“Calm your anger for now.”
The Third Immortal tried to placate Geom Mugeuk. Even if he was going to kill him, he first had to settle his excitement.
“Could you endure it if it were you?”
“I wouldn’t have been able to, either. But if you let your agitation ruin things, you won’t even get your revenge, will you? Your opponent is…”
He could not bring himself to say it. To think the day would come when he would have to say, with his own mouth, that the opponent was the Fist Demon.
Whether he knew that feeling or not, Geom Mugeuk clenched his fists until they trembled.
“He said he thought of me like a son. That bastard!”
The Third Immortal had to keep Geom Mugeuk from doing anything before the other Immortals arrived.
“A bastard like that should be killed. I’ll help you.”
“Why would you?”
“What do you mean, why? Because that man deserves to die.”
Geom Mugeuk snorted.
“That’s not it, is it? You’re afraid you’ll get dragged into this for no reason, aren’t you? Don’t worry. I’ll never say you bought me the poison.”
Instead of saying he had borrowed money, he phrased it as though the Third Immortal had bought him the poison. The claim that he would never say it sounded even 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 do you plan to poison the Fist Demon?”
“I’ll put poison in his wine.”
“When is the Fist Demon coming again?”
“He’ll come back here in five days.”
Five days! The Third Immortal’s heart grew urgent. He had to make sure the Immortals arrived somehow within that time.
“If you get involved for nothing, you’ll die too. So stay out of it.”
“If you kill the Fist Demon, do you think the Demon Cult will leave your family alone? Your entire clan will be exterminated.”
“Let them. My father couldn’t utter a peep even after his own child suffered something like this. If that’s the kind of family this is, it would be better off exterminated.”
Though the Third Immortal understood Geom Mugeuk’s reckless fury, a thought came to him.
‘I provoked the wrong madman!’
Even so, he could not deal with Geom Mugeuk himself. Judging by the ability he had displayed at the inn before, the other man was far stronger than he was.
Geom Mugeuk rose from his seat.
“Don’t come looking for me again. If you do, I’ll throw that poison all over you.”
Leaving behind that threat, Geom Mugeuk departed.
* * *
A short while later, I was on the roof of the building across from the inn, watching the Third Immortal leave together with Gowol.
“Just now, I confirmed that one of his subordinates sent a letter by carrier bird. Considering the gravity of the matter, he must have called in all the key members of Hyeopgye. According to our investigation, their leadership consists of four people, and the one called the First Immortal is their chief.”
Gowol’s intelligence organization was already showing its power. He truly made me feel that the money had been well spent.
“So that means we only have to deal with those four?”
“Yes. Among them, the First Immortal is the mastermind. He is highly suspicious and does not show himself easily. But since the Fist Demon is involved in this matter, he will have no choice but to appear.”
“So this is why everyone keeps a strategist around. It’s so convenient and nice.”
“A strategist with a chief smarter than himself has a very hard time.”
“You misunderstand. The only thing I’m good at is the Divine Art of Flattery.”
After a brief pause, Gowol said,
“Thanks to you, I settled things well with the cult leader.”
Geom Mugeuk looked at his face. Compared to when he had first asked him to take care of the cult leader, Gowol seemed much more at ease.
Geom Mugeuk thought Gowol was truly remarkable. To treat Cult Leader Pungcheon so well, after Pungcheon had kept him bound like that. Though he did not know what kind of connection the two had in a previous life, he felt anew that their bond was truly deep.
“The cult leader was worried about you. He said you’ve been having a hard time lately. He told me to look after Strategist Go instead of him.”
“I’m fine.”
“What do you mean, fine? I heard that people who need help all start by saying they’re fine.”
When Gowol looked at him as if asking where he had heard that, Geom Mugeuk revealed his honest feelings.
“Strategist Go, I’m not fine. Dealing with the Demon Venerables, fighting over the succession, acting in front of these trash from Sinseonchae—it’s exhausting and tiring. But just saying that makes me feel a little better. So you say it too, Strategist Go. If it’s hard, say it’s hard. If you’re tired, say you’re tired. I’ll listen.”
Gowol gave a meaningful smile. He had said it to Cult Leader Pungcheon. That it was hard. And by doing so, he had meant that Pungcheon should say it too when he was having a hard time. Now Geom Mugeuk was doing the same for him.
Gowol raised his head and looked up at the sky. Even without saying anything, he felt better.
* * *
The one among us who suffered the most was the Fist Demon.
“…And so, the Fist Demon has become the villain. The situation was urgent, so I apologize for not informing you in advance.”
When I finished explaining the situation, the Fist Demon flew into a rage.
