Chapter 169: Jaseung, Sows Discord

In the dark of night, Rain, his training clothes drenched in blood, ran gasping along the forest path.

Blood seeped from the cloth bound around his left arm and right hip.

He staggered and fell to the ground. He jumped up again, only to collapse forward as dizziness hit him hard.

“Damn it!”

The curse slipped out instinctively, but his body refused to move with the same fury.

When he finally managed to pull himself together and stand, a dozen masked men were already stepping down before him.

Rain’s expression turned grim. After two ambushes and the relentless chase that followed, he had nearly exhausted all of his inner Qi.

The men surrounding him were first-rate, but among first-rate fighters, these were of a different kind. They were men who had trained solely for the purpose of killing.

They were the type whose presence wouldn’t falter even before a Peak Realm master. Rain had personally cut down more than twenty of such men.

‘Damn it! That madman actually joined hands with the Demonic Cult!’

He had considered, with a faint possibility, that Cheon Myeongin might ally with the Demonic Cult, but he never thought the man would go that far into madness.

‘Fool!’

He realized then how foolishly sentimental he had been. What did he truly know about Cheon Myeongin to have been so certain?

Once the Demonic Cult was involved, it was no wonder that contact had been lost with Heukseok and Seo, who had gone to kill Cheon Myeongin.

Even though he had sounded the alarm and ordered all members to abandon their original identities before sending those two out, the enemies still managed to find and eliminate them one by one.

If Cheon Myeongin and the Demonic Cult were working together, it explained everything.

He should have been killed a long time ago!

Mountain hadn’t finished him off. Whether it was because he pitied his dying body or because of Yim Sayeon, he couldn’t tell.

Still, Mountain’s intuition that something was amiss had been correct, though even he couldn’t have foreseen that the “something” was the Demonic Cult.

It was impossible now, but if he somehow survived and returned alive, he would demand to know.

Why did you let Heaven live until now?

The men tightened their formation and began to close in.

Rain took a deep breath, watching them carefully. They were organized into units of ten.

Each unit was led by a commander directing the other nine. When he fought the previous two units, one battle had been difficult, and the other had been nearly fatal. The difference had been whether he managed to identify the commander early on or not.

But this time, the situation was far worse than either of those fights combined.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

He couldn’t even think about locating the commander. Dodging their attacks alone was becoming impossible. He barely defended himself, squeezing out the last remnants of his inner Qi.

The men knew it too. That was why they didn’t rush and instead approached with caution.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Blades flew from all directions. Just as he thought this would be the end, four gusts of wind burst through the air, even faster than the whistling of their swords.

Four of the men attacking Rain flipped over and fell simultaneously.

“Ugh!”

“It’s an ambush! Kill them first—”

The commander couldn’t finish his order.

Squelch!

A sword burst from his chest. Someone had stabbed him from behind.

The man collapsed, and behind him stood Water, smiling faintly.

“Have you eaten yet?”

He had never been so happy to see her face.

Almost at the same moment the commander fell, the remaining masked men were all wiped out. Those who appeared were River, Fire, and other experts such as White Flower.

“We came late because I had to check the other side first.”

“You should’ve come for me first.”

“I believed you’d hold out. And besides, coming in at the last moment like this makes it more fun.”

Rain shook his head in disbelief, though deep inside he was overwhelmed with relief to still be alive.

“What’s the damage?”

“At least twenty or more have fallen.”

“Damn it!”

Had he not sounded the alarm, they might all have been wiped out.

“This will only please the Black Way Alliance Lord.”

Her words made Rain’s eyes darken. Ever since the Black Way Alliance Lord had appeared, things kept spiraling out of control. The ones who attacked them today were from the Demonic Cult, but an uneasy thought crossed his mind.

“If by any chance, all this is part of the Black Way Alliance Lord’s scheme… then we’re facing an enemy even harder to deal with than the Demonic Cult.”

* * *

“Push harder!”

The one shouting in the lead was Baek Seolyoung. Behind her ran the Northern Sky Clan, followed by the warriors of the Raging Dragons and the Flying Tigers.

