Chapter 399: Forming an Alliance
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 399: Forming an Alliance
"What brings you here so suddenly?"
Tang Jin-seol spoke with a look of slight surprise. It was an entirely unexpected guest.
"Does a sister need a reason to visit her dear sibling?"
Kang Ha-yoon let out a boisterous laugh, though it sounded somewhat forced.
"I see. I wasn't aware our bond was quite that deep, Sister," Tang Jin-seol replied flatly.
Her words were the truth. The two had lived without much interaction until now. There was no reason for them to share any deep friendship.
"Friendship is something you build from now on, isn't it?" Kang Ha-yoon said with a sly smile.
"You must be quite cornered to come to me with such a humble request. It’s not like you at all, Sister," Tang Jin-seol continued, looking amused.
The Kang Ha-yoon she knew wasn't the type to seek someone out and ask for favors. She was a bold woman who always spoke her mind directly. For such a woman to get off her heavy backside and personally come here to plead—how could this not be entertaining?
"I got caught by a real piece of work," Kang Ha-yoon said, her expression turning sheepish.
"Well, I heard about the trial. You certainly went overboard."
"I have nothing to say about the trial. I consider it a lawful punishment," Kang Ha-yoon said calmly.
She meant it. She had effectively destroyed the life of a core official. A punishment of this level was, if anything, overly generous.
"Then you should have surrendered quietly. Why did you resist so much? If it had ended with bribery or abuse of power, a few days of probation would have sufficed, wouldn't it?" Tang Jin-seol asked, looking at Kang Ha-yoon with pity.
"I couldn't help it. I felt like my blood pressure would skyrocket and kill me if I didn't beat the hell out of Paeng Ga-ryeon right then and there."
"You should have just let your own blood pressure burst then, instead of beating the White Tiger Hall Master to death."
"…He didn't die," Kang Ha-yoon added defensively.
"Do you really think he can recover from those injuries? For a martial artist, he’s as good as crippled."
Tang Jin-seol snorted at her words. It was absurd to hear such a thing from the person who had essentially ended someone's life as a martial artist.
"It's fine. He can push through it with pure grit. Even if the White Tiger Hall Master is weaker than me, he’s still a master of the Upper Transcendent Realm. I'm sure he'll recover."
Kang Ha-yoon spoke with an air of absolute certainty.
"Where does that 'grit theory' of yours even come from?" Tang Jin-seol shook her head from side to side. "So, what is it you want?"
"................"
Kang Ha-yoon fell silent. She hadn't expected Tang Jin-seol to be so direct.
...I thought there would be more small talk.
"You came here because you want something. Otherwise, someone with your personality wouldn't be here making excuses," Tang Jin-seol said, as if she had already seen through her.
"I suppose you're right." Kang Ha-yoon gave a short laugh. "Fine, I'll tell you what I want."
Kang Ha-yoon looked Tang Jin-seol straight in the eye.
"Save me."
"Excuse me!?"
Tang Jin-seol asked back, her face a mask of bewilderment. She never expected the great Kang Ha-yoon to utter the words "save me."
Who was Kang Ha-yoon? She was the Phoenix Hall Master, the strongest asset of the Cheonmu Alliance, the woman who had left even the Upper Transcendent White Tiger Hall Master hovering between life and death. How could such a woman be asking to be saved?
"I might actually die at this rate," Kang Ha-yoon continued calmly.
"Who on earth is going to kill you, Sister?" Tang Jin-seol asked, still unable to understand.
"The Law Enforcement Hall Master."
"Paeng Ga-ryeon? That girl? Does she even have the ability?"
Tang Jin-seol snorted again. The idea was preposterous. Paeng Ga-ryeon was a master of the Upper Super-Peak Realm. While she was certainly strong, she was insignificant compared to Kang Ha-yoon, who stood at the threshold of a great stage. Who could she possibly kill?
"Sister, did you not listen to the verdict properly? My internal energy has been sealed."
Kang Ha-yoon spoke with a look of utter helplessness.
