Reunion (1)
"You're even richer than me!"
Cheon-geuk tossed out the flippant remark, but inwardly she was tense. This was the moment Baek So-cheon laid out his entire fortune before her. Her instincts whispered to her that this was the instant when their fates intertwined once more.
"Since I might die anyway, is this your way of handing it over? Want me to spend it for you? I know how to spend money well."
"Something like that."
"What for?"
"Buy me some spirit medicines with this."
"...!"
Cheon-geuk's eyes widened in shock. She'd encountered plenty of surprises since meeting Baek So-cheon, but this topped them all.
"You!"
Baek So-cheon nodded.
She didn't even need the nod to know. For him to scour his entire fortune for spirit medicines meant he'd restored his dantian.
"My god!"
Instead, it was Cheon-geuk who shivered. No one understood better than her what it meant for Baek So-cheon to reclaim his inner power.
This was the birth of the greatest variable in the future of Murim's power balance. And she was right there, sharing this historic, fateful moment.
"Get the ones with the biggest effects if possible. Even poison-based spirit herbs are fine. Prioritize those if they produce the same results."
Spirit medicines laced with toxicity were cheaper for the same effect. They were mainly used by poison arts practitioners, so they offered better value than the highly sought-after pure ones.
He'd already forged such pure inner power from the Hundred-Year Centipede Mushroom. Absorbing the essence of truly superior spirit medicines would refine it even further.
Now, he planned to cultivate his inner power with proper spirit medicines.
The sum he'd given her was a staggering 1.4 million nyang, but spirit medicines cost astronomical amounts. Their price was whatever the owner demanded once they found a buyer.
With bad luck, this might not even secure a single Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng root. It could be unavailable on the market, or the seller might demand an exorbitant sum.
In other words, even buying with money required luck. With good fortune, the same amount might snag a Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng.
It all depended on whether the medicine was available now, how desperate the seller was, and the current market rates. Everything converged.
Minor spirit medicines were bought with money, but true treasures were won by fate.
"If you blow your entire fortune like this, what about your old age? You're not exactly young."
What use was a pile of war-earned silver if he died? He'd never imagined spending it this way, but right now, gaining power mattered more than money.
"I'll mooch off you."
Cheon-geuk shot him an incredulous look.
"I'm the Assassin Queen, not some easy mark!"
"By then, you'll be the former Assassin Queen."
"Hmm. A former War God and a former Assassin Queen... not a bad combo."
The two shared a quiet chuckle.
Baek So-cheon sobered, his gaze drifting to the promissory notes on the table.
"This money is my whole life."
He'd never clung to wealth, but in the end, this was all that remained. Staring at it brought back memories of everything he'd accomplished.
"If it's so important, why entrust it to me?"
"You're the only one I can trust with it."
"You said I have no eye for men, but you're not much better."
Of course, he could trust Hwang Il-bi, Im Choong, or Beon Saeng. They wouldn't betray him for money. But they couldn't protect such a fortune. If someone came to steal it, they couldn't hold it off.
"The highest bounty ever on your head was three million nyang. This is half that. Look, if I swallowed it all and killed you? It's tempting enough."
"Then I'd pay the price for my poor judgment."
Life demanded gambles many times over. Seeking Ban Yun-saeng for the Bone Transformation Great Law had been one; coming to Cheon-geuk was another.
Who knew how many more he'd have to make? He could only hope his instincts held true.
"Why not handle it yourself?"
"People are watching me."
Not just one—people. It couldn't be only the Black Heaven Alliance. If word got out that he was acquiring spirit medicines, it would spell real danger. Plenty in the Central Plains knew his face.
"What if I do this favor for you?"
"What do you want?"
Cheon-geuk pondered briefly before speaking.
"Do me one favor in return."
"If it's reasonable—not absurd or unjust—I'll do it."
"Deal."
She raised her hand. Baek So-cheon slapped his palm against hers three times.
"How long do I have?"
Delaying wouldn't guarantee better results. Knowing it all hinged on luck, Baek So-cheon answered without hesitation.
"As fast as possible."
After parting with Cheon-geuk, Baek So-cheon returned to the Murim Alliance Headquarters.
He'd left Hyun-cheon-dae vacant for quite a while, but he entrusted it all to fate.
Any issues would have escalated in his absence anyway. Perhaps that's why—thankfully, everything was fine.
"Captain! Welcome back!"
Beon Saeng greeted him as if Baek So-cheon had risen from the dead.
"We were worried."
"Kid? Why worry?"
