Taejo examined Geom Mugeuk with a startled expression.
What in the world was this young bastard saying?
Killing to silence them was impossible? Ridiculous.
If he set his mind to it, there was no one he could not kill. He had, in fact, lived that very sort of life.
Those he could defeat, he mocked and killed before everyone’s eyes; those he could not kill openly, he killed by stabbing them in the back. If that proved difficult, he commissioned assassin organizations, or won over the target’s acquaintances and had them poison him.
And to someone who had lived such a life, what? Killing to silence them was impossible? It was laughable.
‘It’s a bluff. He’s trying to draw out my confession somehow.’
With a relaxed smile, Taejo asked Geom Mugeuk,
“Seeing how highly the Demon Extermination Unit Leader regards you, you must be quite someone. Just who are you?”
Geom Mugeuk revealed his identity.
“I am the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.”
Taejo stared blankly for a moment, then burst into laughter. It was one of the most absurd and out-of-nowhere answers he had ever heard in his life.
“Indeed, only someone of such status would make the Demon Extermination Unit Leader’s words true.”
He spoke as if acknowledging it, but he did not believe it in the slightest.
“Then let me ask you one thing. What is the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult doing with the Demon Extermination Unit of the Martial Alliance, which was created to destroy demons, of all things?”
Geom Mugeuk opened the box, looked down at the sleeping child, and answered.
“We are carrying out an operation to sweep away trash.”
In that instant, Taejo’s expression twitched.
Geom Mugeuk gently adjusted the child, who had been lying uncomfortably, and continued.
“If you ask the martial artists of the world who is the most evil, most of them answer that it’s us. It’s truly unfair. Once you come out and look around, there are so many vile bastards who make you wonder whether they’re even human. This incident is the same. Kidnapping someone else’s child, selling them for money, and who knows what they intended to do after buying that child? Even we don’t commit trashy acts like this.”
Geom Mugeuk’s gaze moved from the child to Taejo.
“What exactly were you planning to do?”
Since he had called it trash just before and now asked this, it was no different from calling Taejo trash.
If Taejo had followed his heart, he would have rushed over at once and hacked the man to pieces.
But he could not do that. Since the box containing the child had been found in his warehouse, he had to get through this moment somehow.
He quickly sent a sound transmission to Manhong.
—You’ll have to suffer a bit. I’ll get you out as quickly as possible.
—Yes, Sect Master.
Manhong truly did not want to. This was an incident the Demon Extermination Unit Leader had personally broken into, and if he were dragged away like this, there was no telling what would happen. But he could not defy the Sect Master’s order. His only choices were death or being taken away.
Manhong stepped forward.
“The truth is, I am the one who did it. I apologize.”
Taejo pretended to be shocked and rebuked him.
“Is that true?”
“I did not know they were kidnapped children. I merely asked for children because I needed them.”
“You fool! You should have looked into it properly before proceeding.”
“I apologize.”
Taejo also put on an apologetic expression.
“It seems my subordinate also did not know they were kidnapped children. It is partly my fault as well for failing to check in advance.”
He drove the matter toward being a minor mistake that had occurred in the course of business.
His subordinate insisted he had not known they were kidnapped children, and he insisted he had not known this fact. Now then, if that was what they were saying, what could you do about it?
Unfortunately for them, the person they were dealing with was not only Jin Hagun.
Geom Mugeuk raised his hand high.
“That is why a witness is needed. The witness is right here. I heard everything. I even heard you say to call you when the child woke up.”
Taejo glared fiercely at Geom Mugeuk, but like a true madman, he was not frightened at all. Yes, this was precisely why they must have entrusted him with the role of witness.
“Since there is a witness, you will have to come with us for now.”
“I will not go.”
A taut tension flowed between Jin Hagun and Taejo. Taejo knew very well that the moment he was dragged away, the problem would become troublesome.
“You must go.”
“Are you threatening me now?”
“If you have committed a crime, it would be a threat. If you are innocent, it would be cooperation.”
