Chapter 89

Chapter 89
Having completely rattled Myeol Ji-ryun, Baek So-cheon made his way without delay to Je-gal Hyeon, locating him within his personal quarters at Hyun-cheon Pavilion.

“What causes this late visit?”

“Forgive the intrusion at such an hour, but an urgent matter requires your attention.”

“What might it be?”

“I need you to verify whether any factional fractures or civil conflicts have erupted within the Blood Cult. Should that prove true, investigate the specifics of the situation.”

Baek So-cheon recounted the exact details conveyed during his conversation with Myeol Ji-ryun.

“So that is how matters stand. Very well. I shall launch an investigation immediately.”

“You have my gratitude.”

Just as he offered a courteous bow and moved toward the doorway, Je-gal Hyeon called out to halt him.

“Would you join me for a cup? A considerable time has passed since our last.”

“I would be glad to.”

Ever since settling differences with the Alliance Lord, he had scarcely dedicated moments to sit with Je-gal Hyeon. While the constant rush of recent events offered a valid excuse, departing after dropping off a task was thoughtless; he ought to have proposed the drink on his own initiative. His restless preoccupations had blinded him to simple courtesy.

I remain remarkably deficient.

The realization settled heavily: mastering the pinnacle of martial paths never guaranteed true wisdom in living or keeping human bonds. Rather, fixating entirely upon single pursuits frequently left ordinary areas of life in utter disrepair.

“I trust I am not detaining a man of many duties.”

“By no means. Sharing wine with you was already on my mind, Strategist.”

“Indeed? Ha ha ha.”

Je-gal Hyeon let out a booming laugh, his satisfaction readily apparent. Yet Baek So-cheon had previously failed to carve out the briefest moment for a simple toast.

The pair shared their drinks right there within the confines of the study. When reflecting on it, Je-gal Hyeon took his meals, slumbered, and carried out every breath of life within the Alliance.

“Does it not grow burdensome, remaining inside the headquarters without end?”

“It has become second nature. Any place beyond these walls strikes me as far more cumbersome.”

“I merely harbor concern that such persistence might take a toll on your constitution.”

“I might present a worn, creaking exterior, yet this weathered frame still possesses vigor.”

Examining him closely tonight, however, Je-gal Hyeon’s locks shone as pale as unblemished winter snow. Had that brilliance always been so absolute? The impression surfaced unbidden. At their earliest encounter, the strategist had stood as a robust man in the prime of middle age.

The seasons have slipped past so swiftly.

They drifted through varied topics while several cups were emptied.

As the pleasant warmth of wine settled in, Je-gal Hyeon broke the silence with a guarded tone.

“Should this impending conflict be thwarted, do you intend to sever your ties with the Alliance?”

The absence of a prompt denial provided a decisive reply.

“Precisely as I suspected.”

Recognizing that another chance for unvarnished honesty might not easily arise, Baek So-cheon chose full transparency.

“It pains me to state this, but since the subject has surfaced, I shall speak plainly. As you are well aware, my entire existence has been bound to the Alliance. Once these turmoil-filled days settle, I wish to walk away and taste true independence.”

He pictured journeying across the jianghu wherever his instincts carried him, eventually establishing a modest establishment reminiscent of Daroo in an enchanting mountain alcove. An abode fragrant with steeping tea leaves, untouched by unruly, wine-soaked brawlers. Opening doors on whim, securing them when inclination faded. Merely watching travelers wander past, untethered by obligations.

Should such quiet turn monotonous, he could discard that identity and embark on another venture—perhaps as an itinerant merchant seeking to stand as the most prosperous trader throughout the jianghu. And when that fancy ran dry, brush off the dust and drift elsewhere.

Such was the existence Baek So-cheon yearned to possess. An unburdened existence devoid of clingings. A destiny unfixed by rigid designs.

How could Je-gal Hyeon fail to comprehend such a desire? He too had poured out his days chained to the Murim Alliance. Identical yearnings had crossed his heart repeatedly. Yet lingering trepidation consistently rooted his feet.

Could someone like me truly thrive beyond the walls of this Alliance?

That single uncertainty had endlessly weighed down his steps like iron shackles.

He understood with profound clarity how terrifying transformation truly was, and how daunting it was to risk entering a completely unfamiliar life.

Baek So-cheon voiced his underlying hope.

When the Alliance Lord inevitably attempted to bind him, he sought an ally at his side to soften the pull.

He believed Je-gal Hyeon, out of everyone, could resonate with Baek So-cheon’s perspective. The strategist knew the gnawing ache of wanting to step away better than anyone alive.

Nevertheless, Je-gal Hyeon elevated his cup and replied,

“I cannot grant such an assurance. In truth, I intend to grasp your sleeve even more fiercely than the Lord.”

