Chapter 182 – Destiny (7)
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Translated by Heavenly Cat
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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“Total personnel five hundred, casualties one hundred and twenty.”
“…….”
“Among them, the dead are seventy, and the rest are seriously or lightly injured.”
A shadow fell over Murong Yu’s face as he listened to the report.
‘Seventy…….’
He thought it wouldn’t be that there were no casualties.
The opponent was a group of strong people who had increased their power for ten years on the stage called the Outer-territorial Region. Although they were a horse bandit group, their military power exceeded a considerable sect.
Naturally, there could be no choice but to have casualties. However, he didn’t know there would be as many as seventy dead.
‘It was clumsy.’
That was right. It was clumsy.
His discernment was not bad. It was not exactly a great tactic, but he had shown his own efficient operation.
But he could not match the timing properly.
He had the eyes to observe the enemy’s reaction, but his realization was late, and the allies’ response to the given orders was also late.
He had grasped the subordinate group leaders and soldiers, but that was all.
‘It’s all my blunder.’
If there had been more training time.
If he had made more effort and perfectly made all the members of the Demon-Sweeping Army into one, they wouldn’t have suffered this much loss.
The soldiers comprising the Demon-Sweeping Army were each experts of the Murim who had accumulated formidable experience. But they had no experience banding together as one to annihilate an enemy.
Even so, he thought they could sufficiently deal with the enemy. He told them to be careful and careful again, but Murong Yu also had a feeling of looking at the opponent easily.
It was a painful blunder.
‘Forming a formation or making the offense and defense more solid is the second problem. I need to further develop my discernment to see the larger situation, and the soldiers also need to know how to react immediately when an order falls. That’s the priority.’
In fact, concerned about that, he tried to build a sense of bond between each other rather than offense and defense training after the founding ceremony. If he hadn’t even done that much, the damage would have been much greater.
However, it couldn’t be helped that it was regrettable.
“Go to the Beggars’ Gang branch and ask around for highly skilled physicians. Let the injured rest in a temporary residence within the merchant group, and have the rest clear the building debris.”
“I receive your command.”
“And Unit Leader Jin.”
“Yes, Commander.”
“You worked hard.”
Jin Pae shook his head.
“Even though it hasn’t been long since it was founded, I too could not properly manage my subordinates. The fact that there are many casualties is largely the fault of the group leaders.”
“Do not think so. You guys have done as much as you could.”
“…….”
“Let’s become stronger.”
“Of course.”
Jin Pae, who bowed his head, left the room.
Murong Yu sighed.
“To think that leading people would be this difficult a task.”
Leading itself was not a problem. He had an outstanding talent in handling the crowd.
The problem was the heart.
‘My people died due to my shortcomings.’
It wasn’t that he hadn’t prepared his resolve. But the death of his subordinates was a much greater shock than he thought.
‘In the end, it must mean that I too lack experience.’
Murong Yu closed his eyes.
‘But even if experience accumulates, will I be able to become resolute even in front of the deaths of my people?’
It was then.
“What are you doing?”
“Heuk!”
Murong Yu was startled and looked toward the door.
Yeon Ho-jeong was there.
“When did you come?”
“Just now. There was no answer even when I called several times, so I came in wondering if something happened.”
“Ah…….”
“Looking at your expression, I can tell. Why you are spacing out like that.”
Murong Yu smiled bitterly.
“Because it’s something that happened due to my fault.”
Yeon Ho-jeong nodded coldly.
“That’s right. That is your fault, Brother.”
In an instant, Murong Yu’s eyes widened.
“W-What did you just say?”
“I said it’s your fault, Brother. For whatever reason, the death of subordinates is the fault of the superior.”
A doubtful expression appeared on Yeon Ho-jeong’s face.
“I thought you would have naturally understood that much?”
“Of course. It’s just that what I was surprised about is…….”
“Huh?”
Murong Yu felt a pointless dry cough coming out.
“You are finally calling me Brother now.”
Yeon Ho-jeong frowned.
