Chapter 276 - Give That Mouth a Rest

The three men looked at one another. More precisely, Jin Hagun and Bi Sain were looking at Geom Mugeuk.

The look in Jin Hagun’s eyes as he regarded Geom Mugeuk had changed since their first greeting. Suddenly, he recalled what his younger sister had told him before he left.

["You have to set aside your prejudices when you deal with him. Don’t assume he’ll be a certain way just because he’s a demonic martial artist. He isn’t the kind of person you think he is, dear brother."]

Now he understood exactly why she had said that. Geom Mugeuk was not the man he had imagined. Jin Hagun found himself curious about this man before him, who might become his lifelong rival.

Just then, someone spoke.

"... It’s not fair."

Everyone turned toward the speaker. Seo Cheong was sitting slumped on the floor, looking their way. Blood flowing from Seo Baekjung’s body was soaking his backside, but he was half out of his mind.

"I said it’s not fair."

It had felt good while he was shouting earlier. It had been a relief. You hypocrites! Haven’t you killed people too?

But that was all. Once that moment passed, a terrible emptiness set in. No one was paying him any attention. It felt as though his outburst had never happened.

He had always lived as the main character. Yet now, not a single person in the banquet hall cared about him.

When he ought to have been raging over his father’s death and terrified of spending the rest of his life in prison, he was instead writhing in self-pity, convinced he had been ignored and abandoned.

"So please, spare me."

Geom Mugeuk regarded him without a trace of emotion in his eyes. Had he at least been clutching his father’s corpse and hurling curses their way, Geom Mugeuk might have felt a shred of sympathy.

But even at the very end, Seo Cheong thought only of himself.

At a signal from Geom Mugeuk’s eyes, two guards suppressed Seo Cheong’s internal energy and dragged him outside. When he tried to shout, they suppressed his mute point as well, leaving him helpless as they hauled him away. Soon, the Hunan branch’s demonic martial artists would take him to that hellish prison at the Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon’s headquarters.

Geom Mugeuk did not say a single word to Seo Cheong or acknowledge anything he said. He showed not the slightest interest.

To cast someone into hell without attaching any significance to it—that was Geom Mugeuk’s unwavering attitude toward villains who deserved to die.

Watching him, Jin Hagun gained some sense of the kind of man Geom Mugeuk was. He himself would certainly have said something: Your father died because of you, so spend the rest of your life repenting. But Geom Mugeuk ignored Seo Cheong completely, without so much as a cold glance. That felt more frightening and more cruel.

Jin Hagun felt he had gotten a proper taste of Murim today. It was fiercely spicy, but not unpleasant. A flavor he wanted to taste again.

At the same time, another desire stirred in him. Next time, he wanted to do the cooking himself and give them a proper taste.

"I won’t forget what happened today."

It might have sounded like a promise of revenge, but he was expressing his gratitude to Geom Mugeuk. Without him, he would have fallen out of his grandfather’s favor.

Geom Mugeuk answered with a gentle look and a smile.

"Become a good alliance leader."

Jin Hagun decided to believe only half the sincerity in those eyes. He had never heard of a Demonic Cult successor advising someone to become a good alliance leader.

Behind them, the Demon-Slaying Squad, the Heavenly Demon Hall guards, and the Thirteen Wolves of the Unorthodox Path were also studying one another. They sensed that this meeting would not be their last. Under what circumstances would they meet again?

Naturally, Geom Mugeuk could not let the final farewell pass without some banter.

"It’s a shame to part already. Let’s go have a drink."

But Jin Hagun pretended not to hear and said his farewell to Bi Sain instead. The cup of wine Bi Sain had silently poured him earlier had been a great comfort.

"Next time, I’ll pour you a cup."

Bi Sain gave a slight nod. Would the day truly come when the orthodox successor poured him a drink? Perhaps it would. Ever since he met Geom Mugeuk, things he had never imagined kept happening.

"Until we meet again, then."

Jin Hagun strode out first. As the Demon-Slaying Squad started to follow, Geom Mugeuk called to them.

"Well then, let your squad leader go, and the rest of us can drink together. You can chat with my guards over a few cups. How much you’re paid each month, whether it comes on time, what your working conditions are like. Aren’t you curious about one another?"

The Demon-Slaying Squad followed Jin Hagun out with incredulous expressions. One of them let out an involuntary snort of laughter, then hurriedly straightened his face. The Demon-Slaying Squad, the Thirteen Wolves of the Unorthodox Path, and the Heavenly Demon Hall Guard drinking together? Was that remotely conceivable?

The last of the orthodox party to leave was the Sword Immortal. The Blood Heaven Saber Demon bid him farewell first.

"Until next time. Take care of yourself."

"Don’t worry. I’ve found a reason to live a long life."

