Chapter 684. Supporting (4)
Lee Hyeon-Su asked again to confirm. “Did you say... magic, Mister Wiggins?”
Wiggins coolly nodded. “That I did.”
“Magic, is it...?” Lee Hyeon-Su muttered, his expression gradually distorting to resemble an aggrieved man.
When Wiggins noticed that, his expression also distorted into one of unhappiness. “Are you dissatisfied by something, Mister Lee?”
“No, of course not.”
Life was a series of choices. Sometimes, a choice would be about something important, but at other times, it'd be about something insignificant. One thing was for sure, though. And that was the fact that Lee Hyeon-Su's choice had been about something deeply significant, and it...
'...And it's coming back to haunt me!'
The way Wiggins looked down at the kneeling Lee Hyeon-Su with a stern face was enough to let the latter know he had made the most unwise decision!
“By the way, sir...?”
“Mm?”
“I heard somewhere that the Western culture is quite liberal, so people don't get hung up on stuff like ceremonies and time-consuming etiquette. And that the relationship between a disciple and his master is based on a contract...”
“Who told you that?” Wiggins snorted derisively.
“Sorry?”
“Westerners can be even stricter in matters like this than the folks here in the East. What you've heard about are nothing more than superficial relationships built on contractual obligations. The kind of hell you can never imagine happens all the time in more... 'traditional' master-disciple relationships.”
“...Wait, it's like that over there, too?”
“The story will remain the same wherever humans live, Mister Lee.”
“...Oh,” Lee Hyeon-Su grimaced a little. Why was he getting chills listening to Wiggins when he already knew all this? “Still, magic, sir? Am I really going to learn magic?”
“What's wrong? Are you unhappy with the idea?”
“No, rather than unhappy... For sure, I am interested, but can I even become a wizard...?”
“How foolish!” Wiggins smirked deeply. “You're born for magic, Mister Lee. The pursuit of magic is ultimately about exploring the Truth. Do you understand what that means?”
“Isn't it related to metaphysical studies? As in, it's different from physical training?”
“No. It means you're going to rack your brain like no one's business.”
“...”
“You're trying to explore the Truth, so how could it be a simple affair? Obviously, learning magic will not be simple too. Not that hard to understand, wouldn't you say?”
“...”
It seemed a live fish hooked on legit-sounding words began jumping around.
“...To summarize, I can become stronger? Is that what you're saying?” Lee Hyeon-Su asked.
“Of course,” Wiggins didn't beat around the bush and directly replied, “I'm what you'd call a magic swordsman. In other words, my weapons are my magic and a sword. Although my swordsmanship hadn't reached the same pinnacle as our Assembly Master, I'm still somewhat acknowledged for my skills with a sword. And that's why I can confidently say that you won't fall behind others after properly mastering magic. This is the most optimum way for you, a man who says he doesn't have the physical talent to master martial arts. Because... You are blessed with a sharp brain.”
Lee Hyeon-Su frowned slightly. “However, what about my age?”
“Unlike martial arts, you don't need to start from a young age for magic. As long as you have the necessary drive, you can catch up to your peers sooner or later. It all depends on how good your comprehension is and the amount of effort you're willing to put in.” Wiggins reached out and ruffled Lee Hyeon-Su's hair up. “And I believe you'll do an excellent job, Mister Lee.”
Lee Hyeon-Su's faintly trembling eyes locked on Wiggins. How long had it been since someone said such things to him? That they expected great things from him? “Master, I'll do my absolute best.”
Although Lee Hyeon-Su couldn't completely abandon the feeling of being reeled in like a fish, he also couldn't deny that Wiggins had shown him a new path. Besides, he could definitely put his faith in a teacher like Wiggins.
Lee Hyeon-Su resolved himself to make full use of this new opportunity.
Wiggins suddenly frowned slightly. “Before we start, you need to remember something.”
“Yes? What is it?”
“My original aspiration was to become a top wizard. However, I became a magic swordsman instead. Can you guess why?”
“N-no, not really.”
“Because it's excruciatingly tough.”
“I'm sorry?”
“Even I'm terrified by the prospect of climbing the absolute pinnacle of magic. The process of getting there is... Genuinely hellish, let's put it that way. The true wizards are all insane, I tell you.”
“...”
