Buk Ri-seong wore a puzzled expression.
“You are a candidate yourself. Yet you declare support for Captain Seon?”
“Is that not allowed?”
“It is not that it is forbidden.”
As Buk Ri-seong trailed off, Baek Museong rose and cupped his hands.
“May I say a word?”
“Go ahead.”
“Our Alliance has thus far failed to produce outstanding talents comparable to those of the demonic path.” Baek Museong, now standing, surveyed the room before continuing. “From the Martial Soul Command Lord to his subordinate leaders, and even the Mercenary King… all the rising stars making names recently hail from the demonic faction, or so the talk goes.”
He cupped his hands politely and spoke.
“Should our Alliance not change now?”
Silence fell over the conference hall.
If any other hall-leader-level figure had said such a thing, everyone would have scoffed.
But coming from the disciple of the Buddha Venerable—now a symbol of indomitable martial spirit—those words stirred a touch of shame in them.
“Let us acknowledge it.”
Buk Ri-seong nodded.
“In truth, Captain Seon is a rare dragon among men these days.”
Through numerous meetings, it had become known that Seon Woojin was not only exceptional but had accomplished much good.
Thus, Buk Ri-seong had inwardly taken a liking to him.
Baek Museong nodded with a faint smile.
“Indeed. He is truly a remarkable man.”
“But we are still one vote short.”
Baek Museong turned his head to look at Yuk Jangcheon.
“Hall Leader Yuk.”
He wore the gentlest of smiles.
“How about a fair competition for once?”
Yuk Jangcheon’s eyebrow twitched.
What nonsense was this young pup spouting?
“You have watched Captain Seon closely all this time—surely you know his ability better than anyone.”
When Yuk Jangcheon remained silent, Baek Museong continued.
“Moreover, this time Captain Seon slew the Fist King and ascended alongside you to the position of Four Gods and Seven Kings, did he not?”
Glower.
A fierce glint flashed in Yuk Jangcheon’s eyes.
How dare he mention in his presence that Seon Woojin had become one of the Four Gods and Seven Kings?
If this were not a conference hall, Yuk Jangcheon would have roared at Baek Museong.
“He began his duties in the Alliance as a third-rank leader under my hall.”
Yuk Jangcheon suppressed his anger and spoke calmly.
“I acknowledge his great ability, but from my position, it is indeed awkward.”
“Thank you for your frankness. Yet I too rose from second-rank leader to Corps Leader candidate, did I not?”
Baek Museong spoke with utmost courtesy.
“If Hall Captain Seon, once my subordinate, competes fairly with me, that decision will long remain a beautiful tale.”
‘This bastard keeps spouting nonsense!’
Yuk Jangcheon wanted to shout in fury but feeling the piercing gazes around him, he forced a smile.
“No matter how I think it over, it does not sit well with me. My apologies.”
“Indeed, competing with a rising star who has also become one fo the Four Gods and Seven Kings would, from Hall Leader Yuk’s standpoint, feel like a gamble.”
Smiling, Baek Museong politely cupped his hands.
“My apologies. I spoke out of turn. Please forget it.”
In that instant, pure white light gleamed in Yuk Jangcheon’s eyes.
—Competing with a new star of the same Four Gods and Seven Kings would be a gamble for you, wouldn’t it?
In the end, Baek Museong had uttered such words before the Alliance seniors.
If he continued refusing the proposal?
It would be no different from admitting it.
Should that happen, he might face endless ridicule until becoming Commander.
Shake, shake.
At that moment, Yuk Cheongah subtly shook her head at Yuk Jangcheon.
It meant he must never accept such a challenge.
‘Even you doubt your father’s ability?’
Yuk Jangcheon’s mood soured greatly at her reaction.
‘Fine! I’ll crush both of you fair and square!’
“A wise suggestion.”
Hiding his erupting anger, Yuk Jangcheon rose from his seat.
He scanned the room and spoke with a solemn expression.
“As Hall Leader Baek says, our Alliance needs a fresh wind. Seeing all competing candidates as young blood makes even this hall leader’s heart burn hot.”
