WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME NOVELS

Translator/Editor: Chen

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◈ The Former Supreme ◈

Chapter 88: If You Want to Play with People (1)

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"What did you say?"

Cheon Geuk was startled. Yeom Hwasin had sent his son to be killed? Had those words not come from Baek Socheon, she would have dismissed them as nonsense at once.

But this was Baek Socheon.

"What makes you think that?"

"Because of the condition he attached."

"The condition that Yeom Sawon must kill you?"

Baek Socheon nodded.

Had that condition not been attached, even Baek Socheon would not have guessed Yeom Hwasin's intentions.

Yet the moment he heard it, he understood. That condition was not meant to corner him, but to corner Yeom Sawon.

"Yeom Hwasin knows how dangerous I can become in a life-and-death battle, even without internal energy."

Only Yeom Hwasin, who had fought a life-and-death battle with him, knew.

He knew how skilled Baek Socheon had been when he stood as the greatest under heaven. He knew that experience from countless battles could more than make up for a lack of internal energy. He knew that Yeom Sawon would struggle to handle him in a real fight.

And yet he had attached such a condition?

"Because of his father's order, Yeom Sawon will overextend himself. He'll use every method he can to kill me."

Cheon Geuk added, "And then he'll get himself killed."

Baek Socheon realized something else.

"Spreading the rumor through the martial world wasn't only meant to pressure me."

"What do you mean?"

"As you've seen, Yeom Sawon's self-esteem is rock-bottom. What do you think he'll do if countless martial world figures gather to watch?"

"He'll fight desperately to win. He'll want to show off in front of them."

Cheon Geuk sighed. Every circumstance supported Baek Socheon's guess.

"You're right. He really is insane."

One question naturally followed.

"Why would he want to kill his own son?"

"Whatever the reason, we probably wouldn't understand it. There's no need to know."

Still, Baek Socheon understood one thing.

Yeom Hwasin intended to use his son as a sacrifice for war. No, more precisely, he intended to use both his son and Baek Socheon.

The heir of the Black Heaven Alliance would die at the hands of Baek Socheon, the symbol of the last war. In a fair duel, no less.

All those of the unorthodox factions would be enraged.

Why he died, or how it happened, would not matter.

Yeom Hwasin would unite all those of the black path by emphasizing only one fact: his son had been killed. Their morale would soar through the heavens.

Revenge for his son's death.

That would become the justification for this war.

Baek Socheon suddenly recalled what Yeom Hwasin had said. He had killed his own father with his own hands. Now he was trying to kill his own son as well.

'You madman! I'll send you to the afterlife myself.'

Part of him hoped his guess was wrong. He would kill Yeom Hwasin regardless, but he still hoped the man was not evil to this extent.

"What will you do now?"

"He's asking me to kill him so badly... Should I really do it?"

Cheon Geuk snickered.

"You won't."

Baek Socheon smiled as well.

"Right. I won't move the way he wants me to."

If his guess was true, killing Yeom Sawon now would be a fatal mistake.

"I'll find a way to turn this situation to my advantage."

"Yes. If it's you, you'll find one."

"If I can't find one, then I'll kill him."

"Make sure you call me then!"

She raised her hand high, then cried out.

"Ah!"

She had raised her injured arm.

"Be careful."

"Yes."

"Focus on recovering first."

"You be careful too."

The way they looked at each other had changed. It was a change only the two of them could feel.

After Baek Socheon left, the Guardian Assassin Stars revealed themselves.

They escorted Cheon Geuk upstairs and laid her on the bed.

They must have been worried sick. None of them had slept, and their eyes were hollow.

"I'm fine."

Ignoring her, Eastern Star told Western Star, "Check her wound carefully."

"Yes."

The other three Guardian Assassin Stars left the room, while Western Star moved to inspect Cheon Geuk's wound.

"I need to see the wound myself."

"I told you, I'm fine."

"Please forgive my rudeness."

Western Star lifted Cheon Geuk's robe. Since Cheon Geuk could not stop her anyway, she let Western Star do as she wished.

Western Star flinched when she saw the wound. It was deeper than she had expected. Judging by its location and depth, Cheon Geuk could have died if it had been even slightly off.

Cheon Geuk spoke to her.

"Western Star."

Her expression was more serious than ever, and Western Star became serious as well.

"Yes, Alliance Leader."

"It was my choice."

Western Star looked at her with trembling eyes.

"Was it worth that much?"

"Yes. Even if this wound had been here."

Cheon Geuk placed her hand over the left side of her chest.

"...Alliance Leader."

"You, at least, understand me."

As a woman, Western Star understood Cheon Geuk's heart better than anyone. She knew how precarious this love was, and how difficult it would be to realize.

"I understand."

"Thank you."

When Western Star opened the door, the other Guardian Assassin Stars waiting outside came in.

Western Star told them, "Fortunately, the wound isn't deep."

She acted as Cheon Geuk wished. It had already happened, and Cheon Geuk would not want her companions to hate or remain wary of Baek Socheon.

Eastern Star and the other Guardian Assassin Stars all sighed in relief.

"Never duel Martial Artist Baek again. No, don't even meet him."

It seemed impossible, but Eastern Star meant it sincerely.

"If I had my way..."

He wanted to rush over to Baek Socheon at once and demand, "How could you injure our Alliance Leader like this when she cherishes you so deeply?"

Cheon Geuk said, "Should we go kill him?"

"Please don't say things you don't mean."

"Is it that obvious?"

"Yes!"

"Let it go."

"...Yes."

