The Legend of Red Cloud - Chapter 62

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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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Episode 62. The New Dan Ju
The words of Chang Cheon Geom Je, transparent as glass, caused Tae Geuk Geom Wang’s eyes to waver.
He could not help but feel conflicted, even knowing the truth.
He was afraid that if he hesitated any longer, Gunma Rim would snatch it away from him.
Bang!
Tae Geuk Geom Wang struck the table forcefully and rose to his feet.
“Fine. I’ll take it.”
Chang Cheon Geom Je laughed, while Maeng Ho Do Gun could not hide his surprise.
“Hahahaha! Excellent. Since you’re taking it on, I’ll push forward with all my might, whatever anyone says.”
“I trust you. Leave it to me.”
With only those words left behind, Tae Geuk Geom Wang departed abruptly, and Chang Cheon Geom Je chuckled.
“Krahahahaha.”
Watching Chang Cheon Geom Je, Maeng Ho Do Gun posed a question.
“Is there something so pleasing about this matter?”
“Then Sub-Maeng Ju, are you not pleased?”
“I’m not entirely… Could you explain what makes you so satisfied with this?”
“First, the Dan Ju of the Maeng Ui Dan is now at Hwa Gyeong. The fellows of Gunma Rim won’t feel at ease.”
“I understand they already have Ja Jeon Geom Wang coming down to them. If we consider the rumors circulating through Saja Plain and what the senior said, he too is at Hwa Gyeong.”
“That much is true, but we have the leader of the Jeok Sa Jo on our side. One against one—anyone can see we have the advantage. Krahahahaha!”
Chang Cheon Geom Je laughed loudly once more, and Maeng Ho Do Gun asked again.
“Then are you thinking of revealing him?”
“No. Since the senior stepped forward to take the position precisely to keep him hidden, we cannot do that.”
“Since we’re on the subject, why are you so set against revealing him? It seems to me that having many masters at Hwa Gyeong is nothing to hide.”
“Numbers alone might not matter, but in terms of power dynamics, an abundance of Hwa Gyeong masters is not purely advantageous.”
“Surely you don’t mean the Nine Sects would grow envious of him?”
“If that were all, what would it matter? Let them envy—what could they do about Hwa Gyeong masters?”
“Then why…?”
Chang Cheon Geom Je answered the bewildered Maeng Ho Do Gun.
“Sub-Maeng Ju, what was your first thought when you laid eyes on him?”
“I thought he was remarkable.”
“Don’t be so refined about it. What was your very first instinct?”
“Truly, I thought he was remarkable.”
Chang Cheon Geom Je let out a soft laugh at Maeng Ho Do Gun’s insistence.
“Let’s say that’s true. But my very first thought was: ‘How can I draw that fellow into the Namgung Se Ga?'”
In that instant, Maeng Ho Do Gun’s expression hardened.
In truth, he too had entertained that same thought.
To him, Chang Cheon Geom Je posed another question.
“Are you still going to insist your only thought was simply that he was remarkable?”
“Hmm… You’re right. I did think the same.”
“Exactly. Everyone will think it too. And in that process, what do you think will happen? Fair and honest competition? Even saying it makes me laugh already.”
There would be nothing fair or honest about it.
By bringing Jeok Sa alone into their fold, they would instantly stand shoulder to shoulder with the Namgung Se Ga, called the mightiest faction within the Cheol Hyeol Maeng.
Seeing that Maeng Ho Do Gun understood his meaning, Chang Cheon Geom Je continued.
“Suppose blood spills and all manner of sordid affairs run their course before an owner is determined. From that point on, the problem only grows worse. The question of his origins will come to the fore.”
At Chang Cheon Geom Je’s words, Maeng Ho Do Gun could not offer rebuttal this time either.
The leader of the Jeok Sa Jo had been raised by Yaryul Gyeok, who had been cast out from the Myo Gyo.
No excuse—not that his birth was concealed, nor that he was taught Martial Arts carelessly and left to fend for himself—would hold any weight.
They would all come snapping and biting at him.
Such was the nature of this world.
If something could not be theirs, they would break it, destroy it, and deny it to everyone else besides.
“So you mean to keep him hidden?”
“It’s better than having the sect thrown into turmoil, and the senior’s concerns weigh on me as well. Such things as that.”
“Do you truly believe Gunma Rim will attempt to seduce him?”
“Don’t you think it’s possible they already have?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“That Blood-Shadow Demon Lord has laid eyes on him. Do you think he wouldn’t have recognized what Martial Arts the leader of the Jeok Sa Jo is cultivating?”
Maeng Ho Do Gun did not know exactly what Martial Arts Jeok Sa had learned.
But they were teachings from someone cast out of the Myo Gyo.
