WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME NOVELS

Translator/Editor: Chen

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◈ The Former Supreme ◈

Chapter 93: One or Two? (2)

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After leaving Myeol Jiryun's quarters, Baek Socheon infiltrated Yeom Sawon's.

Yeom Sawon was training in martial arts in the rear courtyard. Baek Socheon had expected to find him drunk and chasing women, so this was unexpected.

Of his two escorts, Go Goeng stood guard nearby, making sure no one approached.

Baek Socheon carefully drew close using Shadow-Diving Divine Steps.

Go Goeng did not notice Baek Socheon's infiltration. That alone showed how remarkable it had been for Pajeong to discover him earlier.

Hidden in the shadow of the wall, Baek Socheon watched Yeom Sawon's martial arts for a while.

Yeom Sawon was practicing swordsmanship. Given the location, he was using only a portion of his internal energy as he executed each form.

Still, that was enough for Baek Socheon to accurately gauge his skill. He could also picture exactly how much power those forms would display when filled with internal energy to the limit.

Baek Socheon realized it once again.

'Ah, my level of martial arts really has changed.'

His eye for such things was completely different from before.

'What would happen if I fought Yeom Hwasin now?'

He had not yet achieved full mastery of the Thousand-Hand Tathagata Asura Divine Sword, but his chances of victory had surely risen considerably.

There was no need to rush. As long as Yeom Hwasin did not discover that he had recovered his internal energy, time was unquestionably on his side.

Unaware that Baek Socheon had watched him from beginning to end, Yeom Sawon diligently continued his training.

He was arrogant and pathetic in many ways, but he was not an idiot. He could predict that Baek Socheon would not have accepted this duel unless he believed he could win. He also knew it would not be an easy fight.

Still, Yeom Sawon was confident. It might be difficult, but he was certain he could not lose to someone without internal energy.

'I will kill him.'

The duel was nominally to reclaim his fiancée, but another woman was on his mind.

Cheon Geuk.

'Once I win this duel, I'll make her mine too.'

Cheon Geuk had clearly looked as though she wanted his help.

'There's pleasure in making a fierce, strong bitch like that mine. And as the Assassin Alliance Leader, she'll be useful in many ways.'

Dreaming an impossible dream, he grinned foolishly.

At that moment, Jan Baek entered carrying a box, one that would draw Yeom Sawon deeper into his dream.

Jan Baek was a level above Go Goeng, yet he too failed to notice Baek Socheon hiding nearby.

"The Alliance Leader sent this."

"My father?"

Yeom Sawon hurriedly opened the box and found a suit of protective armor inside.

"Is this the Black Dragon Divine Armor?"

It was armor that protected the body from the torso down to the legs, a treasured suit Yeom Hwasin had kept in his possession. Yeom Sawon's face brightened.

"Ha ha ha! The Black Dragon Divine Armor is something Father treasures!"

Yeom Sawon could be certain once more. His father truly cherished him.

"With this armor, that bastard will never be able to kill me. I will kill him without fail, Father!"

Watching him, Baek Socheon understood Yeom Hwasin's intentions.

'He's driving his son to the brink.'

If Yeom Sawon wore the Black Dragon Divine Armor, it would become far harder to subdue him without internal energy. The fight would grow more brutal, and the chances of either Baek Socheon or Yeom Sawon dying would rise further.

'Was I wrong? Does he really intend to kill me?'

The thought crossed his mind.

But no. He could not be deceived by appearances. This gift was undoubtedly meant to drive his son to his death. From the beginning until now, Baek Socheon's instincts had consistently seen Yeom Sawon's heart, which was as dark as an abyss.

After secretly observing Myeol Jiryun and Yeom Sawon, one question naturally arose.

'Is this conspiracy one thing? Or two?'

The Blood Cult's conspiracy and the duel over the engagement. Were they completely unrelated?

Or were the Black Heaven Alliance and the Blood Cult working together in a single conspiracy?

At a glance, they seemed to be separate schemes, but he could not be certain of anything. No matter what absurd thing happened, it would not be surprising. The fate of the entire Central Plains was tied to all this.

