Chapter 93

Are They One, or Two? (2)

After leaving Meol Jiryun's quarters, Baek Socheon infiltrated Yeom Sawon's residence next.

Yeom Sawon was practicing martial arts in the backyard. Baek Socheon had expected him to be soaked in alcohol or chasing after women, so this was unexpected.

Of his two bodyguards, Go Goeng was standing guard nearby, ensuring that no one approached.

Baek Socheon carefully moved closer using the Submerged Shadow Divine Steps.

Go Goeng failed to notice his infiltration. That alone showed just how remarkable it had been for Pa jeong to detect him earlier.

Concealing himself in the shadow of a wall, Baek Socheon watched Yeom Sawon's martial arts for a while.

Yeom Sawon was practicing swordsmanship. Given the location, he was only using a portion of his internal energy while executing the forms.

But that alone was enough for Baek Socheon to accurately gauge his abilities. He could even visualize in his mind how powerful those techniques would become if Yeom Sawon poured his internal energy into them to the limit.

Once again, Baek Socheon realized something.

Ah, my realm of martial arts really has changed.

The way he perceived martial arts was completely different from before.

What would happen if I fought Yeom Hwasin right now?

He had yet to achieve Great Accomplishment in the Thousand-Hand Tathagata Asura Divine Sword, but even so, his chances of victory had undoubtedly risen compared to before.

There was no reason to rush.

As long as Yeom Hwasin didn't discover that Baek Socheon had recovered his internal energy, time was unquestionably on Baek Socheon's side.

Completely unaware that Baek Socheon had been watching him from beginning to end, Yeom Sawon continued diligently practicing.

He was arrogant and pathetic in many ways, but he wasn't a fool.

He had already figured that Baek Socheon wouldn't have accepted this duel unless he believed he could win. He also understood that this wouldn't be an easy fight.

Even so, Yeom Sawon was confident.

It might become a difficult battle, but there was no possibility that he would lose to a man without internal energy.

I'll kill him. No matter what.

The stated purpose of the duel was to reclaim his fiancée, yet another woman occupied his thoughts.

Cheongeuk.

Once I win this duel, I'll make her mine too.

Cheongeuk had clearly seemed to be hoping for his help.

There's a certain pleasure in making a vicious and powerful woman like that mine. Besides, as the Leader of the Assassin Alliance, she'll be useful in all sorts of ways.

Dreaming of something that could never come true, he grinned foolishly.

Just then, Jan Baek entered carrying a box.

It was a box that would draw Yeom Sawon even deeper into his fantasies.

Jan Baek was a level above Go Goeng, yet even he failed to notice Baek Socheon hiding nearby.

"The Alliance Leader sent this."

"Father did?"

Yeom Sawon hurriedly opened the box and found a set of protective clothing inside.

"Isn't this the Heaven-Measuring Dragon Divine Armor?"

The protective armor, capable of guarding the body from the torso down to the legs, was a treasured garment kept by Yeom Hwasin.

Yeom Sawon's face lit up.

"Hahaha! Father treasures this Heaven-Measuring Dragon Divine Armor!"

Once again, Yeom Sawon became convinced that his father truly cared about him.

"With this protective armor, that bastard will never be able to kill me. I'll kill him without fail, Father!"

Watching him, Baek Socheon understood Yeom Hwasin's intention.

He's pushing his own son all the way to the brink.

If Yeom Sawon wore the Heaven-Measuring Dragon Divine Armor, subduing him without internal energy would become far more difficult.

The fight would become even more brutal, and the probability of either Baek Socheon or Yeom Sawon dying would rise significantly.

Was I wrong? Is he really trying to kill me?

The situation was enough to make even Baek Socheon entertain the possibility.

But no.

He couldn't allow appearances to deceive him.

This gift was unquestionably intended to push Yeom Sawon toward his death.

From the very beginning until now, Baek Socheon's instincts had consistently seen through the abyssal darkness within Yeom Hwasin's heart.

After secretly observing both Meol Jiryun and Yeom Sawon, a question naturally arose.

Are these conspiracies one or two?

The Blood Cult's conspiracy and the Orthodox-Unorthodox Sparring Match.

Were the two completely unrelated?

Or were the Heaven-Measuring Alliance and the Blood Cult working together as part of a single conspiracy?

At first glance, they appeared to be separate schemes unfolding independently.

But he couldn't be certain of anything.

No matter how absurd a development might occur, it wouldn't be surprising.

After all, the fate of the entire Central Plains was at stake.

