"So that's how it is."
"Indeed."
Giyang sighed. He had just returned from completing a mission, only to be hit with shocking news. Who would have thought that Madongpil would be indefinitely suspended and chosen as the personal guard for the Third Young Master?
"If it's an order from above, there's nothing we can do..."
"Hmm? What do you mean?"
"Pardon?"
"An order from above? There was no such word from the higher-ups."
Giyang was taken aback.
"Are you saying that sending Captain Ma to the Third Young Master wasn't an order from above?"
Igunsung chuckled.
"Do you think the Sect Leader would have given the order directly?"
"Then... could it be the Branch Leader?"
"As you know, the Law Enforcement Hall doesn't have the authority to transfer personnel to other organizations. The Branch Leader is no exception."
"...!"
Giyang's face hardened with shock.
"Does that mean you sent Captain Ma on your own accord?"
Igunsung looked out the window. Giyang couldn't even imagine what his fatigue-ridden eyes were chasing.
"Captain Ma has changed."
"Senior."
"To be precise, he changed after returning from Gojukrim with the Third Young Master."
Igunsung smiled. Beyond the smile of pride, was there a hint of bitterness, or was it just Giyang's imagination?
"Do you remember? When we were quite busy with the Ma Sword Clan incident. It was just before the Third Young Master left the forest."
"...I remember."
"Captain Ma came to get the tea leaves of Gulsongcha back then."
"Indeed."
"Then you must remember the state Captain Ma was in at that time."
Giyang nodded unconsciously. The change in Madongpil, who returned with roughened hands and a large scar on his face, was shocking. More than the change in appearance, the murderous aura he exuded was truly overwhelming.
"I don't want it, but the Branch Leader will retire someday. Regardless of my abilities, he will most likely appoint me as the next Branch Leader."
"Of course."
"I can't compare myself to the Branch Leader. As a future Branch Leader, I too need endless training. But aside from the Branch Leader, it's undeniable that I'm the strongest martial artist in the Law Enforcement Hall."
Igunsung looked at Giyang with a calm face.
"Yet, I froze the moment I faced Captain Ma's murderous aura. It wasn't even intentional, just the aura he unconsciously let out was enough to put me on edge."
"...!"
"You felt the same, didn't you?"
"...Yes."
"But how was Captain Ma when he returned after the mission in Gojukrim?"
"He had perfectly controlled his murderous aura. He must have put in a lot of effort."
"He must have tried hard. So hard that it might have been detrimental."
"Pardon?"
"We must lay down our lives for the safety of our protectees. Even if I die, the protectee must live. To do that, we must respond perfectly to external threats."
"...!"
"Whatever experience he had there, Captain Ma's murderous aura was so immense that 'explosive' doesn't even begin to describe it. Such an aura inevitably draws the enemy's attention."
"Are you saying...?"
"Yes. Considering the safety of the protectee, such a murderous aura is a fatal flaw for a bodyguard."
"So, Captain Ma controlled his murderous aura for the sake of his identity as a Law Enforcer?"
Igunsung sipped his tea. The heavy aroma of Gulsongcha seemed to clear his throbbing head a little.
"It's just a guess. But after perfectly controlling that aura, it's true that he showed skills not much different from before entering Gojukrim. His potential was explosive, though."
"But I saw Captain Ma's sword energy."
"Are you talking about the sword energy that pierced through the rock with the Ho Ma Sword Technique?"
"Yes."
"Then let me ask you. Does it make sense that a master capable of wielding such sword energy was overwhelmed to the point of sacrificing over twenty members in the recent transport unit incident?"
Giyang's eyes wavered for a moment. Indeed, they didn't know the exact strength of the ambushing enemies, but given Madongpil's level at the time, the extent of the damage was questionable.
"He was controlling and constantly suppressing his murderous aura. His skills and potential."
"..."
"Whether he had a great opportunity in Gojukrim or not, his body was filled with power that couldn't be melted with internal energy. Considering the time after leaving the forest, he should have managed about one-fifth of his potential with internal energy. But Captain Ma didn't."
"To be precise, it's not that he couldn't, but that he didn't."
"That's what I think."
Igunsung smacked his lips.
"For his mission, he unconsciously turned away from the path to becoming stronger. Suppressing even his growth due to his identity as a Law Enforcer, I don't know whether to call it excessive responsibility or stubbornness."
Listening to him, Giyang recalled that time again. In front of Madongpil, whom they saw for the first time in months, both Igunsung and he were so shocked they couldn't even speak properly. And in that awkward atmosphere, Madongpil said:
- I seem to have come at the wrong time. I'll take my leave.
'What a foolish...'
Giyang's face showed self-reproach. No matter what, the Law Enforcement Hall was home to Madongpil. Returning home after a long time, only to find his family tense at the sight of him, was truly a sad affair. A family member returns home, and instead of welcoming him with smiles, they were so shocked they couldn't even speak. How much of a wound did that leave on Madongpil? How did he perceive his own changes, reading the stiff atmosphere?
Perhaps the change in Madongpil's mindset, leading him to turn away from growth, was because of them.
"So I sent him to the Third Young Master."
"..."
