Hwang Seok-gyeong was surrounded by martial artists.
“Thank you for everything.”
“I wouldn’t have made it without you, Instructor.”
“I will be sure to visit you next time.”
Today was the day this class of trainees finished their training at the Unorthodox Alliance Hall and departed for various organizations within the Unorthodox Alliance.
Among the many instructors at the Unorthodox Alliance Hall, Hwang Seok-gyeong was by far the most popular.
“Do not forget that you are the pillars of the Unorthodox Alliance. I hope you will endure well, no matter what difficulties you may face!”
“Yes, Instructor!”
After the martial artists left, his colleague, Instructor Cha, approached him.
“As expected, you received the most gifts again this time.”
Hwang Seok-gyeong’s arms were full of gifts from the departing martial artists.
Unable to hold them all, many were piled up beside him.
The connections did not end here.
Many martial artists who left this place came to Hwang Seok-gyeong whenever they faced difficulties, and each time, he gave them his unstinting advice.
“If I had met an instructor like you, I might not be stuck here working as an instructor.”
“What’s wrong with being an instructor?”
“Aren’t you tired of it? The same words, the same work, every time.”
At that, Hwang Seok-gyeong asked Instructor Cha.
“Do you know how many martial artists have passed through our hands?”
“It must be an incredible number.”
“Yes, so many people know us. Aren’t we probably the most well-known people within the Unorthodox Alliance? What greater power could there be?”
“Great power? We’re still just instructors at the Unorthodox Alliance Hall. It might be different if we were to become a Division Lord or a Pavilion Lord, but who would acknowledge us otherwise?”
“Why do you think we can’t? Is there a rule that says we have to be instructors forever?”
“Fine, you go succeed. Become a Division Lord, become a Pavilion Lord.”
“And a Successor.”
“What? Don’t make such jokes, not even as a joke. I’m leaving now. Enjoy your vacation.”
The instructors were on vacation until the next class of trainees arrived.
As soon as Instructor Cha left, a subordinate’s telepathic message arrived, as if it had been waiting.
It was the moment Hwang Seok-gyeong became the Martial King.
—They have failed.
The Martial King’s expression hardened at his subordinate’s report.
—The Young Alliance Leader? How badly was he injured?
—He wasn’t injured at all.
—Then how many of the Thirteen Wolves of the Unorthodox Alliance died?
He had assumed it was the result of them throwing their bodies to save the Young Alliance Leader.
—No one died.
The Martial King’s voice gradually rose at the incomprehensible report.
—Which master intervened?
—No, sir.
It is said that only the Thirteen Wolves were there.
—Nonsense!
The Thirteen Wolves of the Unorthodox Alliance blocked their combined attack? They could be lucky.
But an assassination involving three units of the Blood Heaven Rainstorm was something even heavenly fortune could not stop.
The Martial King recalled the incident where the assassins were annihilated without being able to kill Pyo Gi-gwang.
—Someone definitely intervened.
Otherwise, such a result would have been impossible.
—What should we do?
Just as he was pondering for a moment, an urgent telepathic message came from his subordinate.
—The Young Alliance Leader has arrived.
The Martial King’s gaze turned to a man organizing training equipment across the Training Grounds.
The subordinate he had just been exchanging telepathic messages with was none other than Sa Hon.
Working as a menial laborer at the Unorthodox Alliance Hall, he lived as if he had learned only third-rate martial arts, and no one had noticed his true identity.
As Sa Hon bowed his head, Bi Sa-in appeared beside him.
Behind his confident stride, the Thirteen Wolves of the Unorthodox Alliance walked with him.
Bi Sa-in emanated an aura as intense as his fearsome appearance.
The Thirteen Wolves following behind all wore masks, so their expressions could not be seen.
As they passed, Sa Hon discreetly raised his head to look at their backs.
All thirteen were there, not a single one injured.
Even he couldn’t understand it.
How on earth did they block that attack?
Just then, one of the Thirteen Wolves walking at the very back turned around.
Sa Hon hastily bowed his head to avoid the gaze.
When he lifted his head again, the member of the Thirteen Wolves who had turned around was once again facing forward, walking on.
‘What was that? Did he sense my gaze?’
Impossible.
There was no way one of the Thirteen Wolves could have sensed that subtle gaze just now.
Sa Hon quickly pushed his cart and left the area.
With the Young Alliance Leader present, it would look suspicious for a menial worker to be loitering around.
The Martial King put down the gifts he was holding and politely greeted Bi Sa-in.
“What brings the Young Alliance Leader here?”
He looked like an instructor surprised by the Young Alliance Leader’s sudden visit.
He truly felt like someone who had nothing to do with this incident.
On his way here, Bi Sa-in had wondered how Hwang Seok-gyeong would react.
He had expected him to feign ignorance, but he hadn’t thought he would greet him so naturally.
“Instructor Hwang, it’s been a while. When was the last time we met?”
“I greeted you briefly at this year’s New Year banquet.”
“Ah, that’s right.”
Back then, he never dreamed they would meet again like this.
Are you really the one behind this? Are you the one who gave orders to those men?
