Chapter 88
If You Want to Toy with Someone (1)
“What did you say?”
Cheongeuk was startled.
He had sent his own son here to have him killed?
If those words had come from anyone other than Baek Socheon, she would have dismissed them immediately as nonsense.
But this was Baek Socheon speaking.
“Why do you think that?”
“Because of the condition he added.”
“You mean the condition that you absolutely have to be killed?”
Baek Socheon nodded.
If Yeomhwasin had not added that condition, Baek Socheon probably would not have guessed his intentions either.
But the instant he heard it, he understood.
That condition was not meant to corner Baek Socheon.
It was meant to corner Yeom Sawon.
“Yeomhwasin knows. Even without internal energy, if it turns into a fight to the death, he knows just how terrifying I can become.”
Yeomhwasin, who had once fought a life-and-death battle alongside him, knew better than anyone.
He knew how powerful Baek Socheon had been when he stood at the pinnacle of the world.
He knew that the experience Baek Socheon had accumulated through countless battles could compensate for his lack of internal energy.
And he knew that if it became a real fight, Yeom Sawon would have great difficulty handling him.
Yet he had still added such a condition.
“Because of his father’s order, Yeom Sawon will push himself too far. He’ll use every method imaginable to kill me.”
Cheongeuk continued his thought.
“And in the process, he’ll end up getting himself killed.”
Baek Socheon suddenly realized something else as well.
“Spreading the news throughout the martial world wasn’t only meant to pressure me.”
“What do you mean?”
“As you’ve seen yourself, Yeom Sawon has almost no self-esteem. What do you think he’ll do if countless heroes of the martial world are gathered around watching?”
“He’ll fight desperately to win. He’ll want to show off in front of all those people.”
Cheongeuk sighed.
Every circumstance pointed toward Baek Socheon’s guess being correct.
“You’re right. Like you said, that man is insane.”
One natural question followed.
“But why would he want to kill his own child?”
“No matter what the reason is, we probably wouldn’t understand it anyway. There’s no need to know.”
But Baek Socheon understood.
Yeomhwasin intended to use his son as a sacrifice for the coming war.
No.
More precisely, he intended to sacrifice both his son and Baek Socheon.
The successor of the Cheukcheon Alliance would be killed by Baek Socheon, the symbol of the previous war.
And it would happen in a legitimate duel.
Every member of the unorthodox factions would be furious.
Why Yeom Sawon died, what circumstances had led to it, and how exactly it happened would no longer matter.
Yeomhwasin would simply emphasize the fact that his son had been killed and use it to unite every member of the Cheukcheon Alliance.
Their morale would soar to the heavens.
Revenge for the death of his son.
That would become the justification for this war.
Baek Socheon suddenly remembered something Yeomhwasin had once told him.
That he had personally killed his own father.
And now he was trying to kill his son as well.
‘You insane bastard. I’ll make sure you die by my hand.’
Part of Baek Socheon hoped his guess was wrong.
He was going to kill Yeomhwasin eventually anyway, but he still hoped the man was not evil enough to go this far.
“What are you going to do now?”
“He wants his son dead this badly… Should I really just kill him?”
Cheongeuk chuckled.
“You’re not going to.”
Baek Socheon laughed as well.
“Right. I’m not going to move the way he wants me to.”
If Baek Socheon’s guess was correct, killing Yeom Sawon now would be a decisive mistake.
“I’ll find a way to turn this situation against him.”
“Yes. You’ll find one.”
“And if I can’t find a way, I’ll kill him then.”
“Make sure you call me when you do!”
She thrust one hand high into the air.
Then immediately cried out.
“Ah!”
She had raised the arm on her injured side.
“Be careful.”
“Yes.”
“Focus on recovering first.”
“You be careful too.”
The way they looked at each other was different from before.
It was a change only the two of them could feel.
After Baek Socheon left, the Guardian Killing Stars revealed themselves.
They escorted Cheongeuk to the bed on the second floor and helped her lie down.
They must have been so worried that none of them had slept.
All of them had hollow, exhausted eyes.
“I’m fine.”
Ignoring her, Dongseong spoke to Seoseong.
“Examine the wound properly.”
