That is the Problem.
As I danced around the stiffly standing Yusa-cheong, Hong-shin spoke up.
"Great Master, they are slowly retreating."
"What?" I stopped dancing as if I had been caught off guard and quickly turned around.
A few stragglers who had been backing away stumbled and fell, then quickly got up and scattered like soldiers in retreat.
In the midst of this, the stern-faced Il-ryong-no-gun was glaring at me.
I spoke to him, trying to sound calm.
"Old man, do you have something to say?"
Il-ryong-no-gun replied, "It's just a temporary truce as promised."
Baek-in stepped forward and said, "Great Master, let’s kill more."
"Enough. A truce is a truce. Defense is defense. Look at the expressions and atmosphere of those retreating, and even the effort those leaders are making to appear calm. Enjoy it now."
As Il-ryong-no-gun retreated first, Su-seong also had no choice but to follow.
Acting like a leader, he muttered something towards me.
"You will see me again soon."
I smiled and replied, "You lot will only receive the treatment of a surrendering general if you come to surrender first. Go back and think it over slowly. Will there be another chance to survive? Think seriously."
After the enemy retreated, I looked back at my subordinates.
"Check on the injured first. It's late, so let’s head inside. End the defense, and So-gun-pyeong, first instruct the alert posture, then switch with the other officers."
"Understood."
I slapped Yusa-cheong's cheek, saying, "The captives have suffered a lot. The night air is cold, so let’s go inside together."
One of the subordinates from Heuk-myo-bang approached and helped Yusa-cheong up.
I called for Cha-seong-tae.
"Seong-tae."
"Yes."
I had nothing particular to say.
I just linked arms with Cha-seong-tae and headed towards Heuk-myo-bang.
"Let’s go."
I sat at the head table and took a sip of alcohol.
Meanwhile, the officers moved about freely.
The injured were treated, the sleepy ones slept, and the hungry ones were left to eat.
Yusa-cheong sat next to me, bound, silently watching the busy officers.
After a while, the disciples and officers returned to fill the empty seats.
Everyone was curious about Yusa-cheong's identity.
The last to arrive, Dok-go-saeng, who had washed the blood off his face and body, passed by and slapped Yusa-cheong's head before sitting down beside me.
"Is everyone here?"
In response to my question, So-gun-pyeong replied, "Oh, the Great Master has sustained some injuries and will rest first."
Dok-go-saeng, putting down his cup, suddenly seemed to lose his temper and slapped Yusa-cheong's cheek again.
With a loud smack, Yusa-cheong's face turned.
I looked around at the Twelve Divine Disciples.
"Are all the disciples uninjured?"
"Yes."
"We're fine."
Cha-seong-tae also reported his condition.
"I'm fine too."
I nodded.
"You should be fine."
So-gun-pyeong asked about the overall strategy.
"What will we do about Il-ryong-no-gun and Su-seong?"
"Wait. Their losses are much greater. They will spend two days restless, uncomfortable eating, and anxious even when going to the bathroom. Provocation, chaos, and defeat lead only to fear and anxiety. They may be tough-minded, but their subordinates will become unsettled. They will weaken even more than before."
Unexpectedly, Baek-yu spoke up.
"Great Master, I enjoyed the dance. I should have danced the fan dance beside you."
I smiled.
"Let’s dance together next time."
"That would be nice."
Baek-in glared at Yusa-cheong before asking me, "Great Master, what do you think of this fellow?"
"What do the disciples think?"
Baek-in was the first to mention Yusa-cheong's swordsmanship.
"This is not a sword technique that can be learned in Heuk-do."
"Explain to others why that is. Someone like Seong-tae might not understand."
Baek-in briefly answered, "It feels like he trained rigorously in stances first and then in sword techniques. Considering how he pressured the Great Master early on, the flow of his swordsmanship is consistent. He is not someone who learned a shabby sword technique."
"I think the same."
Dok-go-saeng glared at Yusa-cheong.
"Is this guy from Baek-do?"
Dok-go-saeng's fierce palm slapped Yusa-cheong's cheek again.
