Chapter 102 - Better That You Survive

My announcement that I was the Heavenly Demon's son surprised not only Bi Sain, but Seo Jeongtae and the seven members of the Thirteen Wolves of the Unorthodox Path as well.

"Are you truly Geom Mugeuk?"

Bi Sain's face twisted further, and his voice sank even lower.

"I am."

Bi Sain sought confirmation from the Wicked Laughing Demon.

"Let me ask you, Demon Supreme. Is that true?"

"Who in this world would dare impersonate the cult leader's flesh and blood in my presence?"

That settled it. Unless the Wicked Laughing Demon had gone mad, he would never call an impostor genuine.

"Why are you here?"

The Unorthodox Alliance had learned that the Wicked Laughing Demon had left the Cult grounds, but not that I was accompanying him.

"For much the same reason you are, I imagine. To resolve this matter without bloodshed. Isn't that why you came as well?"

Instead of answering, Bi Sain asked another question.

"How did you know it was me?"

Because this had happened in my previous life, of course.

But I couldn't tell him that.

"They say two of the Thirteen Wolves are skilled enough to take on one Demon Supreme. Yet eight of them came to face a single Demon Supreme? Important as this matter may be, wouldn't even you agree that seems excessive?"

"Even so, that hardly seems grounds for identifying me."

"Of course not. So I took a closer look at all of you. Important people are usually placed in the middle, so I examined the man at the center. And I found some definite differences."

"Such as?"

"You wore the same clothes, but neglected your shoes. Yours are exceptionally fine, and difficult to obtain in the Central Plains. The sword at your waist was no ordinary weapon, either. What's more, when you released your qi presence earlier, it blended differently with the others'. Since you rarely release it together, that difference was bound to show."

"You really sensed that difference?"

I nodded, and Bi Sain's expression stiffened. Having his qi presence read did not, in itself, prove a clear gap in ability, but it was hardly pleasant for him.

Pretending not to notice, I continued.

"There was another reason. I noticed the company head sending a sound transmission. At such a critical moment, that would mean he was asking someone for a decision. Someone guarded by seven of the Thirteen Wolves, carrying a precious sword and wearing fine shoes, with the authority to give this company head orders. With that much to go on, shouldn't I be able to guess it was you?"

His face still stiff, Bi Sain slowly nodded.

Then the Wicked Laughing Demon and Yi An sent almost identical sound transmissions at nearly the same instant.

"You are a genius, Second Young Master."

"You're a genius, Young Master."

I sent Yi An a sound transmission.

"You just sent me the same message as the Wicked Laughing Demon."

"Then both good and evil acknowledge you, Young Master."

"Which side are you on?"

"Young Master!"

Had we been alone, I would have laughed heartily and kept teasing her, but I stood calmly, keeping my expression under control.

While those two were pleasantly surprised, Bi Sain's mood had sunk in the opposite direction.

Bi Sain, this is no time to be upset. You've just encountered your one chance to change your fate.

"I envy you."

"For what?"

"You've already been confirmed as successor, haven't you? I'm still fighting for the position."

Bi Sain's lips twisted. Even the slightest bitter smile distorted his entire mouth, making his expression intensely jarring.

I knew why he wore that expression over something he should have been proud of.

Though he had already been named successor, fierce covert struggles continued within the Unorthodox Alliance.

He had suffered three ambushes already, one of them truly dangerous. So many people coveted the succession that he had been unable to identify the culprit.

That was why he traveled with no fewer than seven of the Thirteen Wolves.

But in my life before regression, he was eventually assassinated.

Would meeting me really change his fate?

Even I couldn't know that. Would what was destined to happen still happen, or would he live out a new fate?

Then one of the Thirteen Wolves guarding Bi Sain removed his bamboo hat and stepped forward. He was a white-haired old master.

"I am the man who leads the Thirteen Wolves of the Unorthodox Path."

The First Wolf, Baek Cheolgi.

He was the leader of the Thirteen Wolves and a trusted confidant of the leader of the Unorthodox Alliance.