Gun Ma Rim Ju, who was also the Master of the Myo Gyo, could not have failed to recognize them.
From Gun Ma Rim Ju’s perspective, Jeok Sa was a master who had ascended to Hwa Gyeong through their own Martial Arts.
What could he have been thinking?
The answer came far too easily.
“I see. But he remained behind.”
“Which is why we must hide it all the more. Gunma Rim is already more than we can handle—if all the sects of Gunma Rim come swarming and start meddling……”
Chang Cheon Geom Je shook his head as if the mere thought gave him a headache, then continued.
“To think that in all these circumstances, Senior Tae Geuk Geom Wang will be the one concealing and protecting him—there’s nothing finer than that. Hwang Ha Jeo Gwe? If that brute goes around opening his mouth and doesn’t get beaten half to death, we should count ourselves lucky.”
“W-wait, beaten?”
Chang Cheon Geom Je answered the astonished Maeng Ho Do Gun.
“I know something of our Jeok Sa Jo leader’s past. That reckless impetuousness of his. Ha-ha-ha!”
As Chang Cheon Geom Je burst into hearty laughter once more, Maeng Ho Do Gun’s expression hardened.
Chang Cheon Geom Je was precisely the sort of man who rarely even smiled in ordinary times.
And yet here he was, laughing outright.
Maeng Ho Do Gun could scarcely begin to guess what thoughts occupied his mind.
***
Tae Geuk Geom Wang returned to the Maeng Ui Dan garrison but could not return to Jeok Sa Jo.
‘Go now.’
Those were the words Ryu had spoken when they met with the Maeng Ju.
He understood that those words had included his expulsion from Jeok Sa Jo.
After lingering for several days at Yi Hwan’s residence, an official order finally came down from Cheol Hyeol Maeng.
As Tae Geuk Geom Wang gazed between that order and Yi Hwan’s eyes, the emotions reflected there—astonishment, confusion, and relief—clashed against one another in bewildering dissonance.
“Looking at your face, it seems a decision has finally been made. Yes. I’ve agreed to take on the role of the next Maeng Ui Dan Maeng Ju.”
“M-Master!”
“From the look on your face, I suspect you already understand why I made such a decision, so I won’t belabor the point.”
Yi Hwan stared at Tae Geuk Geom Wang as if on the verge of tears, unable to speak.
That day, the news was proclaimed throughout Maeng Ui Dan that Tae Geuk Geom Wang would assume the position of the next Maeng Ju.
***
After finishing his solitary training and returning from washing, Ryu discovered Jwa Ryang methodically packing his belongings, and asked, “What are you doing, Jwa Ryang?”
“Packing, as you can see.”
“Did an independent operation order come down?”
……
Jwa Ryang shook his head silently.
Turning his gaze from Jwa Ryang to Yi Song, Ryu saw the latter smile wryly and reply, “Word is that Tae Geuk Geom Wang will be appointed as the next Maeng Ui Dan Maeng Ju.”
Ryu’s expression flickered with brief surprise, but he quickly recovered and asked, “Then why are you packing……?”
“Look at this! It’s because of me, isn’t it? That thing Dong Pil said came true. He’s becoming Dan Ju to work me to death……. Petty old geezer. What did I do to him when he was the youngest? He’s taking revenge by becoming Dan Ju. Ah……. What a sorrowful world for the powerless.”
As Jwa Ryang gazed upward as if squeezing out tears, wiping the corners of his eyes, not a drop of moisture appeared, and with an embarrassed expression he began packing again.
Observing Jwa Ryang thus, Yi Song gave Ryu a meaningful glance.
Understanding the implication, Ryu smiled faintly and spoke. “Jwa Ryang, stop this nonsense and unpack. I’ll speak to him properly for you.”
“Really? You truly will do that?”
Jwa Ryang quickly rushed over and clung to Ryu’s arm, and Ryu nodded in response.
At that, Jwa Ryang’s expression brightened as he unpacked his things once more.
Though it had seemed like quite a lot of packing, the bundle contained only a few articles of clothing.
He had merely been making a show of it, hoping Ryu would come forward to help.
Knowing this, Ryu smiled wryly and returned to his place.
In any case, Jwa Ryang’s expression showed that he had shed one great worry.
***
Upon receiving Ma Ryeong’s report that Tae Geuk Geom Wang had taken office as the new Maeng Ui Dan Maeng Ju, Gun Ma Rim Ju painted a knowing smile across his face.
“He’s full of surprises.”
“Sir?”
Gun Ma Rim Ju shook his head at Ma Ryeong’s puzzled gaze.
“Ah! No, I mean—so the new Maeng Ui Dan Maeng Ju will be a Hwa Gyeong, then we ought to introduce Hwa Gyeong as well?”
“The rank must be matched, after all.”
“Does matching rank actually achieve anything?”
