A breeze blew, heralding the approach of a new destiny.
Countless thoughts flashed through Bi Sain’s mind.
The first thought that came to him was doubt.
What if all of this was a scheme by the Demon Cult to devour them?
But he soon dismissed the thought.
Perhaps someone else might, but Geom Mugeuk, as he knew him, was not the sort to employ such shabby tricks.
“You need not intervene directly. You need only do one thing for me.”
“What would you have me do?”
“If I eliminate Yayul Han, handle it so that it appears you were the one who eliminated him.”
Bi Sain was startled. He had not imagined that the favor would be something like this.
“Why ask such a thing of me?”
“Naturally, because I wish to prevent a war from breaking out between our cult and the Gwimaeng.”
A war between the Demon Cult and the Sado Maeng.
Bi Sain had imagined a war with the Murim Alliance, but he had never once contemplated a war with the Demon Cult. If their forces were compared, the Sado Maeng would be destroyed. Of course, the Demon Cult would suffer enormous damage as well, and the Murim Alliance would never let that opportunity slip by.
*Hand Yayul Han over to the Demon Cult to be killed?*
The frustration of leaving his nemesis to another’s hands rather than executing him himself outweighed any pleasure in borrowing a knife to kill. His pride was wounded. Even if the man were to die, should he not be the one to kill him?
Hiding such feelings, Bi Sain expressed difficulty on different grounds.
“The Alliance Lord will not believe that I killed him.”
“If it is you, you can make him believe it. At the very least, you will be able to smooth this matter over well.”
It was not an empty remark. Geom Mugeuk believed in Bi Sain’s ability and potential.
After a brief pause, Bi Sain asked.
“Can you eliminate Yayul Han?”
“That is something I will see to myself.”
Geom Mugeuk’s gaze turned toward the Sado Maeng. Torches blazing without a gap guarded the night of the Sado Maeng.
“Whether it is you or me, taking that place will truly not be easy. Those who already occupy it despise change and do not trust us. It cannot be taken without effort. If taken easily, it will be stolen away just as easily.”
After a moment of consideration, Bi Sain spoke resolutely.
“I refuse. Even if he is to be eliminated, I will be the one to do it.”
Bi Sain turned and walked away. Geom Mugeuk spoke from behind him.
“If you change your mind, come here at midnight. I will come every day.”
Bi Sain disappeared into the darkness without a word.
* * *
“What of the Alliance Lord’s reaction?”
Cha Hwan answered Yayul Han’s question.
“He is quiet.”
Yayul Han kept no strategists. He judged and decided everything himself. When someone once asked him why he kept no strategists, he had answered thus:
That he had done well enough without them, so he saw no need. It was an arrogant remark, yet as those words spread, the number of those following him within the Sado Maeng grew ever greater.
“Income has suffered greatly with the deaths of Ji Saeng and Ae Cha. The Sinseonchae that Ji Saeng handled can be taken over by another, but the problem is the Gwangpok that Ae Cha and Jindok Geosa manufactured and sold. Production of Gwangpok has halted with Jindok Geosa’s death. Why did you not extract the Gwangpok formula from Jindok Geosa in advance?”
Cha Hwan could not understand. Perhaps if it were Ae Cha, but Yayul Han would certainly have obtained it long ago. Jindok Geosa had been utterly terrified of Yayul Han.
“If I had done so, what would you have thought?”
“I would have thought you were thorough and meticulous.”
Yayul Han fixed a cold gaze upon Cha Hwan. Cha Hwan intuitively sensed that his answer was wrong.
“A leader who seizes what his subordinates possess can never become the greatest leader.”
Cha Hwan put on an expression of deep emotion. His face revealed how moved he was and how much he revered Yayul Han, but Yayul Han regarded it as habitual sentiment.
Being easily moved. Being easily respectful. It was an attitude Yayul Han did not particularly like.
However, because there was no deception in Cha Hwan’s habitual sentiment, he kept him by his side. There was a definite difference in temperature between how the two men viewed each other.
“We must not lose sight of the big picture for small gains! We have a long road ahead!”
“Yes!”
At that moment, a subordinate reported from outside.
“Young Master Bi has arrived.”
A faint smile formed at Yayul Han’s lips. For some reason, he had felt that Bi would come, and his expectation proved correct.
“Show him in!”
He gestured with his eyes for Cha Hwan to withdraw.
“This lowly one shall take his leave.”
Cha Hwan exited, and shortly after, Bi Sain stepped inside.
“Welcome, Young Master Bi.”
“Danju, have you been well?”
Their gazes tangled in the air amidst taut tension. The two were acknowledged nemeses by all. Everyone believed that one of them would die at the other’s hands. They merely did not know when that time would come.
