Chapter 76: Jaseung, Meets the Alliance Leader

At last, Lee Jaseung and Baek Seolyoung arrived at the Murim Alliance.

Lee Jaseung stood at the main gate of the Alliance, gazing up at the magnificent building.

His eyes were gentle, but his heart was burning with intensity.

He would sweep aside anything that blocked his way and take this place for himself.

This was the moment when he took another great step toward unifying the world following the martial arts tournament.

There was no grand welcoming ceremony. The carriage passed quietly through the main gate and headed straight for an annex in the outer compound.

He had expected to meet the Alliance Leader as soon as they arrived, but instead they were first assigned quarters in the outer compound. The martial artist guarding the main gate spoke politely.

"There are rooms prepared for you in the annex of the outer compound. Please go there first and rest. There will be a word from the Alliance Leader’s Hall tomorrow."

Lee Jaseung spoke to the guard with a sharp expression.

"But it seems there is some mistake."

"A mistake?"

"The Lord of the Northern Sky Clan has arrived. There is no way she’d be assigned quarters in an annex of the outer compound, is there? Please go and confirm."

He said this deliberately. He was still cultivating the worldly persona of Seop Mu-pyeong rather than revealing his true self.

Of course, before long they would find out he was the heir of the Hainan Sect. All of this was a layered smokescreen to keep anyone from discovering he was the Black Way Alliance Leader.

"I’m only following orders."

Lee Jaseung’s eyes turned cold.

"Then I will make a formal request. Go and confirm whether there has been a mistake. We will wait here without entering."

With such pressure, the guard could not help but be overwhelmed by Lee Jaseung.  

"Very well, I will do that then."

After the man left, Baek Seolyoung spoke.

"There’s no need to go this far."

She felt a bit uncomfortable. But Lee Jaseung shook his head firmly and replied.  

"This is necessary. Politics is ultimately a fight for position. If they don’t give, you demand until they do. If they still refuse, you make it so they cannot refuse. And if they still don’t give, you take it."

Baek Seolyoung agreed but also felt some resistance.

Honestly, in this case, she felt slightly insulted by the Alliance Leader’s poor treatment. But to argue over such a thing made her feel even more as if she were forcing respect from them, which hurt her pride even more.

Lee Jaseung guessed her thoughts.

"Of course, it may not feel right. But if you only do what you want, then step down from your seat as a Lord and live wandering the world in leisure. You would be happier that way."

Baek Seolyoung turned her head away. His words were not wrong, but they still made her angry.

‘Couldn’t he say it more nicely? Why did he have to speak as if scolding me?’

She sulked for a moment, then glanced at him. He was silently watching the Murim Alliance.

As always, there was no trace of personal malice toward her. Instead, it actually looked like his eyes shone as he looked at the Alliance.

She had seen that look on his face before. It was when he stood in the final match of the tournament, facing his opponent.

Confident and unshakable.

Was that the reason why? She suddenly had a thought.  

She wondered if his gentle and kind words would have the same impact on her. Would she have simply listened and let them pass without change?

What mattered was not his kindness but her realization of something new. And at least in that regard, he gave her a sharp stimulus.

‘Maybe I’m focusing too much on useless formality?’

She let out a small sigh.

‘Why do I have so much to think about?’

‘Seriously, being with him always makes me think more.’

And those things that once only annoyed her… no longer felt so bad.

While she thought this, the guard returned.

"My apologies. It seems there was a mistake. Please, come with me."

She could tell it was not truly a mistake, but that orders had changed after they heard how Lee Jaseung reacted.

Her earlier discomfort was already gone.

"Thank you for your trouble."

Her bright smile lifted the guard’s stiff expression immediately.

"Think nothing of it. Please, come in. I will guide you."

The stiff, awkward mood lightened.

Lee Jaseung gave her a faint smile.

‘Well done. True pride is not something to show in moments like these.’

"This is the Radiant Tiger Hall. It is used by the warriors of the Radiant Tiger Army. Over there is the grand training Hall, the largest in the inner compound. Those allowed to use it are…"

Thanks to this, they even received a polite tour.

In truth, there was another reason Lee Jaseung insisted on staying in the inner compound.

Whether one stayed in the inner or outer compound might seem minor, but it made a great difference. Once lodged in the inner compound, one would likely stay there again in the future.

The inner compound housed the Alliance Leader’s Hall and the Alliance’s core organizations. Moving from there would be far more convenient.

