The Martial Arts Alliance Leader, Byeok Lidan (3)
Baekpyo was overjoyed by my decision. To the extent that…
“Forgive my rudeness, but I must commit a transgression.”
He rushed forward and embraced me tightly.
“Leader, thank you so much. You’ve made a truly significant decision.”
I patted his back gently.
“I’m sorry. I failed to understand your feelings properly.”
“No, Leader.”
“Baekpyo.”
“Yes.”
“In our past life… I’m truly sorry for leaving first.”
“No, it’s my fault for not being able to protect you…”
Baekpyo couldn’t continue and hung his head low, overwhelmed by emotion.
I made sure to convey my feelings to Baekpyo deliberately.
You have to speak up.
If you’re sorry, you need to apologize. Again and again, if necessary.
Don’t assume that close ones will understand everything. The closer they are, the more clearly you need to express yourself. It’s not easy, but it must be done.
Words hold great power. When sincerity is added, they can even work miracles, healing deep wounds of the heart.
Galsaryang entered the room.
Seeing us, he smiled. Just from Baekpyo’s expression, he could guess the nature of our conversation.
Feigning ignorance, Galsaryang stated his business.
“First, you should meet with Macheolgun.”
“And when I do?”
“It’s obvious what he’ll say, but you need to hear him out. Make sure Macheolgun comes to trust you.”
It seemed he had a plan in mind.
“Understood. That shouldn’t be too difficult.”
Macheolgun awoke in the middle of the night.
In his dream, he saw his father, Mabonggi, glaring at him, covered in blood.
At the time, he hadn’t gone to save Mabonggi, who was in danger, and ultimately, he died. Even if he had gone, his father might have died anyway, but the mere act of not going was akin to killing him. He was his son, after all.
“Damn it! Damn it all! It’s all my own doing! Who told him to live so recklessly? Who told him to live without earning his son’s respect?”
He had gained the position of leader by abandoning his own blood.
“I will never give it up.”
When he absentmindedly turned his head toward the window, he was startled.
Someone was standing in the room, looking out the window.
Macheolgun jumped up from his bed.
“Who are you?”
The man answered without turning around.
“Were you looking for me?”
In that moment, Macheolgun froze. He realized that the man was the master who had killed Cheonwanggun, the one he had been searching for.
The man slowly turned and asked,
“Why were you looking for me?”
Macheolgun was terrified.
I wasn’t emitting any killing intent, demonic energy, or any kind of aura. The absence of any sensation would only heighten his fear. To him, I was a more terrifying monster than Cheonwanggun, whom I had slain.
“I have a request.”
Macheolgun’s voice trembled.
“What is it?”
“The Cheonwanggun you defeated suppressed my energy center. Only you can undo it. I ask you to release it for the sake of the martial world.”
“For the sake of the martial world?”
“The leader of the Martial Arts Alliance is the Alliance itself, is it not? If the Alliance falls, so will the martial world.”
“That’s news to me. The leader is the leader, the Alliance is the Alliance, and the martial world is the martial world, isn’t it?”
When I questioned him pedantically, Macheolgun was flustered.
“I’m speaking of the great righteousness you showed in defeating Cheonwanggun.”
“I have no such great righteousness.”
“You’re being modest.”
Macheolgun was trying to maintain his dignity as the leader of the Alliance, but what I sensed from him was not dignity, but desire. A desperate desire to regain his power.
I looked at him for a moment before asking,
“I heard you’re not the only one whose energy center was suppressed?”
“Ah! Of course.”
Macheolgun was even more flustered than before.
“The heads of our main organizations were all affected as well.”
“Yet you haven’t mentioned them at all.”
“I planned to ask for your help with them once my own energy center was restored.”
“Is that so? But what if I don’t want to help you at all?”
As I prepared to leap out the window, Macheolgun shouted,
“I’ll do anything you want.”
“Anything? Do you even know what I want?”
“Whatever it is, if it’s within my power, I’ll do it. Money, power, women—just name it.”
“Oh?”
Seeing my curiosity, he seized the opportunity.
“I imagine there’s a loneliness only the strongest know. I can fill that void for you. I think a connection with someone like me wouldn’t be so bad.”
I decided that this was enough for our first meeting.
“Understood. I’ll be in touch.”
Before he could respond, I leaped out the window and vanished in an instant.
Returning to the safe house, I relayed the details of my meeting with Macheolgun to Galsaryang.
“Just as expected.”
“If he could regain his power, he’d be willing to dance naked.”
“He’d do even more than that. His desire to maintain his position will ultimately lead to his downfall.”
Yes, his desire was so strong that Galsaryang’s plan would easily succeed.
“Leave the rest to me.”
“Very well.”
It seemed he had already laid the groundwork when he suggested I become the leader.
“I’m planning to become the leader of the Martial Arts Alliance.”
My parents’ eyes widened at my words. It was the first time I’d seen them so shocked. Song Wookyung, who was with them, was equally surprised.
“What did you just say?”
They all looked at me, hoping they had misheard.
I spoke slowly and clearly.
“I’m making plans to become the leader of the Martial Arts Alliance.”
The three exchanged glances, sharing their surprise and uncertainty about how to react.
I had anticipated this reaction.
I could have waited until I became the leader to tell them. It would have been easier in many ways.
But I chose to tell them in advance. At the very least, my parents needed to know.
They deserved a chance to voice their objections.
If I became the leader and then said, “I’ve become the leader of the Martial Arts Alliance,” my parents would feel an immense distance, beyond shock or disbelief. They were already surprised by me often enough; becoming the leader would be more of a shock than a joy.
So I told them now.
Smack!
My mother hit me hard on the back.
“You fool! Get a grip!”
“Ouch! That hurts!”