When Yusa-cheong didn't speak, Hong-shin curiously asked, "Great Master, did he also touch the mute point?"
"Probably."
"Shall I release it?"
"You can't. I can't either. I've done a lot of touching, but I haven't practiced releasing it much because it’s a hassle. I didn’t inject much energy, so it should be released soon."
In truth, I didn’t even remember the names of the blood points.
I only vaguely knew which point to hit for what effect.
I learned it for offense, so I didn’t bother to learn how to release it.
Hong-shin casually said, "The mute point is quite dangerous, and if not released quickly, there’s a risk he won’t be able to speak."
I replied briefly to Hong-shin's words.
"I don't care."
"Yes."
I chatted with my subordinates as if I had no thoughts.
We shared leftover food from the kitchen, drank alcohol, and laughed the night away.
About half a shichen later...
A subordinate reported from outside the hall.
"Lord, Muak-mun-ju has come to the main gate, leaving his weapons behind. What should we do?"
"What to do? If he’s here, he should come in."
While the officers and disciples exchanged puzzled looks, Muak-mun-ju entered the hall with two disciples.
Muak-mun-ju first took a bow and said, "Lord, I am Yang Jae-gyeong of Muak-mun."
I nodded slightly and replied, "Lord Yang, welcome."
Muak-mun-ju smiled awkwardly and said, "How should I put this...?"
"Speak comfortably."
"Muak-mun will not appear as your enemy in the future. We made a mistake due to a lack of information. Please..."
Muak-mun-ju was stammering so much that I just nodded.
"Let’s do that."
"I am grateful for your broad-mindedness."
Muak-mun-ju gestured to his disciples, who placed a box at my feet and opened the lid.
Inside the large box, half gold coins and half silver coins were shining.
I clicked my tongue and said, "What is this? Why did you bring this? How much is all this? It’s quite a lot. I should share some with Heuk-seon-bo. Lord, isn’t this a bit excessive?"
I kicked the box to close the lid and stood up.
"Our first meeting wasn’t exactly pleasant, but if we don’t meet as enemies in the future, that’s fine. That’s how life is. Isn’t that right, Lord?"
I patted Muak-mun-ju on the shoulder, causing him to flinch in surprise and nod.
"Yes, that’s right."
"In the martial world, sometimes enemies become allies, and allies become enemies. If you’re unlucky, you might get killed, so don’t take it too much to heart."
"Ah, yes. I will keep that in mind. We will not join Il-ryong-no-gun or Su-seong’s call again."
"That’s good news."
"It’s a small token, but it took some time to prepare this. Well then, it’s late, so I’ll take my leave."
"Take care. Coming out at this hour with all this. Thank you for your hard work."
Muak-mun-ju quickly took his leave with his subordinates.
Just as he was about to exit the hall, I called out to him.
"Lord Yang."
"Ah, yes."
"Let’s have a meal together next time."
"Ahaha, sure. Lord, I will see you then."
As Muak-mun-ju disappeared and the door of the hall closed again, a moment of silence fell.
...
Dok-go-saeng, who had been watching everything with wide eyes, looked at me.
He seemed about to say something, so I asked, "What?"
Dok-go-saeng replied with a truly blunt expression.
"It’s just so funny."
His world of thought was so incomprehensible that it was funny, and overall, Muak-mun-ju's actions were just amusing.
However, when Dok-go-saeng said it with a completely serious face, the disciples and officers burst into laughter.
"Hahaha..."
I ended up laughing too.
"It is funny."
While everyone was busy laughing, Yusa-cheong remained with a stiff expression.
Naturally, everyone’s gaze turned to him.
Dok-go-saeng looked at Yusa-cheong.
"Why aren’t you laughing? You’ve got blood points on your face too?"
As Dok-go-saeng raised his hand as if to slap him again, Yusa-cheong's frozen face trembled.
Dok-go-saeng pretended to lower his hand but then slapped Yusa-cheong without mercy.
Smack!
I didn’t care how Dok-go-saeng treated the captive.
