The Price of Soul Subjugation Art (2)
Je-gal Hyeon sat at Daroo Tea House, sipping his tea.
He gazed vacantly at the passersby. A middle-aged man hurrying straight ahead, young people laughing and chatting merrily, a woman tightly gripping her child's hand as they walked, a couple browsing wares...
These people had no idea. They didn't know how great a danger loomed. If war broke out, this everyday peace would shatter.
I have to stop it somehow.
Even his brief moment of reflection was overshadowed by worry when, in the distance, the person he was waiting for approached.
Bi-gak Lord On Byeok-hwa.
The woman hailed as the greatest heroine of her generation, personally brought in from outside by the Alliance Lord himself to lead Bi-gak.
He didn't know how the Alliance Lord had come to know her so well. Their bond must run deep.
She spotted Je-gal Hyeon and waved.
Je-gal Hyeon rose from his seat to greet her.
Soon, she entered Daroo.
"Welcome, Pavilion Lord."
"I'm a bit late. Sorry about that, Strategist."
"No, no. I just arrived myself."
The two sat facing each other.
"I tried the tea here once before, and the flavor was exceptional. It felt better to host you here than in the stuffy Alliance headquarters."
"Ah, I see."
Daroo's young server approached to take their order.
"What tea would you like?"
"Bring the same as what this gentleman is having."
"Yes, sir!"
The child dashed back to the kitchen.
On Byeok-hwa asked Je-gal Hyeon, "What brings you here?"
"I have something to discuss regarding yesterday's banquet."
"Go ahead."
"I understand you often keep the Alliance Lord company."
"I visit occasionally to chat with him."
"I can't fathom the Alliance Lord's thoughts on Baek the Captain. Yesterday's banquet made no sense to me, with my limited insight."
On Byeok-hwa nodded as if grasping his meaning.
"I once asked the Alliance Lord about Baek the Captain."
"What did he say?"
"I should cherish him more... but it's not so easy to follow my heart. That's what he said."
The words carried a profound weight, leaving Je-gal Hyeon silent for a moment.
Just then, the child brought the tea.
"Allow me."
The child poured for On Byeok-hwa.
"Enjoy! Call me if you need anything."
"Thanks, kid."
The child returned to the chair by the entrance counter.
Their conversation resumed.
Je-gal Hyeon spoke to her candidly. "Let me be frank. What Baek the Captain accomplished in the last war was nothing short of miraculous. Without him, the righteous Murim would be in the Black Heaven Alliance's grasp right now. Everyone should be grateful to him."
On Byeok-hwa listened quietly, sipping her tea.
"We need him in this coming war too. Though he's lost his inner power, his overwhelming war experience is unmatched. And his leadership in commanding subordinates is outstanding."
"Yes, I agree."
"I hope the Alliance Lord and Baek the Captain can return to how things were. I'd appreciate your help in making that happen."
"Of course I'll help. It's the right path for the Alliance and the martial world. But you know how relationships between people aren't solved by outsiders meddling."
"That's why I'm asking for your help. You assist, I assist. If we both nudge things a little, their bond will surely improve."
"Understood."
"Thank you."
They talked at length about the current situation before parting.
Once they left Daroo, the child who had handled the bill entered the kitchen.
Instead of Daroo's usual chef, Baek So-cheon and Cheon-geuk waited there. The child server was none other than Na-sa-rin.
Baek So-cheon had rented out the entire tea house for the day to pull this off. Fortunately, Cheon-geuk knew her tea well, so preparing it in the kitchen had been easy.
"How did it go?"
"That woman shows no signs of Soul Subjugation Art, nor is she the type to wield it."
Na-sa-rin had discerned this in the brief moments of taking the order and pouring the tea.
"Thank you, Elder."
"It was no trouble."
She had been the most likely suspect among the three closest to the Alliance Lord. If not her, then his son Ak Seo-pyeong or Secret Guard Captain Pung-geuk-an.
But arranging meetings with them wouldn't be easy. Especially Pung-geuk-an, who never left the Alliance Lord's side.
The best option was confronting the Alliance Lord directly. But that was hard to arrange, and above all, he was likely to recognize Na-sa-rin for who she was.
If he could spot it, so could the Alliance Lord. If it came out that Sal-su Yeon-maeng's elder expert had been near him, it would spell serious trouble. Na-sa-rin could be in danger. That's why they were checking those around him first.
"If it's not too much, could you help a bit more?"
"Of course."
Pung-geuk-an couldn't be met openly, but Ak Seo-pyeong could be reached through Je-gal Hyeon. On Byeok-hwa might find it odd if she learned, but she'd likely see it as Je-gal Hyeon exerting himself for Baek So-cheon by meeting people everywhere.
"I'll need to rent this place another day."
That night, Baek So-cheon was at Daroo instead of home.
With the doors closed, he drank alone.
"Kept you waiting long?"
Na-sa-rin had arrived.
"No. Come in."
He was here because she'd suggested sharing a drink.
She shook the bottle in her hand with a smile.
"Brought some fine liquor."
Baek So-cheon fetched glasses and simple snacks he'd prepared in the kitchen.
"Snacks too?"
"Yes, though I didn't make them myself—bought from the nearby inn."
He'd used Daroo's finest dishes.
"These dishes are lovely."
Even past eighty, a woman was still a woman.
Baek So-cheon had remembered how Cheon-geuk once brought snacks in fine dishes when they drank together. It was a small thing, but it scored big points with Na-sa-rin.
"Thanks for thinking of me."
"Not at all. Here, let me pour."
Baek So-cheon poured courteously.
They downed their glasses in one go.
"Ahh, that's good."
"Excellent liquor."
"Once I knew of you, I felt I had to speak with you at least once, given our bond. That's why I asked to meet."
