WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME NOVELS

Translator/Editor: Chen

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ The Former Supreme ◈

Chapter 46: When Recruitment Ends, the Adventure (1)

──────

News of Baek Socheon's return and the Sage Heaven Corps recruiting martial artists spread throughout the Alliance.

With the conflict between the Alliance Leader and the Grand Strategist added to the mix, it became the most interesting topic in the Alliance in recent memory.

-Even so, who would actually go?

It was like being the one to bell the cat. No matter how much they respected Baek Socheon and wanted to join him, it was not a decision they could make lightly. Joining the Sage Heaven Corps could mean falling out of favor with the Iron Sword Corps Commander, or even the Murim Alliance Leader.

Yet things did not unfold as expected.

The first person to step forward was someone wholly unexpected. Cheon Su, the Sixth Unit Commander of the Iron Sword Corps who had sparred with Baek Socheon at the training grounds, came to see him.

"I've come to apply for the Sage Heaven Corps. Will you accept me?"

Even Baek Socheon had not expected Cheon Su to come.

"Even if you do well here, you may have to start as a Squad Leader, or even a Rank-and-file Martial Artist."

"I came prepared for that."

"May I ask why you applied?"

"I came because I want to serve under you, Unit Commander."

"If this is because of what happened at the training grounds, you do not need to do this."

"If it were because of that, I would not have come."

Given Choong Yang's personality, he would only make Cheon Su's life even more difficult.

"Then why?"

"I have respected you for a long time."

Baek Socheon knew Cheon Su was not saying that just to please him. At the training grounds, he had remembered how faithfully Cheon Su had followed him in the past. Even so, he asked casually.

"Then why did you tell me to demonstrate at the Supreme level in the training grounds?"

It had been Choong Yang's order, but Cheon Su gave a more fundamental reason.

"I knew you would pass."

"What if I had died?"

"I was not worried. I believed that if it was impossible, you were not the sort of person who would stubbornly force yourself to do it."

That was why Cheon Su had been able to accept Choong Yang's order so calmly. Had he lacked faith in Baek Socheon, he would not have carried out that order so faithfully.

"Are you not afraid?"

He left the rest of the question unspoken, Choong Yang's grudge and possible retaliation.

"I am afraid."

"And yet?"

"I believe you will protect me, Unit Commander."

No more questions were needed.

"Welcome to the Sage Heaven Corps."

Baek Socheon held out his hand. Cheon Su clasped it tightly.

"I will serve you with loyalty from now on."

Baek Socheon called Im Chung and Beon Saeng over and introduced them to Cheon Su.

That day, fourteen Iron Sword Corps martial artists besides Cheon Su joined the Sage Heaven Corps. Three of them were Squad Leaders, including Noh Ung of the Third Squad.

They had all carried out life-or-death operations alongside Baek Socheon when he had been the Iron Sword Corps Commander. There were, of course, those who owed him their lives, as well as those who had respected Baek Socheon unwaveringly ever since.

They had seen the Baek Socheon of old return at the training grounds and decided to join him.

You call fifteen a mere handful? Hardly! Baek Socheon had not expected as many as fifteen to come. He knew well how difficult it was to find even one person who would rush to help when needed.

Naturally, Choong Yang, Corps Commander of the Iron Sword Corps, flew into a rage when he heard the news.

"What? Fifteen of them joined? Those worthless bastards!"

Hwang Ilbi stopped him as he looked ready to rush out immediately.

"Please restrain yourself!"

"Restrain myself? How am I supposed to endure this?"

"What are you going to do if you go there? Their hearts have already left us."

Of course, Hwang Ilbi had also played a part in making their hearts leave. Several martial artists had cautiously asked whether it was all right for them to go, and he had told them they could. He had even added that they should serve Baek Socheon well in his place.

"Baek Socheon! That bastard!"

"Calling him in as an instructor was a mistake from the start."

Hwang Ilbi placed the blame for this matter on Choong Yang. Since it was true, Choong Yang could not respond. He had never imagined things would turn out like this.

Choong Yang abruptly rose from his seat.

"Where are you going?"

"If a tiger goes mad, you call in a more experienced hunter."

As the Iron Sword Corps Commander, handing his prey to another hunter wounded his pride, but this was no time to worry about appearances.

"I'll accompany you."

Hwang Ilbi followed Choong Yang out. Whatever he was planning, Hwang Ilbi needed to stay by his side to know what was happening.

"You thought it was the hunters, not the tiger, who had gone mad, did you not?"

"No!"

"What a joke. You stay here."

Watching Choong Yang leave the office, Hwang Ilbi thought to himself.

'What a fortune-teller.'

The person Choong Yang went to meet was the Secret Pavilion Master.

'If I cannot handle this with my own strength, I need to get the Secret Pavilion Master involved.'

