Chapter 34: Where is this wind blowing from(1)
Translator: Hwarang
Editor: Cpyo
After coming back from our mission, the morale of the Lesser Sword Sect soared through the heavens. But the news of us defeating the dark guild didn’t create an outcry compared t when we defeated the group of bandits. The word on the street was that we were able to suppress Seo Jong Dark guild, not defeat it.
But it wasn’t too bad since during times like this the internal atmosphere of our group was more important than our reputation. The bond between the members became even stronger.
There are many factors that impact the strength of a group and the sense of belonging but the most important role fell on the shoulder of the leader. If the leader shows his intelligence and demonstrate his strength by leading his subordinates from the front, then his position is reaffirmed and the organization will grow stronger. It is only natural that people follow someone who is worthy.
Kwan He told me that whenever the members of the Lesser Sword Sect meet they always say that they want to become like me and that more are joining him for the morning training. It seemed that through this mission, I became their role model.
Eight more members came to learn the throwing techniques from me. Adding the members who were already learning them, it added up to almost every member. So, I taught them without hesitation. If there are early birds, then there are bound to be late bloomers.
Although there were some who didn’t come to learn, I had no hard feelings for them. Maybe there was a reason for it. Whether they want to learn it or not, I was going to have an open heart for all of them.
Kw.a.n.g Du truly worked hard. With regards to throwing techniques alone, even though he started to learn later than Kwan He he had become better at it. It wasn’t only effort since Kwan He didn’t put any less effort than Kw.a.n.g Du, but rather natural talent.
Only a couple of days had pa.s.sed since I taught him but when Kw.a.n.g Du threw three daggers from twenty paces away he was able to hit a single target with great precision. At this rate in about a month, he might even hit all three with great precision.
But not everything went smoothly.
Finally, there was a complication. Someone from our lesser sect got into a fight with someone from the main branch.
When I arrived at the scene, the fight had already ended. It seemed that one who was at the losing end was our side. Because members from both sides arrived it didn’t escalate too much and they were currently only exchanging words.
“Is is alright just because you are the Sunbae?”
“This punk?”
“If you consider it carefully then you are not even our sunbae.”
The name of the person who was getting pretty heated right now was Yang Gu. Since he was originally a sentinel, he was pretty old and his personality wasn’t like others’. But once I arrived Yang Gu calmed down and bowed his head.
“First he is your sunbae. He is from the main sect while we belong to the Lesser Sword ect. Understood?”
Yang Gu replied yes in a weak voice.
After hearing his reply the expression of the people from the main sect loosened a bit. Since it can become an issue later it was better to sort out things like this.
“Why did you get into a fight?”
Yang Gu didn’t reply.
“Do I have to ask you twice?”
“No! it was my fault.”
“I am not asking whose fault it was. I am asking why you get into a fight.”
“That is… I was looking somewhere else and b.u.mped into him.”
“So you weren’t looking at where you were going?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did you get into a fight?”
“I wanted to apologize but he cursed at me first.”
Then I asked the man from the main sect, “Did you really?”
“It just came out as a reflex. It wasn’t too bad of a curse.”
I looked back at Yang Gu, “Then?”
Yang Gu took deep breath and said, “When I saw his face… he reminded me of the man who killed my comrade.”
Then everyone around him had a look of pity. But the one who fought with Yang Gu made a dumbfounded expression, “Isn’t he crazy?”
When I looked at Yang Gu who had his head down I could sense what kind of pain he was going through. It was a pain that only those who experienced losing a comrade knew. This was the pain of losing a comrade before one’s very own eyes.
Then I looked back at the man who fought with Yang Gu and asked, “So, what should I do? Do you want to fight more with this crazy person? Or should I just ask him to apologize?”
“No, it’s alright.”
He turned around. Even though he said he was crazy he didn’t say anything to Yang Gu since Yang Gu said he lost his comrade.
Then everyone dispersed and only me and Yang Gu were left.
“What kind of friend was he?”
“He was my comrade when I was still a sentinel.”
“That’s how it is.”
“This friend…”
After taking big breath he painfully finished his sentence, “… died because of me. Because I was so tired that day I didn’t get up… He was pulling guard by himself because he was considerate of me…”
Yang Gu couldn’t finish his sentence. He lowered his head, clenched his and shook his shoulder. He was forcefully suppressing his tears.
I looked into the sky. It was so clear that there was not a cloud in the sky. It made me wonder if it was all right?
Yang Gu finally said it in a small voice, “… I killed him.”
I looked back down at him and said, “You could have.”
Yang Gu was trembling even further.
I calmly said to him, “You and I and other people could all think like that. But there’s only one person… your friend, who would definitely think otherwise.”
I saw a tear drop on the ground but pretended not to have seen it. It was inconsiderate pointing out the fact that a grown man that was crying.
“Since you made a mistake shouldn’t you be punished?”
“Yes! I will receive my punishment.”
“Run fifty times around the track without using your ki.”
“Yes!”
Yang Gu headed toward the track.
I understood how he felt but I also punished him for his own good. Everyone else will overlook this incident without thinking much about it if they learn that he had received the proper punishment, as they aren’t ignorant people.
I silently looked at Yang Gu running around the track. What would he be thinking about? He is probably running around thinking about his friend. I knew what he was feeling more than anyone else. Through my years of battle I lost too many people. I experienced many different emotions through the years. I felt the resentment, regret, and doubt caused by losing people.
One day I hope that Yang Gu will visit me for a drink. I wanted to help shoulder his burden a bit.
Kong Su Chan approached me with a big smile.
“Our investment was a great success. I was expecting a profit of two thousand nyang but the actual profit was four thousand five hundred. Adding the rewards that you received, by next year we can add not just forty but eighty members.”
