Chapter 88

Chapter 88
“What do you mean by that?”

Myeol Ji-ryun stared at Baek So-cheon with visible astonishment.

“It means I am fully aware that you traveled here harboring a secret motive.”

Half of his assertion stemmed from sound deduction, while the other half was a deliberate, intuitive guess.

He made a concerted effort to speak with complete composure, yet Myeol Ji-ryun’s gaze trembled slightly.

“I haven’t the faintest idea what you are implying. Are you merely trying to mock me?”

A radiant smile graced her lips. A woman’s smile possessed a force every bit as potent as her weeping, illuminating the courtyard much like brilliant sunlight piercing through scattered cloud cover.

“You possess enough breathtaking beauty to make any man’s pulse quicken, and you are undoubtedly just as sharp-witted. Your mastery of martial arts must be formidable as well. If that were not so, your kin would never have permitted you to journey into these lands unattended. They must place immense trust in your ability to survive any crisis.”

Baek So-cheon kept his voice gentle, yet the quiet authority behind his statements began to weigh heavily upon her.

“From the time you were small, you have likely been showered with praise and affection. Whatever you set your heart upon in your homeland, you undoubtedly obtained without resistance, didn’t you?”

“I won’t pretend otherwise.”

“However, such tactics hold no power over me.”

“I truly cannot fathom what you are attempting to say.”

“Consider this your solitary opportunity. Should you refuse to speak frankly now, a second chance will not be granted. I shall proceed strictly on my own terms without hearing you out. Therefore, I will put the question to you once more.”

Baek So-cheon shed all traces of his customary affability. He did not resort to open intimidation either; he merely leveled a deeply solemn and piercing inquiry.

“What is the real reason you came here?”

An inexplicable, heavy pressure caused Myeol Ji-ryun’s pupils to waver.

“I arrived here to wed you.”

“I see. The hour has grown exceedingly late, so it is best that you return to your quarters. Farewell.”

Baek So-cheon offered a courteous, measured bow and turned his back to depart.

As his steps carried him away, her voice rang out urgently from behind him.

“Wait!”

Baek So-cheon halted in his tracks. A distinctly unsettled question was hurled in his direction.

“What exactly do you mean by ‘handling it your own way’?”

He slowly turned around to face her once again.

“Precisely what the words convey. It signifies that your circumstances will not factor into my decisions at all—my sole concern will be what benefits myself and the Murim Alliance. Just as you, at this very moment, prioritize only your personal interests and those of the Blood Cult.”

Her restlessness was palpable. In a clash of wills, she remained well out of her depth against him.

“There is one more matter. On what grounds do you claim to know that I hold other motives?”

“I am certain you hold no desire to become my wife.”

“How can you possibly presume to know that?”

“I sense it clearly. There is an unmistakable disparity between sincere affection and a fabricated display of warmth.”

He reflected that this awareness likely came from Cheon-geuk, through whom he had experienced firsthand the genuine nature of heartfelt devotion.

Beyond that, another concern lingered in his thoughts.

He could not help but harbor deep suspicions regarding Myeol Saeng’s motives for dispatching his own daughter straight into such peril. It was far from a simple oversight; an entirely different scheme or objective had to be at play.

Baek So-cheon’s calculated pressure had struck its mark.

Shattering the stifling silence that hung between them, Myeol Ji-ryun released a weary breath.

“You speak the truth. Marriage was never the true purpose of my journey.”

“What was it, then?”

Even after conceding that much, words failed her for a moment. The abrupt collapse of her facade had left her entirely disoriented.

“Very well. You shall hear the entire story.”

She began by detailing the internal friction within the Blood Cult regarding the proposal.

“As you are already aware, it was the Black Heaven Alliance that initially dispatched an emissary of marriage to our doorstep.”

“I am aware.”

“What you do not know, however, is that this overture sparked a profound disagreement between my father and Grand Master.”

This revelation genuinely surprised even Baek So-cheon.

“By Grand Master, do you refer to Jeok Pa-rap?”

“Indeed. He stands as the singular figure within our cult capable of openly defying my father’s authority.”

Jeok Pa-rap, an ancient supreme warrior who had surpassed a century of life, was none other than Myeol Saeng’s own martial mentor.

“One side adamantly pressed for the alliance, whereas the opposing faction insisted it must never be allowed. Those against it warned that sending me would reduce me to a mere captive, leaving our order to be manipulated by external whims. Meanwhile, those in favor feared that a rejection would shatter our pact, provoking the Black Heaven Alliance into launching a preemptive strike against us.”

