Chapter 36 The Cheonryong Association

Chapter 36: The Cheonryong Association

“I’m tired today…”

“He said just a moment would suffice. Please wait a little longer.”

As he took a step to leave, the guard blocked his path again.

For a moment, he considered using force to break through.

‘I doubt I could subdue him with a single strike.’

The thick neck, comparable to an ox’s, caught my eye and I dismissed the thought.

What kind of martial arts training must one undergo to build such a frame…

Had he lived in modern times, gym rats worldwide would surely have rushed over with wads of cash, begging for his secrets.

After a brief wait, Toad appeared.

“It’s been two days.”

“Yes, well…”

“I won’t keep you long, so let’s walk for a bit.”

“As you wish.”

They exited Honghwa Pavilion and crossed Taeryong Road.

Their Siberian grizzly-sized bodyguards following behind drew stares, but no one dared approach.

Lee Jeok-ha, leisurely observing the passersby, remarked.

“So many people live here? The outer city of Guryongseong is truly a remarkable place.”

His tone, devoid of hostility, caught me slightly off guard.

“Doesn’t the outer city of Muwangseong have residents?”

“Residents? Yes, but not nearly this many. Only those affiliated with Muwangseong and their families live there.”

“I see.”

Well, unlike Nine Dragon City, which partially functioned as a local government, Muheungseong was purely a martial arts sect. That made sense.

“I hear you’re the one in charge of this area?”

“That’s correct.”

“Watching over and protecting the common folk nearby… In a way, it’s like the work of a chivalrous hero.”

Chivalrous hero, my ass.

I’m just doing it for the money.

Still, I didn’t voice that thought outright.

Telling a little white lie doesn’t cost anything.

“Well, yes. That’s right. I suppose there is some satisfaction in that.”

“…It seems Young Master Qing chose his companion well after all. Now I can finally rest easy.”

“…?”

What? Why did the mood suddenly change like this?

I even put on the black lotus fist armor I’d hidden in my waistband, expecting another fight.

Seeing my puzzled look, Yi Jeokha explained with a relieved smile.

“She gave up on Young Master Qing.”

“······But didn’t she like him?”

“She did.”

“Then why······?”

“Mother had a different opinion. It seems she didn’t care for Young Master Qing’s lively temperament.”

“Ah······.”

“So I intended to bring Young Lady Qing to show her to Mother. I thought seeing her face might change Mother’s mind.”

It was a matter I could roughly understand.

After all, a potential daughter-in-law for a chaebol family must have a perfect disposition.

‘In that sense, Young Lady Qing completely fails.’

“After traveling a thousand miles with that intention, to suddenly hear someone else had promised her future—wouldn’t it be strange not to be angry? That’s why I challenged you to a fight and showed such a pathetic side by refusing to accept defeat.”

“I understand completely.”

“The reason I suggested meeting like this was to apologize for what happened then. I was truly sorry.”

Lee Jeok-ha bowed his head slightly as he spoke.

Considering his social standing, it was unthinkable for him to bow to me, a mere outer court warrior. I recoiled in shock, waving my hands frantically.

“Ah, no. There’s no need to apologize this much…”

As I accepted his apology, I thought.

‘For the Toad, isn’t this actually a good thing?’

His martial arts are formidable, his family background is solid, and seeing him again, his personality doesn’t seem so bad either.

His looks are a bit off, but aside from that, where could you find a more perfect man?

If I had married the cleaning service, I might have become an absolute master after the divorce…

After finishing his apology, he chuckled and continued.

“Perhaps we could become good friends.”

“How dare you…”

“The Azure Dragon Sword praised you. He said you’re the most upright warrior he’s ever seen.”

True to his reputation as the ace of the Azure Dragon Sect, he certainly has an eye for people.

I nodded silently, and Yi Jeokha continued.

“And I have a few requests.”

“I’m listening.”

