“Hm, this aroma is good.”

Mo Yonggun said it with a smile.

“So then, how has the Demon-Sweeping Corps’s training been lately?”

“It’s proceeding smoothly. Of course, I think we still need a few more real battles.”

“If you’re confident enough to say that, then I suppose it’s worth looking forward to.”

Mo Yong-woo shook his head.

“If it doesn’t work in actual combat, it’s of little use. I think we could handle a full-scale battle on open ground well enough, but I’m not sure about combat in specialized environments like urban warfare or mountain warfare.”

“Isn’t the whole unit made up of heavily armored cavalry? It was never suited for urban warfare or mountain warfare in the first place.”

“The Evil-Smiting Corps is different.”

“Hmm?”

“The Evil-Smiting Corps is capable even in urban warfare and mountain warfare. They’re probably also excellent in a full-scale battle on open ground.”

Mo Yonggun chuckled.

“Most of the Evil-Smiting Corps comes from great clans. The martial arts of famous families tend to have strong individuality. Rather than crushing the enemy as one tightly bound mass, tactics that bring out each person’s strengths would be more effective. There’s a reason Yeon Hojeong put his troops in light armor.”

“That’s what I think too.”

“The Demon-Sweeping Corps can develop into an organization specialized for full-scale battle through overwhelming firepower, while the Evil-Smiting Corps can develop into an organization specialized for special warfare through versatile adaptability. It’s good for both organizations to grow by making the most of their own strengths.”

Mo Yong-woo thought:

At times like this, Mo Yonggun really did seem like a man devoted to the Martial Alliance.

That was even more so because genuine sincerity bled through those words.

“That aside.”

Mo Yonggun smiled.

“You handled this matter well.”

Mo Yong-woo’s eyes deepened.

“Thank you.”

“Your business talent truly is no ordinary thing. This matter must have been quite difficult to settle, yet you handled it extremely well.”

“The Guizhou Merchant Guild is one of the hidden powerhouses of the merchant world. If I hadn’t seized the initiative in one stroke, I think this would have become a serious headache.”

“I saw that.”

“Future dealings with the clan main house will go much more smoothly now. You can rest easy.”

“Hahaha!”

Mo Yonggun burst into loud laughter.

“I could tell you had changed from the moment you said you would help me. But this matter truly caught me off guard. I didn’t know you had that kind of decisiveness in you.”

“It is important to cultivate one’s character. But failing to do what must be done because of one’s character is a sin.”

Anyone who knew what Mo Yong-woo was aiming for would have found that statement deeply suggestive.

Mo Yonggun smiled in satisfaction.

“That’s right. Hah! It seems you’re finally fully prepared now.”

Mo Yong-woo spoke with crisp finality.

“I can’t keep waiting for Elder Brother to toss me scraps. Now I’m going to run in my own way.”

“Kuhahaha!”

Mo Yonggun had tightened himself up as far as possible over a single mistake.

In other words, while he was in the middle of regrouping, Mo Yong-woo’s decisiveness was something truly welcome. It made him think anew that perhaps there had never been a time when his younger brother’s existence felt this reliable.

Just then—

“Clan Lord.”

“What is it?”

“Forgive the interruption, but a letter has arrived for the Commander of the Demon-Sweeping Corps.”

“For Woo? Let him in.”

Mo Yong-woo accepted the letter and unfolded it.

At that moment, his eyes flashed.

“Who sent it?”

“It’s from the Commander of the Evil-Smiting Corps.”

Mo Yonggun’s eyes turned sharp at once.

“Yeon Hojeong, that bastard?”

“Yes.”

“What does it say?”

“Elder Brother.”

“Hmm?”

Mo Yong-woo rose from his seat.

“I’ll go meet Commander Yeon. I’ll tell you the details after I return.”

*****

“Hey.”

Yeon Hojeong waved from the second-floor window.

Mo Yong-woo snorted.

“Should I come up to the second floor?”

“What, were you planning to drink outside in this cold?”

“Drink?”

“What’s a conversation without liquor? Come up already.”

That bastard liked drinking this much?

