Chapter 84

Chapter 84
Yeom Sa-won launched his ill-mannered inquiry without offering even a basic courtesy upon their first meeting, intending it as an explanation for why she had turned down his marriage proposal.

Fortunately, Myeol Ji-ryun possessed far greater poise than Yeom Sa-won.

She smiled faintly before replying.

“I am a pacifist.”

Yeom Sa-won barely choked back the impulse to mock such words coming from the Blood Cult’s successor as pure absurdity.

“What are you trying to say?”

“If our marriage went through, war would inevitably ignite, would it not?”

With the alliance between the Black Heaven Alliance and the Blood Cult taking shape, general opinion across the jianghu regarded widespread bloodshed as an absolute certainty.

“So you are saying you wish to prevent war?”

“That is correct.”

“What a shallow view—you see only one half of the picture while blind to the other.”

“How so?”

“Taking Baek So-cheon as your husband will hasten the arrival of war even faster.”

“For what reason?”

“My presence standing right before you ought to make that obvious.”

It was a sharp assertion meant to show that his furious arrival spoke volumes on its own.

Myeol Ji-ryun looked him straight in the eyes and posed her own query.

“Very well, then may I ask you something in return?”

“You may ask ten things if it pleases you.”

“A single question will do.”

“Supposing I marry you, Young Master Yeom, can you personally guarantee that conflict will never erupt?”

Yeom Sa-won flinched slightly. Halting a major war was entirely beyond his power. No one understood better than he just how intensely his father yearned to subjugate and unite the entire jianghu.

When he failed to produce an answer, Myeol Ji-ryun let a subtle smile grace her lips and continued.

“That is the reason. That is precisely why I sent the matchmaker toward the Murim Alliance. If conflict cannot be averted regardless, my intention is to balance the scales between opposing powers and strive to keep total war at bay.”

Whether she spoke from true conviction or not, she had effortlessly neutralized Yeom Sa-won’s overbearing attitude through sound logic.

However, Yeom Sa-won was hardly the type of man to yield quietly after being bested in a war of words.

“Understood. I have grasped your flimsy notion of pacifism. Yet that remains merely your personal sentiment, and I have no intention of allowing it.”

“Then what do you propose we do?”

Yeom Sa-won shifted his glare toward Baek So-cheon.

“Let the winner of a single duel against him claim your hand.”

“You are completely disregarding my personal autonomy.”

“You cast me aside first.”

Baek So-cheon had been observing their heated argument with keen amusement.

Whether intentionally or otherwise, both individuals acted purely out of self-interest. Neither spared a thought for the circumstances of anyone else, focusing strictly on their own desires.

Naturally, the true blame lay with their parents. Their elders had poured boundless ambition into grasping and maintaining authority, while failing completely to instill proper character in their children.

Yeom Sa-won raised his voice in a shout toward Baek So-cheon.

“What is your answer? Let us resolve this fairly, man to man.”

“Fairly? Are you implying that you will fight without drawing upon your internal energy?”

Yeom Sa-won sneered openly at Baek So-cheon’s inquiry.

“Certainly not. Did you not once stand at the very pinnacle of the realm? I shall wield mine, while you fight without yours. That ought to make things fair enough.”

A sudden stillness descended over the gathering.

Baek So-cheon had no real choice but to agree to the terms. His compliance was not on account of Yeom Sa-won, but because of Yeom Hwa-sin. The father had mobilized Black Lightning to drag him to this place and sent his own son ahead, deliberately fueling public rumors throughout the jianghu. It served as an implicit, undeniable pressure commanding him to yield without objection.

And should he dare to decline?

A harsh example would inevitably be made. The crux of the matter was that the punishment would bypass him entirely, striking instead at innocent bystanders whose deaths would inflict agonizing remorse upon his spirit.

If he was forced to accept either way?

“Very well. I accept your challenge.”

Those gathered in the room gasped in astonishment at Baek So-cheon’s swift response.

However, Ak So-gun and Je-gal Hyeon placed unwavering faith in him, believing he harbored some calculated scheme.

True to their expectations, Baek So-cheon appended a condition of his own.

“However, I will place a different wager on the table.”

Myeol Ji-ryun’s facial expression tightened instantly. The alternative stake Baek So-cheon hinted at clearly had nothing to do with taking her as a bride.

“A different wager?”

“Should I emerge victorious, you will guarantee that no war occurs for the span of one full year. Furthermore, your father, the Lord of the Black Heaven Alliance, must personally make this declaration known to the entire jianghu.”

“What did you say?”

“If you reject this requirement, the duel will not take place.”

“The martial artists of the jianghu will laugh at you for cowardice.”

“Let them laugh. I have endured endless mockery before. But will those taunts be aimed solely at me?”

“What are you implying?”

“If you withdraw from fighting an opponent who cannot even use internal energy simply because of one attached condition, the scorn directed at your name will be overwhelming.”

Yeom Sa-won’s features contorted in pure rage.

“You insolent bastard!”

