One or Two? (2)
Baek So-cheon slipped out of Myeol Ji-ryun's residence and this time infiltrated Yeom Sa-won's quarters.
Yeom Sa-won was practicing his martial arts in the backyard of his lodging. Baek So-cheon had figured he'd be dead drunk and chasing skirts—unexpected.
Of his two bodyguards, Go-gong stood watch to ward off any intruders.
Baek So-cheon unleashed his Shadow Concealment Divine Steps and approached with utmost caution.
Go-gong failed to detect the intrusion. Even from this alone, it was clear that Pa-jeong spotting him earlier had been no small feat.
Baek So-cheon concealed himself in the shadow of the wall and watched Yeom Sa-won's forms for a moment.
Yeom Sa-won wielded swordsmanship, but given the confined space, he was only channeling a fraction of his inner power into each technique.
Even so, Baek So-cheon could precisely gauge his skill level—and visualize the devastating power those moves would unleash at full inner energy capacity.
Once again, Baek So-cheon realized it.
Ah, my martial realm has truly advanced.
He could see it now with completely different eyes than before.
What if I fought Yeom Hwa-sin right now?
He hadn't yet achieved great success in the Thousand-Handed Asura God Sword, but his odds of victory were undoubtedly far better than before.
Still, no need to rush. As long as Yeom Hwa-sin remained ignorant of his recovered dantian, time was firmly on his side.
Oblivious to Baek So-cheon's watchful gaze from start to finish, Yeom Sa-won diligently honed his skills.
Arrogant and pathetic in every way, he wasn't a complete fool. Baek So-cheon figured he must have anticipated accepting the duel only because he lacked confidence in beating him outright. It wouldn't be an easy fight.
But Yeom Sa-won was self-assured. It might be grueling, but there was no way he'd lose to a man without inner power.
I'll kill him for sure.
The duel was nominally to reclaim his fiancée, but another woman occupied his thoughts: Cheon-geuk.
If I win this duel, I'll make her mine too.
Cheon-geuk had clearly looked to him for help.
There's thrill in taming a fierce, venomous bitch like that. And as lord of the Sal-su Yeon-maeng, she'll be useful in all sorts of ways.
He grinned lewdly at the impossible dream.
Then Jan-baek entered carrying a box—the very item to lure him deeper into delusion.
Jan-baek outclassed Go-gong, yet even he failed to notice Baek So-cheon lurking in hiding.
"The Lord sent this."
"Father did?"
Yeom Sa-won eagerly opened the box to reveal a suit of armor inside.
"Isn't this the Black Dragon Divine Armor?"
This protective gear shielded from torso to legs—a treasure Yeom Hwa-sin kept personally. Yeom Sa-won's face lit up with joy.
"Hahaha! Father truly cherishes this Black Dragon Divine Armor!"
Now he was utterly convinced: his father truly cared for him.
"With this treasure, that bastard won't kill me. I'll slaughter him for sure, Father!"
Watching it all, Baek So-cheon discerned Yeom Hwa-sin's scheme.
He's pushing his son to the brink.
Donning the Black Dragon Divine Armor would make subduing him without inner power far tougher. The fight would turn even bloodier, raising the odds that either he or Yeom Sa-won would die.
Was I wrong? Does he really intend to kill me?
The thought crossed his mind despite everything.
But no. He couldn't be swayed by appearances. This "gift" was surely meant to drive his son to death. Baek So-cheon's instincts had consistently pierced the abyss of Yeom Sa-won's dark heart from the beginning.
Having secretly observed both Myeol Ji-ryun and Yeom Sa-won, one question naturally arose.
Is this conspiracy one... or two?
The Blood Cult plot and the righteous-evil duel—were they entirely unrelated?
Or a single scheme uniting Black Heaven Alliance and Blood Cult?
They appeared to proceed separately on the surface, but nothing could be taken for granted. Anything—no matter how absurd—could happen. The stakes encompassed the entire Central Plains.
Dawn broke, and the duel was now just two days away.
From early morning, Baek So-cheon shadowed Pa-jeong, Myeol Ji-ryun's bodyguard.
Myeol Ji-ryun distracts up front while this guy pulls the strings from behind.
While all eyes focused on Myeol Ji-ryun and Yeom Sa-won, the quiet young escort had been scheming in the shadows.
Baek So-cheon tailed him with extreme caution. Even Cheon-geuk hadn't sensed his presence, yet Pa-jeong nearly did. His senses were that sharp.
No wonder—they sent him for this very reason.
There was a silver lining: facing such a formidable foe forced total focus and care, deepening his mastery of the Shadow Concealment Divine Steps and accelerating his proficiency.
Pa-jeong never left the alliance. He lounged near Myeol Ji-ryun or strolled the grounds idly. Nothing suspicious from mere observation.
What the hell is he preparing?
But after half a day of pursuit, no clues emerged.
With the duel looming, he couldn't tail endlessly, so Baek So-cheon returned to Hyun-cheon-dae for now.
Hwang Il-bi, first squad leader of Cheol-geom-dan, waited at the entrance.
"Everything alright?"
The two hadn't met since encountering Yeom Hwa-sin's elite Black Vanguard heading to Jung-kyeong. That time, heavy duties had prevented even a word of private talk.
"Been busy lately."
"Figured. You stopped by a few days ago, but you were out."