By showing pride on the first day, he ensured that no one would question his place in the inner compound.

The carriage arrived. He memorized the route into the inner compound and gauged the number and skill of the guards.

Of course, many hidden warriors were surely lying in ambush. While he stayed in the Alliance, he would have to learn all their positions and numbers.

Even in this short time since entering the Alliance, Lee Jaseung was predicting and planning many things.

To him and his people, this was no different from a tiger’s den. If he underestimated a corrupt Alliance, he would die in the jaws of a corrupt tiger.

A tiger was still a tiger after all.

They were shown to the guest rooms in the inner compound.

Only two rooms were provided, a stingy number for the five who had arrived.

Clearly, they were looking down on the Northern Sky Clan. Otherwise, they would have been granted an audience with the Alliance Leader immediately upon arrival.

Was it simply because the young Baek Seolyoung had inherited the clan leadership?

If that was the reason, it would be foolish. Lee Jaseung hoped it was, because that would make it easier to topple them.

If not, the situation would be more complicated.

Inside her room, Baek Seolyoung saw the bed. Was it because of the relief of arriving at the Alliance that loosened her tension?

‘Come to think of it, we still haven’t even spent our first night together.’

There was neither time nor leisure for it. Endless incidents had occurred as if to prevent it.

Truthfully, what weighed on her mind was Lee Jaseung. She could let it pass, but what about him?

‘I wonder what he’s thinking? Maybe he thinks I’m purposely avoiding sleeping with him? Or maybe he’s the unwilling one?’

That was the thought she had.

Truthfully, Lee Jaseung thought similarly. He was not impatient, but he worried that his calm might be seen as indifference and cause misunderstanding.

"Shall we get some fresh air?"

"Alright."

She readily agreed to Lee Jaseung’s suggestion. Sitting together in the guest room felt awkward anyway.

They walked silently through the rear garden.

Lee Jaseung didn’t find their relationship easy either.

In matters related to his grand goal of unifying the world, his mind was clear and his thoughts sharp.

But understanding her feelings and conveying his own felt far more difficult.

Baek Seolyoung broke the silence.

"I came here out of respect for your intentions."

"I am grateful."

"What should we do next?"

Asking this hurt her pride, but more than that, she wanted to learn.

She was lacking now and that stung, but she wanted to grow. She wanted to be able to judge and navigate through the Jianghu herself.

"For now, we wait."

"Until when?"

"Until they make a move."

"Will they really act now that we’re in the Alliance?"

He nodded.

"How can you be so sure?"

Lee Jaseung spoke with certainty.

"Because they are not afraid of the Alliance."

There was also one thing he didn’t say out loud.

It was the fact that they might already be inside the Alliance.

* * *

The summons from the Alliance Leader’s Hall came late the next afternoon.

"The Alliance Leader requests your presence."

As Dan Woobin moved to follow, the messenger added.

"Today, he wishes to meet only the two of them."

Dan Woobin smiled awkwardly and replied.

"That is unfortunate. I had hoped to meet the Alliance Leader this time."

On the wedding day, he had only glimpsed him from afar and had never spoken to him personally, so he wanted to learn what kind of person he is.

"Have a safe trip."

With Dan Woobin’s regretful farewell, Lee Jaseung and Baek Seolyoung left their quarters, passing several strict inspections before entering the Alliance Leader’s Hall.

For Lee Jaseung, this was an excellent chance to observe their security. He tried to memorize everything.

On the dais sat Alliance Leader Jang Wonso, a dignified man with flowing white beard, a true image of a leader.

Like Baek Seolyoung, Lee Jaseung had only met him briefly on the wedding day.

Even among a hundred elders, one would know he was the leader with his figure and presence.  

He had the look of a genial man and the air of someone at ease in life.

Jang Wonso came down from the dais and greeted them warmly, taking Baek Seolyoung’s hand.

"Welcome. You must be tired from your long journey."

Then he smiled at Lee Jaseung. Baek Seolyoung was a little flustered. She had not expected him to greet her so warmly, even taking her hand.

Why had such a man treated them poorly before? Was it truly a mistake in orders?

Lee Jaseung’s lips curled coldly. Such friendliness was a political routine for someone of his status.

What provoked him was the act of openly taking Baek Seolyoung’s hand. Unless they were relatives, greetings were usually exchanged with a cupped-fist salute, not by holding hands.

