Love Ballad of the Tyrant King

Chapter 269 : Jaseung, Accomplishes It

“You are making a mistake.”Je Song of the Council of Seven shouted, glaring fiercely.

Standing before him was Lee Jaseung. Countless corpses lay strewn around the area. Among them were the bodies of three other members of the Council of Seven, excluding Je Song.

Blood dripped from Asura, which had cut them down.

The remaining three of the Council of Seven had fled before Lee Jaseung arrived. They had failed to see eye to eye.

“Damn it! You know it too, don’t you? If I am here, it will be much easier for you to integrate the Demonic Cult.”

“Probably.”

They had proposed a negotiation. They offered to hand over the Asura Demon Sect in its entirety in exchange for being made elders. They had not even been particularly greedy.

However, Lee Jaseung refused flatly.

Je Song was desperately curious as to the reason.

“Why are you doing this when you know that?”

“Because I have no need for trash like you.”

Je Song’s eyes instantly turned savage. Added to the insult, the despair of his imminent death transformed into madness.

“Shit! Don’t act so clean! You think you’ll be different? You think you’re special! You’ll become just the same. Power will make you that way. Uhahaha! You too will flounder in corruption before being struck by another’s blade. You’re just the same as us!”

“No! I will be different.”

Lee Jaseung was resolute and filled with conviction.

“Because I have people who will make sure I don't change.”

Baek Seolyoung, Mujin, Dan Woobin, Ma Young-gi, Mook Young….

Because they existed, he would not change.

And there was one more newly formed reason.

Because this was the Jianghu where his child would live.

He would rather die than defile it with his own hands.

“Die!”

With his eyes rolled back, Je Song lunged at Lee Jaseung.

His attack missed as widely as his great misunderstanding of Lee Jaseung.

Slice.

Asura cut through his neck.

He glared at Lee Jaseung with eyes full of resentment.

Lee Jaseung accepted that gaze calmly and spoke.

“Watch from hell, whether I change or not.”

Thud.

Je Song collapsed just like that.

Lee Jaseung let out a long sigh and looked around at the place littered with corpses.

He had finally dealt with all the top brass of the Demonic Cult.

As for those who fled, he would send out a pursuit squad and place an enormous bounty on them with every assassin organization in the Jianghu, so he would see their bodies soon enough.

The Central Plains were wider than anything, but for the hunted, the world was narrower than a palm.

Lee Jaseung walked slowly and sat on the steps leading to the throne. Blood flowing from the corpses soaked the stairs. The sounds of fighting from outside subsided. It seemed the exterior was nearly finished as well.

How long had he been sitting like that?

Eventually, the door opened.

Dan Woobin, Mujin, and Ma Young-gi entered. Behind them, the figures of the Black Way Alliance and Murim Alliance martial artists were visible. They were laughing joyfully, savoring the victory.

Except for Dan Woobin, the martial uniforms of Mujin and Ma Young-gi were as red as if they had been dipped in blood and pulled out.

Lee Jaseung signaled the three men to come over without a word.

The three sat side by side to the left and right of Lee Jaseung.

The four men said nothing for a long time. The past days flashed by like a kaleidoscope. It did not feel real that they had crushed the Demonic Cult.

Ma Young-gi spoke.

“I feel somewhat strange. Is it true that we have achieved the unification of the world?”

Instead of Dan Woobin, who was deeply immersed in the recent emotion, Mujin answered.

“Well, we can’t just say: ‘As of today, the world is unified!’ Unifying the world under one banner isn't something that happens overnight. Still, I suppose we can consider today as the first day of de facto unification?”

Mujin looked at Lee Jaseung and spoke.

“Is our Captain Ma acting like this because the Alliance Leader is crouching here? Go up there and sit properly on the throne!”

“Forget it.”

He could have sat there once, but he didn't want to. This was not a fight he waged just to sit in that seat.

“Then I’ll sit there instead.”

Mujin strode up and sat on the throne.

“Ah, this is nice.”

Watching this, Ma Young-gi could not resist the temptation and followed him up.

“Let me try too.”

As Mujin moved his hips slightly to make room, Ma Young-gi sat down with him. The throne was so large that there was plenty of room for two people.

Looking at the two sitting side by side and grinning, Dan Woobin spoke.

“Do not forget the ecstatic gaze of those intoxicated by power while sitting on the throne. It could be the beginning of a rebellion.”

Then Mujin said with a laugh.

“As the Alliance Leader knows well, a typical traitor doesn't show it like this. They flatter the king with sweet words and whisper lists of people they want to kill.”

Ma Young-gi added.

“I heard Yao Hong was also the closest person to the Cult Leader?”

Dan Woobin looked around as if searching for something.

“Let’s see. Since it’s the throne of the Cult Leader, there might be a device that blows anyone else who sits on it to pieces.”

Mujin and Ma Young-gi jumped up immediately.

“Hahaha. It was enough to sit on it once.”

“Of course.”

As the two came down, Lee Jaseung rose from his seat.

The three men stood in a line before Lee Jaseung.

“You all worked hard. Without you, I wouldn't be here.”

To Lee Jaseung’s heartfelt words, Dan Woobin replied with sincerity.

“It was possible because of you, my Lord.”

Everyone was truly overcome with emotion.

Mujin spoke.

“To be honest, when you first declared your ambition, I thought it would be difficult. I thought the person who takes over the Jianghu would have to be someone more evil and greedy. Now I understand. You are... more evil and greedy than I thought.”

“Hahahaha.”

Lee Jaseung laughed loudly at Mujin’s dangerous joke.