“Don’t let Miss Cheong drink more than three cups of liquor. She’ll beat anyone. And when you go to Dalu, drink white tea instead of green tea. Sometimes she gets drunk and swings her fists—just take the hits. And since she likes writing, read her work occasionally…”

‘He really did care.’

For some reason, my conscience began to ache.

But seriously, how much of a pain in the ass was this guy?

* * *

A few days later.

The day of my first squad leader meeting after promotion.

I left home late.

Something I could never have imagined when I was the youngest squad leader, but now the situation was different.

‘Executives never run.’

Because I had risen to the position of Team Leader, the highest-ranking role among team leaders and one of only three executives in the company—the King of Kings, the Head Team Leader.

Walking slowly into headquarters, I saw the team leaders already gathered.

“Head Team Leader, you’re here?”

“My, you look especially radiant today.”

“Ahem, you’re here? About what I mentioned earlier…”

“Thank you for accepting my request for support last time. I owe my life to the First Division.”

Greetings poured in from the various division leaders.

It was a scene that made my changed position feel real.

Of course, I mustn’t let arrogance lead me to treat them carelessly.

If I did, someone harboring resentment might write my name on a letter of complaint and send it to the Inspection Corps.

“Section Chief Yi looks well today. Is Lady Bok doing well? Ah! Section Chief Fifteen is dazzling as ever. Section Chief Six seems to be in better health. Let’s play a game of stones later. Section Chief Joo! How long has it been?”

I received each greeting with consistent politeness.

Shortly after, North Palace Lord Baek and Garip entered, and the meeting began.

“First, I will assign the duty stations.”

As expected, the duty lottery began.

“Gate guard duty: Seventh Division, Sixth Division, Fourth Division, Third Division.”

When the names of the divisions assigned to gate guard duty were called, their division leaders beamed and jumped to their feet.

The other squad leaders watched them with envious eyes, unable to contain their joy.

Ignoring their reactions, Garip read the documents he had brought in a matter-of-fact tone.

“…Jiryeong-ro is assigned to Squad Thirteen, and Taeryeong-ro to Squad Fifteen. That is all.”

“Heeee.”

The moment Taeryong-ro, the hellish duty station, was assigned, the Fifteenth Squad leader instantly wore a long face.

It was quite unfortunate, but what could be done?

According to Garyp, the assignments were made in the fairest way possible.

For reference, back when I was the Seventeenth Squad leader, I used to visit Garyp’s house once a week, carrying bundles of items—not bribes, but gifts.

While watching the meeting and thinking about the past, Baek Bukgung quietly opened his mouth.

Considering his usual habit of drifting off to dreamland the moment meetings started, this was quite unusual.

“Discipline seems to have slackened lately.”

“Discipline, you say…?”

“It means they’ve lost the fundamental posture of a martial artist.”

Tension spread across the squad leaders’ faces at Baekgong Baek’s words.

‘Well, I suppose it was about time that came up.’

It was an occasional event.

Outer Sect warriors were typically regarded as equivalent to disciples of third-rate sects, famed for boasting the lowest combat prowess in the martial world.

That was true for our Nine Dragons Fortress as well. We had more numbers and a few more masters, but the overall level wasn’t significantly different.

That’s why the Nine Dragons Sect provided a common martial art for the outer sect warriors.

It was the Zeyan (Control Darkness) series—one of the basic arts of the Moksryong Sect (Zeyan Sword Technique, Zeyan Staff, Zeyan Mind Method).

For reference, it was the genuine article, officially licensed by the copyright holder, the Moksryong Sect, for a fee.

Though called a basic technique, its depth was anything but shallow.

Even if not divine martial arts, decades of training could, with some probability, allow one to draw forth the sword qi—the symbol of the pinnacle.

Proof of this was Ga Lip, the deputy leader, who had relentlessly trained in the Je-am series for twenty years and achieved the triumph of reaching the pinnacle.

The problem was.

The willpower of the outer disciples was not merely weak—it was practically nonexistent.

This sight grated on North Palace White, who often ordered special intensive training sessions.

‘Already slacking off?’