“Please, come inside.”
“It’s fine. I just came by to see your face for a moment while passing through.”
The Martial King’s gaze turned to the Thirteen Wolves who had come with him.
Geom Mugeuk stood overlapping with the other members, concealing his aura.
Thus, the Martial King did not notice that a master like Geom Mugeuk had joined the Thirteen Wolves.
‘Is it true that not a single one is injured?’
He felt an unknown sense of crisis but did not waver.
Nothing excited him as much as the thrill that danger brought.
‘The Young Alliance Leader came here knowing I am behind it.’
The fact that he had come here, a place he had never visited in his life, meant just that.
Is this a probe? Or a declaration of war?
‘Was he always like this?’
The Bi Sa-in he had assessed was not this type of person.
“What are all these?”
Bi Sa-in asked, looking at the gifts on the floor.
“These are from the trainees who left this term.”
Bi Sa-in picked one of them up.
“May I open it?”
“Of course.”
Bi Sa-in was about to open it but then handed it to the Martial King.
“It seems dangerous.”
“What do you mean?”
“Would there ever be a truly good training instructor? Wouldn’t they try to poison him out of resentment?”
At Bi Sa-in’s joke, the Martial King gave a good-natured laugh.
“I doubt it. Once training is over, there is no one more memorable than the instructor.”
Looking at him now, Instructor Hwang was truly a benevolent man, far removed from any conspiracy.
“Are you satisfied with your work as an instructor?”
“I consider it my calling.”
Listening to their conversation, Geom Mugeuk suddenly had a thought.
‘Why an instructor, of all things?’
There must have been many ways to infiltrate the Unorthodox Alliance and establish a position.
With the Martial King’s skill, he could have reached the position of a Pavilion Lord by now.
To say it was simply to avoid attention didn't add up, as everyone knew of Instructor Hwang at the Unorthodox Alliance Hall.
While Geom Mugeuk was lost in thought, the conversation between Bi Sa-in and the Martial King continued.
“I was ambushed today.”
“What? An ambush? Are you alright?”
The Martial King was startled.
“Fortunately, I am fine.”
“How dare they!”
“Their identities are unknown, but they used forbidden weapons.”
“Good heavens! Those shameless cowards who know nothing of a martial artist’s honor! They are nothing but trash!”
Seeing him calmly call himself trash, Bi Sa-in confirmed that the man before him was no ordinary person.
“They dared to try and kill the Young Alliance Leader, so they must be captured and punished by execution. The Young Alliance Leader is the pillar and future of the Unorthodox Faction.”
In truth, Bi Sa-in had expected a different kind of encounter.
Something suspicious about him, some strange words, a peculiar aura.
He might have found himself in a situation where he would roar, “How dare you try to kill me?” He had even thought about what to say then.
He thought there would be some special situation.
And if there wasn’t, he thought he could create one.
But his opponent revealed nothing of his true identity.
He was perfectly Instructor Hwang.
It was as if he were saying, "You’ve got it all wrong."
How should one deal with such a person?
Bi Sa-in felt it.
He was not yet a match for him.
The only words that came to his mind were, "Was it you?" but if it had been Geom Mugeuk, he would have said something to turn the situation in his favor.
He felt that he shouldn’t have come running here so emotionally.
He was not Geom Mugeuk.
If the charge was a mistake, he had to at least retreat properly.
Bi Sa-in smiled and bid farewell to the Martial King.
“On the day I received a barrage of hidden weapons from assassins, our instructor received a pile of gifts. It makes me think I need to live more diligently.”
*
Geom Mugeuk and Bi Sa-in stood side by side on a cliff.
Despite the First Wolf’s warning to be cautious given the circumstances, he had come here alone with Geom Mugeuk.
Is there power in a place?
Standing here with Geom Mugeuk, he felt he could be more honest.
Bi Sa-in felt that now, more than ever, was the time to be honest.
“I will never forgive anyone who tries to take what’s mine. I will kill not only him but every single person involved. Why else would I be the Young Alliance Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance?”
He meant it.
And he wanted to ask Geom Mugeuk.
“I am a more selfish and wicked person than you think. Will you still be my friend? Don’t tell me later that you didn’t know I was such a wicked person.”
Geom Mugeuk knew exactly where Bi Sa-in’s turmoil, which made him pour out so many words, came from.
“Do you regret going to see Instructor Hwang?”
After a brief pause, Bi Sa-in asked.
“Would you have gone to see him?”
This was the question Bi Sa-in had wanted to ask.
“Even if I were to go, I wouldn’t have gone today.”
“May I ask why?”
“Because most of the decisions I’ve made when I was angry, I’ve regretted.”
“I thought so.”
His anger had flared at the fact that someone tried to kill him, and he had gone to confront him, but he regretted it as soon as he got there.
Since nothing happened, he had been overwhelmed by the other's composure.
“Then why didn’t you stop me?”
“Because you have to experience it yourself to truly feel it.”
How cold reality is.
How even an ideal that burns like lava can become a mere dream before reality and be swept away in icy water.
