Chapter 279 - You Never Know

Yi An wore a bamboo hat with a veil attached.

As she drew closer, Jin Haryeong’s eyes grew wider. Her figure was slender yet voluptuous, the sort one rarely saw.

Even so, Haryeong still felt reasonably composed.

Yi An walked up to the two of them and slowly removed her hat.

The moment Jin Haryeong saw her face, she was stunned.

She had always been confident in her looks. No matter how beautiful another woman was, she inevitably looked ordinary beside her.

But this woman was different. Her features were distinct and striking, her eyes clear, and her supple skin seemed to glow.

Was it really possible to be this captivatingly beautiful?

Haryeong was more astonished and admiring than most people would have been precisely because she understood beauty better than anyone.

She had been compared to others countless times and had met plenty of beautiful women herself. So she knew just how difficult it was to be that beautiful.

And there was one more thing.

Something made Yi An perfect: her qi presence. It was gentle yet intense. Looking at her felt like gazing at a lone plum blossom blooming on a snowy day.

'She’s a master!'

None of the promising young martial artists she had ever seen possessed a presence like this. It overwhelmed not only them, but Haryeong herself.

'She’s more skilled than I am.'

She was this beautiful, and her martial arts were powerful too? Surely she couldn’t have a nice personality as well? Her voice had to be strange, didn’t it? Such absurd thoughts actually crossed Haryeong’s mind.

While she was lost in thought, Yi An smiled and greeted her.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Yi An.”

Her voice sounded like jade beads rolling across a tray. Haryeong couldn’t judge her personality yet, but in outward qualities, at least, she was perfect.

“I’m Jin Haryeong.”

Her voice trembled slightly. She hadn’t been nervous even while addressing all those young martial artists earlier, yet she was nervous now.

Yi An, on the other hand, spoke with confidence in every word, despite standing before the Martial Alliance Leader’s granddaughter.

“I’ve heard so much about you. It’s an honor to meet someone so distinguished. You’re truly beautiful. I’ve never met anyone as beautiful as you.”

One thought sprang into Haryeong’s mind.

'Look who’s talking!'

Who would have thought the day would come when she was outshone in beauty?

Her astonished gaze turned toward Geom Mugeuk. With an annoyingly pleased expression, he puffed himself up.

“That’s the kind of man I am.”

Still unable to believe it, Haryeong asked again.

“Is she really your girlfriend?”

This time, the word “girlfriend” made Yi An look at Mugeuk in surprise.

“She looked down on me for not having a girlfriend, so I said I had one.”

Haryeong’s heart and Yi An’s heart raced, each for her own reasons.

“So is she your girlfriend or not?”

Just as Mugeuk was about to answer, Yi An spoke.

“No.”

Just as Haryeong felt an inexplicable sense of relief, Yi An added,

“We’re much closer than that.”

Haryeong gave a startled twitch.

The reaction was brief, but Yi An could sense it.

'Miss Jin has feelings for the Young Master.'

It was an intuition she had as a fellow woman.

The Demonic Cult’s young lord and the Martial Alliance Leader’s granddaughter.

'The very status every man in the world would desire has become the worst possible disadvantage when it comes to being with the Young Master.'

Yi An smiled.

“I’ve served as his bodyguard since we were children. I only meant that I’ve known him for a long time.”

Haryeong glanced at Mugeuk.

“It must have been difficult, serving that man.”

“It certainly wasn’t easy.”

When both women looked at him, Mugeuk smiled.

“A common enemy always helps people become friends faster.”

Haryeong challenged him.

“Are you really our common enemy, though?”

“What do you mean?”

Haryeong turned to Yi An.

“If he thought of you as a subordinate, I doubt the word ‘girlfriend’ would ever have left his mouth.”

Yi An firmly answered her probing remark.

“You’re mistaken. To me, he is our esteemed young lord. I’ve never dared entertain such feelings.”

Her affection for Mugeuk ran deeper than anyone’s. But she was merely a bodyguard, while he was the Heavenly Demon’s own flesh and blood. She was utterly alone in the world, not even knowing who her parents were.

“You never know.”

Haryeong said it to Yi An, but perhaps she was also saying it to herself.

Just as Yi An had sensed Haryeong’s feelings for Mugeuk, Haryeong sensed that Yi An liked him too.

For a fleeting moment, an odd tension passed between the two women.

Haryeong turned to Mugeuk.

“Anyway, I take back calling you a braggart.”

“Then we’re good. My credibility is restored.”

At last, Mugeuk explained why he had brought Yi An.

“I didn’t bring her here to make the two of you compete over your looks.”

