Chapter 136
Chapter 136
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 136
Chapter Title: Warnings and Promises
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The lavish banquet didn't conclude until the break of dawn. Ha Ji-eun, stepping down from the golden boat, faced the warriors of Geumseon Lake who were hesitating toward her and declared with a confident expression.
"The bill has all been covered by Young Master Jegal."
The warriors, who had frozen at Ha Ji-eun's words, finally let out sighs of relief. Jegal Yi-hyeon shrugged his shoulders and addressed her.
"Shall I escort you back? The carriage is spacious enough for plenty more."
"No, that's not necessary. I came here on my own two feet, and I'll return the same way."
Ha Ji-eun replied without hesitation. As if refusing any further persuasion, she kicked off the ground and dashed away.
Watching Ha Ji-eun's back recede in an instant, Jegal Yi-hyeon clicked his tongue.
"What a troublesome girl. Don't you think?"
"I do think her standards are rather arbitrary."
"Anyone who knows her feels the same. If you find it distasteful, you'll become her enemy. If you understand her appropriately, you can become friends."
"Which side are you on, brother?"
"Closer to friends, I suppose?"
Jegal Yi-hyeon bared his teeth in a grin. Of course, Wi Sung-cheon didn't take his words at face value.
'More like appropriately understanding and utilizing her.'
Though he hadn't spoken much with Ha Ji-eun during the banquet, Wi Sung-cheon could sense she was an unusually pure soul for someone from the unorthodox sects.
"Well then, shall we head back as well?"
The carriage was already prepared. Riding with Jegal Yi-hyeon on the way back to the Jegal Clan, Wi Sung-cheon organized his thoughts without much conversation.
The exchange between Black Forest and Uicheon Academy was no longer just that. It had become a matter of what each side gained from this exchange. That was the crux of it.
'Thunderbolt Jegal Yi-hyeon and Snow Flower Ha Ji-eun.'
Wi Sung-cheon grasped the two threads connected to him. This was possible because Jegal Yi-hyeon didn't view Ha Ji-eun as an 'enemy.'
The same held true for her side. The North Sea Ice Palace and Jegal Clan had coexisted for a long time, and these direct descendants had likely known each other since childhood.
It could be called a friendship of sorts, but Wi Sung-cheon was certain of one thing.
Regardless of Ha Ji-eun, Jegal Yi-hyeon absolutely did not consider her a true friend.
'He intended to draw in the Ha girl from the start.'
Wi Sung-cheon glanced at Jegal Yi-hyeon. He was gazing languidly out the carriage window.
"Brother."
"Yes?"
"About that alliance. Can a single academy student really join hands with multiple elites?"
He asked for a clearer answer, but all he got was a scoffing chuckle.
"It's not set in stone, but probably not."
"As expected."
"Those coming for the exchange are seven from each grade, totaling thirty-two students. In Black Forest, only elites of Five Saints rank and above were told about allying with students, and even they number less than thirty."
Wi Sung-cheon tilted his head at that. If there were fewer Black Forest elites than academy students, one could assume students might ally with multiple elites.
"Ah, I see."
There was no need for Jegal Yi-hyeon to explain first. Wi Sung-cheon recalled that the one pushing this was none other than the Black Demon King, Baek Ri Mu-won.
"The Black Demon King isn't the type to preach sharing nicely."
Jegal Yi-hyeon smiled faintly as Wi Sung-cheon nodded.
"He's the type to encourage monopolizing."
Black Forest had changed under the Black Demon King's reign into such a place. Though countless elites lived on that vast island, they weren't treated equally. Lower elites wandered the coasts or forests, living wretched lives.
But upper elites enjoyed luxurious lives at Black Forest's heart.
"The fact that the proposing elites are fewer than the students means he wants them to wisely ally with multiple elites for profit."
From the start, the numbers didn't match—precisely to openly encourage monopolization. Wi Sung-cheon could easily imagine what would unfold in Black Forest.
Prominent students would be targeted first by top elites, and even slightly less notable ones would be snatched up by others to prevent rivals from claiming them.
In the end, this exchange would boil down to a competition among the top elites.
Using academy students as blades to steal rival elites' stars, or even kill them. Perhaps even using a student's life as bait.
"Even knowing that, why tell Ha Sojeo such things?"
"There are various reasons. I needed an excuse to make her back off for now, and I don't see her as an enemy. Besides, the form of alliances isn't set yet."
He was leaving room for the future. Wi Sung-cheon smirked and nodded.
"I see. Understood."
"My answer doesn't sit well?"
"Not at all. I don't dislike personalities like yours, brother."
"I feel the same. I think you're wise."
The carriage slowed. They had arrived at the Jegal Clan.
"As I said earlier, I'm confident. There may be other Black Tyrants or top elites eyeing you besides me or Ha Sojeo, but I'm the only one who can truly align with you."
The carriage came to a full stop.
"So the other Black Tyrants are that worthless?"
"If you meet them yourself, you'll think me and Ha Sojeo are at least normal by comparison."
Jegal Yi-hyeon spoke with utter confidence.
* * *
The next day.
Jegal Uiseok was nowhere to be seen. He had likely been thoroughly beaten by Jegal Jin and holed up in his room.
If Jegal Uiseok had been wandering about, he might have tried to sway Jeong Mi-ju somehow, but with him in seclusion, she had no reason to hesitate further.
She formally announced her departure from the Jegal Clan the next day. Clan head Jegal Jin expressed deep regret but didn't press her once her intent was clear.
"Black Forest, huh."
