Chapter 169 : Baek Il-gang
Baek Il-gang
"What do you mean by that...?"
Jeong-un fell silent for a moment before opening his mouth.
No matter how much he mulled it over, it was something he simply couldn't make sense of.
Wasn't it tacitly understood that from the three-stripes and up, people carried out missions alone?
Jeong-un had also heard this often enough.
In fact, when he, as a two-stripes, was sent out on a solo mission, it became something of a minor topic of conversation.
Yet now, he had been told not to go alone but rather to travel with a companion, and that it would benefit both of them.
Zhuge Cheon-woo spoke.
"You, after entering the hall, have traveled to quite a few places across the martial world, but still, aren't there far more places you're unfamiliar with? It's only natural, as the Central Plains are vast. This time, that friend of yours will be of help to you."
"Are you saying Young hero Baek is well-versed in the geography of Jin Prefecture?"
"......"
In response, Zhuge Cheon-woo merely smiled in silence, as if saying Jeong-un should hear the details directly.
Jeong-un gazed steadily at him for a moment, then nodded in reply.
"Understood. I'll do as you say."
"Thank you. I'll relay the details to him separately through the Blue Scale Corps leader."
And with that, his audience with Zhuge Cheon-woo came to an end.
To be frank, from the content of the conversation, he couldn't help but wonder if there was any need to summon him in person.
Even the mission's details could have simply been conveyed to him and Baek Il-gang together through Yeom Baek.
'Perhaps there was another reason I had to meet him myself.'
Jeong-un recalled Zhuge Cheon-woo's eyes that had been staring intently at him throughout their conversation.
The Zhuge Clan wasn't a typical martial household, but they were renowned for their breadth of knowledge—especially for their masterful command over formations and secret arts.
Perhaps he had scrutinized Jeong-un with such techniques, things ordinary folk would never notice.
'... Does it matter?'
He didn't care what Zhuge Cheon-woo hoped to see in him. He had nothing to hide now, after all.
It was the same with the level of his martial skills.
Had he not already returned after slaying the cult leader of a chilling religion commanding thousands of cultists?
He had never hidden it, nor had any reason to hide it now.
Descending the steps, Jeong-un found a servant waiting to guide him to his new quarters.
Following him, they walked toward the heart of the Heavenly Martial Hall and eventually arrived in front of a single-story wooden building.
"This is the place."
Jeong-un gazed steadily at the pavilion visible beyond the low surrounding wall.
By comparison to other buildings in the Heavenly Martial Hall, it was clearly modest, but definitely spacious enough for one person to live alone in comfort.
Even the small wall wrapping around the pavilion had its own charm, a sure sign that no effort was spared in building this place.
Truth be told, he wondered if someone like himself—a mere warrior—should even be allowed a whole residence to himself.
In fact, he hadn't even realized there was such a building in the Heavenly Martial Hall.
He normally wouldn't have a reason to come this deep into the main compound except when meeting the Hall Lord or Zhuge Cheon-woo.
The location was prime, but before it was assigned to him, he couldn't even guess what its original use might have been.
Its refined appearance made it all the more mysterious.
Creak.
Opening the gate in the low wall, Jeong-un entered and was greeted by a cozy yard.
Instead of rough earth, a neat lawn, evenly maintained at a certain height, covered the ground.
It was enough that one could call it a small garden.
Jeong-un crossed the yard and entered the pavilion.
Inside, though not vast, it retained a vintage elegance.
His belongings had already been moved in and neatly arranged.
When Jeong-un had finished taking everything in, the servant, who'd quietly stood by his side the entire time, bowed his head and asked,
"If you need anything at all, please let us know."
"I heard there's a training hall?"
"Yes, I'll show you the way."
The private training hall was so close to his quarters that one could hit it with a stone's throw.
It was truly meant for Jeong-un alone—even its location seemed chosen for his convenience.
"......"
Jeong-un looked around, eyes filled with quiet admiration.
Broad slabs of well-cut white stone were spread wide about.
He'd never seen it before, but just from the appearance, he thought that training grounds for disciples of prestigious sects must look something like this.
Again, he wondered whether he deserved to have such a space to himself.
Once the servant finished showing him around his newly assigned quarters and training hall, he withdrew, leaving the polite assurance that servants would always be waiting nearby should anything be needed.
Before long, Jeong-un was left alone in the training hall.
'... This is more than I deserve. It's a little overwhelming.'
He wondered if other four-stripes warriors received similar treatment.
To him, it felt like a message to work all the harder.
Even when he was just a one-stripe or two-stripes, he never felt anything was lacking.
But with treatment like this, he wondered just how difficult and numerous the coming tasks would be.
Naturally, the mission he received from Zhuge Cheon-woo came to mind.
"He said it'd be of help to both of us."
The very first bond Jeong-un forged after entering the hall was with Baek Il-gang.
The roguish impression from their first meeting still lingered.
Even now, there were said to be many within the hall who looked on him unfavorably.
It was only natural.
Just as he regarded disciples of the great sects with something less than fondness, so too must they have felt something from his gaze.
'He's familiar with the geography of Jin Prefecture, huh...'
Now that he thought about it, he realized he'd never heard where Baek Il-gang was from.
He'd always been tight-lipped about his background.
The reluctance to speak was so obvious that Jeong-un never pushed the matter.
Which made Zhuge Cheon-woo's words all the more meaningful.
After all, wasn't it the General Affairs Department's job to look into every detail of the admitted warriors' circumstances?
Zhuge Cheon-woo wouldn't have said it lightly.
He and Baek Il-gang had previously gone out on a mission together already.