Taejo could sense it. They would not leave simply because he asked nicely.
“I was going to understand and let this pass, valuing Unit Leader Jin’s righteousness in wanting to save the children, but if you insist on being this stubborn, I cannot allow it. Unit Leader Jin, do you understand what kind of situation this is right now?”
“Please tell me.”
“The Martial Alliance has attacked an unorthodox sect. This could become the beginning of an Orthodox-Unorthodox War.”
He deliberately mentioned the provocative phrase Orthodox-Unorthodox War. This was the moment to push hard.
Taejo knew Jin Hagun’s weakness well.
“Unit Leader Jin has not yet become the official successor. What do you think will happen if you cause such a major conflict with the Evil Dao Alliance? Should you not be prudent, if only for your own sake?”
At that moment, Geom Mugeuk cut in obnoxiously.
“Are you going to be fine? If you cause a dispute with the Martial Alliance?”
In the end, Taejo could not hold back and roared.
“You shut your mouth!”
Unable to endure Geom Mugeuk’s taunting, his composure had shattered. Whenever he tried to do something, the man kept cutting him off from the side.
Seeing him explode in fury, Jin Hagun laughed inwardly. Yes, it makes you angry. I know that well.
As if he had decided words would no longer suffice, Taejo shouted toward the outside.
“Come in.”
Then the martial artists of Yugeommun, who had been waiting outside, surged in all at once.
The Demon Extermination Unit showed no fear at all and faced them with swords drawn. The number of Yugeommun martial artists who had rushed in was greater than expected. Moreover, their momentum was no ordinary thing. The thought naturally arose.
‘Yugeommun has this many experts under its command?’
This was the reason Taejo could remain composed. He was confident that, at the very least, he would not be dragged away from this place.
“Did you think we would tremble in fear just because you are the Demon Extermination Unit?”
They were not the only ones. The two people Taejo trusted most decisively entered last. They were two old men dressed in distinctive clothing.
Jin Hagun recognized them at a glance.
“The Azure-White Twin Swords!”
As their epithet suggested, they wore blue and white martial robes. Their shoes and sword scabbards were also blue for one man and white for the other.
They were notorious experts among the unorthodox factions. If the Demon Extermination Unit were young rising experts, then these were seasoned old masters of the martial world.
The aura of the Azure-White Twin Swords overwhelmed the martial artists of the Demon Extermination Unit. If they joined forces with the experts of Yugeommun, it looked as though it would not be an easy fight.
“I did not expect you two to be in Yugeommun.”
Taejo took Jin Hagun’s words as a reprimand.
“You two? These two seniors roamed the martial world before Unit Leader Jin was even born. Show proper respect.”
It seemed he wanted Jin Hagun to treat them as seniors of the martial world, but Jin Hagun’s reaction was cold. He had not the slightest intention of respecting men of such ill repute.
Of course, there was one exception.
The two old men conversed as if to let everyone hear.
“How many years younger was the Martial Alliance Leader than us?”
“I believe he was three or four years younger.”
“Even from his youth, that man had no ordinary temperament.”
“How could we have known he would become the Martial Alliance Leader like this?”
In truth, they likely had never even met him, but when they mentioned his grandfather in that manner, Jin Hagun’s eyes turned cold.
“He is not someone you may carelessly speak of.”
At that, White Sword smiled and spoke in a gentle tone.
“You are right. He is a man deserving of respect. We had no intention of insulting your grandfather. In the same way, we too do not wish to be insulted. We will handle what happened here properly and inform you, so withdraw now.”
“What discourtesy is this, for someone who can be called the face of the Martial Alliance to come to Yugeommun, which carries on the orthodox lineage of the unorthodox path?”
“If you do this, the Alliance Leader will be put in a difficult position as well.”
“Listen, we are people who no longer have any attachment to life. If you and we fight, who do you think has more to lose?”
The two old men took turns attacking Jin Hagun in a dizzying stream.