Sitting before Wi Sung-cheon as he sipped honey water, Jeong Mi-ju twirled her side hair.
"I wondered why Young Master Jegal was being so kind. So that's the situation."
"What do you think, sister?"
"I think Young Master Jegal is right."
Jeong Mi-ju nodded, beginning to pack tobacco into her pipe.
"Looking at what the Black Evil Alliance Leader has done so far, he'll set it up so one elite allies with multiple students rather than one student with multiple elites. That way's more fun for him."
Wi Sung-cheon agreed with that. Jeong Mi-ju giggled, lighting the packed pipe.
"Graduating was a blessing. No getting dragged into annoyances in Black Forest."
"Depending on how you play it, you could reap huge gains, no?"
"True enough. The Black Evil Alliance Leader ensures rewards for such things. He even gave Ha Yeon the Chek-rin, one of the Six Great Treasures of the Martial World."
That was extraordinarily generous. A single Six Great Treasure held value surpassing peerless divine arts. To give one—Chek-rin—to Woo Ha-yeon of the orthodox Sword Seal, no less.
"That crafty old man."
"Young lady, mind your words."
Seo-baek startled and tried to hush Jeong Mi-ju. This was the Jegal Clan, one of the twin prestigious houses of the unorthodox world. But Jeong Mi-ju continued undeterred.
"Giving Chek-rin to Ha Yeon might be factoring this in too."
"To have Black Forest elites steal it?"
"He wouldn't say it outright, but choosing is up to the elites. It forces them to be cautious about recruiting Ha Yeon. They might end up fighting other elites eyeing Chek-rin."
"Didn't the Black Demon King say no killing?"
"Tons of ways to steal without killing."
Jeong Mi-ju retorted snidely.
"Well, Ha Yeon won't lose it easily. This is all your fault, you know?"
"My fault how?"
"Because of your meddling words, Ha Yeon won. If she hadn't, no Chek-rin, no spotlight."
Wi Sung-cheon had no rebuttal.
"So, you need to look out for Ha Yeon. Got it?"
"......I'm hardly in a position to watch over Senior Woo Ha-yeon. She's far stronger than me anyway."
"Strength's not the issue. Ha Yeon is, well...... it's odd to say this."
Jeong Mi-ju's face scrunched up.
"Too damn nice."
"What a sudden revelation......"
"Ha Yeon grew up beloved in Huashan. Same at Uicheon Academy. Black Forest is nothing like the world she's known. Her overly kind nature might trip her up there."
"I think she's kind too."
"Don't spout nonsense—listen to me? I'm graduated, can't look after her."
"I get it, sister. You're not the only one who likes Senior Woo Ha-yeon. No idea what'll happen in Black Forest, but of course I'm thinking about it."
"Good. So, what'll you do? Ally with Young Master Jegal?"
"That's...... still under consideration."
Wi Sung-cheon tilted his head slightly. Someone might be listening. ......Or not? He sharpened his senses.
No presences detected. No need for surveillance? Was this Jegal Yi-hyeon's courtesy or confidence?
"Too little info to decide now. Met Jegal Clan's young master and North Sea Ice Palace's Snow Flower, but they're not all the Black Tyrants."
"I don't know Snow Flower well, but I agree on this: Among Black Tyrants, Jegal young master is the most rational. Fact."
Jeong Mi-ju's brows furrowed.
"But being purely rational isn't always good. If you join him, know this: He acts strictly by his own reason."
"Not exactly a glowing endorsement."
"Not really. I just don't know the other Black Tyrants well. Though I do know this much."
Her brows furrowed again.
"Don't ally with Black Eagle."
Black Eagle Baek Ri-hyang. Daughter of the Black Evil Alliance Leader. Despite her unparalleled father, she drew no other attention. She hadn't learned martial arts from the Black Demon King and was the only Five Saints elite among Black Forest's Black Tyrants.
"Not because she's weak. Catch the Black Heaven young master, become Black Demon King's disciple? With that on the line, she'll cling blindly harder than anyone. If Jegal acts rationally, Black Eagle will be too emotional."
"She might do something reckless."
"Yeah. For her, it's desperate."
Jeong Mi-ju beckoned Seo-baek.
"Bring writing materials."
Soon, brush and paper were before Jeong Mi-ju. She swiftly wrote on the paper, then stamped her seal from her bosom at the end.
"I'll write you an introduction letter."
"For where?"
"Hao Gate."
Wi Sung-cheon's eyes widened as he stared at Jeong Mi-ju.
"Hao Gate sells any info for a price, but they don't sell to just anyone who shows up. You probably can't afford their info anyway."
Rolling the dried ink paper, Jeong Mi-ju smiled brightly.
"So I'll help, little brother. Take this to an inn or stables, say you're recommended by Golden Name Escort Agency. They'll come to you."
"......Just helping out?"
"No such thing as free favors, little brother. I'll cover the Hao Gate brokerage and info fees. In return, promise this: Protect Ha Yeon in Black Forest until she graduates Uicheon Academy. Watch over her properly."
Her usual smile, but Jeong Mi-ju's eyes fixed unwavering on Wi Sung-cheon.
"No need to get so serious. No need to promise."
"No, you have to. This is how I build trust—it's comfortable."
"Got it."
If she insisted that much, what choice was there? Wi Sung-cheon nodded.
"I promise."
"......Good."
Jeong Mi-ju exhaled deeply and handed him the letter.
"Not that I don't trust you. Just......"
"You're worried about Senior Woo Ha-yeon."
Wi Sung-cheon shook his head as if he knew it all.