“Commander Yeon, you’ve come.”

Yeon Hojeong cupped his fist in salute.

“Military Advisor.”

Je Gal Munho gave a bitter smile.

“The heavens and earth were shaking. I thought perhaps you were conducting unit training, but I suppose that was not it.”

His position as military advisor made his intellect stand out more than anything else, but Je Gal Munho was still the lord of one of the Six Great Clans. His senses were as sharp as befitted a Transcendent Peak master.

“What brings you here?”

“Heh heh, sit down first.”

“Yes.”

A moment later, two cups of tea were set on the table.

“I have something to discuss with Commander Yeon alone. Ahyeon, step out for a moment.”

Je Gal Ahyeon puffed out her cheeks.

“I’m a strategist of the Evil-Smiting Corps too.”

“Ahyeon.”

“Tch, fine.”

After Je Gal Ahyeon left, Yeon Hojeong smacked his lips.

“Is this about the Three Fanatic Creeds?”

“We’ll speak of that matter later. It is gravely serious, yes, but it does not seem they will invade the Central Plains immediately.”

“That’s true enough.”

“I came to see you today because of this.”

Je Gal Munho took a letter from his robes and handed it over.

After reading the first line, Yeon Hojeong frowned.

“Divine Maiden of the Western Regions?”

“That’s right.”

“What is this? That sounds like an epithet somebody threw together in a hurry.”

Je Gal Munho laughed without meaning to.

“I’ve never thought about it before, but you’re right. It really does sound slapped together.”

“Exactly.”

“The Divine Maiden of the Western Regions is, just as the name says, a woman from the Western Regions. As for why she is called a divine maiden, you’ll understand if you read a little further.”

A moment later—

“Oh?”

Yeon Hojeong smiled. It was a smile touched with genuine admiration.

“A righteous physician who offers medicine free of charge to poor patients with healing arts that have reached the divine... impressive.”

“It is, isn’t it? She may be from the Western Regions, but thanks to her spirit of service and her good heart, no one looks down on her. No, if anything, they respect her.”

“There are few things more foolish than looking down on someone because of a different skin color.”

“Heh heh, true enough. Actually, setting that aside, I’ve heard she’s a stunning beauty as well. Supposedly that is one more reason people find it difficult to dismiss her.”

“Hm.”

Yeon Hojeong set the letter down.

“So why is a woman this remarkable coming to the Alliance of the Martial World?”

Je Gal Munho shook his head.

“It’s less a matter of why, and more that we’d been trying to invite her ever since the Alliance of the Martial World was founded. We sent people several times. But she kept refusing, saying she had too many patients to care for.”

Yeon Hojeong smiled.

Whenever he heard of people who were steady and good by nature, it lifted his mood on its own. He liked people who did what he himself could not do without worrying about appearances, people unmoved by money or fame.

“We couldn’t exactly drag her here by force when she said she couldn’t come because of her patients. So we kept waiting, and not long ago she finally said she would accept the Alliance’s invitation.”

Yeon Hojeong tilted his head.

“But why were you so intent on inviting her in the first place? Of course, bringing in a rare and genuinely good person isn’t strange by itself, but from the way you’re speaking, it sounds like there was another purpose.”

“Heh heh. As expected, you’re sharp.”

Je Gal Munho’s eyes turned serious.

“We are thinking of creating a medical institution within the Alliance of the Martial World.”

“A medical office under the Alliance of the Martial World?”

“It’s not quite right to call it that. The concept is broader. Still, it isn’t wrong either.”

“Hm.”

“The world is rough. Conflict and fighting break out all the time. And at the center of that world stands the Alliance of the Martial World. In the future, warriors of the Alliance are going to be injured beyond count. We cannot keep scrambling for physicians forever.”

“But doesn’t the Alliance already have something similar?”

“Of course it does. And they are all capable physicians. But they are contractors, nothing more. Once their contracts end, we either have to renew them or bring in others.”

“So you mean to establish an organization that belongs to the Alliance outright.”

“Exactly. On this point, every Service Lord agreed unanimously.”

