Chapter 41

At the Ak Sword Clan (1)

After leaving the prison, Baek So-cheon returned to the Hyeoncheon Unit.

At the training ground, Im Chung and Beon Saeng were practicing the swordsmanship Baek So-cheon had taught them.

Since they had not yet been assigned any official duties, all they did from morning until night was train.

Baek So-cheon stood quietly for a moment, watching them.

Im Chung's skill was average, but Beon Saeng's swordsmanship was exceptional. He truly had a gift for martial arts. Normally, his constant joking and carefree attitude gave the impression that he was far removed from martial pursuits, but unexpectedly, he possessed remarkable natural talent.

Baek So-cheon corrected the stances of both men.

With someone like him instructing them, how could it not help? Every piece of advice he gave made them improve by leaps and bounds.

"At this rate, you'll soon reach the next stage."

Surprised, Beon Saeng asked,

"There's another stage?"

"Of course."

"How many stages are there?"

"About a hundred and eight."

"Hahaha! It's good to hear my big brother's wild exaggerations again after so long. Now seriously, how many stages are there?"

"...You weren't joking?"

"If anything, I understated it to keep your spirits up."

"Ah! You're awakening all one hundred and eight earthly desires!"

Naturally, Baek So-cheon had only been joking to keep him from becoming lazy.

With his exceptional talent for martial arts and this level of relentless effort, Beon Saeng would soon enter the ranks of true experts.

After encouraging him, Baek So-cheon turned to Im Chung.

"How's it going? Think you can manage?"

"I'm trying my best, but my body just won't keep up."

"Don't rush. Just keep at it consistently."

"Yes. I'll remember that."

Im Chung lacked Beon Saeng's talent, but he possessed something Beon Saeng did not—

Perseverance and patience.

Whenever he thought of his family, he could endure any hardship.

Especially since his son Chan dreamed of entering the martial world, he wanted, at the very least, to become a father who could serve as a small guiding star.

Whenever things became difficult, he remembered something Baek So-cheon had once said.

At my age, I couldn't even walk.

Yet now that same Baek So-cheon was soaring before his eyes.

If he could do it... so can I.

Besides, I still have one excuse left.

'I'm getting old. That's why it's hard.'

But Im Chung intended to save that excuse like an expert's final trump card.

No matter what, he would keep working until he no longer fell behind the much younger Beon Saeng.

"You should train your stamina as well."

"Yes, understood."

As Baek So-cheon headed upstairs to his office, he called out,

"Hurry up and get stronger! Then I can work you to the bone!"

"Yes!"

Reborn with new determination, Im Chung and Beon Saeng resumed swinging their swords, completely immersed in training.

***

From that day onward, Baek So-cheon visited the prison every single day.

He would leave a bottle of liquor outside the cell before beginning his own training.

Some days he worked on his physical conditioning.

Other days he practiced punches and kicks.

At first, Goe Yeo only stole occasional glances at him.

Now he watched openly.

"What kind of respectable swordsman spends his time throwing punches?"

"There's too much in this world that deserves a beating."

"That doesn't look like an ordinary martial art."

He could immediately tell that Baek So-cheon's fist techniques were anything but ordinary.

Curious, he began offering comments here and there.

Once again, something caught his eye.

"Shouldn't you lower your waist more when performing that move?"

Without objection, Baek So-cheon lowered his stance and repeated the technique.

"It's uncomfortable."

"Endure it anyway."

"Why?"

"So you'll be able to transition into the next move much faster."

"Hmm."

Baek So-cheon fell into thought.

His own martial attainments were far beyond Goe Yeo's.

Yet he never dismissed a single word of the man's advice.

When someone reaches the very peak, from whom should they continue learning?

Baek So-cheon's answer had always been twofold.

First—

Never stop searching for someone greater.

Whether it was a martial manual, another person, or anything else.

That was precisely why he pursued the greatest martial art under heaven.

Of course, part of that goal was also to regain the enlightenment needed to restore his internal energy.

Second—

Always listen carefully to the advice of others.

There was an old saying:

When three people walk together, one of them is bound to be your teacher.

Someone with Goe Yeo's skill was certainly qualified to offer valuable advice.

There was, however, one crucial principle.

Never become blindly obsessed with another person's words or allow yourself to become confused by them.

