WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME NOVELS

Translator/Editor: Chen

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◈ The Former Supreme ◈

Chapter 74: Sortie (1)

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"You seem to be in a good mood."

Wang Ho, who had been waiting with the Sage Heaven Corps martial artists, spoke to Baek Socheon.

It was already the third time he had heard that today. Beon Saeng and Im Chung, whom he had met that morning, had said the same thing.

So, the moment he entered his office, he looked into the bronze mirror. He did not know whether he looked happy, but one thing had certainly changed.

The weary man who had once stared blankly back at him from the mirror was gone.

"Something good happened."

The pleasant day he had spent with her yesterday was still carrying over into today.

"I'm increasing your training intensity. Aren't you all happy?"

Groans rose from every direction. Still, their expressions were bright overall. After several months of training, the Sage Heaven Corps had become more elite than any other organization within the Alliance.

Their grueling training had its rewards, rewards more valuable than any other reward in the martial world.

Whenever he had time, Baek Socheon gathered them and corrected their martial arts.

He adjusted each person's forms, corrected their weaknesses and bad habits, and generously advised them on how to train according to their respective levels.

Baek Socheon had learned something through experience during the Orthodox-Demonic War. When commanding from above, troops looked like nothing more than numbers, but before they were martial artists, every one of them was a person.

People with thoughts, different personalities, and families.

The difference between recognizing and caring for that fact and failing to recognize it was the difference between a good leader and the worst kind.

He had not been a perfect leader in the last war. This time, he intended to treat them differently.

That was why he personally examined their stances. True loyalty came from sincerity.

"Thank you!"

They were martial artists whose abilities were at least on par with the Iron Sword Corps. They knew exactly how helpful Baek Socheon's instruction was and how exceptional his teaching could be.

They also knew he taught them sincerely for their sake. Those who had already respected him, as well as those who had been sent here against their wishes, all came to trust and follow him.

After checking on the Sage Heaven Corps martial artists, Baek Socheon went to find Beon Saeng.

Beon Saeng was training alone.

Again and again, he repeated the forms Baek Socheon had taught him.

After training for quite some time, Beon Saeng noticed Baek Socheon had arrived.

"Brother!"

"Let's see whether you've been slacking off."

"Yes!"

As Beon Saeng prepared to demonstrate his forms as usual, Baek Socheon spoke.

"Wait. Not the forms."

"Pardon?"

"How about we spar?"

Beon Saeng was startled at the mention of sparring. He had never properly sparred with Baek Socheon before.

"Am I useless now?"

"If you can't show me your true ability, I may come to that conclusion... You know that if someone dies during a spar, it isn't treated as murder."

"You've been spending time with that frightening young lady, and now even your jokes are scary."

"Haha."

Baek Socheon drew his sword.

"Focus. Let's begin."

"Yes."

Beon Saeng drew his sword. After taking a deep breath, he steadied himself.

'All right. Just do what I was taught!'

Beon Saeng thrust his sword forward. At first, he attacked cautiously because he was afraid of hurting Baek Socheon, but Baek Socheon shouted at him.

"Think of me as a real enemy and come at me!"

"Yes!"

Beon Saeng unleashed every form he had learned with all his strength.

Even without using internal energy, Baek Socheon easily avoided his attacks. Sometimes he dodged the blade, and other times he knocked Beon Saeng's sword aside with his own. As if showing him the many ways an enemy could defend against an attack, he received the attacks in different ways.

Baek Socheon counterattacked as well. Beon Saeng's heart dropped at the sharp assault as he blocked it.

'I'm going to die!'

He screamed that in his heart countless times. Yet he did not die.

Thrusting, blocking, dodging. Beon Saeng was too absorbed in the spar to realize that driving someone to the brink without killing them was many times harder than simply avoiding them.

At last, the spar ended.

"Ahhh, it's over."

Beon Saeng's legs gave out, and he collapsed where he stood. From his perspective, it had been no different from a real fight, and the strain on his mind had been enormous.

