The Black Wind Brigade spent nearly a month reaching the border. Since they conducted continuous mobility training along the way, it wasn't an easy march for the soldiers. The entire brigade participated in the drills, while the front, center, and rear units each trained separately. Additionally, they conducted integrated defense training with the 10,000 reinforcement troops sent by the Northern Expeditionary General's Command, making each day fly by.
During this month, General Ok Youngjin was astonished by how Gu Gwang was evolving. Initially, he entrusted the command of the Hundred-Man Unit with some reservation, but Gu Gwang managed it surprisingly well. Day by day, his ability to lead his subordinates improved, and his skill in controlling and commanding them, especially during chaotic skirmishes, was exceptional.
General Ok Youngjin observed closely as Gu Gwang led his men through a complex, simulated skirmish and attempted to break through the center of the mock Fifth Thousand-Man Unit.
"The ability to assess the surroundings in such a chaotic situation, regroup his men to minimize damage, and lead them with lightning speed when needed—this can't simply be a natural talent. To be able to observe the situation broadly during a skirmish and know when to regroup or separate from the main force shows that he must have extensive experience commanding a large number of subordinates. What could his background possibly be?"
The simulated battle between the Fifth and Fourth Thousand-Man Units ended in a decisive victory for the Fourth, as a portion of their unit unexpectedly broke through the center and brought down the commander of the Fifth. Watching this, General Ok Youngjin smiled with satisfaction. The Hundred-Man Unit, which had often caused trouble due to Gu Gwang's prestigious background despite his excellent martial skills, had now established itself as the elite of the Black Wind Brigade.
After the training, Gu Gwang gathered the commanders of the Ten-Man Units. By now, no one doubted Gu Gwang's abilities. Over time, they had not only become captivated by his excellent martial skills but also by his ability to lead and command.
As everyone assembled, Ma Hwa arrived last, panting and hastily taking a seat.
"What's the matter, Captain?" Ma Hwa asked.
Gu Gwang deepened his voice to carry authority.
"This is an order from the general. We are now 120 li (about 48 kilometers) from the border. From today, we'll set up camp here and remain stationed until the campaign begins. Starting tomorrow, we will place even greater emphasis on integrated training with the reinforcement troops. One Thousand-Man Unit will be deployed for reconnaissance in the enemy camp. The Seventh Thousand-Man Unit will go first, so after training, make sure your subordinates rest well in preparation."
Captain Jung Sang of the Second Ten-Man Unit eagerly asked, his eyes shining,
"Captain, when will the campaign begin?"
"In ten days. According to the latest reports, Cheol Jincheon has already gathered a large force and established a defensive line. It's likely he's feeling nervous since the Black Wind Brigade is stationed near the border. The general seems to be continuing the training to conceal the fact that this is an invasion. Officially, it can be reported as just ongoing training."
At this point, Ma Hwa, with a slightly peculiar expression, asked tentatively,
"This is practically our first real break in a while… is it okay to have some drinks?"
"Drinks?"
At the mention of alcohol, Gu Gwang's mouth watered, and his previously composed thoughts started to waver.
"Alcohol… If we drink, it would be against military law... but, but... alcohol… that's nice."
The hesitation disappeared, and emotions won over reason!
"Hm... but where can we get it? If we're going to share with the subordinates, a barrel or two won't be enough..."
At this, Ma Hwa burst into laughter, as if he could already tell what was going through Gu Gwang's mind by looking at his face.
"Haha, you really care about the subordinates. I already sent some of them out, and we're preparing a large amount. That's why I was late."
"You're starting to grow on me. Alright! I'll cover all the costs of the alcohol. You can come get the money for it later. Great! Tonight, we'll drink to our heart's content."
"Hahaha, you're too generous, Captain. This is your first drinking party since taking command, so let's drink together. I'll make sure the subordinates get a reasonable amount. If they drink too much, it'll just lead to problems tomorrow..."
"Do as you see fit. Once you've gathered the alcohol, let's meet in my tent."
At that moment, Changryonggaek Im Choong, the commander of the Seventh Ten-Man Unit, stepped forward. He was a swordsman who had made quite a name for himself in the martial world, and he was known for his cunning as well.
"No, Captain. Your tent is too close to the general's. Let's hold it in mine."
"Fine. Let me know when the alcohol is ready."
"Yes, sir."
Gu Gwang woke up. After drinking heartily with his subordinates the previous night, Ma Hwa and four other commanders of the Ten-Man Units had passed out, unable to handle their alcohol. Gu Gwang had dragged them back to their tents before falling asleep himself for a short while. What woke him was a strange, unsettling feeling that he couldn't quite pinpoint.
As soon as he came to his senses, Gu Gwang silently reached for his Ink Soul Sword. Then, he used his best footwork technique, moving swiftly and silently between the tents, concealing himself.
"Looks like you're heading the wrong way."
Suddenly, a voice came from behind him. The man dressed in black, who had been cautiously watching the tents ahead, froze in shock. Gu Gwang spoke again.
"The general's tent isn't that way; it's over here. Though I suppose you'll only need to know that if you manage to leave here alive…"
Gu Gwang slowly drew his sword, making almost no sound.
