Chapter 290 - If the Demonic Cult Is Cooler Than Us

Something stirred deep within Jin Paecheon's heart.

It was a feeling he had never experienced before. In his life as the Martial Alliance Leader, he had met countless people and experienced all manner of things.

By now, his emotions, dry as fossils, functioned only out of habit. He smiled out of habit, grew angry out of habit, grieved out of habit.

But this stirring of emotion was real.

He had lived his life doing his best to ignore that deep wound. He had wanted to cut it out, but the harder he tried, the larger the wound he left behind. So he had covered it up and carried on. He knew it was festering beneath the surface, but pretended otherwise. Everyone lived with wounds like that, after all. He had so much to do. He was the Martial Alliance Leader.

And now Jin Paecheon felt it: the pus was washing away, and the wound was beginning to heal.

He had told himself the same thing dozens, hundreds of times.

That he would not have done it.

But the wound in his heart had never healed. Yet hearing someone else say those words brought his emotions welling up. He had a feeling he might finally be free of that wound.

To think a mere handful of words could make him feel this way.

Ordinarily, his pride would have been hurt. He would have tried his hardest to deny it.

But as he looked at Geom Mugeuk, who gazed back at him with clear, deep eyes, the pride that had begun stirring awake quietly went back to sleep.

"Thank you for saying that."

Geom Mugeuk smiled warmly. The alliance leader was a man capable of saying those words at a moment like this. Whether someone could acknowledge their wounds and say them mattered enormously. The final step in healing a wound always belonged to the wounded person. The alliance leader had now wrapped even the last bandage properly.

"Unlike you, Alliance Leader, Baek Cheongyeong refused to acknowledge it to the very end."

Geom Mugeuk naturally steered their conversation back to the matter at hand.

"Until now, I believed the man who exterminated them was the Wood Heaven Clan head's younger brother. He wasn't there on the day of the massacre, and some time later, he was found dead by suicide."

"As it turns out, that corpse wasn't his."

Given that it concerned the Wood Heaven Clan, how thoroughly must Jin Paecheon have investigated at the time? Yet he had still been deceived.

"Then who exterminated them?"

"Someone exploited Baek Cheongyeong's desire for revenge. They helped him fake his death and infiltrate the Orthodox Martial Alliance under a new identity. I suspect that person was responsible for exterminating the Wood Heaven Clan."

Jin Paecheon sank into thought. Falsifying a corpse, infiltrating the Alliance. This was no mere personal hostility or malice. This was war.

His opponent was more than a schemer. By exterminating the Wood Heaven Clan, he had proven his martial might as well.

"You must keep in mind that someone is targeting the Orthodox Martial Alliance."

He added another remark to spare the alliance leader the needless strain of wondering whether someone from the Demonic Cult was responsible.

"This time, he even sought to kill me and engineer a war with the Cult. That makes him our enemy as well."

Geom Mugeuk did not mention the possibility that the deaths of the alliance leader's son and daughter-in-law might have been part of that man's plot from the very beginning. That much was still uncertain.

"I will investigate thoroughly to uncover whoever is behind this."

"I intend to find him too. If you ever need my help, please call on me. At least when it comes to catching the man behind this, I would like to help."

Geom Mugeuk limited the offer to himself rather than offering the Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon's assistance. By proposing that the alliance leader join hands with him, without needing to ally with the Demonic Cult, he eased the burden on him.

Jin Paecheon readily accepted.

"I will."

"Then I shall see you again another time. I'll leave as soon as I've seen Young Master Jin and Miss Jin."

"Wait."

Jin Paecheon called Geom Mugeuk back as he turned to leave, then slowly approached him.

As a master of Jin Paecheon's caliber drew near, Geom Mugeuk's Heavenly Demon's Body-Protection Art activated on its own. But at least at this moment, on this day, its effort was wasted.

Jin Paecheon pulled Geom Mugeuk into a tight embrace.

"Not as the Martial Alliance Leader, but as Haryeong's grandfather, I am truly grateful to you."

Geom Mugeuk returned his embrace.

"Take good care of yourself until we meet again."

Of course, he did not forget to add a little playful boasting.

"If there's ever been another young lord of the Demonic Cult who received a hug from the Martial Alliance Leader, tell him to step forward!"

Jin Paecheon laughed heartily, then spoke frankly.

"I'm getting away with giving you a hug. In my heart, I wanted to repay you with something grand. Our Alliance's treasury is piled high with all sorts of spiritual medicines and wondrous weapons."

"Then give me some. Please, I beg you!"

When Geom Mugeuk spoke without any show of declining, Jin Paecheon laughed.

"I'm sorry, but I must refuse. I'm afraid you might use that added strength to attack us."

"Aren't you more afraid of leaving a debt of gratitude unpaid?"

"!"

