The Legend of Red Cloud - Chapter 39

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 39. Obsessive Affection
Gwi Geom hailed from Jeom Chang.
It had long since fallen into decline, barely preserving its nameplate, but three centuries ago it had been called one of the Nine Great Sects and reigned supreme in the martial world.
The greatest cause of Jeom Chang’s decay was the First White Horse War.
The devastation it suffered was so severe that the sect had scarcely recovered its former glory.
After all, it lost not only the sect master of that era but all the elders and every senior disciple in a single blow.
The martial techniques and secret manuals remained, yet the aftershock of losing an entire generation of masters who possessed the complete lineage proved far graver than anticipated.
From that point forward, not a single disciple of Jeom Chang had managed to achieve true mastery of any of their arts.
So dire was the situation that the supreme master to emerge in nearly three centuries was not one versed in Jeom Chang’s Jin San Jeol Gi, but rather a master who had learned the Sal Geom from outside the sect.
That was the truth.
Gwi Geom was precisely that external master of the Sal Geom.
And the origins of the Sal Geom he had learned were equally inauspicious.
Though the Nangung Family denied it, the world knew well that what Gwi Geom had mastered was the Lightning Thirteen Swords of the Nangung Family.
A disciple of Jeom Chang belonging to Gun Ma Rim had learned the Jin San Jeol Gi of the Nangung Family—their greatest rival, who belonged to Cheol Hyeol Maeng.
Jeom Chang fell under suspicion from Gun Ma Rim, and ultimately, unable to bear it, the sect cast Gwi Geom away.
He was used as bait to draw out the Nangung Family’s masters, and thus Gwi Geom was abandoned by both Gun Ma Rim and Jeom Chang.
Whether by misfortune or fortune, he was rescued by Ryu, who happened to be conducting a solo operation nearby.
Ryu had consistently claimed afterward.
That he had merely mistaken him for a Maeng Ui Dan operative under attack by Gun Ma Rim masters and had simply saved him.
But Gwi Geom knew the truth.
He knew that Ryu had recognized who he was. And that after considerable internal conflict, Ryu had decided to act.
It was Yeo Jeong who found Gwi Geom—in the dead of night, no less.
And she did so brazenly, dressed as a woman, knocking on his door.
Gwi Geom, standing in the doorway, showed no surprise at Yeo Jeong’s appearance.
Looking at him, Yeo Jeong spoke.
“So you knew after all.”
“I knew you were from the south. Didn’t realize you were a woman, though.”
“Yet you don’t seem startled.”
“After you’ve felt a blade slip between your own sect brother’s ribs, there’s not much left in this world that surprises you.”
At Gwi Geom’s words, Yeo Jeong smiled faintly and replied.
“But will you keep standing there like this? If someone sees us, it won’t look good for me or for the Grand Hero either.”
“Well…….”
Gwi Geom stopped mid-sentence and shook his head lightly, stepping aside.
As Yeo Jeong passed him and entered, the door closed behind her.
***
The morning dining hall at Ui Gi Dae was always bustling.
Those undergoing the Ui Gi Ryeong training were pressed for time, and the instructors who had to push them along were no better off.
The security unit members had slightly more leisure, but since the instructors and trainees—who made up the majority—were hurried, everyone ate at a brisk pace.
Moreover, today was noisier than usual, as some were completing their final day of Ui Gi Ryeong training.
The morning meal was laden with unusually rich dishes, and drinks had somehow made their way onto the tables as well.
Officially, Ui Gi Dae forbade alcohol.
Breaking the rule meant strict military punishment. Even an instructor could face Ui Gi Ryeong training as a consequence.
Yet alcohol appeared nonetheless.
Naturally, it was not part of Ui Gi Dae’s official meal plan.
It was simply something the instructors of Ui Gi Dae had provided out of their own pockets.
Those who failed to understand the meaning were the graduating trainees who received the drinks.
One of the instructors stepped forward to address them.
“Drink. This is an apology from us.”
“…….”
Still confused about the meaning, the trainees listened as the instructor continued.
“We want you to know that our severity was not by choice. Once today’s training concludes, you’ll skip dinner and leave immediately anyway.”
It was inevitable.
Ui Gi Dae was a place where the saying went: once you leave, you won’t even urinate in this direction again.
