"What?! What is happening here?"
"......"
"I am truly amazed that you have come to such a humble place."
"Are you busy?"
"My work is always like that. But what does it matter if I'm busy? It's not every day that the Grand Protector visits!"
Hoyoseong greeted Mudam with exaggerated enthusiasm.
"Please, have a seat. It's a nice, soft chair."
"Then, I'll take the liberty."
"What would you like to drink? We've got some good Bi Luo Chun tea that just came in. Or perhaps some wine?"
"......"
"Haha! I forgot the Grand Protector's preferences for a moment! I'll serve whatever you like!"
Still as scatterbrained as ever.
Mudam silently commented to himself as he looked around. Hoyoseong's office was cluttered with all sorts of documents, bamboo slips, and old books. Even though he was the Chief Military Strategist of the Divine Sect, there was no sign of any effort to decorate the office. Mudam didn't think poorly of this aspect of the Chief Military Strategist. Valuing efficiency over formality wasn't necessarily a bad trait. Though, not caring about formality at all could also be a problem.
"Doesn't it smell nice? I've developed a bit of a tremor lately, so I'm not sure if I brewed it well."
"Thank you."
"Wow! To hear a thank you from the Grand Protector, today must be my lucky day, my lucky day! I should go around a lot today. Who knows? I might even find a piece of fallen gold!"
He was acting ridiculously frivolous. If left alone, he seemed ready to chatter on until dawn. Mudam spoke up directly.
"Is your work going well?"
"Haha! It's always about the same."
"I see."
"Yes."
"......"
"Hmm? What's the matter?"
Mudam hesitated to speak. Hoyoseong snapped his fingers.
"Ah, you have something to say, but it's awkward to jump straight to the point, so you thought you'd start with some small talk. But this cunning Chief Military Strategist is so frivolous that it's hard to get a word in, right?"
"......"
"Am I right?"
Being too perceptive can be a problem too. Mudam sipped his tea calmly before speaking.
"I heard you met with the Third Young Master recently."
"Oh? That rumor reached even the Grand Protector's ears?"
"How was it?"
"Huh? What do you mean by that all of a sudden? How was it?"
"Just as I said. How was the Third Young Master?"
As Mudam asked, Hoyoseong recalled the saying that life goes around in circles. 'To think I'd be asked the same question I asked the Joyful Master.' The funny thing was, he could only give a similar answer to the one the Joyful Master had given.
"Is there really anything to say? It's hard to grasp everything about a person after just one meeting."
"That's true. That's why I'm asking the Chief Military Strategist, who is said to have the best insight in our sect."
You're making it hard for me to say anything. Hoyoseong, who had been quietly observing Mudam's expression, asked back.
"Why are you suddenly asking about the Third Young Master?"
Mudam's eyes deepened.
"Two days ago, the Third Young Master was summoned by the Sect Leader and entered the Demon Palace."
"And then?"
"The Sect Leader gave him teachings for half a day."
"......!"
This was truly unexpected. Hoyoseong's gaze also deepened.
"For half a day?"
"Yes. And that is......"
"It's a privilege no successor has ever received."
"Indeed."
After a moment of silence, Hoyoseong shook his head.
"It's surprising, but is it really a problem?"
"The succession battle is not something we should interfere with. Everything will be according to the Sect Leader's will."
"And?"
Mudam's face hardened.
"While we shouldn't interfere with who becomes the successor, we cannot stand by if the balance of internal affairs is disrupted."
"......"
"I heard the Third Young Master was granted access to the Heavenly Demon Armory."
"That's correct."
"I'll be straightforward. The Chief Military Strategist went too far."
Hoyoseong smiled.
"It might seem that way."
"Are you saying the Chief Military Strategist doesn't think so?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"It seems the Grand Protector came not to worry about the balance of internal affairs but to scold me."
"I lack the authority, experience, and wisdom to scold the Chief Military Strategist. I merely came to express my concerns to the person at the pinnacle of the sect's political power as the head of the Guardian Council."
"So, the question about what kind of person the Third Young Master is, is an extension of whether he is worth opening the Heavenly Demon Armory for, even if it means going to extremes."
