Chapter 53
Reunion (2)
Baek So-cheon entered the inner compound.
The inner compound, where the Alliance Leader’s Hall stood, felt different from the moment one stepped inside. Hidden mechanisms had been installed throughout the area, and even the White Dragon Corps martial artists standing guard at various posts were seasoned veterans.
After passing through the stringent security, Baek So-cheon entered the Alliance Leader’s Hall.
How long had it been since he had last set foot here?
In the past, he had come and gone several times a day.
Baek So-cheon had always been confident and composed, but even he was nervous today.
The presences he sensed all around him were anything but ordinary. Members of the secret guard were concealed throughout the building.
Their martial skills rivaled those of the Iron Sword Corps, and they were also exceptionally proficient in protection techniques and concealment arts. They were people who would willingly throw away their lives to protect the Alliance Leader.
The martial artist guiding him did not take him to Cloud Dragon Hall, where the Alliance Leader conducted official business, but to the grand banquet hall used for feasts.
A magnificent spread of food and wine, prepared by the head chef of the Alliance Leader’s Hall, covered the long table. On a stage set up to one side, musicians were playing their instruments.
Baek So-cheon was startled by the unexpected atmosphere.
He was not the only person the Alliance Leader had summoned today.
ZhugeHyeon, the Master of Hyeoncheon Pavilion, was there, as were On Byeok-hwa, the Master of the Secret Pavilion, and Hwang Jong-shin, the Master of the Dark Shadow Pavilion. The commanders of the Martial Alliance’s four corps were also present.
Naturally, Chung Yang, commander of the Iron Sword Corps, was among them.
At their center stood Ak So-gun, the Martial Alliance Leader.
His dignified and benevolent appearance was exactly as Baek So-cheon remembered. So too was the gaze brimming with chivalrous righteousness that could only be found in a true hero.
Until now, Baek So-cheon had seen him only in his dreams.
Now, at last, he stood before him in person.
When Ak So-gun noticed Baek So-cheon entering, he called out loudly.
“The guest of honor has arrived.”
Baek So-cheon found the situation utterly unfamiliar and bewildering.
It had already been well over two years since he had last seen the Alliance Leader. Yet he had never imagined that their reunion would happen so suddenly, much less at a banquet like this.
He had thought their reunion would be more special.
Perhaps the Alliance Leader would secretly visit him while he was training late at night, or summon him alone to some secluded place.
Instead, he had called Baek So-cheon before everyone and even declared him the guest of honor.
Ak So-gun rose from his seat and walked toward him. His gentle smile put everyone who saw it at ease.
“I hear you have recently become the leader of the Hyeoncheon Unit.”
“Yes, Alliance Leader.”
So this was to be the first exchange of their reunion.
“You have become the head of a special organization, so I summoned you to congratulate you personally.”
As he spoke, he took Baek So-cheon’s hand.
Even the unusual warmth of the Alliance Leader’s hand was no different from before.
Baek So-cheon stared intently at him.
Had the Alliance Leader truly fallen victim to a soul-enthrallment art?
He almost wished the red spot he had seen back then would appear in Ak So-gun’s eyes right now. If he saw it again, he could be certain.
“Come. Let us have a drink.”
Ak So-gun pulled Baek So-cheon along by the hand.
It happened at that exact moment.
An extremely faint current of energy flowed from the Alliance Leader’s hand and examined Baek So-cheon’s dantian.
He checked the condition of my internal energy!
The Alliance Leader had used such an advanced technique with such a minuscule amount of energy that, had Baek So-cheon’s hidden internal energy not reacted, he would never have noticed the attempt.
Fortunately, Ak So-gun’s covert examination ended after confirming only that Baek So-cheon’s ruined dantian was empty.
Ak So-gun led him to the table laden with wine and food, then poured him a drink.
Baek So-cheon accepted it respectfully.
Everyone was watching them.
They all knew perfectly well what kind of relationship the two men had. There were also rumors of discord between the Alliance Leader and the Grand Strategist.
Yet the Alliance Leader had arranged a banquet to celebrate the creation of the Hyeoncheon Unit?
And so suddenly?
Everyone assumed that there had to be some hidden intention they did not know about.
Either that, or the relationship between the two men had changed.
“Come, everyone. Raise your cups.”
Everyone lifted their cups.
“Let us drink to the newly founded Hyeoncheon Unit. Congratulations!”
Everyone offered their congratulations and emptied their cups.
Ak So-gun turned to Baek So-cheon.
“I regret having neglected you all this time. I believed you needed time. You must have resented me.”
“Yes. I did.”
Baek So-cheon answered honestly.
Everyone watched their conversation without making so much as a sound.
“Yes, of course you did. How could you possibly have been fine? Can you forgive this old man?”
Ak So-gun treated Baek So-cheon as though the long gap of three years had lasted only a few months.
That was what made it so strange.
This is not normal.
Whatever was happening behind the scenes, the way Ak So-gun was behaving today was not normal.
“Forgive you? Please do not say such a thing. I was hurt, but I never once resented you, Alliance Leader.”
“I am grateful that you think that way.”
