WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME NOVELS

Translator/Editor: Chen

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◈ The Former Supreme ◈

Chapter 36: To the Alliance (1)

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Great Strategist Zhuge Hyeon was once again analyzing the reports arriving at the Strategic Command Center by the hour.

Most concerned the Black Heaven Alliance's movements, and the reports arriving day after day were deeply troubling.

'It's like back then.'

There were many signs that preceded the outbreak of war.

As troops were deployed to the front lines, the number of martial artists recruited by the Black Heaven Alliance increased. The intensity of its strike forces' training rose sharply, weapon production in the regions under its control increased, and the amount of food being stockpiled continued to grow. They were clear signs of an impending war.

Naturally, the Murim Alliance was not sitting idle either. It reinforced its troops and training and increased weapons production as well.

Then strategist Sima Iljung hurried in.

"A dispatch has arrived from Zhejiang Province."

There was a reason for his unusual urgency.

"Baek Socheon sent it from the Pojiang Branch."

"Pavilion Master Baek, no, Martial Artist Baek?"

Zhuge Hyeon had called Baek Socheon Pavilion Master for so long that the title still occasionally slipped out.

Zhuge Hyeon hurriedly accepted the dispatch and read it.

It described the recent events involving the Mythic Gang. The Black Heaven Alliance stood behind the Mythic Gang, and Baek Socheon had gone to meet the Mythic Gang Leader only to encounter the Black Heaven Alliance Leader instead. Naturally, anything related to Cheon Geuk had been omitted.

Zhuge Hyeon was stunned that the Black Heaven Alliance Leader had appeared in person.

"Good heavens!"

The Sage Heaven Pavilion had also been investigating the Mythic Gang.

Since it had been keeping an eye on Baek Socheon, the Mythic Gang had naturally become a subject of investigation as well. Yet it had not uncovered any connection to the Black Heaven Alliance.

The Sage Heaven Pavilion kept track of countless sects, from the major sects of the Central Plains to those affiliated with the Black Heaven Alliance.

With hundreds of sects under its watch, it had not yet been able to conduct an in-depth investigation into the Mythic Gang.

Even if it had, it likely would not have found the connection to the Black Heaven Alliance. No one could have imagined that the Black Heaven Alliance was planning to build a fortress in Wencheng, at the furthest reaches of Zhejiang Province's rear.

If Baek Socheon had been posted elsewhere, this matter would never have come to light.

"This won't do."

Zhuge Hyeon sprang to his feet.

"I'm going to the Alliance Leader's Hall."

"Yes."

Zhuge Hyeon strode out of the Strategic Command Center.

Sima Iljung could tell that Zhuge Hyeon intended to force a decisive answer from the Alliance Leader.

'I don't know what you're planning, but please see it through, Pavilion Master.'

* * *

Baek Socheon and the Murim Alliance martial artists returned to the Wencheng Branch.

Baek Socheon remained lost in thought throughout the journey.

The approaching war weighed heavily on him. He had experienced the horrors of war firsthand at the very front, so more than anything, he sincerely hoped he would never have to face war again.

After returning to the branch, Baek Socheon immediately met with Jeong Pung.

"I thought Corps Commander Jeong should know, even if no one else does."

Jeong Pung took a deep breath. He had expected troubling news, but not something of this magnitude.

"The Black Heaven Alliance was behind the Mythic Gang."

"......!"

Jeong Pung could not even let out a brief gasp. It was truly beyond anything he had imagined. Only now did he understand Baek Socheon's actions at the Mythic Gang headquarters.

"Then what about that red-robed martial artist who was there?"

"You're better off not knowing. If you truly want to know, I'll tell you."

"No. That's enough."

There was no need for that broad, red-hot back to turn toward him.

"Shouldn't we inform headquarters?"

"I sent a dispatch to the Sage Heaven Pavilion on the way back."

"What do we do now?"

"The Mythic Gang is gone, so we return to normal."

Everything that had happened here felt like a dream to Jeong Pung. Would he ever have to summon such courage again in his life? At the very least, he was grateful to Baek Socheon for giving him that experience.

"I'll return to the Zhejiang Division now."