There were many words that grated on his nerves one by one, but because they were old experts acknowledged by the unorthodox factions, Jin Hagun could not treat them carelessly.
Of course, one person was an exception.
“Of course you would have more to lose.”
The one who cut in was Geom Mugeuk. Jin Hagun was still far too young to deal with old men of the unorthodox factions.
“How greedy must you be to appear even in this warehouse packed to the brim with desire? You should have elegantly washed your hands in a golden basin and retired, living like an old tale inside a folding screen. What greed made you tear through the screen and come out?”
The two men’s expressions hardened coldly, but Geom Mugeuk continued speaking.
“All the things you’ve gathered over a lifetime must be piled up somewhere. You probably don’t even trust each other enough to say where and how much you’ve hidden, do you? Am I right?”
The faces of the two men flushed bright red.
Blue Sword openly revealed killing intent as he asked,
“Who is that ill-mannered bastard?”
At that, Taejo smiled and said,
“He says he is the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult.”
When the Azure-White Twin Swords looked startled, Taejo quickly added,
“It is mad nonsense.”
Only then could the Azure-White Twin Swords understand the situation. Could a normal person possibly mock them in this way?
“That man is someone the Demon Extermination Unit Leader hired as a witness in order to pin crimes on me.”
Taejo quickly sent a sound transmission.
—Please eliminate that man alone.
He was a thorn in Taejo’s eye, and thankfully, he had committed such rudeness. Now there was more than enough justification to kill him.
As the Azure-White Twin Swords stepped forward, the martial artists of the Demon Extermination Unit moved as one and blocked their path.
White Sword said to Jin Hagun,
“As Unit Leader Jin also heard, that man has been rude to us. Leaving aside orthodox, unorthodox, or demonic affiliations, there are laws of the martial world that martial artists must uphold. Even in your eyes, can this truly be overlooked?”
At that, Geom Mugeuk laughed and said,
“Open the way. Let us see whether, as they said earlier, they truly have no attachment to life.”
When the Demon Extermination Unit looked at Jin Hagun, he glanced once at Geom Mugeuk.
Even in this situation, Geom Mugeuk was overflowing with ease. Yes, at first glance, he truly looked like nothing but a madman. But once you came to know him, you understood. You understood just how thoroughly calculated that composure was.
“Open the way.”
At Jin Hagun’s command, the Demon Extermination Unit split left and right, creating a path.
The Azure-White Twin Swords slowly walked along that path. Even as they walked with the Demon Extermination Unit on both sides, they showed no fear at all.
As they walked, they suddenly stopped.
Blue Sword looked down at his hand. His hand was trembling as if in spasms.
White Sword looked at him in surprise.
“What is wrong?”
Blue Sword shook his head. This was the first time his hand had ever begun trembling so suddenly.
This time, Blue Sword was the one shocked. White Sword’s cheek was quivering.
“What about you?”
Not only White Sword’s face, but his whole body began to tremble. Blue Sword was the same. Their legs began to shake. Since entering the martial world, this had never happened to them before.
—Is it poison?
—It is not poison.
—Then what is it?
As the two exchanged sound transmissions, their gazes turned toward Geom Mugeuk.
Geom Mugeuk had been looking at the child inside the box, then slowly raised his head and looked at the two of them.
The moment their eyes met Geom Mugeuk’s, the Azure-White Twin Swords knew.
‘It is because of him.’
It was not the abyssal aura Geom Mugeuk usually displayed.
The energy Geom Mugeuk was now emitting toward the two was killing intent. His clear will to kill them announced that the path the Demon Extermination Unit had opened was a road leading to hell.
“What are you doing? Aren’t you coming?”
The Azure-White Twin Swords swallowed hard.
Taejo, who was watching, found it strange. Since that killing intent was directed only at the Azure-White Twin Swords, Taejo did not know why the two had stopped walking.
“What is the matter, seniors?”
The one who answered Taejo’s question was Geom Mugeuk.
“Your precious seniors are trembling.”