***

Dawn arrived, and only two days remained until the duel.

From early morning, Baek Socheon began secretly observing Pa jeong, Meol Jiryun's bodyguard.

Meol Jiryun is creating the distraction in front, while that bastard is handling the real work behind the scenes.

While everyone's attention was focused on Meol Jiryun and Yeom Sawon, the young bodyguard who had quietly accompanied her was secretly carrying out the actual scheme.

Baek Socheon watched him with extreme caution.

Pa jeong had nearly detected Baek Socheon's presence when even Cheongeuk had failed to do so.

That showed just how extraordinary his senses were.

Well, I suppose that's precisely why they sent someone like him along for this operation.

There was an upside as well.

Because his opponent was so perceptive, Baek Socheon had to exercise maximum caution and concentration. As a result, his understanding of the Submerged Shadow Divine Steps deepened, and he was becoming accustomed to the art even faster.

Pa jeong didn't leave the Alliance.

He either rested near Meol Jiryun or wandered casually around the Alliance grounds.

Simply watching him revealed absolutely nothing suspicious.

What exactly is he preparing?

Baek Socheon followed him for half the day but discovered nothing unusual.

With the duel approaching, he couldn't spend all his time tailing the man, so he returned to the Profound Heaven Unit for the time being.

Hwang Ilbi, First Unit Leader of the Iron Sword Division, was waiting at the entrance.

"Have you been well?"

The last time they had met was when the Black Banner, Yeom Hwasin's direct subordinate force, had advanced on Chongqing.

Their mission had been so important then that they had parted without exchanging even a single personal word.

"I've been rather busy lately."

"So it seemed. I came by a few days ago, but you weren't here."

"Sorry."

"Not at all."

"How have you been? Is your Division Leader still treating you well?"

By "your Division Leader," Baek Socheon meant Chung Yang, the man who had once clashed with him.

"Ah, Unit Leader, you really need to come over and provoke our Division Leader Chung again."

"Why?"

"Maybe he thinks I'm a fish he's already caught, because the affection he's been showering on me has become rather lukewarm. If you come over and show him that you could steal me away again, wouldn't he start treating me better?"

"Haha, you're right. People have treated fish they've already caught the same way since ancient times."

"So please come by and make Division Leader Chung curse a little."

The two were happy to see each other again after so long.

Baek Socheon had no intention of forcibly bringing Hwang Ilbi into the Profound Heaven Unit or making him one of his own direct subordinates.

It wasn't because he doubted Hwang Ilbi's abilities or didn't trust him.

Baek Socheon knew better than anyone that Hwang Ilbi was both capable and exceptionally compatible with him.

Yet the reason he left him where he was was for Hwang Ilbi's own sake.

He was someone who could adapt and persevere within any organization.

More importantly, he had a family.

Baek Socheon didn't want to disrupt Hwang Ilbi's life merely for his own convenience.

Im Chung and Beon Saeng, whose martial arts were far weaker, had ended up coming with him, while Hwang Ilbi remained where he was.

It made him realize that bonds and human relationships weren't things governed solely by rationality.

"Only two days remain until the duel. How do you feel? Are you confident?"

Hwang Ilbi had come because he was worried.

He still didn't know that Baek Socheon had recovered his internal energy.

"That little brat isn't even worth one punch."

Hwang Ilbi narrowed his eyes and carefully studied Baek Socheon's face.

"Please don't make me jump onto the sparring stage."

"What do you mean?"

"When Yeom Sawon delivers his final blow, don't make me throw myself in front of it to stop him."

"You were planning to throw yourself in?"

"Of course. What else am I supposed to do, just stand there and watch?"

"Just watch."

"Right? That's the right answer, isn't it? So please make sure all I have to do that day is enjoy the show. I came because I wanted to tell you that everyone's cheering for you. I'll be going now."

Baek Socheon called out to him as he turned away.

"Ilbi."

It had been a very long time since Baek Socheon had called him by his name.

Emotion welled up in Hwang Ilbi as he turned back.

"Yes."

"You can worry about everything else in the world, but don't worry about me."

Looking at Baek Socheon, Hwang Ilbi thought to himself that if Baek Socheon were ever demoted again someday, he would definitely follow him down that time.

Failing to follow him before remained the greatest regret of his life.

Hwang Ilbi smiled.

"All right. I won't worry. I refuse to. Who am I to worry about you?"

But there were others.

Others who worried far too much about Baek Socheon.

The martial artists of the Profound Heaven Unit were among them, but Im Chung and Beon Saeng were especially concerned.

