Namgung Su's tone quickly took on a hostile edge. "I didn't come here to play games."
Lightning flashed in Namgung Su's golden eyes as he snarled, "Did you just say no?"
Most would have buckled under the sheer intensity of a glare from one of the world's greatest masters. Unfortunately, his opponent was a man utterly unfazed by such things.
"Pfft!" Maeng Ryonghwi, the Unorthodox Alliance Chairman, laughed. Standing in the doorway with his arms folded, he said slowly, "Isn't it a bit late for such a sudden visit? I thought the Young Lord of the Namgung Clan would have better manners."
Namgung Su's eyebrow twitched at the sarcasm. He took a short, deep breath to quell his rising ire, but a tremor of fury still escaped him as he said, "...I apologize for visiting at such a late hour. However, I have something urgent to discuss, so I'd be grateful if you could spare a moment."
Maeng Ryonghwi frowned, despite the Young Lord of the Namgung Clan making the request with the utmost courtesy. "I believe I already refused. Go back. You can request a formal meeting with me later."
Namgung Su's tone quickly took on a hostile edge. "I didn't come here to play games."
Maeng Ryonghwi scowled icily. "How about you show some respect to the Unorthodox Alliance Chairman?"
Most would have buckled under the sheer intensity of a glare from one of the world's greatest masters. Unfortunately, his opponent was a man utterly unfazed by such things.
"Let's go inside and talk."
"What an unreasonable bastard. Get lost."
Maeng Ryonghwi clicked his tongue and shut the door, clearly dismissing Namgung Su. Just before it closed, however, Thunderclap's scabbard wedged itself into the gap.
He was stunned. Through the narrow opening, one of Namgung Su's golden eyes was flashing.
Namgung Su's tone quickly took on a hostile edge. "I didn't come here to play games."
"...What do you think you're doing?"
"Open it. Before I cut my way in."
Maeng Ryonghwi bared his teeth fiercely, a domineering aura pouring from his body. "It seems you orthodox dandies look down on me. If you want to die, I can arrange that. I'm giving you one last warning for the sake of the Murim Alliance Chairman."
"Cut the crappy act, Baek Suryong."
Maeng Ryonghwi froze, a bizarre grimace on his face. Although both men had confirmed that no one was around, Namgung Su had still uttered the name without activating a sound-blocking barrier.
"W-Why are you suddenly saying the Azure Dragon Hero's name?"
"I told you, I am not here to play games."
The two men glared at each other, ready to tear each other apart.
Do you need more of an explanation?"
Ultimately, Maeng Ryonghwi sighed in defeat and opened the door. "Damn it! You could have just pretended not to know."
Stepping to the side to let his guest pass, Maeng Ryonghwi—no, Baek Suryong—scratched his hair, puffing it up like a lion's mane.
Namgung Su strode into the room without hesitation. The door swung shut behind him on its own, and a sound-blocking barrier unfurled, cutting off all noise from within.
He whirled around and fixed Baek Suryong with a predatory glare. "Are you even aware of how dangerous a game you're playing?" he asked, his voice colder than ever.
"You know what happened at the end of the last Blood Cult war, right? That's why I provoked them further.
Baek Suryong shrugged and chuckled. "Do I look like I'd start something without knowing what I'm doing? Don't just stand there. Sit down. Have a drink while you're here."
Namgung Su did not so much as glance at the wine bottle, let alone take the seat Baek Suryong offered him. "An all-out war between the orthodox and unorthodox sects nearly broke out because of you. You injured the Qingcheng Sword Saint, insulted the Sword Sage, and deliberately incited enmity. If you knew how prideful the Nine Sects One Gang are, you'd never have dared do such a thing."
"You're the one who doesn't seem to get it." Baek Suryong retorted. He sat alone at the table, tilting his cup and watching Namgung Su cynically, a sneer tugging at his lips. "They have too much to lose to start a fight recklessly. Sure, they're angry, and their pride is wounded, but they can't act rashly. If they do, they risk even greater humiliation and loss of face. As proof, just look at those wretches from Qingcheng who can't even leave their quarters."
"Baek Suryong. Do you think everyone in the Nine Sects One Gang is a hypocrite?"
