Chapter 5: Assigned to a New Post (2)
Lim Chung, who was looking over the appointment order, was startled.
“You used to be a Squad Leader in the Iron Sword Corps?”
Only the final service record from the Iron Sword Corps was written there. Even that alone was enough to shock Lim Chung.
Beon Saeng, standing beside him, was even more astonished.
‘The Iron Sword Corps?’
Ever since he was young, his dream had been to join the Iron Sword Corps. Of course, it had now become a dream he would never fulfil. Naturally, Beon Saeng’s gaze became fixed on Baek Socheon.
“The Iron Sword Corps is the elite among the elite of the Main Division. How did someone like you end up being pushed all the way out here?”
At Lim Chung’s question, Baek Socheon answered indifferently.
“I suppose I didn’t live diligently enough.”
“Was that meant for the rest of us to hear?”
Baek Socheon then returned Lim Chung’s earlier question right back to him.
“How did the Branch Leader end up being pushed all the way out here?”
Lim Chung stared straight at Baek Socheon.
‘Well, would you look at this brat!’
The way he looked back so shamelessly made it clear he was no ordinary fellow.
“I worked hard, and I still got pushed all the way out here.”
“Then I suppose your ability wasn’t enough.”
It was certainly the sort of thing that should have made him angry, yet strangely, it didn’t.
Somehow, Baek Socheon and those impudent words suited each other perfectly. Or perhaps it was because of his tone. The words themselves clearly belittled the listener, yet there wasn’t the slightest trace of contempt in his calm voice. Even though they had just met, it felt less like disrespect and more like casual banter without any reservations.
‘He’s no ordinary man.’
Neither Lim Chung nor Beon Saeng knew anything about Baek Socheon.
Even within the Main Division, Baek Socheon was only known among the elite martial artists. After he began being demoted, a gag order had been placed regarding him, so there was no way the martial artists stationed in this backwater Wencheng Branch would know who he was.
Even if they had heard of him, no one would ever have imagined that someone of his calibre would end up in such a remote place.
Lim Chung’s gaze stopped on one particular part of the document, the same place where everyone was always shocked.
“What? Thirty-eight?”
Beon Saeng, standing beside him, cried out in surprise.
“No way!”
That was even more shocking than the fact that Baek Socheon had served in the Iron Sword Corps.
Beon Saeng himself was twenty-six. When they had first met, he had thought Baek Socheon was either younger than him or about the same age.
“It must be a mistake in the paperwork. Twenty-eight, perhaps?”
Baek Socheon answered Lim Chung’s question.
“If that makes you feel better, you’re free to think so.”
Ironically, hearing him say that only made it seem even more likely that he really was thirty-eight.
“If you haven’t mastered the Face-Preserving Technique, then you should be grateful to your parents.”
Lim Chung asked one more question.
“How good are your martial arts?”
Normally, he wouldn’t ask such a thing, but hearing that he had once been a Squad Leader in the Iron Sword Corps made the question come naturally.
“I used to fight well.”
“And these days?”
“Terribly.”
Beon Saeng, who had been listening from the side, casually cut in.
“What good is talking about the past? By that logic, back in my day I rode a golden calf into battle against the Black Heaven Alliance Leader.”
At Beon Saeng’s joke, Baek Socheon nodded as though he completely agreed.
“That’s true. The past is only the past.”
Seeing him accept it so readily, Beon Saeng also relaxed.
“Fortunately, there’s not much fighting to do around here. Let’s get along well from now on.”
Baek Socheon wasn’t exactly obedient, but Beon Saeng’s first impression of him wasn’t bad. Someone sharp like this was far better than one of those bootlickers who spent all day reading people’s moods. Besides, fellows like this usually turned out to be competent.
“Well then, introductions are over. From now on, Squad Leader Beon will teach you what you need to do.”
Beon Saeng led Baek Socheon outside, saying he would show him around the branch.
Leaning his head back against the chair, Lim Chung muttered to himself.
