Chapter 39
A Busy New Beginning
The Martial Alliance was enormous.
Im Chung and Beon Saeng were overwhelmed by its sheer scale.
Look at that building! It’s so tall I can’t even see the top!
We’re going to get lost at this rate.
Gasp! Look at those martial artists. Brother, lower your eyes. Hurry!
Those were the kinds of things they would have said to each other if Zhuge Hyeon had not been guiding them.
The training grounds between the majestic buildings were vast, and the martial artists moving busily through the compound looked incomparably dignified.
The Martial Alliance consisted of fifteen organizations, classified as One Hall, Two Courts, Three Pavilions, Four Corps, and Five Units.
The One Hall was the Alliance Leader’s Hall, which handled all matters concerning the Martial Alliance Leader. Its overall administration was overseen by the commander of the secret guards.
The Two Courts consisted of the Council of Elders, where the Alliance’s retired masters belonged, and the Guardian Court, which upheld the Alliance’s laws.
The Three Pavilions consisted of the Hyeoncheon Pavilion, an organization of strategists responsible for directing operations; the Dark Shadow Pavilion, which inspected and monitored the Martial Alliance’s warriors; and the Secret Pavilion, which conducted covert operations under the Alliance Leader’s orders.
The Four Corps were led by the Iron Sword Corps, reputed to be the Martial Alliance’s finest elite force. The others were the Iron Cavalry Corps, whose armored riders trampled enemies with long spears; the Azure Dragon Corps, which boasted the greatest number of personnel; and the White Dragon Corps, which was responsible for defending the Alliance.
The Five Units consisted of the Flying Dragon Unit and the Righteous Valor Unit, which handled ordinary combat missions; the Pursuit and Execution Unit, which hunted down, arrested, or eliminated villains and criminals; the Righteous Administration Unit, which handled various duties within the Alliance; and the Support Unit, which was responsible for external affairs.
All of these organizations were located within the Martial Alliance’s main headquarters, which was divided into the Inner Court and Outer Court.
After walking for quite some time, they arrived at a small building Zhuge Hyeon had selected.
It stood on the outskirts, far from the center of the Alliance.
“I’m sorry, but you will have to begin here.”
The building was small and old enough that his apology was necessary.
At a glance, it looked shabby. It was obvious that it had originally served some other purpose and had been hastily renovated for their use.
Even so, a signboard hung above the entrance.
Hyeoncheon Unit.
Zhuge Hyeon spoke to Baek Socheon.
“I named it the Hyeoncheon Unit after my pavilion. What do you think?”
“I like it.”
“I wrote the characters myself.”
The bold calligraphy carried Zhuge Hyeon’s feelings within it.
Had circumstances allowed, he would have preferred to name it the Socheon Unit. For now, however, he needed to lend Baek Socheon his own authority in order to protect him.
“Well, I’m busy, so I must be going. Prepare whatever you need today, and begin your official duties two days from now. I look forward to working with you.”
“The feeling is mutual.”
After Zhuge Hyeon left, another person arrived.
“You returned sooner than I expected.”
It was Hwang Il-bi, First Company Commander of the Iron Sword Corps.
He was the same man who had regretted that he could not follow Baek Socheon to Munseong because he had a family.
“The countryside was still the countryside. I got bored and came back.”
“I’m glad you did.”
Hwang Il-bi was sincerely delighted by Baek Socheon’s return.
He had known Baek Socheon would eventually come back, but it had happened sooner than expected. That likely meant the situation was becoming urgent.
Baek Socheon introduced Hwang Il-bi to Im Chung and Beon Saeng.
The two were startled when they heard that he was a company commander in the Iron Sword Corps.
Naturally, a question arose in both their minds.
Why is someone who used to be a squad leader speaking informally to a company commander? Is it because he is older? But in the Iron Sword Corps, rank should come first.
Meanwhile, Hwang Il-bi had a question of his own.
Who are these people he brought with him? Are they hidden masters?
Yet no matter how he looked at them, they did not appear to be masters.
As they exchanged probing looks, an Iron Sword Corps warrior ran over, delivered a message, and departed.
“First Company Commander, the Corps Commander is looking for you.”
Hwang Il-bi looked around himself.
“He must have assigned someone to watch me. He always calls for me at times like this.”
“See you later.”
“Yes.”
As Hwang Il-bi began to leave, he glanced at the signboard attached to the building and asked,
“Are there any qualifications required to join the Hyeoncheon Unit?”
“There are no qualifications, but there are grounds for disqualification.”
“What are they?”
“You are rejected.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m tired of you.”
“Where would you find someone as entertaining as me? Why? Are you worried my Corps Commander’s jealousy will explode?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
An entirely unexpected answer came from Baek Socheon.
