WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME NOVELS
Translator/Editor: Chen
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Former Supreme ◈
Chapter 2: Back to the Starting Point (2)
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Gain, Deputy Commander of the White Dragon Corps, opened her eyes.
Her head throbbed from the hangover.
‘Ah, how much did I drink?’
She slowly sat up.
As the blanket slipped away, it revealed the back of the man lying beside her.
The scar on his back was chilling no matter how many times she saw it.
It was a long sword wound stretching from his left shoulder to his right waist. It was so deep and extensive that it was strange his body had not been cut in two.
She gently ran her hand over the scar on his back.
“Your position drops every time I see you.”
The man answered as he woke.
“If you’re embarrassed, you can throw me away.”
The man was Baek Socheon. He felt different from when he had been interrogated in the interrogation room earlier. Back then he had been prickly and cold, but now he seemed gentle.
“If I were going to, I would’ve done it long ago.”
Gain smiled faintly and added, “Honestly, there’s nowhere suitable to throw someone like you away.”
Gain was five years Baek Socheon’s junior. They met occasionally to drink and sleep together. They were not lovers, comrades, or friends, yet they were more comfortable with each other than anyone else.
They kept two promises: do not interfere in each other’s private lives, and do not get clingy.
“Where do you think they’ll assign you?”
“I don’t know. Maybe they’ll assign me to the White Dragon Corps, where you are.”
“I absolutely refuse.”
“Why?”
“Why do you think? Would it be nice to see you every day? I’d have to stay tense all the time. You’d see me without makeup, too. Anyway, no thank you.”
“You were wearing makeup yesterday?”
“You’ve got some nerve saying that when a woman trained in martial arts is behind you.”
Only then did Baek Socheon roll over to face Gain.
There was a large wound on his chest as well, like the one on his back.
A lightning-shaped scar.
She had heard that being struck by the Black Heaven Alliance Leader’s Divine Thunderbolt Sword left a wound shaped like lightning.
That was why she had asked him before.
“Don’t tell me. It isn’t, right?”
“Of course not.”
Why had she added that last question?
Because she had been afraid.
The one who had fought a life-or-death battle against the Black Heaven Alliance Leader was supposed to have been the Murim Alliance Leader. That was what the world had been told.
She was afraid he would say, “That was my fight.”
Afraid that she would become the one to hear a secret she was not meant to know.
There were other scars on his shoulder and abdomen.
The purple scar on his shoulder looked like a butterfly taking flight, while the wound on his abdomen was a horrifying scar, as though something had torn out a whole chunk of flesh.
Whenever she looked at Baek Socheon’s body, Gain thought of her own smooth skin without a single scar and wondered if she had lived too cautiously. Even during the war, she had been lucky enough to come through without a single injury.
“Why don’t you just quit this time?”
“Should I?”
She knew Baek Socheon had some reason he could not leave the Murim Alliance. She had never asked about it, nor did she intend to. It was likely the most private part of his life.
In any case, she knew he would not leave, so she could speak freely.
“Was there anything you wanted to do after quitting?”
“I’ve never thought about it.”
“Think about it now.”
“Hmm.”
Baek Socheon had never once considered a life outside the Murim Alliance.
“You could try something you’ve never done. Open a business or something.”
“Would I be able to tolerate rude customers?”
“That won’t work. Your shop would turn into a bloodbath every day.”
Gain thought for a moment, then came up with something new.
“How about wandering the Central Plains and having fun? You could taste the local delicacies and meet the beauties of every region.”
“There isn’t a corner of the Central Plains I haven’t visited.”
“Then farm. Become a hunter or herb gatherer and live leisurely like an immortal.”
“I’m bored just thinking about it.”
“How about becoming a martial world troubleshooter?”
“I can’t even solve my own problems.”
“Ahh.”
She pretended to clutch her head, then finally made a grand proposal.
“Fine. Since you have nothing else to do, let’s conquer the martial world.”
“Should we give it a try?”
“Oh, so you are a man after all?”
“I’m just entertaining a big dream for once.”
“So when someone asks why you turned the martial world into a sea of blood, you’ll say some woman named Gain made you do it?”
“There always needs to be someone to take responsibility.”
Baek Socheon and Gain smiled at each other. It was a joke only possible because he had a body without even a scrap of internal energy.
“Ah, I’m late. I’ll go first.”
She dressed first. Though she was already in her thirties, she still had the beautiful figure and smooth skin she had when they first slept together.
“Want to do it one more time?”
“We did it three times last night. Think about your age now.”
“Five times would be easy.”
“Look in the mirror before you brag.”
Gain came over and lightly kissed Baek Socheon on the forehead.
