novelraw Chapter 58
Chapter 58
Chapter 58
Pyo Inhaeng realized that because of what he had said earlier, Seo Mugyeom was not telling the truth in front of the Sect Leader. He felt both sorry and grateful.
At the same time, he was worried.
The Sect Leader was a man who was clear about rewards and punishments, and if he believed someone was going against him, he could become more brutal than one could imagine.
As the Tenth Division Leader, Pyo Inhaeng had not faced the Sect Leader directly many times. So he didn’t have much to base his judgment of the Sect Leader on, and now he was worried that the Sect Leader might reprimand Seo Mugyeom.
If that happened, it would be because of him. That was why Pyo Inhaeng focused all his attention. If it seemed like Seo Mugyeom would suffer any disadvantage, he was ready to step forward and say it was all under his orders.
However, the Sect Leader said nothing else and looked at the First Division Leader.
“First Division Leader.”
“Yes, Sect Leader.”
“Have a sparring match with Seo Mugyeom.”
“…Excuse me?”
The First Division Leader hadn’t imagined he’d hear such words there. Even if he had been told to spar with the Tenth Division Leader, it would’ve been insulting enough—but now he wasn’t even sure what he’d just heard.
Seo Mugyeom looked at the Sect Leader as he saw the First Division Leader’s expression change instantly. The Sect Leader had to know this would upset the First Division Leader, so he couldn’t understand why he was saying such a thing.
Pyo Inhaeng also did not understand the Sect Leader’s intention and was focusing intently.
He didn’t yet have a valid reason to step in. But with just that one sentence, it was clear that the First Division Leader would no longer view Seo Mugyeom favorably. He couldn’t understand why the Sect Leader would do such a thing.
The First Division Leader froze at the Sect Leader’s words. It seemed he couldn’t immediately answer, nor could he agree to a sparring match right away.
Perhaps he was hoping that if he stayed still like that, the Sect Leader would retract his words. But the Sect Leader made it clear that such a thing wouldn’t happen.
“Did you not hear what I said?”
“…Sect Leader. How could I possibly have a duel with a mere martial artist of the Tenth Division? If it is a guided training session you wish for, I can comply.”
“I did not know I needed the First Division Leader’s permission to give him an order,” said the Sect Leader with a smile.
Though his face was smiling, there was nothing in his words one could laugh at.
“Sect Leader, why would you say such a thing?”
“What’s the matter? Isn’t it quite shameless to say such things right after refusing my order?”
“Sect Leader…”
The First Division Leader was now stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Still, no matter how flustered the First Division Leader was, it couldn’t compare to Seo Mugyeom’s confusion.
Seo Mugyeom wracked his brain, wondering why the Sect Leader was doing this. Just then, the Tenth Division Leader’s telepathic message came through.
[Seo Mugyeom, don’t show everything you can do.]
That was advice Seo Mugyeom desperately needed.
There was no gain in defeating the First Division Leader here. Drawing the Sect Leader’s attention so abruptly would bring more harm than good.
The First Division Leader drew his sword with a grim expression.
He seemed ready to start the duel right there, without changing locations. Seo Mugyeom also drew his sword.
[But you mustn’t lose blatantly.]
Pyo Inhaeng’s telepathy came again.
He meant that Seo Mugyeom should do his best, but make it seem like he lost due to lack of skill.
Seo Mugyeom recalled the martial arts he had learned at the Martial Arts Academy, thinking it wouldn’t be easy.
Revealing other martial arts here could have unpredictable consequences, ones he couldn’t even begin to imagine.
But just as Seo Mugyeom was about to rush toward the First Division Leader, the Sect Leader suddenly stopped him. Then he asked the attendant beside him,
“Isn’t there a place currently threatening our Cult where a massacre is required?”
“There is. A trading company has been persecuting and killing our Cult followers. They even buried the bodies along common travel paths so the dead cannot rest in peace. At first, it was the company’s escort warriors who acted, but to cover up their misdeeds, the company got involved and began killing others as well. They bribed the magistrate, so he turns a blind eye. Their cruelty has gone too far.”
Seo Mugyeom remembered that incident and couldn’t hide his surprise.
That event had occurred in his past life as well, but the Divine Martial Sect had done nothing in response.
Even the Guardian Ten Division hadn’t acted, and the incident passed by quietly. But now it seemed the Sect Leader wanted to deal with it.
As far as Seo Mugyeom knew, it had been the company’s escort warriors who had gone rogue. Several of them had found female Cult members by chance and abused them. When the women fiercely resisted, they ended up taking their own lives.
The company leadership then framed the Cult followers for atrocities and executed others to cover up the truth.
The Cult followers had sought help from the Divine Martial Sect, but the Sect Leader didn’t intervene. The reason was exactly as the attendant just said.
