Pyo Gigwang realized that the moment had come to reveal the name.
At last, the name of the one behind it came from his mouth.
“The man who came to me was Hwang Seokgyeong.”
“Who is Hwang Seokgyeong?”
“An instructor at Samaenggwan.”
It was someone truly unexpected.
When one entered the Sado Alliance, one would spend some time in a place called Samaenggwan, receiving the basic training required of an alliance member and being assigned to an organization.
There, a proper examination was held, and naturally, the more skilled one was, the more elite the organization one entered. Hwang Seokgyeong was an instructor there.
It was truly unforeseen. Geom Mugeuk had thought the mastermind would be at least someone of unit-leader level, a pavilion master, or perhaps an elder. But an instructor who tested and assigned martial artists?
That made him feel all the more dangerous.
“You believed the word of a mere instructor?”
“He is no mere instructor. His skills are excellent as well, and there is no one who does not know Instructor Hwang. That is why I believed him.”
In truth, it was because he was an instructor at Samaenggwan that Pyo Gigwang had trusted him all the more. Somehow, he had thought an instructor from Samaenggwan suited the task of creating a secret organization. And since he was an instructor at Samaenggwan, Pyo Gigwang had naturally believed that he had received the alliance’s permission.
With a relieved heart, Pyo Gigwang looked at Geom Mugeuk.
“Now that you have learned the name, get yourself out of the net. Go and tell the Young Alliance Leader who the mastermind is. And tell him that I will gladly accept my punishment.”
If his crime of participating in treason was acknowledged, he would have to spend the rest of his life in the prison.
Pyo Gigwang looked up at the sky. The rain that had been pouring down fiercely was letting up.
‘So it’s all over now.’
He felt refreshed, yet for some reason, anger rose within him. A person’s life should be lived by that person himself, and yet he had been toyed with by someone else.
Even so, he could not take revenge himself. He could not beat Instructor Hwang to death with his own hands.
Then Geom Mugeuk said something unexpected.
“He is probably nothing more than a subordinate as well.”
“Nothing more than a subordinate?”
“The Lord of Yugeom Gate said so. That he had received benefits from the alliance. Instructor Hwang may be skilled and famous, but he is not someone with enough authority to secure benefits for Yugeom Gate.”
Now that he heard it, it was true. How did this young martial artist grasp, at just the right moment, the very things he himself had failed to think of?
“We have to find out who is behind him through him.”
He had lived thinking that knowing Instructor Hwang’s existence was some tremendous secret, but that man too was merely a disposable piece moving under someone else’s orders?
If that were the case, once it became known that Instructor Hwang’s identity had been exposed, would assassins go after him as well?
“There is another problem.”
Geom Mugeuk confirmed the point he had been overlooking.
“Do you have any evidence that Instructor Hwang entrusted the task to you, Unit Leader? A secret letter written in his own hand, perhaps, or an order he gave in front of witnesses?”
Pyo Gigwang shook his head. How could there possibly be such a thing?
“Then Instructor Hwang will flatly deny that he ever ordered any such thing.”
It seemed likely. He had even sent assassins to kill him. Having already cast aside all regard for their relationship, what conscience would make him speak honestly?
On the other hand, Pyo Gigwang was a man who had lived like a ruined shell. Would they believe Instructor Hwang? Or would they believe him? The result was obvious without even going through it.
“Then in the end, we can’t catch him?”
“No, we must catch him.”
“How?”
“We have to make him say from his own mouth that he ordered this. And find out who is behind him as well.”
“So how?”
Geom Mugeuk seemed to ponder for a moment.
“If he is dragged before the Young Alliance Leader, he will never open his mouth.”
That would be the case. If he had fostered a private organization without the alliance’s permission, he would be executed by beheading. There was no reason for him to speak.
Geom Mugeuk silently looked at Pyo Gigwang.
“Don’t tell me… you’re saying the two of us should meet him?”
“No.”
A startling statement flowed from Geom Mugeuk’s mouth.
“You must meet him alone, Unit Leader.”
