Chapter 18
Chapter 18
In the end, what he had feared happened.
Un Jongak had come to see Pyo Inhaeng because he had assigned Ju Jirang to a mission.
Even though Un Jongak came to see the Tenth Division Leader, he didn’t look the least bit cautious. He strode confidently into the division leader’s office.
Pyo Inhaeng didn’t station any guards in front of his office. So Un Jongak was able to enter without interference.
Pyo Inhaeng had already sensed his presence and had also guessed that Un Jongak might come, so he calmly welcomed him.
“Division Leader, forgive me for coming without notice.”
Though Un Jongak had come out of anger, he still tried to observe proper decorum in front of Pyo Inhaeng. Up close, he gave off the impression of a frail scholar. The thought that someone like him could be scheming behind the scenes made one's skin crawl. But Pyo Inhaeng, having already been warned by Seo Mugyeom, didn’t let any of that show and replied indifferently.
“Welcome, Vice-Leader Un. If it’s an urgent matter, coming without notice is understandable. Since you’re clearly here to say something, go ahead and tell me what brings you.”
“I came to discuss Lady Ak’s escort mission. The First Division Leader also said the task is dangerous, and I feel the same. So I thought perhaps the Sixth Division could take it on instead. Our Division Leader has also approved it.”
Pyo Inhaeng found this amusing. He expected Un Jongak to tell him not to take Ju Jirang along. Instead, he wanted the Sixth Division to take over the mission. It was a blatant provocation—trying to take a task already assigned to the Tenth Division.
“Have you informed the First Division Leader?”
“Wouldn’t it be better if you did that, Division Leader Pyo? I’m not trying to cause trouble, only trying to ensure the Guardian Ten Division completes the mission successfully. If you think it over, I believe you’ll agree. If the Tenth Division takes it, half your warriors are bound to die or get hurt. You wouldn’t want that, would you? If you hadn’t volunteered for the mission and selected Lady Ju, it could’ve gone to the Second or Third Division. This was unnecessary meddling.”
At first, he at least tried to be polite, but as he went on, his words became increasingly harsh.
The more Un Jongak lost composure, the more satisfied Pyo Inhaeng became. Seo Mugyeom had told him Un Jongak rarely revealed his true intentions. If he got emotional and made a mistake, it would be their opportunity.
Pyo Inhaeng felt the same and thought Un Jongak was beginning to lose his composure.
“What if I refuse?”
Pyo Inhaeng spoke lazily, as if uninterested, while lifting his teacup. He hadn’t even offered tea to Un Jongak, who had stormed in uninvited. He drank alone.
Un Jongak hadn’t expected Pyo Inhaeng to act so nonchalantly, even though he had barged in. Frankly, he had never met anyone like Pyo Inhaeng.
“If I now say the Tenth Division can’t handle it and the Sixth Division should take over, I’ll just look like a fool, won’t I? If you want the mission, make a proper offer.”
Pyo Inhaeng sounded like he expected compensation, leaving Un Jongak speechless.
“Division Leader Pyo, do you think the Sixth Division gains anything from taking this mission? We’re volunteering for the sake of the Guardian Ten Division’s reputation!”
Un Jongak’s voice rose, and his face flushed slightly with anger.
But Pyo Inhaeng ignored all that and said what he wanted.
“Don’t act all noble when your motives are plain as day.”
He even picked his ear and blew on his finger.
Un Jongak wondered if this man was insane, but also realized he’d made a mistake. He had acted differently than usual. After hearing that Ju Jirang, whom he valued, would be sent on a mission with the fool Pyo Inhaeng, he had hastily come up with a plan.
Normally, he wouldn’t have stepped in directly. He’d have remained behind the scenes and sent someone else to negotiate with Pyo Inhaeng.
But this time, he was agitated and wanted to crush Pyo Inhaeng out of spite. If Pyo Inhaeng hadn’t volunteered for the mission and picked Ju Jirang, Un Jongak wouldn’t have needed to step in.
“Vice-Leader Un, like I told the First Division Leader, the Tenth Division will handle this. So you don’t need to worry about it. Just focus on fulfilling the tasks assigned to your Sixth Division.”
At first, Pyo Inhaeng had spoken respectfully. But now he dropped the honorifics. The sudden change made it feel like a slap in the face.
