WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME NOVELS

Translator/Editor: Chen

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◈ The Former Supreme ◈

Chapter 90: Roses and Onions (1)

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After thoroughly unsettling Myeol Jiryun, Baek Socheon went straight to see Zhuge Hyeon. The strategist was in his office within the Sage Heaven Pavilion.

"What is it?"

"I'm sorry to bother you so late, but I have an urgent favor to ask."

"What is it?"

"Please find out whether there are signs of internal strife within the Blood Cult. If there are, find out what the situation is as well."

Baek Socheon relayed everything Myeol Jiryun had told him.

"Ah, so that happened. All right. I'll look into it immediately."

"Thank you."

He bowed politely and was about to leave when Zhuge Hyeon stopped him.

"Would you like to have a drink? It's been a while."

"Gladly."

Since reconciling with the Alliance Leader, Baek Socheon had neglected spending time with Zhuge Hyeon. Too many things had happened, so it could not be helped, but he should have been the one to suggest a drink tonight instead of making a request and leaving.

His mind had been so busy that he had overlooked too much.

'I still have a long way to go.'

Being a master of martial arts did not make one a master of life or human relationships. If anything, becoming too absorbed in one thing might leave every other part of life in ruins.

"I hope I haven't detained a busy man for no reason."

"Not at all. I wanted to have a drink with you as well, Strategist."

"Is that so? Hahaha."

Zhuge Hyeon laughed happily. He was this pleased, yet Baek Socheon had not made time to share even a drink with him.

The two drank in the office. Come to think of it, Zhuge Hyeon lived and slept within the Murim Alliance. He had separate quarters in the inner compound.

"Isn't it inconvenient to live at the Alliance?"

"I'm used to it now. Other places feel more inconvenient."

"I'm worried that you'll wear yourself down."

"I may look frail, but this body is still going strong."

Yet now that Baek Socheon looked closely, Zhuge Hyeon's hair was white as though snow had fallen over it. Had he always had this much gray hair? It was enough to make him wonder. When they first met, Zhuge Hyeon had been a vigorous middle-aged man.

'So much time has passed.'

They talked about this and that as several rounds of drinks went by.

Once he was pleasantly tipsy, Zhuge Hyeon asked carefully, "Are you thinking of leaving the Alliance after stopping this war?"

The fact that Baek Socheon did not immediately deny it was answer enough.

"I thought so."

Baek Socheon wondered when they would have another chance to speak like this, so he revealed his true feelings.

"I'm sorry to say this, but since the subject has come up, I'll be honest. As you know, I've spent my entire life bound to the Alliance. Once this matter is settled, I want to leave and live freely."

After traveling throughout the martial world to his heart's content, he wanted to open a small tea house somewhere with beautiful scenery. A tea house filled with the scent of tea, where he would not have to watch drunkards make a ruckus.

He would open it when he wanted and close it when he wanted. He wanted to watch people come and go while living without being tied down by anything.

If that became boring, he could live under a new identity. He could become a merchant and aim to become the greatest merchant in the martial world. When he grew tired of that, he could simply shake it all off and leave again.

That was the life Baek Socheon wanted. A life bound by nothing. A life in which nothing had been decided.

How could Zhuge Hyeon not understand that feeling? He too had spent his entire life tied to the Murim Alliance. There had been times when he felt the same as Baek Socheon.

Yet whenever that happened, he became afraid.

'Could I really leave the Alliance and live well?'

That thought had always held him back.

More than anyone, he knew how difficult change was and how frightening it could be to attempt a new life.

Baek Socheon made a request of Zhuge Hyeon.

"When that time comes, please help me."

He meant that Zhuge Hyeon should support him if the Alliance Leader tried to keep him from leaving.

Zhuge Hyeon thought that he, at least, should understand Baek Socheon. He knew better than anyone what it was like to want to leave.