Baek So-cheon swiftly offered words to flatter his pride.

“Rumor has it that you are the single individual capable of swaying the Black Heaven Alliance Lord. I am confident you possess the sway to secure this agreement.”

“And if victory falls to me?”

“Then you may take Lady Myeol as your wife.”

At those words, Myeol Ji-ryun’s temper flared dramatically.

“Who gave you the right to decide my fate?”

Baek So-cheon addressed her directly.

“You acted on your own spontaneous whim when you dispatched that matchmaker. This entire dilemma arose solely from your doing. Seeing that I am wagering my very existence, is it not fitting that you risk something of comparable weight?”

His reasoning was entirely unassailable, leaving Myeol Ji-ryun without any viable counterargument. Consequently, she shifted to another matter.

“And what of our betrothal if you happen to win?”

“Did you not declare your desire to preserve peace? The tranquility of the jianghu holds vastly more importance than our marriage. We shall simply push our wedding back by twelve months.”

Because his proposal echoed her own professed ideals, she found herself incapable of arguing back. Moreover, she was the sole instigator who had sent a proposal to someone she had never once met.

“I am not declining the match. I am merely delaying the matter by one year.”

In truth, Baek So-cheon harbored entirely different intentions. His true plan was to dedicate that entire year to grueling cultivation, seeking to master the apex of martial arts from antiquity to the modern era if possible. Should anyone dare utter the slightest hint of initiating war, he would strike them down and then vanish from the jianghu for good.

Wholly unaware of his inner calculations, both Myeol Ji-ryun and Yeom Sa-won sank into deep contemplation.

Baek So-cheon nudged Yeom Sa-won with a subtle provocation.

“There is no need to show hesitation. Secure the win, and all your troubles are resolved.”

True to form, Yeom Sa-won swallowed the provocation whole.

“I feel no fear toward someone of your state!”

Yeom Sa-won glared fiercely toward Baek So-cheon.

‘Indeed. There is no conceivable way I could suffer defeat.’

Confidence swelled within Yeom Sa-won. To his mind, no martial artist lacking internal energy could ever hope to deflect or evade his strikes. He would simply end Baek So-cheon’s life within the bounds of the arena.

This confrontation had ceased to be about claiming Myeol Ji-ryun. It had transformed entirely into a burning thirst to murder Baek So-cheon.

“Very well. We shall speak again once you have secured his consent.”

Yeom Sa-won turned on his heel and departed, flanked by Jan-baek and Go-gong. Blindsided by turbulent anger, he neglected to offer proper parting manners to Ak So-gun.

Myeol Ji-ryun, by contrast, offered polite farewells to each person present before exiting the premises.

Once the room cleared of guests, Ak So-gun opened his mouth to inquire.

“What is your true objective?”

“To postpone the outbreak of armed conflict by any means necessary.”

“Do you truly believe Yeom Hwa-sin will keep his word?”

“There is no certainty.”

Even in the wake of a grand public proclamation, the man could simply discard the agreement and initiate battle. All Baek So-cheon could do was seize upon this opening and exploit it to the absolute maximum.

On Byeok-hwa spoke up, entering the discussion.

“Yet do you truly possess the ability to prevail?”

Having no knowledge that his internal reserves had been restored, her heart was weighed down with deep concern.

“I hold full confidence in my chances.”

Should the engagement truly unfold, he genuinely intended to battle without tapping into his internal power. Too many sets of eyes would be watching the exchange.

Even if an extreme situation forced him to wield it, he would do so with such subtlety that no observer could perceive it. The primary hurdle would be slipping past the perceptive gaze of Jan-baek.

“For the time being, let us await the word on whether Yeom Hwa-sin accepts the terms.”

Everyone in the room signaled their agreement with a nod.

“You must refuse this duel.”

Yeom Sa-won snarled with obvious irritation at Go-gong’s warning.

“You are walking straight into their trap. Agreeing to such an engagement implies he possesses the certainty that he will triumph.”

“I am already well aware of that!”

Yet Yeom Sa-won refused to retreat. He felt this confrontation was ordained by fate from the very beginning. He understood the private sentiment lurking within his father’s heart—that quiet yearning wishing Baek So-cheon were his biological heir instead.

Had his father openly bellowed, “I would rather have Baek So-cheon as my flesh and blood than an incompetent fool like you!” the direct lash would have stung far less than that unspoken, lingering remorse.

‘I will slaughter him without fail!’

No matter how fearsome the man’s reputation had been in the past, bereft of internal energy in the present, Yeom Sa-won remained utterly certain of his victory.

“Even if it is presented as a wager, altering the agreed conditions will incur the Alliance Lord’s displeasure.”

“My father’s perspective might surprise you. Dispatch the missive at once.”

Go-gong cast a desperate glance toward Jan-baek, hoping the man would assist in talking sense into the young master, yet Jan-baek feigned complete ignorance of the look.

“Send the message immediately!”

Yeom Sa-won stormed off into the distance.

