“Apologies for being late.”
Namgung Jeong politely brought his hands together.
“There were various matters that delayed me…”
Then, with utmost honesty, he continued, “I truly didn’t expect you to wait this long.”
“Why is that?”
“Because a person as outstanding as you would surely know that I had already decided to support Hall Leader Baek.”
Only then did Namgung Jeong glance at the dazed Namgung Gwang and nod.
“You may go. I only wish to speak with him briefly.”
“Y-yes, sir.”
Namgung Gwang hurriedly excused himself.
‘If the Palace Master hadn’t arrived just in time…’
A chill ran down Namgung Gwang’s spine.
If he had acted in anger and used force?
That young hall leader of the Martial Alliance with those clear eyes… would have acted without hesitation, regardless of the Southern Palace’s dignity or face.
‘Never get involved with a madman.’
Once Namgung Gwang and the servant had hurriedly left, a heavy silence settled inside the guest hall.
Namgung Jeong let out a sigh and spoke apologetically.
“This Palace Master has long heard of the martial achievements you have established. However, my decision will not change.”
“Thank you for speaking frankly.”
“I’m glad you understand.”
As Namgung Jeong turned to leave, Bu Eunseol spoke.
“However I am confident I can persuade the Palace Master.”
“Persuade?”
Only then did Namgung Jeong notice the deep, radiant gleam within Bu Eunseol’s eyes and showed a slightly surprised expression.
It was not the sparkle of madness, but rather the subtle, heroic brilliance that dwells in the eyes of a grandmaster who surveys the world from above.
He had heard the name many times before.
But seeing him in person, the aura and the profound depth in his gaze far exceeded the rumors.
“Hmm.”
After letting out a low hum, Namgung Jeong nodded.
“Since Captain Seon has waited so long, let us at least share a cup of tea.”
Then he spoke firmly.
“I hope you can change this Palace Master’s mind within that time.”
“That will be sufficient.”
At Namgung Jeong’s command, a maid brought warm tea.
It was the famous Wulong Tea.
“Delicious.”
After tasting the tea, Bu Eunseol offered a single word of praise.
In the past, he could never understand why the supreme experts of the martial world were so fond of tea.
Even now, he doubted he would come to love it, but at least he felt he could finally understand why they enjoyed it.
“Calling it delicious… it seems you are not normally fond of tea.”
“That’s correct. Honestly, I couldn’t comprehend it before.”
Bu Eunseol set down his cup and continued.
“At the time, from my perspective, it was merely expensive and tasteless.”
“And now it is different?”
“Yes.”
Bu Eunseol spoke calmly.
“When one’s position changes and one’s eye level rises… one begins to understand the taste of tea a little.”
“When one’s position changes, one becomes able to appreciate tea…”
Namgung Jeong let out a low sound of contemplation.
He understood exactly what Bu Eunseol was trying to say.
“Unfortunately, this Palace Master drinks tea quickly. I’ve already finished half of it.”
Namgung Jeong spoke plainly.
“You surely didn’t come here just to appraise the flavor. Go ahead and speak.”
“The Palace Master must support me.”
“Why?”
“Because for generations, the Southern Palace has regarded people as its greatest wealth, and it is through that belief that it has taken root in the martial world.”
—Talent above all.
The greatest asset of the family was its people; nurturing talent must always come first.
That was the creed of the Southern Palace, and the driving force behind their rise to prominence in the martial world.
When Bu Eunseol emphasized this point, Namgung Jeong asked with a puzzled expression.
“Then shouldn’t I support Baek Museong even more? Even if he does not become Commander, he is a man who would bring enormous benefit to this family.”
The Buddha Venerable, whose life had already exceeded two hundred years, was a living symbol of the righteous martial world.
This same Buddha Venerable had raised Baek Museong to become the new generation leader who would guide the future of the martial world.
In the current martial world, there was no one else so young who had built such wide connections among the righteous leadership and wielded such influence.
“If the Palace Master could live forever, then supporting Hall Leader Baek would indeed be the right choice.”
Bu Eunseol stared straight at Namgung Jeong.
“But when the Palace Master grows old, you will eventually have to pass the position to the next head. And the next head must make the Southern Palace even more prosperous.”