Back when the rumor about the Divine Physician's tomb appearing sent them to Yangyang.
Even then, he hadn't heard Baek Il-gang speak of himself. Would it be any different this time?
'Let's not ask on purpose.'
That's what Jeong-un decided.
He resolved not to let himself get curious about Zhuge Cheon-woo's reasons for assigning Baek Il-gang as his companion.
When the time was right, he reckoned, he'd say it himself.
'If not, so be it.'
Jeong-un muttered quietly to himself.
* * *
"I told you! With just this mission, I'll definitely be two-stripes!"
Jo Gwang shouted with a booming voice. He raised his left arm triumphantly, the two golden threads shining brightly.
"Anyone would think you reached two-stripes in record time."
Across from him, Baek Il-gang shook his head as he spoke, downing a cup filled to the brim with liquor in one go.
Jo Gwang had gone all the way to the marketplace to buy this alcohol to celebrate his promotion.
They said he'd spent a handsome sum for quality sake.
"I did! I surely did! Do you know how hard it is to get promoted to two-stripes right in your second year?"
"That being said, there were an awful lot of promotions this time."
"A lot? Nonsense!"
Baek Il-gang wasn't wrong.
There had been a significant number of warriors promoted from one-stripe to two-stripes recently.
Many who had participated in the major battle to exterminate the Blood Cult had the joy of promotion.
Rumor had it that there were quite a few like Jo Gwang—those who had built up enough merit to be promoted, but until now, there hadn't been an opportunity.
This time, all of them were given their two-stripes.
"Even if the number is high, the value doesn't diminish. It's definitely something to celebrate. After all, it means we protected the common people from the unorthodox villains."
Tang Yerin said with a bright smile.
She, too, had been promoted to two-stripes as soon as she returned.
Some said she would have reached it soon even without this mission.
Some even wondered if the significance of her promotion had been diluted by being promoted alongside so many others.
But Tang Yerin herself didn't seem to care much for such things.
At that moment, Jo Gwang's gaze slid to Jeong-un's left arm.
From the very first moment, his expression had been flustered, at a loss for what to do.
His hand kept twitching unconsciously, as if restraining himself from reaching out and touching it.
Jeong-un pretended not to notice and spoke to Baek Il-gang.
"I'm thinking of leaving tomorrow morning. How does that sound?"
"Whatever's convenient for you."
Baek Il-gang replied with a shrug, filling his glass again and again.
To an outsider, it might have seemed irresponsible to be drinking so heavily the night before a mission, but none at the table said a word.
Weren't they martial artists?
A little drunkenness was nothing.
Still, Jeong-un couldn't help but look with slight incomprehension at Baek Il-gang's hand gripping the cup.
It wasn't just Baek Il-gang.
Jo Gwang had gone out of his way to buy the best liquor from the famous tavern in the market, and even Tang Yerin was leisurely sipping beside him.
Apparently, so long as they weren't on a mission, they liked to enjoy a drink.
Of course, it wasn't only idle martial artists for whom drinking was a customary part of daily life.
Even ordinary folk were said to drink cheap liquor regularly.
It was such a constant presence that it scarcely felt like a mere preference.
Jeong-un gazed curiously at the clear spirits in his glass, then took a slow sip.
"......"
His eyes widened.
Was it because the alcohol Jo Gwang brought really was something special?
Unlike before, there was none of the usual unpleasant aftertaste.
The fragrant bouquet of the liquor and the sensation as it went down his throat were surprisingly smooth.
"Looks like it suits your taste."
Noticing his slightly surprised face as he looked down at his cup, Baek Il-gang smirked.
Jeong-un answered, a little embarrassed,
"It's not bad."
"For a young hero of your caliber, aside from top-tier martial arts, what else could excite you this much? Drink up."
"I'm the one who bought it, and yet you're the one stealing the spotlight!"
And so, between chatter with his comrades, time passed pleasantly.
For Jeong-un, moments like these—aside from honing his martial arts—were a rare joy.
Even though he now bore four stripes, they still treated him without reserve.
They just stared in subtle awe at his resplendent martial garb and marveled at his new quarters.
Jo Gwang was a bit noisy, but even that didn't feel burdensome anymore.
"Four stripes in your second year. Is there even anything higher than that? I can't help but feel a little envious."
"You keep forgetting—there's no reason for you to worry about that for the rest of your life, so relax and enjoy your drink."
"You brat! That's it. Come on, let's draw swords tonight!"
Bantering among friends, they had a few more drinks, all while not even realizing the slight smile that had crept onto Jeong-un's lips.
The next day, after their gathering.
They got ready to set out early in the morning.
Jeong-un packed the supplies he'd received from the General Affairs Department and the various elixirs he was granted as a four-stripes into his travel bag.
From now on, he planned to use them as needed without reservation.
He'd learned that, if not always at his peak, he must at least maintain a state close to it.
"Let's depart."
"Yes."
At Baek Il-gang's words, Jeong-un nodded, already astride the horse prepared by the General Affairs Department.
They hadn't been back from their last mission long, but were setting out into the martial world once again.
'No complaints here.'
On the contrary, he welcomed it.
Ever since then, the face of that Demonic Cult leader kept coming to mind unbidden.
Even if this turned out to be a trap set by him, it didn't matter.
'... Sit tight and wash your neck for me.'
He recalled the Demonic Cult leader's ever-changing faces—now all too familiar—the chilling energy and unmistakable presence.
A strange and complicated feeling crept up along his back.
Jeong-un did not try to shake off that subtle emotion.
Instead, he let himself feel it wholly.
He gently tugged on the reins.
This time, he would not let anything slip away.
With that, he rode forward.