“You childish old man. There’s nowhere left for you to be chased out of now. Please don’t cause trouble, and do well.”
“I have to make a living, so I’ll make an effort.”
“I’m leaving first.”
“Take care.”
“Meet other women besides me, too. I can let you go anytime. I think it’d be scary if you got attached.”
Gain left the room. As she walked down the corridor, she gave a self-mocking smile.
Was that really why?
Probably not.
She had said it because she was afraid she would become attached to him. It did not matter that he had a body incapable of using internal energy. She could protect him and support him.
It was because he remained so attractive even in the worst possible condition for a martial artist. If she fell for a man like him, her life would be swept up in a mad storm.
There was another fear, too.
Baek Socheon was still attractive now, but would he be the same in ten years? Was there any guarantee that he would not become a wreck who drowned himself in alcohol and longed only for his past glory?
His glorious past made it impossible for her to dismiss the possibility.
And one last thing.
Over the past three years, there had been times when she thought his endless wandering was not simply because he had lost his internal energy.
Whenever she sensed that unknowable shadow, as though there might be another wound inside him, she felt greater anxiety than from all the reasons before it.
For all those reasons, she could not picture a future with him.
No, she chose not to.
‘I’m nothing more than a worthless bitch. I’m sorry, Senior.’
Meanwhile, left alone, Baek Socheon looked at the mirror hanging on the wall.
Just as Gain had said, his reflection looked utterly exhausted.
It was not merely because they had done it three times the night before. It was a deep fatigue that had built up over the past three years.
* * *
When Baek Socheon returned to the Iron Sword Corps, Noh Ung of the Third Squad was waiting for him. Noh Ung was the one in the Third Squad who liked and followed Baek Socheon most.
Baek Socheon had beaten his superiors before, but never his subordinates, so he still had many subordinates who liked him.
“Squad Leader!”
“I’m not a squad leader anymore.”
“Damn it! So the rumors were true. I’ll take the whole squad and turn the place upside down.”
“Why? Are you trying to make things worse so I’ll get kicked out entirely?”
“No! There was definitely an ambush. You saved all of us, Squad Leader!”
“That’s enough. Stop making noise and leave.”
“I’ll go on a hunger strike.”
“You live for the joy of eating. What kind of hunger strike is that?”
“That’s why it’s a struggle.”
“Leave. I’m tired.”
“Yes.”
Noh Ung was about to leave obediently, but added one last thing at the door.
“There definitely was an ambush that day. I believe you, Squad Leader.”
“I get it, so get going already.”
From outside the door came the sound of Noh Ung greeting someone.
Soon, another person entered the room.
“You really are prickly. They’re only acting that way because they’re worried about you, Corps Commander.”
The newcomer was Hwang Ilbi, First Unit Commander of the Iron Sword Corps.
The Iron Sword Corps had seven units, each made up of five squads. Baek Socheon had been the Third Squad Leader of the First Unit. Now, after being demoted, he was a Rank-and-file Martial Artist.
“Didn’t I tell you not to call me Corps Commander?”
“Fine. I can call you whatever I want now anyway. Brother Baek, are you satisfied?”
Hwang Ilbi called Baek Socheon Corps Commander because he had joined the Iron Sword Corps when Baek Socheon had led it. Now, their positions had reversed, and Hwang Ilbi was his direct superior.
“Why are you here?”
“Why? Are you going to insult me until I leave, too?”
As if he would never allow that, Hwang Ilbi sat on the bed.
“So what did they say? Are they letting you stay in the Iron Sword Corps?”
“Looks like I’ll be assigned somewhere new.”
“Those Shadow Pavilion bastards really have no flexibility.”
“Wouldn’t it be better without me? Be honest, doesn’t having me around make you uncomfortable?”
“What’s wrong with you? Do you break out in hives if you get close to us? Do you cringe when someone says something nice to you?”
“Shut up and leave.”
“No.”
“Did you forget? The reason for my previous demotion was assaulting a superior. You’re my superior.”
“Do you know how impressive our Corps Commander, no, Brother Baek, was when I first joined the Alliance?”
“Impressive my ass.”
“You really were, back then...”
“Quit talking about that fucking past.”
“Why are you swearing so crudely? You never used to swear.”
“I didn’t need to then. A scared dog barks. A weak bastard swears. That’s enough. Get the hell out already.”
“Damn it! When you put it that way, how can I not leave?”
At that moment, a martial artist arrived with a message for Hwang Ilbi.
“Unit Commander, the Corps Commander urgently wants to see you.”
“That commander only calls for me at times like this.”
Hwang Ilbi got up from the bed.
“Let’s have a drink before you go. They won’t throw you a welcome banquet wherever you’re being sent, so at least let’s have a proper farewell drink.”
