Chapter 69: Jaseung, Forms the Berserk Dragon Army

The moment Baek Seolyoung heard Lee Jaseung’s words, she had one thought.

‘At the very least, I’d never be bored if I stayed with this man.’

He always shook people’s hearts with some shocking remarks.

“What do you want me to do?”

‘How could I possibly be of help in finding the mastermind who had ordered this recent ambush?’

But of course, his answer was something she never expected.

“Make an announcement to Jianghu.”

“What kind of announcement?”

“An official statement to the Murim Alliance asking for their help.”

“That’s not possible!”

She looked troubled. If it were some nameless minor sect, that would be one thing, but the Northern Sky Clan was a very famous clan in the Orthodox part of Jianghu.

As it had always been, matters concerning the clan were generally handled internally within the clan.

If they could not resolve such an issue themselves and had to ask outsiders for help, the martial artists of the world would look down on the Northern Sky Clan.

The martial world and its sects lived and died by honor and reputation. Lee Jaseung’s proposal was something that should never be done.

“You know the one behind this hired the Undying Ghouls.”

“That’s only a rumor.”

“There are no rumors in this world without reason.”

At that, Baek Seolyoung could not refute him. She had examined the dead from the first night, but ultimately discovered nothing. Even so, she still wanted to deny it.

If they truly were the Undying Ghouls, as the rumors said, then a truly troublesome situation had arisen. They were people who did not know how to give up. Calling them troublesome was far too mild. They were terrifying.

“This is not something the clan can resolve with its own strength. We have to admit what must be admitted.”

Lee Jaseung spoke smoothly, lying to her without a flicker of guilt.

The Celestial Ghost and Jongno were already dead, and the core force known as the Berserk Starving Ghouls had been absorbed. It was fair to say the Undying Ghouls no longer existed in the world.

He told himself it was a well-intentioned lie, so he did not feel bad though it still weighed on his mind. There was one truth he had to reveal before he could tell her everything. Namely, that he was the Leader of the Black Way Alliance.

If he did not reveal that, his words would be full of holes, and that would only arouse suspicion. After all, these were things that could not be known or done unless one were the Leader of the Black Way Alliance.

Perhaps the reason he had hesitated to marry in the first place was because of this. Deceiving someone like this really did not suit him.

“Fine. Let’s say it is the Undying Ghouls like you claim. If we ask the Murim Alliance for help, will we really be able to find the mastermind?”

Even though she was the Lord of the Northern Sky Clan and one of the Murim Alliance’s guardian clans, she had deep distrust of the Alliance. This was her opinion of them.

“They will only think about how to use our problem for political gain.”

Lee Jaseung nodded.

“Indeed.”

“Then why?”

“The ones finding the mastermind won’t be them. It will be us.”

“How exactly?”

“You and I will go to the Murim Alliance.”

Baek Seolyoung was even more surprised.

“They will try to kill us before we get there because once we enter the Murim Alliance, killing us will become several times more difficult.”

“So you want to find the mastermind through the assassins?”

Lee Jaseung nodded.

“If the ambushes keep happening, they will inevitably make a mistake.”

Baek Seolyoung thought it sounded like a plausible plan.

But Lee Jaseung’s thoughts were completely different.

With the Celestial Ghost dead, there was no way to identify the mastermind. Whoever could command the Undying Ghouls would not easily reveal themselves.

He wasn’t certain who their target had truly been.

It was her if it wasn’t him, or it could’ve been both of them.

Just who was it?

But he did not dwell on that question.

Rather than wasting strength trying to unmask the mastermind in this situation, he judged it better to stick to the original plan. Eventually, the enemy would reveal themselves in some form.

Dan Woobin’s next objective was the Murim Alliance. Now they had to deeply entrench themselves in it to establish their influence.

Ordinarily, she would not want to go to the Murim Alliance. So he intended to use this ambush as the reason to bring her there.

“Even if we fail to get clues along the way, we can still buy time. Once we’re inside the Murim Alliance, even they won’t dare to move recklessly for a while. In that time, we’ll catch them.”

Baek Seolyoung could not decide. Things had just settled down, and she was uneasy about leaving the clan again.

Sensing her hesitation, Lee Jaseung pressed the point.

“This is a chance to test loyalty within the clan. Leave someone you trust here to see for yourself.”

“Someone I trust?”

He meant Chu Sanggi. Lee Jaseung wanted to leave him behind. Having him along would be inconvenient in various ways.

“We’ll take only you, me, and my disciple brothers to the Murim Alliance.”

He continued as she still remained hesitant.

“It might feel like running away, but it’s not. This is about steering the situation to our advantage.”

Since it was not an easy decision, she said quietly,

“Give me some time to think.”

