“Whew!”
Entering Nangyang, the most prosperous city in the world, Nab-in’s eyes sparkled as he looked around.
He had seen bustling cities before, but Nangyang’s streets were a gathering place for people from all corners of the world. Dressed in all sorts of colorful attire, the crowd moved about in a frenzy, so much so that merely watching the people was dizzying.
But even watching the crowd was just a fraction of what Nangyang had to offer. Towering palace halls, each a spectacle by themselves, lined the streets like ripe rice stalks, blocking his view. The strings of lanterns strung between buildings seemed to hang low, like stars fallen to the ground.
As he witnessed the stunning display of lights bright enough to chase away the darkness of night, Nab-in realized what the luminous city truly was, something he had only read about before.
“Master! Nangyang! It’s incredible!”
“Haha! Indeed. It is the capital of the Huang Nation, after all.”
Ho Cheon-an affectionately ruffled Nab-in’s hair as the boy bounced with excitement. Ho Cheon-an’s gaze fell upon a stall selling tanghulu.
“Come on! How about a sweet tanghulu that kids love?”
“Give me one covered in sugar.”
“Right away!”
In the midst of all the sights and sounds, Nab-in found himself holding a glistening tanghulu covered in sugar. Gawking at the sweet treat, he took a huge bite without a second thought.
“Ahhhhh~”
The rich sweetness spread in his mouth, and he let out a delighted sound.
“It’s sweet! So delicious!”
“Ha ha ha! Take your time. If you eat too fast, that sugar might stick, and you won’t be able to open your mouth.”
“Got it!”
Though he replied, his eagerness didn’t wane as he munched energetically on the tanghulu. Eventually, the sugar caused his teeth to stick, and Nab-in groaned, while Ho Cheon-an merely chuckled.
Having enjoyed the lively night scene of Nangyang, Nab-in spoke contentedly.
“I wish Sabok Seol Grandfather was here too.”
Having traveled together for a long time, they had formed a bond. Nab-in, looking around as if sharing a great secret, leaned in to whisper to Ho Cheon-an.
“Actually, it’s a secret, but… Sabok Seol Grandfather loves sugar too!”
“I see.”
Of course.
While sugar was generally considered valuable in the Central Plains, Yunnan, with its suitable environment for growing sugarcane, was known as a sugar haven.
Sabok Seol, who had lived there his whole life, certainly would have developed a sweet tooth, given that sweet ingredients were scarce, and even the sweetness of honey or syrup couldn’t compare to the cleanliness of sugar. It was no surprise that someone who had struggled for over a decade in the wild would have a craving for sugar.
“So when we go back, let’s bring some tanghulu for Grandfather too!”
“Ha ha! Absolutely.”
Ho Cheon-an imagined Sabok Seol, who would be guarding the entities in the concealment formation, receiving the sweet treat.
Even if it was something so sweet, tanghulu was typically a snack for kids. What kind of face would the man, who obsessively adhered to masculinity as the leader of the Outcast Faction, make if he got a tanghulu as a gift?
While Ho Cheon-an was tickled by that amusing thought and Nab-in’s lively chatter, he eventually realized they had reached their destination and came to a stop.
Nab-in read the plaque hanging on the enormous mansion.
“Nangyang Residence.”
“Are you folks here on business at the Nangyang Residence?”
The gatekeeper of the Nangyang Residence asked, to which Ho Cheon-an nodded lightly.
“Tell them an old instructor has come to visit, will you?”
The former Golden Guards training instructor, Ho Cheon-an, was there to attend the Twelfth Squad Comrades Association.
*
An intelligence organization for maintaining the Emperor’s power.
Currently, the organization was on high alert like never before.
The reason for that tension was a recent court meeting that had occurred. The ministers of the court, along with local officials and governors from all over the land, had chosen to remain silent about events unfolding in the Martial World.
Everybody knew the Emperor Yoo Gyeong’s intent was to suppress the Martial World, so this silence indirectly signaled a refusal to follow Yoo Gyeong’s will.
Ultimately, the collective dissatisfaction from the ministers made it obvious that the organization had to be on its toes.
As he sighed while reading a report detailing the actions of the bureaucrats, Du Wei-cheon’s gaze froze.
