Chapter 140: Lee Jaseung, Returns

Baek Seolyoung was standing by the bookshelf reading a book.

It wasn’t about martial arts or politics. In the small library, she had been browsing for something to read when she stumbled upon a book that described the life of a man.

More specifically, it was the story of a man who roamed Jianghu in pursuit of his dream.

Normally she would’ve set it right back on the shelf, since she didn’t enjoy adventure tales. But strangely, this book drew her in.

Perhaps it was because she thought the protagonist resembled Lee Jaseung.

The story was narrated by a woman who loved the man. She told the tale in the form of reminiscence.

Although she described the protagonist calmly, Baek Seolyoung could feel how deeply the woman loved him.

She leaned against the shelf and read, drawn completely into the story.

When she closed the final chapter, a single tear fell from her eye.

The two never ended up together. The entire time she had been reading, she prayed for them to be happy, but the story ended only with a lingering ache.

It was only then, with the final page shut, that she realized why she had been drawn to it.

It wasn’t that she had projected her feelings onto the protagonist who resembled Lee Jaseung. It was that the narrator reminded her of herself.

As she closed the book, she was startled. Lee Jaseung was standing at the side of the bookshelf.

The moment she saw his face, her heart welled up.

She had pushed her worries aside and lived busily, telling herself he would return safely.

Now those suppressed fears and longing erupted inside her like a volcano.

“You’re here?”

Her voice trembled.

Lee Jaseung strode toward her and embraced her tightly.

She felt his scent.

It was no longer unfamiliar. His fragrance was better than any flower.

Relief washed over him, and for the first time he truly felt he had come home.

All his life he had considered the battlefield his home. At times, he was more at ease on the battlefield than in comfort.

But now, holding her in his arms, he felt that this was home.

The battle this time had been particularly grueling. Without her, could he have survived inside the Myriad Yin Orb? His subordinates had helped him hold onto his will, but her part had been greater than anyone’s.

And now, he returned home safely.

That feeling reached Baek Seolyoung. Feeling his heart, her own emotions surged.

She could sense the hardship he had endured.

So she hugged him even tighter. Words weren’t needed. Her touch carried everything.

After a long while, they finally stepped apart.

Lee Jaseung glanced at the book in her hands. Baek Seolyoung spoke.

“Promise me one thing.”

“What is it?”

“Stay true to your feelings. Don’t give up your dream just for me.”

It was the opposite of what she had felt as she read. While reading, she had wished he would abandon his dream for her.

Lee Jaseung gave a faint smile.

“Why are you smiling?”

“I just thought you were greedy.”

“Me? Why?”

Even though her words had come from a willingness to sacrifice herself for him.

“What you said just now was really a request to be loved. Not pretending, not playing around. To be loved truly.”

“I didn’t mean it that way.”

Baek Seolyoung flustered. Yet, hearing him, she realized it could be taken that way. Maybe, deep in her heart, she had indeed felt that way. It had been a while since he last read her heart. In the past, she would’ve snapped right away.

She suddenly recalled when she had first met him. How infuriating he had been. Would he even remember? Both then and now, each in their own way, had been precious.

Baek Seolyoung imitated Dan Woobin or Mujin, bowing playfully.

“It’s a misunderstanding, my Lord.”

The gesture was so endearing that Lee Jaseung chuckled.

He had the same thought as her. He liked both her from back then and her now.

“Let’s go. I’m hungry.”

He walked out first.

Baek Seolyoung placed the book back on the shelf and made a vow.

‘The love in the story may have not come true, but… my story will never end that way.’

* * *

After the meal, Lee Jaseung asked Baek Seolyoung to bring his subordinates, then went to the training hall to warm up.

With a few moves from Yama’s Dagger Art and body techniques, he knew immediately. He really had changed. The battle against the statues had made it clear.

First of all, his Qi itself felt different. Not that its quantity had increased, but its nature had.

Before, Qi was simply Qi. It was power centered in the Dantian, flowing through the meridians as a source of strength. That was what it had been for everyone, including him. His was just deeper and greater than others.