A lesser martial artist was still a lesser martial artist.

If you accepted their opinions without thought, your own skill might actually decline.

You had to absorb their advice, elevate it to your own level, and then recreate it from there.

That was exactly why Baek So-cheon was taking Goe Yeo's suggestion so seriously today.

"No... even if it delays the next strike a little, it's better to stay comfortable here. If I lower my waist further, I'll expose an opening on my left side."

"Was there really an opening on the left?"

"You wouldn't be able to see it."

"If I can't see it, then it doesn't exist."

"Fair enough."

Baek So-cheon admitted it without hesitation.

An opening visible only to experts of his own caliber—

If the opponent standing before you couldn't perceive it, was it truly an opening?

Standing where he was, Baek So-cheon sank into deep contemplation.

Is what I believe to be perfect really the perfect technique?

Should practicality be sacrificed for the sake of an absolute technique?

If not, how could the two be reconciled?

Whenever he became lost in thought like this, Goe Yeo never interrupted him.

Instead, the villain quietly drank his liquor.

For all his crimes, he possessed at least that much consideration.

Half an hour later, Baek So-cheon smiled.

"Bring two bottles tomorrow."

It meant he had gained new insight through his contemplation.

"Good. Very good."

Since it had been a long time since he had discussed martial arts with anyone, these conversations with Goe Yeo had become an enormous source of help.

***

Fifteen days passed.

That day, Baek So-cheon said,

"Today is the last day."

Goe Yeo flinched.

"You mean... you're not coming anymore?"

"That's right. If I could, I'd spend months—even years—coming here to discuss martial arts with you and perhaps even change your mind. But things aren't peaceful enough for that."

Goe Yeo's expression twisted.

The words struck him like a bolt from the blue.

After drinking every day for fifteen days, the thought of never having another bottle again was unbearable.

"So... this was your plan all along."

"Believe whatever you like. This will probably be the last time we ever meet. Take care of yourself. Neither you nor I are getting into paradise, so let's meet again in hell."

Baek So-cheon turned and walked away.

When he had gone some distance, Goe Yeo called after him.

"If I answer your questions about the Alliance Leader, what will you do?"

Baek So-cheon turned around.

"I'll make sure you receive one bottle of liquor every day for the rest of your life."

"Really?"

"I give you my word."

"...Fine."

At that moment, Goe Yeo asked himself a question.

Was it really just because of the liquor?

He had endured until now because he refused to betray the Leader of the Cheokcheon Alliance.

The moment he opened his mouth, all the loyalty he had devoted over the years would become meaningless.

But now...

He was tired.

Even his loyalty had grown weary.

Still, he desperately refused to think,

I was the one who was betrayed.

Until the very end, he insisted on believing that he was the betrayer.

That was the last loyalty he could offer his leader.

By then, Baek So-cheon had already walked back to the cell.

"What do you want to know about the Alliance Leader?"

Goe Yeo found himself more curious about Baek So-cheon's questions than anything else.

The first question concerned Yeom Hwasin's body.

"When we fought our final battle, my sword pierced straight through his heart."

"What?! Is that true?"

Only a handful of people in the world knew Baek So-cheon had fought that final battle against the Leader of the Cheokcheon Alliance.

Goe Yeo had been imprisoned before it happened.

"And yet he didn't die. Do you know why?"

In that battle, Baek So-cheon unleashed every technique he possessed.

Yeom Hwasin had done the same.

At the end of that desperate clash, Baek So-cheon finally found his opportunity.

Pouring every last drop of internal energy into the attack, he shattered Yeom Hwasin's protective qi and drove his sword directly into the man's heart.

Yet...

The Alliance Leader did not die.

Instead, he counterattacked.

That counterattack destroyed Baek So-cheon's dantian.

"Why ask about that now?"

He hadn't said I don't know.

He had asked why.

Which meant he knew the answer.

"In case I have to fight him again."

"You've lost all your internal energy. You think I wouldn't know that even while rotting in here?"

"That's exactly why I need to know. That battle is what made me what I am today. Why didn't your leader die?"

Having already made up his mind, Goe Yeo answered without hesitation.

"The Black Heaven Alliance Leader's heart was born in a different place."

"I knew it!"