With their business at such a place finally finished, no one would think of staying behind for a meal and wasting time.
Despite the instructor’s explanation, the trainees struggled to shake their unease.
As Dong Pil passed by them, he called out casually.
“Just drink it. It’s a kind of bribe so you won’t hold a grudge.”
The instructors frowned at his remark, but Dong Pil merely shrugged and continued to his seat among the others.
An instructor, turning his gaze away from Dong Pil’s dismissive attitude, spoke once more to the graduating trainees.
“It’s an overstatement, but not wrong. The intent is the same—to leave without lingering resentment.”
The members of Jeok Sa Jo exchanged glances and reached for their cups.
Their instructor spoke to them.
“Eat and drink. Today’s work will be easier than most days.”
Even after those words, the Jeok Sa Jo members remained hesitant as they drank.
Like one who startles at the sight of a ladle after being frightened by a snake, they feared that after being told to eat, they’d have their heads bitten off for drinking.
Jwa Ryang, watching the cautious members fumble about, muttered under his breath.
“Timid wretches like that pilfered supplies? Ha! A dog could laugh at that.”
“Word will come soon enough. Then we’ll know what’s what. Until then, let’s not go looking for trouble.”
At Yi Song’s quiet words, Jwa Ryang gave a shrug.
“What, what did I say? Just…….”
Though he grumbled, Jwa Ryang fell silent, and Yi Song smiled faintly.
He knew that for all Jwa Ryang’s complaints, the man had never once gone against his word.
Yi Song then turned his gaze from Jwa Ryang to Hui Jun.
“Why not pay your respects? If not now, there won’t be time later.”
“I did that after work yesterday. We even promised to meet for tea sometime.”
Yi Song nodded at Hui Jun’s reply.
Though not everyone was pleased with that promise.
“Tea? What’s tea for grown men……? Drink liquor, liquor. For men’s friendships, there’s liquor and women…….”
“Don’t listen to him. That bastard breathes lust with every word he utters—there’s nothing worth salvaging.”
Dong Pil protested at Jwa Ryang’s interruption.
“Really, brother…… You don’t appreciate how valuable charm is. A man without charm is a corpse—not living at all, even if he breathes.”
“Then everyone here is a corpse, you fool!”
At Jwa Ryang’s rebuke, Dong Pil merely pouted and said nothing more.
For Yu was among those Jwa Ryang had named.
He could not call him a corpse, not even in jest.
While those around Jeok Sa Jo chuckled at the banter between the two, Gwi Geom approached with a hardened expression.
“I have something I wish to tell you.”
At Gwi Geom’s words, Yu looked up at him with a faint smile.
“That’s fine. There’s no need to explain it to me.”
“You understand?”
“Roughly…… Either way, these are people we’ll get along with soon enough. There’s no need to make it awkward. So stop worrying about the rest.”
“But she…….”
Yu spoke before Gwi Geom could finish, as if he already knew.
“Does it matter if she suspects you? As long as you remain steadfast, that’s enough.”
“You…… trust me.”
“I wouldn’t have let you live otherwise.”
Gwi Geom smiled at Yu’s words and spoke.
“But she does not trust me.”
“Does that matter?”
At Yu’s counter-question, Gwi Geom fell silent for a moment, then shook his head.
“No.”
“Then we’re done. Stop overthinking.”
At Yu’s words, Gwi Geom’s expression finally brightened completely as he bowed his head.
“Thank you.”
“More nonsense. I’ve done nothing at all.”
With that, Yu turned away and devoted himself to his meal, while Gwi Geom watched him in silence for a moment, then raised his fist in a respectful salute and withdrew quietly.
Dong Pil, watching Gwi Geom fade away, spoke to Yu in a hushed tone.
“Who is she?”
It was Yi Song, seated beside Yu, who responded to Dong Pil’s question.
“How is it you heard only that one part out of all that conversation?”
“What else would I care about?”
“Women matter to you?”
“Of course….”
“Whoever she is, what business is it of yours? She belongs to Gwi Geom.”
“Whether it’s Gwi Geom or anyone else, if she’s someone’s woman and I’ve given up, then I’m not Dong Pil anymore—I’m…….”
Dong Pil’s words scattered there.
Jwa Ryang, abandoning his meal, rose with a vicious expression.