The mere contemplation of watching Baek So-cheon walk away flooded his chest with profound reluctance. Perhaps with even greater intensity than the Alliance Lord himself felt.

Recognizing that such an emotional response was infinitely more meaningful than a detached promise of assistance, Baek So-cheon offered a subdued smile and tapped his cup against the other. The vintage carried a bitter bite trailing into gentle sweetness.

At that very second, a solitary meteor cut a brilliant streak across the distant firmament visible through the casement.

Baek So-cheon shut his eyes, forming a silent wish.

For the first time in countless years… perhaps for the first occasion in his entire existence, he framed a wish solely for himself.

—

Cheon-geuk reclined beside the open window, resting her eyes upon the midnight sky.

Dong-seong stood positioned behind her frame, offering a briefing on developments within the Alliance.

“They have scheduled a grand martial competition for the close of the month.”

“Is that so?”

“Indeed. Formally convening renowned figures across the land for an open exhibition of combat.”

“A spectacle of that scale will draw an immense gathering.”

“Without question, Lord.”

“Place every one of our elite shadow operatives on full readiness.”

“The entire cohort?”

“Summon every single operative and hold them in waiting.”

“It shall be done.”

This scheduled tournament would serve as the turning point deciding whether open war erupted between the Black Heaven Alliance and the Murim Alliance. While publicly framed as an impassioned clash over a lady’s hand, the fate of the entire realm hung suspended upon the outcome.

“Shall we indulge in some wine?”

The fleeting mention of Baek So-cheon stirred a fresh longing in her chest. She had been strenuously reigning in the impulse to seek him out.

“Liquor remains forbidden for now. It could easily inflame your unhealed trauma.”

Confronted by Dong-seong’s firm refusal, Cheon-geuk retorted,

“Then the rest of you may drink freely. I shall simply sit nearby. At least permit me the role of an observer.”

“Lord, enduring such temptation will merely increase your discomfort.”

“Very well. I suppose I shall pay our elder a visit instead.”

“She has most likely drifted off to sleep by this hour.”

“Unfortunate.”

At that juncture, Seo-seong stepped forward.

“Come, share the table with us. Surely a minor sip will cause no calamity, Lord.”

“Do you truly believe so?”

A broad smile brightened Cheon-geuk’s features.

Seo-seong quickly assembled a modest array of refreshments.

In the meantime, silent internal transmissions surged among the four guardian assassins.

—The Lord behaves strangely.

—My thoughts exactly. A distinct change has overtaken her.

—Yet she harbors no trace of melancholy.

—That makes it all the more bewildering. She sits there beaming like a simpleton.

—Could this stem from the trauma of her wound?

Seo-seong, having monitored their silent dialogue, entered the exchange.

—The Lord will remain unharmed.

—What leads you to that conclusion?

Seo-seong tipped the jar, filling four vessels right to the brim while leaving the fifth containing barely a third of its capacity.

“Come now, a toast to all.”

All five individuals raised their vessels in unison.

After taking a modest draught, she spoke plainly,

“I shared a bed with him.”

Splurt!

Dong-seong instantly sprayed his wine forward.

The remaining three, save for Seo-seong who had already nurtured suspicions, were frozen in sheer astonishment.

Cheon-geuk curled her lips into a faint grin.

“As my guardians, this knowledge concerns you, so I disclose it.”

The three operatives remained utterly tongue-tied.

Seo-seong addressed her warmly,

“You have my warmest felicitations, Lord.”

“Does such an occurrence warrant congratulations?”

“Without a doubt. It marks the single most joyous event to transpire since the day I entered your service.”

“My thanks.”

Turning toward the other three, Cheon-geuk stated,

“I make no secret that my feelings lean toward him. Yet do not fret. I possess full clarity regarding my place.”

She drifted toward the open windowpane.

“Consequently, I shall harbor no excessive greed.”

Right at that heartbeat.

Buk-seong, notoriously the most reticent presence among the four guardians, uttered a sudden declaration.

“Harness greed.”

Every gaze swung toward him in stunned disbelief.

Cheon-geuk cast a gentle look upon him before returning her gaze to the shimmering canopy of stars.

“Greed serves no purpose for me. My spirit is already bathed in this much joy.”

Just then, a shooting star drew a blazing arc across the distant celestial expanse.

Cheon-geuk along with her four retainers pressed their palms flat against their chests, silently shaping prayers in the depths of their hearts.

One offered a prayer for the four; the four offered theirs entirely for the one.

—

On the following evening, Myeol Ji-ryun appeared once more before Baek So-cheon’s residence.

“Would you permit me entry for a brief moment?”

“Please, step inside.”

Passing over the threshold, she cast her gaze across the interior quarters.

