Chapter 20

Chapter 20
Gwang-sal.

Hearing the unexpected name, Cheon-geuk gasped in shock.

“Why are you seeking that person?”

“So he really is still alive.”

At that moment, Cheon-geuk realized her blunder. She should have claimed, ‘Why search for someone who has already passed away?’

“He has already departed this world.”

Her late attempt at an excuse was useless against Baek So-cheon.

“Save your breath. Stop playing around and lead me to him.”

Cheon-geuk knew Baek So-cheon’s temperament well enough. She surrendered without further argument.

“What do you want with him, anyway?”

“Private matters. It’s none of your concern.”

“You can’t meet a figure of his importance without giving a proper reason.”

“He might be important to you. To me, he’s just a retired, washed-up killer.”

Cheon-geuk’s lips twitched slightly. She swallowed down the urge to curse. She was currently at a disadvantage. If she played her cards correctly, she could eliminate the Seven Swords Society—this was an exceptional opportunity.

“Fine, answer just one question.”

As long as his motive for finding him wasn’t that specific one.

“You aren’t planning to murder him, are you?”

“How could I possibly slay Gwang-sal with my current abilities? Besides, you’d be standing right beside him.”

“Give me your word. Swear upon your name.”

“My name holds little value these days.”

“Swear it right now!”

“Fine, if it grants you peace of mind.”

“Do you promise?”

“I swear it upon my name.”

“Very well. If you produce the evidence, I will guide you to Gwang-sal. I swear upon my name as well.”

Right then, voices drifted in from the outside—Beon Saeng and Im Choong had arrived.

Beon Saeng’s animated tone reverberated through the entrance.

“Whoa, how can someone be that gorgeous?”

To Cheon-geuk, Beon Saeng was the most stunning woman he had ever laid eyes on.

Recognizing that the praise was aimed at her, Cheon-geuk pointed a finger toward her own chest.

‘That would be me.’

Now Im Choong spoke up.

“You haven’t even caught a glimpse of her face.”

“Her face is bound to be stunning too. I’m positive! That lady… I want to see her one more time.”

“Hyung mentioned she is the most terrifying individual in the jianghu.”

Cheon-geuk’s nose twitched slightly upon hearing those words. Was it annoyance at how Baek So-cheon had described her? Or irritation that Beon Saeng knew and still charged forward anyway? Or simply a natural aversion to being labeled ‘scary’? Her genuine emotions remained an enigma.

“Hyung, we’ve arrived.”

“Step inside.”

reached out, opening the door, and Im Choong alongside Beon Saeng stepped into the room.

Noticing Cheon-geuk sitting inside, both of them froze on the spot.

Right before entering, she had lowered her veiled bamboo hat once more. If anything, that action confirmed she was indeed the same mysterious woman from earlier.

Beon Saeng, appearing completely spellbound, offered a greeting.

“I am Beon Saeng, serving at the local branch. I’m sort of Baek-hyung’s younger brother.”

“Younger brother?”

She turned toward Baek So-cheon, her voice carrying a hint of astonishment.

“You take on younger brothers too?”

“In what way do I look like a younger brother to you?”

Exhibiting such antics in front of a beauty one might encounter only once in a lifetime? Beon Saeng launched his counterattack immediately.

“Hyung claimed you were unbelievably terrifying. The scariest presence in the entire jianghu. That’s a complete lie, right?”

“Naturally, it’s a lie. Do I strike you as someone scary?”

Seeing her take his statements in stride, Beon Saeng gained confidence.

“Haha, I knew it. Hyung is amazing and all, but he has a habit of exaggerating things. Please pardon him, miss.”

“I am well aware. He doesn’t just exaggerate—he curses constantly and resorts to violence when it suits him.”

“Whoa, you truly understand him well.”

“Quite well.”

“How so? Wait, what is your line of work, miss?”

“I am the Alliance Leader of the Sal-su Yeon-maeng.”

“Hahaha, good joke. The Leader of the Assassin Alliance—striking, humorous, and an exceptional actress to boot.”

“It isn’t a joke.”

“Your acting talent is top-notch as well.”

“There is no deception here, so there is no acting either.”

“Come on now.”

“It is the truth.”

“…Are you serious?”

She gave a subtle nod, and Beon Saeng instantly shrank back like a turtle retreating into its shell, backing up all the way to the wall with a miserable expression.

