The Former Supreme - Chapter 53

WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME NOVELS

Translator/Editor: Chen

◈ The Former Supreme ◈

Chapter 53: Reunion (2)

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Baek Socheon entered the inner compound.

Even the air in the inner compound, where the Alliance Leader's Hall stood, felt different. Hidden mechanisms had been discreetly placed throughout the grounds, while experienced veterans of the White Dragon Corps manned the guard posts.

After passing through the tight security, Baek Socheon entered the Alliance Leader's Hall.

How long had it been since he had last come here? He used to come and go several times a day.

Baek Socheon had always been confident and at ease, but today, he was tense.

The presences he sensed in every direction were no ordinary ones. The Secret Guard was concealed throughout the building.

Their martial skill rivaled that of the Iron Sword Corps, and they excelled in both protective arts and concealment techniques. They were people willing to throw away their lives to protect the Alliance Leader.

The martial artist guiding him did not take him to Cloud Dragon Hall, where the Alliance Leader handled his duties, but to the Grand Banquet Hall, where feasts were held.

A long table had been lavishly set with food prepared by the Alliance Leader's Hall head chef, along with liquor. Musicians played on a stage set up to one side.

The unexpected atmosphere caught Baek Socheon off guard.

He was not the only person the Alliance Leader had summoned today. Zhuge Hyeon, the Sage Heaven Pavilion Master, was there, as were On Byeokhwa, the Secret Pavilion Master, and Hwang Jongsin, the Shadow Pavilion Master. The Corps Commanders of the Murim Alliance's four corps were also present.

Naturally, Choong Yang, the Iron Sword Corps Commander, was among them.

At their center stood Ak Sogun, the Murim Alliance Leader.

He was as dignified and benevolent as ever. His eyes still held the chivalrous spirit found in true great heroes.

The man Baek Socheon had seen only in dreams was now standing before him.

The moment Ak Sogun noticed him, he called out loudly.

"Today's guest of honor has arrived."

Baek Socheon felt awkward and bewildered.

It had been over two years since he had last seen the Alliance Leader. He had never expected to meet him again so suddenly, much less at a banquet like this.

He had imagined their reunion would be more special. Perhaps the Alliance Leader would come to him secretly while he trained late at night, or summon him alone to a special place.

Yet he had called Baek Socheon before everyone? As the guest of honor, no less?

Ak Sogun rose from his seat and walked over to Baek Socheon. His gentle smile put anyone who saw it at ease.

"I heard you've become the new Unit Commander of the Sage Heaven Corps."

"Yes, that's correct."

To think these would be the first words they exchanged after their reunion.

"You've become the head of a special organization, so I called you here to personally offer my congratulations."

As he spoke, he took Baek Socheon's hand. Even the Alliance Leader's unusually warm hand felt no different from before.

Baek Socheon stared intently at him.

Had the Alliance Leader truly fallen victim to the Soul-Seizing Art?

He wished the red dot he had seen back then would appear in Ak Sogun's eyes now. If it did, he would know for certain.

"Come, let's have a drink."

Ak Sogun took Baek Socheon's hand and led him away.

Then it happened.

An extremely faint thread of energy flowed from the Alliance Leader's hand and probed his dantian.

'He checked the state of my internal energy!'

The Alliance Leader had used an advanced technique with such faint internal energy that Baek Socheon would never have noticed the attempt if the hidden internal energy within him had not reacted.

Fortunately, Ak Sogun's covert inspection ended after confirming only that his ruined dantian was empty.

Ak Sogun led Baek Socheon to the table covered with liquor and dishes, then poured him a drink.

Baek Socheon respectfully accepted the cup.

Everyone watched them. They all knew about the relationship between the two men. There had even been rumors of discord between Baek Socheon and the Grand Strategist. Yet the Alliance Leader had arranged a celebration for the Sage Heaven Corps? And so suddenly?

They believed some intention unknown to them must lie behind it. Or perhaps the relationship between the two men had changed.

"Come, everyone, raise your cups."

Everyone lifted their cups.

"Let us drink to celebrate the newly formed Sage Heaven Corps. Congratulations!"

Everyone emptied their cups while offering congratulations.

Ak Sogun spoke to Baek Socheon.

"I feel sorry for having neglected you all this time. I thought you needed time. You must have been hurt, yes?"

"Yes, I was."

Baek Socheon answered honestly. Everyone watched their exchange without so much as a breath.

"Of course you were. How could you have been all right? Can you forgive this man?"

Ak Sogun treated Baek Socheon as though the three-year gap between them had been no more than a few months. That made it strange.

'This isn't normal.'

Whatever the truth was, none of this was normal.