“A pleasant ambiance resides here.”

“Its occupant is frequently absent, leaving the space somewhat barren.”

“I find its orderly tidiness quite charming.”

Lowering herself onto a cushion, she remarked,

“Do you keep spirits on hand? Would you care to join me in sharing a cup?”

“Certainly.”

Baek So-cheon stepped away to retrieve a vessel. While his back was turned, Myeol Ji-ryun slipped her voluminous outer mantle from her shoulders.

Revealed beneath was an alluring, skin-baring garment showcasing her exposed neckline, fair thighs, and slender waistline. Her cosmetics had been applied with far greater boldness than the previous day.

Baek So-cheon returned and poured into her vessel.

“I spent the entirety of last night wrestling with my thoughts. Pondering what Hero Baek might truly covet. Yet I could reach no answer.”

“Did you arrive at any conclusion?”

“What do your instincts tell you?”

“Pardon?”

“I am asking whether you perceive me as an alluring woman.”

“Your beauty is undeniable.”

Her lips parted slightly as her gaze adopted a smoldering intensity.

Baek So-cheon instantly recognized her calculated bid at seduction. Every stitch of her attire signaled unmistakable intent.

Unfortunately for her designs, the opening gambit met an impenetrable barrier.

“Any gentleman fortunate enough to take you as his bride would know immense fortune.”

“You flatter me.”

Invoking another hypothetical suitor under these circumstances served as an unmistakable, courteous rebuff.

A sharp wave of wounded pride pierced Myeol Ji-ryun’s composure.

This eunuch-like wretch! Giving himself airs when he lacks even a sliver of inner power! Mark my words—a day of reckoning will come!

Swallowing her bruised vanity, she brought forward her secondary maneuver.

“This might overstep propriety, and forgive me if it seems impertinent…”

“Speak freely.”

“Could it be that what Hero Baek truly desires… is cold coin?”

Baek So-cheon countered with calm poise,

“On what grounds would that be deemed impertinent?”

“Excuse me?”

“Does anything serve as a more reliable gauge of genuine intent? Provided the sum matches expectations, coin is entirely acceptable.”

A gleam of unveiled disdain flickered across Myeol Ji-ryun’s eyes.

“You diverge wildly from the grand tales whispered of you.”

Even after his clear breakdown the previous day, the fundamental truth escaped her comprehension. Contempt belonged strictly to individuals who sought to exploit their peers without offering fair recompense. Baek So-cheon declined to repeat his reasoning; her privileged upbringing had insulated her from ever grasping such realities.

Myeol Ji-ryun reached into her inner folds and extracted a thick bundle of bank drafts, laying them upon the surface. Inside rested notes of currency—thirty separate drafts, each holding a value of ten thousand nyang.

Three hundred thousand nyang!

A staggering fortune beyond ordinary imagination.

“Does this amount suffice to demonstrate the depth of my sincerity?”

“Present your stipulations. Only then can I determine its worth.”

“Very well. I require two concessions. To begin with, you must crush Yeom Sa-won in the scheduled martial duel.”

“That is acceptable.”

“Furthermore, once he concedes and withdraws, you will prolong your stay within the Murim Alliance for an extended period. Marriage between us is not mandatory. Simply remain until he abandons all pursuit of me. Do we have an agreement?”

Baek So-cheon inclined his head.

“Fair enough. I give my consent.”

They drained the remaining liquor, whereupon Myeol Ji-ryun pushed herself to her feet.

“Secure victory for my sake.”

Carrying the drafts, Baek So-cheon headed without pause to Je-gal Hyeon.

Passing a single note across the desk, he instructed,

“Trace the exact period and location where this draft was drawn.”

“Understood.”

Je-gal Hyeon immediately tasked Sa-ma Il-jung with uncovering the financial trail without delay.

“What is the nature of this matter?”

“It originates from Myeol Ji-ryun.”

“From her?”

“A certain detail unsettled my instincts.”

Before long, Sa-ma Il-jung returned to present his findings.

“This document does not hail from the Central Plains. It was produced at a Continental Branch station stationed beyond the border territory.”

“Meaning she converted her assets into paper drafts prior to crossing into this realm.”

To put it plainly, she had orchestrated the intent to deploy substantial wealth within the Central Plains long before arrival. Carrying such a massive hoard into foreign territory while accompanied by a mere pair of protectors? And dispersing this quantity of wealth without a second thought?

Baek So-cheon fundamentally dismantled his former appraisal of Myeol Ji-ryun.

“I had mistaken her for a delicate rose seeking sanctuary in a greenhouse to escape the frost. In truth, she resembles an onion hardened by the fierce winds and rains of open fields. I must peel away several more layers before her true core is revealed.”