Love Ballad of the Tyrant King

Chapter 64: Woobin, Sings

Lee Jaseung kept a calm expression.

Baek Seolyoung felt an overwhelming happiness.

‘Someone might criticize me and ask if I was truly moved just because guests came. They might ask where my great ambition to grow the clan has gone. They might ask what happened to the fierce determination I had when holding the martial arts tournament.’

‘Of course, that ambition still burns in my heart. In fact, it had grown even bigger and stronger than before. Determination? I was the one who had trained even on the day before a wedding.’

But before all that, she felt she had to admit one thing.

Before being a Leader who would grow her ambitions in the world, she was a woman.

How could she help feeling happy?

Her eyes, filled with sincerity, looked at Lee Jaseung and spoke without words.

Thank you.

And so, with the blessings of countless guests, the wedding ended.

When the old man officiating the ceremony declared them officially husband and wife, the crowd applauded and cheered.

The guests came forward to offer their congratulations and gifts. Naturally, people crowded toward Baek Seolyoung.

Lee Jaseung’s side only had Dan Woobin, Mujin, Ma Young-gi, and a few subordinates disguised as guests, but to Lee Jaseung, they were guests worth a hundred, or even ten thousand each.

Dan Woobin handed Lee Jaseung a gift.

“Senior Brother, here is our wedding gift. It’s a token of our sincerity.”

Behind him stood Mujin and Ma Young-gi, who bowed their heads to Lee Jaseung.

After smiling at them once, Lee Jaseung opened the gift.

Inside was a pair of daggers.

“It’s nothing expensive. Just something to keep as a memento.”

It seemed the daggers were made for a man and woman to share, as one differed in color and size.

When Mujin saw the gift, he shook his head at Ma Young-gi.

“They say after much thought comes a bad move. You thought so hard and still ended up with daggers?”

When the idea of gifting weapons had first been discussed, the very first suggestion was daggers. At the time, Dan Woobin had immediately dismissed it, saying he was tired of daggers.

But Ma Young-gi replied like this.

“It’s not bad, is it? For our eldest Senior, nothing is more symbolic than a dagger.”

“That might be true, but...”

Still, for someone as clever as Dan Woobin, it seemed lacking. But the daggers were not his real gift.

With a slightly trembling voice, Dan Woobin spoke.

“To celebrate our eldest Senior’s wedding, I will sing a song together with my fellow brothers.”

Mujin and Ma Young-gi were shocked. He had always insisted he would never sing, but he had changed his mind. He had realized something from what Mujin had said before.

The giver’s thoughts or feelings were not what mattered. To him, the dagger might be a common and dull gift, but to Lee Jaseung, it could mean something entirely different.

It was the item that had helped bring him to where he was now. Sharing such an item with Baek Seolyoung would have special meaning.

The same went for the song.

It didn’t matter whether he sang well or not. What mattered was that it would be a meaningful celebration for Lee Jaseung.

Dan Woobin looked at Mujin and Ma Young-gi.

“Join me.”

Ma Young-gi grinned as he stepped forward. It had been a long time since he had smiled like that. Mujin, who never lost in either singing or sword dance, followed with ease.

Dan Woobin took a deep breath and began to sing.

It was a song everyone knew, a story of a man who roamed the martial world with a sword at his side and then met the one he loved, finding new happiness.

Some people burst into laughter because of his tone-deaf singing.

But Dan Woobin sang with all his heart, while Mujin and Ma Young-gi performed a breathtaking sword dance that captured everyone’s attention. When the song reached difficult parts, the two joined in the singing while continuing their dance.

They had never rehearsed together, yet the three of them moved in perfect harmony.

It was the bond forged over seven years of fighting side by side.

The song was lively and cheerful, prompting others to sing along.

As the song ended, so did the sword dance.

Thunderous applause erupted. Someone shouted that they had attended many weddings but had never seen such a splendid and joyous performance.

Dan Woobin’s face flushed red. He had braced himself for ridicule, but the unexpected reaction left him feeling good.

His eyes met Lee Jaseung’s, and Dan Woobin bowed his head.

“I truly congratulate you, my Lord. I wish you happiness.”

Lee Jaseung was deeply moved.

With that personality and pride, singing in front of so many people could not have been easy.

But he had done it to congratulate him.

‘Yes, thank you. I will never forget this.’

Dan Woobin then approached Baek Seolyoung and bowed respectfully.

“Congratulations. I wish you happiness.”

Sensing his sincerity, Baek Seolyoung smiled warmly and bowed slightly in return.

* * *

Night came.

Dan Woobin, Mujin, Ma Young-gi, and Mook Young sat together drinking. Mook Young, for the first time in a long while, was relieved of guard duty.