Such dread had undoubtedly reached its pinnacle in the wake of the failed scheme involving the Cheon-oe Won-go. A man of Yeom Hwa-sin’s temperament would inevitably demand blood in retaliation. The cultists had most likely championed the betrothal in a frantic effort to soothe his brewing wrath.

“It ultimately tore our faction apart. Can you fathom such an absurdity? My prospective nuptials fractured our entire cult.”

“Rifts frequently erupt over matters far more trivial than this. And ironically, those shallow wounds often prove the most intractable to heal.”

“Why should that be?”

“Because when a grievance is insignificant, it offends human pride all the more deeply.”

“Ah…!”

A soft gasp escaped Myeol Ji-ryun. Memories of past relationships that had withered away rushed into her mind—deep connections irrevocably severed over petty squabbles, some concluding in senseless bloodshed.

“You speak the absolute truth.”

“Yet this affair is hardly insignificant. It holds the fate of your personal tomorrow alongside the destiny of your entire order.”

“In the end, our ranks fractured into two opposing camps: those loyal to my father’s decree, and those who rallied behind Grand Master.”

“Given that you stand before me here, the faction opposing the betrothal must have seized control.”

“Precisely. That alone paved the way for my departure.”

Abruptly, Myeol Ji-ryun’s countenance turned rigid as she delivered a startling revelation.

“The person who pushed so relentlessly for that union was my own father.”

“He insisted that for the prosperity of our cult, I ought to wed Yeom Sa-won. He claimed that taking the successor of the Black Heaven Alliance as a partner was hardly an unfavorable prospect. Never in my wildest thoughts did I imagine such words would cross his lips.”

Baek So-cheon had naturally presumed her sire would have resisted the match. No sane parent would willingly surrender an only daughter into the hands of rivals as a hostage. Furthermore, rumors regarding the vile nature of Yeom Sa-won were widespread. Yet despite all that, her father had attempted to enforce the pairing anyway.

A wave of unadulterated revulsion surged within his chest.

Those despicable wretches!

His indignation toward Myeol Saeng intertwined with his longstanding malice toward Yeom Hwa-sin.

Behaving like ruthless competitors in a ruthless arena, they showed no hesitation in exploiting and discarding their own flesh and blood to grasp greater influence.

“Grand Master has doted upon me as if I were his flesh and blood since my earliest days.”

Her gaze shimmered with rising moisture, whether flowing from genuine heartbreak or an artful display of sorrow. Regardless of the truth, he remained guarded. Men regularly dropped their defenses the moment a woman exhibited vulnerability, only to harvest bitter remorse later on.

“Even taking that into account, would the Blood Cult Lord surrender his stance and permit you to seek me out so easily?”

“Grand Master confronted Father face-to-face. He must have conceded whatever compensation Father sought in exchange.”

“Do you know the nature of that trade?”

She gave a silent shake of her head. Even if she held knowledge of it, she was unlikely to divulge it without resistance.

“So proposing a match with me was entirely Grand Master’s scheme?”

“It was. He insisted that extending a formal offer to you was the sole method by which I could evade becoming Yeom Sa-won’s bride.”

Assuming her claims were accurate, Jeok Pa-rap possessed a remarkably sharp understanding of his disposition—and perhaps even the subtle, underlying tension linking him to Yeom Hwa-sin.

Just how far into the future had that old master peered?

“And had I accepted the proposal?”

“Grand Master harbored no doubts on that score. He swore that you would never welcome the blood of the Blood Cult into your house.”

“I regret withholding the truth from you until this moment.”

“If your words tonight truly represent the reality of things, then you have successfully claimed your final lifeline. I have granted you my ear.”

“It is nothing but the pure truth.”

“I certainly hope that proves to be the case.”

He judged that the bulk of her tale held merit. Nevertheless, one had to remain vigilant against a solitary, cunning falsehood concealed amidst nine authentic truths.

“Ultimately, you have transformed me into your personal shield.”

“You have my apologies.”

“Did you foresee that Yeom Sa-won would throw down a martial challenge against me?”

“I did not. Even Grand Master failed to anticipate such a development.”

“And if I am defeated by his blade?”

No words came from her. It was evident she had never bothered to contemplate that outcome.

Fixing a resolute stare upon Baek So-cheon, she pleaded,

“I beg of you, emerge victorious.”

“Very well. I shall strike Yeom Sa-won down on your behalf. But what compensation do you intend to provide me in exchange?”

“Excuse me?”

