Love Ballad of the Tyrant King

Chapter 106: Jaseung, Gifts

He had truly earned more money than he had ever imagined possible. He almost regretted not being able to tell anyone honestly.

“I made a decent amount.”

“Then you will treat me to something tasty?”

“Of course.”

The two of them smiled at each other. She and Lee Jaseung both felt that they had grown closer than before, though there was still an occasional wall of awkwardness.

“But what did you mean earlier, when you said I could be greedy?”

“I thought you still weren’t greedy enough to need to hold yourself back.”

“So you mean I am not working hard enough huh.”

She pouted as if sulking, and Lee Jaseung smiled faintly.

“The road ahead is a very long one.”

Now she understood. Training in martial arts carried a depth beyond measure.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Do you have something to say?”

“No.”

Lee Jaseung turned his head. Looking at her would never tell him what she truly wanted. But he couldn't bring himself to ask either.

“It has been a while. Shall we take a walk?”

She nodded readily at his words.

“Sure.”

The two of them left the alliance grounds.

They walked in the opposite direction from the marketplace, toward the wide plain at the base of the mountain. The scenery was not especially beautiful, yet the open space on all sides was refreshing.

“Wow! This place is wonderful. I wish I had a house here to live in.”

She spoke in awe.

Lee Jaseung also savored the freshness.

After they stood enjoying the view for a while, he asked her,

“How does it feel to be a master now?”

She smiled awkwardly and asked back,

“Am I really a master?”

“You are especially with that much inner Qi. And your swordsmanship is second to none.”

She had ninety years of inner Qi, and her Northern Sky Sword Art had reached the eighth level. Yet she still lacked confidence because she had little real battle experience.

“I want to become… a true master soon. I want to properly go against Jianghu one day.”

He answered her,

“That is not a matter of being a master or a novice.”

“What do you mean?”

“It doesn’t take a master martial artist to fight properly. It just takes a true person.”

“A true person? What kind of person is that?”

“To know that, first you must understand what Jianghu means to you, right?”

She felt like she understood what he was saying. It was connected to what he had told her before.

You must know where you stand and whom you face. This was an extension of that thought.

What did the Jianghu mean to her, where did she stand, and with what heart did she view it? Only then would she know with whom, why, and how she would fight.

“Ah!”

A gasp of realization slipped from Baek Seolyoung’s lips.

Lee Jaseung looked at her.

“Why?”

She answered honestly.

“There is so much I learn from you. Even now, I am still learning.”

He smiled faintly and said,

“There are countless people who want to teach. But there are very few who are ready to learn.”

She laughed softly.

“Even from those words, I am learning.”

“Hahaha.”

Lee Jaseung laughed cheerfully.

He still didn't know what she truly wanted, but it was a pleasant walk.

* * *

A rumor spread through the Jianghu that Ban Yeo had died.

It was the most shocking rumor in recent days.

Though it was spoken of in the markets as rumor, there was one place where it was treated as the most reliable report, and that was the Alliance Leader’s Hall.

“They say the cause of death was poison. The body was badly damaged.”

“Are we sure it was him? Could it have been a trick?”

Sa Jo-pyeong shook his head.

“We must investigate further, but for now it appears to be certain.”

Jang Wonso gave a strange smile. His feelings were complicated.

First, the fact that Ban Yeo was dead saddened and angered him.

He felt anger at those who stood behind him.

If he had removed Ban Yeo by his own will, he would not have felt this way.

But in this case he had been turned into their pawn, their butcher who dirtied his hands with blood.

There was no joy in it.

And there was something more.

His thoughts turned to the Black Way Alliance Leader.

“Ban Yeo was taken care of so easily like this?”

The timing meant that almost as soon as he had received the commission, he carried it out.

“He is not someone to take lightly.”

“I see.”

“And they say not a single warrior of the Virtuous Heroes died in the process.”

“Not one?”

If dozens of them had died or been injured, that would have made sense. It would have meant Ban Yeo was simply overpowered.

But if none had died, then it meant an assassin of incredible skill had killed him. And there was no guarantee that such a killer would not one day target him.

“Look into this matter thoroughly.”

“Understood.”

Sa Jo-pyeong left the room.

Left alone, Jang Wonso’s eyes turned savage. It was a completely different face from his usual kind expression. In truth, this was his real face.

“Whether it is the Black Way Alliance or…”

He left the words unfinished, but his eyes said clearly, whatever it was, anyone who stood in his way would never be spared.

The beast within him that was long forgotten, was awakening again.

* * *

Baek Seolyoung stood by the window, her face looking faintly lonely.

It would have been better if she had not known, but she couldn't forget that today was her birthday.

“Should I have said something?”

It was only natural that Lee Jaseung didn't know. After their marriage, many things had happened, and she had never told him. How could he know her birthday?

“Will he be upset that I didn't tell him?”