“The Iron Sword Corps…”
Perhaps it was because of where he had come from, but the man’s presence was extraordinary. If he had just five martial artists like that from the Iron Sword Corps here, Wang Gon wouldn’t have dared look down on him the way he did.
The thought left him feeling newly regretful.
—
Beon Saeng led Baek Socheon into the branch’s rear courtyard. There stood a vacant detached house.
“You’re older than me, and you’re my senior in the Martial Alliance… but you’re still an ordinary martial artist, while I’m a Squad Leader. So I’ll have to act as your superior.”
Naturally, in the Martial Alliance, rank took precedence over age.
“As you wish.”
“Thanks for understanding. By the way, how did you end up being demoted from Squad Leader?”
“I beat up my superior.”
“…!”
Beon Saeng flinched in surprise and stared at Baek Socheon. When Baek Socheon nodded as if to say it was true, Beon Saeng briskly resumed walking.
“In a tiny branch like this, what’s the point of worrying about who’s above and who’s below? We’re all family and friends here.”
As they crossed the courtyard, Beon Saeng stopped in front of a huge log that had been set up for martial arts training.
Part of him wanted to ask Baek Socheon to cut it in half. He was curious to see what the former Iron Sword Corps Squad Leader was capable of.
Of course, he didn’t dare ask.
Only then did Beon Saeng notice.
Baek Socheon wasn’t carrying a sword.
‘Why did I assume he was?’
Whenever he met someone new, checking their weapon was always second nature to him. Yet for some reason, he had simply assumed Baek Socheon was wearing a sword.
“Do you use fist techniques?”
“No.”
“Then what martial art do you use?”
“I won’t be using any martial arts.”
He said it with the stubbornness of a child refusing to eat, making Beon Saeng glance sideways at him.
‘What’s with this guy?’
By then, they had arrived at the quarters in the rear courtyard.
The room was better than expected. Once cleaned up, it would be quite comfortable for someone living alone.
“This is where you’ll be staying. It looks shabby, but it faces south, so it gets plenty of sunlight. Well then, get some good rest today.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. We’re family now.”
As Beon Saeng walked away, he glanced back over his shoulder.
Baek Socheon stood in the middle of the courtyard, gazing up at the sky. Somehow, that absent-minded figure from behind looked strangely lonely.
‘No, what am I even thinking?’
Beon Saeng had originally planned to put the newcomer through an initiation, but learning that the man was thirty-eight years old and had belonged to the Iron Sword Corps had completely derailed those plans. He really should have established discipline properly on the first day.
‘Fine. I’ll make sure to whip him into shape starting tomorrow!’
—
From the following day onward, Baek Socheon’s life at the Wencheng Branch began.
“The newcomer’s job is to organise these documents.”
To be honest, Beon Saeng found dealing with Baek Socheon somewhat burdensome. Still, if he let himself be overwhelmed by the man’s presence from the very beginning, he’d end up with yet another superior to answer to. That was why he deliberately emphasised the word newcomer.
Once Beon Saeng showed him how to organise the documents, Baek Socheon learned the process almost immediately.
‘Just as I thought! He’s clever.’
Beon Saeng was satisfied. Right, even if he was difficult to deal with, someone who worked well was better.
However, there was a considerable gap between what Beon Saeng thought working well meant and what Baek Socheon actually considered working well.
While going through the paperwork, Baek Socheon noticed something.
“Take a look at this.”
“What is it?”
The document Baek Socheon handed over was a civilian complaint.
“These are complaints that those bastards from the Taejeong Sect have been harassing people. It’s not just one case—there are several. They were all submitted by the same person.”
The Taejeong Sect was the local Black Society. A Black Society was not a martial arts organisation but a gang of ruffians who extorted protection money from taverns, brothels, and ordinary merchants, while also forcing their way into various business interests to squeeze out more money.
“Oh, that? Just combine the duplicate reports into one and send it to the Zhejiang Branch.”
“And then what happens?”
“The Branch analyses all the reports submitted by the various branches, then sends orders back down. Either telling us how to handle it, or to leave it alone.”
