Chapter 33: Seolyoung, Visits Jaseung Again

“It seems Yang Sebang is not the kind of person we thought he was.”

At Dan Woobin’s words, Lee Jaseung nodded.

The initial assessment of Yang Sebang was that he was just another old man who jumped on the greed train after the death of his Lord and changed his life path.

But now, two of the masters who made it to the semifinals were both connected to Yang Sebang.

First was Gwak Pil who stirred up a storm and drew everyone’s attention.

Then there was the other name given by the Great Ant. Shockingly, it was the Greatest Sword of Central Plains, Jin Yang, the man considered the strongest contender to win. If they hadn’t heard it directly from the Great Ant, it would have been hard to believe.

Even if Yang Sebang was an Elder of the Northern Sky Clan, having two of his people make it to the semifinals of a martial arts competition held across the entire Central Plains?

Dan Woobin firmly shook his head.

“There is definitely something behind him.”

They didn’t know what kind of relationship Jin Yang and Gwak Pil had with Yang Sebang. Whether it was horizontal or vertical, it was unclear.

“Judging by Jin Yang’s age and position in Jianghu, it doesn’t seem like he would be serving under someone. That means there was either some kind of deal, or… perhaps all three of them belong to the same organization.”

“The same organization?”

To the average person, it would have sounded absurd. Was it even possible for a group to exist that could control such powerful individuals? Especially one aligned with the Orthodox Faction? It was hard to believe.

But Lee Jaseung thought it was entirely possible. Through the long, grueling war of the past seven years, he had encountered countless conspiracies.

Many of those conspiracies started with a simple “No way…” and ended with “These insane bastards!”

“Right now, the Golden Ants are using every resource to dig into this matter so we’ll hear back soon. In any case, one thing is clear. Yang Sebang is not at all the person he appears to be.”

“That’s actually better.”

At Lee Jaseung’s words, Dan Woobin smiled.

Lee Jaseung was not at all afraid of discovering someone having support behind their back. Instead, he welcomed it. He liked it better when he could wipe them all out at once.

Just then, Mujin entered the room and said,

“A guest has arrived.”

Dan Woobin asked in surprise,

“Who?”

They weren’t in a situation to receive guests while pretending to be an Orthodox Faction.

Mujin grinned and replied.

“The woman you like second best these days.”

“Who are you… wait, don’t tell me-”

Dan Woobin’s eyes widened.

* * *

Baek Seolyoung was waiting at the inn’s entrance. Her robe concealed her figure, and her bamboo hat was pulled low so no one recognized her.

“Shall we take a walk?”

At Baek Seolyoung’s suggestion, Lee Jaseung nodded.

The two walked through the marketplace.

Lee Jaseung didn’t ask why she had come, and she didn’t explain her reason either. As if it were prearranged, the two simply strolled casually.

Merchants selling all kinds of goods lined the street. With the martial arts tournament in town, the crowd was several times larger than usual, and the merchants shouted with joy.

To others, the pair must have looked like lovers, so people kept calling out to Lee Jaseung to buy gifts for her. He looked a little flustered, and Baek Seolyoung quickened her pace, pretending not to hear.

After they left the busy market and reached a quieter spot, she finally spoke.

“Life isn’t easy.”

Lee Jaseung thought those words didn’t suit her. Not her age, not her looks, not her strong personality.

“You’re trying too hard to live well. That’s why.”

She stopped her steps after hearing him. Maybe he had a point.

“Doesn’t everyone?”

“I don’t.”

“Then how do you live your life?”

“At the very least, I don’t try to live too well like you.”

At that, she fell silent. After staring at him for a while, she spoke again.

“You’re good at hiding things.”

“Or maybe you’re just not good at reading people.”

She flinched for an instant.

‘If you get angry, you lose. Don’t get angry.’

Despite telling herself that, what came out of her mouth was sharp.

