words were right.

Right now, he couldn’t do anything for Baek Riyun. He was just a rising star at best.

But if he waited, as Seomun Cheok said, the opportunity would come someday. Then for now, he should think about solving the assignment right in front of him.

“Alright.”

“I can’t sleep anyway, so I should train. To be able to defeat Baek Risan.”

“Is that so?”

At Seonwoo Gang’s appearance, now wearing a fresh smile, Seomun Cheok chuckled.

“Watching the moon is good, but don’t watch too long. You need to sleep plenty to train starting tomorrow.”

The moment Seonwoo Gang, who had delivered habitual nagging, was about to get down from the roof.

“Speaking of Baek Risan…… did you hear that news?”

“What?”

“Our chances of winning increased a little.”

At Seomun Cheok’s words, the Seonwoo Gang blinked. And soon after, Seomun Cheok speaking matter-of-factly.

“They say Baek Risan has stopped eating and drinking.”