“Why not deal with it here instead of sending it all the way to the Branch and waiting for it to come back?”
“What do you mean why? Because that’s the procedure.”
Baek Socheon stroked his chin as he looked at Beon Saeng. Feeling uncomfortable under that unwavering gaze, Beon Saeng instinctively took a step back.
“I’m telling you, I didn’t make the rules. That’s just how it’s done.”
“This is terribly inefficient.”
“That’s because the Branch treats local branches like dirt.”
At that moment, Baek Socheon suddenly said,
“A Black Society of this level could be dealt with by the people here alone.”
To begin with, there was no comparison between common ruffians and martial artists. Even a third-rate martial artist was still a martial artist, whereas the Black Society was merely a gang of thugs.
“You’re saying that because you don’t know the Taejeong Sect. There are a lot of them, and their leader is a martial artist. They even say he made quite a name for himself in his younger days…”
As Beon Saeng’s explanation dragged on, Baek Socheon interrupted him.
“Do they pay you?”
“What nonsense! I’d never take money from filthy bastards like them!”
Beon Saeng practically jumped as he answered, then let out a small sigh.
“We want to wipe them out too… but there are rumours that the Divine Transformation Gang is backing the Taejeong Sect.”
“The Divine Transformation Gang?”
This time, Beon Saeng explained what the Divine Transformation Gang was.
“…That’s why we can’t recklessly make a move against the Taejeong Sect here in Wencheng.”
The reason he rambled on for so long was because he didn’t want to lose face in front of someone who had just arrived. He didn’t want to look like some pathetic superior who couldn’t even deal with a single Black Society on his very first day.
Yet despite all his efforts, the result was something he had never expected.
Baek Socheon said flatly,
“If that’s really the reason you can’t deal with these complaints, then I think it’d be better if you simply took their money instead.”
“What?”
“You’re Martial Alliance martial artists, at least in name. Isn’t it better to be unable to help the people because you’ve accepted bribes than because you’re too afraid of the enemy to help them? Don’t you think?”
“…!”
Baek Socheon tossed the document aside.
“If you know who filed these complaints, go and tell them not to bother submitting things like this anymore. They’re useless. If you can’t even tell them that much, isn’t that just too pitiful?”
That evening, Beon Saeng went to Lim Chung’s office.
“You’re not leaving?”
“I am. What about you?”
“I should go too.”
“You’ve been drinking. Something happen?”
Beon Saeng was thoroughly drunk. What had happened earlier that day had left him upset, so he had drowned himself in alcohol. He had tried to deal with it alone, but in the end, he couldn’t bear it and had come looking for Lim Chung.
He recounted what had happened that afternoon.
“Hearing him say those things… it really got under my skin. What does that bastard know?”
“You should’ve said something back.”
“I couldn’t. I just couldn’t.”
“Squad Leader Beon, don’t let the fact that he was in the Iron Sword Corps intimidate you.”
“That’s not it. It’s not because he used to be in the Iron Sword Corps…”
“Then what?”
Beon Saeng sighed.
“Because what he said was true… I couldn’t say a single word.”
They were Martial Alliance martial artists in name, yet the reason they couldn’t help people suffering at the hands of the Black Society was because they feared the people backing them. It left him feeling that perhaps Baek Socheon was right—that it would almost be better if they were simply corrupt martial artists taking bribes.
Lim Chung stood up and took out a hidden bottle of liquor and two cups from behind him.
“Have another drink.”
As he poured him another cup, he tried to comfort him.
“Don’t let it get to you too much. That rolling stone only just got here. What could he possibly know?”
But that rolling stone had lodged itself squarely in Beon Saeng’s heart.
“If we don’t help them, where are those people supposed to go? Who are they supposed to turn to? I feel so damned sorry for them.”
Although he had never spoken of it before, it seemed he had always been troubled by the fact that they couldn’t help those people. He had buried that guilt deep inside himself and covered it over, but the moment Baek Socheon arrived, he had ripped the covering away.