“Sir?”
Again, words that made little sense emerged, and Ma Ryeong asked with a puzzled expression.
This time too, Gun Ma Rim Ju shook his head.
“It’s nothing. Just thinking aloud. Don’t mind it.”
“Ah… yes.”
Ma Ryeong gave his answer reluctantly, but his mind would not let it rest.
***

It was with that in mind that Gun Ma Rim Ju posed the question to Ma Ryeong, whose expression had grown rigid.
“So you’re saying we should just install Ja Jeon Geom Wang in the Hyeol Gwi Dae?”
“Yes. It’s the only way.”
It was true enough — aside from the Rim Ju himself, Ja Jeon Geom Wang was the sole master of Hwa Gyeong in Gunma Rim.
“Will Ja Jeon Geom Wang accept it?”
“He has no grounds to refuse.”
That much was fair.
Officially, a Hwa Gyeong master had already assumed the position of Maeng Ui Dan Ju.
The problem, of course, was that Ja Jeon Geom Wang knew there was another Hwa Gyeong master in Maeng Ui Dan.
Gun Ma Rim Ju was calculating whether Ja Jeon Geom Wang would truly be willing to face two Hwa Gyeong experts with one of them planted right at his doorstep as a rival.
If Tae Geuk Geom Wang and Sal Rang happened to join forces in a sudden assault, Ja Jeon Geom Wang’s head would certainly roll.
“Don’t pressure him. Leave the choice to Ja Jeon Geom Wang.”
“But, sir——”
Gun Ma Rim Ju fixed Ma Ryeong with a cold stare as he moved to protest.
“Did I ask for your thoughts? I’ve made my decision and stated it.”
“I—I beg your pardon, Rim Ju.”
“Go and notify Ja Jeon Geom Wang. Tell him I defer to his judgment.”
“Yes, Rim Ju.”
Ma Ryeong hurried out with a hasty bow, and Gun Ma Rim Ju’s expression crumpled.
“That’s the problem with men who have too much rattling around in their heads. They’re always grasping for more than their station warrants.”
A glint of killing intent flickered across Gun Ma Rim Ju’s eyes as he muttered words that made little sense to anyone listening.
***
Ja Jeon Geom Wang studied the military order that had come down from Ma Ryeong’s quarters in Gunma Rim, caught in deliberation.
He could guess the reasoning — accept the position of Hyeol Gwi Dae Ju, but leave the final decision to him.
Gun Ma Rim Ju clearly knew that Sal Rang was a Hwa Gyeong master.
‘Damn this farce. Come and have a look, they said.’
Unaware that Gun Ma Rim Ju had even visited, Ja Jeon Geom Wang seethed at the indifferent maneuver.
Yet however angry he was, a decision had to be made.
With rumors spreading across the realm that Tae Geuk Geom Wang—the obvious successor to Maeng Ui Dan Ju—had ascended to Hwa Gyeong, refusing the position of Hyeol Gwi Dae Ju would make him look like a coward backing away in fear.
But accepting outright left his neck uncomfortably exposed.
He would have to station himself with two Hwa Gyeong masters right at his throat.
Caught between reputation and tangible danger, Ja Jeon Geom Wang finally rose from his seat.
He reasoned that worry alone would solve nothing.
As he left his quarters, Ja Jeon Geom Wang’s form scattered into the darkness hanging over the void.
There was still roughly a fortnight before his formal installation, so Tae Geuk Geom Wang was still lodging with Yi Hwan.
Because of this, Yi Hwan was startled when Ja Jeon Geom Wang suddenly appeared in his quarters.
Clang.
As Yi Hwan hastily drew and leveled his blade, Ja Jeon Geom Wang grumbled to Tae Geuk Geom Wang, who was lounging off to one side at an angle.
“Stop him, would you? Or do you perhaps dislike him? Is that why you’re hoping I’ll put him down?”
“Whelp, listen to yourself. Put the sword away. This is an old friend of Jeok Sa Jo.”
“B-but——”
“I said put it away.”
Pressed repeatedly by Tae Geuk Geom Wang, Yi Hwan reluctantly sheathed his blade, and Ja Jeon Geom Wang strode past him into the inner chamber.
Yi Hwan’s pride stung at being so utterly disregarded, but there was nothing for it.
Considering the gap in skill between them… it would have been ridiculous for Ja Jeon Geom Wang to pay him any attention at all.
Swallowing his wounded pride and acknowledging the difference in their abilities, Yi Hwan watched as Ja Jeon Geom Wang turned to Tae Geuk Geom Wang and spoke.
“Let’s make a deal.”
“What kind of deal?”
“If you two decide to strike at me, give me advance warning.”
Tae Geuk Geom Wang, grasping at once who the “two” were, grinned slyly and asked,

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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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