“…What kind of Murim Alliance Iron Sword Squad captain hosts the Leader of the Assassin Alliance right inside his own quarters?!”

A faint smile curved her lips beneath the veil, invisible to the rest of the room.

She stood up from her seat.

Beon Saeng flinched, assuming she was moving toward him, but she merely offered a warm smile and bade her farewell.

“Until we meet again.”

“Yes! Alliance Leader! It was an absolute honor!”

Beon Saeng bent at the waist so deeply his torso almost touched the ground.

By the time he raised his gaze, her presence had vanished.

Im Choong cast a pitying glance toward Beon Saeng.

“You wouldn’t even offer a bow that low to our very own Murim Alliance Lord.”

“Our lord wouldn’t execute me over a sloppy greeting.”

Beon Saeng turned his attention to Baek So-cheon.

“Is that woman truly the Leader of the Assassin Alliance?”

“Indeed.”

“How in the world do you know her?”

“I am the one who placed her in that position.”

Under normal circumstances, this would have triggered Beon Saeng’s typical bantering: ‘Hyung’s tall tales have now scaled up to the level of alliance leaders.’

However, he was left completely speechless, thoroughly shaken by the reality that he had just met the head of the Assassin Alliance in person.

The aura she projected upon her departure made it crystal clear that she was the real deal.

He could hardly process that he had shared space with someone so legendary, exchanged pleasantries, and held a conversation. A young woman, no less—it was a staggering shock.

“Unbelievable.”

Baek So-cheon had mentioned he was summoning an assassin acquaintance, but who could have predicted it would be the Leader of the Assassin Alliance herself?

Exhilaration, astonishment, and a mess of complex emotions tangled inside him.

‘Wait… could they be involved romantically?’

Yet, Baek So-cheon’s evaluation of her remained stern and unyielding.

“That woman commands an organization that takes lives for payment. Do not make the mistake of worshiping her.”

“Understood, sir!”

Beon Saeng replied with firm enthusiasm. Worshiping her was out of the question—he wouldn’t even dare venture near her.

He certainly wouldn’t boast about meeting her either. He could already envision the consequence: one night after bragging, waking up to a masked killer drawing a blade across his throat, whispering, ‘How dare a pathetic worm like you utter her name.’

—

Cheon-geuk casually sipped her spirits while riding a gently drifting vessel.

She preferred floating along the flowing river over being cooped up inside four walls. It brought an unusual sense of tranquility to her mind.

Dong-seong inquired with caution.

“Who exactly is this Gwang-sal?”

“A renowned senior figure within our assassin community. He earned the moniker Gwang-sal because he executed his assignments like a bolt of lightning. He has since retired and lives a quiet life.”

The alliance traditionally raised its guardian assassins in absolute isolation from the outside world.

Every misfortune originates from human desire.

For that reason, they kept the guardians disconnected from society—and away from other people. The more personal connections they formed, the greater the jeopardy to the alliance leader’s safety.

They withheld not only internal secrets but also general news of the realm. They taught them exclusively the art of slaughter, meant solely to shield the leader.

In that regard, those guardians were tragic figures—raised like mere puppets for the benefit of others.

However, Cheon-geuk was different from the leaders who preceded her.

She instructed her Sa-cheon-sal about the ways of the world, teaching them about people and genuine emotions. Now, her protectors possessed actual ‘hearts’ and ‘distinct personalities.’

Despite endless warnings regarding potential drawbacks, she remained steadfast—and in return, she secured the most devoted guardians in history.

“For what reason does Baek So-cheon wish to encounter him?”

Cheon-geuk simply shook her head in response to Dong-seong’s inquiry. She could not fathom the motive. She only remembered one detail: Baek So-cheon had stated it was a personal matter.

‘What kind of private affair could he possibly share with Elder Gwang-sal?’

Once the situation involving the Seven Swords Society was resolved, the truth would come to light. She softly voiced her thoughts over her cup.

“We shall learn the answer soon enough.”

She viewed the eventual outcome with optimism. It was her conviction in a warrior like Baek So-cheon, a man who treated martial energy as something trivial.

—

The son, who had been commanded to bring back Heuk Su, returned with bewildering news instead.

“Father, Heuk Su has disappeared.”

“Disappeared?”

