Chapter 98

Chapter 98
Villains Don’t Stroll (2)

Baek So-cheon reached the initial destination written down on Cheon-geuk’s memo.

The spot turned out to be the stables housing the mounts of the Iron Sword Unit.

He had tasked her with tailing the girl beforehand, so there must have been prior actions taken. This place likely was not the very first location Pa-jeong had checked out.

Taking his time, Baek So-cheon scrutinized everything nearby.

What purpose could possibly have drawn her here?

Putting himself in Pa-jeong’s shoes, he paced through the grounds with measured steps.

It surely had nothing to do with tampering with the beasts themselves.

To be thorough, he inspected the troughs of fodder and observed the horses resting in their stalls, extending his scrutiny even to those undergoing outdoor exercises. Yet not a single detail seemed out of place.

The stable hand stepped toward Baek So-cheon with a tentative, respectful demeanor.

“May I assist you with something, Captain?”

The worker showed Baek So-cheon immense reverence. Over recent days, favorable sentiment toward him had been steadily mounting, and the exhibition match yesterday had pushed that regard into complete reverence.

“Did anything seem out of the ordinary around here yesterday or earlier today? Anything strange at all?”

The worker paused to reflect briefly, then shook his head.

“Not a thing, Captain.”

“Understood.”

“Has an issue arisen?”

“It’s nothing you need to fret over. Pay it no mind.”

After exchanging brief parting words, Baek So-cheon made his way toward the next site on the note.

The note had indicated that she loitered in the second area for roughly an hour before moving along.

Baek So-cheon sought out the supervisor in charge of the storage facility.

“Ah!”

The martial artist’s gaze widened in instant realization.

“Captain Baek!”

Overcome with astonishment and sheer delight, the man forgot ordinary courtesies entirely and stood wide-mouthed. His reaction was even more reverent than that of the stable worker.

“I need to ask you something briefly.”

“Please do, Captain! Inquire about anything!”

“What kind of cargo is kept within this depot?”

He wondered whether it held vital logistical resources for the Murim Alliance.

“Garments and common provisions meant for the martial fighters.”

“Are provisions or armaments stored here?”

“None, sir. Rations and weaponry are all secured within the northern storage depot.”

“I see.”

This compound was significantly less crucial than the northern complex. Even that northern facility only stored everyday gear and rations for the rank-and-file fighters.

The situation with the stable was identical. Neither facility held strategic importance for the Alliance.

He wracked his brain trying to discover an underlying thread tying the first and second locations together, but reached a complete dead end.

“Understood. Return to your duties.”

“The bout yesterday was magnificent, sir! I was unable to observe it in person, but I heard every single recount. Please accept my congratulations!”

“Thank you.”

Offering a brief smile, Baek So-cheon departed for the subsequent destination.

The third point was the building assigned to the Baek-ryong-dan situated in the outer grounds.

It has been quite some time.

A prompt inspection yielded zero suspicious traces. The horse stalls, the supply depot, and the quarters of the Baek-ryong-dan shared no evident operational link whatsoever.

Just as he turned to depart for the final marker, a familiar call sounded behind him.

“It has been a long time.”

Turning around, he found a woman standing before him.

A gentle smile surfaced on Baek So-cheon’s lips. Standing there was Ga-in, the second-in-command of the Baek-ryong-dan. Back before his demotion, they had occasionally shared intimate nights together.

“How have things been with you?”

“I’ve been well.”

Encountering her again after such a long interval brought a surge of sincere warmth to his chest.

“What brings your steps here?”

She was unable to mask her lingering hope and anticipation. A twinge of guilt struck him, yet he could not offer a false pretext.

“Looking into a matter.”

“I see.”

“I should have paid a visit much sooner. Forgive me.”

“There’s no need. Once you returned as the commander of the Hyun-cheon-dae, it was on me to reach out first…”

Following his reinstatement and the reversal of his demotion, she had wrestled with the thought of seeing him, yet held herself back. She lacked the confidence to handle the encounter.

Baek So-cheon had thought of her on occasion as well, yet he had refrained from seeking her out, choosing instead to leave the initiative in her hands.

