Jin Haryeong’s body was in the banquet hall, but her mind was not there.
Even as she greeted and conversed with the rising talents, she kept thinking of Geom Mugeuk and Ian. Ian’s beautiful figure came to mind, and she could feel her bearing. She also recalled Geom Mugeuk standing beside her.
‘I wonder if Orabeoni is doing well?’
In such a state, there was no way the rising talents showing her favor would catch her eye.
Among them were handsome men, and among them were those strong in martial arts. But when she thought of Geom Mugeuk, they all looked like children. It was a side effect of coming to know Geom Mugeuk.
After that gathering, which felt especially long today, finally ended and she returned to her quarters, Jin Hagun was waiting for her.
“Orabeoni!”
Who knew she would be this glad to see her brother?
“I was just about to go see you. What happened?”
Judging by Jin Hagun’s expression, which was not bad, it seemed the talk had ended well.
Instead of answering, Jin Hagun asked her,
“How was the gathering?”
“Memorize names, memorize faces, listen to every kind of boasting, pretend to be friendly, then let’s overthrow them, Demonic Cult! Let’s defeat them, Evil Dao Alliance! Tediously the same as always.”
“That tedious work will one day protect the righteous murim.”
“You protect the murim, Orabeoni. My role only goes this far.”
“Do you think there will be anywhere to hide if the Demonic Cult takes control of the murim?”
Her brother was suffering from a side effect too. A side effect that came from living as the Alliance Leader’s grandson. From childhood, the fear that the Demonic Cult and the Evil Dao Alliance might invade had taken deep root in her brother’s heart.
“Do you really think Geom Mugeuk is the sort of person who dreams of unifying the murim? While exterminating all of us?”
No matter how she thought about it, she could not imagine it. Geom Mugeuk standing atop a mountain of piled corpses.
“Who knows what kind of person he is? One thing is certain—if he dreams of unifying the murim, stopping him will not be easy.”
It was not something their grandfather had to stop. That was a matter for the generation of Jin Hagun and Jin Haryeong.
“You can never know whether your faith in someone is justified while you are still in the process. The only time that faith is proven is when the result comes out. And we are still in the process.”
It applied to his relationship with his master, and to his relationship with Geom Mugeuk as well. What did it matter if someone did well a hundred times? If they revealed their true colors at the final moment, it would all end in catastrophe.
“Oh, so you can say things like that too. Impressive, isn’t it? Our Orabeoni!”
After a brief pause, Jin Hagun said,
“Geom Mugeuk said it.”
“Ah!”
She seemed to grow solemn for a moment, then soon burst into loud laughter.
“Our Orabeoni, who was doing so well, has finally met his match.”
Even hearing such words, Jin Hagun did not get angry or displeased at all.
Because she was the only person to whom he could open his heart. The only person with whom he could comfortably have such sensitive conversations.
“What do you think of him, Orabeoni?”
Jin Haryeong was curious about the Geom Mugeuk her brother saw.
As much as she had, Jin Hagun also had much to say when it came to Geom Mugeuk. He was clearly someone worthy of trust, yet also someone one did not know how far to trust.
Even so, Jin Hagun acknowledged the other man.
“He is a person of a different scale from me.”
Jin Hagun held out one hand and curled it as if grasping a ball.
“If I am a person of this size.”
This time, he made a gesture of holding a large ball in front of his chest with both hands.
“Then Geom Mugeuk is a person of this size. If I am to face him and win, I will have to start by acknowledging that.”
After meeting Geom Mugeuk, her brother had certainly changed. The fact that her proud brother could say such a thing meant he had changed.
Jin Haryeong liked that change, yet on the other hand, she was also worried. Worried about what might happen if he became too absorbed in Geom Mugeuk.
“Can you handle it?”
“I have to try. If I can’t do it now, I won’t be able to do it later either.”
Jin Hagun’s gaze was firm. Though he was receiving help for now, she could feel his will never to be swayed by Geom Mugeuk.
“Watch me. Watch how I surpass him.”
Jin Haryeong clenched her fist tightly, her expression saying she believed him.
This time, Jin Hagun asked,
“How was it for you? You saw Geom Mugeuk after so long, didn’t you?”
Her clenched fist opened limply.
“That’s even more repetitive. I’m always surprised and flustered whenever I see him. But today, he wasn’t the problem.”
This time, Jin Haryeong imitated Jin Hagun.
“If I am this beautiful, then this time I met someone this beautiful.”
Looking at her brother, who could not understand, Jin Haryeong smiled.
“I realized that Hubei was a vast well.”
* * *
Jin Hagun arrived at Baek Cheongyeong’s workshop.
At the door, he recalled Geom Mugeuk’s advice.
—Do not watch his mood. Act as you normally do. Rather than trying to look good, subtly reveal that you are dissatisfied because of this matter. Only then will he not suspect you.
But Baek Cheongyeong was not in the workshop.
Jin Hagun was about to leave when he suddenly looked at the display stand. The display stand where the dolls had been placed was covered with a black cloth. Sometimes it was covered like this. But now, the cloth covering it looked different.
Just as Jin Hagun slowly walked over and was about to lift the cloth, he sensed someone behind him.
When Jin Hagun turned around, Baek Cheongyeong was standing at the door.
“Master.”
“You’ve come?”
He was curious about what was beneath the cloth, but Jin Hagun left it as it was and walked toward his master.
Baek Cheongyeong passed by him, sat in his seat, and began carving.
Scrape, scrape.
These days, the amount of time his master spent carving had increased greatly. In the past, it had seemed to be only a hobby.
He had even covered the display case with cloth, so what was he carving so intently?
“So, have you thought about how to reclaim Cheonhwa Gate?”
His master’s gaze was still on the doll he was carving.
“I intend to win over those among Cheonhwa Gate’s experts who support the righteous faction. Cheonhwa Gate has long maintained neutrality, so their loyalty toward the Demonic Cult is not strong. Of course, the same applies to our Alliance and the Evil Dao Alliance. Since the atmosphere of a sect changes according to its sect leader and leadership, it will take a long time, but if we can win over the righteous-leaning experts within Cheonhwa Gate to our side…”
Even as Jin Hagun spoke, he carefully observed Baek Cheongyeong’s every move. He could sense that his master was not listening to him attentively.
Was Master truly waiting for him to come up with a method?
As if to say that was not the case, Baek Cheongyeong cut off Jin Hagun’s words and said,
“Does your pride not hurt?”
In a calm tone, he provoked Jin Hagun.
“The three successors of the righteous, evil, and demonic factions gathered in one place. Two of them returned with lavish gifts, while only you returned empty-handed.”
He was bringing up pride and comparing him to the other successors? Jin Hagun was angry, but he forced himself to answer calmly.
“I do not think this is a matter of pride. Hunan was originally their territory. And the son of Cheonhwa Gate’s leader was a beast in human skin. From the beginning, there was no gift for me there.”
Jin Hagun faithfully followed Geom Mugeuk’s advice. He did not simply admit fault unconditionally and follow his master’s opinion.
“Master, why is Cheonhwa Gate so important to you?”
“Do you think I am doing this because of Cheonhwa Gate?”
“Is that not so?”
“It is not.”
“Then why?”
Then, a startling answer flowed from Baek Cheongyeong’s mouth.
“To prevent war.”
At the word war, Jin Hagun froze.
“What do you mean?”
“Hunan borders Hubei, where the main headquarters of the Murim Alliance is located, and has been a strategic point for generations. Yet a large sect that maintained neutrality there has fallen into the hands of the Demonic Cult. It means the balance has been broken.”
“Even so, is it not too much of a leap to say that war will break out?”
“Why does our Alliance exist? It exists to eliminate even that faint possibility. War can break out from the smallest, most trivial incident. This time, you greatly increased the probability that a war would occur. Because of your desire to become Alliance Leader.”
For a moment, Jin Hagun could not answer at all. If this had been before he met Geom Mugeuk, he would have accepted his master’s words completely on the spot. He might even have blamed himself, thinking he had been greedy.
But not now. No matter how plausible it sounded, it was something to judge later.
Hiding his inner thoughts, Jin Hagun asked with a deliberately flustered expression,
“Then what should I do now?”
His master’s answer was cold.
“Why are you asking me that? You caused this, so you must find the answer.”
Scrape, scrape.
Baek Cheongyeong began carving again. Knowing it was an unspoken order to leave, Jin Hagun quietly bowed his head in farewell and left the place. All the while thinking that he still did not truly understand his master.
* * *
“Lower your arm a little more, and put more strength into your left leg.”
Geom Mugeuk was examining Ian’s sword forms.
Ian’s Flying Heaven Sword Art, which he had not seen in a long time, had advanced another step. Of course, she would still need more effort and time to reach great attainment. She had to train and train again at the nine-star level, letting it ripen. That way, when the time came, she would reach great attainment as if a flower bud were bursting open.
“Put more strength into your waist. If your center collapses, every posture collapses with it.”
The two of them were training at the safe house Jin Hagun had arranged for them.
“Focus! Why can’t you focus today?”
“I’m sorry.”
For some reason, she could not concentrate on martial arts training today. She did not know why.
‘This isn’t an opportunity that comes often. Focus!’
Ian swung her sword with all her might. When that round of martial arts training ended, Ian apologized again.
“I’m sorry, young master.”
She thought he would scold her severely, but Geom Mugeuk showed an unexpected reaction.
“It was better, actually. When I look at you, sometimes you don’t seem human. People have times when they can’t focus like this, and they make mistakes too. That’s how it should be.”
“Thank you for saying that, but I’m still disappointed. It’s been so long since you personally taught me martial arts, young master.”
“I will teach you often until you reach great attainment, so don’t worry.”
Ian swayed her body lightly as if dancing, pleased. Compared to the rigid her from when he first regressed, she felt much freer now.
Yes, you are changing little by little like that. Those changes will pile up and pile up, and someday they will become a different life. Ian, in this life, you will not die in a pool of blood. I will let you live while dancing just as you are now.
Circling around me like a child, Ian asked,
“But young master. Did you really bring me here to introduce me to Miss Jin?”
“No.”
“Then why did you bring me?”
“Why else? I just used it as an excuse because I wanted to come out and have fun with you after so long.”
At that, Ian looked back toward her own backside.
“A few of my tails are gone. You took them, didn’t you, young master?”
Knowing that it meant his answer had been far too excellent, Geom Mugeuk made a show of stroking his own tail.
“To tell the truth, I had more tails from the beginning.”
As they were laughing together, Jin Hagun came to that place.
He had come thinking only Geom Mugeuk would be there, but when he saw a woman with him, Jin Hagun did not approach and stood waiting at a distance.
“Welcome.”
Only when Geom Mugeuk called him did Jin Hagun approach.
By then, Ian had put on her mask. Of course, that mask could not hide her beauty.
“I am Ian, who serves the young cult leader.”
“I am Jin Hagun, captain of the Demon-Annihilation Unit.”
“Then please talk.”
“See you next time.”
Ian bowed politely and entered the residence.
Jin Hagun could tell at a glance. He knew who his sister had meant by a great beauty.
Geom Mugeuk came beside him and asked casually,
“Have you fallen for her?”
Jin Hagun looked at Geom Mugeuk with an expression asking what nonsense that was.
“There is no need to be embarrassed. Is it not natural for a man to fall for a beautiful woman? I understand everything.”
“Do you fall for a woman you meet for the first time so easily?”
If he came at him like this, Geom Mugeuk could not simply let it pass. It was as if Jin Hagun had drawn his sword before him.
“One can fall in love at first sight.”
“I do not. I do not give my heart to someone I do not even know.”
Since it was obvious he was almost completely sincere, Geom Mugeuk attacked from another angle.
“Ah, Ian. You’ll have to try harder. You were not beautiful enough to move this man’s ironclad heart. I shall tell her. That you were not beautiful enough to move his heart.”
At that, Jin Hagun panicked.
“What are you saying! Do not tell her something like that for no reason!”
“But it is true, is it not? How dare she try to move me with mere beauty! Her beauty was not sufficient to move me!”
“No! She is sufficiently beautiful.”
“Then you’ve fallen for her?”
In the end, Jin Ha-gun shook his head with the expression of a man admitting defeat.
“Think whatever you like.”
Geom Mugeuk smiled the smile of a victor.
After they had exchanged such banter, Jin Ha-gun brought up his visit to his master.
“I went to see my master.”
Jin Ha-gun relayed the conversation he had had with his master exactly as it had happened.
Geom Mugeuk fell into thought for a moment. Watching him, Jin Ha-gun felt a strange tension. Geom Mugeuk’s face was completely different from when he had been joking around just moments ago.
In a little while, whatever words came from Geom Mugeuk’s mouth would have to come from his own as well. He had to learn to think that way. Only then would he be able to deal with Geom Mugeuk.
“Did those words perhaps shake your heart?”
“Isn’t it possible that my master truly did it for the sake of peace in the murim?”
“Nonsense. If he had acted for the sake of peace in the murim, he should never have tried to save the son of the Heavenly Flower Sect Master in the first place. Think about it. The Murim Alliance pressured us and took away a man the young cult leader of the Demonic Cult had captured to punish. My father let it pass because he was testing me, but what do you think would have happened if we had reacted harshly to that incident? That would have been the very moment we took another step closer to war.”
Jin Ha-gun nodded. He found himself regretting that he had not been able to say those words to his master on the spot.
“I’ll have to see your master myself.”
“Are you serious?”
Geom Mugeuk nodded. He had judged that it would not be easy to draw out the man’s true nature through Jin Ha-gun. Their opponent was moving far too cautiously.
“How? My master will never agree to meet you.”
His master had lived a secretive life until now. No matter how capable Geom Mugeuk was, Jin Ha-gun thought he would not be able to find a way to meet him.
Just then, another person entered. It was none other than Jin Ha-ryeong.
“So you were here too, Brother.”
“What brings you here?”
“I have no business with either of you. I came to see Ian.”
Geom Mugeuk said to her,
“Ian is in the room. The room at the end of the corridor. Oh, and when you go, tell Ian this. It still isn’t enough to move your brother’s heart……”
“Stop!”
Jin Ha-gun hurriedly cut him off. Jin Ha-ryeong, who could tell at a glance roughly what was going on, said to Geom Mugeuk,
“Even if you play with him, make sure you put him back where he belongs.”
“Of course. He’s the most dangerous toy in the murim.”
Jin Ha-gun gestured for Jin Ha-ryeong, who looked as if she could not understand what he meant, to ignore him and hurry inside.
After she went in, Jin Ha-gun said with a serious face,
“Are you going to keep joking around at a time this important?”
“I thought of a way to meet your master.”
To the startled and flustered Jin Ha-gun, Geom Mugeuk said meaningfully,
“I thought of it thanks to your sister.”