Chapter 488: Side Story 8 Baek Sang-ah’s Melancholy

“……”

The Crown Prince silently fixed his gaze on the other.

Trained from a young age in the treacherous pit known as the Imperial Family, his discerning eyes could roughly deduce someone’s identity with just a cursory glance.

“A noble from somewhere? Doesn’t seem like a member of the Alliance. What’s this guy’s deal?”

So Cheon answered.

“I asked first. This is the Murim Alliance, and you don’t look like a member of the Alliance yourself.”

So Cheon’s response was unexpectedly logical.

The corners of the Crown Prince’s eyes twitched slightly.

“And if I say I’m not a member? What will you do?”

So Cheon slowly stepped forward, naturally placing himself between the Crown Prince and Baek Sang-ah.

“This is the Murim Alliance, and this person is the Alliance Leader. You dared lay your hands on the Alliance Leader’s body without permission—you should face the consequences.”

Click!

The Crown Prince desperately kept his composure.

Now was not the time to act recklessly, relying only on his title.

“…Do you have the right to say that? Once again, you don’t seem like a member of the Alliance to me.”

The Crown Prince and So Cheon locked eyes at close range.

“If you want to accuse me of a crime, reveal your own identity first.”

‘Ah, no!’

Baek Sang-ah, watching from right beside them, felt a wave of dread cloud her vision.

If So Cheon revealed his identity here, everything would unravel.

‘If he learns that the young master is from the So Clan, the Crown Prince will have no choice but to back off. But…….’

The Crown Prince would undoubtedly try to uncover the relationship between herself and So Cheon, and any senior member of the Alliance would not be ignorant of their connection.

If that happened, everything would fall apart.

The relationship between the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Imperial Family. The relationship between the Imperial Family and the Murim Alliance.

Just as Baek Sang-ah was about to reach out to stop So Cheon—

“I am… Jin Myeong, the personal guard of the Alliance Leader.”

“A personal guard?”

“…Jin Myeong?”

Even the Crown Prince—and Baek Sang-ah herself—frowned, momentarily unable to understand.

Step.

Suddenly, someone wearing a black mask appeared beside So Cheon.

“This man is known in the Jianghu as Heavenly Divine Dragon.”

“…And who might you be?”

“……Huh?”

“How did you……!”

Baek Sang-ah, along with Seo Muwon and Jegal Eun, gasped with their mouths agape.

“A pleasure to meet you, Your Highness. I am Myeong Jin, one of the strategists of the Murim Alliance.”

“Myeong Jin?”

“In the Jianghu, I’m known as First Strategist Black Thunder. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”

The Crown Prince stared blankly at the young man who introduced himself as First Strategist Black Thunder.

“You know my status and yet you dare wear a mask?”

“The Black Sky Master Mask is a long-standing tradition, passed down since the days of the Black Lotus Union, one of the roots of our Alliance. In fact, even the Alliance Leader wore this very same mask not so long ago.”

“……”

Just as the Crown Prince was choosing his words—

The Royal Guard Captain of the Royal Guards approached the Crown Prince and whispered quietly.

“…So you two are rather famous prodigies of the Jianghu. Bold enough to raise your heads even before me.”

Though the Crown Prince’s anger simmered faintly, the young man casually pulled out a fan from his sleeve and fanned himself.

“Well, yes. I was one of the founding meritorious retainers of the Alliance. And in particular, this Heavenly Divine Dragon here had once been betrothed to the Alliance Leader.”

“…What?”

The Crown Prince’s facial muscles froze.

“Oh, didn’t you know?”

“What nonsense is that?!”

“It’s not nonsense or anything like that……”

The young man called out behind him.

“Hey, Baek Cheon-ho.”

“…What?”

A rather disinterested voice answered.

“This here is Baek Cheon-ho of the Lightning Spear Heaven. One of the Righteous Six Dragons and a future talent destined to lead the Namcheon Baek Clan.”

“…You.”

Baek Sang-ah slightly parted her lips upon recognizing Ak Cheon-ho’s face.

In truth, Baek Sang-ah and Ak Cheon-ho didn’t have a good relationship.