Geom Mugeuk smiled as he spoke.

"Which is why I decline any material reward."

Watching Geom Mugeuk bow respectfully and turn to leave, Jin Paecheon thought what a terrible shame it was.

What if he were not the Demonic Cult's young lord?

He recalled the time Jin Haryeong had brought Geom Mugeuk to him, declaring that she would marry a servant.

'If only he really were a servant.'

It was Jin Paecheon's heartfelt wish, one he could tell no one.

* * *

Jin Haryeong screamed and bolted upright.

Looking around, she realized she was in the infirmary.

"Are you all right?"

It was Jin Hagun, who had rushed in, startled.

"I dreamed I died."

In the dream, the Demon Supremes had arrived after Cho Rim killed her.

She had thought Yi An would at least shed a tear, even if she did not sob her heart out. Instead, Yi An was so busy talking with the Demon Supremes that she paid no attention to Haryeong's death. That was more of a nightmare than dying.

What did she have to be upset about, when they had only properly met three times?

But were those three ordinary meetings? The first time, they became friends; the second, they sparred; the last, Yi An rescued her. A connection like that was hardly easy to come by.

"That won't happen now."

"How can you guarantee that?"

"Because I'll make sure of it."

"That's something I have to do."

Though Jin Haryeong was smiling, there was resolve in her eyes. Jin Hagun could feel that his sister had grown through this ordeal.

"How long was I asleep?"

"About half a double-hour."

Jin Haryeong got up. Anxiety struck her at the thought that Geom Mugeuk might leave while she was asleep. Even if she had to let him go, she had to say goodbye first.

"Where's Geom Mugeuk?"

"Waiting outside. He said he'd say goodbye when you woke up, then leave."

Jin Haryeong was inwardly touched to hear that Geom Mugeuk had waited for her.

As she was about to go outside, Jin Hagun spoke.

"You know, don't you?"

"Know what?"

"That it can't happen. Don't give him your heart in the first place."

"Why? Are you worried? Afraid your only sister might fall for the Demonic Cult's young lord?"

To her surprise, Jin Hagun nodded.

"Yes. I'm worried that you will."

"Isn't this where you're supposed to say, 'I trust my sister. I'm not worried about that'?"

"No. I'm worried."

Had the man in question been anyone but Geom Mugeuk, she would have been offended. Instead, Jin Haryeong felt pleased. At least they were discussing whether she might end up with him.

"Brother, I'm not as naive as you think."

"Then that's fine."

As she was about to leave, Jin Haryeong found herself worrying about Jin Hagun instead.

"Are you all right, though, Brother?"

"What do you mean?"

"Don't let him draw you in."

Jin Hagun offered an unexpected opinion.

"Trying too hard not to be drawn in is worse. Even if he draws me in, I can be selfish about it."

"Selfish?"

"Take in all his positive influence, without letting my convictions waver."

Jin Haryeong wondered whether that would really work. If relationships could be sliced as cleanly as a radish, as he suggested, what would there be to worry about?

By that reasoning, she was no different. She had told him not to worry because she was not naive, but would that be enough to withstand Geom Mugeuk?

"I suppose we really do share the same blood. You're a long way from naive yourself, Brother."

The two of them went outside.

Geom Mugeuk stood in the physician's courtyard, looking up at the sky.

Jin Haryeong came to stand beside him.

"What are you staring at?"

"See that color up there in the sky? It's the color of my sword force."

"Better than a drab color, I suppose. If you're going to be struck dead by it, it might as well be that beautiful."

Geom Mugeuk smiled at her words and turned his head.

"Are you feeling all right?"

"Thanks to you."

"I waited so I could see you before I left. See you next time."

Jin Haryeong hated having to part with Geom Mugeuk. She wanted to spend more time with him.

Stay a little longer. Even a few days.

But their relationship, their fate, would not allow her to say even that much.

"Before you leave, tell me this. How can I become as strong as you?"

"Train yourself half to death."

"You always seem to be playing around."

"Training is something you do where no one can see."

Jin Hagun slowly walked over to them.

"Grandfather told me about the person behind this."

He could hardly believe someone had been manipulating his master.

Geom Mugeuk gave him the credit.

"We uncovered this thanks to you. If you hadn't noticed something strange about your master, disaster might have struck later."

The mere thought horrified Jin Hagun. Had it gone unnoticed, Baek Cheongyeong would have driven them to ruin at a critical moment.

Jin Hagun returned the credit Geom Mugeuk had given him.

"It was thanks to you. I only realized it because you told me not to look at people carelessly, but to see them properly."

From now on, Jin Hagun would strive to see people properly, no matter who they were. He would reform not only the Demon-Slaying Squad, but the Orthodox Martial Alliance's organization as well.

Geom Mugeuk offered his final farewell.

