Test

"Please withdraw it."

"What nonsense are you suddenly spouting?"

Peng Mugang frowned deeply at Paeng Seo-yeon's disgruntled words as she had just rushed into the Family Head's room.

She had come running here immediately after hearing something from her brother Peng Seo-jin.

Despite Peng Mugang narrowing his eyes, Paeng Seo-yeon didn't back down at all.

It was clearly different from her usual demeanor. She looked straight at Peng Mugang and demanded:

"I'm talking about the task you ordered my husband to do through Seo-jin."

"Sister!"

Just then, Peng Seo-jin also entered the Family Head's room.

Yeo Un-hwi was with him.

"This isn't some marketplace. Tsk."

Peng Mugang clicked his tongue. Then he looked at his daughter with a resolute expression and said:

"Let me be clear, I have no intention whatsoever of withdrawing the order I gave today. So leave."

"But Father! There are things you can order and things you can't. Telling him to lead the White Wolf Unit?"

The White Wolf Unit.

A military force of the Peng Family so notorious in Hebei that everyone who heard the name would shake their heads.

But ironically, the reason for their notoriety was simply that they absolutely could not tolerate any injustice they witnessed.

Isn't that a good and admirable thing, you ask?

True. Perhaps their conduct was more befitting of righteous warriors than anyone else's.

However, the real problem lay in the fact that they truly could not tolerate injustice for even a moment.

Regardless of who the other party was or what the situation was, they would just act without hesitation.

As a result, whether it was the Orthodox Faction or the Demonic Faction, whether it was high-ranking officials or their children, if they deemed someone evil, they would draw their swords first and ask questions later.

Thanks to this, if one were to recount all the troubles the Peng Family had gone through cleaning up after their actions, three days and nights of storytelling wouldn't be enough.

But whenever they tried to scold them, the White Wolf Unit would proudly respond that they had only done what was right and not shameful to the Peng Family name, leaving the Peng Family at a loss for what to do.

In other words, the White Wolf Unit wouldn't easily follow orders from their superiors if they didn't agree with them.

If they hadn't been part of the Peng Family, their heads would have long since rolled.

But because they were undeniably righteous, the Peng Family couldn't dismiss them, yet they were also incredibly difficult to utilize - that was the White Wolf Unit.

It wasn't this bad when the previous commander was around.

But after he retired and left the Peng Family, things gradually worsened until they reached the current situation.

In other words, this wasn't a recent issue.

Even when Paeng Seo-yeon left the family, it had been a headache for the Peng Family, which was why she was now so strongly opposing Peng Mugang's decision.

"Even experienced squad leaders with long careers flatly refuse to take charge of the White Wolf Unit. Is there anyone in the Peng Family who doesn't know this? And yet, you're telling my husband, who doesn't know any martial arts, to lead the White Wolf Unit..."

"He needs to earn his keep."

"Pardon?"

"How long was he planning to just eat our food? Since he's living in the Peng Family now, shouldn't he earn his keep?"

"Father!"

"I'm not telling him to go fight and bicker with those guys. I told him to go and lead them in 'work'. Is there a problem with that?"

"But that's...!"

Paeng Seo-yeon swallowed the words 'just unreasonable' that were on the tip of her tongue.

She held back, fearing she might make a mistake if she said anything more.

But she couldn't just accept her father's decision like this either...

"Yes. I understand."

Just then, Yeo Un-hwi, who had been silent until now, stepped forward.

"D-Darling!"

Yeo Un-hwi looked at the surprised Paeng Seo-yeon and gave her a grin.

Then he patted her as if to say not to worry.

And,

"I will gladly do as you've said."

He looked at Peng Mugang more confidently than anyone and spoke.

"Hmm."

Peng Mugang stared at Yeo Un-hwi for a moment.

He had heard that Yeo Un-hwi had quite good stamina.

He too had heard the rumors about Yeo Un-hwi and the morning run.

In fact, Peng Mugang never missed any of the stories circulating within the family.

He considered it part of his duty as the Family Head.

It wasn't often that an ordinary scholar could outrun warriors who had trained for years.

So Peng Mugang had strongly suspected that Yeo Un-hwi might be 'that person', after considering various circumstances.

Even the scent he remembered was very similar.

But soon Peng Mugang came to think his suspicion was wrong.

Peng Mugang had deliberately created opportunities to run into Yeo Un-hwi as if by chance and examined him closely each time.

But no matter how much he looked, Peng Mugang couldn't find anything in Yeo Un-hwi.

The fact that nothing was visible to someone of Peng Mugang's level meant that Yeo Un-hwi truly hadn't learned any martial arts.

Otherwise, it would mean Yeo Un-hwi was an incredibly skilled master surpassing Peng Mugang, which wasn't worth considering at all.

The only beings capable of such a feat before Peng Mugang were the 'Twelve Venerables of the World'.

This meant that he really was just good at running, and perhaps had better martial aptitude than expected.

But apart from all that, Peng Mugang actually intended to test Yeo Un-hwi with this task.

He wanted to see how Yeo Un-hwi would handle subordinates, or if he could handle them at all.

