Love Ballad of the Tyrant King

Chapter 277: First Snow, Falls

Another ten days passed.

The sparring sessions with Yim Sayeon were discontinued. Since Lee Jaseung could hold his own against her even without using inner Qi, it no longer held meaning as training.

Of course, if Yim Sayeon were to engage in a life-and-death struggle, he could never withstand her attacks without inner Qi. That was strictly in the case of a friendly spar.

She now confined herself to her room all day, focusing on organizing her insights.

Instead of his martial arts improving, Lee Jaseung’s woodworking skills were advancing by leaps and bounds with each passing day.

Gao Ying had never seen someone so talented in woodworking.

"At this rate, you could become the most outstanding woodcarver in the Central Plains."

It was a sincere compliment. Gao Ying felt it was a talent beyond his own capacity to handle.

"Thank you for the kind words."

Lee Jaseung also found woodworking enjoyable. At first, he thought it would just be nice to make various things as a hobby later on, but now there was a deeper inspiration beyond that.

Carving wood to create something entirely new and different was certainly distinct from martial arts in many ways.

Martial arts was fundamentally based on destruction. Killing and suppressing.

However, the essence of woodcarving was creation.

With a bit of hammering and carving, something completely different from the original material was born.

A table was made, a chair was made, a wooden statue was made....

What Lee Jaseung made today was a small wooden doll.

It was the kind of doll that would look good placed on a display cabinet, and it was truly cute and pretty.

Lee Jaseung suddenly felt like making a wooden doll for Baek Seolyoung.

Make one for her....

And later, make one for the child as well.

A smile naturally formed on Lee Jaseung’s lips.

"There’s someone you love, right?"

Lee Jaseung looked up at Gao Ying’s question. When his expression asked why he was asking such a thing, Gao Ying answered.

"It is written on your face. That you miss the person you love."

Lee Jaseung smirked. It seemed he loved her enough for even the taciturn Gao Ying to notice.

Then, a voice was heard.

"Who is that?"

Turning his head, he saw Cho Somi standing at the entrance of the woodworking shop with a slightly flushed face. Jealousy was not an emotion an eleven-year-old child could hide.

Cho Somi walked inside with her lips pouting.

"It's probably just some old woman anyway."

"Hahaha."

Lee Jaseung could not help but laugh.

She is much too strong an opponent for you to handle, little one.

Since that day, Cho Somi had stayed cooped up at home. She had taken her revenge, but she had been so terrified. So she had stayed under the covers on her bed and refused to come out.

During those few days, the Yanghwa Martial Arts Hall disappeared.

As if it had never existed, the Yanghwa Martial Arts Hall vanished from this village. Overnight, the building was torn down, and everyone involved disappeared.

The villagers were all curious, but none of them knew it was because of Cho Somi or Lee Jaseung.

Rumors simply spread that they had crossed the wrong martial arts expert and met their ruin. The majority of people were happy, saying they had received divine punishment.

Now the young girl could finally come outside.

Cho Somi approached Lee Jaseung’s side.

And she was able to deliver the words she had not been able to say properly.

"Thank you."

At Cho Somi’s words, Lee Jaseung gave a broad smile and spoke.

"If you practice what I taught you every day...."

He added after a short pause.

"You will stay healthy."

At those words, Cho Somi burst into a giggle. When Lee Jaseung had asked her why she wanted to learn martial arts in the past, that was exactly how she had answered.

"Yes! I will become healthy!"

Cho Somi smiled brightly.

* * *

Baek Seolyoung was swinging her sword at the training ground.

Her figure soared lightly into the sky like a butterfly.

Dignity and grace were felt in every single movement.

There was a word more fitting than development.

Maturity.

Her swordsmanship now exuded a sense of mature beauty.

Dan Ah, who was watching from afar, guessed the reason. It was not because her skills had improved, but because she was carrying a child.

Baek Seolyoung was now heavily pregnant. Dan Ah was serving her without leaving her side for a single moment.

Since having the child, she had changed. Her personality had become calmer, and she gave off a mature feeling for some reason.

Dan Ah thought it might be even more so because Lee Jaseung was not by her side. It was possible that maternal love, the desire to protect the child even on her own, was manifesting.

In any case, such changes were influencing her martial arts.

She soared into the air with a movement technique as soft as a flower petal.