Furthermore, with Cheon-geuk now holding a place in his life, the time had arrived to draw a definitive line.

“By the way, that was an incredible duel.”

“You were there to see it?”

“My unit was assigned to security around the arena’s perimeter. Engaging without relying on internal energy? It was remarkable. Why did you never let on that you possessed such prowess? Had I known, I would have clung to you and never let go.”

She intentionally adopted a superficial demeanor. She had sensed the reality of things from the moment their eyes met today.

“There is someone else by your side now, isn’t there?”

“What makes you guess that?”

“I can tell.”

It was pure perception—the sharp intuition a woman possessed regarding the man she cared for.

His subtle reaction confirmed her reading.

“I wonder what sort of woman she is. I stepped back simply because the thought of holding onto you frightened me. She must be remarkably bold.”

“She is. Truly fearless.”

His tone was steady and plain, yet Ga-in could easily discern the profound affection nestled beneath the surface.

Baek So-cheon shifted the focus back to her.

“And with you?”

“I’ve found someone new as well.”

“I am glad to hear it.”

“Thank you. Take care of yourself.”

“You do the same.”

Baek So-cheon started walking away with measured strides.

Ga-in stood rooted to the spot, keeping her gaze on his retreating silhouette.

May you live well!

Curiously, an unexpected sense of unburdened relief settled over her.

Ga-in lifted her chin toward the expanse of sky, letting a faint grin show.

I suppose I ought to begin looking for a worthwhile man of my own.

The ultimate destination was the outer garden grounds.

Having reviewed every point along Pa-jeong’s path, it was clear the four areas shared no logistical thread—and none held the strategic weight necessary for the plots of the Blood Cult.

Yet that very absence of logic made the itinerary suspicious.

Had she wandered near core command sectors under the guise of an idle walk, it could have been written off as natural exploration.

Why deliberately frequent these remote, quiet corners? Was it merely aimless roaming? Out of the question. With Myeol Ji-ryun harboring covert intentions, every individual step carried a specific design.

Baek So-cheon took a seat upon an uncarved stone beside the greenery, picking up a stray branch to sketch the names of the surveyed sites into the dirt.

Perhaps an anagram or linguistic link existed within the names.

Yet combining the characters in various arrangements yielded no meaningful result.

They were neither critical administrative hubs nor tactical fortifications. What else could it be?

All at once, a sudden revelation struck his mind.

…Their physical positions? Could that be the key?

He bolted upward from the rock and sprinted away at full speed.

Within the central strategy room, Je-gal Hyeon remained focused on his duties.

While the broader factions of the Alliance were caught up in celebratory spirits, the strategic planners maintained heightened vigilance. The atmosphere within the Black Heaven Alliance was an exact inversion—no one could predict what reckless provocations they might initiate next.

Dispatches were continuously arriving from undercover informants stationed deep inside their ranks. Fortunately, there were still no indications of large-scale troop mobilizations.

Je-gal Hyeon shifted his eyes toward the Murim Seol-yeol-log.

Seeing the name of Yeom Hwa-sin positioned at the absolute pinnacle brought back the memory of his quiet conversation over drinks with Ak So-gun the prior evening.

—Yeom Hwa-sin undoubtedly surpasses my level.

—You were able to perceive it?

—Without question. As you are well aware, taking the precise measure of an equal is an elusive task. Yet simply laying eyes upon him, the truth was obvious. He sits a tier above. Perhaps even greater than that. And in that very confrontation, he achieved a deeper martial comprehension.

—Difficult struggles lie on the horizon.

The standing of names was nearly unassailable at present.

Je-gal Hyeon took steps toward the tactical board detailing troop positions.

Modeled after the geography of the Central Plains, the surface was crowded with countless small pennants. The marker for Yeom Hwa-sin had fallen back deep within the domain of the Black Heaven Alliance, while Myeol Saeng occupied positions along the western outskirts.

Reaching into the wooden chest underneath, he drew out another pennant.

The moment had arrived to plant it.

It was a brilliant crimson flag edged with bright gold.

