When Geom Mugeuk, returning from an outing, entered the inner courtyard of Cheonhwaru, Geukak Soma stood on the roof with arms crossed.
"I don't see the faceless guests?"
"I sent them all to the nearby residences."
Since they had already realized those fellows' intentions, there was no longer any need to guard this place unnecessarily.
Geom Mugeuk lightly leaped onto the roof.
"Where did you go?"
"I went around sending urgent messages here and there."
"The Young Alliance Leader of the Heretic Alliance was among them, I presume."
"I'll go meet the Young Alliance Leader in person."
Geukak Soma knew how Geom Mugeuk handled affairs. He did not try to accomplish things alone. He informed whomever needed to be informed in advance, discussed, and prepared.
What mattered to him was everyone's safety. In a situation like this, Bisain's safety would become the most important task. Precisely because he harbored no desire to become a hero alone, he often ended up becoming one.
"They failed to kill young lady Chu, yet they're still pushing this matter. Those fellows must have another objective."
Geukak Soma said, looking at Geom Mugeuk.
"They may have changed their target to the Young Cult Lord."
"Perhaps."
Then everything would truly be turned upside down.
Geukak Soma knew. He knew what the relationship between the Cult Lord and Geom Mugeuk had been like recently. Should something happen to the Young Cult Lord, unimaginable things would occur.
"What should I do?"
Geukak Soma knew that the more difficult the situation, the wiser it was to trust Geom Mugeuk's judgment.
"Those fellows always plot schemes from behind, sow discord, and attempt assassinations. What choice do we have? We have no choice but to become stronger. We must make all those petty tricks become opportunities for growth and experience."
Geom Mugeuk added with an intense gaze.
"I know you've grown stronger lately. Become even stronger."
Geukak Soma's eyes also shone intensely.
"Yes, I understand."
"In that sense, teach me a move when I return."
Geukak Soma could guess Geom Mugeuk's intention. Even though his own martial realm had risen recently, he still could not match Geom Mugeuk's martial arts.
In the end, that match would be one that made him stronger.
"Very well."
Geukak Soma gratefully accepted that sentiment. These days, with changes in his martial realm, training with Geom Mugeuk would greatly help his martial arts. Geom Mugeuk proposed it precisely because he knew that as well.
Just then, the owner of Cheonhwaru could be seen walking with entertainers in the distance. She was preparing for that day in her own way.
Geukak Soma spoke in a low voice.
"Thank you for looking after her."
Geukak Soma could tell that Yeojeong had been greatly moved, especially by the word sister-in-law.
"Of course I should. She's my first sister-in-law."
Geukak Soma asked with his eyes.
When will I get to see my first sister-in-law?
Geom Mugeuk's eyes answered.
Who knows. Will I really be able to see her in this lifetime?
And so the two stood on the windy roof, looking down at Cheonhwaru.
* * *
A man was walking down an extravagantly decorated corridor.
There were rooms on both sides of the corridor, and peculiarly, small windows were installed so one could see inside. Women were confined there.
From middle-aged women to children who could be called little ones, all were cowered and frightened.
When the unfamiliar man looked into the rooms, they lowered their heads with fearful faces.
The man resumed walking.
At the end of the corridor, an old man in luxurious, expensive silk clothes stood against the wall.
The old man was using a young girl as a shield, pressing a dagger to her throat. The desperation of the cornered old man looked extremely dangerous.
"Stop! Come any closer and this child dies!"
The man who had been approaching halted at the old man's threat.
"Drop your sword!"
The old man's dagger looked poised to pierce the child's throat at any moment.
"Now!"
The man set his sword down on the floor and spoke calmly.
"Calm down. If the child is hurt, you die too."
Despite the urgent situation, the man remained composed.
The old man asked urgently.
"If this child dies, you're finished too. You'll be passed over for promotions for the rest of your life."
"That would be troublesome. I still have places to rise to."
Standing away from the lantern light, the man's face was not clearly visible.
"Which group do you belong to? Blue Dragon Division? White Dragon Division?"
"What if I told you?"
"Let me go, and I'll make your career."
The old man tried to butter him up by any means.
"You kidnapped women and sold them to men, didn't you? Even little children. How could I release such a criminal?"
It was a capital crime even among grave offenses, so execution was certain. That was why the old man could never allow himself to be taken away.
"Among those who bought young girls are people with money and power."
"Yes, and thankfully, it was all recorded in the ledger."
"Then you must know. How could a mere martial artist handle them? In less than a day, you'll be assassinated, and that ledger serving as evidence will disappear."
Threats were followed by temptations.
"Send me away, and your success is guaranteed. What position do you want? Squad Leader? Great Leader? Guild Leader? Name it."
Then the man spoke from the darkness.
"Alliance Leader."
The old man's face twitched. But now was not the time to get angry; it was the time to entice.
"Yes, you could become Alliance Leader someday. So untie me..."
