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Chapter 1: Back to Square One (1)
Cicadas, having waited years for this moment, were buzzing noisily in the trees.
Baek Socheon raised a hand to block the harsh sunlight streaming through the window. The oppressive heat radiating against his palm was a clear warning of just how stifling this summer would be.
Across the training grounds, under the cool shade of a tree, a handful of martial artists gathered to escape the blazing sun, chatting among themselves. The Murim Alliance warriors let out heavy sighs at the astronomical forecast predicting an unusually sweltering summer. With tensions worsening against their eternal nemesis, the Black Heaven Alliance of the Unorthodox Path, their days had become an endless blur of rigorous training.
Yet, as grueling as training in the heat might be, none of them would ever choose to sit where Baek Socheon was right now.
Just looking at the building was enough to make a person choke with anxiety.
The Interrogation Room of the Shadow Pavilion.
The Shadow Pavilion was the internal inspection agency of the Murim Alliance. Possessing immense authority, it monitored the warriors for breaches in the chain of command, corruption, and misconduct.
The door to the interrogation room swung open, and a young man walked in, clutching a thick stack of documents under his arm.
“I am Investigator Lee Yeop.”
Taking his seat, he immediately began shuffling through the papers.
“Apologies for the delay. The senior investigator had an unexpected matter to attend to, so I was sent in his place.”
Investigators with three or more years of experience were designated as senior investigators, while those with seven or more were called special investigators. Lee Yeop was merely a rookie who had joined the pavilion just this spring. Rather than radiating passion and vigor, he looked entirely overwhelmed and exhausted by his grueling workload.
As Lee Yeop took in Baek Socheon’s appearance, he saw a man with a lean, well-sculpted build, a handsome face that anyone would describe as ruggedly attractive, and a gaze that seemed far too deep and experienced for his apparent age. Above all, the man looked exceptionally sharp. Lee Yeop figured this interrogation would be over in no time.
“In case you are unaware, if additional offenses are uncovered during this investigation, you will be handed over to the Law Enforcement Hall. Please consider your answers carefully.”
Baek Socheon glanced sideways at him. “Are a Rookie?”
Lee Yeop’s expression hardened at the offhand, casual remark. “I am the one who asks the questions here.”
“Can’t even tell me that much?” Baek Socheon’s attitude was lax, but his voice was low, smooth, and pleasant to the ear.
“I repeat: I ask the questions.”
“Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic. Sending out a rookie just because they don’t want to take a beating.”
Lee Yeop felt a surge of irritation.
He clearly doesn’t realize what kind of situation he’s in.
It seemed the man didn’t understand that getting on the wrong side of a Shadow Pavilion investigator could easily turn a simple release into imprisonment in the underground dungeons.
Lee Yeop quickly scanned Baek Socheon’s personal file.
“Name: Baek Socheon. Iron Sword Corps, First Unit, Leader of the Third Squad. Ah, so you were a Squad Leader in the Iron Sword Corps.”
The Iron Sword Corps was universally acknowledged as an elite combat force within the Murim Alliance.
Is that why he’s acting so arrogant?
While others might be intimidated by the prestige of the Iron Sword Corps, the name meant nothing to an investigator of the Shadow Pavilion. What truly caught Lee Yeop off guard, however, was his age.
“Age: thirty-eight… Wait, thirty-eight?!”
By all appearances, Baek Socheon looked like a vibrant man in his early to mid-twenties.
“Is this age actually correct?”
When Baek Socheon remained silent, Lee Yeop read further down the file.
“Joined the Murim Alliance twenty years ago… Good heavens, you really are thirty-eight.”
Lee Yeop now understood a bit of the man’s prior disrespect. The man sitting before him was a senior member who had served the Murim Alliance for two decades.
“Assigned to the Iron Sword Corps upon joining… Contributed greatly to a major operation the following year, earning the fastest promotion to Squad Leader in the corps’ history. Afterward, set records for the fastest promotions to Deputy Unit Captain and Unit Captain as well…?”
Lee Yeop looked up at Baek Socheon in sheer shock. But that wasn’t the end of his astonishing record.
