WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME NOVELS

Translator/Editor: Chen

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ The Former Supreme ◈

Chapter 18: The Heavenly Pole (1)

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Early the next morning, Im Chung came to Baek Socheon's residence with his family.

"Martial Artist Baek, thank you for saving my son's life and mine."

Madam Joo greeted him, and Chan also offered his thanks with remarkable composure.

"I won't forget this kindness."

Baek Socheon answered gently.

"I only did what I should as someone serving the Branch Chief."

His manner was far more polite than it was with Im Chung. He treated Chan the same way.

"The martial world is a dangerous place. Don't neglect your training."

"Yes. Next time, I'll protect Mom."

Baek Socheon patted Chan's head.

After Madam Joo and Chan left, only Baek Socheon and Im Chung remained.

"You didn't have to bring them here just to thank me."

"I did. Whatever else may be true, we had to thank you properly."

"Have you given it some thought?"

"Yes. To be honest, I didn't sleep a wink last night."

If only his own life had been at stake, the decision might have been easier. But his wife's and son's lives were on the line as well.

Just then, Beon Saeng arrived.

"You're out early. Hahaha, good morning."

Unlike yesterday, when he said he felt like vomiting, Beon Saeng looked lively and full of energy.

"Are you all right?"

Beon Saeng smiled at Im Chung, who seemed more worried than he was.

"Why wouldn't I be? I've made my decision. I'll fight the Mythic Gang alongside Brother Baek."

Baek Socheon looked as though he wanted to take a step back, then cautiously asked, "Do I have to fight too?"

"You do. You do! Don't even dream of backing out. I came this far trusting you, Brother Baek."

Beon Saeng's resolve was firm. Baek Socheon turned his gaze to Im Chung.

Im Chung asked, "If I wanted to avoid this fight, what choices would I have?"

"You could run to Wang Gon right now and sell me out. Tell him you never wanted to get dragged into this, that you'll cooperate in killing Baek Socheon now, and ask him to forgive what happened before. Wang Gon might accept that."

"That won't happen."

Im Chung spoke firmly. Honestly, he had considered it himself, but it was also the first possibility he had ruled out.

"You barely know me, and you're so sure?"

"That's right. Which is why I thought about it calmly. Wang Gon would pretend to accept me, use me to the fullest, then try to get rid of me in the end. This isn't a decision for Brother Baek's sake. It's for mine."

"Not bad."

Baek Socheon did not look offended in the slightest. That was why Im Chung could speak more openly with him.

Im Chung asked again, "What other option is there?"

"You could run far away and live in hiding. Start a new life under another name and identity, not as a martial artist of the Murim Alliance."

Im Chung fell into thought. It was not an impossible choice. He had all his limbs and knew the basics of martial arts, so whatever he did, he would not let his wife and child go hungry. It was certainly safer than choosing to fight the Mythic Gang.

His mind accepted the choice, but his heart would not.

The feeling he had when he ordered Baek Socheon to arrest Wang Gon once again overwhelmed his reason.

"If I decide to fight, will you help me, Brother Baek? I'm sorry. Everyone should decide their own path in life, but I keep weighing this and that..."

"You should weigh it even more. Not for a few days, but for months if necessary. You should weigh it again and again when everyone's lives are at stake. It's only regrettable that we have to decide so quickly."

"Honestly, I want to fight. I want to properly punish the Mythic Gang for harming innocent people. But I can't do it alone. It's something I can only do if Brother Baek helps me."

That was the conclusion Im Chung reached after agonizing over it all night.

"Please help us."

Im Chung and Beon Saeng both looked at Baek Socheon.

Without hesitation, Baek Socheon readily answered, "I'll help."

His answer came so easily that Im Chung and Beon Saeng were startled.

"Really?"

"I should. You say this happened because of me."

"Thank you."

"Thank you so much."

Moved, Im Chung and Beon Saeng bowed several times.

With Baek Socheon helping them, it felt as though they could fight the Mythic Gang. Even if the worst happened, they at least would not die meaningless deaths.