At that moment, the old man stopped speaking.
The man had stepped forward. The characters written on his chest.
Demon Extermination.
He was Jin Hagun, the Demon Extermination Great Leader.
"He's shifted two steps to the left, and since he's stepping on a stone on the floor, one span higher!"
The moment the old man made a face wondering what that meant.
Craack!
Thud!
The sword that burst through the rear wall accurately pierced the disheveled old man's throat.
It was the sword of a Demon Extermination Squad subordinate who had approached behind the wall. Jin Hagun had been buying time until his subordinates reached the rear wall.
"Don't look back. Come here."
The child walked to Jin Hagun. Jin Hagun crouched down to meet eyes with the child. To the child still frightened, Jin Hagun spoke in a gentle tone.
"Uncle is a high-ranking person in the Martial Alliance. There's only one person who can do anything to uncle, and that's the Alliance Leader."
He said it to reassure the child, as she had heard the old man's threat together with him.
"There are bad people in the world, but most uncles are good. And this time, this uncle will lock all those bad guys in the infernal prison."
Only then did relief bloom on the child's face.
Jin Hagun thought that the relief he saw now was the very identity of the Martial Alliance.
He believed that the Martial Alliance should become a name one could call right after mother when scared and having a hard time.
Jin Hagun extended his hand to the child.
"Shall we go out with uncle?"
The child nodded and took Jin Hagun's outstretched hand. Though he had soothed her to reassure her, the child's hand was trembling. Jin Hagun held that hand tightly.
"Let's go home now."
Members of the Demon Extermination Squad entered and led all the confined women outside.
Jin Hagun handed the ledger he had obtained to a subordinate and ordered.
"Arrest every single one of the bastards here without exception!"
"Yes, sir!"
Jin Hagun reassured the women.
"I am Jin Hagun, the Demon Extermination Great Leader. Not only those who captured you, but all related parties will be punished. Do not worry about their revenge. They won't be getting out of the infernal prison before you grow old and die."
Believing they would now survive, the women shed tears. The Demon Extermination Squad members comforted them and helped them into carriages.
Then a subordinate of the Demon Extermination Squad approached and handed Jin Hagun a message.
"It's an urgent message."
The subordinates' gazes focused on Jin Hagun.
"What is it?"
Jin Hagun folded the message and tucked it into his chest, answering.
"It seems a friend is in danger."
* * *
Three people sat at a round table set up in a warehouse on the outskirts.
The two people glaring fiercely at each other were the leaders of the Black Spider Sect and the East Tiger Sect, respectively.
As the struggle over interests intensified, dozens had died or been injured. Since both martial sects belonged to the Heretic Alliance, the Heretic Alliance had eventually stepped in to mediate.
The person sitting between them was Bisain.
"Since this fight broke out over interests, I will resolve this dispute by looking only at the numbers."
Rumors had circulated that the Young Alliance Leader had been quite active within the unorthodox faction lately, but no one had expected him to personally come to resolve this matter.
"From now on, the two of you will divide it like this."
The two leaders were not satisfied with the ratio Bisain mediated, but they dared not refute it.
"No matter how we divide it, I know I can't satisfy both of you. Because this was a fight to take everything."
In the past, he would have overwhelmed the two with killing intent. Obey, or die. Because he had believed that was the power that maintained the unorthodox faction.
But now he was Bisain, who had become Geom Mugeuk's friend. Yes, if he was Geom Mugeuk's friend, he ought to be capable of at least this much, shouldn't he?
"Let me fill the greed that was cut away."
The two leaders looked at Bisain.
"I will remember you. Even after I become Alliance Leader, I will remember you. At least, it seems like greater profit than the money you think you're losing now? Or am I mistaken?"
At that final cold question, an extremely cold killing intent was imbued.
The two sprang to their feet and answered with cupped fists.
"Not at all!"
"How could that be?"
And the final words were, as expected, agreeable ones.
"I will surely remember you both."
After those two withdrew, Bisain leaned back in his chair and spoke.
"Stop hiding and come out."
Then Geom Mugeuk revealed himself from atop the stacked crates.
"I didn't know you had such an intellectual side."
Geom Mugeuk lightly jumped down from the crates. Since Bisain already knew he had arrived, he had sent a secret transmission to Illang to have everyone leave.
"I thought you'd just say 'Fight it out, and the winner takes all!'"
"Isn't that your way?"
Geom Mugeuk answered with a smile.
"Let's just call it my father's generation's way."
Geom Mugeuk had come running like the wind, using Swift Step. The speed of Swift Step had not yet reached its limit. It was growing faster and faster. In this manner, the Central Plains grew ever smaller for Geom Mugeuk.
The two went outside the warehouse. They walked together along a trail and talked. The Heretic Alliance Thirteen Wolves followed them from afar.
"What is it this time?"
Geom Mugeuk stopped walking and spoke to him.