“Since you are showing me generosity as vast as the sea, there is one thing I would like to ask.”
“What is it?”
“Would you return the sword you took from me?”
Before sending him down to Wensheng, Ak So-gun had taken back the Ghost Shadow Sword.
Baek So-cheon was asking for it to be returned.
Perhaps the request was unexpected, because Ak So-gun flinched slightly.
He soon offered an explanation for having taken the sword.
“It is a precious blade. I only took it back because I was worried you might lose it. Now that you have become the leader of a new organization, I shall bestow it upon you once more.”
Ak So-gun ordered a subordinate to bring the sword.
He personally handed it to Baek So-cheon.
“Continue to devote yourself to the Alliance.”
“Thank you, Alliance Leader.”
There was a reason Baek So-cheon had asked for the sword.
He wanted to see whether the Alliance Leader would truly return it and carefully observe how he reacted while doing so.
Moreover, the Ghost Shadow Sword ranked among the five finest blades in the murim. Now that Baek So-cheon was recovering his internal energy, he would need it.
He deliberately put on a deeply moved expression, but his heart remained cold and his mind worked rapidly.
I will not have many opportunities to stand this close to the Alliance Leader.
He had to examine Ak So-gun as thoroughly as possible while he could.
He intended to scrutinize every movement, every inflection in his voice, even the way he walked. Perhaps he could uncover a clue if they spoke at greater length.
Unfortunately, Ak So-gun stepped away from him and addressed the other attendees.
“Come now. Everyone should offer him their congratulations.”
“Yes, Alliance Leader.”
The pavilion masters and corps commanders approached Baek So-cheon one by one.
Concealing his complicated emotions, ZhugeHyeon calmly raised his cup toward him.
“I look forward to working with you.”
“As do I.”
ZhugeHyeon was equally bewildered by today’s sudden banquet. He decided that he would speak privately with Baek So-cheon once it ended.
Hwang Jong-shin, the Master of the Dark Shadow Pavilion, also offered his congratulations.
“It has been a long time.”
“Have you been well?”
Hwang Jong-shin was two years Baek So-cheon’s junior. As Baek So-cheon had been repeatedly demoted, the two of them had experienced several conflicts.
In particular, when Baek So-cheon had last been brought in for questioning, Hwang Jong-shin had sent a novice to conduct the investigation. Because of that incident, he felt guilty toward Baek So-cheon.
“I apologize for what happened before.”
“I have forgotten it. Do not concern yourself with it.”
On Byeok-hwa, the Master of the Secret Pavilion, smiled brightly and lightened the atmosphere with a cheerful voice.
“It is truly reassuring to see such a dependable person take charge of the new organization.”
She turned toward Ak So-gun and added,
“Isn’t gaining Leader Baek a great blessing for our Alliance Leader?”
“Of course it is.”
The Alliance Leader laughed good-naturedly.
Chung Yang, who had been hesitating over whether to approach, finally tossed out a curt remark.
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
As Chung Yang was about to turn away after saying that single word, Baek So-cheon deliberately raised his voice.
“Thank you for willingly sending members of the Iron Sword Corps to support my unit.”
He had intentionally spoken loudly enough for the Alliance Leader to hear.
“It was nothing.”
Ak So-gun looked at Chung Yang and praised him.
“Well done.”
“I merely did what was required of me.”
Having received praise from the Alliance Leader, Chung Yang returned to Baek So-cheon and spoke in a low voice.
“What are you trying to do?”
“I am trying to earn you some favor. Our chances of survival will be higher if we remain on good terms with the Iron Sword Corps, won’t they?”
“Not a chance!”
That was what he said, but at least at that moment, Chung Yang was grateful to Baek So-cheon.
Winning the Alliance Leader’s favor was one of the most important things a person could do, and Baek So-cheon had unexpectedly helped him earn some credit.
Chung Yang belatedly snorted and tried to brush off his gratitude, but it did not disappear easily.
His attitude had begun to change after learning that Baek So-cheon was the one who had recommended him.
A little while later, the Alliance Leader retired first. The banquet continued for another half an hour before coming to an end.
In the end, this banquet had been arranged so that the Alliance Leader could personally confirm whether Baek So-cheon possessed internal energy.
Why had he needed to check?
Was it because he had fallen under a soul-enthrallment art?
Or did he intend to determine whether Baek So-cheon was still useless before discarding him completely?
There was no way to know.
In any case, Baek So-cheon now had an immediate task before him.
The first step toward preventing the war was resolving the matter with the Alliance Leader.
If Ak So-gun had truly been subjected to a soul-enthrallment art, Baek So-cheon had to free him somehow.
And if he had not?
Baek So-cheon would think about that when the time came.
For now, he intended to proceed under the assumption that the Alliance Leader had been enthralled.
If that assumption proved true, then regardless of Baek So-cheon’s personal relationship with him, the entire orthodox murim was facing a grave crisis.
When Baek So-cheon returned home, Im Chung and Beon Saeng were waiting anxiously.
He had been summoned to the Alliance Leader’s Hall of all places, so they had naturally been worried.
“Are you all right?”
“I am.”
