WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME NOVELS

Translator/Editor: Chen

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◈ The Former Supreme ◈

Chapter 43: At the Ak Clan Sword Family (3)

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"The Blood Cult Leader left behind words?"

Zhuge Hyeon was startled by Sima Iljung's report.

"Yes. It appears the blood scattered there formed words."

"What words?"

"They were the words 'Slay Heaven.'"

"Slay Heaven?"

Since the words had been left at the Alliance Leader's residence, they were undoubtedly a warning directed at Ak Sogun.

"It appears to mean they intend to kill the Alliance Leader."

Zhuge Hyeon nodded at Sima Iljung's words.

"Who determined that the blood was the Blood Heaven Art, the Blood Cult Leader's unique martial art?"

"It was in the Iron Sword Corps Commander's report. Choong Yang said the Blood Heaven Art appeared to have reached full mastery."

"Full mastery?"

Zhuge Hyeon tilted their head.

"Corps Commander Choong figured that out?"

As befitted the Corps Commander of the Iron Sword Corps, Choong Yang's martial arts had reached their peak. Still, Zhuge Hyeon had not thought Choong Yang a master with enough insight into martial arts to recognize that the Blood Cult Leader's unique martial art had reached full mastery.

"Did you perhaps tell Unit Commander Baek about this incident?"

"Yes."

Only then did Zhuge Hyeon smile faintly.

'Of course.'

The only people capable of determining the exact level of the Blood Heaven Art were Ak Sogun and Baek Socheon.

In truth, Hwang Ilbi had been the one who added that the Blood Heaven Art had reached full mastery to the report.

Hwang Ilbi had expected that if he reported the precise level of attainment, Zhuge Hyeon would realize Baek Socheon had figured it out. It was not because he disliked Choong Yang, but because he liked Baek Socheon more.

If Choong Yang reprimanded him over it later, Hwang Ilbi planned to firmly insist that he had simply reported it accurately without thinking much of it.

"Could this be the Blood Cult's declaration of war?"

"We should assume it is."

It had been left at the Murim Alliance Leader's own residence, of all places. It was also a warning that if they truly decided to kill, they could slaughter everyone there.

"If the Blood Heaven Art truly has reached full mastery..."

If that was Baek Socheon's opinion, then it was undoubtedly true.

Zhuge Hyeon met the eyes of the strategist standing before the Martial World Ranking Record. The strategist was waiting for Zhuge Hyeon's order.

After pondering briefly, Zhuge Hyeon nodded and raised two fingers.

The strategist climbed the ladder and amended the Martial World Ranking Record.

Ranked First: Ak Sogun, Murim Alliance Leader.

Ranked Second: Myeolsaeng, Blood Cult Leader.

Ranked Third: Yeom Hwasin, Black Heaven Alliance Leader.

The Black Heaven Alliance Leader had been pushed down to third place. Rumors that one became an invincible master upon attaining full mastery of the Blood Heaven Art had existed for a very long time.

Yet no one had experienced it firsthand. Aside from records from over three hundred years ago, no one who had reached full mastery of the Blood Heaven Art had fought a master of the Central Plains in recent times. Therefore, this ranking might not be accurate.

Ak Sogun had only been placed first out of courtesy. Perhaps the Blood Heaven Art at full mastery could defeat the Murim Alliance Leader. Or perhaps, contrary to legend, the Black Heaven Alliance Leader could tear the Blood Heaven Art apart.

In conclusion, the martial arts of those three could be considered evenly matched.

It did not matter who was first and who was second.

What mattered was that two of those evenly matched three had joined hands.

After revising the ranking record, the strategist in charge also changed Baek Socheon's entry at the bottom. The words Rank-and-file Martial Artist of the Wencheng Branch were erased.

Rank Evaluation Pending. Baek Socheon, Unit Commander of the Murim Alliance's Sage Heaven Corps.

Zhuge Hyeon stared at Baek Socheon's name for a long time. They could only hope that the quiet change at the bottom, one still without a number, would balance out the shocking change at the top.

* * *

Rumors that Baek Socheon had returned and become the Unit Commander of the newly created Sage Heaven Corps began to spread in secret, from the leaders of each organization to their unit commanders, then down to squad leaders.

No order of silence had been issued yet, but perhaps because of the past, no one spoke carelessly about Baek Socheon.

No one came to celebrate the birth of the Sage Heaven Corps, nor did anyone dare give it a hostile welcome. It was a truly contradictory situation. The new corps drew the most attention, yet no one came to visit, leaving it deserted.

There were exceptions, of course.