Even so, Zhuge Hyeon raised his cup and said, "I can't make that promise. I'll try to hold on to you even more fiercely than the Alliance Leader."

Just thinking about parting with Baek Socheon left him deeply saddened. Perhaps Zhuge Hyeon would regret it even more than the Alliance Leader.

Knowing that he was more grateful for this answer than for a promise of help, Baek Socheon smiled faintly and clinked cups with him.

The liquor was bitter, yet sweet.

Just then, a shooting star streaked across the distant sky beyond the window.

Baek Socheon closed his eyes and made a wish.

For the first time in a very long while, perhaps for the first time ever, Baek Socheon made a wish for himself.

* * *

Cheon Geuk sat by the window, looking out at the night sky.

Eastern Star stood behind her and reported news from the Murim Alliance.

"They're holding a duel at the end of this month."

"Really?"

"Yes. They intend to invite all the renowned masters and hold an official duel."

"A huge crowd will gather."

"Yes."

"Have the elite assassins wait in Wuhan."

"All of them?"

"Call every last one and have them wait."

"Understood."

This duel would determine whether war broke out between the Black Heaven Alliance and the Murim Alliance. Its pretext was a fight over a woman, but in the end, the fate of the martial world rested on it.

"Shall we have a drink?"

The mention of Baek Socheon made her miss him. She had been forcing herself to endure that longing.

"You still can't drink. It could worsen your injury."

In response to Eastern Star's objection, Cheon Geuk said, "Then the rest of you drink. I'll watch. At least let me watch you drink."

"Alliance Leader, that will only make you suffer more."

"This won't do. I should at least go see the elder."

"The elder is probably asleep now."

"That's a shame."

Western Star stepped forward.

"Let's have a drink together. I think one sip should be fine for the Alliance Leader."

"Right?"

Cheon Geuk beamed.

Western Star prepared a simple table of food and liquor.

Prompted by Eastern Star's concern, worried voice transmissions began among the Guardian Assassin Stars.

-The Alliance Leader seems strange somehow.

-I agree. She seems different.

-She doesn't seem to be in a bad mood.

-That's why it's more worrying. She keeps smiling for no reason.

-Could it be an aftereffect of her injury?

Western Star, who had listened silently until then, spoke up.

-The Alliance Leader will be fine.

-Why?

-It's just a feeling.

Western Star filled four cups to the brim and filled the remaining cup only a third of the way.

"Come, shall we all have a drink?"

The five raised their cups in a toast.

After taking a drink, Cheon Geuk said, "I slept with him."

Pfft!

Eastern Star sprayed out the liquor he had been drinking.

Other than Western Star, who had already suspected it, the remaining three were stunned.

Cheon Geuk smiled.

"I thought you, my guards, should know."

The three did not know what to say.

Western Star said, "Congratulations, Alliance Leader."

"Is that something to congratulate me for?"

"Of course. This is the greatest cause for celebration since I began serving you."

"Thank you."

Cheon Geuk spoke to the other three.

"I admit that I like him. You don't need to worry. I know who I am."

She walked over to the window.

"That's why I won't be greedy."

At that moment, Northern Star, the quietest of the Guardian Assassin Stars, suddenly spoke.

"Be greedy."

Everyone turned to look at them in surprise.

"I don't know about the other assassins, but I believe the Alliance Leader deserves to be happy."

It was enough to make them wonder if Northern Star had stayed silent all this time just to surprise them today.

Cheon Geuk smiled at them, then looked back out at the night sky. As she watched the twinkling stars, she said, "I really don't need to be greedy. I'm already this happy."

A shooting star fell in the distance, leaving a long tail behind it.

Cheon Geuk and the Guardian Assassin Stars all pressed their palms together before their chests and silently made wishes.

One person made a wish for four people, while four people made wishes for one person.

* * *

The following night, Myeol Jiryun came to see Baek Socheon again.

"May I come in for a moment?"

"Of course."

