Episode 93
“How do you feel?”
“It’s a nice place.”
“yes?”
A window overlooking Dongdong Lake.
Sohyeongeom and I exchanged drinks and had a useful and constructive conversation.
“Okay, what specifically do you want me to do?”
“In the future, when I join the alliance, I hope to receive an official award in recognition of my contribution to catching the murderer.”
“The order is not right. “I want to be recognized for my achievements as a leader for what I did before joining the alliance.”
“Isn’t there no precedent? For example, a Taoist from the Nine Daemun Sect, while on a mission to practice good deeds, happened to help the Murim leader to subdue the demons, and after joining the alliance, he was recognized for his contribution and was promoted to two ranks at once.”
“······It’s a strangely specific story. “It’s also the case that we have the distinction of being from the Old Daemun faction.”
Sohyeongeom’s eyes narrowed.
The story I told a little while ago was a recitation of the past of Cheon Ryu-geom (川流劍), one of the elders of the Meng.
There was no way that Sohyeongeom, a fellow elder, did not know that.
“It just so happens that the place where the assassination army was lurking in secret is here in Honam.”
“······?”
“A disciple of the Demonic Cultist who was working in secret in the middle of Honam, where the Yongbong Branch will soon be held. A young Jisu later and an elder of Maeng, who happened to learn of his dark secrets. Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, the two men joined forces and launched a subjugation operation. “Wouldn’t this make a pretty good picture?”
“Did Yeoksalgun infiltrate Honam targeting the Yongbong Branch?”
“I don’t know that far. They all committed suicide without even having time to interrogate them. “They don’t seem to be very toxic people.”
“Well, whether it’s true or not isn’t that important. “As long as there is some circumstantial evidence to support it, it is not a problem to manipulate the case to suit your taste.”
Sohyeongeom stroked his beard and nodded.
I cried out in joy.
With this, it could be said that the link between Lee Kang-hak and Demonicism was completely severed.
“If possible, I will fulfill your request.”
“thank you.”
“What? I should say thank you. I’m glad to have built a friendship with such a great junior. Feel free to lift as much as you want. “I will pay for all the food.”
“I will not decline. But are you okay?”
“What do you mean?”
“Even if you drink in an open place like this while wearing uniform…”
“You’re worried about everything. The time when I paid attention to what others thought was long gone. To begin with, none of the clerks working here in the main base know my identity. “If you can’t hide it, you have to be confident.”
“I feel like I’m learning a lot from my senior.”
“You’re speaking evil to my face.”
“I mean this from the bottom of my heart.”
I said, staring at Sohyeongeom with sparkling eyes.
Sohyeongeom seemed to feel burdened and cleared his throat and turned his head.
Yes, an elder of the Meng must be at that level.
A life of doing whatever you want without worrying about what others think.
I raised my glass, vowing that one day I too would lead a life like that.
“Please take care of me.
My cup and Sohyeongeom’s cup collided in the air again.
* * *
Lee Jang-jang (彛家莊).
After finishing treatment in the dark underground space, I relaxed my stiff shoulders and looked back.
Lee Kang-hak, who was sitting with his arms crossed and watching, asked in a calm voice.
“Are you done?”
“yes.”
A month has already passed since I set foot in Honam.
The date of the Yongbong branch meeting was getting closer.
In the meantime, he continued to visit Lee Ga-jang and developed a close relationship with Lee Kang-hak.
Now Lee Kang-hak had completely let down his guard against me.
“What is Yuna’s condition?”
“I tell you this every time, it is improving quickly. “It won’t be long before you can get out of bed.”
“I am always grateful to you.”
“I think I’ve heard that statement 20 times.”
“Can you give me a moment? “There is someone I would like to introduce to you.”
“introduction?”
“Didn’t you say that you intend to join the alliance? “He’s going to be your senior soon, so there’s no harm in building a friendship with him.”
“······!”
I cried out in joy.
There was no reason to refuse.
Lee Kang-hak was trying to help me by mobilizing his connections.
I hummed to myself and followed him.
As I entered the living room, a middle-aged man with a slovenly appearance stood up with a happy expression and bowed.
“Have you been well so far?”
“It’s been a while. “Her face looks bright. What good has happened so far?”
“I think I’ll be promoted soon.”
“Good.”
“It’s thanks to you for teaching me.”
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“The old man in the backroom like me taught me some great lessons. “These are all achievements achieved through your own efforts.”
“······.”
“Greetings. “This is a young man with whom I am personally acquainted.”
“Nice to meet you. This is Pang Mun-hwan, the leader of the Murim League Hyeonmudae. He is scheduled to be promoted to Deputy Commander soon.”
I swallowed my saliva.
The next Vice President of Hyunmudae.
It was bigger than I thought.
He was a person with whom there was no harm in becoming friends.
I bowed my head politely and introduced myself.
“It’s called Yeonsoun. “It is an honor to meet the next Commander of the Military Department.”
“To glory.”
Lee Kang-hak looked at me and Pang Mun-hwan in turn with a satisfied expression.
With a business smile on my face, I sat down in the seat recommended by Lee Kang-hak.
As it was an important event, I did not want to show any flaws.
