Chapter 210 : Seolyoung, Achieves
Chapter 210: Seolyoung, Achieves
“You look like you're in a good mood.”
At Dan Ah’s words, Baek Seolyoung momentarily stopped her hands as she was cleaning shrimp.
“Do I look that way?”
“Yes.”
The two had grown close enough that they could now understand each other’s feelings just by looking at their expressions.
Dan Ah had seen correctly. Baek Seolyoung was indeed in a good mood. If she had to pinpoint a reason, it was the jealousy Lee Jaseung had shown while they bathed together previously.
That jealousy gave her a greater thrill and joy than simply hearing that he liked or loved her.
How should she put it? It felt as if she had properly seen his true heart rather than just hearing words.
Baek Seolyoung went back to cleaning the shrimp.
Whenever she had a spare moment, she was learning how to cook from Dan Ah. Fortunately, she had a talent for cooking and learned Dan Ah’s lessons well. Her previous dishes had produced a taste that even surprised Dan Ah.
In a period where such a tense operation was underway, and while she was playing a very important role, one might rebuke her for being idle enough to cook, but cooking provided great help in stabilizing her heart.
At times, it was even more helpful than martial arts training.
Watching her hand movements, Dan Ah spoke in admiration.
“I think you were born with a talent for cooking.”
Then Baek Seolyoung said bashfully.
“I should have been born with a talent for martial arts, though.”
“I know that my Lady’s talent for martial arts is far more incredible.”
“No, it isn't.”
Although she denied it, she was clearly abundant in talent for martial arts.
Furthermore, her effort was the most intense it had been since she was born. Today, she had already finished a round of training after waking up at dawn.
The Northern Sky Sword Art she performed with three hundred years worth of inner Qi was exerting truly immense power. Of course, she was not satisfied with that.
Lately, she had been training while continuously modifying the forms of the Northern Sky Sword Art.
When she showed the forms to Lee Jaseung, she received permission that she could continue. Having gained the certainty that she was at least not going down a wrong path, she continued to refine the forms.
She made up her mind not to care about the results or stages.
Everything would be as her heart dictated.
Sizzle.
Baek Seolyoung placed the shrimp into an iron bowl containing oil.
At that moment, a drop of oil splashed toward Baek Seolyoung.
Baek Seolyoung lightly avoided it.
The next moment, she froze.
She felt that the direction in which she avoided the oil was different than before.
Why did I dodge this way?
Previously, she would have dodged by turning her body in the opposite direction. That had been the more comfortable and natural direction.
It was a minor incident she could have just ignored, but strangely, it weighed on her mind.
The opposite direction she had turned unconsciously was more comfortable and natural. It reached a point where she naturally thought, "Why have I been turning the other way until now?"
Even though it was something she could have passed over thinking it just happens, she found herself strangely bothered.
Could it be because of the iron bowl she was holding?
She put down the bowl, imagined oil splashing again, and twisted her body. It wasn't because of the bowl. It was definitely natural to turn her body in the new direction.
There is a change in my body.
“Please finish this up for me.”
Baek Seolyoung left the cooking to Dan Ah and immediately sought out Lee Jaseung.
She ran to Lee Jaseung and asked about what had just happened.
Lee Jaseung, who had been listening quietly, spoke.
“Come out for a moment.”
Lee Jaseung took her out to the training grounds.
“Perform the forms.”
Baek Seolyoung began to perform the forms of the Northern Sky Sword Art without hesitation. Since they had been modified much lately, they were considerably different from the initial Northern Sky Sword Art.
They had become even faster and stronger. And they had become flexible.
The moment she finished the final form.
Swish.
Lee Jaseung threw a dagger toward her. It was an attack so fast it seemed impossible to avoid. Shockingly, the place that attack was headed for was her heart.
Clang!
The dagger, deflected by her sword, became lodged in the ground.
Surprised, she stared at Lee Jaseung.
“...I almost died.”
Her voice was trembling. She had barely managed to deflect the dagger. If she had been even a moment late, or if she had lacked even a tiny bit of strength, she would have died right then.
“What a shame. If it had been the old you, I could have killed you.”
“What?”
Lee Jaseung spoke with a grin as he looked at her, who wore an expression asking what on earth this situation was.
“Congratulations. You just achieved the Grand Mastery of the Northern Sky Sword Art.”
Baek Seolyoung’s two eyes grew as large as lanterns.
“What did you just say?”
“You achieved Grand Mastery in the Northern Sky Sword Art.”
“Say it again.”
“You achieved the Grand Mastery of the Northern Sky Sword Art.”
Instantly, Baek Seolyoung shouted, “Wow!” She felt so good she felt like she might fly into the sky.
“Is it true? Is it truly true?”
“Yes.”
“Waaaaa!”
Baek Seolyoung jumped around like a child and then ran to hug Lee Jaseung.
“Thank you, truly thank you.”
Tears of deep emotion flowed from her eyes at the joy of finally achieving Grand Mastery.
Lee Jaseung wiped away the tears flowing down her cheeks.
“Don't thank me. I didn't do anything.”
“No, no. It's all thanks to you.”
The gazes of the two intertwined in the air. They shared an emotional bond as deep as their love. Now they felt it from each other. That was why the other’s joy was her joy, and the intensity of that joy doubled.
“No. It's thanks to your effort.”
“Ahhhh! Anyway, I'm so happy.”
After waiting until she was fully finished rejoicing, Lee Jaseung spoke to her.
“You know it, right? That it's just the beginning from here.”
Achieving Grand Mastery did not mean everything was over.
Most people in the world end their lives without ever achieving Grand Mastery in the martial arts they have learned.