Go-gong turned toward Jan-baek and pressed him.

“Do you intend to merely stand by and observe without acting?”

Jan-baek calmly stated his view.

“If the Lord wished for us to hold him back, he never would have permitted him to journey here from the start.”

Unable to construct a counterpoint, Go-gong could do nothing except offer a reluctant nod.

Within a hidden expanse, Baek So-cheon and Cheon-geuk engaged in an exchange of martial blows.

Cheon-geuk’s form dissolved into thin air, reappearing in an instant as she thrust her dagger straight forward.

A sharp hum sliced through the space.

Yet the spot she struck was already empty; Baek So-cheon had shifted away before the strike landed.

Blade met short weapon in a ringing burst. A deafening, crackling resonance reverberated as attacks infused with heavy internal power collided against one another.

Whenever a sliver of time presented itself, the pair gathered in this secluded haven to hone themselves through lifelike dueling.

These intensely realistic exchanges provided immense insight and sharpened them both.

Through their practice, Baek So-cheon was able to measure the precise boundaries of her proficiency.

Her combat prowess sat roughly two to three stages beneath the top four figures occupying the Martial Rankings.

That distinction alone demonstrated the terrifying might found within the martial styles of Yeom Hwa-sin, Myeol Saeng, and Ak So-gun.

Baek So-cheon wished for her capability to advance by just one additional stage. Doing so would diminish the separation to a mere stage or two. At that level of competence, she would not easily fall prey to death regardless of the danger she faced.

For her part, Cheon-geuk poured every drop of her effort into assisting Baek So-cheon, treating their sparring as though it were a genuine duel to the death.

As their session came to a close, both slumped onto the bare soil, catching their breath.

Her ragged, heavy gasps filled the surrounding air.

She cast her eyes toward Baek So-cheon and spoke.

“Are you even made of flesh and blood? How do you remain this composed?”

“I am standing directly upon the boundary.”

“The boundary?”

“Indeed. If you push your ability forward by just a hair, my own breath will turn just as laboured as yours.”

Baek So-cheon positioned his fingers mere millimeters apart to demonstrate how minute the separation truly was.

“You can perceive that? Does it genuinely feel as though I could shatter through with only a slight push?”

“I can clearly see the wall that is keeping you contained.”

“And your vision reaches past it?”

“It does.”

“Can I truly bring that wall down?”

Cheon-geuk felt her heart skip a beat as Baek So-cheon gave a firm nod.

“It seems you still retain untapped potential within you.”

“Then gaining true strength is really within my reach?”

Baek So-cheon affirmed the question with unwavering certainty.

“Yes.”

He was able to voice such complete conviction because both of their martial disciplines pursued the extreme boundaries of speed. Through these intense, life-and-death practice matches, he had identified the barrier blocking her path before she had—and unraveled the method required to shatter it.

“You will have to break it in the midst of genuine mortal combat.”

“In actual mortal combat?”

“Your discipline is an assassination craft built entirely upon unmatched velocity. You have likely spent your entire life honing surprise strikes from the shadows.”

“That is true.”

“Now you must shatter that obstruction through a direct, open confrontation rather than an ambush. Yet walking that path demands an enormous gamble.”

“How severe of a gamble?”

“Far beyond our regular practice. Put these light matches out of your mind—I will press you with genuine murderous intent, seeking your life. If you can withstand my lethal assault, you will break through your limitations.”

Because her martial path was built upon maximum velocity yet grounded in brutal practicality, surpassing its peak required baptism through authentic, perilous warfare.

“There is a distinct chance I will end your life.”

Cheon-geuk’s tone wavered slightly; she knew his warning carried deadly truth.

“You are simply uttering those words to sharpen my focus, are you not? You can hold your blade back if danger arises.”

“I cannot. If holding back were an option, I would have guided you through it already without offering a preliminary explanation.”

“I see.”

“There remains an additional complication.”

“What might that be?”

“Even should you survive the ordeal, breaking through the wall is not an absolute certainty. The chances remain split evenly down the middle.”

“So even if I stake my very existence, there is a chance I will achieve nothing?”

“May I have some time to deliberate on the matter?”

“Certainly. You may take months if you require it.”

“No, a brief moment will be enough.”

Cheon-geuk fell into quiet contemplation.

As someone walking the martial path, she hungered fiercely for greater power. Yet under ordinary circumstances, she would never wager her life so lightly.

Now, however, matters were entirely different.

With an impending clash against the Black Heaven Alliance casting its looming shadow, her path ahead was fraught with mortal peril.

What if she could truly ascend to a higher realm of skill?

Had anyone else presented this proposition, she would have flatly refused. She was not the type of person to toss her life away on uncertain odds.

Yet the person extending the offer was Baek So-cheon—and that single truth made her hesitate.

Though she had asked for merely a brief pause, half a shichen quietly drifted past while she turned the thoughts over in her mind. At long last, she raised herself upright, her mind entirely resolved.

“Very well. Strive to kill me.”