Pyo Gigwang was shocked.
“If you do not meet him alone, he will never confess the truth.”
“He will try to kill me.”
“I will hide nearby and protect you.”
Pyo Gigwang had not expected Geom Mugeuk to make such a proposal. Truly, this young martial artist had never once moved according to his expectations.
“So you mean you will avoid Instructor Hwang’s eyes, hide, and when he tries to kill me, appear and save me?”
“That is correct. You must make him say that he ordered this. It would be even better if he reveals the mastermind too.”
Pyo Gigwang grew worried inwardly. To avoid being detected by Instructor Hwang, Geom Mugeuk would have to stay quite far away. If the man suddenly tried to kill him, would he be able to protect him?
Then, soon after, this thought came to him. Yes, so what if Instructor Hwang kills me? I was a life that should have died today anyway.
Yes, he had gained a chance to confront that bastard. Somehow, he would make him confess and pay for his crimes. He would not go alone.
Pyo Gigwang gazed at Geom Mugeuk for a moment.
When they had first met yesterday, he had never imagined that he would reveal the mastermind to him. He had not known that this man would save his life several times over.
And more than anything else, he was grateful that Geom Mugeuk had listened to his story.
“Very well. Let us do that.”
As if the heavens knew his resolve, the falling rain stopped, and before long, sunlight was shining through.
“Now, let us go.”
As he strode forward, Geom Mugeuk spoke to him.
“The way down is this way.”
Pyo Gigwang changed direction and walked back toward him.
At his awkward expression, Geom Mugeuk smiled brightly.
‘Do not smile so brightly. It makes me afraid to die.’
* * *
Hwang Seokgyeong was walking over from afar.
With a trembling heart, Pyo Gigwang waited for him in front of his residence. This was the first time he had come to see him first like this. He would surely be startled to see him.
Whoosh.
Just as he thought he heard the sound of wind, he was up in a tree. Someone had snatched him up and flown into the air. In that instant, even his mute acupoint had been sealed.
The one who had subdued him and brought him up into the tree was Geom Mugeuk.
He was making a shushing gesture.
‘What on earth is he doing?’
Until they had come here, he had been full of confidence. He had told Pyo Gigwang not to worry, that he would protect him no matter what.
‘But why all of a sudden?’
Soon after, Hwang Seokgyeong flew up to that place.
There was no one in the tree where the two had been. After Hwang Seokgyeong leaped back down, he walked toward his residence.
Geom Mugeuk and Pyo Gigwang were already far away from that place.
Only after they had put sufficient distance between themselves and Hwang Seokgyeong’s residence did Geom Mugeuk release Pyo Gigwang’s mute acupoint.
“What on earth is this?”
Why else? Because it was a face he knew.
Geom Mugeuk had seen Hwang Seokgyeong walking over from afar with the Divine Eye Art. And he had recognized who Hwang Seokgyeong was. He was no mere subordinate.
The Third King among the Twelve Zodiac Kings.
The Fighting King, Cheonya.
In the days when the Twelve Zodiac Kings ruled the martial world, the Fighting King was called the god of battle. He loved fighting and hated losing. Countless experts had lost their lives at his hands.
He was a man who had staked his life on battle. It was said that his martial prowess ranked within the top three among the Twelve Zodiac Kings. Some said he was first, others said third. There was even a rumor that his dream was to defeat Hwa Mugi.
That Fighting King was living in the Sado Alliance under the name Hwang Seokgyeong, as a mere instructor. A conspiracy was being carried out centered around him.
“He is not a fish that can be caught with a net.”
Pyo Gigwang’s attention was no longer on Hwang Seokgyeong.
“You are not one of the Thirteen Young Masters of the Sado Alliance, are you?”
Geom Mugeuk gave a faint smile.
“I have become more curious about who you are than who that man is.”
“If I reveal my identity, you will be killed to silence you. Are you all right with that?”
“Do not worry. I have some expertise in being killed to silence me.”
After exchanging a round of banter, Geom Mugeuk revealed his true identity.
