Chapter 202 - A Few Days Fly By, Don’t They?

“Calm down first.”

The Third Immortal tried to soothe Geom Mugeuk. Even if he was going to kill him, he had to settle him down first.

“Could you endure it in my place?”

“I couldn’t have endured it either. But if you get worked up and ruin everything, you won’t get your revenge, will you? Your opponent is...”

He couldn’t bring himself to say it. Who would have thought the day would come when he had to say aloud that their opponent was the Fist Demon?

Whether or not he understood those feelings, Geom Mugeuk clenched a trembling fist.

“He said he thought of me as his own son. That bastard!”

The Third Immortal had to keep Geom Mugeuk from doing anything before the other Immortals arrived.

“A bastard like that deserves to die. I’ll help you.”

“Why would you?”

“Why? Because he deserves to die.”

Geom Mugeuk snorted.

“That’s not it. You’re afraid you’ll get dragged into this too, aren’t you? Don’t worry. I’ll never tell anyone you bought the poison for me.”

Rather than saying he had borrowed money, he described it as the Third Immortal buying him poison. His promise never to tell anyone sounded all the more dangerous. Geom Mugeuk was deliberately getting on his nerves.

The Third Immortal suppressed the urge to shout, ‘I bought you poison? Are you insane?’

“How are you going to poison the Fist Demon?”

“I’ll put it in his liquor.”

“When is the Fist Demon coming again?”

“He’ll be back here in five days.”

Five days! The Third Immortal grew anxious. Somehow, he had to get the Immortals here before then.

“You’ll die too if you meddle. Stay out of it.”

“If you kill the Fist Demon, do you think the Demonic Cult will leave your family alone? They’ll wipe out your entire sect.”

“Let them. My father couldn’t utter a word even after this happened to his own son. A family like that is better off being wiped out.”

Although the Third Immortal understood Geom Mugeuk’s reckless fury, one thought crossed his mind.

‘I picked the wrong lunatic to mess with!’

Yet there was nothing he could do about him himself. Judging by the skill he had displayed at the inn, the man was a far superior martial artist.

Geom Mugeuk rose.

“Don’t come looking for me again. If you do, I’ll throw that poison all over you.”

Leaving that threat behind, he departed.

* * *

A little later, I was on the rooftop of the building across from the inn with Go Wol, watching the Third Immortal leave.

“I confirmed that his subordinate sent out a messenger bird a short while ago. Given the situation, he will have summoned all the key members of the Mutual Aid Society. Our investigation found that their leadership consists of four men, headed by someone called the First Immortal.”

Go Wol’s intelligence network was already proving its worth. He certainly made me feel that the money had been well spent.

“So we only need to deal with those four?”

“Yes. The First Immortal is the mastermind. He’s highly suspicious and rarely shows himself, but with the Fist Demon involved, he’ll have no choice.”

“So this is why everyone keeps a strategist. It makes life so easy.”

“Life is very difficult for a strategist whose leader is cleverer than he is.”

“You’ve got me wrong. The Divine Art of Flattery is the only thing I’m good at.”

After a brief pause, Go Wol said,

“Thanks to you, I worked things out with the cult leader.”

Geom Mugeuk looked at his face. He seemed much more at ease than when he had first asked him to look after the cult leader.

Geom Mugeuk thought Go Wol was truly remarkable, treating the Wind Heaven Cult Leader so kindly after being held captive by him for so long. Whatever connection they might have had in a past life, he felt anew how deep their bond ran.

“The cult leader was worried about you. Said you’ve been having a hard time lately, and that I should look after Strategist Go instead of him.”

“I’m fine.”

“Fine? How are you fine? They say people who need help always start by saying they’re fine.”

Go Wol looked at him as though asking where he had heard that one, and Geom Mugeuk shared his honest feelings.

“Strategist Go, I’m not fine. Dealing with the Demon Supremes, fighting over the succession, putting on an act in front of these Immortal Debt scumbags—it’s exhausting. I’m worn out. But just saying it seems to make me feel a little better. So you should say it too. If you’re struggling, say you’re struggling. If you’re tired, say you’re tired. I’m listening.”

Go Wol smiled meaningfully. He had told the Wind Heaven Cult Leader he was struggling, to show him that he could say so too when things were hard. Now Geom Mugeuk was doing the same for him.

Go Wol lifted his head and gazed at the sky. Even without saying anything, he felt better.

* * *

The one struggling most among us was the Fist Demon.

