Chapter 163 : Seolyoung, Acts

Chapter 163: Seolyoung, Acts

The moment Baek Seolyoung heard the news that Ban Yeo had been Silent Deathated, a thought came to her.

It was time for her to step forward. Finally, the moment to act had come.

When she said she would make Lee Jaseung the Alliance Leader, it wasn't an impulsive statement.

Ever since meeting Lee Jaseung, Baek Seolyoung had been changing steadily, and she had come to reflect deeply on human relationships. In that process, she had begun to look inward.

By nature, she wasn’t a dynamic person, but a quiet one.

She valued spirit over material things.

In other words, she had lived believing that ideals mattered more than reality.

But lately, she had begun to doubt.

Was that really true?

It might sound like a strange comparison, but there was one example that came to mind.

There was a poor man.

If one gave him a single silver coin, or instead offered him sincere comfort for his weariness, which would be the more meaningful act?

Until now, Baek Seolyoung had always believed in the latter. She had believed that genuine comfort was more valuable than money.

Money could always be given or earned again, and the moment one gave it, a relationship turned worldly.

But was that really true?

Perhaps giving him that single silver coin was the more meaningful act, and comfort should have come after. Perhaps she had lived her life not realizing that.

That was why she wanted to find out.

There was only one way to discover the answer.

To live differently than she had before, and to take action. To stop thinking only with her head and start moving.

Lee Jaseung asked her,

“How?”

Yes, that was the heart of the problem.

“First, I would need to convince you.”

Lee Jaseung repeated the same question.

“How?”

“In the same way you convinced me.”

“And how did I do that?”

Lee Jaseung was genuinely curious. He had only treated her the way he always did, but how had she received that?

Baek Seolyoung had been challenged by Lee Jaseung many times.

He dug deep into her heart and dragged out the things she least wanted to reveal. He didn’t do it to find fault. He simply believed it was right.

What was hidden deep inside his heart? Could she truly see it for what it was?

At that moment, when her mind began to grow tangled, Baek Seolyoung steadied herself.

No!

She was falling back into her old habit of overthinking.

She would get lost in thought, exhaust herself before taking action, and call that caution. But that wasn’t caution. It was nothing but hesitation disguised as prudence.

It was the same mistake she had always made.

She couldn’t do that anymore. She had to push forward with confidence and positivity.

“Because this is something you need to do.”

“Why?”

“You said you’d unite the world, didn’t you? Then shouldn’t you also experience what it means to be the Leader of the Orthodox Faction and of the Demonic Cult? That’s the only way you’ll understand what each side truly thinks, isn’t it?”

Lee Jaseung couldn’t respond for a moment.

Baek Seolyoung continued.

“I don’t know what kind of ruler you want to become. But as your wife, I want to ask you this. If you’re going to be the ruler of the world, then be one great enough to embrace everyone.”

Her voice grew a little more intense as she spoke, carried away by her own emotion. But what she had just said was her honest feeling.

“If that’s the kind of resolve you have, then even if you fail along the way, it’ll still be worth it.”

Then she said what she had buried deep inside her heart.

“I want to walk that path with you. If it’s that kind of journey… then I could even die with you.”

Right after saying those words, Baek Seolyoung regretted them.

Ah, I should have dug into his heart, not revealed mine.

But at least it worked.

Lee Jaseung broke the silence.

“Congratulations. You’ve succeeded in convincing me.”

Baek Seolyoung smiled brightly.

“Ah! Thank you.”

Her heart had reached him. The sincerity that had come from her will to act.

Lee Jaseung repeated the same question for the third time since their conversation began.

“But how?”

He wondered if she had already thought of a plan.

Baek Seolyoung, who had been wearing a serious expression as if she were about to say something grand, suddenly smiled.

“I’ll have to think about that now.”

* * *

In the center of a secret chamber, a man sat submerged in a bathtub.

The water was mixed with medicine. Dozens of herbs had been combined, turning the liquid turquoise and giving off a stench so strong that one’s face twisted instinctively.

Looking down at the man was Mountain and Rain.

“So the Silent Death succeeded.”

Rain's eyes gleamed with admiration. The man submerged in the tub was none other than the Silent Death who had killed Ban Yeo.

The Silent Death never failed to kill his target. Not once had he ever failed.

Yet Mountain rarely used him.

The technique he used was called White Mist Dispersal Art.

It was the Silent Death’s exclusive martial technique, one that turned his body into mist, allowing him to infiltrate anywhere and kill his target without fail.

But every time he used it, he had to spend the next three months like this, submerged in medicinal water, unable to move. That was why Mountain used him sparingly.

He never knew when an emergency might arise where he would need the man. To Moutanin, he was a hidden trump card.

Of course, he wasn’t Mountain's only one. There were others who could be called trump cards as well.

“How’s the election situation?”

“The balance has shifted in favor of Gwak Jinpung. At this rate, he’ll surely become the Alliance Leader.”

“Don’t let your guard down. The Black Way Alliance Leader isn’t an ordinary man.”

“Yes.”

Rain didn’t tell him not to worry or to trust him. He had already seen for himself how extraordinary Lee Jaseung was, enough to make even Mountain wary.

All he could do was promise to do his best until the very end.

* * *

“You look tired.”

When she raised her head, she saw Dan Ah, one of her attendants, holding a teacup and looking at her.

“Do I? I guess I’ve been thinking too much about the election.”

Baek Seolyoung answered honestly.