Only then did Beon Saeng understand. His earlier worry that Baek Socheon might be hurt had been like a rabbit worrying about a tiger. Of course, if Baek Socheon had used internal energy, it would have been less like a rabbit worrying about a tiger and more like an ant doing so.

Baek Socheon spoke to him.

"That'll do."

"Pardon? What do you mean?"

"Follow me."

Baek Socheon offered no explanation and began walking, so Beon Saeng got up and followed him.

Baek Socheon took him to the Sage Heaven Corps' training ground.

"Wang Ho!"

"Yes, Unit Commander."

"Test this fellow's ability."

"A new recruit test?"

"That's right."

Beon Saeng's heart immediately began pounding like mad. He knew better than anyone what kind of place the Sage Heaven Corps was. It was an elite organization made up of martial artists from the Iron Sword Corps, which he had dreamed all his life of joining, along with Secret Pavilion martial artists who were even stronger.

Beon Saeng looked at Baek Socheon.

'Am I really ready? Isn't this too soon?'

But Baek Socheon did not even look his way.

Wang Ho stepped forward and drew his sword.

"Come at me."

"Yes."

Still dazed, Beon Saeng stepped forward and drew his sword.

Even a Unit Commander could not bring just anyone into the organization. One needed a minimum level of skill. One person's mistake could put the entire group in danger.

Beon Saeng wanted more than anyone to change his life. Now, the opportunity of a lifetime had come.

'Stay calm. Stay calm.'

He could not throw away this wonderful chance because of nerves.

'Right. Even if I can't trust myself, I should trust Brother.'

He trusted Baek Socheon's earlier words that he was good enough.

'He must have brought me here because I can fight!'

The only thing he could trust was the martial arts Baek Socheon had taught him.

"Please go easy on me."

Beon Saeng was extremely tense. The spar he had just had with Baek Socheon was different. This was practically his first time sparring with real swords.

"Come."

Beon Saeng attacked first, thrusting his sword forward.

Whoosh.

It was fast and precise.

Clang.

Wang Ho knocked aside Beon Saeng's sword with his own and shouted.

"Good!"

The praise came out naturally.

Beon Saeng attacked again. He did not try to vary his moves and simply used the forms exactly as he had learned them.

Praise continued to spill from Wang Ho's lips.

Wang Ho only defended, yet Beon Saeng's attacks were so sharp that he nearly counterattacked without realizing it. Then the spar ended.

Wang Ho could tell his opponent had not deliberately used dangerous attacks. Beon Saeng simply lacked the experience to properly control the forms he had learned.

"Thank you for showing restraint."

Beon Saeng gave him a deep bow. His heart felt ready to burst at the thought that the spar had ended safely. It was pounding even harder than before the fight.

'I did it. I did it without making a mistake!'

Wang Ho's assessment was even better than that.

"His attacks are simple and straightforward, but they're truly threatening. If he uses them properly in a real fight, I believe he'll demonstrate tremendous ability."

His assessment was accurate, and the onlookers agreed. The excellence of the swordsmanship Baek Socheon had taught on the spot finally revealed itself through this spar.

Everyone broke into applause. It was also a welcome, acknowledging Beon Saeng's entry into the Sage Heaven Corps.

Beon Saeng's face turned red as he bowed to everyone.

"Thank you. Thank you so much."

Baek Socheon approached him.

"Starting today, you're a member of the Sage Heaven Corps."

"Yes, Unit Commander! Thank you. I'll do my best from now on."

Beon Saeng was so happy he felt like he could fly. If he and Baek Socheon had been alone, he would have hugged him and spun him around in circles.

"Brother!"

Beon Saeng ran over and hugged Im Chung.

"I got in! I got in!"

Unable to hug Baek Socheon, Beon Saeng hugged Im Chung instead and spun him around.

"You brat, I'm getting dizzy. What happened?"

Beon Saeng set Im Chung down and said,

"I got into the Sage Heaven Corps."

"Really? You got in?"

"Yes. I took the test earlier and passed!"

"Congratulations!"

Im Chung pulled Beon Saeng into a fierce embrace. He knew how hard Beon Saeng had worked to join the Sage Heaven Corps. Beon Saeng had even cut back on sleep to train.