* * *

Day broke, and the duel was now two days away.

From early dawn, Baek Socheon kept watch over Pajeong, Myeol Jiryun's escort.

'Myeol Jiryun lured everyone in from the front, while he planned the real work from behind.'

While everyone's attention was fixed on Myeol Jiryun and Yeom Sawon, the young escort who had quietly accompanied her had been plotting.

Baek Socheon watched him with extreme care. Pajeong had nearly sensed his presence, one that even Cheon Geuk had failed to detect. That showed how sharp his senses were.

'Then again, that must be why he was sent along for this.'

There was an upside. Since his opponent was who he was, Baek Socheon had to remain as cautious and focused as possible. His understanding of Shadow-Diving Divine Steps deepened, and he was growing accustomed to it more quickly.

Pajeong did not leave the Alliance. He rested near Myeol Jiryun or wandered through the Alliance grounds. Watching him revealed nothing suspicious.

'What on earth is he preparing?'

Still, after following him for half a day, Baek Socheon found nothing unusual.

He could not keep trailing him with the duel so close, so he returned to the Sage Heaven Corps for the moment.

Hwang Ilbi, First Unit Commander of the Iron Sword Corps, was waiting at the entrance.

"Have you been well?"

It was the first time the two had met since the Black Banner, Yeom Hwasin's elite personal force, had advanced on Chongqing. They had parted then without exchanging a single personal word because their mission had been so important.

"I've been a little busy lately."

"It seemed that way. I came by a few days ago, but you weren't here."

"Sorry."

"It's fine."

"How have things been? Is your Corps Commander still treating you well?"

By that, he meant Choong Yang, with whom he had once been at odds.

"Ah, you should come by and stir up Corps Commander Choong a little."

"Why?"

"Maybe he thinks he's already caught me, but his affection for me has become rather lacking. If you come by and show him that you could take me away again, won't he treat me better?"

"Ha ha, that's true. The way people treat a fish they've already caught has always been the same, no matter the age."

"So please come by and make Corps Commander Choong curse a little."

The two were happy to see each other again after so long.

Baek Socheon had no intention of bringing Hwang Ilbi into the Sage Heaven Corps or making him his right-hand man. It was not because he doubted Hwang Ilbi's abilities or did not trust him.

He knew better than anyone that Hwang Ilbi suited him well and was highly capable.

Even so, he left him where he was for Hwang Ilbi's sake. He was someone who could adapt and persevere in any organization. More than anything, he had a family.

Baek Socheon did not want to disrupt his life for his own convenience. He had ended up bringing along Im Chung and Beon Saeng, whose martial arts were far weaker, but leaving Hwang Ilbi where he was. It made him think that human ties and relationships were not governed by reason alone.

"The duel is in two days. How are you feeling? Are you confident?"

Hwang Ilbi had come because he was worried, not knowing Baek Socheon had recovered his internal energy.

"That little brat isn't even worth one punch."

Hwang Ilbi narrowed his eyes and studied Baek Socheon's face.

"Don't make me jump onto the duel platform."

"What do you mean?"

"Don't make me throw myself in front of Yeom Sawon's final strike to stop it."

"You were going to throw yourself in?"

"Of course. Should I just stand there and watch?"

"Just watch."

"Right? That's the correct answer. So please let me enjoy an interesting show that day. Everyone is cheering for you, and I wanted to pass that along. I'll be going now."

Baek Socheon called out to Hwang Ilbi as he turned away.

"Ilbi."

It had been so long since Baek Socheon had called him by name that Hwang Ilbi turned back, his heart swelling.

"Yes."

"You can worry about everything in the world, but don't worry about me."

Looking at Baek Socheon, Hwang Ilbi made a silent promise. If Baek Socheon was ever demoted again, he would follow him down without hesitation. Failing to follow him before remained the greatest regret of his life.

Hwang Ilbi smiled softly.

"All right. I won't worry. Who's worrying about whom, anyway?"

There were, though.

Others who worried deeply about Baek Socheon.

The martial artists of the Sage Heaven Corps worried as well, but Im Chung and Beon Saeng worried more than anyone. The two were in the Sage Heaven Corps office, concerned for Baek Socheon.