Wiggins's smile could only be described as sagely as he reassured his new disciple. “Even so, I have all the faith in the world that you will walk the path correctly without straying too much. I shall do my best to guide you along the way.”
No, master. Now that I have taken another look at you, you may not be a wizard in a traditional sense, but you're still plenty insane enough!
Lee Hyeon-Su couldn't bring himself to say those words out aloud.
***
"We're changing locations so soon?" Vator tilted his head in confusion.
“Mm...” Kang Jin-Ho slowly nodded.
Vator seemed puzzled as he rubbed his chin. “Since you've created a situation here, this is where others will gather, so is there a reason to leave so soon? Master, according to my calculations, it should be fine to stay here for a little while longer.”
“I hear you, but it's pointless,” said Kang Jin-Ho with a shake of his head. “My main goal was never about buying time, anyway. No, that's more like a bonus to my original goal. Besides, our location isn't ideal.”
“Hmm... You have a point there,” Vator slowly nodded in agreement.
Their current location was a remote corner of the provincial capital. No matter how much 'Jiangnan' had developed, China's center would always be on 'Jiangbei'. It was especially more so for the Chinese martial society.[1]
Despite going through so many upheavals throughout history, Jiangbei largely remained the region of choice for the core forces of the Chinese martial society. At least Jiangnan became more lively compared to the past after the HQ of the Crimson King's faction settled near there. Even so, the core of the Crimson King's faction was still located in the north.
Since Kang Jin-Ho's goal was to make waves in China, he needed to leave Sichuan and head to Jiangbei.
'Honestly, I don't care where as long as it's not here.'
Kang Jin-Ho wryly chuckled. Sichuan was simply too rural in this vast land called China, after all.
Vator narrowed his eyes. “You seem reluctant about something, master.”
“Leaving as soon as possible is the correct course of action when considering the effectiveness, but... I'll be honest. I'm feeling a little worried about leaving.”
“Oh... Is it because of that woman?”
“Mm...!”
Vator chuckled slightly. In his view, Kang Jin-Ho was an enigma, an unpredictable man. At times, he seemed completely thoughtless in his actions, yet he could still shock other people with how thoughtful he was. Despite giving off the air of an ancient expert who had gone through all sorts of trials and tribulations, he acted like an innocent fool at times, too!
As if... A child and an old man had been mixed together to create him?
Now was one such example. Despite displaying such a cruel and cold-hearted behavior of a man who couldn't have possessed anything remotely approaching human emotions, Kang Jin-Ho was worried about the safety of some woman!
“I didn't know you were such a romantic, Master.”
“...Refrain from saying nonsense like that.”
“If that's your command,” Vator smiled brightly.
Kang Jin-Ho groaned loudly.
'Should I strengthen my control over him?'
It felt like Vator was getting more mischievous with every passing day. Kang Jin-Ho's original plan was to enslave Vator's mind and use the big man like his personal slave. He believed that was a reasonable price to pay for what Vator had done.
However, what awaited Kang Jin-Ho after enslaving Vator was a reality he hadn't anticipated: he had no task to assign to the big man. Training the Martial Assembly members was Vator's idea. And the one area he could prove useful, combat, was in a bit of a lull right now after the various conflicts plaguing Kang Jin-Ho had been dealt with.
Besides, one large-scale battle was enough to unite South Korea under Kang Jin-Ho's thumb. So, the only way for Kang Jin-Ho to find himself in trouble was by deliberately going out there to find it.
The best way to describe this situation was that a combat-capable slave had been demoted to a surplus resource with nothing better to do.
No wonder Kang Jin-Ho started viewing Vator in slight dissatisfaction. It wasn't as if he could order the big man to go to construction sites and use his absurdly-sturdy body to make money, now was it? That also didn't mean Kang Jin-Ho could beat Vator up for flimsy justifications, either!
Which left Kang Jin-Ho with no choice but to endure Vator's disrespectful behavior!
Vator tilted his head. “Can't you simply take her with you?”
Kang Jin-Ho shook his head. “Her work here isn't finished yet.”
“Mm? You wish to respect a woman's autonomy...? I didn't know you had such a gentle and flexible side to you, master.”
Kang Jin-Ho grunted. “I figured it was common sense?”