Mo Yong-woo entered Yeon Hojeong’s quarters. On the table by the window sat properly fragrant fish-flavored shredded pork and two bottles of strong fire liquor.

Mo Yong-woo clicked his tongue.

“Fire liquor again?”

“What’s wrong with fire liquor?”

“It’s not that I dislike it, but if you drink nothing but fire liquor, you’ll ruin your stomach. It’s absurdly strong.”

“Strong liquor leaves a good finish.”

“It’s liquor that’s both strong and clean that leaves a good finish. This fire liquor looks like it was made just to get people drunk.”

“Then what else do you drink liquor for? Sit down first. It’s not like you’ve eaten yet.”

“That’s true.”

Mo Yong-woo picked up a piece of the well-stir-fried meat and ate it.

“Did you cook this, Brother Yeon?”

“Yeah. It snowed too much, so I didn’t feel like going all the way to the dining hall.”

“If you set your mind to it, you could get there in an instant. What’s there to be lazy about?”

“That’s just how I felt. How does it taste?”

“It’s surprising. It’s very good. You’re good at cooking too.”

“When you live alone long enough, even an idiot can make this much.”

“Then I was an idiot...”

Yeon Hojeong filled Mo Yong-woo’s cup.

“So? How’s Mo Yonggun?”

Mo Yong-woo answered with a calm face.

“He’s holding back. It looks like he’s become keenly aware of how badly he messed up this time.”

“As expected.”

“This time, Elder Brother’s movements really were too sloppy. He was rash.”

Mo Yong-woo filled Yeon Hojeong’s cup as well.

“So the reason you didn’t counterattack properly was because of Ink Dragon Manor?”

Yeon Hojeong smiled.

“Your eye’s gotten a lot sharper, hasn’t it?”

“It’s not sharpness. If I hadn’t heard it in advance, I never would have inferred it.”

Mo Yong-woo turned his cup in his hand.

“So you’re planning to prepare properly and then set it off... Looks like you’re waiting for next year’s election.”

Yeon Hojeong nodded.

“If I hit him with an ambush he never saw coming, it lowers the chance of a counterattack. The result will be somewhat terrifying for Mo Yonggun, but what can I do? If I want to win, I can’t afford to be picky about means or methods.”

“You should be picky about means and methods. Are you trying to become the same kind of man as your brother?”

“Even if I’m not picky about means and methods, I’ll still keep a minimum line of ethics. So don’t worry.”

“Heh.”

Mo Yong-woo raised his cup.

“Let’s have a drink.”

“Gladly.”

The two clinked cups and drained them in one go.

“Khh, this is too strong. Today’s liquor feels especially strong.”

“That’s when you need food with it. /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ Eat already. I made it especially oily on purpose.”

Mo Yong-woo hurriedly chewed and swallowed the meat. Sure enough, once some grease hit his stomach, he felt like he could breathe again.

“By the way...”

Mo Yong-woo wiped his mouth with a handkerchief and asked,

“Did something happen?”

“Hm?”

“It feels like your whole air has changed. Should I say you seem more stable than before?”

“Really?”

“Did you solve some problem that had been weighing on you all this time?”

Yeon Hojeong smiled.

“Nothing like that. I just feel more at ease.”

He didn’t know whether it truly looked that way, but if his air had changed, it was probably because his father had accepted his past.

He hadn’t shown it, but carrying that secret alone without telling anyone had been a considerable burden. He had been forced to invent justification and reasons every time he dealt with something, so of course it had been.

But not anymore. Mookbi was one thing, but simply knowing that his father knew made his shoulders feel much lighter.

“That’s a good thing. Right. A man shouldn’t have a burden weighing on his heart.”

“And you seem a lot sharper instead, Elder Brother.”

“Do I?”

“Yeah. Still, you don’t look tired. Are you finally planning to go all in?”

Mo Yong-woo gave a bitter smile.

“Your eyes really are sharp.”

“It’s not that my eyes are sharp. You’re just easy to read.”

“Haha, is that so.”