Everyone was on the verge of collapsing from exhaustion.  

As soon as the Flying Tigers arrived, Baek Seolyoung began hellish training. It was harsh enough to break one’s spirit.

The sparring sessions were practically real battles. Countless people were injured, but she didn’t care and only intensified the training.

Their physical drills were just as extreme as those Lee Jaseung had once put her through. She drove them until they could barely stand. Even now, people were dropping to the ground one after another, and their comrades had to drag them along.

Still, none dared complain. Baek Seolyoung herself was training with them, leading from the very front.

She believed this infernal training was the best thing she could do for them.

No one knew when, but soon a war would break out. And when that happens, she wouldn’t be the one to save them. This training would.

“Small break!”

At her shout, everyone collapsed flat on the ground. It was grueling, but for some reason, it felt rewarding.

She also lay down among them. The fact that their clan Lord and the Alliance Leader’s wife trained and rested with them side by side was a shock to them all.

Baek Seolyoung’s actions built a strange sense of trust among them. At least she wasn’t someone who ruled from behind a desk.

By showing them with her own actions, she had earned their respect.

Even the usually arrogant and irritating Peng So kept his mouth shut and focused on training.

The sky was clear.

Baek Seolyoung smiled brightly. It wasn’t just because the training was over, but because she was proud of herself for living out what she had resolved to do.

Under that clear sky, Lee Jaseung’s face came to her mind.

It had only been ten days, yet she already missed him. No, Seolyoung! You have to be stronger!

She stood up and shouted loudly, shaking off her longing.

“Break time’s over!”

* * *

Sa Jo-pyeong, the Captain of the Vermilion Bird Hall, stood with his hands behind his back, gazing out the window.

For some reason, the sight of the Murim Alliance headquarters felt strangely unfamiliar today.

He felt no sorrow over Jang Wonso’s death. The lament he had expressed before his subordinates had merely been an act.

He knew there was a deep conspiracy behind Jang Wonso’s death.

‘The Demonic Cult? Or is it the Black Way Alliance?’

He was certain one of the two was deeply involved in this affair, and the Black Way Alliance seemed the more likely. After all, he had been the one to connect them.

‘I shouldn’t have brought the Black Way Alliance in back then.’

When Jang Wonso had ordered him to eliminate Ban Yeo using only internal forces, he had turned to the Black Way Alliance for help.

‘That’s when things started to go wrong.’

Jang Wonso’s death, and even his own quiet withdrawal from the recent election, all stemmed from that choice. He had sensed their presence behind it all.

‘Could it be that they’re behind the new Alliance Leader as well?’

He couldn’t know for sure, but one thing was certain. If he made a wrong move, he’d die.

Then a voice came from outside.

“Elder Yeo has arrived.”

Sa Jo-pyeong’s expression stiffened slightly. He and Yeo Beom rarely interacted, so a visit at such a time could only mean trouble.

Rumor had it that Yeo Beom had aligned himself with the new Alliance Leader. Meeting him could bring more harm than good, but there was no avoiding it.

“Show him in.”

A short while later, Yeo Beom entered the room.

“Welcome.”

“Have you been well?”

The two exchanged polite greetings.

After a few formal words, Yeo Beom got to the point.

“How long has it been since you joined the Alliance, Captain Sa?”

“This year marks twenty-seven years.”

“For this old man, it’s fifty-three. You could say I’ve spent my entire life here.”

Yeo Beom narrowed his eyes, pretending to recall the long years.

“I’ve seen much during that time, and I’ve realized one thing.”

“What is that?”

“Those who believe they alone are supreme are like mirages. They last only until some reckless youth’s sword cuts them down. A true martial artist knows when to advance and when to retreat.”

Sa Jo-pyeong felt a surge of irritation. He knew exactly what Yeo Beom was implying. The old man was indirectly pressuring him to step down from his position.

“You’re right, Elder.”

“Haha, it’s good to see we understand each other.”

He had merely agreed politely, yet Yeo Beom acted as if Sa Jo-pyeong had promised to resign.

Though he was offended, Sa Jo-pyeong hid it well.