“... And that’s how you became the villain. Things were urgent, so I apologize for not telling you beforehand.”

When I finished explaining, the Fist Demon erupted.

“Not just a villain... a shameless rapist!”

“It takes a crime that bad to give me a motive to poison you.”

“There are plenty of other reasons! I could have insulted your dignity or killed a subordinate you cherished!”

“But I didn’t think any of those would be as provocative.”

“It’s filthy!”

The Fist Demon had never once caused trouble involving women, so it was only natural that he was outraged.

He brought his face right up to Geom Mugeuk’s.

“Was this your idea? Or your strategist’s—the one who can’t play Go?”

“My strategist’s, of course. Don’t hold back. Go over there and...”

GRRRR.

A growl came from the Fist Demon’s clenched fist. It sounded like a typhoon approaching in the distance.

“This was your doing. Would your strategist dare do such a thing?”

“You really are clever. Of course it was my idea.”

“Why did you turn me into a rapist?”

“Because it’s one of the strongest reasons to want someone dead. Perhaps that’s why they haven’t questioned my intent to kill you at all.”

“Even so, I absolutely hate being misunderstood.”

“Master, I only told men who’ll be dead soon anyway. You needn’t worry about it. The story won’t get out anywhere else.”

Then a question suddenly occurred to the Fist Demon.

“But did that man believe you?”

He must have been hoping to hear, “How could the Fist Demon ever do such a thing?”

“Yes. He believed it very readily.”

“He believed it straightaway? What’s his name? Tell me his name!”

As the Fist Demon vented his fury at the men for no good reason, Geom Mugeuk smiled.

“It’ll all be over in a few days anyway. Those days will be the most worthwhile days of your life, Master.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Their leaders will act because the Fist Demon’s name was mentioned. As a result, countless young people caught in their clutches will escape despair and death. If we include all their future victims, it’ll be hundreds, thousands of people. You’ll be saving every one of them, Master.”

“Am I some Medical Sage, to rejoice over saving lives?”

“Then please live as a rapist for just a few days, for the sake of your disciple who does enjoy saving lives.”

The Fist Demon stared holes into Geom Mugeuk before abruptly turning away, still radiating gloom.

“Even a few days is too long!”

* * *

Four days later, the Fourth Immortal was the first to arrive.

“What on earth is all this fuss about? Has a war broken out?”

Although the Third Immortal was the older sworn brother, the two treated each other like friends.

At the sight of the Fourth Immortal, a martial expert, the Third Immortal felt his constant tension ease. He explained everything that had happened in detail.

“So this lunatic wants to poison the Fist Demon? What’s the problem? He’ll be the one doing the killing.”

“The problem is that he bought the poison with money he borrowed from us.”

“So what? You think the Demonic Cult will even investigate whose money he used to buy it?”

“I wouldn’t worry if it were an ordinary poison and an ordinary target. It would end with, ‘Oh, he got hold of some poison and killed him.’ The problem is that he bought Formless Poison. How did he afford something so expensive? And the dead man would be the Fist Demon. Naturally, they’ll suspect someone was behind it. If they dig into his background, they’ll eventually uncover us. Do you think the Demonic Cult will leave us alone?”

Only then did the Fourth Immortal grasp the gravity of the situation.

“When is the Fist Demon coming?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Then we only have today. Where’s that Righteous Fist Sect brat?”

“Drinking at a tavern right now.”

“Let’s go. Lead the way.”

When the Fourth Immortal tried to leave at once, the Third Immortal stopped him.

“If we simply kill him at the tavern, his father will investigate his son’s death. Eventually, the Demonic Cult will get involved. That puts us in even greater danger.”

“Then what do you suggest?”

The Third Immortal proposed a solution.

“We abduct him and make him disappear. We make it look as though he left for parts unknown, distraught over what happened to his fiancée. Have him leave a short letter before we kill him and dissolve him with bone-dissolving acid.”

The Fourth Immortal agreed.

“Good idea.”

* * *

After the Third and Fourth Immortals had waited outside the tavern for a watch, Geom Mugeuk staggered out.

When he reached a deserted area, the Third Immortal appeared in front of him. Drunk, Geom Mugeuk slurred his words.

“You! Didn’t I tell you I’d kill you if you showed your face again?”

“Listen, I came because I have something to tell you.”

Geom Mugeuk didn’t even notice the Fourth Immortal approaching from behind.

“Tell me what? You’re here to stop me again. You coward. I’m not afraid! Tomorrow...”

