Chapter 284: Not a Probe, but a Decisive Blow

TL: FoodieMonster007

Baek Cheongeong crossed the forest deep in the night.

Fireflies swirled around Baek Cheongeong, illuminating the pitch-black darkness and guiding his way.

Trees and grass moved on their own to create a path wherever he passed. A path appeared where none should have existed, and the foliage returned to its original state after he passed.

After walking for some time, Baek Cheongeong stopped deep within the forest.

SHHHHHHH.

The grass swayed and tree branches moved, though no wind blew.

Figures began to appear from between the blades of grass. They were people whose clothes and even skin tone seemed to have become one with the forest.

A man walked out from among them. This man, who felt like a thin blade of grass swaying in the wind, was Chorim, Baek Cheongeong's true disciple. More precisely, he was a disciple of the Wood King.

While Jin Hagun had learned swordsmanship, Chorim had mastered Baek Cheongeong's true unique martial arts, the Thousand Wooden Souls Art.

Baek Cheongeong said to Chorim, "The time has come."

A faint green light flowed from Chorim's eyes.

"Isn't this much faster than the original plan?"

"A variable has appeared."

"We aren't ready yet."

"It can't be helped."

"What on earth is the reason?"

Baek Cheongeong recalled Geom Mugeuk, who had visited him for the past three days.

Geom Mugeuk had sat beside him, mimicking the act of carving wood.

Geom Mugeuk made idle chatter and pestered Baek Cheongeong to meet Jin Haryong. He also brought alcohol and snacks, insisting they eat together. He even suddenly complimented Baek Cheongeong's appearance, saying his long, slender eyes were very charming.

Then Geom Mugeuk would relay various news from the murim. He knew a lot and possessed wit and insight. The man's mouth never rested. Time seemed to fly when with Geom Mugeuk.

On the third day, Baek Cheongeong suddenly thought it would be nice to have such an amusing fellow as a subordinate or disciple. Then he realized.

This man is poison.

He was not just any poison. He was a poison more terrifying than a potent venom that kills instantly. He was a poison that slowly intoxicates you without you even realizing it, leading you to death before you know it. It was a poison that made you die without even knowing why.

His instincts told him.

This man knows something.

How? I was hidden so well. I even deceived the Chairman for all those long years.

However, assuming Geom Mugeuk knew about him, his actions became understandable.

His instincts spoke again.

That man with the silly grin is a grim reaper who has come to devour you.

Baek Cheongeong decided then.

If fate has sent this man to me, I will accept him as my destiny.

Yes, waiting for ten long years was enough. It was time to move.

Baek Cheongeong handed something to Chorim.

It was the female doll he had made earlier.

Lee Ahn and Jin Haryong stood facing each other in a field.

Their gazes were sharp as they fixed on one another. At their third meeting, they had decided to have a duel.

Suggesting they become friends at their second meeting was unusual, but having a duel at their third was even more so.

At first, Lee Ahn had suspected Jin Haryong's intentions. Why would the granddaughter of the Murim Alliance Chairman go out of her way to befriend her?

It must be because of the Young Master.

She wanted to find out information about Geom Mugeuk. Or to keep Lee Ahn in check.

However, during their second meeting, Lee Ahn felt that Jin Haryong genuinely wanted to be friends with her.

This duel was only possible because Lee Ahn understood that sentiment. Otherwise, she would have suspected Jin Haryong was trying to kill her through the duel.

The two women drew their swords and rushed toward each other.

The difference in their skills was clear.

Before even twenty exchanges had passed, the sword flew from Jin Haryong's hand.

A surprised Jin Haryong asked, "What martial arts is that?"

After asking, Jin Haryong realized her mistake. It was incredibly rude to abruptly ask about someone's martial arts right after losing a duel.

"Ah, I'm sorry."

She politely offered a clasped hands greeting.

"I have learned a great deal."

Lee Ahn returned the clasped hands greeting with an apologetic expression.

She wanted to tell Jin Haryong about the swordsmanship, but she could not.

The Heavenly Demon had permitted it, but the fact that she had been taught the Soaring Sky Sword Art should not be known to the outside world if possible.

"I knew you were stronger than me, but I didn't know you were this strong."

"I thought it was polite not to hide my skills if we're friends."

Jin Haryong had desperately wanted to win when it came to martial arts.

She had lost to Seo Daeryong at the Young Dragon Tournament in the past, and today she lost to Lee Ahn again. She was continuously losing to the young members of the Demonic Cult.

If this fight had been a life-or-death battle instead of a duel, I would be dead.

The only consolation was that both of them were very close to Geom Mugeuk. That was why both Seo Daeryong and Lee Ahn were special people.