Then he declared firmly.
“I agree to place Captain Seon as a Corps Leader candidate.”
Buk Ri-seong asked with surprise.
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
After a brief stunned expression, Buk Ri-seong burst into hearty laughter.
“Hah hah hah—truly a heartwarming sight.”
Buk Ri-seong was, in fact, one of those weary of the rigid factional balance and hierarchy in the Alliance.
But as Vice Alliance Lord, he had never been able to voice such feelings.
Seeing Yuk Jangcheon publicly make such a bold decision, he could not hide his delight and let out an exclamation.
“I offer my deepest respect for Hall Leader Yuk’s courageous resolve.”
Then, with a grave expression, he addressed the room.
“Hall Leader Yuk, Hall Leader Baek, Captain Seon—these three are, as of today, officially Martial Heaven Commander candidates.”
The conference hall, where applause should have erupted in congratulations, instead fell into heavy silence.
Because of Seon Woojin.
A young man from the merchant world, who had risen at breakneck speed, had finally reached Commander candidacy.
Buk Ri-seong immediately declared in a loud voice.
“The meeting is hereby adjourned.”
With the Vice Alliance Lord’s conference ended, another storm was foretold in the Martial Alliance.
Ascendant Martial Hall Leader, Palm King Yuk Jangcheon.
Heavenly Order Hall Leader, Golden True Dragon Baek Museong.
And the one transferred to the Chief Inspector Pavilion—Supreme Corps Leader, Sword King Seon Woojin.
These three had become Corps Leader candidates.
Baek Museong becoming a new candidate was hardly surprising.
It had been foreseen since he returned with Hyeok Ryeon-eung’s head.
But Seon Woojin had been a rising star without even a proper title, and he originated as a third-rank leader under candidate Yuk Jangcheon.
No matter how fortunate his opportunities or his victory over the Fist King, to rise so suddenly to Martial Heaven Commander candidate?
This was even more shocking than Gongsun Dankyung becoming Chief Inspector.
—This time, Chief Inspector Gongsun overreached.
By hastily promoting first-rank captain Seon Woojin to hall-leader level to make him a candidate, public opinion toward Seon Woojin turned extremely negative.
What kind of position was one of the Seven Great Commanders?
Aside from the Alliance Lord, no one could force their commands; they could mobilize the entire unit at will if needed.
Moreover, based on merit, it was a seat that could lead to becoming the next Alliance Lord.
No matter how outstanding, to maneuver a fresh young late-generation into that position?
—Let it be. He’ll fail anyway.
Though he had ascended to the Four Gods and Seven Kings, the Fist King had long ceased active involvement in the martial world and was already under attack from countless warriors.
Thus, many believed Seon Woojin had simply been lucky in defeating Seok Chi-haeng.
Much like Bu Eunseol when he slew the Beggar King in the past.
—Now the first trial begins.
Regardless of Alliance opinion, Buk Ri-seong assigned the same mission to all three candidates.
—The Corps Leader examination will not be decided quickly; we will carefully evaluate ability through three trials.
The first mission Buk Ri-seong issued was this:
—For the first trial, test the basic qualification to become Martial Heaven Commander: Whether you can utilize the Martial Heaven Division’s special formation.
He assigned twenty members equally to each of the three candidates.
—Recently recruited lower-ranked warriors from the Alliance, distributed evenly. Over the next ten days, perfectly teach them the Martial Heaven Division formation—this will conclude the first evaluation.
‘Excellent.’
Receiving the mission, Yuk Jangcheon smiled.
For Baek Museong, with his connections to Alliance seniors, mastering the Martial Heaven Division formation would not be difficult.
But Seon Woojin was different.
Even if he slew the Fist King, his time in the Alliance was too short, and he lacked a support base.
His only backer was Gongsun Dankyung, whose relations with elders and seniors were distant.
In the end, the only way for Seon Woojin was to personally plead with Martial Heaven Division warriors to learn the formation.