He had come with his subordinates and fought for his life, so he had the right to act like that.
I rested my chin on my hand, thinking, ‘Did Muak-mun-ju come in first to gauge the atmosphere?’
As soon as Muak-mun-ju exchanged with someone outside, another report came from my subordinate.
"Lord, Cheol-seom-buin has come to visit."
I raised my voice slightly and scolded my subordinate.
"It’s chilly at night; why are you asking instead of bringing her in? Hurry, tell her to come in."
Cheol-seom-buin entered the hall with a stern expression, looking even more troubled than Muak-mun-ju, as if words were stuck in her throat.
I spoke first.
"Cheol-seom-buin, I almost misstepped due to the fierce words you threw. Your skill in throwing words is extraordinary."
Cheol-seom-buin finally opened her mouth.
"Yes, Lord. I apologize. So...?"
"Speak comfortably."
"My disciples and I are thinking of leaving Il-ryong-no-gun’s side and returning to Yuhwa Valley. I will widely inform my friends to avoid obstructing Heuk-myo-bang in the future. Please forgive today’s mistake."
I nodded.
"Such things can happen in a fight. Let’s do that. Is the lord of Yuhwa Valley well?"
"Yes. He is still devoted to martial arts training."
"You’ve worked hard to earn money on behalf of the lady. Now that we know each other, I hope the entire Yuhwa Valley will not become my enemy in the future."
Cheol-seom-buin nodded.
"Understood."
"It’s late, so take care."
After hesitating, Cheol-seom-buin took something from her bosom and placed it on the table.
"Lord, I will present the Chan-gwang-dagger, which I have cherished since my youth, as a token of my words."
"Eh—what is this... tsk. I will use it well. I’ve been wanting to carry a dagger for self-defense, and this is just perfect. It looks very sharp."
"It’s short in length but can cut through most long swords like dumplings. It’s perfect for assassination."
"People like us in the martial world love fine products. I will use it well. Please send my regards to the lord."
"Yes, I will take my leave now."
As Cheol-seom-buin left, Hong-shin asked curiously, "Will there be more visitors?"
I looked at So-gun-pyeong.
"Go outside, check the stragglers, confirm their faces, and you can threaten them a bit and send them back. It’s a hassle to deal with them. Oh, and you can accept any bribes."
So-gun-pyeong stood up.
"Understood."
As soon as So-gun-pyeong left, I took a sip of alcohol and slapped Yusa-cheong's cheek again.
Smack—!
With that sound, Yusa-cheong, tied to the chair, fell backward.
Thud—!
One of the officers at the end rushed over and lifted the chair.
He spoke to the subordinates.
"It’s late, so everyone find an empty room and rest. There will be plenty of places to sleep away from the noise. I need to think a bit more about whether to kill this guy or torture him to death."
"Understood."
The subordinates stood up.
A moment later, only Yusa-cheong, the dagger, and I remained in the spacious hall.
I tapped the Chan-gwang-dagger with my fingertips, muttering to myself.
"Our teacher sometimes told me to be lenient, but I find it isn’t easy. It feels awkward. The ones who came to apologize were awkward, and honestly, I felt awkward too."
I had been drinking and recalling Mu Yong-baek's advice.
It wasn’t easy to live differently from my past self, trying to turn over a new leaf.
"But our teacher said all this for my own good, so I should at least try. Right?"
"......"
"Wow, I’ve really changed a lot. I used to just kill enemies without hesitation, smashing them to death, chopping them with axes, and all that. What is happening? What has happened to me? Is this what they call a sense of a different era? Or is it called a change of the world? Are both wrong?"
"......"
I looked into Yusa-cheong's eyes and asked with a cold expression, "Why does your gaze look like that? Do I seem ignorant? Like an uneducated person?"
"......"
Yusa-cheong's mouth moved.
Was he about to speak before the blood point was released? As his mouth kept moving, sweat was forming on his brow.
I took a sip of alcohol and sighed seriously.
"To kill or to save, that is the question."
I drew the Chan-gwang-dagger and stuck it into the table.