“No need.”
At the cold reply, Hwang Ilbi left the room.
“Fine. I’ll go offer my loyalty to our real Corps Commander.”
Left alone, Baek Socheon packed his belongings into the leather bag he had brought. All he had were a few sets of martial clothes and some odds and ends.
He slung the bag over his shoulder and crossed the training grounds, then stopped for a moment.
He was looking toward the Alliance Leader’s Hall in the distance.
After staring at it for a while, Baek Socheon started walking again and left the Alliance grounds.
Someone watched him from afar.
It was Iron Sword Corps Commander Choong Yang.
His gaze toward Baek Socheon was vicious. After all, the target of the “assaulting a superior” charge among Baek Socheon’s reasons for demotion had been Choong Yang.
“Arrogant bastard.”
Remembering what had happened, hatred naturally flared inside him.
When Baek Socheon, once his superior, became his subordinate, Choong Yang had naturally found him uncomfortable. It would have been one thing if Baek Socheon had been obedient, but he was never the type to meekly follow orders.
Even so, Choong Yang should have simply ignored him. Baek Socheon was not the type to provoke trouble first, at least.
But Baek Socheon had been a thorn in his side, and Choong Yang eventually created an issue. He made a big deal out of something trivial and harshly reprimanded him.
I’ll make sure you know exactly who your superior is.
That had been his thought. Yet there was one thing he did not know.
Baek Socheon had been so worn down that he would even beat up his superior.
In the end, Choong Yang had been thoroughly beaten in front of his subordinates. Even without internal energy, Baek Socheon had been unbelievably fast and strong.
In a fit of anger, Choong Yang had tried to circulate his internal energy and strike back.
His subordinates desperately stopped him, and in hindsight, that was the one thing he had done right. If he had injured Baek Socheon after Baek Socheon had lost his martial power, it would probably have left a serious stain on his reputation.
“Why won’t that leech bastard leave? What does he think he can suck out of this place?”
As Choong Yang vented his hatred, he glanced behind him.
“Do you also think I sent the Third Squad to a place where there was an ambush?”
“How could that be?”
The person standing behind him was Hwang Ilbi, who had been in Baek Socheon’s room only moments earlier.
“You like that bastard, don’t you? You listen to everything he says, don’t you?”
“You misunderstand.”
“Isn’t that right?”
“I was only humoring him. You know what he’s like. That man is incredibly prickly.”
“True. That bastard has the foulest temper in the entire main headquarters.”
A smug smile soon spread over Choong Yang’s face.
“Now I won’t have to see that irritating face anymore.”
“What?”
“His assignment has already been decided. The Wencheng Branch in Zhejiang Province.”
The Wencheng Branch was far from the Murim Alliance's main headquarters, truly at the edge of the Central Plains. It was not even a District Headquarters, but a branch. This was not an assignment. It was exile.
“You’re sending him far away.”
“I pulled a few strings myself. He’ll be buried there for the rest of his life and die as some backwater ghost.”
Choong Yang was ambitious and politically minded. He had mobilized the extensive connections he had built to send Baek Socheon far away. He had decided not to worry about the Alliance Leader’s opinion. If things had gone this far, the Alliance Leader had surely given up on Baek Socheon as well.
Hwang Ilbi looked at Baek Socheon’s retreating back in the distance.
‘...Corps Commander.’
He wanted to follow Baek Socheon to the Wencheng Branch. Here, everyone at least treated Baek Socheon with some restraint because they were wary of how the Alliance Leader might react. But he worried what might happen to Baek Socheon in that backwater, without even a scrap of internal energy.
Would Baek Socheon endure it quietly? With that prickly personality of his, if he came across anyone rotten, he would surely try to get rid of them somehow.
But Hwang Ilbi could not follow him.
Just as Baek Socheon had his own life, Hwang Ilbi had his own.
‘I’m sorry. I don’t like you enough to throw everything away and follow you.’
In truth, he would have followed if he had not started a family.
But he had a precious wife and children. Even so, he liked Baek Socheon enough that he had even considered following him.
Baek Socheon had never said a kind word to him. Still, Hwang Ilbi did not know why he liked Baek Socheon so much. He had liked him from the beginning. There was a human appeal to him that was difficult to explain.
That was why Hwang Ilbi had suffered more than anyone as Baek Socheon fell apart.
‘You aren’t someone who will become a backwater ghost, so we’ll meet again soon. Go somewhere with beautiful scenery and get some proper rest. Ah, and since you won’t have a drinking party, this bastard and I will drink the farewell liquor ourselves.’
Hwang Ilbi smiled brightly and said to Choong Yang, “On such a good day, shouldn’t we have a celebratory drink?”
Footnotes:
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