As the Alliance Leader’s gaze turned toward us, the noisy hall began to fall silent.
His eyes passed over his granddaughter and came to rest on me, standing beside her. I kept my head slightly lowered, not meeting his gaze.
Even without looking, I could tell he was examining me. It was a tense moment, and I made no attempt to hide that tension. After all, it would have been stranger for an ordinary attendant not to be nervous in a place like this.
Even if I was found out, I did my utmost not to reveal myself.
Jin Paecheon, the Murim Alliance Leader, asked me,
“Who might you be, young hero?”
At that very moment, Jin Haryeong said loudly,
“He’s the man I’m seeing.”
This was the plan she had come up with to save me.
I had chosen a frontal breakthrough, but so had she. I had expected it to some extent, but seeing it in person, I was grateful for her courage and consideration. How could it be easy, as the granddaughter of the Murim Alliance Leader, to say such a thing in front of all these people?
At her words, murmurs began to spread around us. Among them were Jo Sin and his father, the Lord of Jinryong Manor.
The Lord of Jinryong Manor’s face twisted into a deep frown. He was in the middle of arranging his son’s marriage, and the woman who was to become his daughter-in-law had brought another man with her.
Jo Sin, standing beside him, smiled as he looked at us. But he was surely feeling deeply humiliated.
When Jin Paecheon raised his hand, the surroundings went quiet at once.
“I did not ask you.”
After saying that to Jin Haryeong, Jin Paecheon asked me again,
“Who are you, young hero?”
“My name is Geom Yeon.”
“From which sect do you come?”
“I am an attendant who came serving Young Master Seoryong of the Seodo Sect in Gansu.”
At the word attendant, the surroundings began to murmur again. This time, the murmur was even louder than before.
Jin Paecheon was not one to easily show emotion before the assembled heroes, but in this moment, even he could not hide his bewilderment.
Jin Paecheon looked at Jin Haryeong. His expression said, Are you truly going to do this? Jin Haryeong’s expression answered firmly, Yes.
Jin Paecheon’s gaze returned to me. Apart from her bombshell declaration, how much had the Alliance Leader grasped about me?
“Young Hero Geom.”
Even though I had said I was an attendant, he still addressed me as young hero.
“Haryeong has been fond of mischief since she was young. She was especially skilled at startling people. Once, she even circulated a sword art mnemonic backward and nearly fell into qi deviation. Today, she has startled us by bringing you here.”
Jin Paecheon spoke as though today’s affair, too, was merely one of her pranks.
“Everyone has been sufficiently startled, so I believe you have played your role well enough. You must have suffered much after being dragged here by that girl’s pestering. I will treat you properly another time, so for today, you may return.”
The Alliance Leader settled the situation in that manner. Some would think Jin Haryeong had played a prank, while others would think the Alliance Leader was trying to brush off her rebellion in this way.
At least one thing was clear: no one truly believed I was the man she was seeing.
Of course, Jin Haryeong did not back down meekly.
“You were very startled back then, weren’t you? If Grandfather hadn’t been there, I wouldn’t even be alive today. That’s why I don’t intend to play pranks anymore. This man is truly someone I like.”
Everyone’s gaze focused on me once more. Some clicked their tongues at my appearance, while others let out sighs.
Their expressions all said the same sort of thing, ranging from, “A child in one’s arms is still one’s child,” to, “So even the Alliance Leader is no exception.” They simply could not bring themselves to say it in front of the Alliance Leader.
“You said you like that man?”
“Yes.”
Her answer to her grandfather’s question came without hesitation.
Tension swirled between the two of them. It was even tauter than what had filled the dueling stage. Except for Jo Sin and the Lord of Jinryong Manor, everyone watched the situation with great interest.
“Then you could marry that man.”
At the mention of marriage, Jin Haryeong flinched.
“Still, marriage is one of the great matters of human life, so we should see each other a little longer first.”
“You have gone so far as to declare it before so many people. What is there to hesitate over? Very well. Since he is the person you want, I will have you married.”
“Grandfather!”
“I will have you married right here and now, so do it. Is this not what you wished for? You do not want a political marriage. You want to marry someone you like. Very well, I shall do as you wish!”
Jin Paecheon did not stop there and went one step further.
“Prepare the wedding at once.”
When the Alliance Leader’s order fell, his subordinates truly came and began preparing for a wedding.