She entered Baek Socheon's house and looked around the room.

"The room has a nice atmosphere."

"I leave it empty often, so it feels bare."

"It's so clean. I like it."

As she sat down, she asked, "Do you have any liquor? If you don't mind, shall we have a drink?"

"Certainly."

Baek Socheon brought out some liquor. In the meantime, Myeol Jiryun removed her outer robe.

The clothes beneath revealed her cleavage, thighs, and slender waist. Her makeup was heavier than it had been the previous day.

Baek Socheon poured her a drink.

"I thought about it all night. What could Hero Baek possibly want? No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't figure it out."

"Have you reached a conclusion?"

Myeol Jiryun stared at Baek Socheon.

"What do you think of me?"

"What do you mean?"

"I'm asking whether you find me attractive as a woman."

"I think you're beautiful."

Her lips parted slightly, and her gaze turned heated.

Baek Socheon could tell that she was trying to seduce him. Her revealing clothes alone made her intention obvious.

Unfortunately for her, the attempt was stopped at the entrance.

"Whoever marries you will be fortunate, Miss."

"Thank you."

Mentioning another man in this situation was a gentle rejection.

Myeol Jiryun's pride was hurt when her seduction failed.

'This eunuch bastard! He doesn't even have internal energy, yet he acts so high and mighty! Just wait. One day, I'll...!'

Nursing her wounded pride, she brought out the second thing she had prepared.

"This may be a rude question, but I want to ask it just in case."

"Go ahead."

"Is what you want... money?"

Baek Socheon calmly asked, "Why would that be rude?"

"What?"

"Isn't money the best way to know how sincere someone is? If the amount is sufficient, money is fine."

Contempt flickered in Myeol Jiryun's eyes.

"You truly are different from the rumors."

Even after he had explained it so clearly yesterday, she still did not understand. Contempt was what people deserved when they tried to use others without paying any price.

Baek Socheon did not explain it to her again. She had likely been raised without ever understanding such feelings.

Looking at Myeol Jiryun made him think of Cheon Geuk. Myeol Jiryun, who had grown up enjoying everything, and Cheon Geuk, who had grown up so well despite the worst circumstances.

Myeol Jiryun took an envelope from her robe.

Inside were banknotes. There were thirty banknotes, each worth ten thousand nyang.

Three hundred thousand nyang!

It was an enormous sum he had never expected.

"Is this enough to prove my sincerity?"

"Tell me what you want. Only then can I judge."

"Fine. I have two conditions. First, defeat Yeom Sawon in the duel."

"Agreed."

"The second is that you let me remain at the Murim Alliance for a while after he withdraws. I don't have to marry you. Just let me stay until Yeom Sawon gives up on me. What do you say? Will you accept?"

Baek Socheon nodded.

"All right. I accept."

Myeol Jiryun shared one last cup with him before rising from her seat.

"I hope you win."

Baek Socheon immediately took the banknotes to Zhuge Hyeon.

Handing him one of the banknotes she had given him, he said, "Please find out when this banknote was withdrawn."

"All right."

Zhuge Hyeon entrusted it to Sima Iljung and told him to obtain the information as quickly as possible.

"What's this about?"

"It's a banknote I received from Myeol Jiryun."

"From her?"

"Something about it bothers me."

A short while later, Sima Iljung brought back the banknote and reported, "I looked into it. It was withdrawn from a Continental Bank branch in the lands beyond the borders, not in the Central Plains."

"So it was money she withdrew before coming here."

"Yes."

In other words, she had come intending to spend a large amount of money in the Central Plains. She had entered dangerous enemy territory with only two guards, yet brought this much money? And this might not even be all the money she had.

Baek Socheon revised his opinion of Myeol Jiryun.

"I thought she was a rose that had sought a greenhouse to escape the cold wind, but she's an onion that grew in a field battered by rain and wind. I think I need to peel back a few more layers."

Footnotes:

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