He had spent his entire life feeling guilty for failing to prevent the injury to Bi Sain's face when the latter was a child. And when shadowy forces assassinated Bi Sain, Baek Cheolgi died alongside him, trying to protect him.

Was that why I felt kindly toward him? In this man who had died protecting his leader, I saw something of Yi An.

"I've heard that the Divine Cult's Second Young Master has been distinguishing himself lately. You certainly live up to your reputation."

"I merely guessed from what I observed."

"For a martial artist, a keen eye is a talent more important than any other skill."

"Thank you for thinking so highly of me."

After those courteous greetings, the First Wolf came to the point.

"The young alliance leader did not come here today merely to resolve the merchant company dispute."

"Then why did he come?"

"Someone is hoping the Wicked Laughing Demon will cause another bloodbath."

At the mention of himself, the Wicked Laughing Demon stepped in.

"Who are they?"

The First Wolf shook his head.

"We don't know, either."

The Wicked Laughing Demon looked at me as though seeking an answer. I met his expectations.

"People seeking the Unorthodox Alliance's succession, I imagine."

"What do they have to do with me?"

"Suppose you wiped out the Hundred Admonitions Merchant Company today, Laughing Demon. That would cause another uproar, wouldn't it? It seems the people behind this are plotting something by exploiting the conflict and disputes between the Cult and the Unorthodox Alliance."

My immediate deduction surprised not only the First Wolf, who had been speaking with me, but Bi Sain as well. I had grasped everything they knew in one stroke.

Bi Sain rejoined the conversation.

"How did you know that?"

"As you said, Young Master Bi came in person today. If it weren't directly connected to your own troubles, you would have sent someone else rather than coming yourself."

"Since you're so perceptive, I needn't explain why you should leave. Please return to your Cult now. That will be best for both sides."

"We also have demands to make of you, Young Master Bi."

"What demands?"

"Withdraw the Hundred Admonitions Merchant Company from Guizhou immediately. And compensate the Laughing Demon for all his losses over the past two years."

Everyone was startled by those unexpected words. Though I couldn't be certain, even the Wicked Laughing Demon had probably been surprised by my proposal.

The first to bristle was Seo Jeongtae, head of the Hundred Admonitions Merchant Company.

"What are you saying? Withdraw immediately? And pay compensation on top of that? How does that make any sense?"

I gave Seo Jeongtae a cold look.

"Apparently there is no hierarchy here. A subordinate dares interrupt while the young alliance leader is speaking."

I felt a little guilty saying that. The Cult was a mess in that respect, too.

Bi Sain spoke coldly on behalf of the indignant Seo Jeongtae.

"We gave you a warning. You should be thanking us and extending the deadline instead. What kind of outrageous nonsense is this?"

"You're the one speaking nonsense, Young Master Bi."

"I am?"

"How long has it been since you officially became the successor?"

"Two years."

"The people behind this must have been working to secure the succession from the time you were appointed—no, even before then. Isn't that so?"

"Let's say it is."

"Then do you have proof they weren't involved in the bloodbath the Laughing Demon caused two years ago?"

"What?"

Bi Sain was taken aback. He probably hadn't considered that possibility.

"You saw how the Laughing Demon handled things today. How he struggled to control himself even when angered. Then why did he act that way two years ago?"

I looked at the Wicked Laughing Demon. With an expression of disbelief, he said,

"Surely not? Are you saying someone was behind that incident too? They used me? Me, the Wicked Laughing Demon? There was a reason those bastards charged at me as if they were mad with the desire to die?"

With every word, his cold demonic qi grew denser.

Soon, the Wicked Laughing Demon was chuckling like a madman. That was how he laughed when he was truly angry.

"Second Young Master, I joked about wiping them all out and spending ten years confined. Now I may have to spend twenty."

Sensing that the Wicked Laughing Demon's reaction was genuine, Bi Sain was speechless for a moment. He, too, was probably beginning to suspect that the bloodbath two years ago might have been their plot.

"Even so, I have no intention of withdrawing the Hundred Admonitions Merchant Company."

