To the Alliance (3)
Once it was decided they were heading to the Murim Alliance Headquarters, Im Choong and Beon Saeng threw themselves into preparations.
Im Choong especially had a mountain of tasks ahead. He had to wrap up branch affairs, but above all, they needed to move. Fortunately, his wife and son were accustomed to the wandering life of a branch leader's family, so they had no strong objections to relocating.
The hardest part for Im Choong to broach with his wife, Ju-ssi, was this very matter.
"I'll be starting over as a regular martial artist, not even a branch leader."
The demotion in rank was bad enough, but the immediate drop in monthly stipend was a stark difference.
Even knowing this full well, Ju-ssi didn't press for the reasons why.
"It's fine. We'll make do."
She was already as frugal as they came—Im Choong often wondered how they could possibly cut back more. He was convinced he had more good fortune in his wife than anyone else in the world.
Ju-ssi even bolstered him with words like these:
"Let's raise Chan in the big leagues."
Overhearing that, Beon Saeng vowed in front of Im Choong that he'd marry someone just like his sister-in-law someday. Im Choong, ever the proud family man and shameless boaster about his wife, whispered in Beon Saeng's ear, "Marriage demands more caution than a battle for life and death."
During the few days they spent preparing to depart, Baek So-cheon's routine remained unchanged. He handled branch duties by day, then trained his martial arts afterward.
He drilled the first three forms of the Heavenly Thunder Nine Fists until they were second nature, pouring extra effort into building the physical strength that would compensate for his lost inner power.
Late one night.
As usual after an exhausting session, he returned home to find Cheon-geuk setting up a drinking table in the courtyard under the moonlight.
"What're you doing?"
"You're back?"
"What's this in the dead of night?"
"Forgot? I'm an assassin. This is prime time for us. You might hate it, but you like this, don't you?"
She shook the bottle of liquor she'd brought.
"One farewell drink. You're heading back to headquarters, right?"
With Im Choong and Beon Saeng so busy packing, it wasn't much of a secret.
"You even brought cups?"
Not just cups—she'd hauled over dishes of food too, all prepared by hand.
"Might as well use good ones; the liquor tastes better that way. Same with the food."
It was fine liquor, and the dishes weren't some roadside slop. They were proper fare from a skilled chef.
The two sat facing each other on the platform and drank.
"This stuff's good."
"Saved it for a special day."
Truth be told, it wasn't for any "special day." Crushing the Seven Swords Society was trivial compared to what lay ahead.
Watching Baek So-cheon meet the Black Heaven Alliance Lord had convinced her: war was at the doorstep.
Neither she, he, nor the jianghu could escape the coming upheaval. So before it hit, she wanted this one drink.
"You heading back too?"
"Have to."
"Watch yourself out there from now on."
"Yeah."
They emptied another round, and Cheon-geuk asked,
"You confident?"
"About what?"
"Going back to headquarters now means you're ready to give it a real shot, right?"
Baek So-cheon smiled faintly. Paradoxically, the man whose domain he'd ravaged knew his heart better than anyone—at least for now.
"Confidence? Always had that. Skill's the issue."
"I believe you'll find a way. Not saying it to burden you."
Baek So-cheon stared straight at her and blurted,
"What's with you? Can't drop a hundred thousand nyang in one night anymore?"
"Ha! Delusions as big as your old power."
Baek So-cheon chuckled and drank; she downed her cup with equal pleasure.
"Speaking of which, confession time: back when you put me on the Killer King's throne, I actually wanted to sleep with you."
"Slut? Thinking about bedding a guy at a moment like that."
"Slut? It's healthy desire. You were hot then. World's greatest martial artist and all."
"Not anymore, so the thought's gone?"
After a pause, Cheon-geuk asked,
"Got a girl you like?"
"Why? Gonna hunt her down?"
"Neither of us is the passionate type when it comes to love. What, you like me?"
"Think we'd make a good pair. You're pretty cute."
"A good pair? Cute?"
Another woman might take offense, but with Baek So-cheon, it felt natural.
"You know I've never slept with a man?"
"You like me? Why lie and ruin the vibe?"
"For real."
"Really? Why not till now?"
"Got named Killer King's heir young—no creeps came sniffing. Previous one thankfully never touched me."
"After you became Killer King?"
"He was fine otherwise, but one thing I hated to death: playing with young women then killing them in the end. Couldn't end up like that bastard."
"Date properly."
"Easy for you to say."
"True. Your standards are too low. Lusting after a guy like me."
She laughed good-naturedly and stood.
"See you next time."
"Thanks for this."
His sincere gratitude drew a smile from Cheon-geuk. She knew this wasn't goodbye forever. In the turbulent jianghu, what fate would bring them together again?
"Don't die... Who knows? If you live, I might sleep with you once."
With that, Cheon-geuk vanished without a sound.
Baek So-cheon chuckled.
Under the calming moonlight, he'd heard what wasn't quite a confession from the Killer Queen, savored fine liquor.
He flopped back and muttered,
"Worst case, I die. That's it."
Baek So-cheon had fought on the front lines of brutal battlefields. He'd long transcended the fear of death.
But there was one thing he truly despised.
War.
It had made him a hero once, and ruined him the same.
Once was enough; twice was too much.