That had been the only explanation Baek So-cheon could think of.

Still, he had wanted to confirm that there wasn't some hidden secret behind his survival.

"Where is it?"

"If it's not on the left, then it's probably on the right. If not above, then below."

"Specifically."

"I don't know. Do you think the Leader would reveal something that important to anyone?"

Baek So-cheon could tell he was telling the truth.

He pictured Yeom Hwasin's massive, rock-solid body.

Somewhere inside it was his heart.

If it wasn't on the left, perhaps it was on the right.

But if it wasn't even there...

No one else could understand how difficult it was just to land a sword strike on that man.

Think positively.

At least I know it isn't in his left chest.

He asked his second question.

"Did the Black Heaven Alliance Leader practice any soul-manipulation arts?"

"Soul-manipulation? Why do you ask?"

"That's irrelevant. Did he or didn't he?"

"He did. The Dark Illumination Mind-Control Art. It's one of the finest soul-manipulation techniques in existence. But as far as I know, he didn't learn it to control others. He learned it to prevent others from using such techniques against him. He was already powerful enough without resorting to soul manipulation."

Baek So-cheon silently nodded.

"One last question."

"What is it?"

"Where is Ban Yun-saeng now?"

The unexpected name startled Goe Yeo.

"Why are you looking for him?"

"You don't need to know."

"...Don't tell me..."

An uneasy look crossed Goe Yeo's face.

"You can't seriously believe the nonsense that lunatic used to spout? That man's insane."

"I may need to do something equally insane if I'm ever going to solve my current situation."

After staring at Baek So-cheon for a long moment, Goe Yeo finally spoke.

Now that he had started talking, there was no point holding back.

"I heard he secluded himself in the Qilian Mountains. Whether he's still alive... I don't know."

The Qilian Mountains, located in Gansu, lay within the territory of the Cheokcheon Alliance and were not far from Jade Gate Pass, which led beyond the frontier.

"I understand. That's all I wanted to ask. Thank you for answering. I'll arrange for you to receive one bottle of liquor every day."

As Baek So-cheon turned to leave, Goe Yeo called out,

"Our Alliance Leader will unify the righteous and demonic paths."

"Still calling him our leader, I see."

"You probably want to brand me a traitor... but the Leader will understand me."

"I don't believe that. So if you want to leave this world with as few regrets as possible, drink plenty while you still can."

The meaning was clear.

Having revealed so much information, Goe Yeo would no longer be spared by the Leader of the Cheokcheon Alliance.

For once, Goe Yeo couldn't deny it.

Feeling strangely irritated, he shouted after Baek So-cheon.

"You'd better keep your promise!"

***

As Baek So-cheon walked back toward the Hyeoncheon Unit, the emergency alarm bell rang.

It wasn't the signal for training.

It was the signal for a real emergency.

Moments later, a large group from the Iron Sword Corps galloped past on horseback.

Baek So-cheon stepped aside and watched them.

Leading the group was Iron Sword Corps Commander Chung Yang.

Among those following him was Hwang Il-bi.

For the commander himself to lead an entire unit in such a hurried deployment meant that a major incident had occurred.

He learned what had happened upon returning to the Hyeoncheon Unit.

Sa-ma Iljung was already waiting for him.

"Greetings. I am Sa-ma Iljung, strategist of the Hyeoncheon Pavilion."

"I am Baek So-cheon."

"From now on, I will be responsible for communication between the Strategic Command Center and Unit Leader Baek. It is an honor to meet you."

Those were not empty formalities.

He genuinely meant every word.

The reason he had volunteered for this assignment under Zhuge Hyeon was precisely because of Baek So-cheon.

This was the man whose name had once stood at the very top of the Murim Rankings.

Simply being able to speak with him filled Sa-ma Iljung with excitement.

"I look forward to working with you."

"The feeling is mutual."

It was Zhuge Hyeon's promise.

The Strategic Command Center would share its intelligence with them.

"By the way, I saw the Iron Sword Corps mobilizing in a great hurry on my way here. Has something happened within the Alliance?"

"An incident has occurred at the Ak Sword Clan."

Only then did Baek So-cheon understand the emergency deployment.

The Ak Sword Clan...

...was the family of Ak So-gun, the Leader of the Murim Alliance.