“Didn’t I say I needed to shut that bastard’s mouth?”
Dong Pil quickly grasped why Jwa Ryang was angry.
“No matter what, surely I wouldn’t……touch Jwa brother’s woman.”
“Come here, you bastard. What are you doing with another man’s woman?”
Dong Pil grabbed a half-eaten dumpling and fled from the table as Jwa Ryang surged forward with the air of someone about to stake his life on the outcome.
“Hey, even dogs get to eat in peace—this is too much!”
“Even a dog wouldn’t paw at his brother’s woman, you ass!”
“When did I ever say I was pawing at your woman?”
“You said it didn’t matter who it was!”
“That was just talk, just talk!”
Jang Min Su muttered to himself, watching the two men weave through the restaurant spouting absurdities.
“When you look at it, Jwa Ryang seems to enjoy it rather secretly, doesn’t he?”
“You see it that way too? So do I. Look at that smile playing on his lips even as he threatens to kill him.”
Laughter rippled through the members of Jeok Sa Jo at Yi Song’s words.
“Is it just for that reason, though?”
Yi Song turned to look at Ryu, who had thrown out the remark carelessly.
“What, you’re saying there’s another reason?”
“He could simply be worried about Dong Pil.”
“What, Jwa Ryang worried about Dong Pil? Come off it.”
“Jwa Ryang understands what Dong Pil is worried about.”
Then Yi Song finally grasped what Ryu meant.
The woman who had captured Jwa Ryang’s heart had approached him with calculated intent—a ploy of seduction.
Dong Pil, who worried about this, had done everything he could to interfere and break it apart until recently.
This roughhousing was his way of keeping watch that it wouldn’t happen again.
“Is that really it?”
Ryu gave no answer to Yi Song’s tilted head.
But that very silence made Yi Song feel it was all the more credible.
And so Yi Song watched Jwa Ryang, now viewing him with fresh eyes, chase the fleeing Dong Pil back and forth across the dining room.
“So this is what love is…….”
Yi Song’s final murmur was tinged with sorrow.
***
Yong Hyeon’s face had hardened completely as he faced Yeo Jeong.
He could not abide her methods.
He had known.
He knew the way a woman like Yeo Jeong, without connections or backing, had ascended to the position of strategist in Baek Yi Ryeon.
Yet he had not thought to condemn her for it.
Yeo Jeong possessed abilities entirely befitting her station.
He had only believed that the world itself was at fault for not allowing such talents to be employed through righteous means.
But yesterday was different.
There had been no necessity for it.
It was a thing that need not have been done.
And so Yong Hyeon found it intolerable.
Yeo Jeong, observing his rigid composure, opened her mouth to speak.
“I’m thinking we should wind down the information gathering around now.”
Yeo Jeong continued, noting that Yong Hyeon remained silent even at her words, his mouth clamped shut, while So Yeo Un—who rarely spoke in any case—offered nothing either.
“You’re not asking why.”
“Because I believe there’s sufficient reason.”
At So Yeo Un’s reply, Yeo Jeong offered her a smile and turned to face Yong Hyeon.
When Yong Hyeon’s eyes met hers, he forced himself to speak.
“You are the chief strategist and the decision is yours alone. I merely follow.”
His words and tone betrayed a heart utterly turned away.
But Yeo Jeong said nothing in response to it.
She understood.
The reaction of those with whom she had lain, when they learned she had spent the night with another man, was always the same.
“Then that settles it. I’ll tender my resignation from this post, change clothes, and head directly to Maeng Ui Dan headquarters.”
Yong Hyeon rose at once and left, and So Yeo Un nodded and followed in his wake.
The resignation from the guard detail at Ui Gi Dae would likely be handled by So Yeo Un herself.
Yong Hyeon, though…….
She could only hope he would do nothing rash.
But contrary to Yeo Jeong’s hopes, the moment Yong Hyeon left her quarters, he made straight for Gwi Geom’s lodgings.
This was a path he should have taken yesterday.
But he had not.
He understood far too well the weight this mission would have on his future, the tremors his position at the Hang Ju Family would endure.
But.
Yong Hyeon could not abide Yeo Jeong’s dismissive attitude.
As he strode forward with such urgency, a small voice whispered past his ear.
“Don’t go.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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