Yeom Hwa-sin (2)
Yeom Hwa-sin left the tavern, leaving Baek So-cheon and Cheon-geuk alone.
The waiter and cook, who had been hiding in the kitchen out of fear that a brawl might break out, finally emerged.
Baek So-cheon generously paid for the broken furnishings and stepped outside with Cheon-geuk.
"Should've just gone for it, huh?"
"See? Men's bravado. Wonder how far the Black Heaven Alliance Lord got? I'll go fetch him."
"Hahaha."
Baek So-cheon laughed. Even in a situation like this, she could draw a laugh from him. That must have been why, back in the Cheon-ryong Secret Realm, she'd been the one he missed most.
"You really going?"
"Yeah."
Of course, given the circumstances, he needed to head straight to Ak So-gun and Je-gal Hyeon to report this.
But would Yeom Hwa-sin have come without any countermeasures?
Baek So-cheon knew better than anyone that Yeom Hwa-sin wasn't the simple brute he appeared to be.
So what if they missed even the slightest chance of catching him?
Yeah, we might lose him.
The real problem lay elsewhere.
Cheon-geuk and Na-sa-rin would be in danger. Now that he knew Cheon-geuk had helped with the treatment, he'd try to take her by force no matter what.
If he couldn't stay with them forever, sooner or later, the two would be dragged away by Yeom Hwa-sin beyond his control.
Cheon-geuk, sharp as ever, picked up on it.
"Is it because of me and the elder?"
"No."
His denial was too firm, and she knew it. Baek So-cheon had decided to go to the Black Heaven Alliance for her and Na-sa-rin's sake.
She recalled that moment when their eyes had met while Yeom Hwa-sin had him by the collar. And the emotions from then.
Why go this far?
They could just use each other and be done with it.
But if that's how she planned to live, she never should have revealed herself in the first place.
"I'll head to the alliance for a bit."
"Go ahead. I need to see the elder."
"See you later."
"Yeah."
Baek So-cheon, walking ahead, spoke without turning back.
"Thanks."
Her usual words came back from behind.
"Just know it."
A few steps later, Cheon-geuk called out.
"Thanks to you too."
A faint smile tugged at Baek So-cheon's lips as he walked.
He hadn't realized it in his youth—how much it meant in a person's life to be acknowledged by someone.
Yeah, I know.
Cheon-geuk returned to Daroo Tea House and told Na-sa-rin what had happened.
"I'm sorry, Elder. I made the decision on my own."
Cheon-geuk bowed her head. She'd judged Baek So-cheon's life was at risk, but Na-sa-rin was the one who could actually perform the treatment. Deciding without consulting her was a grave discourtesy.
Na-sa-rin smiled her usual serene smile.
"It's fine, Alliance Lord."
Her warm words rang true. With so little time left to live anyway, she was more worried about Cheon-geuk.
"I'll go alone."
"No. I can't allow that."
"I'll be the one doing the treatment anyway."
At Na-sa-rin's firm resolve, Cheon-geuk pressed harder.
"Absolutely not. I'm coming too."
It was her decision. She already felt guilty enough—how could she send Na-sa-rin alone? Unthinkable.
"Alliance Lord!"
"That's an order."
Their resolves clashed, but Cheon-geuk's authority as leader prevailed.
"Let's go together, Elder."
"Yes, let's."
"Sorry for being stubborn."
"You've been stubborn since you were young."
Cheon-geuk hugged Na-sa-rin. The tiny body nestled perfectly into her arms—eighty-four years of life in such a frail, delicate frame.
While Na-sa-rin prepared to leave, Cheon-geuk summoned her four guardians.
"Follow me, but don't enter their headquarters."
She knew their personalities better than anyone. Stopping them from following was impossible; keeping them at a distance was the best option.
"Alliance Lord!"
"You saw before—Yeom Hwa-sin pierced our stealth from afar. He'll allow you trailing behind, but not entering the main base. If you get in danger, I'll be in danger too."
She wouldn't just stand by if they died.
Understanding her intent, the four stepped back.
"Understood. We'll stay as close as possible to the Black Heaven Alliance. If anything happens, fire the emergency signal at once."
"Got it."
She always carried the emergency firework, disguised as a clothing ornament—undetectable even in a search.
Before the appointed time, Baek So-cheon returned.
He told Beon Saeng and Im Choong he'd be away for personal matters for a while and asked them to relay any messages from the Alliance Lord's quarters or Hyun-cheon Pavilion.
Before leaving, he'd met Wang-ho and ordered intensified training. With war looming, training was all that mattered.
Baek So-cheon apologized to Na-sa-rin.
"I'll speak privately with Alliance Lord Cheon for a moment. Sorry, Elder."
"It's fine."
The two walked a short distance away and stopped.
"What'd the elder say?"
"The usual—worried about me."
"Once the great law ends, Yeom Hwa-sin might try to kill us."
He recalled Yeom Hwa-sin's words earlier.
Why keep you alive once you're useless?
"The elder's worried, but..."
She herself wasn't afraid.
"You remember what I said before? I got no greed for money. A woman without greed for money—think she'd fear death? We'll all die someday. If it means something small, that's fine."
"What meaning if you die now?"
She hesitated, then murmured.
"...A hundred thousand nyang?"
"A hundred thousand nyang?"
Baek So-cheon repeated, and she quickly changed the subject.
"Never mind. Come on, let's go. The three of us against that big bad guy. If things go south, we team up, fight hard, and die gloriously."
"Yeah, let's do that."
But only as a last resort.
For now, they needed the best outcome.
I need a way to keep him from touching us.