Dan Ah handed her the tea and spoke carefully.

“I don’t know if I should say this, but I hope you become the Alliance Leader, my Lady.”

She had originally belonged to the Black Way Alliance. In this situation, with Lee Jaseung also a candidate, supporting Baek Seolyoung was a dangerous thing to say.

But Dan Ah meant it sincerely. After serving Baek Seolyoung, she had come to understand what kind of person she was.

Baek Seolyoung was still young and inexperienced. Her martial ability had improved lately, but she didn’t yet possess the strength befitting a Murim Alliance Leader.

Even so, Dan Ah thought Baek Seolyoung was perfect for the role of the Orthodox Faction’s leader. More than anyone she had ever seen.

With age would come experience, and her martial ability would grow.

But a person’s true nature never changed.

With Baek Seolyoung’s heart, she could lead Jianghu with grace and compassion. She could become the kind of leader people admired. It was, perhaps, less the opinion of a subordinate and more the wish of someone who had come to respect her deeply.

Baek Seolyoung smiled and asked,

“Do you really think I’m qualified?”

“You must be, or you wouldn’t have been nominated.”

“I became a candidate because of my background.”

“I don’t think that’s true.”

“Thank you for thinking so highly of me.”

Baek Seolyoung thought about it. The reason she couldn’t become the Alliance Leader wasn’t because she was a woman, or because she was young, inexperienced, or weak.

It was because fate hadn’t chosen her.

Even when choosing a sword, there was always that pull, that feeling of connection, that desire to wield it. Like when she had obtained her sword from the Go’s Vault.

But when she heard she was nominated for Alliance Leader, there had been no such feeling. Her heart hadn’t raced, nor had she felt any yearning.

Becoming Alliance Leader was no small matter. It was something that should have felt destined.

Just then, she heard Mook Young’s voice through a transmission.

— They’ve agreed to meet. I’ll escort you there.

— Alright.

Baek Seolyoung stood up.

Dan Ah asked in a worried tone,

“Where are you going at this hour?”

Baek Seolyoung smiled faintly.

“There’s someone I also want to see become Alliance Leader.”

* * *

In the dark of night, Baek Seolyoung stood alone in the forest.

At a time like this, there were only two ways for Lee Jaseung to win the election.

She could cast her vote for him, or she could take away Gwak Jinpung’s votes.

Voluntary withdrawal wasn’t allowed, so adding her vote to Lee Jaseung’s was impossible.

Which method would be best?

As she pondered, she thought of one way to steal Gwak Jinpung’s support.

Then the person she had been waiting for arrived.

“It’s been a while.”

The woman who greeted her politely was Nam Seohyang, the head of the Golden Ants.

Baek Seolyoung returned the greeting courteously.

“It’s good to see you.”

She had been wondering what to do when, almost miraculously, Nam Seohyang had come to mind, along with the solution.

In the past, she would have hesitated, spending time in contemplation. But this time, she decided to act without delay, and had arranged this meeting through Mook Young.

“I didn’t expect you to ask for me.”

“I have a favor to ask.”

Baek Seolyoung knew well that Nam Seohyang had feelings for Lee Jaseung. But she didn’t let it bother her.

Showing jealousy or resentment would only provoke her. It was wiser to ignore it completely.

But Nam Seohyang was different.

Perhaps because of her feelings for Lee Jaseung, she couldn’t feel entirely fond of Baek Seolyoung.

“May I guess what kind of favor this is?”

Baek Seolyoung sensed the subtle provocation in her tone.

When she nodded, Nam Seohyang said confidently,

“You came because of Gwak Jinpung, didn’t you?”

Baek Seolyoung smiled.

“Yes, that’s right. How did you know?”

“It’s simple. With the election only a few days away, it’s obvious what kind of information you’d need. And it’s not like you came to ask about your husband.”

That last remark was also a jab.

But Baek Seolyoung didn’t waver. She simply smiled.

“You’re just as clever as I’ve heard.”

“Information about Gwak Jinpung is very expensive, you know.”

If Lee Jaseung had asked, Nam Seohyang would have given it freely. But she didn’t want to offer it to Baek Seolyoung for free. Her jealousy had twisted into spite.

“The same information can increase in value dozens or even hundreds of times depending on when it’s sold. You probably couldn’t afford it.”

“How much would it be?”

“Three hundred thousand silver coins.”

Baek Seolyoung’s eyes widened in surprise.

Nam Seohyang smiled.

“I understand. You’ve probably never bought information before after all.”

Only after reducing Baek Seolyoung to a naive outsider did she continue.

“Just go back. I’ve already given that information to the Alliance Leader.”

“Your loyalty is impressive.”

“Yes. He’s someone worth that loyalty.”

Their gazes locked in the air.

Nam Seohyang’s eyes were sharp and defiant, while Baek Seolyoung’s were calm and gentle. To Nam Seohyang, that calm felt like the composure of someone who already possessed everything.

Maybe that was why Nam Seohyang said something she didn’t need to.

“I’m a little disappointed. To think that the Lord of the Northern Sky Clan, a symbol of the Orthodox Faction, would try to win an election by exploiting an opponent’s weakness.”

Up until then, Baek Seolyoung had only listened silently. Then she spoke words Nam Seohyang didn’t expect.

“I did come here for something related to the election, but not to buy information about Gwak Jinpung.”

Nam Seohyang blinked in surprise.

“Then what for?”

Baek Seolyoung met her gaze and said,

“To buy your loyalty.”