“Transferred to the Secret Pavilion to execute covert operations… The Secret Pavilion?”
Lee Yeop’s voice quavered slightly. The Secret Pavilion was the Murim Alliance’s classified strike force. It was a place where the most elite martial artists gathered to carry out the most covert missions under the direct command of the Alliance Leader.
And the feast of unbelievable achievements continued.
“Promoted to Deputy Pavilion Master within six months of entering the Secret Pavilion… and Master of the Secret Pavilion in just two years?! Goodness!
”
He had risen to become the Pavilion Master of the Secret Pavilion, and at the youngest age in history.
One above ten thousand. A true core figure of power within the Murim Alliance. Lee Yeop had never even caught a glimpse of the Secret Pavilion Master’s face, let alone held a conversation with someone of such astronomical status.
Now, Lee Yeop read the remainder of the file with an entirely different mindset.
“Six accelerated promotions outside of standard advancement since joining?”
Lee Yeop’s eyes widened.
For a warrior in the Murim Alliance, receiving even a single accelerated promotion was extraordinarily rare. Yet Baek Socheon had received six.
Even if I’m new here, how could I not know about someone like this?
The answer lay in the very next line of the file.
“What on earth is this? Demoted nine times?”
From the pinnacle of power as the Master of the Secret Pavilion, back down to Commander of the Iron Sword Corps, to Deputy Commander, then to Unit Captain, and finally all the way down to Squad Leader. He had slid all the way back down the exact ladder he had climbed up.
Lee Yeop raised his head and stared at Baek Socheon. The Murim Alliance was home to countless martial artists and endless drama, but a case like this was practically unheard of.
“Reasons for demotion: insubordination, excessive use of force, unauthorized entry into restricted zones, insubordination, insubordination, unauthorized entry into the dungeons, insubordination, insubordination, assault of a superior officer…?”
Lee Yeop stared at Baek Socheon, completely dumbfounded.
“It’s a miracle you’re still alive.”
Moreover, there was another puzzling question.
Why wasn’t a high-profile figure like this assigned to a special investigator?
Looking strictly at his record, it wouldn’t be strange if the Master of the Shadow Pavilion himself conducted the interrogation, let alone a special investigator.
Because his current rank is only a Squad Leader?
Special investigators usually handled cases involving Unit Captains and above. But Lee Yeop quickly realized that today’s interrogation wasn’t a matter of official rank. A figure of this importance would never be categorized based on such trivial administrative rules.
Then he remembered what Baek Socheon had said earlier:
…Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic. Sending out a rookie just because they don’t want to take a beating.
This man… this isn’t his first time being interrogated here!
No one in the Shadow Pavilion could handle him, so they had dumped the task on a clueless rookie like him instead, hoping that Baek Socheon might go easier on a novice.
Damn it! If that’s the case, someone should have warned me! Wait, that means the Pavilion Master himself is watching this interrogation!
The realization made Lee Yeop’s heart hammer against his ribs, as if he were the one being interrogated. Forcing himself to stay calm, he began the questioning.
“Well then… shall we talk about what happened this time?”
“Why bother with an investigation when you’ve already decided on my punishment?”
Now that Lee Yeop knew the man’s history, the rude response no longer bothered him. If anything, it sparked his curiosity.
“Two days ago, your squad was assigned a strike mission, correct? But you refused to obey the order. Is that correct, Squad Leader Baek?”
“It is.”
“And your reason?”
“It was an enemy ambush.”
“Did you have any circumstantial evidence or proof to suspect an ambush?”
“Are you asking me if I should have walked into an ambush just to verify it?”
“Fair enough. Then how did you know there was an ambush?”
“Instinct.”
“You disobeyed orders based on mere instinct?”
Baek Socheon nodded. His tone was rough, but he was answering every question directly.
“After you disobeyed the order, our field investigation team went directly to inspect the site. They found zero traces of an ambush.”
“They failed to find them, you mean.”
“Do you not trust our pavilion’s investigation?”
“Would you? Ah, you’re still new, so you wouldn’t know. Don’t even get me started. Your investigations are an absolute mess.”