A bewildered look overtook Myeol Ji-ryun’s features.

“You demand compensation?”

“Naturally. This is a matter contested with our very lives on the line. Expecting payment is merely standard practice.”

“Yet are you not…?”

Her sentence faltered, unable to cross her lips.

Baek So-cheon completed the thought for her.

“A practitioner of the righteous path, and therefore expected to bear this burden out of sheer goodwill?”

Myeol Ji-ryun found herself unable to dispute the charge. Her initial shock had been born directly from that exact presumption.

When he pointed out her naive assumptions, her brow furrowed slightly in discontent.

Baek So-cheon ignored her displeasure and continued without relenting.

“Within the realm of the Murim, nothing is granted without a cost. When you desire an outcome, you must offer an equivalent price.”

He purposely forced her into a corner. It was under severe duress that an individual’s authentic character emerged.

Contending with Yeom Hwa-sin was already an immense trial. If this woman carried covert schemes within his perimeter, it could easily blindside him at a critical juncture.

At that moment, Myeol Ji-ryun spoke with deliberate delicacy.

“Should Lord Baek declare a willingness to accept me as a bride… I would give the matter genuine thought. The impression you have made upon me far exceeds my initial expectations.”

She lowered her chin, a soft warmth coloring her cheeks. She was well-versed in how to charm a man’s sensibilities. Had any ordinary man stood before her rather than Baek So-cheon, such a bashful manner and delicate gaze would have swayed him completely.

Yet her calculation proved entirely mistaken.

“Your Grand Master understood my nature with precision. I hold not the slightest desire to wed the daughter of the Blood Cult Lord. Produce a different offer.”

Her face froze instantly. Her feminine charm had been casually brushed aside.

“What is it that you desire?”

“That remains for me to decide. State clearly what you are prepared to give, and name the service you require in exchange. Such is the nature of a transaction. Consider your options carefully, decide what you can provide, and report back to me. Only then will I pass judgment. Furthermore, do not attempt to offer your heart.”

“And what if I simply decline?”

Baek So-cheon’s reply was devoid of warmth.

“Depart for your home. Immediately.”

“If I return now, Yeom Sa-won will hardly remain passive.”

“I shall deal with him myself.”

Their eyes locked with unyielding intensity. Myeol Ji-ryun could tell without a doubt that his words were entirely serious.

“Then I shall await your judgment.”

As Baek So-cheon turned to walk away, an edge of indignation crept into her voice.

“Why must you treat me with such harshness? Is this the reward I receive for being entirely truthful?”

She truly was Myeol Saeng’s offspring through and through.

Na-sa-rin had once mentioned an unmistakable hereditary trait of the Blood Cult lineage: their pale gray irises bled into crimson whenever true wrath overtook them. His opening objective had been attained.

“The truth you surrendered was offered purely out of self-preservation, was it not? You confessed only because you dreaded what would follow if you kept silent.”

Myeol Ji-ryun stood entirely speechless. His assessment was flawless. She had assumed that offering a few tears alongside a partial truth would instantly solidify the righteous youth’s trust, rendering him pliable to her designs.

“Yeom Hwa-sin, and your entire cohort—all of you take immense pleasure in manipulating human lives like playthings. You view it as your inherent prerogative, a natural exercise of your supremacy. Yet moving forward, I intend to extract full compensation.”

“Compensation for what?”

“A service fee. If you intend to toy with human beings, you must pay the required price.”

“I shall anticipate your formal proposition.”

Baek So-cheon offered a courteous bow and walked into the night with steady strides.

Myeol Ji-ryun followed his fading silhouette with an unblinking gaze, her eyes now completely devoid of moisture and chillingly ash-colored.

A soft rustle whispered through the air.

A presence materialized quietly beside her.

It was Pa-jeong, the more youthful of the two protectors assigned to her side.

Myeol Ji-ryun spoke with freezing detachment.

“He is far from an ordinary opponent.”

The way she addressed him was completely distinct from the manner she used with Rap-sa, the elder guardian. When speaking to the elder, she played the role of a delicate lady requiring shielding; here, she stood as an uncompromising commander issuing orders.

“How do you intend to proceed?”

“We must offer him whatever he seeks in order to secure precious time. We cannot afford to be driven out of the Murim Alliance under current circumstances.”

“What will you present to him?”

Her gray eyes turned somber and murky as she tracked the path where Baek So-cheon had vanished.

“Two separate proposals. Should the first suffice to satisfy him, we can preserve the second for ourselves.”