WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME NOVELS
Translator/Editor: Chen
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◈ The Former Supreme ◈
Chapter 105: Time to Grow (1)
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Myeolsaeng was circulating his internal energy and regulating his breathing at the center of the Cult Leader's Hall.
A crimson, serpent-shaped aura coiled around his body. It grew redder by the day, and the serpent's form became clearer as well. It was so vivid, as though it were alive, that it was hard to believe it had been created by internal energy flowing out of his body.
Having achieved Ten-Star Full Mastery, was he now trying to reach Twelve-Star Full Mastery? The serpent-shaped aura wrapped around him was far from ordinary.
The next moment, the Blood Serpent burst apart with a pop and vanished as it was absorbed through Myeolsaeng's nose and mouth.
When Myeolsaeng opened his eyes, Jeok Parap was walking toward him along the red carpet.
Myeolsaeng rose and greeted him with his palms pressed together.
"You're back?"
"I've returned."
Myeol Jiryun was not beside Jeok Parap.
"What about Jiryun?"
"The Murim Alliance has decided to keep her longer."
Myeolsaeng had expected this. If they were going to hand her over easily, they would not have captured her in the first place.
Even so, he hardened his expression and raised his voice slightly at his master.
"You should have brought her back by any means necessary."
"I have no excuse."
When Jeok Parap readily admitted his failure, Myeolsaeng's tone softened.
"Did you reach an agreement with the Murim Alliance Leader?"
"No. Baek Socheon stepped in instead."
"So you came back without being able to deal with one insignificant brat?"
Jeok Parap snorted at the words insignificant brat. Myeolsaeng was not speaking that way out of ignorance of how difficult Baek Socheon was to handle. He likely wanted to rebuke his master as much as he could this time. After all, Myeolsaeng understood better than anyone that retrieving Myeol Jiryun would not be easy.
"Baek Socheon set a condition. He asked that we ensure Yeom Hwasin kept his promise not to start a war for one year."
"And if Yeom Hwasin breaks that promise and starts a war?"
"We must stop him. At least for the next year."
"And if we fail to keep that promise?"
"He said he would kill Jiryun."
It was a moment when Myeolsaeng should have flown into a rage, but his reaction was unexpected.
"That may be for the best."
"For the best?"
"Yeom Hwasin will bear a grudge against us over the Heaven-Exiled Grudge Gu. This is a chance to distance ourselves from the Black Heaven Alliance and strengthen our own position."
The Black Heaven Alliance could not abandon them anyway. The course of the coming war would change depending on which side the Blood Cult supported.
"Let's do that."
Myeolsaeng looked surprised.
"Why are you accepting my opinion so readily?"
"It became certain that the Black Heaven Alliance Leader was the one who told them about our plan."
Jeok Parap's words made Myeolsaeng grit his teeth.
"As expected! It was that bastard's doing."
"I never thought he would tell the Murim Alliance about it. I misjudged him this time."
"Don't be too upset. Considering your age, Master, it's remarkable enough that you can still show this much sharpness."
It was not praise. In other words, Myeolsaeng was saying that Jeok Parap's mind had dulled with age and his judgment had become flawed.
Jeok Parap wanted to snap back at him, but this time, he had nothing to say.
"Did you at least see Jiryun?"
"I did not."
"What exactly did you go there for?"
"Baek Socheon will not break his promise."
"You're making careless judgments again."
"Enough!"
Only after Jeok Parap raised his voice did Myeolsaeng take a step back. This was enough. His master would not involve himself in Cult affairs for a while.
His master needed to understand. At his age, the only things still growing were his nails and his greed.
"Leave the Cult's affairs to me for the time being."
"When have you not handled them?"
Jeok Parap spun around and left the Cult.
Myeolsaeng sat back down at the center of the hall and began circulating his internal energy again.
'If I can only take one more step forward from where I am now...'
Terrifying thoughts no person should entertain passed through his mind for a moment before he lost himself in the feast of crimson serpents.
* * *
All the martial artists of the Secret Pavilion gathered in one place.
Baek Socheon stepped onto the platform before them.
"We greet the Pavilion Master!"
The Secret Pavilion martial artists raised their voices as one.
Perhaps things had been different when he first returned after being demoted, but now, almost no one in the Secret Pavilion disliked Baek Socheon's return.
