How the Black Heaven Alliance Gets Their Woman Back (1)
Cheon-geuk's mood had been down for the past few days.
Na-sa-rin, who had heard the news, came over to keep her company, sharing old tales of assassins that always began with "In our day..."
"...I'm telling you, it's true. Back then, we'd hole up in the outhouse for days on end. We'd lean on a single bamboo stalk and hide until the target showed. We were proud of it—real stubborn lot. Tell the kids these days to hide in an outhouse, and they'd bolt. Oh, you know Gwang-sal, right? One day, that guy..."
Cheon-geuk, listening to her, suddenly blurted out,
"Grandma!"
Na-sa-rin froze at the word, cutting herself off mid-sentence.
"Alliance Lord? What's that all about?"
She'd been in a funk for days ever since hearing that the Blood Cult Lord had sent a matchmaker.
Baek So-cheon had told her that people wasted energy on needless worries and neglected the real ones—just like she was doing.
Idiot. Just because she's a woman!
The real worry now was Na-sa-rin's health and their relationship.
"From now on, I'm calling you Grandma. So treat me casually too."
"You can't do that, Alliance Lord."
"We should've done this ages ago. It's too late now, but I'll treat you like my real grandma from here on."
"Alliance Lord!"
"You know how stubborn I am. They say even parents can't beat their kids. Give up, Grandma."
Na-sa-rin sighed.
How could she not want to treat Cheon-geuk like her own granddaughter?
But Na-sa-rin, who had lived her whole life with unwavering loyalty, put the alliance above personal feelings.
"I'm stubborn too. No, Alliance Lord."
"This isn't just for you—it's for me too. It bothers me."
"Still no!"
Cheon-geuk tried every argument, but she couldn't break Na-sa-rin's resolve.
Titles didn't matter as much as the sentiment behind them, but she still wanted to honor her like a real grandmother. It felt like the least she could do to repay Na-sa-rin's love.
"Alliance Lord, I'm fine like this."
Na-sa-rin gently took Cheon-geuk's hand. She already thought of her as a granddaughter anyway. As long as she didn't lose her loyalty to the alliance and its lord, this was actually better for everyone.
That's when Baek So-cheon walked in.
"How have you been, Elder?"
"Come in."
"I stopped by with something to ask you."
"Sit here."
She was an expert on Blood Cult sorcery. He wondered if she might know something about Myeol Ji-ryun.
"Should I step out?"
"No, stay. It's fine."
Cheon-geuk, who had started to rise, sat back down. Baek So-cheon settled beside her and asked Na-sa-rin,
"Do you know anything about Myeol Ji-ryun, daughter of Blood Cult Lord Myeol Saeng?"
"It's been ages since I heard that name."
"What kind of person is she?"
"The Blood Cult Lord never had children his whole life, then suddenly brought home a grown daughter. That was Myeol Ji-ryun."
"Have you ever seen her?"
"Once, long ago, when she was just a girl. I remember her as quiet. But why ask about her?"
Cheon-geuk hadn't told her about the matchmaker yet.
Even if she adored Na-sa-rin, business was business. It was up to Baek So-cheon to share what needed sharing.
Baek So-cheon explained honestly about the matchmaker.
Only then did Na-sa-rin understand why Cheon-geuk had been so glum lately.
"Looks like we'll get tangled with the Blood Cult whether we want to or not."
"Seems that way. Any guess why they'd make such a proposal?"
Na-sa-rin shook her head. Cheon-geuk chimed in,
"The real one's not coming."
Baek So-cheon nodded. He thought the same, but he couldn't be sure it was fake either. Until he knew the background, nothing was certain.
Then Na-sa-rin recalled something.
"My master once told me that Myeol Saeng's bloodline has gray eyes, like those of the dead. And when they get angry, their eyes turn red. Might that help?"
"Definitely. That's huge."
At least it gave a way to verify if the Myeol Ji-ryun who showed up was real.
"Thanks. I'll head out now."
Na-sa-rin asked Baek So-cheon,
"Got a moment?"
"Yes."
"Something to teach you."
"Go ahead."
"I'm going to pass on a secret art to resist Seop-hon-sul and a way to remove curses."
"Elder!"
She'd previously taught him how to detect those under Seop-hon-sul. But this was far more crucial.
"Your realm is so high, ordinary Seop-hon-sul won't touch you. But Myeol Saeng or his master Jeok Pa-rap could still get through. Myeol Ji-ryun learned from them too, so expect tough sorcery. Learn my secret, and you'll block them preemptively."
Cheon-geuk was stunned. It was Na-sa-rin's unique secret art, one she'd never even taught her.
"I'll step out."
"Please do, Alliance Lord."
She wouldn't teach it to the Alliance Lord. Even without formal discipleship, learning her unique art would make her the master.
Her ironclad principle—and wish—was to serve as Alliance Lord until her dying breath. Stubborn, yes, but unwavering.
Alone now, Baek So-cheon asked apologetically,
"Is it really okay to teach me such a precious art?"
"Anyone else? Never. But you and I have a special bond, don't we?"
He understood. Her kindness stemmed from care for the Assassin Alliance and Cheon-geuk. He now saw clearly that her love for Cheon-geuk was parental.