“You like poking at people’s weaknesses, don’t you?”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“Huh?”

“Why can’t I poke at your weakness?”

The tone of that last sentence felt as though he had added, “Who do you think you are?”, so it stung Baek Seolyoung. But he wasn’t entirely wrong so she wasn’t able to say anything in response.

She and he were both people living in Jianghu. They lived in a world where people stabbed friends in the back over a single secret martial arts technique. The world was filled with people trying to find and exploit an opponent’s weakness.

So what could she say to that? That it’s wrong because they’re human? That it goes against decency? They weren’t even friends anyway.

Those answers felt too hollow.

Of course, it made her all the more furious. Because even in that hollow response, there was a philosophy, a belief that one should treat others with warmth even in a brutal world.

If she hadn’t ended up in this situation, she probably would have lived her whole life with kindness.

Lee Jaseung, who had been staring at her, spoke coldly.

“Shall I give you a piece of advice?”

The words “Don’t” reached all the way up to her throat, but she couldn’t spit it out. More than she hated the idea of hearing it, she was curious.

Lee Jaseung said calmly.

“Admit it. You’re still just a kid.”

Baek Seolyoung suddenly shouted.

“Fine, I admit it. Why else would I have set up something like the marriage tournament!”

She didn’t actually mean it. She shouted simply because she was angry.

At that, the corners of Lee Jaseung’s lips lifted.

“Why are you smiling like that?”

“Because you don’t really mean it.”

“What?”

“If you truly accepted that, you wouldn’t have held the marriage tournament in the first place. You’re confident in yourself, that you can control whoever wins and that you can make them your own.”

“…!”

Baek Seolyoung couldn’t argue. It was indeed clear she had such confidence.

But that wasn’t all. Along with the confidence, she had the will to do her best, no matter who the opponent was. No, that part was even stronger.

This guy is always like this! He stabs you with truths that are hard to deny but painful to admit.

She bit her lip.

She really wanted to punch Lee Jaseung in the face. She wondered why she had even come here. Of course, at first, it had been to confirm a single question.

Could this man really beat Gwak Pil?

Depending on his answer, her actions would change.

Maybe she had wanted to hear him say that he could. But instead, all she got was this.

“You’re still angry right now because you can’t admit you’re a helpless child.”

Silence fell between them. Lee Jaseung didn’t avoid her gaze.

Baek Seolyoung looked at him and spoke.

“Can I give you some advice too?”

“Go ahead.”

“You’re a real bastard!”

She turned on her heel and stormed off.

Lee Jaseung watched her go for a moment, then turned and walked the other way.

After a few steps, he suddenly asked the air.

“I did kind of act like one, didn’t I?”

A short silence. Then Mook Young’s voice came.

“Not at all, my Lord.”

Lee Jaseung stopped with an incredulous expression. That short silence clearly meant “Yes.”

“Well, if the Leader of the Black Way Alliance weren’t a bastard, that would be strange too.”

He resumed walking.

Mook Young, slightly flustered, repeated,

“No, my Lord. What you said was perfectly fair.”

But Lee Jaseung pretended not to hear and kept walking. Trailing behind in stealth, Mook Young let out a sigh.

‘Honestly, you can be really petty sometimes, my Lord.’

* * *

“Give me a drink please.”

Baek Seolyoung didn’t return to her clan. She went to the bar called One Fleeting Dream. She was so angry she didn’t want to go back yet.

The old woman who ran the place should have scolded her for drinking in broad daylight, but instead she silently poured her a drink which was unexpected. Then she said she’d bring out some snacks and went into the kitchen.

Somehow, it felt like the old woman understood her feelings. That was why she had come here. This woman always made her feel at ease.

Staring into her cup, Baek Seolyoung felt a wave of sadness well up. She thought maybe the reason Lee Jaseung had looked down on her like that was because her reality was a mess.

She had played the marriage tournament card, but in the end, it had only given her opponent an opportunity.

