Heavenly Dragon's Secret Realm (1)
Beon Saeng's daily routine was packed.
He rose at dawn for training, then headed straight to Hyun-cheon-dae to clean Baek So-cheon's office and their own workspace.
In the mornings, he helped Im Choong with his duties, squeezing in martial arts practice during any spare moments.
Now, he could execute the forms Baek So-cheon had taught him with considerable fluidity. He simply trusted his mentor and repeated them endlessly.
Beon Saeng threw himself into something every single day. This was the first time in his life he'd ever worked this hard.
As a merchant once said, the thrill of earning money often surpassed the joy of spending it—and sometimes, the pleasure of working outshone even play. That was Beon Saeng these days.
Today, too, after finishing Hyun-cheon-dae's tasks, he was stepping out for a quick martial arts session when he ran into an elderly man in the corridor.
As always, he bowed politely to the old man.
"Welcome, sir."
"Good to see you. Where's Baek Dae-ju's office?"
"Top floor. Shall I show you the way?"
"No need. I'll find it."
"Yes, sir."
With Im Choong upstairs, Beon Saeng headed out.
But as he reached the end of the corridor, his steps halted.
A chilling premonition crept up his spine, and as he passed through the entrance, its source revealed itself.
Secret Ho-wi warriors were guarding the perimeter.
Gasp!
The old man he'd just greeted was none other than the Murim Alliance Lord himself.
Aaaargh!
He screamed inwardly.
Why do all these big shots keep showing up?
Beon Saeng was bearing the full brunt of the side effects from serving so closely under Baek So-cheon.
Ak So-gun entered Baek So-cheon's office.
"Alliance Lord."
Baek So-cheon rose from his seat.
Ak So-gun stood at the threshold, gazing silently at Baek So-cheon.
Having regained his senses that morning, he'd heard everything from On Byeok-hwa. He had no memory after leaving the chamber where they'd been together.
He'd learned that both he and Baek So-cheon had been implanted with the Cheon-oe Won-go, fueling his inexplicable hatred toward the young man.
The moment Ak So-gun laid eyes on Baek So-cheon, emotion surged within him. This was not the Baek So-cheon he'd loathed to the point of agony at every glance—but the one he'd truly cherished like a son. Could a man's heart change so utterly? With a trembling voice, he called out.
"So-cheon, my boy."
"Alliance Lord."
Baek So-cheon's voice quivered, mirroring the turmoil in his eyes.
"Are you all right?"
Without a word, Ak So-gun strode forward and enveloped Baek So-cheon in a fierce embrace.
"I'm sorry, lad. Truly, deeply sorry."
Ak So-gun was overwhelmed with guilt toward Baek So-cheon. Even if manipulated by the curse, for the Murim Alliance Lord to falter so—it filled him with profound self-reproach.
"No, Alliance Lord. I misunderstood you. If anyone's to apologize, it's me."
"Nonsense. It was all my fault."
Something hot trickled down Baek So-cheon's nape. The Alliance Lord's tears.
Baek So-cheon felt his own throat tighten, eyes reddening. He fought back his tears, but the searing drops falling onto his skin proved contagious.
All the emotions of the past three years welled up, and tears streamed down his cheeks.
Once started, they wouldn't stop. The harder he tried, the more they flowed. Baek So-cheon clenched his teeth to stifle any sound. The Lord had apologized, but he was the one who felt remorse.
"Let me see your face, son."
Ak So-gun studied Baek So-cheon's features closely.
"Even just looking at you like this feels so good..."
Ak So-gun wiped Baek So-cheon's tears with his sleeve. But fresh ones traced paths through the deep wrinkles on his own weathered face.
"So-cheon, welcome home."
Baek So-cheon hugged him back fiercely. This time, his hot tears soaked Ak So-gun's shoulder.
"Alliance Lord, welcome home."
With their hearts settled, they sat facing each other, and Ak So-gun recounted the events.
"I visited you in the clinic several times while you lay there. But the closer I got, the dizzier I felt, the more nauseous. Oddly, whenever I tried to see you, my body rebelled. I'd think, later will do, and give up so easily. Not seeing you brought peace. When we finally met, you reeked—to this day, a stench I never want to smell again. Looking back, it was the curse deceiving my senses."
It didn't end there. Day by day, negative thoughts about Baek So-cheon intensified. He just hated him, for no reason. Every vile notion imaginable plagued him. Eventually, he even heard voices in his head slandering Baek So-cheon.
"I kept imagining you badmouthing me everywhere. Dreams of you betraying me for the Black Heaven Alliance haunted me. No matter how I fought those thoughts, they wouldn't leave."
"You held them back well. Anyone else, and I'd have died a dozen times over."
It was the truth. Without Ak So-gun, he wouldn't have lasted three years.
"The curse didn't always work. Sometimes seeing you felt normal. But those nights, rage consumed me until dawn."
Baek So-cheon couldn't even fathom Ak So-gun's suffering.
"The Blood Cult Lord's doing?"
"Yes. They say his master, Jeok Pa-rap, was the only one who could wield the Cheon-oe Won-go."
"Either he did it himself, or the Blood Cult Lord."
"Likely."
Baek So-cheon vowed silently: he would never let those who implanted the curse live.
"Is the Black Heaven Lord involved?"
"Possibly, or not. They're allied now, but the curses were planted three or four years ago, when relations were poor."
Ak So-gun nodded.
Back then, the Blood Cult hadn't joined the righteous-evil war. Blood Cult Lord Myeol Saeng was in secluded training, the cult sealed shut.
"They sealed the gates publicly while scheming in secret."
"Yes."
To confirm one fact, Baek So-cheon asked cautiously.
"Did you commission the Yeong-sa-mun incident?"
That morning, Je-gal Hyeon had handed him a receipt from the investigation. Astonishingly, it traced back to the Alliance Lord's residence—from the Blood A Three Wolves who'd staged the hostage crisis.
Ak So-gun sighed and nodded.
"I held on as best I could... but seeing 'Kill Heaven' carved into my home broke my last resolve."
When he came to, he'd shaken off even his guards, standing alone on his estate's roof, staring at the blood-scrawled characters.
Kill Heaven.
That "Heaven" wasn't the Alliance Lord—it referred to Baek So-cheon.
Having endured too long, the Blood Cult Lord had infused his Great Success Hyeol-cheon-gi with malevolent energy, shattering Ak So-gun's will.
This confirmed Myeol Saeng's hand in it.
"At first, I thought it all a dream. Me slipping my escorts to hire scum like that? Impossible. I even remember saying no hostages should die. I've committed an unforgivable sin."
"It's reversible. No one died."
The only casualty was the vile Blood A Three Wolves.
"You nearly died because of me."
"Not you—the curse. And you never fully broke. If you truly wanted me dead, you'd have hired far stronger killers than those wolves."
The Alliance Lord's final subconscious had spared him.
Even at the end, he'd clung to protecting the innocent.
Now Baek So-cheon understood why no hostages died: Ak So-gun had refused payment otherwise.
The lack of victims had puzzled him; they'd planned another escape, no doubt.
"Alliance Lord, what we need isn't self-blame—it's countermeasures. We must stop them and punish this outrage."
Ak So-gun nodded and rose.
"Come with me."
Ak So-gun led Baek So-cheon out of the Hyun-cheon-dae building.
Passing warriors gaped at the pair walking side by side—a sight unseen in three years.
Just then, Cheol-geom-dan Lord Chung Yang and Hwang Il-bi spotted them.
Gasp!
Chung Yang stared blankly, stunned by their warmth.
Hwang Il-bi, meanwhile, was thrilled inwardly.
Yes! They've finally reconciled!
The Alliance Lord and Baek So-cheon smiled brightly at each other as they walked. A scene absent for three years.
Hwang Il-bi wanted to shout for joy.
Our Lord is the best! Long live the Alliance Lord!
Having poured out his admiration for Baek So-cheon, he turned to Chung Yang.
"You okay?"
"What if I'm not? Storm the Lord and demand answers? You were cheering 'long live' in your head, weren't you?"
His words bristled, but his tone betrayed no real anger.
He's amazing. Even this Iron Sword Lord has softened.
As if reading his mind, Chung Yang barked.
"Don't even think of defecting to Baek Dae-ju!"
"No way. I'm nailed to Cheol-geom-dan—I'll rise to Lord here. You grabbed me, so make it happen!"
"Earn it."
"Hah, classic tyrant talk. Swear loyalty first, rewards later. That's how you lot end up whining, Who else understands me but you?"
"Ever sworn loyalty?"
"Always loyal!"
"Then swear more."
"Yes, sir!"
Watching Chung Yang, Hwang Il-bi thought:
Hatred's a scary thing.
Sometimes, even this side of him seemed endearing.
By then, Baek So-cheon and Ak So-gun had vanished toward the Alliance Lord's residence. Their presence lingered.
"If we fight Black Heaven now, we might actually win."
Normally, Chung Yang would've scoffed at the fuss over a walk. But today:
"Moon salary and affection demand results."
He felt it too. Who wouldn't, seeing that?
Hwang Il-bi's gaze followed where they'd gone.
Fight on, both of you!
Ak So-gun led Baek So-cheon into the Alliance Lord's residence.
They crossed to the rear garden, where ambushes lurked even in this sanctum.
Beyond lay a rear gate opening to a dense bamboo grove—uncharted territory for Baek So-cheon.
They halted before it. A profound aura hinted at a formation. Its power and subtlety surpassed any Baek So-cheon knew.
"Seven Stars Nine Palaces Formation."
Among existing arrays, one notoriously tricky to breach—a deadly maze trapping the unwary forever.
"Follow exactly where I step. Memorize the life gates."
"Understood."
Ak So-gun led; Baek So-cheon followed precisely in his footsteps. No casual stroll—this demanded perfect replication.
Memorizing steps was trivial for most, but Baek So-cheon excelled at martial matters.
Emerging from the Seven Stars Nine Palaces Formation, a stone wall loomed.
Etched upon it: Heavenly Dragon Secret Realm.
Murim Alliance's most hidden sanctum, accessible only to the Lord—even Pung-geuk-an had never entered.
Ak So-gun pressed his palm to the engraved plate beside the wall, channeling inner power in a precise pattern—known solely to Alliance Lords.
Forcing it would trigger the deadliest traps.
The infusion complete, the wall rumbled open.
Rumble...
The Heavenly Dragon Secret Realm's doors parted wide after long years.