Chapter 97: Jaseung, Receives

Inside the hidden chamber of the mountain mansion, there were three people.

Lee Jaseung, Dan Woobin, and Master Go. Master Go was the most famous human-skin mask maker in the Black Way Alliance.

Ordinary human-skin masks could be detected by a sharp-eyed person. They were more like masks than true transformations.

However, the masks made by Master Go were so exquisite that it was difficult to realize they were being worn.

After a while of skillfully working on Lee Jaseung’s face, Master Go stopped his hands.

“It is finished. Please take a look in the mirror.”

Master Go handed over a small hand mirror. Reflected inside was a completely unfamiliar man in his mid-thirties. The aura was entirely different from Lee Jaseung’s.

“Excellent work. You have done well.”

The voice was also different, but Lee Jaseung could change his tone naturally thanks to training.

“You honor me with your words.”

Master Go smiled with satisfaction. Even he thought it would be impossible to recognize Lee Jaseung in this state.

“Then I shall take my leave now.”

Once Master Go had gone, Dan Woobin spoke in admiration.

“Master Go’s skill truly is incredible.”

No matter how many times he saw it, it always impressed him. Even knowing that Lee Jaseung was wearing a mask, it felt as if he were someone else entirely.

The only potential giveaway was the eyes and the Qi, but Lee Jaseung solved that easily by bringing up his Yin inner Qi. It completely changed his gaze and aura.

“That man Ban Yeo has remarkable nerve.”

They had agreed to meet Ban Yeo here at the mansion. Ban Yeo had accepted the demand to come alone.

“Or he must have something to rely on.”

It could be a hidden martial skill, or perhaps a powerful person protecting him.

If not, then Ban Yeo was taking an enormous risk.

From outside came Mook Young’s voice.

“He has arrived.”

“Let him in.”

Dan Woobin pulled the bamboo hat on the table low over his head.

Moments later, Ban Yeo entered the room.

Lee Jaseung raised his Qi and scanned the surroundings. He felt no other presence. Unless an expert capable of evading even Mook Young’s senses had come along, Ban Yeo was truly alone.

“It is nice to meet you.”

Ban Yeo greeted first.

“I hear you wanted to see me?”

Lee Jaseung displayed an attitude that was not just proud but almost insolently so. It was intentional.

“Yes.”

In contrast, Ban Yeo remained polite.

“I happened to be nearby, so I was able to come quickly.”

“It must be because that fate has led us here together, my Lord.”

Ban Yeo thought the heavens had favored him. Without such fortune, it would have taken much longer to arrange a meeting, and there was no guarantee he could endure safely until then.

Lee Jaseung said with a mocking air,

“In any case, this is surprising. The second most powerful man in the Great Murim Alliance called upon the Leader of the Black Way in person.”

Even at the provocation, Ban Yeo did not waver.

“Both the Orthodox and Unorthodox Factions are made up of people, after all. I heard the new Black Way Leader is a great hero, so I wished to see you in person.”

“And what do you think now that you have?”

“As the rumors said, you are very young. I also feel a bold and magnanimous spirit from you.”

Ban Yeo acted as if he was meeting an Orthodox hero.

“Thank you for your kind view.”

Lee Jaseung responded mildly while observing him, maintaining his disguised aura.

Looking toward the door, Lee Jaseung said,

“Bring the liquor.”

One of the guards came in with a prepared bottle and cups.

Lee Jaseung poured the liquor into the cup before Ban Yeo.

“Here, have a drink.”

Ban Yeo met his eyes. He knew this was a test.

He emptied the cup.

“It is good liquor. Please pour me another.”

Lee Jaseung smiled and refilled the cup. Ban Yeo drank again, then a third time in succession.

From his behavior, Lee Jaseung realized it was not simply courage. Ban Yeo trusted his own judgment, that there would be no poison before even hearing his business.

“I will tell you why I came. To be direct, I need the Black Way Alliance Leader’s help.”

“You need help? It is hard to believe the man with the second greatest power in the Orthodox world needs my help.”

“It is something only the Black Way Leader can do.”

“And what is that?”

Ban Yeo gave an unexpected answer.

“Please start a war.”

Lee Jaseung was genuinely surprised. No acting was needed, anyone would have been.

Dan Woobin’s voice came by voice transmission.

— He seeks to use war to escape internal conflict.

He had seen through Ban Yeo’s scheme instantly.

“Haha. You make an amusing joke.”

Lee Jaseung stepped back to see what Ban Yeo would do.

Ban Yeo’s expression was serious.

“I am not joking.”

“You are not?”

The smile left Lee Jaseung’s face. He was secretly pleased. A demand that big meant much room to exploit, and the blade was still in his own hand.

Ban Yeo spoke calmly.

“I am not asking for a full-scale war. Only to create the atmosphere of one.”

Creating such an atmosphere was easy enough, moving rear strike forces closer to the Murim Alliance’s borders would suffice.

“I will spread the rumors myself.”

Rumors needed convincing actions to back them up.

“But if things go wrong, a real war could start.”

“That will not happen.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because the Alliance Leader does not want war.”

“No one can know another person’s true mind.”

“But I’m also here as well. I too do not want to start a war.”