You should only play around once you’ve reached my level. How dare these non-peak masters neglect their training?

As I inwardly cursed the outer disciples, North Palace White pointed at me.

“What are your thoughts, Squad Leader Yi?”

“You are absolutely correct. I too have been unable to suppress my frustration at seeing the squad members neglect their training. With the Ten Demon Clan, those North Korean bastards, potentially provoking us at any moment, I believe it is right to implement special intensive training as soon as possible to strengthen our combat power.”

After all, the squad leaders are exempt from training anyway.

“……I never expected those words to come from Squad Leader Iljo’s mouth. I thought you didn’t pay much attention to the Oedang’s affairs?”

“Oh my! That is utterly and completely untrue. I, Jinmujon, worry about the Oedang’s future and present day and night.”

“Is that so?”

“How could I dare to lie about such a thing?”

“Then, Squad Leader Iljo, you will be in charge of the special intensive training.”

“Pardon?”

“Didn’t you hear? I said you are to take charge.”

A situation where overdoing it led to a complete reversal.

I quickly bowed my head, expressing my refusal.

“My abilities are insufficient…”

“Then you should do it all the more. There’s much to gain from teaching others, you know. Isn’t that right, Deputy Leader?”

At Baek’s question, Garip nodded with an expression that looked like he was about to die laughing.

“You are absolutely right.”

A 2:1 situation.

But I couldn’t just give up like this.

Because I had already become someone who couldn’t survive unless I ate breakfast and then lay back down on the bed.

‘I didn’t want it to come to this.’

The choice I made was self-destruction.

“As I am but a humble servant unfamiliar with the Je-am Sword Technique, I fear I might make a mistake. Therefore, I believe the Lord of the Inner Court, a master of the Je-am Sword Technique, is more suited for the task.”

It was the Water Ghost Strategy.

The moment the words left my mouth, Garyeop glared at me as if he wanted to kill me, but I couldn’t help it.

I couldn’t give up my sweet morning sleep.

“Not an unreasonable point.”

Bukgung Baek nodded, seemingly convinced by my words, and I cheered inwardly.

‘Did I pull it off?’

But Garip was a master of political maneuvering, with twenty years of service in the outer court alone.

“That’s precisely why the First Squad Leader should handle it.”

“Why?”

“The previous head instructor and I have been in charge of the trainees’ training, but it hasn’t been effective. Naturally, we need to change our approach. By putting forward a young warrior like Jin, the squad leader.”

“······!”

He’d played a high-stakes move, even exposing his own failure to deliver results.

It was the perfect example of political maneuvering—giving what he had to give, taking what he needed to take.

In the end.

“This special intensive training will be led by the squad leader.”

“Guh!”

It was decided that I would oversee the squad members’ special training for the next fortnight.

Garip sneered at me as I slumped to the floor.

It was as if he was saying, you still can’t handle me.

Thud.

A heavy stone crushed my heart.

‘Next time, I will succeed!’

And so, the meeting ended, dumping only more work on me.

* * *

The next morning.

Rubbing my sleepy eyes, I came out to the training ground.

Upon arriving, I felt inexplicably aggrieved.

“Guh! I will never forget this humiliation.”

As I vowed revenge for yesterday’s events, the squad members began appearing on the training ground one by one.

“You bastards! Aren’t you going to run?!”

Rumble.

I raised my voice, filling it with all my inner strength, and the squad members came running.

“What time is it now?”

“It’s just past the first hour of the morning.”

“You bastards! You’re slacking off. Late on the very first day?!”

“Huh? Wasn’t the gathering supposed to be at this time?”

“Aren’t you supposed to be here half an hour before?!”

“We… we’ll correct it.”

“Listen up. When training is scheduled, you arrive at the training grounds the night before… That kind of mindset… You lot… The Ten Demon Training…”

After finishing the pep talk, I saw the team members grimacing.

They were undoubtedly reflecting on my lecture.

“Alright! Training commences!”

It was the moment PT exercises spread throughout the martial arts world.