Chapter 96: Seolyoung, Caught Off Guard

Heukso was truly shocked.

It was the first time he had heard that there was someone behind the Alliance Leader. He had served Ban Yeo with loyalty for many years, so if this was the first time hearing it, it meant this was something truly important and dangerous.

“Who are they?”

Compared to the seriousness of the question, Ban Yeo’s reply was calm. It was so important that he spoke with composure, which made it even more frightening.

“They are the ones who control the Alliance Leader.”

At those words, Heukso was aghast. When the word “behind” was mentioned, he had made some guesses. He thought there must be people powerful enough to pressure the Alliance Leader. But he never expected the word “control” to be used.

“That Alliance Leader?”

Heukso asked with a trembling voice.

“Yes, that Alliance Leader.”

The word “that” coming from both of them carried little explanation, but held the meaning of genuine acknowledgment for the man.

It was shocking there were people who could control that fierce and calculating Alliance Leader.

Heukso knew well that neither Ban Yeo nor the Alliance Leader were the sort of people who could be overpowered by anyone.

But if what Ban Yeo said was true, it meant there were others that even they could not handle.

“That is why I have feared the Alliance Leader until now.”

Ban Yeo’s words stirred intense curiosity in Heukso.

‘Who could it be?’

But he did not voice the question. His instincts told him that he had already stepped one foot into dangerous ground.

Ban Yeo closed his eyes with a grave expression.

“If they have stepped forward, it is very bad. Very.”

The first, second, and third units, and the Black Sand Army.

The fact that the main forces were struck down in an instant meant that they had moved.

This was a crisis, greater than any Heukso had experienced before.

Once again, strange words came from Ban Yeo’s mouth.

“He is making a move despite being sick! So this is how it ends up?”

Heukso was dying to know the meaning behind every word Ban Yeo spoke, but simply listened in silence. He had never seen Ban Yeo so serious before.

Even so, he trusted Ban Yeo.

They had faced many crises before, and each time Ban Yeo had overcome them brilliantly. This time would be the same.

Eventually, Ban Yeo opened his eyes. The solution he had found was something Heukso could never have imagined.

“The new leader of the Black Way Alliance, he is quite young, is he not?”

At the mention of the Black Way Alliance, Heukso was startled.

“Yes. There are rumors that his skills are remarkable, but no one has truly seen them.”

“I would like to meet the Black Way Alliance Leader.”

Heukso swallowed nervously. He had never imagined that Ban Yeo would try to find a solution from the Black Way Alliance.

If it became known that Ban Yeo had contacted the Black Way Alliance, the Murim Alliance would bury them completely, and it could even cost them their lives. There was no way Ban Yeo did not know that, yet his words carried firm resolve.

“Send word to the Black Way Alliance Leader.”

* * *

Lee Jaseung was training in martial arts.

Whenever he had free time, he always trained. Even while hiding in a mountain village, this was no exception.

There were no exceptions to hard work.

He believed that if effort became clouded by circumstances, it was no longer true effort.

With his recent advancement in martial arts, everything felt renewed.

His body and mind were filled with confidence.

Every movement carried power. He felt like he could face anyone without losing.

When he threw a dagger, it felt like it could fly to the ends of the earth.

Lee Jaseung took a deep breath.

The next stage would require effort so great that without an extraordinary stroke of fortune, it might as well be impossible.

There was only one thing to be careful about now.

Not letting confidence turn into arrogance.

He was strong enough to be arrogant. He knew this himself. But he would not lower his guard.

Until now, he had defeated many opponents stronger than himself.

The reason they lost was simple. They had let down their guard and become overconfident. This was why he gave strict orders to his subordinates to never become complacent.

The mindset he needed was to keep this brimming confidence as confidence, in a pleasant state.

When he had just finished a round of training, Baek Seolyoung walked into the area.

Seeing Lee Jaseung training even here gave her a strong sense of motivation.

Perhaps that was why she ended up speaking the words she had meant to swallow.

“I don’t think I can stay like this.”

“What do you mean?”

“It is embarrassing to say this but I…”

Seeing her hesitate, Lee Jaseung felt a bit tense.

“I want to become stronger.”

His tension eased at her words. He had thought she might bring up something about their kiss. Something like how they were married, and she could not go on like this.

“That day I did not say it, but I was actually embarrassed.”

“About what?”

“I was grateful you kept me from getting blood on me. I was really moved. But because of that, you could have been in danger. I think it was an unnecessary risk.”

She summed up her earlier words in one sentence.

“Right now I am just a burden to you.”

Lee Jaseung shook his head.

“That is not true.”