However, the world of true top tier experts was different.
Grand Mastery is just the beginning.
Grand Mastery only means that one has become able to exert the maximum effect that the martial art possesses. One must not settle there but must continue training to carve out new boundaries.
Now having gone beyond being a hard worker to being a training fanatic, she spoke with a bright smile.
“I decline the idea that Grand Mastery is the end. I love the phrase, ‘the beginning from now on’.”
Lee Jaseung smiled at her words.
Yes, this side of her is what makes her excellent.
Baek Seolyoung asked as if curious.
“Why did I achieve Grand Mastery all of a sudden?”
“It wasn't all of a sudden.”
“It wasn't?”
Her Grand Mastery was not something achieved suddenly.
The various experiences bordering on death after meeting Lee Jaseung, the teachings from Yim Sayeon and her continued training, the resulting changes in her forms, and even the new inner Qi she gained this time. All those pieces added up to achieve Grand Mastery.
“With this feeling, honestly, I feel like I could go and just cut down that bastard Yeo Su-in.”
“Hahaha.”
“Why are you laughing?”
“Because now you say you want to kill someone so naturally.”
Baek Seolyoung was slightly flustered by those words.
But she soon smiled, relaxed and spoke.
“They say one who touches the pitch shall be defiled. Living with a villain boss has turned me like this.”
“And it isn't a case of the student surpassing the master?”
“I'm not at that level yet. Achieving Grand Mastery doesn't make me the Big Boss, does it?”
“Hahaha.”
Lee Jaseung laughed loudly at her wordplay.
Baek Seolyoung asked seriously again.
“What would happen if I fought Yeo Su-in with my current skill?”
“If you're asking whether you can kill him, you can.”
“Really?”
“With a very slim probability.”
“Yeah, I figured as much.”
Her expectation turned into disappointment, but Baek Seolyoung hadn't thought she could beat him in the first place. No matter how much she had achieved Grand Mastery in the Northern Sky Sword Art, the opponent was the successor of the Demonic Cult.
Lee Jaseung gave her a piece of advice he hadn't given until now.
“Normally, if there's even a slim probability of losing, you must never draw your sword.”
“Why?”
“Because you could die. It's like gambling with your life. If you can't avoid it, there's nothing to be done, but if you can choose, never draw your sword. It's best to regard it as a strict rule.”
Nodding her head, she suddenly asked out of curiosity.
“Did you always keep that principle?”
“I'm an exception.”
But he hoped she would keep that principle. Because he wanted her alone to be safe in any situation.
“Yes, I’ll be sure to keep it.”
She made a resolution in her heart.
It wasn't a resolution to strictly keep the principle. It was a resolution to become strong enough that she would never have to use this principle. That she would train hard until that day.
Just then, Dan Woobin came to that place and delivered the news that had arrived.
“The Berserk Dragon Army has been hit, just as planned.”
Baek Seolyoung gulped. She knew about the unfolding situation because she had heard it from Lee Jaseung. Lee Jaseung told her everything.
Lee Jaseung once said something.
That no matter what the relationship is, the most important way to protect it is to speak only the truth. After saying those words, Lee Jaseung was faithfully keeping what he had said.
At any rate, hearing that the Berserk Dragon Army had been hit meant that the operation had now ripened to the fullest.
Dan Woobin spoke with a serious expression.
“They will try to secure Do Cheolgi to properly figure out the true intent.”
Dan Woobin was accurately predicting the opponent’s next move.
“I will handle Do Cheolgi as planned.”
Lee Jaseung nodded at Dan Woobin’s dependable words.
Since Do Cheolgi was mentioned, Baek Seolyoung asked Dan Woobin this time.
“Just as you said, I haven't given Yeo Su-in an answer yet. When would be good?”
A few days ago, Yeo Su-in had sent a message through Do Cheolgi asking to meet.
At that time, Dan Woobin had told her to delay the answer for now, and she did as she was told.
“You must not meet him right now.”
“Why is that?”
“When the news of the Berserk Dragon Army is delivered, the Demonic Cult will send an urgent letter to Yeo Su-in telling him to return immediately.”
“Delaying the appointment in such a situation... Are you perhaps planning to prevent him from returning?”
“Yes, that's exactly it. We must keep him tied down here. Because the best way to clear up a misunderstanding is to meet in person and talk.”
Lee Jaseung added to Dan Woobin’s words.
“Conversely, in a state where he can't see and can't hear, misunderstandings will pile up faster, won't they?”
Baek Seolyoung nodded.
Dan Woobin spoke again.
“If he doesn't return in a situation where clear evidence has surfaced, that will be decisive evidence of admitting his guilt. Furthermore, the Great Demon will pour oil on Yao Hong’s anger.”
“Ah!”
Baek Seolyoung was in admiration.
She truly hadn't known he could set such a plan to drive a wedge between the two.
If someone intended to make Lee Jaseung an enemy, she would advise them. That they were doing the most foolish thing in the world.
“However, there is a possibility that the bastard will just leave if we drag the time out aimlessly.”
Dan Woobin had already accurately calculated the date they should meet.
“Set the appointment for four days from now.”
“Yes, I’ll reply that way.”
Baek Seolyoung saw Dan Woobin looking this brilliant for the first time. The thought occurred to her anew that a strategist shines most when setting an operation and making that operation proceed.
Because he had such excellent and good subordinates, Lee Jaseung’s dream does not feel like it's in vain.
“I'm not saying this to burden you, but...”
However, Dan Woobin’s next words immediately proved that the previous statement was a lie. Because they were the most burdensome words Baek Seolyoung had heard lately.
“That meeting will be the watershed of success or failure for this operation.”