Lee Jaseung’s lips curled slightly. Of course, if war broke out, all that Ban Yeo enjoyed could be lost. It was obvious he didn’t want war.

After a pause, Lee Jaseung finally spoke. This was the key moment.

“Very well. If I do this, what will you give me?”

A glint of joy passed through Ban Yeo’s eyes. He had only feared outright refusal. If the other was asking for terms, the deal was already halfway done.

“Do you know of the Hainan Sect?”

A sharp light flashed in Lee Jaseung’s gaze. He had not expected Ban Yeo to bring them up.

Hainan Sect, the place fate had tied to him since obtaining the iron case.

“They were destroyed long ago, were they not?”

“Yes. But do you know why they were?”

“I only heard rumors about it. That was because they found a great treasure.”

Ban Yeo’s eyes gleamed.

“The rumor was true.”

A long-hidden secret was being revealed.

“They found four treasures in total. One was the iron chest, one a pair of gauntlets, one a manual containing a martial technique, and the last was a map.”

Lee Jaseung knew one of them was the Limitless Iron Chest he had mastered.

But the gauntlets, a technique manual, and a map?

It struck him as an intriguing combination.

“The contents of the casket and the map are unknown. But one of the others I know for certain.”

“What is it?”

“The gauntlets.”

Gauntlets were a type of weapon worn by those who practiced fist arts, often reinforced with metal. Usually they were used by the lower or mid-level fighters.

“These are called the Limitless Iron Gauntlets.”

At the name ‘Limitless’, Lee Jaseung realized the connection to his Limitless Iron Chest. Ban Yeo clearly did not know the iron case also bore that name.

“They are no ordinary gauntlets. It is said that when worn, they double the wearer’s striking power.”

For an average person, double strength might mean little, but for a master, the difference was immense.

If Lee Jaseung’s punch doubled in power, the result would be terrifying.

“I will give you these gauntlets.”

Ban Yeo took a pair from his robe and placed them on the table.

They looked ordinary, but as Lee Jaseung gazed at them, his inner Qi trembled faintly.

The technique he had learned from the iron case was reacting.

His hunch was now certainty. The gauntlets were linked to his martial art, hence the Limitless name.

He had to get them no matter what.

Lee Jaseung suppressed the surge of emotion in his chest. If Ban Yeo noticed how much these mattered to him, he would certainly demand more from Lee Jaseung.

Lee Jaseung spoke with a cold smile.

“If you think mere gauntlets can move me, you are greatly mistaken.”

Hiding his true thoughts, he rose. Fortunately, Ban Yeo did not know their value to him.

Ban Yeo heard that the Leader of the Black Way Alliance used daggers as his main weapon. That meant gauntlets like these were mere treasures for a man like him. Moreover, it was most likely that the Black Way Alliance had other great treasures as well.

“Wait.”

While gazing up at Lee Jaseung, Ban Yeo spoke quietly.

“That’s not all.”

He took out a document from his robe.

“This will let you retrieve goods from a nearby storehouse.”

“What’s in it?”

“Gold. Worth twenty million silver coins.”

Lee Jaseung looked down at him.

Should he push further or accept?

He followed his instincts.

“I already have plenty of money.”

He strode toward the door, abandoning the fortune without hesitation.

Dan Woobin quickly sent a sound transmission from behind.

— You should have accepted it.

But Lee Jaseung did not slow his steps. His instincts told him Ban Yeo had more, and that he was more desperate than he seemed.

‘Hand it over! Give me everything you prepared!’

Just as he reached the door, Ban Yeo spoke.

“Wait.”

Lee Jaseung glanced back and Ban Yeo smiled as he spoke.

“You are impatient. I am not finished yet.”

From his robe, Ban Yeo produced a flat box.

When Lee Jaseung looked, Ban Yeo opened it.

Inside was a dagger.

Lee Jaseung stepped over and picked it up.

Two characters were engraved on the blade, Dream Phantom.

Ban Yeo explained.

“This is the Dream Phantom Dagger. Since it appeared two hundred years ago, it has reigned as the finest dagger.”

Lee Jaseung knew of it. It wasn’t reigning like Ban Yeo said, but it was among the top rank, like the Asura Dagger.

If described in human emotions, the Asura was masculine and domineering, while the Dream Phantom was feminine and emotional.

Basically if Asura was a man, the Dream Phantom was a woman.

Zing, zing-

The Asura Dagger began to resonate, reacting to the opposite nature.

Lee Jaseung liked the Dream Phantom. It wasn’t because he liked it more than Asura. But because it was a blade of a completely different character.

A new dagger for a new level.

Smiling, he placed Dream Phantom at his other side, and tucked away the document for the gold and the Limitless Iron Gauntlets.

In one stroke, he had gained three priceless treasures. Ban Yeo would never know that all the crises he faced were created by the man before him.

“I will begin moving troops tomorrow. Remember, there is only one chance.”

After hearing Lee Jaseung’s answer, Ban Yeo replied with a happy face.

“That will be enough.”

Lee Jaseung walked out.

Ban Yeo smiled in satisfaction. Of course, the gold, dagger, and gauntlets were all dear to him.

But they were worthless if he were dead. Giving them away did not mean his ruin.

Yet he had no idea that the man who had just left was far happier than he was, for he had received something far more precious than he expected.

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