Love Ballad of the Tyrant King

Chapter 63: Jaseung, Wedding Ceremony

Lee Jaseung and Baek Seolyoung were walking out of the front yard of Yeo Beom’s estate.

Lee Jaseung was still holding her hand.

Baek Seolyoung could have been angry at Lee Jaseung’s unilateral handling of the matter without asking her opinion, but surprisingly she was not all that upset.

When she had first heard that the wedding might have to be postponed, her heart had felt heavy, as if a boulder had been placed on it.

But when Lee Jaseung had sharply rebuked them and declared that the wedding would proceed, she had felt as if her chest had opened up and she could breathe freely again.

Once they had completely left the place, Lee Jaseung finally stopped walking. Only then did he release the hand he had been holding.

Feeling awkward after walking such a long way while holding hands, Baek Seolyoung quickly changed the subject.

“By the way, what do you think happened to the Alliance Leader?”

Lee Jaseung’s gaze narrowed. He did not believe in coincidences. The Alliance Leader was fine all along but then happened to meet with trouble on his way to attend the wedding?

Nonsense.

Someone had definitely pulled a trick to disrupt the wedding.

“Guess someone didn’t like the idea of you getting married.”

At his joke, she let out a small laugh.

Then she spoke seriously.

“It’s a scheme. A very petty one.”

Lee Jaseung nodded, as if thinking the same thing. His eyes had turned cold.

To toy with something as significant as a wedding…

The bright moon was already high in the night sky. Once this night passed, it would be the wedding day. There was not much time left to set things right.

Lee Jaseung spoke while striding forward.

“For now, let’s head back.”

* * *

“It seems the Guanghai Blade Sect is involved.”

Dan Woobin, having finished his investigation, entered the room. Mujin and Ma Young-gi were already waiting in Lee Jaseung’s office.

“Six hours ago, it was confirmed that a man named Yool left the Guanghai Blade Sect. He serves as the right hand of Guanghai Blade Sect’s Head, Sa Cheongwang.”

“What about his movements afterward?”

“We couldn’t confirm beyond that, but it appears he didn’t meet the Alliance Leader directly.”

“This happened when he didn’t even meet the Alliance Leader? It must mean he met someone who could influence him then.”

“Yes, that’s what it looks like. We’re trying to find out who that person is now.”

“But why would the Guanghai Blade Sect try to interfere with the wedding?”

There could have been many reasons. But Dan Woobin offered the worst-case scenario first. If it wasn’t the worst, then it could be handled.

“They might think that you were behind the handling of the Righteous Chivalrous Sword Clan, my Lord. They are just speculating, of course.”

“Even so, that’s quite impressive of them.”

No one else seemed to have noticed anything yet.

“So the Alliance Leader moved under Guanghai Blade Sect’s influence?”

Lee Jaseung’s lips curled slightly.

The current Murim Alliance, like the former Black Way Alliance, was plagued by corruption. They had probably given a bribe, made an irresistible offer, or perhaps found a weakness to exploit.

Mujin, who had been silent, asked Dan Woobin.

“So what do we do now?”

“What else? Proceed with the wedding as planned.”

Dan Woobin’s eyes turned cold as he added,

“And make them pay the price for daring to mess with the Lord’s marriage.”

“You look like you are ready to start a war between the Orthodox and Unorthodox right now.”

“I’m actually considering it. Maybe we should.”

“Hahaha. Hearing you joke around with such a serious face is hilarious.”

Ma Young-gi nudged Mujin’s side and said quietly,

“I don’t think he’s joking.”

“Hahaha! Your joke’s even funnier!”

“I’m not joking either.”

“Hahahahaha!”

Mujin suddenly stopped laughing and shouted at them,

“Enough, you two! You claim you don’t get along, but in moments like this, you’re in perfect sync.”

After the banter, Mujin asked seriously,

“So what will you do?”

Lee Jaseung knew this was not something to handle with pure emotion. He needed to stay logical and composed. Yet he made an emotional decision.

“Since we’re having a wedding, it shouldn’t be a bleak one.”

For him personally, it made no difference. Just having these three here was enough. But for Baek Seolyoung, it would be different. For a woman, a wedding day was a day she would want to remember as more special than any other.

Ma Young-gi looked surprised at his words, while Mujin gave a smile of unknown meaning.

Dan Woobin, the strongest supporter of this marriage, beamed. It was exactly what he had wanted to hear.

Lee Jaseung looked at Dan Woobin and said firmly,

“Make sure the Alliance Leader attends. That’s an order.”

Dan Woobin answered in a booming voice,

“Leave it to me!”

It was not an easy order, but it was an order that felt good to carry out.

* * *

At last, the day broke.

As befitted the wedding of a Lord of a clan, the venue was decorated beautifully and splendidly.

Guests began arriving early in the morning, most of them warriors from the Northern Sky Clan.

Lee Jaseung’s guests were few. Aside from Dan Woobin, Mujin, and Ma Young-gi known as his fellow disciples, there were only about a dozen others, disguised as guests, who had been pulled from the Three-Eyed Pavilion and the Guard Hall.

Rumors had been swirling since early morning. The Alliance Leader of the Murim Alliance would not attend, supposedly because of a conflict with the Lord of the Northern Sky Clan.