“I am Geom Mugeuk, Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult.”
For a moment, Pyo Gigwang froze. Normally, he should have said, “Nonsense, that’s impossible,” and refused to believe it.
“You truly are the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult.”
He could simply tell. That this man was the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult. All the special qualities he had shown until now were explained by that single introduction. As was the reason why he himself was still alive.
Then came the shock that followed.
The person who had listened so well to his words was the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult? The person who had saved him was the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult?
“Why is the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult here?”
His voice trembled violently.
“I am handling this matter together with your Young Alliance Leader.”
Even after revealing his identity, Geom Mugeuk still treated him with courtesy.
“What will happen to me now?”
Was he perhaps going to be dragged to the Demonic Cult? Had it not been a joke when he said that anyone who learned his identity would be killed to silence them?
“What do you wish would happen?”
He had only thought of dying, never once about the life that would come afterward.
“Think about it now.”
At that, the first thing that came to Pyo Gigwang’s mind was this.
“I want to live a new life.”
Leaving behind everything that had happened until now, he wanted to live a new life.
“But my sins are too great…”
After all, he had helped those who had rebelled against the alliance.
Geom Mugeuk stared at him, then said something incomprehensible.
“By any chance, are you good at massaging shoulders?”
* * *
“Aaaaaaah!”
After screaming while being carried on Geom Mugeuk’s back, he found that they had arrived somewhere before he knew it.
It was Geom Mugeuk’s Swift Steps, which had surpassed the great completion of the tenth stage and now reached the eleventh. He ran so fast that not only could Pyo Gigwang not make out the surrounding scenery, the feeling of tension was like continuously falling from a cliff.
‘This is a dream.’
That was truly the only thought he had. No matter how much of an expert someone was, they could not run this fast. And while carrying a person on their back, no less.
There was one thing he did not know. Even while running, Geom Mugeuk was releasing internal energy to ensure that the person on his back could remain comfortable. If not, an ordinary person would not have been able to endure this speed.
The place they arrived at was a manor.
The name written on the signboard was Geungnagwon. Not the won for manor, but the won used for wish.
This was the very place he had come to before, when Seo Daeryong had been injured. Here, Geom Mugeuk had become immune to all poisons.
When they entered the courtyard, an old woman walked out from within the building and asked,
“Who have you carried here this time?”
It was Chungui, the owner of this place. Her arm was still wrapped in bandages, and as if her shoulder ached, she was massaging it with her hand.
“Doctor! I missed you.”
Geom Mugeuk ran over and swept her up in his arms.
“What indecent nonsense is this?”
“What do you mean? I’m showing how glad I am.”
He was truly glad to see her after so long.
“Your skills have improved even more while I haven’t seen you.”
Well-versed in martial arts herself, she recognized Geom Mugeuk’s growth at a glance.
“It is all thanks to my dear elder sister.”
At his jest of calling her elder sister, she shook her head with an expression of disbelief, but she was very happy that Geom Mugeuk had come to see her after so long.
Though she did not show it outwardly, her delight was even greater than Geom Mugeuk’s.
“Who is that gloomy sentient being?”
It seemed she could see Pyo Gigwang’s life just by looking at his face.
Geom Mugeuk introduced Pyo Gigwang.
“This is Pyo Gigwang, who once served as leader of the Black Dragon Unit in the Sado Alliance. Now, offer your greetings. This beautiful lady is Chungui.”
Pyo Gigwang knew of Chungui as well.
“If you are Chungui… are you not the Divine Physician who is said to handle insects well? I heard that your medical arts are so outstanding that you cure all kinds of illnesses using insects, and can even bring the dead back to life.”
He had thought she was merely a figure from rumors, so he could only be astonished that Chungui actually existed. But why had Geom Mugeuk brought him here?
“You must have heard other rumors too, no?”
At Geom Mugeuk’s question, Pyo Gigwang glanced at Chungui and could not bring himself to speak.
The one who answered in his stead was Chungui herself.
