Chapter 37

Chapter 37
**To the Alliance (3)**

With their departure for the Murim Alliance Headquarters settled, Im Choong and Beon Saeng threw all their energy into getting ready.

Im Choong bore an immense share of the burden. Beyond concluding the branch’s lingering obligations, he had an entire household to move. Luckily, having shared the wandering existence typical of a branch head, his wife and child raised no objections about picking up and relocating once more.

Still, breaking the truth to his wife, Ju-ssi, weighed heavily upon him.

“I won’t even hold the position of branch leader anymore. I’m stepping back down to an ordinary martial artist.”

The drop in status was steep enough, but the sudden slash to their regular earnings posed a harsh reality.

Yet, fully aware of the consequences, Ju-ssi did not question his choice.

“Do not worry. We can manage.”

She had always been extraordinarily thrifty—so much so that Im Choong regularly wondered where else they could possibly cut back. He felt endlessly blessed, convinced no one on earth possessed a finer companion.

Ju-ssi even offered warm encouragement:

“Think of it as giving Chan his upbringing on a far grander stage.”

Catching wind of her words, Beon Saeng pledged straight to Im Choong that he would one day seek out a spouse just like his sister-in-law. Im Choong, who took boundless pride in his family and rarely missed a chance to praise his wife, leaned over and murmured into Beon Saeng’s ear, “Picking a life partner demands far greater vigilance than surviving a duel to the death.”

Throughout the days leading up to their departure, Baek So-cheon adhered strictly to his daily regimen. Daylight was reserved for branch duties, while the evenings were dedicated to martial cultivation.

He practiced the initial three forms of the Heavenly Thunder Nine Fists relentlessly until every motion was ingrained in his bones, focusing heavily on building physical endurance to compensate for his depleted internal energy.

Late into one evening.

Drained from a grueling session, he stepped into the courtyard under the moonlit sky to find Cheon-geuk arranging a low table with refreshments.

“What are you up to?”

“Ah, you’re back?”

“Setting up drinks at this hour?”

“Have you forgotten my profession? Nighttime is an assassin’s natural element. You may grumble, but you won’t say no to this, will you?”

She gave the vessel in her grasp a gentle swirl.

“A parting toast. You’re returning to headquarters, aren’t you?”

Given how vigorously Im Choong and Beon Saeng were packing, the news was hardly confidential.

“You even brought proper cups?”

It was more than just cups; she had laid out an array of side dishes, entirely prepared by her own hands.

“A good drink deserves proper vessels to bring out the flavor. The same goes for food.”

The alcohol was of exceptional quality, and the spread was far from cheap tavern fare—it bore the refined touch of an accomplished cook.

Taking their places opposite each other on the wooden deck, they began to drink.

“This is remarkably good.”

“I was saving it for an extraordinary occasion.”

In truth, there was no grand celebration to speak of. Bringing down the Seven Swords Society meant nothing compared to the storm gathering on the horizon.

Watching Baek So-cheon confront the Black Heaven Alliance Lord had made one thing clear to her: an era of bloodshed was imminent. Neither she, nor he, nor the broader jianghu could evade the impending chaos. Before that tide arrived, she simply wanted this shared drink.

“Are you returning as well?”

“I must.”

“Keep your guard up out there.”

“Understood.”

They tipped back another round, after which Cheon-geuk inquired,

“Do you feel prepared?”

“For what?”

“Heading back to headquarters implies you intend to give this everything you’ve got, right?”

Baek So-cheon offered a faint grin. There was a touch of irony in the fact that the very figure whose territory he had once dismantled grasped his inner intentions better than anyone else alive.

“Preparation? I never lacked the resolve. It’s my martial capability that’s lacking.”

“I trust you’ll find a path. I’m not telling you this to weigh you down.”

Fixing his gaze on her, Baek So-cheon remarked casually,

“What brought this on? Have you lost the urge to throw away a hundred thousand nyang in a single evening?”

“Hah! Your imagination remains as grandiose as your former strength.”

Baek So-cheon chuckled and raised his cup; she matched him, swallowing her liquor with equal relish.

“Now that we’re on the subject, here’s a confession: back when you elevated me to the position of Killer King, I genuinely wanted to take you to bed.”

“Shameless, aren’t you? Dreaming of intimacy during an occasion like that.”

“Shameless? That’s entirely natural impulse. You were magnificent back then—the absolute strongest warrior under heaven.”

“And now that I’m not, that impulse has vanished?”

Following a quiet breath, Cheon-geuk asked,

“Is there a woman in your heart?”