“I hope I am not taking up the time of a busy man.”
“Busy? Our Young Master Bi is the busier one. Come, have a seat.”
The two sat facing each other at a table. A servant brought tea, but Bi Sain did not even touch his cup.
“I heard about the Daeya Bang.”
“The resistance was too fierce; it could not be helped.”
“Was it not because you pressed them too hard?”
Reproach was laced within the soft question.
“The Geukdo Legion may be somewhat rough, but they are not people who take pleasure in needless slaughter.”
Yayul Han had placed the Geukdo Legion at the forefront. From this point, any misspoken word would become an insult to the Geukdo Legion; with these words, he had sealed Bi Sain’s mouth.
Bi Sain quietly stared at Yayul Han. Judging by their faces alone, Bi Sain was the more fierce-looking, but Yayul Han’s two eyes, devoid of any emotion, overwhelmed that fierceness.
Bi Sain had to admit it. That he had feared Yayul Han all this time. Because he could not know what thoughts lay within that head, which never once revealed its emotions. It was because he did not know that he was all the more afraid.
“One can never truly know a person’s heart. To think that the Lord of the Daeya Bang, who devoted his entire life to our Alliance, would join hands with the Murim Alliance. Honestly, it is frightening. When I become the Alliance Lord, is there any guarantee that such a traitor will not emerge again?”
“Young Master Bi, with your excellent character, will lead our Alliance well.”
“It is not as if the Alliance Lord was betrayed because his character was lacking.”
Yayul Han read a certain provocation and confidence from Bi Sain. From this demeanor, different from usual, Yayul Han’s misunderstanding deepened.
*It seems the Sado Maengju has given him a word.*
He must have told him that an invisible war had begun.
Yayul Han did not know that this unusual attitude was because of Geom Mugeuk, not the Sado Maengju.
*Can a brat like you truly lead the Sado Murim?*
*By the time I reach your age, I will be a far greater man than you.*
*A brat remains a brat even after growing up. You will never sit in the Alliance Lord’s seat.*
These were the true feelings contained in their gazes. Yet from their mouths flowed soft words contrary to their hearts.
“I have made a careless remark that could cause misunderstanding.”
“Not at all. Given the gravity of the situation, I have been overly sensitive. I apologize.”
After apologizing politely, Bi Sain rose from his seat.
“I should take my leave before I commit further blunders.”
Before leaving, Bi Sain left behind one final remark.
“I trust only you, Danju.”
Yayul Han nodded reassuringly.
Bi Sain left the room. He had thought he should meet Yayul Han once before making his decision. He had hoped that seeing him would make the decision easier, but it remained difficult.
To become the Sado Maengju, he had to kill Yayul Han. But was the time now? And by borrowing the Demon Cult’s blade?
When he had harmed the grandson of Seok Gwan-chu to become the successor, he had been confident that he could overcome anything that followed.
He realized that he had still never made a grand, life-altering decision.
Having stepped outside, Bi Sain looked up at the sky. The weather had been gloomy for the past several days.
* * *
The next day, while eating at an inn, a voice transmission flew in again.
*—Eating at the same place where we meet is practically inviting an assassination.*
It was Geom Mugeuk’s voice transmission.
*—If you were going to seek me out like this after less than a day, why did you say you would wait at that cliff?*
*—Waiting is waiting. Right now, I have come to persuade you. Because our destinies hang on this matter.*
Bi Sain’s chopsticks paused for a moment. He drank a cup of wine with his meal. Illang of the Sado Sipsamrang, who had been watching, asked worriedly.
“Is something troubling you?”
“Illang.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“Do you think I will become the Sado Maengju?”
“What do you mean? Of course the next Alliance Lord is you, Young Master.”
“I mean, will I still be in the Alliance Lord’s seat ten years from now?”
For an instant, Illang hesitated for a split second. Bi Sain could tell. The existence that made him hesitate was none other than Yayul Han.
Illang answered.
“We will protect you safely for a lifetime.”
Bi Sain smiled and began eating again.
Geom Mugeuk’s voice transmission came again.
*—Those people will all die too.*
*—There is no need to drag others into this to persuade me.*
*—I am saying this is not your problem alone. The same goes for me. Those I have cherished, those close to me. My failure will become their failure, whether I wish it or not.*
Bi Sain gave no answer. Geom Mugeuk did not press him further. Instead, he asked to meet once more.
*—I have something to say. Let us meet at the cliff later.*
* * *
“Why did you ask to see me?”
When midnight came, Bi Sain came out to the cliff.