"At least I judged that the Third Young Master knew Captain Ma well. Also, aside from the Law Enforcers, I thought the person Captain Ma trusted the most was the Third Young Master."
"I see."
Igunsung smiled.
"He will return. Someday, for sure. When he returns, Captain Ma will be the martial artist we remember, but even more greatly grown."
Giyang nodded. He finally understood why Madongpil was sent to the Third Young Master.
"Dongpil will do well."
"I have no doubt about it."
The two let out a sigh mixed with frustration and relief. Suddenly, as if he remembered something, Giyang asked.
"But without the authority to transfer personnel, what if you get caught?"
"I'm the acting Branch Leader. While I don't have the authority to transfer externally, I do have the authority for internal transfers and disciplinary actions. That's why I could handle Captain Ma's suspension indefinitely."
"But to the Third Young Master..."
"There wasn't much said from that side."
"...Ah?"
"Whether they assumed or whatever, if they accepted it, that's it. Isn't that so?"
Giyang looked at Igunsung as if he was speechless. Igunsung shrugged his shoulders.
"I gave them good tea leaves, so they should overlook this much. They might even like it more."
"..."
"Isn't it better to be together than alone?"
Igunsung knew too little about Seryang.
"It's about time the sun sets."
Seryang, looking up at the sky, glanced at the training ground. In the center of the training ground, Madongpil was sitting cross-legged. His body was covered with numerous sword wounds, and his complexion was quite pale, but his expression was calm.
Seryang smiled.
"That kid, he really does what he sets out to do."
Madongpil's instinctively suppressed murderous aura. That aura was the murderous intent he had accumulated while performing Law Enforcer duties and later fully bloomed through the battles in Gojukrim. The demonic creatures in Gojukrim were dangerous enough to kill even a top master if they let their guard down. However, they weren't beings with intelligence equal to humans. They were more like beasts.
In other words, Seryang and Madongpil survived eight months of bloody battles in the world's most dangerous wilderness. Beasts only hide their presence when hunting. But they had to fight not to hunt demonic creatures but to become stronger. Naturally, their spirit had to be sharpened, and they had to keep the creatures tense with their intense murderous aura.
Especially Madongpil, who was less skilled in combat than Seryang, had to drive the demonic creatures away even if it meant using such methods. That murderous aura was amplified day by day by the power of Yeongjuk. At that time, Madongpil's primary task was 'survival,' unlike Seryang, whose task was 'growth.'
Now it was time to use that amplified murderous aura as the driving force for growth. It would have been better if he realized it himself, but this method wasn't bad either. The important thing is not how to grow, but how to use the power after growing.
"Alright, while that kid wakes up, I should take a break... Huh?"
From beyond the gate, a strong pulse of energy was felt. Normally, he would have complained about not being able to rest or wondered why so many people were looking for him. But he couldn't grumble. Because he knew who the owner of that energy was.
"...This is going to be interesting."
Soon after, the sound of someone getting off a carriage was heard.
Thunk!
Seryang also opened the door in advance. Beyond the open door, Gogu, who was even more stoic than Madongpil, appeared.
"What brings you here?"
"May I come in?"
Seryang looked Gogu up and down and spoke bluntly.
"I can't offer you tea."
With that, Gogu came inside. He glanced at the training ground.
"That's Madongpil, the former Captain of the Law Enforcement Hall."
"Former Captain, indeed. He's currently suspended."
"To be spending time with someone suspended, I didn't know you were that close."
"I'm doing my job. I've been appointed as a personal guard."
"A personal guard?"
Gogu nodded.
"For someone of the Third Young Master's caliber, isn't he a bit lacking as a personal guard... Hmm?"
Wooong.
As if waiting, a strong pulse of demonic energy began to emanate from Madongpil's body. He was melting all his suppressed murderous aura and the energy of Yeongjuk into demonic energy. Once he found the starting point of this process, he could quickly make it his own.
Seryang grinned.
"Yeah, I thought he might be lacking, so I forcibly pulled him up."
"..."
"So, what's the reason for your visit?"
"Third Young Master."
"What?"
"I've realized anew... you're truly remarkable."
His voice was as flat as ever. But it was clear that there was genuine admiration in his words. Seryang made a face as if to say, 'Why is this guy suddenly acting like this?'
"It's not me who's remarkable, it's that kid. It's him who was hiding such potential in the first place."
"Knowing how to draw it out is remarkable too."
"It's a method anyone could apply if they deeply pondered about the operation of internal energy."
"That's why it's remarkable. Most martial artists don't contemplate the operation of internal energy to that extent."
"That's true. So, what do you want to say? That being remarkable means being dangerous?"
"It's such an obvious statement that it seems unnecessary to say."
Seryang chuckled.
"With this much conversation, we've done enough pleasantries, haven't we? We're not in a relationship to be joking around, are we? Get to the point."
Gogu looked intently at Seryang. Seryang's face immediately turned uneasy. He had a look as if wondering why this guy was spouting nonsense without any notice. After a moment, Gogu spoke.
"You must be aware that the Pasunje is just around the corner."
"Pasunje?"
Well, I've heard of it, but what about it?
Gogu spoke with an unusually serious face.
"Let me get straight to the point. Lend me your strength."
...Ah, what's this again?