Secretly Exercising the Art (1)
Cheon-geuk was the first to react to Baek So-cheon's question.
"No way!"
Baek So-cheon gave an awkward smile.
"Yeah, I figured it'd be tough."
Still unable to let go of the idea, he turned to Na-sa-rin.
"It's not about learning Seop-hon-sul itself—just the technique to detect if someone's been affected by it."
"If it's just that much..."
Na-sa-rin seemed to leave the door open, so Baek So-cheon pressed on.
"How long would it take to learn?"
"As you'd expect, it depends on the learner's talent."
At least it wasn't an outright no.
"Then, could you teach me? I know full well how rude this request is."
He was asking for one of her secret techniques, after all.
"But this is the only way to check on the elder without putting her in danger."
Cheon-geuk and Na-sa-rin both knew exactly what he meant. Having Na-sa-rin examine the Alliance Lord in person would be far too risky.
Na-sa-rin glanced at Cheon-geuk for permission.
"Shall we give it a try?"
"Are you sure you'll be okay?"
"I'll be fine."
Cheon-geuk looked back and forth between the two of them before nodding.
"Alright. Let's do it."
Baek So-cheon stood up.
"Then let's head to my place."
The three donned their bamboo hats and cloaks before stepping out of Daroo Tea House.
As they walked through the pouring rain, Cheon-geuk watched the two figures ahead of her.
They looked like siblings at times, like father and daughter at others.
The strange familiarity she felt despite the unfamiliarity stemmed from her own feelings toward them.
Just a few months ago, she never could have imagined herself doing something like this in front of the Murim Alliance headquarters with these two.
At some point, her heart had stopped racing. Nothing new ever happened in her days anymore—who succeeded on an assassination, who failed, who died, who lived... Even receiving reports of life and death multiple times a day, she'd grown numb to it all.
But after meeting Baek So-cheon, her heart had started pounding again.
Even just watching their backs like this sent her pulse racing with tension from the unfamiliar situation.
Shwaaaaa...
The drumming rain simply drowned out the sound of her heartbeat.
Once they arrived at his house, Baek So-cheon called for Im Choong and Beon Saeng.
"I've got some work to do at home for the next few days. Handle Hyun-cheon-dae matters yourselves. If anything comes up that needs me, Beon Saeng, come let me know."
"Yes, sir."
The two turned to leave.
As Beon Saeng passed by, he patted Na-sa-rin's head affectionately.
"You're adorable. How old are you?"
"Eighty-four."
"Hahaha. You must take after your sister—great sense of humor."
Beon Saeng laughed as he followed Im Choong out. He paused at the door without turning back.
"I messed up again, didn't I?"
His voice was crestfallen. Cheon-geuk replied with dead seriousness.
"Your tongue's already booked for the chop, so we can just take that hand next."
Beon Saeng slunk out with his head hung low.
As the door closed, Baek So-cheon turned to her.
"Quit teasing him all the time."
"He's the one serving up the ammo on a platter—and taking it so well, too."
Cheon-geuk vanished with a sly grin.
"I'll guard the perimeter. You two get started."
Baek So-cheon and Na-sa-rin sat facing each other across the table.
"No time to waste, so I'll pass on the secret formula directly."
"Thank you."
"First, memorize this incantation I'll recite."
"Yes."
Na-sa-rin transmitted the incantation. It was the same mind that had memorized Beon-cheon Gu-gwon in a single carriage ride.
After repeating it twice, Baek So-cheon recited it back flawlessly.
Na-sa-rin was inwardly stunned.
This guy's no ordinary genius!
She'd expected his martial talent to be exceptional, given he'd once held the top spot in the world. But this level of memory retention was beyond her imagination.
"Now, circulate your qi according to the incantation."
"Yes."
While the transmission continued, Cheon-geuk sat on the roof, letting the rain soak her.
A transmission sound came from Dong-seong, one of her four guardians, from afar.
-You'll catch a cold.
She'd ordered them to stay back during this. Her guardians fretted over her constantly, asleep or awake. At least Na-sa-rin was here, which eased their minds a bit.
-It's been ages since I got caught in the rain—feels refreshing.
-May I come closer for a bit?
-Sure.
With that, her four guardians flew to her side.
They unfurled their cloaks over her head, forming a makeshift canopy.
Dong-seong was reliable and trustworthy as the leader. Buk-seong handled intel with his sharp analytical skills and judgment. Nam-seong was fiercely loyal. The only woman among them, Seo-seong, was so quiet her personality was a mystery—but her love of flowers suggested a gentle nature ill-suited to the Assassin Alliance.
"What would you do without me if you keep this up?"
"We've never imagined a world without you, Lord."
"What if something happens..."
"Lord."
"Hear me out."
"Yes."
"If anything happens to me, you all scatter and live your own lives. That's an order."
"......"
Not one of the four replied.
They could sense their fates. If Cheon-geuk died, they'd avenge her and then take their own lives. But they might not even need to—they'd likely die protecting her. No one strong enough to kill her would let them succeed in revenge. No, they'd perish alongside her. They wouldn't just stand by and watch her die.
Cheon-geuk knew they wouldn't live their own lives. She understood them well, always by her side.
"Fine. We'll live together or die together. But let's claw our way through and survive."
This time, all four answered in unison.
"Yes!"
"Think this rain will cool things down once it stops?"
It was the rain heralding summer's end.
Shwaaaaa...
Three days later.
Baek So-cheon and Na-sa-rin stood in a forest near Wuhuan.
Ten men stood before them. Half were Na-sa-rin's disciples, the other half ordinary assassins.
They stood silently, emitting no qi.
