The Legend of Red Cloud - Chapter 80

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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 80. The Return of Jeok Sa Jo
Ryu lay in the new room that Jang Min Su had managed to secure with considerable effort, and voices drifted to his ears.
As mentioned before, as Ryu’s cultivation level advanced, the range of his Enhanced Hearing expanded beyond imagination.
It passed through the thin wooden walls of the inn without difficulty.
Because of this, every conversation taking place throughout the entire inn reached his ears.
Only after deliberately circulating his inner energy to dampen his hearing did those sounds diminish.
This time, too, Ryu’s attempt to do so faltered.
It was because he heard a voice he knew well.
“Brother, what kind of person is he?”
At Cheol Ja Gyeong’s question, Cheol Ja Yong asked in confusion.
“What kind?”
“The one called Jeok Sa.”
“Ah! The captain. He’s a good man.”
At her brother’s assessment, Cheol Ja Gyeong’s eyes widened.
As far as she could remember, her brother had never evaluated anyone in such a way before.
Her brother Cheol Ja Yong had always assessed all men by the height of their martial arts, that is, by their skill.
So it was surprising that he would praise someone not as “frighteningly strong” or “exceptional,” but as a good person.
“He must be quite a decent person, then.”
“Yes. As a martial artist alone, he is worthy of respect, and as a leader guiding a group, he is more than sufficient. A bit taciturn, but deep of character. If he were to become a husband, he would make a good one……”
Ryu closed his ears and shut his eyes at that point.
His chest felt oddly ticklish, and he couldn’t bear to listen further.
Ryu simply attributed such a feeling to his own embarrassment at being praised.
***
From early morning, Ryu had to greet an endless stream of visitors.
Those who arrived late claimed tables as they waited their turn and ordered tea and food; the innkeeper, watching Ryu sit with a bewildered expression holding his position, wore a countenance far softer than the day before.
He was making remarkable contributions to raising revenue.
In any case, whether they had set aside all the heated emotions from yesterday’s near-brawl, or had reached some agreement overnight, the emissaries of the Kangho’s major powers chose to pay respectful visits as guests.
Even without Yi Song’s concern, it was impossible to refuse such visits.
As a result, Ryu had to continue entertaining guests—something he had no talent for—without pause.
The problem was the duration.
It had now been four days since he began receiving guests after spending the first day in conflict, yet the number of people queuing to meet Ryu showed no sign of diminishing.
Of course, there was never a time when Ryu failed to meet someone.
But they would queue again afterward, thinking that a single meeting would not be enough to win him over.
The situation persisted in which the people who should have come were not appearing.
Had Ryu been traveling alone, this situation would likely have persisted for quite some time.
But fortunately (?) Ryu was attending to official duties.
The moment On Chang, the commander of the Royal Guard, appeared at the inn, Ryu leapt from his seat.
While he said with his mouth that it was unfortunate but he must leave to attend to his duties, his face was evidently alive with relief.
The members of Jeok Sa Jo, who had been confined to the inn together because of Ryu, wore the same expression of relief.
For them, having sat alongside Ryu the entire time in what had become an enemy encampment, it felt like finally breaking free from the siege.
Perhaps because of this, the footsteps of Jeok Sa Jo as they returned to Maeng Ui Dan with full Alcohol Barrels from the distillery seemed unusually light.
There were many who watched the departing Jeok Sa Jo—or more precisely, Ryu—with regretful eyes.
But among them, there was one whose eyes shone with particular brightness: Cheol Ja Gyeong.
Before Jeok Sa Jo left, she had used the advantage of having Cheol Ja Yong as her brother to obtain permission (?) from Ryu that she could visit sometime.
***
Tae Geuk Geom Wang watched Ryu enter the Military Camp with the carts, his expression troubled.
He had sent Ryu to Mu Chang to reach some decision, but Ryu returned empty-handed.
Frustrated by this, Tae Geuk Geom Wang sent for Ryu.
As Ryu entered in response to his summons, Tae Geuk Geom Wang offered a somewhat plaintive remark.
“You just came back as is?”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t go to the trouble of sending messengers here and there for nothing.”
Now Ryu could finally understand how the Dae Moon Pa people had found out he was in Mu Chang and rushed over.
Ryu answered to Tae Geuk Geom Wang.
“I understand your thinking. But I cannot do so now.”
“Why?”
“Wherever I go, the situation here at Maeng Ui Dan will only grow worse.”
“What do you mean?”
“I have considered it. If I were to go to Muddang or Namgoong as you are thinking, your arrangement might indeed guarantee my safety. However.”
“However?”
Jeok Sa answered Tae Geuk Geom Wang, who was asking in confusion.
“This place will descend into chaos. And you, the Lord, will be in danger as well.”
“Me? Why would I be in danger?”
Jeok Sa answered Tae Geuk Geom Wang, who asked as if the very notion were absurd.
“He will likely make a move.”
Tae Geuk Geom Wang’s eyes widened as he considered who “he” referred to.
Between himself and Jeok Sa, there was only one person they would both call “him.”
“He? But why would he?”
“To restore the balance.”
No further explanation was needed. Those words alone made everything clear.
After all, he would want to shift the odds from three against two in Kangho’s favor back to two against two.
And from what Tae Geuk Geom Wang had already seen of Hyeol Young MaJon, he possessed more than enough power to do it.
This thought drew a low groan from Tae Geuk Geom Wang.
“Mm…….”
Jeok Sa spoke to the troubled Lord.
“That’s why I cannot leave for now. So long as I remain, he will not strike this place directly. He will honor that much code at least.”
Trusting an enemy was foolish beyond measure, yet Tae Geuk Geom Wang could not help but acknowledge the truth in Jeok Sa’s words.
Hyeol Young MaJon, as he had seen him, was a man of principle indeed.
“Ah…….”
A deep sigh escaped Tae Geuk Geom Wang’s lips. The bitter irony was that he was no longer protecting Jeok Sa—rather, it was Jeok Sa who protected him.
***
Hyeol Young MaJon made a rueful face as he received Ma Ryeong’s report.
“A pity. Had he headed somewhere else, I might have taken Tae Geuk Geom Wang’s head.”
“Sir?”
Hyeol Young MaJon shook his head at Ma Ryeong’s confused response to his murmur.
“Never mind. It was just talking to myself.”
“Ah! Yes.”
Ma Ryeong’s eyes rolled about as he bowed his head.
He was trying to decipher the meaning of what had just been said.
Hyeol Young MaJon gazed down at him, his eyes utterly glacial.
***
Regardless of what Jeok Sa thought, the Dae Moon Pa’s greed for him did not diminish one bit.
The Dae Moon Pa, who had always made excuses whenever the Maeng Ui Dan asked for more Masters, suddenly began sending them to the Maeng Ui Dan—men whose names alone made people gasp.
The fact that all of them who joined the Maeng Ui Dan wished to be assigned to the Jeok Sa Jo made their intentions abundantly clear.
The problem was that all assignment matters fell solely under the purview of the Haeng Sa Gak.
Even the Lord could not interfere in assignments—such was the law of the Maeng Ui Dan.
This left Dam In, the head of the Haeng Sa Gak, nearly dead with stress.
It was nearly impossible to tell these fierce warriors to go elsewhere without having them glare daggers at him.
Why should it not be so?
The one requesting assignment as a new recruit to the Jeok Sa Jo was none other than the previous Lord of the Maeng Wi Dan.
A man who had once commanded the Maeng Wi Dan, one of the Three Units System that comprised the Cheol Hyeol Maeng.
The Maeng Ui Dan, locked in exhausting struggle against the Hyeol Gwi Dae on the Saja Plain, was only the lowest of those three units—so one could imagine just how formidable this figure’s station was.
In truth, both in martial skill and in bearing, the Maeng Wi Dan’s Lord outstripped all those who had previously served as Maeng Ui Dan Lord by more than a margin.
And this Master, who had held that position a full decade ago, now sought entry as a mere new recruit to the Jeok Sa Jo.