"...I didn't say everyone. People like the Supreme Buddha and the Sword Sage are quite decent, but as long as they belong to sects like Shaolin and Wudang, they can't act as they please."
Baek Suryong narrowed his eyes. He knew his actions had been excessively aggressive, but if he hadn't done anything, the Nine Sects One Gang would have remained complacent, making it far more difficult and time-consuming for the Murim Alliance to unite.
Namgung Su nodded and left the room.
Failing that, history would have repeated itself. Once again, the Murim Alliance would have suffered great losses to secure a narrow victory against a weakened Blood Cult.
"You know what happened at the end of the last Blood Cult war, right? That's why I provoked them further. I need them to get their shit together. A common enemy called the Unorthodox Alliance would definitely do the trick. Do you need more of an explanation?"
"You're missing the most important part," Namgung Su stated pointedly. He had a vague grasp of Baek Suryong's intentions, but there was one part he couldn't accept no matter what.
"...And what's that?"
"Baek Suryong, you are trying to control both the orthodox and unorthodox sects however you please."
Have a drink while you're here."
"Didn't I just explain why? I'm doing all this to win the war against the Blood Cult perfectly and overwhelmingly, while keeping our losses to a minimum."
Namgung Su took a step closer, his golden eyes clouded with doubt. "How is what you're doing right now any different from embracing the evil being inside you?"
"...!" Baek Suryong paused with the cup halfway to his lips and stared at Namgung Su with a dazed expression. "Wow. I didn't expect to hear that. That's a rather fresh perspective."
Namgung Su drew closer again. "Don't laugh it off. You're under the delusion that you can control everything."
"For a delusion, things seem to be going smoothly, don't you think? I heard the Murim Alliance Chairman has called a meeting of the Nine Sects One Gang and the Five Great Clans for tomorrow morning. Shall we guess what they'll talk about?"
"I believe I already refused. Go back. You can request a formal meeting with me later."
"Did you ever consider the possibility that I would expose your identity there?"
"...You?"
Most would have buckled under the sheer intensity of a glare from one of the world's greatest masters. Unfortunately, his opponent was a man utterly unfazed by such things.
Namgung Su took another step forward. He was now within arm's reach, a negligible distance for a supreme master. "Do you think I can't?"
"......" Baek Suryong said nothing. He could see the genuine resolve in Namgung Su's eyes.
"You are deceiving the murim with two identities: the Azure Dragon Hero and the Unorthodox Alliance Chairman. Perhaps you even have another identity I don't know about."
"Well..." Baek Suryong smirked. "Maybe it's because I'm similar to that bastard, just as you said."
"......"
"Even if you aren't evil, you are the most dangerous person in the current murim. Is there any reason for me to overlook you?"
Baek Suryong regarded Namgung Su seriously. This was a question that only Namgung Su could ask, because he had given him the right to do so.
After a pause, he laughed hollowly, "...If you think that's the right decision, then do it."
GRIND...
Staring at his fragmented reflection in the heavily cracked glass, he muttered bitterly, "Why am I so obsessed? Because if I do this..."
The quiet sound of grinding teeth echoed the moment Baek Suryong said 'the right decision.'
"I'll ask one thing. Why are you so obsessed with the war against the Blood Cult?"
Namgung Su simply couldn't understand why Baek Suryong was so fixated on destroying the Blood Cult. Simply having a meticulous personality wasn't enough to explain it. Baek Suryong was compulsively obsessed with securing a perfect, overwhelming victory with minimal allied casualties.
"Well..." Baek Suryong smirked. "Maybe it's because I'm similar to that bastard, just as you said."
Namgung Su drew Thunderclap from his waist and swung it like a bolt of lightning. Pure white lightning qi shot forward in a straight line, scorching the air. Unlike usual, this strike contained inner qi.
A drop of blood fell from his palm.
CLAAAANG!
A drop of blood fell from his palm.
Baek Suryong hastily wrapped his hand in enhanced qi and deflected Thunderclap.
DRIP!
"...!" Baek Suryong paused with the cup halfway to his lips and stared at Namgung Su with a dazed expression. "Wow. I didn't expect to hear that. That's a rather fresh perspective."
A drop of blood fell from his palm. Had his reaction been a fraction of a second slower, the strike would have pierced his body rather than his hand.
"...What was that for?"