“So you remain convinced there was an ambush. Very well. Instincts are fine and good, but when an order is issued, shouldn’t a warrior obey it?”
“So that my men can all die? Is the order still more important than their lives?”
A brief silence hung in the air.
Lee Yeop stared at Baek Socheon. All power of judgment had vanished from his mind. How could a rookie like him discern truth from falsehood in the testimony of a legend with such a mind-boggling history?
To be completely honest, if a man with his background had an instinct, there probably was an ambush.
However, as Baek Socheon had pointed out, his punishment was already set in stone.
“I don’t understand it,” Lee Yeop said, taking on an authoritative tone. “You were once so prominent… and now you can’t even keep the position of Squad Leader.”
He delivered the official verdict:
“Squad Leader Baek Socheon of the Iron Sword Corps, First Unit, Third Squad. As punishment for insubordination, you are hereby demoted from Squad Leader to Rank-and-File Martial Artist. Return to your quarters and await further orders.”
It was his tenth demotion.
Unable to contain himself, Lee Yeop blurted out, “What on earth happened to you?”
“Who knows? Why don’t you unleash those brilliant investigators of yours and find out? Can I go now?”
“Yes, you may go. Your new assignment orders will be issued by tomorrow. Report to your new post within the designated timeframe.”
As Baek Socheon rose from his seat to leave, Lee Yeop asked one last question.
“Why didn’t you leave the Alliance? I ask this not as an investigator, but as a junior martial artist.”
If Lee Yeop had been in his shoes, he wouldn’t have stayed to endure such humiliation. Even working as a bodyguard for a wealthy merchant would offer a life ten times better than this.
Baek Socheon asked calmly, dropping the demeanor of an accused man and speaking as a senior warrior. “How old are you?”
“Twenty-three.”
“Why did you join the Murim Alliance?”
Taken aback by the sudden question, Lee Yeop answered honestly. “Becoming a warrior of the Murim Alliance was my dream.”
“It was mine, too. Ever since I was six years old.”
Leaving only those words behind, Baek Socheon walked out of the interrogation room.
Lee Yeop watched his retreating back in silence.
Baek Socheon stepped out of the building.
Directly ahead in the distance stood the Grand Alliance Hall, surrounded by numerous grand structures.
The One Hall, Two Courts, Three Pavilions, Four Corps, and Five Squads…massive, powerful organizations. This was the Murim Alliance, a place where countless warriors engaged in fierce political struggles for power.
While everyone else was racing toward the top, Baek Socheon had returned to square one after twenty years in the Alliance.
Rather than seeking the shade at the edge of the grounds, Baek Socheon walked straight across the sun-drenched training field, cutting through the intense heat as he made his exit.
Hwang Jongsin, the Master of the Shadow Pavilion, stood by the window of his office.
Behind him stood Lee Yeop, who had just come from the interrogation room. The moment Lee Yeop had left the room, the Pavilion Master had summoned him directly. Standing alone with the absolute head of the organization made his heart race just as fast as when he was sitting with Baek Socheon.
“What did he say?”
“It matches the report, sir. He remains convinced there was an ambush.”
“Anything else?”
“Nothing out of the ordinary, sir.”
Looking down at Baek Socheon walking across the distant training grounds, Hwang Jongsin spoke words Lee Yeop never expected to hear.
“Baek Socheon… that man is my senior. My senior by two years.”
“Pardon?” Lee Yeop gasped in surprise.
Hwang Jongsin explained that he himself had joined the Alliance eighteen years ago, while Baek Socheon had joined twenty years ago.
Of course, Hwang Jongsin had joined at twenty-five, whereas Baek Socheon was only eighteen, making Hwang Jongsin older in age.
“When I first joined, Baek Socheon was already famous.”
“Wasn’t he only in his second year in the Alliance back then?”
“His martial skill, his judgment… the man was no beginner from the start. You know the type, don’t you? Someone born with every single quality required to reach the pinnacle of a craft. Everyone used to say that Baek Socheon was born to be a warrior.”
Lee Yeop’s gaze joined Hwang Jongsin’s, tracking Baek Socheon’s figure with renewed awe.