"Forgive you? Please don't say such things. I was hurt, but I have never once resented you, Alliance Leader."

"I'm grateful you feel that way."

"If you're willing to show me such boundless generosity, I have one request."

"What is it?"

"Could you return the sword you took from me?"

Before Baek Socheon had gone down to Wencheng, Ak Sogun had taken back the Ghost Shadow Sword.

He was asking for it to be returned.

Perhaps the request had been unexpected, because Ak Sogun flinched in surprise.

He soon offered an excuse for having taken the sword.

"It was a precious sword, and I took it back because I feared you might lose it. Now that you're once again the head of a new organization, I'll bestow the sword upon you again."

Ak Sogun ordered a subordinate to bring the sword, then personally handed it to Baek Socheon.

"Continue to serve the Alliance well."

"Thank you, Alliance Leader."

Baek Socheon had a reason for asking for the sword back. He wanted to see whether the Alliance Leader would truly return it, and how he would react when doing so. The Ghost Shadow Sword was also one of the five finest treasured swords in the martial world. Since his internal energy was returning, he needed it.

Baek Socheon put on a moved expression, but his heart was cold and his mind raced.

'There won't be many chances to be this close to the Alliance Leader.'

He wanted to observe Ak Sogun as thoroughly as possible. Every movement, every way of speaking, even his gait. Perhaps more conversation would reveal a clue.

Unfortunately, Ak Sogun stepped back from Baek Socheon and addressed the others.

"Come, everyone. Offer your congratulations."

"Yes, Alliance Leader."

The Pavilion Masters and Corps Commanders came forward to congratulate Baek Socheon.

Zhuge Hyeon hid his complicated feelings and calmly raised a toast.

"I look forward to working with you."

"I look forward to working with you as well."

Zhuge Hyeon was also taken aback by the sudden banquet. He decided he would speak with Baek Socheon privately once it was over.

Hwang Jongsin, the Shadow Pavilion Master, also offered congratulations.

"It has been a long time."

"Have you been well?"

Hwang Jongsin was Baek Socheon's junior by two years, and there had been various conflicts as Baek Socheon was demoted again and again. In particular, when Baek Socheon was brought in the last time, Hwang Jongsin had sent a new recruit to investigate him. That left Hwang Jongsin feeling apologetic toward Baek Socheon.

"I apologize for what happened before."

"I've forgotten it all. Don't concern yourself with it."

On Byeokhwa, the Secret Pavilion Master, smiled brightly and lifted the mood with a cheerful voice.

"It's truly reassuring to have someone dependable leading the new organization."

She turned to Ak Sogun and added, "Isn't it a great blessing for our Alliance Leader to have gained Unit Commander Baek?"

"Of course it is."

The Alliance Leader smiled warmly.

Choong Yang, who had hesitated over whether to come forward, finally tossed out a single remark.

"Congratulations."

"Thank you."

As Choong Yang turned to leave after saying only that, Baek Socheon called out loudly.

"Thank you for willingly sending Iron Sword Corps martial artists to the Sage Heaven Corps."

He had deliberately spoken loudly enough for the Alliance Leader to hear.

"It was nothing."

Ak Sogun looked at Choong Yang and praised him.

"You've done well."

"I only did what I should have done."

Having received the Alliance Leader's praise, Choong Yang approached Baek Socheon again and spoke quietly.

"Why are you doing this?"

"I'm trying to score points with you. The closer we are to the Iron Sword Corps, the greater our chances of surviving, aren't they?"

"Not a chance!"

That was what he said, but Choong Yang was grateful to Baek Socheon, at least at that moment. One of the most important things was making a good impression on the Alliance Leader, and Baek Socheon had unexpectedly helped him do just that.

'Hmph!'

Choong Yang snorted belatedly and tried to shake off that gratitude, but it did not leave easily. He had changed ever since learning that Baek Socheon was the one who had recommended him.

A short while later, the Alliance Leader left first. The banquet continued for about another hour before coming to an end.

In the end, the gathering had been a chance for the Alliance Leader to personally confirm whether Baek Socheon possessed internal energy.

Why had he checked?

Because he had fallen victim to the Soul-Seizing Art? Or because he wanted to confirm Baek Socheon was still useless before discarding him for good?

There was no way to know.

Either way, Baek Socheon now had an urgent task before him.

The first task in preventing the war was resolving the matter of the Alliance Leader.

If he had truly fallen victim to the Soul-Seizing Art, Baek Socheon had to find a way to free him.

And if he had not?

He would think about that when the time came.

For now, Baek Socheon intended to act under the assumption that he had fallen victim to the Soul-Seizing Art. If that was true, then regardless of their personal relationship, the orthodox martial world was facing a grave crisis.