Thinking of the Black Heaven Alliance Lord, Baek So-cheon resolved,
'Not killing me when you could—that'll be your biggest mistake. I won't let your desires doom all those lives.'
As always, only the solitary moon bore witness to his determination.
* * *
Ten days later, the three carriages carrying Baek So-cheon's group arrived in Wuhan, Hubei, home of the Murim Alliance Headquarters. Two were loaded with luggage; they rode in the third.
Im Choong had sold off most belongings, packing only essentials into one cart. He didn't want his things delaying the journey north and saw this as a chance for a fresh start.
With their savings, they'd rent or buy a cheap place on the outskirts and scrape by. No regrets. He viewed this upheaval as opportunity, even joy.
Wuhan dwarfed modest Munseong.
"Whoa! Look at that!"
Beon Saeng gawked at the splendid city, entranced. Passersby's clothes were flashy, stylish; their numbers several times Munseong's.
Im Choong hid his awe but felt it deeply.
"Where we headed now?"
Baek So-cheon answered curtly to Beon Saeng's question.
"Home."
"Home? Whose?"
"Mine."
"Oh, you had a place here too, bro!"
Their carriage entered a spacious estate not far from the Alliance Headquarters.
Stepping out, they marveled at the grounds.
"This is awesome!"
Main hall, annexes, vast front and rear courtyards for training, even a small garden.
Baek So-cheon addressed them all.
"We'll live here together for now."
"Huh?"
It wasn't his old home.
He'd messaged Je-gal Hyeon ahead and bought this new one. Everything cost a fortune near the Alliance—yet he'd spent thirty thousand nyang on this grand, pristine estate.
Alone, he'd have reclaimed his old modest place. But with Im Choong and Beon Saeng—and Im Choong's family—he'd gone big.
"You bought this?"
"Yeah."
"Must've cost a mint."
"Got money."
"Lord almighty! You're loaded too?"
Baek So-cheon claimed the main hall's largest room, giving Beon Saeng a smaller one.
Im Choong's family got the entire annex. The main hall might overwhelm them; the annex, still luxurious beyond their old home, suited better.
"We can't impose like this."
"Just lending spare rooms. Impose, my ass."
To Ju-ssi, Baek So-cheon said,
"Im-branch leader's too vital to me, so I've dragged you all the way to Wuhan. Sorry."
"No need. I've never seen him this happy. Please take good care of him from now on."
She bowed politely, heartfelt.
She knew her husband now called Baek So-cheon "brother," that he'd come here for him.
She'd reassured her husband, but how could she feel no fear?
Yet she'd entrusted it all to fate.
"The food you made before was great. If there's leftovers sometimes, mind sharing?"
"Leave it to me. House chores are mine."
She saw it: his way of easing her burden. Fine—someone this considerate deserved her trust.
Watching Baek So-cheon look after even his wife, Im Choong gained fresh insight.
From his arrival in Munseong till now, Baek So-cheon had seemed a carefree idler—yet not once had he slacked.
How could one who overlooked small kindnesses handle great tasks? Im Choong was learning not just martial arts, but life from Baek So-cheon.
After unloading and settling luggage inside, Baek So-cheon told the two,
"Let's go."
"Where to?"
"Check out the new gig. Someone's waiting."
"Right!"
While Ju-ssi and Chan tidied, the pair followed Baek So-cheon out.
Walking, Beon Saeng said to Im Choong,
"We really made it all the way here."
"Yeah."
It felt like being possessed.
Im Choong especially never dreamed he'd abandon his branch leader post so easily.
"Now it starts."
"I'm nervous. Wonder who we'll meet."
But they never imagined their first encounter would be this man.
Je-gal Hyeon waited at the Alliance's main gate.
"Welcome."
Je-gal Hyeon greeted the trio warmly. Baek So-cheon introduced.
"The ones I'll work with now. Pay respects. This is the Hyun-cheon Pavilion Lord."
"Im Choong."
"Beon Saeng."
They bowed hastily.
"Pleased to meet you. Je-gal Hyeon."
Im Choong flinched.
"Did you say Hyun-cheon Pavilion Lord just now?"
"Yes."
"Hyun-cheon Pavilion is..."
His voice trembled.
"Correct. I'm the Murim Alliance's Grand Strategist."
Im Choong and Beon Saeng jumped in shock. En route, Beon Saeng had fretted alone:
What if gate guards sneered, "Bumpkins from where?" at him and Im Choong? Beg bro for help? Or bluff big?
Such worries seemed laughable now—the Grand Strategist himself welcomed them.
Their eyes turned to Baek So-cheon.
Beon Saeng said,
"You startled folks in Munseong, and now right off the bat here too."
A regular martial artist returns, greeted by the Grand Strategist? Well, even the Killer King met him.
"No way? Not just squad leader, right?"
Je-gal Hyeon smiled at Baek So-cheon.
"Didn't tell them?"
"Nope."
Baek So-cheon nodded.
"What..."
Beon Saeng nearly asked Je-gal Hyeon but clamped his mouth. Daring to address the Grand Strategist?
"Come on in."
Je-gal Hyeon and Baek So-cheon walked side by side.
Im Choong and Beon Saeng followed, hearts pounding. Their new life, brimming with shocks, began now.