“He didn’t just have talent; he had luck on his side as well. No matter how brilliant a genius is, without the opportunity to display it, one cannot rise so fast. A few years after we joined, the Black Heaven Alliance ignited the war.”
“Yes, I know of it.”
The Orthodox, Unorthodox War had dragged on for well over a decade.
“Rumors about him constantly blew in from the battlefield. Who he killed here, how he won there… How he spared no means or methods to win a battle, how he cut through a Heaven-and-Earth Net single-handedly to rescue someone, how he was promoted yet again to another high position… His achievements were so grand and legendary that he didn’t even feel like a fellow Alliance warrior. He was like the protagonist of an epic novel.”
A quiet sigh escaped Lee Yeop’s lips. “How could such a legendary figure fall so low?”
“It wasn’t in the reports you saw, so it’s natural you wouldn’t know.”
“Sir?”
“In the final battle that forced a truce with the Black Heaven Alliance, he suffered catastrophic injuries. His dantian was shattered, and his qi and blood circulation were severely warped. Even the Divine Physician declared he wouldn’t survive. Yet he lived.”
“Ah…!” Lee Yeop felt a chill run down his spine. He had never imagined such a tragic past.
“He recovered from his internal injuries, but his shattered dantian could not be restored. The Divine Physician said that short of undergoing a complete Bodily Rebirth, he would never be able to use internal energy again.”
Lee Yeop gasped repeatedly. Just as Hwang Jongsin said, it sounded like a tale straight out of a book.
“When he awoke, great rewards were bestowed upon him, and his position as Master of the Secret Pavilion remained his. But he couldn’t keep his standing. He repeatedly committed insubordination and broke Alliance laws. Some called it the common downfall of a fallen hero; others speculated there was a secret reason we didn’t know about. There were even rumors of a rift between him and the Alliance Leader… Some said he should have been dismissed from the Alliance altogether rather than kept as Secret Pavilion Master. Amidst all the swirling rumors, he continued his steady descent. The path that took him seventeen years to climb, he slid down in a mere three.”
By now, Baek Socheon had vanished completely from their line of sight.
“Not many know the full details of this matter. A strict gag order was issued regarding Baek Socheon.”
It was an open secret quietly whispered among the core warriors of the Alliance.
“Is he truly unable to manifest any martial arts now?”
“Even if a tiger loses its teeth and claws, it won’t be bitten to death by dogs or wolves.” Hwang Jongsin paused. “Still, without internal energy, his limits are clear.”
“Isn’t this punishment a bit too cold-hearted for a hero like him?” Lee Yeop found himself sympathizing with Baek Socheon. How could a man who once stood at the top remain in his right mind after losing his internal energy?
Cold-hearted? If the Alliance were truly cold-hearted, he would be locked away in the deep underground dungeons right now, or already dead. The Alliance isn’t made for Baek Socheon alone.”
That was true. The morale of the other martial artists had to be maintained. If endless insubordination went unpunished, the discipline of the entire Murim Alliance would collapse.
“In truth, the fact that he is still alive is likely thanks to the Alliance Leader.”
“What do you mean by that, sir?”
“None of us know the Alliance Leader’s true intentions. Whether he wishes to cast him out or still holds affection for him… The Alliance Leader has never once revealed his thoughts or feelings regarding him. Even as Baek Socheon, whom he cherished more than his own child, suffered demotion after demotion, he never stated whether he was pleased, displeased, supportive, or disappointed. Without knowing his inner thoughts, who would dare recklessly expel the man who contributed the most to bringing about the truce with the Black Heaven Alliance?”
Lee Yeop realized then that today’s investigation would stand as the most significant inquiry of his entire career in the Shadow Pavilion…a moment he would never forget for the rest of his life.
Hwang Jongsin turned his gaze back toward the distant Grand Alliance Hall.
“Now that he has fallen to the absolute bottom… we will soon know the Alliance Leader’s true intent.”
Turning back to Lee Yeop, Hwang Jongsin added one final remark:
“We shall speak again then about just how cruel this world of the Murim really is.”
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