Chapter 49
“The patrol routes have been roughly set.”
“You’re faster than I expected. You’ve worked hard.”
Inside Cheon Mujin’s office.
Mu Pung Daeju, who had come to make his report, smiled as he watched Cheon Mujin leisurely pour him tea.
“You can speak comfortably with me.”
“No, I couldn’t possibly speak informally to you, Daeju-nim. With others, I have no choice since my respectful tone makes them uncomfortable. But you’re not like that, are you?”
When Cheon Mujin returned to the capital leading the Mu Pung Squad, he immediately left the squad and took direct command of it under his own banner.
That made him the absolute superior, and whenever he used formal speech, the squad members were visibly uncomfortable.
Even Baek Woo had gotten used to receiving polite speech from him. What more needed to be said about the others?
“Young Master, you’re hard to figure out sometimes.”
At times, he could be so reckless that it made one wonder if he really understood propriety at all. But when you spent more time with him, he showed respect and consideration.
It was as if he were someone seasoned in social life, knowing exactly when to be firm and when to be gentle.
“Even my father doesn’t fully understand me, so wouldn’t it be stranger if you did? Anyway, what about that request I made to you?”
“Hmm, I’m investigating it, but it’ll take some time before I can get results.”
“As long as nothing gets botched by rushing it, that’s fine. It’s not urgent, so please take your time.”
“Yes.”
Satisfied with the reply, Cheon Mujin nodded, then shifted the conversation to lighter topics.
“By the way, how are the members doing lately?”
“They’re quite pleased. They say the patrol work is easier on their bodies.”
“If they’re that easily pleased, how are they supposed to pull off their little plan to get back at me?”
“You knew about that?”
“How could I not? Their movements changed far too obviously.”
You could see from a glance that they’d been practicing formations. There was no way he wouldn’t notice.
However—
“From the looks of it, it’ll take them at least a few more months to complete it. By then, it’ll be too late.”
“That’s a frightening way to put it.”
Mu Pung Daeju chuckled helplessly and shook his head.
After exchanging a few more trivial remarks, the two naturally rose from their seats.
“Shall we head out?”
“Yes.”
The whole point of their meeting had been to inspect the current situation, naturally including how the squad’s patrols were running.
Together, they strolled leisurely through the streets.
In truth, there wasn’t much to check—Cheon Mujin himself was more or less doing an extra patrol.
If he happened to spot someone slacking off, that’s when things would get serious.
If not, then everything was simply running smoothly.
Two weeks had passed since the Mu Pung Squad had taken over the patrol routes from the Ho Chal Squad.
Judging by the lively bustle of the streets, things seemed to be going well.
“Looks like everything’s fine so far. Let’s get something to eat.”
“Yes, let’s.”
After a relaxed walk, the two stepped into an inn.
Not just any inn, though.
“Welcome! Welcome, right this way!”
They were greeted with great enthusiasm.
This was the very place where Cheon Mujin’s childhood friend worked—the same one who had served as the spark for the raid on the Ho Chal Squad by the temporary Enforcement Unit.
“Welcome, Young Master! What would you like to eat?”
At the bright greeting, Cheon Mujin smiled and ordered a suitable meal.
Indeed, the best way to forget painful memories was to look toward a happy future.
“Seems she’s recovering well.”
“Yes. Thankfully, she doesn’t look like she’s forcing a smile. And she’s better at her job than I expected.”
Word had it she had even proposed marriage right away to the woman who had come to visit her while she was sick.
Quite an impressive woman.
If she ever tired of working with the Enforcement Unit, he intended to recruit her himself.
“The food’s ready!”
“Oh, thank you.”
Cheon Mujin responded to her cheerful smile in kind and began eating heartily.
As they ate, he and Mu Pung Daeju discussed the squad’s affairs.
Then—
“Oh my, hello?”
“Hm? And you are…?”
A young woman suddenly approached with a polite greeting, making Cheon Mujin tilt his head in puzzlement.
Did he know her?
His memories of people from his childhood were fuzzy, so it was possible.
But—
“She doesn’t look like someone I’d be close with. Daeju-nim, do you know her?”
“I wish I did.”
She wasn’t flashy, but rather radiantly bright, clad in shades of soft red.
Her long, jet-black hair flowed down, and her figure drew the eye irresistibly.
When she clasped her arms together before Cheon Mujin, her full chest only deepened the impression.
“Hehe, it’s only natural you don’t remember me. We just brushed past each other once.”
“With beauty like yours, it’s strange I don’t recall. Odd.”
“Oh, Young Master, really!”
Watching the two exchange such frivolous banter, Mu Pung Daeju chuckled.
Cheon Mujin, who had frequented taverns, clearly wasn’t shy around women. But to remain so calm before a woman this beautiful was still surprising.
“Well, let’s set the jokes aside.”
Casually keeping some distance as the woman slid into a seat beside him, Cheon Mujin smiled while picking up some meat.
“Don’t you have companions waiting for you? Should you be here like this?”
“Oh, right! I was so happy to see you, I forgot!”
Looking flustered, she stood and waved to the group waiting for her.
“I wanted to introduce you—”
“No, we’re just leaving. Another time, perhaps.”
Cheon Mujin declined smoothly and rose to his feet.
“We’ll leave the payment here!”
“Oh, no need! Young Master, really!”
Waving halfheartedly at the protesting innkeeper, Cheon Mujin stepped outside with Mu Pung Daeju.
“That was unexpected.”
“What was?”