Noh Ung, who had recently become the Third Squad Leader of the Iron Sword Corps' First Unit, came to see Baek Socheon with three or four Iron Sword Corps martial artists, unconcerned with what anyone else thought.

Noh Ung had been the one who said they would go on a hunger strike on the day Baek Socheon was demoted to Rank-and-file Martial Artist. The martial artists who came with them owed Baek Socheon favors, great and small, from his time in the Iron Sword Corps.

There were far more people indebted to him, but these were the only ones willing to move so openly without worrying about others' reactions.

They caused quite a commotion, insisting they wanted to join the Sage Heaven Corps immediately, then left.

Gain, the Deputy Commander of the White Dragon Corps, had wanted to come just as badly as Noh Ung. When she heard Baek Socheon had returned, she had wanted to see him first.

In the end, though, she did not come. She knew better than anyone that if she did not keep her distance, she would be the one hurt in the end.

Then, another person visited the Sage Heaven Corps that day. It was Choong Yang, the Corps Commander of the Iron Sword Corps, the one person who seemed least likely to come even if everyone else in the Murim Alliance did.

"May I ask who you are?"

At Beon Saeng's question, Choong Yang answered.

"I'm the Iron Sword Corps Commander."

"Yes, sir!"

Beon Saeng's back snapped straight, and his voice rang out sharply.

"Is Unit Commander Baek here?"

"Yes, sir! He is training at the martial arts ground behind the building. If you wait in his office, I'll bring him at once."

"Lead the way."

"Yes, sir."

Beon Saeng led him to Baek Socheon's office on the top floor.

His heart raced as he walked ahead.

The leader of the organization he had dreamed of joining had come to visit. Baek Socheon had also once been the Corps Commander of the Iron Sword Corps, but Baek Socheon meant something different to him now.

Still, the man before him was the real Iron Sword Corps Commander. The current commander of the Iron Sword Corps.

After guiding him up the stairs to Baek Socheon's office, Beon Saeng spoke cautiously before he entered.

"It was my dream to join the Iron Sword Corps."

"Is that so? Then you shouldn't be in a place like this."

"Excuse me?"

"How can you join the Iron Sword Corps from a shabby, disorganized place like this?"

Having said what he wanted to say, Choong Yang went inside.

Beon Saeng pursed his lips.

'What's with him?'

It was the moment his image of the Iron Sword Corps Commander shattered.

Still, considering Choong Yang's dislike of Baek Socheon, this was a fairly restrained reaction.

At that moment, Baek Socheon was training alone at the martial arts ground.

Today's training was different from usual. It was the moment he finally achieved his first success.

He performed the First through Third Fists of the Heaven-Turning Nine Fists with every ounce of focus he possessed.

Bang, baang!

The air exploded. It was as though wind had begun to blow where there had been none. The wind scattered the clouds, and his punches and kicks seemed to flow with the clouds in every direction. No matter how great the force of an enemy's attack, the exquisite techniques of the Heaven-Turning Nine Fists would turn that force back against them.

As the wind died down, waves rushed in. Like someone riding waves on a log, Baek Socheon's body moved smoothly across the martial arts ground. His footwork was fast and precise. It was brilliant and beautiful. The sixteen methods of evading an enemy's attack were reproduced perfectly.

Just as the waves seemed to subside, a whirlwind rose again, and lightning crashed down with violent force. It was Baek Socheon's powerful counterattack, as though he could no longer simply evade and endure.

Papapapapang!

Who would believe such power had been created without internal energy?

Space itself twisted and tore apart beneath Baek Socheon's fists and kicks.

All twenty-nine techniques spanning the First through Third Fists of the Heaven-Turning Nine Fists had been performed perfectly.

"Hoo."

After completing the techniques, Baek Socheon steadied his breathing and straightened his posture.

"I did it!"

It was the first time he had said those words since learning the Heaven-Turning Nine Fists.

He had now completely made the first three Fists his own.

The enlightenment he had felt during his conversation with Gwoe Yeo in the Murim Alliance underground martial prison had allowed him to complete them more quickly.

The first three Fists were martial arts performed not through internal energy, but by using an opponent's strength and the profound principles of the Heaven-Turning Nine Fists. Even if he had internal energy, they would have produced the exact same effect. The Greatest Martial Art of All Time was being performed by the greatest martial artist under heaven.

Yet his joy soon turned into concern.

The moment he had thoroughly mastered the Third Fist, he became certain of one thing. This martial art could not restore his dantian, at least not on its own.

He had vaguely thought that learning the Greatest Martial Art of All Time might grant him a new enlightenment.

But after actually learning it, he had absorbed it before he could gain any enlightenment. Both he and this martial art were too complete for some great realization to arise. He had underestimated his own talent for martial arts and the depth of knowledge he had accumulated.