The problem was that, no matter how talented Seon Woojin might be, the Martial Heaven Division warriors would never willingly teach him the formation.
Because he had become a candidate through Gongsun Dankyung’s backing.
From their perspective, he was in no way a candidate who should ever become a Commander.
‘Seon Woojin. You have no options anyway.’
Yuk Jangcheon smiled coldly.
In any case, his true rival would be Baek Museong.
Seon Woojin had no chance at all.
***
After the meeting ended, as arranged, two people remained in the grand conference hall.
Gongsun Dankyung and Baek Museong.
“I won’t offer thanks.”
Gongsun Dankyung looked at Baek Museong and spoke calmly.
“Surely you were behind the betrayal of those two hall leaders.”
“I don’t know why you think that.”
“You’ve done it before.”
Gongsun Dankyung stared straight into Baek Museong’s eyes.
“You always saved me from predicaments.”
“…”
“But those predicaments were always ones you created.”
One reason Gongsun Dankyung had stopped loving Baek Museong was realizing that every ordeal during their time together…
Had been deliberately orchestrated by him.
“Heh heh heh.”
Baek Museong gave a sinister smile, snorted, and looked at Gongsun Dankyung.
“You’re mistaken about something.”
“…”
“Do you still think I helped because I love you?”
Cold light, chillier than ten-thousand-year ice, poured from Baek Museong’s eyes.
“Far from it. I raised Seon Woojin to candidacy for two reasons. First, because I owe him a debt…”
Baek Museong curled his lips coldly.
“And second—to elevate him high, then crush him miserably.”
Gongsun Dankyung’s eyes wavered.
The Baek Museong she knew was, contrary to his reputation, soft-hearted—a childlike figure craving love from many.
To think he would speak such cold, resentment-filled words with those eyes.
“You’ve changed.”
“Not changed—died.”
“…”
“The foolish young man who struggled to be loved by one woman no longer exists.”
Baek Museong looked down at Gongsun Dankyung with contempt.
“Because I learned that woman was, in truth, no different from a roadside willow or wall flower—throwing flirtations at any useful man.”
An ordinary woman would have glared or shouted at such an insult.
“I see.”
Yet Gongsun Dankyung smiled instead.
“I’m glad you finally realized it.”
When Baek Museong’s eyes widened, she smiled prettily.
“That roadside willow-like woman… probably abandoned romantic love long ago.”
“…”
“Because she had far too many matters to handle to worry over affairs between men and women.”
Leaving those words, Gongsun Dankyung turned with a cold laugh.
“I’ll excuse myself first.”
Baek Museong stared fixedly at her retreating figure.
Despite his frozen expression, his eyes burned with possessive desire.
‘Yes, because you are that kind of woman. That is why I want you so desperately, Gongsun Dankyung.’
If she were an ordinary flower, he would not have glanced twice.
But Gongsun Dankyung was like a plum blossom—standing elegant and upright even in ferocious north winds, even in freezing blizzards that could ice the world.
And Baek Museong wanted to pluck that single bloom and place it in his embrace.
“Seon Woojin. I’ll see if you can maintain that elegance even after watching him collapse miserably before your eyes.”
Baek Museong, too, turned coldly away from the departing Gongsun Dankyung.
Martial Heaven Pavilion, grand training ground.
There, over thirty members stood in formation, and before them stood a man in white.
It was Bu Eunseol and the Martial Heaven Division members.
‘Hmm.’
Surveying the members, Bu Eunseol felt a twinge of guilt.
Commander Jo Cheonwang had been defeated by Bu Eunseol and returned to the wilds.
Vice Corps Leader Gwa Geuk-cheon had also met his end by Bu Eunseol’s hand while trying to kill the Demonic Sword Master.
Though unintentional, the result was that the Martial Heaven Division had been shattered by Bu Eunseol.
Yet something was strange.
Normally, the vacancy should have been quickly filled to restore normal operation.
But the Alliance Lord and seniors had completely ignored the leaderless Martial Heaven Division and delayed selecting a new leader.