The other three Guardian Killing Stars left the room, while Seoseong, the only woman among them, prepared to inspect Cheongeuk’s injury.
“I need to see the wound with my own eyes.”
“I told you I’m fine.”
“Please forgive my discourtesy.”
Seoseong lifted the edge of Cheongeuk’s clothing.
Cheongeuk knew she would not be able to stop her anyway, so she simply let her do as she pleased.
When Seoseong saw the wound, she flinched.
It was much deeper than she had expected.
Judging by its location and depth, if the strike had landed only slightly differently, Cheongeuk could have died.
Cheongeuk spoke.
“Seoseong.”
Her expression was more serious than ever before, so Seoseong naturally became serious as well.
“Yes, Alliance Leader.”
“It was my choice.”
Seoseong stared at her with trembling eyes.
“Was it really worth that much?”
“Yes. Even if this wound had been here…”
Cheongeuk placed her hand over the left side of her chest.
“…Alliance Leader.”
“At least you should understand me.”
As another woman, Seoseong understood Cheongeuk’s feelings better than the others.
She knew just how dangerous this love was.
And how difficult it would be for it to ever come true.
“I understand.”
“Thank you.”
When Seoseong opened the door, the other Guardian Killing Stars who had been waiting outside came back in.
She told them,
“Fortunately, the wound isn’t very deep.”
She acted exactly as Cheongeuk wanted.
What had happened was already in the past, and Cheongeuk certainly would not want her companions to hate or become wary of Baek Socheon because of it.
Dongseong and the others all sighed in relief.
“Never spar with Martial Artist Baek again. No, don’t even meet him anymore.”
Dongseong knew perfectly well that such a thing was impossible.
Even so, he meant every word.
“If I could have my way…”
He wanted to run over to Baek Socheon right now and demand an explanation.
Our Alliance Leader cares about you so deeply. How could you let her get hurt like this?
Cheongeuk looked at Dongseong.
“Should we go kill him?”
“Please don’t say things you don’t mean.”
“Is it that obvious?”
“Yes!”
“Calm down.”
“…Yes.”
She smiled brightly.
“There’s good news too.”
After pausing long enough to capture everyone’s attention, she continued.
“My martial arts have advanced by another level.”
Everyone was stunned.
“Truly?”
“Yes!”
“Congratulations!”
All four Guardian Killing Stars were delighted.
They knew exactly how powerful Cheongeuk already was.
And because of that, they also knew how difficult it was for her to make any further breakthrough.
Cheongeuk looked at all of them.
“So let’s forgive him just this once. Without him, I never would have achieved this.”
“Understood, Alliance Leader.”
Dongseong’s expression softened slightly.
“I’m going to rest now.”
“Yes, Alliance Leader. Please get plenty of rest today.”
The Guardian Killing Stars left the room.
Left alone, Cheongeuk looked at the moon outside the window and smiled radiantly.
Seoseong, who had been about to close the door behind her, saw that expression.
“Ah…”
She understood.
It was not only the way Cheongeuk looked at Baek Socheon that had changed.
The entire world Cheongeuk looked upon was different from yesterday.
Her martial arts had not been the only thing to advance.
The relationship between Baek Socheon and Cheongeuk had taken another step forward as well.
As another woman, Seoseong could see it clearly.
‘Martial Artist Baek, I hope you’ve saved up plenty of money.’
***
An emergency meeting was held at Unryong Hall between Baek Socheon, Ak Sogun, and Zhuge Hyeon.
“Yeomhwasin has approved the duel.”
Baek Socheon replied to Ak Sogun.
“I heard.”
“Already?”
“Yeom Sawon came to find me because he wanted to brag about it.”
“I simply cannot understand it. What in the world is Yeomhwasin planning?”
Baek Socheon explained his suspicions to the two men.
He might not have told anyone else, but these two needed to know.
Both men were deeply shocked when he suggested that Yeomhwasin might actually be trying to have his son killed.
Ak Sogun, who had children of his own, found Yeomhwasin especially impossible to comprehend.
“If your guess is correct… then that bastard is a merciless demon. I will kill him without fail.”
Baek Socheon nodded.
