Wings Are Not Heavy (3)
We sat around the pavilion with comfortable hearts.
Since we had to return to the Justice Pavilion, we could not drink much, but even so, I wanted to have at least one cup of wine to commemorate today.
The wine tasted good. These days, I often felt that expensive wine was not what made wine taste good. The wines I drank these days tasted far better than the expensive and precious wines I had drunk when I was Alliance Lord.
There had never been a time in my previous life when the three of us had drunk wine together like this, in such good spirits.
“Since you have become our lord, please speak comfortably to us. Once we return to the alliance, there will be nothing we can do, but when it is just us, please do so.”
At Gal Sa-Ryang’s words, Baek Pyo expressed the same meaning.
“Yes, please do that. From now on, please treat me comfortably as well.”
I looked back and forth between the two of them.
In truth, how I spoke was not important. What mattered was the heart with which I treated them.
“Understood. I will do so.”
As I lived this new life again, there was something I had resolved. To live without being conscious of others’ gazes, and not to fall into useless authoritarianism or formalism.
It was also a resolve I had made because of these two people. I had regrets from my previous life that I had not been closer to them.
“By the way, what is the story behind this manor?”
Gal Sa-Ryang asked with a curious face.
The manor had been purchased under the name of the Taeseong Merchant Guild by Gong Su-Chan, who had received my order.
“It is one of the secret bases I prepared near the Grand Martial Alliance headquarters.”
Since it was an island that was almost no different from a deserted island, I had been able to purchase the manor at a very cheap price.
“It seems we could also create a strategic stronghold here. Especially because the distance from headquarters is appropriate, and no one would think there was such a place on a deserted island like this.”
“Strategist, please take care of it as you see fit.”
Since it was an island, large-scale forces could not be operated here, but Gal Sa-Ryang would surely make good use of it.
“Please leave it to me.”
Starting with an explanation of the Taeseong Merchant Guild, I told him various things.
Gal Sa-Ryang was greatly surprised by the fact that the Three-Eyed Pavilion had established branches throughout all of the Central Plains. That was because he knew better than anyone that building an intelligence organization throughout the entire Central Plains was far more difficult than earning money.
“You created one hundred and twenty branches?”
“That is right.”
“Who carried out the work?”
“There are trustworthy spies named Jin and Su. When there is time later, I will introduce them to you.”
The fact that the Three-Eyed Pavilion had established itself was entirely thanks to Jin and Su. Later, I intended to make Gal Sa-Ryang the master of the Three-Eyed Pavilion and place Jin and Su in important positions within it.
Lastly, I also told him about the Black Panther Unit Baek Pyo was creating and the Small Sword Unit in Shandong. How many people there were, and what their levels of Martial Arts were. Like that, I told him everything I had built after my reincarnation.
“You are truly amazing.”
Gal Sa-Ryang was sincerely moved. I had invested evenly in finances, information, and military force, which were the most basic foundations of a Murim organization.
What moved him sincerely was that I had not spoken of all this before persuading him. I had not tried to persuade him by putting my power forward, but had tried to draw him in through my heart.
In an ordinary case, if someone possessed this much power, they would simply have come to recruit him. But I had gone through the trouble of entering the Justice Pavilion, then shared a life-risking journey with him afterward, trying to draw him in. If I had even managed to win Baek Pyo’s heart, then there was no reason to hesitate any longer.
Baek Pyo spoke to Gal Sa-Ryang with an apologetic expression.
“I gave the Asura Nether King Sword to the Young Master. I should have contacted you and told you earlier, but I apologize for not doing so.”
“No wonder. I thought it was a sword I had seen somewhere.”
Because the handle had been wrapped in cloth, and because the sword arts had been used so quickly, he had not recognized it in time. It was also because he had never imagined that a strategist who had entered the Justice Pavilion would possess the Asura Nether King Sword.
“I apologize.”
“It is fine. From the beginning, I had taken it away because I did not want to give it to that Ma Bong-Gi bastard. It seems I entrusted the sword to you so that this bond could form.”
At Gal Sa-Ryang’s words, Baek Pyo nodded.
“Thank you very much for saying that. If I may offer one excuse, on the day the Asura Nether King Sword first saw the Young Master, it cried on its own.”