"Ah, right."
Tang Jin-seol nodded as the realization hit her. If Kang Ha-yoon's energy was sealed, then even someone as relatively weak as Paeng Ga-ryeon could easily kill her.
"That's why I'm asking. Guarantee my safety."
"Your safety?"
"I've already crossed a line with Paeng Ga-ryeon that can't be uncrossed. She will try to kill me the moment she sees an opening while I'm weakened."
Kang Ha-yoon's voice remained steady.
"The journey to the Tang Clan will likely be her best opportunity. I need protection. I want you to ensure my safety."
"Hmm... I don't know. Making an enemy of the Law Enforcement Hall is a bit..."
"What are you talking about? You're already mortal enemies over the succession issue," Kang Ha-yoon said, frowning.
She didn't like Tang Jin-seol's feigned hesitation. They were already enemies. What was this talk about "making an enemy" now? it was nonsense.
"Even so, showing open hostility isn't strategically sound..." Tang Jin-seol trailed off, looking troubled.
Kang Ha-yoon's scowl deepened. She really didn't like this. If she wanted something, she should just say it. Why all the indirect talk?
"What do you want?" Kang Ha-yoon asked bluntly.
"Oh my, it's not like I was looking for a reward."
"Forget it. There's no such thing as a free lunch. What do I have to do for you to protect me?"
"Hmm... I don't really need anything... but if you insist on a reward, I suppose I have no choice." Tang Jin-seol smiled thinly. "You know Lee Cheol-hwa, don't you?"
"Isn't she a squad leader in the Phoenix Hall?"
Kang Ha-yoon looked genuinely surprised. She hadn't expected Tang Jin-seol to bring up that name. Lee Cheol-hwa was quite famous even within the Phoenix Hall. With martial achievements far beyond her years and stunning beauty, she was admired by all the other members.
"Persuade her. Make sure she stands behind our Gia."
".........."
Kang Ha-yoon fell into deep thought. She didn't want to drag her subordinates into the factional struggles.
"Is there no other way?"
"No. What Gia needs right now is talent. Specifically, talent under the age of thirty. In the Phoenix Hall, Lee Cheol-hwa is the only one who fits that criteria."
Tang Jin-seol's tone was firm. Her expression made it clear there was no room for negotiation.
"..........Phew."
Kang Ha-yoon sighed. She had confirmed Tang Jin-seol's unwavering resolve.
"Fine. I'll talk to her. But if she refuses, there's nothing I can do."
"Even if she refuses, persuade her. Otherwise, I have no reason to protect you, Sister."
"You're just as vicious as Paeng Ga-ryeon."
"A deal must be equal. Why would I guarantee your safety for no reason?"
"Fine. I'll do my best to persuade her. If only to stay alive."
"A wise decision. I trust you'll get it done, Sister."
Tang Jin-seol gave a bright smile. Kang Ha-yoon shook her head as she looked at her. This woman was truly a formidable opponent.
Tang Jin-seol slowly extended her hand.
"I look forward to working with you, Sister Kang Ha-yoon."
"Likewise."
Kang Ha-yoon reached out and grasped her hand.
Squeeze.
Their joined hands tightened. It was the moment their private alliance was forged.
*
"Ugyagyagyagyak!"
Returning to his quarters after the trial, Lee Jae-won stretched his arms wide. He immediately flopped onto his bed and began rolling around. He was in an exceptionally good mood.
Not only had he managed to exile Kang Ha-yoon—a thorn in his side—all the way to Sichuan, but he had also sealed her internal energy, ensuring she would suffer. How could he not be happy?
That's right, you bitch. You should have treated your husband better.
Lee Jae-won chuckled to himself, enjoying the feel of the plush bed. Everything was perfect. Everything surrounding him was flawless.
Kang Ha-yoon, who had been digging into the truth of the Cheonsu Sword Hero Murder Case, was gone, and he had successfully cultivated the image of a fair and just man who would punish even his own wife for her crimes. It was perfect.