When Baek Socheon returned home, Im Chung and Beon Saeng were waiting anxiously. A summons from the Alliance Leader's Hall was enough to make anyone worry.

"Are you all right?"

"I am."

"Did you meet the Alliance Leader?"

"Yes."

"Why did he summon you, Brother?"

"He called me to congratulate me on becoming a Unit Commander."

"Oh!"

Only then did the two relax. They did not know about Baek Socheon's relationship with the Alliance Leader.

"Oh! What sort of person is the Alliance Leader?"

"He's a good person."

Baek Socheon answered Beon Saeng's question briefly. Three years ago, he would have said much more. He would have spoken of how broad-minded Ak Sogun was and how dearly he cared for the martial artists under his command.

"Ah, I don't think I'd even be able to breathe if I met the Alliance Leader in person."

At that moment, someone made their presence known outside the door.

"Is Unit Commander Baek here?"

The visitor was Zhuge Hyeon.

Beon Saeng hurried over, opened the door, and greeted him.

"Please come in!"

"Good to see you."

After the banquet, Zhuge Hyeon had briefly stopped by his office before coming straight to find Baek Socheon.

"Please come inside."

"All right."

Once the two entered the house, Im Chung said to Beon Saeng, "You'd breathe just fine and greet the Alliance Leader without any trouble."

"Huh? Why?"

"Watching you welcome the Grand Strategist just now, I thought the two of you were friends."

That was how comfortably he had greeted and treated Zhuge Hyeon. In the past, Beon Saeng had even exchanged a casual wave with him without thinking.

Beon Saeng nodded.

"Maybe I'm secretly suited for high office."

Baek Socheon and Zhuge Hyeon sat side by side at the table in the room.

"What would you like? There's liquor and tea."

"Give me liquor."

Having had a drink at the banquet, Zhuge Hyeon wanted another. Lately, he had been drinking often for one reason or another, despite having quit.

Zhuge Hyeon readily drained the cup of liquor Baek Socheon brought him.

"What happened today? Why did the Alliance Leader suddenly call for you?"

"I don't know either. Is there anything you can think of, Strategist?"

Zhuge Hyeon shook his head.

"No. The other Pavilion Masters and Corps Commanders didn't seem to know anything either."

The atmosphere today had been very good. That was why he had come rushing over. It did not feel like a situation where the mood should be this pleasant.

"This is troubling. The Blood Cult Leader has already appeared..."

As Zhuge Hyeon sighed, Baek Socheon cautiously spoke.

"Strategist."

"Yes?"

"How much do you trust me?"

The unexpected question startled Zhuge Hyeon. Then he answered seriously.

"I trust you as much as I trust myself. No, these days, I trust you more than I trust myself."

That was his honest feeling. He had brought Baek Socheon in because he did not have the confidence to face a war alone.

"Please listen carefully to what I am about to say."

"Go on."

Zhuge Hyeon tensed.

What came from Baek Socheon's mouth next was something he could never have imagined, not even in his dreams.

"There is a possibility that the Alliance Leader has fallen victim to the Soul-Seizing Art."

"......!"

Zhuge Hyeon was speechless for a moment.

"What did you just say?"

"I said there is a possibility the Alliance Leader has fallen victim to the Soul-Seizing Art. I believe that possibility is real."

"Why do you think so?"

Baek Socheon told him what had happened on the day of the final battle.

Once he had heard the full story, Zhuge Hyeon could understand Baek Socheon's concerns. From Baek Socheon's perspective, it was reasonable to think that way.

"I would be relieved if my guess is wrong..."

"That would be the greater problem."

Zhuge Hyeon had accurately grasped the heart of the matter. If it was not the Soul-Seizing Art, that meant the Alliance Leader had abandoned Baek Socheon. That was something that should never have happened.

Still, what if Baek Socheon's suspicions were correct, and the Alliance Leader had fallen victim to the Soul-Seizing Art?

"Who could have done such a thing?"

"Through Gwoe Yeo, I learned that the Black Heaven Alliance Leader has mastered the Dark Spirit Binding Art."

"Then was it the Black Heaven Alliance Leader's doing?"

"I can't be certain."

Baek Socheon reminded Zhuge Hyeon that the Alliance Leader had come only after the Black Heaven Alliance Leader left the final battle.

Zhuge Hyeon let out a quiet sigh.

"You carried these worries for the past three years. I had no idea. I'm sorry."

"No. I'm the one who's sorry. I told you too late."

"No. I understand how you feel. Thank you for telling me, even now. What should we do?"

"We must confirm whether the Alliance Leader is under the Soul-Seizing Art. I'll find a way. I'll probably need your help."

"All right. I'll do everything I can to help."