Yeon Hojeong frowned.

“Blacksmiths and physicians are a warrior’s closest friends. But establishing a medical office that belongs directly to the Alliance... this feels a little delicate.”

“Why? Something about it catches at you?”

“Not exactly catches. But beneath a plan like creating a medical office under the Alliance, it feels as though there is an underlying intention not to dissolve the Alliance of the Martial World in the future either.”

Je Gal Munho’s eyes flashed.

“I’m growing tired of being impressed. To dig all the way down to that in one leap—your insight is truly remarkable.”

“You can keep praising me. I’m used to it now, and it feels pretty good.”

“You brat.”

“Heh.”

“There were many Service Lords who raised concerns about that exact point. I was one of them.”

“That makes sense. Right now, what matters most is reducing the immediate harm.”

“Exactly.”

Je Gal Munho’s face grew serious.

“The existence of the Three Fanatic Creeds. No one knows just how great their power is. In that case, before we think about the future of the Alliance, I believe there is nothing to lose in securing as many capable physicians as possible.”

“Yes, that makes sense.”

Yeon Hojeong scratched his head.

“Still, the Divine Maiden of the Western Regions... is she really that famous? I’ve never heard of her.”

“Anyone who knows that field knows her. Of course, those with no interest in it do not. Even so, considering her skill and character, she has been buried far more than she should have been.”

“What?”

Je Gal Munho sighed.

“Factionalism exists everywhere, does it not? It seems those who carry on the medical tradition of the Central Plains found her existence to be an eyesore.”

“Wow.”

“The healing arts of the Divine Maiden of the Western Regions combine medicine from the Western Regions and the Central Plains, and I hear they surpass those of any renowned physician in the Central Plains. So the heirs to the medical tradition of the Central Plains slander her healing arts as heretical.”

Yeon Hojeong frowned.

“People who make their living healing the human body sure do waste a lot of energy on worthless things.”

“Exactly. In any case, the reason her fame did not resound across the world has much to do with the physicians of the Central Plains.”

Yeon Hojeong smiled.

“One way or another, the Alliance could not have ignored the opinions of local physicians entirely, so it’s impressive you still thought to invite the Divine Maiden of the Western Regions.”

“What matters to us is not tradition or money, but skill and character. And the Divine Maiden of the Western Regions is young. We judged her ideally suited to grow together with many others.”

“A good idea.”

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes lit up.

“So what is it you want me to do?”

“You’ve already guessed, haven’t you?”

“Escort duty?”

“Exactly.”

Je Gal Munho sighed.

“As I said, the Divine Maiden of the Western Regions has many enemies. At the same time, many desire her. No one has moved against her until now, but once word spreads that she is coming to the Alliance of the Martial World, I fear Ink Dragon Manor or some other group may attack or kidnap her.”

“Then wouldn’t it be better to send people specialized in covert movement? We could bring her in quietly.”

“What would we be afraid of?”

“Hm?”

Je Gal Munho smiled.

“What does the great Alliance of the Martial World have to fear that it must move in secret? Better to send a capable man and bring her openly.”

“Where is this sudden confidence coming from?”

“Heh heh. That is how most of the Service Lords see it. And it is not entirely wrong. There are times when one must move carefully, but there are also times when one should advance boldly and accept whatever trouble may follow.”

Yeon Hojeong smirked.

“You want to use me to show the strength of the Alliance of the Martial World?”

“One of several reasons.”

“I’m not that strong.”

“That was the worst joke I’ve heard all year. Besides, ability is not the only thing I want from you.”

“Then what?”

“Reputation.”

“Hm.”

“The name value of the Green Mountain Tiger Commander, who rose with Heaven-and-Earth Tiger Commander Mo Yong-woo to the very peak of the younger generation, is not something to take lightly. That fame is already spreading throughout the Central Plains.”

“That makes it even more annoying. Sounds like there’ll be plenty of people jumping me just to test my strength.”

“Break them all.”

“That’s easy for you to say when it’s not your problem.”