A phrase detailing the actions of Chancellor Jae Sang-hae caught his eye.
“… Comrades Association?”
That would be the Twelfth Squad Comrades Association.
Since most members of the organization were drafted from the Golden Guards, Du Wei-cheon, one of the organization’s top two officials, was aware of the existence of the Twelfth Squad Comrades Association as well.
Gathered there were powerful figures defining the Huang Nation, including Chancellor Jae Sang-hae, the Minister of Ceremonies Ok Ryong, General Kang Chumo-ru, Commander Jo Ga-ju of the Imperial Army, and the Golden Guards general Jo Gab-deok, along with influential figures such as Gwang Jae-ryeon, who held sway over the current Huang Nation’s steel industry. It was a gathering of notable names from various fields and was often referred to among high-ranking officials.
The report stated that the Twelfth Squad Comrades Association was being convened.
The meetings were held anywhere from once a year to every few years, so it wasn’t unusual.
“Everyone’s gathered, huh?”
The fact that everyone attended was certainly suspicious.
While it could be explained that certain individuals maintained a low profile due to assassination threats, it was odd that even Ok Ryong, who had spent the last few years traveling through provinces, was there.
Furthermore, reports indicated that an unknown old man and a child had entered the Nangyang Residence.
‘Did someone from the Golden Guards training hall invite outsiders in? How should I take this?’
After all, wasn’t it Chancellor Jae Sang-hae who openly opposed the Emperor’s intentions of pursuing the Martial World? Wasn’t it a bit odd that a gathering was happening at the Chancellor’s house with something suspicious?
It smelled fishy.
‘I should go check it out.’
Du Wei-cheon stood up from his seat.
*
“Ha ha ha! Ok Ryong! How have you been!”
With a booming voice, Gwang Jae-ryeon’s laughter seemed to light up the room, and a joyful smile appeared on Ok Ryong’s face.
“Haha! Just hearing your laugh already tells me you’ve been doing well!”
“Ha ha ha! Well, that’s how I always am!”
Though they regularly met as part of the Twelfth Squad, it was rare for all of them to convene at once. While the ongoing chaos of the world was part of it, more importantly, each of them had their own duties to deal with, making it hard to find a common time to meet.
With time apart deepening the warmth of reunion and conversations piling up, smiles filled the faces of the Twelfth Squad trainees simply from reconnecting.
While Jae Sang-hae was laughing and chatting with his peers, the general whispered something into his ear.
Having heard the whisper, Jae Sang-hae sprang to his feet.
“Fellow mates! It seems our guests have finally arrived!”
The joyful chatter abruptly came to a halt. With a gesture from Jae Sang-hae, the doors of the banquet hall swung open. Nab-in, who ducked behind Ho Cheon-an at the sudden deluge of gazes, and Ho Cheon-an, whose calm eyes surveyed the trainees, appeared before them.
The trainees were surged with a mix of emotions seeing their instructor, Ho Cheon-an, after such a long time. There were memories of his steel-like unwavering gaze and the inner madness that had once resembled a demon. From memories filled with warmth, care, and a hot heart concealed between that madness and meticulousness, they couldn’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia.
The unexpectedly unanticipated reunion with their mentor made them acutely aware of the transience of time.
And among that transience, they also realized how precious it was not to lose sight of what truly mattered.
Jo Ga-ju formally addressed the group on behalf of the trainees.
“Greetings to you, Instructor.”
A resounding chorus from the thirteen followed suit.
“Greetings to you, Instructor!”
Ho Cheon-an, filled with gratitude for the trainees who rushed over without hesitation, placed his hand on his heart and returned the salute.
Such action brought smiles to the faces of the trainees.
“Now!”
Jae Sang-hae raised his voice while lifting a wine bottle.
“Let’s start with a drink!”
Cheers erupted from all the trainees, and Ho Cheon-an nodded in agreement with a smile.
For a moment, they forgot the chaos of the Huang Nation in the midst of their merry drinking.
“Instructor! You’re only meeting with Ok Ryong and Kang Chumo-ru? How terrible!”
“That’s right! So please take my cup too!”
Ho Cheon-an, wearing a wry smile from the playful banter of the trainees, couldn’t help but down drink after drink. After a while, all eyes were on Nab-in.