“Then why?”

The reason was entirely unexpected.

“I brought her to introduce one friend to another. I thought you two would get along.”

The words “another friend” struck Haryeong’s heart.

'He really does think of me as a friend.'

It was a strange feeling, pleasant yet a little disappointing.

Having introduced the two women, Mugeuk got to the point.

“Where’s Commander Jin?”

“Why do you want my brother?”

“Wasn’t he the reason you called me here?”

“How did you know?”

Honestly, this man. She wasn’t even surprised anymore.

“Your brother must have asked you to arrange an accidental meeting with me.”

“How did you know that, too? Don’t tell me... Are you watching us? Have you planted someone around me?”

The fact that she was serious rather than joking made Mugeuk laugh.

“I wish I had spies that good. The trouble is, people that capable don’t become spies.”

That meant he had worked it out himself. Yes, this was why her brother had asked him for help.

“Do you consider me a friend?”

Mugeuk nodded.

“Then promise me one thing. Don’t hurt my brother. If you’re going to do that, kill me instead. Understood?”

Mugeuk turned to Yi An.

“Did you hear that? If I order you to kill Commander Jin, kill this woman here instead.”

“Isn’t that a terribly harsh order after introducing us so we could become friends?”

Yi An’s reply brought a faint smile to Haryeong’s face.

“My brother is in the guest room at the far end of the rear garden. He’s waiting for my message so he can come out and meet you.”

“I’ll go see him.”

“That will hurt his pride.”

“If he wanted to protect his pride, he wouldn’t have called me in the first place. See you later.”

With that, Mugeuk headed toward the place she had indicated.

Left alone, the two women shared a brief, awkward silence.

Haryeong asked Yi An,

“Would you like to join me at the banquet?”

If the two beautiful women returned to the banquet hall together, it would cause an absolute uproar.

Yi An politely declined.

“Please invite me another time. I don’t think today’s gathering is one I should attend.”

“All right. Until next time, then.”

They respectfully saluted each other with clasped fists.

After walking a few steps, Haryeong looked back at Yi An.

“Will we be able to meet again?”

She was curious about Yi An. She wanted to know what sort of woman she was, and how the Mugeuk Yi An knew differed from the one she knew. Yi An’s beauty drew her in all the more.

“Of course. I’ll always be with the Young Master. If you’d like to see me, please come find him.”

“I will.”

Haryeong returned to the banquet hall, while Yi An quietly vanished into the shadows.

* * *

Jin Hagun was waiting in the guest room.

Once his younger sister sent word, he planned to go over and meet Geom Mugeuk as though it were perfectly natural. There would be nothing strange about his attending a gathering of promising young martial artists.

'This is madness.'

What would happen if his master found out? Their relationship would probably be damaged beyond repair. And if his grandfather learned of it? He, too, would be deeply disappointed. Hagun had brought in a demonic martial artist instead of solving his problem himself. He had involved Mugeuk despite knowing all that. That was how grave he felt the danger was.

It happened just then.

Someone passing the window stopped and looked inside.

The man who met Hagun’s eyes was Geom Mugeuk.

“Commander Jin! What are you doing here? Your sister invited me to the gathering. I was looking for the privy, but what a coincidence! Our destinies must truly be linked.”

Hagun stared at him, then sighed.

“Stop that ridiculous acting and come inside.”

Mugeuk entered with a smile.

“How did you know?”

“Because we wouldn’t have met here unless my sister had told you. You’re not the sort to wander around because you can’t find the privy, are you? And you’re certainly not someone I’d run into by chance like this.”

“Just as I thought! Our Commander Jin is clever. We’ll have to rack our brains when we attack the Orthodox Martial Alliance someday.”

“I’m in no mood to indulge your jokes. Stop it.”

Hagun worried about how he would look back on this moment in his life. Would the account begin with “It was a truly foolish choice,” or with “Without that decision, I wouldn’t be who I am today”? He stood at that crossroads.

“How did you know I was the one who called you?”

“Because I know how important the Orthodox Martial Alliance is to you.”

“What do you know about me?”

“You gave up the Heavenly Harmony School to become alliance leader, didn’t you? That fact alone tells me how badly you want to become the Martial Alliance Leader.”

Hagun acknowledged it with his silence.

“Does calling me here trouble you? You needn’t worry about that.”

Hagun waited for him to continue, his expression asking what he meant.

Then Mugeuk said something unexpected.

“You’re not the successor yet, are you? If one successor had summoned another, that certainly could be a problem. But right now, the Demon-Slaying Squad commander has called in his sister’s friend. Not to ask for help, but because he has something to investigate.”