He had to find it before they arrived.
Moments later, a carriage pulled up to where the three waited and stopped.
The door opened, and Yeom Hwa-sin inside said,
"Get in."
Baek So-cheon, Cheon-geuk, and Na-sa-rin boarded.
The carriage picked up speed. Destination: Black Heaven Alliance headquarters in Nam-nyeong, Gwang-seo Province.
The interior was silent.
Everyone lost in thought, eyes closed or gazing out the window.
Baek So-cheon knew how ferocious this small space truly was.
Cheon-geuk, complying for now, was the King of Assassins. No one knew her true limits.
Na-sa-rin, an eighty-four-year-old grandmaster of soul subjugation arts.
And himself.
All controlled by Yeom Hwa-sin.
In a flash, anything could erupt here.
Thud.
The carriage jolted over a pothole, breaking the silence naturally.
"You look old—how many years?"
Yeom Hwa-sin had pierced Na-sa-rin's identity and knew she'd perform the core treatment.
"Eighty-four."
Na-sa-rin replied politely. She was always courteous, no matter the opponent.
"Haha, you were already active in Murim when I was born."
"Likely so."
With Cheon-geuk beside her, Na-sa-rin was extra cautious. Eighty-four years of every trial imaginable had taught her.
Nature doesn't change.
Even if the Black Heaven Lord smiled, it was a sated tiger's leisure. Hunger would bring merciless fangs.
Baek So-cheon stared at Yeom Hwa-sin's forearm and hand.
His skin looked tougher than during their last fight. Even without protective aura, a faint sheen flowed over it. He'd been too shocked earlier to notice properly.
"Why stare like that?"
"Stronger now?"
"Think so?"
Baek So-cheon nodded, and Yeom Hwa-sin smiled satisfied.
"Good eye. Can't just slink back after getting schooled, eh?"
If true, the Murim Rankings might need revision. Stronger, Myeol Saeng or this Yeom Hwa-sin?
"So you came alone, fearless—even to the Murim Alliance gates?"
"I enjoy thrills, not stupidity."
He had something to rely on. What?
Yeom Hwa-sin asked Baek So-cheon, who kept staring.
"Why keep looking? Regret not fighting again?"
"I do."
"Not me. Never want to fight you again. Even if I win."
Baek So-cheon knew. Only the truly strong could be this honest. Real power needed no bluster. He'd returned stronger.
Sensing future battles wouldn't be easy, Baek So-cheon turned to the window.
Yeom Hwa-sin suddenly asked Cheon-geuk,
"Like that guy?"
Cheon-geuk hesitated. Honesty won.
"Yeah, interested."
She glanced at Baek So-cheon.
He kept staring out, silent.
"He's got charm, right? See, even a beauty like me says she's interested, and he pretends not to hear, just stares outside?"
Yeom Hwa-sin glanced at Baek So-cheon, then to her.
"He's shy."
"Shy? Him?"
Her disbelief prompted Yeom Hwa-sin to check.
"Shy, right?"
Baek So-cheon stayed silent.
Fearing Yeom Hwa-sin's anger, Cheon-geuk jumped in.
"See? He's just rude."
Yeom Hwa-sin burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! The only one who can pull that on me when I ask. True, he's got charm."
The carriage sped on amid the talk.
They rested at inns along the way; Cheon-geuk focused on tending Na-sa-rin.
Childlike body, but eighty-four years old. She cared for her every need with utmost devotion.
When alone with Baek So-cheon, Yeom Hwa-sin remarked,
"That girl's in the wrong seat."
Meaning unfit for assassins.
He'd said the same to Baek So-cheon before—wrong first step.
Then, he'd seemed sincere.
Now, Baek So-cheon didn't buy it.
He knew they had bugs in Ak So-gun and himself, yet sowed discord about Black Heaven suiting them.
Don't be fooled by the burly build and boisterous nature. Yeom Hwa-sin was sharper and more political than most.
On the third night at an inn, as Cheon-geuk came down after settling Na-sa-rin, Baek So-cheon pulled her hand.
"What?"
"Eat."
He'd ordered food downstairs in advance.
"You've starved all day."
"Wasn't hungry."
"Eat anyway. I haven't either—let's together."
"Fine."
Cheon-geuk sat, unable to refuse. As they ate, she said,
"Thanks for looking out."
"Nervous?"
"Just worried about the elder."
"You?"
"Me? If I decide to bolt, I bolt good. You watch yourself."
"Good. When it's time, bolt clean."
Passing Yeom Hwa-sin tossed out,
"Think that'll work?"
He headed upstairs without more.
Baek So-cheon resumed chopsticks.
"It has to. No need to honor loyalty to me."
Cheon-geuk downed her drink.
"Don't worry. I'm tougher than I look—a real bitch."
"Stay that way to the end. Don't change."
Baek So-cheon drained his cup.
On the fourth day, as travel familiarity set in and Yeom Hwa-sin's vigilance loosened, Baek So-cheon sent Na-sa-rin a covert transmission.
-Later, when treating their father and son, there's one thing you must do. If impossible, just act like you did.
He'd found a way for them to escape safely. Her help was essential.
Baek So-cheon transmitted the request.
-Understood. Leave it to me.
The carriage rolled on, arriving at Black Heaven Alliance headquarters on the fifth day.
The entrance was overwhelming. Far grander than Murim Alliance's.
Towering warrior statues flanked the main gate, stealing all gazes. Inconceivably massive sculptures, crafted so lifelike they seemed ready to move.
Their carriage passed slowly between the crossed swords thrust by the giant statues, entering within.