Now, however, it felt as if Qi had become one with his body. Like it had become the very blood in his veins. No one could feel the blood within them, and his Qi felt the same way now, as though it had become a part of him.

That didn’t mean controlling it had become harder. In fact, Qi responded faster, moved more precisely. If he decided to use a set amount, it came out with perfect accuracy, without the slightest excess.

Before, if he unleashed Qi explosively, it put strain on his body. It never caused internal injuries, but he had felt the toll of forcing his Qi.

Now, there was no such issue. Whether drawn out slowly or rapidly, it flowed smoothly.

And it wasn’t only Qi. His body itself had changed. His movements were smoother when they needed to be, and stronger when they needed strength.

He had once thought his forms and movements were already complete, especially after reaching five hundred and forty years worth of Qi. He had believed that was the end.

But it wasn’t.

The perfection of his forms had shifted. He had simply not known what true completion felt like.

How could he describe this change?

It was like screws that had been loose were suddenly tightened. Like something finally put together properly.

Lee Jaseung realized there was always a higher sky above. If this was only the third substage, what would the second and first stages be like? And what world lay beyond Transcendent Peak?

He wasn’t even interested in Jang Wonso’s martial skills. A man steeped in corruption, who sacrificed others for his greed, was someone he could and would kill.

Of course, Jang Wonso was a difficult opponent, willing to do anything for his own ends.

But that was why Jang Wonso wasn’t a true enemy. No matter what desperate trick he held, he was someone Lee Jaseung intended to use, then crush. He didn’t want to give him any meaning beyond that.

What mattered were others.

The forces behind Jang Wonso.

Who was their leader? His spying crow had flown into the Murim Alliance, so that person was surely inside. Who could it be, and how strong were they?

And one more person, as mysterious.

The leader of the Asura Demon Sect, Sovereign of Ten Thousand Demons, Yao Hong. His power was entirely unknown, only rumored to be unimaginably great.

How strong was he?

Could Lee Jaseung defeat him?

He had to. Only then would the dream of unifying the world not remain a dream.

Just then, Baek Seolyoung entered the training hall with his subordinates.

All their faces lit up with joy to see him safe.

Dan Woobin clasped his hand eagerly.

Ma Young-gi bowed with a rare smile.

Mujin stood still without a change in expression which was unexpected. Truthfully, he was very worried about this mission. He strangely felt very bad about it, but thankfully Lee Jaseung had returned safely.

Mujin suppressed the urge to rush in and hug him, instead jutting his lip.

“Coming back and heading straight to the training grounds, harassing your subordinates with constant drills, that’s the sort of thing only a tyrannical lord would do.”

“I guess I became a tyrant as soon as I returned then.”

“If I’d met you at a tavern, you’d have been a virtuous ruler instead.”

“Hahaha.”

Mujin’s joke made Lee Jaseung feel once more that he was alive.

“But you, something feels different.”

Lee Jaseung’s change had been internal, hard for others to sense.

But Baek Seolyoung noticed something. Her emotions had been too strong earlier to feel it, but now she did.

“You seem calmer somehow.”

“Wasn’t I calm before?”

“That’s not it.”

She tilted her head.

What she sensed wasn’t martial change. Lee Jaseung had faced the boundary of life and death in the Myriad Yin Orb.

He had confronted a grudge-formed will born of countless wronged women, and through it he had a priceless experience. Spiritually he had matured, and Baek Seolyoung could feel it.

“Could it be that he’s been with another woman?”

Mujin teased, and Lee Jaseung smiled faintly. In a way, it was true. He had spoken with countless souls of women, and he had soothed them.

“Oh? So it’s true?”

Mujin turned to Baek Seolyoung with a mischievous look.

“Never trust men!”

Dan Woobin stepped in to defend him.

“You forgot one thing. You should’ve said ‘Never trust men like me.’”

Mujin retorted immediately.

“The right answer is actually, never trust men like us.”

“Hmph! That’s just the shameless generalization of a playboy.””

“Then let’s ask a third party.”

Both turned to Ma Young-gi.

“Captain Ma, is it ‘men like me’, or ‘men like us’?”