She tried to shake off her sense of defeat as she picked up the fallen sword and sheathed it. She did not pick up the sword out of useless jealousy only to stab her own pride. Right, a sword belongs in its sheath, and pride is something others protect for you.

"You have a pretty face, a good personality, and you're strong in martial arts. Isn't that cheating?"

Though she said it like a joke, Jin Haryong was being sincere.

Lee Ahn returned the sentiment.

"Isn't that what you've heard your whole life?"

Lee Ahn genuinely thought Jin Haryong was beautiful. Of all the women she had seen so far, Jin Haryong was the prettiest.

Jin Haryong felt that Lee Ahn's words were genuine, not the consolation of a victor. It was just amazing that such a beautiful woman considered her to be even more beautiful.

Because of that, her steps on the way back were light.

"Ah! This path is so pretty."

"It's a place I come to when I feel frustrated sometimes. It's my secret walking path."

As they walked back, chatting about this and that, Jin Haryong revealed her inner thoughts.

"Honestly, I'm worried about Orabeoni."

"Don't worry. You will absolutely not regret calling for the Young Master."

Although Jin Haryong had brought it up because she wanted to hear those words.

"You really trust your Young Cult Leader."

"I trust him more than I trust myself."

"Having someone you can trust that much in your life is a truly great blessing."

"You can trust him too, can't you?"

"What?"

"You said you decided to be friends with the Young Master too, right? Then trust him."

It was what Jin Haryong had said to her Orabeoni. To trust Geom Mugeuk completely, not half-heartedly. Now she was hearing those same words from Lee Ahn.

A strange image of a large fish called 'trust' eating smaller fish one by one flashed through her mind.

Lee Ahn's faith put Jin Haryong's mind at ease a little. If all of this ended with them being deceived by the Demonic Cult members, it would be like being conned by a male and female swindler duo. The fact that she was having such thoughts showed she still did not trust them completely.

And yet, seeing as she was saying this, she deserved it if she got conned later.

"Let's meet again tomorrow. I don't know when we'll see each other again once you go back, right?"

"Okay, see you tomorrow."

Lee Ahn readily accepted. They might never see each other again in their lifetime. Or they might have to meet on a battlefield where they would have to kill each other. Their relationship with Jin Haryong was that kind of relationship.

"Same time, same place."

"Okay."

Did Geom Mugeuk know? When he introduced them to be friends, that they would become friends like this for real.

After parting with Jin Haryong, Lee Ahn walked for some time. She felt an unexplainable chill, stopped her steps, and turned around.

Jin Haryong had already disappeared from the beautiful path.

Lee Ahn stared for a moment at the unchanged path, then started walking again.

Today, as always, I went to find Baek Cheongeong.

But he was not in his workshop. He had been there every day for the past few days, so where could he have gone?

Anyway, thanks to that, I was able to focus on my training all day today.

The main training was the Heavenly Space Secret Art.

Was it because of the Wood King's appearance?

My concentration was different from usual. As a result, the Heavenly Space Secret Art also showed better results than my usual training.

I repeated it, and repeated it again. I did it again and again, even when my whole body rejected it out of boredom.

Training is like filling a large barrel by adding a single drop of water to it every day.

You have to endure it even if it is tedious. You have to pour that one drop of water, painstakingly created throughout the day, into that place where it makes no visible difference. You must not sigh while looking at the large barrel that shows no change from yesterday to today. You must also endure the temptation that asks if you are going to spend your life filling it, suggesting you stop and find other pleasures.

Because only by enduring can you encounter that one special drop among the countless others.

Today, that special drop came in the form of a state of selflessness.

Forgetting that I was even training, my entire consciousness became completely immersed in the Heavenly Space Secret Art.

The state of selflessness is truly a gift from the heavens.

The catalyst for this state was Hwa Mugi. The thought that he might appear heightened my concentration even more, and that led me to the state of selflessness. Water poured into the barrel.

When twenty hours, which felt like a single moment, had passed.

Finally!

The Heavenly Space Secret Art had reached a stage where it was more effective than training martial arts in reality.

Even considering the time it took to recover spent inner arts, it was now more effective to train martial arts within the Heavenly Space Secret Art. I had finally begun to have more time than others.

"I did it!"

The moment I confirmed that fact, a thrill ran through my entire body. I felt so happy I could fly. I was as happy as when I received the Nine Calamities Demonic Art from Father. I was so overjoyed that I jumped around inside the Spacetime Manipulation Technique.

This was the beginning of my training in earnest. My time would gradually increase, because I was mastering the Heavenly Space Secret Art within the Heavenly Space Secret Art.

Geom Mugeuk had just come out of the Spacetime Manipulation Technique and was taking a short rest when Lee Ahn entered the room.

"Oh? When did you get back?"

It seemed she thought Geom Mugeuk had gone out and returned, since he had been training inside the Spacetime Manipulation Technique the whole time.