Wang Ho, who had come to the Sage Heaven Corps from the Secret Pavilion, had especially taken the lead in spreading loyalty to Baek Socheon among everyone.
His duel with Yeom Sawon had also played a decisive role.
"It's good to see you. Pavilion Master On stepped down due to personal circumstances, so I was fortunate enough to take this position."
It was a humble greeting, but the Secret Pavilion's martial artists were well informed and keenly aware of the martial world's situation. Baek Socheon becoming Pavilion Master meant war was drawing near.
"Nearly all of you have experienced war. Like all of you, my honest wish is that such a tragedy never happens again. I hope you become heroes who prevent war before it begins, rather than war heroes."
"Yes!"
The martial artists answered in booming voices.
Baek Socheon came down from the platform, looked each person in the face, and called them by name. He had memorized everyone's names.
He also knew their personal circumstances well.
"Your son must have grown a lot. Is he eight now?"
"He's nine."
"Already?"
He knew about their families, as well as their private troubles.
"Has your injured shoulder recovered?"
"It's fine now."
They were moved, and at the same time, they felt sorry for Baek Socheon. They had pitied him as they watched his repeated demotions, yet there had been times when they had also blamed him.
But the Secret Pavilion martial artists knew that the Heaven-Exiled Grudge Gu had caused the misunderstanding between Baek Socheon and the Alliance Leader. That was why they understood both Baek Socheon and Ak Sogun.
After greeting everyone properly, Baek Socheon returned to the platform for his final remarks.
"One more thing. You've heard about the Sage Heaven Corps, right? Training will become harsher from now on."
"We are prepared!"
They had been waiting for it, for Baek Socheon's instruction. Their comrades, who had been at a similar level only recently, had returned as masters a step above them.
"It's an honor for me to lead you as well. That is all. Dismissed!"
The Sage Heaven Corps was naturally absorbed into the Secret Pavilion.
Everything in the Secret Pavilion was exceptional. Its facilities were excellent, while every weapon and supply provided was of the finest quality. The food served at every meal was no different.
After being assigned his quarters, Beon Saeng kept looking around. Rather than shared lodgings, everyone had been given a room of their own.
The neatly arranged room had a fine bed, along with a desk and chair where he could read. More than anything, sunlight poured brightly through the window.
They had been told they could rest here when off duty. They could live and eat here, or commute from home. Two-thirds stayed here, while the remaining third went home. Those with families usually did so, though there were more unmarried people.
Then a familiar voice came from behind him.
"Do you like it?"
Beon Saeng turned around in surprise to find Baek Socheon standing there.
"Unit Commander, no, Pavilion Master!"
"It reminds me of the first time I entered this room."
"This room?"
"Yes. This was the first room assigned to me after I joined the Secret Pavilion."
"Did you assign me here on purpose?"
"No. It came to mind after a long time, so I came to see the room, and you happened to be here."
"Good heavens!"
"Perhaps you and I really do have a connection."
Baek Socheon entered and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Do you remember your first day?"
"Vividly, as though it were only yesterday."
He remembered the moment he resolved to live only for the Alliance. Looking back, he could not be certain that had been the right way to live, but at least his heart, devoted to justice and righteousness, had been pure then.
Yes. Pure to the point of foolishness.
Baek Socheon spoke to Beon Saeng, repeating words Ban Yunsaeng had once told him.
"Don't live a life that is nothing but fighting. When you look back, life will have passed in a flash."
"Yes."
Beon Saeng answered spiritedly, but at twenty-six, he likely did not yet understand how quickly time began to race once it gained speed.
"Take care, then."
Baek Socheon turned and left.
Beon Saeng sat on the bed where Baek Socheon had just been sitting.
As time passed, someone else would sit here someday.
Then, like Baek Socheon, he would probably tell that person about today.
Beon Saeng vowed that he would make sure to tell that future junior the words he had just heard.
* * *
After issuing the Secret Pavilion martial artists their new Sage Heaven Corps training plan, Baek Socheon also began his own training in earnest.
For his first training session, he asked Cheon Geuk for help.
"Help me once more. Just seven days."
"Helping you isn't difficult, but... will I really be of help? You've advanced another level in martial arts."
