I Somehow Became the Leader of the Black Faction - Chapter 9

Chapter 9: How I Became the Leader of the Black Path Alliance

How I Became the Leader of the Black Path Alliance

Chapter 9

“You’ve memorized the information I gave you before leaving, right?”

The once-hot teacup had already grown cold.

Normally, Yun Seo-rin would have brewed a fresh pot, but now she had no time to spare for tea.

The Four Black Dragons had returned after about fifteen days with a report.

An assassin attack.

She wasn’t surprised, as she had expected a reaction of some kind.

They had even disguised themselves in Black Dragon Guard uniforms.

She hadn’t expected them to go that far, but she wasn’t too worried.

She trusted the Four Black Dragons to handle any situation.

However…

She never expected him to return.

That was why she had been lost in thought for so long.

Why? Why on earth? Did I misjudge him?

She didn’t know.

The offer she had made to him before was sincere.

If he had the will, she was confident she could have used him to buy enough time.

But as she spoke with him, she realized…

He had absolutely no intention of accepting her proposal.

That was why she had tried to use him to root out the mole in the Black Path Alliance. But for things to turn out like this…

While this was the best possible outcome for Yun Seo-rin, she couldn’t shake the feeling of unease. In the end, she shook her head, unable to reach a conclusion.

Returning to the real world, Yun Seo-rin finally realized her mistake.

“Oh, my apologies. I kept you waiting while I was lost in thought.”

Bae Seok-jin, standing before her, offered a faint smile.

“It’s all right. Not much time has passed.”

Yun Seo-rin handed him a letter.

“Cheongeum has located the assassins’ hideout that attacked the Four Black Dragons. It’s in Jiangsu Province.”

Cheongeum was a private intelligence network operated by Yun Seo-rin alone—an organization the Black Dragon Yun Family did not interfere with. Though their martial prowess was unremarkable, they specialized in information gathering and espionage.

After all, Yun Seo-rin had raised him that way.

Bae Seok-jin took the letter and read its contents.

“It’s a remote place.”

“Just an ordinary little village.”

“Are the assassins disguised as villagers?”

Yun Seo-rin shook her head.

“I couldn’t confirm that. It’s possible they’ve simply settled in a normal village to hide their identities. But we’re going to rule out that possibility.”

“Is there a reason?”

“The main reason is that we’re short on time. We might be able to buy some if we use the man who returned, but we can’t rely on such an uncertainty.”

Bae Seok-jin’s expression hardened. He had guessed what kind of order she was about to give.

After reading his face, she added, “Still, we’re not without a lead.”

“What lead?”

“That village. They say there are no children.”

“…!!”

“It’s not a normal village.”

Yun Seo-rin took a sip of the cold tea before speaking again.

“You’ll have to leave Hangzhou again as soon as you arrive. Find the masterminds behind the assassins. But if…”

Yun Seo-rin’s expression turned frigid.

“If you can’t find them, erase them. All of them.”

Bae Seok-jin bowed his head.

“Understood. Then…”

Just as Bae Seok-jin was about to leave, a commotion broke out outside.

Bae Seok-jin let out a low grunt and turned to Yun Seo-rin.

“I’ll go check it out.”

“Yes. Please do.”

Bae Seok-jin quickly exited, leaving Yun Seo-rin lost in thought once more.

“Hey, Lord Four Black Dragons. I heard you took a little trip recently.”

A dozen men approached the Strategist Division pavilion.

Yu Geon-woo, who had been waiting for Bae Seok-jin in front of it, glanced at them with indifferent eyes before turning his head away in a deliberate snub.

The man who had spoken, seemingly used to this attitude, let a blatant sneer escape his lips.

“Wow. As expected of the lofty White Dragon. You don’t even spare a glance for a lowly Black Dragon Guard martial artist, do you?”

Thud.

The man who had stepped in front of Yu Geon-woo tilted his head, looking up at him.

“What’s wrong? Is your tongue tied today because the sister who usually protects you isn’t here?”

Yu Geon-woo looked down at him with a bored expression.

But in the end, he continued to ignore him.

Finally, the man’s face contorted with rage.

“Hmph. How did a street beggar like you end up in the Black Dragon Guard? Ah, I see. Just as the rumors said, Song Bi-ryeong, that bitch…”

Shik! Tak!

“Kuh!”

Chaeng! Chaeng! Chaeng!

