Chapter 52: Jaseung, Learns a New Martial Art

That night, Lee Jaseung stood alone in the backyard of the annex.

He had given a separate order to Mook Young. No one was to approach tonight.

It was a very important night. He decided to learn the martial art of the iron case for the first time.

Lee Jaseung took position and drew up only the inner Qi of pure Yang, using the inner cultivation method he had learned from the iron case.

The iron case martial art was a body technique composed of ten forms, each utilizing a different part of the body.

From the first to the tenth form, Lee Jaseung performed them in sequence. He was certain that focusing on one form a day was the wrong approach.

Through experience, he had learned that the greater the martial art, the more it was connected from start to finish. Whether one could find the path running through it from beginning to end determined whether one could truly master it.

Moreover, the body technique of the iron case was more advanced than Yama’s Dagger Art. If he wanted to become stronger, he had to find its essence. Without discovering that, this ultimate martial art would be reduced to merely an excellent technique.

Swish, whoosh, swoosh.

Lee Jaseung’s movements precisely reproduced the forms of the iron case. Though it was his first time performing them, he had repeated them hundreds of times in his mind already.

The feeling of his fist tearing through the air was different. It was not that there was a noticeably different sound or a stronger impact.

But it was still different.

Lee Jaseung felt a subtle difference that ordinary people would never notice. Against an average master, that difference would hardly matter. Only when facing a true expert would its true value be revealed.

And within that difference, Lee Jaseung discovered a path. A path that could lead to the peak. It looked so narrow now that he worried whether even his head could fit through.

But his instincts knew. If his head could enter, so could his body, and if his body could enter, he could move forward.

Endlessly striving to move forward was his specialty.

He repeated the ten forms again and again. The first and second, then the third, each felt different.

For someone like Lee Jaseung, who could usually grasp the essence of a martial art with one glance, this variety of sensations showed how remarkable this martial art truly was.

Tenth, hundredth, thousandth, ten-thousandth…

How would each repetition feel? Just imagining it made his heart race.

A smile formed on Lee Jaseung’s lips.

He, who thrived on hard work, had found something new to polish. And it was something worth investing his entire life into.

Papapapang!

His movements grew lighter and more energetic.

* * *

“What kind of madness is this?”

Hae Gwang asked with difficulty, blood as dark as ink trickling from his mouth.

Standing before him was Hae Ryang. He looked at him with disbelief.

“Madness? You think you’re in any position to talk like that to me?”

Hae Gwang was poisoned by invisible poison.

“I always knew you were disgusting, but I never thought you’d stoop this low.”

“What nonsense are you talking about? Geughh!”

Hae Gwang vomited blood again. His internal organs were dissolving, and he had little time left.

“You tried to kill me!”

At Hae Ryang’s words, Hae Gwang was visibly shocked. He wanted to yell that it was not true, but he lacked the strength.

He realized then. The ones responsible for their father’s death had used Hae Ryang to orchestrate this. He had planned to deal with it after the funeral.

But they had moved first. Still, for Hae Ryang to fall for such a petty scheme and go this far…

‘I should have killed him first.’

Hae Gwang spoke with a face full of rage and despair.

“You… you really…”

Before he could finish, his head drooped. He had died without even properly fulfilling a single day as the head of the Righteous Chivalrous Sword Clan.

Hae Ryang’s eyes showed no guilt for killing his older brother. Only cold, fierce bloodlust remained.

“What a load of crap. You think I’m that retarded?”

* * *

News of Hae Gwang’s death spread, and the martial world grew restless.

Hae Ryang officially declared that the deaths of both Hae Cheon-in and Hae Gwang were caused by the Demonic Cult. It was the only option left to a man who had broken the bonds of family.

The crowd showed no sign of calming. Everyone was shocked that the Demonic Cult had killed both the head and successor of one of the three great families that supported the Murim Alliance.

Rumors of an impending war spread quickly.

Soon after, the Demonic Cult released a short statement denying everything. Of course, few believed them.

Lee Jaseung and Baek Seolyoung attended Hae Gwang’s funeral once more.

Hae Ryang greeted them.

Lee Jaseung saw a mad hostility in his eyes. It had begun as jealousy, but now it was filled with killing intent.

Because of that, Lee Jaseung felt no guilt toward him.

This was the way of the world. Show one weakness and you’d be trapped. You had to deceive and outmaneuver others to climb upward.

If Hae Ryang had quietly stepped aside and given up on Baek Seolyoung, none of this would have happened. If their brotherly bond had been deep, he would not have fallen for such a simple scheme.

Not knowing that all of this was Lee Jaseung’s doing, Hae Ryang looked at Baek Seolyoung with longing in his eyes.

‘There’s still a chance.’

And also a foolish hope.

After exchanging greetings, Hae Ryang asked Baek Seolyoung,

“When did you say the wedding is?”

Baek Seolyoung thought he was pathetic. To ask about the wedding on the day of his brother’s funeral. At first she only found it ridiculous, but now it strangely frightened her.