“It's all good, I say. Although it doesn't align with my worldview, following the will of one's master is the sign of a loyal subordinate, is it not?”
“Me saying this out aloud is kind of weird, but... Vator, no one would dare mistake you for a loyal man.”
“That is a misunderstanding, master. I am more than loyal enough.”
“...Sure. Let's say you are,” Kang Jin-Ho groaned loudly again.
Vator smiled brightly. “In that case, why don't you summon bodyguards capable of protecting this place and that woman? She must be planning to return to Korea once her business in China is dealt with. That means her bodyguards will only need to stick by her until then.”
“I can't think of anyone suitable for the job,” said Kang Jin-Ho while furrowing his brow. “Also, having Koreans guarding her could unnecessarily agitate the other side. And I don't want to deploy Assembly members on my private affairs.”
“You're definitely a romantic, then,” Vator smiled wryly.
Who would be dissatisfied with Kang Jin-Ho using the Assembly members as his private military organization? Most of them would not complain and do as he told them. And the half would only be too glad to carry out his orders.
In a way, Kang Jin-Ho was the least self-aware out of everybody of what kind of standing he had in the Martial Assembly.
“Master, those people might be honored to work for you.”
“I do understand that in my head, but...” Kang Jin-Ho sighed deeply.
He wouldn't be this hesitant if the Martial Assembly was the demon cult. After all, he had climbed from the bottom all the way to the cult leader position. He was an outsider joining in on both occasions, but the time he spent in the demon cult, plus the things he had accomplished there, were a world's apart from what he had done in the Assembly.
Kang Jin-Ho was the Assembly Master, but the burden of knowing that he shouldn't use the Assembly to his whims still weighed heavily on him.
Vator shrugged his shoulders. “Either way, it's fine with me. Since you're talking to me about this, you believe I might have a solution to your problem. Am I right?”
“Indeed. I wanted your advice.”
“Then you shall receive my advice. I can think of a solution.”
Kang Jin-Ho's eyes gleamed sharply just then. He knew a lot about China, but that story only applied to the ancient Zhongyuan. As for Vator, he had been staying in modern China until recently. After losing to the Crimson King and being forced into a contractual relationship, he had to call China his home. In other words, he understood current China far better than Kang Jin-Ho.
“You need to leave the bodyguard duties to someone. That is unavoidable. If you can't rely on the Assembly's people, simply hire someone else.”
Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head. “Who is available, then?”
“There are two types,” Vator smirked. “Freelancers are not loyal to any one faction. They will do any job, from protection details to assassinations and everything in between. The only minus point is their lack of quality, which could lead to trouble. However, they would never harm their clients. Without trust, no one would hire them, after all. So, you can count on them in that regard.”
“Mm...” Kang Jin-Ho frowned, still hesitant.
Vator continued to explain. “If you're not convinced, you can always call on the other group. And I can even guarantee them for you.”
“You will guarantee them?”
“Indeed,I will,” Vator sat up straight and puffed his chest out, causing his already-large body to look even larger. “I can summon the warriors from the wild plains. Despite being free souls unaffiliated with anyone, they still know honor. If I call on them, they will protect your woman even at the cost of throwing their lives away.”
Kang Jin-Ho nodded after picking up on Vator's pride and confidence. “If you're guaranteeing them, I'm more than willing to trust them. Can you call them now?”
“Of course. However, there is one thing you must pay attention to.”
“Oh, that? You don't need to worry,” said Kang Jin-Ho while also sitting upright. “If they are men of honor, I shall properly reward them. I swear on my name to express the most fitting show of gratitude.”
Vator smiled brightly while tilting his head. “What are you talking about? I only want you to pay them. With money, of course.”
“...”
“The appropriate compensation is monetary, master. Why would you swear on your name for that? No one cares about that, so pay them a lot of money. They need to repair their yurts before the harsh winter comes. And that won't be the only place they require the extra cash. Honor doesn't provide for your family, no? In this day and age... Money is honor.”
Kang Jin-Ho suddenly got an impromptu lesson on reality from a warrior of the wild plains who greatly valued honor.
1. 'Jiangnan' and 'Jiangbei' are two geographical areas south and north of the Yangtze River, respectively. Jiangnan means 'south of the river' while Jiangbei 'north of the river'. ☜
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