Episode 113
“The winner of the contest will be given the privilege of applying to the department of his/her choice. Have you decided which department to apply to?”
When Joo Hwa-baek asked Yeon-woon a question.
Most people there thought the same thing.
‘It must be the Blue Dragon.’
‘I will definitely apply to the Blue Dragon Corps.’
‘If I wasn’t stupid, I would choose the Blue Dragon.’
Zhuge Hyedo was watching from the audience with his family’s warriors.
Sohyeongeomdo was leisurely drinking a glass of wine while sitting in a special seat assigned to the main figures of the group.
Hwang Bo-jin also appeared on the non-stage as the same top runner-up.
Everyone thought of the Blue Dragon.
When discussing the main force of the Murim Alliance, there is a name that always appears.
Four Gods.
The strongest military group in the central plains that all Baekdo martial arts people envy.
Cheongryongdae was a group called the best among them.
Each of the warriors included was an elite with outstanding skills, and the screening process for joining was extremely difficult.
If Yeonsun, who won the competition, had to choose the best option, it was definitely Cheongryongdae.
Since he had the accomplishment of subduing an army of assassins, if he did well, he might be promoted to the rank of leader as soon as he joined.
The surest way to instantly gain wealth, fame, and status.
The answer that came out of Yeonsun’s mouth as if he had been waiting for something was completely different from their thoughts.
“I want to be assigned to the Sacheon branch of the Murim League.”
Zhuge Hui’s face, hidden by the cotton thread, was blank.
Sohyeongeom, who was tipping his glass with a smile on his face, heard a sound and coughed repeatedly.
Hwang Bo-jin glared at the back of Yeon-woon’s head with an expression that showed he wanted to see all the crazy people.
“Sacheon······ branch?”
Even Hwabaek Joo, who asked the question, could not hide his embarrassment.
To that extent, the answer Yeonsun gave was unexpected.
“······.”
The air in the audience was cold.
Everyone couldn’t believe their ears.
A god who saved the suffering residents of Zhejiang.
A hero who subdued the rebels and allowed the Yongbong branch to be held safely.
The strongest late-period index whose stock price skyrocketed by winning the competition.
He was saying that he wanted such a great talent to be assigned to a branch rather than the main branch of the League.
A decision that is not easily understood.
One person involved, Yeonsun, just nodded calmly with a soft smile on his lips.
“yes. Please assign me to the Sacheon branch.”
Cheon Ga-ryeong, who was sitting side by side with Seo Ho-seon and watching the scene, smiled and placed her head on her clasped hands.
A conversation I had with Yeonsun while eating at a guesthouse not long ago came to mind.
[By the way, if you win the Yongbong branch, which department do you plan on applying to?]
[I plan to request that I be assigned to the Sacheon branch of the Murim League.]
[Sacheon branch…?]
[yes.]
[The purpose of winning the competition is just to get assigned to a branch. It’s a story that would be absurd if other people hear it.]
[Contrary to what you say, I don’t think I’m that surprised.]
[How long have I been hanging out with you? To some extent, I expected it. When you first said goodbye to Master, you said you would come back, right?]
[That’s right.]
[Is there a special reason why you want to apply to a branch rather than the headquarters?]
[I do not want to narrow the range of possible maneuvers.]
“There is no such thing as a nerd.”
Seo Ho-seon nodded in agreement with Cheon Ga-ryeong’s muttering.
* * *
An ordinary monk cannot arbitrarily choose his own department.
The higher-ups simply decide on a place to work based on the instructor’s skills and qualifications.
Of course, there are some people who use their connections to get into the department they want, but let’s leave that aside for now.
I’ve been thinking about it for a long time.
A privilege given only to the winner of a dance competition.
How should we use that privilege?
‘If I just wanted to gain a high position and continue to win, I would have applied to the Blue Dragon Corps.’
Winners of the competition can apply to the department of their choice.
However, just because you can apply to the department you want does not mean there are limits to the scope.
Even if I applied to the military department, the upper echelons of the organization would not accept it.
What a person entering the military department needs is intelligence, not military power.
In the end, the options to choose from were limited.
Cheongnyongdae was the best option among them.
However, that was only when my goal was not to become an elder.
I had no intention of settling down and being satisfied with just being a key member of the group.
senate.
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It was a place that could never be reached by accumulating merit and raising one’s position through standard methods.
A representative example was Lee Kang-hak, the former head of the Blue Dragon Unit.
While on active duty, he achieved countless achievements.
Even now, juniors who respect him visit his residence from time to time, so what more can I say?
Presumably, the rescue of Master Yeongwoon (暎雲大師), who was in danger together with Dokgo Woojin, would have been reflected in Maeng’s personnel evaluation, even if it was not known to the public.
But even he could not become an elder.
He could not even rise to the position of Blue Dragon Lord, let alone an elder.
The wall of vested interests was that high.
‘Being part of the Blue Dragon Corps is certainly an honor, but since it is a group that operates only under orders from superiors, there are not as many opportunities for its warriors to make a contribution as expected. Even if you achieve merit, you will have to share it with others.’
I had three criteria for choosing the department I would apply to in the future.