The men following the man drew their swords in unison.

Yu Geon-woo had seized the man’s neck—the same one who had been relentlessly taunting him.

The man’s face turned crimson, as if he were about to choke to death.

His companions drew their swords, ready to charge, but they remained frozen, paralyzed by Yu Geon-woo’s overwhelming gaze.

Yu Geon-woo let out a soft sigh and leaned in, his lips brushing the man’s ear.

“Do you know why I’ve always ignored your pathetic provocations? Because it’s obvious. I know exactly what you’re trying to gain by taunting me.”

“Ku… kuh…”

Could Yu Geon-woo’s voice even reach his ears?

The man writhed in agony, his fists pounding uselessly against Yu Geon-woo’s wrist.

But Yu Geon-woo paid him no mind, continuing his words.

“Do you know why I’m entertaining your provocations now? Because I have nothing left to hesitate about. Whatever you’ve prepared, we can handle it all.”

A slow, cruel smile spread across Yu Geon-woo’s previously expressionless face.

“And do you know what that means? It means I can kill you right here, right now, without a second thought. We’re going to fight anyway, so why bother holding back? Am I right?”

Deep terror began to cloud the man’s bloodshot eyes.

The terror of death.

“What the hell are you doing?!”

Swish!

Thud!

“Gah, cough! Cough, cough!”

Bae Seok-jin’s furious voice roared from behind.

Yu Geon-woo let the man go and turned around.

“I was just amusing myself.”

Bae Seok-jin glanced at the man, who was still coughing violently on the ground, before speaking.

“You held out well.”

Yu Geon-woo shrugged.

“Like I said, it was just for amusement. You know how some kids like to torment bugs.”

Bae Seok-jin barely managed to stifle a sigh as he looked at the men standing awkwardly around them.

“If you don’t want to make a big deal out of this, you know how to behave.”

His voice was low, but the men nodded frantically, utterly terrified.

“Y-yes, sir.”

“Take him and get out.”

“Y-yes, sir!”

Only after the men had retreated did Bae Seok-jin let out a low groan.

“They’re being blatant about it now.”

Yu Geon-woo chuckled softly.

“Well. We expected this, didn’t we? Considering they tried to harm the Young Alliance Leader with assassins in the first place… I guess they won’t hold back anymore.”

“Hmph. Not knowing exactly who our enemy is makes things difficult.”

“Heh. Aren’t we used to that by now? When have things ever been easy for us?”

Bae Seok-jin chuckled and nodded.

“True. I suppose that’s the fate of the Four Black Dragons.”

Bae Seok-jin handed the letter he’d received from Yun Seo-rin to Yu Geon-woo.

“Our next target. We leave this evening. Get ready.”

Yu Geon-woo scratched his head in annoyance.

“I haven’t even visited the entertainment house yet.”

“It is an order.”

Yu Geon-woo clicked his tongue softly and turned away.

“Yes, yes. Obeying orders is our fate, after all.”

Bae Seok-jin watched Yu Geon-woo’s retreating figure and let out a deep sigh.

Yu Geon-woo’s persistent defiance made him seem precarious, like a bomb about to explode.

But there was nothing Bae Seok-jin could do.

As always.

All he could do was silently watch over them from behind.

“Young Alliance Leader, the Strategist is here to see you.”

At the maid’s words, Seo Woo-jin offered a faint smile. He wasn’t flustered; he had expected her to come.

“Yes. Send her in.”

The maid left to deliver the message, and Yun Seo-rin entered with an elegant grace. She stared at Seo Woo-jin in silence.

Seo Woo-jin’s smile deepened as he touched his own face. “What is it? Is there something on my face?”

At his composed demeanor, Yun Seo-rin’s beautiful brows furrowed.

He’s changed.

If he had shown this attitude from the beginning, she would never have let him go so easily. This kind of composure was typical of those with hidden motives.

“You’ve returned,” she asked directly.

“I told you,” he replied. “It would be a good deal.”

Yun Seo-rin glared at him a moment longer before taking the seat opposite him.

As if he had been waiting for her to do so, Seo Woo-jin poured tea into her cup.

“It should be to your liking. I prepared it in advance, expecting you to come.”

“So you knew I would show up?”

“Heh. I’m the man who will become the Leader of the Black Path Alliance, after all. Shouldn’t I have at least that much intuition?”