Then, with a voice full of power, he continued.
“In that case, your choice must be different.”
“I don’t understand what you mean.”
“Namgung Un.”
Bu Eunseol spoke calmly.
“He is a man with even greater ability than the Palace Master. But the one who can help him is not Baek Museong.”
Namgung Jeong’s eyes widened.
Though Namgung Un had shed the reputation of being a wastrel, his true potential was still not widely known in the martial world.
Yet this Hall Leader of the Martial Alliance had accurately assessed Namgung Un’s capabilities?
“Though Hall Leader Baek is an outstanding man, he is completely incompatible with the Young Master in temperament.”
“How can you be so certain?”
Bu Eunseol answered calmly, “One can tell by looking at Hall Leader Baek’s attitude. Surely the Palace Master has felt it for a long time.”
Unconsciously, Namgung Jeong nodded.
Baek Museong always treated everyone with courtesy.
But Namgung Jeong knew.
It was not humility—it was arrogance born of a sense of superiority.
Such a temperament would never mesh with the free-spirited and magnanimous Namgung Un.
“As expected of the man who leads an intelligence corps—your analytical ability is impressive.”
Namgung Jeong spoke with both surprise and composure.
“But even knowing that, it does not necessarily mean choosing you over Hall Leader Baek is the right decision.”
“Surely the Palace Master already knows how I became a Commander candidate.”
Bu Eunseol spoke with confidence.
“Until now, I have completed every mission on my own, without anyone’s help, and rose to become a Commander candidate. Even though I come from the merchant world—the very group most despised by martial artists.”
“…”
“The youngest young master is the same. Though rumored to be a wastrel, in truth he possesses rich sensitivity, a heroic temperament, and heavenly talent that ordinary men could never hope to follow.”
Namgung Jeong took a deep breath.
It was astonishing that Seon Woojin understood his son far more deeply than he, the father who had watched him for twenty years.
‘A true prodigy.’
Only now did he feel it.
From the entire being of the man called Seon Woojin, there emanated a terrifying presence capable of looking down upon the world itself.
‘Someone worthy of comparison.’
At last, Namgung Jeong realized.
Just how extraordinary the man named Seon Woojin truly was.
“Hahaha.”
In the end, Namgung Jeong let out a hollow laugh.
Both men were prodigies capable of astonishing the world. Between such individuals, long conversations were unnecessary.
With just a few words, they could instantly gauge each other’s caliber.
“Very well.”
Namgung Jeong readily nodded.
“I will write the recommendation letter in my own hand.”
Then he added calmly. “I will apologize to Hall Leader Baek and explain that I cannot write one for him.”
It was an astonishing choice.
The Southern Palace was the head of the Eight Great Families.
For its leader to support Seon Woojin instead of Baek Museong carried tremendous significance.
“May I ask why you changed your mind?”
“Though I never spoke of it aloud, there has been one person I have respected for many years.”
Namgung Jeong gave a faint smile.
“And Captain Seon resembles that person. That is all.”
Bu Eunseol was puzzled but nodded.
If he had known that the person Namgung Jeong respected was none other than himself… he would probably have been too embarrassed to bear it.
“Thank you.”
As Bu Eunseol politely brought his hands together, Namgung Jeong returned the gesture.
“In return, please take good care of Un.”
Namgung Jeong was not worried about his own glory.
His only concern had been for Namgung Un.
In place of words, Bu Eunseol bowed his head.
Namgung Jeong smiled at the sight.
A firm, silent resolve was far more trustworthy than any loud oath.
‘Un will do well.’
Namgung Jeong, too, sensed that great upheaval was coming to the martial world, and dark clouds were gathering.
But in the Demonic Faction, there was his trustworthy sworn brother.
And if, in the Martial Alliance as well, there was someone who recognized him…
Then the Southern Palace could weather any storm.
***
“What do you mean by that?”
The gentle light in Baek Museong’s eyes twisted slightly as he sat alone with Namgung Jeong.
He had clearly promised to write a recommendation letter for him—how could he flip his stance so suddenly?
“Did you not clearly say you would write one for me?”
“I am sorry.”