“Oh, this is great news.”
I was truly happy. But regardless I wasn’t going to take his suggestion.
“I plan to take only forty more members as planned.”
Hearing my words Kong Su Chan made a smile.
“Why are you laughing?”
“It is a good thing that you are not too greedy. I rushed here to tell you the good news but it seems that I wanted you to not be greedy.”
That was what I was going to say. I wanted to tell him not to make rash investments but instead increase our funds slowly.
There is a saying that says old horses ask for more carrots. It just means the older you get the greedier you become.
When I was still the Mengju I saw many cases such as this. Most of the old people from the council of elders acted like this. They were greedy about the impossible.
Since I was near their age I distanced myself from those old fools and I looked at them as an example.
The desire for improvement was different than greed. I wasn’t greedy but wanted to make improvements.
I cautioned Kong Su Chan against making any rash investment. Always take the safest route.
“You can go slowly. Taking a single step at a time. The most important thing is making progress, however small?.”
Kong Su Chan respectfully bowed and said, “I will remember your words.”
The relationship between him and me was getting better by the day.
On the last days of August, the members of the sword sect were training. I was sitting on the side looking at them train.
It had only been five months since it was formed. Through my effort and oversight, it was able to find its place. If someone who didn’t know us looked at us, they would think that it was created couple of years ago. Not only that we also had the skills and experience of a group that was formed couple of years ago.
We took on three more mission after the two mission that we had against the bandits and the dark guild. I just followed them once and let them go by themselves the other two times. Even though there were some injuries they were able to come back safely. And of course, they made money. With the three missions, they were able to earn four thousand five hundred nyang which wasn’t a small amount. But the money was secondary, the most important thing was that they were able to get more experience through this.
Through these experiences, they strengthened their bonds and felt the need to seek improvements. They need to seek to improve themselves because that was the rule of Kang Ho. Where the weak are killed by the strong.
Also, their respect towards me grew by the day.
But they weren’t the only ones who were making improvements. I also made great improvements myself.
Through these five months I was able to acc.u.mulate four years’ worth of energy. Now I had twenty-four years’ worth of energy. But my goal was sixty years. At this rate, I will be able to reach my goal in four years. If I become lucky I will be able to acquire a cultivating elixir and shorten that time further.
Not only did my cultivation improve but my physical capabilities also improved vastly from before. I was able to execute the basic and the advanced stances of my family’s Brightmoon Sword Art as well as execute the first three stances of my personal sword art, the Ashura Soul Chasing Sword Art, with ease.
Even though I made vast improvements I sometimes feel off. When I went to a restaurant, there wasn’t any talk about my death. This was expected but I was feeling a bit depressed.
Alright, I see how it is. So you are all going to forget me just like that? Even if this was something that I could understand there was something that I couldn’t understand. How could these people be so ignorant of their situation, now that Ma Bong Gi became the new Mengju? This was the difference in perspective between me who was the former Mengju and these common people.
I decided to live my life differently.
Chun Ha Jin is now dead. I am now Byuk Lee Dan.
In my final years I felt as if I lived in a cage. But now I am free. So I am going to live differently.
With the cool breeze, the summer came to an end.
It is said that signs of a typhoons come in unexpected ways.
The clan master Jung Yeo secretly came over to meet me.
“This time someone from the Heavenly Dao Gate came over.”
“Someone from Heavenly Dao Gate?”
“He is called Ma Jung Soo and he is one of Ma Bong Gi’s sons.”
Since Ma Bong Gi had so many sons I didn’t know who he was. But there was one thing that I knew, which was that there was going to be internal strife for the successor’s seat. Since becoming the successor would not only mean succeeding the Clan but also succeeding the Murim Alliance, so this struggle is going to be more brutal than ever.
“I think Ma Jung Su plans on asking all the heads of the Murim Clans in this city to meet at the Province Lord’s place.”
“The reason?”
“He didn’t specify his reason but…”
Although Jung Yeo didn’t finish his words I nodded.
“Whatever his motive is, it can’t be good.”
If it was done with a good intention then there was no way they would be so vague. So Ma Bong Gi has already started to expand his sphere of influence throughout all of Kang Ho.
“But the Province Lord already refused their request.”
“He refused them?”
“Yes.”
“What kind of person is the Province Lord?”
“From what I heard he is someone who is upright.”
Yes, why would there only be Murim-in like Kong Jong who are corrupt to the root? There were bound to be upright people amongst them.
“After that Ma Jung Soo visited us. They were threatening us in order to hold a banquet. I rushed here after telling them that I will contact them soon. So what should I do?”
After some thought I told him, “Say that you will host the banquet.”
Because if it wasn’t held here then the next place that they would go to was the Song Clan. It was going to be a problem if I refused, but it was also going to be a problem if I accepted. So it was better to agree to their terms at a place where I had some influence through the Yang Clan.
“I understand.”
“You have completely taken over the Yang Clan, right?”
“Yes, you don’t have to worry.”
“Then you don’t have to personally come here. Send someone that you trust most. Since that person has your trust I will also trust that person.”
I knew that some minor words such as this will make a big difference in another person’s heart. In other words, I am testing his loyalty while strengthening it.
“If you have anything else you need please contact me.”
“Alright.”
When I first made Jung Yeo the clan head of the Yang Clan I never had any plans of controlling him directly. However, now that I think about it, the importance of the Yang Clan was getting bigger. In events like this they were a great help.
After sending him back I was deep in thoughts.
‘Is this the precursor to a typhoon?’
‘Or is it just a wind pa.s.sing by?’
I will know soon enough.