Chapter 95
The Spar Begins
Baek Socheon carefully studied every change in Yeom Hwasin’s expression—how his eyes shifted, how the smile formed at the corners of his mouth, how his eyelids and cheeks moved.
He was trying to determine whether the man was telling the truth.
“Can he even kill me?”
“You know he can.”
“I’m not so sure.”
“Your son will die by my hand today.”
“You might be the one who dies.”
“Are you serious? If so, it seems I misjudged you.”
Yeom Hwasin asked with an amused expression.
“What did you think of me?”
Baek Socheon told him exactly what he had been thinking.
“Aren’t you trying to have your son die by my hand, then use his death as an excuse to start a war?”
“How disappointing. I can’t believe you thought I was that kind of man.”
“You’re saying I’m wrong?”
“You are.”
They stood face-to-face at close range, but Baek Socheon could read nothing from Yeom Hwasin’s expression. It felt as though he would have to smash apart that stone-like face before he could ever see the man’s true expression.
“What father in this world would want his own son dead? To think you regard me as such a worthless bastard. I’m disappointed in you.”
“Then why are you doing this?”
“This wasn’t my idea. I merely supported my son’s wishes. You’re a man too, so surely you understand. A man wants to reclaim the woman who was taken from him. As his father, I should support him. Don’t you agree?”
Yeom Hwasin widened his eyes as though he were being completely sincere, his expression practically begging Baek Socheon to believe him.
Baek Socheon tossed out a reply with an indifferent expression.
“Bullshit.”
Only then did Yeom Hwasin’s expression finally change. The laughter he had been suppressing broke free, his cheeks twitching before he began chuckling.
“Hahaha! Right. It’s all bullshit.”
Baek Socheon saw vicious malice in that playful laughter.
“Do you have no paternal affection at all?”
“No one ever taught me such a thing.”
“Don’t you feel sorry for your son?”
“Tell me honestly. Do you really think that boy of mine is going to live long? Whether a war breaks out or he inherits my position.”
Baek Socheon could not answer.
Because he did not think Yeom Sawon would live long.
He was already so arrogant and contemptuous of everyone around him. How much worse would he become if he inherited the position of leader of the Cheukcheon Alliance?
Eventually, someone would betray him and kill him.
One should never casually decide how another person’s life would unfold, but Yeom Sawon’s future was all too easy to see. Anyone who knew him would probably reach a similar conclusion.
“Rather than dying pathetically after doing something stupid, wouldn’t it be better for him to die while playing the most important role in leading our alliance to victory?”
“No.”
“No?”
“Anyone else could say that. But you shouldn’t.”
Yeom Hwasin suddenly raised his voice.
“No! It’s the opposite. I can say that, but no one else has the right to.”
Baek Socheon understood.
Those were his true feelings.
This was the kind of man Yeom Hwasin was.
“You despise me.”
“To be honest... I wish you would burst out laughing and tell me everything you just said was bullshit.”
“You want me to be a good person? You’re going to die by my hand eventually anyway.”
“I don’t know. I’m just saying that’s how I feel.”
“Being swayed by emotions is something only third-rate fools do. That’s why you lost. Well then, I’ll see you at the sparring arena later. I’m going to see my son.”
Yeom Hwasin strode away before suddenly stopping.
He glanced back at Baek Socheon.
“Surely you won’t die, will you? Don’t disappoint me.”
He grinned until the very end, displaying his coldhearted lack of paternal affection.
Baek Socheon silently watched his retreating back.
Even so, I’m not going to kill your son.
***
“Father!”
Yeom Sawon greeted Yeom Hwasin with a delighted expression.
“I truly never imagined you would come here yourself, Father.”
Yeom Sawon had been genuinely surprised when he received word yesterday that Yeom Hwasin would personally come to watch the spar.
He had received the Cheukryong Divine Armor, and as though that were not enough, his father had even come personally to watch him fight.
Lately, it felt as though he was receiving all the fatherly love he should have received over his entire lifetime at once.
“Are you confident you can win?”
“Yes. I’ll definitely kill that bastard!”
“And the Cheukryong Divine Armor?”
Yeom Sawon pulled open his robe to show him.
He was wearing the Cheukryong Divine Armor underneath.
“I know how much you treasure the Black Dragon Divine Armor. Thank you very much, Father.”
In truth, Yeom Sawon felt awkward.
His relationship with his father had never been good. He had never dared behave disrespectfully toward him, but neither had he ever once felt genuine respect or affection for his father.