Of course, thanks to Tae Geuk Geom Wang currently holding the position of Maeng Ui Dan Lord, the absurd sight of a Lord coming to bow before a new recruit had not come to pass—but Dam In’s position was entirely different.
“Well… sir, the Jeok Sa Jo is already at full capacity…….”
“Are you playing games with me right now? Get me assigned to the Jeok Sa Jo already!”
Overwhelmed by the fierce pressure in the man’s voice, the skin beneath Dam In’s eyes darkened.
With no choice but to flee the Haeng Sa Gak under the weight of their demands, Dam In made his way to the quarters of the Jeok Sa Jo.
The one he found there was Jang Min Su, the official captain of the Jeok Sa Jo.
“Save me, Captain Jang.”
“What could I possibly do…….”
“Accept these new recruits.”
“We’ll take them if you send them our way…….”
“That’s just it. These aren’t ordinary new recruits, are they? Surely you’ve heard the rumors, Captain?”
Jang Min Su smiled wryly at Dam In’s reproachful tone, as if to say he knew full well the situation already.
“Just send them. We’ll handle it ourselves.”
“You’re certain? Could it be that Jeok Sa… is it at his instruction…….”
Jang Min Su smiled wryly again, uncertain since when Dam In had begun calling Jeok Sa by such a respectful title.
“No trouble at all. It’s what the Lord instructed us to do.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. So please send us.”
“I understand. If you do this, I’ll be grateful. Please convey my thanks to Jeok Sa on my behalf.”
“I shall do so.”
With those measured words from Jang Min Su, Dam In bowed repeatedly in gratitude and took his leave.
Once Jang Min Su had seen Dam In off and stepped into the quarters, he spotted Jwa Ryang steadying O In Bang, who seemed to burn with fierce determination.
“You can do this, yes?”
“Yes! I’m ready to take on anything!”
Watching them, Jang Min Su shook his head slowly and approached Yi Song’s side with a question.
“Are you truly certain this will be all right?”
“Ryu approved it, so it should be fine.”
“There could be repercussions. You know as well as I do—the resentment of the powerful is merciless.”
During his time in the palace, Jang Min Su had witnessed those with power severing the lifelines of the powerless as casually as snapping twigs, merely because their dignity had been wounded. At his worry, Yi Song merely shrugged.
“In the end, it amounts to sending them to dangerous frontlines. That’s no different from what we’ve been doing all along.”
At Yi Song’s words, Jang Min Su spoke cautiously.
“They could tear us apart.”
“I’ve worried about that myself, but Ryu seems to trust that the Chief will stop them.”
“Will Tae Geuk Geom Wang truly do so?”
“Ryu must have his reasons for trusting as he does. Let’s trust him for now.”
“I trust you, brother, but Tae Geuk Geom Wang—the Chief is, after all, still a member of the Dae Moon Pa. That troubles me.”
“Hmm……”
At Jang Min Su’s concern, even Yi Song let out a heavy sigh.
It couldn’t be dismissed as mere groundless worry.
And yet……
Yi Song glanced back at Ryu, who lay sleeping on his bed as he did every evening, and spoke.
“Let’s trust him.”
Following Yi Song’s gaze toward that distant corner where Ryu slept, Jang Min Su too gave a nod.
While the Jeok Sa Jo remained steeped in determination and worry, the martial artists who had finally received their long-awaited assignment orders streamed into the unit’s quarters.
Watching it all through the window of his office, Tae Geuk Geom Wang turned to his adjutant, Gong Chan, who stood behind him.
“Why does Ryu seem to be calling them in so willingly?”
“Isn’t it because he has confidence he can control them?”
“Control? That fellow?”
Tae Geuk Geom Wang let out a faint laugh—absolutely not, he thought.
Throughout Ryu’s stay with the Jeok Sa Jo, even he himself, let alone that one from Gunma Rim, had held back. It was Ryu who had never once overstepped.
So control was not it.
Rather, it suggested some other plan was in place—but he couldn’t fathom what it could be.
That didn’t mean he was worried, though. He simply couldn’t bear the curiosity.
“That fellow has a talent for torturing a person’s patience.”

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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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