“Didn’t you ask me to call you that?”
“Of course I did.”
“Why? Is it ticklish now that you actually hear it? Should I take it back?”
“You can’t.”
It was an answer where a terrifying resoluteness could be felt. It seemed as if he even had some kind of obsession with the title of Brother.
Yeon Ho-jeong laughed softly.
“It’s a way of thinking that’s hard to understand.”
Murong Yu scratched his cheek.
“Because I have no younger brother.”
Of course, it was not simply for that reason.
He had lived a lonely life for a long time. There was certainly Yi Geon who could be called his person, but he served him as a liege lord and did not consider him like a brother.
It was for that reason that Murong Yu wanted a comfortable relationship like a brother with Yeon Ho-jeong. They were moving together toward a single goal, but at the same time, if they could sincerely care for each other, that would also be a good thing.
“Anyway, it’s not something that will easily get better just because you steel your heart. Time will solve it, so don’t force yourself to try.”
Murong Yu, who was staring at Yeon Ho-jeong, asked as if throwing it out.
“Do you also have such an experience, Brother Yeon?”
“Hmm?”
“I mean, do you have an experience of losing your people, your subordinates.”
Yeon Ho-jeong nodded his head.
“Of course.”
He had lost an uncountable number of subordinates on top of that. He had also experienced losing the closest person who he spent time with like a real brother.
In the first place, he had also seen his family die. If this kind of thing was also an experience, Yeon Ho-jeong had also accumulated quite a terrible experience.
“People say it. That it’s a peaceful era. But my thoughts are different. True peace has never once found the world called Murim. Even now.”
“Why do you think so?”
“People with power that ordinary people cannot even imagine are striding around the world. It may look peaceful on the outside, but the reality cannot be like that.”
A cool chill arose over Yeon Ho-jeong’s expressionless face.
“The world is bound to always sow seeds on top of the screams of the powerless. Individual peace might be possible, but something like everyone’s peace cannot exist.”
Bewilderment arose on Murong Yu’s face.
“If so…… doesn’t that mean chivalry is also meaningless.”
“It has meaning. You cannot fundamentally change the world, but at the very least, you can splash a gourd of water on the hellfire burning right in front of your eyes.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.
It was a smile where bitterness could be felt.
“Black and white, good and evil, life and death. We are just fools running without knowing anything inside a spinning hamster wheel.”
It was a quite pessimistic remark.
Murong Yu asked.
“Is that why you did that?”
“Did what?”
“I mean the Gray Wolf Squad. Is that why you annihilated them?”
Yeon Ho-jeong spoke apathetically.
“We came here to annihilate them anyway, right.”
“Of course that’s true. But they surrendered. It seems difficult to view killing those who surrendered with broken fighting spirit so coldly as right.”
“If so, why didn’t you stop me?”
Murong Yu let out a sigh.
“Well…… perhaps I too must have thought they shouldn’t be kept alive.”
It was an honest remark.
Yeon Ho-jeong sat on the edge of the table.
“Before, our army’s tactician said to me. The opponent is an evil person, but is there a reason they necessarily have to be killed so terribly.”
“What was your answer, Brother Yeon?”
“Death is fair to everyone. If so, an evil person must die as painfully as possible.”
“……!”
“I don’t have the authority to do so? Naturally I don’t. I just move according to my thoughts. If there is a person who tries to reform bastards who deserve to die, there is also a person like me who thinks they must be caught and killed whenever they are seen.”
“That…… seems like a painful path in its own way.”
“At first it was. But now it’s refreshing.”
Murong Yu’s face hardened.
“Even an evil person is a person anyway. You shouldn’t feel that it’s refreshing.”
“Because I don’t see evil people as people.”
“…….”
“So it’s refreshing.”
Murong Yu gave a bitter smile.
“I truly have a younger brother who is hard to handle.”
“That’s why you should look at people well and make friends.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.
“Whether you live as the Demon-Sweeping Army Commander or the Murong Clan Head, or as the Murim Alliance Leader, you will have these kinds of experiences countless times. Prepare your heart in advance.”