“Palace Master.”
“You can obtain plenty of recommendation letters from the Nine Great Sects, including Shaolin, can you not?”
Namgung Jeong spoke with an apologetic expression.
“But Captain Seon said that the recommendation from this family would be his last—he would seek no more from anywhere else. So… I hope you understand.”
Baek Museong’s expression changed.
Namgung Jeong was speaking on behalf of Seon Woojin.
That meant… no matter what he said, the decision would not be reversed.
“Are you sure about this?”
Baek Museong said with a smile.
“If you do this, the Southern Palace will effectively be turning its back on the goodwill of the entire Nine Great Sects.”
“Hall Leader Baek.”
Namgung Jeong lifted the corner of his mouth and let out a soft snort.
“Do you truly think Southern Palace needs to beg for the goodwill of the Nine Great Sects?”
No emotion—neither joy, sorrow, anger, nor delight—could be seen in his eyes.
It was not indifference.
It was perfect mastery over his own heart and mind.
‘So this is what it means to be the Southern Palace.’
Baek Museong swallowed his anger.
He had not yet become Commander. There was no need to make an enemy of Namgung Jeong over a single recommendation letter.
“Very well.”
Baek Museong forced a smile, as if resigned.
“If that is the Palace Master’s judgment, then it must be backed by considerable insight.”
He politely brought his hands together.
“Then I will take my leave.”
“Farewell.”
As Baek Museong turned to go, his eyes were cold.
No matter how one looked at it, that bastard Seon Woojin could not be allowed to live. In order to become Commander, he would have to die.
—The results of the second test will now be announced.
Finally, the examination concluded, and Buk Ri-seong revealed the outcome.
Heavenly Order Corps Leader Baek Museong: seven letters.
Cheongmyeong Hall Leader Mu Gyeol: three letters.
Supreme Corps Leader Seon Woojin: one letter.
Ascendant Martial Hall Leader: one letter.
The reason for these numbers, it was explained, was to test whether the candidates could personally visit the heads of the Nine Great Sects and Eight Great Families—places where they had no prior connections—and obtain their support.
Because of this, the recommendation letter from the Wudang Sect that Bukgung Ryeong had obtained for Bu Eunseol was declared invalid.
—All candidates have passed.
Bu Eunseol had personally gone to the Southern Palace and obtained their recommendation letter.
Baek Museong, having been rejected by the Southern Palace, also went around personally visiting the Nine Great Sects and Eight Great Families without intermediaries and obtained letters.
But there was an unexpected result.
Everyone had assumed that Ascendant Martial Hall Leader, thanks to Yuk Cheongah, would obtain a large number of recommendation letters—yet he received only one.
Moreover, only that single letter was obtained by the Ascendant Martial Hall itself.
Shockingly, Yuk Cheongah had gone around with Mu Gyeol, helping him collect recommendation letters together.
—What in the world is going on here?
The people of the Martial Alliance gaped at the surprising outcome.
The man with the deepest experience and supposedly the widest connections—the Ascendant Martial Hall Leader—turned out to have almost no ties with the heads of the Nine Great Sects and Eight Great Families?
And on top of that, his daughter Yuk Cheongah had thrown all her support behind Mu Gyeol?
What on earth was happening?
“Again?!”
Yuk Jangcheon slammed his fist on the table in fury.
Boom!
With a thunderous sound, the rosewood table shattered into splinters.
It was fortunate that, just in case, he had personally gone to the Seomun Family and obtained a recommendation letter.
Otherwise, he would have absurdly been eliminated from the Commander candidacy.
Moreover, because the results were publicly announced, he suffered humiliation no less than outright elimination.
Through this series of tests, twice now it had been exposed to everyone around him that he had no reputation among others.
Even if he became Commander in the future, the label of “a man without reputation” would surely cling to him for a long time.
Of course, once he became Commander, he could build broad connections and eventually wash away that stigma.
But in the beginning, the gossip would be endless.
“Bring Cheongah here immediately… No—I’ll go myself!”
Breathing heavily with rage, Yuk Jangcheon headed straight for Yuk Cheongah’s office in the Dragon Coiling Hall.
Slide.
