Toying with People (1)
“What did you say?”
Cheon-geuk was startled. Sending his son to be killed? If it hadn't come from Baek So-cheon's mouth, she would have dismissed it as nonsense on the spot.
But it was Baek So-cheon himself who had said it.
“Why do you think that?”
“Because of the clue he attached.”
“The one that says you must be killed?”
Baek So-cheon nodded.
If that clue hadn't been there, even he wouldn't have guessed Yeom Hwa-sin's intentions.
But the moment he heard it, he knew. That clue wasn't meant for him—it was to corner Yeom Sa-won.
“Yeom Hwa-sin knows. Even without inner power, in a life-or-death battle, how terrifying I can become.”
Only Yeom Hwa-sin, who had clashed with him in a life-or-death duel before, truly understood.
He knew the extent of Baek So-cheon's skills that had once crowned him the world's greatest. He knew that years of battle experience could more than compensate for a lack of inner power. And that in a real fight, Yeom Sa-won wouldn't stand a chance.
Yet he attached that clue?
“Because of his father's orders, Yeom Sa-won will push himself too far. He'll throw everything he has at me to kill me.”
Cheon-geuk added,
“And in the process, he'll end up dead.”
Baek So-cheon realized yet another truth.
“Spreading the rumor throughout Murim wasn't just to pressure me.”
“What do you mean?”
“As you've seen, Yeom Sa-won is someone whose self-esteem is rock bottom. With all those warlords gathered, how do you think he'll react?”
“He'll fight desperately to win. He’ll want to show off in front of them.”
Cheon-geuk sighed. All the circumstances confirmed Baek So-cheon's guess.
“Exactly. He's gone mad, just as you said.”
A natural question followed.
“But why on earth would he try to kill his own son?”
“Whatever the reason, we won't understand it, so there's no need to know.”
But Baek So-cheon could see it.
Yeom Hwa-sin was turning his son into a sacrificial pawn for the war. No—more precisely, both his son and Baek So-cheon himself.
The symbol of the last war, Baek So-cheon, had killed the Black Heaven Alliance's heir. In a fair duel, no less.
All the unorthodox factions would rage.
It wouldn't matter why or how he died.
Yeom Hwa-sin would use only the fact of his son's death to unite every dark force. Their morale would pierce the heavens.
Revenge for his son's death.
That would be the casus belli for this war.
Suddenly, Baek So-cheon recalled his words: that he'd killed his own father with his own hands. And now he was trying to kill his son too.
This mad bastard! I'll send you off myself one day.
In his heart, he hoped his guess was wrong. He would kill him anyway, but he wished the man wasn't this evil.
“So what now?”
“He's begging me to kill him this badly... Should I just do it?”
Cheon-geuk chuckled.
“You won't.”
Baek So-cheon laughed too.
“Right. I won't play by his rules.”
If his guess was correct, killing him now would be a fatal mistake.
“I'll find a way to turn this situation against him.”
“Yes. If anyone can, it's you.”
“If I can't find a way, then I'll kill him.”
“Call me when you do!”
She shot her hand up, then yelped “Ow!” She'd raised her injured arm.
“Careful.”
“Yeah.”
“Rest up first.”
“You too.”
Their gazes lingered, different from before. A change only they could feel.
As Baek So-cheon left, the Four Guardian Stars appeared.
They carried Cheon-geuk to a bed on that floor and laid her down.
How worried they must have been—none had slept, their eyes hollow.
“I'm fine.”
Ignoring her, Dong-seong instructed Seong-seong,
“Check her wounds thoroughly.”
“Yes.”
The other three Guardians left, and the female Seong-seong approached to examine her.
“I need to see the wounds myself.”
“I said I'm fine.”
“Forgive my impertinence.”
Seong-seong lifted her hem. It was inevitable, so Cheon-geuk let her.
Seong-seong flinched upon seeing it. Deeper than she'd imagined. A slight miss in location or depth, and it could have been fatal.
Cheon-geuk said to her,
“Seong-seong.”
Her expression was more serious than ever, so Seong-seong matched it.
“Yes, Alliance Lord.”
“It was my choice.”
Seong-seong looked at her with trembling eyes.
“Was he worth that much?”
“Yes. Even if this wound had been here.”
Her hand rested on her left chest.
“...Alliance Lord.”
“You, at least, understand me.”
As a fellow woman, Seong-seong knew Cheon-geuk's heart best. How precarious this love was. How impossible.
“I do.”
“Thank you.”
Seong-seong opened the door, and the waiting Guardians entered.
She told them,
“Fortunately, the wound isn't deep.”
She acted as Cheon-geuk wished. It was in the past, and she didn't want her comrades hating or distrusting Baek So-cheon.
Dong-seong and the others sighed in relief.
“Never duel Baek Mu-in again. No—don't even meet him.”
He knew it was impossible, but it was sincere.