“Brother Yeon. I…….”
“I know, that you have no intention of becoming the Murim Alliance Leader.”
“…….”
“Changing your mind about that is also my job, Brother. I’ll constantly persuade you, so prepare yourself for that as well.”
Murong Yu laughed softly and sat on the edge of the windowsill.
“Look here, Brother Yeon.”
“Speak.”
“Since we’re on the subject, I’ll ask. Why do you want to make me the Murim Alliance Leader?”
“Because of the appearance you are showing right now, Brother.”
“Hmm?”
“Because you are a person who naturally harbors the mindset of not doing so in the future, even while hurting and self-deprecating over the deaths of your subordinates.”
“…….”
“A person who can separate the sorrow of reality and the promise of the future, while still protecting your good nature.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled broadly.
“There is no person as good as this for a Murim Alliance Leader.”
Murong Yu coughed dryly.
“It’s embarrassing. I am not a great person like you say I am.”
“Don’t misunderstand. I’m not extolling you for being great. Do you think there won’t be another person like you in this vast world?”
“……Ahem. If so, I’m even more curious. There’s no reason it necessarily has to be me, right?”
“Even so, it has to be you, Brother.”
“So that reason is…….”
“Because that way we can bring down Murong Jun.”
Murong Yu’s face hardened.
Yeon Ho-jeong laughed softly.
“It’s a joke. Murong Jun’s practical opponent is me, not you, Brother, right?”
“Is that so.”
“There are many kind people like you, and many people with good abilities. There aren’t zero people who are both kind and equipped with abilities. Still, the reason I consider you as material for the Murim Alliance Leader is…….”
“The reason is?”
Yeon Ho-jeong was speechless for a moment.
His eye light looking steadily at Murong Yu was clear and deep.
“It’s just intuition.”
“Where is there such an answer?”
“It’s here.”
Yeon Ho-jeong came down from the table.
“Whether you become the Clan Head or the Alliance Leader, it’s important to constantly cultivate yourself. Let’s work hard from now on as well.”
Murong Yu smiled.
“Do you happen to know?”
“Know what?”
“You are a truly dependable younger brother.”
Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.
“It’s not hard to become a pillar of support when it’s hard. Just don’t break.”
“I can’t embarrassingly show such an ugly sight.”
“You know that it’s a shameful thing.”
Yeon Ho-jeong headed toward the door.
“Where are you going?”
“Pa Sa-reuk.”
The Gray Wolf Squad Leader, Pa Sa-reuk, was not dead yet. His legs were cut off and his whole body was full of large and small injuries, but thanks to a vitality transcending imagination, he still had breath attached to him.
Of course, Yeon Ho-jeong intentionally kept him alive.
Murong Yu asked.
“Is there something to obtain from him?”
Yeon Ho-jeong hesitated.
“The Gray Wolf Squad is the number one horse bandit group of the Outer-territorial Region. You said they swept through the areas of Tibet, Qinghai, and Gansu over the past ten years, right?”
“I did.”
“And the bastards almost never entered the land of the Central Plains?”
“That’s what I heard. I was told they were very careful even if they came in. It makes sense, as most of the Nine Great Sects are concentrated in the northern part of the Central Plains.”
“But this time they caused a huge incident. Even though they say there are no plausible sects in Shandong, for them to try to bring down the Sea Dragon Merchant Group no matter what.”
Murong Yu’s eyes flashed.
He only thought about defeating the enemy, but he had never seriously agonized over what the enemy’s intention was.
“If so, your thought is……?”
“It must mean they have a reliable backer. At least that’s what I think.”
“If it’s a reliable backer, don’t tell me you mean the Gray Wolf Squad is secretly colluding with people of the Central Plains?”
“Or.”
A terrible murderous intent soared in Yeon Ho-jeong’s two eyes that had been clear and deep.
“Somewhere in the Outer-territorial Region, bastards looking after their backs might have appeared.”