…Father.

She thought of her late father. She missed him so much. She couldn’t handle everything on her own.

As the thought of her father filled her, her vision blurred. She forced herself not to cry.

‘I won’t cry. If I did, the one who made me feel this way would just laugh in satisfaction.’

She emptied her cup again. She usually didn’t drink much, so her face quickly turned red.

After draining the bottle, she shouted toward the kitchen,

“Grandma, bring me another bottle please.”

Then, a reply came from the kitchen along with harsh words.

“You damn brat, get it yourself.”

Grinning, Baek Seolyoung fetched three more bottles stacked near the kitchen. She had decided to get thoroughly drunk today.

She emptied her cup again.

— Please drink slowly.

It was a worried voice transmission from Chu Sang-gi.

— If I get drunk, you’ll carry me.

He couldn’t dare to do such a thing. His voice came again.

— I’ll prepare the carriage.

She went back to drinking. Her limit was usually half a bottle, and she’d already downed one and a half. The intoxication hit her hard.

“Phew, this is great.”

She slammed the cup down with exaggerated enthusiasm. It was a lie. The drink tasted bitter, and her stomach churned.

But she filled the cup again.

She thought she could smile and marry anyone whether they were ugly, old, or have a terrible personality.

For the sake of the family her father had built with his life. For revenge on the people who had betrayed him. She thought she could endure it all. She believed she could do anything with that resolve.

But now that it became real, it wasn’t as easy as she imagined. She wanted to avoid some people. There were some she absolutely didn’t want to marry. Some she must never accept.

Reality was… a complete mess.

By the time she finished the second bottle, the old woman returned from the kitchen with some food.

“You sure drank a shit a lot already.”

She set down the plate and sat across from her. Baek Seolyoung gave her a sheepish smile.

“Crazy girl, laughing like that.”

“The drink tastes sweet today, Grandma.”

Her eyes were bloodshot, and her tongue was slurring.

“Brat, eat something while you drink.”

“Do I seem like a clueless kid to you too?”

“Who said that to you?”

“Someone. A real jerk.”

The old woman asked with meaning,

“What did he say?”

“He told me to admit it. That I’m a child who can’t do anything.”

“To say that to you, he sounds pretty decent.”

Baek Seolyoung widened her eyes in mock surprise.

“Wait, are you taking the side of the bastard who said that to me?”

“What exactly did he say?”

“It was rudeness disguised as honesty.”

“Not honesty disguised as rudeness?”

“…!”

“Has anyone ever been that rude to you before?”

She wasn’t able to say anything to that question.

The old woman was right. No one had pointed out her flaws like that. Not since her father passed, not even when he was alive.

She was the heir of the Northern Sky Clan. Everyone only ever said good things to her.

Baek Seolyoung sighed deeply and bowed her head.

“Even you’re putting me down now, Grandma.”

The old woman chuckled and asked.

“It was that guy from last time, wasn’t it?”

She answered while lying face down on the table.

“…Yes.”

“How did his match go?”

“He made it to the semifinals.”

“Oh ho, impressive.”

She looked up at the old woman with unfocused eyes.

“You don’t seem very surprised, do you?”

The old woman looked like she’d expected it.

“That bastard, he at least looks like he’d be damn good in a fight.”

Baek Seolyoung let out a soft laugh. Then her head slumped forward again. Her stomach was queasy, her head pounded. She felt sleepy.

Then, she heard the old woman’s voice again.

“So what is it you wanted to ask?”

Baek Seolyoung’s heart clenched.

The old woman had seen right through her.

Yes, she had come here because she wanted to ask a question.

She had kept acting strong since her father’s death, but she had wanted to ask this. Even if she needed alcohol to do it.

Still lying down, she asked,

“How… should I live?”

Her speech was slurred, but she was more serious than ever.

Fighting back tears, she asked again.

“…How am I supposed to live a good life?”

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