At present, the only forces capable of dealing with Baek Socheon were the Iron Sword Corps and the Secret Pavilion.

More importantly, Baek Socheon had once led both organizations. Surely the Secret Pavilion Master felt the same unease Choong Yang did.

Led by a martial artist attendant, Choong Yang entered the Secret Pavilion Master's office.

The instant he stepped inside, he was startled.

'Gasp!'

Baek Socheon was already there.

'Why is that bastard here?'

Seeing his surprise, Baek Socheon smiled.

"You look as though you have seen a ghost."

"No."

Since the Secret Pavilion Master was present, Choong Yang quickly composed himself.

"Have you been well, Pavilion Master?"

"Welcome, Corps Commander."

The current Secret Pavilion Master, On Byeokhwa, was a woman.

Though she was in her fifties, her face bore no trace of makeup. If anything, she looked more impressive for not dressing herself up. Fine wrinkles at the corners of her eyes showed her experience, while her gaze was intense enough to make an ordinary martial artist's knees buckle.

She was not originally from the Murim Alliance, but had been recruited from outside by the Murim Alliance Leader. A native of Jiangxi, she became famous after cutting down all of the Guizhou Seven Swords, who had once committed every kind of evil, in a single encounter. Afterward, she performed many heroic deeds and earned the martial world's deep respect, but little was known about her true skill or personal history.

"Please sit. If you feel uncomfortable, you may wait in another room for a moment."

"That will not be necessary."

Choong Yang sat beside Baek Socheon.

Originally, Choong Yang had intended to somehow form a united front with the Secret Pavilion Master and send Baek Socheon out of the Alliance again.

'Damn it. That bastard got here first!'

He assumed Baek Socheon had come to see the Secret Pavilion Master to have him driven out.

But that was not why Baek Socheon had visited.

"Then let us continue our discussion. You are asking me to send several Secret Pavilion martial artists to the Sage Heaven Corps?"

"Yes. Please send only ten."

Choong Yang, who had been listening, was greatly surprised.

'He came to ask for Secret Pavilion martial artists? Has he completely lost his mind? Would the Secret Pavilion give him anyone?'

Baek Socheon went even further.

"If you simply send them, they may be dissatisfied, so please second them temporarily."

In other words, their salaries and affiliation would remain with the Secret Pavilion.

Though it was an unreasonable request, On Byeokhwa asked calmly, "Why should I do that?"

"The Sage Heaven Pavilion created the Sage Heaven Corps to establish an organization that can move quickly and keep the Black Heaven Alliance in check."

Choong Yang interjected.

"Are the Secret Pavilion and the Iron Sword Corps not already doing that?"

"That is true. They are doing it very well. But both organizations have their own weaknesses."

On Byeokhwa's eyes showed interest.

"What are they?"

"The Secret Pavilion is certainly the Alliance's most elite organization, but it is also the Alliance Leader's direct force and moves only by the Alliance Leader's command. Its autonomy is inevitably limited. Especially now, when the possibility of war with the Black Heaven Alliance is increasing by the moment, I believe each organization needs greater autonomy."

It was not wrong. The Secret Pavilion was the Murim Alliance's strongest organization, yet it was also firmly bound to the Alliance Leader.

"Then what is headquarters' weakness?"

Choong Yang asked urgently. Normally, he should have defended the Secret Pavilion before bringing up the Iron Sword Corps, but he was too impatient now.

"The Iron Sword Corps is too large."

"There may be many of us overall, but are we not divided into units?"

"Yet you all answer to one person's command, do you not?"

As long as there was a single person with command authority, it remained one large organization no matter how many units or squads it was divided into.

"To put it simply, Corps Commander, how much do you know about the backgrounds of every member under your command?"

Choong Yang could not answer.

Baek Socheon looked at On Byeokhwa.

"The Sage Heaven Corps will not grow too large. We will move quickly as an elite organization and support both the Secret Pavilion and the Iron Sword Corps. If you do not trust me, trust Strategist Zhuge."

"What if I send you only the Secret Pavilion martial artists with the most problems?"

"You will not."

"You do not know me well. How can you be so sure?"

"I may not know you, Pavilion Master, but I know the Alliance Leader well. The Alliance Leader would not entrust such great power to someone capable of doing that."

Though Baek Socheon was currently at odds with the Alliance Leader, the Alliance Leader had an exceptional eye for people.

Their gazes met. No matter how closely one looked at their eyes or expressions, it was impossible to read what either was thinking.

At last, On Byeokhwa accepted the request.

"Very well. I will second ten people from the Secret Pavilion to you."

"Thank you."

Choong Yang nearly lost his temper and shouted. Now there would be no way to reclaim the martial artists taken from the Iron Sword Corps.

"Then I shall take my leave."

Baek Socheon bowed politely and left.

Once only On Byeokhwa and Choong Yang remained, Choong Yang spoke.