“Less than fifty days.”

“I see.”

Hae Ryang immediately glared at Lee Jaseung.

‘I just have to get rid of this bastard now.’

It wasn’t impossible. He was now the new Lord of the Righteous Chivalrous Sword Clan. And with nearly fifty days left, he believed he had enough time to overturn everything.

Lee Jaseung sensed what he was thinking and gave him a cold smile.

After bidding farewell, he and Baek Seolyoung left.

“I don’t get it. I don’t believe the Demonic Cult would do such a thing.”

“They’ve always been unpredictable after all.”

“I know what kind of people the Asura Demon Sect are. They’re cruel and underhanded. But until now, there’s always been a certain logic or pattern to their actions.”

“What do you mean?”

“They either made their intentions clear or kept them completely hidden. Those were the two styles we’ve seen. But this time, there’s no clear intent. And yet they left behind evidence of their involvement. I just don’t get it.”

She shook her head and looked at Lee Jaseung. She wanted to know what he thought, but he just shrugged.

Of course she wasn’t going to understand.

Because he had orchestrated everything. The Asura Demon Sect was being falsely blamed. The Black Way Alliance was still thoroughly hidden.

Until they choose to reveal themselves, they had to gather as much power as possible.

And also…

Lee Jaseung glanced at Baek Seolyoung.

He had to resolve matters with her as well.

How would she react when she learns that he is the Leader of the Black Way Alliance?

When should he tell her?

Before the wedding? Or after?

It was clear the truth should come after the wedding. As late as possible.

But something about that made him uncomfortable for some reason.

He had never felt this way before.

For the sake of his goals, he had never hesitated.

Was it because she was a woman?

He had never gone easy on someone just because they were a woman.

Then, Baek Seolyoung asked,

“Are you busy?”

“No.”

Hearing his answer, Baek Seolyoung began to think it was better to not ask ‘why?’ first. Asking that would mean he wanted to hear the reason before deciding.

Saying no without asking meant openness, even if he refused later. That was something worth learning from him.

“Help me with something.”

Lee Jaseung nodded and spoke.

“Sure.”

He agreed so easily that she was momentarily flustered.

“Wait. Aren’t you going to ask what it is? What if it’s something difficult?”

“Is it?”

“No.”

Lee Jaseung smiled as if he expected it.

Baek Seolyoung narrowed her eyes and said,

“Next time, I might ask for something hard.”

“Go ahead.”

She smirked this time. She felt that Lee Jaseung was being unusually kind. But she did not know where that kindness came from.

It was because he had opened his heart slightly, watching her give her all. Of course, that feeling had not yet become romantic.

Striding forward, Lee Jaseung said,

“Let’s go.”

An hour later, they arrived at a small manor in a residential area.

A middle-aged woman with a gentle face was waiting for Baek Seolyoung.

“Have you been well, my Lord?”

“Thanks for your concern, yes. Are the garments finished?”

“Yes, please take a look.”

She led them to a large hall. Lee Jaseung was surprised when he saw several wedding garments hanging on one side of the wall.

He had not expected her to bring him here and felt a bit awkward, though he did not show it.

Wedding garments had set colors and designs. These had been modified based on that standard, crafted by a renowned artisan for the Lord of Northern Sky Clan.  

“They’re so beautiful.”

Baek Seolyoung was truly amazed. Seeing the beautiful and ornate garments made her heart flutter. It suddenly felt real. She was truly getting married.

“Try them on, one by one.”

“Shall I?”

She turned to Lee Jaseung.

“Please pick one for me.”

Since the middle-aged woman was watching, Baek Seolyoung addressed him formally.

Her change in manner felt unfamiliar. He did not mind her treating him like a friend, but he also liked the formality too.

“I don’t know anything about these.”

He answered politely.

Baek Seolyoung also felt the change in tone was refreshing. She smiled and said,

“Same here.”

She followed the woman behind the wall.

Lee Jaseung looked awkwardly at the remaining garments. They all looked similar.

If these had been protective artifacts, he would have easily picked the best for her.

He chuckled to himself.

Only a martial artist would think like that in this situation.

A moment later, Baek Seolyoung stepped out from behind the wall.

Lee Jaseung’s eyes widened. She had always been beautiful, but in the wedding robe, she was truly stunning.

Her cheeks were flushed. Seeing herself in the mirror dressed in the red robes made her heart race. It felt completely different from just seeing them hanging on the wall.

She suddenly thought her life might turn out differently than the woman in the mirror smiling shyly in red robes.

Overlapping with that image was another version of herself, covered in blood and dressed in crimson combat clothes.

That was why this moment felt so precious.

It might be a happiness she would never feel again. She wondered how he would react to seeing her like this. Perhaps that was why she had brought him here.

She did not know what kind of life she would live with him, but at least in this moment, she was not the head of the Northern Sky Clan. She was simply a bride.

She slowly raised her head.

Their eyes met perfectly.

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