"Very well. Then let me add one condition."

"What condition?"

"The Laughing Demon and I will help uncover whoever is behind this."

The surprises kept coming. This was probably the first time Bi Sain had been startled so often in a single day.

"You told us to go back, but we won't. The Laughing Demon isn't a man who leaves simply because you tell him to, is he?"

The Wicked Laughing Demon backed me up.

"Tell me to leave, and I'll make a point of staying."

With a faint smile, I continued.

"As you can see, that's the sort of man he is. So we'll help. If those bastards drag him into this, we can't simply let it pass."

"Are you confident you can uncover them?"

"Completely exposing people who have worked in the shadows for years may be impossible, but I'll find you a solid lead that can reveal them. If I provide that lead, will you meet the demands I made earlier?"

My reason for making that proposal was simple.

I already knew who was behind it.

Bi Sain would ultimately accept.

He would have recognized something extraordinary in what I had shown him today. More importantly, profits in Guizhou and punishment for the Wicked Laughing Demon meant nothing compared with finding and eliminating the people trying to kill him.

Bi Sain exchanged sound transmissions with the First Wolf, then with Seo Jeongtae.

I gave them time.

Then the Wicked Laughing Demon sent me a sound transmission.

"Will they accept? They'll lose an enormous amount of money."

"They most certainly will. Shall we bet? Loser buys a meal! What do you say?"

"Obsessing over meals and my mask again. No."

I laughed through sound transmission. He did not.

At last, Bi Sain concluded his discussion by sound transmission.

"Very well. I accept. But we'll withdraw only when you give us that lead."

"Agreed. Let's do that."

I drew the Black Demon Sword and extended it toward him. Bi Sain drew his own sword and lightly touched it to mine.

CLINK.

That clear ring of sword against sword sealed our promise.

We looked at each other across the crossed blades.

My gaze was utterly calm as I regarded his crushed, distorted face.

Though I had no particular fondness for him, I did harbor ill feelings toward the next successor. A truly worthless bastard would take his place.

Of course, if this life followed the same course as the last, none of it would matter. That bastard would also die at Hwa Mugi's hands.

But what if we all survived?

Then it would matter.

Better that you survive.

That scarred face of yours would do Murim far more good than the handsome face of that slick piece of trash.

"Then I'll see you again."

"You will."

And so we left the Hundred Admonitions Merchant Company without spilling a single drop of blood.

In the carriage on the way back, the Wicked Laughing Demon asked me,

"Rather dull, wasn't it?"

"Meeting the Unorthodox Alliance's successor surrounded by seven of the Thirteen Wolves? Discussing the people plotting to kill him? Which part, exactly, was dull?"

The Wicked Laughing Demon laughed. It was his habitual laugh, but I felt something had changed.

"How did you know he would accept?"

"His life and the leadership of the Unorthodox Alliance are at stake. I thought he'd accept any conditions."

"Are you confident you can catch them?"

"That's a question for you, Laughing Demon. Are you confident? You're the one they'll attack, not me."

The Wicked Laughing Demon laughed even louder.

"My dull world is becoming interesting."

"It was never dull to begin with. Murim is so fascinating. Perhaps you and I have simply spent too much time inside the Cult."

"But where will we find them?"

"We won't need to look. They'll come to us. All we need to do is go about our own business."

The Wicked Laughing Demon gave me a look of genuine admiration. We would be attacked regardless, and if we could obtain a lead in the process, every troublesome issue in Guizhou would be resolved at once. Even his past losses would be recovered.

I added a touch of heartfelt emotion to his admiration.

"I don't care whether the Unorthodox Alliance's successor lives or dies. All I'm interested in is your world, Laughing Demon. In seeing it for myself."

This journey was about seeing the Wicked Laughing Demon's world. By the time that tour ended, we would know far more about each other.

After gazing silently at me, the Wicked Laughing Demon spoke, an intrigued gleam in his eyes.

"This time, we'll have to go somewhere I can show you why that ugly heart is ugly."

And so the carriage began racing once again toward somewhere in his world.