When Lee Jaseung returned to his quarters, Dan Woobin was waiting.

“I’ve merged the Berserk Starving Ghouls and the Red Dragon Army into one group under the name Berserk Dragon Army.”

Following Lee Jaseung’s order, Dan Woobin had taken one character from each group’s name to create the new title.

After the ambush, Lee Jaseung had left the clan for several days with his subordinates, reorganizing the forces.

Even then, he had used the Three-Eyed Pavilion to try to uncover the mastermind, but had not succeeded.

“The Berserk Dragon Army’s expenses will be entirely covered by funds from the outer regions.”

“Who will lead them?”

“Gyobeom.”

“Gyobeom is trustworthy.”

He had once led the Night’s Moon, one of the strongest organizations after the Divine Sword and the Iron Cavalry Regiment, and a core unit of the Black Way Alliance.

A man like that, loyal and resolute enough to be ranked second to none in the Black Way Alliance, was one of the people Lee Jaseung valued most.

He was perfect to lead a unit made up of recruits from outside the Alliance.

“Set up some safeguards for him. Give them some leeway.”

“Understood.”

By safeguards, he meant measures to prevent the newly recruited warriors from betraying them.

By leeway, he meant restrictions that were not irreversible, something that could be lifted if loyalty was proven.

In other words, even if they were fed poison, it would be one with an antidote available at any time once loyalty was confirmed.

Lee Jaseung always drew a clear line between his own men and outsiders. Recruiting based on skill was important, but it should never crush the morale of his existing followers.

He had invested fifty million silver coins into the three core groups. The Three-Eyed Pavilion, Divine Sword Regiment, and Iron Cavalry Regiment. Now, he had gained two new powerful units, the Dark Heaven Army and the Berserk Dragon Army.

The Black Way Alliance was stronger than ever.

That was not the only gain.

“Our chosen heir has become the successor to the Righteous Chivalrous Sword Clan.”

Though the Righteous Chivalrous Sword Clan could no longer wield its former prestige, it had still been one of the Three Noble Clans that protected the Murim Alliance.

Even if their current power was less than a third of what it once was, that alone was a great asset, and it meant influence over two of the Three Noble Clans through the Righteous Chivalrous Sword Clan.

“Next is the Murim Alliance.”

Dan Woobin spoke as if declaring it, then cautiously asked,

“Have you finished speaking with the Lord?”

Lee Jaseung slowly nodded.

“We will be going to the Murim Alliance.”

* * *

That night, she was still lost in thought.

Requesting help from the Murim Alliance was not a decision to make lightly.

Was it truly the right choice to go there?

If she refused, it would not happen at all. No matter that he was her husband, she was still the Lord of the Northern Sky Clan.

But… facing the Undying Ghouls was a heavy burden.

She turned her head to look at the bronze mirror.

Baek Seolyoung felt as if her own reflection looked a little unfamiliar.

Since her father’s death, so much has happened. She had escaped crisis after crisis. And of course, she even got married.

Though of course, while they were married, she and he had yet to…

Just then, the door opened and Lee Jaseung entered. Startled by his sudden appearance, Baek Seolyoung blurted out,

“Are you planning to sleep here?”

The moment she spoke, she realized her slip.

‘Ah! Of course he should sleep here. We are married!’

She had just been thinking about their sleeping arrangements but he appeared so suddenly which made her flustered. Worried he might feel awkward, she quickly spoke.  

“Sit over here.”

Thankfully, he sat down and placed a bottle of liquor he had brought onto the table.

“I came because I wanted to have a drink with you.”

“I’ll bring something to go with it.”

She hurried out of the room.

Leaning against the door, she let out a deep sigh. They had talked just fine earlier in the day, but seeing him at night like this made her strangely nervous and awkward.

‘Calm down, Seolyeong. If you stay tense like this, you’ll keep making mistakes. Calm down!’

Meanwhile, Lee Jaseung sat quietly, waiting for her.

He was feeling tense too. If they had spent their wedding night together, it might have been different, but seeing her at night like this was awkward.

Still, he had no intention of avoiding her because of it. That was not his way.

As he waited, something caught his eye. A small box laid in front of the bronze mirror for cosmetics.

It was the Limitless Iron Chest.

Lee Jaseung approached and opened it.

The doll inside began to perform its forms. But there was no medicine inside that gave its immense Qi, and the doll showed no sign of Qi flow, so it was just an amusing toy.

Looking at it, he suddenly felt a pang of guilt toward her.

Just then, the door opened and Baek Seolyoung came in. Her gaze fell on the Limitless Iron Chest in front of him. Startled for a moment, she quickly asked in a calm voice.

“Do you know what that is?”

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