"I told you, the younger generation doesn’t like us meddling in their affairs."

"You should put on some weight."

The Sword Immortal cast a glance at his reason to live a long life, then left.

Geom Mugeuk turned to Bi Sain.

"Now that those stuffy orthodox types are all gone, let’s have a drink, just us men!"

But Bi Sain also pretended not to hear and walked away.

Bi Sain knew that Geom Mugeuk had intended to give him the Heavenly Harmony School—if Seo Cheong had not acted out unexpectedly at the end. Well, how could anyone beat a fellow that lucky?

Still, he had secured fifteen sects in Hunan on this journey into the world, rendering a great service to the alliance.

"Come on, have one drink before you go. You’re heartless!"

Despite Geom Mugeuk’s shouts behind him, Bi Sain strode out. There was no need to thank him. Geom Mugeuk would appear before him again someday. Sitting on that cliff with his back turned—a back Bi Sain would want to shove right over the edge—he would surprise him yet again. Bi Sain even found himself looking forward to that moment. He would repay this debt then.

The Thirteen Wolves of the Unorthodox Path followed him, and Monstrous Evil and Light Flash walked out as well. Before leaving, those two masters also took a long look at Geom Mugeuk rather than the Blood Heaven Saber Demon or the Fist Demon. They all sensed it: Geom Mugeuk was the one who had brought about today’s outcome.

Once even they had left, Geom Mugeuk laughed heartily.

"Just as I thought! My Demon Supremes are the only ones I can count on."

But the Blood Heaven Saber Demon and the Fist Demon were no longer there. They were already walking toward the door.

"Where are you going?"

"The work’s done. Time to leave."

"Did all of you plan this? Why are you doing this to me?"

Geom Mugeuk rushed over and blocked their way.

The guards moved with him, falling into formation. Third Tiger looked at Jeok Yeon, conveying with his eyes what he had said before: It really isn’t easy serving him.

Jeok Yeon answered with a look of his own: Isn’t that what makes it fun?

One moment, he displayed a dignity that even the Sword Immortal, let alone the other successors, could not treat lightly. Then he would banter like this, seeming an entirely different person.

Geom Mugeuk addressed the two Demon Supremes.

"Whew, I talked so much I thought my mouth was going to fall off."

It truly had been a great war between the demonic and orthodox factions that began and ended with words.

The Fist Demon clenched his fist.

"Thanks to that mouth, I didn’t have to use this fist."

Yet the taciturn Fist Demon’s eyes held praise: You handled it well.

"I could chatter all I liked because I had that fist to rely on."

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon tried to head out the door.

"Now give that mouth a rest. We’re leaving."

"Why do you keep trying to leave? You have all the time in the world!"

"I have to teach Daeryong and read my books. I’m busy too."

The Fist Demon added his own reason.

"And I have my late-night training."

Geom Mugeuk held them back.

"Don’t be so cold and leave right away! You came all this way. Stay a little longer. Who knows? You might get a chance to really put that fist to use."

At those suggestive words, the Fist Demon asked,

"Is something going on?"

"Come along. I’ll tell you when we get there."

Geom Mugeuk slipped between them and linked arms with both, walking out together so they could not get away.

"You need to get out and about while you’re still young. What am I to do if you already prefer staying home? Later, you won’t be able to go out even if you want to!"

The guards followed, witnessing the rare sight of him walking with a Demon Supreme on either arm—men so fearsome it was hard even to face them.

* * *

We returned to the Hunan branch. I immediately dismissed all the guards to rest.

If I died at the Hunan branch with the Blood Heaven Saber Demon and the Fist Demon beside me, I would die regardless of whether the guards were there.

The guards withdrew and enjoyed some free time of their own for the first time in a while. Those who wanted to sleep slept, those who wanted to drink drank, and those who wanted to train did so.

I sat down for a modest drinking session with the two Demon Supremes.

They might have seemed an unlikely pair, but they got along surprisingly well. Though the Blood Heaven Saber Demon looked like a fussy old man, he had a rugged, manly streak that suited the Fist Demon’s temperament.

Together, we drained our first cups with relish.

"Thank you for coming. Everything worked out thanks to you both."

Their mere presence truly gave me strength. They had become people I could tell anything to and rely on completely.

"So, what do you intend to do now?" the Blood Heaven Saber Demon asked, setting down his cup.

"Head to the Jiangxi branch."

Meeting the heads of the Hunan and Jiangxi branches had been the purpose of this trip away from the Cult.

"The Jiangxi branch head’s heart must be pounding."

Both the Hunan branch head and the master of the Heavenly Harmony School, this region’s leading sect, were dead.

"If he hasn’t done anything wrong, he has no reason to worry."

"He’ll be worried anyway. He’s heard someone who brings bloodshed wherever he goes is coming."