"Something like that."
Hoyoseong spoke decisively.
"He is not someone who needs it."
Mudam's eyebrows twitched.
"Then it's even more of a problem. Why open the Heavenly Demon Armory to someone unqualified......"
"Someone already at the forefront doesn't need a divine weapon. That's why the Third Young Master didn't need the Heavenly Demon Armory."
"......!"
Mudam's face visibly hardened. He hadn't expected the Chief Military Strategist to hold the Third Young Master in such high regard.
"He himself said there was no need to enter the Heavenly Demon Armory. Yet, I placed the Heavenly Demon Armory on the scale as a bargaining chip."
"May I ask why?"
"By giving something unnecessary to the other party, I was able to have a long conversation with him."
"......!"
"I don't fully understand what kind of person the Third Young Master is. But through that day's conversation, I was able to understand him to some extent."
"......"
"You said I am at the pinnacle of the sect's political power? No, I am not such a person. I am merely someone who, like when I played the scale game with the Third Young Master, prepares a large weight by understanding the sect's personnel. So that the Sect Leader can weigh things well."
Hoyoseong bowed his head.
"I am working hard to prevent the things you worry about from happening, so please don't worry too much."
Mudam looked at Hoyoseong with somewhat surprised eyes. Hoyoseong's face was serious. And sincere. It wasn't the usual frivolous face he showed. He was a senior who genuinely cared for the Divine Sect, and he was engaging in the conversation with a serious attitude as the Chief Military Strategist. Because he knew Mudam hadn't come just to nitpick but out of genuine concern for the Divine Sect.
Mudam, who had been quietly watching Hoyoseong, clasped his hands in a gesture of respect.
"I misjudged the Chief Military Strategist. I apologize."
Hoyoseong, startled, stood up and waved his hands, genuinely flustered.
"Why are you doing this? Please don't. It's hard to handle."
"No. I had a preconceived notion about the Chief Military Strategist. Without having a proper conversation, I only saw you lightly."
Mudam bowed his head again.
"I sincerely apologize."
Hoyoseong made a helpless expression. I'm weak against honest and kind people, this senior.
"I'm sorry for only serving you tea when you took the time to visit. I'll come to see you soon."
"There's no need."
Mudam smiled slightly. It was a somewhat awkward face, as if he had never made such an expression in his life.
"I'll drop by from time to time, so I'd appreciate it if you could serve me some tea like this."
"What?! Are you planning to deplete my precious tea leaves?"
"......I hope you won't make such terrible jokes."
Leaving those words behind, Mudam left the office. Hoyoseong, who soon slumped into his chair, pressed his temples.
"Well, life in the Divine Sect has been quite interesting lately."
The sharp conversation with So Yeonsim, the sweet and fierce private meeting with the Third Young Master. Now, he had discussed the future of the Divine Sect with Mudam, whom he hadn't had many private conversations with before.
"But well......"
Hoyoseong smiled.
"This is fun too?"
Seoryang, who had been holed up in his room, finally opened the door and came out after three days. His appearance, having neither eaten, washed, nor relieved himself, was truly a sight to behold. His eyes were darkened, as if he hadn't slept a wink. Considering his strong internal energy and a body honed to near perfection, it was clear how intensely he had been contemplating for those three days.
"Ahhh!"
As Seoryang stretched to his heart's content, Madongpil hurriedly approached.
"Young Master!"
"Hmm? Oh, it's you, Dongpil."
"How is your body? Are you alright?"
"Well, I'm on the verge of death. It's been a while since I've been this exhausted from thinking so hard."
"Why don't you have a simple meal and get some rest?"
"Yeah, I was planning to do that anyway. By the way, what about that crazy Master?"
"Do you mean Master Wi?"
"Is there any other crazy Master besides her? Did she leave?"
"Oh, yes. She hasn't visited since you shut yourself in."
"Really? That's good...... No, wait. She's not sulking, is she? What if she throws a fit later because she's sulking?"
Madongpil shook his head.
"She's not the type to hold grudges."
It seems this guy has also had enough of her antics.
"Anyway, that's good. No one to bother me. I should quickly ask Aenghwa for a meal and get some sleep...... Huh?"