The two were sitting in the Profound Heaven Unit's office, worrying about Baek Socheon.

"Big Brother really can win, right?"

Im Chung answered Beon Saeng's anxious question.

"You'd know better than I would. Your martial arts are stronger than mine now."

"So what? We're still just an acorn and a chestnut. How am I supposed to understand Big Brother's level or Yeom Sawon's?"

"How does Big Brother look?"

"I haven't seen him at all lately either."

"Really?"

Im Chung couldn't help feeling worried.

If it had been any other opponent, perhaps things would be different.

But his opponent was the successor of the Heaven-Measuring Alliance.

"He'll be all right, won't he?"

"Of course."

Then a voice came from behind them.

"Someone at the entrance just said something interesting. Who exactly is worrying about whom?"

Startled, they turned around.

Baek Socheon was walking in.

"Big Brother!"

Neither of them had seen him since the Chongqing operation.

Baek Socheon sat down across from them.

It felt good to sit together like this again after so long.

"Don't worry about me."

"How are we supposed to not worry? There's more money riding on that damned bastard than on you right now."

"Money?"

"People are betting on your duel."

"Really?"

Baek Socheon knew that gambling naturally accompanied martial arts tournaments.

Of course, he himself had never gambled even once in his life.

"Go and bet every coin you have."

"What?"

"Bet everything you have on me winning."

Beon Saeng blinked.

Ever since joining the Profound Heaven Unit, he hadn't properly joked around with Baek Socheon, and he'd been itching to do so.

Now, after such a long time, the atmosphere finally allowed it again.

Since joining the Profound Heaven Unit, Baek Socheon hadn't merely been his big brother anymore.

He had become his lofty Unit Leader.

"What if you lose?"

"Then you'll be penniless. Isn't that how gambling works?"

"Don't tell me you've secretly bet on the opposite result yourself? You tell everyone you meet to bet on you..."

"Why would I?"

"Because losing is easier than winning."

"Hahahaha! That's a fair point."

Im Chung, who had been listening beside them, carefully studied Baek Socheon's face.

"But somehow, you seem different. You look more at ease than before."

There were probably two reasons someone would say that despite how tense things were lately.

The first was his advancement in martial arts.

The second was Cheongeuk.

The love they shared had been giving him a deep sense of happiness.

Ah, there was one more reason.

After hearing what Cheongeuk had said about worrying, Baek Socheon had decided to let go of unnecessary worries.

Things like worrying about the entire martial world collapsing.

He was trying to discard worries that couldn't be solved merely by worrying and focus only on the concerns that actually mattered.

"All right. I'll bet everything on you, Big Brother."

"Keep enough money for dinner."

"Yes. I'll leave exactly that much and bet everything else!"

"Just this once. If you get addicted to gambling, your life is over. Don't think of it as gambling. Think of it as a gift you received because you happened to know me."

"Of course. Besides, I doubt gambling could even make my heart race."

Baek Socheon looked curious.

"Why?"

"My life is already more thrilling than any gamble could ever be. This summer, I was living in the smallest, most distant branch from the Main Headquarters, pretending not to notice the local Heaven-Measuring Alliance thugs. Then, by winter, I was standing on the very front line facing the Black Banner, the strongest elite force of the Heaven-Measuring Alliance. When I'm already living a life like this, what kind of gambling could possibly satisfy me?"

Baek Socheon smiled and nodded.

"I hope your life stays exciting."

"Yours too, Big Brother."

The words were spoken casually and received just as casually.

Yet Baek Socheon suddenly realized that his entire life was contained within that brief exchange.

He had always lived while thinking about other people's lives before his own.

Not anymore.

That was why Baek Socheon felt fulfilled now.

Killing Yeom Hwasin was no longer something he intended to do for the sake of chivalry.

It had become something he would do for his own future and happiness.

He sometimes smiled to himself while imagining the day he would finally leave the Alliance.

"Yeah. That's probably when my truly exciting life will begin. From then on!"

"Huh? When exactly is 'then'?"

Baek Socheon had muttered the words almost to himself, leaving Im Chung and Beon Saeng staring at him in confusion.

Looking at the two of them, Baek Socheon gave an enigmatic smile.

I'll apologize in advance. I can't take you with me when that day comes.

As Baek Socheon got up to leave again, Beon Saeng asked,

"Where are you going? You just got here."

Baek Socheon strode toward the door.

"Now that we've brought it up, there's someone else I'd like to help make some money."