“That I’m so obsessed with money that they call me a money grubber?”
Geom Mugeuk told him the truth.
“With that money, she supported abandoned children. She sent them food, sent them to schools, and sent them to martial academies. She prepared a way for them to live and sent them out into the world. She is someone who has lived her whole life for orphans.”
“I had no idea you were such an admirable person.”
Pyo Gigwang respectfully cupped his fist and paid his respects.
“But why did you bring me here?”
“You said you were good at massaging shoulders, didn’t you? Elder Chungui’s arms and legs ache all the time, so she needs someone to massage her shoulders.”
It meant that he was to become Chungui’s disciple and live a new life here.
“Try me out for a probationary period, and if I don’t seem suitable, feed me to the worms.”
“You didn’t bring me a young one?”
“Would young people these days ever stick around in a backwater like this? And he is younger than he looks.”
Pyo Gigwang could not bring himself to protest, What’s wrong with my face! After all, he had been told more than once in his life that he looked older than his age.
Chungui sat down on a rock.
“Come here and rub my shoulders.”
Still dazed, Pyo Gigwang went over and began massaging her shoulders. Beneath his hands, he felt bones so small and frail they were almost pitiful.
“Oh, that feels good,” Chungui said, then spoke to Geom Mugeuk.
“You haven’t forgotten me.”
“How could I forget you, Physician?”
She felt a swelling rush of emotion. She had thought it was merely a passing connection.
But Geom Mugeuk had not forgotten and had come to find her. He had even brought her a disciple. These days, being forgotten had somehow felt sorrowful.
“I think I should be going.”
“Eat before you leave.”
“My opponent this time won’t be easy. Perhaps this time, I may be the one carried back on someone’s back.”
Their gazes met in midair. Don’t get hurt. Chungui’s worry was conveyed through her eyes.
“If someone of your caliber says that, then your opponent is already on the road to the afterlife.”
“As expected! You alone recognize my true worth, Divine Physician!”
As the two conversed, Pyo Gigwang let their words pass by him and sank into his own thoughts.
To confess the mastermind behind everything overnight, and then suddenly become Chungui’s disciple. Was it all right for a life to change this abruptly?
Then, all at once, his eyes met Geom Mugeuk’s, who stood before him. With clear, deep eyes, Geom Mugeuk said,
“Whether it is the Demonic Path or the Evil Path, children, at least, should be protected.”
The instant he heard those words, Pyo Gigwang understood. Why Geom Mugeuk had brought him here. It had not been for Chungui’s sake, but for his own.
Chungui was someone who had spent her entire life for orphans.
By contrast, he was someone who had been in charge of sending the children kidnapped by the Black Snake Corps to the Evil Alliance. It was not a crime he had committed with his own hands, but he could not say he was without guilt.
That was why Geom Mugeuk had brought him here. To serve Chungui and repay that sin. To live a second life in this place.
To him, who should have spent the rest of his days in a dark, deep dungeon, Geom Mugeuk had given a new life. If not for him, it was a life that should already have ended.
Regret and gratitude mingled together. Emotions too complex to put into words stormed through his heart. One result born from those emotions fell downward.
Drop.
A tear had fallen. Pyo Gigwang was flustered, for he had never shed tears in his life. Even when he had been told that he was injured and could no longer use martial arts, he had not cried. Even facing death, he had not cried.
And yet now, tears came. Who am I, that he would give me a chance like this? What am I, a fool who was only used by others?
Startled, he wiped away his tears with his sleeve, but Geom Mugeuk, who had been standing before him, had already become a dot at the edge of the sky. He had vanished before Pyo Gigwang could even tell him thank you.
At that final moment, the words Geom Mugeuk had spoken when they first met came to mind.
When our meeting is over, I will disappear like smoke.
‘Thank you, Young Cult Leader.’
The place where the single tear he had shed landed was the nape of Chungui’s neck.
Feeling that heat, Chungui shouted loudly,
“You brat, if you don’t want to become worm feed, rub harder!”
Absolute Regression, Chapter 351