“You can think of it as part of your training.”

Yeon Hojeong gave a bitter smile.

“Will the entire Evil-Smiting Corps be moving?”

“That is for you to decide. Whether you take only a few men or march with the whole corps.”

“When do we leave?”

“I would like you to depart within five days.”

“Understood.”

Yeon Hojeong rose from his seat.

“How has Mo Yonggun been lately?”

Je Gal Munho shook his head.

“He has been quiet. After what happened last time, he is definitely keeping his head down.”

“I see.”

“As you said, we are watching his every move. If anything suspicious appears, I will let you know at once.”

“Thank you.”

As he turned to leave, Yeon Hojeong suddenly halted at a thought.

“Military Advisor.”

“Hm? What is it? Do you have more to say?”

“About this mission. Does it really have to be the Evil-Smiting Corps?”

A puzzled look rose on Je Gal Munho’s face.

“What do you mean, does it have to be the Evil-Smiting Corps? Why? Is there someone else you want to go with?”

“Yes.”

“With whom?”

Yeon Hojeong smiled as he answered.

The moment Je Gal Munho heard the name, his face stiffened.

“Will that be all right?”

“You said name value matters.”

“Of course it does, but... must it be that way?”

“There are a few things I want to look into as well, so if nothing prevents it, I’d like to go with that person. Is that acceptable?”

“...”

“Well, if it absolutely can’t be done, then it can’t be helped.”

Je Gal Munho let out a small laugh.

“I’ll trust that you have your own reasons.”

“Thank you.”

“Please handle this well too. Honestly, it has not been long at all since that difficult mission ended, and yet here I am burdening you with something else already. I feel sorry for that.”

“Please don’t say that. I’m not going because you ordered me to. I’m going of my own will.”

“Heh heh, very well. You must be busy, so go on.”

“By the way, Military Advisor.”

“Hm?”

“Now that I think about it, this is the Evil-Smiting Corps headquarters. Why am I the one leaving?”

“...Kgh!”

“Please take care on your way out.”

“S-Sorry.”

Perhaps embarrassed, Je Gal Munho hurried out in a fluster.

Yeon Hojeong grinned.

“That man can be strangely endearing sometimes.”

*****

“Hm.”

“Huff, huff!”

Yeon °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° Wi stroked his chin as he looked down at Gangryang.

“Your fundamentals are certainly outstanding. On the strength of that sturdy foundation alone, most masters would not even be worthy opponents.”

“Cough, cough! Huff, huff!”

“But you are too straightforward. Honesty is a fine virtue, but attacks that are too honest inevitably hand the opponent a clue for a counterattack.”

Shing.

After sheathing his sword, Yeon Wi pulled Gangryang to his feet.

“Hk! I-I can stand on my own!”

“And yet in times like this, you stop being honest. If we had exchanged even one more move, you would have blacked out.”

Gangryang did get up with support, but there was no strength in his legs. His face turned red with embarrassment.

“I am ashamed, Clan Lord.”

“Heh heh, don’t say that. The fact that you clenched your teeth and endured this long is more impressive.”

Yeon Wi sat Gangryang down on the platform.

“Hm. As for stamina, I don’t think there is any need for separate improvement, and every art of the Ghost-Iron Sword Gate is a consummate technique in its own right. I could raise your martial arts even further, but in the current situation, there is no real need to...”

Tilting his head, Yeon Wi suddenly sensed someone’s approach.

He smiled.

“I have a good idea.”

“Huff, huff! Sir?”

A short while later, Yeon Hojeong entered Warbreaker Pavilion.

“Father.”

“You’re here?”

“Yes.”

“I was just about to ask you for something.”

“What is it?”

Yeon Wi gestured with his chin toward Gangryang.

“I think I will need your help.”

Yeon Hojeong looked at Gangryang. Anxiety spread across Gangryang’s face.

Meanwhile, a darkly amused smile spread across Yeon Hojeong’s.

One look was enough. He understood at once what his father wanted.

“Oh? Looks like I’ll get to warm my hands up a little before departure.”