Despite the martial artists’ attempts to stop him, Yuk Jangcheon stormed into the Dragon Coiling Hall and burst into Yuk Cheongah’s office.
“What brings you here?”
Yuk Cheongah looked at the furious Yuk Jangcheon and spoke calmly.
“Suddenly, without any notice.”
“What brings me? Do you really need to ask?”
Yuk Jangcheon bit his lip and said, “Why did you help the Cheongmyeong Hall Leader? Are you betraying your own father?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Yuk Cheongah replied indifferently. “I told you before.”
“Told me what?”
“That I will never tolerate anyone striking me from behind.”
“What are you talking about?”
“If you cannot trust your subordinates, just cast them aside.”
Yuk Cheongah spoke calmly.
“But I was never your subordinate. I was your ally. From the moment we entered the Martial Alliance until now, I have always guided you.”
“That’s true. So what?”
“If you hadn’t become infatuated with that man Seon Woojin and cast me aside in the first place, none of this would have happened.”
Yuk Cheongah continued calmly.
“Did you think I was a pawn you could discard at any time?”
“Are you still worried that I might cast you aside?”
“You still don’t understand, Father.”
Yuk Cheongah spoke coldly.
“Shall I teach you the way to never be betrayed by others? It is to betray them first—before they can betray you.”
Then she shouted, “Ascendant Martial Hall Leader is leaving. See him out.”
“There must be a reason for this sudden behavior.” Swallowing his anger, Yuk Jangcheon asked, “Can’t I even hear the reason?”
“You don’t trust me anyway, do you, Father? You’ve always been ready to discard me at any moment.”
Yuk Jangcheon said nothing.
Even though they were father and daughter, there had never been warm affection between them.
Having suffered countless betrayals throughout his life, it was true that he had never been able to fully trust Yuk Cheongah either.
A bright red flame seemed to flare in Yuk Jangcheon’s eyes.
But once again, he suppressed his rage and spoke.
“Cheongah. There are things you still don’t understand.”
“What do you mean?”
“Building trust is extremely difficult. But destroying trust is very easy.” Yuk Jangcheon continued. “That is why, the higher one climbs, the less one speaks of something called ‘trust.’ Because any human being can betray you.”
“You’re right. That’s why, instead of trust, we negotiate.”
“Now you’re speaking sense.” Yuk Jangcheon sighed and said, “Surely there is still room for negotiation between us.”
“Of course.” Yuk Cheongah nodded. “If you wish to continue our relationship, then completely open the secret warehouse you built in the hidden chamber of your office.”
Yuk Jangcheon’s eyebrow twitched.
“You searched this father’s warehouse?”
“There was no need to search. I simply found the warehouse in the hidden chamber that was sealed with the Extreme Grade Six Paths Chain Lock.”
The Extreme Grade Six Paths Chain Lock was a mysterious lock created four hundred years ago by the supreme master Sang Gyeong, who first made his name in the martial world as the Divine Thief.
It was designed to seal away the treasures he had stolen and accumulated over the years.
No one could touch it.
Only the one acknowledged as its master through a special method could open it.
“Why would you want to see that? What do you think is in there?”
“When riding in the same boat, shouldn’t one at least know what’s in the other’s heart?”
“In my heart?”
Yuk Jangcheon burst into laughter.
“Hahahaha!”
Then he shook his head.
“You’re wrong.”
With a disappointed expression, Yuk Jangcheon said, “I thought your wisdom was outstanding, but it turns out you’re still just a foolish child.” With a cold smile, he continued, “Now I finally understand why you could never compare to Chief Inspector Gongsun.”
“What do you mean?”
“Inspector Gongsun excels at understanding the hearts of others. That is why she is never betrayed.”
“Is that all you have to say?”
Yuk Cheongah spoke coldly.
“Yes. I am poor at reading other people’s hearts.” With a contemptuous expression, she continued. “But I can at least read yours, Father.”
“What are you saying?”
“Because once you become Commander, you can sell me off for a high price—so you arbitrarily decided on an engagement with the only son of the Golden Thread Sect Lord, didn’t you?”
Yuk Jangcheon’s eyebrow twitched.
He had no intention of settling for the position of Commander.