"You're not a kid, but I'm still young, aren't I? I was worried about me, not you. What would I do if you didn't come back?"
Baek So-cheon welcomed the familiar banter after so long.
Both Im Choong and Beon Saeng had handled their duties flawlessly in his absence. They'd doubled their efforts, fearing he'd catch flak for their shortcomings.
Im Choong asked cautiously.
"Did your trip go well?"
Hyun-cheon-dae had formed nearly a month ago. This absence meant something crucial.
Baek So-cheon shook his head. He hated lying to these two, but matters tied to his inner power stayed secret from everyone. Keeping such a perilous truth to himself was kinder to them anyway.
"You're okay, though?"
"Of course."
Okay? This was the most exhilarating, satisfying moment of the past three years. Just feeling inner power surging within made him feel like he could soar.
Leaving Hyun-cheon-dae, Baek So-cheon headed straight to the training grounds.
The twenty-five members trained rigorously under Wang-ho's command.
"You're back?"
Training paused at his arrival.
"Welcome!"
Their voices boomed, faces etched with exhaustion. Baek So-cheon had handed Wang-ho a brutally intense regimen.
At first, curses flew from their lips.
But after a few days, they adapted, realizing the systematic brilliance in it. A month of grueling drills had forged battle-hardened glares worthy of the fiercest fields.
"You've worked hard."
"Not at all!"
Their thunderous reply drew a satisfied smile from Baek So-cheon.
He asked Wang-ho.
"How's your body?"
"All healed. Exactly one month, like a miracle. Did you plan it?"
"Coincidence. Why would I?"
No one there bought it. Though unintentional, the timing had aligned perfectly at one month. To his subordinates, it felt meticulously orchestrated—everything falling into place per Baek So-cheon's design.
"Want to see the training results?"
"Sure."
Baek So-cheon sat aside, observing.
The month's toil yielded gains: some in stamina, a few in swordsmanship. Most had fortified their mental resolve.
He had each demonstrate their forms, then corrected their stances. They'd endured setbacks coming to him; this was their reward.
Everyone harbored at least one bad habit—some knew, some didn't. Baek So-cheon pointed them out and showed corrections.
He even refined Wang-ho's, who led the training.
Captain, squad leader, or regular warrior—he treated them equally. Volunteers and assigned Bi-gak members alike. He adjusted all, offering pointers for future practice.
This sincerity melted the hearts of those who'd come reluctantly. Lingering guilt faded; they weren't petty enough to resent genuine guidance.
Once done, they expressed heartfelt thanks.
"Thank you, Captain."
In training matters, Baek So-cheon always replied the same.
"Leave no regrets in your drills."
Baek So-cheon's next stop was the Murim Alliance's underground prison.
Approaching Goe-yeo's cell, the scent of alcohol wafted out. Someone was delivering her drinks daily.
Spotting him, Goe-yeo jolted.
"You! Back again!"
"Doing well?"
Goe-yeo scanned him head to toe. Confirming no change, she burst into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
She'd mocked Ban Yun-saeng's Bone Transformation Great Law as madness. Yet for Baek So-cheon, she'd held faint hope. Now, utterly unchanged, it dashed even that.
"I never believed it myself."
Goe-yeo asked, amused.
"Did you meet him?"
"Yes."
"How'd it go? Details!"
"The spirit beast needed for the required plant never came."
"White-Horned Golden Thread Deer?"
"You knew."
"Sure. I endured his yapping for a drink."
"Without the deer, we'd need another three years for the ritual. So I left empty-handed. Well, not entirely for you."
"What?"
Baek So-cheon handed her the alcohol.
"What's this?"
"Ban gave it for you."
"Oh!"
Goe-yeo snatched it gleefully, uncorked it, savored the aroma, then chugged. The daily bottles were fine, but nothing beat Ban Yun-saeng's brew.
She let out a satisfied sigh.
"Ahh! Perfect! His brewing's still top-notch. Want a sip?"
"No thanks."
Baek So-cheon withheld Ban Yun-saeng's death and the successful ritual.
"Take care."
"No booze if empty-handed!"
"I'll keep bringing it."
As he turned, Goe-yeo yelled.
"Tell him next time I savored it!"
"Got it."
He replied, but thought otherwise.
'Neither you nor I may see him again.'
Returning to Hyun-cheon-dae from the prison, Im Choong rushed up with urgent news.
"What is it?"
"Alliance sent word—summoning you at once."
"From Hyun-cheon Pavilion?"
"No."
Im Choong took a deep breath.
"From the Alliance Lord's Hall."