"That’s unfair. Where would you find anyone who loves peace as much as I do?"

As I refilled their cups, I said,

"But there’s something I need to take care of before I go. That’s why I wanted you both to stay."

I told them about the person behind this affair.

"Someone connected the late Heavenly Harmony School master with Jin Hagun. The school master asked him for help, and he immediately set the Orthodox Martial Alliance in motion."

"Then he must have some influence."

A glint appeared in the Blood Heaven Saber Demon’s eyes as he instinctively sensed someone hiding his claws. It meant this might not be a simple affair that had begun with the Hunan branch head’s corruption.

"When I sounded Jin Hagun out earlier, I realized that they’re very close."

"He’s likely someone within the Orthodox Martial Alliance, then."

"Yes, that’s very likely."

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon immediately saw what I had in mind.

"You intend to catch him."

"At the very least, I need to find out who he is. It’s not just because he poses a threat to me. It troubles me that someone like that is close to Jin Hagun. In other words, he could manipulate the man who will become the Martial Alliance Leader."

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon and the Fist Demon nodded in unison.

"How do you plan to find out?"

"You’ll have to tell me that, Elder. Why do you think I asked you to come all this way? I invited you so I could hear what to do at times like this."

"To put an old man to work. Very nice of you."

Despite his words, the Blood Heaven Saber Demon looked pleased. Wasn’t it always gratifying to be recognized and reassured that someone needed you?

After considering it for a moment, he raised a question.

"But why did he go this far?"

"What do you mean?"

"Why did he step in and even bring Jin Hagun into this? Was he that close to the Heavenly Harmony School master?"

"The Heaven-Reaching Pavilion’s investigation found no one in the Orthodox Martial Alliance who was that close to him."

"Then why? The credit would go to Jin Hagun, not him. And the Orthodox Martial Alliance would reap all the benefits."

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon’s observation was incisive. I had been focused on who, while he was focused on why.

"Either he wanted to help Jin Hagun earn some credit..."

"Or it means he absolutely needed the Heavenly Harmony School master."

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon nodded at my words.

"If that’s the case, he’ll certainly react to what happened. You can use that reaction as your opportunity to catch him."

"Just as I thought! You’re the best, Elder. How would I ever survive without you?"

"The mask fanatic, the poison fanatic, the booze fanatic, the sparring fanatic..."

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon glanced at the Fist Demon beside him.

I laughed.

"You should say the fist fanatic."

"You’d get along just fine with your master."

He had at least shown the Fist Demon some courtesy since he was sitting right there.

"If he weren’t here, you’d have called him the fist fanatic, wouldn’t you?"

Instead of answering, the Blood Heaven Saber Demon drank. The Fist Demon, who rarely smiled, did so.

"I’ll notify the Heaven-Reaching Pavilion and tell my own intelligence organization to focus its entire network on this affair."

The Fist Demon, who had only listened until then, finally spoke.

"I’ll see how they respond before I go back."

He seemed to have decided there might still be something he could help with.

"Of course! How would I ever survive without my master?"

I had hoped to hear him say “the book fanatic,” but he merely tipped his cup in silence.

I drained mine with him. I was curious how our opponent would respond.

* * *

When Jin Hagun visited his master’s home, Baek Cheongyeong was carving a wooden figurine.

"I’m back, Master."

Baek Cheongyeong did not acknowledge his greeting, concentrating solely on carving the wood.

SCRITCH, SCRITCH.

Jin Hagun watched his master carefully. He could not tell whether he had yet to hear the news from Hunan or already knew. After returning, Jin Hagun had seen his grandfather, then come straight to his master.

His grandfather’s reaction had exceeded his expectations. When he explained that he had ultimately given up because he could not forgive the Heavenly Harmony School successor’s evil deeds, the expression on his grandfather’s face had unmistakably been joy.

It was dreadful to imagine what emotion would have darkened that face had he returned after acquiring the school. Once again, he felt grateful to Geom Mugeuk.

'I’ll repay you someday, without fail.'

The problem was his master. In the end, he had failed at the undertaking his master had proposed.

'Still, he’ll understand, won’t he?'

After all, his master must have recommended this endeavor to help make him the successor.

SCRITCH, SCRITCH.

As he looked at his master’s back, he suddenly recalled something Geom Mugeuk had said.

["Have you ever really looked at your grandfather?"]

It was not just his grandfather. He had not really looked at his master either.

Because he was his grandfather. Because he was his master.

From now on, he would look properly. Without any preconceptions about the person before him.

His master remained focused on his carving, so Jin Hagun looked around the workshop as usual and went over to the display stand where the figurines were arranged.

A small figurine lay fallen before the hero who led the battle. It had not been there when he left.

Just as Jin Hagun set the fallen figurine upright, his master spoke from behind him.

"Leave it lying there."