After some idle talk, Yeo Beom finally left. Only then did Sa Jo-pyeong let out the frustration he had been holding in.

“Damned old man!”

Back when Jang Wonso was alive, Yeo Beom had barely dared to raise his voice in the back courtyard of the Council of Elders, and now he was swaggering around the main courtyard of the Murim Alliance.

Once nothing more than an afterthought, he had now become a problem.

The new Alliance Leader, lacking political support, would need Yeo Beom, and Yeo Beom would exploit that as much as he could. Naturally, that meant more power for him.

And that same man was now trying to push Sa Jo-pyeong out.

‘I guess it’s natural he wants me gone first. Is this really the end for me?’

He didn’t want to step down, but the real problem was all the corruption he had been involved in over the years.

If the next Captain of the Vermilion Bird Hall happened to be an idealist, they’d uncover everything. If the successor was corrupt, that would be fine, but if not, it could be disastrous.

Sa Jo-pyeong sighed deeply, his thoughts tangled in frustration.

Then, another voice came from outside.

“The Alliance Leader is here.”

“Let him in.”

Sa Jo-pyeong was startled. He hadn’t expected the Alliance Leader to visit him personally.

Lee Jaseung entered the room.

“Welcome, Alliance Leader. Why didn’t you summon me to the inner hall? What brings you here?”

“I was just passing by and thought to stop in.”

“Please, take a seat here.”

Lee Jaseung sat at the head seat and looked around the room.

“So this is where all those brilliant strategies of the Alliance were born.”

“You flatter me. This is just my private rest area. Most operations were planned in the Vermilion Bird Hall’s strategy room.”

“You’re too modest.”

Lee Jaseung smiled warmly at him.

Though uneasy, Sa Jo-pyeong had a good feeling. Lee Jaseung didn’t seem to be here for something unpleasant.

And indeed, his intuition proved right.

“Elder Yeo told me something interesting. He said new wine should be poured into new wineskins. And that only new people can drink it. But I think differently.”

Lee Jaseung spoke softly, his eyes calm and confident.

“Change is good, but stability is also necessary.”

He looked at Sa Jo-pyeong steadily.

“And I’m not someone who automatically favors new wine either.”

Sa Jo-pyeong, sharp as ever, understood. Lee Jaseung wanted him to stay. And beyond that, he wanted him to counter Yeo Beom.

He was so overjoyed he could have shouted.

“This year marks twenty-seven years since I joined the Alliance. I understand better than anyone what path ensures stability.”

Lee Jaseung smiled and rose to his feet.

“I’m glad to hear that. I have another meeting to attend, so I’ll take my leave now.”

After exchanging only a few words, Lee Jaseung left.

He hadn’t made any promises, but Sa Jo-pyeong understood perfectly. True politics was reading what wasn’t said.

From the beginning, Lee Jaseung had no intention of removing him as Captain of the Vermilion Bird Hall.

It was a calculated strategy. He let Yeo Beom pressure him, only to later embrace him again.

By doing so, the gratitude and loyalty would double.

Pitting Yeo Beom and Sa Jo-pyeong against each other was also a sound move. It set two difficult men on opposite sides.

Perhaps that was the same reason the Leader of the Asura Demon Sect never resolved the conflict between Elder Demon Lord and Great Demon.

There was no need to appoint Dan Woobin, who was too busy with grander ambitions, as Captain. As long as Lee Jaseung firmly controlled both the Vermilion Bird Hall and Sa Jo-pyeong, that was enough.

Instead, he kept Dan Woobin close as his private secretary within the inner hall. It wasn’t a high-profile position, so it drew little outside attention, but it allowed Lee Jaseung to speak with him freely at any time. It was a win-win situation.

Outside, Lee Jaseung looked up at the sky.

Baek Seolyoung’s face came to mind, no doubt still in the middle of intense training.

He wanted to fly to her that very moment.

But he held himself back.

What both he and she needed now wasn’t overflowing emotion, but the strength to restrain it.

Lee Jaseung began walking toward the setting sun.

Though his resolve remained firm, his lonely figure beneath the fading light seemed to whisper quietly.

Even so, I miss you.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep