How Much Is My Life Worth? (1)
Gwang-sal.
At the unexpected name, Cheon-geuk jumped in surprise.
"Why are you looking for that one?"
"So he really is alive."
In that instant, Cheon-geuk realized her mistake. She should have said, 'Why look for someone who's dead?'
"He's already passed away."
Her belated excuse to Baek So-cheon wouldn't fly.
"Too late for that. Cut the nonsense and take me to him."
Cheon-geuk knew Baek So-cheon well enough. She gave up quickly.
"Why do you need him, anyway?"
"Personal business. You don't need to know."
"You can't meet someone that important without giving a reason."
"Important to you, maybe. To me, he's just some old washed-up assassin."
Cheon-geuk's lips twitched. She swallowed the curse bubbling up. She was the one in the weaker position right now. Play it right, and she could wipe out the Seven Swords Society—this was a golden opportunity.
"Fine, just one question."
As long as his reason for seeking him wasn't that.
"You're not trying to kill him, are you?"
"How could I kill Gwang-sal with these skills? And you'd be right there beside him."
"Promise me. Swear on your name."
"My name isn't worth swearing on these days."
"Swear it!"
"Alright, if it puts your mind at ease."
"You promised?"
"I swear on my name."
"Good. If you find the evidence, I'll take you to Gwang-sal. I swear on my name too."
Just then, voices from outside—Beon Saeng and Im Choong.
Beon Saeng's excited tone carried into the house.
"Whoa, how can a person be that pretty?"
To Cheon-geuk, Beon Saeng was the most beautiful woman he'd ever laid eyes on.
Realizing the praise was for her, Cheon-geuk pointed at herself with a finger.
'That's me.'
Now Im Choong's voice.
"You didn't even see her face."
"Her face has to be pretty too. I'm sure of it! That lady... I wanna see her again."
"Hyung said she's the scariest person in the jianghu."
Cheon-geuk's nose wrinkled slightly at that. Was it displeasure at how Baek So-cheon had described her? Or frustration that Beon Saeng knew and still charged in? Or just distaste for the word 'scary' itself? Her true feelings remained a mystery.
"Hyung, we're here."
"Come in."
The door opened, and Im Choong and Beon Saeng stepped inside.
Spotting Cheon-geuk within, the two froze.
Just before they entered, she'd donned her veiled bamboo hat again. If anything, that confirmed she was the same woman from before.
Beon Saeng, dazed as if entranced, greeted her.
"I'm Beon Saeng, working at the local branch. Baek-hyung's little brother, sorta."
"Little brother?"
She turned to Baek So-cheon, sounding surprised.
"You make brothers too?"
"Where do you see a little brother in me?"
Acting like this in front of a beauty you might see once in a lifetime? Beon Saeng's counterattack began.
"Hyung said you're super scary. The scariest in the jianghu. That's slander, right?"
"Of course it's slander. Do I look scary to you?"
With her taking his words in stride, Beon Saeng gained confidence.
"Haha, knew it. Hyung's great and all, but he's got a bit of a tall-tale habit. Forgive him, miss."
"I know. Not just tall tales—he curses like a sailor and gets violent sometimes."
"Whoa, you know him well."
"Well enough."
"How? Wait, what do you do, miss?"
"Leader of the Sal-su Yeon-maeng."
"Hahaha, good one. Leader of the Assassin Alliance—beautiful, funny, and a great actress."
"Not a joke."
"Acting skills on point too."
"No joke, so no acting either."
"C'mon."
"It's true."
"...For real?"
She nodded, and Beon Saeng shrank back like a turtle pulling into its shell, retreating to the wall before making a pitiful face.
"...What kind of Murim Alliance Iron Sword Squad leader meets the Assassin Alliance Leader in his own room?!"
A smile curved her lips beneath the veil, unseen by the others.
She rose from her seat.
Beon Saeng flinched, thinking she was coming for him, but she just smiled and bid farewell.
"See you next time."
"Yes! Alliance Leader! It was a huge honor!"
Beon Saeng bowed so low his waist nearly touched the ground.
By the time he looked up, she was gone.
Im Choong gave Beon Saeng a pathetic look.
"You wouldn't bow that deep even to our Murim Alliance Lord."
"Our lord wouldn't kill me for a sloppy greeting."
Beon Saeng turned to Baek So-cheon.
"That woman really the Assassin Alliance Leader?"
"Yeah."
"How do you know her?"
"I put her in that seat."
Normally, this would've kicked off Beon Saeng's banter: 'Hyung's tall tales have leveled up to alliance leader status.'
But he was speechless, overwhelmed by the fact he'd just met the Assassin Alliance Leader.
The vibe when she left made it clear she was the real deal.
He couldn't believe he'd shared space with someone that rare, exchanged greetings, even talked. A young woman, no less—that was a fresh shock.
"Unbelievable."
Baek So-cheon had said he was calling in an assassin contact, but who could've guessed the Assassin Alliance Leader herself?