Yun Seo-rin let out a hollow laugh.

“The man who will become the Leader of the Black Path Alliance…”

Seo Woo-jin shrugged and asked, “Have you changed your mind?”

“And if I have?”

“Then I’d be disappointed.”

Yun Seo-rin’s eyebrow twitched.

He had certainly changed. His true intentions were completely unreadable now.

Feeling the warmth of the teacup, Yun Seo-rin asked more directly, “Why did you come back?”

Seo Woo-jin pondered for a moment before answering with a question.

“Why were you trying to let me go?”

“……!!”

Seeing Yun Seo-rin’s expression stiffen, Seo Woo-jin was certain.

The Four Black Dragons had truly intended to let him go.

“You have the look of someone wondering how I knew. It wasn’t that difficult. I saw the bodies of the assassins Martial Artist Yu had dealt with, and with that level of martial prowess, I figured he would have easily noticed my attempt to escape. After all, I had already experienced the Four Black Dragons’ abilities. Ah, of course, I became even more certain when I saw Martial Artist Yu’s face—which was quite surprised, unlike his usual self—when I returned.”

Yun Seo-rin shook her head and sighed.

“The Four Black Dragons made a clumsy mistake. Though, it feels too harsh to even call it a mistake.”

“Let’s just say I was lucky.”

“Fine. I asked first, but I’ll answer your question first. Why did I let you go? It’s simple. As I said before, I thought you were useless without ‘will.’ At the time, you didn’t look like the Leader of the Black Path Alliance—you looked like you were desperate to leave Hangzhou immediately.”

Seo Woo-jin nodded.

“I made a mistake then. I thought I was hiding it well.”

“Well, just consider yourself unlucky. Only I could see through it.”

Seeing her throw his own words back at him, Seo Woo-jin couldn’t help but chuckle.

She’s a woman who truly hates to lose, he thought.

“Heh. So you’re saying you let me go because you didn’t feel that ‘will’?”

“Yes. That’s why I used you as bait.”

“Ah. The assassins.”

“Thanks to you, I’ve confirmed one hypothesis and found some of the rats.”

Seo Woo-jin wore a wry smile.

He had expected it, but being used as bait didn’t feel good.

“Now it’s my turn to ask. Why did you come back?”

Seo Woo-jin fell silent for a moment, sipping his tea.

He had thought about it a lot.

What answer would satisfy this woman?

A simple lie wouldn’t work.

He could feel it just from this brief conversation.

“Why did I come back… Would saying I found the ‘will’ to do so be enough?”

“Then I’ll have to ask why you found that will.”

So Seo Woo-jin decided.

“I didn’t know it before, but it turns out I have an enemy.”

He would face her head-on.

“…An enemy?”

Contrary to the heavy word, Seo Woo-jin’s expression remained calm.

“Someone held a grudge against my grandfather. And that person killed my parents.”

“Then…”

“Yes. The only clue to him was here. The Black Path Alliance. That’s why I developed the ‘will’ to become its Leader.”

Yun Seo-rin, who had always been so articulate, now found it difficult to speak.

Confirming the truth?

That was obvious at a glance. She could feel the murderous intent burning deep within his eyes.

…Is he dangerous?

Hatred is a powerful motivator.

If used well, it can become a very useful blade.

But…

What if Seo Woo-jin is not the person she thought he was?

What if there is a side of him she has yet to see, one she cannot handle?

Then that blade will turn on its wielder.

A double-edged sword.

Seeing the changed Seo Woo-jin today, she grew even more concerned.

Can I truly wield the sword that is Seo Woo-jin?

No. Such doubts are a luxury I cannot afford. I must use him.

After Seo Woo-jin’s party left Hangzhou, Yun Seo-rin had not been idle. She had relentlessly pursued the real Young Alliance Leader, pressuring her spies.

Yet, she had found no traces. It was as if the real Young Alliance Leader had never existed at all.

Even if I find a lead, there’s no guarantee I can trace it back to the source.

Now was the time to keep all possibilities open. When you hold nothing in your hands, the best strategy is to introduce a variable no one expects.

Yun Seo-rin drained the tea Seo Woo-jin had poured for her in a single gulp.

Thud.

For the first time, a deep smile spread across her lips.

“You’ve memorized the information I gave you before you left, haven’t you?”

It was the first moment their “wills” truly aligned.