"Big Brother can really win, right?"

At Beon Saeng's worried question, Im Chung replied,

"You would know better than I would. Your martial arts are stronger than mine now."

"Even so, we're still just an acorn and a chestnut. How could I know Big Brother's skill, or Yeom Sawon's?"

"How does Big Brother look to you?"

"I haven't seen him at all either."

"Is that so?"

Im Chung felt uneasy. If it had been another opponent, perhaps it would be different, but Yeom Sawon was the heir of the Black Heaven Alliance.

"He'll be all right, won't he?"

"Of course."

Then a voice came from behind them.

"Someone at the entrance was saying, who's worrying about whom?"

They spun around in surprise and found Baek Socheon entering.

"Big Brother!"

Neither of them had seen him since the Chongqing operation.

Baek Socheon sat across from them. It was good to face each other like this after so long.

"Don't worry about me."

"Do you look like someone we shouldn't worry about? More money is riding on that damned bastard now."

"You placed bets?"

"There are wagers on your duel."

"Really?"

Baek Socheon knew that betting always occurred when a duel was held. Of course, he had never gambled in his life.

"Go put down every coin you have."

"What?"

"Bet every coin you have on me winning."

Beon Saeng blinked. Ever since joining the Sage Heaven Corps, he had not been able to joke around properly with Baek Socheon, and his mouth had been itching for it. At last, for the first time in a long while, the mood allowed for some teasing. Since entering the Sage Heaven Corps, Baek Socheon had not been Big Brother but the lofty Unit Commander.

"What if you lose?"

"Then you'll go broke. Isn't that what gambling is?"

"Did you perhaps bet the other way? Telling everyone you meet to bet on you."

"Why would I?"

"Because losing is easier than winning."

"Ha ha ha. That's a fair point."

Im Chung, who had been listening, closely studied Baek Socheon's face.

"But you've changed somehow. You look more at ease than before."

There were probably two reasons he would hear that even in such a tense time.

First, his martial arts had improved. Second, there was Cheon Geuk. The love they shared gave him a deep sense of happiness.

Ah, there was one more reason. After hearing Cheon Geuk speak about worry, he had decided to let go of unnecessary concerns. For example, worries about the martial world falling apart.

He was trying to cast aside things that would not be solved through worry and concern himself only with what he needed to.

"I understand. I'll bet everything on you, Big Brother."

"Leave yourself enough money for dinner."

"Yes. I'll leave only that much and bet the rest!"

"Only this once. If you get addicted to gambling, your life is over. Don't think of it as gambling. Think of it as a gift you'll receive from knowing me."

"That's what I'll do. Gambling wouldn't even make my heart race anyway."

Baek Socheon asked curiously at Beon Saeng's words.

"Why not?"

"Isn't my life already more remarkable than any gamble? This summer, I was living at the smallest and farthest branch from headquarters, pretending not to see the Black Society thugs. Then in winter, I was standing at the very front, facing the Black Banner, the Black Heaven Alliance's greatest elite force. What kind of gamble could excite me when I'm living a life like this?"

Baek Socheon smiled and nodded.

"I hope your life stays exciting."

"Yours too, Big Brother."

He had said it without thinking, and Beon Saeng had heard it without thinking, but Baek Socheon realized that their exchange held his whole life within it.

He had lived thinking of other people's lives before his own.

Not anymore. That was why Baek Socheon was excited. He would not kill Yeom Hwasin for righteousness, but for his own future and happiness. He would smile to himself whenever he imagined the day he left the Alliance.

"Yes, from then on, life will become truly exciting. From then on!"

"Huh? When is then?"

Im Chung and Beon Saeng looked confused at Baek Socheon's words, which had escaped almost like a monologue.

Baek Socheon gave them an inscrutable smile.

'Forgive me in advance. I can't take you with me then.'

As Baek Socheon moved to leave again, Beon Saeng asked,

"Where are you going as soon as you've arrived?"

Baek Socheon strode out as he replied,

"Since we're on the subject, there's someone I'd like to help make some money."

Footnotes:

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