As this neglect continued, talented members could not endure and left the unit.
The remaining members had lost all motivation.
And now Bu Eunseol…
Had to learn the Martial Heaven Division formation from them and teach it to new recruits.
“Welcome.”
One member wearing a languid expression approached Bu Eunseol and cupped his hands.
“I am Yeong Myeong, temporarily leading the members.”
Yeong Myeong had youthful, vibrant features, but his eyes were unfocused, like those of a dying fish.
Bu Eunseol was familiar with that look.
He had seen it long ago in the former Death Shadow Corps members, once called the Rootless Brigade.
“I have pre-selected members and prepared a demonstration of our unit’s supreme formation, the Silver Shield Tower Formation.”
Yeong Myeong led Bu Eunseol toward the waiting members on the training ground.
They too stood idly with bored expressions.
‘No one would be glad to see whoever comes.’
After Jo Cheonwang left and Gwa Geuk-cheon died, the Martial Heaven Division had been abandoned far too long.
The Alliance Lord, who should have immediately ordered a new Corps Leader selection, dragged his feet with various excuses.
Meanwhile, the warriors received treatment hardly befitting membership in the Seven Great Divisions, assisting with odd jobs for other units.
Fortunately, the Alliance Lord declared a new leader selection, but by then their expectations were gone.
—After all, the current candidates see the Martial Heaven Commander position as nothing more than a badge, don’t they?
Yuk Jangcheon’s ambition for power was quite famous even within the Alliance.
The newly appointed Heavenly Order Hall Leader Baek Museong likely viewed it as a stepping stone to becoming the next Alliance Lord.
And as for the man called Seon Woojin…
Though he gained fortune and defeated the Fist King, from their perspective he was woefully inadequate to become Corps Leader.
In the end, from the Martial Heaven Division members’ viewpoint, their former glory as one of the Seven Great Divisions had vanished.
They felt like mere straw sacks caught in the struggle of those vying for the next Alliance Lord position.
“Then let us begin.”
As Bu Eunseol stepped onto the training platform, thirty-two warriors raised dark iron shields.
These were not the treasured Silver Shields once used by the Martial Heaven Division, but ordinary iron ones.
“Wait—why are you not using the Silver Shields?”
At Bu Eunseol’s question, Yeong Myeong slumped his shoulders.
“The Alliance reclaimed the Silver Shields long ago, saying our unit was unworthy of them.”
The Silver Shields used by the Martial Heaven Division were one of the treasures passed down through Alliance generations.
But as the unit became nominal, the Alliance recovered them and gave them to another unit that used shields.
“I see.” Bu Eunseol sighed.
One more task had been added to become Commander.
“May we begin now?”
Annoyance was plain on Yeong Myeong’s face.
Another candidate might have erupted in anger, but Bu Eunseol nodded without concern.
“Please do.”
Thud. Clash.
The warriors with iron shields haphazardly formed the array.
It was the Silver Shield Tower Formation Bu Eunseol had once faced directly, now operated on a very small scale and modified so the internal movements could be clearly seen from outside.
‘So this is what it has become.’
Watching the formation performed by the Martial Heaven Division members, Bu Eunseol let out a strange sigh.
All the subtlety of the Silver Shield Tower Formation once displayed by Vice Leader Gwa Geuk-cheon had vanished, leaving only the struggling movements of weary veterans.
In the end, only the shell of the Martial Heaven Division remained.
“Well seen.”
Bu Eunseol could say nothing else.
The situation was not yet ripe to change the Martial Heaven Division, and he had no authority to issue orders.
Any command now would merely crush their spirit further.
“Then good luck.”
Yeong Myeong greeted weakly, and the warriors saluted listlessly before turning away.
“Wait a moment.”
But Bu Eunseol spoke.
Yeong Myeong and the warriors turned back.
“Is there anything else, sir?”
“Yes.”
Standing at the center of the training ground, Bu Eunseol spoke loudly.
“Watch closely.”
“Watch what?”
When Yeong Myeong approached and asked, Bu Eunseol said solemnly.