Baek So-cheon walked past them briskly and selected five from the end.
"First, third, fourth, seventh, eighth."
Na-sa-rin ordered them to withdraw, and the ten vanished in an instant.
"How many did you get right?"
"All of them."
Baek So-cheon answered confidently.
"What makes you so sure?"
"I learned from someone worth that confidence."
Na-sa-rin's face finally lit up with a bright smile.
"Well done. You got them all exactly right."
She was deeply impressed. She'd never dreamed he'd master the technique in just three days. Of course, he couldn't wield Seop-hon-sul itself yet. What he'd learned was solely how to detect if someone had been ensnared by it or had mastered it themselves.
In truth, this was one of the most crucial secret arts in Na-sa-rin's Seop-hon-sul arsenal. Discerning a connection to it while pouring tea required supreme mastery.
She'd taught it to him without reservation—not so much for his sake, but for Cheon-geuk and the Assassin Alliance.
"If a superior expert than me has cast it, you won't detect it. Otherwise, you'll always know."
"Thank you."
"I hope you haven't forgotten this old woman's request."
She reminded him once more not to exploit the Assassin Alliance.
"How could I forget such a great favor? Don't worry."
"Thank you."
Na-sa-rin breathed a sigh of relief.
Soon, Cheon-geuk appeared.
"Elder."
Instead of thanks, she took Na-sa-rin's hand.
"Lord."
Cheon-geuk's concern solely for her and the Alliance touched her deeply.
After expressing her gratitude to Na-sa-rin, she turned to Baek So-cheon.
"The Alliance has taken over Daroo. It'll run normally, so if you need to reach me, contact the owner there."
"Thanks."
Baek So-cheon turned and strode away.
Na-sa-rin watched his retreating figure.
"He's a good man."
"Isn't he?"
"That's what makes him dangerous. You know what I mean, right?"
"Yes."
...Which only draws me more to him.
In any case, the two couldn't leave yet. They had to wait for a report on whether Baek So-cheon succeeded.
Baek So-cheon deliberately didn't seek out the Alliance Lord.
He hadn't visited her voluntarily once in the past three years. Doing so now might arouse suspicion. Besides, his goal required him to deploy the secret technique. He needed a natural opportunity to meet her again.
To find a way, he went to see Je-gal Hyeon.
He wasn't in his Hyun-cheon Pavilion office.
"The Grand Strategist is at the Strategy Command Center. Shall I send word?"
Baek So-cheon turned immediately.
"No need. I'll go to him."
Baek So-cheon had clearance to enter the Command Center. Je-gal Hyeon had granted him full access.
As he entered, every strategist’s eyes turned to him.
In a way, these were the people closest to him.
All the operations he'd led in the Righteous-Demonic War had originated here.
These strategists knew better than anyone how much he'd accomplished in that war.
A few senior strategists who'd been with him from the start greeted him respectfully. Baek So-cheon returned the courtesy.
His steps halted before the wall bearing the Murim Seol-yeol-log as he entered deeper.
His gaze lingered on the Alliance Lord's name at the top, then shifted to the new Blood Cult Lord who'd risen above her. Then to the Black Heaven Alliance Lord in third.
Even someone that strong is only third.
As he eyed his own name at the bottom, Je-gal Hyeon approached.
"It's been a while since you were here."
"Three or four years, I think."
Back as Bi-gak Lord, he'd had free access. During the war, when he was the righteous factions' core force, no door was closed to him, no intel beyond his reach.
Gazing at the ledger together, Je-gal Hyeon swallowed a surge of emotion.
Sometimes I miss the days you held the top spot.
It was a regret for him, but too painful a reminder for Baek So-cheon.
"What brings you here?"
"I have something to discuss."
He was about to ask for a natural way to meet the three of them together.
Dong! Dong! Dong!
The emergency bell rang, and the strategists tensed.
"Urgent dispatch from Cheon-mun Branch. Sa-yeong-mun has been ambushed by unidentified assailants."
Je-gal Hyeon was startled. Sa-yeong-mun was one of Hubei Province's premier righteous sects, actively supporting the Alliance. If they were in trouble, the Alliance had to help.
"Who did it?"
"Unknown. They've taken the Sa-yeong-mun Lord and his family hostage. Cheon-mun Branch warriors have surrounded Sa-yeong-mun."
If this was Black Heaven Alliance's doing, it was a blatant challenge. This wasn't the borderlands—it was Hubei, home to Alliance headquarters. And Cheon-mun wasn't far.
This went beyond pressuring border sects; they'd crossed over and taken hostages from an inner faction.
But the odds were low. If it were them, they'd have wreaked havoc and fled by now, not played this hostage game.
"Nearest strike force?"
"Cheol-geum-dan Third Squad is operating nearby and standing by."
"Send an urgent dispatch—deploy Third Squad there immediately!"
"Yes, sir."
The strategists sprang into action. One reported to the Alliance Lord's hall; another issued orders to Cheol-geum-dan.
Another emergency dispatch arrived.
Dong! Dong! Dong!
"Another from Cheon-mun Branch."
The situation on the ground was unfolding rapidly. They'd sent the first response, and a new development had arisen right after.
Of course, this was from half a shichen ago.
Sa-ma Il-jung paled as he read it.
"What is it?"
"The hostage-taker's made a demand."
"What?"
Sa-ma Il-jung's gaze shifted to Baek So-cheon, standing behind Je-gal Hyeon. An unexpected name slipped from his lips.
"They demand we bring Baek Dae-ju. If Baek Dae-ju isn't delivered by midnight tonight, they'll kill one hostage every half shichen."