As the situation flowed in this direction, Jin Haryeong was visibly flustered.
She seemed to know that her grandfather’s personality was far from ordinary, but she had not expected him to push a marriage through on the spot like this.
“I haven’t even greeted that person’s family yet.”
“Murim people are not bound by formalities. They will all understand. Go and greet them politely later.”
Jin Haryeong looked at me with a flustered expression. Truly, even I had not expected this situation.
“Our future son-in-law, come here and accept a cup of wine from me.”
Future son-in-law? That was truly a phrase I had never heard in my life, including my life before regression. And I was hearing it from the Murim Alliance Leader? Father, I’m being called son-in-law by the Murim Alliance Leader and receiving wine from him!
I accepted the wine the Alliance Leader poured for me. It was the first cup I had ever received from him.
“Thank you.”
“Take good care of my granddaughter from now on.”
From the deep and cold look in his eyes as he gazed at me, I could tell. He had already discerned my true nature. For now, he intended to first resolve the matter of his granddaughter before the assembled heroes, then deal with me afterward.
Looking at me, he smiled faintly. This was not a smile of pleasure, but a warning that said, I will see you shortly.
Meanwhile, the wedding preparations proceeded smoothly. Since warriors often held weddings in the Murim Alliance, preparing one was not particularly difficult.
In the end, Jin Haryeong raised the white flag.
“Stop! I lost. We’re not going to get married.”
Only then did Jin Paecheon smile.
How dare you act up before this grandfather of yours?
I admit defeat, Grandfather. But I do need to explain this.
After such expressions passed between them, Jin Haryeong explained today’s events to everyone.
“Elders, seniors, I apologize for ruining this precious gathering. There is a reason I caused this commotion today. Simply because he was with me, someone is trying to kill this man out of jealousy. So I arranged this, even if clumsily, in order to protect him.”
At that, someone among the attendees clapped and shouted,
“How admirable.”
It was Jo Sin.
“To go this far for that shabby, ugly attendant! Truly remarkable!”
When he clapped, others joined in and applauded as well.
I could feel that Jo Sin was thoroughly enraged. All the better. People made mistakes when their emotions ran high. Go on, then. Go even more mad.
Jin Haryeong said loudly to everyone,
“From now on, if anyone lays a hand on this man, I will surely take revenge in my own name. My grandfather has taught me all my life to refrain from tormenting the weak, so I hope you will keep that in mind.”
Mentioning the Alliance Leader was a very clever choice.
After finishing her words, Jin Haryeong tugged at my sleeve.
“Now, let’s go. Grandfather, I’m sorry for what happened today. I’ll come visit again and apologize properly.”
She and I bowed respectfully to the Alliance Leader, and then I followed Jin Haryeong out of the place.
After leaving the banquet hall, we walked silently through the inner grounds of the Murim Alliance.
Then she stopped.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you in advance.”
“It’s all right.”
“You said that to me back then, didn’t you? That the other person gets hurt because of my selfishness.”
“I didn’t say those words directly.”
“That was what your words meant in the end. You’re right. The way I handled this matter was also completely self-centered. But no matter how much I thought about it, this was the only way I could protect you.”
Whether the method was right or wrong, she had sincerely tried to protect me.
“Since I said it in front of Grandfather, they won’t dare try anything to harm you. If they still try something even after this, then that will be good for me. It will give me an excuse to refuse a political marriage forever. I can say, ‘Look, Grandfather said he was a good person, but wasn’t he wrong?’”
“Then I will gladly die for you, my lady.”
Jin Haryeong looked at me with a slightly angry face.
“I know it’s a joke, but don’t make that sort of joke. That is what I’ve heard from Grandfather countless times since I was young. Protecting good people from the wicked—that is the sole reason we of the orthodox faction exist. I may not be such an outstanding person, but I will never stand by and watch someone else become unfortunate because of me.”
“You are admirable.”
“I didn’t say it to be praised.”
“But will you be all right? By tomorrow, rumors of what happened today will spread.”
“Bad rumors won’t spread. Rather, the rumor will be that the granddaughter of the Murim Alliance Leader caused a commotion to save an attendant. It’ll spread in a good way. The Alliance manages things like that too. You didn’t know, did you?”
She stared straight at me.
“At least until the Soryongjeon ends, they won’t be able to do anything to you. Find an opportunity and leave far away. Don’t go to your hometown. Go somewhere else, somewhere far.”
