The Matchmaker Arrives (1)
Baek So-cheon returned to Daroo Tea House with the red bag slung over his shoulder—the same one he always took whenever he set off somewhere.
"You really came?"
"Did you think I was joking?"
"No, but you don't have to watch over me. She's not after me, right?"
"I know."
He knew better than anyone. He understood just how formidable the skills required to hold the title of King of Assassins truly were.
Unless Yeom Hwa-sin came in person, no master who showed up could easily kill her. And with her prior preparations and the Four Guardian Assassins besides...
"Then why?"
"You gonna keep standing out here talking?"
"Oh, come in."
Baek So-cheon stepped inside and set down his bag. He glanced around the room and remarked,
"Come to think of it, there's only one bed."
"Of course—I'm sleeping alone."
"Looks too small for two anyway."
"Even if it were bigger, no way!"
"Yeah?"
"You're sneakily such a playboy."
"Playboy? I'm here to protect you. I can just sit and circulate my qi through the night."
"So you really came to protect me?"
"Nah. Using you as an excuse to take a break."
It was impossible to tell if he was joking or serious. Cheon-geuk took it at face value.
"Fair enough. You do need the rest."
In truth, Baek So-cheon had come to her for two reasons.
The first was Yeom Hwa-sin.
In the unlikely event that Yeom Hwa-sin moved personally.
Of course, the odds were slim. Killing Cheon-geuk meant starting a war with the Sal-su Yeon-maeng. On the eve of war with the Murim Alliance, they wouldn't choose to make another massive enemy like that.
Baek So-cheon knew it well—how meticulous and sharp-minded Yeom Hwa-sin was, beneath his outward bravado.
He might show up at the Murim Alliance's main gate or reveal a hidden woman, but those unpredictable antics were entirely separate from the man who waged wars.
He wasn't the type to let personal feelings ruin a grand undertaking. Especially not over something as trivial as fatherly affection.
So the second reason weighed heavier on his mind.
"There's a place I want to go, just the two of us?"
Cheon-geuk shouted at his casual probe.
"You're the dangerous one!"
It took her a good while to convince the Four Guardian Assassins before they could finally leave Daroo alone together.
The place Baek So-cheon took her was his personal martial arts training ground.
"Can you cross it?"
"Obviously!"
Cheon-geuk lightly followed him over Cheon-jang Cliff.
She gasped in admiration upon reaching the hidden path's end.
"Oh, a spot like this exists?"
"My secret training ground."
"Honored."
They'd grown close lately, but she knew little of his private side. Bringing her into his personal space made her feel good.
"But why bring me here?"
"To fight you."
Cheon-geuk's bright expression hardened.
"Why?"
Sudden fear gripped her. She'd never once imagined fighting Baek So-cheon.
"Never had the chance to spar with a master like you."
"..."
After a pause, Cheon-geuk asked,
"You're serious."
"Yeah. Not a spar—a real fight."
It was the training he needed right now. Not solo practice, but clashing with someone to spark growth. Around him, only the Alliance Lord and Cheon-geuk could provide that level of stimulus.
"You won't try to kill me, right?"
Baek So-cheon nodded.
"It'll help me—and you too. And there's another reason."
"What?"
"I want to know your exact level."
"Why?"
"So when I really need to protect you, I can."
"...!"
Cheon-geuk stared hard at Baek So-cheon.
Even if it was a lie to deceive her, a deception that felt like this was one she wouldn't mind falling for.
"What if I accidentally kill you?"
"If I'm dying anyway, better at the hands of a beauty."
"Fine. Let's do it."
She was a Murim master before she was an assassin. Her skills weren't listed in the Murim Seol-yeol-log due to their unofficial nature, but Hyun-cheon Pavilion estimated she ranked in the top ten at least.
Cheon-geuk had seen Baek So-cheon fight before, but this was her first time facing him directly. Watching from the side was worlds apart from experiencing it firsthand. What would it feel like?
She drew her signature weapon, the Sa-wang Bi.
Death King Dagger Art
Baek So-cheon unsheathed Gui-yeong Geom.
Kihihihihihihi.
A ghostly wail emanated from Baek So-cheon's sword.
Chills raced through her in an instant; every hair on her body stood on end.
"Your sword's cry!"
"Yeah."
"First time hearing it. A sword weeping."
"Not something you hear every day."
She glanced down at her hand. The Sa-wang Bi trembled in her grip. Not just from fear. Mixed in was the thrill of facing a truly formidable foe.
Cheon-geuk looked up at Baek So-cheon.
"Let's start."
Their bout began. Spar in name, but a real fight in practice.
Cheon-geuk opened lightly—at their level of power, that is. Such strikes would fell Iron Sword Unit or Bi-gak warriors in one blow.
Her dagger sliced through the air.
Shk—
With each added stroke, her movements accelerated further.
Among the extreme-speed arts Baek So-cheon had faced, hers was the fastest.
But Cheon-geuk was the truly shocked one. Even as she ramped up her speed, she couldn't match his pace.
She pushed to her absolute limit.