Right then, Dan Woobin entered the area.

Dan Ah bowed her head to greet him. Of course, she did not speak for fear of interfering with the martial arts training.

Dan Woobin also stood quietly to one side, waiting for the training to end so as not to be a disturbance. Though he was bundled in fur clothes, Dan Woobin rubbed his palms as if he were cold.

Before long, she, who had been embroidering the sky, descended to the ground.

When the training ended, Dan Woobin approached and offered a greeting.

"Are you not cold?"

She was dressed in light attire.

"No, I'm actually breaking a sweat."

"Are you feeling alright?"

Dan Woobin’s gaze turned toward Baek Seolyoung’s stomach. She was in her final month of pregnancy.

"I'm fine."

Despite her answer, Dan Woobin still wore a worried expression. Truly, it looked as if the child might be born at any moment.

"They say it's actually better for both me and the baby to exercise on purpose during the final month."

"Ah, I see."

After exchanging greetings, Dan Woobin cautiously spoke.

"It is a bit sudden, but there is someone I would like to introduce to you."

A woman walked out from the building behind them. She was none other than Songhwa, whom Dan Woobin loved. She had arrived here today, and as soon as she arrived, he intended to introduce her to Baek Seolyoung.

"It is an honor to meet you, My Lady."

Songhwa offered a greeting, but Baek Seolyoung suddenly grabbed her hand.

"I truly wanted to meet you."

"My Lady?"

As she stood dazed by the unexpected welcome, Baek Seolyoung hugged her tightly.

"I am so glad you came. You don't know how much I wanted to see you."

Songhwa was deeply moved, realizing that Baek Seolyoung sincerely welcomed her.

Baek Seolyoung had heard much about Songhwa.

Was it because her friendliness toward Dan Woobin was so great? Songhwa’s first impression was a good one, radiating both beauty and wisdom.

"I look forward to your kind help from now on."

At Baek Seolyoung’s words, Songhwa spoke quickly as if it were undeserved.

"Those are my words. Please lead me well in the future."

Songhwa had also heard many stories about Baek Seolyoung. Of course, it was through the letters Dan Woobin had sent. She had even felt a secret jealousy because Dan Woobin praised her so much, but meeting Baek Seolyoung in person, she was an even more beautiful and noble woman than Dan Woobin had described.

There are aspects of a person one can tell just by looking at their attitude toward others. Baek Seolyoung was the mistress of the house of the master of this Jianghu. With a single word from her, mountains could become rivers, and the living could become the dead.

However, what was felt from her was not absolute power, but sincere friendliness and warmth.

Songhwa was relieved.

'If it is someone like this,'

Lee Jaseung and Baek Seolyoung.

It was certain that her husband was serving a proper master. She was happy that her long separation from Dan Woobin had been worth it.

Dan Ah, who was watching that scene, could tell what emotions Songhwa was feeling. It was likely the same feeling she had felt.

If it is someone like this,

"Now, let us go together."

"Yes."

At Baek Seolyoung’s invitation, Songhwa followed readily. Dan Ah followed behind them.

Then, Dan Woobin asked urgently.

"Where are you going?"

"Are you perhaps afraid we might speak ill of Strategist Dan?"

"Hahaha, of course not. I am a man who can look up to the sky without a hint of shame."

"Then rest easy."

Creating an atmosphere where they already seemed to be getting along perfectly, the three women disappeared.

He was blankly watching that sight when a voice suddenly came from behind.

"There is no one who doesn't produce dust when shaken."

Turning around, he saw that Mujin and Ma Young-gi had arrived.

"You startled me! Use some presence when you walk around! Phew, I really should learn martial arts."

"It looks obnoxious when a smart guy is also good at fighting. Look at our Lord."

"That cheeky mouth of yours! Should I go and tell him everything?"

"Now shouldn't be the time to worry about the Alliance Leader."

"What do you mean?"

Mujin spoke with his eyes narrowed.

"No shame looking up to the sky? You went to a courtesan house with me before."

Dan Woobin was startled. He soon shouted.

"Nothing happened when we went!"

"That was only until you got drunk."

"What? Something happened?"

Though he knew perfectly well Mujin was teasing him, Dan Woobin could not help but get caught up in it.

"I just slept!"