His foster father, the Severing Blade Baek Mun-jeol, was her greatest political adversary.

She’d heard he followed Jin Yeomyung and joined the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult after matters with the Namcheon Baek Clan were settled, but to meet again in such a place!

“Well, it just so happened that we brought him in. A fortunate coincidence.”

“Enough of that! What’s this about that guy?!”

At the Crown Prince’s sharp inquiry, the young man winked at Ak Cheon-ho, sending him a look that said ‘I’m counting on you.’

Ak Cheon-ho sighed and recited the prepared script.

“…Heavenly Divine Dragon Jin Myeong was originally betrothed to the young lady. That’s why he entered the Namcheon Baek Clan from a young age and had always been by her side even before the Black Lotus Union era.”

Truth and falsehood blended together to create a maddening harmony.

Blood vessels surfaced in the eyes of the Crown Prince, consumed by rage.

“…Are you saying the Namcheon Baek Clan has insulted the Imperial Family?!”

The young man shook his head.

“That’s not it. The truth is that the Imperial Family’s investigation was insufficient.”

The young man stepped before the Crown Prince and gave a light clasped hands greeting.

“So please calm down for now, and why not proceed after fully understanding the circumstances?”

Honestly, I was surprised.

Just like Baek Sang-ah feared, if So Cheon had said he was the Clan Head of the Hidden Shadow So Clan right there, everything would have fallen apart.

But to think So Cheon would call himself the personal guard… and even use my name with such wit!

I glanced sideways at So Cheon, who sat with a serious expression.

‘He always did think fast on his feet.’

The problem was that he rarely used that head of his.

Regardless, the fact that So Cheon accurately grasped the current situation was encouraging.

Though I went along with it on impulse, knowing So Cheon’s sharp mind, he had likely already devised the next plan…

“So, what do we do now……”

“……”

Everyone looked at So Cheon, who hung his head with his face buried in his hands, their eyes cold as ice.

“We managed to place him in the honored guest room for now, but no matter how you look at it, the Crown Prince doesn’t seem likely to give up.”

At Jegal Eun’s words, the others nodded.

“His eyes looked half-crazed.”

“In the end, the Crown Prince must be made to back off on his own, without damaging the dignity of the Imperial Family…”

“Is that even possible?”

The excuse that ‘she already has a fiancé’ wouldn’t work.

Even if it did, it would certainly leave consequences.

“Just one look and it was obvious he fell for the Alliance Leader at first sight.”

“Well, it’s understandable.”

A few people stole glances at Baek Sang-ah.

Ten years ago, during the days when she was known as the Southern Blade Flower, she was so small she was nicknamed the runt of the South.

But after growing fully over the past few years and letting down her twin braids, she now exuded a grace fitting of the term ‘moon-hiding flowers.’

“It’s difficult to decide what to do. Just dragging it out won’t solve anything.”

While everyone was deep in thought, someone raised a hand.

“How about using the Soul Reaping Art instead?”

Many cast incredulous looks at that suggestion.

“What? We’re not some Unorthodox Cult, and you suggest using the Soul Reaping Art…?”

“We’re not the Justice Alliance now—we’re the Murim Alliance. The Alliance of both Justice and Evil.”

…That’s true?

“Even if it’s not something heinous like the Demonic Soul Suppression Art, if we search, we might find a technique with minimized side effects.”

“……”

“……”

A few people suddenly began to look tempted.

Despite being taboo, sorcery continued to emerge in the Murim world due to its overwhelmingly convenient efficiency.

As the mood started to spiral out of control, Baek Sang-ah let out a sigh and waved her hand.

“Enough, all of you.”

The hall instantly fell silent.

Whatever the method, in the end, she had to be the one to decide.

“There’s still time. Regarding the Crown Prince, I’ll consult with the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and decide slowly. What we need to discuss right now is…”

Baek Sang-ah’s gaze turned to me, seated at the special seat across from her.

“May I ask what brings the Cult Leader to our Alliance?”

“Heavenly Divine Dragon Jin Myeong…”

The Crown Prince stroked his chin as he spoke.