“Because if something happens, you will have to take command of the Iron Sword Corps.”
“…!”
Hwang Il-bi was stunned.
He had never heard such words before, nor had he ever imagined them.
What Baek Socheon had just said meant that he regarded Hwang Il-bi as the next commander of the Iron Sword Corps.
For the first time, Hwang Il-bi felt that Baek Socheon had acknowledged him.
His heart pounded violently, but he struggled to conceal his trembling emotions as he said goodbye.
“Thank you for rejecting me. Honestly, I couldn’t start over as an ordinary warrior anyway. I’ll be going.”
After Hwang Il-bi departed, Beon Saeng finally released the breath he had been holding.
“Does rank work in reverse at the main headquarters? Are ordinary warriors the highest, while corps commanders and pavilion lords become lower the farther up they go?”
He already knew Baek Socheon was no ordinary person, but seeing such remarkable figures gather around him one after another left Beon Saeng completely bewildered.
“That’s enough for today. Go back and organize the house first. We’ll clean this place tomorrow.”
“Yes.”
As Baek Socheon walked ahead, Im Chung and Beon Saeng looked at each other.
“Phew. This is overwhelming.”
“It certainly is.”
Even though they were standing within the Martial Alliance’s main headquarters, it still did not feel real.
It felt as though they were dreaming.
“I should be excited and thrilled, but honestly… I’m nervous and frightened.”
Im Chung patted Beon Saeng once on the shoulder.
How do you think I feel?
Unlike Beon Saeng, he had brought his wife and child with him.
Even so, he was not alone.
“Let’s do our best together.”
“Yes!”
***
Naturally, while some people welcomed Baek Socheon’s return, others were furious.
Chung Yang, Commander of the Iron Sword Corps, flew into a rage when he heard that Baek Socheon had returned.
After all, he had been one of the people who pressured the Alliance into sending Baek Socheon down to Munseong.
“Damn it! How in the world did this happen?”
Hwang Il-bi, standing behind him, answered,
“It must have been a decision from the Alliance Leader’s Hall.”
Chung Yang ground his teeth.
Because that truly might have been the case, he did not dare curse openly.
“I heard he returned as a unit commander. How many people does he have?”
“Yes. It appears he only has a few so far.”
“Then they should have made him a squad leader. Why make him a unit commander?”
“At most, he is a tiger without fangs. There is no need to concern yourself with him.”
However, Chung Yang still vividly remembered being beaten by that fangless tiger.
“If he bothers you that much, I can watch his every move and report back to you.”
“You just want an excuse to stay near that bastard, don’t you?”
Hwang Il-bi flinched inwardly.
He really is perceptive.
Hwang Il-bi put on a serious expression.
“I’m a practical man. I have no interest in a tiger without fangs.”
“Are you certain?”
“If you doubt me, assign someone else. I’m busy as well.”
“No. You go and watch him. Report exactly how many people gather there and how the organization operates.”
“Yes.”
Perhaps his head was throbbing, because Chung Yang pressed firmly between his eyebrows.
“He will try to reclaim the position of Iron Sword Corps Commander.”
“Are you afraid?”
“Afraid? Of a bastard without internal energy?”
“Exactly. There is no need to be frightened.”
“I said I’m not frightened! There is a rumor that the Grand Strategist defied the Alliance Leader’s wishes and forced this through. In other words, the Alliance Leader’s heart has completely turned away from Baek Socheon. We must find a way to drive him out again.”
Hwang Il-bi silently listened.
“Commander Hwang.”
“Yes, Corps Commander.”
“Find a way to get rid of him.”
“Understood.”
Hwang Il-bi left the Iron Sword Corps Commander’s office and walked down the corridor.
He was pleased Baek Socheon had returned, but he worried that Chung Yang would cause trouble.
Chung Yang was still afraid of Baek Socheon.
Even the incident in which Baek Socheon had beaten him in the past had ultimately happened because Chung Yang feared him.
There is no need to be ashamed, Corps Commander. Even without its fangs, a tiger is still a tiger. Of course you should be afraid.
***
That night, Baek Socheon arranged a modest drinking gathering.
Since he had never done such a thing before, Im Chung and Beon Saeng were inwardly nervous.
Baek Socheon judged that the time had come and told them about himself.
“During the previous war between the righteous and unorthodox factions, I was known as the God of War.”
Beon Saeng laughed.
“Hahaha! Brother’s delusions are back after a long absence. Isn’t that right, Second Brother? Huh? Why are you making that face?”
Im Chung was staring at Baek Socheon in shock.
“That’s right. The God of War’s name was also Baek Socheon.”
Im Chung knew of the God of War, but he had not thought about the man in years and had nearly forgotten him.
