WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME NOVELS

Translator/Editor: Chen

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◈ The Former Supreme ◈

Chapter 83: Myeol Ji-ryun (1)

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"Yeom Sawon is coming here too?"

Ak Sogun and Zhuge Hyeon were startled by Baek Socheon's report.

"Yes. Yeom Hwasin appeared and told me so himself."

Ak Sogun and Zhuge Hyeon had already learned through an urgent dispatch that Yeom Hwasin had appeared near the Chongqing border before Baek Socheon returned. They had been deeply curious about what the two had discussed for so long, but they had never imagined it would be this.

"What in the world is going on?"

In response to Zhuge Hyeon's question, Baek Socheon explained what they had not known.

"It seems the Black Heaven Alliance sent a matchmaker to the Blood Cult first."

"Ah!"

The two immediately understood the situation.

In other words, the Blood Cult had rejected a marriage proposal from the Black Heaven Alliance and sent a matchmaker to the Murim Alliance instead. There was no way the hot-tempered Black Heaven Alliance would simply let that pass.

"The Blood Cult is truly remarkable."

Zhuge Hyeon answered Ak Sogun's remark.

"They know they are the most important factor in determining the outcome of this war."

Ak Sogun turned to Baek Socheon.

"Then why is Yeom Sawon coming here?"

Everyone already knew his temperament was foul, but what did he intend to accomplish by coming to the Murim Alliance?

"He said that whoever wins a martial contest should marry Myeol Jiryun. He mentioned a Martial Match for a Bride."

"Good heavens!"

The two were shocked by the mention of a Martial Match for a Bride.

Zhuge Hyeon guessed at the Black Heaven Alliance Leader's intentions.

"He wants to confirm your strength!"

The thought that flashed through Baek Socheon's mind was, 'Perhaps.'

Which was another way of saying that it did not seem likely.

Yeom Hwasin was not someone who trusted others. He had already personally confirmed that Baek Socheon had no internal energy.

Would he really send his son just to verify it again?

"The Blood Cult would never accept a Martial Match for a Bride. If they had been concerned about the Black Heaven Alliance's reaction, they would not have sent a matchmaker to us in the first place."

The two agreed with Baek Socheon's words.

"He can't possibly not know that."

"Yeom Sawon may be using a Martial Match for a Bride as an excuse to try to kill me."

"Kill you?"

"We've already crossed paths twice under bad circumstances."

Once when Baek Socheon removed the gu parasite, and once when he interfered with matters in Zhejiang Province.

It was entirely possible. Yeom Sawon believed Baek Socheon had no internal energy, so he would be confident he could kill him. No matter how much of a scoundrel he was, he was still the Black Heaven Alliance's official heir.

"Would Yeom Hwasin not stop his son in this situation?"

"He would encourage him instead."

In any case, the two knew Baek Socheon had recovered his internal energy, so this was the problem.

"Yeom Sawon could expose the fact that you've recovered your internal energy."

If Yeom Sawon stubbornly tried to kill him, Baek Socheon might have no choice but to reveal his martial arts.

Baek Socheon nodded. It would be better if the truth came out as late as possible, but it did not matter if it was revealed now. Spring would arrive in a month or two.

Unless he gained some special enlightenment or a fortuitous opportunity, reaching full mastery of the Thousand-Hand Tathagata Asura Divine Sword by spring was impossible.

"Let's meet Myeol Jiryun first when she arrives."

They needed to learn the Blood Cult's true intentions.

* * *

Baek Socheon devoted himself to martial arts training until she arrived.

Spring was approaching, and the situation was changing unpredictably. It would not have been strange if he had to reveal his martial arts as soon as tomorrow.

Fortunately, the training he had done whenever he found time, even cutting back on sleep, had paid off.

First, the Immovable Wisdom King Heart Method had advanced from the fifth stage to the sixth stage. He had reached the sixth stage almost immediately after attaining the fifth.

Nothing like that had happened while he was progressing through the fourth stage. He had expected it to take far more time, yet he reached the sixth stage with surprising ease. He thought the energy circulation and breathing meditation he had done at Dragon Spring might have helped.

