Wielding Power in Secret (2)
The command center fell silent as every strategist turned their gaze toward Baek So-cheon.
Anyone could sense the clear intent to take his life.
Surprisingly, Baek So-cheon remained utterly calm.
"I'll go."
"No! There's no way those bastards called for you with good intentions!"
"Probably not. But we can't just sacrifice the hostages, can we?"
"We should send Bi-gak or Cheol-geom-dan on a rescue operation."
"By the time they called for me, they would've already anticipated that."
"Baek Dae-ju! These are masters who subdued the Sa-yeong Sect Lord."
The Sa-yeong Sect Lord wasn't some unparalleled expert, but he had reached the Peak realm.
"Don't worry too much. Do you really think I'd fall to people who take hostages and torment innocents?"
Baek So-cheon wasn't worried at all. Now that he'd recovered his inner power, there was no need to fear any situation.
The real issue lay elsewhere. He had to fight without revealing that his inner power was back. It was a time when the subtleties of combat were absolutely crucial.
Je-gal Hyeon had no choice but to let Baek So-cheon go. With hostages at stake, he couldn't sacrifice the Sa-yeong Sect Lord and his family just to keep Baek So-cheon safe.
"You don't have to meet their unreasonable demands. Judge the situation as you see fit."
"Understood."
"Be careful. I'll support you from behind however I can. Ah, wait a moment."
Je-gal Hyeon instructed Sa-ma Il-jung to fetch something from his office. What he brought was Yong-rin Gap, a protective armor vest that could be worn under clothing. It was a gift from the Alliance Lord during wartime—a treasure impervious even to swords and spears. Exceptionally thin and elastic, it allowed for easy movement.
"Wear this."
"It's fine."
"If you refuse even this, I won't let you go."
"Thank you."
Baek So-cheon donned the Yong-rin Gap right in front of Je-gal Hyeon. When the time came to eliminate them, this armor would help conceal his true power. They'd assume he'd survived the crisis thanks to it.
Leaving the strategic command center, Baek So-cheon mounted his horse and rode out of the Alliance.
Arriving at the Sa-yeong Sect just half a shichen before midnight, Baek So-cheon found the Iron Cavalry Unit's vanguard already controlling the area. The fourth unit leader in charge greeted him.
"Iron Cavalry Unit Fourth Leader Ju Deok-yang."
He wore the unit's signature armor and carried a long spear. The horses tethered nearby were also armored—sturdy yet incredibly light, unique to the Iron Cavalry Unit.
Masters of horsemanship and spearwork, the Iron Cavalry Unit excelled in open-field battles.
That said, they weren't only powerful on horseback. Dismounted, their prowess dipped compared to spear combat, but it was still above average.
"Hyun-cheon-dae Leader Baek So-cheon. What's the situation?"
"We haven't confirmed their numbers, but it doesn't seem like many. Probably three or four, all masked, so identities unknown."
"Any casualties?"
"Fortunately, no victims yet."
In other words, he was definitely their target. They knew too many deaths would prompt the Murim Alliance to launch a forced assault. Clearly, this wasn't some idle prank to gawk at a former hero.
"I'll go in."
Ju Deok-yang knew Baek So-cheon had lost his inner power. Even if he was skilled without it, hostages complicated things.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Leave it to me."
Baek So-cheon showed no unease.
Ju Deok-yang nodded.
"Understood. Be careful. If it gets dangerous, just shout. We'll rush in immediately."
"Yes, of course."
Baek So-cheon walked to the gate. The Iron Cavalry warriors watched anxiously. They knew of him too—some even owed him their lives.
Thud thud.
After knocking, Baek So-cheon called out loudly.
"It's Baek So-cheon, the one you're looking for."
Moments later, the gate creaked open.
Creeeak.
A masked man's cold eyes glared from beyond.
"Weapons?"
"None."
He'd left Gui-yeong Geom behind. In a hostage situation, they'd confiscate it anyway.
"Pat-down."
"Go ahead."
The masked man searched Baek So-cheon. Not even a single dagger.
"Come in."
As Baek So-cheon entered, the gate shut again.
The courtyard stood empty.
The masked man led him to the guest hall in a separate annex of the Sa-yeong Sect.
There, the hostages were gathered. Sa-yeong Sect Lord Gwak Jin-bong, his family, and warriors—all acupoints sealed.
Regular warriors had their sleep and arm meridians sealed, put to sleep. Only three remained awake.
Gwak Jin-bong, his wife, and their son, who looked about thirteen or fourteen.
Surprisingly few masked men: just three.
One stood by the hostages with a drawn sword.
Another had escorted him here and now guarded outside.
The apparent leader sat in the high seat at the back.
"Baek So-cheon."
His low voice echoed through the hall. A voice Baek So-cheon didn't recognize.
Judging by voice and eyes, mid-fifties. His aura marked him as Peak realm. All three masked men were.
"Has the hero of Murim, who once made even Black Heaven Alliance masters tremble, finally arrived?"
That mocking line revealed one fact: he wasn't Black Heaven. He'd have said "our alliance's masters" otherwise.
"You know me?"
"Of course. You wouldn't know me."
"Who are you?"
"If I told you, I'd have to kill all these people."
Baek So-cheon glanced at the Sa-yeong Sect Lord and his family. They stared back, faces pale with fear.
"Kill just me, and they all live?"
Not likely. They'd use them as shields escaping later. Once safe, would they really let them go?
"No grudge between us, right?"