"Thank you, Elder."
"No time to waste on a busy man. Listen well to what I teach."
"Yes."
She explained how to brew the curse-removal potion, which acupoints to needle, and how hard to press which ones.
"Lucky for you, the curse-removal procedure can be self-administered."
The potion induced sleep, but a master like Baek So-cheon could resist it—as Yeom Hwa-sin had.
Baek So-cheon not only learned curse removal but also a secret to block Seop-hon-sul.
Imparting the casting method would take ages, but this was a mantra to nullify it.
With his inner power fully restored, Baek So-cheon absorbed it easily. He was already resistant; now Seop-hon-sul was no threat. Since it was sorcery-based, he gained broad resistance to other curses too.
Once done, Na-sa-rin tested him.
"Block my Seop-hon-sul."
She simply stared. No red eyes, no signs—her peak mastery was invisible.
But Baek So-cheon held firm. He now blocked even hers perfectly.
Na-sa-rin beamed.
"Perfect. No one in this era can bewitch you now."
Baek So-cheon skipped more thanks.
"I know what you truly want, Elder."
"You do?"
"Yes."
No more words needed.
The one Na-sa-rin truly wished for waited outside.
"All done?"
Yeom Sa-won entered the Black Heaven Alliance Lord's chamber.
Warriors lined both sides, swords extended to form a passage. The statues here weren't as massive as the giants at the entrance, but still towered several times human height.
At the end lay stairs, and atop them a colossal throne—three times a normal one's size. Yeom Hwa-sin sat there.
Yeom Sa-won approached the stairs' base and bowed politely to his father on the throne.
"You called?"
He was terrified.
Probably to chew me out over that girl.
He knew he'd become a laughingstock in the alliance after the Assassin Alliance's rejection.
"Sorry about that incident."
"What incident?"
Yeom Hwa-sin's voice rumbled low, like a tiger growling in the woods.
"The Assassin Alliance thing."
"What's that?"
Yeom Hwa-sin kept pressing, his eyes demanding clarity.
"The one-nyang commission they rejected."
Yeom Hwa-sin asked,
"Why apologize for that?"
"Pardon?"
"Why's it worth an apology?"
Yeom Sa-won panicked.
Damn it!
His father always did this—seeming to grant total freedom, then cornering him. Why not just say it straight and scold gently?
"It tarnished our alliance's honor with a one-nyang job."
Then Yeom Hwa-sin said something unexpected.
"Your commission wasn't wasted."
"Pardon?"
"Sometimes you need to take a one-nyang job. My son should handle that."
Yeom Sa-won's face lit up.
Yes! Father recognizes me!
But Yeom Hwa-sin added coldly,
"The target was wrong, though."
"Baek So-cheon?"
"Yes. Beyond your league."
Yeom Sa-won's face twisted. A scolding for stupidity he could've taken—but comparing him to Baek So-cheon?
"That guy with barely a scrap of inner power?"
Knowing his son's feelings, Yeom Hwa-sin replied coolly,
"Yes. Even without it, you can't beat him."
Yeom Sa-won ground his teeth.
Yeom Hwa-sin clearly relished his son's rage. Why else share this now?
"Got new news for you."
"Tell me."
"About Myeol Ji-ryun."
"I'm not marrying her!"
The Black Heaven Alliance had sent a matchmaker to the Blood Cult.
To wed Yeom Sa-won and Myeol Ji-ryun, solidifying the alliance. Yeom Hwa-sin hadn't consulted him, and Yeom Sa-won had exploded in refusal.
"Might not have to. They rejected us and sent one to Baek So-cheon."
Yeom Sa-won reeled.
"What?"
Unthinkable.
Baek So-cheon again. Again, again, again!
Killing intent flickered in Yeom Sa-won's eyes. Forgetting his father, he let it surge.
"Raaagh!"
He bellowed, shaking the chamber.
Yeom Hwa-sin watched with delight, like a spectator at a street performer's show.
"Quiet down and get out."
At the cold dismissal, Yeom Sa-won glared up and shouted,
"Father! I can't let that happen."
"What?"
"I can't let Baek So-cheon steal Myeol Ji-ryun."
"Didn't you say you didn't want to marry her?"
"Changed my mind. I'll marry her. I must."
Yeom Sa-won wasn't his usual cowed self.
"I'll get my woman back."
"How?"
"Don't know. Tell me how."
"A Black Heaven man has one way to reclaim his woman."
Yeom Hwa-sin raised his fist high.
"Yes! Let me fight him."
"You can't win against Baek So-cheon."
"I can!"
Veins bulged on Yeom Sa-won's neck.
"He stabbed my chest. Inner power or not, that's no excuse."
"Ancient history. I've got power now."
Yeom Sa-won stomped hard.
Boom!
Crack-crack-crack!
His inner-power-infused Quake Step split the floor. Spiderweb cracks radiated from his imprinted foot—a worthy heir's move.
"I've got what it takes to take her back."
Yeom Hwa-sin smiled enigmatically. His thoughts were inscrutable.
"Fine. I'll set up a grand stage for you."