He had to become Alliance Leader.
To break through to the Extreme Heaven Realm, he needed both martial prowess and immense financial power.
Thus, he had secretly contacted the Golden Thread Sect Lord. If he formed a marriage alliance with them, it would provide him with the strongest possible backing.
Once he became Commander, he planned to marry Yuk Cheongah to the Golden Thread Sect Lord’s only son—that was all he had discussed with Nunan Guang, the Golden Thread Sect Lord.
“How did you find out about the Golden Thread Sect?”
To Yuk Jangcheon’s question, Yuk Cheongah merely wore a cold expression.
In truth, after hearing Mu Gyeol’s words, she had begun to suspect Yuk Jangcheon’s intentions and had continuously mobilized intelligence networks to investigate.
In doing so, she had uncovered something completely unexpected.
She had discovered that Yuk Jangcheon had secretly discussed a marriage alliance without telling her.
“You’ve always been like this.” Yuk Cheongah spoke as if unleashing the resentment that had long festered in her chest. “In childhood, you sold me to the Martial Alliance. Now you plan to sell me off to the Golden Thread Sect for a high price?”
Yuk Cheongah had always been a cold-natured person.
But even she harbored a deep, unspoken resentment she had never shared with anyone.
It was the fact that her father was heartless and that in her childhood, he had sold off her talent and future to others for a high price.
“Do you think I did it just for myself?” Yuk Jangcheon shouted as if his rage would burst. “Thanks to what this father did—sending you to the South Sea Divine Nun—haven’t you achieved what you have today?”
Yuk Cheongah could not hide her dumbfounded expression.
“You did that for me?”
“In the end, didn’t it turn out well? Why do you always look at the bigger picture with such a crooked perspective?”
“The bigger picture? Whose bigger picture is that?” Yuk Cheongah spoke as if chewing and spitting out something bitter. “I was the fool for ever thinking I could achieve great things alongside a man like you.”
“What did you say?”
“I should have realized it long ago—when you always treated your subordinates as expendable—that you are a man who can never accomplish anything great.”
At those utterly insulting words, Yuk Jangcheon’s eyes began to blaze.
“Get out.” Yuk Cheongah looked at Yuk Jangcheon and spoke firmly. “I will never walk the same path as you again.”
“You’re right.” Yuk Jangcheon responded coldly and turned away. “Never come looking for this father again.”
He had already crossed a river with no return between him and Yuk Cheongah.
At this point, no words would make any difference.
Leaving the Dragon Coiling Hall, he looked up at the distant sky with a bitter expression.
He had suffered countless setbacks in the past, yet in the end he had overcome every trial.
Looking back, a situation like this was nothing.
The only regret was that Yuk Cheongah, whom he had thought possessed outstanding wisdom, turned out to be far more foolish than he had expected.
“There’s no helping it.”
He shook his head.
Yuk Cheongah was exceptional in martial talent and strategy, but because she was still young, she was easily swayed by emotions.
In time, as the years accumulated, those flaws would correct themselves but right now, no matter what he said, she would not listen.
“In time, you too will understand. In the end, none of those people are a match for this father.”
Looking back at the Dragon Coiling Hall, he slowly turned away.
At that same moment, in a quiet inn on the outskirts far from the Martial Alliance, Bu Eunseol was drinking in the same place he had once drunk with Baek Museong and Bukgung Ryeong—two people he genuinely liked.
And for the first time, he was drinking with someone he held no particular fondness for.
Namely, Mu Gyeol.
“Speak.”
Bu Eunseol asked Mu Gyeol, who was quietly sipping his drink.
“What exactly do I need to do for you?”
“Hahaha. You really are a man of his word.”
Mu Gyeol laughed through his nose.
“To think you would actually honor such an absurd condition—promising to grant any request I might make…”
The fact that Mu Gyeol had approached Yuk Cheongah and revealed Yuk Jangcheon’s true intentions—that had all been part of Bu Eunseol’s scheme.
However, to call it a mere stratagem would be an understatement, for the condition he had offered Mu Gyeol was far too extreme.
It was nothing less than a vow:
No matter what request Mu Gyeol might make… he would absolutely fulfill it.
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