“Why ask? Thinking of tracking her down?”

“Neither of us is particularly sentimental when it comes to romance. Why, do you hold feelings for me?”

“I think we’d make a fine match. You have a rather endearing side.”

“A fine match? Endearing?”

Any other woman might have bridled at the remark, but coming from Baek So-cheon, it carried an odd naturalness.

“Would you believe I’ve never shared a bed with any man?”

“Are you fond of me, or are you just telling tall tales to spoil the mood?”

“It’s the honest truth.”

“Truly? How did you manage that all this time?”

“I was appointed successor to the Killer King at an early age, so no one dared make improper advances. And fortunately, my predecessor never laid a finger on me.”

“And after you claimed the seat of Killer King yourself?”

“He possessed decent qualities overall, but there was one vile habit I utterly detested: dallying with young women before slaughtering them. I refused to become anything like that wretch.”

“You ought to seek out a genuine romance.”

“Easier said than done.”

“Quite so. Your tastes are far too low if you’re harboring interest in someone like me.”

Cheon-geuk let out an easy laugh and rose to her feet.

“Until our paths cross again.”

“My thanks for the gesture.”

Her lips curved at his genuine gratitude. She understood that this departure was far from their ultimate parting. In the turbulent expanse of the jianghu, what twist of destiny would draw them together next?

“Stay alive… If you manage to survive, perhaps I’ll grant you that night after all.”

With those parting words, Cheon-geuk melted into the shadows without making a sound.

Baek So-cheon let out a soft laugh.

Beneath the serene moonlight, he had received an ambiguous declaration from the Killer Queen while savoring exquisite liquor.

Leaning back, he muttered under his breath,

“If the worst comes to pass, I simply perish. That is all.”

Having stood on the front lines of merciless battlefields, Baek So-cheon had surrendered his fear of dying long ago.

Yet there remained one reality he abhorred above all else.

War.

It had forged his legend once, and just as swiftly, it had brought about his ruin.

Experiencing that hell once was enough; enduring it a second time was unacceptable.

Recalling the figure of the Black Heaven Alliance Lord, Baek So-cheon hardened his resolve.

*Failing to finish me off when you had the chance will prove to be your gravest blunder. I will not permit your ambitions to drag countless innocents to slaughter.*

High above, the solitary moon remained the only witness to his vow.

—

Ten days later, three horse-drawn wagons carrying Baek So-cheon and his companions pulled into Wuhan, Hubei, the territory housing the Murim Alliance Headquarters. Two carts were piled high with their belongings, while the travelers rode in the third.

Im Choong had liquidated the vast majority of his household goods, packing only absolute essentials into a single wagon. He had no wish to let personal baggage slow their northward progress, viewing the journey as a clean slate.

Using whatever funds they had accumulated, they intended to lease or purchase a modest dwelling along the city’s outskirts to get by. He harbored no regrets, greeting this immense turning point with optimism and quiet delight.

Wuhan utterly dwarfed the modest town of Munseong.

“Look at that! Incredible!”

Beon Saeng stared wide-eyed at the majestic city, thoroughly captivated. The pedestrians sported vibrant, elegant garments, and the bustling crowds were several times larger than anything in Munseong.

Im Choong concealed his inner marvel, though he was just as deeply moved.

“Where are we heading first?”

Baek So-cheon gave a blunt reply to Beon Saeng’s inquiry.

“Home.”

“Home? Whose place?”

“Mine.”

“Wait, you kept a residence here as well, brother?”

Their carriage rolled into a sprawling estate located a short distance from the Alliance Headquarters.

Climbing down, the group looked around the property in pure astonishment.

“This place is unbelievable!”

It boasted a grand central pavilion, spacious side quarters, massive courtyards in the front and rear suited for martial drills, and even a manicured garden.

Baek So-cheon addressed his companions.

“We will be residing here together for the time being.”

“What?”

This was not his former dwelling.

He had contacted Je-gal Hyeon beforehand to purchase this fresh property. Real estate bordering the Alliance fetched exorbitant sums, yet he had laid down thirty thousand nyang to secure this vast, pristine estate.

Had he arrived alone, he would simply have reclaimed his old, modest quarters. But bringing Im Choong, Beon Saeng, and Im Choong’s dependents along meant a far grander property was necessary.

“You purchased this entire manor?”

“I did.”

“It must have cost an absolute fortune.”

“I have sufficient funds.”

“Good heavens! You’re wealthy on top of everything else?”