“He isn’t at his residence, nor can he be found anywhere on the property.”

Wang Gon’s expression darkened significantly. He had been monitoring Heuk Su intently, worried he might stir up trouble.

“Could he be at the physician’s quarters?”

“No. I checked there as well—he hasn’t visited them.”

Wang Gon flinched in sudden alarm, raising his voice.

“It can’t be! Did he venture out seeking revenge?”

He had always taken immense pride in his martial talents, believing them capable of piercing the heavens. Now, that grand pride lay completely shattered.

“I dispatched men to investigate—there have been no disturbances reported at the Murim Alliance branch.”

“Damn it all. Where on earth has that bastard run off to?”

“Could he have fled out of sheer humiliation?”

“Heuk Su? Not a chance.”

He was absolute scum, certainly—but he remained fiercely loyal to him. He wouldn’t simply vanish without a word.

“If Baek So-cheon had gotten his hands on him, news of Heuk Su’s demise would have circulated by now.”

“What if he dealt with him in complete secrecy, leaving no trace behind?”

“A simple warrior of the Murim Alliance? Highly improbable.”

“Hmph. Then where in the world is Heuk Su?”

Wang U had no answer to offer—the ultimate truth remained buried deep beneath the earth.

“Instruct Cheon Yang-ho to provide a detailed report regarding the individual sent out this time.”

“Understood, Father.”

As Wang U departed, Wang Gon grimaced in frustration. The sudden onset of stress caused a throbbing ache in his gum where a tooth had been knocked out.

His once peaceful existence was now being inundated with unexpected disasters: physical beatings, humiliating arrests, and now Heuk Su vanishing without a trace.

‘If the supreme faction leader discovers this, we are completely finished.’

His arrest right at the local branch was already far too public; combining that with Heuk Su’s sudden disappearance made it look like a catastrophe in the making.

He needed to bring this entire ordeal to a conclusion before it spiraled out of control.

Inevitably, all his burning fury redirected toward Baek So-cheon.

‘You miserable brat, looking like some careless libertine. You targeted the wrong person this time!’

—

Baek So-cheon, who carried the appearance of a careless libertine, was not slacking off today.

He was scaling a sheer cliff face with his bare hands.

Not long ago, an attempt like this would have driven him to the brink of death from absolute physical exhaustion. Yet now, he was making the steep climb with a heavy sack strapped to his back, accompanied by iron weights secured around his wrists and ankles.

He moved at a swifter pace than before, yet his breathing remained steady and controlled. There was no stumbling, nor did he drop his heavy load even once.

His physical endurance had shattered its previous boundaries, ascending to an entirely new realm. Across the span of three years, Baek So-cheon had crossed this threshold twenty-seven separate times.

During the initial stages, the physical transformations were subtle: progressing from being bedridden to walking upright was a breakthrough; advancing from a walk to a full sprint was another.

At times these breakthroughs occurred mere days apart, while at other times months would pass between them.

How many more stages of growth could his frame achieve?

Every time he assumed he had finally hit his absolute physical ceiling, his body forged ahead, forging unchartered paths.

Such a feat was only achievable because he lacked internal power. Had he relied on inner energy, he never would have driven his physical form to such extreme limits.

A refreshing gust of wind swept past, stirring Baek So-cheon’s dark hair and flowing garments at the summit of the cliff. It felt almost as if the breeze itself was posing a question: what comes next?

“I am going back!”

His powerful voice reverberated across the vast mountain ranges. The heavens, the drifting clouds, the dense forests, the wild birds, and the rushing streams—all stood as silent witnesses to his unyielding determination.

He was bound to make his return. His previous demotion was merely a temporary step toward reclaiming his rightful position.

Failure remained a possibility, of course. If brought about by overwhelming external forces, he would accept it without complaint.

If crushed by a vastly superior adversary or outmaneuvered by a cleverer opponent, he could resign himself to that outcome, shrug his shoulders, and consider his journey complete.

However, he utterly refused to allow failure to originate from within himself. To suffer defeat due to a lack of personal effort? That was something he would never permit.

Baek So-cheon bellowed toward the horizon once more.

“I will make my return!”

Two distinct returns awaited him: one physical, and one deeply symbolic.

Returning to the sacred hall of the Alliance Lord.

And reclaiming his place at the absolute pinnacle of the Murim world.