"Young Master. Have you by any chance seen Miss Jin?"

"No. Why?"

"We promised to meet today, but she didn't show up."

"Is that so?"

"Did something happen? She's not the type of person to break a promise."

"And she didn't send someone with a message either?"

"No. So I'm a bit worried and it's bothering me."

Geom Mugeuk recalled that Baek Cheongeong had been absent from his workshop. One person who would not break a promise, and another who would not be away from his workshop. Coincidentally, both situations had occurred at the same time.

"When did you last see her?"

"Yesterday afternoon."

"Where?"

"We met in a field to the west and had a duel."

"And you parted ways after that?"

"We took a walk together on a narrow path and then parted."

"Was there anything strange then?"

At that, Lee Ahn, with a slightly anxious expression, relayed what had been bothering her.

"On my way back, I had a strange feeling, so I did look back."

One more suspicious circumstance was added. If someone at Lee Ahn's level had felt something, then something must have happened.

Then, something happened that would complete this sense of anxiety.

Geom Mugeuk could feel numerous martial artists surrounding the safehouse from a distance. Such a large number of people had to be martial artists from the Murim Alliance. Geom Mugeuk could guess what the situation was.

"If it was a narrow path, there must have been many trees around, right?"

In a forest, someone like Baek Cheongeong could have deceived Lee Ahn's eyes and abducted Jin Haryong. Because the only person who would abduct her right now was Baek Cheongeong.

He didn't just make a probing move, he delivered a decisive blow.

Seeing Geom Mugeuk's serious expression, Lee Ahn asked worriedly, "Miss Jin, she'll be okay, right?"

"For now."

After kidnapping the Murim Alliance Chairman's granddaughter, there is no way to end this matter amicably. That means he intends to see it through to the end, one way or another.

The only fortunate thing was that Baek Cheongeong was a cautious man. Even if he intended to kill her, he was not the type to kill her from the very beginning. However, if they could not rescue her in time, her life could not be guaranteed.

What does he want? To kill me? Or something else?

How on earth does he plan to handle the aftermath?

"The Murim Alliance martial artists will storm this place soon."

"I just felt them too."

Geom Mugeuk opened the door and went out into the yard.

Lee Ahn pulled up her mask to cover her face, pressed down her bamboo hat, and followed him out.

Dozens of masters surrounded the place in layers from all directions. The pressure they exuded was extraordinary.

This was the first crisis Lee Ahn had faced since coming to the Central Plains, but she was calm. Being with Geom Mugeuk, her heart was surprisingly steady.

A moment later, a group of martial artists entered the yard.

The person leading them was the Murim Alliance Chairman, Jin Paecheon. The masters who served as the Murim Alliance Chairman's bodyguards followed him in.

"It's been a while."

Instead of a greeting, Jin Paecheon asked abruptly, "Where is Haryong right now?"

When he had arrived and why he had come was not important. Right now, Jin Haryong was Jin Paecheon's priority.

"I don't know either."

"I'll ask again. Where is Haryong right now?"

It felt as if Jin Paecheon's furious energy was about to erupt at any moment. If not for their past connection, he would have already struck out to subdue Geom Mugeuk.

Geom Mugeuk sent a telepathy message to Jin Paecheon.

[Chairman.]

[Why are you sending a telepathy message instead of speaking aloud?]

[Because his eyes and ears might be here.]

[Whose?]

[Baek Cheongeong's.]

For a moment, Jin Paecheon's expression hardened.

[Do you even know who he is?]

[Yes, he is the Master whom Young Master Jin learned from for ten years. Young Master Jin felt he was in danger from that Master and asked me for help.]

Jin Paecheon wore an expression of disbelief. How could he believe it? The fact that his own grandson felt endangered by his master and asked the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult for help.

[It may be hard to believe, but it is the truth. Where is Young Master Jin right now?]

[He is away handling matters for the Demon Slaying Brigade.]

[So he even timed it with Young Master Jin's absence. He must have hoped for a clash between you and me here.]

[At the time Haryong disappeared, that man, Baek Cheongeong, was with me.]

Geom Mugeuk now understood why Baek Cheongeong had not been in his workshop. He had been with the one person who could provide him with the most solid alibi for this incident. That meant he had a subordinate skilled enough to abduct her.

[He planned it quite well, but Baek Cheongeong missed one crucial fact.]

[What is that?]

[The fact that you, Chairman, trust me.]

Jin Paecheon asked coldly.

[Why do you think I trust you?]

[Because you know, Chairman, that if I had orchestrated this, I would never have put myself in this situation. You must trust me this time, just like last time.]

Geom Mugeuk looked at Jin Paecheon with exceptionally clear eyes and calmly added.

[This time too, I am the only one who can save Miss Jin.]