"Sorry."
"No worries."
"How's it going? Your squad leader still treating you right?"
Here, "your squad leader" meant Chung Yang, with whom he'd once clashed.
"Ah, you gotta come by and rile up our dear Chung Squad Leader."
"Why?"
"Now that he thinks he's got me hooked, the affection's grown stale. Show up and remind him he could lose me—then he'll treat me better, right?"
"Haha, true. People always take caught fish for granted, from ancient times to now."
"So come make that bastard curse under his breath."
The long-awaited reunion lifted their spirits. Baek So-cheon had no intention of pulling Hwang Il-bi into Hyun-cheon-dae or making him a direct subordinate—not from doubt in his skill or loyalty.
He knew better than anyone how well they meshed and his capabilities.
Yet he left him be for Hwang Il-bi's sake. He thrived and endured in any organization. Crucially, he had a family.
Baek So-cheon wouldn't upend his life for personal convenience. He'd brought along the far weaker Im Choong and Beon Saeng, but left Hwang Il-bi. Human bonds weren't ruled by pure logic.
"Duel's two days out. You confident?"
Unaware of his dantian recovery, he'd come out of worry.
"That punk's not even a warm-up."
Hwang Il-bi narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Baek So-cheon's face.
"Don't make me leap onto the arena."
"What?"
"Don't throw yourself in front of his final strike to block it."
"Throw myself?"
"Gotta, right? Or just watch?"
"Just watch."
"Exactly. That's the way. So let us enjoy the show that day. Everyone's rooting for you—came to pass that on. I'm off."
Baek So-cheon called as he turned.
"Il-bi."
It had been ages since he'd used his name. Hwang Il-bi's heart stirred as he turned back.
"Yeah?"
"Worry about the whole world if you must—but not me."
Gazing at Baek So-cheon, Hwang Il-bi vowed inwardly: if Baek So-cheon were ever demoted again, he'd follow without fail. That past failure lingered as his life's greatest regret.
Hwang Il-bi grinned.
"Got it. No worries. Who worries who here?"
But the worry existed.
Among others who fretted over Baek So-cheon.
Hyun-cheon-dae warriors shared the concern, but Im Choong and Beon Saeng especially. The pair sat in the Hyun-cheon-dae office, anxious about him.
"Brother'll win for sure, right?"
Im Choong answered Beon Saeng's worried query.
"You'd know better. Your martial arts surpass mine now."
"Acorn versus chestnut—how could I gauge Big Brother's level or that Yeom Sa-won's?"
"How's he seem to you?"
"Haven't seen him in ages."
"Really?"
Im Choong grew uneasy. Against anyone else, maybe—but Black Heaven's heir?
"He'll be fine, right?"
"Of course."
A voice from behind: "Heard at the gate—who's worrying who?"
They whipped around, startled—Baek So-cheon entering.
"Brother!"
They hadn't seen his face since the Jung-kyeong operation.
Baek So-cheon sat with them. Facing off after so long felt good.
"Don't worry about me."
"You make it easy? More money's riding on that damn fight now."
"You bet?"
"On your duel."
"Yeah?"
Baek So-cheon knew duels spawned betting pools. He'd never gambled in his life, of course.
"Go bet everything you have."
"Huh?"
"On me winning—everything."
Beon Saeng blinked. Since joining Hyun-cheon-dae, he'd itched for banter with Baek So-cheon. Now the mood finally allowed it—after ages, since he'd been sky-like captain, not brother.
"What if you lose?"
"Broke as a joke. That's gambling, no?"
"You didn't bet against yourself, telling everyone to back you?"
"Why would I?"
"Losing's easier than winning."
"Hahaha. Fair point."
Im Choong, listening, studied Baek So-cheon's face closely.
"But you seem... different. More at ease than before."
In this tense time, such words stemmed from two things.
First, his martial surge. Second, Cheon-geuk—the deep joy from their love.
Ah, one more: he'd heeded Cheon-geuk's worry-talk, shedding needless frets—like the Murim collapsing.
Discarding unsolvable anxieties, focusing only on essentials.
"Got it. Betting it all on you."
"Save dinner money."
"Yeah! Just that, everything else!"
"One time only. Gambling ruins lives. Think of it as a gift from seeing me—not a bet."
"Right. My heart won't race anyway."
Baek So-cheon asked curiously.
"Why?"
"My life's wilder than any gamble. Last summer, ignoring Black Society thugs in the remotest, tiniest branch. Winter, facing Black Heaven's elite Black Vanguard head-on. Who needs bets for thrills?"
Baek So-cheon smiled and nodded.
"May your life stay exciting."
"Yours too, Brother."
Casual words, casually heard—yet Baek So-cheon realized his life was summed up there.
Always prioritizing others' lives over his own.
No more. That's why he buzzed now—not killing Yeom Hwa-sin for alliances, but his future, happiness. He smiled alone picturing the day he left the alliance.
"Yeah, that's when real excitement starts. From then on!"
"Huh? When's that?"
His musing drew blank stares from Im Choong and Beon Saeng.
Baek So-cheon gave them an enigmatic smile.
Sorry in advance. Can't take you then.
As Baek So-cheon rose to leave, Beon Saeng asked.
"Leaving right after arriving?"
Striding out, Baek So-cheon replied.
"Someone I wanna help make a buck while we're on the topic."
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