WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME NOVELS

Translator/Editor: Chen

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ The Former Supreme ◈

Chapter 45: Daily Instructor (2)

──────

The walls on either side of the training ground rose higher, and the obstacle course's destination was set at what could only be called its summit.

Everyone looked up. They were even more tense than during the previous training, because this vertical test was far more difficult than the horizontal one.

Previously, their feet had remained on the ground. This time, they had to deal with hidden weapons while suspended in midair.

Numerous footholds jutted out from both walls, and they had to climb by stepping alternately from left to right. Of course, someone with an exceptional lightness skill might be able to fly up in a single leap, but that was far too dangerous. They might have to fend off dozens of hidden weapons at once from high in the air.

"You're not going to demonstrate again, are you?"

Baek Socheon nodded at Hwang Ilbi's question.

"This one is too much."

"Then the first one was too much too."

"This is different. How are you supposed to avoid hidden weapons while suspended in midair without internal energy? And what if you fall from that height?"

"What's the worst that could happen? I die?"

"If you're going to die, do it somewhere else. Why do you have to die in front of me?"

"Would it break your heart if I died?"

"Would I enjoy it?"

Worried his words might come true, Hwang Ilbi could not bring himself to say what he truly thought.

'If you get hurt here, Corps Commander Choong will throw a celebration. So please don't do it!'

Baek Socheon once again had the course official set the obstacle course to Supreme difficulty. Naturally, the gaps were wider than at High difficulty, and the hidden weapons flying at him were more dangerous.

Baek Socheon addressed everyone.

"As you all know, I'm not young enough to risk my life just to show off. I'm old enough to know when to look after myself. Still, I'm showing you this for the same reason as before. Watch carefully and remember it, so you can use it if your lives are ever in danger. If even one of you saves their life someday because of this demonstration, then taking this risk will have been worth it. So watch closely. Understood?"

"Yes!"

Buoyed by their booming response, Baek Socheon leaped upward.

His first jump was effortless. It was a height someone without internal energy could never have reached, yet he sprang up with ease. His movements were as nimble as a cat's.

No hidden weapons had flown at him yet.

Baek Socheon launched himself toward a protruding foothold on the opposite wall.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Two hidden weapons flew at him from above, one from the left and one from the right.

Clang!

He knocked aside the weapon from the left and spun in midair.

Using the momentum from deflecting the second weapon, he lightly crossed to the other side.

Cheers erupted below.

Baek Socheon's body had pushed past its limits more than once. On top of that, he had mastered the Heaven-Turning Nine Fists' lightness technique. His every movement drew exclamations from the crowd.

His movement technique was swift, and his judgment precise. He showed them exactly how to distribute and use strength in midair to stay aloft as long as possible, as well as how to apply force to move in the direction he wanted.

Everyone saw just how much physical strength a person could possess without internal energy, and how quickly one could move.

There were several heart-stopping moments.

Yet each time, Baek Socheon responded with quick thinking. The loudest cries came when he twisted his body in a moment of crisis, stepped on an incoming hidden weapon, and used it like a stepping stone across a stream to fly to the opposite side.

That was how Baek Socheon safely reached the summit. He had done this training so often that it was familiar to him, and his body, along with the Heaven-Turning Nine Fists' lightness skill, had overcome his lack of internal energy.

Seeing him standing tall above them, everyone cheered and applauded.

Overcome by memories of the past, Hwang Ilbi blurted out without thinking.

"The Corps Commander never once stood behind us!"

The Iron Sword Corps martial artists who had shared those days nodded.

Baek Socheon had always shown them his back. Even when breaking through enemy ambushes, he had flown ahead first, just as he had today. He had looked down at them from above and encouraged them. They remembered him protecting them from up there, waving for them to hurry and climb after him.

That was why, despite taking on the most dangerous missions during Baek Socheon's time as Corps Commander, they had suffered the lowest casualty rate.

'Corps Commander! Please return to how you used to be!'

Hwang Ilbi wished for it sincerely.

Many others felt the same way. They were human before they were martial artists.