"The Young Alliance Leader of the Heretic Alliance was assassinated by a peerless evil woman! That's the rumor about you that will soon circulate through the streets."
Bisain silently stared at Geom Mugeuk. He had spoken as if joking, but Bisain could tell it was the truth. At least Geom Mugeuk was not someone who joked about matters of life and death.
Geom Mugeuk told Bisain everything that had happened up until now without omitting a single detail.
"It seems they are trying to kill you at Cheonhwaru."
That fearsome face of Bisain twitched. No matter how bold a person was, they could not help but be enraged by a conspiracy to kill them.
"Actually, we had also been keeping an eye on the Baekgye Merchant Group."
"What for?"
"A report came in that though it was not yet known externally, the conflict between the Leader and Vice Leader had intensified."
"Yet you accepted the Vice Leader's invitation?"
"He's fighting with the Leader, so I figured he must want something from me. I thought he had invited me seeking mediation."
Then Geom Mugeuk guessed the deeper intentions of the Baekgye Merchant Group.
"Perhaps they deliberately showed an appearance of division in order to invite you without arousing suspicion."
Bisain made an expression of disbelief. If so, it would mean they had truly set their minds to it.
"But how do they intend to kill me? By poison?"
The Heretic Alliance Thirteen Wolves protecting him were on high alert against poisoning. All alcohol and food were inspected, so poisoning was nearly impossible.
"They may have developed a poison capable of fooling the Thirteen Wolves. Or something we could never imagine may appear."
At those words, Bisain's gaze deepened. It meant something capable of killing him and the Thirteen Wolves even without poison.
Bisain's gaze upon Geom Mugeuk was heated. Geom Mugeuk had once again rushed here to warn him of danger.
"Thank you."
"When you come to save me later, run twice as fast."
"I shall."
"Oh, and I called for Great Leader Jin as well. I told young lady Jin to come too."
Bisain asked, looking taken aback.
“Why did you call them?”
The enemy’s identity had yet to be revealed. If anything, Jin Hagun or even Jin Haryeong might be exposed to danger as well.
Then Geom Mugeuk said in a whispering voice.
“We can’t be the only ones in danger, can we?”
“…….”
After staring at him in disbelief for a moment, Bisain raised his voice.
“Stop joking!”
Yes, this was what it meant to meet Geom Mugeuk.
Geom Mugeuk offered another reason.
“If they lay a hand on us, see who steps forward! I called them to show that we aren’t people they can dare to touch so carelessly.”
That might be part of it, but Bisain felt there had to be another, real reason.
“Tell me the real reason!”
Only then did Geom Mugeuk reveal the true reason.
“If a friend is in danger, isn’t it only natural to let them know?”
“!”
It was an unexpected answer. So obvious that he had failed to think of it.
“If they’re your friends, shouldn’t you keep them from coming to a dangerous place instead?”
Bisain had lived believing that was what a friend was. Geom Mugeuk thought differently.
“And what if they die somewhere I’m not there? What am I supposed to tell others? My friend died without asking for my help. Hahaha. I suppose he didn’t call me because it was dangerous. I can’t stand the sight of that. I’m the sort of person who looks back on what’s passed. The sort who can’t sleep all night over something that happened in the day. I’d be thinking about it for the rest of my life. If that’s the case, I’d rather die together!”
At least one thing was clear to Bisain. He, too, would be angry for the rest of his life if Geom Mugeuk died without even asking him for help.
“I’m going to tell everyone from now on. If Captain Jin is in danger, I’ll tell everyone. If I’m in danger, I’ll tell everyone too. I’ll tell them to come save me. I’ll even threaten them, saying I’ll spread rumors that they’re cowards if they don’t come. At least on this matter, it’s not something to boast about by saying, I handled it all by myself! I didn’t want to put my friend in danger—let me say in advance, I won’t accept that kind of excuse.”
Bisain could tell. This was Geom Mugeuk’s sincerity. This was the kind of friendship Geom Mugeuk wanted.
“Oh, and I called a new face too, so look forward to it.”
“Who on earth did you call this time?”
Of course, Geom Mugeuk was not someone who would answer so easily. He launched himself lightly into the air, flying far away as he said,
“So don’t wear those dreary martial robes. Come in stylish clothes that women like. In a color that goes well with white! Then I’ll see you that day!”
Before Bisain could ask anything more, Geom Mugeuk became a dot in the sky and vanished. With him suddenly arriving and suddenly leaving, the surroundings fell quiet. It truly felt as though he had dreamed of a storm passing through.
Illang approached him.
Bisain summarized Geom Mugeuk’s words and relayed them to him.
“He says an unparalleled villainess is trying to kill me, so I should come wearing stylish clothes that women like.”
“Pardon?”
Bisain’s gaze left the bewildered Illang and turned toward the sky where Geom Mugeuk had disappeared.
Thinking that his friends would be there with him at the place where death awaited, a broad smile appeared on his rugged face.
“In a color that goes well with white.”