Love Ballad of the Tyrant King

Chapter 61: Jaseung, Invests

"Something about this feels suspicious."

There were not many people who could stand in front of Sa Cheongwang, the Head of Guanghai Blade Sect, and state their opinion so confidently.

Among them, there was only one who could do so with such beauty. Sa Cheongwang’s own treasured daughter, Sa Yeonsoo.

Sa Cheongwang had originally had three children, but illness had taken two of them, leaving only Sa Yeonsoo.

Because of that, his affection for her was extraordinary. Fortunately, she grew up both intelligent and beautiful, repaying his love.

"Suspicious? What do you mean?"

"This tournament took place, and the Righteous Chivalrous Sword Clan collapsed. Do you think that’s a coincidence? When Lord Hae died and Hae Gwang died right after, I thought it could be a coincidence. Things like that can happen in the world. But when I saw Hae Ryang being taken away by the Murim Alliance, I was convinced. There is definitely some plot behind this."

Sa Yeonsoo’s words made Sa Cheongwang nod.

The string of incidents had happened in such a short time that he hadn’t been able to examine them deeply. Besides, a bigger matter had kept him from dwelling on it.

Yang Sebang, whom they had recruited to devour the Northern Sky Clan, had been killed by Yoma. Once the Demonic Cult got involved, the matter had become one of the clan’s very survival.

Since then, there had been no further provocation from the Demonic Cult, but he had remained on edge. Now, thinking about it again, it seemed possible his daughter was right. All of it had been part of a scheme.

"But who could have brought down the Righteous Chivalrous Sword Clan?"

The Northern Sky Clan was too busy with the tournament, and his own sect had no connection to the matter.

Even Sa Yeonsoo, who suggested the conspiracy theory, could not answer that.

"That’s what makes it more dangerous. We’re fighting an enemy hidden in the dark."

She truly believed in the conspiracy she spoke of. That was why, as she left the room, she stressed it again.

"I hope I’m wrong. But if I’m right, their next target will be… us."

Left alone, Sa Cheongwang hesitated for a moment.

"Yool, are you there?"

"Yes, I am."

One of the side doors opened, and a man called Yool entered. His long hair hung loose, covering part of his face. He was the subordinate Sa Cheongwang trusted the most.

"What do you think?"

"The Young Lady makes a good point. Recently, all of our attention has been on the Demonic Cult. And during that time, the Righteous Chivalrous Sword Clan collapsed. I don’t think we can rule out the possibility of a third party’s involvement."

"You mean they drew our attention elsewhere and struck the Righteous Chivalrous Sword Clan? But is there really anyone in this martial world who would dare pose as the Demonic Cult to pull this off?"

Yool said nothing. That silence itself was the main reason he could not strongly insist on the idea.

"Let’s say you’re right. Then who, and for what reason, would do this?"

"Whoever gained the most from it."

"And who do you think that is?"

Yool didn’t hesitate, as if he had already decided.

"Seop Mu-pyeong."

"Seop Mu-pyeong? Not Lord Baek?"

"Yes. I’ve been suspicious of him from the beginning. The great disciple of a fallen sect winning the martial arts tournament? That’s the kind of heroic story martial artists love, but I don’t believe in such coincidences."

"But it doesn’t make sense. If he’s behind it, wouldn’t he first try to take the Northern Sky Clan? Why go after the Righteous Chivalrous Sword Clan at all?"

They didn’t know that Lee Jaseung was the Black Way Alliance leader, nor that the Righteous Chivalrous Sword Clan’s tournament gambling was connected to him. So they couldn’t possibly grasp the real background.

"That much I don’t know."

Sa Cheongwang’s gaze deepened at Yool’s honest answer.

"So, what do you suggest?"

"We need to stop this marriage. If Seop Mu-pyeong really is behind all this, we can’t let things continue according to his plans."

"But the wedding is tomorrow. Can it be stopped?"

"There’s always a way. The question is whether it’s worth the cost."

It was a tricky situation. If his daughter was right, they had to do everything possible to block the marriage. But if she was wrong, the loss could be great.

Sa Cheongwang calculated the risks. Which loss would be greater?

"Hmm…"

The calculation wasn’t difficult. One loss would hurt but could be endured. The other was unlikely but, if it happened, would be catastrophic.

Sa Cheongwang calmly spoke.

"Stop the wedding."

* * *

Dan Woobin entered Lee Jaseung’s room at his summon.

"You called?"

Lee Jaseung was standing by the window, looking outside.

"Report on the future plans."

Dan Woobin made an incredulous face and responded.

"Your wedding is tomorrow!"

Lee Jaseung glanced and asked him.

"And?"

"What do you mean, and? I’m telling you to take a break from work today! On the day before your wedding, you’re asking me about future plans? If I wrote this in a memoir, no one would believe it."

"That’s exactly the point."

"What?"

"No one would think I’d do anything right before my wedding. Which means I could carry something out without suspicion. If there’s something to be done, today’s the day."