"Travel safely."

Jeong Pung turned back toward Baek Socheon as he was about to leave. There was much he wanted to say, but now that the moment had come, nothing came to mind. Later, he would probably remember everything he should have said. Getting old always made him this way.

"Even if you return to headquarters... come visit once in a while."

"You told me to come when I was about to die."

"Come."

Without waiting for an answer, Jeong Pung turned and left.

Watching his retreating back, Baek Socheon said, "Let's do that."

Once Jeong Pung and the Zhejiang Division martial artists departed, the branch returned to normal.

The Great Righteous Sect would ordinarily have risen again, but with the Mythic Gang gone, Im Chung completely uprooted it.

Overjoyed, the market merchants, including Elder Go, brought food to the branch.

"Thank you so much. You all did something great."

"It was only our duty."

Im Chung and Beon Saeng felt a great sense of fulfillment.

Yes, this was what they existed to do. As Baek Socheon had said, if they were going to turn their backs on these people's lives, they should not be Murim Alliance martial artists. They should live some other life.

After finishing their duties, they ate, drank, and enjoyed themselves with the market merchants.

Baek Socheon devoted himself to martial arts training.

Lately, he had repeatedly practiced the First through Third Fist forms of the Heaven-Turning Nine Fists. His chosen method was to repeat them until they were completely ingrained in his body.

Baek Socheon knew that enlightenment came in many forms.

It could descend one day like a gift from heaven or come through a particular experience. There was also the enlightenment that arose through repetition, like this method of training.

If one repeated something again and again, one day they would simply know.

They would realize they had already attained enlightenment. There were even forms of enlightenment where the moment of realization itself was absent.

That was the enlightenment granted by repeated training, something he had experienced firsthand long ago while practicing swordsmanship.

Fortunately, he clearly understood the first three forms of the Heaven-Turning Nine Fists, so training was not difficult.

While he was immersed in training, Im Chung and Beon Saeng arrived. Seeing this unfamiliar form of martial arts practice, Im Chung quickly said, "We'll come back later."

"No, you can watch. I'm nearly done."

"Yes."

Im Chung and Beon Saeng stood behind the platform and watched Baek Socheon's training with reverence.

Like an instructor at a martial arts school demonstrating for students, Baek Socheon slowly repeated the forms from different angles. At times, he raised the angle, then lowered it slightly. At times, he narrowed his stance, then widened it.

The two had always learned only fixed martial forms, and Baek Socheon's actions moved them deeply.

Martial arts were supposed to be performed exactly as described in a manual or taught by a master.

Neither had ever doubted that principle.

Yet Baek Socheon seemed to be adapting martial arts to suit himself. A manual might originally say to kick an opponent's chin, but it felt as though the move could be changed to strike the chest or stomach instead.

Of course, they knew that clumsily attempting such changes would ruin everything.

When the round of training ended, Beon Saeng, who had restrained himself until then, immediately spoke.

"Are you learning a fist art?"

"Yes."

"I've heard the sword is the king of all weapons. That's why I learned swordsmanship too. But why are you learning a fist art instead of swordsmanship?"

"I learned swordsmanship too."

"I knew it!"

When Beon Saeng had first seen Baek Socheon, he had naturally assumed he was a swordsman and had even mistaken him for someone carrying a sword. He must have sensed something indescribable that a master swordsman possessed.

"This is swordsmanship for me now. It's a fist art that will lead me back to swordsmanship."

Whether it was a fist art, spear art, or lightness skill, every form of training was part of Baek Socheon's process of returning to his former self. He sought to comprehend the ultimate essence of martial arts and regain his internal energy.

Naturally, Im Chung and Beon Saeng did not understand his words at all.

"What do you mean...?"

"You don't need to understand."

As they spoke about martial arts, a certain desire began to rise within Beon Saeng.

"Just in case, I wanted to ask. You don't happen to be thinking of teaching me martial arts, are you?"

"No."

Compared to Beon Saeng's cautious question, the refusal came far too quickly and firmly.

"Of course not."

Even so, he could not quite give up.

"Still... if your little brothers were stronger, you wouldn't have to worry so much."

"Why?"

