Chapter 77
A One-Nyang Assassination Contract (1)
Baek Socheon finished reporting the mission to Zhuge Hyeon at the Strategic Command Center.
The Hyeoncheon Unit’s first mission had been a success.
Baek Socheon told him everything about Jeong Pung without hiding anything and asked that the matter be handled unofficially. Zhuge Hyeon readily agreed.
The real problem wasn’t Jeong Pung’s indiscretion.
It was the Zecheong Alliance’s scheme.
“So Yeom Sawon was plotting something on his own.”
“We handed the list we obtained from them over to the Shadow Pavilion. They’ll take care of the others who fell into the same traps.”
“Well done.”
This incident itself could be regarded as another clear sign that war was approaching.
Both the orthodox and unorthodox factions had already experienced war once before. They knew from experience that if another war broke out, it would most likely become a prolonged conflict—and in such a war, intelligence would be one of the most important factors determining victory.
The Hyeoncheon Pavilion was also dispatching countless spies to gather information, but they weren’t going so far as to frame people for murder to obtain it.
“We’re falling behind in the intelligence war.”
“They don’t care what methods they use.”
Because of the fundamental differences between the orthodox and unorthodox factions, the Martial Alliance inevitably found itself at a disadvantage in matters like this.
“Ever since you told me about Yeom Sawon, I’ve been keeping a close eye on him.”
When Baek Socheon returned from the Zecheong Alliance, he had told Zhuge Hyeon that Yeom Sawon was far more pathetic than he had expected.
“He may be the official successor, but there are many factions within the Zecheong Alliance that are dissatisfied with him. They don’t openly oppose him because they’re wary of Yeomhwasin, but many agree that he isn’t qualified to be the successor.”
“Then perhaps what he’s doing in Zhejiang is partly because of that political situation.”
“Exactly. Yeom Sawon seems desperate to produce visible accomplishments.”
“If we use Yeom Sawon properly, we might be able to provoke internal conflict within the Zecheong Alliance.”
“I’ll see if I can find a way to exploit it. You must be tired after such a long journey. Go get some rest.”
“Yes.”
As Baek Socheon left the Strategic Command Center, he glanced at the Martial World Rankings posted on the wall.
Before he knew it, the number-one position had changed.
First: Yeomhwasin, Leader of the Zecheong Alliance.
The ranking had been updated to reflect the intelligence that he had attained the Vajra-Indestructible Body.
Second: Meolsaeng, Leader of the Blood Cult.
Ak Sogun, who had originally occupied first place, had fallen to third.
Perhaps the current rankings were the most accurate they had ever been.
Yeomhwasin.
Meolsaeng.
If he could kill just those two, this war could be prevented.
It was a solution only Baek Socheon could accomplish.
And at present, it might also be the only solution.
When he returned home, Baek Socheon threw himself onto his bed.
“This is nice.”
When he had been younger, staying at home had felt so suffocating that he couldn’t bear it for even a short while.
Was he getting old?
Home was becoming more comfortable by the day.
As he rested there for a while, Im Chung came by with some news.
“We’re thinking of having a small gathering this evening. We want to celebrate Beon Saeng joining the Hyeoncheon Unit, as well as everyone returning safely from our first mission. My wife is preparing food and drinks. Beon Saeng would be delighted if you joined us too, Commander.”
“Of course I’ll be there. But would it be all right if I brought a guest?”
“Of course.”
Im Chung answered without even asking who it was.
As far as he was concerned, if Baek Socheon brought the person, it wouldn’t matter even if the guest were the Grim Reaper himself.
“I’ll be back shortly.”
“Take your time. We’re planning to drink late into the night anyway.”
Baek Socheon thoroughly washed himself, changed into fresh clothes, and left the house.
***
Cheon Geuk was crouched behind the teahouse kitchen, washing dishes.
“Commander Baek and the Hyeoncheon Unit have returned.”
At Dongseong’s report, Cheon Geuk’s hands stopped for a moment before she resumed washing.
“Everyone came back safely?”
“Yes. It seems no one was injured.”
“Well, of course. Look who was leading them. How could they come back injured? So? Where is he now?”
“We believe he went home.”
A hint of disappointment crossed Cheon Geuk’s face.
He could have stopped by for a moment before going home.
“Are you disappointed?”
“I am. But I like it too. Isn’t it attractive? A man who works hard instead of being some good-for-nothing who spends all his time chasing women.”
“Of course. That’s what makes a man truly attractive.”
Dongseong enthusiastically agreed, doing his utmost to turn her attempt at self-consolation into a complete victory.
Then a voice came from behind them.
“The good-for-nothing is here.”
The two turned around in surprise.
Baek Socheon was standing there.
“I thought you weren’t coming today.”