“Wasn’t the man beside Lady Baek back in Dongchang named So Cheon?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

Even though it had become mostly powerless, the Imperial Family’s information network hadn’t completely collapsed.

Especially during the days of the Black Lotus Union, which was before the intelligence network in the Central Plains had been paralyzed, organizations like Dongchang had naturally gathered data on key figures from places like the Black Lotus Union.

“So the man believed to be So Cheon was actually the Heavenly Divine Dragon?”

His thoughts tangled into a mess.

One thing, however, was certain.

There had been deliberate misinformation planted somewhere by someone.

“So Cheon… Could he be someone from the Hidden Shadow So Clan?”

If he truly was from the Hidden Shadow So Clan of the Demonic Cult, things would become very complicated.

To that, the Captain of the Royal Guards shook his head.

“Considering the traits of the Hidden Shadow So Clan, it’s highly unlikely.”

The Hidden Shadow So Clan was a renowned assassin family within the Demonic Cult.

“Moreover, according to the data Dongchang collected, So Cheon was a classic lazy scoundrel—deeply kleptomaniacal and indolent. It was a mystery how he was allowed to stay near the Alliance Leader.”

“Hmm…”

“And that Jin Myeong who showed up earlier didn’t seem like an assassin either… If anything, he was a master well above the rank of a small official.”

“…Is that true?”

“I apologize, but it is the truth.”

The Captain of the Royal Guards, who held the rank of Cheonho, was a master who stood at the peak even among the apex.

There was no way someone of his discernment could be wrong.

“Whether his real identity is So Cheon or Jin Myeong doesn’t matter. What truly matters is that he is Lady Baek’s beloved.”

The Crown Prince had no intention of backing down.

He had met countless noble ladies since childhood, yet not one had ever shaken his heart like she had. This was the first time in his life.

“I will make her mine. No matter what…”

Watching the determined Crown Prince from a distance, the escort of the Pa Clan, Pa Ho-yang, opened his mouth.

“Your Highness, I have one thing I’d like to ask.”

“What is it?”

“If that man truly is someone from the Hidden Shadow So Clan, what will you do?”

“……”

At once, the Crown Prince’s expression turned unpleasant.

“I’ll seek the approval of the Cult. No matter how central the So Clan may be to the Cult, they cannot weigh a mere blood relative against the Crown Prince.”

Even as he answered, Pa Ho-yang continued to press him.

“And if the Cult does not grant that approval, what then?”

“What? Approval?”

The Crown Prince’s neck veins bulged instantly.

As if touched on a landmine, he glared at Pa Ho-yang.

“This is an affair of the Imperial Family! What need is there for anyone’s approval?!”

“……I see.”

“Warrior Pa. That remark just now was excessively rude.”

Even the Captain of the Royal Guards glanced around nervously, showing just how far Pa Ho-yang’s words had gone.

However—

“As I thought, something is off.”

“What?”

In that instant, Pa Ho-yang’s figure left an afterimage.

“Gah?!”

An ambush no one could have anticipated.

Pa Ho-yang’s blade shot straight toward the Captain of the Royal Guards.

“W-What?!”

Even if they were masters of the same level, a sudden attack from a comrade who had crossed countless life-or-death moments together was not something any master could easily block.

The Captain of the Royal Guards was overpowered helplessly by Pa Ho-yang without being able to resist.

“Warrior Pa! Wh-What is the meaning of this…! Is no one outside?!”

As the Crown Prince screamed in horror at Pa Ho-yang’s sudden betrayal—

Creak!

At that exact moment, the door opened, and in came…

A young man twirling the Black Sky Master Mask in one hand.

Pa Ho-yang, who had just subdued the Captain, fell prostrate on the floor.

“Heavenly Demon’s Dominion, Ten Thousand Demons Submit! I pay respects to the Supreme One!”

“Th-The Supreme One?!”

Just as the Crown Prince’s eyes widened at the unexpected command from Pa Ho-yang—

“Yes, Demon Protector Blade Pa Ho-yang.”

“Yes! I await your command!”

I looked back and forth between the Crown Prince and Pa Ho-yang, then asked:

“Is it true that the Crown Prince has been subjected to brainwashing?”

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