“Is he your disciple, Instructor?”
“That’s right. Nab-in. Introduce yourself.”
“Ah, hello! I’m Nab-in! I’m the disciple of the Master!”
Nab-in’s introduction brought bright smiles to the trainees’ faces. With charmingly bright eyes introducing himself, he looked a bit awkward and scared as he stuck closely to Ho Cheon-an, which made him all the more adorable.
Seeing the beaming smiles of the trainees eased Nab-in’s nerves as he asked a question.
“So… uh, what’s your relationship with Grandfather?”
“Haha! At one point, he was our instructor.”
“Instructor?”
Nab-in tilted his head, as the concept of a mentor was foreign to him. Ho Cheon-an gently patted his head and briefly explained.
“They are the ones who were my disciples.”
“Ah…! Then they are my older brothers!”
Nab-in’s eyes suddenly sparkled.
So many older brothers of the Master! For Nab-in, who sometimes felt lonely, hearing he had many siblings filled him with joy.
The trainees burst into hearty laughter at Nab-in’s innocent excitement. The bond between their instructor and trainees may not have fit the description, but who cared? Ho Cheon-an was smiling, and Jae Sang-hae nodded approvingly.
“What a little sister we have! Call me ‘Brother Jae Sang-hae’ now!”
“Yes! Brother Jae Sang-hae!”
“Ha ha ha!”
The trainees, led by Jae Sang-hae, playfully ruffled Nab-in’s hair, and he was all smiles from the affectionate gestures, giggling away.
Just as everyone was enjoying a moment of laughter, a serious-faced general approached and whispered into Jae Sang-hae’s ear.
“Du Wei-cheon from the Comrades Association has arrived.”
What an unexpected intrusion occurred. As Jae Sang-hae frowned, about to give instructions, Du Wei-cheon stepped in swiftly.
“Du Wei-cheon. What brings you here? I don’t remember inviting you!”
Jae Sang-hae glared at Du Wei-cheon with a fierce gaze, but Du Wei-cheon showed no signs of backing down.
“Is there any place in the world where Comrades Association members can’t enter? I merely came to check in on what you esteemed gentlemen are discussing privately.”
The atmosphere became tense as the two engaged in a silent battle of wills.
“With the Chancellor, General, Commander, Minister of Ceremonies, and other prominent figures gathered here, I couldn’t resist being curious about the conversation that flows here. If the intent of those present aligns, what can’t be achieved?”
Du Wei-cheon made no effort to hide his suspicion.
“Tsk.”
Jae Sang-hae clicked his tongue internally at Du Wei-cheon’s behavior. It seemed he had caught the eye of the organization, which consisted solely of big shots.
And to be precise, Du Wei-cheon’s suspicion was justified.
Ultimately, the members convening meant to aid Ho Cheon-an in diverting the Emperor’s intentions.
Ho Cheon-an had faith that he wouldn’t bring harm to the Emperor, which led to their agreement, but this fact was unknown to Du Wei-cheon. Therefore, it wasn’t strange for him to see the Comrades Association’s movements as a threat to the imperial authority.
“Don’t get too worked up. We’ll just have a drink and be on our way.”
Despite Jae Sang-hae’s displeasure, he poured a drink for Du Wei-cheon, who graciously accepted it, indicating he wouldn’t create unnecessary commotion.
Though he was the second-in-command of the organization, this was Jae Sang-hae’s home, a gathering dominated by powerful figures. Even if Du Wei-cheon wielded immense surveillance power granted by the Emperor, he knew it was burdensome to clash with these big shots.
‘Still, I must confirm this.’
Du Wei-cheon’s gaze fell upon Ho Cheon-an. A figure with no reason to be in attendance. The sensation in Du Wei-cheon’s instincts whispered that this unidentified person’s true identity must be discerned, no matter if it stepped on the toes of others.
“Now, while we’re at it…”
Thus, Du Wei-cheon decided to press Ho Cheon-an and observe his reaction.
“Even if you were a former Golden Guards instructor, addressing the second-in-command of the Comrades Association with such respect isn’t the proper etiquette of the Huang Nation, is it?”
Du Wei-cheon had taken the bait exactly as Ho Cheon-an hoped.