But now, it felt as though all the emotions that had been blocked up inside him were bursting forth at once.
“I’ll be a good son from now on.”
Yeom Hwasin spoke to his son.
“Make sure you get rid of Baek Socheon!”
Yeom Sawon answered, his face flushed with excitement.
“Yes, Father.”
As the time for the spar approached, the invited guests began taking their designated seats around the sparring stage one after another.
There were roughly three hundred of them.
The leaders of major sects and renowned senior masters were seated near the Alliance Leader, where they had an excellent view of the stage. The smaller and less prestigious a sect was, the farther away its seats were.
In a sense, where one sat here was a direct reflection of one’s current prestige.
Those who had not seen one another for some time exchanged greetings and chatted among themselves.
Meol Jiryun also took her assigned seat.
Beside her sat Rap sa, her elderly guard.
Pa jeong was nowhere to be seen.
When Meol Jiryun repeatedly glanced around, Rap sa asked,
“Is there someone you are looking for?”
“No.”
She had been searching for Cheongeuk on the off chance that she might be here.
But there was no sign of her.
There’s no way they would have invited the leader of the Assassins Alliance.
Some time passed.
Then the noisy venue suddenly fell silent before the assembled martial artists erupted into thunderous cheers.
“Waaaaaaaah!”
Alliance Leader Ak Sogun had appeared.
Amid the cheers, the Alliance Leader stepped forward and delivered a greeting before the match.
“I would like to express my gratitude to all our fellow martial artists who have traveled such great distances to be here.”
Every martial artist present rose simultaneously and respectfully gave a cupped-fist salute.
“We greet the Alliance Leader!”
Another tremendous cheer erupted.
Then even louder applause came from beyond the distant walls. Hearing the applause from inside, the heroes gathered outside began clapping and shouting as well.
“Today’s spar holds great significance. It is a valuable contest between two men representing the Orthodox and Unorthodox factions, held in the hope of bringing peace to the martial world.”
Ak Sogun deliberately avoided mentioning the marriage arrangement, but the rumors had already spread far and wide, so everyone knew what this match truly meant.
After giving a brief speech about the previous war and the future of the martial world, Ak Sogun finally introduced someone.
“A distinguished guest has traveled from afar to grace this important occasion.”
Everyone followed Ak Sogun’s gaze.
A man was walking into the venue.
“The leader of the Heukcheon Alliance has personally come to attend.”
Everyone was stunned.
Not even in their dreams had they expected the leader of the Cheukcheon Alliance himself to attend.
Cutting through the silence born of shock, Yeom Hwasin walked inside.
He had brought only one man directly with him.
That man was Jeon Gwi, leader of Cheukbeon, the elite force directly under the command of the Cheukcheon Alliance Leader.
Behind them followed Janbaek and Go Goeng, who had escorted Yeom Sawon here.
Yeom Hwasin made no attempt to conceal his aura.
His overwhelming presence and pressure swept across the entire venue.
As though resisting him, the assembled heroes began booing in low voices.
“Booooooo!”
Yet Yeom Hwasin remained perfectly composed.
He walked up to Ak Sogun.
The two men stopped several paces apart, facing each other.
“It’s been a long time.”
“Have you been well?”
Ak Sogun answered Yeom Hwasin’s question.
“As long as you remain alive, I can never sleep peacefully.”
Soon you’ll be able to stretch out your legs and sleep peacefully.
Forever.
An intense battle of wills unfolded between them.
Ak Sogun could feel it.
Yeom Hwasin was stronger now than when he had last seen him.
Even from the man’s eyes and aura alone, Ak Sogun could tell that he was being overwhelmed.
“Come. Let us sit.”
“Let’s.”
Yeom Hwasin’s seat had not been placed beside Ak Sogun’s. Instead, it had been arranged on the opposite side of the sparring stage.
The seating arrangement had been deliberately designed to prevent any unfortunate incident that might occur.
Once the two leaders were seated, the two protagonists of today’s event appeared.
Everyone welcomed Baek Socheon and Yeom Sawon with cheers and applause.
The two men climbed onto the sparring stage.
Yeom Sawon turned around to look at his father standing behind him.
Over Yeom Sawon’s shoulder, Baek Socheon was looking directly at Yeom Hwasin.
Yeom Hwasin raised a hand toward his son.
Standing behind Yeom Sawon, Baek Socheon could tell.
It looked as though Yeom Hwasin was cheering for his son.
But in truth, that raised hand had been meant for Baek Socheon.
Things won’t go the way you want.
The martial artist serving as referee called both men to the center of the stage.