Lim Chung understood exactly how Beon Saeng felt.
He himself had only been assigned here for less than a year, but Beon Saeng had served at the Wencheng Branch for six years, ever since joining the Martial Alliance.
Naturally, he had become far more attached to the people of the town.
Quietly, Lim Chung emptied his own cup.
He wasn’t much different.
The helplessness Beon Saeng was feeling today was exactly what he himself had been feeling.
To be honest, what he really wanted to say to Wang Gon was this:
—Your new business sounds fine. But remember one thing. Never do anything that harms the people of Wencheng. If you do, I won’t let you get away with it.
Even though he knew there was something suspicious about the people trying to bribe him, he hadn’t pressed them for answers. Even when they offered a Hundred-Year He Shou Wu to a branch leader stationed in an insignificant post, he knew they must have been planning something enormous, yet he had chosen to look the other way.
After several more drinks, Beon Saeng shouted,
“Damn it! Should we just go over there and wreck every last one of those Taejeong Sect bastards?”
It wasn’t courage.
It was alcohol.
“Quit talking nonsense and drink. Their underlings may just be common thugs, but Taejeong himself is stronger than you. He might even be stronger than me.”
“Damn it. To think I’m weaker than the leader of a gang of ruffians.”
Beon Saeng emptied another cup.
Now his anger had found a different target.
“That bastard! The more I think about it, the angrier I get. So what if he was in the Iron Sword Corps? So what if he’s older? What? It’d be better if we took bribes instead? That bastard! I’m not letting him get away with that.”
Beon Saeng sprang to his feet and stormed out.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going to make sure he learns some proper discipline!”
Lim Chung didn’t stop him.
He felt it was something that had to happen sooner or later, and strangely enough, he wasn’t worried.
He had only known Baek Socheon for a day, yet somehow he felt certain the man would handle things just fine on his own.
Perhaps it was simply because he was older.
Turning his head, Lim Chung looked out the window.
The full moon hanging brilliantly in the sky looked unusually lonely tonight, as though it were reflecting his own heart.
The words Baek Socheon had spoken, the ones that had wounded Beon Saeng, applied just as much to him.
Just because he hadn’t accepted the Hundred-Year He Shou Wu…
Could he really say he was living with honour?
Beon Saeng marched confidently to Baek Socheon’s quarters.
‘You bastard! Do you think I’m some spineless man with no conscience? If you’re so brave, then you go save them yourself!’
His mind was overflowing with all the things he wanted to shout at him.
Baek Socheon was in the rear courtyard.
The instant Beon Saeng saw him, he stopped in his tracks.
Baek Socheon was balancing upside down on just three fingers.
He looked as though he might collapse at any moment, yet he gritted his teeth and endured.
The ground beneath him was soaked with sweat as though it had rained.
Just how long had he been doing this?
Even as painful groans escaped him, he endured until the very end.
Only when he had reached his absolute limit, just before collapsing, did Baek Socheon lower himself and stand back up.
“What is it?”
Seeing him drenched in sweat as though he had been caught in a downpour, Beon Saeng felt the alcohol instantly leave his system.
The place where the drunken haze had been was now filled with shame.
This late at night, a thirty-eight-year-old man was training like this…
And what had he, a mere twenty-six-year-old, been doing?
He had come here drunk, looking to pick a fight.
Just so he could make excuses for his own cowardice.
‘When was the last time I trained until I was dripping with sweat like this?’
He remembered his childhood, when he had desperately worked to become a martial artist.
He remembered the days he had prepared to join the Martial Alliance, when he had trained as though his life depended on it.
‘…When did I give up on all of it?’
Perhaps it was because shame welled up from the depths of his heart.
“If it’s alright with you…”
With the same force he had intended to use to beat Baek Socheon up, Beon Saeng spoke loudly.
“When we’re alone… may I call you Big Brother?”
Sign up to join the discussion...
Already have an account? Log in
No comments yet. Be the first to discuss this chapter.