Yes, this is exactly why I told them.
“Are you trying to give your mother a heart attack?”
Normally, she would have said, “You crazy fool, what nonsense is this?”
But I had already shown them my extraordinary swordsmanship. Plus, the former chief military strategist and the leader of the Tiger Brigade were now under my command.
“Indeed.”
I scratched my head. By not denying it, everyone understood that I was serious.
Song Wookyung stepped in.
“Isn’t our Byeokseobang pushing himself too hard?”
It was the first time I’d heard the term “Byeokseobang.” Now that my relationship with Hwarin had deepened, the term felt pleasant.
“Yes, I’m sorry for causing you concern.”
Both my father and mother, as well as Song Wookyung, were parents. Their worry overshadowed their surprise.
My father spoke on behalf of everyone.
“Do you know what it means to be the leader of the Martial Arts Alliance?”
Of course, I probably know better than anyone alive today.
“I don’t know well.”
“Then why are you trying to become the leader?”
“I think I can do it well.”
“It’s not something you can achieve with determination alone.”
“I trust Galsaryang and Baekpyo.”
“Hmm.”
My father seemed conflicted. The remarkable things I’d shown them so far were within the realm of acceptance.
But the position of leader was hard to accept. I completely understood.
“At least I can promise one thing. In my path to becoming the leader, there will be no greed or recklessness. I will follow the natural order as much as possible.”
“Dana.”
I spoke calmly to my still-worried father.
“So please, watch over your son’s fate.”
A moment of silence passed.
Song Wookyung broke the tense atmosphere.
“That’s commendable. Truly commendable.”
He looked at my father.
“Yes, it’s natural for you to worry. I would too. But isn’t worrying about your child something you do from the moment they step outside? When they’re young, you worry because they’re young; when they’re older, you worry because they’re older. If we have to live with all these worries, then perhaps this kind of worry is a great blessing as a parent and as a martial artist. I truly think our Dana is commendable.”
Song Wookyung came over and grasped my hand firmly. How could he not be anxious? How could he not worry when thinking of his daughter? But he could view the situation with a bit more distance than my parents. I’m truly grateful for his perspective.
Eventually, my father made up his mind. He knew that merely worrying wouldn’t help, given that I had already set my mind.
“Alright, I trust you. Just don’t forget the principles a person should uphold.”
“I will remember.”
My mother also spoke.
“Good. Since you’ve set your mind, make sure you become the leader of the Martial Arts Alliance. Let me brag about it everywhere! Our son, you can do it, right?”
“Yes!”
“Hahaha.”
The three of them laughed together. Once this meeting ended, they would likely be swept up in a storm of worry, but for now, they were smiling.
Yes, telling them in advance was definitely the right decision. It was a moment that reaffirmed my belief that the driving force for change in life doesn’t lie in grand gestures.
“I heard you’ve ordered an investigation into the Murim Alliance officials.”
The visitor to the temporary leader’s office was Elder No.
Ma Cheol-gun’s gaze was anything but friendly. Despite appointing him as the chief strategist, he felt No had accomplished little.
“A chief strategist, you say?”
Shouldn’t he be the one to fend off and resolve any crisis that comes our way?
Ma Cheol-gun was unaware.
He didn’t realize that his current mindset was that of a typical small-minded person, forgetting past gratitude when cornered.
In truth, Elder No wasn’t exceptionally talented, but he had always offered sincere advice. Today was no different.
“You mustn’t do this. Please stop the investigation.”
“They’re trying to push me out of the leader’s seat. And you side with them?”
“Even if that’s the case, this isn’t right. And I’m not siding with them.”
“Hmph! I won’t be as indecisive as you, strategist.”
“This isn’t about indecision. It’s about principles.”
“Principles, you say.”
Ma Cheol-gun’s harsh words left Elder No flustered.
“Leader?”
“This isn’t about principles; it’s about survival. You might just chatter a few words from the sidelines, but for me, it’s a matter of life and death.”
The word “chatter” struck Elder No hard. Yet, he tried to maintain a respectful tone for the man he had served all his life.
“I understand the situation, but…”
“Enough with the empty words! You don’t understand at all!”
Elder No stood there, momentarily stunned, before speaking in a trembling voice.
“You’ve changed a lot. How did it come to this?”
Ma Cheol-gun scoffed.
“Everyone says that. Changed this, changed that. Have you ever thought that maybe you’ve changed?”
With that accusation, Elder No had nothing left to say.
“I’m sorry. It’s all this old man’s fault.”
He bowed deeply and walked out.
As he left, someone else was entering.
It was Ga Kyung, the head of the disciplinary hall. Knowing the purpose of his visit, Elder No sighed even deeper as he exited.
Ma Cheol-gun’s expression brightened as Ga Kyung entered.
“How did it go?”
“We’ve arrested the ringleaders among those who demanded your resignation.”
Ma Cheol-gun laughed heartily at Ga Kyung’s report.
“Ha ha ha! Well done. Cowards! Hiding behind the name of heroes to plot the alliance’s division.”
“There will be no more spreading of false rumors.”
“Make an example of them. Punish them severely.”
“Understood.”
“The more difficult the alliance’s situation, the stricter we must be. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
After finishing his report, Ga Kyung left the office.
When Ga Kyung returned to his own office, someone was waiting for him. It was Gal Sa-ryang.
“What brings you here?”
In the past, Ga Kyung had betrayed the former chief strategist, Sa Ma-cheon, during Ma Bong-gi’s leadership and pledged loyalty to Gal Sa-ryang.
He had almost forgotten about it, but today, Gal Sa-ryang’s unexpected visit seemed to be a moment to reaffirm that loyalty. With a resolute look, Gal Sa-ryang spoke.
“There is something you must do.”