Seoryang's eyes suddenly lit up. The look in his eyes was unusual, and Madongpil flinched without realizing it.
"Look at this guy?"
"......Yes?"
"How many days has it been since I shut myself in?"
"It's been three days, Young Master."
"Three days......"
Not as long as I thought.
"Only three days, and it's like that?"
"Yes?"
Seoryang glanced at Madongpil's waist belt. More precisely, he looked at the Black King Sword hanging from it. The Black King Sword was the same as when it was first brought. When it was in that mysterious scabbard, it didn't emit a single trace of demonic energy.
"Draw the sword."
"Do you mean the Black King Sword?"
"Is there any other sword besides the Black King Sword here? Draw it, quickly."
Though bewildered by the sudden request, Madongpil obediently drew the sword.
Wooong.
As soon as it was drawn, it emitted a powerful demonic energy. But there was nothing particularly unusual. The Black King Sword looked almost the same as when he first saw it. However, Seoryang's eyes were serious as he looked at the Black King Sword. The serious atmosphere made Madongpil feel tense.
After a moment.
"It's not just any divine weapon, is it?"
"......?"
"No, it's not a divine weapon, it's a demonic weapon. Anyway, it's a mysterious item. If not that, then......"
Seoryang glanced at Madongpil.
"Your efforts were that intense. Maybe it's both."
"......I'm sorry. I don't quite understand what you're saying, Young Master......"
"Follow me."
Without any explanation, Seoryang walked up to the training ground. Madongpil followed him without realizing it. He was worried about the Young Master's health, but the atmosphere was so serious that he couldn't easily tell him to rest.
Soon, the two stood facing each other in the center of the training ground.
"......"
A moment of silence. Seoryang, who was silently looking up at the sky, nodded.
"Well, I can't just leave it alone forever, knowing what I know."
Seoryang turned his gaze back to Madongpil. Madongpil swallowed involuntarily. It was the first time he had seen such a look in Seoryang's eyes, a mix of seriousness and pride.
"You're strong enough, but you're still not enough to protect me. Watching you die first under the pretense of protecting me would be a nightmare."
"......?"
"Since you've already benefited from the Sect Leader, you might as well benefit from me too."
"Yes?"
"Half a day. I'll raise your level in half a day."
Madongpil was startled. Not because of the claim to raise his level in half a day. It was surprising, but if Seoryang said so, it would be so. Not because he was the Third Young Master, but because he trusted his skills. The real reason he was surprised was different.
"Are you sure it's alright?"
"You're not worried about my condition, are you? Even in this state, I can take you down in five moves, you know."
"That's true, but...... I just......"
"What's the problem?"
Madongpil cleared his throat slightly.
"You told me to keep moving forward without worrying until I hit my limits."
"So what?"
"Yes?"
"You keep moving forward. I'll just help from the side."
"That is......"
"Are you saying that the power you gain with someone else's help isn't entirely yours?"
Seoryang snorted.
"I'm one thing, but you still have a long way to go. If your eyes are focused on the word 'growth,' you shouldn't be saying such arrogant things."
"Ah......"
"The teachings of a master, the experience of battle, the advice of friends. All of these are the driving forces of growth. Even while eating or relieving oneself, a master can gain enlightenment. Why are you hesitating? It's a million years too early for you to worry about such things."
Madongpil bowed his head.
"Then, without regard for propriety......"
"Even saying that is arrogant. Keep that in mind."
Srrrng.
Seoryang drew the Seven Night Sword.
"As I said, I'm just helping. If you can't draw out the power within you in half a day, it means your will is only that strong."
A look of tension crossed Madongpil's face.
"I'll start right away."
"You don't have to say it; I was planning to."
Srrrng.
As Madongpil drew the Black King Sword and took his stance, a question arose in his mind. 'The power within me? What does that mean?' It sounded as if he had been suppressing his potential to grow much more than he currently had.
Whoosh.
"I forgot to mention."
Madongpil's eyes widened as if they would tear apart. Seoryang had already moved to his left and was raising the Seven Night Sword high.
"If you don't focus, you might die."
Seoryang swung the sword down.
Clang!