The Fourth Immortal struck Geom Mugeuk’s paralysis points and mute point.

Still speaking, Geom Mugeuk was caught without even a chance to dodge.

The Third and Fourth Immortals each hooked an arm through one of his and sped away. They reached a deserted forest, and only then released his mute point.

“What the hell? Do you want to die?”

The drunken Geom Mugeuk seemed utterly unaware of the gravity of his situation.

The Third Immortal handed him the paper and brush he had brought, along with ink he had ground in advance.

“Write down exactly what I dictate.”

“What? What’s this?”

“Father, your son will be going away for a while, but I shall return.”

Geom Mugeuk began to write, his eyes drunkenly unfocused, then set down the brush.

“You bastard! You’re going to make me write this and then kill me, aren’t you?”

Just then, a voice came from behind them.

“Idiots!”

The Third and Fourth Immortals’ faces lit up.

The First and Second Immortals walked into the clearing. The First Immortal had arrived some time ago and had been observing how things unfolded. He had only shown himself now because he judged the situation entirely safe.

“He’s leaving because he’s angry with his father. Why would he leave a letter? That would look even stranger.”

The Third Immortal exclaimed in admiration.

“As expected of our eldest brother! You think on a different level from us!”

The First Immortal approached Geom Mugeuk. His villainous face laid his nature bare, and his eyes were as cold as a snake’s.

“All this fuss over this worthless wretch.”

After glaring at Geom Mugeuk, he straightened and said,

“Bury him alive.”

He intended to inflict the terror and agony of being buried alive.

At that, Geom Mugeuk smiled. The gloomy, dark demeanor he had been putting on vanished, replaced by his usual expression.

Watching him, the Third Immortal flinched at the transformation that made him look like a different person.

‘This lunatic really will keep surprising people right up until he dies.’

Then Geom Mugeuk asked the First Immortal,

“Was this whole scheme your idea? You don’t look that clever.”

The First Immortal’s expression hardened.

The other three merely watched. They knew very well that the angrier he became, the more there would be to see. Though sometimes what happened was so dreadful they feared it would haunt their dreams.

“Who’s behind you? Who supplied the money?”

Geom Mugeuk looked at the other Immortals.

“Has he not told even you? You banded together without even that much trust?”

Suddenly, the First Immortal realized that Geom Mugeuk’s slurring had disappeared.

“You... aren’t drunk.”

“I sobered up. Hearing I’d be buried alive snapped me right out of it.”

His words were as relaxed as his expression.

Sensing something amiss, the First Immortal looked around. He suspected someone might be lying in ambush, but he could sense nothing nearby.

The Third Immortal stepped forward.

“Pay him no mind. He was a lunatic from the start.”

He thought he should kill him quickly and be done with it. After all, lending Geom Mugeuk a hundred thousand taels had been his decision. Finishing this before the lunatic angered the First Immortal any further would be the wisest choice.

“I’ll take care of him and bury him.”

Watching him draw a dagger from inside his robe, Geom Mugeuk asked,

“Didn’t you say you were investing in my youth?”

“You must have misheard. I said I was investing in my youth.”

The Third Immortal sneered openly. He loved this moment best—the moment he took his victim’s life, the moment they realized they had been betrayed and looked at him with resentment. Of course, this lunatic wasn’t giving him the expression he wanted.

“You were irritating, but it was a unique experience. I’ll remember it for years to come.”

“After today, I’m going to wipe every memory of you lot from my mind.”

“Farewell, lunatic!”

Just as he was about to slit Geom Mugeuk’s throat with the dagger, a cold chill swept over them, sending a shiver down the Third Immortal’s spine. He wasn’t the only one who felt the chill that had seized their surroundings. The Fourth Immortal drew his sword and scanned the area.

A man was walking toward them.

His long shadow in the moonlight was larger and broader than an ordinary man’s. The approaching man, whose frost-sharp qi presence made his mood plain, was the Fist Demon.

The four men were shocked when they recognized him. Compared to the man who had appeared, the seemingly ruthless First Immortal had the face of a baby.

Then Geom Mugeuk said something incomprehensible behind them.

“He’s very angry right now because you all believed it without a shred of doubt.”

Geom Mugeuk, whom they had thought immobilized by his paralysis points, rose and brushed the dust from his clothes. Smiling, he asked the Fist Demon,

“A few days fly by, don’t they?”

The Fist Demon stood before them, his face haggard from lost sleep.

“To me, they were an eternity!”