Yet the moment he heard the title, he remembered that the hero’s name had also been Baek Socheon.
“The God of War… was you, Brother?”
Im Chung’s voice trembled.
“Why are you acting so frightening?”
Beon Saeng still did not remember the God of War.
He too had heard of him in the past, but the memory had faded.
Zhejiang had avoided the worst of the war, and Beon Saeng had been a newly admitted warrior struggling through a difficult and hectic period at the time. As a result, he had ignored most news and rumors about the martial world.
Im Chung explained to him.
“He is the man who saved the righteous martial world during the last war.”
Only then did Beon Saeng’s eyes widen.
“You weren’t boasting?”
“He wasn’t boasting. He has been far too humble all this time.”
“Good heavens!”
Only now did everything make sense.
Why had Beon Saeng felt that becoming Baek Socheon’s sworn younger brother had driven him to do impossible things?
Why had Wang Gon seemed almost harmless to him?
“I did not deliberately deceive you, but I apologize for not telling you sooner.”
“No, Brother. But… are we truly allowed to call you Brother?”
“Yes.”
Im Chung asked seriously,
“Why did you bring us here?”
He had to ask again.
After all, they had not merely been brought here by an impressive former squad leader of the Iron Sword Corps.
Beon Saeng cautiously offered an answer in Baek Socheon’s place.
“Because we’re pushovers who are easy to exploit?”
“That is certainly one reason, but there is another.”
“What is it?”
“Because you are good people.”
Im Chung and Beon Saeng’s eyes widened at the unexpected answer.
“Since I was six years old, my dream was to become a warrior of the Martial Alliance. I wanted to become one so I could protect good people. I thought that dream had shattered long ago…”
Baek Socheon silently emptied his cup.
As people grew older and suffered through the hardships of the world, they eventually realized that dreams were nothing more than dreams.
A childish dream such as wanting to protect good people was usually shattered even sooner.
Yet seeing how I brought the two of you here, perhaps I am still only half awake from that dream.
Im Chung and Beon Saeng could not speak.
They had never imagined such words would come from Baek Socheon.
What they did not know was that, regardless of his outward behavior, that feeling had served as the force sustaining Baek Socheon’s life for a very long time.
“Do you know why the Grand Strategist brought me back?”
“Why?”
“Another war is about to begin.”
Im Chung and Beon Saeng were startled.
Only three years had passed since the last war ended.
“This war will be different from the previous one. Both sides will fight until one is completely destroyed. If we lose, they will kill everyone affiliated with the Martial Alliance.”
Baek Socheon continued,
“You asked why I brought you here. If we fail to prevent this war, the two of you will die regardless. This time, even hiding in some remote corner of Zhejiang will not save you.”
“…!”
The two men were so shocked that they remained speechless for a long time.
“We are going to stop it.”
Beon Saeng asked in a trembling voice,
“Are the two of us included in that ‘we’?”
“Yes. You were the first ones included.”
“Who is our enemy? It isn’t some minor group like the Taejeong Faction, is it?”
“Our enemy is the Cheukcheon Alliance.”
Im Chung and Beon Saeng turned deathly pale.
The Cheuk Society and the Cheukcheon Alliance.
Apart from sharing the same first character in their names, the two were as different as heaven and earth.
“You saw me vomit when I heard our enemy was the Shinhwa Gang, didn’t you? I feel like I should faint now.”
“If you faint, you will die unconscious. If you run, you will die while fleeing. That is the kind of war this will be.”
Im Chung and Beon Saeng drank.
They could no longer tell whether the liquor tasted bitter or sweet.
This time, Im Chung asked,
“Then the Hyeoncheon Unit was created to prevent this war.”
“Yes. It was created for that purpose alone. I intend to make the Hyeoncheon Unit the finest organization in the Alliance.”
Baek Socheon’s voice remained calm.
“If necessary, I will recruit people from the Secret Pavilion, the Iron Sword Corps, or anywhere outside the Alliance. I will also select new members. Can you help me accomplish that?”
“Yes!”
Im Chung and Beon Saeng answered powerfully at the same time.
Im Chung suddenly recalled something Baek Socheon had once said.
If you intended to ignore something, then ignore it completely. But if you were going to intervene, then you had to do it properly.
Im Chung had no intention of turning away from the life before him.
The time had come to take proper control of it.
“I will train diligently from now on.”
“So will I.”
“Do it for yourselves, not for me or the Martial Alliance.”
“Yes!”
Baek Socheon raised his cup.
The two men enthusiastically clinked their cups against his.
“Ah! I was happier when I thought everything you said was just one of your delusions.”
Baek Socheon filled Beon Saeng’s empty cup and replied,
“I also found it entertaining when you believed that.”