Yet Baek So-cheon still overwhelmed her.
She pulled back for a moment.
"Were you always this fast?"
"No. New technique I picked up—pursues extreme speed."
"That's even more impressive. Mastering it this quickly."
"Come again."
"Here I go."
They launched at each other once more.
In a flash, their positions swapped; in another, they crossed paths. Their speed was blinding.
A true feast of light.
Pity there was no one to witness it.
Baek So-cheon pushed her to her limits. Cheon-geuk's skills surpassed his expectations. Top ten in the Murim Seol-yeol-log was a given; to his eye, she stood head and shoulders above the six between him, Yeom Hwa-sin, Myeol Saeng, and Ak So-gun.
Yeom Sa-won glared murderously at Jan-baek as he approached.
Staring into those small, sharply slitted eyes sent shivers down his spine. One of the three strongest among Black Heaven Alliance's Eighteen Ghost Swords.
Were he not the heir, he'd never dare this staring contest.
"You called for me?"
Jan-baek's voice was low and polite, but he followed Yeom Sa-won out of duty to Yeom Hwa-sin's orders, not true loyalty.
"I have a favor to ask."
"Speak."
"Kill two people for me."
Jan-baek's expression soured slightly. Using him as a mere blade grated on him.
"Who?"
"Sal-su Yeon-maeng's Lord and Baek So-cheon."
"Impossible."
Jan-baek refused outright.
Yeom Sa-won blinked in surprise. At least pretend to consider it first.
"Why impossible?"
"Just is!"
Jan-baek's denial was firm, without explanation.
"That's an order!"
"Still no."
"Defying orders?"
"Apologies, but send me after anyone else, and I'll obey."
Was Yeom Sa-won scared? No—Yeom Hwa-sin was the issue.
"Hear the reason first. Why not?"
Jan-baek sighed lightly.
"You really need to know?"
"Yes."
He finally explained.
"First, the King of Assassins is stronger than me."
"What?"
Yeom Sa-won was stunned.
"You serious? Can't handle one measly woman?"
Jan-baek looked incredulous.
"Young master, how do you even gauge the King of Assassins' power?"
"Just some assassin trash."
"And everyone's dying to that 'trash.'"
"She's a woman."
"You misunderstand assassins. They never take orders from the weak. She's the strongest among them. And a woman holding that seat? Means she's even stronger."
"Unbelievable!"
"Believe what you want."
"Then at least kill Baek So-cheon! He's lost his inner power."
"Can't kill him either."
Jan-baek's refusal hardened further.
"Why?"
"Baek So-cheon can't be killed by my hand. Only the Lord or Young Lord could do it directly."
"Because of Father?"
Silence spoke volumes.
Everyone knew Yeom Hwa-sin and Baek So-cheon's bond. Baek was special to him.
"I believe that's answer enough."
Jan-baek bowed and left.
"Wait!"
But he walked out without stopping.
Bang! Crash!
Yeom Sa-won smashed everything in reach, bellowing to vent his rage.
"That damned Baek So-cheon! Baek So-cheon! Baek So-cheon!"
His father had never directly compared them.
But hearing about Baek always stirred inferiority. No comparison made it worse—unworthy even of that.
"I'll rip that bastard apart with these hands."
Baek So-cheon and Cheon-geuk returned to Daroo.
"Thanks."
"No problem. I gained a lot too."
The hours-long clash had benefited them both immensely. Especially Baek So-cheon, whose insights from her extreme-speed assassination arts were profound.
"Again tomorrow."
"Sure."
They returned in high spirits, only to find Strategist Sa-ma Il-jung waiting out front.
"Yes, the Alliance Lord urgently summons you to the main hall."
His personal visit underscored the urgency.
Baek So-cheon hurried to the Alliance Lord's residence.
Ak So-gun and Je-gal Hyeon awaited, their grave expressions betraying the crisis—like Black Heaven had declared war.
But the news came from an unexpected quarter.
"Someone from the Blood Cult arrived."
"Blood Cult?"
Baek So-cheon was startled. In this situation, a Blood Cult envoy was hugely significant.
Je-gal Hyeon continued.
"Blood Cult Lord Myeol Saeng has a sole daughter."
"I know."
Myeol Ji-ryun, his only child.
Baek had never seen her, nor heard rumors. She was shrouded in mystery, unknown to all.
"The envoy is a matchmaker."
"They sent a matchmaker?"
Utterly out of left field.
"They want to arrange a marriage for Myeol Ji-ryun."
Baek So-cheon was floored. The Blood Cult proposing marriage ties to the Murim Alliance? Unthinkable.
Did they not realize the Alliance knew about their Cheon-oe Won-go overtures?
Even so, allied with Black Heaven, what was their angle in sending a matchmaker?
"A political marriage with Young Master Ak, I assume... Do they really think we'd accept?"
Ak So-gun's second son, Ak Seo-pyeong, was still unmarried.
"Not for Seo-pyeong."
"Pardon?"
Ak So-gun dropped the bombshell.
"The matchmaker came to arrange your marriage."