"Why are you thanking me for something as minor as dealing with the Mythic Gang? If I were my former self, the Mythic Gang would be no more than a mayfly I could blow away with one breath."

"Haha, the more I hear Brother Baek boast, the more endearing it becomes."

Still, Im Chung and Beon Saeng were betting their lives on that boast. They felt that, with Baek Socheon, they could really pull it off.

"What do we do now?"

"We find the person who killed Liang Qiu's household and make them confess that the Mythic Gang ordered it. That would be enough for the Murim Alliance headquarters to act directly, and then the Mythic Gang would be finished."

Headquarters and regional divisions differed in nature from the start, regardless of size or strength. Regional divisions were inevitably tangled in various interests with regional sects, while headquarters was not. Of course, it would be another matter if the Mythic Gang had reached even headquarters.

At Baek Socheon's clear answer, Beon Saeng asked, "Who do you think they hired? Black Hand?"

"It wasn't Black Hand. When I asked if he had killed Liang Qiu's household, he said he wasn't that kind of dirty blade."

"A dirty blade?"

"Who do you think he considers a dirty blade?"

Im Chung and Beon Saeng shouted the same name at once.

"An assassin!"

At the same time, Im Chung realized something.

"Ah! Physician Hwang, who handled the post-mortem examination, said the killer was someone who had not the slightest hesitation about taking lives. They used an ordinary weapon so as not to leave traces. Those are all traits of assassins."

Beon Saeng added, "That explains why there was no evidence at Great Hero Liang's estate, no matter how thoroughly we searched it."

Every clue pointed to the killer being an assassin.

Baek Socheon asked, "Is there an assassin organization here that they might have used?"

Beon Saeng answered. As a local, he knew more about assassins than Im Chung, who had only recently taken up his post.

"The most famous assassin organization in Zhejiang Province is the Seven Sword Society. It is led by seven assassins and has more than a hundred assassins. Their skills are said to be formidable as well."

Im Chung and Beon Saeng's expressions darkened. What if an assassin from the Seven Sword Society had done it?

It was a name they did not even want to mention, let alone investigate.

The Mythic Gang and the Seven Sword Society. Their natures were so different that it was impossible to say which was stronger, but one thing was certain. The Seven Sword Society felt more frightening than the Mythic Gang. They were people who killed for money, merciless murderers.

"I'll look into the assassins."

Beon Saeng threw both hands in the air, about to cry, "As expected of our Brother Baek!" Then he realized that was not the point and asked, "How?"

"By calling someone from that side."

"......The Seven Sword Society?"

"No. Assassins never reveal their clients."

"Then who are you calling?"

Baek Socheon took a small dagger from his robes and handed it to Beon Saeng. It was an ordinary dagger, except the character for heaven was engraved on its hilt.

"Run an errand. There's an inn called the Nine Dragons Inn below Nine Dragons Mountain. Give this to the innkeeper and tell them that its owner is here."

"Yes, understood."

"You can rest easy for now. With Black Hand gone, Wang Gon will be too busy dealing with that to make a move."

After reassuring Im Chung as well, Baek Socheon went inside without waiting for an answer.

"Good grief, he really is so kind."

"Still, he does everything we need him to do."

"So even you recognize Brother Baek's true worth now, Branch Chief."

The two exchanged smiles. At that moment, Im Chung considered treating Beon Saeng as a brother. It would be nice to speak more casually, but they were still superior and subordinate. He wondered if getting too close would cause problems.

'Maybe I really am an old-fashioned fool.'

Unaware that Im Chung was thinking about their relationship, Beon Saeng was focused only on Baek Socheon.

"Are all martial artists from the headquarters that smart?"

"Can you imagine a place crawling with people like him?"

"No."

"Neither can I. How common could someone like him be? Even there, he must have stood out tremendously."

"I suppose so."

"Be careful on your way."

"Yes."

Beon Saeng tucked the dagger into his robes and ran out of the branch.