“I had to wash and change clothes first. I haven’t had a proper wash in several days.”
“I see.”
Cheon Geuk turned to Dongseong beside her.
“What are you doing? Aren’t you going to close the shop?”
“Yes!”
Baek Socheon spoke up.
“Why are you closing the shop?”
“We’re going to have a drink.”
“I already promised to drink with the others. We’re celebrating Beon Saeng joining the Hyeoncheon Unit. Come with me.”
“Me too?”
“Yeah. I already told them I’d be bringing you. Why? Don’t want to?”
“No, I’m coming. But give me some time to get ready too.”
“Take your time.”
Cheon Geuk brewed Baek Socheon some tea and had him wait in the teahouse.
While she prepared, Baek Socheon sat by a window overlooking the street and drank his tea.
It was the ordinary bustle of the marketplace in the late afternoon.
Although he couldn’t shake the feeling that this was merely the calm before the storm…
Baek Socheon still loved this peacefulness.
***
Half a shichen later, Baek Socheon and Cheon Geuk arrived at the house.
The moment Beon Saeng saw Cheon Geuk, he froze.
“Gasp!”
Cheon Geuk, who always enjoyed teasing Beon Saeng, smiled.
“Why are you so surprised?”
“They say the Grim Reaper comes for you on the happiest day of your life.”
It was a continuation of the joke from before, when he had seen her face and then made a mistake involving Nasarin, prompting threats about cutting out his eyes and tongue and chopping off his hands.
“Fortunately, today the Grim Reaper is here as a congratulatory envoy.”
Beon Saeng broke into a broad smile.
“You look truly beautiful today.”
She wasn’t wearing the extravagant red court dress she had worn during their previous outing. Instead, her neat white clothes gave her a pure and graceful air.
“Make sure you get a good look while you can.”
“Gasp!”
A joke was only entertaining when both sides played along, and the two were exceptionally well matched in that regard.
“Oh, and I joined the Hyeoncheon Unit!”
Beon Saeng was so delighted that he even wanted to boast about it to the Leader of the Assassin Alliance.
“Congratulations. I suppose that means you’ve become a little closer to us.”
“The people we receive assassination contracts for are usually elite martial artists at least on the level of the Iron Sword Unit. Welcome, prospective customer.”
Beon Saeng gasped again, and Baek Socheon delivered the finishing blow.
“You’re the youngest, so it’ll be a long time before your turn comes. Relax.”
Watching Baek Socheon and Cheon Geuk walk away together, Beon Saeng muttered,
“Those two spend time together and keep becoming more alike.”
Im Chung’s wife, Madam Ju, had prepared an enormous feast.
This was the day Beon Saeng, who had usually taught her son martial arts, finally achieved his dream.
She had put every ounce of her skill into the meal.
“Congratulations, Young Master.”
“Thank you, Sister-in-law.”
“I always believed you would succeed better than anyone.”
Beon Saeng hadn’t been in the Hyeoncheon Unit for long, but he was already doing well.
Even during their journey to and from Zhejiang Province, he had worked diligently as the youngest member.
He threw himself into life within the organization more earnestly than anyone because he feared that if he made a mistake, Baek Socheon would be criticized for it.
Moreover, he was naturally eloquent and had an easygoing personality, so he adapted better than almost anyone.
Everyone drank in high spirits.
It was a wonderful gathering, and the food was excellent.
Madam Ju’s cooking truly rivaled that of a renowned chef.
Unexpectedly, Cheon Geuk became rather quiet once everyone gathered together.
She seemed stiff, completely unlike the relaxed way she treated Beon Saeng.
Baek Socheon could guess the reason behind her discomfort.
Here, surrounded by everyone, she was probably conscious of who she was.
Baek Socheon felt much the same.
Just as he had once watched from afar while Im Chung observed Chan demonstrating his martial arts, Baek Socheon sometimes felt that this peaceful, ordinary life had nothing whatsoever to do with someone like him.
For Cheon Geuk, an assassin, that feeling was probably even stronger.
Baek Socheon raised his cup toward her.
“Have a drink.”
“All right.”
They emptied their cups.
Experience had taught Baek Socheon that simply avoiding subjects like this wasn’t always the best solution.
Sometimes it was better to ask directly rather than tiptoe around the issue.
“Have you ever wanted children?”
“Children?”
“Why are you so surprised?”
“Shouldn’t you ask whether I want to get married first?”
“Well, you don’t necessarily have to get married to have children.”
“I do. If I’m going to have children, I’ll get married first.”
“So you’ve thought about it?”
She gave a hollow little laugh.
“As if I could.”
She had been trained as an assassin from childhood and raised to become the successor.
“I do have at least that much conscience. Forget about me—it wouldn’t be fair to the child either.”