“Captain Mook, it’s been a while. Have a drink. You can drink tonight.”

Mook Young, who normally refused alcohol, accepted a cup reluctantly. He could not even remember the last time he had done so.

The four made a toast.

“To our Lord’s marriage!”

They were as happy as if it were their own. They had risked their lives to unite the Black Way under Lee Jaseung. They had wandered the battlefield together, and seeing him married today stirred deep emotions.

Mujin asked Dan Woobin,

“Let me ask you one thing. Why did you suddenly decide to sing?”

“Well…”

Because of you. Your words influenced me. But Dan Woobin didn’t answer truthfully.

“To avoid suspicion.”

“Avoid suspicion?”

“What if someone started suspecting our Lord or us? But think about it. Would someone plotting something sinister go out and perform a song and sword dance in front of everyone? It doesn’t fit, right?”

“Oh! So there was such deep meaning behind it. Our strategist truly is brilliant!”

At Mujin’s admiration, Dan Woobin tilted his chin up in mock pride. He had only thought of it at the moment, but saying it out loud even convinced himself.

Dan Woobin spoke after emptying his cup.

“Still, I feel nervous.”

It wasn’t just words. He really was shaking nervously. Just thinking about Lee Jaseung spending his wedding night made him tense.

“Why am I so nervous?”

Mujin narrowed his eyes and replied.

“I know why.”

“Why?”

“Empathy.”

“What?”

“You’re feeling it as if it’s your own. Right now, you’re imagining marrying Lady Song yourself.”

“Oh! That’s probably it!”

Mujin’s fun was spoiled when Dan Woobin admitted it too easily. If he had denied it, Mujin could have teased him with detailed arguments.

Dan Woobin looked at Mook Young and asked.

“Captain Mook, do you have anyone you like?”

Mook Young was a bit older than the other three.

“No.”

Mujin scolded Dan Woobin.

“What kind of question is that? He’s always by our Lord’s side. Where would he find time to meet a woman?”

“That’s true.”

Mook Young drained his cup and added.

“I’m fine with things as they are.”

Even Dan Woobin, second to none in loyalty, felt solemn when he looked at him.

Mook Young lived solely for Lee Jaseung. He only closed his eyes for brief moments when he felt Lee Jaseung was most safe. The hardship of such a life was unimaginable.

“I could never endure the duties you’ve taken on,”

Said Dan Woobin, to which Mujin and Ma Young-gi both nodded their heads in agreement.

Mook Young replied calmly,

“Strategist, you could do it too. It would just be in a different way.”

“Haha, well I could tell you that your way is certainly not something I could manage. Come, let’s drink another.”

Dan Woobin lifted his cup again, and they toasted once more. This time, the three drank in appreciation of Mook Young’s dedication.

“I wonder if our Lord is doing a good job right now.”

“Huh?”

When Mujin asked slyly, Dan Woobin blushed as if the thought alone was embarrassing enough.

Mujin added with a grin.

“Don’t worry. The thing you’re imagining, I’m sure he’s doing it perfectly.”

“How can you be so sure?”

Mujin replied confidently,

“From a professional standpoint, I can tell just by looking. He might even be better than me with women.”

Mook Young suddenly muttered,

“We’ll see.”

* * *

Clang.

The bottle Lee Jaseung dropped shattered on the floor.

As he went to clean up the pieces, he cut his hand.

Damn it!

He looked at himself in disbelief. How could he have cut his hand cleaning up a broken bottle?

Lee Jaseung was flustered. Mujin’s prediction was completely wrong.

He was not smooth or skilled in the least. In fact, he could not be.

During the unification of the Black Way, he had kept his distance from women. The only ones he had met before that were a couple he encountered while traveling the martial world to gather subordinates.

Even then, things had never gone far. Now, having just married and facing his wedding night, how could he not be nervous?

No matter how much he tried to act unfazed, confident, or experienced… At least in this area, Lee Jaseung was a beginner.

The only small relief was that his partner was also inexperienced, so his awkwardness was less obvious.

Without a word, Baek Seolyoung came forward and wrapped a cloth around his finger. Both of them were tense.

Baek Seolyoung could feel his nervousness, and it amplified her own.

Her heart pounded as if it would burst.

No matter how she tried to stay calm, it didn’t work.

As she finished wrapping his finger and stepped back, their eyes met.

Lee Jaseung took both of her hands in his. Feeling the warmth of his touch, she gulped nervously.  

His hands slowly moved up to her shoulders.

With his gentle touch, Baek Seolyoung’s heart started to beat faster as if it would explode any second.