Taejo did not know what he meant, but it was certain that something had gone wrong. This was the moment when the enraged Azure-White Twin Swords should have shouted in fury, yet no shout came.
Geom Mugeuk took one step toward the two of them.
Pressed down by that momentum, the Azure-White Twin Swords retreated at the same time.
“You said you had no more attachment to life, didn’t you?”
Geom Mugeuk’s gaze sank terrifyingly. The Azure-White Twin Swords did not dare meet those eyes and lowered their heads.
At that sight, Jin Hagun understood.
‘His skill has grown again in the meantime!’
Geom Mugeuk was completely overwhelming the Azure-White Twin Swords, old experts of the unorthodox factions.
He was showing yet another side different from when they had last met. It felt as though if Jin Hagun chased him by one step, Geom Mugeuk would grow ten steps farther away.
“Great Hero, who are you?”
From White Sword’s mouth came not Young Hero, but Great Hero.
“The man told you earlier, didn’t he?”
Startled out of his wits, White Sword quickly turned to look at Taejo and asked.
“Is this man truly the Demon Cult’s young cult leader?”
Taejo answered in surprise.
“No. What are you talking about……”
At that moment, Taejo flinched and this time looked at Geom Mugeuk.
“Really the Demon Cult’s young cult leader?”
“I told you earlier, didn’t I? I’m the young cult leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.”
Taejo’s voice trembled on its own.
“Why is the Demon Cult’s young cult leader here?”
“I told you that too, didn’t I? I’m in the middle of cleaning out trash.”
The Blue-White Twin Swords rebuked Taejo.
“Did you push us into the Demon Cult’s young cult leader?”
“I didn’t know either.”
The Blue-White Twin Swords looked at each other and exchanged glances, then soon stepped back.
“It seems there was a misunderstanding, so I hope the young cult leader will understand.”
Putting aside the fact that their opponent’s skill overwhelmed theirs, they knew that if they mishandled the Demon Cult’s young cult leader, they would not die peacefully. Now was not the time to think of pride.
Only now could Taejo understand what Jin Hagun had meant.
The meaning of those words: that he could not refute it, could not insist otherwise, and could not kill to silence the witness.
“I heard it myself. I am the witness.”
Hearing Geom Mugeuk’s declaration ring out resoundingly, he also understood the meaning of the words that everyone but him would believe that statement.
If the Demon Cult’s young cult leader said he had heard it, who would dare refute him? Even the Blue-White Twin Swords, who had stepped forward for him, had tucked their tails and withdrawn.
Geom Mugeuk said to him.
“If you confess obediently, you’ll be dragged to the Murim Alliance. If you hold out to the end, you’ll be dragged to our cult. The choice is yours.”
Taejo’s heart sank. Dragged not to the Murim Alliance, but to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult? At least he could talk to the Murim Alliance, but if he was dragged to the Demon Cult, it would truly be the end. Just looking at the young cult leader was enough to tell. That bastard, who went around with the captain of the Demon-Extermination Unit shouting about cleaning out trash, was a madman. He could not be dragged into a den of madmen.
“You are people belonging to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Murim Alliance, while I am merely from a single sect.”
“For someone from merely a single sect, you were frightening us quite a bit earlier.”
“A frightened dog is bound to bark loudly.”
He was desperate enough to say such things. And there was only one way for him to survive.
“I demand that this matter be handled under the mediation of the Sado Alliance.”
The Sado Alliance would never abandon him and the Yugeom Sect. He had made contributions until now. He believed they would surely save him.
“I believe that would be the fair way to handle this. As things stand, I am being terribly wronged. Rumors will spread through the jianghu that we were framed.”
“And if the Sado Alliance also acknowledges your crimes?”
“Then I will acknowledge them cleanly as well.”
Geom Mugeuk, who had been silently gazing at Taejo, readily nodded for reasons unknown.
“Fine. Call them. Let all three of us gather and determine who the true villain is.”
Absolute Regression, Chapter 341