"So have you."
"That's true, but..."
"I need to train with you."
What Baek Socheon most wanted to overcome was the barrier of the Thousand-Hand Tathagata Asura Divine Sword's Sixth Form. His previous rapid-sword training with Cheon Geuk had helped him greatly. Both of them had advanced a level, so they would be able to train with a different feeling now.
"But why seven days?"
"Because that's the limit of how long you can fight without rest."
Cheon Geuk's eyes widened.
"You want to fight without resting for seven days?"
"No. We'll rest at night by circulating our energy and regulating our breathing."
"Then why can I only last seven days?"
"Because we'll fight as intensely as last time, from morning until evening."
"Good heavens."
She was startled. Her last fight with Baek Socheon had been a real battle in which they both gave everything they had. She had even been stabbed by his sword. He wanted to repeat that fight for seven straight days? All day long? Separate from the recovery of internal energy, the strain on her mind would be immense.
"Don't be surprised. Both of us have improved, so we can endure it even if we fight like we did last time."
"How many days can you fight?"
"If I rest at night, around a hundred days."
"What kind of unfunny joke is that?"
"It's not a joke."
"Ah... I should stop teasing Beon Saeng. This must be how he felt all the time."
The higher one rose, the more incomparably vast the gap created by a single level of martial arts became.
The difference between improving one level at the bottom and improving one level at the very top was on an entirely different scale.
Although the difference in martial arts between Baek Socheon and Cheon Geuk was only three levels, the gap in their actual strength was like the difference between seven days and a hundred.
"I'll train for a hundred days without rest."
"After seven days, I'll rest for a few days and help you again if you need me."
"I need you. Will you really help?"
"I will."
"Then train with me for seven days, rest for seven days, then help me again for another seven days."
"What will you do during the seven days I'm resting?"
"I have training planned."
"You truly intend to go all out."
Baek Socheon nodded.
As he dealt with the Black Heaven Alliance and the Blood Cult, Baek Socheon had fought with all his strength to obtain this time.
"All right. I'll help you."
"Thank you."
"No need to thank me. It will probably help me even more."
"You must be careful."
"Yes."
The two came to a secret training ground and began a real duel.
It was just as fierce as their previous fight.
Yet it was certainly more comfortable. Last time, they had fought in a breathless state of selflessness. This time, they had room to spare.
They were carefully rationing their internal energy so they could fight until nightfall.
Baek Socheon deliberately recreated the same battle they had fought before. He even thrust his sword at the same place where she had been stabbed.
But this time, she evaded the attack. Back then, she had thought it was an attack she would not be able to avoid, even though she had seen it coming.
'I dodged it!'
It was the moment she confirmed in actual combat that her martial arts had truly improved.
Beginning with a repetition of that day's fight, their battle changed into many different forms.
Even after rising one level, the training was difficult for Cheon Geuk to endure. Later, she swung her sword with her mind clouded. Even then, she gave everything she had to avoid making a mistake.
That was how the first day's training ended.
Cheon Geuk collapsed onto the ground. She was too exhausted to even twitch. It was the first time in her life she had pushed herself until she was this tired.
Baek Socheon grabbed her arm and forcibly pulled her up.
"If you sleep now, you'll be too tired to wake up tomorrow. Get up and circulate your energy."
"No. I'm going to sleep like this."
Baek Socheon pulled her up by force. Cheon Geuk hung against his shoulder like laundry draped out to dry, her face resting on him.
"Ah, this is comfortable. Just for a moment..."
Baek Socheon stood still while holding her. After a moment, Cheon Geuk spoke quietly.
"Socheon."
"Yes."
"Grow stronger and win every fight."
Her exhausted voice carried genuine sincerity.
"All right."
By the time he answered, she was already breathing softly in sleep. He had to wake her for her own sake, so Baek Socheon whispered in her ear.
"If you fall asleep this exhausted, you'll snore."
Cheon Geuk's eyes flew open, and she slipped out of his arms.
She immediately began circulating her energy.
"Not yet!"
She did not want Baek Socheon to see her snoring yet.
Baek Socheon smiled as he watched her. Beyond her, daffodils holding moonlight swayed in the breeze. He thought they suited her well.
For some reason, he had a good feeling about this training.
Footnotes:
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