"You sprang right up! And then your suppressed instincts went bang! Phew, it was truly something else."

"Liar! Don't frame me!"

Mujin only gave a meaningful smile.

"Should I tell her everything, piece by piece?"

"Fine, do it! No, don't! No, do it!"

Dan Woobin clutched his head. Since he had no memory of it, he had no choice but to be weak. He had indeed drunk a lot of alcohol that day.

Mujin grinned. Well, all Dan Woobin had done that day was vomit and fall asleep. Mujin himself had stopped a gisaeng who wanted to serve him.

Dan Woobin spoke in a subdued voice.

"And besides, the Great Lady doesn't know about that anyway."

Having finished speaking, Dan Woobin was suddenly startled. Mujin was avoiding Dan Woobin’s gaze and acting indifferent.

"No way? It's not true, right? Hurry up and say it's not!"

Then Ma Young-gi stepped in and tattled.

"He told her before. When the Great Lady said Strategist Dan didn't seem like the type to go to such places, he spilled everything. Ah, of course, it wasn't me."

Dan Woobin rushed to strangle Mujin.

"You crazy bastard! Why did you say that! You're the biggest blabbermouth in this Jianghu!"

Beside them, Ma Young-gi spoke with a delighted face.

"He really tattled without even taking a breath."

Dan Woobin stopped his hands that were shaking Mujin’s collar.

The gazes of Mujin and Dan Woobin turned toward Ma Young-gi.

To Dan Woobin, who realized that the meddling sister-in-law was even more hateful than the mother-in-law, Mujin whispered.

"I'm only the second biggest blabbermouth."

Releasing Mujin’s collar, Dan Woobin shook his head as if he were sick of them both.

Once the banter ended, Mujin said his farewells with a serious face. It was time for him to head out for an external operation.

"I'll be off."

"It's Jiangbei this time, right?"

At Dan Woobin’s words, Mujin nodded.

"How is it that we're busier after the unification?"

Then Dan Woobin looked back and forth between Mujin and Ma Young-gi with a sorry expression.

"Because I need at least one of you."

He used the two of them alternately. If he sent one on an external operation, he always made the other guard the Alliance.

It was a succession of busy operations, but Mujin and Ma Young-gi knew very well how hard Dan Woobin was working. They believed that even if they combined their efforts, it wouldn't amount to half of Dan Woobin’s.

The fact that he only brought Songhwa now was proof.

Dan Woobin could have brought her much sooner. But he brought her only now to focus as much as possible on his assigned duties.

The newly formed Righteous Chivalry Alliance had now reached a period of stability.

The organization had been reorganized, and the remnants of the Asura Demon Sect had all been subjugated.

The masters of the Council of Seven who had fled were also all eliminated. Two were caught by the pursuing squad, and one met death at the hands of an assassin.

That was all thanks to Dan Woobin working day and night.

Now all that remained was for Lee Jaseung to return.

"I wonder what our Lord is doing and where he is?"

At Dan Woobin’s words, the light in Mujin’s eyes deepened. He repeated the joke he had once said directly to Lee Jaseung.

"He is a much more wicked person than we know, so let's not worry."

Dan Woobin and Ma Young-gi chuckled.

Mujin left the area first.

"I'm going now."

Dan Woobin and Ma Young-gi stood there for a moment.

The two were somewhat awkward with each other. As expected, they became awkward when Mujin was not around.

Then Dan Woobin looked up at the sky.

"Oh? It's snowing."

Pure white snow truly began to fall.

"It's the first snow."

Ma Young-gi wore a moved expression that did not match his impression.

Dan Woobin spoke abruptly.

"Shall we have a drink to celebrate the first snow?"

After saying it, Dan Woobin went, 'Ah.' He worried if Ma Young-gi would refuse and what he would do with that awkward situation.

However, Ma Young-gi answered with a pleasant smile that showed such worries were groundless.

"That sounds good. I'll treat you."

"What has gotten into the miser?"

"That is just a prejudice created by a conspiracy! I shall thoroughly break it today!"

Watching Ma Young-gi walk ahead, Dan Woobin smiled. Ma Young-gi was certainly a miser, so that prejudice would likely not be broken.

However, with a single drink alone together, it seemed a corner of the awkward wall with him might break.

The snow that had been falling in a gentle dance soon began to cover the world in white.