On top of that, word spread that attending this wedding would put one on the Alliance’s bad side, leading to speculation that the wedding would be postponed after all.

Chu Sang-gi, who was overseeing the placement of guards throughout the venue, sighed deeply, worried that the wedding would turn out empty and desolate.

‘My Lady!’

His heart ached at the thought of Baek Seolyoung being disheartened. He had wanted her wedding to be the grandest and most splendid in all of the martial world.

If it were up to him, he would have beaten the Alliance Elders to stop their scheming. But he lacked the power, and it was not something he could do.

In the bridal preparation room, Baek Seolyoung was having her makeup done. The woman applying it exclaimed,

“You look so beautiful, my Lord.”

Already beautiful, she looked like a celestial maiden after the bridal makeup was complete. The splendid wedding robe made her the most beautiful among celestial maidens.

Yet Baek Seolyoung’s expression was a little stiff.

It seemed the wedding would be held without any outside guests. She had wanted to receive the congratulations of many, and she felt disappointed.

Moreover, this marriage was the result of the martial arts marriage tournament, so it should have been more festive. If it ended up being an empty wedding, it would become gossip among the martial world for years.

But she soon chuckled at herself.

‘They say human greed has no end, and it seems like you’re proving that, Seolyoung.’

When the contest had first been announced, she had been desperate. She had worried so much that Gwak Pil, who had been planted by Yang Sebang, would win. And then there was Myeong Do, the burly and unlikeable official. Compared to them, Lee Jaseung was an outstanding groom.

He had provoked and riled her at times, but because of that, she had learned a lot. She was still learning from him, and she was even learning martial arts.

Considering that she had gained such a man through the contest, feeling disappointed about the number of guests now seemed pathetic.

She recalled how he had stood before the Alliance Elders yesterday and declared,

“The wedding will proceed as planned.”

The thought made her heart flutter and her mood lift.

They had never once discussed their thoughts about the marriage, so she had not known how he felt about it. He had never even said empty words about being happy.

But his rebuke to the Elders had erased her past disappointment. Even if the wedding turned out small, it did not matter.

Her late father would be watching from heaven.

That was enough.

‘Father, I will live diligently from now on. No matter what happens, I will protect our clan.’

Time passed, and the moment for the ceremony finally arrived.

“My Lord, it’s time to go.”

She rose from her seat, her attendants following her.

Leaving the annex in the back garden, she boarded the red flower palanquin that would carry her to the central martial arts field where the ceremony would be held. As they got closer, she began to hear a loud noise.

Baek Seolyoung slightly lifted her head. It sounded like there were many people.

When the palanquin entered the martial arts field, she was astonished.

She saw it. An enormous crowd filled the place. Thousands of guests had gathered. As she appeared, deafening cheers erupted.

“What on earth?”

She wore a dazed expression.

Far away, she saw the Murim Alliance Leader, the refined elder with flowing white beard, smiling broadly. Around him stood Yeo Beom, the Alliance Elders, and many masters.

Not only them, but guests from all over the Central Plains had come to celebrate the wedding.

From the opposite side, Lee Jaseung approached in a flower carriage.

The applause and cheers grew louder.

In the crowd stood Ban Yeo and Yang Jo.

“Why did the Alliance Leader change his mind?”

“A rumor spread rapidly.”

“What rumor?”

“That the Demonic Cult was going to assassinate him during the wedding.”

Ban Yeo was startled. He stared blankly at Yang Jo for a moment, then burst out laughing.

“Hahaha.”

After laughing loudly, he narrowed his eyes.

“Remarkable.”

If the Alliance Leader had not attended, it would have meant he was too afraid to. The current Murim Alliance Leader valued face and reputation. He was not the type to endure such disgrace.

Whoever was behind this had perfectly grasped his personality and found the exact solution. Thinking of the idea was impressive, but executing it all within a few short hours was even more so.

They had buried the rumor of conflict between the Alliance Leader and Baek Seolyoung under the new rumor of an assassination attempt, and had made sure it reached his ears.

Even if he had handled things himself, Ban Yeo doubted he could have done it this cleanly.

“Lord Baek, she’s even more formidable than I thought.”

“Why are you so sure it was her?”

Ban Yeo looked at Yang Jo. Yang Jo nodded meaningfully and said,

“Lord Baek is indeed intelligent and talented, but not to this extent. Someone exceptional has appeared at her side.”

“An ally?”

Ban Yeo’s gaze shifted toward Lee Jaseung in the distance.

“You think it might be him?”

“It’s definitely worth investigating him.”

Ban Yeo’s expression turned serious. His subordinate Yang Jo was not only skilled in martial arts but also sharp-minded, with good judgment in a crisis.

It was precisely for that reason that he was a worrisome subordinate because someone this capable might one day harbor different ambitions. Still, if Yang Jo judged someone suspicious, there was likely something to it.

“Look into it.”

“Understood.”

The sound of celebratory firecrackers echoed from all around.

Before long, Lee Jaseung and Baek Seolyoung stood facing each other.

Baek Seolyoung slightly lifted her head and met Lee Jaseung’s gaze.

She asked with trembling eyes. The Alliance Leader came and all these guests are here, this was your doing, right?

It was you, wasn’t it?