Geom Mugeuk, who had arrived first, was looking at the dense scatter of stars in the night sky.
“The days have been cloudy for several days, so the stars could not be seen, but today they are all too visible.”
Bi Sain looked up at the night sky following Geom Mugeuk’s gaze. Truly, the stars were cascading down.
After a long while, Geom Mugeuk spoke first.
“There is something I tell people. My demonic path does not shatter tables.”
Bi Sain turned his head to look at Geom Mugeuk. Geom Mugeuk continued speaking while still gazing up at the sky.
“I cannot stand the sight of the strong trampling the weak. Seeing it, whether they are of our cult, the orthodox factions, or the unorthodox factions, I cannot endure it. You may or may not know, but Yayul Han’s subordinates created something called Sinseonchae to toy with and lead young people to ruin. They made a drug called Gwangpok and led even innocent people to their deaths. My inability to stand by and watch that madness is my demonic path.”
Geom Mugeuk’s gaze slowly shifted from the sky to Bi Sain. When their eyes met, Geom Mugeuk asked.
“What is your sacred path?”
Bi Sain could not answer. He had a vague resolve and ambition to rule the Sado Maeng well, but he had no concrete governing philosophy that he could articulate. Perhaps it was only natural. Bi Sain was still young.
“If you find that answer, this decision may become easier.”
Today, Geom Mugeuk left first.
Bi Sain stood there for a long time, late into the night.
* * *
The next day, Bi Sain arrived first at the cliff.
And the moment he saw Geom Mugeuk, he spoke coldly.
“Do you know what you are trying to do?”
It was a low utterance, yet it contained the anger he had failed to vent the day before.
“Do you speak knowing what killing him entails? If it were an easy task, would I have endured like this, knowing full well that he will kill me someday?”
“I know it is difficult.”
“No, you do not. Let me tell you why you do not. I once heard words from the Alliance Lord. Yayul Han is attended by absolute masters, so you must not take this lightly. I shall tell you the name of one among them.”
“Who is it?”
“Oroe Singeom, Baekhaeng.”
Geom Mugeuk was startled.
“That man still lives?”
A former titan of the unorthodox, he had been a master soaring high enough to devour the Sado Murim of his era.
“So leave while he lets you go peacefully. Go back while your two legs are still intact.”
Then Geom Mugeuk said something unexpected.
“Our cult has also identified someone.”
“Who is it that you know?”
“Hyeollyun Geop, Damal.”
This time, Bi Sain was surprised. He was a true villain among villains who had massacred hundreds of orthodox martial artists in one place, inciting a blood tribulation. His martial prowess could not compare to Oroe Singeom’s, but his wickedness was indescribable.
“These two may not be the end of it. Do you still intend to go through with this?”
At Bi Sain’s question, Geom Mugeuk nodded.
“I will.”
At the answer without a moment’s hesitation, Bi Sain shook his head.
“You truly are a strange kind of madman.”
“Even if I fail, you will suffer no loss. Then why do you hesitate? Are you perhaps worried about me? Is that why you told me about Oroe Singeom?”
Bi Sain was slightly flustered.
“What nonsense? Why would I worry about you?”
“Why are you angry? I was merely asking.”
Geom Mugeuk continued to persuade him in a gentle tone.
“I know this is not an easy decision.”
“And yet you are pushing me.”
“Have you not experienced it yourself? The bigger the decision, the more often the very first decision that comes to mind is the correct one. If you ignore that primal instinct, you only end up making a bad move after long deliberation. What was the first decision that came to your mind?”
After a brief pause, Bi Sain answered.
“It was to do it.”
“Then let us do it.”
Bi Sain knew. That there would be no end to worrying over this. That even after a month, even after a year, he would still be torn. He simply had to go for it.
And Bi Sain went for it.
“Very well. Let us do it.”
He decided to think simply.
Because if not for Geom Mugeuk, there would be no him as he was now.
The man had come to collect a debt of life; let this be how he repaid that great debt.
“Let us do it!”
Because Geom Mugeuk was, at the very least, someone who did not seem like he would lead him down a bad path. To him, Geom Mugeuk was such a person.
Geom Mugeuk was overjoyed. And he was grateful to Bi Sain for accepting his proposal.
“Thank you. You have truly chosen well. Had it not been for you, I would never have conceived of proceeding with this matter in the first place.”
“I only hope that when I look back on this moment later, I will not reproach myself for having made such a pathetic decision.”
The two men’s gazes intertwined in the air.
Geom Mugeuk spoke to him with eyes full of gratitude.
“Let us not look back now. Let us look back later, after we have become the Heavenly Demon and the Sado Maengju.”