First, it must be an on-site position, not an internal position.
Second, the scope of movement should not be narrowed as much as possible.
Third, it must be an environment where one can freely utilize memories of one’s past life.
The best workplace that met all those criteria did not exist in Maeng’s headquarters.
Therefore, I turned my attention to the branches of the Maeng that exist in various places.
And the branch established in Sacheon, the area where I mainly worked in my past life, had the best environment among them.
I said, looking straight into Joo Hwa-baek’s eyes, which clearly showed his bewildered state of mind.
“yes. Please assign me to the Sacheon branch.”
It was the best option I could choose at this point.
Of course, in order to join the Senate, one would have to set foot in the main body of the League at some point.
However, that time would come later, when I had achieved enough merit and achieved the position I wanted.
“······i get it.”
Soon, Hwabaek Joo nodded with a regretful expression.
The winner himself, not anyone else, requested to be assigned to the Sacheon branch.
Even if it was a leader, there would be no way to stop it.
The closing ceremony ended in a chaotic atmosphere.
I stretched out and left the competition venue with a relieved look on my face.
* * *
The Yongbong Branch has ended.
Participants and onlookers from all over came on their way home.
The once bustling streets became deserted, and the street vendors and performance troupes that lined the main streets were no longer visible.
“So, are you planning to go back soon?”
“yes. “I plan to leave immediately after my subordinate takes the entrance exam.”
I had a drink with Sohyeongeom at the base near Dongjeongho Lake and talked about various things.
Sohyeongeom asked, stroking his stylish beard.
“The Sacheon branch of the Murim League. “Have you been thinking about applying there from the beginning?”
“That’s right.”
“Well, you said something that seemed to hint at that before.”
A line was drawn around the wrinkled mouth of Noh Do-sa.
The first time I met Sohyeongeom came to mind.
When we reached the middle of the lake by driving the ferry, he offered me to join his faction.
And I rejected it and responded like this.
[It would be a lie if I said I didn’t find your suggestion attractive. But I also have my own plans. When I join, which department to apply to and what to do there.]
Since I had no intention of working at Maeng’s headquarters in the first place, I had no choice but to answer that way.
Sohyeongeom, who was quietly sipping his drink as if recalling the events of that time, spoke as if throwing it away.
“I have done everything you asked me to do.”
“thank you.”
I was recognized for my achievement in catching the murderer and was able to obtain several privileges.
First, he became the deputy director of the Sacheon branch of the Murim League.
In other words, as soon as he was assigned to the branch, he was promoted to the position of second-in-command.
It was a fairly unconventional greeting.
Of course, Sacheon is a region where the influence of the Murim League is not very high, so even if he were to obtain the position of Deputy Director, he would not be able to wield great power.
“As you requested, your subordinate will be assigned to the Sacheon branch with you.”
“thank you.”
After joining, Damun would head to Sacheon with me.
Fraud committed using personal connections.
However, I didn’t feel the slightest sense of guilt.
This is because it was a dishonesty commonly committed by people from old families or those from five generations.
‘Everyone else is doing it too, but there’s no law saying I shouldn’t do it.’
I found a good sponsor at best, so there was no reason not to get help.
Since he paid that much money as a bribe, shouldn’t he make a decent profit?
“What do you plan to do next?”
“First, we have to take control of the Sacheon branch.”
“That’s natural. What do you plan on doing after that? “With your personality, there’s no way you’d be satisfied with just being the king of a branch.”
“Senior, you know me very well.”
I put my drink down on the table and scratched my chin.
What should I do after returning to Sacheon?
To be honest, I was lost.
It wasn’t that I didn’t know what to do, it was that there was so much to do that I couldn’t easily decide where to prioritize.
“I plan to think about it slowly once I get to the branch.”
“Well, there are some things that can be decided only by looking at the atmosphere of the scene.”
“I will contact you often.”
“If you need help, let me know anytime. “I will use my hands as much as I can.”
“thank you.”
“Thank you. “I am more grateful.”
Sohyeongeom and my drinking glass collided in the air.
I emptied my glass in one go with a pleasant smile on my face.
* * *
I went to each and every one of the connections I had made and said goodbye.
Mannyukkun, Manjunggeom, Paeng Munhwan, etc…
The last place I visited was Lee Jajang (彛家莊).
When informed that she would soon be leaving Honam, Lee Soo-yeon’s eyes became bright.
He looked like he was about to burst into tears at any moment.
I said, wiping her face with my sleeve.
“Don’t be so sad. “It doesn’t mean I won’t be able to see you forever.”
“Do you really have to go?”
“yes.”
I had a strange feeling.
It was like seeing a woman abandoned by her lover, hanging on pitifully.
“I hope you are healthy next time I see you. “I hope we can go for a walk together under the sun then.”
“yes. “I definitely do that.”
Lee Kang-hak, who was watching, cleared his throat and said ‘loud’ as if he was feeling uncomfortable.
Then Su-yeon Lee glared at him with sharp eyes, as if asking when she had been sad.
I clicked my tongue and looked at the two people in turn.
‘That old man is really tactless too.’
martial arts,