“If I could, I'd...”
He wanted to rush over and demand answers. How much does our Alliance Lord cherish you? Is this how you repay her?
Cheon-geuk said to Dong-seong,
“Should we go kill him?”
“Don't say things you don't mean.”
“Am I that obvious?”
“Yes!”
“There, feel better?”
“...Yes.”
She beamed.
“And there's good news.”
She paused, drawing their attention, then said,
“My martial arts have advanced a step.”
They were stunned.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Congratulations!”
The four rejoiced. They knew how powerful Cheon-geuk was, and how hard such progress came.
She told them all,
“So let's forgive him this once. Without him, I never could have achieved it.”
“Understood, Alliance Lord.”
Dong-seong's face softened.
“I'm going to rest now.”
“Yes, Alliance Lord. Sleep well.”
The Guardians left.
Alone, Cheon-geuk gazed at the moon outside, smiling brightly.
Seong-seong, closing the door, saw it.
Ah!
She knew. It wasn't just the way Cheon-geuk looked at Baek So-cheon—the world she saw had changed too.
Beyond martial progress, her bond with Baek So-cheon had deepened. As a woman, she knew it for sure.
Baek Mu-in, you'd better make a fortune.
An emergency meeting convened in Yun-ryong Hall with Baek So-cheon, Ak So-gun, and Je-gal Hyeon.
“Yeom Hwa-sin has approved the duel.”
Ak So-gun spoke, and Baek So-cheon replied,
“I heard.”
“Already?”
“Yeom Sa-won came boasting to me, eager to show off.”
“I can't fathom it. What is Yeom Hwa-sin plotting?”
Baek So-cheon shared his suspicions. These two needed to know, if anyone did.
They were shocked, especially Ak So-gun, a father himself. He couldn't comprehend Yeom Hwa-sin.
“If you're right... he's a merciless demon. I'll kill him myself.”
Baek So-cheon nodded.
Je-gal Hyeon asked worriedly,
“A duel with such ulterior motives—are you really going to fight him?”
“I have no choice. Spreading the rumor beforehand is pressure to duel. Refusing means punitive retaliation.”
Innocent blood would spill.
Ak So-gun asked,
“Without inner power?”
“That's the plan.”
“Isn't that dangerous?”
“Better they don't know I've recovered it yet.”
“No other way?”
Ak So-gun seemed truly concerned. Even a wretch like Yeom Sa-won was Black Heaven's heir—he might have hidden aces.
“The duel isn't all bad. If I win and he honors the bet, we gain a year.”
A year.
Invaluable to Baek So-cheon now. Each day boosted survival odds.
“Will he honor it?”
Je-gal Hyeon answered Ak So-gun,
“Wise to assume he won't and prepare accordingly.”
Both nodded.
Je-gal Hyeon asked Baek So-cheon,
“When? Yeom Sa-won seems ready tomorrow.”
Baek So-cheon thought, then said,
“How long for a formal duel?”
“Formal? Truly before the warlords?”
“Yes. That's what Yeom Hwa-sin wants.”
Spreading rumors meant a grand show for all Jianghu.
“Building an arena, inviting Murim notables—it'll be end of the month.”
“Set it then.”
“Agreed.”
“I'll research ways to beat him without inner power meanwhile.”
“Good. Do that.”
Baek So-cheon bowed and left first for Maengju Hall.
Je-gal Hyeon stayed, discussing invites with Ak So-gun.
They decided not to worry about Baek So-cheon. With his old prowess restored, unless it was Yeom Hwa-sin or Myeol Saeng, he wouldn't die in a duel.
“The issue is if his recovery is exposed.”
Ak So-gun said calmly to Je-gal Hyeon's concern,
“Then that's the day war begins.”
Yeom Hwa-sin would try to kill him, and Ak So-gun would protect Baek So-cheon.
“I'll prepare for that too.”
They gazed out the grand window of Yun-ryong Hall.
Cold winter winds blew outside. When they stopped, spring would come.
When Baek So-cheon returned home, Myeol Ji-ryun waited. Alone, no guards. Late night, yet made up, in form-fitting clothes.
“Baek Dae-hyeop, care to talk?”
“Sure.”
They strolled a nearby path.
“Planning to fight Yeom So-hyeop?”
“He's too fired up, as you know.”
“Sorry. My fault you're in danger.”
“It's fine.”
A pause, then,
“What's your relation to that Sal-su Yeon-maeng Alliance Lord from earlier?”
Not about the duel—she'd come for Cheon-geuk.
“She helped me recently.”
“She's stunning.”
It clearly bothered her.
Baek So-cheon stopped, staring. Myeol Ji-ryun blushed.
“Why stare like that? Something on my face?”
She expected soft words. Reality was blunt.
“I'll give you a chance.”
He felt it was time to confirm his suspicions from first meeting her.
“A chance?”
He stared intently.
“To tell the truth.”