She took money from her robes and gave it to me.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t keep my promise to buy you noodles and wine three times.”
It was more money than the cost of noodles and wine. It seemed to be money for me to use while fleeing.
Regret flowed in her gaze as she looked at me. She believed this moment was our last. Even if I did not leave immediately, she had no intention of approaching me again. So that I would not fall into danger once more.
“Then I hope you find happiness.”
After bidding farewell, she turned and walked away. I watched her back, then looked down at the money in my hand.
Then I looked up at the bright, full moon.
Father, the unification of murim that you dream of can only be achieved by killing all people like this.
As I looked up at the night sky like that, I turned around and said,
“There is something I must tell you.”
At some point, the Murim Alliance Leader, Jin Paecheon, had arrived silently behind me. He must have heard the entire conversation between her and me.
“Of course you must speak. And you had best speak well. Your life depends on each and every word.”
Jin Paecheon, who had unleashed his aura, was not the same person I had seen earlier in the banquet hall.
His aura felt like the sea. From far away came a deep resonance like the cry of a whale, and the wind carried the scent of the ocean. I felt as though I were floating alone on an endless sea.
The next moment.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Dozens of warriors dropped down in every direction, as if bolts of lightning had struck straight down. They wore white masks over their faces and white martial robes. They were the masters of the Cheonryong Guard (天龍守護隊), said to follow the Alliance Leader even into hell wherever he went.
Clang!
Dozens of people drew their swords at the same time, yet it sounded as though only one person had drawn a blade. Just from that sword draw, one could tell how well trained they were, and how skilled. The force emanating from their swords tightened around me like a spiderweb.
“I would like to be alone with you, Alliance Leader.”
“Is there any reason I should do that?”
“What I am about to tell you is something only you, Alliance Leader, must know.”
The Alliance Leader did not dismiss those around him. Nor would his guards easily withdraw while leaving a strange master near him.
“If I had come here today to ambush you, Alliance Leader, there would have been other opportunities or methods. At the very least, I would not attempt it in a situation this tense.”
At that, the Alliance Leader said to them,
“All of you, withdraw.”
In an instant, they launched themselves away and disappeared. Though they vanished from sight, I knew they had not disappeared completely. I also knew he could not make them withdraw completely.
They were not people who simply obeyed the Alliance Leader’s commands; they were those who protected him. No matter what happened, they would never leave the Alliance Leader’s side.
They would carry out every order, but they would never accept an order not to protect him.
That was why, in order to kill the Alliance Leader, one had to kill them all.
I sent a sound transmission to Jin Paecheon.
—From this point on, I will speak through sound transmission.
—Reveal your identity first.
I revealed my identity to him.
—I am of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult…
Before I could even finish speaking.
Fwaaaang!
A stream of palm force emitted from Jin Paecheon’s hand shot toward me like lightning and struck.
Kwaaang!
An explosion rang out around my body, and dust rose all around.
When the dust settled, I was standing in place. I had crossed both hands in front of me and raised my protective astral qi to block the palm force.
Beyond my crossed arms, I looked at Jin Paecheon and continued the words I had begun.
—…the second son of the Cult Leader.
Shwaaaaaang!
Kwaaaaang!
This time, an even stronger palm force flew in and struck me.
I did not get pushed back. I remained standing in the same place, both arms crossed to block it. Even though my protective astral qi had been brought to its limit, my arms hurt as though they might be torn off.
—…Geom Mugeuk.
By blocking those two palm forces, I proved my identity with my strength.
The Alliance Leader’s tiger-like eyes were shining. The man who had asked, “Who might you be, young hero?” and the man now emitting this ferocious momentum were completely different people. And I could feel it. This burning state was his true self.
—Why has the Demon Cult Leader’s child approached my granddaughter?
I uncrossed my arms and straightened my lowered body.
—To save your granddaughter.
Jin Paecheon’s aura grew savage. The overwhelming force whirling around me made it feel as though my entire body were being torn apart.
An aura capable of ripping a person to shreds through sheer pressure alone—this was the presence of the current Murim Alliance Leader.
The next palm force that came would be incomparably stronger than the previous ones. If he drew his sword, each and every move would decide life or death.
This was where it began. The battle of whether I could persuade him or not.
—Only I can save your granddaughter.
Jin Paecheon’s aura changed from savage to terrifying. Dark clouds gathered, the world grew dim, and the sea began to overturn.