“Not just a villain… a shameless lecher, you mean?”
“You had to commit an evil deed of at least that level for there to be a motive to poison and kill you.”
“There are plenty of other reasons! Such as insulting him as a person, or killing a subordinate he cherished!”
“I didn’t think those would be more provocative than this.”
“Filthy!”
Since the Fist Demon had never once caused trouble involving women, it was only natural that he would jump in fury.
The Fist Demon brought his face right up to Geom Mugeuk’s.
“Was this your idea? Or was it your strategist’s idea—the one who can’t play baduk?”
“Of course it was my strategist’s idea. Don’t hold back. Go and…”
Grrrrr.
A growling sound came from the Fist Demon’s clenched fist. It was the sound of a typhoon approaching from afar.
“This was your doing. There’s no way your strategist would dare.”
“As expected, you’re sharp. Of course it was my idea.”
“Why did you make me a lecher?”
“Because it’s one of the strongest reasons to want to kill someone. Perhaps because of that, they don’t doubt my murderous intent at all.”
“Even so, I absolutely detest being misunderstood.”
“Master. I said it to men who will be dead soon anyway, so you don’t need to worry about it. The story won’t leak anywhere else.”
Just then, a question suddenly occurred to the Fist Demon.
“But did that fellow believe it?”
What he had expected to hear was, “Would the Fist Demon ever do such a thing?”
“Yes. He believed it very readily.”
“He believed it at once? What’s that bastard’s name? What is his name!”
As the Fist Demon vented his anger on them for no reason, Geom Mugeuk smiled and said,
“It will be over in just a few days anyway. Those few days will become the most meaningful days of your life, Master.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Because the name of the Fist Demon was mentioned, their leadership will move. As a result, countless young men caught in their claws will escape despair and death. If we count those who would have suffered at their hands in the future, it will be hundreds, even thousands. You’ll be saving all of them, Master.”
“What am I, a divine physician? Am I supposed to be happy because I saved people?”
“Then for the sake of your disciple, who does like saving people, please live as a lecher for just a few days.”
The Fist Demon glared holes through Geom Mugeuk, then, still exuding a dense aura of darkness, whipped around.
“Even a few days is too long!”
* * *
Four days later, the first to arrive was the Fourth Immortal.
“What in the world is going on for you to make such a fuss? Did a war break out?”
The Third Immortal was his elder brother, but the two of them got along like friends.
When the Third Immortal saw the Fourth Immortal, a master of martial arts, he felt the tension that had been gripping him finally loosen.
The Third Immortal explained in detail to the Fourth Immortal what had happened.
“So that madman is going to poison the Fist Demon to death? What’s the problem with that? Even if he kills him, he’s the one doing the killing.”
“The problem is that he bought that poison with the money he borrowed from us.”
“So what? Is the Demon Cult going to investigate whose money bought the poison?”
“If it were an ordinary poison and an ordinary target, I wouldn’t worry. It would end with: Ah, this bastard got poison and killed him. The problem is that he bought Formless Venom. How did he buy such expensive Formless Venom? And the one who died is the Fist Demon. Then of course they’ll first suspect there’s someone behind it. If they dig into the background, our existence will eventually be exposed. Do you think the Demon Cult will leave us alone?”
Only then did the Fourth Immortal understand the gravity of the situation.
“When is the Fist Demon coming?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Then we only have today. What about the Jeonggwon Sect brat?”
“He’s drinking at the tavern right now.”
“Let’s go. Lead the way.”
When the Fourth Immortal tried to leave immediately, the Third Immortal stopped him.
“If we just kill him in the tavern, his father will investigate his son’s death. Eventually the Demon Cult will get involved. Then we’ll be in even more danger.”
“Then what do you suggest?”
The Third Immortal proposed a method.
“We kidnap him and make him disappear. We handle it as though he was so despondent over his fiancée that he went off somewhere. Before killing him and dissolving him with bone-melting acid, we’ll have him leave a short letter.”
The Fourth Immortal agreed.
“That’s a good idea.”
* * *
One shichen after the Third and Fourth Immortals began waiting in front of the tavern, Geom Mugeuk staggered out.
When he entered a place with few people around, the Third Immortal appeared before him. Drunk, Geom Mugeuk slurred his words.
“You! I told you I’d kill you if you showed up in front of me again, didn’t I?”
“Listen, I came because I have something to say to you.”
Geom Mugeuk did not notice the Fourth Immortal approaching from behind him.
“What do you mean, something to say! You came to stop me again, didn’t you? You coward. I’m not scared! Tomorrow…”
The Fourth Immortal sealed Geom Mugeuk’s ma point and mute point.