“This is a friendly spar, so it would be best if you refrained from using overly dangerous techniques whenever possible.”
Yet even the referee himself knew just how dangerous today’s spar truly was.
The referee stepped down.
Now only Baek Socheon and Yeom Sawon remained on the stage.
From beginning to end, Baek Socheon intended to fight without using internal energy.
Nor did he have any intention of dragging out the match.
The two drew their swords.
Instead of his signature weapon, the Ghost Shadow Sword, Baek Socheon had brought a different sword.
Without internal energy, his weapon might be damaged during the fight.
Besides, from the very beginning, he intended to finish this battle with the Beoncheon Nine Fists.
Yeom Sawon shot toward Baek Socheon.
Swoooosh!
His sword flew straight toward Baek Socheon’s throat.
There was no probing exchange.
There was no mercy suggesting he intended to stop after merely injuring him.
From the very first move, his attack targeted a vital point, swift and sharp.
Baek Socheon twisted his body and evaded the sword.
The blade narrowly missed him.
Yeom Sawon twisted the sword that had missed its mark and once again aimed for Baek Socheon’s throat.
Baek Socheon’s sword blocked the attack.
Their swords crossed directly before their faces as they entered a deadlock.
Beyond the blades, Yeom Sawon’s eyes burned with venomous hostility.
Baek Socheon had watched him train in martial arts before.
His ability was exactly what Baek Socheon had expected.
But something was different.
Why is his killing intent so intense?
It was far stronger than Baek Socheon had anticipated.
Of course, Yeom Sawon had already resolved to kill him.
But this went far beyond that.
Even someone facing the mortal enemy who had slaughtered their entire family would struggle to emit killing intent this intense.
The spectators burst into exclamations and cheers at the vicious battle unfolding from the very beginning.
Yeom Sawon maintained the initiative and continued attacking.
If I give him an opening, I’ll be at a disadvantage.
His opponent was Baek Socheon, a man whose combat experience surpassed his own beyond comparison.
Yeom Sawon intended to overwhelm him without giving him even a moment to breathe, then kill him.
Indeed, the barrage of attacks Yeom Sawon unleashed all at once was frighteningly dangerous.
His character might have been pathetic and vile, but his martial arts were anything but.
Sword trails created by Yeom Sawon flashed through the air.
Swish! Swoosh! Swish!
His sword repeatedly grazed past Baek Socheon’s body by the narrowest of margins.
Exclamations erupted all around them.
They were expressions of admiration for Baek Socheon’s incredible ability to evade Yeom Sawon’s razor-sharp attacks without using internal energy.
Most of those present had only heard rumors about Baek Socheon.
They were astonished that he could move this quickly without internal energy.
In an instant, Yeom Sawon unleashed more than ten moves, each and every one of them potentially lethal.
Everyone held their breath as they watched the fight.
There was a limit to how much Baek Socheon could evade without internal energy.
Eventually, sword met sword.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Yeom Sawon’s sword was infused with internal energy to its absolute limit.
Baek Socheon clutched his wrist, his face twisting in pain.
Yeom Sawon did not miss the opportunity.
He slipped in like a shadow.
He did not recklessly unleash sword energy.
Simply attacking with internal energy already gave him a sufficient advantage. He judged that attempting to launch sword energy unnecessarily might expose an opening and allow Baek Socheon to counterattack.
Claaang!
After several more clashes, Baek Socheon’s sword finally failed to endure the strain and snapped.
Yeom Sawon grinned.
For the first time, the tension in his heart loosened.
That’s right. This is how it should be. No matter how impressive a bastard like you may be, without internal energy, there’s no way you can defeat me.
The urgent gasps from the spectators only fueled his arrogance.
It was at that exact moment.
Yeom Hwasin, who had been watching, suddenly shouted.
“Son! Don’t fall for it!”
His booming voice echoed throughout the venue.
Yeom Hwasin had instantly realized that Baek Socheon had deliberately allowed his sword to break in order to lure Yeom Sawon into lowering his guard.
Baek Socheon was puzzled.
He warned his son? If he wants his son to lose, then why? Why the hell would he do that?
For the briefest instant, Baek Socheon and Yeom Hwasin’s eyes met.
Baek Socheon saw it.
An incomprehensible smile was spreading across Yeom Hwasin’s lips.
An unpleasant sense of wrongness surged through him, but he had no time to determine Yeom Hwasin’s intentions.
Swoooooosh!
Yeom Sawon came sweeping toward him alongside his sword, unleashing an even more dazzling technique.