“Division Leader Pyo, this isn’t about emotions. Don’t you realize how dangerous the escort mission is? Are you really saying it doesn’t matter if Tenth Division warriors die?”
Un Jongak asked, barely concealing his anxiety.
“A warrior who chooses this path must be ready to lay down his life at any moment. I have things to do now, so I’d appreciate it if you left quietly.”
Pyo Inhaeng looked at Un Jongak as he spoke. His tone and gaze were ordinary. Yet, there was something overwhelming about him.
“If you’ve said all you came to say, you should leave. Do I need to push you out? If you have more to say, don’t bother coming again. I’ll hear it through the First Division Leader. I’ll overlook this intrusion once, but if you return without permission again, you won’t leave with your head intact.”
Un Jongak’s face, initially startled, twisted into a smile. As if to say, “Can you really do that?” Pyo Inhaeng could, and he could prove it, but he just returned the smile.
It was obviously not a friendly smile, and yet Pyo Inhaeng smiled back. That shook Un Jongak more than a physical blow. He realized there was more to Pyo Inhaeng than he knew, and his expression hardened.
“You’ll regret what happened today. I didn’t come to fight, but you’re making this difficult.”
“Vice-Leader Un, shall I give you some advice? Don’t try to fight me. I’m saying this for your sake.”
With that, Pyo Inhaeng walked to the door and opened it. A clear signal to leave.
Un Jongak didn’t want to appear like he was fleeing, but he had no choice.
While Pyo Inhaeng proudly recounted his achievement, Seo Mugyeom listened with his mouth agape. Pyo Inhaeng looked smug, as if expecting Seo Mugyeom to respect him more now, but Seo Mugyeom was utterly dazed.
“So Vice-Leader Un just left like that, Division Leader?”
Seo Mugyeom had come to the office at Pyo Inhaeng’s invitation to eat lunch together.
But after hearing what Pyo Inhaeng said, he was so shocked he had completely forgotten about eating.
“What else was he going to do? That guy’s not going to mess with me.”
After hearing that, Seo Mugyeom thought he needed to confirm something he’d heard from Ho Jo-yeong.
“Division Leader, I don’t know if I should ask this, but what level is your cultivation?”
“Ah, you didn’t know? That’s not something you should ask, you know.”
He wasn’t answering the question, just pointing out that it wasn’t something one should ask.
“Oh… I’m sorry.”
Seo Mugyeom immediately apologized, feeling he’d been rude.
But maybe it was just a joke, because Pyo Inhaeng laughed.
“Ho Jo-yeong or the Vice-Leader must have told you things about me. Rumors, huh? It’s been so long, I thought people would forget, but they don’t.”
Seo Mugyeom didn’t think they were just baseless rumors. If they weren’t true, the proud figures in question would’ve shut them down long ago.
“It doesn’t matter what I was in the past. Let’s say the greatest swordsman lost an arm or an eye and can’t fight like before. Then his former fame only becomes a burden.”
Seo Mugyeom thought that might actually be true. But he wasn’t sure if Pyo Inhaeng had gone through something like losing an arm or an eye.
He didn’t want to ask just to satisfy his curiosity. But this seemed like something he needed to know in order to work together going forward. So Seo Mugyeom took the risk and asked again.
“Division Leader, if you and the First Division Leader had a duel, who would win?”
Pyo Inhaeng looked at him with amusement. It was like he was trying to figure out why Seo Mugyeom was asking. Then he seemed to realize it wasn’t just out of curiosity and finally answered.
“The First Division Leader would win. But if I set my mind to it, I believe I could train my body and defeat him within two months. I know how to grow stronger and have the capability. What I lack is the willpower. If I can regain that, I can change anything.”
“Then why don’t you regain it?”
Normally, Pyo Inhaeng wouldn’t answer that. But it seemed he might now.
“Can’t we finish eating first and then talk?”
Only then did Seo Mugyeom realize they were still eating. He had been so focused on the story that he had forgotten. The food was excellent, but Seo Mugyeom now only wanted to finish quickly.
Pyo Inhaeng also finished eating, shaking his head as if he found Seo Mugyeom truly fascinating.
“Maybe this is a good opportunity. One day, you’ll have to think about this too. Hearing my story now and reflecting on it might be good for you.”
“What do you mean by that…?”
It seemed this was going to be a long conversation.