Geom Mugeuk, who had been speaking, could not even dodge and was subdued on the spot.
The Third and Fourth Immortals linked arms with him from both sides and ran.
The two arrived in a deserted forest.
Only after arriving there did they release Geom Mugeuk’s mute point.
“What is this? Do you want to die?”
Drunk, Geom Mugeuk seemed completely unaware of the seriousness of the situation.
The Third Immortal handed Geom Mugeuk the paper and brush he had prepared, along with ink he had ground beforehand.
“From now on, write down exactly what I dictate.”
“What’s this?”
“Father, this unfilial son will leave for a while and return.”
Geom Mugeuk tried to write with drunken eyes, but soon set down the brush.
“You bastard! You’re going to make me write this and then kill me, aren’t you?”
It was at that moment.
A voice came from behind them.
“Idiots!”
The faces of the Third and Fourth Immortals brightened.
The First and Second Immortals were walking into the clearing. The First Immortal had arrived earlier, but he had been watching how the situation unfolded. Since he had judged that the circumstances were completely safe, he had revealed himself now.
“If he’s leaving because he’s angry at his father, why would he leave a letter? That would be even stranger.”
At the First Immortal’s words, the Third Immortal exclaimed in admiration.
“As expected! You are our eldest brother. Your thinking is different from ours!”
The First Immortal approached Geom Mugeuk. He truly had the face of a villain whose nature was written all over his features, and his eyes were as cold as a snake’s.
“So this whole uproar was because of this worthless bastard.”
After glaring down at Geom Mugeuk, he rose and said,
“Bury him alive.”
He intended to give him the terror and agony of being buried alive.
Just then, Geom Mugeuk smiled. The gloomy, dark demeanor he had been acting out until now vanished, and his expression became that of the original Geom Mugeuk.
The Third Immortal, who was watching, flinched in surprise at the change in expression that made him seem like a different person.
‘This madman really does keep surprising people until the very end.’
Then Geom Mugeuk asked the First Immortal,
“Did this whole thing come from your head? You don’t look that smart.”
The First Immortal’s expression hardened.
The other three merely watched the situation. They knew well that the angrier the First Immortal became, the more there would be to see. Of course, sometimes things happened that were frightening enough to appear in their dreams.
“Who’s behind you? Who provided the money?”
Geom Mugeuk looked at the other Immortals.
“Did he not tell you either? You banded together without even that much trust?”
In that instant, the First Immortal realized it. At some point, the slur had disappeared from Geom Mugeuk’s speech.
“You… You’re not drunk.”
“I sobered up. Hearing that I’d be buried alive snapped me wide awake.”
His words were as composed as his expression.
Feeling an indescribable sense of incongruity, the First Immortal looked around. He suspected someone might be lying in ambush, but he could sense nothing nearby.
The Third Immortal stepped forward in his stead.
“Pay him no mind. He was always a madman.”
He thought they should quickly kill him and be done with it. After all, it had been his decision to lend Geom Mugeuk a hundred thousand nyang in the first place, so finishing things before that madman angered the First Immortal any further was the wise choice.
“I’ll deal with him and bury him.”
As he drew a dagger from his chest, Geom Mugeuk asked,
“You said you were investing in my youth, didn’t you?”
“You must have misheard. I meant I was investing in my youth.”
The Third Immortal sneered openly. This was the moment he liked best. The instant when he cut off his opponent’s breath. The instant when they realized they had been betrayed and sent him a resentful gaze. Of course, this particular madman was not giving him the expression he wanted.
“It was irritating, but it was a unique experience. I’ll think of it for a long time.”
“After today, I’m going to erase all memory of you from my mind.”
“Farewell, madman!”
Just as he was about to slash Geom Mugeuk’s throat with the dagger, a cold chill swept over the area, making the Third Immortal’s spine prickle. He was not the only one who felt the cold taking control of their surroundings. The Fourth Immortal drew his sword and scanned the area.
One man was walking toward them.
His long moonlit shadow was larger and broader than that of an ordinary person. Showing his current mood through an aura as sharp as frost, the man approaching them was none other than the Fist Demon.
When the four confirmed who it was, they were startled. Compared to the man who had appeared, the merciless-looking First Immortal had the face of a baby.
Then they heard Geom Mugeuk’s incomprehensible words from behind them.
“He’s very angry right now because you all believed it without a single doubt.”
Geom Mugeuk, whom they had thought had his ma point sealed, stood up and dusted off his clothes. Smiling, he asked the Fist Demon,
“A few days pass quickly, don’t they?”
The Fist Demon, his face hollow from even losing sleep, stood before them.
“To me, it was a span as long as countless kalpas!”