“The sword cried?”
“Yes. The Asura Nether King Sword chose the Young Master.”
“Oh! Is that truly what happened?”
Gal Sa-Ryang was impressed once again. It was not common for a sword to choose a martial artist. Moreover, if it was a treasured sword like the Asura Nether King Sword, there was even less need to say more.
“If that happened, then the Alliance Lord must surely be pleased as well.”
After putting Baek Pyo’s heart at ease like that, Gal Sa-Ryang looked at me and said,
“I still do not know everything about what kind of person you are, Young Master. But there is one thing I am certain of. You are certainly qualified to become the owner of that sword.”
“Thank you very much for saying that.”
We shared many more conversations. Except for the fact that I had reincarnated, I told them almost everything honestly.
They served me as their lord, but I did not consider our relationship one of above and below. These people were my friends.
“By the way, how is the training of the Black Panther Unit going?”
“They are continuing their training.”
Just by looking at the change in Baek Pyo, I could guess that they were improving day by day. Baek Pyo’s bearing had completely changed. I could tell that his skill had also risen by one level.
For now, I intended to simply leave it to Baek Pyo. When he had climbed as far as he could climb on his own, I intended to look over his Martial Arts then. I intended to make him into a warrior who would absolutely not fall behind anywhere when it came to Martial Arts.
“Please give me just a little more time.”
“I can give you more than ten years.”
“Haha. A little is enough.”
“Do not push yourself too hard.”
“Young Master, please be careful as well.”
Gal Sa-Ryang, who had been listening with a pleased expression, raised his cup high.
“Now, let us have a drink.”
The three cups struck each other in the air.
We drank until late, talking about the Jianghu, the Grand Martial Alliance, and the matters ahead.
You do not know. How long I had waited for this moment.
Truly, I felt as if I had gained the whole world.
Baek Pyo returned to Pyeongjeongsan in Henan to continue training the Black Panther Unit, and Gal Sa-Ryang and I returned to the Grand Martial Alliance.
For now, we decided to remain in the Grand Martial Alliance. Even if we were to leave when the time came, now was not the time.
What I worried about was Gal Sa-Ryang’s safety. Those bastards had not killed Gal Sa-Ryang and had left him in the position of Chief Strategist. That meant there was some hidden intention. If his value for use disappeared, they would try to kill him without mercy.
“Please move together with me at all times for the time being.”
“Understood.”
When it was just the two of us, I was his lord, and when there were other people, I faithfully played the role of responsible strategist.
This too was very natural. In this changed relationship, we were proving that the heart was more important than position.
Starting with Gwangdu, I had gained many people. I was happy when my Martial Arts rose, and I was happy when I earned money. But those things could not compare to the joy of gaining people.
Though I had not gained the Heart Sword in my previous life, I had nearly reached the extreme of Martial Arts, possessed the military force known as the Grand Martial Alliance, and if I had wanted money, I could have accumulated enormous wealth.
But I had not felt this happiness I felt now.
It was the same Baek Pyo, and the same Gal Sa-Ryang, but the me of that time had not been this happy.
Only now did I finally feel what a true relationship was, and what kind of happiness it gave.
Once, the divine physician of the alliance had said something like this.
He had seen countless moments when people died, and among them, not one regretted having gathered too little money, or having weak authority or Martial Arts. Most of their regrets were about relationships between people.
Because they had not treated someone better, because they had not met someone, because they had not said what they should have said to someone……
At the time, I had let it pass by, but now I felt I understood.
The reason I still trained my Martial Arts without rest, built forces, and gathered money was to protect people.
The person behind the scenes was probably the opposite. He was likely using people for money and power.
That is the difference between our fights.
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News arrived that Hwasu Manor in Shangzhou had been massacred.
And a few days later, news arrived again that the demonic practitioners who had committed the brutal slaughter and were heading south had been killed in Shanyang by Ma Cheol-Gun and the warriors of the Heavenly Blade Sect. Ma Cheol-Gun’s popularity soared even higher, and relatively, criticism poured down against the Grand Martial Alliance’s incompetence.
The day after that news arrived, Zuo Tie-Long came to the emergency operations room.
He sent out all the strategists of the Justice Pavilion and met Gal Sa-Ryang alone.
“Because of the Demonic Cult, the Jianghu is in disorder. Since the situation is urgent, should we not hurry and decide the next Alliance Lord?”
This was exactly the purpose for which he had come. Gal Sa-Ryang could feel that their movements were faster than he had expected.
“Do you have someone in mind?”
“Even if we do not particularly think of someone, is there not someone who has risen up on his own?”
“Are you speaking of the Heavenly Blade Sect Leader?”
Zuo Tie-Long nodded and asked back.
“A son avenging his father. Is that not good?”
“Good for whom, exactly?”
“I believe it is a choice for the Jianghu.”
At times like this, he was even shameless. In any case, the fortunate point was that since they both knew everything there was to know anyway, there was no need to engage in useless psychological warfare.
“What if I refuse?”
“You refused before as well, did you not? And you have seen enough of the result. This time, let us proceed pleasantly.”
Gal Sa-Ryang stared at Zuo Tie-Long as if glaring at him, then soon let out a light sigh.
“Give me time to think.”
“Of course I should.”
When Zuo Tie-Long was about to leave the room, Gal Sa-Ryang asked from behind him.
“Do you not think of the previous Alliance Lord?”
Zuo Tie-Long flinched and stopped at the door.
“Why suddenly bring up a dead person?”
“I think of him. When I see things that absolutely would not have happened if he were here, I think of him even more desperately these days.”
“It is all meaningless.”
Zuo Tie-Long closed the door and left.
Looking at the closed door, Gal Sa-Ryang spoke quietly.
“If all of that is meaningless…… would that not make our lives too pitiful?”
Gal Sa-Ryang called me and told me about his earlier meeting with Zuo Tie-Long.
“Their movements are very fast. And given that they have no openings while doing so, this was planned in advance. There is someone behind them drawing a big picture.”
I had felt that before as well. That they also had a proper strategist, like Gal Sa-Ryang.
“Do you perhaps have any thoughts about this matter?”
Gal Sa-Ryang asked for my opinion.
“First, I will tell you one thing. Even now, and from now on as well, I intend to fully follow your opinion, Strategist Gal. If you tell me to spare someone, I will spare them. If you tell me to kill someone, I will kill them. If you tell me to stand, I will stand, and if you tell me to run, I will run.”
My words were sincere. I believed Gal Sa-Ryang would also understand my heart. Indeed, I felt some kind of intense emotion pass across his face.
“Because of that, I will say freely what I think. Because I trust that you are not someone who decides your opinion by watching my mood anyway. I thought there might be something useful among the words I throw out.”
It had been the same in my previous life. He had been someone who confidently presented opinions that opposed mine.
“To answer what you asked earlier, I think it may be all right to accept their will.”
Gal Sa-Ryang, who had quietly been listening to me, asked in a calm tone,
“May I ask the reason?”
“If we block their will and make someone else the Alliance Lord, those bastards will not leave the new Alliance Lord alone. In the end, that person will be sacrificed.”
Gal Sa-Ryang nodded. They were people more than capable of doing that.
“In my opinion, Ma Cheol-Gun has already joined hands with those bastards.”
Judging by how things were going, there was no doubt. If that was the case, then it would actually be easier for us to face him. Because we would be facing a villain, not a great hero.
Only then did Gal Sa-Ryang reveal his own thoughts.
“My thoughts are similar. This time, we will move according to their will. Instead, I will have to pretend to oppose it a little. If I follow their will too easily, they may instead become wary.”
“I will leave that matter entirely to you, Strategist Gal.”
“Thank you.”
“Ah, and can you get me into the Heavenly Dragon Library?”
The Heavenly Dragon Library was a library that only the Murim Alliance Lord could enter. Rather than the quantity of books, it was a place excellent in quality.
Without asking the reason, Gal Sa-Ryang answered.
“Yes, it is possible.”
“Thank you.”
There was something I had to look for there.
From now on, I had to move busily. Because of this incident, their plan had gone greatly awry. They would probably think it was because of Strategist Gal.
They would send people to dig into the force behind us. Since several of their experts had died this time, they would try to find the expert behind our side and kill him.
I intend to move before they do.
Because I absolutely hate being hunted.
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