“At your age, it’d be stranger if you weren’t swayed by a woman like that.”
Cheon Mujin only waved his hand.
“My heart is far too deep to be captivated by such a shallow valley.”
He didn’t mind looking, but being bewitched? No.
Above all—
“There’s no need to waste time on someone who only came to poke around.”
“So you think she was sent? By whom?”
“Hard to say. Too many possible culprits. To figure it out, we’d need harsher methods. But she’s guilty of nothing herself, so… there’s no helping it.”
Smiling as he spoke such chilling words, Cheon Mujin made Mu Pung Daeju shake his head.
More and more lately, he suspected Cheon Mujin was hiding his true age.
It felt less like speaking with a youth, and more like conversing with a man in his fifties.
“You bastards!”
“Do you know where you are?!”
As they continued down the street, a commotion broke out ahead.
A group was brawling in the middle of the marketplace.
The problem? One side consisted of Mu Pung Squad members.
Who in their right mind would pick a fight with them now?
Surely no one…
Rumors spread fast in the city. Everyone must have already heard how the Cheon family’s young master had wiped out the Ho Chal Squad, who had been backed by the mighty Wi clan.
And yet, someone dared to pick a fight with the Mu Pung Squad?
Either utter fools who didn’t know better…
Or pawns sent deliberately by someone.
“You idiots, do you even know who this is?”
“You dare block the way of such an important person?!”
Common sense suggested it was the latter.
“Tsk. Still, they don’t seem like hired pawns, do they?”
“True, they look a bit too clueless for that.”
Cheon Mujin nodded at Mu Pung Daeju’s agreement.
The expression of the man behind the opposing guards was simply too smug, as if shouting, ‘Look at me, I’m important!’
His arrogance was staggering, as though mere patrol soldiers could never block his path.
“Well, this could be interesting. Let’s see how they handle it.”
Would the Mu Pung Squad act as Cheon Mujin hoped?
Folding his arms, he watched calmly.
The quarrel between the guards and the squad escalated.
Curses were exchanged, insults grew sharper, and—
“Draw your swords, brats!”
“You’ll pay for insulting the great Hong family!”
“Hah! You bastards want a fight? Fine! Come on!”
“Seems you’re eager to die, you cowards!”
Steel rang as both sides drew blades.
By then, all bystanders had already fled.
The atmosphere had long promised bloodshed.
“Oh, looks like it’s starting.”
Cheon Mujin, growing bored, stifled a yawn and watched with interest.
“Stop!”
A sharp cry cut through the air.
“Oh, Yu Jin! What’s this? I thought you had the day off?”
The tension broke as a young woman, called Yu Jin, stepped between them.
With cold eyes, she stared at the man flanked by guards.
The Hong family scion leered as he approached, only for her to raise her hand calmly.
The man blinked in confusion—
Slap!!
Her strike spun his head sideways with a crisp sound.
“Y-you wretched wench!!”
Realizing what had happened, he roared with fury.
“How dare a guard strike her master!!”
“I’m not your guard anymore. I quit.”
“W-what?!”
“I was sick of you constantly trying to grope me. Absolutely disgusting.”
Yu Jin glared at him with eyes full of revulsion, then swept her gaze toward the other hesitating guards.
“And I suppose it was you lot who picked this fight too, right? Always harassing merchants when you’re bored, always starting trouble.”
“Y-you vile woman! How dare you slander—”
“Shut it. Your breath reeks.”
Clicking her tongue in annoyance, Yu Jin shot them a withering look.
“And you fools don’t even realize how dangerous this situation is. Yet you dare flap your mouths?”
She sighed, then turned her head.
Everyone else followed her gaze—
“Y-Young Master! Daeju-nim!”
“O-oh, you’re here?”
The Mu Pung Squad members froze as they spotted Cheon Mujin and Mu Pung Daeju.
“My, this young lady has a knack for ruining the fun.”
Realizing his little show was spoiled, Cheon Mujin clicked his tongue and stepped closer.
“So, you singled me out for a reason?”
“I have a request.”
“Oh? Let me guess—‘please overlook this once’? Hmm, no, judging from your eyes, that’s not it.”
As Yu Jin’s steady gaze met his, Cheon Mujin gave a faint smile.
“I wish to join the Mu Pung Squad.”
“…Hm?”
Cheon Mujin tilted his head at her words, spoken as she bowed with fists clasped.
“Why?”
“Because I believe it’s the only place where I can realize the ideals I long for.”
“Ahh… this feels a little too sudden.”
His life had never been smooth enough to believe in coincidences like this.
Just then, the Hong scion finally caught up with the situation.
“You ungrateful wench! After all our family has done for you!”
“You’re only right about one thing—that I had no family ties. But as for raising or teaching me? Never. How shameless.”
As Yu Jin clicked her tongue, the man swung his hand and slapped her cheek.
“How dare you!!”
He raged, ready to spew more insults—
“Ugh, stop annoying me.”
Cheon Mujin’s voice was sharp with irritation.
“Gaaaaahhh!!”
Suddenly, the Hong scion collapsed to his knees, screaming, as Cheon Mujin seized his shoulder.
The next moment, Cheon Mujin stuffed the man’s own hand into his mouth.
“Mmmph!!”
Eyes wide, the man thrashed as his hand gagged him.
“You think you’re the only one who’s lived as a thug? I’ve been a thug too.”
Cheon Mujin smiled coldly at his panicked, darting eyes.
“We’re in the middle of a conversation. Be quiet, will you?”