Wind God Traverses the Sky had reached the fourth stage.

Considering how recently he had learned it, that was rapid progress as well.

Breathing and running were such fundamental actions that his progress was probably so fast. Baek Socheon already had excellent fundamentals. He expected it would only be a matter of time before both martial arts reached full mastery.

He had learned the Thousand-Hand Tathagata Asura Divine Sword through its fifth form.

He still could not understand the sixth form.

Baek Socheon did not try to force his way through it.

Instead, he trained in the Heaven-Turning Nine Fists. He believed that as he learned other martial arts, he would naturally find the way forward.

Beginning with the First Fist, Flowing Wind and Cloudy Mountains, he moved smoothly into the Second Fist, Wind Sentiment, Wave Breath. The forms gradually grew fiercer as he continued into the Third Fist, Windstorm Lightning Strike, before exploding with the Fourth Fist, Moon Bright, Stars Sparse.

With his internal energy fully unleashed, the Heaven-Turning Nine Fists displayed tremendous power.

He had now begun learning the Fifth Fist, Ten Thousand Li Under Vast Skies. The Fifth Fist, which required at least twenty years of internal energy, possessed power on an entirely different level.

As he trained in the Fifth Fist, it felt almost wasteful to focus solely on swordsmanship.

If not for Yeom Hwasin, the greatest adversary of his life, he would have learned both martial arts slowly and thoroughly.

For now, it was part of his effort to break through the sixth sword of the Thousand-Hand Tathagata Asura Divine Sword...

'...!'

At that moment, a thought suddenly flashed through Baek Socheon's mind.

'Ah! This is wrong!'

He realized his approach had been mistaken.

He had thought about this once before, when he realized Yeom Hwasin had attained the Indestructible Vajra Body. He had recognized it as a state he could not achieve despite training his body to its limits.

At the time, he had wondered if the ultimate purpose of his own training might have lain elsewhere.

The Heaven-Turning Nine Fists were the same.

He should not train in them because the Thousand-Hand Tathagata Asura Divine Sword had reached an impasse. He needed to train in them because he wanted the Heaven-Turning Nine Fists to reach their limit.

Only then would they bear proper fruit. A small difference in thought would ultimately create an enormous difference in results.

If all else failed, he could combine the martial arts he had learned and face his opponent that way. No, realistically, that was what he had to do.

'Yes. Be calmer.'

His impatience came partly from Yeom Hwasin, but there was another reason as well.

He kept thinking of his own happiness.

He imagined defeating Yeom Hwasin, finding happiness, and leaving the Murim Alliance.

'No. I mustn't get ahead of myself!'

It would be better to return to the mindset he had held near the end of the previous war.

'Fight with everything I have... and if it isn't enough, die. I've done all I can. I have no lingering attachment or regret.'

Baek Socheon did not know it.

These changes in his state of mind were constantly affecting his martial arts, whether he realized it or not.

* * *

Myeol Jiryun arrived at the Murim Alliance.

Since the Murim Alliance's founding, this was the first time the Blood Cult Leader's daughter had officially visited.

They had expected a grand procession, but her escort was unexpectedly modest.

Only two guards accompanied her, an old man and a young man. Yet the aura they gave off was strange and distinctive.

Myeol Jiryun entered Cloud Dragon Hall first, with the two following behind her.

Ak Sogun, Baek Socheon, Zhuge Hyeon, and On Byeokhwa were waiting inside.

Myeol Jiryun was a remarkably exotic beauty. Her features were clear and innocent, while her strangely gray eyes made her seem even more mysterious.

Myeol Jiryun approached Ak Sogun and greeted him.

"It is an honor to meet you, Alliance Leader."

Her calm, steady voice carried confidence.

The two men standing behind her clasped their fists at the same time. The old man introduced himself first.

"I am Rapsa, here to escort the young lady."

"I am Pajeong."

The fact that Rapsa and Pajeong alone had escorted the Blood Cult Leader's daughter here already proved their strength. Of course, it had not yet been confirmed whether Myeol Jiryun truly was the Blood Cult Leader's daughter.