"You must not send them."

"Why must I not?"

"Will the Alliance Leader permit it?"

"I have the discretion to make a decision of this scale."

When invoking the Alliance Leader failed, Choong Yang quickly offered another reason.

"That man is after your position, Pavilion Master."

"My position?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Why? It is a position he once held, and one that commands the greatest power."

"I do not think so."

"What?"

"It is the same as what Unit Commander Baek said. I do not know Unit Commander Baek well, but I know the Alliance Leader well. The Alliance Leader would not place such importance on someone who would engage in political infighting when war could break out at any moment."

"But..."

'But is that no longer true?' The thought nearly slipped out. Yet Choong Yang thought that would cross a line. Once the Secret Pavilion Master had made her decision, the matter was already over.

After watching Choong Yang for a moment, On Byeokhwa calmly revealed something new.

"Corps Commander Choong."

"Yes, Pavilion Master."

"When Martial Artist Baek was demoted from the position of Iron Sword Corps Commander, do you know who he recommended as the next Corps Commander?"

"Who?"

Choong Yang thought of Hwang Ilbi.

A name he had never expected came from On Byeokhwa's lips.

"Corps Commander Choong, it was you."

"What?"

Choong Yang's eyes widened.

"No. That cannot be."

"It is true. He recommended you to the Grand Strategist, though unofficially."

"Why me?"

"I do not know that either. I do not know what lies in that man's heart."

Choong Yang stood blankly for a moment before bidding farewell.

"I should be going as well."

"Take care."

After Choong Yang left, On Byeokhwa walked to the window.

She saw Baek Socheon leaving the building and walking away in the distance.

Her gaze was deeper than it had been when she first heard his request to send Secret Pavilion martial artists. She watched until Baek Socheon disappeared from view.

After leaving the Secret Pavilion Master's office, Choong Yang went straight to find Baek Socheon.

"Is that true?"

"What do you mean?"

"That you recommended me when you were demoted from the position of Corps Commander."

After a brief pause, Baek Socheon answered.

"It is."

Shocked, Choong Yang asked again.

"Why did you do that? We were not even close then."

"Because I considered you suitable for the position."

"Why was I suitable?"

"I knew you had a strong desire to rise. As long as you had that ambition, I believed you would not ruin the Iron Sword Corps. You are selfish and foul-tempered, but at least you are not corrupt, are you? I thought someone political like you would be better for the Iron Sword Corps in the long run than someone with a rigid personality."

A short sigh escaped Choong Yang's lips. He had never imagined something like this had happened.

"Then why did you not tell me?"

Had he known, he would not have picked a fight with Baek Socheon in the first place. How could he have picked a fight with someone who had recommended him? Baek Socheon would not have beaten him up either.

"What was I supposed to say? That I recommended you, so you should look after me? You might have used that politically, but I am not that sort of person. After everything you have seen of me, do you still not know that?"

Choong Yang looked ready to snap, then let out a sigh.

"That does not change anything between us."

"If you say so."

Choong Yang sharply turned around and left Baek Socheon's office.

On his way down, he encountered the Iron Sword Corps martial artists who had come to the Sage Heaven Corps. They greeted him with apologetic expressions. Sixth Unit Commander Cheon Su stood at the front.

Choong Yang spoke in an angry tone.

"You damned bastards."

Cheon Su and the other Iron Sword Corps martial artists said nothing and lowered their heads. After all, it was true that they had abandoned the Iron Sword Corps and come here.

"You wretches! Since you came, do it properly. Do not disgrace the name of our Iron Sword Corps. Understood?"

"Yes."

The martial artists answered without thinking.

Back at the Iron Sword Corps, Choong Yang sat alone in his chair, lost in thought.

Hwang Ilbi came to see him and asked cautiously, "Did something happen?"

It was clear that the trip to find a hunter had not gone well.

Choong Yang rose from his seat.

"Come on."

"Where?"

"Let us go drink."

"Now? It is still broad daylight."

"Come on. I said come on!"

"All right."

As he walked, Choong Yang spoke quietly.

"If you want to go too, go to the Sage Heaven Corps."

"Why are you saying that again?"

Choong Yang suddenly stopped.

"I said go. You are all so impressive, are you not? How dare you act so high and mighty? Am I the only piece of trash?"

It was the first time Hwang Ilbi had seen him this upset and frustrated. Choong Yang was the sort of man who smiled first when someone wronged him, then thought of revenge. Hwang Ilbi understood his emotions finally spilling over. Who could find it easy to deal with a man like Baek Socheon?

Hwang Ilbi gently pulled Choong Yang along.

"You have not even had a drink, yet our Corps Commander is already drunk. Come on, let us go. Today, the two of us will get thoroughly drunk. We have plenty to discuss over drinks, so I am buying!"

Footnotes:

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