“Then you came at the summons of a mere squad commander of the Orthodox Martial Alliance, not even its successor? You, the Demonic Cult’s young lord?”

“I don’t mind. I’m broad-minded.”

“You certainly have no trouble saying that about yourself.”

“If I don’t tell you, how will you know just how broad-minded I am? You’re too busy worrying about public appearances that needn’t concern you.”

“You really are...”

“A man who knows how to praise himself and insult someone else at the same time.”

How could Hagun possibly contend with Mugeuk in a battle of words? In the end, he could only shake his head, his expression saying that the man was hopeless.

Mugeuk rose and poured tea from the pot on a table in the corner.

“Why did you call me here?”

Now that he had to answer, Hagun hesitated. Should he really talk about his master? Not just anyone, but his own master?

Mugeuk brought over two cups of tea. He did it so naturally that it almost seemed he was the one receiving Hagun as a guest.

“Let me guess why you called me.”

After looking down at his cup for a moment, he abruptly said,

“You’re afraid you’ll end up killing that person with your own hands.”

“!”

Hagun’s eyes flew wide.

“You called me because you can’t bring yourself to kill him. To use me as your blade.”

It was something he had never expected to hear, yet it struck at the heart of the matter.

Hagun admitted that, deep inside, he had entertained the thought Mugeuk had just voiced: he might ultimately have to kill his master. Once that premonition had surfaced, it had never left him.

“Why haven’t you told the alliance leader about something this important?”

At the seriousness in Mugeuk’s eyes, Hagun felt it was time to reveal everything.

“Because he wouldn’t believe me. Even if he did, I thought that person would find out first as we tried to deal with the matter. There must be several people inside the Alliance serving as his eyes and ears.”

“Who is he?”

At last, Hagun revealed the person’s identity.

“My master.”

This was the first Mugeuk had heard of his master.

“You have a master?”

“You wouldn’t know, since it hasn’t been made public. My master loathed being known to the outside world.”

One thing was certain. When Hwa Mugi overran the Orthodox Martial Alliance’s Alliance Leader’s Hall and killed the Martial Alliance Leader and all his blood relatives, Hagun’s master had not been among the victims. At the very least, he wasn’t someone who would die protecting his disciple.

“This affair made me realize that something is strange about my master.”

“Indeed. Masters are always strange. Mine is trying to demolish a cliff with his fists.”

Hagun couldn’t tell whether Mugeuk was joking or serious, but he meant every word of his reply.

“I wish my master were strange in that way instead.”

“What was strange about him? Tell me in detail.”

“I have no solid evidence. It’s just a feeling. Yet I called you here anyway... Perhaps I’m the strange one.”

“You’re not strange. You’re simply very clever.”

Hagun looked up at his words.

“What do you mean?”

“This affair struck me as decidedly strange too. The Heavenly Harmony School master asking your side for help was strange to begin with.”

“Couldn’t my master have been close to him?”

“Then let me ask you something. Did your master mention revenge?”

Hagun’s heart lurched. He had been so focused on the sense that something was wrong with his master that he had overlooked that point.

He shook his head. It wasn’t the only thing he had missed.

“Did he mourn the Heavenly Harmony School master’s death? No, did he even ask who killed him?”

There had been no mourning, nor had he asked who the killer was. Why hadn’t Hagun thought of that? It was such a basic consideration. Suddenly, Mugeuk’s earlier words came back to him.

[“I’m asking whether being close to someone makes it even harder to see them clearly.”]

When something happened, the countless memories they shared and the relationship between them inevitably came to mind before any such objective judgment.

“So what did your master say?”

“He said we should reclaim the Heavenly Harmony School. He told me to find a way.”

“If that was all their relationship amounted to, why did the Heavenly Harmony School master ask your master for help? Just what sort of relationship did they have? Isn’t it strange even from an objective standpoint? The master of the Martial Alliance Leader’s grandson has an inexplicable relationship with the master of the Heavenly Harmony School, which lies within the Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon’s sphere of influence? Your instincts served you well. Calling me was an excellent decision too.”

Mugeuk’s barrage of praise continued.

“That’s why I look forward to the day you become alliance leader. I want to work alongside someone as wise as you.”

Mugeuk kept stirring something within him. Indeed, it was because he could shake people so profoundly that Hagun had thought of him first in a crisis. That must have been why he had even appeared in Hagun’s dream and given him faith.

Hagun no longer hesitated or held back.

“What should I do now?”

To the very end, Mugeuk gave voice to what lay in Hagun’s heart.

“If he meant to play with you, shouldn’t you become a dangerous toy?”