Je-gal Hyeon firmly planted the pennant representing Baek So-cheon right at the center of the Murim Alliance base.

The surrounding strategists looked on with quiet reverence. Most had presumed his resurgence was relevant solely within the confines of the tournament arena, but Je-gal Hyeon understood the deeper reality: Baek So-cheon had completely reclaimed the supreme might he once commanded.

The trajectory of the impending clash with the Black Heaven Alliance now pivoted entirely upon his shoulders.

Should Yeom Hwa-sin remain true to the one-year truce he had pledged, Baek So-cheon would possess the breathing room to grow even more formidable.

Yet there remained the danger that he might simply discard that vow. The pledge had been declared within the righteous grounds of the Murim Alliance, witnessed by all attending factions.

Had it been made before his demonic cohorts, he would surely preserve his integrity; within these halls, the weight of his word might easily be abandoned.

Right at that juncture, Baek So-cheon stepped into the chamber.

“Strategist.”

“What brings you to the command center?”

“I have a request to make of you.”

“State it.”

“Do we possess an exact layout depicting the outer compound? One detailing the precise positions of every structure.”

“We do.”

“May I examine it?”

Je-gal Hyeon turned and gave an instruction to Sa-ma Il-jung.

“Right away, sir.”

Sa-ma Il-jung rushed off to fetch the document.

Je-gal Hyeon leveled a sharp, probing gaze at Baek So-cheon.

“What has developed?”

“It concerns Myeol Ji-ryun. While observing the movements of her attendant, several peculiarities stood out—something feels profoundly wrong.”

Sa-ma Il-jung swiftly returned, laying out the diagram containing every boundary wall, building, and potential ambush zone.

Baek So-cheon pored over the paper, his gaze sharpening with sudden clarity.

Could it truly be?

Without lingering, he darted right out of the room.

“I must confirm this personally. I will provide a full explanation once I return.”

Pa-jeong walked along the southeastern sector of the outer perimeter.

A towering observation post rose high into the air at that point.

His gait remained casual, his eyes idly drifting toward the structures before pausing to cast a long look toward the tower above, appearing every bit like a traveler experiencing the Alliance for the first time.

The sentries posted atop made no effort to halt his passage. There was no justification for obstructing a sightseeing follower of the Blood Cult.

Having lingered for an adequate span, he turned back and headed toward his assigned quarters.

The instant he slipped from view, another presence materialized atop a distant roofline.

It was Baek So-cheon, staying concealed within the shadows. Because of the attendant’s keen senses, he had kept his distance, tracking the scene from afar—yet most crucially, he had anticipated the destination and arrived well ahead of time.

Fixing his glare in the direction Pa-jeong had vanished, Baek So-cheon uttered a low, frosty curse.

“Those scheming bastards!”

Shortly after, he reappeared inside the strategy center.

Je-gal Hyeon immediately pressed him for details, and Baek So-cheon recounted the surveillance.

“Our intelligence indicated he simply enjoyed taking long strolls around the outer grounds.”

“Those were never simple strolls.”

“They were not?”

“I positioned myself at the exact location before he even showed up.”

“By what means were you able to anticipate his destination?”

“Are there Go stones available here?”

“Naturally.”

The war room kept an ample supply on hand for analytical calculations.

“These represent the locations Pa-jeong stopped at previously.”

Using the four points provided by Cheon-geuk, he placed the stones on the table one after the other.

The stable sat toward the eastern edge; the storage facility marked the southern sector; the Baek-ryong-dan was situated to the west; and the outer garden formed the northeastern coordinate.

“The northern position must have been visited prior to my watch being established.”

Assuming that held true: the cardinal points formed an exact ring, followed by the northeastern marker.

“And where did I wait for him just a moment ago?”

Je-gal Hyeon placed a counter midway between the eastern and southern points, marking the location of the high watchtower.

“Precisely there.”

The distances separating each coordinate matched with flawless symmetry. It formed an unbroken, geometric perimeter…

Je-gal Hyeon’s eyes widened with sudden horror as his sight locked onto the structure situated at the dead center of the formation.

“Heavens above…!”

It was the private estate of the Alliance Lord.