Love Ballad of the Tyrant King

Chapter 41: Jaseung, Meets the Leader of the Hidden Death Valley
Yang Sebang’s death sent the world into another uproar.

When rumors spread that he had been taken down by the Asura Demon Sect, people trembled in fear and cursed the Demonic Cult.

But no one dared to curse the Asura Demon Sect aloud. They were afraid a passing Demonic Human might overhear. That was how catastrophic the Cult's presence felt.

The Asura Demon Sect of this era was an object of terror, like an unstoppable epidemic, where neither righteousness nor justice worked.

The Cult showed no reaction whatsoever and remained silent about this incident.

While the martial world stirred, a child was seen running under a bridge. A few beggars were lying around near a stream.

The child ran toward a shabby hut.

The inside reeked terribly. Any normal person would have pinched their nose and backed out.

But the child went further, stirring a pot of leftover beggar food beside him. It was full of rotting, spoiled food, making the stench even worse.

Just then, a clicking sound came from beneath the pot.

Srrrk.

The floor opened, revealing a small passageway, just large enough for a child to crawl through. The child slipped inside, and the entrance closed again.

He walked quickly through the eerie tunnel that looked like a ghost might appear any second. After walking for some time, the path ended.

He triggered a mechanism in the corner, and a small door opened.

A man stood behind it. Just looking at him felt as if killing intent froze the air around him.

"What is it?"

The man asked. And the child pulled out a sealed letter.

Upon seeing it, the man was visibly shocked.

His eyes fixed on the golden character for “secret” stamped on the seal.

* * *

Two four hours later, that same letter lay between two middle-aged men seated face to face beneath the Heaven’s Gate.

They were none other than Dalguk, the head of the Hidden Death Valley that was one of the top ten assassin organizations in the martial world. And Cheonsal, its representative assassin. Those who had died at Lee Jaseung’s hands while pursuing the iron chest had also belonged to this organization.

The two men stared at the letter in silence for a long time, until Cheonsal finally broke it.

“It’s been a long time since we received a Hwangbu.”

A "Hwangbu" referred to a gold-level request, meaning a commission worth more than one hundred thousand silver coins.

But this wasn’t just a standard Hwangbu. The request was worth ten million silver coins. This wasn’t just a gold-level, it was a diamond-level commission.

Ten million silver coins.

Since the Hidden Death Valley’s founding, they had never received a commission of this size. In fact, no known organization had.

Typical contracts ranged from a few dozen to a few thousand silver coins. Even requests exceeding ten thousand were rare in a year.

Occasionally, there’d be a request worth tens of thousands, but ones over a hundred thousand came once in a decade at most.

And now, they’d received one worth ten million.

The target was the Wind and Cloud Merchant Union.

As befitting the amount, the job was extreme. They were to assassinate Wind and Cloud Merchant Union’s leader and key members and burn everything down.

In short, they were being hired to exterminate them. The resulting shockwave would be enormous.

“What will you do?”

At Cheonsal’s question, Dalguk sighed.

“I’ll report it.”

“You can’t!”

Cheonsal raised his voice.

The problem was where the request came from. The Black Way Alliance had already issued orders. If a request involves the Wind and Cloud Merchant Union, it must be reported.

They could’ve played dumb and taken the job, but the order was made before the request.

“We can just ignore it.”

Dalguk took it as an order, but Cheonsal wanted to abuse authority.

“What have those Black Way Alliance bastards ever done for us besides bleed us dry?”

Cheonsal already held deep resentment toward the previous leader of the Alliance, Cheon Yeombaek, who had run the group like a corrupt gang and extorted money under various pretexts. All assassination organizations, not just the Hidden Death Valley, had suffered.

That deep-rooted distrust carried over even under Lee Jaseung’s new leadership.

“Do you think it’s any different now just because it’s a new Leader?”

Dalguk tried to calm him with a gentle tone.

“We don’t know yet. We haven’t dealt with him.”

He had come to Heaven's Gate with the top assassins including Cheonsal, because everyone’s attention was on the martial arts tournament. Many masters had gathered there.

Where there are crowds, disputes follow. They had come hoping for large commissions.

They weren’t the only ones. Many other assassin organizations were in town, staying near their branches and watching the tournament.

Two things made this tournament noteworthy. One was that Seop Mu-pyeong, whom no one expected, had won. The other was the appearance of the Asura Demon Sect.

But now, came this jackpot.

Cheonsal leaned forward, excited.

“Everyone’s here. How about we take this opportunity to unite?”

“Unite?”

“If the top ten assassination organizations join forces, even the Black Way Alliance won’t be able to look down on us. You should lead and call a summit.”

“Watch your words.”

“Boss! No, brother! What are you afraid of?”

“It’s not fear. I’m just being cautious.”  

Cheonsal’s lips twitched. They had known each other for years. He could tell Dalguk was clearly afraid.

Dalguk sighed and opened up. It might have been a different story for anyone else, but Cheonsal was like a brother to him.

“I actually heard a rumor.”

Cheonsal’s eyes lit up.

“What kind of rumor?”

“You know Go Cheonyang?”

“The Leader of the Ten Thousand Evils Alliance in the outer regions?”

“There’s a rumor that he and most of the Seven Great Masters are dead.”

Cheonsal’s eyes widened. They were supreme martial artists. They were the absolute rulers of the outer regions.