Had he known whom that dagger was meant to summon, Beon Saeng would never have run so lightly.

* * *

That night, Im Chung visited Baek Socheon's residence carrying something wrapped in a cloth bundle.

Though it was late, Baek Socheon was training in the courtyard.

He was holding a handstand with only three fingers. Sweat poured from him like water. Heavy iron weights hung from his wrists and ankles, making this far more grueling than what Beon Saeng had seen earlier.

"Ugh..."

A pained groan escaped Baek Socheon's lips.

Not wanting to disturb him, Im Chung stood at a distance and watched.

At last, Baek Socheon endured until the allotted time, then collapsed where he stood.

"Are you all right?"

Startled, Im Chung rushed to him.

"No. Hurry and massage my shoulders and arms."

"Yes."

The moment Im Chung placed a hand on Baek Socheon's shoulder to massage it, he was startled.

"Ah!"

Baek Socheon's entire body was so hot that it felt as though he were on fire.

"What are you doing? Massage them."

"Ah, yes."

Im Chung massaged Baek Socheon's shoulders and arms.

"Harder!"

"Yes."

"Ah, that feels good. Right there."

When he had watched from afar, Im Chung had thought only, 'He's truly incredible.'

But now that he was close enough to massage Baek Socheon's body, something rose in his chest.

'I want to train like this too!'

He had told Beon Saeng that it was already too late for him, but apparently that was not true. Touching Baek Socheon's heated body made him realize that the same fire still remained in his own heart.

"It's too late for me, isn't it?"

The words slipped out without context before he even realized it.

Baek Socheon understood what he meant.

"You said you were thirty-six?"

"Yes."

"I started over when I was your age."

"What?"

"I was a complete wreck. I couldn't even walk."

Im Chung could not understand. He could not walk until only three years ago? How could that be? How could someone like that kill Black Hand?

Yet Baek Socheon was clearly neither lying nor joking.

"That's enough. Stop massaging."

"Yes. Ah, and please take this."

"What's this?"

Im Chung handed him the bundle he had brought.

"It's nothing much. My wife made a few side dishes for Brother Baek. Have them as snacks when you drink at home."

"Nothing much? This is precious. There's liquor in my room. Go bring it."

"Yes."

Im Chung went inside and returned with liquor and cups. In the meantime, Baek Socheon spread the bundle open on the bench and set out the side dishes.

The two drank together there.

"This is good."

"My wife is a decent cook."

"I meant the liquor."

"Ah, yes. Ah, the liquor is good."

Baek Socheon gave a small laugh at Im Chung's flustered reaction.

"I'm joking. Tell your wife I said thank you."

"Ah! Yes."

"You're fun to tease."

"Even so, how could you say that to my face?"

"If I said it behind your back, it'd be an insult."

Im Chung could only laugh.

The two passed the liquor back and forth.

At times, Baek Socheon seemed like someone from an entirely different world, but not at this moment. If Im Chung could joke around as easily as Beon Saeng at times like this, the mood would be even better. He felt strangely sorry and regretful.

"We never even gave you a welcome party after you took up your post. I'm sorry."

"Let's call this our welcome party."

"Then Squad Leader Beon will be disappointed."

"Then the three of us can have another one."

At Baek Socheon's easygoing words, Im Chung smiled brightly and raised his cup.

"Welcome, Brother Baek."

The two clinked cups and drained them.

As Baek Socheon set down his empty cup, he said the same thing.

"I welcome you too."

Im Chung could not tell what Baek Socheon meant by welcome. Was he welcoming him into this mad, cold, and cruel martial world? Was he welcoming the fact that they had become close enough to share a drink? Or did it carry some other meaning?

He was curious, but Im Chung did not ask.

Whatever kind of welcome it was, he was willing to accept it. He had the courage to leap into it.

"Your wife cooks as well as a chef at Alliance Leader's Hall."

"My wife will be pleased to hear that."

The two drank late into the night.

Footnotes:

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