“Do you really think so?”

She looked into his eyes seriously. Her desire was genuine. She had been earnest during her earlier training too. She had endured that grueling physical conditioning because of her desire to become stronger.

“You’re right. You are being a burden.”

She looked at him with a speechless look.

“But for you to say that so bluntly like that.”

“Your eyes were blazing. You were asking for me to say it.”

Baek Seolyoung gave a small laugh.

This time, Lee Jaseung asked her.

“And after you become stronger?”

“Huh?”

“The reason you want to be stronger is not just to stop being a burden to me, right?”

Of course that was not the only reason.

“I want to grow my clan into something great.”

“What is your great image of the Northern Sky Clan?”

Her expression stiffened slightly at his question.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Just as I said. What is that great image you dream of?”

“Strength, probably. Both me and the clan.”

“So that you can protect the Murim Alliance properly? This rotten and corrupt Murim Alliance?”

Her expression hardened completely in an instant.

He could sense her emotional shift, but he continued speaking.

“The Northern Sky Clan is the guardian clan of the Murim Alliance, right? Protecting the Alliance is your highest duty.”

She felt as if he had struck her in a sore spot. In truth, she had never discussed this with anyone before.

No one had ever spoken so bluntly about it either. Protecting a corrupt Murim Alliance was the reverse scale of both her and the Northern Sky Clan.

“In extreme terms, your clan is protecting corruption.”

In the past, she would have exploded at this point with anger.

But she did not.

She was clearly angry, but she tried to calm herself. His steady gaze helped with that. As always, his eyes were not provoking or mocking her.

He was asking her seriously about how she truly felt.

“If I become strong, could I not change the Murim Alliance?”

His reply came immediately.

“If you become strong, would it not be harder?”

“…!”

She felt stripped bare in front of him.

She had been deliberately ignoring the corruption of the Murim Alliance.

She had only been thinking she needed to handle her own affairs first. That she could think about it after becoming strong.

But when that time came, would she really step forward and risk herself to rid the Alliance of corruption? Would she have that will and courage?

She had been acting as though she was righteous, standing on the side of justice, but in truth she had only been worrying about her own life. Perhaps that was the real her?

She kept her head lowered and said nothing.

He gave her time. He could briefly guess her thoughts now. He had not said those words to hurt her. It was something that had to be thought about in some way.

He wanted to know her answer. For her sake, and for his own.

She lifted her head.

“Can I hit you once?”

When he nodded, she let out a small sigh and turned away.

“When I become a truly great woman one day, I will take revenge for everything you have done to me.”

He smiled faintly at her words.

‘That kind of revenge, I could take anytime.’

After walking a few steps, she spoke again without turning back.

“I will give you my answer… within a few days.”

After she left, Mook Young spoke.

“Strategist Dan requests to see you.”

“Got it.”

As he turned the other way, Lee Jaseung suddenly asked.

“Hey, did I act like a bastard to her again?”

Mook Young’s reply came at once.

“Not quite to that extent.”

“Not quite you say?”

An awkward sound of regret slipped from Mook Young.

“So just short of being a bastard, then.”

“No, that is not it.”

Pretending not to hear Mook Young’s flustered words, Lee Jaseung strode off.

Mook Young revealed himself and watched his back as he walked away and murmured quietly.

“In truth, I fear the day may come when you do not act like a bastard to Lady Baek.”

* * *

“A covert line brought a message from Ban Yeo requesting to see you.”

At Dan Woobin’s report, Lee Jaseung looked surprised.

“Me? For what reason?”

“He said he would tell you in person.”

“He wants to draw us in?”

Dan Woobin nodded.

“It is certain that, as we expected, he believes this incident to be the Alliance Leader’s doing. That much we foresaw, but…”

What he could not understand was this.

“In my judgment, drawing us in is his final card. The kind one plays only on the verge of ruin. For him to play it already means there is some variable I do not know about. I think that is also why he moved the first, second, and third units sooner than expected.”

Dan Woobin wore a grave expression, but Lee Jaseung stopped his thoughts from tangling further.

“Do not overcomplicate it. It just means the Alliance Leader is that strong. Stronger than we thought, and enough that Ban Yeo has to reach out to us.”

Dan Woobin nodded in agreement.

“You are right.”

Hearing those words made things clearer for him. Yes, Lee Jaseung was right. The more complicated a problem looked, the simpler the answer often was.

“What kind of card could the Alliance Leader be holding?”

“There is no way to know.”

“What will Ban Yeo do?”

Without hesitation, Lee Jaseung answered firmly.

“If he wants to meet, then we shall. Call Master Go.”

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