The Reason for the Journey (2)
As they moved away from Wuhwan, the carriage began to slow down. At last, the real journey was beginning.
"Feeling peckish?"
In truth, Baek So-cheon had no appetite amid all his swirling thoughts, but he nodded. He wanted a break, if only for a moment.
Yeom Hwa-sin spoke to his subordinate on the driver's seat.
"Head over there."
"Yes, sir."
He hadn't specified where "there" was, but the subordinate on the driver's seat understood perfectly. It seemed they always stopped at this place whenever they passed through the area.
The carriage arrived at a small inn called Chunpung, or Spring Breeze. The name suited the balmy spring winds of the season perfectly, and for an out-of-the-way establishment, it had a decent crowd of customers.
"It's been a while."
The elderly innkeeper recognized Yeom Hwa-sin and greeted him warmly.
"How have you been?"
"Getting on in years, every joint aches. Time to hang up my apron for good."
"You've been saying that for over ten years now."
"This time I mean it, for real."
"The usual, please."
"Right away."
From this easygoing exchange, it was clear the innkeeper had no idea who he was dealing with—the lord of the Black Heaven Alliance.
"A spot I drop into now and then. That old man's cooking is top-notch."
It was surprising to see this side of Yeom Hwa-sin. One might imagine him only dining on first-class chefs' fare, smashing pots over their heads if the taste didn't suit him.
"More customers than I expected."
"You think that flavor's only good on my tongue? Word gets around somehow."
Baek So-cheon never dreamed he'd be waiting for food at an ordinary roadside inn alongside Yeom Hwa-sin. Then again, the patrons nearby probably couldn't imagine who was sitting next to them either.
As they waited for their meal, snippets of conversation drifted over from the next table.
"Heard the Black Heaven Alliance is recruiting a ton of martial artists this time?"
"A ton? How many?"
"Three or four times more than usual, they say. And the pay's way better too. Thinking of signing up."
This was still righteous faction territory, but plenty of unaffiliated wanderers mingled in the gray areas between good and evil. The same went for the unorthodox side.
"Isn't that risky? Recruiting so many all of a sudden doesn't bode well."
"Can't pass up a chance like this, though."
To the righteous folk, the Black Heaven Alliance was the nexus of evil. But to these gray-area types, it was just another job. What mattered wasn't the leader's ideology, but how well they treated you.
"Good pay means they'll throw you into the worst spots."
"Life's unpredictable anyway. Could drop dead mid-meal if luck's bad. Might as well go for it."
He had a point. If they'd badmouthed the Black Heaven lord at the end there, they'd have choked on their rice.
Fortunately, their talk veered into idle gossip and crude jokes.
The Hyun-cheon Pavilion would know about this recruitment drive by now, and they'd be responding accordingly. No other choice—the Murim Alliance would have to recruit more martial artists too.
Here was living proof of how one man's ambition could upend countless lives.
Baek So-cheon turned to Yeom Hwa-sin.
"You've truly not given up on war."
"Given up? Don't expect what I don't have. I'm just keeping my promise to you. One year."
"You'll honor that promise?"
"Of course. But after a year, you'll face fiercer winds."
True enough, but irrelevant besides.
What did it matter if doom came fierce or gentle? Doom was doom.
Sure enough, the Spring Breeze's food lived up to Yeom Hwa-sin's praise. And it wasn't pricey. Thinking of the innkeeper's generosity for the price, Baek So-cheon resolved to stop by again if he passed through.
"Horses need rest too, so let's stay the night. Try his breakfast tomorrow."
"Agreed."
Yeom Hwa-sin seemed utterly relaxed, like they were on a pleasure trip.
"Care for a stroll?"
"Sure."
The two wandered a wooded path behind the inn.
As they walked in silence, he posed an unexpected question.
"Do you know how far my martial realm has advanced?"
It was the first time he'd asked about martial arts—his own, no less.
Baek So-cheon answered honestly. That frankness had sustained their strange bond all this time.
"I figure you've reached the Geum-gang Bul-goe Ji-che."
"Knew it! You saw through me."
"Anyone else might miss it, but after clashing with you so fiercely? When I saw you again in Jeol-gang Province, your skin felt different from before."
Of course, he'd confirmed it precisely through Na-sa-rin, who had extracted the golem from Yeom Hwa-sin's body.
"Spot on. I've attained the Diamond Indestructible Body."
"How's it feel?"
"Indescribable. Imagine feeling utterly unbreakable—no matter what hits you. Sword auras and even sword gangs feel like a mere snap of a whip."
"You tested it?"
"Had to."
"Not even cut by sword gang?"
"Sword aura tickles; sword gang stings a bit."
Exaggerated, perhaps, but not a lie. No sword aura or gang could slice his flesh now.
"Damn it!"
Baek So-cheon voiced his frustration openly.
"What's eating you?"
"Worried for our alliance lord, who has to face you."
Yeom Hwa-sin snorted.
"Jealous? Time to retire this washed-up old man."
"You feel jealousy too?"
"Of course. Jealousy raised me—it wouldn't be an overstatement."
"Of whom?"
"Everyone. Everything. My father raised me that way."
A flicker of complex emotion crossed Yeom Hwa-sin's face. Everyone has that raw nerve of resentment and rage. For him, it was his father.
Baek So-cheon wondered what his own trigger was.
Nothing came to mind.
If anything, the absence felt bitter, pushing him away from such emotions—from the alliance. Only by leaving could he find his true self.
"Ever felt jealousy?"
"Hm."
Baek So-cheon pondered deeply.
"Can't recall any."
"Boring life."
"You can't mock me like others."
"Why not?"
"Your wars stole my youth—no room for jealousy amid the chaos."
"Hahaha. Sorry about that. But thanks to me, you're a legend of the jianghu, right?"
"Fair point."
"Know why I brought up martial arts?"
"No clue."
Yeom Hwa-sin said something unexpected.
"I want your help."
Baek So-cheon was stunned. He'd never imagined that.
"I think I said something similar before. No one to talk to—not about personal matters, or even my martial arts."
His subordinates harbored ambitions for his throne. And Yeom Hwa-sin himself trusted no one.
"You're the one I can speak freely with."
Baek So-cheon knew it was sincere.
"Because I lost my inner power?"
"Biggest reason, yeah. But even if you hadn't, it'd still be you."
"Go on."
"Reaching the Diamond Indestructible Body elevated my martial learning too. From here, I glimpse the next step. Just cross this one threshold..."
"And?"
"My world changes."
In that instant, Baek So-cheon sensed it: Yeom Hwa-sin might have surpassed even what he'd imagined.
"You feel the next stage?"
"Yeah. Hazy mist obscures it, but something new lies beyond."
Baek So-cheon knew that sensation better than anyone.
"Even if I can help, will I?"
"What about Ak So-gun? Our friendship?"
"Don't force it. No friendship between us."
Yeom Hwa-sin stared at Baek So-cheon and grinned.
"Fine, that's enough for today. We've got time."
"Agreed."
Yeom Hwa-sin returned to his room.
Baek So-cheon now grasped the trip's true purpose.
Yeom Hwa-sin aimed to ascend another martial realm—and he wanted Baek So-cheon's aid.
Baek So-cheon realized he'd hit another major snag.
After savoring the innkeeper's fare once more, the carriage departed at dawn.
Heading north.
"Light snow this year—time for some snow-viewing."
"Heard folks our age should seek warmer climes."
"Spring Breeze geezer maybe, but I'm still spry. You too, right?"
"Full inner power, and I'd agree."
"You really gonna reclaim it?"
He sounded like he knew a method.
Maybe he did.
Baek So-cheon had regained his through righteous resources.
If he could, why not Yeom Hwa-sin? Perhaps he'd forge his own Ban Yun-saeng miracle.
"Help me surpass your stage, and I'll fix your dantian. Fill it with as much as you had at the end—three jia worth?"
An outrageous offer.
"Serious?"
"You won't believe me anyway, so I stake my name. And our bond."
He valued their connection over his own name. Sincerity or facade? Even if all fake, there were times to fall for it—or choose to.
"What say you?"
"Need time to think?"
"As much as you need. Time's all we've got. Mull it over."
"Thanks."
The carriage raced north.
Gazing at the blurring scenery, Baek So-cheon sank into thought.
He wouldn't demand inner power first—that was a loser's play in their dynamic.
Assuming he agreed to help...
Refuse? Yeom Hwa-sin wouldn't kill him here—might even part amiably.
But interest and fondness would plummet.
He wasn't magnanimous; rejection was foreign to him.
Accept? If his aid propelled Yeom Hwa-sin higher? Plausible.
Half-hearted help? Impossible, given his realm.
The process would involve exchange—benefiting Baek So-cheon too.
Mutual ascent? Who gained more?
If he kept his word?
Restoring power—what effects? Merging new and hidden reserves?
Unknowable future, unpredictable outcomes.
In such binds, Baek So-cheon trusted one thing: the instincts that had guarded him for years.
He told Yeom Hwa-sin,
"I accept your proposal."
"Hahaha! Excellent, perfect!"
Yeom Hwa-sin beamed like he'd already broken through. Did he truly believe Baek So-cheon's help would shatter his limits?
"Hahaha, this trip's gonna be a blast!"
"Continuing the journey?"
"Naturally. Think I'd hole up in a cave to ponder martial arts? You know better—at our level, seclusion brings no epiphany."
"So?"
"Wander, play, research on the fly."
He was undeniably strong. Setting aside his character, as a martial artist, Yeom Hwa-sin outshone anyone Baek So-cheon had seen.
Even at this pinnacle, he never lost his way. He knew exactly what to do next.
Right. Caves yielded no answers. Epiphany would strike mid-laughter, mid-revelry. First to seize it wins.
"Hey, So-cheon."
"Yes?"
"I'm in high spirits—let's have fun. Ever indulged in the pleasures?"
"Which 'which someone' left time for that?"
"Fine, my apology—I'll take you somewhere fun!"
"Pass!"
"No need to play coy. No cute assassin girl or stuffy elders here. Just real men."
Ignoring Baek So-cheon's reply, Yeom Hwa-sin called to the driver.
"To that place! A men's trip needs no women."
"Yes, sir!"
The subordinate grasped "that place" instantly.
The northbound carriage veered west.