“Was it internal strife?”

He wondered if it had been mutual destruction.

Dalguk said nothing. He only stared. Realizing what the silence implied, Cheonsal flinched.

“Don’t tell me... the new Black Way Alliance Leader did it?”

Dalguk slowly nodded.

Cheonsal’s face turned grim, then doubtful. He shook his head. The Ten Thousand Evils Alliance Leader wasn’t an easy foe.

“There’s no way he took down the Ten Thousand Evils Alliance Leader shortly after he took control of the Black Way Alliance. I find that hard to believe.”

Dalguk shared that skepticism. He had called it a rumor, but the source had been reliable.

“Let’s be cautious.”

As Dalguk finished speaking, a quiet voice came from outside.

“And that caution saved your lives.”

The unfamiliar voice startled them both. They were in the Heaven's Gate branch of the Hidden Death Valley. It wasn’t as secure as the main base, but it was still where the Leader was currently in.

Creak.

The door opened and a man entered. The guards who had stood watch lay collapsed behind him.

They weren’t as strong as Cheonsal, but they were skilled killers who had come with Dalguk. Anyone reaching this room had to pass through dozens of others.

‘A top-tier master!’

Dalguk and Cheonsal quickly exchanged glances.

The man entering was calm. Shockingly, it was Lee Jaseung.

As he slowly approached, he spoke to Dalguk.

“Step aside.”

The two looked at each other again. They couldn’t understand what he meant.

As he approached, they moved apart.

He sat in Dalguk’s seat and said quietly,

“You may remain standing.”

At his rude behavior, Cheonsal’s jaw clenched.

Then Dalguk’s voice came through in a whisper.

— Do as he says.

Cheonsal’s jaw trembled harder.

Watching him, Lee Jaseung chuckled in disdain.

The Three-Eyed Pavilion, which monitored the Righteous Chivalrous Sword Clan, had learned they had made a commission to the Hidden Death Valley. That information had gone straight to Lee Jaseung, who came personally here.

Just as Dan Woobin had predicted, they hadn’t reported it immediately. They were still debating on it.  

Dalguk and Cheonsal observed him closely.

He was young and didn’t show signs of martial training.

But reaching this room proved his skill.

— Maybe he used poison.

— That’s possible

Even as they exchanged whispered thoughts, neither dared to attack.

It was because of Lee Jaseung’s presence.

He was calm, confident, and commanding. Too much so to treat lightly.

“Great Expert, who may you be…?”

Dalguk began to ask, then paused as a realization hit him.

“Wait, are you…?”

Lee Jaseung looked at him and said softly,

“Yes, I am the Leader of the Black Way Alliance.”

Both men gasped aloud. The head of the Black Way Alliance they’d only heard from the rumors, sat right in front of them. They heard he was young, but they didn’t imagine him to be this young.  

“I thought the Leader was at the main base...”

Dalguk trailed off again, more shaken than when he guessed the truth.

If this man in front truly was the real leader, then the one back at their main base must be a decoy.

Revealing such secret information meant he might erase them once he was done here.

“Don’t be scared. If I meant to kill you, it’d be over already.”

At the very least, he didn’t come here to kill them. Relieved, Dalguk asked,

“What do you want from me?”

There was a reason Lee Jaseung came himself. It was only something only he could resolve.

“That commission on the Wind and Cloud Merchant Union. I need you to reveal who made it.”

It was a request that could ruin them. Dalguk’s face hardened.

“I cannot do that.”

No one would hire an assassin organization that exposes its clients.

Cheonsal shouted from beside him.

“Even if you are the Black Way Alliance, isn’t this taking a step too far? Do you think we’re pushovers?”

His body exuded killing intent.

The next moment, Lee Jaseung struck in a flash. Before Cheonsal realized it, his fist smashed into his face.

Thwack!

Cheonsal’s jaw twisted. By the time he noticed, it had already landed. With that power gap and Lee Jaseung moving first, it was obvious what the outcome was going to be.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

Lee Jaseung pummeled his face and gut without mercy. Cheonsal collapsed without even being able to fight back.

Dalguk, watching, was horrified. He hadn’t imagined Cheonsal would be so easily overwhelmed.

He himself was only slightly stronger. Jumping in would’ve meant sharing the floor with him.

Lee Jaseung looked coldly down at Cheonsal, emitting chilling killing intent.

“Why? Am I not allowed to see you guys as pushovers?”

Cheonsal couldn’t reply. The sheer pressure paralyzed him, and the pain was overwhelming.

“Tell me, what makes you think you’re so great we should fear you?”

Pow!

Lee Jaseung kicked him. Cheonsal flew into the wall and passed out.

Lee Jaseung knew that brute force was needed when it came to controlling assassin organizations. Show weakness, and they’d exploit it.

Sure enough, Dalguk quickly stepped in, bowing low.

“No, it’s not like that at all. But the client this time is the Righteous Chivalrous Sword Clan...”

Worried Cheonsal might die, he had to act. He didn’t know about others, but he had to make sure that Cheonsal lived.

“So you fear them, but not us?”

Dalguk dropped to the floor.

“Of course not! But you know no one would hire us again if we exposed a client. We’d be doomed.”

Only then did Lee Jaseung ease his killing intent. His tone softened. It was time to stop the stick and give the carrot.

“You don’t have to worry about that at all.”