"I understand what you’re trying to say, but not today. There’s nothing urgent to take care of anyway."

"Is that so?"

Lee Jaseung turned back to the window. He felt uneasy for some reason. It wasn’t just the normal tension before a wedding, but something sharper.

Dan Woobin, seeing there was no persuading him, spoke calmly.

"The Righteous Chivalrous Sword Clan will have a hard time recovering. The relatives and secondary branches will fight to become the new Lord."

Lee Jaseung gave him a look that meant that wasn’t enough. Dan Woobin was ready.

"Through the Wind and Cloud Merchant Union, we’ve recruited one of the most promising candidates. We plan to give him financial backing. If he can pay off the clan’s debts, his chance of becoming the leader is high. Then the Righteous Chivalrous Sword Clan will be ours."

He didn’t detail it, but he would prepare many ways to bind the man tightly so he could never escape their control.

In this way, without direct intervention, they would swallow the Righteous Chivalrous Sword Clan whole.

"Next is Guanghai Blade Sect?"

Dan Woobin shook his head.

"No."

Lee Jaseung looked surprised. He thought they would obviously be next.

"If the Guanghai Blade Sect falls too, suspicion will turn toward the Northern Sky Clan. Even if we avoid suspicion, the Murim Alliance won’t like the Northern Sky Clan holding all the power. So we’ll keep the Guanghai Blade Sect close as a shield."

Lee Jaseung understood and liked the subtlety of the plan.

"Our next target is the Murim Alliance."

"The Murim Alliance?"

"Yes. As you know, the Demonic Cult is now torn between the Vice Leader, the Elder Demon Lord and the Grand Elder, Great Demon."

They themselves had engineered that.

"While they fight, we need to seize control of the Murim Alliance, or at least gain enough influence over its decisions."

That suggestion completed the picture. Lee Jaseung could now see his path clearly.

Eventually, they would provoke a clash between the Murim Alliance and the Demonic Cult. While those two forces weakened each other, the Black Way Alliance would gather strength.

At the decisive moment, they would unleash their full power and sweep them all away.

"What’s the progress of the Dark Heaven Army?"

This was the terrifying unit he had ordered to be formed from condemned criminals when returning from the outer regions.

"The fourth division has been completed. They can be deployed at any time."

With mental control techniques and self-destruction skills in place, it was a fearsome force.

"Don’t hold back on investment."

"No need to worry. The outer region’s funds are enough."

"And from our latest earnings, invest twenty million silver coins each into the Divine Sword and the Iron Cavalry Regiment, and ten million into the Three-Eyed Pavilion."

"Twenty million each? And the Three-Eyed Pavilion too?"

Lee Jaseung nodded.

It was a huge investment. Until now, the largest had been in the hundreds of thousands.

With that much, they could equip them with far better weapons, armor, and elixirs, greatly boosting their strength. Morale would soar as well.

It was enough to transform the organizations entirely.

"Isn’t that excessive?"

"No."

The Divine Sword and the Iron Cavalry Regiments, and Three-Eyed Pavilion were the most important in the Black Way Alliance.

In fact, he thought it wasn’t enough. He even considered investing the entire one hundred twenty million silver coins he had won from gambling.

But he would not invest it all at once and always spread out investments, evaluate results, then reinvest.

If he was right, they would return the investment tenfold, even a hundredfold.

Save when you must, but when it’s time to spend, spend without hesitation. That was how Lee Jaseung saw money.

"Make them twice as strong as quickly as possible."

"That’s impossible, but understood. I’ll do my best."

Lee Jaseung smiled faintly. With Dan Woobin, he didn’t need to worry.

"Then please rest."

Dan Woobin turned to leave, but Lee Jaseung asked,

"You look tired."

"I haven’t been sleeping well."

"Why not?"

"Good question. You’re the one getting married, yet I’m the one losing sleep."

It was because he still hadn’t chosen a wedding gift. Sometimes, you find yourself troubled by something unexpected. For him, it was this.

‘Even deciding whether to strike the Demonic Cult or Orthodox Faction only took two days, but this…!’

With that thought, Dan Woobin left Lee Jaseung’s room, walked through the hallway and ran into Mujin.

"Have you chosen a gift?"

Dan Woobin shook his head.

"Just get something. Don’t risk your life over it."

Mujin walked off with a sigh, he didn’t think it was worth wasting time talking about this.

But then, Mujin’s voice came from behind.

"You got it all wrong.”

"What?"

"You’re looking for a gift that will satisfy you, not one that will make our Lord happy."

"...!"

Dan Woobin froze for a moment.

"Unless I’m wrong.”

Mujin walked away quickly as soon as he was done.

It was an offhand remark, but Dan Woobin suddenly felt his cloudy mind clear. Mujin was right. He had been thinking about his own satisfaction, not about truly celebrating the wedding.

Dan Woobin glanced back, but Mujin was gone. At times like this, he really seemed like an adult.

With a lighter expression, Dan Woobin continued walking. He now felt he knew what he had to do.