As Bi Sa-in let out a light sigh, Geom Mugeuk smiled and said.
“That is your first sigh.”
It wasn’t just the first sigh he had shown Geom Mugeuk.
It was his first sigh in front of people.
Bi Sa-in deliberately let out another loud sigh.
With that sigh, he showed just how close they had become.
Geom Mugeuk smiled and comforted him.
“It’s fine. We both know about each other anyway. I suppose a greeting is in order before we fight. And we did learn something from this visit.”
“What’s that?”
He had said it so casually that he thought it was nothing important.
“I know what his goal is.”
Startled, Bi Sa-in almost blurted out, "What? You crazy bastard!"
How on earth could he have figured out the man's goal from today's meeting? Did he secretly steal and read his diary?
“Did we meet a different person?”
He himself hadn't noticed a thing.
Geom Mugeuk pointed out something completely unexpected.
“Seeing the pile of gifts made me wonder. Why is he building up such a reputation? If he were plotting something in secret, it would be better not to stand out. Why would someone planning such a grand conspiracy go to the trouble of being nice to the martial artists of the Unorthodox Alliance Hall, expending his mental energy?”
Hearing that, Bi Sa-in also found it strange.
He felt a sense of anxiety, wondering what surprising conclusion would come out of Geom Mugeuk's mouth.
“By now, the martial artists he has trained over the years would have started to take up key positions in the Unorthodox Alliance. There would be Squad Leaders, Branch Masters. Those who were promoted quickly might even have become Division Lords.”
Bi Sa-in asked cautiously.
“So what is his goal?”
Geom Mugeuk stared intently at Bi Sa-in and answered.
“You.”
Bi Sa-in was silent for a moment.
At first, he didn’t understand what that meant.
Then, a thought struck his mind.
“You don’t mean he’s aiming for the Successor’s seat, do you?”
Geom Mugeuk nodded and said.
“He intends to become the Unorthodox Alliance Leader.”
“!”
He never imagined that the person behind this incident, that Hwang Seok-gyeong, would be aiming to become the Unorthodox Alliance Leader.
An instructor and the Alliance Leader—the distance between them was far too great.
“The reason he tried to kill you without hesitation is because it's something he would have to do eventually anyway.”
If it had been anyone but Geom Mugeuk, he would have flared up in anger, shouting about what nonsense it was.
“Is that even possible?”
Bi Sa-in’s voice trembled.
“Originally, this would have been the plan. I don’t know how many years it would take, but he would kill you, the Successor, and then assassinate the Unorthodox Alliance Leader. I don’t know the method."
"In any case, once the Alliance Leader’s seat becomes vacant, he will reveal his overwhelming martial prowess and challenge for the position. By then, there will be few masters left who can stop him.”
“You can’t become the Alliance Leader just by being strong in martial arts. The followers of the Alliance won’t acknowledge him.”
“Which followers are you talking about? The powerful figures he is allied with now? Or the martial artists he has trained?”
“!”
“The public opinion and atmosphere within the Alliance will support him. Not just an ordinary instructor, but a respected instructor will reveal his hidden skills and emerge as a hero.”
Bi Sa-in’s heart sank.
“He won’t be able to kill the Alliance Leader.”
“You know it’s not easy to block a hidden blade, don’t you? Especially one that has been sharpened for a very long time. Of course, this is my speculation. It could be wrong.”
Bi Sa-in did not think Geom Mugeuk’s speculation was unfounded.
This was a man who tried to kill him, the Young Alliance Leader, without a moment’s hesitation.
Bi Sa-in was lost in thought for a long time.
Geom Mugeuk offered no advice.
This was something he had to decide and resolve on his own.
Finally, Bi Sa-in reached a conclusion.
“I will not ask the Alliance Leader for help.”
He decided to handle this matter with his own strength.
“If I happen to die, please be sure to tell the Alliance Leader the truth about this incident.”
“I will.”
Bi Sa-in said to Geom Mugeuk.
“Isn’t this when you’re supposed to say something like, ‘You won’t die’?”
Geom Mugeuk did not say what he wanted to hear.
“This decision could get you killed.”
He meant it.
His opponent was the Martial King.
No matter what path he took, it was a fixed future that he would have to face the Martial King in a final battle.
“Why aren’t you stopping me?”
Because you will become stronger only by overcoming it yourself.
“Because it’s not my life?”
Bi Sa-in laughed.
It was the loudest he had laughed since they met.
“That laugh is good. Be sure to laugh like that when you meet a woman.”
“While you’re spouting that nonsense, will you watch until the very end to see just how tough my life is?”
“Watching a fight is always fun.”
“His efforts to take what is mine were admirable, but it seems his luck, at least, is no match for mine.”
Bi Sa-in looked at Geom Mugeuk.
Despite saying he was just going to watch, Geom Mugeuk had been fighting alongside him from the very beginning.
He was waiting, enduring, and pushing him to be the protagonist and solve things himself.
With such luck on his side, with a friend like this, he could not lose to that man.
“Let’s go. I don’t know about the future, but for now, there are still people who would raise a fuss about an instructor becoming the Alliance Leader.”