Ma Young-gi scratched his head and hesitated.

“Hmm…”

That was enough to answer. Mujin grinned, and Dan Woobin looked exasperated.

“My god, I’m disappointed in you, Captain Ma!”

“I didn’t mean myself. Just that men shouldn’t be trusted in general.”

“Forget it!”

Next to the dumbfounded Dan Woobin, Mujin gave him a thumbs-up.

“Hahaha, Captain Ma, you’re a man, a real man!”

After that round of jokes, Lee Jaseung told them about the sphere.

“The sphere beneath the ground is completely destroyed.”

Everyone smiled brightly. Baek Seolyoung was especially relieved. That sphere had caused the sacrifice of many innocent women.

“Thank goodness. Thank you.”

“If you’re grateful, treat me well from now on.”

“What.”

Baek Seolyoung looked at Mujin with disbelief.

“Is he always that shameless?”

Mujin quickly agreed.

“Can a man’s nature change so easily? My Lady, have you ever entered the secret vault in the Central Plains Treasury, past dozens of deadly mechanisms?”

“No.”

“Of course not. No one but a heartless superior would send someone there.”

Now Baek Seolyoung understood and laughed.

At that moment, a subordinate came in and whispered to Dan Woobin.

“There’s a word from the Asura Demon Sect’s secret agents.”

Lee Jaseung told him to report on the Demonic Cult’s movements, especially if any top leaders were absent.

“Currently, the Vice Leader, the Elder Demon Lord, is away from the cult.”

Lee Jaseung’s eyes sharpened.

“The Vice Leader huh.”

“What can it mean?”

Everyone waited tensely for his answer.

He recalled what he had concluded earlier regarding Iron Sphere.

“It seems Jang Wonso has joined hands with the Demonic Cult.”

Everyone was shocked.

“More precisely, with the Vice Leader, the Elder Demon Lord.”

Baek Seolyoung burst out,

“That crazy bastard!”

A man steeped in corruption, who disgraced disciples, sacrificed countless women, and now had allied with the Demonic Cult. Jang Wonso had gone far beyond any line.

Lee Jaseung looked at Baek Seolyoung.

“Shall I go kill him right now?”

She knew it was a joke. It wasn’t something that could be solved that way.

“Don’t give him an easy death!”

“Gladly.”

Lee Jaseung strode toward the door.

Baek Seolyoung quickly grabbed his arm and turned him back.

“First, think of ways to make it painful.”

As if waiting for that, Dan Woobin spoke.

“There’s something that doesn’t add up. Jang Wonso needed the Demonic Cult’s power to complete the grand ritual. But why would the Elder Demon Lord ally with him? It’s true his conflict with the Great Demon is severe, but if it’s revealed that the Vice Leader allied with the Murim Alliance leader, it’ll be a great political burden. So then why?”

“I think I know the reason.”

All eyes turned to Lee Jaseung.

“The map.”

“Ah!”

Everyone remembered what they had forgotten. Of the four treasures of Hainan Island, Jang Wonso held the map.

Not only the mysterious power behind the Murim Alliance, but also the Demonic Cult coveted it. Strictly speaking, Jang Wonso was handing it over for his own gain.

Now that they knew this, the situation shifted.

Lee Jaseung’s eyes gleamed.

“If we can get that map,”

They would lead the fight to the most favorable outcome.

What kind of map was it that even the Elder Demon Lord wanted ? Why would Jang Wonso give something so important to them instead of using it himself? No one yet knew.

But Lee Jaseung thought of a plan.

“We’ll leak to the Murim Alliance’s backers that the Demonic Cult is involved. At the same time, we’ll tell the Elder Demon Lord about the backers and that they’re after the map.”

Dan Woobin caught on immediately.

“You want to spark conflict between them!”

It had been their plan from the start, to set them against each other and then absorb the Orthodox Faction.

Once both sides grew desperate, openings would appear.

“But how exactly?”

Normally Lee Jaseung would’ve teased him, saying that was why he was hired.

This time, however, he already had a method in mind.

His eyes shone sharply.

“There’s one way that’s worth trying.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep