The three of them looked at one another.
To be exact, Jin Hagun and Bisain were looking at Geommugeuk.
The look in Jin Hagun's eyes toward Geommugeuk had changed from when they first exchanged greetings.
He suddenly recalled what his younger sibling had said before leaving.
"You must look at him without prejudice when dealing with him. Don't think, 'Since he's a demonic person, he would be like this.' He is not the kind of person you think he is, Brother."
He could now clearly understand why his younger sibling had said those words. Geommugeuk was not the person he had imagined. Jin Hagun felt curiosity toward the man before his eyes, who might become his lifelong rival.
Right then, someone spoke.
"...It's unjust."
Everyone's gaze turned toward the speaker.
Seocheong was sitting collapsed on the floor, looking this way. Though blood flowing from Seo Baekjung's body had soaked his buttocks, he was half out of his mind.
"I'm telling you it's unjust."
Until he was shouting wildly earlier, it had been fine. It had been refreshing. You hypocrites! Didn't you kill too?!
But that was all. The moment it ended, an intense emptiness arrived. No one was paying attention to him. It felt as if the fact that he had shouted had never happened.
He had always lived as the protagonist.
Yet now, not a single person gathered in this banquet hall was paying him any attention.
At a time when he should have been raging at his father's death and feeling terror at the fact that he would be imprisoned in an underground dungeon for life, he was writhing in a victim complex of being ignored and abandoned.
"So save me."
Geommugeuk was gazing at him with eyes devoid of any emotion. If he had been embracing his father's corpse and pouring out curses in this direction, he might have felt a shred of sympathy.
But Seocheong was a man who thought only of himself until the very last moment.
When Geommugeuk gestured with his eyes, two guard martial artists suppressed his internal energy and dragged him outside. Since they had even suppressed his vocal acupoints to prevent him from screaming, he was dragged out helplessly. He would soon be dragged to the hellish underground prison of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's main compound through the Honam Branch demonic people.
Geommugeuk did not utter a single word to Seocheong, nor did he acknowledge his words. He paid not even the slightest trace of attention.
He would simply cast him into hell without placing any meaning on him.
This was Geommugeuk's unwavering attitude when dealing with villains who deserved death.
From that sight, Jin Hagun could somewhat feel what kind of person Geommugeuk was. Had it been him, he would surely have said something—that because of him his father had died, he should live his life in reflection. But Geommugeuk completely ignored him without even casting a cold gaze. That felt even more frightening and cruel.
Jin Hagun felt as though he had properly tasted the flavor of Murim today. It was an extremely spicy taste, but not an unpleasant one. It was a taste he wanted to savor again.
At the same time, he felt such desire: that next time, he wanted to be the one cooking and properly show the taste.
"I will not forget what happened today."
Though it might have sounded like a vow of vengeance, it was an expression of gratitude toward Geommugeuk. If it hadn't been for him, he would have fallen out of his grandfather's favor.
Geommugeuk answered with a gentle gaze and a smile.
"Become a good Alliance Chief."
Jin Hagun decided to believe only half of the sincerity contained in that gaze. He had never heard of a successor to the Demonic Cult advising someone to become a good Alliance Chief.
The Demon Annihilation Squad and Heavenly Demon Pavilion guards standing behind them, and the Sado Sipsamrang as well, were looking at one another. They sensed that this meeting was not the end. At what moment might they meet again?
Even at the final moment of parting, Geommugeuk's banter was not missing.
"It's a shame to part; let's go have a drink."
But Jin Hagun pretended not to hear and bid farewell to Bisain.
The silent drink Bisain had poured him earlier had been a great comfort.
"Next time, I will pour you a drink."
At his words, Bisain slightly nodded. Would a day truly come when he would receive a drink from a successor of the Righteous Faction? Perhaps it might. For ever since meeting that Geommugeuk, unimaginable things kept happening.
"Then let us meet again."
Jin Hagun strode out first. As the Demon Annihilation Squad tried to follow him out, Geommugeuk spoke to them.
"Well then, send your leader on his way and let us at least drink among ourselves. Let's talk with our guards while drinking. How much is the monthly pay, whether it comes out on time, what the mission environment is like. Aren't you curious about such things?"
The Demon Annihilation Squad members made bewildered expressions as they followed Jin Hagun out. Someone among them unknowingly let out a "pfft" before hurriedly straightening his face. The Demon Annihilation Squad, the Sado Sipsamrang, and the Heavenly Demon Pavilion guards drinking together in one place? Was such a thing even possible?
The last person to leave from the Righteous Faction was Geomseon.
Hyeolcheon Doma greeted him first.
"Let us meet again. Take care of your health."
"Don't worry. I now have a reason to live long."
"I told you I don't like meddling in the affairs of juniors."
"You should put on some weight."
Geomseon glanced fleetingly at the reason he had to live long, then left that place.
Geommugeuk spoke to Bisain.
"Now that all the stuffy Righteous Faction people have left, let us men have a drink!"
But Bisain also walked out pretending not to hear.
Bisain knew. That Geommugeuk had tried to give Cheonhwa Sect to him. If only Seocheong hadn't acted out at the last moment. Yes, how could one beat a lucky bastard?
Still, he had obtained fifteen martial sects in the Honam region during this excursion, achieving a great merit for the Alliance.
"Good grief, I said have a drink before you go. How heartless!"
Despite Geommugeuk's shout coming from behind, Bisain strode out of that place. There was no need to say thank you. Because Geommugeuk would appear before him again someday. He would show a back that looked like it wanted to be pushed off, and sitting on that cliff, he would surprise him again. Bisain even looked forward to that moment. He would repay this debt then.
Behind them, the Sado Sipsamrang followed, and Go'aek and Gwangseom walked out. The two experts as well watched Geommugeuk carefully as they left, rather than Hyeolcheon Doma or Gwonma. Everyone was feeling it—that the one who had created today's result was Geommugeuk.
After even they left, Geommugeuk laughed heartily and said,
"As expected! I have only our Demonic Lords."
But Hyeolcheon Doma and Gwonma were not in that spot. The two were already walking toward the door.
"Where are you going?"
"We have to go since the work is done."
"Wait, is everyone in on this? Why are you all like this to me?"
Geommugeuk quickly ran to block their path.
The guards moved accordingly and took formation. Samho looked at Jeokyeon and conveyed with his eyes the words he had said before.
—He is truly not easy to serve.
Jeokyeon also answered with his eyes.
—Isn't that why it's interesting?
Even though he displayed a dignity that other successors, and even Geomseon, could not recklessly approach, when he joked around like that, he felt like a completely different person.
Geommugeuk spoke to the two Demonic Lords.
"Whew, I spoke so much I thought my mouth would die from the pain."
It had truly been a Great War of Demonic Rule that started with words and ended with words.
Gwonma clenched his fist.
"Thanks to that mouth, there was no need to use this fist."
However, Gwonma's blunt eyes contained praise that said, "You handled it well."
"You trusted in that fist and chattered away to your heart's content."
Hyeolcheon Doma tried to leave through the door.
"Let that mouth rest now too. We're leaving."
"No, why does someone so idle in the world keep trying to leave?"
"I have to teach Daeryong, and I have to read books too. I'm busy as well."
Then Gwonma added his reason.
"I also have late-night training."
Geommugeuk grabbed the two of them.
"How heartless, leaving immediately! You came a long way, so stay a bit longer before you go. Who knows? An opportunity to use that fist to your heart's content might arise."
At those meaningful words, Gwonma asked.
"What is going on?"
"Let's go, I'll tell you on the way."
Geommugeuk squeezed between the two to prevent them from going anywhere, linked arms, and walked out together.
"You have to travel around diligently while you're young, even a year younger. What will you do if you already prefer staying home? Later you won't be able to travel even if you want to!"
Seeing the rare sight of him walking out with the two fearsome Demonic Lords on either side, the guards also left that place.
* * *
We returned to the Honam Branch.
I immediately dismissed all the guards to rest.
If I were to die even with Hyeolcheon Doma and Gwonma at the Honam Branch, I would die anyway even with the guards present.
The guards withdrew and enjoyed personal free time for the first time in a while. Those who wanted to sleep slept, those who wanted to drink drank, and those who wanted to train in martial arts trained.
I had a modest drinking session with the two Demonic Lords.
Though the two seemed like an unlikely match, they subtly got along well. Although Hyeolcheon Doma looked like a fussy old man, he had a manly disposition, and that suited Gwonma's personality well.
I emptied the first cup refreshingly with the two Demonic Lords.
"Thank you for coming like this. Thanks to you both, things went smoothly."
They were truly people who became strength by their mere presence. They had now become people to whom I could say anything and rely on completely.
"So what do you plan to do now?"
Hyeolcheon Doma set down his cup and asked.
"I have to go to the Gangseo Branch."
Because meeting with the Honam Branch leader and the Gangseo Branch leader was the purpose of this excursion.
"The Gangseo Branch leader's heart must be pounding."
Since the Honam Branch leader is dead, and the head of Cheonhwa Sect, the representative martial sect of this place, is also dead.
"If he has committed no crime, there is no reason to be uneasy."
"But he will still be uneasy, won't he? To hear that someone bringing a blood storm is coming."
"It's unjust. Where is there a person who loves peace as much as I do?"
I spoke while pouring drinks for the two again.
"But there is a matter that must be handled before going. That is why I wished for you two to stay."
I informed the two about the mastermind behind this matter.
"There is someone who connected the deceased head of Cheonhwa Sect with Jin Hagun. The head of Cheonhwa Sect asked him for help, and he immediately moved the Murim Alliance."
"Then he must be someone with power."
Having instinctively sensed he was someone hiding his claws, Hyeolcheon Doma's eyes flashed with strange light. It meant this matter might not be a simple incident that started from the Honam Branch leader's corruption.
"When I probed Jin Hagun earlier, I realized he is very close to him."
"The chances of him being an insider of the Murim Alliance are high."
"Yes, that is highly likely."
Hyeolcheon Doma immediately discerned my intention.
"You intend to capture him."
"At the very least, I must find out who it is. Not only because he poses a threat to me. It concerns me that such a person is around Jin Hagun. In other words, it means someone who could manipulate the future Murim Alliance Chief."
Hyeolcheon Doma and Gwonma nodded simultaneously.
"How do you plan to find out?"
"That is what you must tell me, Elder. Why else would I have invited you to such a distant place? I brought you here to hear what to do at times like this."
"Trying to work an old man to death. Well done."
But contrary to his words, Hyeolcheon Doma looked pleased. Was not the moment of being acknowledged by someone and confirmed as a necessary existence always enjoyable?
After pondering briefly, Hyeolcheon Doma raised a question.
"But why did he go this far?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why did he step forward mobilizing even Jin Hagun for this matter? Was he that close to the head of Cheonhwa Sect?"
"According to Tongcheon Pavilion's investigation, there was no Murim Alliance insider who was that close to him."
"Then why? It would become Jin Hagun's merit, not his own, anyway. And the benefit would all go to the Murim Alliance."
Hyeolcheon Doma's point was sharp. I had been focusing on 'who,' but Hyeolcheon Doma had focused on 'why.'
"Someone who wanted to build merit for Jin Hagun..."
"Or it means he definitely needed the head of Cheonhwa Sect."
At my words, Hyeolcheon Doma nodded.
"If so, he will certainly show some reaction because of this matter. You need only use that reaction as an opportunity to catch him."
"As expected! You are the greatest, Elder. How would I live without you?"
"Mask wearer, poisoner, drunkard, martial arts fanatic..."
Hyeolcheon Doma glanced at Gwonma sitting beside him.
I said with a smile.
"You should say fist fanatic."
"You and your master will live well."
Still, since Gwonma was sitting beside him, he showed him courtesy.
"If he weren't sitting beside you, he would have been a fist fanatic, right?"
Hyeolcheon Doma drank instead of answering, and Gwonma, who rarely smiled, formed a smile.
"I will send word to Tongcheon Pavilion as well, and instruct my intelligence organization to focus all information networks on this matter."
Gwonma, who had been listening to the conversation until now, finally opened his mouth.
"I shall see how they move before returning."
Gwonma seemed to have judged that there might be something he could help with.
"As expected! How would I live without my master?"
I had wanted to hear "bookworm" come from Gwonma's mouth, but he merely silently tilted his cup.
I also emptied my cup with them. I was curious how the opponent would make their move.
* * *
When Jin Hagun visited his master's house, Baek Cheongyeong was carving a wooden doll.
"I have returned, Master."
Baek Cheongyeong did not acknowledge the greeting and focused solely on carving the wood.
Scritch, scritch.
Jin Hagun watched his master's mood. He could not tell whether he still didn't know the news from Honam, or if he had already heard it. He had come to meet his master immediately after returning and paying respects to his grandfather.
His grandfather's reaction had been beyond expectations. When he told him that he could not forgive the atrocities of the Cheonhwa Sect successor and had ultimately given up, the expression on his grandfather's face had clearly been joy.
It was horrifying to imagine what emotion would have clouded that expression if he had returned having obtained Cheonhwa Sect. He felt grateful to Geommugeuk once more.
'I will surely repay you someday.'
The problem was his master. Because he had ultimately failed the task his master had proposed.
'Still, he will understand, won't he?'
Because the purpose of proposing this matter had also been to establish him as the successor.
Scritch, scritch.
While looking at his master's back, he suddenly recalled words Geommugeuk had spoken.
"Have you truly been looking straight at your grandfather until now?"
It hadn't been just his grandfather. He hadn't been looking straight at his master either.
Because he was his grandfather. Because he was his master.
Now he would look straight. He would look straight at the other without any prejudice.
Since his master was still focused on carving, Jin Hagun looked around the workshop as usual and went to the display stand where the dolls were placed.
A small doll had fallen over in front of the hero doll that had been leading the battle. It was a doll he hadn't seen when he left.
Just as Jin Hagun was setting up the fallen doll, his master spoke from behind.
"Leave it lying as it is."