“Why do you think that? I think you’d make a good parent.”
“Thanks for saying that, at least. But I don’t want to bring a child into the world whose parent is an assassin.”
Even if they were only words, Cheon Geuk was genuinely grateful to Baek Socheon.
In a sense, this was the largest empty space in her entire life.
It was something she could never discuss with anyone else.
Yet somehow, he made it easy for her to talk about it.
“What about you? Do you want children?”
“Now I feel bad for asking you that.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m the same as you.”
Baek Socheon looked down at his hands.
He had fought for justice and righteousness, but far too much blood had stained those hands.
He wanted to find happiness of his own, but he couldn’t bring himself to imagine building a family.
He would have to find another kind of happiness.
The two drank in silence.
As the atmosphere grew livelier, a drunken Beon Saeng began singing.
He was only twenty-six, yet his song carried a strangely sorrowful sense of longing.
Completely drunk, Beon Saeng dragged Im Chung out and tried to make him sing, but Im Chung stubbornly refused.
In the end, his son Chan came forward instead and demonstrated his martial arts.
Baek Socheon approached Chan and pointed out several things he needed to correct.
Im Chung repeatedly told his son that he must never forget what Baek Socheon had taught him.
The gathering had been meant for Beon Saeng, yet Chan ended up receiving the greatest gift of the night.
Baek Socheon returned to his seat and raised his cup toward Cheon Geuk.
“This is nice.”
Cheon Geuk smiled and clinked her cup against his.
“It really is.”
***
“The Third Ghost Spirit Squad we sent to Zhejiang has been wiped out.”
At the report from his trusted subordinate, Won Mu, Yeom Sawon overturned the table.
Crash!
The women who had been serving drinks froze in terror.
More than one woman or maid had died simply because she happened to be near him when he lost his temper.
Fortunately for them, today he merely drove them out.
“Get the hell out!”
The women hurried away in relief.
“Report everything!”
“It appears to have been the work of the Hyeoncheon Unit.”
“The Hyeoncheon Unit? Baek Socheon?”
“Yes. We received intelligence that the Hyeoncheon Unit had been deployed to the Zhejiang Branch.”
“How the hell did that bastard do it without any internal energy?”
“The Hyeoncheon Unit’s martial prowess is hardly ordinary. Its members were selected from the Iron Sword Unit and the Secret Pavilion.”
“Damn it! I should’ve killed him back then!”
Yeom Sawon’s face twisted viciously.
He really had intended to kill Baek Socheon.
But because his father, Yeomhwasin, had personally accompanied Baek Socheon when he left, Yeom Sawon hadn’t even gotten the opportunity to make an attempt.
“I need to find a way to get rid of that bastard Baek Socheon.”
“He spends most of his time at the Martial Alliance’s Main Headquarters, so it won’t be easy.”
“Then kill him when he gets deployed somewhere like this!”
“That… won’t be easy either. His deployments are highly classified information, so there’s a delay before the intelligence reaches us.”
“How the hell does that count as classified information?!”
Yeom Sawon roared.
“If we want to kill him, we’ll have to infiltrate the Martial Alliance and ambush him.”
The word ambush brought someone to Yeom Sawon’s mind.
“That’s right! That assassin bitch!”
“Do you mean the Assassin King?”
“What kind of king is she? She’s just a worthless woman. Put out a contract with her.”
Won Mu looked troubled.
“I don’t think the Assassin Alliance will accept the contract.”
“They dare refuse? When I’m the one commissioning it? Submit it under my name.”
“Young Master.”
“Do it!”
Yeom Sawon’s voice dropped dangerously.
It meant there would be no further argument.
“How much should we offer for the contract?”
“What’s the usual amount?”
“There was once an assassination contract placed on Baek Socheon through the Assassin Alliance. At the time, the reward was three million nyang.”
“Are you fucking insane?!”
Even as the successor to the Zecheong Alliance, Yeom Sawon didn’t possess that kind of money.
It was a sum so enormous that only the Alliance itself could afford to mobilize it.
Yeom Sawon came up with the exact opposite approach.
“Offer one nyang. That’s exactly what a bastard without internal energy is worth. And make sure they know it’s from me.”
His attitude was essentially one of daring them to see what would happen.
He was confident they wouldn’t dare reject his contract.
Won Mu wanted to tell him it was a terrible idea.
Not only was the other side unlikely to accept it, but this could easily develop into a complicated problem.
But Won Mu’s predecessor had tried to stop Yeom Sawon at a time like this and had gotten his skull smashed open for it.
Except when his father was present, Yeom Sawon behaved as though the entire world belonged to him.
So Won Mu answered loudly,
“I’ll submit the contract immediately.”