People did not only want to see heroes fall. They wanted someone to become a hero, and sometimes they wished for a departed hero to return. Baek Socheon was that kind of person to them.

Baek Socheon nimbly descended, jumping from side to side.

"All right, shall we begin properly now?"

"Yes."

The Iron Sword Corps martial artists set the difficulty to High and began the second training session.

Baek Socheon explained in detail how to evade and deal with each obstacle. Just as he had said when he first arrived, he faithfully carried out his role as instructor. That was what moved the Iron Sword Corps martial artists most.

This training also produced several dangerous moments, but it ended with only one person spraining an ankle and two others suffering bruises.

Baek Socheon stood before them again.

"Thank you all for completing the training safely."

"Thank you for instructing us!"

The Iron Sword Corps martial artists thanked him loudly. Their expressions were completely different from when Baek Socheon had first arrived.

"It felt good to sweat alongside you all again after so long. To be honest, this helped me more than it helped your training."

This session had allowed Baek Socheon to clearly understand the limits of his body.

Then someone spoke.

"I would like to spar with Instructor Baek."

The one who stepped forward was once again Cheon Su, the Sixth Unit Commander.

Everyone's attention focused on Cheon Su. Why spar in the middle of such a good atmosphere?

Except for a few insensitive people, most of them understood. Choong Yang had ordered it. Everyone knew Choong Yang regarded Baek Socheon as a bitter enemy.

It was not because Cheon Su believed victory was possible. Baek Socheon had already demonstrated his superiority in the two previous training sessions. This was simply an order Cheon Su had to carry out.

Baek Socheon readily accepted.

"Fine. Shall we exchange a few moves for the first time in a while?"

"Thank you."

"Give it everything you've got. If you worry about me, it'll be over in one move."

"Yes. Understood."

With everyone watching, the spar began.

Cheon Su thrust out his sword. It was a genuine attack, though he aimed for Baek Socheon's shoulder. Even if something went wrong, it would not be fatal.

Instead of dodging, Baek Socheon rushed forward.

'What?'

For an instant, Cheon Su thought he had pierced Baek Socheon's shoulder.

The next moment, a sharp jolt ran through his wrist. Then he found himself flying through the air, the scenery whirling around him, before suddenly landing on the ground.

Feeling the cold earth against his back, Cheon Su looked up.

Baek Socheon was looking down at him.

"Didn't I tell you it'd be over in one move if you worried about me?"

Cheon Su had truly given it everything. Baek Socheon must have known that too. Since Cheon Su's comrades and subordinates were watching, Baek Socheon had preserved his dignity.

Baek Socheon held out a hand. There was neither pride nor hostility in his eyes, and Cheon Su was able to take that hand without reservation.

"Thank you for holding back."

The technique Baek Socheon had used was the Heaven-Turning Nine Fists.

It was Flower Herald Wind, one of the seven forms of the First Fist, Flowing Wind and Cloudy Mountains.

When the greatest fist art of all time was displayed by the man who had once been the strongest under heaven, an Iron Sword Corps Unit Commander was knocked to the ground in a single move.

"Unit Commander Cheon, your right side is open when you thrust your sword."

Baek Socheon even pointed out Cheon Su's weakness, leaving no doubt about his complete defeat.

Baek Socheon addressed everyone.

"You all know the current situation is far from normal."

Among everyone except the leadership, the Iron Sword Corps martial artists received the highest-grade intelligence first.

"It is far more urgent than you think."

"Do you believe war will break out?"

They all knew that if war came, they would be assigned to the most dangerous operations.

Baek Socheon nodded.

"Yes."

"When do you think it will happen?"

"Within a year at the latest. This winter or next spring at the earliest."

It was an answer neither the Alliance, their Corps Commander, nor the Sage Heaven Pavilion had given them.

"The Black Heaven Alliance Leader, who shattered my dantian three years ago, has fully recovered from his injuries. The man I could not defeat even at my peak is now your enemy."

No one even breathed loudly.

"Tomorrow, the Sage Heaven Corps will announce that it is recruiting. There is no time to train new martial artists, so we need elites like you. The Iron Sword Corps is dangerous, but the Sage Heaven Corps will be even more dangerous. Anyone who wants to fight alongside me, come find me."