“Did you meet the Alliance Leader?”
“Yes.”
“Why did he summon you, Brother?”
“He wanted to congratulate me on becoming the unit leader.”
“Oh!”
Only then did the two men relax.
They did not know about the true nature of Baek So-cheon’s relationship with the Alliance Leader.
“Oh! What kind of person is the Alliance Leader?”
“He is a good man.”
Baek So-cheon gave only a brief answer to Beon Saeng’s question.
Had this been three years ago, he would have said much more.
He would have spoken about how broad-minded Ak So-gun was and how deeply he cared for the martial artists serving beneath him.
“Ah, I feel like I wouldn’t even be able to breathe if I met the Alliance Leader in person.”
At that moment, someone made their presence known outside the door.
“Is Leader Baek here?”
The visitor was ZhugeHyeon.
Beon Saeng hurried out, opened the door, and greeted him.
“Welcome!”
“Yes. Good to see you.”
After leaving the banquet, ZhugeHyeon had briefly stopped by his office before coming straight to see Baek So-cheon.
“Please come inside.”
“Very well.”
When the two men entered the house, Im Chung spoke to Beon Saeng.
“You would breathe perfectly well and greet him without any trouble even if you met the Alliance Leader.”
“What? Why?”
“Watching you greet the Grand Strategist just now, I almost thought the two of you were friends.”
He meant that Beon Saeng had greeted and treated ZhugeHyeon with extraordinary ease.
Once before, Beon Saeng had even exchanged a casual wave with him without thinking.
Beon Saeng nodded.
“I might secretly be suited for dealing with high-ranking officials.”
Baek So-cheon and ZhugeHyeon sat beside each other at the table in the room.
“What would you like? I have wine and tea.”
“Wine.”
Since ZhugeHyeon had already drunk at the banquet, he felt like having another cup.
He had once quit drinking, but lately he found himself drinking often for one reason or another.
ZhugeHyeon downed the wine Baek So-cheon brought him.
“What happened today? Why did the Alliance Leader suddenly summon you?”
“I do not know either. Do you have any idea, Grand Strategist?”
ZhugeHyeon shook his head.
“None. The other pavilion masters and corps commanders seemed equally unaware.”
The atmosphere today had been extremely pleasant.
That was precisely why ZhugeHyeon had rushed over in concern.
This was not a situation in which the atmosphere should have been so pleasant.
“This is troubling. Especially now that even the Blood Cult Leader has appeared…”
Watching ZhugeHyeon sigh, Baek So-cheon cautiously spoke.
“Grand Strategist.”
“What is it?”
“How much do you trust me?”
ZhugeHyeon was taken aback by the unexpected question.
He soon answered seriously.
“As much as I trust myself. No, these days, I trust you more than I trust myself.”
It was an honest answer.
ZhugeHyeon had brought Baek So-cheon back because he had no confidence that he could wage the coming war alone.
“Please listen carefully to what I am about to tell you.”
“Speak.”
ZhugeHyeon tensed.
The words that next emerged from Baek So-cheon’s mouth were something he had never imagined, not even in his dreams.
“There is a possibility that the Alliance Leader has fallen victim to a soul-enthrallment art.”
“…!”
ZhugeHyeon was speechless for a moment.
“What did you just say?”
“I said there is a possibility that the Alliance Leader has been subjected to a soul-enthrallment art. I believe that possibility is real.”
“Why do you think that?”
Baek So-cheon told him what had happened on the day of the final battle.
After hearing the entire story, ZhugeHyeon could understand Baek So-cheon’s concerns.
From Baek So-cheon’s perspective, it was entirely reasonable for him to suspect such a thing.
“It would be fortunate if my conjecture were wrong, but…”
“That would actually be the greater problem.”
ZhugeHyeon had identified the heart of the matter perfectly.
If no soul-enthrallment art was involved, then it meant the Alliance Leader had abandoned Baek So-cheon of his own free will.
That was something that should never have happened.
In any case, what if Baek So-cheon’s conjecture was correct and the Alliance Leader had truly been enthralled?
“Who could possibly have done it?”
“Through Goe-yeo, I discovered that the Cheokcheon Alliance Leader has mastered the Dark Imperial Spirit Art.”
“Then was it the Cheokcheon Alliance Leader’s doing?”
“I cannot be certain.”
Baek So-cheon reminded him that the Martial Alliance Leader had arrived only after the Cheokcheon Alliance Leader had already left the site of the final battle.
ZhugeHyeon let out a quiet sigh.
“So you spent the last three years carrying all these worries alone. I had no idea. I am sorry.”
“No. I am the one who should apologize. I waited far too long to tell you.”
“No. I understand how you felt. I am grateful that you have told me now. What must we do?”
“We need to determine whether the Alliance Leader is truly under the influence of a soul-enthrallment art. I will search for a way. I will probably need your assistance.”
“Understood. I will do everything in my power to help.”
“Thank you.”
The two men emptied their cups.
Whatever the Alliance Leader’s intentions, he had made the first move.
That meant Baek So-cheon did not have much time.
As he drained his cup, one person came to mind.
Cheon-geuk, hurry!