In other words, Peng Mugang wanted to observe whether Yeo Un-hwi was a useful person for the Peng Family, or if he was useless as expected.

Of course, he knew.

Even so, the White Wolf Unit was more challenging than any other place.

But Peng Mugang thought that was precisely why the test would be meaningful.

After all, if it were an easy task anyone could do, there would be no point in testing.

Since others would already be biased one way or another because he was his daughter's husband.

Perhaps the White Wolf Unit was the most suitable place to see Yeo Un-hwi's true nature purely.

After all, the White Wolf Unit was a group of pure(?) fools with absolutely no pretenses.

How would it turn out?

Would he show a pathetic sight as expected? Or...?

Honestly, Peng Mugang was more interested in seeing Yeo Un-hwi struggle than in having any expectations.

And so, Yeo Un-hwi was given three days before taking charge of the White Wolf Unit.

"Ah, why is he just standing there like that? It's creepy."

Under a perfectly clear sky.

The training ground of the Peng Family was filled with the sounds of warriors training as usual today.

One group of warriors who had been training hard took a short break in the shade.

As they were sprawled out, drinking water and wiping sweat, one of them noticed someone watching them from a distance and spoke up with a startled expression.

"Gasp, he came again today?"

"What is he up to?"

"Surely he's not going to ask to join the morning run again?"

"Eek! Don't even say that. I've just started to feel like I might survive, but if the 'Jogging Ghost' latches onto us again, I won't be able to take it!"

"R-Right. I never want to experience that again. Those hellish mornings... Ugh! Even thinking about it now makes me want to throw up!"

"No, that's not what I meant. I'm saying it might happen."

"Hey, words can become reality. And if those words really come true, you'll die by my hand. I'm dead serious right now, so remember that. Okay?"

"Ugh. I don't want to do that morning run ever again either. Never again."

"Alright, alright. I get it."

No Il-bong, who had foolishly brought up the morning run and gotten thoroughly scolded by his comrades, licked his lips with an embarrassed expression.

By the way, Yeo Un-hwi was now known in the Peng Family not as the 'scholar bastard' but as the 'Jogging Ghost'.

How terrifying must those times have been for such a nickname to stick?

They now shuddered just at the thought of Yeo Un-hwi.

Yeo Un-hwi had become ingrained as a fear in the warriors' minds in a truly bizarre way.

"Anyway, I really don't understand what he's up to, watching us train from afar for the past few days."

"He must have felt cooped up staying indoors. Just ignore him completely."

"You think so?"

"Yeah. What's the problem if he's just watching? Don't pay him any attention. Let's not get tangled up with him like last time. Don't even make eye contact. Everyone got that?"

"Above all, Squad Leader. You especially need to be careful."

"Hm? Ah. O-Of course! If I get involved with the Jogging Ghost again, I'm not human. Ahem."

No Il-bong nodded excessively while clearing his throat at the pointed words of the warriors.

He had suffered greatly for a while, receiving all sorts of criticism from above and below after foolishly stepping up to teach Yeo Un-hwi a lesson last time, only to witness the true nature of the Jogging Ghost.

Perhaps he was the one who recoiled the most at the mention of Yeo Un-hwi among anyone here.

And how much time had passed?

"Well then, good work everyone for today."

Today's training session had come to an end.

No Il-bong, now much more subdued than before, slowly got up from his seat.

Soon, as the warriors were dispersing and the squad leaders were about to return to their rooms for a short rest.

Tap.

Someone placed a hand on his shoulder from behind.

Hm? Who could it be?

There weren't many people who would put their hand on his shoulder so casually.

At most, a few of his fellow squad leaders?

But,

"Ack?"

No Il-bong's face showed shock as he turned his head to see who the hand belonged to.

It was Yeo Un-hwi, the 'Jogging Ghost'.

The man felt like crying, wondering why of all people this person had approached him.

But Yeo Un-hwi, completely oblivious to the other's feelings, simply greeted him with a bright face.

"Have you been well?"

"Huh? Ah, yes. Yes."

No Il-bong answered with an awkward smile.

How could he say, 'I've been living in hell every day because of you, you bastard.'

Since that legendary morning hell run incident, the squad leader's attitude towards Yeo Un-hwi had become very polite.

"You look well."

"Haha... Thank you. So, what brings you here?"

"Ah. I was wondering if I could ask you for a favor?"

"A favor?"

No Il-bong repeated, and Yeo Un-hwi nodded.

'Damn it, why me of all people, as if we're close...'

Though he had vowed over and over not to get involved, he couldn't refuse without even hearing what the favor was.

If it turned out to be another request to join the morning run, he had no confidence in how to handle that disaster.

Now he feared not just Yeo Un-hwi, but the glaring eyes of his fellow warriors that would result from it.

Soon, Yeo Un-hwi whispered in No Il-bong's ear.

His eyes widened immediately.

It was a request with content he had never expected.

"So, can you do it?"

As Yeo Un-hwi smiled again, No Il-bong found himself nodding without realizing it.

What kind of request could it have been?