"Be careful in everything you do."

"You too."

Jin Hagun thanked him one last time.

"Thank you for saving my sister."

"Don't forget it. Make sure you repay me someday."

Thinking how typical that answer was of Geom Mugeuk, Jin Hagun smiled faintly.

"Then I'll see you again another time."

Geom Mugeuk said goodbye to Jin Haryeong as well.

Jin Haryeong smiled as she spoke.

"We're still friends, aren't we?"

Geom Mugeuk nodded.

"There's a tavern near the Cult's headquarters with good drinks and a good proprietor. I'll invite you there sometime."

Would that day ever come?

The moment Jin Haryeong nodded, Geom Mugeuk pushed off the ground and soared into the air, disappearing into the distance in an instant.

"Brother, I think we need to work harder. We can't let the Demonic Cult be cooler than us, can we?"

Jin Hagun strode away without answering.

She knew her brother's temperament better than anyone. Her brother would not let himself lose.

Following him, Jin Haryeong glanced back toward the place where Geom Mugeuk had disappeared.

But soon she too strode forward with vigor. Her brother was hardly the only one who had gained insight.

It was her first step toward becoming Hubei's Greatest Sword, rather than Hubei's Greatest Beauty.

* * *

In the safe house's kitchen, Yi An was busy cooking.

She did not know why the thought had suddenly struck her, but she wanted to cook for the two Demon Supremes herself.

She knew how to make three or four dishes, and chose the one she was most confident in.

"Please enjoy your meal."

"Come eat with us."

"I'm fine, thank you."

The Fist Demon insisted, even beckoning her over, so Yi An joined them for the meal.

Eating at the same table as the Blood Heaven Saber Demon and the Fist Demon?

Surely anyone would consider that a punishment. She was tense as could be when the Blood Heaven Saber Demon spoke over his food.

"It's bland."

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon was not one to call food tasty merely out of consideration for the cook.

"Oh! I'm sorry. I went a little light on the seasoning. I'll take it back and fix it."

The Fist Demon caught hold of the bowl Yi An was about to take away.

"They say eating lightly seasoned food is healthier."

"Who does?"

"The Demon Physician."

Yi An was inwardly touched, not having expected the Fist Demon to say something like that.

She thought how different the Demon Supremes were up close from the way they appeared from outside. Then again, her own actual personality was completely different from the impression her appearance gave.

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon asked curiously,

"Why did you suddenly decide to cook for us?"

Of course, there was a reason.

Seeing the two Demon Supremes in battle had moved her and filled her with respect. The strength, the sheer intensity they had displayed left a powerful impression on her, now that she had begun serving in earnest as commander of the Ghost Shadow Squad. That was why she wanted to prepare a meal with care and serve it to them.

"It's not an opportunity I get often."

She added something Seo Daeryong always said over drinks.

"When I have children someday, I want to tell them, 'When your mother was young, she even cooked a meal herself for the Blood Heaven Saber Demon and the Fist Demon.'"

"Make sure you tell them it was bland too."

Yi An smiled sheepishly at the Blood Heaven Saber Demon's remark.

Then the Fist Demon abruptly spoke.

"A child who takes after you and Mugeuk would be remarkable."

Yi An was startled. At first, she thought she had misheard him. Flustered, she hastily replied,

"How could I possibly marry the young lord? I may be a squad commander now, but I was only an ordinary martial artist."

"What does that matter? Neither the cult leader nor Mugeuk cares about such things."

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon nodded in agreement with the Fist Demon.

She was truly grateful to the Fist Demon for saying that. But something always weighed on her heart. It was the first thing that came to mind whenever she thought of marriage.

Ordinarily, she would never have brought it up, but somehow she wanted to say it in front of these two frightening men. No, the words came naturally.

"I don't even know who my parents are."

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon offered a word of comfort.

"Family is your enemy. You don't need to know."

She was grateful to the Blood Heaven Saber Demon for saying that too.

Then the Fist Demon said something she had never imagined.

"If that truly troubles you, I'll be your father."

Even the Blood Heaven Saber Demon was startled. How much more shocked must Yi An herself have been?

She was so surprised and flustered that she dropped the chopsticks she was holding.

She had never had a personal conversation with the Fist Demon. So why? Had she made a good impression on him at the Late-Night Training Group? Or was there another reason? Was he joking? Had she really misheard him this time?

All manner of thoughts raced through her head, and she did not know what to say.

Just then, Geom Mugeuk entered.

"I'm back."

He immediately noticed the frozen atmosphere.

"The Demonic Cult's young lord got through a visit to the Orthodox Martial Alliance's Alliance Leader's Hall without incident. What on earth happened at the safe house's dinner table?"

It was the Blood Heaven Saber Demon who broke the lingering silence.

"The food is bland."