Not only the martial artists of the Cheonmu Alliance, but countless others throughout the Murim would surely praise him. And they would do so fervently.
This is the life! Lee Jae-won thought.
Wasn't this true happiness? He was surrounded by beautiful women he could bed at will, he could eat whatever he wanted, and he owned a palace-like home that was cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Furthermore, his own martial arts were powerful enough to shake heaven and earth, and no matter what he did, countless people acknowledged and even worshipped him. He had even gained the power of immortality, a body that would never age, nearing the state of a Half-Immortal.
How could he not be happy? Here, he was practically a god. A god whom no one dared to treat lightly.
He thought to himself that he would live here happily forever. Lee Jae-won closed his eyes. Sleep began to wash over him. He felt he could drift off with a joyful heart.
Flash.
Suddenly, a series of memories began to flicker through Lee Jae-won's mind.
[Lee Jae-won, Yeongjung High School, 3rd Year, Class 2.]
[You always suffered every morning at the thought of having to go to school. All the kids ignored you, and bullying was a daily occurrence. It wasn't just the kids. Even the teachers treated you like a misfit, a problem child who couldn't blend in.]
No.
[But you know what? All of that happened because you were pathetic. You never worked hard at anything! You didn't study hard, you didn't exercise, and you weren't even good at playing! You were just a loser who spent his time being a bystander, envying those who actually lived their lives!]
"No!"
[You probably thought you were being cynical, but you were just an asshole. And you didn't care about what others thought? No, you were just oblivious and a nuisance! You enjoyed being alone and thought the other kids were childish? That's just a lack of empathy, you loser!!]
"No!!"
[You act like you're cool, but you're just a pathetic attention-seeker who craves affection more than anyone. You piece of shit. You think you've changed just because you came to the Murim? Nothing has changed. You're still just a pathetic piece of shit!]
"NOOOOOOOO!"
Lee Jae-won bolted upright in bed, screaming as the memories flooded back. Cold sweat poured down his forehead. The memories were more horrific than he could have imagined.
"Fuck!"
Lee Jae-won spat out a curse. An immense rage surged within him. At the same time, he felt a sense of bewilderment. Since falling into the Murim, he hadn't remembered his life in the modern world even once. Why were those memories suddenly resurfacing now?
"Agh!"
A sharp, stabbing headache struck him. Simultaneously, the memories he had intentionally buried deep in his heart began to surface one by one, vividly clear.
The memory of every girl who sat next to him crying.
The memory of being locked in a bathroom with his mouth taped shut until the security guard found him.
The memory of having his pants pulled down by force in front of the girl he liked.
The memory of being mocked by the entire school as "nano-dick" because his penis was small.
The memory of being forced into a "bread shuttle battle" against the errand boy from the next class.
The memory of losing even that fight and becoming the number one bread shuttle in the entire school.
The memory of even the other losers he thought were his friends looking down on him.
The memory of wandering around an amusement park alone during a field trip because he had no friends.
The memory of lying to a teacher, saying he preferred being alone when asked why he had no friends.
The memory of finding insults written on the chalkboard every time he returned from a different classroom.
The memory of laughing it off and telling them to stop joking, while inwardly weeping as he erased the slurs from the board.
All of it.
Drip. Drip.
Tears began to fall from Lee Jae-won's eyes. They wouldn't stop. The emotions he had kept tightly locked away burst forth, uncontrollably stimulating his tear ducts.
"Why!!!! Why am I remembering this now!!!!! Why!!! I should have sealed these memories!! Why!!"
Lee Jae-won screamed, rubbing his eyes incessantly. He couldn't understand it. Memories that hadn't surfaced for over twenty years had suddenly returned to pierce his heart.
"I'm the protagonist! A past like this shouldn't matter to a protagonist! Three lines of description are enough!"
Lee Jae-won thrashed about, screaming in a frenzy.
"Forget it!!!! FORGET IT!!!!"
Lee Jae-won's tearful rage grew even louder. A rage directed at a past that refused to be forgotten.