‘Since when have you gotten so close to her?’

‘Very amusing.’

For a man to take another’s wife’s hand so casually could mean two things. First, was to provoke deliberately and test the other.

That was what Lee Jaseung thought.

The Leader of the Murim Alliance would do such a test.

Or that’s what he thought at first, but…

Lee Jaseung sensed something else when their eyes met for an instant. It was a strange, unpleasant heat.

‘I was wrong.’

It was not provocation, but Jang Wonso grabbed her hands like that to look down on Lee Jaseung, as hard to believe it was.

And in part, a desire to touch a beauty like Baek Seolyoung.

From his gaze and actions, Lee Jaseung read the man’s mind precisely.  

It said, "I am the Alliance Leader, and your woman is mine for the taking. If I want her, I will have her."

Of course, such thoughts might not have been in Jang Wonso’s mind as that was just Lee Jaseung’s assumption.

Most would never imagine such a thing from his genial expression, and might even be moved by the warm welcome.

But Lee Jaseung was a beast who had survived among beasts. He recognized the low, rumbling growl for what it was.

And just earlier, he heard Jang Wonso’s growl. A very quiet, and unpleasant one.

"Please, have a seat."

Jang Wonso smiled broadly and guided them.

After sipping tea, he said with a confident posture.

"Now, leave this matter to us."

"Yes, we will.”

Baek Seolyoung said politely. But unlike her who bowed her head, Lee Jaseung asked bluntly.

"How exactly do you plan to handle it?"

Jang Wonso glanced at him.

Lee Jaseung had intended all of this. Just as with Ban Yeo, he was putting on a fake persona.

"What do you mean?"

“It’s exactly as I asked. I am curious how you will find the mastermind. Do you have a plan, or will you issue orders to certain groups?"

Jang Wonso’s expression said, “Do I have to tell you that?” But Lee Jaseung stared stubbornly, waiting for an answer.

The tension between them made Baek Seolyoung uneasy, but she knew Lee Jaseung never acted without reason, so she pretended not to notice.

"It is Alliance business, so I cannot tell you.”

"Is that so?"

With such a start, the rest of the conversation could not go well.

After a few more sharp exchanges, the awkward meeting ended.

They left the Alliance Leader’s room and headed back to their guest rooms. As they walked back, Lee Jaseung continued noting the positions of hidden guards.

"Why were you so prickly?"

Lee Jaseung stopped his steps, and so did Baek Seolyoung.

"Did I seem that way?"

She gave him a look of disbelief.

Lee Jaseung spoke again.

"I just didn’t like his face much.”

She was taken aback.

"The Alliance Leader? Just because you didn’t like his face?"

"One’s perception on another’s face is preference, right?”

"I suppose, but still…"

"Let’s go. I’m hungry."

He strode ahead.

She followed more slowly, glancing back at the grand building of the Alliance Leader’s Hall.

Was it because of what Lee Jaseung said? It felt darker and more ominous than before.

Looking forward again, she saw his broad shoulders.

‘I really have been influenced by him huh.’

With a faint smile, she walked behind him.

There were two people watching them from afar.

From the hall’s large window, Jang Wonso and Ban Yeo watched them.

"What did you think?"

"She was very pretty."

Ban Yeo smirked at his answer. Despite knowing it was a question about Lee Jaseung, the Alliance Leader answered about Baek Seolyoung as a joke.

‘Lewd old man.’

Ban Yeo knew he had a taste for women, and that women were sometimes brought to him in the Leader’s Hall.

Then his expression changed as he answered properly.

"He seems difficult to work with… but he’s still a little brat."

That was exactly the impression Lee Jaseung had wanted to give.

"In any case, we should cut off at least one tail to show them…"

After understanding what Jang Wonso meant, Ban Yeo replied.

"I will handle it."

"Will you do that for me?"

Their eyes met. They were both unreadable, like those of a first and second in command testing each other.

"Good. I leave this to you."

"Thank you."

Jang Wonso turned and walked back to the dais. Ban Yeo, about to turn away, looked again out the window.

Far away, Lee Jaseung was disappearing from sight.

His own first impression was much like Jang Wonso’s, pretending to be tough, but still a novice.

However… There was something about him that kept drawing Ban Yeo’s attention. An unpleasant feeling he could not quite name.

By then, Lee Jaseung had vanished completely from view.

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