“I’ll say this in advance: the Commander selection process will take quite some time. There are three candidates, and abilities will be evaluated from multiple angles.”
Whooo.
At the same time, sharp waves of true energy emanated from his body.
“Practice this in the meantime.”
Sizzle. Shaaaa.
Bu Eunseol drew his sword like lightning, and spiderweb-like lines and shapes were etched across the training ground.
It was a new Silver Shield Tower Formation—very similar to the original yet improved by one full level.
“How…”
Yeong Myeong was greatly shocked.
The Silver Shield Tower Formation was too complex to master quickly.
Yet this man had not only grasped all its subtlety from a single viewing but created a new version?
“Did you not just watch?” Bu Eunseol lied nonchalantly and pointed to the shapes drawn on the ground. “I will soon procure Silver Shields again, even if I must spend my own fortune. Until then, perfectly master this formation.”
“That’s quite a bold claim.” Yeong Myeong said hollowly. “How do you plan to recover Silver Shields that went to other units?”
“Is there a need to recover them?”
“Pardon?”
“This leader comes from a merchant background.”
Bu Eunseol smiled faintly.
“To warriors, Silver Shields may seem impossibly expensive to repurchase, but that is merely the martial world’s perspective.”
The Sunflower Merchant Guild was little known in the Central Plains because its roots lay beyond the borders.
Yet its scale and wealth rivaled the Ten Great Merchant Groups of the Central Plains.
If desired, it could easily produce new Silver Shields.
“I’ve heard rumors you’re wealthy, but…”
Yeong Myeong said coldly.
“No matter what you do for us, Leader, you gain nothing. Scoring points with us changes nothing either.”
“Score points? Hardly.”
Bu Eunseol snorted.
“Why would I score points with a unit I will soon command?”
“Captain.”
“Overdue salaries will also be paid soon.” Bu Eunseol said solemnly. “Do not worry—it won’t come from my pocket.”
“…”
“Thanks to the Chief Inspector’s fine management, the Alliance has escaped chronic deficits.” Bu Eunseol continued calmly. “Salaries likely went unpaid not because there was no Commander, but because there was no vice leader. Martial organizations fall apart immediately without an administrator.”
Whether in government or martial sects, finances were generally managed by the second-in-command, not the leader.
Because leaders were busy enough with other duties.
Bu Eunseol had discerned that the Martial Heaven Division’s dire situation and treatment stemmed largely from the absence of Vice Leader Gwa Geuk-cheon, not just the Commander.
If the Death Shadow Corps lacked Yoo Unryong, who managed finances and affairs?
Forget salaries—they would struggle even to eat properly.
‘How does this young man know such things?’
Yeong Myeong wore a blank expression.
He had risen through ultra-rapid promotions, becoming a Commander candidate by relying solely on backing.
A typical figure receiving hall-leader treatment despite being a captain, an abnormal promotion.
Yet how did he understand the inner workings of a massive organization like the Seven Great Divisions in such detail?
Things even Yuk Jangcheon and Baek Museong had failed to grasp about the Martial Heaven Division?
“Do as you please.”
Despite his thoughts, Yeong Myeong’s tone remained cold.
“Nothing will change anyway.”
Bu Eunseol smiled.
He was reminded of the Death Shadow captains who had struggled to deny their own existence, ashamed of their lack of recognition.
“We’ll meet again.”
Bu Eunseol turned calmly and walked away.
Yeong Myeong and the Martial Heaven Division members watched his leisurely departing back with hands clasped behind him, staring blankly.
—We’ll meet again.
It was merely a common farewell.
Yet when spoken by the man called Seon Woojin, it truly felt as though they would meet again.
‘It feels almost like fate’s prank.’
Bu Eunseol slowly exited Martial Heaven Pavilion and gazed at the distant sky.
‘It’s as if it’s telling me to rebuild it anew.’
The Martial Heaven Division had crumbled by Bu Eunseol’s hand.
And now, it was preparing to be reborn anew by that same hand.
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