"It's thanks to Big Brother."

"That's right."

Then a voice came from behind them.

"Then you should buy us drinks."

They turned to see Baek Socheon approaching.

"Of course, I'll buy them. Today, I'll treat everyone properly!"

Baek Socheon had something he needed to say to Beon Saeng while he was this excited.

"Beon Saeng."

"Yes, Brother."

"Joining the Alliance's strike force also means it wouldn't be strange for you to die tomorrow. Would you still have no regrets?"

Beon Saeng answered with a serious expression.

"Since meeting you, I've had the experience of changing my life. Let me say it clearly. Even if I die tomorrow, I won't regret it."

It was the sincere answer of a young man of twenty-six.

Baek Socheon approached, placed a hand on his shoulder, and patted it twice.

"Let's go. I'll buy the drinks today."

At that moment, Sima Iljung of the Sage Heaven Pavilion came rushing over.

"An order has come down for the Sage Heaven Corps to sortie."

It was the Sage Heaven Corps' first mission since its creation.

Baek Socheon looked at Beon Saeng.

"It seems your welcome ceremony will have to be held in a real battle."

* * *

While his subordinates prepared for departure, Baek Socheon met Zhuge Hyeon and listened to the details of the mission.

"A request for assistance has come from the Zhejiang Division."

"The Zhejiang Division?"

Zhejiang was where Baek Socheon had been demoted and sent. It was where, with Zhejiang Division Chief Jeong Pung's help, he had resolved the matter of the Mythic Gang.

"Did something happen?"

"It seems so."

"They didn't tell us what it was?"

"The message did not come from the Division Chief."

"Then who sent it?"

"One of his attendant martial artists contacted us in secret. They said something seemed to have happened to the Division Chief. I considered sending the Shadow Pavilion or Iron Sword Corps, but you have a connection with the Zhejiang Division Chief, so I decided it would be best for the Sage Heaven Corps to go."

"You made the right decision."

If something had happened to Jeong Pung, this would be a chance to repay the help he had received.

More than that, this sortie would be a good opportunity to deploy the Sage Heaven Corps in real combat. Learning to work together in battle was one of the most important things for a strike force.

Avoiding danger did not guarantee a long life. No matter how well one avoided it, an unforeseen variable could one day arise and wipe everyone out. The way to survive long in the martial world was to gain the strength to overcome danger.

"I'll report once I assess the situation."

"Then I'm counting on you."

Zhuge Hyeon smiled pleasantly.

It had been a long time since Zhuge Hyeon had felt such easy relief after giving an order, confident that Baek Socheon would resolve the matter and return.

* * *

Once the order to sortie came down, the Sage Heaven Corps martial artists busily prepared.

Still bewildered, Beon Saeng prepared alongside them. Im Chung came over to look after him, checking the combat leather bag issued to Beon Saeng.

"Your hidden weapons?"

"I packed them."

"What about wound salve and internal injury medicine?"

"I packed those too. Don't worry, Brother."

The Sage Heaven Corps martial artists did not find anything strange about Im Chung's behavior. No one joked that he was overprotective, as if caring for a child.

That was the strength of an elite organization. Mockery and bullying existed only in half-baked groups.

Instead, everyone understood how Im Chung felt and envied Beon Saeng for having a comrade like him.

Im Chung gripped Beon Saeng's hand tightly.

"Keep your wits about you and stay focused! Follow the Unit Commander's orders no matter what!"

Usually, Beon Saeng often failed to notice Im Chung's feelings. Yet with a dangerous moment approaching, he could understand just how worried Im Chung was for him.

"Yes. Don't worry, Brother."

When they went outside, Baek Socheon was waiting.

Baek Socheon looked into the dependable eyes forged through harsh training before speaking forcefully.

"You trained harder than anyone in this world. So don't fear anyone!"

"Yes!"

A thunderous response erupted.

Baek Socheon mounted his horse, and everyone else did the same.

"Let's go!"

More than twenty horses charged out of the Murim Alliance at once.

It was the Sage Heaven Corps' first sortie.

Footnotes:

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