I straightened my back and fixed my gaze straight ahead.
“This young man wrote in the letter sent by his senior…”
“I see.”
“As expected, your prayers are unusual.”
Pang Mun-hwan and Lee Kang-hak had an incomprehensible conversation.
For a moment, Pang Mun-hwan looked back at me with belligerent eyes and said,
“It’s a bit weird to ask for something like this on our first meeting, but would you like to spar with me?”
“······?”
I looked back at Lee Kang-hak with an expression of confusion.
Lee Kang-hak quietly turned his gaze away from me.
‘No, this old man?’
I thought it was a place to introduce people, but suddenly I was asked to spar.
I couldn’t help but feel absurd.
“I really want to see your skills, which are said to have surpassed even your seniors.”
“······At that time, Senior Lee had bare hands. “He didn’t deal with me properly.”
I was careful about what I said so that the other person would not feel uncomfortable.
I don’t know how much Lee Kang-hak told the man in front of him about what happened at the time.
At least he wouldn’t have said anything about the mysterious illness his granddaughter was suffering from or about the demonic cult.
‘If it’s something like this, could you at least tell me in advance?’
Fortunately or unfortunately, Pang Mun-hwan’s attention was focused solely on me.
He narrowed his eyes and spoke as if muttering.
“I don’t deny that it was overwhelming.”
“······.”
“No matter how bare-handed it was, gaining the upper hand against a fire fighter is not as easy as it sounds.”
“I was just lucky.”
“You don’t have to be so humble. “I guarantee you that you are a great warrior.”
“······.”
In this situation, I couldn’t even say no.
My guess is that the reason the man in front of me came to visit the head of the family was me, not Lee Kang-hak.
He must have been interested in the contents of the letter and took the step to find out my skills.
Lee Kang-hak brought me here even though he knew that.
‘It’s not like Lee Kang-hak lied.’
I couldn’t help but feel like I had been tricked.
I nodded with a bitter smile.
“All right.”
“Then let’s move to our seats right away.”
Peng Mun-hwan took the lead and left the reception room with a satisfied expression.
I followed behind him with Lee Kang-hak and sighed.
‘I can’t afford to lose. ‘The opponent knew about my skills and came to see me, and Lee Kang-hak was also watching.’
I felt a little uneasy.
In my past life, I have been sick of seeing mothballs who suggest a fight first and then hold a grudge when they lose.
Surely the person who becomes the next deputy head of Hyeonmudae won’t show such a petty person?
* * *
Time passes quickly, and the season when the mountains and rivers and trees turn green has arrived.
There are only 15 days left until the Yongbong branch meeting is held.
“Are you saying that you will also participate in the martial arts competition?”
“I originally didn’t think about it, but recently I became curious. “How far can I climb?”
“I hope we get good results.”
“I’ll have to wish you good fortune. “It would be a disaster if we were eliminated from the first match against a small cooperative.”
My group and I gathered together for a meal and discussed our future plans.
Unlike Cheonwoo Dojang, who showed great motivation, Cheon Ga-ryeong and Tang Seo-yeon did not have much interest in the competition.
Damun seemed to be still thinking, and Seo Ho-seon was not a late-stage index to begin with, so it was impossible for him to participate.
“What makes you think so?”
I looked back at Damun, who was staring blankly at the ceiling while holding his chopsticks, and asked.
Damun slowly put down his chopsticks and opened his mouth.
“The leader said he plans to join the Yongbong branch.”
“That’s right.”
“If we do that, hanging out together like this will soon be over.
It was a story that no one had talked about until now, but everyone guessed.
I nodded and spoke as if declaring.
“yes. I plan to end my trip to Gangho with a stop here in Honam. At that time, the people gathered here will also have to disperse.”
“······.”
A heavy silence fell.
It wasn’t like they were breaking up forever, and it wasn’t like everyone was returning to their faction.
However, as the time we spent together was not short, we became attached to each other whether we knew it or not.
Everyone seemed to be feeling emotional as the breakup was just around the corner.
I asked Damun to change the subject.
“What do you plan to do with the small cooperative?”
“yes?”
“It’s a matter of membership. “Doesn’t it make sense for a superior to join the union but his subordinates not?”
“well. “I don’t know what to do.”
“Are you concerned that you will be assigned to a different department than me after joining the union?”
“I can’t say I don’t have those concerns.”
“You don’t have to worry about that part. “Because I already wrote her hand.”
“······?”
“With the capabilities of the small cooperative, joining the membership itself will not be that difficult. You can either participate in the Yongbong branch or give up the competition and take a separate entrance examination. You can get good results no matter which one you choose. Do whatever you want. “I will take care of all the minor problems.”
“All right.”
Even after I finished my trip to Gangho, Damwoon and Seo Hoseon were planning to continue traveling with me.
In the case of Seo Ho-seon, it was difficult for him to join the club right away due to his background.
Maybe it would never be possible.
I was planning to find a way later, whether it was identity laundering or something else.
“by the way.”
After finishing his meal, Cheon Ga-ryeong wiped his mouth with a handkerchief and turned to me.
She asked, tilting her head slightly.
“If you win the Yongbong branch, which department do you plan to apply to?”
martial arts,