As she pondered, someone knocked at the door.

When she opened it, Lee Jaseung was standing there.

“What is it?”

“I need your help for a moment.”

“With what?”

“You will see.”

He led her to the plain where they had walked before.

“Why bring me here?”

She looked around in puzzlement.

“Huh? Was that house there before?”

On the slope overlooking the plain stood a house.

She couldn't recall seeing it that day. Yet a house that large couldn't have suddenly appeared. She must have overlooked it.

“Did you see that house before?”

“Maybe, maybe not.”

Lee Jaseung strode toward it, and Baek Seolyoung followed. There was something mysterious in the air, like sneaking into a haunted house with childhood friends.

But inside, it was nothing like a haunted house.

It was lavishly decorated as if for a banquet. Flower petals were strewn on the floor, brilliant ornaments hung all around.

“Maybe they are having a banquet here. We shouldn’t go inside uninvited.”

As she said this, Baek Seolyoung flinched. She remembered a similar situation.

Wait, didn’t something like this happen back then too?

She recalled when he had promised her a special drink, and she had found him waiting with colorful lanterns and food in a pavilion in the mountains. This was the same kind of situation.

Lee Jaseung climbed up to a pavilion in the yard and looked back at her.

“Come up.”

She hesitated but climbed the steps.

On the pavilion table lay a splendid feast. Dishes that made the mouth water, steaming hot.

One caught her eye.

“Ah! This is the dish you made yourself, isn’t it?”

“So you recognize it.”

He had once roasted pheasant and rabbit with a secret sauce for her. That dish was here again.

She looked at him, demanding silently to know what this all was.

He looked at her and said softly,

“Happy birthday.”

Her eyes trembled for an instant.

“How did you know?”

“I am your husband. Of course I should know. Come, sit.”

But she sat somewhere else instead of the spot Lee Jaseung pointed at.  

“I want to sit here.”

It was in front of the food he had prepared. His words, that as her husband he ought to know, moved her.

He came to her, filled her cup, and she asked,

“Whose house is this? Did you borrow it?”

He cleared his throat awkwardly. The truth was, this house had been built by him.

That day, on their walk, she had said she wished she could live in such a place.

He had remembered, and he had followed Mujin’s advice that the best gift was giving what the other wanted.

Among the Divine Sword Regiment were masters with skill in building. Under their direction, and with his help, the house had been raised in no time.

When they learned it was for Baek Seolyoung’s birthday, they were glad to work on it. Even Lee Jaseung joined in.

Thus the strongest warriors of Jianghu had built a house together.

He had hoped she would figure it out right away. But she didn't, and he couldn't bring himself to boast either.

“This house, I don’t think I saw it before.”

He hinted, and she agreed.

“Right? I thought so too.”

“It even looks newly built.”

“Now that you say so, it does. The paint looks fresh too…”

Then she gasped, staring at him in shock. He tensed, wondering if she had realized.

“Did you build this house?”

He nodded.

“Why?”

“What do you mean, why? You said you wanted to live in a place like this, didn’t you?”

“So you built it for me?”

“Yes.”

She was struck speechless.

Their hot gazes locked in the air, but their warm feelings were warm in a different way.

Suddenly she shouted in anger,

“Are you crazy?”

The reaction stunned him.

“Why waste money like this? When I said I wanted to live in a place like this, I didn't mean it literally, you know?”

“It is the same, isn’t it?”

“It is completely different! Just because I say a man looks handsome does not mean I want to date him! And if you built this in such a short time, you must have spent an enormous amount, right?”

“Not that much, but it took many skilled people.”

“That is the same thing! They didn't work for free, did they?”

They did, but he wasn’t able to say it.

She shook her head and continued.

“My goodness! I knew you were reckless, but not like this.”

He scratched his head at her reaction.

He didn’t expect her to cry in joy, but he believed she would be happy at least.

“Show-off!”

That was what he heard instead of gratitude!

He thought of Mujin, who had promised her tears would flow with joy when she saw it.

This damned Mujin! He had been utterly wrong.

Now it was Lee Jaseung who felt like crying.

Baek Seolyoung shouted again.

“Do not ever do this again!”

“Alright.”

Her words scolded him, but her eyes shone with moisture.

She was truly touched. She had never imagined anyone would do something like this for her.

How could there be a better birthday gift than this?

What kind of man builds a house just because his wife said she wanted to live there? Where in the world could one find such a husband?

She was overwhelmed with gratitude.

But to say so out loud would cheapen it. Looking at him only made tears threaten to fall, so she scolded him instead.

He gazed out at the plain and spoke.

“Well, since it is built, you should enjoy the view and rest for the day.”

She turned her head to look with him.

The clear sky, the grass swaying in the wind, the silver stream sparkling in the sun.

She truly wanted to live here.

Feeling shy, she spoke loudly,

“At least I like the scenery."

And she… liked him far more.