"What do you mean, why? You wouldn't have to worry about us getting hurt or dying."

"Why would that matter? What's wrong with dying?"

Beon Saeng pouted.

"Of course. Martial artists must be dying somewhere in the Central Plains even now. What does it matter if a little brother on the hundredth cart dies? You probably don't even consider us your little brothers."

Im Chung, who had been listening, stepped in.

"Squad Leader Beon, passing down martial arts is something people are cautious about even among family."

"I know that."

Then Baek Socheon suddenly said, "That's not why."

"What isn't?"

"It's not a matter of our relationship. It's not as though I'd be passing down my own secret art. Teaching you a few things suited to your level wouldn't be difficult or cost me anything."

"Then why won't you teach us?"

Baek Socheon gave an answer Beon Saeng had never expected.

"Because you'd die early if I taught you."

Beon Saeng stared blankly for a moment before asking, "What does that mean?"

"When you see injustice, you endure it now, right? But imagine you became stronger than you are now. Would you really endure it?"

"......I wouldn't."

"All the resentment you've endured until now would probably explode at once."

Beon Saeng could not say that would not happen. The moment his martial arts improved, he might hang a banner in the Wencheng market proclaiming, A Master Is Born.

"You'd step in once, then twice. Once you started stepping in, one unlucky day, you'd die."

"Couldn't I just judge when to step in and when to back off? Besides, I'm an orphan, and I'm not even married. No one would be heartbroken if I died early."

Beon Saeng was whining. He knew he should not, but he wanted to beg. Even if he died early, he wanted to become stronger than he was now. He felt pathetic for acting this way so late in life, but he wanted to grow stronger and truly live in the martial world. Baek Socheon was the one who had passed this fever on to him.

"I'm clever. I won't die because I foolishly stepped in where I shouldn't. I promise."

"Even if you don't recklessly step in, you'll eventually die for another reason."

"What reason?"

"Grudges. Someone who wants revenge will always appear."

"Then I'll train even harder."

"Do you think they'd try to kill you fairly? What if they bribed an inn waiter to poison your food or wine? What if they snuck in while you slept and cut your throat? What if they launched a hidden weapon from behind you? How would you stop that?"

Even hearing the examples made his chest feel tight.

"Just endure things and live. That's how you live long."

After falling silent for a while, Beon Saeng spoke.

"I was thinking about this the wrong way."

"Good thinking."

"No. I mean my whole way of thinking was wrong. Rather than blindly asking you to teach me martial arts, I should have trained on my own first and shown you that I was changing. I should have made you think, Ah, that guy might be worth teaching."

There was a mountain of training he needed to seek out and do himself, yet he had tried to find a shortcut first.

'Yeah, I wouldn't want to teach me either.'

Beon Saeng gave a deep bow and ran off.

"Thank you for giving me enlightenment, brother."

The reason opportunities to make resolutions kept coming in life was not to make someone blame themselves for weak willpower. It was to let them know that another opportunity had arrived.

That was how Beon Saeng thought, and he intended to train hard. He did not know whether he would change, but he would truly try to change his life.

'Rather than being a chump who only buys medicine from a peddler, I'll become the peddler myself.'

Im Chung, who had been watching Beon Saeng's back, smiled.

"I already started training."

"You started?"

"Yes."

When he had massaged Baek Socheon's shoulders and felt his heated body, he had felt the urge to train like this.

Baek Socheon had said that at Im Chung's age, he could not even rise from his bed. Im Chung believed him. Baek Socheon was not someone who would lie at a moment like that.

From that day on, he quietly began training by himself.

"I may not be able to match Squad Leader Beon, but I should make an effort too."

He did not have Beon Saeng's grand desire to change his life. Im Chung was satisfied with his current life. His purpose was to protect his family. He never wanted to experience again the danger of Black Hand nearly killing them.

"Then I'll be going too."

Once the two left and he was alone, Baek Socheon looked behind the building and said, "Stop eavesdropping and come out."

A person walked out from behind the building.

"How is it hotter here than in the Strategic Command Center?"

The person who appeared was none other than Great Strategist Zhuge Hyeon.

Footnotes:

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