They feared that opposing a trading company protected by the local authorities would bring great harm to the Divine Martial Sect.
Yet now the Sect Leader had brought it up.
Seo Mugyeom wondered why the Sect Leader suddenly mentioned that place.
If it were truly out of concern for the Cult followers, he wouldn’t have ignored their pleas all this time.
And in the previous life, he had ignored them to the end, making the Sect Leader’s current actions even more suspicious.
‘Don’t tell me… is he doing this to force me to show my full abilities?’
Seo Mugyeom thought that couldn’t possibly be the case—but doubt remained.
“It would be best if the entire Tenth Division goes. The Tenth Division Leader seems to have been waiting for such an opportunity.”
Pyo Inhaeng was greatly shocked by the sudden statement.
“Sect Leader, please reconsider. My subordinates are not fit for such a task. Even if the experience is needed, there must be a minimum level of safety guaranteed. If the trading company in question is the Geumhwa Trading Company, then my subordinates will be annihilated.”
The Sect Leader looked amused.
“This is the first time I’ve seen Captain Pyo speak so assertively. But if I were one of your subordinates, I’d be hurt by your words. These warriors seem willing to risk death if given the chance to fight for the Sect.”
“If there’s truly no one else for the task, I will accept it. My subordinates will follow your orders. But if this isn’t a life-or-death situation, asking them to risk their lives is no different than telling them to die meaningless deaths.”
As Pyo Inhaeng’s tone grew stronger, the First Division Leader’s expression changed.
When he’d been told to spar with Seo Mugyeom, he had felt offended—but now that emotion was gone.
He worried that if Pyo Inhaeng kept speaking like this, he’d incur the Sect Leader’s wrath. And when that happened, Pyo Inhaeng might not be the only one held responsible.
“Captain Pyo, why are you acting like this? Surely the Sect Leader wouldn’t issue an order without a reason!”
But Pyo Inhaeng refused to back down. Even if he had to take responsibility, he intended to protect his subordinates to the end.
If he’d said that much, the Sect Leader might have feigned reluctance and found a compromise. The usual Sect Leader wouldn’t have let things escalate this far.
But this time, he wasn’t backing down in the slightest.
“Captain Pyo doesn’t seem to know his subordinates’ true abilities. And when one is trapped at a limit, they need a push. If you truly care for them, you must sometimes harden your heart—like a mother eagle pushing her chicks out of the nest to teach them to fly.”
Then he calmly turned and spoke to the First Division Leader.
“Report back to me when it’s done.”
The First Division Leader stared blankly at the Sect Leader, then bowed his head as if he’d come to his senses. The Sect Leader departed with his attendants—but at that moment, a telepathic message rang in Seo Mugyeom’s mind.
[Follow Pyo Inhaeng. And watch Seo Mugyeom. Observe everything he does and report it in full detail.]
Seo Mugyeom looked at Pyo Inhaeng, wondering who had sent the message. But Pyo Inhaeng looked confused, as if he didn’t understand why Seo Mugyeom was staring at him.
Come to think of it, there was no way Pyo Inhaeng could have given such an order.
‘Don’t tell me… was that the Sect Leader’s telepathy? Did I just hear it even though he made sure no one else would?’
Seo Mugyeom’s eyes widened in shock, and Pyo Inhaeng assumed it was because Seo Mugyeom was terrified of the Sect Leader’s words. He approached and patted his back.
“Don’t worry too much. This was something that needed to be done. And just because we haven’t done it before doesn’t mean it’s impossible.”
Then Pyo Inhaeng looked at the First Division Leader.
“How long do you plan to stand there? If you’re not going to help, shouldn’t you return to your division?”
His tone was filled with hostility and anger. Since the First Division Leader had brought the Sect Leader here, it was understandable.
The First Division Leader was dumbfounded—was he some kind of punching bag now?
He was already upset with the Sect Leader, and now Pyo Inhaeng was talking to him without restraint.
But the Sect Leader’s order was so outrageous that he felt he had no choice but to endure it for now.
“Don’t look at me like that. I’ll send a few of my division’s top warriors with you. The Sect Leader won’t object to that much.”
Pyo Inhaeng wanted to say “no thanks,” but ensuring his subordinates’ safety was more urgent than venting his frustration.
“Thank you. If possible, I’d like you to come as well. Shouldn’t we at least keep the kids alive? Do you really think the Sect Leader would execute you for disobeying this command? If you help us now, I’ll return the favor once or twice in the future.”
It had been decades since the First Division Leader had known Pyo Inhaeng, but he had never seen him act so submissively. That moved even the First Division Leader’s heart.
“Very well. I’ll go. Don’t worry too much.”
He then left the scene.
As the Tenth Division warriors approached with tense faces, Pyo Inhaeng looked at them and said,
“From now on, those I name must step back.”