"Please, go ahead."
"When I first became aware of the world, I was already an assassin. But I lacked talent as one. In such cases, you usually die in training. Harsh, isn't it?"
Baek So-cheon listened quietly, sipping his drink.
"Fortunately, someone took notice of me—my master. Thanks to her, I survived and learned Soul Subjugation Art. You might wonder why assassins need it, but the Sal-su Yeon-maeng Lord back then trusted no one. His paranoia was pathological. He kept a Soul Subjugation Art master by his side to detect lies."
She recounted her life in a calm tone.
Baek So-cheon had expected talk of the disease that halted her growth. Instead, it was all about Sal-su Yeon-maeng.
A thought struck him.
Perhaps this elder too was denied a life of her own.
Pushed along by fate, living in a daze. Was it the world's cruelty? Or Murim's brutality? By the time you realized it, it was always too late.
"I've rambled. The reason I wanted to see you today is to ask one favor."
"Please, speak."
"When great turmoil hits Murim, don't drag our alliance into it."
It was a plea born of sensing Cheon-geuk's unusual feelings for Baek So-cheon. She feared Cheon-geuk might risk the entire Sal-su Yeon-maeng to help him—and for her own sake most of all.
"You needn't aid us. Just don't push us into peril. This old woman's earnest request."
Baek So-cheon emptied his glass again. He gave no long reply.
"Understood. In return, I have one request."
"Speak."
"Never accept any contract on me."
"That promise falls to the Alliance Lord, but he'll likely honor it."
"Then we're good."
Baek So-cheon had no intention of using Sal-su Yeon-maeng in the war anyway. He'd struck at them last time out of rage over their endless assassins coming for him.
"Another round."
"Yes."
They drank.
Na-sa-rin glanced toward the kitchen. "Enough hiding in that cramped spot. Come out."
Cheon-geuk emerged from behind the counter, dropping her concealment.
She grinned sheepishly. "The liquor smelled too good to resist."
That wasn't it, of course. She'd hidden to eavesdrop, curious what Na-sa-rin would say to Baek So-cheon.
She fetched her glass from the kitchen.
"What were you two talking about?"
Baek So-cheon and Na-sa-rin just stared at her silently.
"What? Was it about me?"
Baek So-cheon poured for her. "I knew you were there from the start. Your acting's even worse now."
"..."
"Let's drink."
The three toasted and drank.
Cheon-geuk was most grateful to Na-sa-rin. She only hoped the elder would stay by her side forever.
Whoosh!
Rain poured from morning the next day.
Je-gal Hyeon met Ak Seo-pyeong at the same Daroo where he'd seen On Byeok-hwa yesterday.
Ak Seo-pyeong had a charming, youthful look from Honam. He shed his rain-soaked oilcoat and bowed politely to Je-gal Hyeon.
"It's been a while, Strategist."
"Doing well? Sorry to call you out in the rain."
Having known Ak Seo-pyeong since childhood, Je-gal Hyeon treated him casually.
"Not at all. It was a rare chance to savor a walk in the rain."
As greetings were exchanged, Na-sa-rin arrived to take their order, as before.
Their talk continued until the tea arrived.
Je-gal Hyeon was open with him. His heart was always burdened with worry for the Alliance and righteous Murim, so there was no need for reserve.
"I asked to see you today because I'm worried about your father and Baek the Captain's relationship."
"I feel the same."
"You do?"
"Yes. I've sensed Father distancing himself from Baek the Captain lately. You might not know, but I've long admired and liked him. To be honest, I wanted to become a warrior like him."
"Is that so?"
It was a statement requiring some caution. He should have said he wanted to be like his father.
Could it be?
Je-gal Hyeon wondered if the Alliance Lord, knowing this, had grown jealous and distanced Baek So-cheon.
He's not that narrow-minded.
The Ak So-gun he knew had a truly broad heart. That's why he'd suited the Murim Alliance Lord position best.
"Have you told your father that?"
"No. This is the first time I've said it aloud."
"Ah, I see."
Then it wasn't because of Ak Seo-pyeong.
"I heard you held a banquet the other day. And returned the sword you'd reclaimed."
"Yes."
"Willingly giving back the sword suggests Father's heart has softened."
"I hope so."
The tea arrived then. Na-sa-rin poured and left.
After more talk, the two departed, and Na-sa-rin closed the tea house door. Baek So-cheon and Cheon-geuk emerged from the kitchen.
"He's clean too. No trace of Soul Subjugation Art."
That left only one person to check.
Pung-geuk-an, longtime head of the Secret Guards protecting the Alliance Lord.
Always at his side, meeting him meant facing the Alliance Lord himself.
Not easy.
As Baek So-cheon's expression darkened, Cheon-geuk said, "We're already involved. We'll stick around nearby for now, so take your time."
"Thanks."
Baek So-cheon looked at her. From procuring the spirit medicine to this—she had his sincere gratitude.
"I'll make sure you don't regret choosing to help me."
Cheon-geuk's eyes sparkled at his words.
As another woman, Na-sa-rin sensed the turmoil.
She felt Cheon-geuk's fervor. It worried her. Assassins burned up if they got too hot. They had to stay cold.
But she couldn't bring herself to stop Cheon-geuk.
She stood at the end of her own cold life. She'd never once burned that hot.
But... was her life one worth recommending to Cheon-geuk?
Whoosh!
The three gazed at the pouring rain, each lost in different emotions.
As Baek So-cheon stared endlessly at the downpour, an idea suddenly struck him.
What if?
If he couldn't bring her before the Alliance Lord, why not go himself?
It seemed impossible, but on a faint hope, he asked Na-sa-rin.
"Could you teach me the secret to detecting Soul Subjugation Art?"