Ak Sogun warmly welcomed Myeol Jiryun's group.

"You must be tired after such a long journey."

The Murim Alliance members then introduced themselves in turn.

Once the greetings ended, Myeol Jiryun's gaze turned to Baek Socheon.

"You are younger than I expected."

"Thank you."

There was an unmistakable sinister aura about her. She had surely inherited her father Myeolsaeng's martial arts.

Baek Socheon discreetly examined whether she had fallen under the Soul-Seizing Art or intended to use it.

She was not under the Soul-Seizing Art, and unexpectedly, there was no sign that she had ever learned it.

"What do you think of me?"

Confidence filled her question.

"I had no idea what to expect. I had never once heard any rumors about you."

"What is your first impression, then?"

Baek Socheon answered her provocative question without much reaction.

"You are beautiful."

"Really? That sounds like something you're saying just to please me."

"That's right. There are too many things I don't understand to focus on you, miss."

Baek Socheon naturally shifted the subject to the matter at hand.

"I understand your cult has formed an alliance with the Black Heaven Alliance."

"Us? This is the first I've heard of it."

Her response was so natural that it made him wonder whether Myeol Jiryun truly did not know.

"You don't take an interest in your cult's political affairs."

"I have enough trouble handling myself."

He could not tell whether she was being honest or brazen, but she answered every question without becoming flustered.

This time, On Byeokhwa spoke.

"I have something I'd like to ask as well."

"What is it?"

"If your cult wishes to form an alliance with ours, should the marriage candidate not be Young Hero Ak Seopyeong, the Alliance Leader's son?"

"Of course."

"Then is there a reason you chose Hero Baek? I heard you had never met him before."

"I've heard many rumors about him instead. Of all the martial artists I've heard of since I was born, I may have heard the most about him. I've heard more about Hero Baek than I have about my father, or even Alliance Leader Ak, who is here with us."

Myeol Jiryun looked at Baek Socheon.

"Maybe that's why. It doesn't feel like we're meeting for the first time."

She smiled with a slight crinkle of her eyes. It was a clear display of affection, and a seduction.

On Byeokhwa spoke again.

"I don't think that answers my question."

"Was that not enough? Pavilion Master On, you're a woman too, so you understand how I feel. Since I was little, it's been my dream to marry a hero like Hero Baek."

"I see."

It was a plausible enough reason that On Byeokhwa could not press her further.

Baek Socheon spoke to her this time.

"It seems you haven't heard this rumor."

"What rumor?"

"The rumor that I lost my internal energy."

Myeol Jiryun stared directly at Baek Socheon.

"I knew."

"Even so, you wish to marry me? I am no longer a hero, nor do I have any possibility of becoming one in the future."

"That's all right. Once a hero, always a hero."

He could not discern her true intentions from her expression alone.

Ak Sogun spoke to her.

"You have traveled far and must be tired. Rest well today, and let's speak again another time."

"Thank you for your consideration."

As she turned to leave, she asked Baek Socheon, "Hero Baek, how about having lunch with me tomorrow? You can show me around this place too."

"All right."

After politely greeting Ak Sogun and the others, she followed the guide martial artist outside.

Once she had left, On Byeokhwa spoke first.

"She is no ordinary person."

There was a feeling only another woman could recognize. Beyond her calm appearance, On Byeokhwa had sensed a temperament that would not be easy to handle, regardless of martial ability.

"She definitely has some ulterior motive."

Baek Socheon continued from there.

"Whatever her motive is, she isn't being honest."

She had not even mentioned that the Black Heaven Alliance had sent a matchmaker.

Of course, they had not revealed everything either. They had not told her Yeom Sawon was coming.

"What did you think, Unit Commander Baek?"

Baek Socheon gave an enigmatic response to On Byeokhwa's question.

"I did not look at her."

He could not look at the woman before him.

What he needed to see was what lay behind her. He had to see the hidden intentions of those heartless parents who had sent their children into enemy territory without hesitation.

Baek Socheon spoke to everyone.

"I will find out whether she has another motive."

Footnotes:

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