Srrrring…
The man in black turned to look at Gu Gwang, his eyes fixated on the dark sword. With a trembling voice, he said,
"I've come to meet someone. The master of the Ink Soul. I'm not an assassin."
Gu Gwang shook his head.
"What? Haha… What a joke..."
As he raised his sword slowly, he noticed the man's pleading eyes. At the same time, he realized the man was unarmed.
"So, assassins nowadays don't even carry weapons? If you use fists or palms, it'll make too much noise... But then again, there's always the Extreme Yin Palm or concealed weapons..."
The man in black silently thanked the heavens for following his master's orders and entering unarmed.
"I'm unarmed. You can feel it yourself, I'm not an assassin. I was only trained as a spy… The sword techniques I know are orthodox. I left my sword over there. I'm here on orders from my master to meet you, Mookhyang."
"Mookhyang... you say?"
'That name sounds oddly familiar.'
"Yes, my master instructed me to tell you that he knows everything about your past. If you join our sect, he'll not only reveal your past to you but also help you exact revenge on those who wronged you."
Gu Gwang slowly sheathed his sword.
"That's an interesting offer."
"My master proposes the position of vice master of the sect to you. Given the size and influence of the sect, I believe it's a favorable deal for you."
"Did you come alone?"
"Yes."
"Then, have you not considered that there might be an easier way to achieve this?"
"What do you mean?"
"Isn't it much simpler for me to just beat the truth out of you to find out about my past?"
Fear crept into the man's eyes. He knew better than anyone what kind of monster he was dealing with. He let out a nervous, deflating laugh.
"Heh heh heh… I don't know much about your past, sir. Even if you beat me, you won't gain much."
Gu Gwang smirked, a low chuckle escaping his lips.
"Heh heh… Even so, I'd still like to try."
As Gu Gwang slowly approached, the fear in the man's eyes grew more intense. Desperate, he spoke, clinging to his last hope.
"Even if you beat me, you'll only get fragmented information... I truly don't know much about your past. If you wish, I'll tell you everything I do know right now."
"Speak."
"All I know is that your name is Mookhyang, and that you're an incredibly skilled master—one who has reached the Profound Realm. We were warned to be extremely cautious, as even if we just tried to sneak in, you would notice and come out yourself... just as you did now."
"And?"
"I was told that you were betrayed by those closest to you, causing you to lose your memories. Surviving that ordeal was considered a stroke of luck."
"What else?"
"My master also wanted me to warn you—he believes your extraordinary martial power comes from your practice of the Arts of Solidarity. He said if you ever lie with a woman, you'll lose all your strength, so he advised you to be cautious."
"Is it true?"
"Where could it be safe…?"
"Tongjagong, huh? I must have really been reckless in the past. Heh, Arts of Solidarity, you say… What else?"
The man in black looked at him with desperate eyes. "I don't know anything more, please…"
Kukwang stared at the sky, lost in thought for a moment. "Go back. I don't know if what you're saying is true, but I appreciate the advice. And tell your leader that I thank him for thinking so highly of me… But whether I have those past memories or not, it doesn't matter. Even if I were to learn about my past, I would have to take revenge on someone I don't even remember hurting. I don't want that. I want to act only on what I definitely know. Now, go."
The man in black felt a profound relief at being allowed to leave alive, and he ran away swiftly. After watching his figure for a moment, Kukwang slowly returned to his tent. He tried to sleep but found it difficult, as endless trivial thoughts filled his mind.
My name is Mookhyang? Is it really? But it does fit well with my ink soul sword and ink shadow technique. Who are those close friends who ambushed me? And what is my true identity? Do I have a family? A wife and children… Heh, thinking about it, there can't possibly be a wife. And children, either. Arts of Solidarity… I've learned that filthy martial art, so I'm doomed to never hold a woman close for the rest of my life. That must be why I felt uneasy when women approached me at Ok Daein and Cheongseongru… So I need to be careful going forward. If I'm not, I might lose everything, and perhaps even my life. And I might not be able to keep my promise to take care of Ok Daein… Now that I think about it, today has been a fortunate day, full of revelations.
One of the things that piqued Kukwang's interest while reading many secret texts in the Royal Palace's library was this—Tongjagong… It's a type of inner cultivation technique that's not particularly useful on its own but can yield remarkable achievements when used alongside other techniques. As a practitioner, it's hard not to be tempted by that. However, the biggest drawback is that you can't get close to women for your whole life. Once you engage in sexual intercourse, Arts of Solidarity begins to deteriorate immediately, scattering the true inner energy accumulated based on it. If the woman possesses even a bit of absorbing techniques, she can easily absorb the inner energy that starts to leak out from the man.
Various wicked martial arts related to absorbing techniques have slightly different levels of power, but there's an important prerequisite for using them. You must have stronger inner energy than your opponent. If not, you risk having your own energy completely absorbed by the opponent. However, when a man's Arts of Solidarity is destroyed and his inner energy starts leaking, you can easily absorb it with just a bit of skill. In that sense, men with Arts of Solidarity are the best prey.
Kukwang already knew this from the secret texts in the Royal Palace's library. Whether the man in black was telling the truth or not, he couldn't dare to experiment because he couldn't recall his past. If even a part of what he said were true, he would lose everything he had accumulated until now.