"In this jianghu, do we need grudges to kill?"
"Fair point."
"Are you a fool? Or still deluded as Murim's hero? Walking to your death?"
"It's been so long, I'd almost forgotten. You called, so I came happily."
The masked man's inexplicable unease stirred at Baek So-cheon's leisure.
But he shook it off. Even against Baek So-cheon, they wouldn't lose to a man without inner power.
"Call the third in."
"Yes."
The one by the hostages whistled.
The outside guard entered.
"Now, finish it."
"Yes."
The last masked man drew his sword and approached Baek So-cheon.
Another pressed his blade to the boy's neck.
"Resist, and the kid dies."
Gwak Jin-bong and his wife cried out.
"No!"
"Please spare him! Kill me instead!"
Baek So-cheon eyed the leader.
"One thing before I die."
The leader raised a hand, halting the others.
"What?"
He was thrilled at killing Baek So-cheon—a boast for life. Historic.
"Who sent you?"
"Don't know. Thirty thousand nyang for your head."
"Why go this far? Just sneak in and kill me."
"Even without inner power, you dropped a Cheol-geom-dan leader in one strike."
"Client gave that intel?"
"Said you won't kill hostages. Especially kids and women. And with Alliance warriors knowing? Dead hostages, and the world blames you—saving your skin by letting innocents die. Can you bear that?"
"Whoever it is, spot-on info."
"Farewell."
He signaled the approaching man to end it.
The masked man closed from behind.
Swish.
At the sword swing—
The masked man's hand slashed empty air.
"Huh?"
His sword was suddenly in Baek So-cheon's hand.
The hostage-guard yelled.
"Move and they die!"
That instant—
Slump. Thud. Slump. Thud.
The three hostages collapsed simultaneously.
The guard at the boy flinched. Despite standing right there, all three suddenly slept.
Baek So-cheon had flicked hidden force, sealing their arm meridians at once.
In that stunned moment!
Shing.
Baek So-cheon slashed the throat of the man whose sword he'd taken.
Splurt!
Too fast to dodge.
Blood fountained as he toppled backward.
"The hostages..."
The leader couldn't finish—kill them, he'd meant.
He saw it.
A sword flying like light.
Thud!
Baek So-cheon's sword pierced the hostage-guard's throat.
It embedded in the back wall; the man crumpled.
The leader gaped. In one breath, two Peak realm brothers dead.
"You... you have inner power."
Baek So-cheon strode toward him, bare-handed but unwavering.
"Client taught everything right—except one thing."
"S-spare me."
As if bowing—
"Die!"
The leader thrust suddenly.
Shing.
Futile struggle.
Baek So-cheon sidestepped, sealed his points swiftly, and hurled him skyward.
'Urk!'
Normally, Beon-cheon Gu-gwon's third fist, Residual Moon Effect, would've pulped him.
But to hide inner power traces, swordplay it was.
Baek So-cheon reached out; the wall-embedded sword yanked free and flew to him.
Whoosh.
Aloft, the leader's eyes bulged. Floating helpless, sword flying—unbelievable.
Utterly helpless. Sealed movement and breath points on launch.
'The old Baek So-cheon!'
His body tilted slowly.
Neck extended forward.
'Ah!'
Terror-filled, his last sight: a crescent sword-arc in air.
Screeeam!
Nothing after.
Thud.
Head rolled; body followed.
Baek So-cheon eyed his sword. Using inner power felt exhilarating.
Far smoother, precise, faster than before.
Goosebumps rose; thrill surged. He could shatter the roof and soar.
But not yet time to reveal.
Power subsided, coiling dormant.
"Huuuuh."
Deep breath calming, he checked the sleeping hostages. All safe.
Then rifled the dead. From the leader: promissory notes in cloth. Eight ten-thousand-nyang, three or four thousand-nyang. Likely ten thousand advance. Some spent on vice.
Baek So-cheon pocketed them. To trace if possible.
Others yielded nothing notable.
He opened the door and stepped out.
All startled.
"Go in!"
Iron Cavalry third unit entered the hall.
Shocked by the scene.
Third Leader Ju Deok-yang asked incredulously.
"What happened?"
"Caught them off-guard and took them all down. Thanks to the Grand Strategist's loaned armor."
Baek So-cheon opened his collar, showing Yong-rin Gap.
"Ah!"
"Hostages all unharmed."
Cheers and applause from surrounding Iron Cavalry warriors.
Rumors flew: passed special training without inner power, beat Wang-ho of Bi-gak. No suspicions.
Ju Deok-yang beamed. As leader, dead hostages would've been disaster.
"Well done. You must've suffered."
"No, just luck."
An Iron Cavalry warrior reported.
Ju Deok-yang relayed to Baek So-cheon.
"Someone recognized them: the Blood Fang Three Wolves. Hired thugs for dirty work. Know them?"
"No."
"Someone hired them for your head."
Baek So-cheon nodded.
"Handle cleanup, then."
"Yes, don't worry."
Someone tried to kill him. Without inner power, tough escape—and hostages would've died, scarring him.
Who? Surely not...
Painful to suspect in this moment, but before Black Heaven Lord or Blood Cult Leader, that name surfaced first.
Whoever, he'd learn soon.
Meanwhile, awakened Gwak Jin-bong and family bowed repeatedly in gratitude. Parents' joy at son's safety, indescribable.
Baek So-cheon returned a light clasped-hands salute, mounted, and vanished into the night.