She smiled brightly.

"There's good news too."

After pausing long enough to draw everyone's attention, she said, "My martial arts have advanced to another level."

Everyone was startled.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Congratulations!"

All four Guardian Assassin Stars were delighted. They knew how strong Cheon Geuk's martial arts were, and they also knew that advancing any further could not have been easy.

Cheon Geuk told them, "So let's forgive him this once. Without him, I never could have achieved this."

"Understood, Alliance Leader."

Eastern Star's expression softened somewhat.

"I'm going to rest now."

"Yes, Alliance Leader. Please get plenty of rest today."

The Guardian Assassin Stars left the room.

Left alone, Cheon Geuk gazed at the moon hanging outside the window and smiled brightly.

Western Star, who had been about to close the door and leave, saw that expression.

'Ah!'

Western Star understood. Not only had the way Cheon Geuk looked at Baek Socheon changed, but so had the world she saw.

It was not only progress in martial arts. Her relationship with Baek Socheon had progressed as well. As a woman, Western Star knew it for certain.

'Martial Artist Baek, I hope you've earned plenty of money.'

* * *

An emergency meeting was held in Cloud Dragon Hall between Baek Socheon, Ak Sogun, and Zhuge Hyeon.

"Yeom Hwasin has permitted the duel."

"I heard."

"Already?"

"Yeom Sawon came to find me because he wanted to brag about it."

"I truly cannot understand it. What exactly is Yeom Hwasin planning?"

Baek Socheon told the two of them what he had guessed. They, at least, needed to know.

Both were greatly shocked at the possibility that Yeom Hwasin wanted his own son dead. Ak Sogun, who had children of his own, especially could not understand him.

"If your guess is right... that man is a merciless demon. I will kill him."

Baek Socheon nodded.

Zhuge Hyeon asked worriedly, "With such intentions behind this duel, do you really intend to fight him?"

"Even if I don't want to, I have to. Yeom Hwasin spread the rumor beforehand to force me to fight. If we refuse, he will surely retaliate as punishment."

It would be retaliation that would cause innocent casualties.

Ak Sogun asked, "Do you intend to fight without internal energy?"

"That is my intention."

"Isn't that dangerous?"

"Even so, I think it is still better not to reveal that I've recovered my internal energy."

"Is there no other way?"

Ak Sogun was clearly worried about Baek Socheon. Yeom Sawon might be a complete bastard, but he was still the heir of the Black Heaven Alliance. There was no knowing what trump card he might be hiding.

"This duel isn't entirely disadvantageous. If I win and Yeom Hwasin keeps his promise, we will gain a year."

One year.

To Baek Socheon, one year was an incredibly precious amount of time. These days, every additional day increased his chances of survival.

"Will he keep his promise?"

Zhuge Hyeon answered Ak Sogun's question.

"I believe it would be wise to prepare under the assumption that he will not."

Baek Socheon and Ak Sogun nodded at the same time.

Zhuge Hyeon asked Baek Socheon, "Then when will the duel be held? Yeom Sawon looked as though he wanted it tomorrow."

Baek Socheon thought for a moment before answering.

"How long would it take if we held an official duel?"

"Officially? Do you truly intend to fight before the martial world figures?"

"Yes. That is what Yeom Hwasin wants."

Spreading the rumor through the martial world meant he wanted a grand fight before everyone in the martial world.

"If we are to build a duel platform and invite the martial world luminaries, it will have to be at the end of this month."

"Then announce that it will be held then."

"Very well."

"In the meantime, I need to study how to deal with him without internal energy."

"Good. Do that."

After bidding the two farewell, Baek Socheon left the Alliance Leader's Hall first.

Zhuge Hyeon remained behind and discussed whom to invite with Ak Sogun.

They decided not to worry about Baek Socheon. As long as he had regained his former skill, there was no need to fear for his life in a duel unless his opponent was Yeom Hwasin or Myeolsaeng.

"The problem is if it becomes known during the duel that he has recovered his internal energy."

At Zhuge Hyeon's concern, Ak Sogun replied calmly, "I will consider that day the day the war begins."

Yeom Hwasin would try to kill Baek Socheon, and Ak Sogun intended to protect him no matter what.

"I will keep that in mind as well."

For a moment, the two looked out the large window of Cloud Dragon Hall.

A cold winter wind blew outside. Once that wind stopped, spring would come.

When Baek Socheon returned home, Myeol Jiryun was waiting for him. She had come alone without even bringing guards. It was late at night, yet she wore makeup and clothes that accentuated her figure.

"Hero Baek, would you speak with me for a moment?"

"Certainly."

The two walked along a path near his home.

"Do you intend to fight Young Hero Yeom?"

"As you know, he's burning with the desire to fight."

"You've been put in danger because of me. I'm sorry."

"It's all right."

After a brief silence, she asked again, "What is your relationship with the Alliance Leader of the Assassin Alliance whom I met today?"

It seemed she had not come because of his duel with Yeom Sawon, but because of Cheon Geuk.

"I received some help from her recently."

"She was very beautiful."

Cheon Geuk appeared to be on her mind.

Baek Socheon stopped walking and stared at her. Myeol Jiryun's face reddened as she asked, "Why are you staring at me like that? Is there something on my face?"

She expected gentle words, but reality was the complete opposite.

"I'll give you an opportunity."

Baek Socheon felt that it was time to confirm the suspicion he had held since first meeting her.

"An opportunity?"

Baek Socheon stared intently at her.

"An opportunity to tell the truth."

Footnotes:

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