Baek So-cheon took the grandest quarters within the main pavilion for himself, assigning a smaller chamber to Beon Saeng.

Im Choong’s household was granted the entire annex. Settling inside the central pavilion might have made them feel uneasy, whereas the detached annex—far more luxurious than their former home in Munseong—offered ideal comfort and privacy.

“We cannot possibly accept such excessive hospitality.”

“I am merely offering unused rooms. There is no need to make a fuss over hospitality.”

Turning toward Ju-ssi, Baek So-cheon said,

“Branch Leader Im is indispensable to my plans, which is why I have dragged your household all the way to Wuhan. I ask for your understanding.”

“Please do not apologize. I have never witnessed my husband looking so invigorated. I entrust him to your guidance from here on.”

She inclined her head with profound sincerity.

She was well aware that her husband now addressed Baek So-cheon as an older brother and that their relocation had been made entirely for his sake.

Though she had comforted her husband, she was not entirely free from worry.

Even so, she chose to place her faith in fate.

“The meal you prepared back then was truly wonderful. If there are extra portions on occasion, would you be willing to share?”

“Leave that to me. Managing household matters is my responsibility.”

She saw through his intention—a subtle effort to relieve her sense of obligation. A man capable of such thoughtful gestures was someone she could wholeheartedly rely upon.

Observing Baek So-cheon’s attentiveness toward his wife, Im Choong felt a renewed sense of admiration.

Ever since his arrival in Munseong, Baek So-cheon had carried himself like an easygoing wanderer, yet his vigilance had never faltered for a moment. How could a warrior blind to everyday decencies hope to shoulder momentous undertakings? Im Choong was gleaning far more than martial techniques from Baek So-cheon; he was learning how to navigate life itself.

Once their belongings were unloaded and settled into the rooms, Baek So-cheon beckoned the two men.

“Time to head out.”

“Where are we bound?”

“To see our future post. Someone is already waiting.”

“Understood!”

Leaving Ju-ssi and Chan to organize the living quarters, the two accompanied Baek So-cheon outside.

As they walked, Beon Saeng remarked to Im Choong,

“We truly arrived all the way out here.”

“Indeed.”

The entire sequence of events felt almost surreal.

Im Choong, in particular, had never envisioned parting with his branch leadership so unhesitatingly.

“The real journey begins now.”

“My heart is racing. I wonder what sort of figures we will encounter.”

Neither of them could have anticipated the identity of the person awaiting them.

Standing by the central gates of the Murim Alliance was Je-gal Hyeon.

“Greetings.”

Je-gal Hyeon offered the trio an amiable welcome, prompting Baek So-cheon to initiate introductions.

“These are the companions joining me. Offer your courtesies. This is the Hyun-cheon Pavilion Lord.”

“Im Choong greets you.”

“Beon Saeng greets you.”

Both bowed hastily.

“A pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am Je-gal Hyeon.”

Im Choong suddenly stiffened.

“Did you mention… the Hyun-cheon Pavilion Lord just now?”

“Indeed.”

“The Hyun-cheon Pavilion… that would mean…”

His voice wavered noticeably.

“You are correct. I serve as the Grand Strategist of the Murim Alliance.”

Im Choong and Beon Saeng leaped in sheer astonishment. Throughout their travels, Beon Saeng had privately fretted over petty humiliations:

What if the gatekeepers mocked them as worthless rustics and barred their entry? Would they have to plead with their senior, or attempt to bluster their way inside?

Those prior anxieties now seemed utterly absurd—the Alliance’s own Grand Strategist had come out to receive them personally.

Their wide eyes darted toward Baek So-cheon.

Beon Saeng stammered,

“You turned Munseong upside down, and now you’re pulling the exact same stunt here the moment we arrive.”

For an ordinary warrior returning to headquarters to be received directly by the Grand Strategist was unheard of—yet this was a man who casually consorted with the Killer King.

“Wait… You can’t just be an ordinary squad leader, can you?”

Je-gal Hyeon cast a wry glance at Baek So-cheon.

“You never informed them?”

“Not a word.”

Baek So-cheon simply gave a nod.

“Then what in the world…”

Beon Saeng opened his mouth to press Je-gal Hyeon, only to snap his jaw shut. Who was he to dare cross-examine the Grand Strategist?

“Step inside, please.”

Je-gal Hyeon and Baek So-cheon proceeded forward shoulder to shoulder.

Trailing in their wake with thumping chests, Im Choong and Beon Saeng stepped beyond the threshold. A new chapter, brimming with unpredictable shocks, had officially begun.