Zhuge Hyeon asked worriedly,
“If this duel is being arranged with such intentions behind it, are you really going to fight him?”
“Even if I don’t want to, I probably have no choice. Yeomhwasin spread the news beforehand as a form of pressure, forcing us to accept the duel. If we refuse, he’ll surely retaliate under the pretext of punishment.”
And innocent people would likely become victims of that retaliation.
This time, Ak Sogun asked,
“Do you intend to fight without using internal energy?”
“That’s the plan.”
“Won’t that be dangerous?”
“Even so, I think it would be better not to reveal that I’ve recovered my internal energy yet.”
“Is there no other way?”
Ak Sogun clearly seemed worried about Baek Socheon.
No matter how worthless Yeom Sawon might be as a person, he was still the successor of the Cheukcheon Alliance.
There was no telling what hidden trump card he might possess.
“This duel isn’t entirely disadvantageous to us. If I win and Yeomhwasin keeps his promise, we’ll gain an entire year.”
One year.
For Baek Socheon, a year was incredibly precious.
These days, every additional day increased his chances of survival.
“Do you think that bastard will keep his promise?”
Zhuge Hyeon answered Ak Sogun’s question.
“I believe it would be wiser to prepare on the assumption that he won’t.”
Baek Socheon and Ak Sogun nodded at the same time.
Zhuge Hyeon then asked Baek Socheon,
“In that case, when do you want to hold the duel? Yeom Sawon looks ready to fight as early as tomorrow.”
Baek Socheon thought for a moment before answering.
“If we hold it formally, how long would the preparations take?”
“Formally? You truly intend to fight in front of the assembled heroes of the martial world?”
“Yes. That’s what Yeomhwasin wants.”
If Yeomhwasin had spread word throughout the martial world, then clearly he wanted the duel to be held on a grand stage in front of everyone.
“If we have to construct a dueling platform and invite renowned figures of the martial world, it would probably have to be near the end of this month.”
“Then tell them we’ll hold it then.”
“Very well.”
“In the meantime, I need to study how to deal with him without using internal energy.”
“Good. Do that.”
Baek Socheon bid the two men farewell and left the Alliance Leader’s residence first.
Zhuge Hyeon remained behind with Ak Sogun to discuss whom they should invite.
They decided not to worry too much about Baek Socheon.
Now that Baek Socheon had regained his former ability, unless his opponent was Yeomhwasin or Meolsaeng, there was little reason to fear that he would lose his life in an ordinary duel.
“The real problem is if it becomes known during the duel that he has recovered his internal energy.”
At Zhuge Hyeon’s concern, Ak Sogun replied calmly,
“I consider that the day the war begins.”
Yeomhwasin would try to kill Baek Socheon.
And Ak Sogun fully intended to protect Baek Socheon.
“I’ll prepare myself with the same thought.”
For a moment, the two men gazed through the enormous window of Unryong Hall.
A cold winter wind was blowing outside.
Once that wind stopped, spring would come.
***
When Baek Socheon returned home, Meol Jiryun was waiting for him.
She had come alone, without even bringing her guards.
Despite the late hour, she had put on makeup and was wearing clothing that emphasized her figure.
“Great Hero Baek, could we talk for a little while?”
“Certainly.”
The two walked along a small path near his house.
“Are you planning to fight Young Hero Yeom?”
“As you know, he’s already worked himself into quite a frenzy.”
“You’ve ended up in danger because of me. I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine.”
After a brief pause, she asked again,
“What kind of relationship do you have with the Alliance Leader of the Assassin Alliance whom I met earlier today?”
Apparently, she had not come because of his duel with Yeom Sawon.
She had come because of Cheongeuk.
“She’s helped me recently.”
“She really is beautiful.”
Clearly, Cheongeuk was bothering her.
Baek Socheon suddenly stopped walking and looked directly at her.
Meol Jiryun flushed and asked,
“Why are you staring at me like that? Is there something on my face?”
She was expecting something gentle.
Reality was the exact opposite.
“I’ll give you a chance.”
Baek Socheon felt that the time had finally come to confirm the suspicion he had harbored ever since the first moment he met her.
“A chance?”
Baek Socheon stared intently into her eyes.
“A chance to tell me the truth.”