Learning the Greatest Martial Art of All Time would help him survive, but it did not seem likely to give him the enlightenment needed to restore his dantian.

Especially now that Myeolsaeng had appeared after attaining full mastery of the Blood Heaven Art...

Baek Socheon pulled open his robes and looked down at his dantian. There was a grotesque scar, as though something had torn it out.

He too missed those days when he could face dozens of opponents in succession with overflowing internal energy and never once breathe heavily. He was human. How could he not miss them?

'Should I try that method after all?'

Baek Socheon's gaze deepened. He had always worked within the bounds of reason, but he could feel the time approaching for him to take one mad gamble.

Then Beon Saeng hurried over and reported.

"The Iron Sword Corps Commander has arrived."

Choong Yang was sitting in Baek Socheon's office, waiting.

The desk, chairs, even the display cabinet. Everything was old and worn. It felt as if he had come to one of his subordinates' rooms.

It was very different from his own lavishly decorated quarters.

'Hmph. Acting like he's so frugal.'

If the room had been lavish, Choong Yang would have thought, 'Wasting money already?' If it had been decorated modestly, he would have thought, 'What a boring fool!'

Just then, the door opened and Baek Socheon entered.

"Welcome."

Baek Socheon greeted him cheerfully, and Choong Yang was inwardly flustered.

'Hmph. Keep pretending all you like. Do you think I'll fall for it?'

Choong Yang sat down with an awkward smile.

"Would you like some tea?"

"No."

"I'll have a cup. I'm thirsty after sweating."

Baek Socheon had Beon Saeng bring cold tea.

Choong Yang looked at Baek Socheon's martial robes, damp with sweat, and asked, "Do you still train in martial arts?"

It was a barbed question with the words 'Someone like you?' left unspoken. In contrast, Baek Socheon's response was utterly serious and sincere.

"I don't miss a day. I train very hard."

"I didn't ask whether you trained hard."

"Corps Commander Choong."

"What?"

"Do you still train in martial arts?"

Choong Yang flinched.

He could not remember when he had last trained in martial arts.

After reaching the peak realm, his martial arts had not improved any further. No matter how hard he worked, it was useless. That had been four or five years ago. Around then, he realized that this was the limit of his ability, and he gradually became lax in his training. There had also been no time to train during the war.

Baek Socheon suddenly said, "Keep training in martial arts."

"Is the cat worrying about the mouse?"

"The mouse is worrying about the cat. So it can catch me and eat me."

Choong Yang glared at Baek Socheon. Over the years, he had met many martial artists. He knew how to handle people and prided himself on his political acumen. Yet Baek Socheon was difficult to handle.

Above all, he could not tell what kind of person Baek Socheon truly was.

At times, he seemed like an incredibly prickly bastard with a foul temper. At other times, he seemed more serious than expected and considerate of others.

"What the hell are you?"

"Let's save that answer for later. Once I figure it out myself, I'll tell you."

"If only you weren't so good with words."

Baek Socheon changed the subject and got to the point.

"What brings you here?"

"There's the Blood Cult problem, and the atmosphere around those Black Heaven Alliance bastards isn't normal either. So I plan to put the people at headquarters through Special Mechanism Training this time. You know what that is."

"Of course."

Among the Murim Alliance's training methods was one that used elaborate mechanisms to train its members.

"How about you come and serve as a one-day instructor?"

Baek Socheon gave a faint laugh.

It was an obvious scheme. Choong Yang wanted him, a man without internal energy, to embarrass himself while acting as an instructor. Iron Sword Corps training was unimaginably difficult. Special Mechanism Training was not only arduous, but extremely dangerous.

"Why are you laughing?"

"I'm laughing because I'm grateful that you still remember to look after me like this."

"What gratitude? We may not get along, but it's still the place you led. If you come, everyone will be happy."

"Fine. Let's do it."

Baek Socheon accepted readily.

"Really?"

Choong Yang had prepared all sorts of things to say in case Baek Socheon refused. There were gentle ways to persuade him, and even tactics meant to provoke his pride. Yet he had accepted after the very first request?

"When is the training?"

"Tomorrow."

"Good."

"Then I'm counting on you."

Choong Yang felt pleased, but also uneasy.

'He's not the type to accept so easily.'

After he left, Beon Saeng entered.

"He didn't even bring a potted plant! Why did that man come here?"

"Measles."

"Excuse me?"

Baek Socheon smiled faintly at Beon Saeng, who had no idea what he meant.

"A bout of measles I had to go through has come and gone."

Footnotes:

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