Joy, shock, complicated feelings all mixed.
'Wait, are they dating?'
But Baek So-cheon's assessment of her was harsh.
"That woman's the head of a group that kills for pay. Don't go idolizing her."
"Yes, sir!"
Beon Saeng answered vigorously. No idolizing—he wouldn't even go near her.
He wouldn't brag about meeting her either. He could already picture it: one night after boasting, waking to a masked assassin slicing his throat, whispering, 'How dare a worm like you speak her name.'
Cheon-geuk sipped liquor aboard a drifting boat.
She preferred floating on the river like this over holing up indoors. It strangely soothed her mind.
Dong-seong asked cautiously.
"Who's this Gwang-sal?"
"A famous senior in our assassin world. Called Gwang-sal for finishing hits like lightning. He's retired now, living quietly."
The alliance raised its guardian assassins in strict isolation from the world.
All problems stem from desire.
That's why they kept guardians detached from the world—and from people. The more ties they formed, the greater the risk to the alliance leader's life.
They withheld not just internal info but worldly affairs too. Teaching only the art of killing, solely to protect the leader.
In that sense, the guardians were unfortunate—raised like dolls for others' purposes.
But Cheon-geuk differed from past leaders.
She taught her Sa-cheon-sal about the world, about people and emotions. Now, the guardians had 'hearts' and 'personalities.'
Despite warnings of side effects, she pushed through—and gained the most loyal escorts in history.
"Why does Baek So-cheon want to meet him?"
Cheon-geuk shook her head at Dong-seong's question. She couldn't guess. Just one thing: Baek So-cheon called it personal.
'What personal business could he have with Elder Gwang-sal?'
Once the Seven Swords Society mess was settled, she'd know. She murmured over her cup.
"We'll find out soon."
She viewed the outcome positively. It was faith in a man like Baek So-cheon, who brushed off inner power as trivial.
The son, ordered to fetch Heuk Su, returned with baffling news instead.
"Father, Heuk Su's gone."
"Gone?"
"Not at his place or anywhere in the house."
Wang Gon's face hardened. He'd been watching Heuk Su closely, fearing he'd cause trouble.
"Maybe at the physician?"
"No. Checked—he hasn't been there."
Wang Gon startled, shouting.
"No way! Did he go for revenge?"
He'd prided himself on his martial arts like it pierced the heavens. Now that pride lay shattered.
"Sent men to check—no incidents at the Murim Alliance branch."
"Damn it. Then where the hell is that bastard?"
"Maybe he fled from shame?"
"Heuk Su? No chance."
Human scum, sure—but loyal to him. He wouldn't just vanish.
"If Baek So-cheon got him, word of Heuk Su's death would've spread."
"What if he handled it quietly, no trace?"
"A Murim Alliance warrior? Unlikely."
"Hmph. Then where is Heuk Su?"
Wang U had no answer—the truth lay buried deep underground.
"Tell Cheon Yang-ho to report on the man dispatched this time."
"Yes, Father."
As Wang U left, Wang Gon grimaced. The sudden stress throbbed in his broken-tooth gum.
His peaceful life was flooding with unforeseen woes: beatings, arrests, Heuk Su missing.
'If the faction leader finds out, we're screwed.'
His arrest at the branch was conspicuous enough; add Heuk Su's disappearance, and it looked like major trouble.
He had to wrap this up before it blew up.
Naturally, his rage targeted Baek So-cheon.
'You punk, looking like some pleasure-seeker. You picked the wrong mark this time!'
Baek So-cheon, who looked like a pleasure-seeker, wasn't playing today.
He was climbing the cliff barehanded.
Not long ago, this had nearly killed him from exhaustion. Now he ascended with a sack on his back, weights on wrists and ankles.
Faster than before, yet his breathing stayed even. No collapsing, not even dropping the sack.
His stamina had broken through to the next level. Over three years, Baek So-cheon had hit this twenty-seven times.
Early on, changes were minor: from lying down to walking was a level-up; walking to running, another.
Sometimes every few days, sometimes months apart.
How many more could he reach?
Each time he thought this was the limit, his body pioneered new ground.
Only possible without inner power. With it, he wouldn't have pushed his flesh this far.
A cool breeze rustled Baek So-cheon's hair and robes at the cliff's peak. As if the wind itself asked: what next?
"I'm going back!"
His shout echoed through the mountains. Heaven, clouds, forests, birds, streams—they witnessed his resolve.
He had to return. His demotion was a step toward reclaiming his position.
Failure was possible, of course. If from external forces, so be it.
Crushed by a stronger foe, tricked by a smarter one—he could accept that fate, shrug, and call this life done.
But he refused to let failure stem from within. Losing from lack of effort? Never.
Baek So-cheon shouted again.
"I will return!"
Two returns: one geographic, one symbolic.
To the Alliance Lord's chamber.
And to the top of the Murim rankings.