Mo Yong-woo filled Yeon Hojeong’s cup again and asked,

“So then, why did you call me? Since you sent a letter even though you knew Elder Brother was there, it sounds like official business.”

“That’s right.”

Yeon Hojeong pointed his chopsticks at Mo Yong-woo.

“If you’ve got nothing else going on, want to come get some fresh air with me this time?”

“Fresh air?”

“Do you know the Divine Maiden of the Western Regions?”

“Ah, of course. Isn’t she the saint of the age?”

“Oh? You know her? I had no idea.”

“Well, I suppose you might not. I hear all sorts of rumors because of merchant-world business. But why the Divine Maiden of the Western Regions?”

Yeon Hojeong explained the details.

Mo Yong-woo’s eyes lit up.

“An escort?”

“Yeah.”

“In that case, wouldn’t it be better to send the whole Evil-Smiting Corps or Demon-Sweeping Corps?”

“That’s what I thought at first too, but this is an escort mission. No matter how much freedom the army has, using it for bodyguard duty feels a little off. Besides, our side’s still in the middle of drilling formations.”

“Oh.”

“And the Demon-Sweeping Corps is busy too, right? Didn’t you say they were sweating blood trying to improve their response ability in chaotic melee situations?”

“That’s right. They’re still working hard at it.”

“Exactly. Personally, the next time the Evil-Smiting Corps marches out, I’m thinking of roaming all across the Central Plains before returning to the Alliance. It feels like a waste to kill time on something like this.”

“Tsk, calling it killing time sounds a little wrong. Escorting someone of that stature could itself be a tremendous honor.”

“Then let’s share that tremendous honor together. We can talk, train, and do whatever else on the way. Sounds good, doesn’t it?”

“Hm.”

Mo Yong-woo’s eyes gleamed.

“So we travel together under the excuse of an official mission... Well, that would save us the headache.”

“Besides, my father’s at the Alliance, and so is the strategist. Mo Yonggun won’t be able to go wild for a while, and timing-wise, I think it’s just right.”

Mo Yong-woo smiled.

“If there’s nothing else standing in the way, I’m all for it.”

Yeon Hojeong nodded.

“Good. Then we leave in three days, so get everything ready by then.”

“Sounds good. Ah! But...”

“Yeah?”

“Is it just you and me going? No other companions?”

“Well...”

Yeon Hojeong frowned.

“There’s one guy I’m considering, but I can’t trust that bastard’s state of mind.”

*****

Three days later.

“All right, make sure you return safely.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Send word even if nothing happens.”

“Don’t worry.”

Yeon Wi nodded.

“Good. Ah! And I heard Jipyeong has already departed. I told him to stay in constant contact through the Beggars’ Union, so if you can meet him on the way, it might not be a bad idea to bring him back with you.”

“Oh, that sounds good.”

Just then—

“We’re ready.”

Gangryang and Mookbi came walking out.

Yeon Hojeong blinked.

“Mookbi, why are you—?”

“I’m going too.”

“Going where?”

Mookbi pointed at Yeon Hojeong.

Yeon Hojeong frowned.

“If you go too, who’s going to train the troops?”

“Ahyeon. And why are you calling them kids? They’re troops. They’ll do just fine on their own even without someone over them.”

“...”

“Besides, we’re going to receive an honored guest, right? It wouldn’t be excessive even if an entire field-force unit moved out for something like this. If you’re leaving the troops behind to focus on their training, then I should go too.”

Yeon Wi looked at Yeon Hojeong.

“I didn’t say it aloud, but I agree with Bia.”

Mookbi grinned.

“See? Father agrees too.”

Gangryang scratched his head.

“Wasn’t this supposed to be a training trip?”

Yeon Hojeong sighed.

“Yeah, come with us. If something does happen, your archery will be a huge help.”

“Right?”

At that moment, Mo Yong-woo rode up to the front gate on horseback.

“Are you all prepared?”

“...More or less.”

Yeon Hojeong rested Mad Dragon on his shoulder.

“Well, we’re just escorting one person back. What could possibly happen? Let’s go and come back quick.”