"What is the meaning of this!"

The person who appeared behind them with a furious shout was Choong Yang, Corps Commander of the Iron Sword Corps.

"I sent you here to be an instructor, and you're recruiting people from the Iron Sword Corps? Are you out of your mind?"

Baek Socheon answered honestly once again.

"I'm sorry. My circumstances are too urgent."

He could have easily humiliated Choong Yang.

Choong Yang's intentions had been openly hostile, starting with assigning such dangerous training to someone who had lost his internal energy. If Baek Socheon had torn into Choong Yang with words, he could have thoroughly disgraced him in front of everyone.

But he did not.

Humiliating the leader before his subordinates would only encourage internal division.

To be honest, Baek Socheon now regretted beating Choong Yang in the past. He had deserved it at the time, but with the passage of years, Baek Socheon felt there had been no need to go that far.

Of course, people's feelings could change from day to day. Next year, he might think, 'Good thing I beat him back then.'

"I'm sorry."

When Baek Socheon apologized so politely, Choong Yang could no longer press him.

Choong Yang had watched the training from a distance from beginning to end. He could not hear their conversations, but as the cheers for Baek Socheon grew louder, he knew his plan had failed.

Still, Cheon Su, the Sixth Unit Commander, had been his final hope. Aside from Hwang Ilbi, Cheon Su was known to be the strongest in actual combat. Cheon Su also had a steadfast personality and would never refuse an order.

Choong Yang had not expected Cheon Su to be thrown to the ground in a single move. Had he not watched Baek Socheon skillfully complete the obstacle-course training earlier, he would have assumed the two had staged the spar.

"As you know, the situation concerning the Black Heaven Alliance is not good. I believe this is the time for us to combine our strength."

"I'm sorry, but I have no intention of joining forces with the Sage Heaven Corps."

"I understand. Then I'll take my leave."

As Baek Socheon turned to leave, the Iron Sword Corps greeted him loudly.

"Thank you!"

"I should be thanking you. I felt and learned a great deal today, so I'm in a good mood. Take my situation as a warning, and do not get hurt under any circumstances!"

With those words, Baek Socheon left.

Choong Yang glared at his subordinates. His gaze was a clear warning. Go to Baek Socheon, and there would be consequences.

Even without such a warning, it was not easy to give up the highest treatment given to an Iron Sword Corps martial artist and go elsewhere.

After dismissing the martial artists, Hwang Ilbi approached Choong Yang to calm him down.

"Please don't be angry. That person isn't someone who goes down easily, is he?"

Choong Yang immediately asked, "Are you going?"

Hwang Ilbi thought Choong Yang had excellent instincts. When Baek Socheon had asked people to join the Sage Heaven Corps, Hwang Ilbi had wanted to rush over immediately.

But Baek Socheon's words remained in his mind. If something happened, Hwang Ilbi would have to take charge of the Iron Sword Corps.

"Don't you think Unit Commander Baek has changed a great deal? He's not someone who would apologize so easily."

"Why are you changing the subject? I asked whether you're going."

"Are you worried that I might go?"

"You want to go!"

"No, I have no intention of going. I won't."

"Really?"

"I absolutely won't. If I leave, who will protect you, Corps Commander?"

Only then did Choong Yang's expression ease somewhat.

"Let's go too."

"Yes."

Hwang Ilbi followed behind Choong Yang. Choong Yang's concern was only natural.

Hwang Ilbi could already sense that several people would transfer to the Sage Heaven Corps after today's training. Had Baek Socheon thrashed Cheon Su or humiliated Choong Yang, there would have been fewer of them.

Whether Baek Socheon intended it or not, the reasonable yet dignified side he had shown today had stirred everyone deeply. Hwang Ilbi was among them.

'Ah, I don't even need to become the Iron Sword Corps Commander. Can't I go too?'

Hwang Ilbi had not been able to follow Baek Socheon to Wencheng, but this time, he truly wanted to go.

Footnotes:

Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried