A Clan With Roots (7)

“Shut your mouth!”

A nervous edge clung to the sharply fired voice.

Heo Do sprang to his feet, and an unusual presence spread from his body. It was a qi presence flowing out despite his dantian being sealed, a qi presence close to killing intent stimulated by emotion.

“Do you know? Do you know how difficult it is to cry out for reform and revolution in the face of an organization’s ills? If I had been alone, I would have left the White Tiger Unit long ago, even after devoting my life to it! But under me were my own brats, the ones I had to look after! If I raised a banner of rebellion, my brats would be purged too! Do you even know how much that torments a person?!”

“I know.”

“Everyone says they know in words! But unless one has actually been in that situation, no one can understand that anguish…!”

“Only on the corpses of those who passed through that anguish again and again and gave the right answer did a better era finally reveal itself.”

“!!”

“This world has always been that way. It has always grown by feeding on the blood of martyrs and men of conviction.”

Jin-hyeon closed his eyes.

“I cannot say that is right, or that because the past was that way, the present must be that way too. It is important for each person to raise their voice, but there is no guarantee the world will change simply because they do.”

“…”

“Then one must become wise. One must look back on oneself. One must search for what can and cannot be done from one’s current position. If one has the will to change the world amid the corruption of a new era, then one must wager one’s life accordingly.”

Jin-hyeon opened his eyes again and glared at Heo Do.

“I know that one’s own people are important. You yielded before the power of corrupt authorities for the sake of your people? I cannot call that cowardice. As you said, those who have never actually been placed in such a situation must have no idea how much unimaginable anguish it held.”

“…”

“That is why I am asking whether you want to keep living such a life.”

Heo Do’s cheeks trembled.

Jin-hyeon’s gaze was firm and sharp. The eyes that had been filled with merciless madness like a wild beast’s had now changed into the eyes of a sage filled with dignity.

Toward Heo Do, who could say nothing, Jin-hyeon drove the point home.

“Your anguish is only the sort most ordinary people live with. If your anguish had truly been deep, you would have found another way or died. You could not even exist before me right now.”

“!”

“In the end, the suffering you speak of is only that much. It is fine to get drunk and complain. It is fine to curse the world. But when asked whether you truly lived proudly, words like I had no choice or you would not understand are not words someone like you should dare to say.”

“…”

“If you are ashamed of the half-hearted life you have lived, then first shut up and start by reflecting on yourself.”

Heo Do lowered his head without realizing it.

He had nothing to say. There were many things he wanted to say, but all of them felt as if they would sound like excuses.

Most decisively, there was something among Jin-hyeon’s words that weighed on his heart.

Do you want to keep living such a life?

“Keung.”

Jin-hyeon stretched widely.

“If you dislike both this and that, then quit your position as White Tiger Unit Leader and live buried in obscurity. You should have made that judgment long ago too. Everything is late for you.”

“…”

“But in a person’s life, until everything truly ends, at least one chance is bound to appear. I cannot agree with the saying that the time you think it is late is actually early, but I do tend to agree that as long as one is still alive, one can begin anew.”

Heo Do looked at Jin-hyeon again.

His bloodshot eyes were filled with nothing but confusion.

“Why are you saying such things to me?”

“Because you didn’t seem bad.”

“You mean me?”

“Yes.”

“According to what you said, I am lacking without end, yet you say I am not bad?”

“Being lacking does not mean being bad. I do not know if you know this, but becoming truly evil is harder than becoming truly good.”

“…”

“You did have at least one sense of responsibility, looking after your brats in a situation where everything could have been smashed apart.”

“?”

“You were prepared for death in that moment. For that alone, you are a fairly useful person.”

In that instant, Heo Do felt emotion surge up inside him without realizing it.

Was it because the other man was a greater master than him? Or was it because he had lost to him once?

Though they were the words of a young man not even thirty, he strangely felt comforted. He felt that this person had understood the value in him that the other Divine Beast Units, the Heavenly Will Alliance’s leadership, and even the world had never acknowledged.

Of course, that was a momentary illusion, and Heo Do knew that too. But that one moment of comfort made him think that his life had not been so bad that someone could deny it entirely.

“Is that all?”

“Do you want more praise?”

“That’s not what I mean.”

Heo Do’s eyes grew clouded.

“You spared us just because there was one decent side to me?”

“Do you want an honest answer?”

“I do.”

Jin-hyeon smiled.

“Find out later on your own why I spared you with your life intact. For now, though, you need to answer my question.”

A cold wind swept over Jin-hyeon’s smiling face.

“It was the Fifth Elder of the Hengshan Sect, wasn’t it?”

Heo Do also regained his original expression.

“Even if it was an order from above, this was a situation where blood could have been shed. Since you spared such opponents unharmed, this too could be called a favor, if one chooses to call it that.”

“…”

“Even so, I am the White Tiger Unit Leader. I have no duty to answer a sensitive question from someone I am supposed to transport to the Alliance.”

“That is true.”

Heo Do closed his eyes.

If Jin-hyeon had threatened him by using his unit members’ lives as hostages here, or tried to coax him by saying that good things were good for everyone, he would never have answered.

But…

“What do you intend to do?”

“About what?”

“The elder is one thing, but the Lotus Seven Swords are swordsmen the Hengshan Sect prides itself on. Individually, they are weaker than you, but the seven of them together are evaluated as being great enough to handle two elders of the Hengshan Sect.”

“So?”

“…If we failed to bring you in, he will surely step forward.”

In the end, it was an indirect admission that the elder of Hengshan had delivered the official order.

Jin-hyeon quietly looked at Heo Do, then asked in a low, sunken voice.

“Would you like to confirm it?”

“What do you suddenly mean?”

“Have you ever seen the elder of Hengshan in person?”

“I have not.”

“If you have any mind to, why not meet him in person and confirm it? Confirm how rotten the Hengshan Sect is, how far the Nine Sects have collapsed because of that, and further, how far the Heavenly Will Alliance has degenerated into a lawless organization”

Heo Do’s eyes flashed.

It was a sudden suggestion, but he could grasp the hidden meaning behind Jin-hyeon’s words.

So he asked honestly.

“Do you mean I should see for myself how rotten they are and change my mind? And then join your clan?”

Jin-hyeon spoke bluntly.

“You are, after all, the White Tiger Unit Leader, so I understand that your self-esteem is high, but are you not seeing yourself as too impressive?”

“…”

“Our clan does not take in just anyone. Of course, it is made up of people I have taken a liking to, but if I had truly taken a liking to you, I would have told you to join me immediately without some pathetic test”

Heo Do’s face turned awkward.

Jin-hyeon rose from his seat.

“In any case, my impression of you is not bad. I was angry that you caused that shit in a crowded marketplace, but I respect your position. If innocent blood had flowed there, I could not have respected you, but you did distinguish between public and private matters in your own way.”

“…”

“If you have any thought, speak before the elder arrives.”

Jin-hyeon clasped his hands behind his back and headed toward the building.

His back as he walked with long, loose strides looked mysterious under the moonlight. His white hair, fluttering in the wind, looked especially so.

Heo Do asked abruptly.

“What are you relying on?”

“About what?”

“The White Tiger Unit is one thing, but if you fight an elder of the Hengshan Sect, you will truly become enemies with the Nine Sects. Becoming enemies with the Nine Sects means becoming enemies with the Heavenly Will Alliance. Not only you, but all your people could be put in danger.”

Jin-hyeon stopped walking and looked up at the sky.

“I said it earlier, didn’t I? If your anguish was sufficient, then decide. Before deciding, look back on yourself and seize wisdom.”

“…”

“I don’t know whether I am wise, but at the very least, I am confident I can face the Heavenly Will Alliance.”

“W-What?!”

“Why are you so surprised?”

“…Did you just say you would face the Heavenly Will Alliance?”

Jin-hyeon turned his head and looked at Heo Do.

“Why are you so surprised when you know the Heavenly Will Alliance is not normal? Are we not allowed to cut out the rotten parts?”

“T-That is not what I mean!”

“There are many methods. Most people simply do not put them into practice because it is frightening and dangerous. But is the world not full of things one cannot know unless one challenges them?”

“!!”

“I have set my goal, considered the method to reach it, and furthermore, because I know what makes me myself, I am confident and believe it is right.”

“…”

“Life comes only once. How one uses that one life is one’s own freedom.”

Jin-hyeon turned his body again.

“I think it is fine to steer a boat into the vast sea called freedom with only one oar in hand. That is why I keep going even when it feels hopeless.”

Left alone, Heo Do looked at the place where Jin-hyeon had been sitting with confused eyes.

It was a night that deepened his thoughts.

Six days later.

“That must be it.”

Sang-eon, the Fifth Elder of the Hengshan Sect, looked down at Ziyang County in the distance.

Yeon-il, the leader of the Lotus Seven Swords, opened his mouth.

“Will this be all right?”

“What are you talking about?”

“The fact that the White Tiger Unit sent such a letter means the opponent is greater than expected. It may be best to seek the Branch’s cooperation and approach carefully…”

“Yeon-il.”

“Yes, Elder.”

A benevolent smile hung on Sang-eon’s face.

In that instant, Yeon-il swallowed without realizing it. That unique smile, endlessly gentle, was proof that Sang-eon was angry.

“Did you see the letter the White Tiger Unit sent?”

“…Yes, Elder. You showed it to me yourself.”

“They said they were outmatched and that carrying out the mission was impossible.”

“They did.”

“But what is an organization? Before considering whether something is possible or impossible, once an order is given, resolving it by any means necessary is the system of an organization, is it not?”

“That is so.”

“Of course, if they had only conveyed that it was impossible, I would not be this angry. But a mere White Tiger Unit Leader dared to act insolent, telling me to resolve it myself and saying they would rest after a long mission. How could I not be angry?”

Yeon-il agreed with that part as well.

White Tiger Unit Leader Heo Do was a man known for being belligerent and fiery by nature. Such a man had spent two years rolling around the borderlands, so it was difficult to imagine how much rougher he had become.

That was also why Sang-eon had come straight here without even stopping by the Sichuan Branch. He intended to first smash that White Tiger Unit Leader bastard’s limbs, then go to the Sichuan Branch, have them do the work the White Tiger Unit should have done, and afterward inspect the Murim.

For an instant, demonic killing intent circled Sang-eon’s face, which had been filled with a gentle smile.

“A mere Unit Leader dared to insult Hengshan, so it is a grave crime worthy of ten thousand deaths.”

“…”

“We have toured around and eaten many good things until now, so when it is time to use our strength, we should use it freely, should we not?”

With Yeon-il at their head, all of the Lotus Seven Swords lowered their heads.

“Your words are correct, Elder.”

Sang-eon smiled and nodded.

“Let us go. Sichuan too is said to be a region of fine food. After punishing that bastard first, let us rest well for today and begin our inspection tomorrow.”

“Yes!”

That was when it happened.

“Mm?”

Sang-eon turned his head.

In that instant, a fierce killing intent appeared in his eyes

“Look at those bastards.”

From the forest near Ziyang County in the distance, the White Tiger Unit was walking toward them with Heo Do at the front.