He was the one among his subordinates who knew him most accurately. Though spoken as a joke, it was also a statement of truth.

“The truly difficult work starts now.”

At Lee Jaseung’s words, the three men nodded.

Officially, the Murim Alliance and the Black Way Alliance had united to defeat the Demonic Cult. Remnants of the cult would endlessly attempt assassinations for reconstruction, and those looking to make a profit would emerge by taking advantage of this chaos.

Perhaps an even messier fight would continue.

“I’ll leave that fight to you guys for the time being.”

There was a fight remaining that Lee Jaseung had to handle.

The Heavenly Demon Soul.

Lee Jaseung had made one resolution regarding that.

He would eliminate it before the child was born. There would be no Heavenly Demon Soul in the world where the child grew up.

* * *

The Jianghu was a crucible of celebration.

People of the Jianghu were overjoyed at the news that the Murim Alliance had completely wiped out the Asura Demon Sect.

Many taverns offered free drinks and food.

“Drink to your heart’s content today! The drinks and food are all on the house!”

At the excited shout of the innkeeper, the guests cheered.

Among them were Lee Jaseung and Yim Sayeon.

“I ended up eating for free thanks to you.”

Lee Jaseung smirked at her words.

His heart was complicated when he thought of Yim Sayeon. He had received great help, but he could not fully open his heart to her. It was because of Cheon Myeongin, of course.

It was not that he couldn't trust her, but rather that he understood her affection for her child.

In fact, while coming out to meet her here, Lee Jaseung pondered whether he should tell Yim Sayeon about the Heavenly Demon Soul dwelling in Cheon Myeongin’s body.

If things went wrong, she might step forward to save her son and end up being killed by the Heavenly Demon Soul.

In other words, she would be killed by the hands of her child, though it was just a shell.

The opposite case was the same.

However, he concluded that while it might have been fine if he didn't know in the first place, keeping it buried after already knowing would be a deception against her.

“What is the reason you asked to see me?”

“It is because of the existence dwelling in your son’s body.”

Lee Jaseung told her exactly what the past the Heavenly Demon Soul had shown him during the fight with Yao Hong.

The fact that the Heavenly Demon Soul had entered through a Great Law and was still dwelling within Cheon Myeongin’s body.

Yim Sayeon knew that the Demonic Cult had performed some Great Law on her son’s body. Though her son had left the cult because he didn't want to be involved in the succession struggle, she thought they had performed a Great Law beneficial to his body since he was their kin.

However, she was greatly shocked to learn it was the Heavenly Demon Soul. Furthermore, she was enraged to hear that Cheon Myeongin would have died if the Great Law had been performed properly.

“So that’s what happened huh? Those dogs did such a thing to my son I see!”

Murderous intent erupted from her eyes. It was more intense than any murderous intent Lee Jaseung had experienced so far.

If Ho Yeonjong had been alive until now, he was certain she would have gone to kill him.

“How! How could they do that? How can a human being do such a thing!”

Why?

Why must the betrayed party suffer?

Shouldn't the betrayer be the one to suffer? Shouldn't they be the ones trembling with regret and shedding tears of repentance for committing such a dirty and petty act?

But reality always dictates that the betrayed party is the one who suffers.

She was as angry as fire.

Lee Jaseung felt it was actually a relief.

Being wounded is something that can happen. If not revealed outwardly, that wound will eventually fester and burst.

That is why one needs good comrades nearby. To talk and help release emotions.

Eventually, she calmed her feelings.

“Is there a way to separate one from the Heavenly Demon Soul?”

“I don't know yet.”

“What happens if the Heavenly Demon Soul dies?”

First of all, it would depend on the situation in which it died.

If the Heavenly Demon Soul died while fighting inside his body, he too would be in danger.

What if it was completely separated from his body?

Cheon Myeongin’s body should have died already due to poisoning. He was holding on only because of the Heavenly Demon Soul.

It was a dangerous situation either way.

She could already guess the situation from Lee Jaseung’s expression.

“Tell me honestly.”

Being honest was the best thing for her.

“Rather than how to save him, I think it is time to think about how to let him reach his end.”

At the words spoken with difficulty, Yim Sayeon nodded silently.

She used to self-deprecatingly say she had lived a hundred years in vain, but that was not true.

She was a wise person.

“At the very least, I don't want Myeongin to die as a monster of the Demonic Cult.”

She was honest. Because she was honest, he could understand her entirely.

“In that case, please help me.”

“How can I help when you are stronger than me?”

Though they hadn't formally clashed, she was certain of that.

Lee Jaseung did not bother to deny that fact. What was important now was not who was stronger.

“Only you can help me, Elder.”

“How should I help you?”

Eventually, the decisive word flowed from Lee Jaseung’s mouth.

“Please help me reach the Realm of the Mind Sword.”

It was the conclusion Lee Jaseung had reached.

To kill the Heavenly Demon Soul, there was only one way: reaching the Realm of the Mind Sword.

Whether the Mind Sword could kill the Heavenly Demon Soul was unknown.

But this was the last and only method Lee Jaseung had thought of.

Yim Sayeon nodded silently.

She too felt that method was the best.

Lee Jaseung knew that she had not yet reached the Realm of the Mind Sword herself. Nevertheless, Yim Sayeon was the only person who could lead him to that realm.

Yim Sayeon, who had been staring at Lee Jaseung silently, eventually spoke.

“Do you trust me?”

“Yes.”

At Lee Jaseung’s unhesitating answer, Yim Sayeon rose from her seat.

“Then let us go.”

Lee Jaseung spoke as he stood up after her.

“There is someone I must meet before we go.”